The Thai Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting traditional Thai festivals and culture as a sustainable economic and tourism driver, leveraging the nation's unique cultural Soft Power. ...
The Thai Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting traditional Thai festivals and culture as a sustainable economic and tourism driver, leveraging the nation's unique cultural Soft Power. ...
Bangkok politician Dr. Suwitaya Lertthanakulwattana has applied to lead Thailand's Sports Authority, becoming the second candidate for the position as the current director's term expires in September 2026.
Dr. Suwitaya Lertthanakulwattana, known as "Seeyaithai Kwaniam Bangrak," a local politician and community worker in Bangkok's Bang Rak district, has submitted her candidacy to lead the Sports Authority of Thailand as the second applicant, following Dr. Siriches Pooltipaiyannont, chairman of the MMA Association.
Current director Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmani's term expires in September 2026. Ms. Natthareya Thaveevong, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, will chair the selection committee to oversee qualifications, accept applications, conduct interviews, written exams, and English language tests. The successful candidate will be presented to the Sports Authority board and then to the Cabinet for final approval.
Dr. Suwitaya has held significant positions as adviser to parliamentary commissions and secretary working closely with prominent politician Samak Sundaravej. She has long been involved in community assistance in Bang Rak and is recognized locally as a coordinator helping residents in the district. She previously ran as a Bangkok City Council candidate from Bang Rak on the Democratic Party ticket.
Dr. Suwitaya holds a doctoral degree in philosophy in social, business, and political leadership from Rangsit University. She currently serves as an executive overseeing the Swarovski jewelry group in Thailand and leads a cosmetics business division known under the brand name "Witaya Kwaniam."
The Thai Government, through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has joined forces with over 100 tourism industry partners to launch the "Amazing Thailand G...
The Thai Government, through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has joined forces with over 100 tourism industry partners to launch the "Amazing Thailand G...
Thailand's 2012 Olympic weightlifting bronze medalist Puk Luk Siriput Bubphamalai has joined the Defense Ministry as a civil servant, beginning duties in July 2025 at the Budget Office's Policy and Planning Division.
Puk Luk Siriput Bubphamalai, a former Thai national weightlifting champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, has been appointed as a civil defense civil servant below contract rank in a clerical position at the Defense Ministry's Budget Office, Policy and Planning Division. The former weightlifting hero officially began her duties on July 16, 2025, with commissioned officer training scheduled for March 2026. Puk Luk, whose birth name is Rattikul Kulnoi, competed for Thailand in the women's 58-kilogram category at the 2012 London Olympics, where she broke her own records in both the snatch and clean-and-jerk lifts, achieving 100 kg and 134 kg respectively.
Prime Minister Anutin Chaovangitkul rejected opposition calls for leniency and vowed to pursue full legal action against those involved in a Senate selection controversy, saying accused parties have the right to defend themselves independen
At 11:40 a.m. on July 23 at Government House, Prime Minister Anutin Chaovangitkul addressed the case of Yingluck Shinawatra and the iLaw project director, who had posted a request urging Bhumjaithai Party members and nine senators accused in a Senate selection controversy—including Anutin—not to file defamation suits or pursue cases in distant jurisdictions or report matters to police. Smiling, the PM responded that "they have no right; it is a matter for the accused." When asked about opposition calls for leniency toward those investigating the claims, Anutin smiled again and said, "My heart is more generous than anyone else's. Saiyai Noi's heart is already generous; everyone knows that." Anutin confirmed he will proceed with full legal action, calling it his personal right, noting that each accused party acts independently without coordination and that anyone wishing to protect themselves against false accusations has the law available to them.
A decomposed male body was discovered in a reed thicket near Bangkok on July 23, with scavenger bite marks visible and no identification; police believe he had been dead for 2-3 days.
A strong stench of decomposition led to a horrifying discovery in a reed thicket near a residential village on July 23, 2569, at 9:00 a.m. Police Lieutenant Sawasdi Khongkaew of the Pra Tuu Nam Chulalongkorn Station responded to reports of a body found in the reeds within a soi in Prachatipat Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province, accompanied by investigators and medical personnel.
The body was found face-down in a reed and grass-covered area approximately 20 meters from the village fence, in an advanced state of decomposition. The deceased was a man aged 40-50 wearing only black shorts, with the tattoo "madman" on his left wrist and visible bite marks from scavengers. No identification documents or personal belongings were found on the body, only a pair of black flip-flops discarded nearby. There were no signs of traumatic injury, and it is believed the man had been dead for 2-3 days.
According to the village security chief, a resident had reported a strong smell of decay, leading to the discovery. An air-conditioning technician had spotted the man acting erratically entering the reed area on July 21, but did not immediately report it. Another resident, Napa, 36, recalled seeing a vagrant-like man on July 20 removing his clothes and shoes near the reed thicket. The deceased was unknown to villagers. Police conducted a preliminary autopsy and collected evidence before transferring the body to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Thammasat University Hospital for autopsy and identification of relatives.
Five Thai rangers were killed in an armed attack on a Narathiwat checkpoint, prompting Prime Minister Anutin to order enhanced security operations across all agencies in the southern border region.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called the situation in Thailand's southern border provinces "very serious" after an armed attack on a Narathiwat checkpoint resulted in five ranger deaths. Speaking at Government House on July 23, he ordered all security units—military, police, and local administration—to demonstrate greater operational effectiveness in prevention, suppression, and intelligence gathering. Anutin stated he has already discussed the matter with responsible officials and directed them to take action.
When asked if intelligence had predicted the attack, Anutin said such incidents are unpredictable, but the government must prevent further violence. He emphasized that peace negotiations must accelerate with clearer progress, and security forces require reinforcement and better preparedness. He noted the situation is serious and demands decisive action.
Anutin reiterated his orders to security officials to restore public confidence, establish stability, and prevent future incidents through all available means. He has already issued directives to the National Police Commander, Army Commander, and Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary. When asked what additional vigilance is needed, he stated all checkpoints must operate under strict orders due to frequent incidents in the area. The Defense Minister is visiting the area today to discuss the situation. Intelligence reports indicated the attackers were fully armed, with two teams involved, and they used pipe bombs against rangers equipped with M16 and AK-47 rifles.
Thailand's women's football team will face Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei in Group E of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, with the tournament running September 14 to October 2.
Thailand's women's national football team drew a challenging opening group at the 2026 Asian Games, placed with hosts Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei. On July 23, the Olympic Council of Asia held the group draw for women's football at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The women's football tournament will run from September 14 to October 2, with 12 nations competing. Thailand was drawn in Group E alongside Japan (hosts), Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, and Thailand. The tournament divides competitors into three groups of four teams who play round-robin matches. The group winners, runners-up, and the two best third-place finishers advance to the knockout stage. Group F includes South Korea, North Korea, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Group F features China, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, and Hong Kong.
Thailand's government is positioning the Northeast as the economic hub of the Mekong region to create local business opportunities, with officials meeting entrepreneurs in Khon Kaen to discuss supporting traditional industries and addressin
The government is positioning Northeast Thailand as the economic center of the Mekong River region, unlocking regional potential and creating opportunities for young people to build careers in their hometowns. Deputy Finance Minister Santhithat Saethaiying attended The Secret Sauce Business Weekend 2026 Isaan, organized by THE STANDARD business news bureau on July 17–18, 2026, in Khon Kaen province, to share a vision of Thailand's economic direction and the Northeast region's prospects, and to meet and consult with local entrepreneurs and gather feedback on government policy.
The Secret Sauce Business Weekend 2026 Isaan, held under the theme "Beyond Isan: Growing Beyond the Northeast," aimed to promote business networks and elevate regional entrepreneurs to the global stage. The main event took place at Nakhonkhaiz Convention and Exhibition Center in Khon Kaen, featuring speakers from government, private sector, and experts from over 30 industries. The event drew more than 2,000 attendees from within and outside the region.
The deputy minister presented a vision that global economic shifts are creating new opportunities for Thailand and its regions if they leverage local strengths to align with global trends. The Northeast, in particular, has potential to become the economic center of the Mekong subregion. Key activities included:
1. Roundtable: Esan Entrepreneurs The deputy minister met with Northeast entrepreneurs from transport, food, textiles, mechanical components, and electronics sectors to exchange views on business opportunities and challenges, and to gather recommendations on government policy. Discussions revealed that the Northeast has many traditional industries that, while not classified as next-curve industries, have competitive potential at the global level and can create high value for the region. These industries typically emphasize quality, craftsmanship, care, and creativity—areas where the region's workforce is strong. However, entrepreneurs highlighted a critical challenge: high land transportation costs, which significantly hinder regional business competitiveness. These findings suggest future business support should focus on adding value to industries Thailand already excels in, using more flexible tools suited to Thai entrepreneurs, while accelerating energy transition and logistics infrastructure development to reduce business costs and strengthen long-term competitiveness.
2. The Secret Sauce Business Weekend 2026 Isaan The deputy minister shared his vision in an interview session titled "Thailand Comeback: Thai Economic Trends and Opportunities," moderated by Nakarin Vankitpaiboon, CEO and Managing Editor of THE STANDARD news bureau. He noted that although Thailand's economy faces pressure from energy crises, inflation, and slowing purchasing power, global economic changes are opening new opportunities for the country and its regions.
A woman's vehicle was hit and damaged by a man in a Ko Lanta parking lot on July 20; she criticized the facility's security and police response after CCTV showed he had struck multiple cars.
On July 23, Ms. Lukkaew, the victim, shared her account with online news after parking her car in a parking lot and being struck hard by an unknown man, causing damage to her side mirror and car door. CCTV footage revealed unusual behavior: the man had run into multiple vehicles at high speed. She raised concerns about the facility's security measures and the police's slow case progress.
The incident occurred on July 20 at approximately 10:30 a.m. while Ms. Lukkaew was slowly searching for an empty spot. A large, working-age man suddenly ran and rammed the side of her car with great force, causing the vehicle to shake and damaging the mirror and door. No security guards were present at the scene. After filing a report at Thonglor Police Station, she was told the caseload was heavy and they might not prioritize it, which disappointed her.
When her boyfriend spoke with the project manager, the manager initially denied responsibility, stating: "Security doesn't monitor cars and there are no guards at every point, only at the entrance." The manager told her to read the parking card terms, noting it wasn't a valet service, and added: "If we had to catch every crazy person, we'd have to catch them all over the country."
After the post went viral online, the manager apologized and promised to help identify the perpetrator and discuss compensation. The project manager later provided the vehicle's license plate information. Ms. Lukkaew's car required a month to get parts and eight days of repairs, leaving her without transportation. Her insurance stated they cannot file a claim until the offender is caught. The incident has cost her time and work, forcing her to cancel meetings and deal with repairs.
A 68-year-old woman in Buriram province died after being struck by lightning while herding cattle in a rice field on July 22, with her husband saying she ignored repeated warnings about the danger.
On July 23, 2025, Sommai (surname withheld), 68, a resident of Ro Thong subdistrict, Satuek district, Buriram province, was struck by lightning while herding cattle back home on the evening of July 22 in a rice field near Sok Khlong village, Ro Thong subdistrict. Doctors at Satuek Hospital transferred her to Buriram Central Hospital due to the severity of her injuries. She died at the hospital.
This morning, rescue workers from Wang Krood brought her body home for traditional funeral rites. Many villagers expressed their grief, and residents have become increasingly cautious and fearful about venturing into the fields, as lightning strikes have occurred frequently over the past one to two years.
Sitthichai (surname withheld), 62, the deceased's husband, recounted that he heard a loud thunderclap at the time of the incident but did not pay attention until someone alerted him. He ran outside and found his wife lying face-down with burn marks on her hat and shirt, unconscious. He immediately called emergency responders to transport her to the hospital, but she died shortly after.
Regarding reports that she was watching YouTube, he denied this, explaining that his wife did not use a smartphone to watch videos—she only used one for calls. He believed the actual cause was that she had left her phone on at all times and happened to be standing in an open field when lightning struck.
Sitthichai also noted that his wife was hardworking, taking care of cattle and farm work despite his repeated warnings to stop. He had cautioned her about lightning risks, but she would respond, "When it's time to die, you die."