Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana has been selected as a member of Thailand's national equestrian team to compete in the 20th Asian Games, bringing inspiration to Thai athletes. The princess was chosen based on her qualifications and potential as assessed by the Equestrian Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage for the 20th Asian Games, scheduled for September 19 to October 4, 2025, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmanee, Director-General of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), announced that Princess Sirivannavari is preparing to participate in the 20th Asian Games, which has delighted and motivated Thailand's national team and provides an opportunity to witness her sporting excellence once again.

Following the equestrian association's confirmation of the princess's participation and the finalized roster of Thai equestrian athletes for the 20th Asian Games, the SAT is preparing to present her with the prestigious National Thai Athlete Award.

The SAT director explained that the National Thai Athlete Award, created by the SAT and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for National Sports Day 2025, is comparable to the National Artist Award. Princess Sirivannavari is the first Thai national athlete in history to receive this honor, recognized for her excellence in badminton and equestrian sports, as well as her patronage and continuous support of Thai athletics and her role in advancing Thai sports to international standards.

Princess Sirivannavari is training with "Boulevard," her personal horse, to prepare for the dressage competition at the 20th Asian Games. This will be her fourth Asian Games appearance, following the 15th Asian Games in 2003 in Doha, Qatar (badminton), the 17th Asian Games in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea (dressage), and the 19th Asian Games in 2023 in Hangzhou, China (dressage).

A parliamentary legal affairs and human rights committee led by Rangsiman Rom visited Thai Samakkhi village in Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province on July 3, 2025, to investigate and resolve a decades-long land dispute affecting residents in areas overlapping with Thap Lan National Park. The committee included former Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, Hmong human rights lawyer Loufang Bundit Thetsagul, and other government officials. Over 500 affected residents attended the public hearing, hoping the committee would use parliamentary mechanisms to resolve legal obstacles and help those facing encroachment charges.

The committee visited Wat Bu Phai to gather evidence and testimony from locals. Committee member Somboon Singking revealed that approximately 46,000 people in 97 villages across five districts and two provinces are affected, with the controversial Group 4 residents classified as residing within park boundaries despite their historical settlement. "This is not encroachment by people, but encroachment by forest," Somboon stated, explaining that park boundaries were originally drawn on maps in offices, creating overlaps with existing communities. He urged media to avoid portraying residents as invaders, as it deepens the pain of rural poor communities lacking social justice.

Chairman Rangsiman Rom emphasized that the core problem is incorrect boundary demarcation—not capitalist land seizure—which wrongly criminalized residents who preceded the park's designation. The committee aims to gather comprehensive evidence and propose legal reforms or policy recommendations to address this 40-year-old conflict at the national level.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekanat Nitithanprapas announced at the National Media Council's 29th-anniversary event on July 4 that the government remains committed to its investment-year policy, aiming to attract 900 billion to 1 trillion baht in foreign direct investment through the Thailand FastPass program to drive economic growth and strengthen national competitiveness.

While the 2027 budget shows reduced capital expenditure allocation, the government is increasing overall investment through non-budgetary investment channels, including public-private partnerships, the Thailand Future Fund, and foreign direct investment, to ease the state's direct debt burden.

As chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI), Ekanat said the goal is to use Thailand FastPass as a major economic driver and boost the country's long-term competitiveness. The program requires participants to invest at least 20% of their commitment within the current year. The government is also emphasizing the Skill Bridge project to facilitate technology transfer and develop Thai workforce skills for emerging industries.

Regarding budget constraints, Ekanat clarified that the reduction in capital expenditure reflects improved transparency, with previously hidden operational expenses now disclosed. This increases the proportion of regular spending relative to capital spending in numerical terms, but investment will still grow through private-sector and state-enterprise contributions that the government will actively promote.

Siyaboat Nattadej Vachirratanwong, promoter and owner of Petchyindee camp, has again spoken out against judges' officiating, which he believes is destroying muay Thai. He called for systemic reform at Rajadamnern Stadium following the controversial July 2, 2025 Petchyindee event, alleging scores were locked in from round one in the "Steel Bone vs. Petchmoungkan" bout. He demanded the stadium overhaul its system and audit judges' financial trails, and suggested bringing in foreign officials to eliminate corruption.

Siyaboat posted an interview on Petchyindee's Facebook explaining his frustrations. "The scoring deteriorated over three rounds," he said. "I've watched muay Thai my whole life. I can tell the fix was in from round one, not just rounds four or five." He emphasized his credibility, saying he wouldn't speak out without certainty. "I've analyzed every bout carefully. When I speak, it's not gossip—I have a reputation to back it up."

He cited specific examples: "In today's card, Tienchaluang could have lost to anyone, but in round five, he shouldn't have lost—yet three judges gave it against him. And Steel Bone, who fights for Petchyindee, seemed unaware he was winning three rounds but lost on points."

Siyaboat proposed drastic solutions: "The person overseeing judges must be an outsider with no connection to the stadium and no incentive to protect themselves. Judges have always covered for each other. The only way to fix this is to bring in authorities or someone who can audit judges' finances—like FIFA does for football referees. This corruption damages Thai boxing nationally, not just Rajadamnern. Otherwise, hire foreigners to judge. Thai judges clearly can't do it."

A passenger bus lost control and plunged into a deep ravine in Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan, on July 3, according to Reuters. The crash killed at least 40 people and injured 8 others. The bus was operated by a private transport company and was carrying 48 passengers traveling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Islamabad. Authorities investigating the incident found that the bus had taken on passengers from another disabled vehicle, causing severe overcrowding. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. In a separate incident the same day, a truck carrying 22 Afghan refugees skidded off a river while traveling in Nangarhar province in the east. At least 4 people have been confirmed dead, and emergency teams are searching for 10 missing passengers while investigating the cause.

The Thai Meteorological Department issued its sixth warning on Typhoon Maysak on July 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM. At 10:00 AM that day, Tropical Storm Maysak was positioned in the upper South China Sea, 150 kilometers south of Nanning, China (20.2°N, 107.9°E), with maximum wind speeds near the center of approximately 74 kilometers per hour. The storm was moving northward with a slight westward drift at 15 kilometers per hour and is forecast to make landfall near Nanning in southern China on July 5. The storm's center will not enter Thailand, but its indirect effects combined with a monsoon trough and the strong southwest monsoon will impact the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand.

Thailand will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas, particularly in the northern, upper northeastern, eastern, and southern regions. From July 5-6, the upper northern and upper northeastern regions will continue experiencing heavy to very heavy rain in some areas. Sea conditions will intensify: the upper Andaman Sea will see waves 2-3 meters high, exceeding 3 meters in thunderstorm areas; the lower Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand will have waves around 2 meters, exceeding 2 meters during thunderstorms.

Fishermen are urged to exercise caution and avoid areas with thunderstorms. Small vessels in the upper Andaman Sea should remain ashore during this period. The public is advised to plan activities and travel carefully during this time and monitor updates from the Thai Meteorological Department via http://www.tmd.go.th, or call 0-2399-4012-13 and 1182 available 24/7. The next warning will be issued on July 4 at 5:00 PM.

Affected Provinces: July 4, 2025: Very Heavy Rain: Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan (Northern); Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom (Northeastern); Chanthaburi, Trat (Eastern) Heavy Rain: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Uthai Thani, Phichit, Phetchabun (Northern); Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani (Northeastern); Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi (Central); Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong (Eastern); Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Phangnga (Southern)

July 5, 2025: Very Heavy Rain: Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani (Northeastern); Chanthaburi, Trat (Eastern) Heavy Rain: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Phayao, Nan (Northern)