Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with executives from more than 40 European companies today (July 16) at Government House during a meeting with the EU-ASEAN Business Council and the European Ass...
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with executives from more than 40 European companies today (July 16) at Government House during a meeting with the EU-ASEAN Business Council and the European Ass...
A 71-year-old woman was arrested in Phuket for allegedly leading a fraud gang that scammed a land seller out of over 1 million baht through a rigged gambling game in Songkhla province.
Police arrested Tiwalay (surname withheld), known as "Sor," age 71, on July 16, 2025, under arrest warrant no. 282/2569 from Songkhla Provincial Court, issued April 30, 2025, on charges of fraud and theft conspiracy. She was apprehended at the parking area outside the Phuket Provincial Court in Muang District, Phuket.
Investigators found that after learning a victim had advertised land in Songkhla province valued at approximately 3 million baht for sale, the gang coordinated an elaborate scam. The scheme began when gang members including a man nicknamed "Dom" and the suspect befriended the victim, claiming interest in buying the property. They then introduced the victim to two accomplices posing as wealthy individuals, including a woman called "Hong" who claimed to be a successful businesswoman with large amounts of cash and a passion for gambling.
The suspect's associates then invited the victim to play a pumpkin-seed gambling game, teaching techniques to build confidence. Initially, the gang deliberately allowed the victim to win several rounds. In the sixth round, with higher stakes, one gang member secretly removed a seed to manipulate the outcome in "Hong's" favor. The scammers then accused the victim of losing the seed and demanded full compensation of the bet, resulting in a loss exceeding 1 million baht. Once the victim realized the deception, they filed a report with Had Yai Police, leading the court to issue arrest warrants for all gang members.
Investigators learned that Tiwalay was traveling to Phuket Provincial Court, allowing officers to stake out and arrest her. The suspect initially denied all charges, and she was transferred to Had Yai Police for further legal proceedings.
Former Bangkok MP Wilas Chanthphitthak warns that parliament's construction warranty expired July 15, leaving numerous defects including loose tiles and water damage unrepaired, and calls for extended warranty periods and contractor account
At 11:40 a.m. on July 16, 2024, at the parliament grounds, Wilas Chanthphitthak, a former Bangkok MP from the Democrat Party, announced the expiration of the two-year construction warranty for the parliament building on July 15. He noted that as a former chair of the House anti-corruption committee, he had monitored the project during multiple expansions and found numerous defects, leading to 65 complaints to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. He challenged anyone who disputes his claims to sue him.
Wilas said July 15 marked the completion of the two-year warranty period and the first day beyond contract. He proposed seven actions for parliament:
1. The contract contains three separate performance bonds totaling no less than 1.5 billion baht, most of which have been paid, with only one installment remaining.
2. The warranty period should extend beyond July 15, 2024, until all defects are corrected, as the contractor has not yet been called to repair the damage.
3. Parliament must expedite repairs, as numerous problems exist—including loose tiles on riverside embankments—and the warranty timeline must be extended until all issues are resolved.
4. Parliament should not create budgets to benefit the contractor by funding repairs in problem areas, such as the 123 million baht glass hall renovation this year, which itself contains multiple contract violations.
5. The 14 construction contracts contain serious defects, with all subcontractors poorly vetted and uninvestigated. One subcontractor received 2.993 billion baht in work yet submitted bids during the original contractor selection, raising suspicion of impropriety that warrants investigation.
6. Officials are being threatened and warned not to investigate, with threats of transfer if they persist. Such intimidation must stop, and any transfers will be contested in court.
7. Wilas, who has already filed 65 complaints, continues to find numerous defects and plans to submit additional complaints, particularly regarding water damage issues.
A senior Pheu Thai MP is demanding the Election Commission prosecute the entire network behind a nationwide Senate fraud scheme, not just individual operatives or isolated regions, when the EC makes its final decision in August.
On July 16, 2025, Prasit Wattrasindhu, a Pheu Thai party list MP and deputy party leader, commented on the Senate fraud case following confirmation by the Election Commission (EC) that witness testimony is admissible, with the seven commissioners to render a final decision in August. Prasit expressed hope that evidence and statements presented by four witnesses on July 12—now verified as admissible by the EC—would show the public how strong the case is against those under investigation by the EC and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
Prasit argued that if investigators pursued financial trails, hotel CCTV footage, communications records, and other evidence thoroughly, the findings would exceed what witnesses have publicly disclosed. Nevertheless, the four witnesses' accounts combined with existing public information already demonstrate that the Senate fraud scheme spans multiple provinces nationwide and is not confined to a single locality. The operation used similar recruitment and coordination methods across regions, and mathematically could only succeed if executed nationwide, Prasit noted.
Moreover, Prasit stated that all evidence points to the scheme being orchestrated not by individual Senate candidates themselves, but by political networks and parties behind the scenes, with apparent budget support. He warned that if the EC acts impartially, it must not conduct a truncated investigation by prosecuting only certain provinces or lower-level operatives.
"Therefore, if the seven EC commissioners perform their duty properly and consider all evidence, they must not conduct a piecemeal prosecution limited to certain areas or operational-level suspects," Prasit said. "The EC should submit the entire case to court in August, covering all involved regions and the political networks that planned and orchestrated the operation."
Prasit further noted that if the EC refers all 229 accused persons to court as recommended by the 26th investigation panel, public confidence in the EC's handling of the Senate fraud case would strengthen. Conversely, if the EC fails to prosecute individuals despite clear evidence, society would have the right to use legal mechanisms to investigate whether the EC neglected its duty.
Thailand will host the second Asian Adaptive Cycling Championship in 2027, following the inaugural event's success, with the third round of the national adaptive cycling championship taking place at Central Korat shopping mall in Nakhon Rat
General Decha Mekkrasri, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), announced that the ACC will support Thailand as host of the second Asian Adaptive Cycling Championship in 2027 following the first event's outstanding success.
Decha, who also serves as president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation and the Thai Cycling Association, revealed that the association is partnering with Sino-Pacific Trading (Thailand), Airports of Thailand, the Health Promotion Foundation, IRPC, Central Korat, and FBT to organize the third round of the Thai national adaptive cycling championship for the Princess Suthida Cup on Sunday, July 19, 2025, at Central Korat shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The third round will be held at the carpet floor of Korat Hall, which may have slightly different conditions than asphalt, but athletes can still achieve the same speeds, Decha said. The venue will open for registration on Friday, July 17, at noon via the Thailand Cycling Association Facebook page, with athlete practice sessions on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A team managers meeting will follow at 5 p.m. Competition begins at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday with the opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m., to be livestreamed on Facebook Live and YouTube's TCA Channel.
"This third round has attracted significant interest from parents, as young riders from various age groups now see an opportunity to win the 2025 Thai national championship," Decha said. "We invite parents from throughout the Northeast and across Thailand to enter their children, as winners from each round accumulate points toward the national title and will be considered for Thailand's team in the 2027 Asian championship."
Decha added that ACC President Amajeeth Singh Gill confirmed the inaugural Asian Adaptive Cycling Championship on June 6-7 was highly successful, marking both a major achievement for the Thai Cycling Association and an important step for the ACC and Asian cycling development, particularly in cultivating talent for future international cyclists.
The ACC will hold a board meeting on August 6 during the Asian BMX Championship in Nilai, Malaysia (August 6-8, 2025), where the Thai Cycling Association will present plans to expand adaptive cycling development further across the Asian region.
Big Mountain Music Festival founder Yuthana Buonym admitted that attendance halved last year, taking responsibility for allowing the event to deteriorate despite years of warnings from attendees and supporters.
Yuthana Buonym, founder of the legendary Big Mountain Music Festival, has sparked widespread online discussion after publicly acknowledging that the festival's attendance has declined significantly. In a candid post, he admitted responsibility for allowing the situation to deteriorate, saying he only realized the severity of the problem when attendance dropped by half last year. "Many people told me the Big event was getting worse every year," he wrote. "I heard it more and more until last year when attendance fell by half—that's when I realized this was serious. I take responsibility for letting it get this bad."
The admission has generated extensive online commentary, with diverse reactions from festival fans and past attendees. Some continue to express support and pledge ongoing backing for the festival, while others argue that problems have accumulated over several years, affecting both the festival atmosphere and the quality of artist lineups. Meanwhile, several voices have praised recent management improvements, particularly stricter enforcement of smoking regulations, and some have called for stronger action against drug use and illegal activities to create a safer environment for all attendees.
Despite the criticism, many fans remain loyal to Big Mountain, describing it as a unique and irreplaceable experience. They are sending encouragement to Yuthana Buonym and his team, hoping they can revive the festival's former magic and create a new phenomenon in the future.
Din, lead singer of Dos Kanthat, died from severe burns sustained in a club fire, with over 80% of his body burned; his mother claimed his body at the Police Hospital's Forensic Institute on July 16, describing him as her family's sole supp
On July 16, 2025, at the Police Hospital's Forensic Institute, Jansuda Tanla, 49, mother of Thitiwat Kaewkanha—known as Din, lead singer of Dos Kanthat—arrived to claim her son's body and submit his death documents. Jansuda said the family learned of Din's condition on day two after he was admitted to Rajavithi Hospital. During their first visit, when she called out to him, Din nodded in acknowledgment and told her, "Mom and Dad are here, don't worry."
Doctors then explained that Din's condition was the most critical among all the injured. His body suffered severe damage, with over 80% burned by flames. Toxic smoke and heat caused damage to nearly all internal organs, particularly his lungs. According to medical standards, he should have died at the scene, but doctors said Din fought hard and the medical team tried their utmost to keep him alive. By the morning of day two, doctors called the family in to say his vital organs had failed and could no longer be saved.
When asked about the 10,000-baht compensation, the mother acknowledged it felt insufficient compared to minimum wage for several days, but she has not yet criticized it as the family has not discussed terms with the establishment and needs to consult with other bereaved families. She believes responsibility should be determined by relevant authorities according to law.
Regarding the establishment's request for victims to contact them via social media for compensation, she said she had not reviewed the details, as her focus throughout had been on caring for her son, with the band leader coordinating follow-up matters.
The mother described Din as unmarried with no debts, a son who always helped ease the family burden and had planned to help her leave work to open a small restaurant once the economy improved. Din intended to continue singing to support the family, but those dreams have now ended. She recalled Din loved singing since childhood, taught himself guitar, learned chords, composed songs, and was dedicated to pursuing music seriously. She always reminded him before performances to note emergency exits and fire escapes, remembering the Santika pub fire well. Din would always assure her he would check each time and never be careless.
After the accident, learning the venue was located in that area, she admitted shock, as the space seemed quite narrow and unsuitable for an entertainment venue with large crowds, making evacuation difficult in emergencies.
After receiving the body, the family will hold a merit-making ceremony for Din at Sawang Phop Temple in Khlong Si subdistrict, Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province.
"I want to tell my son: may you journey to a good realm, don't worry about your parents—we will stay strong and continue living. Thank you, son, for never causing problems or burden throughout your life, and for always being grateful to the family," the mother said.
A Bangkok man confessed to killing his colleague at a drainage office after stealing 40,000 baht from him on July 15, striking the victim with a wooden stick when confronted about the theft.
Man charged with murder after stealing colleague’s moneyLegacyA Thai man confessed to stealing 40,000 baht from his colleague before killing the victim at the Hua Lamphong Canal Drainage and Sewerage Office in Bangkok yesterday, July 15. Officers from Thong Lor Police Station were called to the office at about 8am yesterday, July 15, following reports of a possible murder. The victim, 54 year old drainage and sewerage officer Amphai, was found in a bathroom inside the building. A colleague who alerted police told investigators he went to use the bathroom at about 7am but found the door locked from the outside. After retrieving a key from his bedroom in the office, he entered the bathroom and discovered the body. Photo via Channel 8 The witness said he immediately informed another colleague, 42 year old Golf, who also lived at the office. The pair moved Amphai from the bathroom before contacting police. According to investigators, Golf left the premises shortly before officers arrived, making him the primary suspect in the case. Police said he took his belongings when he left, but accidentally left one of his mobile phones behind. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and traced the accused to a hotel in Bangkok’s Samran Rat area. Officers arrested him during a raid at the hotel. Photo via Channel 8 Police said Golf admitted to killing Amphai during questioning. He told police he had secretly used Amphai’s mobile phone to transfer 40,000 baht from the victim’s bank account into his own account through a mobile banking application. The suspect claimed that he confessed to taking the money on the night of July 14 and promised to repay Amphai. However, Amphai became angry and rejected his attempts to resolve the matter, insisting instead that legal action would be taken. Golf then struck Amphai with a wooden stick before moving the body into the bathroom. Police charged the accused with intentional murder. They also charged him under Section 199 of the Criminal Code for concealing or moving a body to hide the cause of death or obstruct the investigation. Photo via Channel 8 The story Man charged with murder after stealing colleague’s money as seen on Thaiger News.
The Prime Minister honored 16-year-old guitarist Nene at Government House after her viral success on America's Got Talent, pledging government support for her international music career.
Sixteen-year-old Thai guitarist Nene, who rose to fame busking in Phuket's night markets, was invited to Government House in Bangkok where she performed an electric guitar solo of "Zombie" before Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and cabinet members. The Prime Minister personally presented her with the "Amazing Thailand" national honor badge and pledged full government backing for her career, calling her a role model for Thailand's youth on the global stage. The visit marked a major milestone for the self-taught musician, who recently achieved over 106 million views on America's Got Talent.
A 35-year-old village fund officer in Chiang Mai has been arrested for allegedly embezzling over 60 million baht from residents across four subdistricts, with police opposing her release due to the scale of victims and ongoing financial inv
A 35-year-old woman serving as a village fund officer has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling over tens of millions of baht from residents in Doi Luang District, Chiang Mai. Police secured her custody and have opposed her release. She was apprehended in Phayao District, Nakhon Sawan, before being brought into the justice system.
On the morning of July 16, 2025, investigators from Doi Luang Police Station presented the suspect before Chiang Mai Provincial Court and filed an objection to temporary release at both the investigation and prosecution levels. Senior Police Captain Damoen Kan-ong, a national police expert serving as case controller, visited the area to meet with affected residents at the Doi Luang police station to gather information, expedite evidence collection, and track financial flows comprehensively.
Police Captain Prathueang Pattanakosit, superintendent of Doi Luang Police Station, stated that bail opposition was necessary due to the large number of victims, significant damages, and the need for additional evidence gathering and detailed financial tracking before submission to prosecutors.
The case began on July 3, 2025, when Police Major General Yutthana Kaenchan, commander of Chiang Mai Provincial Police, received a complaint from Suphaknan Thaokhao, representing the victims, requesting acceleration of fraud and embezzlement charges totaling over 60 million baht in damages.
Commander Yutthana then ordered Senior Police Captain Damoen Kan-ong and Chiang Mai Provincial Police investigation units to coordinate with Doi Luang station to expedite case resolution and locate the suspect.
On July 1, 2025, nearly 50 victims from 54 villages across four subdistricts—Doi Luang, Santi Suk, Yang Khram, and Song Kaew—filed complaints with Doi Luang station and submitted bank transfer slips and payment documents to investigate the financial trail.
Victims reported severe hardship, with many families burdened by debt and awaiting recovery of their money. One victim and witness provided credible evidence suggesting some funds were used to purchase houses, luxury vehicles, and valuable assets, with all information submitted to investigators for verification. However, these matters remain under investigation and evidence collection according to legal procedures.
Police continue accepting additional information from victims and are pursuing financial tracking, expanding the investigation to potentially implicated parties, and pursuing asset recovery efforts.
Thong National Park in Chaiyaphum Province has unveiled a new lotus-shaped sculpture called the "Navel of Heaven" where visitors can make wishes and view blooming Crinum flowers amid misty mornings.
Thong National Park in Chaiyaphum Province has unveiled a new checkpoint attraction called the "Navel of Heaven" in 2025, inviting travelers to step on the sculpture while enjoying views of blooming Crinum flowers. The Navel of Heaven is a terracotta sculpture shaped like a heavenly lotus, created by students from the "Borderless Classroom Returning Home" program, inspired by the beauty of misty mornings and vibrant Crinum flowers blooming across the landscape. Visitors can participate in a simple ritual: place your footprints on the Navel of Heaven and toss a coin while making a wish, with the belief that those who do so will experience happiness and fulfillment in life. This act is said to be a promise from nature that one day you will return to enjoy the misty beauty and heavenly lotus fields again. In addition to this new highlight, Thong National Park welcomes tourists to view the stunning Crinum flower fields, also known as heavenly lotus flowers, which are currently blooming magnificently amid white mist and lush forest.