On July 12, 2025, military rangers operating in Sarakaew Province apprehended two Thai men attempting to illegally wade across the Khlong Luek River and cut through barbed wire fences to re-enter Thailand at checkpoint 17 near Ban Khlong Luek in Aranyaprathet District. The first suspect, 28, has four criminal court warrants, while the second, 40, is linked to 11 cases with nine additional warrants from Pathum Thani Provincial Court, totaling 13 outstanding warrants between them.

Investigation revealed both men had worked for a call center network in Poipet since February 2022, where they chatted with victims to solicit investment and scanned faces to open mule bank accounts for 5,000 baht per account. After Cambodian authorities launched a crackdown on call center operations in June 2025, their Chinese boss and some staff fled, leaving the two men jobless and stranded in Poipet. With funds depleted, they decided to illegally cross the border back to Thailand by wading through the river and cutting through barbed wire.

Authorities arrested both suspects and transferred them to Khlong Luek Police Station for legal proceedings, while investigators continue to pursue the broader call center network and mule account operation.

On July 12, 2569, the Army Region 2's Narcotics Suppression and Interception Command Unit 24, working with the Nakhon Phanom Drug Suppression Command, successfully dismantled a major drug trafficking network following up on a March 23 arrest. They arrested one suspect and seized 5 million methamphetamine pills, two vehicles, and two mobile phones from a residence in Muang Nakhon Phanom District.

The operation stemmed from an earlier March 23 bust when authorities arrested one individual with 502 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in the same district. Investigators tracked the network's financial transactions and vehicles for weeks. On July 8, officers spotted suspicious activity in Nakhon Phanom Province and intensified surveillance.

On July 10 at approximately 3:00 p.m., officers raided the residence and arrested 53-year-old Saon, a Nakhon Sawan native. The seizure included approximately 5 million methamphetamine pills still being counted, two Mitsubishi pickup trucks, and two mobile phones. The suspect faces drug trafficking charges and is in custody pending further investigation.

Authorities confirmed the investigation is ongoing as they pursue other network members, commanders, and associates involved in the trafficking operation for legal prosecution.

Bhutan's government is launching an incentive program to encourage couples to have more children as the Himalayan kingdom faces a rapidly declining birthrate and increasing emigration of young people seeking opportunities abroad. According to a Straits Times report from July 12, the annual birthrate has dropped by more than 25 percent over the past decade.

Prime Minister Dasho Cheering Tobgay has repeatedly warned about the population crisis, calling it an existential threat, and introduced the "Third Child Plus" program in June.

The scheme provides monthly financial assistance of $105 (approximately 3,495 baht) for a third child or subsequent children until age three.

With fewer than 800,000 residents and a 27 percent population decline since 2020, Bhutan's fertility rate has fallen to approximately 1.8 children per woman—below replacement level—while the proportion of elderly residents aged 65 and above is projected to increase from roughly 6 percent to 17 percent by 2049, according to United Nations projections.

Irish fighter Conor McGregor returned to the octagon for the first time in five years at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 12, but suffered a TKO loss in less than two minutes. The two-time former world champion faced off against Max Holloway, a former featherweight champion, in a rematch of their fight from 13 years prior. McGregor's last fight was a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier in 2021, which ended with a broken leg and a long layoff from competition. In this comeback fight, McGregor suffered a right knee injury from the first round and was unable to continue fighting, resulting in a TKO loss at 1 minute 6 seconds.

Actress Ton Hom Sakunthala Tienpairoj has released an honest review of her five-month mouth taping weight loss experience, sharing candid details about the challenges she faced. She explained that she stopped the mouth taping at the third month after five months of treatment, and decided to share her experience as educational information.

During the third month, Ton Hom experienced frequent hunger, intense cravings for sweets, and struggled with appetite control—eating without feeling full. She noted that her metabolism seemed to shut down, which frustrated her, though she continued eating despite these issues. After five months, she lost five kilograms, but has since gained back two kilograms, which she considers normal.

Ton Hom emphasized that the mouth taping was not solely responsible for the weight loss. "It wasn't just the mouth tape," she explained. "I was weight training consistently throughout those five months. It's about building your own metabolism. The mouth tape just helped me stop eating, but you have to help yourself with the entire routine."

She revealed that a doctor recommended five lifestyle adjustments: controlling food intake, exercising, sleeping properly, avoiding alcohol, and managing stress. Ton Hom managed to follow almost all of them except diet control, particularly during her menstrual cycle when cravings were uncontrollable. She emphasized that the mouth tape served as a supplement, not a standalone solution.

In the first two weeks alone, she lost four kilograms—a dramatic change she'd never experienced before. Upon detailed body composition analysis, she discovered that two of those kilograms were muscle loss, meaning only two kilograms were fat loss. This motivated her to maintain consistent weight training, never skipping a single week during the entire five-month period.

Ton Hom stressed the importance of medical supervision, noting that stopping the treatment wasn't a personal choice but a doctor's decision. She also warned that a two-kilogram rebound after stopping is normal and expected.

In the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal on July 12, 2025, at Kansas City Stadium in the United States, Argentina played Switzerland. Argentina had a strong start, scoring first with a 1-0 lead from a corner kick in the 10th minute when Lionel Messi assisted Alexis Mac Allister's goal. After taking the lead, Argentina adopted a defensive approach focused on solidity, while Switzerland controlled the ball more effectively. In the 67th minute of the second half, Dan Ndoyi broke through and scored to equalize for Switzerland at 1-1. Switzerland's situation deteriorated when Breel Embolo, already carrying a yellow card, attempted to dive for a foul. After VAR review, the referee issued Embolo a second yellow card, resulting in a red card and his dismissal from the field. Despite Argentina's near-total possession and attacking pressure in the remaining time, they failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage, and the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, requiring extra time. In the extra period, Argentina, with more players, pressed heavily, and in the 112th minute, Julián Álvarez fired a stunning long-range shot to give Argentina a 2-1 lead.