British-American Tobacco (BAT), the English-American cigarette manufacturer and distributor of brands including Dunhill, Kent, and Rothmans, is preparing to lay off 5,500 positions—or one-fifth of its approximately 47,000 global workforce—as part of a major organizational restructuring aimed at reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.

According to Bloomberg, citing an internal BAT announcement, the company will lay off 5,500 employees by year-end while outsourcing 3,500 positions. BAT has partnered with Accenture to manage multiple business functions, including service centers that typically employ large numbers of staff. Positions in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Costa Rica, Mexico, Poland, Romania, and Malaysia have already been transferred to Accenture, while some operations in Pakistan have been outsourced to Systems Ltd, a Pakistani technology and business services company.

The reported layoff figures do not include BAT's U.S. operations, which operate through subsidiary Reynolds American. BAT faces declining demand for traditional cigarettes in many global markets while needing to invest in alternative nicotine products that are gaining consumer popularity as more smokers seek to quit. Like competitor Philip Morris International, BAT aims to generate more than half its revenue from smoke-free nicotine products such as the Vuse e-cigarette and Velo nicotine pouches.

The restructuring also involves closing traditional cigarette manufacturing plants. In January, BAT announced it had closed its eighth cigarette factory in South Africa due to illegal trade competition. The company forecasts a 2 percent decline in global cigarette industry volume this year. BAT's Chief Financial Officer Javed Iqbal stated in February that artificial intelligence and data analytics tools will also impact staffing levels. The company expects to complete most of its cost-reduction plan, valued at approximately 500 million pounds, within the coming year.

Rung Khao (Lanlaa Tharavidee), a 21-year-old Thai tennis player ranked 99th in the world, delivered an outstanding performance by defeating Austria's Lilly Tackett 2-1 sets to reach the second round of Wimbledon for the first time at the 2026 Grand Slam tournament held in England on June 29.

Lanlaa became the fourth Thai female player to reach the main draw round of a Grand Slam after Tamarine Tanasugarn, Luksika Kumkhum, and Mananchaya Sawangkaew. The two players had previously met at the 2026 Australian Open in January, where Lanlaa dominated with a 2-0 set victory (6-3, 6-0).

This match saw both players compete at a high level. The first set went to a tiebreak where Lanlaa prevailed 7-6 (7-3) to take a 1-0 set lead. The second set was equally competitive until Tackett mounted a comeback to win 7-5, forcing a decisive third set.

The third set proved grueling before Lanlaa secured victory 6-4. She ultimately won the match 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-4, making history as she advanced to the Wimbledon second round for the first time while earning approximately 5.5 million baht in prize money.

Lanlaa faces a tough challenge in her next match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who defeated Serbia's Teodora Kostovic (ranked 182nd) 2-0 sets.

Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Wariratana wore a Thai Amarin dress while attending an official reception ceremony at Hôtel des Invalides in France on June 29, 2026. Hôtel des Invalides is a large historic complex built since the 17th century during the reign of King Louis XIV to honor and provide care for war veterans, serving as an important historical and military site of the French Republic. Within the complex are the Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, the cathedral of the French military, and the Dôme des Invalides, which houses the tomb of Emperor Napoleon I. This location is considered a symbol of the highest military honor used by the French government for state ceremonies welcoming foreign leaders. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana wore a slate-colored Thai Amarin dress with embroidered raised flowers decorated with hand-stitched sequins, designed by national artist Thirapan Wannarat of Tirapan boutique, with makeup by Phuthada Phothammachat and hairstyling by Sompon Thirin.

Miroslav Kobeк, head coach of the Czech Republic's 2026 World Cup squad, has resigned following the team's disappointing group stage elimination and mounting criticism over his tactical approach. Kobeк assumed the role in December 2025 when the Czech Republic had qualified as group runners-up in European qualifying, subsequently leading them through playoff victories to reach the tournament. However, the Czech Republic struggled in Group A against hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea, winning none of their three matches and collecting just one point, finishing fourth. Kobeк drew particularly harsh criticism for his defensive, counter-attacking strategy, and notably benched striker Patrik Schick in the crucial Mexico match—a game the team lost 0-3. The 74-year-old coach stated: "Media coverage based on half-truths and false stories about me influenced this decision. My work has lost its meaning amid this kind of atmosphere."

A teacher at a prominent Chiang Mai school has been arrested for sexually abusing a Grade 8 female student over an extended period, committing acts in the school office, teacher's residence, and his personal vehicle, while forcing the girl to send him explicit videos. The victim became severely depressed and contemplated suicide.

On June 29, 2026, the Pueying Hongsukul Foundation for Children and Women coordinated with Deputy Provincial Police Commander Yutthana Kaenjanchan to arrest the school's discipline coordinator. The teacher had exploited the student, coerced her to send nude videos, and subjected her to abuse across multiple locations at the school and in his car, causing the girl severe psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. When her grandmother and mother learned of the situation, they traveled from Chiang Mai to report the case to the Pueying Foundation.

After receiving the complaint, the foundation worked with police to investigate, gather evidence, and secure an arrest warrant from Chiang Mai Provincial Court before the teacher's arrest and detention.

The investigation revealed the teacher lured and sexually assaulted the student repeatedly over approximately a year, while also coercing her to provide explicit videos. The girl endured abuse in the discipline office, the teacher's residential quarters on school grounds, and in his private vehicle, leading to severe anxiety and suicidal ideation. Following her family's report to the foundation, the teacher was arrested.

The Pueying Foundation has invited Dr. Trin Ganasittinan, Director of the Rights and Freedoms Protection Center under the Ministry of Education, to meet with the victim's grandmother and mother to develop rehabilitation and support plans, including the student's transfer to another school. The foundation has also coordinated with Deputy Education Minister Akkanut Kanakittinant, who heads the Rights and Freedoms Protection Center, to pursue severe disciplinary action against the teacher.

Police rescued a Chinese victim of a call center fraud gang that attempted to extort 2 million yuan (approximately 10 million baht) from his father.

On June 29, 2569, Pol. Lt. Gen. Suwat Gerd-Gaew, commander of Region 10 Police, conducted an inspection at Pathumwan Police Station after receiving notification from Chinese nationals working in Thailand who had been coordinated by Chinese police officials to track down Mr. MA MINGZE, a Chinese national and victim of the call center gang.

Pol. Col. Sirichard Janpromma, commander of Pathumwan Police Station in the incident area, reported that upon learning of the case, he ordered the investigation unit and patrol teams to investigate. Through investigation, it was found that after the victim entered Thailand and checked into a hotel in Rong Muang Subdistrict, Pathumwan District, Bangkok, CCTV footage examination revealed the victim arrived and stayed alone with no accomplices present. Police coordinated with tourist police and immigration officers to track the victim until they could safely assist him in his hotel room.

During interrogation, the victim stated that criminals impersonating Chinese police officers threatened him by phone, accusing him of involvement in criminal cases and deceiving him into transferring money to settle the cases. The victim made four transfers totaling approximately 2 million yuan (about 10 million baht) to Malaysia. The gang then deceived him into traveling to Thailand, claiming they would arrange his deportation back to China. They demanded he request money from his parents for ransom.

Since the victim's bank account had been frozen and transfers couldn't be completed, the gang devised another scheme, claiming he could return to China but had to go through Thailand first, and would then travel to Myanmar to re-enter via natural border crossings. The gang likely fabricated this story to extort more money from the victim's parents.

Initially, arrangements were made for the victim's father to travel from China to Thailand to pick up his son. The father arrived at 07:10 on June 29, 2569 via AK890 flight before traveling to Pathumwan Police Station to receive his son.