Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya's appearance at the Christian Dior Couture Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show highlighted Thai craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The ...
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya's appearance at the Christian Dior Couture Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show highlighted Thai craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The ...
Thailand's Health Ministry is tightening inspections of licensed cannabis farms nationwide, with authorities now able to immediately suspend or revoke permits for violations. Provincial health offices will coordinate with police and adminis
BANGKOK — 7 July 2026, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has ordered stricter inspections of licensed cannabis cultivation sites nationwide, with provincial health offices instructed to work alongside local administrative officials and police. Growers found violating licence conditions could face immediate suspension or revocation of their licences.
Dr. Thewan Thaneerat, deputy director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), said on 7 July that the department will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, with provincial public health offices across the country to explain new measures for regulating cannabis cultivation sites.
He said the meeting will focus on two key objectives. The first is to strengthen oversight of cannabis farms nationwide by ensuring all licence holders strictly comply with the conditions set out in their licences and operate fully within the legal framework.
The second is to enhance coordination with security agencies by instructing provincial public health offices, as the lead authorities in their respective areas, to work closely with the Department of Provincial Administration and the Royal Thai Police to conduct joint inspections and intensify enforcement.
Dr. Peeracha Kukasemkit, director of the Medical Cannabis Division, said the new enforcement measures include three main areas.
First, authorities will conduct rigorous inspections of licensed cannabis cultivation sites to ensure compliance with the law.
Second, provincial public health offices will be given clear criteria allowing them to immediately suspend or revoke licences if violations of licence conditions are found.
Third, the department will expand the use of the MC-GIS geographic information system to verify information on licensed operators. The system will provide a shared database for provincial health offices, the Department of Provincial Administration and police, enabling more accurate inspections and law enforcement.
The ministry said the measures are intended to strengthen cooperation among all relevant agencies to ensure cannabis control is enforced effectively, in line with the law, and on a sustainable basis.
A court issued an arrest warrant for former lawyer Sivawithai Samretsapol after he failed to appear for his Supreme Court verdict on charges of filing false accusations and perjury against a woman in 2017. Samretsapol was previously sentenc
A court issued an arrest warrant on July 7, 2025, for former prominent lawyer Sivawithai Samretsapol, who failed to appear for his Supreme Court verdict reading in case number 3452/2562. Supraphen Vorarojancharoendech filed the lawsuit against him for filing false charges and perjury.
According to the complaint, on November 15, 2017, Samretsapol filed false charges against Supraphen in criminal case number 3534/2560, accusing her of impropriety and claiming she had misappropriated legal documents. On October 6, 2017, Supraphen used a contract as evidence in a civil court case. Samretsapol, who was a lawyer at the time, later countered that Supraphen had improperly used falsified evidence, though the court ultimately dismissed his allegations for lack of merit. The Bar Association removed Samretsapol's name from its registry on February 8, 2018. The trial court sentenced him to two years imprisonment in 2022, while the appeals court reduced it to eight months. Both parties appealed to the Supreme Court.
Akkrit Vorarojancharoendech, Supraphen's son, told reporters that the case demonstrates the importance of accountability for educated professionals, particularly lawyers, who should not abuse their knowledge to harass ordinary citizens. He noted that Samretsapol has never attempted reconciliation, only pursued harassment. Akkrit stated he had documented Samretsapol's actions and expressed relief that justice exists, though the case has taken years to resolve since 2019. When the scheduled hearing arrived, only the plaintiff's lawyer and Akkrit appeared in court. Samretsapol received notice of the hearing but did not attend, prompting the court to issue an arrest warrant.
A 39-year-old pickup truck driver suffered a stroke on an Ayutthaya expressway July 7, causing his vehicle to graze a sedan whose tires burst; he was hospitalized after experiencing convulsions and chest pain.
Factory workers were terrified when their pickup truck driver experienced a stroke while driving on the highway, causing the vehicle to swerve and collide with a sedan, whose tires burst. The driver lost bodily control as he cried out for help.
At 7:00 a.m. on July 7, 2569, police from Phra In Racha Station were notified of a pickup truck driver who suffered a stroke while driving, causing the vehicle to lose control and graze a sedan on Phahon Yothin Road, outbound expressway, at the Bang Pa-in elevated interchange in Chiang Rak Noi Subdistrict, Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Officers rushed to investigate with rescue personnel from Putthaisawan Foundation.
At the scene, they found a 39-year-old male pickup truck driver in the vehicle experiencing convulsions, difficulty breathing, with involuntary loss of bowel and bladder control. Preliminary questioning revealed he had colorectal cancer. Medical teams from Bang Pa-in Hospital were coordinated to provide emergency assistance and first aid before transporting him to the hospital for treatment.
The sedan was found parked about 100 meters from the incident scene with grazing marks along the left rear and left front tires both punctured. Preliminary questioning of a good citizen revealed that factory employees in the pickup truck were shouting for help as he passed, so he stopped to assist.
The employees were from Rama Intra heading to inspect a factory in the High-Tech Industrial Estate in Bang Pa-in when the driver suddenly experienced convulsions and chest pain.
Before the pickup truck lost control and grazed the sedan, the driver managed to steer toward the left lane and stop. Fortunately, he was able to bring the vehicle to rest along the roadside, preventing a more severe accident or additional injuries.
Thailand's Chamber of Commerce urges the government to use the 3.788 trillion baht 2570 budget for long-term economic restructuring rather than short-term spending, warning that recurring costs now consume 73.6% of the budget while investme
The Thai Chamber of Commerce has highlighted the government's fiscal constraints, noting high spending paired with low revenue collection. Chamber President Pimpjai Leeissaranugul stated that the 2570 budget must be understood within the context of state limitations, as Thailand must balance short-term economic management, maintain fiscal discipline, and address continuously rising recurring expenditures. The key issue is not whether to spend more or less, but how effectively spending can restructure the economy.
The 2570 budget figures reflect these constraints starkly. The total budget allocation sits at approximately 3.788 trillion baht, representing a mere 0.2% increase from the previous year. Net revenue is projected at 3 trillion baht, necessitating a deficit-covering loan of approximately 788 billion baht, or 3.8% of GDP.
Recurring expenditures have increased 5.0% and now account for 73.6% of total budget, while investment spending has decreased 8.4% to represent just 20.8% of total budget. These figures demonstrate that Thailand's fiscal space is contracting, requiring the government to establish clearer budget priorities—particularly as the Thai economy in 2570 is projected to grow only 1.7-2.7%, insufficient to address structural challenges including productivity, energy costs, labor skills, competitiveness, and industrial modernization.
The Chamber views the 2570 budget as a tool for long-term economic restructuring rather than addressing immediate, ad-hoc problems. Budget weight should focus on productivity-enhancing projects including logistics and digital infrastructure, modern labor skill development, small-medium enterprise technology and AI adoption, clean energy investment, innovation support, Thai product standards, and measures connecting Thai businesses to global supply chains.
The Chamber proposes five key fiscal measures:
1. Allocate budgets based on economic results. Investment spending should target projects measurably increasing productivity, reducing costs, creating jobs, boosting business revenue, or building new national capabilities—not scattered across unfocused initiatives.
2. Increase state revenue by expanding the economic base. Government should grow the economy, fairly broaden the tax base, use digital tools to reduce leakage, and promote high-value-added new industries—rather than hastily raising taxes that might further burden manufacturers.
3. Implement transparent monitoring and evaluation systems for all major projects with clear metrics spanning outputs, outcomes, and economic impacts. Public and private sector stakeholders should access progress data to ensure budgets deliver real benefits beyond mere disbursement.
4. Increase public and private sector participation. Good budgets reflect genuine local needs, particularly for infrastructure, labor, energy, and SME development projects. Direct beneficiary input ensures public funds reach high-impact projects.
5. Reduce recurring expenditures through civil service reform toward digital government. Cost reduction should eliminate redundancy across agencies rather than simply cutting budgets.
The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is advancing its Net Zero MOPH policy to develop a low-carbon, climate-resilient healthcare system. The agency recently signed agreements with the Thailand Greenho...
The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is advancing its Net Zero MOPH policy to develop a low-carbon, climate-resilient healthcare system. The agency recently signed agreements with the Thailand Greenho...
Luang Ta Lek, a forest monk at Wat Pa Non Saard in Nakhon Ratchasima, peacefully died while meditating after years serving as caregiver to an elderly disabled monk at the temple. His unexpected passing days before a scheduled ordination cer
Luang Ta Lek, a dedicated practitioner at Wat Pa Non Saard, peacefully passed away while in meditation, leaving behind a touching final act of compassion. At Wat Pa Non Saard, a Buddhist center dedicated to caring for infirm monks and terminally ill patients in Chokchai District, Nakhon Ratchasima, the unexpected passing of Luang Ta Lek has illustrated a profound spiritual paradox: the caregiver departed before the patient.
For many years, Luang Ta Lek served as the attendant to Luang Pu Ken, an elderly disabled monk at the temple, meticulously managing his meals, robes, and spiritual guidance to prevent loneliness in his final days. Luang Ta Lek's physique remained strong and agile, performing his daily meditation practice three times daily—sweeping the temple grounds and alms rounds—leading everyone to believe he would be the one to guide Luang Pu Ken toward peace. Yet one morning, the caregiver unexpectedly shed his five aggregates in serene meditation posture, reaffirming the Buddha's teaching that death recognizes no agreements, no waiting lists, and discriminates neither between the robust nor the frail. The terminally ill patient awaiting his journey home may outlive the caregiver whose body seemed as solid as steel.
Wat Pa Non Saard stands as a rare sanctuary of mindfulness in this era. Under the guidance of Phra Ajahn Sarn Prachai, the abbot, this forest monastery resolutely rejects commercialism: monks and nuns here engage in intensive meditation practice three times daily, accepting no outside invitations to preserve their seclusion, and crucially, refusing personal donations—all offerings are pooled for the community's religious and welfare purposes. The temple regularly hosts monastic retreats to purify the precepts of visiting monks from all regions.
It is hardly surprising, then, that Luang Ta Lek could sustain mindfulness until his final moment, departing while seated in meditation with Buddhist recollection guiding his consciousness.
Among the most touching details is that just days before his passing, Luang Ta Lek spent all his remaining time and strength meticulously preparing requisites, ordination items, and robes for six new monks scheduled for ordination on July 9, 2026. He washed, arranged, and organized these items with his own hands as though aware this would be his final act of service in the robes.
Industry Minister Weerawut Silpakacha supported PM Anuthon's plan to review cabinet performance and potentially reshuffle Bhumjaithai members as the party faces declining poll ratings.
At 9:10 a.m. on July 7 at Government House, Weerawut Silpakacha, Industry Minister and Bhumjaithai party list MP, commented on Prime Minister Anuthon Charoenveerkul's decision as party leader to evaluate ministerial performance and potentially reshuffle Bhumjaithai cabinet members following declining poll ratings. Weerawut described the prime minister's move to spur ministerial action as positive, noting that while each minister works across multiple areas for the public, it is equally important to communicate government work effectively to citizens. He cautioned against focusing on publicity alone without actual results, while also warning against doing work without promoting it. Weerawut stated the prime minister is right to emphasize the need to communicate government performance to the public. When asked to rate his own performance, Weerawut deferred to the media, saying he works every day including weekends, but how the public perceives this depends on media assessment.
Deputy PM Yossanan says Pheu Thai has received no signals of a cabinet reshuffle, despite PM Anutin's plans to evaluate Bhumjaithai ministers' performance.
Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan Wongswat clarified that the Pheu Thai party has not received any signals regarding a potential cabinet reshuffle following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's preparation to evaluate the performance of Bhumjaithai party ministers. Speaking at Government House on July 7, Yossanan, who also holds the portfolio of Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, addressed the situation. When journalists asked whether Pheu Thai had been notified of a cabinet reorganization, Yossanan responded that currently, there are no signals of a cabinet reshuffle.
A company employee was found dead in a sedan parked along Sukhumvit Road in Ban Chang after lying undiscovered for at least two days; an alcohol stove was discovered inside the vehicle.
On July 7, 2025, Ban Chang Police Station received a report of a body found inside a sedan parked along Sukhumvit Road in Ban Chang subdistrict, opposite the Ban Chang Highway checkpoint (outbound toward Rayong). Officers, along with forensic officials and Siam Rayong rescue volunteers, responded to the scene.
At the location, authorities found a red sedan with a male body inside wearing company employee clothing. Preliminary inspection revealed an alcohol stove in the vehicle. Officers opened the door to conduct an autopsy.
Initial investigation suggests the man had been dead for at least two days. Police documented the scene as evidence and are coordinating with family members and close contacts to determine the cause and circumstances of this tragic incident.
Senator Serei Anil Bol demanded emergency government funding for Thai dairy farmers crippled by milk oversupply and unpaid bills from the state dairy organization, warning that systemic reforms are needed to prevent industry collapse.
On July 7, 2026, at Parliament, Senator Serei Anil Bol used the Senate forum to voice the distress of dairy farmers facing an acute crisis. Raw milk oversupply has left farmers unable to find buyers, decimating incomes while production costs continue rising. During debate on a 10.3 billion baht emergency budget reallocation bill, Serei highlighted unpaid milk supply bills owed by the Thai Dairy Promotion Organization (TDPO) worth hundreds of millions of baht, leaving farmers in severe cash shortages. He urged the government to immediately deploy central or emergency reserve budgets to relieve farmers, warning that prolonged delays will damage the entire dairy sector. Serei expressed satisfaction that Deputy PM Phraryadr acknowledged the problem, noting the 2026 budget includes funds through TDPO for partial debt resolution and promised reforms to ensure transparent, corruption-free management. However, Serei stressed that mere budget injections without systemic TDPO reform will only create recurring crises. He called for genuine organizational restructuring, good governance, and anti-corruption measures. Serei and dairy farming networks nationwide stand ready to provide insights for TDPO management overhaul. He also proposed long-term solutions including supply management, market development, processing expansion, export promotion, school milk programs, and comprehensive industry mechanism review for price stability and sustainable farmer income. Serei concluded: "Farmers don't just need emergency relief—they need a fair system to sell milk at reasonable prices with stable market access. Government must seriously address this crisis and prevent the Thai dairy industry from becoming a murky gray zone dominated by dark influences, mafias, and vested interests controlling Milk Board decisions that harm farmers." He emphasized that the Milk Board, as a policy-setting organization, must ensure transparency, clear verifiable rules, and public accountability in industry governance.