Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthammaphand is preparing to launch the "Thai Rice Curry Helps Thailand" program to reduce living costs by offering meals at no more than 40 baht per plate, targeting 100,000 restaurants with subsidies of 3,000–10,000 baht each for a three-month pilot beginning in August.

A reporter surveyed food business operators in Chai Nat province and found mixed reactions. Amnaj Thongdonnian, 42, owner of the popular "Oe Rice Curry" restaurant on Phaholyothin Road, disagreed with the program, citing varying operational costs across businesses including rent, wages, and ingredient prices. He argued that government subsidies are insufficient to cover actual expenses.

"The program may look good to consumers, but it won't improve conditions for restaurants," Amnaj said. "What the government should urgently do is control prices of raw materials at source—rice, meat, vegetables, coconut milk, and cooking gas—which keep rising. Addressing root causes would be more sustainable and fair to all parties."

Riders and low-income workers, however, praised the initiative as beneficial for their daily struggles with rising living costs. The current "Thai Helps Thai Plus" program at Oe Rice Curry is already popular, with over half the customer base using it.

Despite consumer enthusiasm, restaurant owners remain concerned about maintaining quality and quantity under cost constraints, and are awaiting clarity from the government on support measures and incentives to ensure business survival in the current economic conditions.

On July 13, Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, a list MP for the People's Party, posted on Facebook addressing comments from the Justice Ministry about an upcoming arrest warrant in a forex case. He stated that he provided information to the Special Investigation Bureau (DSI) as a witness the previous week and cooperated fully with officials. He is currently preparing additional evidence to clarify all facts.

However, Pawoot expressed concern about widespread reports that multiple people involved in the case may be arrested, with his name mentioned among them. He firmly denied any involvement in fraud schemes, scams, money laundering, or deception throughout his business career. He said he is ready to present all documents and evidence to prove his innocence and questioned why this case was being pursued with unusual urgency compared to other serious matters that take much longer.

Pawoot noted that someone cooperating fully with authorities should not require excessive measures that create public alarm. He reiterated his willingness to undergo investigation, prove the truth, and provide complete cooperation, hoping the process will be fair, transparent, and free from political manipulation. He expressed confidence that when all facts emerge, the truth will provide clear answers to society.

The mother of Thitiwat Kaewkan, 27, lead singer of Thot Kan band and known as 'Nong Din,' is desperately searching for her missing son following the Ladprao beer bar fire that killed 27 and left 45 unaccounted for. Jansuda Tanla, 49, revealed that her son called his father around 10 p.m. on the night of the fire to say he had arrived at the venue, but that was the last contact before communication was lost. According to information, Nong Din was scheduled to perform until midnight and was among the bar's earliest employees since its opening.

Jansuda explained that her son did not complete his vocational college degree in Ayutthaya but was determined and grateful, telling his mother he could support the family without finishing school. He pursued his singing career, participating in competitions and taking performance jobs, eventually earning 300,000 to 400,000 baht to help pay off his mother's debts. She described identifying marks including a gear tattoo and the words "Ayutthaya Vocational" on his mid-back, along with several other tattoos on his body.

Today, the family visited the Police Hospital's forensic institute but learned that no bodies matching Nong Din's description had been identified. They plan to visit two additional hospitals to continue searching. Speaking through tears, Jansuda said Nong Din is her only son and urgently appealed to anyone with information about him to come forward, as all the family wants now is to find him, regardless of his condition.

Doctors are warning that consuming lychees on an empty stomach carries the risk of lychee disease, with children eating more than five fruits at once at risk of severe low blood sugar. Medical experts recommend three safe ways to enjoy the fruit.

Summer is lychee season, and while many people enjoy these sweet and juicy fruits, physicians caution that eating lychees on an empty stomach in large quantities can trigger "lychee disease" or acute hypoglycemia, particularly in children. In severe cases, this can lead to brain dysfunction and be life-threatening.

Dr. Cheng Kan Hong, an allergy and immunology specialist, explained through Facebook that many people wonder why such a sweet fruit could lower blood sugar levels. The danger does not stem from the fruit's sugar content but from unripe or green lychees, which contain two natural toxins: Hypoglycin A and MCPG. These compounds interfere with the liver's gluconeogenesis process and fat metabolism, preventing the body from maintaining normal blood sugar levels.

Dr. Cheng noted that children face the highest risk because they store less glycogen in their livers than adults, and their livers are not yet fully developed. Consuming large amounts of lychees while hungry could cause bodily system failure.

However, people need not avoid lychees entirely. Lychee disease outbreaks previously documented in parts of India and China occurred mainly in malnourished children who ate unripe lychees on empty stomachs in large quantities, requiring multiple risk factors to develop severe symptoms. With proper consumption methods, lychees can be eaten safely.

Doctors recommend three safe ways to consume lychees:

1. Never eat on an empty stomach. Avoid lychees in the morning, when hungry, or in large amounts between meals. The best time is after eating a meal.

2. Choose fully ripe fruit. Unripe or green lychees contain higher levels of toxins than ripe ones, so select fully ripe fruit before consumption.

3. Control portion sizes. Adults should not exceed 10–15 lychees per day, while children should have no more than 5 at a time.

Dr. Cheng also warned people with blood sugar control issues or diabetes not to mistake lychees as fruit that lowers blood sugar. While children face risk of low blood sugar, diabetic patients must beware of high blood sugar instead, as lychees are high in sugar with a high glycemic index and contain large amounts of fructose and glucose. Overconsumption can cause rapid blood sugar spikes and harm health, so moderation is essential.

At 9:50 a.m. on July 13, 2025, Democrat MP for Bangkok Thae Phiphop Limjitrakul assessed the performance of Parliament Speaker Sophon Sararum after three months in the role. Thae Phiphop said that while the speaker may work hard, Parliament should function as the nation's legislative factory, with budgets tied to improved lawmaking, not merely ceremonial activities like flag honors. He questioned whether procedures had genuinely accelerated or parliamentary efficiency improved.

Thae Phiphop called for a more transparent Parliament designed for the public, not just dressed up in fine words about institutional ethics. He noted that many areas of Parliament remain closed to the public, preventing citizens from accessing their representatives. "If I grade this objectively, it's a failing mark," he said. "We've passed very few laws, used committee processes minimally, and some committees lack live broadcasts. Where is the transparency? Where is public participation?"

He stated the opposition is ready to work competitively and that the party seeks structural solutions through legislative reform, not piecemeal fixes. On the speaker's neutrality, Thae Phiphop acknowledged that true neutrality is difficult, as everyone has some bias, but praised former Speaker Chuan Leekpai for setting clear principles and opening space for differing views.

Thae Phiphop criticized the censoring of parliamentary speech as "the lowest point in principle." He urged the speaker to open the floor to all speakers, as scrutiny actually elevates the government by strengthening it through accountability. "Don't view the opposition as rivals," he concluded. "Everyone has a duty. Give everyone the chance to perform it."

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is alerting the public to beware of scammers impersonating MEA staff who make phone calls claiming to upgrade Smart Meters or register patients for medical equipment exemptions, while demanding processing fees, installation charges, or requesting money transfers. These fraudulent activities cause confusion and may harm the public.

MEA reaffirms that enrollment in the "MEA Caring for Patients with Smart Meter Plus" program and registration for electricity payment exemptions for patients requiring medical equipment carries no fees at any stage. MEA has no policy allowing staff to request money transfers or bill payments through personal bank accounts under any circumstances. If contacted by such fraudsters, the public should immediately end the conversation and verify information with MEA before taking any action.

To serve the public, MEA offers registration through two channels: in-person application at any of MEA's 18 district offices with medical documents, and online registration via the MEA e-Service system, available 24/7 with real-time status tracking. Both methods are completely free with no charges or fees.

MEA urges the public to follow information only from official MEA communication channels and not to trust individuals claiming to collect money or request personal information. Anyone encountering suspicious behavior can verify information with MEA before proceeding to prevent fraud victimization and ensure safe electricity service usage in the digital age. The public can verify correct information through MEA's official online channels: Line MEA Connect (@MEAthailand) marked with a green shield icon, or by calling the MEA Call Center at 1130, available 24/7.