The Thai Meteorological Department issued weather alert number 9 (99/2569) on June 30, 2025, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Thailand and strong winds in the upper Andaman Sea from June 30 to July 3, 2025. The eastern and western southern regions face the greatest risk due to a monsoon trough and the southwest monsoon system. Authorities urge residents to prepare for potential flash floods and flashfloods, particularly in foothill and low-lying areas. Waves in the upper Andaman Sea are expected to reach 2-3 meters, exceeding 3 meters during thunderstorms. The lower Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand face waves around 2 meters, rising above 2 meters in thunderstorm areas. Fishermen are advised to exercise caution and avoid thunderstorm zones; small boats should remain ashore in the upper Andaman Sea. Five provinces face extremely heavy rain: Chachoengsao and Trat in the east; and Chumphon, Ranong, and Phang Nga in the south. Thirty-five provinces nationwide face heavy rain across the northern, northeastern, central, eastern, and southern regions. Updates are available at the Thai Meteorological Department website (tmd.go.th) or by calling 0-2399-4012-13 and 1182 around the clock.

On June 30, Deputy Interior Minister Vorasit Leangprasit disclosed the results of an online discussion with candidates who scored zero on the competitive examination for local government positions. The meeting, attended by around 300 participants, was held to allow affected candidates to raise concerns and questions about the exam process. Representatives reported that approximately 270 candidates were impacted, with most believing the zero scores resulted from technical errors in the optical mark reader system used to scan answer sheets. They demanded a thorough review of the exam procedures and result announcements.

Vorasit stated that the meeting aimed to gather facts, identify issues, and collect suggestions from candidates before forwarding all information to relevant committees and agencies for resolution. The Interior Ministry committed to ensuring fairness to all applicants and resolving the matter transparently and correctly. Regarding the ongoing investigation into allegations of exam fraud, Vorasit confirmed that if evidence of wrongdoing is found, those responsible—whether ministry officials or others—will face disciplinary action or criminal prosecution without exception.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi has opened pre-orders for a special keepsake set featuring the tail print of Moo Deng, the beloved pygmy hippopotamus and global tourism icon, to commemorate her second birthday on July 10, 2026. This limited-edition collection is restricted to just 999 pieces available worldwide.

According to Narongwit Chodchoy, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the commemorative item was created as a special-occasion collectible. Each set comes in an 11-by-11-inch premium frame and costs 1,999 baht.

The final piece, numbered 999, will not be available through regular pre-orders. Instead, it will be auctioned to collectors, with all proceeds directed toward supporting the zoo's conservation efforts and operations.

Pre-orders remain open until July 15, 2026, or while supplies last. Interested buyers can place orders by messaging the Khao Kheow Open Zoo Promotion Facebook page. For more information, the public is encouraged to follow the official Khao Kheow Open Zoo and Khao Kheow Open Zoo Promotion Facebook pages.

Moo Deng has become one of the world's most beloved zoo animals since her viral online debut, drawing visitors from Thailand and abroad. The pint-sized celebrity has built a massive global following, prompting a steady stream of commemorative merchandise releases over recent months.

During parliamentary debate on the 2570 fiscal budget on June 30, 2569, Sakol Thea, deputy leader of the Thai Democrats and list MP, dissected the healthcare and health budget comprising 180 billion baht for the Public Health Ministry, nearly 300 billion baht for the National Health Security Office (NHSO), 80 billion baht for civil servant medical benefits, and 1.8 billion baht hidden in local health promotion centers—totaling 570 billion baht or 15% of the national budget. While the WHO and World Bank commend Thailand for spending only 4% of GDP while establishing universal health coverage, a feat leading nations like Sweden, Britain, and Japan achieve with double-digit spending percentages, this efficiency has accumulated hidden weaknesses creating three time bombs waiting to explode.

Sakol identified the first time bomb as excessive spending on curative care over prevention. With an aging society facing surging chronic disease rates, government allocates merely 10% for prevention and health promotion, refusing to invest in proactive community screening systems. The second time bomb stems from state hospital deficits and brain drain. The NHSO's compensation payment system contradicts inflation realities as drug, labor, and medical technology costs soar, causing over 300 state hospitals to lose money and more than 100 nearing collapse. Community clinics in Bangkok have halved, referral systems jam chronically, and healthcare workers suffer burnout-induced mass resignations from the bureaucracy. The third time bomb involves layered inequality across three funds—gold card welfare, social security, and civil servant benefits—all using taxpayer money yet providing unequal hospital access, medication coverage, and per-capita costs, creating management inefficiencies such as fragmented drug procurement.

Sakol opposed budget cuts, likening them to severing the public's lifeline, but proposed three reform recommendations for sustainable restructuring: (1) rebalance budgets toward proactive local health systems by increasing funding for health promotion centers and equipping over 1.1 million community health volunteers with technology for active chronic disease screening, replacing their current informant-only role, and adjusting their 2,000 baht stipend to performance-based incentives; (2) review compensation rates against actual costs—the NHSO currently pays 8,000 baht average per inpatient while hospitals bear 10,000-13,000 baht actual costs—requiring adjusted reimbursement ceilings to halt recurring state hospital crises without annual central fund patches; and (3) courageously develop new revenue streams. Governments cannot rely solely on direct taxes and subsidies; they must aggressively implement targeted health taxes on sodium and sugar, and introduce co-payment systems for middle and high-income earners while preserving free gold card benefits for vulnerable populations.

On June 30, 2026, law enforcement agencies including the Central Police Investigation Bureau, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Local Administration, and the Department of Special Investigation jointly announced the arrest of Roongrueang Thimabutr, 54, former Phuket Provincial Governor, on corruption and misconduct charges related to extortion involving local government civil service recruitment.

According to investigators, a businessman filed a complaint through Phuket's Justice Center, alleging that the former governor demanded one million baht in exchange for help resolving a land ownership document. When the businessman could not provide cash, he transferred the funds via bank account. However, after payment, no action was taken.

Financial investigators traced the money and discovered the same account appeared in another case involving volunteer civil defense personnel being solicited for local civil service exam bribes. This connection led to expanded charges against the suspect.

Arrest warrants were issued on June 26 under the Criminal Code sections 143 and the Anti-Corruption Act section 175. Upon linking both cases, additional charges were filed under Criminal Code sections 149 and 157 for public official extortion and misconduct.

Investigators noted that while the money trail did not directly reach the suspect, it involved people close to him, particularly his secretary. The funds were transferred through volunteer accounts and later withdrawn as cash, creating a complex financial path connecting him to the scheme.

Suchart Suwannasri, president of the Thai Golf Association, led committee members and golf course executives at the 2569 annual general meeting held at The Royal James Golf and Sports Club in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom.

The Thai Golf Association held its 2569 annual general meeting with key agenda items including reports on the association's performance and announcements of activities planned for 2569, along with the election of a new board of directors. Suchart Suwannasri was elected president for his third term.

Sixty member golf courses attended the meeting on June 29, 2569, out of 90 member courses nationwide at The Royal James Golf and Sports Club in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom.

The president informed the assembly that agenda item three focused on reporting the association's activities and programs for the 2568-2569 period, emphasizing development of amateur golfer markets, youth golfers, and marketing support for member courses throughout the year.

The association collaborated with both government and private agencies, including organizing golf competitions to develop youth golfers toward world-ranked competitions in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, offering member courses privileges to participate in Thailand Golf Travel Mart 2025. The association also conducted training programs with both public and private sectors to develop personnel at member courses, rotating across different regions nationwide.

For the 2569-2570 plan, the president stated the focus would continue on developing golfers, particularly youth golfers who will form the foundation for golf courses and Thailand's golf industry in the future, along with marketing promotion activities for member courses in both domestic and international markets.

Following the meeting, Suchart thanked the member course executives for their trust and support of the association's activities and confirmed that the board would continue supporting member courses.