In Nakhon Ratchasima on July 17, large crowds of residents, particularly elderly people, gathered outside a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives branch in Phimai District to hear the announcement of new state welfare card recipients. Most came in person hoping to hear directly from officials to confirm their eligibility.

While the majority of those waiting learned they had been approved and expressed gratitude to the government, some residents were disappointed. Thuan Khemnark, 72, from Phimai District, said he was relieved to qualify after initially fearing rejection. He plans to use the welfare card benefits to pay for utilities and household expenses.

However, not everyone succeeded. Manop Chaemjang, 66, who previously held the card but was denied this round, criticized the strict criteria. He argued that elderly residents should automatically qualify, noting that some applicants own land but remain genuinely poor and should not be excluded. He contended that the rigorous qualification standards prevent poor people from accessing the support they need.

The Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (SACIT) showcased Thai arts and crafts at the “Royal Thai Dress from Tradition to Modernity” exhibition at the MAD museum (Musée des Arts Dé...

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed admiration for "Pawintz" (Pawinit Pattanawekin), a 9-year-old Grade 3 student from Phuket, who won two world coding championships at The International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad 2026 finals in Rome, Italy. The child defeated more than 38,000 competitors from 153 countries and over 1,700 schools worldwide.

Government Spokesman Rachada Thanadirek announced that the PM learned of Pawintz's achievement before attending the World AI Conference in Shanghai, China. The PM congratulated the young champion and praised his dedication, determination, and ability, while also commending his family, teachers, and supporters who played a vital role in enabling Thai youth to demonstrate their talents on the international stage.

The PM stated that Pawintz's success proves Thai children are as capable as any in the world when given proper opportunities and support. He urged all Thai youth to believe in themselves, think boldly, be creative, and never stop learning, as the modern world rewards ability and effort regardless of origin. The PM emphasized that the government stands ready to create opportunities for Thai children and views this achievement as an inspiration for countless others to pursue global recognition. "The government congratulates Pawintz on bringing honor and pride to Thailand. This success will inspire many Thai children to see that with determination and good opportunities, they too can reach the world stage," the PM said.

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) has partnered with Suan Dusit University to launch the "Thai Street Gold Star" project under the Therapy Festival and Thai S...

On July 17, 2025, parliamentarian Wattanya Bunnark questioned the State Railway of Thailand during deliberation of the fiscal year 2570 budget bill in the House of Representatives. She highlighted that the SRT has reported annual operating losses of 20 billion baht despite government subsidies, though it achieved a 117-million-baht profit last year through compensatory revenue mechanisms. Without such compensation, accumulated losses would exceed 200 billion baht, prompting concerns about the SRT's contingency plans. Bunnark also raised issues flagged by the Office of the Auditor General regarding incomplete land and building registration, unverified asset management income, and expired leases still being utilized—all creating budget leakage. She questioned the SRT's approach to resolving these problems and expressed concern over disputed land at Khao Kradong in Buriram province, where the Land Department cannot withdraw rights due to missing maps from the SRT. Bunnark further pressed the SRT on the Airport Rail Link arrangement with private company Asia Era One, noting that the SRT has not received franchise fees while being obligated to cover over 10 billion baht in signal systems and train equipment after October 24, 2564. She questioned the current financial status and whether cancellation of the high-speed rail project could affect the Airport Rail Link, potentially leaving the SRT with unresolved debt and unpaid franchise fees. SRT Governor Anant Pho­thnimdaeng explained that the 20-billion-baht annual loss stems from inadequate compensation for social service operations and tariffs that do not reflect true costs, necessitating government subsidy. He confirmed the SRT is working to boost revenue through services, goods sales, and land utilization, including through its subsidiary SRT Asset Company.

Following the Petchyindee bout on July 16, 2026 at Rajdamnoen Stadium, an incident occurred in a significant match between Phichit Suk from Thammasat School Klongluan and Phleng Payak from the Payak Phu Luang camp. The fight ended in the fourth round when Phichit Suk was disqualified by the referee for unsportsmanlike conduct. Promoter Nattadej Wachirratanawong, known as Seiyaboat, spoke with the fighter backstage, and Phichit Suk admitted that he deliberately lost the match. He confessed to being hired by a gambling figure named Whaeng to throw the fight for a fee of 200,000 baht, of which he had received 30,000-40,000 baht initially. Seiyaboat stated that the boxer has already given a confession and his team has filed a police report at Nang Loeng Police Station to pursue legal action. He emphasized that boxers must maintain honor and integrity, and called on police to make this case an example by prosecuting those who corrupt the sport. Seiyaboat further appealed to authorities: "Muay Thai is already struggling; we cannot allow people who destroy the sport to go unpunished. Please make this case exemplary and ensure the person responsible faces jail time."