Gulf Development Public Company Limited, represented by Sitamon Ratanawaladee, Director of Strategic Planning, received a certificate of honor from Tetch Bunnag, Secretary-General of the Thai Red Cross Society, in recognition of the company's donations and support for the Rama IX Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery at Chulalongkorn Hospital under the Thai Red Cross. The recognition was presented during the "40 Years of Rama IX Centre: International Standards Toward Sustainability" event held on July 13, 2025, at Chulalongkorn Hospital. The company is inviting the public to donate and receive commemorative items from the "Empowering Me" charity campaign, with all proceeds supporting the center's operations and reflecting GULF's commitment to combining infrastructure development with improved quality of life for disadvantaged Thais and equitable healthcare access.

Marking the center's 40th anniversary, GULF has brought back an exhibition of 10 symbolic paintings titled "Empowering Me – A Power of Identity Beyond Appearances: This Is Me, Beautiful As I Am," created by university students nationwide. The artwork conveys the dreams, resilience, and true identity of individuals with facial and cranial differences, aiming to foster understanding and acceptance of diversity in society.

GULF and Chulalongkorn Hospital have jointly set up a booth inviting public donations in exchange for commemorative items inspired by the "Empowering Me" concept, including acrylic keychains, canvas shoulder bags, and blankets. Interested donors can contribute and receive merchandise through various Thai Red Cross channels, including the website www.iredcross.org, with donations eligible for double tax deduction. All contributions will be directed without overhead costs to support the center's operations in caring for, treating, rehabilitating, and improving the sustainable quality of life for patients.

"GULF is proud to support the Rama IX Centre in enhancing the quality of life for young people with facial and cranial differences," said Sitamon. "The center plays a vital role in comprehensive patient care—physical, emotional, educational, and social skills development—enabling them to live confidently and reach their full potential. We are delighted that our support over the past decade has created opportunities and brighter futures for patients and families, benefiting Thai society and the healthcare system."

Over the past 10 years, GULF has improved patients' and families' quality of life through multi-faceted support of the Rama IX Centre, including: donating approximately 10 million baht toward patient care and transportation costs; providing over 20 million baht in educational scholarships under the "One Scholarship, One Dream, Build the Future" program, benefiting more than 500 youth and enabling three to complete undergraduate degrees; and organizing the "Empowering Me" art exhibition to showcase the identity and resilience of individuals with facial differences.

The Charoen Pokphand Foundation for Rural Community Development held an event titled "From One Opportunity to a Million Dreams," showcasing stories of youth who benefited from four major programs: vocational training in eldercare, royal scholarship programs for students, family foster care support in cultural communities, and egg-laying chicken projects for school meals. The foundation emphasized how developing one person creates positive ripple effects across families, communities, and society sustainably, through education, vocational development, food security, and support for disadvantaged children.

The event was presided over by Air Chief Marshal Chalit Phukphatsuk, a privy councilor and chairman of the foundation's board, alongside Supakij Chearavanont, chairman of the Charoen Pokphand Group, and senior executives from the group's companies at the True Tower Auditorium on Ratchadamri Road.

Over nearly 39 years, the foundation has been committed to developing people in line with the royal philosophy, implementing three core strategies: rural leadership development, food security, and social innovation cultivation. These efforts target all age groups—children, youth, and seniors—while strengthening communities nationwide.

One success story is the eldercare vocational training program, which opened opportunities for youth and adults to learn professional eldercare skills suited to Thailand's aging society. Many participants have translated their training into stable careers with steady income and improved family living standards. Ms. Yanida Juitung, one graduate, transformed from economic hardship to a secure profession, now supporting her family independently. "I didn't study just for myself, but to have a stable career and income to support my family," she said. "The foundation gave me this chance, and now I can send money home to help my parents and care for my siblings. That's my greatest pride."

Another success is the royal scholarship program, which provides educational opportunities for youth in remote areas. Tharathon Luangmani, a former border police school student, received a scholarship enabling him to complete a bachelor's degree in education from Chulalongkorn University. The scholarship relieved his family's financial burden, and after graduation, he became a physical education teacher at a private school, inspiring younger generations to pursue similar opportunities. "Everyone has dreams, but dreams become real only through action," he said. "Mistakes aren't endpoints—they're pauses for reflection and learning. With determination and resilience, anyone can build their own future."

For disadvantaged children, the foundation has operated the foster family support program in cultural communities since 2002, enabling orphans to grow up in loving, caring foster families.

Thailand's National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) has approved seven electricity measures aimed at reducing consumer costs while ensuring data centers and industries bear their fair share. The main points include: separating public electricity costs (such as street lighting) from household bills and establishing a new rate, funded partly by surcharges on data centers and large industrial users; reducing residential electricity rates to 3 baht per unit for the first 200 units while maintaining higher rates for additional consumption; extending the reduced rate to rental properties including rental homes, dormitories, and apartments previously charged temporary rates; expanding direct power purchase agreements (Direct PPA) for clean energy to industrial sectors beyond data centers through third-party access to the grid; setting separate electricity rates for data centers to reflect their actual infrastructure costs; and requiring large data center operators to post performance bonds on grid usage. The reforms aim to lower costs for ordinary consumers, promote clean energy adoption, and transition toward a competitive market while preventing large users from shifting their costs to the general public.

On July 15, 2569, Sithipol Wibulthanakaul, a Pheu Thai list MP, commented on Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Paibulwattana's announcement to review the 40-baht rice curry subsidy program designed to ease cost-of-living pressures. While supporting the review and openness to feedback, Sithipol outlined three fundamental problems with Supachee's economic management approach.

First, the program fails to address root causes. Though oil prices have fallen, food costs remain high—a pattern Sithipol said reflects poor economic management. The real issue is oil and energy prices, which must be controlled from the start through taxation or excise measures. Once prices rise and trigger broader inflation, lowering oil prices alone will not reverse inflated costs—a recurring pattern in economic history that the government ignored despite repeated warnings from Pheu Thai.

Second, the program provides minimal help while claiming credit for solving the problem. Sithipol cited the "roving shop" (rót phûm phûang) program as an example: each province received only a few vehicles, helping very few people buy fuel and goods at subsidized prices. The public asks where these shops are, and whether they truly address widespread cost-of-living struggles affecting everyone.

Third, the program does not solve real problems. Notably, few people expressed regret or support when Supachee announced the 40-baht rice curry program's suspension for review—because the program was never seen as genuinely helpful. Consumers still face high living costs and have other food options. Likewise, most merchants feel the program provided minimal benefit, and few would qualify or receive aid for only a few months.

Sithipol urged the minister to reconsider measures that would more meaningfully help restaurants and small businesses, citing unresolved issues with Thailand's "Thai Helps Thai Plus" program that currently benefits only registered business operators.

Chinese man arrested for pickpocketing South Korean at Bangkok templeLegacyA Chinese man denied pickpocketing a South Korean tourist at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, better known as Wat Pho, in Bangkok despite clear footage from a security camera. He claimed the thief in the footage was a lot older than himself. A Chinese man has denied allegations that he stole a South Korean tourist’s wallet at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, better known as Wat Pho, in Bangkok, despite CCTV footage that police say identifies him as the suspect. The South Korean tourist reported the incident to Phraratchawang Police Station at about 1.30pm on July 5 after discovering that his wallet and credit cards had gone missing while visiting the temple. According to police, the stolen credit cards were later used to buy designer goods and pay for food and other services at several businesses. Photo via Amarin News Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from Wat Pho, which police said showed the alleged theft. The footage reportedly captured a man, later identified by police as 59 year old Chinese national Xiangliang Kong, walking behind the tourist before allegedly removing the wallet from the victim‘s shoulder bag. Police said the CCTV images clearly showed the suspect’s face, leading officers to identify Xiangliang, obtain an arrest warrant and begin a search for him. Officers arrested the accused at about 3.30pm on the same day outside a hotel in Soi Inthamara 45 in Bangkok’s Ratchada area. Photo via Amarin News During the search of his hotel room, officers seized several mobile phones, multiple designer brand wallets, cash in various currencies including Thai baht, Malaysian ringgit, Vietnamese dong, Japanese yen, Australian dollars, Indian rupees and South Korean won, as well as clothing that police said matched what the accused was wearing on the day of the alleged offence. Xiangliang denied the allegations during questioning. According to Bright TV, he told investigators that the man seen in the CCTV footage was not him and claimed the suspect appeared to be much older than he is. Police said they were not convinced by his explanation. According to Matichon, investigators also believe a Vietnamese national was involved in the case. Police said the alleged accomplice used a mobile phone application to access the victim’s credit card and make purchases. Police have not released further details about the investigation or the identity of the Vietnamese suspect. Photo via Amarin News The story Chinese man arrested for pickpocketing South Korean at Bangkok temple as seen on Thaiger News.