The Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Office reported that the SME Confidence Index for June 2026 improved for the first time in four months since March, reaching 47.8 points. The recovery was driven by the government's "Thailand Helps Thailand Plus" program, which boosted consumer purchasing power and led to increases in new orders, production volumes, and investment activity. However, the index remains below the normal level of 50 because operators continue to face pressure from elevated energy and raw material costs, limiting profit recovery despite rising sales.

The three-month forward-looking index stands at 52.7, marking the second consecutive month above baseline and reflecting cautiously optimistic business sentiment for the second half of the year, though concerns about costs and employment growth persist. On the debt front, the proportion of SMEs carrying debt fell to 69.1% in the second quarter of 2026 from 71% in the previous quarter, with more businesses relying on formal financing channels and 85.3% meeting their payment obligations on schedule, signaling improved liquidity management.

The office is executing the "Transforming SMEs: Elevating Financial Management with AI" initiative to help operators organize financial data systematically and access credit and capital more easily. For long-term policy, it is preparing the sixth SME Promotion Plan (2027–2031) to guide Thai entrepreneur development over the next five years, alongside a revision of SME definitions—unchanged since 2020—to align with evolving business structures, income, employment, and economic conditions, ensuring government support reaches target groups more effectively.

Despite emerging signs of recovery, officials cautioned that the turnaround remains early-stage and stressed the need to monitor whether sales growth translates into sustained improvements in profitability, job creation, and investment—critical indicators of durable SME sector recovery.

A runner died during the SAKAD Scenic Trail event, and social media users subsequently questioned the delay in rescue operations. SAKAD Scenic Trail responded by posting a detailed timeline and statement of condolences, saying: "We have listened to feedback from all parties and we are deeply saddened by the loss of this athlete. No one on our event team wanted this to happen. Out of respect, we ask that images of the deceased not be shared, as this causes further grief to the family."

The organizers outlined their rescue timeline as follows: At 6:36 AM, event staff at the 2.5 km mark received a phone call reporting an athlete had collapsed and lost consciousness (call duration: 33 seconds). At 6:39 AM, the same person notified via Line. At 6:40 AM, the motorlance A2 team and rescue team were dispatched to the area, and rescue coordination began with AED equipment and an athlete transport vehicle from headquarters. At 6:50 AM, the first rescue team reported that motorcycles could not reach the location due to heavy rain, which hampered athlete transport and left no sheltered area for AED use. At 6:54 AM, the motorlance A2 team and first rescue team reached and assisted the athlete (Line notification lasted 19 seconds confirming staff arrival). At 7:00 AM, a second rescue team with a transport vehicle arrived and provided assistance. At 7:05 AM, the second rescue team contacted the hospital for transfer. At 7:09 AM, the second rescue team transported the athlete to Puea Hospital, arriving at 7:40 AM.

The team later posted a tribute to Thanawat Sirikul, expressing deep condolences to his family, relatives, and fellow runners: "We offer our sincerest sympathy for the loss of this beloved runner. May his spirit find peace. May his final journey be filled with tranquility on an endless path. Running is a journey, and the finish line is measured not by distance but by the value of every step taken. We honor this runner who never gave up. Thank you for sharing sweat and smiles on this path with us. We believe those moments were the best of all. With love and remembrance."

The team stated that upon learning of the incident, they activated their emergency response plan and coordinated with rescue teams, emergency medical teams, and road rescue personnel who all rushed to the scene, but were ultimately unable to save their fellow runner.

The Police Commission has voted to appoint Police General Samran Nualma as the 16th Police Commissioner, replacing Police General Kittisart Punthaipetch, who retires on September 30, 2569.

On July 22, 2569, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as chairman of the Police Commission, chaired the 7th Police Commission meeting of 2569 at the National Police Office. The meeting covered several agenda items including reports from the disciplinary sub-commission, approval of previous minutes, and most importantly, the selection of the 16th Police Commissioner.

Under the Police Act B.E. 2565 and Police Commission regulations, the appointment must be completed by July 30 when a Police Commissioner is retiring that year. The selection process involved four candidates: Police General Nirandr Luemsr (candidate 1), Police General Tatchai Pitaneelapbut (candidate 2), Police General Samran Nualma (candidate 3), and Police General Ittipol Ajariyaprasert (candidate 4). All candidates were required to leave the meeting room and had no voting rights.

The remaining 12 committee members—11 commissioners plus the chairman—voted on the candidates. The Police Commission voted unanimously to select Police General Samran Nualma, the third-ranking senior deputy commissioner, as the new Police Commissioner effective September 30, 2569.

Villagers have grown impatient waiting for government help and are taking matters into their own hands for Samai, a 67-year-old woman from Prakon Chai district in Buriram province. She lives alone in a simple hut without electricity or gas, surviving on boiled eggs, yet her poverty assistance card was revoked after officials discovered her son had taken out a life insurance policy on her as a financial cushion for her funeral expenses.

On July 22, 2025, villagers who learned of her situation visited her home. After witnessing her dire living conditions, they unanimously agreed that she did not deserve to lose her poverty assistance, especially given her deteriorating circumstances. Some villagers purchased corrugated metal sheets and hired workers to replace her leaking roof, fearing she would have no shelter when it rains. Others brought rice and dried food supplies. All of them wanted to act immediately rather than wait for government help, fearing assistance would come too late.

Noom (a pseudonym), a villager who originally posted photos of Samai's home on social media, explained that she was moved by the sight and posted without expecting such widespread attention. Similarly, Tharadhat, a 50-year-old resident, said she was skeptical such conditions existed in her village until she visited in person. Shocked by the deteriorating roof, she decided to buy steel roofing materials and immediately hired a contractor to repair it.

Meanwhile, Naphak Booncharoen, director of the social welfare office at Pangoo Subdistrict Administrative Organization, noted that the office had previously requested home repairs for Samai but is currently operating under a budget freeze. He also pointed out that the land where she lives does not belong to her, and said officials will explore further assistance options.

The Election Commission is investigating a case against a former Senate speaker on seven counts, with the chair planning to wrap up the investigation by August. Some counts remain unclear, and officials worry that ordering additional inquiries could invite accusations of stalling the case. There is also uncertainty about where the advocacy group iLaw obtained certain information.

On July 22, EC commissioner Sitthichai Intravisesa addressed public skepticism about the EC's handling of the case. He explained that the subcommittee's investigation records serve as the primary repository of all evidence. If new evidence exists but was not submitted to the subcommittee for unclear reasons, it is unfortunate, since the EC must evaluate evidence that has been vetted and contested by both the accuser and the accused.

Regarding iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanunt releasing old information already in the official records, Sitthichai expressed uncertainty about the source and warned of potential damage to the prosecution. If the information reaches court, it could allow the accused to prepare a defense or witness evidence could be destroyed.

On public concerns about EC impartiality—four EC members were appointed by the current Senate, raising fears of influence—Sitthichai argued that EC members are competent and will exercise independent judgment in the public interest.

Regarding progress, Sitthichai said the investigation is proceeding well across multiple counts of the seven filed. Only minor details and important politically sensitive matters remain, expected to be addressed in mid-August. When asked if the case would be resolved this year, he confirmed that the EC chair has set an August deadline unlikely to be extended.

Even if evidence is incomplete, ordering additional investigation risks delays and accusations of case-manipulation. The subcommittee, which had only four months to work after a delayed start, has moved quickly by leveraging the EC's power to request documents from the Special Investigation Department (DSI). Though the EC did not inherit the DSI's case file, it has established a joint investigation committee with legal authority to access DSI documents, enabling faster work.

Some matters the subcommittee wished to pursue further ran out of time due to public pressure for speed. The EC faces a dilemma: ordering more investigation risks appearing to stall the case, but the investigation may be incomplete.

Phuket money exchange theft suspect disguises himself as foreignerLegacyA thief, who may have been posing as a foreigner, remains at large after stealing more than 600,000 baht from a currency exchange shop inside a shopping mall in Phuket on Sunday, July 19. The owner of the exchange business in Phuket reported the theft to Wichit Police Station after an employee discovered the incident at about 9.30am on July 20. Staff arrived at the shop and found the safe open, with cash in several currencies missing. CCTV footage showed the theft occurred between 9.13pm and 9.15pm on July 19, shortly before both the shop and the shopping centre closed. Staff initially believed the suspect was a foreign man. The CCTV footage showed a person wearing a black jacket with white stripes, black shorts, a dark blue cap, glasses and a moustache. The suspect also appeared to be wearing rubber gloves. Photo via Facebook/ Phuketandamannews Investigators said the suspect moved directly to the safe without hesitation, suggesting prior knowledge of the shop’s layout. Police said the stolen money totalled 627,083 baht, including 175,050 baht, 50 euros, 50,000 Russian rubles, US$11,700 and 1,000 Swiss francs. Following further investigation, officers said they now believe the suspect may be a Thai national who disguised himself as a foreigner by wearing a brown fake moustache. Police added that the thief knew the safe’s access code, prompting investigators to examine whether the suspect had previously worked at the business or had access to someone familiar with the password. Photo via Facebook/ Phuketandamannews The owner, shareholders and employees have all been questioned as police continue investigating who had knowledge of the safe code. Police have not released any further updates on the investigation. The case follows another currency exchange theft reported in Bangkok last year, when an Indian national was arrested after stealing 100,000 baht from a money exchange shop in Bang Rak district. Police later recovered 50,000 baht from the suspect, who denied the allegation despite investigators saying they had sufficient evidence to file charges.

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