The Commerce Ministry's "Thai Rice Curry Helps Thailand" initiative, or 40-baht curry program, was designed to ease the public's cost of living as curry prices climbed past 50 baht per plate. The program targeted 100,000 restaurant sign-ups nationwide, offering ingredient subsidies of 3,000–10,000 baht per establishment for at least three months. Despite good intentions, the plan sparked opposition from restaurant operators and vendors countrywide. Ultimately, Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Suthammaphanth and the Commerce Minister suspended the program to review it and hear new perspectives. Critics contend the measure addresses the wrong problem, as restaurant costs involve far more than the price of pork, chicken, and vegetables—they also include gas, electricity, labor, rent, and rising transport costs. Short-term subsidies may provide temporary relief, but once the program ends, restaurants must shoulder their original costs while consumers expect prices to stay at the subsidized level. Moreover, a uniform nationwide price ignores regional cost variations; restaurants in high-rent urban and commercial zones would find it hard to compete if forced to sell at 40 baht. Many establishments might cut portion sizes or food quality, ultimately hurting consumers. The right approach is for the government to tackle root causes—controlling energy prices, raw material costs, and transport expenses—because if costs fall, curry prices will naturally decline through market forces. Currently, 30–40 baht curry already exists in many areas: community markets, hospitals, schools, and welfare shops. Although the 40-baht program never launched, stepping back demonstrates the government listens to all sides. The Commerce Minister, working closely with people's livelihood concerns, shows wisdom by remaining open to criticism and refining proposals before deciding—a path that reduces conflict and helps state policy address problems more effectively.

As previously reported, if the shooting case against MP Kamlasak Leevamaoh stalls without reaching those who ordered it, it will impact the overall situation across three southern provinces, and calls to dissolve the National Reform Council will not fade. The connections are undeniable.

While police investigations have stalled, the Democrat Party and parliamentary committees continue their work. Scrutiny of security agencies with relevant evidence is intensifying.

The emerging issue is tracing the M16 rifles used in the shooting, both seized by police, which will lead directly to the Royal Thai Navy Weapons Department.

Both M16 rifles recovered by police and used to fire on MP Kamlasak's vehicle are military-issued weapons. One rifle belonged to the Navy but was registered as damaged and marked for destruction, yet it turned up in the hands of the shooting team. How did this happen?

The problems are twofold: the weapon's naval origin and the fact that it was listed as destroyed but was still used to commit a crime. Records show 40 rifles marked for destruction—raising questions about how many other "phantom guns" are out there being used in various crimes.

The parliamentary committee on law, justice, and human rights, chaired by Rangsimanth Rom with Deputy Democrat Party Leader Thawi Sodsor serving as a member, has coordinated with the Royal Thai Navy Weapons Department to hold a joint meeting in Chachoengsao.

The discussion will cover the entire weapons management system, from procurement and control to disposition, as well as orders from responsible officials to destroy weapons. The committee will visit destruction sites.

The committee has also invited the Navy commander to explain how the M16 rifles were received, distributed, and allocated to operational units.

The investigation will trace the weapon from the crime scene back to its source, examining the distribution process and destruction procedures—and how it ended up in the hands of those targeting the MP. They may also uncover other weapons.

The more concealed this case becomes, the more it unravels.

MBK is advancing Thailand's golf sector with a 2 million baht donation to the Professional Golf Association of Thailand, aiming jointly to elevate and drive Thai golfers' potential for sustainable growth on the global stage. Wijaksana Praditsavanitchai, CEO and Executive Director of MBK Public Company Limited, presented 2 million baht to the Professional Golf Association of Thailand, with Pongrattana Lueangtharmjeering, president of the association, receiving the donation at Riverdale Golf Club. Wijaksana stated that MBK thanks the Professional Golf Association of Thailand for entrusting Riverdale Golf Club to host the historic Queen's Cup Thailand Championship 2026, a major and prestigious international tournament under Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudha. The 2 million baht donation reflects MBK's commitment to developing every aspect of Thai golf, with hopes that this support will sustainably advance the sport nationwide. Pongrattana responded that the association appreciates MBK's recognition of its work and ongoing backing, and will use the funds to maximize benefits for Thai golf development, athlete development, and international competition to build a strong and lasting foundation for Thai golfers globally.

On July 15, 2026, Kaew Odedt, mother of 18-year-old Laotian bar server Wiangporn Jindavongse who died in a fire, traveled to the police hospital's forensic institute to obtain documents for the Lao embassy in order to arrange her daughter's body to be sent back to Vientiane tomorrow.

Kaew disclosed that she had recently recovered from fainting and came to handle the paperwork. She must also return to Chachoengsao province to obtain a death certificate, since her daughter died at Chachoengsao Hospital. However, last night her daughter's spirit appeared in a dream to relatives, saying she wanted to go home because she was cold and was sleeping alone.

Today, when collecting her daughter's belongings from her room, Kaew found a piggy bank with a message written on it: "Don't touch this—it's dad's heart." She believes her daughter had been saving money in it for her father and did not dare to open it, intending to take it back to her father in Vientiane. Her daughter normally also set aside money for her mother.

"She had worked here for seven months, and on the day it happened, she told me she would take me on a trip because she had saved enough money. It was a beautiful place in Thailand, but in the end we didn't go," Kaew said, breaking down in tears immediately.

Kaew also shared that after the incident, she went to see her daughter at Rama 9 Hospital, where her daughter cried. She told her daughter to be strong for her mother and siblings and not to give up. However, when she was transferred to Chachoengsao Hospital, her condition worsened and she passed away.

Her daughter had a lovely nature and was beloved wherever she went. Customers at the bar felt sorry for her because she was kind to everyone. Kaew said she cannot speak properly about what happened, as she had only recently been discharged from the hospital after fainting. She is heartbroken over her daughter's passing, as her daughter's appearance changed drastically—her face was swollen and bruised.

However, when her daughter appeared in the dreams of those around her, she was wearing white clothes and her face looked normal. She said she was hungry and wanted to go home because it was very cold there. While Kaew did not have the same dream as other relatives, she felt her daughter came to see her last night. She sensed a burnt smell, like that of someone burned by fire, so she lit incense and spoke to her daughter's spirit, telling her not to worry. After that, the smell disappeared, and she became convinced that her daughter had come to visit her.

Before public hearings on a new Thai steel standard, intimidating letters have been sent to committee members by lawyers representing capital groups operating induction furnace (IF) mills, pressuring them to reverse their stance on the draft standard. Sources in the steel industry report that multiple IPSC committee members received threatening letters from IF mill operators' legal representatives, with some academics and civil servants becoming too intimidated to sign off in committee meetings.

At a parliamentary industrial affairs committee session, Chinese capital groups claimed that China still uses IF furnaces, but Thai industry representatives countered that this is misleading—comparing it to controlled narcotics permitted only for medical use in Thailand while being banned for general use. Thai representatives argued that the Chinese government has actually ordered these furnaces out of the country because they produce low-quality, polluting steel that damages the economy.

Concerns that shutting down or tightening controls on the estimated 5–7 non-compliant mills would cause a steel shortage are unfounded, according to industry sources. Many standard Thai mills currently operate at only 60% capacity and could easily increase production if illegal IF mills shut down. Industry groups support the IPSC's proposal for a 3–5 year transition period allowing mills to upgrade to cleaner electric arc furnace (EAF) technology or install online pollution controls. The illegal IF mills are also accused of tax evasion, metal scrap fraud, and hiring mainly foreign workers, providing little economic benefit while creating severe pollution.

A school principal in Samut Songkhram has voiced strong opposition to the government's proposed cuts to civil service benefits, including healthcare and pensions, which are intended to ease the national budget burden.

Phra Akhlaksana Khaonual, director of Wat Ku Sanam Chan School in Mueang District, spoke on behalf of lower-level civil servants, arguing they accepted significantly lower salaries than private sector counterparts in the expectation of secure healthcare and retirement benefits. He cited his own experience: when he started work in 1994, he earned only 5,560 baht per month with no housing allowance, while peers in the private sector earned 20,000 to 30,000 baht—many times higher.

Khaonual argued that civil servants have lived frugally for decades, relying on their pension as a lifeline in retirement. If the government must cut benefits, he said, it should instead reduce parliamentary perks first and raise starting salaries for new hires to private-sector levels, giving them a genuine choice between government and private employment. He noted that cutting benefits for current workers who made a different deal would be unfair, especially since they serve for 25 years before qualifying for a pension, unlike politicians who work only 2–4 years yet receive substantial perks.