BANGKOK — 22 July 2026, The Thai government has dismissed concerns that an upcoming visit by Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing could damage Thailand's international image, arguing that direct engagement with Myanmar is necessary to promote peace and address cross-border problems.

Government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said on Wednesday that Thailand wanted Myanmar to gradually resume a greater role within ASEAN while continuing efforts to support peace and stability in the neighbouring country.

"If Myanmar is peaceful, people living along Thailand's border will also benefit," she said, adding that cooperation between neighbouring countries required their leaders to engage in direct dialogue.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has invited Min Aung Hlaing to make an official visit to Thailand ahead of the BIMSTEC summit, which is due to be held in Bangkok in early August.

Ratchada said the two leaders were expected to discuss a wide range of issues affecting both countries, including efforts to restore peace in Myanmar, drug trafficking, scam operations, transboundary environmental problems, open burning and river pollution.

She said Myanmar had expressed appreciation for Thailand's efforts to help bring the country back into closer engagement with ASEAN.

Ratchada cited an informal meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers hosted by Thailand, which was also attended by Myanmar's foreign minister, as an example of Bangkok's efforts to maintain dialogue.

Myanmar had also acknowledged concerns raised by Thailand over pollution originating across the border and had requested Thai technical assistance on open burning and environmental management, she said.

Asked whether hosting Min Aung Hlaing could harm the government's image because of his international reputation, Ratchada said Thailand was not concerned.

"Countries that are not Myanmar's neighbours may not understand that we have to live together," she said.

"If peace and stability return to Myanmar, Thailand and the Thai people will benefit as well. We need to help one another, not isolate them."

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.