Thai Steel Profile says Thailand's steel industry is changing, backing new Thai Industrial Standards to control raw material sources and raise standards to international levels while reducing structural risks.

Wichit Rattanasirivilai, managing director of Thai Steel Profile Public Company Limited, a major domestic rebar producer, revealed that the new standards requiring steel from Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) processes, along with mandatory Secondary Refining steps, represent the right approach to upgrading Thailand's industry long-term.

"Rebar quality begins with billet quality. If raw materials are stable and chemical composition is consistently controlled, rolled steel will meet standards and reduce construction risks," Wichit said.

Most Thai rebar producers currently operate as rolling mills, importing steel billets from abroad and converting them to rebar for domestic and export sales. The Industrial Products Standards Office reports over 16 licensed rebar producers lack their own furnaces, and 2025 imports exceed 1.6 million tonnes of billets.

Business operators believe the new standards will reshape competitive dynamics by emphasizing raw material sourcing, reducing quality variations in the market and improving supply chain transparency.

Three key benefits are expected: first, upgrading production processes through clear technology and quality control criteria that create unified practices and enhance Thai steel industry credibility; second, building confidence among engineers, designers, contractors, and project owners that construction steel maintains consistent quality and reduces technical risks; and third, reducing business risk for rolling mills and material importers by establishing clear billet selection criteria, avoiding future disputes over standards and product quality.

While the new standards may increase producer costs for material inspection and selection, industry assessments indicate returns include improved structural safety, market confidence, and alignment with global standards—factors critical for long-term competitiveness.

Amid intensifying global competition and rising safety demands, this TIS revision is not merely a technical change but a new foundation for Thailand's steel industry to support sustainable construction and future investment growth.

On July 15, 2025, the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police Hospital provided an update on identification efforts from the Ladprao beer hall fire. As of 8:00 a.m., the confirmed death toll stands at 32, with five critically injured victims succumbing to their injuries. DNA samples have been collected from 30 families, all 32 victims have been identified and confirmed, and 28 families have come to claim the bodies.

In a heartwarming moment, Praiya, daughter of Pu Kanokwan and comedian Der Dok Sadao, rushed to her father's side after landing with her university degree from Prague to surprise him while he remains hospitalized. Social media personality Thua Rere shared the touching scene, posting that Praiya graduated from a prestigious university in Prague, Czech Republic, and came to show her father with tears flowing from both parent and child. The post read: "From Prague, Czech Republic, receiving her degree to show Father Der with overwhelming tears from both father and daughter. Please congratulate my daughter, Teacher Der." Thua Rere also posted a video captioned "Dad, don't cry" along with touching photos showing Praiya embracing and holding her father's hand to give him strength. The caption noted: "Fresh off the plane, she rushed straight to her beloved father, from perseverance to success with pride." Friends and fans flooded the comments with hearts and congratulatory messages.

The government is positioning Thailand as a global content and film production hub after the Motion Picture Association invested over $1 billion in content production here. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthammaphand announced this following talks with MPA leadership, highlighting Thailand's strong capacity to attract foreign film productions and content investment.

The MPA group, which includes world-leading film companies, has already invested more than $1 billion in Thailand. MPA sees Thailand's distinctive strengths in local content—including culture, cuisine, tourism, lifestyle, and regional storytelling—that can be developed into films, series, games, characters, lifestyle products, and intellectual property that generate long-term economic value.

Suthammaphand noted the success of Character and Content Thailand 2026, held July 9-12, which exceeded targets with over 20,000 visitors and generated $600 million in business matching value in just four days, demonstrating that Thai content and characters are becoming genuine economic assets with commercial potential.

The MPA requested government support in streamlining filming permits, coordination, screening, and inter-agency connections to help foreign crews operate more efficiently in Thailand, which the government has committed to provide fully.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has ordered a comprehensive review of cash rebate measures for foreign film productions to maximize economic benefit by focusing not just on rebates but on job creation, increased Thai workforce employment, and added value to the domestic economy.

The government also prioritizes copyright and intellectual property protection, especially as AI and deepfake technology enable unauthorized use of images, audio, and creative works. Laws must be updated to international standards to build confidence among global investors and creators.

"If Thailand develops robust investment support systems alongside strengthened intellectual property laws and fully leverages its cultural, culinary, tourism, and creative talent strengths, it can attract filmmakers and content investment from worldwide while pushing Thai content into global markets even further," Suthammaphand said.

On July 15, 2025, reporters received complaints from a group of Kuwaiti tourists aged 20–30 who said that over the past month they have been repeatedly detained by uniformed police officers in Pattaya for alleged traffic violations. While the tourists acknowledged some traffic infractions and were willing to accept legal consequences, they grew suspicious of what they believed was extortion when officers rejected their official receipts as counterfeit, repeatedly fined them at rates between 3,500 and 5,000 baht per incident, and insisted on cash-only payments in secluded locations.

The tourists reported being stopped 2–5 times per night, with the same officers returning night after night. When they requested to pay fines at their hotel or an official impound lot, officers refused and demanded immediate cash payment. Those who questioned the receipts were told they were fake, and officers allegedly charged an additional 500 baht for a proper receipt that would then be rejected as counterfeit by other officials.

In one incident, after a minor motorcycle accident, the same officers who had previously fined them detained them again and issued a comparable fine without clarity on the alleged violation. The tourists expressed dismay that they now fear police more than criminals and worry about Pattaya's image as a tourist destination. They provided video recordings and receipts to news outlets and called on police commanders to investigate, warning that such practices damage Thailand's reputation and discourage future visitors.

A soccer player riding his motorcycle home was startled when a young cobra suddenly emerged from the headlight compartment. He quickly stopped and called emergency responders for help, believing the snake encounter brought good luck just one day before the government lottery draw. Many people then noted his motorcycle license plate number to try their luck. On July 15, 2569, officials from Putai Sawan Foundation reported that at 10 p.m. on July 14, they received a call about a motorcycle accident with injuries on Rojana Road near the Ayutthaya elevated bridge in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. When they arrived, no accident was found, but they discovered a motorcycle parked at a repair shop where the owner and mechanic were disassembling the front fender and headlight after finding a snake inside.

Upon investigation, motorcycle owner Chokun, 31, explained that he had ridden his motorcycle (license plate 1กญ6898) to play soccer at a local field. While driving home near the accident location, a snake suddenly crawled out of the headlight. Although startled and nearly reaching the dashboard, he continued riding to a safe location due to traffic behind him, then stopped to inspect the bike. A passing motorcycle mechanic helped take the bike to his shop and disassemble the front components to locate the snake. Foundation officials arrived and quickly found a young cobra, approximately 50 centimeters long, hiding in the headlight. They safely captured and released it back into nature.

Chokun, who normally fears snakes, admitted that the incident occurred just one day before the lottery draw. Based on Thai beliefs about snakes bringing good fortune, he decided to buy a lottery ticket using the numbers 98 from his license plate. Foundation officer Naphatthorn Srichati explained that they initially received a report of a motorcycle crash with injuries but discovered it was actually a snake that had crawled into the vehicle. After successfully locating and removing the snake, they released it safely back to nature.

Following the incident, the repair shop owner and others present discussed Thai beliefs that encountering a snake near the lottery draw might be a sign of good luck, prompting many people to note the motorcycle's license plate number to play the lottery according to their personal beliefs.