A man traveling from Kanchanaburi to Phetchaburi met a tragic end when his pickup truck plunged into an irrigation canal in Ratchaburi on July 13, 2569 (2026). At 8 a.m., police received a report of a submerged Isuzu pickup truck with bodies trapped inside near the Chao Phraya irrigation canal embankment in Muang Ratchaburi District. Officers and rescue teams from the Prathammaraj Foundation and Sawang Ratchaburi Foundation arrived to find a male victim attempting to escape through the cabin window, with his arm and head halfway out of the smashed glass. A second body, an unidentified woman in her mid-20s to 30s wearing blue pajamas, was found in the front passenger seat. The rear of the vehicle was crushed.

The male victim was identified as Atthapol, 34, from Uttaradit Province, who had been traveling from Kanchanaburi to Phetchaburi. Clear skid marks at the canal's edge indicated the truck had lost control and plunged into the water. No external injuries or signs of foul play were found on either body. The female victim remains unidentified and had no identification documents. Authorities have transported both bodies to the hospital and are conducting a full investigation. The cause of the accident—whether due to drowsiness, tire failure, or other factors—has not yet been determined and awaits detailed forensic examination.

Thai football fans will be able to watch the final four matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 free of charge after Jasmine International Public Company Limited (JAS), in collaboration with Mono Next Public Company Limited (MONO), announced free-to-air broadcasts on MONOMAX SPORTS TV via Channel 29.

JAS, the official broadcast rights holder for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Thailand, said the free broadcasts will include both semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final.

The semi-finals feature France vs Spain on Wednesday 15 July at 02:00, followed by England vs Argentina on Thursday 16 July at 02:00. The third-place play-off will be played on Sunday 19 July at 04:00, while the final kicks off on Monday 20 July at 02:00.

MONOMAX subscribers will also be able to stream all matches live in Full HD across a wide range of supported devices.

In addition, MONOMAX has opened free registration for football fans to attend the "MONOMAX: WATCH PARTY – FIFA World Cup 2026", where supporters can watch selected matches on a giant screen at MONO Studio (Stadium 29) on Chaiyaphruek Road in Nonthaburi province.

Watch parties will be held for the France–Spain semi-final on the night of 14 July, the England–Argentina semi-final on the night of 15 July, and the World Cup final on the night of 19 July. Activities begin at 20:00, ahead of the live broadcasts, which kick off in the early hours of the following morning.

Successfully registered attendees must present their original Thai national ID card together with their Ticket QR Code on the scheduled date as proof of entry.

Furthermore, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to make history by introducing the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show. Held at New York New Jersey Stadium, the halftime spectacular will feature a star-studded line-up of global artists, including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS. The performance is being curated under the creative direction of Chris Martin, lead vocalist of Coldplay.

Only four matches remain before the 2026 FIFA World Cup crowns a new champion, with the semi-finals set to kick off in the early hours of 15 and 16 July, Thailand time.

Thailand's Board of Investment is undertaking a major strategic overhaul of its investment promotion policy, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas presiding over a review meeting in Chonburi province. The board will focus on reshaping its role to drive real investment, emphasizing projects that create added value and distribute benefits to Thai citizens and the economy. Priorities include developing industrial ecosystems, upgrading infrastructure and workforce quality, accelerating service delivery, and integrating digital technology and AI into investment promotion processes.

The government has set three key priorities for attracting investment in the modern era: determining what value the country should create, identifying target industries where Thailand should focus, and developing effective mechanisms to deliver investor facilitation. Beyond traditional metrics like investment volume and job creation, the board will also measure success through domestic value-added, technology and research development, skilled workforce creation, and the integration of Thai small and medium enterprises into supply chains. BOI Secretary-General Narat Thadsadisak emphasized that the board will serve as a central tool for achieving the government's ambitious targets: economic growth exceeding 3 percent and entry into the world's top 20 competitive nations within four years, paving the way toward high-income status within 12 years.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is preparing to welcome UNESCO World Heritage status for Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn, which would be Thailand's sixth cultural World Heritage site. On July 13, 2025, Thiwali Angkhinan, chair of the parliamentary committee on religion, art, and culture, visited Nakhon Si Thammarat to oversee management planning for the heritage site following its UNESCO nomination.

The meeting brought together provincial officials, senior monks, and government representatives to discuss systematic site management, including tourist access points, souvenir retail, visitor centers, guided tours, traffic control, parking, signage, waste management, public facilities, and revenue systems for future international visitors.

The committee also received presentations on the temple's 1,000-year Buddhist history, artistic and architectural significance, and cultural value to southern Thailand. Thiwali expressed pride that if UNESCO approves the nomination, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn would become the first cultural World Heritage site in southern Thailand and the sixth nationwide. She emphasized that the recognition would showcase the site's historical, artistic, and architectural value to the world while requiring balanced management between conservation and development through cooperation from all stakeholders—the temple, local government, the Fine Arts Department, schools, and communities. Thiwali affirmed confidence that Nakhon Si Thammarat residents could become a model for preserving Thailand's World Heritage sites while promoting cultural tourism and passing the legacy to future generations.

On July 13, 2025, at Phaholyothin Police Station, Pisanu Nimmian, 31, came to file a daily report regarding his girlfriend Tatsanai, 31, who suffered severe burns in a fire at a beer bar in Ladprao. Before the incident, his girlfriend had arranged to meet friends from her clinic workplace at the bar and invited him along, but he chose to stay home caring for their two children. He drove her to the bar around 9 p.m., intending to pick her up later. On his way back, his car tire blew out near the Ladprao intersection, so he called a mechanic to change it. While waiting, his child asked where their mother was, and he told them he would go pick her up soon. Later, he received a call asking if he was Tatsanai's boyfriend and informing him that his girlfriend's phone was missing and asking him to come to the scene. When told she had been caught in a fire, he rushed there immediately. Upon arrival, he saw flames and thick black smoke. His girlfriend ran out of the bar with her head on fire, and people helped beat out the flames before she collapsed in front of the establishment. Pisanu explained that his girlfriend was familiar with the venue and knew which way to escape, but the exit was very small, forcing her to run through the flames. When she spoke to him at the hospital, she tearfully asked him if she would still be beautiful, and he assured her that he would accept her completely and only wanted her to come home safely with their children, saying belongings didn't matter as long as she was safe. He later told her that entertainment venues should have more emergency exits with clear signage, noting that both the entrance and exit were dangerously small. Regarding reports that fire exit doors were locked to prevent customers from leaving without paying, he said if true, it would be inexcusable to prioritize payment over people's lives and safety. He expressed concern about not knowing which agency to contact for assistance, as his girlfriend has no social security insurance and is currently using emergency medical coverage limited to 72 hours. He worried about what would happen if her condition did not improve by then, as doctors say she remains in critical condition with burns covering her arms, legs, face, and back. Her hair was burned off during her escape and doctors needed to shave her head and treat the wounds. Visits are restricted due to infection risk. Their two children keep asking for their mother, and he can only tell them she is still working and that he will pick her up soon. On the previous night, Pisanu met with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to request assistance and filed a complaint at the police station.

TTB is stepping up its comprehensive support for salaried workers, rolling out a debt resolution model that directly addresses financial problems and introducing a "debt coaching" program to strengthen financial knowledge and discipline among borrowers. The bank is also advancing risk-based pricing—setting loan interest rates based on borrower risk levels—to reward those with good repayment records and creditworthiness, and incentivize financially disciplined customers.

On July 13, TTB's Chief Executive Officer Thakorn Piyanphand said household debt remains a critical challenge affecting the quality of life and potential of Thailand's salaried workers, who form an important economic engine of approximately 12.5 million people, or roughly 30% of the total labor market. Main causes include family care responsibilities, rising living costs, economic conditions, and unexpected events that impact financial status.

TTB believes sustainable debt solutions require more than burden reduction; they must help borrowers regain financial discipline and manage their finances independently over the long term. The bank has therefore begun developing comprehensive support solutions, especially for salaried workers, through a debt resolution model combining debt restructuring with behavior change.

Debt Coach Program: Volunteers Helping People Escape Debt

The "debt coach" program was first piloted with TTB employees, starting with financial health checks through the ttb financial health check tool to assess risk and analyze individual financial behavior, then design tailored support aligned with each group's debt level.

From the green group—those with strong financial status—to the yellow group showing early warning signs, the orange group facing debt burden and negative liquidity, and the red group in financial crisis unable to repay regularly. Support is targeted and designed to create sustainable results.

TTB has since expanded the program to partner organizations, with over 144,000 salaried employees now assessed. Results show average financial health is good, with 53% in the green group, only 3% in critical red status, 31% in the early-warning yellow group, and 13% in the serious orange group.

Sustainable debt solutions require financial advisors. TTB created the "debt coach" role—volunteers from among TTB employees with financial knowledge and good financial health (green group status). All coaches undergo screening, knowledge tests, and intensive training to ensure standardized advisory quality.

Currently over 110 debt coaches have advised more than 560 employees, improving participants' liquidity. A survey found 56% restored positive net cash flow within one year of receiving coach guidance. The bank aims to expand to 1,000 cases this year and scale the model across partner networks.

Risk-Based Pricing: Rewarding Those Who Pay Well and Have Good Credit

Meanwhile, TTB promotes financial discipline among Thai people. Early 2024, TTB broke new ground using risk-based pricing to set loan interest rates that match borrower risk levels and credit scores from credit rating companies.