Siam Piwat has announced a strategic partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian organization, to advance food security and sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to addressing global challenges including conflict, disaster, and climate change that impact food security and the quality of life for millions of people.

Siam Piwat will leverage its global platform capabilities, partner networks, and worldwide customer base to support WFP's humanitarian crisis relief mission and strengthen food security. This aligns with the company's vision of creating shared value through business growth coupled with sustainable social development, emphasizing the power of collaboration between the private sector and international organizations to create lasting positive impact for people, communities, and the world.

Under this strategic partnership, Siam Piwat and WFP are launching 'The Next Bucket: Save Lives & Change Lives,' with the first phase running from June to December 2025, targeting the delivery of 100,000 meals. The initiative will mobilize customers, partners, and all sectors to support special menu offerings and donations across Siam Piwat's global destinations, working together to create opportunities, build food security, and improve quality of life for sustainable growth.

Samir Wanmali, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations World Food Programme, Bangkok office, noted that over 65 million people across Asia and the Pacific are currently facing severe food insecurity due to conflict, climate disasters, economic pressure, and displacement. He emphasized that addressing these challenges requires collaboration from all sectors, and the partnership with Siam Piwat demonstrates how businesses, communities, and citizens can unite to create meaningful change and build a more sustainable food-secure future across the region.

Dr. Virote Santipraparp, Vice Chairman of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., and Chairman of the WFP Governance Committee, stated that Thais often overlook food security because Thailand produces surplus food and society is generous in caring for one another. However, globally, food shortages are occurring in many regions and intensifying due to war, conflict, economic crisis, and climate change. He emphasized that this partnership not only raises awareness about the global food crisis but also provides an opportunity for people to contribute meals to the hungry, which is crucial because a world filled with hunger cannot achieve peace and sustainability.

During the House of Representatives' first reading on the 2570 fiscal year budget bill on June 29, 2569 at Parliament, Phrawat Parisunanantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and head of the Budget Bureau, addressed critics who claimed the budget was patched together haphazardly. He acknowledged the government's budget constraints are genuine, noting this is the administration's first year managing a complete national budget. After consulting with Deputy Prime Minister Akanithi Nitithanprapaphat and the Finance Minister, they identified the same problems lawmakers raised: if the current budget structure persists for another 2-3 years, the country cannot survive. The 3.788 trillion baht budget comprises 3 trillion baht in government revenue dedicated to recurring expenses and debt servicing from previous years, with the remaining 788 billion baht coming from borrowing. Phrawat stated the government chose structural reform over simply going deeper into debt to fund promised projects. He expressed approval that opposition lawmakers from the Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, and Palang Pracharath parties shared the same vision for budget restructuring. He stressed that the time has come for all stakeholders—not just the government but also the opposition, private sector, and civil service—to recognize and address the structural problems preventing the country from delivering adequate welfare increases for the elderly, children, and disabled persons. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Interior Minister set clear cost-control policies, including eliminating unnecessary overseas trips. Regarding reduced investment budgets, Phawat clarified this does not mean cutting national investment but shifting funding sources from government revenues to allow relevant ministries like Transportation to finance their own projects.

BANGKOK — The Defence Ministry has set aside 1.455 billion baht for a 'volunteer soldier' programme under the 2027 budget proposal, with plans to recruit 25,000 personnel through an online application system, officials said.

The budget proposal is scheduled for deliberation in the House of Representatives between 29 June and 1 July, 2026.

According to the ministry, the funding will support the 'Volunteer Soldier (10 Plus)' scheme, in line with government policy and previously announced defence manpower plans.

The 25,000 positions are allocated across the armed forces as follows: the Royal Thai Army with 18,784 posts, the Royal Thai Navy 3,496, the Royal Thai Air Force 2,174, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters 300, and the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence 246.

The budget falls under the ministry's public sector personnel expenditure plan.

A Defence Council meeting on June 25 approved a draft ministerial regulation outlining service duration, salary, benefits, rules and disciplinary measures for temporary military personnel, which is intended to support the implementation of the programme.

Under the plan, recruitment will be conducted online, targeting 25,000 volunteers per year between September 2026 and January 2027. Responsibilities have been assigned to relevant agencies, with preparations underway to meet the timeline.

The ministry is also scheduled to hold talks with the Comptroller General's Department on July 6, 2026, to finalise budget arrangements and ensure the scheme can proceed as planned.

BANGKOK — On June 29, 2026, a 30-year-old man known as Film (surname withheld) was presented to South Bangkok Criminal Court by investigators from Thung Maha Mek Police Station following his arrest for attacking a Vietnamese woman with a box cutter near the entrance of Silom Soi 5. He has been charged with assault causing physical or mental harm, and police have opposed bail citing the risk of reoffending and concerns for public safety.

When questioned by reporters before his court appearance, the suspect spoke in a confused and fragmented manner. He denied any prejudice against overweight people and instead claimed he committed the act because he repeatedly heard voices whispering in his ear. He stated he weighs approximately 140 kilograms and alleged that he had previously been attacked by a group of teenagers in the Sai Mai area, which he said caused him significant psychological trauma. He also insisted he has never used illegal drugs.

When asked by reporters if he wished to apologize to the victim and address concerns about the incident's impact on Thailand's international image, the suspect offered only a brief response: "I have nothing to say. I already spoke to the victim." Police then transported him to Bangkok South Criminal Court for the remand hearing, where investigators maintained their opposition to bail, emphasizing the danger of repeat offenses and the importance of protecting public safety.

On June 29, Health Minister Pattana Prom-Pattan spoke following the third meeting of the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee in 2025, confirming that the board continues to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages through automated vending machines. The committee discussed the appropriateness of current enforcement measures and ways to update secondary legislation to align with changing retail formats.

Pattana clarified that the ban on automated alcohol dispensers is not new—it has been in force since 2018 due to concerns about easy public access to alcohol, particularly near schools and communities. "This meeting is not about issuing new measures, but rather discussing how retail and sales methods have changed significantly from 2018 to 2025," Pattana explained. The committee has tasked its secretariat with studying how to refine the definition of store types and sales methods to better reflect current retail practices.

When asked whether this could expand controls beyond convenience stores, Pattana said the committee is still reviewing details including store classifications, size, proximity to educational institutions, and public accessibility to ensure laws address modern commerce while remaining within the retail and convenience store framework.

The committee emphasized that automated dispensers present different control challenges than bottle or can sales, since machines allow immediate consumption. Pattana stressed that the board remains committed to the ban and will continue these measures. "What we're considering is not deregulation, but rather expanding the details of the announcement to cover changing store and sales formats while keeping controls within retail stores and convenience shops," he said. Bars and other service establishments already operate under separate regulatory frameworks. The secretariat is expected to bring updated proposals back to the committee after completing its research.

On June 29, Narongrit Ruangsri, Bangkok's permanent secretary and election director, announced that Bangkok has successfully compiled and submitted the vote counts for the Bangkok Metropolitan Council and gubernatorial elections from all 6,628 polling stations to the Election Commission since June 28. The process followed all legal requirements transparently and smoothly. The Election Commission will now verify document accuracy and vote counts before officially certifying results within the legal timeframe.

For the gubernatorial election, 4,428,644 eligible voters registered, with 2,338,098 participating (52.79 percent). Of these, 2,263,608 were valid ballots, 22,020 were spoiled, and 52,470 voters abstained. Unofficial results show Chadchart Siritho, Candidate No. 9, leading with 1,537,784 votes.

For the Bangkok Metropolitan Council elections across 50 districts, 4,384,693 eligible voters registered with 2,306,788 participating. Top vote-getters by district include Suchai Pongpiyarchob in Khlong Toei with 18,650 votes, Surakiat Wangphitthak in Khlong Samwah with 32,255 votes, and Sarawut Anantchol in Phrom Phong with leading tallies in their respective districts.