Thai Airways announced the upgrade to its Royal Orchid Plus frequent flyer program at the "ROP: The New Chapter Begins" event, aimed at providing members greater flexibility and value. Chai Iamsiri, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Airways, revealed that the enhancement introduces new benefits, technology, and exclusive offers tailored to members' diverse needs across all stages of their travels while building long-term member confidence.

Kittipong Sarsomboon, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, stated that over the program's 33-year history, Royal Orchid Plus has undergone continuous development. This latest upgrade focuses on enabling members to use accumulated miles with greater flexibility, value, and maximum benefit through ROP Smart Miles Pay and ROP Smart Miles Pay Lite services, making mile redemption easier and more aligned with current travel behavior.

ROP Smart Miles Pay allows Royal Orchid Plus members to purchase Thai Airways tickets using a combination of cash and miles, or redeem miles for the full ticket price (excluding taxes and fees), with immediate seat confirmation. Members can select this option on thaiairways.com and determine their own mile usage, while still earning miles according to their flight class code.

Effective July 13, 2025, Royal Orchid Plus introduces ROP Smart Miles Pay Lite, allowing members to use accumulated miles instead of cash for Thai Airways tickets departing Bangkok. This option uses double the standard reward chart miles for business and economy class tickets originating from Bangkok, with immediate seat confirmation and continued mile earnings from travel.

The program has also expanded its ecosystem through the Royal Orchid Holidays platform, integrating flights, hotels, activities, and partner benefits, enabling members to redeem miles across diverse options. For members seeking premium experiences, the ROP The Experience program curates special events with renowned chefs, artists, hotels, and dining partners, allowing members to use miles for discounts or full redemption according to specified conditions.

Royal Orchid Plus launched new benefits under "The New Chapter Begins" concept, including revised qualification criteria effective August 5, 2025, to provide easier tier upgrades aligned with diverse travel patterns, benefiting platinum, gold, and silver cardholders in accumulating elite miles for status advancement.

Zlatan Ibrahimović, the former Swedish national team striker, has praised Lionel Messi, Argentina's star forward, for maintaining an insatiable drive to succeed despite already achieving everything.

Messi recently helped Argentina advance to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16.

After the match, Ibrahimović commented on Messi's performance, which included one goal and one assist, saying: "Messi has become a wild animal and no one can stop him. He just keeps pushing forward, and this is Messi the way I see him—the way we know him and continue to see him."

"You can still see how much this means to him. Remember, he's already won the World Cup. He's won countless titles, won the Ballon d'Or and everything. I could sit here and tell his entire history, and it looks perfect. But he still wants it, and that's what's impressive."

Messi has scored 8 goals in this World Cup so far and currently leads the tournament's scoring race.

Fulham Football Club of the English Premier League has officially announced the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa, former manager of Real Madrid, as their new manager. Fulham previously needed to find a replacement after Marco Silva agreed to move to manage Benfica, the Portuguese club. The club has now officially unveiled Arbeloa in the role on a three-year contract. Prior to this, Arbeloa had just managed Real Madrid in the previous season before parting ways with the Spanish club, which then brought in José Mourinho, the former Benfica manager, as his replacement during the summer transfer window.

On July 8, 2025, Dr. Bhakaphum Dechskulrit, board member of Jetsada Technical Museum Foundation, outlined the organization's new-era management direction. The foundation previously relied on a small team of mechanics for vintage car restoration, but has now expanded its workforce and modernized management systems to accommodate growing workload. Future plans include engaging outsourced partners to support organizational growth. General Worawit Chinnawaiwin, Supoj Ohnboonmee, and Abhisit Thammjai serve as primary leaders overseeing restoration work, driving improvements in the foundation's restoration standards and efficiency.

The foundation has expanded workforce development partnerships by signing MOUs with several educational institutions, including Buddhimantra Vocational College—led by Director Wanachaiwon Worawichitpun and Industrial Machinery and Metal Welding Department Head Anon Nonthasevatmeti—and Nakhon Pathom School for the Deaf, led by Director Sukhjai Chaimaatya, with support from academic and administrative staff including Vice Director Kanyarat Chantersen and Vice Director Sunthree Puthao.

Under modern management systems, the foundation has partnered with numerous universities and educational institutions, drawing many interns. When these young people develop affinity for the organization, many choose to continue working after graduation. Former interns now serving as permanent staff include Sittha Panpeeng, Natchakarn Rengdara, Meena, Theerawut Sudjai, Bunyu Paknoi, Abhiwat Phongsoard, Thanapol Rengdara, and Nujari Suksawat.

Vibha stated: "We thank Jetsada Technical Museum Foundation for offering students valuable professional training opportunities, inspiring their dreams and providing summer income alternatives. For example, Theerawut Sudjai, a hearing-impaired individual, began as a summer intern and now serves as a full-time foundation staff member—an inspiring example for his peers and disabled youth nationwide."

General Worawit added that the foundation currently employs multi-generational personnel, from senior mechanics approaching 70 years old to young staff aged 18–19, who collectively share knowledge and experience, with increasing numbers of both male and female young workers.

Mostafa Ziko, Egypt's striker, has criticized the World Cup for allegedly fixing outcomes in Argentina's favor after his team was knocked out. Egypt's 2026 World Cup run ended at the Round of 16 following a 2-3 loss to defending champion Argentina on July 7, despite initially leading 2-0.

Controversial moments marred the match when Ziko's goal in the 58th minute, which extended Egypt's lead to 2-0, was overturned after VAR determined he had fouled Lisandro Martínez beforehand. Additionally, Mohamed Salah was not awarded a penalty when fouled in Argentina's box before the defending champions mounted a comeback and secured a 3-2 victory with Enzo Fernández's stoppage-time goal in the 92nd minute.

Post-match, Ziko remarked: "Congratulations to Argentina on the World Cup. The tournament is rigged already. They don't need anything else. The referees were unjust... unjust... unjust... unjust. This trophy is being sent to Argentina."

"We were leading 2-0 and playing the best football of our lives," he added. "If they had beaten us because they played better, we would accept it. But losing in the World Cup like this hurts twice as much."