Si Khiu police received a report at 9:10 a.m. on July 2, 2025 of a fatal shooting at a residence in Moo 8, Lad Bua Khao Subdistrict, Si Khiu District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Officers and rescue personnel found the body of Chamnan, 60, lying near sugarcane bushes in front of the house. He had been shot once in the left chest, with the bullet piercing his heart and causing instant death.

The suspect, identified as Thalapanpong, 27, the foster son of the deceased, initially fled into the forest behind the house and escaped on a motorcycle. However, after his biological father, Chanon, contacted police and persuaded him to surrender, he agreed and was taken into custody without incident and brought to Si Khiu Police Station for questioning.

During initial interrogation, Thalapanpong confessed to ongoing family conflicts with his foster father over various household matters. The immediate trigger was a dispute regarding home renovations, which escalated into an argument and physical confrontation. He claimed that when his foster father grabbed a wooden club and charged at him, he rushed to retrieve a firearm and shot in self-defense, resulting in the death.

Investigators formally charged him with intentional murder and prepared to forward the case to court for prosecution.

Thalapanpong's biological father, Chanon, stated that he convinced his son to turn himself in because the boy often consulted him about his conflicts with his foster father. He expressed shock that the situation had escalated to such a tragic outcome. Chanon said his son maintained that he fired the single shot only after the foster father attacked him with the club. While sympathizing with his son, Chanon emphasized that the matter must follow legal procedures, and he had repeatedly warned his son to remain calm and seek advice rather than act rashly in anger.

A state welfare card board meeting scheduled for tomorrow (July 3) will prioritize bringing genuinely needy people and vulnerable groups into the system while assisting those left out of current programs, with officials guaranteeing no duplicate benefits.

Finance Ministry spokesman Winit Wisetsuwanphumi announced that the People's Committee for Grassroots Economic Welfare and Social Development will meet tomorrow (July 3) to screen eligible candidates for Cabinet approval. An official list of qualified recipients entitled to the 2569 State Welfare Card will be announced on July 17.

The key focus is screening applicants to ensure they are genuinely disadvantaged, particularly vulnerable and excluded groups whose numbers have increased. Existing beneficiaries who register will also be screened by set criteria, though officials confirmed this is not intended as a rights cutoff or a budget-driven measure.

"What we want is to bring in people who are truly struggling, because in the past it was said that disadvantaged people didn't get benefits and new registration wasn't open," Winit said. "For existing groups who didn't register, we did field checks and found some didn't want the benefit because they no longer needed it and their lives had improved. Some vulnerable people have also passed away."

The 2569 State Welfare Card program divides into three groups: 12.7 million existing cardholders confirming their rights, 1.04 million vulnerable people from Interior Ministry and Social Development ministry databases, and 5.4 million excluded persons identified through fieldwork.

Officials are now considering how to support people dropped from the original welfare card program, possibly through the Thailand Helping Thailand Plus scheme (60/40), with systems already being prepared. Officials pledged to ensure continuity of care while guaranteeing no overlapping benefits.

For those who haven't fully used their Thailand Helping Thailand Plus benefits—not reaching the full 1,000 baht in June—remaining funds will be withdrawn for use in other programs. The clean energy transition program also has detailed criteria established, with a subcommittee formed and coordination underway with relevant agencies.

At parliament on July 2, 2025, Pheu Thai MP Phawut Phongwitthayanupong explained that he postponed his DSI statement on the Forex-3D case to July 6 due to scheduled parliamentary sessions, important legislative votes, and multiple committee meetings where he serves as chair. He assured he has all documents and evidence prepared and is ready to address all questions, including the financial network diagram connected to Spark Digital.

When asked about the Justice Ministry's observation that the money transfers seemed inconsistent with gold trading claims, Phawut said he would address this directly with the DSI and expressed no concern, stating he would speak only the truth.

Regarding allegations that his gold trading video amounted to chain-letter solicitation, Phawut clarified he was interviewed about his trading experience after attending a training course and was one of several interviewees featured. He emphasized the content contained no investment solicitation, merely personal experience sharing.

When asked if the money transfers could impact his party, both Phawut and party spokesman Kranuphol Tiensuwan reacted strongly. Kranuphol compared the situation to former Transport Minister Sakdisiam Chidchob's donations to Bhumjaithai, which the Constitutional Court found baseless, yet that case involved significantly smaller amounts. He questioned the consistency of Thailand's legal standards.

Kranuphol denied rumors that Pheu Thai was pressuring Phawut to resign, calling such reports mere gossip. He criticized the DSI for announcing someone's name without formal charges, comparing it to a past case where a former DSI chief named an individual in a press conference only for him to be imprisoned later. He urged the DSI to adopt stricter standards before publicizing individuals' names.

The Office of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation held its first public policy conference titled "Transforming Thailand through Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MOIP)" at Pullman King Power Hotel in Bangkok on July 1, 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Yossakrun Wungsawat, who also chairs the NXPO, presided over the event, which attracted over 200 senior officials from government, private sector, educational institutions, and policymakers.

Yossakrun emphasized the importance of mission-oriented innovation policy as a critical mechanism for guiding national development and enhancing Thailand's competitiveness amid rapid economic, social, and technological changes. The NXPO plans to align higher education, science, research, and innovation policies with international standards by implementing the MOIP framework for a five-year strategic plan (2028-2032) to establish clear national development objectives and coordinate all sectors systematically.

Yossakrun noted that Thailand already possesses a strong knowledge base, research infrastructure, and scientific capacity, so the country need not start from scratch but should build upon existing expertise to address national development challenges. He highlighted three priority challenge areas: addressing global technology competition through AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and robotics; tackling climate change through circular economy, green energy, and space technology initiatives; and preparing for an aging society through wellness, precision medicine, future food, and creative economy development.

Yossakrun stressed that policy implementation requires integration across all ministries, diverse policy tools, legal reforms, and continuous monitoring and impact assessment. He also emphasized elevating Thailand's research standards to align with OECD guidelines to build confidence in research quality, funding systems, and operational standards.

An 11-year-old boy fatally struck a Buddhist monk procession with a stolen Isuzu pickup truck in Ban Na Si Nuai, Muang District, Mukdahan Province, resulting in eight deaths and twelve injuries. Some victims sustained severe trauma including ruptured spleens and bone fractures.

According to updates on July 2, 2025, Mukdahan Provincial Hospital initially reported four critical-condition patients, ten moderate cases, two with ruptured spleens, and the remainder mostly suffering from fractures.

The child's mother came to meet with investigators at Muang Mukdahan Police Station. Preliminary questioning revealed her son stole the Isuzu pickup and drove away from home—the first time he had committed such an act. She stated that upon learning of the theft, she immediately phoned police at 191 to help stop the vehicle, but it arrived too late. The truck veered out of control and struck the monk procession, causing the deaths and injuries described.

Mukdahan Province's Public Relations Office released a list of injured and deceased monks:

Deceased: 1. Phra Bhikkhu Samruay Wiang 2. Phra Bhikkhu Sakda Sila 3. Phra Bhikkhu Chaisonn Nanthasingha 4. Phra Bhikkhu Rattana Thongburan 5. Phra Bhikkhu Khamsing Chaileut 6. Phra Bhikkhu Yothin Wanasri 7. Phra Bhikkhu Yuttha Pongsawiseth 8. Phra Bhikkhu Nikhom Angkab

Injured: 9. Phra Bhikkhu Suriya Sieungsai – Surgery 10. Phra Bhikkhu Kittiphan Labdhanasarn – Orthopedic Surgery 11. Phra Bhikkhu Yongyuth Konkaew – Orthopedic Surgery 12. Phra Bhikkhu Anuwat Phasi – Orthopedic Surgery 13. Mr. Pramual Si Khamphaeng – Surgery 14. Phra Bhikkhu Yuean Hanchaj – Orthopedic Surgery 15. Phra Bhikkhu Phisit Onyong – Critical, Surgical ICU 16. Phra Bhikkhu Somkiat Maniprattanachai – Critical, Surgical ICU 17. Phra Bhikkhu Sakorn Klangsongnoen – Critical, Surgical ICU 18. Unidentified – Critical, Surgical ICU 19. Unidentified – Surgery 20. Unidentified – Surgery

True Corporation and The Diplomat Network have partnered to present "True Presents Dinner Incredible Thailand 2026: The Black Box Edition," an exclusive fine dining showcase featuring 12 world-class Michelin-starred chefs with a combined 21 Michelin stars. Held at Gaysorn Village in central Bangkok on July 2, 2026, the event positions Thai ingredients and culinary wisdom on the global fine dining stage, celebrating Thailand's potential as the Kitchen of the World.

Oliver Kittipong Veeratechya, Head of Brand and Communications at True Corporation, stated that the event reflects the company's vision of moving beyond connectivity to meaningful connections that enhance customers' lifestyles and life moments. The collaboration aims to elevate Thai ingredients to world-class fine dining while promoting Thailand as a premier food and travel destination globally. True emphasizes that modern branding extends beyond technology and services to designing meaningful experiences that genuinely connect with people's lives.

Charad Mehrotra, Head of Consumer Business Group at True Corporation, noted that elevating customer experiences represents a key strategic priority for the company. True's continued development of networks, services, privileges, and exclusive experiences stems from customer trust and loyalty. The "True Presents Dinner Incredible Thailand 2026: The Black Box Edition" represents the company's commitment to delivering world-class experiences in Thailand while supporting the nation's soft power through culinary innovation.