On June 30, 2569, Parliament reviewed the fiscal year 2570 budget bill worth 3.788 trillion baht. Deputy Prime Minister Yossaknan Wongsuwan, who also heads the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHSRI), explained the ministry's budgeting framework, emphasizing the need to work collaboratively over the government's four-year term with both short and long-term perspectives to address immediate concerns while building foundational structures.

Regarding economic development, the ministry uses research and investment mechanisms to facilitate technology transfer. The focus is on developing sufficient human capital with high-level skills through reskilling and upskilling programs. Universities are being transformed into incubation centers and opportunity platforms that connect students, entrepreneurs, and investors to support new ventures that commercial banks might not fund, thereby driving practical research applications.

The private sector will benefit by supporting scientific advancement without excessive risk, as universities establish joint ventures to ensure Thai research has real-world applications. These efforts include science diplomacy partnerships with the Foreign Ministry and both domestic and international incubation.

The ministry addresses a dual economic strategy: sustaining traditional economic engines while transitioning to new ones such as high-value agriculture and high-value industries. Universities will increase their knowledge commercialization revenue through patents in collaboration with the Commerce Ministry, accelerating Thai patent approvals and supporting international patent mechanisms to increase patent value.

Yossaknan highlighted social innovation and security concerns, noting that research funding units are now coordinated with the Defense Ministry through a unified funding mechanism (RUP) to comprehensively address national needs. Anti-corruption measures include open data initiatives and consolidated research databases.

The budget framework focuses on four areas: innovation ecosystems for economic and social development, university improvement, higher education funding, and science research and innovation funding. These are divided into two funds. Yossaknan thanked lawmakers for emphasizing research funding's importance, noting that as global knowledge and thinking rapidly evolve, Thailand cannot rely solely on downstream application but must invest in foundational research.

On Monday, June 1, 2026, at 3 p.m., His Majesty the King graciously granted robes to the sangha during a Buddhist chanting ceremony honouring Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her fourth cycle birthday on June 3, 2026, at the Main Viharn of Wat Rajpradit Sathit Mahasima Ram in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district. The ceremony was presided over by Privy Councillor General Chalermphol Pukaphasuek, with participation from government officials, civil servants, and staff from numerous ministries and institutions including the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Religious Affairs, Department of Irrigation, Thai Red Cross, Government Savings Bank, Government Housing Bank, and Thai Medical Technologist Association, under the patronage of Princess Somsawali. Phra Brahm Vichar Acharya Pun Sak Vorabutthako, Chief Abbot of Wat Rajpradit, led the sangha while Phra Ratchawichitmetthi, Deputy Abbot, presided over the chanting ceremony. Participants lit incense and candles in homage to the Triple Gem, offered flowers and Thai silk to the monks, and participated in precept-taking. The ceremony included various ritual elements honouring celestial beings and the Queen, with monks chanting protective suttas and blessing the participants with lustral water. The assembled clergy performed Buddhist chanting ceremonies throughout the nine-day cycle, with officials and participants offering traditional Thai merit-making items to the monks. The ceremony concluded with the Head of the Ministry of Interior's office presenting blessed water to the Privy Councillor for presentation to Her Majesty the Queen. Thai citizens reflected on the Queen's decades of devoted service alongside the King, her participation in state ceremonies, and her extensive charitable work throughout the country in accordance with royal initiatives, bringing prosperity and wellbeing to the nation through her virtue, dedication, and compassionate heart.

Maha Sarakham Municipality and the Maha Sarakham Provincial Cultural Office jointly organized the traditional Bun Sam Ha festival, also known as the seventh lunar month merit-making ceremony, at the Kan Thorawit Monastery grounds within the municipal area from June 8-10, 2025. The event attracted large numbers of government officials, merchants, students, and residents.

The Bun Sam Ha festival is conducted to cleanse homes, communities, and the body of misfortune, purifying the mind of spiritual contamination. Activities include rituals honoring the city's guardian spirits, evening Buddhist chanting of auspicious verses following northeastern tradition. In the seventh lunar month, residents worship the protective deities of the city and seek their blessings for the safety and prosperity of the community, asking for protection from various calamities.

On the merit-making day, community members gather at the village hall bringing flowers, incense, candles, water vessels, sand containers, and white thread. Monks chant Buddhist sutras in the evening. The next morning, Buddhists bring rice, fish, and food to make merit through alms offerings to the monks. After the monks finish their meal, they offer blessings and sprinkle sacred water on participants. Everyone takes home blessed water, sacred thread, and sand to sprinkle in their homes, on family members and pets. The thread is tied around the arms of children and family members, believed to bring happiness and good fortune, while the sand is scattered around homes and fields to ward off pests and misfortune.

Another benefit of the Bun Sam Ha festival is that when villagers gather in large numbers, they often take the opportunity to collectively improve village roads, sweep, and clean the community. This creates unity and solidarity among residents.

Bun Sam Ha is a valuable northeastern tradition that deserves to be preserved for future generations. For the 2025 Bun Sam Ha festival, Maha Sarakham Municipality commissioned commemorative coins titled "Vitarka Mudra Buddha Coin: Taking Precepts with Great Merit." These coins serve as keepsakes of the festival and generate revenue for the Maha Sarakham Long Drum Association and local cultural events, with proceeds also supporting scholarships for outstanding students.

The rectangular coins feature the Buddha standing with raised hands in the Vitarka Mudra gesture (teaching or exposition posture), with two disciples on either side paying respects. The reverse bears sacred script and the text "Commemorative coin of Bun Sam Ha festival, preserving Maha Sarakham's destiny."

Production quantities are extremely limited: 20 gold sets (by special order), 9 silver coins, 100 alpaca coins, 100 base metal coins, 500 gold leaf coins, 700 copper coins, 100 brass coins, and 400 lead coins for distribution.

The consecration ceremony took place at the Kan Thorawit Monastery on June 10, 2025, attended by respected monks including Luang Ta Kap from Baan Upraj Temple and Luang Por Manunchay Manunphro from Wat Paa Satthadham. Phra Thammavichikar, the Provincial Circuit Advisor, lit the ceremonial candles to begin the ritual, and Luang Por Manunchay extinguished them, concluding the ceremony.

Following the historic RWS 200 event on Saturday, June 27, Daniel Rodriguez impressively defended his championship title for the fifth time with a stunning third-round knockout of Ankhel Bauwsa, capping off the night's main card perfectly.

Beyond the successful championship defense, this fight marked one of Rodriguez's most lucrative paydays. He claimed 1.55 million baht in bonuses alone, comprising 500,000 baht for winning the superfight, 500,000 baht for the superfight knockout bonus, 500,000 baht for the special RWS 200 knockout bonus, and 50,000 baht for the striking technique bonus.

Combining his three most recent superfights with RWS, Rodriguez has accumulated over 4 million baht in total earnings and bonuses:

- Defeated Petchmroket Bangmadklongtan by points (R80 80th Anniversary event, December 27) - 500,000 baht in bonuses - Defeated Hercules Beschard by fourth-round knockout (RWS April Inferno, April 18) - 1,000,000 baht in bonuses - Defeated Ankhel Bauwsa by third-round knockout (RWS 200, June 27) - 1,550,000 baht in bonuses

With 3.05 million baht in bonuses alone across these three fights, plus substantial fight purses, Rodriguez has earned well over 4 million baht combined. It's clear why Buakaow Banchamek chose to pass on the traditional Muay Thai techniques to Rodriguez, allowing him to carry forward Thai boxing's legacy to the world. Rodriguez has proven himself worthy of this honor and now stands as the pound-for-pound number one fighter in authentic Muay Thai rules.

The Senate passed the draft amnesty bill with 103 votes on June 30, 2569, during a session chaired by Deputy Senate President Bunsong Noisophon. The special committee led by Pol. Col. Chatrawat Saengphet completed its review of the draft Social Reconciliation Promotion Act in both stage 2 and stage 3 readings. The committee's majority made several amendments, including adding a preamble, revising four specific articles, and updating the bill's appendix.

During stage 2 deliberation, the Senate approved the committee's changes, notably adding a new clause to Article 11 regarding minors accused of crimes. The new provision stipulates that Article 112 offenses—related to insulting the monarchy—are explicitly excluded from amnesty consideration for juveniles.

Senator Ratchaneekon Thongtip raised concerns about whether the amended appendix might inadvertently create amnesty loopholes for election-related crimes. Pisit Abiwatpongpong, serving as committee secretary, clarified that the appendix contains 29 laws and the committee merely reorganized them by legal precedence without altering their substance. He emphasized that the provision on Senate member qualifications is unrelated to electoral fraud and that no senators are amnestied regarding such cases, which remain under the Election Commission's purview.

The final vote showed 103 senators in favor, 3 opposed, and 22 abstaining. The Senate also agreed with the committee's recommendation that the Social Reconciliation Promotion Committee should propose penal management guidelines to the Justice Ministry and Department of Corrections for individuals convicted of political expression crimes who are not amnestied, supporting Thailand's broader peace-building goals through rehabilitation and democratic principles.

On June 30, residents of Ban Taluk Hin in Phichit Province's Sak Sai District filed complaints after 41 elementary students lost their classroom when school officials auctioned off the decrepit building to a private contractor in late May. Teachers and parents were forced to relocate classes to a mango orchard shelter near the school to escape rain during monsoon season—a hardship that sparked serious concerns. The original structure, over 50 years old and structurally unsafe, was demolished without any funding secured for a new facility, leaving parents questioning where the auction proceeds went and how much was received. After officials rejected the village temple as inadequate due to lack of electricity and internet, students ended up studying under the mango trees. When Governor Thaniya Naiyapinit visited the site with provincial officials and education leaders, parents requested the temporary move to Taluk Hin Temple instead. The abbot approved the transfer for the children's safety. Governor Thaniya acknowledged the urgency, stating she fears children face danger from traffic near the mango orchard location. She pledged to fast-track emergency funding for temporary classrooms, which villagers and alumni have already begun contributing toward. Provincial education officials were instructed to pursue permanent reconstruction budget applications to ensure students have a safe, standard learning environment.