MP Siam Champathong of the Pheu Thai Party and labor networks, along with Nakhon Ratchasima MPs, conducted a campaign on July 5, 2569 to promote registration for the Social Security Board election. Jongruk Wanpong, provincial representative, and Pattrakanya Thongdaeng, network coordinator, organized awareness activities to educate insured workers about social security fund rights and the upcoming board election.

Siam Champathong and other MPs from Nakhon Ratchasima districts 1 and 3 held discussions with over 50 workers covered under articles 33, 39, and 40 to raise understanding of social security benefits. They then traveled to Siri Plaza near the SeaGate factory in Suung Neun district to campaign, urging workers to exercise their right to vote for employer and worker representatives to the Social Security Board on Sunday, September 27. Workers showed strong interest and asked questions about the benefits.

Siam emphasized that the Social Security Board election is crucial for selecting qualified individuals to manage the growing social security fund. He pointed to past administrative problems, including the overpriced purchase of the Sky Nine building for billions of baht more than appraised value. He called on insured workers to stay engaged and register to vote before July 15, and to comment on the Social Security Act draft submitted by the Pheu Thai Party, with only two days remaining for registration.

The Department of Thai Traditional Medicine announced a triumphant conclusion to the 23rd National Herbal Products Festival, which generated over 350 million baht in total transactions. Over 200,000 visitors attended across both on-site and online platforms during the four-day event, with revenues exceeding 200 million baht in just the first two days.

The event's success comprised two major financial components: 63 million baht in direct spending by visitors, and 287 million baht in projected future value from business matching activities that connected 173 pairs of Thai herbal producers with major retail networks including King Power, Lemon Farm, ICONCRAFT, and Thai OTOP Village.

Dr. Pongsathan Pokpaimdee, director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine, noted that the Thai herbal industry currently holds a market value of 45,822 million baht. He outlined four strategic initiatives to drive growth toward a 100 billion baht market by 2027: upgrading herbal cultivation standards, developing high-quality herbal extracts and pet products, promoting Thai traditional medicine internationally, and implementing digital transformation through the DTAM Next project.

The department announced plans for the inaugural National Thai Massage and Wellness Festival on August 20-22, 2026, and confirmed that the 24th National Herbal Products Festival will expand to four large halls from July 1-4, 2027, featuring four specialized showcases covering Thai beauty, dietary supplements, herbal medicines, and pet products.

Global oil markets have stabilized and crude oil futures have fallen below $70 per barrel after tensions in the Middle East peaked in late February. However, retail fuel prices for refined petroleum products in Thailand have not declined as much as they should, particularly diesel prices, which are crucial to driving the entire economy.

Although prices have fallen somewhat compared to pre-conflict levels, they remain higher than necessary, forcing citizens to shoulder increased costs. One key reason domestic prices haven't fallen faster is that Thailand's oil fund is still drawing contributions to cover losses from the conflict stabilization period, resulting in a deficit of more than 55 billion baht.

The Thai Industrial Council has proposed that the government urgently implement measures to ensure domestic energy prices properly reflect reduced global costs. This would help ease the cost of living for ordinary people, quickly reduce production costs for businesses, and support Thailand's sluggish and stalled economic recovery.

The council calls for rapid transmission of lower energy costs to consumers through transparent and fair domestic pricing mechanisms that reflect global oil price declines. The government should manage the oil fund prudently by reviewing contributions to match current market conditions, preventing consumers from bearing unnecessarily high energy costs.

Fuel costs affect more than just motorists—they impact transportation, food, and production costs across all business sectors. Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through lower energy costs will boost competitiveness and stimulate overall economic activity. These measures would provide short-term relief while establishing long-term energy foundations for the country, reducing living costs, enhancing business competitiveness, and restoring confidence in Thailand's economy during uncertain global conditions.

The 38th Military Circle held its 2569 New Soldier Open House at Suriyphong Camp in Nan Province, with Lieutenant General Bunnyrit Kaetsatwetin presiding. Families of newly trained soldiers attended to witness their graduation from the training curriculum, fostering pride and strengthening relationships between commanders and soldiers' families.

The event featured fancy drill demonstrations and live-fire shooting displays by the new soldiers that impressed all attendees. The commander presented certificates and cash awards to three soldiers who achieved outstanding marksmanship scores. He welcomed the families and expressed concern for troops preparing to return home on leave, emphasizing traffic safety awareness and encouraging those preparing for military officer candidate exams to use their rest period for review.

Additionally, the event distributed vegetable seeds from the "Nan Quality Soldiers" food security initiative to soldiers' families to cultivate at home, creating continuity for the food security program.

At 2:00 p.m. on July 5, police responded to a shooting incident with fatalities and injuries at a two-story townhouse in the Bang Chan area, Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok. Officers from Minburi Police Station, led by investigators, arrived with forensic teams and medical examiners.

The incident occurred on the ground floor hallway near a bathroom, where authorities found the body of a 35-year-old man (alias A) with a single gunshot wound to the right cheekbone. A .380 caliber pistol was recovered near the staircase. A second victim, a 36-year-old woman (alias B), was found with a gunshot wound to the right cheek. A third victim, a 30-year-old man (alias C), sustained two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and was in critical condition. Four .380 shell casings were collected as evidence.

According to the ex-mother-in-law's statement, B was sitting on the sofa talking with C when A suddenly entered, claiming he needed to retrieve items from his daughter's upstairs bedroom. After getting what he came for, A descended the stairs, drew a pistol from his shoulder bag, and fired twice at C's abdomen, then once at B's cheek. The witness called police in shock.

A had been living with B and they had one son together. A worked as a ride-hailing driver in Phetchabun province to support the family. Two to three months prior, A discovered B was secretly dating C, which led to severe arguments. B then fled to her mother's house, and C moved in shortly after. A became increasingly stressed despite relatives' attempts to calm him.

On the morning of the incident, A's mother, a lottery vendor from Phetchabun, was traveling to Nam Noi Airport in Nonthaburi to collect lottery quotas. A told his mother he planned to visit Phuket and volunteered to drive her and his son to the airport. After dropping them off at the Mochit transport terminal, A rushed to his ex-girlfriend's house, knowing both she and C were there, and committed the shooting. The two deceased bodies were transferred to the Police Hospital Institute of Forensic Medicine for autopsy.

Between July 1-2, 2025, the ASEAN Observer Team–Thailand (AOT-TH) conducted an on-site inspection along the Thai-Cambodian border in areas administered by the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Commands. The delegation, comprising representatives from Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, was led by Maj. Gen. Chitpol Kokitsammakoln and headed by Brigadier General Gregorio Nieveras of the Philippines.

The team received briefings on the disputed "K-shaped" area between boundary markers 64-65 near Khlong Takian in Chanthaburi's Pong Nam Ron District. They visited two permanent border checkpoints—Ban Phak Kad and Ban Laem—and observed how Thai units coordinate with security and civilian agencies to manage border crossings while maintaining national security and facilitating humanitarian assistance.

In Trat's jurisdiction, the team inspected a sediment detention dam, a construction site for Cambodia's proposed Koh Kong Casino development that would serve as a port and commercial hub. They also visited the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles in Trat, dedicated to the late Queen Sirikit, and learned about Thai humanitarian efforts assisting Cambodian refugees.

The delegation further visited units responsible for the 171-kilometer border stretch, receiving updates on security operations and humanitarian mine clearance work protecting civilians. The inspection provided AOT-TH with detailed information about the border situation, including alleged Cambodian non-compliance with the Joint Statement signed December 27, 2024. Brigadier General Nieveras will compile the findings and submit a report to AOT-HQ for further action.