The Cabinet has approved a Finance Ministry announcement to reduce fund contribution rates for four specialized financial institutions: the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Government Savings Bank, Bank for Housing and Urban Development (BHUD), and Islamic Bank of Thailand for the 2025 fiscal year.

The contribution rate will be reduced from the previous 0.25% annually to 0.0625% annually on deposits received from the public, effective from January 1 to December 31, 2025, with contributions divided into two installments of 0.03125% each. This reduction is intended to lower the cost burden on specialized financial institutions and enable them to provide meaningful assistance to borrowers.

Government spokesman Lalida Persivivatana stated that this measure aligns with Thailand's volatile economic conditions, which face challenges from global trade policies, geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and Middle Eastern conflicts. Many borrowers at these institutions are grassroots individuals, vulnerable groups, small business owners, and microenterprises facing liquidity risks and debt repayment challenges.

The government expects these financial institutions to use the reduced costs to support debtor assistance programs, debt restructuring, and new credit facilities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with potential, thereby improving economic liquidity. The government will closely monitor implementation to ensure aid reaches people effectively without undermining financial discipline or encouraging unnecessary debt default.

"The government is leveraging specialized financial institutions as tools to support grassroots communities, reduce financial burdens, help borrowers stabilize and recover, and support credit for entrepreneurs with potential, enabling the economy to move forward with stability and fairness," Lalida stated.

Actress Khwan Usamanee addressed swirling romance rumors at the Thaimart marketplace platform launch event on July 7 at the Sirinimit National Convention Center. Fans have been intensely speculating about her closeness with Ajarn Beer, a Buddhist teacher known for his reformative work.

Khwan firmly stated that she and Ajarn Beer share only a platonic, sibling-like bond rooted in mutual respect. "He's like an older brother and a role model to me," she explained, dismissing pregnancy rumors by clarifying that her recent hospital visits were for allergy treatment and wellness care, not obstetric reasons.

The actress revealed she's now ready for romance. "I want to have a boyfriend. Anyone interested can try, but they need to win my heart," she said with a smile. When asked if Ajarn Beer could be that person, she joked that she calls him "Older Brother Turtle" because of his resemblance to a character from a Thai drama.

Regarding her hospital visits, Khwan explained she was undergoing wellness and anti-aging treatments due to allergies and work stress, not prenatal care. She expressed openness to pursuing a relationship but noted she's been too busy with work to check dating messages.

When asked what qualities attract her, Khwan said she appreciates capable, successful men with good mindsets and strong performance records who've built something themselves. "I haven't found anyone impressive yet—everyone's the same level," she remarked.

Asked if she could now be "sold" to the right suitor, Khwan laughed: "You can try to woo me. My mom's given her blessing. Keep trying—win my heart, and that's all that matters."

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — A wax sculpture inspired by Thai global pop star Lisa will take centre stage at this year's traditional Buddhist Candle Festival in Chok Chai district, as organisers blend contemporary pop culture with centuries-old craftsmanship to attract wider audiences.

Community leaders and residents of Ban Bing village in Chok Chai subdistrict are racing to complete their candle float for the Chok Chai Subdistrict Municipality's annual Candle Festival 2026, scheduled for 28 July.

The procession will continue to portray key moments from the life of the Buddha—including his birth, enlightenment and passing into nirvana—alongside tributes to King Maha Vajiralongkorn, preserving the intricate artistry for which Chok Chai's candle festival is renowned.

A major highlight this year is a series of wax figures modelled on Lisa's likeness. Featuring her signature bangs, the sculptures depict the singer as celestial beings, angels and mythical creatures from the Himmapan forest, creating a contemporary twist on traditional Buddhist art.

Village head Sakchai Khumkratoke of Ban Bing said the artisan team wanted to make the festival more appealing to people of all ages and nationalities while maintaining its Thai identity.

"When we thought of a Thai person recognised both nationally and internationally, Lisa immediately came to mind," he said.

According to Sakchai, the artists unanimously agreed to incorporate Lisa's likeness into the procession by subtly integrating her face into sculptures of angels, celestial beings, kinnari and nakee figures. He said the design pays tribute to her talent and beauty while giving the candle float a more modern and international image.

"She represents Thailand on the global stage while remaining proudly Thai, and we wanted the procession to reflect that same spirit," he added.

The Chok Chai Candle Festival will be held on 28 July in front of the Chok Chai Subdistrict Municipality Office before participating floats join the larger provincial candle festival in Nakhon Ratchasima from 28–30 July.

Visitors will not only be able to admire the elaborate candle floats but also see the Lisa-inspired wax sculpture up close as part of the Ban Bing community's procession.

During this period, the fate of individuals and zodiac signs will undergo significant change, potentially shifting in positive directions or requiring careful caution. Fortune teller Mo Boy reveals that on July 7, six zodiac signs—Dragon, Gemini, Aquarius, Sagittarius, Pisces, and Virgo—will experience an opening of great wealth and fortune under the protection of the serpent's path. These signs enjoy good destiny connected to sacred and mystical forces. Their fortunes are strengthened as ancestral blessings reverse misfortune into good, with money flowing like a river, careers advancing, major projects developing, and blessings materializing according to wishes. May this merit be fulfilled for all.

Whoscall, a TrustTech application by Goglook (Thailand), has launched "Whoscall Verified Number" featuring a green checkmark that verifies company identity and increases consumer confidence. The service transforms rejected calls into trusted communications, helping businesses recover lost sales in an era when over 40% of Thais refuse to answer unfamiliar numbers, creating a digital trust crisis that severely impacts Thailand's business sector.

Manavoo Joo, CEO of Goglook (Thailand), explained that fraudsters have made Thais reluctant to answer unknown numbers, affecting legitimate businesses as well. "Whoscall's green checkmark restores trust between brands and customers, reduces missed business opportunities, and drives sustainable growth for Thai businesses," he said.

The crisis is stark: statistics show Thai consumers reject unknown numbers at a rate of 40.1%. Savitree Chaisutti, head of business development at Goglook (Thailand), noted that this figure reflects massive lost commercial opportunities that the new service aims to address.

Whoscall Verified Number Pro introduces three new features for sales, marketing, and customer service teams:

**Brand Banner**: Displays ads on the caller ID screen with a clear "reason for calling," such as "approval notification" or "delivery confirmation," reducing hesitation and immediately increasing call pickup rates.

**Quick Reply Service**: When customers miss or end a call, a quick reply button appears on-screen, allowing instant connection to LINE, Facebook Messenger, or the company's chatbot, reducing dropped calls and enabling timely deal closure.

**Survey**: Immediately after a call ends, businesses can send short surveys directly to customers' screens, including 1-5 star ratings, yes/no questions, or links to promotional websites, enabling brands to collect data and measure results instantly at no additional cost.

Whoscall has also launched a new advertising campaign using fictional characters to illustrate the digital trust crisis, highlighting how even quality sales leads result in zero conversions when customers refuse to answer calls. The campaign presents Whoscall Verified Number as an intelligent solution to transform rejected calls into trusted connections.

On July 7, 2026, Phetchabun Hospital held a ceremony honoring Somchai Pienphuangphan, 60, from Moo 5, Raweng Subdistrict, Muang District, Phetchabun Province, who died from a cerebral hemorrhage. Hospital Director Dr. Kobchai Jirchachanchai and administrators presented certificates of honor from the Thai Red Cross organ donation center and eye bank in recognition of the family's donation.

The donated organs—two corneas, two kidneys, and a heart—will help five other patients. Somchai's 25-year-old daughter, Arisara Pienphuangphan, revealed that her father was normally very healthy and rarely fell ill. Last Sunday, he complained of a severe headache and collapsed. After being rushed to Nong Phai Hospital and then transferred to Phetchabun Hospital, doctors diagnosed a cerebral hemorrhage and determined surgery was impossible due to the severity of his condition.

Initially, the family had accepted that their father would pass peacefully. However, when nurses informed them about the organ donation program, the family unanimously agreed to donate his organs as a final act of merit—something their father had always enjoyed doing. Arisara expressed her hope that if her father is aware, he would know the family will care for their mother well, and she wished his spirit peace in the next life.

Namchai Sitong, head nurse and director of Phetchabun Hospital's organ donation center, explained that the patient arrived with severe headaches and extensive brain bleeding that could not be surgically treated. The family agreed to donate the organs to the Thai Red Cross to help other patients in need.