A secondary school in Dongying, Shandong Province, eastern China has become the focus of intense online criticism after distributing forms to newly admitted students that required parents to provide detailed personal information including names, workplaces, job titles, phone numbers, and detailed vehicle information—car make, license plate number, and purchase price.

The school stated the information would be used for internal operations only and asked parents to provide accurate details with confidence. However, this explanation failed to ease privacy concerns when the form circulated online. Many netizens questioned the school's true intent, with some suggesting the school might use socioeconomic data as a factor in how it treats students. One commenter asked, "If teachers don't discriminate based on family status, why collect this data?" Another worried, "If I say I'm unemployed, will my child be seated at the back of the classroom?" Critics argued the school was abandoning its educational mission by linking students' learning to family financial circumstances.

The intense backlash prompted the Dongying Municipal Education Bureau to issue a statement on June 30, confirming it had investigated and ordering the school to immediately stop collecting such data and delete all gathered information. The bureau also announced plans to inspect other schools in the area to prevent similar incidents and pledged to "prioritize protecting students' and parents' personal data."

A school alumnus revealed that years earlier, incoming students were asked for similar information. The school justified it then as a security measure to facilitate safe student pickup and drop-off within campus. The school spokesperson later clarified that asking for car prices was not intended to discriminate but to help determine which students qualified for financial aid for low-income families. However, this explanation did little to satisfy public concerns, as many argued that "family status assessments should rely on official government documents or income verification, not car prices."

This incident reflects broader problems in China's education system. Recently, an elementary school in Hubei Province faced similar criticism for distributing questionnaires asking students about parents' occupations, workplace locations, and daily working hours.

Bangkok University's Master of Communication Arts program in Brand Management and Strategic Communication is hosting a Strategic Communication Campaign competition. Assistant Professor Dr. Arichay Arrkudom, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Arts at Bangkok University, explained that the program emphasizes Project-Based Learning methodology. Beyond classroom instruction, students must develop strategic communication projects on topics of their choice and present their work to the public. The competition, framed around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), combines practical learning experience with the vision of a sustainable future, aiming to benefit society and develop students to national standards. The initiative gives students a chance to demonstrate their strategic communication planning skills while promoting learning through real-world projects that create tangible social benefits. The Faculty of Communication Arts at Bangkok University is honored to have prominent communication experts from SCB, OMG Ogilvy, and five partner organizations—the Thai Insurance Association, Tourism Authority of Thailand, UNICEF Thailand, Thai PBS, and Thai Airways International—serving as judges and providing feedback to students. The event was held on Saturday, July 4, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Communication Arts Complex of Bangkok University's main campus. During the competition, master's students in Brand Management and Strategic Communication showcased projects they developed over four months with expert coaches, demonstrating how strategy and creativity can create positive social impact and sustainable change under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework.

Thailand's retail and service sector jumped 22.2% in the first quarter of 2025, supported by reviving consumer spending and tourism activity. Ekpongse Hirunchai, director of the National Statistics Office, announced results from a quarterly sales survey of over 10,000 businesses nationwide across retail, accommodation, food and beverage services, film and video production, entertainment, sports, and personal services. Overall retail and service businesses continued expanding compared to both the previous quarter and the same period last year, reflecting strong domestic consumption and service sector growth.

Total sales and revenue for retail and service businesses in Q1 2025 reached 2.079 trillion baht, broken down as follows: retail businesses 1.584 trillion baht, food and beverage services 201.9 billion baht, accommodation 182.9 billion baht, personal and household goods repair 59.0 billion baht, arts, entertainment and recreation 23.8 billion baht, film and video production 22.8 billion baht, and personal goods rental 4.9 billion baht.

Compared to Q4 2024, total revenue increased 12.3%. The fastest-growing segment was personal and household goods repair services, up 26.2%, followed by accommodation up 18.3% and retail trade up 12.7%. Arts, entertainment and recreation was the only sector declining, down 2.3%.

Year-on-year comparison showed overall revenue growth of 22.2%. Personal and household goods repair services led with 44.3% growth, followed by accommodation at 32.9%, film and video production at 22.5%, retail trade at 21.2%, and food and beverage services at 19.1%.

Ekpongse noted that retail inventory at the end of Q1 2025 increased 2.0% compared to the previous quarter and 0.3% year-on-year, reflecting merchants stocking goods across multiple categories. Food, beverages and tobacco inventory rose 43.1%, books and stationery 28.4%, and clothing and footwear 17.9%. Conversely, computer and communications equipment inventory fell 10.7%, mail and internet retail dropped 19.8%, and general retail stores like supermarkets declined 36.1%. This demonstrates that Thailand's consumer and service economy continued its recovery momentum in early 2025, particularly in tourism-related and personal services businesses, which remain key economic drivers.

On July 8, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suprani Khuanbunchanthorn, president of the Thai Korfball Association, and Prof. Dr. Cholawitya Chearjit, rector of Srinakharinwirot University, announced that Thailand will host the IKF U19, U16, and U14 Asia Korfball4 Championships 2026 from July 26-31, 2026 at Srinakharinwirot University's demonstration school, Prasanmit branch, covering both secondary and primary divisions. Prof. Dr. Cholawitya Chearjit welcomed media and distinguished guests, noting the importance of the university and association signing a cooperation agreement on academics, research, and sports. This partnership represents a significant step in collaboration between educational institutions and sports organizations to develop knowledge, conduct research, produce and develop personnel, and promote sustainable korfball growth at youth, higher education, and international levels.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suprani Khuanbunchanthorn outlined Thailand's selection by the International Korfball Federation (IKF) to host the championship, emphasizing Thailand's readiness to welcome the Asian Korfball Federation president, athletes, officials, administrators, and over 300 international referees from 6 countries. She thanked Srinakharinwirot University and its demonstration school for providing the competition venues. Six countries will participate: China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 26, 2026 at 8:30 AM, and the closing ceremony for July 31, 2026 at approximately 4:00 PM.

Beyond hosting this championship, the association is also sending a U21 team to compete in the IKF U21 World Korfball Championship 2026, taking place August 8-16, 2026 in Malaysia. Thai athletes previously qualified through Asia-Oceania regional selection last year, where six countries were chosen for the world championship. Thailand successfully advanced. The association continues developing the sport through this academic and sports cooperation agreement, aiming to expand korfball research and development at all levels. Association president Dr. Suprani expressed hope that this collaboration would benefit the association and generate increased korfball research. The Thai national team has already begun training with support from North Bangkok University, and team manager Dr. Netrathai Wongupracha, vice president of the Thai Korfball Association, discussed the team's readiness.

Heavy fighting erupted on the Myanmar side of the border near Mae Sod district in Tak province on July 8, with Myanmar's Light Infantry Division 22 and supporting special forces units launching sustained bombardments and machine gun fire at opposition forces hiding in the villages of Minlaepan and Phaloo in Myawaddy Township, Kayin State. The battle, occurring just across from the Thai village of Huay Maha Wong in Mae Sod district, saw opposition forces employing ambush tactics in forests and drone strikes that resulted in casualties on both sides.

As the fighting intensified over several hours, multiple military rounds crossed the border and struck civilian homes in Huay Maha Wong village. The house of Sunantha Chiang Khaek, 57, was hit twice by bullets that pierced the roof and shattered windows. The homeowner described sheltering under the house with her husband as gunfire rained down, stating that though no one was injured, they were terrified and prepared to evacuate immediately if more fire crossed the border.

Colonel Chanakon Saeng Si, commander of the Rak Manoo special task force, said fighting is expected to intensify and urged residents to evacuate to prepared shelters. Thai authorities have banned civilians from approaching the border zone. The Rak Manoo unit, Rangers, Mae Sod district administration, and Border Patrol Police have deployed armed personnel carriers along the border and established checkpoints to prevent smuggling and protect Thai citizens.

PHUKET — A 30-year-old Russian national identified as Chalabari was arrested at Phuket International Airport on July 8, 2026, after customs officers discovered over 17 kilograms of cannabis concealed in his luggage during departure procedures.

The arrest occurred around 10:00 AM at the international departures terminal in Mai Khao subdistrict, Thalang district. Customs inspectors searching two blue BP WORLD suitcases belonging to the suspect found 35 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis flower totaling 11.4 kilograms and 12 packages of cannabis resin weighing 6.2 kilograms.

During questioning, the suspect allegedly admitted ownership of both the luggage and the seized items. He was charged with attempting to illegally export goods from Thailand without completing proper customs procedures. The suspect was transferred to Sakhu Police Station for further legal proceedings, with officers from Sakhu Police Station and Phuket Airport Customs jointly conducting the operation under supervision of senior officials.