PHUKET: Thailand has been hit with a new 12.5% US import tariff after the Trump administration announced fresh duties on 60 trading partners, replacing temporary global tariffs that expired yesterday.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — The Korat Candle Festival 2026 is set to return with a blend of Buddhist art, traditional craftsmanship, technology and pop culture, featuring a drone show, Dan Kwian pottery-inspired art and candle sculptures resembling Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and global Thai pop star Lisa.

The festival, themed "Buddhist Art and the Light of Faith," will take place from July 28–30, 2026, around the Thao Suranari Monument in Muang Nakhon Ratchasima district.

At a press conference on July 22, Nakhon Ratchasima deputy governor Wijit Kijvirat joined Nakhon Ratchasima Mayor Dr Wannarat Chankunakul and representatives from police, tourism, sports and cultural agencies to announce preparations for the annual event.

Organisers said the festival aims to preserve the traditional Buddhist Lent candle parade, promote local candle-carving craftsmanship and boost tourism in the province.

One of this year's major highlights will be a drone show combining modern technology with Buddhist history. The performance will depict the Buddha delivering his first sermon to the Five Ascetics on Asalha Puja Day through lights in the night sky.

The festival will also incorporate the traditional pottery craftsmanship of Dan Kwian into candle sculptures and Buddhist artworks, creating opportunities for young people and members of the public to learn local techniques and develop them for future candle floats.

Former deputy prime minister Suwat Liptapanlop is scheduled to preside over the opening parade, which will feature at least 13 candle floats.

The festival will also host competitions for Buddhist Lent candle floats for the royal trophy of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in categories A, B and C. A Pong Lang music competition for trophies from the prime minister and deputy prime minister will be held on July 29.

A distinctive feature of the Korat festival is its satirical political candle sculptures. This year, Phimai district has prepared a surprise with a 1.9-metre-tall wax figure resembling Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Candle sculptor Watchara Nadee said the figure depicts Anutin standing and making a hand gesture associated with the government's "40-60 Thai Chuai Thai Plus" economic stimulus measure.

The figure is intended to add colour, capture current trends and attract more tourists, organisers said.

Phimai district will also hold its own "Join Merit, Join Worship: Phimai Buddhist Lent Candle Parade" on July 28–29 at Phrommathat grounds before its floats move to the provincial event for the main competition.

Among the major contenders is Wat Derm in Phimai, a former champion of the royal trophy in Category A. Its enormous 20-metre-long, 5.15-metre-high and 4-metre-wide float uses around 8 tonnes of wax.

Candle craftsman Kiattisak "Chang Ko" Duangthong said the float has taken three months to create and is now more than 85% complete.

The float will depict the Buddha's journey to Tavatimsa Heaven.

Young singer Nonn Thanon has faced online criticism and social media drama after audience members confronted him at a performance about arriving late to the stage, sparking multiple debates. On July 23, Bogie Lion (Bogie Nichada Weerasuthimash) attended the Thailand Y Content Awards 2025 at MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestore in Bangkapi and shared an update on Nonn's mental state.

Bogie Lion believes that misunderstandings about artists' stage times happen frequently because each event has different conditions and circumstances. She emphasized the need for clear communication and adherence to contractual agreements. She recounted experiencing situations where event organizers announced incorrect stage times, leading to artists being wrongly accused of running late.

Bogie Lion expressed confidence that Nonn will overcome this situation, noting that such incidents are common in the entertainment industry. She explained that various performance venues have different conditions, and different management strategies are needed for each job. The best approach, she said, is to clarify contracts between the record label, artist, and venue as thoroughly as possible, though some unexpected situations cannot be prevented.

Bogie shared a personal experience where an event told audiences she would perform at 6 p.m., though the actual deal was 4 p.m. The organizer then announced she was late, when in reality she was waiting as scheduled. She expressed frustration at not being able to defend herself, feeling obligated to the label, the event, and everyone involved, so she performed her best for the waiting audience, only to receive negative feedback afterward.

Regarding Nonn's current condition, Bogie expressed optimism that he will improve soon and sent encouragement. She also mentioned that Nonn is currently ill with influenza and has had to cancel several performances. She did not confirm whether they had spoken directly.

Thai chamber of commerce argues that US tariffs on Thailand versus competitors differ only marginally and should not be a major concern, recommending faster improvements in labor standards, supply chain transparency, and long-term competitive capacity.

Pont Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Thai Chamber Federation, discussed the US Section 301 tariffs imposed on over 60 trading partners including Thailand. While Thailand faces a 12.5% tariff rate, most competing nations face similar impacts, keeping overall US market competition on relatively level ground. Countries with slightly lower tariffs around 10% may have minor advantages, but the margin is narrower than previous measures and poses no significant threat to Thai business competitiveness.

Pont stated that the US is focusing on forced labor and excess production capacity. The private sector views Thailand as having no systemic forced labor issues, but laws and related measures must be enforced more clearly to build trading partner confidence and meet international standards. This will help Thailand compete fairly with countries that may receive exemptions in the future.

Another critical issue being monitored is excess capacity product measures, which the US is still examining. These could affect certain product groups, requiring urgent negotiation of reciprocal trade agreements to balance commerce with the US.

The most important step now is close government-private sector collaboration to prepare data and negotiating positions with the US for mutually beneficial outcomes. Trade agreements must reduce obstacles and preserve Thailand's long-term competitive capacity.

Pont added that the Thai Chamber of Commerce is ready to represent the private sector by gathering data, recommendations, and impact assessments from businesses to support the Ministry of Commerce. The chamber's university has conducted analyses the chamber will support, ensuring Thailand's approach is careful and balanced between protecting national interests and building investor and trading partner confidence.

"Thailand should use this opportunity to accelerate improvements in labor standards, supply chain transparency, and trade agreement negotiations, turning this crisis into an opportunity to strengthen long-term competitiveness," Pont said.

On July 24, 2569, Deputy Police Chief General Somran Nualma and National Police Commander Nopsilon Poolswat, along with officials from the Interior Ministry, Public Health Ministry, and Special Investigation Division, conducted raids at two key locations to dismantle the "Thai Father" network that falsely registered over 1,500 foreign children. Four additional suspects were arrested: Thai nationals Mongkol and Wawe, who served as fake fathers, and Chinese nationals Ms. Si and Mr. Hu, a Chinese couple.

During a search of a luxury home in the Mengjai area owned by the Chinese couple, police recovered passports, photographs, birth certificates, health and life insurance documents, and bank records. Ms. Si, who speaks Thai fluently, tearfully claimed she had not hired Mongkol but rather that he was a close friend willing to help out of goodwill. She stated she had worked in Thailand for nearly 20 years, loved the country, and simply wanted her child to have Thai nationality and an easier life, insisting she was unaware this arrangement was illegal.

Ms. Si revealed she had even consulted a doctor at the hospital while pregnant about the arrangement, so she did not think it was wrong. When asked who suggested the idea, she said people had mentioned it and that Mongkol, whom she had known since 2558, was a Thai friend without a girlfriend or children who willingly became her child's father at no cost. Her husband, Mr. Hu, refused to be interviewed, claiming he knew nothing of the operation and that he had resided in Thailand since 2006, a total of 20 years.

Nangkol told reporters he "didn't want to say much" and insisted he was not paid, as they worked at the same place and he was willing to help because he did not know it was illegal. During this operation, police also expanded their investigation into a private hospital and found three suspicious children, with two cases already showing signs of fraud and one still under investigation. The Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) N.I.C.E. filed charges with Huay Kwang Police Station against all those involved. Investigators gathered detailed evidence, including witness statements, medical records, and birth registration documents.