Thailand's parliamentary Religion, Arts and Culture Committee held a major forum in Nan province on July 25 to preserve traditional Lanna cloth weaving and address concerns that centuries-old cultural knowledge could disappear as master weavers age and younger generations lose interest in the craft. Vice Chair Prasit Nota of the committee's Religion, Arts and Culture subcommittee opened the seminar titled "Lanna Weaving: Preserving Wisdom, Creating Future Value," which aims to revive and advance the region's local heritage while ensuring its survival in Thai society. The event brought together over 400 participants, including local weavers, community scholars, weaving instructors, students, youth groups, women's groups, community leaders, and local government officials.

Vice Chair Prasit emphasized that Lanna cloth is far more than clothing—it is a precious cultural legacy that embodies the stories, beliefs, history, and wisdom of the Lanna people, accumulated and passed down for centuries. Every pattern, color, and thread reflects a unique local identity that cannot be replicated. However, social and economic changes have severely impacted the transmission of traditional weaving knowledge, with fewer young people learning the craft while many master weavers and village scholars grow elderly, risking the loss of invaluable knowledge without systematic and continuous transmission.

The committee stressed that this seminar aims not only to preserve cultural heritage but also to create a learning platform that bridges older and younger generations, gives youth direct exposure to local wisdom from master craftspeople, and helps develop Lanna weaving into economically viable products and cultural goods competitive in the future. The Religion, Arts and Culture Committee reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing efforts to conserve, revive, and develop Lanna weaving expertise, ensuring that this valuable cultural legacy is passed down through generations and remains a cornerstone of national identity while driving creative economy and sustainable community development.

On July 25, 2569, Prom Pongsa Nopruetthi, former spokesman of the Pheu Thai Party, said the United States has imposed a 12.5% tariff rate on Thai goods. While Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has correctly ordered all ministries to integrate data to support the trade negotiation team with the United States, the US trade measures could impact Thai exports by more than one trillion baht, according to international trade experts. Although Thailand and the United States maintain a strong and long-standing trade partnership, these tariffs will inevitably affect exports, investment, employment, Thai entrepreneurs, and SMEs—a vital pillar of the national economy. Prom Pongsa urged the government to urgently prepare and proactively implement measures to contain the impact and prevent it from spreading to employment, public income, and cost of living, and proposed four measures:

1. Establish a National Economic War Room to monitor trade impacts, assess the situation daily, coordinate with the private sector, and accelerate negotiations with the US to reduce trade barriers, while opening new markets in the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and other trading partners to reduce dependence on any single market.

2. Urgently assist SME operators through low-interest credit, debt payment suspension, and reduced government fee burdens to help businesses continue operations.

3. Support product development, quality upgrades, and online market expansion abroad through government budget allocation to boost competitiveness, and accelerate promotion of Thailand's strengths in food, medical tourism, and soft power as additional revenue engines.

4. Urgently protect manufacturing and export sector workers; if factories or operators face impacts, implement job preservation measures alongside workforce skills development to prevent widespread layoffs.

Prom Pongsa emphasized that the most important task is to restore confidence in entrepreneurs and the public that Thailand remains competitive and the government has a clear action plan. Amid Middle East tensions, volatile energy prices, and global economic slowdown affecting Thailand, if all sectors cooperate and the government implements appropriate measures, the export sector, SMEs, and the Thai economy can adapt without letting the impact reach the livelihood of ordinary citizens. Thailand has weathered many crises; while tariffs may affect economic figures, what the government must protect is exports, employment, and the people's livelihood. Protecting the market protects jobs, income, and the future of Thai people—that is success citizens can truly feel.

Chiang Mai University celebrated the achievement of Thai Nichi Industry on July 25, reaffirming its role in translating research and innovation into industrial benefits. The company, supported by the university's Food Innovation and Packaging Center (FIN CMU) under the Faculty of Agro-Industry, won first runner-up in the Economic Impact category at the 7Innovation Awards 2026, held at the PIM Convention Hall during the THAILAND SYNERGY event for Thai SMEs transitioning to Innovation Driven Enterprises in 2026.

The company's success stems from upgrading Thai rice—a key national commodity—into Japanese-style rice crackers through technology and production process development tailored to global market demands. This innovation has generated over 600 million baht in revenue, expanded export markets, and exemplifies how science, technology, and innovation can strengthen Thai business competitiveness and elevate agricultural products to international standards.

Behind the scenes, FIN CMU served as the company's innovation partner, providing research and development support, knowledge transfer in food technology, product development guidance, and strategic business consulting to help drive the enterprise toward becoming a true innovation-driven business. This effort reflects Chiang Mai University's mission to bridge academic knowledge with industry through collaboration that develops market-responsive innovations, adds value to national resources, and enhances Thailand's long-term economic competitiveness.

Thai Nichi Industry's success at the 7Innovation Awards 2026 exemplifies how university knowledge creates tangible economic and social impact, underscoring Chiang Mai University's commitment as a higher education institution dedicated to translating research and innovation into practical application for sustainable growth among entrepreneurs and the nation.

On July 25, 2569 (2026), police from Sanam Chai Khet Station took 41-year-old former soldier Ranakrit into custody for murder and corpse concealment. He was escorted to crime sites to reconstruct events under tight security and the watch of the victim's family.

The case began on July 21 when the daughter of 51-year-old Boonlertsak from Ubon Ratchathani reported him missing at Plaeng Yao Station. On July 23, residents discovered human remains in Wang Yen subdistrict, Plaeng Yao district, Chachoengsao province, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.

On July 24, Chachoengsao provincial police and Region 2 officers arrested the suspect in Bang Teen Ped subdistrict, Muang Chachoengsao. They seized a sidecar motorcycle and a wooden-handled machete believed to be the weapon used.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to quarreling with the victim before striking him with wood, causing his death. He then transported the body to a eucalyptus plantation in Sanam Chai Khet subdistrict, dismembered it, and discarded the pieces at various locations.

During the reconstruction, the victim's brother arrived from Ubon Ratchathani and tearfully confronted the suspect, shouting "Why did you kill my brother?" The suspect replied only that "he came to me," before officers continued the reconstruction amid the family's grief.

The victim's daughter watched the process with sorrow, struggling to come to terms with her father's loss, supported by relatives. Authorities have sent identified remains to the Police Hospital's forensic institute and are still searching for two legs and one arm. Preliminary urine testing revealed the suspect had drugs in his system.

After the reconstruction, the suspect was remanded in custody and charged with intentional assault causing death and concealing, moving, or destroying a corpse to conceal the manner or fact of death.

Police arrested Asda, alias 'Hngad Tha Bo,' a 45-year-old man ranked 84th on the national wanted list, on July 25, 2025. He was apprehended at the parking area of Chantraram Temple (Dong Somboon Temple) in Sang Khwaeng subdistrict, Mueang district, Sakon Nakhon province, under a warrant from Nakhon Phanom Provincial Court dated September 11, 2552 (2009) on charges of intentional murder.

According to the investigation, in August 2552 (2009), while working as his employer's driver, Asda lured his intoxicated boss into the vehicle en route to Wang Yang district, Nakhon Phanom. At a curve, he shot the employer in the head and dumped the body into the Kam River near the bridge between Din Dam Mak Fueang and Nong Kaen in Yot Chad subdistrict, Wang Yang district. He then fled in the employer's vehicle.

Police believe the motive stemmed from anger over frequent scolding by his boss, combined with knowledge that the employer regularly carried large amounts of cash. For 17 years, Asda evaded capture by living hand-to-mouth, taking odd jobs, and staying in temples and worker camps. He was eventually apprehended while working as a driver for the abbot of Thung Rung Thong Temple in Sakon Nakhon.

During initial questioning, Asda denied being the shooter, claiming his employer was killed by business rivals in the timber trade and that he panicked and fled. Police remain skeptical and have transferred him to Wang Yang police station for further legal proceedings.