Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States national team, acknowledged that his squad underperformed in their 1-4 defeat to Belgium in the World Cup knockout round, while defending FIFA's decision to suspend Florian Balogun's red card ban as rule-compliant.

The US, one of three co-host nations, was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing to Belgium 1-4 on July 7, resulting in all three host countries—the US, Mexico, and Canada—being knocked out.

During his post-match remarks, Pochettino said: "I think today we didn't show the real quality of the team. I want to congratulate Belgium because they played well, but I think we weren't at our level. We started poorly, couldn't find our rhythm, and even after we scored, we conceded immediately after. It was a terrible day. We didn't perform like in previous matches. We have to accept we played poorly. We don't need to make excuses."

When asked about Florian Balogun being cleared to play despite his red card suspension, Pochettino responded: "FIFA and all parties involved have already explained it, and that's the rule. It was a clear explanation, so I have no opinion on the matter."

The 54-year-old coach also addressed his future, saying: "Now is the time to rest, reflect, and then we'll talk. After that, we'll see what the federation and we decide. I'm very happy—we've built good relationships—but this isn't the time to discuss that yet."

Prime Minister's Secretary Nathchari Anantsil said on July 7 that the Premier did not attend the Constitutional Court's deliberation on the government's 400 billion baht royal decree for energy crisis relief and transition. The opposition parties challenged whether the decree violates Article 172 of the Constitution. The government will send a representative to the hearing on July 9, with details to be determined by the Prime Minister's assignment. When asked to predict the court's outcome, Nathchari declined to speculate, saying she preferred to wait for the ruling. However, the government hopes the interpretation will be favorable, as it is with every royal decree submission. Regarding contingency plans, Nathchari confirmed that backup plans are always prepared whenever a royal decree is proposed.

Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya's appearance at the Christian Dior Couture Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show highlighted Thai craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The ...

A court issued an arrest warrant on July 7, 2025, for former prominent lawyer Sivawithai Samretsapol, who failed to appear for his Supreme Court verdict reading in case number 3452/2562. Supraphen Vorarojancharoendech filed the lawsuit against him for filing false charges and perjury.

According to the complaint, on November 15, 2017, Samretsapol filed false charges against Supraphen in criminal case number 3534/2560, accusing her of impropriety and claiming she had misappropriated legal documents. On October 6, 2017, Supraphen used a contract as evidence in a civil court case. Samretsapol, who was a lawyer at the time, later countered that Supraphen had improperly used falsified evidence, though the court ultimately dismissed his allegations for lack of merit. The Bar Association removed Samretsapol's name from its registry on February 8, 2018. The trial court sentenced him to two years imprisonment in 2022, while the appeals court reduced it to eight months. Both parties appealed to the Supreme Court.

Akkrit Vorarojancharoendech, Supraphen's son, told reporters that the case demonstrates the importance of accountability for educated professionals, particularly lawyers, who should not abuse their knowledge to harass ordinary citizens. He noted that Samretsapol has never attempted reconciliation, only pursued harassment. Akkrit stated he had documented Samretsapol's actions and expressed relief that justice exists, though the case has taken years to resolve since 2019. When the scheduled hearing arrived, only the plaintiff's lawyer and Akkrit appeared in court. Samretsapol received notice of the hearing but did not attend, prompting the court to issue an arrest warrant.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce has highlighted the government's fiscal constraints, noting high spending paired with low revenue collection. Chamber President Pimpjai Leeissaranugul stated that the 2570 budget must be understood within the context of state limitations, as Thailand must balance short-term economic management, maintain fiscal discipline, and address continuously rising recurring expenditures. The key issue is not whether to spend more or less, but how effectively spending can restructure the economy.

The 2570 budget figures reflect these constraints starkly. The total budget allocation sits at approximately 3.788 trillion baht, representing a mere 0.2% increase from the previous year. Net revenue is projected at 3 trillion baht, necessitating a deficit-covering loan of approximately 788 billion baht, or 3.8% of GDP.

Recurring expenditures have increased 5.0% and now account for 73.6% of total budget, while investment spending has decreased 8.4% to represent just 20.8% of total budget. These figures demonstrate that Thailand's fiscal space is contracting, requiring the government to establish clearer budget priorities—particularly as the Thai economy in 2570 is projected to grow only 1.7-2.7%, insufficient to address structural challenges including productivity, energy costs, labor skills, competitiveness, and industrial modernization.

The Chamber views the 2570 budget as a tool for long-term economic restructuring rather than addressing immediate, ad-hoc problems. Budget weight should focus on productivity-enhancing projects including logistics and digital infrastructure, modern labor skill development, small-medium enterprise technology and AI adoption, clean energy investment, innovation support, Thai product standards, and measures connecting Thai businesses to global supply chains.

The Chamber proposes five key fiscal measures:

1. Allocate budgets based on economic results. Investment spending should target projects measurably increasing productivity, reducing costs, creating jobs, boosting business revenue, or building new national capabilities—not scattered across unfocused initiatives.

2. Increase state revenue by expanding the economic base. Government should grow the economy, fairly broaden the tax base, use digital tools to reduce leakage, and promote high-value-added new industries—rather than hastily raising taxes that might further burden manufacturers.

3. Implement transparent monitoring and evaluation systems for all major projects with clear metrics spanning outputs, outcomes, and economic impacts. Public and private sector stakeholders should access progress data to ensure budgets deliver real benefits beyond mere disbursement.

4. Increase public and private sector participation. Good budgets reflect genuine local needs, particularly for infrastructure, labor, energy, and SME development projects. Direct beneficiary input ensures public funds reach high-impact projects.

5. Reduce recurring expenditures through civil service reform toward digital government. Cost reduction should eliminate redundancy across agencies rather than simply cutting budgets.

Luang Ta Lek, a dedicated practitioner at Wat Pa Non Saard, peacefully passed away while in meditation, leaving behind a touching final act of compassion. At Wat Pa Non Saard, a Buddhist center dedicated to caring for infirm monks and terminally ill patients in Chokchai District, Nakhon Ratchasima, the unexpected passing of Luang Ta Lek has illustrated a profound spiritual paradox: the caregiver departed before the patient.

For many years, Luang Ta Lek served as the attendant to Luang Pu Ken, an elderly disabled monk at the temple, meticulously managing his meals, robes, and spiritual guidance to prevent loneliness in his final days. Luang Ta Lek's physique remained strong and agile, performing his daily meditation practice three times daily—sweeping the temple grounds and alms rounds—leading everyone to believe he would be the one to guide Luang Pu Ken toward peace. Yet one morning, the caregiver unexpectedly shed his five aggregates in serene meditation posture, reaffirming the Buddha's teaching that death recognizes no agreements, no waiting lists, and discriminates neither between the robust nor the frail. The terminally ill patient awaiting his journey home may outlive the caregiver whose body seemed as solid as steel.

Wat Pa Non Saard stands as a rare sanctuary of mindfulness in this era. Under the guidance of Phra Ajahn Sarn Prachai, the abbot, this forest monastery resolutely rejects commercialism: monks and nuns here engage in intensive meditation practice three times daily, accepting no outside invitations to preserve their seclusion, and crucially, refusing personal donations—all offerings are pooled for the community's religious and welfare purposes. The temple regularly hosts monastic retreats to purify the precepts of visiting monks from all regions.

It is hardly surprising, then, that Luang Ta Lek could sustain mindfulness until his final moment, departing while seated in meditation with Buddhist recollection guiding his consciousness.

Among the most touching details is that just days before his passing, Luang Ta Lek spent all his remaining time and strength meticulously preparing requisites, ordination items, and robes for six new monks scheduled for ordination on July 9, 2026. He washed, arranged, and organized these items with his own hands as though aware this would be his final act of service in the robes.