The Federation of Thai Industries is closely monitoring the U.S. tariff measures following the American government's invocation of Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act to impose additional import duties on 60 economies over ineffective enforcement of forced labor bans. Thailand will face a 12.5% tariff increase on most exported goods starting July 24, 2025, replacing the temporary 10% rate under Section 122. This change is critical for Thai industries since the United States is the country's top export market; during January to May 2025, Thai exports to the U.S. reached approximately $38 billion, up 40.31% year-on-year and representing 23.5% of total Thai exports. Vulnerable sectors include food and food products, auto parts, gems and jewelry, furniture, textiles, and apparel.

FTI President Pimjai Leeissaranukul stated that the Federation will urgently consult with the Ministry of Commerce, industrial groups, and relevant agencies to assess affected product categories, tariff burden costs, order trends, and supply chain impacts. Thai industries have consistently adhered to international labor and standards requirements, particularly export sectors subject to continuous partner audits. Thailand should leverage this strength by upgrading traceability systems and supply chain transparency to build confidence in bilateral trade negotiations.

Long-term strategy should not focus solely on Section 301 but establish comprehensive trade policy through four key measures: market diversification to reduce over-reliance on any single market; enhanced compliance with international standards in labor, human rights, environment, and product origin; increased product value and innovation to maintain competitiveness despite higher tariff costs; and supply chain restructuring to enable greater traceability. The FTI expressed confidence that ongoing reciprocal trade agreement negotiations (ART) led by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Sopa Sutheermpun, along with coordinated government efforts, will achieve balanced and fair outcomes benefiting both nations. The Federation remains committed to working with all relevant agencies to preserve Thai product competitiveness and sustain business confidence.

ANG THONG — Parents of a five-day-old baby who died at a state hospital in Ang Thong province are devastated after an autopsy reportedly found a depressed skull fracture and a broken ankle. They allege that hospital staff held a five-table Chinese banquet inside the neonatal intensive care unit while their premature infant, admitted with persistent pulmonary hypertension, was being treated nearby, separated only by transparent curtains. The mother witnessed the event on 20 July and saw catering staff entering without protective equipment; she was scolded by a nurse for approaching her child.

The baby's condition reportedly became critical overnight on 20-21 July, and the infant died of a newly acquired bloodstream infection on 21 July, just five days after birth. The hospital issued a death certificate listing pulmonary hypertension as the cause, though doctors verbally told the mother the baby died from the infection. Before discovering the death circumstances, the parents noticed a depression on the baby's skull and an unnaturally rotated ankle, raising suspicions about what caused these injuries.

Deep in suspicion, the parents contacted the Paweena Foundation for assistance. With coordination between the foundation and Samko Police Station in Ang Thong province, an official order was issued to transfer the infant's body to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police General Hospital for autopsy. On 23 July, Paweena Hongsakul, president of the Paweena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, accompanied the parents to receive the body and hear the initial autopsy findings.

According to Buddhist legend, when the Buddha was once reborn as a sea turtle named Mahachitrajon, he lived on an island. After a storm destroyed passing merchant ships, many survivors swam ashore to the island, desperate and starving. In their hunger and thirst, they plotted to kill the turtle. The compassionate bodhisattva turtle, understanding their desperation, voluntarily rolled itself off a cliff to sacrifice its blood and flesh as food for the survivors. The people consumed the meat and fashioned the shell into a vessel to safely return home. Later, grateful for the turtle's sacrifice, they created images to venerate and worship. This eventually led to the creation of sacred amulets shaped like sea turtles, inscribed with sacred numerals and blessed through religious ceremonies, a tradition that continues to this day.

The most celebrated creator of sea turtle amulets is Luang Pu Liu Pannakon, former abbot of Wat Rai Taeng Thong in Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom, who became the master craftsman of the famous "Sea Turtle Medal." Luang Pu Liu began creating these amulets around 1957 at Wat Sanam Yae, initially as powder amulets, later expanding into medals, cast amulets, votive images, protective belts, and closed-eye Buddha images. Sacred talismans also include waist belts, two-tailed geckos, and other protective charms. The most famous creation is the "Sea Turtle Medal," which was developed based on teachings from Luang Pho Yan of Wat Ban Khong in Photharam, Ratchaburi.

The first edition Sea Turtle Medal, created in 1973, features a four-legged turtle design with ears on top resembling medal features. A standing Buddha image appears on the front with sacred numerals on the reverse. The first run produced 300 medals in special metal alloy and 12,000 in copper. The special metal versions were given as commemorative gifts to sponsors who funded the construction of the temple's assembly hall pavilion, while the copper versions were sold for 100 baht each for worship. According to popular accounts, when these medals are soaked in blessed holy water, all the turtles miraculously crawl out of the vessel before being distributed for worship. Believers revere these amulets for protection from illness and misfortune, hoping to enjoy long life and longevity like the turtle.

On July 24, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Yosthana Wongsuwan announced that Chulalongkorn University has begun full implementation of the TCASFolio system for university admissions, focusing on content and genuine ability rather than design aesthetics and presentation. Wongsuwan praised Chulalongkorn University as a leading example and expressed hope that other educational institutions would adopt the system. The TCASFolio platform is a joint project funded and operated by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in collaboration with the Association of Thai Universities, offering free access to all students. The system ensures nationwide standardization of portfolio evaluation criteria, emphasizing substantive content and capability over visual presentation quality. It also creates a centralized database for analysis and helps prevent academic fraud and plagiarism. These measures align with government policy to reduce inequality, lower student costs, and ensure equal access to higher education for all young people, representing an important step in developing Thailand's human capital.

The seventh anniversary of the death of Luang Pu Saen Pasanno is observed on Saturday, July 25, 2026. A celebrated Buddhist monk from the northeastern region, he was known for his profound spiritual wisdom and lived at Wat Ban Nong Chik in Khun Han District, Sisaket Province. His strict adherence to monastic discipline and moral virtue made him a pillar of support for lay devotees and monks alike, earning him widespread recognition and the title "Deity of Phu Fai Mountain" near the Cambodian border.

He was born in 1907 as Saen Kumkhrop and ordained as a novice at a young age, studying Buddhist scriptures under the renowned teacher Luang Pho Mum. He later pursued additional studies in Cambodia, learning from Khmer masters with a focus on knowledge that would help others. After completing his worldly responsibilities, he returned to monastic life and eventually settled at Wat Ban Nong Chik, where he revitalized the neglected temple through his dedication and attracted monks to practice there.

He served as abbot and continued his spiritual practice, often engaging in intensive forest meditation. By age 93, he remained active in temple affairs. When he reached 97, concerned relatives persuaded him to return full-time to Wat Ban Nong Chik, where he spent his remaining years. He rarely commissioned amulets or blessed objects, preferring to allow close disciples to do so, yet his amulets—such as half-body coins and bell pendants—became highly sought after. He passed away peacefully on the night of July 25, 2019, at the age of 112.

Dr. Suphatthorn Hasuwon, a former parliamentary candidate for Songkhla District 2 representing the Democratic Party, has posted allegations of clear and serious corruption in the Public Health Ministry's volunteer nurse selection examination. The ministry designed the selection process to rely entirely on interviews conducted by six-person committees from each province, with no written exam component. The Department of Health Service Support instructed each province to submit the names of six committee members for ministry appointment, but the announced appointments did not match the nominations submitted by the provinces. This discrepancy has sparked complaints across multiple provinces via LINE group chats, prompting the department to cancel its original order and reissue appointments matching the provincial submissions. Dr. Hasuwon warned that the selection may favor high-scoring candidates and could involve position trading similar to corruption scandals in local government exams. He called on the Public Health Minister to provide an urgent explanation and suggested canceling the exam altogether if public confidence in the fairness cannot be assured. The volunteer nurse program costs the state 1.3 billion baht annually, and the budget commission should conduct a full review of the program's allocation.