The Commerce Ministry is mobilizing all sectors to strengthen enforcement against intellectual property infringement in physical markets and online platforms, while promoting a new generation awareness campaign on respecting intellectual property rights. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthathummaphan chaired an event promoting intellectual property respect under the concept "Don't Buy, Don't Use, Don't Support Intellectual Property Infringement." Government agencies including the National Police, Customs Department, Special Cases Investigation Department, state bodies, private sector rights holders, Thai embassies abroad, and foreign organizations participated at Siam Paragon and Siam Square's Walking Street to educate the public on the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and strengthen cooperation in preventing and suppressing infringement in physical markets and online platforms.

Minister Supachai stated that intellectual property infringement is a problem hindering economic progress, directly impacting producers, businesses, and consumers while undermining Thailand's trade competitiveness. She emphasized that IP protection is a crucial factor major trading partners, particularly the United States, use when evaluating Thailand's intellectual property protection status, affecting investor confidence and the country's trade and investment climate.

The Commerce Ministry's Intellectual Property Department has strengthened Thailand's intellectual property protection system while promoting an innovation ecosystem benefiting Thai creators and entrepreneurs. The ministry developed cooperation mechanisms with domestic and foreign agencies to elevate intellectual property standards to international levels and drive Thailand toward an innovation and creativity-driven economy.

The Intellectual Property Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on preventing intellectual property infringement on internet platforms with the Central Investigation Bureau's Economic Crime Suppression Division and Shopee Thailand Company Limited. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in information exchange, investigation, and prosecution of violators, while improving prevention and suppression of counterfeit goods sales on online platforms.

The ministry also received a cooperation agreement with Unilever Thai Trading Company, a rights holder, which joined the collaboration network to implement Notice and Takedown measures to suspend counterfeit product sales online. The cooperation network currently has 45 member organizations, including three Commerce Ministry agencies: the Intellectual Property Department, Trade Development Department, and International Trade Promotion Department.

On July 12, 2025, Sergeant Prasong Sihajaong, an investigator at Non Sung Police Station in Kalasin Province, received reports of a sedan that had lost control, struck a roadside sign, and overturned, resulting in fatalities. The accident occurred on the Khon Kaen-Yang Talat route in Hua Na Kham Subdistrict, Yang Talat District, Kalasin Province. Emergency responders from multiple rescue units, including Kalasin Samakkhi Gratitude Rescue, Asoke Chiang Yuen Rescue, Eng Tek Tung Rescue, and municipal rescue teams from Hua Na Kham and Pho Thong subdistricts, rushed to the scene.

At the accident site, rescuers found a bronze-silver sedan completely overturned in a rice field, severely damaged. Two bodies were found ejected from the vehicle near a roadside pole: a 17-year-old granddaughter and a 63-year-old grandmother, both from Chiang Yuen District, Maha Sarakham Province.

According to initial investigation, the grandmother and granddaughter had left home to attend the morning market, but only one kilometer into their journey, heavy rain made the road slippery. This likely caused the vehicle to lose traction, veer off the curve, strike the roadside sign, and overturn. Both occupants died at the scene.

General Decha Hemkrasri, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and president of the Thai Cycling Association, revealed that the Track Asia Cup 2026—scheduled for August 28-30, 2026, at the Velodrome in Bangkok—has attracted record participation. Twenty teams have registered so far, comprising 10 national teams (Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Macau, Indonesia, Philippines, India, and Saudi Arabia) and 8 club teams from abroad (including teams from Taiwan, South Korea, China, and the Philippines), plus two host teams representing Thailand and the Velodrome. Final registration could reach 25 teams.

The competition is critical for accumulating world ranking points and qualifying for the 2026 UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai (October 14-18), where Thailand has already been confirmed eligible to compete in men's team sprint, keirin, sprint, and 1km time trial events. The Thai team sprint squad—featuring TJ, Naeo, and Maakham—currently ranks 15th globally and 5th in Asia, securing automatic qualification. Other events must earn sufficient points at Track Asia Cup 2026 to qualify, as UCI will announce final quotas on September 4.

General Decha noted that the Thai team sprint riders are favored for qualification, but keirin, sprint, and time trial competitors must maximize points at this final continental competition of the season. He appealed for financial support from the Sports Authority of Thailand and the National Sports Development Fund to enable proper preparation and international competition participation for Thai cyclists pursuing world-stage competition.

Ford Thailand is running a special after-sales service campaign titled "Ford Saves Full Family—Win Free Fuel" to mark its 30th anniversary, featuring multiple attractive offers. These include discounts up to 700 baht on checkup packages, a buy-three-get-one-free tire promotion, and discounts up to 1,200 baht on batteries and brake pads. The campaign's major draw is a chance to win fuel cards worth over 1 million baht combined when customers bring their vehicles in for service at Ford centers nationwide from now until October 31, 2025.

The prize pool comprises 300 fuel card rewards: 30 cards worth 10,000 baht each, 30 cards worth 5,000 baht, and 240 cards worth 2,500 baht. Customers who purchase genuine Ford parts or fluids in 5,000-baht increments earn one entry per increment. Additional incentives include discounts up to 400 baht on synthetic engine oil programs and up to 700 baht on maintenance packages when parts exceed 5,000 baht.

For tire purchases, customers receive a buy-three-get-one-free deal on participating models, plus battery and brake pad discounts ranging from 200 to 1,200 baht depending on vehicle type and trade-in status. All Ford owners also receive complimentary 30-point vehicle inspections and can access 0% interest financing for 10 months on purchases of 5,000 baht or more through participating Kasikornbank and Krungsri credit cards. Winners will be announced in December 2025, with each chassis number eligible for a maximum of one prize.

Research indicates that irregular sleep patterns increase the risk of death from all causes and harm heart health. Experts recommend that bedtime and wake time should not vary by more than one hour daily.

Adequate sleep is crucial for good health and longevity, but recent studies suggest that sleep consistency may matter more than total sleep hours. Taiwan-based sports nutritionist Curtis shared findings from major research showing that people with consistent sleep schedules have lower mortality risk from all causes. He recommends that sleep and wake times should not vary by more than one hour each day.

Research published in the journal Sleep analyzed data from over 60,000 volunteers in the UK Biobank project. Participants wore sleep-tracking devices, generating over 10 million hours of sleep data. Researchers calculated the Sleep Regularity Index (SRI)—higher scores indicate more consistent daily sleep and wake times—and followed participants for an average of 6.5 years.

Results showed sleep consistency directly correlates with mortality rates. Compared to irregular sleepers, those with the most consistent sleep schedules achieved:

• Overall mortality reduction of 20-48% • Cancer mortality reduction of 16-39% • Heart and cardiovascular disease mortality reduction of 22-57%

Irregular sleep disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, increasing risks for heart disease, metabolic disorders like diabetes, and abdominal obesity. In contrast, those maintaining regular sleep routines show significantly reduced risk.

Curtis emphasized that poor sleep quality damages health and increases mortality risk. Beyond aiming for 7-9 hours nightly, maintaining consistent sleep and wake times is equally important. He recommends keeping bedtime and wake time within a one-hour window—for example, sleeping between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. and waking between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. Rather than relying on weekend sleep recovery, maintaining a stable circadian rhythm is the best long-term health strategy.

Monday, July 13, 2025 commemorates the 99th death anniversary of Phra Rajawichit Molee (Boonmee Paripunno), a distinguished senior Buddhist monk of Phichit province renowned for his virtuous conduct, strict adherence to monastic discipline, and genuine dedication to Buddhism. Originally named Boonmee Taengpan, he was born on Wednesday, July 13, 1927 at Ban Dan in Phichit city to parents Nai Hae and Nang Took Taengpan. He attended primary school at Wat Had Mun, completing fourth grade before ordaining as a monk at age 20 on March 26, 1948, receiving the monastic name Paripunno. He relocated to Wat Tha Luang to study Buddhist scripture, and by 1951 had earned bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Buddhist studies. After serving as a scripture instructor for over a decade, he was appointed to various monastic administrative positions, becoming abbot of Wat Tha Luang in 1986, district monastic leader in 1993, and eventually provincial monastic adviser in 2007. He championed Buddhist education by establishing secular curriculum studies within the temple and creating scholarship funds for economically disadvantaged monks and novices. In religious outreach, he established the Buddhason Merit Camp in 2000 for youth moral education and created a medicinal herb garden at Wat Tha Luang. He received numerous ecclesiastical ranks conferred by royal decree throughout his monastic career.