Thai Cement Public Company Limited (SCG) reported robust second-quarter 2025 performance, with net profit of 11.535 billion baht, a surge of 85% from the previous quarter, according to CEO Tharmsak Sethakudom. The recovery was driven by improved margins in the chemicals business and better operational results from the packaging business (SCGP) in Indonesia. Second-quarter revenue reached 136.243 billion baht, up 10% year-on-year, bolstered by higher petrochemical product prices and increased sales volumes from SCGP and cement operations.

Adjusted cash EBITDA for the quarter came in at 27.984 billion baht, improving from both the previous quarter and year-on-year comparison, reflecting strong cost management and cash generation despite global economic volatility. For the first half of 2025, the company recorded net profit of 17.758 billion baht, down 4% year-on-year, but adjusted profit (excluding special items and inventory revaluation) reached 12.649 billion baht, up 8.196 billion baht from the prior year. Revenue for the period totaled 259.570 billion baht, up 4% from the same period last year.

The board approved an interim dividend of 3.50 baht per share, totaling 4.2 billion baht, with an ex-dividend date of August 5, 2025, and payment on August 21, 2025. SCG expects full-year 2025 revenue to exceed the prior year's 516.954 billion baht, supported by higher petrochemical prices and increased packaging sales. Adjusted cash EBITDA for the full year is projected at 54-55 billion baht, with first-half results already reaching 42.913 billion baht.

Despite headwinds from global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, intense price competition, inflation, and volatile energy costs, the company remains confident in its ability to manage through aggressive strategy execution and efficient cost control. SCG expects clarity on its joint venture negotiations with PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) for petrochemical business development by September 2025. For 2026, the company plans continued organizational transformation, accelerating ethane feedstock use in its Long Son Petrochemicals project in Vietnam, expanding business partnerships, managing ASEAN production facilities, restructuring management, and implementing robotics and AI technologies to enhance operational efficiency by year-end 2026.

The Department of Physical Education is hosting the 'Sports Talent Festival,' a major showcase to identify and develop athletic talent among Thai children and youth, cultivating future world-class athletes. Director-General Mongkol Wimolrat stated that Thailand is entering a new era of sports development, making youth talent identification and development systems critically important. The Department of Physical Education, as a key organization driving sports science initiatives, recognizes the importance of developing young athletes and creating pathways for Thai youth to compete at national and international levels. The Sports Talent Festival marks the beginning of building a stronger and more efficient Thai sports future, offering young people opportunities to discover their potential, learn from elite athlete role models, and gain knowledge in sports science. The department believes that every step children take today will become the foundation for tomorrow's national team athletes.

The event reflects Thailand's approach to sports development that prioritizes identifying and nurturing talent from childhood using sports science as a tool for creating equal opportunities. A key highlight is the inspirational talk and activity session 'Find the Stars: Discovering Thai Youth Sports Talent,' featuring renowned athletes and influencers sharing their experiences and insights. Featured speakers include Grace Uthida Kulthada Pakorn, Thailand's ice hockey national team goalkeeper; Omsorn Anunavee Srisahakij, former taekwondo poomsae champion; and First Thanadol Glinnim, Thailand's international fencing athlete. They will discuss how success in national-level sports comes not from talent alone but from discipline, strong mental fortitude, and applying sports science to develop individual potential and prevent injuries.

Nicola Franco, Thailand's basketball player; Tor Tevin Chatsuwarn, Thailand's men's ice hockey player; Oy, a certified runner, personal trainer, and nutrition coach; and Kai Paveena Thongsuk, former Olympic gold medalist and Thailand's female weightlifter, will share knowledge on nutrition and muscle development, emphasizing that body and mind must be properly restored and maintained according to sports science principles to endure competitive pressure and maintain optimal physical condition.

The festival also features more than 10 activity stations where participants can assess their physical fitness, practice movement skills, and learn basic sports science concepts through age-appropriate activities designed to help each person understand their potential and apply it appropriately to sport selection, training, and exercise. Special performances include 'Opening Performance: Find The Stars' and 'Sport Science Performance Show' demonstrating the fusion of physical ability and sports science, along with fun activities, prize giveaways, and group aerobics sessions to promote community health.

Gulf Edge, a digital infrastructure business under Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF), and Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a global technology and services leader and AI development specialist, have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate AI technology adoption across Thailand and support the country's transition to a fully AI-native economy.

Against the backdrop of rapid AI transformation reshaping industry, economy, and society worldwide, this collaboration aims to create a digital ecosystem as a critical foundation for Thailand's next phase of digital transformation. Gulf Edge and Cognizant will combine secure and robust digital infrastructure with AI engineering expertise and global organizational advancement experience, enabling businesses to adopt AI safely, responsibly, and efficiently at scale.

This partnership merges Gulf Edge's strengths as a leader in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud services, and strategic partnerships in key Thai business sectors with Cognizant's global expertise in AI, digital engineering, cloud modernization, data management, and intelligent operations. Both companies will jointly deliver end-to-end AI solutions—from infrastructure and AI platforms to enterprise solutions, system integration, and professional managed services.

The initial phase will focus on accelerating AI adoption in key sectors including finance and banking, energy, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing, and government agencies, with industry-specific AI solutions designed to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, enable more accurate decision-making, and automate complex processes to drive innovation and sustainable growth.

Beyond enterprise advancement, Gulf Edge and Cognizant aim to position Thailand as a regional AI hub by attracting global technology talent, spurring investment in advanced digital infrastructure, and creating high-value job opportunities across disciplines such as AI engineering, data science, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Both companies also plan to collaborate with educational institutions, research centers, technology partners, and government agencies to develop AI talent, promote responsible technology use, and build a sustainable innovation ecosystem for Thailand.

Saratchad Rattanavatdee, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Development Public Company Limited, stated: "Our partnership with Cognizant is a critical step in driving Thailand toward an AI-native economy. We are committed to leveraging Gulf's strengths in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud systems, and deep understanding of the Thai market to deliver transformative AI solutions across the country."

7-Eleven, the 24-hour convenience store committed to environmental sustainability, is advancing its "7 Go Green" policy through the campaign "Heal the Planet, Heal the Heart 24/7 at 7-Eleven." The initiative encourages consumers to reduce single-use plastic consumption by simply declining plastic straws and instead using alternative lids or drinking directly from containers at both in-store and 7-Eleven delivery service options via 7App.

The world currently faces a climate crisis, while Thailand struggles with urban waste overflow due to inadequate source-based waste separation systems and insufficient incentives to shift away from disposable consumption patterns.

According to Beyond Plastics, a coalition of environmental policy experts and grassroots activists at Bennington College in the United States, most plastic straws are designed for single use and discarded within minutes. Plastic straws rank among the top 10 most common plastic waste items found in oceans, and their small size and light weight make them easily become litter, potentially clogging drainage systems, polluting water sources, and persisting in the environment for hundreds or thousands of years.

7-Eleven invites consumers to protect the environment through simple behavioral changes—merely declining plastic straws when purchasing beverages that do not require them. The chain now offers reusable lids for both hot and cold drinks across All Café, All Select, Gulp, 7Select, and Kudsan (at participating locations). Customers ordering through 7-Eleven Delivery on 7App can simply check a box to decline straws, allowing everyone to contribute to environmental conservation.

The Department of Land Transport is expediting public access to check eligibility and appeal for 2025 state welfare card benefits in line with government and transport ministry policy to ensure all citizens have fair and equal access to benefits. Officials have been strictly instructed not to collect any processing fees, and those with outstanding vehicle taxes are temporarily excused from payment during this period to reduce public burden.

According to Land Transport Director-General Sarpong Phaiduryapong, from July 17–23, 2025, a total of 101,838 people submitted requests to verify vehicle ownership to appeal for welfare card benefits. The requests covered 159,425 vehicles: 135,259 motorcycles, 23,581 cars, and 585 other vehicles. The most common reason cited was vehicles exceeding the age limit, followed by decommissioned vehicles, lost vehicles, transferred vehicles, seized vehicles, and cases of identity fraud in vehicle purchases. The department will expedite verification and coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure fair, transparent, and swift benefit eligibility decisions.

The director-general emphasized that the department is fully committed to ensuring citizens receive fair treatment according to transport ministry and government policy. All staff are ready to assist elderly citizens and those filing appeals. No fees whatsoever will be charged for the eligibility verification process. Those with outstanding vehicle taxes due to reasons such as long-term non-use are not required to pay at this stage but must submit a written appeal statement with their signature to officials as evidence for the appeal process.

Citizens wishing to verify their eligibility may visit the Department of Land Transport, Bangkok Metropolitan Transport Office regional offices, or any provincial transport office nationwide, or contact the Land Transport hotline at 1584.

Drug suppression police have continued their crackdown on the international drug trafficking network "Ball Khao Wised," arresting another member of a money laundering operation who was ranked as a priority suspect by the Royal Thai Police. On July 23, 2025, Police Lieutenant General Pathanasak Buphasawan ordered officers to arrest 27-year-old Kittisak (surname withheld) from Chiang Rai under arrest warrant number 103/2568, issued February 10, 2025, on charges of conspiracy to launder money. He was apprehended at a residence in Rim Kok Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Rai.

The arrest follows Operation "Takedown Mafia Yan Rok," during which police dismantled the "Ball Khao Wised" drug trafficking network and seized assets valued at over 100 million baht believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking. Investigators discovered that the network used "mule accounts"—shell bank accounts—to receive drug proceeds before withdrawing cash and transferring funds to associates to disguise the money as legitimate income or investments.

Investigators also found that most cash withdrawals by the drug operation occurred in northern border areas, making it easier to smuggle money across to neighboring countries. After gathering sufficient evidence, authorities obtained court approval for additional arrest warrants. Police determined that Kittisak was one of the mule account holders used by the "Ball Khao Wised" network and was ranked 208th on the Royal Thai Police's priority fugitive list. He was hiding in Chiang Rai when arrested.

During questioning, Kittisak denied knowledge of criminal activity, claiming he had been paid thousands of baht per account to open them to support his family, and was unaware the accounts would be used for illegal purposes. Investigators remain skeptical and have transferred him to the Investigation Division for further legal proceedings.