On July 31, 2026, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin officially opened the 'Hiking School—First Steps into the Forest with Understanding' project at Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The program aims to elevate Thailand's nature tourism while supporting conservation efforts, building a nationwide network of 'conservation hiking instructors,' and promoting the 'Leave No Trace' philosophy as standard practice among Thai travelers.

Minister Suchat emphasized that the government prioritizes natural resource conservation alongside sustainable tourism development. He noted that creating quality tourists and knowledgeable staff is essential for long-term forest protection. The hiking school will instill knowledge, skills, and conservation awareness among both officials and the public to ensure sustainable growth in nature tourism.

According to Parks Department Director Arthapol Jarangchantrasaan, hiking popularity has surged but many trail users lack proper knowledge and skills, leading to accidents, litter, and ecosystem disruption. The hiking school addresses this by training staff as 'conservation hiking instructors' capable of effectively teaching tourists about environmental responsibility.

In fiscal year 2026, the Parks Department completed five training courses with 175 graduates and allocated funding to establish 'Hiking Schools' in 133 national parks and 20 forest parks nationwide. Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's first national park and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, serves as the pilot model before expanding to parks throughout the country, with the goal of raising Thailand's nature tourism standards to international levels and making 'Leave No Trace' a universal practice among all visitors.

On July 31, 2025, at the Central Investigation Police Bureau, officials reported progress in a corruption case involving a rigged local government civil service recruitment examination. Rueangdech Sirikij, director of Srinakharinwirot University's education and psychology testing center, along with four others from a residence in Nonthaburi province, arrived for questioning starting at 7:00 a.m. Investigators conducted separate detailed interviews lasting over six hours.

During questioning, all five individuals cooperated with investigators and acknowledged certain facts and details related to the incident, but maintained their denials of the charges. Their statements were recorded for use alongside other evidence being gathered. Specifically, Rueangdech acknowledged that he delivered a flash drive to Win, a suspect arrested earlier, but insisted he was merely following job instructions or his terms of reference on orders from Theerutt Suphavibulyaphol, the former permanent secretary of the Department of Local Administration. He stated the two knew each other through their work in education circles.

Meanwhile, investigators continue calling other related individuals for additional information. Theerutt Suphavibulyaphol requested a postponement of his scheduled interview and has been rescheduled for August 6, while other individuals involved have asked to defer their statements until August 10. Investigators will continue questioning related parties before proceeding with the legal process.

The Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) is expanding public access to data protection knowledge through its free "PDPC e-Learning" platform, an online learning system open to the public and professionals from all sectors. The platform allows users to learn about personal data protection at no cost, accessible from anywhere and at any time, eliminating financial and travel barriers. Learners can study flexibly on their own schedule, and upon completing the course and meeting requirements, they receive an e-Certificate from the PDPC to document their learning and support career and organizational development.

Pol. Col. Surpong Phlangkham, Secretary-General of the Personal Data Protection Committee, explained that PDPC e-Learning is an important mechanism to make data protection knowledge accessible and widely available to the public. The PDPC designed the curriculum for both professionals who collect, use, or disclose personal data and general citizens seeking to understand their rights and how to protect their information.

"PDPC e-Learning aims to remove barriers to learning—whether cost, time, location, or travel. Learners can study and manage their own schedules through our online system, and upon completion and meeting standards, they receive a certificate from the PDPC that can help develop their personal and organizational capabilities," Surpong said, noting the platform leverages digital technology to broaden access to data protection knowledge.

Surpong reported strong uptake since launch, with nearly 80,000 registered learners already exceeding initial targets, demonstrating significant public interest in learning about personal data protection. He added that in an era where digital technology and artificial intelligence play an increasingly large role in daily life, data protection should not be viewed merely as a legal burden or one department's responsibility, but rather as an organizational culture and shared responsibility across society—from collecting only necessary data to using it appropriately, maintaining security, and respecting data subjects' rights.

The PDPC curriculum contributes to raising Thailand's data protection standards nationally, as the knowledge gained helps reduce data breach incidents, close gaps that criminals might exploit, and build confidence in Thailand's digital economy and society. The PDPC will continue developing and updating the PDPC e-Learning curriculum to address evolving laws, technologies, and risk patterns, while expanding the knowledge base to all organizations and population groups.

An inspector is set to visit Ban Taluk Hin School in Sahaket district, Phichit province, to investigate why the principal sold the school building, forcing 41 students to attend classes in a mango grove. The 41 primary students lost their classroom after the acting principal auctioned off the 50-year-old building without prior approval for its replacement. The provincial governor has ordered all students relocated to Taluk Hin Temple for temporary classes until a new building is ready. The Ministry of Education has approved 510,000 baht for a four-unit portable classroom structure, though the school is still gathering additional provincial funding for a permanent 2.7-million-baht facility. An inspector general will visit the school on August 4 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the building sale.

A court has sentenced a husband and wife to one year in prison for stealing a first-prize lottery ticket belonging to Pa Khayan and burning it to destroy evidence. The couple has agreed to pay 150,000 baht in compensation and apologized in court. Pa Khayan has reserved her right to claim the prize money from the national lottery office.

The case began when Pa Khayan asked her neighbors to check her lottery ticket. The neighbors initially told her it had won the grand prize but then suggested she leave it with them for safekeeping. When Pa Khayan returned the next day to retrieve it, they claimed the ticket was a loser and had been thrown away. Police investigation revealed the neighbors had actually stolen the winning ticket and burned it to avoid legal trouble.

At trial, both defendants confessed to theft and destruction of property. The court sentenced each to one year imprisonment (reduced from the original charge), imposed a fine of 10,000 baht each, and ordered them to perform 24 hours of community service and report to a probation officer four times. The couple has committed to cooperating as witnesses to help Pa Khayan claim her lottery winnings from the national lottery office.