Somdet Phra Phutthajarn (Sanit Chuanpanyo), a senior Buddhist official and abbot of Wat Trimitwitayaram, presided over the monastic order, while Deputy Prime Minister Ek Niti Niteethanadprasap chaired the lay participants in an alms-giving ceremony dedicating merit to His Majesty the King on his 2025 birthday. The ceremony, titled "Water of Life Under Royal Grace: Continuing Rattanakosin's Ways," was held under a royal initiative to improve living conditions for residents and vulnerable people around Koh Rattanakosin. The event took place at Pom Mahakhat Park and along the canals surrounding Koh Rattanakosin, with attendance from government officials, private sector representatives, civil society, and the public.

The boat alms-giving ceremony represents a significant moment in Bangkok's 240-year history, uniting people from the capital and other provinces to offer alms to 225 monks—75 from each of the three canal routes. The ceremony reflects the connection between waterside life, Buddhism, and the Thai monarchy, preserving the cultural heritage and identity of canal communities. It demonstrates the King's vision for water resource management, environmental conservation, and improving quality of life through technology and innovation, with focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including support for health services and social welfare along Khlong Lhodrao (Soi Sake).

The event also showcased the royal projects and their achievements, highlighting the King's compassion across development, water management, and sustainable natural resource conservation. Success resulted from collaboration among royal offices, government agencies, private sector, civil society, and networks, transforming the Koh Rattanakosin canal area into a space for historical preservation, cultural learning, and public benefit while strengthening the lives of vulnerable populations. On the occasion of the King's 74th birthday, Thai citizens from all sectors demonstrated loyalty and gratitude through religious activities, volunteer work, and community participation.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythale Luksameesang announced that the Cabinet has approved in principle a draft royal decree authorizing the Mass Transit System of Thailand (MRTA) to operate electric railway services in Songkhla province, as proposed by the Ministry of Transport. The decree will be forwarded to the Office of the Council of State for examination and further action. The Ministry of Transport is also directed to consider input from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, and the Budget Bureau.

The draft decree designates Songkhla as an additional province where MRTA will operate electric railway services, joining existing operations in Chiang Mai, Phang Nga, Phuket, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phitsanulok. The Hat Yai monorail project will cover 12.54 kilometers with 12 stations, featuring a three-story station structure built over a central island in the roadway. The system includes one depot and maintenance center at Khlong Hoa Station, with three interchange points connecting to various modes of transport including minibuses and taxi services. The stations are designed to accommodate passenger demand from Hat Yai city and neighboring provinces, with the project already approved by the land traffic management committee.

The Department of Intellectual Property is hosting the 'GI Market Roadshow' at Central Khon Kaen from August 3-9, showcasing quality geographic indication (GI) products from throughout Thailand alongside entertainment from renowned artists. After the successful launch of the same roadshow in Songkhla in August 2025, the ministry is expanding the initiative to the Northeast, bringing top GI products nationwide to a single venue where visitors can view, taste, and purchase authentic Thai products while learning about local wisdom passed down through generations.

The 'GI Market Roadshow' brings together premium GI products from all regions, including Sri Saket volcano durian, Dan Khwian pottery, Chiang Rai dried pineapple, Phichit banana chips, Lampang chicken soup bowls, Surat Thani baby clams, Phetchabun curry desserts, and Khon Kaen indigo, alongside processed foods, beverages, textiles, and local handicrafts from direct producers. Over the seven-day event, activities include product demonstrations, expert talks on GI goods, promotional activities, and daily mini concerts featuring artists such as Gaem-Wichaya, Tao-Paranwat, Kwang-Duangruthai, Cha-Singchai, Luktarn-Chonthichash, Man-Maneevan, and Bew-Kalyanee.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for August 4, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the activities area on the first floor of Central Khon Kaen, featuring a cooking demonstration by Chef In-Nangrudthit Sae-Khor, owner of the 'Kruakruabaan-In' restaurant, showcasing crispy rice with Pak Chong Khao Yai durian cream made from Thailand's premium GI ingredients including Sri Sarn jasmine rice and Pak Chong Khao Yai durian, highlighting the potential of Thai GI products in creating high-value menu items.

On August 5 at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) office, Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly member Naphapol Jirakul of the Democratic Party, joined by Suthichai Virkulsumontr of the Move Forward Party, filed a formal complaint requesting an investigation into allegations that People's Party councilors illegally cast and voted on behalf of absent colleagues during the July 31 Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly meeting.

Naphapol stated that the Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly is responsible for enacting local ordinances for the public, so all councilors must act with accuracy, transparency, and strict legal compliance. He said the incident has raised serious public suspicion and warrants thorough investigation.

The complainants submitted evidence including the formal complaint letter, a recording of the meeting where the alleged incident occurred, and requested that the NACC summon all witnesses present. They called for strict legal penalties if those responsible are found guilty.

"We urge the NACC to conduct a serious and straightforward investigation into this vote-casting allegation," Naphapol said. "If wrongdoing is found, we request that the matter proceed through the full legal process."

Researchers from the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), have conducted one of the largest studies Thai astron...

Uncle Paiwal Jaem, a farmer from Chon Muang subdistrict in Ban Mi district, Lopburi province, is passing on his knowledge of growing "Cavendish bananas"—a venture that began as a hope to create a legacy for the next generation.

Paiwal learned agriculture from his father, a distinguished farmer, so farming became a profession he took personal pride in. After his father's death, he continued farming, starting with corn, sugarcane, and cassava, rotating to livestock during dry years. Beyond farming, he also worked as a well-digger. Over the past decade, as he felt himself aging and worried he might not live to harvest his crops, he began searching for work better suited to him—something less physically exhausting, with established market demand, and something he could pass on to his children. He became interested in banana cultivation, seeing it as a large, high-demand market.

Paiwal initially tried water bananas but was disappointed with the yields. He experimented with other varieties until discovering the Cavendish banana, a cultivar from Israel, a country renowned for agricultural technology. "Cavendish bananas are a quality variety—low in sugar, high in energy, with strong international markets, especially in Japan, so sales aren't limited to the domestic market. Importantly, you plant once and harvest for many years—you do little but gain much," he explained.

Rather than propagating from shoots, he uses tissue-cultured plantlets from quality stock to avoid plant diseases and insect problems that can affect fruit development. Before planting, he places organic fertilizer at the bottom of each hole, then plants 3 plantlets per hole, spacing them about 3 meters apart. When new shoots emerge, he removes the old ones, keeping only 3—a technique that increases yield per rai. He nourishes the soil every 6 months using no chemical inputs throughout cultivation. For irrigation, he uses a drip system powered by solar cells to reduce production costs, adjusting for climate and humidity.

"After about 5–6 months, the banana begins to flower, and another 75 days before it's ready to harvest," he noted. "One bunch has about 45 hands, each with 16–30 individual bananas. Per bunch, the price is around 300 baht. One rai yields 630 bunches, so income is roughly 180,000 baht per rai. Harvesting twice a year totals about 360,000 baht per rai—on 3 rai, that's 1 million baht. Initial investment is about 90,000 baht per rai. Although it seems like a large sum, you plant once and harvest many times. All of this comes from 10 years of trial and error, developed to the point of success." While banana growers typically use stakes to support stems against the weight of heavy bunches, Paiwal's approach differs. "At our farm, we don't use stakes because it's wasteful. We plant everything together, they grow together, and the spacing keeps sizes from differing too much."