Lampang is known for more than just longan. In August, Lamphun Governor Peerapong Chuawongsa visited the Mon Thong Durian Orchard in Mae Tha and ceremonially harvested quality durians to promote the location to customers, receiving strong feedback. The durians from this orchard are comparable to major durian-growing regions elsewhere in Thailand.

The orchard, located in Ta Sai Sao Subdistrict, Mae Tha District, Lamphun Province, is owned by 61-year-old Sutin Chanwarn and covers 19 rai of durian cultivation operated as a family business. Alongside Sutin and his wife Theeraporn, their 30-year-old son Chutipon Chanwarn, a young smart farmer, represents the second generation set to continue the legacy.

Chutipon explains that his father's main business was heavy-truck repair under Chai Pattana Vehicle company in Muang District, Lamphun. In his spare time, his father enjoyed growing trees around the repair shop. He eventually purchased one rai of former longan and banana orchard land to expand his farming.

In 2018, his father experimented with planting Mon Thong durians sourced from Chumphon Province, initially planting 200 saplings. As the trees grew well, he progressively expanded from one rai to 15 rai, with later seedlings sourced from Chanthaburi Province.

By the fifth year, the durians produced their first substantial harvest, boosting family confidence that northern Thailand could successfully grow durians, contrary to widespread skepticism. They began selling at markets and opening the orchard to customers. After the first harvest sold out, the father expanded further to 19 rai and experimented with other durian varieties including Musang King and long-stem types. However, Mon Thong proved best suited to the soil and climate, now numbering 740 trees with other varieties declining.

When yields became satisfactory, the orchard joined the Young Smart Farmer program, receiving state support for irrigation equipment and expert guidance. The family also grows cacao, since durian spacing of 8-10 meters allowed intercropping. They planted 450 cacao trees, processing some into cacao nibs and cacao mass.

After visiting Samyaek Phattana Temple in Village 10, Mae Luay subdistrict, Mae Wong district, Nakhon Sawan province in 2566, where residents faced inadequate, dirty, and foul-smelling water during dry season, 17-year-old Varuntor Kangsanun, a Grade 11 student at United World College of the Atlantic in the United Kingdom, was inspired to apply for funding from the Lighthouse program. This UWC Atlantic initiative supports students in developing projects to address community problems in their home countries while nurturing social innovation.

Varuntor interviewed residents in Village 10, Mae Luay, and found that the community suffered from severe water shortages, especially during dry season, and that municipal water was contaminated. Villagers relied on a groundwater well at the temple installed by the Department of Water Resources over 20 years earlier, but the hand pump supplied only limited water per operation. She proposed a solar-powered groundwater pump and storage tank project to replace the manual pump and submitted it to Lighthouse, which awarded her funding to develop it.

After receiving the grant, Varuntor hired contractors specializing in groundwater drilling to test water volume and install a 1 HP solar-powered pump with a 2,000-liter storage tank. The system now supplies 4,000–5,000 liters daily. Once the tank was completed, villagers collectively installed additional piping and storage tanks for dry-season use and connected water lines to the temple's kitchen and bathrooms. The project was completed on 25 July 2569 and transferred to Samyaek Phattana Temple, supported by the subdistrict administration and community residents.

Varuntor noted that while this project solved one community's crisis, many villages still lack access to clean drinking water. She called on the government to allocate budgets for developing quality water systems and groundwater access across rural areas, ensuring long-term health and quality of life improvements.

"This project demonstrates how solar power can operate groundwater pumps instead of relying on electricity," Varuntor said. "I hope everyone will see the value in renewable energy."

Varuntor has been recognized as an outstanding youth by the Ministry of Education in 2564, received ASEAN scholarships in 2567, and was selected by the UWC international committee to study at United World College of the Atlantic in 2568. She won the Lighthouse Prize in 2569 worth 6,500 pounds from UWC Atlantic to support her community development work. She is also accomplished in mathematics, economics, and English, winning medals in domestic and international competitions, and is active in social, sports, cultural, and health initiatives.

At 9:30 a.m. on August 19, 2025, at Parliament, opposition MP Karunphol Thiensuwan announced the shadow cabinet's review of the situation in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, stating that conditions are worsening rather than improving. Beyond illegal dumping of toxic industrial waste, community leaders are demanding serious action from the government. Field visits to Ta Toom subdistrict revealed complaints of wastewater discharge and strong odors, with residents reporting that state agencies have inspected multiple times yet the problems remain unresolved.

With five factories in the area—four foreign-owned—Thiensuwan noted concerns that foreign and large capital interests may be using money and off-the-books influence to obstruct state officials from solving these problems. He compared conditions inside and outside industrial zones, observing that factories within regulated industrial estates have laws and oversight allowing sustainable problem-solving, while unregistered factories outside such zones receive no attention. Without government action, he warned, residents who complain risk intimidation or disappearance. Officers acknowledged attempted checkpoints and inspections occur at night, but illegal earth-mining has created deep pits used as illegal dump sites, allowing toxic waste to seep underground.

In agricultural Prachuap Khiri Khan, a major fruit-growing region, underground contamination threatens not only local drinking water but farm products distributed nationwide. "If the state cannot manage foreign capital, influential figures, and toxic waste in Prachuap Khiri Khan, the problem will spread across the country," Thiensuwan said.

Opposition party leader Nattapong Rueangpanyavut noted that illegal dumping is not new; arrests are made but offenders are released. Immigration police stated they want to inspect unregistered labor in illegal factories but cannot proceed because gray-capital lawyers sue officials, making enforcement difficult. Officials are requesting an authorization document to conduct inspections without legal exposure. The opposition proposes three solutions, beginning with political courage: the Prime Minister should sign authorization allowing proper enforcement to protect public confidence in economic development through the Eastern Economic Corridor, while preventing additional problems.

PTT Station is launching a strong promotion for BluePlus members, offering an immediate 1 baht per liter discount on all fuel types when purchasing 500 baht or more on August 19-20.

PTT Station continues to deliver value and help ease customers' energy expenses, running this special promotion for BluePlus members. Members who pump 500 baht or more of any fuel type per receipt will receive an instant 1 baht per liter discount at participating PTT Station branches.

The discount covers all fuel grades from the pump, including standard grades such as Gasohol E20, Gasohol 91, Gasohol 95, Gasohol E85, Petrol, Diesel, and Diesel B20, as well as premium grades including Super PowerX 99, Super PowerX Diesel, and Super Power Gasohol 95. Members can choose which fuel to pump according to their needs and enjoy the benefit throughout both days of the campaign.

Whether driving in the city, taking a trip, or using a vehicle regularly, PTT Station is ready to offer savings on every journey. The discount is genuine at 1 baht per liter across all fuel types, subject to terms and conditions, at participating PTT Station branches from August 19-20, 2025 only.

Not yet a BluePlus member? Register for free at any PTT Station nationwide or through the BluePlus Plus Together app. For more details and conditions, follow PTT Station's Facebook page or call the Contact Center at 1365.

At 11:30 a.m. on August 19, the Chiang Mai Provincial Police command center received a report of an overturned gas truck that had ignited and caused a major fire on the inbound lane of the Chiang Mai-Lampang highway. Sariphi Police Station and local fire departments from the municipality and provincial administration mobilized to the scene. The burning truck exploded repeatedly, forcing officials to redirect incoming traffic to an alternate railway-adjacent route while closing the superhighway entrance completely. Firefighters deployed multiple engines and chemical suppressants, taking approximately two hours to contain the blaze. No injuries were initially reported, and officials were investigating the cause.

According to local residents, accidents are frequent in that area. Preliminary findings suggest the truck driver lost control on the wet, slippery road from recent rain, causing the vehicle to overturn and sparking the fire. At 12:30 p.m., Chiang Mai Provincial Police Deputy Commander Yuthana Kaenjun confirmed that firefighters had successfully controlled the fire with no casualties. Investigators were interviewing the truck driver, with initial findings pointing to slick road conditions as the cause. Sariphi Police cleared the highway, and traffic was able to resume.

The Federation of Thai Industries reported that the July 2025 industrial confidence index reached 90.0, up from 88.2 the previous month. The improvement was driven by the expanding electric vehicle market, with first-half 2025 sales up 93.07% year-on-year, supported by accelerated domestic EV production under local manufacturing conditions. Trade negotiations with major partners including the United States, European Union, and China have opened new market opportunities and reduced trade barriers for Thai goods. Industrial exports such as hard disk drives and automotive components are showing strong growth in key markets like the US and Japan.

Fuel price measures implemented through July 24 to August 15 reduced diesel and biodiesel prices by 2.40 baht per liter, helping ease the cost of living and transportation costs. The Thai Help Thai Plus stimulus program has also boosted sales for small and medium enterprises, particularly in consumer goods, food, and beverages. However, the sector faces significant headwinds including escalating US-Iran tensions that could push up oil prices and shipping costs, US tariffs of 12.5% on Thai goods under Section 301, delayed public construction projects, a 3.1% decline in tourist arrivals, and rising SME debt levels at 9.5%.

The industrial confidence index for the next three months is forecast at 96.1, up from 94.5 in June, supported by Thailand's hosting of the IMF-World Bank meetings, which is expected to boost economic activity and Thailand's international profile. However, risks remain from prolonged Middle East tensions that could increase inflationary pressure and reduce exports to the region, particularly impacting automotive, wood product, rubber, and air-conditioning industries. Electricity grid conditions and investment guarantees set at 4.5 million baht per megawatt may also influence private sector investment decisions.