E-cigarettes are now more accessible and sophisticated than ever for Thai children—a simple scroll through social media reveals colorful ads that can be ordered instantly, and daily life exposes youth to secondhand smoke and peers using these products. This escalating crisis prompted the Health Promotion Foundation (สสส.) to team up with the Teachers Network for Smoke-Free Schools and the Foundation for a Smoke-Free Thailand to organize a forum celebrating and sharing knowledge on "advancing smoke-free and e-cigarette-free schools for Thai youth." The event provided teachers and administrators with resources to elevate their schools into safe zones, and honored outstanding workers from across Thailand.

Professor Prakij Vathisathkij, chairman of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free Thailand, emphasized that teachers serve as the critical first line of defense protecting Thai youth from nicotine. With external environments saturated with smoking triggers, strong school safeguards are essential to prevent youth from becoming new smokers. However, the challenge has intensified—we can no longer distinguish between traditional and e-cigarettes, as both pose identical nicotine hazards. Tobacco companies continue developing new products like nicotine pouches targeting Thai children, demanding that educators stay vigilant.

"Though daunting, our collaboration with the Teachers Network has yielded encouraging results," Professor Prakij noted. "Teachers' influence can shift values and reduce smoking rates among peers dramatically—from 40% historically to just 10% today. This empirical evidence proves that teachers and school administrators are the vital mechanism protecting Thai children's futures from these addictive substances."

Critical statistics show e-cigarettes targeting young girls particularly. According to data from Thailand's National Statistics Office for 2025, released by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanya Benjagul of Mahidol University's Faculty of Public Health, teenage girls are becoming primary victims of e-cigarettes. While traditional cigarette smoking among Thai women has dropped to just 1.3%, e-cigarette use among girls aged 13-15 soars to 15%—ten times higher than conventional smoking.

Tobacco companies deliberately design products to resemble small toys with pastel colors ("Toy Pods"), add sweet flavors, and promote through social media for easy youth access. Additionally, nicotine in e-cigarettes poses severe impacts on reproductive systems and pregnancy for young women in the future. These facts underscore why the Ministry of Education and partner networks must strengthen "smoke-free school" measures to intercept addiction at its source. Long-term research confirms that smoke-free schools serve as critical protective shields for Thai youth.

Thai palaeontologists have named a new long-necked dinosaur species from Kalasin province, adding a 15th formally recognised dinosaur species to Thailand's fossil record and strengthening the country's place on the map of Jurassic dinosaur discoveries.

The new species, Uragasaurus kalasinensis, was announced on 8 July after being published in the journal Scientific Reports by a research team led by Apirut Nilpanapan, Sita Manitkoon, Varavudh Suteethorn and Komsorn Lauprasert.

The fossil was discovered at the Phu Noi fossil site in Din Chi subdistrict, Kham Muang district, Kalasin province, within the Lower Phu Kradung Formation, which the study places in the Upper Jurassic period.

Researchers identified Uragasaurus as a member of Mamenchisauridae, a family of sauropod dinosaurs known for their exceptionally long necks. Sauropods were large, four-legged, herbivorous dinosaurs, and mamenchisaurids include some of the longest-necked animals ever to walk on land.

Uragasaurus is estimated to have measured about 18 to 20 metres in length and was herbivorous. The species was identified from an isolated anterior dorsal vertebra whose anatomical features differed from those of previously known mamenchisaurids, allowing researchers to classify it as a new species.

The discovery is scientifically significant because mamenchisaurid fossils have previously been found mainly in China. The identification of Uragasaurus kalasinensis in northeastern Thailand expands scientists' understanding of where these giant long-necked dinosaurs lived during the Late Jurassic.

The genus name Uragasaurus combines the Sanskrit word uraga, meaning "snake" or "serpent lizard", with the Greek word sauros, meaning "lizard". The species name, kalasinensis, honours Kalasin province, where the fossil was discovered.

The study also identifies Uragasaurus kalasinensis as only the second dinosaur species formally named from the Phu Kradung Formation, underscoring the scientific importance of the Phu Noi fossil site, where thousands of prehistoric fossil specimens have been recovered and many more remain awaiting study.

With the naming of Uragasaurus kalasinensis, Thailand now has 15 officially named dinosaur species, further reinforcing Kalasin's reputation as one of the country's most important palaeontological sites.

At 6:00 AM on July 9, 2025, Deputy Commander Wivatthana Khamchamnai of the Technology Crime Suppression Bureau (TCSD) led a joint operation with officers from multiple agencies including TCSD Region 3, the Cyber Crime Investigation Division, and the Technology Crime Suppression Center (TICAC). Armed with a search warrant from Sakon Nakhon Provincial Criminal Court, they raided a room in Mueang District and arrested Noppol (surname withheld), 23, who held an outstanding arrest warrant for uploading obscene computer files that are publicly accessible and distributing such material knowingly.

Police discovered extensive studio photography equipment in the room. Upon inspecting Noppol's phone, officers found additional videos shot with his current girlfriend, leading them to seize camera memory cards, laptops, and flash drives. Deputy Commander Wivatthana revealed that a female victim had filed reports at Phayathai and Phanat Nikhom police stations. The arrest warrant was issued by the criminal court. The suspect will be transferred to Phayathai Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Initially, the suspect admitted to posting on a TikTok group chat called "middam" with over 100,000 members, though he claimed responsibility for only 2-3 posts. Investigators are questioning other posters to determine if additional victims exist, mostly high school students hired for photo shoots whose images were later used for blackmail. During preliminary investigation, police confirmed the photos and posts existed but the suspect claimed he acted recklessly. His primary income came from photography commissions—mostly shooting secondary students—earning 20,000-30,000 baht monthly. He denied profiting from video sales or other crimes, though authorities are still tracing financial links to gambling websites for possible additional charges.

Police urged parents, especially of teenage girls, to warn children about the dangers of private photos and videos with photographers or kept privately, as content can leak and be misused for extortion or sale—even between former romantic partners.

Ms. B (pseudonym), 19, the suspect's ex-girlfriend and victim in this case, revealed that starting in 2566, she dated the suspect amid constant quarrels, mostly over his infidelity. Around January 2567, her older brother visited his house, making him angry, fearing he would tell his mother about how she was being mistreated. She was unaware her intimate video had been released. Late that night, he messaged her about the leaked clip—content only she and he possessed. When questioned, he denied knowledge, claiming a friend sent it to her. The relationship ended following this incident.

On July 9, 2026, Surapong Intrathaweorn, secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), announced that the NACC board had found sufficient evidence of wrongdoing against Rajana Kalpatinant during her tenure as mayor of Ubon Ratchathani Municipality, along with associates. The case involves splitting road construction and improvement projects worth 43.22 million baht in fiscal year 2006 into 26 separate contracts of no more than 2 million baht each, designed to avoid competitive bidding and ensure unfair price competition.

Investigations revealed that during December 2005 to January 2006, Kriang Kalpatinant, then a provincial legislator and Rajana's husband, ordered municipality advisor Veera Vasuthada and engineering department staff to survey and design the road projects and break them into segments with individual project budgets not exceeding 2 million baht. This was intended to circumvent the competitive bidding requirement.

Rajana subsequently approved designs for 26 projects totaling 43.22 million baht and submitted them to the Department of Local Administration in two separate batches in January 2006—first 11 projects (18.71 million baht) and then 15 projects (24.51 million baht)—deliberately separating projects on the same roads to avoid joint submission.

Kriang coordinated budget allocation with the Department of Local Administration and regularly intervened in municipal affairs. Before the budget allocation reached the municipality, Kriang instructed Veera to oversee the bidding process and prepare procurement documents. Once budget allocation was received, the municipality immediately sought approval for sealed-bid procurement.

Kriang and his brother Kan Kalpatinant sought to ensure their company, Ubon Montri Construction Partnership—owned by Kan and his daughter Rattika Kalpatinant—or other companies controlled by their associates would be awarded contracts. They coordinated to distribute projects among their own businesses and allied firms to secure contracts with the municipality. On February 17, 2006, Ubon Ratchathani Municipality received the budget allocation notice.

The Board of Investment has approved Nestlé (Thailand) Limited's request for investment promotion to construct a new coffee manufacturing facility. The factory will produce all types of Nescafé coffee products, including instant coffee, 3-in-1 coffee mix, and canned coffee, with a combined production capacity exceeding 170,000 tons per year to support market growth domestically and regionally. The project includes a large distribution center and has a total investment value of approximately 23 billion baht, located in the Ayutthaya Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan Province, with production expected to begin in late 2028.

This investment expansion resulted from discussions between Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti and BOI Secretary-General Narutte Thadsalee with Nestlé's CEO responsible for Asia-Pacific, Oceania, and Africa operations during the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year. The new factory will employ state-of-the-art production technology, automation systems, and AI, creating approximately 520 positions for Thai workers, particularly in engineering, technology, and specialized skilled roles.

The facility will source substantial raw materials from within Thailand, including coffee beans, sugar, and raw milk, valued at over 4.3 billion baht annually, supporting sustainable income for Thai farmers and elevating Thailand's agricultural and food industry. The project will employ over 3,000 Thai personnel and strengthen connections with local communities and domestic supply chains. This investment demonstrates the confidence of a global-level company in Thailand's potential as a regional food and beverage production hub.

Nikil Chahn, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Indochina, stated that Thailand has been an important market for Nestlé for over 130 years. The investment reflects Nestlé's confidence in Thailand and reaffirms the company's commitment to benefiting Thai society, the economy, communities, and the environment.

The investment project consists of an advanced coffee manufacturing facility and a distribution center supporting multiple Nestlé product categories. It will be equipped with the latest technology and AI to produce high-quality goods and improve operational efficiency for consumer and customer benefit. The new factory will produce Nescafé products using substantial locally-sourced raw materials and supplies, including coffee beans, sugar, and raw milk from Thai farmers, supporting the agricultural sector and economic development.