The Department of Intellectual Property has designated Nong Bua Lamphu's striped-tie-dye silk as an official geographic indicator product, recognizing its blend of two sophisticated weaving techniques within a single piece: raised-line striping and traditional ikat tie-dye. The patterns alternate throughout the fabric, creating visually distinctive designs with unique character that typically reflect local stories, ways of life, beliefs, and cultural values—including royal lotus, ornamental deer garlands, phoenix, and naga patterns. The craft's modern development began in 1982 after Queen Sirikit visited Tham Khlong Pehl temple and recognized the value of indigenous weaving wisdom, leading to the establishment of a specialized arts and crafts center to preserve and develop the skill before spreading knowledge across the entire province.

The fabric's distinctiveness also stems from its close connection to geography. Nong Bua Lamphu's basin landscape, surrounded by Phu Phan mountains with abundant natural water sources and suitable soil, enables high-quality mulberry cultivation for sericulture and cotton farming. The region is also rich in natural plants used for dyeing—including Pega trees, heartwood, rosewood, royal lotus, and Cassia fistula—creating distinctive color hues that, combined with traditional weaving wisdom and patterns, give the fabric its unique identity reflecting the relationship between nature, culture, and community knowledge. This is a core characteristic of GI products. Nong Bua Lamphu's striped-tie-dye silk is the province's second GI-registered product, following traditional Isan silk.

The GI designation covers whole cloth, sarongs, scarves, shoulder wraps, sabai (shoulder drapes), and textile products made from the fabric. The product currently generates approximately 41.50 million baht in economic value for the province. GI status builds consumer confidence and strengthens market competitiveness for producer groups, marking an important step in elevating the province's textile handicraft identity. The Intellectual Property Department will continue collaborating with relevant agencies to promote GI product use through production standard control and maintenance, promotion of the Thai GI trademark, consumer awareness building, and product development and marketing support to expand commercial opportunities.

PHUKET: Royal Thai Police have reminded the public that the nationwide 48-hour ban on alcohol sales came into effect at 12:01am today (July 29) as officers across the country step up security and traffic operations for Thailand’s three-day public holiday period.

Police are actively investigating a fatal stabbing and shooting case in Kamphaeng Phet Province. A man identified as Somchai allegedly attacked his brother-in-law, Thanawat, using a gun and knife following a quarrel over loud music at a rental room in Pran Kratai District on the evening of July 28, 2025. On July 29, 2025, officers worked the scene and gathered evidence for urgent legal proceedings. A 9-year-old boy, son of the victim and eyewitness to the incident, recounted that his father initially asked for money to buy alcohol before a physical altercation with his uncle erupted. When violence escalated, his father ordered him to hide under the bed. The uncle then returned with a gun and knife, shooting and stabbing the father fatally. Though terrified and hiding, the boy eventually emerged to find his father conscious and attempting to call police with location details to summon help. However, the father succumbed to his injuries before emergency responders could save him, leaving witnesses deeply shaken.

Actor Ping Lampraphlueng appeared on Club Friday Show to discuss his motivation for entering the entertainment industry and his personal struggles. Ping explained that he entered the field aspiring to become a lead actor, driven by childhood feelings of rejection and inadequacy. He revealed being fired from jobs for stealing snacks and skipping work to learn breakdancing—incidents he describes as lasting stains on his life.

Ping's proudest moment came when he saw his own book displayed in a bookstore, a feeling he says surpasses all his film and music achievements. However, his publishing venture turned into financial ruin when books accumulated in stores and he issued checks he couldn't cover, resulting in bounced checks totaling 500,000 baht.

The actor was unable to work for two years following his wife's death, which he described as a traumatic period. He shared guilt over not being home more and believed he was responsible for her fatal car accident while she was lonely. He has since found new love with an online tutor and credits her presence as a blessing, likening it to his late wife sending help to raise their child.

On July 29, 2025, the Samut Songkhram City Police Station received a report of a death on the pedestrian overpass crossing Rama 2 Road in Bang Kaew subdistrict and dispatched officers along with rescue staff from the Saang Benja Dharma Samut Songkhram Foundation to investigate.

Authorities found a male body in the center of the overpass with a rope nearby, believed to have been dead for several hours. On the opposite side of the bridge entrance, officers discovered a neatly arranged travel bag and a pair of shoes, along with a fallen glass, which were photographed and collected as evidence.

The first witness, a young employee crossing the bridge to work, recounted his shock at the discovery. He said that during his morning commute, he initially noticed the bag and shoes on the other side and assumed someone was resting beneath the bridge. As he ascended the overpass and looked ahead, he saw what he thought was a person sitting down. But as he walked closer and looked more carefully, he was horrified to realize the figure was a man who had hanged himself. Terrified, he immediately ran down from the overpass, informed his employer, and called police.

Initial investigation indicates the deceased was approximately 40 years old and was wearing neat clothing, but his identity, origin, and motive remain unknown. Police will send the body for autopsy at a hospital and continue searching for relatives and clues to determine the true cause of death.

PHUKET: Five cannabis shops in Phuket Town have had their licences revoked following a new round of inspections on Monday (July 27), with officials publicly identifying each business and detailing the alleged offences committed.