Strong dental health forms the foundation of quality life. GULF Development Public Company Limited has partnered with Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Dentistry to continue the "GULF Sparks Smiles" initiative, bringing free mobile dental clinics to Nakhon Luang District in Ayutthaya Province for the third time in 2025. The program provides convenient, quick, and cost-free oral and dental care to local residents while encouraging youth to volunteer, embodying GULF's "Powering the Future, Empowering the People" vision to improve Thai quality of life alongside economic development.

Sumet Phrommes, an elderly resident of Nakhon Luang District, praised the program, saying he came because the mobile clinic was just 100 meters from his home. He noted that regular dental treatment is costly—extraction alone costs 500 baht per tooth—and many residents lack transportation or depend on family members to accompany them to hospitals. "This project is wonderful for people like us who live hand to mouth," he said, expressing deep gratitude.

Dr. Pabhawin Suwatcharadhamapumi, a volunteer dentist from Bang Pla-in Hospital, explained that the mobile clinic removes barriers for those unable to travel or unable to afford treatment. "Even those with free dental benefits often must arrive early at hospitals or wait long queues. When free dental services come to neighborhoods, these groups find it much easier to receive care. Thank you to the GULF Sparks Smiles program for allowing dentists to serve society and people to benefit fully," she said.

The program also engaged student volunteers. Patchita Srithanautyakorn, a Grade 10 student at Crest School Bangkok who dreams of becoming a dentist, volunteered as a youth helper. "This experience is different because I worked directly with real dentists," she said. "Though I was nervous at first, the dentists guided me well, which perfectly matches my dream. Seeing patients thank the doctors and leave with smiles made me feel proud and inspired to pursue dentistry. Thank you to GULF for this opportunity—it deepened my understanding of my dream profession."

Over six years, the "GULF Sparks Smiles" program has cared for the oral health of over 6,500 Thais, particularly disadvantaged and remote-area residents, providing free dental screening, scaling, filling, extraction, wisdom tooth removal, and fluoride coating through mobile clinics.

More than 30 representatives from poor community networks petitioned the governor of Ubon Ratchathani Province on July 10, 2569, requesting the opening of all spillway gates at Pak Mool Dam to allow migratory fish from the Mekong and Mun rivers to spawn and breed according to their natural cycles. The movement aligns with a cabinet resolution designed to provide relief and remedy to communities impacted by the dam's construction, received by Lieutenant Colonel Krakod Prasertvorig, the deputy governor.

The letter emphasizes that the onset of the monsoon season marks a critical period when multiple fish species naturally migrate upstream to spawn and breed, essential for maintaining aquatic ecosystem health and ensuring food security for local communities. Opening the dam gates during this season would follow existing cabinet directives aimed at reducing environmental damage, restoring fish migration, and enabling local fishermen to practice their livelihoods sustainably.

Community representatives argued that opening the spillway gates not only preserves the Mun River's biodiversity but also revitalizes the grassroots economy of communities dependent on fishing resources and riverine ecosystems. They called on the province to act urgently, considering the critical importance of the fish spawning season to avoid losing another year's opportunity to restore natural resources and community ways of life.

Deputy Governor Prasertvorig stated that after receiving the letter, the provincial Dharma Center would submit the matter to the Pak Mool Dam management subcommittee for joint consideration of next steps. He noted that current water levels remain stable, with the M7 station at approximately 107.5 meters and the dam area at about 98.6 meters. Any decision to open spillway gates requires consultation among all stakeholders, including the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), relevant agencies, and agricultural sectors, to balance farmers' water needs with ecosystem restoration.

"If all parties agree there is sufficient water for agriculture, there could be consideration of opening some spillway gates to allow fish migration and spawning. However, this decision must go through committee deliberation and cannot be made by any individual," the deputy governor said.

Somjai Srangsorok, coordinator of the public network monitoring floods and the Mekong River dam, noted that the Pak Mool Dam management subcommittee was established to implement the cabinet resolution on opening the spillway gates, not to decide whether to open them. While Ubon Ratchathani must consider flood conditions, opening the dam during the fish spawning season should follow the existing cabinet resolution.

"The gates should be opened according to the cabinet resolution," she stated. "This committee was created to manage the opening process in accordance with that resolution. However, Ubon Ratchathani also faces flood risks, so the province must consider both factors. Previously, the province opened gates at Khong Sapuea during tourist season, which generated significant income—nearly 300 million baht in a single month alone."

On July 10, 2025, Montri Dethaskulsom, chairman of the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), along with BTS Governor Kajphachai Udomtammarakdi and Assistant Governor Kitti Ekwallop, visited the Purple Line South tunnel to monitor the situation. They confirmed that the area is actively addressing water and sand seepage problems using engineering techniques. The faster the seepage can be reduced, the sooner ground and road surface movement will stabilize. The Purple Line South underground railway construction is now over 70 percent complete, with contract 4 nearly finished and expected to conclude this month. Contract 3 remains, with the first boring machine currently at Samyod Station and the second at the Constitutional Court. The overall project is expected to be completed by October 2025. Earlier this week, water seepage was discovered inside the tunnel. Contractors attempted repairs, but the high water pressure of approximately 20 meters at the incident site prevented effective sealing, causing tunnel flooding. Staff currently pump water out at 50 cubic meters per hour to maintain water levels, as draining it completely would allow external water to surge inward. Continuous rainfall may be complicating work due to groundwater issues. BTS and the contractor coordinated with Bangkok authorities to provide temporary accommodation and cover expenses for affected residents. A coordination center has been established at the incident site to assist residents. The underground Samsen Station project, which faced earlier problems, is also expected to reopen by late 2025. BTS emphasized it strictly follows construction procedures and halts work to repair any seepage issues before proceeding. No quality construction problems have been reported previously, though the true cause of this incident requires further investigation.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo held a grand celebration for pygmy hippo Moo Deng's second birthday on July 10, 2025, with Bunyachob Suddhamanasswong, chairman of the Thailand Zoo Organization, officially opening the "Happy Moo Deng Day" event at the hippopotamus exhibit in Chachoengsao province. The beloved dwarf hippo, who has captured hearts across Thailand and among fans globally, was honored with official remarks from zoo director Narongvit Chadchoy and Thailand Zoo Organization director Jonglani Kaewsod.

During the opening ceremony, officials and tourists sang happy birthday to the two-year-old hippo and presented a cake decorated with fresh vegetables and fruits. The celebration featured photo galleries, mascot parades of Moo Deng's animal friends, and a booth where fans could write birthday wishes. Bunyachob highlighted how Moo Deng exemplifies Thailand's soft power, generating significant economic benefits for Chachoengsao province while supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

The zoo also unveiled the "Hippo Village" project, a 75-million-baht government-funded development set to begin construction in 2025. The project will upgrade and expand hippopotamus habitats using nature-based design principles that closely mimic natural environments, promoting animal welfare and allowing natural behaviors. The redesigned exhibit will serve as a new landmark, enhancing tourist experience while sustainably boosting Thailand's long-term tourism economy.

On July 10, officials from Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Wiphavadi District, Surat Thani Province, along with local rescue teams, received a report that 12 Buddhist monks conducting a forest pilgrimage from Kapoe District, Ranong Province, had been traveling by bamboo raft when it broke apart in strong currents. Eight monks were rescued, but four remained missing. Authorities immediately mobilized search and rescue efforts across the region.

Following the alert, national park officials, district rescue teams, local police, and residents from Ban Bang Jam village in Takuk Nuea subdistrict, Wiphavadi District, spread out to search the area. By 9:30 a.m., officers found three monks who had walked down from the forest, and by 11:30 a.m., five more monks were located. They were initially cared for at Ban Jam Monastery. Due to difficult terrain accessing the main monastery, rescue teams used off-road vehicles to transport them for further medical care.

According to one of the monks, the group had traveled from various regions to practice Buddhism together at Wat Withayalai Kru Rangsarn in Mueang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, before staying at a monastery in Kapoe District, Ranong. On July 3, they began a forest pilgrimage and constructed a bamboo raft to travel through waterways toward Surat Thani Province. However, fierce rapids caused the raft to break apart, scattering the monks in different directions. Local villagers eventually assisted them as they made their way through dense forest.

Four monks remain missing. Authorities have deployed search teams both on water and land to continue rescue operations.