Luang Por Nueng Kovito, an esteemed scholar-monk of the Mae Klong lineage at Chula Mani Temple in Ampawa District, Samut Songkhram Province, was a principal disciple of several celebrated masters including Luang Por Kong of Bang Kaphom Temple, Luang Por Chaem of Chula Mani Temple, and Luang Pu Chai of Sedet Temple. Born as Nueng Thao Suwanno on February 14, 1909, he was ordained at age 23 on July 29, 1932, at Bang Kaphom Temple under Luang Por Kong as preceptor. He earned the highest rank in Buddhist scriptural studies in 1936 and became renowned for his expertise in meditation and esoteric Buddhist disciplines. He studied under the great masters of Samut Songkhram, most notably Luang Por Kong, who was credited with creating the popular amulet series known as the "Five Sets of Coins." He gained ecclesiastical rank as Phra Kru Sanyabat Third Class in 1933 and was promoted to Second Class in 1974. Chula Mani Temple, originally called Wat Mae Jao Thip, was believed to have been built between 1629–1647 during the reign of King Prasat Thong and holds historical significance related to the Chakri Dynasty. The temple fell into disrepair over time until Luang Por Nueng oversaw its restoration, including the construction of a magnificent four-sided marble ordination hall measuring 40 by 80 meters at a cost of tens of millions of baht. The cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1968, by the Supreme Patriarch. Luang Por Nueng passed away peacefully on November 27, 1987, at age 78 and 56 years into his monastic life. His amulets and sacred objects, including a notable casting created in 1984 called the "water-blessing amulet," became highly sought after by devotees. This particular image was cast in 1984 by master craftsman Hong Mani at a foundry in the Tha Phra Thonburi area of Bangkok, standing approximately 6.8 to 7.8 kilograms and assembled from three separate pieces.

After years of fearing bees following multiple stings, 65-year-old Pathumchat Damkong—known locally as Pa Thum—from Ban Ta Chin Nuea in Muang District, Trang Province, has turned cavity bee keeping into a thriving supplementary livelihood. She now sells honey in bottles and fresh honeycomb, generating tens of thousands of baht weekly during peak season.

The cavity bees she raises, called "min to" in the South, are native Thai bees smaller than giant honey bees that produce high-quality honey with distinctive aroma and flavor.

Pa Thum began keeping cavity bees in 2009, overcoming her deep fear of them after witnessing another farmer's success. She recalled her turning point: "I wanted to try, but bees still stung me just walking past them. I had to be brave and do it myself, because I realized that if no one helps me, I have to manage on my own." Starting with just three wooden hive boxes, she harvested honey from only one. Undeterred, she studied continuously—learning from other beekeepers, local extension workers, and agricultural organizations. After 17 years, she expanded to a maximum of 140 hive boxes placed around her home, in palm oil groves, and on relatives' land.

Yield varies by hive. Some produce only half a bottle due to less industrious colonies or missed timing, while others yield old combs she doesn't catch in time. Overall, during April alone she collects 3-13 bottles per hive, totaling 500-700 bottles, which mature into May honey—her farm's premium product and signature offering.

April's dry conditions concentrate forest flower pollen, creating honey with low moisture, thick sweet taste, attractive golden color, and strong floral fragrance ideal for traditional throat lozenges and herbal medicine blends. After training with community development programs, she created a brand and bottled in multiple sizes: 200-milliliter bottles for 180 baht and 750-milliliter bottles for 500 baht.

She expanded beyond bottled honey to fresh honeycomb with larvae, mature bees, or pure honeycomb without larvae, cut into pieces and boxed at 100–500 baht depending on weight. Fresh honeycomb became her bestseller because some customers want the richness of larvae while others seek the assurance of 100 percent authentic comb, and fresh comb outsells bottled honey significantly while offering identical medicinal benefits.

May honey carries the highest therapeutic value: antioxidants, skin nourishment, energy boosting, cough and sore throat relief, wound healing, improved sleep through gentle sedative compounds, stress relief, and a reputation as a top anti-aging remedy. Pa Thum's customers—both online and regular repeat buyers—order bottles and fresh comb whenever she announces harvest, selling out daily. Since she harvests only once yearly, May's harvest week generates tens of thousands of baht in income.

Pa Deng Subdistrict in Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi Province, is a remote rural area facing environmental management challenges because basic infrastructure such as garbage trucks cannot reach it due to mountainous terrain and its location within Kaeng Krachan National Park. Residents must manage household waste independently, with community waste averaging about 2 tons per day. Historically, residents burned waste in open-air systems within the community, causing environmental and health damage.

A major turning point came when Suphanimit Foundation of Thailand systematically supported waste management under a pilot project for waste management systems and carbon footprint tracking in the Kaeng Krachan area. The initiative focused on upgrading waste management to a digital system in three pilot locations: Pa Deng Subdistrict Administration Organization, Naresuan Border Patrol School at Ban Hui Sok, and Ban Hui Kwang Chiang School.

After the foundation provided systematic support, Pa Deng Witthaya School became a model area for promoting behavioral change among youth. Beyond supporting source separation through student activities, the school integrated waste management content into various subjects and developed specialized curricula to build awareness and understanding of proper waste separation and disposal.

Students then share their knowledge with families and communities, creating household-level momentum for waste separation to minimize the amount of waste that must be burned.

Dr. Wimlarat Siisan, Field Mission Management Director for the Northern and Central Regions at Suphanimit Foundation of Thailand, stated that the foundation aims to drive a Zero Waste–Zero Landfill concept in partnership with communities to address air pollution from open burning. The foundation provides knowledge and budget support, starting with students and promoting youth, family, and community participation.

"Our highest goal is for children to develop awareness and for everyone in the community to feel they own this project and are helping improve the environment through waste disposal and reduction," Dr. Wimlarat said. "We plan to expand this model to other areas including Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Uthai Thani, and the Eastern region."

Poolpat Leesombat, secretary-general of the Energy Regulatory Commission, announced the final rates and new tiered residential electricity pricing after public consultation. From September 2025, the average rate will be 3.89 baht per unit, down from 3.95 baht, following the removal of public lighting costs from household bills. The base rate will drop from 3.78 baht to 3.72 baht per unit; when combined with automatic fuel adjustment charges, the September rate reaches 3.89 baht per unit.

The new tiered system sets the first 200 units at no more than 3 baht per unit for all residential customers, including those in rented homes, dormitories, and apartments. Usage from 201 to 400 units and beyond 401 units retains existing rates. This policy aligns with the National Energy Policy Committee's directive to cap the first 200 units at 3 baht or less for all residential users.

Leesombat explained that separating public lighting costs reduces household electricity burden and establishes a dedicated rate. The Energy Regulatory Commission will revise energy fund regulations to collect money from new sources—data centers, direct power purchase agreements, reductions in renewable energy adders, and community solar projects—to subsidize public lighting costs and residential rates. The three state power authorities will implement the new rates.

Research from University of Vienna scientists reveals that dogs can distinguish emotions displayed on human faces, marking the first evidence to confirm this ability. In the study, researchers used machine learning technology to analyze brain scans of 12 dogs as they viewed images of human faces expressing different emotions. According to a University of Vienna statement on August 11, the findings showed that brain regions associated with higher-level cognition and reward processing—specifically the temporal cortex and caudate nucleus—activated only when dogs saw unfamiliar faces displaying smiles and happiness.

In contrast, images showing anger, fear, and sadness did not trigger activity in these brain areas. The study was published in the journal iScience by Cell Press. However, when examining overall brain activity, researchers found distinct patterns of brain activity between faces expressing fear, anger, and sadness, providing the first evidence that dogs can distinguish between different types of negative emotions on human faces.

Laura Guay, the study's senior researcher, noted that dogs have evolved alongside humans for a long time and can now understand facial expressions and collaborate with people. Recognizing this ability may help change how humans communicate with and care for dogs.

Researchers plan to investigate how dogs integrate information from other signals—including body language, tone of voice, and scent—in interpreting humans around them, and will compare how dog and human brains process emotional signals similarly. The study included only dogs from loving, attentive families, and researchers cautioned that dogs raised in different environments may respond differently to human emotional signals.

The Thai government is accelerating efforts to bring over 30,000 out-of-school children back into the education system while preparing to approve home-schooling options for families. Deputy Government Spokesperson PattharadaSamee Thongsluaykorn revealed that the government is using the Thailand Zero Dropout policy and real data to plan education delivery suited to each area, ensuring no child is left behind.

Under the initiative in Bangkok, authorities have tracked 58,485 out-of-school youth and successfully brought 30,968 back into the system. The remaining children are being assisted individually to identify barriers and find appropriate pathways back to education, both within formal schools and alternative programs. The government has also approved basic home-schooling for 153 families, allowing families to provide education in formats suited to their children within set guidelines.

Thongkraree also addressed concerns about declining student numbers in Bangkok, which could lead to more small schools. The government has ordered relevant agencies to compile ten years of statistical data on students in public schools in Bangkok to analyze where the missing children have gone—whether they transferred elsewhere, dropped out, or left the system. This data will be used to forecast enrollment trends and plan school management and budget allocation based on actual conditions in each area.