Rescue teams are conducting an intensive search for four Buddhist monks missing in Khlong Muay, within the Bang Ywan forest area of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Amphoe Wiphawadi, Surat Thani Province, following a bamboo raft accident on July 10, 2025. Park officials, community leaders, residents, and rescue units have mobilized to locate the missing monks after the raft collapsed in Khlong Muay.

According to initial reports, twelve monks were traveling downstream on bamboo rafts from Ranong Province when the raft broke apart on the evening of July 9. Two monks emerged on the morning of July 10 to seek help from village officials, prompting a full-scale search operation. Additional monks were subsequently found, though some were suffering from exhaustion and minor injuries. These individuals were transported to a hospital for treatment.

As of 1:18 p.m., authorities had successfully rescued eight monks, leaving four still missing. Over 20 park search personnel, working alongside local residents, continue on-foot and aerial drone searches throughout the forest area to locate the remaining monks.

TOA Paint (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Thailand's leading paint and construction chemicals manufacturer, has partnered with Chulalongkorn University to open "CU Rangers Presented by TOA," the first such event in Thailand showcasing outstanding student projects and theses. The exhibition features over 150 works from five leading faculties: Architecture, Communication Arts, Commerce and Accountancy, Education, and Sports Science. The event is held at SIAMSCAPE on the 9th floor in central Bangkok and includes displays of student creative works alongside experiential activity booths. For example, the Faculty of Sports Science has set up areas where visitors can test their physical capabilities.

The CU Rangers event is a flagship project under a Memorandum of Understanding between TOA and Chulalongkorn University titled "The Creative Canvas—A Canvas of Thought for an Endless Future." The initiative aims to support young students' potential and provide them a platform to present their work and communicate with society at large. The event was officially opened by Professor Dr. Wileirt Puriwatthr, Rector of Chulalongkorn University, and Jatuphat Tangkaravakul, Chief Executive Officer of TOA Paint (Thailand).

Jatuphat Tangkaravakul emphasized TOA's commitment to supporting education and youth development, stating that the company believes young people's potential is a vital force for the future. He noted that CU Rangers serves multiple purposes: providing students a platform to bring classroom ideas into the real world, offering secondary school students insight into university faculties, and connecting HR professionals and organizations with talented young people. He expressed hope that this will become an annual event that grows each year.

Professor Dr. Wileirt Puriwatthr highlighted that CU Rangers represents five faculties combining their unique strengths to demonstrate that today's students are ready to apply their knowledge, creativity, and learning to make a real-world impact. He stressed the importance of TOA's partnership in providing concrete connections between academic learning and society.

Thailand's Sports Authority is entering the digital era. Director Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmani announced that the organization is using artificial intelligence and advanced sports science to conduct detailed performance analysis of Thai athletes while scanning the strengths and weaknesses of competing teams ahead of the 20th Asian Games.

Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmani, director of Thailand's Sports Authority (TAT), disclosed progress on preparing the Thai national team for the 20th Asian Games scheduled for September 19 to October 4, 2026 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He explained that athlete selection follows strict criteria, primarily requiring qualification from individual sports federations and consideration of world rankings with medal potential. Athletes must also be capable of advancing their performance toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to be eligible.

The Thai team competing at the 20th Asian Games comprises 667 athletes from 47 sports federations after the official deadline. An additional 20 male hockey players were added later following another nation's unexpected withdrawal, which allowed Thailand to move up in the rankings.

Dr. Kongsakdi further stated that in preparing Thai athletes, Thailand's Sports Authority and the National Sports Development Fund have implemented data and statistics analysis using advanced technology, incorporating artificial intelligence as a foundational database to identify strengths and weaknesses of Thai athletes and their opponents.

"The primary application of AI for Thailand right now focuses on sports science," he explained. "We use AI to analyze athletes' physical performance and readiness, and we compile competitor data to identify their weaknesses and strengths for the 20th Asian Games and 5th Asian Paralympic Games in Japan. While this represents our starting point with AI, we plan to expand significantly in the future, implementing intensive AI technology for comprehensive, in-depth analysis of both our athletes and competitors," Dr. Kongsakdi said.

On July 10, 2025, Air Asia Group Berhad (formerly Air Asia X Berhad) and Thailand's Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deepened their long-standing relationship by signing a three-year memorandum of understanding (2025-2028). The agreement was witnessed by Prime Minister Aneutin Charnweerakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn, and Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenjit, along with Thai government officials, to jointly promote Thailand as a leading tourism destination in the region.

The three-year cooperation framework (2025-2028) represents a shared commitment to stimulate tourism, strengthen regional connectivity networks, and inspire numerous travelers to experience Thailand's diverse tourism offerings. Under this partnership, Air Asia and TAT will collaborate on integrated marketing campaigns utilizing Air Asia's marketing platforms, communications channels, and tourism digital ecosystem to enhance Thailand's appeal and support continuous tourist growth in key markets.

Both parties will closely coordinate to promote existing and new flight routes while sharing market insights to understand evolving travel trends and unlock new tourism growth opportunities. Currently, Air Asia Group operates 123 weekly flights between Malaysia and Thailand through Air Asia Malaysia (flight code AK) and Thai Air Asia (flight code FD), connecting travelers via eight direct routes: Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok (Don Mueang), Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai; Penang to Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Phuket; and Johor Bahru to Bangkok (Don Mueang). This comprehensive network provides seamless and cost-effective connectivity for both countries.

As a leading Southeast Asian airline group, Air Asia will leverage its extensive route network and digital ecosystem to promote Thailand to millions of regional travelers, supporting TAT's "Amazing Thailand, Feel All the Feelings" campaign and attracting visitors to experience Thailand's rich culture, world-class hospitality, and diverse attractions.

Faruq Kamal, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Asia Group Berhad, stated that Thailand has always been one of Air Asia's most important markets. The group is proud to play a key role in continuously connecting travelers to Thailand. The collaboration with TAT reflects their shared commitment to make travel more accessible while supporting sustainable growth in Thailand's tourism industry.

During the first half of 2025, Air Asia served over one million passengers on Malaysia-Thailand routes, underscoring strong travel demand.

Nestlé will invest 23 billion baht to build a new NESCAFÉ manufacturing facility in Thailand, expanding its coffee production capacity and supporting local agriculture through the use of Thai-grown raw materials, the company announced on Wednesday.

The new factory, to be built in Samut Prakan province, will produce a wide range of NESCAFÉ products, including soluble coffee, coffee mixes and ready-to-drink beverages. It will also feature an on-site distribution center serving multiple product categories.

The facility will be equipped with advanced manufacturing technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and automated storage systems to improve production efficiency, product quality and environmental sustainability. Operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2028.

Nestlé said the project will create more than 520 jobs, including positions for technology specialists and other skilled workers.

Nikhil Chand, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Indochina, said the investment reflects the company's confidence in Thailand, where it has operated for more than 130 years.

"The new coffee factory will produce NESCAFÉ products using innovation and a wide range of locally sourced ingredients and raw materials, including coffee beans, sugar and fresh milk from Thai farmers, further supporting local agriculture and economic development," he said.

Nestlé estimates the new factory will use around 4.3 billion baht worth of locally sourced ingredients and materials each year. The project has received investment promotion support from Thailand's Board of Investment in line with the country's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy policy.

The company said it invested more than 27.8 billion baht in Thailand between 2018 and 2025 to expand manufacturing across several product categories, including ready-to-drink beverages and pet food.

Nestlé has sourced Robusta coffee beans from Thai farmers for more than 40 years and has expanded coffee cultivation to new areas, including Mae Sot district in Tak province, to help meet rising domestic demand.

NESCAFÉ, introduced in Thailand in 1973, remains the country's best-selling coffee brand, according to the company.

KHON KAEN — Rajamangala University of Technology Isan (RMUTI) has successfully begun real-track testing of a Thai-developed light rail transit (LRT) prototype, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to develop homegrown rail technology and train a new generation of railway engineers.

The prototype, known as the "Luk Isan Tram," has been undergoing continuous testing on a dedicated railway track at RMUTI's Khon Kaen Campus, attracting widespread public attention on social media.

On 10 July 2026, RMUTI President Associate Professor Dr. Kosit Sriphuthorn said the successful trials demonstrate Thailand's growing capability to design, develop and test rail technology using local expertise.

"What people see today is not just the testing of a prototype light rail vehicle," he said. "It reflects the potential of Thai engineers to design and develop practical railway technology. We are not only building a tram but also creating knowledge, developing skilled personnel and laying the foundation for Thailand's rail industry."

The testing programme covers the tram's performance on straight and curved tracks, braking systems, propulsion, wheel assemblies and other key components developed by the university's research team. Engineers are also evaluating locally developed rail fastening systems, rail pads and groove rail pads to ensure the prototype meets performance and safety requirements for future operation.

The university said the project incorporates international railway engineering standards, adapting global best practices in design, safety, control systems and maintenance to suit Thailand's operating conditions.

Beyond serving as a testing facility, the railway track at the Khon Kaen campus functions as a large-scale laboratory where students, lecturers and researchers gain hands-on experience in railway design, manufacturing, installation, testing, maintenance and system management. RMUTI said it has spent more than 15 years developing rail engineering programmes, research and industry partnerships.

The university hopes to establish its Khon Kaen campus as a regional centre for railway education, research and innovation, supporting workforce development and strengthening Thailand's long-term goal of building a self-reliant rail industry.