A waterspout formed in the sea off Racha Yai Island near Phuket, creating a spectacular sight for tourists and observers as it stretched visibly from cloud base to sea surface. On July 27, Phuket Times published images of the phenomenon occurring in Rawai subdistrict, Phuket City, where the rotating column of air descended clearly from the cloud base to the ocean before gradually dissipating. Several tour boats and passenger vessels were present in nearby waters at the time, though no damage or injuries were initially reported. Waterspouts are rotating wind phenomena that develop over open water, most commonly during thunderstorms and variable weather conditions. Although typically short-lived, they can threaten maritime safety if they occur along shipping routes. With the Andaman Sea continuing to experience monsoon influence bringing heavy rain and strong winds, boat operators, fishermen, and sea travelers should closely monitor official weather alerts and avoid approaching such phenomena to ensure their safety.

The Cabinet has approved Thailand's first Big Data strategic plan for 2025-2027, marking a major step toward a data-driven economy and society. Deputy Government Spokesperson Lallida Perisawivat announced that the plan, submitted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, will serve as the country's foundational framework for Big Data development and aims to strengthen economic and social foundations, improve policy decisions, enhance national competitiveness, and systematically promote artificial intelligence.

Developed by the Big Data Institute (Public Organization), the plan addresses critical Thai challenges including data scattered across multiple agencies, shortage of data and AI professionals, incomplete data connectivity, cybersecurity and personal data protection vulnerabilities, and legal and infrastructure gaps.

The strategy envisions "harnessing the power of data to drive economic growth and simultaneously improve quality of life." Major objectives include expanding Big Data use for policy decisions, fueling data-driven economic growth, and advancing data and AI-integrated services and innovations.

The plan sets ambitious targets: by 2027, economic value from Big Data should grow at least 35% annually, and Thailand should rank among the world's top 25 in digital competitiveness for Big Data capabilities.

The strategy comprises four key pillars: developing national data infrastructure such as Government Cloud and National Big Data Platform; promoting Big Data use to address challenges in health, tourism, environment, agriculture, and commerce; developing and applying AI to upgrade public, business, and industrial services while supporting Thai-language AI models and development datasets; and building human resources by training at least 160,000 personnel in Big Data and AI by 2027.

Spokesperson Lallida emphasized that the government views data and AI as essential tools for improving national management, public services, and private-sector competitiveness. The Big Data strategy will anchor Thailand's data-driven economy, enable public-private data sharing, and translate digital innovation into concrete benefits for citizens and the nation.

On July 24, Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmanee, Director-General of the Thailand Sports Authority (TSA), officially opened the SAT Sports Tourism Festival 2026 at Central Plaza in Chanthaburi. The event was attended by Thawatchai Namsomut, Chanthaburi Deputy Governor, and other senior TSA officials alongside representatives from government agencies, private sector partners, local authorities, sports associations, and athletes.

Dr. Kongsakdi stated that the festival aims to leverage sports as a driver for tourism, stimulate the economy, generate revenue for local communities, and sustainably improve quality of life. The event combines diverse sports competitions with a Sports Entertainment Expo that showcases Chanthaburi's natural resources, culture, and local identity to visitors and participants, creating memorable experiences that encourage future tourism.

The TSA believes this event exemplifies the integration of sports and tourism, creating value across economic, social, and community development sectors while inspiring youth to engage in sports and personal excellence. The festival runs from July 24-26, 2026, and is expected to drive tourism revenue for local businesses including accommodations, restaurants, transportation, and other enterprises, positioning Chanthaburi as a major sports and tourism destination in Thailand.

On July 27, 2025, a fried banana vendor at a gas station opposite Minburi Prison witnessed a violent altercation between an MG sedan driver and a delivery rider at an EV charging bay. The vendor explained that the rider had parked in charging bay 2—which was unoccupied at the time—to pick up an order. After handing over the food, she continued working but soon heard raised voices and crude language. She watched as both men exited their vehicles, pushed each other, and exchanged challenges before the sedan driver punched the rider in the face, drawing blood. A nearby taxi driver intervened to stop the fight, and a woman from another vehicle began filming the scene. The vendor stated the situation resulted from an argument that escalated gradually, not a sudden unprovoked attack.

Security footage from the shop revealed the rider entered at 1:28:40 p.m. and left at 1:29:00 p.m., spending approximately 20 seconds at the shop. The rider has vowed to take the matter to its conclusion, claiming he suffered injuries requiring six stitches around his eye from the beating by the MG driver.

Many people lie down to sleep but end up tossing and turning all night. While stress and irregular sleep schedules are common culprits, dinner and late-night eating can also significantly impact sleep quality. Nutritionists recommend avoiding five groups of foods and beverages before bed: caffeinated drinks, spicy foods, high-glycemic-index foods, gas-producing foods, and alcohol, as these can make falling asleep difficult or cause frequent nighttime awakenings.

Caffeine and spicy foods increase the likelihood of insomnia. Lin Siuhang, a nutritionist from Good Food Class, explains that caffeinated beverages stimulate the nervous system, making it take longer to fall asleep and reducing sleep quality. Examples include coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and energy drinks. Spicy foods containing chili peppers and strong spices can cause heartburn or acid reflux, making sleep more difficult.

Sweets and high-sugar foods may disrupt sleep. High-glycemic-index foods like candy and processed foods may cause initial drowsiness, but rapid blood sugar spikes followed by drops can interfere with sleep quality and increase nighttime waking. Gas-producing foods such as carbonated drinks, potatoes, and sticky rice, as well as bloating, also disrupt sleep. Alcohol may help with faster initial sleep but causes frequent nighttime awakenings, reduces deep sleep duration, and leads to waking early without feeling refreshed.

Consume foods rich in tryptophan to promote better sleep. For those wanting to improve sleep quality, Lin recommends eating foods rich in tryptophan, an amino acid the body uses to produce serotonin and melatonin, which regulate the sleep cycle. Tryptophan-rich foods include milk, soy products, lean meat, and whole grains. Additionally, consume vitamin B6-rich foods like salmon, bananas, and avocados, as B6 supports nervous system function and promotes tryptophan metabolism, enhancing sleep quality.

Improve sleep habits and see a doctor if insomnia persists. Beyond dietary changes, establishing good sleep behaviors is equally important: maintain consistent bedtimes and wake times, avoid mobile phones and electronic devices before sleep, and exercise regularly. However, if sleep problems persist for an extended period, consult a doctor for proper evaluation and treatment.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources announced survey results from waters around Libong and Muk islands in Trang province, discovering a total of 77 rare marine animals comprising 16 dugongs, 60 hawksbill turtles, and one Indo-Pacific finless porpoise. A mother-calf dugong pair was also spotted, reflecting the richness of the seagrass ecosystem in the area.

The survey was conducted between July 20–23, 2024, by the Lower Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center using multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles to track dugong distribution, assess the health of rare marine species, and survey seagrass grazing patterns.

Rare marine animals were found scattered across multiple areas around Libong Island, including Ban Prao Bay, Samet Bay, Saphan Chang Canal mouth, Khlong Hwa, and Cape Chuyai. Remote health assessments showed all animals displaying normal behavior—grazing on seagrass, swimming, traveling, and rolling—with no signs of fishing gear injuries, marine debris, or abnormal behavior.

Officers also discovered dugong seagrass grazing marks at multiple locations including Cape Tho Chai, Ban Prao Bay, Saphan Chang Canal mouth, Khlong Hwa, Cape Chuyai, and Cape Phra Muang, representing positive signals of coastal ecosystem integrity and successful marine conservation in Trang province.

However, despite these encouraging results, experts continue closely monitoring impacts from climate change. Rising sea temperatures, storm intensity, coastal erosion, and changing water quality all affect seagrass ecosystem health. Degradation or loss of seagrass would jeopardize dugong survival, reproduction, and long-term viability.

Dugongs also remain threatened by fishing gear, boat strikes, and marine debris—particularly plastic—which continue to pose significant dangers to Thailand's rare marine species.