The Department of Groundwater Resources has launched Thailand's first pilot "hospital water" project at Bang Pla Ma Hospital in Suphan Buri province, recognizing that hospitals require continuous access to clean water to save lives. The project aims to enhance water security for medical facilities while ensuring public services continue during all emergencies, including droughts, water supply disruptions, and natural disasters.

This initiative represents a major step in integrating water resource management with Thailand's public health system. Bang Pla Ma Hospital is one of two pilot hospitals nationwide, alongside Mae Thaeng Hospital in Chiang Mai, serving as a model for expansion to other hospitals across the country.

Tanongsakdi Lochusuk, director of the Groundwater Resources Regional Office 2 (Suphan Buri), emphasized that the department prioritizes water security for hospitals as essential infrastructure for public health. When hospitals have stable water sources, they can efficiently respond to emergencies and disasters. The hospital water project goes beyond infrastructure construction—it builds resilience into the national health system.

Rabphra Phromma, planning director of the Groundwater Resources Regional Office 2, explained that the system produces clean water continuously through four groundwater wells with 3-horsepower pumps powered by solar panels, feeding into a 100-cubic-meter storage tank 23 meters high. It supplies the hospital's daily requirement of 50-100 cubic meters. The system includes an iron filtration unit and a drinking water plant producing 2,000 liters per hour, enabling complete cycle production of clean groundwater for consumption and medical use while reducing energy costs through solar power—aligning with sustainable development and emissions reduction goals.

Dr. Surasak Luang-siritanya, deputy director of Bang Pla Ma Hospital, noted the 60-bed community hospital has operated since 1982, traditionally relying on groundwater. The aging system developed quality issues including scale and rust buildup. The modernization project supports efficient and comprehensive healthcare services. The hospital currently serves 500-800 outpatients daily, approximately 60 inpatients, and over 300 staff members. Plans for a new dialysis unit requiring high volumes of RO (Reverse Osmosis) water make this project critical for ensuring adequate clean water supply long-term.

"Clean water is the heart of a hospital, essential to every step of treatment—from patient meals to sterilizing medical instruments and dialysis," he stated. "Without quality water, medical care cannot function."

An online controversy erupted when a delivery rider posted harsh criticism in a Mae Rim district Facebook group, using crude language to attack a prominent temple and its monks in Chiang Mai. After arriving to deliver food to the temple, the monk requested that the delivery rider perform food consecration (prakan) before handing over the meal, following strict Buddhist monastic discipline. Dissatisfied, the rider posted an attack questioning why he should perform the ritual, sarcastically claiming he was a delivery driver, not making merit, and criticizing the monk for not practicing almsgiving, eating at dawn, and living in a luxurious dwelling like a resort.

After the post circulated, many uninformed people commented attacking the monk and temple, damaging the temple's reputation. However, many others expressed concern that the claims were distorted and defamatory to both the monk and the temple. Upon investigation of Buddhist discipline, authorities confirmed that requesting food consecration before acceptance is strict adherence to monastic rules, as monks cannot receive or touch unconsecrated food. The request is not unreasonable but a practice of maintaining monastic discipline.

Buddhist discipline permits monks to eat until just before noon, so eating at dawn is within monastic rules, even if forest temple monks typically eat only once daily. Regarding the observation that the monk ordered food through an app, this could stem from various reasons, such as invited duties or temple obligations preventing normal almsgiving, or family members ordering through the app to offer to the monk, which doesn't necessarily mean the monk ordered it himself.

After the controversy, the temple offered for the rider to visit for discussion and reconciliation, but the rider never appeared and later deleted the original post. This incident highlights the importance of fact-checking before sharing information on social media, as inaccurate communication can damage individuals' and religious institutions' reputations, even after the truth emerges.

Recently, the Mae Rim Cultural Council issued a statement defending the temple on July 9, 2569, urging an end to distorted posts and crude language, fearing damage to both the monk and temple.

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Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has praised Argentina captain Lionel Messi for playing like a 19-year-old after delivering outstanding performances at the World Cup.

The 39-year-old Messi has shown impressive form at the 2026 World Cup, having scored 8 goals to share the Golden Boot lead and helping defending champion Argentina advance to the quarterfinals.

De la Fuente recently commended Messi's performances, stating: "Leo Messi is displaying excellent form. He looks 19 or 23 years old. He doesn't know fatigue, is never satisfied, and wants more every day. He's a great role model for all his teammates, for football lovers, and for everyone just starting to play football."

De la Fuente also addressed Spain's upcoming quarterfinal match against Belgium, saying: "Tomorrow's match will be the toughest we've ever faced. Belgium is a very strong team. They have players accustomed to winning. It will be a very challenging game."