Thong National Park in Chaiyaphum Province has unveiled a new checkpoint attraction called the "Navel of Heaven" in 2025, inviting travelers to step on the sculpture while enjoying views of blooming Crinum flowers. The Navel of Heaven is a terracotta sculpture shaped like a heavenly lotus, created by students from the "Borderless Classroom Returning Home" program, inspired by the beauty of misty mornings and vibrant Crinum flowers blooming across the landscape. Visitors can participate in a simple ritual: place your footprints on the Navel of Heaven and toss a coin while making a wish, with the belief that those who do so will experience happiness and fulfillment in life. This act is said to be a promise from nature that one day you will return to enjoy the misty beauty and heavenly lotus fields again. In addition to this new highlight, Thong National Park welcomes tourists to view the stunning Crinum flower fields, also known as heavenly lotus flowers, which are currently blooming magnificently amid white mist and lush forest.

On July 16, 2025, Sakon Thawee Phattiyakul, a Democrat MP serving as chair of the House Public Health Committee, announced findings on large-scale cannabis smuggling operations over the past six months. He stated that major drug seizures occurring both domestically and internationally have damaged Thailand's reputation, earning it the label of an illegal cannabis hub. The problem has worsened because Thailand currently lacks direct and comprehensive cannabis control legislation—only a Public Health Ministry announcement is available. Enforcement inconsistency has resulted, and responsibility cannot fairly be assigned to operators or agencies.

Sakon Thawee noted that the Public Health Ministry has drafted a Cannabis Act currently undergoing public comment, expected to be finalized this month before legislative review, with implementation anticipated in January 2026. This leaves a six-month regulatory gap. The House committee will establish a subcommittee to prioritize cannabis legislation, incorporating input from the ministry draft and relevant agencies.

Statistics for 2025 show over 6,000 cannabis cases with approximately 56 tons (56,000 kilograms) seized. The largest single bust involved 21 tons transported as airline baggage, cargo hold loads, shipping containers, and postal parcels destined mainly to the United Kingdom (22 tons) and the Netherlands (5 tons). Domestic wholesale prices are 10,000 baht per kilogram, but the same quantity sells for 10,000 pounds sterling in the UK—a 40-fold markup. Compared to Thailand's light penalties, smuggling remains profitable.

Although Customs has increased fines from negligible amounts to 30,000 baht per kilogram and now confiscates all goods, this fine pales against the 10,000-pound-per-kilogram UK price. Sakon Thawee warned that seized cases are simply fined and closed without further investigation. Because cannabis is not classified as a narcotic, related agencies deprioritize prosecution. Large cases result only in fines or asset seizures; authorities do not investigate who the individuals are, which shipping companies are involved, what legal entities operate, or who holds board positions. This loophole means an operator caught ten times but escaping once can continue operations, creating an ongoing reputational crisis.

Deputy Foreign Minister Jaejsarit Thaiserit and his delegation visited Qatar Education City Mosque in Al Rayyan on July 16, viewing a contemporary architectural landmark that integrates religious identity with modern innovation, symbolizing the harmonious coexistence of faith, education, and development. The visit provided a platform for exchanging views on social development, education, and intercultural understanding—key foundations for future Thailand-Qatar cooperation.

The delegation also visited the Thai Embassy in Doha, where Chargé d'Affaires Kittitep Tephatsadin Na Ayuthaya briefed them on the embassy's consular services, protection, and assistance for Thai nationals residing and working in Qatar.

The deputy minister praised the embassy staff's dedication in serving the nation's interests and providing comfort to Thais abroad. He stressed the importance of integrating cooperation among government agencies—both domestic and international—to enhance public services and respond swiftly to rapid global changes. The mission reflects the Foreign Ministry's commitment to acquiring knowledge from international sources, strengthening bilateral relations, and prioritizing care for Thai nationals overseas, ultimately elevating the quality of public services and benefiting the people.

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PHUKET — 16 July 2026, A nine-year-old boy from Phuket has brought international recognition to Thailand after winning two world championship titles in coding and achieving the World No. 1 ranking at the International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad – Grand Final 2026 in Rome, Italy.

Pavin Pattanavekin, known as Pace, who is currently in Grade 3, claimed the Global Champion – 1st Place title and the World No. 1 ranking in two major categories: the Codementum Grand Final (Grades 3–11) and the Codementum International Final, according to True Coding School Phuket.

The Grade 3 pupil competed against students from Grades 3 to 11 to secure both titles. Pace also received a Global Top 3 Gold Award in the Online Coding Exam Worldwide Winners competition, bringing his coding achievements this year to two Global Champion titles (World No. 1), two Global Top 3 Gold Awards and one gold medal.

In the STEM competitions, he won another Global Top 3 Gold Award in the Mathematics Olympiad (Grades 3–5) Grand Final, as well as a gold medal in the Science Olympiad (Grades 3–5) Grand Final.

The International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad – Grand Final 2026 is a global platform that brings together young participants from around the world. Organisers said the event attracted participants from more than 153 countries, representing 1,700 schools, more than 2,100 teachers and over 38,000 students.

This achievement builds on Pace's success in 2025, when he won three gold medals at the Coding Olympiad Grand Final in New York City, including a first-place finish in one of the competitions, before going on to claim two world championship titles in 2026.

True Coding School Phuket said Pace's achievements reflected his strengths in computational thinking, coding, logical reasoning and problem-solving, as well as his determination to develop his skills and challenge himself on the international stage while once again bringing recognition to Thailand.

Thailand's jet ski model is advancing national economic benefits through sport development, with WGP#1 spending seven years building intellectual property to become a global game operator and generate comprehensive benefits for Thai athletics. WGP#1 chairman Parikhad Suepsahakarn revealed that the world jet ski championship's opening round in Bulgaria achieved significant sports marketing success, with WGP#1 creating premium content for global audiences. Government officials and local authorities welcomed the event as hosts, marking a new era where Thailand owns a world sport rather than merely sending competitors.

Owning global sports intellectual property, or Thai-Global Sport IP, enables comprehensive Thai sports development including tournament quality, athlete skill development, world-class reputation, and professional international recognition. The strategy generates sports export industries, media prominence, and aims to create 1 billion baht in economic value for Thailand's Pattaya World Cup tournament by 2027. The approach requires building international credibility and recognition among global sports communities, as international athletes traditionally trust European and American standards.

Importing global athletes requires over 3,000 international team members spending an average of 175,000 baht per person, generating substantial foreign currency inflow. Spectators, fans, and sports enthusiasts from the global jet ski community further boost economic returns, demonstrating how the jet ski model transforms a niche sport into substantial national benefit. Thai sports must excel on the world stage and develop intellectual property to build genuine strength.