For over three decades, the Karen weaving group from Ban Lai Gaew has steadily created handwoven textiles and now stands among Chiang Mai's leading craft businesses. This demonstrates that local wisdom continues to hold value and grow gracefully alongside the modern world.

Karen Weaving Doitao now brings the weavers' work to diverse audiences every Saturday and Sunday at Jing Jai Market in Chiang Mai, a space showcasing quality craft creators, designers, and local products from across the North.

Among many creative shops, Ban Lai Gaew's weaving group stands out by seamlessly blending tradition with contemporary design. Their hand-loomed cotton, naturally dyed and created on traditional looms, has evolved into clothing and everyday items suited to modern lifestyles—practical, wearable daily wear that preserves the soul of handcraft.

Customers choose these pieces not just for beauty, but because they recognize the value of craftsmanship with stories, people, and ways of life behind them. Each item becomes more than a product—it is a conversation between maker and user, carrying meaning through every thread.

Bell Sirindha Ploykalya, a young saleswoman passionate about Karen weaving, says: "Our work is hand-loomed cotton, naturally dyed and woven on traditional looms—techniques passed down through generations. I'm so proud because behind one piece of clothing, many lives come together to create it. From the cotton farmer to the dyer, the weaver, the seamstress—everyone is the heart of this work."

This reflects how developing craft doesn't mean abandoning the past, but giving traditional wisdom a place in today's world and moving confidently toward the future.

Like 17-year-old Wannika, a young person learning and growing with the community business, many youth are stepping in: "I'm happy so many customers come. I get to sell, talk with foreign tourists, and practice language skills every week. This work teaches me both how to work and how to communicate with many people."

These young people represent an important signal—Ban Lai Gaew Karen weaving is not merely a heritage of the past, but becoming inspiration for the next generation and the community's future.

Many who visit the shop start by falling in love with the soft, natural colors of cotton dyes before becoming captivated by the people's stories. Often, the relationship between buyer and community extends beyond the transaction into village visits, meetings with weavers, and intimate learning of Karen Ploi ways of life.

Since 1994, Ban Lai Gaew's Karen weaving group is writing a new chapter in Thai craft—a story where wisdom, design, sustainability, and the power of young people walk together. The future of craft is shaped by those who still believe in the value of handmade work and collectively nurture their roots to grow on beautifully.

If you visit Chiang Mai, stop by Ban Lai Gaew's weaving at Jing Jai Market every Saturday and Sunday starting at 6:30 am. You may discover that the finest craft is not just beautiful—it is filled with human spirit and purpose.

CP Group welcomed Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana at the "Young Protect the Sea SEA THE CHANGE" exhibition, emphasizing CP's SEACOSYSTEM strategy to mobilize all sectors in revitalizing Thai seas and advancing toward Net Zero targets. On July 29, 2025, the Thai Coral Reef and Marine Life Foundation hosted the major marine conservation exhibition "Young Protect the Sea SEA THE CHANGE: Creating a New Ocean World with Our Hands," with the Princess serving as the event's principal patron. The exhibition at NEX HALL, Siam Paragon, ran from July 29 to August 12, 2025, free of charge to provide public and youth engagement in learning about, participating in, and supporting sustainable Thai marine conservation. Supachai Chearavanont, Senior Vice President of CP Group and honorary advisor to the foundation, received a royal plaque as the event's principal supporter, alongside senior executives including Busadee and Phumchai Chearavanont, Nattaporn Luengviriya, and Jomkitti Sirigun, who jointly received the royal delegation and showcased CP Group's marine resource conservation initiatives.

CP Group continues advancing its marine resource conservation and restoration strategy through the "CP SEACOSYSTEM for Sustainable Thai Seas" concept by supporting the major exhibition to share successes in restoring Gulf of Thailand and Andaman ecosystems while elevating coastal community quality of life and driving collaboration toward Net Zero goals to address climate change sustainably. Supachai Chearavanont stated: "Thai seas are natural resources that sustain food security, biodiversity, and serve as a critical mechanism for global carbon absorption. Sea restoration is not a single agency's mission but requires collaboration from all sectors. CP Group is therefore driving long-term cooperation linking community, government, private, and academic power to restore marine resources based on scientific knowledge while engaging young people to pass on a thriving Thai sea to future generations." Within the exhibition, CP Group presented operational results through its marine sustainability unit, a key mechanism driving the CP SEACOSYSTEM strategy balancing economy, society, and environment by integrating scientific, technological, and innovative knowledge with multi-sector collaboration to restore marine ecosystems systematically, with continuous monitoring and evaluation while creating shared value for communities, society, and the nation long-term.

On July 30, shoppers at Petchkasem 13 Village market in Pathum Thani Province gathered around a giant golden-hued tortoise drawing crowds and attracting numerous visitors taking photographs. Many residents examined the numbers visible on the tortoise's shell with great interest and excitement.

The tortoise's owner, Ms. Nalinton, identified the animal as an African spurred tortoise (Sulcata), the largest land tortoise in Africa and third-largest in the world. She explained that Folk, her eight-year-old male tortoise purchased for 2,500 baht, regularly strolls through the market and remarkably finds his way home independently without assistance.

While the owner does not gamble herself, she noted that many people have won lottery prizes after encountering Folk. One laundry shop owner in particular has become a regular visitor who chats with the tortoise before purchasing lottery tickets, and has reportedly won the jackpot for ten consecutive draws without explanation. A fried fish vendor also touched Folk's shell, identifying numbers 8 and 0 as prominent markings and plans to use them for the next lottery draw.

Soldiers and rescue workers are searching for survivors beneath the rubble of AEON Mall, which exploded and collapsed in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, following a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake on the afternoon of July 28. Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi confirmed the death toll has risen to 30, including one foreign national, with 63 injured and five in critical condition. The first foreign death is a Vietnamese trainee student killed at a factory when a crane collapsed. The student arrived in Japan in January, while seven other Vietnamese trainees at the same facility evacuated safely. AEON chairman Akio Yoshida confirmed four deaths at AEON Mall with three still missing, while a collapsed chimney at Nippon Paper Industries' Yatsushiro factory has claimed eight lives with seven rescued and four more believed trapped inside. Local authorities in Kumamoto Prefecture report nearly 34,900 homes without electricity, about 15,000 without water supply, and approximately 8,800 people evacuated to over 400 emergency shelters.

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Diamond Cup U-14 Thailand 2026 youth soccer tournament is entering its fifth year with significant expansion, growing from 8 to 12 teams representing Thailand, Japan, Australia, and Vietnam. Players aged 14 and under will compete from July 29 to August 2, 2026, at Thunderdome Stadium and Emporium Sports Field to showcase their abilities and gain international experience.

Organized through collaboration between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Thailand) and Muangthong United, the tournament aims to develop youth soccer talent and provide Thai youth opportunities to compete against leading Asian clubs. Since its inception, the competition has grown from just 4 teams in the first year to 24 total participating teams, with 12 advancing to the final round, making it one of Thailand's largest under-14 youth soccer tournaments.

Hideo Kurosawa, General Manager of Sports Promotion Center at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Thailand), stated the tournament has become Asia's premier under-14 youth soccer competition and expressed commitment to continuing support for developing young soccer players. Suraphol Jamrun, head of professional sports development at the Sports Authority of Thailand, emphasized that youth development is fundamental to developing professional football, and public-private cooperation creates sustainable opportunities for young athletes.

Ranrit Suavaja, director of Muangthong United, noted the club has always prioritized youth development and believes international competition elevates technical skills, experience, and professional standards of young footballers, strengthening Thailand's football future.

The 12 final-round teams include Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Sydney FC (Australia), Hanoi FC and Ninh Binh FC (Vietnam), and Thai clubs Assachaisai United (2025 champions), Muangthong United, Assumption United, Triam Udom School, Bangkok Christian College, Pram Bangkok, Ban Kao School, and Chaiyaphum Provincial Administrative School. Teams are divided into four groups for competition.