The Department of Climate Change and Environment is advancing community-based eco-friendly products by integrating green innovation and storytelling to transform local resources into a low-carbon community economy.

On July 6, Dr. Pirun Saiyasit Paanich, director of the Department of Climate Change and Environment, presided over the opening of the "Green Fair: Community Environmental Products" event, aimed at strengthening the capacity of grassroots networks to add value to community products while adapting to and reducing the impact of climate change.

Dr. Pirun stated that amid the global climate crisis, the department prioritizes building competencies across all sectors, particularly at the grassroots level. Current efforts must go beyond promoting adaptation to new global conditions; they must focus on sustainably leveraging natural resource bases through green innovation and product storytelling to increase economic value for communities.

"We must elevate grassroots network operations from their traditional focus on conservation and protection toward sustainable resource utilization," Dr. Pirun said. "We need to shift strategy with all sectors from a quantity-focused to a quality and income-focused approach (value over volume), such as linking products and services to sustainable tourism. This not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also creates stable income for communities through collaborative mechanisms designed with all stakeholders."

Dr. Pirun also outlined four key dimensions for developing community products toward a low-carbon society aligned with the BCG economic model: elevating standards to international levels through science and technology to ensure product safety and quality; modern design and packaging that appeals to contemporary consumers; using innovation to create added value by blending local wisdom with modern technology like AI design and storytelling; and distributing income and expanding sales channels through online platforms and community tourism routes.

The event brought together over 150 participants, including volunteer environmental networks from 50 districts in Bangkok, low-carbon learning centers, and low-carbon community networks, along with relevant government and private agencies.

The event featured products from volunteer networks across 77 provinces compiled into a catalog, with 15 exhibition booths showcasing outstanding work. Panel discussions covered promoting environmentally-friendly products and services toward a low-carbon society and developing sustainable products to strengthen low-carbon BCG communities, featuring experts from various sectors. The program also included workshops on content creation, packaging design, and digital marketing.

On July 6, 2025, Surapong Inthatawon, Secretary-General of the NACC, announced that the commission had found criminal liability against Samruddhi Liang Prasit, Satun PAO chairman, for improperly managing a 29.8-million-baht tourist service center construction contract in Kuan Don district signed in September 2016. The project was supposed to be completed in December 2017 over 450 days with 11 work phases.

After signing, the contractor failed to begin work, prompting the PAO to issue four urgent notices before the contract deadline. By January 2018, only 25.79% of work was completed. Despite staff recommendations to terminate the contract and penalties exceeding 213% totaling 58.1 million baht, Samruddhi repeatedly approved contract extensions and allowed the contractor to submit revised work plans. The contractor continued to miss deadlines for over six years until finally submitting completed work on January 23, 2023.

Investigations revealed that Somkiat Liang Prasit, the managing partner of the contracting company, is Samruddhi's younger brother, suggesting potential nepotism. The NACC found Samruddhi violated criminal law under Articles 151 and 157 of the Criminal Code, Article 172 of the Anti-Corruption Act B.E. 2561, and Article 77 of the Provincial Administrative Organization Act B.E. 2540. The contractor company and Somkiat are considered accessories to Samruddhi's actions. The NACC has referred the case to the Supreme Prosecutor's Office for criminal prosecution and to relevant authorities for disciplinary action.

A crisis has unfolded at Wat Thepprast Sarakamphaeng Noi in Utumpornpisai district, Si Saket province, where the iconic pond fronting the ancient Khmer temple has severely dried up. The water level has dropped dramatically, exposing cracked earth and thick mud in many areas. Dense aquatic weeds now blanket the pond, while the remaining water appears stagnant and dark green, emanating a strong putrid smell. Dead fish of various sizes float scattered throughout the pond and cling to vegetation, creating a distressing sight for visitors.

The temple, which houses Sarakamphaeng Noi Prasart—an important Khmer-era structure built around the 18th Buddhist century during King Jayavarman VII's reign—was historically used as a public hospital. Today it functions as a historical learning center, cultural tourism destination, and religious site where locals and visitors from across Thailand come to make merit, pray, and feed the fish. Feeding the fish has long been a signature attraction, with large schools of fish swarming the surface whenever visitors scattered food.

Visitors arriving expecting this cherished experience left deeply disappointed. Ms. Nuchrin, 40, who brought her three-year-old daughter to make merit and feed the fish, expressed heartbreak at the transformation. "I've visited many times because I loved the peaceful atmosphere and the variety of fish," she said. "Every time we scattered food, fish would rush to the surface creating a beautiful sight. But today we were shocked to find the water almost gone, dead fish everywhere, and a terrible smell. I worry this will damage the temple's reputation and the spiritual experience of those who come to make merit here."

Venerable Sanya, a monk at the temple, revealed that the pond has never experienced such severe water depletion in living memory. The dramatic decline has devastated the aquatic life that local residents and Buddhists have released as merit-making offerings over many years. Local administrative organizations and residents have begun coordinating efforts to address the crisis.

On July 6, Lieutenant Kanoknanth Suksri from Pattaya City Police's Dong Tarn Curve substation responded to a report of an unidentified death at Chomtien Soi 10, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province. Officers found the body of Ood, 46, a body shop technician, lying shirtless in black jeans with a broken Buddhist amulet on his right wrist and a mobile phone about five meters away. A pair of flip-flops lay two meters apart, and a red t-shirt believed to belong to the victim was found discarded nearby.

A taxi driver acquaintance stated he knew the deceased from their shared hometown in Sisaket Province and saw him lying dead in an unusual condition on the beach.

Somman, a close friend of the deceased, revealed that on July 5 the victim came to his house complaining of gambling debts—possibly from cockfighting or boxing matches—totaling 2,500 baht. The victim said he had no money to pay and told Somman, "If I can't give him the money, just let him come kill me." That was their last conversation. Somman gave him 100 baht, but now believes the friend was murdered, not a suicide or natural death. He reported that an overweight, shirtless man on a motorcycle rode away on the victim's bike.

CCTV footage showed at 4:34 a.m. an overweight man on a white Honda Click motorcycle arriving at the beach, then walking down to the sand. At 4:48 a.m., the victim began convulsing on the ground with no one assisting him, including the mysterious man. At 5:23 a.m., the victim became motionless, likely the time of death. The suspect then walked back up, spoke with a group of transgender women about 20 meters from the body, and left on the motorcycle at 6:27 a.m.

Police have not yet determined the cause of death and have sent the body for autopsy at the Police Hospital Institute of Forensic Medicine. Investigators are gathering evidence and seeking to question the last person seen with the victim.

In the first episode of the new talk show "Muan Ban Ngan" hosted by Ja Yossinee, actress Ratchawin Khao was the first guest, opening her Phuket home for a candid conversation. When Ja asked her opening question about what it feels like being a mother of two who relocated without family or friends nearby—what had she sacrificed or kept hidden—Ratchawin became visibly emotional.

The host observed that while motherhood is a noble profession requiring immense sacrifice, there must be something she missed. Ratchawin initially didn't feel the loss because she was completely focused on raising her children. But as they grew older and became more independent, she found small pockets of time for herself—moments at the gym near her son's school, a facility where she had once been a dedicated runner herself.

What troubled her most was discovering old videos of herself running in her former community. Each time she saw them, she felt a painful disconnect—memories of her running group, the energy she once shared with others, and a sense that part of her self-esteem and personal worth had somehow vanished.

When she confided in her husband about these feelings, he listened but offered no answers. It was only when she lay down at night and looked at her children's faces that clarity came. She realized that her true worth comes not from external validation or past achievements, but from the two people right in front of her. While she still dreams of one day running a marathon with her children cheering, she has made peace with her current path.