Bangkok, 2 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is reinforcing Thailand’s low-carbon tourism direction through its Carbon Footprint Hotels (CF-Hotels) platform, which has won the Green Leadership category at the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2026 in Malaysia.

Mr. Kittipong Prapattong, TAT Deputy Governor for Digitalisation, Research and Development, said, “This award reflects TAT’s role as a system orchestrator for sustainable tourism, connecting digital data, carbon management, market incentives, and green finance in one practical platform. CF-Hotels enables hotels to take measurable action, strengthen competitiveness, and contribute to TAT’s direction in advancing quality tourism that creates long-term value, while supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aligning with the Paris Agreement.”

Organised by Enterprise Asia, AREA 2026 recognises organisations in Asia for outstanding performance in social and environmental responsibility and sustainable development. The ceremony, held on 26 June, brought together leading regional organisations and key figures in the sustainability sector.

CF-Hotels serves as a practical model for turning sustainability policy into business action. Developed for hotels and accommodation providers across Thailand, the platform helps operators measure, manage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a standardised digital system, while linking carbon performance with market opportunities and access to green finance.

The platform gives accommodation businesses, particularly SMEs, free access to internationally aligned tools for greenhouse gas data collection and assessment. It also connects environmental data with green finance opportunities through cooperation with the Bank of Thailand and nine commercial banks under the “Financing the Transition” initiative.

CF-Hotels further supports hotels in moving towards international sustainability standards, including ISO 14064-1 and GSTC-related frameworks. This helps make carbon management more accessible, commercially relevant, and connected to future market access.

Since becoming publicly active in 2024, CF-Hotels has expanded from 21 pilot hotels to more than 900 registered hotel accounts nationwide. Participating properties have recorded greenhouse gas reductions of 16,838.79 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, comparable to planting more than 1,202,770 mature trees. The project has also mobilised more than 29.3 million Baht through the ThaiCI Fund to support low-carbon transition.

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This marks the first time young actor Film Thanaphat Kavilai has taken on a project outside his home studio. He recently appeared in the True Visions series "Ruk" and spoke enthusiastically at the press conference for the series launch at Major Cineplex Sukhumvit about working with the True Visions team and collaborating with fellow cast members Kaew and Chuda.

"I've never done a drama outside Channel One before," Film said. "This is my first outside project, and I'm happy working with True Visions and my co-stars. Everyone is new to me—I've never worked with them before. I appreciate seeing new chemistry and perspectives I haven't encountered before. It's a great experience, and everyone is so kind."

When asked about his father's thoughts on the outside work, Film replied: "My dad approved and is happy about it. My manager is also supportive of me seeking new experiences. The more experience I gain, the more I can apply to my own work. I see this as important for my growth."

Asked about differences between working outside versus inside his home studio, Film explained: "Each studio has its own distinct mood and tone. Working here, I've discovered how other people in the industry think and work differently from my home studio."

When asked what Chuda's set is like, Film laughed: "Chuda's set is filled with laughter. I'm serious—I could swear on it. It's not just Chuda but the entire team. The production staff and other actors—we feel like we're playing with friends. There's constant laughter and smiles. The vibe here is very positive."

On whether the atmosphere feels as warm as home, Film said: "It's a different kind of warmth. This production has a distinct character—there's constant laughter here."

Asked if he had any concerns on set, Film admitted: "My only worry was about Chuda scolding me. Some of my friends working outside their home studios have had bad experiences with some directors, so I was nervous. Being an outsider, I was worried they wouldn't be kind to me. This is my first outside experience, so I was anxious."

Regarding whether he ended up buttering up Chuda, Film smiled and said: "No, I worked seriously."

When asked if he'd worked with other actors before, Film replied: "No, never. I've only worked with one other actress previously—everyone else is new."

On whether three of his co-stars becoming brides means he's hit the jackpot, Film joked: "Yes, they've reached that age."

Asked if he has too, Film answered: "I've reached the age, but I still don't have anyone."

On his attachment to skincare, Film confirmed: "I'm still attached—addicted to cats every day."

When asked if the cat is his own, Film said: "Yes. I feel like I'm not taking life so seriously anymore. It's at a point where I can just let things pass. Whether it happens or not, I'm fine either way. I feel my perspective changes every year as I grow older. Now I'm at a point where I'm happy living at home, playing with my cat, working out, spending time with my mom, and working like this."

Asked if this is a year of change for him, Film said: "You could call it a year of transformation. Everything in my life has changed significantly. Every aspect has changed."

When asked what changed for the better, Film's response was cut off.

Thai narcotics authorities have identified the recipient of a heroin shipment from a Thai Airways flight attendant as a woman nicknamed 'Dear,' though her nationality remains unconfirmed. The investigation suggests the drug source targeted two criminal networks in northeastern Thailand, while a black-hooded motorcycle courier remains at large.

The case centers on Ms. Meena, a 26-year-old Thai Airways flight attendant arrested by Australian authorities at Melbourne Airport on June 25 with 1 kilogram of heroin hidden in her luggage. Investigators discovered she was hired to smuggle drugs by someone operating a Facebook account under the name "Rose Rose." Authorities are now tracking the motorcycle courier who delivered the package to Ms. Meena's condominium.

According to the Narcotics Control Board secretary, police will launch search and arrest operations within 1-2 days targeting major drug networks in Bangkok. Following coordination with Australian Federal Police, Thai authorities received information that the heroin recipient was to be someone nicknamed "Dear," identified only from Ms. Meena's statement to Australian officers. However, the Australian authorities have not yet confirmed whether "Dear" is Thai or foreign national, nor have they provided contact information for this individual since Ms. Meena was arrested before completing the handover.

The investigation is tracking the "Rose Rose" Facebook account, which has since been closed. Authorities are coordinating with Meta to identify the account holder and have also engaged the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's office in Thailand. Police reviewed CCTV footage around Ms. Meena's condominium to identify the courier, his vehicle, and license plate, as well as his route from the origin point. Preliminary findings suggest the courier was a black-hooded motorcycle rider driving a sedan.

YUEWEN Group, a global leader in entertainment and online literature, is hosting a historic celebration with 'Lord of Mysteries' fans from around the world in Bangkok. This is the first major offline event in Thailand for this blockbuster fantasy literary IP, reinforcing its rapidly growing popularity across Southeast Asia.

'Lord of Mysteries,' created by platinum-tier author Cuttlefish That Loves Diving from YUEWEN Group, is a landmark work that has propelled Chinese online literature to the global stage. The novel has been translated into more than 10 languages and has amassed a global fanbase of 26 million people. The entertainment universe has expanded to include animation, games, audio dramas, and comics.

The Bangkok event is an exclusive experience that creatively merges the mysterious fantasy world of the Chinese IP with the charm of Thai culture and local art. YUEWEN Group stated that this Bangkok event is a crucial part of a worldwide fan celebration tour, and the company remains committed to organizing offline cultural activities to bridge original Chinese literature IP with new-generation audiences in Thailand and Southeast Asia, while expanding the influence of Chinese creative content globally and deepening cross-border cultural exchange through the power of literature.

A mysterious woman who sent GPS coordinates leading rescuers to a missing driver has sparked widespread speculation after a woman suffering from depression was found alive in a remote forest in Rayong. Rescue Pluak Daeng in Rayong province received a request for assistance on Wednesday evening from relatives of a young woman who had driven her sedan away from her home in Si Racha district, Chonburi province, toward Pluak Daeng district without a clear destination. The family, growing increasingly concerned for her safety, turned to social media for help.

Relatives later reported receiving a message from an unidentified woman who claimed she had seen the missing driver heading into a secluded forest in Moo 7 of Map Yang Phon subdistrict, Pluak Daeng district. The stranger attached exact GPS coordinates pinpointing the location, prompting the family to immediately contact the Rescue Pluak Daeng team.

Rescuers arrived to find the sedan parked deep inside dense woodland in complete darkness, far from any residential area. Inside the vehicle, they found the woman sitting alone in what officials described as a situation consistent with an attempted self-harm incident. Emergency responders safely removed her from the vehicle before taking her to Pluak Daeng Hospital for medical evaluation and close observation.

The incident has since sparked intense discussion on Thai social media, with many users questioning the identity of the "mysterious woman" who provided the crucial tip and precise location. As the car was hidden deep inside a remote, unlit forest, many have been left wondering how the woman knew exactly where to find the missing driver.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin has asked the Pollution Control Department to oversee the closure of the MA-RE-DESIGN project while expressing gratitude to the German federal government for supporting Thailand's circular economy initiatives to improve plastic packaging management and prevent marine waste. This collaboration has established critical policy frameworks, tools, and mechanisms for the country's plastic management system to meet international standards.

Suchat explained that the MA-RE-DESIGN project, running since 2023, involved GIZ working alongside WWF and UNEP-COBSEA under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, with the Pollution Control Department as the primary implementing partner and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources as a key ally. With German government support, Thailand has developed knowledge, tools, and policy proposals to implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems, environmentally friendly product design, and circular economy practices that directly reduce plastic and marine waste, leading to sustainable improvements in environmental quality and public living standards.

Dr. Surin Vorakitjatharn, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, stated that the project developed Design for Recycling (D4R) guidelines, created policy and legal recommendations supporting EPR systems, and provided tools to establish Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to improve the country's plastic packaging management.

At the local level, the project developed plastic waste management prototypes based on circular economy principles in Koh Tao, Surat Thani Province, and Trang Province through collaboration among local governments, businesses, and communities. It also facilitated knowledge exchange with Southeast Asian countries to scale up Thailand's best practices regionally, strengthening cooperative efforts to address plastic pollution and marine waste sustainably, Dr. Surin added.