Rescue divers have successfully recovered a blue plastic tank from a large pond in Moo 11, Bang Bua Thong subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province. The tank is suspected of containing the remains of Uthen, known as Jia, a 39-year-old man who had been missing for months before police discovered he had been murdered and placed in a cement-weighted tank in the water. All suspects involved have been arrested. The investigation has also revealed a second missing person—a man whose father disclosed that his son was part of the suspect group but disappeared 10 years ago and remains unfound. On July 1 at 4 p.m., rescue divers successfully brought the tank to the surface after six days of underwater searching. Authorities are coordinating with forensic teams to examine the contents of the tank. Both families of the missing persons are closely monitoring developments.

On July 1, 2025, Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek announced that the Thai Aid Plus (60/40) program concluded its first month of operations on June 30 with total spending of 43,218.39 million baht. The program successfully served 25,686,181 participants through over 1.03 million merchant locations.

On the business side, 1,073,146 merchants registered for the program, with 1,035,299 actively processing transactions. Participants included general retailers, small vendors, community shops, and food delivery platforms that joined starting June 15. This has boosted merchant income and improved business liquidity, expanding commercial opportunities.

Ratchada stated that the first month's results reflect strong cooperation between government, private sector, and citizens in driving the nation's economy. The government will continue monitoring program performance to refine policies that better serve public and business needs, while strengthening domestic purchasing power, grassroots economic resilience, and sustainable economic growth.

Thai Airways has launched its inaugural direct flight to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, beginning July 1st. Thai Airways CEO Chai Iem-siri and Commercial Director Kittipong Sarasomboon presided over the inaugural ceremony at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, seamlessly blends centuries of history with modern city life, showcasing iconic sites such as the Rijksmuseum, which displays over 8,000 artworks and historical objects; the Dancing Houses, a group of 17th-century Dutch architectural buildings that lean so dramatically they appear to be dancing; Dam Square, home to the Royal Palace Amsterdam; and the Canal Ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, Amsterdam serves as a key hub for trade and transportation in Western Europe, with convenient access to major European countries including Belgium and Germany via rail, and connections to other European cities by air in a short timeframe, plus important port facilities for industrial goods. Thai Airways is prepared to operate the Bangkok-Amsterdam route with seven flights per week using the Airbus A350-900 aircraft with full amenities, effective July 1st, 2026. The daily schedule includes: Flight TG936 departing Bangkok at 05:35 and arriving in Amsterdam at 12:40 (local time); Flight TG937 departing Amsterdam at 14:15 (local time) and arriving in Bangkok at 06:35 the following day. Interested passengers can view flight schedules, make reservations, and purchase tickets at thaiairways.com, Thai Airways ticket offices and authorized travel agents nationwide, or by calling THAI Contact Center at 0-2356-1111 (24 hours).

On July 1, 2025, Fujifilm (Thailand) partnered with the Liver Foundation, the Disease Control Office Region 7 in Khon Kaen, and three hospitals in Kalasin province—Khao Wong Hospital, Huai Phueng Hospital, and Na Ku Hospital—to conduct aggressive liver cancer screening for 200 at-risk residents at Khao Wong District Office in Kalasin.

The program aims to detect liver cancer in its early stages using the GALAD Score, which combines three liver cancer biomarkers (AFP, PIVKA-II, and AFP-L3) with patient age and gender data to improve detection accuracy and ensure timely treatment access.

Liver cancer remains a critical public health priority in Thailand. According to the National Cancer Institute, liver and bile duct cancer is the leading cancer killer, with 19,491 new cases annually (53 per day) and 14,971 deaths per year (41 per day). A major concern is that liver cancer often shows no early symptoms, causing many patients to seek treatment only at advanced stages when treatment options and survival rates are significantly reduced.

Prof. Wattana Sukeepisalchaiyong, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Srinakharinwirot Hospital, Khon Kaen University, and chair of the Liver Foundation, noted that liver cancer incidence continues to rise, particularly in the Northeast, where hepatitis B and C infections are prevalent. Many patients remain unaware of their infection status and lack proper monitoring and care.

The Liver Foundation's mission is to raise awareness, prevent, and reduce hepatitis in the Northeast. In collaboration with Fujifilm, they are introducing the GALAD Score biomarker panel alongside ultrasound screening to enhance early detection accuracy before symptoms appear—a critical window for effective treatment intervention.

Kalasin province is an important area for liver disease surveillance. Epidemiological research from Khon Kaen University found that liver and bile duct cancer incidence averaged 16.32 cases per 100,000 population annually from 2019 to 2023, with significantly higher rates in males. Cases are clustered in multiple areas, highlighting the need for expanded screening access at the district level.

Dr. Jira Saksisathit, Deputy Director of the Disease Control Office Region 7 in Khon Kaen, noted that Khao Wong District has relatively high rates of hepatitis B and C infection, with some patients also having cirrhosis—major risk factors for liver cancer. Public awareness and aggressive community screening are critical mechanisms for early detection, timely patient referral, and long-term reduction of liver cancer mortality.

The Kalasin screening program builds on the success of a pilot liver cancer screening initiative in the Northeast region.

The story of "Ko Kao" was not written by chance, but woven from sweat, disappointment, resilience, and the spirit of the man who created the iconic "young boy with dark glasses in a judo suit" into a culinary legacy that has accompanied Thai society for decades.

Sweat, pioneering spirit, and dignity that never surrendered

The legend began around 1966 when Chu Kiat Ruay Chareon Throp established a confectionery factory with determination on Ekkachai-Bangbon Road before marrying Jiraphon. With the vision that "good snacks usually start with the word 'mom,'" he named it "Mae Ruay Factory Company Limited." His first product to achieve remarkable success was "shrimp rice crackers."

But a major test arrived when competitors began using dangerous fabric dyes to create colorful crackers that sold so well they damaged his sales. Driven by his integrity and loyalty to customers, Chu Kiat refused to compromise. He immediately stopped selling the profitable product, declaring with a statement that revealed his true character: "Selling well but harming customers is like killing them slowly. I won't do it."

He was willing to start over, turning to "layered peanuts." In those early days, Chu Kiat personally handled all sales, driving from shop to shop. What he always carried in his truck was not just snacks, but "hammers and nails" to help repair customer shops with genuine care.

Snack formula crisis and kitchen innovation

The path of a fighter is always tested. When the person who created his snack formula wanted to leave, Chu Kiat was forced into a corner and had to invent the recipe himself. He spent long hours in the kitchen experimenting. From early 1975, the first drops of coconut cream touched peanuts, creating "crispy peanuts coated in coconut cream"—a product unlike any other. By the end of 1975, he had relocated his factory to expand production.

With his unconventional thinking, Chu Kiat deliberately named the brand "Ko Kao" and chose a logo of a fluffy-haired boy wearing dark glasses and a judo suit. In that era, this choice was widely mocked. Even shops joked that "snacks like this fluffy-headed thing won't sell."

Worse, the first batch released to market "didn't sell well" because the original opaque packaging prevented customers from seeing the product inside. Rather than admit defeat, Chu Kiat immediately pivoted by switching to "clear packaging" to reveal the delicious appearance and quality of the coconut-coated peanuts. He also created a short but powerful slogan that stuck in the ears of Thais everywhere.

Eventually, Ko Kao detonated into an overnight "big hit." From the image of the young boy with dark glasses and judo suit playing guitar and singing in television commercials, the insult was transformed into a beloved household snack that captured the hearts of people of all ages.

"Whether eaten at home, at work, while watching a favorite football match, or shared among friends... Ko Kao connects people and delivers 'every bit delicious' in every moment of life."

From a small space to Thailand's culinary legacy

When the product became the talk of the town, orders flooded in so heavily that the original Bangbon factory could no longer handle the demand. Chu Kiat and his family made a major decision in late 1975, relocating to build a new empire on Rama 2 Road across more than 30 rai of land.

From just a handful of employees to an international standard factory exporting Thai pride across the globe, what never changed was "Chu Kiat's heart."