Over 300 angry coconut farmers from Prachuap Khiri Khan stormed Bang Saphan District on July 7, 2025, demanding that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explain its approval of frozen coconut milk and coconut cream imports. Network leader Pongsak Bunrak and farmers arrived with sound-equipped pickup trucks to submit a letter to Bang Saphan District Chief Manit Vongjinda, requesting coordination with relevant agencies.

The farmers specifically called on the FDA to provide clarification about approvals for importing frozen coconut milk and ready-to-drink coconut cream, which they believe are major factors driving down domestic coconut prices. The coconut farmer network had previously submitted a request through the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Health Office on May 27, 2025, asking for import approval criteria, procedures, and historical import statistics for frozen and processed coconut milk from 2023-2025. However, they have yet to receive a written response. The provincial health office sent an urgent letter to the FDA on June 9, 2025, requesting factual clarification following complaints from affected coconut farmers.

Without an official response, the farmer network submitted a letter to the district chief requesting that FDA Secretary-General Supattra Bunserm visit the area by July 14, 2025, to directly address farmers on five key points: approval criteria for coconut milk imports; authorization standards for importers; why imported products don't clearly indicate raw material origin; impact calculations on domestic coconut quotas; and protection measures for Thai farmers.

The network reiterated seven earlier proposals submitted to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister and Commerce Minister on March 24, 2025: suspending all coconut and coconut product imports until large coconuts reach at least 18 baht per fruit and dried coconut reaches at least 35 baht per kilogram. They also called for releasing import data, establishing a national coconut committee with farmer representatives, converting imported coconut products to equivalent whole coconut units before approval, requiring clear raw material origin labels, and restricting processing outside AFTA and WTO frameworks. The network scheduled another gathering for July 14, 2025, at Bang Saphan District Hall to await responses.

BANGKOK — Tickets for the inaugural Tomorrowland Thailand music festival have sold out, with all 150,000 tickets snapped up shortly after sales opened, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on Tuesday.

Speaking after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Surasak said the three-day electronic dance music festival, scheduled to take place in Chon Buri this December, sold around 50,000 tickets per day, reaching full capacity of 150,000 tickets across the event.

The government expects the festival to attract an average of 50,000 visitors daily and generate about 6 billion baht in economic activity each year.

Thailand has signed a five-year agreement to host Tomorrowland, with the government projecting the event will inject at least 30 billion baht into the economy over the duration of the contract.

According to the minister, about 85% of ticket buyers are international visitors, while 15% are Thai attendees. Foreign visitors include both short-haul and long-haul travellers, with many expected to stay in Thailand for extended periods.

Surasak said festival packages priced at 150,000 baht or more have also been sold, contributing to the projected economic impact. The event is expected to create around 4,000 jobs during both the preparation and staging of the festival.

The government said extensive measures are being put in place to ensure the safety and convenience of attendees, including dedicated shuttle bus services, enhanced public transport, increased police deployment and volunteer support.

Organisers will also implement comprehensive security measures in coordination with government agencies to ensure the safety of both festivalgoers and nearby communities, Surasak said.

At Khon Kaen University's Faculty of Medicine on July 7, 2024, Associate Professor Wacharin Loilom, acting director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, revealed that Gen Z infections from the liver fluke parasite are increasing due to social media exposure. Northeast Thailand records over 10,000 cholangiocarcinoma cases annually. The director cited a concerning trend: numerous influencers posting viral videos of eating raw or undercooked fish dishes, particularly fermented fish prepared with lime juice and chili powder, which young people enthusiastically replicate. Random screening of approximately 200,000 people across the Northeast found an average liver fluke infection rate of 28.8%, with roughly one in three people infected. The truly alarming aspect is not the parasite itself, which is treatable with anthelmintic drugs, but the risk of cholangiocarcinoma development. If people continue old eating habits after treatment, they risk repeated infections, significantly increasing cancer risk. With Northeast Thailand's population of 24 million, approximately 6 million face infection risk. Khon Kaen University has developed a rapid test kit, similar to COVID-19 tests, approved by health authorities. The public health system now covers one free annual screening for those 15 and older who answer yes to any of three risk questions. Restaurant owner Wachirpun Wanthong, 39, owner of Saep Chatchajen restaurant, assured customers that his establishment uses 100% boiled fermented fish at 200 degrees Celsius, guaranteeing safety. He noted that customer visits have only increased since the health warnings emerged.

Bangkok, Thailand, July 7, 2026 — ANGEL Group has launched two water treatment products in Thailand: the ANGEL Whole-House Mini Water Softener and ANGEL Faucet Water Purifier, designed to address hard water and contamination problems while improving water quality for Thai households. Both products are available through HomePro with installation and after-sales service provided by Mazuma, ANGEL's local partner.

The ANGEL Whole-House Mini Water Softener is designed for compact homes with a split-body structure measuring no more than 44 centimeters in height. It can be installed in both new and renovated homes and features a DIY Adjustable Softened Water Mode that lets users control water hardness levels, supporting a maximum flow rate of 25 liters per minute. The system uses a Dual Enhanced Softening System with a proprietary flat-distribution structure that reduces water hardness by up to 99.8% while lowering water and salt consumption. A patented smart control valve automatically adjusts resin regeneration cycles based on household water usage, while DuPont high-performance resin ensures stable operation, reduces scale buildup, and extends appliance lifespan.

The ANGEL Faucet Water Purifier features an 8-stage filtration system and patented APCM antimicrobial technology that inhibits microbes by 99.99%, protecting against contamination including resistant bacteria strains. It uses a cleanable ceramic filter cartridge combined with carbon-fiber ultrafiltration technology to eliminate sediment, rust, residual chlorine, odor, and other contaminants. Users can switch between normal water and filtered water modes with a flow rate of 1 liter per minute, making it ideal for cooking and kitchen use.

On July 7, 2569, at Bhumjaithai Party headquarters, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister, acting as party leader, arrived for the weekly party meeting alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthumphanthum. When reporters asked Supachai about social media speculation regarding the Commerce Minister's whereabouts, she responded, "I'm here, I'm working," and waved to the press. Anutin added that Supachai had not disappeared. When pressed about whether the Prime Minister had ordered increased public communication in light of activity on the Commerce Ministry's Facebook page, Supachai confirmed there was nothing to report, emphasizing she works every day before excusing herself for the meeting. As they entered the elevator, Anutin reiterated to reporters: "Supachai has not disappeared."

Zen Group is launching a comprehensive 2025 rebranding of three Thai Isaan restaurant brands—Tam Mua, Lao Yuan, and Khiang—with new locations and expansion plans to bring Thai street food to international markets. On July 7, 2025, Sirutwat Chatchawal, Senior Executive Vice President of the Franchise Business Group at Zen Corporation Group Public Company Limited, revealed the company's strategy to refresh these brands to meet modern consumer demands for dining experiences beyond just satisfaction.

According to Sirutwat, Khiang is the fastest-growing brand, originally built through delivery platforms with 40% delivery sales and 60% dine-in revenue. The company is now shifting the balance to 20% delivery and 80% dine-in service, similar to traditional restaurants. The rebrand includes ten new menu items designed to attract modern customers to eat in-store more frequently, expected to increase average bill value from 200 baht to 300-400 baht per customer. The expansion also targets international tourists.

Khiang has opened locations in strategic tourist areas including Suvarnabhumi Airport and Khao Yai Village, serving as gateways for global visitors. Future locations will include Liberty Silom in Bangkok next month, Mae Rim and Nimmanhaemin in Chiang Mai, with studies underway for Pattaya, Chonburi, and Phuket. Currently operating 46 branches nationwide, Khiang plans to add five more locations by year-end—four in Thailand and one in Laos—bringing the total to 51 branches.

Tam Mua, with 70 current branches, is transitioning to standalone locations open until midnight with alcohol service. A pilot opened in Buriram, with three additional locations planned for Bangkok's Ari, Sukhumvit 50, and Onnuch areas. Lao Yuan targets opening two branches this year—one in Thailand and one in Laos—reaching 43 total branches by year-end, comprising 41 domestic and 2 international locations.

Sirutwat noted that all three brands experience continuous sales growth yearly, driven by their focus on som tam and pad krapow—two of the five essential Thai dishes. The rebranding strengthens Zen's Thai food portfolio in a competitive market valued at over 500 billion baht annually.