A foreign tourist family rented a jet ski that collided with another, causing damage. When the jet ski operator demanded compensation, the tourist refused to pay and then assaulted the operator, leaving him seriously injured. Police are searching for the suspect.

On July 7, an assault occurred at Patong Beach in Kathu District, Phuket Province, after a foreign tourist rented and operated a jet ski that collided with another jet ski. When the operator requested compensation for the damage, the tourist refused and fled the scene before attacking the operator.

Nuttavut Detiam, the jet ski operator, explained that after the collision, he attempted to discuss the matter peacefully and provided evidence of the damage. However, the tourist refused to pay compensation and fled toward Bangla Road. When the operator followed to ask why the tourist wouldn't accept responsibility, a heated argument ensued. The tourist then grabbed the operator, threw him to the ground, and punched him in the face multiple times before fleeing.

Medical examination revealed the victim suffered multiple injuries including bruising across his body, facial swelling, and a fractured cheekbone. The victim stated he did not fight back because he knew the person was a tourist and wanted to follow legal procedures.

After the incident, the victim filed a complaint with Deputy Police Lieutenant Piyanat Khuntong, the investigation officer at Patong Police Station. He reported that while working at Patong Beach, a family of three foreign tourists—a father, mother, and child—rented two jet skis that subsequently caused damage. During discussions about compensation, the tourists refused to pay and headed toward Bangla Road. The victim followed to pursue the matter and was assaulted. The perpetrator fled toward CentralFestival mall.

Police Colonel Grakkrit Khankhruea, commander of Patong Police Station, revealed that upon receiving the complaint, he ordered the investigation team to urgently review CCTV footage and gather evidence to track down the foreign tourist and prosecute according to law, while ensuring justice for all parties.

The victim is demanding the perpetrator be held liable for both the jet ski damage and the assault damages. He has also urged law enforcement to strictly enforce the law against tourists who commit offenses, to build confidence among business operators and tourism workers in Phuket Province.

According to astrologer Mo Boi, six zodiac signs—Aries, Pisces, Gemini, Taurus, Leo, and Cancer—will see their fortunes reverse in the second half of the year. Those born under these signs have endured a difficult first half marked by obstacles, financial strain, and interpersonal betrayals that felt like endless cycles of hardship. However, the astrologer predicts a dramatic shift beginning in the latter half of the year. Life will stabilize, career prospects will flourish across all areas, debts will decrease, and wealth will surge dramatically. Romantic prospects will also improve, with these individuals radiating charm and charisma that draws good fortune. The astrologer promises major windfalls, remarkable speaking ability, and an overall reversal of circumstances after months of struggle.

Doctor Jed warns: You can get liver fluke without any symptoms and risk bile duct cancer without knowing it. Liver fluke parasites are closer to home than many realize.

After Mukdahan Province screened students at Mahasarakham University and found 4,000 infected cases, the provincial governor ordered comprehensive testing and treatment for all confirmed patients.

Dr. Jetsadej Boonwongvirojn, deputy director of Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, posted on his Facebook page "Dr. Jed" warning that infection can occur without symptoms and carry serious cancer risk. Screening of 12,733 new students at Mahasarakham University found 4,233 infected (33%), while Mahasarakham Rajabhat University screened 1,922 and found 380 infected (19%). Provincial screening of over 20,000 people revealed an 11% infection rate.

These numbers reveal that liver fluke is no longer just an older generation problem. University students are getting infected. Healthy-looking people are getting infected. Many infected individuals show no symptoms at all—no stomach pain, no jaundice, no feeling of illness. Yet the parasites may already be lodged in bile ducts, gradually causing inflammation. The frightening part is we may not remember which meal caused the infection: a fish cake, undercooked fermented fish, or fish sauce we thought was safely fermented.

Today I want to speak clearly about this because something starting with a few raw dishes may not end with just parasites—it can extend to bile duct cancer.

1. Why don't many people realize they're infected?

Because liver flukes are experts at "staying quiet." With light infection, people function normally, eat normally, work, study—nothing clearly warns of internal problems. Some may experience only occasional bloating, indigestion, or right rib pain, thinking it's poor digestion. But prolonged or repeated infection causes bile ducts to inflame, thicken, and potentially rupture.

2. How does the parasite enter the body?

The real risk is freshwater fish with white scales eaten raw or undercooked—like snakehead, mullet, or climbing perch used in fish cakes, raw fish salad, or undercooked fish dishes. Regarding fish sauce: properly fermented and cooked fish sauce differs from raw or unknown-source fish sauce in risk level. "Fermented for a long time" doesn't automatically mean safe, especially without prior heat treatment.

3. Lime juice, salt, and chili don't equal cooking

Many believe "squeezing lime until fish flesh turns white means it's cooked." It's not. The whitening comes from citric acid changing the flesh's texture, not providing heat or guaranteeing parasite death. Salt, pepper, alcohol, or sourness cannot replace boiling, steaming, or grilling.

4. How does a tiny parasite become cancer?

The parasites don't simply settle passively. They cling to bile ducts, causing repeated irritation and inflammation. The body repairs, inflames again, repairs again. Over many years of this cycle, bile duct cells can change abnormally and develop into cancer. Not everyone infected develops cancer, but those with chronic infection, repeated raw food consumption, and no treatment face increasingly high risk.

5. Who should get screened?

Anyone who has eaten raw dishes—fish cakes, raw fish salad, undercooked fermented fish, or freshwater fish still red inside. Don't assume past consumption is irrelevant.

On July 8, 2569, opposition party representatives Sirikanya Tansakul and Weerayut Kanchanchuchart held a press conference at Parliament regarding the Constitutional Court's July 9 hearing on whether the government's 400-billion-baht energy decree violates Article 172 of the Constitution. Sirikanya outlined two main scenarios: the decree passes entirely, or it fails. She warned that if rejected, complications would arise since 200 billion baht has already been disbursed to Thai Help Thai Plus projects and state fund allocations. The remaining 200 billion baht lacks emergency necessity and clear roadmap, raising concerns about fund padded with unnecessary projects under the guise of crisis response.

Weerayut expressed heightened concerns about the second tranche of 200 billion baht designated for energy transition, noting the complete absence of conditions, targets, or timeline for achieving the transition. He warned of potential budget manipulation and questioned whether the December 2570 spending deadline would create pressure for inefficient fund utilization. As the decree represents significant public debt, ineffective implementation risks wasting resources without achieving energy transition goals. The party called for government accountability should damages occur.

Party leader Natthapon Ruangpanyanvut suggested that if the court rules negatively, the government will need to reassess cabinet ministers' performance, as evidenced by recent credit rating downgrades and ongoing evaluation demands.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden has made history as the first private Thai organization to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China National Botanical Garden (North Garden) to jointly advance plant species conservation, research, and botanical resource development at the international level.

The signing ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 9:00 AM at the Fueang Fa Conference Room between Kampol Tansatcha, president of Nong Nooch Pattaya, and Dr. Wei Yu, deputy director of China National Botanical Garden (North Garden), with Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jie serving as witness. Both parties have established a five-year cooperation framework.

This collaboration represents a crucial step in linking Thailand's botanical garden network to the world stage by integrating the capabilities of two leading organizations. China National Botanical Garden (North Garden) is renowned for its research, plant species conservation, and botanical education, while Nong Nooch Pattaya is internationally recognized as one of the world's largest collections of palms and cycads, as well as for conserving tropical plants, rare species, and plant genetic resources.

Following the signing, Kampol Tansatcha led delegations from both organizations in planting a Cedrela fissilis tree at the "Forest Tree Garden" in the foothills of Khao Khiao to symbolize the beginning of their collaborative conservation and plant species research efforts between Thailand and China. This South American native species is experiencing population decline in nature due to logging and forest loss, reflecting both organizations' shared commitment to preserving the world's valuable plant resources for future generations.

Thailand's government has terminated perpetual renewable energy contracts with private solar and wind power producers, ending automatic contract renewals and cutting purchase prices to 2.16 baht per unit—matching community solar project rates.

Danucha Pichyanan, Secretary General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), announced the decision following a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Anucha Nakasai. The committee resolved to reform electricity purchase guidelines for private renewable energy to ensure consumer fairness and reflect true production costs according to government policy.

The committee found that the main problem stems from small and very small power producer (SPP/VSPP) contracts between the state and private sector for solar and wind energy. These contracts were structured as perpetual agreements with automatic renewal periods of 3-5 years upon expiration. Original purchase prices referenced wholesale rates plus variable electricity charges (FT) exceeding 3 baht per unit, despite these facilities having no actual fuel costs since they generate power from wind and solar. The committee therefore decided to adjust rates to align with current, cheaper technology, setting the new rate at 2.16 baht per unit—the same as community solar projects. This rate will first apply to solar cell facilities, while wind power rates will be determined separately.

The committee concluded that contracts should be handled in two groups: First, approximately 515 contracts that have completed their 25-year terms with combined capacity of roughly 2,400 megawatts. These previously renewed automatically in 3-5 year increments but will now be allowed only one final renewal of the original contract period, after which they must expire. The new purchase rate will be 2.16 baht per unit.

Second, approximately 46 contracts that have received subsidies (Adder) for 10 years but have not reached their 25-year term end, with approximately 1,478 megawatts of commercial operating capacity (COD). These are considered to have recouped construction costs during the subsidy period, so remaining contract years will have their purchase rates reduced to 2.16 baht per unit. Additionally, approximately four non-COD contracts with 67 megawatts total capacity that have exceeded their COD deadline by two years without progress will be cancelled case by case.

"We haven't yet calculated exactly how much this new pricing structure will reduce electricity costs," officials stated, "but reducing the variable charge component to reflect true current costs benefits overall consumer rates. The Office of Energy Policy and Planning and the Energy Regulatory Commission are currently calculating the impact. Rate reductions may not occur immediately this period since contracts must be gradually revised between the electricity authority and private producers before taking full effect."

The committee will present these measures to the National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC), chaired by the Prime Minister, to establish formal policy before implementation and contract modifications proceed.