Don't wait for market saturation—the Commerce Ministry is launching an aggressive live commerce push to drive Thai fruits into foreign markets while supporting farmer prices, targeting 179 billion baht in fruit exports this year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthummaphan announced the strategy of placing Thai durian on live commerce platforms, aligning with the ministry's plan to generate demand ahead of major harvest volumes. This systematic approach manages product distribution and prevents supply bottlenecks. Starting May 10, Eastern Thailand's durian production will gradually flood markets through June, alongside other seasonal fruits. This proactive management strategy helps spread distribution, reduce concentrated supply risks, and stabilize prices—far better than waiting for oversupply before implementing emergency measures.

Beyond domestic measures, the Commerce Ministry is aggressively promoting all Thai fruits to global markets. In 2025, Thailand exported 2,080,049 tons of fresh fruit valued at 171,206 million baht, up 1.1% from the previous year. The top three export markets are China (88.1%), Malaysia (2.2%), and Indonesia (2.1%).

In the first three months of 2025 (January-March), Thailand exported 305,673 tons of fresh fruit worth 22,285 million baht, a 56.2% increase. Fresh durian exports reached 101,773 tons valued at 14,215 million baht, surging 181%.

The Commerce Ministry plans to penetrate foreign markets strategically to accelerate domestic fruit distribution and benefit Thai farmers. Key initiatives already implemented this year include:

1) Business matching events for fresh fruit, processed products, and agricultural goods on March 5, 2025, generating 3,120.51 million baht in negotiated trade value between 101 Thai exporters and 90 importers from 18 countries.

2) High-level executive missions to Hanoi, Lang Son province (Vietnam), Nanning, and Guangzhou (China) between April 23-25, 2025, to facilitate smooth transportation and resolve obstacles for the 2025 fruit season through Vietnam's northern border to Southern China.

Upcoming promotional activities for 2025 include:

1) Thaifex-Anuga Asia 2026 food exhibition, Southeast Asia's largest, scheduled May 26-30 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, featuring 3,300 exhibitors and over 140,000 international participants.

2) Fruit promotion campaigns in seven major Chinese cities under the Thai Tropical Fruits Golden Months project: Shanghai, Xiamen, Nanning, Chengdu, Qingdao, Guangzhou, and Kunming.

3) Expanded activities throughout 2025.

A dormitory resident has gone viral online after sharing her monthly utility bill that left her shocked. She reported staying in her room full-time, running the air conditioner only while sleeping, and using just one computer, yet her electric bill reached a staggering 6,966 baht—nearly double her 3,500 baht room fee. She posted: "I stay in the room all the time, only turn on the AC when sleeping, use one computer. Is this normal? Room: 3,500 baht, Electricity: 6,966 baht. It's like factory electricity rates."

The post generated significant online attention and numerous comments, with the overwhelming majority agreeing the charges are abnormal. One commenter noted that using 774 electricity units as a single occupant is excessive, suggesting the air conditioner is likely very old with a low efficiency rating combined with a high electricity rate of 9 baht per unit. Another commenter stated the situation is impossible, claiming their entire household uses only around 500 units monthly even with the air conditioner running day and night plus other appliances. A third commenter shared a similar comparison, saying her home with two air conditioners and various other appliances used only 500 units this month, suggesting the meter may be malfunctioning.

On April 30, 2025, at Parliament, Romdan Panjor, a People's Party list MP, held a press conference following House Speaker Sompong Amornvej's rejection of a proposal to establish a committee to monitor the attempted assassination of Nakhon Si Thammarat MP Kamolasakdi Leewamor. Romdan expressed his disappointment, noting that there are significant obstacles and concerns in gathering evidence and tracking case progress.

Currently, Kamolasakdi must personally collect evidence and file complaints. Recently, he filed charges against two naval officers in an attempted murder case, pending clarification from the newly formed Region 9 Police investigative unit on whether they will interrogate the suspects and complainants. The interrogation deadline was today, but progress remains limited. The public is concerned that despite arresting five alleged assassins, Kamolasakdi has filed additional complaints. There are questions about whether the case will be split into two cases, requiring close monitoring. MPs from border-area electoral districts in the southern region must be vigilant, as this directly impacts their work. Kamolasakdi has now missed two weeks of parliamentary sessions due to evidence gathering in the field.

Romdan further stated that the shooting is not an attack on an individual MP, but a challenge to democratic political institutions, requiring protective measures. He will monitor the case and maintain continuous communication with the House Speaker.

The public perceives this case not as a personal matter but as a security issue connected to certain agencies, involving political motivations. Public observers are noting possible attempts to distort or deflect from the main issues, requiring close attention to whether investigators work transparently based on evidence.

Romdan recommended that the government elevate the Kamolasakdi shooting case to special status to ensure neutral, professional evidence gathering, as local police resources may be insufficient. He urged the government to prioritize transparency, correctness, fairness, and professionalism in this case.

There are also suspicions regarding deliberate distortion of the narrative, with suspected information operations using degrading content against politicians, journalists, activists, and civil society members. Romdan interpreted this as a planned and recurring operation.

He called for close monitoring as this affects political institutions and the need for safe spaces for public voices. Otherwise, resolving southern Thailand's problems through peaceful means will be difficult.

"It's unfortunate the House Speaker deflected the issue. From now on, we must use parliamentary committees as mechanisms to monitor progress, conduct close oversight, and ensure this case is transparent, professional, and scientific, pushing it under DSI responsibility," Romdan said.

Chayapol Satad, a Bangkok People's Party MP, noted that the case involves government resources. When people demand facts, authorities use memory-creating strategies and IO operations to deflect, cover up news, and create stories based on anger and hatred to distract public attention.

Kittipong Piyawanno, a People's Party list MP and former military officer, commented on IO operations, noting his background in such operations from military training.

On April 30, 2025, a reporter found the fruit sales zone at Thoet Thai Market in Muang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, packed with customers from the province and neighboring areas eager to buy durians at 19 baht each. Shop owner Nong Khun Durian launched this promotion to counter online drama while offering incredibly low prices—19 baht per fruit for customers who share the shop's Facebook post. Beyond the promotional price, the shop also sells durians below market rates, starting from 69 baht per kilogram up to 119 baht per kilogram. Many customers who come for the 19-baht deal end up purchasing additional durians at regular prices to take home.

Sirikachorn Konnkamyai, 25, the shop owner, explained that this promotion is a marketing tactic to boost durian consumption during peak harvest season. The promotion features various premium varieties including Monthong, Kradum, Puang Manee, and Chanee Khai, each weighing approximately one kilogram. Customers can claim a refund or exchange for free if their durians are unripe or spoiled.

Regarding the online drama surrounding the promotion, Sirikachorn views it as simply marketing that attracts customers. She notes that many buyers purchase additional durians at regular prices, and ultimately consumers benefit most by getting affordable durians during a time of high fuel costs. Interested customers can access the 19-baht promotion by sharing the post from the "Nong Khun Durian Seller" Facebook page to their personal profile and presenting proof at Thoet Thai Market. The promotion runs from April 30 to May 6, 2025, with the shop prepared to handle at least 5 tons of durians.

Global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, with more than half of the world's countries now classified as having a "difficult" or "very serious" situation, according to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

RSF said the average score across 180 countries and territories has never been lower in the Index's 25-year history, reflecting a steady decline since 2001. The group warned that increasingly restrictive laws — particularly those tied to national security — are eroding the right to information, even in democratic countries.

The legal environment for journalism saw the sharpest deterioration over the past year, signalling what RSF described as a growing "criminalisation of journalism" worldwide.

In the Americas, press freedom also worsened, with the United States dropping seven places, while several Latin American countries, including Ecuador and Peru, saw significant declines amid rising violence and repression.

Norway retained its position as the world's top-ranked country for press freedom for the 10th consecutive year, while Eritrea remained last for the third year in a row. Syria recorded the biggest improvement, climbing 36 places following political changes after the Assad era.

RSF Editorial Director Anne Bocandé warned that attacks on journalism are becoming more visible and systematic, driven by authoritarian governments, weak political leadership, economic pressures and under-regulated online platforms.

She called for stronger protections for journalists, including an end to the misuse of national security laws and legal harassment such as SLAPPs, warning that inaction would amount to "an endorsement" of declining press freedom.

RSF added that only a tiny share of the global population now lives in countries with a "good" level of press freedom — down from 20% in 2002 to less than 1% today — underscoring what it described as a global crisis for journalism.