The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Raphipat Chantrasriwong, director-general of the Department of Agricultural Extension, as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The announcement was made on July 21, 2025, following a Cabinet meeting. The current permanent secretary, Winai Thanutsuksuk, will retire from civil service on June 30, 2025.

On July 21, large numbers of residents gathered at Krung Thai Bank's provincial administration branch on Klang Muang Road in Khon Kaen Municipality to file appeals after the government announced 2026 welfare card results. Of 18.82 million registered applicants, only 9.51 million met the criteria, meaning nearly half of previously eligible people lost their benefits. Most of those filing appeals had been rejected, creating long queues from morning onward that required security staff to manage and organize the process.

Ruay, 72, from Tha Phra subdistrict in Khon Kaen, said that truly poor people should receive government assistance. He noted that 300 baht monthly from a welfare card helps significantly with household purchases and that the government need not increase the amount, though he wished the program could reach more people. He added that he had received the benefit under General Prayut Chan-o-cha's administration but did not understand what criteria were used to determine who qualifies as genuinely poor versus merely wanting assistance.

Kaew, 66, from Muang district in Khon Kaen, said she was disqualified because of a motorcycle debt. She came to verify her eligibility but was rejected, so she filed an appeal. She noted that 300 baht monthly genuinely helps support family needs—groceries, fish sauce, and household essentials—and expressed sadness at losing the benefit. "I wonder if the government thinks I'm not truly poor," she said. "I rent my home and carry debt, so how am I considered wealthy? I urge Prime Minister Anatin Charnvirakul and the Interior Minister to reconsider the criteria, because truly poor people struggle greatly and should not be cut off."

Thai Dairy Industry Co., Ltd. reinforced its brand-building success after Malibu condensed milk and Orchid butter won the Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand 2026 award based on a survey of the most trusted and preferred brands by consumers. Malibu condensed milk received the award in the sweetened condensed milk category for the fifth consecutive year, while Orchid butter won in the butter category, reflecting the strength of both brands that have grown alongside Thai consumers for decades.

Pichayathep Yuktaswee, Deputy Managing Director of Thai Dairy Industry Co., Ltd., said the award is not just a guarantee of brand success but proof of consumer trust in Malibu over time. "For us, trust doesn't come from marketing campaigns but from keeping promises to consumers every day. Malibu has upheld quality for over 60 years and continues to evolve the brand to match modern lifestyles, especially for those who value healthy living and seek products that fit their daily needs. Today, building brand awareness alone is no longer enough. What matters is brand relevance—keeping the brand meaningful and connected to consumers at all times. This starts with listening to consumer insights and applying them to product development, innovation, and communication."

Throughout the past year, Malibu advanced growth through brand collaborations with leading partners including Auntie Anne's, After You, Babycakes, Karun, and Yolk, as well as creating content with new-generation CEOs and creators across various fields. This helped generate momentum online, expand brand relevance, and drive engagement with younger consumers. Pichayathep said, "Consumers change rapidly. What we do is listen more. We use social media, digital platforms, and TikTok as spaces to talk with consumers, especially younger generations. I create content myself and read every comment because often the best insights don't come from conference rooms but from conversations with consumers."

Orchid butter continued to assert its leadership in the butter market under the concept "Delicious guaranteed with Orchid," which has built long-term consumer confidence. Sudthanom Kansutt, Director of Thai Dairy Industry Co., Ltd., said Orchid's success comes from maintaining quality standards and understanding the needs of both B2B and B2C consumers. "For Orchid, trust comes from results. Every time a consumer chooses Orchid, they must be confident the dish will turn out delicious as intended. Consistency in quality is the heart of our brand and the origin of 'Delicious guaranteed with Orchid.'" One success from the past year was a brand collaboration with Guss Damn Good, which received strong consumer response and reinforced Orchid's image as a brand focused on ingredient quality and creating new consumer experiences.

Both executives agree that the success of Malibu and Orchid stems from putting consumers at the center and continuously developing products, innovations, and communications to keep the brands meaningful and in consumers' hearts. The Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand 2026 award, won consecutively for five years, reflects this commitment.

Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin announced on July 21 that a major demolition operation on July 20 successfully removed 50 illegal structures from Nai Nui Beach in Phuket's protected forest area. The operation, undertaken as part of the government's "Phuket Model" policy, was conducted in cooperation with multiple agencies including the Interior Ministry, military, and police. Suchat emphasized that the action enforces the law against violators and aims to restore order, not damage tourism, with the recovered land valued at approximately 2 billion baht. The minister stated he personally led the operation and will accept sole responsibility for any legal challenges, noting that the land titles were previously invalidated by the Supreme Court in 2014 and are legally considered part of the forest. He revealed that helicopter surveys identified 8-9 additional illegal encroachments in the area, with plans to demolish them progressively, including structures within Sirinath National Park. Suchat addressed the search for a local influential figure, sarcastically noting that despite public announcements, the person has not dared to appear publicly. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to reclaiming approximately 300-400 rai total and converting it into recreational forest for public use, stating he welcomes any lawsuits as he takes full responsibility for the operation.

King Power Rangnam has opened a new trendy "Thai Fashion Brands" zone showcasing collections of clothing and accessories from Thai fashion labels including Merge, Cuppa, Knitcircle, Lunné, Gongdid Design, Pinable, and other leading Thai brands. These are duty-free items that shoppers can take home immediately without a flight. The zone features signature pieces that mix and match easily with any style, offering everyday looks curated by each brand.

Starting now, visitors can shop the "Thai Fashion Brands" zone on the second floor of King Power Rangnam with special Cash Card promotions: purchase a 5,000-baht Cash Card and receive an additional 2,000-baht gift card for a total of 7,000 baht to spend, or buy a 10,000-baht Cash Card and receive 4,500 baht extra for a combined 14,500 baht.

Merge offers heritage-inspired jeans celebrating Thai identity with campaigns like "Thai Pride Merge Ride" and the "Thai Bold" collection using Thai flag colors. Cuppa presents seasonal silk knit tops with collections like "Paper Collection" inspired by origami and "Pie Collection" featuring cute pastry-themed designs. Knitcircle specializes in sustainable fashion using 100% recycled materials with seasonal color-gradient techniques and the "Leaf Collection," alongside "The Coastal Knits – Resort Wear Edit 2025" capturing island summer beauty. Lunné creates minimalist leather bags handcrafted by Thai artisans using high-quality European leather, with signature styles like the Kith Bag and Klara Tote available in timeless classic tones. Gongdid Design emphasizes comfort with the "Dear Summer 2026" collection evoking childhood memories through signature pleating techniques and hand-embroidered floral details on organic linen in pastel tones. Pinable offers multifunctional bags with the "One Bag, Many Ways" concept, featuring earth-tone designs with interchangeable accessories and must-have styles like the Polly Tote laptop bag, Bouclé belt-style tote, and Momo clutch.

Rider helps police catch sexual assault suspect in PhitsanulokLegacyA food delivery rider’s helmet camera footage helped police arrest a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman waiting at a traffic light in Phitsanulok yesterday, July 20. Police arrested the suspect, identified as 36 year old Nattaphong, near a railway line. Police said he gave inconsistent statements during questioning before charging him with committing an indecent act in public and taking him into custody for legal proceedings. Photo via Phitsanulok Hotnews The incident happened at an intersection near Phitsanulok Technical College, where rider Seksan Janmanee noticed a man behaving suspiciously while he was waiting at a red light. According to Seksan, the man repeatedly walked around the junction instead of crossing the road. Suspecting something was wrong, he began recording with his helmet camera. Moments later, the man allegedly approached a woman who was waiting on her motorcycle at the traffic lights and reached between her legs, causing her to startle and pull away. Photo via Facebook: Nutty Story Seksan shouted at the man and warned that he would report the incident to police. The man apologised with a wai before walking away. Speaking about the incident, Seksan said he intervened immediately after witnessing the alleged assault. “I saw the man acting suspiciously because he wasn’t crossing the road and kept walking around the area. I thought he was going to ask people waiting at the traffic lights for money, but instead I saw him sexually assault the woman. I stepped in immediately, and my helmet camera had recorded the incident.” After posting the footage on Facebook to warn the public, many women commented that they had experienced similar alleged sexual assaults by the same man in different parts of Phitsanulok. Local officials coordinated with police to identify the suspect after the video was shared, leading to his arrest.

In similar news, a Thai woman took to social media to urge netizens to help her locate a man who groped her while she was travelling on a motorcycle with her friend in Phuket. The suspect was an Asian man aged between 25 and 30 years old and approximately 160 to 175 centimetres tall. The story Rider helps police catch sexual assault suspect in Phitsanulok as seen on Thaiger News.