Thai coffee culture has evolved from the traditional coffee shop focused on energy and socializing to a modern lifestyle centered on specialty coffee, where people view coffee as an art and craft rather than merely a beverage. This shift emphasizes every stage from cultivation and roasting to complex flavor extraction science.

Pond Nathanol Mahachan, a former architect, has decided to return to his hometown in Khon Kaen province to develop coffee as a crop for the future on highland areas, positioning his farm as a must-visit destination for coffee enthusiasts.

As an architect and instructor in high-rise building technology, experienced with 3D modeling and AI technology, Pond applies engineering knowledge to agriculture and coffee shop operations. He carefully positions each coffee plant and designs shop layouts to optimize light, wind direction, and space efficiency.

He admits his initial thoughts wavered between money, time, and passion until he realized he needed to sacrifice some income to pursue his new goal. However, he acknowledges that capital remains essential, as casually tasting coffee a few times daily in the garden would not sustain a business. He felt compelled to develop a clear business model.

Coffee is complex in terms of consumption and experience. The challenge is how to present it to the market. Simply selling "drinking" adds little value, but selling "experience"—including storytelling, marketing service, and branding—leverages his strengths.

Local farmers have strong growing capabilities, but face challenges in closing sales. He is discussing with various organizations to find support and help strengthen farmers' operations, such as purchasing their produce to add value. He intends his farm to serve as a model.

Pond emphasizes that modern agriculture must be crafted with refinement and sophistication, as Thailand cannot compete internationally on volume alone. Chinese coffee is flowing in through investments in Laos, while northern Thai coffee faces disasters and climate change that reduce yields. "This is why I shifted my thinking toward craftsmanship and greater skill. I believe local farmers can survive sustainably by focusing on refinement. Traditional resource-based tourism may become tiresome, but genuine craft processes attract people longer. We don't emphasize quantity but quality felt in every step."

Most Thais think coffee grows only in the north or south, but today it is spreading widely in the northeast and attracting more farmers. However, it requires strong intention and understanding, as terrain and climate are less favorable than the north.

For anyone wanting to grow coffee in the northeast, the key factors are water management and pest control. Low-elevation areas often suffer from insects that bore into stems and damage crops. Leaves must be frequently pruned to keep stems open—details that differ from highland forest farming, which requires little maintenance.

At Mahachan's farm, coffee grows mixed within rubber plantations at 1-1.5 meter spacing. Two water management systems are used: drip irrigation to maintain soil moisture and sprinkler systems to maintain humidity.

MAE HONG SON — A 78-year-old Indigenous hill-tribe woman has finally received her Thai national identification card after spending nearly eight decades without being listed in the civil registration system.

On July 22, 2026, Sop Moei district chief Khamphan Mokthaisong approved the addition of the woman's name to the civil registration and presented her with a Thai national ID card under Regulation No. 97 of the Central Registration Bureau.

The woman, identified as Thaloi Sukudompha, 78, is a resident of Mae Ok Tai village, Moo 4, Mae Khatuan subdistrict, Sop Moei district, Mae Hong Son province. Thaloi was born and has lived in Mae Ok Tai village all her life. However, she was previously left out of the civil registration system, meaning she had no name or personal record in the household registration document, known as Tor Ror 14.

As a result, she had been unable to fully access basic rights and government welfare benefits available to Thai citizens for almost eight decades. Receiving the ID card brought great joy to Thaloi and her family. The document not only formally confirms her identity as a Thai citizen, but also allows her to access healthcare and other state welfare benefits on an equal basis.

Officals said the process was carried out in accordance with relevant regulations and laws, with no fees charged. The move is intended to restore basic rights and ensure equal access to public services for Indigenous Thai citizens who were previously left out of the civil registration system.

Central Pattaya, POP MART (Thailand), Thailand's Tourism Authority (TAT), and the Pattaya municipality have jointly launched "POP ON THE BEACH," creating the world's first beachfront art toy destination and opening POP MART's first official beachfront store at Central Pattaya. The initiative reinforces Pattaya's status as a world-class tourism and lifestyle destination. Dr. Nathkitti Tangpoolsinthanа, Chief Marketing Officer of Central Pattaya, noted that global tourism is shifting from sightseeing to experience-seeking that reflects personal interests, identity, and cultural connections. He emphasized that cities worldwide leverage pop culture and intellectual property as tools to drive tourism and economic growth. Central Pattaya was entrusted by POP MART to scale up from a pop-up store to an official store and create the world's first beachfront art toy destination through the GIANT CRYBABY, launched in Thailand as the world's largest installation. The launch spans a seamless experience from the beachfront landmark to premium shopping, offering random blind boxes, plush toys, accessories, and high-end mega collections featuring characters such as CRYBABY, LABUBU, MOLLY, SKULLPANDA, DIMOO, TWINKLE, and HIRONO, with new products and special items planned. The highlight features four colossal GIANT CRYBABY balloons, each over 8 meters tall and 12 meters long, created under the "Cry Me An Ocean Series" concept by Thai artist, blending healing narratives with Pattaya's local essence. The installation is complemented by large figures of MOLLY and SKULLPANDA, offering experiential photo landmarks available through August 2, 2026.

On July 22, 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) released asset declarations for Abhisit Vejjajiva, the former prime minister who took office as a Democrat Party list MP on March 15, 2025. Abhisit and his wife Pimpen reported combined assets totaling 130,916,823 baht with no liabilities.

Abhisit's personal assets amount to 76,638,695 baht, comprising deposits across seven accounts (14.8 million baht), two land plots in Bangkok's Khlong Toei area valued at 40.92 million baht inherited from his father and sister, residential buildings in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan and a Bangkok townhouse worth 18.6 million baht, one vehicle (1.8 million baht), and other assets (475,000 baht). He reported annual income of 1.4 million baht from salary and interest, with personal expenses of 600,000 baht annually.

Pimpen holds 54.3 million baht in assets across 13 bank accounts (13.4 million baht), open-ended fund investments (4.9 million baht), three land plots in Bangkok valued at 27.5 million baht inherited from her mother, and other assets (8.6 million baht). She reported annual income of 1.2 million baht and annual expenses of 400,000 baht.

Notable items among their possessions include a Patek Philippe watch (200,000 baht), gold necklaces, an IWC watch (17,000 baht), pearl necklaces (2.1 million baht), pearl and diamond necklaces (580,000 baht), white gold bracelets (270,000 baht), diamond and pearl earrings (500,000 baht), diamond rings (500,000 baht), and diamond brooches (200,000 baht).

Abhisit returned to politics in the recent election after stepping down as a Democrat MP in 2019. Over the past five years, he reported serving as director, vice chairman, and advisor to Sahapattana Pibool Company Limited.

Comparing his current declaration to his 2011 filing when he left office as prime minister, Abhisit and his wife's assets have increased by 76.6 million baht from a previous total of 54.4 million baht.

Meanwhile, Kaladee Liaopairojn, a Democrat Party list MP and deputy party leader, reported combined family assets of 233.8 million baht with debts totaling 8.1 million baht. Her personal assets total 136.1 million baht, including bank deposits (6.5 million baht), investments (26.1 million baht), and loans provided to real estate and digital companies, with outstanding loans of 2 million baht, 1 million baht, 924,455 baht, and other amounts to various corporations.

Surin police arrested a teenage gang on motorcycles accused of robbing a convenience store with a knife, injuring a security guard, after discovering they had previously targeted a temple safe. On July 22, 2569, Provincial Police Commander Sukhon Srirun and deputy commanders coordinated the arrest of three suspects: Ken (20), Kop (16), and Fluk (19), who were apprehended at a resort in Surin Province with clothing, equipment, and the motorcycle used in the crime.

The investigation revealed the same gang was responsible for breaking into a temple building at Wat Bodhi Raatsadonssamakkhee in Ban Tabahn without stealing anything, as well as targeting donation boxes at Wat Ban Dong Man and forcing open a safe at Wat Songsang. Preliminary charges include robbery at night and theft from places of worship at night.

Narcotics suppression officers are continuing their crackdown on the Do Pa Phayom drug network after seizing a 1-kilogram gold bar worth more than 4 million baht that had been deposited at a gold shop in Surat Thani. In just four days of operations, authorities have seized assets totaling over 9 million baht.

On July 22, Deputy Police Commander Pattanasak Bupphasuwan ordered officers including Deputy Chief Pongsapat Chukaew and Region 6 Commander Anuson Thongsai to inspect and seize the gold bar, weighing 1 kilogram and valued at approximately 4,452,731 baht, from a gold shop in Mueang district, Surat Thani province.

The seizure follows an operation launched on July 17 under the codename "Cut the Silver Line, Crush the Do Pa Phayom Network Phase 1," in which officers raided three locations in Phatthalung province and confiscated 4,563,520 baht in cash.

Investigators then tracked the network's financial movements and discovered on July 20 that members had converted the criminal proceeds into gold bars and deposited them at a shop in Surat Thani province. Authorities seized the gold as assets related to serious drug trafficking offenses.

Investigations identified the gold as belonging to Khomchak, alias "Do," who faces six arrest warrants and is currently believed to be hiding in a neighboring country. He is wanted in connection with multiple serious crimes across Phatthalung, Chumphon, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Trang provinces, including attempted murder of officials, solicitation of murder, and drug trafficking conspiracies.

Authorities have handed the seized gold to the Public Prosecutor's Office Region 8 for further investigation and asset forfeiture proceedings under drug laws. The gold shop owner cooperated fully with the investigation.

Over the four-day operation, authorities have confiscated a total of 9,016,251 baht in assets from the Do Pa Phayom network, comprising 4,563,520 baht in cash and 4,452,731 baht in gold bars.