The next director of Thailand's Sports Authority must be someone who truly loves sports, whether recruited from inside or outside the organization, with a special focus on proper budget management and athlete welfare, according to former Deputy Prime Minister Thammachat Prombhempao. As Dr. Kongsakd Yodmani's tenure as Sports Authority director ends September 30, 2025, a recruitment process has begun with Nattariya Tweevimangs appointed as head of the selection committee. The goal is to name a new director by September 2025. Thammachat, who previously oversaw sports matters during SEA Games 2025 and currently leads the Thai Water Sports Association, acknowledged that the outgoing director has performed adequately, but stressed that the ideal successor should be genuinely passionate about sports, particularly in managing budgets and ensuring athlete welfare. "I regret that my time in this role has been too brief given the many problems needing solutions," Thammachat said. "Whether the next director comes from inside or outside, they must have sports knowledge and truly love the field." On the readiness of water sports athletes for the Asian Games, Thammachat said the association board has been consulted and preparations are underway, though he acknowledged that medal expectations are high given the long drought and that success requires both skill and luck.

PHUKET: Human behaviour ‒ not road conditions alone ‒ remains the leading cause of death on Phuket’s roads, with 92 people killed and more than 14,000 injured in just over six months despite years of infrastructure upgrades and road safety campaigns.

Thailand is elevating its rice into high-value products by highlighting three categories: environmentally-responsible rice, health-focused varieties, and heritage-branded rice. The Trade Policy and Strategy Office is driving a demand-driven strategy to promote premium rice and meet modern consumer behavior favoring health and environmental consciousness, allowing producers to command prices up to three times higher than conventional rice.

Nanthapong Jiralertphongs, director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office under the Commerce Ministry, announced the fiscal 2025 project to boost farmer incomes and restructure Thailand's rice trade, supporting Minister Supachai Suthammapun's "refined rice" policy to shift from volume-based to value-based sales. Thailand currently uses 43.3% of its agricultural land—74.7 million rai—for rice cultivation, covering approximately 4.6 million farming households (60% of all farmers). White rice cultivation has surged dramatically from 8 million rai in 2021 to 13 million rai in 2025, yet prices have fallen, trapping Thailand in volume-based production.

The Office has classified high-value rice into three groups based on global market demand:

Eco-responsible rice focuses on environmentally sustainable production meeting international trade standards, including sustainable rice produced to international standards (SRP), low-carbon rice reducing greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide), and organic rice free of synthetic chemicals.

Heritage-branded rice emphasizes origin value and irreplaceable local wisdom, including Geographical Indication (GI) rice—Thailand currently has 24 registered GI rice varieties such as Khao Hom Mali Thung Kula Rong Hai and Khao Sang Yod Phatthalung—and indigenous or mountain rice varieties with distinctive flavors and biodiversity.

Health-focused rice addresses aging populations and health-conscious consumers, including nutrient-rich and colored rice high in antioxidants (such as Rice Berry and Purple Rice) and functional rice like low glycemic index rice for diabetics or vitamin-fortified varieties.

The Office has gathered field data on challenges and opportunities from farmers, businesses, and experts nationwide. Key findings include successful low-carbon rice by modern large-scale farmers, where alternating wet-dry farming techniques cut costs by 17% and increased yields by 6%. High-value rice commands significant premiums: organic rice sells 1.5–3 times higher than ordinary rice, GI rice 1.5–3.4 times higher, and colored or health-focused rice 1.2–3 times higher. Infrastructure investment in processing and mill modernization is essential, though middlemen, warehouses, cooperatives, and mills face liquidity constraints from extended payment periods. Global market analysis suggests strong demand for eco-responsible rice, particularly low-carbon varieties driven by trading partners' environmental measures, alongside growing demand for organic rice.

On July 9 at 10:40 a.m., the House of Representatives met with Speaker Sophon Saram presiding. Pricha Wattrasindhu, list MP and deputy leader of the Pheu Thai party, posed an urgent question to Justice Minister Rutthapol Naowarut regarding Special Case No. 24/2568 under investigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Pricha argued that what is commonly called the "election fraud case" should more accurately be termed an "election scam" because the alleged conduct involves not merely organizing candidate networks for vote-swapping, but using money and other benefits to hire people to register as candidates and hire voters to cast ballots to gain state power. He noted the case is currently under review by the Election Commission (EC) and DSI, and requested the minister explain the details of the fraud, money trails, and amounts involved. Speaker Sophon cautioned Pricha to use appropriate language rather than provocative terms, citing parliamentary rules. Minister Rutthapol responded that the election fraud case was accepted as a special case on March 10, 2568 under money laundering charges, with testimony from one complainant and 753 witnesses. He said eight people filed complaints with interconnected money details, currently under investigation. Regarding the principal charge of joint money laundering under Section 77 of the Constitution Drafting Act on Elections, or the election fraud case itself, this remains under consideration by the Election Commission, which has yet to make a ruling, so he cannot disclose details. Rutthapol further noted parliament rules Section 151 stating ministers must attend in person, but the article has three subsections—the third allows ministers to decline to answer on grounds of national interest or security. He suggested MPs should also study related laws restricting his ability to comment while cases are pending. Rutthapol then played a clip of Pricha's July 2 remarks questioning the urgency of raising the two-year-old case, noting it had not been a pressing issue and the public showed little interest. However, the clip revealed that Pricha's previous statement about forex money laundering cases had prompted the current inquiry, based on media reports. This drew protests from Pheu Thai MPs that the minister's explanation strayed from the actual question, wasting parliament's time until the 15-minute response period expired. Speaker Sophon ruled he had informed the minister of the remaining time but could not compel any particular response. Pricha then presented audio clips allegedly from Nakhon Phanom province referencing connections to certain parties in the election fraud case.

Nestlé is opening a new Nescafé production facility utilizing cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence to boost quality standards, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The factory, located in Samut Prakan province, represents a 23-billion-baht investment that will strengthen Nestlé's coffee business in Thailand and support export operations.

The new facility will produce multiple Nescafé product lines including instant coffee powder, ready-to-drink canned coffee, and other variants. It will incorporate state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and AI systems to elevate quality standards, enhance efficiency, and promote sustainable operations. A modern distribution center within the project will support various Nestlé product categories. The entire project is expected to create over 520 jobs, including technology specialists and mid to high-level skilled employees.

According to Nikil Charn, Chairman and Chief Executive of Nestlé Indochina, Thailand has been strategically important to Nestlé for more than 130 years. The company will prioritize sourcing raw materials—coffee beans, sugar, and fresh milk—from Thai farmers, with an estimated annual value of 4,300 million baht, supporting local agriculture and economic development.

The factory will install Nestlé's most advanced coffee extraction technology, modern aroma preservation systems, and sophisticated automation including robotics and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). AI technology and advanced process control systems will optimize efficiency, quality, and consistency across all production stages.

The investment reflects Nestlé's commitment to Thailand's development. Between 2018 and 2025, Nestlé invested over 27.8 billion baht to expand production capacity across key product groups, including beverages and pet food. The company has been a major buyer of Thai robusta coffee beans for over four decades and continues supporting local farmers through knowledge transfer and quality seedling distribution via its coffee research center. Nestlé also promotes coffee cultivation expansion across various Thai regions. The project has received investment promotion approval from the Board of Investment (BOI) and aligns with Thailand's bio-circular-green economy goals, with operations expected to commence in late 2028.

Chumtang Daotong grants exclusive access to rehearsal rooms where host Nok Bripaen coaches contestants through intensive preparation before their stage performance.

Fans, prepare yourselves! Channel 7 HD's Chumtang Daotong is opening behind-the-scenes footage with the special episode "Behind The Scenes Before The Real Stage." This two-part special takes viewers into the rehearsal room, revealing every step of contestant preparation before they step onto the stage of their dreams.

Throughout the two episodes, viewers will witness contestants from their first arrival through check-in, briefings with the team, and intensive rehearsals with big-name host Nok Bripaen. Beyond just hosting, she takes on a coaching role, sharing techniques in singing, emotional expression, stage presence, and confidence-building strategies before the live performance.

The special goes beyond just rehearsal footage. The team explores the feelings of contestants and their families through exclusive interviews filled with hope, excitement, and the determination that drives people to travel from distant provinces. Some have waited their entire lives for this opportunity, hoping to shine on the Chumtang Daotong stage.

What appears to be just minutes before stepping on stage actually involves rigorous training, refining every note and beat, and thorough mental preparation. Every beautiful song viewers hear is the result of complete dedication from both contestants and the entire team.

If you're a fan of the show or curious about what contestants go through to deliver impressive performances each week, don't miss this! The special airs Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10, 2025 at 1:10 p.m. on Channel 7 HD, with replays available on Bugaboo.tv, YouTube Channel 7 Star Studio, and the official Facebook page.