Gold prices on July 7, 2569 have edged down 50 baht per gram compared to July 6's closing prices, according to the Gold Traders Association. Ornamental gold is now selling at 66,200 baht per gram. Gold bars are available at 65,200 baht per gram for buying and 65,400 baht per gram for selling under the first announcement. Ornamental gold at 96.5% purity is trading at 63,899.40 baht per gram for purchase and 66,200 baht per gram for sale. International gold spot prices remain at 4,143 US dollars per ounce. Gold traders predict prices may surge 1,000-2,000 baht per gram tomorrow and could break through 80,000 baht per gram.

Prime Minister Aneurin Chanyaweerakul opened the third APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting on July 7, 2025, at the Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel, highlighting the importance of public-private collaboration in advancing trade and investment while promoting the Thailand FastPass initiative to reduce business barriers and foster sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Prime Minister welcomed participants from APEC member economies and emphasized that ABAC serves as a crucial mechanism translating real business experiences into government policy. He stressed that the private sector understands which measures are practically implementable, prompting the government to actively solicit private sector input. In recent months, the administration has held continuous consultations with senior business executives and leaders, asking a simple question: "What obstacles make investment, business expansion, or job creation more difficult?" Often, the answer involves removing unnecessary steps and barriers rather than implementing additional incentives.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the current business environment faces increasing complexity, compounded by geopolitical uncertainties affecting business decisions. He noted that neither government nor business can succeed alone—the private sector cannot reach full potential without a favorable investment climate, and the government cannot create growth without business participation. This interdependence makes public-private cooperation essential for sustainable development.

A key government policy is positioning Thailand as a destination for quality investment through the Thailand FastPass project, which streamlines procedures, eliminates redundancy, improves interagency coordination, and enables quality projects to proceed faster, more transparently, and with greater predictability.

Regionally, supply chain resilience requires trust, clear and transparent regulations, efficient logistics, and cooperation among economies to maintain open markets even during challenging periods. The government therefore supports high-quality free trade agreements (FTAs), as long-term investment depends on confidence built through clear rules, fair competition, and improved market access. FTAs are not merely legal documents but mechanisms that give businesses confidence to invest, produce, and expand in specific locations.

In closing, the Prime Minister stated that APEC's strength lies in connecting government policy with actual business experience—more important than ever before. He reaffirmed that business voices hold value and the government must listen continuously, while committing to implement ABAC recommendations concretely and collaboratively to create an investment-friendly environment.

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at CenturyLink Stadium in Seattle on the morning of July 7, 2026, host nation United States faced Belgium. Belgium executed their game plan flawlessly with an excellent start, taking a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute when Charles De Ketelaere capitalized on an open goal opportunity. The United States mounted a comeback and equalized 1-1 in the 31st minute through Malik Tillman, but just two minutes later De Ketelaere struck again to restore Belgium's 2-1 advantage. In the second half, while the Americans pressed forward, Belgium focused on defensive solidity and counter-attacking play. In the 57th minute, American goalkeeper Matt Freese ventured out of his box and was dispossessed, allowing Hans Vanaken to collect the loose ball and easily slot it home, extending Belgium's lead to 3-1. Trailing significantly, the United States was forced to attack aggressively but could not penetrate Belgium's defense. Instead, Belgium's counter-attacks proved far more dangerous. In the 90+3rd minute, Romelu Lukaku added a fourth goal to seal a comprehensive 4-1 victory, sending Belgium through to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. Belgium will face Spain in their next match on July 10, 2026, at 2:00 AM (early morning July 11, 2026). With America's elimination, no host nation remains in contention for the 2026 World Cup from the quarterfinals onward.

Producer Prajak Chai praised Farida Hai Thongkham for entering the recording studio while six months pregnant to record her debut track "A Bad Wife Wanting to Be a Good Mother." Chai addressed skeptics who doubted her vocal abilities, saying he was relieved when she nailed the key, lyrics, and melody during recording sessions. "She stood and sang for an hour straight with barely any breaks," Chai posted, adding that Farida's motivation—to create something for her unborn child—moved him deeply. When asked why she was pushing herself so hard while pregnant, Farida simply answered, "I'm doing it for my baby." The song's lyrics resonated with listeners, reflecting her own life journey. Farida continues juggling music performances and online sales while preparing for a major concert alongside other established artists. On social media, she recently updated fans that she is now six months along and shared her excitement about the concert appearance.

Doctor Suphruck Vicharanyan, known as Dr. Oak and owner of the "Dr. Oak DoctorSixpack" social media page, has explained why parasitic liver fluke infections are so common in northeastern Thailand.

While many have heard that "the northeast has lots of liver flukes," this is true, but the cause isn't related to the region's geography or ethnicity. Rather, it stems from eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish combined with the parasite's life cycle in local waterways.

Why is the Northeast Most Affected?

Many traditional dishes—such as koi pla (fish cakes), larb pla ding (raw fish salad), pla som (fermented fish), pla jom, and pickled or marinated fish that haven't been heat-treated—may contain liver fluke larvae. When consumed, the larvae travel to the bile duct and can live in the body for 20-30 years.

How Prevalent Is This in Thailand?

National surveys over the years show that in 1981, about 14% of Thais were infected with liver flukes, but in the northeast the rate reached 34.6%—roughly one in three people in some areas. Although infection rates have declined due to ongoing campaigns, the northeast remains the most affected region, with some surveys still finding 13-16% infection rates through stool samples, and some communities showing even higher prevalence. A 2019 national health ministry survey found 2.2% of all Thais infected, with most cases concentrated in the northeastern region.

The Most Frightening Aspect: It's Not Just Having the Parasite

Many believe taking deworming medication is sufficient, but liver flukes can inhabit the bile duct for 20-30 years. Repeated infections from regularly eating raw fish cause chronic bile duct inflammation, which is a critical factor triggering cell mutations that develop into cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). The World Health Organization classifies liver flukes as a Group 1 human carcinogen.

Early stages often show no symptoms, but over many years, complications can include chronic bile duct inflammation, bile duct stones, hepatitis, bile duct infections, liver dysfunction, and most dangerously, bile duct cancer. Thailand, especially the northeast, has one of the world's highest rates of cholangiocarcinoma, clearly linked to chronic liver fluke infection.

Prevention Is Possible

- Always eat freshwater fish thoroughly cooked - Avoid fish cakes, raw fish salad, and unheated fermented fish - If you've regularly eaten raw fish, seek medical checkups as recommended - Don't think taking deworming medication regularly is enough—repeated infections still increase cancer risk

Liver fluke may not cause illness today but silently damages the liver and bile duct over decades. Avoiding raw fish just once may reduce future disease risk significantly.

About Salmon: FAQ

Raw salmon is generally "not" a source of Thai liver flukes. However, raw salmon does carry risks from other parasites and pathogens. Liver flukes are found in freshwater fish such as tilapia.