The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce successfully organized the THAI SELECT Festival 2026 in New York City on July 21, 2026, at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. The event was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from crowds of locals, tourists, and consumers of both American and international backgrounds who visited throughout the day. The atmosphere was vibrant and engaging, with participants showing keen interest in the activities and Thai cuisine, reflecting the popularity of Thai food and the Thai SELECT brand in the American market and underscoring Thai cuisine's role as an important soft power asset for Thailand.

Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barrommet graciously presided over the opening ceremony, bestowing great honor on the Commerce Ministry and affirming the importance of promoting Thai cuisine and the Thai SELECT brand on the international stage. This year's event was organized under the theme "Thai SELECT Playground – Play with Thai Flavors," which highlighted Thai cuisine's charm through experiences that blended taste, arts, culture, and creativity, allowing participants of all ages to learn about and experience the unique identity of Thai food in an enjoyable and accessible way.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthanthapanth visited 15 Thai SELECT restaurants participating in the event, each offering traditional and innovative Thai menus for attendees to sample, along with diverse activities that allowed consumers to engage closely with Thai food culture. The activities drew continuous interest and demonstrated the success of presenting Thai cuisine through participatory experiences that effectively reached consumers.

Prominent actors Mai-Bhakhapolom Romthaiton and Apo-Natthawit Wattanakit participated as Thai soft power representatives, engaging with fans and introducing Thai cuisine's appeal to people from various countries, generating significant interest and adding vibrancy to the festival while expanding awareness of Thai food and the Thai SELECT brand globally.

The success of THAI SELECT Festival 2026 reflects not only Thai cuisine's popularity in the American market but also demonstrates the potential of using food-based soft power to build brand awareness, connect consumers across diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and create concrete international trade opportunities. The Department of International Trade Promotion will continue advancing the Thai SELECT brand while elevating Thai cuisine's image through ongoing marketing and public relations activities in foreign markets, building consumer confidence worldwide, promoting Thai restaurants and entrepreneurs abroad, expanding trade opportunities, creating economic value, and strengthening Thai food industry competitiveness in global markets.

On August 1, 2026, the Nong Muang subdistrict leadership team in Si Bun Rueang District, Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, reported that Nirun, 41, a resident of Sri Nong Kung, who was facing charges for drug trafficking and theft, escaped from police custody by kicking the rear cage door of the transport vehicle and jumping out while being driven to court. He jumped from the vehicle in the area before the Ban Din Sai Aon soft-dirt settlement. Nirun is described as a tall man with fair skin and short hair, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and handcuffs. Police subsequently apprehended the suspect in the Ban Huay Phai area, Muang Bai Subdistrict, Si Bun Rueang District, Nong Bua Lam Phu Province.

The Department of Internal Trade announced on August 1, 2569, that it is organizing the "Thais Help Thais" cost-of-living relief event in response to Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Panitchpakdi's directive to address rising living costs following the impact of international conflicts on Thailand's economy. The event will be held at Tung Sri Muang field in Muang District, Udon Thani Province, from July 31 to August 2, 2569, bringing together more than 200 vendors offering over 1,000 products across 10 categories with discounts up to 60%. Products include instant noodles, canned fish, seasonings, detergents, household items, electrical appliances, clothing, and community-made goods.

Key highlighted items at special prices include chicken eggs at 85 baht per tray, sugar at 20 baht per kilogram, palm oil at 40 baht per bottle, and jasmine rice (5 kg) at 120 baht per bag. The event also features produce from farmer groups nationwide: dragon fruit at 20 baht per kilogram, coconut at 20 baht each, rambutan at 35 baht per kilogram, mangosteen at 35 baht per kilogram, and mango at 15 baht per kilogram. Produce from Surat Thani (rambutan and mangosteen), Sukhothai (Nam Wa mango), Loei (dragon fruit), and Ratchaburi (fragrant coconut) are being showcased alongside OTOP and SME products to create market opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs across Thailand.

A woman claiming to be a former girlfriend of a suspect linked to the killings of five people has alleged that he repeatedly abused and threatened her, once forcing her to lie inside a freshly dug grave while threatening to bury her alive. The allegations were published by the Facebook page Sor Pao – Rueang Nee Tong Sai Jai, which shared messages said to have been exchanged with the woman, along with documents showing that she had filed a police report.

The woman claimed she previously dated and lived closely with a man identified as "Pong," one of the suspects in the killings of two Russian siblings whose bodies were found buried in Chonburi. Police said Pong and another suspect, identified as "Thong," later confessed to killing a family of three in June and burying their bodies near the location where the Russian siblings were found.

According to the woman, Pong controlled, threatened and physically assaulted her on several occasions, leaving her constantly fearful for her safety. She alleged that he was fascinated by violence and regularly forced her to watch videos involving murder cases and simulated attacks. She also claimed he had previously told her about killing and burying other people in incidents separate from the two cases currently under investigation.

The woman described one incident in which Pong allegedly dug a hole and ordered her to lie inside it before threatening to bury her alive "like the others." She said she cried and pleaded for her life before he eventually allowed her to leave the hole.

The woman claimed the threats and harassment continued after the incident but said she had been afraid to speak publicly because she believed people might not trust her and feared that doing so could place her in further danger. She has now filed a police report to document her allegations and said she is willing to provide investigators with further information or testify as a witness if her evidence could assist investigations in Chonburi or nearby provinces.

The claims have not been independently verified, and police have not publicly confirmed whether they are investigating the additional alleged incidents described by the woman.

Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has identified opportunities to export electric vehicle and hybrid car components to Germany. DITP Director Sunantha Kangwalkulgij said the ministry has instructed commercial attachés worldwide to accelerate Thai product and service exports, following Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthumpandi's policy. The Bangkok Trade Office in Berlin recently reported findings from a survey of Germany's automotive parts market and export prospects for Thai components.

The survey found that while internal combustion engine parts remain in demand in Germany, the market is transitioning to hybrid systems. Suppliers must maintain existing gasoline engine parts inventory while simultaneously stocking electric vehicle components to meet growing EV demand. Consumer behavior shows Germans prioritize price transparency, supplier reliability comparisons, and competitive pricing due to ongoing inflation. Sustainability, carbon emissions data, and recyclability are also increasingly important.

Sunantha stated that Thailand, long an internal combustion engine parts manufacturer, faces challenges from this automotive market shift and must adapt by positioning itself as a regional EV manufacturing hub. With major Chinese automakers establishing production in Thailand and a growing battery and electronics component industry emerging, export opportunities to Germany will follow—but only if environmental, social, and governance standards are rigorously met.

Product safety and certification (E-mark) are mandatory for parts affecting vehicle safety or the environment, such as brakes, lights, tires, and windshields. Exports must comply strictly with customs procedures. Thai businesses should participate in trade shows to introduce products, including WM Werkstattmesse in Berlin (April 24–26, 2025), Dortmund (September 4–6, 2025), and Munich (October 16–18, 2025), as well as Automechanika Frankfurt (September 8–12, 2025), a leading international automotive parts trade show, and AAGtechnika 2025 in Münster (October 24–25, 2025), which targets independent parts retailers and repair shops.