The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is accelerating the drafting of a new regulation to establish Type 8 Cooperatives (Housing Cooperatives), removing legal restrictions to improve living standards and housing rights for urban poor and low-income earners. Sarawut Neungchamnong, Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, revealed this after receiving petitions and hearing concerns from representatives of the Poor People's Movement for Land and Housing Rights (KPSK) who visited the ministry. The ministry recognizes the struggles poor and low-income communities face regarding agricultural land and housing, including informal settlement residents and affected populations across the country. It has therefore ordered the Department of Cooperative Promotion to urgently review and remove legal restrictions. The latest progress involves drafting a ministerial regulation to establish Type 8 Cooperatives, or Housing Cooperatives, to clearly and efficiently support community-based land and housing management. This will unlock the outdated legal framework that currently recognizes only seven cooperative types, bringing regulations in line with how the secure housing program actually operates.

Implementing this policy demonstrates the Agriculture Ministry's genuine commitment to working closely with the public. After receiving the petition from poor people's representatives, the ministry immediately ordered responsible agencies to expedite regulatory review and conduct comprehensive impact assessments. The ministry aims to launch public hearings to gather citizen input by August and complete the regulatory improvements within the established timeline to provide security and reassurance to all members nationwide. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has committed to rolling out Type 8 Cooperatives as quickly as possible, calling it a historic milestone for Thailand's cooperative system. These new cooperatives will sustainably manage community resources including land, housing, and savings groups across the country. By dismantling outdated structural and regulatory barriers, the government aims to transform public service delivery, improve basic welfare, elevate living standards, and create genuine stability for farmers and low-income earners.

Fans of Betong-style breakfast no longer need to travel to Yala province. Thai See Hee, a historic breakfast restaurant beloved in Betong, has opened a second branch called Thai See Hee Dim Sum Betong in the Buddhamon Sai 2 area of Bangkok, serving the same authentic menu as the original location with ingredients, seasonings, and recipes delivered directly from Betong.

Thai See Hee Dim Sum Betong is a Chinese-style breakfast restaurant that has captivated Betong residents for generations with hard-to-find local dishes including steaming dim sum, traditional white noodle soup, taro cakes, and various other breakfast items that distinctly reflect Betong's identity. Every dish maintains its original flavor without alteration.

One standout specialty not to be missed is the ancient recipe cha kok poh—a traditional tea blend made in-house that offers a delicate aroma, cleanses the palate, and pairs perfectly with meals. Many customers specifically request it.

Among the must-try dishes is crispy fried taro, which is freshly fried to order with a golden, crispy exterior and soft, fragrant interior. The traditional white noodle soup is another simple yet perfectly balanced dish that pairs wonderfully with the house tea.

Behind the delicious food lies generations of succession. "Hia Chong" Someth Saelu, the third-generation heir, maintains the original family recipes. Despite operating for over 85 years, the restaurant remains committed to the same quality and taste from day one.

The restaurant remains popular, particularly on weekends when long queues form, but the hot, freshly served dishes make the wait worthwhile. Visitors are advised to allow extra time and not expect disappointment.

Thai See Hee Dim Sum Betong, managed by Hia Chong's son, officially opened on July 9, 2026. It welcomes longtime customers nostalgic for Betong flavors and new customers eager to experience legendary breakfast without traveling to the southern border.

Open daily 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, all dishes are freshly prepared and served hot from the kitchen. For those seeking a breakfast restaurant offering delicious food, attention to detail, and authentic Betong character, Thai See Hee Dim Sum Betong at Buddhamon Sai 2 is unmissable. Many who try it will surely return.

Disney's Moana live-action film transports audiences to the stunning island of Motunui, showcasing vibrant island life and spectacular transformation sequences featuring Maui and the mischievous Kakamora warriors. Catherine Laga'aia stars as Moana, with Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui, joined by New Zealand actors John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Tala. Thai actress Anutsara Sapor (Yaya) provides the Thai voice for Moana and appears in an exclusive fashion shoot inspired by the island navigator's spirit. The collection captures Moana's grace, gentleness, and courage through oceanic tones, tropical atmosphere, and island aesthetics. Yaya describes Moana as a brave woman who listens to her heart and ventures into the unknown—a character whose courage, family love, responsibility, and self-belief resonate across generations. She acknowledges the challenge of voicing a live-action character, noting that Moana's diverse emotions—joy, excitement, fear, and confusion—require nuanced emotional depth, especially for Thai fans eagerly awaiting the character in their native language.

On July 9, 2025, Dachai Ekapatthapin, a Lampang MP and spokesperson for the parliamentary anti-money laundering and narcotics suppression committee, announced findings from a hearing on a Thai Airways flight attendant accused of smuggling heroin into Australia. The committee summoned relevant agencies including Thai Airways, Airports of Thailand, and the Civil Aviation Authority to explain their procedures.

Investigators found significant gaps in airport security. Suvarnabhumi Airport has 20 explosive-detection dogs but no dedicated narcotics detection unit, relying instead on the Police Narcotics Bureau and occasional Customs checks. The committee noted that the Prime Minister has ordered K-9 units to be deployed at Suvarnabhumi to strengthen drug detection.

Long-term improvements will include modern technologies such as biometric screening, advance passenger data, and inter-agency data integration, along with increased use of drug-detection dogs.

The committee also raised concerns about international money laundering linked to suspicious fuel exports. Between February and June, over 10 million liters of oil per month were exported to Laos at approximately 20 baht per liter, while Thai consumers pay around 40 baht per liter. This discrepancy stems from excise tax exemptions that allow cheaper fuel purchases. The committee questioned whether the money used to buy this fuel—which is then sold abroad—originates from drug trafficking, scams, or other illicit sources. The Excise Department was urged to close legal loopholes enabling these exports to high-risk areas.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 9, 2025 (local Malaysian time) for an official visit to Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally welcomed him with a formal reception ceremony at the airport's VIP lounge. Both leaders inspected a Guard of Honour and traveled together by car to the Malaysian Prime Minister's office (Perdana Putra Complex) in Putrajaya for official discussions.

During talks at 1:10 p.m., government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek revealed that both prime ministers agreed to elevate cooperation across all dimensions and create an "area of opportunity" in economics, trade, investment, tourism, and security—directly improving living standards and incomes for both nations' citizens.

A key focus was accelerating infrastructure connections between Thailand and Malaysia to ease travel, reduce shipping costs, and strengthen border trade. The two leaders will jointly open the new Sa Dao and Bukit Kayu Hitam border checkpoints tomorrow, which represent Thailand-Malaysia's highest-value trade points.

Both countries agreed to advance several major projects: reopening ferry service between Satun Province and Kuala Perlis, integrating railway ticketing systems between Bangkok, Hatyai, and Butterworth, rehabilitating the Sungai Kolok-Rantau Panjang railway line, and constructing new bridges to improve regional transportation and logistics.

Alongside infrastructure development, Thailand and Malaysia will jointly promote investment, support local entrepreneurs, create jobs, develop workforce skills, and enhance tourism to ensure border communities benefit from economic growth.

On security, both countries reaffirmed cooperation in building peace in southern border provinces, emphasizing that economic development and peacebuilding must advance together. They pledged increased cooperation against transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and border crime, while establishing joint task forces to monitor the Kolok River and develop flood warning systems.

Economically, both nations target trade value reaching $30 billion USD in the near future and are strengthening supply chains in food security, energy, and advanced technology. Agriculture ministers were tasked with expediting market opening for agricultural and fishery products. The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of agricultural cooperation agreements covering crops and livestock.

A new legend has emerged—96-year-old American grandmother Lillian Droniak went viral globally after revealing her senior living facility was unhappy with her frequent parties and threatened action against her. Rather than worry, Grandma Droniak found the situation hilarious and firmly stated that nobody could stop her from living a happy life. She emphasized that since she pays her own rent, no one has the authority to prevent her from enjoying herself.

Known to millions as "Grandma Droniak," she posted a humorous video response declaring that her party schedule and fun activities would continue unchanged, as "partying too much" was not a big deal to her. The controversy stemmed from noise complaints and the frequency of celebrations, which might seem troublesome to others, but for this 96-year-old, it became content that went viral. Her video garnered over 5.5 million views, more than 668,000 likes, and over 12,500 comments.

The story took a positive turn when Grandma Droniak received a special invitation from a renowned entertainment venue to attend a brunch event as a distinguished guest. What started as a threat of eviction transformed into her becoming a sought-after celebrity guest.

Today, Grandma Droniak represents the "Granfluencer" trend—elderly creators building online fame—proving that charm, authenticity, and fun are not limited to younger generations. Many viewers appreciate seeing older people living life fully and happily. While it remains unclear if the senior living facility will follow through on its threats, one thing is certain: Grandma Droniak continues to win the hearts of the online world, and her party days are far from over.