COCOLOVE showcases Thai premium coconut water at THAIFEX 2026

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29 May 2026, 23:10

BANGKOK — COCOLOVE, a Thai premium coconut water brand, attracted strong interest from local and international buyers at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026, highlighting the growing global demand for healthier beverages and the export potential of Thai coconut products.

The exhibition, held at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, saw the brand’s booth become one of the event’s major attractions, drawing importers, distributors and business partners interested in expanding cooperation with the company.

Executives from Unicorn Consumer Group Co., Ltd., the owner of the COCOLOVE brand, said the company aims to position Thai premium coconut water as a globally recognised health beverage and a contributor to Thailand’s Soft Power strategy.

COCOLOVE’s products are made from 100% natural coconut water with no added sugar or preservatives, targeting consumers seeking healthier alternatives to conventional soft drinks.

Arshavin Rojanachaichanint, managing director of the company, said visitor response exceeded expectations, with many international buyers expressing confidence in both the product quality and brand image, leading to ongoing business negotiations.

The company attributed its growing popularity to the distinctive qualities of Thai coconut water, including its natural aroma, refreshing taste and smooth texture. International partners also noted that Thailand’s growing conditions help create a unique flavour profile compared with coconut water produced elsewhere.

The brand has continued expanding overseas and recently reported strong sales at Thai Food Festival 2026 in Tokyo, where products sold out quickly.

Benjarath Phorkar, a member of the executive committee, said the company’s success reflects both commercial achievement and an opportunity to promote Thailand’s premium food and beverage products internationally.

COCOLOVE said it plans to further expand across Asia and Australia while strengthening its domestic presence through online and offline marketing campaigns.

Laos cave rescue: First survivor brought out

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Khaosod English

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29 May 2026, 22:50

710226928_1433403852166607_6689883426129931568_n — Thailand Rescue Diver

XAISOMBOUN, Laos — 29 May 2026. Rescuers successfully brought the first survivor out of a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province at 20:40 on Friday, according to Thailand Rescue Diver, a Thai rescue diving page tracking the operation.

Five of the seven villagers trapped in the cave have been found alive. Two others remain missing. The group had entered the cave on 19 May in search of gold before flash flooding sealed the exit, trapping them underground for over a week.

The rescue operation involved specialist divers who also took part in Thailand’s landmark 2018 cave rescue.

Thai children shorter than Singaporean and Japanese peers

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Khaosod English

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29 May 2026, 19:17

BANGKOK — 29 May 2026, Thai children are falling behind their regional peers in height and risk developing low muscle mass and osteoporosis in later life, the Department of Health warned on Friday, citing low milk consumption across all age groups.

Dr. Ampaiphan Benjapolpitak, director-general of the Department of Health, said average height among Thai males stands at 171.6 cm and Thai females at 159.3 cm — below Singapore, where men average 176.9 cm and women 163.3 cm, and Japan, where men average 173.5 cm and women 161.5 cm.

Thailand also drinks far less milk than its neighbours. The country averages 23.1 litres per person per year, compared to 62 litres in Singapore, 36.2 litres in Japan, and a global average of 31 litres.

A survey of child nutrition across Southeast Asia found that only 23 percent of Thai children aged 2–12 meet the recommended intake of two glasses of milk per day, with older children more likely to skip milk altogether. More than 70 percent of children across the region were found to be calcium-deficient, and 84 percent had insufficient vitamin D.

Among Thais aged 15 and over, only 19.6 percent drink the recommended amount of plain milk daily, according to a 2026 health poll.

Ampaiphan said the department is promoting a campaign encouraging all age groups to drink two glasses of plain milk daily — one in the morning and one in the evening — alongside a balanced diet and at least 60 minutes of exercise per day, broken into 10 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes at lunch, and 30 minutes after school.

Children should also be in bed before 21:00 to stimulate growth hormone secretion, she added.

Dr. Pakorn Tungkasereerak, deputy director-general, said working-age adults should pair milk consumption with weight-bearing exercise such as skipping rope, aerobics, or squats to strengthen bones and muscles. Older adults are advised to choose low-fat milk or calcium-fortified soy milk, eat adequate protein, and get gentle sun exposure to boost vitamin D absorption.

Cow’s milk contains 13 essential nutrients, including calcium, protein, phosphorus, and vitamin B2, the department said.

With World Milk Day falling on 1 June, the department has partnered with Lotus’s and 7-Eleven to run promotions making plain milk more affordable and accessible to the public.

Ukrainian Envoy Thanks Thailand And Says the Kingdom Can Do Even More

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Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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29 May 2026, 19:11

Viktor Semenov, chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Ukraine in Thailand, on Friday thanked the Thai government, saying Ukraine is “really grateful” for Thailand’s principled support for Ukrainian sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter as Russia’s full-scale invasion drags past the four-year mark.

Semenov gave a lengthy briefing to Thai journalists in Bangkok about the situation in Ukraine. He also took the opportunity to thank the Thai government for its 5 million baht humanitarian aid, and urged Thais not to forget the “Russian war of aggression” against Ukraine.

“We also kindly ask Thai people: Do not forget about this war. We are fighting not only for our country. We’re fighting for international law. We’re fighting for the UN Charter.”

He said he strongly disagrees with claims that Thailand is neutral in the conflict, arguing that Thailand’s position is on the side of international law and the UN Charter.

Semenov added, however, that Thailand could use its position in the international arena to play a greater global role by pushing for the return of 20,000 Ukrainian children he said had been abducted by Russia — acts described by a UN commission as amounting to a “crime against humanity.”

Ukraine is prepared to compromise, Semenov said, but he stressed that “Russia is determined to continue the war of aggression.” He said Ukraine remains ready to negotiate, but will not give up territory temporarily occupied by Russia or surrender its right to decide whether to join the EU or NATO in the future.

“Why is this position about NATO so concerning to the Russian people?” Semenov said in response to a question from Khaosod English on whether Ukraine would consider giving up its ambition to join NATO or the EU as part of a compromise to end the war. “Of course, it’s our right to choose our alliance.”

A sobering picture of death and destruction
Before presenting the grim figures, Semenov said 600 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory had been “liberated” since January 2026. He also claimed that 1.3 million Russian soldiers had been killed or injured over the past four years.

Russia has made no serious advances on the battlefield, according to Semenov, but continues to attack infrastructure, including Ukrainian railways, which he said had been targeted 1,500 times. Russia also continues to occupy the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, he said.

Semenov said Russia had used 600 Iranian-made drones to attack civilian infrastructure, including a church and a shopping mall.

Among the civilians killed, Semenov noted, are 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches.

He also claimed that 5,000 North Korean troops sent to aid Russia had been killed or injured. He said Ukrainian prisoners of war faced torture, starvation, denial of medical care and beatings for speaking Ukrainian.

Regarding lands now considered hazardous due to unexploded ordnance, Semenov said it now covers around 22 per cent of the country’s territory.

“Ukraine expects a clear international response to put an end to Russian terror,” Semenov said.

Rescuers work to drain flooded Laos cave to free 5 villagers and search for 2 still missing

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Associated Press

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29 May 2026, 17:48

Laos Cave Rescue — This image made from the video provided by Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving shows the villagers who were trapped and found in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving via AP)

BANGKOK (AP) — Rescuers working at a flooded cave in Laos said Friday that they were trying to drain water out to help extricate five villagers who have been trapped for more than a week.

An overnight rainstorm has complicated their efforts, they said. Meanwhile, searching continues for two more people who still haven’t been located. The villagers had reportedly entered the cave to look for valuable minerals.

AP26147148057298 — In this image released by Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin, rescuers talk to Finnish rescue diver Mikko Paasi, center, as they try to reach people who have been trapped in a cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin via AP)

Rescue experts from Laos and neighboring Thailand have been working together for the past week, making their way through twisting, narrow passages with jagged walls and flooded sections of the cave located in a rugged area in the central province of Xaisomboun, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Vientiane.

Those helping out included several divers who took part in the complicated 2018 rescue in northern Thailand of 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach who were trapped for more than two weeks in a cave.

The Lao organization Rescue Volunteer for People says that another diver from Malaysia is assisting in the operation. Kengkaj Bongkawong, head of Thai rescue group Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin, said that divers from Indonesia, Japan and France were also on their way.

The discovery on Wednesday of five trapped villagers triggered celebrations among the rescue teams. They said the search for the other missing two will continue.

AP26148288874400 — This image made from the video provided by Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving shows the villagers who were trapped and found in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving via AP)

A video filmed by Thai cave diver Norrased Palasing showed the emotional moment he and Finnish diving instructor Miiko Paasi emerged from the water and discovered the trapped men. In the footage, the men are wearing headlamps and sitting on a rock surrounded by floodwater.

The five men were identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing, and Laen, according to the Lao rescue group. They were reportedly in good health but exhausted from dehydration and lack of food. Divers have since delivered soft food and water to them.

The men could be heard wailing as they saw their rescuers, and Norrased inquired about their health and conditions.

Along with introducing themselves on camera, they delivered messages to their families telling them not to worry.

“Don’t worry mom, dad. I’m still strong, I’m still healthy. Tomorrow I will be home. I love you mom and dad,” said the man, who introduced himself as Mued.

Lao officials say the villagers normally forage in the mountainous, heavily wooded surroundings for a living.

AP26149331893456 — This image made from the video provided by Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving shows a rescuer working in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, Thursday, May 28, 2026.(Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving via AP)

The villagers had been reported to have entered the cave to look for gold deposits. Bounphong Khammanyvong, a local official in Longcheng, the district where the cave is located, said that they had noticed rocks or sand with unusual colors in the cave, so they entered it in the hope of digging them out to see if they were valuable.

Bounphong, in an interview on Thursday with local media outlet Xaisomboun Province Television, said the villagers were trapped when heavy rain caused flooding that blocked them from leaving. An eighth person who managed to escape alerted the authorities.

He said that the group went in on May 20, contradicting rescuers who put the date at May 19.

AP26148289764360 — This image made from the video provided by Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving shows the villager who was trapped and found in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Benz Norrased Palasing Seascout Diving via AP)

Rescue Volunteer for People posted on its Facebook page that Friday’s operation plan included pumping water out of the cave in an attempt to get the five villagers out later in the day, but that heavy early morning rain had complicated their efforts.

“The front of the cave is in a low-lying area. When it rains, all water will flow down to this area and into the cave,” Bounphong said in his interview.

Don’t touch: Deadly jellyfish washing up on Phuket shores

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Khaosod English

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29 May 2026, 16:24

PHUKET — 29 May 2026, Lifeguards have spotted Portuguese Man o’ War on several Phuket beaches, prompting warnings for tourists to stay vigilant along the Andaman coast.

A lifeguard at Kata Noi beach in Karon subdistrict first noticed the venomous marine creatures washed ashore on 28 May. Warning signs have since been erected along the beachfront.

Chaninton Nareepen, a lifeguard stationed at Kata Noi, said he spotted the creatures on 28 May and immediately put up warning signs along the full length of the beach.

Sightings have also been reported at Nai Harn beach, Yanui beach, and Racha Island, prompting authorities to step up monitoring across the area.

Despite resembling a common jellyfish, the Portuguese Man o’ War is a highly venomous marine organism with long tentacles that can deliver a painful sting even after the creature is dead. Contact can cause burning pain, swelling, rashes, nausea, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness, and can be fatal in some cases.

Authorities advise anyone who spots one not to touch it. Those stung should rinse the affected area with seawater — not fresh water — and seek medical attention immediately.
Tourists visiting Andaman coast beaches are urged to monitor official warnings closely before entering the water.

DITP expands Thai SELECT network to boost global soft power

By

MC Marketing

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29 May 2026, 14:35

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, moves forward to build upon the success in advancing Thai restaurants and the Thai food industry onto the global stage through the Thai SELECT Restaurant Capacity-Building and Networking Program. The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of Thai restaurant entrepreneurs overseas, while strengthening Thailand’s image and advancing Thai soft power through world-class Thai cuisine. The program also includes business matching activities within the THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA trade fair, hoping to increase the export value of Thai food products.

Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, revealed that DITP continues to move forward in supporting and promoting Thai restaurants abroad that have awarded the Thai SELECT mark to grow strongly in the global market, as an important mechanism for disseminating the identity of Thai food, creating the country’s image, and driving Thai soft power concretely. The Thai SELECT mark is considered an international quality and standard certification mark for Thai restaurants, covering authentic Thai taste, selection of quality ingredients, correct Thai cooking techniques according to Thai recipes, as well as service and atmosphere that appropriately reflect Thainess, all of which are important factors in building confidence for consumers worldwide.

DITP gives continuous importance to developing the potential of Thai restaurant entrepreneurs to be able to adapt to modern consumer trends and maintain competitiveness in the long term, whereby after elevating the image of the Thai SELECT mark through the “Orchid Star” along with adjusting new evaluation criteria, currently there are Thai restaurants abroad that have passed certification according to these new criteria totaling 1,419 restaurants in 70 countries worldwide as of May 2026.

For the Thai SELECT Restaurant Capacity-Building and Networking Program that has received the Thai SELECT symbol, DITP aims to strengthen Thai restaurant entrepreneurs worldwide through linking networks, knowledge, skill development, updating Thai food trends, and exchanging business service experiences to elevate Thai restaurant standards abroad, while expanding commercial opportunities and creating international awareness of the Thai SELECT symbol.

This project brings together 15 overseas Thai SELECT restaurant entrepreneurs from regions worldwide, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, and ASEAN. Participants will experience in-depth through fully integrated activities, including studying Thai food culture from the source in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, visiting historical sites and the Thai way of life, learning Thai culinary science with Dusit Thani College, including participating in the THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 event to link with quality Thai food producers under the Thai SELECT symbol and exploring the development of the modern Thai food industry.

Additionally, entrepreneurs will update contemporary Thai restaurant trends in the Song Wat Road area, exchange business perspectives with experts and leading Thai restaurant entrepreneurs, such as Alisara Sirichumsaeng, Honorary Judge of Iron Chef Thailand, and Pumiphan Iamprames, co-founder and general manager of Baan Nok Kao Krung restaurant, as well as strengthening knowledge of Thai restaurant market trends from national experts, along with direct experience through visiting and tasting quality Thai restaurants that have received the Thai SELECT mark in various formats.

This program is considered another important step reflecting the role of DITP in integrating cooperation between the government and business sectors to elevate Thai restaurants to international standards, building a stronger network of Thai entrepreneurs worldwide, and pushing Thai food as one of the country’s important Soft Powers to grow sustainably on the world stage.

The Department of International Trade Promotion is confident that the continuous development of knowledge, networks, and entrepreneurial potential will be an important foundation in maintaining the strength of the Thai food industry, expanding trade opportunities, and creating a prominent image for Thailand as a world-class leader in quality Thai cuisine.

Over 500 Buddhists gather at Canada’s Parliament Hill for Vesak

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Khaosod English

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29 May 2026, 14:22

OTTAWA, Canada — Thai Buddhist monks were among more than 500 clergy and laypeople from 56 organisations across Canada who gathered at Parliament Hill in Ottawa to mark Vesak and advocate for official recognition of May as Canadian Buddhist Heritage Month.

The event, held as part of the Canadian Buddhist Heritage Month initiative, brought together representatives from Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, with attendees from Thai, Sri Lankan, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Burmese communities.

Two Thai abbots represented the country at the ceremony: Phra Khru Suwannabhatharawithet, abbot of Bhavana Toronto Temple, and Phra Maha Suksanti Supaphaso, abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya Vancouver. Both participated in chanting ceremonies during the occasion.

Activities at Parliament Hill included a press conference highlighting Buddhism’s role in Canadian society through education, charity, and mindfulness promotion, a water-pouring ceremony at the Centennial Flame, and a National Peace Walk to promote goodwill in Canada’s multicultural society.

The gathering also aimed to push the federal government to formally declare May as Buddhist Heritage Month each year.

Phra Khru Samuh Sanitwong Wutthiwangso, assistant abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathumthani and director of the temple’s communications office, said the event reflected Buddhism’s continued role as a unifying force across cultures and nationalities.
Vesak is recognised by the United Nations as an international day of significance, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha.

Scam ringleader “Soe Rose” nabbed for luring Thais to Cambodian scam compounds

By

Khaosod English

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29 May 2026, 14:14

Scam ringleader “Soe Rose” nabbed for luring Thais to Cambodian scam compounds

BANGKOK — 29 May 2026, The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) has dismantled a transnational scammer gang, arresting an alleged Thai ringleader known as “Soe Rose” along with five accomplices, accused of recruiting Thai nationals to work in scam compounds in Cambodia with promises of high-paying jobs. The victims were subsequently detained, forced to work, tortured or shocked with electricity if they failed to meet scam quotas, and held for ransom from their families.

On Friday, Pol. Lt. Gen. Nattasak Chaowanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), and Pol. Maj. Gen. Withaya Sriprasertparp, commander of the ATPD, ordered Pol. Col. Korkiat Wuthijumnong, the superintendent of Sub-Division 1, along with Pol. Maj. Korkiat Kiattang, Inquiry Officer, and Pol. Maj. Female Sabainang Sirimonthree to execute a coordinated arrest operation.

Police arrested the suspect as 29-year-old Kittikorn, alias “Soe Rose,” 35-year-old Thanaphon, alias “Ah Sue,” 40-year-old Maythanee, 30-year-old Surapong, and 34-year-old Nonglek under warrants issued by the Criminal Court on charges including participation in a transnational criminal organisation, human trafficking for forced labour, unlawful detention, and coercion.

The suspects were arrested at locations in Moo 7, Nong Pla Lai Sub-district, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province; a durian sorting facility in Phluang Sub-district, Khitchakut District, Chanthaburi Province; and a house in Hat Lek Sub-district, Khlong Yai District, Trat Province.

This operation follows the policies from the Royal Thai Police’s Anti-Online Cyber Scam Center (ACSC). The crackdown was conducted under the direction of Pol. Gen. Thana Chuwong, the deputy national police chief and head of the Anti-Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC), alongside Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, who ordered an accelerated investigation to track down and dismantle all forms of technological crime networks.

After Thailand’s Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (ACSC) received cooperation from Meta, which coordinated and shared data with police from ATPD Sub-division 1, this led to the discovery of the network that lured Thai job seekers into working in Cambodia. Victims were forced to defraud victims online, operating as a transnational cybercrime organisation, where tasks were systematically divided.

According to the investigation, in late 2025, a Thai national named as “Soe Rose” allegedly worked as the Thai coordinator for a scam operation based in Tbong Khmum province, Cambodia. She lured low-income Thais to travel for work with promises of easy and high-paying jobs, only to trap and force them into scamming numerous Thai citizens through online chat after arrival.

At least five Thai victims have since returned to Thailand and filed complaints with ATPD Sub-division 1. One victim had been sold from another scam office and bought by a “Chinese boss” like merchandise. The remaining four said they had been induced by Soe Rose to work as online gambling chat admins, offering monthly salaries of 32,000 baht, along with free accommodation, meals, two days off per month, and fully paid travel expenses. This prompted them to travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phnom Penh in October 2025.

Upon arriving in Cambodia, the victims were being transported by SUV to a “scam compound”, a fraudulent operations facility located in Tbong Khmum province, Cambodia. The compound was surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, and had just one exit. Guarded heavily by Chinese and Cambodian guards carrying guns, batons, and electric tasers prevented escape attempts.

Victims were then forced to study scam scripts and operate as scammers. They were also allegedly trained to carry out “romance scam” schemes using fake social media accounts to entrap victims online. Within this operation, Thanaphon, also known as “Ah Sue”, acted as an interpreter for Chinese bosses and helped provide fake online accounts used in the scams.

The network also allegedly created counterfeit shopping websites imitating popular platforms including Kogan and Depop, tricking victims into fake investment and displaying fake profits. This shopping scheme swindled countless Thais out of their savings, generating between 7 million and 12 million baht per month.

In addition, workers who failed to meet targets were allegedly physically assaulted, shocked with electric batons, beaten with sticks, forced to detain, squat, or run laps as punishment. Unable to endure the torture, some victims had their relatives pay ransom money to secure their release and return to Thailand.

Following the gathering of evidence, eight arrest warrants had been issued in total and launched search operations across three target locations, successfully arresting five key suspects.

Initially, investigations are expanding the investigation to track down remaining accomplices and identify additional victims of this network, with the aim of pursuing legal action and seizing assets under anti-money laundering laws.

Thailand launches THIM app to speed up immigration process

By

Khaosod English

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29 May 2026, 13:50

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has launched a new mobile application that lets tourists pre-fill arrival forms before landing, with officials aiming to cut the time spent at the immigration counter to under 40 seconds per person.

The app, called THIM — Thailand Immigration Management System — was developed in partnership with Digital Identity Co. and built on Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure. It is available for download on iOS and Android as part of a pilot programme, with hundreds of thousands of downloads already recorded.

Travellers can use the app to fill out immigration arrival forms in advance, with the process taking under three minutes for first-time users and under one minute for return visitors, as the system retains basic personal information between trips.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Pratchaya Prasansuk, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said the shift from paper forms had been a long time coming.

“In the past, paper wasted both budget and time significantly,” he said, adding that a web-based system introduced last year drew more than 10 million users but still drew complaints over having to re-enter information each trip.

“We want to balance security with convenience. The goal is for everyone to use this application. The time spent at the immigration counter must not exceed 40 seconds per person,” Pratchaya said.

The app also addresses a scam problem, as fraudsters have previously created fake websites to collect fees from tourists — an issue that a verified app is designed to eliminate.

THIM currently supports four languages: English, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese. The bureau plans to expand to 15 languages by 1 October.

The app’s backend uses optical character recognition to read passport data, with AWS cloud infrastructure handling traffic spikes during peak travel periods. Data is protected with end-to-end encryption.

Future features planned for the app include 90-day address reporting for long-stay residents, electronic document certification, and exclusive promotions for app users — all at no cost.

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