Italian school denies link to BTS noise incident, threatens legal action over false claims

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27 July 2026, 15:53

An Italian high school has denied claims that its students were involved in a recent BTS Skytrain incident in Bangkok, saying the individuals shown in viral videos are not affiliated with the school and warning that it may take legal action against those spreading false information.

The controversy began after a group of Italian teenagers visiting Thailand for an educational trip were accused of making loud noises and disturbing passengers on a BTS train. The situation escalated after a Thai passenger confronted the group, leading to criticism online over the teenagers’ alleged behavior.

The issue was later resolved after the students and the Italian Embassy in Thailand issued apologies.

However, the Liceo Scientifico Statale “Albert Einstein” in Cerignola, Italy, said it had been wrongly identified online as the school attended by the teenagers involved.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the school said none of the individuals involved in the incident or seen in viral videos were enrolled at, studying at, or connected to the institution.

The school also said the incident was not part of any educational trip, study program or project organized, approved or supported by the school.

The school emphasized that respect for other cultures, civic responsibility and global citizenship are among its core values.

It said linking the school to the incident had caused “serious damage” to its reputation and that of its students and families.

The school warned people against continuing to spread “false, unverified and damaging information” and said it had assigned legal representatives to collect evidence of defamatory content online.

It added that it reserves the right to pursue civil and criminal legal action against those responsible for creating or sharing such content.

GMMTV apologizes after fan clash at International Novel Festival sparks online dispute

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27 July 2026, 15:39

BANGKOK — A fan altercation during the International Novel Festival 2026 has sparked a wider online dispute between Thai and Chinese fan communities after entertainment company GMMTV apologized over an incident involving an event staff member and a Chinese attendee.

According to accounts circulating online, the dispute began over a seating issue after a Chinese fan allegedly entered a reserved area. The situation later escalated during attempts to remove her from the area, leading to a physical confrontation involving event staff.

ให้โอกาส ถ้าดูแล้วยังไม่เห็นอีก ก็เข้าใจเลยว่าคงเห็นแต่เงินจริงๆ#แบนgmmtv https://t.co/CDXr3N5knP pic.twitter.com/rd6w1QcU9T

— ‎ ֯ ꒰ ͡ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʟɪᴍ ˚⋆ (@hafsky07) July 26, 2026

In a statement released after an initial investigation, GMMTV said the staff member involved used excessive force during parts of the incident and that the company does not support violence in any form.

Although the staff member was an outsourced worker hired for the event, GMMTV said it accepted responsibility for properly supervising event personnel. The staff member has been suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation.

GMMTV also denied online claims that it had taken legal action against the Chinese attendee, saying no such action had been filed.

The company said the incident was an individual dispute and did not reflect its policy toward any nationality. It added that GMMTV does not condone discrimination based on race or nationality.

The statement has since drawn criticism from some Thai fans, who accused the company of failing to adequately defend the Thai staff member involved and questioned whether the response was balanced. Some fans have expressed support for the Thai side of the dispute, with discussions spreading across social media platforms.

The controversy has also gained attention among fan communities in other Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, as online debate continues over accountability, nationality and treatment of fans at international entertainment events.

GMMTV said it would review its event management procedures and strengthen supervision measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Four ladyboys arrested over alleged robbery, assault of Australian tourist in Pattaya

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27 July 2026, 12:50

PATTAYA — Four transgender women have been arrested in connection with the alleged robbery and assault of a 53-year-old Australian tourist in Pattaya on 27 December 2025, police said.

The Australian man reported to Pattaya police that he was attacked by a group of transgender women who allegedly assaulted him and stole his belongings.

The incident raised concerns over the image of Pattaya as an international tourist destination. Police said they continued investigating and tracking down those involved.

On 29 June 2026, the Pattaya Provincial Court approved arrest warrants for four suspects on charges of jointly committing nighttime robbery and assault causing physical and mental harm.

Pattaya Tourist Police investigators later located the suspects, with some allegedly leaving the area while others continued living in Pattaya.

The suspects were identified as Peeraphong, 19, and Pimphisa, 20, who were arrested outside condominiums in Pattaya; Chanachai, 20, who was arrested outside a restaurant in Maha Sarakham province; and Pongsakorn, 18, who was arrested at a residence in Ratchaburi province.

Police said all four acknowledged they were the individuals named in the arrest warrants and appeared in video footage from the scene, but denied the charges.

They were handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings, police said.

Thai woman arrested at Japan airport after meth allegedly found in coffee packet

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27 July 2026, 12:31

The family of a Thai woman arrested in Japan after authorities allegedly found crystal methamphetamine hidden inside a coffee packet in her luggage is urging Thai police to investigate what they believe may be an international drug trafficking scheme exploiting parcel couriers.

The 28-year-old woman, identified as Juthathip Thongnoi, traveled to Japan on 11 July with her boyfriend and another companion. The group worked as couriers, transporting parcels for Thai customers living in Japan.

According to her family, the group departed from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on a Thai AirAsia flight and arrived at Fukuoka Airport on the morning of 12 July, where customs officials inspected their luggage.

Juthathip was detained after authorities allegedly discovered methamphetamine concealed inside a coffee packet packed among the items she was carrying, her family said.

Her boyfriend, Sarawut Klabdee, said Juthathip had operated a Line group called THIENTHIEN SHOP since last year, offering parcel delivery services between Thailand and Japan.

He said that on 10 July, a customer using the Line name “ing ing” contacted the group and hired them to carry a 12-kilogram package to Japan for a fee of 3,600 baht. The package was sealed with heavy tape, and he was unsure whether Juthathip had opened it to inspect its contents.

Sarawut said the same customer had previously used the service in May, so they did not suspect anything unusual.

After arriving in Japan, all three travelers were questioned by airport authorities for about 11 hours. Sarawut and the third traveler were later released, while Juthathip remained in custody.

He said the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka initially informed the family that authorities had detected a stimulant substance but did not specify where it had been found. On 22 July, the family received formal notification that crystal meth had allegedly been discovered inside a coffee packet.

The group had transported nine parcels on the trip. Sarawut said every customer collected their items except the person using the Line name “ing ing,” who never showed up and later blocked all contact. He added that the payment had been transferred from a bank account under the name HO THI MAI.

Juthathip’s mother, Kanyawee Fuengphian, said the family filed a police report at Bang Bua Thong Police Station after being notified of her daughter’s arrest by the Thai consulate on 22 July.

She said they reviewed security camera footage from their daughter’s housing estate and have already handed evidence to investigators in hopes of identifying the person who delivered the parcel.

The family acknowledged that Juthathip had failed to inspect the package before transporting it, but insisted she had never been involved with drugs.

They are now calling on Thai authorities to investigate the individual who entrusted the parcel to her and determine whether the case is linked to other recent incidents involving drugs hidden in packages carried by unsuspecting couriers.

Phuket inspects Chabad House, examines land ownership and fundraising

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27 July 2026, 11:49

PHUKET — Phuket authorities inspected the Chabad House in Patong on Sunday, examining its licenses, fundraising activities, religious use and ownership structure, while emphasizing that the operation was intended to ensure compliance with Thai law without infringing on religious freedom.

The inspection on 26 July was led by Phuket Vice Governor Khettarat Chansilp, with officers from the provincial police, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), local administrative bodies and other agencies.

Officials said the building is licensed for use as a restaurant and club. It includes a dining area with the required food establishment registration and a Type 2 liquor license, as well as spaces used for Jewish religious services, banquet functions, accommodation for religious leaders and rooftop activities.

During the inspection, authorities found donation boxes inside the building. The site’s caretaker told officials that the funds are used for charitable activities. Relevant agencies have been tasked with determining whether the fundraising complies with Thai law.

Officials also confirmed that the premises are used for Jewish religious ceremonies. They said Thailand’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, provided religious activities comply with the law and do not threaten national security, public safety or public order.

The province has also ordered an investigation into land ownership and the shareholder structure of entities linked to the property. Authorities said they will examine whether there is evidence of illegal land ownership, nominee shareholding arrangements or other violations. Legal action will be taken if any offenses are found.

Phuket authorities said the inspection is part of broader efforts to ensure businesses and organizations operate within the law while protecting the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution. They added that the same legal standards will be applied equally to all establishments.

Fine Arts Department opens permanent exhibition on Nakhon Si Thammarat’s World Heritage site

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26 July 2026, 17:58

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — 26 July 2026, The Fine Arts Department has opened a permanent exhibition on Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat, following its recognition as Thailand’s sixth cultural World Heritage site, while Chiang Mai is being eyed as the country’s next potential addition in 2027.

Phanombut Chandrachoti, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, said Wat Phra Mahathat had put Thailand in the global spotlight as the country’s sixth cultural World Heritage site.

He said the recognition was expected to attract a surge of Thai and foreign tourists, bringing significant economic benefits to the area.

The Fine Arts Department will continue working with Nakhon Si Thammarat authorities to conserve and restore Wat Phra Mahathat and introduce measures to ensure its preservation meets UNESCO requirements.

Any new construction, including shops and other facilities, must also be carefully planned to ensure it does not diminish the site’s cultural value, he said.

“I would like to congratulate the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat and all Thais. This is the third consecutive year that we have received World Heritage recognition,” Phanombut said.

“Hopefully, we will have another piece of good news in 2027.”

Under the proposed timeline, Chiang Mai is expected to be submitted for consideration after being included on UNESCO’s Tentative List since 2015.

Phanombut said several other Thai sites have also been placed on the Tentative List and could potentially be considered in the future.

He expressed hope that the World Heritage recognition would bring more visitors to Wat Phra Mahathat and encourage everyone to help preserve the temple and its sacred relics for future generations.

Thai bus captain turns to megaphone to clear blocked bus stops

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26 July 2026, 17:44

BANGKOK — 26 July 2026, A Thai bus captain has gone viral after using a megaphone to ask a taxi driver to move a vehicle that was parked at a bus stop, saying she was fed up with the recurring problem and would continue using the tactic if necessary.

The incident came to light after Facebook user Thitipha Khongming posted a video showing herself using a megaphone to announce to a vehicle parked at a bus stop that it should move.

“Last time, I only chased them from inside the bus. Next time, I’ll see you downstairs. I have a megaphone now. Come on,” she wrote in the caption.

Speaking to Khaosod Online on 26 July, “Gigi”, a bus captain with Thai Smile Bus operating Route 104, said she encountered a taxi parked at a bus stop near Central Ladprao the previous day.

She said she already had a megaphone on board the bus and decided to use it to ask the taxi driver to move, as seen in the video.

Gigi said she chose the approach after previously experiencing an accident involving a taxi that was occupying a bus stop. She was trying to pull the bus into the stop when the vehicles collided, but the two sides could not reach an agreement, forcing her to travel to a police station to file a daily report.

She said she was concerned that if the problem continued, it could have long-term consequences for passenger safety. When bus stops are blocked, passengers may be forced to board or get off the bus in another traffic lane, putting them at risk.

Gigi said she decided to use the megaphone because she wanted to find a solution that would cause the least disruption to other road users.

In the past, she had got off the bus herself to ask drivers to move their vehicles. However, when she left the bus, no one was available to move it if traffic conditions changed, potentially causing further disruption to other road users.

“I’ve frequently encountered vehicles parked at bus stops, and I’m extremely fed up with this problem,” Gigi said.

“I don’t want to have to think about this because it’s not my responsibility to chase away or ask vehicles to move. That should be the responsibility of those who manage the area. I don’t want to interfere with their duties too much. I’m simply asking people to cooperate and show consideration for one another.”

Gigi said she believed her actions could serve as a voice for many others who face the same problem, noting that she was far from the only person affected by vehicles blocking bus stops.

If the situation does not improve, she said she would continue using the megaphone. In more serious cases, she may even get off the bus and make the announcements in person.

She also had a message for those who regularly park at bus stops.

“I don’t want to single out anyone in particular. Since we work in similar professions, I understand and sympathise with you,” she said.

“I don’t believe bus stops should be reserved exclusively for buses. Other public transport vehicles can also stop to drop off passengers. But there’s no need to stay there for such a long time.”

She said drivers should leave the bus stop once passengers have been dropped off, as lingering at the stop causes inconvenience for others.

“We have enough discipline and professional ethics. There’s no need to keep waiting at the stop until a bus arrives before moving away.”

Indian man arrested at Suvarnabhumi with 4.2 million baht etomidate

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26 July 2026, 17:14

BANGKOK — 26 July 2026, Thai customs officials have arrested an Indian passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport for allegedly smuggling around 6kg of etomidate, a controlled substance that has reportedly been used in so-called “zombie vapes.”

Phanthong Loykulnant, director-general of the Customs Department, said on Sunday that officers from the Suvarnabhumi Airport Passenger Control Customs Office, together with the airport’s Investigation and Suppression Division, searched and arrested an Indian male passenger who had travelled from Mumbai, India, to Thailand.

A search reportedly found Category 2 psychotropic substance etomidate (ETOMIDATE), with a total weight of approximately 6,000 grammes including packaging. The drugs were valued at more than 4.2 million baht.

The alleged smuggling constitutes offences under Thailand’s Narcotics Code, the Customs Act of 2017 and other relevant laws, according to the Customs Department.

Etomidate is a short-acting anaesthetic used exclusively in medical settings. It takes effect rapidly and was previously classified as a specially controlled drug before being upgraded in late July 2025 to a Category 2 psychotropic substance, listed as No. 45 and placed in the same category as ketamine.

Authorities have raised concerns over the alleged use of etomidate in e-cigarette liquids, which are sometimes referred to by users as “zombie vapes” or “K vapes.”

The substance can reportedly affect the brain rapidly. Initial effects may include a dream-like state, detachment from reality and feelings of euphoria.

However, consuming large amounts can cause irregular heart rhythms, seizures, temporary paralysis and respiratory depression, potentially leading to unconsciousness, shock or death.

The Customs Department warned members of the public and young people about the serious dangers associated with e-cigarettes containing such substances, stressing that their effects can be severe and potentially life-threatening.

Wild elephant Plai Duan wanders out of Khao Yai Park again

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26 July 2026, 17:04

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 26 July 2026, Plai Duan, a wild elephant known for regularly venturing outside Khao Yai National Park in search of food, was spotted rummaging through a local resident’s home early Sunday morning.

A video posted on Facebook by Prathap Wang Lik Klang, a volunteer involved in pushing wild elephants back into Khao Yai National Park, showed Plai Duan foraging outside the park before entering a house in Mu Si subdistrict, Pak Chong district, to search for food.

The incident reportedly took place at around 06:00, as the elephant was apparently heading back into the park after spending time foraging outside its boundaries.

However, Plai Duan appeared to make a brief stop at the house to look for something to eat before continuing on its way.

The elephant is one of several wild elephants from Khao Yai National Park that regularly venture outside the park to search for food, with such sightings occurring almost daily.

The problem of wild elephants leaving the park in search of food has continued for many years. Authorities and relevant agencies are working to find sustainable solutions to reduce conflicts between local communities and wild elephants and enable people and elephants to coexist.

Thai parents say daughter was duped into carrying crystal meth

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26 July 2026, 16:21

26 July 2026, The parents of a 28-year-old Thai woman detained at Fukuoka Airport in Japan after crystal methamphetamine was allegedly found hidden in a coffee packet have appealed for authorities to investigate the person who hired her to carry the parcel.

The woman, identified as Juthathip, 28, travelled to Japan on 11 July with her 28-year-old boyfriend, Sarawut, and another friend. The three reportedly worked as freelance luggage carriers, transporting goods for Thai people living in Japan.

Upon arrival at Fukuoka Airport on 12 July at around 07:00, Japanese authorities searched their luggage and allegedly found crystal meth hidden inside a coffee packet belonging to Juthathip. She was subsequently detained.

Her parents, Thanatsak, 53, and Kanyavee, 45, said they believed their daughter may have been deceived into carrying the drugs. They also urged relevant authorities to investigate whether the person who arranged for the parcel to be transported to Japan was part of an organised operation.

Sarawut said Juthathip had created a Line group called THIENTHIEN SHOP last year to offer a luggage-carrying service for Thai people living in Japan and those wishing to send goods there.

On 10 July, a Line user named “ing ing” contacted the group and asked Juthathip to carry a parcel to Japan. The goods, weighing about 12kg, were packed in a brown box sealed tightly with tape.

Sarawut said he was unsure whether his girlfriend had opened the box to inspect its contents. The same customer had previously hired her to transport goods in May, so they did not initially suspect anything unusual.

After the group arrived in Japan, airport officials questioned all three travellers. Sarawut and his friend were questioned from around 08:00 to 19:00 before being released, while Juthathip remained in custody. They were not initially told what offence she was suspected of committing.

The following day, Sarawut contacted the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka and was told to wait for Japanese police to provide further information as the investigation was still ongoing.

The consulate later informed the family that a stimulant substance had been detected, although it was initially unclear which item it had been found in.

On 22 July, the family received a notice from the consulate stating that crystal meth had allegedly been found hidden inside a coffee packet.

The group had carried a total of nine boxes to Japan. Customers collected all the parcels except the one sent by the Line user “ing ing”, who did not contact them to collect it and subsequently blocked their communication channels.

The customer had paid Juthathip 3,600 baht for the service. The payment was reportedly made from an account under the name HO THI MAI.

Kanyavee said the family was informed by the Thai consulate on 22 July that her daughter had been arrested at Fukuoka Airport on suspicion of importing crystal meth.

Shocked by the news, the family went to Bang Bua Thong Police Station in Nonthaburi to file a report and request CCTV footage from the housing estate where Juthathip lived, hoping to identify who had delivered the parcel.

The family said it had since obtained information and handed all available evidence to investigators at Bang Bua Thong Police Station.

Kanyavee said the family was extremely worried because they had been unable to contact Juthathip. She urged relevant agencies to provide updates on the case and investigate the person who allegedly delivered the parcel containing the drugs to her daughter.

She also asked authorities to determine whether the individual was connected to any previously reported drug-smuggling cases.

“We have to accept that our daughter was arrested because she was not careful enough and failed to properly inspect the goods inside the box,” Kanyavee said.

“However, I can confirm that from childhood until now, my daughter has never been involved with drugs. We ask the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this matter.”

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