KHON KAEN — A Cambodian construction worker has been arrested for allegedly stealing electrical cables from a shopping mall construction site in northeastern Thailand, with police saying he admitted selling the metal inside the wires to support his family back home.
Police in Khon Kaen announced the arrest of the 34-year-old Cambodian national on Friday following an investigation into the theft of electrical cables from the newly completed Central Campus Khon Kaen development. The stolen cables were valued at about 10,000 baht.
Investigators said they searched the suspect’s accommodation at a workers’ camp and found aluminum stripped from electrical cables, clothing and shoes matching those worn by the suspect during the theft, as well as pieces of the stolen cables.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly confessed to cutting the cables to extract aluminum and copper, which he then sold to scrap dealers. He told police he sent the money to his family in Cambodia.
Police are coordinating with the contractor to determine how long the suspect had been employed at the site and with the provincial labor office to verify whether he was legally working in Thailand.
The suspect has been charged with theft, while investigators are tracing the scrap shop where the stolen metals were allegedly sold and are considering additional charges if any labor law violations are found.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday officially opened the new road linking Thailand’s Sadao Customs House with Malaysia’s Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint, marking a major step in strengthening cross-border trade and connectivity.
The inauguration took place at the new Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla province. During the ceremony, the two leaders walked from their respective border gates and met for a symbolic handshake at the midpoint of the crossing before Anwar welcomed Anutin to the Malaysian side.
The new road will open to the public and freight transport from July 11 after years of joint development by the two countries to connect their border checkpoints.
Speaking at the ceremony, Anutin described the new Sadao checkpoint as “an economic gateway” that would bring the people, trade and investment of Thailand and Malaysia closer together.
He said the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing is the two countries’ most important land trade gateway and one of the region’s key transport corridors. The new connection is expected to ease congestion, shorten border crossing times, lower logistics costs and improve the movement of goods, tourists and travelers.
Anutin said he and Anwar had agreed during their official talks on Thursday to accelerate border connectivity projects linking Songkhla-Kedah, Satun-Perlis and Narathiwat-Kelantan, while also promoting border economic zones and streamlining customs and immigration procedures.
He said the infrastructure investment would help attract new investment, create jobs and boost local businesses, while improving the quality of life in border communities.
Thailand and Malaysia have set a bilateral trade target of $30 billion. More than 80% of the two countries’ border trade currently passes through the Sadao crossing, underscoring its importance as the main trade and logistics gateway between the neighbors.
BANGKOK — 10 July 2026, Thailand generated 4.025 billion baht in investment from foreign film productions during the first half of 2026, reinforcing the country’s position as one of the world’s leading filming destinations.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan revealed that 302 international productions applied for filming permits through the Department of Tourism during the first six months of the year, generating a combined investment of 4.025 billion baht, already more than half the total recorded for the whole of 2025.
The government said several large-scale international productions are scheduled to begin filming in Thailand during the second half of the year, raising the possibility that the country could set a new record for revenue from foreign film productions in 2026.
By production category, feature films generated the highest investment value, with 21 productions contributing 1.989 billion baht. They were followed by 22 game shows and reality television programmes, worth 811 million baht, and 152 advertising productions, which generated 710 million baht.
The five countries and special administrative regions generating the highest investment in Thailand were the United States, contributing 1.543 billion baht, followed by Hong Kong (322 million baht), Finland (300 million baht), Germany (297 million baht) and the United Kingdom (230 million baht).
The government said the figures reflect Thailand’s strength as a global filming destination, citing its diverse shooting locations, experienced production crews, comprehensive production support systems and internationally competitive investment incentives, particularly measures designed to encourage foreign film productions.
Officials also highlighted the government’s cash rebate programme, which offers eligible foreign productions rebates of up to 30%, as a key policy to propel Thailand toward becoming a regional hub for film and content production while creating jobs and generating long-term economic benefits.
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto hosted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family at his private residence in South Jakarta on Wednesday, where they discussed regional and global developments.
Thaksin was accompanied by his daughter, former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and his sister, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere and reflected the longstanding friendship between the two sides.
During the informal talks, Prabowo and Thaksin exchanged views on strategic global developments and regional dynamics. Teddy said such engagements help strengthen Indonesia’s ties with international leaders and prominent figures while expanding cooperation and enhancing the country’s global standing.
Prabowo has maintained close ties with the Shinawatra family in recent years. In March, he appointed Thaksin to the advisory board of Indonesia’s state investment fund Danantara, with officials saying the inclusion of prominent international advisers was intended to boost investor confidence.
Thaksin, who served as Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a 2006 military coup, remains one of the country’s most influential political figures despite holding no formal government position. His daughter, Paetongtarn, served as Thailand’s prime minister from 2024 to 2025 before being removed from office by the Constitutional Court. His sister, Yingluck, served as prime minister from 2011 until she was ousted by a court ruling in 2014, shortly before another military coup.
BANGKOK — 9 July 2026, Thai customs officials have arrested a foreign transit passenger after seizing 17.53 kilograms of heroin concealed inside food and dietary supplement packaging at Suvarnabhumi Airport, preventing the drugs from reaching their final destination in Madagascar.
The seizure was announced on 9 July by the Customs Department, whose Investigation and Suppression Bureau worked alongside the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) after identifying a high-risk passenger suspected of smuggling narcotics.
According to authorities, the suspect had travelled from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia and was transiting through Suvarnabhumi Airport before continuing to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, en route to Ivato International Airport in Madagascar.
Customs officers then divided into two teams. One team inspected the traveller’s checked baggage at the transit passenger baggage handling facility after X-ray screening revealed suspicious objects inside the luggage. The second team intercepted the passenger at the boarding gate and escorted him, together with the luggage, for a detailed inspection.
The search uncovered coffee bags, green tea packets and dietary supplement packages from various brands concealing plastic bags filled with clumped white powder. A chemical test confirmed the substance was heroin.
Authorities seized a total of 17.53 kilograms of heroin, with an estimated street value of 7.3 million baht.
The suspect was taken into custody and handed over to investigators for legal proceedings, while authorities continue expanding the investigation to identify accomplices in the trafficking network both in Thailand and overseas.
The Director-General of the Customs Department said the arrest demonstrated the effectiveness of the department’s risk analysis system and close cooperation among enforcement agencies in preventing Thailand from being used as a transit hub for international drug trafficking. He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to protecting society from the threat of illicit narcotics.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 9 July 2026, the 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts has uncovered what is believed to be an ancient burial mound dating to the Late Prehistoric period at the Mun Bon Dam, where archaeologists discovered human skeletal remains and a large number of artefacts, including a rare intact Phimai Black pottery vessel estimated to be about 2,500 years old.
On Wednesday, officials from the 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts in Nakhon Ratchasima, led by the head of the Maha Wirawong National Museum and a senior archaeologist from the office, inspected the site after villagers reported finding human skeletal remains and a large quantity of archaeological evidence, particularly pottery fragments, in the middle of the Mun Bon Dam at Taling Chan Village (Moo 9), Chorakhe Hin subdistrict, Khon Buri district, Nakhon Ratchasima province.
They were joined by Khon Buri district officials, staff from the Mun Bon Water Transmission and Maintenance Project, and local community leaders. The inspection followed a continued decline in the reservoir’s water level, which exposed the site.
Officials initially discovered an intact Phimai Black ceramic vessel, resembling a bowl or alms bowl, measuring about 15 centimetres in diameter and estimated to date from approximately 2,500 to 1,500 years ago. Numerous human skeletal remains were also found nearby.
Additional archaeological evidence from the same period included orange glass beads scattered across the site, iron tools, earthenware pottery and polished stone axes. Several buried earthenware vessels believed to have been placed as grave goods alongside the deceased were also uncovered. The discovery area has been designated “Mun Bon Dam Archaeological Site 1.”
Based on preliminary assessments, officials believe the site was an ancient burial mound from Thailand’s Late Prehistoric Iron Age because of its elevated position beside an ancient waterway. It may represent the closest prehistoric burial site ever discovered near the headwaters of the Mun River.
Wannapong Palakawong Na Ayutthaya, an archaeologist with the 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts, said the site contains clear evidence of a burial mound used by people of a Late Prehistoric culture.
“The most remarkable discovery at Mun Bon Dam Archaeological Site 1 is the intact Phimai Black vessel because archaeologists usually recover only broken fragments of this type of pottery,” he said.
“The complete vessel allows us to make a relatively reliable preliminary estimate, placing the site in the Iron Age of the Late Prehistoric period, approximately 2,500 to 1,500 years ago.”
He added that Phimai Black pottery is typically found throughout the upper Mun River basin but has not previously been documented this close to the river’s headwaters.
Wannapong said the site appears to be a significant burial mound. Further archaeological research could provide valuable new insights into the prehistoric communities that once inhabited Khon Buri district, where isolated archaeological sites have previously been identified in areas including Sa Wan Phraya and Lam Phiak subdistricts. He said linking evidence from these sites could significantly improve understanding of human settlement and cultural development in the region during the Late Prehistoric period.
PHUKET — 9 July 2026, Customs officials and police arrested a Thai woman and a Filipino national after allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 32 kilograms of cannabis flower out of Thailand through Phuket International Airport, authorities said.
The operation was carried out by customs officers at Phuket Airport in coordination with Sakhu Police at the international departures terminal in Mai Khao Subdistrict, Thalang District.
The first arrest took place at around 11:00, when officers inspected a black Pierre Cardin suitcase belonging to Levannah Chelsea Guzman, an 18-year-old Philippine national.
Inside the luggage, officers found 14 vacuum-sealed packages containing cannabis flower with a combined weight of 14.5 kilograms, including packaging.
The suspect admitted ownership of both the suitcase and its contents, police said.
She was charged with attempting to export goods without completing customs procedures, along with offences under Thailand’s Narcotics Code, the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Protection and Promotion Act, the Ministry of Public Health’s Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) Notification and other related laws.
At around 13:00, officers inspected a green SWISH NAVY suitcase belonging to Penpitcha Phutsiang, a Thai national.
The search uncovered 16 vacuum-sealed packages containing cannabis flower weighing 17.6 kilograms, including packaging.
Police said the second suspect also admitted ownership of the suitcase and the seized cannabis.
Both women were handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station for legal proceedings.
Authorities said the arrests form part of intensified efforts to prevent the illegal export of cannabis through Thailand’s international airports, with customs officials continuing to strengthen baggage inspections and enforcement measures.
In this photo released by the Thai government spokesman office, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, second from left, sings while Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul plays saxophone during the former's official visit, at the Federal Government office of Perdana Putra in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday July 9, 2026. (The Thai government spokesman office via AP)
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to swiftly resolve a recent fisheries trade dispute that disrupted seafood exports between the two countries, with both governments aiming to reopen affected markets within a week.
The breakthrough came after talks between Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Thursday, during Anutin’s two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
“We have resolved this outstanding issue of fisheries,” Anwar told reporters after the meeting, adding that both sides agreed the measures should be implemented within one week.
The dispute flared earlier this year after Thailand suspended imports of Malaysian sea bass over concerns about chemical residues. Malaysia later imposed temporary restrictions on certain varieties of Thai shrimp, citing food safety controls.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, left, poses for a photograph with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with Putra Mosque in the background the former’s official visit, at the Federal Government office of Perdana Putra in Putrajaya, Malaysia, July 9, 2026. (Hasnoor Hussain/Pool Photo via AP)
According to the Thai government, agriculture ministers from both countries have now reached a mutual understanding and will expedite the reopening of agricultural and fisheries markets to ease the impact on farmers and seafood producers.
The two leaders also agreed to deepen economic cooperation by accelerating plans for a special border economic zone and improving cross-border trade and transport links.
On Friday, Anutin and Anwar are scheduled to jointly inaugurate the new Sadao border checkpoint in Thailand’s Songkhla province and Malaysia’s Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing, the busiest land trade gateway between the two countries.
Both governments also pledged to advance several connectivity projects, including the resumption of the Satun–Kuala Perlis ferry service, integration of ticketing systems for rail services between Bangkok, Hat Yai and Butterworth, the restoration of the Sungai Kolok–Rantau Panjang railway, and construction of a new cross-border bridge.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, left, and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, look on the exchange of a memorandum of understanding between Thailand’s Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, and Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mohamad Sabu at the Federal Government office of Perdana Putra in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Hasnoor Hussain/Pool Photo via AP)
Thailand and Malaysia also reaffirmed their commitment to boosting bilateral trade, with a shared target of reaching 30 billion in trade in the near future. The leaders said they would strengthen supply chains in food security, energy and high-tech industries while promoting investment, tourism and job creation in border areas.
The two prime ministers also witnessed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation covering crops, livestock, fisheries, research, technology transfer, human resource development and food security.
On regional issues, Anwar praised Thailand’s role in addressing the crisis in Myanmar, saying both countries believe lasting progress will require constructive engagement by all stakeholders. Thailand, which shares a long border with Myanmar, has continued humanitarian assistance while supporting regional efforts to restore peace.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, left and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, attend a bilateral meeting during the former’s official visit, at the Federal Government office of Perdana Putra in Putrajaya, Malaysia, July 9, 2026. (Hasnoor Hussain/Pool Photo via AP)Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, left, poses for a photograph with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with Putra Mosque in the background the former’s official visit, at the Federal Government office of Perdana Putra in Putrajaya, Malaysia, July 9, 2026. (Hasnoor Hussain/Pool Photo via AP)
Addressing security concerns closer to home, Anutin said ending violence in Thailand’s southern border provinces remained one of his government’s highest priorities, stressing that economic development and peace-building must go hand in hand. The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation against transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and border security, while establishing a joint mechanism to manage the Golok River and improve flood warning systems.
BANGKOK — 9 July 2026, Thailand’s Meteorological Department has warned that although Typhoon Bavi will not make landfall in Thailand, it is expected to strengthen the southwest monsoon and bring heavy rain and possible flash floods to parts of the country between 10 and 15 July.
The department issued a warning for strong winds and rough seas in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand, as well as heavy to very heavy rainfall along the western coast of southern Thailand, western parts of the Central Plains and the eastern region during the period.
Five provinces in particular — Ranong, Phang Nga, Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi and Trat — have been urged to remain alert for flash floods and forest runoff.
Although Typhoon Bavi is not forecast to move directly into Thailand, it will strengthen the southwest monsoon prevailing over the country, resulting in heavy to very heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation in many areas.
Farmers in affected areas have been advised to prepare their agricultural land to minimise potential damage.
Anchalee Suvachittanont, Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said farmers in the Central, Eastern and Andaman regions should jointly assess the situation and survey high-risk areas to prepare preventive measures and reduce the impacts of Typhoon Bavi, particularly on 11–12 July, when the southwest monsoon is expected to intensify over Thailand.
Furthermore, the overall forecast for mid-July indicates rainfall coverage of about 60–70% across the country, with nationwide rainfall expected to increase further to around 85% in August. Authorities warned that the prolonged wet conditions could lead to agricultural losses and urged farmers to implement long-term preventive measures in advance.
KANCHANABURI — 9 July 2026, Authorities have ordered an immediate halt to construction of a Chinese-backed ore processing plant in Kanchanaburi after discovering the project had begun building works without a construction permit, amid growing public concern over potential environmental impacts.
The move follows protests by more than 1,000 residents of Nong Khao Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, who oppose the project over fears that wastewater and chemicals used in ore processing could leak into a nearby irrigation canal.
Residents say the canal is a key water source supplying local tap water systems, the Provincial Waterworks Authority’s Phanom Thuan facility and agricultural communities in Kanchanaburi and neighbouring Suphan Buri province.
Udon Pheng-aram, mayor of Nong Ya Dok Khao Municipality, said the company had applied to establish the factory and had completed the legally required public consultation process.
He said the municipality had approved only land preparation work and had not issued a permit allowing construction of the ore processing plant.
“The construction of buildings without approval is considered unauthorized,” he said.
The municipality has therefore issued an order suspending all construction activities on the site with immediate effect.
The mayor said any future application for a construction permit would require careful consideration, particularly because the proposed facility is located close to an irrigation canal that serves as an important water source.
He stressed that no construction permit has been signed or issued for the ore processing plant.
The proposed project has drawn widespread opposition from local communities, who fear that any chemical spill or leakage could contaminate water supplies and affect residents and farmers across several districts.
