BANGKOK — Police K-9 dogs were deployed to inspect passenger baggage on flights bound for Australia on Tuesday as Thai authorities stepped up airport security measures.
At 06:30 on 7 July, police officers and sniffer dogs conducted drug detection checks on baggage belonging to passengers departing on Thai Airways flight TG461 to Melbourne, Australia.
No illegal items were found during the inspection, police said.
The deployment followed an order from the Ministry of Transport instructing the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to strengthen security measures at airports.
The measures include instructing airlines to tighten controls over passenger belongings, including prohibiting the acceptance of items that could pose security risks, as well as additional training for X-ray screening officers.
Authorities will also enhance intelligence operations and increase the use of K-9 units from the Royal Thai Police to support airport inspections.
The move comes as Thailand works to ensure compliance with international aviation security standards and improve screening procedures for outbound travellers.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 6 July 2026, A wax sculpture inspired by Thai global pop star Lisa will take centre stage at this year’s traditional Buddhist Candle Festival in Chok Chai district, as organisers blend contemporary pop culture with centuries-old craftsmanship to attract wider audiences.
Community leaders and residents of Ban Bing village in Chok Chai subdistrict are racing to complete their candle float for the Chok Chai Subdistrict Municipality’s annual Candle Festival 2026, scheduled for 28 July.
The procession will continue to portray key moments from the life of the Buddha—including his birth, enlightenment and passing into nirvana—alongside tributes to King Maha Vajiralongkorn, preserving the intricate artistry for which Chok Chai’s candle festival is renowned.
A major highlight this year is a series of wax figures modelled on Lisa’s likeness. Featuring her signature bangs, the sculptures depict the singer as celestial beings, angels and mythical creatures from the Himmapan forest, creating a contemporary twist on traditional Buddhist art.
Village head Sakchai Khumkratoke of Ban Bing said the artisan team wanted to make the festival more appealing to people of all ages and nationalities while maintaining its Thai identity.
“When we thought of a Thai person recognised both nationally and internationally, Lisa immediately came to mind,” he said.
According to Sakchai, the artists unanimously agreed to incorporate Lisa’s likeness into the procession by subtly integrating her face into sculptures of angels, celestial beings, kinnari and nakee figures. He said the design pays tribute to her talent and beauty while giving the candle float a more modern and international image.
“She represents Thailand on the global stage while remaining proudly Thai, and we wanted the procession to reflect that same spirit,” he added.
The Chok Chai Candle Festival will be held on 28 July in front of the Chok Chai Subdistrict Municipality Office before participating floats join the larger provincial candle festival in Nakhon Ratchasima from 28–30 July.
Visitors will not only be able to admire the elaborate candle floats but also see the Lisa-inspired wax sculpture up close as part of the Ban Bing community’s procession.
BANGKOK — Tickets for the inaugural Tomorrowland Thailand music festival have sold out, with all 150,000 tickets snapped up shortly after sales opened, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on Tuesday.
Speaking after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Surasak said the three-day electronic dance music festival, scheduled to take place in Chon Buri this December, sold around 50,000 tickets per day, reaching full capacity of 150,000 tickets across the event.
The government expects the festival to attract an average of 50,000 visitors daily and generate about 6 billion baht in economic activity each year.
Thailand has signed a five-year agreement to host Tomorrowland, with the government projecting the event will inject at least 30 billion baht into the economy over the duration of the contract.
According to the minister, about 85% of ticket buyers are international visitors, while 15% are Thai attendees. Foreign visitors include both short-haul and long-haul travellers, with many expected to stay in Thailand for extended periods.
Surasak said festival packages priced at 150,000 baht or more have also been sold, contributing to the projected economic impact. The event is expected to create around 4,000 jobs during both the preparation and staging of the festival.
The government said extensive measures are being put in place to ensure the safety and convenience of attendees, including dedicated shuttle bus services, enhanced public transport, increased police deployment and volunteer support.
Organisers will also implement comprehensive security measures in coordination with government agencies to ensure the safety of both festivalgoers and nearby communities, Surasak said.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto embrace after a joint press conference following their meeting, at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen strategic ties between Asia’s two largest democracies as economic globalization faces headwinds.
Discussions between the leaders will focus on several key pillars, including defense and security, trade and investment, food security, energy security, critical minerals and capacity building in sectors such as health and education. Eight agreements and several memorandums of understanding are also expected to be announced during the visit, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono told reporters ahead of the visit.
The two leaders on Tuesday held talks after a ceremony at the Merdeka palace, Indonesia’s main presidential office.
The visit marks Modi’s second trip to Indonesia as prime minister, following his previous visit in 2018, and comes after Prabowo attended India’s Republic Day celebrations as chief guest last year, Sugiono, who like many Indonesians uses a single name, said.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, is greeted by Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto during the welcoming ceremony ahead of their meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Modi arrived in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, on Monday afternoon for a three-day visit to Southeast Asia’s largest economy. It was the first stop of his overseas visit to Indo Pacific nations, including Australia and New Zealand.
Modi received a warm welcome, with his plane escorted into Indonesian airspace by three fighter jets. He was greeted on the tarmac by Prabowo at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, underscoring the importance Jakarta places on its relationship with New Delhi.
Indonesia and India are member states of the Group of 20 major developing countries and emerging economies, and of BRICS.
Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty said Modi is also scheduled to address members of Indonesia’s Parliament Tuesday before attending an evening event with the Indian community in Indonesia. He said the visit reflects growing cooperation between two of Asia’s most influential democracies.
“In the recent geopolitical context, closer ties between two leaders of the Global South are very essential so that we give the message to the world that we are together and we work for each other’s strength,” Chakravorty told reporters ahead of the visit.
Chakravorty said defense cooperation is expected to feature prominently during the talks. He said Indonesia has expressed interest in acquiring India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system and that discussions have reached an advanced stage.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto arrive for a joint press conference following their meeting, at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Beyond defense procurement, both countries are expected to discuss broader maritime security cooperation as India and Indonesia share strategic interests along key shipping routes linking the Indian and Pacific oceans, Chakravorty said. A planned launch of the Indonesia Open Network, a digital commerce platform inspired by India’s digital public infrastructure model, is also expected during Modi’s visit.
Sugiono said Modi is expected to travel to the ancient city of Yogyakarta Wednesday, where he may announce the start of an Indian-supported restoration project at the Hindu temple of Prambanan, one of Indonesia’s most important cultural heritage sites. The project follows an agreement reached during Prabowo’s visit to India.
Modi will travel to Australia the same day to meet with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
BANGKOK — 6 July 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul say poor public communication is partly to blame and warning ministers who fail to make their work visible that they could lose their Cabinet posts.
Speaking at Government House on 6 July, Anutin revealed he had called a meeting with Cabinet ministers and warned that those who remain largely invisible to the public risk being dropped.
“If you’re a minister the world forgets, the prime minister may forget you too. And if I forget you, there’s no need for you to remain in the Cabinet,” he said.
Anutin said he had already begun warning some ministers about their public profile two weeks ago and would raise the issue again in light of the latest poll.
He stressed that while ministers were working hard, they also needed to explain their work to the public.
“You can’t just work well without communicating. A minister must both deliver results and explain them,” he said.
Asked how long he would take to assess the performance of his Cabinet, which has been in office for about two months, Anutin replied that it would not take long and said future Cabinet reshuffle decisions would be based on performance, ability and dedication.
Indonesian carrier TransNusa is expanding its network in the second half of 2026 with the launch of a new Jakarta–Bangkok route and the world’s first direct flights connecting Bali and Wakatobi, strengthening regional connectivity across Southeast Asia.
The airline said the new Jakarta-Bangkok service aims to link two of Southeast Asia’s key business and tourism hubs, while the Bali-Wakatobi route marks a global first by offering direct access to the island group, home to the world’s second-largest barrier reef.
The Bali-Wakatobi service is the second pioneering direct route introduced by TransNusa. In 2024, the airline became the first to operate non-stop flights between Bali and Manado, another internationally renowned diving destination.
Datuk Bernard Francis, Group Chief Executive Officer of TransNusa, said the new routes represent a major step in strengthening the airline’s domestic and international network.
“Launching the Jakarta-Bangkok and Bali-Wakatobi routes is part of our long-term strategy to expand our regional network and meet growing travel demand between Indonesia and Thailand,” he said.
He noted that Thailand remains one of Southeast Asia’s leading tourism hubs, and regular scheduled flights would provide greater convenience while supporting tourism and trade between the two countries.
TransNusa said the Jakarta-Bangkok route is among the region’s busiest international air corridors, serving millions of passengers annually. The airline expects its daily service to improve connectivity for travellers across Southeast Asia.
Initially, TransNusa will operate two daily flights between Jakarta and Bangkok. The airline will also offer three weekly direct flights between Bali and Wakatobi on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.
In addition, TransNusa will operate four weekly direct flights between Bali and Waingapu on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Tickets are now on sale through the airline’s website and online travel platforms. Fares for the Jakarta-Bangkok route start at $167.54, while Bali-Waingapu fares start from $75.36.
TEHRAN, Iran — Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a surprise public appearance at the funeral of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Monday, months after widespread reports claimed he had been killed during the opening days of the Iran-Israel war.
Ahmadinejad, who served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013, joined millions of mourners dressed in black as Khamenei’s coffin was carried through the streets of Tehran in one of the largest funeral processions in the country’s history.
Mourners pray during funeral prayers held as part of the dayslong funeral ceremonies for the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
His appearance marked the first time he had been seen in public since the conflict began. Early in the war, several Iranian state-affiliated media outlets reported that Ahmadinejad had been killed after a missile strike near his home. However, Iranian authorities never officially confirmed or denied the reports, fueling months of speculation over his fate.
Video and photographs from Monday’s procession showed Ahmadinejad walking among mourners wearing a dark jacket, with a face mask pulled down around his neck.
His reappearance came as two other former Iranian presidents, Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, were notably absent from the funeral ceremonies. Critics claimed they had not been invited.
The funeral drew much of Iran’s political and military leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, Expediency Council chief Sadegh Larijani and Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force.
Mourners gather beneath a portrait of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the funeral ceremonies for Khamenei and members of his family at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
State television broadcast aerial footage showing crowds stretching across central Tehran, while authorities estimated attendance could reach 20 million people.
Along the funeral route, some mourners displayed an effigy of Donald Trump and carried anti-US banners.
Meanwhile, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, did not appear in public during the funeral. Instead, his brothers — Mostafa, Masoud and Meysam Khamenei — attended the funeral prayers, marking their first public appearance since their father’s death.
PHAYAO — 7 July 2026, Villagers in Dok Khamtai district of Phayao were surprised after a rare bridal veil stinkhorn mushroom emerged on the forest floor at the edge of their village, prompting many residents to photograph the unusual fungus, which is only occasionally seen.
The mushroom, known in Thai as hed rang rae, is also commonly called the bridal mushroom, bamboo pith mushroom or skirt mushroom because of its distinctive appearance. It features a brownish-green conical cap and a delicate white net-like veil hanging around its stalk, resembling a bride’s lace dress.
Despite its elegant appearance, the mushroom produces a strong odour similar to rotting flesh. The smell is a natural adaptation that attracts flies and other insects, which feed on the slimy coating covering the cap and help disperse its spores.
The bridal veil stinkhorn typically grows in damp environments, including bamboo forests, mixed deciduous forests, orchards and areas covered with decaying leaves and rotting wood. It is most commonly found during the rainy season, from May to October.
The fungus has a very short lifespan. Its lace-like veil unfurls within hours before the mushroom quickly withers, making sightings rare and adding to its reputation as one of Thailand’s more remarkable natural wonders.
CHONBURI — 6 July 2026, Khao Kheow Open Zoo will celebrate the second birthday of Moo Deng, titled “Moo Deng HAPPY Deng DAY”, with a three-day event from 10–12 July at the pygmy hippopotamus exhibit within Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi province. The celebration will also mark the opening of its new hippopotamus exhibition zone, Hippo Village, with free admission for children and senior citizens.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi revealed that the zoo is preparing to host the grand celebrations titled to mark the second birthday of “Moo Deng,” the world-famous superstar pygmy hippopotamus. will take place from 10 to 12 July at the zoo’s hippopotamus exhibit.
The event will also coincide with the unveiling of the exhibition for the “Hippo Village” construction project, a new exhibition and habitat development project designed to improve animal welfare while providing visitors with updated educational experience.
For the activities on 10 July, which marks Moo Deng’s birthday, visitors will have the opportunity to sing a birthday celebration, including present a special birthday cake. Zoo staff and animal keepers are also scheduled to meet visitors during the event.
Throughout the three-day celebration, the zoo will host special activities on the Hippo Village project, wildlife mascot parades, game booths with exciting prizes and an exhibition booth for the “Hippo Village” project, a birthday card-writing station to share love with Moo Deng, as well as the sale of exclusive Moo Deng souvenirs and Chonburi’s premium OTOP products.
The zoo said children aged 12 and under, or those no taller than 135 centimetres, and adults aged 60 and over will receive free admission from 10 to 12 July, although vehicle entrance fees will still apply.
Thai entertainment company RS Public Company Limited (RS Group) has launched a new artist development project, “Artist Icon,” introducing its first generation of six artists while sparking widespread online speculation over whether artificial intelligence (AI) is involved.
RS Music X, the group’s music label, said Artist Icon aims to develop artists with distinct identities and musical styles tailored to modern audiences with diverse listening preferences.
According to the company, the project focuses on shaping each artist’s unique character, personality, musical direction and personal story, allowing them to connect with different audiences through music that reflects a wide range of emotions, perspectives and experiences suited to today’s digital media landscape.
The first six artists will gradually release new music in the coming months. RS Music X also plans to expand the project through music videos, social media content and fan events. The label said Artist Icon reflects RS’s vision of leveraging its more than 40 years of experience in the music industry to develop a new generation of artists and drive the Thai music industry forward.
Following the announcement, however, the project quickly became the subject of discussion on social media, particularly on X, where many users questioned whether AI was being used in the creation of the artists.
One widely shared post read: “Wait, is RS creating AI artists?” The user added that, if true, it would be disappointing because many talented trainees and aspiring performers were still waiting for opportunities.
Online reactions were divided. Some users expressed concern that greater use of AI in the music industry could reduce opportunities for emerging artists. Others argued that RS should instead promote the talented performers already signed to the label, pointing to its existing roster of young artists and creators.
Meanwhile, another group urged people not to jump to conclusions, noting that RS Music X had only introduced the Artist Icon project and its six artists without providing further details about the concept or confirming whether AI plays any role.
RS Music X has not issued any statement addressing the speculation. Nevertheless, the discussion has made Artist Icon one of the most talked-about entertainment topics on Thai social media since its launch, with some users expressing excitement about the upcoming debuts while others continue to question AI’s potential role in the project.
