An 11-year-old boy took his parents' pickup truck and drove it away from home, resulting in a crash into a Buddhist shrine that killed 10 monks and injured many others. The boy's mother and grandmother have denied ever teaching him to drive. On July 6, 2025, Watcharaporn Phiw-kham, director of the Special Education Center in Mukdahan Province, revealed that the child initially struggled with development, social adjustment, and language skills beginning in 2021, but gradually improved and learned to follow basic rules and interact with peers. She confirmed never seeing the boy drive the pickup truck himself, only sitting in the front passenger seat with his grandmother and mother. However, she noted that the child has a distinctive ability to remember, learn, and imitate things he finds interesting, suggesting he likely observed and memorized driving from watching his grandmother and mother transport him. The 11-year-old boy remains under the care of officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security as part of child protection procedures.

On July 3, 2026, the Thai Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (THAICID) announced the 'THAICID-NWIKS 2026 Network Week for Integrated Learning' at the Royal Irrigation Department's 99-Year Building on Samsaen Road in Bangkok. The event will bring together water management experts from Thailand and abroad between July 8-10 at Kasetsart University's 80-Year Building in Kamphaeng Saen district, Nakhon Pathom province.

Under the theme 'Smarter Water for a Stronger Future,' the event aims to elevate national water management through innovation, digital technology, and cross-sector collaboration to address climate change impacts on water resources, agriculture, and food security. Yongyos Niamthrap, an irrigation authority expert and event chairman, stated that modern water management requires not only adequate water allocation but also knowledge, technology, smart systems, and research innovations combined with multi-sector cooperation to create efficient, flexible, and resilient water management systems.

The three-day program features intensive academic and technological activities. On July 8, the 19th National Conference on Irrigation and Drainage will launch, with knowledge-sharing forums on Smart Irrigation, IoT, Remote Sensing, and Climate-Smart Water Management, plus water and agricultural research presentations. July 9 will feature Dongtan Software Day, showcasing water management technology with experts from global organizations including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Deltares, covering sediment management, flood risk systems, dam safety, salinity forecasting, and water quality monitoring. The event concludes on July 10 with the INWEPF-Thailand forum titled 'Farmers' Future and Low-Water Rice Cultivation: Prosperous Paddies Model,' bringing together academics, international representatives, JICA officials, and model farmers to share water management approaches for improving agricultural productivity and reducing water use.

The event welcomes Young Professionals and students to present water resources research and innovations, fostering a new generation of water management experts. THAICID emphasizes the event is open to farmers, water users, teachers, students, and the public interested in climate change and water resource management. Participants can network, exchange experiences, and participate in activities with opportunities to win prizes, food, and agricultural products.

Interested parties can attend the THAICID-NWIKS 2026 Network Week from July 8-10, 2026 at Kasetsart University's 80-Year Building in Kamphaeng Saen district, Nakhon Pathom province to contribute to advancing Thailand's water management and agricultural future under the 'Smarter Water for a Stronger Future' vision.

Defense Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's deputy General Adul Bunyatharmcharoen disputes Cambodia's allegation that Thai soldiers threw explosives causing Cambodian troop injuries, suggesting they may have stepped on existing mines instead. Speaking at Royal Thai Air Force headquarters on July 6, General Adul said the exact cause of the incident cannot be confirmed, but there is a possibility Cambodian troops stepped on mines already present in the area. He emphasized Thailand maintains strict control measures, clear rules of engagement, close command oversight, and forces ready to defend national sovereignty, all operating under the ceasefire agreement from December 27, 2024.

Regarding diplomatic resolution, General Adul noted that Thailand and Cambodia are inseparable, but the current situation stems from Cambodia linking border issues to internal politics. Thailand's priority is building public confidence in the government's ability to protect sovereignty and ensure border residents' safety through coordinated national efforts.

On the sediment-trapping dam near Ban Hat Lek in Trat province, built by Cambodian private interests, General Adul acknowledged it is located in Cambodian territory and has created a port for tourist boats. However, the dam causes problems as sediment accumulation leads to seawater erosion of Thailand's Ban Hat Lek coastline. He said the two countries must discuss solutions, noting the issue has persisted since 1998 and he has already inspected the site.

When asked if UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982) mechanisms should be used, General Adul agreed, noting the dam is outside Thai territory and just 300 meters from the maritime boundary marker 71. He acknowledged concerns about threats to Thailand's maritime sovereignty and emphasized discussions are needed once conditions improve. Regarding Cambodia's leader Hun Sen ordering the dam not be dismantled, General Adul said he had no comment.

SA KAEO – On July 5, 2026, Thai soldiers arrested 11 people, including foreign nationals and one Thai citizen, after they illegally crossed into Thailand through a natural border crossing from Cambodia. The group claimed they fled jobs linked to online businesses after not receiving the wages they had been promised.

Troops from Burapha Task Force, together with Khok Sung Task Force and other security agencies, were conducting a border patrol when they spotted the suspects crossing a natural passage near boundary markers 41-42 in Ban Ang Sila, Non Mak Mun subdistrict, Khok Sung district, Sa Kaeo province.

Authorities detained all 11 suspects, identified as seven Bangladeshi nationals, one Chinese national, two Vietnamese nationals, and one Thai national. None carried passports or identification documents.

During questioning, the suspects said they had worked for about three months at a restaurant and online sales business in Poipet, Cambodia. A Chinese contact known as "Mr. Sunwia" had promised them US$200 daily wages, but they never received payment. They also cited intensified Cambodian crackdowns on foreign nationals as their reason for fleeing.

The suspects paid 8,000 baht each to a human smuggling network for their return to Thailand. They were driven from Poipet to the border, where three Cambodian guides led them through the natural crossing. Border patrol officers intercepted the group while the guides escaped.

All 11 suspects were transferred to Khok Sung Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities are investigating to identify and prosecute smuggling network members and others involved.

Commerce Ministry Deputy Director Nattiya Sujinda announced that June 2025's Consumer Price Index reached 102.85, up 2.42 percent from June 2024, driven by higher domestic fuel prices that increased public transportation costs. Prepared foods like curry rice and stir-fried noodles have seen widespread price hikes with no downward trend expected. Non-food and beverage categories rose 3.31 percent from fuel and transport costs, while food and non-alcoholic beverages climbed 1.03 percent due to prepared foods and rice price increases. Core inflation excluding fresh food and energy jumped to 1.23 percent from May's 0.92 percent, bringing second-quarter inflation to 2.70 percent and six-month average inflation to 1.08 percent.

Sujinda forecast third-quarter inflation will accelerate to 2.79 percent and fourth-quarter to 3.02 percent, citing persistent single-dish meal price increases despite falling oil prices, as vendors face accumulated costs. Small vendors particularly need to raise prices 5-10 baht per meal or 10-20 percent, she explained. Full-year inflation is projected between 1.5-2.5 percent with a midpoint of 2 percent, assuming GDP growth of 1.5-2.5 percent, Dubai crude at $80-90 per barrel, and the baht at 32-33 per dollar.

The Commerce Ministry Secretary-General has instructed provincial commerce offices to monitor single-dish meal prices in their areas and address any unjustified price gouging.

The Judicial Commission unanimously approved the appointment of Veeraphong Sudavongse, Vice President of the Supreme Court, to serve as the 52nd President of the Supreme Court effective October 1, 2025. The commission held its important meeting on July 6, 2025, to consider judicial appointments and transfers scheduled for October 1, 2025. Following this approval, the Office of the Judiciary will proceed with submitting the appointment to the Royal Palace for formal endorsement.

Sudavongse holds a Bachelor of Laws from Ramkhamhaeng University and a Thai legal certificate from the Institute of Law Studies. His significant career positions include: Chief Judge of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Court, Chief Judge of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court, Deputy Head of the Drug Cases Division in the Appeals Court, Director of the Moral and Ethical Misconduct Criminal Court Division 5, Head of the Consumer Cases Division in the Appeals Court Region 1, Director of the Central Moral and Ethical Misconduct Criminal Court Division, Supreme Court Judge, Head Judge Panel in the Supreme Court, and President of Region 5 Appeals Court.

He has also served in special capacities including membership on the Judicial Commission as a Supreme Court Commissioner, and has chaired committees on protecting citizens' rights and freedoms, judicial research, case management studies, and judicial system development.