Anthony Hudson, head coach of Thailand's national football team, spoke following Thailand's opening AFF Cup Group B preliminary match. Thailand defeated Laos 5-0, with goals from Kondogbia Yamyok (two), Theerasak Phayapimay, Yodsak Borappha, and Saracha Yooyean.

"I'm satisfied with today's match because we started this tournament with a victory, and the team has many new players," Hudson said. "Another positive is that nobody was injured and everyone played according to the tactics we set out. I want to thank the fans who traveled to support us at the stadium. I was deeply impressed by their effort and cheering."

Hudson added that the team will return to Thailand immediately to recover and prepare for the next match. "We need to focus match by match and always give our best. Saracha's condition needs another check, but initially it doesn't look serious—likely just a minor impact."

"I personally acknowledged my concerns about players' fitness before the tournament began, but I believe everyone will be increasingly ready in the coming days. I'm impressed with the young players from U23, just as I am with the experienced players on this squad. I confirm that my player selection is not determined by age, but rather by potential and readiness," Hudson stated.

Player of the match Theerasak Phayapimay commented on young goalkeeper Chavalit Saeleao: "Saf has good ability and needs to keep developing. I want to encourage him."

Thailand's next match is AFF Cup Group B's second preliminary round against Malaysia (ranked 136th globally) at Rajamangala Stadium on August 1, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available online, and the match will be broadcast live on TrueVisions Now.

Port FC is preparing its roster for the 2026/27 season across five competitions, and has signed Thai-English striker Jude Bellingham. The 22-year-old will travel to Thailand before joining the squad in Indonesia for the ongoing PIALA PRESIDEN 2026 tournament.

Bellingham's contract with Grimsby Town, an English League Two side, expires after the 2025/26 season. Despite interest from European clubs and several Thai League teams, he chose Port FC's four-year contract, viewing it as the best option given the chance to play in elite competitions like the AFC Champions League Elite while remaining in Thailand to prepare for his national team commitments in the Asian Cup 2027 finals in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.

Bellingham began his career as a youth player for Swindon Town before impressing Chelsea, which brought him into their academy at age 12 in 2015. At 18, he made his senior debut under Thomas Tuchel in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals, helping Chelsea beat Brentford 2-0 in 2021. He then moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2023 but was unable to break into the first team, leading to a move abroad with Córdoba in Spain's Segunda División during 2024/25, followed by a return to English football with Grimsby Town in 2025/26, where he has played 29 matches across all competitions.

On the international stage, Bellingham was previously a prospect for England, having represented the Three Lions at youth levels under-15, under-16, under-18, and under-19. He has now officially chosen to play for Thailand's senior national team, his mother's birthplace, following coordination by FAT President Nualpan Lamsam, former Port FC chairman, and will become a key player under coach Ange Postecoglou.

Police intercepted a pickup truck carrying 8 million methamphetamine pills on July 26, 2025, after residents reported multiple gunshots near a traffic light intersection on Pholyothin Road in Muang Lopburi District. Over 20 armed metropolitan police officers were pursuing a suspected drug trafficking operation when they spotted a bronze Toyota Tiger pickup truck and attempted to intercept it. When the suspects tried to escape, officers shot out all four tires to stop the vehicle.

Searching the truck, police found 40 fertilizer sacks containing approximately 8 million methamphetamine pills hidden inside, worth over 40 million baht. The two suspects refused to surrender and fled into the forest on foot, evading police searches despite intensive efforts to locate them. Police believe the large drug shipment was being transported from northern Thailand through Lopburi Province toward Saraburi Province during the Buddhist Lent holiday break, with plans to eventually reach neighboring countries.

When the suspects realized they were being pursued, they accelerated to escape and attempted to break through the police cordon toward Phraputthabat District. Officers were forced to use firearms to disable the vehicle. After the truck stopped, both suspects fled into nearby forest using darkness to evade capture despite police cordoning and searching the area.

Detailed examination of the seized vehicle confirmed 40 sacks of fertilizer containing approximately 8 million methamphetamine pills valued at over 40 million baht. Police believe this batch was being stored in the central region before being forwarded to neighboring countries, where its street value would increase many times over. Police are still withholding details as they expand the investigation into the trafficking network and are examining the truck's ownership to question the registered owner about possible involvement. The vehicle and all methamphetamine seized have been documented at Muang Lopburi Police Station and submitted for fingerprint analysis and forensic examination to identify other network members for prosecution.

The Energy Business Department has reported that Thailand's fuel consumption in April 2025 declined 11.2% compared to the same period last year, averaging 142.62 million liters per day and dropping 18.2% from March, reflecting broader economic slowdown. Saravuth Kaeotatip, director-general of the Energy Business Department, said the decline was reflected across gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and natural gas vehicle fuel (NGV), though ethanol blend E20 and biodiesel B20 continued to grow due to state biofuel promotion programs.

Gasoline consumption fell 9.5% to 29.23 million liters per day, with standard 91 and 95 octane grades declining while E20 gasoline surged 14% to 6.12 million liters daily, driven by favorable pricing. Diesel consumption dropped sharply by 17.2% to 57 million liters per day amid economic contraction and reduced private sector activity, though B20 biodiesel climbed to 1.04 million liters daily due to government incentives and expanded service stations.

Aircraft fuel (Jet A1) usage fell 2.5% to 17.04 million liters per day as tourism contracted and Middle Eastern tensions raised fuel costs, while fuel oil rose 3.6% to 5.18 million liters daily alongside manufacturing and export growth. LPG consumption declined 4.4% to 17.76 million kilograms per day due to reduced petrochemical and transport demand, and NGV plummeted 23% to 2.03 million kilograms daily as service stations dwindled to 258 locations.

Fuel imports fell 26.4% to 834,782 barrels per day, though import values increased 17% due to higher global crude prices as Thailand sourced crude from alternative suppliers to reduce Middle Eastern dependence. Refined fuel exports dropped 41.1% to 94,190 barrels per day following a government export suspension to preserve domestic supply.

A remarkable discovery was made at Wat Khlong Suwan Kiri in Ratchaburi when workers demolishing a hall to build a new one uncovered two ancient ceramic vessels containing over 600 powder Buddha amulets buried beneath the base of a large Buddha statue. The amulets bear the imprint of Luang Pu Phu from Wat Indrawihan, Bangkok, a venerated monk from an earlier era and a contemporary of the revered Somdej Toh of Wat Rakang.

The first vessel yielded 295 amulets, while the second contained 328, for a combined total of 623 pieces in varying conditions. Some show intact surfaces with patina, while others are discolored or fragmented into pieces. The amulets include several styles: large and medium-sized pieces, square forms, roof-topped variants, seven-tiered designs, and rounded-arm styles. However, scholars have not yet confirmed whether they are definitively from Luang Pu Phu's era.

Construction workers Chittathep, 20, and Nattapol, 34, who discovered the vessels while clearing a corner of the hall, recalled being startled to find the ancient ceramic containers filled with Buddha amulets. They immediately reported the discovery to the abbot. The abbot, Phra Khru Bai Tikasupoj Theerawattho, explained that the temple is renovating its grounds and plans to relocate buildings for a better layout. The initial construction budget stands at approximately 650,000 baht, with an additional 300,000 baht allocated for interior improvements. The temple is seeking donations for the project and will later determine pricing for those wishing to sponsor individual amulet plaques. A temple committee will meet again to finalize details.

On July 25, 2025, investigators from Na Kha Police Station received a report of a collision between a police pickup truck escorting a detainee and a motorcycle at the intersection of Ban Dong Phak Naam–Ban Du in Ban Khao subdistrict, Muang district, Udon Thani province. Both motorcycle riders sustained severe injuries and were rushed to Udon Thani Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

The two victims were identified as Sida Suwannajak, 57, and Sanguan Chansawang, 62, a husband and wife. They had been traveling by motorcycle to attend their grandchild's wedding ceremony across the street when the police escort vehicle struck them. At the scene, the pickup truck showed damage to its front bumper and bumper guards.

Investigators determined that before the accident, the couple had left their home on their motorcycle to cross the intersection and reach the wedding venue. The police pickup truck, which was en route to deposit a detainee at Udon Thani Provincial Court, struck them with considerable force.

The intersection is known to be a frequent site of accidents due to speeding vehicles passing through the residential area and reckless teenage drivers. Residents are urging relevant authorities to install traffic lights, speed-reduction warning signs, and other safety measures to prevent future serious accidents. The pickup truck driver and commander have visited the hospital to check on the injured, though no discussions regarding compensation have yet taken place with the victim's family. Police investigators are continuing to examine the scene, gather evidence, and interview witnesses to determine the cause of the accident and proceed with legal action.