Thailand national football team head coach Anthony Hudson acknowledged that his squad will enter the 2026 AFF Championship with lower fitness levels than some other nations, but expressed confidence they can still perform well. The team departed for Laos on July 23 to begin Group B qualifying matches, with their first game against Laos scheduled for July 25, led by Anthony Hudson with a 24-player squad that had been training together since July 14.

Hudson stated that the camp featured many new players, with the primary goal of ensuring all athletes understood the team's playing philosophy. He noted that players arrived with different fitness levels from their clubs' varying preseason schedules, and the coaching staff worked to maximize their conditioning. "Before we faced Laos, there were no problems, and we considered ourselves well-prepared," he said.

During the tournament, Hudson emphasized the focus would be on match fitness development in each game. He expressed strong confidence in all his players, including younger players and newcomers who performed well during training. "Our immediate goal is to secure victory over Laos in the first match and continue developing in each subsequent game," he said.

Hudson acknowledged that Thailand's physical conditioning was less intense than some other nations that had prepared earlier, with some countries having longer team preparation periods and warm-up matches. However, he stressed that throughout the camp, every player had worked to push themselves and build their fitness to the expected level. "This is the preseason phase, so fitness development is naturally part of the process," he explained.

Midfielder Saraç Uygun said the key factor was physical condition, noting that while Thailand started training later than others, the coaching staff had invested heavily in building their strength throughout the camp. He acknowledged that the AFF Championship is not an easy tournament, as every team has quality and various factors affect the competition, including travel and fan influence. "When the tournament arrives, there are no excuses—we must give our best performance," he said.

Defender Manuel Tom Bier commented that he observed strong team unity in camp, with young star players joking around with him in a fun atmosphere. He noted they had two more training sessions before the first match and expressed optimism about starting the tournament well.

Road transport service costs surged 11.1% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with increases across all product categories, according to Nanthapon Jiralertphong, director of the Office of Trade and Strategic Policy at Thailand's Ministry of Commerce. Agricultural and fishery products recorded the sharpest gains, jumping 15.5%, while mining products rose 4.3% and industrial products climbed 10.7% due to higher transport fees for food products, machinery, refined petroleum products, vehicles, and components.

All vehicle types saw rate increases, ranging from 4.8% for heavy-haul trailers to 13.2% for hazardous material trucks. Beyond diesel fuel costs—the primary expense for transport operators—logistics companies face rising maintenance, parts, administrative costs, and acute shortages of skilled truck drivers that are pushing labor costs higher. These combined pressures have forced operators to raise service prices to reflect actual operating expenses.

Jiralertphong forecasted that transport costs will likely remain elevated in the third quarter due to expected higher fuel prices and seasonal agricultural demand, though rainy season conditions may create logistical delays. However, competitive pricing pressures may cause some operators to absorb increased costs to retain customers, while global energy volatility could cause actual rates to diverge from current forecasts.

Police received a report at 5:15 a.m. on July 23, 2025, of a foreign tourist drowning in a private villa swimming pool in Kathu District, Phuket. Officers rushed to the scene and found the body of Ms. Claire, a 22-year-old from Uganda, face-down at the bottom of the approximately 2-meter-deep pool.

According to initial investigation, an Indian national named Chakeeb, who reported the incident, stated he had arrived in Thailand the previous day and met the victim at an entertainment venue on Bangla Road. After drinking alcohol together, they traveled to the villa. Around 4:00 a.m., both entered the pool. The victim, a weak swimmer, encountered difficulty in the pool with its steep-sloped floor. When she began to drown, Chakeeb attempted to help but was unable to rescue her. He exited the pool and sought assistance, attempting to call emergency services, eventually reaching rescuers around 4:30 a.m.

Initial investigation found no signs of struggle or disturbance in the villa room. The pool lacked nearby life-saving equipment. Police have summoned Chakeeb for further questioning and drug testing procedures. The body has been sent to Vachira Hospital Phuket for autopsy, and authorities are coordinating with the Ugandan embassy to contact the victim's family.

On July 23, 2025, at Government House, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as Palang Pracharath Party leader, addressed the decision to file a lawsuit against Yingcheep Atchananont, director of the Internet for the People project (iLaw), over claims he defamed parliament members. Anutin stated firmly that he will not reconsider the decision to sue.

When asked when the lawsuit would be filed, Anutin indicated he has already delegated the task to his legal team but is unsure whether it will happen this week. When pressed on what specific grievance prompted the lawsuit, Anutin redirected journalists to ask his lawyers for details.

BANGKOK: The financial results of Thai Airways International (THAI) are expected to bottom out in the second quarter, while recently approved tourism stimulus efforts should help airlines in the second half even as renewed US-Iran tensions cause jet fuel prices to rise, say analysts.

On July 23, Deputy Superintendent Suksun Saengtanchai of Thai Noi Police Station in Nonthaburi received a radio alert about an intoxicated man wielding a knife and vandalizing property at a construction workers' dormitory in Moo 9, Thai Noi subdistrict. Police officers responded to the scene, and when the suspect retreated into the building, officers spent approximately 20 minutes persuading him to come out. The man identified himself as Kritsana, 27 years old. During questioning, he explained that he felt wronged by his wife's family, saying both his father-in-law and mother-in-law had treated him poorly and blamed him for everything. He stated the knife was used for cutting cannabis and, during the police interview, removed his pants to demonstrate he was not carrying any other weapons. Police then escorted him to Thai Noi Station for emotional stabilization.

Kritsana's mother-in-law stated that she, her family, and her son-in-law all worked together on a construction contract, but the son-in-law regularly drinks alcohol and smokes cannabis. When intoxicated, he frequently throws bottles at the house, sometimes wields a knife to damage household items, and has previously assaulted her daughter.

Kritsana claimed he had never gotten along well with his father-in-law. Before the incident, he had consumed white liquor and smoked cannabis, though he was primarily drunk on alcohol. He insisted the knife was meant only for cutting cannabis and that he had no intention of harming anyone. He said that whenever he argued with his wife, his father-in-law would interfere, making him unable to tolerate the situation any longer and forcing him to back down repeatedly.

Police initially charged him with public intoxication and disorderly conduct, then took him to the holding cell for emotional observation until he sobered up.