Divers at Ko Tao in Surat Thani province were thrilled to encounter whale sharks measuring approximately 3-4 meters long at two popular dive sites simultaneously—Chumphon Pinnacle, a world-class deep dive site to the northwest, and Sail Rock, one of the Gulf of Thailand's most beautiful and famous dive locations to the southeast. Divers were able to photograph and film the whale sharks swimming gracefully among schools of fish, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed the encounter.

Ramluk Asvachin, chairman of Ko Tao Tourism Business Association, revealed that June through September each year represents peak season for whale shark sightings at Ko Tao, with consistent reports of encounters at multiple dive sites including Chumphon, Sail Rock, Hin Khao, Khong Tung Ku, Luan Pairinthorn, and other dive areas. Some days see whale sharks at multiple locations, and numerous instances have recorded simultaneous sightings at two dive sites within the same timeframe. Both Thai and foreign divers eagerly anticipate this season due to the frequent daily opportunities to encounter whale sharks.

"Consistent whale shark sightings are an important indicator reflecting the richness of Ko Tao's marine ecosystem, food sources, and biodiversity. This success also results from collaborative conservation and marine resource restoration efforts between government agencies, private sector partners, dive operators, and local communities," Ramluk stated.

She added that Ko Tao continues to be recognized as one of the world's premier diving destinations. Regular whale shark encounters during this season not only captivate tourists but also reflect the quality of marine resources and reinforce Ko Tao's image as a diving destination that grows sustainably alongside conservation efforts.

Dive operators urge all divers to follow responsible whale shark viewing practices: do not touch, do not chase, do not feed, and maintain appropriate distance to avoid disrupting the animals' natural behavior and to preserve Ko Tao's marine abundance for the future.

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum on Friday (July 3) opened the doors of the Governors Residence in a bid to hear directly from residents, inviting the public to answer two simple questions: “What do you want to tell the Governor?” and “What do you want the Governor to do?”

Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angsakulgiartti outlined enhanced security measures for airports following a cabinet drug prevention committee meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on July 3rd. Siripong, representing Deputy PM Pipat Ratchakitprakarn who was conducting provincial fieldwork, said the Transport Ministry will implement the committee's recommendations with additional enforcement measures.

He confirmed that before the arrest of a Thai flight attendant in Australia, the airport had already enforced stringent international screening standards, and drug smuggling arrests have been ongoing at the airport with contraband detected on both arriving and departing flights. "Going forward, we will intensify screening procedures significantly because we believe these smuggling networks may have learned our inspection methods and are continuously adapting to evade detection," Siripong said.

Regarding concerns about how crew member smuggling would be controlled, the Deputy Transport Minister explained that airports already screen crew through X-ray scanning, but if violations are discovered, enforcement will be escalated. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand will issue additional regulations to all airlines, including prohibiting crew from carrying items due to risk factors. Additional measures include enhanced training for X-ray machine operators, strengthened intelligence operations, and deployment of over 60 additional K9 units from the Thai National Police to supplement existing customs K9 units. The ministry will issue further policy directives to airlines.

A woman has warned travelers after witnessing security staff confiscate numerous portable fans at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport during the peak travel season. She shared photos of a confiscation bin overflowing with various handheld fans, likening it to a "mountain of fans," and urged travelers to carefully check baggage regulations before flying to avoid losing items at security checkpoints.

The woman posted on Threads on July 3, expressing surprise at how many passengers were unable to bring portable fans through security and had to abandon them in the confiscation bin. She urged international travelers to carefully review what they pack to avoid abandoning items at checkpoints.

According to Taoyuan International Airport's website, portable fans using lithium-ion or LiFePO4 batteries may only be carried in carry-on luggage and are prohibited in checked baggage. Fans using lead-acid batteries that do not meet IATA's A67 specifications are not permitted on aircraft in any form.

Power banks are also prohibited in checked baggage and must be carried on board. Batteries with capacity not exceeding 100 watt-hours can be brought aboard normally, while those between 100-160 Wh require airline approval. Batteries exceeding 160 Wh are not permitted on aircraft, and power banks cannot be used or charged during flight.

The airport also reminds passengers that they may carry one regular lighter in carry-on luggage only. Windproof lighters and blue flame lighters are completely prohibited. For liquids, gels, and sprays, containers must not exceed 100 milliliters each and must be placed together in a clear ziplock bag with total capacity not exceeding one liter. Sharp objects like knives and scissors are only permitted in checked baggage, with the exception of scissors with blades not exceeding 6 centimeters in length.

Thailand's women's volleyball team captain Chompoo Pornpranom expressed hope that the squad will win at least two matches during the final week of the 2026 Women's Nations League (VNL 2026) in Osaka, Japan, from July 8-12. Coach Kiarti Ratchatakienkaew led the team's departure on July 5, 2026, via Thai Airways flight TG672 at 8:25 a.m. Before leaving, Chompoo stated that after completing the second week with ample rest and good physical preparation, the team had fully recovered over the past 10 days and returned to intensive training, with all players ready for the third week of competition. "The final week's schedule is quite demanding. We don't know how well we'll perform against the top teams until we play, but we believe our preparation has been intense. Facing strong opponents will be challenging, but we're confident we'll compete fiercely," Chompoo said. "We'll face Japan, America, Turkey, and Brazil—I'm sure they're coming at full strength. But we believe we can compete. These will be tough matches, but good ones for us. Thailand's goal is to secure at least two victories, even though all four opponents are among the world's top teams," she added. Thailand's match schedule includes: Wednesday, July 8 vs. USA at 1:30 p.m.; Thursday, July 9 vs. Japan at 5:20 p.m.; Saturday, July 11 vs. Brazil at 1:30 p.m.; and Sunday, July 12 vs. Turkey at 1:30 p.m.