Invasive African nutria are causing severe damage to palm oil plantations in Chumphon province's Ta Sae district, prompting urgent calls for government intervention. A field inspection of a 64-year-old farmer's 22-hectare palm oil plantation—planted to replace rubber trees—revealed that large rodent-like animals with sharp teeth have stripped bark from the bases of young 1–2-year-old palms, killing some immediately and leaving others withered. The farmer reported that over 300 of his 500 newly planted saplings have been damaged, and his attempts to control the population using traps and rodent poison have failed; he managed to catch only two nutria before they learned to avoid traps, and hundreds have now been born, attacking nearly every palm tree.

The infestation is not limited to this farm; over 10 neighboring farming families in the area face identical losses. Officials warn that without decisive action, damage could spread across Chumphon province and engulf all 14 Southern provinces, home to Thailand's and the world's most significant oil palm cultivation areas. The provincial Farmers' Council chairman has ordered members to gather damage data for an emergency meeting and coordinate with agricultural agencies to research and implement urgent eradication and compensation measures.

African nutria were first introduced to Thailand from the African continent in 1994 by foreign merchants in Ratchaburi province, marketed as a new "economic animal" claimed to be easy to raise, quick-growing, grass-eating, and valuable for meat, fur, and hide exports. Many Thai farmers fell victim to the scheme, purchasing breeding stock at inflated prices; when farming proved unprofitable due to lack of market demand from 1995–1999, many farmers secretly released nutria into natural waterways. The species has since become a national environmental crisis, devastating rice fields, vegetables, fruit orchards, and aquatic plants, and is now destroying the South's signature oil palm industry.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday reaffirmed Thailand's close ties with China and pledged government support for investment and trade partnerships, saying the country is ready to welcome foreign businesses while protecting national security.

Speaking at the opening of the Thailand–China Cooperation Expo 2026 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Anutin said Thailand and China's relationship was built on decades of diplomatic ties and centuries of historical connections.

The event was attended by Thai and Chinese business leaders, including representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Board of Investment (BOI), and Chinese business associations.

"Thailand and China are like family countries," Anutin said, adding that both nations should strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit amid global challenges. He said Thailand needed to work with China, describing the country as a major economy with advanced research and development capabilities.

Anutin said Chinese companies he met during his recent visit to China had expressed confidence in Thailand and were interested in investing, creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities.

Addressing concerns over Chinese investment, including criticism that Chinese companies may not transfer technology or rely heavily on Chinese supply chains, Anutin said cooperation itself could help develop Thai skills and capabilities.

"Technology transfer is not just about opening a book. It comes from training, working together, planning and developing strategies together," he said.

The prime minister said the government would fully support foreign investment through measures such as the BOI's "Thailand FastPass" initiative, which aims to streamline investment procedures. He also warned against anyone obstructing investment projects, saying those who create unnecessary barriers would not be allowed to hinder the country's economic progress.

"Those who obstruct or become obstacles to the government's policies will not be on the path that leads to our success," Anutin said.

On security, Anutin assured investors that Thailand remained stable and safe, saying the country was capable of protecting itself from external threats. "Thailand cannot be invaded or threatened," he said. "We have told our friends that we want to live peacefully. Do not threaten us, but if anyone comes to threaten us, we will not stand still."

Anutin said Thailand welcomed international investors and promised the government would remove obstacles while ensuring businesses operate under Thai laws.

The Thailand–China Cooperation Expo 2026 showcases products, businesses and investment opportunities from both countries. During his visit, Anutin toured exhibition booths, sampled Pu'er tea from China's Yunnan province and observed a demonstration of an autonomous passenger drone.

On July 22, 2026, Mr. Sompooch (surname withheld), a 48-year-old renowned tattoo artist from Lao Khwan district in Kanchanaburi, decided to ride his motorcycle 162 kilometers with his 8-year-old son to seek help from a local rescue hotline after being defrauded by a single mother of five who conned him into lending money over six years, totaling nearly 1 million baht. He is now destitute, with only about 2,000 baht remaining in his bank account.

Sompooch revealed that he met the suspect, referred to as "Nang Lek," through his ex-wife in early 2021, and they began dating on June 18, 2021. Nang Lek visited him once or twice a month and first asked to borrow 5,000 baht on July 27, claiming she needed it to buy a tablet for her son who was about to enter monastic studies. After that, she borrowed money over 200 times with various excuses—claiming to be seriously ill, that her stepfather died, her mother died, or that she had an accident. The largest single transfer was 50,000 baht on July 5, 2022, when she claimed she needed to settle a debt on behalf of her half-sister who was being threatened by loan sharks.

Sompooch agreed to transfer money because he felt sorry for her and thought of her as his wife. Nang Lek also claimed to have 5 million baht in a bank account earning 30,000 baht monthly interest and promised to withdraw all the money and repay him by April 12, but she never returned even a single baht. He even had to borrow an additional 10,000 baht from relatives and sold his possessions to repay them, all while caring for his bedridden parents.

Nang Lek stopped contacting him on June 6 this year. When Sompooch brought evidence to file a complaint at Lao Khwan Police Station, officers refused, claiming it was a civil matter requiring him to hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit himself. He then rode his motorcycle with his son to seek help from a local rescue hotline and sent a message to Nang Lek asking her to answer his calls and discuss debt repayment if she sees the news.

Aekkaphop Luengprasert, founder of the rescue hotline, said he would contact the superintendent of Lao Khwan Police Station to urge officers to accept the complaint and proceed according to law in order to help the victim who is currently suffering greatly.

On July 22, 2025, Prithiyathorn Wacharasindhu, a Pheu Thai list MP and coordinator of the opposition coalition in parliament, sent a letter to Parliamentary Speaker Sompon Zareum requesting updates on a petition submitted by the opposition and senate members asking for the case to be referred to the Supreme Court for an independent inquiry into the National Anti-Corruption Commission's handling of Saksiam Chidchob's stock manipulation case. Prithiyathorn stated that after last week's interview in which the speaker confirmed he had just signed off on establishing a screening committee to consider the petition, the opposition is requesting four actions: (1) disclosure of committee members and their terms of reference, (2) clarification of the timeline for the committee's work and recommendations, (3) invitation for petition representatives to provide information to the committee to ensure thoroughness and fairness, and (4) public release of meeting minutes and the committee's findings after it begins work. Prithiyathorn added that while the speaker has stated he serves no individual or political party and has no intention of shelving the opposition's petition, he is questioning whether the speaker will truly follow through on his "say and do" party slogan and cooperate with the opposition on these four points.

SISAKET — Families, local residents and security officials gathered on Wednesday to commemorate the first anniversary of a Cambodian rocket attack that killed eight people at a petrol station in Thailand's border province of Sisaket.

A merit-making ceremony was held at the PTT petrol station in Ban Phue, Kantharalak district, where a BM-21 multiple rocket launcher strike hit on July 24, 2025, during the first day of armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces along the border. The attack killed eight people, injured 13 others and caused extensive damage to the petrol station and nearby properties.

Buddhist monks chanted prayers and dedicated merit to those who lost their lives, as grieving relatives gathered to remember the victims and pray for lasting peace along the border. Kamonrat Phonsettalerd, the owner of the petrol station, said the ceremony was held two days before the actual anniversary because monks were available on Wednesday. She said memories of the attack remain vivid and loud noises still leave her startled.

She said border communities continue to struggle to rebuild their livelihoods and remain concerned that fighting could erupt again. Residents have rehearsed evacuation plans and are prepared to leave immediately if authorities issue another warning. Busaba Khamwang, the mother of one of the victims, said the pain of losing her son had not faded despite the passage of a year.

"No amount of assistance can replace my child," she said, adding that her greatest wish is for the violence never to happen again. Another survivor, Komsan Prachan, who lost his wife and two children in the attack, returned to the petrol station for the first time since the tragedy.

He said revisiting the site brought back painful memories of his family. Although he has received government compensation, he said no financial assistance could erase the loss, and urged that renewed fighting be avoided to spare others from similar suffering.

Prime Minister Anupong Paojinda presided over the opening and delivered a keynote address at the Thailand–China Cooperation Expo 2026 on July 22, 2025, at Impact Challenger Hall in Muang Thong Thani. The event was attended by senior Thai and Chinese business leaders, including representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and China's enterprise trade association.

Chinese Deputy Ambassador Wu Zhuoou opened remarks in Mandarin before switching to Thai, wishing the expo success and hoping it would create sweet feelings for Thai citizens akin to the song "Tianmimimi" that the PM graciously performed at a reception hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. He concluded by borrowing the PM's phrase "Jianguo taiguo, jianguo zhongguo"—advancing Thailand, advancing China—and moving forward with the Thailand–China Cooperation Expo 2026.

The PM noted that the deputy ambassador had just taught him Thai, jokingly questioning whether his official title was ambassador or deputy ambassador, commenting on the ambassador's strong Thai language skills. He expressed hope to learn some Chinese, acknowledging that his limited Mandarin proficiency sometimes necessitates singing instead.

Anupong emphasized that the expo occurs at a crucial moment, as Thailand-China relations are forming to achieve stability and strength, with mutual support between the two nations as siblings and one family. He stated that in a world facing multiple challenges, both countries must define cooperation direction and set the tone of bilateral friendship for maximum national and public benefit.

The PM noted that strengthening Thailand-China relations is not difficult because of their deep, long-standing bond passed down through generations, fostering mutual understanding and continued support. He highlighted that last year both nations celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations, though he emphasized this formal milestone masks a much deeper 1,000-year relationship. The ties between Thailand and China stretch back so far that their origin is beyond memory, he said, describing their long coexistence as enduring and inseparable.