Khao Kheow Open Zoo held a grand celebration for pygmy hippo Moo Deng's second birthday on July 10, 2025, with Bunyachob Suddhamanasswong, chairman of the Thailand Zoo Organization, officially opening the "Happy Moo Deng Day" event at the hippopotamus exhibit in Chachoengsao province. The beloved dwarf hippo, who has captured hearts across Thailand and among fans globally, was honored with official remarks from zoo director Narongvit Chadchoy and Thailand Zoo Organization director Jonglani Kaewsod.

During the opening ceremony, officials and tourists sang happy birthday to the two-year-old hippo and presented a cake decorated with fresh vegetables and fruits. The celebration featured photo galleries, mascot parades of Moo Deng's animal friends, and a booth where fans could write birthday wishes. Bunyachob highlighted how Moo Deng exemplifies Thailand's soft power, generating significant economic benefits for Chachoengsao province while supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

The zoo also unveiled the "Hippo Village" project, a 75-million-baht government-funded development set to begin construction in 2025. The project will upgrade and expand hippopotamus habitats using nature-based design principles that closely mimic natural environments, promoting animal welfare and allowing natural behaviors. The redesigned exhibit will serve as a new landmark, enhancing tourist experience while sustainably boosting Thailand's long-term tourism economy.

Rescue teams are conducting an intensive search for four Buddhist monks missing in Khlong Muay, within the Bang Ywan forest area of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Amphoe Wiphawadi, Surat Thani Province, following a bamboo raft accident on July 10, 2025. Park officials, community leaders, residents, and rescue units have mobilized to locate the missing monks after the raft collapsed in Khlong Muay.

According to initial reports, twelve monks were traveling downstream on bamboo rafts from Ranong Province when the raft broke apart on the evening of July 9. Two monks emerged on the morning of July 10 to seek help from village officials, prompting a full-scale search operation. Additional monks were subsequently found, though some were suffering from exhaustion and minor injuries. These individuals were transported to a hospital for treatment.

As of 1:18 p.m., authorities had successfully rescued eight monks, leaving four still missing. Over 20 park search personnel, working alongside local residents, continue on-foot and aerial drone searches throughout the forest area to locate the remaining monks.

Celeste Amarilla, a Paraguayan senator, claims her Instagram account was hacked following a firestorm of posts attacking Kylian Mbappé after France defeated Paraguay 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup knockout round. The 61-year-old senator had launched into a tirade against Mbappé immediately after the match ended, calling him a Cameroonian posing as French, using dehumanizing language, and suggesting he deserved to be slapped by Paraguayan players. When Mbappé responded and demanded an apology, Amarilla deleted some posts and threatened him with discrimination charges. She now claims her Instagram was hacked and denies responsibility for any future posts. Paraguay's government condemned her remarks on Monday, saying they contradicted "values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes." During a Paraguayan Senate session on Wednesday, Senate President Basilio Núñez said her comments were "not just bad but terrible and do not represent what most Paraguayans think." French prosecutors have launched an investigation into her statements for racial discrimination following a complaint filed by the French Football Federation. According to reports, prosecutors indicated the charges could result in up to one year in prison and fines of approximately 51,000 dollars.

BBC reported on July 10 that tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as the United States and Iran persist in their confrontation. The US military conducted strikes on 90 military targets, including air defense systems and military infrastructure along Iran's coastline.

Iran retaliated by targeting US positions in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar in response to previous attacks. Additional strikes followed in Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and near a nuclear power plant in Bushehr.

Observers report that the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has declined significantly amid concerns that oil and fuel prices could spike again.

Large crowds gathered for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's late Supreme Leader who died in an attack in late February. State television reported that "the body of the leader of the Islamic Revolution was buried at the Imam Reza Shrine."

The coffin, draped in the national flag, was moved into the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad in northeastern Iran, Khamenei's birthplace. However, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, his son and successor to the position of Supreme Leader, was notably absent from public view. He has not appeared publicly since reports that he suffered severe injuries from the same attack that killed his father.

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the latest US strikes as a "serious war crime," emphasizing that the US government is "evil and corrupt." Iran's Health Ministry reported 14 deaths and 78 injuries across five provinces.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker and head of negotiations with the US, posted on X that the US continues to fail to understand that threats and broken promises have consequences. "Let me be clear: if you attack, you will be attacked," he stated, adding that the Strait of Hormuz will only open when Iran agrees, not through US threats.

Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma and Metropolitan Police Investigation Division have launched Operation "Scale of the Dragon" to dismantle the Por Tip gang's false birth certificate scheme for foreigners. The court issued 40 arrest warrants and 42 search warrants. Suspects include one district official and one hospital employee who allegedly sold birth certificate packages for approximately 90,000 baht per child. The investigation expanded from the April 2567 arrest of Chinese national Chen Yinlai, a scammer operating money laundering activities through Thailand with transactions exceeding 70 billion baht.

On July 10, 2569, at Bang Yai Police Station, investigators brought suspects for fingerprinting, including Siriporn (registrar official), Ngon Ajad (Por Tip), and Prajuab (Por Tip), a company nominee director of China Railway, along with Sunee, a private hospital medical records officer. All face charges of misconduct and false birth certificate registration.

When questioned, Siriporn appeared stressed and refused to comment. Investigators detained 19 total suspects: 10 Por Tip gang members, 7 Chinese women, and two female officials.

Ngon Ajad's daughter reported that approximately 10 years ago, her father married a new Thai wife who worked in Sampeng and introduced him to Li Yan, a Chinese woman. He was asked to sign marriage documents without understanding the reason. When questioned, Ngon Ajad claimed he didn't know his wife had arranged him to sign recognition documents for her children, and he received only 2,000 baht for signing. He stated Li Yan was not pregnant at that time and only became pregnant years later. He confirmed signing birth certificate recognition for two of Li Yan's children and denied receiving payment, claiming he helped because Li Yan was a friend of his girlfriend and wanted to reside in Thailand.

On July 10, officers from Lang Suan Police Station, along with anti-human trafficking and labor officials from Chumphon Province, conducted an inspection of a durian farm in Wang Tako Subdistrict, Lang Suan District, Chumphon Province. The raid resulted in the arrests of two Chinese nationals: Shu Liang, 46, and Lin Huoyong, 47, who were managing operations at the facility. Both men failed to produce work permits when questioned and were arrested for working without authorization. Officers also charged two Myanmar nationals—a 32-year-old woman without legal registration status and Shwe Kyi, 32—for working without permits. During the search, authorities discovered an unregistered .38 caliber revolver in the possession of one of the Chinese suspects, along with ammunition. No registration documents or firearms permit could be found.