On July 10, 2026, Thai Prime Minister Anuthин Charnweerakul and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim presided over the opening ceremony of the connecting road between Sadao Customs Checkpoint in Songkhla Province and Bukit Kayu Hitam Checkpoint in Kedah, Malaysia. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Pipat Ratchakitprakarn and Ekniti Nitithanpong, Tourism and Sports Minister Suraskul Pantcharoenkul, and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiarungloy.

The project marks a significant infrastructure development that strengthens transportation, trade, and tourism connections between the two nations, supporting the government's "Ease of Traveling" policy and enhancing Thailand's competitiveness as an ASEAN travel hub.

Tourism Minister Suraskul described the new road as tourism infrastructure that creates added economic value for overland tourism growth, particularly attracting Malaysian tourists who predominantly travel by land. The ministry is conducting active marketing in collaboration with Malaysian tourism partners and automotive clubs to encourage personal vehicle and caravan travel into Thailand.

The strategy includes promoting scenic routes for cross-border tourism, distributing tourism revenue to Southern border towns, and strengthening Thailand's position as an ASEAN tourism center.

TAT Governor Thapanee stated the authority is pursuing a "Value over Volume" strategy to attract quality tourists. The Sadao checkpoint upgrade is viewed as boosting Thailand's competitiveness and supports the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) framework for regional economic and tourism integration.

TAT aims to develop Southern Thailand into a tourism gateway connecting Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore routes and enhance Thailand's role as an ASEAN tourism hub. During the Sadao opening, TAT is launching the "New Hatyai" project, inviting Malaysian social media influencers to showcase the city's tourism offerings.

The online world is buzzing over a young Russian woman who bears a striking resemblance to Norway national team star Erling Haaland, with football fans jokingly calling them twins after a video of her mimicking his signature goal celebration pose went viral globally.

The woman is Anastasiya Kostromitina, a 24-year-old model from Moscow, Russia. The viral moment started when her mother Maria posted a humorous video on Instagram showing her daughter imitating Haaland's distinctive pose and celebration moves.

The timing was perfect, occurring just 24 hours after Haaland scored two goals against Brazil, when interest in the Norwegian striker was at peak intensity. The clip spread rapidly and went viral within hours.

Maria's Reels video garnered over 107 million views with more than 76,700 comments, while copycat videos from other users further amplified the trend, accumulating tens of millions of views in a single day.

What excited viewers was the uncanny similarity between the two—blonde hair, grayish-blue eyes, sharp facial features, and a distinctive gaze—leading netizens to joke: "Are they half-siblings?" Some even quipped: "No DNA test needed."

However, Anastasiya revealed that people have been comparing her to Haaland for over four years. Initially, she didn't feel good about it because she didn't understand why so many people saw her as resembling the famous footballer.

Over time, she changed her perspective, viewing it as a good opportunity and choosing to use the resemblance to her advantage. She noted that negative comments don't create problems, as they ultimately boost engagement on her content.

The trend coincided with buildup to the World Cup match between England and Norway, intensifying conversations about Haaland. He entered the tournament as joint top scorer with seven goals, so if he scores against England, Anastasiya's comment section will certainly explode.

On July 10, the Parliamentary Military Affairs Committee held a seminar titled "Security Budget Strategy and Development of Thailand's Shipbuilding Industry and Self-Reliance" at the Royal Thai Navy headquarters. Navy representatives, shipbuilding contractors, and related agencies exchanged views on the Navy's frigate acquisition plan and domestic shipbuilding development.

Chatchai Suphattawanitchai, vice chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, noted that the frigate project has drawn public interest due to its security budget implications. The seminar was organized to provide an open forum for discussion based on facts, data, and academic principles to ensure comprehensive understanding.

Rear Admiral Saravut Chiyangkaput, director of the Naval Logistics and Planning Office, stated that the Navy manages equipment procurement across three dimensions: acquisition, operations, and maintenance. He confirmed that the frigate project has strict terms of reference covering economic offset policies to ensure long-term national benefit.

The key concept, Chiyangkaput explained, is that acquiring frigates is not merely purchasing weapons but investing in industrial capacity and national self-reliance. Bidders must submit offset plans covering five areas: investment in Thailand, technology research and transfer, training and personnel development, co-production with Thai industry, and other assistance.

The winning bidder must conduct economic compensation activities valued at least 15 percent, or approximately 2.5 billion baht, of the first frigate's 17 billion baht budget, with economic impact assessments to maximize national benefit.

The project uses internationally recognized evaluation standards acceptable to manufacturers worldwide and may serve as a model for future large government procurement. The primary goal is ensuring the Navy receives all four frigates as outlined in the national security white paper.

Wiroj Lakkhanadisorn, military committee advisor, supported linking frigate procurement to Thai shipbuilding development, viewing it as investment and job creation rather than mere defense spending. He proposed acquiring all four ships consecutively for maximum value.

Phattharawin Chongwisarn, secretary of the Thai Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Association, confirmed that Thai contractors are fully capable of building frigates. The association's eight shipyards are prepared to cooperate with the Navy, potentially utilizing the Navy's Mahidol Adulyadej Dockyard as a joint production base to stimulate the economy, reduce imports, and increase future export opportunities.

Somdet Phra Maharachmonkulmuni, head of the Supreme Sangha Council and director of the Buddhist-based national reconciliation project, presided over an award ceremony on July 10, 2025 at the Buddhamamdal Assembly Hall in Nakhon Pathom province. The event honored exemplary Five Precepts Villages under the initiative designed to foster social harmony through Buddhist principles.

Addressing clergy, officials, and Buddhists nationwide, Somdet Phra Maharachmonkulmuni explained that the Five Precepts Villages project originated from the vision of the late Somdet Phra Maharachmanglacharn in 2557 B.E. with three core objectives: promoting public welfare, ensuring national security, and honoring the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Royal Family.

The project has operated continuously for over 12 years with support from the clergy, government agencies, private sector, and communities throughout Thailand. It has produced tangible results in promoting moral values and social unity. Somdet Phra Maharachmonkulmuni praised all participating organizations and individuals for their dedicated efforts.

He emphasized that observing the Five Precepts is fundamental to living ethically, bringing peace to individuals, families, and society. When society upholds moral discipline, it naturally develops concentration, wisdom, and harmony—essential foundations for stable and sustainable national development. He concluded by blessing all participants and wishing the Thai people continued prosperity under their Sovereign.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday officially opened the new road linking Thailand's Sadao Customs House with Malaysia's Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint, marking a major step in strengthening cross-border trade and connectivity.

The inauguration took place at the new Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla province. During the ceremony, the two leaders walked from their respective border gates and met for a symbolic handshake at the midpoint of the crossing before Anwar welcomed Anutin to the Malaysian side.

The new road will open to the public and freight transport from July 11 after years of joint development by the two countries to connect their border checkpoints.

Speaking at the ceremony, Anutin described the new Sadao checkpoint as "an economic gateway" that would bring the people, trade and investment of Thailand and Malaysia closer together. He said the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing is the two countries' most important land trade gateway and one of the region's key transport corridors. The new connection is expected to ease congestion, shorten border crossing times, lower logistics costs and improve the movement of goods, tourists and travelers.

Anutin said he and Anwar had agreed during their official talks on Thursday to accelerate border connectivity projects linking Songkhla-Kedah, Satun-Perlis and Narathiwat-Kelantan, while also promoting border economic zones and streamlining customs and immigration procedures.

He said the infrastructure investment would help attract new investment, create jobs and boost local businesses, while improving the quality of life in border communities.

Thailand and Malaysia have set a bilateral trade target of $30 billion. More than 80% of the two countries' border trade currently passes through the Sadao crossing, underscoring its importance as the main trade and logistics gateway between the neighbors.

The director of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Pin Sak Surasawadee, discussed the Songkhla Lake bridge project and the Ko Lanta connector bridge linking Krabi's Krasaem Sindhu district to Trang's Khao Chai Son district. The cabinet approved this project on February 18, 2025, with a conservation plan budgeted at 402.818 million baht over five years.

Since the bridge falls within an area requiring special environmental protection, a parallel Irrawaddy dolphin conservation program is essential. Only five countries worldwide still have this dolphin species, with Thailand having merely 14 individuals left. They are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, with their small population in crisis. As the last dolphin group in Songkhla Lake, they require protection and habitat restoration alongside efforts to reduce all threats.

From 2006 to 2025, 69 dolphins died, primarily from fishing gear, especially nets. Since implementing a ghost net retrieval program and working with stakeholders to eliminate harmful fishing equipment, mortality rates have declined significantly. No dolphin deaths have been reported this year, though vigilance remains necessary. Calf mortality is concerning, with a mortality rate exceeding 40 percent, indicating low population growth potential due to small population size, reduced genetic diversity, natural behavior, and environmental factors in Songkhla Lake.

Pin Sak emphasized that the project must balance infrastructure development with natural resource conservation. The government mandates that conservation planning accompany project development to prevent, mitigate, and monitor impacts on dolphins and the lake ecosystem. The conservation plan will address habitat restoration, ecosystem recovery, food sources, community participation, and knowledge development to ensure sustainable results.