The Airports of Thailand Authority has launched promotional measures for new flight routes, both domestic and international, to support convenient public travel and tourism with a 50% reduction in landing and parking fees.

Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattarapredit announced that he has ordered the airports authority to develop and promote flight routes within Thailand and internationally, positioning regional airports as engines for regional development. The aim is to link transportation, commerce, and tourism across the country.

Previously, the authority consulted with airlines and regional tourism operators to identify ways to launch new routes and increase frequencies on promising corridors. Efforts include coordinated tourism marketing, travel promotion events, and route development aligned with each area's economic potential—creating viable business cases for carriers while expanding public travel options and strengthening regional airports' role in driving economic and tourism growth.

Phattrapong emphasized that measures must prioritize public benefit by offering more convenient travel choices, direct routes to various regions, shorter travel times, and lower costs. The initiative aims to stimulate regional economies so local communities gain from the resulting business, trade, and tourism growth.

"These measures support not only airlines but also create opportunities for citizens to access convenient, quick, and affordable travel while driving sustainable regional economic growth," he said.

Airports of Thailand Director Danai Ruangsoon noted that the authority previously offered promotions only for domestic routes. The agency is now expanding incentives to international routes, including both scheduled and charter flights, to align with the deputy minister's policy goals.

New airlines will receive a 50% discount on landing and parking fees for six months if they have never operated from the authority's airports or have ceased operations for at least one year.

New routes will receive a 50% discount on landing and parking fees for one year if they are newly launched or have been inactive for at least one year. The authority expects to announce these promotional measures by early August.

PHUKET: A 22-year-old Ugandan woman drowned in the swimming pool of a luxury villa in Kamala in the early hours of Thursday morning (July 23), police have confirmed.

Emergency responders from Pattaya Sawang Boriboon rescue center were alerted at 1:36 a.m. on July 24, 2569, to a fatal motorcycle-truck collision on Highway 331 near the Forestry Office in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. The accident scene was poorly lit due to non-functioning streetlights along a long stretch of road, severely reducing visibility. A white Hino 18-wheel truck bearing Chachoengsao registration was parked at the roadside, and a white Yamaha Fino motorcycle from Maha Sarakham struck its rear end with tremendous force. The front of the motorcycle was completely crushed, with debris scattered across the road. The body of Nathphong (surname withheld), a factory worker, was found at the wreckage and had to be extracted using cutting and prying equipment.

When questioned, the 41-year-old truck driver, Attavuth (surname withheld), explained that he had pulled over because he needed to urinate while driving toward Sattahip. After attending to his personal needs and returning to the cab to use his phone, he heard a loud crash within five minutes. Upon inspection, he found the motorcycle had struck the rear of his truck and immediately called police and rescue units.

Police documented the scene and took statements from the truck driver as evidence. Authorities plan to review CCTV footage from the area to determine the exact cause of the accident. The deceased has been transferred to the hospital pending claim by family members for religious funeral rites. Officials have urged relevant agencies to repair the malfunctioning streetlights along the road to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Paula Taylor attended the launch event for "Return of True Love Next Door" at the GDH CIRCLES Feel Good event at Sirikit National Convention Centre, where she updated fans about settling back into life in Thailand and discussed her close friend Jenny Tienpodsuwan, who was reportedly splashed with water during a recent wedding ceremony.

When asked about the incident, Taylor expressed sympathy for her friend, saying she did nothing wrong. "I just told her to take it as encouragement. That's all. She did her best," Taylor explained. She acknowledged that the other party involved may have been stressed.

Taylor confirmed she is now permanently based in Thailand and adjusting well to local life, including picking up Thai slang and expressions. Regarding her return to acting, she remains cautiously optimistic, noting that the project details are still being finalized. She emphasized her commitment to balancing work with motherhood, as her children are a priority—one studying in Thailand and another abroad. Taylor expressed her characteristic warmth about parenting, saying she and her family just "make it happen" together and that she supports whatever her children want to pursue.

AIS PLAY reinforces its position as Thailand's leading video streaming and entertainment hub by rolling out its new "PLAY ALL" package under the concept of "All-in-One Sports and Entertainment Experience." The package elevates access to world-class sports content including Bundesliga football, NBA basketball, NFL American football, ATP tennis, and major golf tournaments (LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, and DP World Tour), alongside exclusive content from legendary football clubs MUTV (Manchester United) and Real Madrid TV, plus Premier Sports and live coverage of the 2026 Asian Games from Nagoya, Japan.

The PLAY ALL package is designed as a seamless, all-in-one bundle covering sports and entertainment from leading partners for just 199 baht monthly. Content is organized into sports and entertainment categories: sports include world football and club channels, professional golf, NBA and WNBA basketball, NFL football from preseason through Super Bowl, ATP tennis (59 matches annually), five major Thai boxing events from Rajadamnern Stadium, all levels of Thai professional football, and live Asian Games 2026 coverage. Entertainment features 24 premium global TV channels spanning films, series, variety shows, documentaries, news, and children's programming including Warner TV, Rock Action, Eurosport, Discovery, Food Network, Cartoon Network, CNN, BBC News, Fox News, Bloomberg, and more.

This launch reflects AIS PLAY's commitment to reaching a broad customer base with affordable access to world-class content under its brand promise to "connect life and complete entertainment needs" across its mobile and broadband networks.

The Department of Water Resources inspected a solar-powered water distribution system at the Wang Nam Khiao Sufficiency Economy Community in Nakhon Ratchasima province to help farmers reduce costs and ensure adequate water access while preparing for future droughts. On July 24, Pongspathorn Semorkham, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Water Resources, led a team to assess progress on the solar-powered water distribution system. The project originated from residents' need for agricultural and household water. The Department of Water Resources Office 5 surveyed community readiness and water sources, then designed an automated solar-powered pumping system using floats to control water levels. Water is pumped into storage tanks and then into elevated distribution towers (champagne tanks), where gravity feeds water to agricultural and household areas, significantly reducing electricity costs for farmers.

Semorkham stated that the Wang Nam Khiao Sufficiency Economy Community exemplifies a strong model project because communities participated in planning, water-sharing schedules, and system maintenance, creating a sense of ownership and ensuring sustainable operations. Meanwhile, the Department of Water Resources is preparing for droughts and climate change by evaluating water source capacity, coordinating appropriate water allocation with communities, and identifying additional water sources to meet potential future demand.