Customs officials and police arrested a Thai woman and a Filipino national on July 9, 2026, after they allegedly attempted to smuggle more than 32 kilograms of cannabis flower out of Thailand through Phuket International Airport.

The operation was carried out by customs officers at Phuket Airport in coordination with Sakhu Police at the international departures terminal in Mai Khao Subdistrict, Thalang District.

The first arrest occurred around 11:00 when officers inspected a black Pierre Cardin suitcase belonging to Levannah Chelsea Guzman, an 18-year-old Philippine national. Officers discovered 14 vacuum-sealed packages containing cannabis flower weighing 14.5 kilograms including packaging. The suspect admitted ownership of the suitcase and its contents.

She was charged with attempting to export goods without completing customs procedures, along with violations of Thailand's Narcotics Code, the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Protection and Promotion Act, the Ministry of Public Health's Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) Notification, and related laws.

Around 13:00, officers inspected a green SWISH NAVY suitcase belonging to Penpitcha Phutsiang, a Thai national. The search uncovered 16 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis flower weighing 17.6 kilograms including packaging. The second suspect also admitted ownership of the suitcase and seized cannabis.

Both women were handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities said the arrests are part of intensified efforts to prevent illegal cannabis exports through Thailand's international airports, with customs officials strengthening baggage inspections and enforcement measures.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — On July 9, 2026, the 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts uncovered what is believed to be an ancient burial mound dating to the Late Prehistoric period at Mun Bon Dam, where archaeologists discovered human skeletal remains and a large number of artifacts, including a rare intact Phimai Black pottery vessel estimated to be about 2,500 years old.

On Wednesday, officials from the 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts in Nakhon Ratchasima, led by the head of the Maha Wirawong National Museum and a senior archaeologist, inspected the site after villagers reported finding human skeletal remains and archaeological evidence, particularly pottery fragments, in the middle of Mun Bon Dam at Taling Chan Village (Moo 9), Chorakhe Hin subdistrict, Khon Buri district. They were joined by district officials, staff from the Mun Bon Water Transmission and Maintenance Project, and local community leaders. The inspection followed a continued decline in the reservoir's water level, which exposed the site.

Officials initially discovered an intact Phimai Black ceramic vessel resembling a bowl or alms bowl, measuring about 15 centimetres in diameter and estimated to date from approximately 2,500 to 1,500 years ago. Numerous human skeletal remains were also found nearby.

Additional archaeological evidence from the same period included orange glass beads, iron tools, earthenware pottery, and polished stone axes. Several buried earthenware vessels believed to have been placed as grave goods were also uncovered. The discovery area has been designated "Mun Bon Dam Archaeological Site 1."

Based on preliminary assessments, officials believe the site was an ancient burial mound from Thailand's Late Prehistoric Iron Age because of its elevated position beside an ancient waterway. It may represent the closest prehistoric burial site ever discovered near the headwaters of the Mun River.

Wannapong Palakawong Na Ayutthaya, an archaeologist with the 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts, said the site contains clear evidence of a burial mound used by Late Prehistoric people.

"The most remarkable discovery at Mun Bon Dam Archaeological Site 1 is the intact Phimai Black vessel because archaeologists usually recover only broken fragments of this type of pottery," he said. "The complete vessel allows us to make a relatively reliable preliminary estimate, placing the site in the Iron Age of the Late Prehistoric period, approximately 2,500 to 1,500 years ago."

He added that Phimai Black pottery is typically found throughout the upper Mun River basin but has not previously been documented this close to the river's headwaters. Wannapong said the site appears to be a significant burial mound. Further archaeological research could provide valuable new insights into the prehistoric communities that once inhabited Khon Buri district.

Spain's southern Andalusia region reported at least 12 deaths from a wildfire in Los Gálladrós, Almería province on July 10, with six others injured. Some victims were found inside vehicles engulfed by flames. Witnesses believe the fire was triggered by damaged electrical wires that rapidly spread to nearby forests, though authorities have not yet confirmed the actual cause.

The disaster strikes as Spain and much of Europe face severe, sustained heat waves that have sparked wildfires across southern European regions, including France, Portugal, and Spain. Local government head Juanma Moreno described it as a tragedy, with approximately 150 firefighters working to extinguish the blaze in a small village.

The fire has forced authorities to close multiple roads while over 1,000 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez previously announced that Spain would mobilize its largest wildfire response effort of this summer season.

June saw Spain record its highest average daily temperatures in 76 years, with some days breaking historical records for that month. Certain Spanish regions may experience temperatures as high as 42°C. In 2025, Spanish forests burned across 393,000 hectares—the highest figure on record—representing damage six times greater than Spain's 2016-2023 average.

The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) noted that this damage far exceeds historical norms, driven primarily by climate change, which has pushed global temperatures higher and made Europe the fastest-warming continent—warming at twice the global average rate.

In a major breakthrough in an international drug trafficking case, police arrested a suspect using the alias "Rin Rin" on July 10, 2025, in Phayao province. The arrest is connected to the case of a Thai flight attendant who was apprehended in Australia with drug-filled luggage.

The Narcotics Suppression Command, alongside investigators and Phayao provincial police, apprehended Ekawit, the person operating under the alias "Rin Rin." He allegedly coordinated with a courier named Uthai and facilitated communications with the flight attendant to transport the suitcase to Australia.

During initial questioning, Ekawit admitted to being "Rin Rin" and communicating with the flight attendant through messaging applications to arrange the international luggage shipment. He also provided details about another suspect using the alias "Rose Rose," who had also contacted the attendant. Investigators are still determining whether "Rose Rose" is the same person or connected to the same trafficking network.

Following his arrest, police took Ekawit to a location in Chiang Kham district, Phayao province, to reconstruct the crime for the investigation file. He was then transferred to the Narcotics Suppression Command for further interrogation.

Meanwhile, senior narcotics officials traveled to the Phayao provincial police operation center to oversee the case progress and conduct additional questioning. On the same day, four major agencies—the National Anti-Corruption Commission Office, the Special Cases Investigation Department, the Narcotics Suppression Command, and the Metropolitan Police Command—held a joint meeting to share intelligence and plan further investigative steps. They created a network map of the international drug trafficking operation to identify and prosecute remaining members.

On the morning of July 10, 2025, at the new Sadao Customs Building in Songkhla province, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Interior Minister witnessed the receipt of $2 million in grant assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The funds are designated to help mitigate the impact and rebuild areas damaged by severe flooding in Songkhla province. The Ministry of Finance signed the grant agreement with ADB following cabinet approval to receive the assistance on behalf of the Thai government, with the resources to be directed toward restoring flood-affected areas in Songkhla from the 2024 disaster.

Nawat Isaragunsil, CEO of Miss Grand International and administrator of the Miss Universe Organization, addressed the celebrity drama involving Thanya, Ning Patama, and Peck Sananchai during an interview at a blessing ceremony for the film "LADY BEE" at Central World.

When asked if there were unresolved aspects of the dispute, Nawat stated: "I think it's basically over, but there's been some ongoing chatter. Ning already said she's not accepting everything from Peck and isn't involved in work matters anymore. Thanya sent an apology message, which I saw. I have proof of the message." He added that the situation should now be concluded.

Nawat expressed frustration with third parties inserting themselves into the dispute: "What surprised us is that some people who aren't involved—who aren't the couple or the third party mentioned—have been inserting themselves. I don't want to pay too much attention. I haven't even read most of it because I'm worried about getting upset. My head doesn't need any more noise right now. People send me things but I don't read them. I only just started reading yesterday."

Regarding Ning's stress levels, Nawat said she's been improving, noting that they were together in Chiang Mai and encouraged her not to worry. He emphasized that everyone involved earns their living and joked about the drama being shared around.

Nawat concluded philosophically: "This wouldn't have happened if it didn't start. But once it does, it gets loud. You have to be patient because feedback is necessary—society likes this, society notices it, and society wants to stir it up. So if something has started, accept it. If you must endure it, the best solution is simply not to do it in the first place."

When asked if he feared the controversy would damage anyone's image, Nawat replied: "It doesn't matter. If it sticks, it's fine. It's not a problem because we're not paying attention to it anyway."