At 11:30 p.m. on July 19, police in Sichon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat received notification from Sichon Hospital that a gunshot victim had arrived deceased. Officers conducted an autopsy and identified the victim as a 31-year-old man shot once in the chest with a .357 caliber weapon. He was found unconscious on the roadside near his black Honda Wave motorcycle after the shooting in Moo 9, Sao Phao subdistrict.

Police traced the incident to a nearby residence and questioned the victim's father, a 60-year-old man, who admitted under gunpowder residue testing that he fired the fatal shot. He stated his son was a drug addict who had undergone treatment multiple times without success and frequently became violent. During the incident, his son became delirious at home and attacked him with a machete, prompting the father to fire once to stop him. The father attempted to rush his son to hospital but after about one kilometer, the son lost consciousness and could not remain on the motorcycle. The father then called emergency responders and waited at home.

Police searched the residence and found one .357 revolver and four rounds of ammunition. The father has been arrested and faces charges of homicide and illegal weapons possession.

Energy economist Praiypol Khomtruap, former dean of economics at Thammasat University, forecasts crude oil will trade in the $80–90 range per barrel for the rest of the year despite some easing in Middle East tensions. If U.S.–Iran conflict intensifies or damages oil transport corridors, refineries, and production facilities, prices could climb to $100 per barrel. "Current conditions are concerning because global oil has already risen above $90 per barrel, with the risk of reaching $100 if Middle East tensions worsen," he said. Thailand's retail fuel prices will track global markets, and the government could consider cutting refining margins to cushion consumer costs. Reducing excise taxes is another option but remains a last resort since it directly impacts state revenue. The Energy Ministry reports that refinery shutdowns mean higher oil prices will persist even after U.S.–Iran fighting ends, with diesel forecast near $100 and gasoline in the $90–100 range per barrel. Prices are unlikely to spike as severely as the first half of the year or push Thai retail fuel back to 50 baht per liter. The government's fuel stabilization fund may also be deployed, depending on its liquidity at the time.

On July 20, Poon Padtonghlang, an 85-year-old blind and immobile resident of Nong Song Hông village in Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, wept after learning his application for the state welfare card had been rejected. The system flagged him as owning two motorcycles, though they are old vehicles from his youth that have long since broken down and vanished. Poon survives on 800 baht monthly in elderly allowance and 800 baht in disability benefit—totaling just 1,600 baht per month—and depends entirely on relatives for care and food, as he cannot help himself. His eldest daughter, Samreung Haenyok, 58, explained the family's desperation: traveling to the transport office to remove his name from the motorcycle registrations is nearly impossible because her father is completely blind and cannot move independently. The old motorcycles are long gone, but their names remain in the system, disqualifying him from aid. When Poon learned he had been rejected, he wept and said simply, "I want the card so I can have money to buy rice." Though he has saved roughly 10,000 baht over his lifetime, the family insists this does not reflect financial stability—they still depend on relatives to buy rice, food, milk, and necessities. The family is appealing to the government and relevant agencies to verify the facts, reconsider his eligibility, and help elderly and disabled people who cannot travel to handle paperwork themselves, so that outdated property records do not block vulnerable groups like Poon from receiving aid.

On July 20, 2025, at the Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 hotel, Nattapong Ruangpanyawit, Pheu Thai list MP and party leader, gave an interview about the TH-AI Passport case and the planned complaint to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). He explained that under the law, the NACC can conduct thorough investigations independently without requiring a formal complaint. Pheu Thai's complaint is still being drafted and will be disclosed once finalized.

Regarding observations that party member Pawat Pongvitthayapanu appeared to support the project in a social media post—raising questions about possible impropriety—Nattapong said he had discussed the matter with Pawat during a recent day off. He reiterated that the project's problems center on irregular procurement and reduced specifications, with value-for-money being a separate concern. Pheu Thai is attempting to identify where the irregularities lie and prevent the government from distorting the facts, noting that overlapping interests of groups potentially connected to the administration are at stake.

When asked about Ratchanok Srinok, another Pheu Thai list MP, posting a similar critical statement after Pawat's post, Nattapong said that differing views among working colleagues are normal, whether expressed privately or publicly. He stressed that the essential issue is the procurement irregularity and that the party members continue to communicate regularly.

On whether the strongly-worded language used warranted a warning, Nattapong said the matter has been discussed among them continuously.

The Thai Practical Shooting Association and the Chinese Practical Shooting Association organized the Thai-Chinese IPSC Handgun Championship 2026 (Level 3) from July 16–19, 2025, at the National Sports Training Center's shooting range in Bang Lamung, Chonburi Province.

The competition featured 324 competitors from 9 countries and 2 special administrative regions: Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Australia, Macau, and Hong Kong. Thai shooters achieved exceptional results, winning 11 of 12 championship titles, with Filipino competitor Rolly Nathaniel Tekson claiming the sole non-Thai title in the Production Division men's category.

Divisional champions included: Open Division men's Siraphop Hemala and women's Mintra Pramoht; Standard Division men's Charasprot Srirutthanan and women's Pattharatida Makae; Production Division men's Rolly Nathaniel Tekson (Philippines) and women's Lt. Patchrin Inhorn; Revolver Division men's Theeraphong Timinth; Classic Division men's Vasut Siri; Production Optics Division men's Chirameth Ananthaphumitripath and women's Pattamaporn Chiabchaiwattanakul; and Optics Division men's Lt. Hasanath Wichitpatima and women's Thanyalakshan Panyananthassitthi.

Nattapoom Kamalwongse, the association's managing director and competition organizer, noted that this was the third consecutive annual Thai-Chinese International Handgun Championship. This year saw 146 Chinese athletes and 18 Chinese referees participating, with most competitors arriving 10 days early for training, primarily staying in Pattaya. The growing popularity of practical shooting sport has created jobs, boosted tourism, and driven ammunition purchases from Thai manufacturers. The association plans to expand cooperation further across Southeast Asia.

Bangkok, 20 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomes Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ new daily direct service between Bangkok and Phu Quoc, scheduled to begin on 8 August 2026. With a flight time of approximately one hour and 20 minutes, the route will expand travel options between Thailand and Viet Nam while strengthening two-way tourism links.

The service was introduced at a launch event in Bangkok on 15 July 2026, presided over by H.E. Mr. Pham Viet Hung, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to Thailand. Also Miss Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia and South Pacific.

Miss Pattaraanong said, “TAT welcomes new air services that broaden access to Thailand and strengthen two-way tourism across the region. Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ daily Bangkok–Phu Quoc route will provide travellers with greater choice and flexibility while supporting our work with airline and tourism partners to position Thailand as an accessible, diverse and value-led destination for Vietnamese visitors.”

Part of Sun Group, Sun PhuQuoc Airways began commercial operations in November 2025 with a network centred on Phu Quoc, the popular island destination off Viet Nam’s southern coast. Its hub-and-spoke model connects the island with domestic and international markets, supported by an expanding Airbus A320 and A321 family fleet. Bangkok forms part of the airline’s continuing expansion across Asia.

The route adds to an extensive air network connecting six Vietnamese cities with Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Viet Nam remains one of Thailand’s important short-haul markets. More than 300,000 Vietnamese arrivals were recorded from January to early July 2026, with the total expected to reach 689,000 by the end of the year.

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