Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 77th birthday was marked by birthday tributes from his daughter, former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and political figures and supporters on 26 July 2026.

Paetongtarn posted an Instagram Story wishing her father a happy birthday, sharing a video featuring moments from Thaksin's life and the times he had been by her side.

On the same day, former Lampang MP Thanatorn Lorthsunthorn and his wife, Raphassorn Niyamosot, also shared photos on Facebook showing them dining with Thaksin. Raphassorn, a former Lampang MP who resigned from the People's Party before joining Pheu Thai for the latest election, wrote a birthday message wishing Thaksin good health and describing him as an inspirational figure for younger generations.

Thanatorn also shared his wife's post, writing: "Happy 77th birthday, Mr Thaksin, the prime minister in our hearts."

The posts drew numerous birthday wishes from members of the public and Thaksin supporters in Lampang. Many shared stickers and messages wishing the former prime minister well, with some describing him as their favourite prime minister. Some supporters also said they believed Thaksin was well suited to help address Thailand's economic difficulties and people's cost-of-living concerns amid the current economic climate.

A 50-year-old man died after collapsing on July 26 at Saphan Hin Sports Center in Phuket Municipality. At approximately 5:45 p.m., he was playing football with friends as usual when he suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed after just one match, and passed away shortly afterward, despite the full rescue efforts of teammates, bystanders, and emergency personnel.

Witnesses said the man was a regular in a senior football group that played every Saturday at the same facility. He normally played leisurely, without intense effort or running throughout the game. On the day of the incident, after finishing his first match and sitting down to rest, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. Teammates and others on the field immediately began CPR to revive him and called for an ambulance. A nurse who happened to be exercising nearby also provided first aid and retrieved an automated external defibrillator (AED) from behind the nearby beach volleyball court, which is believed to be municipal equipment.

However, the ambulance took nearly 30 minutes to arrive. The man was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were ultimately unable to save his life.

Witnesses expressed deep sadness, saying the man was a regular member of the football group and that his sudden death shocked and devastated his friends and those at the facility. They urged sports enthusiasts, especially elderly players engaging in strenuous activities like football, to get a health assessment beforehand if they have chronic conditions or poor physical condition, and to choose activities appropriate for their age to prevent unexpected incidents. They expressed their condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased.

On July 26, 2025, cyber police commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Surpol Prembut authorized a search of a residence in Na Wa subdistrict, Pattum Ratchawongsa district, Amnat Charoen province, where they arrested 39-year-old Wanchai (surname withheld) along with firearms, gun barrels, and manufacturing equipment.

Investigators discovered illegal weapons trafficking through an online platform involving a Facebook account that changed names from "Kittiwee Kononnana" to "Tweekij Car Repair" and later to "Young Twee Waiting for Mechanic Work." The account owner posted videos of homemade .22-caliber firearms and sold guns and components online. The Facebook profile was heavily secured with locked settings and avatar images, posting weapon sales for no more than three hours before deletion. All negotiations occurred through private chat, and whenever a customer was arrested, the account would be immediately closed and reopened under a different name with a new avatar.

Despite these precautions, police traced the account to Wanchai. Officers obtained a court warrant and successfully conducted a search, seizing approximately 20 items including one homemade .22-caliber rifle, over 10 gun barrels of various lengths, 50 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, a phone, and various tools and firearm components including trigger sets, springs, and receivers.

During interrogation, Wanchai admitted that he ordered parts and components from Facebook merchants, assembled them into .22-caliber rifles, test-fired them, and recorded videos for posting to attract buyers. He then sold completed guns for 1,000–1,500 baht per unit or sold individual components. For custom barrel threading work—a highly skilled task—he charged 500 baht per barrel. Wanchai claimed this was not his profession but a hobby to support his food expenses, and he had only sold three barrels previously.

Police initially charged him with manufacturing, assembling, repairing, modifying, importing, possessing, or distributing firearms and ammunition for trade without permission from the registrar, and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition without a license. He was taken into custody for further legal proceedings.

Deputy Prime Minister Pokkrong Nilpraphan outlined the government's civil service reform strategy, confirming that the dissolution of redundant agencies has been approved by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Interior Minister. The Land Development Bank of Thailand (LDBT) is targeted as the first agency to be abolished in late September, potentially to be merged with the National Land Policy Committee Office (NLPC). The Strategic Reform and National Reconciliation Office and 4-5 state enterprises that have repeatedly failed assessments are also slated for dissolution. Pokkrong emphasized that the restructuring will be gradual to minimize disruption to civil servants, and reiterated that maintaining the current system is no longer viable due to changing global circumstances. He stated that the government must accept that the old organizational structure cannot continue, and that Thailand's public sector must undergo significant structural changes to remain competitive. Two options will be provided for affected employees: voluntary early retirement or transfer to new agencies, though benefits will be adjusted according to the new organizational framework. The deputy premier dismissed concerns about political backlash, asserting that the government has mandated this reform and emphasized the critical need for structural adaptation to address national challenges including energy and fiscal concerns.

On July 26, 2025, Deputy Police General Natthasak Chaunasai and Police General Pattanasak Bupphasuwan ordered a raid on a hotel in Bang Khen subdistrict, Muang district, Nonthaburi province, suspected of harboring an underground Chinese criminal network. Over 100 officers executed a court-issued search warrant and cordoned off the premises.

Inside the hotel, police found approximately 40 residents, mostly Chinese nationals, Shan people, and Myanmar nationals. Officers seized over 200 items including ketamine and happy water drugs, drug-packaging equipment, gambling apparatus such as chips, cards, dice, baccarat boards, and hi-lo devices, as well as cash, bank accounts, ATM cards, phones, and CCTV footage. One 33-year-old Chinese man was arrested on charges of distributing Category 2 narcotics with intent to distribute for commercial purposes. Three Myanmar nationals, aged 24–31, were arrested for illegal entry and unauthorized residence.

The initial investigation revealed the hotel operated under abnormally tight security. Access required electronic key cards and personal escorts through restricted stairwells to the 7th and 8th floors, where even cleaning staff were forbidden entry. The Chinese network had rented the entire hotel exclusively for Chinese customers, converting floors 2–6 into accommodation and floors 7–8 into a casino and drug-party venue. The operation offered comprehensive services including lodging, gambling, narcotics, and sexual services, with staff mostly Chinese nationals ensuring territorial control and exclusivity.

Police records showed that in 2566, immigration officers had previously raided this same hotel and arrested 26 Chinese gamblers and 23 Thai nationals while seizing gambling tables and equipment. The hotel had closed for renovation and subsequently reopened under heightened security protocols.

Under interrogation, the Chinese suspect claimed to be merely a hotel manager tasked with delivering drugs to customers on order, with narcotics stored in guest rooms and cash delivered upon request. He denied ownership of the ketamine and 110,000 baht found in a safe. The three Myanmar suspects confessed to illegally entering Thailand to work in construction. Police have transferred all suspects and evidence to Bang Ratchathewi Station and are pursuing additional conspirators.

NONTHABURI — More than 100 police officers raided a hotel on 26 July 2026, uncovering what authorities described as a base allegedly operated by Chinese grey capital offering gambling, drug parties and prostitution services exclusively to Chinese customers.

The raid was carried out under a search warrant issued by the Criminal Court at a hotel on Ngam Wong Wan Road in Bang Khen subdistrict, Mueang district, Nonthaburi.

Police found more than 40 people staying at the hotel, most of them Chinese, Shan and Myanmar nationals. Officers seized more than 200 items, including ketamine and Happy Water, drug packaging equipment, gambling materials such as chips, cards, dice and baccarat and hi-lo tables, as well as cash, bank account records, ATM cards, mobile phones and CCTV data.

A 33-year-old Chinese man was arrested on suspicion of possessing and selling a Category 2 psychotropic substance, ketamine, for commercial purposes and in a manner that could lead to its distribution among the public.

Three Myanmar nationals, aged between 24 and 31, were also arrested for allegedly entering and staying in Thailand without permission.

The operation followed complaints to the Crime Suppression Division that Chinese nationals were entering and leaving the hotel around the clock, while the premises were not open to the general public. Residents also reported alleged illegal gambling, drug parties and regular gatherings.

Investigators found that the hotel had unusually tight security. Guards at the car park reportedly alerted staff by radio whenever customers arrived before escorting them to a key-card-controlled lift. Customers then had to walk up stairs to the seventh and eighth floors, where someone with a key would open the doors. Even cleaning staff were reportedly prohibited from entering the areas.

Investigators said a Chinese grey-capital group had allegedly rented the entire hotel to serve Chinese customers exclusively. The second to sixth floors were reportedly used as accommodation, while the seventh and eighth floors had been converted into gambling venues and drug party spaces.

The operation allegedly included airport van transfers and a range of services covering accommodation, gambling, drugs and prostitution. Most staff were reportedly Chinese, allowing the group to tightly control access and prevent outsiders from entering.

Police also found that immigration officers had raided the hotel in 2023, arresting 26 Chinese gamblers and 23 Thai nationals and seizing gambling tables, slot machines and other equipment. The hotel was subsequently closed for renovations before reopening with tighter security.

During questioning, the Chinese suspect claimed he was merely a hotel foreman whose job was to deliver drugs to customers on instructions. He allegedly said drugs were stored in hotel rooms and delivered to designated locations or collected by customers after orders were placed.

He denied ownership of the drugs and 110,000 baht in cash found inside a safe.