Police arrested a Thai man and his Lao wife operating as couriers in a drug smuggling network connected to a Thai Airways flight attendant. The case began when Australian authorities arrested 26-year-old flight attendant Ms. Mina with drugs concealed in her luggage. Investigation revealed she had been hired to transport packages from Thailand to recipients in Australia. The Narcotics Suppression Bureau expanded the investigation to uncover a heroin smuggling ring that supplied packages to Ms. Mina for international delivery, with operations centered in Thailand's Northeast.

On July 2, 2569, officers from the Narcotics Bureau, Loei Provincial Police, and Region 4 investigators raided a residence in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province. They apprehended Mr. Tit, 43, and Ms. Tad, 42, a Lao national and wife of Mr. Tit. Mr. Tit, who worked in construction at a local temple in Wang Sapung District, confessed to accepting payment for six package deliveries to Bangkok—three through a courier service in Chiang Khan, two in That District, and one in Eraawan District. He received 8,000 baht per delivery from Lao employers.

Ms. Tad was later found attempting to hide in a rubber plantation in Eraawan District while driving a pickup truck. She denied involvement and claimed ignorance of the operation.

A 31-year-old Russian woman died after falling from an eighth-floor condominium. Her husband stood in shock holding their 14-month-old son, revealing they had argued fiercely before his wife left the room. Police have gathered information indicating the dispute involved money and an overstayed visa in Thailand, and are pressing forward with the investigation.

At 1:35 p.m. on July 2, 2569, Deputy Inspector Kiattisak Saengmani, Investigation Deputy at Kathu Police Station in Phuket, received a report of a foreign woman who had fallen from a condominium and died in the Kathu subdistrict area. He reported the matter to Superintendent Chalemchai Heursutsadi and coordinated with the forensic pathologist at Vachira Hospital in Phuket. Officers from the investigation division and rescue staff from the Phuket Charity Foundation rushed to the scene.

At the location, authorities found the body of a 31-year-old Russian woman lying face-up on the ground beside the building, with severe lacerations to her right leg and face. Her 31-year-old Russian husband was standing holding their 14-month-old son in distress. He reported that they had been staying on the eighth floor and had argued fiercely with his wife before she left the room, after which he was told she had fallen from the building.

Initial investigations revealed that the victim had been arguing intensely with her husband in their room over financial matters and her overstaying her permitted time in Thailand. However, officers are continuing to investigate and verify the facts while coordinating with the Russian embassy to proceed with legal procedures.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Pumidharm Vejjachaiand Deputy Party Leader Chakrapong Saengmani represented the Pheu Thai Party on July 2, 2026, in congratulating the Chinese Communist Party on its 105th founding anniversary and marking 51 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the People's Republic of China.

Pumidharm noted that over the past century, the Chinese Communist Party has played a crucial role in propelling China toward remarkable development across economics, science, technology, and quality of life, establishing it as a major player on the world stage. Thailand-China relations over the past 51 years have grown on foundations of mutual respect, trust, and shared benefit, expanding across diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges—reflected in the saying "Thailand and China are not distant, we are siblings."

He emphasized that the 21st century requires greater cooperation than confrontation in addressing economic challenges, climate change, food and energy security, and technological revolution. Thailand and China should jointly create new opportunities through economic cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, digital economy, clean energy, education, and cultural exchange to improve the quality of life for both nations.

Pumidharm stressed that Pheu Thai attaches great importance to strengthening party-to-party relations with the Chinese Communist Party as a crucial mechanism for mutual understanding, trust-building, and policy exchange through Track 2 diplomacy. Cooperation frameworks will focus on knowledge and experience exchange in shared future areas including clean energy, tourism, technology and innovation—particularly artificial intelligence—alongside data infrastructure, modern agriculture, education, healthcare, and human resource development to support sustainable growth.

He reaffirmed that Pheu Thai pursues a balanced, open foreign policy centered on people's interests, confident that strong relations with all countries, especially China as a long-standing friend, will be vital foundations for economic development, improved quality of life, and regional security cooperation. Pumidharm blessed the Chinese Communist Party with continued success in guiding the nation, expressing confidence that Thai-Chinese friendship will strengthen across all dimensions, enabling both nations to build a peaceful, secure, sustainable, and prosperous Asia and world.

Team manager Janista Liwchelaiwong has set her sights on Thailand's U16 ice hockey team using the Pan Pacific Series as a platform to showcase Thai culture through the sport. Janista Liwchelaiwong, manager of the Amazing Thailand Ice Hockey youth development program for athletes under 16, along with coach Tewin Chatsuwanpol, announced Thailand's participation in the Pan Pacific Series 2026, to be held in Queenstown, New Zealand from October 29 to November 2, 2026. The young Thai athletes were also inspired by Jonas Siegenthaler, a Thai-Swiss professional ice hockey player who competes for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL.

The Pan Pacific ice hockey competition is a collaborative effort among four nations—New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Australia—to develop youth ice hockey together, with New Zealand serving as this year's host. This tournament marks Thailand's first official international competition for its U16 development program and represents a crucial step in preparing young athletes for elite-level competition in the future.

The U16 youth team is part of the larger Amazing Thailand Ice Hockey Team initiative, which combines youth sports with tourism promotion through a youth sports tourism concept. The program aims to use international ice hockey as a platform to promote Thailand to the global audience while creating valuable opportunities for young athletes through cultural exchange, international friendships, and world-class sporting experiences.

Janista Liwchelaiwong revealed that last year, she brought 12 young Thai athletes to compete in Australia and returned with victories, making this an excellent opportunity for the federation to support the U16 athletes as part of a continuous development program that can feed athletes into the U18, U20, and senior national teams. With the Pan Pacific Series 2026 in New Zealand coming later this year, this represents a prime opportunity to develop Thailand's U16 ice hockey athletes.

"Our goal is certainly to win," she said, "but beyond that, this is a chance for the young athletes to showcase their abilities, gain inspiration, and grow. Our Thai team also serves as ambassadors of Thai culture in the process."

The Thai Sepak Takraw Association has announced the appointment of team management and coaching staff to prepare the national team for the King's Cup. Ajarn Kamol Tankim Hongsa returns as team manager, working alongside legendary coach Ror. Pornchai Kaokaew. The 39th King's Cup World Championship will take place in Thailand from August 3-11, 2026, at Fashion Island. The association has appointed the following staff: Team Manager: Ajarn Kamol Tankim Hongsa; Assistant Manager: Ajarn Uamnuay Chantramontri; Men's Sepak Takraw Coaches: Ror. Pornchai Kaokaew and Phatthrapong Yupdi; Women's Sepak Takraw Coaches: Weerachai Seangsawan and Chakkri Phuangcharoen.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission announced on July 2, 2026, that it has filed charges against Pol.Lt.Col. Rungroach Buddhiyawat, who served as acting director of the State Warehouse Organization, and associates for corruption in a golden durian procurement project designed to supply exporters. The alleged misconduct occurred in 2020 and caused financial losses to the state organization.

Investigations revealed that on August 14, 2020, the sales and distribution department of the State Warehouse Organization expanded its duties to include "procurement of goods with pre-arranged customers." Shortly after, on August 24, 2020, Company A requested that the organization purchase durians from three southern border provinces for export to Chinese buyers.

Pol.Lt.Col. Rungroach then signed invitation-for-bid documents for 250 tons of golden durian variety, soliciting prices from three vendors. Company B offered 100 baht per kilogram, Company C offered 105 baht per kilogram, and Company D offered 110 baht per kilogram. The project was never included in the 2020 annual operational plan, had no procurement planning, and was not announced on the organization's website or through public notices, violating procurement regulations.

Rungroach approved the purchase from Company B at the lowest bid of 100 baht per kilogram and authorized a sales contract. Company B delivered 250,000 kilograms as agreed. Subsequently, the sales director proposed selling the durians to Company A at 103 baht per kilogram for a total of 25,750,000 baht. Company A placed an order but the document trail ends mid-sentence regarding payment.