A special operation by the Department of Administration, led by Ranrongkorn Thipsiri, director of the Administrative Personnel Law Enforcement Operations Center, successfully raided two illegal Hilo gambling dens in Bangkok's Nimit Mai and Bueng Kum police precincts. The operation resulted in the arrest of over 100 male and female gamblers and the seizure of assets valued in the millions of baht.

On April 26, 2026, Metropolitan Police Commander Siam Bunsawm revealed that he has ordered Prasong Anmani, commander of Region 3 Police, and Kampanat Arunkirirojanachai, commander of Region 4 Police, to establish fact-finding committees to investigate whether officials in those areas were negligent or failed to suppress the gambling operations. If evidence shows they failed to enforce laws, disciplinary action will be considered. Accomplices will be handled through formal procedures by their respective regional police committees.

The police chief has emphasized that subordinates must intensively crack down on illegal gambling dens without leniency. Officials suspect the gambling operations may have exploited the Songkran holiday period when police were occupied with festival duties. The Metropolitan Police has ordered intelligence units to investigate complaints from the public and will take decisive legal action against any further illegal gambling operations discovered in the area.

A Foreign Man's Rampage at a Phuket Hot Pot Restaurant Leads to Confrontation with Manager and Police Custody

On April 26, the incident went viral online when Facebook user Sirinthip Phoosuwan shared video footage from a hot pot restaurant in Patong Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket. The video shows a man believed to be Indian wearing a black shirt repeatedly entering and leaving the restaurant before assaulting and disturbing patrons inside.

A man in a white shirt, apparently the restaurant manager, stepped in to stop the disturbance and struck the Indian man, causing him to cry out loudly while customers and staff looked on in shock. The restaurant contacted Patong Police, who arrived to investigate and took the man into custody at his hotel to calm him down. The poster remarked: "Dignity cannot be compromised! I was eating spicy food—I would've felt terrible not pulling out my phone to record," alongside hashtags #PatongPhuket #Patong #Phuket.

According to the poster's account, the Indian man initially entered asking nearby diners "Open?" before repeatedly going in and out, raising suspicion. At one point, he attacked the man in the white shirt, presumably the manager, leading to the confrontation captured in the video.

The poster acknowledged not witnessing the entire incident clearly, as he was watching a movie and only caught portions of it. Some moments were recorded only in audio, particularly when police arrived and details of the incident were being recounted. Police are currently investigating the facts and proceeding with legal action.

MAE HONG SON — More than 400 residents from communities in the La watershed staged a rally opposing a proposed fluoride mining project, declaring their stance of "no mine, only communities" to protect land rights and the environment.

On 26 April 2026, the Rak Lum Nam La Network, together with EarthRights International, Amnesty International Thailand, and the Center for Protection and Revival of Local Community Rights (CPCR), organised an event titled "No Mine, Only Communities: Four Years of La Watershed People Reject Mining" at Ban Hua La village in Mae La Luang subdistrict, Mae La Noi district.

Participants issued a joint declaration opposing a private company's fluoride mining project, saying it could affect the environment, livelihoods, and community rights in the area.

The network comprises residents from six communities: Huai Makok, Hua La, Santisuk Santipattana, Mae La Luang, and Thung Pa Kha, with representatives from allied communities also joining in solidarity.

Organisers said the rally aimed to urge authorities to halt the project amid concerns over long-term environmental and social impacts. More than 400 people took part in the march to express their opposition.

A consumer feedback page has compiled a list of restaurants and cafes closing since 2025, noting that we're not even halfway through the year and this is just a partial list. Insiders hint that around 3-4 major establishments will announce permanent closures in June, making it a significant blow to the dining scene.

The page later expressed concern upon seeing the list of June closures, noting the emotional attachment many have to these long-standing venues and preferring to let the owners make their own announcements.

Establishments that have closed or are closing include:

Hukna Cafe & Sabnuea Kanchanaburi - closing May 5, 2025 China Palace Restaurant - permanently closed April 20 Burger Thepraksa - closing April 30, 2025 Naenpung Buffet Ayutthaya - closed April 15, 2025 Anchor Buffet - closed for indefinite renovations starting April 27, 2025 Somsak Crab - Sukharaphruek branch closing May 30, 2025 Kanchan Machi Cafe - closed April 28, 2025 Lalarn Ros - permanently closed

The page notes that closures this year appear significantly higher than normal, though each affected establishment was well-known in its respective area.

30-year-old Kenyan runner Sebastian Sava has become the first man to officially complete a marathon in under 2 hours. Sava made history by winning the London Marathon on April 26 with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, setting a new world record. He has broken the previous world record of Kelvin Kiptum, who posted a time of 2:00:35 in 2023, becoming the first man to achieve a sub-2-hour marathon in an officially sanctioned competition. While legendary runner Eliud Kipchoge was the first to run a marathon in under 2 hours in 2019, that race was not recognized as an official world record because it was held under controlled conditions.

A foreign tourist has gone viral online after posting a video of herself making unusual content inside a convenience store in Thailand, drawing widespread criticism from Thai social media users. In the clip, the woman is seen pouring snacks over her head and splashing milk onto herself inside the store, while suggesting she wished there were stores like 7-Eleven in her home country because of the variety of food available. The video quickly spread across social media platforms, prompting a wave of negative reactions from Thai netizens, many of whom criticised the behaviour as inappropriate and disrespectful in a public retail space. Comments included criticism of her manners and concerns over social etiquette, with some users questioning whether such behaviour was acceptable in a place where people regularly shop and pass through. The incident has reignited online debate over tourist behaviour and public conduct in Thailand, particularly in shared commercial spaces.