Bangkok Raises Property Tax on Fruit Farms in City

Bangkok plans to increase property tax on agricultural land including fruit farms, raising rates by 0.02 percent across multiple property value brackets under the 2019 Land and Building Tax Act.

23 Jul Khaosod

Bangkok is preparing to adjust property tax rates for agricultural land, including banana, lime, and coconut farms in the heart of the capital, following implementation of the Land and Building Tax Act of 2019 seven years ago. The city plans to propose to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council a 0.02 percent rate increase, raising the current rate of 0.01-0.1 percent to 0.03-0.12 percent, or from 100 baht per million in property value to 300 baht per million. For agricultural land owned by individuals: properties valued at 0-50 million baht will be tax-exempt; 50-125 million baht will rise from 0.01% to 0.03%; 125-150 million baht will rise from 0.03% to 0.05%; 150-550 million baht will rise from 0.05% to 0.07%; 550-1,050 million baht will rise from 0.07% to 0.09%; and properties over 1,050 million baht will rise from 0.1% to 0.12%. For agricultural land owned by legal entities: 0-75 million baht rises from 0.01% to 0.03%; 75-100 million baht rises from 0.03% to 0.05%; 100-500 million baht rises from 0.05% to 0.07%; 500-1,000 million baht rises from 0.07% to 0.09%; and properties over 1,000 million baht rise from 0.1% to 0.12%. Bangkok is raising agricultural land tax rates to increase tax revenue, acting under Section 37(6) of the Land and Building Tax Act of 2019, which authorizes the city to adjust rates within set limits. Bangkok will issue an ordinance once the Bangkok Metropolitan Council approves the proposal.

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Police

Driver in Near-Miss with Actor Kai-Haru's Children Dies in Accident

Actor Kai Ratchanon jumped in front of a speeding pickup truck to shield his three children at a Samut Songkhram market in April. The driver, his brother-in-law, died in a separate motorcycle accident the following month.

23 Jul Khaosod

Police have revealed new details in the near-miss incident at Rom Hub market in Muang District, Samut Songkhram, which went viral on social media. Actor Kai Ratchanon jumped in front of a speeding pickup truck to shield his three children from harm while crossing the street. A family member later came forward to identify the driver as the actor's brother-in-law, a 40-year-old man with a prosthetic leg. According to the account, the incident occurred in April 2569, when the driver was heading to pick up his wife and newborn from Somdej Phra Phutthaloet Hospital, just 100 meters away. Because the area has an uphill slope, the driver was riding the clutch, which caused the vehicle to roll forward unintentionally toward the group of children—he did not deliberately try to hit them. The brother-in-law has since died in a separate motorcycle accident near Wat Kaew Fa temple in Amphawa in May. His widow now raises their three-month-old child alone.

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Police

Drug Dealer Arrested for Using Mother's ID to Launder Meth Payments

A 32-year-old Bangkok drug dealer was arrested for distributing methamphetamine using his mother's stolen identity to launder payments, and also running an online scam that defrauded victims of nearly 1.4 million baht.

23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, police arrested Panuwan, 32, on an arrest warrant issued May 25 for drug trafficking and conspiracy charges involving methamphetamine distribution for commercial purposes. The suspect operated as a meth dealer in Bangkok's Din Daeng district, distributing drugs to customers on an installment basis while directing payments to his mother's bank account—which he had fraudulently opened using her stolen national ID card without her knowledge.

Investigators also uncovered a parallel online fraud operation in which Panuwan and associates lured victims through social media, claiming they could earn money by completing simple tasks. Victims were told to send deposits upfront, promising they would receive both their principal and commission upon task completion. From May to June 2566, multiple victims transferred funds but were unable to withdraw their money. One victim lost 967,871 baht; another victim in Phatthalung Province lost more than 400,000 baht. When police first questioned Panuwan about the Phatthalung case, he initially denied involvement and promised to meet investigators but then fled. Detectives tracked him to Din Daeng, where they apprehended him. During questioning, Panuwan confessed to all charges and was transferred to Din Daeng police station for legal proceedings.

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Police

Police Hunt Woman on Bicycle After Raid on Isaan Singer's Home

Thieves on a bicycle stole about 100,000 baht in cash garlands from Isaan singer Pang's home in Udon Thani while she was touring in July, with police searching for a female suspect caught on CCTV.

23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, Natthadipart Khankhum, 32, known as Pang Isaan, leader of the Isaan Sound music group and granddaughter of the late Nok Noi Oraiporn, filed a report with Mueang Udon Thani police along with her personal manager Theerawat Sriubol, 36. They reported that thieves broke into her home and stole approximately 100,000 baht in cash from garlands given by fan club members.

CCTV footage shows a suspect riding a bicycle into the home around 3:39 a.m. on July 13. Police believe the intruder forced entry through the rear door, pushing aside reinforced mesh and breaking the lock. The garlands containing cash were completely taken from the second floor, where approximately 70,000 baht was stolen, leaving only one garland from a performer named Madam Pad Mee. On the ground floor, the suspect also took cash from a piggy bank and other cash garlands, totaling around 100,000 baht.

Pang revealed she was away on a mini-concert tour with the famous Nok Noi Isaan music group from July 8, performing in Bangkok and various provinces. Upon returning home on July 19 and checking her belongings, she discovered that all the cash garlands collected from fans during performances had disappeared. She contacted neighbors for CCTV footage, which showed a woman on a bicycle circling the area multiple times around 3 a.m. on the day of the incident. Police are now accelerating their search for the female suspect to press charges.

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National

Thailand Orders Local Governments to Adopt Civil Service Termination Standards by August 1

Thailand's Civil Service Commission has ordered all local governments to adopt standardized termination criteria by August 1, requiring provincial governors to finalize and sign off on new personnel policies by the end of July.

23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, 2025, the Office of the Civil Service Commission sent directives to all provincial administrations and Pattaya City regarding the implementation of new civil service termination standards. The Interior Minister, in his capacity as chairman of the Civil Service Commission, has signed the General Standards for Civil Service Termination (Third Edition, 2025). All provincial administrative organizations, sub-district organizations, and Pattaya City are instructed to develop termination criteria consistent with the national standards. Local governments whose criteria match the national standards do not require additional approval, but any variations must be submitted to the Civil Service Commission for approval before enforcement. To ensure uniform personnel management across all local governments and avoid implementation problems, all organizations must finalize their criteria and have them signed by provincial governors by July 2025 for enforcement beginning August 1, 2025.

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National

BIZ Launches BIZGENES Brand at Medical Symposium

Medical technology firm BIZ unveiled BIZGENES, a new Precision Health brand offering personalized health solutions based on DNA insights, at a Bangkok symposium featuring international experts discussing preventive care approaches.

23 Jul Khaosod

Business Alignment Company Limited (BIZ), a medical technology expert with over 26 years of experience, organized Medical Symposium 2026 in central Bangkok recently to facilitate knowledge exchange on Precision Health—an individualized healthcare approach—among domestic and international doctors, academics, and specialists. The event also unveiled BIZGENES, a Precision Health & Longevity Solutions brand aimed at integrating health science, technology, and personalized health data to support more effective daily healthcare. The brand launches with The Vitality Collection, products developed from DNA Insight concepts grounded in nutritional science and modern health principles.

The symposium featured prominent experts including Dr. Mas Mai Praserit on anti-aging medicine and holistic health, Dr. Tisara Veerasomai on personalized precision health approaches, and Associate Professor Dr. Ak Pattanathanakul on consumer behavior and health market trends. International speaker Lena Wallace, Director of Research & Commercial Partnerships from TruDiagnostic in the United States, shared insights on biological age assessment and epigenetic applications in health research.

A key theme of Medical Symposium 2026 was shifting the health paradigm from "How do we treat when sick?" to "How do we care for our health optimally?" Experts noted that people now seek more personal health information—including genetic data, gene expression, and lifestyle metrics—but desire practical guidance on applying this data daily. This reflects a global health philosophy shift toward preventive care and personalized planning. Nutritional knowledge aligned with the body's daily rhythms, combined with balanced diet, exercise, adequate rest, and healthy lifestyle, forms a comprehensive health management approach. BIZGENES was launched as a bridge connecting health science, technology, and individual health data to support evidence-based daily health management through The Vitality Collection.

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Police

64-Year-Old Robbed of Gold Necklace by Motorcycle Bandit

A 64-year-old woman's gold necklace worth over 200,000 baht was snatched by a motorcycle bandit in Satthahip, Chon Buri on July 23; police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspect.

23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, Pol. Col. Komsarn Kamtun Kaew, superintendent of Satthahip Police Station in Chon Buri, received a report of a gold chain snatching in front of a small shop in Tham Samsan subdistrict, Satthahip district. Officers including Deputy Superintendent Pol. Lt. Kriang Kaikhai Meisaeng were dispatched to investigate.

Victim Nang Wongduen, 64, told police she was riding her motorcycle away from a cremation ceremony at Chong Tham Samsan Temple to buy groceries when a male robber on a motorcycle pulled up alongside her. The suspect wore a black-and-white helmet, a long-sleeved gray jacket, and black trousers.

The robber forcibly snatched her 3-baht gold necklace valued at over 200,000 baht, causing a Buddha amulet on the chain to fall to the road. The victim attempted to chase the suspect, but the robber escaped on a white Honda Giorno motorcycle toward the market area near Plu Ta Luang subdistrict, Satthahip. Police have reviewed CCTV footage and identified the suspect's appearance and vehicle. Officers are actively pursuing the case to bring charges against the perpetrator.

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Regional

Man Faces Backlash for Resort Room Content, Guests Urge Legal Action

A man's Instagram videos simulating urination on resort fixtures and belongings in Nan province sparked outrage online, with guests calling for legal action against him. The resort confirmed it suffered damage and is pursuing action against

23 Jul Khaosod

A Facebook user posted in a consumer group about a young man's content showing him simulating urinating across a well-known resort room in Nan province and damaging its fixtures and belongings. The poster wrote: "I happened to find this on Instagram and it didn't sit right with me. If someone has to use this place after him and doesn't know what happened, I'm sharing screenshots. There are two clips on Instagram showing him intentionally simulating urinating on the resort's items, including dishes, bowls, spoons, and cookware."

Group members flooded the post with criticism of the behavior, calling for the resort owner to file a lawsuit. Comments ranged from doubting whether it was real urine but condemning the thought process as warped, to questioning his upbringing and lack of decency, and expressing concern that the stunt would deter future guests. Some speculated it might be water in a bottle rather than genuine urine, but noted the intent to simulate the act was undeniable and deeply inappropriate.

The resort responded to the post, thanking people for the report and confirming it had suffered considerable damage and was taking action against the creator.

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National

Thailand's FM Reaffirms US Alliance During Manila Talks

Thailand's foreign minister reaffirmed the US alliance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila, pledging closer cooperation on security, trade and combating online scams.

23 Jul Khaosod

MANILA, The Philippines — Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, reaffirming the longstanding Thai-US alliance and discussing cooperation on security, trade and regional issues.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines.

According to Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides committed to strengthening cooperation in areas including defence and security, particularly efforts to combat online scams, as well as economic ties.

Thailand and the US also discussed moving forward with trade negotiations, with both sides expressing support for reaching an agreement as soon as possible.

The two officials exchanged views on regional developments, including the Thailand-Cambodia situation and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

The meeting came as Thailand seeks to deepen economic cooperation with the US while addressing shared security challenges in the region.

On the same day, Sihasak also held talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, where both sides marked the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, climate change and efforts to tackle online scams.

Thailand also reaffirmed support for the early conclusion of ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the start of talks on a Thailand-Canada Free Trade Agreement.

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National

Gulf Edge and Cognizant Partner to Boost Thailand's AI Growth

Gulf Edge and Cognizant have partnered to accelerate AI adoption across Thailand's banking, energy, healthcare and other key industries through combined infrastructure and engineering expertise. The collaboration aims to establish Thailand

23 Jul Khaosod

Gulf Edge Company Limited (Gulf Edge), the digital infrastructure arm of Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF), and Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a leading AI builder and global technology services provider, have announced a landmark strategic partnership designed to accelerate AI adoption across Thailand and support the country's transition toward an AI-native economy.

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries, economies and societies worldwide, the partnership aims to establish the foundational ecosystem needed to enable Thailand's next phase of digital transformation. By combining Gulf Edge's trusted sovereign digital infrastructure with Cognizant's world-class AI engineering and enterprise transformation capabilities, the two companies intend to help organizations deploy AI securely, responsibly and at scale.

The collaboration brings together Gulf Edge's leadership in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud, and strategic relationships across Thailand's key industries with Cognizant's global expertise in AI, digital engineering, cloud modernization, data, and intelligent operations. Together, they aim to deliver end-to-end AI capabilities spanning infrastructure, AI platforms, enterprise solutions, systems integration and managed services.

The partnership will initially focus on accelerating AI adoption across banking and financial services, energy and utilities, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing and the public sector. Through industry-specific AI solutions, organizations are expected to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, strengthen decision-making, automate complex business processes and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth.

Beyond enterprise transformation, both companies aim to strengthen Thailand's position as a regional AI hub. The partnership is expected to attract global technology expertise, stimulate investment in advanced digital capabilities and create high-value employment opportunities across AI engineering, data science, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital transformation. The two companies also plan to collaborate with universities, research institutions, technology partners and public-sector organizations to develop AI talent, promote responsible AI adoption and foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem.

Sarath Ratanavadi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Development Public Company Limited, stated: "Our partnership with Cognizant marks an important milestone in our vision of helping Thailand become an AI-native economy. By combining Gulf Edge's strengths in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud, and deep understanding of the Thai market with Cognizant's global expertise in enterprise AI, digital engineering, and transformation services, we are creating a comprehensive platform that enables organizations to adopt AI with confidence and generate measurable business outcomes."

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Police

Thai Army Vows to Hunt Down Narathiwat Attackers

Five paramilitary rangers were killed in a gun and bomb attack at a checkpoint in Narathiwat's Rangae district on Wednesday, prompting Thailand's army to vow a swift crackdown on those responsible.

23 Jul Khaosod

Thailand's army has vowed to hunt down those responsible for a deadly attack in the southern border province of Narathiwat that killed five paramilitary rangers and injured six others.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Chaipruk Duangprapat, who also serves as secretary-general of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), visited Narathiwat on Thursday following orders from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Army Commander Gen. Pana Klaewplodthuk.

The visit followed Wednesday's attack, in which gunmen opened fire and hurled pipe bombs at a municipal checkpoint in Rangae district, killing five members of the Volunteer Defense Corps and wounding six people.

After inspecting the scene, receiving a security briefing and visiting the injured, Chaipruk ordered ISOC Region 4 Forward Command to tighten security measures and accelerate efforts to arrest those responsible. He also instructed security forces to apply the Rules of Engagement appropriately, stressing that operations must remain within the law while responding decisively to threats.

"We will hunt them down. The time has come," Chaipruk said. "Whoever helps them, whichever country supports them, we will hunt them down. It is time for us to become the hunters."

Separately, Thailand's National Human Rights Commission strongly condemned the attack, calling it "brutal and inhumane." The commission said the attack violated the fundamental right to life and expressed particular concern that two children, aged three and 10, were among the six people injured.

The NHRC urged authorities to swiftly bring those responsible to justice while ensuring security operations are conducted fairly and with respect for human rights, warning against actions that could stigmatize or create distrust toward any community. It also called on the government to provide timely and fair assistance to the families of those killed and injured.

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