The Stock Exchange of Thailand, working with the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) and Bank of Thailand (BOT), has developed the Bond Connect infrastructure to enhance access to debt securities investment through the capital market and support purchases of government "Auompplus" savings bonds. The initiative makes it easier for the public to invest in government bonds with a minimum investment of just 1,000 baht under a total allocation of 2 billion baht.

The allocation will use a "Small Lot First" principle to give smaller investors priority, ensuring fair and equitable distribution across a wide range of investors. The bonds offer higher returns than fixed-term deposits, with fixed interest rates of 1.8% annually for a 3-year maturity and 2.8% annually for a 10-year maturity. The first offering runs from 8:30 a.m. on August 3 to 3:00 p.m. on August 5, 2026. Anyone with a Thai securities account can apply through 24 participating securities firms and banks via digital platforms, branches, and the Streaming app.

Assadej Kongsiri, Chief Executive Officer of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, stated that the Bond Connect Platform is a public-private collaboration leveraging the Thai capital market's infrastructure to support government policy and provide greater convenience for citizens accessing government bonds. Investors can hold bonds in scriptless form through a securities trading account and manage them alongside other assets. The bonds are also eligible for secondary market trading on the exchange with transparent, verifiable market prices. Additionally, investors can view their "Auompplus" holdings alongside other assets through the wiset application, and may eventually use the bonds as collateral to enhance investment flexibility.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Nirat Pongsitthathavorn, acting as director-general of the Department of Local Administration, announced on July 16 at Don Mueang Air Base that he would attend a central civil service exam board meeting the following day to consider revoking the appointments of 3,621 local officials. When asked whether all 3,621 officials could be revoked immediately, Nirat said that revocation would depend on whether clear evidence of wrongdoing was found. Responding to claims by the anti-corruption group STRONG Thailand that he was close to Dr. Win, the accused exam fraudster, Nirat stated he had never studied with or hired Dr. Win. He acknowledged knowing Dr. Win on a casual basis, explaining that he meets many people in his role and that Dr. Win had introduced himself to various officials as a courtesy, which he characterized as normal conduct. Nirat denied ever providing Dr. Win with any budget or employment opportunities during his tenure.

CHAIYAPHUM — Six male juveniles who escaped from the Nakhon Ratchasima Juvenile Observation and Protection Center and allegedly stole a school pickup truck in an attempt to return home have been arrested in neighboring Chaiyaphum province.

The escape occurred at 05:30 on 16 July 2026, when the six youths took advantage of officers opening a door in the early morning and ran out of the facility. Police said the group had planned the escape in advance by cutting through the bars of their detention room before fleeing.

At around 07:00, the group allegedly stole an Isuzu pickup truck belonging to Ratchasima Witthayalai School, which was parked about 800 metres from the detention center, and drove toward Chaiyaphum.

Police in several jurisdictions set up checkpoints and tracked the suspects' route as they fled. The abandoned pickup was later found in Noen Sa-nga district, Chaiyaphum. Maj Gen Sujarit Panlek, commander of Chaiyaphum Provincial Police, ordered investigators to work with officers from Noen Sa-nga Police Station to locate the escapees.

The six juveniles were eventually found and taken into custody without incident.

During initial questioning, one of the youths admitted that he missed his family and wanted to return home. He told investigators he persuaded the others to escape from the detention center and steal the pickup truck to travel back to their hometown.

The six juveniles have been returned to police custody and will be transferred back to the Nakhon Ratchasima Juvenile Observation and Protection Center for legal proceedings.

Bangkok's police chief has ordered an urgent hunt for the person who allegedly hired a parcel courier to transport goods from Thailand to Japan after more than 2 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine were discovered concealed inside jars of tamarind paste.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, ordered officers, including Pol. Maj. Gen. Theeradech Thumsuthee, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Chaiya Phetpanya, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 7, and the Metropolitan Police Narcotics Suppression Centre, to investigate the case. The directive follows a formal police report filed by a courier who transports goods between Thailand and Japan.

On 3 July, while in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, the complainant was contacted through Facebook by the user of an account named "Chayamin Pai", who asked her to carry a parcel from Thailand to Japan.

On 4 July, a ride-hailing delivery driver dropped off the parcel, packaged in a cardboard box, at The Trust Residence Pinklao on Borommaratchachonnani Road in Bangkok Noi district after allegedly being hired by the Facebook user.

The courier returned to The Trust Residence Pinklao on 6 July to collect the parcel before her trip to Japan. The following day, while inspecting and repacking the items into her luggage, she opened the box and found six large jars labelled as liquid tamarind paste, along with instant noodles, sweets, jelly, dried coconut, snacks, seasonings, peanut butter and herbal inhalers.

She became suspicious because the tamarind jars were unusually heavy. After opening one jar, she found a layer of liquid tamarind paste covering the top. However, after reaching deeper inside, she discovered a plastic bag containing a white solid substance.

Recognising that something was wrong, she returned everything to the jars, repacked the box with the other items, placed it back beneath The Trust Residence Pinklao, and departed for Japan as scheduled.

After returning to Thailand on 11 July, she reported the incident to police. On 13 July, officers accompanied her to inspect the parcel, locating the 40-by-60-centimetre cardboard box where she had left it.

Inside the six 1,500-gram plastic jars, investigators discovered crystal methamphetamine concealed beneath the tamarind paste. The concealed packages weighed approximately 331.3 grammes, 341.1 grammes, 354.5 grammes, 413.1 grammes, 318.4 grammes and 300.6 grammes respectively, with a combined weight of about 2.059 kilogrammes.

Investigation Inspector Mangkorn Panthurasri of Bang Yi Khan Police Station, together with the investigating team, seized the evidence and tested the substance using a methamphetamine field test kit, which returned a positive result.

The narcotics were seized as evidence, and investigators have filed a criminal complaint against the suspect, particularly the user of the Facebook account "Chayamin Pai". Authorities are now intensifying their search for the suspect.

Bangkok, 16 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) advises foreign visitors that the Thai Cabinet has approved updated details for visa exemption and Visa on Arrival measures. The five related Ministry of Interior announcements remain pending publication in the Royal Gazette and will take effect 15 days after publication.

Following the Cabinet’s earlier approval in May to replace the 60-day visa exemption measure introduced in July 2024, this latest update is intended to align entry facilitation with current conditions, improve screening, reduce overlapping entry categories, and ensure that visa privileges are used for their intended purpose.

The approach is based on the principle of one country or territory, one entry category, with eligibility considered according to economic factors, security assessments, international relations, and reciprocity. Each country or territory will be assigned to one category: 30-day visa exemption, 15-day visa exemption, or Visa on Arrival.

In total, 65 countries and territories will be covered under the updated measures. Of these, 59 countries and territories will be eligible for a 30-day visa exemption, including India, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives. This aligns visa exemption treatment across all 27 European Union member states, supporting international relations, discussions on Schengen visa exemption for Thai nationals, and related economic agreements.

India’s eligibility will also shift from Visa on Arrival to 30-day visa exemption, reflecting its importance in terms of its economy, trade, investment, and international relations, as well as the longer average length of stay by Indian visitors, at around 7.17 days per trip.

The 15-day visa exemption will apply to Mauritius and Seychelles. Visa on Arrival will apply to nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia.

Until the new measures take effect, current entry conditions remain in place. Foreign nationals who enter Thailand before the new measures take effect will be permitted to remain for the duration of their existing permitted stay.

Separate bilateral and related entry arrangements will continue to apply where relevant, providing visa exemption periods of 90, 30, or 14 days, depending on the applicable agreement or arrangement. Travellers should check the entry conditions that apply to their nationality before travelling.

The update also states that relevant security agencies will enhance the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system to support traveller screening and verification of foreign nationals’ entry and exit records. Efforts will continue to connect relevant agency databases, enabling risk assessment at the point of departure and helping ensure that entry privileges are used for their intended purpose. Foreign visitors should continue completing TDAC as required by the Immigration Bureau, using approved digital channels where available.

Visitors are advised to monitor official announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate in their country of residence for updates on entry requirements applicable to their nationality. TAT will provide further updates once the measures are officially published in the Royal Gazette.

The post Thai Cabinet approves updated visa measures pending Royal Gazette publication appeared first on TAT Newsroom.

The Education Loan Fund (GYSF) has warned borrowers enrolled in debt restructuring programs to make continuous monthly payments by the 5th of each month to preserve their contract rights. According to GYSF Deputy Manager Anchalee Phuriwitthavattana, the fund previously offered debt restructuring to delinquent borrowers and those involved in court proceedings, extending repayment periods by up to 15 years with equal monthly installments. Compliant borrowers receive immediate release from guarantor liability and a full 100% penalty fee waiver.

However, GYSF has clarified that if borrowers miss six cumulative payments—consecutive or otherwise—or if fewer than six payments remain on the contract and a payment is skipped, the restructuring agreement terminates immediately. The fund will reinstate suspended penalty fees as debt and pursue borrowers through legal channels. GYSF urges all borrowers to meet payment deadlines to avoid legal action, as timely repayment ensures the fund maintains sufficient circulation to support future students and educational opportunities.