Meet Titipah Kongming, a transgender bus captain for Thai Smile Bus Route 104, who has become an internet sensation with her striking appearance and confident style. After uploading a video of herself driving in dark sunglasses, the clip went viral with millions of views, inspiring her to post daily content. She describes the attention she receives—compliments, gifts from passengers, and even motorists stopping to photograph her—with good humor, noting that some people may be fascinated by seeing an LGBTQ+ bus driver on the road.

Titipah previously worked as a housemaid at a sports club and as a bus hostess before becoming a bus captain on Route 104, which runs from Pak Kret Pier to Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal. She emphasizes that her main responsibility is transporting passengers safely and creating positive experiences that make people smile. Her ultimate dream is to compete in the Miss Tiffany's Universe pageant, not for personal pride but to make her family proud. She previously competed in Miss Teen Trans Thailand 2023 and advanced to the top 30 without a sponsor, relying entirely on her own effort.

Titipah's philosophy is that life is short and one should pursue dreams without waiting for the perfect moment. She believes that by making passengers smile during their journeys, she contributes to making Thailand a better place. She encourages others not to fear failure, saying that taking action is always better than doing nothing.

30 July 2026 — Thailand's Department of Mineral Resources has warned residents in 15 provinces to remain vigilant for landslides and flash floods over the next one to three days amid continuing heavy rainfall.

The department's Geological Disaster Operations Centre urged its disaster monitoring and warning network volunteers and residents to monitor the situation from 30 July to 1 August.

The 15 provinces are Tak, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong and Phang Nga.

The warning is particularly focused on mountainous and high-risk areas in the North, Central, East and South. In the North, areas at risk include several districts in Tak, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit and Phetchabun. In the Central region, the warning covers parts of Kanchanaburi, including Sangkhla Buri, Thong Pha Phum, Sai Yok and Si Sawat districts. In the East, areas in Chanthaburi and Trat are being monitored, while in the South, authorities are watching areas in Ranong and Phang Nga.

The department said a monsoon trough is extending across the North and Northeast, while a relatively strong southwest monsoon is affecting the country, bringing persistent heavy rainfall. Rainfall measured over a 24-hour period has exceeded 150mm in some areas. Several locations have also experienced accumulated heavy rainfall over multiple days, with flash floods already reported in some areas.

The conditions could trigger landslides, particularly in mountainous areas and locations with saturated soil. The department urged its disaster monitoring volunteers to remain prepared, closely monitor rainfall levels and issue warnings to residents if landslides or flash floods occur. Volunteers have also been instructed to notify relevant agencies and follow established disaster monitoring and response plans.

Thailand e-visa 2026: full guide to fees, documents, visa typesLegacyEvery standard visa application for Thailand, from a two-week holiday to a five-year digital nomad visa, now runs through a single system: the Thailand e-visa portal at thaievisa.go.th. The Thailand e-visa replaced the old system of physical stickers and in-person appointments across all 94 Royal Thai embassies and consulates since January 2025. The portal is the same everywhere, but what each embassy accepts as proof, and what it charges, is not, which is where most of the confusion and most of the rejections start. On this page:

Section (Click to jump) Summary

How the e-visa portal works Learn how Thailand’s online visa system works, from account registration and passport scanning to payment, approval and downloading your e-visa.

Which visa category actually fits you Compare Tourist, Non-Immigrant B and Destination Thailand Visa options to find the right visa based on your travel, work or long-term plans.

Document and photo specs that get applications flagged Avoid common upload mistakes by following Thailand’s requirements for passport scans, photographs, financial evidence and supporting documents.

Why the same visa costs different amounts depending on where you apply Find out why visa fees and financial requirements vary between Thai embassies and consulates, even for the same visa category.

The most common reasons applications get rejected See the mistakes that most often lead to refusals, including insufficient financial history, weak supporting evidence and eligibility issues.

What happens after approval Understand the final steps after your visa is approved, including downloading your e-visa and completing the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.

Start three months out, not three weeks Prepare your finances and paperwork well in advance to avoid unnecessary delays and give yourself the best chance of a successful application.

How the e-visa portal works The application follows six stages. Registration comes first: a valid email, a password meeting the character requirements, and an activation link that expires after 30 minutes. Once in, the system asks for the country that issued your passport, where you currently are, and which embassy should handle the file. Applicants must be physically outside Thailand for the entire process. File from inside the country and the application is refused outright. The official Thai E-Visa website Personal details come from an OCR scan of your passport’s biodata page. Everything must match in English, with no hyphens, slashes or symbols. If your passport has no surname, leave the family name field blank and put your full name under “first name.” The system cannot always distinguish a zero from a letter O or an eight from a B, so check the OCR output before submitting. After uploading travel and financial evidence, you sign a digital declaration, pay by card, and wait. Once approved, the E-Visa Confirmation Document arrives as a PDF. Print it for check-in and immigration in Thailand. Which visa category actually fits you Tourist visas (TR) come in single and multiple entry. Single entry allows up to 60 days on a three-month visa. Multiple entry gives six months’ validity with unlimited entries, still capped at 60 days each. Both need at least 20,000 baht in funds. Do not confuse the Tourist Visa with visa-exempt entry. Thailand’s Cabinet approved reverting the 60-day visa exemption to 30 days on 19 May 2026, but the change had not been published in the Royal Gazette at the time of writing, so the 60-day stamp remained in force. The Tourist Visa is unaffected: applicants through the portal still get 60 days per entry. For a full breakdown of which nationalities qualify for which scheme, the complete entry guide covers every route into Thailand. Photo from belterz from Getty Images Non-Immigrant B covers paid work and teaching. Employment filings need a Ministry of Labour pre-approval letter, corporate registration documents, and a formal job offer. Teaching applications require an approval letter from the relevant education authority and a criminal background check. Both allow a 90-day stay on a three-month visa. The Destination Thailand Visa is valid for five years, grants 180 days per entry, and can be extended once per entry for another 180 days at 1,900 baht. Every DTV applicant needs 500,000 baht in savings held for at least three months. The DTV splits into three tracks: Workcation for remote workers and freelancers, Soft Power for those enrolled in certified Thai cultural programmes, and Dependent for a holder’s spouse and unmarried children under 20. A full breakdown of DTV eligibility and what the Workcation track demands is covered in the digital nomad visa guide for 2026.

Category Validity Max stay Minimum funds Key documents

Tourist, single entry 3 months 60 days 20,000 baht Flight booking, hotel confirmation, 3-month bank statement

Tourist, multiple entry 6 months 60 days per visit 20,000 baht (maintained) 3 to 6-month bank statements, travel itinerary, accommodation proof

Non-Immigrant B, employment 3 months 90 days 30,000 baht WP32 approval letter, employment offer, corporate registration

Non-Immigrant B, teaching 3 months 90 days 30,000 baht Education ministry approval letter, institutional contract, criminal clearance

DTV, Workcation 5 years 180 days, extendable once 500,000 baht Foreign employment contract, HR letter, or freelance portfolio

DTV, Soft Power 5 years 180 days, extendable once 500,000 baht Acceptance letter from certified institute or hospital

DTV, Dependent 5 years 180 days, extendable once 500,000 baht (primary holder’s coverage) Primary applicant’s DTV, marriage or birth certificate

Document and photo specs that get applications flagged Most uploads accept JPG, JPEG or PDF up to 3 MB. Photos are pickier: JPG only, capped at 200 KB. Passport scans must show all four corners of the biodata page and the two-line machine-readable strip. Cropped or blurry scans are rejected immediately. Photo by Africa Images from Canva Photos need a solid white background, taken within the last six months, full face, neutral expression, no tinted glasses, no headwear unless for religious reasons. Scanned prints and anything obviously edited are caught automatically. Bank statements must show your name and the bank’s stamp, covering three to six months depending on the visa type.

Document Formats Max size Must show

Applicant photo JPG, JPEG 200 KB White background, taken within 6 months, neutral expression

Passport biodata scan JPG, JPEG, PDF 3 MB All four corners, 2-line MRZ strip

Signed declaration JPG, JPEG, PDF 3 MB Signed, high resolution

Financial evidence PDF, JPG 3 MB 3 to 6 months, applicant’s name, bank stamp

Proof of location PDF, JPG 3 MB Utility bill, driving licence, residence permit or entry stamp

Why the same visa costs different amounts depending on where you apply The DTV’s baht base fee is 10,000 baht, but each embassy converts that on its own terms. Most European and North American posts land between US$300 and US$400, or roughly 350 euros. Wellington charges considerably more at around 2,000 NZD, or about 37,000 baht. Moscow requires the fee in cash, in US dollars, in person, within 14 days of filing, and turns away worn notes or anything printed before 2009. Proof-of-funds thresholds also shift by post. US consulates want US$16,000, Eurozone missions want 15,000 euros, and London sets its bar at £11,000. None of these is a currency conversion of the 500,000 baht standard; they are independent local benchmarks. If applying from a country that is not your own, add proof of legal residence. Documents not in English or Thai need certified translation. The most common reasons applications get rejected Photo by BrianAJackson from Getty Images Unseasoned funds are the biggest rejection trigger for the DTV. A large deposit right before you apply reads as borrowed money. Keep the funds untouched for at least 90 days. Crypto, stocks and property do not count regardless of their value. Workcation applicants get knocked back for thin evidence: a LinkedIn profile without contracts, invoices or an HR letter is not enough. Soft Power applicants fail when their provider is unaccredited, or the course is too short to justify a five-year visa. There is also a tax issue. Spend 180 days or more in Thailand in a calendar year and you become a tax resident, meaning foreign income remitted into the country becomes taxable. The DTV bars local work, serving Thai clients, and holding a work permit. Violations risk cancellation, fines, and deportation. Getting the Thailand e-visa right the first time is considerably cheaper than the alternative What happens after approval The paper TM6 arrival card is gone, replaced by the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). Every non-Thai national must file one online before arrival regardless of visa status. It collects flight details, advance passenger information, and your Thailand address before you land. The TDAC website where you can sign up or update your arrival card Start three months out, not three weeks Whatever threshold applies, get the money sitting in the account at least three months before you plan to apply. Translating documents, getting them notarised, and saving scans correctly can happen in the weeks after. Check the requirements of the embassy covering where you are based, track progress through the portal dashboard after filing, print the confirmation on approval, file your TDAC, and you will be through the airport faster than whoever is still filling out a landing card by hand. The story Thailand e-visa 2026: full guide to fees, documents, visa types as seen on Thaiger News.

Sukhumvit Asset Management Company Limited (SAM) has opened bidding on 88 non-performing assets (NPA) across the country on high-potential locations serving both residential and investment purposes. The portfolio includes townhouses, detached homes, duplexes, commercial buildings, condominiums, office buildings, factories, and warehouses priced under 20 million baht, as well as investment-grade properties including land and showrooms over 20 million baht.

Key investment highlights include a 3-rai 268.9-square-wah vacant lot on Rewadee Road in Nonthaburi near Central Ratchadamri, priced from 77.5 million baht (52,765 baht per square wah), and a 32-rai 80-square-wah plot in Udon Thani starting at 70.86 million baht. A showroom property in Kanchanaburi comprising a three-story building with office space and maintenance workshop is offered from 20.77 million baht.

SAM has partnered with six major banks including Bangkok Bank, UOB, TMB, Kasikornbank, CIMB Thai, and Government Housing Bank to provide special financing for customers. The company is also running a referral campaign offering rewards up to 3 million baht per property sold. The auction includes 85 properties valued at 235 million baht (opening 6 August 2026) and 3 properties valued at 169 million baht, with registration running through 30 July 2026.

The Huachai Brisut Foundation, in partnership with Matichon Group, has delivered five wheelchairs to elderly persons, people with disabilities, and patients with mobility limitations in Nan province to ease their hardships and improve their daily quality of life.

On July 21, 2025, Thiarrat Nawamawat, chairman of the Huachai Brisut Foundation, presented five wheelchairs at the Labour Skill Development Institute 26 in Nonthaburi. Sanchai Patrawarak, director of the Labour Skill Development Institute 20 in Chiang Rai, and Nittaya Saengpumpong, director of the Labour Skill Development Institute 26 in Nonthaburi, received the donation. The foundation received transportation support from Thepsombat Co., Ltd. (Sombat Tour) to deliver the wheelchairs to those in need in Nan province.

On July 30, 2025, Sanchai Patrawarak, director of the Labour Skill Development Institute 20 in Chiang Rai, visited Sanieun subdistrict, Mueang district, Nan province, and distributed the five wheelchairs to five low-income individuals and persons with mobility limitations: Neng Saehoe, 71; Pensri Saeyaang, 31; Yi Saehoe, 63; Nopadol Saetao, 36; and Siriporn Saewang, 39. The wheelchairs aim to help them conduct their daily lives more conveniently and improve their overall quality of life.

Thiarrat Nawamawat, chairman of the Huachai Brisut Foundation, stated that the collaboration between the foundation and Matichon Group is another force of sharing that brings opportunities to those who truly need them. The foundation remains committed to supporting essential equipment for the elderly, people with disabilities, and patients, enabling them to live conveniently, safely, and with dignity. The Huachai Brisut Foundation and Matichon Group continue to work together with all sectors to drive social activities sustainably, believing that sharing and cooperation will help reduce inequality, create opportunities, and improve the quality of life of Thai people sustainably.

On July 30, 2025, Parit Wacharasindhu, a Pheu Thai list MP and party deputy leader, posted on Facebook analyzing an Election Commission ruling on the qualifications of two Amnat Charoen MPs—Daeng Gongma and Sompan Plasak—whose cases were raised by legal watchdog iLaw and flagged by former commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn as a potential dereliction of duty by the commission.

Parit then drew attention to a similar case: Election Commission Decision 251/2567 regarding Pranit Gamram, a Buriram MP from Group 16. The complaint arose because Pranit listed himself as a senior footballer (2527–2547) in his candidacy application and candidate information form.

Parit noted a mathematical impossibility: if Pranit was 61 years old when he registered in 2567, he would have been 21–41 years old during 2527–2547. However, Thailand's sports authority defines "senior athlete" as a competitor aged 35 and older. This means Pranit could not have been a senior athlete throughout the stated period; his senior athlete experience would span at most six years (ages 35–41, or 2541–2547), falling short of the required 10 years of experience in his field.

When questioned, Pranit claimed he told officials he was a footballer from 2527 onwards, having competed since age 16 at the subdistrict level before being selected in 2527 for an army regiment football team, and continuing to compete through 2547. The ruling cited testimony from fellow competitors, though its credibility remains debatable.

Parit flagged a more suspicious element: Pranit claimed he did not write the application himself but instead spoke to staff, who wrote it for him. He said he only told them he was a footballer from 2527–2547, and the staff added the word "senior" on their own. However, when signing the candidate information form—which contained the phrase "senior footballer 2527–2547"—Pranit claimed he had not brought his glasses, so he signed without noticing the inaccuracy.

Parit found this explanation questionable. Although a staff member testified that they added "senior" based on conversation with the candidate, Parit doubted staff would insert information without the applicant's intent. Moreover, even if staff had added the term independently, an official document still requires the applicant's verification before signature.