Lanta & News
No. 01 · ENDLESS
Police

Highway Police Arrest Car Thief After Cross-Province Spree

Highway police arrested a 34-year-old man in Phitsanulok after he stole a car from Lopburi, hit a motorcycle while fleeing, and drove across three provinces in the stolen vehicle.

Highway Police Arrest Car Thief After Cross-Province Spree
22 Jul Khaosod

On July 22, 2026, Colonel Satit Samanphap and officers from Highway Patrol Division 5 arrested Wisit, 34, based on a Lopburi Provincial Court warrant for nighttime burglary using a vehicle to facilitate the crime. The arrest followed a radio report of a car hitting a motorcycle and fleeing on Highway 12 in Phitsanulok's Wang Thong District.

At the scene, officers found a gray Toyota sedan bearing Lopburi license plates with Wisit at the wheel. Investigation revealed the car belonged to a Lopburi resident. Wisit confessed to stealing the vehicle along with a mobile phone and tablet from the victim's home in the early morning hours. He then sold the phone, bought fuel without paying in Nakhon Sawan, and fled toward Phitsanulok, where he struck a motorcycle while attempting to escape. Highway police caught up and arrested him.

Further investigation showed the vehicle's owner had filed a missing car report at Tha Hin Police Station in Lopburi. Wisit was already subject to a court warrant in a separate nighttime burglary case. The suspect confessed to all charges. Police seized the vehicle and related assets as evidence and transferred him to Tha Hin Police Station for legal proceedings.

No. 01 of Read at source → Next
National

Phetchaburi Rajabhat Partners with Chinese Universities on EV-AI Engineering Program

Phetchaburi Rajabhat University is partnering with Chinese institutions to launch an EV and AI engineering program combining study in Thailand and China with internships. The distinctive curriculum prepares Thai students for high-demand cle

Phetchaburi Rajabhat Partners with Chinese Universities on EV-AI Engineering Program
22 Jul Khaosod

Phetchaburi Rajabhat University (PBRU) is expanding higher education capacity by opening Pre-TCAS admissions for the 2024 academic year, aiming to give Grade 12 students a pathway into technology and future industries through collaboration with top Chinese educational institutions.

University leadership traveled to Liuzhou, a major EV manufacturing hub in China, to establish partnerships with Liuzhou Polytechnic University (LZPU) and Liuzhou City Vocational College (LCVC)—institutions with advanced expertise in EV technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and smart manufacturing. The collaboration centers on a distinctive 2+1.5+0.5 curriculum model: students spend 2 years at PBRU, then 1.5 years studying in China, followed by 6 months of hands-on internship experience with real companies in Thailand or China. This structure ensures students gain deep knowledge, language skills, cross-cultural adaptability, and practical work experience before graduation.

The curriculum emphasizes EV battery technology comprehensively—from design and battery management systems (BMS) to diagnostics, maintenance, and battery recovery—a skillset in high demand globally in the EV and clean energy sectors. PBRU currently operates 10 faculties covering engineering, technology, health, education, business, agriculture, law, and social sciences, with particular focus on producing a new generation of engineers and technologists ready for future industries. Enrollment is open online at https://pbru.ac.th/admission until August 14, 2024, with scholarships and Earn While Learn programs available to ease family costs.

No. 02 of Read at source → Next
National

Nestlé's Health Mission Engages Over 18,000 Thais in Wellness Shift

Nestlé Thailand's "Health Victory Mission" has engaged over 18,000 people across 500 communities since 2023, with 80% of participants adopting healthier habits and 45% achieving measurable health improvements through tailored wellness progr

Nestlé's Health Mission Engages Over 18,000 Thais in Wellness Shift
22 Jul Khaosod

Thailand's fast-paced lifestyle—rushed meals of fast food and vanishing exercise time—has made non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol a silent threat across all age groups. Working-age adults struggle to find time for self-care, schoolchildren risk obesity from snacking and screen time, and seniors need intensive health monitoring.

In response, Nestlé Thailand has launched a sustained health-promotion initiative called "Health Victory Mission," which goes beyond developing nutritious products to create tangible, field-based activities that motivate lasting behavioral change. Results prove this is real transformation, not just words.

**Success Across 500 Communities Nationwide**

Since its launch in 2023, Nestlé has deployed the "Health Victory Mission" across Thailand in 6–13 week cycles designed for everyday life. To date, the program has reached over 18,000 people across more than 500 communities nationwide. What matters most is the measurable results: systematic follow-up shows that roughly 80 percent of participants consistently adopted better health habits, and 45 percent achieved concrete health improvements. These figures demonstrate that sustainable behavioral change is achievable when activities are designed to fit people's real lives and receive continuous monitoring.

**Three Missions for Every Age Group (Working Adults – Children – Seniors)**

**Health Victory Mission for Working Adults** — An ongoing program targeting 50 communities this year through partnerships with public health personnel and community health networks. Activities include basic health screening, training on balanced nutrition, step counters, and starter kits to motivate 13 weeks of self-care, with pre- and post-monitoring by local health staff.

**Nestlé for Healthy Children** — Designed for schoolchildren under Bangkok's School Obesity Prevention Program (BSOPP), Nestlé supports nutritional literacy through an eight-week "Healthy Bingo" activity where children learn and practice together, plus step counters to encourage physical activity. It plants the seeds of balanced eating and active living from youth to reduce obesity and NCD risk long-term.

**Senior Health Champions** — For elderly citizens, an award-winning program partners with Happy Senior Network and the Urban Health Development Institute to reach 1,000 seniors. It not only teaches health and nutrition but develops seniors as role models who pass knowledge to family and community, creating a ripple effect.

No. 03 of Read at source → Next
National

Bangkok to Raise Agricultural Land Tax to Stop Tax Dodging

Bangkok plans to triple agricultural land tax rates to 0.03–0.12% to prevent landowners from evading higher vacant-land taxes by planting crops on underutilized plots.

Bangkok to Raise Agricultural Land Tax to Stop Tax Dodging
22 Jul Khaosod

Bangkok is preparing to overhaul its land and building tax system to make it more efficient, following the discovery that many landowners are planting agricultural crops on vacant plots to claim lower agricultural tax rates and avoid higher vacant-land taxes. The city plans to increase agricultural land tax rates from the current 0.01–0.1% to 0.03–0.12%, or from 100 baht per million to 300 baht per million. The proposal will be submitted to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, the Bangkok City Council, the Finance Ministry, and the Interior Ministry. The revision comes seven years after the 2019 Land and Building Tax Act took effect. Currently, landowners who leave plots vacant or underutilized pay 0.3–0.7% tax, with penalties increasing by 0.3% every three years. Some owners have planted bananas, mangoes, and lemons on vacant land to qualify for the lower agricultural rate and reduce their tax burden, even if they are not engaged in genuine farming. The higher rate is intended to close this loophole and ensure Bangkok collects full tax revenue.

No. 04 of Read at source → Next
National

Thailand Teams With KT Corporation on AI Infrastructure

Thailand and South Korea's KT Corporation agreed to expand AI infrastructure cooperation and startup exchange, with plans to establish joint AI training programs and bring Korean startups to Thailand for investment opportunities later this

Thailand Teams With KT Corporation on AI Infrastructure
22 Jul Khaosod

On July 22, 2026, in Seoul, Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan Wongswatdee led a high-level delegation including senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), representatives from the National Institute of Animal Science (NIA), and the Thai embassy to advance AI cooperation and startup promotion efforts.

The delegation held discussions with KT Corporation's senior leadership, which has expanded from a major telecommunications company to a comprehensive AI infrastructure leader offering network, cloud, and edge data center solutions, with plans to invest in a 1-gigawatt AI data center. Two key focus areas emerged: KT's AIVLE School, a national-level AI bootcamp that has trained over 3,230 professionals for major Korean firms like Samsung and Hyundai, aligns with Thailand's "AI for ALL" policy. Both sides agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on AI Literacy, with plans to sign a formal memorandum of understanding when KT executives visit Thailand in the third quarter.

The delegation also met with Y&Archer, a leading Korean startup accelerator and NIA partner, to discuss supporting Korean startups' expansion into Thailand and encouraging venture capital investment in Thai entrepreneurs. Y&Archer will bring approximately 70 Korean startups to Thailand for the Astream event later this year, creating business-matching opportunities for joint ventures, collaborative research, and technology applications in Thai and ASEAN markets. Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan emphasized the importance of reciprocal opportunities, requesting that Thai startups be given a platform to pitch their business ideas to Korean investors, ensuring that the collaboration benefits both nations' entrepreneurial ecosystems.

No. 05 of Read at source → Next
National

Bangkok Bank, AirAsia Upgrade Co-Brand Card Benefits

Bangkok Bank and Thai AirAsia have upgraded the AirAsia Platinum Mastercard with enhanced benefits including increased rewards points, installment options on airfare, and airport privileges, now made from recycled materials.

Bangkok Bank, AirAsia Upgrade Co-Brand Card Benefits
22 Jul Khaosod

Bangkok Bank has partnered with Thai AirAsia and AirAsia Rewards to upgrade the AirAsia Platinum Mastercard for its 12th year under the concept "Upgrade Every Trip, Live Smarter." The card was developed based on current customer needs and modern consumer behavior data, emphasizing convenience and value. Beyond simple payment processing, it now serves as a gateway to enhanced travel experiences with increased benefits including point accumulation for AirAsia flights or other rewards, 0% installment options on airfare, and airport and in-flight privileges. The redesigned card features a modern "Be Unique and Travel On" style using recycled PVC material, reducing plastic consumption and energy use in manufacturing. Choke Na Ranong noted that over the past 11 years, the card has received strong customer acceptance, and Bangkok Bank positions itself not just as a financial services provider but as a partner understanding modern consumers who value experience, benefits, and environmental responsibility alongside security standards. Thansita Akkhiruttiphirom, commercial director of Thai AirAsia, stated the airline focuses on building long-term customer relationships rather than just passenger numbers, with the card enabling regular travelers and embedding the brand into daily life through spending, point accumulation, and travel planning. She highlighted this as a key step in building AirAsia's loyalty ecosystem, offering VIP benefits from check-in through baggage claim, plus daily lifestyle rewards through cashback and points even on non-travel days, fostering repeat travel and brand loyalty. Shannon Liu, head of AirAsia Rewards member program management, indicated the program is evolving beyond simple point accumulation for travel.

No. 06 of Read at source → Next
National

Bangkok Found to Have 900+ Unregulated Entertainment Venues

A Bangkok investigation found over 900 unregulated entertainment venues operating without specific fire safety or building codes, prompting authorities to develop new safety standards and pursue zoning reforms to improve public protection.

Bangkok Found to Have 900+ Unregulated Entertainment Venues
22 Jul Khaosod

On July 22, 2025, Thanayos Timsuwarn, chairman of the House Administrative Affairs Committee and Loei MP from the Phumi Thai Party, announced findings from a meeting with relevant agencies including the Interior Ministry, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and police to address entertainment venue regulations and zoning policy following a beer hall fire in the Ladprao area.

The committee found that Bangkok has authorized approximately 900 entertainment-like establishments that currently lack any legal safety oversight. These venues are governed only by general building standards, with no specific safety regulations controlling fire prevention, escape routes, or life and property protection.

Thanayos stated that the committee has tasked Bangkok with investigating how to establish safety standards for these venues, including fire-resistant materials, emergency exits, and comprehensive safety measures. Regarding zoning revisions, Bangkok indicated it had previously reviewed the issue in municipal council but has not yet submitted a formal request to the Interior Ministry for zoning changes, which falls under Bangkok's responsibility.

The committee noted that revised zoning could increase tax revenue for both Bangkok and the central government while improving public safety standards. Bangkok is reportedly preparing a checklist system for operators seeking licenses, requiring annual renewal with stricter safety inspections and standards.

Thanayos emphasized that current laws governing such establishments are outdated and do not reflect modern conditions. He stressed that zoning reform must be prioritized before law amendments, as it forms the foundation for regulation. Without Bangkok pursuing zoning revision, progress on legal reforms will be hindered. The committee has not yet decided whether to review separate regulations for entertainment venues operating outside designated zones, as such establishments may cause noise nuisance near schools, residences, and communities.

No. 07 of Read at source → Next
Police

Court Rejects Call for New Concrete Tests in Collapsed Building Case

A criminal court rejected requests for court-supervised concrete testing in the State Audit Office building collapse case, ruling defendants can conduct their own tests, as hearings continue against 23 people including Italian-Thai Developm

Court Rejects Call for New Concrete Tests in Collapsed Building Case
22 Jul Khaosod

The criminal court rejected a request from two major companies in the collapsed State Audit Office building case asking the court to conduct an on-site inspection and order new concrete testing, ruling that defendants have the authority to arrange testing themselves without court involvement.

On July 22, 2569, the court scheduled examination of plaintiff witnesses in case number Ayo.2201/2568 against Premchai Kanasut and 22 other defendants, charged with professional negligence in building design, control, and construction that violated standards and caused deaths. The defendants include Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, led by Premchai Kanasut, and China Railway No. 10 Limited. Premchai was excused from appearing in person due to illness and permitted to testify in camera.

All 23 defendants have denied charges and disputed the concrete testing results that prosecutors claim showed substandard construction materials. During today's hearing, government auditor expert Vichan Jindarat testified, though cross-examination by some defense lawyers remained incomplete.

Regarding the request by Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No. 10 to send concrete samples to Switzerland for new testing with court participation, the court ruled that since the collapsed building remains property of the ITD-CREC joint venture (comprising defendants 16 and 18), the defendants may conduct testing without court authorization. However, the court declined to attend the sample collection process, finding that direct court participation in scientific testing procedures could compromise judicial impartiality in weighing evidence. The court noted that concrete sampling marks the beginning of forensic analysis, and judicial attendance—even for one step—may bias how the court ultimately assesses the testing results.

No. 08 of Read at source → Next
Police

Woman Apologizes for False Motorcycle Taxi Assault Claim

A woman has apologized for falsely accusing a motorcycle taxi driver of sexual assault following a JAY B concert near Bangkok, after her sister revealed she has a mental health condition. The viral claim, which garnered 10 million views, wa

Woman Apologizes for False Motorcycle Taxi Assault Claim
22 Jul Khaosod

NONTHABURI — A woman whose viral social media post claiming sexual harassment by a motorcycle taxi driver following a JAY B fan-meeting event at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani has apologized after her sister clarified that she has a mental health condition.

The woman had alleged that after attending the concert, she hailed a motorcycle taxi to take her to a hotel 4 kilometres away. She claimed the driver took an isolated shortcut, touched her thigh twice without consent, and that she became frightened and jumped from the moving motorcycle, sustaining injuries requiring nine stitches. Photos of her injuries accompanied the post, which went viral with over 10 million views.

Korean artist JAY B expressed concern after learning of the incident, and fans rallied around her. However, when fans grew suspicious and investigated, they discovered the incident was fabricated. They accompanied the motorcycle taxi driver to file a complaint at Pak Kret Police Station and reviewed CCTV footage.

On 21 July at Pak Kret Police Station, the woman's older sister met with the 56-year-old motorcycle taxi driver to request mediation and offer compensation. The driver explained that on 12 July, the woman had hailed him after the concert. He took her to a hotel on Chaeng Watthana Road, Soi 21, using a shortcut alongside Bang Phut Canal to save her money—reducing the distance from 8 kilometres to 2 kilometres and lowering the fare from an estimated 200 baht to just 80 baht. She paid 100 baht, and he complimented her appearance and kindness during the ride.

No. 09 of Read at source → Next
Breaking

Airport Rail Link Cut to Single Train During Repairs

Bangkok's Airport Rail Link cut service to a single hourly train after a depot track malfunction; repairs were ongoing over 10 hours later with no restoration timeline announced.

Airport Rail Link Cut to Single Train During Repairs
22 Jul Khaosod

BANGKOK — The Airport Rail Link has reduced train services after a technical issue affected operations at its depot, with repairs still ongoing more than 10 hours later. In an announcement at 5:03, Airport Rail Link said a problem with the reversing track at its depot had prevented the system from operating its full train service. The service has been temporarily reduced to a single train, running approximately once every hour. The operator said the issue does not affect passenger safety and that engineering and technical teams are working to restore normal operations as soon as possible. Passengers have been advised to consider alternative public transportation options during the disruption. Airport Rail Link apologized for the inconvenience and said updates would be provided through its official communication channels. As of more than 10 hours after the initial announcement, normal service had not yet resumed.

No. 10 of Read at source → Next
National

Newly Elected MP Declares Assets Worth Nearly 2 Billion Baht

Newly elected MP from Chaiyaphum Ms. Suchada Sang Thantrop declared joint assets of nearly 2 billion baht with her husband, including luxury items like diamonds, designer handbags, and Patek Philippe watches, according to the National Anti-

Newly Elected MP Declares Assets Worth Nearly 2 Billion Baht
22 Jul Khaosod

On July 22, 2025, Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) released asset and liability declarations for high-ranking officials. Among the notable entries was Ms. Suchada Sang Thantrop, a newly elected Member of Parliament from Chaiyaphum province representing the Bhumjaithai Party.

Ms. Suchada declared joint assets with her husband Naiyang Sang totaling 1,974,908,877.24 baht. Ms. Suchada's personal assets amount to 130,026,048.20 baht, her husband's to 1,843,941,579.04 baht, and their minor children's to 941,250 baht. Combined liabilities are 454,286.88 baht.

Ms. Suchada's individual assets include deposits across 12 bank accounts (8.9 million baht), investments (16.1 million baht), four land parcels in Chaiyaphum (17.4 million baht), one vehicle valued at 11.3 million baht, and various rights and concessions (37.5 million baht). She reports annual income of approximately 1.7 million baht, including salary and office rental income, with annual expenses of 500,000 baht.

Her husband's assets total 1.843 billion baht, including deposits (154 million baht), investments (178 million baht), a major loan to Tree Aerials Capital Limited (1.44 billion baht), overseas condominium units, and various luxury items. Notable assets include a 9-rai property in Chaiyaphum valued at 15 million baht and a Lumpini condominium unit worth 37.5 million baht.

Luxury items declared include diamond ear studs (5 million baht), a 5-carat diamond ring (6.7 million baht), a Bulgari Serpenti Viper necklace (6.3 million baht), and several Patek Philippe watches ranging from 1.9 to 3.6 million baht each. An Hermes Kelly crocodile handbag is valued at 1.8 million baht.

The couple also owns artworks by Futura, an American graffiti and street artist from New York, with pieces valued between 5.4 and 7.8 million baht. Futura, originally known as Futura 2000, is a pioneering abstract graffiti artist from the 1970s who blended spray painting with hip-hop culture and has collaborated with global brands including Nike, Supreme, and Off-White.

No. 11 of Read at source → Next
Loading more…
Endless reading Scroll to read. When you reach the bottom, keep scrolling. A bar fills, and the next story slides in when it's full. ↑ ↓ or Space Or use the arrows at the bottom of the screen.