PATTAYA — A 28-year-old employee was killed after becoming trapped in a fire that tore through an unlicensed host bar in Pattaya early on 1 July 2026, authorities said.

The Pattaya City Land Disaster Relief Radio Center received a report of the blaze at 00:16. The fire broke out at the Catwalk entertainment venue in Soi Chalerm Phrakiat 29, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.

Police from Pattaya City Police Station, Bang Lamung district administrative officials, Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue workers and firefighters were dispatched to the scene.

The fire engulfed the pub-style host bar, sending thick smoke billowing into the air. Firefighters deployed three fire engines to contain the blaze. A private groundwater delivery truck passing nearby also joined the effort by supplying water to help extinguish the flames.

It took firefighters more than 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Investigators found the fire had started near the venue's entrance. Inside, they discovered the body of Thanaphon Boonchan, 28, an employee of the bar. He was found dead beneath a table after apparently being unable to escape as the flames spread.

Somchai Nawacharoen, 63, the owner of the groundwater delivery truck, said he had been making a delivery to a nearby business when he spotted the fire and immediately reversed his vehicle to help firefighters by spraying water on the flames.

Other employees told police they received a phone call from a colleague who was inside the venue reporting the fire. They rushed to the scene, where a worker said the blaze appeared to begin near the roof before spreading toward the exit. Everyone attempted to flee, but the victim was not seen leaving and is believed to have been trapped inside.

A preliminary investigation found the entertainment venue was operating without a licence. Authorities also said the victim was unable to escape because the fire blocked the main exit, while the premises had no emergency exit.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Forensic police will conduct a detailed examination to establish the origin of the blaze.

Casio has opened lottery registration in Japan for a limited-edition G-SHOCK x Pokémon watch celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary, bringing together two collector-heavy worlds: Pokémon nostalgia and one of G-SHOCK's most recognisable modern silhouettes.

The watch features a transparent case accented with colour details referencing the original Pokémon Red, Green and Blue games. Its strap is printed with illustrations of 30 Pokémon to commemorate the anniversary, while the subdial is designed as a Poké Ball and the hands are inspired by Pikachu's tail. Additionally, the case back is engraved with a 30th anniversary logo, and the watch comes in a Poké Ball-shaped box designed specifically for this release.

In addition to its themed design, the GA-110 retains the core features of the standard model, including G-SHOCK's shock-resistant construction, 200-metre water resistance, world time, a stopwatch, countdown timer, multiple alarms and an LED backlight.

The timepiece is priced at 33,000 yen (about 6,700 baht or US$202.72), excluding applicable taxes and shipping charges.

Casio says the lottery is not first-come, first-served, and applicants must register for a Casio ID and are limited to one entry each. The Japan lottery is limited to residents of Japan, and Casio warns that entries may be invalidated if they appear to involve false information, multiple accounts, forwarding services or resale purposes.

The collaboration continues Casio's long-running strategy of releasing special-edition G-SHOCK watches based on popular entertainment franchises, many of which have become sought-after collectibles in the secondary market.

A Thailand release has not been announced, but Singapore has been listed for a regional launch later in July. Thai collectors can monitor Casio Thailand and authorised G-SHOCK distributors for further updates.

A cleaning worker made a startling discovery when he found the body of a newborn boy wrapped in tissue and plastic stuffed in a trash bin in the women's restroom at a gas station. Police are urgently reviewing surveillance footage. On July 1, 2025, Sub-Lieutenant Nitithorn Saupvaradet, investigator at Pluak Daeng Police Station in Rayong Province, received a report of an infant's body found in the women's restroom at a gas station in Ban Saphan Si, Mabyangprom Subdistrict, Pluak Daeng District, Rayong Province. He notified his commanding officer and coordinated with the investigation team, on-duty physicians from Pluak Daeng Hospital, and rescue personnel to inspect the scene. Inside the women's restroom behind the gas station, officers found the body of a newborn male infant wrapped in tissue paper and plastic inside a trash bin. The body was intact and still had bloodstains on it, suggesting the child had just been born and died shortly after. The gas station cleaning worker stated that while performing routine restroom cleaning, he noticed something abnormal in the trash bin and opened it to check, discovering the infant's body with shock. He immediately notified his supervisor and contacted police. Preliminary investigation suggests the suspect may be a migrant worker or young woman who visited the station. Police are currently rushing to review CCTV footage inside the gas station and nearby areas to track down the suspect for questioning and legal proceedings.

At 4 a.m. on July 1, heavy to very heavy rain fell continuously across Phuket, triggering flooding in multiple areas including Patong Subdistrict, Kathu District, and various locations in Phuket City District. Floodwaters rose above road surfaces, making travel difficult for small vehicles and causing traffic congestion on several routes. Officials advised residents to avoid flooded areas and exercise caution while traveling.

The Bang Yai Canal, a major waterway spanning over 20 kilometers from Kathu District through the city center to Phuket Bay, has seen water levels surge more than three meters above normal, raising serious concerns about overflow and flooding in nearby areas.

Authorities are aggressively draining water to mitigate the impact of the heavy and continuous rainfall, with 24-hour monitoring underway.

The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for very heavy rainfall from July 1-3, noting that most of Thailand will experience heavy to very heavy rain in some areas, particularly the Eastern Region and the Andaman coast, due to monsoon troughs affecting the North and upper Northeast combined with monsoon winds.

Residents in at-risk areas are urged to remain vigilant against dangers from heavy rainfall, accumulated water, flash floods, and flash flooding, especially in hilly terrain, low-lying areas, and near waterways. The public is advised to closely monitor weather updates and official announcements.

On July 1, 2026, the Government Lottery Office held a drawing for N3 lottery tickets at the lottery drawing building at Don Muang Airport in Nonthaburi province. Players can check N3 results for all prize categories including two-digit exact, three-digit exact, three-digit any order, and special prizes.

The N3 lottery uses results derived from the six-digit government lottery drawing. Three-digit exact and three-digit any order prizes come from the last three digits of the first prize, while two-digit prizes come from the last two digits. Special prizes are randomly selected from three-digit exact winners only, drawn after each government lottery session concludes.

Winners will receive notifications through the Pao Tang mobile application and can claim prizes immediately through the app. A stamp duty of 1 baht per 200 baht of winnings (or fraction thereof) applies. Bank transfers incur no additional fees.

On July 1, 2025, Education Minister Akkranon Kankirttinant presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education Commission and the Department of Corrections to promote and support three forms of learning: lifelong learning, self-development learning, and credential-based learning. Senior officials from both agencies attended the ceremony at the Science Learning Promotion Center in Bangkok to jointly announce their commitment to expanding educational opportunities to prisons and detention facilities.

Akkranon stated that the agreement represents more than ceremonial procedure—it is a joint declaration to use education as a tool for restoring opportunity and developing human potential. He emphasized that while prison walls may restrict physical space, they must not limit intellectual opportunity or hope for a new beginning. The Education Ministry aims to reduce educational inequality and ensure all people have access to quality, equitable learning that complies with the 2023 Lifelong Learning Promotion Act.

Inmates and former prisoners deserve equal learning opportunities to rebuild their capabilities, develop life and vocational skills, and gain confidence before reintegrating into families and society, Akkranon added. The collaboration between the two agencies links education concretely with behavioral rehabilitation.

The Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education Commission will implement flexible learning systems suited to the prison context, enabling incarcerated learners to complete education from basic to university levels. Success will be measured not by activity numbers or participation counts, but by real changes in learners' lives and Thai society, based on equality and human dignity.

Akkranon concluded by pledging the Education Ministry's support for a three-year implementation period, aiming to produce quality individuals who are mentally and educationally stable, ready to return to society and become vital contributors to the nation's development.