Lanta & News
No. 01 · ENDLESS
Police

Pickup Truck Hits Motorcyclist at High Speed; Woman, 38, Killed

A 38-year-old woman was killed when a pickup truck struck her motorcycle at high speed on Nakhon-Chandi Road in Nakhon Si Thammarat on July 20. Police are investigating the driver for prosecution.

Pickup Truck Hits Motorcyclist at High Speed; Woman, 38, Killed
20 Jul Khaosod

On July 20, 2569, Deputy Lieutenant Colonel Nattavit Otong, commander of Chang Klang Police Station, reported responding to a collision between a pickup truck and motorcycle on the Nakhon-Chandi Road in Chang Klang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. Officers arrived with emergency medical staff from Pho Than Khlai Wajasikit Hospital and officials from the Southern Foundation for Disaster Management. At the scene, they found a Toyota pickup truck with heavy damage to the left side and a severely damaged red Honda motorcycle. The victim, identified as Ms. Chitra Lada (surname withheld), 38 years old, was found 30-40 meters from the vehicles with severe injuries including broken limbs. According to initial investigation, the victim was riding her motorcycle when the pickup truck struck her at high speed, resulting in her death at the scene. Police are conducting further questioning and gathering evidence against the pickup truck driver for legal prosecution.

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Police

Massive Truck Collision Kills 2, Injures 3 in Ayutthaya

Two people died and three were injured when an 18-wheel truck and 10-wheel truck collided on Phaholyothin Road in Ayutthaya Province on July 19, with authorities investigating the cause of the crash.

Massive Truck Collision Kills 2, Injures 3 in Ayutthaya
20 Jul Khaosod

A major collision between an 18-wheel truck registered in Saraburi and a 10-wheel truck registered in Pathum Thani has resulted in two deaths and three injuries. The accident occurred on Phaholyothin Road at kilometer 76 heading out toward Saraburi, in Sanobthuep Subdistrict, Wang Noi District, Ayutthaya Province, on July 19. Following the crash, volunteers from the Phuttaisawan Foundation and Wang Noi Police Station worked with ambulance teams from Wang Noi Hospital to provide emergency assistance and transport the injured to the hospital for urgent treatment. The deceased remain in the custody of investigating officers from Wang Noi Police Station as they conduct a full investigation into the cause of the accident.

No. 02 of Read at source → Next
National

Justice Ministry Distributes 9.3 Million Baht to Ladprao Beer Hall Fire Victims

The Justice Ministry distributed 9.3 million baht to 31 victims of a Ladprao entertainment venue fire, with 14 recipients each receiving 300,000 baht in a July 20 ceremony. The compensation was provided under Thailand's Victim Compensation

Justice Ministry Distributes 9.3 Million Baht to Ladprao Beer Hall Fire Victims
20 Jul Khaosod

On July 20, Justice Minister General Rutthapol Naorawat presided over a ceremony at the Justice Ministry on Chaengwattana Road to distribute compensation to 31 victims of the Ladprao entertainment venue fire. Fourteen victims who attended the ceremony each received 300,000 baht, totaling 4.2 million baht, while the remaining 17 victims had their payments transferred directly to their bank accounts, bringing the total compensation to over 9.3 million baht. The assistance was provided under the Victim Compensation Act of 2001 and its 2016 amendment, which also supports innocent defendants in criminal cases.

Diriyarut Temhiwongse, director of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, explained that the victims included various people: the heirs of Bree, the female lead singer of the Tossakant band, the band's drummer who was a Laotian employee, and members of the general public. The event aimed to publicize the compensation program and assist those harmed by the criminal acts of others.

Over the past 24 years since the Victim Compensation Act was implemented, the state has distributed assistance to 145,613 victims totaling approximately 7.6 billion baht and to 2,815 innocent defendants totaling approximately 641 million baht. Officials are exploring the establishment of a revolving victim assistance fund similar to those in other countries, which would draw support from donations, restitution from offenders, and court-ordered penalties to expand the reach of victim compensation programs.

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National

Husband's Relatives Threaten Lawsuit Over Bedridden Wife

A bedridden woman in Buriram Province, paralyzed after childbirth complications 10 months ago, has not been visited or contacted by her husband since November, yet his relatives are now threatening to sue her family for claiming abandonment

Husband's Relatives Threaten Lawsuit Over Bedridden Wife
20 Jul Khaosod

Relatives of a husband have threatened legal action against the wife's family after she became bedridden following childbirth, insisting he did not abandon her but simply has not visited. They have also stated, "How can she stay at her mother-in-law's house when she can't get up or do anything?"

On July 16, 2025, Ms. Sa, 28, from Buriram Province, became bedridden just 24 hours after undergoing a cesarean section at a hospital. She has now been bedridden for 10 months in severe condition.

Her condition remains critical: she requires a breathing machine and a tracheostomy, cannot speak, cannot move her limbs, and shows no response to any stimuli—she cannot nod, shake her head, or smile. She can only blink her eyes.

Her aunt Lamphu, 50, and her mother Somapon, 53, who care for her, have disclosed her full medical condition. When asked about her husband, they revealed he has not visited since November 23, 2024, and has not called to inquire about her.

Recently, Lamphu has been contacted by multiple relatives of the husband's family via Facebook, threatening to sue whoever reported that "the husband abandoned her," claiming it is untrue and demanding a retraction or they will file suit.

Lamphu recounted that on the evening of July 19, a relative of the husband called to demand she correct the story claiming "the husband abandoned her." She responded that she never said he abandoned her, only that he has not visited and has not called in 10 months.

The husband's relatives then verbally attacked her again, accusing her of damaging their reputation, and said, "How can she stay at her mother-in-law's house when she can't get up or do anything?" Lamphu expressed feeling bewildered and unsure how to respond, saying she was only stating the facts.

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National

Thailand Adjusts Welfare Card Eligibility Criteria

Thailand is revising welfare card eligibility rules to help vehicle owners and students previously denied benefits, with the Cabinet review extended to September 20. The changes will allow about 6 million additional people to register for t

Thailand Adjusts Welfare Card Eligibility Criteria
20 Jul Khaosod

The government is preparing to revise eligibility criteria for the state welfare card, particularly for vehicle owners and students in various educational categories, with plans to present these changes to the Cabinet along with an extension of the rights review period until September 20. On July 20, 2025, Transport Minister Siripong Angsakulkiattikul, Interior Minister Phalpeer Suwannachuay, Public Administration Department Director Narucha Kosasivilaize, and Financial Economics Office Director Winit Visetsuvarnapumi held a joint press conference to discuss adjustments to the welfare card appeal process. The new criteria for vehicle owners and students—including non-formal education students—will first be presented to the State Enterprise Policy Committee before being submitted to the Cabinet for approval. The Interior Ministry will establish service points at district offices to help those who fail the revised criteria assessment, with village headmen serving as coordinators to gather additional information, requiring an extension of the review deadline to September 20. Additionally, approximately 6 million people who were ineligible for benefits will now be permitted to register for the Thai Help Thai Plus program, a proposal that will be submitted to the Cabinet on July 21. Finance Ministry spokespersons acknowledged the need to reconsider the eligibility conditions for the state welfare card, noting that genuinely poor citizens were being denied benefits despite owning damaged or non-functional vehicles, and that non-formal education students should be distinguished from formal education students.

No. 05 of Read at source → Next
National

Thai PM Meets China's Top Legislator in Beijing

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul began his official visit to Beijing with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square. He then held a bilateral meeting with Z...

20 Jul Thailand.go.th Issues

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul began his official visit to Beijing with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square. He then held a bilateral meeting with Z...

No. 06 of Read at source → Next
Police

Drug-Fueled Fire Spreads to Three Homes in Thalang

PHUKET: A Thalang homeowner has claimed his brother, allegedly hallucinating after taking drugs, started a house fire that spread to two neighbouring homes early this morning (July 20), causing extensive property damage but no injuries.

Drug-Fueled Fire Spreads to Three Homes in Thalang
20 Jul The Phuket News

PHUKET: A Thalang homeowner has claimed his brother, allegedly hallucinating after taking drugs, started a house fire that spread to two neighbouring homes early this morning (July 20), causing extensive property damage but no injuries.

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National

Opposition Leaders Target Corruption From Cradle to Grave

Opposition MPs highlighted how corruption affects Thais throughout their lives, from fraudulent birth certificates sold to foreign investors to textbook kickbacks draining school budgets by hundreds of millions annually.

Opposition Leaders Target Corruption From Cradle to Grave
20 Jul Khaosod

On July 20, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at the Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, opposition leaders in parliament held a public forum titled "Born, Aged, Sick, Corrupt: How Can Thais Break This Cycle?" as part of their fiscal year 2025 outreach program.

Nattapong Rueangpannitwit, a list-based MP and head of the Prachathai Party, opened the forum by explaining that corruption affects all Thais across their entire lifespans. He categorized corruption into five groups: (1) rights people should receive but don't due to erosion—such as welfare payments, textbooks, and school milk; (2) unnecessary payments or overpaying for services like permits and utilities; (3) indirect harms from corruption unrelated to the individual, such as substandard public construction projects and building collapses; (4) reduced accountability when wrongdoers pay bribes to escape responsibility, as seen with polluting factories; and (5) payments for undeserved benefits, such as buying Thai nationality or "surrogate father" schemes.

List-based MP Piyarat Jongthep of Prachathai described birth-related corruption, revealing that foreign investors in shadow economies seek Thai nationality above all else. He disclosed that foreign-Thai couples pay approximately 110,000 baht to purchase birth certificates for children through chat group brokers who arrange Thai "surrogate fathers," which he called a national security threat. He warned that within 10-20 years, such children could claim full Thai rights, including voting eligibility, and urged the state to conduct DNA testing before issuing birth certificates.

List-based MP Prit Wachrasindsun of Prachathai addressed education-sector corruption, citing textbook fraud where publishers charge schools full price while kickbacks go to school administrators. If one in ten schools engage in this practice, it represents 100-200 million baht in annual budget leakage. He identified three hidden costs destroying the nation's future: degraded educational quality as students miss new learning methods, distorted policy direction reduced to mere self-interest, and corrupted values—despite teaching students "grow up, don't cheat," they learn corruption is acceptable when it surrounds them and their questions are silenced.

List-based MP Sirikanya Tansukul of Prachathai spoke about corruption across other life stages.

No. 08 of Read at source → Next
National

Culture Ministry Merges Tourism Functions to Cut Bureaucratic Overlap

Thailand's cabinet approved a plan to merge tourism functions into a new Ministry of Culture and Tourism to reduce bureaucratic overlap, with implementation expected over four years starting with a preparation phase.

Culture Ministry Merges Tourism Functions to Cut Bureaucratic Overlap
20 Jul Khaosod

Culture Minister Sabida Thaiset disclosed that the cabinet has endorsed the draft law to restructure government ministries, departments, and bureaus by establishing a new Ministry of Culture and Tourism alongside a separate Ministry of Sports. The bill will now proceed to the Office of the Council of State for review before being sent to parliament. Staffing levels and budgets will not be increased in principle, though flexibility will be maintained to match assigned functions as both ministries negotiate which personnel and tasks to transfer.

The five key tourism functions to be transferred to the Culture Ministry include policy matters, the Department of Tourism, provincial tourism and sports office operations nationwide, tourism-related agencies, and coordination with the Tourism Police Command. The new structure will feature two main function groups: one handling cultural heritage, identity, and cultural capital, and another managing cultural economics and tourism.

The Culture Ministry has outlined a three-phase implementation plan: the first six months for preparation and task transfer; the second phase over two years for studying international case studies and developing administrative systems, laws, structures, and personnel; and the third phase completing full reform within four years. Culture Ministry, Tourism and Sports officials, and central agencies have established a working group to prepare for the transition with ongoing progress meetings and consultation with all stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation and address concerns.

No. 09 of Read at source → Next
Tourism

Thailand Targets 5 Million Chinese Visitors via Western Market Push

Thailand aims to attract over 5 million Chinese visitors in 2025 through partnerships with major Chinese airlines and digital platforms, leveraging Prime Minister Anutin's visit to China to expand air routes and boost marketing in western C

Thailand Targets 5 Million Chinese Visitors via Western Market Push
20 Jul Khaosod

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed letters of intent with five major Chinese partners to boost Chinese tourist arrivals to over 5 million in 2025. TAT Governor Thaopniey Kiatpibul noted that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's official visit to China from July 16–20, 2025—in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing—represents a critical opportunity to elevate Thai-Chinese tourism cooperation, restore Chinese traveler confidence, and expand market opportunities for sustainable bilateral travel growth.

On July 18 in Chengdu, TAT held discussions with senior executives from Sichuan Airlines and Meituan to advance travel and tourism collaboration, particularly targeting western China's high-purchasing-power market with rising outbound tourism trends. Talks with Sichuan Airlines focused on strengthening air connectivity, including reopening direct Chengdu–Chiang Mai service and exploring new routes to Hua Hin and U-Tapao airports to distribute travel across Thailand's secondary destinations and enhance convenience for Chinese visitors.

Collaboration with Meituan, a major Chinese digital lifestyle platform, aims to elevate marketing through digital channels, analyze consumer behavior data, and launch the "Thailand National Campaign" under a Two-Way Tourism concept. Additional initiatives include promoting Thai restaurants on the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide and advancing the "Trusted Thailand" program to build confidence in quality and safety among Chinese travelers.

On July 19 in Beijing, TAT signed letters of intent with five leading Chinese partners—China Tourism Group (CTG), Utour Group, China Comfort Group, AMAP, and TCP Red Bull—to jointly promote the "Amazing Thailand" brand via Chinese digital platforms, develop high-quality tourism routes, and apply Smart Tourism technology to attract quality visitors.

Chinese visitor behavior is shifting from group tours to independent travel, empowering digital platforms to influence younger and upper-middle-class travelers' decisions and opening doors for Thailand's emerging and secondary destinations. From January 1 to July 11, 2025, Thailand welcomed approximately 2.8 million Chinese tourists—a 14% increase year-on-year—maintaining China as Thailand's top source market. TAT projects over 5 million Chinese visitors for the full year 2025, generating approximately 288.385 billion baht in tourism revenue.

The collaboration on flight routes, digital marketing, and strategic partnerships is expected to drive recovery and expansion of Thailand's quality Chinese tourism market while supporting long-term tourism economy growth.

No. 10 of Read at source → Next
Regional

Fisherman Saves Exhausted Monkey Found Swimming at Sea

A fisherman rescued an exhausted monkey struggling in the sea off Phuket after the animal swam more than five kilometres from Koh Siray, pulling it aboard and returning it safely to shore.

Fisherman Saves Exhausted Monkey Found Swimming at Sea
20 Jul Khaosod

A fisherman has been praised online after rescuing an exhausted monkey found struggling in the sea off Phuket, with the animal believed to have swum more than five kilometres before being brought to safety. The heartwarming rescue was shared on 19 July 2026 by the Phuket Times Facebook page. The incident occurred around 09:30 hrs while the fisherman was anchored in waters near Koh Maphrao. He spotted a monkey swimming alone in the open sea and appearing to be close to exhaustion. The monkey is believed to have entered the water from Koh Siray, a journey of more than 5 kilometres, leaving it fatigued after a prolonged swim. Realising the animal was struggling, the fisherman carefully manoeuvred his boat alongside it, allowing the monkey to climb aboard before transporting it safely back to shore. The story has drawn widespread praise on social media, with many users commending the fisherman for his compassion and quick response. Many commenters described the rescue as a reminder that every life is precious, while others jokingly suggested the monkey would probably choose a boat instead of attempting another long swim in the future.

No. 11 of Read at source → Next
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