Lanta & News
No. 01 · ENDLESS
National

Thailand Launches Seoul-Thailand Bio Bridge with SK Bioscience

Thailand and South Korea launched the Seoul-Thailand Bio Bridge to connect their biotech ecosystems, with plans for a Bangkok startup innovation space and potential vaccine manufacturing partnerships with SK Bioscience.

Thailand Launches Seoul-Thailand Bio Bridge with SK Bioscience
23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Yuthasak Sasiprapa, along with senior officials, visited Seoul Bio Hub, one of South Korea's largest and most comprehensive biotech and medical startup incubators, known as the "Boston of Korea." The delegation received business pitches from high-potential startups whose technologies could be applied directly to Thailand, including Cursus Bio (obesity treatment), Medical AI (cardiac disease detection), NeoCannBio (cannabis extraction technology for medicine building on Thai herbal traditions), and Petra Intelligence (3D body-scanning technology for health industries).

Yuthasak highlighted the mission's key achievement: agreement to launch the Seoul-Thailand Bio Bridge to connect the biotech ecosystems of Seoul and Thailand, enabling seamless collaboration between startups from both nations in investment, joint ventures, and market expansion, supported by global accelerator SYP. Within months, Thailand will open the Seoul-Thailand Startup Innovation Space, an initiative under the Science Diplomacy policy jointly promoted by the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. Modern diplomacy, he emphasized, now centers on science, technology, and innovation rather than politics and trade alone.

In parallel discussions with SK Bioscience, a world-leading vaccine developer in the SK Group and the first company to develop a complete domestic COVID-19 vaccine for South Korea, the delegation explored technical cooperation on cell-culture-based vaccine manufacturing technology. This method surpasses traditional egg-based production by operating in a closed, sterile system, cutting production time by 2–3 months, enabling larger batches, and quickly adapting to new variants. The talks also covered positioning Thailand as a regional clinical research hub and expanding into animal vaccines to serve Thai livestock and agriculture sectors, with conclusions expected by year-end.

Yuthasak stressed that vaccine sovereignty means more than rapid, safe access during epidemics—it requires Thailand to develop and lead its own health security.

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National

YouTrip Launches Premium Metal Card for High-Spending Travelers

YouTrip has launched YouTrip Metal, an invitation-only premium travel card in partnership with Kasikornbank, targeting Thailand's top-tier travelers who spend significantly more and visit multiple continents annually.

YouTrip Launches Premium Metal Card for High-Spending Travelers
23 Jul Khaosod

YouTrip, a multi-currency digital wallet and travel card provider, has announced a premium market expansion strategy in Thailand with the launch of "YouTrip Metal," an invitation-only travel card in partnership with Kasikornbank—Thailand's first of its kind. Juthasri Kuvinichwkul, YouTrip Thailand co-founder, said the new product emerged from continuous analysis of actual customer usage data, which revealed a distinct upper-tier user group with behavior markedly different from typical customers in travel frequency, number of countries visited, and spending value.

Company data shows A-List users spend an average of 63% more than regular users. Though representing only about 5% of Thailand's user base, this segment generates 1 billion baht in total spending, with some customers spending over 10 million baht annually across multiple currencies. Unlike typical consumers who limit travel to Asia, these customers regularly visit Europe, the United States, Africa, and Australia, even during economic slowdowns. Some use as many as 20 currencies within 12 months, and over 40% spend across four or more currencies yearly, reflecting visits to four or more countries annually.

"We didn't start by thinking a premium card was needed, but from customer data showing a user group that uses YouTrip as their top-of-wallet consistently and behaves distinctly differently," Juthasri said. "That drove the development of a product tailored to this segment." Despite high purchasing power, these customers still prioritize value—exchange rate savings can exceed 9% compared to some payment methods. YouTrip Metal is designed as more than a travel card; it builds a premium ecosystem for high-end travelers through benefits aligned with their lifestyle.

Key benefits include complimentary access to The Coral Lounge airport lounges in Thailand and Japan (three times yearly), free Metal eSIM for international roaming once per 12 months, special Cashback privileges through YouTrip Perks, and 24/7 global assistance via The Metal Priority service. The invitation-only model doesn't aim to grow user numbers but to elevate relationships with current customers. Invitations are gradually sent through the app to users meeting criteria based on frequency of use, service consistency, and spending value—not just a single high transaction.

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Police

Chinese Man Fakes Death to Escape DUI Charges

A Chinese man arrested for drunk driving staged an elaborate fake death involving a coffin and cooling equipment to evade prosecution, but was caught through surveillance footage and arrested in April with additional charges for his failed

Chinese Man Fakes Death to Escape DUI Charges
23 Jul Khaosod

A Chinese man has become an online sensation after attempting to evade drunk driving charges through an implausible fake death scheme involving family members. The man, identified as Sae "Sio," was arrested on drunk driving charges in January and had two prior convictions for unlicensed and impaired driving. Under Chinese law, drunk driving carries penalties including license suspension, one to six months detention, and fines.

Sio claimed he was heavily indebted and feared a criminal record would ruin his chances at a fresh start, so he devised an elaborate escape plan. Months later, he purchased a coffin and scattered empty medicine bottles around his home to suggest a drug overdose. He used cooling equipment to lower his body temperature to appear corpse-like, while his family told authorities his face was disfigured from the overdose and kept it covered. Before sunset that day, his mother and grandmother hastily buried the coffin, while Sio fled to Yunnan province.

When police arrived to investigate, they could not conduct an autopsy as the coffin was already buried. However, multiple suspicious circumstances raised red flags: the family never sought hospital treatment, there was no death certificate from a hospital, no funeral documentation, and no proper household registration cancellation. Relatives and villagers also reported that no one except his mother and grandmother had seen his face.

Police expanded their investigation by reviewing surveillance footage, financial transactions, and phone records, which confirmed Sio was still alive. He was arrested in April and sentenced to five months detention plus a 20,000 yuan fine—roughly equivalent to 100,000 baht. His mother and grandmother were charged with harboring a criminal. The prosecutor noted that staging death to evade the law not only fails to prevent conviction but can result in additional charges. The story went viral on Chinese social media, gaining over 10 million views, with netizens criticizing that the situation could have been avoided by not driving drunk in the first place.

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National

Pantawan Wins Junior Girls Title in Chang Thailand Golf Qualifier

Pantawan Palii won the Junior Girls division at the Chang Thailand Golf Qualifier round 5 in Chiang Mai with a score of 2-under par 142, advancing toward international championship opportunities and potential professional golf pathways.

Pantawan Wins Junior Girls Title in Chang Thailand Golf Qualifier
23 Jul Khaosod

Pantawan Palii captured the Junior Girls championship with a two-day score of 2-under par 142 at the Chang Thailand Junior Golf Circuit 2026 qualifying round 5, held at Alpine Golf Resort in Chiang Mai. The tournament, now in its 12th year, is recognized by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and the Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS), making it Thailand's only junior golf competition officially endorsed by the Department of Physical Education. Over 100 junior golfers aged 8–22 competed across three age categories in stroke play format on professional-standard courses.

Qualifiers advance to the International Championship round, where they compete for the Dream Prize and opportunity to train with elite coaches including Dr. Rick Sessinghaus, who developed PGA Tour pro Collin Morikawa (world ranking 6, two major championships). Top performers may enter the ThaiBev ThaiTalent program, a pathway to professional golf. The championship receives backing from government and private partners including the Department of Physical Education, CCK Group, Udomphanic Corporation, GolfMate Thailand, Prow Group, and Golf Performance Solution, as they work to elevate Thai golf to the world stage.

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Police

Army Chief Orders Manhunt After Ranger Checkpoint Attack

Five soldiers died in a pipe bomb and gun attack on a ranger checkpoint in Narathiwat on July 23, prompting the army chief to order an intensive manhunt for the assailants.

Army Chief Orders Manhunt After Ranger Checkpoint Attack
23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, 2569, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Chaiyapruck Duangpratthana, acting as secretary of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), traveled to Narathiwat province following an armed attack on the Bukesami ranger checkpoint in Rangae district. Assailants used firearms and pipe bombs in the assault, killing five soldiers and injuring two civilians, including a 10-year-old boy.

Upon arrival, Gen. Chaiyapruck convened security officials to review the situation and assess response measures, ordering all units to strengthen enforcement efforts and coordinate aggressive operations to track down those responsible for prosecution. "I will have people search every village and every mountainous area," the general said. "Those who give them shelter, those countries that shelter them—know that we will hunt them to the ends of the earth. The perpetrators need to be careful about eating, sleeping, and moving. Your time as hunters is over; now you are the hunted."

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Police

Plaintiff Deposits Court Fees; Pexky Case Heads to Trial

A year-long court fee dispute in Pexky Sretunya's property division case with her ex-husband has been resolved, clearing the way for trial to begin in January.

Plaintiff Deposits Court Fees; Pexky Case Heads to Trial
23 Jul Khaosod

After nearly a year of delays, entertainment personality Pexky Sretunya has announced that the plaintiff in her property division case with her ex-husband has finally deposited the required court fees. Pexky posted a video from the courthouse with her lawyer, captioning the update: "You can move forward... today the plaintiff has deposited the court fees... after almost a year of waiting... from here we fight it out in court... starting next January." The court had previously rejected the plaintiff's request for a fee waiver, ruling the case lacked merit for a free filing and ordering the plaintiff to post a bond. Entertainment peers and fans flooded the comments with support, encouraging her to fight on.

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Police

Bangkok Removes One Official in Fake Birth Certificate Scam

Bangkok officials discovered a fake birth certificate scheme involving 24 children illegally registered with false Thai fathers to secure nationality, prompting the dismissal of one official and a citywide investigation into district office

Bangkok Removes One Official in Fake Birth Certificate Scam
23 Jul Khaosod

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt chaired a meeting on July 23, 2025 to address registration fraud involving the issuance of false birth certificates to children of foreign mothers, falsely listing Thai men as fathers to obtain Thai nationality. The operation, dubbed 'Pho Thip,' affected 24 children confirmed to have been illegally registered, with one district-level official already dismissed. The governor confirmed that a fact-finding committee was established immediately upon discovery, with the deputy Bangkok governor overseeing efforts to coordinate with the Interior Ministry for nationality revocation and to identify at-risk cases, such as Thai fathers with multiple foreign wives. Authorities ordered all district offices to conduct detailed reviews, particularly investigating connections with private hospitals that allegedly sold packages for this scheme. Investigations revealed irregularities in six districts, with Bangkok to examine internal discipline and procedural controls, while deeper investigations into private hospitals will be handled by the Interior Ministry and the Royal Thai Police's forensic unit. Governor Chadchart emphasized that no one would be protected from punishment, as this fraud damages the national economy. Deputy Bangkok Administrator Thanit Tanbualee reported preliminary findings of problems in eight district offices beyond Thonburi, and noted that new measures will include stricter verification such as checking whether multiple children of a Thai father share the same foreign mother, with approvals to be given only by senior registry officials.

No. 07 of Read at source → Next
Police

Energy Ministry Cracks Down on Illegal Oil Trafficking Network

Authorities cracked down on a major oil trafficking ring in Kanchanaburi that used nail salons as fronts to illegally divert approximately 800,000 liters of fuel valued at over 28 million baht from the official system.

Energy Ministry Cracks Down on Illegal Oil Trafficking Network
23 Jul Khaosod

The Sudsoi task force, in coordination with the CIB, has cracked down on a large-scale oil trafficking operation in Kanchanaburi that used nail salons as fronts to hide illegal fuel hoarding and diversion. Tithipat Chotidejarachai, head of the Sudsoi task force, revealed that Energy Minister Eknath Prom-on directed the task force to integrate operations with the Department of Energy Business, provincial energy offices across the country, and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to investigate and suppress networks hoarding and illegally shipping fuel outside the system, following discovery of suspicious oil trading patterns.

A retrospective audit of data from January to March 2025 identified irregularities among major oil jobbers in the central region, particularly in Kanchanaburi province. These operators violated Section 10 of the 2543 Fuel Trade Act by establishing proxy companies and using nail salons as business fronts to disguise their operations and evade official scrutiny. The Sudsoi team subsequently worked with the Department of Energy Business and provincial energy offices to expand their investigation into fuel transport routes, examining 170 transport documents covering 23 provinces. They inspected receiving stations and called operators for questioning, cross-referencing data with vehicle GPS tracking systems.

The investigation found that many receiving stations confirmed they had not received oil as documented or received incomplete shipments. In some cases, such as in Ayutthaya province, the listed destination addresses turned out to be vacant, abandoned land. Officials discovered 34 irregularly documented transport documents, resulting in approximately 800,000 liters of fuel disappearing from the official system—a loss valued at over 28 million baht.

Based on collected evidence, the Energy Ministry consulted with the CIB, the Consumer Protection Crime Suppression Division, the Department of Internal Trade, the Revenue Department, and the Customs Department before filing charges with the CIB. Police Colonel Thanathat Sripipath was assigned to lead the prosecution. The operators face charges under the 2543 Fuel Trade Act and the Criminal Code. The ministry also coordinated with the Revenue and Customs Departments to investigate additional violations and expanded the investigation to other fuel traders suspected of similar conduct.

Tithipat stated that the Energy Ministry will pursue enforcement against both small and large-scale offenders exploiting legal loopholes. The ministry will accelerate development of inspection systems using information technology and push for stricter criminal penalties to close corruption gaps, ensure fairness in the energy system, and fully protect public interests.

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Community

District Chief Helps Struggling Honor Student Pursue University Dreams

Nonthaburi district officials visited a top-performing but financially struggling high school student to offer scholarships and support through a provincial assistance program helping gifted students pursue university education.

District Chief Helps Struggling Honor Student Pursue University Dreams
23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, Yutthaphoomi Jabbajit, the Bangkruai District Chief, led a team including Nonthaburi Provincial Traffic officers and volunteers to visit the home of 17-year-old Korn Moo Phayakk (nickname: Tiw), a Grade 12 student from Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School in Nonthaburi. Tiw lives with his 70-year-old grandmother and his mother, who works as a gardener to support the family on a monthly rent of 3,000 baht. Despite his outstanding 3.98 GPA, Tiw faces financial hardship and dreams of studying computer engineering at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. The district chief and officials visited to offer assistance through the "Bridge of Opportunity" program, aimed at helping academically gifted but economically disadvantaged students across Nonthaburi Province. Tiw made a pledge to the district chief and officials that he will successfully pass the entrance exam for computer engineering. District Chief Yutthaphoomi explained that this provincial initiative currently supports 24 students in Bangkruai and has visited six students today, offering assistance with food, educational scholarships, home repairs, healthcare benefits, and disability support when applicable. The program will continue annually to support deserving students in the district.

No. 09 of Read at source → Next
National

Senator Questions legality of NBTC Chair Removal Vote

A senator questioned whether the removal of NBTC Chairman Dr. Sorn was legal, arguing the vote lacked proper quorum since only three of seven committee members were original appointees from his initial approval four years ago.

Senator Questions legality of NBTC Chair Removal Vote
23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, 2569, Senator Premsak Piayura issued a statement challenging the legitimacy of removing NBTC Chairman Dr. Sorn Bunyibuchaiprueksa following a complaint filed by Supawich Ayuthya to the Senate committee. The selection committee convened hastily on July 23 and voted 4-0 to remove Dr. Sorn, with committee chair Nivet Panjcharoenkul subsequently requesting an adjournment.

Premsak raised several concerns about the vote's legality. He noted that among the seven committee members, only three were original members from the first vote four years ago when Dr. Sorn was initially approved. The fourth voting member was Withaya Rattanakorn, the new Bank of Thailand governor, who was not present at the original vote. Premsak argued that with only three original members voting, the quorum requirement—requiring more than half of seven members, or at least four—was not met, making the resolution invalid.

Premsak questioned why the selection committee, which had concluded its work four years earlier, was suddenly reconvened with urgency to reverse a previous decision while Dr. Sorn still had two years remaining in his term. He noted the original committee composition had changed materially, with a newcomer replacing a departed official, raising questions about procedural fairness and the committee's actual authority to revisit settled matters. He warned that allowing such a precedent to stand could set a dangerous standard for independent organizations in Thailand.

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National

Thailand Maintains World Heritage Standards, Eyes New UNESCO Site

Thailand had no world heritage sites added to UNESCO's endangered list, and is seeking designation for a historic temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat that would be the country's first southern world heritage site.

Thailand Maintains World Heritage Standards, Eyes New UNESCO Site
23 Jul Khaosod

Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin announced that no Thai world heritage sites were proposed for inclusion on the UNESCO Endangered List following the 48th World Heritage Committee meeting on July 21-22, 2025, demonstrating Thailand's effective conservation and management practices. The minister noted that Thailand faces an important development in the coming days with the consideration of Wat Phra Maha Dhat Woramahaviharn in Nakhon Si Thammarat for world heritage status, which would be Thailand's sixth cultural site and ninth overall, and mark a historic first for southern Thailand. The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, serving as Thailand's coordinating body for the world heritage convention, integrates cooperation with all relevant agencies to monitor and assess conservation status while implementing management measures aligned with international standards, ensuring the outstanding universal value of Thailand's heritage sites is maintained. The 48th Committee meeting's decision to exclude Thai sites from the endangered list reflects Thailand's continued commitment to its obligations under the World Heritage Convention and demonstrates the effectiveness of ongoing conservation efforts. However, inscription as a world heritage site represents the beginning rather than the conclusion of responsibilities, requiring state parties and responsible agencies to develop efficient area management plans covering both conservation and sustainable development with ongoing monitoring and coordination among all stakeholders.

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