THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 1 July 2025

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EU Visa Requirement for Thais Remains Unchanged, Ministry Confirms

 

File photo for reference only

 

The Foreign Ministry has firmly dismissed circulating social media reports suggesting that the European Union intends to lift the Schengen visa requirement for Thai nationals. These claims have inaccurately stated that Thai travellers would need only to complete the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) registration, bypassing the usual visa application process.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365256-eu-visa-requirement-for-thais-remains-unchanged-ministry-confirms/

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UPDATE

Massive Fire Engulfs Saraburi Tissue Paper Factory: Reports of Possible 6 Dead

 

Pictures from responders.

 

A devastating blaze broke out at a tissue paper manufacturing plant in Saraburi province on 30 June, leaving at least 10 workers unaccounted for and many others injured, with emergency services from multiple provinces deployed in a desperate bid to rescue survivors and contain the inferno.

 

 Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365240-fire-erupts-at-tissue-paper-factory-in-saraburi-reports-of-people-trapped-inside/#findComment-19910308

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Thai-Cambodian Border Closures Threaten 60 Billion Baht Loss in Trade

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand may face a significant hit to its economy if the Thai-Cambodian border checkpoints remain closed until the year's end. According to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), this could lead to losses exceeding 60 billion baht in border trade.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365269-thai-cambodian-border-closures-threaten-60-billion-baht-loss-in-trade/

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Mini Cooper Hits Bike in Bangkok, One Dead, One Critical

 

video screenshot

 

A speeding red Mini Cooper struck a motorbike in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district, resulting in one death and critical injuries to another. The incident happened early Sunday near Soi Phetkasem 19. The driver fled but has since contacted police to surrender.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365285-mini-cooper-hits-bike-in-bangkok-one-dead-one-critical/

 

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Wealthy Wannabe Dines and Dashes at Pattaya Restaurants

 

Picture via Facebook/ สายข่าวพัทยา
 

PATTAYA –  A Thai man, claiming to be loaded, dined and dashed at two Pattaya eateries, leaving bills totalling over 23,000 baht unpaid. Despite his confession, police have set him free, causing a stir among locals and restaurant owners.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365286-wealthy-wannabe-dines-and-dashes-at-pattaya-restaurants/

 

[webfact]

Thailand Eyes Global Stage with Soft Power Push Led by Paetongtarn

 

File photo released by Thailand's Government Spokesman Office shows Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrives at Government house in Bangkok

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has announced a grand plan to export Thailand's soft power globally. Taking on the culture portfolio in a new cabinet, she vows to promote Thailand's cultural assets, despite potentially facing suspension by the Constitutional Court for alleged ethical breaches. Her initiative aims to boost the nation's cultural influence as part of her government's broader agenda.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365289-thailand-eyes-global-stage-with-soft-power-push-led-by-paetongtarn/

 

[Georgealbert]

Canadian Man Caught Smuggling Heroin Hidden in Women’s Handbags at Airport
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Thai customs officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport have arrested a Canadian national attempting to smuggle over three kilograms of heroin cleverly concealed in women’s handbags. The man, who was en route to Taiwan, now faces serious drug trafficking charges under the law.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365288-canadian-man-caught-smuggling-heroin-hidden-in-women’s-handbags-at-airport/

 

[Georgealbert]

Saraburi: Eight Confirmed Dead, Two Still Missing After Inferno at Tissue Factory
 

Picture from responders.

 

In a devastating industrial disaster, eight workers have been confirmed dead and two others remain unaccounted for following a major fire that tore through a tissue paper factory in Nong Khae district, Saraburi.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365240-fire-erupts-at-tissue-paper-factory-in-saraburi-reports-of-people-trapped-inside/#findComment-19910817

 

[Georgealbert]

Two Novice Monks Drown in Chao Phraya River During Secret Night Swim
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

An incident has shaken a local temple community in Ayutthaya after the bodies of two novice monks were discovered floating in the Chao Phraya River early morning on 30 June, days after they secretly went swimming with a group of friends during the night.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365290-two-novice-monks-drown-in-chao-phraya-river-during-secret-night-swim/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Detained in Pattaya After Plotting Gold Shop Robbery
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 31-year-old man has been arrested by Pattaya police after he was found acting suspiciously outside a gold shop in a Lotus shopping mall, allegedly intending to commit a robbery after losing his wife’s rent money playing the stock market.

 

Full story,https://aseannow.com/topic/1365291-man-detained-in-pattaya-after-plotting-gold-shop-robbery/

 

[Georgealbert]

Khon Kaen Police Win International Smart City Award for AI-Powered CCTV Security System
 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

The Muang Khon Kaen Police Station has earned international acclaim after being awarded the “World Smart City 2025 Award” in the Smart Security/Smart Safety category. The honour comes with a prize of 10 million baht, granted by the South Korean government, in recognition of the station’s innovative use of artificial intelligence in its citywide CCTV security system.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365292-khon-kaen-police-win-international-smart-city-award-for-ai-powered-cctv-security-system/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Brutally Attacked in Samut Prakan: Gang of 6 Storms Room & Inflicts Over 20 Wounds
 

Picture courtesy of  Kaoded.

 

A 28-year-old man is in critical condition after being violently attacked in his room by a gang of six individuals wielding bladed weapons. The assault, which took place in broad daylight, left the victim with more than 20 deep wounds across his body.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365293-man-brutally-attacked-in-samut-prakan-gang-of-6-storms-room-inflicts-over-20-wounds/

 

[Georgealbert]

Car Recovered from Former Quarry in Trang May Be Linked to Buried Murder Case
 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

Authorities in Trang province are investigating a possible link between a submerged vehicle discovered in an abandoned quarry and the gruesome murder of a 33-year-old man whose body was found buried in woodland just a day earlier.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365294-car-recovered-from-former-quarry-in-trang-may-be-linked-to-buried-murder-case/

 

[Georgealbert]

Fire Erupts at Popular Chachoengsao Mall Restaurant – Entire Floor Engulfed in Smoke
 

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Panic erupted at a well-known shopping mall in Chachoengsao on the evening of 29 June, after a fire broke out at a Japanese barbecue restaurant on the ground floor, prompting an evacuation and a large-scale emergency response.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365295-fire-erupts-at-popular-chachoengsao-mall-restaurant-–-entire-floor-engulfed-in-smoke/

 

[Georgealbert]

Major VAT Fraud Network Busted: Over 1 Billion Baht in Losses
 

Picture courtesy of CIB

 

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Royal Thai Police, in collaboration with the Revenue Department, has launched a high-profile crackdown dubbed the “Anti Tax Fraud Operation”, aimed at dismantling a sophisticated network involved in large-scale value-added tax (VAT) fraud. The operation uncovered fraudulent activities causing state losses exceeding 1 billion baht.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365297-major-vat-fraud-network-busted-over-1-billion-baht-in-losses/

 

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Cannabis Chaos: 12,000 Thai Shops Face Closure Under New Rules

 

A staff member arranges bongs at a cannabis shop after Thailand started banning the sale of cannabis to those without a prescription in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Thailand's cannabis industry is facing a seismic shift as new regulations threaten to shut down around 12,000 cannabis flower shops. The country's Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) has unveiled stringent rules requiring medical professionals to oversee cannabis sales, with these changes set to take effect by the year's end.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365298-cannabis-chaos-12000-thai-shops-face-closure-under-new-rules/

 

[Georgealbert]

Surin: Crane Operator Electrocuted After Hitting High-Voltage Line
 

Picture courtesy of Naewna.

 

A construction site incident has claimed the life of a 30-year-old man after a crane mounted on his truck made fatal contact with a high-voltage power line.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365299-surin-crane-operator-electrocuted-after-hitting-high-voltage-line/

 

[Georgealbert]

Communities Across Eight Mekong Provinces Raise Alarm Over Worsening River Crisis

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Concerned residents from eight northeastern Thai provinces gathered in Mukdahan to share growing fears over the deteriorating condition of the Mekong River, citing increasingly erratic water levels, declining fish populations and shrinking incomes. The mounting environmental crisis, they say, is being driven by upstream dam construction, riverbed mining, and cross-border exploitation.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365301-communities-across-eight-mekong-provinces-raise-alarm-over-worsening-river-crisis/

 

[Georgealbert]

Tragic End to Search for Missing Four-Year-Old Boy in Pattani
 

Picture courtesy of Amarin

 

A heartbreaking incident has shaken the community of Yamu subdistrict in Yaring district, Pattani province, as the body of a four-year-old boy who had been missing for nearly 30 hours was discovered floating in the Yaring River on the afternoon of 30 June.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365303-tragic-end-to-search-for-missing-four-year-old-boy-in-pattani/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Shoots Creditor Dead Outside Family Home After Row Over Debt
 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

A man in Songkhla province fatally shot a creditor outside his family home after reportedly becoming enraged over an argument between the victim and his mother. The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 on 29 June 2025, in the Khua Tai Subdistrict of Rattaphum District.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365304-man-shoots-creditor-dead-outside-family-home-after-row-over-debt/

 

[Georgealbert]

BRN Militant Group Suspected in Coordinated Bomb Attacks Across Krabi, Phang Nga & Phuket
 

Pictures courtesy of Naewna.

 

The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), a long-standing insurgent group operating in the southern border provinces, is suspected of being behind a series of coordinated bomb attacks outside their traditional area of operation. The incidents occurred across the southern provinces of Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket, marking an escalation in the group’s campaign to pressure the government into renewed peace negotiations.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365305-brn-militant-group-suspected-in-coordinated-bomb-attacks-across-krabi-phang-nga-phuket/

 

[Georgealbert]

Armed Robbers Steal 3.4 Million Baht in Crypto Scam in Bangkok Mall

 

Pictures courtesy of Amarin.

 

A gang of five armed men made off with 3.4 million baht in cash following a brazen robbery at a multi-storey car park of a well-known shopping mall in Bangkok’s Ladprao district on the evening of 30 June.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365307-armed-robbers-steal-34-million-baht-in-crypto-scam-in-bangkok-mall/

 

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Tourism, Exports Falter as Bangkok Bank Sounds Alarm on Economic Outlook

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Bank

 

Ongoing political turbulence in Thailand is putting a dampener on fresh investment, warns Bangkok Bank (BBL), potentially exacerbating the effects of US tariffs on exports.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365311-tourism-exports-falter-as-bangkok-bank-sounds-alarm-on-economic-outlook/

 

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Bangkok ATM customer unfazed as storm brings tree down on booth

 

Picture courtesy of Facebook Fo UR 

 

BANGKOK –  A strong storm swept across Bangkok on Sunday, bringing down a large banyan tree that knocked three bank ATMs off their bases, but a woman customer remained unfazed, calmly completing her transaction at one of the crazily tilted booths. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365316-bangkok-atm-customer-unfazed-as-storm-brings-tree-down-on-booth/

 

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Thailand’s Medical Cannabis Rules Tighten with Launch of Prescription Form

 

A pedestrian walks by the sign of a Cannabis shop after Thailand started banning the sale of cannabis to those without a prescription in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

THAILAND - In a groundbreaking move, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) has launched an official prescription form for medical cannabis, set to revolutionise patient care across the country.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1365329-thailand’s-medical-cannabis-rules-tighten-with-launch-of-prescription-form/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Dies After Motorbike Crashes Off Motorway Ramp in Pattaya
 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

A man from Sukhothai has died following a high-speed motorcycle crash in the early hours of 1 July. The crash occurred on an on-ramp to the Bangkok-bound Motorway Route 7 in Pattaya.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365333-man-dies-after-motorbike-crashes-off-motorway-ramp-in-pattaya/

 

[Georgealbert]

Pattaya Security Guard Assaulted by Youths — Attack Caught on Camera
 

Picture courtesy of SiamChon.

 

A disturbing video clip circulating on Thai social media has drawn widespread attention after it captured the violent assault of a man by two helmeted youths on a public road just outside Pattaya. The footage, taken from a vehicle’s dashcam at 6:23 on 28 June, shows two male assailants chasing and attacking their target with punches and a garden hoe. The incident occurred in full view of bystanders and was only halted when local residents intervened.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365334-pattaya-security-guard-assaulted-by-youths-—-attack-caught-on-camera/

 

[Georgealbert]

The Constitutional Court Suspends Prime Minister Paetongtarn Over Leaked Audio Scandal

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra leaves Government House after Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended the prime minister from office pending an investigation over a leaked phone call with a former Cambodian leader. in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

The Constitutional Court has ordered Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to temporarily step down from her duties following a unanimous decision to admit a petition concerning a controversial leaked audio clip. The court voted 7–2 in favour of suspending her from her role while the matter is under formal review.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365343-the-constitutional-court-suspends-prime-minister-paetongtarn-over-leaked-audio-scandal/

 

 

[Georgealbert]

Suriya Jungrungreangkit Appointed Acting PM Following Constitutional Court Ruling

 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod 

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit of the Pheu Thai Party, has been appointed Acting Prime Minister of Thailand following a Constitutional Court ruling earlier today that suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her official duties.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365344-suriya-jungrungreangkit-appointed-acting-pm-following-constitutional-court-ruling/

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Crypto Scam: Two Gang Members Arrested for Armed Robbery

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Police have arrested two members of the notorious “Tiger Poon Gang” who were involved in the armed robbery, during a staged cryptocurrency deal in a prominent Ladprao shopping mall car park. The suspects were tracked down and apprehended at a resort in Pathum Thani province in the early hours of July 1.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365307-armed-robbers-steal-34-million-baht-in-crypto-scam-in-bangkok-mall/#findComment-19912019