SA KAEO – On July 5, 2026, Thai soldiers arrested 11 people, including foreign nationals and one Thai citizen, after they illegally crossed into Thailand through a natural border crossing from Cambodia. The group claimed they fled jobs linked to online businesses after not receiving the wages they had been promised.

Troops from Burapha Task Force, together with Khok Sung Task Force and other security agencies, were conducting a border patrol when they spotted the suspects crossing a natural passage near boundary markers 41-42 in Ban Ang Sila, Non Mak Mun subdistrict, Khok Sung district, Sa Kaeo province.

Authorities detained all 11 suspects, identified as seven Bangladeshi nationals, one Chinese national, two Vietnamese nationals, and one Thai national. None carried passports or identification documents.

During questioning, the suspects said they had worked for about three months at a restaurant and online sales business in Poipet, Cambodia. A Chinese contact known as "Mr. Sunwia" had promised them US$200 daily wages, but they never received payment. They also cited intensified Cambodian crackdowns on foreign nationals as their reason for fleeing.

The suspects paid 8,000 baht each to a human smuggling network for their return to Thailand. They were driven from Poipet to the border, where three Cambodian guides led them through the natural crossing. Border patrol officers intercepted the group while the guides escaped.

All 11 suspects were transferred to Khok Sung Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities are investigating to identify and prosecute smuggling network members and others involved.

Commerce Ministry Deputy Director Nattiya Sujinda announced that June 2025's Consumer Price Index reached 102.85, up 2.42 percent from June 2024, driven by higher domestic fuel prices that increased public transportation costs. Prepared foods like curry rice and stir-fried noodles have seen widespread price hikes with no downward trend expected. Non-food and beverage categories rose 3.31 percent from fuel and transport costs, while food and non-alcoholic beverages climbed 1.03 percent due to prepared foods and rice price increases. Core inflation excluding fresh food and energy jumped to 1.23 percent from May's 0.92 percent, bringing second-quarter inflation to 2.70 percent and six-month average inflation to 1.08 percent.

Sujinda forecast third-quarter inflation will accelerate to 2.79 percent and fourth-quarter to 3.02 percent, citing persistent single-dish meal price increases despite falling oil prices, as vendors face accumulated costs. Small vendors particularly need to raise prices 5-10 baht per meal or 10-20 percent, she explained. Full-year inflation is projected between 1.5-2.5 percent with a midpoint of 2 percent, assuming GDP growth of 1.5-2.5 percent, Dubai crude at $80-90 per barrel, and the baht at 32-33 per dollar.

The Commerce Ministry Secretary-General has instructed provincial commerce offices to monitor single-dish meal prices in their areas and address any unjustified price gouging.

The Judicial Commission unanimously approved the appointment of Veeraphong Sudavongse, Vice President of the Supreme Court, to serve as the 52nd President of the Supreme Court effective October 1, 2025. The commission held its important meeting on July 6, 2025, to consider judicial appointments and transfers scheduled for October 1, 2025. Following this approval, the Office of the Judiciary will proceed with submitting the appointment to the Royal Palace for formal endorsement.

Sudavongse holds a Bachelor of Laws from Ramkhamhaeng University and a Thai legal certificate from the Institute of Law Studies. His significant career positions include: Chief Judge of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Court, Chief Judge of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court, Deputy Head of the Drug Cases Division in the Appeals Court, Director of the Moral and Ethical Misconduct Criminal Court Division 5, Head of the Consumer Cases Division in the Appeals Court Region 1, Director of the Central Moral and Ethical Misconduct Criminal Court Division, Supreme Court Judge, Head Judge Panel in the Supreme Court, and President of Region 5 Appeals Court.

He has also served in special capacities including membership on the Judicial Commission as a Supreme Court Commissioner, and has chaired committees on protecting citizens' rights and freedoms, judicial research, case management studies, and judicial system development.

Nakhon Si Thammarat — Culture Minister Sabida Thaiset inspected Wat Phra Mahathat Wormahavihar in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on July 6 to prepare for its World Heritage listing. She met with officials from the Fine Arts Department, provincial authorities, and relevant agencies, including Fine Arts Department Director Panom Boonboonchoti and Provincial Governor Somchai Lehlamnoi.

After the meeting, Thaiset disclosed that the World Heritage Center has invited Thailand to participate in the 48th ordinary session of the World Heritage Committee, scheduled for July 19-29 in Busan, South Korea. The temple will be proposed for World Heritage status based on its outstanding universal value (OUV), demonstrating the fusion of Hindu Brahmanical, Mahayana Buddhist, and Theravada Buddhist religions across Central and Southeast Asia.

The temple exhibits art and architecture, religious traditions, and local influences that shaped regional structures and meets World Heritage criteria. It reflects Hindu, Mahayana, and Theravada Buddhist influences with prototypes from Pala art in Nalanda, Central Java, Lanka, and Mon influences from Myanmar, affecting religious structures throughout Thailand, Malaysia, and elsewhere.

Thaiset expressed satisfaction that, if approved, Wat Phra Mahathat Wormahavihar would become the first World Heritage site in Southern Thailand. The Fine Arts Department and Nakhon Si Thammarat province are preparing grand celebrations throughout July.

Before formal approval, historical exhibitions about the temple and its World Heritage nomination process will be displayed, with public celebrations scheduled for July 26-27. Events include Buddhist chanting, Dharma recitation, cultural performances including Manora dance, multimedia light and sound shows depicting temple legends, and illumination of the pagoda.

The city will be decorated under the theme "Wat Phra Mahathat Wormahavihar: Faith and City, World Heritage and Humanity." Post-approval celebrations will include panel discussions, Khon dance performances, local cultural shows, and Loy Krathong ceremonies. Discussions also covered management of the World Heritage site and status reporting.

On July 6, 2025, Kanjanee Poolkaew, Secretary-General of the Social Security Office, announced that when an insured person dies, eligible beneficiaries receiving compensation from the social security fund are not restricted to legal heirs alone. Insured persons may designate other individuals to receive benefits by submitting written notification according to the Social Security Office's guidelines. Death benefits comprise three components: funeral expenses, death compensation, and old-age pension benefits.

1. Funeral Expenses: Insured persons under Sections 33 and 39 receive 50,000 baht in funeral expenses if they have contributed for at least one month within six months before death. Eligible recipients include the person designated by the insured to handle the funeral and the actual funeral arranger with evidence, or any person with documentation proving they arranged the funeral. Section 40 insured persons with Options 1 and 2 (contributing 70 or 100 baht monthly) receive 25,000 baht, while Option 3 contributors (300 baht monthly) receive 50,000 baht if they contributed for at least six months within 12 months before death.

2. Death Compensation: For Section 33 and 39 insured persons, those contributing 36-119 months receive 50% of monthly wage times four months; those contributing 120 months or more receive 50% of monthly wage times 12 months. Section 40 Options 1 and 2 insured persons receive 8,000 baht if they contributed at least 60 months before death. Death compensation is paid to the person designated by the insured. If no designation exists, payment follows this order: registered spouse, parents, legally recognized children. Single insured persons without parents or heirs may designate others by submitting written documentation. If no eligible person exists, the fund will not distribute benefits. The Social Security Office recommends that single insured persons clearly document their designated beneficiary, including full identification numbers and witness information to ensure validity.

3. Old-Age Pension Benefits: When Section 33 and 39 insured persons die, heirs receive accumulated funds and returns distributed as follows: legitimate children receive two portions (three portions if three or more children), registered spouse receives one portion, living parents receive one portion, and any person designated in writing receives one portion shared with heirs. If no heirs or designated beneficiaries exist, distribution follows the order of siblings.

Former Transport Ministry secretary Ratchapong Chookaew resigned on June 27 amid allegations linking him to corruption in local government civil service exams, after relatives with his surname were found to have ranked highly in the test results. On July 6, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn stated the ministry has not yet appointed a replacement, explaining he wants to allow the investigation to proceed and for Ratchapong to prove his innocence. Pipat said he initially withheld approval of Ratchapong's resignation request but the secretary insisted on leaving to facilitate the investigation. If Ratchapong is ultimately found innocent, Pipat pledged to bring him back to his original position, stating the ministry will not protect anyone found guilty. He emphasized that if fraud occurred, it would be a personal matter unrelated to the Transport Ministry and that he will not interfere, letting facts speak for themselves. Pipat noted the ministry's operations remain unaffected as there are many capable civil servants available.