A 42-year-old man shot and killed a former rival on a road in Phatthalung province on July 23, 2025, over a long-standing dispute. Police Deputy Superintendent Thaveewat Mingtong of Koh Nangkham Station received reports of a shooting on the Koh Mak–Pak Phayon road in Pak Phayon district at 6:00 PM. Officers found the body of Somma-ae, 46, lying near a white Honda motorcycle, with a gunshot wound to the neck from a 12-gauge shotgun—a single shot that created nine distinct wounds. A long blade was also recovered from the scene.

Investigation revealed that the victim, Somma-ae, was leaving a rubber plantation on his motorcycle when he encountered Suriya (also called Ae), 42, who was following him in a vehicle. The victim challenged Ae, "What do you want from me now?" and reached for a knife at his waist. Ae then drew a shotgun and fired once, killing him instantly.

Ae surrendered to police at Koh Nangkham Station, explaining that he had harbored anger and resentment for a long time. Earlier in the year, Somma-ae had stabbed him during a quarrel, leaving him hospitalized for several days. Although local elders had helped mediate a reconciliation, the victim continued to provoke him, keeping the grudge alive. When the opportunity arose, Ae acted on his revenge.

Police detained Ae for questioning and recovered the shotgun used in the shooting. He faces charges of intentional murder and illegal possession of a firearm in public.

A vendor is raising objections after a motorcycle parking area operator installed a permanent iron fence on the roadside, forcing her to shift her drink stall more than a meter onto the street. When she inquired with municipal officials, she was told it was the parking operator's right. The dispute centers on the fence blocking access to her usual spot in front of Saraburi Hospital, and she claims she is also being charged 10 baht daily.

Footage shows an argument between municipal staff and the juice vendor over her stall encroaching past the designated boundary. The vendor explained that she had to move further out because the parking operator built a parking structure with an iron fence that blocked her access to the original spot. When she questioned the municipal officials, they said it was the parking operator's right to do so, sparking the conflict. The vendor also mentioned being charged 10 baht per day.

On July 23, a reporter visited the site in front of Saraburi Hospital, where traffic is heavy during morning and evening hours, causing significant congestion. Workers were installing an iron fence in the area where the vendor normally sets up shop, with steel supports preventing the fence from being folded to allow her stall. The parking facility features permanent construction with dense steel framework, metal sheet roofing, and compressed board insulation. The structure extends approximately 1 meter onto the road and projects an additional foot, spanning 20 meters in length and 2 meters in height.

The municipal government had previously designated this area as a casual vending zone for evening street vendors, with a marked line indicating where vendors could set up. However, with the parking operator's structures now encroaching onto the road, vendors must now set up even further into the street, worsening traffic congestion.

The motorcycle parking operator's manager stated that the parking area was originally a tent with steel poles, but officials noted the poles were encroaching onto the road. The operator then collected funds to build a permanent steel structure with a solid roof, spending approximately 40,000 baht. He claimed to have obtained permission from the hospital and municipal authorities before construction. Regarding the iron fence, he declined to say who authorized it but acknowledged the roof extends slightly beyond the boundary. He denied knowing about the 10 baht daily charge from vendors.

According to the person who posted the video, the incident occurred on July 21. Previously, the iron fence could be folded in, but two months ago, when the parking operator saw the vendor folding it to set up without encroaching, a physical altercation broke out. The operator then had steel supports installed to prevent the fence from being folded, forcing the vendor further onto the street. The parking operator now reports vendors to municipal officials for blocking the road, shifting blame despite having created the obstruction.

Songkhla Governor Ratthasart Chidchoo has ordered relevant agencies to assist a 68-year-old homeless woman living in a makeshift shelter after her welfare card was revoked. She lost her welfare benefits because she owns two motorcycles, though inspection revealed both vehicles are over 15 years old. With an ailing bedridden husband and no children to care for them, she survives by collecting garbage and selling scrap materials, supplemented by a 600-baht monthly elderly assistance stipend. Flooding at the end of 2024 left her without a home, forcing her to live in a shelter with her husband. The governor has tasked Hat Yai District Officer Ekachai Kaewratana to coordinate agencies in reviewing her welfare card eligibility, improving her living conditions, and providing health checks. Hat Yai Municipal Council member Suphavitch Monichote expressed satisfaction with the government's swift response, noting that permanent housing should be arranged for her. He acknowledged that driving at her age poses safety risks and thanked all agencies involved in assisting her, demonstrating that the state does not abandon its people.

Bangkok is preparing to adjust property tax rates for agricultural land, including banana, lime, and coconut farms in the heart of the capital, following implementation of the Land and Building Tax Act of 2019 seven years ago. The city plans to propose to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council a 0.02 percent rate increase, raising the current rate of 0.01-0.1 percent to 0.03-0.12 percent, or from 100 baht per million in property value to 300 baht per million. For agricultural land owned by individuals: properties valued at 0-50 million baht will be tax-exempt; 50-125 million baht will rise from 0.01% to 0.03%; 125-150 million baht will rise from 0.03% to 0.05%; 150-550 million baht will rise from 0.05% to 0.07%; 550-1,050 million baht will rise from 0.07% to 0.09%; and properties over 1,050 million baht will rise from 0.1% to 0.12%. For agricultural land owned by legal entities: 0-75 million baht rises from 0.01% to 0.03%; 75-100 million baht rises from 0.03% to 0.05%; 100-500 million baht rises from 0.05% to 0.07%; 500-1,000 million baht rises from 0.07% to 0.09%; and properties over 1,000 million baht rise from 0.1% to 0.12%. Bangkok is raising agricultural land tax rates to increase tax revenue, acting under Section 37(6) of the Land and Building Tax Act of 2019, which authorizes the city to adjust rates within set limits. Bangkok will issue an ordinance once the Bangkok Metropolitan Council approves the proposal.

On July 23, police arrested Panuwan, 32, on an arrest warrant issued May 25 for drug trafficking and conspiracy charges involving methamphetamine distribution for commercial purposes. The suspect operated as a meth dealer in Bangkok's Din Daeng district, distributing drugs to customers on an installment basis while directing payments to his mother's bank account—which he had fraudulently opened using her stolen national ID card without her knowledge.

Investigators also uncovered a parallel online fraud operation in which Panuwan and associates lured victims through social media, claiming they could earn money by completing simple tasks. Victims were told to send deposits upfront, promising they would receive both their principal and commission upon task completion. From May to June 2566, multiple victims transferred funds but were unable to withdraw their money. One victim lost 967,871 baht; another victim in Phatthalung Province lost more than 400,000 baht. When police first questioned Panuwan about the Phatthalung case, he initially denied involvement and promised to meet investigators but then fled. Detectives tracked him to Din Daeng, where they apprehended him. During questioning, Panuwan confessed to all charges and was transferred to Din Daeng police station for legal proceedings.

On July 23, 2025, the Office of the Civil Service Commission sent directives to all provincial administrations and Pattaya City regarding the implementation of new civil service termination standards. The Interior Minister, in his capacity as chairman of the Civil Service Commission, has signed the General Standards for Civil Service Termination (Third Edition, 2025). All provincial administrative organizations, sub-district organizations, and Pattaya City are instructed to develop termination criteria consistent with the national standards. Local governments whose criteria match the national standards do not require additional approval, but any variations must be submitted to the Civil Service Commission for approval before enforcement. To ensure uniform personnel management across all local governments and avoid implementation problems, all organizations must finalize their criteria and have them signed by provincial governors by July 2025 for enforcement beginning August 1, 2025.