PHUKET: Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee has again called for tougher action against illegal land titles, nominee businesses, unlicensed hotels, cannabis shops and other illegal activities in Phuket, repeating many of the directives issued during previous visits and meetings.

A dramatic struggle unfolded in Florida when a 71-year-old man went fishing and found himself battling a massive crocodile. James Grayson McMicken was casting his line in a canal behind his home in late June when the hidden reptile suddenly lunged from the water and clamped down hard on his right leg, dragging him toward the depths with tremendous force.

Despite the life-threatening situation, McMicken kept his wits about him. Years earlier, he had legally hunted crocodiles and knew their eyes were a critical vulnerability. He immediately drove his thumb into one eye while repeatedly stabbing the other with his fishing rod. The crocodile, unable to tolerate the pain, finally released him and swam away.

"I just thought I couldn't die," McMicken recalled. "I'd always heard that if you have no other choice, target the crocodile's eyes. I drove my thumb into one eye and kept stabbing the other with my rod. It felt like time was standing still, but eventually it let me go."

Weakened from the attack, McMicken could not walk on his own and called his faithful dog to help support him until he reached home. His wife immediately rushed him to the hospital, where doctors found multiple deep puncture wounds on his right leg requiring extensive stitching. Fortunately, no vital organs were damaged.

Hospital staff were so impressed by his courage that many nurses visited to ask about the ordeal and commend his bravery. Kimberly Andrews, a crocodile expert from the University of Georgia, confirmed that McMicken's actions were the correct survival technique. When dragged by a crocodile, she explained, attack sensitive areas like the eyes, upper head, or sides of the jaw to force the reptile to loosen its grip.

Authorities are still searching for the crocodile. McMicken, now recovering and using a cane, says he will be more cautious around water in the future—but he won't stop fishing. He concluded defiantly: "No crocodile is getting away from me."

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Sutthammapant has announced the "Thai Helping Thai" rice dish project, offering meals at 40 baht per plate to address rising living costs. She acknowledged that while rice dishes and prepared foods have seen continuous price hikes, restaurants cannot simply lower prices due to multiple cost pressures beyond fuel expenses, including electricity bills, labor costs, rent, and other hidden expenses. The government must therefore be fair to business owners and consider their full cost structure, not just fuel prices alone.

To accelerate relief for wage earners and ordinary citizens, the Commerce Ministry is launching the "Thai Helping Thai" rice dish program as an extension of the broader "Thai Helping Thai Plus" initiative. The program will distribute affordable meals at 40 baht per plate through the Commerce Ministry's network of approximately 200,000 restaurants, creating alternative menu options and reducing the cost of living burden across the population.

The government will provide financial support to participating restaurants, with budget allocation currently under consideration from either the central budget or a 400 billion baht loan fund. The exact subsidy amount is still being assessed. "The Commerce Ministry is expected to present the "Thai Helping Thai" rice dish project to the Cabinet for approval on Tuesday, July 20," the minister stated. "Once approved, implementation will begin immediately in July. The first phase targets a three-month operational period, after which results will be evaluated to determine continuation."

Regarding price reductions in consumer goods following recent fuel price decreases, Supachee said she has instructed the Department of Trade to closely monitor cost structures of essential consumer products to determine which items should have prices adjusted according to changed input costs, while ensuring fair pricing throughout the supply chain.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthammaphan announced that the Commerce Ministry is developing details for a cost-of-living relief initiative aimed at reducing expenses on prepared food for the public. The program builds on the existing 'Thailand Helping Thailand Plus' initiative by recruiting restaurants to offer affordable rice and curry dishes priced at 40 baht per plate. Approximately 250,000 restaurants in the Commerce Ministry network and participating in the Thailand Helping Thailand Plus program are eligible to join. Participating restaurants will receive government subsidies for food ingredients, with support amounts under consideration ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 baht per establishment. The program will initially target 100,000 restaurants for a minimum duration of three months, pending Cabinet approval. The Commerce Department will prepare details for Cabinet submission within the third week of this month. Suphajee emphasized the government's intention to alleviate the financial burden on salaried workers through this voluntary program, without forcing restaurants to reduce prices. Participating restaurants must offer quality prepared meals—such as rice with at least two curry or side options—priced not exceeding 40 baht per plate. The Commerce Ministry will place clear signage at participating establishments so the public can easily identify and choose affordable food options. If the program receives positive reception, the government plans to expand the number of affordable restaurants nationwide.

A blue air-conditioned bus on Route 1-54 (Minburi to Suan Lum) crashed onto a footpath on Ladprao Road at 7:13 a.m. on July 11, 2025, injuring ten passengers near Bangkok Study School. Emergency services from Ladprao Fire Station and Po Tek Tung Foundation rescue workers responded to the three-lane road incident near Soi Ladprao 112 in Wang Thonglang District. At the scene, the bus's front end was heavily damaged with broken windows. The vehicle struck an electrical control box and knocked down several roadside trees, causing traffic to slow in the area. Initial investigation indicates the driver was unable to control the accelerator pedal during operation. A shop located within a school fence adjacent to the crash site sustained structural damage to its metal-frame and metal-sheet roof, affecting approximately 8 square meters. Seven injured passengers were taken to Phetchvet Hospital, while three others were transported to Ladprao Hospital. The group consisted of two male and eight female victims.

SISAKET — A family in Thailand's northeastern province of Sisaket narrowly avoided disaster after their pet dog unknowingly carried a live Chinese-made hand grenade into the front yard, mistaking it for a toy or bone.

The incident occurred in Non Khun district after the family's dog returned home carrying a rusty object, which relatives initially believed was a piece of plastic or an old bone. The danger was only discovered when the homeowner returned from hospital and noticed the grenade's safety pin still attached.

Realizing it was a suspected explosive device, the homeowner carefully moved it away from the house before notifying the village head, who alerted police and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officers.

Authorities identified the device as a TYPE 82-2 fragmentation hand grenade manufactured in China. Although heavily rusted, bomb disposal officers confirmed the grenade remained fully operational and could have detonated if the safety mechanism had been disturbed or the device had received a significant impact.

The grenade was safely transported to an open field away from the community and destroyed in a controlled explosion. Officials said the blast left a crater about 30 centimetres deep and 60 centimetres wide, demonstrating that the explosive still retained considerable destructive power.

The homeowner said family members had no idea the object was a grenade while the dog had been chewing on it earlier in the day.

"If the dog had pulled the pin or dropped it hard enough, I can't imagine what might have happened," the homeowner said.

District Chief Chaiwat Thammawat described the incident as an important warning for the public, particularly in areas where old military ordnance may still be found. He urged anyone who discovers suspected explosives, ammunition or military objects not to touch or move them, but to immediately notify local authorities or police so trained specialists can safely handle the situation.

No injuries were reported.