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South – The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command has paid tribute to five soldiers from the 45th Ranger Forces Regiment Task Force who were killed in a gun and pipe-bomb attack at the Bukeh Sami Checkpoint in Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat province. The attack occurred on the evening of July 22 while the […] Narathiwat Checkpoint Attack Claims Lives of Five Security Personnel -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin has ordered the Royal Forestry Department to coordinate with the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and other agencies to aggressively suppress encroachment on state public areas and resources, aligned with Prime Minister Anuthim Charnweerakul's government policy emphasizing recovery of state land and strict law enforcement.

Suchat reported receiving updates from Forestry Department Director General Nikorn Sirorjanannon regarding operations by forest protection units and prevention centers working jointly with ISOC, the Rayong Self-Reliance Community, Mab Yang Prom Subdistrict Administrative Organization, and related agencies. The team inspected an area around Khlong Phu Thai (Khlong Sam Roi) in Moo 4, Mab Yang Prom Subdistrict, Pluak Daeng District, Rayong, following intelligence of Chinese investors illegally dumping soil and expanding an industrial factory into the public waterway.

Inspections on July 4, combined with satellite imagery analysis and detailed ground surveys, confirmed the encroached area was public land without formal title documents. Heavy machinery had been used to level and raise the ground approximately 4 meters above water level, with three damage sites totaling 4 rai 2 ngan 24 square wah (approximately 6,900 square meters). The first site showed soil dumping extending beyond the factory's land boundaries covering about 2 rai 1 ngan 5 square wah, with four illegally dug wells discovered. The second site showed soil expansion from the original factory footprint covering about 1 ngan 63 square wah. The third site revealed one pavilion structure and a fence enclosing the encroached area covering about 1 rai 1 ngan 56 square wah.

After the inspection, officials completed seizure records and collected evidence forwarded to Pluak Daeng Police Station for prosecution under the 1984 Forestry Act Sections 54 and 55, and the 1992 National Environmental Quality Promotion and Preservation Act Section 97. The department will pursue those responsible.

Suchat instructed the Forestry Department to coordinate with all relevant agencies to expedite case conclusions and prosecute straightforwardly to hold offenders accountable. "The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will not allow anyone—whether influential figures, investors, or capital groups—to illegally exploit state resources," Suchat stated. "If state land encroachment is detected, we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

The Commerce Ministry announced that the Finance Ministry declared results of the 2025 state welfare card eligibility review on July 17, 2025, with 9.3 million applicants failing to meet criteria. Of 19.6 million registrants checked, the Department of Business Development identified 122,324 people listed as directors, shareholders, or partners in 139,804 business entities. To align with the program's intent of supporting genuinely poor people, those who failed eligibility and are not contesting the decision—including business directors and shareholders who are evidently not poor—will have their benefits removed. The budget saved will be redirected to truly disadvantaged citizens who previously received no welfare support.

Citizens who failed eligibility and claim sharehold or partnership roles due to various circumstances—such as relatives borrowing their names, serving as nominees for foreigners, or administrative errors on their ID cards—may request verification. The Department of Business Development and provincial commerce offices nationwide are assisting applicants. Those wishing to challenge their status can submit a verification request form at the Department of Business Development or any provincial commerce office, presenting their ID card. Officials will check records and issue a written determination at no cost, with the option to submit a statement explaining how their name came to appear in business records.

Praichai Jirakoolpaisal, director of the Oil Fund Policy and Planning Office, explained that the Petroleum Fund Management Committee has approved increased fuel subsidies to ease the impact, though all fuel types will still rise 0.90 baht per liter. The spike stems from renewed and prolonged conflict in the Middle East following failed negotiations, combined with expanded attacks across the Arabian Gulf region and Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions have further intensified in the Red Sea, where Houthi forces from Yemen have escalated maritime blockade measures and threatened to attack oil tankers and cargo ships using Red Sea ports. This has forced many oil tankers to divert routes, causing shipping costs to spike immediately.

The global oil market has experienced continuous price increases as a result. Singapore diesel prices surged dramatically on July 22, 2026, reaching $163.59 per barrel, while gasoline climbed to $124.92 per barrel. The oil fund faces a daily compensation burden of approximately 651.31 million baht, making it necessary to urgently adjust fund rates to absorb fuel price volatility in the global market.

For diesel fuels, regular speed diesel subsidy increased by 0.78 baht per liter, bringing total subsidy to 8.57 baht per liter and retail price to 36.69 baht per liter. B20 diesel subsidy rose by 0.56 baht per liter to 12.95 baht per liter, setting retail at 31.69 baht per liter. Premium diesel carries a collection of 1.50 baht per liter.

For gasoline and gasohol, regular gasoline collection decreased by 0.41 baht per liter to 4.19 baht per liter, with retail at 45.68 baht per liter. Gasohol 95 subsidy increased by 0.30 baht per liter to 2.89 baht per liter, retail at 36.69 baht per liter. Gasohol 91 subsidy rose by 0.30 baht per liter to 2.89 baht per liter, retail at 36.32 baht per liter. E20 gasohol subsidy increased by 0.17 baht per liter to 6.47 baht per liter, retail at 31.69 baht per liter. E85 gasohol subsidy decreased by 0.53 baht per liter to 4.37 baht per liter, retail at 27.63 baht per liter. These new fund rates take effect from July 23, 2026.

"During this period of energy security volatility, we request cooperation from all sectors of society. Please understand the current situation and join in changing energy consumption behavior—use energy conscientiously, only as needed, and as efficiently as possible."

Beyond reducing consumer costs, these adjustments also ease the country's burden and strengthen the fund's resilience so it can continue to sustainably support all citizens.

Deputy Interior Minister Palpeer Suwannachawi announced that the Interior Ministry has instructed village chiefs and headmen to re-inspect residents' homes and vehicles, taking photographs as evidence to support appeals for state welfare cards, with the goal of helping as many low-income people as possible.

At a press conference on July 23, 2025, at Government House, Palpeer explained that after seeing public complaints about the welfare card rollout results, the Interior Ministry decided that local administration officials must provide maximum assistance to citizens. This led to the establishment of one-stop mobile service centers so residents won't need to travel far or visit district offices.

However, the Interior Ministry will do more than that. Officials will coordinate with all relevant agencies to verify various criteria, such as vehicle ownership. District officials will conduct checklists to verify information. Additionally, village chiefs, headmen, and district officers will visit every residence to assess actual conditions. For vehicles, for example, they will help confirm details to the Transport Ministry or notify them if a registered vehicle has been idle and is no longer usable.

Palpeer emphasized another major concern: cases where individuals have had their names fraudulently used in company accounts, stock holdings, or other accounts without their knowledge. These cases will be investigated further to determine which companies used people's names and whether those individuals actually consented to such use, whether in money laundering schemes, nominee accounts, grey-market businesses, or other fraudulent arrangements. The Interior Ministry is taking these investigations seriously.

When asked whether officials are confident they can catch all people with eligibility problems who file appeals, Palpeer said there is no quota for how many people will participate, but there is genuine intent to properly screen people with low incomes so the government can assist them through the state welfare card program.

He said that after collecting nationwide data, it will be sent to relevant agencies for additional screening. The Finance Ministry is expected to announce a clear timeline today, requesting an extension until September 20, 2025, to give people time to prepare supporting documents such as company names, assets, bank accounts, insurance policies, and other financial records.

Administration officials must give people time to prepare documents before forwarding them to relevant agencies, and the agencies also need time to process the information.

Palpeer noted that the Interior Ministry previously coordinated with the Finance Ministry to request the names of people who fell through the cracks, but this may not be legally possible due to privacy restrictions. Therefore, administration officials will verify directly whether people listed actually reside in their registered areas. He also announced that people living outside their registered hometown can file appeals at any district office in their current area of residence.

When asked how officials can ensure that only genuinely poor residents are identified, given past problems where village chiefs included their own relatives in welfare card lists, Palpeer did not fully address the concern in the available portion of his statement.