A large-scale operation targeting a foreign nominee business network was launched at 6:30 a.m. on July 17, 2025 at Huai Yai Police Station in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. National Police Commander Pol. Gen. Nopsilp Poolsawasdi and Chonburi Governor Narit Niramaiwongse jointly oversaw the operation, which involved coordinated efforts from the Royal Thai Police special task force, Border Patrol Police, provincial administration, commerce, and land offices to examine companies and real estate projects suspected of using Thai nationals as nominee shareholders for foreign investors to evade Thai business and land ownership restrictions.

This operation marks the fourth phase of an ongoing nationwide investigation, following previous operations in Surat Thani (Koh Phangan), Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga. In the first three phases, authorities identified approximately 130 rai of land linked to nominee entities worth over 1.671 billion baht and executed more than 100 arrest warrants against both Thai and foreign suspects.

In Chonburi, authorities targeted 33 companies linked to 32 properties with suspected nominee ownership valued at approximately 235 million baht. The operation included 4 arrest warrants and 41 search warrants. One focus area was a residential development project in Pattaya under investigation for suspected foreign land ownership violations. Governor Narit emphasized that combating nominee companies and foreign land ownership is a key government priority requiring inter-agency cooperation, including deep investigation into shareholder structures and financial trails to close legal loopholes. Officers were deployed simultaneously to search target locations, gather evidence, examine shareholding structures and financial transactions, and verify land ownership rights, with any violations to be prosecuted under Thai law and land potentially subject to forfeiture or sale as prescribed by law.

The Thai government has upgraded its ThaiWater platform to provide real-time water data and prevent crises before they occur, integrating comprehensive information on rainfall, dam levels, high-risk areas, and air quality. Deputy Spokesperson Pattadarasmi Thongsalueykorn announced on July 17 that the government has shifted from reactive disaster management to proactive prevention by developing the new ThaiWater version, designed to serve users from the general public to experts. The platform currently connects data from 56 agencies under 13 ministries and one independent organization, ensuring that the country's water management operates on unified data standards and eliminates conflicting information during emergencies.

The new ThaiWater version features an interactive map that consolidates critical data on a single screen, including rainfall radar, precipitation levels, water levels, dam conditions, monitored areas, and PM2.5 readings. It also includes an improved alert system with advance warnings for specific locations, enabling residents and local officials to prepare for various scenarios. The platform is available free to the public through www.thaiwater.net and the ThaiWater mobile application on both iOS and Android devices.

Beyond the main ThaiWater platform, the government has integrated provincial water data centers covering all 76 provinces to help governors and local agencies analyze disaster risks based on local conditions. This reduces redundant command procedures and accelerates decision-making for evacuation and emergency assistance, with province-specific access available through URLs such as phrae.thaiwater.net, chiangrai.thaiwater.net, and nan.thaiwater.net.

Gold prices fell sharply on July 17, 2025, according to the Thai Gold Traders Association. Ornamental gold (96.5%) dropped 600 baht per baht-weight to a selling price of 64,300 baht, down from the previous day's close on July 16. The association released the updated pricing at 9:01 a.m. Gold bars are trading at 63,300 baht per baht-weight for buying and 63,500 baht for selling, while ornamental gold (96.5%) trades at 62,034.72 baht for buying and 64,300 baht for selling. The global gold spot price stands at 3,987.00 U.S. dollars per ounce. Gold traders predict the market may rebound by 1,000 to 2,000 baht per baht-weight tomorrow, potentially reaching 80,000 baht.

Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin has announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is strictly enforcing laws against those who encroach on state resources, particularly in national reserved forests. The Forestry Department has been tasked with conducting investigations, making arrests, and prosecuting offenders without any exceptions in order to prevent forest encroachment and protect the country's natural resources.

On July 14, 2026, the Phuket Forest Center, working with provincial authorities, Muang Phuket District officials, and two forest protection units, inspected the Naka Ridge National Reserved Forest in Karon Subdistrict. The inspection discovered three suspects—Thawathai Phaet-khim, Anuphon Sawasdi, and Manoch Thongtham—who were constructing metal-frame structures with metal sheet roofing inside the protected forest. A fourth individual, Thappasan Panmanee, later identified himself as the employer and land owner, admitting he possessed no legal documentation. Officers immediately arrested the suspects.

The inspection found that approximately 1 rai, 3 ngan, and 22 square wah of forest had been cleared and encroached upon. Authorities seized equipment including metal cutters, concrete drills, welding machines, and chainsaws. The suspects were charged under the National Reserved Forest Act of 1964 and the Forestry Act of 1927 for occupying, clearing, constructing, and utilizing reserved forest land without permission. The suspects were handed over to Karon Police Station for further legal proceedings. The Forest Resource Management Office No. 12 (Krabi Branch) was instructed to assess environmental damage, and the authorities will seek a court order to demolish the illegal structures.

"I affirm that the Ministry will not tolerate any forest encroachment for personal gain," Suchat stated. "All offenders must face justice, and we will work seriously to reclaim the forest and preserve natural resources as a legacy for all Thai people and future generations."

Matichon is hosting an exclusive meeting on August 5, 2025, on "New Tourism New Economy: Unlocking Health Economy Opportunities to Transform Thailand's Tourism Future." The seminar aims to bring together tourism experts and government officials to exchange views on the new tourism landscape and drive forward Thailand's economic agenda.

The event comes amid global economic volatility caused by geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and energy and trade uncertainties that are affecting countries worldwide. Thailand faces challenges including sluggish economic growth, slowing exports, weak domestic consumption, and high household debt.

Tourism remains a crucial economic engine for Thailand with potential to generate revenue, create opportunities, and drive growth across hotels, restaurants, healthcare, real estate, and community businesses. The tourism sector is rapidly transforming through trends including the longevity economy, wellness tourism, medical tourism, and sports tourism, requiring Thailand to adapt its strategies and create new competitive advantages globally.

The seminar will serve as a platform for government agencies, private sector, and policymakers to exchange perspectives on tourism's role in Thailand's economic future, analyze opportunities and challenges facing the industry within the changing global economic context, and propose policy recommendations and actionable insights for sustainable tourism growth. Expert speakers include Suphavut Saichuer discussing the longevity economy and new opportunities for Thai economics, and Nithee Seephare from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Industry Minister Verawut Silpa-archa announced that the Ministry of Industry is accelerating Thailand's sugarcane and sugar sector toward full green industry status by deploying carbon management, carbon credit trading, and carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) technology as key mechanisms to generate economic value and strengthen Thailand's competitiveness in the intensifying global green trade landscape. During a recent visit to a Thai sugar mill in Udon Thani, Silpa-archa emphasized that the industry has potential to become a national green industry model—not merely reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but converting carbon into economic assets that generate new income for farmers and businesses.

Current data shows Thailand's sugarcane cultivation sector emits approximately 25-30 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually, while sugar production releases another 10-15 million tons, totaling 35-45 million tons yearly. This makes the combined sector a major player in achieving the country's Net Zero Emissions target by 2050. The Ministry, through the Sugarcane and Sugar Board (SOSF), is rolling out a carbon tracking project along the entire production chain—from field to mill—to measure, verify, and report greenhouse gas emissions transparently and accurately. The ministry is also developing a carbon credit trading mechanism via the T-VER program to directly compensate farmers and businesses for carbon reduction.

Additionally, CCUS technology is being promoted for the sector, particularly converting captured carbon into biochar to enhance soil carbon storage and add value to agriculture. The ministry outlined six strategic directions to transition the industry toward a low-carbon future: establishing international standards for CCUS carbon credits, developing comprehensive carbon tracing systems, creating economic incentives through carbon credit markets, elevating sustainability standards according to Bonsucro and Sugar Ecolabel criteria, preparing for the EU's CBAM mechanism, and integrating the sugar industry into Thailand's 2050 Net Zero goal. Officials stressed that carbon will shift from a cost burden to an economic asset, requiring the sector to evolve from a major carbon emitter into a carbon value creator and green bioindustry pioneer.