Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared that civilians are prohibited from carrying firearms outside their homes, with anyone who violates the rule facing imprisonment—including politicians and competitive shooters. Speaking at Government House on August 11, 2026, Anutin said the government is accelerating gun control efforts after instructing Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt to draft new firearms legislation. The Interior Ministry and Royal Thai Police have been ordered to halt renewal of firearm licences under categories Por. 3, Por. 4, and Por. 12 pending Cabinet approval.

Anutin stressed that enforcement must be stricter and more decisive, with police and administrative officials establishing checkpoints to target firearms and drugs. He warned that police will oppose bail in appropriate cases, keeping suspects in custody. "Do not believe anyone who tells you to carry a gun for self-defence," Anutin said. "Most people carrying guns end up harming themselves."

The new law will cover ammunition as well. Legally registered firearms may be kept only at home, while illegal guns must be surrendered within a timeframe set by law. Inherited firearms and those that cannot legally be transferred may be handed in without penalty during a grace period. Competitive shooters will be prohibited from carrying guns outside shooting ranges; firearms used for training must be stored at facilities, and ammunition must be purchased and used there before the weapons are left behind.

"There will be no exceptions," Anutin declared. "If you do it, you break the law and go to prison." Civilians who are not state officials performing their duties cannot carry firearms outside their homes. He urged families to watch for threatening or violent behaviour by gun-owning relatives and announced plans to conduct random checks at Government House, including of ministers' aides and associates. "If they are carrying a gun and are not police officers on duty, they are on their own," he said.

Naparatana Sriwan, candidate number 1 from Team "Move Forward Together," is running for re-election to the Accounting Profession Committee for the 2569–2572 term in voting on August 15 via e-Voting system. As Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of Finance and Hotel Business at Central Pattana PLC, he is promoting the use of AI to transform management accountants from data recorders into strategic managers and business decision-makers.

Naparatana believes that "technological change, especially AI, is rapidly shifting the role of management accountants from 'data recorders' to 'data managers and integrators' to support analysis, planning, and business decisions. This is why I am seeking another term—to build on the foundation we have laid and extend this impact nationwide and reach more accountants across the country."

Naparatana's three pillars for the profession's future are:

• Connect — Distribute opportunities to regional areas and smaller offices, bringing knowledge beyond Bangkok

• Collaboration — Strengthen the CFO Club as a knowledge hub and foster partnerships with domestic and international organizations

• Community — Build a new generation of management accountants with ethics, leadership, and commitment to social and environmental responsibility

During his three-year term (2566–2569), Naparatana has driven concrete initiatives including the CFO Certificate curriculum focused on real-world cases, introducing digital innovation to SMEs through the Future Finance program, and establishing the CFO Club in partnership with capital market networks and professional associations.

Elections for the Accounting Profession Committee will be held on August 15, 2569, via e-voting at https://e-voting.tfac.or.th/check. Naparatana is running as candidate number 1(4) with Team 1 under the theme "Continue Forward, Go Far, Go Together."

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitivattananon announced that the government is restructuring the excise tax on automobiles, targeting reduced taxes for automakers with manufacturing bases in Thailand and using local components. Manufacturers interested in investing in Thai factories have raised concerns due to inconsistent tariff structures, where vehicles from certain country groups like EFTA receive lower tax rates, limiting domestic industry development.

Citing requests from businesses operating in Thailand, the government has instructed the Revenue Department to urgently review the matter to ensure fairness to domestic investors and support sustainable growth of the automotive industry. The tax structure review will not be limited to electric vehicles but will also cover gasoline and hybrid vehicles with domestic manufacturing operations.

"We believe excise tax is a measure that can help create fairness among automakers—not just for EVs, but also for gasoline and hybrid vehicles with manufacturing plants in Thailand," Ekniti said.

At 1:30 p.m. on August 11, 2025, police investigator Lieutenant Samak Bunrut at Panasnikorn Station received a report of a drowning death in a large pool in Moo 3, Muan Nang subdistrict, Panasnikorn district, Chachoengsao province. Officers and rescue units from Bang Tung Hiang rushed to the scene and found the clothing of Itthikorn, 22, a singer and musician, left at the pool's edge. They located Supakij, 23, a friend who had just met the victim, who pointed to the spot where Itthikorn had gone under.

Supakij revealed they had known each other for only one day and had been casually drinking by the pool before Itthikorn suggested swimming across to the other side. As they swam, Supakij realized the distance was too far and turned back toward shore. When he looked around, his friend had disappeared, so he immediately exited the water and called for help.

Witness Wanchai, who was fishing nearby on the opposite bank, said he had seen the two swimming and initially thought they were racing. When he looked again, only one person remained in the water, and he suspected a drowning had occurred.

When the victim's relatives arrived at the scene, rescue workers were pulling the body from the water. Family members collapsed in tears upon realizing he was deceased. Police plan to conduct a detailed further investigation into the incident to determine the cause and pursue appropriate legal action.

The Acoustic Man Facebook page posted: "Hello fellow musicians. Our member Phet (Itthikorn) on guitar and vocals from the Chachoengsao musicians group has tragically drowned this morning. If Phet had any bookings pending, please forgive us as we will find a replacement. We also ask that venue owners where Phet performed be informed. Please share this news."

A scandal has erupted in Thailand's amulet-trading community after a popular Facebook page exposed allegations of misconduct by a well-known dealer. On August 5, 2026, a 60-year-old woman brought a collection of amulets to the prominent dealer for authentication and valuation, hoping to sell them if the price was right. The dealer selected 14 amulets and offered 2.5 million baht, which she accepted. He then requested to open the frames of some pieces for closer inspection and asked to further verify whether one amulet was solid gold. The owner agreed, and after testing, the dealer informed her the amulet was not gold. However, before consulting this dealer, the woman had previously shown the same amulet to another expert, who had confirmed it as solid gold and recommended she preserve it carefully.

When told the amulet was not gold, the woman cancelled the deal and the dealer returned the pieces. The woman became deeply concerned, fortunately having taken photos of the amulets beforehand. The next day, she brought the disputed amulet back to the first expert, who examined it again and told her: "This is not solid gold, but the amulet in your earlier photo is definitely 100 percent solid gold." The woman now suspected she had not received the same amulet back. When she called the dealer to confront him, he initially denied and refused to acknowledge the issue, but after she mentioned she had photos for comparison, he said he would investigate.

Later, the dealer contacted her, claiming an employee had switched the amulets and offering to take responsibility. He then proposed 9 million baht to settle the matter. This offer raised public questions: if 14 amulets were worth only 2.5 million baht, why would compensation for a single disputed amulet reach 9 million baht? The elderly woman, weary of conflict, accepted the 9 million baht settlement. The amulet at the centre of the dispute is a Luang Pu Tim 8-round coin-shaped amulet in solid gold with lacquer inlay.

Chiang Saen customs checkpoint in Chiang Rai, led by Chawlit Phutphisut, the checkpoint chief, seized 13 shipments of frozen meat totaling approximately 5,200 kilograms and transferred them to the Chiang Rai animal quarantine station. On August 3, customs officers inspecting imports from China discovered undeclared goods including frozen pork, frozen chicken, frozen offal, and other fresh items. The frozen meat weighed about 5,200 kilograms, while other fresh goods weighed approximately 5,614 kilograms, with a combined value of around 507,608 baht. The shipment violates Section 243 on tariff evasion and Section 244 on circumventing import restrictions or prohibitions, as the importer lacked proper licenses. Chawlit said the company, based in Samut Prakan, has been charged. He noted this is the first instance of such concealed frozen meat smuggling in the area, which typically only sees misclassified vegetable declarations. Customs has vowed to strengthen screening procedures.