A severe flood struck Nan Province, with flash water sweeping through homes across multiple districts, causing at least four deaths and extensive damage. Debate has emerged over whether the devastation resulted purely from heavy rainfall or from landscape modifications that worsened conditions, including the clearing of hillsides that removed water-retention points, monoculture farming, forest clearing for agriculture, and land changes to accommodate tourism. While all these factors are interconnected, the question of accountability remains unanswered. Blaming local residents is unjust, as many of these problems stem from state policies on economic planning, forest concessions, private-sector economic expansion, and GDP-focused corporate performance that ignored environmental consequences. The government must review and systematically address these issues. Unfortunately, no government has seriously prioritized environmental protection—not just concerning Nan's forests and barren hillsides, but also the Mekong dams upstream from Thailand affecting local ecosystems, the Mun River's poisoning from mining in neighboring countries, and PM2.5 pollution harming public health in northern regions, yet no clear plan or serious action has emerged. The government must clarify its concrete plans and genuine strategies. While ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan Wongsawadi and Public Works Minister Jetsada Thaisettha, visited flood areas—spraying water to clean roads and carrying survivors—their efforts are commendable and show dedication. However, public expectations demand more, including accurate, clear, and timely early-warning systems rather than evacuation alerts after water breaches. Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan, overseeing public works with emphasis on science, should push for this implementation. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, with its budget and manpower, should plan and manage prevention from the outset rather than continue current inadequate measures. The government must demonstrate courage and capability in environmental and disaster management, or the public will bear the consequences.

The Kalasin Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) held an election for governor on August 23, 2025, following Chalermphuean Lor-trakun's resignation before the end of her term on August 13, 2024. She subsequently ran to reclaim the position. Chalermphuean, the Pheu Thai Party candidate, received ballot number 1, while Prasert Boonrueang, known as Kamnan Hit and representing the Huak Phaeng Berm Yaeng Kalasin group, received number 2. Counting began immediately after polls closed at 5:00 p.m. By 6:47 p.m., with 62.89% of votes tallied (1,049 of 1,668 polling units), unofficial results showed Chalermphuean garnered 172,436 votes and Prasert obtained 39,873 votes. The Kalasin PAO reported results in real-time via its website at https://www.kalasin-pao.go.th/vote2569.

Frequently waking between 3 and 4 a.m. and unable to fall back asleep might not just be a sleep issue—it could be a warning sign of underlying health problems worth investigating.

Have you ever fallen asleep normally, only to jolt awake around 3 or 4 a.m. and find yourself unable to get back to sleep no matter what you do? Some people's minds immediately start racing with thoughts about work, money, and other worries. Others experience heart palpitations, sweating, hot flashes, or difficulty breathing severe enough to get out of bed.

Occasional middle-of-the-night waking doesn't necessarily mean your body has a problem. But when it happens frequently in a consistent pattern and begins affecting your daytime life, it may reflect sleep habits, stress, or a health issue that warrants medical evaluation.

Why do we tend to wake around 3 or 4 a.m.?

This time falls in the late stage of sleep, when the body naturally experiences less deep sleep and more light sleep or REM sleep, making it easier to be woken than during the early night. Common triggers include noise, external light, room temperature, the need to urinate, or drinking too much water before bed. Caffeine, alcohol, phone use before sleep, stress, and irregular sleep schedules can all degrade sleep quality.

Waking at 3 a.m. once or twice is not cause for alarm. What matters is how often it happens, whether you can fall back asleep, and whether other unusual symptoms are present.

Five conditions that may cause middle-of-the-night waking:

1. Stress and mental health problems Accumulated stress can keep the brain in an alert state even after the body has gone to bed. Some people fall asleep initially, but when they wake in the middle of the night, worries and anxious thoughts resume, preventing them from returning to sleep.

Early morning waking that can't be followed by sleep is also common in people with depression, especially when accompanied by symptoms such as persistent sadness, loss of interest in things once enjoyed, lack of energy, or feelings of hopelessness.

2. Sleep apnea Some people mistakenly believe they "wake at night because of insomnia," when in fact their sleep may be repeatedly disrupted by sleep apnea.

Those with this condition may snore loudly, gasp, or have breathing that stops and starts before they jolt awake to breathe again. Upon waking, they may have a dry mouth or throat, headache, extreme daytime drowsiness, or feel unrefreshed despite a full night of sleep. If a bed partner notices breathing stops during sleep, consult a doctor for further evaluation.

3. Hormonal changes Hormone fluctuations can affect sleep, particularly in women approaching and experiencing menopause, which may cause hot flashes, night sweats, and frequent waking.

Overactive thyroid can also cause rapid heartbeat, easy sweating, hand tremors, heat sensation, and sleep problems. If these symptoms occur alongside weight changes or other abnormalities, investigate the cause rather than assuming it's merely insomnia.

4. Respiratory diseases Symptoms from certain respiratory conditions can disrupt sleep, particularly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

If you frequently wake with coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath, observe whether symptoms relate to sleep times and consult a doctor for diagnosis.

5. Heart and cardiovascular problems Waking with heart palpitations can have many causes, from stress and caffeine to certain medical conditions. However, if you experience chest pain or tightness alongside palpitations, seek medical attention promptly.

Nakhon Sawan will host the Thai National Snooker Championship with a prize pool exceeding 1.5 million baht. The Nakhon Sawan Sports Association, Nakhon Sawan Municipality, and the Thai Billiards and Snooker Association have converted a 4,000-seat gymnasium at Nakhon Sawan Sports Stadium into the competition venue. Thirty-two top-ranked players from across Thailand will compete to determine the nation's best snooker talent this year. Lawmakers Sanya Nilsuphon and Chada Taiserit will lead the team of renowned players including Nonpol Saengkham (recent China Open runner-up), Thephchai Ununu (World Open champion), Wattana Phuaobom (former world number 3), and Panchaya Chanthon (women's world champion), along with other members of the Thai national snooker team. The press conference was held on August 23 at V-Square shopping centre in Nakhon Sawan, with Nakhon Sawan Governor Chutiporn Sechang presiding. She stated that the province has received full cooperation from all sectors to organize this competition, with the objective of developing athletes to reach the highest levels in Thailand and internationally, while promoting snooker throughout the country. Competition will run from September 1–6. Sanya, as chairman of the Nakhon Sawan Snooker Sports Club and organizer of the Professional Division 1 National Championship, expressed gratitude to the Thai Billiards and Snooker Association for selecting Nakhon Sawan as host. He emphasized that the event aims to prepare athletes for international competition, establish world-class management standards, and provide financial stability and skill development for snooker players. This is the final championship of the qualifying circuit, with 32 qualified players competing for over 1.5 million baht in prize money. Chada noted that the Professional Division 1 National Championship represents an important platform for skilled snooker players nationwide to demonstrate their abilities and advance the standards of Thai snooker in both athlete performance and competition management.

Miss Universe West, one of the two equal partners in the Miss Universe Organization, has publicly backed Miss Universe 2025 Fátima Bosch amid her legal dispute with Nawat Itsaragrisil, saying women should not have to remain silent to protect their opportunities, positions or dreams.

The statement comes after Nawat Itsaragrisil said on social media that efforts were under way to expedite an arrest warrant for Bosch, the Mexican winner of Miss Universe 2025, in connection with allegations of defamation and spreading false information. Nawat posted an image of what appears to be a Thai police document relating to the case.

"Violence, intimidation, humiliation, disrespect and mistreatment of women in any form are unacceptable," the organisation said. "No woman should ever feel that she must stay silent in order to protect an opportunity, a legal position or a dream."

The organisation said Bosch had spoken out to defend her dignity over the way she was treated by Nawat, adding that her actions carried a broader message for women. "When Fátima Bosch raised her voice to defend her dignity following the treatment she received from Mr Nawat Itsaragrisil, she reminded women everywhere of a fundamental truth: respect is not something we earn through silence. It is a right."

The legal dispute dates back to a heated confrontation during Miss Universe 2025 activities in Bangkok on 4 November, when Nawat publicly questioned Bosch over her participation in sponsor-related events. Bosch later said Nawat had called her "dumb" during the exchange and accused him of humiliating her in front of the other contestants. Video of the confrontation went viral, and several contestants walked out in support of Bosch.

Nawat disputes that account. He says he did not call Bosch "dumb" or a "dumbhead," but instead used the word "damage" while referring to the consequences of her not taking part in scheduled activities. On 12 November 2025, Nawat filed a criminal complaint against Bosch in Thailand, alleging that she had repeatedly made false claims about what he said in subsequent media interviews and had damaged his reputation and that of Miss Grand International. Miss Universe Thailand later publicly confirmed the complaint.

Bosch has continued to stand by her account of the confrontation. In a December interview with ABC's Nightline, she said Nawat had tried to humiliate her publicly and recalled telling him that he could not call her "dumb."

The latest development came on Saturday, when Nawat said efforts were under way to obtain an arrest warrant for Bosch in connection with the case. An arrest warrant has not been independently confirmed. In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization (West) said the pageant had always been about more than a stage, crown or competition, describing it as a global community where women from different countries, cultures and generations come together.