Bangkok's Mass Transit Organization (MRTA) and all four MRT line concessionaires are offering free MRT rides for mothers accompanied by their children on National Mother's Day, August 12, 2025. The initiative marks the birthday of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, which is also observed as Mother's Day in Thailand. MRTA is partnering with Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM), which operates the Purple Line (Chalong Ratchadham Line) and Blue Line (Chalerm Ratchamongkol Line); Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (EBM), which operates the Yellow Line (Nakhon Phipatphon Line); and Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (NBM), which operates the Pink Line (Vivat Nakhon Line).

Mothers traveling with their children need only present identification at ticket counters at any station throughout the day to receive a free coupon or transit card. Their children will pay regular fares. The promotion aims to facilitate family outings and tourism along the MRT network while strengthening family bonds.

For more information: Purple and Blue Lines (BEM) call 0 2624 5200 or visit Facebook (BEM Bangkok Expressway and Metro), X (same), or Instagram (mrt_bangkok), or use the Bangkok MRT mobile app. Yellow Line (EBM) call 0 2617 6111, Line @pinkyellowline, Facebook MRTYellowLine, or visit www.ebm.co.th or use The SKYTRAINs app. Pink Line (NBM) call 0 2617 6111, Line @pinkyellowline, Facebook MRTPinkLine, or visit www.nbm.co.th or use The SKYTRAINs app.

Former Nonthaburi MP Chaloem Riowraeng provided a detailed account at Rattanathiambat Police Station in Nonthaburi on Thursday afternoon, explaining the shooting of Pol. Maj. Gen. Thongchai Yenprasert, chairman of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization. The incident stemmed from a dispute over 11 million baht in loans and allegations related to a recent election candidacy. Thongchai's driver was also seriously injured.

At 13:15 on Thursday, Chaloem revealed he never expected to find himself in such a situation and had never been arrested in his life. He said he came to discuss with his friend about retrieving 11 million baht he had previously lent, as he is currently facing financial hardship due to medical expenses from an illness since 2554 (2011).

Chaloem stated that throughout his life he had been a helpful friend and had lent money to various people—some 6 million or 15 million baht—without demanding repayment because he was willing to help. When he learned his friend had come into money, he made the trip to ask for assistance.

Regarding the shooting, Chaloem explained that when he mentioned the MP position he had provided to Thongchai, his friend became angry and pushed him in the room before refusing to talk. Chaloem followed him to his car and knocked on the window to continue the conversation. When the window was not opened, he drew a gun but had no intention of firing. At that moment, the driver drew his weapon first, prompting Chaloem to shoot.

After the incident, Chaloem fled the scene thinking the injuries would not be serious, then returned on a motorcycle to surrender to police. He insisted he had no intention of killing anyone.

Chaloem apologized to the people of Nonthaburi and to the provincial administrator's family, reiterating that he and Thongchai were friends and he never anticipated such an outcome. He said he only wanted to talk, but his friend refused. He claimed he felt neither resentment nor anger at the moment—had they been allowed to discuss the matter, it would have been resolved. However, when the driver drew his gun, he made the decision to fire.

Chaloem also expressed sadness about his own family, believing his daughter would be devastated by the incident.

A man's condescending post questioning why "low-income people" photograph aircraft during landing became a major online controversy on August 5, complete with a covert photo shot from an economy-class seat. The post accumulated over 33.5 million views and more than 7,700 comments, prompting many internet users to defend plane photography enthusiasts and note that not everyone travels frequently enough to find skyline views mundane. One commenter noted that aircraft are "fascinating" as complex machines capable of carrying hundreds of passengers through the sky, while another acknowledged that despite frequent flying, being airborne remains awe-inspiring. Internet users also observed that the poster himself occupied an economy-class seat, meaning he traveled the same way as those he mocked. The backlash intensified when he reposted private messages from critics using racially charged and derogatory language toward developing nations. The controversy expanded beyond the plane photography debate to scrutinize the poster's behavior, with some accusing him of "rage-baiting"—deliberately posting inflammatory content to generate engagement—after discovering a pattern of similar provocative and divisive posts.

On August 10, crowds of locals and tourists visited the ruined chapel at Wat Nong Tao in Moo 5, Bang Phlap subdistrict, Phi Thong district, Ang Thong province, to pray for good fortune. Lucky winners from the previous lottery draw came to give thanks and sought lucky numbers, receiving the numbers 40 and 280.

Wat Nong Tao is an abandoned temple over 100 years old with a roofless chapel surrounded by beautiful bodhi trees. Local legend tells of people dressed in traditional Thai clothes emerging from the chapel to dance and perform pi phat music on Buddhist holy evenings.

Today only ruins remain of the temple, measuring approximately 6 meters wide and 12 meters long, with large bodhi and tamarind trees growing through the center. Before each lottery draw, locals and tourists visit to pray, take photos, and seek blessings. Those whose wishes come true return to express gratitude as a regular practice.

Thailand's National Health Security Board reviewed 757 public suggestions and forwarded 375 issues to advance the Gold Card system, reaffirming that the goal is to ensure citizens have easy, quality, and fair access to healthcare services and to help providers deliver continuous care to the public. On August 3, 2025, the board met under the chairmanship of Public Health Minister Pattana Prom-Pattana and acknowledged the results of public consultation under Section 18(13) of the 2002 National Health Security Act, tasking the office to submit findings to relevant quality control and sub-committees for immediate action. Dr. Amorn Leelarasmee, chairman of the social communications sub-committee, explained that the consultation process ran from October 2024 to June 2025 through district forums, focus groups, field visits, and online channels, with service providers submitting the most suggestions (316 issues), followed by service users (281 issues) and local government organizations (87 issues). The most discussed topics included budget systems and compensation rates, such as adjusting payment rates to match actual costs, faster and continuous fund transfers, reducing disbursement steps, real-time budget tracking systems, and maintaining consistent criteria throughout the year. Suggestions for elderly, disabled, and dependent persons included increasing caregiver compensation, expanding elderly care budgets, and improving access to diapers and assistive devices, while chronic disease prevention proposals called for expanded screening for diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and cancer alongside health behavior promotion. For primary care and the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme, proposals included connecting referral systems, reducing referral paperwork, expanding telemedicine, and strengthening sub-district health centers, community clinics, pharmacies, and innovative health units, as well as integrating health databases, adding online complaint channels, and increasing flexibility for local health funds. After filtering the 757 suggestions, the board divided them into two groups: 382 issues entered the management process (152 already completed, 164 duplicate proposals consolidated, and 66 outside the board's jurisdiction referred to other agencies), while the remaining 375 issues were forwarded to relevant sub-committees and mechanisms for review, such as 58 issues on payment rates to the fund management committee, 44 on local health funds to the local health security system committee, 40 on primary care and disease prevention, 40 on benefit adjustments to the service scope committee, and 97 for direct board action. Dr. Leelarasmee stressed that sending proposals to responsible parties enables clearer progress, with the ultimate goal of enabling all citizens to access healthcare services that are easy to reach, of high quality, and equitable.

Prime Minister Anuthong Chaenyeevrakul and Interior Minister opened the 'Thai Helping Thai Capital Increase, Half Interest Rate' program at Government House on August 10, 2025 at 10:35 a.m., with participation from Minister Suksomruai Wanthanyakul, chair of the National Village and Urban Community Fund Committee.

The PM stated that the program goes beyond simple cost-sharing, emphasizing that the government is working to reduce living expenses for ordinary citizens and create opportunities for income generation. He stressed that alleviating financial hardship and revitalizing grassroots economy are top government priorities, with policies focused on reducing costs, managing debt, and improving quality of life nationwide.

The government is prioritizing economic opportunities through fair and affordable formal credit systems to develop occupational skills, increase income, and strengthen households and communities for long-term national development.

The PM noted that the program aims to reach people quickly and as broadly as possible. The Village Fund Office is implementing the initiative with a total budget of 4,452 million baht distributed to 79,610 village funds, urban community funds, and military community funds to improve financial liquidity and support livelihoods.

The PM emphasized this is not merely a capital injection but a government policy to encourage people to access formal credit systems and avoid high-interest informal loans that risk losing land, rice fields, and homes. The program will enable sustainable self-reliance, strengthen community funds, and drive stable grassroots economic growth through cooperation across all sectors.

The PM delegated full decision-making authority to Minister Suksomruai to work with the National Village and Urban Community Fund Office to maximize public benefit. He called on government officials and relevant agencies to provide full cooperation, noting that while budgets and programs are allocated, success depends on understanding that proper business principles can transform these funds into income-generating opportunities that help people avoid costly informal debt.