Hua Hin/Prachuap Khiri Khan – The Royal Thai Police have rolled out Phase 6 of their nationwide campaign against foreign nominee networks, targeting companies and property projects in Hua Hin suspected of using Thai nationals as proxy shareholders for foreign investors. Led by Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, the operation brought together […]

A TikTok user @jet20xx, a friend of a local teacher named Ratchapol Chaloengkhun, has spoken out about how exam fraud may have cost his friend's life. Ratchapol placed 6th in the initial civil service exam results announced on February 19, 2025, for an assistant teacher position in social studies at the Chonburi examination center. The first round of appointments only called candidates ranked up to 5th, forcing Ratchapol to seek employment as a temporary teacher at a school farther from his home. On February 23, 2025, he died in a traffic accident while commuting to work, never knowing that after cheaters were disqualified and the rankings were recalculated on July 27, 2025, his name had risen to 1st place.

The friend expressed his grief on social media, stating that without the fraud, Ratchapol would likely still be alive. He noted that Ratchapol was the family's main financial support, his mother was ill, and he had been working toward sending his younger brother through university. The friend described the tragedy as the "greatest misfortune in the civil service exam system," adding that Ratchapol never had the chance to learn of his success before his death.

Interior Minister Jé Saraswat Thaisaraswat has instructed the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and related agencies to continuously monitor Mekong River water levels 24 hours a day, particularly in Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Mukdahan, and Nakhon Phanom provinces. Water levels are rising steadily and are expected to overflow in low-lying areas between August 10-14. The ministry has ordered all units to prepare pumping equipment, disaster machinery, and staff for immediate deployment should conditions deteriorate. "We do not wait for floods to occur and then help," the minister stated. "We must monitor, warn, and prepare beforehand. Alert systems must work swiftly so people have time to take shelter and reduce damage." The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has already begun installing pumps and draining water into the Mekong from 6:30 p.m. onward to enhance drainage capacity and prepare for potential heavy rains. Disaster equipment and personnel remain mobilized around the clock. The Ministry of Interior emphasizes prevention before disasters strike and timely public warnings, with all units coordinated from monitoring through assessment, alerts, and recovery operations, with public safety as the ultimate goal.

A fireworks explosion devastated a rental home near a school in Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri, on August 10, 2026, at 3 p.m., injuring two people. The blast occurred while workers were mixing and sifting gunpowder to prepare fireworks inside a corrugated metal shelter, with debris and explosive materials scattered around the site. Two men sustained burn injuries: Amnaj, 36, suffered severe burns and was transported to Pattaya Pathumkun Hospital for treatment, while an unidentified man in his 40s–50s received first aid at the scene for burns on his arms and back.

According to Sanphasit, 34, a fireworks worker at the site, he had stepped outside the house moments before the accident when a spark suddenly ignited inside, followed by a loud explosion and rapid fire spread. He quickly retrieved a fire extinguisher to contain the flames and prevent them from reaching neighboring areas. Preliminary findings suggest the explosion was caused by a spark during the gunpowder mixing process, though this remains an assumption pending a formal investigation by police and relevant authorities who will conduct a detailed examination of the premises, materials, and production methods.

Chachang district in Chanthaburi province is facing Thailand's worst elephant encroachment problem, with 91 wild elephants currently roaming outside the Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary and damaging crops and property in residential areas covering over 81,000 acres. Officials from the Senate's Natural Resources and Environment Committee, led by Chiwaphap Chiwatharam, have deployed a rapid response team to help manage the crisis, but they are severely undermanned—working 2-3 days without sleep—and lack critical resources such as drones and supplies needed to safely drive the elephants back into the forest. Local residents report that the elephants are highly intelligent and coordinated, breaking through fences and returning in groups of 7-30, particularly during corn-planting season, and three elephants have already died after being electrocuted by illegal homemade fences set up by desperate farmers. Volunteer teams assisting the effort are calling for government support, including funding for drone surveillance equipment and elephant-deterrent supplies, while compensation for damages remains stuck in bureaucratic delays with 4 million baht still owed to victims.

Suvarnabhumi Airport has defended food prices at its international passenger terminal, saying restaurants and beverage outlets are required to keep their prices within 20% of normal market prices.

The clarification from Airports of Thailand (AOT) came after Khaosod English published a post on 9 August asking followers whether food at Suvarnabhumi Airport was too expensive. The post cited complaints from some passengers who said food inside the international departure terminal was significantly more expensive than similar items outside the airport, with some saying certain prices were several times higher than normal.

In its response to Khaosod English, AOT said Suvarnabhumi Airport has a wide range of restaurants and beverage outlets, with prices varying according to the type of establishment and menu. The airport said this gives passengers and other users a range of choices based on their preferences and budgets.

Budget food options

AOT said King Power Suvarnabhumi Co., Ltd. (KPS), which has the concession to manage commercial activities inside the passenger terminal, has also introduced budget food options under its "Suvarnabhumi Food Guide" program for 2026-27. The program offers food sets starting at 50 baht, AOT said.

Examples include a Krispy Kreme doughnut set with one can of soft drink, as well as a Bonchon chicken set with sundubu soup, Japanese rice and a 600-milliliter bottle of Purra mineral water for 280 baht.

The airport also pointed to Magic Food Point, a food court on the first floor of the passenger terminal, as another budget option. Prices there start at 30 baht, and the food court offers a variety of food and drinks 24 hours a day.

Prices monitored monthly

AOT said restaurants and beverage outlets at Suvarnabhumi Airport operated under KPS are subject to contractual conditions requiring them to control prices so they do not exceed 20% above market prices. The benchmark is based on regular selling prices at department stores and leading hotels in Bangkok, rather than prices at restaurants located outside the airport generally.

AOT said it receives pricing information from KPS and checks the submitted prices every month to ensure compliance with the conditions.

The airport acknowledged the concerns raised by passengers and said their comments and suggestions would be taken into consideration as part of efforts to improve services.

AOT also said it would coordinate with relevant operators to encourage them to take into account price, product quality and value for money, while maintaining international service standards at the airport.