Dr. Jetsada Bunyavongvorachit, Deputy Director of Primary Care Services at Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, has shared health advice on his Facebook page about behaviors to avoid to prevent dangerous blood pressure spikes in the morning. He suggests being mindful of four things during the first 30 minutes after waking.

The morning is when your body transitions from sleep mode to wakefulness. Your nervous system becomes more active, your heart rate increases slightly, and blood pressure naturally rises from nighttime levels. For people with high blood pressure or those trying to get accurate readings, Dr. Jetsada warns against rushing to consume multiple stimulants at once.

1. Don't brew strong coffee immediately, especially before measuring blood pressure. Caffeine can temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure in some people, particularly those sensitive to it. If you drink coffee before measuring, your reading may be higher than your actual resting blood pressure. If you measure blood pressure every morning, the recommended sequence is: wake up → use bathroom → rest for a few minutes → measure blood pressure → then drink coffee. Guidelines suggest avoiding caffeine for at least 30 minutes before measurement.

2. Don't measure blood pressure while you still have a full bladder. A full bladder can interfere with blood pressure readings. The proper approach is to use the bathroom first, then return to sit and rest before measuring.

3. Don't exert yourself heavily immediately upon waking, especially if you plan to measure blood pressure afterward. While regular morning exercise is beneficial for long-term blood pressure control, physical activity temporarily increases heart rate and blood pressure. It is recommended to avoid vigorous exercise for about 30 minutes before measuring blood pressure.

The Mekong River Navy Police unit in Chiang Rai seized 10 million methamphetamine pills valued at approximately 350 million baht during an operation along the Mekong River near Chiang Saen. The suspects managed to escape under cover of darkness. On August 19, Navy spokesman Paratc Ratanachiayaphan reported that the Mekong River Navy Police in Chiang Rai conducted an anti-smuggling operation near the riverbank at Ban Tha Khun Thong in Ban Sae subdistrict, Chiang Saen district. During their patrol, officers discovered a Mitsubishi vehicle loaded with suspicious bags, but the occupants fled into darkness. Inspection of the bags revealed 34 sacks containing Type 1 drugs (methamphetamine) totaling 10 million pills, valued at approximately 350 million baht. All seized methamphetamine and the confiscated vehicle were transported to the Chiang Rai Navy Police command for detailed inventory and verification. Evidence is being compiled and relevant agencies are coordinating investigations to identify, track, and prosecute the offenders and their criminal network.

A drafted soldier stole a white traffic police motorcycle bearing the Trat insignia that was parked in front of a lodging house, abandoned it elsewhere, and walked back into town, apparently missing home. At 10:53 a.m. on August 19, 2025, Techitr Kulakanistatrakorn, commander of Mueang Trat Police Station, and Boonchai Suttivaree, deputy commander, received a report of the stolen police motorcycle parked in front of the traffic office building at Mueang Trat station. They immediately mobilized forces to track down the suspect with support from volunteer rescue workers. Officers located the white police motorcycle with Trat registration parked in front of a grocery store on Rai Pa-Dan Chumphol Road, Noen Sai subdistrict, Mueang, Trat. Police Lieutenant Somchoke Thiphyasat, head of the patrol unit at Mueang Trat station, apprehended the suspect at a three-way intersection on Sukhumvit Road in Wang Krajae subdistrict, Mueang, Trat. The suspect was a man wearing a green shirt with the name Surathat written on the front and the Navy insignia on the back. He was taken to point out where he abandoned the motorcycle and brought in for questioning at Mueang Trat Police Station for further legal proceedings. Preliminary investigation revealed the suspect was a drafted soldier who likely became homesick and fled, wanting to return home before committing the motorcycle theft. A local resident named Pitak, 52, who witnessed the incident while working nearby, said he saw the suspect ride up at high speed, abandon the motorcycle, and hurry back toward town. At first he thought it was an escaped prisoner and contacted rescue workers to inquire, but no escape had been reported, so he could only wonder why the man had fled. Another resident, a 50-year-old woman living across from where the motorcycle was abandoned, said she was cooking rice at her front door when she saw the suspect arrive and flee. She waved for help but remained unsuspicious, only puzzled why a soldier was riding a police motorcycle. A 44-year-old man named Somyot who gave the suspect a ride said he happened to be at a repair shop when the suspect asked for help getting to the Trat Provincial Transport Station. He agreed to drop the suspect at a three-way intersection in Wang Krajae subdistrict and only later learned the man had stolen a police motorcycle. The suspect had told him he was deceived into coming to work on fruit farms in Noen Sai. Police Lieutenant Nanthiphat Poolsawat, commander of the traffic unit at Mueang Trat station and owner of the motorcycle, said he had parked it in front of his office with the key left in the ignition after completing duties and stepping inside briefly to prepare for the next task. When he came back out, the motorcycle was gone. He initially thought a senior colleague had borrowed it but found no one knew anything about it until learning it had been stolen.

The Thai Cassava Farmers Association and the Northeastern Sugar Cane Farmers Institute fear that the end of biofuel subsidy measures on September 24, 2025, will damage E20 ethanol fuel demand and destabilize the raw material market for sugar cane and cassava. Association chairman Rangsi Paisoat said the organizations have called on the government to urgently prepare an energy transition plan for 2025–2029, after price compensation measures for biofuels under the Fuel Fund Act expire in September 2025.

Farmers worry that without replacement measures, E20 pricing will lose its advantage over regular petrol, consumer demand for ethanol will drop, and the supply chain for both raw materials will suffer. "The real concern for farmers is not just the end of subsidies, but the lack of clarity about what measures will replace them," Paisoat said. "If the price gap between E20 and petrol narrows enough to discourage buyers, ethanol demand could fall, affecting cassava purchases and prices and ultimately farmer income."

Thailand currently has ethanol production capacity of more than 7 million liters per day from 28 factories processing sugar cane, molasses, and cassava, but actual consumption is only around 3.5 million liters daily. Without supporting measures, falling demand could worsen overcapacity and disrupt the entire supply chain from farmers to factories to the bioenergy industry.

Paisoat said the government should shift focus from "price-support funds" to "value-added systems and new markets" to help Thai agricultural raw materials compete long-term, particularly by promoting E20 as a standard fuel to reduce dependence on imported oil and strengthen energy security.

Sithibun Ratchatasuviroj, chairman of the Northeastern Sugar Cane Farmers Institute, added that the government must set clear, continuous ethanol and E20 policies so farmers and industry can plan production, investment, and raw material management over the long term.

Sugar cane is not merely a sugar raw material but also feeds ethanol, bioenergy, and downstream industries. If the ethanol market shrinks without new outlets, the impact will cascade from raw material demand through cane purchases, production costs, cane prices, and farmer income. The 2025–2029 energy transition plan should therefore set firm targets for ethanol and E20, build a secure bioenergy market, and adapt the long-term agricultural planning models of Brazil and India for Thailand's use. The government, industry, and farmers must all have a voice in setting the direction to ensure energy transition advances alongside agricultural and grassroots economic security.

King of Gamers Club, led by Sattavet Intrayut, officially launches Thailand Ghost Game Festival 2026, the country's first horror game festival bringing together Thai-developed ghost games in one location. Attendees can play these games hands-on and discover creative works that convey stories, beliefs, imagination, and the supernatural through the diverse perspectives of Thai game developers. The gaming industry today competes not only on technology and production quality, but also on identity, distinctiveness, and the ability to create memorable player experiences. Ghost games and horror titles represent one area where Thai developers have outstanding potential, thanks to their narratives, atmosphere, beliefs, and perspectives that can be transformed into unique gaming experiences through storytelling, scene design, character development, sound, and mechanics. Thailand Ghost Game Festival 2026 was created to gather Thai-made ghost games in one space, giving players the chance to discover and experience new works while allowing developers to meet real players, hear direct feedback, and refine their games. The festival also builds connections with business partners and industry stakeholders, and aims to increase visibility of Thai ghost games on a broader scale, build confidence in Thai developers' capabilities, and create opportunities for international market expansion. The festival features five highlight Thai ghost games available to play: Pimalai Mansion: This Mansion Has No Mean Ghosts, Night Drive: A Haunted Night on Hidden Roads, Kumarn: The Wandering Spirit, BE LOST, and Ghost Observation. Some of these games were filmed at real locations that were then developed into in-game scenes, adding to the immersive and spine-chilling experience for players.

PHUKET: The contractor responsible for Phukets underpass lighting works faces a late-completion penalty of B11.8 million as the Aug 20 deadline set by the Phuket Governor approaches, although the Phuket Highways Office has given the company until Aug 31 to complete final checks and minor outstanding work.