On August 11, 2025, Surpong Inthrawat, secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), announced that the NACC board had found grounds to charge Charn Puangpech, former chairman of the Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organization, for corruption involving overpriced gym equipment procurement during fiscal years 2555-2556. The Pathum Thani PAO suffered damages totaling 44,574,012 baht.

During the investigation, it was revealed that in fiscal year 2555, Charn directed council members to submit projects to address public hardship within a 5-million-baht limit per person. Ten council members submitted eight projects totaling 10.5 million baht. Charn then ordered these projects included in the three-year development plan and the annual budget without proper price documentation as required by Interior Ministry regulations.

The engineering department director delegated price estimation to a civil engineer, Pratheuang Kanthsamas, who improperly based prices on previous-year equipment costs of approximately 500,000 baht per unit without accounting for different specifications. No price verification committee was established as mandated by procurement regulations. Based on these inflated estimates, Charn approved three gym equipment contracts worth 28,038,000 baht.

For fiscal year 2556, the same pattern repeated when 13 council members proposed 13 projects worth 34.5 million baht, which Charn again included in the budget and development plan without proper price verification procedures, leading to further overpricing of gym equipment purchases.

Bangkok, August 11, 2025 — True Corporation has announced official sponsorship of Nene Royal (Praew-Rattikarn Amloy), a 16-year-old performer from Phuket, as she competes on America's Got Talent in Los Angeles. True is the first brand to stand alongside her, demonstrating the company's commitment to nurturing Thai talent on the world stage under the "True to the World" concept. The company will provide Nene with a smartphone, True 5G connectivity, and a GO Travel Exclusive Worldwide roaming package priced at 3,499 baht, enabling her and her family to stay connected and share their experience throughout her time in Los Angeles.

Oliver Kitti Phong Veeratecha, head of brand and communications at True Corporation, stated: "We are confident that Thai talent is ready to shine on the global stage when given the right support at the right moment. We are honored to be the first brand to stand beside Nene Royal on this challenging journey. Our 'True to the World' concept serves as a bridge connecting the encouragement from Thailand, powered by our True 5G network to link every communication and important moment from Thailand directly to Los Angeles. We hope this success becomes another testament to Thai potential combined with timely opportunity, opening new possibilities and taking us further than ever before."

True invites all Thais to support Nene Royal by tuning in to America's Got Talent Season 21 on TrueVisions NOW and True X-ZYTE channel 340. The Judges' Callbacks round airs Thursday, August 13, 2025, at 3:00 PM on the TrueVisions NOW app, TrueVisions cable, and satellite services.

The Department of Internal Trade conducted field inspections of chicken egg supplies in Nakhon Ratchasima and found stocks to be adequate, dispelling claims that exports have caused market shortages. Director-General Withayakorn Maninet said the department is coordinating with relevant agencies to manage supply volumes, pricing, and distribution to ensure sufficient eggs meet public demand and help ease cost-of-living pressures. The department has partnered with provincial commerce offices nationwide to offer discounted eggs under the "Thai Eggs Help Thailand" program, selling at roughly 10% below market price between August 13–31, 2025, to reduce household burdens and improve access to affordable eggs. The department is also coordinating with wholesalers and retailers to run promotions on economically priced eggs and distribute them widely. In Nakhon Ratchasima, provincial commerce officials have been directed to verify facts on the ground, consult with local traders, and source additional eggs from other producers to boost supply and relieve local shortages. After investigation, the department found that reports of egg exports causing domestic shortages are merely unverified rumors, and traders continue to supply consumers daily with adequate quantities available for farm orders. Somchuon Rattanomangklan, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development, said the agency is managing chicken egg production to meet domestic consumption needs by extending layer-hen production cycles to maintain output and increase supply. Officials will monitor production, demand, and distribution closely to balance interests of farmers, businesses, and consumers. The Internal Trade Department will track the egg situation and coordinate with relevant agencies and the private sector to ensure adequate supply while preventing price manipulation or consumer exploitation, and invites the public to report shortages or unfair pricing to provincial commerce offices.

Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Office (DEPA) announced on August 11 that its Digital Industry Sentiment Index for the second quarter of 2025 rose to 48.4, up from 44.5 in the previous quarter. The survey covers five digital sectors: hardware and smart devices, software, digital services, digital content, and telecommunications. All sub-components improved, including profitability, production and order volumes, partnerships, employment, investment, and operating costs.

Acting DEPA Director Suphakorn Sittichai attributed the gains to data center investments, increased demand from major trading partners like the United States and China for electronic components and PCBs, baht depreciation supporting exports, and government economic stimulus that bolstered consumer spending. However, the sector faces headwinds from global oil and energy price volatility affecting shipping costs and rising production expenses for electronic components.

All five industry groups showed improved confidence: hardware and smart devices at 42.9, software at 51.1, digital services at 50.6, digital content at 46.8, and telecommunications at 50.0. Industry operators are calling on the government to extend tax incentives for hiring and skills development, accelerate high-growth sectors like gaming and digital content, expand e-commerce opportunities, and invest in shared infrastructure to reduce product development costs. The survey indicates confidence will likely rise further to 51.6 in the next quarter as government spending accelerates and stimulus measures take hold.

More than 20 years have passed since the world gained access to HPV vaccines, yet the widespread misconception that "no symptoms equals no disease" remains a major obstacle preventing many Thais from seeking protection. The result is stark: one Thai woman dies from cervical cancer every two hours.

Although HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is now a familiar term to many Thais, many still mistakenly believe it affects only women or assume they face no risk if they have no symptoms. In truth, HPV is a common virus that affects all genders and can remain dormant in the body for 15–20 years without causing any signs before leading to multiple types of cancer in the future.

To spread accurate information, Saowapha Station of the Thai Red Cross Society partnered with Bangkok to launch the campaign "HPV Is Not Okay," which included a fitness awareness event titled "Dance for Fitness: Stop Thinking HPV Is Okay" held on August 5 at Lumpini Park's aerobics plaza. The initiative aims to help Thais move from misunderstanding to awareness and prevention. One of the event's highlights was actress Amy Glinnachum's candid sharing of her personal experience confronting HPV.

**Amy Glinnachum's Seven-Year Journey**

Amy revealed that she was diagnosed with HPV infection and stage 2 abnormal cervical cells at just 25 years old—dangerously close to stage 3, which carries a high cervical cancer risk.

"When I went for my checkup, I had no symptoms at all. I was accompanying my sister, and when the doctor called back to say I had stage 2 abnormal cells and HPV, I panicked because I had no knowledge about it at all," Amy recalled.

Over the following seven years, Amy underwent continuous medical monitoring. With each doctor's appointment, anxiety returned. Eventually, she decided to undergo surgery to remove the abnormal tissue based on her doctor's recommendation to prevent the disease from progressing.

Although her treatment ultimately went well and she received an HPV vaccine as advised, the experience made her realize that appearing healthy on the outside may not be enough. Early detection and prevention are key. She chose to speak publicly and urge Thais to "stop feeling ashamed and stay silent," since HPV can affect anyone and should not be a source of embarrassment that causes us to neglect our health.

"I want everyone to not overlook their own health. It's not okay to think HPV is okay. I want everyone to get screened, even if they've only had intercourse once, have only one partner, or are currently single—there is still risk. And I want everyone to receive HPV vaccination," Amy said.

**Moving From "Knowing About" to "Truly Knowing and Preventing"**

Prof. Dr. Sutthipong Vachrasindu, Director of Saowapha Station at the Thai Red Cross Society, stated that while many Thais "know about" HPV, they do not "truly understand" it. Misconceptions remain a major barrier to prevention, particularly the false belief that the absence of symptoms means there is nothing to worry about, when in fact the virus may be hiding in the body for a long time without our knowledge.

Despite the world having HPV vaccines for many years, Thailand continues to see more than 8,600 new cases of cervical cancer annually and over 4,500 deaths per year—a stark reminder that HPV remains a silent threat that should not be ignored.

"The Thai Red Cross Society, through Saowapha Station, is an institution that cares about the health and well-being of the Thai people. The best way we can protect people from disease is through 'prevention' by means of screening and vaccination for diseases where we can provide protection," the professor explained.

Based on this philosophy, the campaign "HPV Is Not Okay" was created to build correct understanding and encourage prevention among all Thais.

LUXEED, a high-end automotive brand from Chery Group, is preparing for an official launch in Thailand in the fourth quarter of this year, poised to create a new phenomenon in Thailand's automotive market through premium vehicles that blend superior luxury with intelligent driver technology and a redefined luxury experience.

Jin Liu, LUXEED Brand Managing Director for Thailand, stated that for LUXEED, luxury should not stop at a brand symbol but must represent smarter vehicles that better understand users and enhance every journey. The brand's entry into Thailand goes beyond introducing a new car—it aims to deliver experiences that exceed expectations for Thai consumers through deep market research and analysis of high-end customer needs. LUXEED is positioned as an intelligent choice in Thailand's luxury automotive market, combining technological strength, quality, refined design, comfort, and seamless cabin experience to create a tangible new definition of luxury that users can truly feel.

Thailand is a strategic market for LUXEED as Southeast Asia's automotive center and an important right-hand-drive market. The brand targets Thailand as a starting point for systematic growth covering brand building, product introduction, dealer network expansion, and after-sales service to deliver a consistent customer ownership experience.

Consumer research from McKinsey's 2026 Mobility Consumer Pulse survey of over 20,000 vehicle users across five major markets found that 34% of premium segment respondents are likely to switch brands in their next vehicle purchase. Advanced driver assistance systems, artificial intelligence, powertrain technology, and in-vehicle digital and software systems are becoming increasingly important brand differentiators, opening space for brands like LUXEED that can translate innovation into tangible user value.

LUXEED combines "Luxury" and "Exceed" to convey a commitment to transforming traditional luxury into a new form that consistently creates experiences beyond expectations through cutting-edge technology and smart innovations. The brand features intelligent driving systems, seamless vehicle connectivity, and an intuitive smart cabin that elevates quality standards and ownership experience. For LUXEED, "Exceed" means the courage to challenge conventional thinking, create unexpected impressions, and continuously develop intelligent vehicles that enhance experience through relentless innovation.