Three waves of economic pressure have battered Thailand's economy, with second-quarter GDP expanding just 1.9 percent year-on-year, down from 2.8 percent in the first quarter. Seasonally adjusted, the economy contracted 0.2 percent quarter-on-quarter. Deputy Finance Minister Santidharm Sathianthailand said the headline figures mask both clear headwinds and some encouraging opportunities.

The first wave is surging energy prices, which squeeze not only living costs but also Thailand's trade balance. Imports accelerated sharply in the quarter while the trade balance swung back into significant deficit. The energy shock ripples through transport costs, production expenses, and broader price pressures across the economy.

The second wave is widespread cost inflation. Consumer price inflation climbed from minus 0.5 percent in Q1 to plus 2.7 percent, while producer prices jumped 8.3 percent—especially worrying for small businesses struggling to pass full costs to customers as their own purchasing power weakens.

The third wave is flagging consumer demand. Private consumption growth slowed from 3.3 percent to 1.9 percent, consumer confidence fell to 50.3, and auto loans contracted 7.8 percent. Thais are spending more cautiously while businesses face higher costs simultaneously. Small and medium enterprises, which hold little cash reserves, have weak bargaining power, and struggle to access credit, face particular strain. When revenue slows but costs rise together, liquidity crises can force sound businesses to cut staff, halt investment, or even close. This is the quarter's main challenge and why short-term economic support measures—protecting living costs and broadening access to credit, guarantees, and debt restructuring for viable SMEs—remain essential.

On the brighter side, private investment surged 13.4 percent, the highest in more than a decade. Machinery and equipment investment jumped 16.6 percent, driven by computers, software, and industrial machines. Exports grew 14.1 percent, led by electronics, communications equipment, computer parts, and semiconductors. This shows Thailand is benefiting from new investment flows, supply chain shifts, and growth in digital and AI economies—consistent with overseas reports highlighting Thai potential. The World Bank's 2026 World Development Report identified Thailand as one of five developing nations with the highest export value of AI-related goods in 2025, showing the country already has production capacity in this chain.

For the Deputy Minister, Q2 GDP reveals clear challenges but is not all bad news. The economy faces real pressure yet sits at a crossroads with genuine opportunity.

We previously tested the MG Urban before its official launch, but with limited driving time and staged scenarios designed to showcase the vehicle's advanced features. Now that we've had the chance to borrow the top-spec Ultra model for personal testing, we're sharing our real-world findings with interested readers.

The MG Urban is a compact five-door electric hatchback aimed at urban drivers, manufactured locally to European export standards. Using comfort mode and light regenerative braking, the motor delivers a maximum output of 160 horsepower and peak torque of 250 Newton-metres—not thrilling, but adequate for responsive acceleration suited to its compact size. The vehicle is fitted with a 53.9 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery from CATL.

Despite its urban focus, we wanted to test highway performance, so we headed toward Chonburi on the Burapha Road. The car accelerates steadily without dramatic speed gains but maintains consistent power delivery. On long, straight stretches at highway speed, the vehicle remains stable with responsive steering and no sense of stress.

At lower speeds, the electric motor operates quietly, but wind noise becomes noticeable above 110 km/h and grows more pronounced at higher velocities. We took an expressway exit due to heavy traffic and took smaller roads to shorten the distance. There we encountered rough pavement with significant potholes, revealing that the car's high-speed stability comes at the cost of ride comfort—while it handles bumps gradually, vibrations still transmit through the firm seats, making impacts quite perceptible.

The Ultra model features a "Gender Neutral & Trendy" design with a glowing logo, LED headlights with automatic control, and Union Jack-style LED rear lights befitting its British lineage. It includes an automatic rear window demister, rear spoiler, and powered tailgate. A V2L system transforms the vehicle into a power source for appliances up to 3.3 kW.

Inside, a two-tone grey and black interior includes a leather-wrapped multifunctional steering wheel, synthetic leather seats with six-way electric adjustment and driver seat ventilation for the driver, and four-way adjustment for the front passenger. There is a 256-shade interactive ambient light system, a seven-inch instrument display, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system—though the latter sometimes responds sluggishly to certain commands. The car includes wireless phone charging, a full panoramic sunroof with shade, and rear seat air vents.

Safety systems are comprehensive, including Level 2+ Advanced Driver Assistance System and automatic parking assistance backed by 21 sensors, cameras, and radars around the vehicle. On the return journey via the Banguena-Trat route toward Bangkok, we encountered construction zones with adequate advance warning in most cases, though some transitions were tight.

On August 18, 2025, Fang District Police coordinated with military units to execute a search warrant at a house in Mueang Chiang Rai district. Officers were attempting to apprehend Silchai on drug trafficking charges related to methamphetamine distribution. An unidentified man at the location opened fire on officers with a shotgun and attempted to throw explosives at them. The suspect then detonated an explosive device near the house, killing himself. Officers have not yet identified the deceased and are awaiting forensic confirmation. Police Officer Third Class Pongsak Klangthaison was wounded by shrapnel on his left arm and was taken to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital. The area remained cordoned off as operations continued.

Code Genius, under LEARN Corporation, has organized the Code Genius Junior Hackathon 2026 with the theme "Young Innovators for Better Bangkok: A Liveable City Through Young Brilliant Ideas." The event provides youth an opportunity to apply knowledge in coding, AI, Scratch, and micro:bit to design innovations and solutions for real challenges facing Bangkok, covering air quality, stray animals, disaster preparedness, night safety, transportation and traffic, and building an inclusive city. The learning approach emphasizes using technology as a tool to understand and solve real-world problems.

The activity took place at Learn Sadhit Phattana (LSP School), where participants learned through Design Thinking processes—from problem analysis, user understanding, concept development, to prototyping and presenting work to expert judges. Many ideas demonstrated students' ability to connect technology with social problems and human quality of life. One notable project came from the Safer team, which presented a real-time flood warning application with nearby safe zones and rescue boat services designed for the general public, pet owners, and people with disabilities, reflecting comprehensive user-centered innovation design.

Judges evaluated entries based on Design Thinking criteria, assessing problem understanding, creative solutions, and prototype development alignment with the given brief. The event featured experts from government, education, and technology sectors as judges and advisors, helping advance participants' ideas toward real-world application.

Chanpatin Palapipath, founder and managing director of Code Genius, stated: "We believe children learn best when they see the connection between what they learn and real context. Using coding or AI to solve city problems isn't about creating perfect innovations, but about teaching them to ask questions, see human impact, and learn that their knowledge can create real change. In the future, the key skill may not just be using technology, but using technology to solve meaningful problems."

The event reflects Code Genius's learning philosophy that technology skills should develop alongside critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving abilities, enabling students to apply knowledge meaningfully. This aligns with LEARN Corporation's mission to develop learners' potential through education connected to real life and future global change. For more information, visit www.codegeniusacademy.com or www.learn.co.th.

King Power Rangsit has opened its first multi-brand store, The Passage of Collections, on Level 1, featuring seven world brands and inviting shoppers to browse fashion, apparel, bags, jewelry, and footwear that can be mixed and matched in any style every day.

The King Power group unveiled The Passage of Collections as a premier fashion shopping destination welcoming Thai fans and tourists worldwide to experience seamlessly integrated fashion design connected with lifestyle. It brings together iconic legendary brands and trending names with diverse items that complete any look beyond what was possible before.

The Passage of Collections is a fashion space for everyday wear, designed perfectly for modern lifestyles without following seasonal trends, moving beyond traditional luxury to blend diverse contemporary fashion spanning luxury, streetwear, and genderless styles. Customers can enjoy mixing and matching pieces daily using the key concept "Everything Wear" from global brands including Alexander McQueen, Courrèges, Jacquemus, Marni, MM6, The Row, and Vivienne Westwood, allowing shoppers to express their identity, taste, and personal style freely.

Inside the curved retail space with surrounding clear glass, warm-toned wooden walls, and graduated golden lighting along the ceiling that guides the eye to brand logos etched in glass, various brands are arranged rhythmically on wooden shelves displaying bags, shoes, and jewelry in a curated gallery-like setting. The Passage of Collections is not merely a designer brand showroom but a space where customers select pieces that truly fit themselves and can wear with joy. The seven highlighted brands each offer distinct appeal: Alexander McQueen, a British luxury brand blending dark romanticism with haute couture craftsmanship, known globally for its iconic skull motif; Courrèges, founded in Paris by André and Coqueline Courrèges and a legendary 1960s fashion house that sparked the Space Age trend and revolutionized women's fashion with futuristic silhouettes and geometric cutting; Jacquemus, a French brand with minimalist style infused with playfulness, expressed through asymmetrical silhouettes and unconventional tailoring in warm tones reflecting Mediterranean charm, guaranteed by its signature mini bag Le Chiquito; Marni Meryll Rogge, which reinterprets its recognizable identity inspired by the Prealps surrounding Milan, blending mountain climber chic with refined tailoring and hit items like Fussbett shoes and Trunk bags; MM6, a contemporary fashion brand distinguished by innovative clothing merging creative and playful thinking, breaking conventional boundaries through conceptual design and unique fabric techniques in an all-gender style that unlocks identity without limits; The Row, an American luxury brand founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, showcasing quiet luxury through simple, serene lines and shapes that emphasize restrained elegance; and Vivienne Westwood, representing punk spirit and rebellious design.

On August 18, 2025, Pol. Col. Chaiwat Pradabpai, superintendent of Phra Khanong Police Station, addressed allegations made by Ms. Chommani, known as Pa Da, who claims she was charged with eight counts of attempted murder by Phra Khanong Police. The case originated in 1995 when Abbas filed a lawsuit against the Royal Thai Treasury Department over coastal land that had since eroded into the sea. After three court proceedings, the Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the land had disappeared beneath the sea, concluding the civil case. In 2016, a group claiming to be estate managers rejected the Supreme Court's decision and led public protests, eventually cutting wire fences and trespassing on an oil company's leased area. This led to multiple criminal charges for trespassing and property destruction. Pa Da was among those prosecuted, facing one case from 2018 and three more from 2020. The first case resulted in a jail sentence and is under appeal. In 2024, prosecutors decided to prosecute the group for additional trespassing charges, requiring her arrest. When she failed to respond to a police summons, officers requested a court-issued arrest warrant, which Pol. Col. Chaiwat emphasized was a legitimate court order, not a police fabrication. He stressed that police do not issue arrest warrants; they gather evidence and present requests to the court, which then decides whether sufficient grounds exist. When she was arrested a second time during a public holiday, she was held pending transfer to prosecutors for court filing, which he clarified was lawful arrest, not unlawful detention. Regarding her claim that fingerprints were not repeated during the later arrest, Pol. Col. Chaiwat explained that since the arrest was for prosecution purposes in an existing case where fingerprints had already been taken, duplication was unnecessary. He also dismissed allegations that officers sprayed water on her, stating police had no reason for such conduct. He concluded by noting that with the case now under court examination, the legal process must proceed according to law.