The Department of International Trade Promotion is moving forward to expand the Thai food market in China by partnering with Chinese television to host a Thai cooking competition that promotes the Thai SELECT brand. The campaign leverages key opinion leaders and influencers on popular Chinese social media platforms including Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Weibo to increase brand awareness, stimulate consumer interest in Thai restaurants, and boost long-term Thai food business opportunities in China.

On August 12, Sunanta Kangwalkulgit, Director General of the Department of International Trade Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce, announced that she has instructed commercial attaches stationed worldwide to accelerate the expansion of Thai products and services in line with policy set by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supa Juea Sutthiramphan. The department recently received a report from Prapaporn Srihere, director of the Trade Promotion Office in Guangzhou, China, detailing the successful results of Thai food and Thai SELECT brand promotion activities in the Chinese market, which have increased consumer awareness and driven trial of Thai restaurants and Thai SELECT-branded establishments.

Commercial attaches organized a Thai cooking competition at 1906 Young Town Plaza in Guangzhou to film a special episode of the Chinese television program "Wo Ai Fan Xun Wei" (In Search of Flavor) for Guangzhou Television. The broadcast aims to showcase the appeal of Thai food and Thai SELECT restaurants to reach Chinese consumers widely through television media, while simultaneously generating momentum on China's leading social media platforms. Thai food culture serves as a bridge to create experience and awareness of Thai SELECT among Chinese consumers through entertaining cooking competition content that is easy to understand and fun, allowing viewers to observe Thai cooking techniques, ingredients, and authentic Thai seasonings.

The event was honored by the Consul General in Guangzhou serving as honorary judge, with Thai commercial attaches and officials as judges, alongside Chinese partners including executives from Guangzhou Premium Food Week and management of 1906 Young Town Plaza. Two Thai restaurants carrying the Thai SELECT certification, eight shopping mall representatives, and two trade association representatives participated, reflecting strong cooperation between Thai and Chinese partners in promoting Thai food and restaurants in the Chinese market. The event attracted significant interest from consumers and tourists in the 1906 Young Town Plaza area, bringing Thai food promotion directly to local consumer groups.

The highlight of the event was a Thai cooking competition in television format featuring popular Thai dishes and Thai SELECT-certified products. Thai chefs from Thai SELECT restaurants and Chinese chefs experienced in Thai cuisine demonstrated the charm and unique characteristics of Thai food to Chinese viewers. The competition format not only provided entertainment but also told the story of Thai food through the real experience of competitors and chefs, allowing Chinese viewers to gain deeper knowledge of Thai cuisine beyond seeing finished dishes. Viewers witnessed ingredient selection, cooking methods, and the meticulous attention to creating authentic Thai flavors. By filming the activity as a Chinese television program, the promotion reaches audiences far beyond the event venue.

As of 6 a.m. on August 12, 2025, the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom's hydrological station measured 11.98 meters—up 15 centimeters from the previous day and just 2 centimeters short of critical level, expected to be reached this afternoon. The municipality has shut all four automatic drainage gates to block backflow that could inundate the city. Water pouring from Bueng Kham province and Laos has overwhelmed agricultural land in Ban Klang district, roughly 28 kilometers from town, flooding over 100 rai of banana, bamboo, and fragrant coconut plantations to depths of one meter and submerging a concrete road for more than three kilometers.

The overflow at the temporary market relaxation zone and OTOP building caused garbage bins, plastic water containers, and vendor tables to float away; traders scrambled to lash down remaining goods. Dawsuwan, 59, grows Deng bamboo shoots across three plots totaling over 30 rai, home to some 200 plants. Since August 9, rapid flooding inundated two plots to a depth of one meter; she normally supplies 50 kilograms daily to city markets but received an order for 2,000 kilograms today—a demand her remaining unaflooded plot may not meet, risking substantial income loss.

Buenchareun Prombut, 67, village headman of Ban Klang, attributed the flooding to rapid upstream flows and heavy local rain, which caused the Mekong to overflow steadily over two to three days, reaching depths of one to 1.5 meters in places. Lao merchants from across the border, who normally trade forest goods such as rodents, squirrels, mushrooms, and insects, now find the Lao side equally flooded; goods left in the market buildings drift on the water awaiting recovery by boat.

In Si Songkhram district, the Songkhram River began overflowing on the afternoon of August 11, particularly at Tha Bo Songkhram and Pak Un villages, flooding eight to ten riverside homes with water depth averaging 50 centimeters to one meter. Sub-district officer Kornkarn Kaewdee led health workers, village leaders, and flat-bottomed boats to deliver emergency supplies and comfort victims, with emphasis on waterborne disease prevention for the elderly, children, and those requiring special care until conditions return to normal.

Niwat Cheawiribun, Nakhon Phanom municipal mayor, reported that Mekong levels continue rising steadily. The four automatic pumping stations along the east bank—at Tesapradit Road, Samutbannharn Road, Post Office Junction, and Wat Phi Sri—which normally drain water into the Mekong, have reached capacity. All four drainage gates have been ordered closed. The municipality will deploy long-range pumps and over ten large mobile pumping units from Region 7 Waterworks Authority (Sakon Nakhon) stationed at key points and along the riverbank, ready to accelerate water discharge into the Mekong if heavy rain or backflow threatens the town.

Pon Tha Phra Chan has gone live to clarify a dispute involving a gold amulet coin that has become a point of contention in the amulet collecting community. Social media pages had accused him of swapping amulets, claiming the amulet's owner later discovered the issue and settled the matter for 9 million baht in exchange for not filing charges.

According to Pon Tha Phra Chan, on his birthday around August 5, a customer brought in a large number of amulets for inspection. His staff assisted in checking them. The disputed gold amulet coin was left inside a gold percentage testing machine by a staff member—an error he acknowledged immediately. Upon learning of the mistake, he suspended the employee and contacted the customer to resolve the issue at once.

He expressed shock and regret at the incident, noting the employee had worked with him for 10 to 15 years. When arranging to return the amulets, the customer asked what price he would offer to purchase them, leading to a negotiated sale at 9 million baht—not a settlement to avoid legal action as social media claimed.

Regarding a separate amulet set priced at 2.5 million baht, he acknowledged he could not accurately count the pieces in the set that day because nearly 200 customers visited the shop simultaneously, preventing thorough service.

Pon Tha Phra Chan released an audio clip of his conversation with the amulet's owner, in which the customer stated he held no grudge, had no intention to file charges, understood it was a mistake, and that the matter was resolved amicably. He expressed puzzlement over why the story spread on social media.

He further suggested that the incident may have been publicized by a third party who lost a business opportunity, possibly with intent to damage his reputation.

A SuperPoll survey released August 12 shows that 84.14 percent of Thai citizens back the Royal Thai Police's illegal firearm crackdown as a way to restore public confidence. The poll, conducted August 10-11 among 1,045 respondents across all professions nationwide at 95 percent confidence with a 3 percent margin of error, found strong public support for the police's preventive and emergency-response measures under National Police Chief General Kittarat Pancharoen.

The survey indicates that during a period of public concern over gun violence, citizens hold a positive view of the police's multiple approaches—prevention, rapid response, firearm seizures, and weapons control. Rather than endorsing crackdowns alone, the data reflects public expectation that safety policy should shift from reactive to proactive prevention.

Citizens place highest value on visible police presence in public spaces, rapid response times, and the ability to mitigate risk before loss of life occurs. When asked which measures they most support, 84.14 percent backed increased police patrols at schools, malls, hospitals, markets, and public areas—the highest rating. Close behind were rapid response and containment at 82.41 percent, nationwide illegal firearm seizure at 80.69 percent, online weapon trafficking crackdowns at 78.97 percent, and better oversight of government-issued firearms also at 78.97 percent.

The survey highlights that public perception focuses not just on arrest numbers but on the state's ability to create an environment where citizens feel protected and help arrives quickly. Increased patrols at schools and hospitals serve a dual purpose: physical deterrence and psychological reassurance. All five measured approaches received support between 79 and 84 percent, with only a 5.17 percent spread, suggesting citizens back a multipronged strategy rather than any single measure.

When asked about confidence in the police's gun control measures under General Kittarat, citizens showed highest faith in preventive action at 80.18 percent, followed by rapid response at 78.97 percent, safety assurance at 78.96 percent, and serious law enforcement at 74.52 percent.

Recently, Arocha Nantmontri, Governor of Nakhon Pathom Province, presided over a ceremony to enshrine the remains of Phra Brahm Wedi (Suthep Phussammo), former advisor to Regional Buddhist Sangha Council 15 and former abbot of Phra Pathom Chedi Temple, beneath the Bodhi tree at the Khom Bodhi Meditation Centre. The ceremony was attended by Phra Sri Wisutthiwong (Suwit Pavichhanyoo), Deputy Regional Sangha Council Leader, Assistant Abbot of Phra Pathom Chedi Ratchawora Mahavihar, and provincial officials including Vice Governor Nrongwit Phobpan and Narinat Panyasilp, Culture Officer.

Phra Brahm Wedi, born 30 July 1941 in Samut Songkhram Province, was ordained at age 20 on 24 June 1961 at Wat Pramoht. He pursued Buddhist studies at Wat Prasathong in Suphan Buri for four vassas before transferring to Phra Pathom Chedi Temple in 1965, where he earned the Buddhist Studies Master's degree in 1993 from Mahachulalongkornraj University.

He served as teacher of Buddhist scriptures and Pali language, established education scholarships for students and novices from 1992 onwards, and oversaw major renovations of the temple complex including the ordination hall, galleries, murals, and monastic quarters. He held successive positions as monk administrator in 1975, assistant abbot in 1977, preceptor in 1987, abbot in 1993, deputy regional sangha leader in 2001, and regional sangha council leader in 2002 until becoming advisor in 2021. He received honorary degrees from Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University in 1997 and from Mahachulalongkornraj University in 1998.