Permanent Secretary Arthit Samphanratana disclosed that Phuket's administrative forces conducted a checkpoint operation in central Phuket and discovered a CZ-brand firearm with a loaded magazine containing 28 rounds hidden beneath the driver's seat of a BMW. The driver, identified as 37-year-old Nat (surname withheld), could not produce authorization documents for possessing or carrying the weapon. Officers arrested him and filed charges for illegally transporting a firearm in a public place and possessing an unauthorized weapon. The suspect and evidence were transferred to Phuket City Police Station for prosecution under maximum legal penalties.

Samphanratana warned anyone carrying illegal firearms in vehicles or public spaces that the Prime Minister has temporarily suspended all new permits for carrying concealed weapons for one year effective February 20. All provincial administrative forces will continue checkpoint operations to intercept illegal, unregistered firearms. Those found in possession face maximum legal penalties, though individuals may voluntarily surrender unregistered weapons at any district office. The public is urged to report suspected illegal firearms by calling the Damrongdhamma Center at 1567 for authorities to take legal action.

Dr. Sakkachai Thanabodee, chairman of the Induction Furnace (IF) Metal Casting Operators Association, says that amid public and consumer concerns about construction material safety standards, steel production technology—particularly IF furnace steel—has come under broad scrutiny for its perceived past limitations. However, modern metallurgical engineering has advanced significantly. Clean steel production using IF furnaces combined with secondary refining processes overcomes former impurity removal constraints and strengthens building structure safety, reduces air pollution by up to six times, and serves as a critical key to sustainable Thai construction industry development.

1. Automatic Steel Stirring Innovation for Uniform Steel Quality A common misconception is that IF furnaces cannot produce clean steel. In reality, IF melting relies on electromagnetic induction to generate eddy currents, which create automatic electromagnetic stirring of the molten steel. The steel circulates from the edges to the center and continuously moves upward, ensuring uniform chemical composition and temperature distribution throughout the furnace (homogeneity). The magnetic field stirring also helps lift lighter inclusions and impurities to the surface, allowing producers to efficiently add slag-forming agents and remove them from the furnace.

2. Quality Enhancement Through Secondary Refining—Overcoming Chemical Limitations Modern high-standard IF steel mills now employ secondary steel refining technology. When molten steel from the IF furnace is transferred to a refining furnace (such as LF or AOD), argon gas is blown and chemical composition is carefully adjusted. Using secondary refining furnaces with basic refractory materials can reduce sulfur (S) content to minimal levels of 0.002%, which improves ductility and toughness, preventing brittleness and enabling excellent performance in earthquake-resistant applications.

3. Eliminating Brittle Steel from Nitrogen Contamination A significant metallurgical advantage of IF furnaces compared to electric arc furnaces (EAF) is nitrogen contamination. EAF requires high-temperature electric arcs that ionize atmospheric nitrogen molecules, absorbing up to 80–100 ppm into the molten steel, causing hardness and brittleness. In contrast, IF furnaces lack such high-temperature arcs, resulting in minimal nitrogen pickup and completely reducing the risk of brittle steel.

4. Environmentally and Economically Friendly In terms of sustainability, IF furnace technology produces far lower air pollution, with only 1–2 kilograms of dust per ton compared to EAF furnaces that emit 6–12 kilograms per ton (a sixfold difference). Operating noise is also lower at 82–86 decibels, and importantly, operating costs are 20–25% cheaper, helping prevent monopolistic pricing of structural steel in the country.

Industry Minister Varawuth Silpaarcha announced on August 11, 2025, at Government House that permanent secretary Natthapon Rangsitphol will be transferred from the Industry Ministry to become permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry. Silpaarcha acknowledged that Energy Minister Ekniyom Phromphao had requested the transfer, noting that Natthapon has completed four years of service and possesses strong qualifications. Since the Energy Ministry was formerly part of the Industry Ministry, the move was deemed feasible. The new Industry Ministry permanent secretary will be selected from candidates within the ministry, pending cabinet approval and documentation review.

Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society Nannaporn Bunyatida Somchai presided over the opening of the Digital Durian Market event, which brings durians from farm to shelf. The event was attended by DEPA officials, CP Extra executives, and durian farmers enrolled in the Digital Durian project at the Makro Ladprao event space in Bangkok.

Nannaporn emphasized that promoting durian farmers cannot focus solely on distribution but must begin at the source. The government, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and DEPA, must plan how to help Thai agriculture transition to modern farming practices. Thailand's annual durian yields vary significantly due to multiple factors affecting both farmers and domestic and international buyers with different needs.

Thailand should prioritize technology for tracking and monitoring agricultural products throughout the supply chain—from production through harvesting, processing, and transportation—to enable traceability back to source and production methods. This provides buyers and consumers assurance of quality from Thai farmers. DEPA has launched multiple programs to develop Thai agriculture, including the Digital Durian project, which enables farmers to use digital platforms for record-keeping and harvest tracking, meet GAP standards, and implement smart water management with IoT technology. These efforts help Thai durians maintain quality and standards in global markets. The ministry operates as a support system, integrating work across all agencies to maximize public benefit.

CKPower Managing Director Thanawat Triwisvavet announced the company's second-quarter and first-half 2025 results, reporting net operating profit of 210 million and 326 million baht respectively, down 40% and 22% year-on-year. The decline stems mainly from reduced electricity sales and higher fuel costs at subsidiaries BIC and NN2, though this was partially offset by strong performance from XPCL, which contributed 318 million and 517 million baht in the quarter and half-year—up 49% and 134% respectively—driven by increased water flow through the Xayaburi hydroelectric plant and lower financing costs.

Water levels at the Nam Ngum 2 hydroelectric facility stood at 355 meters above mean sea level at end-June 2025, comparable to the prior year despite lower inflows, while average discharge through Xayaburi remained 15% higher than the same period last year. Anticipating possible El Niño conditions in the second half of 2025, CKPower is developing an enhanced Hydrometeorological Monitoring and Forecasting System to improve accuracy in power generation readiness forecasts.

The Luang Prabang hydroelectric project is 77% complete as of June 2025, on schedule. Meanwhile, subsidiary Bangkhenchai Co. Ltd., operating under a Feed-in Tariff scheme with 6 megawatts of renewable capacity, began construction with commercial operation targeted for 2026 under a 25-year power purchase agreement. CKPower maintains a healthy liquidity ratio of 2.49x and net interest-bearing debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52x, with lower interest rate trends expected to support second-half performance.

National police command has ordered all units across Thailand to strengthen controls on firearms and explosives and escalate security measures in a concrete manner, emphasizing enhanced safety protocols and crime prevention in public areas nationwide.

On August 11, Deputy Police Chief Trairuang Phiwpharn, speaking as spokesman for the National Police Office, disclosed that Police Chief Kittisart Panthet has issued orders to all units nationwide to implement weapon regulations and upgrade security measures. The action responds to current violent incidents in which perpetrators have deployed firearms and explosives in multiple cases across different areas, resulting in loss of life, physical injury, and property damage to the public.

This constitutes an urgent government policy and National Police Office priority emphasizing crime prevention and suppression that impacts the public. Deputy Police Chief Thana Chuwong has been tasked with leading investigations into firearm, ammunition, and explosive-related offenses through targeted assessments, launching encirclement operations to search for firearms, weapons, ammunition, explosives, and weapon simulants, including illegal distribution channels both on the ground and through online social media.

Deputy Police Chief Thatchai Pitanilabut will upgrade safety measures and enhance security at public soft targets such as schools, shopping centers, and parks through increased visible patrols (Stop Walk Talk), weapons screening of suspicious persons and vehicles, rapid incident response, and tactical special operation units to contain and suppress incidents. All units are also instructed to inspect and control government firearms in compliance with regulations.

The Police Chief has additionally directed all commanding officers at every level to integrate investigative and crime prevention forces in conducting comprehensive sweeps against firearm, ammunition, and explosive offenses in concrete terms while strictly adhering to police tactics and the law.