Trat — Naval officers raced in speedboats to intercept a weapons trafficking network smuggling military arms from Cambodia, arresting three suspects and seizing two AK-47 rifles and large quantities of ammunition. On August 22, Sub-Lieutenant Phitthak Kitti of Laem Ngop Naval Police Station received coordination from the Royal Thai Navy's First Naval Area Command Intelligence Division that illegal military weapons would be smuggled from a neighboring country into Laem Ngop District via speedboat through Chang Channel.

Phitthak planned an arrest operation, deploying Ensign Ratchasit Plai Kong, commander of Laem Ngop Naval Police station, with a crew of three in speedboats to intercept at Waterfall Tharmaiyom Pier in South Chang Island, Chang District, Trat Province. At 5:00 p.m., the intelligence team radioed that a suspected speedboat had entered Chang Channel. Officers pursued and coordinated with the police team stationed at Direck Pier in Klongai Subdistrict, Laem Ngop District, to intercept. The suspects, recognizing they were being chased, accelerated toward Direck Pier where plainclothes naval officers were waiting.

At 6:26 p.m., the speedboat arrived at the pier and officers arrested three suspects: two men and one woman. A preliminary search found two AK-47 rifles and large quantities of ammunition packed in fertilizer bags containing metal boxes of cartridges, awaiting explosive ordnance disposal personnel to open them safely.

Ensign Ratchasit reported he received orders to intercept the suspect vessel near Waterfall Tharmaiyom Bridge in the afternoon and await communication from the naval intelligence unit. At 5:00 p.m., he received a radio alert and began pursuit when the speedboat passed at high speed, coordinating with the Direck Pier team. The arrest was completed at 6:26 p.m.

Sub-Lieutenant Phitthak said the operation followed intelligence from informants tracking weapons trafficking networks along the Thai-Cambodian border. Intelligence indicated military weapons would be transported by sea from a neighboring country to Direck Pier in Klongai Subdistrict, Laem Ngop District. After locating the route and timing, officers arrested the three Trat Province suspects, though investigators are still determining the final destination. The source is from a neighboring country.

Phitthak noted this likely represents part of a larger trafficking network or criminal organization, as sea transport was chosen because land borders are sealed. The Laem Ngop pier route requires passing through only one security checkpoint, or suspects could bypass security entirely through other routes. Officers found a red SUV with license plate number Kor 2739 from Trat. At 8:00 p.m., Sub-Lieutenant Phitthak and naval officers took the three suspects and seized weapons to the police station for further investigation.

A 43-year-old man shot and killed his 73-year-old father, identified as Somchai, at their home in Ban Saong, Wiang Sa district, Surat Thani province on August 21. The victim was found lying dead inside the house with a gunshot wound to the head. After opening fire, the suspect fled in a black four-door pickup truck with an unknown brand, bearing registration plate Khor Pho 4454 from Surat Thani.

Police, led by Deputy Inspector Naprat Pannarungsee of Wiang Sa Police Station and Nakhon Rak Rakpratoom, the station commander, launched an immediate investigation. Preliminary findings indicate the suspect and his father frequently argued and had a strained relationship. A violent quarrel broke out between them before the son opened fire. Authorities are intensifying their search for the suspect to pursue legal proceedings.

Heavy rain across Udon Thani province over the past two to three days has caused widespread flooding and water overflow affecting farmland in Chaiyawan, Nong Han, Ku Kaew, Phen, and Ban Dung districts, which are crossed by the main canal system. Water levels remain high. A dashcam recorded a dramatic moment as a pickup truck attempted to pass through a bridge construction zone on Highway 2022 between Sumsai and Ban Dung near Non Ngam and Prasanti villages in Na Kham subdistrict. Officials had set up warning cones and restricted access to the area. When the pickup truck approached, an official warned that passage was impossible due to flooding and potential danger, but the driver ignored the warning and was allowed through. Moments later, the road suddenly collapsed before their eyes, and the truck sank immediately. Officials were shocked, remarking that the driver had been warned but chose to push through anyway. Fortunately, Ban Dung District Officer Suriyont Donsomjit and local residents rushed in to rescue the driver and pull the truck out just before it could be swept away by the current. The district officer is monitoring water levels closely and has warned residents that Highway 2022 in the bridge construction zone is impassable due to road collapse. Alternative routes are available through Nong Han and Ban Dung districts. In Ko Khaem subdistrict of Ku Kaew district, floodwaters have submerged rice fields with water levels dropping only slightly, though residents are taking advantage of the situation to fish in the flooded areas.

A two-story wooden and concrete house in Si Kaew, Nakhon Ratchasima caught fire on August 21, 2025, in the bedroom area. The resident, who was washing dishes inside, smelled smoke and went to investigate, only to encounter flames and an explosion that shattered nearby window glass, forcing them to flee and call for help from neighbors. Fire trucks from Si Kaew Municipality, led by Preecha Chanwong, the Si Kaew Municipality Mayor, arrived and deployed water sprays to control the blaze in the bedroom, extinguishing it within approximately 15 minutes. Preliminary investigation suggests the fire may have been caused by an electrical outlet that was simultaneously powering a fan and a phone charger, causing an overload and short circuit that generated heat and ignited the surrounding fan wiring. However, officials are awaiting formal confirmation from relevant authorities on the exact cause of the fire.

On August 21, 2026, Prime Minister's Office Minister Suksamrhai Wanthaniyakul led a delegation to Nong Bua Jod Dong Ling School in Kamlai District, Kalasin Province, to present policy initiatives and inspect village and community fund operations. The delegation included several MPs from northeastern provinces and was welcomed by Kalasin Governor Suwattana Khemthananphet, provincial officials, local administration representatives, and fund committee members.

Governor Suwattana reported that Kalasin has 1,609 village and community funds across 18 districts and 135 subdistricts, serving as a critical mechanism for residents to access capital, create livelihoods, and strengthen the provincial economy. The province aims to develop into a high-value agricultural zone with diverse tourism while ensuring no one is left behind.

Minister Suksamrhai announced three major economic relief packages: First, a Thai Help Thai program providing 4.4 billion baht to reduce interest burdens for approximately 63,125 village funds nationwide, with Kamlai District needing to accelerate applications. Second, a second million-baht fund allocating 3.4 billion baht to rehabilitate struggling "red-flag" funds by providing 1 million baht per fund, which Kamlai District has fully received across all 111 qualifying funds. Third, the SML Plus program, which has approved 349 funds worth 99.5 million baht, with an additional 1,241 funds worth 329 million baht recently approved for the second round.

The minister also highlighted government measures to reduce electricity costs, setting the first 200 units at 3 baht per unit and separating public lighting costs from household expenses. The government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting village funds as mechanisms for job creation, debt reduction, and strengthening the grassroots economy across all regions.

Every Sunday morning, a group of young students gathers at Wat Phai Lom in Nakhon Pathom to practise the graceful movements of khon and traditional Thai dance, dressed in white T-shirts and bright red jong kraben loincloths as Thai music plays in the background.

The free classes are part of an initiative at Wat Phai Lom Temple, led by acting abbot Phra Khru Palad Sitthiwat, known as Luang Phi Namfon, in collaboration with Thai cultural arts instructor Sutsanguan Thongma and a team of khon and dance teachers.

The programme, which began in July, aims to give children, students and members of the public an opportunity to learn and help preserve traditional Thai performing arts, which organisers see as an important part of the country's cultural identity and soft power.

But the classes have also become a weekend family activity. Parents who bring their children to learn khon or dance often join classes themselves, turning the temple grounds into a shared learning space for different generations.

That was the case for Wallapa Wongsakdirin, whose daughter attends the khon class. She said she chose the programme because it is free and gives her daughter the chance to learn an art form that requires discipline and dedicated practice.

While waiting for her daughter, Wallapa decided to take Thai dance classes herself. "This is a very good project organised by Wat Phai Lom," she said.

Dr. Thidarat Suebyat, a lecturer at Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, said learning khon and Thai dance could help children develop concentration while encouraging young people and the wider public to preserve Thailand's traditional arts.

The programme also reflects Luang Phi Namfon's aim of making the temple's space available for public benefit, creating a place where people can learn, practise and spend time together beyond the digital world.