BANGKOK — A new NIDA Poll released on Sunday suggests that nearly 38% of respondents believe Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's government will not survive a series of political and economic challenges, with alleged corruption in local government recruitment identified as the biggest threat to its stability.

The National Institute of Development Administration conducted the survey, titled "So Many Problems, Will It Survive?", from August 18–20 among 1,310 people aged 18 and over across Thailand.

When asked which issues could affect the stability of the Anutin government, 62.75% cited alleged corruption in local government civil service recruitment examinations, the most commonly selected concern. Another 55.88% pointed to allegations of collusion in the Senate election, while 42.29% cited scrutiny by MPs over the Khao Kradong land dispute.

Other concerns included volatility in energy prices (37.33%), the Thailand-Cambodia conflict (33.36%), the government's plan to spend funds under a 400-billion-baht borrowing decree (28.78%), and fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices (28.17%).

Restrictions on gun ownership were cited by 25.27% of respondents, while 24.27% pointed to stricter eligibility requirements for the 2026 state welfare card programme. Another 22.98% cited illegal activities by foreigners in Thailand, while 18.17% pointed to scrutiny of the Digital Economy and Society Ministry's TH-AI Passport project. Only 5.34% said none of the issues appeared serious enough to threaten the government's stability.

When asked how well the government could deal with the challenges, 39.69% said it would be able to handle some of them, while 31.99% said it would not be able to handle any. Another 16.26% believed the government could handle all of the issues, while 11.68% said it could handle most of them.

On whether the government itself would survive the challenges, 37.86% said it "definitely would not survive", the largest single group. Another 26.03% believed the government would survive but be seriously weakened, while 17.94% said it would survive with only minor damage. A further 17.71% believed the government would comfortably survive.

The poll also asked respondents about Anutin's recent gesture of bowing and paying respect at the lap of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The largest group, 41.45%, regarded it simply as a younger person showing respect to an elder, while 29.62% described it as political theatre. Another 21.60% said the incident showed that there are "no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics", while 17.48% believed Anutin was seeking Thaksin's support. Some 12.21% said the gesture demonstrated Thaksin's continuing political influence, while 9.62% saw it as a signal that the Pheu Thai Party would continue to support Anutin.

Bomb blasts, arson attacks rock NarathiwatLegacyMultiple bomb blasts and arson attacks struck Narathiwat and Yala yesterday, injuring two people and prompting a curfew across parts of the southern border provinces. Officials from the Narathiwat Special Task Force said the unrest hit 11 locations across the province, damaging vehicles, telecommunications infrastructure and government property. In Rangae district, an explosion struck a road connecting two villages at 8.15pm, though no injuries were reported. A tambon administration organisation office in Bongo was later set alight, and a pickup truck went missing from the scene during the attack. Nearby, tyres were burned and a backhoe was torched near a bridge, while further explosions and fires broke out in Cho Airong district, including one near a telecommunications tower. A separate tyre fire was reported on Highway 42 in Yi-ngo district. The most serious incident occurred in Sungai Padi district, where an explosion struck a car carrying five people shortly after it passed a mosque intersection. Shrapnel damaged the vehicle and injured two women, who were taken to hospital. Attacks spread to Yala In Yala’s Than To district, suspected insurgents set fire to telecommunications towers run by two networks and torched two vehicles belonging to a tambon administration organisation. Sungai Kolok district chief Sopiyan Daemoleng said a preliminary investigation found that suspected insurgents had planted a bomb at a roadside shelter outside the local branch of the Narathiwat Provincial Transport Office. No injuries or deaths were reported, and officials cordoned off the area while the investigation continued. Curfew imposed, residents urged to stay indoors Sopiyan said Sungai Kolok immediately tightened security and temporarily closed routes into and out of the town, including connections to Tak Bai district, to allow officials to screen people and vehicles. He urged residents to remain in their accommodation and avoid unnecessary travel so security teams could carry out their work. The Narathiwat Special Task Force later imposed a curfew from 10.15pm yesterday until 6am today in response to the string of incidents. The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command urged the public to stay vigilant, avoid attack sites and refrain from approaching suspicious objects. It also warned against posting photographs, videos or the real time locations of security personnel, saying this could compromise ongoing operations. Photo courtesy of Narathiwat provincial public relations office The story Bomb blasts, arson attacks rock Narathiwat as seen on Thaiger News.

The government is advancing Sri Saket beef as a premium agricultural product, building the brand and narrative around its identity to generate over 2.9 billion baht annually for the province. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthummaphan visited Krittha Beef Farm in Bentsaluk District, Sri Saket Province, to hear concerns from farmers and beef producers, alongside Vice Governor Thatree Siriruangwanik and parliamentary representatives.

Suphajee said Sri Saket has strong beef potential and a network of farmers and entrepreneurs that can develop into high-value agricultural products. In 2568, the beef industry generated approximately 2.909 billion baht annually for the province, so the government must accelerate development across the entire supply chain—from livestock raising and quality control to processing and market creation. She tasked the Intellectual Property Department with developing a brand and narrative for Sri Saket beef in collaboration with local stakeholders, and the Department of Business Development with building the brand and supporting entrepreneurs to elevate beef to premium markets.

"How can we make Sri Saket beef a premium product with better pricing, like Sri Saket volcano durian, which has created a strong name and value for the province?" Suphajee said.

Krittha Farm has passed inspection and been certified as a quarantine station for livestock export as of July 8, 2568, and is in talks to register with destination countries, with Vietnam and China as primary targets. Suphajee said achieving export goals requires coordination among multiple agencies, including the Department of Livestock for standards and negotiations, the Department of Foreign Trade for export permits, and the Department of International Trade Promotion to connect with foreign markets and buyers.

"The goal is not just to export, but to benefit farmers more. If we can reduce reliance on middlemen and export directly, it will increase value and return income to the farmer network," Suphajee said.

She also received requests from the Nong Hang cattle group for revolving funds and hay-pressing equipment, and from Dok Lamduan Beef Cooperative for help developing a slaughterhouse in the province. Currently, farmers must transport cattle outside the area to be processed, increasing costs. Related agencies have been tasked with reviewing support options.

Suphajee said the Commerce Ministry will work with relevant agencies to develop Sri Saket beef across the entire system, from upstream to downstream—quality, standards, branding, funding, slaughterhouses, and markets—with the goal of elevating Sri Saket beef to premium agricultural status and foreign markets while strengthening farmer income and the provincial grassroots economy.

On August 23, 2024, the Surandaj Poll at Suan Dusit University surveyed 1,267 Thai citizens nationwide on their views regarding the government no-confidence debate, conducted online and in the field between August 18-21.

The survey found that 68 percent of respondents showed at least some interest in following the upcoming debate, with 38.28 percent moderately interested and 29.68 percent very interested. When asked which issues they most wanted addressed in the debate, respondents ranked economic hardship and inflation at 80.58 percent, local government corruption at 54.54 percent, energy problems and fuel prices at 53.59 percent, the 400 billion baht loan scheme at 35.04 percent, and parliamentary procedures at 34.25 percent.

However, skepticism prevailed on the debate's impact. Over half of respondents—54.30 percent—did not believe the debate would effectively check the government's performance, while 45.70 percent did believe it would. Regarding hopes for outcomes, 56.99 percent wanted serious and continuous investigation of allegations, 46.25 percent wanted the government to clarify public doubts, and 45.30 percent wanted those involved to accept political responsibility.

When asked about expected changes to Thailand's overall political situation following the debate, half of respondents (50.28 percent) thought little would change, 28.49 percent expected improvement, 14.36 percent were uncertain, and 6.87 percent expected deterioration.

Dr. Peeraphan Korthong, chair of the Surandaj Poll, noted that more than half the public still doubts the debate will provide effective oversight, and most believe the political situation is unlikely to change afterward. What citizens actually expect, he said, is serious follow-up investigation of allegations, clarification of doubts, and acceptance of responsibility by those involved. These outcomes will be the true measure of the debate's political impact.

Nontavat Suwannasakha, a lecturer in law and politics at Suan Dusit University, observed that the poll reflects the public's continued faith in the no-confidence debate as a mechanism for checks and balances, yet their expectation for concrete results beyond parliamentary procedure. Economic hardship, inflation, and bureaucratic corruption remain the chief criteria by which citizens judge government effectiveness and legitimacy.

Citizens also place high value on political accountability, demanding that allegations raised in the debate be investigated and verified with genuine rigor. The no-confidence debate, therefore, should not end with a parliamentary vote but should lead to sustained processes of oversight and evaluation of government performance. The opportunity should be used to strengthen public confidence, legitimacy, accountability, and long-term political stability in Thailand.

The Fine Arts Department has clarified that Wat Phumin's ordination hall remains structurally sound following recent flooding in Nan province on August 19-21. Panombutr Chanthrachot, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, reported on August 23 that after initial concerns about cracks and subsidence on the eastern side of the ordination hall in Mueang District, his office dispatched inspectors from the Fine Arts Office 7 in Chiang Mai on August 21 to assess damage to heritage sites, including Wat Phumin. The inspection found that the current flood waters caused no new damage to the temple or its murals. Visible cracks are pre-existing ones discovered after the 2024 floods—surface-level damage that does not affect the building's internal structure.

Engineers and conservation experts conducted a detailed structural survey after the previous flood, including archaeological excavations in late 2024 to examine the foundation and building framework. The investigation determined that cracks around the ordination hall at the lotus base, doorways, and entrance stairs resulted from uneven subsidence between the heavy ordination hall and the surrounding courtyard. However, because the hall subsided evenly on all sides, internal cracking remained minimal and localized to the peripheral lotus base.

The department is preparing restoration designs with emergency conservation measures including reinforcing the foundation walls of the ordination hall and potentially separating the structure from the surrounding courtyard to address uneven subsidence. Future work may include adjusting and lifting the foundation using pile systems for the ordination hall walls, roof supports, and the central Buddha image. Director-general Chanthrachot confirmed that the ordination hall's structure remains sound and that the Fine Arts Department continues ongoing conservation work at Wat Phumin, including prior restoration and gilding of Buddha images. The department also prioritizes conservation of other monuments in Nan Province, such as Wat Chang Kham nearby.

On August 23, 2026, Surasak Phanthcharoenwongkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports and chair of the subcommittee, presided over the first meeting of the Chao Phraya River Basin flood and drought prevention subcommittee at the Irrigation Department office in Saraburi district, Chainat province, held both in person and via Zoom. Deputy Prime Minister Akkanit Nitithanprabasat, who chairs the central region's main committee, had appointed this subcommittee on August 14, 2026, to coordinate comprehensive water management covering prevention, response, recovery, and rehabilitation under the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan 2021–2027.

Minister Surasak outlined six urgent directives: First, task GISTDA, the Thai Meteorological Department, Irrigation Department, and other agencies to create real-time flood and drought risk maps and improve early warning systems. Second, develop checklists and contingency plans for provincial governors to monitor preparedness, including inspection of water gates, embankments, pumps, weed removal, and saltwater intrusion management across all phases. Third, provincial governors must establish command centers coordinating military, police, civilians, and local authorities, prioritizing vulnerable groups and ensuring adequate temporary shelters.

Fourth, hospitals and health centers must stock medicine and medical staff to provide 24-hour care. Fifth, the Irrigation and Agricultural Promotion departments must align 2026 water allocation plans with agriculture without affecting 2027 water needs for agriculture, industry, tourism, and ecosystems, while distributing water to farmland to reduce hardship for riverside residents. Sixth, provinces must rapidly survey damage and distribute compensation transparently and fairly, using satellite imagery from GISTDA to verify losses and streamline relief.