The opposition coalition is preparing to present evidence from the fourth Senate election fraud investigation on August 9. According to Panida Mongkolswasdi, a Samut Prakan MP from the Pheu Thai Party, the key highlight will be clearer evidence of a money trail, with new witnesses from different provinces confirming the existence of fraudulent vote-buying schemes. The money trail will reportedly link to previously undisclosed individuals with close connections to political parties, and additional evidence of illegal incentive offers will be presented.

Mongkolswasdi questioned whether authorities possess this information and expressed skepticism about the fairness of the election, noting that witness testimonies and documents are already in circulation. She voiced concern that while the Election Commission has extensive evidence, the 36-member subcommittee cleared suspects of wrongdoing, and she fears the full commission will follow suit despite the substantial documentation proving wrongdoing.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Nonthaburi – Education Minister Prasert Chandraruangthong has ordered schools nationwide to tighten security following the violent incident at a school in Nonthaburi province, while directing authorities to provide psychological care for students, teachers, parents, and others affected. Our previous stories: Nonthaburi’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has confirmed a tragic mass shooting inside Depsirin Nonthaburi […] Education Ministry Tightens School Security Nationawide -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

On August 8, 2025, Atthapol Charoenchansaa, director of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, issued an urgent order requiring all field units to rigorously inspect donated food and supplies before distribution to rangers or wildlife at care stations. He thanked the public for their concern and appealed for donations of items in good condition that meet safety standards to prevent health risks and environmental damage.

The directive follows media reports revealing that donated packages sent to field units contained unlabeled canned foods such as young jackfruit in brine, canned sugarcane, and canned corn. The cans were dented and lacked information about manufacturing source, ingredients, or expiration dates. Some unit heads banned the items from field rations over personnel safety concerns and are seeking proper disposal methods to prevent environmental and wildlife harm.

Atthapol said he received the reports and has taken them seriously, ordering all nationwide departments to conduct strict quality checks on all donated food and supplies before distribution to rangers for consumption or field use, prioritizing personnel health and safety. The Department expressed deep gratitude to all sectors and citizens for their continued care and support of frontline forest rangers protecting forests and wildlife, calling this concern an important source of morale and inspiration.

Given that rangers work in remote deep forests where emergency medical evacuation is difficult, the Department requests that donors provide only dry foods or consumer goods in perfect condition with clear expiration dates and manufacturing source labels. This helps ensure safety and avoids waste accumulation and chemical residue impacts on forest ecosystems. The Department hopes for continued cooperation from all donors to protect the health and safety of dedicated forest rangers.

The Thai Meteorological Department issued weather alert number 9 on August 8, 2025, concerning strong winds over the upper Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand, along with heavy to very heavy rainfall across Thailand from August 8-9, 2025.

Northern, northeastern, and eastern regions will see increased rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls in some areas. Central Thailand, Bangkok and its surrounding areas, and the southern region will experience heavy rainfall in some locations. A monsoon trough is passing through the upper north and upper northeast, combined with a strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand.

The public is urged to watch for dangers from heavy rainfall and accumulated water, which may cause flash flooding and flash floods, especially in hillside and low-lying areas near waterways. Waves in the upper Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand will be fairly strong, with wave heights of 2-3 meters, and over 3 meters in thunderstorm areas. Boat operators are advised to navigate cautiously and avoid areas with thunderstorms. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand should stay ashore during August 8-9, 2025.

For the next 24 hours (August 8), Thailand will experience heavy rainfall in many areas and very heavy rainfall in parts of the north, northeast, and east. The public should plan activities and travel carefully during this period.

Citizens can monitor updates from the Thai Meteorological Department via their website at http://www.tmd.go.th or by calling 0-2399-4012-13 and 1182, available 24 hours. The next alert will be issued on August 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

Typoon Dolphin is currently over the Pacific Ocean west of Okinawa, Japan, and is expected to make landfall in Zhejiang Province, China, on August 9-10, 2025. The typhoon will not enter Thailand, but travelers to that region should check weather conditions before departure.

For the next 7 days (August 8-11), Thailand will see heavy rainfall in many areas and very heavy rainfall in some locations, particularly in the north, northeast, and east, due to the monsoon trough and southwest monsoon systems.

On August 8, reporters spoke with a close friend of the 14-year-old suspect after police completed their initial questioning. The friend, given the pseudonym "Mark," described the suspect as quiet and reserved, typically sitting alone at the back left corner of the classroom. Mark firmly denied that the suspect had ever been bullied, harassed, or physically assaulted, citing their friendship since middle school. Mark also dismissed circulating rumors that the suspect had been kicked into bathrooms or bullied for years as completely false.

When asked about conflicts or grievances with other students, Mark confirmed the suspect had no disputes with peers, but acknowledged a problem with only one Thai language teacher. The suspect had complained about excessive homework and had received a failing grade in that subject, which he spent months trying to improve.

Regarding the BB gun, Mark admitted the suspect had previously carried a short BB gun in his backpack to show friends and played with it at school until a classmate reported him, leading teachers to confiscate it and deduct behavioral points. Mark also recounted the day of the incident: all students, including the suspect, participated in the flag-raising ceremony and attended classes normally. The shooting occurred during the second period mathematics class when the teacher was explaining homework. About ten minutes into class, the suspect put in earbuds, stood up, shouldered a bag of ammunition, and positioned himself at the front of the classroom before shooting the math teacher. He then left to shoot another teacher while Mark sought shelter. Mark emphasized there were no warning signs or tense atmosphere beforehand.

Police are continuing to gather evidence and question witnesses to determine the exact cause and motivation behind the incident.

The family of Tae Drag-on Five has announced funeral rites and ceremonies at Hall 5, Bua Khwan Temple, a royal temple in Nonthaburi province. The discovery of the 46-year-old singer's body in the Chao Phraya River near Rama VII Bridge has shocked the entertainment industry and music fans nationwide, following his disappearance on the morning of August 6.

The funeral schedule is as follows: Saturday, August 8, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. for the water-pouring ritual, followed by chanting at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, August 9 and Monday, August 10, chanting ceremonies will begin at 7:00 p.m. On Tuesday, August 11, a merit-making ceremony and food offering to the monks will take place at 11:00 a.m., followed by the final cremation rite at 3:00 p.m.