Santhaya Kumleum chaired the first 2026 strategic city development working committee meeting at Pattaya City Hall on August 19, attended by Mayor Prameswar Gampichest, Deputy Mayor Krishana Bunsawad, strategic committee member Weerawat Yamchinda, and municipal advisors and staff. Santhaya stated that efficiently developing Pattaya into a world-class tourism destination with international-standard living conditions requires urgent preparation across all sectors, particularly in facilitating tourist access from airports through Pattaya, including transport from hotels to shopping and attractions, and preparing contingency plans for the proposed high-speed rail project connecting Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao airports, which currently lacks a confirmed construction schedule.

Mayor Prameswar unveiled a development vision under a three-strategy, 33-policy framework targeting world-class tourism status with international living standards. Strategic committee member Weerawat proposed emphasizing low-carbon tourism, including sustainable transport, eco-friendly accommodation, local food, and community products, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact while creating economic opportunities—lowering business costs, enabling waste recycling, generating local income, and improving quality of life.

Weerawat added that the goal extends beyond reducing Pattaya's carbon emissions to ensuring the city thrives for its 100,000 registered residents and approximately 400,000 migrant workers, creating a destination tourists wish to revisit while enhancing residents' quality of life.

Rayong data centre site raid nets 18 illegal Chinese workersLegacyA raid at a data centre construction site in Ban Chang, Rayong, ended with 18 Chinese men arrested today, August 19, after officers found them working without permits. The operation was carried out by Rayong provincial police as part of a continuing crackdown on unlicensed foreign labour. Officers entered the large data centre project and found a group of Chinese men who appeared to be carrying out construction work. Photo via Siam Chon News When police identified themselves and asked to see identity documents and work permits, workers from both China and Myanmar ran off in different directions. Officers pursued the group and detained 18 Chinese men. Checks found that none had work permits, with police saying all 18 had been working at the site without the required documentation. Photo via Siam Chon News Police charged the 18 men with being foreign nationals working without a work permit under Section 8 of the Emergency Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers’ Employment, and sent them to investigators at Ban Chang Police Station for legal proceedings. Investigators added that the operation was part of a continuing effort to check foreign labour across the province, focusing on construction sites and businesses that employ foreign workers, in order to curb illegal employment. Photo via Siam Chon News Elsewhere, Bangkok police arrested five Chinese nationals for working illegally at a construction site in the Huai Khwang area. All five had entered Thailand legally on tourist visas, which does not allow them to work. During questioning, police learned that each worker was earning 450 yuan per day, or about 2,200 baht. The amount was significantly higher than Thailand’s minimum wage and the typical pay for legally employed construction workers. The story Rayong data centre site raid nets 18 illegal Chinese workers as seen on Thaiger News.

On August 19, the National Counter Corruption Commission released asset declarations filed on March 15 by newly sworn-in MPs. Nattathida Thepsutin, a Pheu Thai party list MP and eldest daughter of former Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, declared single status with total assets of 720,101,877 baht and debts of 892,437 baht. Her assets include 1.5 million baht in cash, deposits across 22 accounts worth 61.2 million baht, mutual funds and securities valued at 198.6 million baht, and 297 land plots primarily in northern and central provinces totaling 380 million baht. She owns four residential buildings worth 36.7 million baht, a Toyota Alphard purchased in March worth 2.99 million baht, concessions valued at 34.4 million baht, and luxury items worth 4.6 million baht including 15 designer handbags from Hermes, Chanel, and Kelly, along with Rolex and Patek Philippe watches, diamond rings and earrings, and bracelets. She reported annual income of 13 million baht from salary, rental income, and dividends, with annual expenses of 4.4 million baht.

Peeraphat Ratchakij, a Palang Pracharath MP representing Surat Thani District 1 and nephew of Deputy Prime Minister Pippat Ratchakij, declared combined assets with his wife Thanachporn Kulsophonpong of 62.14 million baht and liabilities of 459,636 baht. Peeraphat's assets total 60.2 million baht, comprising deposits across 14 accounts worth 6.6 million baht, investments of 37.2 million baht largely in family-controlled companies and cryptocurrency trading platforms, a 3.8 million baht loan to Surat FC company, seven land plots in Surat Thani worth 4.9 million baht, and other assets worth 7.7 million baht. His annual income of 7.7 million baht derives from KFC franchise rent, island land rental, shrimp farming, market space rental services, and dividends. His wife Thanachporn declared assets of 1.94 million baht in deposits, investments, vehicles, and other items. Both reported notable assets including a vehicle license plate worth 395,000 baht, four gold bars weighing 10 baht each worth 2.74 million baht, a diamond jewelry set valued at 800,000 baht, and nine branded watches.

The Parliamentary Police Commission is preparing to summon the Department of Special Investigation to examine allegations that a Phuket opposition MP is connected to a financial network involving nominee companies. Watchrajpong Kuwichitsuwan, chairman of the Police Commission and a Samut Prakan MP from the Bhumjaithai Party, revealed that the DSI is preparing to question Somchai Tetchawarawarin, known as Lawyer Kaeng and a Phuket MP from the People's Party, following discovery of his involvement in financial flows through legal entities alleged to be nominees. The companies, in which he reportedly holds shares and serves as authorized director in over 30 firms, lack genuine business operations but focus on holding land and condominium units valued at more than 100 million baht jointly with foreign nationals. The Police Commission will summon the DSI director and relevant officials to verify whether these activities occurred, whether the case should be accepted as a special case, and whether legal violations or nominee arrangements for foreigners apply. Watchrajpong stated that the People's Party should investigate the matter seriously, just as it examines political opponents, and should not allow the suspect to face consequences alone without the party taking responsibility. He urged Somchai to come forward, clarify his position, and not remain silent, as silence suggests an attempt to conceal wrongdoing. Watchrajpong emphasized that if nominee behavior for foreigners is confirmed, it would set a poor example and suggest disregard for the law. He noted that government policy, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Interior Minister, aims to crack down seriously on such schemes as they pose threats to national security and sovereignty, as well as social and economic stability.

True Corporation has mobilized its northern Thailand network teams to respond urgently to flooding in Nan and Phayao provinces following heavy, continuous rainfall that triggered flash flooding, particularly in Pua District of Nan Province. Water levels have risen rapidly, damaging homes and critical infrastructure. True is closely monitoring the situation and network status for both mobile and home internet services, and has established a northern command center at its Chiang Mai office to coordinate operations and deploy field teams with personnel, equipment, backup power systems, and mobile base station vehicles (COW units) from across northern Thailand to support Nan Province and maintain continuous communications for residents and emergency responders.

True is also working with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to send emergency alert messages via Cell Broadcast to residents in Pua District, warning of sudden floods, overflow, and landslides. The alerts urge people to move valuables to higher ground and relocate vulnerable groups such as elderly residents and bedridden patients to safe areas, and to seek assistance from local agencies if evacuation becomes necessary.

For network management, True has prioritized base stations in at-risk areas, especially critical cell sites serving hospitals, command centers, public assistance centers, and essential infrastructure. The company is closely monitoring power systems, transmission systems, area access, and base station status to assess risk and promptly repair any network damage. Teams have prepared mobile base stations, temporary base stations, generators, backup power systems, field equipment, and vehicles, and are ready to dispatch repair and signal-boosting teams once it is safe to access affected areas. True is coordinating closely with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, government agencies, local government organizations, rescue units, and other relevant agencies to support communications in disaster zones, evacuation shelters, and emergency response centers. The company is prioritizing the continuity of communications through both mobile networks and home internet during the crisis so residents can contact family, seek help, and receive government alerts, while also supporting coordination among rescue teams and government officials. Field teams will follow safety guidelines from government agencies and adapt to actual site conditions to ensure rapid and safe network recovery.

Police from Region 2 Provincial Police arrested Sunant, 48, on August 19 following a warrant issued by Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court on a fraud charge. The suspect had evaded a court judgment requiring her to pay 400,000 baht in compensation and fled to work as a shopkeeper in Ban Chang district, Rayong. The case originated from a widely publicized incident in which an air force officer's wife filed a complaint against the other woman. The matter proceeded to court, where both parties agreed to settle with the defendant promising to pay 400,000 baht. However, after the judgment was handed down, the defendant failed to pay and went into hiding. The court subsequently approved an arrest warrant. On the 19th, officers tracked down the suspect working at a shop in Ban Chang, Rayong, and took her into custody according to the warrant. She was processed at Ban Chang Police Station before being transferred to Nakhon Ratchasima Police Station for legal proceedings and court referral.