PHUKET: Officials seized 22 firearms and 481 rounds of ammunition in 33 cases recorded across Phuket in four days last week, according to figures released by Phuket authorities.
PHUKET: Officials seized 22 firearms and 481 rounds of ammunition in 33 cases recorded across Phuket in four days last week, according to figures released by Phuket authorities.
Thailand's economy grew 1.9% in Q2 2025, slowed by Middle East tensions, but private investment surged to a 13-year high and exports expanded 12.5%, signaling resilience despite near-term headwinds.
The National Economic and Social Development Council reported that Thailand's economy expanded 1.9% in the second quarter of 2025, down from the previous quarter and contracting 0.2% quarter-on-quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis. The slowdown was driven mainly by Middle East tensions affecting energy prices, shipping costs, and business confidence.
Despite the headwinds, the Thai economy showed resilience with several engines still firing. Total investment grew 9.1%, while private sector investment surged 13.4%—the highest in 54 quarters or roughly 13.5 years—reflecting business spending on machinery, computers, software, and technology for the digital economy. Exports of goods and services expanded 12.5%, with merchandise exports rising 14.1% on the back of telecommunications equipment, computer components, and technology products following global economic cycles, though passenger car exports faced pressure from carbon regulations and competition from electric vehicles.
Private consumption grew 1.9%, a slowdown from 3.3% in the first quarter, particularly in spending on hotels, restaurants, transportation, fuel, and vehicles. However, food, beverages, clothing, footwear, and furniture continued to expand. The industrial sector grew only 0.1% due to weakening domestic purchasing power, though electronics, semiconductors, and computers posted strong growth, reflecting the transition to new industries. Agriculture expanded 1.5% from fruit and rubber production, while tourism and food services grew 1.5%; although foreign arrivals declined, average spending per tourist rose by nearly 53,000 baht per trip, supporting service-sector revenue.
Council Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan noted that Middle East impacts in Q2 were significant, affecting energy prices, oil imports, and logistics costs, which widened the current account deficit. However, excluding oil and gold trade, Thailand maintained a trade surplus of roughly 9 billion US dollars, showing the strength of the underlying trade base.
"Q2 faced considerable pressure from Middle East tensions, but the next quarter should see a recovery, and we expect full-year growth of around 2.2%," Pichayanan said.
The council raised its 2025 growth forecast to 2.2% and widened its range from the previous 1.5–2.5% to 1.7–2.7%. Global economic growth is now forecast at 3.3%, up from 2.9%, and merchandise exports are projected to grow 2.5–3.5%, with private investment continuing as a key driver supported by the Thailand Fast Pass investment acceleration programme.
For Q3, the council expects a rebound from Q2, which may represent the year's low point if Middle East tensions do not escalate. Oil prices and commodity prices that surged in Q2 are showing signs of moderating in the second half, though close monitoring continues.
Key risks to watch include the Middle East situation, US trade measures, volatile capital markets, El Niño, and persistently high household and small-and-medium enterprise debt levels, which directly constrain purchasing power and employment. Regarding consumption stimulus, the council will track results from the "Thai Helping Thai Plus" programme before considering additional measures, as Q2 figures do not yet reflect its impact. Borrowing under the emergency decree must prioritise value-for-money outcomes.
A Bangkok resident won 10 million baht in the Government Savings Bank's five-year special lottery on August 16, with the prize transferred to their account tax-free.
A Bangkok resident has claimed the first prize of 10 million baht from the Government Savings Bank's five-year special savings lottery (500 baht per unit) drawn on August 16, 2025, announced on August 17, 2025. The winning ticket belongs to a customer of GSB's Siam Paragon branch in Bangkok, and the bank will transfer the prize money to the holder's savings account the following day. Prize money for individuals is not subject to tax; customers can open accounts at any GSB branch or through the MyMo application.
PHUKET: Phuket City Police arrested 11 people after raiding an alleged illegal cockfighting ring in Ratsada on Sunday (Aug 16), seizing two fighting roosters and other equipment.
PHUKET: Phuket City Police arrested 11 people after raiding an alleged illegal cockfighting ring in Ratsada on Sunday (Aug 16), seizing two fighting roosters and other equipment.
Thailand's National Education Council is developing a comprehensive education index to measure system performance across five dimensions including access, student outcomes, and future readiness, with plans to align data with OECD standards
The National Education Council held an academic conference on August 17 at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok to develop the Thailand National Education Index as an international database foundation. Assoc. Prof. Pravit Eraviruthwon, Secretary-General of the National Education Council, chaired the opening and explained that the Thailand National Education Index is a systematic tool to gather education-related data for policymaking, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and advancement to keep pace with global changes.
The index comprises key international education indicators from both statistical databases and survey data, reflecting the quality of Thailand's education system across five dimensions: access to education, student quality and outcomes, education delivery efficiency, relevance to life and work, and future readiness. Eraviruthwon said the index serves as a policy compass to set direction and targets, a management tool to track and evaluate progress, and a means to build international credibility and transparency.
The council plans to integrate the Thailand National Education Index into the OECD's Indicators of Education Systems (INES) for international comparison and analysis. Eraviruthwon emphasized that Thailand needs this index to drive and develop education efficiently, and that having comparable data is essential to identify Thailand's position relative to other nations. The meeting included representatives from the National Statistics Office, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, working toward unified data standards. The council is currently integrating data for the OECD's Education at a Glance report and the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) to prepare Thailand's education system for international standards and potential OECD membership.
Thailand's disaster agency is monitoring monsoon flooding across the North and Northeast using Cell Broadcast alerts to warn riverside communities, with no major typhoons currently threatening the country.
At 09:25 on August 17, 2025, at Don Muang Air Base, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director Theeraphad Katchimat discussed water conditions in the North and Northeast regions. He explained that the monsoon season has begun as announced by the Meteorological Department, prompting multiple alerts based on satellite imagery and weather analysis coordinated with meteorological agencies. No Pacific typhoons have entered Thailand and water levels remain moderate, though flash flooding and elevated Mekong levels are occurring in some areas. The department has deployed water pumps and coordinated with local authorities, with potential impacts in riverside zones. When asked about monitoring repeatedly flooded areas, Katchimat said Cell Broadcast warnings now reach residents faster and at multiple alert levels, with coordination also extending to local radio stations. Regarding how far in advance Cell Broadcast can warn residents, Katchimat explained that satellite weather checks occur daily with 24-hour monitoring shifts, and all agencies analyze conditions—including rainfall amounts and intensity—before issuing alerts to avoid unnecessary public panic and to clarify the severity level in each warning.
A Chinese surgeon removed nearly 180 nails, coins, and metal objects weighing 1 kilogram from a 36-year-old man's stomach after he experienced severe vomiting and abdominal pain, with doctors attributing the dangerous behavior to his Pica d
Chinese doctors were shocked to discover nearly 180 metal objects weighing almost 1 kilogram inside a 36-year-old patient's stomach after he experienced severe vomiting and abdominal pain for 9 days.
On August 17, Chinese doctors revealed the remarkable case after the male patient presented with severe vomiting and abdominal pain lasting 9 days. X-rays revealed large quantities of metal objects clustered together inside his body, weighing nearly 1 kilogram.
Dr. Li Wei, a surgeon specializing in liver, gallbladder, and pancreas surgery at a Chinese hospital, explained that the man had a history of chronic mental illness and Pica disorder, which causes patients to consume non-food items. Although his family was aware of his medical history, they did not know when he had swallowed the metal objects or why. On August 7, the surgical team spent nearly 3 hours removing approximately 180 nails, along with coins, screws, bolts, and magnets from his stomach. The total weight of all objects was estimated at nearly 1 kilogram.
Dr. Li noted that the sharp objects caused ulceration and erosion of the stomach lining, but fortunately the nails had not pierced the stomach wall or entered the intestines. The magnets are believed to have helped the metal objects cluster together, potentially reducing the risk of dispersion and additional damage. The patient is currently stable and recovering.
However, doctors warned that swallowed objects should not be assumed to pass through the digestive system on their own, especially sharp or elongated items, as they may become lodged at narrow points and cause ulceration, perforation of the stomach or intestines, infection, and life-threatening complications. This patient requires long-term psychiatric treatment, family care, consistent medication compliance, and prevention of access to dangerous household items to avoid recurrence.
Trang Hospital is treating knee arthritis using black mud from Hadsamran Beach, combining traditional Thai medicine with modern research to reduce pain and improve joint function without medication side effects.
Hadsamran Chaloem Phra Kiat 80 Phupha Hospital in Trang province has created a new innovation combining Thai traditional medicine and modern medicine to treat knee arthritis using black indigo mud from the beach. On August 17, 2025, staff from the Thai Medicine and Alternative Medicine Clinic collected fine black mud from Hadsamran Beach following research confirming its therapeutic properties for degenerative knee disease. The hospital has treated patients with this condition since 2020.
According to Amorin Kiangheeia, head of the Thai Medicine Clinic, the soft black mud can be dug up and used after sifting out sand, keeping only the truly black mud. Collection is easier during certain seasons and difficult during others, but must occur during low tide between the 13th and 15th lunar days only. The Pollution Control Department found in 2018 that Hadsamran District has excellent air quality at blue level with no harmful pollutants, being the only district among Trang's ten districts free of factories with green environment, making the black mud there high quality for treating knee arthritis.
Hospital Director Dr. Purirat Kamhaeng explained the treatment began when villagers applied this mud to their faces and bodies as folk wisdom for health and skin care. The hospital then sent samples to Songkhla Nakharin University for residue testing and began research and trials. They found the black mud has cooling properties, a key principle in Thai medicine, suitable for poultice application to reduce knee symptoms. Dr. Ugrit Kunnatham, an orthopedic surgeon from Trang Central Hospital, assisted in studying knee movement, flexion and extension angles, and assessment methods, integrating Thai and modern medicine successfully.
Marine mud can be kept for about one month but must rest overnight before use to allow minerals to settle and reduce fermentation odor. Each treatment uses 200 grams of mud applied to the knee for 20 minutes, with patients scheduled three times weekly or every other day for a total of 12 treatments. Knee arthritis ranks as the top disease treated in the Thai medicine clinic with patient numbers increasing yearly.
Treating knee arthritis with black indigo mud reduces the hospital's drug costs and helps patients avoid medication side effects while reducing pain, stiffness, and increasing knee joint function and movement range. The salt minerals from seawater penetrate tendons and bone, enhancing treatment effectiveness.
A 68-year-old man from Nakhon Ratchasima won 54 million baht in a Lottery Plus draw in August, with his sister crediting his charitable work and accumulated merit for the windfall.
A 68-year-old man named Banjong from Dong Yai subdistrict in Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima, has won 54 million baht from a Lottery Plus draw held on August 16, 2026. He purchased nine tickets and won the grand prize, creating excitement among his family and relatives.
His 69-year-old sister, Amphorn, explained that Banjong is the sixth of nine siblings, with three having passed away. She noted that he currently works in Bangkok and has not yet returned home to Nakhon Ratchasima. When she learned of his lottery win, she felt genuinely happy, as her brother rarely purchases lottery tickets or gambles. However, he occasionally buys tickets when he dreams of their late father. The reason he bought nine tickets this time is still unclear, as they have not yet discussed it with him.
Amphorn revealed that Banjong is known for his charitable work. He regularly donates to temples for maintenance, assists with funeral costs, and supports social welfare. He previously worked for large international companies and is fluent in foreign languages. His wife is a homemaker, and their two adult children are successful: their eldest son is a renowned university professor and their daughter works for a corporation. Despite their wealth, the children remain employed and do not burden their parents, which the family considers a testament to Banjong's virtue.
Beyond his immediate family, Banjong helps underprivileged children by finding them employment opportunities and supporting their education. He also assists his neighbors in various ways. His sister believes that the merit he has accumulated through charitable actions has brought him this great fortune, with villagers saying, "His good karma has arrived."
Thousands of fans packed Phuket's Naka Market on August 16 for a farewell concert by 16-year-old singer Nene Royal, who departs for America's Got Talent's live shows later this month.
PHUKET — On 16 August 2026, the Naka Market in Phuket was packed with fans as Nene Royal held a farewell concert ahead of her trip to the United States to compete in the Live Shows round of America's Got Talent Season 21.
At 20:55 on 16 August, Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn Amlam, the 16-year-old performer known as Praew, took the stage at Naka Market in Wichit subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district. Praew is an international scholarship student at a leading international school in Phuket. She rose to global attention after competing on America's Got Talent and successfully secured a place among the final 44 contestants from around the world advancing to the Live Shows.
Performing alongside the Ozone band, Nene Royal is scheduled to depart for the United States on 21 August and compete in the live performance round on 25 August. Thousands of fans, local residents, and Thai and foreign tourists turned out to show their support for the young singer.
During the 90-minute concert, Nene Royal and Ozone performed a selection of popular international songs from past decades, entertaining the crowd throughout the evening. Fans brought bouquets of flowers to present to Nene Royal on stage, offering their encouragement as she prepares for her next challenge on the global talent show.
Deputy Interior Minister Worasidit Liangprasert defended sending 5,925 civil service exam irregularity cases to local agencies, saying each organization is performing its assigned duties rather than shifting responsibility. He stressed that
On August 17, Deputy Interior Minister Worasidit Liangprasert addressed concerns that sending the names of 5,925 civil service and local government exam candidates found to have irregularities to local administrative organizations (PAO) for action amounted to shifting responsibility. He stated this is not burden-shifting but rather each agency performing its designated duties, with the central government responsible for determining data, standards, and clear guidelines. He stressed the importance of separating the investigation of irregularities from personnel status decisions, as each step falls under different agencies' authority, and local governments are not being asked to decide who is guilty or should be removed.
Worasidit explained that the process for the 5,925 cases begins with checking data during the examination process, not at the local level. Once irregularities are found, they enter a review process by relevant committees before guidelines are set and information is sent to responsible agencies. He argued that if the central government detected score problems but took no action, people would question why the Interior Ministry left ineligible candidates in the system. However, corrections must follow proper procedures and not be based on emotion or place blame on a single party.
He noted that action against those involved must proceed on multiple fronts simultaneously: correcting the candidate registry, handling those already appointed, and referring cases to authorities with criminal investigation powers—each a separate process. He clarified that being on the list of 5,925 does not automatically make someone guilty of corruption or a criminal offence; these are people found to have exam score irregularities who must undergo proper investigative procedures.
Worasidit emphasized that whether someone committed a crime or participated in fraud must be proven through investigation and the justice system. For those appointed based on flawed scores, if investigation shows they were ineligible from the start, their status must be corrected by law, as errors or fraud in exams cannot become permanent rights in the civil service. He stated his principle clearly: whoever obtained rights improperly must be corrected; whoever passed on their own merits and was uninvolved in fraud deserves justice; and officials following orders must have clear guidelines, so innocent people do not bear the consequences of others' wrongdoing.