On August 14, a male calf with an unusual white marking shaped like a bodhi leaf on its forehead was discovered at a house in Prada Jak Moo subdistrict, Chaiyaphum district, Buriram province. The distinctive mark has generated significant interest among villagers and visitors, with some believing it matches descriptions of a sacred bull or auspicious sign in ancient texts.

Sunan, 59, who owns the calf, has raised cattle for over 10 years but has never encountered an animal with such unusual markings. The calf was born in January 2025 and is now about seven months old. Before the calf's birth, Sunan had no particular premonitions, but since its arrival, she has felt a continuous stream of good fortune entering her family. She now believes the calf may be a blessed bull, or "Phra Yaa Wua," as described in ancient texts.

News of the unusual calf has spread, and many villagers regularly visit to see it. Even when Sunan takes the calf to graze by the roadside, passing motorists often stop to admire the distinctive marking and ask questions. The owner believes the bodhi leaf-shaped mark is uncommon and may represent an auspicious sign according to traditional beliefs. Though she has received purchase inquiries, she feels emotionally attached to the calf and prefers to keep it, convinced that the blessed bull will bring good fortune to her family.

Deputy Interior Minister Jaruserath Thai-setsiri chaired a monitoring and preparedness meeting on August 14, 2569 at Nakhon Phanom Province Hall to address flooding and drought across seven Mekong River basin provinces in the Northeast: Nakhon Phanom, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani. Provincial governors, agency heads, disaster prevention officials, and relevant departments from all seven provinces attended.

Jaruserath stated that the field visit and meeting followed the Prime Minister's directive to gather comprehensive data on local flood and drought situations and needs. He will report findings to the Prime Minister and work toward integrated agency coordination to deliver timely, targeted support. He emphasized that officials must identify not just which areas face problems, but where exactly, what resources exist locally, what constraints apply, and what assistance is needed—enabling data-driven coordination rather than reactive responses.

Management of current conditions requires handling both flooding and drought simultaneously due to rapid weather fluctuations. The approach must be to "know first, prepare first, respond immediately" rather than waiting for crises to develop. All water resources, equipment, personnel, and aid plans must be ready beforehand.

Public communication must be swift and accurate. Citizens need to know what is happening, which areas are affected, water levels, what to prepare, and what the state is doing. Information must be consistent and official, not leaving people to seek rumors or unverified sources. Water supply communications must cover water conditions, appropriate usage, management, and any system problems—delivered online and offline to reach all groups, not forcing citizens to search for updates.

Drought preparation should not wait until the dry season begins. Agencies must compile historical data on areas facing water shortages, problem onset timing, available water volumes, usage needs, and past solutions, then compare against current conditions to establish water management frameworks in advance.

Jaruserath instructed all units to survey and inspect all areas once water levels drop, rushing to restore normalcy and prevent lingering issues or non-functional zones. Each unit must report completed work, inspected points, finished tasks, and remaining repairs to track progress until completion.

South Korean fugitive found overstaying in Thailand for over 8 yearsLegacyA South Korean man wanted under an Interpol Red Notice for fraud and transnational drug offences was arrested at a luxury condominium in Phuket on Wednesday, August 12. Officers from the Immigration Bureau and Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) conducted an operation under the wider campaign against foreign criminals hiding in Thailand or entering the country to commit transnational offences. As part of the campaign and a coordination with South Korean police, Thai officers investigated into the wanted South Korean national, later identified as Lee. The foreign man was found involving in fraud and trafficking of drugs and cannabis across international borders. Following the information shared by South Korean authorities, the wanted South Korean man and his associates were involved in fraud causing losses of more than 800 million won, equivalent to around 20 million baht. Lee was also a leader of a network involved in exporting drugs and cannabis from Thailand to South Korea. The network was found selling the drugs through online social media channels to drug dealers in South Korea. Photo via Facebook/ Phuketandamannews Aside from the two major criminal actions, Lee was found involving in more than 23 cases including drug offences, prostitution, assault and fraud. His act led South Korean authorities to seek the issue of Red Notice from Interpol. Further investigation into the immigration records showed that Lee entered Thailand through Phuket International Airport on March 6, 2018. He was initially granted permission to remain in Thailand under a tourist visa until June 3, 2018, and he had remained in the country 2,992 days, or more than eight years, beyond the permitted period. Investigators subsequently learned that Lee was staying at a luxury condominium in Phuket. At around 7pm on Wednesday, officers went to the property and waited for the suspect to appear. Photo via Facebook/ Phuketandamannews When a man matching Lee’s description emerged, Immigration and ONCB officers identified themselves and requested to check his identity. Authorities said Lee acknowledged that he was the person named in the Interpol Red Notice. He also agreed to allow officers to search his accommodation. During the search, officers seized a mobile phone and three debit cards which were believed to be assets used in the offences. The South Korean man would be held for legal proceedings over his Thai immigration offence, before being deported for further legal processes in South Korea. Photo via Facebook/ Phuketandamannews The story South Korean fugitive found overstaying in Thailand for over 8 years as seen on Thaiger News.

Phetchaburi — August 14, 2025. Phra Khru Patcharasut Withan, abbot of Koh Kaew Suttharam Temple in Moo 4, Ban Lad Subdistrict, Ban Lad District, Phetchaburi Province, is appealing for help from donors to build chicken coops and provide food for the birds. The temple has become a dumping ground for defeated fighting cocks and other birds abandoned by cockfighting owners, resulting in over 50 fighting cocks and more than 100 regular chickens now living within the temple grounds.

The birds have been left to roam in front of the merit hall, creating unsanitary conditions and disrupting temple operations. The eleven resident monks must clean and sweep the area daily, and food expenses have grown steadily as the chicken population increases. Each day, the monks share leftover alms rice with the birds.

The abbot revealed that cockfighting owners regularly abandon their losing birds at the temple, sometimes throwing them over the fence. The temple now bears the full responsibility for their care. The abbot is calling on supporters to donate chicken feed or contribute to building proper coops to help ease the temple's burden. Those wishing to help can visit Koh Kaew Suttharam Temple or contact Abbot Phra Khru Patcharasut Withan for more information.

PHUKET: Thailand and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are moving to accelerate talks on a free trade agreement, as the two sides seek to expand trade and investment opportunities.

The Royal Thai Police Office has clarified guidelines for officers carrying firearms, emphasizing necessity and operational context using four key criteria. On August 14, 2025, Deputy Police Commissioner Thatchai Pitaneelabutr addressed misconceptions about firearm regulations that had circulated in the media.

Thatchai explained that determining whether a police officer's possession of a firearm is lawful cannot hinge on a single factor but must consider context and facts on a case-by-case basis. Four elements must be evaluated: official duty and necessity, reasonable cause and circumstances of the case, proper authorization, and applicable laws and regulations.

Generally, uniformed officers performing duties in their designated areas may carry firearms, as may those on plainclothes or after-hours investigative assignments. An officer entering a restaurant or public place that is part of or related to their duties does not automatically constitute unlawful firearm possession.

The Police Conduct Regulation, Part 22, Chapter 13 (governing firearm carrying) requires officers needing to carry weapons for duty to obtain permission from a commander at sergeant level or equivalent, and to carry the weapon appropriately and suited to the circumstances.

This aligns with Supreme Court rulings. A 2557 (2014) Supreme Court decision established that an authorized officer carrying a firearm during duty, while still within the authorized period, bears no guilt under the charge of carrying arms in cities, villages, or public places without permission. A 2553 (2010) ruling affirmed that police officers are invested with authority and duty to maintain public order and arrest offenders, and possess investigative powers under the Criminal Procedure Code.

The conclusion: police officers remain police officers 24 hours a day, exercising the authority and duties assigned by law, particularly the Criminal Procedure Code. They must act whenever they encounter criminal conduct.