On August 11, 2024, police arrested Thanaphat (surname withheld), age 20, at Suksawat Road in Lat Lum Sub-district, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan. He is charged with abduction of minors aged 15 to 18 for sexual purposes without consent and rape using violence. The arrest followed a report on August 8 from the mother of a 15-year-old student who said her daughter was picked up through a ride-hailing app, but the driver changed route and took her to his home instead, where he physically assaulted and sexually abused her before dropping her off with threats.

Police investigation revealed at least two additional victims with similar experiences. The suspect operated by cruising near schools and offering below-standard fares through the app to attract young passengers, particularly female students. He would then divert routes to his residence to commit the assaults. Investigators believe there may be significantly more victims and have coordinated with relevant agencies to expand the investigation and identify further cases.

The Mister International Thailand 2026 finals concluded in grand style at MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestyle Store, Bangkapi, with a packed crowd cheering enthusiastically as 30 contestants demonstrated their full potential in personality, skills, communication, and charm. AA Waranyoo Tharasirivathanakul emerged victorious from the competition, earning the crown and the honor of representing Thailand at Mister International 2026, which will be held in Thailand this September. Other top finishers included Top Sithichok Panichlertsereewa as 1st Runner-Up, and Thanya Thanpisit Sukroong, Yoyo Theenruppakorn Muangmai, Lot Chaiyut Paenchuekiat, and Fook Panuphong Paybuolthanasarn as 3rd Runners-Up. Waranyoo's journey now moves beyond the national stage as he prepares to compete against representatives from around the world, with Thai fans expected to rally behind him in the quest to bring international glory to Thailand on the Mister International stage in the coming weeks.

LiVE Platform, under the Stock Exchange of Thailand, is hosting the annual seminar "SME Survival 2026: Unlock New Possibilities," bringing together 22 business leaders, executives, investors, and partner organizations to share strategies, experiences, and essential tools to help SMEs unlock new growth opportunities across all dimensions of business expansion.

The event features five stages designed to advance your business: NEXT STAGE covers economic trends, business direction, and consumer behavior insights from industry leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs. GROW STAGE addresses fundraising strategies, business expansion, and sustainable scaling opportunities. BUILD STAGE provides deep dives into business management, finance, marketing, brand building, and practical workshops. AI STAGE focuses on applying artificial intelligence to real-world operations to boost sales, reduce costs, and gain competitive advantages. PITCHING STAGE allows promising businesses to pitch their plans with investment and networking opportunities.

The event also includes SME Business Clinic consultations from Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, and the Stock Exchange to analyze challenges and develop targeted strategies, plus a Service Provider Zone featuring business service providers commonly used by SMEs. The seminar is designed for business owners, SME startups, executives, and organizational development teams seeking to unlock new opportunities and build sustainable growth.

The event takes place Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Free registration is available at https://set-event-registration.setgroup.or.th/e/SME-Event-2026. For more information, call 0 2009 9999.

Permanent Secretary Arthit Samphanratana disclosed that Phuket's administrative forces conducted a checkpoint operation in central Phuket and discovered a CZ-brand firearm with a loaded magazine containing 28 rounds hidden beneath the driver's seat of a BMW. The driver, identified as 37-year-old Nat (surname withheld), could not produce authorization documents for possessing or carrying the weapon. Officers arrested him and filed charges for illegally transporting a firearm in a public place and possessing an unauthorized weapon. The suspect and evidence were transferred to Phuket City Police Station for prosecution under maximum legal penalties.

Samphanratana warned anyone carrying illegal firearms in vehicles or public spaces that the Prime Minister has temporarily suspended all new permits for carrying concealed weapons for one year effective February 20. All provincial administrative forces will continue checkpoint operations to intercept illegal, unregistered firearms. Those found in possession face maximum legal penalties, though individuals may voluntarily surrender unregistered weapons at any district office. The public is urged to report suspected illegal firearms by calling the Damrongdhamma Center at 1567 for authorities to take legal action.

Dr. Sakkachai Thanabodee, chairman of the Induction Furnace (IF) Metal Casting Operators Association, says that amid public and consumer concerns about construction material safety standards, steel production technology—particularly IF furnace steel—has come under broad scrutiny for its perceived past limitations. However, modern metallurgical engineering has advanced significantly. Clean steel production using IF furnaces combined with secondary refining processes overcomes former impurity removal constraints and strengthens building structure safety, reduces air pollution by up to six times, and serves as a critical key to sustainable Thai construction industry development.

1. Automatic Steel Stirring Innovation for Uniform Steel Quality A common misconception is that IF furnaces cannot produce clean steel. In reality, IF melting relies on electromagnetic induction to generate eddy currents, which create automatic electromagnetic stirring of the molten steel. The steel circulates from the edges to the center and continuously moves upward, ensuring uniform chemical composition and temperature distribution throughout the furnace (homogeneity). The magnetic field stirring also helps lift lighter inclusions and impurities to the surface, allowing producers to efficiently add slag-forming agents and remove them from the furnace.

2. Quality Enhancement Through Secondary Refining—Overcoming Chemical Limitations Modern high-standard IF steel mills now employ secondary steel refining technology. When molten steel from the IF furnace is transferred to a refining furnace (such as LF or AOD), argon gas is blown and chemical composition is carefully adjusted. Using secondary refining furnaces with basic refractory materials can reduce sulfur (S) content to minimal levels of 0.002%, which improves ductility and toughness, preventing brittleness and enabling excellent performance in earthquake-resistant applications.

3. Eliminating Brittle Steel from Nitrogen Contamination A significant metallurgical advantage of IF furnaces compared to electric arc furnaces (EAF) is nitrogen contamination. EAF requires high-temperature electric arcs that ionize atmospheric nitrogen molecules, absorbing up to 80–100 ppm into the molten steel, causing hardness and brittleness. In contrast, IF furnaces lack such high-temperature arcs, resulting in minimal nitrogen pickup and completely reducing the risk of brittle steel.

4. Environmentally and Economically Friendly In terms of sustainability, IF furnace technology produces far lower air pollution, with only 1–2 kilograms of dust per ton compared to EAF furnaces that emit 6–12 kilograms per ton (a sixfold difference). Operating noise is also lower at 82–86 decibels, and importantly, operating costs are 20–25% cheaper, helping prevent monopolistic pricing of structural steel in the country.

Industry Minister Varawuth Silpaarcha announced on August 11, 2025, at Government House that permanent secretary Natthapon Rangsitphol will be transferred from the Industry Ministry to become permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry. Silpaarcha acknowledged that Energy Minister Ekniyom Phromphao had requested the transfer, noting that Natthapon has completed four years of service and possesses strong qualifications. Since the Energy Ministry was formerly part of the Industry Ministry, the move was deemed feasible. The new Industry Ministry permanent secretary will be selected from candidates within the ministry, pending cabinet approval and documentation review.