Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, chairing the central region flood and drought prevention committee, announced after their first 2569 meeting in Ayutthaya that the government is accelerating unified disaster management by establishing five regional committees covering the north, northeast, central, east, and southern regions. This consolidation aims to centralize command, eliminate redundancy, and respond more quickly to crises.

The central region is critical because it is low-lying terrain that receives water from the north before flowing to the sea, and anchors major agricultural, industrial, community, and tourism sectors. Deputy PM Anutin ordered the creation of real-time flood and drought risk maps integrating data from GISTDA, the National Water Resources Office, the Meteorological Department, the Royal Irrigation Department, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Provinces will use checklists to prepare in advance by inspecting water gates, installing pumps, clearing waterway obstructions, and preparing water-receiving areas. During emergencies, provinces must establish command centers coordinating military, police, civil, and local forces to prioritize vulnerable populations, while hospitals maintain medical readiness 24/7 and economic and tourism zones implement strict protective measures.

Management of the central region covers 17 provinces and Bangkok, with each watershed supervisor closely monitoring conditions and ensuring all provinces communicate accurate, timely water data through all channels including Cell Broadcast, so the public stays informed but calm and can prepare ahead. The Disaster Prevention Department has 155 flood-response machines and 202 drought-response machines ready to deploy immediately, with staff monitoring and alerting around the clock. Risk data shows eight central provinces with very high flood risk affecting 124 villages and 12 provinces with high risk affecting 533 villages, while two provinces face very high drought risk in 66 villages and three provinces in 105 villages.

PHUKET: Phuket MPs and local stakeholders have renewed calls for greater provincial control over budgets, personnel, infrastructure and public services, as a parliamentary committee examines whether the island needs a new self-governance model.

PHUKET: Phuket police have prosecuted 16 people after raiding eight locations in the latest phase of a crackdown on businesses suspected of using Thai nominees to conceal foreign ownership.

The government has established a 24-hour operations center to address flooding and drought in Thailand's northern region, streamlining bureaucratic procedures and authorizing provincial governors to immediately deploy emergency funds to assist the public. Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan Wongsawat, heading the northern water disaster and drought management committee, has directed all relevant agencies to adopt proactive measures against severe weather conditions including heavy rainfall, flash flooding, flash floods, and drought in certain areas. The effort includes setting up sub-command centers, mobilizing personnel and machinery including water pumps to operate around the clock, with military and regional disaster prevention center support available if resources fall short. Governors of high-risk areas are authorized to use emergency provisional funds for disaster relief without delays from bureaucratic procedure, with emphasis on supporting vulnerable populations. If evacuations become necessary, officials will conduct comprehensive surveys and expedite compensation payments to restore normalcy as quickly as possible. Long-term measures for drought-prone areas include accelerating water resource assessments, securing domestic water reserves, and coordinating with farmers to adjust crop-planting plans.

PHUKET: Cherng Talay Police are investigating a fight involving six girls at a school in Thalang after a video showing a 14-year-old Thai student being assaulted was circulated online.

The Gold Research Center has released its weekly survey on domestic gold price direction for August 10–14, 2025. According to the GRC Gold Survey, of 13 market experts polled, 8 (or 62%) expect gold prices to rise next week, 2 (or 15%) expect a decline, and 3 (or 23%) expect prices to remain flat compared to the previous week. Among 331 retail gold investors surveyed, 233 (or 70%) anticipate an increase, 55 (or 17%) expect a decrease, and 43 (or 13%) forecast stable prices.

Domestic 96.5% gold bars traded in a range of 64,000–67,850 baht per baht weight the previous week, closing at 67,900 baht—a gain of 3,700 baht from the prior week's close of 64,200 baht. The Gold Research Center identified key factors to monitor next week: U.S.-Iran tensions and progress on opening the Hormuz Strait following preliminary negotiations between Iran and Oman, though a full opening remains uncertain.

Additionally, markets will watch U.S. Treasury bond auctions and bond yield trends, with the U.S. Treasury Department scheduled to auction 10-year bonds on August 12 and 30-year bonds on August 13, 2025. These auctions will influence U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar's value. The Federal Reserve's policy direction is also critical, especially after weak July non-farm payroll data reduced market expectations for a rate hike at the September meeting.

Economic data to monitor includes July's Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI), preliminary August consumer inflation sentiment, and weekly jobless claims figures. Pattarin Wichitakpan, COO of Lenghong Commodities, noted that gold's recent breakout above key resistance levels at $4,150 and $4,250 is significant, though it has only approached the $4,350 level without sustaining above it. She observed that previous gold-supportive news has already been priced in, while U.S.-Iran tensions remain a volatile wildcard that requires careful monitoring.

For this week (August 10–14), CPI and PPI figures released Wednesday and Thursday will be crucial in determining whether gold can extend gains or faces another pullback.