Natural Resources Minister Suchart Chomklin revealed that the government is prioritizing conservation and restoration of natural resources and the environment alongside sustainable community management and resource use, particularly protecting rare and endangered marine species vital to Thailand. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is implementing an upgraded "Save Our Dugong" programme targeting 12 zones across five Andaman provinces, with the primary goal of reducing dugong deaths from human activity to zero.

The 12 target areas consist of six zones at risk from vessel collisions and six at risk from fishing gear entanglement. Vessel collision zones include Rattada Port in Phuket, Bang Rong Port in Phuket, the Koh Yao Noi–Koh Yao Yai channel in Phang Nga, Hat Noppharat Thara–Ao Nang Port in Krabi, Pak Meng–Koh Mook Port in Trang, and Koh Libong–Hat Yao in Trang.

The first measure organizes vessel routes and enforces speed limits. Within 1 kilometre of shore, vessels are limited to 5 knots; within 2 kilometres, 10 knots; and within 3 kilometres, 20 knots. In seagrass beds, the limit is 5 knots, or 3 knots within national parks. Buoys and markers will designate lanes and boundaries.

The second measure modifies fishing gear to be dugong-friendly in six zones: Koh Chang–Koh Piam in Ranong, Koh Ra–Koh Phra Thong in Phang Nga, Pak Klok–Tang Khen in Phuket, Hat Noppharat Thara in Krabi, Koh Sri Boya in Krabi, and Koh Mook–Koh Libong in Trang. Single crab traps will be prohibited in seagrass beds, mooring lines upgraded to 4–5 millimetre giant-fibre rope, and weak links added to allow dugongs to escape. Trap nets are forbidden in seagrass beds and must be monitored after placement. Large fish nets are prohibited in seagrass beds and must be set at least 1 kilometre away.

Minister Suchart stressed that the measures aim to provide people with livelihoods, sustain communities, and protect nature. He directed the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to educate boat owners, fishers, and operators about the new requirements.

On August 18, 2025, the Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rain in some areas nationwide, with particularly heavy rainfall expected in the upper northeast and east regions due to a monsoon trough moving across northern Laos and entering a low-pressure zone over northern Vietnam, combined with an intensifying southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand.

Residents in affected areas are urged to be cautious of heavy to very heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation, which may cause flash floods, flash flooding, and overflowing waterbanks, especially in hillside areas near water channels and lowland zones. Wind and wave conditions in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand are moderate, with waves in the upper Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand reaching approximately 2 meters and exceeding 2 meters in areas with thunderstorms. Fishermen are advised to navigate carefully and avoid thunderstorm areas.

Regional forecasts for the next 24 hours:

Northern Region: Thunderstorms covering 40 percent of the area with heavy rainfall in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Phrae, and Tak provinces. Lows 22-28°C, highs 32-36°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeast Region: Thunderstorms covering 60 percent of the area with heavy rainfall in Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Surin, Sisaket, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, with very heavy rainfall in Bueng Kan and Nakhon Phanom. Lows 24-26°C, highs 33-36°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/hr.

Central Region: Thunderstorms covering 40 percent of the area, mainly in Kanchanaburi and Saraburi provinces. Lows 24-27°C, highs 35-37°C. Southwest winds 10-25 km/hr.

Eastern Region: Thunderstorms covering 60 percent of the area with heavy rainfall in Nakhon Nayok and Chanthaburi, and very heavy rainfall in Trat province. Lows 22-26°C, highs 31-35°C. Southwest winds 20-35 km/hr. Seas 2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Southern Region (East Coast): Thunderstorms covering 30 percent of the area, mainly in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces. Lows 23-26°C, highs 33-36°C. Southwest winds 15-35 km/hr. Seas 1-2 meters, 2 meters offshore, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Southern Region (West Coast): Thunderstorms covering 40 percent of the area, mainly in Ranong, Phang Nga, Trang, and Satun provinces. Lows 23-26°C, highs 31-34°C. From Ranong northward: Southwest winds 20-35 km/hr, seas 2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas. From Phang Nga southward: Southwest winds 15-35 km/hr, seas 1-2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Bangkok and Vicinity: Thunderstorms expected.

The Chang Championship 2026 youth golf tournament concluded beautifully from August 14-16, 2026 at Lakeview Resort and Golf Club in Phetchaburi province, competing over three days and 54 holes as the fourth event of the Chang-Genz Golf Tour 2026, organized in collaboration with The Genz Limited and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, with Chang natural mineral water. The tournament was designed to identify exceptional young golfers for Genz's development programs.

This year's competition reached international standards, with tournaments at stages 1, 4, and 5 receiving recognition from WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking), enabling Super Genz and Special Genz golfers to accumulate world ranking points. All results from the five tournaments throughout the season are recorded in the Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS) system, an important database for applying for overseas educational scholarships.

Super Genz boys champion Chi Woo Park displayed strong form throughout the tournament, finishing with a three-day total score of 7-under-par 209 (66-74-69) to claim the title. The Super Genz girls champion was Khwan Naphat Sunantr, with a three-day total of 9-under-par 207 (68-70-69).

The award ceremony was presided over by Daw Pakorn Rattanasuwon, Chairman of The Genz Limited, and Asanai Hemmapet, Senior Sales Manager of Lakeview Resort and Golf Club, who presented awards to the winners.

Final results of the Chang Championship 2026 (August 16, 2026) were as follows:

Super Genz Boys: 1st Chi Woo Park, 7-under-par 209 (66-74-69); 2nd Sart Silp Chantuairai, 6-under-par 210 (69-74-67); 3rd Vorawit Jem Pong, 2-under-par 214 (71-76-67); 4th Chaipat Jen Saiklang, 2-under-par 214 (76-71-67); 5th Nathwee Pratiepsena, 1-under-par 215 (70-74-71)

Super Genz Girls: 1st Khwan Naphat Sunantr, 9-under-par 207 (68-70-69); 2nd Saowanit Charoensukrung Rueng, 6-under-par 210 (70-69-71); 3rd Aerisa Bindajit, 2-over-par 218 (72-75-71); 4th Wichyada Rammueang, 3-over-par 219 (75-74-70); 5th Lean Chwe, 5-over-par 221 (74-72-75)

Junior Genz Boys: 1st Riuki Osaka, even-par 216 (73-71-72); 2nd Theerakom Nuchvong, 8-over-par 224 (73-73-78); 3rd Shi Hyun Lee, 11-over-par 227 (76-78-73); 4th Seksiri Srikamkor, 11-over-par 227 (76-77-74); 5th Paramaj Chaiyacharuwanij, 18-over-par 234 (81-78-75)

Junior Genz Girls: 1st Haedum O, 10-under-par 206 (70-68-68); 2nd Hayul Yoon, 8-under-par 208 (70-70-68); 3rd Pimpiyada Nuchnart, 6-under-par 210 (74-67-69); 4th Suwarin Somburnvibul, 1-over-par 217 (77-73-67); 5th Kirttika Kamonprani, 4-over-par 220 (75-71-74)

Special Genz Boys: 1st Shivakorn Pratiepsena, 3-over-par 219 (74-70-75); 2nd Chaiyaphat Wongvian, 11-over-par 227 (80-74-73); 3rd Pisit Komklao, 20-over-par 236 (78-80-78); 4th Burinkorn Liamlertsai, 27-over-par 243 (88-80-75); 5th Patraphat Singthom, 32-over-par 248 (83-79-86)

Special Genz Girls: 1st Thannacha Pantep

Songkhla province is mobilizing defenses against flooding, designating 22 monitoring zones and positioning 12 giant water pumps for immediate deployment during emergencies. On August 17, Deputy Governor Jirawat Manichote chaired a meeting of the water situation analysis and disaster warning coordination task force, bringing together government agencies, local authorities, educational institutions, and civil society organizations.

The Songkhla Irrigation Project reported completing six categories of monsoon preparedness measures: identifying 22 flood-watch areas, managing water reserves according to operational guidelines, preparing pump equipment, inspecting hydraulic structures and monitoring systems, removing aquatic weeds to improve drainage efficiency, and implementing a 603-million-baht central budget emergency relief program for 2025 to strengthen water management and reduce flood impacts across the province.

The Regional Water Resources Office 8 reported continuously monitoring rainfall data through the Meteorological Department and tracking water levels around the clock. Current cumulative rainfall in Songkhla stands at 582.75 millimeters, still below normal for this period. Water levels in main rivers remain below danger thresholds, and no early flood or landslide alerts have been issued for the province between August 10-17.

Songkhla has prepared multiple pumping units, water trucks, crane-equipped trucks, and other machinery ready for immediate deployment in emergencies. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center Region 12 reported 161 units of personnel, equipment, and support resources including flood response vehicles, various rescue boats, pumps, and victim assistance equipment. The province plans to install 12 water pumping stations in vulnerable areas across four districts: Rattaphum, Hat Yai, Singhanakhon, and Muang, with ongoing dredging of aquatic plants and sediment from waterways to enhance drainage capacity and reduce flood risks during the rainy season.

A Lao man became jealously enraged at his Thai partner and beat her unconscious before dragging her to a pool. She was rescued in time by a female friend. Police are pursuing the suspect for prosecution.

On August 17, Deputy Subdistrict Commander Thirayothin Sapsatien of Muang Udon Thani received a report of an assault in Roi Phatthana 2 community, Dong Udom subdistrict, Muang District, Udon Thani Province. Officers and rescue volunteers responded.

Upon arrival, they found a 64-year-old woman frantically reporting that someone was drowning and that she had pulled the person from the water. At the pool, they discovered 40-year-old Karn lying on the ground wearing only a shirt, with facial injuries. Rescue workers covered her and transported her to Udon Thani Central Hospital for treatment of injuries throughout her body.

During questioning, the 64-year-old woman, still showing signs of distress and slurred speech, explained that she, Karn, and Porn (34, a Lao national and Karn's husband) were drinking in front of a rental room. After two bottles of alcohol, Karn and Porn began arguing over his jealous behavior and his ongoing involvement with other women. Porn became angry, beat his wife repeatedly, then dragged her to the pool to dump her. The woman said she was too intoxicated to stop him, but when she saw Porn dragging Karn to the pool, she panicked and rushed after them, pulling Karn out of the water before immediately alerting the village headman. Porn, the Lao suspect, fled the scene.

The village headman stated that the Lao man and his wife would regularly drink with the woman, but on this day the woman reported a conflict. Upon investigation, he learned that Porn had beaten his wife and attempted to drown her. He rushed to check and found that the woman had already rescued herself from the water before police and rescue teams arrived. The headman noted it was fortunate she was saved in time; otherwise, she would certainly have drowned.

Authorities plan to locate and interrogate Porn further. The Lao suspect remains at large and has not sought care for his wife.

A 26-year-old man was stabbed twice by a woman after stepping in to stop a confrontation between his girlfriend's family and neighbors over a parking dispute in Moo 8, Phrong Akash Subdistrict, Bang Nam Phuea District, Chachoengsao Province, on the evening of August 16. The victim, Nitipong, had parked his motorcycle at his girlfriend's house when a man named Ball was reversing his car into a nearby alley. A verbal exchange broke out between Ball and Nitipong's girlfriend's brother, Mark, about the parking. The incident escalated that evening when Nitipong and his girlfriend were attending a birthday party at a shop near the alley. Ball's group of seven people came out and called for Mark and Nitipong's girlfriend's sister, May, to settle the earlier dispute. During the confrontation, May's father (Ball's wife's relative) moved toward May in a threatening manner. Nitipong attempted to intervene to protect May, unaware that the woman was carrying a knife. She suddenly drew a blade and stabbed him twice. Nitipong filed a police report at Bang Nam Phuea Station and is demanding full prosecution rather than seeking financial compensation, stating he was only trying to prevent harm and was not the aggressor.