Thailand's national football team defeated Myanmar 2-0 on penalties from Worrachit Kaniitsareebaumphen and Jehhanafi Mama, securing Group B victory and advancing to the semi-finals of the 2026 AFF Cup.

Head coach Anthony Hudson praised the team's effort, saying "First, I want to thank the fans for their support throughout this period. I'm satisfied with the results—we managed to keep four clean sheets and advance to the semi-finals. This match we didn't use any players suspended on yellow cards. Everyone deserves credit for giving their best effort." Hudson explained his choice of penalty takers: "We had some light training yesterday, and I selected Worrachit for the first penalty. For the second, I couldn't overlook Jehhanafi because he performed well in finishing drills and penalty practice. Both deserve credit for their bravery in taking responsibility."

Hudson added, "To be honest, I'm proud of everyone. Their form has been good and we achieved the results we targeted, though many were tired. That's why I tried to maintain intensity and pressure the opposition. Our immediate focus is player recovery—one day rest, then Monday we plan for the Singapore match. I'll decide the primary penalty taker weekly; everyone performed excellently, whether starters or substitutes. Right now, the priority is team preparation and tactical planning. We want to improve fitness and elevate our play further. The decision on the primary penalty taker will come later."

On the tournament philosophy, Hudson explained: "We divided the campaign into three phases: first, to win matches and qualify for the Asian Cup rounds; second, considering most players were in club leagues four weeks prior, we had to adjust tactically without being harsh on them; and now we're building plans while players are still in pre-season. Today we rested key yellow-carded players, and some lacked energy and activity, especially in the first half. We had good chances but some players tired badly in the second half, so we adjusted style and made substitutions with responsive players, which proved quite satisfactory."

Jehhanafi Mama, named Player of the Match, said he was satisfied with scoring but acknowledged missed opportunities. "I didn't feel much pressure on the penalty. I was confident because my family was watching—I wanted to make my parents proud and score for Thailand."

Thailand's next match in the 2026 AFF Cup semi-final will be against Singapore (world ranking 148) at Jalan Besar Stadium on August 15, 2025, with live broadcast on TrueVisions Now.

Deputy Transport Minister Sarapetch Bunyamani inspected dredging operations on Khlong Uthaphao near Laguna Bridge in Bang Klam District, Songkhla Province on August 8, 2026 to accelerate drainage improvements and mitigate flooding impacts in Hat Yai and downstream areas. The Port Authority has received initial funding of over 1 million baht for dredging work and is pushing for additional budget allocation. Officials are coordinating with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to use abandoned shrimp farms as reception areas for excavated soil, reducing transport distances and avoiding dumping in Songkhla Lake, which could cause long-term sedimentation problems. Administrative procedures are underway.

For fiscal year 2570, nearly 90 million baht has been allocated for dredging three critical canals: Khlong Uthaphao, Khlong R.1, and Khlong R.3 to improve drainage efficiency and alleviate Hat Yai flooding. The Khlong Uthaphao section being inspected covers approximately 5 kilometers and will be deepened from 2 meters to 3 meters below mean sea level over about 55 days. Officials acknowledge this alone cannot fully solve the problem due to budget constraints and plan continuous dredging expansion while addressing Songkhla Lake's shallowing issues.

Deputy Minister Sarapetch instructed the Port Authority to accelerate opening the bay mouth at Khlong Uthaphao to increase drainage into Songkhla Lake. Plans are being submitted to the cabinet for additional dredging, with contingency budgeting for fiscal year 2571 if needed. The Transport Ministry has tasked related agencies to clear debris, soil, and silt from drainage systems and address road obstructions to enhance water discharge and prepare for potential flooding.

Nhuamol Wongahacak delivered an outstanding performance to secure two gold medals and one silver for Thailand's weightlifting team at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on August 8, 2025.

Competing in the women's youth 49-kilogram category, Nhuamol displayed excellent form in the snatch, successfully lifting 73, 75, and 77 kilograms in sequence. She captured a silver medal in this lift and Thailand's first medal of the competition. In the clean and jerk, Nhuamol easily cleared 98 kilograms on her first attempt and 101 kilograms on her second. She attempted 105 kilograms on her third try but the lift was ruled invalid. Her best of 101 kilograms was still enough to secure a gold medal, with a combined total of 178 kilograms earning another gold.

Other notable performances included Angeline Colonia of the Philippines, who won one gold in snatch at 80 kilograms and two silvers in clean and jerk at 93 kilograms for a total of 173 kilograms, and Alexandra Ann Diaz of the Philippines, who took two bronze medals in snatch at 77 kilograms and a total of 169 kilograms. Hoi Ga of Vietnam earned one bronze in clean and jerk at 93 kilograms.

In the men's youth 60-kilogram category, Kritiphong Toshlor completed with a snatch of 101 kilograms (8th place), clean and jerk of 124 kilograms (8th place), and a total of 225 kilograms (7th place). Jerick Icon Castro of the Philippines dominated the men's youth 60-kilogram division, winning three golds with a snatch of 115 kilograms, a clean and jerk of 144 kilograms—setting a new Asian youth record and surpassing the previous standard of 143 kilograms—and a total of 260 kilograms.

Thailand's medal tally now stands at two golds and one silver. The Thai team has additional competitors scheduled throughout the remainder of the championships.

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Cherng Talay – Phuket police have fined a Russian manl after a video of a white BMW sedan drifting dangerously in a convenience store parking lot near Surin Beach went viral on social media. The Cherng Talay Police told the Phuket Express. The incident occurred late on August 7th, when the vehicle was seen spinning […] Russian Driver Fined for Reckless BMW Stunt at Surin Beach-VIDEO -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

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Phuket – Phuket City Police, in coordination with the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, executed a search warrant and arrested a 25-year-old woman for illegally selling unlicensed weight-loss products online. Official told the Phuket Express. The suspect, identified as Ms. “Ploy” (alias), was apprehended in a rented room in Rassada Subdistrict, Muang District, Phuket. Officers […] Police Arrest Woman in Phuket Selling Illegal Weight-Loss Pens Online -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

Pol. Gen. Tawee Sodsong, leader of the Prachathai Party, posted on Facebook on August 8, 2569, questioning the 2568 local government employee exam cheating scandal and demanding investigation into the "masterminds." He characterized the scandal as "crime to aid criminals," arguing it extends far beyond simple exam fraud. Once the initial wrongdoing occurred and results were announced, posted, and employees hired, a second layer of suspected criminal activity emerged—the alleged tampering with evidence and score files to retroactively justify the fraudulent results and shield the original perpetrators. This secondary action constitutes what Sodsong calls "crime to aid criminals." On June 22, 2569, National Anti-Corruption Commission officers, working with other law enforcement units, executed search warrants at Sammeung Company in Nonthaburi, discovering 11 local officials handling answer sheets and exam score files, seizing numerous items of evidence. The scandal involved approximately 5,960 exam candidates whose status was altered from "failed" to "passed," but the June 22 raid was not the beginning—the results had already been announced, lists posted, and candidates hired into government service, meaning the fraud's impact extended beyond computers into the civil service system and national finances. Sodsong posed a direct question: if results were already announced, lists compiled, and hiring completed, why were officials still manipulating score files and answer sheets afterward? If proven to be an attempt to make source evidence match the announced results to conceal the original fraud, this constitutes not merely exam cheating but an additional layer of criminal conduct to aid and cover for the original perpetrators. The Civil Service Commission later canceled portions of the exam list and compiled a new one for Southern Thailand zones 1 and 2. While correcting the roster may address administrative consequences, it cannot erase prior misconduct and raises further questions: How did failed candidates appear in the announced results? Who prepared the documents, who submitted them, who reviewed them, who approved them, and who ordered it? Officials must also examine those removed from the list for connections to politicians or senior officials—such connections would represent a critical trail leading from the "beneficiaries" to the "masterminds." Evidence also suggests candidates or relatives were charged 450,000 to 1,000,000 baht in exchange for exam passage, list inclusion, or civil service hiring, with potential total losses estimated at 4.5 to 5 billion baht. Investigators must trace both money and power: who demanded payment, who collected it, how was the money distributed, and who received positions, promotions, or authority in return? In criminology, when corruption yields returns in money, position, and power while carrying low punishment risk, it incentivizes further wrongdoing. When passed through networks, corruption reproduces itself and embeds in the system. When money creates power, power creates position, and position reinforces both, the cycle becomes self-perpetuating.