Akpong Hrimcharoen, director of the National Statistical Office, opened the announcement of the 2568 Population and Housing Census results for the northern region under the theme Thailand Digital Census for All: Overcoming Challenges to New Opportunities. The event, held at The Empress Hotel in Chiang Mai, was attended by government officials, academics, and representatives from public and private organizations across the north.

The census announcement aims to disseminate 2568 population and housing data and build understanding of demographic and housing conditions among government agencies, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations. The data will support evidence-based policymaking, development planning, and resource allocation to drive sustainable national development.

Akpong Hrimcharoen stated that the National Statistical Office places high importance on releasing results from the 2568 census, Thailand's 12th population census and 6th housing census. The regional announcement serves to convey critical demographic and housing information to all stakeholders in the north, ensuring they receive accurate, complete, and timely data that reflects changes in Thai society. The office aims to promote the use of statistical data in policy formulation, development planning, and public service delivery tailored to community needs.

The director added that regional-level events reflect the office's commitment to raising awareness and expanding the application of census data across all sectors to support evidence-based decision-making, ultimately improving quality of life, reducing inequality, and achieving sustainable development. Additional census announcements will be held in the northeast at Khon Kaen and in the south at Nakhon Si Thammarat. The concluding national census announcement and statistical conference, featuring comprehensive results for all of Thailand, will bring together over 400 statisticians and experts at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre.

Shiva Thamikananth, deputy governor of Chiang Mai Province, noted that the 2568 census clearly reveals significant changes in the northern region, particularly the transition to an aging society. Many northern provinces have Thailand's highest proportions of elderly residents, signaling the need for government preparation in welfare, healthcare, and long-term quality of life services. The data reflects real conditions in many areas, including elderly populations living in isolation.

Krung Thai Card is pushing forward in the second half of 2026, targeting spending growth through credit cards and loans with confidence. The company expects increased spending during the year-end high season and is focusing on acquiring quality customers in two main segments: those earning 50,000 baht or more, and first-time jobbers or young professionals. This will be supported by new data analytics and core systems to improve efficiency, manage cyber security risks, and expand insurance brokerage business. In the first half of the year, the company posted net profit of 4.397 billion baht, up 17.1 percent. Credit card spending grew 4.7 percent, exceeding the industry average of 2.7 percent, while market share in card spending rose to 13.3 percent.

Pithaya Worpanyasukul, Chief Executive Officer of Krung Thai Card Company Limited, said at the second quarter 2026 earnings call that the overall economic picture in the second half is unlikely to differ significantly from the first half, but spending and credit demand are likely to increase seasonally, especially in the final quarter which is the high season. The company believes it can achieve its growth targets for card spending and loans. "Our challenge is not just adding more customers, but acquiring quality ones and managing customer acquisition costs efficiently," she explained. "We are reducing unnecessary expenses, using technology to improve processes, and developing our people's skills, but we will not reduce benefits that matter to our members because growth must come with maintaining long-term customer relationships."

The strong performance of Krung Thai Card's group in such an economic environment reflects company-wide collaboration in improving work efficiency and disciplined cost management. The company emphasizes building business strength throughout the entire process—from screening and selecting quality customers, developing member service staff, upgrading employee skills, investing in technology and fraud prevention, to caring for customers facing debt repayment problems through close consultation and mediation. "We believe that comprehensive management from upstream to downstream allows Krung Thai Card to grow with quality, maintain long-term customer relationships, and build sustained strong operational results, even in times of economic uncertainty," Pithaya said.

In the second half, credit card business will focus on expanding two quality customer segments: those earning 50,000 baht or more, who still have purchasing power and good repayment ability, and first-time jobbers and young professionals, whom Krung Thai Card wants to make their first credit card to build long-term relationships. For existing members, the goal is to make Krung Thai Card their primary spending card. Current members continue to use the card consistently, reflecting the strength of a quality membership base and effective marketing strategies that address everyday spending needs across restaurants, shopping, online retail, insurance, and travel—categories showing strong growth. Online shopping spending is particularly performing well with double-digit growth, while health and beauty categories show promising potential. The company is also ready to work more closely with Krung Thai Bank to expand quality customer base and wealth management segments.

A major shift is the implementation of a new Core System, opening digital pathways and controlling cybersecurity threats.

On 19 August 2025, a 23-year-old woman filed a complaint with village authorities in Klonng Khlong District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, reporting that her younger sister, aged 20, had stolen her national ID card. The younger sister used it to fraudulently claim healthcare benefits at multiple hospitals in Kamphaeng Phet and other provinces.

The victim discovered the theft when checking the Doctor Ready app before her own prenatal appointment at a hospital in Kamphaeng Phet, where she is registered to receive healthcare. She found records showing two pregnancy registrations, a miscarriage, and numerous other medical procedures including gallstone surgery—none of which she had actually undergone.

The younger sister had fled home about a year ago with a motorcycle and a bag containing the ID card, and has had no contact with the family since. The victim reported the theft to police at Klongg Khlong Police Station. Officers advised her to contact her sister to stop using the card or to visit the district office for verification, but the victim cannot reach her sister through any means—phone, Facebook, or LINE. She has sent messages asking her to stop, but received no reply.

On 17 August, the Doctor Ready app showed the card being used for prenatal care registration at a hospital in Chachoengsao Province, shocking the victim further. She visited a local hospital in Kamphaeng Phet to request deletion of the fraudulent records. The hospital agreed to remove them from its system, but she cannot travel to hospitals in other provinces to do the same.

The victim has now sought help from village authorities and media, noting that she and her sister look similar and fears doctors may confuse them as the same person. She is puzzled why the old ID card was not automatically deactivated when she obtained a new one, and she is asking her sister to stop using her identity for healthcare claims.

The Meteorology Department warned on August 19 that 48 provinces will face heavy thunderstorms affecting 70 percent of affected areas over the next 24 hours, with Bangkok and its surrounding regions facing severe conditions. Heavy rainfall is forecast for the upper northern, upper northeastern, and eastern regions due to a monsoon trough entering a low-pressure system over northern Vietnam, combined with a strong southwest monsoon across the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. The public is urged to exercise caution against heavy to very heavy rain and accumulated rainfall that may cause flash floods, forest runoff, and riverbank overflow, particularly in foothill areas and low-lying zones. Waves in the Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand are expected to reach 2–3 meters, exceeding 3 meters in thunderstorm areas; sailors are advised to navigate with care and avoid stormy waters, with small boats in the upper Andaman Sea advised to remain ashore.

Regional forecasts from 6 a.m. today to 6 a.m. tomorrow:

North: Thunderstorms in 70 percent of the area with heavy rain in Mae Hong Son, Lampun, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Phichit, Phitsanulok, and Phetchabun, with very heavy rain in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, and Lamphun. Lows 23–28°C, highs 29–34°C. Southwest winds 10–20 kph.

Northeast: Thunderstorms in 70 percent of the area with heavy rain in Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Chaiyaphum, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani, with very heavy rain in Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, and Kalasin. Lows 22–25°C, highs 28–33°C. Southwest winds 10–20 kph.

Central: Thunderstorms in 60 percent of the area with heavy rain in Nakhon Sawan, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi. Lows 25–26°C, highs 34–36°C. Southwest winds 10–25 kph.

East: Thunderstorms in 70 percent of the area with heavy rain in Nakhon Nayok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sa Kaew, Chachoengsao, and Chonburi, with very heavy rain in some areas of Trat. Lows 24–28°C, highs 30–33°C. Southwest winds 20–35 kph. Seas 2 meters high, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

South (East Coast): Thunderstorms in 40 percent of the area, mainly in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Yala, and Narathiwat. Lows 23–25°C, highs 33–35°C. Southwest winds 15–35 kph. Seas 1–2 meters, approximately 2 meters offshore, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm zones.

South (West Coast): Thunderstorms in 60 percent of the area with heavy rain in Ranong and Phang Nga. Lows 24–27°C, highs 29–34°C.

A popular Facebook page has clarified that the mother in question registered her marriage, not a pregnancy, sparking widespread congratulations and jokes online. The post from the Je Moi 108 V1 page read: "So basically my mom didn't get pregnant, she just registered her marriage. That's some serious luck right there #RichWifeEnergy." Netizens immediately flooded the comments with congratulatory messages, with many joking that they could tell from the replies exactly who the post was about. Users left comments such as: "Happy for her. Every woman deserves a future. Nobody on earth has never made a mistake. Such good fortune, did mom get lucky coins I could borrow? Real luck, she bounced back from a hard fall. Exactly right, the wedding ceremony doesn't matter as much as the marriage certificate. I need to ask what merit she made... I need to change my merit-making method! I could take the Buddha statue from my home and put her on the altar instead."

A noodle shop owner in Nonthaburi has reported a theft to police after two teenage suspects on a motorcycle broke into locked food storage containers outside his shop and made off with ingredients worth over 3,000 baht. The incident occurred on August 12 at Hia Kai Rad Nah shop in Bang Bua Thong subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province, at around 1:26 a.m. Security footage shows a male suspect operating the motorcycle with a female passenger, who acted as lookout while the man used a screwdriver to pry open the lock on two chilled storage tanks containing 10 kilograms of marinated pork, 3 kilograms of fresh shrimp, and 5 kilograms of shrimp balls. The male suspect removed the ingredients in two bags and fled on the motorcycle.

Shop owner Thanon Sawaban, 46, commonly known as Hia Kai, discovered the theft the following morning when his employee arrived to open. He reviewed security footage from within the residential area, which captured the suspects arriving, stationing the motorcycle with the female keeping watch, and the male entering the shop to break into the storage containers. The footage also showed the suspect escaping into a nearby soi at 1:28 a.m. Hia Kai told reporters that the economic situation made the theft particularly frustrating, as business was already struggling. He expressed his belief that the suspects are a young couple, though he did not recognize them. He told police he cursed them, saying that stolen food would never bring happiness, and filed a report at Bang Bua Thong Police Station. Police are investigating using CCTV footage and searching for leads, noting that the motorcycle used in the theft bore no license plate.