The National Education Council held an academic conference on August 17 at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok to develop the Thailand National Education Index as an international database foundation. Assoc. Prof. Pravit Eraviruthwon, Secretary-General of the National Education Council, chaired the opening and explained that the Thailand National Education Index is a systematic tool to gather education-related data for policymaking, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and advancement to keep pace with global changes.

The index comprises key international education indicators from both statistical databases and survey data, reflecting the quality of Thailand's education system across five dimensions: access to education, student quality and outcomes, education delivery efficiency, relevance to life and work, and future readiness. Eraviruthwon said the index serves as a policy compass to set direction and targets, a management tool to track and evaluate progress, and a means to build international credibility and transparency.

The council plans to integrate the Thailand National Education Index into the OECD's Indicators of Education Systems (INES) for international comparison and analysis. Eraviruthwon emphasized that Thailand needs this index to drive and develop education efficiently, and that having comparable data is essential to identify Thailand's position relative to other nations. The meeting included representatives from the National Statistics Office, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, working toward unified data standards. The council is currently integrating data for the OECD's Education at a Glance report and the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) to prepare Thailand's education system for international standards and potential OECD membership.

Chinese doctors were shocked to discover nearly 180 metal objects weighing almost 1 kilogram inside a 36-year-old patient's stomach after he experienced severe vomiting and abdominal pain for 9 days.

On August 17, Chinese doctors revealed the remarkable case after the male patient presented with severe vomiting and abdominal pain lasting 9 days. X-rays revealed large quantities of metal objects clustered together inside his body, weighing nearly 1 kilogram.

Dr. Li Wei, a surgeon specializing in liver, gallbladder, and pancreas surgery at a Chinese hospital, explained that the man had a history of chronic mental illness and Pica disorder, which causes patients to consume non-food items. Although his family was aware of his medical history, they did not know when he had swallowed the metal objects or why. On August 7, the surgical team spent nearly 3 hours removing approximately 180 nails, along with coins, screws, bolts, and magnets from his stomach. The total weight of all objects was estimated at nearly 1 kilogram.

Dr. Li noted that the sharp objects caused ulceration and erosion of the stomach lining, but fortunately the nails had not pierced the stomach wall or entered the intestines. The magnets are believed to have helped the metal objects cluster together, potentially reducing the risk of dispersion and additional damage. The patient is currently stable and recovering.

However, doctors warned that swallowed objects should not be assumed to pass through the digestive system on their own, especially sharp or elongated items, as they may become lodged at narrow points and cause ulceration, perforation of the stomach or intestines, infection, and life-threatening complications. This patient requires long-term psychiatric treatment, family care, consistent medication compliance, and prevention of access to dangerous household items to avoid recurrence.

A 68-year-old man named Banjong from Dong Yai subdistrict in Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima, has won 54 million baht from a Lottery Plus draw held on August 16, 2026. He purchased nine tickets and won the grand prize, creating excitement among his family and relatives.

His 69-year-old sister, Amphorn, explained that Banjong is the sixth of nine siblings, with three having passed away. She noted that he currently works in Bangkok and has not yet returned home to Nakhon Ratchasima. When she learned of his lottery win, she felt genuinely happy, as her brother rarely purchases lottery tickets or gambles. However, he occasionally buys tickets when he dreams of their late father. The reason he bought nine tickets this time is still unclear, as they have not yet discussed it with him.

Amphorn revealed that Banjong is known for his charitable work. He regularly donates to temples for maintenance, assists with funeral costs, and supports social welfare. He previously worked for large international companies and is fluent in foreign languages. His wife is a homemaker, and their two adult children are successful: their eldest son is a renowned university professor and their daughter works for a corporation. Despite their wealth, the children remain employed and do not burden their parents, which the family considers a testament to Banjong's virtue.

Beyond his immediate family, Banjong helps underprivileged children by finding them employment opportunities and supporting their education. He also assists his neighbors in various ways. His sister believes that the merit he has accumulated through charitable actions has brought him this great fortune, with villagers saying, "His good karma has arrived."

On August 17, Deputy Interior Minister Worasidit Liangprasert addressed concerns that sending the names of 5,925 civil service and local government exam candidates found to have irregularities to local administrative organizations (PAO) for action amounted to shifting responsibility. He stated this is not burden-shifting but rather each agency performing its designated duties, with the central government responsible for determining data, standards, and clear guidelines. He stressed the importance of separating the investigation of irregularities from personnel status decisions, as each step falls under different agencies' authority, and local governments are not being asked to decide who is guilty or should be removed.

Worasidit explained that the process for the 5,925 cases begins with checking data during the examination process, not at the local level. Once irregularities are found, they enter a review process by relevant committees before guidelines are set and information is sent to responsible agencies. He argued that if the central government detected score problems but took no action, people would question why the Interior Ministry left ineligible candidates in the system. However, corrections must follow proper procedures and not be based on emotion or place blame on a single party.

He noted that action against those involved must proceed on multiple fronts simultaneously: correcting the candidate registry, handling those already appointed, and referring cases to authorities with criminal investigation powers—each a separate process. He clarified that being on the list of 5,925 does not automatically make someone guilty of corruption or a criminal offence; these are people found to have exam score irregularities who must undergo proper investigative procedures.

Worasidit emphasized that whether someone committed a crime or participated in fraud must be proven through investigation and the justice system. For those appointed based on flawed scores, if investigation shows they were ineligible from the start, their status must be corrected by law, as errors or fraud in exams cannot become permanent rights in the civil service. He stated his principle clearly: whoever obtained rights improperly must be corrected; whoever passed on their own merits and was uninvolved in fraud deserves justice; and officials following orders must have clear guidelines, so innocent people do not bear the consequences of others' wrongdoing.

The Central Investigation Bureau and the Revenue Department have dismantled a "ghost bill" network involved in selling fraudulent tax invoices, causing damage to the value-added tax system worth 360 million baht. Officers raided 10 locations across five provinces and arrested three suspects.

On August 17, 2569, at the Central Investigation Bureau headquarters, senior police and revenue officials announced the "Anti Ghost Bill" operation. According to Deputy Superintendent Krisna Makrutdin of the CIB's Division 2, the Revenue Department had received intelligence that a group of individuals and companies were selling tax invoices without any actual goods transactions. The operation identified a sales representative using the name "O Ratthasak" who recruited customers through an exclusive closed network and refused contact with outsiders.

Undercover officers successfully infiltrated the network and conducted multiple undercover purchases of invoices issued in the name of a company managed by director Pandecha. The scheme involved issuing false invoices for goods valued at 300-400 million baht annually, with payments transferred to accounts under Konpot's name. The network allegedly used Thailand Post channels and false names for delivery without actually providing goods. Additional invoices were distributed to other customers with profit margins transferred to Pandecha.

The company had a registered capital of 400 million baht and issued invoices to create credibility. The network caused tax damages of at least 360 million baht and undermined the nation's economic system.

On August 11, 2569, officers arrested three suspects: Ms. Ratthasak, 61, arrested at a condominium on Rama III Road in Bangkok; Mr. Konpot, 50, arrested at his residence in Nakhon Ratchasima; and Mr. Pandecha, 33, arrested at his residence in Nonthaburi.

Raids at 10 locations across five provinces—four in Bangkok, three in Nonthaburi, one each in Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Prakan, and Chaiyaphum—seized approximately 200 items including 105 tax invoice documents, 12 files of purchase-sale tax reports, 31 files of postal delivery documents, 17 files of employment contracts and transfer documents, and 18 bank account books.

On August 17, the atmosphere at Wat Pa Adulya Ram in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province, was noticeably quieter than in recent days, though devotees continued to visit the temple to make merit offerings and encourage Phra Kru Adulya Sarnit, the temple's abbot. This followed a visit from Professor Thong Chantharangsun, rector of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and chairman of the National Buddhist Protection Committee, along with officials from the Religious Affairs Office and related agencies, who consulted with the abbot about the temple's land dispute and efforts to transfer a 21-rai property title into the temple's name.

The abbot expressed relief and a brighter demeanor, saying the temple was pleased with the approach taken by the committee, which allowed him to remain at the temple rather than meeting the media outside. He noted that while the previous day's discussions covered legal matters, the temple's main concern was whether the dispute could finally be resolved. The temple has been the defendant throughout the legal process, never filing a counter-lawsuit, and despite court rulings and title transfers in the temple's favor, the situation had never fully concluded.

Lay disciple Lai Khunthong remarked that the temple's atmosphere had improved since the previous day's visit by many devotees and members of the public. He noted that police continue to patrol the grounds approximately every hour, providing reassurance to visitors and relatives. All devotees expressed happiness and optimism that the situation would be resolved favorably, with confidence that relevant authorities would acknowledge the temple's case once the matter is fully concluded.