Prime Minister Anuthane Chaiyaveerakul has ordered relevant agencies to strengthen gun control measures to address illegal and unlicensed firearms through both short-term emergency actions and long-term policy reforms involving multiple government departments. Immediate measures include suspending new government gun programs, halting issuance of gun purchase permits, conducting nationwide reviews of existing permits, streamlining firearm possession licenses, inspecting gun dealers nationwide, checking shooting range ammunition stocks, and cracking down on illegal weapons. Long-term reforms include amending the Firearms Act, implementing electronic systems for all licensing and sales steps, linking data with customs and revenue departments, improving firearm identification records, controlling firearms commerce, increasing merchant accountability, and enhancing penalties. The Prime Minister affirmed that no firearm purchase permits will be approved until further notice and confirmed the government will regulate Thailand's estimated 10 million civilian firearms. The action follows a shooting at Theepsirin School in Nonthaburi where a student used a grandfather's weapon to fire on teachers and classmates, causing multiple deaths and injuries. While the Prime Minister expects public support for these control measures, the editorial notes that most violent crimes involve illegal and smuggled weapons sold openly, and calls on the government to act decisively on this issue as well as on military weapons that have gone missing from government control and been used in violent incidents.

The World Instant Noodles Association has released its latest data on global instant noodle consumption for 2025, revealing total worldwide consumption of 124.21 billion servings, a 0.7% increase from the previous year or approximately 900 million additional servings. The top three rankings remain unchanged, with China and Hong Kong holding first place at 43.27 billion servings, followed by Indonesia at 14.54 billion servings and India at 9.6 billion servings.

In 2025, US trade policies and Middle Eastern tensions have increased global attention to the impact on raw material costs and product prices. Meanwhile, many Asian countries have seen declining exports due to geopolitical risks and rising raw material prices, trends expected to continue into 2026 and affect companies' procurement and pricing strategies.

Demand for instant noodles in 2025 increased in almost all regions except Europe, with Asia maintaining the highest overall growth rate. Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa also showed strong growth rates.

China and Hong Kong consumed 43.27 billion servings in 2025, down 1.2% from the previous year or approximately 530 million servings. China's economy expanded 5.0% in 2025 compared to the previous year, meeting the government's target of approximately 5% growth, driven mainly by exports and domestic electric appliance replacement policies. Despite ongoing deflation, consumers are spending more cautiously, though cup and mid-to-premium packaged noodles are expected to return to growth through demand-stimulation measures such as expanding into regional cities, opening new distribution channels via e-commerce, and launching new products.

Indonesia consumed 14.54 billion servings in 2025, down 1.0% from the previous year or approximately 140 million servings, marking the first decline in five years. The decline stems from reduced purchasing power amid price increases from currency depreciation and rising raw material costs. However, cup noodles continue to expand steadily, and the overall instant noodle market is expected to grow further.

India consumed 9.6 billion servings in 2025, up 8.9% from the previous year or 780 million servings, making it the country with the largest increase in servings in 2025. Growth results from multiple factors including GST tax reduction, expanded e-commerce channels, and increased product diversity, with India's instant noodle market expected to continue growing.

Vietnam consumed 8.23 billion servings in 2025, up 1.2% from the previous year or approximately 90 million servings.

The Department of Health, alongside government, academic, private sector, civil society, and community partners, is campaigning to promote breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week and Thailand's National Mother's Day 2025. Breastfeeding strengthens infant immunity, supports growth, and develops the child's brain, with the World Health Organization recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, continuing alongside appropriate foods until age two or beyond.

Dr. Amphorn Benjapol, Department of Health director-general, announced findings from a March 2025 health awareness survey of 874 respondents on the Infant and Young Child Food Marketing Control Act. Only 34.44% had heard of and partially understood the law, 28.72% had heard but lacked details, 21.74% clearly grasped its essence, and 15.10% were unaware of it entirely. When asked about the law's purpose, 52.97% correctly identified it as controlling advertising and marketing of infant and young child food, though 3.66% mistakenly thought it supported company marketing and 10.76% were uncertain.

On regulated products, 58.24% correctly identified infant formula, 48.63% named supplementary infant food, and 38.10% mentioned formula stages 1-3, but 16.36% incorrectly believed it controlled no specific products. A strong majority of 76.54% rightly understood the law's intent: protecting infants from marketing influence, reducing misleading advertising, and supporting breastfeeding. On attitudes, 57.44% saw the law as beneficial for child and family health, 19.45% saw both benefits and limitations, and only 2.40% viewed it as a burden on businesses. The survey also found that over 73% of the public believed advertising significantly influenced purchasing decisions, reflecting marketing's substantial impact on consumer behavior.

Somrak Khamsing, Thailand's pioneering Olympic gold medalist from 1996, has revealed his role as an adviser in proposing that the Amateur Boxing Association contact Chatri Sityodthorn, ONE Championship founder, to recruit Nabil Anane for a shot at a boxing medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Amateur Boxing Association, ONE Championship, and Thailand's Olympic Committee have been preparing to push Nabil, a former ONE Championship Thai boxing world champion at bantamweight, to compete as an amateur boxer for Thailand in pursuit of an Olympic medal in Los Angeles, despite ongoing criticism. Somrak Khamsing, Thailand's first Olympic gold medalist, revealed, "Since the Amateur Boxing Association made me an adviser, I set my sights on getting Nabil. I asked the association to help contact Chatri Sityodthorn to request Nabil and Tank Jitmuang Nont. If they both compete, a gold medal is certain." He added, "Nabil is tall with a superior physique, has good footwork and punching technique, and can be refined further. Amateur boxing today is almost like professional boxing now, without headgear and three rounds like my era. Nabil has direct experience with this, fighting with smaller gloves. When he encounters larger gloves, he will tell you it is no contest. If he goes to the Olympics, big-name foreign boxers will be afraid—their hearts will sink. He has advantages in bone structure, boxing prestige, and reputation."

Phuket- Immigration Police in Phuket have arrested a 26‑year‑old Ukrainian man wanted under an Interpol Red Notice for his role in an international cryptocurrency fraud scheme. The Phuket Immigration told the Phuket Express. The suspect, identified only as Yeken (alias), was apprehended on Tuesday (August 11th). Investigators found that the suspect and associates had created fake […]

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiyachon Chidchob addressed the shooting incident at Thepsirin School in Nonthaburi on August 12, clarifying that police investigation revealed the student accessed regular websites rather than the dark web, contrary to initial media reports. The suspect had viewed YouTube documentaries and standard informational content, not the violent material many had assumed.

Chidchob stated that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission had already been discussing protective policy upgrades with major platforms including Apple and Meta before the incident occurred. He confirmed Apple has agreed to adjust parental protection settings, with other platforms currently in negotiations. While acknowledging that users can still access content through parent accounts, the ministry aims to implement first-level website access protection.

When asked if the attack was premeditated, Chidchob suggested the student had decided in advance, noting that when authorities discovered a gaming account linked to the suspect with a virtual gun shop, they contacted gaming associations not to ban the account but to develop collaborative oversight. The ministry is working with game companies to identify high-risk user accounts or those showing unusual interest in firearms, allowing data to be shared with government agencies for early prevention.