The Industrial Product Standards Committee will open a public consultation on August 17 to review proposed new steel standards and strengthen construction material safety. The committee has voted to revise steel standards, especially rebar used in building structures, with particular scrutiny on induction furnace production due to quality control limitations.

Following approvals on June 23 and July 21, the committee has tasked the Industrial Product Standards Office to refine the draft standard and conduct public hearings before finalizing the new Thai Standard 24-25xx.

The core aim is to strengthen steel standards for effective quality and safety control, particularly for rebar used in critical structural components like columns and beams that directly affect building integrity. Induction furnaces face a key limitation: their melting process combines multiple raw materials, making composition control and contaminant removal difficult. Poor process control can result in substandard steel properties that compromise structural strength and safety.

Random inspection data shows steel from induction furnaces has a higher failure rate than other furnace types, highlighting the need for strict production and quality controls from the outset. Artwich Suwannaphakdi noted that when production technology has limitations and inspection capacity is insufficient, raising standards becomes essential to manage risk. The Industry Ministry's steel standards inspection team has only five staff, severely limiting factory oversight coverage.

This standard revision is not merely an industrial requirement but a public safety measure, especially for steel used in building structures where quality failures can have wide-reaching impacts on lives and property. August 17 marks the public hearing phase; the new standard is not yet mandatory. The Standards Office will compile feedback, assess regulatory impact, and submit findings to the committee before the standard advances through regulatory and royal gazette procedures.

On August 12, Deputy Commander Tor Sak Sareeratana of Rayong Provincial Police announced the arrest of four Cambodian suspects—three men and one woman—along with the seizure of ten motorcycles stolen from villages across Ban Khao, Pluak Daeng, Muang Rayong, and Wang Chan districts. According to Tor Sak, the gang members named Thon Goh, Mike, and Guy stole a Honda Giorno motorcycle parked in front of a rental room in Chumsamg subdistrict at midnight on July 27. On August 9 at 3 a.m., the same three men attempted to steal a Honda PCX motorcycle, but the owner heard them and interrupted the theft, forcing the criminals to flee empty-handed. Later that day at 8 p.m., they successfully stole another Honda Giorno from a rental room in Phlongta-ian subdistrict.

Police reviewed CCTV footage of the suspects' escape route and identified them as Cambodian nationals renting accommodation at Chumsamg market near the Wang Chan-Khao Chamao road. Officers conducted a raid and arrested the suspects along with the ten stolen motorcycles. The gang intended to sell the bikes in Cambodia for 110,000 to 150,000 baht each through an accomplice named Sai and a buyer named Sunsai. The gang is led by Thai, a previously convicted offender who recruited members to systematically steal motorcycles—particularly Honda PCX models, which are in high demand in Cambodia. Thai and another gang member named Chin remain at large. The gang obtained theft tools including remote controls and code-setting boxes from Cambodia, while other equipment was purchased from local markets. Police have now seized 20 motorcycles and arrested six suspects, with ongoing coordination with border checkpoints to heighten security.

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."