Three French Tourists Rescued After Night Adrift Off Koh Samui

A 50-year-old French man and his two young sons were rescued Thursday morning after spending the night adrift off Koh Samui when their rented jet ski failed to return. The three were found treading water about 13 kilometres east of Koh Mat

4d ago Khaosod

Three French tourists were rescued after spending the night in the sea off Koh Samui when the jet ski they had rented failed to return to shore. The three—a 50-year-old father and two boys aged 12 and 9—were found at about 11:00 on Thursday treading water about seven nautical miles, or nearly 13 kilometres, east of Koh Mat Lang. They were safe but exhausted and were being taken to Bangkok Hospital Samui for medical checks.

The family of five had been spending time at Chaweng Beach on Wednesday afternoon. At 17:30, the father and two boys rented a jet ski from an operator based on the beach in front of Long Beach Hotel for 30 minutes, while the man's wife and daughter remained on shore.

When the jet ski had not returned after the allotted time, the operator searched the surrounding waters with binoculars, then sent out two jet skis to look for them. After failing to locate the group, the operator alerted authorities through the 1784 safety hotline at 20:25.

Koh Samui district officials, territorial defence volunteers, police, rescue workers, disaster-prevention officials and local jet-ski operators joined the search. Additional agencies joined the operation at 20:50.

Rescue boats searched through the night, including around Plai Laem Bay, Chaweng Beach and Koh Som from 22:00. At 23:20, three further boats searched from Chaweng Bay towards the channel off Koh Phangan.

Search efforts overnight were hampered by strong waves and winds outside the bay and were suspended at 01:00 before resuming at 09:00 on Thursday.

Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay said the rescue involved several agencies and local jet-ski operators, who continued the search overnight and into the morning until the three tourists were found.

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National

Aurora Gold Posts 67% Revenue Surge in First Half

Thailand's major gold retailer Aurora Design Company posted 67.9% revenue growth to 29.7 billion baht in the first half of 2025, driven by its Modern Gold business and gold-pawning services that expanded to 667 branches nationwide.

4d ago Khaosod

Aurora Design Company Limited, one of Thailand's major gold retailers, reported strong first-half 2025 results amid volatile gold prices. Operating revenue reached 29.7 billion baht, up 67.9% year-on-year, with net profit of 928.5 million baht, up 22%. The growth was driven by the Modern Gold business and the gold-pawning service under the brand "Gold Comes Money Goes."

According to Anipat Srirungtham, Aurora's Chief Marketing Officer, Modern Gold generated 28.3 billion baht in the first half, up 69% from the same period last year. Diamond and design gold jewelry revenue grew 27.3% to 679.7 million baht, while interest income from gold-pawning services surged 74.4% to 687.8 million baht. In the second quarter alone, operating revenue reached 13.9 billion baht, up 57.9% year-on-year.

The standout performer was the "Gold Comes Money Goes" pawning brand, with customer loan portfolios reaching 10.5 billion baht as of end-Q2, up 59.8% year-on-year. The company expanded its branch network to 667 locations, adding 120 branches from the previous year, generating interest income of 361.8 million baht in Q2, up 67% year-on-year. However, gold prices fell sharply at the end of Q2, declining from a high of 81,850–81,950 baht per baht of gold in the first half to 64,050 baht by end-June, forcing the company to adjust inventory valuations and impacting Q2 gross profit at 1.04 billion baht with a gross margin of 7.4%.

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Police

Truck Crash Kills Gas Station Owner in Lampang

A gas station owner died when his pickup truck collided with a trailer truck on Highway 120 in Lampang's Wang Nua District on August 14, after the trailer lost control and veered into oncoming traffic.

4d ago Khaosod

Wang Nua District Police received a report at 10:30 a.m. on August 14, 2025, of a collision between a trailer truck and a pickup truck on Highway 120 between Wang Nua and Wiang Pa Pao, near the Tiger Spirit Shrine in Wang Nua District, Lampang Province. Medical teams from Wang Nua Hospital, Wang Nua Rescue Association, and Lampang Fire Department responded to the scene.

At the crash site, a white Isuzu D-Max pickup truck was found overturned on its side beside the road, with its front crushed under the trailer's rear. Debris and damage marks scattered the area. One body was discovered in the driver's seat. Rescue workers used cutting equipment to extract the body, identified as Dharanin, 52, who owned a gas station in Wang Nua District.

Investigators found that the trailer truck was traveling from Chiang Rai to pick up cement in Chiang Kham District, Lampang. When the truck reached the accident point, it lost control and veered off the road. The driver suddenly turned the steering wheel hard, causing the cab to block the highway. The trailer then swung and struck the oncoming pickup truck heading toward Mae Kha District in Chiang Rai, causing the pickup to overturn and resulting in the fatality.

Police examined the scene, managed traffic, and began investigating evidence and witnesses to determine the cause of the accident before proceeding with legal action.

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National

How Much Compensation Can Pinky, Her Mother, and Brother Get If Acquitted?

A criminal court dismissed pyramid scheme charges against actress Pinky Sawicka Chaiyadeach and her family members, who may now seek compensation of 500 baht per day of detention if the acquittal becomes final with no appeals.

4d ago Khaosod

A criminal court has dismissed charges against actress Pinky Sawicka Chaiyadeach, her mother Sarinee Chaiyadeach, and her brother Kittichase Chaiyadeach in a Forex-3D pyramid scheme case. Executives including Apirak Kothi and five others have been sentenced to 49,110 years imprisonment each, with two companies fined 4.911 billion baht each plus interest. On August 14, 2026, Varanan Srilum, director of the Consumer Protection Division and spokesperson for the Special Cases Investigation Bureau, explained that prosecutors must next decide whether to appeal. If no appeal is filed, prosecutors must report to the DSI director, who may then either accept the decision or request the Supreme Prosecutor to decide. Theeruyut Kaewsingh, Deputy Director of the Defense Rights Protection Department, outlined compensation criteria for acquitted defendants under the Compensation Act for Injured Persons and Relief for Accused Persons in Criminal Cases of 2001 and its 2016 amendment. He stated that dismissal on grounds of reasonable doubt does not disqualify defendants from seeking compensation, but payment can only occur once a case becomes final with no further appeals. Compensation is calculated at 500 baht per day of detention from the date of custody. He explained that defendants must submit case finality documents and the court's acquittal judgment to the committee, which will review details of the court's ruling to determine if the defendant had no involvement in the offense. Previously, the Defense Rights Protection Department has awarded compensation to acquitted defendants under this law.

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Police

Police Find 16-Year-Old Behind School Shooting Threat

Police arrested a 16-year-old student in Prachuap Khiri Khan after he posted a shooting threat in a school LINE group on August 14, claiming he sent the message as a joke out of boredom.

4d ago Khaosod

At 2 p.m. on August 14, 2025, police reported progress in the case of a user named "Chakraphan" who sent threatening messages in a LINE group for a well-known school in Muang Prachuap Khiri Khan district, stating "Tomorrow at 8 a.m. I'm going to open fire." The message caused panic among parents, students, and school staff, prompting the school to switch to online classes for one day on August 14, 2025, as a safety precaution.

Major Phaitul Phromkhian, superintendent of Muang Prachuap Khiri Khan Police Station, revealed that since morning, he and Police Captain Wiroj Thairayakwitchit, deputy superintendent, along with a Six Man Team and school administrators, have been investigating and monitoring the situation closely inside the school.

Investigators tracked down the user "Chakraphan" and found the suspect to be a 16-year-old male student of the same school. When found, the youth appeared shocked and extremely frightened.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the message was sent in the school's yellow sports team LINE group, not the parents' group as previously reported. The youth claimed he sent the message as a joke out of boredom, without realizing it would cause such panic and escalate into a major incident, forcing the school to halt regular classes and switch to online learning.

The youth apologized to the school, students, parents, and all those affected by the incident.

Police are currently investigating the facts and considering appropriate legal action, while coordinating with school administrators to discuss further steps regarding the youth.

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National

KCC Reports Record First-Half Profit of 334.7 Million Baht

Knight Club Capital Holding reported record first-half net profit of 334.72 million baht, nearly triple the prior year, driven by gains on investment fair value adjustments and expanded non-performing loan operations.

4d ago Khaosod

Knight Club Capital Holding Public Company Limited (KCC) reported net profit of 334.72 million baht for the first half of 2025, a 198% increase from 112.43 million baht in the same period last year, representing nearly threefold growth. Operating revenue reached 547.29 million baht, up 137% from 231.06 million baht, with the main driver being other operating income, which surged from 0.36 million baht to 422.28 million baht due to recognition of gains on fair value adjustment of investments and dividend income received.

Interest income from credit extended to borrowers increased to 117.57 million baht, while the company began recognizing interest income from loans—a new revenue stream of 4.65 million baht. Gains from the sale of non-performing assets also rose to 3.64 million baht, reflecting the company's expansion of its asset base and revenue creation from new business opportunities alongside its core business. Net profit margin improved from 48% to 61%, demonstrating enhanced profitability from the expanded revenue base.

KCC continues to expand its non-performing loan portfolio, focusing on secured credit borrowers—a segment in which the company has management expertise. During the first six months, the company invested 330 million baht in the NPL portfolio, increasing its earning assets and supporting future interest income growth. The company is also realizing results from its investment portfolio diversification strategy, with investment sales and dividend income supplementing earnings, while non-performing asset sales have strengthened considerably, increasing more than fourfold year-on-year.

Second-quarter net profit was 68.39 million baht, down 31% from the prior year quarter, which benefited from a one-time gain of 116.99 million baht from the closure of a major corporate credit account. The company's board approved an interim dividend of 0.065 baht per share, reflecting strong first-half results and the company's solid financial position and cash flow.

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Police

Former Je Bilang Subdistrict Council Chief Arrested Over Travel Allowance Fraud

Former Je Bilang Subdistrict Council Chief Abdullah was arrested for fraudulently claiming travel allowances for a 2018 conference he never attended, authorities said on August 14.

4d ago Khaosod

On August 14, anti-corruption officers from Region 9 of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Satun Provincial NACC office, and regional police units arrested a man identified only as Abdullah, the former chairman of Je Bilang Subdistrict Municipality Council in Satun province. He was apprehended near a convenience store in Je Bilang following a court arrest warrant issued on July 10.

The investigation found that while serving as council chairman, the suspect claimed travel expenses from the subdistrict municipality for attending the 2018 Thai Subdistrict Municipalities Association annual academic conference held in Thong Tani, Nonthaburi, on January 24–26, 2018. However, authorities determined he never actually attended the conference, yet still submitted the reimbursement claim to the municipality.

After establishing that the suspect lived in Je Bilang, anti-corruption officers coordinated with regional police to apprehend him. He was taken into custody, informed of the charges, and processed at the regional police station in Satun. He will be transferred to the Regional Court for Fraud and Misconduct Cases, Region 9, in Songkhla province for further legal proceedings.

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National

Three-Year Back Pain Masks Stage 4 Prostate Cancer

A 62-year-old man's three-year back pain turned out to be stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his spine, only discovered after he developed urinary problems. Doctors warn that early prostate cancer often has no symptoms, and bone pai

4d ago Khaosod

A man with chronic back pain for three years who could not find relief through orthopedic treatment was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his spine.

Early-stage prostate cancer typically shows no clear symptoms, leading many patients to discover the disease only after urinary problems or bone pain develops. According to a report, a 62-year-old factory owner underwent continuous orthopedic treatment for 2–3 years without finding the true cause of his pain.

Recently, when he developed urinary difficulties and weak urine flow, he consulted a urologist. Testing revealed stage 4 prostate cancer with cancer cells that had already metastasized to his spine. This revealed that his years of recurring back pain was not caused by bone or joint disease but by metastatic prostate cancer.

Dr. Gu Fangyu, Chief Director of Gujia Medical and the physician caring for this patient, explained that early-stage prostate cancer typically progresses slowly. Most patients have no symptoms at all. Even when urinary symptoms appear—such as weak urine flow, narrow stream, or frequent nighttime urination—patients often attribute these to aging or benign prostate enlargement, missing the opportunity for early detection.

This patient had a PSA value of approximately 10–11, which is higher than the reference range of 4–10 that doctors typically use as a benchmark. However, Dr. Gu noted that a high-precision MRI of the prostate was needed to identify suspicious lesions.

Dr. Gu stated that PSA is a widely used screening tool for prostate cancer that helps identify at-risk individuals. However, because PSA testing is highly sensitive, benign prostate enlargement or inflammation can also elevate PSA levels. Therefore, PSA results must be evaluated together with other diagnostic tests.

When abnormal PSA values are found, more accurate diagnostic methods are now available to help determine whether a patient needs a biopsy. The key to successfully treating prostate cancer is "early detection." Stage 1 and 2 prostate cancer, when treated promptly, has a high cure rate.

However, Dr. Gu noted that when cancer has spread to bone, lymph nodes, or other organs, treatment becomes more difficult, and the five-year survival rate may drop to approximately 30–50%.

In particular, bone is a common site for prostate cancer metastasis. Patients may experience prolonged lower back pain or hip bone pain but mistakenly attribute it to age-related degeneration or muscle and bone problems, potentially delaying diagnosis.

Taiwan's Department of Health and Welfare plans to launch a pilot prostate cancer screening program next year. Dr. Gu recommends that men aged 50 and older, as well as those aged 45 and older in high-risk groups—such as those with a family history of prostate cancer or BRCA gene mutations—should undergo regular screening.

If abnormal PSA levels are detected, there is no need to panic excessively. Patients should promptly seek a detailed evaluation from a urologist. If necessary, additional testing with PHI (Prostate Health Index) or high-resolution MRI may help identify clinically significant lesions early and improve the chances of receiving treatment at the optimal time.

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National

Thai PM to Visit Australia and New Zealand in August

Thai PM Anuthit Charnweerakul will visit Australia and New Zealand in mid-August to boost trade, investment, and technology transfer, marking the first official visits by a Thai premier to both countries in over a decade.

4d ago Khaosod

On August 14, Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek announced that Prime Minister Anuthit Charnweerakul will make official visits to Australia from August 17-20 and New Zealand from August 20-22 at the invitation of both countries' prime ministers.

The government aims to use the visits to create economic opportunities for Thailand, including expanding Thai product markets, attracting investment and technology, connecting the business sector, and strengthening cooperation on security and people-to-people travel.

The Australia visit marks the first official visit by a Thai PM in 14 years, ahead of the 75th anniversary of Thai-Australian diplomatic relations in 2026. The Prime Minister will meet with Australian PM Anthony Albanese to advance their strategic partnership in trade, investment, security, clean energy, science, technology, and innovation, and will roll out a joint action plan for 2026-2029.

To create real business opportunities, the PM will bring Thai private sector representatives and attend business networking events organized by the Board of Investment and Austrade. Thailand will also push for increased Australian investment in future industries and clean energy.

The government spokesperson highlighted the importance of transferring knowledge and technology to boost Thailand's economy, including expanding cooperation between Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency and Australia's CSIRO to commercialize research, and offering Thai startups and innovators a chance to learn from Australia's innovation ecosystem.

The New Zealand visit is the first official visit by a Thai PM in 13 years and coincides with the 70th anniversary of Thai-New Zealand diplomatic relations. The PM will meet with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon and sign a joint declaration elevating the relationship to an official strategic partnership, providing a framework for long-term cooperation.

On the economic front, Thailand will push Thai products into the New Zealand market, including agricultural products, food, consumer goods, and retail, while attracting New Zealand investment. The PM will hold direct talks with interested companies such as Skyline Enterprises in tourism and Fisher & Paykel in electrical appliances, and will create networking opportunities for Thai private sector participants to match businesses with New Zealand counterparts, converting government-level relations into purchase orders, investment, and business opportunities.

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National

Thailand Travel Plus 2025 Opens October Registration With 50% State Subsidy

Thailand's government stimulus program Thailand Travel Plus 2025 opens registration October 1 with 50% subsidies on hotel stays and digital travel coupons worth up to 1,000 baht per benefit, available to Thai citizens through the Pao Tang a

4d ago Khaosod

The government has set October 1, 2025, as the launch date for registrations in the Thailand Travel Plus 2025 program via the Pao Tang application. The scheme uses a co-payment model covering accommodation and travel coupons, with support capped at 3,000 baht per benefit across a maximum of 500,000 slots nationwide.

Benefits include state subsidy of 50% of hotel and lodging costs (with participants covering the remaining 50%), digital travel coupons worth 500 baht per benefit (potentially increased to 1,000 baht), and a maximum of five benefits per traveler. The program is available countrywide for both secondary and major cities, on weekdays and public holidays alike, and covers hotels, restaurants, attractions, OTOP shops, and other tourism services.

Eligibility requires Thai citizenship, age 18 or above at the time of registration, a valid national ID card, and no suspension from other government assistance programs. Participants should update the Pao Tang app to the latest version and complete identity verification (KYC) with G-Wallet linked before registering. The details remain preliminary pending cabinet approval by the end of August.

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National

Thai ESG and SRI Funds Surge as SEC Cracks Down on Investment Fraud

Thailand's ESG and SRI funds surged nearly 90% and 75% respectively in the first half of 2025, driven by expanded tax incentives, while the SEC intensified fraud enforcement with a 150% rise in scam reports and swift removal of fraudulent i

4d ago Khaosod

On August 14, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission released important statistics for the second quarter and first half of 2025, revealing continued growth in Thailand's capital market, particularly in sustainable investment products that attract ongoing interest from both the private sector and investors.

The SEC emphasized its commitment to investor protection and strict enforcement against capital market and digital asset offenses. In the first six months of 2025, sustainable debt securities issued by the private sector under SEC supervision reached a total value of 25.5 billion baht, an increase of 1.2 billion baht or 4.94% from 24.3 billion baht in the same period of 2024, reflecting the private sector's continued focus on raising capital to support sustainable business operations.

Thai ESG funds held net asset value of 69.6 billion baht as of June 30, 2025, rising 32.784 billion baht or 89.05% from 36.816 billion baht on June 30, 2024, and up 13.55% from year-end 2024, with four additional funds added. A key driver was the adjusted tax benefit measures from 2024–2025, which increased the tax deduction ceiling from 100,000 baht to 300,000 baht and reduced the minimum investment period from 8 years to 5 years, boosting public interest in tax-advantaged sustainable investing.

SRI funds reached net asset value of 143.577 trillion baht on June 30, 2025, up 61.333 billion baht or 74.58% from 82.244 billion baht a year earlier and 16.23% from year-end 2024, with 18 additional funds established. Growth was partly driven by additional tax incentives for the Thai ESGX fund during May–June 2024, and asset managers increasingly upgraded nine ESG-non-SRI funds to SRI classification by improving sustainability disclosures.

The overall mutual fund industry held net asset value of 6.16 trillion baht on June 30, 2025, up 873 billion baht or 16.51% from 5.29 trillion baht a year earlier. Provident funds reached 1.70 trillion baht, rising 185 billion baht or 12.19% year-on-year.

On investor protection, the SEC's fraud hotline received 4,530 tip reports and inquiries from January to May 2025, including 4,156 public consultations—a rise of over 150% compared to the same period in 2024. The SEC coordinated 374 fraud channel closures, with social media platform operators removing content 100% of the time within 7 minutes to 48 hours, reflecting efforts to combat investment scams.

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