Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a cabinet clampdown on firearm use, proposing a complete ban on removing guns from homes with no exceptions even for athletes. This threatens shooting sports disciplines that depend on firearms as competition equipment, prompting questions from the sports community and media about how athletes can train and compete. Yuthana Phanitphichaitvong, president of the Thai Shooting Association, and Chaloet Chantrabuksaha, secretary-general of the Thai Sport Shooting Association, expressed serious concern in interviews. Yuthana stated that Olympic sport shooting competitors are deeply troubled by the order. Competitive shooting is an Olympic sport where Thai athletes have won medals at Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games. Shooters disassemble their guns, store them in locked bags in vehicle trunks, and transport them only to firing ranges—this is lawful practice, not carrying weapons. Athletes have begun restricting their activities ahead of next month's Asian Games and fear breaking the law if they train. Chaloet explained that sport shooters must transport guns to training sessions to achieve excellence; this is not casual carrying. The association has produced Southeast Asian Games medalists, world champions, and two women ranked number two globally—all achievements requiring rigorous training. He urged the prime minister to understand that if shooters cannot transport guns to training, they cannot compete at all. Athletes traveling to national championships or provincial competitions must fly, not drive, making the ban impossible to follow. Foreign athletes bringing guns to competitions raise additional legal questions. The associations now fear leaving expensive guns (valued like cars) at ranges without liability protection. Chaloet noted that shooting associations lack legal authority to issue exemption certificates—police ultimately decide. Although associations verify athletes' clean criminal records and ensure safe weapon handling per sports law, when the highest official orders such a ban, no government agency will listen. International competitions are already booked with foreign athletes arriving to compete; banning gun transport may violate laws and harm Thailand's shooting sports reputation if left unresolved.

Dr. Jetsadaporn Bunyavongvirojn, deputy director of primary care at Maha Sarakham Hospital, recommends five affordable vegetables that should be staples in every home kitchen. These nutrient-rich options can be prepared in multiple ways and form the foundation of long-term good health through everyday eating habits.

When shopping, most people prioritize meat, fish, or instant rice. But Dr. Jetsadaporn urges putting vegetables at the top of your list from the start. Vegetables offer fiber, potassium, folate, vitamins, phytonutrients, and antioxidants that benefit your digestive system, blood pressure, blood sugar control, and heart health. You don't need exotic produce—your local market has plenty of nutritious options.

1. Kale: This often-overlooked common vegetable is rich in fiber, vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin K, and minerals. Vitamin K supports bone health and blood clotting, while fiber aids digestion and promotes satiety. Prepare it stir-fried with oyster sauce, with salted fish, blanched, or in mild curry. Just watch the cooking oil and seasoning.

2. Morning Glory (Water Spinach): An affordable vegetable found in nearly every market, its dark green color comes from multiple pigments including beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A for eye health and immunity. It also contains potassium, which helps regulate sodium balance and blood pressure—important for those eating salty foods regularly.

3. Broccoli: Pricier than some market vegetables but worth rotating into your diet. This cruciferous vegetable contains glucosinolates that break down into beneficial compounds like isothiocyanates when chopped, chewed, or digested. These compounds support cellular detoxification and stress resistance. Steam, blanch, quick stir-fry, or add to mild curry. Avoid overcooking to preserve nutrients.

4. Tomato: Though botanically a fruit, tomatoes function as a vegetable in the kitchen. Their standout nutrient is lycopene, a red carotenoid compound with significant health research behind it, making tomatoes an easy way to add color and nutrition to any dish.

On August 13, Police Region 1 Commander Prasarn Khemaprasit ordered Deputy Commander Kiratsakdi Kongkiattisiri and Investigation Chief Polsit Sutthiart to launch an operation against undesirable foreign criminals. The operation targeted He (alias), a 41-year-old Chinese national with a foreign arrest warrant from China who had fled to Thailand. He was living in a luxury condominium in the Huay Kwang area of Bangkok.

The suspect is accused of illegally raising deposits from the public by establishing a private company to finance a parking rental business. In Shenzhen and Guangzhou, major economic zones in China where parking is scarce and expensive, he developed an hourly and monthly parking rental business that grew rapidly. He then raised over 50 million baht from investors to expand the operation.

However, the suspect encountered difficulties paying dividends to investors. As the business ran into liquidity problems, he fled and went into hiding in Thailand, renting a luxury condominium in the Huay Kwang area where he lived a quiet, low-profile lifestyle before his arrest.

On August 13, the Region 4 Internal Security Command, in coordination with police, military, administrative officials, customs, and the Justice Ministry's Institute of Forensic Science, conducted a raid on a suspect's home in Krathoe subdistrict, Yaring district, Pattani province, as part of the government's campaign against drugs and organized crime in the southern border region. The homeowner, identified as Masata (surname withheld), and three other occupants were present during the search.

Initial findings revealed approximately 2.45 million illegal cigarettes, 3 handguns with ammunition, and around 18.76 million baht in cash. Following the seizure, evidence was transferred to Yaring Police Station for legal proceedings, and investigators are pursuing leads on networks involved in smuggling and tax evasion. Authorities pledged to intensify enforcement against all forms of drug trafficking and organized crime to enhance security and reduce lawbreaking in the southern border provinces.

On August 13, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., the Prime Minister's Deputy Secretary, Deputy Police Commissioner Nirandorn Luermsr, and Consumer Protection Committee Secretary-General Ranrong Poolpipat announced the results of the electronic cigarette crackdown in the Khlong Toei Pattana market area. Two suspects were arrested and 20,000 vaping devices and related equipment, valued at approximately 8 million baht, were seized.

The operation followed intelligence indicating two vaping traders and storage facilities in the Khlong Toei Pattana market area. After planning and coordination with multiple agencies, officers arrested Sittisak (surname withheld), age 44, and a 16-year-old youth at a flat room in Khlong Toei, Khlong Toei Subdistrict, Bangkok.

Initial charges include violation of the Product and Service Safety Committee's order prohibiting the manufacture, sale, distribution, concealment, or possession of electronic cigarettes or related liquids, as well as illegal importation without proper customs clearance.

Authorities also searched two additional rooms in the flat and the Khlong Toei Pattana parking building, which was used as a vaping storage point, and seized a large quantity of electronic cigarettes and equipment.

Thailand has denied a Bloomberg report that the government plans to use military and security cooperation with the United States as leverage in negotiations over US tariffs.

Bloomberg, citing a Thai government official, reported that Thailand was considering including security cooperation in a counter-proposal ahead of the resumption of bilateral trade talks later this month.

The report said the proposal could allow Thailand to review its participation in military activities with the US if higher tariffs caused serious economic damage. It cited the Cobra Gold military exercise as a key area of cooperation that could be affected.

The move would mark an unusual attempt by Thailand to use its decades-old security partnership with Washington as leverage in trade negotiations, which normally focus on economic issues.

The report came after the US announced a 12.5% tariff on most Thai exports under Section 301, a US trade law used to address what Washington considers unfair trade practices.

Thailand recorded a 51.4 billion dollar trade surplus with the US in 2025 and has sought to keep the tariff rate at no more than 19% under an earlier framework.

Thailand has also offered to remove tariffs and accept US standards for imports of beef, lamb and alcoholic beverages, while promising to accelerate legislation banning imports of goods made with forced labor.

However, Thailand's Defence Ministry rejected any link between tariff negotiations and military cooperation.

Rear Admiral Surasunt Kongsiri, a Defence Ministry spokesman, said on Thursday that the Cobra Gold exercise would proceed according to its original plan with no changes.

The statement followed comments by government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek that the government had no policy of linking other issues to tariff negotiations with the US or using them as bargaining chips.

Surasunt said Cobra Gold 2027 will be the 46th edition of the multinational military exercise, jointly organised by the Thai armed forces and the US Indo-Pacific Command, with participation from military forces from partner countries.

The exercise is being conducted under the six-year Cobra Gold plan covering 2025-2030.

A total of 31 countries are taking part in this year's exercise.

The seven main participating countries are Thailand, the US, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.

Four countries — China, India, Australia and Pakistan — are taking part as limited participants.

Ten countries are participating in the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team programme: Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, France, Italy, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, the Philippines and the UK.

Another 10 countries are participating as observers: Brunei, Germany, Jordan, Laos, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Turkey and Vietnam.

Thailand and the US have maintained a longstanding military partnership, with Cobra Gold serving as one of the region's largest and longest-running multinational military exercises.