On August 18, the radio program Hone Kra-Sae presented the case of Tae, a subdistrict administrator, who sought justice through the broadcast. He accused Kru Nam, a contract teacher, of deception and romance scams, claiming she received over 300,000 baht in dowry and another 200,000 baht in various transfers.

The two met on June 14 through a dating application. Kru Nam claimed to be single and had just downloaded the app. After exchanging contact information and chatting, they met in person on July 10 and agreed to date. Tae said he was impressed when she offered to help him pursue further education.

Tae reported making his first transfer of 28,000 baht on July 20 for tuition. On July 21, he transferred 70,000 baht in the morning for education costs and 300,000 baht in the evening as agreed dowry so he could move into her home, which he did on July 22. He also transferred 23,000 baht on July 23, totaling over 514,800 baht.

The truth emerged on August 3 when Tae's friend grew suspicious and investigated, discovering wedding photos of Kru Nam. On August 4, the friend confirmed that Kru Nam's husband is a naval officer and that they had registered their divorce that very morning, though Kru Nam lied to Tae that same morning, saying she was having breakfast with friends.

Kru Nam admitted she had married the naval officer on May 10, 2569—just one month before contacting Tae in June. She claimed they separated in early June and sought someone to heal her emotional wounds, saying she did not want to be disappointed again. Kru Nam's mother stated that her daughter had broken up with the naval officer long before, and while she knew of the marriage, she was unaware that a divorce registration had occurred.

Chairat Glumhai, a longtime Thai national football fan known as Uncle Aey, has posted a request to TrueVisions asking for free broadcast coverage should Thailand reach the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup final. TrueVisions purchased the broadcasting rights to the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, with viewers required to pay for access through the TrueVisions Now app at a minimum cost of 199 baht per month for existing True customers.

In his post, Glumhai appealed to TrueVisions management, proposing that if Thailand qualifies for the final, the matches should be broadcast on the free-to-air channel True4U (Channel 24). As a current True customer himself, he noted that TrueVisions holds the rights to broadcast AFF football matches through the TrueVisions Now Football package and questioned whether these rights could also be shown on free television.

Glumhai emphasized the benefits of free broadcasting, saying it would enable broader access for Thai citizens to watch and support the national team. He noted that Thailand has a strong chance of reaching the final, which would be contested under a home-and-away format, with matches scheduled for August 22 and August 26, 2026. He argued that free broadcast would inspire young viewers, unite families in support, and create a nationwide atmosphere of encouragement for the team to win the championship. Glumhai concluded by thanking TrueVisions for securing the broadcasting rights and appealing to management to show good faith by providing free broadcast access on True4U for both final matches.

Three waves of economic pressure have battered Thailand's economy, with second-quarter GDP expanding just 1.9 percent year-on-year, down from 2.8 percent in the first quarter. Seasonally adjusted, the economy contracted 0.2 percent quarter-on-quarter. Deputy Finance Minister Santidharm Sathianthailand said the headline figures mask both clear headwinds and some encouraging opportunities.

The first wave is surging energy prices, which squeeze not only living costs but also Thailand's trade balance. Imports accelerated sharply in the quarter while the trade balance swung back into significant deficit. The energy shock ripples through transport costs, production expenses, and broader price pressures across the economy.

The second wave is widespread cost inflation. Consumer price inflation climbed from minus 0.5 percent in Q1 to plus 2.7 percent, while producer prices jumped 8.3 percent—especially worrying for small businesses struggling to pass full costs to customers as their own purchasing power weakens.

The third wave is flagging consumer demand. Private consumption growth slowed from 3.3 percent to 1.9 percent, consumer confidence fell to 50.3, and auto loans contracted 7.8 percent. Thais are spending more cautiously while businesses face higher costs simultaneously. Small and medium enterprises, which hold little cash reserves, have weak bargaining power, and struggle to access credit, face particular strain. When revenue slows but costs rise together, liquidity crises can force sound businesses to cut staff, halt investment, or even close. This is the quarter's main challenge and why short-term economic support measures—protecting living costs and broadening access to credit, guarantees, and debt restructuring for viable SMEs—remain essential.

On the brighter side, private investment surged 13.4 percent, the highest in more than a decade. Machinery and equipment investment jumped 16.6 percent, driven by computers, software, and industrial machines. Exports grew 14.1 percent, led by electronics, communications equipment, computer parts, and semiconductors. This shows Thailand is benefiting from new investment flows, supply chain shifts, and growth in digital and AI economies—consistent with overseas reports highlighting Thai potential. The World Bank's 2026 World Development Report identified Thailand as one of five developing nations with the highest export value of AI-related goods in 2025, showing the country already has production capacity in this chain.

For the Deputy Minister, Q2 GDP reveals clear challenges but is not all bad news. The economy faces real pressure yet sits at a crossroads with genuine opportunity.

We previously tested the MG Urban before its official launch, but with limited driving time and staged scenarios designed to showcase the vehicle's advanced features. Now that we've had the chance to borrow the top-spec Ultra model for personal testing, we're sharing our real-world findings with interested readers.

The MG Urban is a compact five-door electric hatchback aimed at urban drivers, manufactured locally to European export standards. Using comfort mode and light regenerative braking, the motor delivers a maximum output of 160 horsepower and peak torque of 250 Newton-metres—not thrilling, but adequate for responsive acceleration suited to its compact size. The vehicle is fitted with a 53.9 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery from CATL.

Despite its urban focus, we wanted to test highway performance, so we headed toward Chonburi on the Burapha Road. The car accelerates steadily without dramatic speed gains but maintains consistent power delivery. On long, straight stretches at highway speed, the vehicle remains stable with responsive steering and no sense of stress.

At lower speeds, the electric motor operates quietly, but wind noise becomes noticeable above 110 km/h and grows more pronounced at higher velocities. We took an expressway exit due to heavy traffic and took smaller roads to shorten the distance. There we encountered rough pavement with significant potholes, revealing that the car's high-speed stability comes at the cost of ride comfort—while it handles bumps gradually, vibrations still transmit through the firm seats, making impacts quite perceptible.

The Ultra model features a "Gender Neutral & Trendy" design with a glowing logo, LED headlights with automatic control, and Union Jack-style LED rear lights befitting its British lineage. It includes an automatic rear window demister, rear spoiler, and powered tailgate. A V2L system transforms the vehicle into a power source for appliances up to 3.3 kW.

Inside, a two-tone grey and black interior includes a leather-wrapped multifunctional steering wheel, synthetic leather seats with six-way electric adjustment and driver seat ventilation for the driver, and four-way adjustment for the front passenger. There is a 256-shade interactive ambient light system, a seven-inch instrument display, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system—though the latter sometimes responds sluggishly to certain commands. The car includes wireless phone charging, a full panoramic sunroof with shade, and rear seat air vents.

Safety systems are comprehensive, including Level 2+ Advanced Driver Assistance System and automatic parking assistance backed by 21 sensors, cameras, and radars around the vehicle. On the return journey via the Banguena-Trat route toward Bangkok, we encountered construction zones with adequate advance warning in most cases, though some transitions were tight.

On August 18, 2025, Fang District Police coordinated with military units to execute a search warrant at a house in Mueang Chiang Rai district. Officers were attempting to apprehend Silchai on drug trafficking charges related to methamphetamine distribution. An unidentified man at the location opened fire on officers with a shotgun and attempted to throw explosives at them. The suspect then detonated an explosive device near the house, killing himself. Officers have not yet identified the deceased and are awaiting forensic confirmation. Police Officer Third Class Pongsak Klangthaison was wounded by shrapnel on his left arm and was taken to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital. The area remained cordoned off as operations continued.

Code Genius, under LEARN Corporation, has organized the Code Genius Junior Hackathon 2026 with the theme "Young Innovators for Better Bangkok: A Liveable City Through Young Brilliant Ideas." The event provides youth an opportunity to apply knowledge in coding, AI, Scratch, and micro:bit to design innovations and solutions for real challenges facing Bangkok, covering air quality, stray animals, disaster preparedness, night safety, transportation and traffic, and building an inclusive city. The learning approach emphasizes using technology as a tool to understand and solve real-world problems.

The activity took place at Learn Sadhit Phattana (LSP School), where participants learned through Design Thinking processes—from problem analysis, user understanding, concept development, to prototyping and presenting work to expert judges. Many ideas demonstrated students' ability to connect technology with social problems and human quality of life. One notable project came from the Safer team, which presented a real-time flood warning application with nearby safe zones and rescue boat services designed for the general public, pet owners, and people with disabilities, reflecting comprehensive user-centered innovation design.

Judges evaluated entries based on Design Thinking criteria, assessing problem understanding, creative solutions, and prototype development alignment with the given brief. The event featured experts from government, education, and technology sectors as judges and advisors, helping advance participants' ideas toward real-world application.

Chanpatin Palapipath, founder and managing director of Code Genius, stated: "We believe children learn best when they see the connection between what they learn and real context. Using coding or AI to solve city problems isn't about creating perfect innovations, but about teaching them to ask questions, see human impact, and learn that their knowledge can create real change. In the future, the key skill may not just be using technology, but using technology to solve meaningful problems."

The event reflects Code Genius's learning philosophy that technology skills should develop alongside critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving abilities, enabling students to apply knowledge meaningfully. This aligns with LEARN Corporation's mission to develop learners' potential through education connected to real life and future global change. For more information, visit www.codegeniusacademy.com or www.learn.co.th.