Education Minister Prasert Chantharavong announced on August 19 following a meeting with senior education officials that he has directed the Basic Education Commission to expedite budget disbursement for the fiscal year 2569 in line with approved plans and objectives, emphasizing efficient spending that delivers concrete educational development benefits.

Chantharavong stated he has also instructed the Basic Education Commission to hold approximately 1.6 billion baht earmarked for the Digital Skill/Credit Portfolio initiative—a program promoting equitable education through digital systems for skills development and portfolio credits. The funds will be presented to the Cabinet for reallocation to other suitable projects, provided the details align with guidelines from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and that data systems are integrated between the two agencies for long-term interoperability without duplication of other programs such as the National Digital Learning Platform.

He noted that procurement of supplementary teaching equipment constitutes a five-year commitment from fiscal years 2569 through 2573 and will be piloted in Education Sandbox schools, so that component will continue without review. Chantharavong added that most policies and projects launched in 2569 are still in the design phase and will show tangible results in 2570, including the draft National Education Act expected to take effect mid-2570, as well as digital transformation and personnel restructuring initiatives.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Yutthasak Wongsuwan arrived in Nan province on August 19 to establish a command center for disaster prevention and management in coordination with Interior Ministry officials and the Nan provincial governor. Before traveling to the affected area, he issued urgent directives to governors of Nan, Phayao, and Lampoon provinces to respond to sudden flooding through precise early warning systems via Cell Broadcast, 24-hour standby of personnel and equipment for immediate evacuation and supply delivery, establishment of command and shelter centers prioritizing vulnerable populations, and coordination with Ministry of Public Works agencies for debris removal and recovery.

After receiving a situation briefing, Yutthasak visited Pua District, one of Nan's hardest-hit areas, where he toured affected communities and ordered water trucks to clean mud-covered homes. He distributed emergency aid packages and urged residents to monitor water levels and evacuate immediately if additional rain falls overnight.

At a command meeting in Pua District, he issued six urgent orders:

1. Early Warning System – Agencies must alert residents via Cell Broadcast at least six hours before severe conditions to allow time for evacuation.

2. Expedited Rescue and Evacuation – Direct all relevant agencies to assist trapped victims and evacuate people from at-risk areas as quickly as possible.

3. Food and Water Provision – Establish mobile kitchens at shelter sites. The Thai Army will provide 2,000 meal and water sets through its Royal Kitchens, and Nan Provincial Administration Organization will provide 2,000 additional sets.

4. 24-Hour Water Level Monitoring – Continuously monitor water levels at key points round-the-clock to assess conditions and alert the public promptly if levels rise.

5. Compensation for Victims – Expedite payment of assistance to affected families and relatives of those killed.

6. Large-Scale Recovery Equipment – Deploy heavy machinery to restore disaster-affected areas.

Bangkok, August 18, 2026 — The Boiling Frog Institute Thailand, founded by Dr. Suthikorn Kingkaew, has launched as an independent think tank focused on addressing Thailand's long-term structural challenges before they deepen into economic and social crises. Dr. Suthikorn, who in March 2017 warned that Thailand risked gradual loss of competitiveness in manufacturing sectors including automobiles, textiles, and hard-disk drives, now leads the institute under the principles of "Bridging, Framework, Impact" — connecting sectors, developing practical problem-solving frameworks, and translating ideas into change.

As a flagship initiative, the Boiling Frog Institute Thailand held an exclusive roundtable discussion titled "From India to Thailand: Rethinking Technological Sovereignty" with Indian strategic thinker Pranjal Sharma and senior Thai representatives from government, diplomacy, business, and academia, including Dr. Kanok Wongtrangarn, Advisor to the Minister of Industry, and Navodit Verma of the Indian Embassy. Rather than pursuing technological self-sufficiency, the discussion examined which technologies Thailand must own, which it should co-develop, and which can be safely sourced from trusted global partners — focusing on how countries can preserve strategic choices while strengthening domestic capabilities and remaining globally connected.

The roundtable reflects a collaboration between the Boiling Frog Institute Thailand and India's Observer Research Foundation, a leading think tank. Both Dr. Suthikorn and Pranjal Sharma are ORF Fellows. Sharma's 2026 book, "India Innovates: Technological Sovereignty in a Weaponized World," examining India's efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technologies that could become strategic vulnerabilities, served as the discussion's foundation. The book's concept of technological sovereignty extends beyond artificial intelligence to encompass data and computing across sectors.

The Royal Gazette declared that oral products containing 5,000 ppm fluoride are now classified as dangerous drugs, effective from August 19, 2025. The Public Health Ministry published the announcement, titled Dangerous Drugs Notification No. 37, on August 18, signed by Public Health Minister Pattana Prom-Pathana on August 6, 2025. Acting under Section 76(3) of the Pharmaceuticals Act of 1967, as amended by the Pharmaceuticals Act (Amendment No. 3) of 1979, and on the recommendation of the Drug Committee at its 430-1/2025 meeting on January 26, 2025, the ministry issued the following provisions: The notification takes effect from the day following publication in the Royal Gazette (August 19, 2025). Item (80) is added to Section 3 of the Public Health Ministry's Dangerous Drugs Notification of May 26, 1978, as follows: "(80) Oral products containing 5,000 parts per million (5,000 ppm) fluoride."

AIS has mobilized its intelligent network infrastructure to respond to severe flooding in northern Thailand, establishing a 24-hour operations center and deploying mobile base stations and communications equipment to support relief efforts in Nan Province and surrounding areas. Heavy rainfall has caused flash flooding and water overflow, particularly in Pua District, where rapidly rising water levels have impacted homes and roads across multiple districts. AIS has assembled engineering and technical teams to maintain mobile networks and home internet service while providing communications equipment to relevant agencies supporting disaster relief.

The company has enhanced communication system continuity measures to support residents, rescue personnel, and disaster relief organizations through several key initiatives:

• Operating a round-the-clock operations center to monitor and manage mobile networks, home internet, transmission systems, and base stations in at-risk areas in real time.

• Deploying mobile base stations and field teams to boost network capacity in affected areas, strategic locations, and areas with heavy usage, standing ready to enter areas immediately once routes are safe.

• Strengthening backup power systems by preparing generators, fuel, and backup equipment for primary base stations in case of power failures.

• Monitoring critical facilities including hospitals, incident command centers, evacuation centers, shelters, relief points, and staff work areas.

• Using artificial intelligence and IoT to support network management, analyze usage volumes, and optimize network performance, while preparing to install water-level monitoring equipment at vulnerable points and tracking weather conditions, electrical systems, and base station accessibility.

• Coordinating with local agencies to share information and support communications in cooperation with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, government offices, local administrative organizations, rescue units, and civil society.

• Supporting the JIC center's communications by providing AIS 5G CPE routers to the Region 3 Public Relations Office to strengthen the news team and emergency communication capabilities for monitoring and reporting flood situations in Nan Province.

AIS will closely monitor the situation and accelerate network recovery in case of emergencies to ensure residents can contact family, request help, and receive government information continuously throughout the flooding crisis.