The Department of Agricultural Extension has reminded farmers hit by natural disasters, especially those with crop damage, to follow three critical steps: verify farmer registration, submit assistance form Sor Kor 01, and attend community meetings before entering the assistance review and disbursement process.

On August 22, 2026, Ancharee Suvajittanont, Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension, outlined the procedure for farmers seeking disaster relief. When crops are damaged by natural disasters, farmers must follow the prescribed steps to ensure their damage claims are properly verified and considered.

Step 1: Check farmer registration first. Farmers must verify that their growing area is registered or update their registration before the disaster occurred, as registration is essential evidence for verifying eligibility and processing aid. Farmers without current registration or updated cultivation records may not qualify for assistance.

Step 2: Submit the assistance form (Sor Kor 01). After disaster damage occurs, farmers must submit the Sor Kor 01 form at the district agricultural office in the affected area or download it from the Department's website at disaster.doae.go.th. The form must be verified and certified by the village headman, subdistrict chief, or mayor before submission to the district office.

Step 3: Attend community meetings and monitor results. After submitting the form, farmers must participate in community meetings and check the list of approved recipients at designated locations. Once approved, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives will directly transfer funds to farmers' accounts, ensuring transparent and fraud-resistant assistance.

The Director-General added that at the district level, the agricultural office will compile forms for consideration by the District Disaster Relief Committee within 40 days of the disaster. If district-level action is insufficient, the provincial agricultural office will refer cases to the Provincial Disaster Relief Committee.

For disasters declared as disaster zones from August 21, 2026 onward, assistance is provided at these rates per damaged rai of farmland: rice at 2,240 baht per rai; field and vegetable crops at 3,180 baht per rai; and fruit and perennial trees at 6,800 baht per rai. If trees are damaged but recoverable or if only yields are affected, assistance is 3,400 baht per rai. Total assistance per household is capped at 30 rai.

Villagers attending a funeral at a temple in Patthananikhom District, Lopburi Province, were shocked when they noticed what seemed like someone waving from a parked Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck. Upon closer inspection, they discovered the badly decomposed body of an adult male inside the vehicle, which had been left under a tree behind the temple's main hall. Police Lieutenant Sonthapop Plueng, an investigator from Patthananikhom Police Station, responded to the call at 1 p.m. on August 22, 2025, along with doctors from Patthananikhom Hospital and volunteers from a charitable foundation. The driver's side door was found open, and the body showed clear signs of advanced decomposition with maggots present. Officers collected a cell phone and two car keys found near the body as evidence and had the pickup truck towed to the police station. The cause of death remains undetermined pending autopsy results. Monks at the temple stated they had seen the pickup regularly parked there but had not investigated. When villagers arrived to conduct a funeral service at the temple's hall that day, they observed what appeared to be someone signaling from the truck and went to check, discovering the body. Police identified the deceased as 61-year-old Nipond (surname withheld) based on vehicle registration documents. Relatives were questioned, and the body was sent to Somed Phra Chao Yai Hospital in Nakhon Nayok for a full autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

On August 22, Kraiwirot Parisnanantkul, an Ang Thong MP of the Phumi Jai Thai Party and head of the ruling coalition coordination committee, said the government coalition has not yet scheduled a preparatory meeting to counter the opposition's planned no-confidence debate, as the timing and content of the motion remain unclear. He emphasized that submitting a motion is the opposition's right, and they must do so to avoid losing the opportunity to debate.

When asked whether the coalition had anticipated which issues the opposition might raise, Kraiwirot said he did not know but that the government was not concerned. He expressed confidence that ministers could answer all questions and provide clear explanations. Regarding the opposition's attempt to link the Senate selection case to the government, Kraiwirot said he was curious to see how they would make that connection, since the matter currently rests with the Election Commission and any lawsuits are in court.

He noted that the Senate selection occurred two years before the current government took office, and unless the opposition can prove direct involvement by the prime minister or ministers, the matter falls outside the government's responsibility. He added that the government did not organize the election, which is the Election Commission's duty. Kraiwirot expressed confidence that if challenged, the government could defend itself comprehensively and that coalition support should hold, provided ministers deliver clear and persuasive explanations.

On August 22, the Parliamentary Committee on Religion, Arts, and Culture, chaired by Thiwalrat Angkinnan, a representative from Phetchaburi, convened a seminar titled "Building Strength for Digital-Era Monastery Management" at Udon Thani Demonstration Monastery in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The seminar brought together Buddhist clergy and district officials to discuss how monasteries can adopt digital technology while preserving Buddhist teachings and values.

Monasteries today serve as more than just religious centers; they function as hubs for moral and ethical learning, cultural preservation, and community cohesion. The committee stressed that while digital technology is transforming how people communicate and learn, monasteries must integrate it thoughtfully—using it as a tool to enhance operations, outreach, and knowledge management without abandoning their spiritual foundation or compromising transparency and accountability.

The seminar highlighted the "home-monastery-school" framework, a traditional Thai concept where homes represent community power, monasteries provide spiritual and moral guidance, and schools foster knowledge and human development. By coordinating these three pillars with relevant government agencies, stronger communities can be built and Buddhist teachings promoted effectively.

During discussion, clergy raised concerns about a pending permit for Udon Thani Demonstration Monastery to use forest land for construction—a process that has stalled for months. The committee acknowledged the complexity, involving multiple agencies such as the Forestry Department, National Parks Office, and the National Buddhism Office, and committed to convening all stakeholders to find a workable solution within legal frameworks.

A man died after he was allegedly assaulted and thrown into a pond at Benchasiri Park in Bangkok, police said.

Thong Lor police received a report of a man falling into the water late on 21 August and called rescue workers and divers to search the pond.

Witnesses told authorities that two men had been arguing near the pond when one of them was allegedly assaulted until he lost consciousness. The attacker then reportedly threw him into the water before fleeing.

Rescue workers later recovered the body of an unidentified man from the pond. He was not wearing a shirt or shoes and was dressed in black shorts. He was pronounced dead after being brought ashore.

On the morning of 22 August, police detained Thaweesak Phanngam and took him to the Bangkok South Criminal Court for detention on a charge of intentional murder. Investigators opposed bail, and no relatives had sought his release during the police investigation.

When reporters asked Thaweesak why he had thrown the man into the pond, he initially declined to comment. He later said the two had argued but claimed the victim had not lost consciousness and was behaving uncontrollably.

"He was still agitated. We couldn't control him, so I threw him into the water to restrain him and calm him down," Thaweesak told reporters.

He said he did not know what had caused the man's behavior, adding that the victim had acted similarly before when he became agitated.

Park security staff said the two men had been sleeping around the park for about three to four weeks and had become friends. They sometimes went begging together and generally drank alcohol outside the park because drinking inside was prohibited.

Security staff said they had not previously seen the pair fight. However, they said the victim had been involved in three alleged indecent incidents at the park over two days in the four to five days before his death.

Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man's death.

On August 22, 2025, in Nan Province, Nattapong Reung-panya, a list-based Member of Parliament and Pheu Thai Party leader, accompanied by fellow MPs Chao Wichit Innoi and Charoem Abhiphatrakosol, and village leaders, visited the affected areas of Ban Hia and Ban Kret in Silalong Subdistrict, Pua District, to assess flood recovery operations.

Nattapong stated that the immediate priority is assisting affected residents and thanked all government agencies and outside units providing support. He noted that Pheu Thai has deployed local representatives to coordinate relief efforts since the initial flooding.

Discussing with the Mirror Foundation relief center being established in Pua, Nattapong identified urgent needs including rubber boots, water squeegees, and cleaning equipment. He also emphasized the critical need for heavy machinery to clear roads and remove mud and silt from homes, which cannot proceed effectively without clearing access routes first.

Nattapong observed that this year's flooding differs from previous years, characterized as a localized rain bomb concentrated in high-altitude areas, with the main water mass originating from the Khun River. Residents expressed wanting both immediate relief and long-term solutions to prevent future floods.

Referencing previous visits to Thung Thong District, Nattapong noted that water management agencies have systematic plans in place. He suggested that constructing upstream water retention reservoirs across various river systems could help slow and intercept floodwaters, and urged the government to consider strategic budget allocation for these projects.

Nattapong confirmed that the Water Resources Department is coordinating management efforts with comprehensive plans already developed, and that the remaining need is for government budget allocation aligned with these objectives.

When asked about recent visits by the Deputy Prime Minister and ministers staying overnight in the area, Nattapong said it is positive for leaders to see problems firsthand, as this improves their understanding of local conditions. However, he noted that residents, knowing their areas must adapt to environmental and weather patterns, primarily want to hear about long-term solutions.

During a subsequent damage assessment near the Khun River, Nattapong and his team reviewed new flood prevention plans. He stated that the entire system needs reconsideration—while not opposing dams in principle, their purpose must be clearly defined. Dams are designed to raise water levels for agricultural use, but when floodwaters hit dams, water gets forced up and crashes onto riverbanks, causing severe erosion.

When asked why authorities did not prepare despite foreknowledge of heavy rain, Nattapong reported that local residents said their area has completely changed and conditions are now very different from the past.