Prime Minister leads Thai delegation to Australia to attract Canva, establish regional AI design center and develop Thai designers for global markets to boost creative economy. Board of Investment Secretary General Narirat Thetsathirasak disclosed that on August 18, 2025, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Thai public and private sector representatives traveled to Sydney, Australia to expand cooperation in economics, trade, and investment. They met with executives from Canva, a leading Australian technology company, to discuss expanding the company's business in Thailand.

Canva currently has over 265 million monthly users across more than 190 countries, while Thailand has around 7 million monthly users and over 30 million cumulative accounts, demonstrating Thailand's potential both as a market and as a base for design and creative talent. The Prime Minister invited Canva to consider establishing a regional office and AI-Design Research Center in Thailand to enhance the creative economy, develop design and AI skills, and help Thai SMEs develop competitive products for the global market.

Canva plans to increase Thai designers, or Canva Creators, from 190 to 1,000 within 2026, and will collaborate with the Department of Business Development and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency to train 40,000 Thai SMEs in product visual identity and packaging design. In education, Canva is partnering with the Education Ministry and the Office of the Education Council to provide free access to Canva Education to over 3.3 million teachers and students, with a target of expanding to 6.6 million by 2026.

Thailand and Australia advance technology and innovation cooperation.

The Prime Minister chaired the Thailand-Australia Investment & Business Partnership Reception at Crown Towers Sydney, organized by the Board of Investment, attended by around 70 executives from Australian companies in advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food, digital technology, medical, mining, renewable energy, and service industries. Thai private sector participants on the delegation included CPF, Thai Beverage, Central Group, PTT, PTT Exploration and Production, B.Grimm Power, Gulf, Supalai, Frasers Property, SCG International, Thai Union, and Baan Poo to match businesses and expand cooperation with Australian companies.

The Prime Minister noted that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of Thai-Australian diplomatic relations, and both countries have complementary strengths. Thailand has a strong food production and processing base, while Australia has capabilities in AgriTech, renewable energy, energy storage systems, digital technology, creative industries, and advanced manufacturing.

Australian investment in Thailand has room to grow further.

Narirat stated that Australian investment in Thailand still has expansion potential, particularly in technology-driven, innovation-based businesses linked to Thailand's industrial base. Between 2021 and June 2025, 93 Australian investment and joint venture projects totaling 33.425 billion baht applied for investment promotion, with digital leading at 13.833 billion baht, followed by chemicals at 6.936 billion baht, and agriculture and food processing at 3.810 billion baht. Currently, several Australian companies invest in Thailand across various sectors, including ANCA in machinery and automation systems, ARB in automotive parts, Ridley Corporation in animal feed research and production, and Ansell in medical glove manufacturing.

"Australia has potential in technology and innovation, while Thailand has a strong industrial base and serves as a gateway to ASEAN. This visit is an opportunity to connect the strengths of both countries to launch new technology-driven businesses that create higher added value," Narirat said.

Phichit Deputy Governor Kittipol Wetchkul announced on August 18 that approximately 65 civil servants in Phichit Province are under investigation for cheating on local government examinations. The Department of Local Administration has issued guidelines for action, with provincial administrative organizations, municipalities, and subdistrict administrative organizations scheduled to hold meetings to issue resolutions and forward recommendations to their respective local government bodies.

The central Department of Local Administration has sent a list of names and instructions to cancel previous entries where score alterations were discovered, requiring the publication of a revised roster. Kittipol said that while the exact details of all 65 cases are still being reviewed, another meeting is expected within the next week before the matter is referred to local government organizations for consideration. As of now, no officials in Phichit have formally submitted resignation letters, though the situation is expected to become clearer after next week's meeting.

An assistant village headman in Udon Thani drew widespread online attention after a video showed him patrolling the area in front of a concert stage while carrying a giant cleaver. The clip was posted by the Chief Sam Achisawat Udon Thani Facebook page with the caption: "Following the government policy, no guns allowed." Social media users joked that the official resembled a Soul Reaper captain from the anime and manga Bleach, wielding a soul-cutter sword to protect the stage area. The humorous video quickly went viral, with viewers praising his unconventional but creative approach to security.

Kiatnakin Bank's commercial lending division has released an analysis of the real estate market's response to Bangkok's new comprehensive city plan, predicting a game-changing shift in residential competition between the capital and its suburbs. Historically, strict zoning rules drove up development costs in Bangkok, forcing budget-conscious buyers to the outlying provinces of Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, and Nakhon Pathom. The revised plan relaxes multiple regulations, including reduced minimum plot sizes—unlocking the ability to build 50-square-wah townhouses and single-family homes—and expanded building height ceilings on many streets, where some condominiums can now rise from 4,000 to 10,000 square meters.

These relaxations allow developers to lower per-unit costs and price competitively with suburban projects, triggering what analysts call the Pull-Back Effect, where buyer demand shifts back into Bangkok and away from fringe areas. The bank has identified five strategic zones facing direct pressure: the North-West zone (Nonthaburi-Nakhon Pathom), valued at approximately 16,000 million baht annually in horizontal home sales at 8–15 million baht per unit in areas like Bang Bua Thong and Salaya, is now competing directly with newly unlocked areas like Talad Ling and Tawi Wattana, where developers can now build flexible 50-square-wah townhouses and premium townhomes at comparable prices. Consumers are factoring in travel time, willing to sacrifice some land size to live closer to Petchburi Road and avoid morning traffic on the outer ring road. The result will be new supply emerging in Tawi Wattana to capture buyers before they head to Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom. The Lam Lukka-Rangsit zone (Pathum Thani), worth roughly 12,000 million baht annually, faces similar restructuring as the new plan zones Don Muang and Lak Si for Airport City development, while relaxing standards on Hathairat and Khlong Sam Wa.

On August 18, 2569, a radio programme called Noh Kra-Aew presented the story of Khun Tae, a subdistrict administrative officer, who publicly demanded justice against Khru Nam, a hired teacher, whom he accused of tricking him into sending over 514,800 baht in total, including 300,000 baht in bride price and additional educational expenses. The pair met on June 14, 2569, through a dating application. Khru Nam claimed to be single and newly on the app. After chatting, they met in person on July 10 and agreed to date. Khun Tae said he was impressed when she offered to support his further education.

Khun Tae began transferring money on July 20 with an initial 28,000 baht for tuition. On July 21, he sent 70,000 baht for education and 300,000 baht as bride price to move into her home. He also transferred 23,000 baht on July 23. The truth emerged on August 3 when Khun Tae's friend grew suspicious and discovered that Khru Nam had married a naval officer on May 10, 2569—just one month before she began communicating with Khun Tae. On August 4, the friend confirmed that Khru Nam and her navy husband had registered their divorce that very morning, though she had lied to Khun Tae that morning, claiming she was having breakfast with a friend.

Khru Nam admitted she had married the naval officer on May 10, 2569, separated in early June, and sought emotional healing without repeating past disappointment. When asked what resolution she wanted, Khun Tae and his sister insisted on a full refund. His sister revealed that initially the family had not demanded everything back out of sympathy for the woman, but because the other party refused to repay and made excuses, they had to go public. Khru Nam insisted she would not refund the full amount, claiming all the money and valuables remained intact, that she still loved Khun Tae, and wanted to continue dating, marry him, and start anew.

Khun Tae's sister firmly rejected this, demanding full repayment. A lawyer present noted that the woman had committed fraud by concealing the truth from the start and warned that if she did not refund immediately, a lawsuit would be filed. Khru Nam responded that she too had suffered—the man had lived at her home and, as a woman, she had lost her reputation. When the lawyer suggested she propose a figure for negotiation, Khru Nam offered to return only half, saying she had also been harmed, was now too ashamed to stay home, and did not know what her employment prospects would be. Khun Tae's sister remained adamant: no deal.

Khru Nam later admitted she had married and divorced after just one month before meeting Khun Tae, and acknowledged she had failed to tell him. She said she was no longer working as a teacher and had left to sell motorcycles, though she kept wedding photos as motivation.

A dashcam video captured a white sedan suddenly swerving from the leftmost lane and cutting off a motorcycle family without warning on August 14 around 5 p.m. near Petchkasem Soi 69. The motorcycle rider, trying to overtake in slow traffic, prompted the sedan driver to shout at him; moments later, after the motorcycle passed, the sedan accelerated and deliberately rammed the bike's license plate. When the sedan driver got out, he apologized and claimed he meant to brake but accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead. He seemed shocked to see the mother holding a 7-month-old baby. The mother did not file a report at the time, but after a good Samaritan shared the dashcam clip online, she became convinced the crash was intentional and filed a complaint at Nong Khwaem Police Station on August 18. Police initially resisted, suggesting the driver may have simply bent down to pick something up under the car, but later agreed to investigate after reviewing the video evidence. The mother remains concerned about her son's psychological state, as the child has been withdrawn and fearful since the incident. Police stated they would gather additional evidence and call both parties in for questioning to determine appropriate charges.