BANGKOK — On 7 August 2026, the government approved compensation of 1 million baht for each person killed in Thursday's school shooting in Nonthaburi, citing four previous mass shooting cases that were classified as public disasters. Officials said payments would be made as quickly as possible.

On Friday at 15:00, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Paradorn Prissananantakul chaired a meeting of the Prime Minister's Office Disaster Victim Assistance Fund Committee to consider compensation for victims of the shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School. The attack left seven people dead, including three teachers, three students, and the gunman.

Yupa Thaweewattanakitborworn, Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, told the meeting the fund currently has 254 million baht available.

Paradorn said the committee used the same criteria applied in four previous mass casualty shootings: the Terminal 21 Korat shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, the childcare centre massacre in Nong Bua Lamphu, the Siam Paragon shooting in Bangkok, and the shooting at Phatong Prathan Khiriwat School in Songkhla.

The committee approved the following compensation rates, consistent with those cases:

Fatalities: 1 million baht Permanent disability: 700,000 baht Serious injuries: 200,000 baht Minor injuries: 100,000 baht

Paradorn said the committee considered three key factors before approving the payments.

First, the Disaster Victim Assistance Fund consists of public donations intended to help people affected by disasters.

Second, although the Nonthaburi shooting was a criminal act committed by an individual, it caused deaths and injuries among members of the public at a school, where teachers and students were engaged in their normal daily activities. The committee therefore determined that the incident falls within the definition of a public disaster under Clause 3 of the fund's regulations, making victims eligible for assistance.

Third, existing regulations already provide additional assistance, including 50,000 baht for funeral expenses, 30,000 baht in living assistance for each deceased victim's family, and an additional 50,000 baht for families with children aged 25 or younger.

After the meeting, Paradorn said authorities would expedite compensation for those affected. He said the total amount required would be finalised after confirming the number of injured victims, but expected payments could be made within days. Officials will also examine whether other government agencies can provide additional financial assistance.

Paradorn also said the Ministry of Interior prohibits civilians from carrying firearms in public places under any circumstances, except for authorised state officials performing their duties. He said enforcement of the regulation would be strengthened and that, in his capacity as a member of parliament, he would propose amendments to Thailand's Firearms Act.

TTB Fintips by TMB Bank advises credit card users to understand the pitfalls of zero-percent installment traps. Although there is no interest charged, multiple installment payments combined can become a heavy burden. The bank recommends checking four warning signs and using three questions before making purchases to preserve liquidity and long-term financial objectives.

Credit cards have become part of daily life for many, whether for earning points, cashback rewards, or special privileges that add spending value. The popular "0% installment" promotion makes large purchases more manageable, allowing items priced in tens of thousands to be split into hundreds or thousands of baht monthly, improving cash flow flexibility and preserving funds for other essential expenses.

However, while individual monthly installments may seem low, multiple simultaneous payments can quietly increase monthly obligations and impact long-term financial goals.

Four warning signs of excessive installments:

1. Installments begin affecting savings: If most monthly income goes to installment payments, reducing savings or preventing target savings, installment burden may be too high. Even 0% installments are ongoing obligations, so balance between installments and savings is crucial.

2. You cannot remember what you're paying for: With multiple simultaneous installments for phones, appliances, furniture, or online items, people often forget how many months remain on each. Losing sight of total obligations makes financial planning difficult.

3. Buying decisions driven only by ability to installment: While installment promotions offer flexibility, ask yourself "Is this necessary?" If the primary reason shifts from "necessity" to "I can installment it," reconsider spending behavior to ensure purchases align with financial goals.

4. Beginning to pay only credit card minimums: Minimum payments may provide short-term flexibility, but if frequent or routine, they signal monthly obligations exceed plans. Unpaid balances incur additional interest, increasing debt and complicating future financial management.

Transform "it's fine" into clear financial planning. Many believe "monthly installments aren't much, I can manage," which isn't necessarily wrong, but the key is viewing total installments together, not individual items, since multiple simultaneous installments compound the burden.

On August 7, police received a report of a fatal shooting at a rental house on Charoen Suk 2 Lane in Muang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. Officers, including investigators from Muang Police Station, responded to find a single-story concrete house where the victim, Ms. Sudaporn (surname withheld), 34, from Trang Province, lay dead on a bed wearing a red long-sleeved shirt and black jeans. The body bore three gunshot wounds to the head from an unidentified firearm.

Investigation revealed that the suspect, known as "Top" and the victim's boyfriend, fled on a motorcycle after the incident. Three people lived in the house, including Top's mother, who was outside the bedroom when the shots were fired. She heard three consecutive gunshots and then Top exited the room and fled on his motorcycle. When she entered the bedroom, she found the victim dead, apparently shot while using her mobile phone.

According to Deputy Commander Ponchai Khachaklinon of Region 8 and Muang Police Station Commander Kittichai Krainara, the motive was jealousy. The couple frequently argued, and Top suspected the victim was communicating with another man via phone, which enraged him. Police are gathering evidence to obtain a warrant for Top's arrest and will proceed with legal proceedings.

A shocking shooting at Debsirin School in Nonthaburi on August 7, 2026, claimed multiple lives, including teacher Thiwaporn Vanit, known as "Kru Muay," a native of Nakhon Luang District in Ayutthaya Province. Reporters visiting the family home in Samchai Subdistrict found it locked and empty, as her parents and sister had traveled to Nonthaburi to identify the body and handle arrangements. A relative, 46-year-old Somkhid (surname withheld), explained that Kru Muay was the youngest of three siblings, with her older brother also employed at Debsirin School. While she lived and worked in Nonthaburi, she returned to visit her parents in Ayutthaya only during holidays and special occasions, most recently during Songkran. Somkhid described her as kindhearted, cheerful, and devoted to family, beloved by all her relatives. When news of the incident broke around 11 a.m., the family followed developments closely, but did not initially realize Kru Muay was among the victims until a relative called with the tragic news. Upon learning the truth, her parents immediately departed for Nonthaburi, likely notified by her brother working at the school.

Bangkok — Taiwan's top representative in Thailand says a new wave of Taiwanese investment is flowing into the country, driven by shifts in global supply chains, artificial intelligence and growing confidence in Thailand's political stability.

Speaking during "Tea & Talk with TECO and Peter Lan" at The Bangkok Club in Sathon on 6 August 2026, Peter Lan, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Thailand, said the informal gathering with Thai media was intended to broaden communication with the Thai public.

Lan, who has served as Taiwan's chief representative in Bangkok since 20 July 2025, said geopolitical competition, the rapid development of AI industries, the "China Plus One" strategy, and growing confidence in Thailand's political stability, have encouraged more Taiwanese businesses to expand into Thailand.

He added that around 200,000 Taiwanese citizens are currently living and working in Thailand, with TECO working to help dampen the challenges they face. "TECO is an open book," Lan said, adding that the office welcomes dialogue and that the extent of engagement ultimately depends on Thailand's own decisions.

He also thanked the Thai media for helping communicate information about Taiwan to the public. Asked about Thailand's adherence to the One China policy, Lan said recognising the policy does not prevent countries from maintaining practical and substantive relations with Taiwan.

He noted that while Taiwan cannot establish an embassy in countries that recognise Beijing, TECO's role is to dispel misconceptions about what cooperation with Taiwan can entail. "It is the host country's decision how to interact with Taiwan and China at the same time," he said.

Lan added that Thailand would benefit from maintaining parallel and pragmatic relationships with both sides rather than having a triangle relationship. Reflecting on his first year in Thailand, Lan summarised his experience in three words: communication, mutualism and opportunity.

Thailand is advocating for ASEAN to take a leading role in shaping the global economy while promoting agricultural innovation to bolster food security. Deputy Commerce Minister Girada Phaopijit revealed that on August 3, 2025, she presented this vision at the 18th ASEAN & Asia Forum in Singapore, organized by Singapore's International Business Institute. She emphasized that ASEAN must maintain economic openness, strengthen connectivity, and invest collaboratively to elevate the region's role from a participant to a shaper of global economic direction, while advancing innovative agricultural products to establish ASEAN as a global food security hub.

The forum drew over 300 participants from government, diplomacy, business, and academia to exchange views on economic direction and regional cooperation in Asia and ASEAN. Thailand presented its perspective on ASEAN's trade and investment potential, noting that despite geopolitical challenges and global economic shifts, the region has substantial growth opportunities. The diversity of member states is not a weakness but a strength that can enhance ASEAN's ability to foster cooperation and position itself as a trusted trade and investment partner. ASEAN should accelerate progress in capital mobility, workforce skill development, skilled labor mobility, and renewable energy connectivity to strengthen long-term competitiveness and sustainability.

Girada stated that food security and agricultural product innovation represent a major opportunity for ASEAN's long-term economic growth, given the region's strong agricultural base that can be developed into high-value products such as functional foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and bioplastics. This would increase agricultural output value, reduce carbon footprint across production chains, and support the transition to green and bioeconomy models. ASEAN should pursue co-creation of goods and services among member states by leveraging each country's unique strengths to strengthen and build resilience in future food and bioproduct supply chains.