The Board of Investment is coordinating with four state agencies to remove investment barriers in Thailand's Eastern Region and accommodate a wave of high-tech industrial investment, with cumulative promotion requests exceeding 2.6 trillion baht.

Naruetom Theodsiriskul, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment, announced this at the "Eastern Thailand: Unlocking the Next Investment Frontier" seminar on August 14, 2025, in Chonburi Province. He noted that the global economic and investment structure is undergoing rapid transformation driven by geopolitical polarization, the shift to digital and clean energy economies, global supply chain restructuring, and the explosive growth of modern technologies including AI, robotics, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and biotechnology. These developments are directing more investment toward the ASEAN region, creating a major opportunity for Thailand to strengthen its foundations and remove constraints—particularly in the Eastern Region, the country's most critical investment hub—to attract quality projects and become the region's future industrial hub.

The seminar drew strong interest from over 500 local and foreign business operators already promoted in the Eastern Region, representing automotive and components, machinery, electrical appliances and electronics, metals and materials, chemicals and petrochemicals, agriculture and food, and other sectors.

Eastern Region Claims Three-Year Investment Championship with Over 2.6 Trillion Baht

Theodisiriskul noted that the Eastern Region is a strategically vital area with the highest number of investment promotion applications. Over the past three-and-a-half years (2023 to mid-2025), it received 4,566 investment promotion applications worth over 2.6 trillion baht—accounting for half of all investment promotion requests nationwide.

Chonburi Province leads the Eastern Region with over 1.29 trillion baht in investment, followed by Rayong (837 billion baht), Prachuap Khiri Khan (235 billion baht), and Chachoengsao (228 billion baht). The three top investment sectors are digital industries, electronics and electrical appliances, and vehicles and components.

The Eastern Region benefits from strong infrastructure including transportation and logistics systems, industrial estates, ports, airports, and utilities, as well as a deep and diverse supplier base, positioning it as a gateway for investment and Thailand's connection to global markets.

However, the new wave of investment, especially in advanced-technology manufacturing, requires different support factors than previous industries. Readiness in utilities, cluster-style investment zones, and skilled labor are critical challenges that relevant agencies must jointly address to support investment without harming the environment and communities.

Offensive Strategy: Targeting Six Investment Groups for New Investment Wave

Theodisiriskul stated that global investment trends are shifting toward technology and innovation-driven industries. The Board of Investment has identified six target groups aligned with global trends and Thai strengths to attract investment.

Banpu Chief Executive Officer Sinnont Wongkusulgkij announced the company's first-half 2025 results, reporting total sales revenue of $2.778 billion (approximately 89.222 billion baht), EBITDA of $596 million (19.168 billion baht), and net operating profit of $61 million (1.979 billion baht). The performance was supported by increased natural gas sales volumes in the United States and rising global coal prices, alongside efficient asset and cost management.

These results emerged during a critical transition following the completion of the merger between Banpu and Banpu Power on July 31, 2025, with the restructured Banpu beginning official trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on August 4, 2025. The first-half performance reflects Banpu's strengths in its integrated infrastructure and energy solutions portfolio and effective cost management. The post-merger restructuring will help consolidate business synergies, enhance financial flexibility, and strengthen the balance sheet.

"We will continue to responsibly expand our energy capabilities to enhance energy security and meet growing demand, particularly from the expansion of AI and data centers," Sinnont said.

The integrated natural gas business in the United States sold 172 billion cubic feet of gas, up from the same period last year. The Temple I and II natural gas power plants maintained availability rates as high as 90%, supporting increased electricity demand.

The CCS Barnett Zero project stored 64,200 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, while the Cotton Cove and Eagle Ford projects commenced commercial operations.

The modern mining business segment sold a combined 18 million tons of coal, with Indonesian and Mongolian mines showing increased volumes. Banpu is also pursuing investment opportunities in strategic minerals such as nickel and bauxite to support future energy technology and energy storage value chains.

The electricity and related business segment operates 1,011 megawatts of renewable energy generation capacity and is accelerating low-carbon energy expansion. The company operates 10 battery energy storage system (BESS) projects across Japan, Australia, China, and the United States with a combined 692 megawatts of capacity and 2,340 megawatt-hours of energy storage. Japan's electricity trading business sold 3,045 gigawatt-hours.

The future technology business segment is expanding Net Zero Solutions services, providing Net Zero consulting to AOTGA, and has invested through its Corporate Venture Capital arm in 16 funds and six direct companies, focusing on high-growth potential technologies including AI value chain opportunities.

The company declared an interim dividend of 0.40 baht per share, reflecting shareholder returns while maintaining financial strength and pursuing strategic business expansion under its Energy Symphonics strategy.

Two prominent morning news anchors have announced their departures from the morning news programme, expressing sadness about the changes while acknowledging that such transitions are inevitable. They thanked loyal viewers who have supported the show over many years.

Banjong Cheevamonkolkarn, executive editor at Workpoint News, announced he will leave the Morning News Workpoint programme at the end of August 2026 and transition to full-time freelance work with no further contract with the channel. Senior anchor Pae Supaponchai will also depart from the programme.

Banjong revealed that a major budget reduction at Workpoint News last month affected approximately 60 percent of the news department's staff. He entered an early retirement programme last August to help preserve the news team, but continued working on both the morning news show and the evening news programme Chong Khao Khao Jao, which was later reformatted with other hosts.

He expressed mixed emotions about the transition: "Change is something we must accept, especially in television where change is constant. But even understanding that, I must admit my heart is not willing to let go."

Banjong noted he has worked with Workpoint News since the news department was established on January 1, 2016—more than 10 years—and has accumulated countless memories and experiences. He thanked management, staff, and especially viewers for their loyalty over the years.

He confirmed that while he and Pae will no longer appear on the morning news show, he will continue hosting the evening programme Chong Khao Khao Jao from Monday to Friday, inviting viewers to follow him there instead.

A fire engulfed the home of Porpisin, a retired 80-year-old teacher nicknamed "Khru Aad," in Bang Pa Han district, Ayutthaya province, at 11:30 p.m. on August 16, 2025. Police Lieutenant Colonel Artit Simjaroen, commander of Bang Pa Han Police Station, coordinated with more than 10 fire trucks from the local administrative organization and Phutthaithaisawan Foundation. The single-story Thai-style wooden house caught fire intensely, with strong winds carrying flames to an adjacent pile of old wood. Firefighters took about an hour to control the blaze. Khru Aad safely evacuated but suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Bang Pa Han Hospital.

Neighbors reported hearing loud cracking sounds and explosions before the rapid spread of flames. Investigation found the old wood pile and a makeshift stove where Khru Aad cooked for two to three dogs in the evening; a previous fire had occurred in that area but was extinguished before spreading to the house.

When authorities inspected the interior, they were stunned to discover a coffin on the second floor containing the remains of Khru Aad's wife, a retired teacher who had died over 20 years ago. Community members explained that Khru Aad was deeply attached to his wife. Although neighbors had suggested he hold a funeral and he once set a date, he cancelled and continued keeping her remains at home. Locals were familiar with the coffin on the second floor. After the fire was controlled, the coffin had fallen to the lower floor and was largely consumed by flames, leaving only bones.

A broom vendor discovered a monk who had crashed his sedan with a badly crumpled front end at a four-way intersection and could no longer drive, before abandoning the vehicle and walking away. Police tracked him down 2 kilometers away, where he claimed a female ghost had been riding with him and hurriedly called relatives to come pick him up for urgent care.

On August 16, 2025, officers from Muang Udon Thani Police Station in Udon Thani Province received a report of a monk who had crashed his sedan and left the vehicle at the Phalai intersection on the Udon Thani Bypass Road in Muang District, then walked away. Police quickly traveled to the scene to investigate.

Upon arrival, they found a black sedan registered in Maha Sarakham Province parked near the curved section by the intersection, with severe front-end damage. The broom vendor explained that he saw the car stopped in the middle of the road, so he approached to ask about it. He found the driver was a Buddhist monk who initially seemed startled. The monk appeared to be trembling and speaking incoherently.

"At first I thought he was drunk, so I asked nearby vendors to help push the car to the side of the road because I was afraid there would be another accident," the vendor said. "Then the monk asked about a tuk-tuk, saying he wanted to go to Nong Noi village, but no tuk-tuk would take him, so he just walked away and left the car there. When I asked the monk how he crashed the front of the car, he claimed the car had been hit 2-3 days ago."

Officers later found the monk walking along the roadside 2 kilometers from the accident site. Upon questioning, they learned he was 46 years old and had been ordained for one Buddhist year, claiming to belong to a forest temple in Maha Sarakham Province. He spoke confusedly, insisting that a woman had traveled with him and that he later realized she was a ghost. He claimed the vehicle damage came from hitting a tree inside the temple grounds.

Officers contacted his relatives, who reported that the monk had a history of mental health treatment and were already coming to pick him up. Officers took him to a temporary shelter to wait for his relatives to arrive and take him home for further care.