Kasetsart University held a royal appointment ceremony to install Assistant Professor Dr. Kongsakdi Thiangtharm as rector on Monday, August 17, 2026, at the Sudtham Areekul Conference Room. University council chairman Dr. Kritsanapong Kirtikorn presided over the ceremony, which included paying respects before the royal appointment was formally read.

After receiving the royal appointment, Rector Kongsakdi pledged to carry out his duties with full responsibility and commitment, stating his determination to advance Kasetsart University through honesty and integrity for the benefit of education, society, and the nation.

In outlining his management vision to senior staff and faculty, Rector Kongsakdi emphasized collaborative leadership and shared commitment. "I believe our collective strength grows when we work together to overcome challenges," he said. "Every administrator is ready and fully committed to working together across all sectors. Our policies emerge from everyone's participation, and we are building a 20-year strategic blueprint that depends entirely on mutual cooperation."

He identified three core principles guiding his tenure: Syntegration—collaborative teamwork where leaders act together with shared vision, reducing individual ego and departmental silos to focus on the university's unified goal and Thailand's broader interests; Glocalization—thinking globally about worldwide changes and challenges while maintaining deep understanding of Thai identity and local community problems; and ensuring all actions meet international standards while addressing local and national needs.

On August 17, Deputy Suprintendent Nakorn Saiyut, duty officer at Pho Thale District Police Station in Phichit province, received a report of two gunmen on an unregistered motorcycle shooting a teenage boy, resulting in one fatality. The incident occurred in front of a house in Moo 5, Bang Khlan subdistrict, Pho Thale district, Phichit province. Officers rushed to the scene and found the victim, identified as Nuan, 17, a Grade 5 student at Bang Mun Na Phumi Witthayakhom School, lying in a pool of blood. He had been shot four times with an 11-millimeter handgun in the chest and breast area. Four shell casings were recovered as evidence.

The two suspects fled to Bang Mun Na district but were arrested shortly after, along with the motorcycle used in the shooting. The gunman was identified as Dol, 17, a vocational college student from Phichit studying in Phitsanulok province. The driver was a 14-year-old from Phichit. According to the investigation, Nuan had come to get motorcycle repair equipment from the house when Dol and the young driver arrived on a motorcycle. When Nuan came out to check the sound, Dol opened fire, hitting him four times fatally. The two had a prior dispute.

Dol confessed to purchasing the 11-millimeter handgun from the internet for 30,000 baht, which was loaded with 8 rounds. He fired four shots. Authorities charged both suspects with premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and illegally carrying a gun in a public area without authorization or emergency justification. Further investigation is ongoing.

DITTO reported second-quarter net profit of 189.71 million baht, up 13 percent year-on-year, with revenue of 1.009 billion baht, a 33 percent increase. For the first six months of 2025, the company posted net profit of 349.08 million baht, up 11 percent, on revenue of 1.928 billion baht, up 28 percent. The company continues to focus on digital transformation, data management, cybersecurity, and engineering solutions to meet growing demand from government and private-sector clients. Despite economic uncertainty, investment in digital infrastructure, data centers, cloud services, and cybersecurity remains on an upward trend. DITTO recently signed a 98 million baht contract with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to integrate data for social development using Big Data and AI technology, and a 50 million baht document management project with the Department of Land Transport. The company's subsidiary, Siam TC Technology, is issuing 400 million digital tokens at 1.20 baht per token, raising 480 million baht for a mangrove reforestation and carbon credit project spanning 17,531 rai in partnership with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. DITTO also signed a 4.335 billion baht contract as part of the RSDT Consortium (55 percent stake) to build phase two of a new zoo for the Thai Zoological Park Organisation under royal patronage, though revenue recognition has not yet begun.

Rodtang Jitmuangnon, former ONE Muaythai world champion, posted a sparring clip with his brother-in-law Saengatyodtai Lorpayodtain, an ex-WBA Asia champion, and challenged Somrak Khamsing about competing for Thailand in the 65-kilogram international boxing division. In his post, Rodtang asked whether the two of them could compete for the nation.

Earlier, ONE partnered with the Thai Amateur Muaythai Association and the Thai Olympic Committee, under Royal Patronage, to announce support for former ONE Muaythai Bantamweight World Champion Nabil Anane as Thailand's representative for amateur boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Rodtang also sent a sparring clip to Somrak Khamsing, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, asking if he was ready to compete. Somrak immediately responded by asking which weight division—55, 60, or 65 kilograms—and Rodtang answered: 65 kilograms.

Somrak Khamsing, who won Olympic gold in amateur boxing at the 1996 Atlanta Games, currently serves as an advisor to the Thai Amateur Muaythai Association.

Nakhon Si Thammarat electricity worker fights for life after being stabbed on dutyLegacyA Thai man stabbed a Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) official in the back for cutting off power at his home in Nakhon Si Thammarat over an unpaid bill, leaving the victim in critical condition. The attack happened on August 14 outside at a residential area in Tha Ruea subdistrict, Mueang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The injured victim, 32 year old Chawanit, was reported to be the official from the PEA. CCTV caught the aftermath showing Chawanit riding his motorcycle out of the scene with one of his hands pressed to the wound, flagging down passersby for help. People in the area then took him to hospital. According to the report on Amarin TV, he remains in serious condition with bleeding lungs. The attacker was identified as 32 year old Phu. He escaped after stabbing and remains at large at the time of the reporting. Photo via Amarin TV Chawanit’s girlfriend, 31 year old Thanyaret, said that on the morning of the incident, Chawanit had visited Phu’s home to disconnect an electric meter due to unpaid bills. A child living in the house came out and asked Chawanit to give her parents more time to pay. He agreed and gave the household until the afternoon. According to Thanyaret, Chawanit returned to the house at around 5 pm to find that the bill was still unpaid. He was about to cut off the power when Phu arrived on his motorcycle. Phu claimed to be the owner of the house, complained to Chawanit about cutting off the power and suddenly stabbed him in the back. Phu | Photo via Amarin TV The 52 year old Thai man, Apichat, told Amarin that he is the owner of the house, and Phu was his stepson. He claimed that Phu did not return home for several days before the incident. According to his stepfather, Phu has a short temper and habitually carries a knife. He said that Phu had stabbed someone in a dispute two or three months ago and was still fighting that case. Local police officers are now gathering evidence and searching for the suspect. Related news

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The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) at the Government Housing Bank has released second-quarter 2025 price data for residential properties in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), showing the residential property price index at 126.4 points, up 0.5% year-on-year from 125.8 points but unchanged from the first quarter. The flat quarterly movement reflects how EEC housing prices are entering a plateau phase as consumer purchasing power weakens and the market remains oversupplied, prompting developers to accelerate stock clearance through promotional measures.

By province, Chachoengsao posted the highest residential property price index at 130.5 points, up 0.9% year-on-year, while Rayong stood at 122.1 points, down 0.1%, and Chon Buri at 122.3 points, up 0.1%. By property type, single-detached houses saw the strongest price growth at 150.3 points, up 1.1% year-on-year and 0.2% quarter-on-quarter, with increases of 1.7% in Chachoengsao, 0.7% in Rayong, and 0.5% in Chon Buri. Townhouses were the only segment posting year-on-year declines, with an index of 113.8 points, down 0.3% from last year.

In marketing tactics, developers increasingly offered bundled gifts such as air conditioners, curtains, furniture, and water pumps—accounting for 45.0% of promotions, down from 50.0% the previous quarter. Free transfer fees rose to 41.6% from 34.3%, reflecting a shift toward reducing buyer transaction costs, while cash discounts dropped to 13.4% from 15.7%. The REIC compiles data on new residential projects in Chachoengsao, Rayong, and Chon Buri with at least six units remaining for sale, excluding resales, with 2022 set as the base year.