Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has inspected the M6 motorway's Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima section and held a meeting to prepare a trial opening of the Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong segment, approximately 110 kilometres long. The trial opening will be free for the public every weekend, starting August 21, 2569, at noon.

The 196-kilometre M6 motorway is critical infrastructure linking Bangkok and surrounding areas with the Northeast region. It provides an alternative route, reduces travel time and traffic volume on Phahon Yothin and Friendship roads, and supports reduced transport costs while promoting trade, investment, tourism, and logistics.

The Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong trial opening will run from Friday, August 21, at noon, continuously through to Sunday at midnight, with no toll charges. It will connect with the already-operating Pak Chong–Nakhon Ratchasima bypass section, allowing uninterrupted use of the M6 during holidays.

The Transport Ministry has emphasised principles of convenience and safety, particularly in the scenic Lam Takong area where heavy traffic is expected. Safety measures will prevent unsafe stops and parking. During the trial, only four-wheeled vehicles are permitted, with speed limited to 80 kilometres per hour, as some areas remain under construction. Highway police and staff will monitor the entire route. Vehicle parking or shoulder use without necessity is prohibited, and traffic signs must be obeyed.

The Department of Highways has prepared staff, assistance vehicles, and 24-hour emergency systems, coordinated with highway police, provincial police, rescue units, and authorities in Ayutthaya, Saraburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces to manage traffic and handle emergencies. VMS signs will provide traffic information throughout.

Deputy Prime Minister Pipat stated that the Transport Ministry is accelerating remaining work to open the entire 196-kilometre Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima M6 toll-free around the clock during the 2027 New Year festival, before proceeding to system testing and trial runs ahead of full commercial operation with toll collection.

As of July 2569, civil construction is 99.37% complete from 40 contracts, with 38 finished and 2 remaining, targeting completion by December 2569. Toll collection systems, traffic control and management systems, and safety systems under PPP arrangement are 92.32% complete, with aims to support full trial opening during the 2027 New Year period before full commercial operation and toll collection in April 2570.

Po Teck Tung Foundation is reducing inequality and expanding opportunities to create equal livelihoods for residents of Lampang, Lamphun, and Chiang Rai, with a total value of over 1.1 million baht. The foundation is distributing occupational equipment to low-income families and providing free medical services in the region.

Between 18-19 August 2025, foundation leadership led by Chinda Bunyalap, audit committee member, along with Siriporn Krajang (social welfare manager), Naowarat Wansilp (community medical unit head), and Prathawi Kulbut (acting education and career promotion department head), distributed vocational equipment to 60 women, men, single fathers, and LGBTQ+ individuals across three provinces with limited resources but possessing skills and knowledge. The total value of equipment distributed was 1,163,800 baht.

The initiative was presided over by Ronroong Theprak, Deputy Governor of Lampang Province, along with other provincial and national officials. The foundation also deployed community medical units with volunteer doctors, medical staff, rescue teams, and volunteers to provide free eyeglasses, haircuts, and youth recreation activities in Lampang and Chiang Rai.

The Occupational Development Program for Women and Families aims to provide vocational equipment to economically disadvantaged women, men, single fathers, and LGBTQ+ individuals who lack resources despite possessing skills and knowledge. In 2025, the foundation is collaborating with 12 women and family development centers across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Sisaket, Khon Kaen, Lamphun, Lampang, Chiang Rai, and Phitsanulok. The foundation hopes this project will help create employment, generate income, reduce social inequality, and contribute to sustainable national development.

Over its 116-year history, Po Teck Tung Foundation has expanded its programs widely, alleviating suffering and providing welfare to disadvantaged people regardless of race or religion.

Asset World Corporation (AWC) is advancing its luxury hotel and service expansion strategy with the debut of Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand's first Fairmont-branded hotel, developed in partnership with Accor and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Positioned as a lifestyle destination and hub for meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) in central Sukhumvit, the property caters to international tourists, business travelers, and domestic clientele.

The new hotel opening is part of AWC's broader approach to developing and managing hotel and lifestyle assets by creating a destination that integrates hotel operations, food and beverage, wellness, and event management to maximize long-term revenue potential.

The Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit features 416 guest rooms and suites, which began welcoming guests from August 18, 2026, positioning itself as a new luxury hotel on Sukhumvit—one of Bangkok's key zones for tourism, commerce, and business. Beyond room revenue, AWC has structured the hotel to generate income from related businesses, with plans to open seven restaurants and gathering spaces throughout 2026, including a rooftop dining experience launching in December, driving business activity and spending beyond standard room rates.

The hotel emphasizes MICE as a revenue driver, offering over 2,000 square meters of event space across three floors accommodating international conferences, executive meetings, seminars, weddings, gala dinners, and various event formats. The Signature Grand Ballroom, featuring a 12-meter ceiling, along with breakout ballrooms and flexible meeting areas, enables the hotel to serve multiple market segments from domestic organizations to international clients.

Expanding MICE facilities diversifies the hotel's revenue base beyond room bookings to include conferences, food and beverage, banquets, and in-house activities—a key component of luxury urban hotel business models.

Beyond rooms and MICE, the hotel plans to open seven food and entertainment venues including Harper's, AELA Social Bar, CAYA Pool Club, and Wiggle Room, with additional experiences on floors 32-33 and rooftop areas launching late 2026. The property also includes a 1,000-square-meter Fairmont Spa and Fairmont Studio for yoga and fitness, plus family facilities, reflecting a lifestyle and wellness approach alongside hotel operations.

AWC's hotel development aims to create a comprehensive "destination" integrating hotel, dining, wellness, and events to build multiple revenue streams.

The government is moving forward with a major initiative to create opportunities for the nation's youth in football and volleyball through the Prime Minister's Youth Cup project, marking the first time in Thai sports history that two of the country's most popular sports are combined in a single youth competition of this scale. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Thailand Sports Authority, the National Sports Development Fund, the Football Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, and the Volleyball Association of Thailand jointly announced the Prime Minister's Youth Cup as a significant collaboration to promote youth sports competitions throughout the country. The project aims to develop quality base-level athletes nationwide through a competition system spanning district, provincial, regional, and national levels.

The competition was officially announced on August 19 at The Grand Forvins Hotel, with Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakul presiding alongside other senior officials from the sports organisations. The project covers six age categories across two sports: boys' football U14, U16, and U18; girls' football U18; boys' volleyball U15; and girls' volleyball U15.

Boys' football competitions in the U14, U16, and U18 age groups will use a four-stage system starting with district-level qualifying (Stage 1), followed by provincial selection (Stage 2), then regional competition across 12 zones (Stage 3), and concluding with a national championship (Stage 4). This system also allows provincial all-star teams to participate, giving additional talented players the chance to compete at higher levels. Girls' football U18 will be held as a regional league competition across four zones, with representatives advancing to nationals. Volleyball competitions for both boys and girls U15 follow the same four-level structure from district through to national level. All six categories will be broadcast live on BG Sports during the Stage 4 national finals, with coverage of other key matches in earlier stages as well.

Madam Pang Nualpranne Lamsam, president of the Thai Football Association, has discussed with the Sports Minister the possibility of getting government help to broadcast the 2026 Asian Cup final on free television. Thai football fans have criticized the lack of free-to-air coverage of Thailand's matches in the tournament, as broadcast rights are held by TrueVisions, which streams all matches exclusively through the TrueVisions Now app. With Thailand now advancing to the final round again, calls for free broadcast access have intensified. Sports Minister Surasak Charoenpanwanich asked Madam Pang about the feasibility of airing the final match on free TV. Madam Pang explained that TrueVisions owns the rights and has already sold monthly subscription packages at 199 baht per month to viewers, so the government would need to negotiate with TrueVisions. She has already discussed this with Ongaj Praphakamon, head of TrueVisions and Media at True Corporation, who said he would consult company executives before providing an answer. Madam Pang cited the precedent of World Cup coverage, where JAS and MONO purchased the rights but still allowed the semifinals and final to air on free TV. She understands TrueVisions' position since they sold subscription packages for this tournament, but said the company must also consider its paying customers. The Sports Minister stated that broadcasting national football matches creates inspiration and is important for the team. He urged the Football Association to develop a plan requesting support from the National Sports Development Fund to help purchase broadcast rights for future national team matches.

Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat, who also serves as Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister and chairs the northern regional flood and drought prevention committee, signed an urgent order to the three provincial governors on Tuesday following a Meteorological Department forecast warning of thunderstorms, isolated heavy rain and strong winds in August that could trigger flash floods, forest runoff and river overflow.

The committee has mandated eight immediate measures: closely monitor conditions and coordinate with upstream areas and neighbouring provinces, focusing on flood-prone communities and key transport routes; improve warning speed and accuracy through Cell Broadcast alerts and local communication channels; pre-position personnel, boats and water pumps in high-risk areas with a KA-32 helicopter on standby for evacuations; prepare temporary shelters with adequate supplies and health care; provide continuous updates on river levels and warnings for residents and tourists; establish incident command centres if flooding occurs; survey and record damage for fair relief payments; and coordinate with local Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry agencies to support response efforts around the clock.

The measures were issued under the Prime Minister's Office Order No. 275/2026, which established five regional flood and drought prevention committees to accelerate relief efforts.