The National Research Council (NRC) and Chulalongkorn University have joined Nan Provincial Administration to launch the "Nan Water Plan," a data-driven innovation platform designed to strengthen flood response and water management across the region. On August 9, 2026, NRC Director Dr. Vibharat Deeaung led a fact-finding visit to the provincial offices alongside academics, government officials, and local researchers to review the implementation of the water management system.

Dr. Vibharat emphasized that the NRC prioritizes translating research into practical benefits for communities, and that effective water management and disaster response require collaboration between research institutions and local agencies. By linking data from provincial down to community level, residents gain access to information and can participate in protecting their own areas, supported by knowledge and technology for systematic flood preparedness.

Associate Professor Dr. Suchrit Koonthanakulwongse noted that water management research must integrate knowledge, technology, and data from multiple agencies to create decision-support systems applicable on the ground. The "Nan Water Plan" represents a key approach to applying research with local and relevant agencies, improving planning and response to both flooding and drought.

Nan Provincial Administration head Thipawan Wongdee confirmed that flood and drought management are critical mandates, carried out through collaboration with research units to analyze water sources, develop community water plans, and assess water balance. The province is coordinating to ensure research data feeds into provincial water management planning.

Developed by Associate Professor Chuchooke Aiyupong from Chiang Mai University, the "Nan Water Plan" aligns water data with local context for planning, monitoring, and response. The province is also developing flood maps and using "Flood Eye" technology to measure soil moisture and rainfall, enabling early forecasting and giving residents more time to prepare or evacuate.

Nan Province is establishing a provincial water data center to consolidate and link information from multiple agencies using GIS systems to store disaster-response resources such as boats and pumps, with screening and alert mechanisms to ensure residents receive accurate, coordinated information. This visit reflects the NRC's commitment to bringing research innovations to practical use in communities.

A critical test of the government's true commitment to anti-corruption emerges from recent public data breaches. Although labeled as state information, the exposed data—including vehicle registrations, ID photos, birth dates from the Department of Land Transport, and health records from the Public Health Ministry—constitutes personal information that the government is obliged to safeguard.

While such data breaches may seem innocuous on the surface with no immediate financial transaction losses, the potential harm becomes clear under closer scrutiny: if leaked data falls into the hands of scammers or fraud rings, they can easily manipulate victims into revealing additional sensitive information or gain access to mobile banking credentials, causing incalculable damage.

News reports document cases of people defrauded of entire savings, falling into debt, and even resorting to suicide, leaving families devastated. If the government genuinely viewed this as a problem, it would enforce strict data protection protocols. Instead, the opposite has occurred: leaked information did not result from system hacking but from careless password management—as if builders erected strong walls but left the keys scattered outside.

When private citizens point out these security flaws, some government agencies refuse to review and fix the breaches. Instead, they deny any leaks occurred and threaten to prosecute the whistleblowers. A mature, transparent response would be to praise such disclosures, invite the informant to consult, and seal the vulnerabilities immediately.

This mirrors the parliamentary salary scandal exposed by Yingluck Shinawatra's aide Anachon, which revealed opaque selection processes and political favoritism in deputy appointments. The government should have thanked the whistleblower, preserved the evidence, requested details, and urgently corrected the misconduct. Instead, government figures not only failed to protect the exposer but proceeded to sue.

Government members should acknowledge that no corruption was involved, stand united against wrongdoing, and support pursuing the matter through the Supreme Court and the DSI for genuine justice. Yet actions speak louder than words. Without decisive, transparent action, observers rightly question the government's sincerity in building integrity and transparency in society.

Police in Phra In Racha district, Ayutthaya, arrested a 41-year-old man identified as Praphan (surname withheld) on August 9 after he was caught stealing electrical wires from multiple buildings in the Eua Arthorn apartment community in Chiang Rak Noi subdistrict. Residents had reported power outages caused by severed electrical cables that damaged the distribution system and required lengthy repairs. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and witness statements, identifying a suspect who appeared at multiple buildings during the times of the incidents. Upon searching his room, police found the suspect playing online slot games and discovered drug paraphernalia. When questioned about why he avoided cutting wires from his own building, Praphan confessed he feared losing his own electricity supply.

During the room search, officers seized tools used for the theft, clothing worn during the crimes, ammunition, a mobile phone actively used for online gambling, and stolen items from incidents on August 5 and 6. Officers also noted signs of unauthorized electricity and water usage in his unit. A urine test revealed methamphetamine in his system. Police charged him with theft, illegal possession of firearms ammunition, illegal online casino gambling (online slots), and drug possession. The case has been forwarded to investigators at Phra In Racha Police Station for further legal proceedings.

BANGKOK: Police have charged the owner of Na Ladprao beer hall with six offences following a fire last month that killed 37 people and injured 77 others.

Prince of Songkla University's Surat Thani campus, in collaboration with the Institute for the Promotion of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (public organization), is driving workplace safety knowledge and networks through a regional academic seminar on occupational safety and health in Surat Thani Province scheduled for August 5-6, 2025, at the university conference hall. The event aims to build a safety culture while integrating smart safety technology and innovation to elevate workplace safety standards and support economic and industrial growth in Southern Thailand.

Dr. Nanthachai Pannyasurit, director of the Institute for the Promotion of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment, presided over the opening ceremony. District Chief Suchaow Toomosik, representing the provincial governor, welcomed participants, while Associate Professor Suchadha Thipmonthree, vice rector of the Surat Thani campus, addressed the university's collaborative role in supporting the event and developing occupational safety knowledge at the regional level.

The seminar attracted participation from government officials, private sector representatives, safety network partners, business operators, academics, and workers from Southern Thailand to exchange knowledge and experience in occupational safety, occupational health, risk management, and the application of technology and innovation to create safer work environments.

A key highlight was the presentation of awards to 37 businesses that met the criteria of the Zero Accident Campaign 2026, recognizing organizations that prioritize accident prevention and serve as models for building safety culture within their organizations, while encouraging continuous improvement of safety standards across business and industry.

Over the two-day event, diverse knowledge-sharing activities were conducted, including academic lectures, panel discussions, demonstrations of safety innovations, virtual reality (VR) training, and exhibitions from government agencies, private companies, and educational institutions. These provided participants with practical exposure to safety technologies, tools, and management approaches applicable to their workplaces.

The event reflects the Smart Safety approach, which integrates technology and innovation as essential tools for risk prevention and management while building organizational safety awareness and culture. This positions occupational safety and health development to keep pace with technological change and contemporary work models.

As a higher education institution in Southern Thailand, Prince of Songkla University's Surat Thani campus plays a vital role in supporting academic knowledge, personnel development, and networking collaboration between the university, government agencies, business, and industry to collectively raise occupational safety, health, and work environment standards—a foundation for improving worker quality of life, organizational efficiency, and economic development.

An update on the case of a Grade 12 student at Khon Kaen Wittayaan School who was bullied, extorted, assaulted, and burned with cigarettes by classmates, prompting his parents to seek help. The school later issued a statement addressing the incident.

In a recent interview, the parent of the student (referred to as "A") revealed that his son has attended the school since Grade 10. Initially, classmates would borrow small sums of money—typically 100 to 200 baht—but this soon escalated as a group of peers began requesting loans more frequently and in larger amounts. When the student refused, he was physically assaulted. He described being locked in empty rooms and repeatedly beaten from Grade 10 semester two through Grade 12, bearing visible injuries. He did not tell his family because he was threatened with death or further harm.

On the first day of classes in Grade 12, during lunch break, the suspects again called him into an empty room, demanded money, locked him in, and when he refused, burned him with cigarettes and assaulted him further. The mother discovered bruises and marks on his face and body, and after questioning him, learned the full story.

The parent explained that after discovering the abuse, the family met with the vice principal for student affairs, who promised an investigation and to arrange a meeting with the principal. However, the principal did not attend the scheduled meeting and sent another teacher instead, leaving the family without the details they sought. The teacher stated that the accused students denied the allegations, claiming there was no evidence, and seemed to want the matter closed to protect the school's reputation.

The teacher advised the family to file a police complaint, so they pursued legal action. Initially, the family wanted to transfer schools, but their son insisted on staying since graduation was near, so he continued attending despite sharing classes with all three suspects, causing the family ongoing concern.

Major Yosawat Kaewsuebnit, superintendent of Muang Khon Kaen Police Station, confirmed that the student and parents filed a complaint in May on charges of assault and theft. Investigators have questioned the youth suspects in the presence of a multidisciplinary team and taken statements from five relevant witnesses, including teachers and parents from both sides.

Police have scheduled separate interrogations of the three accused youths in the presence of a multidisciplinary team for August 18, 19, and 25, 2026, respectively. The case remains under investigation and will proceed according to legal procedures, with police assuring fair treatment for all parties.