On August 3 at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the Office of the Education Council hosted the 17th ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) Committee Meeting and related meetings (August 3-5). Deputy Education Minister Akkarun Kanngkittinant chaired the opening ceremony, joined by Education Council Secretary-General Prof. Dr. Prawit Aerawhorn, council vice-secretaries Dr. Niti Nacit and Dr. Supchai Janpum, and numerous senior education officials.

The 17th AQRF Committee Meeting covered three main discussion points: developing curriculum registration standards, competency-based curricula, and micro-credentials; establishing a national credit bank system to support flexible learning pathways and lifelong learning for Thais; and benchmarking the ASEAN Qualifications Framework with regional frameworks, including implementing Criterion 11 to align Thailand's National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and AQRF designations on national credential documents.

The implementation of Criterion 11 aims to standardize AQRF level designations across ASEAN member credentials, enabling reliable qualification comparisons and labor mobility across the region. This approach accommodates diverse national qualification systems while promoting efficient regional workforce movement.

Deputy Minister Akkarun stated that the AQRF meetings have continuously advanced standardized qualifications across ASEAN member states, enabling graduates to work throughout the region. He noted that the government has integrated efforts across the Education, Labor, and Commerce ministries to ensure students graduate with clear employment prospects both domestically and internationally. He emphasized that establishing common ASEAN standards will allow Thailand to send quality workers abroad while receiving skilled workers, positioning Thai graduates for ASEAN and global opportunities.

Residents and farmers from 3-4 villages in Sanean Subdistrict, Muang District, Nan Province are suffering severe hardship due to difficulties transporting agricultural products across Samun Stream, a critical and heavily used route for moving crops year-round, including rambutan, durian, corn, and rubber to outside markets.

On August 3, 2025, Monnchai Leipaiyat, village headman of Moo 10 Baan Laibeya, explained that during heavy rains and monsoon flooding, water levels in Samun Stream rise and completely inundate the area, making all vehicle and pedestrian crossings impossible. During harvest season, farmers resort to packing agricultural products into sacks, binding them with rope, and manually dragging the sacks across the water to the other side—an exhausting and inefficient process.

This method impacts harvest time, causes worker fatigue during transport, and importantly, damages some of the produce. Residents and farmers have endured this hardship for over 50 years.

Currently, many agricultural products serve as the primary income for farmers in the area. They are requesting a strong bridge across Samun Stream to transport agricultural goods, which would significantly improve the quality of life for residents and farmers.

Sanean Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) official Sanseang Chaephaang revealed that while residents and farmers want the bridge, the project requires substantial funding—estimated at 1-2 million baht or more—exceeding the SAO's budget capacity to implement alone. The SAO is requesting support from relevant government agencies to fund construction of a permanent bridge across Samun Stream to establish a stable transportation route.

The People's Movement for Just Society (PMUFF), led by Chamnong Nuphan, along with northern farmer networks and community representatives who traveled from Bangkok's central station, gathered in front of Government House on Phitsanulok Road to submit a letter pressing the government on its plan to dissolve the Land Bank (a state enterprise, or BTDT) by September 30, 2026, as part of a public-sector restructuring initiative. The protesters demanded that the government review the decision by the Committee for the Development and Promotion of State Enterprises (CPSE), amend the royal decree establishing the Land Bank, and extend the dissolution deadline by at least one year to allow a permanent body to address land-related problems in line with land reform and distribution principles enshrined in the constitution, without harming those suffering from land disputes. They also requested PMUFF representation in government negotiations on the issue and called on the government to expedite the appointment of a subcommittee to study and revise the National Parks Act 2019 and the Wildlife Protection Act 2019 under the National Land Policy Committee (NLPC). Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, in his capacity as NLPC chairman, was scheduled to hold talks with community representatives that same afternoon. Police and crowd-control units were deployed around Government House to maintain security and enforce the Public Assembly Act 2015. Demonstrators read a statement urging Songsak to accelerate talks with protest groups on resolving the Land Bank closure and vowed to remain camped at the site until their demands were met, warning that they would escalate action if progress stalled. They also submitted a letter to the Bangkok Police Commissioner requesting his participation in talks scheduled for August 4, before the crowd planned to relocate to the CPSE office and the area in front of Government House.

Bangkok, August 3, 2026 – True Corporation, led by CEO Sigvege Brekke, held the Final Pitching Day for the True Alpha Internship Program 2026 at True Digital Park's Center of Excellence. Five student teams from domestic and international institutions presented innovative solutions applying AI and digital technology to tackle real business challenges after completing an intensive eight-week program working with mentors, technology experts, and business teams. The champion team, "True Tung Tung Sa-Hure," won with their project "Cool Kit," which uses AI to help restaurant owners manage operations more efficiently and increase profitability.

Srintra Wongsupuklak, Head of Human Resources at True Corporation, stated that the program goes beyond traditional internships to prepare the next generation for the AI-driven workplace by teaching them to solve real business problems, understand customer needs, design solutions, apply AI to business use cases, and build working prototypes. She emphasized that innovation requires both good technology and real business results, positioning True Alpha as a critical mechanism for developing future workforce with skills in AI, business understanding, critical thinking, and adaptability.

Ekkarat Panjvinin, Head of Research and Innovation at True Corporation, noted that the five teams demonstrated important capabilities including rapid learning and development, creativity, and ability to apply ideas with real results. He added that the Final Pitching Day marks the beginning, not the end, of pushing these ideas toward practical implementation, with True Corporation ready to support each project appropriately to realize its full potential and strengthen Thailand's competitiveness on the global stage.

"Anything that goes against the current is difficult. Rowing upstream is difficult. Creating virtue and goodness is also difficult," reflects Luang Pho Cha Supatthato of Wat Nong Pa Pong in Ubon Ratchathani.

Luang Pho Yid Chanthsuvanno of Wat Nong Jok in Kuiburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, was a renowned Buddhist teacher. In 2012, his principal disciple Chaiya Amsaraang commissioned the "89th Anniversary Amulet of Luang Pho Yid" to commemorate the monk's 89 years of life. The oval-shaped amulet has a loop, bordered edges, and a raised half-length portrait on the front with the number 89 stamped on the robe above the lower border. The reverse features a raised image of Hanuman carrying a flag with Khmer script and sequential numbering.

In 1969, Phra Thep Rattanamolee (Kaew Uthummaala), abbot of Wat Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom, created amulets honoring Luang Pon Samet (Phra Kru Khee Hom), a venerable teacher and restorer of Phra That Phanom in Vientiane, Laos. These arm-shaped amulets were cast in multiple materials—nickel-plated copper, silver-plated copper, gold-plated copper, and patinated copper—featuring the seated monk in a Buddha-like posture on the front and the standing Phra That Phanom on the reverse.

Luang Pho Thong Suk Indracho of Wat Ton Don Luang in Cha-Am, Phetchaburi, was a celebrated monk of Phetchaburi province. His most popular amulet is the second edition, created in 1955 for a ordination hall dedication ceremony. The second edition is more highly valued than the first because the portrait resemblance is superior—even Luang Pho Thong Suk himself preferred it. The oval amulet features a half-length portrait on the front with the monk's name above, and on the reverse his personal yantra with the inscription "In commemoration of the ordination hall celebration" and the temple name and year stamped below. This amulet ranks among the most sought-after in Phetchaburi.

Luang Pho Khom Aniso, former abbot of Wat Phai Rong Waeo in Song Phi Non District, Suphan Buri, created numerous amulets, the most popular being the "Luang Pho Khom Holy Water Amulet." Commissioned in 1973 by Boonma Bunleriwannichaya and offered to the temple for free distribution, the amulet features a full seated meditation portrait on the front with a border inscription reading "Holy Water Amulet, Wat Potaram, Luang Pho Khom, Suphan Buri" and the word "Special." The reverse displays a Buddha image labeled "Phra Phuttha Koddom" with yantra script, making it another highly valued amulet.