On August 21, Suwarong Wongsiri, acting director of the National Science Museum (NSM), signed a memorandum of cooperation with Dr. Nana Kunkel, coordinator of GIZ's agriculture and food programme in Thailand, to launch the Youth and Public Awareness Program on Climate-Smart and Sustainable Rice Farming. The initiative seeks to disseminate knowledge about environmentally friendly rice production while building awareness of sustainable agriculture among youth, teachers, farmers, and the public across Thailand through diverse learning activities and accessible science communication that promotes long-term quality of life and sustainable society.

Suwarong explained that the collaboration combines GIZ's expertise in climate-smart agriculture with NSM's strengths in science communication and learning experience design, making complex topics understandable, engaging, and relevant to daily life. The partnership aims to show that everyone—from youth to consumers—can contribute to sustainable rice production, from farming practices to consumption choices and environmental impact reduction. The "Sustainable Rice" exhibition at NST Fair 2026 will serve as the starting point, followed by the RICE RANGER activity series, traveling exhibitions on mobile science caravans, online content, and science articles reaching schools, communities, and farming areas nationwide.

Suwarong added that NSM believes sustainable change begins with knowledge, understanding, and participation. The collaboration not only conveys climate-smart rice farming knowledge but also plants seeds of awareness so younger generations value rice, understand links between science, agriculture, and the environment, and develop new approaches for a sustainable future in Thai agriculture and the global community.

Dr. Nana Kunkel stated that GIZ supports Thailand's transition to climate-friendly agriculture that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and strengthens farmer resilience. The partnership with NSM represents a vital opportunity to share sustainable rice knowledge with youth and the public through accessible, engaging learning processes that inspire a new generation to advance agriculture through science and innovation. After the NST Fair 2026 exhibition, the program will continue expanding across the country.

On August 22, 2026, Decharat Sukgamnerd, the Prachaachart Party candidate for Nonthaburi Provincial Administration Organization governor, campaigned at Prachaniwet Market 3 alongside party MPs Wuttakorn Nuttakul and Panyarat Nantphusitnon. The team greeted residents and shopkeepers and presented a package of 20 provincial development policies under the banner of creating a new Nonthaburi.

Sukgamnerd and his team then met with community leaders, residents, and youth representatives at the Prachaniwet 3 Community Hall to discuss an equal opportunities policy for children. The initiative aims to tackle educational inequality at the grassroots level through support teams for small schools, targeted assistance for children with specific learning challenges, and the development of a seamless education system that connects both formal and non-formal schooling. The strategy seeks to expand learning options and prevent children from dropping out of school.

Sukgamnerd called on Nonthaburi residents to verify their voting rights and encouraged people to cast their ballots in the Provincial Administration Organization gubernatorial election on September 20. He urged voters to help shape the province's future and transform Nonthaburi into a city that welcomes and embraces all groups of people.

A Facebook user claiming to be a close friend of Pasavee Phayakkhabut, wife of actor Nawin Tar, has posted images showing her hospitalized in an unconscious state on oxygen support. The poster wrote a lengthy message describing how Pasavee had to leave the hospital at 3 a.m. to care for her youngest child despite her serious condition, saying she is a devoted mother struggling to care for three children while managing mounting stress and pressure alone. The post uses hashtags and pointed language suggesting an unnamed person is responsible for family problems and pressuring the couple toward divorce.

According to sources close to the situation, Pasavee has faced multiple problems and intense, prolonged stress that ultimately overwhelmed her. She has had seizure episodes requiring emergency hospitalization and was previously admitted to intensive care. Despite her challenges, she continues working and smiling in public, sometimes crying while doing live streams. Sources also allege that family conflict involves a third party who has created pressure and even encouraged divorce.

Reporters have attempted to contact Pasavee through intermediaries to check on her condition and send support, with plans to follow up on any developments should her health improve.

Multiple relief organizations including the Thai Red Cross Society Disaster Relief Volunteers, the Prasart Boonstan Foundation, and Kubota Corporation's disaster response drone team are delivering food and drinking water by drone to residents in three subdistricts of Pua District: Phu Ka, Silalang, and Worachorn. The 14 villages comprising 1,466 households with over 4,000 residents have been cut off for the fourth day since flash floods destroyed Fai Chao Bridge in Worachorn Subdistrict, causing landslides and road collapse. The Nan Highway District 2 Office and the Department of Highways Bridge Construction and Repair Center 1 are urgently transporting Bailey bridge components to Doi Phu Ka to construct a temporary bridge and restore connectivity as quickly as possible. Colonel Piyapong Pordaa, commander of the 32nd Royal Thai Ranger Force, has ordered special units to support relief operations including supply delivery and route restoration. The 14 villages continue awaiting food, water, medicine, and rapid completion of the temporary bridge to reconnect over 4,000 people to the outside world.

The Public Health Committee is investigating the 'biological father and mother' surrogacy scheme, in which hospitals falsely certify children born to surrogates. The committee has identified more than 20 suspect hospitals and plans to submit a bill restricting cannabis use to medical purposes only. It has also flagged the 'Doctor Ready' application as potentially fraudulent.

On August 22, 2569, at Parliament, Soklathee Pattiyakul, a Democrat list MP and vice-party chair serving as Public Health Committee chair, briefed reporters on progress in investigating the surrogate-parent fraud scheme. He said the committee is currently waiting for documents from agencies hesitant to disclose data. He urged the release of names of suspect hospitals and their submission to the committee for questioning.

In Bangkok, the committee requested a list of suspected surrogacy participants—approximately 500 people—but is still awaiting documentation. The committee's goal is to identify those responsible, as these cases typically involve organized networks. When information arrives, the committee will refer findings to other agencies with enforcement powers, such as the Anti-Corruption Committee, to trace money flows and expose gray-market corruption infiltrating every sector, including public health.

When asked what steps the committee can take if agencies fail to cooperate, Soklathee said legal powers exist to compel testimony, but the committee prefers not to resort to that measure. The committee's request is not political; it aims to solve a problem using data already in hand and simply needs clear agency confirmation. If normal requests fail, the committee may invoke legal subpoena powers or invite agencies weekly.

Preliminary checks identified roughly 8 private hospitals involved; the number has now grown to nearly 20. Next week, Parliament meets, and Soklathee said he will raise the 'Doctor Ready' application issue, reaffirming commitment to pursuing the surrogate-parent case fully because corruption has penetrated every process, including health services that drain Thai taxpayer budgets.

Asked how the committee will investigate the 'Doctor Ready' app—given that the Public Health Ministry claimed it was merely a data-entry error—Soklathee said he found the ministry's explanation insufficient. Between 200 and 300 complaints suggest this was not a simple keystroke error but potential fraud. He will summon the explainer again, as the case undermines public confidence. He previously wrote to the Health Ministry's permanent secretary, but he is not satisfied with the delegate sent; the representative must be someone who knows the facts. The case appears to show fraudulent intent, not mere data-entry mistakes.

Asked whether he views it as fraud rather than error, Soklathee said some observers claim that if enforcement were strict, almost no hospital in Thailand would be found fully compliant. For this reason, he believes a joint consultation is needed. If it is a Health Ministry KPI issue, that needs correction to prevent such incidents in future, rather than rushing to conclude that the data entry was wrong and closing the case.

When asked how the committee will address the current large-scale smuggling of cannabis out of the country, Soklathee said the issue centers on disclosure. He will write again to the Customs Department asking how much contraband cannabis has been seized and by whom. However, names of individuals moving large containers out remain unknown. From conversations, most smugglers appear to be foreign nationals, though they likely cannot operate alone.

Police arrested a 77-year-old fugitive at a hospital in Bangkok's Bang Rak district on August 22, ending a manhunt that had lasted more than 14 years. The suspect, identified as Bunsong (surname withheld on request), was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by Minburi Provincial Court on November 15, 2012, on charges of attempted murder and unlawfully carrying a weapon in a public area.

The incident originated from a long-standing dispute between Bunsong and his neighbor living in the same village. The conflict stemmed from the neighbor's chickens regularly defecating on Bunsong's vehicle, which caused ongoing friction and frequent arguments between the two men. On November 14, 2012, tensions escalated into violence when another quarrel broke out. Bunsong allegedly stabbed the neighbor with a knife, causing serious injuries, then fled the area. Investigators gathered evidence and obtained an arrest warrant.

Police tracked Bunsong for years until learning he would visit a Bangkok hospital to collect medication. Officers staked out the hospital and arrested him outside the building. During interrogation, Bunsong claimed that both parties had struggled over the knife and that his neighbor fell onto it, sustaining injuries in the accident. He stated he panicked and decided to flee. He was transferred to Lam Phak Chee Police Station for further legal proceedings.