The Board of Investment announced that the prime minister discussed expansion plans with Skyline Enterprises, a leading New Zealand theme park and ride manufacturer, during an official visit to Auckland on August 20, 2025. The company has already received BOI investment promotion approval for a Bangkok theme park and was invited to consider further investment across Thailand, given the country's status as a globally recognized tourism destination with diverse attractions from coastal areas to mountains and major tourist cities.

The government signaled readiness to support the company in establishing a research and development center in Thailand to develop new ride components, a venture requiring specialized engineering expertise and a strong commitment to user safety. Skyline Enterprises, founded in 1966, is known for developing, designing, and managing world-class tourism attractions and rides, including the Queenstown Gondola—the steepest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere—and the globally famous Luge ride. The company currently operates in New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia, and is expanding into the United Kingdom.

Skyline recently received BOI investment promotion approval for a Bangkok theme park, viewing Thailand as a high-potential market for Asian expansion given the strength of its tourism industry and both domestic and international visitor base. The company sees significant opportunities for development across various regions. Board of Investment secretary-general Naruetom Therdstiraskul noted that Skyline's investment will not only bring colorful new activities and experiences to Thailand's tourism industry but also advance knowledge-intensive technologies, particularly in ride research and development tailored to Southeast Asian conditions. "If established in Thailand, it will develop skilled personnel and build engineering and technology expertise while strengthening Thailand's tourism and service industries," he said.

On August 20, 2569, the House of Representatives budget committee held an extraordinary session to review the fiscal year 2570 budget bill, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phradorn Perisnanandkul. The committee reviewed a subcommittee report recommending budget cuts and agency appeals, presented by Bunyaluk Prasertsopha, a member from Ratchaburi and chairman of the training and seminar subcommittee.

The subcommittee proposed cutting 3.2 billion baht from a total budget framework of 224 billion baht, with 3 billion baht coming from the Khlong Dan case payment and the remaining 200 million baht from other items. The committee noted that spending should be cost-effective and that domestic seminars should focus on quality and concrete results. Training programs should use online formats, and committee members questioned whether ethics training was necessary given that it is already a standard organizational practice.

A significant concern arose during debate: the Pollution Control Department had requested 3 billion baht to cover a court-ordered compensation payment, but the subcommittee cut it entirely. Deputy Prime Minister Phradorn pointed out irregularities, noting that after the early August budget cut, a deputy director-general hastily arranged enforcement proceedings on August 11 at the Supreme Administrative Court, recording a verbal commitment about payment installments—the first by August 31 using 2569 mid-year funds, the second by November 1 using the 2570 annual budget, and the third by April 1, 2570 using 2570 mid-year funds.

Phradorn stated that recording such a verbal commitment amounts to coercing the government and questioned where tens of billions of baht would come from, describing it as an issue requiring government decision-making. He argued the verbal commitment does not constitute a legal order and thus does not qualify as legislation under Article 144(3), asserting that only legally mandated payments—those backed by proper law—should be protected from budget cuts.

Budget carrier Scoot, part of Singapore Airlines, announced the launch of three weekly flights to Guiyang, China starting October 26, 2025, operating with Airbus A320neo aircraft. The new route strengthens Scoot's China network and provides additional travel options for passengers planning trips before the year-end holiday season.

Guiyang sits in central Guizhou Province and is known for its diverse local culture, beautiful scenery surrounded by greenery and mountains, and pleasant cool weather ideal for tourism. Visitors can experience historic landmarks like Qingyan Ancient Town, one of China's most completely preserved ancient cities, and visit Huangguoshu Waterfall in the southwest, one of Asia's largest waterfalls.

Economy one-way fares to Guiyang start at 5,800 baht including taxes. Bookings open today through Scoot's website and app, with additional booking channels coming soon.

Following the Guiyang launch, Scoot will operate 81 weekly flights to China covering 16 cities. The airline is also increasing flight frequency across Southeast Asia in the winter 2026-2027 schedule (October 25, 2025 to March 27, 2026) to meet rising holiday travel demand.

Frequency increases include: Hat Yai from 12 to 14 weekly flights; Phuket from 17 to 21 weekly flights; Clark, Philippines from 7 to 10 weekly (December 2025); Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from 10 to 13 weekly (January 2026); Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam shifting to daily service with larger Airbus A320 family aircraft; Okinawa, Japan from 4 to 5 weekly; and Trichy, India from 12 to 14 weekly (December 2025).

Scoot CEO Leslie Thng said the airline is delighted to open the Guiyang route, strengthening its China network while connecting Singapore and other destinations to a major cultural and natural hub in southwestern China. The expansion supports Scoot's growing passenger numbers year-over-year.

Thai actress Juji Wattaya has revealed she shaved her head and lost weight for her comeback role as a Buddhist nun named Mae Chee Saeng Bun in the film 'Krunya Woranart' by GDH. She kept the transformation secret for over five months, beginning on March 6, appearing with wigs and scarves during that time. The actress explained that she initially planned to return to acting when her child turned seven or eight, but the film project seemed like the right opportunity. She consulted her husband before accepting, uncertain how he would react to her shaving her head and losing her eyebrows. Her husband gave his enthusiastic approval, saying the role sounded interesting. She was initially concerned about her children's reaction, particularly her son who prefers women with long hair, so she let him witness the head-shaving process and wore wigs and hats daily to drop him at school. The director required her to actually shave her head rather than use a wig, as the film is being submitted to international film festivals including Toronto and needs to look authentic for global audiences. Juji performed the head-shaving ritual on an auspicious day, consulting with a Buddhist teacher and wrapping her hair in banana leaves to float down the Chao Phraya River with prayers. She also lost ten kilograms in two months through balanced nutrition and careful diet management rather than cosmetic procedures. The actress said losing weight was her primary concern, as she was still carrying extra weight from breastfeeding, and she wanted to slim down in a healthy way.

Young country music singer Leo Athip has announced his first major concert, "Leo Sitting Close Concert," scheduled for Saturday, August 22 at Stadium Hall Workpoint Rangsit. Fans of the Yuung Khao Records artist are buzzing after learning about the full surprises planned for the show.

When asked about the concert's significance, Leo expressed excitement: "Every time I know there's a concert, I get thrilled and enjoy myself. A concert is a chance for me to create a show and perform songs the way I want—more freely than usual. This concert has a warm and intimate atmosphere where people can listen up close and feel the music deeply. My goal with every show is to make everyone happy."

On song preparation, Leo explained: "These are beautiful country songs that are hard to sing, but everyone will love them because they're catchy. My fans should get ready. We won't perform ordinary versions—we'll bring new arrangements and musicianship."

Leo revealed he will debut two new singles. The first, an old-style slow country ballad available on Yuung Khao Records' YouTube channel, tells the story of a country boy from the countryside pining for a woman. "I wasn't sure if she'd like the traditional country style or prefer indie-pop," Leo explained. "I asked myself if singing Isan or Southern songs would suit me. But with practice, the soft, sweet delivery came naturally."

The second new song will be a concert surprise, heard for the first time by the audience. Leo acknowledged the challenge of this slower, more nuanced singing style: "It's not my strong suit, but I gave it my all. At first it didn't feel right, but with repetition it clicked. It's all about training."

Guest artists include Suriya Rung, described as a legend of Thai country music, and Gung Suthirat. Leo expressed honor at their presence.

On dancing, Leo promised more movement than any previous performance: "You'll see me stepping and performing with more flair than ever. It's familiar music but not ordinary—we've reimagined songs people already know and love."

Dancing is challenging for Leo, who admits he's "not very comfortable with his body." However, he welcomes the challenge: "It's hard, but learning something new is fun. These choreography steps are fast-paced, almost like Latin dancing—something I've never done before."

Reflecting on his recent 21st birthday, Leo said: "This year's birthday was very warm. Though some couldn't attend in person, everyone showed their love and support. I'm grateful for the long journey together. As I head into my 22nd year, I hope more good things come my way."

From a girl who learned weaving thread by thread at her mother's side, Chanyaphat Puphped—Ja Jia—is now a young innovator determined to introduce the world to her village's textile heritage. Born in Doi Tao district, Chiang Mai, she pursued higher education in textile design, building on childhood experience with formal training in design, creativity, fashion, and marketing. After graduation, she initially stepped away from home to explore her own path, but gradually realized what she sought was not far away—it lay in the very cloth she had known since childhood. She returned to take up the craft from her parents, advancing the signature weaving of the Ban Lai Kaew weavers through new designs and contemporary aesthetics, while preserving the established markets her parents had built over decades.

"People ask if we sell the traditional patterns. We do," Ja Jia explains. "But we want to add more value and reach more people. We want new markets beyond what my father created." Her words reflect the clear intention of her generation: she has not simply come home to inherit what exists, but to discover how the gifts of her ancestors can flourish in a new era. This startup phase has become her laboratory for creative innovation. Yet she does not walk alone. Her father Tuey (Jantham Puphped), a lifelong master of natural dyeing and weaving, serves as mentor, critic, and collaborator. Her mother, Laa (Kanyarat Puphped), a skilled dyer, weaver, and seamstress, provides steady encouragement as her daughter learns and grows.

Each woven cloth carries more than beauty—it holds stories, beliefs, customs, and community values. Ja Jia must learn deeply beyond mere design; she must understand what can be adapted, what must be preserved, and where the boundaries lie. She listens openly to weavers of all generations, welcoming both agreement and dissent. Where differences might have built walls, the community instead chooses dialogue, adjustment, and common ground, moving forward together. When older weavers see their traditional patterns transformed into dresses, trousers, and jackets, their view of cloth itself shifts—from a product made according to inherited patterns to a space of experimentation and imagination.

"We used to make only our traditional Karen patterns," Ja Jia recounts. "But I wanted them to feel more modern, to reach more people. So I came back and adapted them for everyday wear." Presenting new ideas to elders in the community sometimes requires patience and time for hearts to open—as with her ongoing effort to encourage her mother to experiment with patterned animal designs on cloth.