Assoc. Prof. Dr. Napdol Kannika, a national police policy committee member and lecturer in peace innovation at Siam Technology College, responded to the shooting at Thepsirin School in Nonthaburi, describing it as a deeply shocking event for Thai society. He stressed that schools should be the safest spaces for children and youth, yet when places meant for learning and hope become sources of fear, the question extends beyond "How will police respond?" to the larger question of "How do we prevent this from happening again?" Napdol argued that a fundamental shift in thinking is required—moving from viewing security as solely a police responsibility to seeing "police and citizens as safety partners." He noted that police cannot be everywhere, but community members already are present in their neighborhoods and know their areas best; with proper knowledge, coordination systems, and connections to police, they become critical forces for prevention. Since 2567 (2024), Napdol has been involved in risk management initiatives that include public participation in training programs for Soft Target protection—such as shopping centers, schools, hospitals, and entertainment venues—developed when Police Deputy Commander Kittiphad Phandthet held his position. The key concept was not to turn citizens into police officers, but to make them "threat-aware, able to report incidents, able to survive, and able to coordinate with police." Napdol emphasized that today public participation must be elevated to national policy level through the concept of "modern-era volunteer community police" and gun-control policies under Prime Minister Anuthim and driven forward by Deputy Commander Kittiphad, reflecting alignment between policy leaders and operational leaders in centering the public within the security system. The significance of this policy lies not merely in the term "volunteer community police," but in transforming the public's status from security service recipients to security partners.

The Government Housing Bank (GHB) has launched the G H BANK CROWN program, an exclusive tier for high-value depositors with combined balances of 10 million baht or more who have been continuous customers for at least 2 years. The program delivers differentiated experiences through the G H BANK Reward & Privilege platform with benefits spanning finance and lifestyle.

Mahattana Ampornpisit, GHB Managing Director, explained that the program is divided into three main benefit categories: Financial Benefits, including special deposit campaigns and fee waivers that enhance transaction convenience and efficiency; Lifestyle Benefits, offering discounts and privileges at over 180 leading merchants and partner locations with instant redemption at zero points, plus birthday month bonuses; and Exclusive Events, featuring seminars, workshops, and inspirational activities led by experts across various fields.

G H BANK CROWN members can access the G H BANK Reward & Privilege platform through the GHB ALL GEN mobile app, LINE OA (GHB Buddy), or www.ghbankbigfamily.com. The launch represents a significant step in executing GHB's five strategic pillars, particularly Customer Obsession, which uses data analytics to achieve deep customer understanding and hyper-personalized product and service development. The program reinforces GHB's role as a Beyond Housing Bank that stands alongside customers through all major life milestones. Official launch is August 8, 2024. For more information, contact GHB Call Center at 0-2645-9000 or visit their Facebook Fanpage and social media channels.

The Gold Traders Association announced that gold prices have jumped sharply on August 8, 2026. Ornamental gold is selling at 68,650 baht per baht weight. Compared to the closing price on August 7, gold prices have risen by 450 baht, with ornamental gold now at 68,650 baht per baht weight. The latest data was released by the Gold Traders Association on their website at 09:04 AM. Gold bars are currently trading at 67,650 baht per baht weight for buyback and 67,850 baht per baht weight for sales according to announcement number one. For 96.5% ornamental gold, the buyback price is 66,294.68 baht per baht weight and the selling price is 68,650 baht per baht weight. Global spot gold prices are at 4,343.00 US dollars per ounce. Summary of gold prices for August 8, 2026: Gold bars - Buyback 67,650 baht per baht weight, Sales 67,850 baht per baht weight. Ornamental gold - Buyback 66,294.68 baht per baht weight, Sales 68,650 baht per baht weight. Source: Gold Traders Association.

NAKHON NAYOK — A 24-year-old man was warned by police after being caught smoking cannabis on the grounds of Nakhon Nayok Hospital on August 7, 2026.

At around 10:30 a.m., the hospital's security guards spotted the man sitting at a stone table near the obstetrics and gynaecology building, close to the hospital canteen, and contacted police.

Police and hospital staff questioned him about smoking cannabis in the hospital compound, where smoking is prohibited. A search of his bag uncovered a packet of cannabis and a knife, which officers seized. The man also led officers to a homemade smoking device made from a modified plastic bottle that he had hidden under a tree near the hospital wall.

Official warned him that smoking cannabis in the hospital grounds was inappropriate. The man apologised to police and hospital staff and promised not to repeat the behaviour. He was not charged and was allowed to leave after officers learned that he had been at the hospital to care for his sick mother, who was receiving treatment there.

A security guard said he had initially warned the man and photographed the incident before contacting police. The man admitted smoking cannabis and apologised, while staff decided not to pursue the matter after learning about his mother's condition.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphas stated that 200 billion baht from the remaining portion of the government's 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree will be dedicated to energy transition projects. Of the first 200-billion-baht tranche, approximately 40 billion baht currently remains. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed that the situation be assessed carefully given budget constraints, with priority placed on meaningful energy transition initiatives.

When asked about the Ministry of Tourism and Sports allocating 1.75-2 billion baht from the emergency loan for the "Thai Help Thai Plus" tourism project, Ekniti stated that the allocation was not excessive and must align with the program's objectives of assisting merchants. He acknowledged that while surplus funds exist, spending must serve the intended purpose effectively.

Regarding potential criticism that the tourism project may not align with the urgent necessity requirement of emergency borrowing, Ekniti indicated the situation requires further assessment. He confirmed that while it is legally possible to redirect the 200-billion-baht energy transition portion to extend the Thai Help Thai Plus program, the government prefers to reserve it for energy transition goals.

Ekniti confirmed that 50-60 billion baht will fund the solar rooftop program to help citizens transition to solar energy, with Government Savings Bank and Government Housing Bank providing financing support. He emphasized the necessity of comprehensive energy transition given Thailand's heavy reliance on oil and natural gas, including upgrades to smart meters and transmission systems to prevent widespread outages during grid transitions, as seen in some foreign countries.

Additionally, the government plans transportation sector transition by converting public buses to electric vehicles across seven categories, though detailed implementation and budgets have not yet been finalized. Ekniti also discussed a meeting with Grab Holdings executives who acknowledged the Thai Help Thai Plus project's AI system development, similar to the Whisper Bird application, which increased merchant sales by over 68 percent, demonstrating how the "Plus" component enhances business performance.

Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek stated on August 8 that the administration remains committed to managing the public's cost of living, citing the June 2025 consumer confidence index rising to 50.2 for the first time in four months. This figure reflects recovery in purchasing power from government measures, but with the economy still fragile, the administration must work simultaneously on income supplementation, expense relief, and energy price control to prevent daily hardship.

Rather than using single-track stimulus, the government employs a bundle of measures and the Thai Help Thai Plus program, which circulates approximately one trillion baht through the economy, reduces living costs, and distributes funds to grassroots communities nationwide. Ratchada emphasized that Thai Help Thai Plus ensures money does not concentrate in Bangkok alone—with only 15–16 percent of spending occurring there—demonstrating that funds reach other provinces, small businesses, and genuine communities.

Meanwhile, the Energy Ministry continues using the fuel fund mechanism to cap liquified petroleum gas (LPG) prices against global market fluctuations by increasing compensation from 7.2209 baht per kilogram to 9.8642 baht per kilogram, keeping the retail price at 423 baht per 15-kilogram tank. Freezing LPG prices directly impacts households, restaurants, and small traders, as cooking gas is a household and business cost; rising energy prices would immediately cascade to food, goods, and service prices.

The government acknowledges the cost of energy price controls: the fuel fund balance stood at minus 71,826.31 million baht on August 7, up approximately 2,044 million baht from the previous week, requiring careful management. "The government is doing its utmost to manage the cost of living within the nation's fiscal capacity, aiming to circulate money to the grassroots, achieve stable economic recovery, and leave no one behind," the spokesperson said.