King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi partnered with Bangkok Today news agency to organize the "AI and Economic Development" seminar, aiming to upgrade skills for 20 million Thai workers and drive the new-economy growth while preparing Thailand's business, industrial, and education sectors. On August 18, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yoschchanan Wongsawat chaired the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote on "AI and Economic Development." University Rector Thaninthorn Silapcharoen outlined the event's objectives, with support from ministry secretary Chaturin Chanhorm, Deputy Permanent Secretary Pinthapim Arunee, and University Council Chairman Theerawut Bunyosophon. The seminar featured speakers including Bank of Thailand spokesperson Chayavadee Chaiyananth, Bangkok Bank Asset Management CEO Rak Vorakij Phochathan, True Corporation executive Montri Sathaporn, and engineering professor Atthakorn Kaengpol, moderated by the Faculty of Information Technology and Digital Innovation's Dr. Thanawat Techaharungnawat. Business representatives, students, and the public attended in large numbers.

Afterward, the minister and executives toured several key laboratories and innovation centers at the university to showcase its technological infrastructure capabilities: the KMUTNB Techno Park, featuring digital innovation and learning centers, automated systems and robotics operations, and modern automotive technology and rail transport innovation centers; the Science and Technology Research Institute's Central Lab on floor 1, offering international-standard testing and research services for Thai entrepreneurs and industry; and the Thai-French Innovation Institute, showcasing the Schneider Electric Center of Excellence for electrical-electronic and automatic control systems, and modern renewable energy on floor 3, reflecting an advanced workforce upskilling collaboration in automation and clean energy.

The visit demonstrated King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi's readiness as a leading higher-education institution integrating research, innovation, and advanced technology knowledge to address national strategy and sustainably enhance the country's competitive capability.

On August 18, ING Bank N.V., a major shareholder of Thai Military Bank Public Company Limited (TTB), completed the sale of TTB shares through a private placement to institutional investors valued at approximately 475 million euros. Following settlement expected on August 21, ING's shareholding stake is projected to decrease from 19.5% to 11.6% of outstanding shares excluding treasury shares held by TTB. TTB has clarified to the Stock Exchange of Thailand and investors that the transaction is ING's direct portfolio management and does not involve TTB's prior knowledge or involvement in the decision-making process. The bank views the private placement method as reducing the risk of large-scale selling pressure on the secondary market while limiting impact on primary trading, and as an opportunity for institutional investors to invest directly in TTB shares. The transaction also increases the proportion of shares held by minority shareholders (free float), which will benefit TTB's stock liquidity in the long term. TTB confirms the reduction in ING's shareholding will not affect the bank's administrative structure, operations, corporate governance framework, or main business strategy. The bank has undergone continuous organizational transformation and prepared its personnel to manage operations efficiently under Thai management, with ING's main role remaining at board level only. TTB Chief Executive Officer Piti Tantakeset stated the bank remains committed to achieving its goals of improving financial well-being for Thai people while delivering sustainable returns to shareholders through appropriate dividend payments and share buybacks. To date, TTB has completed share buybacks totaling 21 billion baht out of the 35 billion baht four-year program (2568-2571), leaving 14 billion baht available.

At 10 a.m. on August 19, 2025, at Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Pukorn Nilpraphan chaired a fact-finding and legal committee meeting to investigate the use of central budget emergency reserve funds for the city recovery project following the devastating flooding in Hatyai District and surrounding areas. Attending the meeting were Deputy Interior Minister Worasisith Liangprasit and National Anti-Corruption Commission Secretary-General Phumvisai Kesamsook.

Pukorn stated that following the critical flooding in Hatyai and surrounding areas on November 19-21, 2024, the government declared a state of emergency on November 25, 2024. More than 800,000 people were affected, with numerous injuries and deaths.

The government's immediate priority was providing relief and recovery assistance to flood victims. However, complaints emerged alleging misuse of central budget allocations. Pukorn emphasized that the Prime Minister was not complacent and therefore established this committee to thoroughly investigate the facts and legal compliance of the expenditures. The Cabinet approved 30 million baht in central emergency funds on December 2, 2024, as proposed by the Interior Ministry.

The committee must verify whether implementation followed applicable laws and regulations, and what exemptions from standard procedures, if any, were granted given the urgent emergency status. The investigation aims to clarify all aspects of the budget usage and identify all parties involved.

Nonthaburi Provincial Police have launched intensive training across schools throughout the province, introducing the 'Run, Hide, Fight' programme to prepare for armed attack incidents and raise safety standards in educational facilities. On August 19, Pol. Col. Supchai Srisak, Investigation Chief of Nonthaburi Provincial Police, said he had been tasked by Pol. Gen. Dechraphee Kongdee, Commander of Nonthaburi Provincial Police, to advance knowledge, understanding, and preparedness for emergency response across educational institutions in the province. The programme will conduct active shooter simulations at schools throughout Nonthaburi, passing on survival skills and techniques to teachers, education staff, and students so that everyone can learn the methods, timing, and escape routes needed to respond safely in a genuine emergency. Pol. Col. Supchai stated that the 'Run, Hide, Fight' programme aims to equip education personnel with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to handle emergencies that may occur within schools, building resilience to prepare for potential armed attack scenarios. This is considered a critical life-saving skill and an important responsibility of Nonthaburi Police in preparing for unexpected situations. The training emphasizes teaching teachers and staff to assess situations, recognize hazards, and take appropriate survival action when an incident occurs. The initiative also raises awareness of dangers from illicit drugs and harmful online content, and includes measures to detect and prevent illegal items from being brought into schools.

Charoen Pokphand (CP) and the Pra Baan Luang Foundation are turning a drought crisis into opportunity by developing a high-value agriculture model that lifts the Kok Lam-Sang Arom community enterprise, generates stable income, and connects quality produce to modern retail markets. "Before, we grew field crops with income only once a year, but now vegetable farming gives us monthly earnings," said Angkanarak Kamathip, a representative of the Kok Lam-Sang Arom vegetable farmers' cooperative in Udon Thani province. This reflects the shift from traditional farming to modern agriculture using knowledge, technology, and precise management, boosting output to modern retail chains and lifting household income and quality of life.

The turning point came after severe drought in 2020, when the Pra Baan Luang Activity Promotion and Development Institute, following royal principles, joined with CP's Goodness and Sustainable Community project in Udon Thani and partner agencies to drive the "greenhouse vegetable farming to solve drought" initiative. The program promotes water-efficient, high-yield agriculture and creates stable livelihoods for local farmers. The Kok Lam-Sang Arom vegetable farmers' cooperative now has 28 members, 15 additional growers in the network, and 52 standard greenhouses with average annual production exceeding 12,000 kilograms.

Angkanarak explained that her family has farmed for generations; her mother sold vegetables door-to-door for over 20 years, growing beans, eggplant, melon, mango, sugarcane, and cassava. Through the program, she received mentoring in soil improvement, greenhouse vegetable farming, plot management, drip irrigation systems, and production planning aligned with market demand. She studied other farming areas and applied this knowledge effectively to her own plot.

Shifting from field crops with annual income to high-value vegetables such as kale, green oak, red oak, butterhead, Swiss chard, and royal tomato, Angkanarak and group members now have year-round revenue, financial liquidity to cover household expenses, and funds to support their children's education. The greenhouse system also controls disease and pests, enabling consistent quality output even during rainy seasons.

Beyond production, the project emphasizes market linkage: developing GAP-certified quality, establishing produce collection points meeting Food and Drug Administration standards, and building retail networks with chains like Makro. Over 90% of the group's produce now sells through Makro continuously, with the remaining 10% sold locally and at community markets, ensuring reliable markets, reduced marketing risk, and fair returns.

The program's cornerstone is applying "precision agriculture, careful agriculture, and advanced agriculture" through greenhouses, raised-bed vegetable plots reducing labour for elderly farmers, drip irrigation saving water, and use of red bean compost to boost soil organic matter, reduce chemicals, and elevate safe agriculture.

Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana officially opened the "Future SUPPORT" exhibition at the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles in the Grand Palace Rajadamnoen Building. The exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Queen Sirikit Foundation for Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Enterprises, honoring the Queen Mother's legacy and showcasing five decades of achievement in job creation, cultural preservation, and bringing Thai handicrafts to global recognition.

The "Future SUPPORT" exhibition traces the foundation's journey from its inception through five decades of work, highlighting its role in creating livelihoods, preserving local wisdom, improving community quality of life, and fostering pride in communities. The exhibition blends contemporary technology with traditional displays to convey the value of Thai handicrafts and their path toward the future. It also celebrates the royal initiatives of Queen Suthida and Princess Sirivannavari in continuing and expanding the late Queen Mother's vision for Thai handicraft arts.

Following the opening of "Future SUPPORT," Princess Sirivannavari visited related exhibitions including "Rachapusitaabhorn Siam" with updated displays, "Siriraj Pastrabrumarachtini," "Thai Costume: From Palace to Popularity," and the traveling exhibition "Itinerant Arts and Crafts." She also toured products at the foundation's retail shop. The "Future SUPPORT" exhibition opens to the public from August 19, 2026, in Gallery 5 of the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, located in the Rajadamnoen Building of the Grand Palace, Bangkok 10200. For information, call 02-225-9430 extension 140 or fax 02-225-9431.