On August 11, the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (OHEC) signed an amended memorandum of understanding with the Capital Market Development Fund (CMDF) to continue the "Research Fund Support Program for Emerging Capital Market Researchers" into its second year. The initiative aims to develop a robust "National Brain Power Ecosystem" by elevating capacity across four key dimensions: cultivating young researchers to international professional standards, integrating knowledge networks across institutions, creating financial innovations that solve real problems, and strengthening Thailand's position as a regional financial hub.

Permanent Secretary Supachai Patumanakul announced that during fiscal year 2568, the program successfully advanced 10 quality research projects to practical policy implementation. The expanded agreement ensures ten additional emerging researchers will receive sustained and full support. He emphasized that today's signing represents a shared commitment to leverage higher education, science, research, and innovation to drive Thailand's capital market development, support the nation's transition to a high-income knowledge-based economy, and foster sustainable economic growth.

CMDF Manager Chakrachai Bunyawat described the partnership as a crucial step forward amid rapid technological and geopolitical changes. He stressed that Thailand's capital market needs not just funding but expertise to navigate AI, digital economies, and emerging risks. The collaboration translates academic research beyond academic journals into actionable policy, regulations, and financial innovations. Investing in young researchers who understand economics, technology, and modern challenges will strengthen the nation's capabilities and competitiveness.

On August 11, 2569, at Government House, government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek announced that the Cabinet has approved a civil service personnel management reform proposal led by Deputy Prime Minister Pokphand Nilpraphand. The reform aligns with government policy presented to Parliament and addresses the country's fiscal situation, where personnel costs consume 70% of the annual budget. The measures include: (1) freezing all new civil servant position allocations, requiring agencies to manage existing staff and fill vacancies only as needed from approved recruitment lists; (2) eliminating unused civil servant positions that have received no budget allocation since October 1, 2567, with reports due by December 2569; (3) phasing out positions vacated by retirement in fiscal years 2570-2575, particularly in support functions including administrative officers, public relations officers, communications officers, audiovisual officers, librarians, and various technician roles, with exceptions for medical and dental staff at the Public Health Ministry and correctional personnel. All government agencies must review their mandates, functions, and structures to align with personnel levels without compromising service quality.

At 3:00 p.m. on August 11, 2025, the Administrative Court ruled to revoke the announcement suspending elections for employer and insured worker representatives on the Social Security Board, which had been issued on July 27, 2025. The Progressive Social Security Team, led by Satstharam Thammabusdee and 14 members, had sued the election committee, claiming the suspension order was unlawful because it set no clear timeline and constituted illegal action.

The court reasoned that the announcement effectively halted the election process established by the original proclamation issued on May 25, 2025, preventing the election proceedings from continuing. The court found no justification for the delay under Labor Ministry emergency provisions. The Social Security Office (SSO) had budgeted 275 million baht for the elections and could seek additional approval if needed, making the indefinite suspension unnecessary and unlawful. The court also issued an injunction preventing the SSO from issuing similar orders to suspend the elections.

Speaking after the ruling, Satstharam stated the Progressive Social Security Team won the case and that election proceedings must now resume on the original schedule. He noted the SSO is fully prepared, with over 7 million ballots already printed, and budget is not an obstacle. Allowing the Social Security Board to operate under interim management for nearly six months risks long-term damage to the fund, he added. The elections will now take place on September 27, 2025. Satstharam appealed to the public to participate in what he described as a historic opportunity to return control of the country's largest welfare organization to ordinary workers and their families, whose contributions support 1.2 million children, 200,000 pregnant women, 900,000 pensioners, and millions of patients.

The Cabinet has approved an expansion of the school milk supplementary feeding program to include students in grades 7–9 at educational opportunity schools for the first time, Deputy Agriculture Minister Watchara Khaokhram announced today. The program aims to invest in child and youth nutrition, enabling healthy physical, cognitive, and developmentally appropriate learning while building quality citizens who will drive the nation's future development. Implementation will begin in the second semester of the 2025 academic year this November. The expanded program will now cover approximately 6.6 million students, up from roughly 6 million previously, reducing inequality especially for low-income families in remote areas and easing parents' financial burden. The initiative will also support the domestic raw milk market by increasing raw milk purchases to 87,202 tons per day, helping dairy farmers and the milk industry across the board. Watchara emphasized that the government wants Thai children to drink 100 percent pure milk containing complete natural proteins and vitamins, and remains committed to supporting dairy farmers and milk-producing communities. The expansion aims to improve Thai children's quality of life through access to standardized, nutritious school milk while building a sustainable Thai milk industry and creating both quality citizens and sustainable economic growth.

A frightening ordeal unfolded when two Chinese residents became trapped on a mountain for nearly 30 hours, hearing rescue teams calling for them but refusing to respond due to fears of supernatural deception. The couple—a 73-year-old man and 58-year-old woman from a nearby village—had ventured out to gather medicinal herbs on July 29. Both have hearing difficulties and carried no mobile phones, food, or water.

When police and fire officials in Huizhou District received notice of two missing villagers, they mobilized rescue teams to search through the night across treacherous, steep terrain with slippery surfaces. After 17 hours of intensive searching, rescuers found the pair in severely weakened condition. However, when questioned, officials made a shocking discovery: the couple admitted they had heard the rescue team calling for some time before being found.

Their refusal to respond stemmed from ancient Chinese folklore holding that demons or spirits inhabiting mountains can mimic the voices of familiar people to lure lost travelers into responding, causing greater confusion and disorientation. According to this belief, victims should never answer calls on mountains or admit to hunger and thirst, fearing spiritual possession. Fearing these phantom voices, the couple walked in the opposite direction away from the rescue team's position, repeatedly missing critical opportunities for help until rescuers reached the rear of the mountain.

The couple's adherence to this traditional superstition directly hampered their rescue. Beyond refusing to answer, they deliberately moved away from the rescue team's voices, compounding their ordeal. Once officials approached from behind the mountain, the pair finally responded.

After the story spread on social media, many online commenters shared their thoughts. Some noted that waiting 17 hours for help would be agonizing, while others acknowledged they might feel similarly afraid if lost on a mountain hearing mysterious calls. Several revealed their own families still hold such beliefs.

Huizhou District fire officials urged the public to avoid entering mountainous or remote wilderness areas alone and to prioritize safety by contacting emergency services if faced with danger in natural settings.

Police in Kumphawapee District, Udon Thani, arrested a 69-year-old man identified as Thong Phan on August 10 after he fatally struck his 66-year-old wife, Bun Long, with a bottle of clear liquor on August 7. The incident occurred in the afternoon near their home following a dispute. The woman suffered a fractured skull and was taken to a local health center, then transferred to Kumphawapee Hospital, where doctors permitted her to return home after treatment. She complained of severe headache but refused further hospital care and died peacefully at home at 11:30 p.m. on August 9.

The man's son reported his mother's death on August 10 morning and informed police of the circumstances. Authorities determined her death was unnatural and ordered an autopsy, which confirmed she died from injuries sustained in the altercation. The suspect confessed that after drinking together, he became angry when his wife criticized him and prevented him from going out. He grabbed the bottle and struck her head in anger. He immediately sought help from his sister to take his wife to the hospital.

Thong Phan told investigators they had been married for many years with three children, two of whom had died. He worked as a laborer, and his wife had previously suffered a serious head injury requiring two brain surgeries. On the day of the incident, heavy rain prompted his wife to buy liquor to drink together. After becoming intoxicated, he wanted to walk around the village, but she refused and scolded him, which provoked his anger. He expressed deep remorse, saying he was very sorry and asking his deceased wife to forgive him. Police charged him with causing bodily harm resulting in death.