Chiang Mai Governor Ratthapol Naradit, Chiang Mai Provincial Administration Organization chairman Pichay Loetpongadisorn, and Thai Volleyball Association president Sompon Chaibangyang jointly announced the women's volleyball tournament BYD DMI 6th SEA V CUP 2026 leg two, scheduled for August 7–9, 2026 at Chiang Mai's 700 Year Sports Stadium.

The volleyball association has recalled star player Chatchachon Moksoree (Boom Bim), a top spiker for the national team, back to competition after she recovered from injuries incurred during the 2026 Nations League.

Competition schedule: August 7 at 1:00 p.m., Indonesia vs. Vietnam; 4:30 p.m., Philippines vs. Thailand. August 8 at 1:00 p.m., Vietnam vs. Philippines; 4:30 p.m., Thailand vs. Indonesia. August 9 at 1:00 p.m., Philippines vs. Indonesia; 4:30 p.m., Vietnam vs. Thailand.

Ticket sales begin Monday, August 3, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. via The Concert application and website theconcert (one person may purchase up to two one-day tickets). Offline ticket sales will be held only on Thursday, August 6, 2026 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the 80th Anniversary Assembly Hall, Chiang Mai Provincial Administration Organization. Live broadcasts will air on ONE31 and the oneD application.

Governor Ratthapol stated that Chiang Mai is honored to host this Southeast Asian volleyball championship alongside the Thai Volleyball Association and the provincial administration. The tournament is a significant platform for developing volleyball talent across ASEAN, while also showcasing Chiang Mai's capability to host international sports competitions across venue management, facilities, safety, transportation, and hospitality.

Pichay emphasized the provincial administration's commitment to ensuring smooth operations, meeting international standards, and impressing all visitors. The event is expected to boost the local economy through tourism, hotels, restaurants, transportation, and related services, generating circulation revenue and benefiting residents broadly.

Sompon thanked all organizations supporting the tournament, particularly Chiang Mai Province and the provincial administration.

The Board of Investment (BOI), the Thai Printed Circuit Board Association (THPCA), and the Hong Kong Printed Circuit Board Association (HKPCA) have announced their readiness to organize Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia 2026 (THECA 2026), a major international trade and technology exhibition. Held under the theme "Innovating PCB and Advanced Electronics with Next-Gen Packaging," the event will run August 26–28, 2026, at BITEC in Bangkok.

BOI Secretary-General Narudom Therdsirichakdi stated that THECA 2026 will be a significant international collaboration platform connecting manufacturers, technology developers, investors, and buyers worldwide. The event will bring together over 300 leading companies from around the globe, presenting technologies covering the complete electronics industry supply chain—from raw materials and PCB and PCBA production to manufacturing machinery, smart manufacturing systems, AI technology, and electronic devices. The organizers expect more than 7,000 visitors from around the world to network and explore investment opportunities.

Key highlights of THECA 2026 include:

• Over 50 international seminars and workshops: Exploring future technologies across PCB, Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), Semiconductor, and Photonics industries

• BOI Forum: A special seminar titled "The Edge AI–Future Mobility Strategic: Synchronizing Thailand's Intelligent Electronics Ecosystem" presenting investment opportunities and industrial ecosystem development, featuring global industry leaders and experts

• Local Supply Chain Pavilion: A strategic zone gathering Thai PCB and advanced electronics manufacturers and suppliers to build business networks and integrate Thai companies into global supply chains, reducing import dependency and strengthening the domestic industry

• Workforce Pavilion (Human Resource Development Zone): Launched for the first time to address rising labor demand. The BOI and the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council will coordinate with leading educational institutions to organize job matching events, career counseling, and direct employment and internship opportunities with global companies, aligning with Thailand's goal to develop 84,000 skilled workers in this sector within five years.

THECA 2026 transcends a traditional trade show, reinforcing Thailand's image as a "gateway to Asia" and a key regional manufacturing hub. Over the past three years, BOI has received 880 investment promotion applications in this sector, valued at over 900 billion baht.

Pithan Ongkhosit, President of the Thai Printed Circuit Board Association and organizer of THECA 2026, noted that Thailand's advanced electronics industry market value in 2026 is projected at approximately 48,000–52,000 million U.S. dollars. The Semiconductor and Advanced Packaging segments are expected to grow at an average rate of 15–20% annually, while AI Server and Data Center Electronics are projected to grow at 18–22% annually, reflecting the industry's strong momentum.

Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on August 4 that it is accepting public comments on a draft announcement regarding the addition of Government Housing Bank savings bonds (Government Housing Bank bonds) as an eligible investment asset for mutual funds and provident funds. The proposal seeks to broaden investment options, enhance portfolio management flexibility, and align savings bond investment criteria across state-owned financial institutions while maintaining appropriate controls against concentrated investment risk.

Following the Capital Market Supervisory Board's approval in principle in June 2569, the SEC previously held a comment period from June 18 to July 18, 2569, during which all respondents supported the proposal. The current draft regulation adds Government Housing Bank bonds as an asset under the definition of "deposits or deposit-like instruments" to ensure consistent investment criteria across state financial institutions and increase fund portfolio flexibility.

Fund managers will remain subject to risk management requirements including limits on investment concentration with single issuers and restrictions on exposure to affiliated groups. The proposed regulation applies to retail mutual funds, institutional investor funds, and provident funds. Public comments are being accepted online at the SEC website and the central legal system portal, with a deadline of September 2, 2569. Interested parties can submit feedback via email to tonyada@sec.or.th or pattarav@sec.or.th.

PHUKET: Widespread criticism has spread online after a Phuket van driver was filmed closely following an ambulance and running a red light while the ambulance was transporting a patient to hospital in Phuket.

Kanchanaburi authorities shut down a drug party on a Khwae Noi River raft on August 4, arresting 55 people—32 men and 23 women, including three minors. The operation was conducted under the Interior Ministry's "Operation 90 Days" drug suppression campaign, led by Kanchanaburi Governor Waristha Songwansermesri and coordinated with military and local administration units.

After receiving intelligence that suspicious groups were gathering on the raft, a special task force led by Peerwijit Chaiwichiarn, the provincial security chief, launched a river patrol and raided the floating venue. Officers found people in intoxicated states; some threw items into the river as they arrived. Of the 55 people checked, 14 men and 20 women tested positive for drug use. Authorities also seized ketamine (Category 2 drug) in four plastic bags and two .380 ammunition rounds.

All those who tested positive and individuals with illegal items were taken into custody at Mueang Kanchanaburi District Office and transferred to Mueang Kanchanaburi Police Station for further legal action.

On August 4, 2025, the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road announced a verdict dismissing charges against Saranat, known as Am Saiyanid, 39, who was accused of murder. Prosecutors had charged her with poisoning Monthatip (Tray), a wealthy woman, with cyanide on July 7, 2015, inside a luxury condominium in the Thonglor area to settle debts, but the defendant denied the allegations.

After reviewing evidence and testimony from both sides, the court established that the defendant and victim were close friends who played in the same investment circle, and the defendant had borrowed money from the victim. The defendant was also found to have lost over 30 million baht in online gambling. The victim was a wealthy person residing in Canada with commercial property in Samphran District, Nakhon Pathom Province, which the defendant managed.

On the day of the incident, the victim returned from Canada, and the defendant and other friends picked her up at Suvarnabhumi Airport before going to eat rice soup and then staying at the victim's condo. The victim later died. An autopsy report indicated death from heart failure or chronic disease but did not confirm cyanide poisoning as the cause.

The court noted significant doubts in the prosecution's evidence and found no testimony confirming the defendant committed the act. Therefore, the court applied the benefit of the doubt in favor of the defendant and dismissed the charges. This is the third case dismissed against Am Saiyanid out of 15 total cases filed by prosecutors: 14 murder charges and one attempted murder charge. She currently faces one death sentence and two life sentences in other cases.