BANGKOK — Five Thai ministries are coordinating a 90-day national school safety standard in response to a fatal shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School. The plan includes tougher mental health screening, a zero-tolerance bullying policy, and stricter weapons and prohibited item checks.

The plan was discussed at an inter-ministerial meeting on 8 August at the Ministry of Education, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat. Attendees included Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, Social Development and Human Security Minister Nikorn Somklang, Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat, and representatives from the Ministry of Public Health.

The shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School left several people dead and injured when a student allegedly used a firearm against teachers and fellow students. Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan stressed that all agencies must work to restore public confidence and ensure every child is safe at school.

The plan is divided into two main areas: immediate measures for school reopening and a longer-term national school safety standard.

The emergency "school reopening plan" includes six immediate measures: establishing nationwide mental health assistance channels through hotlines 1300 and 1323, deploying mental health volunteer teams to affected schools, temporarily closing classrooms where incidents occurred, establishing designated parent observation areas with security registration, allowing traumatized teachers and students to transfer to other schools, and introducing temporary screening for illegal items at school entrances.

The "National School Safety Standard" to be developed within 90 days will include regular mental health screening for students and teachers, an effective referral system for at-risk students to specialist doctors, and a "Train the Trainer" programme for guidance and homeroom teachers to improve their ability to assess students and provide basic psychological support.

Thai badminton players Anna Nanthakanjanat and Muna Benjapha Eamsoad defeated South Korean pair Lee Sung-hee and Park Min-jee 2-0 with scores of 21-11 and 21-14 in the semifinal of the Victor Korea Masters 2026, a BWF World Tour Super 300 event held in South Korea on August 8. The victory advances the Eamsoad sisters to the championship final to face Chinese duo Wang Tingge and Luo Yi, the world No. 3 ranked pair, who won their semifinal against South Koreans Kim Youjung and Lee Yulim 2-1 with scores of 14-21, 21-16, and 21-18.

The mother of Tae Dragonfly, a famous 1990s pop singer, tearfully spoke at his funeral service, telling her son to rest well and take care of himself after working so hard for so long. Tawichai Taepun, 46, was discovered floating in the Chao Phraya River near Rama VII Bridge in Nonthaburi on August 8, after going missing in the early morning of August 6. The family held a bathing of the body, chanting of Buddhist rites, and funeral ceremony on August 8 at Sala 5 of Wat Bua Khwan, a royal temple in Nonthaburi, in an atmosphere filled with sorrow.

His mother, Dara Taepun, revealed that her son had fought hard his entire life and never stopped working. His first project was to build a dance and performance school, but he was unable to open it due to COVID-19. He then decided to open a clothing shop, which his mother supported, but the business shut down after just a few days when major flooding struck. He later opened a northern Thai restaurant because his mother and his girlfriend were from the north, but the business deteriorated continuously due to constant construction work on the street in front. He then wanted to open a barbershop, which his mother encouraged, and it continues to operate today.

Tae was her only son and a good person. He opened a men's barbershop and often took students and instructors to volunteer giving free haircuts. He took good care of his mother. She said that when she touched the coffin, she told him that he had worked completely without laziness or giving up, and that now he deserved to rest, to not suffer pain, cold, hunger, or illness. "He was a good person, so he has gone to a good place," she said.

When asked if she had any lingering questions about his death, his mother revealed that she still wondered whether Tae had been harmed or struck by a bicycle. She said this was up to how much the police could determine, though she acknowledged the police had done their best. "He deserves to rest now. When I opened the coffin and touched his body, it was cold. I felt that this was my son resting. Sleep comfortably, my son. Rest fully—you have been so tired."

The chanting ceremony is scheduled for three nights from August 8–10 at 7:00 p.m., with the cremation ceremony on Tuesday, August 11 at 3:00 p.m.

The mother and girlfriend of Tae Dragon Five, a renowned boy band singer, collected his body on August 8, 2025, at the Forensic Science Institute under the Justice Ministry in Pathum Thani, and are seeking clarity on the circumstances of his death. They fear he may have been robbed and killed. His body was found in the Chao Phraya River near Rama VII Bridge in Nonthaburi after relatives reported him missing from his residence along with his bicycle. Police discovered a black backpack containing cement chunks and bricks weighing approximately 10 kilograms used to weigh down the body. No visible injuries were found, and he is believed to have died about 24 hours before discovery.

His mother, Darara, 79, and girlfriend, Valaiwan, 42, arranged a three-day Buddhist merit-making ceremony from August 8–10, with the cremation scheduled for August 11 due to religious observance restrictions on August 12. Darara described her son as a hardworking and resilient person who attempted several businesses over the years. He opened a children's drama school but was forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later opened a northern Thai restaurant called "Peang Khanaad" and was planning to open a men's barber school, which was thriving. He regularly volunteered to provide free haircuts to the community every Saturday and had even begun preparing to become a Buddhist monk.

Darara expressed suspicion about the bricks in the backpack, questioning whether her son was attacked or robbed. She noted his new bicycle had gone missing and worried he may have been killed and weighted down underwater. She described him as gentle, never argumentative, and not depressed. On his birthday on July 8, he had invited her to eat together, and they spoke regularly without any sign of distress. She stressed to police that she wants clarity on whether he was attacked or robbed, and maintains he showed no signs of crisis or mental health issues.

Prime Minister Anuthon Chanyaveerakul and his wife inspected the "OTOP Sapitlap Thai: Uniting Hearts with Royal Patronage" 2025 fair on August 8 at Impact Muang Thong Thani, ahead of the official opening on Monday, August 10. The event runs through August 16 and features OTOP and royal-patronage craft products, with large crowds turning out to support local goods.

The PM urged all Thais to shop at the fair, emphasizing its focus on handicrafts and products backed by members of the royal family. He toured the booths, sampling coconut ice cream, brown rice tea, and durian products from the Likhit area. At one point, he stopped to watch a Chinese YouTuber livestreaming products and greeted her in Mandarin, wishing vendors good sales.

Multiple vendors and shoppers approached the PM for photos and conversation. Several merchants praised the Thai Helps Thai Plus 60:40 program as excellent, asking if it would continue. The PM responded that his administration would try to extend it.

A 44-year-old automotive company employee was found dead in a bronze-grey Honda HRV on August 8, 2026, around 11:00 a.m. on a road in Sri Racha, Chon Buri Province. A painter named Somsak noticed the car idling unusually near noon, attempted to wake the woman inside by shaking the vehicle, and discovered her lifeless body when he opened the door. Police determined she had been dead for at least seven hours. Inside her handbag, investigators found multiple sleeping pills in their original packaging and a notebook containing a lengthy farewell letter expressing despair over work stress, accusations of financial wrongdoing, family concerns, and feelings of hopelessness about her job and personal circumstances. The letter detailed her struggles with work conflict, health problems, and financial difficulties. An examination of her body revealed no signs of physical trauma. According to the painter's account, he first noticed the running car at approximately 1:00 a.m., saw it still idling the following morning, and checked on it around noon when he became concerned. Police initially attribute her death to stress related to workplace and personal problems.