Thailand will ask Cabinet for mandatory multi-factor authentication across government portals following disclosure of 60 million additional Thai-linked credential records on the dark web. The move follows repeated data incidents this year and aims to close gaps exposed by real-time mule-account systems already live at banks.

• Commerce Ministry flagged the volume in a Sunday briefing; leaks span banking, telecom and e-commerce logins.
• Cybersecurity experts estimate 40% of records involve active corporate emails still in use.
• What to watch: timeline for rollout at state agencies and whether banks must extend the requirement to retail clients.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered tighter enforcement and warned gun owners of criminal liability if their weapons are used in crimes following the Nonthaburi school rampage. Four ministries will draft national school safety standards within 90 days, including mental-health checks and physical security upgrades.

• Immediate steps include psychological support teams deployed to affected schools and regular audits of licensed firearms.
• Cabinet is expected to fast-track amendments to the Firearms Act before year-end.
• Net impact: private gun holders face higher compliance costs and potential mandatory storage rules.

Thailand and Myanmar will sign a joint river-cleanup agreement this week while Thai officials urge Myanmar troops to pull back after shelling incidents damaged homes near the border. The pact targets the Moei and Salween rivers shared by the two countries.

• NSC Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad confirmed the deal follows a July 31 meeting.
• Southern peace efforts also get a special Cabinet meeting this month.
• Trade impact: border markets expect resumed traffic once security stabilises.

The SET closed the week near 1,612 with modest foreign net buying concentrated in defensive names; SET50 dipped 0.28% on Aug 7 to 1,082. Baht slipped to 33.8 per dollar on the week.

• Turnover averaged below ฿40 billion daily as investors awaited inflation and MPC signals.
• Foreign inflows narrowed to roughly ฿2 billion net for the period.
• What to watch: next BOT external-sector data revision and Q3 corporate earnings.

Headline inflation fell to 1.95% year-on-year in July from 2.42% in June, below forecasts, driven by a sharp drop in domestic fuel prices. Core inflation rose to 1.34%.

• Commerce Ministry attributes the decline to lower global crude and stable fresh-food supply.
• Monthly CPI dropped 0.73% after a 0.34% June decline.
• Q3 forecast revised to average 2.09% with upside risks from prepared meals.

Airport officials will gain authority to open checked luggage without passengers present from 16 October when suspicious items are flagged. The change follows rising concerns over contraband and safety screening gaps.

• Customs will issue detailed guidelines by end-September.
• Airlines have been notified to update passenger communications.
• Impact: frequent flyers should label valuables clearly and expect longer processing on flagged bags.

Banks rolled out a real-time system to freeze mule accounts linked to scams, building on earlier DSI raids that froze over 70 accounts in forex networks. The platform integrates with police databases for instant action.

• Initial results show faster blocking of transfers above ฿50,000 flagged by AI.
• Consumer Council continues pushing Meta and banks for better scam verification.
• What to watch: whether the system extends to non-bank e-wallets by year-end.

Language of The Soul group show runs 7–31 August at The Old Siam Plaza, 3rd Floor Gallery. Works explore diverse identities and learning styles — a quiet mid-week stop for collectors.

Rosewood Bangkok hosts Thai artist Sakul Intakul installations and wellness sessions throughout August. Worth a Tuesday lunch detour for the seasonal menu updates.

Heavy rain raises Mekong levels with flood risk across Northeast provinces through mid-week; TMD warns of flash floods in low-lying areas.

Thailand’s first lunar scientific payload lifts off 24 August aboard China’s Chang’e-7 mission; watch for live coverage from GISTDA.

The payload, developed domestically, marks Thailand’s debut in international lunar exploration and carries experiments on space radiation and soil analysis.