On August 18, Permanent Secretary Raviwarn Phurideach presided over the three-year anniversary event for the Department of Climate Change and Environment and formally opened the Climate Change Information Center (CCIC). Raviwarn stressed that climate change represents a critical global challenge requiring long-term international cooperation. He linked the department's work to government policies, including the Net Zero 2050 target and a proposed Climate Change Law pending cabinet approval, aimed at building business competitiveness and strengthening early-warning and disaster-impact management systems to reduce losses of life and property.

He outlined four key priorities: translating policy into action, preparing for multifaceted risks, accelerating tools for economic transition, and strengthening cross-sector cooperation. According to Dr. Pirun Saiyasittipanich, Director-General of the Department of Climate Change and Environment, the agency was established on August 18, 2023, to drive Thailand toward a low-carbon economy and build climate resilience. Over three years, it has evolved into the nation's center for climate management, working to improve disaster response and align initiatives with government policy while pursuing environmental, economic, social, and technological development through a just transition framework under Thailand's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS).

The Permanent Secretary then opened the Climate Change Information Center on the department's second floor, serving as Thailand's large-scale climate big data hub. It collects, analyzes, and processes spatial data using high-resolution climate models to forecast disasters and support 76 provincial climate coordination centers and Bangkok, enabling efficient public service delivery.

At 1:30 p.m. on August 18, 2025, activist Sandhya Sawasdi filed a complaint at the Central Investigation Police Command against Rukchonok Srinok, known as Ice, a People's Party MP, on charges under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Crime Act. Sandhya said the complaint stems from a post by Ice that used a clip and remarks from a subdistrict administrator mentioning "higher-ups," followed by royal language (the word "spoke") that is grammatically reserved for the monarchy, royal family, or Buddha alone. This conduct, Sandhya argued, clearly links and expresses intent toward a specific person.

Sandhya noted the case resembles a 2564 conviction in which Ice posted others' statements on her private account, resulting in a six-year prison sentence under Section 112 and the Computer Crime Act, currently under appeal. He said this shows disregard for the justice process. Beyond filing with the investigating unit, Sandhya said he will petition the Attorney General within one to two weeks to ask the court to revoke Ice's temporary bail, as the post breaches court conditions prohibiting similar conduct. He cautioned the MP that creating additional cases does not build popularity but accumulates legal troubles, and urged caution in speech and social media posts.

When asked whether filing might be seen as boosting Ice's visibility, Sandhya said he is not concerned and accepts being viewed as "losing out." He emphasized his duty under the Constitution Article 50 to protect nation, religion, and monarchy, and denied seeking attention or hidden benefit. He noted he has filed at least 40–50 Section 112 cases previously and views this as fulfilling his legal obligation when encountering clear and flagrant conduct. The investigating officer has recorded his statement and will forward the matter to a superior for further action.

Boxing camp manager caught smuggling migrants in Prachin BuriLegacyPolice arrested a boxing camp manager and ten undocumented migrants in Prachin Buri today, August 18, after a pickup truck carrying the group allegedly fled a police stop and ended up stranded on a village road. The driver, identified as 42 year old Wichan, was arrested with nine Bangladeshi nationals and one Myanmar national in Wang Tha Chang subdistrict, Kabin Buri district. Police also seized the white Isuzu pickup truck used to transport the group. Police said they spotted the pickup while patrolling Highway 359 close to the Sa Kaeo provincial border. The route is reportedly used to transport undocumented migrants entering Thailand from Cambodia. Photo via Highway Police Officers became suspicious after seeing the pickup travelling at speed with numerous bags in the back and signalled for the driver to stop. Police said the driver instead accelerated away, prompting officers to call for assistance. The pickup entered a village road in Wang Tha Chang, an area surrounded largely by farmland, before losing control and coming to a stop on the roadside. The driver and nine migrants then allegedly left the vehicle and fled into a nearby plantation. Police sought help from local officials to search for the group. All of them were caught after more than three hours. Photo via Highway Police During questioning, Wichan said he managed a boxing camp in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo, and had been transporting migrants for around three months. He told police that a man he knew only as Na hired him to make the trips for 5,000 baht each. Wichan said he took the work to help cover expenses at his boxing camp. According to his account, he picked up the migrants near the border in Aranyaprathet and was taking them to a bus terminal in Bangkok. Photo via Highway Police The migrants told police they had been working in construction in Cambodia and wanted to reach the Bangladeshi embassy in Thailand so they could arrange their return home. Police transferred the group to Wang Takhian Police Station for legal proceedings and said the investigation would continue to identify others involved. The story Boxing camp manager caught smuggling migrants in Prachin Buri as seen on Thaiger News.

A parliamentary legal committee on law, justice, and human rights visited Sadao, Songkhla, on August 18, 2025, led by Pol. Gen. Tweeaphon Sodsai, a committee member and former justice minister and Democrat Party leader, alongside committee chairman Rangsiman Rome, spokesperson Loufang Bandittothsakul, and secretary Romdhon Panjor. The group studied the ground and gathered input on "law enforcement, justice, and human rights protection to support peace-building in southern Thailand." The visit concentrated on structural economic fallout from the new Sadao customs checkpoint, which has severely damaged businesses in Samnukhkham subdistrict and caused a sharp drop in tourist arrivals. Over 100 participants attended, including Dr. Sitthipong Sitthiphattraprapha, chairman of the Haad Yai Hotel Association, and local government and business representatives.

Tweeaphon noted that two months after the new checkpoint opened, it directly disrupted commerce in the original checkpoint area. He identified three key underlying issues: policy and security problems, since Malaysia reportedly requested only one operating checkpoint and this needs bilateral verification; damage to the local economy and violated agreements, as all traffic and tourists now route directly to Haad Yai instead of the intended two- to three-night stay model in Sadao; and lack of community participation in management—local representatives and officials were excluded from system design despite knowing the real problems.

Tweeaphon recalled that the new checkpoint project began during his tenure as Southern Border Provinces Administration (SBPA) secretary, originally designed so the new facility would handle logistics and cargo while the old checkpoint focused on tourism and people. Legal and land-title delays stalled the project until 2015, when a military decree unlocked regulations and construction finished two months ago. He stressed: "Sadao is Thailand's highest-value border checkpoint, nearly 300 billion baht annually, and Malaysian tourists rank first for Thailand. The border is our front gate, but the current crisis is not legal—it's management failure that violates our agreements. Instead of a two-tier system, they funneled everything to one checkpoint, abandoning local businesses."

Tweeaphon also connected this to broader southern border issues, including the fishing crisis that has turned Thailand from producer to buyer, and the government's goal to end southern unrest by 2027. He emphasized that ending southern instability requires rule of law and local participation.

BG Pathum United, Thailand's representative in the AFC Champions League Two, faces a manageable group stage draw. The AFC held the group stage draw for the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two on August 18, with BG Pathum United as the sole Thai League club participating this season. The draw placed BG Pathum in Group F alongside Adelaide United from Australia, Lion City Sailors from Singapore, and Taipei FC from Hong Kong.

The Thailand Sports Authority board is accelerating its selection of a new director between two deputy directors, Prodpran Samanmit and Meechai Inwood, moving the decision forward from August 27 to August 19. The selection committee, led by Permanent Secretary Nattariya Theevivongse of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, narrowed 10 candidates down to these two finalists after they demonstrated complete qualifications, passed English language tests on August 10, and completed interviews and vision presentations on August 13.

The board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak with Sports Minister Sorasak Pansrichol as vice-chair, originally scheduled a meeting for August 27 at 1:30 p.m. at Government House. However, the meeting has been moved up to tomorrow, August 19, at 10:00 a.m. at Government House to proceed promptly without delay. The board will select the new director from either Prodpran Samanmit, deputy director of professional sports and boxing, or Dr. Meechai Inwood, deputy director of administration.