On August 13, the House legal and human rights committee held a hearing on the "surrogate father" fraud scheme, revealing eight Bangkok hospitals with between 1,000 and 1,500 flagged cases. Deputy committee chair Piyarat Jongthep explained that officials had invited witnesses, though two private hospitals failed to attend. Most data came from provincial authorities, and investigators flagged numerous orange-level cases—instances where both biological parents were foreigners but the child's status was registered as having a Thai surrogate father.

Piyarat noted that two private hospitals declined to cooperate. The committee found deeply alarming patterns: foreign nationals systematically using the surrogate father loophole to grant Thai citizenship to children with no biological Thai parent. Officials said they had contained the immediate problem, but acknowledged that moving forward requires stricter enforcement measures.

A major roadblock is financial. DNA testing costs 3,000 baht per case, and the committee lacks sufficient budget and investigator personnel to process the existing 1,000 cases already identified. Piyarat reported a fresh complaint received on August 12 of irregularities at another large private hospital on Srinakarin Road, with four new cases now under investigation. He called on the Interior Ministry to investigate alleged bribery by Chinese nationals and intermediaries facilitating these schemes, warning that such corruption must not be treated as lightly as past cases.

Committee chair Rangsiman Rom divided the problem into two parts: cases already processed and future prevention. He stressed that authorities have failed to dismantle the underlying criminal network, instead focusing on low-level perpetrators. He noted that some of the fraudulent cases involved individuals now 23 years old—Chinese nationals who received Thai citizenship decades ago—revealing the scheme's long history. Rom acknowledged that government agencies have no comprehensive plan to resolve the issue, citing budget constraints, lack of inter-agency data coordination, and misalignment between the Interior Ministry and provincial administration records.

On August 13, 2025, Election Commission Secretary-General Suwang Bunyami confirmed that a former investigation officer of the Election Commission received 13 money transfers totaling 860,000 baht from individuals in Amnat Charoen province between April 1 and July 22, 2024. The commission's fact-checking found that the money was related to procedures in the 2023 House election in Amnat Charoen and not related to the 2025 Senate election, as had been questioned.

The 2023 House election took place on May 14, 2023, and the Election Commission certified results on June 19, 2023. Complaints or objections regarding that election had to be resolved within one year, or by June 18, 2024.

The first 11 money transfers occurred between April 1-19, 2024, a period when Senate candidate registration had not yet opened and the Election Commission was still reviewing the House election procedures for Amnat Charoen. This period fell within the one-year review window. The commission had decided to conduct a further investigation, assigning the Central Investigation Committee to continue the examination on March 28, 2024. The former investigator in question was one of the committee members, which aligns with the timing of the money transfers.

The 12th transfer on June 1, 2024, occurred during Senate candidate registration but before the district-level Senate election. Investigation of complaints or objections regarding the Amnat Charoen Senate election up to that date revealed no related issues.

The 13th and final transfer on July 22, 2024, took place after the Election Commission announced Senate election results. Although complaints regarding the Amnat Charoen Senate election existed during that period, investigation showed the former investigator had no involvement in or assignment to the Senate election case file.

Suwang confirmed that based on the timeline of both the House and Senate elections, job assignments, and case file review, the former investigator had no connection to the Senate election procedures, and the money received was related to work on the 2023 House election in Amnat Charoen, as corroborated by evidence and the verified timeline.

A Japanese tourist was left shocked after being beaten and robbed by six teenagers near Makkasan Airport Rail Link station on the evening of August 12. The victim, Yuki, 43, had just arrived at the airport rail station but accidentally strayed into a wooded area behind the station. As he attempted to leave, three motorcycles carrying six youths approached him. When they demanded money, saying "Give it, give it," Yuki replied "No, no." The attackers then assaulted him, hitting the back of his head three times with a stone the size of a fist and punching him in the mouth. Yuki fled bleeding and was helped by Atit, 44, a taxi driver who was resting nearby at the station around 8 p.m. Atit heard the commotion of teenagers shouting before witnessing Yuki run out of the woods covered in blood. He immediately took Yuki to the hospital. According to Atit, the youths involved appeared to be under 15 years old.

Yuki, a teacher from Japan, had planned to celebrate his birthday on August 16 with his Thai girlfriend but encountered this violent incident instead. Atit expressed concern that such events could damage Thailand's tourism image and appealed to the parents of the young attackers to better supervise their children. He also revealed that youths of similar age had previously attacked him by throwing paint cans, and he believes the area requires improvement to prevent it from becoming a haven for troublemakers. The area is frequented by joggers and exercisers, especially in the evenings. Following the incident, Yuki messaged Atit to thank him for his help, though he remains traumatized and frightened by what happened. Police are continuing their investigation to apprehend the group of attackers.

On August 13, 2025, at Parliament, Sakolthee Phattiyakul, Democrat Party list MP and deputy leader, commented on allegations that Chaiyachana Dethdecho, party deputy leader responsible for the southern region, assaulted a deputy commander at Thung Yai Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Sakolthee stated the party would have clarity within one to two days, as party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has requested that all details and facts be examined first before any party disciplinary action is taken.

"We cannot deny that this incident has damaged the Democrat Party's image," Sakolthee said. "Chaiyachana has already heard the charges, but the party is still waiting to hear the facts from all relevant parties." When asked whether political motives might be behind the allegations—given that both Chaiyachana and the police station deputy commander initially denied any altercation before charges were filed the next day—Sakolthee suggested political factors could be at play, given Chaiyachana's senior party position.

The party will review all accounts, including statements from Chaiyachana, the deputy commander, and witnesses, and will implement party discipline measures if the facts warrant it.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthummaphan denied foreign media reports claiming that Thailand had linked military conditions to trade negotiations with the United States. She stated that Thailand has made no such arrangement, as military cooperation is a separate, existing framework. Trade talks focus on balancing tariff benefits between the two countries.

Thailand has incorporated other cooperation frameworks as supplementary elements to demonstrate good faith in addressing the US trade deficit. The country is emphasizing private Thai investment in the United States as a key driver, noting that Thai private companies have already invested nearly 20 billion US dollars there and are preparing an additional 5 billion dollars in investments, which creates jobs and shows trade relationships extend beyond goods sales alone.

Thailand has also clarified that at least 30% of its trade surplus stems from exports by American companies operating manufacturing bases and investments within Thailand. Suthummaphan announced plans to travel to the US in late August for technical trade negotiations to reach a conclusion. Currently, Thai goods receive tax exemptions on approximately 72% of exports under Section 301 measures and Section 232, particularly agricultural and electronics products. For the remaining 28% still subject to tariffs, the Commerce Ministry is preparing detailed information to negotiate the lowest possible rates.

The Irrigation Department is accelerating repairs to Royal Canal 1 in Songkhla province and its associated structures following damage to parts of the infrastructure. The department has secured a 400 million baht budget and expects to sign the contract on August 18, 2025, with work targeting full restoration of drainage capacity by November to prepare for the southern monsoon season. Work will include concrete slab repairs, structural reinforcement of auxiliary structures, improvements to the canal-side road, and removal of water flow obstructions. The government has allocated funding for 66 water infrastructure projects across southern Thailand, totaling over 821 million baht, covering Songkhla, Satun, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces.

Residents living along Royal Canal 1 in Hat Yai have expressed concern about construction delays. Local resident Bun noted that while irrigation officials have inspected the area and conducted surveys, no heavy machinery has yet arrived for repairs. He cautioned that unless work progresses quickly, the full canal rehabilitation may not be completed before the heavy rainy season, and repairs should not wait until the monsoon arrives, as wet conditions would hamper construction work.

The area previously suffered severe flooding, with water entering homes and residents evacuating to temples due to strong water currents. Residents fear a repeat of the 2018 flooding if the canal remains damaged during heavy rains. Saksit Khao Thong, Songkhla District 9 representative, stated that Royal Canal 1 is a critical water management structure for the province and urged relevant agencies to monitor the project continuously to ensure repairs are completed on schedule before the late-year monsoon arrives.