BANGKOK — 14 August 2026, Thailand will continue to experience heavy rain in some areas over the next 24 hours, with very heavy rain forecast for parts of the East, according to the Meteorological Department.

The department said that a monsoon trough is extending across Myanmar, upper Laos and upper Vietnam, while a relatively strong southwesterly monsoon is prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.

Residents in affected areas have been warned to watch out for the dangers posed by heavy and accumulated rainfall, which could trigger flash floods and forest runoff, particularly in foothill areas, near waterways and in low-lying areas. Rivers may also overflow in parts of the Northeast.

Winds and waves in the upper Andaman Sea will be relatively strong, with waves reaching 2-3 metres and rising above 3 metres in areas experiencing thunderstorms.

The Meteorological Department advised boat operators to exercise caution and avoid areas experiencing thunderstorms. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should remain ashore.

Weather forecast from 07:00 on 14 August to 07:00 on 15 August

North: Thunderstorms will cover 60% of the area, with isolated heavy rain in Mae Hong Son, Nan and Tak. Temperatures will range from 22-28°C, with highs of 32-35°C. Southwesterly winds will blow at 10-20km/h.

Northeast: Thunderstorms will cover 60% of the area, with isolated heavy rain in Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan. Temperatures will range from 24-26°C, with highs of 32-35°C. Southwesterly winds will blow at 10-20km/h.

Central: Thunderstorms will cover 40% of the area, with isolated heavy rain in Saraburi and Kanchanaburi. Temperatures will range from 24-27°C, with highs of 34-36°C. Southwesterly winds will blow at 10-25km/h.

East: Thunderstorms will cover 60% of the area, with isolated heavy rain in Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi, and very heavy rain possible in Chanthaburi and Trat. Temperatures will range from 24-28°C, with highs of 30-34°C. Southwesterly winds will blow at 20-35km/h. Waves will be around 2 metres, rising above 2 metres during thunderstorms.

South, east coast: Thunderstorms will cover 40% of the area, mainly in Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Temperatures will range from 23-26°C, with highs of 31-36°C. Southwesterly winds will blow at 20-35km/h. Waves will be 1-2 metres offshore, around 2 metres farther from the coast and above 2 metres during thunderstorms.

South, west coast: Thunderstorms will cover 60% of the area, with isolated heavy rain in Ranong and Phang Nga. Temperatures will range from 23-27°C, with highs of 31-36°C.

From Phang Nga northwards, southwesterly winds will blow at 20-40km/h, with waves of 2-3 metres and waves above 3 metres during thunderstorms.

From Phuket southwards, southwesterly winds will blow at 15-35km/h, with waves of 1-2 metres and waves above 2 metres during thunderstorms.

A loud explosion-like sound shook the sky across multiple districts in Rayong province on August 13 at around 4:30 p.m., causing widespread alarm. Residents heard what sounded like a large blast that was audible across a radius of tens of kilometers, strong enough to frighten pets into running away from homes. However, preliminary investigation found no abnormalities in the sky, no smoke or unusual formations, and no chemical smell.

Tat Phong, a resident of Thap Ma subdistrict in Muang Rayong district, said he heard the explosive sound while running errands at Thap Ma market. He was confident it was not thunder and looked for the source but found nothing unusual in the sky. Wannachit, a barber in Nong La Loke subdistrict of Ban Kaai district, initially thought it was a vehicle tire explosion while cutting a customer's hair. Sophatthorn, a shopkeeper in Nong La Loke subdistrict, said the blast startled her greatly and she also thought it was a tire explosion, given that her shop sits near the Ban Kaai-Nikhom Phatthana road.

The mystery blast was heard across almost every district in Rayong, creating confusion and concern among residents about its cause. Authorities are expected to investigate the incident further.

Air India expands pilot drug testing after marijuana resultLegacy Air India began testing all of its pilots for psychoactive substances on Thursday, August 13, the airline said. This is a step that goes beyond the current regulatory minimum. The move follows a sudden loss of altitude on a flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4. After the incident, the captain reportedly tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory test. Flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo registered VT-EXO, dropped about 300 feet from a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet near Odisha. The crew then stabilised the aircraft and landed safely in Delhi, according to the PTI wire. The jet was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew. At least 17 people were hurt in the initial count, including four cabin crew. However, that figure was later revised upward to 24 by several Indian outlets. The revised number was made up of 20 passengers and four crew. The Phuket to Delhi corridor has featured in drug cases recently. For example, Indian customs seized about 1.5 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis hidden aboard a Phuket to New Delhi flight in July. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is examining the incident from both technical and human-factors angles. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation removed the pilot in command and the co-pilot from the roster, pending the investigation and the results of confirmatory drug tests, according to the PTI wire. The pilot in command’s confirmatory test returned positive for marijuana, Reuters reported. No finding of fault has been announced. The investigation remains open. Causation is not yet settled. A purported post-flight maintenance report cited by Indian media recorded multiple technical warnings on the aircraft, including low pressure across the green, blue and yellow hydraulic systems, a flight-control fault affecting the elevators, and two autopilot disconnections during the journey. Investigators are expected to review flight-data and cockpit-voice recordings, maintenance records and crew statements before determining what caused the drop. A preliminary report is expected within about two weeks. However, some reports put the timeline at up to a month. The route has seen other safety incidents too. Among them was an Air India Express jet left disabled on the runway after a hard landing in Phuket in March. What the new testing covers The policy applies to pilots at Air India and its budget arm, Air India Express. An internal memo cited by Reuters said the screening would run alongside training at the airline’s Gurugram academy. It would also take place after flights at briefing centres and offices, or at locations set by pilots’ home bases. In addition, Indian rules already require carriers to randomly test at least 10% of flight crew each year for psychoactive substances. Air India said the expanded programme is meant to reinforce safety and passenger confidence beyond that baseline. Crew conduct on the same service has drawn scrutiny before, including an Air India pilot removed from a Phuket-Delhi flight over a positive alcohol test. Air India did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the new policy. As of publishing, the airline had issued no public statement on the reported test result. The AAIB investigation into the August 4 flight continues. The story Air India expands pilot drug testing after marijuana result as seen on Thaiger News.

Gold prices dropped sharply on August 14, 2026, falling 750 baht compared to August 13, according to the Thai Gold Ornament Merchants Association. Ornamental gold is selling at 68,800 baht per gram. Gold bars are trading at 67,800 baht per gram for purchase and 68,000 baht per gram for sale. Ornamental gold (96.5% purity) is being bought back at 66,446.28 baht per gram and sold at 68,800 baht per gram. Global gold spot prices are at 4,321 US dollars per ounce. Gold merchants are predicting that tomorrow's market opening may see prices surge by 1,000–2,000 baht per gram, potentially breaking through the 80,000 baht mark.

Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services (BAFS) announced second-quarter 2025 results showing net profit of 60.5 million baht, a year-on-year increase of 8%, with total revenue of 839.5 million baht. For the first half of 2025, the company reported net profit of 212.3 million baht, up 7%, reflecting strong business performance and cost management amid volatile energy prices stemming from Middle East developments.

While the aviation sector faced pressure from elevated Jet A-1 aircraft fuel prices in the second quarter, leading airlines to manage capacity cautiously, international travel demand remained robust. The company expects the year-end tourism season to continue driving flight numbers and passenger recovery.

For the quarter, BAFS Group generated total revenue of 839.5 million baht, down 4%, while net profit rose 8% to 60.5 million baht with earnings per share of 0.07 baht and a net profit margin of 6%. EBITDA fell 5% to 402.2 million baht year-on-year due to efficient cost and expense management. For the first six months, net profit increased 7% to 212.3 million baht with earnings per share of 0.29 baht and a net profit margin of 10%.

The board approved an interim dividend of 0.13 baht per share for the first half of 2025, with a record date of 28 August 2025 and payment date of 10 September 2025.

Regarding the jet fuel supply contract at Suvarnabhumi Airport due to expire in 2025, the company was informed by Airports of Thailand (AOT) that it may continue operations under existing terms and conditions pending completion of the new operator selection process. This continuity supports Thailand's goal of becoming a regional aviation hub.