The Energy Ministry has extended its price freeze on cooking gas (LPG) at 423 baht per 15-kilogram cylinder for another three months through October 31, 2026, while increasing subsidies to manage volatile global oil markets. Deputy Energy Ministry Spokesperson Veerapath Kiartfuengfu stated that global energy prices have remained highly volatile over the past week due to conflicting statements from the United States and Iran about potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, creating market uncertainty.

The Energy Ministry continues to closely monitor the situation and maintain measures to stabilize domestic oil prices and protect the cost of living. The ministry manages this through the Oil Fuel Fund mechanism while overseeing refinery gate prices to ensure fairness. To ease household expenses, the ministry has prevented retail cooking gas prices from rising in line with global markets by increasing LPG price compensation from 7.22 baht to 9.86 baht per kilogram.

As of August 7, 2026, the Oil Fuel Fund's deficit reached 71,826.31 million baht, increasing by approximately 2,044 million baht from the previous week. Despite the fund's mounting burden, the Energy Ministry remains committed to managing energy prices rigorously to prevent impacts on food, goods, and essential services. The ministry urged the public to conserve energy and use it efficiently while assuring them of its determination to manage the current energy crisis and prevent further hardship.

At 9:30 a.m. on August 7, 2025, at Parliament, Ratchanok Srinork, a People's Party list MP and chair of the House committee studying budget preparation and oversight, received a letter from Dr. Suphatthorn Hasuwannakij requesting an investigation into the Health Ministry's use of budgetary and extra-budgetary funds for event organizing.

Dr. Suphatthorn stated that while the Health Ministry's management is concerning and many hospitals face declining reserves with insufficient funds for patient care activities, the ministry is extensively hiring event organizers using hospital funds. This risks inefficient and corrupt use of budget allocations. He urged the committee to gather data on event-organizing contracts in the Health Ministry, noting that Phetchabun province alone spent at least 7 million baht on events, with the national total potentially exceeding 500 million baht.

Ratchanok responded that events themselves are not inherently wrong if the public benefits. She questioned whether budget allocations for events in Phetchabun, known as a stronghold of the Health Minister, were distributed fairly across provinces or if unusual transfers occurred from other areas. She noted that budgets for such events typically stay under 500,000 baht, clustered around 490,000 baht. Ratchanok indicated that the Universal Coverage Scheme should be questioned about payment issues and past budget allocations' appropriateness and efficiency, with the matter to be brought before the committee for further follow-up.

Chinese fraud fugitive poses as durian vendor for months to evade policeLegacyThai police arrested a Chinese fraud suspect in Pathum Thani province on Tuesday, August 4, after she frequently changed her appearance, vehicles and accommodation to avoid detection. Officers from the Immigration Bureau carried out the operation targeting foreign fugitives using information provided by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police. As part of the operation, officers investigated the wanted Chinese suspect, identified as 47 year old Najia, who is wanted by Chinese authorities over invoice fraud. According to police, Najia used a private company to obtain invoices from several businesses without any genuine commercial transactions. Photo via MGR Online Chinese authorities allege the scheme was used to evade taxes, causing losses of more than 35 million yuan, or over 200 million baht, in Shanghai before she fled to Thailand. While living in Thailand, police said Najia worked as a durian vendor, travelling between Bangkok and orchards in Chanthaburi province. Investigators said she bought durians from growers before selling them in Bangkok and developed contacts with other fruit traders. Police added that she frequently changed her hairstyle, moved between different residences and switched vehicles in an effort to avoid being located. According to MGR Online, investigators posed as buyers interested in purchasing a large quantity of durians to gain the suspect’s trust. After confirming her identity, officers arrested her at her home in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani. Thai authorities said the woman will be deported to China to face legal proceedings. Photo via MGR Online According to MGR Online, police said Najia was not found to have committed any offences or violated Thai law during her stay in the country. In a similar case, Thai authorities arrested a Chinese national wanted by Taiwanese authorities in Surat Thani in July as he attempted to leave Thailand for a third country. Another Chinese fraud suspect was arrested in Phuket in April after allegedly accepting payments for billiards equipment that investigators said was never delivered to customers. Photo via MGR Online The story Chinese fraud fugitive poses as durian vendor for months to evade police as seen on Thaiger News.

A shooting erupted at a prominent school in the Bang Kruai area of Nonthaburi Province on the morning of August 7, 2025, causing panic among teachers, students, and staff. Local police, rescue teams, and emergency medical units immediately responded to control the situation and provide urgent assistance to those inside the school. Preliminary reports indicate four to five people were injured, and authorities have secured the perimeter while searching for the shooter and evacuating occupants to safety. Investigators are gathering evidence and examining details of the incident, including the shooter's identity, motive, and circumstances.

At a government house briefing on August 7, 2025, Raveevan Phuridej, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, announced that Thailand and Myanmar have signed a Terms of Reference for establishing a joint working group to manage water quality in border rivers and shared waterways. Phuridej described the agreement as a positive starting point, noting that Thailand, as a downstream country, is fully committed to creating a cooperative framework with shared responsibilities, particularly to address mining impacts on the Mekong River in Chiang Rai province.

The countries will develop a three-year master plan and annual action plans, including water quality monitoring standards. A Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising representatives from both nations and relevant agencies will also address health impacts on affected communities, with operations beginning in August. Phuridej will chair Thailand's delegation.

Phuridej emphasized the need for swift action and noted that field operations will require coordinated planning between both countries. When asked whether the agreement with Myanmar's central government would be effective given the presence of armed groups in Myanmar's border regions, Phuridej acknowledged the challenges but called the agreement a positive step, as the negotiations had taken considerable time. She also noted that Myanmar and Thailand's space agency (GISTDA) signed a separate Terms of Reference on August 6 to cooperate on satellite technology and geospatial data for peaceful purposes.

At 9:05 a.m. on August 7, 2025, the emergency hotline received a report of a car fire on the Srirat Expressway (elevated route level 2) in the Wong Sawang area of Bangkok's Bang Sue district. Firefighters from Bang Son station and expressway rescue services responded with fire trucks. The incident occurred near the Prachanukul toll entrance in the rightmost lane of the four-lane expressway, where a white Bangkok-registered private vehicle was found engulfed in flames at the front section. Firefighters spent approximately 10 minutes spraying water to bring the fire under control. The vehicle was nearly completely destroyed, but no one was injured or killed. The fire caused significant traffic jams on the expressway, prompting rescue personnel to quickly remove the burned wreckage from the area to restore normal traffic flow before beginning a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire.