UOB Thailand organized the annual 2026 UOB Heartbeat Run to raise funds supporting education for Thai children through the UOB My Digital Space (UOB MDS) project, the bank's core education initiative aimed at reducing educational inequality by bringing digital technology and learning to remote schools nationwide. Over 2,700 bank executives, employees with families, customers, and business partners participated to promote wellness and give back to society, as part of the UOB group's annual volunteer activities held in 18 countries globally.

The UOB My Digital Space project is run jointly by UOB Thailand, the Hundred Powers of Education program, and the Yuwapattana Foundation to help resource-limited schools access essential technology, learning materials, and digital skills. The program currently covers 10 schools and has created learning opportunities for over 5,500 students.

Richard Maloney, Chief Executive Officer of UOB Thailand, stated that the 2026 UOB Heartbeat Run demonstrates the power of unity among friends, employees, families, customers, and partners to create sustainable positive impact both through exercise for good health and fundraising to support digital classroom education. He emphasized that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and develop their full potential regardless of where they grow up, and that providing schools with proper tools enables teachers to enhance teaching and expands learning opportunities for students.

The 2026 UOB Heartbeat Run took place as a fun run on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Suphachalasai Field, with running distances of 2.8 kilometers and 5.3 kilometers, plus a fancy dress costume contest for runners and entertainment activities for children and adults. The bank will announce the total donations and number of additional students to be supported through UOB MDS after fundraising closes this year.

Currently, the UOB My Digital Space fundraising has expanded to 10 remote schools, creating learning opportunities for over 5,500 students and significantly improving educational access. The 2026 UOB Heartbeat Run was also an environmentally friendly event, using 100% recycled plastic water bottles, wooden medals that double as bottle openers, recycling bins for plastic collection, waste separation stations, donated surplus food to nearby communities, and recyclable materials throughout the event.

On August 19, 2025, Parit Wacharasindhu, a list-based MP and deputy head of the Move Forward Party, posted on his Facebook page stating that on August 18, he learned through a media interview that Lieutenant Colonel Sorachat Wichit Suwannaprom, an MP, had filed a police complaint to press defamation charges against him on August 9.

According to public information, Parit has now been hit with three defamation cases stemming from his investigation into parliamentary election fraud. The three politicians who filed complaints are: Thongsak Tongsi, Deputy Prime Minister from Bueng Kan Province; Suksomruay Wanthaniykul, Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister from Amnat Charoen Province; and Lieutenant Colonel Sorachat Wichit Suwannaprom from Nong Bua Lamphu Province.

Parit stated that in his role as a people's representative, he has conducted and will continue to investigate various issues based on data and reasoning, clearly presenting what are confirmed facts, what can be verified by authorities, what questions need clarification, and what are opinions or accounts from information providers.

Should the cases reach court, Parit believes that the truth, documentary evidence that can be obtained during trial, and his clear intent to investigate in the public interest will protect and uphold justice.

Parit added that if the legal proceedings require him to travel to different provinces, he will use the opportunity to listen to local concerns and engage in public dialogue. He noted that since joining Move Forward Party, he has kept a personal record of provinces visited for work or activities, and has now covered 62 provinces. The remaining 15 provinces he has not yet visited include Bueng Kan, Amnat Charoen, and Nong Bua Lamphu—the very three provinces where he must now defend the cases.

Drug offender’s father killed in explosion while fighting policeLegacyA Thai father in Chiang Rai lost his life in an explosion yesterday, August 18, while trying to hold off police to allow his son, who is wanted for drug offences, to escape from arrest. Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) Division 3 and soldiers went to search a house in Huai Chomphu subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai district yesterday in an attempt to arrest the wanted suspect, 19 year old Sinlachai Prangpai-ngam. He reportedly possessed methamphetamine, locally known as Yaba, intended for sale. Officers had to withdraw from the area shortly after arriving as Sinlachai and his father, 45 year old Weeraphan, were armed with a long shotgun, a sword, and a grenade. Unexpectedly, the bomb in Weeraphan’s hand detonated on its own, resulting in his death. One police officer, Phongsak Khlangthaisong, was also injured by shrapnel. The officer was taken to Fang Hospital in Fang district, Chiang Mai. His condition was reported as safe. Photo via ThaiRath Police then sought support from a forensic doctor, public prosecutor, local administration officials, forensic officers, and bomb disposal personnel for further investigation at the scene. Officers found a shotgun inside the house and a long sword outside. A revolver was also found on the deceased’s waist. A further review of Weeraphan’s criminal history revealed that he was also wanted in connection with a drug offence, having reportedly distributed drugs in the area. According to the report on ThasiRath, Sinlachai managed to escape from the scene and remains at large.  Investigations into his arrest are ongoing. Photo via KhaoSod In a separate operation targeting drug offenders at a palm plantation in Narathiwat earlier this month, one of the suspects refused to cooperate with the police and opened fire, killing two officers at the scene. Three other officers were injured in the gunfight, and the suspect escaped. Last September, a Thai police officer was killed while carrying out an operation to arrest a drug dealer in a rented room in Phuket. The other officers then forced their way into the room and killed the suspect, who had continued to resist arrest. Related news

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On August 19, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiruk, also Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, signed an urgent letter as chairman of the Northern Region Flood and Drought Prevention and Mitigation Committee, directing the governors of Nan, Phayao, and Lampun provinces to implement comprehensive flood management measures across all dimensions.

The Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms, heavy rain in some areas, and strong winds during August 2025 that could cause flash floods, flash flooding, and riverbank overflow. In response, the committee has established eight priority measures for the three provinces to implement immediately: (1) Close monitoring and situation assessment by coordinating upstream and neighboring provincial data to forecast trends and provide timely warnings, with emphasis on repeatedly flooded areas, dense communities, economic zones, tourist attractions, and key transportation routes; (2) Enhanced alert systems through Cell Broadcast integration and coordination with provincial, district, local, headman, and community leaders to ensure public awareness; (3) Personnel, machinery, and KA-32 helicopter readiness with staff, boats, and pumps stationed at vulnerable points operating 24 hours, including helicopter standby for evacuations and relief deliveries to hard-to-reach areas; (4) Temporary shelters with adequate facilities, food, drinking water, healthcare systems, and kitchen support; (5) Continuous water level updates for rivers, streams, low-lying areas, raft operators, restaurants, riverside residents, and travelers; (6) Emergency operation centers prioritizing vulnerable groups with coordination through the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department; (7) Accelerated recovery and compensation surveys for rapid and fair government aid distribution under the 2568 Emergency Victim Relief Regulations; and (8) Coordination with Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry units for 24-hour flood response, equipment relocation, and post-flood cleanup.

These measures implement Prime Minister's Order 275/2569 establishing five regional flood and drought prevention committees to efficiently alleviate suffering in northern Thailand.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthummaphand led a team announcement today presenting a vision and strategic plan to drive trade, tourism, and community economics under Thailand's Trade & Services Engine cluster framework. Thailand faces five major global shifts—geopolitical realignment, risk diversification, digital technology and AI adoption, environmental pressures, and demographic aging—that directly threaten the nation's economic structure and competitiveness. As a mid-sized country caught between larger powers, Thailand must shift its approach, reduce dependence on traditional markets, adapt to green-economy standards, leverage technology to identify opportunities faster, and manage a shrinking workforce amid rising welfare costs.

The government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is deploying a four-pillar economic cluster framework: investment, trade and services, human capital, and public-sector efficiency. Suphajee leads the Trade & Services Engine pillar, covering tourism and wellness, creative economy, agriculture and food, retail and wholesale, and international trade. This has been translated into four working groups: creative economy and visitor economy; agricultural products and food security; community economy and SMEs; and international trade, supported by nine experts tasked with strategic recommendations and real-world delivery.

In agriculture, Thailand must address the full supply chain: upstream, midstream, and downstream. With 7.7 million farming households representing 29.3% of the population and using 147 million rai of land but generating only 8.8% of GDP, productivity must rise through value-added processing and new market creation under demand-driven principles. Thai rice prices have improved to around $400 per ton, outpacing India and Vietnam at times, but farmers must benefit from high prices rather than selling early. Durian earned over 130 billion baht this year yet remains mostly sold fresh; accelerated processing and storage are critical.

Thailand has approximately 3.28 million SMEs, representing 99.5% of all businesses, and must be upgraded from startup through scale, leadership, and regional-player status via capital, technology, market access, regulatory reform, and anti-nominee protections. For international trade, Thailand must retain existing markets, expand in cities, provinces, and states, accelerate negotiations using free-trade agreements, boost local content, and integrate SMEs into global supply chains. The strategy aims to push Thai products into new markets while bringing markets into Thailand, anchored by farmers, communities, and small businesses.