Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin revealed on August 23 that he received a report from Arttapon Charoenchanasa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, following a helicopter survey of the upstream area in Pua District, Nan Province, which was hit by heavy rain, landslides, and road closures. Multiple villages required emergency supply drops by helicopter. The survey found agricultural plots on steep, high-elevation terrain within the national forest reserve where corn was planted nearly to the hilltops. These steep upstream areas face severe risk of soil erosion and water runoff during heavy rainfall. Suchat ordered the Department of Forestry to urgently meet with communities and reinforce that agricultural permits come with strict conditions and rules. He stressed that permission to live and farm does not mean unlimited land use, especially in upstream and steep zones requiring soil and water conservation measures. Suchat stated: "I have instructed the Department of Forestry to quickly engage with the people and make clear that areas the state permits for farming have conditions and rules that must be followed—particularly planting native forest species, maintaining soil, and shifting from single-crop highland agriculture to agroforestry that preserves watershed systems." According to local data, Ban Khun Goon is a traditional community where people have long lived and farmed. Some now operate under state land allocation programs across three sub-watersheds with 11 communities covering at least 4,000 rai, mostly growing corn. A few areas, such as Moo 2 in Phu Kha Subdistrict with 37 households, have begun transitioning to coffee and higher-value crops. Suchat clarified: "We do not view all indigenous residents as encroachers, but once the state designates farming areas, they must follow the conditions and rules—particularly watershed management through tree planting, terracing, reduced pesticide use, and soil and water conservation. These are responsibilities everyone must share." He stated that the recent flash floods and landslides in Nan must serve as a critical lesson for managing highland areas, requiring careful assessment of which zones should be farmed, which restored to forest, and which suited to appropriate agriculture. The minister ordered the Department of Forestry to systematically survey and map highland areas while building public understanding of the importance of perennial trees, reduced monoculture, and cash crops compatible with forest species—such as coffee, cocoa, avocado, and fruit trees—to generate income alongside conservation.

Thailand's para-cycling team is undergoing intensive training at the Sports Science Center at Chiang Mai's 700 Years Stadium to prepare for the Asian Para Games, following a training program lasting more than two years. The team aims to secure at least one gold medal, working under Swiss head coach Christian Stauffer alongside team manager Associate Professor Dr. Ann Mahakeeta and Malaysian coaching staff tasked with raising athlete performance across all areas.

The team's hopes rest on sprint cyclist Jaturong Niwantti, supported by 30-year-old hand-cyclist Arthchai Sriwijai from the MH5 category, who rebuilt his life following an accident at age 18 before becoming a national athlete. Sriwijai won two silver medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games and finished 7th at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Another key athlete is 21-year-old Patcharaphat Seesen from Nong Bua Lamphu in the WH2 hand-cycling category, born with weak limb muscles who has risen to 3rd in world rankings in her division after winning one gold and one silver medal at the Asian Para Games hosted by Thailand.

Both Sriwijai and Seesen, along with the rest of Thailand's para-cycling team, are targeting success at the Asian Para Games, using sport as a catalyst to transform their own lives and those of their families. The cycling competition at the Asian Para Games features 34 gold medals total, with Thailand sending nine athletes across 17 events between October 18–24. Meanwhile, General Withaya Kanthaubul, deputy chairman of the Thailand Association for the Blind, visited the team to encourage blind cyclists before the opening of the Thailand Blind Judo Championship at the National Sports University's Chiang Mai campus, serving as an important warm-up venue for athletes ahead of international competition.

Kamonwan Yodsapech, an 18-year-old Thai tennis player ranked 636th in doubles, partnered with Chinese player Zhang Ruiyuan (ranked 623rd) to win the women's doubles championship at the W15 Tianjin professional tennis tournament in Tianjin, China on August 22, 2026. The prize pool for the tournament was $15,000, or approximately 494,400 baht.

In the final, Kamonwan and Zhang Ruiyuan pulled off an upset victory against the second-seeded pair of Taiwan's Lin Fanguan (ranked 504th) and Yang Yaying (ranked 484th), winning 2-1 in sets with scores of 6-3, 1-6, and a super tiebreak of 10-7. The champions divided $955 in prize money, or approximately 31,495 baht, and each earned 15 ranking points.

This marks Kamonwan's fourth women's doubles championship of the year and her sixth professional title since 2025.

Thailand's national football team lost the first leg of the 2026 AFF Championship final 0-2 to Vietnam on August 22 at Rajamangala Stadium. The second leg will be played at Minh Dai Hang Stadium in Hanoi on August 26, where Thailand must win by at least two goals to force extra time, or win 3-0 to claim the championship.

Captain Saraech Yooyuen said after the match: "We still have luck on our side in a home-and-away final. We have another game, another 90 minutes to fight. I think a 0-2 score isn't too far to recover from. Everyone is still battling and will try to come back in the second game."

He added: "What we saw today is that they scored on two counter-attacks against us. We conceded too easily, so we need more focus. In the second game, I believe they will still set up defensively and wait for counter-attacks as before. We must be alert to their breaks and try to create more scoring chances."

"I think the mental state of everyone is quite good," Saraech continued. "Everyone still believes that in the second game, if we score early, momentum will come back to us."

Thailand will face Vietnam in the second leg of the 2026 AFF Championship final at Minh Dinh Stadium on August 26 at 8 p.m., with the match broadcast live on TrueVisions Now.

On August 23, 2025, Nathi Theerarojpong, 69, a former activist who took up complaints from troubled Chiang Mai residents, opened up to reporters after completing his sentence in the "Ufan share-scheme" public fraud case. Wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet, he explained that he was convicted in the Ufan fraud case, for which the court imposed a 12,655-year sentence. However, sentences in such cases are capped at 20 years maximum. He fought through three levels of court over nine years, then received sentence reductions from the Department of Corrections on three separate occasions, ultimately serving nearly 11 years in prison. He was imprisoned starting August 25, 2015, and was released on August 14, 2025.

When released on August 14, an outstanding old case from a different plaintiff emerged, and he was taken to Chiang Rai City Police Station and held for two nights before being brought before Chiang Rai Court. The court granted him an electronic monitoring bracelet and bail of 50,000 baht for the outstanding case. He now reports regularly.

"While imprisoned, I did what I could to benefit the Department and the prison. I taught English and primarily translated English documents for Khlong Prem Prison. After 11 years inside, I have come to believe that inmates are a mix of good and bad people, but I genuinely believe the good ones are far more numerous. I discussed with fellow inmates that when I am released, I will work with full dedication. With perhaps only 10 years of life remaining, I want to dedicate myself to society. I wish to establish the 'Alliance of Good People Returning to Society' group, aligned with the prison motto: 'Care with heart, correct with compassion, to return good people to society.'

"I will bring together former inmates, current inmates preparing for release, their families, and neutral-minded citizens to give us a chance to help develop our nation. We will perform our duties to the best of our ability for the good of our country." On August 25, 2025, he will pay respects at the Khruba Sri Wichai monument at the base of Doi Suthep and establish the group on that auspicious day—marking exactly 11 years since his incarceration began on August 25, 2015. The group, "Alliance of Good People Returning to Society," will be announced across all social media platforms, welcoming current inmates, former inmates, and anyone who believes in supporting their rehabilitation and development efforts.

He also noted the contrast between his case and drug trafficking convictions, where some sentenced to life or death have been released within 7–8 years, whereas he served nearly 11 years despite a maximum 20-year sentence. He views this as a matter of Department of Corrections procedure and trusts that the Department will apply wisdom and justice in balancing societal and individual welfare as circumstances evolve.

Thailand’s Deep South hit by 51 disturbances overnightLegacyFifty-one disturbances were reported across Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala from 8pm yesterday, August 22, with two people injured in Narathiwat, according to the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command (ISOC 4 Forward). ISOC 4 Forward issued an update today, August 23, saying that as of midnight yesterday, it had recorded 22 disturbances in Narathiwat, 11 in Pattani and 18 in Yala. Photo via Army Military Force In Narathiwat, four disturbances were reported in Chanae district, one in Si Sakhon, one in Waeng, three in Bacho, one in Mueang Narathiwat and one in Cho-airong. A further five disturbances were reported in Ra-ngae district, one in Sungai Kolok, two in Tak Bai, one in Yi-ngo, one in Rueso and one in Sungai Padi. Initial reports said two people were injured in the province. Photo via Army Military Force In Pattani, three disturbances were recorded in Yarang district, two in Yaring, three in Nong Chik, one in Sai Buri, one in Thung Yang Daeng and one in Khok Pho. No injuries were initially reported in Pattani. In Yala, 18 disturbances were reported. The breakdown provided by the command listed eight in Than To district, six in Bannang Sata and two in Raman. No injuries were reported. Photo via Army Military Force Security personnel were sent to inspect and secure affected areas, assist residents and collect evidence. The Fourth Army Region commander ordered units to prioritise public safety while working to restore normal conditions as soon as possible. ISOC 4 Forward asked residents to exercise additional caution and avoid locations where disturbances had occurred and areas restricted by security personnel. People who encounter suspicious individuals, objects or vehicles were advised not to approach or touch them and not to take action themselves. Instead, they should immediately contact personnel in their area or call the ISOC 4 Forward 24-hour hotline on 1341. Photo via Army Military Force Related news

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