General Decha Mekraksri, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation and chairman of the Thai Cycling Association, announced that the Thailand Open cycling championship will be held in Chainat province on August 15-16, 2025. The competition includes flat mountain bike and road cycling races for a royal trophy and is jointly organized by the cycling association, Chainat province, the provincial tourism and sports office, and related agencies. The event has generated significant interest nationwide, with hundreds of athletes registered and accommodations nearly fully booked throughout the province. Organizers expect over 1,000 athletes and supporters, which will stimulate the local economy while also allowing participants to visit important Chainat attractions including Chainat Bird Park, one of Asia's largest, and sacred sites venerated by locals such as Wat Pak Khlong Makham Khao, Wat Kosarataram, and Wat Thammamulivaravihara.

The mountain bike race opening ceremony on Saturday, August 15 at 8:30 a.m. will be presided over by Chainat Governor Pumiwat Udontrap. The cycling association will also organize a health cycling activity called "Khwan Jai Chainat" under the TCA Green Cycling project promoting environmental conservation and reducing global warming, with the governor joining cyclists from various clubs and hundreds of local residents on a designated route before the athletes are released.

The road cycling opening ceremony on Sunday, August 16 at 7:30 a.m. will be presided over by Jitthana Yingthuanglap, chairman of the Chainat Provincial Administration Organization. The competition will be livestreamed on the Thailand Cycling Association Facebook page, TCA Channel Facebook, and TCA Channel YouTube for sports fans to follow both days.

Chainat Governor Pumiwat Udontrap expressed gratitude to the Thai Cycling Association for selecting Chainat as host, noting that the province has prepared comprehensively to ensure the competition runs smoothly and creates a positive impression for all participants. He emphasized that while Chainat is a small central province, it has many important and interesting tourist attractions, and hosting such a major cycling event not only promotes sports but also boosts tourism and the local economy.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Division raided target addresses in Phrae and Pathum Thani provinces, arresting a youth suspect after tracing IP activity linked to stolen personal data being sold on the dark web, with evidence pointing to additional suspects. On August 13, 2025, Pachon Anantsil, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, filed an official complaint with police to investigate personal data leaks originating from the Department of Land Transport and Department of Internal Administration systems. Initial investigation identified suspicious IP addresses displaying abnormal data-search behavior from three user accounts: Bangkok Noi District Office, Expressway Authority of Thailand, and Surasee Force. The Transport Ministry suspended access for all three agencies and coordinated with cyber police to examine accounts that queried VIP information, while all connected agencies reset passwords across the Department of Land Transport's e-Service system to prevent further damage. Police leadership assigned a dedicated task force to handle the case, with Deputy Commander Thinkorn Rangmatyai as investigation head. Officers questioned relevant staff and IT personnel from both agencies to trace system access patterns and unauthorized entry points. Investigators determined the perpetrators did not directly breach the database but instead hacked user accounts with system access, then extracted data and sold it through Dark Web, Telegram, or Discord platforms after using VIP information to verify authenticity. The task force traced the origin of suspicious IP addresses to Phrae and Pathum Thani provinces, obtained search warrants, and raided residences in both areas, bringing in the youth suspect for questioning. Initial findings and IT evidence recovered during the search indicated the suspect's involvement in the crime and will lead to charges against other participants.

Khon Kaen — A human skeleton was found scattered among rocks on Phu Pha Daeng in Manjakiri district of Khon Kaen province, prompting police to seek relatives of the deceased.

The remains were discovered by villagers collecting forest products on the mountain in Ban Khok Sung, Nangam subdistrict, at around 5 p.m. on August 12.

Pol Col Theerathat Phongsuwan, superintendent of Manjakiri Police Station, led police investigators, forensic officers, rescue workers and a doctor from Manjakiri Hospital to inspect the scene after being notified by the villagers.

Officers found human remains scattered on the ground and among gaps in the rocks. The remains appeared to include most parts of a body, including a skull, a section of scalp with hair, a lower jaw, arm and leg bones and parts of the spine. A pelvis has not yet been found.

A brown blanket with a bear cartoon pattern and clothing believed to have belonged to the deceased were also found nearby. The clothing included a black shirt with the word "DRIVE" printed across the chest. No trousers, skirt, or shoes were found.

Police said they were initially unable to determine the person's identity, sex or age.

During the investigation, officers interviewed villagers who had been collecting forest products in the area. One villager, identified as Tao, said he had seen a young man with golden-highlighted hair resembling the hair found with the remains.

The man was believed to have been around 20 to 30 years old. The villager did not know his name but said he was from Kaeng Khro district in neighbouring Chaiyaphum province. He was reportedly seen in the area about a year ago.

Police said the information was consistent with the lower jaw found at the scene, which was relatively small and appeared to belong to a young adult. However, the information has yet to be confirmed.

All recovered skeletal remains have been collected and sent to Srinagarind Hospital for forensic examination and identification.

Manjakiri police are appealing to anyone who may have information about a missing person matching the description to contact Manjakiri Police Station or Manjakiri Hospital so that the remains can eventually be handed over to the family for a religious funeral.

A father sparked heavy criticism on social media after posting a photo of himself feeding his one-year-old spicy basil fried rice and asking other parents in a large parenting group whether their children eat the same way. The post was shared in a group called "New Moms Chatting" with 180,000 members, showing him feeding the toddler boxed rice with chili peppers. The caption read: "Do other people's kids eat like my son? One year old eating basil rice."

After the post went live, numerous members began criticizing the father's actions, arguing that one-year-olds cannot tolerate heavily seasoned food, which can cause mouth irritation, digestive upset, and stomach pain. Notable comments included: "Feel sorry for the child—that's a terrible answer," "My son likes spicy and salty food and won't eat bland food," "I have a child too and have traveled the same way, but I prepared in advance and never fed my child anything like this. It's not food for a one-year-old," "At one and a half years old I still don't give mine this—he'll get used to the taste and risk kidney disease or diabetes," "We understand travel is necessary, but did it have to be basil rice?" "Please stop feeding your son like this. Take time to research nutrition for him," and "As a father myself, I'm worried seeing this. You're harming your child. Do you realize it? I'm warning you out of good intention."

Chainat is a small province with around 300,000 residents, a quiet agricultural area without major natural attractions or the glamour of larger cities. Yet in football, the province has truly found its identity. Chainat Hornbill began their professional journey in 2009 in Thai League 3 (formerly Division 2) in the Northern Zone. In their debut year, they finished third, just missing promotion playoffs. The following year, the "Killer Hornbills" maintained momentum, finishing second in the Northern Zone qualifiers and advancing through the national playoff round to become one of four teams promoted to Thai League 2 (formerly Division 1). In the 2011 season, the club underwent significant changes under club president Anucha Nakasat, who aimed not merely to survive in League 2 but to reach League 1 within a single season. A key signing was "Dummy" Phuwadol Suwannathat for the forward position. He repaid the club's faith by scoring 21 goals, claiming the Golden Boot and leading Chainat to promotion to League 1 as runners-up.

Thereafter, Chainat became a fixture in Thai League 1 for five consecutive seasons. Though never title contenders, the club's survival in the top division on a limited budget was remarkable. With other clubs spending heavily to sign top talent, Chainat operated differently as a grassroots, low-cost team. Even with former Liverpool player Florent Sinama Pongolle attempting to save the team, they were relegated in 2016 after finishing second-bottom. However, they returned to League 1 after just one season, only to drop back to League 2 in 2019, where they have remained.

Today, though Chainat is no longer a top-division club, the people of Chainat continue to support their team passionately, as it remains a source of local pride.

Building on a Shoestring

One hallmark of Chainat's football approach is its emphasis on youth development. The club scouts young players from across the region to feed its academy. Local district schools have also taken football seriously, including Chainat Provincial School (Chainat Hornbill Academy), which won the Seven-Sport Games championship recently, as well as Rajprachanukul 46, Hunkapit, and Kuruprachasart schools. These schools provide platforms for youth to develop fully. As these young players mature, Chainat Hornbill recruits them into the senior squad. Many have progressed to the national level, such as Patipat Phothep, a promising midfielder who has been selected for the Thailand U-23 national team. Another example is "Big" Payak Seephanam, a young man from Laos who came to Chainat as a child, developed his football skills there, and eventually became a key player for both Chainat and the Lao national team.

Football and the People of Chainat

Another crucial factor is that the people of Chainat are equally passionate about football as residents of other provinces. The province organizes football tournaments at village, subdistrict, and district levels throughout the year, supplemented by traveling football events that provide platforms for players of all ages. This creates deep-rooted attachment to the sport from childhood. When families want their children to become footballers, parents provide full support, backed by schools in each district that nurture young talent. Additionally, local authorities assist in organizing competitions.

PHUKET: Tourists visiting Kathu Waterfall were left bewildered after an elderly woman confronted them and told them to swim elsewhere, reportedly claiming that she owned the waterfall.