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.

The Department of Local Administration (DLA) has opened a centre for local government exam candidates who did not appear on the official candidate list to check their scores directly through government channels between August 13-31, 2026, from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays. Deputy Interior Minister Worasissadej Liang-prasoetyodej said this initiative addresses concerns raised during an earlier audit and the creation of a revised candidate list. He stressed that anyone with doubts must have a channel to verify their information, and every step must be traceable and verifiable. Candidates can file requests at two locations: the first floor of the Suwattana Building at the Department of Local Administration headquarters, or any provincial local administration office nationwide, making the process more accessible without requiring travel to Bangkok. The department has appointed a special committee to receive requests, verify scores, and disclose results according to set criteria, with all findings reported to the director-general to ensure systematic, standardised, and auditable procedures. Worasissadej reiterated that all actions must uphold correctness, transparency, and verifiability, aiming to maintain fairness and public confidence in the local government examination process. Candidates wishing to check their scores may submit requests from August 13-31 during office hours at either location.