Kraiw Pet Chokbundalsuk, a Saksiod News journalist, showcases a confection called "egg fish candy" made by Sunanta Janruam, a resident of Bo Chak Village in Nong Pla Moh Subdistrict, Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province. She produces the treat as a supplementary income during holidays.

Sunanta explains that Thai-Ywan people historically lived in harmony with palm trees, utilizing every part—leaves, fruit, and trunk.

During the palm fruit season from June to September each year, ripe palms fall naturally and emit a sweet aroma with beautiful golden flesh inside. Locals traditionally prepare "egg fish candy" by mashing ripe palm fruit into fine golden pulp, then mixing it with sticky rice flour, salt, and boiled water. The dough is kneaded until smooth.

The mixture is then shaped into long tapered cylinders with pointed ends and folded in half to resemble fish eggs—the origin of the candy's name.

The candies are boiled in syrup until they float to the surface, then coated with toasted grated coconut and packaged in palm leaf containers or other prepared packaging for sale at 20 baht per box.

The candy's appeal lies in its soft, chewy texture and sweet, rich flavor combining palm sugar and coconut with the distinctive aroma of ripe palm fruit, making it popular with consumers.

Interested buyers can contact Auau Sununta on Facebook or call 06-3998-1624.

The World Health Organization warned on August 13 that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the deadliest in history. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters that at its current pace, the 2026 outbreak would surpass the 2014-2016 epidemic, which killed at least 11,000 people. Since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, confirmed cases have reached at least 4,470, with 2,063 deaths. The WHO hopes to bring the spread under control within three months but cautioned that this goal means controlling transmission rather than ending the outbreak entirely. Mohamed Jannah, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said: "We are chasing the virus but the virus is ahead of us." Research revealed that the Bundibugyo virus strain began circulating in February and was initially misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid fever. The current outbreak has a fatality rate of up to 46.2 percent.

On August 13, 2025, crowds gathered at the Thao Suranari Monument in Nakhon Ratchasima to receive free Monthong durian from Anuwat Nrong, owner of the renowned Pom Goong Pen seafood restaurant. Over 2.5 tons of durian, worth nearly 300,000 baht, were distributed one piece per person, with each fruit weighing more than 2 kilograms.

Anuwat explained that he brought the durian to give back to his customers who have supported his restaurant business. He views the act as both a way to share profits with the community and to make good on a vow he made at the Thao Suranari Monument, asking for smooth business operations. The generous distribution drew smiles from all the residents who came to receive the fruit.

Pattaya is launching the fourth Pattaya International Film Festival 2026 from 22-30 August 2026 under the theme "The Cinematic Wave" to advance Thailand as a regional hub for the film industry and creative economy. The festival will connect arts, culture, tourism, investment, and creative economy to elevate Pattaya as an international film festival destination and a UNESCO Creative City of Film, aligned with Pattaya's urban development plan for 2023-2027.

The event is a collaboration between Pattaya City, Chon Buri Cultural Office, Pattaya Special Economic Zone, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and Mono Production Company, a major private partner with strength in producing and distributing quality film, series, programmes, and world-class sports content across television and streaming platforms. The partnership combines large-scale event management, live broadcast capabilities, and comprehensive marketing communication.

In the first half of 2026, 302 foreign film crews applied for permits with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, generating 4,025 million baht in investment value—reflecting global content creators' confidence in Thailand as a key production hub in Asia. This figure exceeds half the total foreign film investment for all of 2025, and with major productions scheduled for the second half of 2026, Thailand is on track to set a new foreign film investment record.

Damrong Kiarti Pinitkul, Pattaya Deputy Mayor, stated that "Pattaya is advancing toward becoming a creative city of film and culture, using creative thinking as a vital mechanism for urban development. Film is soft power that conveys identity, inspires, and connects people worldwide while creating diverse economic opportunities. The 2026 festival is not merely a film event but a platform for exchanging knowledge, culture, and international innovation, inviting filmmakers, investors, tourists, and businesses to drive Thailand's creative industries. Pattaya is equipped with infrastructure, tourism potential, skilled workforce, and diverse filming locations, positioning it as a regional film industry centre and leveraging soft power to build sustainable economy, tourism, and urban development."

On August 13, 2025, Pol. Maj. Gen. Surpol Prembut, commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division, authorized an operation led by Pol. Col. Sila Kanjruk, chief of the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit 5, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Kuekiat Vongphan and officers from Unit 2 to apprehend operators of the major gambling website bigwinauto in Khon Kaen province. Five suspects were arrested with the website processing 10 million baht monthly, or 120 million baht annually.

Investigators discovered the website was illegally providing various gambling services. After gathering evidence and obtaining search and arrest warrants from the criminal court, police arrested five individuals: a 36-year-old website owner and beneficiary; a 25-year-old website administrator; a 28-year-old website administrator; a 21-year-old account manager; and a 35-year-old account manager.

Police seized 35 bank account books, 41 ATM cards, five mobile phones, one computer, and one desktop computer with peripherals. Preliminary charges were filed for operating unlicensed electronic gambling services, advertising, and soliciting participation. The suspects were detained pending further legal proceedings.

Nong Bua Lamphu — A 68-year-old man was found dead inside a charcoal kiln after he was believed to have inhaled toxic smoke while crawling inside to collect charcoal that was still smouldering. His body was burned down to only a small amount of bone, making identification difficult.

Pol. Lt. Col. Songkran Kanesuk, a deputy investigation inspector at Mueang Nong Bua Lamphu Police Station, was notified that human bones had been found burned inside a charcoal kiln in a rice field about 3 kilometres from a village. He coordinated with an on-duty doctor from Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital and the Khuntham Nong Bua Lamphu rescue team to inspect the scene.

The incident took place in the area of Ban Nong Saeng, Moo 8, Hua Na subdistrict, Mueang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province. Police found a large charcoal kiln measuring about 3 metres in diameter. Its opening was about 60 centimetres wide and 80 centimetres high, large enough for a person to crawl inside.

Parts of the kiln had been broken open, except around the entrance. Village headman Saiyan said villagers had broken open the structure so they could spray water inside and put out the flames. Rescue workers used lights and hoes to search inside the kiln. They recovered a small amount of white bone fragments and placed them in a cloth. Most of the remains were tiny and badly fragmented.

The man who discovered the remains was identified as 27-year-old Thawatchai Hueangsri, the grandson of 68-year-old Veera Dana, who owned the rice field and charcoal kiln. Thawatchai told investigators that Veera normally stayed overnight in the rice field and only occasionally returned home when he had errands to attend to.

Thawatchai said he last saw his grandfather that morning when Veera came home and asked him to buy painkillers because he was suffering from pain in his legs due to his age. Veera left home at about 07:00, telling his grandson that he planned to open the kiln and take out charcoal to sell. He then disappeared.

At about 19:00, Veera's younger brother went to the family home looking for him. Thawatchai was asked to go to the rice field and bring his grandfather back to meet his brother in the village. When Thawatchai arrived, he searched the area and called out for Veera but received no response. His bicycle and personal belongings were still there, but Veera was nowhere to be found.

He then looked inside the charcoal kiln and saw that its entrance had been opened, with signs that someone had already removed some charcoal. However, flames were still burning inside. Thawatchai said he shone a light into the kiln and saw what appeared to be a human hip bone. A stainless-steel basin about 30 centimetres in diameter was lying nearby.

He immediately suspected that the remains belonged to his grandfather because Veera had told him he would be opening the kiln that day. Thawatchai alerted relatives and village authorities, who contacted police. Villagers then helped break open the kiln and spray water inside.