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.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) successfully concluded its world-class international travel trade event, "Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+ 2026)," which took place from June 10 to 12, 2026, at ...

On August 13, 2025, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra posted a message in English via the X application expressing condolences on the death of former Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji, whom he deeply respected. Although Zhu stepped down from his political position quietly, the world remembers him as China's 'Economic Czar,' playing a crucial role in laying the foundation for and driving the major transformation that elevated China to its current status as a global economic superpower.

Thaksin recalled his first meeting with Zhu, which was originally scheduled as a brief 15-minute courtesy conversation but extended into a full hour of discussion before Thaksin took office as Prime Minister. Since then, Thaksin developed a personal relationship and working collaboration with Zhu, sharing a vision to promote Asian prosperity, mutual trust, and a commitment to strengthening Thai-Chinese relations.

Thaksin fondly remembered Zhu's visit to Thailand in 2001, during which the Chinese Prime Minister supported Thailand by arranging currency swap agreements and pledging to purchase Thai goods during Thailand's financial crisis recovery period. Thaksin expressed his sincere condolences to Zhu's family and the Chinese people on this significant loss.

The Election Commission held a closed meeting on August 13, 2025, to review Sawaeng Boonmee's fiscal-year 2568 performance. The current board voted 5-2 to pass his evaluation, permitting him to remain as secretary until his contract expires on March 31, 2025.

This vote reversed a prior assessment by the previous Election Commission board chaired by Ittiphon Boonprakong, which had rated Sawaeng's performance below the 60 percent benchmark, a result that would have triggered his removal under contract terms. The current board cited contractual provisions requiring the sitting commission to conduct evaluations and noted that precedent does not allow former boards to assess incoming officials. On July 15, the board voted to nullify the previous evaluation and conduct its own assessment, resulting in today's passing vote.