Luang Pu Si Chantasiri of Khao Tham Bun Nakh Temple in Tak Li District, Nakhon Sawan Province, is a renowned Buddhist scholar whose amulets and sacred objects enjoy widespread popularity. His second-edition longevity amulet, created in 1974, was cast in four materials: gold, silver, bronze, and copper. The oval amulet features a complete seated meditation figure on the front with mystical inscriptions at the collar, and the word 'longevity' inscribed below. The reverse displays a fan-shaped yantra with Khmer characters arranged in a row, with the Thai numeral 1974 positioned under the left and right borders. The top inscription reads 'Luang Pu Si Chantasiri, age 125, Khao Tham Bun Nakh Temple,' making it a notably rare amulet.

Luang Pho Pring Intachote of Bang Pra Kok Temple in Bangkok District was a venerable Buddhist scholar whose first-edition stamped amulet from 1963 has become highly sought after. The oval amulet with connecting loop features a full seated meditation figure on a pedestal, with the inscription 'Phra Kru Wisut Silajariya (Pring)' encircling the image. Below the pedestal base is marked '1963,' and the reverse shows the principal Buddha image in the Maravichaya pose with Khmer script at the crown. These amulets were distributed to brave soldiers departing for the Indochina War during a celebration marking the monk's 83rd birthday.

Luang Pho Chom Techvaro, abbot of Tamnak Temple in Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani Province, launched a restoration project for a historic mondop hall over 300 years old. To fund the restoration, he created 'Chana Jon' amulets featuring an oval design with a loop, a half-figure Buddha image on the front inscribed with 'Phra Kru Pathum Artthasunton (Chom),' and on the reverse the Khmer letter 'Na' with two lines of text identifying the monk and temple. The amulet remains highly popular among collectors.

Luang Pho Ban Buddhaso, the first abbot of Upanantharam Temple (also known as Dhan Temple) in Ranong and the first provincial sangha leader of Ranong, was a distinguished contemporary scholar of Luang Pho Chaem of Chalom Temple in Phuket. His sacred objects include bronze statues, robes, amulets, and coins. His first-edition amulet, created in 1954, was produced in limited quantities numbering only a few hundred pieces and commands high prices reaching five digits. The oval amulet with loop features a half-figure Buddha on the front inscribed 'Luang Pho Ban, Dhan Ranong Temple' with side borders, while the reverse displays mystical inscriptions and the Thai numeral 1954. These amulets are now highly sought after by collectors.

Luang Pu Yot Shinwangso, formally Phra Kru Sunton Tammakij, was the former abbot of Kaew Charoen Temple in Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province, and a revered Buddhist saint of the Mae Klong River basin. Born on May 16, 1911, in Bang Noi Market area of Ratchaburi Province to a merchant family, he learned to read and write from his father and later helped his mother with her trading work.

At age 18, he became a novice monk under Phra Kru Plian Suwannacho, abbot of Kaew Charoen Temple, on July 16, 1929. At age 20, he was ordained as a fully-fledged monk on May 8, 1931, receiving the monastic name Shinwangso. He studied Buddhist texts with great diligence and earned ranks in Buddhist studies up to the highest level. He cared devotedly for Phra Kru Plian until the latter's death on August 16, 1941. The following day, Luang Pu Chai of Amphawa appointed him as acting abbot of Kaew Charoen Temple and acting district sangha leader.

Kaew Charoen Temple, originally built during the Ayutthaya period by Raman people and long abandoned, was formally established as a temple in 1832 and received royal ordination as a Buddhist monastery in 1986. From 1944 onward, Luang Pu Yot developed the temple extensively, establishing it as a healing center. He became famous for his skill in bone-setting and fracture treatment, which brought patients from across the region to seek his care instead of visiting hospitals.

He received successive ecclesiastical promotions: in 1948 he was granted the rank of Phra Kru, in 1964 he was elevated to the second rank, and in 1974 to the highest rank. Beyond his spiritual duties, he oversaw Buddhist education programs and mentored monks and novices in discipline and religious practices. He also led community projects to restore and maintain the temple and its religious treasures.

Luang Pu Yot passed away peacefully on March 12, 1998, at the age of 86 after 66 years of monastic life. Among his most cherished amulets was a five-colored blessed thread believed to carry spiritual protection and ward off danger, transmitted from his teacher Luang Pu Chai. The temple also houses highly prized Buddha amulets and over 100 sacred medals, with his first-edition Phra Somdej amulet being especially popular.

The Surat Thani provincial governor has clarified that an award presented as a "shotgun" at the 134th anniversary celebration of village headmen in Koh Phangan district on August 10 was purely symbolic and did not involve the actual transfer of any firearm. The event sparked heated discussion on social media after images showed a raffle drawing for prizes labeled as "long shotguns," with Koh Tao recipients receiving four awards compared to one for Koh Phangan, prompting questions about the fairness of the distribution.

The evening event was held at the Koh Phangan district administrative office and was organized by the village headmen's club in coordination with local administration from both Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Provincial Governor Jompat Wannchasirisi explained that the celebration was held on August 10, the village headmen's day, with morning activities followed by an evening party to boost morale among village headmen and administrative staff who support government work throughout the year. The event organization, expenses, and activities were the responsibility of the Koh Phangan District Village Headmen Club.

According to Koh Phangan District Officer Paisit Tong-chim, the tradition has been to award cash prizes as incentives to village headmen, using "firearms" as a symbolic representation of the awards. Winners receive cash, valued at approximately 15,000–20,000 baht, and are free to use the money as they wish. Should a recipient choose to purchase a personal firearm, they must apply through proper legal channels like any ordinary citizen, with no exemptions. The district officer noted that the incident coincided with urgent national policies on firearm control following a recent incident, and the provincial governor has instructed strict compliance with all regulations regarding firearm permits and ownership.

Tonkatsu HAJIME, a premium pork cutlet specialist from Tokyo's Nihonbashi district, has become a viral sensation with queues stretching over three hours and top-tier reviews from Japanese diners. The restaurant has now opened its first Thai location on the 7th floor Atrium zone at Central World, bringing the authentic experience to local fans without the need for a Tokyo trip.

The tonkatsu here delivers exceptional quality: despite the thick pork cuts, the frying technique is masterful, maintaining a crispy, light breadcrumb coating while keeping the meat inside tender and juicy. The secret lies in low-temperature deep frying over an extended period, allowing heat to gradually penetrate the meat evenly, drawing out its natural sweetness while creating a light, oil-free crispness on the outside.

The restaurant positions its pork cutlet as a true craft, not merely a dish but a science honed by expert chefs—master-level tonkatsu craftsmanship. The Bangkok location mirrors its Tokyo counterpart perfectly in preparation, flavor, decor, and unlimited side dishes including Japanese rice and shredded cabbage. The menu is refreshingly simple, requiring no expertise to order: classic tonkatsu served on a flat plate, or yakikutsu don, a rice bowl topped with egg and tonkatsu drizzled with special sauce in an elegant presentation.

Customers select their preferred cut—outer loin, inner loin, or seafood—with rare premium options in limited quantities, including Chateaubriand, the tender, exquisite inner loin section, and pork ribeye with rich fat marbling and intense flavor, rarely offered by other tonkatsu restaurants. The seafood standout features jumbo shrimp, with each piece packed with three large prawns.

Dipping sauces extend beyond standard tonkatsu sauce to include three salt varieties—sea salt, wasabi, and Japanese plum—plus salad dressing for the shredded cabbage. Prices range from 350 to 850 baht, excluding VAT and service charge. This is an essential addition to any serious food lover's list alongside other celebrated restaurants like Madame Cuisine.

Labor Minister Chulphan Amornvivatana said on August 13 that the Social Security Office has not issued any order to delay the board election, despite a temporary suspension of voter registration processes. Other election preparations, including ballot printing, venue arrangement, and staff training, continue as planned.

When asked whether the registration halt would exempt approximately 12 million insured persons and employers from having to register, Chulphan said the ministry must consult the courts to clarify how legal conflicts arising from the suspension should be handled and what procedures to follow once the court rules.

Chulphan stressed that the Social Security Office has never ordered a postponement and has not issued any such order to date. He emphasized that the Labor Ministry's responsibility extends beyond simply holding an election—every step must comply with the law and be conducted with absolute rigor. The election has faced complaints on multiple fronts, including registration and voting day issues. Careless implementation could trigger larger grievances and undermine the election's integrity.

"We are not just holding an election for the sake of it," Chulphan said. "We must ensure every procedure follows the law and is executed with the highest standards."

The ministry also plans to organize debate forums for candidates from both the insured and employer sides to present their policies equally, ensuring voters have complete information to make informed choices. Chulphan called on media to give prominence to these forums so all candidates can present their platforms fairly.

Regarding the publication of the voter list, originally scheduled for August 10, Chulphan said the ministry must consult the courts on which roster to use and how to announce it, ensuring the announcement does not violate relevant regulations. The ministry will take time to clarify these points but work within a reasonable timeframe.

Every Saturday and Sunday morning at a small weaving stall, customers pause to gently feel the cotton fabric before striking up conversations with the vendor. The stories of the village are shared through the cloth and the smiles passed between seller and buyer.

Ban Lai Kaew Village, Doi Tao, Chiang Mai

"I know our Karen people have something special in our hands, but how do we make it fit the market? We have excellent skills, our own identity, a heritage to pass down, and we want to create work for the community," said Janchai Puped, known in natural weaving circles as Tui Doi Tao.

As a young man in the 1990s, Tui Doi Tao left the village to work and gain experience elsewhere, but his pride in his ethnicity and appreciation for the fine weaving craft never left him. He began trading woven cloth in 1994. The path was not easy, facing constant obstacles, but his belief in the value of the community's handiwork kept the fabrics from Ban Lai Kaew village shining regularly.

As a cloth merchant, Tui does not speak of weaving as merely a product, but rather tells the stories of the "people" behind the fabric—the weavers, cotton farmers, dyers, and youth. Buyers become friends of the community. This strength is rare and is what makes Ban Lai Kaew weaving shine. The elders remain motivated to dye cotton cloth and pass their knowledge to their children and grandchildren without tiring.

Tui's family is itself a weaving family. Though as a son he does not weave like his sisters, he excels at natural dyeing and has skill in pattern design and color selection. His wife is skilled in weaving, dyeing, and pattern design, and their children grew up in a craft atmosphere, absorbing the love and knowledge around them. Tui's path is bright not just for his own family, but the word "family" extends to all the weaving families of Ban Lai Kaew village.

When his daughters were young, they grew up beside their mother's loom, learning to weave and dye. As they matured and chose their own paths, they went out to gain outside experience. One day, Chachaya Puped, his eldest daughter, returned home and filled in the modern and marketing side of the business.

Chachaya explained: "Father only knew customers in his craft circle, but when we came back we adapted the old designs into new ones that fit daily life and work. The old designs are beautiful, but I thought they were hard to wear, difficult for work and social outings. We turned them into skirts with modern patterns that suit today, so you can wear them to any event. I think it's perfect."

Tui concludes: "We know it works, that there's a livelihood for villagers. It's not just us alone as one family. Without weavers, without dyers, without sewers—without the many lives behind the scenes—we couldn't have reached this point."