Phra Kru Sophon Prachanard, or Luang Por Nard Nakasenai, was born Nard Perm Bunyachai on October 4, 1901, in Kanchanaburi province to parents Pim and Sambunyachai. Raised in poverty, he received basic education before helping his family farm rice to support the household. At age 29 in 1916, he took monastic ordination at Sri Loha Rat Bamrung Temple, receiving the ecclesiastical name Nakasenai. He studied Buddhist doctrine and achieved first, second, and third-level examination qualifications. He also trained in meditation practice with Luang Por Prem at his temple and traveled to Bangkok to study vipassana meditation and other teachings under Luang Por Sod Chandasaro at Pak Nam Temple. He learned traditional medicine, herbal remedies, and healing practices from lay teachers in his community. In 1951, he was appointed abbot of Sri Loha Rat Bamrung Temple and developed it into a flourishing center of learning. Known for his composed demeanor, clear speech, and sincere compassion, he practiced vipassana meditation daily without fail. In 1976, he and his disciples discovered tons of ancient lead in Sri Sawat district, believed to originate from the early Thai period when lead was cast for ancient religious statuary. From 1976 to 1977, he melted and pressed this lead into amulets resembling ancient sacred images, selling them to fund the construction of the temple's ordination hall and provide resources for villagers to restore temples throughout the district. In 1955 he was appointed preceptor, in 1964 he received the ecclesiastical rank of Phra Kru (First Class), and in 1968 and 1972 he was promoted further by royal decree. He passed away peacefully from old age on May 24, 1987, at the age of 86 and 57 vassa (monastic years). He was remembered as an exemplary scholar-monk of his era.

A parent has filed a complaint with Muang Udon Thani Police, alleging that a 15-year-old boy was forced to smoke cannabis by the owner of a military entrance exam tuition centre and was photographed with drug paraphernalia. The parent has vowed to pursue the case to the fullest extent.

On August 17, the parent travelled to the police station to lodge a formal complaint. According to the police report filed on August 16 at 3:59 p.m., a 34-year-old from Nong Bua Lamphu reported the incident to investigators, naming the tuition centre owner as the accused and demanding full prosecution.

The parent alleged that the tuition centre owner forced their son to smoke cannabis and take photographs pointing to items connected with criminal activity before taking the child to meet police officers. The incident allegedly occurred on August 14 at approximately 3:52 p.m. in Muang district, Udon Thani province.

The 15-year-old boy stated that he was playing with friends when the tuition centre owner and three others suddenly entered the room, accusing them of using cannabis that allegedly belonged to other students at the centre. He said he was shocked and forced to point to the cannabis and pose for photographs before being taken to police. He firmly denied using cannabis.

Investigators have accepted the complaint as evidence and will gather additional evidence and statements from those involved. The tuition centre owner will be summoned for questioning to establish the facts. If the allegations are substantiated, legal proceedings will follow.

On August 18, 2025, Deputy Interior Minister Vorasidit Liaengprasit chaired a press briefing at Dindaeng Police Station to announce results of the 'Sweeping the Heart of Bangkok' operation targeting a corruption network that had registered foreign nationals at Dindaeng apartment buildings to illegally obtain identity cards. The operation was initiated following the discovery of fraud at a civil registration office in Wang Noi district, Ayutthaya, where officials forged documents to issue Thai ID cards to foreign nationals and their children. A spot check of just three apartment units found 35 to 64 residents per room, totaling over 140 people; further inspection of 5,700 units at Dindaeng flats identified 44 additional rooms housing more than 16 foreigners each, affecting roughly 1,300 people. Officials described a coordinated smuggling operation involving Myanmar-based brokers who collected documents and names, Thai intermediaries, and corrupt government staff at the Dindaeng district office. The government has ordered immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution of all implicated officials and will pursue charges against all offenders involved. All fraudulent registry entries have been deleted from the civil database, and investigations are expanding to other areas.

Renowned theater producer Tan Nattanon Chollampee is stepping into an important new role as director of his first full-length feature film, "The Shaman's Confession," a supernatural psychological thriller adapted from one of the most popular stories from The Ghost Radio. The director has shared details about his hands-on approach to every element of the film to convey the story as authentically as possible.

On directing his first feature, Tan said: "It's been fun. I'm not stressed or exhausted. We're used to it. Sometimes I wear two hats—both producer and director—but directing this film actually helps from a work perspective because I'm constantly solving problems, so it feels natural."

When asked why he chose to adapt The Ghost Radio's "The Shaman's Confession," Tan explained: "Since I made the drama The Sixth Sense fifteen years ago, I've been looking for any film involving ghosts, but not just a straightforward ghost movie. I searched for a long time without success. Then one day I was talking with the team, and they told me about this story from The Ghost Radio. I'd never heard it before, so they told me. Halfway through, I said yes—let's do this. I liked it.

"The core is actually a drama about a broken life, but spirits are involved. It's not a ghost movie in the conventional sense. It's about someone who has to choose to live alongside a spirit. It's the story of a person whose life was destroyed, who was victimized until they descended into the darkness of shamanic sorcery and could never return."

On casting actor Alek Theeradej Medhawarayut as the shaman Toh, Tan said: "I've worked with him since the drama Blood Ties on Channel 3, where we adjusted his look and acting style. He enjoyed that process and we clicked. For this character, I believed the actor had to commit fully—not just to the performance, but to changing his appearance too. I had a vision of what the shaman would look like at the end, how his look would transform when he becomes a full shaman. I explained this to him, and he expressed interest.

"At that point I asked him for three things: first, to lose weight; second, to cut his hair into a skinhead style because his character is a monk in the story; and third, there are nude scenes in the film related to the narrative. He agreed to everything."

On casting actor Chakrit Yamnaam as the shaman Tian, Tan said: "When I decided to make this film, Chakrit was the first person I contacted. Tian had to be Chakrit. We've worked on several dramas together, and I know his potential. He agreed to take the role. He told me his interpretation of what a shaman should look like—not the image people typically hold.

"I should say that The Ghost Radio's stories aren't just ghost tales—listeners are ready to believe these stories actually happened. So I envisioned this shaman as someone living in modern society, an ordinary person in their daily life, not performing or dressing like a stereotypical shaman. I interpreted it as someone who looks normal in society, but because Tian's character is spiritually consumed from within in the film, his appearance becomes worn. That's where his character's visual transformation comes from."

On assembling the cast, Tan noted: "For my first feature, I wanted actors I'd worked with before, people I have rapport with. First and foremost, they had to be skilled. Khun Boum Runya Siyanond is exceptional. Chakrit, Alek, and Khun Am Amrin Nitiphon all worked together on Blood Ties, and I saw their potential. When they perform drama, they perform authentically. But this character has something special—these actors play uniquely. For example, Amrin plays Toh's father like a toxic pesticide. Khun Venn..."

Khon Kaen Zoo has unveiled a new female baby giraffe, marking another success in wildlife breeding programs. The calf is now available for visitors to view closely from the zoo's skyway bridge. Tipawan Kittikun, director of Khon Kaen Zoo, announced that the zoo has achieved another breeding success after a giraffe gave birth to a female calf on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. The calf is currently three months old and represents a significant accomplishment in wildlife population management and breeding for the Zoo Organization of Thailand. The newborn giraffe is the offspring of Khaem, a breeding male imported from abroad and born on May 25, 2009, and Burn Fern (Chae), a breeding female transferred from Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo and born on September 14, 2006. This calf is Burn Fern's ninth offspring. Khon Kaen Zoo currently houses three giraffes in total: the breeding pair and their new offspring. The baby giraffe is receiving close care from veterinarians and caretakers, with ongoing monitoring of its health, nursing, growth, and mother-infant behavior. To ensure proper development, visitors are not permitted to feed the calf at this time. However, tourists can view the baby giraffe up close from the skyway bridge and observe it foraging alongside zebras and ostriches in a recreated savanna grassland habitat. "The birth of this baby giraffe is not only a breeding success but also an important opportunity to educate children, youth, and the public about biology, animal behavior, and wildlife conservation, while promoting Khon Kaen Zoo as a quality learning and conservation tourism destination," the zoo director stated.

Legendary rock musician Pong Pattamapong Sammatipibul, known for his work with The Olarn Project, Hin Lek Lai, and The Sun, is preparing to unleash a full-scale concert called PONG ROCK LEGACY at Thunder Dome in Muang Thonburi on November 7, 2025. The setlist will span his entire musical catalog, including rare tracks, introspective songs, and heavy metal numbers rarely performed in live venues, alongside fan favorites. The concert will feature surprise guest appearances by Ingfah Waraha, a top Thai beauty queen and entertainer, and Nap Retrospect, marking Ingfah's first collaboration with Pong on stage.

At 64 years old, Pong shared his health secrets for maintaining his stage energy: adequate rest, no smoking, minimal alcohol, regular exercise, and consistent music practice. He emphasized that artists should not strain their voices if their bodies are not ready, as it can cause lasting damage. Pong confirmed the concert is a comprehensive showcase—not a farewell—and stressed his intention to continue making and performing music as long as fans show support. He expressed excitement about meeting Ingfah for the first time, noting her status as a genuine trend in Thai entertainment, and mentioned that preparation with his production team is on track to deliver a full-scale experience.