On July 25, 2025, the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward (ISOC-4F) formally reported progress in the case stemming from an armed attack on July 22 in Narathiwat Province. A militant group opened fire and hurled improvised explosive devices at members of Company 4509 of the 45th Special Operations Battalion of the Royal Thai Army while they were manning a security checkpoint in Bukit Sami, Ban Talat Tanyongmat, Tambon Tanyongmat, Amphoe Rangae, Narathiwat Province. The attack killed five soldiers immediately and wounded six civilians.

Authorities conducted intensive investigations around the clock and made significant progress. A court approved an arrest warrant for one suspect, Azizan from Amphoe Janae, Narathiwat, under warrant number 439/2569 issued by Rangae Police Station, charged with shooting and throwing explosives at the Bukit Sami checkpoint.

Deep background checks revealed the suspect is a significant offender with two active warrants. He was previously wanted under warrant number 592/2568 from Sungai Kolok Police Station in connection with a shooting and bombing incident in the Sungai Kolok Municipality area on March 8, 2024. A second person from Amphoe Saiburi, Pattani, believed to be involved, is being held for questioning at the 46th Special Operations Battalion interrogation center in Narathiwat Province.

ISOC-4F confirmed that all agencies are urgently gathering forensic evidence to pursue and prosecute all perpetrators still at large under the full force of the law. The military and security agencies vow to continue intensive operations to protect lives and property while restoring peace and stability to the southern border provinces as quickly as possible.

Police have issued arrest warrants for two suspects in a carbomb attack on Tanyong Police Station, located in Mueang District, Narathiwat Province. The explosion occurred at 7:20 p.m. on July 21, injuring Police Senior Sergeant Aphisit Anuchat, 38, a patrol commander, and damaging a pickup truck and government property.

Based on CCTV footage and evidence from a Mitsubishi sedan used in the attack, authorities have identified two suspects: Azemin, 35, wanted for armed assault, carbomb attacks, and robbery in Songkhla and Bangkok; and Abdulraheem, also wanted in connection with a shooting in Tak Bai District and a carbomb attack at a district officer's residence in Narathiwat. Two additional suspects, Aaliyah and Hafizi, are being questioned at interrogation centers run by the Royal Thai Navy and the 46th Rangers Regiment in Narathiwat.

Wat Phra That Sri Jom Thong Worawiharn in Ban Luang subdistrict, Chom Thong district, Chiang Mai, is an ancient temple housing a sacred relic of the Buddha—specifically the right frontal bone—and serves as the natal-year pagoda for those born in the year of the Rat. The temple museum, located beside the relic pagoda, occupies a former Dharma school building. This single-story traditional Lanna brick structure displays numerous valuable artifacts. Upon entering from the left, visitors encounter many stone inscriptions, royal cloths, elephant howdah cannons called "am-mok," and Lanna-style wooden devotional pedestals inlaid with gold leaf, which were used when removing relics from their indoor sanctuary. Further along are various ancient weapons arranged in glass cabinets, water channels, flower receptacles, and most notably, the meditation seat of Phra Ratana Racha (Phra Mueang Kaew)—a 15th-century Lanna piece belonging to King Tilok, the 11th Mangrai dynasty monarch of Lanna (1438–1468), who built the main vihara in 1458 and enshrined the Chom Thong relics in 1460.

The museum also houses an elephant howdah called "saluang kan ham" presented by the sixth Chiang Mai ruler, crafted from wood and decorated with ivory. A seventh-era howdah, donated by a later Chiang Mai lord, is similarly displayed. Wooden carved flower bowls inlaid with gold and studded with glass—used to present flowers, incense, and candles during religious ceremonies—are arranged in an eye-catching cluster. Equally striking are ancient Buddhist statues unearthed from archaeological sites in Hod district, along with ancient pillar fragments in Lanna style dating to the 15th century, originally positioned within the vihara before the main pagoda. These wooden carved, gold-inlaid pillars represent craftsmanship enduring through time. Many other artifacts are on display, including royal stupas, 800 small Buddha stupas, bowls, glazed wares, and everyday implements—all worthy of personal viewing. The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed Mondays, with free admission. Telephone: 0-5334-2184.

A 36th death has been confirmed from the Ladprao beer bar fire that erupted at 11:57 p.m. on July 12, 2025, killing many and injuring dozens. Benz, or Panuwatten Tipmani, a 31-year-old sound technician who managed the venue's lighting, sound, and color systems, has died from injuries sustained in the fire. The blaze has left the nation in mourning, with 35 confirmed deaths as of July 22 and 12 patients in critical condition in intensive care units across multiple hospitals, while 48 others have been discharged.

Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has ordered the Department of Forestry to urgently investigate toxic waste being dumped in the Huai Khai protected forest area in Wang Takian subdistrict, Kabinburi district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, to address concerns for local residents who forage for mushrooms and forest products there.

On July 23, forest protection officials from Unit 2 Thung Poi, working with local government and police from Wang Takian station, inspected the Teng Rang forest area adjacent to the Princess Srinagarindra Plant Genetic Conservation Project. They discovered four large piles of insulated electrical cable and wire scraps in red and black scattered across the area, some compressed in large bags, with evidence of burning to extract copper and aluminum for sale while leaving behind melted plastic casings and chemical ash producing acrid smoke. The toxic waste is estimated to weigh 200–300 kilograms and was apparently burned at night before residents discovered it about two days later.

The area is a 1,000-rai protected forest that locals use for subsistence foraging. Dumping and burning chemical waste there constitutes serious environmental destruction and air and soil pollution. Reports indicate a capital group has scattered toxic waste across Prachuap Khiri Khan province, with three major dumping sites identified: one in Had Nang Kaew subdistrict with crushed wire dumped in a six-meter-deep pit, one in Wang Tha Chaloem subdistrict with black chemical powder and wire casings mixed into roads and runoff polluting agricultural water, and one in Wang Takian subdistrict with 200–300 kilograms of wire secretly burned in the plant conservation forest.

Minister Suchart announced that the Department of Forestry and the Pollution Control Department, through the Office of Environmental Quality and Pollution Control Region 7 in Saraburi, have been ordered to investigate immediately and pursue legal action against violators to the fullest extent without exception.

"Buddhiland: The Modern Thai Temple Faith Frontier" by Pinyaphan Pojanalavanya

When people think of "temples," they typically envision religion, merit-making, architecture, sacred places, markets, and temple fairs that have become tourist destinations—yet most never question whether such activities are truly religious in nature.

Buddhism in Thailand has grown alongside various spiritual beliefs and practices, collectively termed "muteelu." This has created a social phenomenon blending faith with commerce, transforming into a tourism industry that has been a vital revenue source for Thailand since the 1960s. Both foreign and Thai visitors now treat temples as major destinations, making temple visits function more like spiritual theme parks focused on entertainment and knowledge rather than traditional merit-seeking.

"Buddhiland" examines how capitalism and consumerism have reshaped temples—transforming them from purely religious sites into hybrid attractions that combine merit-making, belief, and excitement through magnificent architecture, storytelling, and faith that draws visitors to celebrate success and fulfill wishes.

The book investigates the "Buddhist commerce" phenomenon and questions how Thai temples have changed in contemporary society. It traces these spiritual destinations through successive chapters: Why Buddhiland Exists; Buddhist Diversity and Giant Sacred Structures; Buddhiland's Formation Before the 1997 Economic Crisis; Thai Spiritual Theme Parks After the 1997 Crisis; Temples in the Era of the 2014 Coup, COVID-19, and Economic Collapse.

"Buddhiland: The Modern Thai Temple Faith Frontier" by Pinyaphan Pojanalavanya, 304 pages, black-and-white illustrations. Special price: 281 baht (regular 330 baht). Preview available at https://bit.ly/4x40UP9. Order at https://linktr.ee/BuddhistLand