On July 14, the Royal Gazette published a royal decree establishing monastic rank, by which King Maha Vajiralongkorn graciously elevated Phra Brahma Patcharyanamuni to the rank of Somdet Phra Racha Khana (supreme monastic title), with the formal designation inscribed in the royal charter as Somdet Phra Maha Patcharyanamuni Sri Vipassana Bhavana Gosal. The elevation was announced on July 14, 2026, effective from July 12, 2026. The monk is currently 68 years old with 46 Buddhist Lenten seasons, residing at Ban Rai Tho Si Monastery in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima, and is a disciple of the famous meditation master Luang Pha Cha Subhaddo of Wat Nong Pa Pong. His birth name was Shaun Michael Chiverton, born in England in 1958.

In his youth, he suffered from poor health and asthma, which frequently interrupted his schooling, yet he excelled through self-study. His father had hoped he would secure a scholarship to study at a prestigious British university. While studying, he encountered Buddhist teachings and developed profound faith, viewing them as the "truth" he had been seeking. From his teenage years, he became interested in meditation and Buddhist practice. He worked part-time while studying and traveled abroad from age 17, spending two years gaining experience before deciding that practice and study were more important than university.

In 1978, he met and began practicing with Ajahn Sumedo (later elevated to Somdet Phra Brahma Vicharyanamuni), the first Western disciple of Luang Pha Cha at Hampstead Vihara in England. He then observed the anagarika precepts (wearing white robes) with Ajahn Sumedo, maintaining the ten precepts for one year, before traveling to Thailand. In 1979, he was ordained at Wat Nong Pa Pong in Warin Chamrap District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, and received bhikkhu ordination in 1980 with Phra Bodhiyanathera as his preceptor.

Before arriving in Thailand, he had resolved to spend five years at Wat Nong Pa Pong unconditionally to study practice. Upon meeting Luang Pha Cha, he developed deep respect for his teaching method, which combined compassion and profound wisdom, enabling him to endure the hardships of strict forest monastery discipline and communal life with Thai monks, eventually progressing significantly. Although a foreigner, language was not a barrier; he believed that foundational Pali and Sanskrit were equally challenging for both Thais and foreigners, so he diligently memorized the script until he could read, then studied dictionaries while practicing under his teachers. In 2020, King Maha Vajiralongkorn graciously granted him special approval to change his nationality to Thai, effective March 9, 2020. He was promoted to Phra Racha Khana rank on July 28, 2019, and to Phra Racha Khana Thep rank on July 17, 2020, with subsequent promotions in subsequent years.

Thai investors and listed companies were thrown into confusion on June 30 and July 2, 2025, when an unidentified woman named Supaport Pimpongse filed seven securities acquisition and disposal reports (Form 246-2) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) covering six major Thai stocks: Kasikornbank Public Company Limited, Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Asia Aviation Public Company Limited, Major Cineplex Group Public Company Limited, GJ Steel Public Company Limited, and True Corporation Public Company Limited. These acquisitions reportedly spanned from 2024 onwards but were only reported in the two days mentioned.

True Corporation's case drew particular scrutiny when reports claimed Supaport had purchased shares worth 30 billion baht, securing a 7% stake as a major shareholder. Questions immediately arose about her identity, background, and financial capacity to make such a massive investment. On July 6, 2025, True Corporation issued a clarification stating that the data on the SEC website was under review because some securities listed did not actually exist, and denied ever offering preferred shares to the general public. True Corporation Chairman Supchai Chearavanont called the reports "fake news" and directed the media to seek clarification from the SEC.

True's denial severely damaged confidence in Thailand's capital market, raising widespread concerns about whether the SEC's systems for receiving and publishing investment-related information have adequate verification procedures and investor protections against misleading data. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nititharnprasertsak ordered the SEC to urgently clarify the facts and communicate transparently to the public to restore investor confidence. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's board chairman and managing director Assdech Kongsiri pledged to coordinate with the SEC and listed companies to support the investigation and provide investors with accurate and timely information.

On July 9, 2025, SEC Secretary-General Pranong Butsratakul and her team held a press conference confirming they have continuously monitored and investigated the case without delay or neglect. She explained that the seven reports covering six securities were acquisitions made over different periods beginning in 2024. When the SEC detected irregularities, it marked the data as "preliminary information" on July 3. On July 7, the status was changed to "under verification" due to inconsistencies, and following confirmation from the relevant listed companies on July 8, the SEC identified the data as inaccurate and took it down from the system.

Bilateral exchange between Taiwan and Thailand has deepened and become increasingly warm, with growing numbers of visitors traveling between the countries each year, reflecting strong friendship and encouraging Thai tourists to discover Taiwan's charms.

Taiwan's government has announced a one-year extension of its visa-exemption trial for Thai passport holders, valid from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027. Thai citizens can now enter Taiwan without a visa and stay for up to 14 days, making travel even more convenient.

Taiwan introduced the visa-exemption measure for Thai tourists in 2016, and over the past decade it has proven highly successful, facilitating travel significantly and encouraging frequent exchanges between both peoples. In 2024 and 2025, over one million Taiwanese visited Thailand, while more than 500,000 Thai tourists visited Taiwan—the highest figures in years.

Peter Luan, Taiwan's government representative in Thailand, stated that Taiwan offers diverse tourism attractions with rich cultural heritage and diverse business opportunities in various industries. The country also features convenient and safe tourism facilities recognized globally, along with delicious cuisine, beautiful natural scenery year-round, and fascinating history and culture that draw Thai visitors back repeatedly.

With the visa-exemption measure continuing in effect, Taiwan's Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand invites Thai citizens to visit Taiwan and experience the beauty blending city, mountains, and sea, enjoy Taiwanese warmth and hospitality, and create memorable travel experiences. Both governments will continue promoting cooperation and exchange with Thailand across multiple sectors.

Wanchai Janprom, chairman of the Central Local Government Employee Examination Committee (CGEC), defended the committee's authority to revoke appointments, citing administrative procedure law. When data or orders contain defects or incompleteness, the issuing official must correct them. Wanchai clarified that while this matter is finalized administratively, rights are not entirely exhausted—the revised list must still be forwarded to provincial local government personnel committees for approval before local authorities can issue termination orders. When asked whether disqualified candidates can petition administrative court, Wanchai confirmed they may do so through an appeals process under administrative law, and if unsatisfied, can file suit. However, whether the court grants temporary protection is at the court's discretion. Regarding contingency plans for potential court challenges, Wanchai noted that the Deputy Secretary-General of the Interior Ministry has instructed the local government promotion department's legal team to prepare arguments for administrative court. Wanchai disclosed that of 438,277 applicants, 279,949 sat the exam; 55,753 passed and were listed; 14,988 were appointed across three cohorts; but 5,924 were found to have committed violations, leaving 49,829 on the final list. Next week, the revocation and new appointment lists will be signed and transmitted to provincial personnel committees and local authorities for termination of the 5,924 misconduct cases. The CGEC will also determine whether newly appointed candidates remain in their current assignments or select new positions, as score rankings may shift. However, the 5,924 names cannot be publicly disclosed due to PDPA privacy law.

On July 17, National Police Commissioner General Siam Bunyasombun announced the expansion of a narcotics trafficking investigation involving crystal methamphetamine hidden inside tamarind paste containers bound for Japan. The investigation began on July 13 when a courier delivering the package discovered suspicious items of unusual weight and turned the container over to police. Testing confirmed the container held approximately 2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine concealed in six foil-wrapped rocks.

Deep investigation revealed the operation is run by a Vietnamese drug trafficking gang with a ringleader based in Hanoi who issues orders through a Facebook account, hiring riders to collect drugs from a Vietnamese safe house in Thailand and pass them to Thai couriers for delivery abroad. Police identified that a bank account belonging to 50-year-old Somphong from Sakon Nakhon was used to receive and transfer funds, with rotating Vietnamese operatives withdrawing cash in amounts of 20,000 to 50,000 baht before returning immediately to Vietnam to avoid arrest. Authorities believe more than four people are involved.

Police have issued arrest warrants for four suspects: one Thai national, Somphong, and three Vietnamese nationals who handled finances and managed the Facebook account. Somphong's girlfriend is believed to have knowledge of the operation but has not yet been charged; police are continuing to pursue her. One of the three Vietnamese suspects has already fled the country, while immigration authorities are closely monitoring the others.

The suspects attempted to conceal their activities by using different courier strategies and frequently changing tactics, including hiding drugs inside food products or seasoning packets by carefully cutting open the packaging and resealing it. Couriers were paid 450 baht per kilogram, a standard rate. The final destination is Tokyo, Japan, where Thai nationals receive the shipments and distribute them in stages. Police have coordinated with the Japanese Embassy to investigate further and are tracing the original source of the drugs and all financial flows, suspecting the network may be involved in other illegal activities beyond drug trafficking.

Apsorn Holding expects the real estate market to face ongoing headwinds in the second half of the year, with secondhand homes now commanding 67% of market share compared to just 33% for new properties. The company is launching four new projects worth 3.158 billion baht and expanding into international schools, community malls, and secondhand home operations, targeting 400 million baht in annual recurring revenue. Akkadate Udomsirithammrong, COO of Apsorn Holding, noted that overall residential transfers nationwide in Q1 2025 reached approximately 72,000 units, showing year-on-year growth but still trailing 2023 levels by about 20%.

Secondhand homes have overtaken new properties as market dynamics shift. Gross profit margins for listed property firms have compressed from 35-36% to just 28%, forcing companies to tighten operational expenses. Chiang Mai's recovery lags the national average, though new-home sales represent only 25% of that market, indicating fiercer competition. Foreign buyer demographics in Chiang Mai have shifted significantly, with Chinese buyers declining from 70-90% to roughly 50%, while American and Myanmar buyers increase due to new embassy expansion and direct flight routes.

In Phuket, Apsorn is developing condominiums starting at 70,000-80,000 baht per square meter under the "Arise Vibe Phuket" project valued at 1.115 billion baht, with 78% already sold; 40% of buyers are foreigners paying 50% downpayments. Koh Samui remains an emerging market with strong condo transfer growth of roughly 80% over two years, prompting the company to develop the "D Astra Samui" project on land opposite Anantara Bophut. The company plans to launch four new projects totaling 3.158 billion baht in the second half, including three condominium projects and one horizontal development.