Chiang Mai — A formal installation ceremony was held at Wat Chedi Luang Voraviharn in Chiang Mai on July 1 to receive the Sangha Supreme Patriarch's appointment of Phra Rajvachirsin as regional abbot. Chiang Mai Governor Rathapol Naradis served as chairman of the lay delegation and announced the Supreme Patriarch's royal decree officially appointing Phra Rajvachirsin (Umphorn Katpunyo), current abbot of Wat Chedi Luang Voraviharn, to the position of regional abbot for Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Mae Hong Son provinces (Thammayut sect).

Senior monks including Phra Thammasenabodi, regional abbot of Zone 7, and Phra Tephvachirathipt, regional abbot of Zones 6-7 (Thammayut), presided over the monastic contingent. The ceremony drew large numbers of monks, government officials, representatives from various agencies, disciples, and Buddhist devotees.

On June 24, the Sangha Supreme Patriarch issued the royal appointment elevating Phra Rajvachirsin from his previous roles as abbot of Wat Chedi Luang Voraviharn and deputy regional abbot to the position of regional abbot for Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Mae Hong Son provinces, with administrative authority over all Buddhist communities in the region according to the Mahatherasmakom Regulations No. 23 (B.E. 2541).

During the ceremony, Phra Khru Thammathorn Nathapong (Kuntad), a senior scholar and political science graduate at Wat Chedi Luang Voraviharn, was also appointed as secretary to the regional abbot.

Phra Rajvachirsin, the 9th abbot of Wat Chedi Luang Voraviharn, was born on April 11, 1957, and is currently 55 years old with 35 Buddhist Lent seasons. He holds the monastic rank of royal monk and is regarded as a respected elder of Chiang Mai who commands the faith and devotion of Buddhists.

Pattani Provincial Court has delivered its verdict in Security Case No. 145/69 against Roza (surname withheld), finding him guilty of sedition, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives without proper registration or authorization, as well as carrying weapons in urban and public areas without lawful cause. The case originated from the defendant's arrest by security officials on October 23, 2025, which led to the discovery of hidden weapons and military equipment in a rubber plantation located in Thung Pla subdistrict, Kok Pho district, Pattani province. The court considered evidence and the defendant's confession as mitigating factors, reducing the sentence by half from the initial 11-year term to 4 years and 18 months imprisonment. The defendant remains in custody pending appeal.

The Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has issued a warning against accepting or being hired to transport luggage abroad under any circumstances. The department strictly prohibits citizens from accepting parcels or packages from others to carry overseas, whether for payment or at the urging of acquaintances claiming to know the recipient. Such arrangements risk concealing illegal items including prohibited goods, smuggled merchandise, or drugs. Anyone caught transporting such items faces legal responsibility in their own name. Drug possession or trafficking carries severe penalties both in Thailand and internationally, and cannabis—including extracted oils with THC content exceeding 0.2 percent—remains classified as a controlled substance in many countries. The department advises all travelers to manage only their own luggage, firmly refuse requests to carry items for others, and prioritize their safety while traveling.

Police arrested 38-year-old Vunchai on July 1 on a court arrest warrant dated June 10, charging him with theft at a public shrine. The arrest came after an American tourist filed a complaint on February 13, reporting that his iPhone 16 Pro Max was stolen from inside Wat Pho temple on Maharaj Road in Bangkok's Pranakorn District. Investigators reviewed security camera footage to identify the suspect before issuing an arrest warrant and locating him.

During questioning, Vunchai claimed he was formerly a watch seller who became interested in Buddha amulets and visited amulet markets, including Tha Phra Chan Market, to resell items. On the day of the incident, he entered Wat Pho to pray and wait for transportation home to Bang Khae. He claimed he found the phone abandoned at the base of a Buddha statue, took it, and sold it as a used device for 800 baht.

Investigators determined he had committed similar thefts three times at Wat Pho between January and February. In the first incident, he stole a tourist's wallet. In the second incident, he stole a mobile phone. In the third incident, he stole another mobile phone. After the third incident, he attempted to enter the temple again but was pursued by security guards and fled. He has now been taken into police custody for legal proceedings.

Customs officers at Phuket International Airport, working with relevant agencies, arrested two Uzbek nationals after discovering they had concealed dried cannabis flowers and cannabis products in their luggage for unauthorized export on July 1, 2026.

The first suspect, 26-year-old Jalilboyevich from Uzbekistan, was found with dried cannabis buds packed in 30 vacuum-sealed bags weighing 9.8 kilograms total, along with 14 processed cannabis sticks weighing 1.03 kilograms. Officers inspected his luggage on the first floor of the international departure terminal and identified two suspicious bags among his four total pieces of luggage.

The second suspect, 26-year-old Mukiddinnovitch, also from Uzbekistan, was found with 30 dried cannabis flower bundles (9.8 kilograms), 8 bags of cannabis resin (4.1 kilograms), and 5 processed cannabis sticks plus 9 cannabis blocks in one package (2 kilograms total). His luggage was inspected on the third floor of the international departure building.

Both suspects acknowledged ownership of all luggage and consented to searches, with X-ray examinations confirming the contraband. They face charges under the 2017 Customs Act for attempting to export controlled goods without customs clearance, as well as violations of narcotics and controlled botanical substance laws. Both remain in custody pending investigation and legal proceedings.

The Faculty of Dentistry at Prince of Songkla University officially inaugurated the PSU Microscope and Esthetic Dentistry Center (PSU-ME) on June 26, 2025, to enhance specialized dental services with advanced technology, improve diagnostic and treatment precision, and provide Southern Thailand residents with access to quality oral healthcare.

The opening ceremony was attended by Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Kaewpradab, PSU rector, as well as Associate Professor Dr. Thongchai Thitsomkul, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, and Associate Professor Dr. Gawlin Thamsitthiboon, PSU-ME director, who welcomed distinguished guests and media representatives.

Developed under the 2568 fiscal year state budget, PSU-ME modernized the conservative dentistry clinic facilities to support comprehensive treatment, teaching, research, and personnel development. The center stands out as the first and largest microscopic dentistry and esthetic treatment facility in Southern Thailand, featuring 21 service units equipped with over 10 dental microscopes that enable dentists to visualize treatment areas more clearly and increase efficiency and precision when addressing complex dental conditions.

Beyond clinical services, PSU-ME serves as a learning hub and capacity-building center for dental professionals, including dental students, dentists, specialists, and oral health personnel, while accommodating domestic and international continuing professional education and study visits.

Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Kaewpradab stated that establishing PSU-ME represents a significant step in advancing health science excellence and elevating healthcare services in Southern Thailand through investment in modern technology alongside healthcare workforce development to create long-term public benefits.

Associate Professor Dr. Thongchai Thitsomkul noted that PSU-ME was designed as a comprehensive clinical service center, learning hub, and capacity-building facility for dental professionals to support high-quality treatment and prepare the profession for technological changes and evolving oral health needs.

The PSU-ME opening reflects the Faculty of Dentistry and Prince of Songkla University's commitment to introducing modern dental innovations and technology to elevate standards in treatment, education, and research while developing knowledge and personnel to advance Southern Thailand's and the nation's oral health system sustainably.