The Fine Arts Department opened a permanent exhibition at Phra Mahathat Temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat on July 26, 2025, with Fine Arts Director Panombutr Chanthrachote announcing that the temple is now Thailand's sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site. The director expressed confidence that both Thai and international visitors will flock to the temple, bringing significant economic benefits to the region. The Fine Arts Department will continue restoration efforts in collaboration with Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, ensuring all development complies with UNESCO standards and does not diminish the temple's value.

To commemorate the UNESCO designation and mark the centennial of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birth on December 5, 2026, the department has opened a new permanent exhibition room at Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum, the first national museum in Southern Thailand. The exhibition presents the Phra Mahathat Chedi through modern multimedia displays and scale models, showcasing its historical significance as a major Buddhist center in the southern peninsula and the history of Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn Temple.

The exhibition introduces the sacred site as a spiritual focal point for Nakhon Si Thammarat residents and southern Thais, with sections detailing the chedi's history and importance in Thai Buddhism. Officials hope the exhibition will attract more tourists, generate local income, and serve as both a learning resource and tourist destination. The Fine Arts Department also expressed hopes that Chiang Mai will achieve World Heritage status in 2027, continuing Thailand's momentum of UNESCO recognitions.

Experts reveal three key behaviors that show your cat trusts you and accepts you as family, along with tips to win over your feline friend.

Bringing a cat into a new home requires patience, as each cat adapts at its own pace. Some cats are naturally outgoing and explore new surroundings within days, while nervous cats or those with difficult pasts may need weeks or months to feel safe and reduce their wariness.

So how do you know when your cat begins to open up and accept you as family? The Japanese pet information website Nekochan Honpo has compiled three key signs that indicate a cat is beginning to trust you and see you as family:

1. Showing their true nature without suspicion One of the clearest signs is when a cat begins to display natural behavior. When first moving to a new home, most cats hide in cages, under sofas, or in corners—some may even refuse to eat or drink because they feel unsafe. But once your cat trusts you and becomes familiar with the environment, it will freely explore the house, use the litter box without worry in front of you, and may even roll on its back to show its belly—the most vulnerable part of its body—indicating it feels safe and no longer needs to be on guard.

2. Adjusting routines to match yours Cats are naturally active at dawn and dusk, but when living with humans for extended periods, they gradually adjust their behavior to fit your schedule. For example, when it's feeding time, your cat will sit by its bowl regularly, or when it sees you preparing for bed, it may quickly use the litter box before following you to sleep as a companion. Some cats even wait by the door for you to return home.

3. Better communication and understanding As you spend more time together, both owner and cat typically develop greater understanding. You can distinguish different "meow" tones and what they mean—whether affection, food requests, or an invitation to play. Similarly, your cat learns your familiar voice tones and words, and responds appropriately when hearing familiar phrases.

Experts note that when owner and cat communicate naturally and understand each other with minimal need for gestures, it signals that your cat has accepted you as an important family member and has formed a strong bond.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin announced on July 26, 2025, that Thailand has discovered the Hipposideros rotalis (Laotian Leaf-nosed Bat) for the first time within the country. The discovery was made in the Sam Wale Stone Forest recreation area in Bueng Kan province, a significant finding that underscores the government's ongoing commitment to natural resource conservation and biodiversity protection.

The discovery is the result of work by the Forestry Research and Development Bureau under the Forest Department, conducted as part of a biodiversity survey project for vertebrate animals in the Sam Wale Stone Forest area. The research team, supported by the National Science and Technology Development Agency, began surveys in early 2025 and identified this bat species for the first time in Thailand, despite previous reports indicating it was found only in Laos.

Minister Suchat emphasized that the discovery reflects the ecological abundance of the Sam Wale Stone Forest ecosystem and provides valuable scientific data for understanding Thailand's biodiversity. Although this bat species is classified as having low extinction risk, the finding confirms that Thailand's forests retain significant potential for discovering scientifically important species in the future.

"The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment prioritizes surveying and conserving newly discovered wildlife and plant species because they reflect the completeness of our national natural resources. We will continue forest management alongside research support to preserve biodiversity and pass on rich natural resources to future generations," the minister said.

The Forest Department plans to strengthen management of the Sam Wale Stone Forest recreation area and continue supporting biodiversity research to generate new knowledge and enhance the effectiveness of Thailand's natural resource conservation efforts.

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — The Fine Arts Department has opened a permanent exhibition on Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat, following its recognition as Thailand's sixth cultural World Heritage site, while Chiang Mai is being eyed as the country's next potential addition in 2027.

Phanombut Chandrachoti, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, said Wat Phra Mahathat had put Thailand in the global spotlight as the country's sixth cultural World Heritage site.

He said the recognition was expected to attract a surge of Thai and foreign tourists, bringing significant economic benefits to the area.

The Fine Arts Department will continue working with Nakhon Si Thammarat authorities to conserve and restore Wat Phra Mahathat and introduce measures to ensure its preservation meets UNESCO requirements. Any new construction, including shops and other facilities, must also be carefully planned to ensure it does not diminish the site's cultural value, he said.

"I would like to congratulate the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat and all Thais. This is the third consecutive year that we have received World Heritage recognition," Phanombut said. "Hopefully, we will have another piece of good news in 2027."

Under the proposed timeline, Chiang Mai is expected to be submitted for consideration after being included on UNESCO's Tentative List since 2015.

Phanombut said several other Thai sites have also been placed on the Tentative List and could potentially be considered in the future.

He expressed hope that the World Heritage recognition would bring more visitors to Wat Phra Mahathat and encourage everyone to help preserve the temple and its sacred relics for future generations.

Prime Minister Anuntin Charnvirakul, Interior Minister and Phumi Jai Thai Party chairman, posted on Facebook stating he had traveled to Udon Thani to bid farewell to MP Harang Thuraphon of the party. Anuntin presided over the royal cremation ceremony for Harang Thuraphon, the Phumi Jai Thai MP for Udon Thani District 3, at Wat Pa Phra Tham Visuddhimongkhol in Ban Nong Sa Khrai, Chiang Wang Subdistrict, Phen District, Udon Thani Province. Harang died from a chronic illness on July 20 at the age of 69.

The parents of a 28-year-old Thai woman detained at Fukuoka Airport in Japan after crystal methamphetamine was allegedly found hidden in a coffee packet have appealed for authorities to investigate the person who hired her to carry the parcel. The woman, identified as Juthathip, 28, travelled to Japan on 11 July with her 28-year-old boyfriend, Sarawut, and another friend. The three reportedly worked as freelance luggage carriers, transporting goods for Thai people living in Japan.

Upon arrival at Fukuoka Airport on 12 July at around 07:00, Japanese authorities searched their luggage and allegedly found crystal meth hidden inside a coffee packet belonging to Juthathip. She was subsequently detained. Her parents, Thanatsak, 53, and Kanyavee, 45, said they believed their daughter may have been deceived into carrying the drugs. They also urged relevant authorities to investigate whether the person who arranged for the parcel to be transported to Japan was part of an organised operation.

Sarawut said Juthathip had created a Line group called THIENTHIEN SHOP last year to offer a luggage-carrying service for Thai people living in Japan and those wishing to send goods there. On 10 July, a Line user named "ing ing" contacted the group and asked Juthathip to carry a parcel to Japan. The goods, weighing about 12kg, were packed in a brown box sealed tightly with tape.

Sarawut said he was unsure whether his girlfriend had opened the box to inspect its contents. The same customer had previously hired her to transport goods in May, so they did not initially suspect anything unusual. After the group arrived in Japan, airport officials questioned all three travellers. Sarawut and his friend were questioned from around 08:00 to 19:00 before being released, while Juthathip remained in custody. They were not initially told what offence she was suspected of committing.

The following day, Sarawut contacted the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka and was told to wait for Japanese police to provide further information as the investigation was still ongoing. The consulate later informed the family that a stimulant substance had been detected, although it was initially unclear which item it had been found in.

On 22 July, the family received a notice from the consulate stating that crystal meth had allegedly been found hidden inside a coffee packet. The group had carried a total of nine boxes to Japan. Customers collected all the parcels except the one sent by the Line user "ing ing", who did not contact them to collect it and subsequently blocked their communication channels.

The customer had paid Juthathip 3,600 baht for the service. The payment was reportedly made from an account under the name HO THI MAI. Kanyavee said the family was informed by the Thai consulate on 22 July that her daughter had been arrested at Fukuoka Airport on suspicion of importing crystal meth. Shocked by the news, the family went to Bang Bua Thong Police Station in Nonthab.