On July 14, 2025, police received a report of a fireworks explosion in the Baan Rai Teen Nam area, Ton Mamueang subdistrict, Mueang Phetchaburi district, Phetchaburi province. The blast, audible more than 10 kilometers away, damaged over seven homes and injured two people. The incident was reported to the district police commander and the subdistrict municipality chief, who rushed to investigate. Before police arrived, local volunteers and emergency responders transported two injured persons to Phra Chom Klao Hospital.

The injured were identified as Songkran (nicknamed Kamnan Muek), 68, a former subdistrict headman, and Nanthapat, 42, his wife. Both suffered minor injuries with abrasions across their bodies. At the scene, police found over seven houses heavily damaged, with roofs caved in, ceilings collapsed, and windows and doors shattered. Two vehicles—a sedan and a pickup truck—were also damaged by the blast. Officials have not yet assessed total damages and are awaiting forensic evidence examination.

Initial investigation revealed that before the explosion, the couple was inside their home when fireworks stored in a carport ignited violently. The blast damaged neighboring residences in the immediate vicinity. Police noted the house held a valid business license from Mueang Phetchaburi district to manufacture fireworks and had operated for over 40 years without incident. Officers have cordoned off the area and are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

A massive fire on July 13 engulfed an entertainment venue at a brewery in Bangkok's Lat Phrao district, killing 28 people. Forensic teams and engineers from Chatuchak District Office have begun searching the collapsed ruins for evidence and remains. Officials revealed that while the building passed mandatory fire safety inspections in April—when fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and dual escape routes were all present and compliant—the operator systematically blocked emergency exits with tables, chairs, and stored goods during daily operations to maximize seating and floor space. When the fire broke out, victims found their escape routes completely obstructed by merchandise piled against the exit doors. Authorities have declared this a case of gross negligence rather than an accident, as the operator knowingly compromised life-safety features for profit. Officials announced they will prosecute the owner, management, and all responsible parties within one month, stating that routine inspections cannot serve as a license to ignore fire codes during normal business.

On July 14, 2025, Labor Minister Julphand Amornvivat revealed that the Cabinet has approved new guidelines for calculating old-age pensions under the CARE (Career Average Revalued Earnings) formula. This initiative aims to create a pension system that genuinely reflects lifetime earnings, ensures fairness, and reduces inequality among workers.

The CARE formula's key innovation is replacing the calculation basis from the average wage of the final 60 months before retirement to an average across the entire contribution period. Past wages will be revalued to current monetary levels before calculation, ensuring pensions reflect true lifetime income and reducing disparities caused by income changes near retirement.

The reform also expands benefits in several ways. Workers who contributed for fewer than 12 months—previously entitled only to their own contributions—will now receive old-age benefits including employer contributions and returns, under the same criteria as those contributing 12 months or longer. For contributors exceeding 180 months, the increase rate changes from 1.5 percent per 12-month period to 0.125 percent per actual month contributed, eliminating month rounding and ensuring benefits match actual contribution periods.

The Labor Ministry has established a five-year transitional support measure for those nearing retirement whose new formula benefits fall short of the old formula. They will receive declining compensation: 100 percent in year one, decreasing by 20 percent annually until year five. Current retirees whose recalculated benefits increase will receive immediate pension adjustments in the next payment cycle. Those whose benefits would decrease will continue receiving the original pension amount for life, protecting existing beneficiaries.

Next steps involve submitting the draft regulation to the Office of the Council of State for review and publication in the Royal Gazette, effective 180 days after publication. The Labor Ministry expects this reform to be a major step toward ensuring stable, fair, and sustainable post-retirement income security for all workers.

The roundup features detailed descriptions of three notable Buddhist amulets. Luang Pu Nil's 72-year-anniversary coin, cast around 1973, is an oval-shaped dark copper medallion featuring his half-length image and a four-sided yantra, with approximately 10,000 pieces produced. Luang Por Kluab's 1996 coin, created by the Uthai Thani Lions Club, is a flattened spherical design featuring his half-length image in yellow robes with colored glazing on the reverse in red, blue, green, sky blue, and purple. Luang Pu Solos's nine-sided diamond-shaped amulet from 2005 is a dark copper design with a loop, featuring his half-length image and his personal yantra, limited to 500 pieces and cast with fine craftsmanship.

Phra Kru Nikrom Dhammaraks, known as Luang Pho Sai Tissaro, was the former abbot of Wat Chong Lom in Uttaradit province and a renowned Buddhist teacher. Beyond managing and developing the temple, he led community development initiatives and provided assistance to those in need while maintaining a strict commitment to teaching virtue and the Buddhist path. Whatever he undertook received the wholehearted cooperation of the community, ensuring success.

Born on Sunday, February 11, 1893, as Sai Thiphayavong, the fifth child of Khun Nikrom Raksak and Nang Thaen Thiphayavong in Ban Hong Hia, Hat Ngiao subdistrict, Uttaradit, he came from a family of seven children. In his youth, he was handsome, dignified, tall and refined with clear complexion, good character, peaceful in manner, and always showed compassion to others.

Before ordination, he studied under Luang Pho Hob at Wat Samakkhi Yaram and became proficient in Thai and Khmer languages, which he applied effectively to Buddhist scholarship. After leaving the temple temporarily to support his parents through farming, he ordained as a novice at age sixteen under Phra Athikan Kong, the abbot of Wat Chong Lom, on May 7, 1909.

At age twenty, he received full ordination at Wat Chong Lom on May 8, 1913, receiving the monastic name Tissaro. He devoted himself to monastic discipline and studied under his preceptor at Wat Kumphir Thong for four years before moving to practice at other temples including Wat Doi Kaew and Wat Hat Ngiao, where he studied extensively with Luang Pho Hob. Later, he transferred to Wat Chong Lom.

Phra Kru Wichian Panya Mahamuni, the provincial ecclesiastical chief of Uttaradit and abbot of Wat Tha Thanon at that time, recognized his virtues and appointed him abbot of Wat Chong Lom on February 1, 1919. As abbot, he devoted himself to constructing and renovating temple buildings and facilities, including the sermon hall, ordination hall, chedi enshrining Buddha relics, temple walls, and two schools—the Buddhist studies school and Wat Chong Lom municipal school. He also oversaw renovations at Wat Hat Ngiao, Wat Samakkhi Yaram, and Wat Doi Tha Sao.

In 1941, as Thailand entered the Indochina War and World War II, local residents sought protective amulets and religious objects. He commissioned the creation of clay amulets mixed with herbal materials and consecrated them with Buddhist chants believed to reflect harmful intentions back to their source. Funds from donations to these amulets were used to fund temple construction and renovation. He crafted blessed objects known for their powerful effects, evident to disciples and laypeople alike, even attracting devotion from followers of other faiths who wore his amulets and talismans.

He was compassionate and impartial, with a broad heart and gentle speech. He passed away peacefully on October 17, 1948.

Pompam, performing in top form, delivered her latest stand-up comedy show "Growing Old with Shine" to enthusiastic audiences across two packed performances. Following the strong reception of last year's "Birth, Aging, Sickness, and Old Age" show, she expanded the series into a second year with this new installment at the Sirikitti National Convention Center's ballroom, both afternoon and evening sessions filled with entertainment industry peers including Opal Panisara, Pookie Weenuch, Tey Jariumporn, Ja Yassini, and many others.

The two-and-a-half-hour show packed the daily life experiences of the 45-year-old comedian, touching on everything from her humorous baking lessons and pursuing a master's degree at her age to debating whether grilled pork is personal or communal property. She explored generational gaps, adapting to life's disappointments, and recounted her romantic history with wit and honesty, delivering sharp humor mixed with heartfelt reflections. Guest performers Dance Nararaksorn and Nath Sakdathorn performed during the afternoon and evening shows respectively, adding to the high-energy atmosphere.

Closing her show with a life lesson about happiness—"You don't need to chase joy, just learn to see it"—Pompam left audiences uplifted and reflective, having delivered a performance full of laughs, heart, and genuine connection.