The Patronage Foundation for the Promotion of Arts and Crafts held a ceremony to honor and invoke blessings from the teachers and masters of classical Thai dance (khon) on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 9:09 a.m. at the Khon Learning Center in Bang Pa-in District, Ayutthaya Province. Lieutenant Colonel Somchai Kanjanamanee, Deputy Secretary of the Royal Household and Vice Chairman of the foundation, presided over the ceremony on behalf of the foundation. The ceremony sought permission and protection from spiritual masters for the year's grandest khon production: "Ramakien - Sita," to proceed smoothly and successfully. This was followed by a merit-making Buddhist ceremony and alms offering to monks to bring auspiciousness to all organizers, performers, and participants.

For 2026, the foundation has scheduled the khon performance "Ramakien - Sita" to run from Thursday, November 5 through Thursday, December 10, 2026, at the Thailand Cultural Center's main auditorium. The performance honors the legacy and royal vision of Queen Sirikit, the late Queen Mother, and coincides with celebrations marking the King's fourth reign jubilee. The khon performance transcends mere entertainment; it represents the collective effort to preserve and pass down Thailand's precious cultural heritage that Queen Sirikit founded and that the current Queen continues to champion. It reflects Thailand's good fortune that the monarchy actively supports and nurtures this classical art form in all its dimensions, ensuring that this valued tradition endures for generations to come.

The grandeur of the performance stems not merely from its artistic beauty on stage, but from Queen Sirikit's vision to revive, conserve, and perpetuate the art of khon while simultaneously preserving Thailand's exquisite craftsmanship. Through the foundation's work, khon has become a living platform for learning, knowledge transmission, and the cultivation of new generations of artists. Every aspect—from stage construction and scenic design to intricately crafted masks, costumes, and ornaments—reflects a collaborative commitment to safeguarding and advancing this invaluable art form so that it continues to inspire audiences for generations.

The "Ramakien - Sita" performance follows the royal composition of King Rama I. The narrative traces the story from when Lakshmi incarnated as Princess Sita and married Prince Rama (an incarnation of Vishnu), through her abduction by the demon king Ravana after she followed Rama into exile, to Rama's final victory over the demons, and finally to Sita's trial by fire upon her return to Ayodhya. Through her unwavering virtue and pure love, Sita passes through the flames unharmed, with lotus flowers rising beneath her feet to support each step.

On August 1, 2025, Tepsirin School in Nonthaburi released a statement expressing deep sorrow and condolences for the passing of a Grade 9 student. The school described the loss as tremendous for the student's family, friends, teachers, and the entire school community, and offered prayers for the student's soul and strength for the grieving family.

The school thanked doctors, nurses, medical staff, rescue teams, and all compassionate individuals who exhausted their efforts, knowledge, and dedication in attempting to save the student until his final moments. Their goodwill and efforts will remain in the school's memory.

Although blood donations received could not save the student, the hospital will use the donated blood to treat other patients in critical need, extending hope to those awaiting life-saving care and reflecting the beauty of sacrifice and sharing. The school expressed gratitude for all support, concern, and assistance provided to the student and his family during this difficult time.

On July 24, 2025, the Grade 9 student fell from a second-floor roof after stepping onto it to retrieve earphones that had fallen. The roof collapsed under his weight, causing severe injuries, and he was rushed to the hospital.

On August 1, 2025, Wiwat Chankingthong, manager of the Business Innovation Research Center at Hat Yai University's Faculty of Business Administration, released findings from a survey of consumer confidence across 14 southern provinces covering economic and social conditions. The survey found that overall consumer confidence in July declined compared to June, triggered by U.S.-Iran military tensions in July that caused global oil price volatility. Concerns about potential oil shortages from closed shipping routes, combined with sharply increased shipping costs and cargo insurance premiums, raised Thailand's oil import costs significantly.

Although the government drew on fuel fund reserves to subsidize pump prices and prevent public hardship, the fuel fund eventually ran dry, forcing multiple fuel price increases at pumps for both gasoline and diesel. Citizens have had no choice but to absorb the full weight of higher living costs. The monsoon season worsened conditions as rubber tappers could not work and fruit prices collapsed due to oversupply, causing farm incomes to shrink dramatically.

Despite the government's "Thai Help Thai (60/40)" program intended to share expenses, Wiwat explained that the funds typically last only 2–3 weeks, leaving low-to-middle income households facing the full 100 percent burden of elevated living costs. When expenses exceed income and savings run out, many resort to high-interest informal lending with seemingly no path to repayment. This financial stress has eroded family well-being, while drug abuse continues to spread widely in communities and schools. Ongoing violence in the southern border region and slow, poorly targeted government economic solutions have left the public deeply lacking confidence.

The revocation of welfare card eligibility, which affected a large number of cardholders, has directly shaken public trust in the government. The discontent stems not from rejection of screening itself, but from a mismatch between the rigid numerical criteria used by state agencies and the actual realities of people's lives. Inflexible formulas have led to eligibility cuts based on bank deposits, vehicles, or credit limits that often contradict reality—for example, elderly citizens with modest savings just over 100,000 baht but no regular income losing benefits immediately, or outdated data causing genuinely struggling people to be unfairly denied aid.

When citizens lose assistance precisely when living costs and prices are at their peak, they perceive the government as withdrawing help at the moment of greatest need. The public increasingly views government policy and operations as prioritizing "budget cuts" over "helping people." With nearly half of all 18.82 million registered cardholders—9.3 million people—losing eligibility, many now suspect the government deliberately set criteria too strict.

Phatthalung's stewed beef offal is a standout regional dish, slow-cooked over charcoal for five hours until perfectly tender, with a richly flavored broth of traditional spices that eliminates any gaminess. The Piang Market Beef Offal shop (Old Owner) has been serving loyal customers for over 54 years, inheriting the recipe from its founder Uncle Ruang, a legendary vendor whose stall near Wat Kok Khao drew devoted followers who considered a visit to Phatthalung incomplete without eating his stew.

The current owner, Phaenphorn Bannsala, inherited the recipe from her husband's parents and moved the operation to her own home on Phadung Don Yaw Road in 1994, continuing the tradition that now spans over 100 years. The dish uses beef offal from 4-5 year-old cattle, purchased fresh daily, and is continuously simmered over charcoal for five hours to maximize tenderness and flavor; customers can choose which parts they want and customize with fresh lime, chili, or pair it with hot fried eggs.

The shop, located at 12/1 Phadung Don Yaw Road in Phatthalung municipality, opens from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except Sundays, with prices ranging from 100–200 baht per bowl. Despite the founder's death in 1994 and rising ingredient costs, regular customers spanning three generations continue to return for its perfectly balanced, tender texture and authentic taste that remains unchanged.

At 8:50 a.m. on August 1, 2026, a reporter received a briefing from the Chiang Mai Sangha Committee's investigation panel confirming that monks at various temples have been secretly organizing parties in monastery quarters and hiring entertainment workers to provide services at night. Those involved reportedly range from junior monks to temple abbots, and the committee now possesses photographs and evidence of these activities.

The provincial ecclesiastical office has received substantial documentation and photographs. Monks identified in the investigation have been organizing regular meetups to host these parties. Monks from temples with named individuals use private vehicles—including black Toyota Camrys, black Toyota Viosses, white Ford vehicles, and at senior abbot level, Toyota Fortuners—to reach meeting points. Some monks have used ride-hailing services, while junior monks from surrounding districts use pickup trucks but avoid using temple drivers to prevent word leaking out, opting instead to drive themselves or take rides.

These gatherings involve hiring entertainment workers to serve, with alcohol readily available in refrigerators and coolers. Photos have been shared in group LINE chats, with some images leaking to the provincial ecclesiastical office. Incidents have reportedly occurred where workers grew concerned about their safety and sought health checks, with one threatening to file a complaint if they contracted an illness. The group of monks involved have been openly defiant of monastic discipline.

Chiang Mai's ecclesiastical authorities have compiled a list of these monks at both junior and senior levels, including specific temples involved. Vallop Namwongporn, cultural development committee member for Chiang Mai Province and advisor to the Chiang Mai Sangha, revealed that during Buddhist Lent—when monks are supposed to remain in their temples during the rainy season—some groups secretly leave their monasteries to host parties in various temple quarters. While such conduct would constitute only a minor disciplinary offense if discovered, it remains inappropriate. He urged all monks engaged in such behavior to stop immediately, warning that if caught or exposed, it will harm Buddhism's reputation significantly. He called for all to cease this conduct during the current Lent period for the benefit of the Buddhist faith.

Update: Police link Russian siblings’ murder to Thai family killingLegacyProvincial Police Region 2 has confirmed that the killings of two Russian siblings and a Thai family of three in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, are believed to be the work of the same gang, who allegedly posed as police officers to gain entry to victims’ homes before marching them off at gunpoint. Pol Lt Gen Chatchai Surachetphong, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, gave the update on the night of July 31 after investigators located the burial sites of all five victims within roughly two kilometres of each other in the Huai Yai subdistrict area. Officers first took suspects Thana Kerdthong, known as “Pong,” and Thongchai Srinil, known as “Thong,” to a wooded area locals call Sak Ngaeo forest, where they pointed out the grave of the two Russian siblings. Investigators then moved the pair to a coconut plantation about two kilometres away, where they identified a second grave, this time containing the bodies of a Thai mother, father and child, buried together in a single pit. Police say the family murder involved four people in total: Thana and Thongchai, along with two suspects still on the run, named as Chatchanan Paen-iam, alias “Fluke,” and Atsadang Chuwong, alias “Ball.” Officers are continuing to hunt for the pair, believed to still be hiding in the area. According to the investigation, the gang allegedly dressed as police officers and told the family they needed to search the house. The victims were then handcuffed and taken from their home to the coconut plantation, where they were shot and buried, police said. Investigators are still gathering evidence to establish each suspect’s specific role. What happened to the Russian siblings The two Russian victims were found buried together in a single grave about 1 metre deep, with the woman’s body positioned beneath the man’s. Neither body had been wrapped, and both were still fully clothed. Initial examinations found signs of physical assault on the woman, while the man had gunshot wounds to his abdomen and head. Police said there was no evidence so far of sexual assault against the woman, though a full forensic post mortem is still pending. Officers said the suspects’ statements were broadly consistent with the physical evidence collected. According to the suspects, they did not know the siblings beforehand and had intended only to steal their motorcycle. They later stripped the bike for parts to sell, then buried the components once police began closing in. Photo courtesy of MGR Online Suspects’ backgrounds under scrutiny Chatchai said police are now checking whether the suspects are linked to any other criminal cases, noting that the main suspect had been released from prison only around two months earlier. He confirmed two accomplices remain at large and are believed to still be in the area. Sister recounts month long search Tukta, sister of one of the three Thai victims, spoke to reporters in tears, describing more than a month spent searching for her sister, brother in law and nephew or niece. She said the family filed police reports, contacted officers repeatedly, and pursued every lead they could, without success, until the Russian siblings’ case broke open and led investigators to the family’s burial site. Tukta said that without the Russian case being solved, her family might never have learned what happened to their relatives. She called on police to pursue the case against all those involved to the fullest extent, and appealed for justice for every victim. The story Update: Police link Russian siblings’ murder to Thai family killing as seen on Thaiger News.