On July 26, 2026, Venerable Somdet Phra Mahatherajacharya, abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphorn Vimolmangkharama and committee member of the Maha Thera Association, presided over a papal decree appointment ceremony for Buddhist administrators in the northern diocesan zone at Wat Phra Chetuphorn Vimolmangkharama. Eight monks were appointed in total.

Three appointments were made for Nakhon Sawan province: (1) Venerable Dhammavachiradhon (Rid Ritwedi, Dhamma grade 9), abbot of Wat Tak Fa in Nakhon Sawan, appointed Provincial Buddhist Leader; (2) Venerable Kru Niphathammaprasit (Prasit Attasitti), deputy abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, appointed abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan; and (3) Venerable Kru Sudheepodhabhirak (Prasart Teepakro), assistant abbot of Wat Potaram in Nakhon Sawan, appointed abbot of Wat Potaram.

Venerable Dhammavachiradhon was born on July 2, 1964, in Ban Nong Nam, Tak Tok Subdistrict, Ban Tak District, Tak Province, and was ordained on May 14, 1984, at Wat Tak Fa, Nakhon Sawan, under the guidance of Venerable Kru Naphakhet Kanarak. He holds Dhamma grade 9 certification and earned a master's degree in education from Naresuan University.

He serves as abbot of Wat Tak Fa Royal Monastery and provincial Buddhist leader for Nakhon Sawan. He was the first monk to receive the "Outstanding Teacher" award from the Teachers Council Office and is known for his dedication to Buddhist education. He founded Sri Naphakhet Withaya School, manages the Pali Studies Division of a Buddhist studies program, and serves as chairman of multiple committees and foundations. He emphasizes monastic education, cultural traditions, and proper conduct within the monastery.

On July 26, rescue workers from the Phetchkasem Foundation in Chiang Mai responded to assist an unconscious woman in a rented room in Muang district, Chiang Mai province, after a neighbor received a distress call in which the woman managed only to say "help me" before the line went dead.

When rescuers arrived, they found the room door locked from inside and unable to open, forcing them to use cutting equipment to breach the door and enter urgently. Inside, they discovered the woman lying on the floor in a weakened state, with household items and trash piled on top of her. Rescuers quickly cleared the items and assessed her condition, finding she remained conscious and responsive but showed signs of weakness on her left side—a medical emergency.

When questioned, the woman revealed she had been lying in that condition since July 21, a total of five days, before finally managing to call her neighbor for help. The room was so cluttered with items, belongings, and garbage that there was almost no workspace. Rescue workers had to clear the area and create a pathway to move the patient, taking over 40 minutes to successfully carry her out of the room and transfer her to an ambulance.

The neighbor reported that upon receiving the call with only the word "help," he rushed to check but could not open the locked door from inside, prompting him to immediately alert rescue workers. The patient was transported to Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital, where doctors are conducting a thorough medical evaluation to determine the cause of her condition.

A white van with Bangkok license plates collided with a parked trailer truck on Mittraphap Road in Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province on July 26, 2025, leaving 15 passengers injured. Police from Ban Phai station responded to the accident on the outbound lane of Mittraphap Road before the Ban Gae intersection, where they found the van's front severely crushed after striking the trailer. Emergency services provided first aid and transported all injured passengers to Ban Phai Hospital.

The truck driver, 51-year-old Kaseam, stated he was traveling from Khon Kaen province to Prachuap Khiri Khan when he stopped to inspect his tires. Within less than two minutes, the van struck him with considerable force, and passengers rapidly evacuated the vehicle.

Police determined the van was transporting Laotian workers returning to Bangkok after completing passport procedures in Nong Khai province. The driver apparently lost control and struck the parked truck. Police will proceed with a full investigation and legal action.

The Thai men's national football team trained at BGTC 3 in Pathum Thani on July 26, 2025, shortly after returning from Laos to prepare for the 2026 AFF Championship Group B matches. The training session focused primarily on physical recovery following Thailand's impressive 5-0 triumph over Laos in the tournament's opening game. The squad will take one full rest day on July 27 before resuming practice on July 28.

Head coach Anthony Hudson explained the recovery strategy: "Our plan now is divided into two groups—those who played will focus on recovery, while others continue training. We have a full rest day tomorrow because this is a long tournament with minimal breaks. This may be our last chance to rest before we go all out." He added that match fitness and game intensity differ fundamentally from preseason training, and that Thailand faces matches every three days after facing Malaysia, allowing players to continually improve their match fitness.

Hudson confirmed that no players are dealing with significant injuries. While some muscle tightness during preseason conditioning is normal, there are no major concerns.

Khananat Kham Yok, the midfielder who scored twice in the opening match, expressed gratitude to Thai fans for their support. "The coach told us to improve game by game. I'm confident from scoring two goals and proud to have contributed to the national team's victory. I'm disappointed I didn't get a hat trick, but I respect the coach's decision." He noted that while the Laos match was challenging as the tournament opener, solid preparation and fan support provided crucial motivation for victory.

Thailand's upcoming 2026 ASEAN Cup Group B matches are: - Thailand vs. Malaysia: August 1, 2025, 8:00 p.m., Rajamangala Stadium (tickets available) - Philippines vs. Thailand: August 4, 2025, 8:00 p.m., New Clark City Athletic Stadium - Thailand vs. Myanmar: August 8, 2025, 8:00 p.m., Rajamangala Stadium (tickets available)

All matches are broadcast live on TrueVisions Now. The semifinals and finals will be played on a home-and-away basis, with semifinals on August 15-16 and 18-19, 2025, and finals on August 22 and 26, 2025.

The Department of Local Administration livestreamed the exam paper review process at Thammasat University's Rangsit Center on July 26, after the day's civil service recruitment examination for local government management positions across the country concluded successfully.

The livestream allowed viewers to see officials inspecting both Section A and Section B exam papers simultaneously, using two scanning machines and document scanning equipment, with committees and observers present. This represents a new approach for the department to build public confidence and demonstrate transparency in the examination process. Viewers praised the transparent, professional, and high-quality procedures.

The livestream will continue throughout the entire exam review process. Answer sheets from exam centers in various provinces are being transported via police vehicles equipped with GPS, with relevant officials as witnesses. The sheets are then stored and reviewed immediately.

The examination saw 37,359 applicants competing for 17,543 available management positions in local government organizations nationwide.

On the morning of July 26, Nirat Pongsitthavorn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior acting as Director of the Department of Local Administration, visited the exam center at Thammasat University's Rangsit campus and subsequently inspected an exam site at Chonburi Sukbat School in Chonburi province. Deputy Governor Isara Charoenchashri and Chachoengsao's local administration official welcomed him and showed exam rooms and the testing environment. Nirat emphasized that the department's examination would be conducted with complete transparency and integrity.

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.