On August 14, Thiwarun Angkinandh, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Religion, Arts and Culture, disclosed that the committee is taking urgent action to resolve a dispute at Wat Pa Adulyaram in Muang Khon Kaen after people placed objects blocking the temple entrance, disrupting access and religious ceremonies. The committee determined the issue requires immediate resolution to prevent broader damage to Buddhism.

Thiwarun said the committee voted to visit Khon Kaen Province on August 19 to investigate firsthand. The delegation will invite all relevant agencies and parties to discuss the matter comprehensively and seek a solution grounded in facts, law, and public order.

The site visit will include meetings with the temple abbot, the Khon Kaen governor, the provincial land office, the provincial Buddhism office, and the temple's lay committee to hear from all sides on land rights and the access blockade that directly affects religious activities.

The dispute is not new. Previously, the temple and heirs of the original land donor engaged in a land dispute that has gone through the justice system multiple times. The situation involves legal questions, land rights, management of temple property, and the relationship between the temple and local residents that require careful consideration.

"When disputes arise at temples and religious institutions, we do not want to see confrontation between monks and laypeople. The committee must investigate the facts from all sides to find a fair, lawful resolution. Our goal is to enable the temple to conduct its religious activities normally and resolve the dispute peacefully," Thiwarun said.

The chair added that beyond meetings with administrative and land authorities, the committee will pay respects to the provincial head of the Buddhist Sangha to hear the monastic perspective, especially on the Sangha's role in protecting and supporting Buddhism and preventing temple-laity disputes from escalating and damaging public faith.

Thiwarun stressed the committee's role is not to prejudge right or wrong, but to fulfill its legislative duty by verifying facts, coordinating with relevant authorities, and promoting concrete action by state agencies and the Sangha. If the root cause involves land boundaries or ownership, the land office and competent agencies must examine evidence clearly. If the issue concerns temple management, it must proceed through Sangha mechanisms and the provincial Buddhism office. Any actions affecting rights, access, or order require administrative and law enforcement action within legal authority, with all parties receiving fair treatment.

"Buddhism is the spiritual center for the people. Temples should not become areas of conflict. Resolving this requires separating facts from emotion and clarifying documents and rights," she concluded.

PHUKET: Phuket officials welcomed the mayor of Pengerang in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor yesterday (Aug 13) for talks on tourism, urban development and the possibility of closer long-term cooperation, including a potential sister-city relationship.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is pressing ahead with its investigation into a major local government examination cheating scandal, with Deputy Secretary-General Kiattisak Putphand confirming on August 14 that evidence is extensive and divided into multiple groups requiring work across several locations. The investigation committee held a meeting two weeks prior and distributed tasks accordingly, though the sensitive nature of evidence—since many individuals involved are both witnesses and potential suspects—demands meticulous handling. The three to six month timeline remains in place, though no firm deadline has been set for examining all 800,000 answer sheets, which the NACC holds in original form and considers manageable through scientific inspection if multiple departments oversee the process for transparency.

When asked whether high-ranking officials would be called for questioning, Kiattisak said the NACC is currently focusing on gathering major evidence groups, particularly at lower levels where problems exist, as senior figures already have clear roles. The investigation centers on one key question: whether cheating occurred and who was involved. On whether the inquiry will reach former Local Administration Department Permanent Secretary Thiruit Suphawibulyon, Kiattisak stated it depends on where the evidence leads, though separate issues such as whether the TOR drafting process showed favoritism must also be examined. He confirmed that if evidence points to any former police commissioner during the TOR era, that person will be investigated. Kiattisak dismissed concerns that the time required for evidence gathering could allow destruction of materials, saying the NACC's work is not delayed and evidence appears internally consistent, making significant alterations unlikely. He urged patience and called for calm, noting the NACC has deployed numerous task forces and treats the case as a priority for swift results. Regarding expansion to politicians and ministers, Kiattisak said the NACC has no predetermined targets but will follow evidence wherever it leads, though he could not yet confirm any links to government ministers.

The Department of Foreign Trade and the Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Board jointly organized Thai Tapioca Nexus 2026: Connecting Thai Cassava to Global Trust on August 13, 2026 at Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok. The event was opened by Ekachat Seetworarat, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Commerce, and drew over 300 domestic and international participants to build trade networks and elevate the Thai tapioca industry globally.

Arada Fuengthong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, emphasized that the event serves as a critical platform connecting government, private sector, SME entrepreneurs, experts, academics, and international business partners to exchange knowledge, technology, and innovation. She noted that modern trade partners value not only product quality but also standards, transparency, environmental responsibility, and supply chain reliability. Thailand has strong potential to develop high-value cassava products meeting global market demands through quality, confidence, and innovation—aligned with the Bio-Circular-Green Economy model to reduce carbon footprints and support Net Zero goals.

The Department aims to strengthen Thailand's tapioca industry under three pillars: Quality-Confidence-Innovation. The program includes academic seminars featuring leading experts on cassava starch, food industry applications, and sustainable business development, as well as international speakers sharing knowledge on breeding, smart farming, starch innovation, and sustainability to help Thai SMEs expand into foreign markets.

A cardiologist has issued urgent health warnings to HYROX participants following reports of a competitor experiencing cardiac arrest during the race. Social media page Ploy Talk shared images and a post describing a HYROX competitor receiving chest compressions and requiring hospital transfer.

Dr. Akkanit Srisukwattana, a cardiologist specializing in sports medicine, responded with detailed guidance on his page Akanis Srisukwattana. He noted that sudden cardiac arrest during competition occurs at a rate of 1 in 100,000 for the general population, but increases to approximately 1 in 5,000 for people aged 50 and above or those with pre-existing medical conditions.

While insufficient data exists to confirm whether HYROX carries higher mortality risk than running or other endurance sports, the discipline combines running with power endurance elements, causing heart rate and blood pressure to spike significantly—especially during high-resistance stations like sled push, sled pull, and burpee broad jumps, which place greater strain than standard running.

The doctor emphasized competing at the level of training completed, without forcing pace or intensity beyond individual capability, particularly for those with risk factors such as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, smoking history, or cardiovascular disease. During competition, competitors should avoid maximum effort at every station and maintain controlled breathing, especially at heavy stations, to allow the heart to recover before resuming running.

For at-risk individuals, exertion should generally be maintained at RPE 7/10—tired but still controllable, able to speak in short sentences. Intense effort at levels 8–9/10 may occur during racing but should not be sustained.

Immediate stopping and notification of event medical staff is required for these symptoms: chest tightness or pain, abnormal breathlessness relative to exertion, dizziness or blurred vision, fainting, irregular heartbeat, or cold sweating with impending loss of consciousness.

The doctor concluded by encouraging all participants to enjoy competition safely: at-risk groups should race at a sustainable level matching their training, undergo pre-race screening to assess personal risk factors, and plan participation appropriate to their physical condition.

PHUKET: Freedom Beach has been temporarily closed to visitors and swimming during the monsoon season after a German tourist was swept out to sea and later found dead at the Phuket beach.