Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatayana, the 12th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok, was renowned as a master craftsman in creating sacred Buddhist bells in Thailand. The Chiang Tung bell of 1943 represents the final bell cast during his lifetime and the last occasion the original large mold was used in production.

The Supreme Patriarch primarily employed a large mold created by Phraya Suphakorn Bannasat, a former royal goldsmith and skilled artisan from the reign of King Rama VI. This mold was crafted by coating the original bell with lead, ensuring the replica matched the original in precise proportions.

In 1943, Khun Ying Suphakorn Bannasat, widow of Phraya Suphakorn Bannasat, presented the lead mold to the Supreme Patriarch. That same year, he commissioned the casting of a large bell using this mold.

The bell was created using metal from various sources including fragments from earlier bell castings stored at the Patriarch's residence, combined with metal from a 1939 bell casting and gold sheets inscribed with 108 sacred mantras and 14 phonetic elements, supplemented with considerable gold plate remaining from an Indochinese Buddha statue cast in 1941.

The metal mixture produces a golden color that mellows to brown over time, with some bells exhibiting a greenish patina called "sai phai" due to the aged bell metal. Others display lighter or reddish-brown hues.

A total of 108 Chiang Tung bells were cast. The Supreme Patriarch distributed them to Department of Religion officials traveling to Chiang Tung and approximately 30 close disciples. The Supreme Patriarch passed away on November 26, 1944, making the Chiang Tung bell his final creation.

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, the 22nd anniversary of the passing of Venerable Thepyanamuni (Pradet Kaweethro), former abbot of Chong Lom Royal Temple in Muang District, Ratchaburi Province and former advisor to the Ratchaburi Provincial Sangha Council, is commemorated. He was a respected senior Buddhist monk recognized for his exceptional spiritual leadership and tireless dedication to public health and community welfare services, earning devotion and reverence over many decades.

He was born into the Kalyaharth family on May 31, 1920, in Moo 5, Ban Chong Subdistrict, Phnom Sarakham District, Chachoengsao Province, to parents Pang and Bang Kalyaharth. After completing fourth-grade primary education at his local village school, his family inquired about his ordination, and he joyfully accepted, having long harbored a sincere devotion to Buddhism.

He was ordained on December 20, 1935, at Tha Kwian Temple in Phnom Sarakham District, with Venerable Khru Vimlyanasunthon of Maha Chedi Temple serving as his preceptor. At age 20, he received full monastic ordination on May 9, 1940, at Tha Kwian Temple, with Venerable Wisutthisophon of Maha Phratuckharam Temple in Bangkok as his preceptor, Venerable Khru Vimlyanasutnthon as his instructor in precepts, and Venerable Khru Adulyasaramuny of Tha Kwian Temple as his instructor in training. He received the monastic name Kaweethro.

He completed advanced Dhamma studies at Sarakhet Temple and passed the Pali examination in six passages. His evident contributions earned the trust of Ratchaburi's monastic community, leading to his appointment as a preceptor. In 1966, he became the provincial sangha officer for Muang District, in 1974 the provincial sangha officer for Ratchaburi Province, and abbot of Chong Lom Royal Temple, later serving as advisor to the Ratchaburi Provincial Sangha Council.

In education, he served as a royal Pali examination committee member and the Ratchaburi Provincial Buddhist Education Committee member until his passing. He was instrumental in revitalizing Pali studies at Chong Lom Temple's school, establishing the Kaweethro Foundation to support education and providing scholarships for students and young monks. In public outreach, he headed the Ratchaburi Dhamma missionary program, organizing 88 township community education units throughout the province. In welfare work, he constructed numerous buildings and facilities within temples, donated medical equipment to Ratchaburi Central Hospital, and distributed aid to the poor. He was also an accomplished speaker and scholar, producing several academic works.

He devoted his entire life to serving Buddhism with unwavering dedication, collaborating with both monastic communities and other sectors whenever called upon. He received numerous rank promotions, becoming Phra Kru in 1954, Phra Rajkhanachayan Third Rank in 1957, Phra Rajkhanachayan First Rank in 1981, and Phra Thepyanamuni of the Divine Rank in 1996.

On August 21, 2025, Thippa Nawawattanasap, Chief Executive Officer of YLG Bullion and Futures Limited, announced that global gold investor demographics are shifting markedly from older working-age groups who typically bought gold in lump sums for savings and wealth preservation to younger people entering the market faster with smaller amounts per transaction and viewing gold as part of portfolio management.

Gen Z investors display two main behaviors: active traders who monitor market trends, prices, news, and economic factors closely and require real-time data and portfolio flexibility; and long-term accumulators who build gold holdings gradually through small units or dollar-cost averaging to establish financial discipline and reduce timing anxiety. All young investors share a mobile-first preference, wanting accessible entry points, simple processes, transparent pricing, and instant purchases via smartphone.

YLG's digital customer data shows nearly 7 in 10 (approximately 68%) are under 40 years old, demonstrating that fractional and digital gold products are removing traditional barriers and expanding the market to younger generations. This trend is not unique to Thailand but reflects global patterns.

In China, Gen Z born between 1997 and 2012 are shifting from buying gold jewelry as their parents did to investing in and saving with gold. The "gold beans" trend—purchasing 1-2 gram gold pellets and small bars monthly—has surged this year, matching the concept of starting small but accumulating consistently. China's Gold Association reported that sales of small gold products (1-5 grams) rose 180% in the first half of 2025 versus the same period in 2024, with those born in the 1990s and 2000s comprising over 60% of all buyers.

According to IFA Magazine citing BullionVault data, investors aged 16-27 represented 15.4% of new global users in 2025, up from 12.6% in 2024 and just 8.9% in 2010, showing the worldwide gold investor base is continuously rejuvenating.

In India, a Smytten PulseAI survey of 5,000 consumers aged 18-39 found 61.9% would choose gold if given 25,000 rupees to invest, well ahead of mutual funds (16.6%), fixed deposits (13%), stocks (6.6%), and crypto (1.9%).

In Singapore, the 18-35 age group became the fastest-growing gold-buying segment in 2023 through digital gold apps, 1-gram bars, and mobile ETFs.

These developments show global providers are connecting tangible gold with digital platform convenience. Gold is no longer exclusively for the wealthy; younger people now have accessible entry points.

Tham Studio 19 is proud to present Rindrada (The Influencer), a cyber-horror film directed by Atitaya Ariyavongsa and produced by Kritiniya Ariyavongsa.

The film stars Yoshi Rindrada Thuraphan, Miss Tiffany's Universe 2017, in her first leading role as Rindrada, a young influencer who becomes a terrifying ghost. She is paired with Krathing Khunnorng Prathetsaratan, who plays Po, an ordinary noodle vendor who becomes Rindrada's crucial ally.

The supporting cast includes Neena Natchada Jessica Padovan as Hannah, a mysterious girl from the underworld who controls the laws of time, and Tok Taek Pizzamovie Suthirjan Sriphet as Meena, Rindrada's only close friend who is ready to protect her from the threats of social media harassment.

Rindrada tells the story of an influencer who decides to end her life after intense cyberbullying, but death gives her a second chance as a spirit with limited time to uncover the truth and target everyone who participated in the online violence against her. With her digital connections, she launches a widespread haunting operation, aided by Hannah, the mysterious girl from the underworld, and Po, the ordinary noodle seller who fights to save Rindrada from becoming the "demon" that social media created. "The more likes she gets, the scarier she becomes."

Yoshi Rindrada, who plays the lead role, expressed her excitement about the opportunity: "I'm very happy and excited to have received this great opportunity. I want to do my best with this chance and learn everything I need to, whether through additional training or workshops with fellow actors, so I won't have regrets later. Rindrada is my first film as a full lead actress and it's a horror film with my name as the title, so it feels like a great honor.

The story follows Rindrada throughout—from when she was alive, to what happened when she died, and what happens after she returns. Everyone experiences Rindrada's journey until they're no longer afraid of her."

When asked about Rindrada's frightening appearance, she explained: "The scariness of Rindrada isn't pretty at all in the film, because the director researched how to make me not look pretty. Actually, it wasn't pretty from version 2 onwards, but he wasn't satisfied, so Rindrada has multiple versions—up to five versions in total. Each version has a different level of deterioration, and version 5 is the ultimate version. You'll have to watch it to see how grotesque it gets."

The trans actress also shared her feelings about being cast in this leading role: "I'm very happy that the producers and director and the entire team saw my potential and allowed me to represent the LGBTQ+ community in this role. This is another responsibility I carry. Trans actresses, besides being beautiful, need to be talented too. Regardless of your gender, you can be an actor just the same. You just need to not close the door on opportunities."

At 11:30 a.m. on August 21, 2025, at Parliament, Rachen Trakoolwiang, a list-system MP and leader of the New Alternative Party, received a letter from prominent lawyer Songkran Ajchariyasarp in his capacity as a member of the House Military Affairs Committee. The complaint seeks an investigation into the Prime Minister's suspension of firearm permit (Form 3) issuance. Songkran argues the suspension violates public law as defined by the Firearms Act and constitutional law, which prohibit the state from issuing regulations that unlawfully infringe on citizen rights. He notes that qualified citizens have the statutory right to petition local registration offices for firearm permits to protect their lives and property, yet the government has suspended this process in an overreach of legislative authority. Songkran also criticized the three-year renewal requirement for Form 4 permits as outdated, citing approximately 6.2 million existing permits. He highlighted that the government's plan to collect firearms and permits during a public consultation has prompted widespread public objection, since citizens legally purchased their weapons. He pointed out that the Cabinet has not adequately informed the public of their rights under Section 7 of the Firearms Act for continuous firearm possession, nor clarified Section 8(bis), which allows emergency firearm use without a carry permit. Songkran stated he will present the matter to Parliament's speaker and military committee for debate and suspension of the measure. He also noted that the Ombudsman has scheduled him to provide clarification on August 24 for potential referral to the Supreme Court's criminal division against the Prime Minister for issuing regulations that violate citizen rights. He urged Deputy Prime Minister Phahorn Nilpraphand to reconsider this backward-looking policy extending 92 years into the past, warning it affects the electoral base of both the Pheu Thai Party and coalition partners. Songkran displayed a cage containing mice and removed one, announcing he was establishing a government mascot called "Mouse Lawyer" to represent issues the Prime Minister should address but has neglected—such as online gambling and illegal weapons—which affect the entire justice system. He stressed that the Prime Minister, bound by law, has overstepped executive authority into legislative matters and urged him to remain under the law, noting he has received numerous complaints.

The Department of Internal Trade held discussions with national pig, broiler chicken, and layer chicken farmers' associations—including the National Swine Raisers Association, Broiler Chicken Raisers Association, Broiler Chicken Producers Association for Export, Layer Chicken Raisers Association, Southern Layer Chicken Raisers Association, Central Small-Scale Layer Chicken Traders Association, and egg-farming cooperatives in Chachoengsao, the Mae Khlong River basin, and Chiang Mai-Lampang—along with major producers CPF, Betagro, Thai Foods, Suroboonthaifarm, Cargill Meats, VCF Group, and SPM to monitor production and trade conditions and discuss price-management strategies that balance producers' interests without harming consumers.

Farm-gate pork prices have risen to 72–74 baht per kilogram, up from the previous month due to slightly lower output. Prices are 1–2 baht above production costs, allowing farmers viable income. Pork prices are expected to hold steady until mid-September, after which they may soften as October brings vegetarian festival season, when pork demand traditionally drops.

Broiler chicken production, which declined due to weather damage and reduced capacity from higher production costs, is beginning to recover. Damage is lessening and farmers are increasing stocking rates, so output is expected to return to normal by mid-September. Layer chicken egg supply is currently adequate and steady, with plans to boost supply after extending the productive lifespan of laying hens.