Luang Pho Mian Kanlayano, abbot of Wat Cha Niang Wanaram in Krasan District, Buriram province, is a highly respected monk known for his exemplary conduct and devotion to Buddhist practice. He inherited his lineage from several renowned Cambodian monastic teachers before moving to Thailand. Now 90 years old and in his 69th monastic year, he was born in Cambodia in 1922 and received monastic training from twelve teachers, most notably Luang Pho Lun. He was ordained at age 26 at Wat Yod Thong in Cambodia, where he studied Buddhist texts and developed expertise in meditation. In 1975, he came to Thailand and settled in the Cha Niang forest area, where villagers grew to revere his spiritual guidance. He subsequently established Wat Cha Niang Wanaram, which has become a central religious institution for the village. He holds a prominent position among senior monastic teachers in Buriram and is a Dhamma brother of celebrated monks from neighboring Surin province. As abbot since 1993, he is widely known for his compassionate service to those suffering hardship without regard to social status, earning him the honorific title "Deity of Cha Niang Village." Although the temple was established decades ago, it still faces development challenges and resource constraints. Given that Luang Pho Mian is elderly and increasingly troubled by health issues, his disciples sought permission to create auspicious talismans called "Khun Phan with Five Hundred Ladies" to support the temple's ongoing projects and sustenance efforts. These five-sided amulets feature Khun Phan seated in a shrine holding bags of gold and silver, surrounded by his legendary wives, symbolizing wealth and fortune. The reverse side depicts a young golden boy as a guardian bringing luck and protection. Various versions are being made with different materials and sacred reliquaries, including items with gold-plated metal powder, silver reliquaries, and multiple designs inscribed with protective mantras and Buddhist symbols.

GCAP GOLD is opening the first and only official GCAP GOLD x Butterbear store in Thailand at the GCAP GOLD building on Phetchburi Road in Bangkok, following the outstanding success of the initial gold collection launch featuring the beloved Butterbear character. The company announced on July 31, 2025 that the new store, located on the first floor, will offer more than just a retail point for the licensed GCAP GOLD x Butterbear gold collection. It has been designed as a destination for fans and gold enthusiasts to take photos, check in, and immerse themselves in a Butterbear-themed golden kingdom with warm, playful, and inviting décor that blends lifestyle, cuteness, and investment appeal in one space. GCAP GOLD aims for the official store to become a new landmark for millennials and young investors, making gold investment more accessible through the integration of a popular character with valuable investment products that reflect a modern, approachable image of gold suited to contemporary consumer lifestyles. The company invites fans and interested visitors to experience the store this month at the GCAP GOLD x Butterbear Official Store on Phetchburi Road, where they can check in with the adorable official Butterbear gold kingdom and acquire this year's hottest investment items in a truly unique atmosphere, with the company confident that the official store opening will build on the successful collaboration between GCAP GOLD and Butterbear.

Thailand’s August 2026 event calendar features food festivals, cultural showcases, performing arts, religious traditions, and community celebrations across the country. Held in both major cities and...

The Finance Ministry announced the successful debut of the "Government Savings Bond Plus," with 2 billion baht in bonds purchased through the Pao Tang app wallet in just 21 seconds, reflecting strong public investment appetite. The next sale round opens August 3-5, 2025, via the Bond Connect Platform with a minimum investment of 1,000 baht. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekkanit Nitithanprapas unveiled the product on July 31, 2025, describing it not merely as a savings vehicle but as a structural tool to address critical national challenges. He noted that many Thais lack savings equivalent to six months of essential expenses, while household debt exceeds 86% of GDP—among the region's highest—and Thailand's savings rate has declined from 27.7% of GDP in 2014 to just 25.3%. With 53 provinces now having elderly populations exceeding 20%, the rapid aging society faces financial insecurity without stronger savings promotion today. The Savings Bond Plus offers fixed interest rates of 1.80% annually for three-year bonds and 2.80% for ten-year bonds, with additional benefits including monthly availability, attractive returns, a secondary market for transparency and liquidity, and multiple distribution channels including the Pao Tang app, commercial banks, securities firms, and streaming applications. Citizens can invest from as little as 100 baht through the Pao Tang wallet or from 1,000 baht through banks and securities companies. The minister emphasized that the product serves three interconnected levels: household financial security through consistent monthly savings and better retirement readiness; strengthening Thailand's capital market infrastructure and liquidity; and supporting national savings recovery after nearly a decade of continuous decline.

Suchai Porchaiyasukdium, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, announced that on July 31, national team coach Pochpol Khomsuan led Thailand's under-14 boys tennis squad to compete in the 2026 World Tennis Fourteen and Under Junior Team Finals in the Czech Republic from August 3-8, 2026.

The delegation includes coach Pochpol, trainer Pandtiva Chaowutthai, and players Virisat Leuksintapon (Tan) and Denis Khiaoraksa (Dennis). Pannaporn Nimjualkun (Anpan) will join the team later after completing a European tour funded by the GSPDP/ITF/ATF Fourteen and Under Team to Europe 2026 program.

As the tournament is played on clay courts, coach Pochpol has been preparing the athletes with clay court training at the ALM X Impact Tennis and Sports Center in Thonglor. The association thanked Dr. Usanee Mahakij Leonio, CEO of KFU, for providing the facility for the national youth tennis team.

Porchaiyasukdium stated: "My goal is for Coach Pochpol, the athletes, and all staff to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. Once we have given our all, regardless of the outcome, we will have no regrets because we will have done our best at that moment."

Thailand's under-14 boys team earned the right to compete in the world finals after finishing third at the 2026 ITF World Junior Tennis Asia/Oceania Finals Qualifying Event in Malaysia in May 2026, qualifying them for the final 16-team competition in the Czech Republic.

Coach Pochpol recently served as captain of Thailand's senior women's team, which won the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup world championship and earned a spot in the World Group playoff in April.

Thai woman issues warning about upskirt filming at Bangkok shopping mallLegacyA Thai woman shared CCTV footage on social media, accusing a man of stalking and attempting to film beneath her skirt in a shopping mall in Bangkok. The man denied the allegation, saying he was playing Pokémon GO. The upskirt filming allegation was shared by the 27 year old woman on Facebook as a warning to other shoppers, although she said she did not file a police complaint because she lacked conclusive evidence. According to the woman, she visited a shopping mall in Bang Khae district of Bangkok with her mother, although they were shopping separately. She said she became suspicious after noticing the same man repeatedly following her while she browsed products inside a store. To confirm her suspicions, she deliberately walked around different sections of the shop and claimed the man continued to follow her. Photo by Waritsara Jangkhan The woman said she tried to contact her mother but was unable to reach her because she was occupied with shopping. She then paid for her purchases and left the store, but alleged that the man continued following her through the shopping mall. She then entered a beauty clinic to avoid him. Looking out from inside the clinic, she said she saw the man walking around the area as though searching for her. The woman later contacted the store she had visited and explained what had happened, prompting staff to review CCTV footage. She said the recordings showed the man standing or sitting close to her while appearing to browse merchandise. The footage also showed him holding his mobile phone at an unusual angle as she walked past, leading her to suspect he was attempting to record beneath her skirt. Photo by Waritsara Jangkhan Store employees reportedly shared the footage with the shopping mall’s security team, who questioned the man in the presence of the woman and her mother. The man denied following or filming her. He reportedly told security staff that he had been walking around the shopping mall and entering different shops because he was playing Pokémon GO. He also claimed to be a doctor and stated that he would not commit such an offence because it would damage his reputation. Photo by Waritsara Jangkhan According to the woman, shopping mall security examined the man’s two mobile phones but did not find any explicit photographs or videos of her. She said she believed the files may have been deleted before the inspection, although no evidence supporting that claim was presented. The woman decided not to report the incident to police because she said she did not have sufficient evidence to support a criminal complaint. Instead, she published the CCTV footage online to encourage others to remain alert when travelling or shopping alone.

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