Phra Kru Phiphitdhammabhirom, known as Luang Pho Yan Thitibanyo, was the former abbot of Wat Ban Khong in Potharam District, Ratchaburi Province, and is celebrated as the originator of the famous turtle amulet tradition of the Mae Klong River basin. He was born on Wednesday, April 18, 1888, in Ban Khong and studied at the local temple until completing fourth-grade primary education before ordaining as a novice and continuing his studies at Wat Ban Khong for three years. At age 20, he received full monastic ordination in 1908 under Phra Akhara Pad at Wat Ban Khong, where he practiced diligently, mastering the chanting of the Patimokkha by his first vassa. In his third vassa, he studied the Khmer language, translated the Patimokkha, and hand-copied sacred texts including ancient Khmer manuscripts and Buddhist scriptures. In his fourth vassa, he left Wat Ban Khong to practice at other temples, eventually arriving at Wat Sarasai in Nakhon Pathom, where he studied under another abbot for two years.

In 1914, he departed to practice at other locations, traveling north and settling at the abandoned Wat Somobat in Chai Nat Province, where villagers invited him to become the temple's abbot for four years. In 1918, he returned to Wat Ban Khong and assisted in repairs under Phra Akhara Chuen. Following Phra Akhara Chuen's death in 1926, he became the abbot of Wat Ban Khong and oversaw six temples in the Potharam District administrative area. He established a school for Buddhist studies with permanent instructors, maintained strict daily practice, and provided guidance to both monastics and laypeople. In 1932, he was officially appointed as district chief monk. He personally oversaw the construction of a bell tower using brick and mortar, and in 1933, he led the community in building a new monastic residence with tiled roofing. In 1940, he constructed a school building, completed in 1941 during World War II. In 1942, he received the ecclesiastical rank of Upachaya. In 1954, he was granted a royal promotion to the rank of Phra Kru with the title Phra Kru Phiphitdhammabhirom. In 1963, he founded Wat Ban Khong School with a cornerstone ceremony on March 2, 1963, which has since developed into the Potharam Technical College and continues to serve students in Potharam District. He passed away on June 21, 1965, at the age of 78, having completed 57 vassas. While he created many types of amulets including coins, serpent-king medallions, and lockets, his most renowned and widely recognized creation remains the "turtle amulet."

As the rainy season arrives and the landscape turns verdant, travelers are setting their sights on Thaiton National Park in Chaiyaphum Province. The park recently unveiled a striking new landmark for visitors: the "Heavenly Navel," a terracotta sculpture of a celestial lotus flower created by students from the borderless classroom "Returning Home." Inspired by the misty beauty and vibrant water lilies that bloom throughout Thaiton National Park, the sculpture embodies their wisdom and dedication.

Governor Anant Nakaniyon of Chaiyaphum and Thaiton National Park Director Kanthanaph Duangklang jointly opened the 2025 water lily season on July 15, introducing the new Heavenly Navel landmark. Visitors should experience this spot firsthand, as it carries a sacred belief: "Step on it and you must return to visit." This is nature's promise that you will one day return to enjoy the misty mornings and heavenly lotus fields again.

The simple ritual is easy to follow: leave your footprint on the Heavenly Navel, toss a coin, and make a heartfelt wish. Those who do are believed to encounter only happiness and fulfilled hopes in life.

Beyond this highlight, Thaiton National Park welcomes visitors to admire the blooming water lilies against a backdrop of white mist and lush forest. The park is unique in Thailand as the only place where two varieties of these flowers bloom together in one area: the purple-pink Heavenly Lotus and the rare white Devata Apsara Lotus, scattered beautifully among the rocks.

The park offers a 4-kilometer nature trail passing through four water lily fields, with Heavenly Lotus Field 1 being the most densely and beautifully covered. Adventurous visitors can test their courage at Hamhod Cliff, a narrow rocky outcrop jutting into the air above a deep valley at 864 meters above sea level, offering stunning 360-degree panoramic views.

Further on, Phaomuang Cliff lies about 10 kilometers from park headquarters—a 3-kilometer sandstone ridge along the western crest of Phang Hae mountain range, standing 700–908 meters above sea level. It overlooks Phadetchoem Subdistrict and the Phaya Fao mountains separating Chaiyaphum and Phetchabun provinces. It is also a popular camping spot where visitors can stargaze at night and wake to stunning sunrises.

Nearby, Watchstars Cliff sits at the highest point of the Phang Hae range, offering beautiful panoramic views and serving as another excellent cliff-edge viewpoint.

Artist Lek Ratchmesad from Genie Records has chosen to hold a fan meeting concert in his hometown of Phetchaburi to close out his debut album 'Soundtrack of Life' after nearly two years of work. The album tells life stories through five songs: 'Soundtrack of Life', 'Jai Pen Nai Gai Pen Bao', 'Lok Thang Tob', 'Fa Kwang Thang Kaeng', and 'Op Uon', which received strong reception with 'Jai Pen Nai Gai Pen Bao' exceeding 160 million views and 'Lok Thang Tob' surpassing 64 million views.

The event drew crowds throughout the afternoon with an 18-meter road closure in central Phetchaburi, featuring over 20 local vendor booths and appearances by fellow artists BOVINI and O from band FULL. Lek expressed gratitude for the overwhelming turnout, with fans traveling from distant provinces across southern Thailand, some spending 7-8 hours on the journey. He emphasized that returning home to close the album felt special, allowing him to showcase his roots as a fishing village child who rose to become a professional singer, with the concept of 'Soundtrack of Life' designed to convey that listeners are not alone in facing life's challenges—his songs serve as companionship through both joy and hardship.

Iconic Siam, a world-class landmark on the Chao Phraya River and Global Hub of Art & Culture, is advancing support for Thailand's art community by launching the ART DNA HUB: Visual Arts Talent Development Hub in partnership with the National Research Council (NRC). This knowledge hub offers the public, students, artists, and enthusiasts the chance to explore the thinking processes and creative methods behind Thai artists' work through the "Art DNA" concept—essentially decoding the artistic DNA that shapes each artist's unique identity, approach, techniques, and skills before transmitting this knowledge systematically across generations.

The ART DNA HUB opening ceremony was presided over by Danuphon Punnakanat, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, alongside Professor Dr. Suphachai Pathumnakaul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; Professor Dr. Sutthiporn Jitmitra, Chair of the Advisory Working Group for the Hub of Talents and Hub of Knowledge development; Dr. Wipharut Deaung, Director of the National Research Council; Sompon Pantong, Director of the Fine Arts Department at the Ministry of Culture; Manyachaya Daphuadee, Manager of the Arts Center at Iconic Siam; and numerous National Artists including Preechar Thawtong, Kamol Tat Sananchali, and Decha Warachun, along with participating artists and international artist networks.

The ART DNA HUB project aims to build a learning ecosystem connecting National Artists, skilled expert artists, contemporary artists across generations, and artist networks to facilitate knowledge exchange through collaborative creative processes. It will organize Art DNA Workshops to decode knowledge from artists' real experience, create a digital archive database for visual arts research and intergenerational knowledge transmission, and foster cooperation between domestic and international art networks. Under the framework of "decode–transmit–develop–advance," the hub seeks to develop visual arts professionals capable of generating new knowledge, advancing artistic innovation, and linking knowledge with design, technology, culture, and management disciplines to create economic and social value based on Thai cultural capital, while supporting the creative economy in line with national strategy and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Visitors will experience learning through Art DNA Workshops, learning spaces, and interaction with over 60 artists including National Artists, contemporary artists, and artists from diverse disciplines who share their creative processes by decoding artistic heredity to develop concepts and advance contemporary works reflecting individual identity. The project will document knowledge and working processes throughout to create a database for future learning.

Four armed gunmen ambushed and shot a Kotabalaru police officer from Yala province who was on leave in Thung Yang Daeng district, Pattani on July 26, 2569. The officer sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and returned fire before the attackers fled the scene by both boat and motorcycle, with their exact escape route still unknown. The wounded officer was initially treated at Thung Yang Daeng Hospital in stable condition and later transferred to Pattani Hospital for continued care. Police have coordinated with relevant agencies to establish checkpoints and roadblocks along suspected escape routes while collecting ballistic evidence and examining the scene to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Chaiyawongse has confirmed he will pursue legal action against Yingcheep Atchanont, director of the internet law project iLaw, over allegations involving the disclosure of the PM's name and nine Bhumjaithai Party politicians in a Senate harassment case. After the "Raksa Phaendin" Facebook page posted in support of the legal action, saying "We ask the PM and those involved to sue Yingcheep and iLaw to the fullest extent," Anutin responded with a comment: "Noted and will comply."