Luang Pu Chaeng Punnajantu, the fourth abbot of Wat Pradu in Ampawa district, Samut Songkhram province, was a venerable Buddhist scholar of the old tradition, revered for his profound mystical knowledge and spiritual merit. Wat Pradu is an ancient temple believed to have been constructed in the late Ayutthaya period, approximately 1877 CE, and is considered one of the oldest temples in the Samut Songkhram region.

Historical accounts record that during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the king embarked on a royal journey by water on July 21, 1904. As his royal barge passed in front of Wat Pradu, he paused for breakfast and noticed an unusually large gathering of villagers at the riverside pavilion. Intrigued, he instructed a court official to inquire about the reason for this assembly. The official learned that Luang Pu Chaeng, the temple's abbot, was a monk with extraordinary healing abilities. His most renowned practice was the creation of blessed sacred water, which reportedly cured anyone afflicted by spirits, curses, or supernatural possession—no malevolent entity could withstand its power. He also prepared sacred herbal medicine made from maka leaves, used alongside the blessed water.

When King Chulalongkorn learned of these abilities, he soon invited Luang Pu Chaeng to the royal palace to treat a royal family member. Following successful treatment that resulted in recovery, the king was deeply impressed and bestowed upon the monk various treasures including ornate beds, royal fans, and river boats as tokens of gratitude. According to history, the king visited Wat Pradu on multiple occasions and granted many items of royal merit to the temple.

Wat Pradu subsequently established a royal merit museum to preserve and maintain these royal gifts for posterity and the benefit of future devotees. Ancient medical texts attribute the origin of various healing practices—including the physician's lancet for exorcism, medicinal balms, and talismanic objects—to Luang Pu Chaeng of Wat Pradu. He treated patients using only a few herbal remedies: maka leaves and galangal, combined with sacred incantations and decoctions.

Beyond the herbal treatments, the most celebrated aspect of his practice was his "sacred blessed water." Legend holds that anyone upon whom this water was sprinkled was cured of all ailments, whether caused by curses, psychological affliction, or madness—all patients recovered without exception.

One notable account describes an occasion when Luang Pu Chaeng was summoned to the royal palace. Dressed in aged robes, the palace guards at the entrance initially refused him entry. Calmly, he replied that King Rama V had invited him to perform prayers and opened his fan to display the royal insignia—a gold fan bearing the mark of the monarch himself (emblazoned with the royal emblem of Narayana with the Garuda). The astounded guards immediately escorted him inside. Upon arrival, he respectfully sat at the lowest position. The sangha officer who witnessed this immediately informed the king, who graciously invited the monk to be seated in the second position of honor, just below the Sangha Patriarch and above many other senior members.

Luang Pu Chaeng is believed to have passed away between 1922 and 1929 CE. His remains are still preserved at Wat Pradu.

Buriram authorities were alarmed when a 48-year-old man under the influence of drugs climbed a radio transmission tower, scattering flyers that accused him of being harassed. After a two-hour persuasion effort, he was successfully brought down. Police noted the man had undergone drug rehabilitation several times but continued using, ultimately causing his wife to leave him.

On August 11, Buriram City Police and the Sawang Dharma Rescue Unit were alerted by Thai Radio Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) Buriram that a man had climbed a radio tower and was in danger. Officials, including Sritham Rajkaew, Deputy Governor of Buriram, and Lieutenant Colonel Siriwan Somkitchiri, Deputy Commander of Buriram Provincial Police, rushed to the scene.

They found a man identified as Nanthon, 48, from Koksra village, Kho Wan subdistrict, Lahan Sai district, Buriram, who had climbed halfway up the 120-meter-tall radio tower to a height of 60 meters. Below the tower, officers discovered a Honda Wave motorcycle without Nanthon's seat and a beer-colored liquid in a bottle near the motorcycle's front rack. They also found four attached printed pages that Nanthon had dropped to the ground.

The papers contained what appeared to be grievances stating he had not received assistance from state agencies. The content indicated that his home contained chemical leaks, even near his phone charger, causing family hardship. He claimed he had filed complaints at the Lahan Sai District Office but was instead subjected to a urine test along with his wife, leaving him unsure whom to turn to.

Government officials used megaphones to persuade Nanthon to descend, while rescue units from multiple areas were asked to provide additional airbags due to his height. After more than two hours, Nanthon agreed to come down, much to the relief of the officials on scene.

Nanthon stated he had attempted to file complaints at multiple agencies but was denied, as they dismissed his claims that his family was being exposed to toxins. Fearful for their safety and frustrated by government inaction, he brought along a sample of the toxin in a bottle before climbing the tower out of frustration.

Cheliwan Pothikaet, a Thai PBS staff member who witnessed the incident, reported that Nanthon entered without responding when asked which agency he was from, then quickly climbed the radio tower and refused to come down before authorities were notified.

Sritham Rajkaew, Deputy Governor of Buriram, stated that preliminary background checks revealed Nanthon had been involved with drugs and had a history of mental health treatment. He will be sent for another physical examination.

When asked about Nanthon's claims, Thaiphnom Somserm, Chief of Lahan Sai District, stated that the man was a drug addict who had been sent for rehabilitation multiple times without improvement, and his wife had eventually fled the home. He acknowledged that the Lahan Sai district area is severely affected by crystal methamphetamine.

The Toyota Alphard and Vellfire have been popular luxury MPVs since their first generation, and despite competition from various electric vehicle competitors, their appeal has remained undiminished. Toyota Motor Thailand has now launched refreshed 2025 models with a new HEV Smart variant at a more accessible price point for luxury car enthusiasts entering this segment.

The refreshed 2025 Alphard and Vellfire follow a "Seamless Serenity" design concept, featuring a luxury seven-seat multipurpose vehicle with enhanced comfort and refinement. Both are powered by a 2.5-liter hybrid engine combining dual electric motors and a 2.5-liter Dual VVT-i gasoline engine, with new E-Four all-wheel-drive technology and TNGA platform architecture designed to improve handling and road grip. The vehicles include advanced Toyota Safety Sense features such as dynamic radar cruise control with lane-keep assist, pre-collision safety system, lane departure alert, and intelligent headlight control.

The new Alphard HEV Smart variant features LED headlights and taillights with sequential turn signals, 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital display, and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto navigation and T-Connect services. Interior appointments include premium Nappa leather with power adjustment, seat heaters and ventilators, a premium executive lounge-style second-row seat with 10-way power adjustment and massage function, a fold-down wooden side table, acoustic glass windows, a detachable tablet controller, four-zone climate control, and a dual moonroof with powered sunshade capable of 64 ambient lighting colors.

The Alphard HEV Premium and Vellfire HEV Premium add automatic retractable steps, rear twin moonroof with powered shade, color head-up display, 14-inch rear passenger screen, and front/rear 4K dashcam. The Alphard HEV Premium Luxury features executive lounge second-row seating, a fold-down personal table, Uzuramoku wood trim, acoustic glass on the first two rows, and additional soft interior materials. All models are available with an exclusive Eclipse Edition featuring matte exterior paint protection film.

"A single moment of decision changes everything forever." oneD ORIGINAL's new premium period drama "Dang Byler" tells the story of Dang (Chi Sutthiraks), a young man raised in the slums of Trok Silao by his mother Mae Chom (Gig Suwajanee). He dreams of becoming a police officer to ease his mother's suffering and protect her from social oppression, but fate forces him into the world of gangsters. There he reunites with his old friend Poo (Bright Nopphapat) and fellow gang members Dam (Most Visrut), Laemsing (Max Natthawut), Peik (Big DJ Utharat), and Punya (U Thanakorn), a mentor figure in the underworld.

Dang enters a world filled with friendship, honor, betrayal, and death. His bond with Poo transforms from deep friendship into bitter rivalry, torn apart by work conflicts and their love for Walopa (Koi Oratporn), an ambitious university student. The accumulated rift becomes irreparable, and Poo abandons the gang to join a rival faction. Once best friends, the two become mortal enemies locked in an escalating cycle of violence. Dang desperately seeks an escape from the gangster world, clinging to family and love as his only beacon in darkness, yet finds himself sinking deeper into an inescapable abyss.

Actor Chi Sutthiraks shares his feelings about playing Dang: "There's some pressure, but since this is a fresh interpretation, the character gains new dimensions. The relationships between Dang and his friends, and between Walopa and his mother, are much more layered than the film version because the series has more airtime to explore diverse storylines. I hope it comes out as vivid as the script portrayed." Watch "Dang Byler," where a gangster's path stems not from evil but from choices made without options, premiering Wednesday-Thursday starting August 12 at 8:30 PM on Channel One 31, with reruns available only on the oneD app.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) highlighted the enduring ties and expanding cultural exchange between Thailand and China at Weibo Gala 2026: Weibo Cultural Communication Night. Held on 8 Augus...

PHUKET: Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has ordered the Department of Forestry to mobilise resources and coordinate with local agencies in the continuing search for the German tourist who went missing in the sea at Freedom Beach yesterday (Aug 10).