On July 14, 2569, the Royal Gazette published a royal decree in which His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved the elevation of Phra Phrom Dilok to the rank of Somdet Phra Ratchakhan with the royal title Somdet Phra Maha Wachirakhun Dilok Sri Priyattinayok Khanathon, among other honorifics. The newly elevated prelate will hold the position with ten monastic ranks in his name.

Somdet Phra Maha Wachirakhun Dilok, formerly known as Euang Klinsali, was born on July 13, 2488, in Ayutthaya Province. He pursued studies in the Dharma at Wat Sam Phaya, earning successive degrees in Buddhist philosophy and later obtained a Master's degree in Pali and Education from Banaras Hindu University in India in 2526, followed by a doctorate in 2529.

Returning to Wat Sam Phaya, he became a trusted disciple of the late Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Buddhagosacharya and served as instructor of Buddhist texts, overseeing educational and religious affairs at the temple. Over his monastic life, he received successive ranks: ordinary Ratchakhan in 2530, royal Ratchakhan in 2537, divine Ratchakhan in 2542, and Dharma Ratchakhan in 2547. In 2553, he was appointed as deputy head of the Ratchakhan order.

On May 24, 2561, the monk faced serious legal proceedings but was ultimately acquitted by the court. On March 18, 2566, he received another royal decree recognizing his elevated monastic rank.

Actress Ying Rathaa Podeang has been dealing with acute bronchitis and throat problems from grueling daily rehearsals for a musical theatre production ahead of its gala premiere. She appeared at the TCX 2026 event at Paragon Hall's fifth floor and updated on her health condition, confirming that while her body is not at 100 percent, she is managing with medication and continuing to support her husband Tuul Tulathep's first solo HYROX competition entry.

Ying explained that her voice has deepened significantly due to the bronchitis from nonstop rehearsals. She contracted dust allergies, a cold that developed into bronchitis, complicated by pre-existing airway damage from COVID-19. She admitted the condition heavily impacts her musical theatre work, which demands constant vocalization and breath support. Phlegm buildup from dust exposure can lead to bacterial infections if not properly managed through nasal hygiene and cleaning.

She plans to request time off in October after the theatre production closes, hoping for a brief vacation. To cope with her demanding schedule, she has adjusted her morning runs to gym sessions and reduced their intensity slightly, though she maintains exercise because it helps her mental clarity. Her doctor advised her to avoid dust exposure, prompting her to wear masks offstage and use allergy medications and protective gels. She experiences frequent throat irritation and must sip water constantly, leading to frequent bathroom trips during performances. Despite her health challenges and anxiety about performing, she will focus on supporting her husband's HYROX competition as a spectator rather than participating herself.

Authorities raided an illegal wood-processing factory with Chinese backing in Thung Yai district, posing as an abandoned mill. Officers discovered massive logs hidden in 15 concealed rooms and large quantities of Chinese machinery. All seized materials are being held pending the owner's appearance.

On August 14, 2025, Kriangsak Nobnanth, director of the Natural Resources and Environment Office of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, joined with provincial industry officials, Thung Yai district administration, forest police, Forest Resources Management Unit 12, and Thung Yai Provincial Police to announce inspection results. The wood-processing factory had been officially closed for two years but was still engaged in illegal wood processing of unauthorized types and unauthorized wood exports for shipment.

The facility appeared clean and undisturbed during initial inspection, but officers discovered large quantities of logs hidden in darkened sealed rooms—more than 15 rooms total—each containing substantial amounts of lumber. Further inspection of the building revealed imported wood-processing machinery with all labels in Chinese; industry officials confirmed no import permits had been filed for this equipment.

A large sealed warehouse locked with Chinese-language padlocks was also found; staff had to climb the wall to inspect it and discovered finished wood products ready for shipment in the form of plywood sheets and panels in large quantities.

When questioned, workers who came to open the facility stated that Chinese nationals had requested to continue leasing the property but workers were unaware of their activities. Officials seized all materials and filed charges including illegal wood-product manufacturing, equipment importation for processing operations, using the facility under false pretenses as a rubber wood buyer, and possession of large quantities of illegally obtained timber. The owner is expected to appear for further proceedings.

Bangkok — A sports cardiologist has urged HYROX competitors to heed warning signs from their bodies and stop immediately if they experience chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, or dizziness, following reports of an athlete suffering cardiac arrest during the event.

The warning came after social media posts showed a HYROX competitor receiving CPR before being taken to hospital.

Dr. Akanit Srisukwattana, an internal medicine specialist in cardiology and sports cardiology, subsequently posted advice for HYROX participants on his Facebook page.

Addressing HYROX competitors, Dr. Akanit said there had been a report of an athlete suffering a heart attack during competition. He noted that the reported incidence of cardiac arrest during sports was about one in 100,000 people in the general population. For people aged 50 and over or those with underlying health conditions, however, the rate could be as high as one in 5,000.

There is currently insufficient data to establish whether HYROX carries a higher risk of death than running or other endurance sports. However, HYROX combines running with power-endurance exercises, which can cause heart rate and blood pressure to rise sharply at certain points. The physical demand can be greater than ordinary running or weight training, particularly during high-resistance stations such as Sled Push, Sled Pull, and Burpee Broad Jumps.

Dr. Akanit advised competitors to keep their effort in line with what they had trained for and avoid pushing for a faster time or working beyond their physical capacity. He particularly warned people with risk factors including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking history, or a history of cardiovascular disease, as these factors can increase the risk of plaque rupture and a sudden heart attack.

During competition, athletes should not feel they have to give maximum effort at every station. They should allow themselves periods to ease off and control their breathing, particularly during demanding stations, so that the heart has a chance to reduce its workload before they resume running.

For people at higher risk, Dr. Akanit recommended keeping most of their effort around RPE 7/10 — feeling tired but still in control and able to speak in short sentences. Periods of exertion at RPE 8–9/10, when an athlete is so exhausted that speaking is difficult, may occur during competition but should not be maintained for long periods.

He urged competitors to stop immediately and alert the event medical team if they experience chest tightness or pain, unusually severe shortness of breath compared with the level of exertion, dizziness or feeling faint, abnormal palpitations, or cold sweats.

Pattaya authorities rounded up 17 Cambodian nationals, including seven children, during a crackdown on begging along Pattaya Beach, with officials saying some adults were seen carrying young children to solicit money from tourists.

The operation was carried out on 11 August by Pattaya City officials, Pattaya police, Chon Buri immigration officers and social welfare officials following complaints from residents and businesses about foreign nationals begging and approaching tourists at major tourist spots.

Officers patrolled along Pattaya's Second Road and the beachfront, where they found a group of 17 Cambodian nationals consisting of 10 adults and seven children.

The adults included one man and nine women. Among the children were babies and toddlers aged seven months, two years and three years. Officials said some of the adults were carrying young children while asking tourists for money.

Authorities said checks found that some of the Cambodian nationals had previously been arrested, prosecuted and deported from Thailand. Some had reportedly been deported three or four times before returning and allegedly resuming similar activities.

Officers also found eight homeless Thai nationals who were allegedly intoxicated while asking for money from members of the public and tourists.

All those detained were taken to have their records documented before being handed over to Chon Buri's social welfare authorities for further legal procedures and assistance where appropriate.

Pattaya authorities said the operation was aimed at maintaining public order, reducing disturbances to tourists and preserving Pattaya's image as a safe and welcoming tourist destination.

Honda Super-ONE, a compact electric vehicle with a distinctive boxy design, launches in Thailand at 990,000 baht, limited to 30 units this year with online reservations opening for one day on August 17. Koji Iwanami, chairman and CEO of Honda Automobile (Thailand), stated that the launch enriches Honda's electric vehicle range while proving that electric cars can deliver genuine driving excitement through unique boxy styling, bold character, and an exclusive BOOST Mode that combines simulated gear-shifting and active sound control to enhance the sporty feel.

The Super-ONE features a spacious cabin with bucket-style front seats, a 50:50 split-folding rear bench, and Honda Sensing safety technology covering six functions. It delivers 70 kilowatts of maximum power in BOOST Mode with 162 newton-meters of torque, paired with a 29.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery offering up to 253 kilometers of range per charge under NEDC testing standards. The vehicle comes with an electric gear switch for easy control and is backed by Honda's network of over 200 authorized dealerships and service centers across Thailand, emphasizing Honda's commitment to understanding market needs and developing new products tailored to Thai customers.