The Thai Basketball Association held its 2569 annual general meeting on April 25 at the Chulalongkorn 7th Building meeting room, chaired by Dr. Niwat Limsuknirand. Out of 113 voting clubs, 90 attended the meeting while 23 did not, achieving a quorum with the support of 6 associate member clubs. The assembly voted by majority to elect the new president.

Hia Tai Nippon Chaowalit Montien won with 89 votes out of 90 cast, with one spoiled ballot, and was approved as president of the Thai Basketball Association for his third term (2569-2572). Other elected positions include two vice presidents: Nathapol Teepsuwan and Petch Shinbut; secretary Piyapong Pirun; treasurer Kasem Mahattanaongtawee; competitions director Manit Wanthanasar; development and technical director Norin Seangsrijun; and board members Pracha Kittrongsiri, Brig. Gen. Silpachai Bamrungkij, and Kitti Hatthiya. Dr. Niwat Limsuknirand was appointed as the association's senior advisor.

After his election, Hia Tai thanked members for their trust and pledged to develop Thai basketball with support from sponsors, the Thai Sports Authority, and the National Sports Development Fund. The association plans to appoint up to 19 additional board members within 30 days. His development strategy includes promoting youth athletes to international levels, arranging basketball scholarships to American colleges and universities, and providing career assistance to current and former athletes in the basketball community.

Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Phraya Wachiryananvaroroth was the 10th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok, residing at Wat Boworniwet Vihara. He was the son of King Rama IV and Princess Mom Chao Mae Pae, born on Thursday, the 7th waning day of the 5th lunar month in the Year of the Goat, which corresponds to April 12, 1860. Heavy rain fell on the day of his birth, which the Queen Consort regarded as an auspicious omen and named him Phraya Manusyanakamamnop.

At age 20, he ordained as a Buddhist monk at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsada on June 27, 1879. Somdet Phraya Pavareshvaralingkorn served as his preceptor, while Phra Chantharakojkun (Yim Chantharangsi) of Wat Makut Kasatriaram acted as his karma instructor. After his first rains retreat at Wat Boworniwet Vihara, he moved to his second rains retreat at Wat Makut Kasatriaram under the guidance of Phra Chantharakojkun.

During his stay at Wat Makut Kasatriaram, he underwent ritual purification and re-ordination according to the custom of the Thammayut order. Phra Chantharakojkun served as his preceptor, while Phra Dhammatilokacharya (Dech Thanjarao), then a senior scholar-monk at Wat Somnas Vihara, served as his karma instructor at the ubosot of Wat Ratchathiwat on January 3, 1879.

In 1891, when Somdet Phraya Pavareshvaralingkorn passed away, King Rama V graciously appointed Phraya Wachiryananvaroroth to succeed him as the abbot of Wat Boworniwet Vihara, becoming the third abbot of the temple.

On November 2, 1906, he was elevated to the rank of Krom Luang Wachiryananvaroroth. When King Rama VI ascended the throne in 1910, he was appointed as the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand and elevated to the rank of Phraya. His name was inscribed as Somdet Phra Boromvongse Thao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvaroroth. Later, King Rama VI granted him the title of Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvaroroth as the first holder of this honor.

He served as the preceptor of two monarchs: King Rama VI during his ordination as a monk while holding the title of Crown Prince, and King Rama VII while holding the title of Prince Prajadhipok. He passed away on August 2, 1921, at the age of 61, having presided over Wat Boworniwet Vihara for 30 years and serving as Supreme Patriarch for 10 years and 7 months.

The medal of Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvaroroth was created in 1920 to commemorate his 60th birthday celebration. The oval-shaped medal with built-in loops measures 2.8 centimeters in width and 3.5 centimeters in length. The obverse features a half-length portrait of His Holiness in profile facing left, with a radiating diamond symbol above representing 'Vajiravudh,' and Ariyaka script below, which was created by King Rama IV.

"Understanding turmoil first leads to peace," according to the dharmic blessing from Luang Pho Cha Subhatto at Wat Nong Pa Phong in Ubon Ratchathani. Luang Pu Man Bhuraridatta, a pioneering master of Thailand's forest tradition, blessed the P. Malakul School medal, a unique amulet created around early 1949 by the Sakon Nakhon provincial education department at Wat Pa Ban Nong Phuea. The medal was distributed as recognition to donors who contributed funds to support education at P. Malakul School in Sakon Nakhon. The amulet features a five-sided bell-shaped design with a loop handle, depicting Buddha in meditation pose on the front. The reverse reads "In commemoration of the P. Malakul School celebration, Sakon Nakhon, B.E. 2492." After Luang Pu Man blessed it, Luang Pu Fuen Acharo of Wat Pa Udom Sompon performed additional consecration, making it exceptionally rare and highly treasured by collectors.

Another notable amulet is the Flicking Water Blessing Bell created by Luang Pho Ngoen of Wat Don Yai Hom in 1962 to raise funds for building a public school at the temple. This floating bell-shaped amulet depicts Buddha in a blessing gesture, with a water bowl beneath the palm, detailed facial features, and mystical yantra inscriptions on the back that bring prosperity to its owner.

The Maha Prab Luang Pu Suk medal was created in 2012 by Phra Racha Suddhisophorn while serving as abbot of Wat Pak Khlong Makham Tao in Chai Nat province. The anchor-shaped amulet features Luang Pu Suk standing with a staff surrounded by a 108-yantra circle, with Khmer script and protective yantras on the back, making it a popular collectible from Chai Nat.

The Luang Pu Hok amulet from Wat Rasat Rueng Suk in Chonburi was created in 2011 to support the construction of a new ordination hall. This bullet-shaped charm displays Buddha in meditation on a lotus, with sacred heart syllables and yantras inscribed on both sides, representing another highly sought-after addition to amulet collections.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat Party leader and list MP, indicated that the party is actively vetting multiple candidates interested in running for Bangkok Governor under the Democrat banner. The party aims to announce its candidate by early May, with registration expected mid-May, as the current governor's term is nearing completion. When pressed on whether the potential candidate would be from within the party, Abhisit laughed and said, "They'll be a party member soon enough." Asked whether an early May announcement was feasible, he confirmed the party would work to achieve this timeline given that registration would occur in mid-May.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A law requiring Cambodian males aged 18 to 25 to serve in the military for two years has gained Cabinet approval following two spates of deadly combat last year with neighboring Thailand.

The new draft law on conscription will replace an existing law dating from 2006 that was never implemented and no longer addresses current and future needs, a government spokesperson said Friday.

The existing law specified 30 as the maximum call-up age. Women will be allowed to serve on a voluntary basis.

Spokesperson Pen Bona said the draft law, with eight chapters and 20 articles, was adopted by the Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday.

Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border. Hundreds of thousands of people in both countries were displaced and about 100 Cambodian soldiers and civilians lost their lives. There has been no new fighting since a December ceasefire, though tensions remain high.

A government statement described military service as an essential duty and a great honor allowing the Cambodian people to contribute to national development and defend the motherland.

Prime Minister Hun Manet said in July last year when relations with Thailand were deteriorating that Cambodia would implement conscription this year. He said that soldiers joining through conscription are more effective and professional than a voluntary force, and that conscription will be used to fill shortages and upgrade military capabilities.

The legislation will be sent to the National Assembly and the Senate for approval, and become law once King Norodom Sihamoni signs it.

On Sunday, April 12, 2569, Somdet Phra Maha Veerawong (Suchin Akkachino), a committee member of the Maha Therasmakom and director of Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang, presided over a merit-making ceremony dedicated to Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa on the 166th anniversary of his birth, along with offerings to former leaders of Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang. The ceremony took place at the Conference Room of the Education Council Building at Maha Makut Rajvidyalai in Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok.

Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang arranged the merit-making ceremony with dedicatory offerings to Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa and former masters to show gratitude to him as a pioneer in establishing Buddhist education and the lineage of senior monks who have continuously managed Pali scriptural studies to the present day.

Foundation manager Thang Thong Chantarangsuk of Maha Makut Rajvidyalai Foundation under Royal Patronage and foundation staff participated in this merit-making ceremony dedicated to former leaders of Mae Kong Tham Sanam Luang.

Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa was a son of Rama IV and served as the 10th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok, as well as the 3rd Abbot of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.

Phra Ajarn Man Phuritatto recounted that the most venerable figure of Rama IV's reign was Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa, the King's own son, who was the first to begin this path. He commenced studying Pali language at the age of eight, eventually becoming able to translate Buddhist texts. When Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Pawesvarig Langkorn, the 8th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok, passed away in 1891, King Rama V graciously appointed Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa to continue administering Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, making him the 3rd Abbot.

Later, in 1893, King Rama V graciously promoted his monastic rank to Somdet Phra Rajakhana, Chief of the Thammayut Order. He then began developing Buddhist activities by supporting newly ordained monks and novices in studying Thai Buddhist doctrine and establishing this as an educational curriculum for the Sangha called 'Nak Tham' studies, which remains the foundational monastic education curriculum to the present day.

He established Maha Makut Rajvidyalai in 1893 as a pioneering initiative in new monastic education—combining Pali scriptural studies with other practical subjects conducive to Buddhist teaching—and designated it as an educational institution for both monks and novices.

In 1894, he published the journal 'Tham Chaksu' and expanded monastic education throughout the kingdom by making temples into schools with monks as teachers. This represented the establishment of Thailand's primary education system. Later, in 1910, he was graciously appointed as Somdet Phra Sangkharaj, the 10th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok.

Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Krom Phraya Wachiryananvarorsa suffered from tuberculosis and passed away on August 2, 1921, at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok at the age of 61. Through his exceptional wisdom and immeasurable contributions, UNESCO recognized him as an important figure of the world in the fields of education, public service, humanities, and religion in 2021.