On July 5, 2569, relatives held a merit-making ceremony for Kaunkham, 64, in Kham Thao District, Nakhon Phanom Province, after he died following an attack by a swarm of wasps while mushroom foraging in a eucalyptus forest.

His wife, Ahwon, 62, recounted that on the afternoon of July 4, her husband invited her to pick mushrooms in a local forest to prepare for dinner, after learning mushrooms were freshly sprouted and others had collected many. While foraging, she urged her husband to return home, but he wandered into the grass. He then called her over to show wounds on his back, saying something had bitten him.

She saw him run from the forest, emphasizing he had been stung by wasps. Upon removing his shirt, she found one large black wasp and multiple stings on his buttocks, waist, right shoulder, eyebrows, and tail area—approximately 10 total. As they left the forest, he developed severe headache and became weak. She rushed him home on a motorcycle, but he deteriorated en route, likely due to the wasp venom combined with his pre-existing high blood pressure condition. After calling for emergency medical response, he was rushed to Nakhon Phanom Hospital but died in transit.

The coroner determined death was caused by heart failure resulting from wasp venom poisoning, compounded by his hypertension. Former village headman Sompraseang La-ba recounted meeting Kaunkham as he emerged from the forest; Kaunkham had mentioned being stung but they initially dismissed it as mosquito bites due to their prevalence. Within 30 minutes, Kaunkham was dead. Local authorities plan to send villagers in protective gear to locate and destroy wasp nests in the area, as several residents have been stung previously and the forest remains a popular foraging spot.

Monday, July 6, 2026 commemorates the 96th birth anniversary of Phra Ratchasarsopon (Wisit Athipanyo), former provincial sangha leader of Trang from 1998-2008 and former abbot of Wat Chomtri in Na Yoong District, Trang. Born as Wisit Putthanavol on July 6, 1930, in Na Yoong Subdistrict, he completed primary education at age 13 before ordaining as a monk on July 17, 1943, at Wat Chomtri. He excelled in Buddhist studies, earning advanced religious credentials from 1947 onwards and becoming a Dharma teacher at various Buddhist schools.

Throughout his monastic career, he distinguished himself as a Buddhist educator and Dharma ambassador. He taught Pali and Dharma studies at Wat Kuhasworn School in Phatthalung Province and established a Dharma curriculum at Wat Chomtri in Trang from 1967. He served as the 9th Dharma Messenger for Trang from 1968, coordinating public religious outreach and delivering sermons through Thai radio and television stations.

As administrator, he held increasingly senior positions within the sangha hierarchy, becoming deputy district sangha leader in 1973, district sangha leader in 1979, and provincial sangha leader of Trang in 1983. He received multiple royal titles recognizing his contributions to Buddhist studies and monastic leadership. Beyond institutional roles, he established 52 community learning centers and coordinated Dharma missions to remote areas, personally training monks to teach ethics and morality in schools throughout Trang Province. He remained an active Dharma teacher and advisor until his retirement from the provincial sangha leadership in 1995.

A comprehensive overview of highly sought-after Buddhist amulets and sacred objects from several revered Thai monks. The article features amulets from Luang Pu Muang Nakasenai of Wat Yang Ngam in Rachaburi, whose final blessing before passing was a Prosperity Coin amulet created in 2552 BE to commemorate his 98th birthday. The piece also covers amulets from Luang Pu Tee Yanasobhono, a respected abbot from Uthai Thani province, and Luang Por Tab Atthakamo of Wat Makham Rieng in Saraburi, whose full-figure portrait amulets from 2515 BE remain highly prized among amulet collectors. Each amulet is described in detail regarding its design, materials, and blessing ceremonies, reflecting the craftsmanship and spiritual significance valued in Thailand's amulet collecting community.

Ketmani Chasiang, a former Thai national boxing team member and 2019 SEA Games gold medalist, has been seriously injured in an accident and requires urgent hospitalization. A Facebook post by Kesorn Sanlakorn appealed for help with her medical bills. The post states that Chasiang is currently suffering from brain hemorrhage and a displaced cervical spine fracture, with potential vision loss. Her family is requesting assistance to cover substantial medical and treatment costs. Donations can be made to the following account: Name: Wachapol Kongchaem, Krungthai Bank, Account Number: 7260669411. The family asks for shares and assistance from the public.

Luang Pu Chan Khemyo, also known as Phra Thep Sitthacharya, was a highly revered senior monk who served as the former provincial sangha leader of Nakhon Phanom Province (Thammayut tradition) and former abbot of Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram in Muang District, Nakhon Phanom. His lay name was Chan Suwannamajo, and he was born on Monday, December 5, 1981 (Year of the Goat) in Ban Tha Uten, Muang District, Nakhon Phanom, to parents Nai Wong Senao and Nang Khai Suwannamajo.

During his youth, his health was fragile due to asthma, so his father arranged for him to live in a countryside shelter. When he was ten years old, his father fell ill and passed away, after which the boy was ordained as a young novice. At Wat Phon Kaew, he studied Khmer and Dharmic scripts and learned to recite short, medium, and long chants. At age 19 he temporarily left the sangha to work as a merchant, but at age 20 in B.E. 2445 he resolved to return to monastic life at Wat Phon Kaew's ordination hall under Phra Lao Panyavaro as his preceptor, Phra Khene Uttamo as his dharma instructor, and Phra Nu as his attendant, receiving the monastic name Khemyo.

After two months at the monastery, he left to practice Buddhism during the rainy season at Wat In Plaeng in Muang District, Nakhon Phanom. In B.E. 2445, Phra Ajarn Sao Kantasilo from Wat Liab in Ubon Ratchathani, a renowned vipassana meditation teacher and instructor of the famous forest monks, passed through the area and selected four intelligent bhikkhus, including Phra Chan, to be his disciples. They traveled through forests practicing meditation before heading to Ubon Ratchathani. After four months at this monastery for studying chants, Phra Ajarn Sao conducted Luang Pu Chan's formal ordination into the Thammayut tradition at Wat Sri Ubon Rattanarama in Ubon Ratchathani, with Phra Panyapitsal Thera as his preceptor.

In B.E. 2449 he returned to spend the rainy season at Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram, a dilapidated former temple called Wat Sri Khun Muang. In B.E. 2453 he traveled to Bangkok to study advanced Buddhist teachings and became a disciple of Somdet Phra Phutthakosat Acharya (formerly known as Phra Thep Kawi) at Wat Thepsirintravas, where he studied at the certificate, degree, and three-verse specialist levels.

During this period, Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram lacked a senior abbot, so Luang Pu Chan was appointed as abbot and district sangha leader of Nong Bua District (now Muang District). In B.E. 2459 he established the first school teaching the new Thai language curriculum and Pali studies based on King Rama V's educational plan. He served as abbot of Wat Sri Thep Praditsaram from B.E. 2459, became a preceptor in B.E. 2460, and served as provincial sangha leader of Nakhon Phanom from B.E. 2502.

He was elevated to the rank of Phra Kru Sancharabat (Phra Kru Sarabhannaphon Phanom Khet) in B.E. 2474, to Phra Rajakhana ordinary rank (Phra Sarphanmuni) in B.E. 2480, to Phra Rajakhana royal rank (Phra Rajasarphanmuni) in B.E. 2496, and finally to Phra Rajakhana divine rank (Phra Thep Sitthacharya) in B.E. 2502. He passed away peacefully on February 2, 2516 at 8:00 a.m., at the age of 92, having maintained 72 Buddhist Lenten periods.

The Luang Pu Chan Khemyo broken amulet medal is one of the most celebrated amulets, being his final series before his death in B.E. 2516. He assigned Phra Thammabandit (Sila Sitthadhamma) from Wat Nornathasunthigarama in Bangkok's Thewes District to oversee its production.

Sutin Klangkaew, a Pheu Thai party list MP, expressed confidence that the proposed amnesty law will reach a conclusion beneficial to the country and be successfully enacted. On July 5, 2026, Sutin commented on the House of Representatives' upcoming consideration of the draft Act Promoting Peaceful Society (the amnesty bill) following Senate amendments to specific provisions, such as excluding crimes under Article 112 of the Criminal Code from amnesty coverage.

Sutin noted that the government's position on the matter must be considered, as party representatives will bring their members' perspectives to the discussion. However, he believes the issue will conclude favorably for the nation and the law can be successfully passed. Those benefiting from the amnesty include groups who made mistakes or were misled. Once enacted, the law will allow these individuals to return to normal life and foster national harmony, enabling them to use their abilities to help develop the country.