Lanta & News
No. 01 · ENDLESS
Police

China calls for transparent investigation into Sa Kaeo kidnapping case

China's embassy has called for a transparent investigation after a Chinese national was allegedly kidnapped and held for ransom in Sa Kaeo province, urging Thai authorities to quickly establish facts and bring suspects to justice.

1h ago Khaosod

BANGKOK — The Chinese Embassy in Thailand has urged Thai authorities to conduct a lawful, fair and transparent investigation following reports that a Chinese national was allegedly abducted and held for ransom in Sa Kaeo province.

In a statement issued on 19 May, a spokesperson for the embassy said the Chinese side had attached great importance to the case and immediately contacted relevant Thai agencies to seek details about the incident.

The embassy called on Thai authorities to quickly establish the facts, thoroughly investigate the case and bring all those involved to justice.

China also expressed hope that Thailand would strengthen law enforcement oversight and public security measures to better protect the lives, property and legal rights of Chinese nationals in the country.

The statement said maintaining safety and stability was important for people-to-people exchanges and friendly cooperation between Thailand and China.

The Chinese Embassy also issued a renewed advisory urging Chinese citizens living in Thailand or planning to travel to the country to strictly comply with Thai laws and regulations, remain vigilant about personal safety and promptly report emergencies to police or Chinese diplomatic missions in Thailand.

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National

Ronaldo Leads Portugal's 27-Man Squad Announcement for 2026 World Cup

Portugal's 27-man World Cup squad features 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, making his sixth consecutive tournament appearance, alongside Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha for the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

1h ago Khaosod

Portugal has announced its 27-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final tournament, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Vitinha. The Portuguese national team will compete in the World Cup hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, grouped with DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

On May 19, Portugal's head coach Roberto Martínez officially unveiled the 27-player squad for the World Cup 2026.

As expected, 41-year-old star Cristiano Ronaldo has made the cut, marking his sixth consecutive World Cup appearance since 2006. Other notable players selected include Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Pedro Neto, and Rafael Leão.

The squad list also includes striker Diogo Costa, who was previously on the roster.

Portugal's 27-player squad for the 2026 World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velozo (Genkelerbilizji)

Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahçe), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Tomás Araújo (Benfica)

Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samuel Costa (Mallorca), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Forwards: João Félix (Al Nassar), Francisco Trincão (Sporting Lisbon), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Gonçalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassar)

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Breaking

American Doctor Contracts Ebola as Death Toll in DR Congo Surpasses 130—Uganda Braces for Confirmed Cases

An American doctor is among those infected in a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where deaths have exceeded 130, with confirmed cases now reaching Uganda.

1h ago Khaosod

Jean Kasaya, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed on May 19 that the Ebola death toll in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to at least 131, with more than 513 suspected infections. Health authorities are urging strict adherence to public health measures as the outbreak spreads. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed two Ebola cases in Uganda, with one fatality, while the World Health Organization declared the Bundibugyo virus outbreak a global public health emergency. An American doctor working in DR Congo is among those infected and will be transferred to Germany for treatment, with at least six Americans reported to have had contact with the virus. Despite assessing the risk to the United States as low, authorities elevated travel advisories for DR Congo to the highest level 4 and imposed entry restrictions for non-U.S. passport holders who have been in DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days.

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Community

Boonmee Ready to Settle the Score in the Ring, Vows Not to Underestimate, Confident of Victory

Boxer Boonmee vows to settle a social media dispute in the ring today, confident in his speed and training despite his opponent's recent intensive preparation. He remained calm during weigh-ins and denied acting arrogantly, explaining he co

1h ago Khaosod

May 19, 2569 — Following a social media drama that led to a revenge boxing match, Boonmee recently gave an interview about his readiness and emotional state before stepping into the ring. After just completing the weigh-in ceremony and facing off with his opponent, he acknowledged this is a revenge match, reiterating that he couldn't fight on the day of the incident because the other side had greater numbers and he feared weapons.

When asked whether today's fight constitutes revenge for the previous altercation, the man in black admitted frankly with a laugh, "Something like that." He also clarified a point that many people wondered about — he holds a taekwondo degree and possesses skills in that sport, but why didn't he retaliate or fight back on the day of the incident? He explained that the previous incident was entirely outside the realm of sport. "That day was completely outside sport," he stated. "If I had fought, it would have been like this: they had weapons and I didn't, they had more people than us. We came with just three people and drove into their territory, their zone. I didn't know what would have happened if we fought."

During the weigh-in confrontation, he remained cool and chose to save his emotions for the ring. When asked about the atmosphere during the weigh-in, Boonmee revealed he felt very calm and indifferent, experiencing no tension or pressure, and intended to settle everything on the ring alone.

Regarding social media criticism that he acts arrogantly or puts on airs, he denied it and explained: "People don't see me in a good light, think I'm arrogant or something, but I don't even understand where my arrogance is. I got punched, right? Should I come sit and wai him? That wouldn't be right. I'm just being myself. I'm not putting on any act or being arrogant at all."

He expressed confidence in his speed and vowed to take victory home. Regarding his readiness to fight, he stated he has trained sufficiently. Although his opponent has trained intensively for the past three weeks, he has no worries and will not be complacent whatsoever.

When asked to assess his opponent's form, Boonmee said, "Looking at it, he might be slower than me. I think I'm faster." He concluded confidently: "I should definitely get the win and go home today." As for whether he'll win by points or knockout, he indicated he has already thought about that possibility.

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National

Mourning Ceremony for Sang Dok Sadao: Comedian Colleagues Pay Respects as Daughter Faints—Note Chern Yim Expresses Grief Over Loss of Talented Artist

Comedian Sang Dok Sadao, 63, died from cancer, prompting a mourning ceremony at a Suphan Buri temple where fellow performers mourned the loss of a talented artist known for his skilled mimicry and comedic timing.

1h ago Khaosod

At 3 p.m. at Wat Oo Thong temple in Kokkram subdistrict, Bang Pla Ma district, Suphan Buri province, the family brought the body of Sang Dok Sadao, a 63-year-old comedian who died from cancer at Chao Phraya Yommaraj Hospital in Suphan Buri, to conduct a merit-making ceremony at the temple.

Many comedy industry artists attended the water-sprinkling ceremony, including Note Chern Yim, Oba Siang Noe (president of the Thai Comedians Association), Thua Reh Chern Yim, Ja Reh Chern Yim, Gwang (wife of Danny Sripinya), and numerous other comedy colleagues.

Note Chern Yim stated that upon hearing the news, he felt heartbroken and regretted losing such a talented performer. Sang Dok Sadao had worked with him for many years during their café days. When the café declined, they went their separate ways to earn a living. During his illness, Note tried to stay in touch, speaking with him by phone, though Sang eventually stopped answering. "The comedy world has lost another talented person," Note said. "Sang was an excellent comedian with great timing. He had unique comedic skills—mimicking voices, accents, and timing. His style was similar to the legendary Doi Dok Sadao, whom Sang considered his teacher. This is a great loss. I want to express my condolences to Sang's family. We've already discussed with his daughter and son whether the comedy association can provide any assistance."

Thua Reh Chern Yim also expressed his condolences, saying he had been regularly calling to check on Sang's health. When he learned the condition was serious, he offered encouragement. He urged others to maintain relationships while still alive—visiting, expressing love, and keeping in touch. Sang had told him he quit smoking long ago but eventually was found to have a lung mass.

The ceremony was marked by sorrow from the family, including Sang's wife, daughter, and son. During the water-sprinkling, extreme heat caused Sang's daughter to faint, and relatives provided first aid until she regained consciousness.

The merit-making ceremony will include chanting from May 19-23, 2025, with the cremation ceremony scheduled for May 24, 2025, at 4 p.m. at Wat Oo Thong in Bang Pla Ma district, Suphan Buri province.

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Police

83-Year-Old Man Dies After Car Collision While Riding Motorcycle to Grandson's Ordination Ceremony

An 83-year-old man died after his motorcycle was struck by a car on Asia Highway in Phatthalung on May 19 while he was traveling to his grandson's Buddhist ordination ceremony.

2h ago Khaosod

A tragic accident claimed the life of an 83-year-old man riding his motorcycle to his grandson's Buddhist ordination ceremony when struck by a car. The car driver stated the elderly man suddenly cut in front of him onto the right lane, preventing him from braking in time.

At 5:48 PM on May 19, 2026, Deputy Investigation Officer Soros Chanapon of Muang Phatthalung Police Station received a report of a car-motorcycle collision on Asia Highway northbound in Tambon Tha Khae, Muang District, Phatthalung Province. He rushed to the scene with emergency medical staff from Phatthalung Hospital and rescue units from Tha Khae Subdistrict.

At the scene, responders found an 83-year-old man with severe injuries including a crushed skull and a nearly severed right leg, who was unresponsive and had no pulse. His motorcycle was severely damaged and overturned on the roadside. Emergency responders performed CPR before rushing him to Phatthalung Hospital, but due to the severity of his injuries, he died in the emergency room shortly after arrival.

Initial investigation determined that the victim was leaving home to travel to his grandson's ordination ceremony when the accident occurred.

Car driver Pirsak stated he was driving in the right lane with an 18-wheel truck in the left lane ahead when the motorcycle suddenly cut in front of him into the right lane without warning. He was unable to brake or swerve in time, resulting in a violent collision that threw the victim onto the roadway, while the motorcycle flew off to the side. Officials will conduct further investigation to determine the exact cause and proceed with legal action.

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Police

No Holds Barred: The Horrifying Train Crash Must Not End With Just Three Suspects

A freight train collided with a bus at a Bangkok railway crossing, killing eight and injuring over 30; police charged three suspects including a heroin-using train operator, but experts warn systemic safety reforms are essential to prevent

2h ago Khaosod

Major progress has been made in investigating the cause and identifying those responsible for the freight train collision with an air-conditioned bus on Route 206 at the Makkasan railway crossing on Asok-Din Daeng Road in Bangkok, which resulted in a fire, eight deaths, and over 30 injuries, with additional vehicles severely damaged. This shocking incident in a densely trafficked city with multiple railway crossings raises serious concerns about public transport safety systems. If such loose safety protocols continue, similar disasters could happen again at any time. Police have now formally charged three parties: the train operator who failed to stop despite warnings, the railway crossing guard, and the bus driver, all sharing responsibility for negligent failures. More seriously, drug testing of the train operator revealed he regularly uses heroin and cannabis. When all three parties fail and act negligently at the same time—like a Swiss cheese model of accidents—disaster results. The railway should enforce strict warning systems acknowledging when the road crossing remains blocked due to traffic congestion, and must automatically reduce speed at this intersection where vehicles constantly block the tracks. The red flag worker must perform duties diligently, as footage clearly shows many vehicles parked across the tracks. The bus driver is certainly at fault for parking across the railway, violating traffic laws and creating danger. While all three parties should be charged, a disaster of this magnitude causing multiple deaths and widespread damage cannot end with just three suspects. Supervisory personnel who failed in oversight should also be held accountable. Most critically, safety systems in this area and other congested railway crossings throughout the city must be completely overhauled. Traffic management must be improved to reduce congestion; vehicles from branch roads must not be allowed to squeeze through and force through-traffic to back up across the railway. Ultimately, systematic solutions are needed—either grade-separated crossings with bridges or tunnels. Most importantly, communication systems with trains must be effective and provide genuine warnings kilometers in advance. A tragedy this severe and heartbreaking cannot merely be a passing incident.

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National

Editorial – Moving Forward to Extinguish the Southern Fire

Thailand's Prime Minister appoints a new peace talks chief to negotiate with anti-state groups in the restive southern border provinces, where decades of unrest stem from governance failures and military crackdowns.

2h ago Khaosod

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has appointed Thanat Suvarnanont, Director of the National Intelligence Agency, as head of peace talks for the southern border provinces. His primary duties include conducting negotiations with anti-state groups and violent perpetrators based on policies and measures established by the National Security Council, Prime Minister, or Cabinet; assessing and analyzing the stances and attitudes of dissenting groups and insurgents; and providing recommendations to senior leadership for policy decisions on resolving southern border issues. He will coordinate with facilitators in the peace process, including Malaysia and relevant government, private, and international entities.

The Prime Minister previously appointed a special government representative committee to address southern border problems, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sissadej Pungketkhao. The Defense Minister and National Security Council Secretary serve as vice chairs, with relevant permanent secretaries, the Supreme Commander, Army Commander, Police Commissioner, and the National Security Council Secretary as members. Wanmuhammad Normat, President of the Prime Minister's Advisory Board, serves as advisor.

The committee is tasked with driving strategies and operational plans toward concrete problem-solving, coordinating between the Cabinet and central government with local agencies, liaising with ministers assigned to work in the region, providing recommendations for integrated and coordinated efforts, and tracking progress in alignment with national strategy and the national security plan for southern border development.

The southern border unrest has accumulated over many years, beginning with forced disappearances of local religious leaders and a 2004 military base gun theft in retaliation against the state. The root causes stem from governance and administration that fails to align with the region's diverse population, escalating into harsh state crackdowns and human rights and justice violations.

Since taking office, Prime Minister Anutin has demonstrated commitment to resolving the conflict and achieving southern peace, as evidenced by establishing the special representative committee and appointing the peace talks chief. It is hoped the resolution process will prioritize dialogue, center people's interests, enable participation, and couple these with justice while reducing harsh state measures.

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Police

Woman shares cautionary tale after surviving sudden cardiac arrest—colleague's attentiveness saves her life, doctors warn minutes made the difference

A woman survived sudden cardiac arrest after her alert colleague recognized a distress signal and rushed her to the hospital, where doctors said minutes made the difference between life and death.

2h ago Khaosod

On May 19, 2026, a woman shared her survival story on TikTok (@oh..pasu) after surviving sudden cardiac arrest thanks to her colleague's attentiveness. She posted: "Sudden cardiac arrest—may the Buddha protect me. Thank you, colleagues, for caring."

She explained that she had been working hard with little rest and high stress, and after learning about stroke warning signs, she had arranged with her team to use a hand signal if she fell ill. That day, she experienced stomach upset, fatigue, and constant sweating, feeling dizzy as she headed to the bathroom. Before entering, she made the distress signal she had previously discussed with her colleague. Her colleague recognized the signal, followed her to the bathroom, and found her unable to stand, exhausted and nearly unconscious. They immediately decided to go to the hospital.

At the hospital, doctors explained she had suffered acute myocardial infarction—a blood clot blocked her coronary artery, preventing blood from reaching her heart. The doctor warned that arriving even minutes later could have been fatal.

She emphasized that elderly people and those with chronic conditions should practice emergency signals with those around them, as it can save lives. She stressed that her survival resulted from having discussed and practiced the signal with her colleague, who genuinely cared and acted on it in time to get her to the hospital.

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National

Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Finding Middle Ground in Interpreting the Emergency Decree

Thailand's Constitutional Court is reviewing a 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree, with analysts predicting a partial rejection that would allow economic relief measures while redirecting long-term energy projects through parliament.

2h ago Khaosod

The Constitutional Court's acceptance of the petition challenging the 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree is not merely a legal issue but a measure of the legitimacy of executive power use under the emergency conditions outlined in Article 172 of the Constitution. The opposition contends that the borrowing, particularly the 200-billion-baht allocation for energy restructuring, represents long-term policy rather than an emergency crisis warranting a decree that circumvents parliament. The government, meanwhile, insists the country faces critical crises in energy, living costs, and economic stagnation, requiring urgent emergency measures. Analysts have outlined three possible outcomes: First, if the court rejects the decree entirely, it would be the worst-case scenario for the government, signaling executive overreach and unconstitutional action, which would derail projects and damage the government's credibility and stability—ammunition the opposition could use for sustained political pressure. Second, if the court rejects only the energy restructuring portion, many view this as the most balanced solution, allowing the government to continue economic relief measures while redirecting long-term projects through the normal parliamentary process. Third, if the court rules the decree constitutional, the government wins outright and can proceed immediately, while also defending its crisis decision-making—though this raises troubling questions about whether the executive could routinely bypass parliamentary oversight in the future. Based on current political atmosphere and legal debate, the second scenario—partial rejection—appears most likely, as it represents the "middle ground" between upholding constitutional protections and avoiding economic harm during a period when citizens are deeply anxious about public debt and rising living costs.

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National

Royal Decree Grants Special Police General Ranks to 14 Officers

A royal decree has promoted 14 retiring police officers to general ranks effective April 1, 2025, under Thailand's personnel restructuring program.

2h ago Khaosod

The Royal Gazette published on May 19, 2025, announced a royal decree granting special police general ranks (Pol. Gen. and Pol. Lt. Gen.) to retiring officers. A total of 14 police personnel who were authorized to leave the service under the 28th Personnel Restructuring Program (fiscal year 2025) have been specially promoted to general officer ranks, with the effective date beginning April 1, 2025.

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