CHACHOENGSAO — On May 24, 2026, workers excavating beneath a damaged ancient stupa at a temple in eastern Thailand discovered dozens of historic Buddha statues hidden inside four underground chambers, with monks estimating the artifacts to be more than 100 years old.

The discovery was made at Wat Laem Tai in Na Mueang subdistrict of Chachoengsao province as construction workers prepared to relocate and restore the old stupa after cracks and structural tilting raised safety concerns.

Excavation work entered its second day on Saturday after workers uncovered several Rattanakosin-era Buddha statues made from brass and silver during the first day of digging. Additional small Buddha statues made from wood, brass and silver-coated metal were also found on Saturday and were later moved for safekeeping inside the residence of a former abbot at the temple.

Phra Khru Thammathon Chamlong Rojanathammo, abbot of Wat Laem Tai, said the stupa was believed to date back to the reigns of King Rama III or King Rama IV, making it more than a century old. He said it remained unclear whether the stupa existed before the temple was established or whether the temple had later been built around it. The temple itself was officially founded in 1933.

The abbot said elderly residents in the community recalled seeing the stupa since childhood. He added that Phra Thammapariyatmuni, an 88-year-old Buddhist scholar and former abbot of Wat Pitulatirangsan, had inspected the artifacts and believed them to belong to the early Rattanakosin period based on their artistic style and materials.

Temple officials said the stupa had initially been scheduled for relocation using structural lifting methods, but excavation became necessary after workers discovered that the ancient foundation extended deep underground. During the digging, workers found four small chamber-like cavities beneath the base containing large numbers of hidden Buddha statues.

The temple said the artifacts would later be cleaned, preserved and displayed in the temple museum for worship and historical study. The abbot also said local residents had already approached the temple seeking to rent or purchase some of the statues after news of the discovery spread, but insisted the artifacts would remain temple property and would not be made available for commercial purposes.

Some residents visiting the site on Saturday said they believed the discovery was auspicious, with some attempting to interpret lucky numbers from the uncovered artifacts ahead of Thailand's next lottery draw.

A startling incident occurred at a water park in Jakarta, Indonesia, when a woman enjoying a water slide was frightened to discover a large snake sliding down the same chute. The 47-second video was quickly shared across social media platforms.

In the footage, the woman initially appears cheerful as she rides down on a rubber tube before spotting a snake ahead of her. As she accelerates down the slide due to water pressure and the slope, the distance between her and the snake rapidly closes to near-collision. The woman screams throughout, gripping both sides of the slide tightly while attempting to dodge the snake in her path.

Fortunately, the woman reached the bottom safely with no reported injuries. However, it remains unclear whether the snake sustained any damage from the mishap, though authorities have since captured it.

The video has been widely shared across social media platforms, with many calling it "the most unlikely situation in the world" and expressing concern for the woman. Other internet users have reacted humorously, joking that she received a 200% more thrilling experience than other visitors for the same entrance fee, with some suggesting the snake was equally frightened and merely wanted to enjoy the slide too.

Indonesian media outlets report that such incidents can occur in tropical, humid areas, particularly at water parks near natural environments where reptiles may accidentally wander in. This has prompted facility managers to increase safety inspections and wildlife monitoring in the area.

On May 25, 2025, at Government House, Deputy Prime Minister's Office Minister Paradorn Prissananantkul spoke about the constitutional amendment timeline and second referendum raised by Nikorn Chamnong, a Bhumjaithai Party list MP. Paradorn stated that it remains unclear and impossible to predict how the first reading consideration will proceed. Currently only Bhumjaithai's draft has been submitted, but it's unknown how many other constitutional amendment drafts will be submitted and whether the Pheu Thai Party will submit combined signatures as well. Therefore, setting a timeline would be difficult—it's entirely parliament's matter.

When asked about Natthapon Ruengpanyawat, Pheu Thai Party leader and list MP, who stated that Bhumjaithai's constitutional amendment draft doesn't meet Pheu Thai's three conditions, Paradorn said he hasn't yet seen what Pheu Thai's draft looks like. However, Bhumjaithai's draft was presented first for public scrutiny, though it's not a final draft. A committee must be established to discuss and produce a committee draft before moving to second reading consideration. There are still many procedural steps, but today the party has clearly demonstrated its sincere intention to amend the constitution.

When a reporter asked whether negotiations with the opposition could secure 20 percent opposition support in the third reading, Paradorn said that's too far ahead and suggested waiting to see how the first reading debate proceeds and how much discussion occurs in committee, and whether people concede or hold firm on positions. If everyone agrees in committee, there would be no problem.

When asked if all sides must compromise, Paradorn stated that making a constitution is a public law matter requiring unanimous consent. The constitution clearly stipulates the conditions needed for a draft to pass, so any amendment must proceed with all parties' approval.

Regarding whether he has spoken with Pheu Thai about supporting their draft, Paradorn said he had an informal discussion with Chusak Sirinil, Pheu Thai deputy party leader, because Pheu Thai's 71 MPs are insufficient to propose a constitutional amendment draft alone. The government coalition parties, particularly Bhumjaithai, are ready to support. It depends on what kind of draft Pheu Thai proposes.

When asked if the budget for the second referendum is sufficient, Paradorn said that whenever the law requires the government to act—and the Prime Minister always emphasizes the government is prepared to take all necessary measures to fulfill the intent of 26.7 million voters from the referendum results—the government will use all resources to support it. It's the government's responsibility to comply with the law.

On May 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Parliament, the opposition Pheu Thai shadow cabinet, led by Nathpong Rueangpanya, Sirikanya Tansukul, Picharn Chaowpatanawong, and Piyarat Jongtep, held a joint press conference exposing the illegal immigration corruption scheme and proposing a review of Elite Card criteria. Nathpong stated that while the Prime Minister claims to address corruption, the government has negligently allowed Thai bureaucracy to become part of international criminal networks involving immigration bribery, money laundering, scammer operations, and arms trafficking.

The opposition pointed to the Ming Chen Sun case as evidence that without accidents, Thai police would never discover gray networks operating in Thailand under the guise of tourism promotion. Piyarat described this as a "gray triangle" involving criminals, corrupt officials, and large gray capital, functioning as a "leech-parasite cycle" where state agencies abuse their power. He identified two entry points: religious institutions and NGOs used by Chinese nationals to obtain long-term visas, and shell companies using Thai nominees to hold shares for Chinese investors.

Piyarat disclosed 23 companies suspected of holding assets as Chinese proxies, including one shareholder across all firms with Chinese-sounding names registered on April 23, 2565, that purchased large residential projects in the Ladphrao area by April 29, 2565, worth at least 50 million baht. At least 10 of these 23 companies hold property rights in housing developments, with nominee shareholders holding over 49 percent equity, raising questions about money laundering origins.

Cambodian soldiers cause border disruptions in the Huay Tamamaria area. Military Region 2 warns against provocations and urges peacekeeping measures. Cambodian troops fired 9 shots during the night, raising misunderstanding risks. On May 25, 2569, reporters noted that on May 24, Military Region 2 received reports from the Surin Forces operating at Huay Tamamaria base detecting gunfire from Cambodian military in the area with the following details: At 19:59, four rifle shots were heard in the Huay Tamamaria area approximately 200 meters south of Thai positions at coordinates VA641923. At 20:10, five rifle shots were heard in the Huay Tamamaria area approximately 1 kilometer south of Thai positions at coordinates VA641931. The use of weapons during this timeframe under the current sensitive situation is considered inappropriate behavior that may constitute provocation and risks creating misunderstandings, which could negatively impact peace and stability and relations between both sides. Thailand expresses concern over the incident and calls on all parties to exercise caution, avoid actions that could escalate tensions, and maintain commitment to coordination mechanisms and peaceful approaches to preserve border area peace and stability.

K Day Bangkok 2026 launches with superstar artist Nichkhun from 2PM to bring Korean pop culture and lifestyle to Bangkok at Siam Paragon on May 23-24, offering a complete K-Lifestyle experience featuring fashion, beauty, and food all in one venue. Nichkhun Horvejkul, a prominent member of the famous K-pop group 2PM and Thai-blooded Hallyu star, has been officially appointed as the event's artist, showcasing contemporary South Korean culture across both Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24, 2026 at NEX HALL, 5th floor of Siam Paragon shopping center, which drew crowds of travelers and Korean culture enthusiasts experiencing special highlights throughout the event. The Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) launched this new-format cultural event emphasizing visitor participation, aiming to present Korea's lifestyle industry in fashion, beauty, and food sectors, building on the global K-culture trend while helping participants deeply understand the essence of K-lifestyle through diverse and realistic experiences. The event also bridges culture and industry through significant cooperation and integration between South Korea and Thailand's public and private sectors. K Day Bangkok 2026 selected businesses based on popularity, growth potential, and global competitiveness, with fashion business chosen as this year's main theme, highlighting the future potential of Design Hanbok developed by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF) as contemporary Korean fashion. Rather than simply displaying typical Korean products, this event serves as a cultural exchange space that will inspire, set new trends, and reinforce Korea's image as a global lifestyle leader, also featuring carefully curated beauty products, cosmetics, and food for participants to experience Korean culture in a new format. K Day Bangkok 2026 offers free admission for interested visitors and K-pop fans, operating from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM over both days at Siam Paragon, with the venue divided into zones for visitors to discover their own K-Mood, starting from the Smartphone Unlock station and concluding at the My K-Mood Completion zone. Visitors receive a K-Mood Diagnosis Card guiding them through zones including Design Hanbok Showcase, K-Beauty Experience Zone, Korean Food, and Workshop Space. The first day's highlight is the Modern Hanbok Fashion Show at 2:00 PM on the main stage under the concept Hanbok to Bangkok, presenting the unique beauty of hanbok through a contemporary perspective, bringing together leading hanbok brands from South Korea.