A man searching for clams made a startling discovery when he stepped on a sack underwater in a Buriram water reservoir, only to find it contained a decapitated Buddha head.

At 12:00 PM on May 24, 2026, Deputy Investigator Karun Saengarun of Nang Rong Police Station received a report from residents about a submerged Buddha head found in the Nong Tharok water reservoir in Nang Rong District, Buriram. He immediately coordinated with rescue officials and diving teams to investigate.

The scene was a large raw water storage reservoir used for waterworks production, spanning over 50 rai. Tawan, a 29-year-old local resident, waited to point out where the Buddha head was discovered and excitedly recounted his experience:

"I was diving for clams in the water reservoir as usual. While wading through the water, my foot kicked against something in a burlap sack. At first, I thought it was a discarded durian shell bag, but when I opened it, I was horrified to see it was a Buddha head. Shocked and afraid of desecrating something sacred, I didn't dare bring it to shore. I rushed out of the water and immediately called the police."

The diving team successfully retrieved the old fertilizer sack from the water in just 10 minutes. Inside, they found a Buddha head approximately 30 centimeters in height and width, weighing about 30 kilograms, with clear marks showing the top had been cut away.

Police documented the discovery with photographs before transferring the Buddha head to Nang Rong Police Station. They are coordinating with specialists from the Fine Arts Department to determine the artifact's historical period and which temple it was stolen from, so they can pursue criminal charges against the perpetrators.

RAYONG — A female teacher in Rayong province has lodged a formal complaint against a police sub-lieutenant assigned as a D.A.R.E. instructor at her school, accusing him of harassment and sending her an obscene video via Line.

Ms. Aoy, 29, a teacher at a school in Wang Chan District, presented evidence of the alleged obscene clip to Mueang Rayong Police Station, where she met Pol. Lt. Col. Chaikrit Taurat, an inquiry officer. However, since the incident occurred within Wang Chan Police Station's jurisdiction, she was directed to file the complaint there instead.

After learning of the case from reporters, Pol. Col. Suphakorn Maksombat, superintendent of Wang Chan Police Station, ordered immediate action and arranged for the teacher to meet officers on the afternoon of May 25 to proceed with legal procedures.

Ms. Aoy explained that she knew the officer because he had recently been assigned as the replacement D.A.R.E. instructor at her school. She described his behavior becoming increasingly inappropriate, including repeated dinner invitations and frequent Line messages. She attempted to maintain professionalism by responding politely and keeping conversations work-related due to her discomfort.

On the afternoon of May 22, the officer allegedly messaged her again before sending an obscene video clip to her Line account. Ms. Aoy said she was shocked and concerned that his actions indicated improper intentions and posed a potential danger. She decided to collect evidence and pursue legal action, stating she no longer feels safe at her workplace.

The train-bus collision that claimed eight lives has sparked widespread debate over vehicles—particularly the bus involved and many others—parking on railroad tracks. Authorities are now implementing strict measures to permanently ban vehicle parking in railway areas. Police charged all three parties in the incident: the train driver for failing to brake despite warning signals, the railway official for inadequate flagging procedures, and the bus driver for negligent parking on the tracks. It was not solely the bus driver's fault in this tragedy. Going forward, vehicles will be strictly prohibited from parking near railroad tracks to prevent similar disasters. The Railway Department filed complaints against drivers parked on tracks on May 16 at 3:33 p.m., leading up to the collision. Though new traffic laws have just been implemented, police will evaluate violations on a case-by-case basis, considering whether drivers could have reasonably avoided or moved their vehicles. The road typically experiences heavy congestion, and many drivers did not intentionally park on tracks. Improved traffic management on the road is also essential. A recent incident in Lopburi saw a school van driver barrel through a lowered crossing gate while a train approached. The driver narrowly escaped after a railway worker forced them to move. The school van driver was immediately prosecuted for violating the crossing barrier and failing to maintain safe distance—15 meters from the tracks—and fined 2,000 baht. This sets a precedent: henceforth, anyone parking in restricted zones or crossing lowered barriers will face charges without exception. Drivers can no longer claim they accidentally stopped near tracks due to traffic congestion. The new protocol requires drivers to comply with barrier signals and maintain proper distance from railway tracks to prevent serious accidents. However, police must also improve traffic flow management by clearing roads when trains approach. Traffic enforcement must be strict, but all parties must cooperate.

Thai politics isn't just about the clash between government and opposition. There's also a "green party" version of the opposition that's being criticized as a timid opposition unwilling to confront the blue government head-on, possibly to keep the door open for future power-sharing. Previously, core opposition parties like the orange and blue have attempted to use the loan decree review and constitutional amendment debates as forums for intensive government scrutiny. But the green party has positioned itself differently, refusing to sign letters objecting to the loan decree and failing to show clear positions on constitutional changes, despite these being major political issues. This has led many to view the green party as playing politics with a wink and a nod, keeping the door cracked open for the blue government should the political landscape shift. This style of politics is nothing new—mid-sized parties have long preferred to keep their options open for negotiation rather than fully committing to an opposition role. However, the problem is that when serving as a check on government, the public naturally expects clarity rather than political ambiguity. When compared to other opposition parties actively debating, scrutinizing, and taking firm positions, the green party appears weak and uninspiring, sometimes making it nearly impossible to tell which side they're actually on. From a strategic angle, the green party may be calculating that picking a fight with the government today could eliminate negotiating opportunities tomorrow, especially if a political accident occurs or the government is reshuffled. A party that maintains relationships with all sides stands to gain. But the flip side is that a "waiting opposition" focused on timing its entry into government rather than fully performing its oversight duty risks losing credibility. People want to see opposition parties that are genuine, not ones ready to switch sides whenever it suits them. While maintaining political flexibility is important, if a party becomes too tentative and fails to show clear positions that voters can see, the political investment may not yield the future returns it's hoping for.

The Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry has instructed governors of 25 central and eastern provinces to establish 'Royal Rain Volunteer' units to coordinate requests for royal rainmaking support and alleviate drought-related hardships. On May 24, Arthit Samphantharat, Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, outlined efforts to advance royal patronage projects following the royal initiative to 'preserve, maintain, and expand' these programs as a framework for provincial implementation amid rapid climate changes, particularly severe drought conditions in central Thailand. Following a meeting on April 22 with the subcommittee overseeing royal projects in central regions, the Interior Ministry was requested to promote the establishment of Royal Rain Volunteer units in each province to coordinate and expedite requests to the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department. The Permanent Secretary emphasized that to maximize benefits and rapidly relieve citizens from drought impacts on their lives and property, the governors of all 25 provinces must work to establish volunteer units and integrate coordination with local agencies according to regulations. The 25 provinces include Kanchanaburi, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Chaiyaphum, Trat, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachuapkhirikhan, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lopburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Singburi, Suphan Buri, and Ang Thong.

On May 24, 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Aphichan Wattanawarangkul, commander of the Rayong Provincial Police Crime Suppression Division, and Lieutenant Colonel Chaiyapong Saengphongchai, commander of the Nikhom Phatthana Police Station, led a multi-unit task force in a covert raid on a resort in Mabrakhao subdistrict, Nikhom Phatthana district, Rayong province. Intelligence indicated an illegal Tiger-Dragon gambling operation was running in the resort's conference room.

Officers quietly surrounded the area before launching a surprise raid while gamblers were actively placing bets. When officers burst through the door, the suspects were caught off guard—some scrambled from tables attempting to escape while others froze in place. Gambling chips and cards scattered across tables as officers swiftly secured the scene.

The raid resulted in 14 arrests: 12 Thai nationals and 2 Cambodian nationals. Seized items included gambling chips valued at 5,572,020 baht, over 100,000 baht in cash, 133 decks of playing cards, and complete gambling equipment.

Interrogation revealed the two Cambodian suspects illegally entered Thailand through a natural border crossing near Ban Laem in Chanthaburi province before being hired as dealers. Thai gamblers face charges of unlicensed gambling, while the Cambodian nationals face charges of illegal entry and unlicensed gambling operation. All suspects were handed over to Nikhom Phatthana Police Station for further legal proceedings.