PHUKET — 16 May 2026, Rescue workers in Phuket were searching for a man believed to have been swept out to sea by strong waves at Nai Thon Beach, authorities said.

The incident occurred at about 18:30 on 15 May at the beach in Thalang district during rough monsoon conditions, with waves reported to be more than 2 metres high.

Lifeguards attempted to rescue the man but were unable to reach him because of strong currents and heavy surf, officials said. The search was temporarily suspended at 19:00 before resuming the following morning.

Search teams including local officials, police, lifeguards and rescue foundation personnel later established a command centre at Nai Thon Beach.

Authorities said severe weather conditions continued on 16 May, preventing boats from conducting offshore searches. Rescue workers instead focused on searching rocky areas and stretches of shoreline.

An 18-year-old lifeguard who witnessed the incident said he spotted a man struggling beyond the surf zone while clearing tourists from the beach shortly before sunset. The lifeguard said he ran to retrieve rescue fins, but the man disappeared before he could return, apparently pulled away by strong currents in an area known for dangerous rip tides.

Officals believe the missing person is a Thai man in his 20s who had arrived at the beach alone. Authorities said red warning flags had been placed along the beach throughout the day to prohibit swimming because of hazardous monsoon conditions.

Police later discovered a silver Toyota Camry with Chiang Rai licence plates parked near the beach and believe it may belong to the missing man. The vehicle was taken to Sakhu police station as authorities attempted to identify and contact relatives.

Four prominent Thai stars—Chompoo Araya, Nicha Nattachaya, Jemaine Naronvit, and Becky Rebecca—graced the red carpet at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in France, turning heads with their glamorous presence. The group attended as L'Oréal Paris ambassadors representing Thailand, a historic first for Thai brand ambassadors to collectively participate in the iconic Cannes red carpet. Each of the four celebrities showcased their own distinct style while radiating elegance and sophistication.

Thailand's luxury real estate market is experiencing a significant shift as 'Wellness Living' evolves from a fleeting trend into a fundamental driver of purchasing decisions among modern consumers, particularly in the 100-million-baht single-family home segment.

Sansiri Public Company Limited has recently elevated its 'Narathiwat' brand under the Sansiri Luxury Collection (SLC)—a world-class super-luxury and luxury residential portfolio portfolio designed to serve the expanding base of affluent Thai and international clients. The initiative rests on three core pillars: world-class design and architecture, premium fine-craft materials, and superior luxury lifestyle services, all unified under the 'Luxury Wellness Ecosystem' concept. This integrates health-focused elements, green space design for preventive health living, and quality community building, positioning luxury homes not simply as financial assets but as long-term 'Health Assets'.

This strategic movement coincides with Narathiwat's 10-year milestone, marked by the brand's relaunch and introduction of a new vision reflecting the future direction of the luxury home market. Today's affluent consumers are looking beyond location, plot size, and design alone—they're actively seeking 'quality of life' that addresses physical health, mental wellness, and long-term living satisfaction.

Narathpat Weesin, Managing Director of International Operations at Sansiri Public Company Limited, remarked that the Wellness Economy is becoming a critical new S-Curve globally, with Thailand positioned as one of Asia's leading wellness destinations, leveraging its strengths in service excellence, healthcare systems, natural environment, quality of life, and an ultra-luxury real estate market that continues to thrive despite global headwinds.

The wellness concept extends far beyond exercise and health maintenance—it encompasses mental health, rest, sleep quality, and living environment. The home itself is recognized as a crucial starting point for good health, given that residents spend most of their day there.

'A well-designed home must genuinely create a Health Asset for its residents, not merely satisfy design or aesthetic requirements, but actively elevate quality of life over the long term,' Narathpat explained. 'Sansiri is committed to building a comprehensive Wellness Ecosystem through partnerships with world-class partners, enabling residents to experience true daily wellness.'

Sansiri is pioneering this concept through four flagship projects: Narathiwat Victory Krung Thep Kreetha, Narathiwat Boromrachachanee, Narathiwat Bangna K.M.10, and Narathiwat Phahonyothin-Watcharapol. All projects are designed under the Luxury Wellness Ecosystem framework, emphasizing expansive green spaces, fitness facilities, and Community Spaces that foster interaction among residents.

Narathpat noted that today's luxury clients increasingly prioritize 'facilities' and 'lifestyle ecosystems,' with many making purchase decisions based on hands-on experience—including green spaces, fitness amenities, and community quality within the development.

This shift is evidenced by Narathiwat Victory Krung Thep Kreetha and Narathiwat Boromrachachanee recently closing their first phases, collectively valued at over 2 billion baht. This demonstrates sustained purchasing power in the luxury home segment despite broader economic uncertainties.

Sansiri, through Narathiwat, is simultaneously setting new industry standards in real estate and wellness living through strategic partnerships.

Names will be named soon, according to a viral social media page! The popular Sor Pao page has revealed that parents of a 17-year-old are preparing to pursue legal action against a famous entertainment personality who allegedly brought their son home to sleep over. The page has been posting continuously about the case, with the boy's parents responding that taking a 17-year-old home to sleep constitutes endangering a minor. The Sor Pao page shared chat conversations containing messages referencing "inappropriate conduct with a minor," captioning posts as "Coming Soon" regarding "a celebrity in the entertainment industry." The page emphasized having complete evidence and posted this morning stating that the 17-year-old's parents are preparing to take the "celebrity" to the fullest extent of the law after bringing their son home to sleep, noting that although the other party claims the minor consented, the parents are firmly opposed. A potential child endangerment case against the celebrity may be reported soon. Other popular pages including Jae Moi 108 V1 and the Arthrop page have been sharing shocked reactions, with commenters criticizing the entertainment industry and rejecting claims of the minor's consent, stating the parents' opposition is the key issue.

On May 16, 2025, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan posted a message expressing her strong support for the SBDC committee's genuine commitment to driving Thailand toward Zero Corruption with private sector power. She emphasized that corruption is a major obstacle to national development and the primary cause of Thai poverty and economic decline. However, following the SBDC's release of a business survey revealing that corruption has intensified and undermines business operations and Thailand's competitiveness, the committee faced attacks from powerful officials controlling various state agencies. "The SBDC's courage in revealing these facts should not be met with stones, but rather with flowers and praise from those in power," Khunying Noi stated. She argued that if leaders were genuinely committed to fighting corruption, they would recognize the value of this survey data as a treasure trove of information the SBDC has provided to help tackle graft in government agencies seriously. She proposed making anti-corruption "a national agenda" by partnering with the private sector, whose members have direct experience with extortion by state officials and officials. These business owners know which officials in which agencies demand bribes and how. The government should support the SBDC's participation in anti-corruption efforts, an idea she and the Thai Build Thailand Party have proposed multiple times during election campaigns: establishing a "civilian anti-corruption commission." She recommended using this opportunity as a starting point to "formally appoint the SBDC committee to participate in concrete anti-corruption efforts," which aligns with the government's four T policy, specifically Transformation and Together. Therefore, she called on the Prime Minister to take corruption seriously by declaring "anti-corruption a national agenda" and establishing a "civilian anti-corruption committee" with representatives from both the SBDC and the private sector working full-time, which would benefit the nation and the government. She believed that if the SBDC were empowered and participated in anti-corruption efforts, corruption would decrease significantly, ensuring Thailand reaches #ZeroCorruption.

Legal experts are raising questions about a provision requiring officials to suspend duties once a court accepts a case against them. On May 16, alternate senator Akkarawat Pongdhanachilikul submitted a letter to the House Legal Affairs Committee regarding Praphat Kongkiad, who was approved by the Senate with 173 votes to 6 to serve as a National Anti-Corruption Commissioner (NACC). However, Kongkiad is currently facing criminal charges in the Appeals Court related to his role in selecting contractors for the Orange Line MRT project (Bang Khun Non-Buri section).

The case originated before his NACC appointment on January 30, 2025. Kongkiad serves as defendant number 5 in the case. Akkarawat expressed concern that Kongkiad allegedly had pending criminal charges, yet the Senate selection process allowed him through. He questioned whether Kongkiad deliberately concealed the charges to secure the position.

Upon reviewing the NACC Act, journalists discovered Section 81 states that when a court accepts a case against someone in a political position, the accused must suspend duties until a judgment is rendered, unless the court orders otherwise. This provision is further supported by a Civil Service Commission circular dated October 18, 2024, which states that when a court accepts a case against a civil servant, their supervisor must immediately order them to suspend duties to align with the Act's intent.

In Kongkiad's case, the court accepted the charges on September 4, 2024, meaning he should have suspended duties immediately. However, the Senate approved his NACC appointment on January 20, 2025, creating a legal contradiction.