SA KAEO — Fourteen May 2026. Thai authorities arrested 16 people, including Thai, Shan, and Vietnamese nationals, who were attempting to illegally cross from Cambodia into Thailand following a crackdown on online scam and gambling operations in Poipet, officials confirmed Thursday.

At 5:30 am, troops from the Burapha Task Force, Aranyaprathet Special Task Force, and the 12th Ranger Forces Regiment, working with Sa Kaeo provincial forces, intercepted the group near Ban Phu Nam Kliang village in Pa Rai sub-district, Aranyaprathet district, after receiving reports of unauthorized border crossings through unofficial routes.

Officers spotted suspicious individuals crossing the border on foot and moved in to surround and arrest them. The 16 detainees consisted of four Thai nationals, two Vietnamese, and 10 ethnic Shan migrants from Myanmar—all lacking valid travel documents.

During interrogation, the four Thai detainees admitted they had been recruited through contacts to work for the online gambling website UFABET168 in Poipet, attracted by monthly salaries between 15,000 and 25,000 baht. Previously employed as delivery riders, warehouse workers, sales staff, and factory workers, they crossed the border more than a year ago to take these jobs.

Tensions escalating along the Thai-Cambodian border prompted the closure of several checkpoints, leaving them stranded in Poipet accommodations for weeks with no way home. To return, they each paid a Cambodian broker 8,000 baht to arrange transport to an unofficial border crossing. The broker drove them in a Cambodian-registered vehicle before directing them to walk the rest of the way into Thailand.

The 10 ethnic Shan migrants said they had travelled from Siem Reap to Poipet with help from Chinese financiers to work as security guards at a building operated by a Chinese business group. When Cambodian authorities launched operations against call center gangs, scammers, and online crime networks, their employer shut down, forcing them to attempt illegal entry into Thailand to return home.

All suspects were turned over to investigators for legal action. Authorities are expanding their investigation into human smuggling networks, illegal border crossing operations, and financial connections to transnational online gambling enterprises.

When the weather turns gloomy and rainy, there's nothing quite like fish rice soup—an easy, comforting dish that soothes the stomach with a hot broth that slides down smoothly. But finding a truly delicious spot with fresh, tender fish at reasonable prices feels like winning the lottery.

Thanks to a recommendation for "Mr. Nong's Fish Rice Soup" near Samyan on Rama 4 Road, we discovered a restaurant that checks all the boxes. The fish is genuinely fresh, with firm, succulent meat that isn't mushy, tough, or fishy—simply delicious in every way.

This place has real pedigree, having operated for over 50 years, starting as a street cart near Mab Taphut in Rayong under the name "Pattaya Fish Rice Soup," serving an ancient Chinese recipe popular among Chachoengsao residents.

What makes it special is the broth—fragrant, smooth, naturally sweet from fish bones. The soy dipping sauce is equally excellent, available both spicy and mild, and when mixed with roasted chili, it becomes absolutely outstanding.

After 40 years of roadside operation, the shop moved into a shophouse before expanding to central Rayong and changing its name to "Mr. Nong's Fish Rice Soup." Most recently, it opened in Bangkok on Rama 4 Road between Soi Chula 9 and 11.

Owner Hia Nong-Bantur from Rayong explains that ingredients are fresh daily from the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, including grouper, white snapper, mackerel, squid, shrimp, and oysters. The restaurant buys directly from fishing boats without middlemen, allowing competitive pricing.

Fish rice soup comes both soupy and dry, starting at 100 baht, served in generous, steaming bowls with abundant ingredients and large pieces. The menu also features hot pot, salads, stir-fries, deep-fried items, and tom yum, with "fish head hot pot" being particularly impressive—the meat is tender and succulent, and the collagen-rich fish skin is incredibly satisfying.

There's also a secret menu item: "stir-fried fish jaw with herbs" using grouper jaw enhanced with fish maw. Each jaw is carefully portioned, with three per serving, and since the shop receives only 15 groupers daily, they can make just five plates maximum—truly limited edition.

The restaurant opens daily from noon to midnight. Free parking available in the back (enter via Soi Chula 11); parking card gets one free hour at the restaurant. Call 09-2945-6669 for reservations.

The Nong Chok neighborhood in Bangkok, brimming with traditional community charm, is becoming a destination for food enthusiasts seeking authentic flavors at P. Prateep Boat Noodles in Nong Chok by Da.

What makes this restaurant stand out goes beyond its boat noodle reputation. The restaurant's boat noodle broth has a distinctive character—concentrated, aromatic with genuine Thai spices, and slow-simmered to a perfectly balanced taste. The noodles, pork, and liver are tender and delicious.

Anyone who loves boldly flavored boat noodles must visit. Adding crushed chili or extra seasonings according to your preference further enhances the distinctive taste.

Beyond the signature boat noodles, the restaurant offers supplementary dishes to complete your meal. These include fragrant grilled pork meatballs, crispy-outside tender-inside fried meatballs, stewed liver, and dipping pork served with flavorful sauce. Every plate features carefully selected ingredients.

For those wanting to switch from noodles to rice, the restaurant offers complete single-plate options including fiery basil fried rice, fragrant wok-fried pork rice, and crispy-fried pork over fluffy rice.

Salad lovers shouldn't miss out, as the restaurant serves both spicy minced pork salad and vermicelli salad with bold, tangy, salty, and spicy flavors that are perfectly balanced Thai style—another colorful addition to your meal.

After savory dishes, desserts and beverages provide the perfect finish. The restaurant offers various specialty beverages along with cakes and baked goods that add just the right sweetness.

The atmosphere feels welcoming and accessible, suited for both regular neighborhood customers and those making a special trip. With friendly service and affordable prices, this restaurant has become another must-visit landmark in Nong Chok.

P. Prateep Boat Noodles in Nong Chok by Da is located at the entrance of Chuemsamphan Soi 5, Krathumrai Subdistrict, Nong Chok District, Bangkok. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information, call 09-8363-9949.

A dish so delicious it demands word-of-mouth promotion. Owner Jirwat Wichayachaumpong, known as Tam, worked as a programmer in Bangkok for many years before returning to his hometown in Ang Thong province. He transitioned to becoming a chef, selling red pork and crispy pork rice at weekend markets. With a growing loyal customer base, he decided to open Tam Panich restaurant. The restaurant's name comes from his own name, followed by "Panich," which conveys a sense of prosperity and flourishing. The signature dish is red pork and crispy pork rice, where the red pork is marinated for two nights using a special recipe he developed, resulting in tender, delicious meat. The pricing includes: red pork rice at 50 baht, crispy pork rice at 60 baht, and a combination at 70 baht. Small portions are also available—100 grams of red pork for 60 baht and crispy pork for 70 baht. Additional menu items include red pork dumplings at 45 baht, noodles with red pork dumplings at 50 baht, braised pork noodles, cold tofu soup, spicy Tom Yum noodles, and clear broth options. All dishes are delicious, made with fresh ingredients, and offer good value for money. Tam Panich is located next to Wat Jan Niramitr bus station, Moo 7, Sala Daeng Subdistrict, Muang District, Ang Thong Province. The restaurant operates four days a week—Friday through Monday (closed Tuesday to Thursday)—from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Contact: 08-4115-8342

At 3:30 PM on May 14, 2569, government spokesman Paradorn Parisnanantakul held a press conference at Government House addressing the opposition's criticism following the cabinet's decision not to reaffirm the pending constitution amendment draft from the previous parliament. According to the government's perspective, the non-reaffirmation stems from previous constitutional amendment debates in parliament that contributed to the dissolution, triggered by disputes over reducing the Senate's power by one-third in approving amendments. "If the government reaffirms the old draft, it's likely that parliament will face the same conflicts as before dissolution, and the third reading vote will probably fail, wasting time since similar bills cannot be resubmitted in the same parliamentary session, potentially nullifying the intention of those who voted in the referendum," Paradorn stated. He explained that with a new parliament in place, it's appropriate for lawmakers and political parties to propose a new constitution amendment draft. Bhumjaithai Party will bring this matter to its party meeting on May 19, having already prepared a draft. If the party meeting approves, the party's 192 MPs will submit the draft alone, which meets the one-fifth requirement. The new draft's core content will exclude the problematic provisions from the previous version to achieve consensus and move forward. The draft also stipulates that constitutional drafting committee members will be selected through a parliamentary mechanism open to qualified applicants.

The National Savings Fund (NSF) has released findings from the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at Thammasat University on back-to-school spending for 2025, revealing total education expenditures exceeded 66 billion baht—a 6% increase and the highest figure in 17 years of surveying. More than 27% of parents reported insufficient funds, forcing them to borrow money or pledge assets to pay school fees, highlighting the severe financial burden impacting Thai family welfare.

The survey serves as a critical reminder that economic volatility directly affects children's education. In response, the NSF is inviting students and youth aged 15 and above to use the back-to-school period to start managing their personal finances by setting aside portions of their daily allowance as savings, developing financial discipline and building their own emergency fund. This approach helps reduce the risk of facing future financial crises similar to current circumstances.

Why youth should start saving with NSF:

• Easy savings without cutting pocket money: Begin with just 50 baht per transaction with no mandatory monthly requirement—perfect for students starting from daily leftover allowance.

• Government matching contributions: For every baht saved by youth aged 15-30, the government immediately contributes 50% (capped at 1,800 baht annually), providing valuable returns with complete safety.

• Building pride and reducing family burden: Personal savings from student years establish strong financial foundations and help lighten the family load as youth mature into adulthood.

Despite parents willingly reducing other expenses for their children's education, students can help their families by learning to save starting today—simply putting aside 5-10 baht daily from their snack money. With monthly savings of 150-300 baht through NSF and 50% government matching, students saving 300 baht monthly will receive 150 baht from the government. Over a full year of consistent monthly savings, they'll accumulate 3,600 baht with an additional 1,800 baht government contribution—totaling 5,400 baht.

The NSF aims to strengthen the next generation's financial resilience, breaking the debt cycle, with NSF as their partner in financial planning through retirement. The fund invites Thai citizens aged 15 and above not covered by other state welfare schemes to register and begin saving easily through the "NSF" mobile application or call the savings hotline at 02-049-9000 for more details.

Tagline: "You save, the government saves for you, and you get a pension." For more information, join the savings family via Line @nsf.th or follow updates through Facebook (National Savings Fund-NSF), the NSF app, website www.nsf.or.th, or call the hotline 02-049-9000 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM).