One dies of rabies in Korat as dog infections rise

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6 June 2026, 17:23

One dies of rabies in Korat as dog infections rise

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 6 June 2026, Health authorities in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima have intensified rabies control measures after confirming 20 rabies-infected animals this year, with one human death and 144 high-risk exposure cases reported.

Provincial Public Health Office chief Dr Wichan Khithen said that between 1 January and 2 June 2026, laboratory testing confirmed rabies infections in 20 animals across the province.

The most recent case was detected on 1 June in Chai Mongkhon subdistrict of Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima district. The infected animal was an eight-month-old male stray dog that reportedly displayed aggressive behaviour, chased and bit other animals, and wandered aimlessly.

One person was classified as having high-risk exposure and has received the first dose of rabies vaccine. Two other animals were also identified as being at high risk of infection.

District communicable disease control teams, livestock officials and local authorities have implemented containment measures, including vaccination campaigns within a five-kilometre radius of the outbreak site. Temporary rabies control zones have also been declared in affected areas.

According to provincial health data, one person has died from rabies in Nakhon Ratchasima this year. Authorities have also recorded 144 people with high-risk exposure to the virus.

Of those, 135 have completed the full course of post-exposure rabies vaccination, while nine others are still being monitored and have not yet completed treatment.

Provincial authorities have introduced a range of measures to control the disease in animals, including surveying dog and cat populations, increasing vaccination coverage to at least 80%, strengthening disease surveillance and monitoring reports of sick or unusually behaving animals.

Officials also reminded pet owners that dogs, cats and other susceptible mammals should receive annual rabies vaccinations. Initial vaccinations are recommended when animals reach two to three months of age, followed by booster doses according to veterinary guidelines.

To reduce the risk of human infections, health authorities have directed village health volunteers to identify and follow up with people who may have been exposed to rabies over the past year. Hospitals have also been instructed to provide fast-track vaccination services for suspected exposure cases.

The Provincial Public Health Office urged residents to seek immediate medical attention after any bite, scratch or saliva exposure from a potentially infected animal, warning that rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.

Hidden in Chonburi: Thailand’s one-of-a-kind coconut shell curry

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6 June 2026, 16:43

0-featured — "แกงไก่กะลา" or Gaeng gai gala, a traditional curry from Takian Tia in Chonburi, is made with free-range chicken and pieces of young coconut shell.

Hidden among the coconut groves of Takian Tia is one of Thailand’s least-known curries — a recipe that turns young coconut shell into an ingredient with a surprisingly crisp bite.

Known as gaeng gai gala, or chicken curry with young coconut shell, the recipe has been passed down through generations in Takian Tia, a farming community in Bang Lamung district better known for its coconut groves than its cuisine.

At first glance, the curry looks familiar. Free-range chicken is cooked with aromatic curry paste, holy basil and cardamom stalks. The surprise comes from an ingredient that rarely appears on restaurant menus: the soft flesh of a very young coconut shell.

Before a coconut shell hardens, the inner layer remains tender enough to eat. Locals cut it into bite-sized pieces, boil it until soft, then add it to the curry. The result is a texture somewhere between bamboo shoot and water chestnut — lightly crunchy, subtly sweet and unlike anything found in a typical Thai curry.

For residents of Takian Tia, the dish is more than a local speciality. It is a reflection of the area’s agricultural roots.

For generations, families here cultivated coconuts and found creative ways to use every part of the fruit. Young coconuts that were too immature for other purposes were transformed into ingredients for home cooking. Over time, one particular recipe stood out and became the community’s culinary signature.

During a recent demonstration, local residents prepared the curry the traditional way over a charcoal stove. Chicken was stir-fried until nearly cooked before curry paste was added and fried until fragrant. Water, seasonings and chopped cardamom stalks followed, with the young coconut shell flesh added near the end. Fresh holy basil completed the dish.

The curry is known for its spicy flavour and the slightly crunchy texture of the young coconut shell, which locals say pairs well with free-range chicken and aromatic cardamom stalks.

While visitors to Pattaya can choose from countless international restaurants and beachfront seafood venues, few realise that one of the region’s most unusual dishes is waiting just inland, hidden among coconut plantations and local homes.

For travellers who enjoy seeking out authentic regional food, gaeng gai gala offers something increasingly rare: a taste that cannot easily be replicated elsewhere.

And for adventurous home cooks, it poses an intriguing challenge — finding the elusive young coconut shell ingredient and recreating a recipe that has survived for generations in a single corner of Chonburi.

Either way, it is proof that some of Thailand’s most memorable dishes are still found far from the tourist trail.

Millions of pink sea cucumbers wash ashore in Rayong

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6 June 2026, 15:25

Millions of pink sea cucumbers wash ashore in Rayong

RAYONG — 6 June 2026, Millions of pink sea cucumbers have washed up along a beach in Thailand’s eastern province of Rayong in a rare natural phenomenon that has attracted widespread attention from tourists and marine experts.

Large numbers of the marine animals were found stranded along Suan Son Beach in Phe subdistrict, Mueang district, turning hundreds of metres of shoreline a reddish-pink colour and drawing crowds of visitors.

Following reports of the unusual event, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources ordered an urgent investigation.

Officials from the department’s Regional Marine and Coastal Resources Office 1 surveyed the area and identified the animals as pink sea cucumbers, also known as pink thorny sea cucumbers, scientifically classified as Cercodemas anceps.

Sea cucumbers are soft-bodied marine invertebrates that live on the seabed. They have elongated, cylindrical bodies resembling cucumbers or sausages and can range in colour from bright pink to orange-red.

According to the department, sea cucumbers play an important ecological role by breaking down decaying organic matter and other debris on the ocean floor. Because of this function, they are often referred to as the “housekeepers of the sea” for helping maintain the health and balance of marine ecosystems.

Authorities believe the mass stranding was caused by rough seas, strong waves and storm-related conditions that swept the animals from the seabed onto the shoreline.

Officials described the event as a rare natural occurrence.

The department advised tourists to avoid direct contact with the sea cucumbers, warning that some species can release defensive substances that may cause skin irritation, particularly in people with sensitive skin.

Missing mushroom forager found alive after three days in Phetchabun forest

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6 June 2026, 12:19

PHETCHABUN — 5 June 2026, a 73-year-old woman who went missing while foraging for mushrooms in a forest in Bueng Sam Phan district has been found alive after spending three days lost in the wilderness.

The woman left her home in Kan Chu subdistrict to search for mushrooms in a forested area near Ban Talat Mai village on 2 June. She failed to return, prompting relatives and villagers to launch a search.

After several days without success, local authorities, rescue volunteers, community leaders and residents joined forces with specialist search teams. More than 100 personnel took part in the operation, supported by thermal-imaging drones, police K9 units, Border Patrol Police officers, military dog teams and disaster response specialists.

At approximately 12:30 on 5 June, search teams located her sitting exhausted in the forest, around 2 km from the point where she had disappeared. Searchers noted that the area had previously been covered during the operation, but she had not been found there earlier.

While waiting to be taken to hospital, she recounted her experience. She said that during her time lost in the forest, she encountered a woman who stayed with her but did not speak. She said the woman provided neither food nor assistance.

To survive, she relied on wild figs and a small amount of water she had with her. She said she was fortunate that rescuers found her when they did, as she was unsure how much longer she would have had the strength to endure.

Rescuers transported the woman to Bueng Sam Phan Hospital for a medical examination and further recovery.

Five injured in durian orchard shooting in Chanthaburi

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6 June 2026, 11:29

Five injured in durian orchard shooting in Chanthaburi

CHANTHABURI — 6 June 2026, Five people were injured in a shooting at a durian orchard in Chanthaburi province on Saturday morning, including the orchard owner who was critically wounded by a gunshot to the head, police said.

The incident was reported at about 09:00 at a fruit orchard in Thung Bencha subdistrict, Tha Mai district. Police were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of a firearm assault.

Investigators found signs of a violent confrontation inside a storage shed used for keeping harvested durians. A large pool of blood was found on the concrete floor, while forensic officers recovered eight spent cartridge cases of an unidentified calibre from areas inside and outside the building.

Five people were injured in the incident. Four victims were taken to Bangkok Chanthaburi Hospital for treatment.

The fifth victim, identified only as Nop, the owner of the orchard, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was reported to be in critical condition. He was transferred from Khao Sukim Hospital to Phra Pokklao Hospital, where doctors were providing emergency treatment and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Police also examined two pickup trucks used to transport injured people from both sides of the dispute to hospital. One vehicle, a blue four-door Ford pickup belonging to a durian purchasing company, and another pickup belonging to the orchard owner’s side, were found parked at Bangkok Chanthaburi Hospital.

A search of the vehicles uncovered one firearm hidden beneath the driver’s seat in each pickup. Forensic officers were called in to collect fingerprints and other evidence.

Police are questioning those involved and investigating the cause of the shooting. Authorities said the primary line of inquiry focuses on a dispute over durian trading and purchase agreements that allegedly escalated into violence.

The investigation is ongoing.

Cow causes highway pile-up in Chiang Mai, 6 injured

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6 June 2026, 10:06

Cow causes highway pile-up in Chiang Mai, 6 injured

CHIANG MAI — 5 June 2026, A cow running onto a highway caused a multi-vehicle crash in Chiang Mai’s Saraphi district on Friday night, leaving six people injured and severely damaging a passenger van, authorities said.

The accident occurred at about 21:30 on the Chiang Mai–Lampang road inbound to the city, beneath the Sin Seng flyover in Saraphi district.

According to officials, a cow suddenly ran onto the highway and cut across the path of fast-moving traffic. Several vehicles travelling behind were forced to brake abruptly, triggering a chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles. Some vehicles struck the animal before crashing into vehicles ahead.

A passenger van carrying a full load of passengers was among the vehicles involved. The van lost control and slammed into a roadside electricity pole, leaving it extensively damaged.

Emergency medical teams and Chiang Mai rescue units rushed to the scene and provided first aid before transporting all six injured people to hospital.

The cow, identified as the cause of the accident, suffered a broken leg. Officials and animal welfare personnel provided treatment to the animal and are working to locate its owner.

Authorities said the owner will be questioned and could be held responsible for damages and any legal liabilities arising from the incident.

Multi-vehicle collision leaves over 10 injured in Udon Thani

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6 June 2026, 10:06

UDON THANI — 6 June 2026, more than 10 people were injured in a multi-vehicle collision at a traffic-light intersection in Nong Han district during the early hours of Friday morning.

At approximately 02:47, emergency responders from Nong Han Hospital 2 received reports of a crash involving at least three vehicles on Mittraphap Road (Udon Thani–Sakon Nakhon route) at the eastern Nong Han traffic-light intersection in Nong Han subdistrict, Nong Han district, Udon Thani province.

Rescue teams from Nong Han Hospital, Sawang Methawee Rescue Nong Han, Sawang Methatham Phon Ngam Rescue, and the Sawang Methatham Foundation Udon Thani were dispatched to the scene with hydraulic rescue equipment and lighting units.

Rescuers worked to free the driver of a pickup truck transporting rambutan fruit, who was trapped inside the wreckage. The driver was identified as Thanawin Kongchui, 20, of Chai Wan district, Udon Thani province.

Four passengers travelling in a passenger van were injured. The van was carrying a total of 12 people. Rescue volunteers provided first aid before transporting the injured to Nong Han Hospital.

According to the 34-year-old female van driver, she had picked up passengers from Samut Prakan and was travelling along a scheduled route to Bueng Kan province. She said she had been stopped at the red light behind a BMW sedan for only a short time when another vehicle crashed into the rear of the van at high speed.

The impact caused the van to overturn, leaving passengers piled inside the vehicle and suffering various injuries.

The BMW driver said he had arrived at the intersection first, with the van stopping behind him while waiting at the red light. He reported seeing headlights approaching rapidly from behind moments before the collision.

“Suddenly, a vehicle slammed into us with full force,” he said, adding that he and his wife escaped without injury.

The 20-year-old pickup driver was initially unable to provide a statement as he remained trapped in the wreckage. Rescue workers spent approximately 30 minutes using hydraulic cutting tools to free him before transporting him to Nong Han Hospital for treatment.

Police investigators from Nong Han Police Station examined the scene and are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.

Police seize 220,000 meth pills hidden in parcel boxes addressed to deceased person

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5 June 2026, 16:44

Police seize 220,000 meth pills hidden in parcel boxes addressed to deceased person

TRANG — 5 June 2026, Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers have seized 220,000 speed pills hidden inside parcels sent through a private courier service after investigators tracked down a drug trafficking ring that attempted to disguise the shipment by using the name of a deceased person as the intended recipient.

On Thursday, under the orders of Pol. Maj. Gen. Phatthanasak Bubphasuwan, Commander of the CSD, a police team led by Pol. Col. Phongpanot Chukaew, a superintendent of the CSD, Pol. Col. Anusorn Thongsai, superintendent of Sub-Division 6, and inspectors, seized 220,000 methamphetamine pills. The drugs were intercepted inside a private courier package sorting centre in Mueang District, Trang Province.

The seizure followed an intelligence received on Tuesday, warning authorities that a drug trafficking ring planned to smuggle narcotics and illegal items concealed inside courier boxes through a private delivery service to a sorting center in Trang. Upon arriving at the facility, officers identified themselves and presented their anti-narcotics official ID badges to the branch manager.

Officers explained the reasons and necessity for inspecting the suspicious packages. The branch manager cooperated fully, and the officers demonstrated their transparency according to protocol before beginning the operation.

The inspection spotted three suspicious brown cardboard boxes matching the description provided by an informant. After checking the shipping details on the boxes, authorities found that the named recipient had already died, leading officers to believe this was part of a strategy used by drug traffickers to avoid detection and hinder criminal investigations.

Courier staff told police the packages had already been sent to the listed delivery address but were returned to the company’s warehouse as no recipient could be located.

Police and the branch manager subsequently opened the three suspicious parcels while recording the entire process on video as evidence. Inside, officers discovered 22 large packages of methamphetamine tablets. Each package contained five bundles of pills, for a total of 110 bundles and 220,000 tablets.

Officers then documented the seizure of all illicit goods before handing them over to Sub-Division 6 investigators for further examination. They are expanding the investigation to trace the drug trafficking routes, gather additional evidence, and expedite the arrest of all accomplices involved to face strict legal action.

Cambodia Appoints Two International Law Experts to UNCLOS Conciliation Panel

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5 June 2026, 16:35

Cambodia Appoints Two International Law Experts to UNCLOS Conciliation Panel

Cambodia has appointed two prominent international legal experts to serve on a compulsory conciliation commission under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as part of efforts to address its maritime dispute with Thailand.

According to Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Chan Ratana, Cambodia has given Thailand 21 days to nominate its representatives to the commission. If Thailand fails to do so within the specified timeframe, the appointments will be made through a United Nations mechanism.

The move follows Cambodia’s formal notification to Thailand and the UN Secretary-General on 2 June that it was initiating compulsory conciliation proceedings under UNCLOS regarding overlapping maritime claims.

Cambodian media reported that the two experts selected by Cambodia are Peter Taksøe-Jensen, a Danish diplomat who chaired the UNCLOS conciliation commission that helped resolve the maritime dispute between Australia and Timor-Leste between 2016 and 2018, and Jean-Marc Thouvenin, a French legal expert who has participated in numerous cases before the International Court of Justice.

Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, previously briefed representatives from 47 diplomatic missions and international organisations on the initiative.

Once fully established, the conciliation commission will oversee and guide efforts to resolve the maritime dispute through a structured international conciliation process.
According to Cambodian media outlet Fresh News, Cambodia turned to the UNCLOS mechanism after Thailand’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding, which had served as a framework for bilateral maritime negotiations.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has said that pursuing the UNCLOS process does not mean Cambodia is abandoning negotiations, but rather moving discussions into an internationally recognised legal framework.

Bangkok Festival brings 12 world-class epic ballet and opera spectacles from nine nations

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5 June 2026, 16:16

BANGKOK — 5 June 2026, the 28th Bangkok International Festival of Dance & Music is set to revitalise Thailand’s performing arts scene with a programme featuring 12 world-class productions from nine countries. The festival will run from 5 September to 17 October at the Main Hall of the Thailand Cultural Centre.

This year’s festival will showcase acclaimed international productions spanning opera, ballet, contemporary dance and multimedia performance. Organisers said the programme aims to blend performing arts with music, fashion, contemporary culture and pop culture to create fresh experiences and bring world-class performances closer to Thai audiences.

Among the highlights is the Thailand debut of the New York City Opera from the United States, presenting Opera Goes to Hollywood, a production that combines operatic masterpieces with iconic film music.

The Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus will stage full-length productions of the classic ballets Romeo & Juliet and Cinderella, featuring internationally recognised ballet performers and choreography.

9 Romeo and Juliet — Romeo & Juliet — Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus

From Russia, the Helikon Opera will present two timeless operas, La Traviata and Madama Butterfly, performed by an international cast accompanied by a full live orchestra.

8 La Traviata — La Traviata — Helikon Opera

The contemporary programme includes Murmuration Level 2 by French choreographer Sadeck Berrabah, known for its striking synchronised movement, and RITE by Brazil’s Deborah Colker Dance Company, a contemporary reinterpretation of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

6 RITE — RITE — Deborah Colker Dance Company

Audiences can also look forward to Alice in Wonderland, a fantasy production that combines acrobatics, circus arts and contemporary dance in a family-friendly spectacle.

5 Alice in Wonderland — Alice in Wonderland — Wings Show Production

Another major attraction is The Great Gatsby, which brings the Jazz Age and the American Dream to life through live music, dance and theatrical performance.

4 The Great Gatsby — The Great Gatsby — Enrique Gasa Valga Dance Company

Meanwhile, the National Theatre Brno of the Czech Republic will present Coco Chanel, a contemporary ballet exploring the life and legacy of the iconic fashion designer through dance.

3 Coco Chanel — Coco Chanel — National Theatre Brno

The Eifman Ballet from Russia will perform The Pygmalion Effect, a comedic ballet inspired by the classical myth that follows the transformation of an ordinary young woman into a ballroom star while exploring themes of identity, ambition and social expectations.

2 Pygmalion — The Pygmalion Effect — Eifman Ballet

The company will also stage Russian Hamlet, a dramatic ballet depicting political intrigue and tragedy within the Russian imperial family through the distinctive choreographic style of Boris Eifman.

1 Russian Hamlet — Russian Hamlet — Eifman Ballet

Tickets are available now through Thai Ticket Major. Prices generally range from 2,000 to 6,000 baht, depending on the performance and seating location, with select premium seats priced higher. The festival runs from 5 September until 17 October at the Thailand Cultural Centre. The full show program can be found on the festival’s official website.

Founded in 1999, the Bangkok International Festival of Dance & Music has grown into one of Thailand’s leading international performing arts festivals. Its mission is to give audiences access to high-quality productions from around the world while supporting the development of Thailand’s performing arts sector.

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