Sri Trat at Sri’s Room brings new chapter to Eastern Thai flavours

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25 May 2026, 18:14

Sri Trat at Sri’s Room brings new chapter to Eastern Thai flavours

Sri is the mascot of Sri Trat’s restaurants, whose story is told through lovingly crafted dishes at each venue. At Sri Trat, she is portrayed at the age of 42; at Burapa, as a 19-year-old girl; and at Sri Trat at Sri’s Room, as a 27-year-old woman — a seamstress and an accomplished cook. While the character is fictional, she is rooted in reality, inspired by the Sri Trat owner’s mother.

Located at Siam Paragon, Sri Trat at Sri’s Room occupies a standalone dining space beautifully designed to evoke Sri Trat’s tailoring shop, featuring Sino-Portuguese interiors and floral touches.

The menu offers a broad spectrum of Eastern Thai flavours, where “the forest meets the sea”. It includes beloved classics from the original Sri Trat alongside exclusive creations available only at Sri Trat at Sri’s Room, complemented by signature cocktails inspired by the music of the 1970s and 1980s.

Her story, of course, cannot be told without the food. Highlights include Nam Prik Goong Siab, a spicy Thai salad with crispy shrimp and an abundance of herbs; Lhon Pu Kai (Crab Roe Coconut Dip), a coconut milk-based herbal dip with lump crab meat, crab roe, and minced pork, served with a basket of fresh vegetables; and Baked Crab with Glass Noodles, a claypot dish of glass noodles and crab marinated in fish sauce. Those seeking something different may enjoy Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken with Cardamom, a dish exclusive to this branch.

For seafood lovers, the menu features “Jungle Soup”, a fiery herbal soup with minced Asian sea bass seasoned with cumin leaves; Choo Chee Sea Bass Curry, deep-fried sea bass fillets topped with rich chu-chee curry sauce; and Betel Leaf Seabass Bite.

A clear crowd favourite is the slow-cooked pork belly, glazed in a rich blend of palm sugar and premium fish sauce, achieving a satisfying balance of sweetness, saltiness, and richness.

S 90972271 0 — Pork Belly in Chamuang Curry

No exploration of Eastern Thai cuisine would be complete without chamuang. Sri Trat serves Pork Belly in Chamuang Curry, a signature sweet-and-sour stew from Eastern Thailand, prepared with pork belly and pork collar, slow-cooked with chamuang leaves and the restaurant’s house curry base. For many, it is one of the defining dishes of the region.

S 90972279 0 — Malva Nut Jelly with Fresh Coconut Milk

S 90972289 0 — Sticky Rice Cake with Sea Salt Ice Cream

To finish, diners can cleanse their palate with desserts such as Malva Nut Jelly with Fresh Coconut Milk, Sticky Rice Cake with Sea Salt Ice Cream, and Durian in Coconut Syrup — inventive takes on traditional Thai desserts and fruits that offer a fresh perspective on familiar flavours.

The drinks menu also enhances the experience. Cocktails such as PB to My Jelly and Sri’s Lemonade, alongside mocktails including Hide the Scent and Cha-Yen, pair well with the restaurant’s atmosphere.

Sri Trat at Sri’s Room is located on the G Floor of Siam Paragon. For reservations and enquiries, call 02-125-7346.

Vietnamese leader to trace Ho Chi Minh’s footsteps in Thailand

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Khaosod English

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25 May 2026, 17:44

As Vietnam’s top leader prepares for his first official visit to Thailand, one stop on the itinerary carries a deeply personal and historical meaning far beyond diplomacy.

To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, is scheduled to travel to Udon Thani during his 27-29 May visit to Thailand to pay tribute at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site and meet the Vietnamese-Thai community living in northeastern Thailand.

The memorial site, located in Chiang Phin subdistrict, preserves memories of a little-known chapter in the life of Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, who once lived quietly in Udon Thani nearly a century ago.

AP26097120111351 1 — To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh arrived in Thailand in 1928 while Vietnam was still under French colonial rule. During his time in Udon Thani, he reportedly lived among the local Vietnamese community while organising political activities and seeking support for Vietnam’s independence movement.

According to historical records preserved at the site, Ho Chi Minh farmed, trained followers and helped mobilise Vietnamese migrants in Thailand during the anti-colonial struggle. He also joined local residents in community activities, including helping construct temples in Udon Thani before later travelling through Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom and eventually returning to Vietnam.

Vietnam declared independence from France in 1945, and Ho Chi Minh later became the founding president of modern Vietnam.

Today, the memorial site has been transformed into a historical learning centre and museum managed with support from the local Vietnamese-Thai community. The compound features a recreated traditional wooden house where Ho Chi Minh once stayed, complete with simple furnishings, vegetable plots, rice storage huts and livestock pens designed to reflect rural life during that period.

AP570813063 — President Ho Chi Minh of Communist ruled North Vietnam delivers an address to a gathering of thousands of Bulgarians at Ninth of September Square, Sophia, Aug. 13, 1957. The Vietnamese president is here on a five-day visit to the Balkan state during his tour of Communist countries. (AP Photo)

The museum also displays old photographs, documents and exhibitions detailing the history of Vietnamese migrants in Thailand and Ho Chi Minh’s years in the kingdom.

Officially opened in 2006, the memorial site has become both a tourist attraction and a symbol of long-standing ties between Thailand and Vietnam.

To Lam’s visit comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026 and deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

MGI All Stars spark tourism boom at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

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Khaosod English

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25 May 2026, 17:28

MGI All Stars spark tourism boom at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

RATCHABURI — 25 May 2026, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi buzzed with renewed energy as 56 global beauty queens from the Miss Grand International (MGI) All Stars pageant arrived to participate in a local culture and tourism promotion campaign. The contestants, representing nations from across the globe, received a warm welcome from public and private sectors, alongside local residents, who united to open their doors to showcase Thailand’s community lifestyle and charm on the global stage.

This visit not only adds excitement to Ratchaburi, but also reflects the potential of Damnoen Saduak as a cultural tourism destination that beautifully preserves its authentic identity, including canal-side lifestyle, floating markets, local gastronomy, and reserved natural landscapes.

The delegates and production crew from Miss Grand International Public Company Limited (MGI PCL) stayed at the “Khum Damnoen Resort” before embarking on a tour to immerse themselves in the charms of Ratchaburi through a wide range of activities. Their itinerary included visits to the Damnoen Sky Cafe, Kwan Damnoen 1 restaurant, Yuwanda Pier, Khrua Jae Naow, Ying Golf Pier, Chaloem Sukkho River Prawn Damnoen Saduak, and Supachai Art Gallery.

One of the activities that left the deepest impression of the trip participants was a boat ride along the canals, allowing the delegates to connect themselves with the traditional community of Damnoen Saduak. They also visited the world-famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, a global landmark where charm remains timeless. Moreover, the beauty queens interacted with a relaxing stop amidst nature at “Your Garden Damnoen Saduak,” a prominent local café, and indulged in shopping for native crafts, local delicacies, and the province’s signature souvenirs.

Throughout their journey, the MGI All Stars beauties captured attention of large crowds of visitors and residents, who turned out to greet them and snap memorable photographs close-up.

In addition to elevating Thailand’s global tourism profile, this visit provided economic boost to the local area, including hotels, restaurants, community shops, and neighborhood entrepreneurs. All reaped the benefits of the vibrant wave of attention generated by the event.

Concurrently, Ratchaburi underscores its readiness as an all-encompassing travel destination. Boasting scenic natural wonders, a vibrant food scene, local culture, and warm hospitality, the province holds a unique allure that keeps bringing visitors back for more.

Thai rescue teams race against rising water in Laos cave mission

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Khaosod English

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25 May 2026, 17:04

Thai rescue teams are continuing efforts to reach seven workers trapped inside a flooded gold mining cave in Laos, with rescuers saying they are now believed to be just 30 metres away from the point where the survivors may be sheltering.

The men have been trapped inside the cave in Long Chaeng district, Xaisomboun province, since 19 May after heavy rain caused water to rush into the tunnel and block the entrance.

Thai rescue personnel joined the operation after Lao authorities formally requested assistance. Around 26 rescuers and volunteers travelled from Nong Khai to Laos before being transported closer to the remote site by helicopter provided by Lao authorities.

Among those participating in the mission is Thai rescue worker and influencer Jakkrid Tangtang, also known as “Pon Jakkrid”, who shared video footage from inside the cave showing extremely difficult conditions.

The footage revealed narrow muddy passages where rescuers were forced to crawl one by one through darkness using only rescue lights.

Rescue leader Kengkaj Bongkaowong said teams believe the trapped workers may have moved to a higher area inside the cave to escape rising floodwaters. He added that rescuers are now only about 30 metres from the elevated point where survivors are believed to be waiting for help.

Authorities said the route from the cave entrance to the suspected location stretches around 340 metres, with some sections only about 60 centimetres high.

Rescuers are also facing major obstacles from continuous rainfall, rising water levels and low oxygen inside the tunnel, forcing operations to pause at times.

According to local reports, about 10 villagers had entered the tunnel to search for gold when flash flooding struck during heavy rain. Three workers managed to escape, while seven others became trapped inside.

Two Workers Killed, One Severely Injured in Police Flats Balcony Collapse

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Khaosod English

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25 May 2026, 16:12

Two Workers Killed, One Severely Injured in Police Flats Balcony Collapse

SISAKET — 25 May 2026, two construction workers died and another was critically injured on Monday after a concrete beam and scaffolding collapsed at police residential flat currently under construction from fifth floor. A fourth worker miraculously cheated death by hanging onto a beam, watching in horror as his colleagues fell to the ground.

The accident occurred on Monday at approximately 10:00 at the construction site on Sri Wiset Road, located directly behind the Muang Sisaket Police Station. An investigating officer from Muang Si Sa Ket Police Station, coordinated with emergency medical teams and rescue volunteers to rush to the scene.

At the scene, the deputy commander of the Sisaket Provincial Police, the deputy superintendent for prevention and suppression at Muang Sisaket Police Station, alongside related officials, inspected the five-story complex under construction. The ground floor of the building is designed as an open stilt area, while the second through fifth floors are slated for police residential quarters.

Debris from wooden formworks, bent steel rods, and shattered scaffolding sections were found scattered across the fifth floor and onto the concrete ground below, where evidence of the brutal impact was clearly visible. First responders rushed three injured workers to Sisaket Hospital: Sangwan Chaibamrung, 58; Nuay Rayabsri, around 55; and Phitak Phenjaem, 50. All three remain in critical condition due to the force of the fall.

Sangwan and Phitak succumbed to severe impact injuries while Nuay remains in critical condition due to the severe trauma in the emergency intensive care unit, where doctors are conducting urgent brain scans, though he remains conscious and responsive.

Upon questioning Siriwat Namwiset, 44, the worker who was at the scene and narrowly escape the plunge, revealed that at the time of the incident, he was working on the fifth floor alongside his three colleagues to repair a concrete beam formwork. Concrete had been poured into the frame earlier, but the crew discovered structural instability and temporarily halted the pour to reinforce the outer frame before moving forward with the project.

He continued that while they were working on the structural adjustment, they suddenly heard a loud cracking sound. They were startled and asked each other where the noise came from. He even told his friends that it wasn’t from his footsteps. Before he could even finish his sentence, the entire beam structure and the scaffolding they were standing on collapsed instantly. His three co-workers, who were positioned near the edge, plunge to the ground below in front of him.

He also said that he thought he was surely dead because the floor beneath his feet completely vanished. In a split-second reflex, he grabbed onto a piece of the beam structure that hadn’t detached yet with all his might. He shut his eyes, expecting to fall after his friends, but miraculously, he managed to hang on.

Police have cordoned off the scene. Forensic experts, structural engineers, and safety inspectors have been brought in to thoroughly examine the building’s structural integrity and scaffolding to pinpoint the root cause if it stemmed from a structural failure, faulty materials and equipment, or substandard working procedures.

Initially, officers will question additional witnesses, site supervisors, and the construction contractor, including review structural safety documentation to proceed with legal steps. If criminal negligence that led to the deaths and injuries is discovered, formal charges will be filed against those responsible.

4 dead, 17 mostly workers still missing, in collapse of unfinished hotel in the Philippines

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Associated Press

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25 May 2026, 15:52

Philippines Building Collapse — K9 units join rescuers as they continue search operations at a collapsed building in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

ANGELES, Philippines (AP) — Rescuers pulled out three people Monday from an immense pile of rubble that was all that remained of a nine-story hotel which collapsed while under construction in a northern Philippine city, bringing the death toll to four with 17 others still missing, officials said.

Two of the men were dead, while emergency personnel struggled in the early morning hours to revive one in an ambulance near the pile of concrete slabs, twisted iron bars and aluminum scaffoldings that was all that remained of the building in Angeles City of Pampanga Province. They eventually gave up and drove away.

The poignant scene was witnessed by a small group of journalists, including from The Associated Press, who watched hundreds of rescuers led by firefighters and police scrambling for hours to extricate the men, who were at the time alive but trapped under concrete slabs and iron bars.

AP26145219449030 — Rescuers carry a dog as they scale down toppled scaffoldings of a collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Rescuers tried to provide water and medicine intravenously to one of the trapped men in a desperate effort to keep him alive in the scorching summer heat, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez told the AP.

“He never made it despite all the efforts,” he said.

One of the three people pulled out from the rubble on Monday was unidentified and was not on the list of the 17 missing, who were mostly construction workers, according to Angeles city information chief Jay Pelayo.

The fourth dead victim was a Malaysian tourist trapped in a budget inn that was partly hit by the avalanche of debris from the collapsed building. Another guest at the inn was injured but managed to dash out, officials said.

A day after the unfinished building collapsed with a loud crashing sound after a fierce thunderstorm, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin said rescue efforts would still not be shifted to a body retrieval operation.

“My best hope is that we can rescue more people alive,” Lazatin told the AP. “We don’t want to give the families of the trapped workers any bad news.”

Anxiety and fear among relatives of the trapped workers, who are waiting in sheds near the rubble, have deepened.

“I’m losing hope because of what I see — slow rescue work,” said Lea Mendoza Casilao, a 47-year-old sardine factory worker whose boyfriend, a mason, was among those still trapped in the rubble.

She brought a week’s supply of rice and sardines for him at the construction site, but she said they would never meet as scheduled over the weekend after the building where he was sleeping crumbled before dawn on Sunday.

AP26145002193650 — Rescuers continue search operations at a collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Lazatin said rescuers were moving carefully because huge slabs of concrete were being held up precariously by a tangle of aluminum scaffolding and could crash down on rescuers.

Twenty-six workers were either rescued or managed to run out of the collapsing building, where they slept on pieces of plywood on the ground floor.

National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said his force will support an “ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the incident and possible violations of safety and building regulations.”

Angeles City hosted one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases outside of the American mainland, helping turn Angeles and outlying cities and towns into entertainment and commercial hubs in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon.

Clark Air Base, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Manila, closed in the early 1990s. The former base has become a bustling industrial and tourism enclave called the Clark Freeport Zone, and is still surrounded by remnants of U.S. base-era red-light strips, bars, nightclubs, tattoo shops and budget hotels.

South Korean tourist’s body found floating off Pattaya

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25 May 2026, 15:34

Police in Pattaya are investigating the death of a South Korean tourist whose body was found floating in the sea near Koh Sak on Monday morning.

At around 10:00 on 25 May, officers from Pattaya City Police Station, marine rescue teams and disaster prevention officials travelled by rescue boat to waters north of Koh Sak near Koh Larn, about six nautical miles off Pattaya, after receiving reports of a body floating face down in the sea.

Rescuers found the body of a foreign man believed to be a South Korean national, aged around 50, wearing a white polo shirt with black stripes and green shorts.

Officials said the man had likely been dead for at least six hours. No signs of physical assault were found on the body.

Police recovered a wallet containing a South Korean driving licence identifying the man as Jeong Jun Hwan, three South Korean bank ATM cards and a room key marked with the number 10.

The body was transported to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok for a detailed autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police said authorities are continuing to coordinate with relevant agencies to confirm the victim’s identity and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Mani youth blend forest shelter traditions with modern education

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Khaosod English

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25 May 2026, 15:16

Mani youth blend forest shelter traditions with modern education

SATUN — 24 May 2026, children from Thailand’s Mani ethnic minority, an Indigenous forest-dwelling community in southern Thailand, are blending traditional survival skills with modern education through cultural demonstrations aimed at preserving their heritage while adapting to life beyond the forest.

At Ban Wang Sai Thong tourist attraction in Satun province, Mani schoolchildren dressed in school uniforms and sportswear demonstrated how to build a traditional temporary shelter known as a “thap”, attracting attention from visitors.

The activity was organised by Ban Wang Sai Thong School, where Mani children showcased traditional knowledge passed down through generations.

The students demonstrated how to construct shelters using overlapping leaves for protection from sun and rain, light fires for warmth, and roast wild yams, a staple food traditionally gathered from underground. They also displayed traditional hunting tools used by their ancestors.

Prapha, a teacher closely involved with the students and known locally as “Teacher Toi”, said the demonstrations reflected skills deeply rooted in the children’s daily lives.

“This is 100% natural for them because it is how they actually live in the forest,” she said. “The school simply helps fill in what is missing, including education, social skills and communication abilities, so they can confidently welcome tourists and explain their culture.”

Beyond the traditional skills, teachers said the children were also developing ambitions for the future.

One student, identified as Jub, said she hoped to become a nurse to care for her frequently ill parents, while several classmates expressed dreams of becoming athletes.

The students admitted studying at school was more difficult than building shelters, but said they enjoyed learning and wanted broader opportunities in the future.

Teachers said many Mani children had gradually adapted to wider society and earned small incomes by helping clean community areas or rowing boats for tourists.

However, access to education remained limited because most families lived in temporary shelters without electricity or internet access.

“Homework can mostly be done only at school because their shelters have no electricity or internet access,” Prapha said, adding that basic supplies such as pencils, erasers and notebooks were still lacking.

Prapha currently oversees 43 Mani children ranging from kindergarten to primary school level.

Teachers said encouraging the children to confidently present their traditional way of life not only helped support community tourism but also strengthened their ability to adapt to modern society without losing their cultural identity.

China Launches Shenzhou-23 Mission, Sending One Astronaut for Year-Long Stay

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25 May 2026, 14:52

JIUQUAN, China — 24 May 2026, China launched three astronauts to its Tiangong space station on Sunday night, beginning a mission expected to result in the country’s first year-long human stay in orbit as Beijing advances plans to land astronauts on the moon before 2030.

The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft lifted off at 23:08 Beijing time, or 15:08 GMT, aboard a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency and Reuters.

The crew includes mission commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Li Jiaying, also known in Cantonese as Lai Ka-ying. Reuters reported that Li, a former Hong Kong police officer, is the first astronaut from Hong Kong to take part in a Chinese space mission. AP identified her as Lai Ka-ying, noting that Chinese authorities refer to her as Li Jiaying using the Mandarin transliteration of her name.

One of the three astronauts is expected to remain aboard Tiangong for about a year, setting a national record for China and allowing scientists to study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, including radiation exposure, bone-density loss and psychological stress, Reuters reported. The astronaut selected for the extended stay will be determined later, depending on the mission’s progress.

Since 2021, China has regularly launched three-person Shenzhou crews to Tiangong for missions lasting about six months. According to Xinhua, the Shenzhou-23 crew is expected to carry out more than 100 science and application projects involving space life science, aerospace medicine, materials science and microgravity physics.

Xinhua also reported that the mission will test China’s first autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking procedure with Tiangong’s core module, a capability considered important for future lunar operations and more complex orbital missions.

The launch comes as China and the United States continue expanding rival lunar exploration programmes. China has said it aims to land astronauts on the moon before 2030 and plans to establish a permanent lunar research base with Russia by 2035. Reuters reported that Beijing has been testing hardware linked to those ambitions, including the heavy-lift Long March-10 rocket, the Mengzhou spacecraft and the Lanyue lunar lander.

Meanwhile, NASA says its Artemis programme is designed to return astronauts to the moon and establish a long-term lunar presence as preparation for future human missions to Mars. NASA has described Artemis II as the first crewed test flight of its deep-space exploration systems ahead of later lunar landing missions.

China has not yet carried out a crewed lunar landing, but it has achieved several major robotic milestones in recent years. In 2024, China became the first country to return samples from the far side of the moon, a mission widely viewed by space analysts as a demonstration of the country’s growing deep-space capabilities.

Reuters also reported that the Shenzhou-23 mission follows an earlier disruption in China’s space station programme. The previous Shenzhou-22 launch was moved forward after the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was reportedly damaged by space debris in orbit, requiring another vehicle to return three astronauts safely to Earth.

The extended Tiangong mission is expected to provide Chinese scientists and engineers with additional data on how astronauts, spacecraft and support systems perform during longer stays in orbit, as Beijing prepares for more ambitious human spaceflight missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

Thai concert in Sweden halted for safety concerns amid huge crowd

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Khaosod English

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25 May 2026, 13:50

Thai folk music group Ponglang Sa-on was forced to temporarily halt its comeback concert in Sweden after the venue became overcrowded during the band’s first European performance in nearly 20 years.

The popular group recently reunited and launched a European concert tour, kicking off in Stockholm. However, the show was interrupted after organisers and security officials reportedly struggled to control the large crowd.

Eed Ponglang Sa-on, the group’s leader, posted an apology to fans on social media, saying authorities had ordered the performance to stop temporarily for safety reasons.

“Sorry to fans in Stockholm. For safety reasons, officials asked us to pause for a while. The venue is overcrowded,” he wrote.

Band member Duangrudee ‘Lulu’ Phonam later said she and fellow member Khwannanpha ‘Lala’ Ratchata had not yet been able to perform because the crowd had exceeded safe capacity.

Lala later wrote that officials decided to stop the concert because the situation had become difficult to control, with people reportedly climbing into the venue as thousands gathered to watch the show.

In a livestream after the incident, Eed described having “mixed feelings” about the event.

“I’m happy to see the power and unity of Thai people living abroad. Many foreigners also came wearing Thai costumes. Some travelled for hours or flew in to see us,” he said.

Lala added that the audience had reached “tens of thousands,” prompting organisers to end the performance due to safety concerns.

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