Thai crafts showcased at world-famous Milan Design Week 2026

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21 May 2026, 11:29

Thai crafts showcased at world-famous Milan Design Week 2026

MILAN — 21 May 2026, Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) brought 25 Thai brands to exhibit handcrafted products and sustainable material innovations at Milan Design Week 2026, one of the world’s largest design festivals, held in April.

The exhibition, titled “Slow Hand Design 2026”, was held at Superstudio Events in Milan under the concept “Heritage Reimagined: The Futuristic Thai Crafts Evolution”.

Organisers said the exhibition aimed to demonstrate how innovative materials rooted in local Thai wisdom could meet international design standards.

Participating brands presented materials developed from agricultural and industrial waste, including tiles made from mycelium, rice scraps and coffee grounds, as well as materials developed from acid sulphate soil.

The exhibition reflected growing global interest in sustainable materials with strong cultural and environmental narratives, organisers said.

Among the featured works was “SEA of Love” by AVALON ARTISAN GALLERY, which showcased a wall sculpture created from “MyraShell”, a biomaterial developed from discarded mussel shells from Thailand’s seafood industry.

The material was developed in collaboration with Thailand’s National Innovation Agency, Kasetsart University and the university’s Faculty of Fisheries.

According to the developers, the material’s microporous structure allows it to diffuse fragrance, highlighting its potential in sustainable design and material innovation.

DITP said the exhibition highlighted the potential of Thai designers and sustainable materials on the global stage while introducing contemporary interpretations of Thai craftsmanship to international audiences.

Police Lieutenant Accused of Sexually Assaulting Server, Claims It is “Normal”

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Khaosod English

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21 May 2026, 11:22

KANCHANABURI — 21 May 2026, A Moo Kata (Thai BBQ) restaurant owner has released security camera footage and demanded swift disciplinary action after a police sub-lieutenant allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old waitress and members of his party allegedly dismissed the incident as a “normal” occurrence.

A CCTV video shared on Facebook on Wednesday appeared to show a male customer inappropriately touching the young waitress at a local Thai BBQ eatery. According to the accompanying caption, the incident occurred on the night of Tuesday. Legal action is being pursued, with the restaurant management vowing not to overlook the offense and pledging to seek justice for their staff member.

Reporters visited the “Ton Pradoo Mookata” restaurant, a Thai BBQ restaurant located in Lat Ya Sub-district, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province, to speak with the victim, Jane, 20, a server. She told reporters that at approximately 21:30 on Tuesday, she was attending to a large party of approximately 12 customers, consisting of both men and women.

One male customer, wearing a shirt featuring an emblem resembling a military or police insignia, called her over and asked her to sing. After consulting management, Jane said she was instructed to decline the request in order to avoid disturbing other patrons. She said she then returned to inform the customer, who allegedly asked her to step closer before reaching out and touching her inappropriately without her consent. Jane said she was shocked by the incident and immediately stepped away from the table before reporting the matter to the restaurant owner, who then contacted police.

Jane admits she is deeply shaken by what happened. Moreover, she expressed deep anxiety over her safety after learning her attacker is an active-duty police sub-lieutenant. She is just working a part-time job, having to ride motorcycle home alone late at night.

Meanwhile, the restaurant owner, Phanupong, 31, informed reporters that after learning of the assault from his employee, he immediately contacted local authorities to handle the situation. When responding officers arrived, he led the victim to identify her attacker. The suspect denied the allegations and challenged the owner to check the establishment’s CCTV network. He played the footage directly in front of the entire gathering.

Instead of apologizing, members of the accused officer’s party allegedly shrugged off the footage, reportedly suggesting the act was “just a normal matter.” Their reaction angered the owner, who said his employees work hard to earn a living and that he would not tolerate such conduct toward his staff. He said he would continue supporting the employee throughout the legal process. An official report has been lodged at the Lat Ya Police Station.

Furthermore, the owner called on the accused officer’s superiors to intervene and ensure appropriate action is taken. He said police officers are expected to protect the public and uphold professional standards, and questioned how the public could maintain confidence in the legal process if such incidents are not properly addressed. He also urged authorities to ensure a fair investigation and justice for his employee.

Happener expands partnerships after Global AIE 2025 debut

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Mc Marketing

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21 May 2026, 11:15

Dr.Panraphee Raphiphan, CEO & Co-Founder, Happener

Happener, a Thai AI company, continues to expand its business following its officially launched on the global stage at Global AIE2025 in Macao in December 2025, where it received strong interest from attendees from multiple countries. Shortly after its launch, Happener began serving clients almost immediately, with its AI solutions already deployed across several real-world projects. At the same time, the company is currently in discussions with additional clients for future implementations. Happener is also in talks with partners in Thailand and overseas to expand business opportunities and bring Thai AI solutions to the global market.

Happener, an AI company from Thailand co-founded by Dr. Panraphee Raphiphan, CEO & Co-Founder, officially launched on the global stage at the Global Artificial Intelligence Machines and Electronics Expo 2025 (Global AIE2025) in Macao in December 2025. The event is a major international AI and technology exhibition, bringing together businesses from more than 30 countries and over 1,000 technology companies showcasing innovations and participating in seminars.

Although Happener is a newly launched AI company from Thailand, its presence at Global AIE 2025 in Macau attracted strong interest from attendees throughout the event. Happener’s booth welcomed executives from Thailand, organizational leaders, buyers, and visitors from multiple countries who visited to explore and discuss how Happener’s AI solutions could be applied to business.

One of Happener’s flagship AI solutions is “AI Interactive Mascot” (AIIM) such as “Oong Oong” AI Interactive Mascot of Happener which is an intelligent adorable baby seal mascot. The AI Interactive Mascot (AIIM) can engage in real-time voice conversations, respond naturally, move interactively, and react instantly in a highly natural way. It also functions as an AI Agent capable of supporting various operational tasks designed as an AI Agent that takes the form and appearance of a brand mascot.

Through natural real-time voice interactions, Happener’s AI Interactive Mascot (AIIM) can serve as a receptionist, manage registrations and on-site check-ins, assist at booths, introduce products and services, provide company information, answer questions, and deliver accurate organization-specific information.

In addition, it can perform entertainment and interactive functions such as fortune telling and horoscope readings, singing, dancing, displaying websites, maps, reports, and brochures, as well as taking photos—helping brands create stronger engagement with customers and event attendees while making brands more approachable and interactive.

Its capabilities can be further expanded based on the specific needs of each organization, with customizable mascot designs tailored to each organization’s brand identity including existing brand mascots as well as specific use cases. All implementations are developed within an appropriate and secure framework aligned with AI Ethics principles and Thailand’s PDPA regulations.

Dr. Panraphee Raphiphan, CEO & Co-Founder of Happener, said:
“Happener was established as a spin-off from our previous business, which has more than 15 years of experience in technology media, public relations, and organizing technology events. We wanted to define a clearer role as a dedicated technology company focused specifically on AI. Our founding team has strong backgrounds in engineering, computer science, and AI, allowing us to combine technical expertise with business experience to help organizations transition into the AI era more quickly. We bridge AI technology with real business use cases.

We believe AI is not just a trend-driven technology, but a strategic tool that organizations need to adopt in practical and meaningful ways. This includes areas such as communication, customer service, creating new experiences, and improving operational efficiency.”

“Pixel”AI Interactive Mascot for Zoetis, developed by Happener

Shortly after its launch, Happener began serving clients almost immediately, with its AI Interactive Mascot (AIIM) already deployed across multiple real-world events and projects. “Pixel,” an AI Interactive Mascot developed for Zoetis, is one of Happener’s real-world project examples. Beyond its existing deployments, the company is also currently in discussions with additional clients to develop customized solutions tailored to each organization’s specific needs and use cases. Happener expects to see broader adoption of its AI Interactive Mascot (AIIM) and other AI solutions across more events, organizations, and businesses in the near future.

In addition, Happener is also in talks with partners in Thailand and overseas to strengthen its capabilities and expand business opportunities.

(Left) Dr. Panraphee Raphiphan, CEO & Co-Founder, and (Right) Panon Supiratana, CTO & Co-Founder of Happener

Panon Supiratana, CTO & Co-Founder of Happener, said:
“We focus on developing AI solutions that align with rapid technological changes and the evolving demands of today’s world, while continuously preparing for the future. We constantly update our solutions to keep pace with change and stay ahead of emerging trends. At the same time, we place strong emphasis on delivering solutions that are practical and deployable within reasonable budgets.”

Organizations, SMEs, or brands interested in Happener’s AI Interactive Mascot (AIIM), AI solutions, Local AI consulting and deployment for Sovereign AI, or corporate training programs can learn more at https://happener.ai or contact the company at 080-234-5023 or [email protected]

Myanmar Military Retakes Thai Border Town After Siege, Forcing 4,000 to Flee

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Khaosod English

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21 May 2026, 10:40

1banner — Civil war has engulfed Myanmar since the military coup five years ago deposed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, ending a decade-long experiment with democracy. In late 2023 a combined rebel offensive put the military on the back foot, but after the campaign stalled. Photo: Junta lobby Telegram channel

YANGON, Myanmar — 20 May 2026, Myanmar’s military recaptured the Thai border trading town of Mawtaung on Tuesday after a two-week offensive, resistance forces confirmed, with at least 4,000 civilians displaced amid the fighting.

Myanmar’s military regime announced Wednesday that it had retaken the border trading town of Mawtaung in Tanintharyi Region, concluding a 15-day counteroffensive against Karen resistance forces that displaced thousands of civilians and shuttered the town’s cross-border trade gate.

The Karen National Union (KNU), whose armed wing had held the town since November, confirmed the loss. Padoh Saw Ehna Doh, secretary of the KNU-administered Myeik District, told The Irrawaddy the resistance had ceded control of Mawtaung on Tuesday.

2web 4 — Myanmar state media said the military lost control of Mawtaung in Tanintharyi region in November, but retook it on May 19 after a two-week counter-offensive. The battle included more than 200 “major and minor clashes”, killing at least 24 opposition fighters, according to The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper. Photo: Junta lobby Telegram channel

The junta’s state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said the retaking of the town followed more than 200 “major and minor clashes” and claimed at least 24 resistance fighters were killed. It acknowledged that some military members “also heroically sacrificed their lives,” without providing a figure. Regime forces backed the offensive with artillery and airstrikes, according to The Irrawaddy, and a source close to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) told the Democratic Voice of Burma the resistance withdrew because of the junta’s overwhelming firepower.

map ks — Myanmar’s military claimed on May 20 to have recaptured a town on the Thai border, expanding the frontier trade crossings it claims to control in the grinding civil war. The southern Myanmar border town of Mawtaung is a relatively minor trading post, transiting US$26.7 million freight in the 2023-2024 financial year, according to Myanmar official statistics. /mdn.gov/

Local media reported the counteroffensive was triggered after a convoy of 50 trucks carrying military reinforcements was dispatched to Thebyu village, some 41 kilometres from Mawtaung, before three columns were deployed to encircle the town.

Aid volunteers told The Irrawaddy that at least 4,000 residents of Mawtaung and nine surrounding villages had fled their homes amid the fighting.

The Myeik-Mawtaung border road, which traders use to move goods into Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan Province via Thailand’s Singkhon checkpoint, had already been closed since the KNLA captured the town in November.

**A Minor Gate, But a Meaningful Symbol**

A Small Crossing in a Big Fight

Mawtaung is not Myanmar’s largest border crossing. Official statistics show it transited around US$26.7 million in freight during the 2023-2024 financial year — modest compared to the billion-dollar flows through Myawaddy further north. Opened as a formal trade hub in May 2013 under the Thein Sein government, the crossing handles seafood exports from Myeik on the Andaman coast as well as Thai imports of cement, motorcycles, and fruit.

The town carries deeper symbolic weight for the KNU: the area housed the organisation’s Myeik District headquarters until the junta’s predecessor government seized it in 1990. It fell to KNLA-led resistance forces on November 14 last year, and its loss now represents one of several reversals for the resistance in the south.

Ye Win Oo’s Offensive Momentum

The recapture of Mawtaung fits a pattern that has shifted the military’s fortunes considerably since late March, when General Ye Win Oo replaced the previous commander-in-chief — a change that also freed coup leader Min Aung Hlaing to assume the presidency.

Under Ye Win Oo’s command, the regime has retaken at least five towns in as many weeks: Mawtaung in Tanintharyi, Falam and Tonzang in Chin State, and Indaw and Maw Luu in Sagaing Region.

The broader turnaround for the military has been aided by geopolitical shifts. Two key ethnic armies — the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Shan State Army-North — signed Beijing-brokered ceasefires earlier this year, withdrawing from a coalition that had inflicted serious losses on the junta in 2023. Their exit left pro-democracy People’s Defence Force units more exposed, facing the military with fewer allies and lighter arms.

Resistance Signals Continued Fight

KNU officials have not publicly declared an end to operations in the Mawtaung area. The loss echoes a pattern seen elsewhere in the conflict: the resistance captures territory, the military mass mobilises to reclaim it with air power and artillery, and civilians bear the cost of the back-and-forth.

The Mawtaung border gate remains closed as of Wednesday. The junta has said cross-border trade will resume, but has given no timeline for when displaced residents may return.

Additional reporting from Khaosod Thai

Myanmar man found stabbed near Korat railway station

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Khaosod English

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21 May 2026, 10:15

Myanmar man found stabbed near Korat railway station

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 21 May 2026, A Myanmar national was found seriously injured with a stab wound beside a railway line near Jira railway station in northeastern Thailand, police said.

Police in Nakhon Ratchasima province said they were alerted on the evening of 20 May to a stabbing near the railway tracks on Jira Road in Muang district.

Officers, led by Pol. Col. Sirichai Srichaipanya, superintendent of Muang Nakhon Ratchasima Police Station, arrived at the scene with rescue workers and found a seriously injured man on the ground clutching a bag.

The victim, identified as 35-year-old Myanmar national Aung Kyaw Soe, had suffered a serious stab wound to the right side of his chest, authorities said.

Rescue workers administered first aid before taking him to Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for treatment.

Police said clothing and alcohol bottles were found at the scene, but no knife or suspect was located. Investigators believe the attacker may not have fled far and are searching for the person responsible.

Local residents said the area is used as an informal rubbish dumping site, where discarded sofas and other items attract homeless people seeking shelter.

One resident said they heard cries for help coming from near a rubbish pile beside an old sofa. After crossing the road to investigate, they found the injured man on the ground and contacted police and emergency responders.

The witness said they did not see the attacker and only found the victim at the scene.

TSTE Drives “Nature Best Food” at THAIFEX 2026

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Khaosod English

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20 May 2026, 17:46

TSTE Drives “Nature Best Food” and Group Companies into Full-Service OEM Food, Beverage, and Snack Business at THAIFEX 2026, Targeting THB 1 Billion in Sales

TSTE Group is accelerating its expansion into the food, beverage, and snack industries through Nature Best Food (NBF) and TSTE’s subsidiaries , positioning themselves as comprehensive OEM One Stop Service providers.

Mr. Chanachai Chutimavoraphand, Chief Executive Officer of TSTE, stated that 2026, marking the company’s 50th anniversary, represents a major milestone for the group’s food business expansion. Through participation in the THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA 2026, taking place from 26–30 May 2026, Nature Best Food and affiliated companies will showcase their integrated food product development capabilities across snacks, ready-to-eat meals, and beverages for OEM customers seeking to build their own brands. The group currently operates eight food manufacturing facilities.

In the snack category, the company continues to develop innovative products to differentiate itself in the market, including seaweed sandwiches and crispy seaweed snacks. During the exhibition, the company will also launch new snack product categories such as surimi-based snacks, flour-based snacks including creative flavored crispy rolls, as well as protein snacks and protein bars. These products can be marketed under the company’s “Koriko” brand or produced under OEM agreements.

For the food business, the company is introducing OEM ready-to-eat (RTE) meal production utilizing Retort Sterilizer technology, which extends product shelf life to over one year in ready-to-eat pouch packaging without refrigeration. The products are suitable for restaurant chains and franchise operators seeking consistent taste standards across branches, as well as emergency relief food, military rations, children’s food, elderly nutrition products, and Thai ready meals for export markets.

In the beverage segment, the company provides OEM manufacturing services for a wide range of beverages, including flavored fruit drinks, herbal beverages, and other drink products through Sterile Hot Filling systems that comply with international standards. Packaging formats include bottles, frozen bottles, and frozen pouches for export applications while maintaining original taste quality.

“The expansion into integrated food, beverage, and snack manufacturing will strengthen TSTE Group’s capabilities as a fully integrated OEM service provider, covering everything from product formulation and manufacturing to packaging solutions for both domestic and international markets. The company targets food and beverage sales of THB 1 billion within the next three years,” Mr. Chanachai emphasized.

TSTE originally started as a port and warehouse operator for sugar handling on over 150 rai along the Chao Phraya River on Pu Chao Saming Phrai Road. The company later expanded into logistics, bulk cargo and bagged cargo terminal operations, and container terminal businesses through joint ventures. The group also invested in wheat flour milling, currently listed on the mai stock exchange under TMILL, as well as vegetable oil refining and packaging businesses under TS Oil Industry Co., Ltd. and TS Pro Pack Co., Ltd.

In 2022, the group aggressively entered the food and beverage sector through the acquisition of Nature Best Food Co., Ltd. (NBF), Thailand’s first importer and processor of seaweed for the food industry. The company has since expanded into its own branded products under the “Koriko” brand, with seaweed sandwiches and crispy seaweed snacks as flagship products. This year, the company appointed celebrity duo “Keng–Nam Ping” as brand presenters to enhance nationwide brand awareness.

Nature Best Food Co., Ltd. and affiliated companies will exhibit at Booth 3-G15, Challenger Hall 3, during THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA 2026 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani from 26–30 May 2026.

Website: www.tstegroup.com https://nbfthailand.com/

Fatal Bus-Train Crash Victim “Rose” Returned to Ubon Ratchathani

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Khaosod English

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20 May 2026, 17:08

Fatal Bus-Train Crash Victim “Rose” Returned to Ubon Ratchathani

UBON RATCHATHANI — 20 May 2026, the family of “Rose,” a woman killed in Saturday’s catastrophic collision between a train and a public bus, has brought her body back to her hometown in Ubon Ratchathani Province for funeral rites, amid desperate calls from her family for stricter public transport passenger safety.

A funeral service was held at Wat Suan Sawan in Phibun Sub-district, Phibun Mangsahan District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, on Wednesday, for “Rose” Wiparak Phaophuree, a recent graduate of Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Humanities, who died in a tragic train-bus crash on Saturday. Condolence wreaths from multiple organizations were sent to pay respects, and neighbors gathered at the temple to assist the grieving family with funeral arrangements amidst a deeply somber atmosphere.

The religious rites will span three days. Ubon Ratchathani Governor, Narong Thepsena, and local authorities are scheduled to host the first night of the three-day Buddhist funeral prayers. The cremation ceremony will take place on 23 May.

The victim’s mother called for improvements in passenger safety measures on public buses. She said that passengers are forced to place their lives entirely in the hands of the driver, whose sole duty is to get them to their destination safely. The bus driver knew there were railway tracks there, so she questioned why he had driven onto the tracks and stopped across them, which was absolutely no safety consideration. She also mentioned that the family had no warning signs of impending disaster, leaving everyone unprepared for the sudden tragedy that befell her daughter.

Meanwhile, the victim’s aunt shared that her niece routinely commuted using a combination of motorbikes, buses, and taxis, depending on how rushed she was. The family was able to immediately confirm she was on the ill-fated bus because she had paid her fare via a mobile banking application and posted a short social media story stating she was on the bus, providing undeniable proof that her niece was on that exact bus during the incident.

What the victim’s aunt wants to ask for now is that one minute of carelessness destroyed decades of her niece’s future, along with many others. Eight lives were traded for just one minute of impatience. If the driver had sacrificed just one minute to wait, eight lives would not have been lost.

Police seize illegal whitening serums worth 22 million baht

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Khaosod English

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20 May 2026, 16:23

Police seize illegal whitening serums worth 22 million baht

BANGKOK — 20 May 2026, Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau and the Food and Drug Administration have raided locations linked to an illegal skin-whitening serum operation accused of registering injectable products as cosmetics to evade stricter drug controls.

Authorities seized more than 35,000 items worth over 22 million baht (£470,000), including cosmetics, unregistered medicines and medical devices, during searches at a beauty clinic, a storage facility and a residence in Bangkok, police said on Wednesday.

The operation followed complaints from members of the public and Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a cosmetic brand allegedly being misused by mixing it with saline solution for injection into the body. The products were promoted online and supplied to cosmetic clinics, investigators said.

Police said the investigation found that the product owner had hired a Thai company to manufacture glutathione-based substances, commonly marketed for skin whitening, but registered them as cosmetics rather than medicines because cosmetic approval procedures were easier.

The products were then allegedly sold to aesthetic clinics as injectable glutathione treatments and falsely marketed as imported goods.

According to authorities, clinics used the products for skin-enhancing injections administered to clients.

Investigators said those involved would face charges under multiple laws covering cosmetics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

Potential offences include importing cosmetics without Thai-language labelling, false or incomplete product labels, imports that bypassed FDA checkpoints, selling unlicensed medical devices and distributing medicines without approval or registration.

Supatra Boonserm, secretary-general of Thailand’s FDA, said offenders had exploited the easier cosmetic registration process instead of seeking drug approval.

“They were promoted as imported products or injectable skin vitamins,” she said. “Using products in ways that differ from their approved purpose is extremely dangerous because they have not undergone safety assessment for injection into the body.”

She urged clinics, hospitals and consumers to scrutinise labels and verify injectable products carefully, warning that products intended for injection are classified as high-risk and must undergo rigorous evaluation for safety, quality and effectiveness.

Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Lt. Gen. Natsak Chewnasai said the operation aimed to prevent potentially serious harm to the public.

“Cosmetics are designed to be applied, not injected,” he said. “Injecting unapproved and non-standard products into the body exposes consumers to risks including bloodstream infections and severe allergic reactions.”

Hylife Developments wins two FIABCI–Thai PRIX D’Excellence awards

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Mc Marketing

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20 May 2026, 16:03

Hylife Group has reinforced its success and commitment to quality by winning two prestigious awards at the “FIABCI – Thai PRIX D’Excellence Awards 2026,” reflecting the company’s dedication to developing residential projects that prioritise design excellence, quality of life, and living standards in every dimension.

Hyparc Residences Hangdong received the award for “Best Spacious Low-Rise Residence,” while Hycondo Iconic was honoured with the “Best Boutique Low-Rise Residence” award during the FIABCI – Thai PRIX D’Excellence Awards 2026 ceremony, which was held on the 16^th of May 2026 at Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok.

Representing the company at the ceremony were Mr. Dhanush R. Nair, Executive Director and Co-Group CEO of Hylife Group, together with the management team, who received the awards from Mr. Voravut Laipoonswat, Deputy Director General of the Department of Lands within the Ministry of Interior in Thailand and Dr. Sopon Pornchokchai, President of FIABCI-Thai, in the presence of leading real estate developers and professionals from across Thailand.

Mr. Dhanush R. Nair stated, “We are truly honoured and proud that both projects developed by Hylife Developments Co., Ltd. have received awards at the FIABCI – Thai PRIX D’Excellence Awards 2026. This achievement is another testament to our team’s dedication to creating projects that go beyond aesthetic appeal by emphasising quality of life, residential experiences, and long-term value for our residents. We will continue to develop projects that meet the evolving lifestyles of the new generation while elevating the standards of the real estate industry in Chiang Mai and Thailand.”

Hyparc Residences Hangdong is a 7-storey low-rise condominium comprising only 41 exclusive units. The project stands out for its spacious living areas, wellness-focused design, and peaceful residential atmosphere, perfectly catering to the lifestyle needs of modern residents. Prices start from THB 4.29 million.*

Meanwhile, Hycondo Iconic is an 8-storey low-rise condominium with 175 units, blending contemporary design with highly functional living spaces tailored for the new generation. The project enjoys a strategic location with convenient access to the Chiang Mai–Lampang Superhighway and is surrounded by comprehensive amenities, including shopping centres, educational institutions, hospitals, and office buildings. Prices start from THB 2.49 million. *

This achievement marks another significant milestone that reflects the vision and commitment of Hylife Developments Co., Ltd. to developing high-quality real estate projects and setting new standards for modern living, addressing lifestyle needs, investment potential, and long-term sustainability for the future.

Aluminium Factory Fire Destroys Myanmar Worker’s Gold and Cash

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Khaosod English

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20 May 2026, 15:36

Aluminium Factory Fire Destroys Myanmar Worker's Gold and Cash

SAMUT SAKHON — A massive fire ripped through an aluminium manufacturing plant in Samut Sakhon province on Wednesday, destroying the life savings of a Myanmar worker who kept gold and cash at his workstation.

At about 10:00 on Wednesday, the radio centre at Krathum Baen Police Station received reports of a fire at an aluminium manufacturing company in Moo 1, Tha Sao subdistrict, Krathum Baen district, Samut Sakhon. More than 10 fire engines from the Tha Sao Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and nearby municipalities responded to the blaze.

Krathum Baen District Chief Phirunrot Nakdontree directed the emergency response as incident commander alongside Krathum Baen police superintendent Pol. Col. Phasapong Monta, Tha Sao SAO president Wallop Thongphat and Deputy Investigating Officer Sub-Lt. Natthiphat Naksang.

The factory, which manufactures steel rebar, aluminium sheets and custom aluminium castings, covers more than 10 rai (16,000 square metres). The industrial complex comprises four warehouse buildings.

The fire broke out in the fourth warehouse at the rear of the compound, an area covering slightly more than one rai used for processing and moulding aluminium sheets. The intense heat caused parts of the roof and structural framework to collapse, damaging machinery and manufacturing equipment. No injuries or deaths were reported.

A Myanmar supervisor at the factory pleaded with firefighters to let him enter the damaged warehouse to search for 10 baht-weight of gold bullion, approximately 152 grammes, and 200,000 baht in cash kept in a bag inside his desk drawer. However, neither the cash nor the gold could be recovered.

Phirunrot ordered the Tha Sao SAO to close the damaged warehouse and designate it a hazardous area off-limits to the public until further notice. He also instructed local authorities to work with forensic experts from the Forensic Science Division and other agencies to investigate the cause of the fire.

A Small Crossing in a Big Fight

Ye Win Oo’s Offensive Momentum

Resistance Signals Continued Fight

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