More than 100 villagers in northeastern Thailand have revived an ancient rain-making ritual, parading Chi and Doraemon dolls instead of real cats around their community as a prolonged dry spell threatens their rice crops. The traditional "Hae Nang Maew" ceremony was held on 4 August 2026 by residents of Khon Chim subdistrict in Waeng Yai district, Khon Kaen province, after the area went without significant rain for more than two months. The lack of rainfall has caused rice plants to wilt, with large areas at risk of dying. Instead of using a live cat, villagers placed Chi and Doraemon dolls inside a cage and carried them through the village in a procession covering more than 3 kilometres.

As part of the traditional ritual, residents splashed water over the dolls while others joined the procession carrying fishing nets, traps, bamboo baskets containing fish and farming equipment, praying for rain to ease the drought. Chaiwat Dokmaingam, chief executive of the Khon Chim Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, said Waeng Yai district had received almost no rainfall this year, apart from occasional light showers that were insufficient for farming. Some farmers have reportedly replanted their rice fields up to three times, but the seeds failed to germinate because the soil lacked moisture and had become hard, preventing the crops from growing.

Authorities had previously requested assistance from the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department, but operations could not be carried out due to unsuitable weather conditions. The district relies heavily on rainfall and has no irrigation system to support farming. The drought comes as several parts of Thailand are experiencing flooding in August. Residents therefore revived the traditional cat parade while also seeking government assistance, hoping that both modern science and traditional beliefs could bring much-needed rain. Water levels in the Chi River near Ban Chi Tha Wang Wern in Non Thong subdistrict have also fallen significantly, with several sections nearly dry. The situation is affecting Waeng Yai and Waeng Noi districts as well as areas bordering Chaiyaphum province.

Although water management projects have been continuously proposed, they remain under development. The area faces a unique situation, with communities near the Chi River frequently experiencing flooding while areas farther away regularly suffer drought. Several districts in Khon Kaen, including Phon, Waeng Noi, Waeng Yai and Chonnabot, as well as parts of Non Sila, continue to face drought despite rainfall and flooding in other parts of the province. The Hae Nang Maew ceremony is an ancient tradition among northeastern Thai communities. According to local belief, villagers parade and perform traditional dances to pray for rain, hoping their pleas will be answered. This year's use of dolls instead of a live cat reflects how the tradition has adapted to modern times while preserving the cultural beliefs.

The Regional Public Relations Office 3 of the Public Relations Department (PRD) organized the “Lanna Soft Power Music Fest” in Chiang Mai to promote Thailand’s music soft power through the disti...

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivered a keynote address at the Indonesia-Thailand Business Forum held this morning at Fairmont Jakarta, titled "Advancing the Indonesia–Thailand Strategic Partnership: Building Integrated Value Chains in Industry, Services, and Halal Economy." The forum was organized by the Thai Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia in partnership with Kadin Indonesia, with participation from Indonesian Commerce Minister Budi Santoso, presidential special envoy Hasim Djojohadikusumo, Thai Chamber of Commerce President Poj Aramwattananont, Bangkok Bank chairman Chatsiri Sophonpanich, and approximately 300 government, private sector, and media representatives.

Anutin proposed elevating Thailand-Indonesia relations from "trading partners" to "co-builders" by linking production, investment, technology, and innovation to create strong value chains and expand economic opportunities across ASEAN. He emphasized that Thailand should serve as a regional manufacturing hub while Indonesia functions as a major market and maritime economic gateway. Following discussions with President Prabowo Subianto, both sides agreed to create concrete opportunities for citizens, business operators, and investors.

With global economic volatility, Anutin stressed that deeper ASEAN economic integration is "not an option but a necessity," with Thailand and Indonesia as key drivers. He noted current bilateral trade reaches nearly $20 billion with a target of $23 billion, and combined populations exceed 350 million. The Prime Minister proposed four strategic cooperation pillars: (1) Food security and halal development of comprehensive halal value chains; (2) Logistics, transport, and digital services including new Bangkok-Jakarta and Phuket-Bali air routes and Thai Lion Air expansion; (3) Finance and digital economy, connecting PromptPay and QRIS payment systems; and (4) Energy and green economy for clean energy and future industries like EV, AI, and data centers.

Anutin concluded that success should be measured not by trade figures alone but by jointly built industries, connected supply chains, and a more competitive ASEAN.

Thai actress Ama Tao (Usa Samakham) appeared at the premiere of "Dear You: A Love Letter to Mom" just one month after undergoing spinal fusion surgery, impressing fans both in Thailand and abroad with her determination. Although her doctor advised complete recovery would take three months, she attended the film launch at SF World Cinema to appeal to Thai audiences for support in reaching ten-figure box office revenue—matching Chinese market performance. "Please help us," she urged fans. "Don't let Thailand lose to other countries. China has earned so much already, but for Thailand, I just hope we can at least match China's numbers."

When asked about her health, Ama disclosed that she currently injects medication into her abdomen daily for the next six months to strengthen her weakened bones, and must observe strict precautions: no bending, no lifting heavy objects, and no falling, given her severe osteoporosis. Her doctors installed four titanium rods in her spine to stabilize the collapsed vertebrae. "It's taken some mental adjustment to self-inject daily, like a diabetic patient," she explained, "but I'm committed to following doctors' orders."

The actress expressed deep pride and gratitude that at 80 years old, she can still contribute meaningfully to cinema and bring joy to audiences. "Dear You" marks only her second major film role—her first was "Grandma's Grandson"—though she has appeared in various smaller television series. When asked if this represents the peak of her acting career, she reflected, "I don't know how far my body can carry me at this age, especially with my recent spine surgery. But if there are roles, I'll take them. I'm grateful that even at my age, I can still be useful."

Sansiri is aggressively targeting the young family market by partnering with PASS Education, experts in child learning and development and owners of Thailand's number-one bestselling illustrated storybook series "Pong Pang–Ping Ping." The company has launched a campaign communicating the concept of "home" as a space for learning and developing life skills in children aged 0-6 years, addressing insights from modern parents who view buying a home as a long-term investment in their children's futures. The initiative pairs this messaging with promotional discounts on single houses, townhomes, and condominiums of up to 2 million baht.

Today's young families purchasing homes consider far more than just usable space or room count. They prioritize environments that promote learning, skill development, and quality of life for all family members, especially during the critical 0-6 year developmental period. Based on consumer behavior research, Sansiri has identified three essential housing components for families with young children: safe spaces that encourage learning (Space to Grow, Safe to Explore), community and green areas that foster collaborative learning (Neighbour & Green Community), and location that reduces travel time and increases family quality time (Time & Location).

Sansiri believes modern home design must transcend traditional residential planning and instead create living experiences that enable children to learn from their surroundings—their home, nature, people, and community—fostering long-term child development. Acting on this vision, Sansiri collaborated with PASS Education to develop two illustrated storybooks: "Pong Pang Visits Aom House," which conveys learning through single houses, green gardens, playgrounds, and living harmoniously with nature while promoting sharing and reducing food waste, and "Zub! Zub! Ping Ping," which portrays condominium living through lessons on manners, shared spaces, and community rules to instill social coexistence.

Sriamapai Rattanmayur, head of marketing at Sansiri, noted that modern parents are not simply choosing homes for shelter—they are investing in their family's future, recognizing that every element of a home, from interior spaces to green areas to neighbors to location, impacts child development at every stage. The challenge for today's real estate developers extends beyond building quality homes or striking designs; they must create living experiences that allow children to learn, explore the world, and spend quality time with family. Children learn more from what they observe and experience in daily life than from the house itself. The partnership with PASS Education amplifies this philosophy through the beloved "Pong Pang–Ping Ping" series, helping parents recognize that their child's learning can begin with small moments at home and connecting the brand's vision to consumers through media familiar to children and families.