Thai-Norwegian racing driver Sandy Kraakiaew Stuvik, competing under Ford Thailand Racing (FTR), Thailand's first team of its kind, is prepared to take on the country's largest annual motorsports competition, the Thailand Super Series (TSS), in the Super Pickup class. For the 2026 season, Sandy has set his sights on winning the annual championship alongside his team while delivering pride and excitement to motorsports fans.

The year 2026 marks a crucial turning point for FTR as the team significantly expands its roster to strengthen its competitive grid. This season, Sandy will join YK Motorsports, a vehicle development team, to spearhead development of the team's new racing project.

Under this new partnership, Sandy will race a Ford Ranger single-cab with a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine in the Super Pickup class, which has become one of the most fiercely competitive divisions in the series. This year, 39 vehicles are entered in the competition, making it a speed battle where even a single second's mistake cannot be afforded.

Moving to YK Motorsports represents not just a new opportunity but also comes with significant challenges, as the team must rapidly build and develop an entirely new racing package within a limited timeframe before the season opener at Chang International Circuit in Buriram Province on May 22-24. Having just claimed victory in the final race of the 2025 season, Sandy is confident heading into competition, though he remains vigilant about the increasingly intense competition year after year.

Sandy stated: "I'm very pleased to work with Ford Thailand Racing again, marking our seventh season together. This year presents another major challenge with the new vehicle development team. We're working together to fine-tune our new racing car, and although time is somewhat limited, I'm ready to give my all to push the team forward into contention and fight for our ultimate goal of winning this year's championship."

The Thailand Super Series 2026 season opener will ignite excitement from May 21-24 at Chang International Circuit in Buriram Province. Motorsports fans cannot miss a blink, as Sandy's new team debut could become one of the season's most significant highlights.

Abbot Thruad expressed devastation over the systematic theft of Buddha images stripped of their brass ornaments throughout the temple, describing the violation as deeply wounding. The abbot suspects an insider—possibly a temple youth—after police found brass pieces that the youth claimed the abbot had given him, raising questions about how stolen sacred items ended up being removed at night.

On May 14, residents near Wat Tham Kunchon Ratkit in Nong Krathum, Pak Tho district, Ratchaburi province, reported a major theft. The hillside temple, which houses only three resident monks, suffered extensive losses including all brass crowns from over 10 Buddha images, three historically significant Buddha Chinaraj images, a small brass Buddha figure, the large brass replica Buddha footprint from the cave meditation chamber, electrical panels, plugs, two air conditioning units, ceiling fans, wiring, and surveillance cameras. Brass water faucets were also stripped out.

Abbot Phaanuphong Phurinyano revealed the thefts occurred gradually—first the air conditioners were removed, then fans, wiring, and water faucets. The most heartbreaking loss was the large brass replica Buddha footprint housed in the cave, constructed over 10 years ago with donations from devoted supporters. The abbot believes thieves cut it into pieces to sell incrementally, as removing it whole would be impossible.

The primary suspect is a temple youth who was caught with two brass pieces claimed to be gifts from the abbot. When police inquired, the abbot realized these pieces were from the stolen footprint. The suspect claimed to have caught the thief himself, but the abbot questions why he then took items away at night. The abbot did not reprimand him, leaving the matter to police investigation and legal proceedings.

Police have apprehended the suspect in a theft at Wat Nang Phraya temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. A well-dressed man driving a sedan broke into the temple's Buddha hall and stole a ceremonial sword of King Taksin and a brown crystal ball of Jatukam Rammathep. Security cameras captured the incident clearly.

On May 14, 2026, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat police identified the suspect as Associate Professor Parinnya (surname withheld), age 40, from a prestigious university. Police tracked him to his residence in Ron Phibun district. The suspect's parents stated their son suffers from accumulated mental health conditions caused by family problems and is currently receiving hospital treatment. Regarding the stolen sword, Parinnya claimed he acted without conscious awareness.

During police questioning, Parinnya became agitated and verbally abused the temple abbot in front of officers. Police immediately placed him under custody and transported him to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation before proceeding with legal action.

The Digital Economy and Society Ministry's Anti-Fake News Center addressed a widely-shared message claiming "a 3-minute shower is enough, no need for 30 minutes," confirming it as misinformation. According to the Public Health Ministry's investigation, while excessively long showers (30 minutes) do damage skin by destroying natural oils and causing dryness and irritation, showers that are too brief (3 minutes) may not provide thorough body cleansing, especially if heavily soiled. Most experts recommend bathing for approximately 5-10 minutes, striking a balance between maintaining cleanliness and protecting skin health.

Dermatological and preventive medicine research supports these findings: water exposure or prolonged water contact exceeding 15-20 minutes, particularly with warm water, dissolves the lipid barrier that protects skin, resulting in xerosis (dry skin) and potentially triggering inflammatory skin conditions. The ideal shower duration to maintain skin moisture is no more than 10 minutes using normal or warm—not hot—water. Effective cleansing requires sufficient time to thoroughly lather and remove bacteria and accumulated dirt, typically requiring at least 5 minutes. A 3-minute shower may reduce cleaning effectiveness in certain body areas.

On May 14, 2025, the Sawang Ariyadej Radio Rescue Center in Nakhon Nayok received a report of an aggressive king cobra nesting in a bamboo grove beside the home of Supchai Ketruangrojn (house number 3-452). The discovery was made when construction workers hired to renovate and paint the house began cutting bamboo nearby to build a painting station. The workers found the large cobra in an aggressive state, brooding eggs inside a burrow in the bamboo grove, and immediately alerted the homeowner to call rescue services.

When rescue officers arrived at the scene, they found the cobra's head protruding from the burrow opening as it brooded its eggs. After using a bamboo pole to probe the hole, the cobra retreated deeper underground. Officers then widened the burrow opening with a shovel and discovered four cobra eggs, which they carefully extracted and placed on the ground.

To extract the snake itself, rescuers sprayed mosquito repellent into the burrow, which was approximately 5 meters deep. The pungent odor drove the cobra to emerge from the hole, allowing rescue officers to successfully capture it using tongs and place it in a fertilizer bag.

The cobra measured 3 meters in length and weighed approximately 20 kilograms. The captured snake was subsequently released in a natural habitat. Afterward, workers gave journalists a tour of the house address to check nearby lottery numbers ahead of the upcoming drawing.

The Royal Irrigation Department is actively removing aquatic weeds and obstructions from rivers and canals to improve water flow and distribution. The department is installing supplementary water pumps to strengthen water management capacity during the dry season across various regions, supporting efficient water delivery to agricultural areas within irrigation zones so farmers have adequate and sufficient water supply. The department is also upgrading water management in irrigation systems to handle both the upcoming dry and rainy seasons. This initiative follows orders from Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who has directed all national irrigation projects to continuously inspect and remove water obstructions according to the 2569 rainy season water management strategy, with the goal of preventing and mitigating water-related disasters for the public.

Weed Removal Operations Phlai Chumpol Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - PR.-72.5R-1.2R (C-36) Canal, Sanam Khli Subdistrict, Bang Krathuem District, Phichit Province Phal Thep Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - Water hyacinth collection area near Khlong Khud Lat Cut, Had Tha Sao Subdistrict, Muang Chai Nat District, Chai Nat Province Chao Phraya Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - Chao Phraya Dam area, Taluk Subdistrict, Saen Phra District, Chai Nat Province Chong Kaew Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - Water Supply Canal 17 Right, km 0+790, Phu Ka Subdistrict, Ban Mi District, Lopburi Province Mechanical Equipment, Irrigation Office 10 - Drainage canal in Irrigation Office 10, Khao Phra Ngam Subdistrict, Muang District, Lopburi Province Chanasut Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - Lam Sanun Natural Canal, Samko Subdistrict, Samko District, Ang Thong Province Mae Nam Noi 2 Large Drainage Canal area, Thap Ya Subdistrict, In Buri District, Sing Buri Province Rangsit South Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - Khlong Hok Wat Lower Canal, Phuet Udom Subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province Samut Sakhon Irrigation Project - Embankment near Chao Phraya Father City Pillar Shrine and Mahachai-Chalom Ferry Pier, Muang Samut Sakhon District Nakhon Si Thammarat Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - 1L-4R-LMC Water Supply Canal, Khlong Tha Di Weir, Na Khian Subdistrict, Muang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Water Pump Installation Operations Chanasut Water Distribution and Maintenance Project - Water Supply Canals 1 Left, 3 Left, 5 Left, 1 Right, Moo 3, Nong Maeh Gai Subdistrict, Phi Thong District, Ang Thong Province Irrigation Office 9 - Areas Moo 1, 2, and 8, Thong Lang Subdistrict, Ban Na District, Nakhon Nayok Province

The Royal Irrigation Department continues to manage water resources and distribute water for domestic consumption and agricultural areas as needed, proportional to water availability. The department is also preparing for the rainy season expected in the coming days. Citizens and organizations needing assistance can contact their local irrigation project or call the Royal Irrigation Department hotline at 1460.