Democratic Party deputy leader Chai Chana Detchdetcho announced on May 22, 2025, that the party's volunteer legal clinic received complaints about a Chinese gray-market group holding foreign passports who cannot return to China and have set up businesses in Thailand. The group operates multiple money-laundering fronts including restaurants, entertainment venues, noodle shops, KTV bars, and luxury karaoke lounges on Ratchada Road and in the Meng Chai and RCA areas, as well as a supermarket. These establishments belong to the Chinese group but are registered under Thai nominees, locally called "straw men." They employed a Thai man with the initials R. (nicknamed Ruea) to register the businesses and hold shares on their behalf. The businesses report revenues of 30-100 million baht despite insufficient investment, and the entertainment venues operate without proper licenses, staying open until dawn with drug use occurring inside.

The Chinese gray-market group members own luxury homes in upscale suburban areas and maintain a "straw man network." The straw man network leader, R. Ruea, was previously arrested in 2020 for illegally crossing into Cambodia. He was formerly based in Bangkok but currently resides in Nonthaburi Province. Chai Chana revealed the straw man network structure, showing how R. Ruea owns the operation while accounting staff manages funds and others hold assets. R. Ruea has placed vehicles and land with friends, and property with his parents. He registered companies but never filed financial statements, as has his mother. The group reportedly owns luxury homes valued at 20 million baht in Nonthaburi. Chai Chana said he will forward all evidence to Phitthak Detcha, a Democratic Party MP and chairman of the parliamentary anti-money laundering and drug trafficking committee, to coordinate law enforcement action.

Chairman Detcha stated that R. Ruea, approximately 30 years old, is uninvolved in politics, while the straw man network manager also faced similar charges. He noted the Prime Minister has ordered provincial police commanders and governors to strictly suppress such operations. As a legislator, Chai Chana pledged to closely monitor the case, emphasizing that without stopping scammer gangs, Thai society will continue facing serious crime problems.

Chairman Detcha also noted that the Chinese gray-market group modified KTV buildings, dividing them into private bar-like rooms where drugs are used, with construction costs exceeding 20 million baht. The group targets commercial buildings and converts them into small bars with illegal activities. He questioned whether Bangkok authorities, particularly former Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, knew about the structural modifications and whether inspection teams verified if these venues complied with Bangkok regulations.

On May 22, the Thai Professional Qualification Institute (TPQI), Sukhothai Thammathirat University (STOU), and the Thai MOOC project announced a significant collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding to enhance workforce capabilities through an intelligent platform. The initiative focuses on professional standard certification and credit accumulation through both Credit Bank and Competency Credit Bank systems to support sustainable lifelong learning.

The academic cooperation signing ceremony was presided over by Dr. Wannee Nonthasiri, Inspector-General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. Leaders from all three organizations signed the MOU and participated in a panel discussion on directions and mechanisms for promoting lifelong learning and workforce development under the concept "STOU FOR ALL—One Worker, One Learning Opportunity."

Ms. Chullada Mejul, Director of TPQI, revealed that the core objective of this collaboration is to implement a professional qualification system as the primary mechanism for developing workers. TPQI will support the integration of professional standards with STOU's curricula, ensuring learners receive not only academic knowledge but also professional competency certification recognized by employers through the E-Workforce Ecosystem (EWE) Platform—the central hub for managing Thailand's workforce data.

The collaboration encompasses three main components: credential linkage that enables workers to convert work experience into professional and academic qualifications; a Competency Credit Bank system promoting skill-based credit accumulation for career advancement; and digital learning innovation that integrates TPQI's E-Training system with Thai MOOC and STOU to provide accessible reskilling and upskilling opportunities anytime, anywhere.

Prof. Dr. Jintavee Khlai Sangkha, Director of the Thai MOOC project, stated that Thai MOOC aims to serve as a bridge through the ThaiD system to develop people of all ages with lifelong learning opportunities in both academic and professional fields. He noted that STOU's pilot contribution of 75 courses to Thai MOOC exemplifies institutional commitment to data sharing.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Taweewat Wattanakulchaiyaporn, Rector of STOU, added that the collaboration with TPQI will enable the university to address market demands by producing workers with skills aligned to labor market needs, leveraging Thai MOOC's innovative learning approaches to enhance Thailand's workforce competitiveness on the global stage.

G&LDH is advancing the CLOUD DREAM project to push seven Thai-Japanese artists onto the world stage, with their stories being told through an exclusive Documentary Series. Following GMM Music's partnership with LDH Japan to launch the cross-border "CLOUD DREAM project" under G&LDH, the time has come to unveil the opening chapter of the Documentary Series EP.1, featuring the first meeting of all seven artists.

The seven Thai-Japanese members include three Thai artists leading the charge: LOUIS (Thanawin Teeraphosukarn), FORD (Allan Asawasuebsakul), and FLUKE (Nattanon Tongsaeng) from FLIO, alongside four members from WOLF HOWL HARMONY from EXILE TRIBE: RYOJI, SUZUKI, GHEE, and HIROTO.

They will reveal their identities, dreams, and individual journeys through their first training session together, navigating excitement and challenges as they work toward a shared goal of becoming global-level artists. The documentary is directed by acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter Mook Piyakant Butpreserth in her first directorial effort for a documentary series, bringing viewers close to every moment of the seven artists' journey—from their first meeting through training, adaptation, and the growing relationships and friendships that gradually transform them into one unified team.

The Documentary Series will expose every thought, emotion, and behind-the-scenes moment of all seven members in a perspective never seen before. FORD expressed anxiety, saying "I'm very stressed because I don't want to be a weak point for the team." GHEE shared their uncertainty: "We're still not confident about how much support we'll receive." LOUIS spoke about teamwork, noting "This project requires people who are ready to lead, ready to follow, and truly ready to listen to each other—and we can do that." SUZUKI revealed his motivation: "Because I received encouragement from all our LOVERED fans, I've had the courage to challenge myself until now."

Amid their differences, pressures, and shared dreams, how will these seven artists overcome everything and become one unified team?

The Documentary Series "CLOUD DREAM project by G&LDH," a collaboration between GMM MUSIC and LDH JAPAN, consists of eight episodes airing every Thursday on GMMTV Official YouTube channel at 7:00 PM (https://youtu.be/HawikuD4Xcs) and available for replay on WeTV at 10:00 PM (https://bit.ly/CloudDreamproject). The first episode aired on Thursday, May 21, 2025. Follow all G&LDH updates across official social media channels: Instagram @gldhofficial, X @GLDHofficial, and TikTok @gldhofficial.

On May 21, 2025, Nathapol Towijakshaichakul, a Democrat Party MP from Chiang Mai, posted on Facebook about the parliamentary budget oversight committee meeting, saying tensions already ran high at the first session. The committee examined the Digital Economy and Social Development Fund (DE Fund), which has 7,906.82 billion baht allocated for various projects in the current fiscal year.

Nathapol pointed out that this money is off-budget, meaning it bypasses normal budget approval processes and doesn't require Cabinet, House, or Senate approval. Instead, it operates under specific legislation allowing the agency to maintain its own fund for flexibility, with spending authority resting solely with an appointed committee as specified in the law.

Nathapol noted that similar off-budget funds exist throughout Thailand with minimal or virtually no political oversight, as laws don't mandate sufficient accountability. He emphasized that examining these off-budget funds—which collectively exceed the entire national budget—is a priority for his committee, aiming to bring transparency to spending that citizens have no visibility into.

He cited a recent example: a Generative AI project providing free access to 5 million Thais for one year, valued at 1.6 billion baht, which has already been launched and contracted without any Cabinet review—something that would normally be required for projects exceeding 1 billion baht using regular budget funds.

Meanwhile, Pol. Lt. Thirawat Panyathamkul, a former Democrat Party list candidate and husband of Sasininun Thammanitin, a Bangkok MP for the Democrat Party, commented: "It's unbelievable that those who've wronged others still dare to stand in society," before deleting the remark.

Actor Nattachon Kookimiya and his beloved wife Yaya Urasaya hosted an intimate boat party filled with love and celebration before their second wedding ceremony in Norway. The warm atmosphere was brimming with affection and joy as guests cheered throughout the evening.

Following their sweet traditional wedding ceremony at the groom's family home in Khon Kaen province, the couple is now preparing for their second wedding in Norway.

The pre-wedding boat party brought together family members and close friends, including fellow actors, actresses, and friends outside the entertainment industry, all enjoying a romantic atmosphere on the water.

Nattachon's manager shared photos with a caption stating: "Pre-wedding boat party with a wonderful atmosphere filled with love and happiness throughout. Honored to witness this special occasion."

Similarly, Yaya's mother posted photos with her son-in-law and daughter aboard the beautifully decorated boat. Friends also shared sweet video moments of the newlyweds kissing, creating scenes as romantic as those from a television drama, all amid cheering and celebration on the boat.

A foreign blonde tourist sparked outrage after stripping naked and posing for photographs on a tree branch near a rocky area close to Khlim Beach in Phuket on May 22, 2025. The woman struck modeling-style poses while her companion photographed her in full view of beach-goers and local fishermen in the area, showing no concern for the watching crowds. The Phuket Times Facebook page later shared additional images in the comments showing the woman posing nude on an overhanging branch among the rocks, with her friend taking photos while people looked on, triggering a wave of public criticism.

Following the post's spread on social media, numerous users took to the comments with sarcastic remarks. Comments included jibes such as "my friend was sitting with his fishing line for hours and still hadn't finished," "the photos aren't even clear, go take a photography course again," "don't censor it admin, send it in the chat," "she went to shoo monkeys because monkeys fear fish paste smell," "watch out the line won't get caught," and jokes about why the fish weren't biting the line, with commenters claiming they now understood the reason.