The Cabinet has approved the Thailand Helping Thailand Plus program, a cost-of-living relief measure for 2025 with a budget cap of 175,718.66 million baht under a 200 billion baht loan framework. Registration opens through the Pao Tang app from May 25-29, 2025 between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM to receive a total of 4,000 baht distributed at 1,000 baht per month for four months.

The program covers 30 million ordinary citizens under a 60-40 cost-sharing model where the government covers 60% and citizens contribute 40% of expenses to access the benefit. Once registered and identity verified, citizens can use the benefit from June 1 to September 30 at participating merchants only, with a daily government subsidy cap of 200 baht.

An additional 13.18 million state welfare cardholders will automatically receive increased benefits totaling 1,000 baht monthly between June and September under the same terms.

A key condition is that each person can only receive one benefit and cannot use it in duplicate with the state welfare card. Unused portions of the allowance within a month cannot be carried over to the following month.

The program aims to help citizens and small business operators cope with the cost-of-living crisis driven by rising energy costs that have inflated goods and service prices. By providing timely relief across both target groups, the government seeks to prevent purchasing power from contracting further.

The initiative also supports small retailers nationwide impacted by rising costs, helping them sustain operations while learning digital commerce and AI systems. Previously participating merchants in the People First Plus program can confirm their eligibility through the Tung Ngoen app from May 25 to September 30. New merchants can register at Bangkok Bank branches from May 25 to July 31.

Building on previous government programs, this is a short-term relief measure requiring complementary policies to sustainably improve living standards and foster genuine self-reliance among citizens.

Bruno Fernandes, the midfielder for Manchester United, has been voted the Premier League Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season following an exceptional performance. This marks the first Manchester United player to win the award in 15 years, since Nemanja Vidic's win in the 2010-11 season.

Fernandes stood out this season with 20 Premier League assists, equaling the single-season assist record previously held by Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20.

Fernandes edged out other nominees including Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes, David Raya, and Declan Rice; Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo; Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White; and Brentford's Igor Thiago.

Fernandes is now the seventh Manchester United player to win this award. He has also previously received the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award and Manchester United's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award this season.

When people think of "the most narcissistic country in the world," most assume it's the United States, given its emphasis on individualism and personal expression. However, a major study from Michigan State University that surveyed over 45,000 people across 53 countries found that America is not actually the most narcissistic nation.

The research, published in the journal Self and Identity and covered by media outlets including BBC Science Focus Magazine, examined how culture, gender, age, and social status influence narcissism levels.

The top 5 most narcissistic countries are: - Germany - Iraq - China - Nepal - South Korea

The 5 least narcissistic countries are: - Serbia - Ireland - United Kingdom - Netherlands - Denmark

America's ranking was surprising because previous research estimated that about 20% of Americans have narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), leading to the perception of American society as inherently self-centered. This new study shows that while the U.S. ranks relatively high, it falls far short of the top positions.

Lead researcher William Chopik, a personality psychologist, acknowledged that these results contradicted previous psychological assumptions. Researchers expected that countries with collectivist cultures emphasizing cooperation and social hierarchy would show lower narcissism levels, but the opposite proved true. Researchers theorize that some collectivist societies place such high importance on social status, peer evaluation, and hierarchy that they may actually encourage narcissistic tendencies.

The study distinguishes between two types of narcissism:

"Admiration" narcissism—seeking admiration, self-confidence, boasting, and emphasizing personal achievement

"Rivalry" narcissism—high defensiveness, easy hostility, and disdain for others

Key findings about narcissism levels:

Younger people tend to score higher in narcissism than older people. However, this isn't necessarily negative, as youth is a period of identity formation, competition, and achievement-seeking. Self-confidence and self-focus can be survival strategies in social competition.

Men score higher on average than women, possibly reflecting social values that emphasize men being leaders, competitive, and strong—traits that overlap with narcissistic personality.

People who view themselves as having high social status, good income, or receiving respect tend to score higher in narcissism, likely because they seek power and status more intensely, or believe they deserve special privileges and admiration.

Researchers emphasize that narcissism doesn't always equal mental illness. Psychologists generally view narcissism as a spectrum. Moderate levels may build confidence and motivation, but when extreme—lacking empathy for others and damaging relationships or functioning—it becomes true narcissistic personality disorder.

The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts continued heavy rainfall across the northern, eastern, and southern regions over the next 24 hours as the southwest monsoon maintains moderate strength over the upper Andaman Sea and Thailand. Combined with southerly and southeasterly winds drawing moisture from the South China Sea into northern Thailand, and a low-pressure system over northern Vietnam and southern China, conditions favor heavy downpours. The public is warned to be vigilant about dangers from heavy and accumulated rainfall that could trigger sudden flash floods and flooding, especially in mountainous terrain near waterways and in low-lying areas. People should also take care of their health during this period of changing weather conditions.

Maritime conditions in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand are moderately rough, with waves reaching approximately 2 meters in the upper Andaman Sea and 1-2 meters in the lower Andaman Sea and upper Gulf. Areas experiencing thunderstorms may see waves exceeding 2 meters. Sailors are advised to navigate with caution and avoid areas with thunderstorms.

Weather Forecast for Thailand (6:00 PM today to 6:00 PM tomorrow):

Northern Region: Thunderstorms affecting 60% of the area with heavy rainfall in places around Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, and Phetchabun provinces. Low 23-25°C, high 33-36°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/h.

Northeast Region: Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area, mainly around Loei, Nong Khai, Chaiyaphum, and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces. Low 24-26°C, high 34-36°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/h.

Central Region: Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area, mostly around Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, and Ayutthaya provinces. Low 24-26°C, high 34-36°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/h.

Eastern Region: Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area with heavy rainfall in places around Nakhon Nayok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chachoengsao, and Trat provinces. Low 25-27°C, high 31-35°C. Southwest winds 15-35 km/h. Seas with waves 1-2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Southern Region (Eastern Coast): Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area, mainly around Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces. Low 24-26°C, high 34-37°C. Southwest winds 15-35 km/h. Coastal waves 1 meter, 1-2 meters offshore, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Southern Region (Western Coast): Thunderstorms affecting 60% of the area with heavy rainfall in places around Ranong, Phang Nga, and Phuket provinces. Low 24-26°C, high 32-36°C. From Phang Nga northward: southwest winds 20-35 km/h with waves approximately 2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas. From Phuket southward: southwest winds 15-35 km/h with waves 1-2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Bangkok and Vicinity: Thunderstorms affecting 60% of the area. Low 25-27°C.

On May 23, 2025, Yosachanan Wongsawat, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, chaired the 4th steering committee meeting of the Office of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Council (SOAWC) at the SOAWC headquarters with both in-person and online participation. Director Surachai Statkunarat served as committee member and secretary.

Yosachanan stated that the government is accelerating efforts to strengthen coordination and unity in work related to the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council across both higher education and science, technology, research and innovation (STRI) sectors. Thailand possesses substantial knowledge, research work, and potential from various fund management units (PMUs) and universities, but has lacked strategic integration. He emphasized the need to consolidate this knowledge into important national clusters to create new industries and develop future human resources that address global changes.

"What we are doing is linking mechanisms of SOAWC, PMUs, universities, and the private sector to create a new Growth Engine for the country. Each organization has its own data and strengths, so we should consolidate and categorize research results by topic areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology (Biotech), and advanced medicine to mobilize knowledge for analyzing needs in human resource development and STRI investment, and to reflect the country's true requirements," Yosachanan said.

Yosachanan also discussed the necessity of increasing the country's research and development (R&D) investment, proposing cooperation with the Board of Investment (BOI) to address constraints in accessing large-scale research funding. He suggested studying global fund models and investments such as Singapore's Temasek to develop measures attracting advanced technology and innovation investments to Thailand. National-level challenges including industrial transition, environmental crisis, and PM2.5 problems require large-scale investment and collaboration from government, private sector, and major investors to build new competitive capabilities.

"If Thailand can drive STRI investment to the 20,000 million baht target, it will be a crucial turning point for enhancing competitive capability and creating a new economic foundation for the country in the long term. We will move forward and study feasibility with BOI concretely," Yosachanan said.

Surachai briefed the SOAWC steering committee and presented an overview of SOAWC missions and major projects for 2025, including STRI system reform and the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy and Strategy Framework 2014-2018, advancement of Thailand's future through agricultural and food technology, implementation of systematic measures and benefits for working-age human resource development, establishment of Thailand Foresight Alliance network partnership, mechanisms to accelerate SME transition to innovation-driven enterprises (IDE), the Social Innovation Policy Framework, and development of Regenerative Tourism innovation policy to promote community-based tourism.

Prime Minister Anusit Chanyaveerakul has adopted a distinctive response pattern when facing various criticisms, typically dismissing critics as lacking knowledge and government management experience. This approach has surfaced regarding the 400 billion baht emergency loan decree, where the first 200 billion was allocated for relief under the "Thai Helping Thai" program. However, opposition investigation revealed that 180 billion baht within the details was designated for the Pracharath Fund to finance the poor citizens card—raising questions about whether such funding should come from regular budgets rather than emergency loans justified by urgent necessity, clearly violating financial discipline standards. Were another government facing complaints to independent agencies, they would likely face serious scrutiny and risk removal from office, as has repeatedly occurred. Yet for this government, Prime Minister Anusit countered by framing it as a matter of experienced practitioners versus inexperienced critics, insisting the 5-page 400 billion baht loan request reflects efficiency. However, society awaits clarification because this 400 billion baht loan will ultimately be repaid not by Anusit or the cabinet, but by Thai citizens nationwide, making expectations for transparent and efficient fund management entirely reasonable. Subsequently, nine advisors met with the Prime Minister regarding disaster prevention coordination with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, which drew criticism from the Democrat Party regarding democratic principles with the monarchy as head of state. This prompted a heated rebuttal from Prime Minister Anusit, stating: "You don't even know how to manage a country, yet you dare criticize? This shows your lack of wisdom and maturity." This reflects confidence in 'country management' through 'Anusit style'—the belief that this is the correct and appropriate approach. Notably, whether this represents the secret to stable country governance remains to be seen. We'll have to watch and wait.