The 2026 Asian Taekwondo Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia wrapped up on May 24, with the top eight finalists earning spots at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya-Aichi, Japan. Thailand's five-member team included world and Southeast Asian Games champion Yu Balangk in the men's 68kg category, who defeated Iran 2-0 in the round of 16 (6-0, 3-2) but fell to China's Chen Youtan 1-2 in the bronze medal round (6-4, 3-12, 4-4 on points). Despite the loss, Balangk secured his Asian Games qualification. Teammate Biu Thanapoom Fueang-noi, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in the 63kg class, lost in the round of 16 to Uzbekistan's Tukuliboyev Diyorbek 1-2 (12-8, 5-11, 4-5). In the women's 62kg, former champion Bai Tey Sasisakhan fell to Iran's Valine Yalda (2-8, 8-8, 12-14) in the round of 16. Kanom Jib Natthakamol Watstana (57kg) defeated Vietnam's Cham Nkok Pham 2-0 in round one but lost to Olympic and former champion Kim Yu-jin of South Korea 0-2 (5-11, 5-15). Tamang Thanathor Saejor (80kg) fell to Jordan's Mohammad Aladdarbi 0-2 (5-8, 0-12). Thailand's taekwondo team finished with one silver medal and qualified four athletes for the Asian Games across the 49kg women's, 58kg, 68kg, and 80kg men's divisions. Head coach Chatchai Che expressed disappointment with the single silver medal, pledging renewed training for Asian Games gold.

Police from Khao Kho Station in Phetchabun have earned praise for using a patrol vehicle to transport a homeless man with mental health issues approximately 250 kilometers to his home in Na Dua District, Loei Province, reuniting him with his family who had been searching for him for over a month. The round trip totaled nearly 500 kilometers.

On May 24, Lieutenant Narint Srimorkan, deputy superintendent of Khao Kho Police Station, explained that while he and Sergeant Piyapong Sao Thang were conducting road patrols on the Sadet Phong-Khao Kho route, they found a man walking along the roadside. Upon questioning, the man appeared disoriented and incoherent. Officers checked his ID and identified him as Wimon Phan Kham, 53 years old, from Na Dok Kam Subdistrict, Chiang Yuen District, Loei Province.

After reporting to Superintendent Boonthung Mueangsaeng and conducting a family search, they found contact information for his relatives. However, the family indicated they were unable to retrieve him at that time. The superintendent authorized officers to transport the man home, citing concerns about a stranger's presence in the area and potential safety risks to the community and the man himself.

Lieutenants Wallachai Buajunthon and Sergeant Piyapong Sao Thang accompanied the man on the 250-kilometer journey to his home. They discovered that Wimon lived with his sister and suffered from mental illness, frequently wandering away. He had gone missing at the beginning of the month, and his relatives had been searching extensively without success.

Officers instructed the family to ensure Wimon takes prescribed medication and receives close supervision to prevent him from becoming lost again, which could endanger him.

On May 24, 2025, police under the command of Pol. Maj. Gen. Tatsaphumi Charupratya, head of the Police Central Investigation Bureau's Anti-Loan Sharking Division, directed officers to arrest Thanaphat (19), Wanchai (28), Kittipong (44), and Rathaphoomi (19) on charges of operating an unlicensed personal lending business and charging interest rates exceeding legal limits.

The investigation began in early May when the Anti-Loan Sharking Center received complaints about an operation running through a Line application account called "Big Jack 777" that charged excessive interest and intimidated borrowers. Evidence collected at a townhouse in Bangkok's Min Buri district included 12 mobile phones, computers, tablets, 71 business cards, 17 loan agreement documents, and two motorcycle helmets.

Victims primarily discovered the loans through a Facebook page before contacting the Line account. Most borrowers were small business owners facing cash flow problems with limited access to formal lending. The approval process was simple—requiring no identity verification or guarantor—with cash delivered directly to borrowers' homes.

Interest rates started at 20% per 24 days, equating to 626% annually, but later increased to 3,000% per year. When borrowers couldn't pay, the gang sent intimidators wearing motorcycle helmets to write threatening messages on homes and workplaces, scattering flyers and shouting the borrower's name to create fear.

Investigators found the gang had approximately 50-60 borrowers with over 10 million baht in circulation. Officers recovered videos showing gang members training new recruits in debt collection tactics and distributing flyers throughout Min Buri and nearby areas at night. All four suspects confessed to the charges. Thanaphat handled client communications while the others distributed flyers and conducted debt collection. Police are pursuing the larger financial backers behind the operation.

Driving the 'Digital-Green-Silver' Economy and Strengthening SME Online Market Channels

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthammapanthu held bilateral discussions with Chinese Deputy Prime Minister He Lifeng on May 23, 2025, during the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Suzhou, China.

Supachai stated that relations between the two countries continue to strengthen steadily. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations, and was highlighted by an official state visit by the Thai King and Queen in November 2024. She expressed appreciation for President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people for their warm reception.

Thailand also praised China's latest national economic and social development plan, which emphasizes digital and green economy initiatives leading to high-quality development through technology and innovation in manufacturing advancement. This aligns with Thailand's development strategy aimed at increasing product value and strengthening national competitiveness.

Supachai presented a pilot project proposal for bilateral cooperation to elevate Thai products to 'high-quality' or 'premium' status for export to the Chinese market, benefiting both nations. Thailand's existing high-quality agricultural raw materials would be processed using Chinese technology and innovation to reach modern consumers in China and worldwide. Initial pilot product categories include functional foods and age-friendly products, aligning with China's Silver Economy focus. This co-creation approach would strengthen Thailand's food security foundation, particularly for agricultural products like fruits, while expanding to global markets.

Supachai also requested that Chinese investors in Thailand increase their use of local resources in production processes, promoting manufacturing and investment cooperation between the two countries while enabling export to global markets—a win-win solution. If successful, this pilot model could become a 'success model' for expanding to other products in the future.

Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of promoting SME roles and proposed enhanced standards and product inspection procedures. This would prevent negative impact from Chinese imports on Thai SMEs while enabling Thai SME products to access the Chinese market. Supachai requested Chinese Deputy PM's support in promoting trade channels for Thai SMEs through establishing a 'Thai National Pavilion' on major Chinese online platforms, enhancing Thai entrepreneurs' access to the Chinese market.

"Today's proposal to China addresses both countries' interests and represents true Win-Win cooperation," Supachai stated, noting that the Chinese Deputy PM agreed and both sides assigned working teams to advance the initiative.

Turkish man found dead after swallowing drug capsules to avoid detectionLegacyA Turkish man was found dead in a hotel room in Samut Prakan yesterday, May 23, after allegedly swallowing more than 50 capsules suspected to contain illegal drugs to avoid detection. Police and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers were called to the hotel in Racha Thewa subdistrict, Bang Phli district, after receiving reports of a foreign man found dead inside a room. The man, identified only as 24 year old Bapan, was found sitting against the edge of a bed. Investigators found more than 50 suspicious capsule-shaped packages scattered near the bathroom and inside a black plastic bag stained with faeces. Officers said no wounds or signs of assault were found on the body. Photo via Khaosod Initial investigations suggested the man may have swallowed the packages to avoid detection before travelling to Thailand and later attempted to expel them after checking into the hotel. Officers believe complications inside the body may have caused his death. According to investigators, the man arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport before checking into the hotel during the early hours of May 22. Police collected the suspicious packages and other evidence for forensic examination to determine whether the items contained illegal drugs or other prohibited substances. DailyNews reported that investigators are also expanding the inquiry into a possible drug smuggling operation. Photo via Workpoint The body was sent for a detailed post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death and check for substances remaining in the body. Police are also coordinating with the Turkish embassy in Thailand for further legal procedures. In similar news, two Nigerian men were arrested in Pattaya after Chon Buri Immigration Police set up sting operations targeting alleged drug sales, with one suspect caught trying to swallow cocaine during his arrest to destroy evidence. The story Turkish man found dead after swallowing drug capsules to avoid detection as seen on Thaiger News.

May 24, 2025 – Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploy Talay Laksmee Sangchan revealed that following the viral spread of obscene content on social media with widespread public engagement through likes and shares, the government is taking the matter seriously. She announced that relevant agencies have been ordered to expedite investigations and bring those responsible for uploading and distributing such material to face strict legal action.

Ploy Talay emphasized that such actions violate the Computer Crime Act, specifically Section 14(1) regarding false data entry into computer systems and Section 14(4) concerning obscene content, which carry penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, fines not exceeding 100,000 baht, or both.

Crucially, the spokesperson warned that individuals who like, share, or repost obscene clips face the same criminal liability as the original offenders under Section 14(5) of the Computer Crime Act. Those who knowingly distribute such material face identical penalties: up to 5 years imprisonment and/or fines up to 100,000 baht.

Ploy Tayal urged citizens who encounter obscene content to immediately report it to the Cyber Police at 1441 rather than engaging with it. She called for public cooperation in creating a safe society free from harmful content, cautioning that such material risks inspiring copycat behavior, particularly among children and youth.