In a proactive effort to elevate Thailand's education system into a new era, Microsoft Thailand is creating opportunities for youth to learn digital skills and AI through the National Digital Learning Platform (NDLP). The initiative kicks off with an AI Hackathon competition.

Benjamrathutsit Chanthaburi School wins championship

Under the theme "My Future Community," the competition offers educational grants exceeding 150,000 baht and targets upper secondary students from 1,018 pilot schools nationwide using the NDLP platform. Students apply world-class AI skills to develop solutions for real problems in their communities before eight finalist teams advance to the championship round. Participants develop analytical and creative problem-solving skills through Hackathon Workshops, learning to create pitch decks and smart community solutions while receiving expert guidance.

Khukhan School places first runner-up

The Ministry of Education and Microsoft aim to promote digital learning and AI nationwide by expanding access to schools under the ministry's supervision, targeting over 29,000 schools by 2026 to ensure all Thai youth have equal opportunities to learn and innovate with AI.

Awards presented

Championship winner: Team "Taste Isareo" from Benjamrathutsit Chanthaburi School receives 50,000 baht and the trophy for their project "RubberGuard AI," which creates a Smart Community for Chanthaburi rubber farmers using AI to boost productivity by 20-50%, reduce losses from leaf disease, lower expensive labor costs, and prevent illegal tree cutting. The expected outcome is stable and sustainable income for farmers and a Smart Agri Community using real technology, reducing labor shortages and preserving rubber plantation areas.

Presenting their work

First runner-up: Team "KKS re NPK" from Khukhan School in Sisaket province wins 30,000 baht for "Smart Fertilizer Management," which assesses soil conditions and recommends suitable fertilizer formulas to reduce costs, improve crop quality, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Yothinburanat School places second runner-up

Second runner-up: Team "Bergamot" from Yothinburanat School wins 20,000 baht for "MindMirror," an AI system that detects conceptual understanding gaps in learners and reduces gaps between teachers and students. Five consolation prize winners each receive 10,000 baht in educational funds. All teams receive certificates of participation.

On May 19, Deputy Provincial Police Commander Pol. Col. Thanawat Debunya Na Chumphae, along with traffic police and provincial disaster prevention officials, led an inspection of railway crossing points in Khon Kaen municipality. The operation aimed to prevent accidents at crossings, including locations at Nong Kung village kilometer 454 and Sila subdistrict kilometer 458.

Pol. Col. Thanawat stated that the operation represents an integrated, multi-faceted approach to solving the problem. The physical dimension includes improving visibility by cutting trees and clearing vegetation blocking sightlines, allowing drivers to see approaching trains clearly from a safe distance. The province will also consider installing CCTV cameras, alarm systems, and additional warning signs at appropriate locations, along with public safety education campaigns.

The deputy commander instructed eight police stations along railway routes—including Khon Kaen city, Nam Phong, Ban Phai, Phol, Khao Suan Kwang, Ban Haet, Tha Phra, and Non Sila—to coordinate with relevant agencies and intensify safety inspections. Traffic police will conduct strict enforcement throughout the month, with penalties of up to 1,000 baht and immediate deduction of one driving behavior point via the PTM system for drivers who run red lights or breach safety barriers.

Pol. Col. Thanawat appealed to the public to follow traffic regulations and remember the railway safety mantra: 'three musts, three prohibitions'—slow down, stop 5 meters from tracks, and look both ways; don't breach barriers, don't overtake within 30 meters of a crossing, and don't reverse. Citizens can report damaged barriers or blocked sightlines to local police pages, the 191 emergency radio center, or the State Railway hotline at 1690 any time.

A violent assault occurred at the exercise track in front of Chachoengsao Provincial Hall when Ms. A, 48, was attacked by two men who struck her face forcefully with a durian rind before assaulting her body. Other exercisers at the facility intervened to help, causing the attackers to abandon the durian and flee on a motorcycle. Deputy Police Region Commander Somchai Ayu-sawat revealed on May 19 that investigators are reviewing closed-circuit camera footage along the escape route and have preliminary information about the perpetrators, with arrests expected soon. Police believe the motive was personal dispute rather than robbery or extortion, since no property was stolen and the targeted nature of the attack suggests deliberate harm. The incident has not deterred local exercisers from using the well-lit facility, with many viewing it as an isolated personal matter.

Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsukul, secretary and spokesperson for the Senate's Military and National Security Committee, has revealed that southern Thailand's smuggling routes benefit from advantageous geography, with coastal access on two sides and borders with Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. These routes are ideal for transporting contraband while evading authorities, though some overlook that certain goods like cigarettes also come from Cambodia via vehicles, albeit in smaller quantities than through southern routes.

Regarding narcotics, approximately 50% of drugs entering Thailand from the northern border eventually concentrate in Songkhla and Narathiwat provinces alone. Chaiyong explained that these southern border provinces serve as a gateway to Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey, where illicit goods are redistributed globally. Smuggling patterns have evolved—previously illegal cigarettes primarily came from Malaysia, but now flow both ways between Malaysia and Thailand.

Contraband distribution has become decentralized across nearly all southern provinces rather than concentrating in Hat Yai alone, reflecting smugglers' strategic shift to reduce risk. Illegal cigarettes now arrive through various routes, such as from Langkawi to Trang's coastal districts including Pakphanang, Sikao, and Hadsai, instead of following traditional paths. The three southern border provinces—Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat—serve as major distribution hubs due to high demand and large consumer markets.

Smugglers have adapted their methods significantly. Rather than maintaining large warehouses, they now use dispersed distribution networks resembling ant colonies across multiple locations. Transportation increasingly relies on private carriers and postal services instead of traditional methods, while sales have shifted predominantly to online platforms. The Digital Economy and Society Ministry reported blocking over 400,000 illegal URLs in the first five months of fiscal year 2569 (October 2568–February 2569), reflecting a severe crisis of illegal goods proliferating online.

Chaiyong noted that smuggling operations continuously evolve—once authorities identify a method, operators immediately adapt their tactics. Today, illegal goods sales across multiple categories, not just cigarettes, increasingly rely on online channels, making enforcement extremely difficult for authorities.

Bangkok delivery rider struck by train near recent fatal collision sceneLegacyA food delivery rider suffered serious injuries after being struck by a train while urinating next to the railway track along Kampaengphet 7 Road, near the site of the recent fatal collision between a train and a bus. Rescue workers were called to the railway track near the Mercure Bangkok Makkasan hotel at about 11am. The injured man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reported to be working as a food delivery rider. According to Amarin TV, the victim suffered multiple severe injuries and was unconscious when rescuers arrived at the scene. Emergency responders provided first aid before transporting him to a nearby hospital. Officers from Makkasan Police Station are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the collision. Photo via Facebook/ THAI PRESS A witness told police the rider had parked his motorcycle before going to urinate beside the railway track. The witness also suspected the rider may not have heard the approaching train because he was wearing earphones and a motorcycle helmet. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) later clarified that the accident was the result of reckless behaviour on the part of the victim. The man had been found parking his motorcycle in a prohibited area, climbing over the barrier that separated the road from the railway track in order to urinate. The SRT insisted that the train driver had sounded the horn in an attempt to alert the victim, but to no avail. The train was unable to stop in time, leading to the crash. Officials urged people not to enter prohibited areas, pointing out that the incident caused life-threatening injuries to the victim and delayed the train by over 22 minutes, affecting all passengers on board and at stations along the route. Photo via Facebook/ THAI PRESS The incident attracted a lot of attention online because it happened near the site of the fatal train-bus collision in Bangkok on Saturday, 16 May, which involved a container train and a public bus. That collision happened after the bus became trapped at a red light on the railway crossing while the train driver, who was under influence of drug, reportedly failed to respond in time to warnings about the obstruction. Following the collision, officials urged motorists to obey railway crossing regulations and to avoid stopping within five metres of the tracks. However, in the days after the crash, social media users continued to share images and videos of motorists parking on railway crossings during traffic congestion, similar to the rider who placed himself in a risky area. The story Bangkok delivery rider struck by train near recent fatal collision scene as seen on Thaiger News.

Thai actress and L'Oréal Paris brand ambassador Nicha Nantajinachaya commanded the Cannes Film Festival red carpet at the 79th edition with grace and power, immediately capturing the attention of international media, fans, and even Getty Images photographers documenting the world's biggest celebrities.

Her return to the Cannes Film Festival marked more than just a red carpet appearance—it was a statement about women's strength and the ability to embody the essence of a Global Asian Star on the world stage.

Nicha wore a stunning custom white haute couture dress from avant-garde brand BENT KAHINA, featuring a refined silhouette with strategic cutout details at the waist that revealed elegant minimalist modern styling. The brand, founded by Chaima Mennana and Jora Frantzis, distinctively blends futuristic elements with North African cultural roots, centered on liberating women and culture from traditional constraints.

Her styling concept, "Sculpted Silent," used the female form to project power and celebrated designer empowerment. Rather than conforming to typical red carpet conventions, the look maintained sophistication through carefully considered details that set it apart from standard formal wear expectations.