The Commerce Ministry is launching a major push to promote Thai fruits at Paragon mall with the 'Thailand: The Land of Tropical Fruits' event, bringing quality fruits from Chanthaburi province to the heart of Bangkok. Ambassadors and representatives from 15 countries have been invited to experience Thailand's premium fresh fruits and processed products, with the aim of building awareness among high-income consumers and expanding market opportunities across multiple nations.

On May 17, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Sutthammaphand delegated Banjongchit Angsusinghe, an adviser to the Commerce Minister, to officially open the 'Thailand: The Land of Tropical Fruits' event at the Gourmet Market Promotions A area on the ground floor of Siam Paragon in Bangkok. The event included participation from Deputy Permanent Secretary Chakra Yodmani, Deputy Director-General of the Internal Trade Department Chanthapath Panjamanan, and the Chanthaburi Provincial Commerce Office.

Banjongchit stated that this event represents an aggressive initiative by the Commerce Ministry to manage seasonal fruit production, particularly important economic fruits from Chanthaburi such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan, and longan. These products have high potential in terms of quality, taste, production standards, and market demand. By bringing fruits from production areas into premium shopping districts and leading malls, the ministry aims to elevate the image of Thai fruits from ordinary agricultural products to high-value commodities, directly reaching middle to upper-class consumers, tourists, and affluent buyers.

The Commerce Ministry invited ambassadors and representatives from 15 countries, including the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Hungary, Canada, Colombia, Maldives, and Saudi Arabia, to view, taste, and learn about Thailand's fruit potential. The strong interest from diplomatic delegations demonstrates that Thai fruits have significant opportunities for both tourist market expansion and export to many regions—both established high-demand markets and new markets increasingly interested in quality tropical fruits from Thailand.

Banjongchit further emphasized that the Commerce Ministry prioritizes upgrading Thai agricultural products with added value, particularly fruits as a strategic commodity. This event is not merely about selling Chanthaburi fruits in Bangkok, but creating a platform for Thai fruits to showcase their potential in premium markets across quality, taste, packaging, and processed products. This will expand market opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs while building consumer confidence both domestically and internationally.

"Thai fruits, especially those from Chanthaburi, have strong advantages in quality, standards, and variety. The Commerce Ministry aims to push Thai fruits into higher-value markets both domestically through leading shopping malls and internationally by raising awareness among diplomatic missions and representatives from various countries. This is expected to be an important starting point for expanding trade opportunities and growing the Thai fruit market in the future," Banjongchit concluded.

The 'Thailand: The Land of Tropical Fruits' event is being held...

Canadian authorities announced on May 16 that a Canadian passenger aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak occurred, tested preliminary positive for Andes virus, bringing the total confirmed infections on the vessel to 11. All infected individuals are passengers on the ship.

The MV Hondius departed from Argentina on April 1 before the hantavirus outbreak occurred on board. To date, three passengers have died, with two deaths confirmed as hantavirus-related.

Of the six Canadians aboard the Dutch-registered ship, two are quarantining at home in Ontario, while two couples are isolated on Vancouver Island—one from British Columbia and another from Yukon, with the Yukon resident being the one who tested positive. The five other patients have not tested positive as of now.

According to British Columbia's health authority, among four high-risk contacts, one tested preliminary positive for Andes virus with mild symptoms. However, confirmation from the national microbiology laboratory is still pending.

Hantavirus has multiple strains, with Andes virus being the only known strain capable of human-to-human transmission. The patient was admitted to the hospital with their spouse on May 14, and both displayed mild symptoms. Both are passengers from the Yukon territory in Canada and will be isolated in separate hospital wards.

British Columbia's health officer Bonnie Henry clarified that hantavirus differs from other respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 or the flu. Currently, there is no evidence indicating that this virus has the potential to cause a widespread outbreak.

A swarm of giant honeybees attacked a naga procession at Wat Klangdong temple in Klangdong subdistrict, Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province on May 17, 2025, injuring 11 people. Subdistrict administrator Raden Peng Nuam immediately coordinated rescue efforts, mobilizing rescue units from Klangdong and Siammongkol subdistricts along with ambulances from Pak Chong Nana Hospital.

When rescue teams arrived, they found injured men, women, and children who had fled the temple and gathered at the Wat Klangdong School sports field, approximately 100 meters from the main ordination hall. First responders administered pain relief and topical ointments to those stung by bees. In total, 11 people were injured—three men with severe pain and breathing difficulty were taken to Mueaklek Hospital, while eight others, including women and children, received treatment at Pak Chong Nana Hospital.

Investigation revealed that before the incident, a ceremonial naga procession was underway in three rounds, led by a small vehicle with amplified speakers playing music. After nearly two rounds, two large bee colonies on the temple's ceiling were startled by the loud noise and swarmed, attacking the procession participants and scattering the crowd. The parade could not be completed as planned. The prospective monks entering ordination were not injured and were safely brought into the ordination hall to complete their ordination ceremony without incident.

Constitutional amendment has returned as a contentious political issue, underscoring that the country's fundamental law remains a major priority for all parties. Despite various governments declaring it as policy, political limitations, legal constraints, and societal disagreements have prevented constitutional amendments from ever reaching completion. Most recently, after the cabinet rejected a pending draft amendment in parliament, Bhumjaithai Party prepared to submit its own new version for consideration. Pheu Thai, which promised to push for constitutional reform since its campaign period, is now mobilizing. The party is organizing a working committee meeting with key leaders Pongsathorn Thepkachana and Jaturon Chayaeng to determine the path forward, with two main focal points. The first concerns whether to adopt Pheu Thai's original draft, which stipulates that each province selects members of the constitutional drafting assembly before parliament conducts a second round of selection. This approach was designed to sidestep constitutional court objections, as it avoids direct election of assembly members while allowing public participation in drafting the country's new framework. The second key issue involves the political dynamics in parliament, as proposing a constitutional amendment requires signatures from at least one-fifth of all parliamentarians. With only 74 votes, Pheu Thai must rely on cooperation from both opposition and coalition parties. This represents a critical test of whether government and opposition can transcend political divides to address constitutional reform as a shared national agenda. If all sides continue viewing the constitution as a political game rather than a common national concern, the chances of reaching a successful conclusion may be slim. Ultimately, constitutional amendment is not merely a matter for parliamentarians but concerns all citizens, since the constitution determines the country's long-term future. It remains to be seen whether this new round will produce tangible change or merely repeat the failed attempts of the past.

BANGKOK — Authorities have identified two of the eight people killed in the deadly train-bus collision near Makkasan Airport Rail Link station, as officials continue efforts to locate relatives of the remaining victims.

The crash occurred on 16 May when a freight train slammed into an air-conditioned public bus operating on route 23 between Bang Na and Thewet. The collision triggered a major fire that engulfed the bus.

The incident left eight people dead and more than 30 injured.

Officials on 17 May released the names of two confirmed victims as 34-year-old Teekha Teekha-Utmakorn and 57-year-old Tiam Phuangyod.

The remaining six victims are still undergoing forensic identification at the Police General Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Authorities have also appealed for relatives of missing passengers to urgently contact officials if they believe family members may have been travelling on the bus and remain unaccounted for.

A disaster assistance centre has been set up beneath Makkasan Airport Rail Link station in Ratchathewi district.

Of the 33 injured victims admitted to hospital, 15 have since been discharged while 18 remain under medical treatment.