On May 18, 2025, Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsom, People's Party chairman, posted on Facebook warning against allowing big capital to operate above the law in the amended Trade Competition Act. The bill is set for first reading in parliament on May 20, with seven key amendments: (1) expanding authority to cover state enterprises, public organizations, and commercially-operated government agencies in telecom and energy sectors under equal application, with penalties for offshore misconduct affecting domestic markets; (2) revising the Trade Competition Commission selection process to require House approval instead of cabinet approval, reducing members to seven with specified expertise requirements including law, economics, and consumer protection, with at least 10 years experience and performance metrics; (3) requiring authorization for mergers that could reduce competition or create market dominance, with broader consideration of competitive conditions and future trends; (4) increasing transparency by mandating full disclosure of rulings and individual commissioners' opinions within 15 days, with monthly public progress reports during proceedings; (5) eliminating prison sentences for monopoly violations and replacing with civil penalties calculated as percentage of annual revenue or transaction value; (6) expanding whistleblower protections with reduced penalties for first informants providing evidence, transferring cases to Intellectual Property and International Trade Court; (7) allowing victims to claim damages up to three times actual harm or court-ordered minimum three times but not exceeding four times, with extended limitations periods of three to five years and increased filing fees for merger approvals and advance rulings.

Three Thai children aged 5, 11, and 12 who were deceived by a Buddhist monk into ordination as novices and defrauded in Malaysia have safely returned to Thailand on May 18, 2569, bringing joy to their parents and guardians.

The successful rescue was made possible through coordinated efforts by multiple agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Malaysian Embassy, and the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women. Four other children aged 13-15 remain temporarily in Malaysia to serve as court witnesses, with expected return to Thailand in early June.

Ns. Paveena Hongsakul, chairwoman of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, revealed that after receiving a complaint on May 9, the foundation immediately sent urgent correspondence to the Malaysian Ambassador requesting expedited assistance. The foundation coordinated with the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Director Amnaij Palapleewal and Diplomat Monthon Chansiri to gather information and monitor all seven children's cases.

The foundation also worked closely with the Department of Child and Youth Affairs and the Songkhla Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security.

On May 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that three children would return that night. Officials from the Songkhla Border Region Coordination Center and Songkhla Immigration Police traveled to the border to receive the children at 20:45. The mother of the 5-year-old boy cried and embraced her son with overwhelming joy upon reunion.

Initially, the children showed signs of fever and exhaustion. Officials immediately conducted medical examinations and arranged two nights of recovery at the Songkhla Child and Family Shelter before reuniting them with their families.

Today, parents from Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ratchaburi provinces visited Ns. Paveena Hongsakul to express their gratitude to the foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the Malaysian Embassy for bringing their children safely home.

Ns. Paveena confirmed that the foundation will continue monitoring and coordinating psychological rehabilitation for all three children with relevant agencies, and thanked all stakeholders for their integrated efforts in safely and swiftly reuniting the Thai children with their families.

A 76-year-old Chinese woman is making headlines again after becoming famous in 2010 for being China's oldest mother to give birth to twins at age 60. Zeng Hailin had suffered the loss of her only daughter and son-in-law to carbon monoxide poisoning in 2009, which motivated her decision to pursue IVF treatment despite significant health risks during pregnancy, including severe swelling and bleeding. She successfully delivered twin daughters named Zhuozuo and Huihui in 2010.

Life after their birth proved difficult, with substantial expenses for childcare, education, and extracurricular activities putting strain on the family, even with her husband being a former university professor and herself having served as a hospital director.

After her husband suffered a stroke in 2016 and passed away in 2022, Zeng was also defrauded of over 2 million yuan (approximately 10 million baht) in investments. However, she refused to give up. At age 73, she began livestreaming on Chinese platforms, selling health products and household items while sharing parenting tips and health advice. She gained nearly one million followers and earned the affectionate nickname "Mother Zeng" from her fans.

Zeng has become an inspiration to many parents who have lost children, often speaking about persevering through life's challenges and adapting to her teenage daughters by learning new things and keeping up with current trends. She has expressed pride in being a mother and hopes to live beyond 100 years old to watch her daughters grow up and thrive.

On May 18, 2025, Deputy Minister of Education Akranant Kankanittinan held a meeting with Bangkok Governor Chatchat Sittiphand to finalize preparations and details for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a collaborative pilot project (Sandbox) using the Traffy Fondue application to enhance safety in educational institutions under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in Bangkok, operating under the Center for the Protection of Rights and Freedoms (AOC).

The collaboration aims to implement a Sandbox pilot program that utilizes the Traffy Fondue application as a tool for receiving reports and complaints about school safety issues from students, teachers, educators, and parents. The system employs artificial intelligence (AI) technology to automatically screen and forward information to relevant agencies 24 hours a day, strengthening proactive safety monitoring and prevention systems in educational institutions.

The project focuses on protecting the safety of students, teachers, and education personnel, addressing four major hazard categories: violence, accidents, rights violations, and physical and mental health impacts. It also supports the collection of safety-related statistical data for future planning, development, and policy formulation by relevant agencies.

The pilot program will be implemented in schools under Bangkok's Secondary Education Area Offices (Districts 1 and 2) and Bangkok's Primary Education Area Office, targeting students, teachers, school administrators, educators, and parents in Bangkok. The initiative aims to create a safe educational environment that supports sustainable learning.

BANGKOK — 18 May 2026, A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Myanmar on Monday morning, sending distinct tremors across Bangkok and prompting evacuations of high-rise buildings in the Thai capital.

Thailand's Earthquake Observation Division (TMD) said the quake struck at 09:05 local time near the southern coast of Myanmar. The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 247 kilometers southwest of Mae Sot District in Tak Province.

The tremor posed no immediate threat to structures in Thailand, and no damage has been reported so far. Updates will follow if further details emerge.

Workers gathered at designated safety points outside several high-rise buildings across the city following the tremors.

Comments posted on the Earthquake TMD Facebook page showed residents on upper floors of skyscrapers in major Bangkok districts including Don Mueang, Phaya Thai, Bang Rak, Huai Khwang, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, and Chatuchak reporting noticeable tremors.

Selected comments from residents reporting the tremors online: • "19th floor, Gems Tower. Strongly felt!" • "5th floor at Lam Sali Intersection, Ramkhamhaeng. Felt it slightly twice." • "Felt it here in Chiang Mai. 6th floor, felt the building swaying." • "10th floor in Asoke. Felt it." • "Strongly felt in Phra Pradaeng. We're at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi and have already evacuated the building."

Tremors were felt across Bangkok Metropolitan Region, especially on upper floors of tall buildings where people noticed structures swaying and light fixtures swinging. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) building in Bangkok experienced significant swaying, with hanging lights visibly moving.

Officials quickly evacuated staff from the building as a precaution and inspected the structure and internal systems.

Although the quake's epicenter was outside Thailand, experts said Bangkok's soft clay soil can amplify seismic waves, allowing tremors from distant earthquakes to be felt across the capital.

Central Pattana has unveiled 'Central Khon Kaen Campus', a new mixed-use shopping center for Northeast Thailand built around the concept 'Heart of Khon Kaen'. The design incorporates local identity through three elements: 'khan', 'kaen', and 'koon', seamlessly blending traditional northeastern culture with contemporary architecture. The center features creative spaces designed for young content creators and features Campus Garden, Creative Platform, and street art installations by five Thai artists, opening officially on May 20, 2025.

On May 18, 2025, Central Pattana announced progress on the project, which will be the first Central Pattana shopping center to use authentic materials highlighting simplicity and strength. The space connects nature and northeastern lifestyle with modern living for younger generations. Key highlights include:

• Campus Court: Retail space featuring leading brands, Student Gallery, Creative Platform, and Craft Market inspired by traditional khean musical instruments and khan-kaen-koon tie-dye patterns, with contemporary architecture design.

• Campus Garden: The first indoor garden in Northeast Thailand with free co-working space and pop-up walking street connected to nature, featuring koon flower-inspired design and skylights linking indoor and outdoor areas.

• Art Features Installation: Contemporary art reinterpreting Khon Kaen's local wisdom, including 'TOOM HOME' inspired by Thai spirit houses, 'KONG NOI & AI TIB' based on local krating and kong musical instruments, and 'SAI HOO' from fishing traps, with character designs throughout the center.

• Wall Graphics by Five Thai Artists: Collaboration with artists Witpeople, Pearako, TRY, AOW, and BHBH creating street art depicting different Khon Kaen stories and the campus on each floor.

• 'Kaen Koon': The shopping center mascot designed with artist Vachboy in Neo-Pop Art style, inspired by koon flowers and embodying an active northeastern lifestyle.

Central Khon Kaen Campus, the 45th Central Pattana location, officially opens Wednesday, May 20, 2025, from 10:49 AM to 11:00 PM, followed by regular hours from May 21 onwards.