The government is implementing strict safety standards for school buses across Thailand as the new academic term begins, with mandatory inspections of braking systems and GPS tracking to prevent accidents. Deputy Government Spokeswoman Lalida Perischwivatana revealed on May 18, 2569 that the government prioritizes the safety of children and youth traveling to and from schools through integrated cooperation between the Education Ministry, Transport Ministry, and relevant agencies.

To upgrade nationwide school bus standards, build parental confidence, and reduce road accident risks ahead of the May school term opening, the Transport Ministry has assigned the Department of Land Transport to expedite readiness inspections of school buses nationwide. Provincial transport offices have been directed to coordinate closely with schools to bring buses in for inspections, particularly of braking systems. Any vehicles failing to meet standards must be repaired before returning to service to ensure student and road user safety.

Additionally, the Department of Land Transport, in cooperation with the Education Ministry, has created a school bus database through the website schoolbussafety.dlt.go.th to monitor and improve the school bus system's standards and safety. The department is also promoting GPS technology use for location tracking and driving behavior monitoring to enhance transportation safety efficiency.

The government is further upgrading school bus service provider standards by increasing training for drivers and attendants on child safety, and studying special license plate guidelines for school buses to improve oversight and alert other road users to exercise caution near school buses.

Simultaneously, the "Young Driver License Program" is being expanded to instill traffic discipline and safety awareness in youth, along with enhanced safety training for public and truck drivers to improve overall road safety. "The government prioritizes safe travel for children and youth, and will continuously upgrade school bus standards through cooperation from all sectors to create a safe transportation system and assure parents nationwide," Lalida stated.

Akara Resources has partnered with three educational institutions—Chulalongkorn University, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, and Suranaree University of Technology—to present research on three prototype innovation projects that transform mining tailings from gold and silver production into "alternative resources." The initiative aims to convert production waste into upstream raw materials, reducing the need for new natural resources while creating real value for the construction, energy, and community enterprise sectors, and advancing a circular economy model.

Cheedsak Atthaoarun, General Manager of Sustainability at Akara Resources Public Company Limited, revealed that the company supports continuous collaborative research with educational institutions by opening mine sites for researchers to access and collect tailings samples for study and development into practical innovations for construction, energy, and community-level applications. This effort reflects Akara's commitment to system safety standards and Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) protocols.

The goal is to maximize the use of available resources. Partnering with these three institutions allows previously overlooked materials like mining tailings to be studied and developed into new alternatives for construction and energy sectors, while advancing community-level innovation adoption to create jobs, generate income, and improve economic opportunities for local residents, thereby reducing inequality and sustainably improving quality of life.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thidarath Bunsri, head of the Smart Biomaterials and Technology Research Group at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, developed the "biocement" innovation that combines mining tailings with industrial waste materials such as eggshells and microorganisms from fish sauce byproducts to create a future building material requiring minimal production energy. Unlike conventional cement, it requires no burning process and possesses special properties resistant to salt corrosion, addressing saline soil problems and capable of self-healing when cracks occur.

This innovation has been patented and is currently being applied as "salt-retarding panels" to assist farmers in Northeast Thailand. Trial results show it can increase rice yields by up to 53% in the first year compared to typical saline soil areas, while also increasing GABA levels in rice by over 300 times and reducing glycemic index by approximately 30%. This demonstrates the innovation's potential in linking environmental, health, and community economic dimensions, with plans to expand into full irrigation drainage systems through collaboration with the Irrigation Department in Uttaradit Province and the chartered gold mining operation.

Dr. Pete Homsuen, instructor in the Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering, has researched mining tailings applications.

On May 18, a Facebook user posted about his younger brother being attacked by nearly 10 Myanmar teenagers. The victims had been riding motorcycles in the Pattaya South area when they encountered the gang near the Lam Bali Hai pier. When they rode past, the group shouted, "Why are you looking at me?" After the victims tried to flee, 3-4 motorcycles chased them for about 5 kilometers until they were forced to stop. The gang then swarmed the victim, beating him with kicks and punches, damaging his motorcycle, and stealing both his shoes while spitting on him. His friends managed to escape.

The victim, identified as Mr. A (16 years old), suffered severe bruising across his face and complained of constant headaches. He and his two friends—M (14) and L (15)—had been riding motorcycles for a leisure trip when the confrontation occurred. After filing a police report at Bang Lamung Police Station, the victim's post went viral, with local figures sharing the story and organizing a search for the gang members.

On May 17, 2026, acclaimed actress Minnie Phanthira married her boyfriend, high-society businessman Sarawut. The celebration was filled with joy as family members and close friends from both inside and outside the entertainment industry gathered to congratulate the couple warmly.

Industry friends posted congratulatory messages on social media. Fellow actor Jeeb Loveís shared wedding photos with the caption: "Congratulations to you both @mintira.q. A father's love for his child is forever," to which the bride Minnie replied: "Thank you so much for being here today." The newlyweds also shared stories from the joyful celebration as messages of well-wishes flooded in.

Sarawut had recently surprised Minnie with a romantic proposal on a luxury yacht at sunset in late March, complete with a stunning diamond ring. The couple had been dating for over three years before taking this significant step.

Popular comedian Sangkh Dok Sadao has passed away. His grieving son shared the tragic news, saying his father departed peacefully. After the renowned comedian decided to stop treatment with his family's support—not wanting him to suffer anymore—his son posted the sorrowful announcement that his father had passed away peacefully.

In an emotional post, his son wrote: "Father has passed away now. He left us peacefully. Father doesn't need to worry about anything anymore. I will do everything we discussed together and take good care of Mother." Numerous comedian colleagues and fans have come forward to express their condolences.

Before his death just hours earlier, his son revealed his father's condition. Previously, the son had announced that his father refused a heart pump implant. Hours before passing, he shared details: "The doctor said his blood oxygen was low at 87%, he had a high fever and low blood pressure. Any intervention carried risks—a heart pump was risky, he had broken ribs and internal bleeding with various complications. If the pump worked, he'd be in a coma. If it didn't work, he'd be gone. We consulted with relatives and asked the doctor to do his best, but if his best wasn't enough, we asked him not to prolong things. Father has suffered enough."

In an English Premier League match on May 17, Newcastle United hosted West Ham United, who are currently fighting to avoid relegation. However, the match didn't unfold as West Ham had hoped, with Newcastle proving to be the dominant side and securing a 3-1 victory. Newcastle's goals came from Nick Woltemade in the 15th minute, William Osula in the 19th and 65th minutes, while West Ham's consolation goal came from Valentín Castañeda in the 69th minute. Following this result, Newcastle now has 49 points from 37 matches and sits in 11th place, while West Ham remains in 18th place with 36 points from 37 matches, hovering perilously close to relegation. West Ham trails 17th-place Tottenham by two points, with Spurs on 38 points but having played 36 matches. West Ham needs just two more points from their remaining two matches to guarantee survival.