Phraratchadol Paricharananon, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, revealed on May 18, 2025 that Bhumjaithai will present its constitutional amendment draft to the party's parliamentary group for consideration on May 19, with plans to submit it to the Parliament speaker on May 20 if approved, making Bhumjaithai the first party to announce a new charter based on the 21 million votes from the public referendum.

According to Phraratchadol, Bhumjaithai's draft would amend Article 256 of the Constitution by adding Section 15/1 to create a new charter following the referendum results, with no changes to Sections 1 and 2, which would be locked from amendment even by the Constitutional Drafting Assembly.

When asked how the constitutional amendment would succeed given existing conflicts, Phraratchadol stated that the party must review past problems and obstacles, then improve the draft and negotiate with all sides. He noted that passing the amendment in the third reading requires support from multiple parties, including the Senate, and at least 20 percent of opposition members.

Phraratchadol clarified that gaining unanimous approval from any single faction is impossible, but Bhumjaithai is committed to pushing the constitutional amendment forward. He emphasized that submitting legislative drafts is the right of each political party, and Bhumjaithai, as a democratic political party, considers it important to be the first to announce a new constitution following the government's rejection of the previous constitutional drafting assembly's draft.

Regarding discussions with the Senate, Phraratchadol noted that the Senate previously insisted on having one-third voting power in constitutional amendments before the Constitutional Drafting Assembly is established. This issue will be discussed within the party on May 19 to determine the middle ground, noting that Bhumjaithai's original draft included provisions for one-fifth voting power.

UBON RATCHATHANI — 18 May 2026, Thailand's 2nd Army Region has launched an exploration and nature trail route to an ancient underwater carving of "Narai Banthomsin", believed to be the only underwater rock carving of its kind in the country, as part of efforts to promote conservation tourism in Ubon Ratchathani province. The initiative, led by Lt. Gen. Weerayut Raksasin, commander of the 2nd Army Region, followed a route traditionally used by villagers from Khae Don village in Nam Yuen district to reach and worship the site. The route begins from the Phra Yai base of the 23rd Ranger Regiment near Phu Wang Nam Chan monastic retreat and is intended to support sustainable eco-tourism and historical education. The bas-relief sandstone carving, depicting the Hindu deity Narai reclining on the serpent king Ananta Naga, was discovered by chance in 1979 by a local hunter searching for fish in a stream near Khae Don village. Archaeological examinations found the carving portrays Narai reclining on his right side atop a three-headed naga. A lotus bud rises from the deity's navel, while a female figure, believed to represent Lakshmi, appears near the feet. The carving measures about 120 centimetres long and 50 centimetres high and is believed to be more than 1,000 years old. The site is currently overseen by the Fine Arts Office 9 and Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park in the Phanom Dong Rak mountain range, within Yod Dom Wildlife Sanctuary in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. The story of "Narai Banthomsin" appears in the Mahabharata epic, describing the end of a cosmic age when all things are destroyed and submerged beneath the ocean before Narai awakens to recreate the world — a belief reflecting longstanding religious faith and cosmological traditions. Following past clashes in the area, the 2nd Development Division and the 23rd Ranger Regiment task force began improving strategic access routes connecting the site to main roads, with plans to develop the area into a conservation and cultural tourism destination. Authorities are also considering community tourism activities linked to the protection of natural resources and antiquities to generate sustainable income for local residents. Each year, a ceremonial offering ritual for Narai Banthomsin is held during the dry season, usually in early March when water levels recede, drawing worshippers from Ubon Ratchathani and across Thailand.

The Women's Volleyball Nations League 2026 (VNL 2026) returns to Thailand for Week 2 competition from June 17-21, 2026 at the Huamark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, with six nations participating: Thailand, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Canada, the Netherlands, and Poland. Ticket sales begin Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM on https://www.thaiticketmajor.com, with general admission starting at 200 baht and topping out at 4,000 baht. For matches featuring the Thai national team specifically, five seating zones are available, with the premium VVIP section priced at 4,000 baht and the most affordable Level 3 seats at 300 baht. Thailand's opening match will be against Ukraine on June 17 at 8:30 PM.

On May 18, 2569, at Royal Thai Air Force headquarters, Pol. Lt. Gen. Withai Laitoummya, spokesperson for the Armed Forces Headquarters, announced that military commanders have proposed guidelines for developing joint autonomous systems capabilities—advanced technology that can analyze and make decisions independently. The operational framework is divided into three levels: (1) human-in-the-loop systems where humans make final decisions, such as attack drones and explosive ordnance disposal robots; (2) semi-autonomous systems that operate under supervision with periodic human intervention, such as unmanned vessels and autonomous vehicle convoys; and (3) fully autonomous systems that operate completely independently and will be deployed in high-risk environments inaccessible to humans, such as drone swarms or autonomous mine-clearing systems.

The benefits of implementing autonomous systems include five key advantages: rapid response, continuous 24-hour operation, reduced battlefield risk, precision target acquisition through sensor networks, and integrated data linkage across land, sea, air, and cyber domains.

The Armed Forces have already implemented autonomous systems including AI-powered cyber threat detection, drones for evacuation and transport operations, and mine-clearing vehicles. For future planning, the Armed Forces aim to establish a new unit, with expectations that fiscal year 2570 will see the creation of the "Thai Armed Forces Joint Capabilities Command" (JCC). Currently operating under internal orders as a pilot program, the proposal awaits Cabinet approval and will coordinate with multiple sectors including the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Industry Department, and leading educational institutions such as Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and Chiang Mai University to develop domestically-produced unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone capabilities, while also revising laws that hinder research and development.

"Joint planning and procurement of mutually compatible systems across all dimensions—land, sea, air, and cyber—represents an effort to ensure all systems can interconnect and operate together at full efficiency and deliver practical operational results," the statement concluded.

Action Air IPSC Handgun tactical airsoft shooting made its official debut as a medal sport at the 41st National Youth Games "Surat Thani Games" held in Surat Thani Province. The competition transitioned from exhibition status and features 15 gold medals across individual male and female categories—Super Junior (age 14 and under) and Junior (age 18 and under)—plus team events in three divisions: Open, Standard, and Production. A total of 196 athletes from 30 provinces participated in the finals on May 17, 2026, with General Perm Puangsarojn, chairman of the Tactical Airsoft Association, and Kansini Opassarangsarn, a Member of Parliament representing Surat Thani's District 1, presiding over the medal ceremonies.

General Perm highlighted that this marks the first time tactical airsoft shooting has been included as a medal sport at the National Youth Games. The association selected Action Air—a lightweight air-powered pistol competition—for its suitability in developing youth skills, high safety standards, and feasibility for indoor venues. He noted that the competition attracted record-young participants, including 6-year-old competitors Teerachat Majchakham from Chiang Mai and Krittpas Thanaseresttawi from Phuket, as well as 7-year-old Sutheema Phusuwan from Bangkok. Eight-year-old Pongpon Khuethanapon earned the youngest medal, claiming a silver in the Standard team division representing Nakhon Pathom Province.

Given the overwhelming interest and participation, the association plans to introduce live firearm competitions in future events. Gold medal winners in the Open division included Kannawech Puekphum (Surat Thani, Junior Men) and Anda Jonmee (Saraburi, Junior Women), while Standard division champions were Nopsuwan Kanjanthrankur (Bangkok, Junior Men) and Phattarathida Makkaew (Bangkok, Junior Women). In the Production division, Pornkiat Suthapradeach (Phetchaburi, Junior Men) and Kanyarat Prasertcharoen (Bangkok, Junior Women) took gold. Team gold medals went to Saraburi (Open), Bangkok (Production), and Bangkok (Standard).