The Department of Business Development is proceeding with investigations into corruption allegations with an impartial stance, promising maximum penalties if wrongdoing is found. The department emphasizes cultivating integrity among all staff levels, ensuring both the organization and individual officials earn the public's trust and can take pride in transparent public service. Currently, the department has implemented digital systems for 100% of its business and public services, eliminating face-to-face interactions that could create opportunities for extortion and corruption.

Puenpong Nayanapaakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development under the Ministry of Commerce, stated that corruption in the public sector is a critical concern affecting the country's competitiveness and foreign investment decisions. The department adheres to good governance principles and welcomes audits of all procedures to ensure transparency. Officials have consistently maintained strict oversight of staff conduct with clear penalties, and complaints from the private sector or public are investigated immediately due to their impact on the department's credibility.

The department has implemented comprehensive digital systems including DBD Biz Regist for partnership and company registration, DBD e-PCL for public company registration, DBD e-Filing for financial statement submission, e-Foreign Business for foreign business permits, e-Secured for business collateral registration, and DBD DataWarehouse+ for legal entity information, with near-universal user adoption across all systems.

The department regularly updates its digital systems to be modern and secure while adapting to technological changes, reducing service time and procedural steps. Standardized service guidelines ensure uniform document verification, eliminate inequities, and reduce official discretion. A status tracking system communicates clear service timelines to the public and private sector, reducing uncertainty and building confidence in the department's services.

PHUKET — May 16, 2026, Authorities in Phuket are investigating allegations that a 2-year-old child was physically abused by a stepfather, officials said.

The case was reported in Kathu municipality, where local social welfare officials coordinated with security personnel and the Phuket Children and Family Shelter to provide emergency assistance and assess the child's condition.

Social welfare officers and municipal officials visited the area and interviewed people connected to the case as part of the investigation.

Authorities said the child's family had already filed a police complaint at Kathu police station seeking legal action against the alleged abuser.

Officials from the Phuket Children and Family Shelter later took the child to hospital for medical examinations and psychological assessments.

Authorities said information gathered from the examinations and interviews would be used in ongoing child protection proceedings.

Officials said agencies involved would continue monitoring the child's welfare and provide further assistance to ensure the child's safety and legal protection.

On May 16, 2025, the Government Savings Bank announced the results of its special 1-year savings lottery draw and special prize winners for both 1-year and 2-year lotteries, celebrating the bank's 113th founding anniversary. The first-prize draw on May 16, 2025 featured one grand prize of 10 million baht: Draw no. 625, ticket number S 4095899. The second-prize winner received 1 million baht: Draw no. 627, ticket number Q 8705603.

On May 16, 2025, Deputy Police Commander Kongkrit Lertsitkul ordered an inspection team led by Police Captain Weerapong Khlai Thong and Police Major Surasee Kongthap, along with officials from the Department of Animal Husbandry and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to execute a search warrant from the Samut Prakan Provincial Court. They raided a factory in Bang Muang Subdistrict, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province, following reports of illegal animal medicine production and sales through online platforms.

Investigators discovered the company was registered as an animal feed wholesale business but illegally imported antiviral medications for treating Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) without authorization. The company manufactured and distributed these drugs under the guise of GS-441524 antiviral medicine through multiple online channels. During the raid, a 35-year-old man named Songphan (surname withheld) identified himself as the facility owner.

Authorities seized unregistered "Emune" medicine products in 20ml, 30ml, and 40ml bottles—83 packaged units and 117 unpackaged units. They also confiscated manufacturing equipment including pill pressing machines, vial sealing devices, pill counting trays, hot air blowers, chemical compounds, and packaging materials: 550 empty bottles, 740 bottle caps, and 4,690 labels and boxes. Total seized assets exceeded 1 million baht.

Investigation revealed the operation not only sold illegally imported animal medicines but also reduced costs by diluting imported liquid medicines with water and mixing pill formulations with flour before re-pressing, significantly multiplying profit margins while disregarding pet safety. Officials noted the medicines underwent no quality or safety inspections, potentially containing harmful ingredients with no clear active drug dosage controls, rendering treatments ineffective. Production facilities lacked proper sanitation, posing serious risks to household pets.

Initial charges filed under the Medicines Act include: manufacturing, selling, or importing medicine without authorization (up to 5 years imprisonment and 10,000 baht fine); manufacturing or selling unregistered medicines (up to 3 years imprisonment or 5,000 baht fine); and unauthorized medicine advertising (up to 100,000 baht fine). Further legal proceedings are pending.

Fans grew deeply concerned when legendary artist Golf Pichaya Nithaipaisalkul posted on his personal Facebook expressing "the greatest sorrow of his life," followed shortly by a heartbreaking photo announcing the passing of his beloved dog Fila. Numerous fans commented to express their sympathy and offer overwhelming support and encouragement.

In a subsequent post, Golf shared a photo from happier times with Fila along with a message: "It was such a heartbreaking night. The hospital called at 3 AM after Fila was admitted with intestinal cancer."

"Looking back to the previous months... actually, throughout April, Fila was in the hospital for a full month. They surgically removed the cancer tumor from her intestines, but it had already spread to the lymph nodes and eventually reached her heart," he explained.

"Two weeks after coming home, she seemed to be improving. But by the end of that week, she was vomiting excessively and growing weak, stumbling around with unfocused eyes, so we readmitted her. At 3 AM, the doctor called to say she wasn't responding to medications, oxygen, or IV fluids... she began struggling to breathe because the tumor was pressing on her heart, and she also had a leaky heart valve."

"We couldn't bear it anymore and decided to bring her home, but halfway there, she went into distress and we had to rush back to the hospital to give her an injection so she wouldn't suffer. But that turned out to be the most agonizing night for us."

"Fila has gone to rest in the sky now... I'm grateful to have had you as my daughter. Go be an angel, my dear. I will always love you forever. I think of you every day, my beloved daughter. I still can't accept that this is reality... I miss you so much and always will. Love you, Fila."

Fans flooded the comments with expressions of sympathy and heartfelt encouragement.

Our deepest condolences go to Golf Pichaya during this difficult time of loss.

On May 15, 2026, at 4:30 PM, Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, along with Permanent Secretary Dr. Raveewan Puridej and senior officials, welcomed UNESCO Director-General Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz and his delegation during their official visit to Thailand at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The meeting focused on cooperation in four key areas: World Heritage sites, the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), UNESCO Global Geoparks, and marine science collaboration under the IOC/WESTPAC framework, including ocean management, biodiversity conservation, and heritage impact assessments.

Minister Suchart emphasized Thailand's readiness to lead regional marine cooperation through research, marine biodiversity assessment technology, disaster preparedness, and climate change adaptation. He highlighted marine conservation projects under the royal initiative of Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, which promote youth participation in marine conservation, zero-waste management, and sustainable coastal ecosystem restoration.

Thailand also requested UNESCO support to elevate its national geoparks to international standards, seeking to promote Khon Kaen Geopark and Ubon Ratchathani Geopark as new UNESCO Global Geoparks, following the existing Satun and Khorat Geoparks. Suchart also discussed Thailand's "High-Value Tourism" policy, which combines quality tourism with natural resource conservation, citing the closure of Andaman marine national parks during monsoon season to restore ecosystems and maintain ecological balance.

Permanent Secretary Dr. Raveewan noted that Thailand currently has eight World Heritage sites and continues pursuing new designations. In 2026, Thailand will propose Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn for World Heritage inscription at the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in South Korea, while the "Monuments, Sites and Cultural Landscape of Chiang Mai, Capital of Lanna" will undergo technical evaluation for consideration in 2027. Dr. Raveewan emphasized the importance of Heritage Impact Assessments, citing the case of the high-speed rail project near Ayutthaya's historic city, where the government reduced the project's scale and height to preserve the heritage site's values while supporting balanced economic development.

The UNESCO Director-General praised Thailand's policies and sustainable tourism management approach to preserve natural resources for future generations. Both parties celebrated decades of cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration across all dimensions to advance global sustainable development goals.