The Agriculture Ministry has approved a rice insurance subsidy program for the 2025 crop year, with a focus on comprehensive support for smallholder farmers. Permanent Secretary Winatroj Sapsongsuk announced the decision after chairing the first meeting of the agricultural insurance promotion committee, attended by Piraphan Khotong, secretary-general of the Agricultural Economics Office, and relevant agencies. The committee endorsed a hybrid insurance model emphasizing broad coverage of small-scale farmers. The government and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will jointly fund insurance premiums for smallholder farmers and BAAC customer groups, covering cultivation areas of no more than 10 rai per household, providing protection against natural risks, particularly severe drought and sudden flooding that may occur under El Niño conditions. The committee urged the secretariat to accelerate submission of the resolution to the BAAC board and the National Rice Policy and Management Committee by June to coincide with planting seasons and when farmers most need protection. The initiative aims to serve as a prototype for integrating digital data between government and private agencies, allowing farmers maximum benefits and peace of mind through a unified, rapid assistance system nationwide. Additionally, the committee approved modernizing the insurance system with greater efficiency by incorporating advanced satellite imagery technology alongside existing assessment methods to increase accuracy and speed in paying compensation to farmers within 7 to 14 days. Simultaneously, the committee recommended bolstering farmer confidence through risk management education programs, enabling farmers to adapt effectively and plan cultivation efficiently. This represents a transition from providing temporary relief to establishing systematic livelihood security using international standard insurance mechanisms as a primary tool to protect production and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

Thailand's youth tennis team has advanced to the championship finals of the 2026 ITF Asia Under-12 Team Championship held at the National Tennis Development Center in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi. After battling to a 1-1 tie with Malaysia on May 7, rain forced a suspension, and the deciding doubles match resumed the following morning on May 8, where Thailand's boys rallied to secure a 2-1 victory. Thailand will now face Indonesia, who defeated Vietnam 2-1, in the championship match. In the boys' singles matches: Thir Sraprasit defeated Alexander Sayyid 2-0 (6-0, 6-1) in the second singles position, while Oliver Bensen Berkhoudt, a Thai-Dutch player, lost to Mason Gyrus Ho 0-2 (4-6, 2-6) in the first singles. In doubles, Oliver and Prattakorn Pachirattana defeated Varun Raj Doyrai and Mason Gyrus Ho 2-0 (6-3, 6-3).

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday urged ASEAN to strengthen unity, resilience and its global role amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and a changing world order.

Speaking during the Retreat Session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, Anutin said recent tensions in the Middle East reflected growing global instability and showed that the international order was undergoing significant change. "The world will never be the same again," government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek quoted him as saying. Anutin said ASEAN could no longer remain reactive and must respond to challenges with greater agility and foresight. He proposed three strategic priorities for the bloc: stronger regional unity, greater resilience and maintaining ASEAN's relevance on the global stage.

He stressed the importance of "ASEAN Centrality," saying member states should keep ASEAN at the core of their foreign policies while strengthening mechanisms for crisis coordination and confidence-building. Anutin also said ASEAN must remain a trusted partner in supporting multilateralism and a rules-based international order, while ensuring regional integration delivers tangible benefits for people.

On Myanmar, he said recent developments — including the pardon of former President U Win Myint and the transfer of detained former state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to a residential setting — could help create a more favourable atmosphere for dialogue and reconciliation. He added that Thailand was ready to support ASEAN efforts to gradually re-engage with Myanmar under the bloc's Five-Point Consensus.

Japan's Environment Ministry confirmed on Friday, May 8, the first bear attack fatality of 2026 in Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, with police accelerating investigations into two additional deaths believed to be bear-related amid a sharp surge in bear attacks nationwide.

The first victim was a 55-year-old woman who died on April 21 in Iwate Prefecture. Police are investigating two other deaths suspected to involve bears—one body found in Iwate on Thursday, May 7, and another discovered in a forest in Yamagata Prefecture on Tuesday, May 5.

According to NHK television, one victim identified as Kumagai Shiyoko, 69, went missing while foraging for wild vegetables in a mountainous area. Rescuers found her body near a parking area in the forest Thursday morning with facial and head wounds bearing marks resembling animal claw scratches.

Following the incidents, local authorities deployed hunters to patrol high-risk areas for prevention, and assigned police with emergency authority to shoot bears if necessary.

Environment Ministry data shows that between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, 216 people were injured in bear attacks—a significant increase from the previous year's 3 deaths and 82 injuries.

Scientists attribute the surge to rapidly increasing bear populations combined with declining rural human populations, bringing bears closer to communities. Additionally, a reduced acorn crop last year—a key bear food source—has forced bears to forage in other areas.

Brown bears are found only on Hokkaido Island, where the population has more than doubled in 30 years, reaching over 11,500 in 2023. Japanese black bears are distributed across multiple regions including Honshu, covering both Iwate and Yamagata prefectures.

On May 8, 2025, police officers Abhichon Kankha and Paibuul Phimkamnerd arrested 38-year-old Pradis (known as Tae) at Bangkok Aeon Mall train station in Chatuchak District, based on a warrant from Mae Saruang Provincial Court dated February 6, 2025. He faces charges of abetting organized fraud, impersonation, and allowing unauthorized use of bank accounts and electronic payment systems.

The investigation began in late 2024 when a victim contacted a Facebook page called "Je Laeng" to purchase cream products via Messenger. After transferring payment, the page claimed the victim needed to participate in additional activities before receiving the goods. The victim was added to a Line group where scammers instructed them to make multiple additional transfers, claiming these were activity payments that would be returned once completed. However, the victim ultimately could not withdraw any funds and lost approximately 1.7 million baht before filing a police report at Mae Lak Luang Station in Mae Hong Son Province.

Police traced the bank account used to receive fraudulent transfers to Pradis and obtained an arrest warrant. During interrogation, Pradis confessed that in 2024, while unemployed, a Thai man in his 40s offered him a job as a restaurant server in Bangkok's Bang Sue area. Instead, he was taken by taxi with two others to Aranyaprathet District in Sa Kaew Province, where they illegally crossed into Cambodia. After spending approximately three weeks in Cambodia, Pradis was taken to undergo facial recognition to open four bank accounts. Once he received 9,000 baht in wages, he was sent back to Thailand, where he was eventually arrested. Police are pursuing further legal action.

A major surprise announcement has sent waves through Thailand's social media entertainment scene as one of the country's hottest influencers, Yok Jittraphan, is set to make international waves by attending the prestigious 2026 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.

Despite previous rumors that forced her to deny involvement in illegal business activities and hit back at online trolls, the latest news has fans buzzing with excitement as Yok officially announced she will represent Thailand as L'Oréal Paris's first Thai VIP influencer ambassador on the red carpet of the international film festival in 2026.

This red carpet appearance marks a significant milestone proving to the world her journey from online seller—who once generated around 10 million baht daily in livestream sales—to Thailand's top influencer now recognized and invited by global brands. Yok Jittraphan has become the first Thai influencer selected by L'Oréal Paris to represent the country on the international stage.

Yok shared her excitement, saying: "This year is incredible for me because it's my first opportunity to walk the red carpet at an international film festival in Cannes as L'Oréal Paris's representative. When I learned about this schedule, I was thrilled and excited. I will do my best in this role. I'm nervous but ready for this."

The schedule runs from May 15-17, with Yok beginning with her first-ever live broadcast directly from Cannes on May 15 to let fans experience the world-class event. The highlight comes on May 16 when she will make her stunning red carpet appearance in an elegant gown, mingling with international celebrities, before wrapping up on May 17 with another live broadcast for fans.

Follow Yok Jittraphan's minute-by-minute updates from the Cannes Film Festival 2026 red carpet on TikTok/Social: yok_jittraphan and cheer on Thailand's first influencer as she represents her country on the world stage in Cannes.