A 44-year-old hospital employee named Ms. Poo filed a complaint with Bang Bua Thong Police in Nonthaburi after suffering severe injuries to her body, face, and head from an assault. She is pressing charges against her husband, Sophon (nicknamed 'Pok'), a volunteer firefighter with a prominent foundation, after he beat her following the discovery of her chatting with an ex-boyfriend whom she had known since childhood. The confrontation escalated into violence with a gun barrel, after which Sophon threatened to kill her and fled with several valuable items. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on May 19 in a residential area of Phimolraj Subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province.

Bang Bua Thong Police subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Sophon on charges including illegal possession of firearms, carrying weapons in public, nighttime theft, and assault causing injury, with evidence from CCTV footage. On May 24, 2026, Sophon surrendered to police along with the BB gun magazine he used in the attack, accompanied by his wife Ms. Poo, her sister Ms. Kanisda (41 years old), Nonthaburi City Council Member Saichol Nityakham representing District 7, and police investigators.

Ms. Poo stated that Sophon contacted her saying he would return the stolen items and surrender at the police station, claiming he had already spoken with officers. He expressed desire to reconcile, but she responded that divorce was necessary first, allowing them to live separately. She said that if he could genuinely change, reconciliation might be possible in the future, but currently her body and emotions are deeply wounded. She explained that she agreed to his surrender to give him a chance at a better future and proper closure. Ms. Poo revealed that she has decided to proceed with divorce, allowing them each to move forward with their own lives without further complications.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi announced a bilateral discussion with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on May 23, 2025, during the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Suzhou, China, aimed at elevating economic and trade cooperation between the two nations. Thailand-China relations have strengthened significantly, particularly marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties last year and following the formal royal visit by the Thai King and Queen in November 2024, which the Thai side appreciated along with warm welcomes from President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people.

Thailand commended China's latest national economic and social development plan, which emphasizes digital economy and green economy for high-quality development through technology and innovation—aligning with Thailand's goal to increase product value and enhance national competitiveness. Supachai proposed a pilot cooperation project to upgrade Thai products to premium-quality goods for the Chinese market, leveraging Thailand's agricultural resources combined with Chinese technology and innovation. Functional foods and age-friendly products were suggested as pilot categories, matching China's silver economy initiative and strengthening Thailand's food security role.

Thailand also requested China support Chinese investors in using more Thai resources in production, creating mutual benefit opportunities for manufacturing and investment cooperation with global export potential. The country emphasized promoting SME roles and proposed raising standards and inspection procedures for both sides' products to prevent negative impacts on Thai SMEs while enabling Thai SME products to access the Chinese market. Thailand sought Chinese support in establishing a "Thai National Pavilion" on major Chinese online platforms to expand market access.

Supachai stated that Thailand's proposals addressed both sides' interests, with the Chinese vice premier agreeing to establish a working group to implement the discussed points and report to the Thailand-China joint trade, investment, and economic cooperation committee. Both nations agreed to schedule follow-up meetings.

On May 23, 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Tha Wi Sodsong, advisor to the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee (former Justice Minister, Prachathai Party leader, and list MP), along with Kamlasak Liwamaulo, Narathiwat MP for District 5 from the Prachathai Party serving as commissioner of the committee on debt, poverty, and inequality reduction, inspected the new Narathiwat Airport terminal project in Nong Chik District, Mueang Narathiwat. The mega-project is being developed by CIS Joint Venture, partnering with a Chinese contractor.

The new passenger terminal's architectural structure is taking clear shape, featuring spacious hallways, large structural columns, and wooden ceiling finishing that reveals the building's beauty. Construction is progressing steadily with robust safety measures in place.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Tha Wi emphasized that monitoring this mega-project is not merely about tracking concrete and steel progress, but fundamentally about "hope and opportunity for the people." He views the new airport as crucial to "reducing inequality and solving poverty problems" in the southern border region. An internationally-standard airport will reduce travel costs and time for residents while supporting business, education, tourism, and Hajj pilgrimages for Thai Muslims.

However, Kamlasak raised a critical concern: the real challenge is not construction delays, but ensuring "international airlines will actually operate flights." The new terminal was designed to accommodate international routes, so the government must urgently secure airline partnerships, particularly with Malaysia. Without operational flights, the massive investment could become inefficient.

Progress reports show the overall project is 78-79 percent complete, with the main contractor confirming all architectural and structural work will finish by September 2026. Completed work includes the service building and parking lot (100 percent) and landscape improvements (100 percent).

Thailand's men's sepaktakraw team withdrew during their final match against Malaysia at the ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup 2026 at Titiwangsa Stadium in Malaysia, citing unfair officiating by referee Muhammad Radi across multiple sequences. The controversy centered on the final point in the third match, where a Thai player was called for a foot line violation despite this foul no longer existing in sepaktakraw rules.

Team manager Uayachai Srisuwan explained the disputed sequence: The referee initially called "over," which Thailand challenged. Video review showed it was not over, and the court official held up a "Not Over" sign—meaning the point should have gone to Thailand. However, Radi then reversed his decision, claiming a line fault instead, despite rules no longer prohibiting foot line violations and the player's heel not crossing the center line. This gave the point to Malaysia at 14-14.

Srisuwan further stated: "I consulted with Thai referees—to be over, the entire foot must cross the line, but the heel hadn't crossed. When he didn't call it over, he suddenly called it a line fault. He wouldn't accept 14-14 or allow a replay. We couldn't accept this. What kind of crazy rule allows replays?" The incident prompted Thailand's decision to withdraw from the competition.

UDON THANI — 23 May 2026, A heavily intoxicated Buddhist monk caused a disturbance near a shopping centre in Udon Thani on the eve of Wan Kon, allegedly attempting to enter a popular shabu buffet restaurant and later a nearby bar before challenging police officers to a fight.

A 55-year-old shopping centre security guard said he first saw the monk arrive by motorised tricycle at the railway station before later emerging in an extremely intoxicated state carrying belongings and smelling strongly of alcohol.

The guard said the monk initially asked whether anyone had seen his mother before attempting to enter a shabu restaurant. Security staff stopped him, telling him it was inappropriate. The monk then allegedly walked toward a nearby bar and attempted to enter before staff removed him from the premises and contacted police.

Police said the monk, identified as 60-year-old Phra Samorn Kusumo of the Dhammayut sect, had been ordained for more than 20 years at Wat Pa Lelai in Nong Bua Lamphu province.

Officers from Muang Udon Thani Police Station were called to the area behind a major shopping centre on Thong Yai Road at about 20:00 on Friday after reports of an intoxicated monk behaving aggressively near restaurants and bars about 300 metres from Udon Thani railway station.

When police arrived, security guards had already restrained the monk near the entrance of a bar. He was reportedly wearing only a shoulder cloth and saffron lower robe with flip-flops, and was heavily intoxicated, staggering, incoherent and shouting abuse at bystanders.

According to police, the monk claimed he had been drinking white liquor and insisted he could drink wherever he wanted because it was "not against the constitution." He allegedly continued rambling about politicians and the drafting of laws.

Police searched his belongings and found monk identification documents and a national ID card confirming his identity. Officers said he became agitated during questioning, insulted reporters and twice challenged police officers to fight, reportedly shouting in the Isaan dialect: "You want some?"

Authorities later loaded his belongings and monastic items from Udon Thani railway station onto a police pickup truck before transporting him for defrocking. During the journey, police said he attempted to jump from the vehicle, forcing officers to stop abruptly.

At one point, he allegedly grabbed a restraining pole used by police and tried to strike officers, leading to a struggle before police managed to handcuff him to the rear of the pickup truck, shocking passing motorists and pedestrians.

Police subsequently took him to Wat Phothisomphon, a royal temple in Udon Thani, where senior monk Phra Khun Sutthipanyawat, deputy ecclesiastical governor of the province, formally conducted the defrocking ceremony.

Even after leaving the monkhood, Samorn reportedly remained disoriented and intoxicated, telling authorities he did not know where he was going or where he had come from. He admitted to the charges.