Industry Minister Warawut Silpaarch visited the Bank for Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SME D Bank), a state-owned specialized financial institution under the Industry Ministry's supervision, to deliver new operational policies. He emphasized that the bank must continue supporting Thai SME operators in all circumstances and facilitate their smooth transition to green business practices in line with the government's "ONE MIND single industry" policy, built on four pillars: listening to public and business voices, launching new economic engines, responsive governance, and ministerial commitment. These will be implemented through rapid and broad access to financial services coupled with development support, including technology and innovation training.

The bank must integrate cooperation with agencies under the Industry Ministry and both public and private sector partners to maximize efficiency for SMEs, helping them increase productivity, reduce costs, minimize waste and greenhouse gas emissions, adopt clean energy, and manage environmentally-friendly supply chains. This will enable Thai SMEs to adapt to global economic changes, compete internationally, and build long-term economic security.

Pichit Mitravongse, SME D Bank's Managing Director, stated that the bank is ready to implement the industry minister's policies as the primary mechanism supporting SMEs and linking partner organizations to enhance SME competitiveness amid economic challenges. The bank has implemented improvements across multiple dimensions, including clear policy communication at all levels, removing regulatory obstacles, relaxing borrower qualifications and collateral requirements, and increasing SME access to capital, particularly in target industries such as food, agricultural processing, and wellness.

The bank has incorporated ESG principles to promote environmentally and socially responsible business practices among SMEs while maintaining proper risk management. The bank has established a three-dimensional action plan: First, improving capital access by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises with total lending of over 20 billion baht at a low fixed interest rate of just 3% per year for the first three years, with repayment terms extending up to 10 years to ensure adequate liquidity during economic crises.

A touching story from China has gone viral online after a young blogger drove over 1,300 kilometers to help a female student get back home to see her mother one last time before the funeral. The incident involved a fourth-year student from North Min University in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northern China. On the evening of May 7, the student received news that her mother had died suddenly. With her hometown located in a remote mountainous area, she frantically searched for the fastest way to travel. Her roommate contacted blogger Yu Jinhui, a physical education student who co-manages the social media account @yuyuqiubite with 730,000 followers, asking for help. Yu and his team immediately agreed to the task. They picked up the unnamed student and comforted her during her time of deep sorrow before departing at 1:30 a.m. on May 8. Throughout the long journey, Yu drove the entire route while his three teammates kept him company and helped keep him alert. The total travel time was approximately 13 hours to reach a village in Enshi, Hubei Province. During the final 100 kilometers, Yu nearly ran out of energy and became nauseous from consuming large amounts of energy drinks to fight drowsiness. Despite his exhaustion, the team still purchased offerings and paid their respects to the student's mother, staying there for about 2 hours before returning. Yu revealed that the team spent approximately 5,200 yuan (around 24,000 baht) on the entire journey, covering fuel, highway tolls, food, accommodation, and offerings. They also gave an additional 1,000 yuan (around 4,800 baht) to the student as assistance. When the student tried to offer payment for fuel as repayment, Yu's team refused all compensation, choosing to help out of their own goodwill.

A sedan struck a fallen motorcyclist and dragged the body dozens of meters along the road in a tragic accident. On May 16, authorities reported that late the previous night, Deputy Lt. Somchai Muay Dee of the Tha Sala Police Station received a report of a motorcycle accident where a sedan had run over the rider at the curve in Thung area on the Nakhon-Tha Sala Road, Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. After being notified, officers coordinated with the Tha Sala Hospital emergency doctor and rescue personnel to investigate the scene. Upon arrival, they found the body of Kanpattana, known as "Bangnuk Pakphying," a well-respected figure in the Tha Sala cockfighting community and organizer of major cockfighting tournaments in the area. The body bore marks of being dragged dozens of meters along the road, with a blue Honda motorcycle overturned nearby and the sedan parked not far from the accident scene. Investigation determined that Kanpattana was riding the motorcycle at high speed when it lost control and fell into the middle of the road. The sedan traveling behind at high speed could not brake in time, struck the fallen rider, and dragged the body dozens of meters along the road, resulting in his death. Authorities have collected evidence and interviewed the sedan driver for further legal action.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supchee Sutthamphan, accompanied by senior Commerce Ministry officials including Wuthijai Leevirapat (Permanent Secretary), Varawuth Somwangpresert (Ministry Inspector), and Prawit Silao-on (Deputy Director General of the International Trade Promotion Department), visited Tuk Tuk Thai, a one-star Thai SELECT-certified restaurant in Cannes, France. During the visit, the delegation reviewed the restaurant's operations and solicited business owners' recommendations on promoting Thai cuisine in the European market.

Tuk Tuk Thai stands as one of the most popular Thai restaurants among French residents, tourists, and expatriates, especially during the Cannes Film Festival when visitors from around the world flock to the city. Located on Rue Bivouac Napoléon in central Cannes, the restaurant serves authentic Thai cuisine in a warm, welcoming atmosphere decorated with Thai cultural elements including colors, photographs, and décor from Thailand.

The restaurant's menu features internationally recognized Thai dishes including pad Thai, tom yum shrimp, green curry chicken, and shrimp pad krapow, using high-quality local ingredients combined with authentic Thai spices and sauces imported from Thailand. The restaurant also accommodates dietary restrictions with vegetarian and vegan options, adjusting spice levels to suit customer preferences.

"The Ministry views Thai restaurants abroad as crucial mechanisms for building a positive image of Thailand and important tools for promoting Thai soft power on the world stage through the appeal of food, culture, and Thai hospitality. This helps create awareness and appreciation for Thai products and services internationally," a ministry statement said.

France currently hosts 37 Thai SELECT-certified restaurants, including one three-star establishment (L'Orchidée in Ensisheim) and 36 one-star restaurants scattered throughout Paris and major cities nationwide.

The revamped Thai SELECT program now features four certification levels: Thai SELECT Casual, Thai SELECT 1 Star, Thai SELECT 2 Star, and Thai SELECT 3 Star, covering establishments from casual to premium dining. The new framework strengthens evaluation criteria across five key areas: food taste and presentation, atmosphere and consumer experience, hygiene standards, chef expertise, and ingredient quality, using an orchid-shaped emblem to signify international standard Thai cuisine quality.

Interested parties can contact the International Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Commerce, at 1169 or visit www.ditp.go.th for more information and international trading opportunities through THAITRADE.COM.

Prime Minister Anupong Paojinda has expressed concern over the growing issue of foreigners using Thai nationals as nominee landholders to circumvent restrictions on foreign land ownership. This practice has created anxiety among the public regarding land prices and access to property resources for Thai citizens. The PM has ordered the Land Department to elevate inspection and oversight measures for land transactions nationwide, aiming to prevent Thais from being used as fronts for foreign land purchases and to block exploitation of legal loopholes.

Following this directive, the Land Department has sent urgent instructions to provincial governors nationwide, requesting that land officials work closely with relevant agencies to strictly implement anti-nominee guidelines. The department is also launching public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of nominee arrangements and encouraging reporting of suspected violations to authorities. All provincial land offices have been instructed to intensify monitoring and investigation of high-risk transactions, with particular attention to major economic zones, tourist destinations, and areas with significant foreign capital investment.

The Land Department confirmed it has been conducting ongoing investigations, including deep audits of fund sources, property ownership links, corporate shareholding structures, and suspicious behavioral patterns indicating nominee arrangements. When violations are suspected, immediate investigation and legal action follow. Specific scrutiny protocols include: (1) investigations when individuals or Thai-owned companies purchase land with cash payments exceeding 2 million baht or property valued above 5 million baht, with exceptions for legitimate inheritance; (2) careful examination of corporate entities with suspicious shareholding changes, capital increases, or unusual share transfers intended to circumvent foreign ownership restrictions; and (3) monthly audits of entities with foreign shareholders or directors, with quarterly reports to the Land Department. Clear evidence of violations will result in strict legal prosecution against both companies and individuals involved.