Deputy Governor Don Nakornthap of the Bank of Thailand's Financial Policy Division explained that the Thai real estate sector is currently facing "two major shocks" from the energy crisis—both on the supply side through increased construction and material costs tied to energy prices, and on the demand side through higher living costs reducing consumer purchasing power.

Residential property transfer data shows a continuous downward trend over the past three years, though recent slight improvements have emerged. While foreign demand has increased in unit numbers, total transaction value has not grown proportionally due to a shift in buyer demographics from high-income groups to lower-priced market segments.

Credit conditions remain sluggish, with retail and real estate lending still negative and non-performing loans (NPL) remaining high compared to international standards. Borrower behavior of not abandoning properties keeps debts lingering in the system.

On the supply side, residential projects remain abundant despite fewer new launches last year, requiring continued time to clear inventory. Smaller developers face greater pressure than larger ones due to capital constraints and credit access difficulties.

A critical market shift is the growing second-hand home market, which has increased from approximately 31% to 41% market share. Across nearly all income groups, consumers increasingly prefer second-hand properties due to better affordability as new home prices remain elevated.

Affordability remains a significant pressure point, with residential prices trending upward long-term while incomes have not kept pace, making credit access increasingly difficult for lower-income earners. New lending data shows the proportion of borrowers earning below 30,000 baht monthly dropped from about 10% to 7%, while higher-priced real estate gained share, reflecting greater market dependence on high-income buyers.

While financial institutions have not tightened credit standards, declining borrower quality has automatically reduced loan approvals.

On April 23, 2026, the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce continued its support for Thai entrepreneurs by hosting the second Cross-Border e-Commerce 2026 event in Chiang Mai at the Wintry City Resort Convention Hall. The event was designed to enhance the capabilities of northern entrepreneurs, enabling them to expand trading opportunities to foreign markets through online channels effectively.

The event was inaugurated by Wutthisak Kanjanapon, Director of the Digital Commercial Market Bureau, alongside government and private sector partners including Chiang Mai Commerce Office, Lampang Commerce Office, Chiang Mai Industry Office, Lamphun Chamber of Commerce, e-commerce platforms, logistics partners, and international payment service providers.

More than 200 entrepreneurs participated in the event, representing diverse product categories including processed food, fresh fruit, processed fruit, health and beauty products, beverages, lifestyle goods, and more. Export value through online platforms is projected to exceed 160 million baht within one year.

Event activities included knowledge-sharing and capacity-building sessions such as presentations on "TOPTHAI: Next Step to Global with Digital Platforms" to guide market expansion strategies through digital platforms, and a special presentation on "Upgrading Business to the Digital Age with AI" by technology application experts.

The event also featured discussion forums and market insights from leading e-commerce platforms including Thailand Post Mart and Alibaba.com, which shared market trends, sales techniques, and international trade opportunities, as well as Shopee, which showcased the success story of Thai brand Ingu on its platform.

Additionally, entrepreneurs participated in Business Matching sessions to negotiate directly with platforms, and Business Consulting activities offering comprehensive advice on trade, finance, international payments, and logistics. AI Training courses were also provided to help entrepreneurs leverage digital technology in borderless commerce.

DITP plans to continue organizing events nationwide under the Cross-Border e-Commerce: TOPTHAI project. Northeastern entrepreneurs are invited to the next event on June 10, 2026, at the Emerald Room, Kosha Hotel in Khon Kaen. Online entrepreneurs can participate in July sessions from anywhere. For more information, visit TopThaibyDITP on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or call the DITP hotline at 1169.

Bangkok enters its hot season from February through May each year, with climate change intensifying weather conditions and particularly exacerbating the urban heat island effect, which impacts public health, daily life, and livelihoods. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is implementing a comprehensive heat management strategy for both short and long-term solutions under the oversight of a dedicated heat management committee to protect residents' quality of life. The city has identified 379 heat risk zones across Bangkok, mostly in open areas with high population density and shared public spaces such as construction sites, motorcycle taxi stands, parks, outdoor sports facilities, markets, and densely populated communities.

Short-term measures include monitoring and early warning systems. Bangkok closely tracks heat conditions using the Heat Index, which reflects the temperature the human body actually perceives based on the relationship between temperature and relative humidity. When humidity is high, the body cannot cool itself effectively through sweating, making conditions feel hotter than they are and increasing health risks. The alert system uses four color-coded levels:

Green (Caution): Heat Index 27.0–32.9°C – Monitor information and maintain general health practices Yellow (Warning): Heat Index 33.0–41.9°C – Reduce outdoor activity duration Orange (Dangerous): Heat Index 42.0–51.9°C – Avoid outdoor activities; implement intensive protective measures if necessary Red (Extremely Dangerous): Heat Index above 52.0°C – Completely halt outdoor activities due to high risk of heat stroke

Alerts are disseminated through the AirBKK application, the Greener Bangkok website, the Bangkok PR website, Facebook, the Bangkok Air Quality Information Center, and smart traffic signs.

Long-term measures address root causes through urban restructuring and legal reforms to reduce future heat accumulation. These include integrating heat adaptation with urban planning; implementing mandatory permeable surface requirements for new buildings since 2013 to reduce urban heat islands; using FAR bonus incentives to promote green buildings and water retention areas; increasing green space and open areas in each land-use zone; promoting compact urban development with shade, pedestrian pathways, and climate-appropriate public transportation; creating green corridors through streets and canals via a comprehensive Bangkok master plan; developing heat-risk maps incorporating health vulnerability data; linking urban planning requirements with building control regulations to support climate-responsive design; and developing low-cost, no-regret cooling infrastructure such as reflective roofing systems.

Chitmeungnon, Tank's mother, showed her concern for her son by reaching out through a video call after his knockout loss to Takeru. Following the ONE Samurai 1 event on April 29, 2025, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, the main event featured former ONE Muay Thai Flyweight World Champion Chitmeungnon against Japanese favorite Takeru in a catchweight bout for the interim ONE Kickboxing Flyweight World Championship (125-135 lbs). Takeru proved dominant, landing powerful strikes that knocked Tank down four times before securing a knockout victory in the fifth round. In a recent post by Atitiya Srisawat, Tank's younger sister, a video clip was shared showing their mother calling her son, expressing her worry and saying, "Where does it hurt, sweetheart? You did your best, my son. Mom was rooting for you all the way."

During a parliamentary session on April 30, 2569 at the National Assembly, Romadon Panjor, a Pheu Thai party list MP, raised concerns about the shooting of Nakhon Si Thammarat MP Kamlasak Liwamoh, describing it as a significant case. Although progress has been made against the suspected perpetrator group, evidence over the past month has implicated state officials, the National Intelligence Agency, military units, locations, and vehicles, leading Romadon to question whether this was merely an attack on one MP or a broader threat to parliamentary institutions.

Romadon urged Parliament Speaker Sophon Saranom to establish a monitoring committee or mechanism to ensure the investigation proceeds impartially and that investigators maintain independence, arguing that any attack on MPs constitutes an attack on the most vital institution in democracy.

Sophon responded that while he was deeply concerned from the incident's onset and had personally spoken with and encouraged the affected MP, he believed the case is progressing well and should be left to the responsible agencies. He stated there are currently no obstacles impeding the work of relevant authorities, and that he has informed all related agencies to prioritize the security of all parliamentarians regardless of their province.

New York City Mayor Sohran Mamdani said he would request that King Charles III, who is on an official state visit to the United States, return the 'Koh-i-Noor,' a diamond weighing 105.6 carats. "If I had a private conversation with His Majesty, I would ask him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond," said Mamdani, an Indian-American, hours before the 9/11 memorial ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. King Charles later spoke with Mamdani at the ceremony, while Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter, and there is no confirmation of whether Mamdani formally requested the diamond's return. India has previously called multiple times for Britain to return the Koh-i-Noor. Historically, British colonial administrators presented the diamond to Queen Victoria in 1847, approximately 176 years ago. After the East India Company annexed the Punjab region in 1846 and seized the diamond from a deposed Indian leader, the Koh-i-Noor had previously been owned by the Mughal emperors of India, the Shah of Iran, the Emir of Afghanistan, and Sikh maharajas.