CIMB Thai remains optimistic about Thailand's economy, announcing a new strategic direction that leverages its ASEAN network strength and risk management stability amid global economic volatility. The bank aims to triple its wealth business within five years.

On May 19, 2025, Vuthachai Thanittiraphon, CEO and President of CIMB Thai, stated that Thailand's economy still has significant positive factors from continued tourism recovery and the ongoing shift of manufacturing from China to Southeast Asia. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council forecasts Thai economic growth at 1.5-2.5% this year.

However, businesses and investors still face negative factors and challenges, particularly from economic policies under the Trump administration, international political uncertainty, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts.

The bank announced a new vision to become a specialist in wealth management by leveraging its strategic advantage as part of the ASEAN regional financial institution group. It aims to become the bank that best understands its customers' needs, targeting threefold growth within five years.

CIMB Thai currently manages approximately 290 billion baht in assets, with forecasts to exceed 300 billion baht by year-end and targeting 750 billion baht by 2030.

The bank launched its Wealth Ecosystem built on three pillars:

1. CIMB Safer Pocket: Safe wealth management designing investment portfolios for clients seeking survival, stability, and growth across all market conditions through CIMB Donut, a clear portfolio management tool that clients can apply consistently.

2. CIMB Preferred: Exclusive privileges offering members ASEAN-level CIMB Preferred benefits across all network countries, providing access to high-investment opportunities like Singapore with lower minimum investment requirements for CIMB Thai depositors.

3. [Incomplete in source material]

BANGKOK — On May 19, 2026, relatives of victims killed in Saturday's catastrophic train and public bus crash at the Makkasan railway crossing have accused state transit agencies of institutional negligence, demanding direct accountability over the fatal accident.

On Tuesday at 10:50, the family of a victim known affectionately as Aunt Eiang arrived at the Police General Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine to retrieve her body for funeral rites at Wat Nam Daeng in Samut Prakan province.

The family expressed deep concern about the State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) handling of the situation, noting that while authorities have rushed to defend their personnel, they have provided no information about compensation or accepted responsibility. The family wants answers about why the bus driver stopped on the tracks and is calling for a thorough investigation into whether mechanical failure or other factors were involved.

They stressed that this tragedy must never happen again, pointing out that identical incidents have occurred repeatedly. The family emphasized they are not seeking financial compensation, as Aunt Eiang was the family's pillar, and no amount of money can fill the void left by her death.

At 12:30, a man named Santi arrived to meet with investigators to collect documents for his son's body, which he planned to transport to Wat Khlong Nueng in Pathum Thani province for funeral rites. He revealed that his son was traveling to visit a friend near Phatthanakan Intersection and was just three bus stops away when the crash occurred. The family had tracked the victim's location through a mobile sharing app, and his signal vanished at the exact moment of the accident.

Santi argued that public transportation should be the safest mode of travel, making such a tragedy completely unacceptable. His son was young, set to graduate next year, and aspired to become a software application programmer with a bright future ahead.

Santi strongly criticized both the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and the SRT, characterizing the accident as a result of institutional negligence. He contended that drivers are merely low-level employees and that the organizations themselves must take responsibility for their systems and staff management. He condemned the practice of blaming workers while organizations evade accountability, refuse to provide compensation, and force victims' families to pursue individual lawsuits against employees. Santi demanded that the organizations be held directly accountable.

Gak Lao Lom, lead singer of the Lao Lom band, has officially announced changing his legal name from Supawat Choosuwan to Phuchaphakhin Choosuwan, citing the need for appropriateness in his personal life, work, and future endeavors. The announcement has sparked considerable excitement among the band's followers.

Through a post on the Lao Lom band's Facebook page, Gak explained: "I, 'Gak Lao Lom' or Supawat Choosuwan (formerly), wish to inform all fans, media, business partners, and those concerned that from now on I will officially use the name 'Phuchaphakhin Choosuwan' (pronounced Phooch-cha-pah-kin), which means 'a person of great stability, filled with wisdom, honor, and radiance who is accepted by people.' This name change is a personal decision to better suit my lifestyle, work, and the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

My role in music and all band activities with Lao Lom will continue as normal, and I remain fully committed to creating quality music as before. I'm grateful to all fans, media, and supporters for their love, confidence, and encouragement. I respectfully request that you use my official name 'Phuchaphakhin Choosuwan' or the stage name Gak for all references, media, and official communications going forward."

The Office of the Insurance Commission reported that Thailand's insurance business maintained steady growth throughout 2025 despite economic and risk volatility, with total direct premium income reaching 969.2 billion baht, a 3.17% increase from the previous year. Life insurance premiums totaled 676.4 billion baht (up 3.62%), while property and casualty insurance premiums reached 292.8 billion baht (up 2.17%).

Among life insurance products, the top five by premium value were ordinary life insurance at 402.8 billion baht, health riders at 135.1 billion baht, group life insurance at 41.9 billion baht, unit-linked insurance at 41.4 billion baht, and annuity products at 21.5 billion baht. These figures reflect growing consumer interest in health planning, long-term savings, and investment-linked protection.

Outstanding growth was seen in unit-linked insurance (up 15.48%), health riders (up 12.36%), and annuity products (up 10.18%), while renewal premiums represented 72% of total premiums, indicating sustained demand for continuous coverage protection.

Life insurance operations posted net profits of 74.9 billion baht in 2025, up 65.57% from the previous year, driven by improved underwriting results and investment income. Total invested assets reached 4.49 trillion baht, with 61% allocated to government bonds, reflecting financial stability in the life insurance sector.

In property and casualty insurance, the top five products by premium were voluntary motor insurance at 143 billion baht, personal accident insurance at 31.8 billion baht, miscellaneous property insurance at 30.3 billion baht, mandatory motor insurance at 20.6 billion baht, and health insurance at 19.4 billion baht. Motor insurance remains the largest segment, while health and accident insurance showed continued growth momentum.

Property and casualty insurance expansion was particularly strong in health insurance (up 19.75%), travel insurance (up 15.49%), and personal accident insurance (up 6.76%), reflecting economic recovery and increased domestic and international travel, which diversified coverage demand across multiple insurance categories.

This supernatural display is wasting electricity! A TikToker got terrified thinking a burglar had broken in, jumped up to record video as evidence, but ended up running away instead when the refrigerator door and wardrobe suddenly opened by themselves. Claims this has been happening for the full 2 years, and even the kids in the house call these entities to come play—everyone in the household is spooked.

On May 19, TikTok user @kratayorawe posted a terrifying video challenging brave souls to hunt for ghosts after experiencing unexplainable phenomena in the home. Both the refrigerator door and wardrobe doors open on their own, leaving the entire household frightened.

In the video, the poster's husband is the one filming. He went to investigate after hearing strange noises at night, initially thinking a burglar had broken in. Without turning on the lights, he grabbed his phone to record what he hoped would be evidence of a burglary. The video shows a dog howling intermittently, and as he approaches the refrigerator after hearing sounds, the door suddenly swings open forcefully. The husband screams and immediately runs away. Later, in the mother's bedroom, the wardrobe door slowly opens on its own.

Many netizens speculate the video might be staged and doubt it's a genuine paranormal occurrence. Some believe the refrigerator's door seal has deteriorated, causing it to open on its own. However, other netizens counter that if the seal were truly worn, the door wouldn't open that forcefully—it would likely just crack open slightly and stay that way. Yet according to the poster, the refrigerator door closes by itself afterward.

The poster further explains that the refrigerator was purchased only 2 years ago, so the door seal shouldn't be deteriorated. She also addresses skeptics who suggest string might be rigging the door open, challenging them to show her the string if they see any.

When asked by a netizen if the story is real, she responded: "It's real. Everyone in the house went to a funeral, leaving only my boyfriend home alone for 3-4 nights. Last night was the night after his head-shaving ceremony, so he had to sleep alone."

She added: "Everyone in the house has experienced it, but not like this. Usually, we just see someone open a door with multiple eyes staring out, then the door closes. We've seen it that way for 2 full years until we got used to it. But last night it happened like in the video. There are 2-3 kids in the house, and they cheerfully called it to come play. The adults just looked at each other in shock. They called out to whoever—or whatever—it was."

On May 19, 2026, Deputy Government Spokesperson Phattharasmee Thongsaluay announced the Cabinet's approval of the National Human Rights Commission's recommendation regarding the issuance of educational documents to students with unpaid school fees at basic education institutions. The Cabinet tasked the Ministry of Education with reviewing the proposal in coordination with relevant agencies to determine its feasibility, with a report due within 30 days. The government remains committed to its Thailand Zero Drop Out policy aimed at reducing student dropouts to zero while safeguarding children's educational rights as provided by the Constitution and international human rights conventions to which Thailand is a signatory.