The Finance Ministry has defended its decision to reallocate 18.8 billion baht from a 400 billion baht emergency borrowing decree to fund the state welfare card program, arguing the move is both legal and necessary to ease the public's financial burden.

The clarification comes after Sirikanya Tansakul, a Thai People's Party MP and party vice chair, posted on Facebook accusing the government of "sneaking" funds from the Pracharath Fund into regular budget spending.

Deputy Finance Minister Lawaron Saengsonit responded that the reallocation is proper fiscal management and serves the legitimate purpose of addressing rising cost of living without violating the emergency borrowing decree. "There's nothing fishy here," Saengsonit said. "Everything is transparent. Funds at this scale cannot be hidden, concealed, or covered up."

Saengsonit explained that the government exhausted alternative funding sources before turning to the emergency borrowing mechanism. The current fiscal year's central budget has only 20 billion baht remaining, while the legal reserve fund holds 50 billion baht. An additional 20 billion baht is expected from pending budget reallocation legislation.

The ministry faces severe budget constraints despite demand from various government agencies totaling 140 billion baht, including border security and disaster relief. This necessity prompted the emergency borrowing decree.

The 18.8 billion baht welfare card allocation for four months was funded through the emergency decree because it clearly meets the program's objective of protecting vulnerable groups and reduces pressure on the regular budget, allowing central funds to be directed more efficiently to other needs such as flood or drought relief.

The 400 billion baht emergency borrowing fund is divided into two categories: cost of living relief and energy transition. These categories do not need to be funded sequentially, but can be flexibly distributed as needed.

The European Football Union (UEFA) has unveiled plans for a new format in the European zone qualifying rounds for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, divided into two leagues and modeled after the UEFA Champions League structure. All details are currently under refinement to finalize the framework.

The preliminary format divides teams into League A and League B. League A will feature the top 36 national teams split into three groups of 12 teams each. Every team will play six matches against six different opponents, with three home games and three away games. The best-ranked team from each of the three groups will automatically advance to the World Cup finals, with remaining qualification spots decided through playoffs. League B will similarly be divided into three groups, with teams also having the opportunity to secure spots in the World Cup finals.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stated: "This new approach will help balance competition and make it more engaging and dynamic. At the same time, it ensures fair opportunities for all teams to qualify for the finals."

Additionally, UEFA announced that the UEFA Nations League will be restructured from its current four-league format to three leagues, with each league consisting of 18 teams divided into three groups of six teams each.

English players from Aston Villa celebrated their UEFA Europa League 2025-26 championship after a dominant 3-0 victory over Freiburg from Germany in the final on May 20. This marks Villa's first Europa League title and their second European trophy overall, following their European Cup triumph in the 1981-82 season—44 years ago. The victory also represents the club's first major trophy in 30 years, with their last major title coming when they won the League Cup in 1995-96.

On May 20, 2569, a Facebook user posted CCTV footage showing a customer at a hot pot restaurant grabbing the genitals of a 20-year-old server, causing her to cry out in shock. The alleged assault occurred on the evening of May 19 at Ton Pradoo Hot Pot restaurant in Lat Ya subdistrict, Muang district, Kanchanaburi province.

The victim, identified as Jen, recounted that around 9:30 p.m. on May 19, a group of about 12 customers, including one man wearing a shirt with police or military insignia, entered the restaurant. When Jen informed the man that they couldn't accommodate a song request due to other customers being served, the man asked her to write down two song titles. As she stood close to take down the names, he suddenly grabbed her genitals. Shocked and frightened, Jen fled and informed the restaurant owner, who then called police. Jen revealed she felt deeply disturbed by the incident and increasingly anxious after learning the perpetrator was a police sergeant, worried about her safety while commuting home alone late at night on her part-time job.

Phanuphong, 31, the restaurant owner, stated that when police arrived and he showed them the CCTV footage, the officer denied the allegation and challenged him to prove it. Upon viewing the video, instead of showing remorse, the officer and his companions dismissed it as normal behavior. Outraged, Phanuphong emphasized that his restaurant operates with integrity and employees work honestly, so he cannot tolerate such conduct. He has filed a complaint at Lat Ya Police Station and appealed to the officer's superiors to investigate and take strict disciplinary action, stressing that police should be guardians of public safety, not perpetrators of misconduct.

On May 20, 2025, Nath, a 19-year-old student from Phen District, Udon Thani Province, filed a complaint with Wirrapol Raksemwong, Mayor of Ban Dung Municipality, seeking assistance after being scammed by a call center gang. He explained through tears how the scheme unfolded: In December 2024, someone called claiming to be an AMLO official, accusing him of involvement in money laundering connected to someone named M, and sent photos asking if he knew the person. The caller conducted a video call while wearing a police uniform. They then claimed his personal information had been used to open a bank account in Nong Bua Lamphu Province and transferred him to someone purporting to be a DSI officer who asked detailed questions. Nath initially remained skeptical, but when the scammer suspended the call and asked him to provide his True Money account number, he became convinced of their legitimacy due to their access to official-looking documents.

The scammers then instructed him to transfer money for verification of whether it was proceeds from illegal activity. He first sent 1,500 baht from money his mother had given him weekly, followed by 2.99 baht from another account to a bank account bearing the AMLO office name—a move that further convinced him. The gang then claimed to be investigating whether bank officials were complicit, stating that DSI was monitoring the banks. They subsequently informed him that 901,111 baht, 151,196 baht, and 49,999 baht—totaling 1,102,306 baht—would be deposited and asked him to transfer the funds to three accounts. Believing them to be legitimate officials, he complied. Shortly after, the scammers became unreachable.

When Nath attempted to close his bank account, he learned it had been frozen by Huai Phueng Police Station in Kalasin Province. Police instructed him to contact them immediately. Upon visiting the station with his parents, he discovered another victim—a person who had lost over a million baht. That person said they had already filed a report and wanted to settle the matter through mediation, seeking 400,000 baht back from Nath. Since Nath and his family had no additional funds and were themselves victims of the scam, they requested justice.

Police at Huai Phueng Station advised them to also file a complaint at Rangsit Police Station. However, the other victim remained insistent on extracting the 400,000 baht from Nath. Distraught and tearful, Nath expressed his distress, having never encountered such a situation and unsure where to find money to pay, as he himself had been defrauded.

Phanumasat Jitrawasinkul, administrator of the "Helper Pia" Facebook page, advised Nath not to pay definitively until certain of the victim's legitimacy, as it remains unclear whether they are connected to the original scammers. He noted that it was suspicious the alleged million-baht victim was only demanding 400,000 baht back. He recommended Nath hire a lawyer to fight the case in court, as both parties were victims of the same call center gang.

Phanumasat issued a warning: If anyone claims to be a government official, do not comply. Assume it's a call center scam immediately. Parents should especially monitor teenagers during this period, or they too risk falling victim to such schemes.

On May 20, 2569, senior police officials from Don Muang Police Station, along with officers from Non Sung District, jointly arrested Thongchai, also known as 'Pae' Thairnoi, age 57. He faces charges of robbery using a vehicle to facilitate criminal activity and evade arrest, according to criminal court warrant no. 2583/2569 issued on May 7, 2569. The arrest took place at a resort in Don Waai subdistrict, Non Sung District, Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The investigation began following an incident on April 16, 2569 at approximately 6:20 AM when the suspect robbed 72-year-old lottery vendor Phairoj of approximately 2,000 baht in cash and four government lottery tickets near Thoet Ratchada 11 Soi in Don Muang, Bangkok. Police determined the suspect had committed multiple robberies, consistently targeting elderly lottery vendors. Initial investigations identified incidents across five areas: Don Muang Police Station (Bangkok), Pak Kret District (Nonthaburi), Chai Phrauek District (Nonthaburi), Muang Pathum Thani District (Pathum Thani), and Phutthamonthon District (Nakhon Pathom).

The suspect has prior criminal history, including fraud charges from 2559 for ordering noodles while claiming he would donate the money to monks, then leaving without payment at a restaurant near Phra Nang Klao Bridge. Don Muang Police Station has coordinated with relevant local police and will issue public alerts for any additional criminal activity discovered in other jurisdictions.