Central Retail announced its first quarter 2025 financial results with revenues surging to 66.514 billion baht and achieving record-breaking net profit, reflecting the success of its business portfolio restructuring focused on Thailand and Vietnam markets. On May 14, 2025, Suthisarn Chiratthivatwong, CEO of Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited (CRC), revealed that despite global business challenges from geopolitical pressures and energy crises in early 2025, Central Retail continues to see strong consumer confidence with shoppers maintaining their trust in the company's retail ecosystem. The company has successfully refined its portfolio to focus on high-growth markets including Thailand and Vietnam.

"We are aggressively expanding and developing our business in both countries under our 'New Heights, Next Growth' strategy across five dimensions implemented over the past year, particularly in expanding customer base and strengthening our CRC foundation through branch expansion, store renovations, and launching new brands," the CEO stated. The company has secured Master Franchise rights to launch 'No Brand' from South Korea and invested in JD Sports Thailand to fully penetrate the premium sports lifestyle market.

Panate Mahakananuruk, Chief Financial Officer, added: "Beyond business growth, Central Retail prioritizes careful financial management and allocates investments for maximum efficiency, enabling us to maintain strong balance between growth and profitability. First quarter 2025 results showed total revenue of 66.514 billion baht (up 1.4% year-over-year) and net profit of 2.888 billion baht (up 12.5% year-over-year), marking a new quarterly record for the company."

On sustainability, Central Retail continues supporting customers and society by participating in the government's 'Thailand Helps Thailand' cost-of-living reduction program through Tops and Go Wholesale, offering over 2,300 essential items at special prices. The company also provides 38 free vehicle inspection services through Auto One while advancing environmental initiatives including increased solar energy usage and transitioning to electric vehicles for long-term energy security.

Mountain bike coach Robert Herber Jr. expects strong performances from Thai cyclists Poon Siri and Pong Pheera in the cross-country event and Pla Chart and Watchara Korn in the eliminator competition, while road cyclists are competing in the 2026 Tour de Gueom to accumulate Olympic qualifying points for 2028. Pol. Gen. Daecha Hemkraseri, president of the Thai Cycling Association, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), and president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), announced that the cycling association has assembled all national cycling athletes across road, track, mountain bike, and BMX disciplines to prepare for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, utilizing comprehensive sports science methodology. The association coordinated with Thailand's Institute of Sports Science to conduct blood lactate testing for road and mountain bike cyclists at Chateau de Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima on April 28-30 to enable coaches to design appropriate training programs. For mountain bike athletes under coach Robert Herber Jr.'s supervision, training incorporates sports science analysis and lactate testing results, along with power meter technology to precisely measure cyclists' actual output and enable targeted performance development. The Thai mountain bike team for the 20th Asian Games comprises eight athletes: five men—Pla Chart Nak Thong Kam, Watchara Orn Tuli, Vorapong Mueang Suk, Pong Pheera Pong Ayukul, and Poon Siri Sirimongkol—and three women—Pin Phak Chiang Suan, Porn Phukt Prapodit Tang, and Phumrat Chelinkit. The cycling association plans to send mountain bike athletes to compete in the 2026 Asian Mountain Bike Championships in Uzbekistan from June 23-27, with coach Herber focusing on events contested at the Asian Games, primarily men's and women's cross-country, while also having athletes compete in eliminator events to test readiness for Nagoya. Early competition is essential, as athletes trained since March need international races to gauge their true potential and avoid training monotony. Road cyclists will relocate to Chiang Mai province once PM2.5 air quality improves, as the terrain resembles Nagoya. The cycling association received cooperation from Chiang Mai University's medical technical team to provide comprehensive sports science support including anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, biomechanics, sports medicine, and sports technology. After training in Chiang Mai, the cycling association will send male cyclists to compete in the 2026 Tour de Gueom in South Korea.

The Bank of Thailand has extended its Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio relaxation for housing loans by one additional year, now ending on June 30, 2027. The measure enables 100% financing for second homes priced up to 10 million baht and homes exceeding 10 million baht from the first loan contract, intended to maintain consumer confidence and support the real estate sector's recovery.

On May 14, 2025, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthilertvorakul announced that the Financial Institution Policy Committee (FIPC) approved the extension of the LTV relaxation period for housing credit and related loans. The timeline has been extended by one year from the original expiration date of June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2027, with the following details:

1. The LTV ratio ceiling is set at 100% for housing loans in both cases: (1) properties valued below 10 million baht starting from the second loan contract onwards, and (2) properties valued at 10 million baht or more starting from the first loan contract.

2. This relaxation is temporary for loan contracts executed between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2027.

The Bank of Thailand's extension of the LTV relaxation aims to sustain confidence and support the real estate sector's recovery. Housing demand has remained weak due to economic slowdown and has been further impacted by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have affected business costs and household purchasing power.

The committee assessed that the LTV extension would have limited impact on financial system stability, as financial institutions remain cautious in credit extension and there have been no unusual speculative signals observed to date.

On May 14, 2025, Rattanadhiloset Police Station officers arrested 31-year-old air conditioning technician Surasit for committing an indecent act by exposing himself on a motorcycle in public. He was apprehended at a grocery store on Rattanadhiloset Soi 22 in Bangkok Noi District, Nonthaburi Province.

The case began when 49-year-old Warinthon Phadungvithee, a former Miss Universe Thailand, filed a report on May 6, 2025, stating that on May 4 at approximately 7:30-7:50 a.m., while jogging with her boyfriend on Nonthaburi Soi 46, a Thai man wearing a black sleeveless shirt and patterned shorts on a black Honda Scoopy motorcycle pulled up beside her and exposed himself. When she turned away and informed her companion, the suspect fled.

Police reviewed CCTV footage and identified the suspect as Surasit. Upon interrogation, he confessed that he acted on impulse after seeing the woman because his wife is seven months pregnant. He admitted to committing similar offenses two to three times previously in Nakhon Sawan Province.

Police discovered Surasit had a prior indecent exposure conviction from March 21, 2022, at Suwannaram Park in Nakhon Sawan, and a separate home invasion case in 2016. He was charged with indecent exposure in public and fined 10,000 baht before being released.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 5:45 PM, the Supreme Patriarch appointed Somdej Phra Maha Ratchmongkhon Muni (Thongchai Thammadhcho), a member of the Maha Thera Association, senior monastic administrator, and deputy abbot of Wat Trimitwit Witthayaram, as director of the Buddhist clergy for the second Tripitaka Recitation Ceremony of 2569 BE.

Amphorn Kittamphon, a royal advisor, served as director of the lay delegation, joined by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilpraband and Wannee Nonthasiri, inspector general of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), representing the ministry at the ceremony.

The Bangkok sangha (monastic community), the Nakhon Pathom provincial sangha, and over 500 royal scholarship recipients and novices participating in the government's scholarship program for Thai monks attended the recitation at the Marble Tripitaka Hall in Buddhmonthon under royal patronage. The atmosphere was peaceful and filled with reverence, reflecting the profound commitment to preserving Buddhism and safeguarding the Tripitaka, a crucial intellectual heritage of the nation.

Phra Maha Pairot Yanakusalo, deputy abbot of Wat Mahathat Yuvaraj Rangsrit and director of the Abhidhamma Chotika College at Maha Chulalongkorn Buddhist University (MCU), delivered discourse on the Tripitaka's significance. He explained that the Tripitaka is the primary Buddhist scripture compiled since the First Buddhist Council by accomplished elders, making it invaluable for transmitting the Buddha's teachings.

The Tripitaka recitation ceremony aims to instill Buddhist principles into the hearts of the faithful, ensuring the dharma remains integral to Buddhist life across all ages and communities. The event supports the preservation and study of the Tripitaka, strengthens wisdom among participants, and fosters cooperation between the sangha and government and private sectors, while advancing royal and ecclesiastical policies to establish Buddhmonthon as Thailand's premier Buddhist learning and activity center.

Udompon Ekiam, director of the National Buddhism Office, received participants and gave a report alongside her team, officials, and staff who coordinated the ceremony efficiently. Government officials, representatives from both public and private organizations, and numerous devoted citizens participated in the recitation.

SA KAEO — Fourteen May 2026. Thai authorities arrested 16 people, including Thai, Shan, and Vietnamese nationals, who were attempting to illegally cross from Cambodia into Thailand following a crackdown on online scam and gambling operations in Poipet, officials confirmed Thursday.

At 5:30 am, troops from the Burapha Task Force, Aranyaprathet Special Task Force, and the 12th Ranger Forces Regiment, working with Sa Kaeo provincial forces, intercepted the group near Ban Phu Nam Kliang village in Pa Rai sub-district, Aranyaprathet district, after receiving reports of unauthorized border crossings through unofficial routes.

Officers spotted suspicious individuals crossing the border on foot and moved in to surround and arrest them. The 16 detainees consisted of four Thai nationals, two Vietnamese, and 10 ethnic Shan migrants from Myanmar—all lacking valid travel documents.

During interrogation, the four Thai detainees admitted they had been recruited through contacts to work for the online gambling website UFABET168 in Poipet, attracted by monthly salaries between 15,000 and 25,000 baht. Previously employed as delivery riders, warehouse workers, sales staff, and factory workers, they crossed the border more than a year ago to take these jobs.

Tensions escalating along the Thai-Cambodian border prompted the closure of several checkpoints, leaving them stranded in Poipet accommodations for weeks with no way home. To return, they each paid a Cambodian broker 8,000 baht to arrange transport to an unofficial border crossing. The broker drove them in a Cambodian-registered vehicle before directing them to walk the rest of the way into Thailand.

The 10 ethnic Shan migrants said they had travelled from Siem Reap to Poipet with help from Chinese financiers to work as security guards at a building operated by a Chinese business group. When Cambodian authorities launched operations against call center gangs, scammers, and online crime networks, their employer shut down, forcing them to attempt illegal entry into Thailand to return home.

All suspects were turned over to investigators for legal action. Authorities are expanding their investigation into human smuggling networks, illegal border crossing operations, and financial connections to transnational online gambling enterprises.