Somsuth Tangkhacha, Marketing Director of Toyota Motor Thailand, alongside Sutthipong Smitchati, Race Director of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand, presided over the awards ceremony for "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand: Champions of The Year 2025," presenting titles to the highest-scoring drivers of 2025 in the grand Make Race competition. The event was held under the concept "MAKE EVER-BETTER CARS From Circuit to the Road" at TOYOTA ALIVE Bang Na on May 14, 2025.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand 2025 showcases the prominence of the Toyota One Make Race, transmitting motorsport DNA to everyday drivers under the "MAKE EVER-BETTER CARS" philosophy through intense competition across four main classes, spanning major cities including Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Buriram. This aims to propel promising new drivers toward professional racing careers.

Beyond on-track intensity, Toyota delivered a complete motorsport festival experience, featuring GR vehicle performance showcases in the GR Performance & Drift Show and GR Experience Hot lab with exclusive GR models. Entertainment came from the TOYOTA Racing Star Team, led by Miya Thongjuea, Payupay Orio, and Pangpond-Akkaravut, generating overwhelming response both at the track and online. This reflects the widespread appeal of motorsport and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand's success as Thailand's most popular motorsport competition.

The 2025 Champions of The Year across all four classes are:

Yaris ATIV Lady One Make Race: 1. #135 Piyawadee Prutsathorn - A Motorsport & BoxzaRacing Team 2. #107 Sitanan Pikulkajorn - Bfin Racing Compact Wise the Hub 3. #156 Arinyada Horn - Sittipol OT Energy Drink 4. #195 Khemisara Konpudsa - Burgundi Motorsport 5. #189 Kittiya Thirawatwarti - KT Team Thailand

Yaris One Make Race: 1. #22 Komura Toshiki - RUK TEAM NEXZTER PMC52 2. #68 Siripakorn Yabyant - TMC-Drive 68 Lenso by Woot Bangbon3 3. #23 Abdull Miqail - 23 Motors Racing Team 4. #59 Benchrong Chomaigul - Superclub Racing Team 5. #44 Kittinart Lueangarunchai - RUK TEAM NEXZTER PMC52

Hilux REVO One Make Race: 1. #4 Nruchit Kiartimonisr - TD Racing by SP Auto 2. #3 Kittisak Siangslak - BKC Voltronic By House Of Cars x Vangarg Garage 3. #19 Niruth Suchrit 4. #49 Pongsathorn Onon - KM Racing 5. #13 Chalermpol Phonlukkarin

Corolla ALTIS GR Sport One Make Race: 1. #9 Sitthichai Khannimit - SpeedRev Racing By NCL Service (eligible to join TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand as a full-fledged driver in the 2026 season, reflecting the program's goal of developing Thai drivers to professional level) 2. #10 Akkaravut Mangklasut - TOYOTA Racing Star Team 3. #11 [Information incomplete]

On May 14, officers from Bang Saothong Police Station in Samut Prakan received a report from a municipal garbage collector who discovered a newborn's body stuffed inside a fertilizer sack and left in a municipal trash bin near the entrance to Bang Saothong Municipality on Road B in the Muang Nai Bangpli housing estate, Bang Saothong subdistrict, Bang Saothong district, Samut Prakan province. Rescue personnel from Po Tek Tung were dispatched to investigate. Inside a green fertilizer bag found in the trash, officers discovered the body of a newborn that had recently been delivered. The infant appeared fully formed with the umbilical cord already cut, though the sex of the child could not be determined. A cloth was also found wrapped around the remains. Officials documented the scene and collected evidence before sending the infant's body for DNA testing to help identify and track down the person responsible. Initial police assessments suggest the mother may have been unprepared for pregnancy and gave premature birth, leading her to abandon the child in the trash bin. Police will review security camera footage to locate and prosecute the individual involved.

On May 14, 2025, at Hua Khwa Temple in Rai Pattana subdistrict, Manorom district, Chaiyaphatthanakan, Abbot Phra Kru Chaiyapattanakan led a major merit-making ceremony to raise the stainless steel spire of the Tham Sanghwet Hall. Thirawat Thiratanasap and Kittiya Phetmongkol, owners of a steel trading and construction business, donated the complete structural steel framework and installation services valued at over 3,100,480 baht. However, the hall still requires additional funding for flooring, walls, and other architectural work.

The ceremony was lively and festive, with pulleys used to hoist the stainless steel spire to the top of the hall. During the ritual, 10,000 firecrackers were set off as an auspicious symbol believed to bring prosperity and success—mirroring the loud celebratory sound. After the firecrackers concluded, the lucky numbers 509 and 58 appeared, causing excitement among residents and fortune seekers who quickly photographed the numbers and rushed to buy government lottery tickets.

The spire-raising ceremony is considered a major merit-making act in Buddhist tradition, as the spire symbolizes the crown or pinnacle of the sacred structure, making it complete and spiritually auspicious. It is believed that those who participate in such merit-making will receive blessings for elevated fortune, prosperity in work and personal life, and lasting well-being.

In scenes reminiscent of Taliban-controlled Kabul or conservative Islamic cities in the Middle East, an angry mob of about 1,000 Thai Muslims surrounded a tea shop in Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng area on Sunday, blocking the street as they hunted for a Muslim trans woman known as 'Madam Lor' or Abdulloh, who allegedly mocked the Koran on social media.

Despite police presence, the mob publicly shaved Abdulloh's head as punishment. Chants of "Allahu Akbar!" filled the air, with participants claiming the punishment was voluntary and that Abdulloh had repented. A police officer present made no attempt to stop the extrajudicial punishment.

With Muslims comprising less than 5 percent of Thailand's 67 million population—roughly three million people—the mob's attempt to impose religious law is particularly troubling in a Buddhist-majority nation that is not governed as a religious state. The vigilante punishment of Abdulloh must be condemned. Thailand operates under the rule of law, not mob justice. Any alleged religious offense should be handled through proper legal channels.

Large gatherings of Muslims seeking to intimidate and humiliate someone in this manner risk escalating fear and mistrust among other faith communities and non-religious people, especially as anti-Muslim sentiment already rises in parts of Europe and the UK. Thai society faces enough divisions without religious mob intimidation deepening social anxiety and distrust. Meanwhile, those criticizing any religion should do so respectfully and constructively. Police should arrest anyone who committed crimes during the incident.

By Wednesday evening, a Buddhist volunteer Facebook page capitalized on the incident by claiming Buddhism is somehow "superior," arguing that Buddhism opposes war and forbids animal killing—unlike Islam. In reality, most Thai Buddhists supported last year's conflict with Cambodia, and the majority consume meat, including Buddhist monks in Thailand.

What's particularly striking about this incident is that apparent inconsistency among self-described progressives appears rooted in convenience rather than principle. Most remained silent during Sunday's mob frenzy. Prominent Islam critic and activist Chotisak Onsoong called them out on Facebook Wednesday:

"'Progressive only when convenient' seems to define how many so-called Thai progressives approach matters of faith. These people readily mock religions and beliefs—whether Jesus, Siddhartha, the Pope, or Buddhist monks—yet remain silent when others face persecution."

On May 14, police from Mae Ping Station in Chiang Mai, working with military personnel and relevant agencies, arrested three suspects and seized 1.8 million methamphetamine pills during a coordinated operation at Chiang Mai's third intercity bus station (Arcade) in Wat Kaet subdistrict, Muang district.

The arrests followed a report from station staff to Mae Ping police about suspicious items resembling drugs found in the baggage of three passengers. Officers immediately coordinated with inspection units and investigation teams to investigate the scene.

Upon arrival, officers identified three suspects from Trang Province—two men and one woman. They were later identified as Nattapol, 26 years old; Surasak, 43 years old; and Penmani, 23 years old.

After searching the suspects' luggage, including rolling suitcases and backpacks, officers discovered the methamphetamine pills concealed inside the bags. The drugs were seized as evidence, and all three suspects were taken into custody for legal proceedings.

Authorities are currently accelerating their investigation to identify members of the trafficking network and trace the drug distribution routes involved in this operation.

On May 14, 2025, at 10:30 AM, officers led by Police Colonel Wichai Sansukul from Samut Prakan Police Division 1, along with FDA investigators, arrested Chinawat Sungwannamsukul, 24 years old, at a residential home in Bang Kaew Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. The arrest followed a complaint from the FDA regarding unauthorized health product sales through a LINE account (@MCSUPPLYMED). After investigation, police discovered the account was advertising unlicensed health products. Officers went undercover to purchase items and located the operation site. With a search warrant from Samut Prakan Provincial Court, they conducted a search and found the suspect at the residence. The search yielded 36 different items totaling 300 units: 11 unregistered medical devices, 15 unregistered pharmaceutical products, and 10 registered pharmaceutical products, valued at approximately 370,000 baht. During questioning, Chinawat admitted the items were his inventory for sale through the LINE account. He was charged with selling modern medicine without authorization, selling unregistered pharmaceutical formulations, and selling medical devices without proper permits. The suspect and seized materials were transferred to Bang Kaew Police Station for further legal proceedings.