Train driver admits to regularly using methamphetamine and cannabis, consuming multiple pills at a time, with his most recent use occurring 10 days before the incident. A background check revealed he had previously faced drug charges in 2562. The accident involved Cargo Train 2126 (Laem Chabang-Bang Sue) crashing into air-conditioned bus Line 206 at the Makkasan railway crossing below the Airport Rail Link station on Asoke-Din Daeng Road, triggering a massive fire that killed 8 people instantly and injured over 30 others on the afternoon of May 16.

At 12:15 p.m. on May 18, 2569, at Makkasan Police Station, Pol. Col. Worsakdi Pisitbannakorn, Deputy Commander of Police Region 1, revealed progress on the rail-bus collision case. An investigation team was established with divided responsibilities, and preliminary charges have been filed against the bus driver for reckless driving causing death, injury, and property damage to others. The train driver and signal man have also been charged with recklessness causing death and injury, though their accounts contradict each other—the signal man claims he gave clear signals while the train driver denies receiving any signal, which the defendant claims is his right.

Pol. Col. Worsakdi stated the investigation team will examine every crossing the train passed through to determine the train's speed and whether signal men provided clear warnings at each point. The team has sent documentation to the State Railway of Thailand requesting permission to recreate the accident and examine driver visibility. They will also consult railway legal officers regarding regulations for authorizing train operators, as currently no licensed train drivers are employed.

"The train driver claims regular methamphetamine and cannabis use, with the last use 10 days before the incident, but police remain skeptical," Pol. Col. Worsakdi said. "Background checks show he was previously prosecuted for drug offenses in 2562 in Thung Song District, Nakhon Si Thammarat." Police are coordinating with multiple agencies to enforce parking restrictions at designated points to prevent similar accidents.

The First Army Region has deployed troops to address Thai public complaints about Cambodian nationals using agricultural land in Non Mak Mun subdistrict, Kok Sung district, Surin province—an area without clearly defined border demarcation. Army spokesman Polcol Windhai Suvatee stated on May 18, 2025 that soldiers have already engaged in talks with the parties involved. Since the area lacks clear border delineation, ownership cannot be definitively determined, and authorities have requested cooperation in suspending use of the land temporarily.

The military spokesman noted that prior to recent combat situations, neither side had strictly enforced border area usage restrictions. However, following the outbreak of conflict, stricter measures and heightened vigilance have become necessary.

When asked whether public requests for fence construction could be implemented immediately, Polcol Windhai stated that no mutually accepted border demarcation line currently exists between the two countries, though barbed wire fencing has been installed in areas under Thai control. The border area under the Second Army Region's responsibility spans over 400 kilometers, making it necessary to allocate adequate time for proper area management and operations.

"We ask the public to rely primarily on information from military and government agencies to prevent misunderstandings," the spokesman said. "Some people may not fully understand the theoretical boundary lines established by both nations' militaries, which are currently undergoing continuous adjustments. Thai agricultural areas have no issues because their boundaries are clearly defined. Similarly, Cambodian military officials must help their own citizens understand these matters as well."

On May 18, 2025, Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsom, People's Party chairman, posted on Facebook warning against allowing big capital to operate above the law in the amended Trade Competition Act. The bill is set for first reading in parliament on May 20, with seven key amendments: (1) expanding authority to cover state enterprises, public organizations, and commercially-operated government agencies in telecom and energy sectors under equal application, with penalties for offshore misconduct affecting domestic markets; (2) revising the Trade Competition Commission selection process to require House approval instead of cabinet approval, reducing members to seven with specified expertise requirements including law, economics, and consumer protection, with at least 10 years experience and performance metrics; (3) requiring authorization for mergers that could reduce competition or create market dominance, with broader consideration of competitive conditions and future trends; (4) increasing transparency by mandating full disclosure of rulings and individual commissioners' opinions within 15 days, with monthly public progress reports during proceedings; (5) eliminating prison sentences for monopoly violations and replacing with civil penalties calculated as percentage of annual revenue or transaction value; (6) expanding whistleblower protections with reduced penalties for first informants providing evidence, transferring cases to Intellectual Property and International Trade Court; (7) allowing victims to claim damages up to three times actual harm or court-ordered minimum three times but not exceeding four times, with extended limitations periods of three to five years and increased filing fees for merger approvals and advance rulings.

Three Thai children aged 5, 11, and 12 who were deceived by a Buddhist monk into ordination as novices and defrauded in Malaysia have safely returned to Thailand on May 18, 2569, bringing joy to their parents and guardians.

The successful rescue was made possible through coordinated efforts by multiple agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Malaysian Embassy, and the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women. Four other children aged 13-15 remain temporarily in Malaysia to serve as court witnesses, with expected return to Thailand in early June.

Ns. Paveena Hongsakul, chairwoman of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, revealed that after receiving a complaint on May 9, the foundation immediately sent urgent correspondence to the Malaysian Ambassador requesting expedited assistance. The foundation coordinated with the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Director Amnaij Palapleewal and Diplomat Monthon Chansiri to gather information and monitor all seven children's cases.

The foundation also worked closely with the Department of Child and Youth Affairs and the Songkhla Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security.

On May 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that three children would return that night. Officials from the Songkhla Border Region Coordination Center and Songkhla Immigration Police traveled to the border to receive the children at 20:45. The mother of the 5-year-old boy cried and embraced her son with overwhelming joy upon reunion.

Initially, the children showed signs of fever and exhaustion. Officials immediately conducted medical examinations and arranged two nights of recovery at the Songkhla Child and Family Shelter before reuniting them with their families.

Today, parents from Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ratchaburi provinces visited Ns. Paveena Hongsakul to express their gratitude to the foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the Malaysian Embassy for bringing their children safely home.

Ns. Paveena confirmed that the foundation will continue monitoring and coordinating psychological rehabilitation for all three children with relevant agencies, and thanked all stakeholders for their integrated efforts in safely and swiftly reuniting the Thai children with their families.

A 76-year-old Chinese woman is making headlines again after becoming famous in 2010 for being China's oldest mother to give birth to twins at age 60. Zeng Hailin had suffered the loss of her only daughter and son-in-law to carbon monoxide poisoning in 2009, which motivated her decision to pursue IVF treatment despite significant health risks during pregnancy, including severe swelling and bleeding. She successfully delivered twin daughters named Zhuozuo and Huihui in 2010.

Life after their birth proved difficult, with substantial expenses for childcare, education, and extracurricular activities putting strain on the family, even with her husband being a former university professor and herself having served as a hospital director.

After her husband suffered a stroke in 2016 and passed away in 2022, Zeng was also defrauded of over 2 million yuan (approximately 10 million baht) in investments. However, she refused to give up. At age 73, she began livestreaming on Chinese platforms, selling health products and household items while sharing parenting tips and health advice. She gained nearly one million followers and earned the affectionate nickname "Mother Zeng" from her fans.

Zeng has become an inspiration to many parents who have lost children, often speaking about persevering through life's challenges and adapting to her teenage daughters by learning new things and keeping up with current trends. She has expressed pride in being a mother and hopes to live beyond 100 years old to watch her daughters grow up and thrive.

On May 18, 2025, Deputy Minister of Education Akranant Kankanittinan held a meeting with Bangkok Governor Chatchat Sittiphand to finalize preparations and details for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a collaborative pilot project (Sandbox) using the Traffy Fondue application to enhance safety in educational institutions under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in Bangkok, operating under the Center for the Protection of Rights and Freedoms (AOC).

The collaboration aims to implement a Sandbox pilot program that utilizes the Traffy Fondue application as a tool for receiving reports and complaints about school safety issues from students, teachers, educators, and parents. The system employs artificial intelligence (AI) technology to automatically screen and forward information to relevant agencies 24 hours a day, strengthening proactive safety monitoring and prevention systems in educational institutions.

The project focuses on protecting the safety of students, teachers, and education personnel, addressing four major hazard categories: violence, accidents, rights violations, and physical and mental health impacts. It also supports the collection of safety-related statistical data for future planning, development, and policy formulation by relevant agencies.

The pilot program will be implemented in schools under Bangkok's Secondary Education Area Offices (Districts 1 and 2) and Bangkok's Primary Education Area Office, targeting students, teachers, school administrators, educators, and parents in Bangkok. The initiative aims to create a safe educational environment that supports sustainable learning.