Daily Frustration: Foreign Tourists Kick Soccer Ball Around Shopping Mall, Ignoring Children and Elderly Passersby. Online users question where the mall's security staff have gone. May 11, 2025 – Phuket Times Facebook page shared video footage of two foreign tourists kicking a soccer ball inside a shopping mall in Phuket province, surrounded by numerous shoppers and tourists. The video shows a barefoot foreign man kicking the ball back and forth with a friend, seemingly oblivious to those around him. Despite attempts by some to warn them, the pair continued playing as if nothing was happening, causing alarm among mall visitors who worried the ball might hit children, elderly people, or damage shop property. Online commenters have expressed strong views, calling for relevant authorities and mall security to enforce stricter standards against tourists displaying inappropriate behavior, to prevent damage to Phuket's tourism reputation. Questions have been raised about the whereabouts of the mall's security staff, with criticism mounting over increasingly inappropriate conduct by foreign tourists.

TeJay Pannawitchaya, "The Wolf Juniors," Thailand's rising young golfing star, maintained his exceptional form to capture the championship at Stage 6 of the Thailand Junior World Tour (Season 2) in the E-Boy category. Competing at Lotus Valley Golf Resort in Chachoengsao on May 10, 2026, TeJay delivered a solid 75 (39-36) to claim the stage title, highlighted by two eagles on holes 2 and 18, plus two additional birdies from holes 5 and 14, showcasing his aggressive play throughout the day.

Despite challenging weather conditions with rain falling from the opening holes, TeJay demonstrated excellent adaptability in managing his focus, course strategy, and mental approach as course conditions continually shifted. This victory brings his season-long point total to 385, maintaining his firm grip on first place in the E-Boy standings and bolstering his chances of earning a spot in the Thailand Junior World Tour final round in Japan.

Following his win, TeJay remarked: "The weather was quite difficult today, especially with the rain early on that kept changing the course conditions. I tried to focus on each shot and adjust my thinking to match the situation as much as possible. I'm really happy to have won the championship."

His father, Toon Piyapong Wangsuksook, commented: "Today was another challenging stage with rain and greens constantly changing. But TeJay managed his focus and adapted well, especially regarding his mental approach and course management. This shows good development."

The Thailand Junior World Tour Season 2 Final Round will take place on June 14, 2026, at Phoenix Gold Golf Club in Bangkok, where top-ranked players will earn the opportunity to compete in Japan's international junior golf championship.

On May 11, 2025, the Senate met under the chairmanship of Deputy Senate President General Kriengkrai Sriraksh to discuss a motion on the problem of foreigners holding land through nominee representatives in local communities. Senator Nopodol Pringsukul, who proposed the motion, warned that this threatens Thailand's economic sovereignty and long-term national security, calling for fair and equal law enforcement to protect national interests.

Senator Ajchrapan Hommros supported the motion, noting that while Thailand has traditionally welcomed foreigners, the current situation has evolved into a "state within a state" phenomenon. She cited examples including Jewish communities on Phang Nga's Koh Pangan—which has become a "second Tel Aviv"—Russian settlements in Phuket, and Chinese networks in Khao Yai and Rayong. These foreign groups establish closed businesses using Thai nominees as fronts, with profits never reaching Thai workers. Some have purchased entire residential projects, and recent incidents include a Chinese individual in Chon Buri caught with an arms cache, raising concerns about foreign military connections.

Ajchrapan outlined three urgent government actions: reviewing the 99-year foreign land lease policy, tightening visa measures, and conducting thorough security inspections of all foreign-related operations involving children, youth, foundations, orphanages, and schools to prevent these from becoming covers for closed communities.

Senator Pleum Wongsuwan spoke passionately about why other countries face fewer nominee problems—their state systems are stronger with genuine oversight mechanisms. Thailand operates in silos across ministries, each holding separate data and authority, creating what she called "silo-style bureaucracy." She contended that foreigners infiltrate local businesses silently, turning Thai workers into employees of foreign capital. Pleum proposed consolidating 7-8 agencies into a single command center with unified information sharing to truly identify real owners and prevent Thai nominees from being used as mere fronts for foreign capital.

On May 11, 2025, law enforcement agencies including the Central Investigation Command and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation announced the results of 'Operation Broken Ivory,' a crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking. The operation targeted administrators of a secret Facebook group called 'Ivory and Fangs: Amulets from Animals' that was trafficking in elephant tusks and pangolin scales.

According to Deputy Commander Patompong Thongjamrun, investigators initially made undercover purchases from multiple sellers in the group and confirmed that all tusks were of African elephant origin. The investigation revealed that the network had been operating for approximately one year with about 10 million baht in circulation. The ivory was imported from Africa via Vietnam, with suspects coordinating with Vietnamese workers in Thailand to acquire the tusks before smuggling them into the country through natural waterways along the Mekong River.

On May 7, 2025, police arrested nine suspects across seven provinces: Samut Sakhon, Utha Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Chumphon, Songkhla, Chachoengsao, and Chanthaburi. The suspects included Jintana (surname withheld), 52; Panita, 42; Sudaratana, 50; Wangsatda, 42; Nipat, 31; Tawee Sakdi, 41; Worapong, 51; Amporn, 49; and Bunsong, 54.

Raids at eleven locations yielded 13 categories of seized items totaling approximately 9.9 million baht in value. These included 140 kilograms of elephant tusk sections, 40 kilograms of cut tusk pieces, 50 kilograms of resin-pressed ivory, 160 carved tusk handles, 2 kilograms of manta ray gill plates, various ivory jewelry and ornaments, processing equipment, scales, and one pangolin specimen. Elephant tusks and ivory products were valued at approximately 7.5 million baht, while carved tusk handles were valued at approximately 2.4 million baht.

BANGKOK — May 11, 2026: Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) confirmed reports of a newly discovered coronavirus strain found in bats in Thailand, while stressing that no human infections have been detected and the virus appears less capable of causing disease or spreading than COVID-19.

Spokesperson Wetang Puangsub announced Monday that the findings came from the Anti-Fake News Center (AFNC) as part of the government's intensified effort to combat misinformation. The monitoring follows a directive from DE Minister Chaichanok Chidchob to address national and social security threats. Officials said the ministry is prioritizing public awareness campaigns against cybercrime, fake news, and false information.

The statement followed the AFNC's monitoring of 160,397 online messages on May 9, 2026, of which 8,714 were flagged for verification, mostly from social media and one through Line Official. Among seven widely-discussed cases, two were classified as true, three as false, and two as misleading.

Verified as true: the discovery of the new coronavirus strain in Thai bats and four stricter measures in 31 border provinces to combat smuggling and narcotics trafficking.

Classified as false: claims about online driving license applications via TikTok, allegations that new Southern Economic Corridor laws would allow casinos and 99-year land leases, and a fraudulent Facebook page impersonating the Department of Skill Development to recruit home-based paper bag packers.

Classified as misleading: assertions that tongue characteristics can diagnose internal diseases and reports of the "MOU44" maritime agreement's cancellation.

Authorities confirmed that the new bat coronavirus discovery was verified through cooperation with the Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health, using the "One Health" surveillance approach that monitors diseases affecting humans, animals, and the environment.

Studies indicate the virus has lower transmission and severe illness potential than COVID-19, and existing COVID-19 vaccines are believed to remain effective in reducing severe symptoms if infections occur. Officials assessed the current risk of widespread outbreak as low.

The ministry urged the public to verify information before sharing and to rely only on official sources to prevent confusion, misinformation, and potential harm to personal data or property.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health announced the establishment of a border health fund to treat foreign patients, with clear separation of expenses between Thai and foreign nationals, to resolve financial problems and screen foreign groups with ability to pay in order to collect service fees properly.

On May 11, 2025, at Umphang Hospital in Tak Province, Minister Pattana Prom-Pattana of the Ministry of Public Health chaired a meeting to monitor public health operations and healthcare services for foreign populations in the Thai-Myanmar border area in Tak Province via online system. Present were Dr. Somruk Chumsaman, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Lersachai Lersawut, acting as Inspector-General of the Ministry of Public Health, Health Region 2, and management teams from both central and regional offices in Tak Province.

Minister Pattana stated that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Interior Minister expressed concern about hospital operations in the Thai-Myanmar border area in Tak Province and ordered the acceleration of systematic corrective measures for sustainability. The Ministry of Public Health has established operational guidelines emphasizing efficient disease control management along the border, appropriate human resource management according to workload and location, budget allocation support for eligible patients, increased operational flexibility for border hospitals, and seeking foreign funding support for those without medical rights.

Dr. Somruk reported that after field visits monitoring public health operations and healthcare services for foreign populations in the Thai-Myanmar border areas, including Mae Sot and Pob Phra Districts, and today in Umphang District, which is a remote area with winding mountain roads requiring 3.5 hours travel to Mae Sot Hospital, he found staff highly dedicated with excellent management of sanitation and disease control.

Initially, the inspector-general was assigned to closely monitor development in four areas: 1) Electrical and IT systems by supporting solar panel installation and developing information systems for full health insurance reimbursement efficiency; 2) Financial reform by clearly separating expenses between Thai and foreign nationals, including disease prevention promotion at subdistrict health promoting hospitals for transparency and confidence in Thai patient services; 3) Establishing a 50 million baht central assistance fund with the health region and establishing a border health fund to receive future international support; and 4) Cooperating with administrative and legal authorities to regulate cross-border treatment access and screening foreign nationals with ability to pay to collect appropriate service fees.