The Thai Help Thai Plus initiative, including the Half-Half Plus cash handout project and other vulnerable group assistance measures, will not be brought before the Cabinet on May 5. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphat announced that an Economic Cabinet meeting must be held first to approve the 2025 budget reallocation bill and the borrowing decree. The Economic Cabinet meeting was originally scheduled for May 4 but falls on a public holiday, and the Prime Minister has yet to reschedule it.

Nitithanpraphat explained that the budget reallocation amount is still being confirmed and will be discussed with the Budget Bureau today to determine how much in delayed disbursements and uncontracted funds remain. If funding proves insufficient, the government will tap a borrowing decree with a framework of either 400 billion or 500 billion baht, still under consideration.

"In the May 5 Cabinet meeting, the Finance Ministry will propose approval of two items: the 2025 budget reallocation bill and the issuance of the borrowing decree," Nitithanpraphat said. "The Thai Help Thai Plus measures, including the Half-Half Plus program, will be presented for approval by the Economic Cabinet and the full Cabinet next week."

Honda Automobile (Thailand) underscores its commitment to sustainable business operations alongside Thai society through diverse product development tailored to every lifestyle and exceptional after-sales service. The company operates over 200 service centers throughout the country and maintains Honda's Asian Parts Center, serving as the regional hub for Asia and Oceania.

Located in Thailand, the center spans over 129,600 square meters and stocks genuine, high-quality parts for every Honda model for more than 20 years. The company has developed advanced warehouse management and logistics systems utilizing modern technology for fast and accurate parts distribution.

Parts are delivered to Bangkok and surrounding areas within one day, provincial areas within two days, and remote areas within three days, ensuring Honda customers drive with confidence and peace of mind on every journey.

Honda's commitment—"Whatever Honda model you own, long-term peace of mind"—reflects the brand's promise to remain alongside Thai people while growing sustainably with Thai society across all eras.

With over 40 years of business experience in Thailand, Honda extends its commitment beyond customer care through quality products and services. The company continues investing steadily in Thailand's development, making it one of Honda's key global manufacturing bases. Honda operates a production facility in Prachuap Khiri Khan province manufacturing vehicles for domestic sale and export, featuring efficient, environmentally-friendly production technology that strengthens Thailand's automotive industry chain. The operation utilizes components from local manufacturers while developing Thai workforce capabilities—all reflecting Honda's business conduct rooted in social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and community engagement, while enhancing Thailand's long-term competitive industrial capabilities.

The Thai Olympic Committee under Royal Patronage, in collaboration with Suphan Buri Province, the Ministry of Industry, the Suphan Buri Provincial Administrative Organization, and public and private sector partners, held their first preparatory meeting for the 'Olympic Day 2026' event scheduled for June 27-28, 2026 at Suphan Buri Provincial Stadium.

Leading executives and agency representatives attended the meeting, which was chaired by Industry Minister Warawut Silparacha, alongside Dr. Suwanna Silparacha, Deputy Chair of the Thai Olympic Committee under Royal Patronage, Nathpong Songwanjit, Suphan Buri Governor, Dr. Udom Prongfa, President of the Suphan Buri Provincial Administrative Organization, Supavatthana Jongsiri, Chair of Comart Production Company, and representatives from government agencies, partner organizations, and relevant networks. Together, they established operational guidelines aligned with international Olympic policies and aimed to promote participation across all segments of society.

For 2026, the event operates under the core concept 'Let's Move Together,' inviting people of all genders, ages, and groups to move together for good health, friendship, equality, and mutual respect, all grounded in Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect.

The meeting discussed walking and running activities alongside cultural promotion initiatives, youth inspiration programs, social activities, and environmentally friendly event planning. Organizers will develop an 'Olympic Day Fair' as a creative activity space for families, communities, businesses, shops, and local Suphan Buri products, featuring group aerobic exercises and musical performances.

The event aims to boost local economic development, stimulate tourism, and create opportunities for local entrepreneurs through the participation of runners, families, and people from across the country. This inaugural meeting marks an important integration point for multi-sector cooperation to make 'Olympic Day Suphan Buri 2026' more than just a running event—it's a space for society to move together under the 'Let's Move Together' concept. The Thai Olympic Committee under Royal Patronage and Suphan Buri Province have scheduled Olympic Day 2026 for June 27-28, 2026 at Suphan Buri Provincial Stadium, Ruai Yai Subdistrict, Muang District. Registration will open May 10-15, 2026, with further details available through the Thai Olympic Committee under Royal Patronage Facebook page.

Honda, the official supporter of Premier League live broadcasts, is creating excitement around the prestigious global football showdown by organizing a pre-Red Derby event titled "Honda EV UC3: Your First Move to Win the Red Derby!" Under the concept "The game hasn't started yet...but the rivalry has!", the campaign invites true fans of Manchester United and Liverpool to experience football in a new way by riding the latest New Honda UC3 electric motorcycle through central Bangkok to build momentum and confidence before the match on May 3rd.

The event brings together 22 riders—11 Manchester United fans and 11 Liverpool fans—mirroring the actual players who will take the field in the Red Derby clash. Participants embark on the "Red Derby Journey" following team-specific routes with themed experiences designed to get fans hyped up before they meet for a FRIENDLY MATCH featuring fun competitions.

Manchester United supporters start their journey as the Red Devils with a legendary "duck" menu, enjoying roasted duck at Poolsinn Restaurant, then ride the New Honda UC3 to Lumpini Park for a paddle-boat duck race across the water, capturing fun team moments. Liverpool fans head to the Ghosts' territory, beginning at Tiph Sammai Pad Thai, a legendary restaurant near the old city gate, to fuel up with the reality that even in a "ghost's den" the food is accessible and delicious. They then proceed to Wat Suthat Thepwararam at the Swing area to pay respects to Buddha and bring good fortune to their Premier League schedule.

After completing the Red Derby Journey, both teams enter the FRIENDLY MATCH featuring three exciting competitions: Boost Kick, a penalty shootout with oversized shoes reflecting the UC3's rapid acceleration performance; 1 Charge 1 Shot, where players kick a football to stop closest to 122 kilometers, showcasing the bike's maximum range on a single charge; and Reverse Dribbling, a backward dribbling challenge through a set course, highlighting the UC3's convenient reverse parking assistance system.

For football fans not wanting to miss this glorious evening, Honda invites Red and Bird supporters to unite and cheer at the "MONOMAX WATCH PARTY: RED MATCH" between Manchester United and Liverpool with an opportunity to meet world-class legendary strikers Andy Cole and Robbie Fowler on Sunday, May 3rd, starting at 4:00 PM at Mono Studio.

On May 1, 2026, Labor Minister Juldej Amornvivat and leader of the Pheu Thai Party expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of Alongkorn, a 27-year-old rider who lost his life in a traffic accident while performing his duties. He immediately ordered the Social Security Office (SSO) to verify the victim's benefits, noting initial findings confirmed the deceased was previously insured. The minister instructed officials to examine all accumulated benefits and ensure the family receives the full amount owed as quickly as possible.

Regarding long-term solutions, Minister Juldej emphasized that safety and welfare for platform workers are top priorities. The Pheu Thai Party is preparing to submit a draft amendment to the Social Security Act to establish equitable basic welfare systems, and the Labor Ministry is similarly studying reforms to adapt the law to modern digital work models, ensuring equal protection, benefits, and workplace safety for all workers.

The minister stressed that all workers' lives have equal value and dignity, and this tragic loss serves as an expensive lesson reminding the state that welfare systems must modernize. As both Labor Minister and Pheu Thai leader, he committed to fully advancing this legislation to deliver justice and dignified protection to all informal workers as vital engines of the nation's economy.

Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, still has hope of having his electronic monitoring device removed during his conditional sentence if he submits a petition due to health concerns. High-level sources within the Justice Ministry revealed that while a clemency committee on April 29 approved Thaksin for a general sentence reduction as one of 859 eligible inmates, they imposed the condition that he wear an EM device until his sentence concludes on September 9, 2026.

Normally, elderly inmates over 70 years old with chronic illnesses requiring continuous medication are not required to wear EM devices due to health and medical care concerns. However, the committee made this exception in Thaksin's case after deliberation. His family and legal team have questioned this decision, citing that Thaksin is elderly with chronic health conditions, has no history of escape, and maintains a fixed residence at Baan Jan Song Pha, which should exempt him from such requirements.

According to Justice Ministry insiders, while the current committee decision requires Thaksin to wear the EM device through September 9, 2026, individuals under probation can still petition for its removal if they subsequently face medical treatment needs or mental health issues like panic attacks. The Department of Probation would then exercise discretion to approve or deny such requests. Precedent exists for cases where probation officials removed EM devices based on health and medical care justifications.

The EM device installation could occur on the day of Thaksin's release from Klong Prem Central Prison, with probation officers conducting the initial reporting and explaining the conditions, including monthly check-in dates and behavioral requirements during the probation period.