Education Minister Prasert Chantharueangthong is spearheading efforts to advance a new National Education Act by bringing together stakeholders from all sectors to solicit ideas for the education law framework. On May 8, 2025, Minister Prasert chaired a public consultation meeting to drive forward the new draft National Education Act, with participation from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prawit Arayawannano, Secretary-General of the Education Council, experts, ministry officials, and representatives from political parties, government agencies, private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prawit stated that following the first joint parliamentary meeting of the regular session, five priority missions have been identified to move Thai education forward: teacher workload, budget inequality, curriculum and teaching methods, school safety, and the new National Education Act. The Education Council's Office has prepared three approaches for proposing the new National Education Act:

Approach 1 involves confirming the 2021 draft proposal and considering additional comments, allowing faster advancement without restarting the legislative process from scratch, as it has already been reviewed by the Constitutional Court.

Approach 2 entails amending and improving the 1999 Education Act by strengthening weaknesses to make it a more effective education charter, then entering a new review process that would take less time than a complete overhaul.

Approach 3 involves drafting a completely new education law, starting from the beginning with drafting, public consultation, proposal, and review processes. This would produce a more concise and flexible law aligned with modern education management contexts.

The meeting engaged in broad exchange of ideas to achieve a new education law as quickly as possible, highlighting challenges in each approach and proposing additional integrative strategies, including establishing special committees, promoting all-sector participation, flexibility in adjusting legal details to keep pace with social and technological changes, and linking subsidiary laws and policies with various knowledge areas in teaching and learning. Curriculum adjustments will be made to align with current global conditions in collaboration with relevant agencies.

Education Minister Prasert concluded by announcing that the advancement framework for the new National Education Act has been set with three approaches: Approach 1 confirms the original draft previously submitted to the Cabinet that was halted due to parliament dissolution; Approach 2 involves revising and improving the 1999 Education Act; and Approach 3 involves drafting a completely new law. Each approach has distinct advantages and disadvantages. The ministry has opened opportunities for public input and alternative proposals, and has proposed establishing a special committee to accelerate the new National Education Act to meet all parties' needs and the current government's timeline. The working group will summarize all viewpoints clearly by the end of May to create effective legislation.

At 11:00 AM on May 8, 2025, at the Ministry of Justice on Chaengwattana Road in Bangkok, Ekaphop Luangprasert, founder of the "Sai Mai Tong Sai" Facebook page, brought a 30-year-old businessman (referred to as Mr. A) who was defrauded by the renowned fortune teller "Ommangkorn Kaekham" from Lamphun Province to file a request for witness protection. After filing a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division and with investigators expected to seek a court arrest warrant soon, the victim fears for his safety due to the fortune teller's extensive network of disciples across all professions including celebrities, actors, entertainers, military officials, and police officers. Officials from the Department of Rights and Liberties including Deputy Director Theeriyuth Kaewsing and Head of the Rights Protection Division Bunyapada Puengbun received the complaint.

Mr. A revealed that the fortune teller has nearly 100,000 disciples in a Facebook group, many of whom are influential figures including doctors, high-ranking civil servants, and entertainment personalities. When he visited the fortune teller, he had to provide his full name, phone number, and current address, causing concern about potential harassment or threats. Though no explicit threats have occurred yet, his elderly parents over 70 years old also live in the house, which deeply worries him.

Mr. A stated the news has significantly affected his mental state, causing him to cry at night and lose motivation. He even considered suicide but recalled a belief that such actions would result in karmic repetition for 500 lifetimes, which stopped him. He decided to come forward because he believes the fortune teller has used religious teachings as a cover and has likely victimized others multiple times—possibly 5 to 10 cases based on news reports. Regarding the fortune teller's claim of a smear campaign, Mr. A clarified he didn't know the fortune teller beforehand; his mother recommended seeking treatment after years of failed medical treatment for cluster headaches. He emphasized there's no reason two strangers would conspire to discredit someone. He urged full legal action, calling the fortune teller a social menace, and expressed hope he would be the last victim, wanting to prevent others from suffering similarly.

Talented artist Tach Tachiya was pleasantly surprised when his song 'Today a Year Ago,' released three years ago, suddenly surged back into popularity with fans returning to listen in droves. The track has rocketed to number one for background music among content creators across multiple platforms, with radio stations throughout the country also receiving listener requests for the song.

Expressing his delight, Tach shared: "When an old song comes back and finds popularity again, I believe it's a wonderful gift for any artist who puts effort into their work, even if it didn't resonate with people when it was first released. It feels like winning a major award. I want to thank everyone for listening to 'Today a Year Ago' and my other songs. As for new music, I'm ready to deliver more very soon—you'll definitely hear it. I promise that every project and every song comes from our genuine effort to do our best."

On May 8, 2025, at the National Innovation Agency (NIA), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Yossanan Vongswasdi held a seminar titled 'AI: The Invisible Architect of Future Industry' to exchange policies and strategies for promoting Thailand's artificial intelligence technology industry. The event featured MIT Media Lab scientist and AI researcher Phat Bhattanuthorn, an expert in Human-AI Interaction.

Yossanan stated that AI is critically important to Thailand's future, making it essential for the country to urgently prepare across all dimensions to systematically accommodate AI and encourage Thai people to think boldly and pursue new initiatives.

"What we need isn't just technology or resources, but heroes and inspiring stories that spark social progress with confidence," Yossanan said. "If Thailand commits seriously and consistently, we can see concrete results within 3-4 years."

AI is not merely a single technology branch but a core link connecting other major industries, particularly biotech, medicine, and drug development. AI development also impacts the semiconductor industry and transforms the entire industrial structure.

Therefore, the most critical issue isn't just technological development, but preparing people and human capital for major changes so everyone can use AI as a tool for personal and national development.

"For this reason, the 'AI for All' concept is being promoted to give all Thai people access to and use AI extensively in economics, education, public health, and social development, making AI a true force driving the country across all dimensions," Yossanan explained.

Yossanan announced that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation will collaborate with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in two major projects:

1. An Advanced Research linkage project on AI and humans between Thailand and MIT to establish 'AHA Thailand' as a central hub attracting universities and tech startups to drive national development in human capital and science and technology.

2. The 'Learning Lab' project in collaboration with OpenAI to identify AI models best suited to Thai children's learning, creating a blueprint for developing people of all ages—from children to workers needing reskilling and upskilling to retirees—enabling them to adapt to technology and contribute to national productivity.

This educational research will form the foundation for developing policies and creating a national learning platform.

South Korea's Google Play has created a buzz by featuring Faker, professional esports player and widely regarded as the god of League of Legends, alongside Karina, a top-tier artist from the group aespa, in a new advertisement presented in Korean drama format. In the released teaser, Faker delivers a confession scene saying "I like you," while also expressing that he now feels more confident embracing his ordinary identity as Lee Sang-hyeok rather than his professional persona as Faker. The full advertisement will be released on May 15.

The Royal Irrigation Department is accelerating implementation of systematic water management projects in the Yom River basin through construction of water control structures in the upper and lower sections across Phayao, Phrae, Phichit, and Nakhon Sawan provinces to address water shortages in agricultural areas and enhance capacity at existing pumping stations.

Dr. Phormmongkhol Chidchop, director of the Water Management Development and Participation Division at the Royal Irrigation Department, explained that the Yom River basin suffers from recurring floods and droughts due to inadequate water control and storage infrastructure. During the rainy season, water flows unused, while the dry season brings severe water shortages. The project adopts a "stepped water retention" concept, with three pilot projects selected based on engineering, economic, and environmental impact criteria.

The three selected projects are:

1. Ban Pa Khhaem Water Gate Project in Moo 4, Ban Pa Khhaem, Ban Maang Sub-district, Chiang Muan District, Phayao Province, benefiting over 3,000 rai of rice paddies, longan, teak, rubber plantations, and mixed crops.

2. Den Chai Water Gate Project in Moo 4, Ban Nam Khong, Den Chai Sub-district, Den Chai District, Phrae Province, benefiting approximately 30,469 rai across 10 sub-districts and supplying water to the Den Chai Provincial Waterworks Authority.

3. Tha Nang Water Gate Project in Moo 4, Ban Tha Nang, Tha Nang Sub-district, Pho Tha Le District, Phichit Province, covering approximately 27,375 rai across 10 sub-districts for rice, bananas, citrus, fruit trees, cassava, and sugarcane cultivation.

Combined, the three projects will benefit approximately 60,844 rai across Phayao, Phrae, Phichit, and Nakhon Sawan provinces. Dr. Phormmongkhol stated that the areas are technically suitable and strategically distributed across the upper, middle, and lower Yom River basin. The projects prioritize environmental protection through environmental impact assessments, fish passage designs, water level management, and continuous water quality monitoring. Affected landowners will receive fair compensation according to law, and public participation is ensured at all stages.

Simultaneously, the department organized site visits to the existing Ban Doi Isaan Water Gate Project in Ang Thong Sub-district, Chiang Kham District, Phayao Province, which uses a similar approach to mitigate flooding and drought in the Ing River basin, allowing stakeholders to examine concerns and compare implementation methods.