On May 7, 2025, Education Minister Prasert Chantharangtong issued Ministry of Education Order No. 324/2569 establishing the Center for Protecting Rights and Freedoms under the Ministry of Education. The order reflects the ministry's policy commitment to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of students, teachers, and education personnel, ensuring schools and educational institutions become truly "safe spaces." The center will serve as an information hub coordinating lawyers, psychologists, and relevant agencies. The center's primary responsibilities include developing policy recommendations and strategic plans to protect rights and freedoms, serving as a clearinghouse for information and cooperation among legal and psychological professionals, implementing programs to protect rights and build safety and welfare, and collaborating with other relevant organizations. Deputy Minister Akkhananth Kankhittinanth has been appointed as the center's director, with the Education Ministry Permanent Secretary serving as deputy director. The working committee includes the secretaries of the Basic Education Commission, Vocational Education Commission, Education Council, the Director-General of Learning Promotion Department, the secretary of the Private Education Promotion Commission, the Civil Service Commission secretary, and the Thai Teachers Council secretary, along with representatives from the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

On May 7, 2026, Lieutenant General Saksira Phuakthum, commander of the Tourist Police, ordered strict enforcement and crackdown on criminal activities by foreigners in their jurisdiction. Officers under the investigation unit arrested two foreign nationals engaged in illegal drug trafficking in the Patong area who were also staying beyond their authorized period.

Investigators had received intelligence that foreigners were illegally selling drugs to tourists in the area, prompting them to plan and execute arrests of two suspects. The first arrest was Samuel, a Nigerian national, who was apprehended with cocaine weighing approximately 10.45 grams on Phra Mettanimit Road in Patong District, Kathu, Phuket. He was transferred to Patong Police Station for processing on charges of drug trafficking and entering and residing in the kingdom without valid authorization.

The second arrest was Brumo, a Belgian national, who was apprehended with 2.90 grams of cocaine near a convenience store on Ratsadornuthit 200 Pi Road in Patong District, Kathu, Phuket. He was also transferred to Patong Police Station for prosecution on charges of drug trafficking and illegal overstay.

Tony Rakaen has made a comeback to public appearances after stepping away from the entertainment world to pursue a simpler life with his wife Kaew Charinya Sirimongkol. He shifted his focus to gardening and growing vegetables, becoming largely absent from the entertainment scene. Recently, he attended the Netflix action-romance film premiere 'Blood Love Killer' at Siam Paragon's fifth floor, opening up about finding better life balance. He humorously remarked about his mother Baan Yen's recent cosmetic surgery, saying she looks so much younger it's like having a new older sister. At 74, she rarely leaves the house.

When asked about his current lifestyle, Tony explained: "Things are going fine. Nothing major really. We cook and garden. I don't go out much. It's been a long time since an event like this—probably a year. I do talk to people though. There was a period when we were focused on completing the garden project, which didn't align well with entertainment work since the industry demands skin care. I wasn't taking care of myself during that time, and my skin darkened, which meant I wasn't getting work offers. Do I regret the trade-off? I think it's more of an ongoing feeling. We've found more joy in the peace and quiet than in chasing happiness. There are periods where we have to make choices, times when I was filming while also working on the garden, and my skin would change color, making it hard for cinematographers to light scenes properly. But once we understood the system and got everything automated, it required less work from us, allowing us to do more in entertainment."

When asked if economic concerns drove his decision to stay home, Tony responded: "Since COVID, we've been doing this for a while. It does have an effect—we still drive and buy imports; we can't produce 100% of our food at home. I've been affected like everyone else. If anything, it's more of a social issue than economic. We go out less and stay home more, reducing those expenses. Previously, we cleared all our debts—paid off the house, car, and everything. So we don't need to focus on making money the way we used to, though we still do. We've just become more economical. Kaew taught me that living this way is easier—if we want something, we wait until we can afford it, then buy it outright. That's always been her approach, and I've learned from her."

When asked if he's resisting technology and trends like others in the industry, he laughed and said: "I'm not better than anyone. I just go with the flow. My desires have decreased since I don't want to go out much. I don't need to dress up like before. I focus on what we'll cook and eat today and whether it tastes good. I don't see many people or go out often. My consumer spending isn't excessive—it's normal. Most of my spending goes toward the garden: soil, supplies, things like that. As for collectibles I like, I have some Supreme items for decoration, but I'm not buying more. Most of the spending goes to the garden rather than luxury goods."

FIFA has announced the prize money structure for the new 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, scheduled for September-October, with the Division 1 champion receiving over 32 million baht—three times the prize money of previous ASEAN championship winners. The tournament will see 14 nations competing across two divisions, with the top eight teams based on FIFA rankings competing in Division 1 in Indonesia, while the remaining six nations compete in Division 2 in Hong Kong. FIFA has also invited non-ASEAN nations Hong Kong, India, and China to participate. All participating nations receive 125,000 dollars (approximately 4 million baht) in appearance fees, while the Division 1 champion will earn 1 million dollars (approximately 32 million baht)—triple the 300,000 dollars earned by previous ASEAN Cup champions. The Division 2 champion will receive 300,000 dollars (approximately 10 million baht), with additional bonuses for match wins and draws. Meanwhile, during July-August, ASEAN nations will compete in the 2026 ASEAN Football Championship (AFF Hyundai Cup), with Thailand in Group B scheduled to face Laos on July 25, Malaysia on August 1, the Philippines on August 4, and Myanmar on August 8.

The Thai government has confirmed that registration for the Nationwide Subsidy Plus program and a new round of State Welfare Cards will open on May 25 under the "Thailand Helping Thailand Plus" initiative, with benefits beginning June 1. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapassorn announced this on May 7, though the total number of eligible participants—potentially 43 million people—is still under consideration.

The program will be divided into two phases (2+2 months) contingent upon necessity assessment and global conditions. In the first phase, all citizens will receive 1,000 baht per month for two months. Existing welfare cardholders, who currently receive 300 baht monthly, will have an additional 700 baht added to bring their total to 1,000 baht.

The second phase involves reviewing the eligibility of current welfare cardholders based on new registration criteria. Those who no longer meet poverty standards will transition to the Nationwide Subsidy Plus program instead, receiving 1,000 baht for two months like other participants.

The Finance Ministry will collaborate with the Interior Ministry to verify eligibility, aiming to complete the review process within two months of registration opening. This will allow authorities to identify and transition those who have risen above poverty levels into the second phase of the program.

On May 7, 2569, Police General Suriya Singhakamol, Secretary-General of the Department of Special Investigation, announced the success of "Cutting Out the Rotten Flesh Operation 6," a coordinated effort to address state officials involved in drug trafficking under the government's national-priority drug control policy. The operation began with a complaint filed through the hotline 1386 alleging that a police officer from Dok Kham Tai Police Station in Phayao Province was involved in drug use and distribution. Investigation revealed the officer had been under suspicion since 2567. On May 6, officials from the Department of Special Investigation's Region 5 office, working with investigators from Dok Kham Tai Police Station, conducted a raid on a rural hut in Ban Tham Subdistrict, Dok Kham Tai District. There they found Police Lieutenant Phakaphum with two other men. Urinalysis of all three tested positive for drugs. During a body search of Police Lieutenant Phakaphum, 15 methamphetamine pills were found hidden on his person, while one of his associates had 8 pills. All three were arrested and prosecuted immediately. The Department of Special Investigation's Secretary-General emphasized that this operation sends a clear warning to all state officials that no protection or leniency will be given to wrongdoers. Officials involved in drug trafficking severely undermine public confidence and the justice system. The department will expand the operation to dismantle all related networks and enforce maximum disciplinary and legal measures to maintain transparency standards and create a sustainable drug-free Thai society in accordance with the Ministry of Justice's objectives.