On May 15, 2025, Thanya Jittisuree, chairman of the Democracy Club, brought a group of fraud victims to file complaints with investigators at the Consumer Protection Police Bureau, exposing a scheme involving fraudulent sales of discounted airline tickets allegedly offered by major carriers. The total damages amount to approximately 30 million baht.

One victim, 42-year-old Mr. Ote (pseudonym), revealed that he originally knew the perpetrator personally and had successfully purchased airline tickets twice before, which built his trust. Later, the perpetrator offered to sell him tickets at below-market prices and pressured him to upgrade from economy to business class, claiming that without the upgrade, the original tickets would be invalid, but promising a full refund within two weeks.

Ote stated that he transferred money multiple times for seat upgrades as instructed, losing over 2.5 million baht for flights to Japan. However, when his return date arrived, the tickets could not be used, and the promised refund never materialized. The perpetrator then claimed that to issue new tickets, he must first pay outstanding balances from the "old deal," leading Ote to transfer an additional 2.5 million baht before discovering all tickets had been cancelled.

Ote noted that during the booking process, the website displayed what appeared to be an official airline website with complete booking numbers and passenger names, creating false credibility. Most transfers were sent to personal accounts, suspected to be "mule accounts," with the perpetrator claiming corporate accounts couldn't be used due to tax issues. Initially, the scheme worked with real flights, generating word-of-mouth referrals. The victim group now numbers over 100 people.

Some victims had previously filed reports with Ratchaburi City Police, but with no progress, they approached the Consumer Protection Police for investigation. Thanya called on relevant agencies to urgently and seriously investigate this ongoing scam, warning that more victims may fall prey as similar fraud continues unabated.

On May 15, 2569, it was reported that on the previous day (May 14) at 11:00 a.m., Maj. Gen. Nid Narong, Vice Commander of Border Defense Forces Region 4 (BDF-4) and Chairman of the Cambodian side of the Regional Border Committee (RBC), coordinated with Regional Army Command 2 regarding the return of Mr. Yochin to Thailand.

Previously, the Commander of Border Defense Forces Region 4 had written to the Udonmueang Provincial Governor and coordinated through Cambodia's Ministry of Interior until the Cambodian side approved the return of Mr. Yochin to Thailand.

According to reports, this handover utilized the cooperation mechanism between Regional Army Command 2 and Border Defense Forces Region 4, reflecting the close and continuous coordination of both sides' RBC committees. The handover was initially scheduled for May 15 at 10:00 a.m. at Sa-ngam Checkpoint in Phu Sing District, Sisaket Province. The Thai side was led by General Kampanart Waphunsu, Chief of Staff of Regional Army Command 2, as Chairman of the Thai RBC committee, while the Cambodian side was led by Maj. Gen. Nid Narong.

At 11:00 a.m. at Sa-ngam Checkpoint, the Cambodian side handed over Mr. Yochin Saimai (Uncle Yochin) to General Kampanart for return to Thailand. Mr. Yochin was in good health with no visible injuries or bruises.

Regional Army Command 2 sources stated that the success of this handover resulted from close cooperation between Regional Army Command 2 under the oversight of the Regional Army Commander and the Surin Border Security Forces, whose commander actively drove and monitored operations comprehensively. This enabled smooth coordination through the RBC mechanism.

The return of Mr. Yochin to Thailand signals positive cooperation at the RBC level between Thailand and Cambodia and helps reduce border tensions between the two countries to a certain extent.

Actress Cherry Khemupsorn has turned heads with her latest high-profile collaboration, joining forces with POEM to unveil a new collection. On May 15th, Cherry partnered with the fashion brand to launch the "POEM X CHERRY KHEMUPSORN" collection with the "TRÈS CHÉRIE" fashion show on the 19th floor of Gaysorn Urban Resort.

Cherry explained that this project is driven by passion rather than profit expectations. While she hopes the collection succeeds and doesn't squander the opportunity the brand has given her, she emphasizes that she's fulfilled her responsibilities completely. She acknowledged that professional fashion production requires a large, specialized team, which is why she hasn't considered launching her own brand. She continues to push forward with sustainability initiatives.

When asked how serious she is about this designer role, Cherry stated: "I don't expect myself to become a professional designer, but this mission is complete. I put intention into the design, attention to detail into everything. I hope people will see my commitment through this design and work, and that our story about sustainability through fashion will be discussed."

Asked if fashion design was a childhood dream, she explained: "Yes, I was fascinated by the fashion world as a kid, but when I became interested in environmental issues, I diverged from fashion. But coming back to look at my lifestyle, I still love fashion. It's about how we consume responsibly. This is both fun and a new challenge, and becoming a designer felt like answering that call."

Regarding potential expansion if the collection succeeds, Cherry was clear: "Probably not my own brand. I see behind the scenes that it takes a team at POEM's level to make our dreams a reality like this. I'd be dead on my own." On whether she feels pressured, she stated: "Not at all, because I'm doing what I love, what I believe in, what I see. I feel I've taken responsibility for my part. The rest isn't my responsibility." She noted that while she hopes the collection sells well out of consideration for the brand, that outcome is beyond her control. Her primary motivation is her passion for the work, not sales figures. When asked if she'll continue her environmental work, Cherry affirmed: "Yes, I'm pushing sustainability initiatives because fashion is a tangible way to reach people, and hopefully on a larger scale."

Tobacco farming associations in Phrae province, together with national tobacco associations and local biodiversity networks from Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, organized a practical workshop titled "Adaptation and Implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Environmental Standards" at Phrae Nakorn Hotel in Phrae province. More than 140 tobacco farmers, academics, and government officials from northern Thailand attended the event, with Members of Parliament Sirivarn Prasajsatru and Chanadhip Suphsiree present to hear concerns from local tobacco farmers. The workshop facilitated knowledge exchange on tobacco cultivation techniques, soil improvement, crop rotation, environmental conservation, and adapting to global tobacco control policy changes.

The practical workshop aimed to help farmers understand the impacts of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), particularly environmental dimensions, and to prepare them for future international standards and government policies. Farmers learned techniques to improve production efficiency and reduce costs in environmentally sustainable ways, thereby enhancing Thai tobacco standards for international competitiveness.

Prajya Kanthathon, chairman of the Phrae Tobacco Farmers Association, revealed that tobacco cultivation and curing has been a primary livelihood for Phrae residents and northern farmers for generations. However, in recent years farmers have faced severe crises from high and complex tobacco tax policies, which have rapidly expanded illicit cigarette and electronic cigarette problems due to significant price differences, damaging legal products and reducing farmers' incomes from declining tobacco purchase quotas.

"Virginia tobacco varieties have been an important economic crop in Phrae for over 88 years. The growth of the tobacco cultivation and curing industry has not only created jobs and livelihoods for tobacco farmers but has also boosted the broader economy, promoting income distribution and prosperity throughout communities. However, tobacco farmers remain vulnerable players in the system, affected by policy changes and external conditions that drive up production costs such as fuel and fertilizer prices. Today, what we are attempting is learning and adapting in environmental management, resource management, and production standards to sustain our livelihoods. At the same time, tobacco farmers are bearing the direct burden of strict taxation and tobacco control policies. We want the government to see the impacts throughout the supply chain from farms to curing barns to community labor. Beyond legal enforcement, the state must urgently eliminate illicit cigarettes, target the root sources, and provide clear support measures for tobacco farmers to promote alternative crops or substitute livelihoods, including crop rotation and modern technology application at affordable and practical costs. Before implementing new control measures, comprehensive government assistance is essential," Kanthathon stated.

U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed on May 15 that relations between the world's two largest superpowers are good and improving steadily, despite differing views on several issues including the Iran conflict and Taiwan's sovereignty dispute. Trump began the final day of his China visit in Beijing by posting on social media that Chinese President Xi Jinping "congratulated me on many tremendous successes," with Xi apparently referring to the United States' decline during the Biden administration.

Reports indicate China showed little interest in the U.S. request to help resolve the Iran crisis, though Trump told Fox News that President Xi offered assistance. Trump also praised Xi again, saying "I think he's a genuinely warm person, but he's very serious about business. There's no joking around."

During private talks, Xi warned Trump that mishandling Taiwan differences could push global superpowers toward confrontation and conflict, even as Trump sought to emphasize the special relationship between the United States and China.

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, one of the senior officials who participated in Trump-Xi discussions, told NBC News that U.S. policy on Taiwan "remains unchanged." He warned that any Chinese military attempt to seize Taiwan would be a serious mistake. Rubio characterized Xi's comments as routine, saying "They always bring this up. We clarify our position and move on to other discussions."

At 9:50 a.m. on May 15, 2025, at Government House, Poj Aramwattananont, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Thai Chamber of Commerce Council, revealed details of a meeting with the "Zero Corruption" working group. The Thai Chamber of Commerce and allied business groups met with the Prime Minister to discuss next steps, with Deputy Prime Minister Prakorn Nilpraband assigned to represent the government in receiving private sector proposals.

The main discussion point centered on addressing corruption, described as a critical issue requiring serious, tangible action. Thailand aims to gain OECD membership, as global attention on this matter is intensifying. Current low credit ratings necessitate improvement efforts.

Pimjai Lee Isaranukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, added that multiple urgent issues require boosting national competitiveness and advancing anti-corruption and transparency initiatives. When asked about the government's first priority amid economic challenges, she emphasized focusing on vulnerable groups as a critical segment.

Poj noted that protecting vulnerable populations is essential, while the Prime Minister will hear from business leaders about economic conditions and urgent private sector proposals. He stressed that public-private cooperation is vital, especially on economic matters, where government sets policy but the private sector drives implementation.

Poj explained that since their May 2024 meeting, the private sector believes the country's situation is unsustainable due to pervasive corruption concerns. Though multiple networks and associations have campaigned together, a prior dissolution of parliament delayed progress. In January 2025, efforts focused on election-related matters and vote-buying surveys, which became a major issue. The Thai Chamber of Commerce, working with TDRI, released survey results confirming corruption concerns, particularly regarding bribery matters announced on May 14.