Fisheries officials are working urgently to investigate reports of black-chinned tilapia appearing along Pattaya shores and calling on the public to help control the invasive species. The department received alerts through social media and from local fishermen, leading relevant agencies to coordinate swiftly with Chachoengsao provincial fisheries office for immediate verification. On May 14, 2025, Mayuri Na Phatthalung, Bang Lamung District fisheries officer, inspected the Na Kluea Bridge area and Pattaya Beach following reports from residents of a sighting two days earlier, though no tilapia were found during the inspection.

Local fishermen reported that after fishing in the area for over a decade, they suddenly encountered large schools of black-chinned tilapia two days prior and caught many using nets, which they dried for consumption before reporting the incident to district fisheries. Officials are preparing comprehensive surveys of both the Na Kluea Bridge area and Pattaya Beach, suspecting the two sightings occurred around the same timeframe.

Black-chinned tilapia are invasive aquatic species capable of surviving in brackish waters along coastlines but have not yet been found in deep ocean areas. The rainy season, when freshwater flows into the sea, may facilitate the fish's dispersal. Previous reports documented the species near Bang Lamung Canal before the situation quieted, only to resurface recently in Pattaya coastal waters.

Mayuri, Bang Lamung District fisheries officer, urges public cooperation: residents may cook or process any caught black-chinned tilapia for consumption as they are safe to eat. However, if small fish are caught and not utilized, authorities request immediate disposal and warn against releasing them back into the sea or natural water sources to help control and prevent the spread of this invasive species in coastal ecosystems.

Government spokesman Rachada Thanadirek announced at 11:00 a.m. on May 14, 2025, at Government House that the "Businesspeople Speak, Government Listens" program will be held on May 15 from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m., marking the first such initiative under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's administration. The primary goal is to collaborate with the private sector to advance the country's economic development, as the private sector is essential to achieving economic objectives. The forum will feature the Prime Minister and relevant ministers listening directly to business leaders, demonstrating the government's commitment that both public and private sectors must work together on all development initiatives while remaining open to all stakeholders. The government will address all inquiries and concerns raised by business operators regarding what additional support they need from the state. The event has garnered significant interest from the private sector nationwide, with participation from 10 major business groups represented by senior executives, including the Joint Public-Private Consultation Committee (JPCC), finance, agriculture and food, automotive, energy, construction and real estate, healthcare, hotels and tourism, retail and consumer goods, and technology sectors.

Finding a quality used car in good working condition is the main goal for most buyers, especially genuine family cars in pristine condition. However, purchasing through online channels carries risks that could lead to poor purchasing decisions. This article provides guidance from Gurumalist, Thailand's leading online used car trading platform, offering in-depth techniques for identifying and screening authentic family-owned vehicles online to help buyers select safe, legitimate vehicles that offer genuine value for money.

What is a Genuine Family Car?

In the automotive industry, a "family car" refers to a vehicle purchased by owners for personal daily use—such as commuting to work, driving children to school, or family vacations—with consistent personal maintenance. This differs completely from heavily-used vehicles like fleet cars (corporate rentals), deregistered taxis, or auction cars that have undergone intensive use.

Advantages of Genuine Family-Owned Vehicles

The primary reason these vehicles are highly popular is their reliability regarding usage history, with notable advantages including:

Genuine Mileage Not Tampered With: Kilometer readings typically correspond to the vehicle's age and actual usage.

Exterior and Interior in Good Condition: The body, plastic parts, and leather seats remain intact according to the age of the vehicle, without deterioration from heavy use.

Clear Maintenance History: Original owners typically took their vehicles for regular service checks at authorized centers or trusted workshops, making it possible to verify the maintenance history transparently.

Complete Engine and Suspension: Good maintenance results in the transmission, engine, and suspension systems operating at full efficiency.

Reduced Risk of Unexpected Repairs: New buyers can use the vehicle with confidence without worrying about costly repairs shortly after purchase.

Five Techniques for Spotting and Screening "Genuine Family Cars" Online

Searching for vehicles in the digital age starts on smartphone screens. Having the skill to properly screen initial information is the first step that helps save time and protect your wallet from fraudsters.

1. Observe Photos and Backgrounds

Photographs tell many stories. Pictures of genuine family cars are typically taken from real-life locations such as the owner's driveway, a parking garage, or a workplace parking lot. These photos are usually taken with ordinary mobile phone cameras, not professionally lit or edited to look like studio photography. Additionally, observe the surrounding elements in the photos. If there are small personal items in the cabin, child car seats, or a background that looks like a typical residential neighborhood, these are good initial indicators that the vehicle is likely used for family purposes.

2. Check the Seller's Tone and History

Actual car owners typically write descriptions honestly and straightforwardly, clearly specifying any scratches, recent tire replacements, or work that needs to be done. The language used sounds natural, like ordinary conversation. An important red flag is to search the seller's name, phone number, or LINE ID online. If you find this contact information posting advertisements for dozens of cars simultaneously across various models, it suggests the person may not be a genuine family car owner but rather a middleman or broker.

3. Request to Check the Vehicle Documents

The number 77 has appeared in two consecutive lottery drawings, and lottery predictor Toffee Shiwadol—also known as Toffee 350 or Toffee Kaokala—who regularly follows the number 7 and frequently wins, appeared on the Lottery Current program to reveal the lucky numbers for the May 16, 2026 drawing. Toffee shared personal beliefs that he is not an ordinary earthly being, a statement that other celebrities have also started openly discussing, explaining that when they speak about such things, their work becomes difficult because people label them as crazy or insane. Toffee has devoted his life to the number 7, which he believes is an alien number (angle number 1117). He buys lottery tickets with number 7 every drawing, mentioning that number 17 is universally recognized as the alien number and appears repeatedly in significant events worldwide. Previously, Toffee was confident that numbers 1 and 7 would appear together, and the drawing resulted in 77—though he had purchased 17 over 50 times. Toffee has made an offering at Phra Phong Snake Shrine on Rama 2 Road, vowing to donate 1,000 boiled eggs if his movie receives 30 million baht. After card reading with Aj. Chanya and receiving the same card he had drawn before, plus discovering the number 72 on it, Toffee concluded that this drawing's winning three-digit number should be 117. He also mentioned receiving a water bottle with the number 350, so he is keeping that number as well for the upcoming drawing.

Parliament members are calling on the Commerce Ministry to regulate online platform fees after small merchants have been hit with heavy profit margins. During a 9:00 a.m. session on May 14, 2026 at Parliament, with Sophon Sarum presiding, members discussed the government's approach to setting commission rates on various online platforms, which is currently having a severe impact on people earning their living online.

Jury Num Gaeo, a Democratic Party member from Songkhla, raised concerns about the state's direction and measures regarding commission fees, or "GP fees," on online platforms. He emphasized that earning through online platforms has become a vital artery of Thailand's economy, but the growing problem is the constantly rising fee caps that the government cannot control.

Jury noted that platform commission fees are essentially a "booth rental" or "market head fee" that merchants must bear. He illustrated the impact with an example: if someone sells 100 baht worth of goods, they now must pay 30 baht in platform fees. For 1 million baht in sales, platforms take 300,000 baht—compared to the original free model.

Having been involved in online commerce from the beginning, Jury observed that when platforms once charged only 2-3%, they now constantly increase rates, with all profits ultimately flowing to the platform. He cited a notable example: a seller earned 2.1 million baht but had to pay the platform 700,000 baht, something entirely beyond their control.

Jury warned of deeper consequences extending beyond merchants to consumers. When sellers earn smaller profits, they must cut costs by reducing raw material quality, ultimately affecting product standards and creating a cascading problem for the future.

Jury urged the Commerce Ministry and related agencies to take action. He stated that if they can accept online merchants and OTOP vendors gradually collapsing one by one, they need do nothing. However, if they wish to prevent this growing crisis, they must regulate GP fees and platform commissions to fair levels proportionate to product percentages and categories.

On May 14, 2025, reporters covering the Yala Provincial Transport Office noted that officials opened services starting at 8:00 a.m. to provide convenient, fast, and uncrowded service for residents seeking to obtain or renew their driver's licenses. This follows viral social media footage of people arriving at dawn and rushing through the office doors when they opened, with some residents even falling over in the scramble to secure early queue numbers—alarming scenes that caught public attention.

Adulai Hayisae, Yala Provincial Transport Officer, revealed that in response to the previous congestion problems, the office has implemented a new service system and expanded operating hours. Previously, new driver's license applications were accepted only on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, causing a backlog of applicants. The office now serves clients every weekday (Monday through Friday) in accordance with Land Transport Department policy, and has added Saturday services to accommodate the large volume of residents in the area.

Queue Management and Time Efficiency: The office uses a systematic queue management system with special walk-in queue requests beginning at 5:00 a.m. to relieve congestion and increase capacity. Staff distribute walk-in applicants across available days based on seating capacity.

Service Categories: Online queue booking through the DLT SmartQueue system accommodates approximately 60 people daily, allowing applicants to know their exact queue time. For license renewals, residents who have completed the online e-Learning training can walk in immediately. Special training programs are offered for those unable to complete online training, such as elderly citizens, and for large vehicle license applications.

Capacity Enhancement: The office currently handles approximately 70-80 people per day (including walk-ins and online bookings), with staff stationed at various points to answer questions and facilitate the process.

Fraud Prevention: A fake news and fraud prevention center has been established to counter individuals falsely claiming they can obtain driver's licenses without exams in exchange for money. Transport officials firmly deny any policy allowing money payments to obtain driving licenses.

Ms. Kanyarat Yodthong, a service user, shared that while initial news of the crowding alarmed her, she found the system greatly improved when visiting today. She praised the staff's service quality and noted that the system runs smoothly and proportionately without the chaos seen in previous videos. Staff were stationed throughout to provide clear guidance and answer questions, leaving her feeling reassured and confident. She encouraged everyone to obtain their licenses properly and cooperate with the system to ensure smooth, quick service for all.