Norsetsathada Boonma, a member of Thailand's national cycling team preparing for the 20th Asian Games, delivered outstanding results by winning double gold in the 1km time trial at the National Track Cycling Championship for the Royal Trophy.

The track cycling competition for Thailand's National Championship and Royal Trophy, part of the 2025 Queen Sirikit Trophy series round 2, was held May 1-3 at the Velodrome within the Thai Sports Authority (กกท.) facilities in Huamark. On May 2, competitors battled for 15 gold medals, with live coverage streamed on Thailand Cycling Association Facebook, TCA Channel, and YouTube: TCA Channel, reaching over 7,000 viewers.

Notable results from various categories include:

1km Time Trial - Open Women: 1st Sergeant Kanyaratch Nohkaew (Office of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence) 1:21.780, 2nd Natscha Songkhen (Fisherman Friends Chiang Mai) 1:21.841, 3rd Natphon Aphimont (Fisherman Friends Chiang Mai) 1:23.643

1km Time Trial - U23 Women: 1st Natscha Songkhen (Fisherman Friends Chiang Mai) 1:21.841, 2nd Gawinnat Kreuatong (Thai national team, 20th Asian Games preparation, HCCT by Lung Teng Pump) 1:26.976, 3rd Petchlada Mancong (Fisherman Friends Phitsanulok Royal Thai Air Force Unit 46) 1:28.469

1km Time Trial - Open Men: 1st Captain Norsetsathada Boonma (Thai national team, 20th Asian Games preparation, Royal Thai Air Force Cycling Team KOM-KOM) 1:07.621, 2nd Lieutenant Commander Phawood Kotprom (Royal Thai Navy, M Autogate & Siri K Hero bike Thermaltake Bicycle) 1:11.626, 3rd Nakornphan Kaewgammarun (National Police Office Cycling Team-Goki) 1:12.510

1km Time Trial - U23 Men: 1st Captain Norsetsathada Boonma (Thai national team, 20th Asian Games preparation, Royal Thai Air Force Cycling Team KOM-KOM) 1:07.621, 2nd Nakornphan Kaewgammarun (National Police Office Cycling Team-Goki) 1:12.510, 3rd Pichchakorn Intaruksa (HCCT by Lung Teng Pump) 1:13.036

1km Time Trial - Youth Women: 1st Natthayan Phukatue (Bangkok School of Sports & Roojai) 1:28.204, 2nd Siwapon Phuttharom (Bangkok School of Sports & Roojai) 1:28.235, 3rd Bandit Laddawan (Bangkok School of Sports & Roojai) 1:34.138

1km Time Trial - Youth Men: 1st Sirawit Sanisai (Bangkok School of Sports & Roojai) 1:11.868, 2nd Kantapat Porisri (Hero Bike – CK Racing – Ayutthaya College) 1:11.920, 3rd Khunnanon Rodsuphan (Bangkok School of Sports & Roojai) 1:15.115

Complete results available at www.thaicycling.or.th

Sunday's competition on May 3 begins at 7:30 AM with 32 gold medals at stake. Live coverage on Thailand Cycling Association Facebook, TCA Channel, and YouTube: TCA Channel starting at 7:30 AM.

On May 2, 2026, Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploychaleaw Laksameesangchan announced that the government prioritizes insured workers and aims to improve their quality of life by reducing healthcare costs and expanding access to efficient medical services. The government, through the Ministry of Labor, directed the Social Security Office to develop dental benefits for insured workers under Sections 33 and 39.

Beginning May 1, 2026, social security dental benefits have undergone major improvements. Insured workers undergoing impacted tooth extraction no longer need to compete for filling benefits, as social security has allocated separate funding. Coverage is up to 2,500 baht per tooth for those who have contributed for at least three months within 15 months before service. Workers who leave employment retain dental protection coverage for up to six additional months.

New dental benefits effective May 1, 2026, include:

1. Tooth Extraction/Filling/Tartar Removal (Basic Benefits) - Private hospitals/clinics: 900 baht annually (unchanged) - Public hospitals: Expanded coverage including root scaling and bone contouring

2. Impacted Tooth Extraction - Previous: Covered under 900 baht annual limit; extraction at 2,500 baht required 1,600 baht out-of-pocket - New: Separate allocation, up to 1,500 baht per tooth (simple extraction) or 2,500 baht per tooth (complex extraction with bone grafting) - Public hospitals with agreements cover actual costs per standards

3. Removable Dentures - Previous: Limited coverage - New: Increased to 1,500-6,000 baht depending on number and type of teeth, plus 900 baht repair coverage per service

4. Dental Implants for Full Mouth Restoration - Previous: No coverage - New: Surgical fee of 17,500 baht per person for those who lost all teeth and cannot wear removable dentures, plus 3,300 baht per implant set, including follow-up care benefits

Insured workers using services outside contracted facilities must pay first and request reimbursement through e-Self Service or at Social Security offices nationwide. Additional information is available at provincial Social Security offices or the 24-hour hotline 1506.

On May 2, 2025, the Fisheries Department clarified issues with the Thailand FishAI application following online discussions about errors in the app's fish identification function. The department thanked users for their interest in downloading the app and explained the current limitations.

Thailand FishAI is a research and development project utilizing artificial intelligence technology that was completed within just one year. Currently, the prototype system can identify 50 fish species (though it cannot yet identify all species). Each fish species requires extensive image data collected from fieldwork, including various sizes and angles—typically 100 to 1,000 images per species depending on the fish's distinctive characteristics—to train the AI system.

The species currently identifiable are mostly freshwater fish from the Cyprinidae family, the most diverse fish family in Thailand, including both common and rare endemic species such as white barb, gold barb, giant snakehead, red-finned barb, various loaches, silver barb, rosy barb, false shark, coral barb, sweetlips, and snakehead. The app also identifies rare Thai species like Thai freshwater angelfish and Thai siamese. Additionally, it can identify some ornamental fish species including Siamese fighting fish, carp, goldfish, koi, and some exotic species, as well as some economically important species like snapper, catfish, and tilapia.

The Fisheries Department is committed to continuously expanding the database so the AI system can identify more fish species, requiring ongoing collaboration across multiple sectors to enhance service quality.

The Thailand FishAI application also features a "Library" function—an aquatic animal database allowing users to search information on over 2,000 aquatic species collected by the Fisheries Department, including freshwater fish, saltwater fish, ornamental fish, and aquatic plants, organized by category for convenient and rapid access.

Additionally, the "Survey" function allows users unfamiliar with a fish species to upload photos with details and directly consult Fisheries Department experts through the app. Experts will respond and notify users, while user-submitted fish images help improve the app's database.

Users encountering problems, inaccurate AI results, or having suggestions can report issues through the "Survey" menu or via the official LINE Open Chat by searching "Thailand Fish AI." The Fisheries Department welcomes all feedback for continuous improvement.

On May 2, 2569, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin has launched an urgent assistance program to support communities facing the severe drought crisis. The Department of Water Resources has been directed to mobilize nationwide resources to increase drinking and household water availability, support community water supply systems, and establish emergency water reserves in at-risk areas.

The ministry stressed that the government regards public welfare as paramount, particularly during this widespread drought emergency. All relevant agencies have been instructed to provide full support, including securing domestic water supplies, assisting the agricultural sector, and strengthening frontline personnel to alleviate public hardship as quickly as possible.

Theerachun Bunsit, Director-General of the Department of Water Resources, revealed that he has ordered all 11 regional water resource offices to closely monitor the situation and mobilize machinery, pumping equipment, water trucks, and various support systems to affected areas immediately. Operations focus on securing drinking and household water, production water for public utilities, and systematic agricultural assistance.

Relief operations continue across multiple provinces including Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chanthaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phitsanulok, Chumphon, Krabi, and Ubon Ratchathani, with water pump installations, clean water distribution, and comprehensive field support provided for both household consumption and agricultural use. Drinking water has also been supplied to wildfire-fighting personnel in vulnerable areas.

To date, the Department of Water Resources has successfully assisted over 21,600 households, representing approximately 43,200 people, and distributed nearly 2,000 bottles of drinking water to frontline wildfire personnel, demonstrating the ministry's proactive approach to mitigating drought impacts.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry reaffirms its commitment to continued assistance, ensuring adequate water availability for citizens, reducing hardship during this crisis, and establishing long-term national water security while standing beside the people in all circumstances.

PHUKET: An Australian man has been arrested in Kamala following a road incident that escalated into a confrontation at a busy intersection, with video footage indicating he initiated the obstruction.

Suchai Pornchaiyasuksadom, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, announced that the association will host two major tournaments this May. The first is the ITF Asia U-12 Team Championship running from May 4-8, 2025, at the National Tennis Development Center in Muang Thong Thani, featuring eight nations: Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos, and Thailand as host.

Thailand's boys team includes Oliver Bensen Berkhout (Thai-Dutch) from Chon Buri, Deer Sorprasit from Bangkok, and Prattakorn Pacheeratana from Ayutthaya, coached by Sahathat Supkij. The girls team features Wimuttinya Pongnu from Bangkok, Pakchira Horlersukul from Bangkok, and Loretta Lee Abrahamsen (Thai-American) from Nonthaburi, coached by Itthipol Srisena, with assistant coaches Anut Rueankoan and Boonmee Potpiajit.

Teams finishing in the top three of both boys and girls categories will represent Southeast Asia in the Asian Championships final. Suchai noted that Thai teams won both categories last year and advanced to the finals, and this year the team has prepared thoroughly with the goal of defending their championship titles.

The association is also currently hosting ITF World Tennis Tour professional events for both men and women at Kasetsart University's Kamphaeng Saen Campus in Nakhon Pathom, in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation. The first phase includes six tournaments (three for men, three for women) and concludes on May 17. Two additional phases are scheduled: the second from June 6-26 and the third from August 31 to September 20. These tournaments attract professional players and spectators from around the world, boosting the local economy and tourism through spending on food, accommodation, and other services.