The People Plus program, or Thailand Helps Thailand Plus, has unveiled full details on cash distribution to the public, split 60 percent from the government and 40 percent from citizens. Registration opens Monday, May 25, 2025, accommodating 30 million benefit recipients, with benefits beginning June 1, 2025.

The Thailand Helps Thailand Plus program consists of two phases:

Phase 1 (June-July 2025): 2,000 baht total (1,000 baht per month)

State welfare card holders (approximately 13.25 million people) will receive an additional 700 baht on top of their existing 300 baht, totaling 1,000 baht monthly for two months with no matching contribution required and immediate spending availability.

Phase 2 (August-September 2025): 2,000 baht total (1,000 baht per month)

Program participants receive an additional 1,000 baht monthly for two months, totaling 2,000 baht. State welfare card holders must meet new registration criteria, proving annual income below 100,000 baht to receive 300 baht personally plus 700 baht government supplement, totaling 1,000 baht monthly for two months (2,000 baht total).

Program Eligibility Requirements: - Age 18 and above - 30 million benefits available - 4,000 baht total benefit - Government funds 60 percent, citizens fund 40 percent - Monthly disbursement of 1,000 baht - Four-month total benefit period

Registration and Usage Timeline: - Registration: May 25, 2025 - Benefits active: June 1 - September 30, 2025 via the Pao Tang app

Government Cabinet approval pending (May 19, 2025) System registration opens May 25, 2025 Money transfers to Pao Tang app June 1, 2025, available for spending June-September 2025

Approved and Prohibited Items:

Allowed purchases include regular restaurants and beverages, essential goods shops, general merchandise, and similar items.

Prohibited items include government lottery tickets, alcoholic beverages, beer, cigarettes, fuel and petroleum products, and similar items.

State welfare cards can be linked with People Plus partner merchants. Discounted goods are available through Blue Flag shops or the Commerce Ministry's Thailand Helps Thailand program.

As of May 10, 2026, the Office of Energy Policy and Planning under the Ministry of Energy has reported current fuel prices across five major service stations: PTT, Bangchak, PT, Caltex, and Shell.

PTT Prices (May 10, 2026): Gasohol 95: 42.45 baht/liter Gasohol E20: 35.45 baht/liter Gasohol E85: 31.39 baht/liter Gasohol 91: 42.08 baht/liter Premium Gasohol 95: 51.54 baht/liter Benzene 95: 52.04 baht/liter Diesel: 39.95 baht/liter Diesel B20: 32.95 baht/liter Premium Diesel: 61.25 baht/liter

Bangchak Prices (May 10, 2026): Gasohol 95: 42.45 baht/liter Gasohol E20: 35.45 baht/liter Gasohol E85: 31.39 baht/liter Gasohol 91: 42.08 baht/liter Premium Gasohol 95: 55.09 baht/liter Diesel: 39.95 baht/liter Diesel B20: 32.95 baht/liter Premium Diesel: 61.25 baht/liter

PT Prices (May 10, 2026): Gasohol 95: 42.45 baht/liter Gasohol E20: 35.45 baht/liter Gasohol 91: 42.08 baht/liter Benzene 95: 52.54 baht/liter Diesel: 39.95 baht/liter Diesel B20: 32.95 baht/liter

Shell Prices (May 10, 2026): Gasohol 95: 42.95 baht/liter Gasohol E20: 35.95 baht/liter Gasohol 91: 42.58 baht/liter Premium Gasohol 95: 49.84 baht/liter Diesel: 39.95 baht/liter Premium Diesel: 49.84 baht/liter

Caltex Prices (May 10, 2026): Gasohol 95: 42.45 baht/liter Gasohol E20: 35.45 baht/liter Gasohol 91: 42.08 baht/liter Benzene 95: 55.06 baht/liter Diesel: 39.95 baht/liter Premium Diesel: 61.25 baht/liter

The Thai Meteorological Department has issued alert no. 9 regarding unstable weather conditions across Thailand with effects lasting until May 10, 2025. Northern, northeastern, eastern, and central regions along with Bangkok and its vicinity will experience thunderstorms with strong gusty winds and heavy rainfall in some areas. Following this period, temperatures are expected to cool as a high-pressure system and cold air mass from China moves over the northeastern region and the South China Sea, while southerly and southeastern winds carry moisture from the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea into the upper part of the country. Easterly winds affecting the southern region and Gulf of Thailand are intensifying, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas of the south. The public is advised to remain cautious against dangers from thunderstorms and strong winds by avoiding open spaces, large trees, unstable structures, and weak signboards. Precautions should also be taken against heavy rainfall and accumulated water, which may cause flash floods and landslides. Farmers should strengthen fruit trees and prepare to protect agricultural crops and livestock from damage, while also taking care of their health during this period of weather fluctuation.

The Thai national team under manager Anthony Hudson faces a difficult challenge after being drawn in Group F with Japan, Qatar, and Indonesia for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals. The AFC held the draw ceremony on May 10, with Thailand placed in Pot 3, presenting the possibility of facing some of Asia's strongest teams. Thailand's group placement in Group F with Indonesia, Qatar, and Japan was confirmed. Complete 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals group stage breakdown: Group A: Saudi Arabia (hosts), Oman, Palestine, Kuwait; Group B: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Bahrain, North Korea; Group C: Iran, Syria, China, Kyrgyzstan; Group D: Australia, Iraq, Tajikistan, Singapore; Group E: South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Lebanon or Yemen; Group F: Japan, Qatar, Thailand, Indonesia.

Manchester City hosted Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in an English Premier League match on the evening of May 9. The Sky Blues needed three points to mount pressure on table-toppers Arsenal in the final weeks of the season. Both teams played competitive football from the opening whistle but neither could find the breakthrough in the first half, with the score level at 0-0 at the break. The second half saw both sides create attacking opportunities before Manchester City finally took the lead through a brilliant Jeremy Doku finish in the 60th minute, with the winger cutting inside and curling a beautiful strike into the far corner. Manchester City then extended their advantage to 2-0 in the 75th minute when Erling Braut Haaland spun and fired home after a scramble in the penalty area. Omar Mamuch sealed a dominant performance in the 90+3rd minute to make it 3-0. The match ended without any further goals, leaving Manchester City in second place on 74 points from 36 matches, trailing leaders Arsenal by just 2 points.

On May 9, the "Drama-addict" Facebook page posted a complaint from a follower who signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Student Loan Fund (SNSC) only to discover she faces imminent asset seizure despite having paid according to the agreement and losing money for a year. The complainant explained that she visited the SNSC office at the AIA building in February of last year to arrange the debt restructuring, after which she made monthly payments through the SNSC app. This year, she received a court order appointing an SNSC representative as an enforcement officer. When she called to inquire about what happened, the officer informed her that asset seizure would proceed. She was shocked and confused, as the officer explained that the system showed the debt restructuring was unsuccessful, but nobody had notified her—not through the app or any other channel. The officer recommended creating a new online agreement using the new system, but accessing it proved difficult. It turned out she couldn't submit the new agreement because it was still under review, and she was told to cancel the old one first. However, the enforcement officer claimed the previous agreement never succeeded, while the system showed something different. When she checked the contract status, it indicated she never made an agreement at all. She expressed her frustration, saying SNSC has never made things convenient for borrowers, and the experience has been stressful—wasting time traveling to the AIA building for free, losing money for a year, and now facing potential asset seizure. She appealed for help from authorities, asking what people in similar situations should do.