On May 8, 2026, Poonpong Nayanaprakan, Director-General of the Department of Business Development under the Ministry of Commerce, announced the launch of a scanning operation targeting legal entities on the famous tourist islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui in Surat Thani province. The operation aims to prevent foreign capital from using Thai nationals as nominee representatives, following viral claims that 'foreigners have already taken control of the islands.'

Data from the scan reveals that 11,426 companies with foreign investment operate on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, accounting for 67.97% of all 16,811 businesses on the two islands. Some of these companies operate legally, while others illegally use Thai citizens as front owners.

The department has prioritized this as an urgent matter requiring concrete enforcement action. It is working proactively with partner agencies that signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 29, 2026, to prevent and suppress the use of Thai nominees under the concept of 'Heal Economic Wounds, Defeat Nominees,' with plans to prosecute nominee business operators to the fullest extent.

Director-General Poonpong explained that the department has historically prioritized facilitating investment for both Thai and foreign investors over strict business registration oversight, while respecting the good intentions of foreign investors who create jobs and stimulate economic growth. However, some foreign investors have exploited this leniency by using Thai nationals as illegal front owners, causing market distortions and damaging the nation's overall economy.

'From now on, the department will strictly oversee the registration of businesses with foreign investment. Those who invest legally will receive full support as contributors to national prosperity. But those operating in gray areas using Thai nominees to illegally divert profits will face severe punishment as economic criminals undermining the nation,' Director-General Poonpong stated.

Data from the department's scan of Surat Thani province—specifically Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, world-renowned tourist destinations with high risk of nominee business activity—shows that Surat Thani has 21,717 registered companies, with 11,649 (53.6%) involving foreign investment. The top 10 nationalities of investors are: France (2,365 companies, 20%), United Kingdom (1,446, 12%), Russia (1,205, 10%), Israel (1,147, 10%), Germany (608, 5%), China (569, 5%), United States (444, 4%), Australia (335, 3%), Italy (258, 2%), and Belgium (222, 2%).

Koh Phangan has 4,761 registered companies with significant foreign investment involvement.

On May 8, 2569, Dr. Somruks Chungsaman, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, revealed new guidelines for physician workforce allocation and management. He explained that Thailand's current healthcare challenge is not simply a shortage of doctors but rather a distribution problem and the need to align workforce management with actual workload demands across different regions.

Thailand currently has a physician-to-population ratio of approximately 1 to 900, compared to developed countries at around 1 to 600. While workload assessments indicate a shortfall of 20,000-30,000 full-time equivalent physicians, the ministry believes allocation decisions should be based on actual hospital workload rather than population ratios alone.

"The ministry is currently surveying all regions within three months to determine how many physicians each hospital—from 30-bed community hospitals to 600-700 bed regional centers—should have based on actual workload, including bed capacity, patient volume, and population served," Dr. Somruks said.

The primary issue is that most physicians work in the private sector or large hospitals, leaving Ministry of Public Health facilities, particularly in remote areas, severely understaffed. The ministry is implementing a new compensation system based on workload and productivity rather than uniform salaries, especially for high-demand specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, and emergency medicine.

Many specialist physicians work considerably harder than their counterparts in less demanding fields but receive equal salaries, prompting younger doctors to pursue easier specialties or careers in cosmetic medicine instead. The ministry is considering increasing special hardship allowances for positions in areas with over 40% physician shortages from 5,000 baht to 15,000 baht, and 10,000 baht for areas with 20-40% shortages.

Regarding state-funded physicians and medical interns, the ministry has implemented a new system allowing medical students and interns to voluntarily work in shortage areas first in exchange for priority selection of further study grants and preferred training locations.

"Previously, many state-funded physicians drew lots, got assigned to unwanted areas, and quit after the first year. This year we announced 30 shortage hospitals needing 205 physicians total. Those who volunteer get immediate priority in selecting further study opportunities. As a result, 180 first-year interns and 180 graduating medical students have already volunteered," Dr. Somruks stated.

Provinces with severe physician shortages include Bueng Kan and Sisaket, where the ministry is accelerating solutions, particularly regarding work systems and support from senior physicians and staff.

Dr. Somruks noted that the most common complaint from state-funded physicians is not compensation but lack of mentorship and teaching support. The ministry has received formal complaints through the Medical Council and established a fact-finding committee to address the issue.

Drama erupted immediately after young actor March Chuthaput's YouTube channel released a clip questioning whether nam prik kapi is actually a popular dish. The post triggered a wave of netizen backlash, with comments ranging from 'Was he raised in isolation?' to 'Nam prik kapi is more famous than March' and 'This shows some celebrities are just good-looking.' Recently, March appeared on Channel 3's talk show 'Rak Dai Rue Young' at the Malinont building to address the drama and discuss his latest content series.

When asked why he paddles so hard, March explained: "Did you want to go? It's exhausting. (Is it a nice view trip worth paddling?) Oh, I get it now, that's not me. This is someone with sharp eyes." Regarding the viral moment, he shared: "People on set joked about it. Honestly, the person who checked the footage didn't see it. We were just focused on the fishing segment, but eventually we watched it and didn't notice anything. Don't zoom in on still frames—it's a moving image. (Were you embarrassed? Maybe it's just the wrong angle?) I really want people to see my first fishing attempt and how I succeeded with Ice and Paris. Thanks for supporting me on the fishing."

When asked what fish he caught, March replied: "I caught mackerel and butterfly mackerel. (No catfish or snakehead?) Stop teasing, I'm embarrassed. No, really, I want people to watch the fishing."

Regarding how each trip is planned, March revealed: "I don't plan anything. I really don't know. Most guests who come just ask where the crew is, but there isn't really one. I hold the camera myself, and sometimes guests help film. The team that plans doesn't tell me much—just the province, but not what we'll do or what to prepare. That's it."

When asked if he at least knows the location: "Honestly, I had no idea on the Ice trip—I was completely lost. But it was fun. (Did you not plan the previous trips either?) Maybe. Like when I went with P'O, I knew we were going to Doi Luang Chiang Dao, but I didn't know what the conditions would be like there."

March laughed when reminded that P'O (Mario) mentioned he never briefs the guests: "That's so funny! I met P'O at the airport like, 'Hey, why?' and P'O said, 'This is the one, younger brother.'"

When asked if he briefs guests beforehand: "The team communicates. I don't know. But P'O is so sweet—he walks and has so much fun. (So he brings luggage on the hiking trip?) Well, it works because we use porters."

Regarding guest selection, March explained: "The team contacts them. We do follow proper procedures, but before that, we might chat separately saying, 'Want to go on a trip? It's fun. We get life experience. I guarantee you'll come back with meaningful lessons. Everyone comes back with meaning.'"

When told that everyone who goes mentions it afterward, March said: "JJ did too. Everyone gets hooked. I won't just say JJ and Ice got super hooked. (Does that mean more fishing trips?) They want to go again with me. I'll take them somewhere harder."

Asked if he's invited Fern (Fern Phimchanok), March answered: "I did invite her. Let's challenge her a bit. I really want her to go, but she's busy filming and just wrapped a drama. If Fern finds time, it should be the trip where I'm deaf—probably get the most criticism."

When asked if he'll get criticized from start to finish: "I got criticized from the phone call invitation, but I still want to travel with her. It's fun. I want to see Fern suffer."

Asked what he'll do with Fern, March said: "She has to hike. Fern definitely has to hike. But actually, Fern is pretty tough. I think she can handle it."

Monaco has just set a historic record in the luxury residential market as Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov's holding company, System Capital Management, purchased an ultra-luxurious 21-room penthouse in the Le Renzo project for over 500 million US dollars, or approximately 16 billion baht. This transaction has been registered as the most expensive residential real estate deal ever recorded in the world, immediately sending ripples through the global high-end real estate market.

The penthouse is situated on the top floor of a luxury building overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, spanning over 26,900 square feet across 5 levels with panoramic sea views. The lavishly designed interior features 21 bedrooms, 8 private parking spaces, multiple expansive terraces, a private swimming pool, jacuzzi, premium furniture, and cutting-edge smart home technology.

Monaco's exceptionally high property prices are no coincidence, as the country is among the most expensive locations in the world, with prices reaching over 70,000 euros per square meter or approximately 2.6 million baht. The Le Renzo project is considered an iconic landmark that has redefined Monaco's skyline in recent decades, making this penthouse even more exclusive and rare.

This purchase dramatically shatters the previous world record held by Nick Candy's London mansion valued at over 350 million dollars (approximately 11 billion baht) and Ken Griffin's New York penthouse worth around 240 million dollars (approximately 7.7 billion baht). Experts view this transaction as a clear reflection of growing trends in the ultra-luxury real estate market, with continued demand for iconic-level assets showing no signs of decline.

Sabida meets with French Ambassador to discuss elevating Thai-French cultural cooperation through knowledge exchange and promoting Thai creative industries on the global stage to enhance the nation's cultural image. On May 8, 2025, at the Ministry of Culture, H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Poimbœuf, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Thailand, met with Ms. Sabida Taiseert, Minister of Culture, to discuss ways to strengthen Thai-French cultural cooperation through exchanges in art, film, and cultural heritage, as well as promoting Thai creative industries internationally to enhance Thailand's image and expand bilateral cultural relations. Both parties also discussed preparations for the Minister of Culture's official visit to France in May 2025 to attend major events including the 79th Cannes Film Festival (Cannes Film Festival 2026), bilateral talks with the French Minister of Culture, a ceremony to present the Legion of Honor to Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, and the opening of the "La Mode en Majesté – Royal Thai Dress: From Tradition to Modernity" exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The meeting was attended by Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture Rani Ittharat, Director-General of the Department of Culture Promotion Yuthika Israngkur Na Ayudhya, Deputy Director-General of the Fine Arts Department Kanista Chotikvnich, Assistant Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture Urutsaya Intarasuksri, Ministry of Culture executives, representatives from the French Embassy in Thailand, and relevant officials.