PHUKET — On May 8, 2026, Jojo Savel, a teenage student in Phuket, received praise for performing CPR on a foreign tourist who collapsed unconscious on a road in Kathu, helping save the man's life before emergency responders arrived.

According to local news outlet Phuket Times, the incident took place outside a tea shop in Kathu district when the tourist suddenly lost consciousness, fell to the ground, and struck his head, causing a bleeding injury.

As bystanders panicked, a schoolboy selling grilled mala pork skewers nearby rushed to help and began performing CPR while waiting for rescue workers and an ambulance to arrive.

After several minutes of chest compressions, the tourist began showing signs of consciousness and regained awareness, relieving those at the scene.

The outlet commended the student, writing: "A Kathu Wittaya student in Phuket saved a foreign tourist's life with CPR. While selling mala skewers, he witnessed a male tourist collapse unconscious and strike his head on the ground, causing bleeding. Without hesitation, he performed CPR while waiting for an ambulance."

The post garnered widespread online praise, with many social media users applauding the student's quick thinking and compassion.

Jojo Savel attends Kathu Wittaya School. Local residents noted that the teenager regularly sells grilled pork skewers after school to help fund his education.

Community members said the tourist may not have survived without the student's intervention during those critical moments before paramedics arrived, calling the incident an inspiring example of kindness and civic responsibility among Phuket's young people.

BBGI announced first quarter 2025 financial results with net profit of 265 million baht, up 106% year-over-year and 164% from the previous quarter, reflecting strong business performance through continuous efficient management and risk mitigation against volatile energy costs. According to Detchpont Leisuwarnnoroj, CEO and Managing Director of BBGI Public Company Limited, the company increased sales volumes across both biodiesel and ethanol operations. B100 biodiesel sales reached 94.88 million liters, up 9% year-over-year and 13% from the previous quarter, while ethanol sales totaled 68.40 million liters, representing 3% growth year-over-year and 6% from the previous quarter.

This growth stems from the company's commitment to an Operational Excellence strategy. In biodiesel operations, the company focused on improving production processes, maintaining consistent quality control, and optimizing resource management, particularly through oil loss reduction to enhance raw material efficiency. The company also derived additional value from byproducts such as refined glycerin. In ethanol operations, emphasis was placed on continuous improvement of production efficiency, yield optimization, and process loss reduction, coupled with systematic cost and supply chain risk management through diversified sourcing.

Government energy policy continues to play a crucial role in supporting renewable energy adoption. Biofuel demand is expected to grow through increased diesel mixing ratios from B5 to B7 and expanded B20 implementation, along with promotion of gasohol blends in E20 and E85 categories. Although geopolitical factors in the latter half of the first quarter pressured energy costs and production inputs, BBGI's performance demonstrates its ability to maintain production stability, adapt to market volatility, and manage price fluctuations effectively.

"Growth amid market challenges and pricing volatility reflects our unwavering commitment to Operational Excellence, focused on improving efficiency and developing workforce capabilities to navigate market changes and capture new renewable energy opportunities arising from Thailand's energy policies," the company stated. BBGI remains dedicated to advancing energy security sustainably through bioenergy operations that balance financial performance with environmental, social, and governance considerations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpong announced that the government will open new registrations for 13.2 million state welfare card holders on May 25, 2569, merging them with the Thailand Helps Thailand Plus program. Each person can hold only one type of benefit—either a welfare card or the subsidy program. The Finance Ministry will review eligibility using existing data and the standard criteria of annual income not exceeding 100,000 baht, plus asset requirements. The initiative aims to include previously excluded poor families while filtering out those whose economic status has improved.

Thailand Helps Thailand Plus is divided into two phases:

Phase 1 (June-July): Eligible participants receive 1,000 baht per month for 2 months (government covers 60%, beneficiary pays 40%). Welfare card holders receive their regular 300 baht plus 700 baht government subsidy, totaling 1,000 baht for 2 months.

Phase 2 (July-August): New welfare card data begins. Existing cardholders must re-register for verification since the last registration was 5 years ago. Those who qualify receive an additional 700 baht per month for 2 months. Those who don't qualify can still register to receive 60% government subsidy and pay 40% themselves.

On May 8, 2569, Police Colonel Pattana Bupasuwan ordered officers to arrest Thanesh (surname withheld), 34, at a food shop on Sukhumvit Road in Klong Duan, Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province, based on a warrant issued by Thanyaburi Provincial Court on April 27, 2569. He faces charges of luring a minor aged 15-18 away from guardians for indecent acts, with consent from the minor.

The case began in November 2568 when the victim's father reported to Thanyaburi Police Station that his 15-year-old daughter had met the suspect through the online game "Free Fire." They later communicated via Facebook. The suspect subsequently arranged meetings at a shopping mall in Rangsit, then took her to a resort in Lam Luka, Pathum Thani province, where he recorded intimate videos without her knowledge.

In June 2568, the suspect took the victim to his workplace in Bang Bo district and recorded videos again. When the victim tried to end the relationship in August 2568, the suspect sent threatening messages demanding they meet, warning he would release the videos online if she refused. Frightened, she told her father, who filed a police report.

After investigation, officers arrested the suspect. During interrogation, he admitted to knowing the victim through the online game and developing a relationship. He confessed to recording videos during multiple meetings in both Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. He acknowledged threatening to release the videos when she wanted to end the relationship but claimed it was only a threat and he never actually distributed them. He has been transferred to Thanyaburi Police Station for further legal proceedings.

On May 8, 2025, at the Centara Life Centrale Rayong Convention Center, Sawang Boonmee, Secretary General of the Election Commission (EC), chaired an opening ceremony for a preparatory meeting on organizing elections for Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly members, the Bangkok governor, Pattaya City Council members, and the Pattaya mayor (in cases of completing a full term).

Sawang stated that achieving fair and orderly elections requires both integrity and proper procedure. Every election faces problems and obstacles, but the EC sets high standards aimed at upholding democratic principles—that elections belong to the people, are conducted by the people, and benefit the people. The commission emphasized that elections are not solely the EC's responsibility; they are a collaborative effort involving citizens, as some voters serve as polling unit commissioners without EC involvement. In previous elections, over 1.6 million volunteers participated in this capacity.

The secretary general noted that the EC, candidates, and voters all have equal visibility and ability to verify election processes. This transparency is intentional—since the commission cannot monitor every polling unit simultaneously, public oversight is essential. All transactions are verifiable, and no votes can be distorted. Vote buying remains a shared responsibility among candidates, political parties, and the EC to prevent and investigate.

Sawang stressed that if citizens understand their civic duties, elections will succeed. Polling commissioners cannot be guaranteed to be perfect, but the system can enforce legal compliance. Candidates and political parties should know the law better than ordinary citizens, yet some choose to violate it. Citizens who accept vote-buying money also bear responsibility. Electoral success depends on everyone recognizing the stakes for the nation's future.

The secretary general addressed complaints that arise after 6 p.m. on election night, noting three factors determine victory: first, the capabilities of candidates competing equally on the same field (winners typically possess seven key qualities); second, the rules, which sometimes favor certain parties; and third, the commissioners, who maintain equal procedures. If pressure is applied to commissioners, they follow procedures as defined by law. For fair competition, candidates must assess whether they possess the necessary capabilities and whether the rules are equitable.

Residents from nine provinces filed complaints with police seeking charges against local registrars and committee members of a funeral aid association over its collapse and internal corruption that left citizens unable to receive funeral assistance benefits, resulting in losses totaling billions of baht. The complaint was filed on May 8, 2025 at the Central Investigation Police Bureau (CIB), led by lawyer Rannarong Kaewpetch, chairman of the Justice Recovery Foundation, and accompanied by Krit Silpajai, a Rayong provincial MP from the People's Party, representing affected villagers from Buriram, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Ratchasima, Rayong, Udon Thani, Sisaket, and Amnat Charoen provinces.

Victims are seeking charges against local registrars and funeral association committee members for allowing the organization to collapse due to internal fraud, leaving residents without funeral assistance payments worth tens of millions of baht in damages. A victim from Nakhon Ratchasima displayed photos of deceased relatives and revealed that his grandmother had died two years ago but he never received a single baht of benefits despite depositing hundreds of thousands of baht into the association. He was forced to borrow money from others to cover funeral expenses and now struggles with debt repayment, while the association claims to be closed with no accountability.

A victim from Udon Thani stated he has battled this problem for over four years, with multiple government agencies aware of the irregularities but taking no action. Provincial governors have issued no clear directives on which agency should oversee funeral associations. He appealed to Deputy Police Commander Jarun Kiatphan to investigate, particularly the local registrars who are administrative leaders, to determine whether they conducted proper oversight of these associations as required by law.

Victims from Maha Sarakham, specifically Wapi Pathumthani District, reported approximately 480 people receiving no assistance with combined losses exceeding 1.4 billion baht. Despite appealing to five provincial agencies, no serious resolution has been achieved, leaving them feeling denied justice.

Krit Silpajai, representing Rayong residents, noted that problems emerged since 2565 (2022) with at least three associations collapsing, causing over one billion baht in damages affecting tens of thousands of people. The province has not seriously addressed this issue. Observers suggest the problem persists due to a patronage system and connections between local and national politicians and the registrars, resulting in inadequate oversight and neglect that has caused extensive public harm.

All victims emphasized they filed complaints with the CIB because they trust the Central Investigation Police Bureau, having been unable to rely on local agencies. They plan to submit the case to the Parliamentary Committee on Social Welfare and the Parliamentary Committee on Law for further investigation. Rannarong stated that today represents seeking justice for the deceased and their families, as despite multiple association collapses, the committee members and local registrar administrators face no accountability.