On May 12, 2025, a research team from Naresuan University, led by Associate Professor Dr. Thanapol Penyarrat, director of the digital database and systems unit at the Office of the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Committee (TSRI), released research findings on bloated catfish caught from the Mekong River in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province. The team tested five types of heavy metals including arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, and manganese. The lead levels in the tested catfish slightly exceeded the standard of 0.3, with samples measuring 0.31 mg/kg.

Initial inspection results of catfish from Chiang Khan, Loei Province found elevated lead and mercury content in the flesh, with lead contamination most prevalent in diseased catfish. In contrast, samples from Nong Khai Province showed levels below safety standards and are safe for consumption. Diseased fish should not be eaten due to the high parasite burden in their intestines. While healthy catfish typically contain moderate levels of heavy metals, diseased fish show higher concentrations of arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, and manganese, though only lead approached standard limits.

Statistical analysis shows that diseased fish contain significantly higher heavy metal levels than healthy fish, consistent with international research indicating that diseased fish have compromised immune systems and are susceptible to infections and parasites. Blood tests conducted by Dr. Nathawut Charoenphol on diseased fish from Nong Khai Province confirmed exposure to heavy metals, DNA damage, red blood cell abnormalities, numerous parasitic infections, elevated white blood cells, and bacterial infections.

Catfish from both Chiang Khan and Nong Khai require continued monitoring. However, the public should not panic as only visibly diseased fish are affected, while healthy-appearing fish remain safe for consumption when properly cooked. The research team will collect additional water, sediment, and fish samples weekly for further testing to determine heavy metal contamination levels and will coordinate with provincial authorities on management strategies.

Veteran Italian manager Claudio Ranieri has announced his willingness to take on a role with the Italian national team, whether as head coach or technical director. The Italian Football Federation is actively searching for a successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who parted ways with the team after failing to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ranieri recently became available after stepping down as a consultant at AS Roma following a clash with manager Jean-Pierre Gasperini. Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia: "Previously I had to turn it down because I had a job at Roma and couldn't do two jobs at once, but now I'm free, so if someone contacts me, why not? Don't say it's impossible." When asked whether he would accept a coaching or director position with the Italian national team, he replied: "I don't know yet, but when your national team reaches out, you have to say yes. It's as simple as that." At 74 years old, Ranieri has previously announced his retirement twice. His impressive resume includes managing numerous clubs and most notably leading Leicester City to win the English Premier League championship.

Bangkok, May 12, 2026 – To express gratitude to True5G as the official main sponsor of the Miss World Thailand 2026 pageant presented by True5G, Miss Ganthira Thechapatroetnakaul, Miss World Thailand 2026, along with the four runner-ups, visited and presented flowers to Sig Wee Brekke, Chairman of True Corporation's executive board. The reception was held at True Tower Ratchada with Oliver Kittipong Veeratecha, head of brand and media affairs at True Corporation, and other executives in attendance.

This visit reflects the collaboration between True5G and the Miss World Thailand 2026 platform in empowering Thai women to reach the international stage through True's capabilities in intelligent networks, AI technology, cybersecurity, and digital ecosystem that connects stories, talents, and inspiration to reach a wider audience. It reinforces True's role as a Telecom-Tech Company supporting meaningful beauty that shines brilliantly and with dignity on the world stage.

SURIN — Thailand's Fine Arts Department has officially added several historical sites in Surin province to the national register of ancient monuments, including the Ta Muen and Ta Kwai temple complexes near the Cambodian border.

The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette on May 12 under a Fine Arts Department declaration listing protected ancient sites across Surin province.

The declaration invoked the Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums Act of 1961, as amended in 1992, which defines ancient monuments as immovable properties with artistic, historical or archaeological significance, including archaeological sites, historical sites and historical parks.

The department stated that the listing aims to provide stronger legal protection for ancient monuments under Thailand's heritage conservation framework.

The newly registered sites include:

Kap Choeng district: Prasat Mon Charoen, Prasat Beng, Prasat Chem, and Prasat Nong Khana

Bua Chet district: Prasat O Thalan

Phanom Dong Rak district: Prasat Ban Nong Khanna, Prasat Ta Muen (also known as Prasat Bay Krim), and Prasat Ta Kwai (also known as Prasat Ta Wai)

Sangkha district: Prasat Tao Thong

The declaration was signed on April 9, 2026 by Fine Arts Department director-general Phanomboot Chanthachot.

A young man resorted to theft to win a woman's heart. The 29-year-old factory worker stole 19 baht of gold from his workplace, sold it, and used the proceeds to hire a woman to break up with her boyfriend and be with him instead. The scheme unraveled when the factory owner recognized the gold ring on his girlfriend.

On May 12, 2026, police led by Superintendent Sarawut Nuchnarot of Bang Lamung Police Station and Deputy Superintendent Yongyut Wanhuai arrested the suspect, identified as Thanakorn or "Louey" (surname withheld), age 29, at his rental room in Moo 9, Nong Pla Lai Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chachoengsao Province. Police recovered one gold ring as evidence.

The investigation began on January 19, 2026, when the wooden pallet factory owner reported that 19 baht of gold had disappeared from inside the factory. With no security cameras available, police questioned all 19 employees and workers. The investigation continued for months until May 11, when the factory owner spotted the girlfriend wearing a gold ring that matched the design of the stolen item. She immediately contacted police.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed. He said he committed the theft because he had fallen for a woman who was already in a relationship. He sold part of the stolen gold and gave his girlfriend 100,000 baht to hire her away from her previous boyfriend. He also gave her the remaining gold to wear and show to her parents. Police have since transferred him for legal proceedings.

Behind the scenes of National ITMX, the developer and operator of Thailand's central financial system that connects all financial transactions 'as one,' enabling seamless digital financial operations.

In an era where transferring money has become as simple as a fingertip gesture, many people may not realize that behind this convenience lies a massive "infrastructure" that links Thailand's entire financial system to work seamlessly together. One crucial mechanism is National ITMX Limited (NITMX), the developer and operator of the central system that unifies Thailand's financial transactions.

Looking back at the turning point in Thai financial history, National ITMX (NITMX) was established through collaboration among Thai commercial banks to implement policies set by the Payment Systems Committee under the Bank of Thailand, aiming to break down barriers to inter-bank transfers. Previously, each bank operated closed systems, making inter-bank transfers difficult, expensive, and time-consuming.

NITMX was created to serve as a central hub systematically connecting the backend systems of all banks, rather than requiring each bank to separately invest in connections with every other bank. By having NITMX as the sole intermediary, all banks can access the nationwide financial network under uniform standards, reducing overall system costs for Thailand's economy. The ITMX system was also designed to handle massive transaction volumes, providing the critical infrastructure that enabled the national PromptPay project to succeed through robust backend processing operating 24/7.

"PromptPay" Transforms Thai Payments with a Single QR Code

PromptPay has emerged as a critical infrastructure component of Thailand's digital financial system and has genuinely become part of people's daily lives. Continuous growth in usage is reflected in 2025 figures showing average transaction volumes exceeding 2,000 million transactions monthly, valued at over 4 trillion baht monthly, with peak daily transaction volumes reaching 96.11 million transactions, demonstrating PromptPay's role as "infrastructure" supporting the nation's economic activities every day.

PromptPay's success results from collaboration among multiple sectors, including the Bank of Thailand, Thai Bankers Association, and commercial banks, with National ITMX Limited (NITMX) serving as the hub connecting all banks' backend systems in real-time.

NITMX plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining the central system that enables "telephone numbers" or "national ID numbers" to safely replace bank account numbers, while supporting the creation of a unified QR Code standard usable across all bank applications, making money transfers, payments, and receipts convenient, swift, and highly accurate. PromptPay is thus not merely a convenience tool for transactions but also a critical mechanism elevating the country's financial infrastructure, establishing a central standard linking all banks together, and strengthening confidence in Thailand's digital payment system internationally. Another important service built on this capability is Bulk Payment, which serves as the "backbone" for large-scale money transfers in a single batch, whether salary payments, government welfare distributions, or organizational-level payments requiring speed, accuracy, and reliability in every transaction.