Thailand's top military commander on Tuesday awarded "Bang Rachan" medals to four soldiers injured while carrying out missions along the Thai-Cambodian border, honouring what the military described as acts of bravery and sacrifice in defence of national sovereignty.

The ceremony took place at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Bangkok, where Gen. Ukrit Boontanon, The Chief of Defence Forces, presented the medals and certificates to the injured personnel.

According to the Defence Ministry, the Bang Rachan Medal is awarded to military personnel who are killed or seriously injured while performing duties related to national security, sovereignty protection and maintaining public order.

The medal takes its name from the historic Bang Rachan villagers, who are remembered in Thai history for resisting invading forces during the Ayutthaya period. The military said the award symbolises courage, sacrifice and loyalty to the nation.

The round medal features the emblems of Thailand's three armed services on the front alongside the word "Bang Rachan", while the reverse bears the inscription: "Honouring those who perform duties for the nation."

Military officials said the award represents one of the Defence Ministry's highest honours for personnel wounded in the line of duty.

Somchai Chuaybuunchum and Monthphen Sriserm have been dropped from the professional-level football coaching program due to failing to submit course fees on time. The Thai Football Association announced the roster of eligible participants for the AFC Pro Diploma coaching course for 2025, Batch 4. The two applicants removed from the program are Somchai Chuaybuunchum and Monthphen Sriserm, who did not meet the payment deadline requirement. The committee decided to advance the next-ranked interview candidates to replace them: Rathathee Euathanpaisarn and Phuriphat Niyomchit. The AFC Pro Diploma is the highest-level football coaching curriculum offered by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This training session is part of an assessment for participation in the AFC Coaching Convention at the Pro Level, aimed at developing the association's coaching education programs to meet AFC standards. The Pro License coaching course curriculum is divided into four modules: Module 1 (May 7-16, 2025 - 10 days), Module 2 (September 1-10, 2025 - 10 days), Module 3 (February 1-10, 2026 - 10 days), and Module 4 (May 1-12, 2026 - 12 days). Training fees are 500,000 baht for Thai applicants and 650,000 baht for foreign applicants.

On May 6, 2025, Chanthanee, 41, a condo manager in the Suthep district of Muang, Chiang Mai, filed a police report with Deputy Inspector Prasong Nafan at Phuphing Rajanuves Police Station requesting assistance in locating Ms. Ann (alias), a British woman approximately 35 years old. The tenant had signed a six-month lease agreement starting October 16, 2024 through March 2025 at 25,000 baht per month. The caretaker became suspicious due to an unpleasant odor and the tenant's absence, so she used a spare key to check the room and was horrified at what she found.

The unit was completely trashed with garbage, underwear, and rotting clothes scattered throughout. Walls were carelessly painted and covered in stains. A professional assessment revealed damage including a destroyed bed and deteriorating sofa, with estimated repair costs of 500,000 baht. A flat-screen television has also gone missing, apparently stolen by the tenant.

The incident serves as a cautionary tale to property owners. While many assume only Thai nationals cause such property damage and mess, this foreign tenant—expected to be clean and respectable—proved otherwise. The caretaker warns other condo and rental room owners to remain vigilant and regularly inspect their properties for any changes or damage. Police are currently pursuing the tenant with a warrant for questioning regarding compensation for the damages. She is believed to still be in Chiang Mai province.

The owner of a canned fish factory has apologized and insisted that the tilapia canned product was not intentionally released for sale, claiming it was only in the testing phase and is safe for consumption with no health hazards and nutritional benefits.

The controversy began when canned fish products did not match their labels, with tilapia meat found substituted for mackerel, prompting relevant authorities to inspect the factory in Samut Sakhon Province.

On May 6, 2025, Kittipong and Patthumrat Vikun Prasert, serving as company board members of the canned fish factory that used tilapia instead of mackerel, publicly apologized. On behalf of the company, they expressed regret to all people, particularly those affected by the incident, stating they were not complacent after learning of the problem. The company has contacted consumers and has already implemented some compensation measures. The company is currently investigating and recalling products, confirming that the product in question was an experimental product made from tilapia, which is safe to consume, poses no health risks, and offers nutritional value. The company is currently seeking proper label approval.

Regarding the labeling issue, the company is in the process of obtaining correct labels, but Kittipong could not immediately explain why the product was packaged in cans labeled as mackerel. He stated this matter requires further investigation and that production numbers cannot yet be confirmed, requiring document review for clarity.

On the matter of releasing experimental products for sale, Kittipong stated that the company had no intention to sell them but encountered complications, possibly in the production process. He could not confirm when the distribution process occurred and requested thorough investigation.

"The company requests the opportunity to do our best. Throughout our 15 years in business, we have genuinely intended to produce quality products at fair prices accessible to consumers. The current economic situation may have made things more challenging," Kittipong stated.

Kittipong also clarified that the over 10,000 cans of fish that were seized were confirmed not to be tilapia, but the Food and Drug Administration found labeling errors with text that was too small, so samples were sent for testing.

When asked whether the circulating images of canned fish made from tilapia were from the company, Kittipong suggested they likely were based on the appearance but requested verification.

"Regarding tilapia details, we will clarify with the Samut Sakhon Provincial Commerce Office and the FDA first. We confirm that no other fish species were used in experimental canned fish production and accept taste testing and nutritional value assessment. We have already conducted our own quality evaluation of tilapia canned fish and reiterate that we are currently seeking proper label approval."

"The reason we tried tilapia production was due to the economic situation. The factory wanted to maintain the original selling price without increases because rising costs could create a chain effect affecting wholesalers and consumers, burdening the public. We wanted to keep prices at current levels or raise them minimally. Currently, freshwater and saltwater fish costs are nearly identical," he added.

Mondelez, the world's leading snacks company and maker of OREO, is unveiling two new Japanese-style products exclusively for Thailand: OREO Soft Serve Matcha and OREO Cheese-su. The company is preparing to open the OREO Matcha House pop-up café for three days on May 6, 2025. Anuvalutch Leephaoban, Senior Manager of Biscuit Products at Mondelez International (Thailand), stated that OREO has long captured Thai consumers' hearts, and the brand aims to create fresh experiences aligned with modern lifestyles under the concept of 'Fun Every Day.' He noted that Japanese culture is a top destination in Thai hearts, and Thai consumers particularly love Japanese flavors like matcha and cheese, which inspired these premium new launches.

Naphasros Phaenthong, OREO Brand Assistant Manager, added that beyond the product launch, OREO will deliver Thailand's first exclusive experience through the OREO Matcha House, a Japanese-style pop-up café designed for OREO fans. The café will be open for just three days at Central Park shopping mall from May 8-10, serving specialty menu items including OREO Fuji Soft Serve (Japanese-style matcha soft ice cream), OREO Fuji Float (green tea drink with matcha ice cream), and OREO Hokkaido Donut (soft, fluffy donut in Japanese style). Limited-edition merchandise will also be available.

An exclusive workshop, 'Matcha Sensory Experience,' will teach matcha brewing and menu creation using OREO Soft Serve Matcha, led by Chef Natthasima Lukchay of K Pasty Academy, with special guest S—Suphop Sanggaworawong. The workshop runs from 4:00-5:00 PM on Sunday, May 10 at OREO Matcha House. The café features minimalist summer décor in blue and earth-tone green, with an adorable Maneki-neko (lucky cat) mascot welcoming guests. Operating hours are 10:00 AM-9:00 PM on Level 4 at the Sky Garden connector. Both OREO Soft Serve Matcha and OREO Cheese-su are now available at 30 baht at convenience stores and major retailers nationwide, with OREO Cheese-su available as a limited edition through June only.

Prime Minister Anuthine Charnvirakul has instructed Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nititumphaphat and Finance Minister to chair a committee studying the Southern Economic Bridge project, connecting the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea coastlines, or Land Bridge.

The study will examine all aspects including geopolitics, investment returns, logistics systems, and cargo management procedures.

The PM emphasized the project's importance, noting that global conditions have shifted regarding energy security and geopolitics, necessitating strategies that allow Thailand to stand independently.

The Land Bridge study committee must finalize its report within 90 days.

The Land Bridge is a megaproject worth approximately 1 trillion baht, functioning as an economic bridge connecting Chumphon Province on the Gulf coast with Ranong Province on the Andaman coast.

Construction will include two deep-sea ports on either coast, alongside expressways and dual-track railways to transport goods across the peninsula, reducing time and costs compared to Malacca Strait shipping.

Projections suggest the project will boost economic capacity, establish Thailand as a logistics center, create new manufacturing bases, generate employment and income, and stimulate Southern Thailand's economy.

This project has been discussed since 2019 and the current government is advancing it.

Historically, Thailand has not invested in large-scale infrastructure megaprojects to drive economic growth and national development.

However, given the project's magnitude, significant concerns and impacts exist, including return on investment, economic viability given high operating costs, environmental impacts, and effects on local communities' livelihoods.

Therefore, the government's directive to expedite this study must comprehensively address all dimensions and aspects. Critically, it must be receptive to all stakeholders and enable participation from all sectors.

Currently, opinions are divided—some support the project while others, particularly civil society and local residents, oppose it due to concerns about long-term impacts.