BANGKOK — Thailand's Foreign Ministry announced that the European Union has approved the Visa Cascade scheme for Thai nationals, allowing eligible travellers to obtain longer-term multiple-entry Schengen visas more easily.

The European Commission approved the measure for Thai nationals residing in Thailand who apply for short-stay Schengen visas through embassies or consulates of Schengen member states in Thailand.

Thailand is now one of seven countries granted access to the scheme, following India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman in 2024, and Turkey and Indonesia in 2025. Thailand is also the second ASEAN country to receive the privilege.

Under the Visa Cascade system, Thai passport holders with a good record of properly using previous Schengen visas may qualify for longer-duration multiple-entry visas in stages.

Applicants who have previously received and correctly used one Schengen visa within the past two years may be eligible for a one-year multiple-entry visa. Those who have properly used a one-year visa within the previous three years may qualify for a two-year visa, while travellers who have correctly used a two-year visa within the past four years may be eligible for a five-year visa.

The Foreign Ministry said the scheme would help reduce the need for frequent visa applications, while saving time and costs for Thai travellers.

However, the ministry stressed that the measure is not visa-free access. Thai nationals must still apply for Schengen visas under the normal process, with no relaxation of existing requirements.

Authorities also warned that visa holders must maintain a good travel record and comply with the laws of destination countries. Violations could affect future visa eligibility and undermine Thailand's long-term goal of securing visa-free travel to the Schengen area.

On May 17, the "Tough Phuket" Facebook page released video footage showing two Thai men in a black pickup truck illegally dumping trash along Anuphas Road near Prince of Songkla University's Phuket campus, an area designated as off-limits for waste disposal. Following the post going viral, Wichit Subdistrict Municipality officials launched an investigation after receiving complaints from residents about repeated illegal dumping that was damaging the environment and Phuket's reputation as a tourist destination.

Officials discovered large amounts of waste including construction materials, old furniture, and general garbage scattered along the roadside. They successfully tracked down the perpetrators and required them to clean up the mess themselves. The offenders were charged under environmental protection laws and issued a combined fine of 6,000 baht.

The incident has drawn widespread praise from netizens for the swift and serious response by authorities, with many calling for stricter enforcement against illegal dumpers to prevent copycat behavior and maintain Phuket's cleanliness. Wichit Subdistrict Municipality is now appealing to residents and businesses to help monitor and protect the environment by reporting any similar violations to their office at 076-540751.

Thailand's taekwondo team is competing at the 2026 Asian Taekwondo Championships from May 21-24 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Head coach Chatchai Che is leading a full-strength 15-member delegation featuring competitors in multiple weight divisions. Thai Taekwondo Association secretary general Thanadid Raksabut emphasized the championship's significance as a qualifying tournament for the 20th Asian Games in Japan later this year, requiring at least a semifinal appearance to secure spots. The athletes have undergone intensive training with no injuries reported, and both coaching staff and athletes expressed confidence in their physical and mental readiness. Coach Che noted the team previously competed at the Turkish Open with strong results, and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus without pressure while aiming for at least one gold medal and more than three Asian Games quotas. The coaching staff has been preparing athletes since January for the new ruleset changes. World champion Ballanngk Thapthimaedang, competing in the 68kg men's division, shared that he won silver at last year's Asian Championships and is now targeting gold this year. He acknowledged that Thailand's reputation means other nations study their techniques and style, making it necessary to continuously improve while addressing weaknesses. He added that the team has already trained and competed under the new rules at the Turkish Open and feels comfortable with the changes.

The Pheu Thai Party reaffirmed three core principles for submitting a new constitutional amendment draft on May 18, 2025, at Parliament. Party leader and list MP Nattapong Ruengpanya announced the positions following a shadow cabinet meeting with civil society representatives regarding guidelines for drafting a new constitution. "We need a constitution that connects with the people as much as possible, not one that is drafted as quickly as possible," he stated.

The party's three foundational principles are: (1) Maximizing public participation, especially in selecting constitution drafters, despite operating within the framework of Constitutional Court Ruling 18/2568; (2) Preventing monopolization of the new constitution-drafting process; and (3) Not granting additional privileges to senators, ensuring all parliamentarians have equal voting rights throughout the process.

The party committed to proposing amendments to Article 256 of the Constitution to add Chapter 15/1 based on these three principles, and pledged to allocate some of its MPs to support compatible amendments proposed by other political parties. Pheu Thai also agreed to support civil society in gathering at least 50,000 signatures from eligible voters for alternative constitutional amendments.

Ying Chitpol Acharnnont, director of the Internet for the Law Project (iLaw), stated that the government must announce a complete roadmap for the constitution-drafting process, including at least two additional referendums, a process for selecting drafters, and public consultations. He warned that no political party should have disproportionate influence, particularly unelected senators without legitimacy from public elections. He emphasized that if political parties' proposals lack public participation, civil society has the right to submit competing alternatives.

Pricha Watcharasindhul, a Pheu Thai list MP, argued that the 2017 Constitution created a politically deadlocked system by allowing the government to collude with independent organizations through the appointed Senate, which was structured without public input and selected through mutual arrangement.

Officials are prosecuting an oil hoarding operation involving 52 million liters of fuel, profiteering during the Strait of Hormuz closure. On May 18, 2025, at the National Police Office, Justice Minister Rutthapol Nao-uerawat, along with Energy Minister Eak-nart Prom-phanthoop, Deputy Police Commissioner Thatchai Pitaneelabutr, and DSI Director Yuthana Praidamm, announced results of investigations and prosecution against Section 7 oil traders with their own gas stations. The investigation found that these traders deliberately delayed fuel sales to hoard oil and profit from continuously rising prices, causing a severe fuel shortage crisis in March 2025 during Middle East conflicts.

The task force determined that fuel shortages, especially diesel, resulted from Section 7 oil traders deliberately withholding fuel from retail stations even though adequate supplies remained in storage during the March 20-25, 2025 Strait of Hormuz closure period. This caused significant hardship for the public. Diesel supplies disappeared from the system at approximately 29.2 million liters, representing 20.2% of total inventory.

Section 7 oil traders also hoarded fuel in maritime and road transport using deliberate delays to ensure fuel arrived at storage facilities when they could maximize profits from oil price speculation. Officials discovered 23 large tanker shipments (2-5 million liters each; normally 2 trips) deliberately delayed with 50.8 million liters of fuel aboard, and 662 unmarked truck trips carrying 2.1 million liters, believed to involve hoarding fuel on vehicles or in alternative storage facilities.

Justice Minister Rutthapol stated these Section 7 oil traders distorted market mechanisms through deliberate fuel hoarding in storage and transport by sea and road to profit at others' expense, lacking governance and showing disregard for public suffering and law.

Charges will include "delaying fuel sales under Section 30 of the 2542 BE Price of Goods and Services Act, carrying penalties of up to 7 years imprisonment or 140,000 baht fine or both" and "transport documentation not conforming to regulations under Section 30 of the 2543 BE Oil Trading Act, carrying penalties of up to 1 year imprisonment or 100,000 baht fine or both."

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed decisive prosecution against all involved parties without exception. Deputy Police Commissioner Thatchai noted the investigation found irregularities throughout the fuel distribution system including hoarding in storage facilities, maritime transport delays, and land transport delays intended to profit during the crisis affecting Thailand's oil infrastructure.

The Dusit Thani Group unveiled its first-quarter 2026 (January-March) financial results on May 18, 2026, reporting total revenue of 3,270 million baht, a 37.3% year-over-year increase. EBITDA reached 860 million baht, while net profit jumped to 249 million baht, up 418.8%, driven primarily by growth in hotel operations and residential unit handovers from the Dusit Central Park project.

Chanin Donavanik, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dusit Thani Group, noted that Q1 2026 performance grew despite global geopolitical tensions. Key growth drivers included rising hotel revenues and residential unit deliveries from Dusit Central Park, with strong revenue growth and efficient fixed-cost management expanding operating margins significantly.

"Although foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand declined in the first quarter, our hotel business still grew, demonstrating our portfolio management and customer base diversification capabilities," Donavanik stated. Hotel properties achieved a 17% increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) year-over-year, particularly Dusit Thani Bangkok, driven by higher occupancy rates and average room rates.

Hotel management contract revenues also grew despite geopolitical challenges in the Middle East impacting that region's performance. Moving forward, the company will closely monitor the situation and adjust operational strategies, placing greater emphasis on regional and domestic tourism while maintaining efficient cost controls.

For 2026, Dusit Thani projects overall revenue growth of 5-8% (excluding residential deliveries) and anticipates EBITDA margins of 18-20%. The company identified global geopolitical factors as the primary challenge, noting that any improvement in the global environment would benefit international travel and tourism, supporting future growth.