Thailand's youth tennis teams have earned the right to represent Southeast Asia at the 2026 ITF Asia Under-12 Team Competition finals following the regional qualifiers held at the National Tennis Development Center in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi, concluding on May 8, 2025.

In the boys' team championship, Thailand faced Indonesia with standout performances from Theer Sraprasit in the second singles match, who secured a 2-1 set victory over Al Sauki Geo Asmara (6-7 tiebreak 3-7, 7-5, 6-2) to give Thailand a 1-0 lead. Oliver Bensen Berkhudt, a Thai-Dutch player, lost his first singles match to Rezo Tanujojo 1-2 (6-0, 6-7, 3-6), leveling the match at 1-1. The doubles match between Berkhudt and Pratthakorn Pachiratan versus Warren Premiere Lii Pevoko and Rezo Tanujojo was abandoned due to heavy rain when Thailand trailed 3-4 in the first set. Officials from the ITF, ATF, and both team coaches decided to cancel the doubles match, resulting in a 1-1 tie with no champion or runner-up declared. Vietnam defeated Malaysia 2-0 in the third-place playoff.

In the girls' team competition, Thailand secured third place by defeating Singapore 2-0. Phakjira Holeatsagul opened with a second singles victory over Alicia Yao (6-4, 5-7, 6-4), while Vimuttinya Pongnu, recently recovered from illness, dominated her first singles match against Lou Ya Viktoreya Prezleh with a 2-0 set victory (6-0, 6-2). Malaysia won the girls' championship, defeating Indonesia 2-1, with Singapore placing fourth.

Thailand's boys' team, along with Indonesia and Vietnam, and the girls' team, along with Malaysia and Indonesia, have qualified as Southeast Asian representatives for the 2026 ITF Asia Under-12 Team Competition finals, which will be held in Singapore from September 15-20, 2025.

Sujai Pornchaiyasakkumdom, president of the Thai Lawn Tennis Association, praised all athletes and staff for their full effort and commitment, while expressing admiration for the skill and determination of athletes from other nations. British ITF tennis development officer Jonathan Stopps and Indian ATF administration and development officer Sunil Gill presented certificates of honor to the athletes.

On May 9, 2569, Pol. Lt. Gen. Songpruet Sirisucha, Commander of the Immigration Bureau Region 3, along with Deputy Commander Pol. Col. Chinwut Tangwonglert and Inspector Pol. Col. Suriya Puangsambat led an investigation team to arrest Mr. Chen Tao, 57, a key suspect wanted most urgently by the People's Republic of China.

Following a request from Beijing, Thai authorities targeted Mr. Chen Tao for concealing and hiding assets obtained through criminal activity. An arrest warrant was issued by the Lanzhou Public Security Bureau with damages valued at approximately 3,222 million yuan (1.6 billion baht).

Pol. Lt. Gen. Songpruet stated that the suspect was involved in defrauding a bank and laundering money through shell companies. Investigators discovered the suspect entered Thailand on November 11, 2568, on a PE visa. He had provided multiple false addresses to conceal his actual residence. Officers arrested him at a condominium in the Ramkhamhaeng area and revoked his visa as a foreigner with a criminal record deemed a threat to society.

The suspect had hired someone else to rent the room under their name as a cover. During arrest, officers discovered a second passport—a Vanuatu passport—believed to be used for identity concealment, as China had already revoked his Chinese passport. The suspect is a core leader who directly commands operations both domestically and internationally.

The Immigration Bureau confirmed its continued commitment to combating transnational organized crime and will not allow Thailand to serve as a haven for criminals, ensuring public safety and protection of property.

On May 9, 2025, former Thai for Thais Party spokesperson Prompong Nopradit stated that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to receive a sentence remission on May 11, but some activists and groups continue to oppose it.

Nopradit noted that these same groups previously urged Thaksin to return to Thailand and face the justice system. After Thaksin complied, proceeded through all legal channels, and served two prison terms, they remain unsatisfied. The Justice Minister has clarified that the remission process follows proper procedures and does not violate political speech restrictions.

He argued that Thai society has been trapped in conflict for over 20 years because some people harbor grudges and refuse forgiveness. At 76 years old, Thaksin has followed all regulations without resistance, even accepting an electronic monitoring bracelet. Nopradit questioned what activists expect and urged society to forgive, move forward, and let go of past grievances.

Nopradit emphasized that during Thaksin's time abroad, business leaders and politicians frequently consulted with him, reflecting his continued influence. He noted that Thaksin's experience managing large international corporations and relationships with global leaders could benefit Thailand's future direction.

He expressed confidence that a 76-year-old man with seven grandchildren would prefer spending time with family rather than plotting revenge. He stated that Thaksin, who has forgiven those who threatened his life, would not seek vengeance. Nopradit called on those spreading doubts to stop and urged Thai society, as a forgiving society, to let go of what can be released.

Nopradit announced he would join red-shirt supporters in welcoming Thaksin's return on May 11, while emphasizing that only Thaksin or his family could clarify his future role. However, he noted that many people still remember Thaksin's policies—such as the 30-baht healthcare program, village funds, drug suppression, and systematic solutions to poverty—that directly benefited ordinary citizens and represented practical democracy.

Police Chief Orders Expanded Investigation into Chinese Man's Weapons Cache Following Home Raid with Full Network Check and Financial Trail Review. On May 9, 2025, a Chinese national's vehicle overturned, leading police to discover a handgun and subsequently uncover a cache of military weapons, explosive-laden body armor, and prepared explosive devices in the Nakhon Chachoen area of Chachoengsao Province. National Police Chief General Kittiratha Punthavetcr announced he has assigned Deputy Police Chief General Samran Nualmaa, overseeing security affairs, to direct this case. He ordered Region 2 investigation teams to accelerate their inquiry into the suspect's details, travel history, employment, associates, weapon origins, acquisition methods, possession intent, phone communications, and financial accounts with strict legal enforcement and regular progress reports until the entire network faces prosecution. General Kittiratha further instructed Deputy Police Chief Samran to obtain data from immigration authorities to identify foreign nationals with suspicious entry-exit patterns and prolonged stays for police investigation, conducting both intelligence and surveillance operations on foreign individuals and their residences to prevent similar incidents.

On May 9, 2569, authorities reported that at 6 p.m. on May 8, officials from the Nong Phai Mutual Aid Foundation received a report from the village headman of Moo 3, Non Si Thong, Bo Thai subdistrict, Nong Phai district, Phetchabun province, regarding an assault involving a machete that caused severe lacerations to the ears and face. Officers and the subdistrict headman rushed to the scene and found the victim, Mr. Adul (surname withheld), 65 years old, suffering from deep wounds to the ear and left side of his face. He was given first aid and transported to Nong Phai Hospital.

Investigators discovered a wooden stick with bloodstains near a wooden cot at the scene. The suspect, Mr. Yut (surname withheld), 60 years old and the brother-in-law of the victim, was apprehended at his adjacent home. He was found intoxicated and admitted to the attack. According to preliminary questioning, the victim had been resting in a hammock when the intoxicated brother-in-law suddenly entered wielding a sugarcane cutting machete and slashed the victim's face repeatedly without warning. The victim grabbed a wooden stick to defend himself before the suspect fled back to his house with the machete.

Investigating officers from Na Chaleang Police Station have charged him with assault causing serious bodily injury. Whether charges of attempted murder will be filed depends on further medical examination. A more detailed investigation is underway.

The government is preparing to submit a 'Old-for-New Vehicle' program to cabinet for approval, aimed at incentivizing truck and public transport operators to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) and reduce pollution from the transport sector.

On May 9, Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Perchvivattana announced that the government, through the Ministry of Transport, is advancing Thailand's road transport and logistics systems under a Digital Government policy. This involves leveraging information technology to develop modern, convenient, safe, and increasingly efficient transport management systems, designed to enhance the competitiveness of Thailand's logistics sector and support sustainable economic growth.

A key initiative is the development of the DLT-TMS (Transport Management System) by the Department of Land Transport, which will serve as a centralized database for road transport. This enables operators to use data for transport planning, cost reduction, and service quality improvement to meet international standards. Simultaneously, the government can analyze data to formulate accurate cargo transport policies and identify opportunities to improve national transport efficiency and cost structures.

The government is also preparing to revise freight rate and fare calculation formulas to reflect actual costs while tackling 'empty truck trips' through transport management data, ultimately reducing logistics costs and improving service efficiency.

Looking ahead, the government will propose a 'Vehicle Trade-In Program' for trucks and public transport buses for cabinet consideration, to encourage operators to transition to electric vehicles, promote environmentally-friendly transport, and reduce transport sector pollution. This effort will be coupled with pushing the Truck Service Quality Mark (Q Mark) standard, which currently certifies 462 operators managing over 64,000 trucks.

"The DLT-TMS system will help operators, particularly SMEs, access crucial transport data, reduce costs, and boost competitiveness," the spokesperson said. "The government will continue advancing digital logistics to elevate Thailand's transport system to international standards and support the modern economy."