BANGKOK — May 12, 2026: Thailand's deputy prime minister and transport minister has denied any involvement in allegations that a family-linked company purchased land in Ranong province in anticipation of the government's proposed land bridge project.

At a 3 p.m. press conference at Bhumjaithai Party headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn responded to questions about Ama Marine Plc., which recently issued a statement after being linked to reports of land acquisitions in southern Thailand.

"I don't see how this has anything to do with me, and the company has already issued a clarification," Phiphat told reporters.

When pressed about whether a company director shares the Ratchakitprakarn surname, Phiphat acknowledged that the company's chief executive is his younger brother, then challenged reporters: "Do you have any problem with that?"

Opposition parties have alleged the company was acquiring Ranong land to capitalize on the planned land bridge project, a major infrastructure initiative designed to link the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea.

Phiphat rejected the allegations, stating the company had already publicly denied involvement and said it had not purchased any land.

"The company has already clarified that it has no involvement and did not buy any land," he said, encouraging reporters to contact the company directly for verification.

Phiphat concluded by declining further comment, saying that "the more I speak about it, the more it could affect me."

BANGKOK — 12 May 2026, Thailand's Cabinet has approved 452.35 million baht in compensation for military personnel affected by clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border, with families of soldiers killed or permanently disabled to receive 10 million baht each, the defence minister said on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen said the Cabinet approved the Defence Ministry's request for emergency central budget funding for the 2026 fiscal year to assist personnel affected by the border situation.

A total of 91 military personnel qualified for compensation, including 29 killed, 12 permanently disabled, 39 seriously injured and 11 classified as severely injured, he said.

Under the scheme:

Families of personnel killed will receive 10 million baht each. Permanently disabled personnel will receive 10 million baht each. Seriously injured personnel will receive 1 million baht each. Personnel classified as severely injured will receive 500,000 baht each.

Adul said the measures reflected the government's concern for military personnel and the families of those who sacrificed themselves while protecting the country.

"The government will not abandon those who perform their duties for the nation," he said, adding that the Defence Ministry would continue supporting affected personnel and their families through welfare benefits, compensation and long-term rehabilitation assistance.

The ministry defined "killed" as deaths directly resulting from or linked to the Thai-Cambodian border conflict.

"Permanent disability" refers to the loss of major organs or permanent physical impairment caused directly or indirectly by the conflict, including the loss of limbs, eyesight or the function of vital organs.

"Seriously injured" refers to personnel admitted to hospital for more than 20 days as a result of the conflict.

"Severely injured" refers to personnel hospitalised for between two and 20 days because of the incidents.

The Transport Ministry is planning to allocate 200 billion baht to help the transport sector transition to electric vehicles with reduced annual vehicle tax to 0%. The ministry will also enforce regulations phasing out public vans in favor of minibuses to improve passenger safety.

On May 12 at the Transport Ministry, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angsakulkiattikorn announced that the ministry will consult with the Finance Ministry this week to finalize support measures for transport operators transitioning from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs).

The initiative targets seven major transport operator groups affected by the energy crisis and rising operational costs, with plans to present recommendations to the Cabinet for expedited approval.

Siripong stated that the emergency decree authorizing a 400 billion baht loan must directly benefit the public and small business operators, particularly by reducing costs in the transport sector amid current economic volatility.

The support measures will not follow a traditional vehicle trade-in model but will focus on making it easier for operators to lease or purchase new EVs through various measures such as down payment assistance, interest subsidies on a cost-sharing basis, and tax incentives including zero annual vehicle tax to encourage concrete transition to clean energy.

Siripong outlined that support will cover seven transport operator groups: taxis, public vans, buses, songthaews, private rental vehicles (up to 7 passengers), tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis, and cargo trucks. Preliminary estimates suggest a budget of 10,000-20,000 million baht will be needed, prioritizing vehicles nearing the end of their legal service life. Approximately 100,000 vehicles nationwide qualify, including about 17,000 songthaews over 10 years old.

The measures will be voluntary, allowing operators to apply for support even if their vehicles haven't expired, if they wish to switch to EVs to reduce fuel costs.

Regarding extending the service life of public vans, the Transport Ministry has decided against further extensions due to previous repeated relaxations. The ministry believes the time has come to enforce the legal requirement for public vans to transition to minibuses to improve passenger safety and welfare in the long term.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that between January 1 and May 10, Thailand welcomed over 12.4 million foreign tourists, generating approximately 607.2 billion baht in spending. Tourism Minister Surasak Panjaisuwijit revealed that while visitor numbers dipped last week following the long holiday period and amid Middle East tensions affecting flight availability and ticket prices, major markets including China, Malaysia, and India continue to dominate arrivals. Chinese tourists alone have accumulated 2 million visits this week.

Weekly arrivals totaled 472,757 visitors, down 128,853 from the previous week (a 21.42% decline), averaging 67,537 daily arrivals. The top five source countries for the week were China (93,831), Malaysia (69,612), India (46,271), Russia (20,578), and Laos (14,585). Most markets experienced declines compared to the prior week, with Chinese visitors down 30.37%, Malaysian visitors down 25.01%, and Russian visitors down 19.65%.

Year-to-date cumulative figures show China leading with 2.07 million visitors, followed by Malaysia (1.39 million), India (899,000), Russia (895,557), and South Korea (496,437). The ministry expects visitor numbers to stabilize next week, supported by Thailand's improved energy situation, competitive pricing adjustments, security promotion initiatives, streamlined travel procedures, and the government's visa exemption policies.

The 41st National Youth Sports Games, known as the Surat Thani Games, held in Surat Thani Province on May 12, 2025, showcased exceptional performances from rising athletic stars in track and field events.

In the men's 200-meter sprint, Anucha Songabankoke, a young sprinter from Satun Province, maintained his impressive form by accelerating to the finish line first in 21.54 seconds, securing his second gold medal of the competition. This followed his earlier victory in the men's 100-meter race.

In the women's 200-meter race, Nattanichaa Kaewana, a runner from Tak Province, demonstrated strong finishing technique by surging in the final curve to overtake her competitors and cross the finish line first with a time of 24.59 seconds, claiming the gold medal.

In women's 100-meter breaststroke swimming, Arawee Inthawordum, a young swimmer from Nonthaburi Province, dominated her competitors from start to finish, touching the pool edge first with a time of 1 minute 4.45 seconds, and set a new youth games record in the process.

In jet ski competition, the Runabout 1,000 category, Techapon Saengtienpreap, an emerging driver from Uthai Thani Province, demonstrated excellent vehicle control by accelerating and overtaking his Bangkok-based rival 2-1 in the rounds, securing the gold medal for Uthai Thani Province.

The 41st National Youth Sports Games will continue with competitions across multiple sports from May 7-17, 2025.

At 10:00 AM on November 12, 2026, at the conference room of the Prevention and Suppression Division, Police Major General Kritsada Kanjanaolongkorn, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Region 4), and Police Brigadier General Charin Gopattanta, Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police, convened a meeting with prevention and suppression officers from all 88 police stations under the Royal Thai Police to reinforce their duties. The focus emphasized the management of crime prevention and suppression operations, which require strong police-community relationships, training on criminal cases, and knowledge sharing about the department's mission. Deputy Commissioner Kritsada stated that all property crimes in responsible areas should be intercepted and arrested, with briefings and mission clarifications for all operational levels to understand their roles and procedures. Supervisors were instructed to closely monitor, oversee, and collaborate with subordinates to boost morale and address emerging issues promptly.

Checkpoints will prioritize searches for illegal firearms and weapons carried in public areas, reflecting the government's serious stance on this issue. Commanders were also urged to properly allocate personnel according to mission requirements, workload, and geographical conditions to maintain operational efficiency. Community policing was highlighted as a strategic approach to build good relationships, prevent crime at its roots through public participation, trust, and friendly engagement rather than enforcement alone.

Brigadier General Charin emphasized the importance of patrols, surveillance, and increased presence in high-risk areas and crime-prone zones to protect lives and property. He also announced preparations for the MPB SWAT Challenge training scheduled for late July, with all units directed to prepare personnel for participation. Additionally, standard procedures for suspect apprehension and handling of vulnerable individuals were reviewed, along with protocols for referring suspects to mental health treatment facilities under the Department of Mental Health.