Trump accuses Iran — Reuters and AP reported on May 5 that South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced it would expedite an investigation into the fire aboard the HMM Namu, operated by HMM, South Korea's major shipping company, while in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, May 4 local time. Part of the statement noted that 'the true cause of the incident will be investigated after the ship is towed to port and damage assessed.' An HMM spokesperson confirmed the HMM Namu is a 35,000-ton general cargo vessel registered in Panama carrying no cargo, with the fire occurring in the engine room. The vessel has a crew of 24, including six South Koreans. The cause of the fire remains unclear and is under investigation via CCTV footage. The fire has been extinguished but may take several days to tow the ship to Dubai port in the UAE. Officials stated through Yonhapnews: 'our government will closely coordinate with relevant countries and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of our ship and crew in the Strait of Hormuz.' President Donald Trump claimed the incident resulted from an Iranian attack, emphasizing Iran fired on South Korea's cargo ship and other targets as the U.S. launches operations to open the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, calling on South Korea to join U.S. efforts. South Korea indicated it would carefully consider Trump's request for countries to deploy warships to establish an allied fleet ensuring safe passage, stressing such action requires approval from South Korea's legislature. Earlier reports indicated several commercial vessels were attacked and a UAE port caught fire following Iranian strikes. Trump posted on Truth Social stating 'aside from the South Korean ship, there have been no other damages in the strait.' Meanwhile, China's Xinhua reported that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) revealed a new controlled area map in the Strait of Hormuz and warned that any vessel not complying with naval forces' orders would face serious risks. This controlled area extends from Iran's southern coast near Khormaksar to Fujairah in the eastern UAE and westward to the boundary between Iran's Qeshm Island and UAE's Umm Al Quwain in the Persian Gulf. IRGC spokesman Hosein Mohiebee stated the announcement does not represent a change in strait management procedures, and commercial vessels complying with navigation regulations set by the military will operate normally.

On May 5, officers from the Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defense Command, operating under the Chanthaburi Naval Engineering Task Unit, conducted patrols along the Thai-Cambodian border to intercept illegal activities. While patrolling an agricultural area near the border in Ban Marum village, Po Phra National Park District, Chanthaburi, officers stopped a bronze-colored Toyota pickup truck with license plate Bh 8993 for suspicious driving behavior.

Inside the vehicle were six people—three men and three women, including the driver and five Thai passengers who had illegally crossed from Cambodia through an uncontrolled border crossing. Upon preliminary investigation, the five Thai nationals admitted they had fled from casino buildings after Cambodian authorities cracked down heavily on online gambling operations. They explained they had previously smuggled across the border to work as website administrators at Grand Pavilion Building and Tong Building in Poi Sampoem Market in Cambodia, earning monthly salaries in the tens of thousands of baht.

However, Cambodian authorities recently tightened visa document inspections, and many gambling websites were shut down with operations relocated to other countries, leaving the suspects jobless. They hired the driver to pick them up and smuggle them back into Thailand, where they were apprehended near Pine Bend.

Authorities also arrested the driver, Chamlong, at Tate Orchard area near Po Phra Canal. A urine test revealed drug use, resulting in charges of drug use and unlawful vehicle operation under the Motor Vehicle Act. The five Thai nationals face charges for entering Thailand through unauthorized channels.

Officers emphasized the arrest was conducted strictly in accordance with the Prevention of Torture Act before the suspects were transferred to Po Phra Police Station and Chanthaburi Immigration for further legal proceedings.

A wife spent the entire day searching from a boat for her husband after his fishing vessel capsized in rough seas near Maeklong Bay. Surindhorn, 61, drowned in front of local residents who attempted a rescue on the evening of May 4. His wife, Thitima, 59, persistently searched throughout the day without giving up. As evening approached and she was preparing to return home, calling out 'I'm coming home now,' she suddenly spotted her husband's body floating face-down at the exact location where the boat had sunk. She immediately alerted Lieutenant Colonel Anuruk Deekluai, an investigator from Samut Songkhram City Police Station, and rescue officers from the Sawaeng Benjadham Foundation. Thitima brought her husband's body ashore and invited Phra Kru Somuppichet, assistant abbot of Satthadham Temple, to perform a spiritual ceremony before transporting the body to the temple's pier in Bang Ja Krang subdistrict, Samut Songkhram province, amid the family's grief. Thitima recounted that before the incident, she experienced a premonition while working—hearing a strange gurgling sound and glimpsing her husband sinking momentarily. She didn't believe he would die as he was an excellent swimmer with strong luck, but upon learning the boat had capsized, she made an offering of 25 kilograms of kaeng jeen at a sacred shrine, hoping to find him quickly. When she went searching again that evening and said 'I'm coming home now' as darkness fell, that's when she spotted his body floating up. Authorities transported the body to a hospital for investigation before allowing the family to take him for religious rites.

May 5, 2026 – Warun Chumchai, a former candidate for Bangkok Governor, gave an interview to "Matichon Online," saying he has been following news about potential candidates from various parties and independent groups. Many members of the press have asked whether he will run, and he confirmed he will definitely be present on registration day with no tricks involved. His main policy is to push for the establishment of "district administrator elections" to create competition among all 50 district officials working for the people and supporting the Bangkok Governor, which he believes will lead to the city's progress. Additionally, he proposes the "5S" policy: Clean, Convenient, Comfortable, Bright, and Beautiful. His campaign slogan is "Add wheels, but don't add vehicles."

"I don't think anyone else in Thailand or the world has run as many times as I have," Chumchai stated. Regarding Chadchart's four-year term, he noted that corruption has been found within the organization, particularly in the Public Works Department based on reported arrests. While acknowledging that sidewalk maintenance has been managed well, he said vendors he spoke with expressed that although they reclaimed sidewalk space, they face difficulties making a living. He wants to create better balance.

If Warun Chumchai registers to run for Bangkok Governor in this round, it will be his 8th attempt at the city's top position since his first candidacy in 1990.

Kasetsart University and the Kasetsart Hospital Foundation invite faithful devotees to reserve veneration of the "Phra Phuttha Phunyya Kesat Rabhipathalavihara" Buddha image to support Kasetsart Hospital construction under the Medical Park project and celebrate the university's 82nd anniversary in 2568. Named by the Supreme Patriarch with the meaning "the Buddha protecting agriculture through divine merit," this beautifully crafted Buddha image draws inspiration from late Sukhothai and early Ayutthaya art, perfectly reflecting the university's identity. Multiple sizes of Buddha images are available for veneration, including bronze statues, amulets in 90% gold, silver, and brass, as well as copper coins featuring the Buddha image on one side and the sacred Buddhist chant "Namo Buddhaya" on the reverse. Every veneration reservation represents not just an auspicious object, but a meaningful contribution to building the hospital's foundation for medical treatment, education, and training of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists for long-term societal benefit. Special commemorative gifts are offered to those who reserve between May 1-31, 2569, with delivery following the formal consecration ceremony. Donations can be made at https://kuhospitalfoundation.org/donation, and every act of merit today creates opportunities for countless lives in the future.

Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) are advancing the country's AI infrastructure by launching ThaiLLM, a Thai-language AI model designed to meet Thailand's specific context and needs. The initiative, unveiled on May 5, 2025, prioritizes the healthcare sector and aims to establish digital sovereignty for Thailand rather than merely adopting foreign technology.

Pachon Ananthasilp, Permanent Secretary of the DE Ministry, emphasized that Thailand's goal is not to compete with global technology giants but to build genuine national AI capabilities. He highlighted that Large Language Models require deep understanding of Thai language nuances and Thai social context—something foreign models cannot adequately provide. ThaiLLM aims to create a complete AI infrastructure by developing high-quality Thai language data, context-aware models, and the free ThaiLLM Playground platform for public and developer access, while accelerating AI talent development to reduce long-term technological dependence.

The project represents genuine "AI technological sovereignty" for Thailand—not replacing foreign technology but giving the nation choices, capability to set its own terms, and a sustainable foundation for AI development. The success of ThaiLLM stems from collaboration between the DE Ministry and BDI, MHESI and NECTEC, AIEAT, VISTEC, AIAT, and experts from Chulalongkorn and Mahidol Universities, supported by the Digital Economy and Society Development Fund (DEF). Future phases will focus on real-world applications across key economic sectors while establishing governance frameworks.