CP Extra Public Company Limited, which operates the Makro and Lotus wholesale and retail businesses, has unveiled AXTRA AGRI-CONNEXT in collaboration with public and private sector agencies. The platform serves as a crucial mechanism linking farmers, entrepreneurs, and modern markets to enhance competitiveness and create sustainable growth for Thailand's grassroots economy.

Siriporn Dech Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at CP Extra, explained that the company believes good opportunities should be accessible to all. The platform operates as a 24-hour online system that reduces limitations and complex procedures, accelerates business transactions, and creates real opportunities. It seamlessly connects farmers to modern trade, allowing direct product presentation to Makro and Lotus, helping reduce market gaps and increase competitive potential. The platform provides comprehensive support from product training and development through product selection to sales opportunities.

Jirawuth Suanwanit, Deputy Director-General of the Internal Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce, noted that the department plays a vital role in maintaining price stability and ensuring market fairness, particularly for agricultural products, which form the heart of Thailand's economy. He emphasized that the key challenge is enabling farmers to access markets more directly, reducing inequality, and strengthening producer bargaining power. The opportunity platform represents an important mechanism that will help connect farmers to modern markets through both retail formats and digital channels. This collaboration will provide agricultural products with diverse sales channels, fair pricing, and easier consumer access to quality goods.

Veerasak Bunchern, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, stated that the department's mission is to develop Thai farmers to produce quality goods and sell them at higher value. The department has focused on knowledge and technology transfer and production planning to help farmers become Smart Farmers capable of producing goods that match market demand. The department also supports the i-Trace (Traceability System), which enables full supply chain verification and food safety standards improvement. By scanning a QR code on products, consumers can verify information including origin, variety, production standards, growing location, and nutritional data.

Pakdee Jankaset, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Cooperative Promotion under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, views cooperatives as important mechanisms for uniting farmers' strength to enhance both production and product quality through establishing standardized packaging facilities and managing markets. This collaboration will strengthen cooperatives' ability to access modern markets, improve distribution efficiency, and promote cooperatives to become capable entrepreneurs in the supply chain.

Quick thinking truly matters. A young driver quickly pulled over to help a car experiencing engine overrun, with thick white smoke pouring across the road. He opened the hood and used heavy cloth to block the air filter until the engine shut down.

On May 7, 2026, Facebook user "Bank Thangnak" posted a video of him assisting a vehicle with engine overrun parked on the roadside. He commented: "I couldn't stand watching this. Most people don't know what to do and panic."

In the video, while driving, the poster noticed smoke coming from a car ahead, so he quickly pulled over behind it and discovered the engine was overrunning with thick white smoke billowing across the road.

The poster then rushed to the front, asked the owner to open the hood, and used thick cloth to cover the air filter until the overrun condition stopped.

Engine overrun (Engine Overrun) occurs when a diesel engine races on its own, exceeding safe RPM limits without control, producing thick white smoke and unable to shut down. It's caused by engine oil leaking into the combustion chamber, forcing the engine to burn oil instead of fuel—risking severe engine damage. The engine must be shut down immediately to prevent serious damage.

According to Khru Tung from We Love Car Thailand, the best method is to cut off air supply by blocking the air filter, which better protects the engine and transmission system.

The steps are as follows: 1. Stay calm 2. Shift to neutral; automatic shifts to N 3. Park safely on the roadside 4. Open the hood 5. Open the air filter cover 6. Use thick cloth or clothing to block the air filter opening; manual transmissions can be placed in 5th gear then the clutch released to stall the engine 7. Once the engine stops, immediately take it to a mechanic. Don't attempt to drive it further—take it to a service center for inspection and repair first.

Prevention: Vehicles with over 150,000 km or used for more than 5 years should be serviced for inspection, cleaning, testing of the fuel injection system, and replacement of worn components to prevent engine overrun issues. Vehicle owners should regularly check engine oil before use; if consumption increases noticeably or fuel smell appears mixed in the oil, immediately see a mechanic for inspection without delaying further use. Otherwise, you risk encountering this situation.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his delegation have arrived in Cebu, Philippines, and are preparing for trilateral discussions between Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines this evening to address Thai-Cambodian border issues. At 4 p.m. Philippine time on May 7, 2026, government spokeswoman Rachada Thanadirek announced that PM Srettha Thavisin, his wife Thananon Thavisin, Energy Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Secretary to the PM Traisuli Traisornkul arrived at Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Cebu. They were welcomed by Philippine Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay and Cebu Provincial Governor Pamela Silagan Baricuatro.

At 6 p.m., the PM is scheduled to participate in trilateral talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss Thai-Cambodian border tensions. Following the trilateral meeting, the PM and his wife will attend a Special BIMP-EAGA Summit dinner.

Rachada emphasized that this trilateral dialogue, facilitated by the Philippine presidency of ASEAN, will address the border dispute while the government maintains Thailand's national interests. Spokeswoman Rachada stated: "Rebuilding Thai-Cambodian relations will proceed step by step, with the priority being to restore mutual trust." On May 8, the PM will attend the opening of the 48th ASEAN Summit, the plenary session, and informal retreat session, as well as bilateral meetings with various ASEAN leaders.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), led by Secretary-General Professor Dr. Pronpong Butsaratragul and Deputy Secretary-General Anuek Yuyuen, officially opened its booth at the 26th Bangkok Financial Festival (MONEY EXPO 2026 Bangkok) on May 7, 2026. Bank of Thailand Governor Vithaya Ratanakorn attended the opening and toured the exhibit. The event was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

This year, the SEC's booth operates under the theme "The Mission Against Investment Scams," aiming to build public awareness against investment fraud. The commission promotes its fraud reporting hotline at 1207 ext. 22 and welcomes public feedback. The booth features displays, workshops, and educational activities on financial and investment literacy in the digital age, including Fireside Chat seminars and investment protection programs.

Visitors can consult directly with SEC officials at the booth in Challenger Hall 1-2 at Impact Muang Thong Thani from May 7-10, 2026.

At 2 PM on May 7, 2025, at Parliament, Nattapong Ruangpanya, list MP and leader of the People's Party, along with Sirikanya Tansakul, list MP and deputy party leader, and legal advisor Thira Sutheevarangkul, announced the party's position on the government's plan to issue a 400-billion-baht loan decree. Nattapong stated that the party's morning meeting found the government was attempting to disguise a blank check for 2 billion baht for energy transition restructuring by bundling it with pandemic relief funds—despite energy transition actually requiring years to implement. He questioned whether the 2 billion baht loan meets the constitutional requirement that borrowing must address economic conditions. The People's Party is ready to use its legislative authority to file the petition, which it will draft itself to avoid overextending the court's jurisdiction. While welcoming participation from the Democratic Party and other opposition parties, the party emphasized careful consideration. Nattapong acknowledged concerns about whether all relief recipients genuinely suffered hardship, as the government claims, questioning the government's earlier targeted relief messaging. The petition must be submitted by May 11-12 to comply with the constitutional requirement of filing before Parliament's May 14 approval. Deputy leader Sirikanya questioned the logic of distributing relief to 30 million people if everyone truly suffered equally, suggesting universal rather than random distribution would be appropriate.