Two motorcyclists collided head-on with a Mercedes sedan, resulting in one death and one person in critical condition. Police are investigating the Mercedes driver, and CCTV footage is being reviewed.

At 12:30 p.m. on May 2, 2569 (2026), Lieutenant Colonel Alongkorn Kierpresertsai, deputy investigation officer at Muang Chonburi Police Station, received a report of a motor vehicle collision with fatalities and injuries on Thongkung-Nongri Road, at the four-way intersection near Jaena Market, Moo 2, Nongri Subdistrict, Muang District, Chonburi Province. He immediately dispatched rescue teams and hospital staff from Chonburi Hospital and the Dharmmachakrammani Foundation rescue unit.

At the scene, 21-year-old Wasutr was found dead with severe facial trauma, broken arms and legs. Rescue workers performed CPR but were unable to revive him. The passenger on the motorcycle suffered severe injuries and was given first aid before being transported to Chonburi Hospital.

Nearby, a red Honda Wave motorcycle belonging to the deceased was found completely crushed at the front. A short distance away, a blue Mercedes sedan showed severe damage to its right side.

When questioned, Sakdi, a 52-year-old Mercedes driver, stated that he was descending from an overpass and proceeding straight when a motorcycle suddenly appeared that he did not see in time. He was uncertain if another vehicle was blocking his view but the motorcycle struck the side of his car.

Police plan to question the Mercedes driver further and review CCTV footage from nearby cameras to determine the sequence of events and proceed with legal proceedings.

At 8:30 a.m. on May 2, 2569, investigator Thanung Wanasri from Saraphi Police Station in Chiang Mai received a report of a deceased monk near the Saraphi Highway on the outbound side of the city in Moo 3, Chaisathan Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai. Officers and Saraphi rescue personnel rushed to the scene and found the body of Phra Bunchart, 75 years old, deceased in a resting tent. Investigator Thanung disclosed that the death was reported with an unknown cause. The body showed no signs of struggle or assault. According to witness statements, the deceased monk had been staying in the area since May 1 around 8:00 a.m. to meditate and was last seen around 6:00 p.m. On May 2 at approximately 8:30 a.m., he was found deceased. The body was transported to Saraphi Hospital for an autopsy and then sent to Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital for further investigation into the cause of death. Initial assessment suggests that the extreme heat during the current pre-monsoon period, characterized by intense humidity before rainfall, may have contributed to the death. The monk's use of a tent instead of proper shelter likely intensified the heat exposure, potentially leading to his death.

King's College Bangkok has announced the opening of applications for the fourth year of its 'King's Bangkok Academic Excellence Scholarship,' reinforcing its commitment to providing world-class educational opportunities to talented Thai students. The total scholarship value exceeds 5 million baht and covers tuition and educational expenses for the entire curriculum, welcoming applications from secondary students currently studying in Thailand at levels Year 10-13 (Grades 9-12) and Year 12-13 (Grades 11-12). This is a full scholarship with no conditions or obligations attached.

Applicants must meet the following basic qualifications: - Excellent English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing - Outstanding academic performance over the past two years (minimum GPA of 3.40 for Thai national curriculum schools) - Currently enrolled in an educational institution in Thailand and meeting the school's age requirements - Good conduct and a generous, sharing spirit - For international school applicants, must already be recipients of Financial Aid before applying

Last academic year marked a significant milestone for King's College Bangkok with the graduation of its first Year 13 class (Class of 2025), which included inaugural King's Bangkok Academic Excellence Scholarship recipients. These scholarship students achieved remarkable success, receiving university offers from prestigious institutions worldwide in the United Kingdom, United States, Asia, and Thailand, pursuing their chosen paths. This represents a crucial step toward futures they have selected themselves, clearly reflecting the potential and determination of all scholarship recipients.

These achievements validate the power of world-class educational opportunities in cultivating skills, knowledge, and growth within a genuinely international environment. The school takes pride in this accomplishment and remains committed to continuing its scholarship program to develop Thai youth's potential on the global stage.

Interested applicants can apply from now until May 13, 2026. For more details, visit www.opl.to/kingsbangkokscholarship or contact scholarship@kingsbangkok.ac.th, call 0-2481-9955, and follow King's College Bangkok's news and activities on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X.

On May 2, 2025, Chaivatthana Sathavawichit, a Pheu Thai party-list MP, addressed reports of being a candidate for Bangkok Governor, asking the public to tune in on May 5 for the official unveiling of the party's mayoral candidate and campaign policies. He promised a special May 5 promotion guaranteeing Bangkok residents won't be disappointed. According to reports, Sathavawichit, also known as Dr. Joe, is part of the Move Forward party's modern economics team with expertise in data strategy and fintech. His most recent position was deputy director of the Bank of Thailand's corporate strategy unit. In the 2023 election, Move Forward ranked him 15th on the party list, and in 2025 he ranks 18th—a significantly high position ensuring his certain election to parliament.

The electricity rate restructuring policy continues to attract scrutiny, with officials still awaiting clarity on how the tiered pricing will be implemented. Energy Minister Eknath Prom-phanthisuk has confirmed that the first 200 units will cost 3 baht per unit, while the buyback rate for rooftop solar panels will increase to 2.20 baht per unit. Households consuming over 500 units will face progressive rates to subsidize those using under 200 units, with authorities recommending solar panel installation as a more economical solution. While this reasoning sounds plausible, deeper examination reveals serious questions about its feasibility.

The 200-unit threshold appears unrealistic at first glance. Simply running an air conditioner, air purifier, washing machine, and refrigerator normally already exceeds this limit. As for the 500-unit consumption level, not all households using that amount are wealthy—many are extended families living under one roof with nowhere else to go. Some homes house infants to elderly grandparents and bedridden patients requiring continuous electricity for medical equipment, not luxuries but necessities for survival.

The solar panel initiative also lacks clarity on financing sources and why it should burden ordinary people. Maintenance costs, battery replacements, and other expenses are unaddressed. Meanwhile, the government buys back power at 2.20 baht per unit only to resell it to consumers at 3-5 baht, but where does that profit margin go?

Looking at the profits of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Provincial Electricity Authority—combined nearly 30 billion baht annually—citizens are left anxious wondering how much their bills will increase. They shoulder the burden alone, resigned to their fate.

On May 11, Thaksin Shinawatra will be released from prison and return to his Chiang Mai residence after serving eight months of a one-year sentence—two-thirds of his penalty. The crucial question looming is what his next move will be and how it will shake Thai politics. As a former premier, founder of an exceptionally successful political party, and a businessman-turned-politician with unprecedented popular backing, Thaksin's reappearance carries significant weight.

Following a Supreme Court ruling on the political office-holders criminal division, Thaksin was ordered back into the prison system to serve his full one-year sentence, the court citing improper medical treatment at a police hospital. Since September 9, 2025, when he entered prison, Thaksin has vanished from the political scene entirely. Only family members and grandchildren have visited him, as he explicitly requested that no politicians or political figures visit him at all.

Thaksin's release on May 11 follows standard legal procedures with no special applications filed. He simply counted down the days of his detention until completing the normal sentence requirements. His name was among 920 individuals reviewed by the Sentence Reduction Committee on April 29, with 859 approved for release, including Thaksin.

However, Thaksin remains unhappy about one condition: mandatory electronic monitoring despite his advanced age and existing health conditions. He does retain the right to appeal the electronic monitoring requirement.

What stands out is how, over these eight months of lost freedom and following standard procedures without protest or contact with anyone, Thaksin's perspective and political direction may have shifted. During his incarceration, he has had no interaction with political figures and accepted only family visits, making it difficult to predict whether he intends to return to politics.

The burning questions now are: Will Thaksin make a political comeback, retreat from politics, or step back entirely? If he continues playing a political role, how will he position himself—remaining behind the scenes or stepping into the spotlight as before? What's certain is that Thaksin's imprisonment and Paetongtarn Shinawatra's removal as prime minister represent a brutal political crushing of the Shinawatra family.

After May 11, all eyes will be on whether Thaksin draws lessons from his experience and how he positions himself going forward.