CP Extra, operator of the Makro-Lotus wholesale and retail business, is advancing its commitment to "stand by Thai people" through the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program, helping reduce living costs while creating economic opportunities for small business operators, community shops, and SMEs nationwide. The company is opening "Half-Price Market Plus" spaces within Makro-Lotus shopping centers and branches to increase sales channels, generate income, and stimulate grassroots economy. CP Extra emphasizes its role as both a "Happy Mall" and "platform of opportunity" connecting business operators, communities, and consumers to drive inclusive and sustainable Thai economic growth.

Under this initiative, CP Extra supports small business operators, community shops, and local merchants by offering free space to sell goods in Makro and Lotus mall areas across various provinces nationwide. This creates direct consumer access while stimulating grassroots economy circulation within communities. Additionally, Makro-Lotus offers opportunities for business operators to participate in various formats, including community market zones, pop-up shops, food courts, and fair events within branches to create employment, increase income, and expand business opportunities for small business operators throughout the country.

Makro-Lotus is among the retail networks most supporting the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program by offering the most free spaces for the general public in the country. This reflects CP Extra's role extending beyond a wholesale-retail business to become a "platform of opportunity" connecting business operators, communities, and consumers together. The company commits to supporting the grassroots sector continuously under the "Thai Help Thai Plus 60/40" concept, which aims to create mutual benefits for both merchants and Thai consumers nationwide.

Interested business operators and shops can contact Makro and Lotus branches for more details and can check participating branches at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/home or scan the QR Code.

Chaiyaphum teen arrested over alleged sexual assault on motherLegacy A teenager has been arrested in Chaiyaphum after allegedly sexually assaulting his mother while under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine. The alleged incident took place on May 25 in Kaset Sombun district and was reported to local police the following morning.

The mother told investigators her son entered her room, struck her and carried out the assault. She said she did not resist further out of fear that he would kill her. After the incident, the suspect fetched his older brother to return home and sleep in the same room. The mother said she did not tell her older son what had happened, fearing further violence from the suspect. She consulted a neighbour the following morning before travelling to Ban Deua Police Station to file a report.

During a scene reenactment, the suspect allegedly admitted to the assault, telling officers he had been unable to control himself due to intoxication from alcohol and methamphetamine. He also allegedly made threats of further violence if his mother did not comply. The suspect’s mother | Photo via Amarin Police were informed that the suspect had also been distributing methamphetamine to other young people in the village.

Officers noted the family home was a deteriorating concrete structure with walls previously damaged by the suspect. The mother’s husband reportedly died two years ago, and the household consisted of her and her two sons.

A history of violence

Police and community records show the suspect had a prolonged history of violent and disruptive behaviour before the alleged assault.

During primary school, he was frequently involved in altercations with classmates, prompting frequent meetings between school staff, the village headman, and his parents. He did not continue to secondary school after completing Grade 6.

He was subsequently sent to the hospital for drug treatment, showed improvement, and returned home, but reportedly refused to continue his medication. He later resumed methamphetamine use.

In early 2025, community members reported that he went to the home of a 66 year old male neighbour to demand money for drugs and alcohol. When refused, he kicked and punched the man, causing severe injuries. The neighbour | Photo via Amarin The neighbour fled to an adjacent house. Shortly afterwards, the suspect went to the same neighbour’s wife, an elderly woman, and demanded money for methamphetamine. When she refused, he punched her on the chin, knocking her unconscious. She was hospitalised for a week and found to have a near-fractured jaw.

Following those attacks, the village headman coordinated with local health officials, the subdistrict administrative organisation, and Ban Deua Police to refer the suspect to the Nakhon Ratchasima juvenile observation and protection centre, where he was held for eight months. He was released and returned to the village on February 27 this year. Residents said his behaviour did not improve after his return.

The suspect has been charged with the rape of a parent and transferred to Chaiyaphum Juvenile and Family Court for further legal proceedings. Neighbours, including the elderly man previously attacked, have called on police to pursue the case to the full extent of the law.

The story Chaiyaphum teen arrested over alleged sexual assault on mother as seen on Thaiger News.

The Anti-Corruption Court has sentenced two former NACC executives, Watchrapol and Supha, to three years imprisonment without suspended sentence for intentionally concealing information about a luxury watch belonging to General Prayut Wong-suwan. Seven other defendants have been acquitted.

On May 27, 2025, the Anti-Corruption Court heard the verdict in a case filed by Veera Somkhwamkhid, Secretary-General of the Anti-Corruption People's Network, against 12 NACC administrators and commissioners. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants concealed documents related to General Prayut's possession of luxury watches and jewelry.

The plaintiff, described as a human rights activist and chairman of the Anti-Corruption People's Network who assists the government in anti-corruption efforts, named defendants 1 and 2 as secretaries of the NACC office, and defendants 3-12 as NACC commissioners. The alleged violations occurred between August 22, 2019, and May 23, 2024.

The defendants were accused of four main offenses: failing to provide requested documents during the investigation into General Prayut's asset declaration; violating the Administrative Court's ruling to disclose three categories of information; violating the Central Administrative Court's order to comply with the Supreme Administrative Court judgment regarding the luxury watch and diamond ring case; and conspiracy to conceal facts related to the investigation of General Prayut's asset concealment.

The Information Disclosure Committee had ordered the NACC to release three types of documents: investigation reports and evidence collection, comments from all responsible NACC officials, and meeting minutes of the NACC Commission related to the investigation.

On May 26, 2025, the Tourism Authority of Thailand held a national academic seminar 'From DOT to Destination: Enabling High-Quality Tourism' at the Pullman King Power Bangkok to foster knowledge exchange, policy insights, and experiences from model tourism operators to elevate Thailand's tourism sector toward quality tourism that maintains economic, social, environmental, and community well-being balance.

Tourism Authority Director-General Jaturon Phakdiwanit revealed that the event reflects the agency's vision as 'a driving force for tourism standards and services, aimed at balanced and sustainable growth,' shifting Thailand's focus from quantity-driven to value-driven tourism growth. The initiative promotes higher standards among operators and destinations, building trust and meeting modern quality-conscious travelers who prioritize experience, wellness, sustainability, and reliable service standards.

During the seminar, the director-general emphasized the urgent need for Thailand to adapt to global changes in economics, traveler behavior, environmental standards, and international competition. The core strategy centers on three dimensions: tourism standards to build international trust and safety; social well-being through wellness tourism and restorative travel to distribute benefits to grassroots communities; and sustainability through value-based tourism that protects the environment and natural resources for future generations.

'Thai tourism operators must transcend traditional approaches to build resilience against future volatility, using tourism standards as strategic tools to ensure safety, hygiene, and quality service on the global stage,' the director-general stated, adding that role model operators showcase that sustainable development is achievable for businesses and communities of all sizes.

The event also featured environmental conservationist and actor Alex Rendell, co-founder of the Environmental Education Centre Thailand, who shared perspectives on reviving nature and tourism through shared responsibility.

DITTO is making history as the first company in Thailand to launch the 'Blu Green Token,' a digital token backed by carbon credits valued at 1.20 baht per token, with 400 million tokens worth 480 million baht total. The funds will develop mangrove reforestation projects with 400,000 tons of carbon credits as underlying assets, offering investors initial capital recovery plus 3% annual compound returns. Trading is expected to begin on a digital asset exchange in Q3 2026.

On May 27, 2026, DITTO CEO Thakorn Ratanagomolporn announced the mangrove project originated from subsidiary Siam TC Technology (STCT), which has run a mangrove conservation museum for years, gaining expertise in the ecosystem's excellent carbon sequestration capabilities. With global warming intensifying over the past 2-3 years, DITTO believes Thai businesses should address the crisis. Recently, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources opened mangrove projects to private sector participation for carbon credit generation, and STCT currently manages over 175,196 rai of mangrove forests.

The mangrove reforestation project represents a major business opportunity and will be STCT's new growth curve, generating long-term sustainable revenue while addressing climate change and restoring coastal ecosystems and community environmental health. Part of carbon credit revenues will maintain the mangrove forests and create local employment, making this more than corporate social responsibility—it's a sustainable project benefiting both forests and communities.

Thakorn noted that Thailand's carbon credit market is currently voluntary but will become mandatory following the Climate Change Act's enforcement, which has already passed cabinet review awaiting parliamentary consideration. Mandatory compliance is necessary because many global regions already require it, and Thailand must compete internationally in trade. The Climate Change Act significantly impacts commerce, so the mangrove project helps solve climate issues while enabling Thai businesses to meet global standards and compete internationally by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

When Thailand implements mandatory compliance, carbon credit demand will surge. Thailand currently emits 380 million tons of carbon annually, but DITTO's mangrove project generates only about 1 million tons yearly—tiny compared to market demand. As demand exceeds supply, carbon credit prices will rise accordingly.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Piphath Ratchakij welcomed Russian Federation Ambassador to Thailand Yevgeny Tomichin to discuss strengthening the 128-year Thailand-Russia relationship.

The talks aimed to prepare for signing a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) on transport cooperation, with a key focus on knowledge exchange and technology transfer to elevate Thailand's transport system to international recognition and maximum public benefit.

The main objective is to move forward with joint transport cooperation, with Thailand and Russia seeking an appropriate timeframe this year—possibly during the ASEAN-Russia Summit in June 2025 in Kazan, Russia—to enable effective implementation of the cooperation framework.

Piphath emphasized Thailand's government position that the country welcomes technology from all nations equally, but the most important aspect is knowledge transfer and development of domestic personnel capabilities. Imported technology must be integrated and connected with Thailand's rail network to maintain uniform standards, ensuring the public can access modern, safe, and efficient public transport services comparable to developed nations.

The Russian ambassador expressed readiness to participate in Thailand's rail system development projects, including construction of a new locomotive maintenance depot in Kaeng Khoi, Saraburi province, and procurement of diesel-electric locomotives and container wagons with spare parts.

However, to ensure sustainable transport development, the ministry emphasized the government's policy prioritizing cost-effective infrastructure investment while minimizing public debt impact. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) was tasked with reviewing locomotive and wagon procurement options, including reducing initial purchases by 50% or adopting a private sector leasing model, with further details to be discussed between SRT management and the Russian embassy.

Regarding airport development, the ambassador proposed interest in the Smart Car Park project at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports to improve convenience and service quality. Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AoT) was tasked with negotiating further details.

Both sides also discussed approaches to upgrading water transport using clean energy to drive environmentally-friendly logistics systems, reduce air pollution, and sustainably improve public health.