The Thai government has moved quickly to distribute 33.9 million baht in prize money to Thai athletes following their outstanding performance at the 6th Asian Beach Games, where they won a total of 28 medals and finished as runners-up in Asia.

On May 6 at the Grand Forevang Hotel, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Panchearnjavorakul presided over the awards ceremony, presenting prize money to athletes, coaches, and national sports associations for their achievements at the 6th Asian Beach Games held in Sanya, China.

Attending the event were Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmani, Director-General of the Thai Sports Authority; Thanukiat Janchum, Manager of the National Sports Development Fund; Thana Chaiyapraserthi, Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of the Thai Olympic Committee; as well as athletes, officials, and coaching staff from the Thai national team who participated in the 2026 Asian Beach Games preparations.

At the 6th Asian Beach Games, Thai athletes delivered exceptional results, capturing a total of 28 medals and finishing 2nd in Asia. The medal breakdown included 10 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze medals. The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) awarded prize money totaling 33,982,500 baht, allocated as follows: 23.7 million baht to athletes, 7.11 million baht to sports associations, and 3.1725 million baht to coaches.

Minister Surasak expressed his admiration for all athletes and personnel who participated in the 6th Asian Beach Games, and thanked every athlete who sacrificed their time and energy to achieve these outstanding results. He stated that the prize money distribution would serve as encouragement and motivation for all athletes, and offered words of support to those who did not win medals, urging them to learn from their experiences, improve themselves, and return to compete in future tournaments.

The National Police Office is launching a crackdown on transnational crime and intercepting illegal foreign residents.

On May 6, Deputy National Police Commissioner Trairuang Phiwpharn, serving as spokesperson for the National Police Office, revealed that Police Commissioner Kittirhat Panpetch has ordered comprehensive prevention and suppression of all crime types, including transnational crime. This includes strict law enforcement against offenders, particularly foreign nationals residing in Thailand illegally or engaged in criminal conduct—cases that have generated media coverage and social media discussion. The government prioritizes national security, public safety, and national confidence.

The police commissioner has issued three measures: impartial law enforcement, particularly against corrupt officials; strict vigilance and interception to prevent foreign criminals from sheltering or hiding in Thailand; and concrete implementation across three critical dimensions:

1. Transparent public communication: To prevent confusion, misinformation, and reduce public alarm, confirming all actions comply with facts and law.

2. Security cooperation integration: Coordinating with the National Security Council, military, administrative agencies, police, Internal Security Command (ISOC), and relevant bodies to monitor, prevent, and counter threats affecting national security—including transnational crime, smuggling, sabotage, and all forms of illegal networks.

3. Impartial law enforcement: Especially in cases involving corruption, bribery, or state officials enabling illegal activities, which undermines national confidence.

Deputy Commissioner Trairuang further stated that the National Police Office affirms Thailand welcomes foreigners entering legally and respecting the law, and will ensure their safety and convenience. However, the office will not tolerate anyone committing crimes in Thailand or threatening national security and order.

The office requests public cooperation in monitoring information from credible sources. Anyone with leads or suspicious activity can report to police immediately via hotline 191 or 1599, available 24/7.

At 10:30 AM on May 6, 2025 at Parliament, Nattapong Ruangpanyawuth, list-based MP and Pheu Thai party leader, led the opposition shadow cabinet (shadow government) in making a statement following their meeting.

Nattapong stated that this was the first meeting of Pheu Thai's shadow cabinet, aimed at demonstrating how weekly government decisions centered on the people's welfare could improve citizens' lives week by week. Rather than individual-to-individual comparisons or pitting shadow ministers against real ministers, their approach focuses on agenda-by-agenda examination driven by public concerns.

Nattapong outlined three main priorities: First, monitoring and amplifying voices of overlooked citizens, particularly regarding the energy crisis impacting transportation and fishing sector operators. Second, forward-thinking on major issues like the land bridge project, questioning whether government decisions favor superpowers or prioritize public interest, and examining geopolitical implications. Third, calling for urgent measures, including fast-tracking the Clean Air Act and a 400 billion baht loan decree previously mentioned.

Nattapong emphasized using this platform to reflect concerns not reaching the government and offer recommendations, with Pheu Thai serving as an intermediary to the administration.

For fishing communities, critical issues include fuel, debt, and seafood prices. B20 biodiesel is difficult to access, especially for small-scale fishers unable to pool purchases due to fuel pump regulations. This represents a compounding crisis requiring relief measures for debt-burdened fishers who cannot operate. Additionally, while some neighboring countries face trade restrictions, illegal seafood imports undercut Thai fishers' fair pricing. Short-term, the sector seeks stricter import controls; long-term, fishers express readiness to transition to clean energy.

For transport operators, concerns focus on whether government relief measures are equitable or neglecting some. With unemployment rising and job losses causing income problems, the opposition urges government to better calibrate assistance programs.

Adisak Laochan, Chief Executive Officer of Chememan Public Company Limited (CMAN), a lime and chemical products manufacturer under the CHEMEMAN brand, has announced that the company is accelerating operational efficiency improvements to manage risks effectively and mitigate the impact of energy prices, which account for 25-30% of total costs, along with significant freight rate increases. Approximately 70-80% of the company's customers can adjust pricing based on costs within a short timeframe, and nearly all customers can adjust prices according to contract terms in severe situations.

The company is pursuing aggressive strategies through energy diversification and intensive supply chain management, including plans to increase electric truck (EV) usage to 50% of total fleet needs by 2026 to reduce oil price impacts, implementing mixed energy approaches in production using coal, gas, and electricity, and investing in alternative energy sources such as solar farms for long-term efficiency gains.

"These cost-saving measures are being studied for feasibility across our foreign business units. During this period, the company will not enter into long-term contracts with fixed pricing, and will adjust product prices promptly to reflect increased operational costs," the statement said.

For fiscal 2025, the company recorded net profit of 361 million baht after significantly reducing debt, positioning the company for future business expansion while maintaining consistent dividend payments. The shareholders' meeting approved dividend payments of 0.15 baht per share, totaling 144 million baht, representing approximately 40% of net profit and reflecting stable cash flow and strong financial discipline.

Adisak stated that in today's world, uncertainty is commonplace, and while the company does not view business operations as easy, it is confident that an increasingly robust business structure will enable significantly better management of volatility than in the past.

"This situation also presents business opportunities for the company, particularly in India and Vietnam markets, where we are implementing regional growth strategies through expansion and acquisition in strategic areas including Indochina, India, and Australia to build long-term strength, despite Middle East tensions creating ripples in the global economy," he added.

Currently, the company ranks among the world's top 10 lime producers with annual production capacity exceeding 1.2 million tons. Lime is a critical basic chemical used extensively across numerous industries. Chememan operates high-quality limestone mines in Thailand and Vietnam, and operates lime production plants using modern technology and innovation in Thailand, Vietnam, and India, plus a distribution center in Australia, enabling the company to expand its customer base across multiple industrial groups while focusing on developing high-value-added products for target customers.

However, the company exports 60% of its total lime sales volume to over 30 countries across Asia, Australia, and Africa through an extensive business network, which is a significant factor driving growth opportunities.

Parliament has approved Nophadol Pherierueksa as Secretary-General of the Legislative Drafting Committee with 436 votes on May 6, 2569. During the House of Representatives meeting chaired by Speaker Sophon Saranom, Deputy Prime Minister Pokorn Nilprapan explained that the position has been vacant since March 30. The Cabinet approved Nophadol's nomination on April 21 to fill the vacancy. According to Section 63(3) of the Legislative Drafting Committee Act B.E. 2522, the secretary-general must be a civil servant.

Parliamentarian Nattavut Buapprathum of the Pracharaj Party raised concerns about the distinction between position-specific and person-specific qualifications. He questioned whether the secretary-general's position allows serving as a board chairman in government agencies, state enterprises, or private companies, and whether it would ensure neutrality. He cited examples of Pokorn previously serving on Bank of Thailand and other boards while as secretary-general, and noted that Nophadol similarly held corporate positions but recently changed to independent director status on April 8—timing that coincided suspiciously with government formation efforts.

Nattavut questioned what legal authority permits the secretary-general to sit on various state organization boards and whether it serves national interest. He also noted differences between House and Senate procedures, as the Senate has investigative powers while the House does not.

Pokorn clarified that under Section 63(3) of the Legislative Drafting Committee Act, the secretary-general is classified as a civil servant and thus falls under the Civil Service Act B.E. 2504, which states in Section 83(6) that civil servants cannot serve as managers or executives in private partnerships or companies.