PATTAYA — On May 12, 2026, the People's Party formally launched Itthiwat Wattanasartsathorn as their mayoral candidate for Pattaya, with party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and Progressive Movement chairman Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit pledging a platform centered on transparency, welfare, and support for small businesses.

The campaign kickoff, held at 6 PM at Sohotown's outdoor area on Pattaya Second Road in Chonburi, also unveiled 24 city council candidates across all four electoral districts, drawing substantial crowds of supporters.

Natthaphong framed the campaign under the vision "Pattaya: City of Opportunity," questioning whether future growth would serve all residents or only privileged groups. He called on voters to participate in the June 28 election to "decide and reshape Pattaya."

Based on community visits with local MPs, Natthaphong noted that Pattaya has undergone dramatic changes, with rising living costs, tougher business conditions, and increased competition from large corporations and informal economy operators straining small entrepreneurs, fishermen, and workers. He also addressed public safety concerns, including organized crime, gun violence, and drug trafficking, which residents increasingly link to local political influence.

Natthaphong acknowledged longtime supporters who have backed the movement through its evolution from the Future Forward Party to the Move Forward Party and now the People's Party, emphasizing the group's consistent push for reform despite never holding national power. He outlined commitments including 120 days of maternity leave, protections for night-shift workers, and oversight of social security expenditures.

The party leader announced that the People's Party is now positioned to seek its first chance to govern Pattaya, with the mayoral candidate and team ready to present policies informed by successful projects implemented in other regions.

The Democrats Party, led by party chairman Nattapong Rueangpanya and campaign advisor Thanathorn Chingrungruang, held an official campaign launch event on May 12 in Pattaya, Chonburi, introducing Itthiwat Wattanasatsorn as their mayoral candidate and 24 city council candidates. Nattapong stated that the upcoming June 28 election presents a choice between a Pattaya that offers opportunities for everyone or only certain groups, criticizing the city's shift toward gray economy practices and outside influence. He highlighted the party's eight-year track record of advancing labor protections and social security fund oversight.

Nattapong expressed confidence that Itthiwat, who was born and raised in Pattaya and previously served as a city councilor, has the budgetary knowledge needed to ensure Pattaya's annual 2.4 billion baht budget reaches residents effectively. Itthiwat then took the stage, pledging to implement real change and development in the city.

Thanathornoutlined key policy proposals under the 'Pattaya for Everyone' vision, including 24-hour childcare centers, improved water access, tourism-friendly traffic management, functional libraries, youth center development, and integrated public health services. He emphasized transparency in the city's budget management, proposing that all procurement data and contractor information be published online for public scrutiny—a practice the party successfully implemented in Lampang Province.

Bangkok, Thailand – May 13, 2025 – KONVY PTE.LTD., a leading omnichannel e-commerce platform specializing in beauty and personal care products across Southeast Asia, has announced its growth trajectory following the successful completion of its Series B funding round led by Cool Japan Fund Inc. (CJF), with participation from existing investor Insignia Venture Partners.

KONVY has established a strong market leadership foundation in Thailand across multiple channels including e-commerce marketplaces, social commerce, and offline retail, offering over 20,000 products from approximately 1,000 brands. The company has earned widespread recognition as one of the most influential beauty and personal care platforms in the country, building long-term consumer trust through product diversity, authenticity, and a seamless omnichannel shopping experience.

Leveraging this success, KONVY is now expanding into the Philippines and Malaysia markets, deploying its proven omnichannel business model that integrates marketplace platforms, social commerce, and localized marketing strategies tailored to each market.

These markets represent significant growth opportunities, driven by expanding middle-class consumer bases and increasing demand for premium, curated beauty products. The partnership with Cool Japan Fund will enhance KONVY's ability to curate products and adapt strategies for local markets, while facilitating the introduction of Japanese beauty and health brands to Southeast Asian consumers.

By combining KONVY's marketing expertise and distribution network with CJF's strategic support and international connections, the collaboration aims to accelerate the growth of Japanese beauty brands in the increasingly competitive regional market.

Meanwhile, KONVY continues to strengthen partnerships with leading global and regional beauty brands through exclusive distribution agreements, leveraging consumer insights and omnichannel distribution capabilities to drive efficient regional expansion and strengthen brand equity and consumer relationships across markets.

In Khon Kaen province, farmers observe the traditional Crop Blessing Day to plant rice this year, hoping for abundant harvests. Farmers are advised to use walking tractors to reduce average field preparation costs to 50 baht per rai, while appealing to the government to monitor fertilizer and rice prices.

May 13, 2026 – Somchai Siriserm, a farmer from Ban Ton Noi village in Ban Kho subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen district, Khon Kaen province, is using a walking tractor to prepare the soil in his paddy field to plant rain-fed rice this year. He observes the Crop Blessing Day, known locally as the First Blessing Day, as an auspicious occasion for planting, following tradition as he has done every year. Somchai explains that this day holds significant importance for farmers because it marks the right moment for agricultural activities and is a belief passed down through generations. He has begun soil preparation on one rai of land, choosing this auspicious day to plant his rice.

This year, he selected direct seeding rather than transplanting to reduce costs. Once seeds are sown, he waits for rain to naturally germinate them. With continuous rainfall expected this season, he can begin rice planting.

His rice cultivation strategy involves plowing under rice stubble after harvest, then planting velvet beans until they die back, which he then plows in as organic fertilizer. By May, after tilling the soil again, the decomposed velvet beans serve as additional fertilizer.

Beyond using velvet beans as fertilizer, Somchai uses his walking tractor instead of hiring larger tractors, saving 50 baht per rai in fuel costs compared to 350 baht per rai when hiring machinery – a significant cost reduction.

However, Somchai appeals to the government to ensure rain-fed rice prices are fair and cover production costs. Current high fuel prices have increased farming expenses, with tractor preparation and harvesting costs reaching nearly 1,000 baht per rai combined. Despite these costs, farmers must continue farming to feed their families, selling any surplus.

He urges the government to balance rice prices with fertilizer and fuel costs, which form the basis of production expenses, so farmers can sustain themselves without losses from rice farming.

CHONBURI — On May 13, 2026, rescue teams and over 50 villagers launched an overnight search for a 54-year-old man with a neurological condition who had wandered away from his home. The man was eventually found exhausted but unharmed in a forested area after a thermal-imaging drone detected his heat signature.

Rescue workers from Sawanghet Thung Hiang Rescue Unit received the alert around 8 p.m. on Tuesday that the man had gone missing near Wat Krabok Khu in Moo 5, Tha Bun Mi subdistrict, Ko Chan district, Chonburi. According to relatives, he had disappeared from his home around 6 p.m. After initial family searches proved unsuccessful, local authorities and rescue teams were called in.

Village Head Janjira Thongthanom coordinated the response, mobilizing local officials, village leaders, a rapid response unit from the Department of National Parks, rescue workers, and villagers to search the dense forest surrounding the community. The thermal-imaging drone proved decisive, detecting a heat signature near a pond approximately 600 meters from the man's residence. Ground teams reached the location around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday and found him alive and largely unharmed, though in an exhausted state. Both family members and rescue teams expressed their relief once he was brought to safety.

Border residents in Ban Kruat district, Buriram province, are gripped with anxiety and sleepless nights after recent incidents involving Cambodian military incursions. After Cambodian soldiers crossed the border and fired warning shots at locals gathering mushrooms in Chanthaburi subdistrict, and villagers from Surin province were detained for over ten days while foraging, communities remain on high alert. Over the past four nights, four to five unidentified drones have been spotted flying over Thai airspace at night, leaving residents fearful and reluctant to venture out for daily livelihood activities. Many worry about potential clashes and fear being abducted by Cambodian forces crossing illegally into Thai territory.

Villagers are urgently calling on Prime Minister Anuthine Charnveerakul and the Interior Ministry to construct a border wall as previously promised during campaigning. They emphasize that sections of the Buriram border are flat terrain where people can easily cross, creating vulnerability to Cambodian incursions. A border fence would prevent Cambodia from violating Thai sovereignty and provide crucial protection for border communities.

Namsai shop owner Phon Aksorn, 60, expressed her distress over the recent incidents and drone sightings that have prevented sleep and normal activities. Resident Padeeprom Sri echoed similar concerns, noting that after previously evacuating due to conflict, villagers have only recently resumed normal economic activities. She stressed the urgent need for the government to expedite border wall construction using already-pledged donation funds to ensure the safety of border communities and prevent future armed clashes.