Thailand’s Department of Employment has confirmed that South Korea has blacklisted workers from four northeastern provinces and suspended the import of seasonal labourers under the E-8 visa scheme for one year after many workers reportedly absconded from employers.
According to information shared by the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand on Monday, citing the Labour Ministry’s Department of Employment, the affected provinces are Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum and Maha Sarakham.
The suspension covers the entire 2026 calendar year, after South Korean authorities found that a number of Thai workers sent under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) programme for seasonal agricultural and fisheries work had fled their designated employers. Officials said the issue has significantly affected Thailand’s labour quota for 2026.
The Department of Employment advised people seeking overseas jobs to check recruitment details and schedules through the department’s overseas employment website and official channels.
BANGKOK — 12 May 2026, 12 May 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun rode a motorcycle with a mobile grocery sidecar around Government House on Tuesday to promote the government’s “Thai Help Thai” campaign aimed at reducing living costs through discounted food and household goods sales.
The pair toured the grounds near the Thai Khu Fah Building aboard a “rot phum phuang” motorcycle sidecar vendor cart before opening the event, which featured discounted food products, consumer goods and household necessities from government agencies and private-sector partners.
The “Thai Help Thai” campaign was launched earlier this year as part of the government’s efforts to reduce living costs and support household spending amid weak economic conditions and high consumer expenses.
Officials said the programme includes mobile sales trucks, community distribution points and special discount promotions aimed at helping lower-income households access cheaper essential goods.
Photos released by Government House showed Anutin driving the sidecar motorcycle, a familiar sight in Thai neighbourhoods where roaming vendors sell vegetables, dry goods and other daily necessities directly to residents.
The appearance appeared designed to highlight the campaign’s grassroots approach and connect the programme with everyday community commerce.
BANGKOK — 12 May 2026, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, confirmed the government is reviewing its visa-free entry scheme for tourists by reducing permitted stays to no more than 30 days to prevent foreigners from misusing the system or engaging in activities affecting national security.
Speaking before a Cabinet meeting regarding the review of visa-free measures at Government House on 12 May, Sihasak said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out the existence of multiple visa types, believing the current 60-day visa-free period for tourists may be excessive. He noted that some visitors might not be genuine tourists and could exploit these measures, necessitating stricter regulations.
The proposal had originally been prepared since the first term of the Anutin-led administration, but was postponed because of the election period, Sihasak said. He added that the government now intends to move forward with the review urgently.
Under the process, the Secretariat of the Cabinet will consult relevant agencies, although Sihasak said he believed there will be no issues as the Foreign Ministry-led visa committee already closely monitoring the situation from related agencies.
Sihasak said he discussed the issue with Prime Minister on 11 May. He said Thailand currently has a large number of visa categories being pushed by various agencies, and while these initiatives are introduced with good intentions, including for foreign experts and soft-power support, but added that some measures may exceed actual necessity and should be reassessed.
Asked when the conclusion on streamlining visa criteria would be reached, Sihasak said the first priority was reviewing visa-free tourist entry following recent incidents involving Chinese citizens in Thailand. He clarified that his comments on the visa policy were not merely a reaction to these events, as the review had been initiated long before. Furthermore, the government plans to conduct a comprehensive review of all visa categories to determine if they are truly necessary or can be consolidated.
Asked whether the visa-free status for Chinese nationals would be shortened or revoked entirely, Mr. Sihasak emphasized that the government is not targeting any specific country. Instead, the focus is on activities that may pose risks to Thailand. Tourist visas should be granted for a duration appropriate for tourism, likely not exceeding 30 days, with criteria strictly aligned with their intended purpose.
He added that the focus is on if visitors are following their visa conditions. The government is not targeting any specific group, but it must tighten enforcement against those involved in illicit activities or security threats, as seen in the recent case of the Chinese suspect who was taken into custody.
Robust Renewable Energy Portfolio Demonstrates Resilience Amid Energy Price Volatility Advances El Niño Preparedness with Hydro Forecasting System
Mr. Thanawat Trivisvavet, Managing Director of CK Power Public Company Limited (SET: CKP), one of the region’s largest producers of electricity from renewables with one of the lowest carbon footprints, announced the continuous growth of CKPower’s Q1/2026 operating performance, with Core Net Profit of Baht 115.9 million, representing an increase of Baht 52.5 million, or 82.9% compared to the same period last year.
The growth was primarily driven by the strong performance of both two main hydroelectric power plants of the Company. The Company recognized a share of core net profit of Xayaburi Power Company Limited (XPCL) amounting to Baht 198.6 million, an increase of Baht 190.7 million year-over-year. This was mainly attributable to higher water inflow through the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant compared to the same period last year, resulting in increased electricity sales volume. In addition, XPCL benefited from lower financial costs following the gradual repayment of long-term loans and the decline in interest rates in line with the global interest rate trend.
In addition, Nam Ngum 2 Power Company Limited (NN2) reported an improved performance, driven by higher electricity sales year-over-year. This was supported by higher reservoir water levels at the beginning of 2026, as well as increased water inflows during the first quarter of 2026. As a result, CKPower’s overall performance in the first quarter of this year continued to grow steadily, despite the dry season.
Mr. Thanawat added that the renewable energy-based portfolio of CKPower has helped CKPower to avoid the impacts from conflict in the Middle East and volatility in global energy prices to the Company’s operating performance. The impact is only limited to fuel costs associated with electricity sales to industrial customers of Bangpa-in Cogeneration Company Limited (BIC), which account for approximately 3% of CKPower’s total electricity generation.
“The probability of El Niño condition is expected to gradually increase in the second half of 2026. To mitigate this risk, the Company has proactively made preparation for the El Niño condition by continuing to enhance its Hydrometeorological Monitoring and Forecasting System. This aims to enhance efficiency and accuracy in electricity declaration of the Company’s hydroelectric power plants. As for the Luang Prabang Hydroelectric Power Project, construction progress reached 72% as of the end of March 2026, which was in line with the plan.”
CKPower also maintains a solid financial position. As at March 31, 2026, the Company maintained a Liquidity Ratio of 1.78 times, while the Net Interest-bearing Debt to Equity Ratio remained at a low level of 0.47 times. This reflects effective liquidity management and strong debt servicing capability. Furthermore, any additional reductions in policy interest rates of the United States and Thailand would help lower financial costs and support CKPower’s performance in 2026. The Company will continue to closely monitor interest rate movements and prudently manage its long-term debt to ensure an appropriate capital structure.
Mr. Thanawat stated that, under the Company’s five-year plan (2026–2030), CKPower aims to expand its power generation capacity through solar power projects in the form of Private PPA and participation in government renewable energy bidding, alongside the sale of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). In 2025, CKPower Group’s renewable energy facilities supplied over 10 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable electricity to Thailand, representing approximately 17% of the total renewable electricity used in the country. The Group’s operations also helped avoid 5.34 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) greenhouse gas emissions. CKPower firmly believes that renewable energy is at the core of the energy transition. The Company continues to drive progress toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
TENERIFE — 12 May 2026, All passengers and crew aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius have now been evacuated following an outbreak of hantavirus that left three people dead and several others infected, while health authorities continue monitoring passengers who have begun showing symptoms after returning home.
The final group of six passengers, along with some crew members, disembarked off the coast of Tenerife, Spain, on 11 May, marking the end of a complex international evacuation operation. The group included four Australians, one British resident of Australia and one New Zealander, who were later transferred to the Netherlands for quarantine.
Governments including Spain, France, Canada, Britain and the United States arranged charter flights to repatriate citizens after the outbreak aboard the vessel. In total, 94 passengers and crew members were returned to their home countries following the ship’s 41-day voyage from southern Argentina. The final evacuation flight departed Tenerife around midday on 11 May local time.
Passengers are disembarked from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Dutch Foreign Ministry said 19 crew members and three doctors who remained on board to care for passengers had already arrived in the Netherlands. The MV Hondius, carrying the remaining 26 crew members, is now heading to the Netherlands for disinfection.
The first positive hantavirus test aboard the vessel was reported nine days ago. The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised all passengers to quarantine for 42 days from 10 May because the virus can incubate for up to six weeks. However, quarantine measures vary between countries.
Spanish passengers are required to remain in hospital quarantine for 42 days. French passengers must stay under hospital observation for 72 hours before continuing isolation at home for a further 45 days. American passengers may choose between home quarantine or isolation at a facility in Nebraska.
Passengers are sprayed with disinfectant by Spanish government officials before boarding a plane after disembarking from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez)
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said passengers should undergo daily health monitoring either at home or in designated quarantine facilities, depending on national guidelines.
WHO said seven confirmed cases of Andes hantavirus have been identified, along with two additional suspected cases. One suspected patient died before testing could be carried out, while the other is on Tristan da Cunha, a remote island in the South Atlantic without local testing facilities.
The death toll remains at three, including two Dutch passengers and one German passenger. Two of the deaths have been confirmed as hantavirus infections. WHO believes the first fatal case may have contracted the virus before boarding the ship while travelling in Argentina and Chile.
A Spanish passenger is sprayed with disinfectant by Spanish government officials before boarding a plane after disembarking from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo)
US health authorities said on 10 May that one American passenger among 17 evacuees tested positive for hantavirus, although the result remained inconclusive, while another passenger had begun showing symptoms. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also said one French passenger developed symptoms during the return flight home.
Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with rodent excretions, although limited human-to-human transmission can occur through close contact in rare cases. The Andes strain detected aboard the ship can cause severe respiratory illness and carries mortality rates of up to 50% in some cases.
Health officials stressed that the public should not panic, saying hantavirus spreads far less easily than COVID-19 and is unlikely to trigger a global outbreak.
BANGKOK — 11 May 2026, the popular ride-hailing platform, Bolt, announced stricter safety measures in Thailand, including expanded use of AI technology and more frequent facial recognition checks to prevent driver identity fraud, following a violent incident involving a schoolgirl.
The incident occurred in late April 2026 when the student booked a motorcycle ride through the app to return home in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem district.
According to reports, Arm, the 22-year-old driver, whose motorcycle lacked a license plate, reportedly stopped to drink a substance suspected to be kratom water before bypassing the passenger’s intended destination.
The student recorded a video pleading with the rider to stop. The rider allegedly attempted to seize her mobile phone and refused to stop the vehicle, prompting the student to jump off the motorcycle and suffer injuries. Bystanders later intervened and provided assistance.
Arm, the 22-year-old rider involved in the incident.
Investigations revealed the rider had been using another person’s account to accept jobs on the platform.
In a statement, Bolt Thailand said it had summoned the service provider involved to clarify the facts, suspended the driver account linked to the incident and alerted other ride-hailing platforms to help prevent the individual from operating elsewhere. The company also said it had already suspended more than 40,000 riders for violating platform rules.
On 11 May, Bolt Thailand issued a further statement confirming that its services in Thailand remain operational as usual. While the company coordinates with relevant authorities regarding certification of its electronic systems.
The company said passenger safety and confidence remained its highest priorities and outlined several enhanced measures:
Increase the frequency of random facial recognition checks for drivers to prevent account sharing and impersonation.
Reiterate a zero-tolerance policy on account misuse; accounts found to be shared or used by unauthorised individuals would be permanently banned.
AI-powered monitoring systems capable of detecting irregularities during trips in real time, alongside rapid-response safety reporting systems.
Pop-up reminders before each journey for passengers to verify the driver’s face, vehicle registration and trip details shown in the application before boarding.
BANGKOK — 12 May 2026, Thailand’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister said on Tuesday that Koh Kood island remains unquestionably Thai territory, dismissing reports that Cambodia had secretly registered a 2001 bilateral memorandum as evidence in a maritime boundary dispute.
Speaking at Government House at 8:45, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow also said Thai authorities were arranging legal assistance for Thai nationals detained by Cambodian soldiers for allegedly crossing the border illegally while gathering forest products.
“The process is under way,” Sihasak said. “Coordination regarding legal assistance has already been completed, and we are monitoring the situation closely.”
Sihasak was responding to questions about reports that Cambodia had registered the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Cambodia concerning overlapping continental shelf claims, known in Thailand as the “MOU 2544”, before Thailand later revoked it.
He said Cambodia was a signatory to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, which Thailand also recognises as the framework for future negotiations.
“The MOU 2544 has already been cancelled,” he said. “Negotiations under UNCLOS are a good approach and avoid wasting time, although it is still too early to conclude which mechanism will ultimately be used.”
Asked about reports that Cambodia intended to use the memorandum as evidence relating to a maritime boundary line that allegedly passes through Koh Kood in Trat province, Sihasak rejected the suggestion.
“That is not possible,” he said. “Under UNCLOS, maritime boundaries must be considered according to internationally recognised legal principles.”
“I do not know what Cambodia may have secretly registered,” he added. “What I know is that discussions will take place under UNCLOS.”
When asked whether the issue would affect Thailand’s sovereignty over Koh Kood, Sihasak said any formal demarcation would clearly show that the island belongs to Thailand.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun speaks to reporters at Government House in Bangkok on 12 May 2026 following her visit to the United States for trade talks with US officials.
BANGKOK — 12 May 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said Thailand is accelerating negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States in a bid to reduce tariff risks ahead of a Section 301 review.
Speaking at 08:50 at Santi Maitree Building, Government House, Ms. Suphajee said following her recent visit to the United States, talks were held with Jamieson Greer and Rick Switzer on 4 May to push forward the pending ART negotiations.
She said Thai officials remain in the United States for technical-level discussions on two issues: asset capacity and forced labour.
Ms. Suphajee said her discussions focused on clarifying Thailand’s position after the country submitted its formal response on 15 April, adding that all issues had been clearly explained and no major obstacles had arisen.
She said both sides reaffirmed their intention to maximise trade benefits for both countries.
Thailand is also seeking to conclude ART negotiations, which have remained unresolved since the previous administration, before any investigation under Section 301 — a US trade law concerning unfair trade practices — proceeds.
The talks also addressed Thailand’s trade surplus with the United States. Ms. Suphajee said Thailand’s surplus increased considerably last year compared with the previous year.
She said Thailand had clarified that at least 30% of the additional surplus came from products manufactured by US companies investing in Thailand, while more than 20% came from Thai companies.
Regarding concerns over transshipment and misuse of trade privileges, Ms. Suphajee said Thailand has documentation and data prepared to clarify all relevant facts.
PHETCHABUN — 12 May 2026, A village chief in northern Thailand has installed CCTV cameras after repeated illegal dumping by outsiders along a roadside, with the latest footage clearly capturing a man unloading rubbish from a small farm vehicle.
The village chief warned residents not to copy the behaviour “until it becomes the community’s rubbish dump” and said legal action and fines could follow if the problem continues.
A local Facebook user posted a message online saying: “There are warning signs and cameras installed. You should dispose of your own rubbish properly. Illegal dumping is punishable by law.”
The post included CCTV footage showing a man driving a locally made agricultural vehicle, known as an “e-tan”, before dumping waste by the roadside. The clip sparked criticism on social media.
The account was later identified as belonging to Sombun Phunoi, village chief of Nong O village in tambon Pak Chong, Lom Sak district, Phetchabun province, who has been monitoring illegal dumping in the area for some time.
Speaking to reporters at the site, Sombun said the location was the second hotspot where repeated dumping had been detected. Most offenders were believed to come from outside Pak Chong because local communities already had organised waste collection systems.
He said many cases involved residents from neighbouring areas without rubbish collection services or suitable disposal sites, leading them to dump household waste illegally.
“Once rubbish starts piling up, other people passing through tend to follow, and it becomes a long-term problem,” he said.
The accumulation of waste has caused foul odours, damaged the community’s image and created health risks, particularly from organic waste that can attract flies, rats and disease.
Sombun said village security volunteers, community committee members and residents had previously helped monitor the area before officials decided to use village funds to install CCTV cameras to collect evidence.
He urged the public not to dump rubbish in public areas because it dirties shared spaces and affects the wider community.
If the offences continue, he said village authorities may report offenders to police or coordinate with local public health officials to impose fines under Thai law.
Under Thailand’s Public Health Act of 1992 and local regulations, those caught dumping rubbish in public places can face financial penalties.
Muslim senator and former human rights commissioner Angkhana Neelaphaijit has raised concerns over what she described as “mob rule” after more than 1,000 Muslims reportedly gathered in Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng 53 area to pressure an LGBT Muslim individual accused of insulting Islam.
The incident, which sparked widespread debate on social media, reportedly involved the individual being pressured to apologise, shave their head and slap themselves as an act of repentance. Critics questioned whether the actions were voluntary or carried out under coercion.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Angkhana called on the Culture Ministry, the Office of the Chularatchamontri and the National Human Rights Commission to clarify their positions regarding groups identifying themselves as “defenders of religion” taking action against people accused of insulting religious beliefs.
She said the incident challenged Islam’s principles of peaceful coexistence, justice and compassion, adding that repeated claims during livestreams that the punishment was “voluntary” had raised doubts among viewers.
“If such incidents are allowed to pass without preventive measures, it could create a new norm in which mob rule overrides the law and even the true principles of religion,” she wrote.
Angkhana also warned that religious tensions could escalate into hate crimes or Islamophobia, describing religious conflict as one of the most sensitive and fragile issues in society.
