PARIS, France — Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron over dinner at the Élysée Palace on 25 May, with aerospace and aviation emerging as a key focus of discussions on deepening bilateral trade and investment ties.

Government spokeswoman Rachada Thanadirek summarised the outcomes of the meeting, which covered four main areas: trade and investment promotion, the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement, security and cybersecurity cooperation, and regional situations involving Cambodia and Myanmar.

On trade and investment, both leaders agreed to push for stronger growth in bilateral economic ties, with a particular emphasis on high-value industries. Aerospace and aviation were highlighted as a priority sector, alongside alternative energy, smart electricity transmission systems, and infrastructure for artificial intelligence and data centres — areas in which French private sector firms hold significant expertise.

Following separate discussions with MEDEF International and leading French companies, several firms expressed interest in investing or expanding their presence in Thailand. France also welcomed existing Thai private sector investment on French soil and expressed a desire to see it grow further.

On the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement, Prime Minister Anutin reaffirmed that concluding the negotiations this year is a key government priority. He thanked France for its continued support throughout the negotiation process, expressing confidence that the agreement would serve as a turning point in creating economic opportunities for both countries.

On security, both sides agreed to expand cooperation into cybersecurity, building on their existing participation in the Cobra Gold joint military exercises. The move aligns with Thailand's broader efforts to combat online fraud and cybercrime, which have already resulted in successful prosecutions, extraditions, and the seizure of significant illicit assets.

On regional affairs, Prime Minister Anutin reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to sovereignty, peace, and international law in relation to the situations in Cambodia and Myanmar. He said Thailand's decision to cancel the MOU 44 with Cambodia came after nearly 25 years without progress, and that Thailand would instead pursue resolution under UNCLOS through bilateral dialogue. On land border issues, he said Thailand would follow the joint statement signed late last year and would be watching for genuine commitment from the Cambodian side.

Both sides agreed to advance a Joint Action Plan to Strengthen the Thai-French Partnership 2026-2028, a significant step towards elevating the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.

BUGGENHOUT, Belgium (AP) — Four people, including two children, were killed in a crash between a train and a bus in northern Belgium, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Five children were taken to hospital in a serious condition, they said.

The accident happened at a level crossing during the morning rush hour near the town of Buggenhout, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of the capital, Brussels.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below.

BUGGENHOUT, Belgium (AP) — Several people have been hurt in a collision between a train and a minibus carrying children in northern Belgium, federal police said Tuesday.

Police and rescue personal work around a level crossing where a train collided with a van in Buggenhout, Belgium, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Marius Burgelman)

The accident happened at a level crossing during the morning rush hour near the town of Buggenhout, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of the capital, Brussels. Details about how it unfolded were not immediately clear.

Police said that "several people" were hurt in the accident, but that they are unable to provide further details.

Belgian private broadcaster VTM said that four people were killed, but police would not confirm whether there were any deaths "out of respect for the families of those implicated."

VTM said the barriers at the level crossing were closed but that the bus appeared to try to cross anyway and was hit by the train. Seven schoolchildren were aboard the minibus, with a driver and an escort.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said that badly damaged bus lay toppled on its side. Forensic experts in protective white suits and wearing gloves were taking photos of the scene. A white pop-up tent was erected nearby. The train was relatively unscathed.

In a social media post, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed "great sadness" over "the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train. My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones."

On May 26, 2025, at the Central Investigation Police Bureau's complaint center, a 67-year-old mother of Ritthisak, accompanied by lawyer Pichyavadee Jirochoteetsittha (known as Lawyer Pim, runner-up in Miss Grand Nakhon Pathom 2026) and legal representative Napritthee Jirochoteetsittha, filed a justice complaint requesting an investigation into the arrest procedures conducted by Muang Nakhon Pathom Police. They submitted criminal case notices, photos of arcade game machines, and court testimony transcripts as evidence.

Lawyer Pim revealed that on September 26, 2023, Ritthisak surrendered at Muang Nakhon Pathom Police Station on intimidation charges at 8:00 AM. However, at approximately 12:30 PM the same day, approximately 30 police officers with a court warrant conducted a home search while Ritthisak was already in detention. The mother stated that officers called her to identify drugs allegedly found in her son's pickup truck, which had been sent to a repair shop. Fearful and shocked, she signed an acknowledgment.

The complainants identified several procedural violations: evidence logs show missing items, the arrest team leader admitted seeing arcade machines but claimed too much evidence prevented cataloging them, yet the mother witnessed officers loading two arcade machines onto the police truck with no log entry. Additionally, officers confiscated a closed-circuit TV memory card, allegedly destroying evidence of the search.

Ritthisak claims the entire incident stems from harassment due to a severe personal dispute with a police sergeant-major over a woman, nearly escalating to gunfire, and that one arrest team member is his estranged former father-in-law with longstanding conflicts. The family and lawyer therefore petitioned the Central Investigation Police Bureau commander for a fair investigation into the arrest unit's conduct.

Lawyer Pim added that the drug case is currently in witness testimony phase at court, so details remain confidential. However, they contest the DNA test claiming officers failed to inform the suspect of his rights or the test's purpose, and the suspect believed it was a COVID test and never signed a DNA consent form.

Heartwarming moment goes viral! A disabled cyclist loses his prosthetic leg mid-ride, but a compassionate stranger quickly comes to his aid. The touching video has garnered 8.9 million views and earned widespread online praise. A heartwarming video from Malta has gone viral globally after a disabled man experienced his prosthetic leg suddenly detach while cycling, only to be swiftly assisted by a kind stranger. The incident has resonated with millions online, restoring faith in human compassion. The man in the video is Vincenzo Garofalo, a former naval engineer who was training intensively to compete in the "Ironman" triathlon championship. While cycling in the northeastern coastal town of San Paul's Bay in Malta, his right prosthetic leg suddenly came loose mid-ride. The video shows Vincenzo struggling to control his bicycle and stay upright on the roadside before a passing driver quickly rushed in to retrieve the prosthetic and help steady the bike without hesitation. Though traffic in the area was light, the stranger's quick intervention prevented what could have been a serious accident. After the incident, Vincenzo posted the body camera footage on social media to thank the kind stranger and encourage others facing life challenges, emphasizing that "physical limitations exist only in the mind." The clip quickly went viral with over 8.9 million views and thousands of comments from people worldwide, with many praising both Vincenzo's determination and the stranger's selfless heroism. One commenter noted, "Most people don't realize how much skill it takes to maintain balance and not fall in a situation like that," while another said, "The man who helped is a true hero—he rushed in without hesitation." Several humorous comments also offered encouragement, such as, "At first I thought just a shoe fell off, then I realized it was the whole leg!" and "So glad to see both the kindness of people and your determination to keep cycling." Garofalo also revealed that his life has been full of obstacles and losses, but he chose not to give up and to see the world from a new perspective, saying, "Life has knocked me down many times, but it taught me to appreciate the small things and the quiet struggles that no one sees." His words left a profound impression on many, transforming the video from a simple viral moment into a source of inspiration for countless people.

The People's Movement for a Just Society (PMFS) has submitted a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives requesting consideration of a bill granting amnesty to citizens harmed or affected by state land and forest policies. The submission includes signatures from over 12,000 eligible voters. This grassroots movement represents networks affected by past flawed government policies. Bill drafters argue that the law would lift poor people out of a failed cycle of injustice, where legal proceedings have been used as a tool to imprison the impoverished. They stress that an amnesty law is urgently needed to clear records and restore land rights to original settlers. The PMFS hopes the bill will be prioritized for parliamentary consideration and quickly enacted. Since the 2014 coup on May 22, coup leaders announced measures against capitalists encroaching on forests through forest reclamation policies. However, in practice, over 48,000 people—mostly ethnic minorities, the poor, and the destitute—have been prosecuted despite having lived on the land before forest area designations and relying on nature for subsistence. Already impoverished, these people became even more destitute after facing state prosecution. Due to these failures, both government and opposition parties are urged to jointly push for law consideration to restore justice to this group.

As expected, the case involving an armed gunman with a government vehicle allegedly linked to security officials who shot at Kamlasak Leewamoh, a Narathiwat MP from the Pracharaj Party, has suddenly gone quiet.

Until Pol. Col. Thawi Sodsong, Pracharaj Party leader, and victim MP Kamlasak were forced to periodically demand updates on the investigation's progress.

Because the case appeared to be moving forward smoothly, with five members of the hit squad arrested, followed by two additional suspects arrested for allegedly supplying weapons and the government vehicle used in the crime. But once all seven suspects were identified, the case stalled—never reaching the alleged masterminds or those who hired the killers.

It's notable that suspects six and seven are current government officials—naval officers with the ranks of Rear Admiral and Captain. These two officers surrendered and acknowledged charges in early May, after which the case came to a complete standstill.

By late May, Pol. Col. Thawi and MP Kamlasak filed a complaint with Parliament's National Security Committee, requesting assistance in expediting the investigation. They emphasized that this case isn't merely a personal matter for one MP, but rather a reflection of the entire southern border security problem.

Having to rely on a parliamentary committee to push the case forward suggests the investigation has stalled. The prosecution has proceeded only against the five-member hit squad and two military officers as accomplices—out of seven total suspects. It raises the critical question: who gave the orders, and who paid for the assassination?

It's not hard to guess why. The investigation and arrests began with the five gunmen, many of them former commandos and former Rangers, all with military backgrounds. When pressure came from the MP victim, who provided evidence, investigators were forced to charge the Rear Admiral and Captain. But when it came to higher-ranking officials, it's predictable that investigating officers would face resistance, causing the case to stall.

Like many other cases, once investigations reach powerful government figures—whether in the security apparatus or military—the case becomes stuck and fails to progress. But the question remains: will we ever see true justice?

If investigations must slow because they've reached powerful government officials, military security agencies, or the armed forces, then the process cannot possibly be fair or just.

Don't forget that the victim's side includes Pol. Col. Thawi, a former high-ranking investigator from an anti-crime unit. With someone like him pushing hard, there's no way this pressure will ease up.