Arada Fuengtong, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations at the Commerce Ministry, disclosed that a government delegation comprising representatives from the Commerce Ministry, Department of Trade Negotiations, Customs Department, Board of Investment, Foreign Ministry, and Labor Ministry will travel to the United States between May 13-14 to clarify and provide detailed responses to the US Trade Representative (USTR) regarding Section 301 investigations. The ministry previously submitted clarifications, responses, and supporting documents on April 15 regarding two cases under investigation: excess production capacity and forced labor practices.

The two investigated cases are: 1) Accusations of using excess production capacity in three industries—automobiles and parts, rubber products, and electrical-electronic appliances—which could result in additional tariffs. Thailand has already clarified it does not use excess capacity. 2) Imports of goods from countries using forced labor, with allegations against 60 countries including Thailand. The investigation focuses on whether countries import raw materials or goods involving forced labor. Thailand is currently drafting a labor law to enable traceability to production sources and labor practices.

"Both issues raised by the US concern me greatly, particularly regarding SME producers," Arada stated. "Large manufacturers can adapt quickly for exports, but if the US applies blanket measures, SMEs may struggle to keep pace—each faces different readiness levels. Regarding forced labor, the US hasn't specified which products are under investigation, which is concerning. Even though Thailand doesn't use forced labor, if the US applies uniform rates across all countries, Thailand—especially SMEs—could suffer significant damage. Regardless of the outcome, we are prepared to continue clarifying the facts."

On May 5, 2569, TikTok user @ammie.6539 posted a warning video after booking accommodation to take her family on a beach vacation, only to discover an abandoned resort. She described it as the most disappointing travel experience of her life. She had booked through an online platform because she wanted her child to play in the sea, as other options were fully booked and this was the only alternative available. The property had positive reviews on Google Maps, so she decided to book it.

Upon arrival, she found the entrance extremely difficult to access—covered entirely in sand and overgrown with jungle vegetation, making it impossible to find the actual entry point. She eventually attempted entry through a neighboring resort's entrance. The neighboring resort owner informed her that the property she had booked belonged to a foreign national who had fled back to his country five months ago, and that many other guests had been similarly deceived.

Arriving at dusk, she felt uncomfortable venturing outside as the area seemed isolated and unsafe. The neighboring resort owner then offered her a bungalow for 500 baht per night, complete with a bathroom and air conditioning. She accepted the offer but was deeply disturbed to discover the room door was decorated with spirit amulets, sacred tattoo cloths, and various spiritual talismans.

After taking her child down to play in the water, she immediately gathered her belongings and left. She felt it was better to depart then rather than stay the night—she couldn't possibly sleep there. The beach was completely empty of people, and the whole situation was genuinely frightening, with fears about both the living and supernatural elements.

The Bangkok governor's race is underway with candidates stepping into the spotlight, though the full campaign hasn't officially launched. Incumbent champion Chatchai Sittiphan hasn't formally declared, but his "Work Work Work Bangkok" initiative clearly telegraphs his intentions. His four-year performance and reputation as a hardworking governor remain formidable assets, and crucially, his ratings show no signs of decline. The People's Party has fielded Chaivatana Sathawrawit, known as "Dr. Joe," riding the wave of their party's dominance in Bangkok's 33 parliamentary constituencies. Their advantage lies in strong support from younger voters and the urban middle class, but the major challenge is converting party votes into personal votes—something difficult in a governor's race where voters prioritize working administrators over ideological politicians. The Democrat Party remains strategically patient, hoping to capitalize on Abhisit Vejjajiva's name recognition, but faces the reality that Bangkok's voter base is no longer as solid as before, and their party rebranding remains incomplete. For Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai, strategic withdrawal means not fielding candidates, having calculated that Bangkok isn't their stronghold and resources might be better spent on the national stage. The picture is becoming clearer: Chatchai holds advantages across all dimensions—reputation, performance, and broad public acceptance. Dr. Joe represents the one credible challenge, particularly given the People's Party's demonstrated ability to win Bangkok voters' hearts. Unless unexpected variables emerge or major missteps occur, Chatchai remains the betting favorite to retain his championship, with Dr. Joe as the top contender to watch. Other candidates, whether from the Democrat Party or independent hopefuls, have slim chances despite occasional possibility. Barring late-game surprises, this race's outcome seems unlikely to shift dramatically.

Kylian Mbappe is facing a difficult time at Real Madrid following reports that teammates are keeping their distance due to displeasure with his behavior. According to sports media, the players of Spain's La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid have grown increasingly dissatisfied with French forward Kylian Mbappe's conduct. Reports indicate that Madrid's players disapprove of Mbappe's self-centered attitude both on and off the pitch, and the fact that he has received special privileges has led to widespread distancing from the French star. Examples of Mbappe's behavior that has upset teammates include showing disrespect to club officials during training sessions and arriving 40 minutes late to team lunch without facing any club sanctions. Meanwhile, reports on Mbappe's side suggest the player may be intentionally distancing himself from the club, with the 27-year-old forward seeking to maintain greater distance from coaching staff and the locker room, while also reportedly waiting for Real Madrid to part ways with current manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Famous influencer Ben Apache shared a touching story about an Indian fan's deep admiration for Rodtang Jitmuangnon, a world-renowned Thai boxer beloved by fans everywhere.

Ben Apache arranged for Rodtang to speak with the Indian fan, resulting in an incredibly moving encounter. Ben Apache recounted: "I have a story to share. Yesterday I was eating at a restaurant near Chelsea Stadium. When I sat down, the staff asked if I was there to watch football. I said yes, and when taking my order, they asked where I was from. I told them Thailand, and they got really excited and shocked. They told me they're from India, working here to earn money, but their main life goal is to become a Muay Thai fighter. They're saving money here to support their dream. They said they were so happy I'm Thai because their idol is Rodtang. They showed me their phone full of Rodtang's photos.

I thought if they could actually talk to Rodtang, it would really fulfill their dream. So I called Rodtang to see if he had a moment. I wanted to do a video call so they could chat with someone who shares their passion for Rodtang. Rodtang simply replied, 'No problem, brother.'

When they came back to serve my food, I told them to wait—someone wanted to talk to them. I called Rodtang, and when he answered, I pointed the camera toward them. I can't even describe the atmosphere—they were so shocked and amazed. We kept the call brief, but I could hear them tell Rodtang how much they love him, asking him to keep fighting, promising to always support him. They said Rodtang would be their inspiration to pursue their own dreams. They asked me to take a screenshot and send it to them.

After hanging up, they hugged me and cried. I want to thank Rodtang so much for taking just a moment to give someone on the other side of the world the inspiration and strength to pursue their lifelong dream. They told me this was the best day of their life. Thank you, Rodtang."

Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thai national team, acknowledges that the War Elephants will face a packed schedule with multiple overlapping competitions, requiring rotation of young players into the senior squad to give key players rest.

On May 5, the Football Association of Thailand held a coaching staff meeting at FA Thailand headquarters with representatives from both the senior national team and the U-23 squad to discuss preparation plans for FIFA international windows in June.

The meeting was led by Ekkapol Phlanabee, the FA's secretary general, alongside Hudson, Thavatchai Damrongtragkul (U-23 coach), and coaching staff. Hudson stated: "This meeting was very valuable. We discussed every aspect of the upcoming camps in June and competitions with potentially overlapping schedules, including long-term planning for U-23 Asian Games preparation."

"We must acknowledge there are quite a few competitions this year, especially outside FIFA international windows, so all parties needed to coordinate. Overall, the situation is heading in a positive direction regarding player selection and team preparation."

"We're trying to select the best young players to build a team alongside experienced senior players, creating a good training atmosphere. We'll split players across two teams for the next two national team windows, coinciding with club pre-season breaks."

"For players continuously engaged with their clubs, senior key players may get no rest. This period could be a good opportunity for them to recover while giving chances to players in good form at their clubs or promising young talents to integrate into the national team."

"The most important thing is allowing key players proper rest to maintain peak physical condition and possibly bringing in new striker talent to strengthen the squad for September-October preparations, when we'll select the best players for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia early next year."

The senior team has a June FIFA window with two warm-up matches before the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 in July, followed by FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 in September-October, the 52nd King's Cup in November, and AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia in January-February 2027.

The U-23 team will have two warm-up matches during the June FIFA window to prepare for the Asian Games football tournament in Japan from September 19 to October 4.