The 2026 Asian Taekwondo Championships held at M-Bank Arena in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from May 21-24, 2025, serves as a qualifying tournament for seven athletes per division to compete at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

On day three of competition, the Thai taekwondo team had four additional fighters competing. In the 87-kilogram division, Jack Woody Mercer, a Thai-English athlete, faced off against Saudi Arabia's Ali Mabrok in the round of 16. In the first round, Jack landed four scoring kicks to the chest and executed one takedown after his opponent fell, winning 9-6. In the second round, he dominated with superior height, winning decisively 10-3 to advance to the bronze medal match against Taiwan's Chen Liang-tzu.

In the semifinal bronze medal bout against Taiwan's Chen Liang-tzu, Jack was defeated. In the first round, he attempted kicks but fell and was struck in the head and body, losing 0-12. In the second round, he was hit in the head again, falling 1-3 and narrowly missing out on a medal.

In the women's 53-kilogram division, Panbua Moramat faced Nepal's Keeta Kathayat in her opening match. Despite being smaller, Panbua won 7-3 with head and foot kicks. In the second round, a competitive match saw Panbua land a body kick and execute a takedown, narrowly winning 3-2 to advance. She then faced Nematosadat Mobina, the Olympic bronze medalist from Iran in the 49-kilogram division. Panbua struggled against Mobina's physical advantages and was defeated 0-2 and 0-9, then 0-5, exiting the tournament.

In the 67-kilogram division, "Gaem" Piyachatharathai Chareewarwhan faced a tough first-round matchup against Iran's Moradi Cheklar Saghar. Piyachatharathai, at a size disadvantage, was struck with kicks and head shots, losing 1-6 in the first round. In the second round, she continued to struggle after being hit in the head twice, losing 0-6 to exit the competition.

In the 63-kilogram division, Satang Nithakorn Lumphae faced Huang Ke-fei, a world championship gold medalist from China. In the first round, Nithakorn was kicked and lost 0-9. In the second round, his attempts to counterattack failed as Ke-fei struck with kicks and head shots, winning 12-4 to eliminate Nithakorn in the first round.

After three days of competition with ten Thai fighters participating, the team has earned one silver medal from Patcharkanya Phoolgerd in the 46-kilogram division, plus two additional quotas for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

A dashcam video from the 'We Love Traffic Checkpoints' Facebook page captures a collision at a red light intersection where a motorcycle carrying four people—a father, mother, and two young children—ran the red light while other vehicles waited at the intersection. The motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck and crashed in the middle of the intersection. The video post drew numerous critical comments condemning the father for reckless driving that endangered his family. Social media users expressed disapproval with comments such as: 'The light was red for a long time,' 'Weren't you paying attention to the traffic signal? Children need a responsible father,' 'Even watching this dashcam footage, you'd think they should throw in some brakes too,' 'Running red lights, no helmets, and little kids—this is what irresponsibility looks like.'

The Department of International Trade Negotiations is mobilizing over 30 fish and processed fish product businesses from across Thailand, armed with Free Trade Agreement advantages to expand export markets at THAIFEX-ANUGA ASIA 2026. Ms. Chotima Iamsuwatdikul, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Negotiations, revealed that the department is organizing an exhibition booth at THAIFEX 2026 to expand FTA market exports from May 26-30, 2026. The department's booth will be located at booth 4-C25 in the Fine Food zone at Impact Forum Hall 4, Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, Muang Thonburi.

The department has selected fish and processed fish products from 30 businesses, cooperatives, and community enterprises, including frozen tilapia from Manit, selected products from Phetchaburi, canned fish from Saphan Pla Organization, fermented fish from Buchrop community enterprise in Ubon Ratchathani, fish sauce from Mae Bun Lam in Kalasin, chili fish paste from Chawarachon Sukhothai, sour fish from Kamnun Jul in Phetchabun, and canned crab from Thee Wongse, as well as fish sauce from Arunee Trat.

Ms. Chotima further stated that the department is committed to supporting businesses across the entire supply chain—from upstream to midstream to downstream—to expand export markets by leveraging FTA advantages and creating trade momentum. Importantly, the department aims to bring raw fish materials from throughout Thailand, such as tilapia, snakehead, red snapper, striped snakehead, catfish, mullet, grouper, carp, snake head fish, and organic fish, into global markets.

Within the booth, there will be various interesting activities, including fish and processed fish product business showcases, product exhibitions for public relations, business matching negotiations, FTA exhibitions, and international trade consultation clinic services. The department is confident that Thai fish products are competitive, well-prepared, capable of competing, and ready to enter the free trade market with sustainable growth.

A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine run by Tongzhou Group in Shanxi Province, northern China, occurred around 7:30 p.m. on May 22nd, resulting in at least 90 deaths with over 100 injured and hospitalized. Mine officials have been detained for questioning, though authorities have yet to reveal the explosion's cause. Reports indicate that carbon monoxide levels at the facility exceeded safe limits. China's emergency management ministry has deployed 345 rescue personnel from six rescue units to the site. President Xi Jinping called for maximum efforts in treating the injured and conducting a thorough investigation, emphasizing that regions and departments must learn from this accident by maintaining continuous workplace safety vigilance and preventing future catastrophes. China has experienced multiple mining disasters over the past two decades, including a 2009 mine explosion in Heilongjiang Province that killed over 100 people and a 2023 collapse at an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia that left 53 dead.

A mother is heartbroken, remembering the shirt and shoes she bought for her son. Her son disappeared from home over 10 days ago and was found dead in a palm grove not far from their house. Police are accelerating their investigation into the cause of death.

At noon on May 23, 2025, Maj. Kittiwat Suwannpraserit, investigation deputy chief at Krathumbaen Police Station, received a report of a body discovered in a palm grove along the Khlong Muensaram canal road in Kaen Chai subdistrict, Krathumbaen district, Samut Sakhon province. He rushed to the scene with district administrative officials, an on-duty doctor from Krathumbaen Hospital, forensic officers, and volunteer rescue workers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation.

The team had to trek through the palm grove for 200-300 meters to reach the body. The deceased was a male with a bloated body, dark discoloration, and partially peeling skin. He was found sitting on the ground with ligature marks around his neck. He wore a black t-shirt and warm-up pants, with flip-flops placed beside him. The body had nine tattoos, wore a stainless steel necklace with a fallen ring, and two overturned plastic containers were nearby. A black backpack was found in a water channel.

The deceased, known as Mr. Deft (pseudonym), 53 years old, is believed to have died approximately 10 days ago. His mother confirmed the identity through the shirt and shoes she had purchased for him, as well as the backpack he always carried. The deceased lived across the street from the palm grove where he was found.

The deceased lived alone with his elderly mother, whom he cared for. He had no conflicts with anyone, no chronic illness, and received financial support from his son. However, he was a worrier and easily took things to heart. Before his disappearance, he had mentioned going to work with a friend. Around May 14, his mother went to pay his insurance. When she returned, he was not at home. His calls went unanswered. Inside the house, she found his waist pouch containing his ID card and phone, but she did not know what to do.

When his grandson, the deceased's son, came home on his day off to collect money for his father, his grandmother told him his father had disappeared and could not be reached. The grandson then filed a missing person report at Krathumbaen Police Station. The cause of death remains unknown.

Police have instructed forensic officers to collect evidence from the scene. The body has been sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Siriraj Hospital for a second autopsy to clarify the cause of death before the family receives it for merit-making ceremonies.

The Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture, working with the Phang Nga Province Cultural Office, launched a Dhamma Day temple visit program titled "Taste Local Delicacies, Admire the Landscape, Make Merit Offerings at Lad Long Lae" in Lad Long Lae, Takua Tung District, Phang Nga Province. The initiative aims to stimulate community economic activity by generating income through food, clothing, souvenirs, homestays, hotels, and tourism ventures, while promoting local knowledge and providing Buddhists with regular opportunities for merit-making, precept-keeping, and meditation. On the morning of Saturday, May 16, 2025, Department of Religious Affairs Director Chaiyapol Sukeiam led officials, administrators, and residents in visiting cultural networks, releasing crabs into mangrove forests, and meeting religious and community leaders at Ban Sam Chong School, including paying respects to Phra Prasart Sarophon (Chaiwat Issaratham), the provincial sangha leader. The program leverages the area's rich natural resources and cultural capital, including local foods, traditional crafts, performances, and community products using palm gardens as activity venues. Community members will showcase local produce such as vegetables, shrimp, shellfish, crab, fish, and seasonal fruits, along with traditional handicrafts and cultural performances to generate income and engage youth in community development. The Department of Religious Affairs is expanding this successful program by selecting locations with distinctive traditions, nearby temples, merit-offering services for tourists, traditional costume rentals, and vendor areas that boost local revenues. Director Chaiyapol emphasized that the program helps communities and encourages Buddhists to visit temples regularly for merit-making beyond just holy days.