The Democratic Party's candidate selection committee has finalized its choice for Bangkok governor candidate following the debut of potential candidates at the AI Demo Day event promoting digital economy advancement through AI on May 12. The selected candidate is Anucha Burpachaisri, a former Bangkok MP from the Democratic Party and former list candidate for Bhumjaithai Party, from which he has since resigned.

Dr. Pichai Rukprecha, or Dr. Aung, executive advisor for LINE Plus and former CEO of LINE Thailand and Google Thailand, as well as former spokesperson for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, was initially considered. However, speculation arose that Pichai would be the candidate due to his qualifications matching what party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and deputy leader Sakoltee Pattiyakul had outlined: experience in politics, under 60 years old, capable of working with the government, and knowledgeable in IT.

Ultimately, the Democratic Party selected Anucha because Pichai cannot run due to contractual restrictions with LINE, despite the party's attempts to recruit him since the February parliamentary elections. The party also approached several other potential candidates to challenge incumbent governor Chadchart Sittipunt, but faced rejections due to concerns about the difficulty of competing against him or contractual obstacles with their current employers.

Anucha, though considered a familiar face, was chosen because he previously served as Bangkok MP for Khlong Toei District 2 and served as deputy spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office under General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The party believes he may secure more seats than the 9 seats won in the 2022 elections. Anucha's official unveiling and vision presentation will take place on May 16 at 2 p.m. at the Democratic Party headquarters.

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé claims Álvaro Arbeloa told him he is the club's fourth-choice forward, though Arbeloa immediately denied making such a statement.

Mbappé returned to action for Real Madrid after recovering from a thigh injury in a 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo on May 14th. However, when he entered the pitch as a substitute in the 69th minute at Santiago Bernabéu, he was booed by the home crowd.

Real Madrid supporters have criticized their talented forward in recent weeks, questioning his commitment, particularly after he was deemed unfit to play in El Clásico last weekend, which the team lost to Barcelona, handing them the La Liga title.

After the match, Mbappé gave an interview explaining that Arbeloa had informed him of his fourth-choice status: "I'm 100 percent fine. I didn't play because the coach told me I'm the fourth backup striker, behind Franco Mastantuono, Vinícius Júnior, and Gonzalo García."

"In the end, I accept it and I play when it's time to play," he added.

Mbappé also addressed criticism over his vacation in Sardinia while recovering from injury, which had upset some fans: "The club gave me permission to be away from Madrid. I don't understand what people are saying, but I have to accept it."

Arbeloa responded to Mbappé's comments, saying: "Perhaps he didn't understand me well. I don't know what to tell you. For me, it's clear that a player who four days ago wasn't even a reserve shouldn't start today, especially since this isn't a final or a decisive match."

"Besides, we have a game on Sunday where he will definitely start, as I've already told him. I understand that Kylian Mbappé is unhappy about not playing today, but it was a decision based on the circumstances. As I've said before, I didn't want to take any risks," Arbeloa concluded.

According to astrologer Mor Khake Dol Bundal, four zodiac signs are entering a full upward phase in their lives following the sun's transit, with obstacles finally clearing and new opportunities emerging. The signs set to experience significant positive changes are: Gemini, who will see financial windfalls and career improvements after a period of exhaustion; Virgo, whose long-standing pressures will ease with help from others, creating ideal conditions for fresh beginnings in work and personal life; Sagittarius, whose luck will open up with new opportunities and chances to eliminate debt and long-awaited progress; and Pisces, whose life will stabilize after facing multiple difficulties, with opportunities for income, new jobs, or support from others. The overall message emphasizes that those who have struggled with financial hardship, career obstacles, and accumulated stress will now see relief and recovery. Many will encounter new opportunities in employment, finances, and stability, with some receiving substantial windfalls or long-awaited good news. The more effort and diligence applied, the stronger the cosmic momentum becomes.

An age-gap romance turned drama after a 40-year-old woman from Shandong Province, China decided to marry her close friend's son, who is 11 years younger, sparking heated online debate about the relationship.

According to reports, the woman had previously gone through a divorce after discovering her ex-husband's infidelity. She then dedicated herself to building a stable life running a clothing business. She had also maintained a long friendship with a local woman in her city.

However, no one expected that her new husband would turn out to be her friend's son. The man is 29 years old, divorced, and has been single-handedly raising two young children. His ex-wife left him due to financial difficulties, as his monthly income of only 3,000 yuan (approximately 14,000 baht) made life quite challenging.

Initially, the couple got to know each other because the woman regularly visited her friend's house. Over time, their closeness blossomed into genuine feelings. She was impressed by his sincerity, sense of responsibility, and the love he showed his children, while he saw her as a warm, caring woman skilled at managing a household.

Although they love each other, the relationship faces intense social pressure and family complications, particularly regarding her role as the friend's daughter-in-law. Reports indicate that his mother strongly opposed the marriage when she learned her son wanted to marry her own friend.

After lengthy discussions and efforts to reach understanding, the couple decided to register their marriage at the end of last year. Since both had experienced disappointment in previous relationships, they opted for a simple registration ceremony rather than a grand wedding celebration.

Currently, the woman has moved in to live with her young husband, and their love story continues to attract public attention as she regularly posts clips of their married life on social media, essentially flaunting their sweetness amid the drama.

The Office of Trade and Investment Policy (OTIP) released a report titled 'Influencer Economy: From Content to Digital Commerce,' revealing that Thailand's influencer market was valued at 450 billion baht in 2024 with projected continuous annual growth of 15-20%. Currently, there are approximately 3 million influencers in Thailand, representing roughly one-third of the total digital advertising market value. A major concern is Thailand's 66% dependence on TikTok, prompting recommendations for the government to urgently establish standards, develop workforce skills, and expand market opportunities both domestically and internationally.

Nanthaphong Jiralesspong, Director of the Office of Trade and Investment Policy under the Ministry of Commerce, explained that OTIP recognizes the importance of influencers in shaping follower behavior and generating economic value, leading to the creation of this comprehensive report examining influencer economics and marketing at both global and Thai levels, along with policy recommendations from various countries and strategies to promote Thailand's influencer economy.

According to the report, an influencer is defined as a content creator who produces and distributes material on social media platforms, wielding influence over followers' attitudes, perceptions, and purchasing decisions. The influencer economy comprises five key components: influencers, online platforms, businesses/brands/entrepreneurs, revenue-generating tools and transactions, and followers/consumers.

The global influencer economy continues to show strong growth momentum. Market research firm Introspective Market Research reported that the global influencer economy was valued at 43.9 billion US dollars in 2023, with projections of averaging 33.9% annual growth through 2032, potentially reaching 607 billion US dollars by that year. Global influencer marketing alone was valued at 32.6 billion US dollars in 2024, with anticipated continued growth at an average rate of 51.90% annually through 2032. Currently, approximately 127 million social media users worldwide operate as influencers, with artificial intelligence development identified as a key factor enabling market expansion by reducing entry barriers and facilitating creative content production.

OTIP's study of influencer economy promotion strategies in three countries—China, the United States, and South Korea—found that influencer marketing values continue to expand significantly in each nation with large influencer populations. However, each country implements different policies and measures regarding the influencer economy, including digital economic promotion, online content regulation, consumer protection, and personal data privacy. China, for instance, has issued regulations governing its online content ecosystem requiring content creators, service users, and platforms to collectively assume responsibility for online content quality, while also implementing influencer control policies to prevent the spread of false information.

On May 14, Nippon Bunyamani, former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, along with executives from Siam International Food, a leading Thai pet wet food manufacturer, expanded their international market presence by exhibiting at Interzoo 2026, seeking to establish business partnerships and penetrate premium international markets in Nuremberg, Germany.

Interzoo 2026 runs from May 12–15 at Messe Nuremberg exhibition center and is the world's largest pet industry trade show, held biennially. This year features over 2,350 exhibitors from 70 countries across an area exceeding 150,000 square meters, attracting visitors from more than 140 countries worldwide.

Notably, this marks the first time in history that Thailand has its own pavilion at this event, reflecting international recognition of Thailand's pet industry potential.

Thailand has risen to become the world's second-largest exporter of dog and cat food in 2024, second only to Germany, with export value exceeding $2.677 billion, representing a 29 percent increase compared to the previous year. Key markets include the United States, Japan, Australia, Italy, and Malaysia.

The global pet industry continues steady growth, driven by increasing pet ownership trends among younger generations and seniors, combined with growing consumer focus on pet health that pushes demand for premium products. Thailand's pet food exports are projected to reach $3.1 billion in 2025, with potential to claim the world's number one position in the near future.