Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's Football Federation, disclosed that Iranian national team players are still waiting for US visas to compete in the 2026 World Cup. Iran, previously one of twelve nations subject to US travel restrictions, continues to experience heightened tension with the United States while peace negotiations remain stalled, affecting numerous sectors. The latest development reveals that not only Iranian fans but the national football team itself has yet to receive any visas.

Thousands of supporters gathered for a send-off event in Tehran on Wednesday before the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off on June 11. Currently, the US and Iran are in a state of conflict, though both countries have announced a one-month ceasefire.

"The visa issue remains unresolved. We will have an important meeting with FIFA soon—they must provide certification for our team. We haven't been informed by the other side about who has received visas. So far, not a single visa has been issued," Taj stated.

According to the schedule, Iran will face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both matches in Los Angeles, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle, with the team based in Tucson, Arizona.

The conflict has created uncertainty about Iran's World Cup participation. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated at the recent FIFA Congress in Vancouver that Iran would definitely compete in the United States. Notably, Iran was the only nation without representatives at that congress, as the Iranian Football Federation's delegation, including Taj, was denied entry at the Canadian border. The US cited the cancellation of Taj's visa due to alleged links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Iranian players would be welcomed to the tournament, though individuals with IRGC connections may face entry restrictions.

Zhao Lusi has once again delivered a picture-perfect moment, this time showcasing an elegant white handbag that's stealing the spotlight. The FUNDAO AVA mini butterfly bag represents the brand's refined "quiet luxury" aesthetic, featuring handcrafted construction and sleek streamlined design—the perfect accessory for elegant, gentle-spirited women. Since the photo circulated online, searches for the brand have surged, proving that Thai design talent deserves recognition. The "quiet luxury" style is both distinctive and unlikely to clash with others' outfits, making it irresistibly appealing. Zhao Lusi's styling wisdom shines through again, paired with an adorable dachshund plush toy that perfectly captures the hearts of fashion enthusiasts. Online commenters have praised not only Zhao Lusi's beauty and kindness but also her discerning eye, noting that her support for Asian original design truly demonstrates remarkable influence. Fans are encouraged to share their thoughts: Has this Thai-designed butterfly bag caught your eye? How would you rate this personal style look? Tag your friends in the comments if you'd like to purchase the same bag together! Share your excitement and repost this "trendsetting darling" Zhao Lusi's recommendation—wishing everyone impeccable taste and the perfect handbag in 2026!

The Gold Traders Association announced today, May 15, 2026, that gold prices have dropped sharply and continuously, urging quick decision-making. Ornamental gold is selling at 71,350 baht per baht weight, representing a 1,400 baht decline compared to the previous day's closing on May 14. According to the latest information released by the Gold Traders Association at 1:07 PM, gold bars are selling at 70,550 baht per baht weight in their 23rd announcement. For 96.5% ornamental gold, the buying price is 68,947.68 baht per baht and selling price is 71,350 baht per baht, while the global gold spot price (Gold Spot) stands at 4,616.00 US dollars per ounce. Gold traders predict the market will open tomorrow with gold prices potentially surging by 1,000-2,000 baht per baht, possibly breaking through the 80,000 baht level.

Thai commerce attachés in Xiamen achieved remarkable success in a live-streaming sales event on China's PUPU online supermarket app on May 10, generating 1.33 million baht in sales within just one hour by promoting Thai durian and mangosteen. The campaign is projected to reach a total of 100 million baht, with the DITP continuing to organize promotional activities across seven cities throughout China.

Sunanta Kangvalkulgit, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce, revealed that DITP has instructed its overseas trade promotion offices and commercial attachés in major fruit export target markets to accelerate market expansion for Thai fruits in alignment with Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Suthammaphand's policy directives.

The Xiamen trade promotion office reported outstanding success from the promotional campaign on PUPU, with Chinese consumers showing strong and sustained interest in purchasing Thai fruits. Products featured in the promotion include durian, mangosteen, coconut, longan, pomelo, rice, bottled coconut milk, frozen durian, pork belly rice, instant noodles, tapioca flour, seasoned seaweed, and cosmetics. The platform also offered special Mother's Day discount coupons, with preliminary sales reaching over 280,000 yuan (approximately 1.33 million baht) in just one hour.

During the May 10 event, Xiamen's commerce attachés conducted live-streaming sales with key opinion leaders (KOLs), providing information about Thai fruit cultivation sources and quality standards while demonstrating how to peel durian and mangosteen to guarantee quality. They answered viewer questions about Thai fruit seasons and promoted Thailand's frozen and processed durian products. KOLs then rotated live-streaming Thai products throughout the day and continued promoting durian, mangosteen, and other Thai goods throughout the month.

The PUPU platform indicated that Thai products were already popular with consumers before the promotion, and the marketing campaign has further boosted consumer confidence in Thai goods. With this year's high-quality Thai durian harvest and satisfied customers, sales of durian, mangosteen, and other Thai products are expected to reach the campaign target of approximately 100 million baht upon completion.

PUPU is an online supermarket platform selling daily consumer goods, both imported and local products, through a mobile application with home delivery service. It operates across major cities in Guangdong Province and nearby areas including Xiamen, Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Sichuan, serving 30 million regular customer accounts, with 4.5 million accounts concentrated in Guangdong Province alone.

All seven Thai trade promotion offices in China are actively conducting promotional campaigns for Thai fruits during the current harvest season, working to reinforce Thailand's image as a producer of tropical fruits and boost consumer awareness and consumption of Thai fruits in the Chinese market.

Japan has unveiled its squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with injured Brighton forward Kaoru Mitoma notably absent from the roster. Japan will compete in Group F this summer alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. The Samurai Blue recently announced their tournament squad, which excludes Kaoru Mitoma, the Brighton striker who recently sustained an injury in a match against Wolverhampton. The complete squad includes: Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa, Sion Suzuki, Keisuke Osako; Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Shogo Taniguchi, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Go Itakura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Hiroki Ito, Junnosuke Suzuki, Ayumu Seko, Yuganari Sugawara; Midfielders/Forwards: Daichi Kamada, Kaichu Sano, Ao Tanaka, Wataru Endo, Keto Nakamura, Ritsu Doan, Junya Ito, Takefusa Kubo, Yuito Suzuki, Ayase Ueda, Goki Okawa, Daisen Maeda, Kento Shioji, Keisuke Goto

Yam Matira Tantipresuit, who took a break from television screens, updated her life status at a press meet-and-greet event for the drama series 'Payak Rai Song Lai' at Malinont Building. She shared her new path as an online entrepreneur and cosmetics brand owner that she's fully committed to, and opened up about her relationship with Bot Nadol, her long-time boyfriend outside the entertainment industry, whom she's been dating for over six years, along with future plans and marriage discussions.

"I've been away for quite a while," she explained. "Over the past 2-3 years, I've been doing more streaming series work rather than traditional TV. Recently, I've shifted to online content on TikTok and now have my own business."

Asked about her business name and type, she replied: "It's called Sun Dream, a cosmetics brand. We just launched recently."

"We're already selling now, but the actual production process took quite a long time—about a year," she added.

Has she fully transformed into an influencer and entrepreneur? "Yes, I'm a full-time business owner now, and it's really fun," she said. "During COVID, many people shifted to online businesses, and we found a new path that we really enjoy. When I post videos, it's authentic—showing what I do, my makeup, where I eat, where I travel. It's very easy."

How different is this life from being an actress? "It's quite different. I actually miss it—I miss waking up early to go to film sets. But this is a new path as I've matured."

Is she now a freelance actress? "Yes, I've been freelance for about 2-3 years since after COVID."

Would she consider signing with an agency again? "I'm very okay right now because I have the freedom to do whatever I want. If the right opportunity comes along, I'd still like to do drama series."

Is she completely closed off to acting work for sales only? "No, I'm not closing the door on acting entirely. If the script is right, at the right time, I can still take on roles."

Is she currently working on any drama projects? "Not at the moment because I want to focus on one thing at a time. Otherwise, the quality won't be good."

Is the business focused only on online sales? "Yes, primarily on TikTok and Shopee."

Does she do TikTok live streams often? "Not very often. Occasionally, depending on my schedule, but I have a talented team member who helps with the live streams."

Are the products available on TikTok Shop? "Yes, they're on TikTok Shop with clips tagged to the cart, and also on regular Shopee."

How does she feel about the current trend of celebrities selling products, and does this brand come from her own passion? "It comes from very high personal passion," she said. "If you watch my TikTok, you'll see I'm constantly posting makeup content. I've always loved makeup, though I'm not the best at it. So I created products that suit me—colors and products that are easy to use. That's how this business came about."

Does she think this era is suitable for pursuing careers beyond acting? "It's an opportunity to try new things," she reflected. "I've always wanted to have my own business. When I thought about what my passion was and considering the timing, everything aligned perfectly, and this is what emerged."

How's the market response? "It's okay, but cosmetics have intense competition. It's something that requires time and perseverance. I don't want instant fame that disappears. I want this to be sustainable for the long term."

Does she feel discouraged given how challenging business is in this era? "It is challenging, but I'm not discouraged yet since we just started. I have dreams of taking this brand far and keeping it going for a long time."

For those missing her acting work, there's the drama series 'Payak Rai Song Lai'...