Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his upcoming visit to France will focus on artificial intelligence, energy, trade and investment opportunities, as Thailand seeks to strengthen ties with French businesses and political leaders.

Speaking at Government House on 21 May before departing for France from 21-27 May, Anutin said he had already assigned responsibilities to relevant agencies ahead of the trip.

The prime minister said French President Emmanuel Macron had invited him to a dinner meeting, which he described as a sign that France attaches importance to Thailand despite the visit not being an official state trip.

Anutin said informal discussions between leaders could sometimes produce better results than formal meetings.

He added that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Deputy Prime Minister and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat would also join discussions while carrying out missions in France. The permanent secretary for foreign affairs will attend to help coordinate follow-up work after the talks.

According to Anutin, the discussions will cover AI, energy cooperation, trade value enhancement and Thailand's readiness to serve as an investment hub for French businesses.

He said Thailand also hopes to expand cooperation with France in fashion, design and food industries by promoting Thai raw materials, local wisdom, technology and creativity.

"France is a global leader in fashion. Thailand may not yet compete in branding, but we can present our raw materials, local wisdom, design technology and knowledge to French entrepreneurs," he said.

Anutin also stressed Thailand's strength in food security, saying the country could use it as leverage in international negotiations.

Asked whether he would discuss Cambodia with Macron following the French leader's talks with Cambodia's prime minister, Anutin said he was prepared to clarify Thailand's position if asked.

He said he oversees the issue directly and was ready to explain the situation to the international community, noting France's influential role globally.

Thailand's government is continuing negotiations over broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but a senior minister said football fans may seek alternative online channels to watch matches if no agreement is reached.

Supamas Isarabhakdi, the minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office overseeing the Public Relations Department, said on 20 May that the Cabinet had assigned the department to negotiate with FIFA, sponsors and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

She said FIFA's proposed licensing fee was considered unreasonable and difficult to justify to the public, prompting Thai authorities to negotiate for a lower price.

"There are still people who want live World Cup broadcasts, but we must consider economic conditions first," Supamas said.

She added that the government would move forward only if it could explain to the public that the price represented fair value.

Supamas said the 2026 World Cup schedule poses additional commercial challenges, with matches expected to kick off at around 03:00, 05:00 and 09:00 Thailand time, limiting opportunities for restaurants, bars and businesses to benefit from screenings.

Unlike previous tournaments, sponsors have shown limited interest in supporting the rights purchase because advertising revenue is expected to be weaker, she said.

Asked whether Thailand could wait until after the tournament begins to purchase the rights at a lower cost, Supamas said it would likely be difficult by that stage.

"People would probably try to find other ways to watch," she said. "Nowadays there are many online channels where viewers can access broadcasts."

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Siam Piwat Group is hosting a Biodiversity Week with photo exhibitions, panel discussions, art and craft workshops, and a superfood festival in honor of International Day for Biodiversity. The "NEXTOPIA Biodiversity Week: Wild Wonders & Local Harvest" runs from May 18-24, aimed at raising awareness about biodiversity as one of today's most crucial global issues, since nature, ecosystems, food, health, and human quality of life all depend on and support each other. NEXTOPIA has chosen biodiversity as the festival's main theme to transform this distant concept into an accessible experience everyone can engage with through activities, exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, and creative cuisine throughout the week.

Key highlights include:

1. International Day for Biodiversity 2026: "Acting Locally for Global Impact" (May 19-24) - Co-organized with the United Nations Development Programme, this initiative transforms NEXTOPIA into a Local-to-Global Hub for exchanging knowledge, inspiration, and collaboration on biodiversity conservation. Distinguished international representatives, academics, leading organizational executives, and civil society organizations will participate, including Neef Collier-Smith (UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand), Cecilia Sunilda Galarreta Bazan (Peru's Ambassador), and Salya Na Songkhla (B.Grim Power PCL), among others. The week also features the "Crafting for the Planet" workshop (May 22-24, 11:00-17:00) where participants learn about ecosystems through art, crafts, and science while embracing the concept that "changing the world starts with our own hands." On May 23, a Bangkok Urban Biodiversity forum will discuss making Bangkok a green city. Visitors can also view a nature photography exhibition by documentary photographer Jittithevas Praprasertsai, showcasing forests, communities, and seas through photos linking scientific data with human emotion (May 19-24). On May 23, Jittithevas will discuss the stories behind the displayed photographs.

2. Superfood Festival (May 18-24) - In collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension and Thailand Gastronomy Network, NEXTOPIA brings together producers and farmers to promote consumption that benefits both body and planet. The festival features superfood products from across Thailand, including honey and honey products for World Bee Day, with proceeds supporting sustainable grassroots economies for producers and communities. Exclusive workshops with limited seating available through ONESIAM SuperApp include "Cook, Dye, Rewear: A Superfood Sustainable Workshop" by Saripros x Parry Pie, and "Yoga with Honey Wine" by Thailand Gastronomy Network and Fitness First, where participants energize before yoga classes with local superfoods and honey, concluding with tasting special Honey Wine formulas showcasing the charm of Thai local ingredients.

Coach Aomsin Ornawee Srisahakit, former taekwondo poomsae athlete and current coach of Thailand's national poomsae team, posted a message after the Thai poomsae team completed its campaign at the 2026 Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with a haul of 2 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal.

The Thai poomsae team finished this Asian Championship with 2 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal, matching their performance from the previous Asian Championship in Vietnam two years ago, with an overall second-place ranking.

Following the competition's conclusion, Coach Aomsin posted a message to the athletes, expressing his gratitude for their full commitment and outstanding efforts. His post read: "Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships 2026 - Ranking No. 2 - Best Coach Award - 2 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals, 1 Bronze medal.

I am incredibly proud of every single athlete on Thailand's national team. Thank you for training so diligently despite the hardship and exhaustion. Today you have demonstrated your effort and dedication for everyone to see, and you did it exceptionally well.

When athletes train, I teach. When they train morning and evening, I teach morning and evening. When athletes train six days a week, I teach six days a week. We each fulfill our responsibilities completely, and that is why the results came out like this. Thank you truly for making my work yield such positive results. I love you all."

Liverpool Football Club is creating an unforgettable experience for Thai fans by organizing a Liverpool FC Legend Meet & Greet featuring Dirk Kuyt, the legendary Dutch striker beloved by supporters worldwide. Kuyt will travel directly to Bangkok for an official fan meet-and-greet on May 21, 2026, at Discovery Plaza in Siam Discovery. The visit marks a major highlight of the Liverpool FC Pop-Up Store event taking place in the heart of the city.

Dirk Kuyt is regarded as one of the legendary players deeply respected and cherished by The Reds fans globally and in Thailand, thanks to his dedicated playing style and memorable moments at Anfield over many years. His visit to Thailand represents a significant milestone for the club's major Pop-Up Store event.

The May 21st event highlights include an exclusive in-depth interview with Dirk Kuyt discussing his feelings about visiting Thailand and his views on the new 2026/27 home kit, interactive activities on stage allowing Thai Red supporters to create lasting memories with the legend, autograph sessions and historic photo opportunities for lucky fans and special guests.

The meet-and-greet with legendary striker Dirk Kuyt was hugely successful, attracting widespread media coverage and an overwhelming turnout of Thai fans welcoming him with great enthusiasm. This reflects the strong and loyal fanbase that Liverpool Football Club enjoys in Thailand. Those who missed the event can still visit the Liverpool FC Pop-Up Store at Discovery Plaza, Siam Discovery to purchase the new 2026/27 home kit, open until June 7, 2026.

The Thai Boxing Committee's office director denied reports that it was planning to summon the referee from the Kham Chai fight for investigation, clarifying that while they view it as entertainment boxing, it must prioritize safety considerations.

Reports had surfaced that the Thai Boxing Committee was preparing correspondence to Rangsit Boxing Stadium to investigate referee Pornprasert Nilphai's officiating of the Kham Chai bout between Bunyami Cannabis and Snail Luckpeod. The controversy centered on the referee's handling of the match after Snail suffered a leg injury, resulting in a first-round knockout stoppage. Multiple parties contested the decision as a foul, with potential penalties for the referee ranging up to four months of suspension if the boxing control committee determined he had erred.

On May 21, 2025, Nathapol Unthorn, director of the Thai Boxing Committee's office and boxing registrar for the Sports Authority of Thailand, publicly stated these reports were untrue.

"Director Pop" explained that while the Thai Boxing Committee normally issues summons for referees who make irregular decisions or questionable calls, they had no intention of doing so in this case. "From the start, we never considered investigating this matter because we view it as an entertainment boxing show, not professional Muay Thai with strict rule enforcement," he said. "However, even though it's a showcase fight, safety remains paramount for both fighters and spectators. In this case, that should not be a concern since the bout took place in a standard boxing ring," he added.