BANGKOK — Several football legends from Liverpool and Manchester United were spotted enjoying pad Thai at the famous Thipsamai Pad Thai Pratu Phi restaurant in Bangkok over the weekend.

Photos shared by the restaurant's Facebook page showed former stars including Steven Gerrard, Claude Makelele, Michel Salgado, Quinton Fortune and Steve McManaman dining at the iconic eatery.

In the post, Thipsamai said it was honoured to welcome the world-famous football legends and thanked them for visiting and experiencing its "original pad Thai."

The restaurant also described the former players as friendly and encouraged football fans not to miss the "An Evening with Legends" event.

The visit came during the "Living Legends Football Festival 2026," held at UOB LIVE in EMSPHERE, where the five football stars met Thai fans during a special appearance event.

At 6:10 p.m. on May 11, 2026, at Government House, Nan Bunyathida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy for Society, addressed questions about the Cabinet's consideration of World Cup broadcasting coverage. She noted that many countries are grappling with the high cost of World Cup broadcasting rights, and this isn't unique to Thailand—virtually every nation faces this expense issue.

When asked which agency would take the lead, Nan explained that authorities first need to determine whether a government or private agency should handle it. She pointed out that since the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has no mandatory requirement (Must Have provision) to broadcast the World Cup free-to-air—though a previous NBTC regulation required seven major national sporting events, including the World Cup and Olympics, to be broadcast free on television for public access—the situation remains fluid.

"With less than two months remaining, we need to see if anyone can acquire the rights cost-effectively," she stated. "For private sector involvement, the Cabinet has conducted preliminary inquiries. We need to wait and see how the responsible agency will approach the licensing fees."

When pressed on whether Thai citizens would have free access to World Cup matches, Nan said no final answer was available yet. She emphasized that the outcome depends on preliminary negotiations regarding how much government funding would be allocated. She urged patience while various agencies conduct their assessments and noted that no private companies have yet expressed interest in purchasing the broadcasting rights.

Muangthong United has issued an official statement after being relegated to Thai League 2 for the first time in 17 years, following a season where they earned just 26 points from 30 matches. Rather than viewing this as a final chapter, the club positions the demotion as a fresh starting point to rebuild a championship-winning team, pledging to keep their core squad of quality players intact while adding talented reinforcements to compete for the Thai League 2 title and secure promotion back to Thai League 1.

In their formal statement to fans and supporters, the club expressed deep regret for failing to meet their objectives this season, which has been described as a challenging year marked by team roster changes throughout the campaign. However, Muangthong United drew parallels to their remarkable rise from Thai League 3 in 2007 to becoming a cornerstone of Thai professional football, including winning the Thai League 1 championship. The club committed to maintaining their disciplined approach to team-building and pledged to work tirelessly to achieve the Thai League 2 title in the upcoming season and return to the top tier.

The statement concluded with a promise to fans and supporters that the club will move forward with determination, making improvements and developments across all aspects of the organization. Muangthong United expressed gratitude to those who have supported the team throughout their 19 seasons and reaffirmed their commitment to setting a positive example for Thai football while taking the next steps forward together.

On May 11, 2025, Luaworn Saengsnit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, revealed that the Revenue Department has reported on the government's old car trade-in program, which is part of measures utilizing funds from a 400 billion baht emergency loan decree. However, implementation is more complicated than initially thought due to the challenges of fairly valuing used vehicles with complex and detailed considerations, such as determining acceptable vehicle age. When older cars are the same age but in different condition, it becomes difficult to assign fair prices—whether 50,000 baht, 60,000 baht, or another amount. This requires careful handling to prevent expensive cars from receiving low valuations or cheap cars from receiving high ones.

Additionally, Thailand currently lacks a systematic process for disposing of scrapped vehicles and recovering their components, such as scrap metal and batteries. Officials must ensure that purchased old vehicles are actually dismantled properly and don't leak out of the disposal system.

"Based on reports from 2-3 weeks ago, the Revenue Department indicated that the project details are not straightforward because we don't want to create opportunities for officials to exercise discretion when evaluating individual vehicles," Luaworn stated. "If two cars are the same age but one is well-maintained while the other is neglected or a wreck, but they receive the same price, we don't want to implement a project lacking clarity and relying on official discretion."

Luaworn emphasized that transitioning to electric vehicles is an important goal for the Finance Ministry, but the program must proceed with clarity. Before the loan can be screened and approved, the plan must be clear. Lack of clarity could delay consumers' vehicle purchase decisions. The faster and clearer the program, the better. The Revenue Department is expected to submit revised project conditions for the Finance Ministry's consideration, and may even return with an improved alternative to the simple car trade-in model.

Many people use interdental brushes to clean between their teeth, but improper technique can damage the gums. Dentists warn against inserting the brush straight into tooth gaps; instead, position it alongside the tooth and gently angle it into the space with a light touch. If you feel resistance, pain, or stiffness, don't force it further, as this can cause bleeding, soreness, or inflammation.

Dr. Chang Tian-hao, a dentist at Taiwan's National University Hospital and an endodontics specialist, notes that clinically, many patients injure their gums while trying to clean between their teeth properly—often by inserting the brush directly into the gap from the front, causing the wire core to strike the gum directly, resulting in pain and bleeding. The correct technique involves angling the brush head slightly and sliding it gently along the side of the tooth into the gap, not poking straight at the gum. If you encounter resistance, clear counter-pressure, or pain, it indicates improper angle, incorrect brush size, or that the gap isn't suitable for interdental brushing.

Dr. Chang identified four main reasons why interdental brushes don't fit properly:

1. Gaps too tight: Some people have almost no space between teeth and should use floss instead of forcing an interdental brush. 2. Crowns or bridges: If artificial tooth margins are close to the gum, the brush may not fit, and forcing it can cause gum recession. 3. Wrong angle: Use the brush along the side of the tooth, not jabbed directly toward the gum. 4. Already inflamed gums: If biofilm has accumulated for a long time, gums become swollen and tender; even light contact can cause bleeding.

Dentists recommend a simple guideline: "If it slides in gently, it's appropriate." Don't force it if it requires pressure or causes immediate pain. For bleeding, minor bleeding during gentle, proper cleaning may indicate existing gum inflammation that improves with consistent care. However, severe pain, heavy bleeding, or recurring problems at the same spot warrant immediate dental consultation.

Dr. Chang recommends three key principles for using interdental brushes: stop immediately if you feel resistance, switch to dental floss for very tight gaps, and have a dentist evaluate the proper size and angle for your needs. He emphasizes that flossing isn't about force—larger brushes aren't always better. The key is selecting appropriate tools and using correct technique. Proper use can effectively reduce periodontal disease risk, but incorrect use can harm your gums instead.

The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO) has revealed that investor confidence for the next three months remains at a stable level, with investors viewing government economic stimulus measures, foreign capital inflows, and easing global tensions as key supporting factors for the Thai stock market. International conflicts, trade wars, and fiscal concerns continue to present significant headwinds for the investment atmosphere.

On May 11, 2025, Kobsak Pootrakul, chairman of FETCO, unveiled the investor confidence index based on April 2025 surveys (conducted April 20-30). The index for the next three months stands at 114.16, maintaining a stable range. Investors identify government stimulus measures as the strongest confidence booster, followed by capital inflows and signs of easing international tensions. International conflicts emerge as the primary confidence dampener, with trade wars and fiscal concerns as secondary concerns.

The survey results show individual investor confidence increased 21.3% to 90.00, securities company accounts rose 14.3% to 100.00, domestic institutional investors declined 14.4% to 110.00, and foreign investors surged 33.3% to 133.33. The most attractive sector is petrochemicals and chemicals (PETRO), while fashion (FASHION) is least attractive. Government stimulus measures are identified as the strongest market driver, while international tensions represent the greatest drag.

During April's first half, the SET Index gained momentum from easing Middle East tensions and government stimulus announcements. The second half saw volatility from Q1 corporate earnings that disappointed in some sectors, combined with oil and commodity price fluctuations, ongoing geopolitical risks, and concerns about Thailand's weight reduction in MSCI Emerging Markets indices. The SET Index closed April at 1,493.69, up 3.15% from the previous month, with average daily trading volume of 58,688.27 million baht. Foreign investors recorded net selling of 2,513 million baht in April, though year-to-date they have purchased a net 16,638 million baht.

Key external factors warranting attention include the monetary policy directions of major economies, particularly signals from the Federal Reserve under new leadership and the European Central Bank, which will influence foreign capital flows. The unresolved tensions between the United States and Iran also remain a factor affecting price volatility.