Thailand avoided last place in their U-17 AFC Asian Championship 2026 group after mounting a comeback to draw 2-2 with Myanmar, though they came dangerously close to conceding a late goal.

In the final group match on May 12 in Saudi Arabia, both Thailand and Myanmar had already been eliminated. The result only mattered for avoiding last place in Group A.

Myanmar took control early, with Sai Myat Min converting in the 19th minute after Lin Yar Aung's run. Min doubled the lead in the 22nd minute with another clinical finish, making it 2-0. Thailand pulled one back in the 30th minute when Pakorn Suttiprapha finished after a piercing through-ball from Palpitack Rungreu, trimming the deficit to 2-1 at halftime.

Thailand equalized in the 75th minute through David Gabbert, who cut inside and fired past Myanmar's defense to make it 2-2. In the 90+3rd minute, Myanmar nearly snatched a winner when a free kick reached the box, but Herdsada Mansin fumbled and Myo Kaung Kyaw's follow-up was ruled offside.

Saudi Arabia won the group with 7 points by drawing 5-5 with Tajikistan, with both advancing. Thailand finished third with 1 point and escaped last place due to superior goal difference over Myanmar, who finished fourth.

On May 13, police arrested a 24-year-old Cambodian national named Noo in connection with the fatal axe attack that occurred on May 10 in Rayong's Muang District. The victim, Sak Sidthi, a 27-year-old Thai laborer, was killed while sleeping on a canvas bed outside a rental house. After the attack, the suspect stole his employer Sirannya's pickup truck and a mobile phone before fleeing.

Police traced the abandoned pickup truck 7 kilometers away in Samkong Subdistrict, where it had run out of fuel. The suspect then borrowed a motorcycle from a fellow countryman and hid in a rubber plantation in Ban Khai District. The following morning, he attempted to apply for work at a rubber processing factory before being apprehended by police.

During interrogation at Samkong Police Station, Noo confessed to falsifying his nationality as Myanmarese because he feared the employer would not hire Cambodian workers. He also admitted to illegal border crossing. According to his account, the incident began when both men drank alcohol together, leading to an argument about work. When Noo was preparing instant noodles, the victim approached and threw Noo's canvas shoe into the noodle bowl in anger. This enraged Noo, who seized the opportunity while the victim was resting on the canvas bed to strike him with an axe in the neck, resulting in death. Noo stole the pickup truck to escape but abandoned it when it ran out of fuel and he was unfamiliar with the route. He then borrowed his friend's motorcycle and attempted to find new employment as if nothing had happened.

Police have filed serious charges against Noo and discovered he had illegally entered Thailand. He has been detained and will face legal proceedings.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez held an emergency press conference on May 12 to announce he will not resign from his position and confirmed his proposal for the club to hold elections for a new presidential term. Pérez stated: "I regret to tell you that I will not resign. I've decided this because there is an absurd situation created to attack me personally, following a campaign against Madrid and against me. Some people have said I have terminal cancer. I want to use this opportunity to inform you that I remain Madrid's president and my health is in excellent condition. If I were ill as they claim, I would already be in a cancer treatment center." Regarding elections, Pérez added: "I have requested the process to begin for electing a new board of directors, and we as the current board will also run for election. Anyone else who wants to run is welcome, but don't play games behind the scenes using journalists."

All eyes on Trump's China visit—AP reports on May 12 about U.S. President Donald Trump's official visit to China, where he will meet and discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping between May 13-15. Amid expectations of major breakthroughs in resolving longstanding disputes between China and the U.S.—from technological competition to sensitive Taiwan matters that have strained international relations. Two weeks before the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call that bilateral relations remain generally stable, but Taiwan remains the greatest risk to the relationship. China has again signaled that Taiwan will be among the top priorities in discussions, with little hope of resolving this protracted issue. The meeting agenda may also include efforts to end the war with Iran, as China serves as an informal mediator. Henrietta Levin, senior researcher and China studies expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the U.S., stated: "Both sides agree that stability between the U.S. and China is important. Once you move past the stability question, what happens next in the relationship becomes more complicated. For that reason, there's very little likely to come from this meeting." China has openly criticized the U.S. and Israel regarding the war in Iran. Given China's close political and economic ties with Iran, many view China as an informal mediator capable of influencing the Iranian government. However, China has remained cautious and chosen not to become deeply involved. Levin also noted that China is unlikely to want to solve problems the U.S. created for itself in the Middle East. Days earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to pressure Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, stating that China's purchase of Iranian oil constitutes support for terrorism. "Let's see whether China will use diplomatic means and get Iran to open the strait. Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China buys up to 90 percent of its energy from Iran, so China is essentially funding the world's largest terrorist state," Bessent said on Fox News.

Travel influencer Bellephat (Bell Pasaraphon Puripongthanawatnont) has issued a safety warning after experiencing a disturbing encounter while solo traveling in South Korea. According to her Facebook post, while enjoying her trip, a Korean man began following her. When she entered a café to get food, the stalker followed her inside and sat directly across from her at the same table, even though numerous other tables were available. The man sat down without permission and repeatedly tried to initiate conversation. Despite Bellephat's refusal and requests for privacy, he remained seated stubbornly at her table. Fearing for her safety, she decided to record a video of the man as evidence. She chose not to engage with him, though he continued attempting to talk to her. She tried calling friends for help but they were not nearby. After sitting alone talking to himself for a while, the man eventually left. Bellephat has issued a general warning to all women traveling abroad solo, advising them to stay alert, remain aware of their surroundings, and immediately seek help or contact police if anything suspicious occurs.

Following Trai Sirinath Scott's emotional video confession claiming he was sexually assaulted multiple times by his older brother Pai Sunisth Scott and that their mother filed a lawsuit over a Hua Hin property left by their grandfather, Pai took to Instagram on May 12, 2025, to address the allegations. In his statement, Pai emphasized that everything he says is truthful and backed by evidence, with his family's awareness of all matters. He declared he would refrain from further social media responses and would let legal proceedings handle the situation.

Regarding the first point about the sexual assault allegations, Pai firmly denied these claims, stating they never occurred and are "disgusting." He noted that everyone who knows him, including family members, can attest that he would never do such a thing. He expressed deep regret that his brother believes he committed such acts.

Concerning the audio clip, Pai stated he was unaware it had been recorded. He acknowledged that it likely contained a conversation between him and his brother from their childhood, when they may have quarreled and engaged in sibling teasing. Pai admitted that as a child, he may have been rough and unaware of what was appropriate, and he has already apologized to his brother multiple times. He clarified that he spent his teenage years in a different country and only saw his brother during school breaks, when he typically spent time with friends and his girlfriend.

On the second point about family abandonment, Pai denied these allegations, stating that extended family and friends have repeatedly offered help and support in various ways, including medical assistance. However, he noted that his brother blocked all communication channels, preventing the family from staying in contact. He stressed that if such a situation were true, the family would undoubtedly have taken action.

Regarding the third point about the Hua Hin property dispute, Pai explained that the house originally belonged to their grandfather, who gave it to his children. Their mother's portion was given to him and his brother. The lawsuit was filed because of property destruction, trespassing by outsiders, and removal of shared items. Pai stated the family seeks the return of these items for the safety of the property and its residents, and he possesses clear evidence to support legal action.

Pai concluded by emphasizing that he had no intention of hurting anyone and found it extremely difficult to make such public statements. He expressed that this situation is deeply upsetting to him and was never something he expected to happen. While he did not want family matters made public and acknowledged that speaking out doesn't help anyone, including his brother, he stressed that the family remains open to dialogue with his brother.