Thailand's U-17 national football team, led by head coach Marco Gökçek with 23 players, departed for Saudi Arabia on the evening of April 30th to compete in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026. In the early morning hours of May 1st, the team completed their approximately 12-hour journey to Saudi Arabia, where Gökçek immediately arranged recovery sessions in the hotel pool to help players recuperate. Thailand is placed in Group A alongside Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Myanmar. The group winners and runners-up will advance to the knockout rounds, with the eight advancing nations eligible to represent Asia at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 in Qatar in November 2026. Thailand will open their campaign against Tajikistan on the evening of May 5th (morning of May 6th) at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium B (Champions).

Suchai Pornchaiyasuksadom, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, announced that the association will host two major tournaments this May. The first is the ITF Asia U-12 Team Championship running from May 4-8, 2025, at the National Tennis Development Center in Muang Thong Thani, featuring eight nations: Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos, and Thailand as host.

Thailand's boys team includes Oliver Bensen Berkhout (Thai-Dutch) from Chon Buri, Deer Sorprasit from Bangkok, and Prattakorn Pacheeratana from Ayutthaya, coached by Sahathat Supkij. The girls team features Wimuttinya Pongnu from Bangkok, Pakchira Horlersukul from Bangkok, and Loretta Lee Abrahamsen (Thai-American) from Nonthaburi, coached by Itthipol Srisena, with assistant coaches Anut Rueankoan and Boonmee Potpiajit.

Teams finishing in the top three of both boys and girls categories will represent Southeast Asia in the Asian Championships final. Suchai noted that Thai teams won both categories last year and advanced to the finals, and this year the team has prepared thoroughly with the goal of defending their championship titles.

The association is also currently hosting ITF World Tennis Tour professional events for both men and women at Kasetsart University's Kamphaeng Saen Campus in Nakhon Pathom, in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation. The first phase includes six tournaments (three for men, three for women) and concludes on May 17. Two additional phases are scheduled: the second from June 6-26 and the third from August 31 to September 20. These tournaments attract professional players and spectators from around the world, boosting the local economy and tourism through spending on food, accommodation, and other services.

According to BBC reporting on May 2, U.S. President Donald Trump informed Congress that hostilities between the United States and Iran have "ended" during the ongoing ceasefire, arguing that legislative approval is not necessary for this conflict. Trump's statement comes on day 60 since formally notifying Congress about military action against Iran—a critical deadline under U.S. law that requires him to "cease use of armed forces" within 60 days unless Congress approves continuation. In a letter to congressional leaders on Friday, May 1, Trump wrote that there have been no clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces since April 7, 2026, and that the conflict that began on February 28, 2026, has concluded. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to end military operations within 60 days unless Congress formally declares war or grants an extension of up to 30 days for troop withdrawal. Despite the ceasefire agreement, the U.S. and Iran have not reached a long-term agreement through negotiations, while Iran's IRNA news agency reports that a new proposal for resolving the dispute has been sent to Pakistan as a mediator, though details remain undisclosed and it is unclear whether the proposal has reached the United States. When speaking with reporters on Friday afternoon, May 1, Trump said, "We just spoke with Iran. We'll see what happens, but I have to tell you I'm not satisfied." Trump stated that reaching an agreement is difficult partly because Iran's government is "very confused" following the deaths of several senior military officials in the conflict. Trump added that he received various options from U.S. Central Command on April 30 ranging from complete destruction to negotiations. He further stated, "They won't comply with the agreement we want and we'll handle this properly. We won't withdraw prematurely and create problems over the next three years."

Seven years of the Defense Technology Act: Thailand's Strategic Turning Point—reducing import dependency and moving toward production and export. As the global context shifts rapidly with geopolitical conflicts, advancing military technology, and modern warfare driven by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), artificial intelligence (AI), and automation systems, national security no longer depends solely on military force but on technological capability and self-reliance.

To mark the seventh anniversary of the Defense Technology Act B.E. 2562, the Defense Technology Institute (DTI) hosted an event reflecting "Thailand's strategic turning point"—transforming from a weapons importer to a research, development, production, and export innovator. Since its establishment under this law, DTI has served as a "central mechanism" linking the country's research, technology, and industrial sectors with the military's security needs and related agencies, while driving the development of practical technologies that create long-term economic value.

The seventh-anniversary event of the Defense Technology Act B.E. 2562 was held on May 1, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Research Learning Center exhibition area of the Defense Technology Institute, honored by General Adul Buntham Chareon, Defense Minister, as the presiding official. Attendees included General Naphon Srangsamvoung, DTI Board Chairman; General Dr. Charait Umsumrit, DTI Director; advisors and executives; high-ranking military commanders; and representatives from government, private sector, and partner networks, who participated in sacred ceremonies and religious rites for the organization's prosperity.

The event showcased major research and innovations, including an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system—a collaborative effort between DTI, the military, and the private sector to enhance operational capabilities for the armed forces. Demonstrations included a Thai-made humanoid robot, a four-legged robotic vehicle, and indoor UAV flight operations. A presentation outlined the future direction of Thailand's defense industry, focusing on five strategic pillars: research and innovation, industrial development, quality human resources, international cooperation, and knowledge center establishment—key highlights of the event.

Beyond marking the seventh anniversary of the Defense Technology Act B.E. 2562, the event reinforced DTI's core role in integrated research and security cooperation across all sectors, continuing vital missions from past to present while reducing dependence on foreign technology. It aims to strengthen Thai private sector capabilities, build a robust defense industry ecosystem, create new economic opportunities, and prepare for global uncertainties—underscoring that possessing indigenous technology is not merely an option but "a national necessity."

A wife is consulting with a female lawyer to file an infidelity suit after detecting an unfamiliar scent on her husband's underwear, maintaining that the evidence is real and trustworthy. The case went viral on social media when lawyer Hattaya Unteng of Thao Hongs Law Office posted about her client's consultation, stating: "My client asked today if detecting a different smell on her husband's underwear qualifies as grounds for an infidelity suit. The scent is not like before—this is genuine." She followed up with: "It's a real thing—wives who like smelling their husbands' clothing, smelling everything. Some are so attached to their husband's scent that smelling it brings them joy and energy, better than a bloodhound." The post sparked significant online discussion, with many commenters expressing concern and making jokes on the lawyer's page.

At the Pullman King Power Bangkok Hotel, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), through the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), joined forces with medical school networks and partner organizations to launch the Medical AI Consortium project. This initiative marks the beginning of opening the consortium's medical data services to interested parties for testing and development, building awareness of the platform and promoting collaborative innovation across organizations from research and development through testing to practical application. The effort supports the tangible development of a Medical AI Ecosystem under the "Medical AI Consortium" project, an academic network designed to advance medical AI implementation in real healthcare service contexts.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Professor Dr. Yossachon Wongsawasdi opened the event and presented a keynote on "Thailand's Direction in Medical AI," emphasizing that the Medical AI Consortium initiative is a crucial mechanism for advancing the ministry's "Wellness Thailand" policy, which aims to position Thailand as a global health innovation hub. The strategy focuses on using science and technology to shift from a "health repair system" to "health promotion." MHESI has set a direction toward an AI & Data-Driven Nation (AI for ALL) while promoting Wellness Thailand as a key economic foundation through an innovation ecosystem that accelerates the application of research, innovation, and human resources to the economic and social sectors, all while safeguarding data security and sovereignty—particularly health data—to ensure Thai-focused Medical AI development based on Thai data.

NSTDA Director Professor Dr. Chukit Limpijumnong added that NSTDA, as the primary research agency, has established central infrastructure foundations through the Medical AI Consortium to address limitations in data access and standard testing.