BANGKOK — 20 May 2026, two Thai women’s water polo players preparing for the 20th Asian Games have helped their Israeli club win the Israel Cup, with Thailand’s head coach describing them as key members of the national team.
Panthila Asayut, known as “Amp”, and Raksina Ruangsapphaisan, known as “Praewa”, currently play professionally for Hapoel Yokneam, one of Israel’s leading water polo clubs.
The pair played important roles as the club secured the Israel Cup title in what coaches described as a historic achievement for Thai athletes competing overseas.
Thailand women’s water polo head coach Maksim Kordonskiy said he was proud of the players’ discipline and determination.
He described the achievement as the first time Thai athletes had won a national-level club title abroad at such a high level.
Maksim said competing in the Israeli league, the Israel Cup and European-level tournaments would help improve the players’ technical abilities, tactical understanding and mental strength ahead of future international competitions.
He added that both athletes would be key members of Thailand’s squad for the 20th Asian Games, although success would depend on the collective strength of the entire team.
Hapoel Yokneam are scheduled to compete in the Israeli league semi-finals on 28 May and the national championship final on 30 May.
If the club wins both competitions, the two Thai players would complete a domestic double in Israel.
Rescue workers in Thalang district, Phuket safely rescued a nine-month-old baby who was accidentally locked inside a car on Wednesday morning.
Emergency responders from Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation’s Muang Mai branch were alerted to the incident at around 09:52 at a house in Ban Bang Rong, Pa Khlok subdistrict.
Officials found the infant trapped inside a red passenger car and quickly managed to unlock the vehicle and bring the child out safely.
The baby was unharmed, according to initial reports, prompting relief from the child’s mother and nearby residents.
Authorities urged parents and guardians to always check inside vehicles before locking them, especially during hot weather, warning that leaving children inside cars can quickly become dangerous.
Prachuap Khiri Khan — 20 May 2026, A speedboat used to transport tourists to Koh Thalu caught fire in Bang Saphan Noi district on Wednesday, leaving the vessel heavily damaged and its driver injured.
According to local sources, the two-engine speedboat belonged to a tour company operating trips from the mainland to Koh Thalu. The boat, which had been in service for around seven to eight years, had reportedly experienced engine problems and had recently undergone repairs.
The incident occurred while the boat was parked near the shoreline due to shallow water conditions preventing it from docking at the pier as usual.
Sources said the driver was preparing the vessel to pick up tourists when a loud explosion-like sound was heard as the engine was started, before flames rapidly engulfed the boat.
The driver reportedly suffered burns to his arms and body while attempting to use onboard fire extinguishers to control the blaze. However, the fire spread too quickly and damaged most of the vessel.
He later jumped into the sea to escape and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Initial damage was estimated at around 3-4 million baht.
No tourists were injured, as passengers were transferred to another boat operated by the same company to continue their trip to Koh Thalu.
Tourists have raised concerns over marine tour safety near Koh Larn after a viral social media post described a diving trip caught in rough seas and strong winds, with passengers allegedly left without adequate assistance during a sudden storm.
A TikTok user shared her experience from a join-trip snorkelling tour near Pattaya on 4 May, saying tourists were allowed into the water despite worsening weather conditions and received no warning about an approaching storm.
According to the woman, staff later announced that a storm was approaching, but while nearby tour boats quickly pulled tourists from the sea, her group was allegedly left floating in rough waters as waves intensified and the boat rocked violently.
She claimed several tourists struggled to swim back to the boat after flotation devices drifted away, while her sister was told by a jet ski operator to hold onto a buoy despite strong waves repeatedly pulling her underwater.
The woman said she and her boyfriend were eventually rescued by another boat and described the incident as a “life-or-death moment.”
The post sparked criticism online, with some users claiming they were on the same trip and alleging there were too few staff members to assist tourists during the emergency.
The tourist called on marine tour operators to improve safety measures, including better weather warnings and faster emergency response. No injuries or deaths were reported.
BANGKOK — 20 May 2026, A motorcyclist was killed on Wednesday morning after losing control of his motorcycle, falling, and sliding underneath a moving No. 140 public bus on Rama II Road.
At 09:00 on Wednesday, Inspector of Inquiry, Samae Dam Police Station, received a report of a fatal accident involving a public bus and a motorcycle on Rama 2 Road in Samae Dam Sub-district, Bang Khun Thian District. He rushed to the scene alongside forensic physicians from Siriraj Hospital and rescue volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
The crash site was located on the outbound parallel lanes of Rama II Road, heading toward Mahachai, which is an area currently restricted to two lanes due to ongoing elevated highway construction. Upon arrival, authorities discovered the body of the male victim lying face down in the middle of the road with severe head injuries after being run over by the bus.
The deceased, later identified as 35-year-old Mr. Kritsanu Thong-on, a factory worker, was found wearing grey jeans, a black T-shirt, and a raincoat. His grey Yamaha Filano motorcycle was found nearby with fresh scrape marks along its right side. Approximately 100 meters down the road, police located the involved vehicle: a Route 140 bus, which operates between Victory Monument and Maha Chai, noted distinct bloodstains on the rear left wheel arch of the vehicle.
The bus was driven by Jue, 45. He said that he was driving in the second lane toward Maha Chai when the motorcyclist suddenly lost balance and crashed, causing his body to slide underneath the moving bus, which led to the fatal accident.
Samae Dam police are coordinating with the victim’s family to release the body from Siriraj Hospital for funeral arrangements. Meanwhile, officials have detained the bus driver for further interrogation at the station, where investigators will evaluate potential charges and move forward with legal proceedings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk to attend the talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Stulov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday in a meeting meant to reaffirm ties and that takes place only days after a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China.
Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. The two delegations later held bilateral talks, to be followed by a ceremony for signing cooperation agreements.
Putin’s visit comes just days after Trump’s own trip to Beijing – in a sequence that is meant to cement Beijing’s image as an influential superpower, experts say.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
“The message is clearly one that China maintains friendship and strategic partnership with whichever power it likes, and the USA is just one of them,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier that there was “no connection” between Trump and Putin’s visits, noting the trip by the Russian leader was agreed several days after Putin and Xi spoke via videoconference on Feb. 4.
The Russian and Chinese leaders are set to discuss energy and security as well as their overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
China became Russia’s top trading partner following after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.
China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand. China also has ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries.
Ushakov said Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.
During “the crisis in the Middle East,” Russia remains a reliable energy supplier and China is a “responsible consumer,” Ushakov said.
Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached “a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector.”
“Practically all the key issues have been agreed upon,” he said. “If we succeed in finalizing these details and bringing them to a conclusion during this visit, I will be extremely pleased.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
Putin also praised their bilateral relationship as a crucial, balancing force in international relations.
“Interaction between such nations as China and Russia undoubtedly serves as a factor of deterrence and stability,” he said.
Moscow welcomes China’s dialogue with the U.S. as another stabilizing element for the global economy, Putin added.
“We stand only to benefit from this, from the stability and constructive engagement between the U.S. and China,” he said.
Kem Sokha, Cambodia’s former opposition leader who remains under house arrest, was reunited with his critically ill mother on the morning of 20 May after authorities granted permission for the visit.
According to his lawyer, Pheng Heng, Kem Sokha was escorted by Ministry of Interior officers to visit his mother, Sao Nget, at his sibling’s home in a gated community in Phnom Penh. The request for the visit was submitted on 19 May amid concerns over her worsening condition.
A video posted on Pheng Heng’s Facebook page on 20 May showed the 72-year-old politician embracing his mother in tears, while she appeared to hold him close and offer a blessing. Sao Nget is believed to be around 100 years old.
Kem Sokha, former president of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in 2023 to 27 years in prison on treason charges, although the court ordered him to serve the sentence under home detention.
He was arrested in 2017 over allegations of conspiring with a “foreign power” to overthrow the Cambodian government. The court also imposed a lifetime ban on his involvement in politics.
CANNES, France — 20 May 2026, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi presided over the opening ceremony of “Thai Night Cannes 2026,” an elite gala designed to showcase Thailand’s entertainment industry on the global stage.
The event took place at 19:30 (local French time) on 14 May in the Grand Salon of the Carlton Cannes Hotel in Cannes, French Republic. Organized by the Ministry of Commerce, the gala was run alongside the delegation of Thai entertainment entrepreneurs participating in the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and drew over 250 prominent international film industry professionals to elevate the profile of Thailand’s entertainment sector and foster strategic international business partnerships.
During her opening address, the Princess highlighted the current landscape of the Thai film industry and emphasized the country’s readiness to collaborate with international partners on global cinematic projects. The evening featured multi-media presentations showcasing the work from Thai entrepreneurs participating in the Marché du Film at the Thailand Pavilion. A “Creative Performance” show blending music and live vocals was staged to illustrate the rich potential of Thai entertainment, alongside a promotional showreel under the concept “Reimagining Thailand” demonstrating multi-dimensional strengths of the nation’s creative industry.
Suphajee Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, spoke following the “Thai Night” networking and promotional event that the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) regularly hosts Thai Night events at major global markets, including the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market, the Cannes Film Festival, and the American Film Market in the United States. Thai Night is held to showcase the potential of the Thai film industry, foster business networking with global entertainment executives, and propel Thailand’s entertainment sector onto the world market.
This year’s event was held under the concept “Reimagining Thailand” and the theme “Thailand – Where Films Come Alive,” to reflect a strategic shift in how Thailand positions its entertainment sector. Thailand is transitioning from being just a Production Base to a Creative Origin, and moving from a Service Provider to a Story Creator, and from a domestic industry to a Global Creative Partner. This vision spotlights the strengths of Thailand’s creative industries, its end-to-end production capabilities, and its openness to international co-productions, positioning Thailand as the premier hub for cinema and entertainment media in Asia, riding on the current growing robust global demand of Thai film and content industry, fueled by the international success of Thai films, series, and its thriving foreign location shooting sector.
Suphajee added that the Ministry of Commerce extended invitations to influential figures across the global film sector, such as buyers, producers, distributors, investors, filmmakers, directors, foreign media, festival programmers, celebrities, and entertainment industry professionals. This Thai Night event was aimed at raising awareness of the Thai entertainment industry, driving business networks connecting Thai entrepreneurs with international partners, and unlocking commercial opportunities. Crucially, it also advances the development of Thailand’s creative economy while simultaneously boosting related industries, such as Thai cuisine, culture, tourism, and traditional way of life.
A group of five boyfriends from California are drawing attention online after opening up about their unusual polyamorous relationship, sharing details of how they manage love, dating and daily life together.
The group — who call themselves “The Cule Kids” — live in the South Bay area of California and describe their relationship as a consensual polycule, a form of non-monogamous relationship involving multiple romantic partners.
The group consists of Eric Wong, 33, Hamilton Du, 35, James Lee, 37, Jonathan Chien, 37, and Michael Li, 31.
Their relationship reportedly began with James and Jonathan, who started dating in 2013 and agreed from the beginning to have an open relationship. Eric joined the relationship in 2018, followed by Hamilton in 2021 and Michael in 2022.
That same year, James and Jonathan got married and later named their group chat “The Polycule,” which eventually inspired the group’s online identity and podcast, “The Cule Kids!”
One of the group’s most talked-about rules is something they call the “Cule Log” — a shared notebook where members record outside dates with other people. The group said the rule helps maintain transparency and can also be useful for sexual health contact tracing if necessary.
Speaking to PA Real Life, Michael said the group spends much of their time together at home, although not always doing the same activities.
“If two or three people want to play video games while the others want to do something else, we compromise and split up,” he said.
Despite their close relationship, the five men do not currently live together full-time. James and Jonathan share a home, while the other three live around 30 minutes away. However, they said they hope to eventually move in together.
Hamilton, known online as “Milty,” described the relationship as “rare and special.”
“I feel very lucky that we all found each other and were open to this kind of relationship,” he said. “I’m very grateful.”
NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 20 May 2026, Thai forestry officials, police and local volunteers launched an operation to destroy illegal frog traps in a protected forest in northeastern Thailand amid concerns over declining amphibian populations during the rainy season.
Authorities said frequent rainfall in Nakhon Ratchasima province had prompted large numbers of bullfrogs and other amphibians to emerge from hibernation to breed, attracting villagers seeking to catch them for food and sale.
Officials warned that widespread trapping could rapidly reduce local frog populations and risk driving some species towards local extinction, particularly inside protected forest areas where hunting is prohibited.
The operation took place in Nong Teng and Chakkarat national reserved forests in Chalerm Phra Kiat district, an area covering about 10,206 rai of mixed deciduous forest near Nakhon Ratchasima airport.
Authorities said some villagers had illegally entered the forest to install pit traps and other devices used to catch frogs and small animals.
More than 40 officials from forestry agencies, local administration offices, police units and volunteer groups joined the inspection and trap-removal operation on 19 May.
Officials said only part of the traps had been destroyed because of the large number scattered throughout the forest.
Local authorities urged residents gathering forest products in the area to avoid setting traps or hunting wildlife inside reserved forests, warning that offenders face severe penalties under Thailand’s Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act and national forest laws.
Put Pongraphiporn, district chief of Chalerm Phra Kiat, said authorities were concerned that repeated illegal trapping could threaten wildlife populations in the forest reserve if left unchecked.
He said officials would continue public awareness campaigns and increase patrols to prevent further illegal hunting activities in the protected area.
