Taiwan's presidential office stated on May 23 that it has not received any information about changes to U.S. weapons sales following statements by senior American officials indicating a temporary pause in arms sales due to the need for sufficient weaponry for operations against Iran. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, is awaiting U.S. approval of a new weapons package valued at up to $14 billion. President Donald Trump said after a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing the previous week that he has not yet decided whether to approve the sale. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Hong Chao stated on May 21 that "We have done some foreign military sales to them. It's just right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury – which we have plenty," referring to U.S. operations against Iran. He added that "we're just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary." Hong noted that approval for Taiwan weapons sales depends on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Taiwan's presidential spokesperson Karen Koa stated that Taiwan has not received information about any changes to U.S. weapons sales policy and that the U.S. has a legal obligation to provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities. Although China has repeatedly called on the U.S. to halt its weapons sales policy, Taiwan has rejected China's sovereignty claims, emphasizing that only the Taiwanese people can determine their own future.

Actress Perth Weeratorn Tangkitsuvanich is taking on an exciting new challenge with her first stage play debut in "Once Again... The More It Hurts, The More I Remember, The More I Love," starring opposite skilled actor Aem Bhumi. While she admits feeling slightly nervous because she idolizes Aem's acting abilities after watching him in the film "Youth," she discovered a much funnier side to him in person.

Perth explained her reasons for accepting this challenging project, emphasizing that audiences should expect a completely new character different from all her previous roles. Regarding her stage play experience in "Once Again," playing a friend-zone character opposite Aem Bhumi, she shared: "This story offers a fresh take. Our pair's storyline involves the friend-zone with both comedy and drama. We've already done some rehearsals together, and I have to say Aem has tremendous comedic timing. He might look calm and composed, right? But after watching his work in 'Youth,' he became my acting idol. When I first learned we'd be in a stage play together, I was so excited I was afraid to even talk to him at first. I initially thought he was quiet, mature, and very serious, but in reality, Aem is very friendly. He's hilarious and sometimes so funny that I have to hold back my laughter."

About having such a skilled actor as her scene partner: "At first I was excited and honestly a bit nervous. The more I realized how talented he is, the more I wanted to perform at his level. But I've noticed that his excellence as an actor actually puts me at ease and allows me to relax. It became natural for us to play friends."

On her first stage play experience: "It's very different. In film, you might do a few takes of a scene, but in stage plays, you're delivering the same scene multiple times throughout the show for months. That was initially concerning, but during rehearsals I realized it's a unique opportunity to continuously refine my performance and get deeper into character."

Why did she decide to take on a stage play project? "When I was approached, I didn't hesitate at all because I wanted to try it once in my life. Theater is challenging because if you miss something, you miss it—there's no do-over. I wanted to experience that challenge myself."

She urged fans to support "Once Again," premiering June 15, which tells the story of three couples in three different relationship dynamics. Most importantly, Perth emphasized that the character she plays in this production is completely different from any role she's done before.

Concert ticket hunting has never been easy for fans, who often compete not only with other fans but also with resellers and bot programs that artificially inflate prices and steal seats from genuine supporters. Spotify has launched a new 'Reserved' feature that reserves concert tickets exclusively for true fans without requiring them to compete in a mad dash at ticketing. The Reserved feature works by analyzing streaming data, shares, and engagement with activities on Spotify's platform to identify users eligible to purchase up to two concert tickets per person, with approximately 24 hours to confirm or complete their purchase. Spotify will first test the Reserved feature with Spotify Premium users in the United States starting in mid-2026. Spotify has partnered with ticket vendors and will lock aside two tickets per artist for upcoming concerts, though the specific artists participating in the program have not yet been announced.

The Thailand International LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival 2026 opened on May 22, 2026, at Kantana Virtual Production Studio, emphasizing Thailand's position as a space of freedom, diversity, and creative industry power. The festival has emerged as a major gathering place for films, television, and LGBTQ+ content from around the world, conveying stories that reflect identity, freedom, equality, and human experience through powerful contemporary perspectives, while positioning Thailand as Asia's creative content hub on the world stage. The event was attended by artists, actors, content creators, entertainment industry representatives, and supporters from various sectors. The festival runs from June 5-11, 2026, at Siam Paragon. Festival Director Piyarat Kalpjaroek explained that this year's theme "Courage & Transformation" reflects the growth of people, society, and diverse content industries, moving from acceptance to confidently standing as oneself. The PRISM symbol represents transition, growth, and diversity—like light refracting through a prism to reveal different colors. Waddao Arnon Chumapon, founder of Namrit Pride Company, emphasized cinema's role in making previously marginalized stories visible and equally understood as human experiences. Nopasit Tiang Tham, chairman of the Thai BL Content Promotion Association, highlighted the collaboration's importance in elevating Thailand's LGBTQ+ content industry to compete globally in creativity, talent development, and business opportunities.

A woman driver returning to Prachuap Khiri Khan from Bangkok fell asleep at the wheel, causing her red Mitsubishi sedan to lose control and crash into a roadside gathering, killing two people and injuring three others while destroying seven motorcycles. Deputy Superintendent Pakorn Khun Phao of Muang Prachuap Khiri Khan Police Station reported receiving notification at 1:40 AM of the fatal collision on the Prachuap Khiri Khan-Sri Maha Bodhi Road in Tambon Thagnam, Muang District. Officers including Lieutenant Colonel Suparuk Yoopai, forensic pathologists from Chao Phraya Abhaiphubejra Hospital, and rescue personnel responded to the scene on the four-lane highway near a marble showroom. The red Mitsubishi sedan, driven by Ms. Phakkhawadee (surname withheld), was traveling from Bangkok toward Kabinburi District when the driver dozed off and the vehicle veered into a group of teenagers who had gathered to socialize since evening. The car struck seven parked motorcycles, hit the group of youths sitting along the roadside, and rear-ended another parked sedan. The two fatalities, identified as Kirkkach, 32, and Hasdin, 17, were found trapped under the vehicle, while three others—Nattapong, Kamphon, and Abhisit (surnames withheld)—sustained injuries. Witness Chokechai Potthung, 28, a volunteer rescue worker and relative of one injured person, reported approximately 10-15 people had been gathered at the spot before the car struck them violently. Investigators ordered an autopsy and instructed Ms. Phakkhawadee to undergo blood alcohol testing and detailed interrogation. A CCTV video posted by Chokechai showed the sedan approaching at high speed before losing control and striking the group of youngsters with significant force.

Skilled young actor Em Phoomipat has opened up about his major challenge performing in the large-scale theater production "Once Again... The More It Hurts, The More I Remember, The More I Love" at Rachadalai Theatre, which seats 1,500 people. He admits feeling both excited and pressured, as he must ensure audiences even in the back rows connect with his character's emotions.

EmPraise his chemistry with co-star Perth Verinratsara, saying that despite never working together before, he's impressed by her exceptional talent as a new-generation actress who deeply understands performance and can access emotions with remarkable precision.

Explaining the challenge of performing in such a large venue compared to smaller intimate theaters seating under 200, Em notes that the acting style, direction, and techniques must be completely different. "This is my first large-scale theater production," he explains. "With 1,500 seats at Rachadalai, it's difficult because it's a completely different format. The way we perform, the directing approach, the tricks—everything differs from smaller theaters. That's why I said yes to this project. I want to explore this format and discover how to perform so that someone sitting in the very back row can feel what the character is experiencing."

Regarding his preparation time with only 20 days remaining, Em expressed feeling pressure due to other commitments and the need to deliver a polished performance given ticket prices aren't cheap. He compared the situation to MasterChef, saying the pastry shell is done, the filling is prepared, it's in the oven, but they're watching to ensure it cooks in time.

On working with Perth, Em revealed they've never met before, though he's seen her performances, including the film "Mae Sueai." He praised her as an exceptionally skilled new-generation actress with sophisticated character interpretation. He noted that Perth has far more experience with series and drama formats, giving her sharp instincts for entering and exiting scenes with precise emotions. He compared himself to a diesel engine that starts slowly, while Perth is like an electric vehicle that immediately reaches full speed.

Describing their on-screen couple as the youngest pair in the story, Em explained that the challenges they face at their age might seem trivial to adults, but to those who've been young, these issues represent their entire world.