Chinese superstar Zhao Lusi has posted a video on Douyin after returning from a concert in Thailand, drawing fans' attention to Thai products featured prominently in the clip, including the iconic Yaa Dom Hanuman balm on her table.

The video shows Zhao Lusi relaxing and enjoying Thai seaweed snacks, which delighted her many fans. However, what particularly caught the eye of Thai viewers was the clear presence of Yaa Dom Hanuman on the table in the video.

Following the video's release, numerous fans flooded the comments section with playful remarks about Zhao Lusi's charm and the Thai products that appear to be favorites of hers, with many crediting it as another example of Thai soft power gaining traction among Asian celebrities.

Yaa Dom Hanuman is a long-popular traditional Thai herbal product that can be easily purchased at convenience stores and pharmacies throughout the country.

The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts heavy thunderstorms and increased rainfall across Thailand over the next 24 hours due to a strengthening southwest monsoon system. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected in the northern, central, and eastern regions, with the most severe rainfall predicted in provinces including Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampoon, Lampang, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet in the north; Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, and Ratchaburi in the central region; and Chanthaburi and Trat in the east. The department warns the public to prepare for potential flash floods, landslides, and accumulated rainfall, particularly in foothill and low-lying areas near waterways. Residents are also advised to monitor their health during weather fluctuations. Maritime conditions are hazardous, with waves in the upper Andaman Sea reaching 2-3 meters (over 3 meters in thunderstorm zones), while the lower Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand see waves of 1-2 meters (over 2 meters in thunderstorms). Fishermen are urged to exercise caution and avoid thunderstorm areas, with small vessels in the upper Andaman Sea advised to stay ashore. Temperatures will range from 22-37°C depending on region, with southwest winds at 10-40 km/h.

On May 15, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkoskulkiat chaired a meeting to drive forward the policy for upgrading school bus safety standards to international levels. The meeting included the Director-General of the Department of Land Transport Sarapong Paiturpong and representatives from relevant agencies including the Ministry of Education, Office of the Basic Education Commission, Department of Local Administration, National Police Office, Consumer Protection Committee, Consumer Organizations Council, and road safety experts.

Deputy Minister Siripong stated that this meeting is part of implementing the government's policy to elevate school buses to international standards. The government prioritizes the welfare and safety of children and youth who will become the nation's future workforce. The objective is to integrate all school buses operating outside the regulatory system into proper oversight processes so that every vehicle meets safety standards prescribed by law. Lessons from past incidents will be analyzed to strengthen preventive measures.

Implementing school bus safety measures is not solely the responsibility of the Transport Ministry but requires cooperation and integration across relevant agencies. The Ministry of Education, through schools and educational institutions, must play a role in ensuring safe and convenient student transportation. The Ministry of Interior, through its Department of Local Administration, will drive area-level integration efforts and emphasize that local authorities must prioritize school bus services, particularly for disadvantaged children.

The Transport Ministry has been continuously working to upgrade school bus safety standards. The Department of Land Transport coordinated with the Ministry of Education to create a school bus database through schoolbussafety.dlt.go.th. To prepare for the new academic term, provincial transport offices have been instructed to coordinate with schools to inspect the braking systems of all school buses, as brake failure has been a major cause of recent accidents. Buses that fail inspection must be repaired before being used for student transportation.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that school bus safety is a complex issue involving multiple agencies and requires ongoing coordination.

A Philippine senator wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity has fled the Senate, where he had taken refuge to avoid arrest, according to officials. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa left the heavily guarded Senate building following volleys of gunfire Wednesday night exchanged between the building's security personnel and government agents positioned nearby, an incident that sparked confusion and apparently enabled his escape.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a late-night television statement urging the public to remain calm, while police launched an investigation into suspicions that the shooting was deliberately orchestrated to provide dela Rosa with cover. "There is no obstruction of justice," Senate President Alan Cayetano stated regarding the senator's departure while under Senate protective custody, claiming he had not seen any ICC arrest warrant and that dela Rosa was free to leave.

Critics have called for Cayetano and the Senate security chief to be held accountable for the senator's escape. The 64-year-old dela Rosa served as national police chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte (2016-2022), who was arrested last March on an ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity related to deadly anti-drug operations. An ICC warrant unsealed Monday charges dela Rosa with crimes against humanity, specifically the murder of at least 32 people between July 2016 and April 2018, during his tenure leading the national police under Duterte's brutal drug war.

Dela Rosa has challenged the warrant's legality and petitioned the Supreme Court to block Philippine government enforcement of it. The court ordered dela Rosa and government officials to provide additional details within 72 hours. Both dela Rosa and Duterte have denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, though the former president previously made public threats against drug suspects.

The situation reflects escalating political tensions between the Duterte and Marcos families. Vice President Sara Duterte, Duterte's daughter, has accused Marcos of "kidnapping" her father and handing him over to a foreign court. These disputes underscore long-standing divisions within the Philippine democracy. On Monday, Sara Duterte faced impeachment by the House of Representatives, dominated by Marcos allies, over alleged unexplained wealth, misuse of state funds, and public threats to assassinate Marcos, his wife, and the House speaker if she were killed in their intensifying conflict. She has denied the allegations.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — May 15, 2026: Two dogs were rescued after being left trapped inside a parked car under the hot sun for several hours in northeastern Thailand, prompting concern from local residents who feared the animals could die from heat exposure.

The incident occurred near Talad Nok market in Sikhio district, where residents noticed the dogs had been left inside the vehicle from the morning until around midday during extremely hot weather. The car windows had been left slightly open.

Video recorded by bystanders showed the dogs appearing weak and distressed inside the overheated vehicle. A white dog was seen lying beneath the driver's seat, while a brown dog struggled with its head stuck through a partially opened window, panting heavily and whining for help.

Unable to free itself or climb back into the vehicle, the brown dog remained trapped as local residents and market vendors attempted to cool the car by pouring water over it while waiting for authorities to arrive.

A local vendor said residents became alarmed after noticing the dogs had been inside the vehicle for an unusually long time during intense heat and feared the animals could suffer fatal heatstroke.

Disaster prevention officers from Sikhio municipality later arrived at the scene and forced open the vehicle after failing to locate the owner.

Officials immediately removed the white dog from the car, while the brown dog required additional assistance because its head remained wedged in the window opening. A motorcycle taxi rider helped support the animal's body while rescuers carefully freed its head.

The vehicle owner later returned and apologised, saying personal business had taken longer than expected.

Municipal disaster prevention officials warned the public not to leave children or pets unattended inside parked vehicles during hot weather, even if windows are partially opened, because temperatures inside cars can rise rapidly and become life-threatening within a short period.

On May 15, 2024, the Port Authority of Thailand clarified its mission to provide water transport services with transparency and accountability in accordance with good governance principles. A joint private sector committee comprising the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries, and Thai Bankers Association, working with the Zero Corruption initiative, surveyed 401 business executives and representatives nationwide between March 26 and April 10, 2024, revealing that the Port Authority ranked fourth in rates of bribery solicitation at 90 percent and second in average bribe values at 100,000 baht per transaction.

The Port Authority explained that it handles licensing, certification, and permits for maritime and water transport services, including vessel registration, maritime permits, and navigation authorizations. In fiscal year 2024, the department processed 287,427 service transactions, including 42,788 vessel registrations, 36,021 maritime certificates, 12,818 crew member documents, 53,364 vessel inspections, 40,554 piloting services, 77,449 port departure permits, and various other authorizations.

The Port Authority commits to transparent and ethical service delivery through electronic systems for permit applications and payments since 2015, reducing direct contact between officials and citizens. The department plans to publish service standards and consumer rights information, including fee transparency, electronic payment options, service completion timeframes, and complaint procedures through its website and Facebook, with a hotline at 1199 for reporting misconduct or bribery allegations.