The Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture, working with the Phang Nga Province Cultural Office, launched a Dhamma Day temple visit program titled "Taste Local Delicacies, Admire the Landscape, Make Merit Offerings at Lad Long Lae" in Lad Long Lae, Takua Tung District, Phang Nga Province. The initiative aims to stimulate community economic activity by generating income through food, clothing, souvenirs, homestays, hotels, and tourism ventures, while promoting local knowledge and providing Buddhists with regular opportunities for merit-making, precept-keeping, and meditation. On the morning of Saturday, May 16, 2025, Department of Religious Affairs Director Chaiyapol Sukeiam led officials, administrators, and residents in visiting cultural networks, releasing crabs into mangrove forests, and meeting religious and community leaders at Ban Sam Chong School, including paying respects to Phra Prasart Sarophon (Chaiwat Issaratham), the provincial sangha leader. The program leverages the area's rich natural resources and cultural capital, including local foods, traditional crafts, performances, and community products using palm gardens as activity venues. Community members will showcase local produce such as vegetables, shrimp, shellfish, crab, fish, and seasonal fruits, along with traditional handicrafts and cultural performances to generate income and engage youth in community development. The Department of Religious Affairs is expanding this successful program by selecting locations with distinctive traditions, nearby temples, merit-offering services for tourists, traditional costume rentals, and vendor areas that boost local revenues. Director Chaiyapol emphasized that the program helps communities and encourages Buddhists to visit temples regularly for merit-making beyond just holy days.

Actress Namtarn Pichukkana Vongvarotanasil takes on another challenging role as 'Fang Kham Ghost' in the film 'City Curse,' paired with fresh-faced actor Tee Bunyakiat Vongsa-ajem.

Today she discussed her work on the film, her acting career spanning over a decade, and future goals, while also sharing updates about her wedding after her long-time boyfriend Pai Pattish Pisetchkul—whom she's been dating for 14 years—surprised her with a marriage proposal during the Northern Lights trip in Norway.

On her role in 'City Curse': Nametarn said: "In this story, I play Fang Kham Ghost, a spirit that has existed for over 100 years with no memory of how she died. A human has been taking care of her all this time, and the role has evolved across generations until the current era where the caretaker is a social media kid. He wonders why other ghosts have legends but I don't, so he tries to create pages and Instagram accounts for me to make me legendary. He tries to teach me how to be a scary ghost, but I can't do it. I'm bad at scaring people. So he brings me different horror movies to copy from. My co-stars like Sprite, John, and Ann teach me how different ghosts move and act—how Japanese ghosts crawl, how Thai ghosts dance—and I try to copy them, but no one is ever scared of me."

On finding answers about her character's death: Nametarn explained: "Yes, the character needs to find out why she died. I noticed that everyone has a partner, so why don't I? I believe my destined partner must have a shell-shaped mark on their neck. The male lead happens to have one, so I'm convinced he's the one. Turns out it's a tattoo, not a mark, so I'm disappointed. The story has a lot of cute, romantic comedy elements. Mostly I'm the one pursuing him because I've been around for 100 years, so my jokes might be outdated compared to Gen Z kids—it has that puppy-tricking vibe."

On working with actor Tee Bunyakiat: Nametarn said: "He's very sweet. When I found out I'd be working with him, I looked him up and discovered he's a famous footballer. He's close in age to my younger brother, so we connected easily. He's also from the North like me, so communication was smooth. His character is very heavy—he has the most emotional baggage in the story. He's emotionally complex and has to be depressed throughout most of the film. He has less screen time but delivers a lot. His acting is excellent. I saw his potential from the workshop day itself. He came to ask me for advice on some scenes, especially the comedic parts or difficult film scenes because films are different from series—they use a single camera and need to shoot dramatic scenes multiple times from different angles. He once asked why later takes didn't feel as good as the first one, and I explained that you have to reset yourself each time, which is already difficult."

On how quickly she decided to take the role: Nametarn said: "Not long at all. I've worked with director Kop since the film 'Som Bai.' We've actually been discussing this project for 3-4 years before it came together. When he contacted me, I asked to read the script first because I didn't want to repeat a character. After reading it, I loved it. The character is contemporary and connected to the social media era where ghosts have to create content. It was challenging—could I make people believe she's Fang Kham without looking like Som Bai?"

On whether the shooting locations were scary: Nametarn said: "We actually shot in Phu Chiao forest and in old houses that were decades old. But no one got haunted by ghosts because we shot from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and by the time we'd go back to sleep, the sun was already rising. Ghosts can't haunt you then. (laughs) But there was something incredible—the male lead's house in the story belonged to an elderly owner who once told her descendants not to demolish or sell the house because someone would come to film a movie there. At the time, no one believed her."

Japan is embracing an unconventional mental health practice called "Coffin Therapy," which involves lying in a coffin for approximately 30 minutes to reflect on life and contemplate mortality. Originally piloted by a funeral company in Chiba Prefecture, the practice has expanded to spas and workshops nationwide.

Participants can choose between open and closed coffins. Supporters argue that the enclosed space creates a peaceful, private environment for genuine introspection without distractions. While the concept may seem strange internationally, it connects to Japan's "Kuyō" tradition—memorial rites for the deceased that promote awareness of life's fragility and acceptance of death.

The trend emerges as Japan grapples with elevated youth suicide rates. Some proponents believe that safely confronting mortality in a controlled, reversible format may reduce fear of death and help people appreciate life's value more deeply.

Businesses offering Coffin Therapy, including Grave Tokyo, frame it as a "mental reset." Grave Tokyo designer Mikago Fuse emphasizes making death less frightening and helping people recognize life's worth. The company designs colorful, friendly coffins to counter traditional morbid associations.

Tokyo spa "Meiso Kukan Kanoke-in" offers the service for approximately 400 baht, allowing customers to choose open or closed coffins with optional add-ons like relaxing music, projected imagery, or complete silence.

In 2024, a Kyoto university hosted a Coffin Therapy workshop for students. Many participants reported reviewing life anxieties and experiencing reduced fear of death. Some felt motivated to live more fully.

Mental health experts continue recommending standard treatments for depression and suicidal ideation—meditation, mindfulness, CBT, SSRIs, and emerging therapies like ketamine and esketamine for severe cases. However, Coffin Therapy supporters believe symbolically "rehearsing" confrontation with death may complement these established approaches.

The Department of International Trade Promotion is accelerating fruit market expansion, with trade attachés in Nanning actively engaging the Hongxi wholesale fruit market. Thai durian is receiving overwhelming positive responses from importers and confectionery companies. Ms. Sunantha Kangwalkulgij, Director-General of DITP under the Ministry of Commerce, revealed that the department has directed trade promotion office directors stationed in key fruit export target countries to implement Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Suttheermphand's policy to accelerate Thai fruit market expansion to accommodate the current fruit harvest season. A recent report from Niti Prathumvong, Director of the DITP office in Nanning, shows successful progress in promoting Thai fruit exports to the Chinese market, particularly Thai durian, with increasing interest from importers in purchasing Thai durian.

The trade attaché reported meetings with Mr. Su Yueyun, President of the Hunan Fruit Association, and Mr. Li Pingfang, Deputy General Manager of the Hongxi Fruit Wholesale Market, revealing that from January to May 2025, 150,000 tons of Thai fruits were imported, including 70,000 tons of durian. Throughout 2024, the Hongxi wholesale market imported 1 million tons of foreign fruits, with Thai fruits comprising 40%, including 180,000 tons of durian, 100,000 tons of longan, and 100,000 tons of mangosteen, coconut, and pomelo.

Meetings with seven major Thai fruit importers in the Hongxi market focused on expanding market opportunities for Thai fruits in central and western China, particularly durian, mangosteen, and coconut. All confirmed their 2025 durian import targets: Fruit Mate (1,000 containers), He Jinsheng Fruit (800 containers), Yunhui Fruit (500 containers), Hunan Ju Hai Xin Trading (1,000 containers), Long Yuan Trading (1,200 containers), Hunan Chang Nong (900 containers), and Sinkin (1,000 containers).

The trade attaché also met with executives from Greenery Fruit, the largest comprehensive fruit supply chain company in Hunan Province with over 1,600 chain stores throughout China, to discuss promoting Thai fruits in Hunan and nearby provinces. The company confirmed a 2025 target of importing 1,000 containers of fresh durian and 30 containers of frozen durian.

Meetings with He Muji Bakery Supply, which manufactures durian-based processed products including crepes, pancakes, mochi, and mooncakes and currently imports approximately 200 containers of frozen durian pulp annually from Thailand, revealed the company's interest in increasing frozen durian imports. DITP will organize trade negotiations for the company and Thai exporters at future opportunities.

Discussions with Busy Ming, a snack distributor operating 25,000 chain stores under the Zhao Yiming Snacks and Busy For You brands across 30 provinces in China, showed the company's plans to increase Thai snack imports. The trade attaché invited the company to participate in THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2026 to source Thai snack products.

A 70-year-old woman in Macau was taken to the hospital after being frightened by a humanoid robot walking on the street in the Patane district. Police later revealed the robot was being used for a promotional activity by a local tutoring institute.

According to public safety police, the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Sally Tow Hnan Street. While the woman was stopped to use her smartphone, she suddenly sensed something approaching from behind. Upon turning around, she discovered it was a humanoid robot, causing her significant shock.

Police confirmed there was no physical contact between the woman and the robot, and she suffered no injuries. However, she reported feeling unwell from the fright and requested to be taken to the hospital for examination. After a medical checkup, doctors cleared her to return home, and she decided not to file any complaints or charges.

Authorities confirmed the humanoid robot belonged to a local tutoring institute and was being operated by a 50-year-old local man who stated he was testing the robot's performance to improve its effectiveness for future promotional activities.

A video of the incident quickly spread on social media, showing the woman appearing to argue with the robot while several police officers stood nearby before the robot was removed from the area. In the video, the woman can be heard shouting in Cantonese that the robot made her heart race, questioning why such machinery was being operated in public.

Police warned the robot operator to exercise greater caution when operating the humanoid robot in public spaces to prevent causing fear or safety risks to the public.

Mark Kim Choy, director of Study Hard Education Centre, told reporters that the institute had conducted three promotional activities using the robot in the past week. He stated that over the past six months, the institution had used the robot for public relations activities in crowded areas, which typically received positive feedback from the public.

Choy also revealed that after the incident, he personally accompanied the 70-year-old woman to the hospital and drove her home after she was released.

On May 23, 2025, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen graciously authorized Her Majesty Chanthani Thanarak, Royal Secretary to His Majesty the King, to preside over a royal merit-making ceremony. Alms were presented to Phra Thepworsitthichai, who serves as advisor to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, assistant to the Supreme Patriarch, and abbot of the royal temple Wat Semyanari. The ceremony took place at the main chapel of Wat Semyanari in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, and was attended by ten monks.