No One Else brought their signature romantic hits to a sold-out crowd at "Mama Presents No One Else Symphonique," a special orchestral rendition of their beloved songs performed in collaboration with Mahidol University's College of Music. The concert at Mahidol Sithakarn Hall featured over 72 musicians from the Thailand Philharmonic Pops Orchestra conducting the reimagined arrangements, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapol Setaprahan.

The venue was filled with devoted fans and colleagues from SPICYDISC record label, including label executives and fellow artists. Before the show began, the organizers provided merchandise and food stations for fans to enjoy. When the hall doors opened, the three-member band—Cook and Natty—took the stage in formal suits, opening with "This Year You Won't Be Lonely Anymore" before launching into emotional favorites like "Still Can't Forget," "The Collector," and "We'll Meet Again Someday."

The setlist seamlessly transitioned between poignant ballads and sweeter love songs, including "The Clock Hands Turn Together" and "You're Like Morning Coffee." Natty captivated the audience with solo guitar performances during several numbers. The highlight was Natty's solo rendition of "Every Love Song From Now On Will Only Be Yours," which gained even greater emotional depth with the orchestral arrangements.

During the intermission, all three band members performed together with crowd favorites like "Should We Go Back." The second half showcased duets and special performances, including a duet with Ploy from the band HERS on an emotional ballad. No One Else delivered an extensive medley of their hits, closing with romantic favorites like "Someone I Don't Know Yet," "Maybe It's Called Love," and "Just Having You Is My Good Fortune." The concert concluded with a comprehensive setlist that left fans emotional and satisfied, with many pledging to remember this orchestral experience for years to come.

In a ceremony that captured international attention, South Korea's Jogyesan Buddhist order ordained 'Gabi,' a humanoid robot dressed in saffron robes, as the first robot monk of the order on May 6th at Jogyesa Temple in downtown Seoul. During the ceremony, monks chanted 108 beads around Gabi's neck and affixed a lotus lantern festival sticker to its arm as a substitute for the traditional 'yeonbul' initiation ritual, which normally involves burning incense on a novice's skin. The robot was also issued an official ordination certificate listing its production date as March 3, 2026, in place of a human birth date.

Reverend Song Won, the Jogyesan order's cultural affairs director, revealed that the robot monk concept began as casual conversation before evolving into a serious project. "Robots are rapidly becoming part of human life, and people are becoming increasingly familiar with them," he explained. "We began asking ourselves how religion can coexist with these technologies."

The ordination comes as South Korean Buddhism faces a crisis of declining devotion. Currently, only 16% of South Koreans identify as Buddhist, down from about 23% in 2005, with just 8% among those aged 20. Last year, the Jogyesan order ordained only 99 new monks, compared to over 200 a decade ago. In response, the order has embraced "Hip Buddhism" strategies including branded Buddhist merchandise, meditation apps, and social media marketing. The introduction of Gabi represents another key strategy to make Buddhism more accessible to younger generations.

During the ordination, Gabi received a specially designed Five Precepts for robots, including prohibitions against harming life, destroying robots or property, deceiving others, and showing disrespect to humans. The most intriguing precept is "no overcharging," which Reverend Song Won explained actually symbolizes "not doing anything in excess"—a parallel to humans' precept against intoxication. "Humans have issues with drinking alcohol or drug abuse; robots needed something comparable," he said.

Reverend Song Won also disclosed that he tested AI systems like ChatGPT and Gemini to help develop the robot's precepts, but found they failed to grasp the deeper meaning of the Buddhist concept of precepts. "Precepts aren't just good advice—they're commandments to follow," he noted.

While Gabi cannot yet perform complex tasks like prayer hand gestures, Reverend Song Won believes AI and robotics will play a crucial role in future society. He is confident that highly intelligent AI will not destroy humanity but will care for it with compassion. After its ordination, Gabi is scheduled to participate in the annual lotus lantern procession alongside three other robots—Sokja, Mohi, and Nisa—as part of Seoul's Buddha's Birthday celebration.

Police are tracking two navy petty officers linked to the sale of firearms to Ming Chen Sun, a 31-year-old Chinese national, as the explosives investigation deepens and authorities work to trace the origins of the dangerous weapons seized.

The case began when Sun was arrested following a car crash in Nong Chom Tien, Chachoengsao. During vehicle inspection, officers discovered firearms and ammunition, which prompted a search of his residence in Soi Huay Yai. Authorities recovered war weapons, high-explosive devices designed for maximum destruction, anti-personnel grenades, and hand grenades totaling 10 rounds, along with extensive bomb-making equipment and fuel. All items were seized as evidence, and Sun was taken into custody for legal proceedings. After continuous interrogation throughout the day, he was transferred to Pattaya Immigration Office detention, where he appeared noticeably fatigued and requires regular medication.

On May 10, 2025, the National Police's Explosives Information Center and Forensic Evidence Office traveled to Nong Chom Tien to conduct a detailed investigation of all seized evidence, particularly the firearms, ammunition, and explosives. Meanwhile, police teams in Sattahip are tracking two additional navy petty officers involved in the gun sales operation. Previously, authorities took into custody Chaen, a shooting range instructor at Pattaya Navy Base (Flight Lieutenant Metthi), and Jamlawng, 51, the account holder and gun distributor to the Chinese buyer, for interrogation.

Two additional conspirators have been identified: Petty Officer Hae and Petty Officer Boi, who are currently being pursued for questioning.

Regarding the gun purchase timeline: Chaen contacted Flight Lieutenant Metthi to inquire about available firearms because a Chinese buyer was interested. Metthi then contacted Petty Officer Hae to source the guns. Hae subsequently contacted Petty Officer Boi to obtain the weapons. Jamlawng merely provided his bank account for the financial transfer.

The Police Chief has established a task force to investigate the case, demanding a swift inquiry into how firearms escaped the custody of the Royal Thai Police and ended up in the hands of Ming Chen Sun.

On May 10, 2569, authorities in Phuket reported that at 02:06 on May 9, Deputy Superintendent Wichayut Damprueang of Kamala Police Station received a report of four foreign tourists losing consciousness inside a well-known café in the Kamala Beach area, Kamala Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket. Emergency responders from Kamala Subdistrict transported three patients to Patong Hospital and one to Thalang Hospital.

Investigators reported to Kamala Police Chief Colonel Anuruk Pinyanstatsakul before traveling to Patong Hospital, where they found three Indian men unconscious and unable to provide statements. At Thalang Hospital, another Indian patient was also found unconscious.

After questioning the café's security chief, authorities learned that a group of five Indian tourists—Kushagra Agarwal, Rahul Agarwal, Agarwal Aman, and Aryan Verma—had been at the café since approximately 23:00 on May 8, 2569. Around 01:54 on May 9, four of the tourists progressively lost consciousness without apparent cause. The café immediately notified emergency services and transported them to hospitals. Aryan Verma showed no signs of illness.

Patong Hospital subsequently reported that two Indian patients had entered a coma and were transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital: Kushagra Agarwal and Rahul Agarwal. At 14:30 on May 9, investigators were informed that Kushagra Agarwal had died, while the other patients were reported to be in stable condition.

Authorities have notified the Indian Embassy and are conducting a detailed forensic autopsy with medical examiners to determine the true cause of death.

On May 10, 2025, Patchr Naripattaband, a commissioner at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), discussed Thailand's impending energy sector restructuring under the 2025 Decree authorizing the Finance Ministry to borrow funds to address energy crisis impacts and drive the country's energy transition.

He emphasized that Thailand's energy prices are not higher than regional peers due to resource scarcity, but because infrastructure designed in a different era continues operating in a fundamentally changed world. Soaring electricity costs, volatile oil prices driven by geopolitics, and declining reliance on dwindling natural gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand are clear warning signals that serious reform is overdue.

Thailand is not an energy-poor nation. Vietnam, starting its renewable journey only years ago, has already become Asia's largest solar producer, despite Thailand possessing superior resources and geographic advantages as a regional hub. The problem lies not with resources but with non-competitive structures.

Patchr noted that the world is competing fiercely for future industry investments. Lego announced a $1 billion investment to build the world's first carbon-neutral factory in Vietnam using 100% solar power—a clear signal that access to affordable clean energy has become a primary factor in multinational investment decisions.

Vietnam became Asia's largest solar producer in 2023, proving rapid energy transition is possible. However, success carries expensive lessons. Rapid expansion driven by subsidies exposed planning weaknesses and financial sustainability gaps. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) bears a heavy financial burden as electricity procurement costs surged from $4.5 billion in 2018 to $11.5 billion in 2023, while retail prices remained tightly controlled below actual costs, leaving EVN with losses exceeding $1 billion in 2023.

This is a trap Thailand must avoid. Vietnam's problem wasn't expanding renewables too quickly, but locking in high electricity purchase prices through long-term contracts while forcing EVN to sell below cost to contain public dissatisfaction. The difference accumulated as mounting EVN debt, eventually forcing the state to choose between major rate hikes or subsidizing losses with taxpayer funds. Either way, citizens bear the cost, merely postponed.

Vietnam is now transitioning from fixed Feed-in Tariff pricing—the root of EVN's crisis—to competitive bidding where clean energy producers offer the lowest rates to win contracts, rather than the state unilaterally setting prices. This follows India's successful model: solar prices plummeted from 9.72 cents per unit in 2014 to 3.04 cents in 2024—a 68% reduction in a decade—driven not just by better technology but by market competition pressing prices toward true costs.

Vietnam continues expanding Direct Power Purchase Agreements (DPP) as well.

On April 27, 2569, Chakraphad Saenphudet, head of the Northern News Center and chairman of the Online Media Club, participated in the cornerstone laying ceremony for the Gratitude Chedi Kamphiro at Wat Pa Buddharam in Ban Kham Gang, Lao Yai District, Kuchinara, Kalasin Province.

The ceremony was presided over by Luang Pu Kamphir Kamphiro of Wat Pa Buddharam, a disciple in the lineage of Luang Pu Hongsa Prommasanpanyo, along with M.R. Panidhan Jaroensroj and Anart Wattarangkul of Chiang Mai, honorary advisor to the Senate Committee on Tourism and Sports and advisor to the Online Media Club.

The construction of the Gratitude Chedi Kamphiro originated from Luang Pu Kamphir's vision to commemorate the Buddha and serve as a permanent sacred monument for Wat Pa Buddharam. Subsequently, it will serve as a memorial and reliquary housing the relics of his mother, who donated the land and founded Wat Pa Buddharam in service to Buddhism, as well as relics of his elder and younger brothers. This project continues Buddhist tradition and represents the significant contributions of Thanaporn and Songphorn Setthi Mongkol Nyan, advisors to the Online Media Club.

The cornerstone was blessed by Sommdet Phra Phutthajaew (Sanit Chawanpanyo), member of the Supreme Sangha Council, eastern regional chief abbot, and abbot of Wat Trimit Witthayaram Worawihan, who inscribed auspicious mantras as the primary blessing.

According to Buddhist belief, those who participate in building or pay respects to the chedi will be spared from hell for hundreds of lifetimes, be reborn in the celestial realm with strong health, beautiful appearance, and be beloved and respected, enjoy abundant prosperity and wisdom, and create important conditions for achieving Nirvana.

During the cornerstone laying ceremony and the consecration ritual led by Luang Pu Kamphir and numerous distinguished monks, a miraculous phenomenon occurred at sunset, creating great wonder among the participants.

Following the ceremony, Wat Pa Buddharam, under Luang Pu Kamphir's direction, distributed amulets and sacred objects to all participants.