NAKHON RATCHASIMA — On May 16, 2026, residents in Bua Lai district revived the long-standing northeastern tradition of Bun Bang Fai, or the Rocket Festival, as villagers gathered to build, parade and launch homemade rockets in a ritual seeking rain from Phaya Thaen, the deity of rain.

The lively scenes unfolded at Ban Nong Saeng in Bua Lai district, where community members worked together to preserve the Isaan folk tradition through rocket-making, colourful processions and ceremonial launches reflecting long-held local beliefs tied to the agricultural season.

Bun Bang Fai is one of the traditional "Heet Sip Song, Kong Sip See" customs observed across Isaan communities. The phrase refers to a long-standing cultural framework of 12 annual merit-making traditions and 14 community codes that guide religious life, social conduct and seasonal ceremonies in northeastern Thailand. Practised for generations, the festival honours Phaya Thaen, the deity of rain, and is believed to help ensure seasonal rainfall ahead of rice planting season.

Traditionally, rockets were made from bamboo, though many communities today use PVC pipes in place of bamboo cylinders. The rockets are packed with gunpowder, decorated and paraded through the village before launch.

The festival also features folk performances and traditional Isaan music, creating a festive atmosphere and drawing strong participation from local residents.

Footage from the event showed villagers working together to prepare the rockets, with many expressing pride in helping preserve the Bun Bang Fai tradition and pass local wisdom from one generation to the next.

Actress Udom Laksana has found new love with divine blessing and says her new partner matches her ideals perfectly. She reveals why she hasn't publicly introduced her boyfriend on social media, explaining she doesn't want to be perceived as a lesser person.

After nearly three years of dating, the glamorous single mother has kept her boyfriend's identity private, never introducing him on social media. Recently, at the grand opening of "Laks Cafe & SRILAKSHAKTI – DEVI" in Bangkok, she was asked whether she might soon reveal her new boyfriend's face. When asked if she asked the goddess for blessings on this new relationship, she confirmed: "Yes, I prayed for a good, sincere person who loves me, is faithful, and cares for only me. Not just a sugar daddy or sponsor, but complete, well-rounded love. I'm also grateful to him—without him, my Tewa Laye might not have succeeded. He's exactly what I prayed for."

Her boyfriend knew about her prayers from the start. "He knew before we even dated," she explained. "Before opening this place, I took him to pray to Goddess Lakshmi. I told her if this person is good and if she approves, please let us be together. If not, please cut him off. And now we've been together for three years."

When asked why she hasn't revealed his face on social media after three years, she said: "I want to be 100 percent certain first. I have a child, and sometimes too much news isn't good for kids. But my family knows him, I've never hidden him. Whenever we go out, if my family meets someone, that's who it is. I'm just keeping social media private for now because I've been through a lot of relationship drama. I don't want to delete photos, feel heartbroken, or issue corrections. I don't want my daughter asking why mommy changed boyfriends again. She actually Googles 'Udom Laksana's boyfriends' and asks me about them. Kids today are smart. So I'm waiting until everything is solid before going public."

Some people comment that she's keeping quiet because she's with someone of lower status. "That happens in society, everyone has different perspectives. But I can't control what people think. In real life, I live normally and never hide anything. My family and social circle see everything. I'm just keeping social media private for now. Some people might wonder why after three years I still haven't revealed him, but honestly, whenever I've opened up before, things have fallen apart. I also believe in timing. This time, I decided not to reveal anything and see how long it lasts. And here we are, three years later."

Her boyfriend is completely okay with staying off social media. "Yes, he's fine with it. He's shy too and doesn't even have social media," she said. "Does he get along with Disney [her daughter]? Very well. Disney, my family, his family, and all our friends know him."

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister stated in an interview on May 16 at the Defense Ministry's Building 2 before traveling to Phetchabun province that following the cabinet's approval designating the Public Relations Department as the lead coordinating agency for World Cup 2026 broadcast negotiations, the government is not directly involved and the results will depend on how relevant parties negotiate the rights.

The "Mik Benz Pen Neung" show, hosted by Mik Bromwut, Benz Porchita, and Ajarn Pen Neung, recently visited Wat Mahabut on Saturday, May 16, 2569 to pay respects to Yananaak Phra Khong shrine in their traditional manner, revealing prayer secrets and techniques. Ajarn Pen Neung explained that both Mik and Benz had to offer tribute to Yananaak, and when Benz gazed upon the deity's face, she said it appeared as though the mother would weep. The timing proved fortuitous as all three hosts received the lucky lottery number 760 from a bingo draw.

Deputy Prime Minister Supamas Iatsraphakdi, overseeing the Consumer Protection Board (CPB), announced action against an airline ticket fraud scheme targeting routes to Japan, South Korea, and Europe. Multiple victims filed complaints after being deceived by a travel agency that falsely advertised airline promotions but failed to deliver tickets or allow travel, causing damages exceeding 10 million baht.

The scam operated by initially delivering legitimate tickets to early customers, generating word-of-mouth referrals. Since April, the company stopped delivering tickets and demanded additional payments for fuel surcharges and airport taxes. When customers transferred extra funds, they received nothing, and refund requests were indefinitely delayed.

Supamas ordered the CPB to establish a task force for urgent complaints and create a fast-track consumer rights protection process. Officials will meet with affected consumers, the business operator, and airlines on May 21 to gather facts and attempt mediation. If no settlement is reached, the CPB will immediately pursue cases on behalf of consumers while coordinating with law enforcement for criminal prosecution of all charges without exception.

The CPB must report progress every seven days and regularly disclose information to the public to ensure no complaints fall through the cracks. Supamas advised the public to follow three verification steps before transferring money: verify identity by purchasing directly from airlines or trusted platforms and checking business registration with the Tourism Authority; check prices against major airline websites to avoid suspiciously cheap tickets; and avoid transferring to personal accounts or additional payments claiming to fix old deals, which are typical fraud indicators.

Supamas warned that the government and CPB will take strict action against anyone exploiting online loopholes to defraud consumers and urged the public to verify all details carefully before making transfers.

On May 15, Phot Aramwattananont, chairman of the Zero Corruption Task Force of GCR and chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, along with teams from three private sector institutions—GCR, the Thai Anti-Corruption Organization (Thailand), the Institute for Justice (TIJ), and academics from TDRI—met with Deputy Prime Minister Phorn Nila Praphand (Legal Affairs) to propose sustainable solutions to corruption and push for legal reforms to strengthen the country's competitive capacity.

The Zero Corruption Task Force presented three key initiatives:

1. Declaring anti-corruption as a "national agenda" and proposing the establishment of a "National Anti-Corruption Committee" chaired by the Prime Minister, along with a public-private cooperation committee to jointly monitor and promote ethical practices.

2. Using digital technology to open government data, proposing the use of budget tracking dashboards and centralized data exchange systems to reduce official discretion and emphasize interconnected government data.

3. Elevating four transparency pilot agencies—the Finance Ministry, Interior Ministry, Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration—by emphasizing the disclosure of procurement information through the e-Government Procurement system and establishing citizen feedback mechanisms.

The task force also proposed the "Reinvent Thailand" plan to address outdated laws that obstruct business operations in target industries.

Deputy Prime Minister Phorn Nila Praphand acknowledged the proposals and stated that the government has a clear policy against corruption, particularly closing legal loopholes that facilitate bribery. He committed to presenting these recommendations to the Prime Minister.

The next step for Zero Corruption will be tabled at a GCR meeting on May 19 to prioritize laws requiring urgent reform, with emphasis on measures benefiting small businesses and the general public. The refined proposal will be discussed again with the Deputy Prime Minister in early June 2025, with a June 10 submission deadline before proceeding to the Cabinet meeting.

"We must work together to build trust and confidence. Without it, the country cannot move forward," the statement emphasized.