Thai Airways announced on May 8, 2026, that it has unveiled the "Cash + Miles" service, a new option for Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) frequent flyer program members. This service enables members to use their accumulated miles as an immediate discount when purchasing airline tickets, with the flexibility to pay using a combination of cash and miles for greater convenience and value. The service is now available for booking through thaiairways.com.

The Cash + Miles service offers members an additional travel option that provides immediate benefits while allowing those with substantial mile balances to redeem them instantly and reduce travel expenses. Key features of the service include:

* The ability to combine miles with cash payment to receive instant ticket discounts * Immediate seat confirmation covering all participating flights * Continued accumulation of miles from travel, which will be credited back to the member's account according to program terms

The Cash + Miles service is available on numerous popular Thai Airways routes, with highlighted destinations including Narita, Shanghai, Sydney, and Amsterdam, enabling members to maximize the value of their miles and enjoy rewarding travel. Members interested in the service can now book and use Cash + Miles through thaiairways.com, subject to the company's terms and conditions.

Plasteau Film Company invites fans to challenge mysterious international beliefs in "Khao Kala," a New-Age Mystery Documentary directed by Yangterk Thanadej Ramsompop with Toffee Shivadol Chantanasevi serving as producer.

"Khao Kala" is based on true events and legends about alien military bases and UFO sightings around Khao Kala mountain in Nakhon Sawan province. Through firsthand accounts and experiences from believers, viewers will question whether events are lies, truth, or mysterious beliefs through interviews and footage never before released. The film presents a new New-Age Mystery Documentary format.

The documentary features nine stories from nine individuals: Kong Huairai Akkaradej Yodjampa, Ar The Star Anathpol Sirichuemsang, Nacha Chiranutt Yuusanant, Prang Prangthip, Diew The Star Phattrapol Kanpotchon, Toffee Sambathasip Shivadol Chantanasevi, Tong Caramel Arthapol Rujira, Dr. Surat Vongratanpattanasorn, and Luang Poo Tone Suthdhajitto.

Cast members include Kong Huairai, Ar The Star, Nacha Chiranutt, Diew The Star, Toffee Sambathasip, Tong Caramel, Thitcha Wongtipaknanth, Fango Chatkamon, Beer Bafflock, Bee The Ska, Bell Spotzz, Benz Apache, Dow Phimthong, Sarah Salora, and others.

The project receives post-production support from VelCurve Studio and world-class visual effects expertise from East Magic, led by Acharya Ong Pathwicha Jritngam, who has contributed to numerous Hollywood productions. The Ministry of Culture supports the film as a Thai soft power project ready for international audiences.

Director Yangterk Thanadej explained: "Khao Kala is based on true events and legends about aliens and UFOs around Khao Kala mountain in Nakhon Sawan. It combines spiritual beliefs, conspiracy theories, and scientific interpretations at international standards. The mountain is famous as Thailand's UFO checkpoint, and we've reinterpreted these legends with greater intensity and intrigue."

Regarding presentation format, the director shared: "We deliberated extensively on how to tell this story while preserving truth. A conventional film would lose authenticity. After countless discussions over three years with Toffee, we settled on New Age Mystery Documentary—cinematic storytelling interspersed with real accounts from actual witnesses, like true documentary footage, enhanced with world-class visual effects and never-before-seen footage. You won't feel like watching a long film, but experiencing individual celebrity accounts we interviewed."

The choice of celebrities stems from the belief that ordinary people telling such stories risk ridicule, while established figures—actors, singers, monks, or businesspeople—lend credibility to these accounts.

The book 'All Beings Follow Their Karma,' authored by the Liang Chiang Publishing House team and published by Liang Chiang Publishing for Buddhism at 16 baht, presents karma as a fundamental Buddhist doctrine of major importance, earning Buddhism the designation as a 'karma religion.' Though the concept of karma existed before Buddhism, the Buddha uniquely understood and clarified the true law of karma, distinguishing it from three previous interpretations, and taught all beings how to correctly resolve problems stemming from karma.

While Buddhists believe in and value the law of karma more than other teachings, few truly understand it completely and correctly as the Buddha intended. Buddhist karma divides into three categories: unwholesome karma (akusala) rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion; wholesome karma (kusala) rooted in non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion; and karma that ends karma, which eliminates both wholesome and unwholesome karma and prevents rebirth—represented by the Noble Eightfold Path beginning with right view.

Most people understand only two types of karma: good and bad, remaining ignorant of the third type despite the Buddha's emphasis on it as the path to liberation and freedom from suffering and the cycle of death and rebirth. This teaching is unique to Buddhism and worthy of serious study.

'All Beings Follow Their Karma' reflects the purity and justice of natural law, granting all beings freedom to author their own lives—whatever karma one creates, one alone experiences its fruit.

Karma is a teaching the Buddha stressed throughout the Tripitaka and remains a primary subject of Buddhist study. This book divides into three main sections: knowledge about karma from various perspectives in the Tripitaka; designing a beautiful life through the ten paths of karma; and fourteen types of karma results experienced by the Buddha. The content helps readers gain deeper understanding of the law of karma.

Additionally featured this week: a book recommendation from Chulalongkorn University Press presenting 'Decoding Buddhist Thought for Life' by Rattana Pannyapah. Amid a society where many live with distorted thinking patterns, this book decodes correct Buddhist perspectives across seven dimensions relating to human existence—from viewing life holistically to addressing love, faith, mindfulness, and sufficiency.

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the 121st death anniversary of Phra Khru Sangvorkittikun, or Luang Pho Eia Kittigo of Ban Dan Temple in Koh Loi Subdistrict, Pranchuap Khiri Khan District, was commemorated. Forty to fifty years ago, no one in the Thai-Cambodian border region of the east was unfamiliar with the renowned Luang Pho Eia. He received numerous invitations to preside over Buddhist ordination ceremonies throughout Pranchuap Khiri Khan Province and beyond, including major ceremonies in Bangkok.

Born on May 9, 1905, he lost his parents in his youth but remained devoted to education, completing his secondary studies at Chachoengsao Provincial School. He ordained on May 8, 1922, at age 17, and diligently studied Buddhist scripture and meditation. He received his higher ordination on May 18, 1925, at Samphan Temple in Pranchuap Khiri Khan Province.

A gifted scholar driven to constantly seek knowledge despite the limited educational opportunities of his time, Luang Pho Eia traveled to study at Luang Pu Suk's monastery, learning both traditional healing and ancient medicine. Recognizing the opportunity to help others, he provided assistance to anyone suffering—whether from physical ailments, emotional distress, or other hardships—without hesitation. Those who came to him received warmth and compassion rooted in the four brahmaviharas: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, which earned him widespread fame.

Appointed as abbot in 1939, he devoted himself to serving the community through medical care and spiritual guidance. The temple became like a small hospital, with some patients staying for months to receive his care. In 1958, he was appointed head of Koh Loi Subdistrict, overseeing seven temples, and in 1959 became an ordained teacher. He received the ecclesiastical title Phra Khru Sangvorkittikun in 1968.

Throughout his life, he trained monks, novices, and lay practitioners, promoting education by establishing a Buddhist studies academy and founding Koh Loi Kittigo School. He created numerous sacred amulets, medals, pendants, photographs, blessed powders, and talismans. When the impermanence of all conditioned things led to his death on July 17, 1978, at age 73 and 52 years of monastic life, his final instruction to his disciples was: "All of you must perform good deeds through body, speech, and mind. Those who do so will surpass all others. Remember that unity is strength, both in the world and in the dharma. Wherever you live, bring prosperity to that place through honesty and integrity. All things will manifest themselves."

On May 8, 2025, Chiewchai Konglim, owner of Chiewchai Industry (1989) and Ban Mae Rao Resort in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, along with family members Samay Konglim and Chatchai Konglim, donated an emergency ambulance to Siammongkol Subdistrict Municipality in Klangdong subdistrict, Pak Chong district. The vehicle was received by Wiroj Srisangkha, mayor of Siammongkol Subdistrict Municipality, for use in disaster prevention and relief operations in the area.

In addition, Chiewchai Konglim executed four charitable projects with a combined value of 92.8 million baht: 1) Contributed 9 million baht toward constructing a women's dormitory at Mukdahkiri School for the Blind in Pak Chong district; 2) Contributed 200,000 baht toward a multipurpose hall addition at Thar Uthumphon Temple in Klongduen village, Mueang Si subdistrict, Pak Chong district; 3) Donated 100,000 baht for Buddhist monk support at Pama Kham Temple in Pak Chong district; 4) Donated 31 ambulances valued at 37 million baht to health promotion hospitals and local government organizations, totaling 46.5 million baht in combined value.

Wiroj Srisangkha, mayor of Siammongkol Subdistrict Municipality, expressed gratitude for Chiewchai Konglim's recognition of the importance of social assistance across various sectors. He noted that the municipality's location near Friendship Highway, a major route to northeastern Thailand, experiences continuous traffic accidents, with over 10 emergency rescue cases daily. The municipality also presented a Buddha statue called Phra Phutthaskol Siammongkol (Luang Pho Phra Khao) as a token of appreciation.

Chiewchai Konglim stated that donating ambulances and contributing funds to temples and schools represents his birthday charity and is dedicated to his late business partner Sutheep Thepprdit. He expressed his willingness and sincere commitment to supporting these various organizations.

At 12:30 PM on May 8, 2025, at Khok Khram Police Station, content creator Lukmee Rasmi Thongsiripirasri disclosed that she decided to file the complaint due to continuous verbal abuse spanning several weeks, with social media posts appearing every 2-3 hours. The attacks targeted not only her but also other individuals, prompting her to exercise her legal rights. Pu Manthana denied accusations of sabotaging her business, stating that since meeting Rasmi, she has never witnessed any of the claimed business ventures including handbags, watches, cars, collagen products, or other enterprises mentioned. When asked how many cases this represents, Lukmee stated it is her sixth case in court but only her second at the police station. She acknowledged experiencing accumulated stress over the past week due to the prolonged dispute lasting over two years and lack of financial reimbursement. Lukmee provided an example of an incident during a trip to Krabi province with lawyer Kung and lawyer Decha, when Decha was live-streaming and someone asked if EM bracelets could be brought on airplanes. After researching and finding that EM bracelets could interfere with aircraft systems, she posted this information without naming anyone, but was immediately attacked and criticized afterward. When asked if she felt frustrated, Lukmee admitted to being somewhat irritated recently and sometimes needing to go out, dance, or eat to manage her emotions, though she occasionally cries when the accumulated problems weigh on her. She confirmed this situation has not reached the point of destroying her life, only resulting in a loss of over 2 million baht, and believed that if all parties cooperated, everything could be resolved. She accepted her misfortune in encountering such a counterparty and chose to continue doing good deeds. She also wished her counterpart would reflect on herself, noting the other party has never resolved the money issue and has many ongoing cases. Lawyer Kung stated that she submitted certification documents and evidence to the investigating officers today to proceed with the case through completion, with charges of defamation through advertisement and insult through advertisement.