At least three people have died in a severe eruption of Mount Dukono on Halmahera Island, part of the Maluku Islands in North Maluku Province, according to Indonesian police reports on May 8. North Halmahera Police Commander Erlickson Pasaribu stated that the three fatalities include two Singaporean nationals and one local from Ternate Island. Twenty climbers were on Mount Dukono during the eruption, including nine foreign nationals. Besides the two Singaporeans who died, seven other foreign climbers safely descended the mountain, though the three bodies remain on the volcano due to ongoing eruptions. Iwan Ramdani, head of the local rescue unit, told Reuters that nine of the climbers are Singaporean and the rest are Indonesian. Authorities have deployed dozens of personnel, including police, military, and civilian volunteers, to search for climbers stranded higher up the mountain following the eruption. Indonesia's national search and rescue agency received the first emergency alert around 8:55 a.m. local time after detecting a distress signal from a Garmin device, an American technology company product. According to the National Disaster Mitigation Office, Mount Dukono first erupted at 7:41 a.m., followed by a Level 2 alert declaration indicating elevated volcanic activity that has persisted since March 29.

The viral global Thai soft power phenomenon "Bangkok City" by KT Kratae brought Phak Nam Pho, Nakhon Sawan's main district, alive throughout the night as social media enthusiasts united to dance, celebrate Thai pride, and create content showcasing traditional Thai attire to the world. The full-scale KT Kratae concert at Hangover@Nakhon Sawan created a massive Thai dress fashion fever, beautifully concluding the Songkran festival celebrations.

The venue was filled with young people sporting stylish sai (traditional shawls) paired with jeans as they watched the full fashion show prepared by the restaurant. The music label delivered "Bangkok City," a feel-good Dancehall/Latin-Pop track with Thai essence that resonated with the landmark location of Phak Nam Pho. The performance sparked a trendy fashion wave combining traditional Thai wear with contemporary style, engaging both Thai and international audiences.

Over 30 performers including Kratae's supporters, Kratai, Kritsana Bunyaleang, Toshi-Jiratip Panthi, and team members performed non-stop medley sets, creating unforgettable moments for Nakhon Sawan residents. Hangover@Nakhon Sawan offered exclusive benefits with intimate artist interactions resembling a home concert, reflecting manager Peach-Supichya Paitoon's vision of creating a comfortable, familial atmosphere. The venue even constructed a new stage nearly as large as the restaurant itself to surprise Nakhon Sawan visitors while promoting Thai culture to younger generations and elevating Thai music to international standards.

CHIANG MAI — On May 7, 2026, Thai tourist police arrested eight Chinese nationals during a raid on an illegal film set in Chiang Mai where a Chinese 'vertical series' was being produced without official authorization.

The operation was part of a nationwide crackdown ordered by the Royal Thai Police targeting criminal activity involving foreign tourists.

Tourist Police Bureau Commissioner Lt. Gen. Saksira Pueak-am directed units nationwide to step up inspections of foreign visitors. Investigators from Tourist Police Division 2 launched the inquiry after receiving reports of unauthorized filming at a residence in Hang Dong district.

Police discovered a crew of Chinese filmmakers and a Thai interpreter actively filming inside the property. The group could not produce the filming permits required under Thai law, and no government officials were overseeing the production as regulations mandate.

Investigators found that the Chinese nationals had entered Thailand on tourist visas and lacked work permits. A suspect identified as Ms. Wei admitted to working as both producer and actress on the 'vertical series'—a short-form drama format gaining popularity online.

She explained that the production team chose Chiang Mai for its appeal to Chinese tourists and its famous attractions.

Authorities informed the suspects that film production in Thailand is governed by the 2008 Film and Video Act, which requires official approval, script review, and government supervision during filming to prevent content that could harm the country's image. Violations carry fines up to 1 million baht.

The eight Chinese nationals were transferred to Hang Dong police station to face charges of working in Thailand without authorization. Police said additional legal action regarding the unauthorized film production would be escalated to the Film and Video Committee under the Tourism Department.

Tourist police encouraged the public to report suspicious foreign national activity via the 1155 Tourist Police hotline or the Thailand Tourist Police application, available 24/7.

Officers from Chakravarti Police Station successfully prevented a suicide attempt and safely de-escalated the crisis. Major Chaikrit Pothacha, Major Watcharavir Thammasemai, and other officers including Deputy Chief Sanya Lekklaa, Sub-Lieutenant Krithanai Glianglom, and Officer Jaturphon Bunthuam received reports at 11:45 AM on May 6th of a man attempting to end his life at Phra Pokklao Bridge. Upon arrival, officers found a distressed individual and immediately engaged in careful negotiation, using respectful language to calm him. Through their professional intervention and compassionate approach, the officers successfully controlled the situation and ensured the man received help safely without any tragic outcome.

On May 8, 2025, at the Nakhon Ratchasima Bar Association office, 61-year-old Ponthip Chanyaviphaa from Hua Thale subdistrict, along with nine other affected self-employed workers under Section 39, met with Prathep Charoenphong Anant, chairman of the Nakhon Ratchasima Bar Association, to seek legal assistance for a class-action lawsuit regarding inadequate old-age pensions.

The group alleges that self-employed workers who switched from Section 33 to Section 39 are receiving significantly lower pensions than they should. The problem stems from how the contribution calculation base is interpreted. Workers who previously contributed under Section 33 with a wage basis of 15,000 baht for decades find their calculation base reduced to just 4,800 baht under Section 39, resulting in pension losses of nearly 70%.

Ponthip revealed that she worked as a factory employee under Section 33 before registering as a self-employed worker under Section 39 to access healthcare benefits. However, she now receives only 1,320 baht monthly in pension—insufficient for living expenses amid economic hardship and inflation.

Khwanjai Ung Gerd, 55, shared that she underwent kidney surgery and sought social security protection as a low-income worker, switching from Section 33 to Section 39. Instead of protection, she received a trap: only 1,397 baht monthly—approximately 46 baht daily. She noted that even a basic meal costs 50 baht, making survival impossible. At her age, she cannot find new employment and must resort to gardening and casual labor, potentially becoming a burden on her children and relatives.

Prathep announced that the bar association is mobilizing over 100 volunteer lawyers to gather evidence and establish a fact-finding committee to seek justice. They are preparing to file the class-action lawsuit. Other affected Section 39 workers can join the case by submitting documentation to the Nakhon Ratchasima Bar Association. Although some Supreme Court verdicts have ordered pension payments according to rights, many cases remain unresolved, with affected individuals believed to exist throughout Thailand.

A concerning new trend has emerged among young people in China: using specialized AI models to create digital versions of their exes. Called Ex.skill, this open-source module lets users upload relationship data—including chat histories, photos, social media posts, and personal descriptions—to "extract" their former partner's identity as an AI chatbot.

These "AI exes" can reportedly mimic tone of voice, favorite phrases, and linguistic quirks of the original person, while recalling shared experiences from the uploaded data. Essentially, the module enables users to "transfer memories from biological neural networks to digital neural networks." On GitHub, Ex.skill's creator explicitly stated the project is "intended solely for self-reflection and emotional healing, not for stalking, harassment, or privacy violations."

However, the trend's growing popularity has sparked heated debate over privacy concerns, emotional dependency, and the appropriate boundaries of AI in romantic relationships. While the stated goal is to help people move past failed relationships, critics worry that emotional attachment to AI could hinder forming healthy real-world relationships. Privacy concerns also loom large, as personal data is fed into systems without the original person's consent.

Despite criticism, some Ex.skill users claim the tool has genuinely helped them achieve closure. One user reported being able to say things to their digital ex they never dared express in real life, while others noted that talking to the AI recreation helped them realize their ex "wasn't that great after all."