World No. 7 May Ratanok Intanon and world No. 2 View Kulewut Vitidsantisuk, two beloved Thai badminton stars, shared their preparations ahead of the Toyota Thailand Open 2026, an HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament with a royal trophy and over $500,000 in prize money (approximately 16.5 million baht) scheduled for May 12-17, 2026 at Nimibutr Sports Building, National Sports Stadium.

May revealed that she is recovering gradually from injury and is currently in the process of rebuilding her fitness. She expressed she does not want to set high expectations, preferring to do her best with whatever capacity she has. If she has 80 percent fitness, she will give that 80 percent her best effort and focus on her play as much as possible. Her goal for this tournament is to take it round by round and to leave the court without sustaining any new injuries.

May reflected on the recent Uber Cup 2026, where the Thai women's team was eliminated in the quarterfinals. She noted that while her body may not have been at 100 percent, she felt good on court and regained confidence in her training and development. She expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, as they faced very strong opponents in the quarterfinals and gave their all.

View shared that the recent Thomas Cup 2026 was a valuable experience where she and her team performed at full capacity. She expressed optimism about the future of Thai men's badminton, noting that younger players are rising in both singles and doubles categories, and believes the men's team will be significantly stronger in the next two years.

Regarding the Thailand Open 2026, View said she will focus on taking the tournament round by round, as it features many top-level athletes. She is eager to perform her best while playing in her home country, which she already loves. She will approach the tournament one round at a time.

View concluded by revealing that she has prepared a new victory pose, hinting it is inspired by One Piece, a popular manga and anime that she enjoys. She playfully promised that if she wins the championship, Thai badminton fans will definitely see it. She also sent her support to all Thai badminton athletes.

Young celebrity Khong Krathaphan has broken his silence to reassure worried fans, posting "Thank you all for your concern. My dragon is doing just fine." This comes amid major news coverage after a young businessman filed a complaint against a renowned fortune teller from Lampang province who allegedly conducted questionable spiritual ceremonies and caused harm to multiple victims.

Khong Krathaphan, who previously consulted the fortune teller—known for past-life readings and spiritual remedies—accompanied late actor Mek Vinai Kraibut during his serious illness in hopes of spiritual support. Upon learning of the complaint, the fortune teller expressed shock and firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating he had not seen Khong Krathaphan in years and never conducted any improper rituals with him. The fortune teller insisted he only advised Khong Krathaphan to make merit at five temples and seek spiritual guidance regarding karmic debts.

In his latest post, Khong Krathaphan wrote: "Thank you to everyone who's been concerned. My dragon is still doing well..." He added, "Seeing headlines from various outlets, I worried people might misunderstand me, so I want to clarify that I'm safe and sound. P.S. Thanks for using the term 'dragon' out of respect, as mainstream media typically uses other terms." His post sparked playful comments from fellow entertainers and supportive messages from fans.

SC Asset has joined forces with Thai Longstay Management (TLM) to introduce a special campaign offering one-year Long Stay Visa privileges for foreign nationals purchasing and transferring ownership of SC condominiums valued at 3 million baht or higher, covering three brands across six prime locations beginning April.

Pichachakorn Mesak, Deputy Managing Director of International Network and Foreign Customer Relations at SC Asset Corporation Public Company Limited, revealed that the company developed this solution to address a critical demand from foreign clients interested in long-term residence in Thailand. She explained that while project quality and location remain important, visa restrictions have posed significant barriers to decision-making.

"Foreign customers consider more than just project quality and location," Pichachakorn stated. "Long-term residency convenience is equally crucial, and visa limitations remain a major obstacle in many cases. SC aims to develop solutions that reduce these barriers and make residential investment in Thailand more accessible."

She added that the initiative supports Thailand's positioning as a world-class living destination, particularly as geopolitical tensions worldwide increase demand for alternative residence options.

The campaign features six locations across three brands:

1) Reference Sathorn-Wongwianyai – Near BTS Wongwianyai station on the Green Line with river views, offering convenient access to Silom, Sathorn, and IconSiam 2) COBE Kaset-Sripatum – Move-in ready project adjacent to BTS Bangbua station with full amenities and 24-hour access, 10 minutes from Central Lad Prao 3) COBE Ratchada-Rama 9 – New project ready for occupancy in late May, near MRT Cultural Center and Central Rama 9 4) SCOPE Langsuan – Ultimate Class condominium on one of Thailand's most expensive land locations, featuring maximum privacy and meticulous design 5) SCOPE Promsri – Luxury low-rise condominium in Sukhumvit district, notable for contemporary design incorporating iconic global furniture brands like Ligne Roset 6) SCOPE Thonglor – Ultra-luxury 32-story high-rise featuring only 18 penthouse units, directly adjacent to BTS Thonglor station

Pichachakorn noted that Thailand ranks among the top destinations for diverse foreign groups including retirees, medical tourists, international students, and those seeking refuge from global conflicts. The Long Stay Visa benefit will simplify decision-making for these markets and position Thailand as an attractive haven for global citizens.

SC Asset continues developing projects and services tailored to international clients, emphasizing residential quality, prime locations, and comprehensive services.

A young man driving a luxury sedan crashed at high speed into a plastic barrier, flipping the vehicle and ejecting debris that struck a road construction worker. Three people were seriously injured in the incident. On May 8, 2025, emergency responders reported receiving a call at 11:40 p.m. on May 7 about a vehicle rollover on Highway 331 heading toward Rayong, across from the Bira Circuit racing track in Huai Yai subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chachoengsao province. Rescue teams arrived to find a black Mercedes-Benz with Bangkok license plates flipped upside down in the middle of the road. Inside the vehicle were two seriously injured occupants—a 29-year-old Chinese couple, with the male driver. Emergency personnel rushed them to the hospital. A third victim, 45-year-old Ladiat (surname withheld), a traffic warning signal installation technician who was working at the roadside construction site, was struck by debris when the barrier was ejected and suffered serious injuries.

The vehicle was traveling at high speed before striking the plastic barrier, causing it to ricochet into the worker. The work crew supervisor stated that he was unaware of the incident until a subordinate called to report that a team member had been hit. Upon arriving, he found that the luxury sedan had crashed into the barrier, which then struck Ladiat while he was installing warning lights at the construction zone.

Police initially documented the scene as evidence and are preparing to review security camera footage from the surrounding area to determine the full cause and circumstances of the accident. All injured parties are receiving treatment in the hospital pending police investigation and legal proceedings.

Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, forecasts Bitcoin will reach $85,000 after recently touching $80,000, driven by strong institutional demand for Bitcoin ETFs. Grace Chen, CEO of Bitget, revealed that positive capital inflows exceed $400 million daily and $1 billion weekly through Bitcoin ETF purchases since January.

Market indicators show CME Bitcoin Futures open interest has fallen to approximately $8.4 billion, the lowest in 14 months, suggesting reduced leveraged speculation and strengthening genuine buying demand. The Fear & Greed Index has improved from extreme fear levels of 25-30 in mid-April to 50-60 this week, the highest in three months, indicating growing market confidence.

"With institutional investor support and improving sentiment, we expect Bitcoin to reach $85,000 and Ethereum to touch $3,000," Chen stated.

Bitcoin's recovery has also benefited from strength in U.S. equity markets, with the S&P 500 up 5.7% year-to-date, though gains are concentrated in just 10 stocks led by chip and AI infrastructure companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Broadcom, representing nearly 45% of the index.

The growth trajectory of AI technology is interconnected with blockchain expansion, as AI agents capable of autonomous analysis and decision-making increasingly influence investment markets—from executing trades to analyzing market data and monitoring portfolios. Chen expects AI agents will replace hedge fund traders by 2028, while over 70% of global spot crypto trading is already automated.

Bitget has developed a comprehensive AI Agent Stack including GetClaw for automated order execution, GetAgent for market analysis and decision support, Gracy AI for strategic recommendations, and Agent Hub infrastructure for developers. "We believe 125 million retail investors worldwide should have access to the same investment tools as Wall Street institutions, so we've built these AI tools to help them survive in the market and democratize access to AI technology," Chen concluded.

Residents were shocked to discover what they initially mistook for a floating coconut was actually the body of a deceased monk floating face-down in a canal behind a temple. The monk had mysteriously disappeared overnight, leaving behind a trail of footprints through the rice fields between the monastery buildings.

On May 8, 2569, emergency responders reported that at 3:00 PM on May 7, the Udon Thani Emergency Response Center 191 received a report of a dead monk floating in a canal behind a temple in Na Kha Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province. Police from Na Kha Station and rescue workers from the Udon Bright Dharma Foundation rushed to investigate.

At the scene near the canal behind the temple, officials found a monk lying face-down in the water. The deceased was identified as Phra Tong, 48 years old, an ordained member of the temple. The body showed signs of decomposition, so officials cordoned off the area and carefully removed the body from the water as shocked residents gathered to witness the grim discovery.

According to a preliminary autopsy examination by the on-duty physician, Phra Tong likely died approximately one to one and a half days earlier, with no visible injuries or signs of foul play. Officials also discovered footprints leading from the monk's quarters through the rice fields to the point where the body was found, suggesting he may have walked from his cell to the canal before the incident occurred.

When questioned, Noi, 52, the first person to discover the body, said he was heading out to fish early in the morning when he noticed something floating on the water. At first, he thought it was a coconut, but upon closer inspection, he was shocked to realize it was a monk's body. He immediately called the village headman before alerting police.

Noi mentioned that he had seen the monk walking around the temple area just two days earlier. He noted that the monk was known to have mental health issues and would frequently wander through the village or disappear from the temple on a regular basis.

The village headman, who was a relative of the deceased monk, explained that Phra Tong had been ordained for some time and suffered from incomplete mental clarity. He required constant medication and medical treatment. Initially, his condition improved, but in recent months, he refused to take his medication, causing his symptoms to worsen. He experienced periods of forgetfulness and confusion, and would alternate between wearing white robes and yellow robes on different days.

About two to three months earlier, the monk had been hit by a car in Sakon Nakhon Province, and relatives had to retrieve him from the hospital. After that, he frequently attempted to travel to Sakon Nakhon. On May 6, relatives noticed him preparing his belongings as if he planned to travel again and tried to prevent him from leaving, but he disappeared shortly after. They later learned he had become the body found in the canal.

After officials retrieved the body from the water, relatives did not seek further investigation into the cause of death, as they were well aware of his mental health condition. They believe the monk likely had an accidental fall into the water and drowned. They subsequently took his body to perform merit-making rituals according to Buddhist tradition.