On Sunday, May 10, 2026, Phra Phrom Wachirsopon (Luang Pu Srichan Punnyarato), regional ecclesiastical advisor and abbot of Wat Bung Phra Laan Chai, presided over the ceremonial candle lighting at the grand Buddha image consecration ceremony for Luang Pu Tuad amulets at Wat Mai Thung Na Luang. The temple's abbot, Phra Kru Sutnava Khettakosol, joined with local and visiting Buddhists for the ceremony at Wat Mai Thung Na Luang in Roi Et Province.

Abbot Phra Kru Sutnava explained that the temple had previously initiated the construction of a large Luang Pu Tuad statue measuring 12.99 meters wide and 19 meters tall—the largest in Roi Et Province—with the foundation stone ceremony held in February 2025, presided over by Roi Et Governor Chatchawal Benjsiriwong. Due to substantial construction costs, the temple committee decided to produce blessed Luang Pu Tuad amulets in various materials to support fundraising efforts.

The temple commissioned master amulet craftsman Thanakorn Chanthayotha of Roi Et to oversee production, with support from Phra Subhakorn Sukgamo and committee members Vichai Bunyindie and Vichai Upmiyaram. The amulet series includes seven types: 39 special sacred powder amulets at 999 baht each; 25,000 large powder amulets at 199 baht each; 25,000 small powder amulets at 199 baht each; 2,569 mineral amulets at 399 baht each; 2,569 giant's ash powder amulets at 399 baht each; 5,069 blackened brass amulets at 499 baht each; and 2,569 special herbal oil-soaked amulets distributed free to attendees.

Proceeds from amulet sales will fund construction of the massive Luang Pu Tuad statue at Wat Mai Thung Na Luang, providing a spiritual focal point for devotees throughout Roi Et Province and nationwide. Vichai Bunyindie, the temple's lay administrator, expressed gratitude to all participating organizations and acknowledged the presiding monks, particularly Luang Pu Srichan Punnyarato, for their guidance and blessings.

The article details several sacred amulets created by respected monks from monasteries across Thailand. Luangpho Sanga Jittasangvaro, former abbot of Wat Thaptan Wattanarama in Uthai Thani province, created a square powder amulet of Luangpho To in 1972 to raise public funds, modeled after a statue in the monastery's ordination hall. The front features a relief image of the Buddha subduing Mara seated on a platform with divine cloth under a glass cover, while the back shows a large Na yantra with Khmer characters and Thai script reading 'Luangpho To, Wat Thaptan.' Due to limited production, these amulets have become rare. In 1971, Luangpho Som Sunthordhamma created similar amulets in various bronze and copper finishes to commemorate his 80th birthday. The article also covers highly collectible amulets created by Luangpho Phet of Wat Nontharee in Ayutthaya and Luangpho Lue from Wat Mueang Kha in Phrae province, all recognized as valuable pieces among amulet collectors.

TCEB is accelerating its MICE industry initiatives for the latter half of 2025, launching three major projects on the global stage. Dr. Suphawan Teerapattanakul, Director of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), revealed that the organization will strategically position Thailand's MICE industry to maximize market share both domestically and internationally. Three projects will be progressively unveiled in May, with two debuts at IMEX Frankfurt 2026 in Germany and one domestic launch.

Project One: Maximize Thailand addresses the "modern MICE traveler trend" by prioritizing return on experience over return on investment. The initiative encompasses three dimensions: (1) Infrastructure and Connectivity—ensuring convenient and seamless travel access to events; (2) More Experience—partnering with stakeholders including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and sustainable tourism development organizations to showcase unique regional characteristics; and (3) Economic and Environmental Impact—advancing toward Net Zero Carbon emissions, aligning with global standards now prominently featured at major European MICE venues.

Project Two: Net Zero Academy launches in Thailand through a Memorandum of Understanding with JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council), the primary international MICE industry organization. This training curriculum will equip Thai entrepreneurs and professionals with knowledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve Net Zero Emission targets, enabling them to comply with international environmental standards effectively.

Project Three: The new "Jergan" mobile application, developed with multiple industry associations, creates a digital community platform serving all MICE stakeholders—travelers, organizers, and participants—across Thailand's regions. Piloting from Bangkok and surrounding areas, the app integrates MICE Connect data, community information, and service providers including hotels, convention centers, restaurants, and new attractions, facilitating seamless travel experiences.

The Supreme Court issued its ruling on May 26 in case number NACC 1/2568, between the National Anti-Corruption Commission and defendant Ekarat Changlea, a former member of parliament. The NACC alleged that Changlea, while serving as manager of the Khon Kaen Teachers' Savings Cooperative, exploited his position to embezzle funds and forge financial documents to mislead the cooperative's membership.

The court found that between 2011 and 2019, Changlea and associates withdrew 396 million baht from the cooperative on August 16, 2011, transferred it to personal accounts, and used 106 million baht to purchase five parcels of land totaling 6 rai, 2 ngan, and 34.9 square wa, registered in Changlea's name alone. Three parcels were mortgaged back to the cooperative as security for an affiliated company's debt—an illegal and fraudulent act. The remaining 290 million baht difference disappeared, constituting embezzlement that harmed the cooperative and its members.

Moreover, from 2011 to 2019, Changlea and associates falsified the cooperative's deposit ledgers. From 2013 to 2019, they showed members a balance of approximately 400 million baht at annual meetings when the actual balance was only 70,000 baht. The final false entry on August 4, 2019, claimed a balance of 431,941,984.59 baht when only 79,774.16 baht remained. The ledgers were only returned in October 2019 after new ethical standards for independent agency officials took effect.

Based on evidence of embezzlement, document forgery, and use of forged documents, the Supreme Court concluded that Changlea violated principles of rule of law and ethical standards, causing damage to the dignity of his parliamentary position. Consequently, he is stripped of voting rights for 10 years.

In 2024, Yuri, a 50-year-old man living in Rylets, a small town in Kursk Oblast, Russia, was trimming maple branches in his backyard when a wood fragment struck his left eye forcefully. Not wearing safety glasses at the time, he immediately felt the impact and experienced sharp pain, but the discomfort gradually subsided, causing him to believe it was only a minor injury.

As time passed, Yuri nearly forgot about the incident, though he continued experiencing intermittent eye pain and irritation in his left eye. Despite multiple visits to eye specialists, doctors could not identify the underlying cause of his chronic eye pain, and treatments proved ineffective.

About three months ago, Yuri's condition deteriorated dramatically. The pain intensified unbearably, and he began experiencing blurred vision in his left eye. Doctors at Kursk Regional Hospital conducted MRI and CT scans, revealing a shocking discovery: a 12-centimeter wooden branch had pierced through his eye socket, penetrated deep into the sinus cavity, and damaged the base of his skull near critical brain structures.

Surgeon teams successfully removed the branch through an endoscopic approach via the nasal cavity without requiring external skull surgery. The procedure went smoothly, and remarkably, Yuri's vision was preserved. He is currently under medical care with an excellent prognosis for complete recovery.

Police are intensifying their manhunt for a middle-aged woman who snatched lottery tickets from a blind street vendor outside a convenience store inside Haad Yai Hospital in Songkhla province on May 23. The victim, 41-year-old Ajchara Kangratana, a visually impaired lottery vendor, reported that the suspect initially tried to trade durians for lottery tickets, but when refused, employed a distraction tactic to steal the tickets and flee. The exact number of stolen lottery tickets remains unclear, though the victim claims she experiences similar incidents regularly due to her disability.

According to Ajchara's account, the incident occurred around 2 p.m. on May 23 when a middle-aged woman carrying a box of durians approached her. The woman first attempted to sell the durians at a discounted price of 180 baht instead of 230 baht, claiming she needed money for car repairs. When the vendor declined, the suspect proposed trading durians for lottery tickets, starting with a full set before negotiating down to just one or two tickets. Ajchara repeatedly refused, explaining she needed to save the money for her children's education and living expenses.

The suspect then asked if the vendor had a mobile payment system. Upon learning that she did, the woman claimed to have 200-300 baht on her phone and wanted to buy 2-3 tickets. As Ajchara quoted the price for the first ticket at 100 baht, the suspect pretended to call her boyfriend to help with the payment while simultaneously grabbing a second lottery ticket. When Ajchara tried to inform her the total was 200 baht for two tickets, she noticed the suspect moving away and demanded payment or return of the tickets. The suspect claimed she was only taking one ticket before quickly fleeing the scene.

Ajchara appealed to passersby for help and acknowledged this was not an isolated incident. She revealed she falls victim to similar scams repeatedly because of her visual impairment. Police Lieutenant Colonel Matha Gaew Thong, superintendent of Haad Yai Police Station, was notified and initiated a manhunt. Investigators collected CCTV footage from the area and are interviewing the victim further. The suspect is described as a middle-aged woman with a pattern of targeting blind lottery vendors in similar schemes. Police are processing the case according to legal procedures.