Eight Thai nationals crossed back into Thailand after working at an online gambling casino in Laos for only 10 days before authorities shut it down. They attempted to smuggle 127 mobile phones across the Mekong River back to Nong Khai, claiming the devices were used to transfer funds between gambling website customers.

At 11:00 AM on May 22, 2025, officers from the Nong Khai Customs Office, Immigration Bureau, military, and police jointly apprehended Ms. Sukanya, 38; Mr. Manas, 32; Mr. Praphruek, 20; Mr. Niphon, 23; Ms. Hattairat, 24; Mr. Somphorn, 31; Mr. Chatchai, 36; and Ms. Orthhai, 24—all Thai nationals—along with 127 mobile phones.

During routine screening at the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border checkpoint in Muang Nong Khai, officers stopped a Hyundai vehicle (registration Kb 0437, Kamphaengphet) entering from Laos. The driver was Laotian with eight Thai passengers inside. Upon inspection of their luggage, officers discovered large quantities of hidden mobile phones, totaling 127 units, and detained all passengers.

Under interrogation, all eight confessed to traveling to operate an online gambling website at a Laos casino location. They launched the website on May 10, 2025, but it was shut down after just 10 days by Laotian authorities. They decided to return to Thailand to resettle. The mobile phones were equipment used to process financial transfers between gambling website customers and were being transported for potential future operations.

Authorities charged them with illegal importation of goods (mobile phones) without customs procedures. Police are investigating potential connections to scam operations and call centers, with the case being forwarded to Muang Nong Khai Police Station for further legal proceedings.

On May 22, 2025, Deputy Commander Theeyaphat Rangsipramanakul of Nong Khai Immigration, along with immigration officials, received custody of 102 Thai nationals suspected of involvement in scamming operations from Laos at the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint in Muang Nong Khai District. Among them was 33-year-old Phongthep from Nonthaburi, subject to arrest warrant No. 125/2566 issued on January 13, 2566, facing charges including fraud, impersonation, gang membership, transnational organized crime participation, computer fraud, and money laundering, with the Anti-Scamming Division handling the case.

During interrogation, Phongthep stated that in 2566, a friend named Aek invited him to work as a call center employee in Cambodia. He illegally crossed the border through Sakaew Province and was detained for 12 days upon arrival. When offered illegal work, Phongthep refused and was threatened for payment of 30,000 baht or to have relatives send money. Unable to comply, he was tortured with electric shocks and forced to read scripts impersonating a police officer receiving complaints for two months before escaping back to Thailand. In mid-April 2567, seeing an online job posting for packaging work in Laos, he crossed the border illegally through Nakhon Phanom Province to Savannakhet Province in Laos. Though employers provided accommodation, he was arrested by Lao authorities and deported to Thailand before starting work.

On May 22, Social Development and Human Security Minister Nikorn Somklang, accompanied by Deputy Education Minister Akkaranant Kanngittinant, led senior officials to Ban Ta Tum School in Kanchanaburi province to launch the 'Creating Opportunities, Building Knowledge for the Future' activity under the 'Kanchanaburi Quality of Life Development Project for All Ages—Leaving No One Behind' program. The delegation distributed educational scholarships and relief supplies while consulting with teachers and community leaders on education development approaches.

Minister Nikorn stated that the field visit aimed to integrate responses to aging populations and declining birth rates by accelerating the Children and Youth Council of Wang Dong Subdistrict in cooperation with the community, while equipping education to develop children's potential for future readiness. He confirmed support for teacher housing repairs, poverty assistance funds, and training budgets for community networks to sustainably improve quality of life across all age groups.

Deputy Minister Akkaranant noted that Ban Ta Tum School exemplifies the Foundation for Innovation in Northern Neighborhoods (FINN Model), emphasizing project-based learning and vocational skills. The school won the gold medal for 'One School, One Profession' and maintained its White Diamond institutional rating for three consecutive years, demonstrating that education connected to real-world practice produces tangible results.

The officials also inspected teacher housing and school facilities to understand infrastructure issues and student needs, and reviewed information on nearby small schools to consider consolidation strategies for efficient budget allocation and maximum benefit. Deputy Minister Akkaranant emphasized that the primary goal is to deliver genuine benefits to the area by quickly repairing requested teacher housing into safe zones and coordinating with the Social Development Ministry to repair residents' homes, stressing that development success requires collaborative multi-dimensional efforts to ensure genuine benefits for the community.

After Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford thanked everyone following his selection for England's 2026 World Cup squad while notably omitting Manchester United, his former club, he has now issued a clarification.

Rashford's departure from Man United under Ruben Amorim was contentious before he was loaned to Aston Villa and Barcelona, where he regained his form and earned his return to the England squad. He posted on Instagram Stories: "Special thanks to Unai Emery, Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel, Aston Villa, Barcelona and England for believing in me during a difficult time." The omission of Manchester United from the message sparked widespread criticism.

Shortly after, Rashford took to Twitter/X to clarify: "To be clear about my Instagram story, it was not a dig at anyone whatsoever. I am a Manchester United fan and will continue to be a Manchester United fan. I was simply showing appreciation to the clubs and coaches I've worked with over the past 18 months. They played a crucial role in my selection for England this time."

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.

Africa's top public health body confirmed the outbreak in Congo's Ituri Province on May 15. The case count has risen to around 150 suspected deaths and more than 600 suspected cases.

Health authorities say the outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola that has no approved medicines or vaccines. The outbreak is occurring in a part of Congo facing conflict caused by armed rebel groups and the displacement of large numbers of people fleeing the violence.

"This is a context that is incredibly complicated to try to manage," said Lina Moses, an epidemiologist and disease ecologist at Tulane University who worked as a first responder coordinating contact tracing during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak.

How Ebola can spread

Ebola disease is highly contagious and can be transmitted to people from wild animals. It spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and with contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing.

The disease is rare but severe and often fatal in people. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding.

The first Ebola virus to be identified was in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now Congo. The first outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests.

What the WHO's emergency declaration means

The WHO says the latest Ebola outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency, such as COVID-19, and advises against closing international borders.

Its emergency declaration is meant to spur donors into action. However, the global response to previous declarations has been mixed.

When the WHO declared mpox outbreaks in Congo and elsewhere in Africa as a global emergency in 2024, experts at the time said it did little to get supplies like diagnostic tests, medicines and vaccines to affected countries quickly.

An array of aid agencies are trying to help. WHO representatives in Congo said organizations on the ground included UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Food Program and the Red Cross.

Where the outbreak started

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the first cases were reported in late April in Bunia, the capital of Congo's Ituri Province, and the nearby Mongbwalu health zone, a high-traffic mining area. However, officials say they are not certain of the source and the outbreak may have started weeks earlier and gone unnoticed.

Ituri is in remote eastern Congo, with poor road networks and health facilities, and is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the capital, Kinshasa.

The Africa CDC said a major concern is that Ituri Province borders Uganda and South Sudan, raising the risk of Ebola crossing borders.

An emergency medical worker in Uttaradit province has died after an ambulance crashed while responding to an emergency call during heavy rain.

The accident occurred on 21 May involving an ambulance from Nam Pat Hospital in Uttaradit. Officials said the vehicle lost control and veered off the road due to slippery conditions while transporting staff to assist an emergency patient.

Nattanicha Bangchan, also known as "June", was critically injured while on duty inside the ambulance. Rescue workers and emergency personnel in Uttaradit rushed to assist and transferred her to Uttaradit Hospital, where she later died.

The Ministry of Public Health expressed condolences to her family in a statement posted on social media, describing her death as occurring while carrying out emergency medical duties.

Many Thai social media users also paid tribute to Nattanicha, praising her dedication and sacrifice while serving on duty until the final moments of her life.