On May 7, 2025, Dr. Montatip Kanjasawasdi, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health, announced heightened surveillance for mpox (Mpox), particularly the Clade Ib variant, following the holiday tourism season. The department has observed an increase in cases linked to travel and activities during the festival period. With an incubation period of approximately 5-21 days, additional cases may gradually emerge during this phase, and cluster outbreaks could occur in some areas. Contact tracing may be incomplete in certain cases, necessitating a dual approach of symptom monitoring and personal prevention measures.

According to the latest data as of May 3, 2025, Thailand has confirmed 48 mpox cases in 2025, consisting of 43 cases of Clade II and 5 cases of Clade Ib. The majority of patients are male, aged 18-39 years, with sexual contact being the primary transmission route. The overall situation remains manageable but requires continuous vigilance.

Dr. Montatip emphasized that mpox transmits through close contact with infected individuals, particularly through contact with rashes or pustules, body fluids, or prolonged close proximity. He urged both Thai and foreign tourists to maintain proper health practices, avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals, maintain personal hygiene, and reduce risky behaviors to minimize infection and disease spread.

Symptoms to watch for include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or pustules on the body. Anyone experiencing these symptoms, especially after recent activities or travel, should seek medical consultation and inform their doctor of relevant travel history.

Dr. Montatip reiterated that while the Clade Ib mpox strain requires continuous monitoring and the overall situation remains under control, risks persist during the disease's incubation period. He stressed the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in prevention and symptom monitoring to reduce transmission and maintain public health confidence.

The Department of Disease Control is actively conducting public awareness campaigns on mpox prevention through various channels and distributing condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections. The department has also prepared surveillance, screening, and treatment systems while coordinating with relevant agencies for effective disease control. For inquiries, the public can contact the Disease Control Department hotline at 1422.

One clever dog is making headlines for its sustainable side hustle! Xiaobai, a French Bulldog from Guangzhou, China, has captured hearts online with an impressive environmental habit—collecting discarded plastic bottles. Whenever Xiaobai spots a bottle, it quickly retrieves it, then intelligently unscrews the cap, pours out any remaining liquid, and flattens the bottle before giving it to owner Zhang for recycling.

The dog's heartwarming story gained traction starting last August. According to Zhang, over the past five years, Xiaobai has helped collect bottles worth more than 10,000 yuan (approximately 47,000 baht). As the story spread online, the buzz around Xiaobai's adorable diligence continued to grow, eventually generating over 100,000 yuan (around 470,000 baht) in total revenue.

After appearing in interviews, Xiaobai's popularity skyrocketed. The dog now has nearly 270,000 followers on Douyin, with income steadily increasing from video views. During the recent five-day Labor Day holiday period, Xiaobai collected bottles worth 216 yuan (approximately 1,025 baht) from its own efforts and donations from local shops.

Zhang explains that Xiaobai doesn't need the income to survive—he already runs a business and ensures the dog is well-fed and cared for. Rather, bottle collecting is simply a beloved hobby that Xiaobai enjoys. By documenting these adorable moments, Zhang hopes to inspire others to work hard and persevere in life.

On May 7, 2025, at the Bangkok Remand Prison, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's children and their spouses visited him for the last time before his conditional release scheduled for May 11. The group included his daughter Paetongtham Shinawatra with her husband Pittok Sooksawat, his son Panthongtae Shinawatra with his wife Natthaiya Poungkam, and his youngest daughter Pintongtha Shinawatra Kunakornwong with her husband Nattapong Kunakornwong. This marked their 61st visit, with Thaksin having spent 7 months and 28 days in detention.

Upon arriving at the prison gates, the former prime minister's children appeared cheerful and smiling, while supporters in red shirts gathered to show their encouragement. After nearly an hour of visitation, Paetongtham represented the family in speaking to reporters, expressing everyone's joy at the imminent release. She revealed that her father had counted his 241 days in prison and was counting down to day 243.5 when he would be released.

When asked about discussions regarding her father's political direction, Paetongtham emphasized they had not discussed politics at all, focusing instead on family matters and grandchildren. She noted that once released, her father's priority would be a full health check-up, as he hadn't undergone comprehensive medical examination in the eight months of his incarceration. Regarding criticism and opposition to his conditional release from some groups, she simply stated it was their right to express their views.

On the matter of an Electronic Monitoring (EM) ankle bracelet and potential full pardon, Paetongtham indicated the family would follow proper legal procedures and did not want any complications, preferring everything proceed according to protocol.

Brazilian superstar Neymar has issued a public apology to Robinho Jr., a younger teammate at Santos and son of legendary player Robinho, saying his actions were excessive. Santos opened an investigation after reports that Robinho Jr. accused Neymar of slapping him hard on Sunday, May 3, during a training session at Rei Pelé stadium, following an incident where Jr. dribbled the ball past the 34-year-old forward. Recently, Neymar returned to action for Santos and scored in a 1-1 draw against Recife on May 5. After scoring, he embraced Robinho Jr. in celebration, and later gave a media interview saying: "If you want an apology in front of the media, here it is. I went overboard. Yes, in the way I expressed myself, it could have been different, but ultimately I couldn't control my emotions. Everyone makes mistakes. It's my fault, it's his fault. I made a bigger mistake than he did." He continued: "He's a kid I really like. I have a special affection and bond with him. These things happen in football. You argue with your friends, your brothers. That's football. It's part of the game." Robinho Jr. stated that Neymar "realized immediately that he went too far" and apologized "multiple times" for the incident. "It's a situation that upset me because Neymar has been my idol since I was a kid," Jr. said. "There's a lot of false talk from people around, and it's sad that it blew up like this. But I'm fine. I really like him. We talked and everything is settled."

The older brother opens up about his sibling being hit by the vengeful ex-girlfriend's car, acknowledging the deceased was a womanizer but defending his character and condemning the heartlessness of the attack. A 42-year-old woman driving a Bangkok-registered Honda Jazz struck a Yamaha Fino motorcycle, killing 38-year-old Aphisit, her estranged husband, on Phahon Yothin Road kilometer 102 (parallel lane entering Saraburi) in Nong Yao Subdistrict, Muang District, Saraburi Province. She then got out and stomped repeatedly on the victim's face.

In an interview on May 7, 2025, Aphisit's 46-year-old older brother, whom the deceased deeply respected, revealed that during their 30-plus years together, the deceased was a good person with many friends, though some disliked him. He acknowledged his brother was a womanizer before meeting the suspect, but claimed he never brought other women around once they were together.

The brother explained that the couple gradually spent less time together because they had different lifestyles and children from previous relationships. The suspect's father also disapproved of the deceased, suspecting he was after their money. Regarding claims the deceased took a million baht from the suspect, the brother said he believed the money was spent on their life together—pointing to photos of boat trips and visits to Laos.

The brother acknowledged his sibling was unfaithful, noting that after each breakup he'd move on to someone new, introducing each as "my wife." However, during the relationship with the suspect, he never saw other women brought around. He posted on Facebook to share the male perspective after receiving harsh comments, as the deceased could not speak for himself.

When confronted, the suspect would only say they couldn't be together and once warned him to think carefully about breaking up. What disturbed the brother most was the image of her stomping on the deceased's face. He described her as heartless for not only hitting him but then deliberately stepping on his face. He questioned why she would seek such revenge and expressed both anger at her and pity for the victim, saying he forgave her personally but wouldn't want their grievances to carry forward into the next life.

The deceased's body was being transferred from the hospital at 2 p.m. that day.

Tu Tontawan Tantiwechakul has addressed the recent dating rumors involving actor Win Methawin after photos emerged of them dining together. The actress, who previously faced intense fan speculation pairing her with co-star Bright Vachirawit (which she clarified was purely fraternal), opened up during an appearance at the "GoHug Welcome Home by Pramy" event at Thonglor Animal Hospital. Tu explained that she and Win simply have a casual, friendly relationship and frequently find themselves together because they work on projects together. She revealed that they were invited to grab lunch on a day when both had free time, and that her friend O't (who is close to both of them) would typically join their outings but is currently in Korea, leaving her to face teasing from friends alone.

Tu expressed that while the constant speculation does make her a bit cautious about being seen with people, she and Win are aware of their sibling-like bond and aren't overly concerned about what others think. She humorously noted that she and Win actually tease each other back when either captures attention with someone else.

During the interview, Tu also discussed her love for dogs and shared details about her two pet dogs: "Tee," a 10-year-old Jack Russell she's had since high school, and "Tao," a much younger rescue dog. She explained that she intentionally named them with the "Ta" prefix to match her own name, creating a family identity. Tu credited her spacious home environment for keeping her dogs healthy and happy, as they have plenty of room to run, dig, and play. Her father helps manage their regular feeding schedule.