TENERIFE — 12 May 2026, All passengers and crew aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius have now been evacuated following an outbreak of hantavirus that left three people dead and several others infected, while health authorities continue monitoring passengers who have begun showing symptoms after returning home.

The final group of six passengers, along with some crew members, disembarked off the coast of Tenerife, Spain, on 11 May, marking the end of a complex international evacuation operation. The group included four Australians, one British resident of Australia and one New Zealander, who were later transferred to the Netherlands for quarantine.

Governments including Spain, France, Canada, Britain and the United States arranged charter flights to repatriate citizens after the outbreak aboard the vessel. In total, 94 passengers and crew members were returned to their home countries following the ship's 41-day voyage from southern Argentina. The final evacuation flight departed Tenerife around midday on 11 May local time.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry said 19 crew members and three doctors who remained on board to care for passengers had already arrived in the Netherlands. The MV Hondius, carrying the remaining 26 crew members, is now heading to the Netherlands for disinfection.

The first positive hantavirus test aboard the vessel was reported nine days ago. The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised all passengers to quarantine for 42 days from 10 May because the virus can incubate for up to six weeks. However, quarantine measures vary between countries.

Spanish passengers are required to remain in hospital quarantine for 42 days. French passengers must stay under hospital observation for 72 hours before continuing isolation at home for a further 45 days. American passengers may choose between home quarantine or isolation at a facility in Nebraska.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said passengers should undergo daily health monitoring either at home or in designated quarantine facilities, depending on national guidelines.

WHO said seven confirmed cases of Andes hantavirus have been identified, along with two additional suspected cases. One suspected patient died before testing could be carried out, while the other is on Tristan da Cunha, a remote island in the South Atlantic without local testing facilities.

The death toll remains at three, including two Dutch passengers and one German passenger.

BANGKOK — On May 12, 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun rode a motorcycle-mounted grocery sidecar around Government House to promote the government's "Thai Help Thai" campaign, which aims to reduce living costs by offering discounted food and household goods.

The two officials toured the grounds near the Thai Khu Fah Building on a "rot phum phuang" motorcycle sidecar—the traditional vendor cart seen throughout Thai neighborhoods—before opening an event showcasing discounted food, consumer goods, and household necessities from government agencies and private-sector partners.

Launched earlier this year, the "Thai Help Thai" campaign is part of the government's broader effort to ease living costs and support household budgets during economic weakness and high consumer expenses.

According to officials, the program operates through mobile sales trucks, community distribution points, and special discount promotions designed to help lower-income households afford essential goods at reduced prices.

Photos from Government House captured Anutin operating the motorcycle sidecar—a common sight in Thai communities where roaming vendors sell fresh vegetables, dry goods, and daily necessities directly to residents.

The staged appearance was intended to emphasize the campaign's grassroots character and link the government initiative to the everyday commerce that thrives in local communities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprasert emphasized the necessity of issuing a 400 billion baht loan decree to address the cost of living crisis, comparing the measure to killing two birds with one stone by both providing relief and restoring economic strength. Speaking at Government House on May 12, 2025, he reaffirmed that the government regards this as an economic security matter following the opposition's petition to the Constitutional Court.

Distinguishing the current situation from past crises like the 1997 financial crisis and banking collapse, Ekniti stressed that today's challenge is a global cost-of-living crisis constituting an economic security threat. He warned that failure to act immediately would trigger cascading crises: rising inflation leading to increased living costs, shrinking incomes, small business collapse, and ultimately unemployment. "If we don't stop this crisis now and wait for problems to worsen, when living costs rise and income falls, small businesses cannot survive independently and will suffer severe impacts, eventually creating an unemployment crisis," he stated.

Ekniti confirmed that the loan decree has been published in the Royal Gazette and is now in effect, with the government ready to proceed. Regarding the remaining 200 billion baht tranche, he clarified that both portions must be treated separately as crisis relief measures, aiming both to mitigate immediate impacts and strengthen the economy's resilience. He further noted that Thailand faces greater energy security risks than many nations due to high energy imports, making an energy transition necessary to reduce dependence on oil amid ongoing global conflicts.

When asked about the Revenue Department's progress in collecting taxes from Shin Corp stock purchases, Ekniti declined to answer before departing Government House.

The Thai Tourism Authority's Jakarta office is mobilizing a three-pronged marketing strategy to drive Indonesian visitor numbers in 2026, targeting family groups and independent travelers with an average spending capacity of 30,000 baht per person per trip. According to Niti Wongwicha, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Jakarta office, the campaign will run from May to September 2026 and leverage social media to showcase Thailand's attractions to Indonesian tourists who enjoy visiting Talad Noi, Yaowarat, and other Instagram-worthy locations.

The three main activities include: First, partnering with airlines offering direct and connecting flights from Indonesia to create packaged tour products and boost flight bookings through social media. The initiative also extends to cruise ship tourism targeting Samui and Phuket. Second, collaborating with online travel agencies (OTAs) to stimulate tourism bookings within Thailand. Third, working with leading Indonesian bloggers and influencers to create awareness and promote Thai tourism.

The Tourism Authority is expanding promotional activities to secondary Indonesian cities such as Bandung, Balikpapan, and Semarang, with special focus on Muslim family groups, a significant market segment. The strategy includes short, medium, and long-term promotions designed to maintain airline frequency and encourage direct flight selections. Primary destinations include Bangkok, Pattaya (Chonburi), and secondary destinations, with Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima emerging as a new highlight.

Khao Yai is being positioned as an Asia-Europe equivalent destination offering multiple appeals: European-style atmosphere at budget-friendly prices, services tailored to Indonesian family travelers, and abundant natural beauty with numerous photo opportunities for social media. Popular attractions include Tuscany-inspired landscapes and vineyard-like settings reminiscent of French and Hokkaido experiences. The new M6 motorway from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports to Nakhon Ratchasima significantly reduces travel time, supporting tourism business development.

For 2026, the Jakarta office is also targeting two additional high-value market segments. The first focuses on golf tourism in Bangkok and surrounding areas, with partnerships bringing in over 100 additional golfers in the coming months. The second targets wellness tourism, having recently brought Indonesian operators to participate in the Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Trade Meet 2026 in Bangkok, and establishing cooperation with Samitivej Hospital and premium health clubs in Indonesia to promote Thailand's health services.

Thailand is making waves in the international pageantry and fashion world once again with the announcement that Jack Titus, an accomplished Thai model with a global reputation, will represent Thailand at the Mister Supranational 2026 competition.

Jack Titus is no ordinary model—he is the current holder of the Mister Model International 2025 title, one of the world's most prestigious male modeling competitions recognized across the fashion and international entertainment industries. He is currently based in the United States working in fashion and is the founder of Titus Modeling Agency, with extensive experience collaborating with global brands and projects across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

His work has been published and featured on the covers of leading international fashion magazines including Harper's BAZAAR, VOGUE, L'OFFICIEL, ELLE, GRAZIA, GLAMOUR, and Esquire. He has also participated in New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and numerous international fashion events around the world.

The decision by the Supra Thailand 2026 team to send Jack Titus as Thailand's representative this year clearly elevates the country's standards, bringing a contestant with genuine experience in the global fashion industry, proven success, and a vision to inspire the younger generation.

The Mister Supranational 2026 competition will take place on August 1, 2026, in Poland. This represents another important stage for Jack Titus to showcase Thailand's experience, reputation, and potential to the world. The Thai team is ready to show their support.

At 12:30 p.m. on May 12, 2026, at Government House, Prime Minister Anuthín Charnvirakul and Minister of Interior revealed that the cabinet has acknowledged the matter of live-broadcasting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The government will make every effort to ensure this occurs, with the Public Relations Department coordinating with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to execute the plan as has been done previously.

When reporters asked whether the government would purchase the broadcast rights itself or allow private companies to acquire them, the Prime Minister stated that implementation details should be handled by the responsible parties.

When pressed on whether Thai citizens would definitely get to watch the World Cup for free, the Prime Minister firmly stated: "It must be free."

Meanwhile, Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiyachon Chidchob, referring to the cabinet's approval of a 1.3 billion baht budget for the 2026 World Cup broadcast, said he is not directly overseeing this matter and suggested asking others for details. Regarding how much the NBTC's budget will contribute, he said he would wait to see the final outcome, but the matter has already entered cabinet consideration. He added that his deputy minister would provide clarification.

When pressed again on whether Thais would definitely get to watch the World Cup, Chaiyachon laughed and said: "I think they probably will."