Pond Narawitch reveals the frightening moment he rushed away from sasaeng fans in the middle of Shanghai, expressing more concern for those around him than himself – Phuwit discloses he once witnessed a sasaeng confrontation with a guard due to lack of footage, with the team being the first to face the situation.

The incident sparked worry among fans after a viral clip showed Pond hurrying away from a group attempting to approach him at a Shanghai hotel, with his team quickly ushering him into an elevator and securing the area for safety. This is seen as another example of the escalating sasaeng problem and invasion of artists' privacy abroad. Most recently, Pond Narawitch and Phuwit Satitayapun attended the "LEGO CERTIFIED STORE OPENING" at Siam Paragon Fashion Hall, where Pond acknowledged feeling startled and chose to leave quickly to avoid causing chaos or affecting others nearby. He confirmed that his team and agency had security measures in place, but emphasized his main concern wasn't himself but the general public, staff, and tourists who could be affected by such incidents. He also appealed to fans to support artists responsibly for everyone's safety.

When asked to describe the incident, Pond explained: "I was more startled than anything. The situation happened so suddenly with people approaching us unexpectedly. I've never experienced this before in my life. We were in a hotel area, and I didn't want to cause commotion. My team had already arranged for an elevator, so as soon as we got out of the car, we just went straight into it."

When questioned if there were preceding events before deciding to run, Pond responded: "Honestly, my main concern was that the people around us would be troubled. If I had walked slowly, other tourists or people who don't know what's happening might get startled. We didn't want to create chaos, so we quickly got into the elevator and returned to our room."

Asked if his team warned him beforehand about such incidents, Pond said: "Actually, they prepared very well. Whether it's the security team or the entire staff, they informed us what to be careful about. But I didn't want to trouble the team either, because if I walked slowly, they'd have to wait and struggle. So I felt it was better to move quickly."

When asked if he felt unsafe during that moment, Pond replied: "If you ask whether it was safe or not, I can't really say. But one thing is certain – I felt startled and chose to protect myself. I wasn't even sure if those people were actually our fans or something else. It was the first time this happened in my life."

Asked if this was his normal approach, Pond confirmed: "Yes, normally I'm quiet and reserved, but I felt this might create problems for people around us, and that was the main factor."

Phuwit added: "I think it's important to mention that in many places we've visited, whether it's us or other artists from Thailand or Thai artists abroad, we've encountered similar situations many times. But they usually aren't recorded or don't leak out. In most previous cases, our team brought Thai security along with local security from those countries.

At noon on May 5, 2569, Sakolthee Phatthiyakul, Democrat Party list MP and deputy party leader for Bangkok, disclosed the results of the Democrat Party's candidate selection committee meeting for Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly (BMA) candidates. The party will announce its complete slate of 50 district candidates this evening following executive committee approval. The candidates include approximately 12-13 former BMA members and members from other parties including Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai who have worked cooperatively with the Democrats, plus strong performing former candidates and new generation members. Sakolthee noted that BMA elections are generally less competitive than national parliamentary races, and expressed confidence that with Abhisit Vejjajiva's return as party leader, the Democrat Party's popularity in Bangkok has grown substantially. He believes the party will win significantly more districts than in the previous BMA election, unlike the parliamentary elections where the Bhumjaithai Party won all 33 Bangkok seats. Regarding the selection criteria for candidates from other parties, Sakolthee stated that the selection committee thoroughly reviewed their work performance, approach, and ideology. Many are former Democrat members or ex-senators and assemblymen. The party will announce the Bangkok governor candidate in mid-May, as the selected candidate needs to complete current work obligations first. When asked about competing against incumbent Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, Sakolthee acknowledged he is a formidable 'former champion' with strong public support. However, the Democrat Party has identified gaps in his administration, including insufficient CCTV coverage expansion, inadequate feeder bus systems connecting residents to public transport, and other development areas. The Democrats' candidate and Bangkok team are prepared to address these issues. Regarding suggestions that Bangkok residents prefer independent candidates over party-affiliated ones, Sakolthee countered by referencing the 2565 gubernatorial election, questioning whether Chadchart was truly independent. He noted that media outlets know which parties supported Chadchart and believes the public desires clarity about candidate affiliations and their teams. Sakolthee emphasized that the Democrat Party operates transparently, backing party-endorsed candidates directly, and maintains that transparency benefits voters wanting to know their representatives' true affiliations. He acknowledged both advantages and disadvantages to independent candidacies, but noted that the Democrats provide candidates policy freedom while believing that BMA members ultimately prioritize constituents' interests regardless of party affiliation. Sakolthee highlighted the Bangkok governor candidate's main strength: he immediately accepted when Abhisit approached him, and brings substantial experience to the role.

PHAYAO — A dramatic fire broke out in front of a 7-Eleven convenience store opposite the University of Phayao after a severe electrical short circuit ignited overhead power lines and communication lines.

Witnesses said a loud explosion was heard before sparks began falling from the cables, which quickly caught fire. Flames spread rapidly along the communication wires, flaring high in the air and causing panic among nearby residents and students, who fled the area for safety.

Provincial Electricity Authority officials and rescue workers rushed to the scene, cutting power immediately to prevent further spread before working to extinguish the blaze. It took some time to bring the fire under control.

Initial reports indicated that at least two poles were damaged, while numerous communication lines were destroyed. Authorities are now working to repair and replace the damaged infrastructure to restore electricity as soon as possible.

At noon on May 5, 2026, at the Phakdi Bodin Building of the Government House, Prime Minister Anusit Charnveerakul and the Interior Minister led a cabinet announcement regarding the government's decision to issue a Royal Decree granting the Finance Ministry authority to borrow 400 billion baht to address impacts from the energy crisis and facilitate the country's energy transition.

The decision stems from the Middle East conflict situation, which has severely impacted global energy prices and the economy. The crisis has spread from energy costs to food and living expenses—a situation that is neither normal nor one that can be postponed.

The Prime Minister stated that the government's duty is to prevent Thailand's economy from entering stagflation—a combination of high inflation and economic slowdown. Therefore, swift action is necessary, requiring the use of special instruments such as this Royal Decree under clear legal principles, qualifying as an urgent emergency case that cannot be avoided. The decree aims to relieve the burden on citizens' living costs and sustain economic activity.

Measures under this decree will target key groups requiring urgent assistance, including low-income and middle-income earners, farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and sectors directly affected by rising energy costs.

Two parallel approaches will be implemented: First, providing relief by reducing living cost burdens on citizens while lowering production costs, particularly for agriculture through fertilizer and essential production input procurement. Second, structural transformation by seizing this opportunity to transition to modern energy, restructure the country's energy infrastructure, reduce fossil fuel dependence, ensure stable energy costs, and eliminate previous volatility.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this decree serves as a tool to guide the country through the crisis and establishes foundations for reducing future economic vulnerability while maintaining strict fiscal discipline. The solution will not eliminate global crisis impacts but will strengthen Thai people to cope better and help vulnerable populations weather this crisis together, ultimately positioning Thailand with maximum resilience for future challenges.

"The government is committed to standing with the people in solving problems arising from current global turmoil. We will do everything within our capacity to help people navigate this crisis successfully," the Prime Minister stated.

On May 5, 2025, at Bangkok City Hall, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt addressed online speculation about Bangkok flooding in 2030 due to global warming and rising sea levels, as well as claims that Bangkok subsides 2-3 centimeters annually. He questioned where floodwaters would originate, noting that if flooding came from the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok already has protective embankments measuring 2.80-3.5 meters in height along both banks, spanning approximately 88 kilometers. Regarding tidal surge over 4-5 years, there may be minor flooding at vulnerable points, but no sudden water rise in the short term. Chadchart stated Bangkok ranks 9th globally for climate risk, a long-term concern requiring government-wide planning across provinces bordering the Chao Phraya River, including Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Songkhram. The immediate concern is rainbombs, which the city has analyzed for 300mm rainfall in 3 hours. He ordered all agencies to prepare for this more likely scenario. Current land subsidence in Bangkok is relatively low due to reduced groundwater extraction. Sea level rise from global warming is gradual, not sudden, and the 4-year assessment may be overly cautious. Bangkok's embankments are built 50cm-1 meter higher than normal, with additional water gates planned along canals as secondary defenses. Based on analysis, significant flooding is not expected within 4 years but is a long-term concern.

On May 5, 2025, at Government House, Justice Minister General Rutthapol Naovaratne addressed the electronic monitoring conditions imposed on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra following his sentence commutation and prison release. The conditions were issued in accordance with a Justice Ministry committee resolution from April 29, requiring Thaksin to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. Regarding arguments about his advanced age, the minister stated these do not meet legal eligibility criteria.

When asked about activist Dr. Tuhlob Sithisomwong's planned objection to the commutation—based on the argument that Thaksin is not a model prisoner due to two previous convictions—the minister said he had not yet reviewed those specific arguments.

Concerning whether sufficient grounds exist to prevent Thaksin's release on May 11, the minister stated that relevant parties would need to examine the legal issues involved and potentially request the committee to reconsider. However, he expressed confidence that the committee had thoroughly examined all details before reaching its decision.

When asked if Thaksin could engage in political discourse after commutation, the minister clarified that such restrictions are not part of the conditions. Regarding international travel, the minister indicated it would be unlikely without court approval, though he noted that Thaksin could petition the court if necessary.