The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified that the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondiusis does not represent a pandemic threat comparable to COVID-19, even with three fatalities recorded. Five confirmed cases have emerged from eight suspected patients, and health authorities are actively tracing dozens of passengers and crew members who left the vessel previously.

WHO epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove stated that hantavirus transmission differs fundamentally from COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, requiring extensive close contact for human-to-human infection. This cruise ship incident represents the first clearly documented case of human-to-human transmission. The WHO has assessed the overall public health risk as low.

The MV Hondiusis, operated by Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1st with approximately 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries. Some passengers disembarked at Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, on April 24th.

Multiple countries including the United Kingdom, United States, and Singapore have begun monitoring and tracking passengers returning from the vessel. Of the three deaths, one was a 69-year-old Dutch woman confirmed to have hantavirus infection, along with her husband, and a German woman who died aboard ship pending cause investigation. The Dutch government revealed the infected woman traveled to South Africa after leaving the ship before her death. Some passengers have been asked to monitor themselves closely for symptoms.

WHO cautioned that the disease's incubation period may extend up to six weeks, meaning additional cases could still emerge. Argentine authorities are preparing to survey rodents in the Ushuaia area, believed to harbor hantavirus-carrying rat species.

Symptoms initially resemble common flu—chills, muscle pain, weakness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases (uncommon), symptoms include hemorrhagic fever with kidney failure, or severe respiratory disease with potential pulmonary edema, which can be fatal rapidly.

Two daughters of accused men in the murder of Pranee, known as 'Grandma Jook' a local loan shark, are demanding justice after police allegedly relied on testimony from just one witness while lacking scientific evidence. Police arrested Charoenyuth, 51, and Pholphol, 54, on warrants from Thungsong District Court on charges of premeditated murder and robbery in connection with Pranee's death in Ron Phibun District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The victim was found dead on May 1, 2569, with bite wounds and lacerations to her head and arms.

On May 8, 2569, Suphaporn, 28, and Nopdol, 32, filed complaints requesting justice, asserting that both men are innocent. Nopdol revealed that on April 30, the day before the murder, witnesses saw Akkhom, Grandma Jook's foster son, in a heated argument with her. Akkhom disappeared for three days before returning on May 3 to tell police that Charoenyuth and Pholphol hired him to commit the murder. However, key evidence—a spray can, shoes, and two machetes—was found in Akkhom's house.

The family questions why police closed the case based on a single witness when locals know Akkhom owed Grandma Jook money, while neither Charoenyuth nor Pholphol had financial dealings or debts to the victim. They demand thorough DNA testing and forensic analysis before proceeding. Suphaporn confirmed the family had no debts to Grandma Jook and noted that regarding Pholphol, police suspected a 'debt-clearing' murder after finding watermelon rinds near his home, despite his wife only having borrowed money and sold goods near the victim's house.

The family also claims that during the suspected time of murder, Pholphol was riding his motorcycle in the village and stopped at a nearby shop, while Charoenyuth was ill and resting at home, with neighbors confirming both accounts. Suphaporn stated that the evidence police used to obtain the arrest warrant was insufficient, particularly the machetes seized from a neighbor on May 5—two days after the murder—which Charoenyuth had borrowed on May 3 for firewood. She noted suspicion over a police officer's comment asking why the machete owner hadn't claimed he lent it on another day.

She also mentioned that on the night of April 30, Akkhom's mother suffered shock and was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night, and wants an investigation into what happened during that time. Since their arrest, both men have maintained their innocence to family members and vowed not to confess, even under pressure. Bail requests have been denied at both investigation and court levels, and family visits have been restricted.

Sirivarn, 29, Pholphol's daughter, revealed that the witness who claimed her father paid 7,000 baht as hush money at 18:05 contradicts CCTV footage showing Pholphol was in Khuan Chum sub-district at that time and later rode back into the village, stopping at a shop near his home at 20:27. She also questioned why police took her father for another interrogation, claiming it was for a urine test despite having tested him before, coinciding with the moment Akkhom entered Ron Phibun Police Station wearing a hat and mask.

The family maintains they have evidence and witnesses confirming both men's innocence, though some witnesses are afraid to testify due to fear of police testing.

Denis Jelischa Kauppinen, a rising Thai-American actress known for her role in the film "Tha," has become the target of prolonged harassment through hate comments and has officially filed a report with authorities. She previously discussed rumors linking her romantically to actor Nadech Kugimiya after they worked together. Most recently on May 7th, reporters encountered Denis at a poster shoot for the TV series "THREE MAN DOWN" where she opened up about the situation. "Honestly, there's nothing to the rumors," she explained. "But if I don't defend myself or take action, they won't stop. This has been happening for almost three years now. As actors, we normally receive many comments, but this has been going on for quite a long time and it's even involved my parents. I felt I had to do something to make it stop."

When asked if it's all from one person, Denis confirmed: "Yes, just one person. So I thought that's enough, mom. I also didn't want it to affect him since I respect both of them greatly, and it's an important time for his career." She revealed the harassment started around the time of the first installment of "Tha" nearly three years ago. "Wherever my face appears online, there are comments mentioning him. But mostly they attack me directly, saying things like I won't get work because of my behavior," Denis shared. "Some comments were quite harsh and affected me emotionally. I also didn't want adults to see this kind of content, and there were even curses directed at my parents."

When asked what specifically prompted her to file the report, Denis explained: "People around me started saying, 'Who is this person and why are they following you like this?' I felt I hadn't done anything wrong. I normally don't get involved with anyone. I never expected to have anti-fans like this. They followed me to multiple places, so I felt I had to take action."

Regarding comments about Nadech, Denis stated: "I honestly don't know why they think that. But I've noticed this person does this with other actresses who've worked with him too. Based on some investigation through social media, I have an idea of who they might be—possibly a fan of his. If they were a true fan, they wouldn't behave this way." She revealed she has evidence and noted the person's age is similar to her mother's, which she found disturbing.

When asked if she plans to press charges, Denis said: "Actually, I filed the report just to make them stop. Once I took action, they went quiet and disappeared. I'm not pursuing further legal action because I feel this whole situation is nothing serious—I just want them to stop this behavior and not bother him either. They're quite old already."

On the most important day of her life, Joanna Vee, a bride from Dong Nai Province in Vietnam, moved wedding guests to tears when she decided to place two empty chairs in the middle of her wedding ceremony to honor her most beloved family members.

Her wedding took place on April 26th. In the midst of celebration, Joanna Vee chose to set up two chairs, complete with flower arrangements and heartfelt messages, to let her late "mother and father" know that their youngest daughter was beginning a new chapter of her life.

She shared that she was the youngest of three siblings, raised surrounded by family love and warmth. But life changed when her father passed away from illness in 2021, and two years later, her mother followed, after being grief-stricken over losing her husband. When speaking about that period, she could barely hold back her tears. She recalled that her father passed away suddenly, while her mother embraced her before passing and said her goodbyes. Those memories remain as scars on her heart to this day.

Although she lost her pillars of support, she still has an older brother caring for her and an older sister who always worries about her. She has also received encouragement from her husband, whom she has been dating since 2020 and whom her family had known and supported all along.

Before the big day, she admitted to crying many times thinking about her parents. But with the support from her groom and relatives, she was able to overcome her sadness and transform it into positive energy to create this special space.

On her wedding day, tears streaming down her face, she said: "I wanted my parents to still be part of every important moment in my life, even if only through my memories of them."

On May 8, 2025, prominent television personality Natchart Jantapun (Nicky) filed a police report at the Technology Crime Investigation Bureau in Thonburi, accompanied by his lawyer Colonel Dr. Thanakrit Chitrareeriyaratana. The complaint targets an individual who posted defamatory messages during the Manchester United versus Liverpool match broadcast, when Nicky was attending the game at Old Trafford supporting Manchester United, which won 3-2.

Nicky explained that while he accepts criticism about his commentary—such as being called a loudmouth or other football-related insults—he cannot tolerate someone attacking his parents. He revealed that the individual insulted his mother's appearance and made degrading comments about his father, saying things like "Your mother's face looks like a heel" and "Your father is garbage, when will he get out of jail." Nicky acknowledged that his father had previously served time in prison, but emphasized this should not be used as a basis for public insults.

The actor noted that despite being criticized extensively on social media throughout his career, this is the first time he is filing a police complaint. He stated he is only pursuing this one case because the person crossed a line by attacking his family. Nicky also revealed that he posted on Facebook offering a 2,000 baht reward for information identifying the suspect, and has since learned the person is a real individual, approximately 30 years old. He expressed a desire to meet the accused and see what kind of mother the person has, given that the individual felt comfortable insulting his own mother.

Thai national volleyball star Pimpicha Kokram has confirmed that she will definitely be moving to the American volleyball league next season, though she cannot disclose her team's name at this time. Pimpicha has completed two seasons playing in European leagues and became the first Thai volleyball player to win a German league championship and the second to capture a European league title, following Sara Nusra Tomkham, an elite setter who won the Turkish volleyball league championship with Fenerbahçe in 2016/17. Multiple clubs have contacted her, including her former team which wanted her to stay, but she decided to pursue a new challenge to develop herself further. While keeping the team name confidential for now, Pimpicha explained that her experience in Europe taught her about fast-paced volleyball, aggressive play, and strong blocking systems, particularly from facing top Italian teams in the CEV Cup and Champions League—valuable lessons she hopes to bring back to benefit Thailand's national team. She also mentioned consulting with Pom Pornpan Kaeitprachya, who previously had experience in the American league, and aims to "make history" for Thai spikers on the American volleyball stage as well.