The Asian Beach Games are halfway through, with Thailand's athletes showing mixed results. While some events have delivered impressive performances worth celebrating, others face tough competition as multiple nations continue to strengthen their positions. SAT Director Dr. Kong Sak Yodmani remains confident that Thai athletes will accelerate their efforts and achieve the 15 gold medal goal in the remaining competition.

Dr. Kong Sak Yodmani, Director of the Sports Authority of Thailand, revealed details about the Thai national team's performance at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. He commended Thailand's partial achievements, citing gold medals in beach track and field events including Phuripol Bunsorn in the men's 60-meter sprint, Jiraphatch Khananoptata in the women's 60-meter sprint, and the women's 4x60-meter relay. Thai rowers also impressively defeated the host Chinese team in the men's 200-meter 10-oar boat event, while securing multiple silver and bronze medals.

"We must congratulate our athletes for successfully winning medals, especially in track and field events that are highlights of the competition in sprinting and relay races," Dr. Kong Sak said. "However, we believe many other sports will perform well in the second half of the games. We need to encourage our athletes until the final day of competition."

The SAT director acknowledged that while the 15 gold medal target remains, it's regrettable that some sports fell short. He recognized that athletes from many Asian nations have developed significantly and become much stronger. The Asian Beach Games is no longer an easy competition, and the outcome won't be clear until the final day, as several sports still offer medal opportunities, including Takraw, where Thailand has world-champion level athletes.

"Thai athletes participating in this Asian Beach Games will gain invaluable experience, and the budget invested by the SAT in training preparations is worthwhile. Beyond elevating athletes' standards to compete at the Asian level, they witness firsthand the skills of their competitors—a tremendous benefit as they aim toward the Asian Games and Olympics," the SAT director said.

The 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya runs from April 22-30, 2025, featuring 14 sports: beach track and field, aquatic sports (marathon swimming and water polo), 3x3 basketball, beach handball, beach soccer, beach volleyball, dragon boat racing, sport climbing, beach wrestling, judo, kabaddi, sailing (windsurfing and kiteboarding), triathlon (aquathlon combining swimming and running), and takraw. Fans can support Thai athletes through live broadcasts on T Sports 7.

Around 1:30 AM on April 27, acting on orders from senior police officials, Bang Rak Police Station officers arrested Kattiya, 19, and Thiraphad, 19, along with two firearms recovered from a Surawong area apartment in Bangkok's Bang Rak district.

Police responded after receiving reports from residents about a group of teenagers engaged in a loud altercation involving gunfire near a building on Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road. Officers immediately rushed to the scene, gathered descriptions from nearby residents, and learned that the suspects had fled into the building's parking area.

After surrounding the building exits, officers encountered a female suspect matching the description. She cooperated with police and identified herself, allowing them to conduct a search of her apartment.

Inside the 33rd-floor room, officers found both male suspects and discovered two firearms—one on the balcony and another hidden in the bathroom ceiling. The suspects admitted ownership of the weapons.

Both suspects were charged with illegal possession of firearms without a license and carrying firearms in public areas without authorization. They were taken into custody and transferred to Bang Rak Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Hold onto your seats, folks—2026's biggest dark horse has arrived! Thai superstar Mike Angelo is unleashing "domination mode" with his Chinese film debut 'Nobody But You 2,' which rocketed to 50 million yuan at the box office just two days after release. That's some serious momentum!

This powerhouse performance deserves top marks: Taking the presales champion spot before even hitting theaters, Mike Angelo overshadowed numerous competing blockbusters. His on-screen presence carries real substance—he's truly born to captivate on the big screen.

Fifty million is just the beginning: Though modestly downplaying the numbers himself, his popularity and critical acclaim speak volumes. The director can't stop smiling, and our international star has genuinely brought honor to Thai cinema!

The "shy guy" behind closed doors: Here's the hilarious part—he's an international heartthrob, yet when he's back in Bangkok and spots Aum Patchrapa, his heart apparently skips a beat? This charming contrast is absolutely irresistible.

Career expansion in full swing: From singer to idol dramas to leading roles in major film productions, Mike Angelo has executed every career move with precision.

Interaction highlight: Have you caught 'Nobody But You 2' at the cinema yet? Which Mike moment stole your heart? Share your ticket photos in the comments and let's help propel Mike's box office to 100 million!

Nong Nooch Pattaya, under the leadership of President Kampol Tansatja, is welcoming the school break season with an exceptional promotion: 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' throughout May 2026 for Thai walk-in visitors. Guests can instantly claim their special benefit by purchasing one Package 3 ticket (admission with show) and receive a second ticket free of charge. This offer is ideal for families planning trips during the final stretch of the school holidays.

The park also provides social benefits ensuring everyone can access quality attractions: - Children up to 140 centimeters tall: Free daily (when accompanied by family) - People with disabilities: Free daily - Seniors 60 and above: Free every Friday - Seniors 80 and above: Free daily year-round

Spanning over 1,700 acres, Nong Nooch Pattaya stands as one of the world's premier natural and cultural destinations. It features more than 60 stunning gardens and collections of over 18,000 plant species from every corner of the globe. Major highlights include the Dinosaur Zone with more than 1,800 dinosaur figures and the spectacular new 'Ancient Egypt City' landmark, featuring pyramids and Ennead statues—mythical deities from ancient Egypt—with 12 of the planned 23 statues completed, each standing over 5 meters tall. These unique attractions offer rare educational and photo opportunities in Thailand.

Visitors can also enjoy high-quality cultural performances at the Scala Theater and watch the remarkable elephant show, with four daily performances catering to audiences of all ages. Nong Nooch Pattaya is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. For more information, visit www.nongnoochpattaya.com.

Maimind and Benz have confirmed they are each other's special person, though they're avoiding the traditional "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" labels. They view this new relationship as a safe space. Maimind revealed she moved on quickly because Benz feels like the perfect puzzle piece. After her life was turned upside down by relationship drama—her ex cheated and they had to divide assets before parting ways, which became a major scandal—the two are finally happy. Maimind, a well-known actress, has completely moved forward and crossed the friend zone with Benz, a friend she's known for 10 years. Undeterred by criticism about the timing of their move, she says this love is a safe haven.

How is life now? Maimind: "I'm very happy. These days when I play golf, I only focus on the golf club. I even met a gorgeous golf pro (laughing). Honestly, we've been like siblings for ten years. Back then I had a boyfriend, and Benz came courting, but okay, we were siblings—true siblings 100 percent. We'd play golf and come back to meet up sometimes, go out to eat as a group."

"Then there was a moment we golfed together, and we bumped into each other again when I was single. When I had problems, I never consulted Benz about them. He wasn't involved at all. The person I consulted the most was Sod. I don't know if it was good advice, but I always believed Chee because she'd been through it before. I didn't even go back and talk to Benz about it."

How did things go with your ex? Maimind: "It's all settled now. There's no lingering resentment. We're good friends to each other. It was like we both acted on emotions back then. When the time came to really think about it, I felt like, why would we say mean things about each other? Okay, so we held hands and ended things. We both apologized and moved on to grow separately."

Did he take it hard when you said he went to play around? Maimind: "He didn't mind—he said it was true (laughing). That's one of his good qualities. When I mess up, he holds me accountable. Then we move on. We've both apologized to each other and parted ways. Now the property settlement is all finalized and clean. There's nothing left hanging. We sold the house, the van I took I paid him the difference on, the Porsche we split 50-50 because it was already damaged in an accident. I'm sticking to my original position of 50-50 split, and he has no hard feelings about it."

So what are you two now? Benz: "Partners now, to be honest. I'm the one who pursued him (What do you like about Maimind?). I like hardworking people. She has charm. She takes care of herself and does things a certain way—she's exactly my type. Plus I like tall people. She's very tall. I've never dated anyone tall before. She's the first person I got to pursue who's exactly my type."

Did you know she was emotionally bruised? Benz: "I knew she was hurt by love, but I don't talk about the past at all. I just focus on the present. I don't comfort her or anything. I think she could clear it up on her own. Otherwise, she wouldn't have opened her heart to me."

Why did you open your heart to him? Maimind: "Benz has become the best part of my life. He supports me both at work and emotionally. Since we were already siblings, we can talk about everything. It feels like Benz is my safe space. And right now, he's very special to me."

Did you worry people would misunderstand that you got together so quickly after your last relationship ended, having known each other so long? Maimind: "Not at all. I see it as a matter of timing. It's like with work—I was doing things the old way and nothing was happening. Then I switched to a new approach and in just a couple of days, wow, the timing aligned and things happened. Right when I was hurting, Benz happened to be free. We bumped into each other by chance. Once we opened up and talked to each other, trying this new dynamic felt good. I felt relieved. I honestly never thought I'd get to this point."

What do you want to say to people who say you moved on too fast? Maimind: "It wasn't fast at all. It was hard and exhausting to get here."

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BANGKOK — Thailand plans to roll back its visa-free policy to a list of 57 eligible countries and territories, replacing the expanded 60-day exemption for 93 countries introduced in 2024, as part of efforts to tighten visitor screening and shift toward quality tourism.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the ministry is proposing to cancel the 60-day visa-free scheme introduced during the previous government in July 2024 and return to the earlier framework.

Under the proposal, Thailand would reinstate the original list of 57 countries and territories eligible for visa exemption. Any future additions would be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on suitability and travel behaviour.

Surasak said the policy shift is aimed at improving immigration screening and addressing concerns over long-stay visitors using tourism privileges for non-tourism purposes.

He said the revised approach is part of a broader restructuring of Thailand's tourism sector, focusing on high-value, sustainable tourism rather than visitor volume, with an emphasis on safety, confidence and long-term sustainability.

The minister said the proposal has been coordinated with the Foreign Ministry and is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval soon.

He added that the policy review follows concerns over rising issues linked to foreign visitors after the 60-day visa-free scheme took effect, citing tourism police data.

Authorities also argue that most foreign tourists already stay in Thailand for less than 30 days, while those needing longer stays can apply under existing visa categories such as business, education or long-term residence schemes.

The ministry said the shift is also intended to ensure visa policy better reflects actual travel behaviour while reducing administrative and security risks associated with extended stays.