Deputy Permanent Secretary of Commerce Wutthikrai Livireraphand revealed that he was assigned by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supajee Suthathumphand to meet with Daniela Schmitt, Minister of Economics, Transport, Agriculture, and Wine for the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The meeting took place on April 21 at the Commerce Ministry to discuss trade, investment, and cooperation opportunities with a German business delegation visiting Thailand.

Rhineland-Palatinate is Germany's seventh-largest economy by GDP, with key exports including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, commercial vehicles, and wine. Both sides exchanged cooperation frameworks, particularly in smart farming, agricultural industrial technology, and artificial intelligence applications to enhance the agricultural sector.

The discussions also covered mutual benefits such as pairing Thai food industry products with Rhineland-Palatinate wines, and the chemical industry, where Thailand has potential and Rhineland-Palatinate hosts the headquarters of BASF, the world's leading chemical manufacturer. Both parties emphasized the importance of accelerating Thailand-EU free trade agreement negotiations, with Thailand requesting Germany's support for swift conclusion, which would benefit both sides and lead to concrete trade and investment expansion.

Thailand invited Germany to participate in trade promotion activities including THAIFEX-ANUGA Asia (May 26-30, 2026) and the Thai Pavilion at ANUGA 2027 in Cologne, Germany (October 2027). Germany ranks as Thailand's number one trading partner among EU member states, with 2025 trade valued at $11.6 billion—Thai exports at $5.73 billion and imports at $5.87 billion. Major Thai exports include computers, semiconductors, jewelry, circuit boards, machinery, and rubber products, while key imports are machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electrical machinery, and scientific instruments.

A 39-year-old security guard named Chatri (surname withheld) came forward on April 24, 2025, to explain a social media post questioning whether illegal gambling operations still exist in the area. He revealed that after 13 years together, he and his girlfriend have separated because she relapsed into gambling addiction, particularly card games. She stopped coming home, and when he called to ask her to return, she would become angry and snap at him, saying he had no right to call someone busy with gambling debts. Eventually, she stopped answering his calls entirely.

Chatri explained that his girlfriend had previously struggled with gambling addiction years ago but managed to quit for a long time. Recently, however, she returned to gambling and the problem has escalated significantly, leading to their separation. He expressed frustration, noting that she is also battling cancer and he wanted her to rest rather than wander around. He admitted his heart has been broken by her addiction and the separation. "If she sees this news, I want to tell her to quit while you can. Gambling brings nothing but loss and destruction," he said.

Regarding the exact location where his girlfriend gambles—whether it's an organized gambling den or an underground group—Chatri said he has no concrete information. He posted his question on a community news group out of curiosity. Previously, he had tracked her phone location when she left home to an address in the city district, but was too afraid to follow her inside due to safety concerns. "I'm extremely stressed about this situation and I'm not sure if I'm developing depression. This gambling problem has completely shattered our home."

On April 24, 2025, Jirawuth Suwannarat, Deputy Director-General of the Internal Trade Department, revealed that the department held discussions with agricultural organizations representing pork, broiler chicken, and egg-laying chicken farmers, including the National Pork Producers Association, Broiler Chicken Farmers Association, Broiler Chicken Producers and Exporters Association, Layer Chicken Farmers Association, Southern Layer Chicken Association, Central Small-scale Layer Chicken Trading Association, Chicken Egg Producers, Traders and Exporters Association, and layer chicken farmer cooperatives from Chachoengsao, the Mae Nam region, and Chiang Mai-Lamphun, as well as major corporations including CP Foods, Betagro, Thai Foods, Siam Farm, Cargill Meats, Akra Group, VCF Group, and SPM. The meeting aimed to monitor production and trade of pork, chicken, and eggs while discussing price management strategies that balance fairness for producers without burdening consumers under current conditions.

Monitoring has shown that the current hot weather continues to negatively impact animal growth. Although products continue to flow to market, reduced feed consumption by animals has resulted in slower-than-normal growth and products that fail to meet original standards.

Current market conditions following the Songkran period show slowing trade due to reduced consumer demand. Prices for eggs and pork remain stable, while broiler chicken shows a downward pricing trend as market supply increases.

Jirawuth stated that consumer assistance measures include distributing affordable consumer goods through the "Blue Flag affordable price" program throughout Bangkok, its surrounding areas, and all regions to help ease living cost burdens. The department will closely monitor consumer goods availability and continue consulting with agricultural organizations and business operators to ensure fairness for all sectors and implement appropriate price management strategies that do not burden farmers or consumers.

However, if traders are found selling pork, chicken, or eggs at excessively high prices, complaints can be filed to the hotline 1569. Under Section 29 of the Goods and Services Price Act 2542 BE, selling above fair price carries penalties of up to 140,000 baht in fines or imprisonment up to 7 years or both.

Kiattipoom Prueksawan, representative of the National Pork Producers Association, stated that live pig farm-gate prices currently stand at 68-70 baht per kilogram, remaining stable since before Songkran, with prices closely aligned to current production costs of approximately 70 baht per kilogram.

Despite increased consumer demand during the Songkran festival, Middle East tensions have slowed trade and consumption. It is expected that prices will remain stable, and the association requests government oversight of pig purchases to ensure fairness and prevent farmers from being exploited by middlemen.

Somboon Watcharapongphand, Chairman of the Broiler Chicken Farmers Association, stated that production volumes are now returning to normal levels and continuously entering the market after production capacity was increased to compensate for losses from the previous hot weather period.

Although consumer demand increased during Songkran, it is now declining, resulting in current prices close to production costs with prices expected to stabilize or decrease slightly.

On April 20, 2025, the Royal Gazette published a royal decree establishing ecclesiastical rank, stating that His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a royal command to elevate ecclesiastical rank during the celebration of Her Majesty Queen Suthida's 60th birthday on June 3, 2025. Phra Prommuni was elevated to Somdet Phra Sangharat with the royal title Somdet Phra Maha Wachirmuneewong Mahachetiyapongsakunthaada Thammadutpatthanakannalankar, based at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat Woramahaviharn, a royal temple in Bangkok, with ten ecclesiastical rankings.

Announced from April 18, 2025, and officially proclaimed on April 20, 2025, Somdet Phra Maha Wachirmuneewong (formerly Bunruang Punnyachooto) is recognized for strict discipline, simple conduct, and exemplary virtuous practice. Currently 91 years old with 71 Buddhist lent years, he serves as committee member of the Maha Thera Association, advisor to Regional Council 8 (Thammayut), and abbot of Wat Phra Sri Mahathat Woramahaviharn in Bangkok.

Born August 8, 1935, in Maha Sarakham Province, he completed primary education and was ordained on June 10, 1955. He was fully ordained on June 26, 1955, under the guidance of Somdet Phra Maha Veerawong. He holds credentials including Parian Dhamma Level 4 and a Bachelor of Religious Studies from Mahachulalongkornrajvidyalaya University.

He has held administrative positions including abbot of Wat Phra Sri Mahathat Woramahaviharn since 1996, Regional Council 8 Chief from 2004, and served as one of the first Buddhist missionaries abroad, spreading Buddhism in Australia, the United States, and Indonesia. He has been instrumental in establishing Buddhism in Indonesia and oversees the training institute for overseas Buddhist missionaries annually.

Former singer Rosemary Kahandhing has called out a friend for sexually harassing her son. When confronted, the friend claimed it was just joking, but offered 50,000 baht as compensation, requesting to pay in installments.

Rosemary explained that a longtime friend had invited her son on a trip to Khao Yai for one night. She trusted this friend, so she allowed her son to go. When he returned home, he appeared withdrawn. When she asked what was wrong, he revealed he had been sexually assaulted—around midnight, he fell asleep but woke up at 2 a.m. to find the man grabbing his genitals. He felt terrified and was held so tightly he couldn't reach his phone to call his mother.

When Rosemary confronted the friend, he claimed it was just horseplay. However, her son insisted it wasn't joking—it was assault. Her son is normally quiet and reserved, which makes the fact that he disclosed this incident significant. "At school, kids joke around like that, but he's an adult. How could he do this to my son?" Rosemary stated.

The friend initially offered 20,000 baht in installments but later raised it to 50,000 baht—3,333 baht monthly for six months, then 1,666 baht monthly for 18 months. Rosemary rejected this arrangement. She asked if her son wanted to file a police report, but for now she doesn't want to escalate it into a major case. She simply wants the friend to genuinely acknowledge his wrongdoing and understand that such actions toward her son—or anyone's child—are unacceptable.

Deputy Transport Minister Sarapetch Bunyamani and Songkhla MP from the Bhumjaithai Party visited the Koh Tao subdistrict landfill fire site on April 24, 2569, meeting with relevant agencies to coordinate firefighting operations and minimize public impact. Provincial Deputy Governors Romdon Hayeeawaew and Jiravet Manichote, Muang District Officer Winit Thepnit, Songkhla Provincial Administration Vice Chair Chatchaipetch Kruamphot, and Koh Tao Subdistrict Chief Rorasing Rai Charoen participated in assessing the situation and developing response strategies.

Multiple agencies coordinated resource deployment, including the Rural Roads Department providing three water trucks and one excavator, the Highways Department providing two water trucks, and the Songkhla Provincial Administration Organization supplying over 10 water trucks and fire engines. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office fully mobilized equipment and personnel to accelerate firefighting operations and contain the spread.

Current conditions remain uncontrolled, with officials estimating an additional 2-3 days needed for full containment due to strong winds hindering efforts. Responders are focusing on limiting the fire's expansion. Deputy Minister Sarapetch instructed a revised 5-day operational plan with inter-agency coordination to prevent flare-ups, while commending personnel working continuously around the clock to resolve the situation and protect affected residents.