Ban Kao Witthaya School has secured the second championship title at the Chang Junior Cup 2026 qualifying round for the Central Zone. Chang natural mineral water continues its mission to support Thai football with the youth under-13 tournament, which aims to develop young players and identify Thailand's best teams. The competition features awards for the Most Talented Player and two Sportsmanship Awards, with the ultimate prize being an exclusive opportunity to experience world-class football training in England.

The Chang Junior Cup 2026 qualifying round's third venue took place in the Central Zone from April 24-26, 2025, at Ratchaburi Stadium in Ratchaburi province, featuring 24 teams. The championship match was attended by Surachai Supatwatkargan, Regional Sales Manager of Chang International Company Limited in Ratchaburi province, who presented the trophies.

The final match was contested between Ratchaburi FC Junior, runner-up in the 2017 Chang Junior Cup, and Ban Kao Witthaya School, the previous year's Central Zone champion. Ban Kao Witthaya School emerged victorious with a 1-0 win, claiming their second championship title for the Central Zone. They now advance to the national championship round to compete against elite youth clubs across Thailand, vying for the exclusive grand prize and the opportunity to experience world-class football training in England.

The Chang Junior Cup 2026 is supported by the Football Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, Leicester City Football Club, Bootroom Company Limited (distributor of Arii sports apparel), and Molten (Thailand) Company Limited, all working together to elevate Thai football to international standards.

Upcoming qualifying rounds include the Northern Zone on May 1-3, 2025, at Alpine Golf Resort in Chiang Mai, and the Northeastern Zone with registration from April 27 to May 1, 2025, accepting 48 teams, with matches held May 8-10 at Chang Training Ground in Buriram province. For registration and more information, follow ThaiBev ThaiTalent on Facebook and Line @ThaiBevThaiTalent.

An IOC delegation headed by Danka Hrbeková visited Bangkok on April 28, 2026, as Thailand presented its capabilities to host the Youth Olympic Games Bangkok 2030. Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmanee, Director-General of the Thai Sports Authority, accompanied by representatives from the Thai Olympic Committee under Royal Patronage and the International Olympic Committee, conducted an official visit to Bangkok. The inspection was carried out by the IOC's Task Force for the Youth Olympic Games 2030, chaired by Danka Hrbeková, and marks a critical stage in the selection process before the host city announcement at the IOC Session in June 2026.

The inspection schedule included visits to the Thai Sports Authority headquarters and Suphachalasai Stadium, proposed as the opening and closing ceremony venues, along with major competition facilities such as the Extreme Sport Stadium, Indoor Stadium, rock climbing field, shooting range, archery field, table tennis court, gymnastics stadium, football field, National Sports Stadium, Nimbus Building, and Thammasat Stadium. These venues will accommodate multiple Olympic sports programs.

The facilities will host young world-class athletes competing in sports featured on the Olympic program, including athletics, aquatic sports, gymnastics, combat sports, urban sports, and team sports, reflecting the diversity and energy of the Youth Olympic Games.

The delegation also toured Chulalongkorn University student dormitories, proposed as the Youth Olympic Village, and the Urban Park at Chulalongkorn University Square, which will create connectivity and public engagement throughout the competition period. This concept reflects the Youth Olympic Games model, which seamlessly integrates elite athletic competition with a vibrant atmosphere, learning programs, and youth engagement activities in the heart of the host city.

On April 28, 2025, operators of an embroidery shop and document printing service in Nang Rong District, Buriram Province, appealed to the government to reconsider the new tiered electricity rate structure for businesses consuming over 400 units per month. The shop experiences peak electricity demand only during the school opening period when work volume is high, but during school closures when business slows, consumption drops below 400 units while revenue simultaneously declines. The business operators argue this new rate structure is unfair and places an unfair burden on business owners by raising the per-unit electricity cost, especially during economic hardship.

While supporting the government's policy to reduce electricity costs for residents using no more than 200 units, the operators contend that this burden should not be shifted to small businesses, particularly during periods of economic downturn when livelihoods are already strained and income is shrinking. They urge the government to reconsider this approach.

Trisit Tiaprasit, owner of the embroidery shop and document printing service located in front of Nang Rong City Shrine within Nang Rong Municipality, disclosed that his shop has consistently used more than 400 units monthly, but this month saw a reduction due to the school closure period when work diminished significantly and machinery and electrical equipment remained largely unused, causing revenues to drop proportionally.

He emphasized that the government should reconsider this measure, as some small businesses only consume high electricity during active work periods, while using less than 400 units during slow seasons, yet would still face the higher rate structure. This appears unjust to business owners. Rather than imposing rate increases, he suggested the government seek cooperation through awareness campaigns promoting alternative energy sources like solar panels, though he acknowledged that the current economic situation makes business owners reluctant to invest in additional infrastructure.

Singapore authorities have charged 18-year-old French national Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien with property damage and causing public nuisance after he posted a video of himself licking a straw from an automatic orange juice vending machine and placing it back in the dispenser on March 12 at a shopping mall. Local media reports that Maximilien, a student at ESSEC Business School's Singapore campus, posted the video on Instagram with a caption reading "city is not safe," which sparked widespread criticism on social media. The vending machine operator iJooz revealed it had to replace all 500 straws in the dispenser following the incident. If found guilty on both counts, Maximilien faces over two years imprisonment and fines amounting to several thousand dollars. ESSEC Business School confirmed it is conducting an internal investigation into the matter. Maximilien's attorney stated that his parents have arrived in Singapore and that a representative from ESSEC has provided bail during court proceedings, with the next hearing scheduled for May 22.

Former world snooker champion Neil Robertson has called for a ban on the cue chalk used by legendary snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, stating that most players "hate it" and it "makes the table dirty and messy."

The chalk issue arose during a match where John Higgins defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-12 in the World Snooker Championship Round of 16. During the match, Higgins encountered problems while shooting, with the cue ball not traveling in the intended direction. Despite pocketing the red ball successfully, the white ball positioning was unfavorable. This occurred because O'Sullivan continues to use the old Triangle brand chalk, which leaves marks on the felt, while most snooker players use the modern Taom brand chalk, which reduces "miscues" (unintended contact) and leaves no residue on the table. However, there is currently no rule against this chalk in professional snooker, meaning O'Sullivan has not violated any regulations.

Robertson, who faces Higgins in the quarterfinals, expressed relief at not facing O'Sullivan due to the chalk issue. "I'd rather play John because I won't have to deal with the chalk Ronnie uses, which should be banned from the sport entirely. I don't understand how they allow it. No professional would ever allow anyone to use Triangle chalk on their own table," Robertson stated.

The 2010 world champion elaborated: "Every player hates it. It ruins the game. It causes miscues, makes balls jump, and dirties the table considerably. I know Ronnie is friends with artist Damien Hirst, but it's like he's creating artwork with chalk on the felt. I don't think he's trying to upset anyone—he's not that type of person—but he's almost the last person on the tour still using this chalk. I hope they announce a ban eventually."

Robertson also noted that he doesn't even allow practice partners to use this type of chalk. "This is something that should be discussed because it ruins the game and is unfair to other players. Shaun Murphy and I would like to see it disappear altogether," he said, jokingly referring to the incident as "Chalkgate." He noted that several snooker clubs have already banned it because it damages the felt.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry weighed in on the issue, saying: "Ronnie uses very old chalk that leaves heavy marks on the table, both on the cloth and along the rails. When the ball hits these marks, it can cause unpredictable bounces. The table feels heavier than normal, which other players aren't accustomed to because everyone uses modern chalk that doesn't leave marks and doesn't cause miscues. Recently, new chalk technology has come out that significantly reduces contact errors. Almost everyone has switched to it because it's superior. You don't have to wipe the cue ball as often, it leaves no residue, but Ronnie chooses to use the old chalk he's familiar with."