Red carpet actress Yaya Urasaya Sperbund has officially become a full-fledged Khon Kaen daughter-in-law. She recently opened up for the first time at the BOLON EYEWEAR New Collection SS2026 event held at Central Court, Ground Floor of Central World, about the significant moment following her traditional Isan wedding ceremony with groom Nadech Kugimiya on April 17 at his family home in Khon Kaen.

★ How was the wedding? Yaya – "It was such a fulfilling day. We received so much—blessings and love. I cried so many times. There are moments we don't express our feelings to each other, but when a special occasion like this comes, everyone speaks from the heart. It was incredibly fulfilling. Nadech was so happy, and the ceremony came out exactly as we dreamed. From the start, we wanted it to be authentically traditional Isan, and we paid attention to every detail from beginning to end. It turned out so complete. I'm so pleased."

★ How did experiencing Isan traditions feel? Yaya – "It's so sweet. I'm so proud to be an Isan daughter-in-law. Proud to be a Khon Kaen daughter-in-law. It's such a beautiful culture. Everyone is genuinely sincere with each other. It was so fun and entertaining. The food was delicious. Nadech taught me Isan skills beforehand. I can speak it, though maybe not perfectly, but now I feel completely immersed in it."

★ You two looked so happy together? Yaya – "It's a feeling we've had for a long time, reaching the point of true completion. It felt very liberating."

★ What did Nadech say when he walked to where you were sitting? Yaya – "I can't quite say, but basically that he's ready to take care of me forever. He's never spoken with such intention before. We already knew he was ready, otherwise I wouldn't have married him, but hearing him say it, his eyes got a bit teary."

★ What promises did he make before the elders? Yaya – "The vows he recited were amazing. I've never seen anything like it. Two of my close friends, Kim and Tep, came up with those vows. I have to thank them so much. I loved every bit of it. When I heard it, I felt he was so sincere. He's been thinking about this for a while."

★ The money he earned—did he give it all to you? Yaya – "Except for that, not seriously. At the end, it all goes toward our future anyway."

★ Do you call each other husband and wife now? Yaya – "Not yet. There are still 2 more ceremonies, but according to tradition, I'm already fully a daughter-in-law. But in my family's tradition, I haven't worn the ring yet. There's one more step before I can fully speak as his wife."

★ The gifts received as a daughter-in-law aren't light, right? From Khun Mae Gaew? Yaya – "There's a stamp with the wedding logo. The bracelets are safely in the safe. As for the dowry, I don't know. Mother-in-law didn't ask for anything and didn't ask either. She just said 'whatever you feel like.' That's enough. We'll register the marriage when auspicious timing allows."

★ The bride and groom outfits were gorgeous? Yaya – "Ajarn Veeratham designed them. He created completely new jewelry pieces. The work is incredibly intricate and beautiful. I felt so honored wearing such beautiful clothes and jewelry. And Nadech looked so handsome—I've never seen him look this good before in his life. Mother-in-law looked beautiful too."

★ Any spoilers about the Norway wedding? Yaya – "Next month. Mid-next month we'll fly out. The Norway ceremony is almost complete in planning. I think letting everyone see it first and then surprising them will be much more fun. There won't be many guests—just over 70 people. Almost all of the bride and groom's friends are going to Norway."

★ What would you like to say about your handsome husband? Yaya – "Just, thank you so much.

The Tha Khantho Thai Buffalo Show 2569 brought together elite breeding stock from across the country competing for the Princess Sirindhorn Cup (Grand Champion). Organized by Tha Khantho Subdistrict Municipality in Kalasin Province in collaboration with the Thai Buffalo Conservation Association and partners, the event promoted conservation and development of high-quality Thai buffalo breeds while stimulating the local economy at the Tha Khantho Municipal Stadium.

Chairwoman of Kalasin Province Chelaemkwan Lotratkul opened the event, joined by Tha Khantho District Officer Yotsaphon Intharuttee, Subdistrict Chief Administrator Dr. Theeraphon Yanthabusya, and representatives from the Thai Buffalo Conservation Association, along with government agencies, community leaders, buffalo farmers, and numerous citizens.

Following the opening ceremony, a showcase of champion breeding bulls featured more than 300 buffalo from farmers and farms nationwide, worth hundreds of millions of baht, creating an exciting atmosphere.

Dr. Theeraphon Yanthabusya, Tha Khantho Subdistrict Chief Administrator, stated the competition aimed to promote conservation and development of Thai buffalo breeds while creating added value and higher returns for farmers. It also served to transmit knowledge about quality Thai buffalo characteristics, breed selection, and elevating Thai buffalo genetics to international standards. Additionally, it provided an important platform to inspire young people to pursue livestock farming careers and served as a meeting point for buffalo farming networks across Thailand to exchange experiences, generate community income, and stimulate local economic activity, with an estimated 10 million baht circulation.

The competition categories included: 1) Black buffalo grand champion, 2) Reserve grand champion, 3) Black buffalo in 10 divisions, 4) White buffalo, 5) Dwarf buffalo (all colors), 6) Giant buffalo, 7) Local buffalo, and 8) Fantasy buffalo.

Dr. Theeraphon noted that grand champions in both male and female categories received the highest honor—the Princess Sirindhorn Cup—along with certificates of recognition.

A catastrophic seven-vehicle pileup occurred on April 28, 2569, when Muang Nakhon Ratchasima Police received reports of a chain-reaction collision on Highway 224 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Chok Chai route) near a shopping center in Nong Bua Sala subdistrict, Muang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, injuring multiple people. Emergency responders from Sawang Moetham Foundation were dispatched to the scene for assistance.

The incident involved seven vehicles colliding in succession: a white Honda Jazz, gray-black Toyota sedan, black Fortuner, white sedan, white Isuzu Highlander 4-door pickup, white Mitsubishi Titan Plus Cap pickup, and an ice truck with refrigerated container. The force of the successive impacts left over 10 people injured, including drivers and passengers, with four sustaining serious head injuries and severe chest trauma from steering wheel impacts. After initial treatment by rescue personnel, the injured were transported to a hospital for further care.

Preliminary investigation revealed the accident occurred during peak rush hour when all drivers were hurrying to work. Vehicles were traveling at high speeds while maintaining dangerously close following distances without adequate safety gaps. When the lead vehicle suddenly decelerated or braked unexpectedly for unknown reasons, following drivers could not stop in time, resulting in the cascade of collisions. Police will review CCTV footage from the area, dashcam recordings, accident scene evidence, and conduct interviews with all drivers involved to determine the exact cause before proceeding with legal action. Photo courtesy of Sawang Moetham Foundation Nakhon Ratchasima.

Bangkok — On April 28, Culture Minister Sabida Thaiseth announced that the restoration of Ta Kwai temple is expected to take approximately two years, with the project currently awaiting budget allocation.

Speaking at Government House at 9:40 a.m., Sabida stated that the Fine Arts Department has completed an initial survey, and the Culture Ministry is working closely with military units in the area to clear the site. Officials are prepared to provide comprehensive support to facilitate the work, she added.

When asked if the area is now safe and conflict-free, Sabida said she could not confirm this, as the matter falls under the jurisdiction of security authorities. However, based on available information, she said officials would ensure safety and provide assistance for site access.

She explained that the restoration aims to return the temple as closely as possible to its original state, using modern technology to replicate its former appearance. While some color differences may remain to distinguish original materials from new ones, the overall structure will follow the original design.

Sabida noted that the restoration process is not highly complex and the Fine Arts Department possesses the necessary expertise to execute the work. Once completed, the site could potentially be developed as a tourist attraction, though further enhancements to the surrounding area and landscape may be needed.

On April 28, 2025, Royal Thai Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Paratj Rattanajaipan announced that the Navy is proceeding with a project to acquire one oil tanker to replace HTMS Chula, which was commissioned on December 30, 1980 and has served for over 45 years. The vessel is now at the end of its operational lifespan and is scheduled for decommissioning in 2026.

This project aligns with the Royal Thai Navy Strategy 2017-2037 (revised 2023) to maintain maritime logistics capabilities across regional naval commands. The new tanker will enhance the Navy's ability to conduct military operations and humanitarian missions, while promoting Thailand's domestic shipbuilding industry and technological capabilities.

The new oil tanker is designed and constructed to international standards and Royal Thai Navy specifications, including RINA classification standards, SOLAS and MARPOL conventions, and relevant maritime engineering standards. It will feature a high-safety fuel transfer system for efficient fuel replenishment operations while minimizing spillage risk and meeting international environmental standards.

On March 30, 2025, the Ministry of Defence approved the Navy's contract with Thai International Dockyards Limited (TINDY) through a selective procurement process, with a total budget of 434,634,000 baht and delivery scheduled for 2026. The contract was signed today with TINDY, an experienced Thai shipbuilder that has previously collaborated with the Royal Thai Navy.

The Royal Thai Navy confirmed that this project will significantly strengthen maritime security, enhance logistics capabilities, and enable the Navy to efficiently respond to evolving security challenges.

According to Nattareya Thawiwong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand accumulated over 11.3 million foreign tourists from January 1 to April 26, 2025. Last week marked a strong recovery in short-haul market arrivals, with a 26% increase compared to the previous week. Chinese tourists led with over 100,000 arrivals, representing a 40% surge, while Taiwanese tourists climbed from 11th to 5th place among visitor nationalities.

The previous week recorded 536,401 total foreign arrivals, up 71,681 visitors or 15.42% from the week prior, averaging 76,629 tourists daily. The top five source countries were China (102,493), Malaysia (73,571), India (45,811), Russia (26,015), and Taiwan (18,482). Chinese and Malaysian visitors increased 37.31% and 20.91% respectively, while Taiwanese, Russian, and Indian tourists declined 41.93%, 15.32%, and 1.45% respectively.

The following week is expected to see increased arrivals driven by Labor Day holidays in multiple countries, normalized energy conditions in Thailand, the "Trusted Thailand" safety initiative, government travel facilitation measures, TM.6 card exemptions, and increased airline flights.

As of April 27, 2025, Thailand has accumulated 11.36 million foreign tourists from January 1 to April 26, generating approximately 555.6 billion baht in tourism revenue. The top five source markets were China (1.84 million), Malaysia (1.23 million), Russia (849,367), India (805,208), and South Korea (465,702).