On April 30, 2025, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, clarified the Prime Minister's absence from live parliamentary questioning, explaining that the Parliament only notifies the cabinet of question topics on Thursday morning. Since the Prime Minister and ministers don't know the topics in advance, they sometimes cannot attend due to pre-scheduled commitments, or questions may be delegated to the responsible minister to answer on their behalf.

Regarding the Land Bridge project question, it was assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Transport, to answer instead because the Transport Ministry is the primary responsible agency. However, the Deputy Prime Minister was occupied with the first 2025 Rail Transport Committee meeting, an important agenda following the Rail Transport Act's official implementation on March 27. The meeting was scheduled a week in advance and produced significant resolutions, including measures to reduce public expenses and protect passenger rights, as well as expediting regulations for an integrated ticket system. Therefore, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angksakulkiart was assigned to provide clarification to Parliament on behalf.

Ms. Ratchada further noted that the Prime Minister's schedule included meetings with the Police Commission, economic team discussions, and a press conference on suppressing transnational criminal networks, corruption, citizenship fraud, and illegal gambling operations. She emphasized that assigning responsible ministers to answer questions is not avoidance but rather ensures comprehensive information, as the responsible minister can provide complete and detailed data.

Burnley announced the departure of Scott Parker from the managerial position following the team's relegation, with Mike Jackson taking charge on an interim basis until the end of the season. Parker had guided Burnley to promotion to the Premier League this season, but ultimately failed to prevent 'The Clarets' from being relegated, finishing 19th in the table. On April 30, Burnley confirmed the mutual split through the club's official website, with immediate effect. Mike Jackson and his coaching staff will oversee the team's remaining four Premier League matches, starting with an away fixture at Leeds United on May 1. According to the BBC, Burnley is targeting Craig Bellamy, manager of the Welsh national team, as the new permanent manager.

At 9:00 PM on April 30, 2026, Saen Suk Police Station in Chon Buri Province, along with rescue workers from the Dharmarajamani Foundation, responded to a collision between a passenger van and pickup truck that left 15 people injured, with 1 in critical condition, on Khao Lam Road near the Guan U Shrine U-turn in Muang District, Chon Buri.

At the scene, officers found a passenger van bearing license plate 1NJ 8751 from Bangkok, flipped on its side with severe damage. All 13 passengers sustained injuries, including one woman trapped under the vehicle in critical condition. Rescue workers attempted CPR but were unsuccessful, and she died shortly after. Nearby, a pickup truck with license plate PB 2437 from Bangkok had its right side severely damaged and two occupants trapped inside. Rescue personnel had to use cutting equipment to extract them. In total, 14 people were injured and 1 person died.

According to witness Nai Aek, a resident who saw the incident, the pickup truck emerged from an alley, stopped in the left lane, and attempted to make a right turn to reverse direction. At that moment, the van traveling straight ahead struck it at full speed, causing the pickup to lose control and flip over. Witnesses immediately rushed to help as people were trapped under the vehicle. The road is a straight stretch where vehicles tend to travel at high speeds and accidents are frequent occurrences.

Si Sa Ket authorities launched a crackdown on three kratom juice shops operating openly near schools with flavored formulas targeting youth. The operation, which began at 3 p.m. on April 30, 2026, was coordinated by Si Sa Ket Governor Anurath Thammaratchajit and other provincial officials, involving health department staff, security volunteers, and local police.

At the first location, authorities arrested a 24-year-old man named Phong while illegally producing and selling kratom juice near a school. Officers seized 74 bottles of flavored kratom juice, 2 cough syrup bottles, 300 plastic bottles for packaging, 5 strainers, and a QR code payment sticker.

At the second location within Si Sa Ket municipality, a 22-year-old man named Chai was arrested with 67 bottles of flavored kratom juice, QR code payment stickers, and shop signage. Authorities confirmed the shop had been continuously selling to local youth near school boundaries.

At the third location, a 23-year-old man named Rach was apprehended with 257 bottles of flavored kratom juice—the largest seizure of the operation. Authorities suspect he operated a larger distribution network supplying youth groups in the area.

Governor Anurath stated that officials had received numerous complaints from parents and residents about shops selling flavored kratom drinks to attract young people. Although kratom was removed from the narcotics list, its production and sale remain regulated by law, which explicitly prohibits sales near educational institutions, to minors, and in illegally mixed formulas. Violators will face strict prosecution.

On April 30th, reporters visited Wat Tha Pha in Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province after learning that devotees were gathering to make merit donations and receive oversized premium bananas graded for Japanese export, which the temple distributed to the faithful in celebration of National Labor Day.

Upon arrival, the area in front of the traditional Thai pavilion housing a statue of Khun Mae Chi Bun Ruean Tong Bun Toem was found to be lined with hundreds of premium-grade bananas, each marked with a "donate 50 baht per bunch" sign. Devotees enthusiastically participated in merit-making before taking the giant banana bunches to present to Khun Mae Chi Bun Ruean, then bringing them home as auspicious blessings.

Chai Sripho, a committee member at Wat Tha Pha, revealed that all the bananas were donated by Pim Jai and Lek Kaew Jai, owners of the renowned Thai restaurant Kaew Jai in Narita, Japan. Originally destined for export, the bananas ripened faster than expected due to the intense heat and would have been overripe by the time they reached their destination. The donors consequently decided to offer them to the temple to distribute as merit donations, with an entire truckload delivered.

Weighing tests showed the largest banana bunches weighed nearly 8 kilograms, with smaller ones around 4 kilograms. Premium bananas of this grade typically sell for no less than 200 baht per bunch in the market. However, the temple wanted merit-makers to receive quality goods, so anyone donating 50 baht or more received one bunch of these export-grade bananas as a blessing.

Bananas are traditionally offered to Khun Mae Chi Bun Ruean based on the belief that such offerings bring smooth livelihoods and easy success in endeavors, much like peeling a banana into one's mouth.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, the lucky number draw was a highlight for those trying their luck. Committee member Chai drew an auspicious ping pong ball before the statue of Khun Mae Chi Bun Ruean as a National Labor Day gift, revealing the number 547. Local residents quickly photographed and recorded the number, hoping to purchase lottery tickets for the upcoming draw.

As Thailand transitions into a fully aged society, elderly care is no longer solely a family matter but a critical responsibility for the entire Thai social system that must work together to create support spaces enabling seniors to live meaningful, healthy lives while maintaining connections with family, community, and society.

On April 29, 2026, Social Development and Human Security Minister Nikom Somglang led ministry executives to visit the Bang Khae Social Welfare Development Center in Bangkok and officially opened the Day Care Center for the Elderly, which serves as an important model for comprehensive elderly care. The delegation was accompanied by Chokechai Wichian-Chaiaya, Director-General of the Department of Elderly Affairs, and representatives from relevant agencies. The minister toured various activities and services including handcrafted products by seniors, the innovative Snoezelen room, a cognitive and memory rehabilitation area, and spent time encouraging elderly participants with care packages.

Minister Nikom stated that Thailand has fully entered an aged society with the elderly population expected to continuously increase, potentially reaching 20% of the national population within a decade. Therefore, preparing comprehensive elderly care systems at all levels—family, community, and institutional—is both necessary and urgent.

The Day Care Center opening represents more than just a daytime service facility; it creates a living space where seniors can engage in group activities, receive rehabilitation, participate in recreational programs, and maintain regular social interaction—the core of the "Active Ageing" concept promoting independence, vitality, and sustained social engagement while minimizing time spent homebound or bedridden.

The minister noted that elderly day care centers extend beyond Bangkok, with the Department of Elderly Affairs operating through 12 social welfare development centers nationwide to ensure elderly care reaches all regions. Beyond direct care, these centers play an important role in educating society that elderly care should focus on prevention and health promotion rather than waiting for illness or dependency, as maintaining friendships, participating in activities, and staying connected with family and community are crucial factors in reducing risks of physical, mental, and cognitive diseases.

The minister further announced that the ministry has an elderly fund as a support mechanism for senior activities and plans in 2026 to expand caregiver and elder rights protection programs to cover every subdistrict nationwide, ensuring community-based care while creating employment and building an elderly care system linked to grassroots community economics.