The King and Queen attended the centennial commemoration of King Rama VI's passing at Lumpini Park in Pathumwan District, Bangkok on April 25, 2569. Their Majesties laid flower wreaths and lit incense at the memorial of King Rama VI, founder of modern Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reported on the commemorative activities.

Their Majesties watched a documentary on the history of Lumpini Park, Thailand's first public park, which was established by King Rama VI as a gift to the Thai people. The park was named after Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal. A statue of King Rama VI was erected in front of the park in 1942.

Their Majesties observed a contemporary dance performance of Mattanaphada, a five-act drama written by King Rama VI in 1923, telling the legendary tale of a rose and the pain of love.

During their tour, the King and Queen viewed various park activities including fan dancing, yoga, aerobics, and Thai exercise classes. They then visited the Lumpini Station building to view an exhibition on the life and achievements of King Rama VI, who laid crucial foundations for Thailand's modernization and development.

BANGKOK — 25 April 2026, Thailand is considering scrapping its 60-day visa-free entry scheme for foreign visitors and reducing permitted stays, as authorities shift focus towards higher-spending, long-stay tourists, officials said.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the government is reviewing the policy after a trial period and is preparing to submit proposed changes to the Cabinet soon.

The measure currently allows travellers from 93 countries and territories to enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days. Officials now plan to scrap the blanket scheme and revert to country-specific arrangements, while exploring new visa options tailored to different markets.

Surasak said the changes aim to better reflect actual travel patterns and curb misuse of the system.

"More than 90% of tourists stay between one and 30 days, while only about 10% remain longer," he said. "Allowing extended stays may enable some individuals to work illegally or engage in improper activities."

He said the revised approach would prioritise "quality tourists" who stay longer and contribute more to the economy, while serving as a screening mechanism for undesirable visitors.

The Foreign Ministry has already discussed the proposal, which will require Cabinet approval to amend the original resolution.

Separately, authorities are also pushing ahead with plans to introduce a 300-baht tourism fee for foreign arrivals by air. The levy would fund tourism development, safety measures and infrastructure improvements.

Surasak said such fees are common internationally, citing Japan's departure tax as an example, and insisted the measure would not deter visitors but help strengthen Thailand's tourism sector in the long term.

On April 24, 2025, Varanit Aphirat Jirawongsa, Phuket's Commerce Director, deployed inspection officers alongside Patong Municipality officials to investigate online reports from TikTok users claiming they purchased coconut water for 150 baht at Patong Beach. The inspection of vendors and shops in the area found that most merchants display clear pricing, with beachfront vendors listing coconuts at 100 baht each, while shops further inland sell them for 50-80 baht.

Cost analysis revealed several factors affecting prices: raw coconut procurement costs range from 30-40 baht per fruit (depending on transportation and season), significant daily ice expenses for cooling, labor wages, and product spoilage risk requiring disposal within 3 days.

Local merchants indicated that beachfront sales are systematically organized by community enterprise groups, though unauthorized outside vendors may occasionally operate illegally. Officials pledged strict enforcement to prevent reputational damage to the tourism industry.

To establish uniform standards and prevent future issues, the Phuket Commerce Office coordinated with Patong Municipality to hold merchant briefing meetings from April 27-30, 2025, emphasizing compliance with the Central Price-Setting Committee Announcement No. 68 (2568) regarding price and service display requirements. Violations will face penalties according to law.

This is a widely criticized issue that undeniably damages confidence in Thailand's justice system. The matter concerns the NACC's ruling in the stock-hiding case of Saksayam Chidchob, former Transport Minister, following the Constitutional Court's decision removing him from office for concealing assets. Through a nominee holding shares in Buri Charoen Construction Company—where the share-purchasing funds came from Saksayam himself—he effectively remained the company's true owner while contracting multiple Transport Ministry projects. However, the NACC disagreed. On September 8, 2025, they dismissed the complaint, issuing a clarification on April 23, 2026, six months later. The NACC reasoned that Saksayam did not intentionally conceal assets, believing that after selling shares to the nominee, he had no obligation to report them. After the Constitutional Court's ruling, the nominee continued claiming ownership, resulting in litigation at Nonthaburi Court over true ownership. Eventually, through mediation, the nominee purchased 19 land plots totaling 323 rai from Saksayam for 51 million baht, mysteriously ending the affair. The NACC concluded Saksayam did not hide stocks and the nominee was the true company owner. This demonstrates interesting use of NACC discretion. Yet a nagging question remains: where did the nominee obtain 119 million baht to purchase the shares? His tax filings with the Revenue Department from 2015-2019 show only 108,000-118,000 baht annual income—averaging just 9,000 baht monthly. Furthermore, the money trail reveals concealed transactions typical of hidden asset transfers, suggesting Saksayam remained the true owner. Why couldn't the NACC see this? Is it normal for low-wage earners to become hundred-millionaires effortlessly, especially nowadays? One cannot say!??

A lobster fishing boat off Cape Cod, Massachusetts has created a sensation in marine science circles after catching a lobster with a strikingly split coloration—an exceptionally rare occurrence with odds of only about 1 in 50 million. Wellfleet Shellfish Company revealed that the unusual lobster was discovered by the fishing vessel Timothy Michael on April 16 while conducting routine operations in the waters off Cape Cod.

What makes this lobster truly remarkable is its body color clearly divided into two distinct halves, with each side displaying completely different coloration, as if split down the middle by a straight line—astonishing the entire fishing crew. The company subsequently decided to donate this rare specimen to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium so it can live out its remaining years in suitable conditions and be viewed by the general public.

While the aquarium undergoes renovations, the lobster has been placed under the care of a marine biology laboratory overseen by NOAA Fisheries in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Wellfleet Shellfish Company explained via social media that this "half-and-half" colored lobster results from an extremely rare genetic abnormality that causes its shell to split into two distinctly colored halves.

This discovery has captured the attention not only of marine scientists but has also gone viral worldwide, as it represents one of nature's rarest and most wondrous examples found in the deep sea.

Nakhon Ratchasima—A major charitable event drew crowds of devotees for the third forest cleanup and collection of approximately 800 unidentified remains, with the discovery of several golden child statues creating considerable excitement among participants before the forest closure and sacred ceremony to honor wandering spirits.

On April 25, 2025, the Sueng Neuen Charitable Foundation's cemetery in Sueng Neuen District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, hosted the bustling event. Foundation President Somkiat Kiakamchai led proceedings alongside representatives from a network of 72 foundations, committee members, officials, and thousands of devoted volunteers and residents working in harmony.

The forest cleanup ceremony, conducted as a sacred rite honoring Buddhist and Thai-Chinese traditions, involved exhuming unidentified remains for cleansing, chanting for spiritual passage, and cremation to guide souls toward favorable realms. Believed to bring merit and fortune, the ceremony dedicates merit to unclaimed spirits.

The third exhumation committee, supported by the 72-foundation network, received cooperation from hundreds of volunteers from provinces including Saraburi, Khon Kaen, Chonburi, Chaiyaphum, and Buriram. Operating from March 28 through May 12, 2025—a 49-day period—the effort involved opening 51 burial blocks. Today's work uncovered approximately 800 remains, including several golden child statues that drew considerable attention. These will be cleansed and honored through religious ceremonies dedicating merit to the unclaimed spirits.