The 2nd Petanque Transplant Asian Open Championships, competing for the Royal Cup bestowed by Princess Sirindhorn, took place on April 30, 2026 at The Quarter Ramkhamhaeng by UHG. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, former Minister of Tourism and Sports, served as the opening ceremony president, accompanied by Thailand Organ Transplant Sports Association chairman Sannhanath Seejampee, secretary Thapaney Sophon, and representatives from organ transplant centers including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suraskdi Kantsuvessiree from Ramathibodi Hospital and Anupong Phuchsingh from the Thai Red Cross Organ Donation Center.

The Thailand Organ Transplant Sports Association organized this championship as a matter of great pride, welcoming athletes and representatives from diverse countries. This gathering reflects the power of sports to build health and spirit while serving as a bridge for international goodwill. Sports and tourism work together to promote Thailand as a sports tourism destination, allowing visitors to experience Thai culture and hospitality. The association is now recruiting organ transplant athletes for training to compete in international and world-level competitions across disciplines including petanque, bowling, badminton, table tennis, darts, athletics, lawn bowls, 3X3 basketball, and tennis. Interested individuals can contact the association through its Facebook page, website www.transplantsports.org, or LINE@ @ujk8406j.

The competition runs from April 29 to May 3, 2026 at the Petanque Development Foundation Field in Wang Thonglang District, Bangkok, featuring four categories: men's singles, women's singles, doubles, and 3-team open. A total of 119 transplant recipients from nine countries are participating—88 men and 31 women—from Australia, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand.

Pranee Suddhasri, Senior Director of the Macroeconomic Department at the Bank of Thailand (BoT), revealed that the central bank has issued a special economic alert regarding heightened risks stemming from escalating Middle Eastern tensions, which are beginning to significantly impact production costs for Thai businesses.

"Many entrepreneurs are facing mounting pressure from rising raw material and energy prices, while their raw material inventories can only sustain operations for 1-3 months. If the situation persists, the business sector's capacity to absorb shocks could deteriorate rapidly," Suddhasri stated.

Additional concerns include uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and potential impacts from a Super El Niño phenomenon, which could affect agricultural output and prices, further fueling inflation. Businesses are expected to gradually raise prices in the second quarter of this year to reflect higher costs, though cost-pass-through will be limited by weak consumer purchasing power and fragile liquidity in the economy.

Suddhasri emphasized that Thailand's economy has not yet entered stagflation despite rising inflationary pressures, as stagflation requires sustained low growth combined with persistent high inflation, conditions not yet evident.

"The BoT forecasts inflation in 2025 may temporarily accelerate to 3-4% starting in April, averaging 2.9% for the year before moderating to 1.5% in 2026, reflecting price pressures remaining controllable. Economic growth is expected to expand only 1.5% in 2025 before accelerating to 2.0% in 2026, representing slow and vulnerable recovery to external shocks."

However, additional government stimulus measures injecting around 300 billion baht could boost growth by an additional 0.5-0.7%, becoming a critical factor in supporting the Thai economy amid widespread uncertainty.

In the first quarter of 2025, the Thai economy expanded from the previous quarter, driven by improved export demand, particularly in technology products excluding gold, and increased private consumption following accelerated vehicle deliveries following the EV 3.0 incentive program's conclusion. Private investment rose due to machinery and equipment purchases, alongside increased government spending.

On the supply side, industrial production increased following petroleum output recovery after major refinery maintenance in the previous quarter, with large chemical companies expanding capacity. The service sector improved primarily through trade activity, aligned with production and export growth.

However, the economy began facing impacts from Middle Eastern conflict by quarter-end, reflected in declining exports to the region and reduced foreign tourist arrivals, particularly from Middle Eastern and European visitors.

On April 30, 2026, the Dunkin' Donuts branch at the original Klang Plaza location in Nakhon Ratchasima municipality closed its doors after 34 years of business. As the ninth Dunkin' Donuts to open in Thailand and the first in Nakhon Ratchasima province, the branch was unable to continue operations due to sales performance falling short of targets.

On its final day, a female employee in her mid-30s to early 40s was spotted sitting quietly at the counter, waiting for customers despite it being the last day of business. The closure has sparked nostalgic discussions online, with many customers expressing sadness and longing for the familiar atmosphere that defined the 1990s era.

A Myanmar military aircraft carried out airstrikes on a mining community in Karen State, leaving at least 12 people injured, according to reports on Thursday.

The attack took place on 29 April, when a Y-12 aircraft conducted two sorties, dropping a total of 12 bombs on a mining site and a nearby village in Payathonsu township, opposite Sangkhla Buri district in Thailand's Kanchanaburi province.

The first strike occurred at around 14:30, when six bombs were dropped, followed by a second round of six bombs at about 17:00.

The targeted area, located about 15 kilometres from the Thai border, is under the influence of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Union (KNU). The mining operations in the area had reportedly been granted to private companies.

Authorities said 12 civilians were injured in the strikes, including 11 men and one woman.

The incident had no impact on areas along the Thai–Myanmar border.

At 4:58 PM on April 30, rescue workers from Suang Saeng Tharm rescue station in Sung Noen district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, received a report of a pickup truck that had lost control and crashed into a tree on Friendship Highway heading toward Bangkok, near kilometer marker 122+600 close to the Kud Chik intersection in Na Klang subdistrict, Sung Noen district. They rushed to the scene with cutting equipment.

At the accident site, they found a Toyota Vigo pickup truck (license plate Bor So 1141 from Saraburi) with the front severely crushed and wedged against a roadside tree. Three people were trapped in the wreckage, requiring rescue workers to use hydraulic cutting equipment to extract the vehicle urgently amid heavy rainfall, making their work extremely difficult.

Investigation revealed that the victims were from the same family: Mr. Soo Kiarti, 36, the driver, suffered severe injuries and rescue workers performed CPR before rushing him to Sung Noen Hospital, but he died shortly after. Mrs. Hattaya Rat, 32, Soo Kiarti's wife, died inside the vehicle. And a 5-year-old girl (named A) with two parents suffered minor injuries.

During the rescue, the traumatized girl asked rescue workers with fear, "Are my mom and dad dead? Am I going to die?" This deeply moved the rescue personnel, who comforted her until they could safely remove her from the vehicle.

Initial information indicates the family was traveling from Nakhon Ratchasima city heading to work at a company in Sung Noen district when heavy rain caused slippery road conditions. The vehicle lost control and crashed violently into a roadside tree, resulting in the tragedy. Police will investigate the exact cause before taking further action.

"Elvis Thailand," an 80-year-old man born Somsak, has become a trending story again after undergoing a complete facial transformation. He opted for a full facelift procedure that left him looking noticeably younger, with many people praising his appearance as comparable to legendary stars from the 1980s-90s era.

Previously known for using facial tape before bed for years to reduce sagging skin, Somsak—known as "Grandpa Elvis"—finally decided to pursue professional cosmetic surgery to fulfill his dream of having a tight, firm face while maintaining a strong physique. He explained that despite turning 80, he still values his appearance, noting that body shape can be improved through exercise, but facial wrinkles and sagging require medical technology. The decision to have surgery at his age was difficult and required extensive research before he settled on renowned facial surgeon "Dr. Beam" at Beams Plastic Surgery in the Ratchapruk area.

Elvis Thailand emphasized his role as an elderly person who prioritizes self-care. He noted that many people opposed his surgery, asking why he would bother at his age. However, he responded: "Everything depends on ourselves. I'm not afraid of dying tomorrow—I just think about what makes me happy and what dreams I want to fulfill. The answer is wanting to be handsome. Even if I die tomorrow, at least today I'm satisfied." He stressed the importance of choosing accredited hospitals for such procedures, as they require anesthesia and close monitoring by anesthesiologists and specialist medical teams.

Two months post-surgery, the results have been impressive with barely visible scars and widespread compliments on his youthful appearance. People struggle to believe he's 80 years old. Having replaced his nightly facial tape routine with permanent surgical results, he now enjoys a tight, firm face without relying on tape anymore.