On April 30, Hakna Cafe Kanchanaburi—a picturesque café overlooking rice fields and nestled against mountains in Kanchanaburi province with nearly 28,000 followers—announced its permanent closure, with May 5 designated as the final day of operation. The café expressed gratitude for all customer support, trust, and cherished memories, hoping Hakna would remain in everyone's hearts forever.

Owner Mel Aewwan clarified the closure reasons in a video, stating the decision was heartbreaking despite massive investment. The café was entirely self-funded with no partners, built on two acres of land costing hundreds of thousands of baht, with total construction expenses reaching over 10 million baht. However, the closure became necessary as revenue declined while expenses remained constant and management became difficult. He recalled that the previous year the café earned over 100,000 baht daily, with the train section generating 30,000-40,000 baht daily, but current operations could no longer sustain these figures.

Mel expressed frustration with some customer behavior, noting that dissatisfied customers would post complaints over minor issues on social media, while staff mistakes were handled through warnings and corrections. He invited anyone interested in taking over to contact him about ownership, leasing, or purchasing options.

Road Rage Viral: Man Picks Up Rock After Aggressive Driving Standoff

A heated confrontation between a car driver and motorcycle rider has gone viral on social media after Facebook user Nantapong Suwan posted video footage of the incident. The two vehicles were seen aggressively cutting each other off on the road before the situation escalated dramatically.

According to the video, the motorcycle rider stopped at the roadside, jumped off, picked up a rock, and ran toward the car, leading to an intense verbal confrontation between both parties amid rising tension.

The incident occurred on Phra Phuket Kaew Road in Kathu subdistrict, Kathu district, Phuket. The poster appealed for calm driving awareness with the message: "Please stay cool on the road. Let's talk things out civilly. We don't know who's right or wrong. Just stay safe."

Following the video's release, numerous social media users commented widely, with most condemning both parties' behavior and urging responsible road use. Common sentiments included calls for fellow Thais to show restraint, concerns that such aggressive driving could lead to fatal consequences, and general frustrations with heated road conflicts over minor incidents. Users pointed out that hot weather and stress are no excuse for such behavior.

The incident highlights the serious problem of emotional reactions on roads, which can escalate unnecessarily into violence. Many are now calling on relevant authorities to investigate the facts and pursue legal action if violations are found, to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

BANGKOK — The Thai government has welcomed members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2030 Working Group during an official visit to Bangkok from 28–30 April, as the country pushes forward its bid to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2030.

The delegation was led by Danka Hrbékova, an IOC member and chair of the working group. Thai authorities said the visit marked a "significant step forward" in demonstrating the country's readiness.

The bid is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Sports Authority of Thailand and the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said Thailand's bid reflects a broader ambition to position the country as a global hub for sport, youth development and international events.

"Thailand has a strong and proven track record in staging international sporting events, supported by quality infrastructure and close collaboration across all sectors," he said. "Hosting the Youth Olympic Games 2030 will create lasting value for our people, economy and global standing."

Officials said the three-day programme included inspections of key venues in Bangkok and Chonburi, covering main stadiums, indoor arenas, training centres and coastal competition sites.

Dr. Meechai Inwood, deputy governor of SAT, said the visit allowed Thailand to showcase its capabilities not only in infrastructure but also in event management, logistics and coordination.

"Our readiness goes beyond venues, encompassing transport systems, medical and sports science services, security, technology and overall operations to ensure seamless delivery of a global multi-sport event," he said.

Associate Professor Pimol Srivikorn, president of NOCT, said the visit provided an opportunity to present Thailand's preparedness across all key areas, including accommodation, workforce planning and sustainable event operations.

Thailand's bid is guided by the vision "Inspiring Youth, Connecting South East Asia & Asia", with a focus on delivering a compact, efficient and youth-centred Games aligned with the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020+5.

Bangkok is proposed as the host city, with plans to integrate sport, education and culture into a modern urban experience for young athletes. The concept emphasises compact venues, strong links with youth communities and regional engagement.

Key venues inspected in Bangkok included Rajamangala National Stadium, proposed for the opening and closing ceremonies, along with multiple competition and training facilities. The delegation also visited sites in Chonburi, including coastal venues and sports complexes.

Thailand is one of three shortlisted candidates to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games, alongside Asunción and Santiago.

The IOC is expected to announce the host city in June.

Motorists are advised to fill up today before tomorrow's price hikes. All petrol and gasohol varieties will jump 0.85 baht per liter, while standard diesel increases by 0.60 baht per liter, with changes effective May 1st at 5:00 AM. Premium diesel prices remain unchanged. The new retail prices are: ULG = 52.89 baht, GSH95 = 43.30 baht, E20 = 36.30 baht, E85 = 32.24 baht, GSH91 = 42.93 baht, Premium GSH95 = 52.39 baht, HSD B7 = 40.80 baht, HSD B20 = 33.80 baht, and Premium Diesel = 62.10 baht. These prices do not include Bangkok city maintenance tax.

A large statue has appeared in central London that appears to bear the signature of the elusive street artist Banksy. The sculpture of a suited man walking forward off a plinth, while carrying a flag with one hand that also covers his face, was first spotted in St James's on Wednesday. The statue sits on Waterloo Place, near statues of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War Memorial. 'Banksy' has been scrawled on to the bottom of the plinth, leading to speculation the artist is behind it, although there has been no official confirmation. Banksy, whose real identity is not officially known, has previously left a statue in London. In 2004, The Drinker, a subversive take on Rodin's The Thinker, was installed on Shaftesbury Avenue before being stolen soon afterwards.

On April 30, 2026, at Royal Thai Police headquarters, Lt. Gen. Chaiyaphat Suwanrak, Deputy Spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police, announced the results of the 4th Police Personnel Commission meeting for 2026, presided over by the Prime Minister.

According to Lt. Gen. Chaiyaphat, the meeting covered both informational and deliberative agenda items. Informational items included routine reports from various Police Commission subcommittees on disciplinary matters, human resources management, and legal considerations. The deliberative section focused on approving revised evaluation standards and assessment methods for police officers in investigative and prosecutorial roles to support promotions under the National Police Act of 2569 (2026).

The revised standards resulted from field assessments by Royal Thai Police working teams that identified practical constraints and challenges in the current system. The adjustments aim to ensure fairness and provide appropriate career development opportunities for officers genuinely working in these roles.

Lt. Gen. Chaiyaphat further stated that the committee also approved extraordinary appointments of police personnel, particularly female officers in prevention and suppression units, to reinforce critical divisions including the Border Patrol Police, Metropolitan Police Bureau, and Provincial Police Bureau.

According to Lt. Gen. Chaiyaphat, these extraordinary appointments continue policy implemented since 2020 to address shortages of female police personnel. Recruited and trained personnel will receive formal appointments to preserve their benefits and enable full engagement in prevention and suppression work.

These female officers will play important roles in security operations, particularly in protecting high-ranking officials, coordinating foreign visitor safety, and supporting various state ceremonies scheduled for late 2026—duties requiring specially trained personnel prepared to handle sensitive national-level situations.

Lt. Gen. Chaiyaphat concluded that all measures aim to improve force management efficiency, support the Royal Thai Police's future operations, and foster fairness and morale among officers dedicated to their duty.