On April 26, 2025, Dr. Chanyawit Ariyawornananth, acting director of Super Poll research institute, presented survey findings on public confidence in Energy Minister Eknath Phrom-muang, based on a nationwide sample of 1,259 respondents from all occupational backgrounds, conducted between April 22-25, 2025.

The Super Poll survey on public confidence in Energy Minister Eknath Phrom-muang reflects the important dynamics of the relationship between "policy performance" and "public perception" in the context of energy problems, which is a structural issue that directly impacts the quality of life for the broader public. This study, conducted using both quantitative and qualitative research methods with a nationwide sample of 1,259 respondents, reveals significant trends that will shape public policy direction moving forward.

Regarding "expectations," the majority of the public clearly expressed the desire to solve energy problems at a structural level, particularly continuous energy price reductions, which reached as high as 89.6 percent. This reflects the reality that energy is not merely an economic commodity but a "cost of living" that the public directly uses to evaluate government performance.

Beyond this, the demand for transparent disclosure of energy price structures at 84.3 percent emphasizes the public's desire for transparency and fairness in the energy system. Meanwhile, support for controlling energy business profits and reforming the entire system was also high, showing that the public does not only want short-term fixes but desires genuine systemic change.

When examining the "confidence" dimension, the survey found that 67.9 percent of the public has a high to very high level of confidence in the Energy Minister, and an additional 21.4 percent has a moderate level of confidence. This means roughly 4 in 5 people have a confidence level ranging from moderate to very high—a figure reflecting a "positive confidence base" forming in society. However, the presence of 10.7 percent of the public with low or no confidence indicates an area of uncertainty that still needs to be addressed through concrete results and more effective communication.

In terms of "perception of credibility," the survey shows that most of the public views the minister positively, especially in dimensions of seriousness about work (77.1 percent) and intention to solve national and public problems (74.2 percent). These are moral leadership qualities that play an important role in building long-term trust.

Meanwhile, the public's perception of communication ability and accessibility at 67.3 percent shows that policy communication has become effective to some degree. However, the 22.1 percent of people who remain "uncertain" reveals a perception gap that can still be developed.

Regarding "perception of work performance," the survey found that the public has a high level of awareness of measures related to fuel price reductions (73.8 percent) and direct field engagement to address problems (70.5 percent). This reflects awareness in the dimension of "practical leadership" that emphasizes action and confronting problems directly.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside a high-profile journalists' dinner attended by President Donald Trump and multiple senior U.S. leaders on Saturday night, rushing toward the ballroom before Secret Service agents swarmed him and took him into custody. The president was uninjured and was hustled away.

Guests went diving under tables as the scene unfolded and some reported hearing shots outside the vast subterranean ballroom in the Washington Hilton where the event was being held.

One law enforcement official said a gunman had opened fire. A law enforcement officer was shot in the bullet-resistant vest but is expected to be OK, several sources told The Associated Press.

The shooting suspect — described by Trump as a "sick person" — was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told the AP.

"When you're impactful, they go after you. When you're not impactful, they leave you alone," Trump, safe and uninjured and still in his tuxedo, said at the White House two hours later. "They seem to think he was a lone wolf."

There was no immediate indication of any other involvement, and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said she had "no reason" to believe anyone else was involved. Video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him.

"There does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public at this time," Bowser said at a separate news conference.

All officials protected by the Secret Service were evacuated. Those in attendance included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — and many other leaders of the Trump administration on a night when the nation is at war with Iran.

It was the third time since 2024 that the president had been under threat by an attacker in his immediate vicinity — including the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, that injured him and killed a local firefighter.

"Today we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before," the president said. But he also said, "We're not going to let anybody take over our society."

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges related to Saturday night's attack will be filed shortly, and that the nature of the charges would be obvious considering what had happened at the dinner. Blanche stressed that "the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started."

FBI Director Kash Patel, flanking Trump, said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward.

The Medical Technology Council has issued academic guidance clarifying that plain water can be consumed normally before blood draws, contradicting some healthcare facilities' instructions to fast from both food and water. The council is communicating this clarification to its members, the general public, and relevant healthcare workers due to widespread misunderstandings that plain water should be avoided like other foods and beverages.

The council clarified that plain water—defined as pure water with no color, taste, calories, or additives—does not affect laboratory test results that require clinical fasting conditions. Conversely, avoiding water provides no benefit and may negatively impact test results. Water deprivation can cause blood concentration, leading to artificially elevated values for hemoglobin, creatinine, and BUN. It also makes blood draws more difficult and increases discomfort and risk to patients.

Additionally, laboratory reference values are typically established under fasting conditions while allowing plain water consumption. Avoiding water may cause results to deviate from these standards. The Medical Technology Council is requesting that healthcare facilities update their pre-test instructions to read: "Avoid all food and beverages except plain water, which may be consumed normally." Proper communication before testing is essential for ensuring quality laboratory results and patient safety.

A 35-year-old Japanese office worker named Asuka has been on over 300 dates across 11 years using dating apps, but hasn't found the right person. Despite her efforts, she's decided to lower her standards—just a little. Asuka earns around 3 million yen annually (approximately 600,000 baht). She admits that she was previously unwilling to consider men who weren't both handsome and earning at least 10 million yen (roughly 2 million baht) per year. However, such high standards have prevented her from finding compatible matches despite meeting over 300 men. She has now reduced her income requirement to 8 million yen (about 1.6 million baht) to give regular office workers and ordinary men a better chance. Still, even after lowering her criteria, she struggles to feel a connection with the men she meets. Asuka acknowledges that reducing her standards makes her feel like she's compromising too much. She insists on the 8 million yen minimum income requirement because she wants to become a full-time homemaker after marriage and is concerned that insufficient income could affect basic living standards and daily expenses. "Am I compromising too much? I've tried so hard and endured so much, and I think I'm doing well with lowering my standards," she says. Regarding age and appearance, Asuka remains strict, wanting a partner no more than 2-3 years younger than her. She argues that age is unchangeable and cannot be compromised on. Survey results indicate that excessively high standards negatively impact matchmaking prospects. If women under 35 relax conditions in even one area—such as age, income, education, or height—their chances of successful matchmaking could increase threefold. Mitsuyo Michima, a representative from a matchmaking company, notes that when one party has too many conditions, the other party naturally becomes equally selective. She emphasizes that marriage isn't a one-sided choice but requires mutual agreement from both parties.

Thailand's women's relay team, featuring Manasda Samrano, Jiraphat Khanaontata, Athichaa Petchkul, and Suphanit Phuolkert, won gold at the 6th Asian Beach Games held in Sanya, China on April 26 in beach athletics. The Thai team competed in the women's 4×60 meter relay race. The Thai relay team accelerated at full speed and crossed the finish line first with a time of 29.46 seconds to secure the gold medal. The Philippines earned silver with a time of 29.73 seconds, while China took bronze with 30.42 seconds.

Egg-filled crickets are commanding premium prices of around 400 baht per kilogram as demand surges among consumers. The reason behind this popularity is revealed in reports showing that other cricket varieties have seen price declines.

During this early rainy season, many areas—particularly those adjacent to forests and mountains—are experiencing flooding. Villagers venturing into the forest near dusk are discovering "pae crickets" or "khok crickets," another variety of the common edible cricket, which have become highly sought after. These crickets don't produce the sticky secretion found on other species.

At the beginning of mating season, female pae crickets become completely full of eggs. They emerge to feed and lay eggs in ponds, carrying only eggs in their abdomens since they haven't yet consumed other insects. Other cricket varieties, such as striped crickets, have seen their prices gradually decline, though they still find consumers due to their soft bones that allow them to be eaten whole.

Another cricket species, locally called "lazy crickets," commonly inhabit gardens and residential areas. They emerge to feed on insects when rain falls near electric lights, have striped bodies, lay eggs in drainage channels, and produce loud chirping throughout the night. Villagers catch these as well, selling them at approximately 100 baht per kilogram.

According to "Mae Kha Luk Song," a forest product vendor from Pa Sang District in Lampoon Province who sells seasonal forest goods including crickets, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and ant eggs, she now openly buys and resells pae crickets. She confirmed that egg-filled pae crickets are considerably expensive, reaching up to 400 baht per kilogram.

Villagers who forage forest products for consumption or income to support their families remain fearful following cases where the national park has declared forest closures and arrested villagers for harvesting red ant eggs in protected areas. However, with abundant food sources emerging during the rainy season, there is an argument that restrictions should be relaxed to ensure the survival and supplementary income of forest-dwelling communities.