April 25, 2025 – Labour Minister Julphand Amornvivatana traveled to Udon Thani province alongside a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Yasochanan Wongsawat to inspect and monitor progress on the government's workforce skills development policy.

The inspection aimed to support both domestic and international job markets. The delegation was received by Somchai Markartsreewan, director-general of the Department of Employment, and Somasap Patmasukuntan, director-general of the Department of Skills Development, along with other labour ministry officials in Udon Thani at Rajabhat University Udon Thani.

Minister Julphand reported visiting several important training programs, including nursing assistant and elderly care courses, professional Thai chef training, and electrical and air conditioning technician programs. The group also inspected vocational training demonstrations at the Labour Skills Development Institute 18 Udon Thani to build confidence in Thai workforce standards and reviewed preparations for overseas employment.

Activities included Korean language testing and work skills assessments (Point System) under the Employment Permit System (EPS) for sending workers to South Korea in compliance with legal requirements.

The Ministry of Labour's Udon Thani employment office organized a job fair providing consulting services and recruitment registration for positions in Japan under the IM Japan program and the "3M Project" (Jobs, Income, and Qualifications), developed in cooperation with educational institutions to align student skills with international labour market demands.

The labour minister noted that the Labour Skills Development Institute 18 Udon Thani has partnered with Rajabhat University Udon Thani to establish skills certification testing centers in electrical work, air conditioning, and Thai cooking, as well as competency assessment centers to certify regional workers with recognized standards.

"The Labour Ministry is committed to enhancing Thai workers' competitiveness through coordination with the education sector to develop modern curricula that meet foreign employers' needs," said Minister Julphand. "This will help workers achieve stable income and sustainable improvements in their quality of life."

Aston Villa suffered a 0-1 away defeat to Fulham and failed to climb into third place in the English Premier League. In the 2025-26 Premier League match on April 25, Fulham hosted Aston Villa at Craven Cottage. The home side fielded Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Raúl Jiménez, while the visitors deployed Yuri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins as key players.

Fulham secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Ryan Sessegnon in the 43rd minute.

Following the result, Fulham moved to 48 points from 34 matches and sits in 10th place, level with Brentford in 9th (who have played one more match) and Chelsea in 8th (who have played the same number of matches), but with an inferior goal difference.

Aston Villa remained at 58 points from 34 matches in fourth place, level with Manchester United in third, but with an inferior goal difference and having played one additional match.

Cambodia's government on April 25 announced major achievements in combating online scam networks, revealing that authorities have raided more than 250 scam centers nationwide over the past nine months. The government has also ordered the closure of 91 casinos and deported 13,039 foreign nationals from 33 countries involved in online fraud operations. Between mid-January and April 19, an additional 241,888 people voluntarily departed Cambodia. The government emphasized that combating online scams is a long-term mission requiring cooperation from all stakeholders both domestically and internationally. Cambodian authorities reiterated their commitment to eradicating online scam networks and called on the public and international community to recognize and support Cambodia's efforts in fighting this crime.

On April 25, 2025, police arrested Abdulloh (surname withheld), age 39, on a warrant issued by Yala Provincial Court on June 4, 2024, on charges of counterfeiting currency and fraud. He was captured in front of a condominium on Soi Siriphat in Bangkok's Pranakorn District.

Between 2567-2568, the suspect developed a severe addiction to Forex trading, losing hundreds of thousands of baht. Unable to find additional funds, he borrowed extensively from relatives and acquaintances before turning to fraud. He photocopied Thai 500-baht notes in color, cut them to actual size, and created 20 counterfeit notes sealed in paper envelopes.

He then traveled to a convenience store near his residential area and targeted an elderly woman. Claiming he urgently needed to transfer 10,000 baht but only had limited cash, he persuaded her to help transfer money into his account in exchange for the envelope of counterfeit notes. The victim transferred the money but later discovered the notes were fake. When she attempted to confront him, he quickly escaped on a motorcycle. She reported the incident to Yala City Police, and officers eventually tracked him down and made the arrest.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to all charges and was handed over to Yala City Police for legal proceedings.

The Central Investigation Bureau has issued a public warning about Forex trading risks. Despite potential high returns from leverage trading with small capital, investors risk losing all funds instantly. Forex trading lacks protection under Thai law since no brokers are registered domestically. If problems arise with foreign brokers, victims cannot file complaints with Thai authorities like the Bank of Thailand or the Securities and Exchange Commission. The police urge the public to consider carefully before investing.

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.