Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phipat Ratchakij announced on April 25 that he has proposed Hat Yai District in Songkhla Province as the location for the first official mobile Cabinet meeting, expected to take place in late May. The area has recovered sufficiently following recent flooding and is now ready to host the event.

Phipat outlined a southern development strategy targeting five southern border provinces, focusing on occupational and economic development. The flagship initiative will be the Thani-Roi Industrial Estate, which will incorporate halal certification provisions. Additionally, the three core southern border provinces will pursue energy crop projects with biomass power plant development, supported by private investors, to create employment opportunities.

The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center has already surveyed parts of the proposed development areas across three provinces and four districts, with plans to expand coverage to all five southern border provinces.

This article was written by Mr. Viktor Semenov, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Thailand, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster.

On 26 April 2026, we mark the 40th anniversary of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, one of the largest man-made disasters in human history. The catastrophe that unfolded in 1986 was the result of a reactor experiment carried out under Moscow's orders, in blatant violation of basic safety protocols.

The scale of the tragedy was not caused only by the explosion itself. The criminal negligence, combined with the Soviet authorities' attempts to conceal the truth about the accident and its consequences, meant that the world remained unaware of the explosion for at least two full days, while Soviet citizens were kept unaware for weeks. In those critical early days, silence was enforced, and truth was suppressed.

Despite the fact that radiation was already in the air, on 1 May the Soviet authorities forced people to participate in a demonstration in the center of Kyiv. This decision reflected a system where image and control mattered more than human life.

The consequences quickly spread far beyond Ukraine. Contamination was recorded in Belarus, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and the United Kingdom. The scale of the disaster is difficult to comprehend. 20,000 roentgens was the level of radiation in the destroyed reactor. For comparison, only 500 roentgens for five hours is a lethal dose. The total radiation from the released isotopes was 30 times greater than that from the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Over 145,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated with radionuclides, and 8.5 million people were exposed to radiation.

Around 5,000 settlements across present-day Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia were affected – 2,218 of them in Ukraine, home to approximately 2.4 million people. Over 300,000 people had to leave their homes forever. The exclusion zone remains today.

The Soviet authorities hid the fact of the accident and its effects, falsifying diagnoses of radiation exposure. Data on contamination were classified until 1989. It is clear that the Chornobyl tragedy was not just a technological failure, but also the result of a Soviet system built on secrecy, the absence of freedom of speech, and disregard for human life. The Soviet authorities concealed the scale of the disaster and delayed action, turning an accident into a global tragedy.

Ukraine has drawn important lessons, choosing transparency, responsibility, and international cooperation as the basis of its approach to nuclear safety. After 1991, during all years of Ukraine's independence, my state maintained the highest standards of safety at its nuclear facilities.

Since 2022, however, Ukrainian nuclear industry has been under constant threat from the Russian army's actions.

Deputy National Police Chief General Nirandon Leumsri announced on April 25, 2025, that the Royal Thai Police are collaborating with the Customs Department to strengthen their database and preventive measures against the smuggling of gold, currency, and cannabis flowers. Beyond the economic concerns of protecting import-export revenues and preventing tax evasion, the effort aims to safeguard public security by restricting prohibited items such as narcotics and materials threatening financial stability like precious metals and foreign currency. Customs law classifies these offenses as criminal violations carrying imprisonment and fines as deterrents.

Unlike typical criminal cases, customs violations can be settled without police investigation when violators agree to pay fines assessed by the Customs Director. However, cases involving contraband valued above 400,000 baht require approval from a Comparison Committee before settlement. General Nirandon noted that the current Comparison Committee includes Puntthong Loykoolnun (Customs Director), Panit Theerabhaphawong (Finance Ministry Inspector), and himself handling legal matters, meeting nearly monthly to review cases.

The Deputy Chief reported that both Thai and foreign nationals frequently violate customs laws by smuggling prohibited items with security implications. Particularly common are cases of Thais illegally exporting Thai currency beyond permitted limits without notifying customs authorities, or smuggling gold out of the country—offenses carrying 10-year prison sentences. Individual smugglers transport valuables worth millions of baht, potentially facilitating overseas money laundering. Currency smuggling is typically detected at border checkpoints near casinos, often involving ASEAN nationals, while gold smuggling is usually discovered at airports by South Asian smugglers. Records show many offenders have entered and exited Thailand dozens of times, with some having repeat offenses.

Recently, foreign nationals have begun illegally exporting cannabis flowers to European markets. Cannabis flowers are controlled herbal substances under health ministry regulations and classified as prohibited drugs in many countries. Although the Customs Department is investigating these violations seriously, the law permits case settlement through the Director or Comparison Committee without police investigation, leading many accused smugglers to choose settlement. However, many repeatedly enter and exit Thailand, potentially committing the same offenses again. General Nirandon stated discussions are ongoing with Customs Director Puntthong to address this pattern.

A 40-year-old delivery driver has been diagnosed with severely compromised kidney function equivalent to that of someone 70-80 years old, despite having no underlying chronic diseases. The case was revealed by Dr. Heng Yang-sheng, a renowned Taiwanese nephrologist, on a popular television program, shocking many viewers. The patient works as a delivery driver with physically demanding work and chronic fatigue, experiencing leg swelling. His kidney filtration rate (GFR) measured only about 60 milliliters per minute, typical of elderly patients.

The doctor determined the patient had no diabetes or clear chronic conditions, but the primary cause stemmed from years of poor eating habits driven by cost savings and convenience. He regularly ate a "budget meal" for dinner consisting of instant noodles, one sausage, and a can of soda, 4-5 times weekly.

While appearing simple and familiar to many, this meal represents a combination of ultra-processed foods produced through multiple industrial processes and containing high levels of additives, salt, sugar, and preservatives. Dr. Heng explained that these foods contain excessive phosphates used as preservatives and flavor enhancers, potentially accelerating calcium buildup in blood vessels and damaging kidney filtering units. High sodium content, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives further strain the excretory system, forcing the kidneys to overwork long-term.

Software drinks additionally increase metabolic disorder risks, while processed foods typically lack fiber and essential nutrients, leaving the body in a state of "excessive calories but nutrient deficiency."

After diagnosis, the doctor immediately recommended the patient stop consuming ultra-processed foods, switch to fresh foods, reduce seasoning, and drink adequate water. Within just three months, kidney function improved noticeably—GFR increased by 20 units and blood pressure stabilized, representing significant recovery and demonstrating that kidneys can regenerate with proper care.

Large-scale research corroborates this single case: a study of roughly 500,000 people found that every 10% increase in ultra-processed food proportion increases kidney deterioration risk by 7%. Ultra-processed foods extend beyond instant noodles, sausages, and soft drinks to include french fries, packaged snacks, canned foods, fast food, fried items, industrial dairy products, flavoring powders, instant soups, mass-produced sweets, and low-sugar drinks using artificial sweeteners.

Despite convenience, affordability, and ease of consumption, regular intake of these foods significantly increases health risks, particularly to the kidneys—which filter body waste and are among the first organs affected. This 40-year-old's case serves as a warning that youth does not guarantee the body can withstand risky behaviors.

On April 25, 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Songprerth Sirisuka, commander of Provincial Police Region 3, along with Deputy Commander Pol. Col. Chinwut Tangwongsalit, Pol. Col. Suriya Phuangsombat, and Pol. Col. Khemchat Watannapakham led a coordinated team to apprehend a high-profile cryptocurrency investment fraud suspect following an Interpol red notice and FBI warrant. Intelligence indicated that the target was hiding at a luxury resort in Phuket. When authorities conducted a passport inspection at the resort, they identified the suspect as Mr. William, a 33-year-old Indonesian national wanted by the FBI and international police for transnational fraud charges involving electronic devices. He was subsequently arrested and his legal status in Thailand was revoked as he violated immigration regulations.

Pol. Col. Suriya revealed that the suspect operated a hybrid scam between 2022 and 2026 targeting cryptocurrency investors through dating apps, social media, and various online channels. The operation employed attractive models and actors to conduct video calls and establish romantic relationships (romance scams) that appeared highly credible before soliciting investment in fake cryptocurrency platforms with fabricated profit displays. The scam caused extensive damages, with losses in the United States alone exceeding 10 million USD or approximately 350 million baht.

The hybrid scam method combines multiple deception techniques, making it particularly effective at victimizing people globally. The Royal Thai Police and relevant agencies urge citizens to verify information thoroughly before conducting any financial transactions and remain vigilant against such schemes. Thailand reaffirms its commitment to cooperating with international law enforcement agencies in combating transnational crime, particularly online fraud cases that cause widespread harm to people worldwide.