The National Anti-Corruption Commission dismissed a case against former Transport Minister Sakdiayam Chidchob for allegedly concealing assets in a limited partnership, contradicting a Constitutional Court ruling. The case sparked widespread legal debate. On April 25, 2026, the Constitutional Court's decision to remove Sakdiayam from his ministerial position was partly based on evidence from a closing statement by Pol. Lt. Col. Tawi Soddsong, a Prachathai party list MP. The statement was filed in Case No. 8/2566 to determine whether Sakdiayam's ministerial position ended under Section 170(5) read with Section 187 of the Constitution.

The closing statement revealed critical evidence that Sakdiayam's claimed transfer of 119.5 million baht in shares on January 26, 2561 was merely a sham transaction with no actual payment made. According to tax records from 2015-2019, the nominee reported annual income of only 108,000-118,000 baht, averaging 9,000 baht monthly. This directly contradicted Sakdiayam's claims of substantial personal income exceeding 500 million baht from private business with no tax documentation to support it.

Money trail analysis revealed the funds used to purchase and sell shares ultimately originated from Sakdiayam's own accounts, including those of the Buri Charoen Construction Partnership and Silachai Buriram Company (1991) Limited, both entities he owned and controlled. Circumstantial evidence indicated Sakdiayam retained actual control and ownership, including the business address remaining at his residence, continuous use of his personal vehicles for fuel expenses through October 2562 (nearly two years after the alleged transfer), and delegation of full financial authority to a junior employee holding only 3,000 baht in shares.

Most notably, the company received hundreds of construction contracts from the Transport Ministry during Sakdiayam's tenure as minister—the only period the nominee took control—raising significant questions about the timing and legitimacy of the share transfer.

Jealousy may be a fleeting emotion for some, but in certain cases it can escalate into extreme behavior. This case made headlines when a laboratory employee at a prominent U.S. university was accused of attempting to poison a coworker simply because he was dissatisfied with what he perceived as an unfair promotion decision.

The perpetrator is Makoto Kuroda, a 41-year-old man facing serious charges for both reckless endangerment of others and intentional product contamination causing health harm. He admitted to placing dangerous chemicals into his coworker's water bottle in the lab.

Kuroda and the victim, identified only by the initials "T.M.," had known each other since 2017 and worked together at an influenza research institute for five years. What began as a close working relationship gradually deteriorated into accumulating dissatisfaction.

The incident came to light on April 4 when T.M. attempted to drink water from a bottle that had been sitting on his desk for several days, only to notice an abnormal taste and immediately spit it out. A coworker confirmed the bottle had a distinctly strange odor.

Shortly after, T.M. discovered another anomaly when his shoes in the lab emitted a strong foul smell, prompting him to contact police. Testing revealed chloroform at such a high concentration that precise measurement was impossible.

Following the investigation, Kuroda admitted to being the perpetrator. He used paraformaldehyde mixed with triazole, dripping it into T.M.'s water bottle and placing it in the victim's shoes, intending to cause illness and skin irritation.

Kuroda's motives extended beyond just the promotion issue. He also expressed dissatisfaction with what he viewed as his coworker's failure to follow lab safety protocols, such as not wearing protective equipment, combined with accumulated minor conflicts that festered into deep resentment.

Most alarming was Kuroda's admission that he used AI, specifically ChatGPT, to research the required quantities of chemicals. Police documents indicated he wanted the victim to "feel bad" and believed the other person deserved such consequences, viewing it as "bad people should experience bad things."

The year's first major golf championship, The Chevron Championship, with a total prize purse of $9 million (approximately 290 million baht) at Memorial Park Golf Course near Houston, Texas, entered the second round on April 24. Thai golfer Patty Tavatanakit, the 2021 champion, remains Thailand's top-performing female golfer after carding three birdies with no bogeys and three more under-par shots for a combined score of 8-under-par 136, holding second place.

American Nelly Korda, the world No. 2 and 2024 champion, maintains a commanding lead at 14-under-par 130.

After the round, Patty revealed she tried her best, acknowledging it wasn't perfect, but she simply gritted her teeth and focused on the task at hand.

World No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul missed the cut after shooting 3-over-par 147, marking her first missed cut of the season and her first since the U.S. Women's Open last May. AFP also reports that Atthaya may lose her world No. 1 ranking to Korda this weekend.

Other Thai golfers' results: T7 Jasmine Suwannapura at 5-under-par 139; T49 Hat Suwichaya Winichijai at 1-over-par 145.

Those who missed the cut: Mo Moreya Chutanukal at 1-over-par 147; Praw Chanetra Vannasen; Me Areya Chutanukal; Ring Pron-ong Petchlam at 4-over-par 148; Meow Pajaree Anan at 7-over-par 151.

After her Channel 7 HD contract ended last year, actress Karn Natcha Ratjayangkananth is fully diving into a GL series while officially launching her career with the NORTHSTAR agency. Fans are eager to see how far she can push this new character direction.

On April 24, the actress appeared at the NORTHSTAR FIRST LIGHT LINE UP 2026 press event at CenterPoint Studio, where she discussed the opportunity. "This is my first project with NORTHSTAR, and it marks my official debut with the agency and launch of my new series," she explained.

When asked how she connected with NORTHSTAR, Karn revealed: "It actually goes back to director Bee, someone I've worked with before. He told me he saw the 'me' (masculine energy) in me and asked if I wanted to try casting for a GL series. At first I wasn't sure, but I decided to audition with NORTHSTAR, who was open to casting at that time. I auditioned and got the role."

Regarding her knowledge of GL series, Karn admitted she's a fan of the couple Nam Taan and Film, even attending one of their fan meets. "I liked Nam Taan because she's funny, and I watched their series Pluto, Tales, Stars, Love. I felt they were both incredibly talented actors, so I went to the fan meet."

When asked if she fell for Film as well, she laughed and confirmed: "Yes, I got hooked on both of them."

About the director suggesting she had a "me" (masculine) energy when she prefers "ke" (feminine) energy, Karn joked: "I'm actually a 'ke' person and refused. Yuro is still a 'ke' too!"

Regarding this new role, she expressed that it's challenging and fresh. "Since entering the industry, I've only played heterosexual dramas. Now I have to adjust many things—my look, my acting style. I'm naturally bold, but I still have soft femininity. Once I entered the GL world, I became a tall woman, a bigger presence, especially compared to my co-stars like Pik and Mimi who play smaller characters."

She added that she's had to drop some sweetness from her image and change her wardrobe from skirts to pants. "The story itself is complex and challenging because every character has reasons for their actions. At first I didn't understand why my character did certain things. It's quite intricate, so I've had to study hard and discuss extensively with director Bee and Film to get it right."

Thai police and customs authorities have stepped up a joint crackdown on cross-border smuggling of cash, gold and cannabis buds, blacklisting 86 foreign nationals to prevent repeat offences. Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Nirandorn Lueamsri said the Royal Thai Police and the Customs Department have integrated their databases and adopted more proactive measures to curb illicit imports and exports that undermine state revenue and national security.

Under Thai customs law, smuggling prohibited goods including narcotics, currency and gold carries criminal penalties including imprisonment and fines. However, offenders can often settle cases without police investigation by paying fines set by the customs chief or a comparison committee. For seized goods valued above 400,000 baht, settlement requires committee approval.

The committee, comprising Customs Director-General Phanthong Loykulnanta, a senior Finance Ministry inspector and Nirandorn, meets monthly and has handled numerous cases involving both Thai and foreign offenders. Authorities have found frequent attempts to move large sums of Thai currency and gold out of the country without declaration, sometimes worth millions of baht per case, raising concerns about capital flight and possible links to overseas money laundering.

Cash smuggling is typically detected at border checkpoints near casino areas, often involving ASEAN nationals, while gold smuggling is more commonly intercepted at airports, frequently involving South Asian nationals. Many offenders have extensive travel histories, with some entering and leaving Thailand dozens of times, and some are repeat offenders.

Foreign nationals have also been caught attempting to export cannabis buds without authorization, often destined for European countries. The product remains a controlled herb under Thai regulations and is illegal in many destination countries. Because many offenders settle cases by paying fines, some have been able to re-enter Thailand and reoffend.

To address this, police and customs have begun sharing offender data with the Immigration Bureau to enhance monitoring. Foreign offenders identified in the database are being placed on an immigration blacklist barring re-entry, while Thai nationals are placed on a watchlist subject to stricter screening. Authorities have compiled records on 114 individuals, 86 foreigners and 28 Thais, with all foreign nationals meeting criteria for blacklisting. Officials urged travellers to familiarize themselves with customs regulations on prohibited items to avoid legal penalties.

Chiang Mai University has made its mark on the Asian stage, earning a Highly Commended award at the international THE Awards Asia 2026 ceremony. The university is proud to be the only Thai institution to receive this Highly Commended recognition from Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2026 in the Outstanding Contribution to Regional Development category.

The awards were announced on April 22, 2026, in Hong Kong, amid competition from over 500 leading projects across Asia, demonstrating the potential of Thai research to create tangible impact at both regional and international levels.

This success comes from the SMART BEE SDGs project—"Enhancing Food Security and Beekeeper Livelihoods in the Mekong Region"—a research and innovation initiative that leverages science, technology, and international collaboration to elevate beekeeping as a profession, strengthen food security, and drive sustainable development throughout the Mekong region. The project is led by Associate Professor Dr. Terd Disyadthanuworrawong and faculty from the SMART BEE SDGs Research Center at the Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University.

SMART BEE SDGs represents long-term cooperation with six Mekong countries: Thailand, China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. The project applies science and innovation to support actual beekeepers through AI and Big Data to monitor bee health, analyze honey quality, and boost production efficiency. It also provides training, knowledge transfer, and builds cooperation networks both domestically and internationally. The tangible results include:

- Increased beekeeper incomes - Development of high-value honey products - Job creation in communities - Improved regional beekeeping standards - Evolution of honey brands toward industrial scale

Beyond economic gains, the project has helped conserve pollinators and biodiversity, raised awareness of bees' role in food systems, and advanced regional beekeeping standards. It has received support from Chiang Mai University, the Mekong River Commission, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

SMART BEE SDGs exemplifies how university research can create real economic, social, and environmental impact aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Beyond the Highly Commended award, Chiang Mai University has two additional projects shortlisted for final consideration:

1. International Strategy of the Year for "CMU's International Strategy: A Multi-Tiered Architecture for Global Impact" by the Center for International Affairs, which elevates the university's international standing through a systematic approach to partnerships with leading world universities, generating innovative and sustainable outcomes across multiple dimensions.

2. Outstanding Support for Students for "Token to Care (T2C): No Money, No Hunger" by the Student Development Division, an emergency food assistance system that distributes Meal Tokens through the CMU Mobile app for use at campus merchants, providing immediate relief and helping students avoid hunger during financial hardships.

This success reflects Chiang Mai University's strength in advancing research and social development to regional and international levels, solidifying its position as a leading Asian university.