GENEVA, Switzerland — 15 May 2026, A 17-year-old Thai student has received international recognition from both The Earth Prize 2026 and National Geographic's Slingshot Challenge for a conservation project aimed at protecting hornbills through artificial nests made from recycled plastic.

Yanin "Proud" Tangkaravakoon was named the Oceania and Southeast Asia winner of The Earth Prize 2026 for her project Homes for Hornbills, which combines wildlife conservation, recycled materials and community engagement to address declining hornbill populations in Thailand. As one of seven regional winners in The Earth Prize, Proud will receive US$12,500 in funding and mentorship to further develop the project. Public voting to select the global winner is scheduled to open on 18 May, with the overall winner due to be announced on 29 May.

The same project was also recognised as a Top Honors Award recipient in the 2026 Slingshot Challenge, a global environmental competition supported by the National Geographic Society and Allen Family Philanthropies. Top Honors Award recipients receive US$10,000 in funding and become eligible for the public-voted People's Choice Award, as well as the Explorer Connection Award recognising projects closely aligned with the work of National Geographic Explorers.

Hornbills are regarded as vital to forest ecosystems because they disperse seeds across wide areas, helping forests regenerate naturally. According to organisers, 51 of the world's 62 hornbill species are experiencing population declines due to deforestation, habitat destruction and poaching.

Proud said her interest in hornbills began during a primary school field trip to Khao Yai National Park, where she became fascinated by the birds and later learned about the threats they face. She went on to work with the Thailand Hornbill Research Foundation to develop a three-part conservation model consisting of durable artificial nests designed around hornbill behaviour, school-based conservation education and long-term plans to create alternative income opportunities for local communities to reduce poaching and deforestation.

The nests are built using upcycled materials including discarded plastic bottles. So far, 20 nests have been installed in southern Thailand. Organisers said 14 hornbill chicks successfully fledged in 2025, while 14 nests were occupied in 2026.

The initiative has involved 60 local students and partnered with TOA Venture Holding to support the use of recycled plastic materials in nest construction.

Proud has also produced Homes for Hornbills, an award-winning documentary that ranked among Thailand's top 10 youth documentaries and is now streaming on Thai PBS's VIPA platform. She has presented her findings to the Faculty of Forestry at Kasetsart University.

King of Gamers Club (KOG) has made history as the first-ever team champion of MSL Thailand's inaugural season—the official Mobile Legends Bang Bang league in Thailand. The team achieved this feat by decisively defeating ACT Esports 4-0 in the grand finals after an explosive performance.

KOG may not have been the favorite pick when MSL Thailand was first announced, but behind the scenes, the team committed to grueling training sessions. They practiced four sessions daily, totaling 16 games per day, not including replay reviews and team meetings. Remarkably, they never took a single day off throughout the Thai New Year festival period.

The team's five-man roster combines experienced Thai players—33RD EXP Lane, a veteran since IDNS's golden era in 2017, and Nyle, a versatile genius player—with skilled additions like Zed in midlane. They were joined by two Filipino players: Kzen, a jungler with experience in China's league, and 17-year-old rookie Payen, a gold laner who only had semi-professional experience before being selected to strengthen the team.

KOG dominated the regular season undefeated, finishing first place with 9 consecutive victories. Though they stumbled slightly in the playoffs due to overconfidence and had to fight through the lower bracket, they ultimately reclaimed the championship throne. Their victory stands as testament to the value of their relentless dedication and the unwavering pride of every team member and fan.

The registration period for elections in Bangkok and Pattaya, two special-status local administrative organizations, is fast approaching, with voting set for Sunday, June 28. From May 28 to June 1, Bangkok will accept registrations for the Bangkok Governor and Bangkok City Council members at Bangkok City Hall 2 in Din Daeng, while Pattaya will simultaneously register candidates for Pattaya City Mayor and City Council members at Pattaya City Hall in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi. After candidates draw their ballot numbers, they will launch campaigns to secure public support, with electoral authorities strictly enforcing legal compliance. Bangkok is a large special-status local administration serving as the capital, established under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act and divided into 50 districts. Pattaya is a special-status organization with significant economic development, major tourist attractions, and high population density, established under the Pattaya City Administration Act. Both differ from other local governments like Provincial Administrative Organizations and Subdistrict Administrative Organizations due to their specialized legislation and expanded powers, representing early examples of special-form governance with elected leaders who have policy autonomy and efficient city management independent from bureaucratic constraints. Currently, both cities are buzzing with candidate announcements and campaign team formations. Pattaya has candidates from major political parties and independent candidates from local political groups, while Bangkok has candidates from at least two political parties, various political factions, and non-affiliated independents. Recent polling by Suan Dusit Poll shows Bangkok residents prioritize the next governor having experience and readiness to work immediately. With one month remaining, all candidates have an opportunity to communicate their vision to voters, while Bangkok and Pattaya residents must recognize the importance of exercising their voting rights and electing leaders through democratic process—a privilege unique to these cities.

On May 24, an EasyJet flight from Egypt bound for the United Kingdom experienced a tense moment when a female passenger admitted she had stored a power bank in her checked luggage while it was actively charging. The situation escalated when the captain announced over the intercom, "There is something on this aircraft that should not be here," before the plane suddenly descended and diverted to Rome. Many passengers feared a serious emergency had occurred.

When the power bank owner later acknowledged her mistake, it was revealed that lithium-ion batteries and power banks are strictly prohibited in checked baggage, especially when actively charging other devices, due to the risk of overheating and fire. EasyJet issued a statement confirming that the captain's decision to make an emergency landing followed standard aviation safety procedures. The aircraft landed safely with all passengers evacuating normally, and the airline provided hotel accommodations and meals to affected passengers.

Aviation experts, however, warned of a more serious danger: if a lithium battery fire were to occur in the passenger cabin, crew members could quickly detect smoke and manage the situation. But if such a fire breaks out in the cargo hold below the aircraft, it could spread undetected and cause catastrophic structural damage to the plane, potentially resulting in tragedy.

Source: New York Post Reported by Sawd Online News Team

A strange political saga unfolded when 16-year-old Mahmoud Sadis Buba from Sabon Gari in Kaduna, Nigeria, nearly secured a nomination to run for the House of Representatives. In campaign videos, Buba claimed to be 30 years old and attributed his diminutive appearance to a genetic growth condition, insisting he was a high school graduate and former taxi driver ready to serve his community. His candidacy for the All Progressives Congress (APC) went viral on social media, initially sparking conversations about more inclusive politics in Nigeria. However, the situation quickly spiraled into a national scandal when leaked documents—including his passport, national ID, birth certificate, and school records—indicated he was likely only 16 years old. Former teachers who taught Buba confirmed his actual age, directly contradicting his public claims. The APC party swiftly disqualified him for age falsification, while Buba subsequently withdrew from the race after consultations with party leadership. The incident remains controversial, with Nigerians questioning whether it exposed gaps in the screening system or if there were other political machinations at play behind the scenes.

Meta has issued a statement on explicit sexual livestream content on Facebook, confirming removal and ongoing investigation. The online community voiced harsh criticism after multiple sexual livestreams occurred simultaneously on Facebook on the evening of May 23, leading many social media users to question the appropriateness of such content. On May 24, Meta released a statement on the matter, saying: "Explicit sexual content violates our community standards. We have removed the violating content and taken action against the accounts responsible. We will continue to monitor this issue closely and remove any content found to violate our policies," according to a Meta spokesperson.