CHIANG MAI — Immigration police in Chiang Mai have arrested a British national for overstaying his visa, according to officials.

Pol. Col. Phitthakphong Charoenkul, superintendent of Chiang Mai Immigration, and Pol. Lt. Col. Nattaphon Chumbuatong, deputy superintendent, stated that an investigation team has been assigned to locate foreign nationals who are violating immigration laws or committing other offences.

On 28 April 2026, immigration investigators working with officers from Immigration Division 5 conducted an inspection in an area along Samlan Road in Phra Sing subdistrict, Mueang district, following a public tip-off about an illegal foreign resident.

Authorities arrested a British man and charged him with "being a foreign national staying in the Kingdom after permission had expired". He was informed of the charges and his legal rights before being transferred to Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station for further proceedings.

The suspect admitted he had entered Thailand under the visa exemption scheme, which permits nationals from 93 countries and territories to stay up to 60 days per visit to facilitate tourism and short-term business activities. He acknowledged failing to leave the country or apply for a visa extension before his permitted stay expired.

This week's episode of 'Hit Song Duel: Secondary Power' on Channel 7HD (1:30 PM) features a singing competition centered on Potato's feel-good pop-rock song 'Love You Every Day.' Hosted by Thone-Thanakorn Sribunbodee and On-Akkrawat Chumpulvivat, the show brings together accomplished judges Jingkhridkhao Wongtevanyai, Liu-Achariya, and Phumi-Kiatphumi who not only judge the competition but also provide intensive coaching and share their professional experience as singers and actors. Before the main competition, students from Satthasomud School will perform a puppet show to warm up the audience. Three competitors—Pipoo, Mongkhon, and Otoh—will then face off in an intense battle, each bringing their own unique style to the challenge. To win the championship and trophy, performers must showcase their singing ability, stage presence, and charm while captivating the judges and audience. Don't miss Wednesday, April 29 at 1:30 PM on Channel 7HD (digital channel 35). Follow the show on Facebook (Ch7HD and Ch7HD Entertainment), stream live on BUGABOO.TV, and stay connected through Ch7HD's social media channels and website at www.ch7.com.

Lady Praang Praang Kanyaniran recently had a bittersweet birthday. Although her boyfriend Ob Obniti couldn't join her celebration in Japan this year, he made up for it immediately upon her return to Thailand with a surprise visit.

On April 28, Lady Praang attended the premiere of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at Siam Paragon and shared details about her birthday experience. She spent the day in Japan wearing red, which was the first birthday without Ob by her side. "He wanted to come, but flight tickets were incredibly expensive," she laughed. "It's actually related to fuel costs. The high prices affected so many things, including our relationship." She joked that she had no boyfriend on her birthday, though Ob was devastated he couldn't make the trip.

When Ob couldn't come, he kept in touch through video calls. But Lady Praang playfully pretended she missed him greatly to gauge his reaction. "I was watching his behavior every day, but he seemed fine," she said. "I wanted him to be miserable too since I was suffering."

Ultimately, Ob revealed his plan: he'd been baking a cake from scratch and even made a handmade rabbit figurine with his parents' help. When Lady Praang arrived home and opened the door, she immediately saw him waiting with the cake. "When I saw him, I was so happy. He told me to understand why this special effort was necessary. He made the cake until he was exhausted, so I forgave him for not being there," she laughed.

On keeping the romance alive, Lady Praang shared that what matters most to her is Ob's compliments. "When he tells me I'm beautiful, that's real beauty to me. I only believe him. No one else's words matter as much," she said. She admitted she doesn't compliment him much, worried it might make him suspicious of her motives.

A tragic incident occurred at 09:30 on April 29, 2025, when police from Samkok Station received a report of a pickup truck impaled by roadside metal at Highway 9 (heading toward Bang Bua Thong) in Bang Kra Bue Subdistrict, Samkok District, Pathum Thani Province. Officers and rescue volunteers quickly arrived at the scene on a bridge in the rightmost lane, where they found a gray Nissan Navara with Bangkok license plates. The driver, identified as Subbun, 28, was unconscious in the driver's seat with a two-inch angle-iron beam, approximately one meter long, embedded in his abdomen.

Rescuers attempted CPR but were unsuccessful, and the driver was pronounced dead. Officers contacted forensic pathologists from the Justice Ministry's Institute of Forensic Medicine. Two Myanmar workers, one man and one woman, were also found at the scene. The male worker, identified as Chuem, 42, explained that the group was traveling from Lad Krabang to a construction site in Lad Lum Kaew when suddenly the vehicle swerved to the right, lost control, and fell into the drainage ditch along the roadside before landing on the bridge.

Once the vehicle stopped, a metal bracket that had been lodged beneath the truck suddenly shot upward and pierced through the cabin, striking the driver fatally in the abdomen. Police initially suspect the driver fell asleep while driving, causing the vehicle to veer right before the front wheel dropped into the drainage ditch where the metal bracket was positioned. The bracket became dislodged and shot upward through the vehicle's undercarriage before piercing the driver's abdomen. Further detailed investigation is ongoing, and the body has been transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for autopsy and official cause-of-death determination.

The Department of Agricultural Extension is leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen grassroots economic development by training approximately 1,000 agricultural promotion officials at all levels to serve as 'AI Coaches' and transfer knowledge to local communities. Deputy Director Suriya Kampuang revealed that these officials will be trained online to develop AI skills and guide the application of AI technology in various areas including targeted marketing, product and packaging development, demand forecasting, and precise business planning.

The department has also compiled practical support tools for community enterprises and farmer entrepreneurs, including over 400 AI prompts and ROI (Return on Investment) calculation guides to help community enterprises analyze business viability, make informed decisions, and reduce investment risks.

The initiative aims to enable community enterprises to apply AI responsibly while adhering to ethical principles and relevant laws. The program targets over 64,513 community enterprises nationwide with more than 1.17 million members, aiming to enhance their competitiveness, add value to products and services, and transition effectively to the digital economy era.

"Using AI will help community enterprises reduce operational costs, increase production efficiency, and expand marketing channels, particularly in online marketing and brand creation, which will add value to community products and services and create economic multiplier effects at the regional and national levels," Suriya stated.

The project emphasizes responsible technology use, considering ethics, intellectual property, and relevant laws. The department aims for at least 70% of trained officials to apply their knowledge concretely in their local areas and scale up community enterprise development broadly.

The initiative represents a shift for Thai community enterprises from manufacturers to modern entrepreneurs capable of creating added value and competing in the digital economy with integrity. The department expects the program to serve as a key mechanism for elevating the nation's grassroots economic structure from product manufacturing to brand creation and value addition, moving from traditional market dependence to data-driven business analysis and planning, while strengthening Thai community enterprises' self-reliance and ensuring sustainable long-term growth.

Thailand Cement Public Company Limited (SCG), a leading cement and construction materials provider in Southeast Asia, has announced a major partnership with Huawei Technology (Thailand) Limited and Anhui Conch Information Technology Engineering (Conch), experts in Advanced Process Control (APC) systems and AI-driven industrial optimization.

The collaboration aims to develop and implement integrated APC and artificial intelligence solutions on modern ICT infrastructure specifically designed for SCG's cement production processes. The three organizations will combine their strengths to drive Industrial AI in the cement sector.

Each partner brings distinct expertise: SCG contributes deep cement manufacturing knowledge and its proprietary CiMie AI Foundation Model; Conch provides proven APC technology and algorithms for cement production optimization; and Huawei supplies comprehensive ICT infrastructure including cloud computing, edge computing, AI platforms, cybersecurity, and F5G/IPv6 industrial networks to enable complete digital transformation.

Under the agreement, the three parties will jointly design and install specialized APC systems for cement production process control, develop AI Foundation Models for production optimization, and implement AI Agents to support automated decision-making. The scope also includes Smart Factory construction, cloud-edge computing architecture for real-time AI workloads, dashboards for operators and management, and comprehensive knowledge transfer and training programs for SCG personnel.

William Zhang, Enterprise Business President at Huawei Technology (Thailand), stated the partnership reflects Huawei's commitment to accelerating Industrial All Intelligence transformation in Thailand, leveraging expertise in ICT infrastructure, cloud computing, and AI platforms.

Xu Yue, Digital Division CEO of Conch Group and Chairman of Conch Information, noted that Conch's APC and AI expertise combined with SCG's CiMie Foundation Model and Huawei's robust infrastructure will create a powerful, scalable solution delivering measurable operational results.

Hashai Paharphap, Factory Director at SCG's Saraburi Cement Plant, stated that this partnership represents a crucial step in integrating AI and Advanced Process Control with SCG's manufacturing expertise. Integrating the CiMie AI Foundation Model with global partner technologies will enhance productivity and competitiveness.