Navigating the expensive fuel crisis, the Democrat Party held its annual general assembly in a hybrid online-offline format. Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva thanked members for their support in the recent election and instructed the party to prepare and move forward with establishing a solid foundation. James Jiraphol called on all members to participate in all 35 standing committees. On April 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at Democrat Party headquarters, the party's 2025 annual general assembly took place with party executives and members fully represented. Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Secretary-General Chaiwut Banwatana, Korn Chatikvaniich, Kardi Liowpirojn, Vice-leaders Mekhint Ieamsaad, MPs, and other party members attended, while others participated through an online system for those unable to travel, reflecting the current fuel crisis situation.

The assembly complied with political party law and party regulations requiring at least one ordinary meeting annually during April. The assembly met quorum requirements with 299 total participants—51 in-person and 248 online.

The meeting reviewed the party's annual performance report and approved the 2024 financial statements under the Political Party Act B.E. 2560. However, no new deputy party leader was appointed to replace Wirapong Prapa, who resigned to serve as Thailand's trade representative in the Anutin Charnvirakul government.

Abhisit stated his gratitude for everyone's cooperation in the recent election despite numerous constraints, particularly time limitations that may have affected administrative readiness and candidate selection processes. Regarding election results, he noted that the party list system results were not far from targets, with list vote proportions slightly higher than in 2019, providing a foundation for future growth.

However, he acknowledged that performance in constituency elections fell short of expectations, citing various conditions in different regions that hindered success. "All this has led us to adjust our operational plans, and we are confident that for the next election, we will have time to prepare since this one ended, and we've already begun laying multiple foundations," Abhisit said.

Abhisit added that despite the party's opposition role with only 21 MPs, their voice remains sufficiently strong. All MPs are committed to utilizing every parliamentary opportunity through motions, questions, and legislative proposals coupled with debates. Their participation in government policy debates demonstrated their effectiveness as a strong oversight body, bringing reasoned, prepared, creative, and constructive proposals while articulating the party's vision on social, economic, and political issues.

The Democrat Party leader stated that parliamentary work alone is insufficient, but the party is now planning more systematic work both inside and outside parliament, with concrete results expected during the parliamentary recess in July.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) announced that Michael Eneramo, a former center-forward for the Nigerian national team, has died at age 40 after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a friendly match. Eneramo, who earned 10 caps for Nigeria, collapsed on the field just five minutes into the second half of a warm-up match in Kaduna on April 24, with medical staff unable to save him. NFF Secretary General Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said his death was deeply tragic, noting that "he was a symbol of strength, determination, and steadfastness, and created many memorable moments." Eneramo played for clubs in Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, earning widespread respect and admiration for his strength, work ethic, and goal-scoring ability. He was particularly revered at Esperance in Tunisia, where fans gave him the nickname "Al Dababa" (The Tank) due to his powerful build and attacking prowess. Eneramo is the latest African national team footballer to die on the pitch from suspected heart problems, joining a tragic list that includes Marc-Vivien Foé of Cameroon, Cheik Tioté of Ivory Coast, and Raphael Dwamena of Ghana.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn announced on April 25 at Thai Pride Party headquarters that the Land Bridge project should move forward, citing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's earlier support. Pipat emphasized that potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz make this an opportune moment for Thailand to develop dual-coast ports on both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand, connecting trade across two oceans.

Addressing criticism that container transshipment delays would eliminate benefits, Pipat countered with data showing over 90 percent of containerized cargo involves transshipment—meaning goods are consolidated from multiple ports rather than traveling 100 percent from origin to final destination. He explained that international shipping increasingly relies on transshipment hubs, and Thailand would benefit from attracting this traffic to its own ports.

When asked about timing, Pipat indicated the project would begin this year pending cabinet approval expected between June and July. The Transport Ministry's policy and planning office has completed surveys, with further site inspections planned. Investment opportunities will be open to both domestic and international bidders through a competitive bidding process, with investors choosing initial development locations.

Regarding funding, Pipat stated the project is estimated at approximately 1 trillion baht, but Thailand will contribute only land concessions, with private investors covering all development costs. Environmental and health impact assessments will be conducted, though Pipat acknowledged existing opposition and committed to clarifying factual concerns with local communities. He plans to visit the Land Bridge site in May and open investment opportunities beginning in the third quarter of this year.

Gestational diabetes is a silent threat that can develop in any pregnant woman, regardless of normal weight or body size. According to Kruekoi Natcha Loychusak, executive director of Baby and Mom Thailand, many women incorrectly believe that only overweight mothers risk gestational diabetes, but all pregnant women are susceptible due to hormonal changes from the placenta, not just weight factors.

Dr. Kamlapat Wijitpunpun, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist from Wichaiyaduth Hospital, explains that gestational diabetes occurs when the placenta produces Human Placental Lactogen, which reduces maternal insulin effectiveness, raising blood sugar levels. These elevated glucose levels pass through the umbilical cord to the fetus, causing excessive fetal growth and posing serious delivery complications.

Large babies risk abnormal body and shoulder growth, potentially causing shoulder dystocia—an obstetric emergency requiring multiple delivery techniques, including maternal position adjustments or shoulder rotation maneuvers. In severe cases, doctors may need to fracture the baby's clavicle. The baby also risks arm nerve injuries leading to Erb's palsy.

Newborns face dangerous low blood sugar after delivery, as the placental glucose source is cut off while insulin levels remain high, causing lethargy, poor feeding, or shock. Medical teams monitor closely and check blood sugar immediately after birth, providing either rapid breastfeeding or intravenous fluids if necessary.

Crucially, babies exposed to high glucose in the womb may develop a "sweet metabolism system" and face future diabetes risk. For mothers, gestational diabetes increases risks of difficult delivery, severe vaginal tearing, slow wound healing, preeclampsia, excessive postpartum hemorrhage (over 500cc), shock, and future diabetes.

Dr. Kamlapat notes that international guidelines consider cesarean delivery for babies weighing 4,000-4,500 grams or more, but Thai doctors typically use 3,300-3,500 grams criteria due to lower natural delivery success rates. The decision depends on individual risk assessment between doctor and mother.

Regarding treatment, not all gestational diabetes cases require insulin injections. Diagnosis begins with a 50-gram glucose drink test; if failed, a 100-gram test follows with four blood sugar checks at one-hour intervals to assess maternal glucose tolerance.

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.