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.

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.