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Cambodia upholds 27-year-prison sentence for ex-opposition leader Kem Sokha in treason case

Former President of Cambodia National Rescue Party, Kem Sokha, waves from his car in front of his house in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, March 3, 2023. Cambodia’s beleaguered pro-democracy forces face another day of reckoning Friday, as the country’s most prominent opposition politician not in exile is scheduled to hear the verdict in his trial for treason.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

PHNOM PENH, April 30 (Xinhua) — Cambodia’s Appeal Court on Thursday upheld the decision of a lower court to sentence former opposition leader Kem Sokha to 27 years in prison on the charge of treason, according to one of his lawyers.

Sokha appeared in the court to hear the verdict.

Pheng Heng, one of Sokha’s lawyers, told reporters after the verdict that the Appeal Court also decided to ban Sokha from leaving the country for five years.

Under the Cambodian law, Sokha has a month to appeal to the Supreme Court if he is not satisfied with the Appeal Court’s ruling.

Sokha, former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in 2023 to 27 years in prison for treason, but was ordered to serve his sentence in home detention.

The 72-year-old former opposition leader was convicted of conspiring with a “foreign power” in an attempt to overthrow the legitimate Cambodian government and he was arrested in 2017.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also banned him from doing politics for life.

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Rare Bryde’s whale family thrills tourists off Krabi coast

Rare Bryde’s whale family thrills tourists off Krabi coast

KRABI — 29 April 2026, Tourists were treated to a rare spectacle when a family of Bryde’s whales surfaced and leapt repeatedly from the sea near Koh Lanta, in southern Thailand.

The moment was captured on video by a tour guide, showing the elusive marine mammals breaching and playing at the surface for nearly one minute. The sighting occurred en route between Mu Ko Ha and Koh Rok within Mu Ko Lanta National Park in Krabi province.

The group consisted of three whales, believed to be a mother, father and calf, swimming and jumping together, to the excitement of those on board the boat. Observers said such clear and prolonged views are highly unusual. Typically, Bryde’s whales are only seen briefly, with parts of their backs or heads breaking the surface.

“Park officials said the appearance of the whales reflects the improving health of the marine ecosystem around Koh Lanta, indicating abundant food sources and favourable conditions for rare marine life.

Authorities urged tourists and the public not to disturb or harm marine animals, to help keep the sea clean, and to follow national park regulations to ensure these species can continue to thrive sustainably.

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Two-headed calf draws attention after viral video in Khon Kaen

Two-headed calf draws attention after viral video in Khon Kaen

KHON KAEN — 29 April 2026, A farmer in northeastern Thailand has been inundated with calls after posting a video of a rare two-headed calf born alive, with some people even offering to buy the animal.

Preecha Thawornsri, 50, owner of a livestock farm in Nam Phong district, said the calf was born on 28 April 2026 to a four-year-old Brahman cow named Bua Ngern. The birth required veterinary assistance as it was the cow’s first and complications were expected.

The newborn female calf has two heads, four ears, two mouths and two noses, with each head facing in opposite directions. Both heads are conscious and able to drink milk, Preecha said, adding that the calf is being bottle-fed with milk expressed from its mother.

Since sharing the video on social media, Preecha said he has received numerous phone calls, with some people expressing interest in owning the calf, while others have asked for lottery numbers linked to the unusual birth.

He said he has made no promises to anyone and intends to care for the animal as best he can for as long as it survives.

Jakrapong Siangdee, an independent livestock specialist who assisted with the delivery, said the condition was likely caused by a genetic mutation during embryonic development.

He explained that in identical twin pregnancies, where embryos originate from a single egg, incomplete separation during early development can result in conjoined twins, in this case joined at the head. Another possible cause could be exposure to chemicals or toxins affecting the mother during pregnancy, which may disrupt normal cell division.

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Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic positions Thailand as Asia’s top All-on-4® dental implant destination.

Marking a decade as the sole Exclusive Partner of Global Maló Dental Network in Thailand, and the first in South East Asia, Bangkok Smile unveils Center of Authentic All on 4, a Life-Changing Implant Innovation and the Key to Dental Longevity. Under the unifying philosophy of “Live Longer. Smile Better”

Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic today announced the official launch of its Implant Dental Center, formally positioning Thailand as Southeast Asia’s leading destination for international patients seeking world-class dental implant care. The milestone coincides with the clinic’s 10th anniversary as the sole Exclusive Partner of Global Maló Dental Network in Thailand — the global authority behind the All-on-4® treatment concept pioneered by Dr. Paulo Maló.

Under the unifying philosophy of “Live Longer. Smile Better” the Center brings together advanced clinical protocols, the global Maló standard, and the emerging science of Dental Longevity — offering patients with failing teeth, missing teeth, or uncomfortable dentures a permanent, fixed solution completed within 24 hours, without the need to travel to Australia, Japan, Europe or the United States.

Asia’s Home of Authentic All-on-4® Dental Implants

With patients now arriving from more than 39 countries, Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic has firmly established itself as the regional hub for international dental implant care. Over the past decade, its specialist team has performed implant procedures for more than 6,000 patients and successfully delivered over 975 full-arch All-on-4® restorations — each completed within a single 24-hour treatment window.

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Dr. Sermsakul Wongtiraporn, Chief Executive Officer of Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic, said the launch represents a defining moment for Thai dentistry on the global stage:

“Bangkok Smile Malo Dental is Thailand’s home of authentic All-on-4® dental implants. We help people with failing teeth, missing teeth, or uncomfortable dentures regain their confidence, their health, and their quality of life through long-lasting implant solutions. Our promise is simple: Live Longer. Smile Better”

“For a decade, we have stood as the sole Exclusive Partner of Maló Clinic in Thailand and the first in Southeast Asia. That partnership is more than a credential — it is the assurance that every patient who walks through our doors receives the same standard of care available in Australia, Japan, USA, UK , or Germany”

A Decade of Partnership with the World Leader in Dental Implants

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Marking the tenth anniversary of the Bangkok Smile – Maló Clinic partnership (2016–2026), Dr. Paulo Maló — inventor of the All-on-4® treatment concept and founder of Maló Clinic — travelled to Bangkok to officiate the launch of the Implant Dental Center and to reaffirm Bangkok Smile’s standing within the global Maló Dental network.

Citing the landmark ten-year prospective study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), Dr. Maló confirmed that the original All-on-4® protocol delivers a 94.8% cumulative survival rate at the implant level and a 99.2% success rate at the prosthetic level — figures that remain among the highest documented in the global implant literature.

“Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic is, and will remain, our sole Exclusive Partner in Thailand and the first in Southeast Asia,” Dr. Maló stated. “Their clinical team operates under direct knowledge transfer from our headquarters, ensuring that patients in Asia receive treatment that is genuinely indistinguishable from the protocol I developed and continue to refine.”

Why International Patients Choose Bangkok Smile

For international patients — from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and across Asia — Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic offers a rare combination of authentic global protocol, Thai hospitality, and a single, unified treatment journey. Patients are typically able to complete their full-arch implant treatment within a structured stay in Bangkok, supported by dedicated international patient coordinators, accommodation partnerships, and comprehensive aftercare.

The Implant Dental Center will also serve as a regional knowledge hub, sharing the authentic All-on-4® protocol with qualified dental professionals across Asia who wish to elevate their own clinical standards — reinforcing Thailand’s position not only as a destination for treatment, but as a center of expertise.

“We have helped thousands of patients from around the world restore their smiles with the world-leading All-on-4® treatment concept,” Dr. Sermsakul concluded. “If you have failing teeth, missing teeth, or dentures that no longer serve you — there is a permanent solution. And it is here, in Bangkok, waiting for you.”

#BangkokSmileDentalClinic #Allon4 #ImplantDentalCenter

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CKPower wins two awards at Thailand–Japan Decarbonization Award 2026 for innovative environmental management.

CK Power Public Company Limited or CKPower (SET: CKP), one of the region’s largest producers of electricity from renewables with one of the lowest carbon footprints, received two awards at the Thailand-Japan Decarbonization Award (TJDA) 2026. The Company was honored with the Golden Award for its “Waste and Wastewater Management in Power Generation Processes” project at Bangpa-in Cogeneration Power Plant, and the Silver Award for its “Waste to Value – Hinghoi: Preserving and Restoring Natural Resources” project at Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant. The awards were organized by the Technology Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan) (TPA) to recognize organizations demonstrating excellence in developing and applying technologies and innovations that deliver tangible greenhouse gas emissions reductions. On this occasion, Ms. Tuangporn Bunyasaranand, Assistant Managing Director Corporate Communication and Sustainability Management, and Mr. Anuwat Sasakul, Operation Manager, represented the Company in receiving the awards from Professor Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Thailand, at the Grand Hall, Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangna, Bangkok.

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Mr. Thanawat Trivisvavet, Managing Director of CKPower Public Company Limited, stated that the Company is committed to enhancing its power generation processes in the long term through the application of appropriate technologies and innovations in environmental management, energy management, and climate change. This is carried out alongside the development of employees’ knowledge and capabilities, with a strong emphasis on fostering innovation and promoting an innovation-driven culture within the organization. This approach enables employees to actively participate in developing and advancing practical solutions for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Such efforts not only enhance operational efficiency and optimize resource utilization, but also create positive impacts on the environment and communities, while strengthening energy security and delivering sustainable value to stakeholders over the long term.

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The two award-winning projects from the TJDA are as follows:

  1. The “Waste and Wastewater Management in Power Generation Processes” project at Bangpa-in Cogeneration Power Plant focuses on efficient water resource management in electricity generation. The project emphasizes optimizing lubricating oil management to reduce waste, as well as enhancing water efficiency in the cooling system (cooling Tower) through chemical control adjustments to enable greater water reuse. The project has reduced water consumption by over 743 million liters, generating cost savings of more than THB 5 million. It has also reduced lubricating oil usage by over 28,000 liters, resulting in additional savings of more than THB 2.6 million. Importantly, the project has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 95,000 kg CO₂e. In the long term, the initiative will be further expanded to utility systems to enhance efficiency and continue reducing waste.
  2. The “Waste to Value – Hinghoi: Preserving and Restoring Natural Resources” project at Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant transforms organic waste from food scraps within the plant into soil improvement materials. The initiative further supports environmentally friendly agriculture while promoting environmental awareness among youth and local communities. The project has reduced carbon dioxide emissions from waste burning by over 3,840 kg CO₂e equivalent, while producing up to 2,665 kilograms of soil conditioners per year. These materials are distributed to communities surrounding the power plant, helping reduce fertilizer expenses by more than THB 72,900 Moving forward, the project aims to expand local collaboration networks to drive community-based innovation that maintains environmental balance, supports chemical-free agriculture, and reinforces the role of the private sector in creating shared value for society.

“Receiving these two awards reflects CKPower’s proven capabilities and tangible achievements, in line with the evaluation criteria of the TJDA 2026. This is demonstrated through the development and application of technology and knowledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Company also promotes employee engagement to raise awareness of energy conservation and environmental stewardship across its value chain, as it advances toward its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050” Mr. Thanawat added.

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100 million baht in crystal meth seized on Mekong border

100 million baht in crystal meth seized on Mekong border

NONG KHAI — 29 April 2026, Police in northeastern Thailand seized 248 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine worth nearly 100 million baht after a cross-border drug gang opened fire while fleeing across the Mekong River, officials said.

At a press briefing held at 11:30 on 29 April 2026, provincial authorities said the drugs had been smuggled from a neighbouring country and were destined for distribution in inner provinces, particularly tourist areas.

The seizure followed an intelligence-led operation ordered by Maj. Gen. Atthachon Chuangngam, commander of Nong Khai provincial police. Investigators had received a tip-off on 24 April 2026 at around 18:00 that Lao nationals would transport methamphetamine by boat across the Mekong and deliver it near Wat Rat Chamnong in Mueang Mee subdistrict.

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At about 0:30, officers observed a Toyota saloon car without visible registration plates arriving at the site. Several bags were seen placed nearby. Two men exited the vehicle to load the bags while a third remained in the driver’s seat.

When officers identified themselves, the suspects fled into nearby woodland, firing shots to cover their escape. The driver sped off along a local road.

Police found five abandoned bags containing 178 packages of methamphetamine, each weighing 1 kilogramme and wrapped in packaging printed with images of durian and tea. Officers later located two more bags along the escape route, containing an additional 70 packages.

100 million baht in crystal meth seized on Mekong border aa

In total, 248 kilogrammes of methamphetamine were seized, with an estimated value of about 99.2 million baht.

Authorities believe the drugs were intended for distribution within Thailand, where traffickers sell methamphetamine for up to 400,000 baht per kilogramme.

The seized narcotics have been handed over to investigators at Wiang Khuk Police Station for further legal proceedings.

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The Pizza Company to exit Cambodia, local brand to replace outlets

The Pizza Company will cease operations in Cambodia as its local operator prepares to launch a new homegrown brand following a corporate restructuring.

Express Food Group Cambodia (EFG Cambodia), one of the country’s long-established quick service restaurant operators, has shifted its ownership to Singapore-based Palms Food International Pte. Ltd. under a share transfer agreement involving Thailand-based EFG Holdings.

As a result, EFG Cambodia will introduce its own Cambodian pizza brand, expected to launch in May. Existing Pizza Company outlets across the country will be rebranded under the new concept.

The Pizza Company, a Thai multinational chain founded in Bangkok in 1980, expanded to Cambodia in 2006 and currently operates in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Sihanoukville and Kampong Cham.

The move marks a shift towards a locally developed brand, replacing the long-running international franchise in the Cambodian market.

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Bangkok Taxi driver hit with fines for refusing passengers in viral clip

A Thai police officer has gone viral after posting a video showing a taxi driver allegedly refusing passengers and violating multiple traffic rules near Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.

The clip was shared on Facebook by an officer known as “Jaa Auan Bolikhamsai,” who works at the Vibhavadi Rangsit Traffic Control Centre under the Traffic Police Division.

In the post, the officer said the taxi was “parking and waiting for passengers, then refusing them after they got in,” adding that the driver had three outstanding fines and was not properly dressed.


In the video, the officer is seen riding a motorcycle past a taxi parked along the roadside near the airport entrance, where two passengers were reportedly trying to get a ride. After the driver refused them, the officer stopped and questioned the situation.

He then admonished the driver for allegedly selecting passengers instead of providing service fairly, before speaking to the passengers and checking whether they needed assistance in finding another vehicle.

The officer later inspected the driver’s documents and issued charges for refusing passengers and illegal stopping to wait for passengers, with fines of 500 baht each, totalling 1,000 baht.

According to the post, the driver initially attempted to negotiate for only one charge, but the officer added a third charge for improper attire.

The taxi driver was also found to have three previous unpaid fines, meaning this case became the fourth offence recorded.

After issuing the penalties, the officer instructed the driver to immediately move the vehicle and not remain parked in the area.

The video drew widespread attention online, with many netizens praising the officer for strict enforcement and saying such actions could improve discipline among taxi drivers and serve as a warning to others.

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Thailand, Laos step up cooperation on cross-border haze under Clear Sky strategy

Thailand and Laos have agreed to deepen cooperation on tackling cross-border haze pollution and sustainable environmental management under the “Clear Sky Strategy”, officials said on Wednesday.

At 09:30am on 29 April, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin led a delegation to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for talks with Lao Agriculture and Environment Minister Dr. Linkham Duangsavanh, focusing on joint efforts to address transboundary haze and environmental management.

Both sides reaffirmed commitments under the trilateral framework involving Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, aimed at tackling seasonal haze and forest fire pollution across the region.

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The talks focused on implementing a joint action plan on cross-border haze management for 2024–2030, including the development of Laos’ air quality reporting platform and a push to establish a national air quality data centre.

Both countries also agreed to strengthen real-time coordination through a “WhatsApp Hotline CLEAR Sky” system at director-general level, designed to improve rapid response during the burning season and monitor haze, forest fires and PM2.5 pollution.

Other measures include developing shared fire-risk maps, strengthening a trilateral forest fire prevention and suppression network with Myanmar, and promoting zero-burning agricultural practices under GAP standards. A traceability system for agricultural products, particularly animal feed corn, was also discussed to ensure supply chains are not linked to crop burning.

Thailand also proposed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two ministries to better reflect current environmental challenges and Laos’ updated administrative structure.

Officials said the visit marked a step forward in regional environmental cooperation, reflecting Thailand’s proactive role in addressing transboundary haze through scientific cooperation, technology sharing and joint management to improve public health and support sustainable development in the region.

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Thailand approves electricity bill cuts, boosts rooftop solar

Thailand approves electricity bill cuts, boosts rooftop solar

BANGKOK — 29 April 2026, Thailand’s National Energy Policy Council has approved two measures to cut household electricity bills and promote rooftop solar, Energy Minister Ekkanat Promphan said.

Speaking at Government House alongside Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, Ekkanat said the council agreed to expand support for residential solar installations, allowing households to generate their own electricity and sell excess power back to the grid.

Under the plan, installation procedures will be streamlined under a cabinet resolution, with distribution utilities offering a one-stop service. Households generating surplus electricity will be able to sell it at 2.20 baht per unit, with sales expected to begin after June 2026.

The government will also sharply increase its solar power purchase cap from 90 megawatts to 500 megawatts per round, with further expansions planned once each quota is filled. Authorities aim to maximise adoption by effectively turning residential rooftops into small-scale power generators.

The second measure introduces a progressive electricity tariff structure for residential users only, excluding businesses, shops and industrial operators.

Households consuming up to 200 units per month will pay less than 3 baht per unit. Those using between 200 and 500 units will also see lower average costs under a tiered pricing system, Ekkanat said.

He added that more than 90% of households, around 21 million, are expected to benefit, particularly those with monthly bills below 2,200 baht.

Ekkanat rejected concerns that the policy would shift costs onto industrial users, saying the revised tariff structure applies only to residential consumers and does not affect existing rates for businesses.

To support solar adoption, the government is working with the Finance Ministry to provide instalment-based financing, allowing households to install rooftop systems at costs lower than their electricity bills. State utilities have been tasked with studying investment and offering low-cost installation services for those without upfront funds.

Responding to questions, Ekkanat said households using no more than 200 units could see bills fall by about 20%, while those using up to 400 units could see reductions of around 10%.

He confirmed the тариф scheme would remain in place for the duration of the government’s term and said approval processes for rooftop solar would be simplified by removing local permit requirements. Installations for self-use must be completed within seven days, or within 30 days if electricity is to be sold back to the grid.

Varawut reiterated that the measures apply only to residential properties and would not impose additional burdens on industrial users, amid concerns raised by the Federation of Thai Industries.

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