“Friends have a special place”: Iran says Hormuz is open after Thai vessel passage

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25 March 2026, 15:26

Emirates Iran War — Cargo ships sail in the Arabian Gulf towards Strait of Hormuz in United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo)

“When we say the Strait of Hormuz is not closed, we mean it. And for the record, friends have a special place.”

That was the message shared by Iran’s embassy in South Africa on X, resharing a statement from its Bangkok mission about the safe passage of a Thai vessel through the strategic waterway.

The Bangkok embassy had said the Thai ship passed safely thanks to close coordination between Iran, Thailand, and the Sultanate of Oman. The statement highlighted Iran’s friendship with Thailand, adding that it “will not forget its friends.”

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow confirmed Thailand had informed Iran it is not a party to any regional conflict and requested safe passage for Thai vessels. Iran agreed and asked for a list of ships, which Thailand submitted. Two vessels were included: one operated by Bangchak and another by SCG Chemicals. The Bangchak vessel has already returned to Thailand, while the second is expected to follow safely.

The post comes amid heightened concerns over shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supplies. Analysts say Iran’s message aims to reassure international trade partners that the corridor remains open, with friendly countries like Thailand prioritised for safe transit.

Monks battle wildfire as hotspots surge across Thailand

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25 March 2026, 14:31

CHIANG MAI — 25 March 2026, Monks and novices were forced to battle a forest fire on a mountain near Wat Pang Makong in Chiang Dao district, as flames threatened to spread into temple grounds amid a wider surge in wildfire activity across Thailand.

Abbot Phra Khru Kasem Jariyanukul said he led monks and novices in fighting the blaze using leaf blowers and improvised tools, while cutting firebreaks to protect the temple and nearby mango orchards belonging to villagers.

The fire, which burned through a community forest on the mountainside, spread rapidly and took about one hour to bring under control. Damage is estimated at no less than 10 rai (1.6 hectares).

The abbot said wildfires occur around the temple every year, particularly during the dry season when fallen leaves create abundant fuel, forcing monks to remain on constant alert with firefighting equipment.

The incident comes as wildfire activity intensifies across Chiang Mai, where authorities reported 207 hotspots across 20 districts on Wednesday morning, with Chiang Dao recording the highest number at 39. Cumulative hotspots from 1 January to 24 March totalled 1,202.

Nationwide, Thailand recorded 2,145 hotspots in a single day, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency. Satellite data showed most fires were concentrated in forested areas, including 1,005 hotspots in protected forests and 884 in national reserved forests.

Across the region, neighbouring countries reported even higher figures, led by Myanmar with 6,495 hotspots, followed by Laos (3,047), Vietnam (683), Cambodia (631), and Malaysia (178).

Air quality has also deteriorated, with multiple monitoring stations in Chiang Mai reporting PM2.5 levels exceeding the safe standard of 37.5 micrograms per cubic metre, reaching as high as 79 in some areas and posing health risks to residents.

MFA, Interior ministry to host ASEAN disaster management exercise

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Mc Marketing

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25 March 2026, 14:23

The Department of ASEAN Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in partnership with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of the Ministry of Interior, will co-organise a Special Programme entitled “Thailand’s Efforts to Strengthen ASEAN’s Coordination in Disaster Management and Tabletop Exercise” on Thursday 26 March 2026 at the Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on Friday 27 March 2026 in Chainat Province.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited over 60 representatives from relevant Thai agencies, state enterprises, civil society organisations, embassies of ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners, as well as international organisations to participate in the programme.The Opening Ceremony of the Programme will be presided over by H.E. Mr. Chettaphan Maksamphan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The key objectives of the Programme are aimed at enhancing understanding of the existing ASEAN disaster management mechanisms, and strengthening coordination among relevant Thai agencies in accordance with the ASEAN Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP) and also Thailand’s role in disaster management cooperation within the ASEAN framework.

The Programme comprises activities as follows:

Day 1 (26 March 2026): (1) the opening ceremony, (2) a panel discussion on “Overview of ASEAN Cooperation in Disaster Management, Operational Experiences, and Regional-International Cooperation,” featuring speakers from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Health, the AHA Centre, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (3) a Tabletop Exercise (TTX), and (4) a special exhibition on ASEAN’s disaster management cooperation and Thailand’s contribution;

Day 2 (27 March 2026): a study visit to the ASEAN Satellite Warehouse under the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) project in Chainat Province.

Members of the press are invited to join to cover the events. For registration, please scan QR Code below.

Drought drives hungry monkeys to temple in Trang

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Khaosod English

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25 March 2026, 13:47

Drought drives hungry monkeys to temple in Trang

TRANG — 25 March 2026, More than 300 long-tailed macaques have descended on a temple in southern Thailand in search of food and water, as a severe drought dries up natural resources in the area.

At Wat Khao Pina in Huai Yot district, abbot Phra Athikan Boonlert Techapanyo has been feeding the monkeys with bananas after they began leaving nearby hills in groups of 40 to 120 to approach the temple.

The monkeys, divided into four troops, have been taking turns coming down from Khao Pina mountain to the temple grounds, where they sit outside the abbot’s quarters or along the verandas waiting for food. The drought this year has been more severe than in previous years, leaving vegetation parched and water sources depleted.

Despite their growing numbers, the monkeys have not shown aggressive behaviour. Monks say they do not damage property or attack people, instead waiting calmly for food. Once fed, they typically return to the hills, but on days when food or water is scarce, they remain at the temple throughout the day, particularly in the morning and evening.

Some monkeys have also been seen foraging through rubbish bins or shaking trees to attract attention from monks.

The abbot said the temple has been sharing leftover food and fruit, but supplies are insufficient due to the large population, which continues to grow as most of the animals have not been sterilised. Some monkeys have migrated to a nearby hill about 500 metres away, where food is also limited.

In response, the abbot has appealed on the temple’s Facebook page for donations of fruit such as bananas, sugarcane and other food to help feed the animals during the dry season. Local residents have contributed, but demand still exceeds supply.

He warned that some monkeys have ventured outside the temple in search of food, where they risk being hit by vehicles, attacked by dogs or harmed by people.

“This year the drought is more severe and the heat is more intense than last year. Food has run out quickly,” the abbot said. “When there is no food, the monkeys come down to the temple. If there is food, they will not come.”

He added that the monkeys’ behaviour reflects hunger rather than aggression, insisting they remain docile and do not harm visitors.

Those wishing to donate food can contact the temple via its Facebook page or by phone, at 093-6150090, the abbot said.

Foreign biker sparks alarm with wheelie stunt in Phuket

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25 March 2026, 13:09

Foreign biker sparks alarm with wheelie stunt in Phuket

PHUKET — 25 March 2026, A foreign tourist has drawn widespread concern after being filmed performing a wheelie on a motorcycle in the middle of busy traffic in Phuket.

A 31-second clip shared on a local Facebook page shows the man accelerating and lifting the front wheel of his motorcycle while riding along Chao Fa West Road in Chalong, Muang district. The road was crowded with cars, motorcycles and trucks at the time.

The footage captures the rider maintaining the stunt for a distance before cutting in front of a green sewage suction truck and lifting the front wheel again, startling nearby motorists. The behaviour was widely criticised as dangerous and posing a constant risk of an accident.

The page captioned the video: “Don’t know what to say anymore, riding like this is dangerous for others on the road,” and “Does he think this is a racetrack?”

The clip prompted a wave of online reactions, with some users claiming the rider frequently performed such stunts. Others called on authorities to track him down, seize the motorcycle and take legal action to ensure public safety.

Lao man caught at Nong Khai border after killing and dismembering ex-girlfriend

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25 March 2026, 11:51

NONG KHAI — 25 March 2026, Immigration police in Nong Khai have detained a 26-year-old Lao man accused of murdering and dismembering his girlfriend, following his attempted flight across the Thai–Lao border.

The suspect, identified as Tom, was taken from the Nong Khai Immigration Detention Centre to an investigation room along with clothing worn on the day of the incident and personal belongings, including cash and a mobile phone. He had fled to Nong Khai after allegedly killing his 20-year-old Lao girlfriend, Ram.

Officers said the suspect is wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on charges of premeditated murder and concealing, moving, or destroying a body to hide the cause of death. He admitted he was the individual named in the warrant.

During questioning, the suspect initially refused to speak but showed no visible signs of stress or remorse. He later told investigators he had been in a relationship with the victim for six to seven years and that they had married and moved to Thailand for work. He worked in a hospital kitchen in Bangkok, while the victim had sold meatballs before later taking a job at an entertainment venue in Chonburi.

He said the couple had argued frequently in recent months. The victim wanted to return to Laos due to her father’s illness, while he urged her to wait until the end of the month so both families could help mediate their dispute. According to his account, she refused and left him.

The suspect said he later tracked her to her workplace in Chonburi, where he claimed to have seen her with a male customer in an intimate manner and overheard plans to continue together at a room. He waited until the venue closed and persuaded her to return to Bangkok with him.

Authorities allege the man killed the woman at their accommodation using a knife before dismembering the body and attempting to conceal the remains.

He told police he went to work as usual the next day, leaving the remains in the room until the evening, when he disposed of them. He then fled by plane to Udon Thani and hired a motorcycle taxi to travel to the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai, believing a helmet would help conceal his identity.

Immigration officers became suspicious and arrested him before he could cross the border. Police said the suspect appeared calm and even joked about the speed of his arrest, remarking that Thai police were “very capable”.

After questioning, officers recorded his statement and said he would be transferred to investigators from Thung Song Hong Police Station in Bangkok to face legal proceedings.

Two monks caught with meth, defrocked in Kanchanaburi

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Khaosod English

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25 March 2026, 11:27

Two monks caught with meth, defrocked in Kanchanaburi

KANCHANABURI — 24 March 2026, Authorities in Bo Phloi and Sangkhla Buri districts arrested two Buddhist monks who admitted to taking methamphetamine and were later defrocked.

At about 12:30 on 24 March, Bo Phloi district chief Chawarot Makkaw and local police received a tip-off that two monks at a temple in tambon Bo Phloi were involved with drugs. Officers searched their quarters and found 2.5 methamphetamine pills in the room of a 35-year-old monk, identified as Tom, and seven pills in the room of a 31-year-old monk, identified as Phan.

Both men showed no sign of distress during the arrest and appeared relaxed, smiling at officers. They confessed the drugs were for personal use. The temple abbot was summoned to formally defrock them before they were taken to Bo Phloi police station for further questioning. Urine tests later confirmed drug use.

They were charged with illegal possession and consumption of a Category 1 narcotic. Police said the source of the drugs remains under investigation.

A decade of Lancang-Mekong cooperation: forging ahead together toward a shared future

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24 March 2026, 19:38

China Congress — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

This article was written by Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China

The Lancang-Mekong nourishes our six nations and binds us closely
together. On March 23rd 10 years ago, we officially launched the LMC,
sowing the seeds of solidarity, collective strengths and mutually
beneficial cooperation among regional countries. Under the guidance of
President Xi Jinping and leaders of Mekong countries, our six countries
have embraced the LMC culture of equality, sincerity, mutual assistance
and kinship, acted in the LMC spirit of development first, equal
consultation, pragmatism and efficiency, and openness and inclusiveness,
and created the LMC speed, with progress and results delivered daily,
monthly and annually. Thanks to such efforts, the LMC has grown from a
seed to a towering tree, setting an example for the building of a
community with a shared future for humanity.

Over the past decade, we have linked our future more closely together.
Facing changes unseen in a century, our six countries have forged ahead
hand in hand, realized full coverage in building bilateral communities
with a shared future, and become good neighbors, good friends and good
partners sharing weal and woe and supporting each other in times of
need.

Over the past decade, we have gained more robust momentum for
development. Trade between China and the five Mekong countries
surpassed US$500 billion, an increase of 150 percent over a decade ago.
The dedication and hard work of government departments and various
localities of our six countries have produced fruitful cooperation results.
Over the past decade, we have forged a stronger underpinning for security.
Our six countries have carried out the Safe Lancang-Mekong Operation,
and made concerted efforts in disaster prevention and mitigation and
public health, providing effective protection for the life and property of
people in the region. China has shared the Lancang River’s hydrological
information with downstream countries to help with flood and drought
prevention and response.

Over the past decade, we have deepened people-to-people
exchanges. The Lancang-Mekong Visa was launched. Small and
beautiful livelihood programs such as the LMC Bumper Harvest projects
and the Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action have delivered impressive
cluster effects. The people of our six countries are visiting each other
more frequently, strengthening the bonds of cultural exchange and mutual
understanding.

Looking back over the past decade, we see three principles that are
essential to the robust development of the LMC: first, upholding good
neighborliness, friendship and a shared future; second, focusing on
development to serve the people; and third, pursuing innovation and
breaking new ground.

Right now, the world is entering a period of turbulence. Hegemonism and
power politics are asserting themselves and dealing a heavy blow to the
international order. Meanwhile, China just concluded the Two Sessions
and officially launched the 15th Five-Year Plan, providing much-needed
stability for our region. It is important that we better synergize our
development strategies, jointly build an “LMC 2.0”, and demonstrate the
relevance of the LMC for our times. This will contribute to long-term
stability, security, development and prosperity of our region, and set an
LMCexample for global governance.

We should pursue unity and cooperation in the LMC. We should carry
forward the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and
inclusiveness, and accelerate the establishment of an LMC International
Secretariat, so as to boost the building of a Lancang-Mekong community
with a shared future.

We should pursue openness and win-win outcomes in the LMC. We
should press ahead with infrastructure connectivity among our countries,
further explore the Multi-Nation Multi Park cooperation, deepen
cooperation along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and
jointly build the LMC Economic Development Belt.

We should pursue green and innovation-drive development in the LMC.
We should deepen the development of the Lancang-Mekong Innovation
Corridor, advance cooperation in digital economy, artificial intelligence,
sci-tech innovation and ecological governance, promote investment in
new energy, build regional green value chains, and foster green industrial
clusters in the region.

We should pursue mutual learning among civilizations in the LMC.
We should speed up the development of the Lancang-Mekong Tourism
Cities Cooperation Alliance, continue to deepen cooperation among the
media outlets and think tanks, amplify the benefits delivered by the LMC
Special Fund projects, and step up personnel and youth exchanges among
our six countries, so that friendship will be passed on from generation to
generation.

We should pursue peace and tranquility in the LMC. We should
strengthen cooperation on whole-basin governance, share upstream and
downstream hydrological information, step up efforts to combat
cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, and
ensure the success of the Safe Lancang-Mekong Operation and the
Mekong River Joint Patrol and Law Enforcement Operation. By doing so,
we will create a safe environment for building a community with a shared
future.

Since the very inception of the LMC, we have been holding the same
view that our cooperation should not be “talk shops” but “bulldozers”.
With a commitment to putting people first, we should work to deliver real
benefits for the people of our six countries. Standing at a new starting
point, China will follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit
and inclusiveness on neighborhood diplomacy, and work with the five
Mekong countries to usher in a new golden decade of the LMC. Together,
let us build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and
amicable home, and make our contribution to peace and development in
our region and the wider world.

Two Thai students killed in Miami hit-and-run crash

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24 March 2026, 19:22

Greathomon Laowatdhanasapya (left) and Sarisa Kongduang, two Thai nationals killed in a hit-and-run crash in Miami Beach on 17 March.

MIAMI, US — Two Thai nationals were killed in a hit-and-run crash in Miami Beach during a spring break trip, authorities in the United States said.

Sarisa “Pear” Kongduang, 22, a third-year student in Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and Greatgomon “Great” Laowatdhanasapya, 23, a 2024 graduate of the university, were struck by a car while crossing Collins Avenue at 73rd Street at about 21:05 on 18 March. Both were taken to hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

Police said the driver, identified as Adan Negron-Morris, 42, was speeding and driving without headlights at the time of the crash. Authorities added that several emergency calls had been made shortly before the incident, reporting a vehicle being driven erratically in the area.

After the collision, the suspect reportedly fled the scene but was later found at a nearby shop, where he was detained before officers arrived. He has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

According to police, the suspect told officers he had intended to harm himself by closing his eyes and accelerating. Authorities are also investigating whether he was under the influence of drugs, with toxicology results pending.

A court in Miami-Dade later set bail at $1 million, with the judge describing the suspect as a danger to the community. If released, he would be placed under strict house arrest and banned from driving or consuming alcohol.

Kongduang was known for her involvement in Association of Thai Students in the United States, including leadership roles during her studies. Laowatdhanasapya had recently graduated and was working in the Bank of America as an Investment Banking Analyst

The case remains under investigation.

Iran says Thai vessel crosses Hormuz safely, vows not to “forget its friends”

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24 March 2026, 18:30

APTOPIX Emirates Iran US Israel — Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The Iranian Embassy in Bangkok said a Thai vessel has passed through the Strait of Hormuz safely, following close coordination between Iran, Thailand and Oman.

In a statement posted on 24 March, the embassy said the transit reflected strong cooperation and friendship between the countries, adding that Iran “will not forget its friends.”

The development follows an earlier incident on 11 March, when the Thai cargo ship Mayuree Naree was hit by two Iranian missiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict. The attack damaged the stern and engine room, triggering a fire on board.

All 23 crew members were Thai nationals. Twenty abandoned the vessel and were rescued by the Omani navy, while three remained trapped inside. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later claimed responsibility for the strike.

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