Two toddlers drown in pond in Ubon Ratchathani

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22 April 2026, 17:40

Two toddlers drown in pond in Ubon Ratchathani

UBON RATCHATHANI — 22 April 2026, Two three-year-old boys drowned in a village pond after going to play in the water during hot weather, while a third child survived and ran to seek help, police said.

Officers were alerted late Tuesday morning to the incident at a pond under a “Khok Nong Na” project in Ban Hai Yong, Tan Sum district.

Villagers had already retrieved the bodies of the two boys, identified as Kulapichet Uncharoen and Surasit Phangsi, both aged three, before authorities arrived.

Police said the two victims and another three-year-old boy had gone to the pond, about 500 metres from their homes, to play. The victims could not swim and the water was more than 3 metres deep.

The third child fled to alert nearby residents, but help arrived too late.

A relative said the children had previously visited the pond but were not expected to go there on their own.

Police said there were initial concerns about possible foul play, but no signs of assault were found. Investigators believe the children entered the water to cool off amid the heat.

Authorities urged parents to closely supervise young children during the school holidays to prevent similar tragedies.

Thailand maps cannabis shops, limits use to medical

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 17:04

Thailand maps cannabis shops, limits use to medical

BANGKOK — 22 April 2026, Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine is rolling out a GIS-based system to monitor licensed cannabis outlets, reinforcing a policy that restricts use to medical purposes.

Dr. Thewan Thaneerat, deputy director-general of the department under the Ministry of Public Health, said on Tuesday the move aims to bring clearer and more effective oversight while related legal processes are under way.

The Medical Cannabis GIS (MC-GIS) platform will verify that mapped outlets hold valid licences to sell and process cannabis and are operating legally. It will also allow the public to check authorised locations online and help officials track compliance more proactively.

Authorities said the system is designed to improve transparency, ensure public safety and build confidence that cannabis is used appropriately for healthcare.

According to the department, there have been 18,517 cannabis-related establishments registered in total, with 7,131 shutting down in 2025 after failing to renew licences. That leaves 11,386 outlets currently operating legally.

The public can access the MC-GIS platform online to verify licensed shops and cultivation sites, and report suspected illegal operations via the Traffy Fondue application, officials said.

Fire hits medical supplies warehouse in Bangkok

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 16:25

Fire hits medical supplies warehouse in Bangkok

BANGKOK — 22 April 2026, Firefighters were battling a blaze at a warehouse storing medical supplies in Bangkok’s Ram Intra area on Tuesday, with thick smoke billowing over nearby communities.

The fire broke out inside a two-storey warehouse in Soi Ram Intra 107, according to the Rama 199 radio centre. Crews from Bang Chan Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the scene.

Officials said the blaze was burning intensely on the upper floor, where large quantities of flammable materials, including paper and plastic, were stored.

The building is used for trading, manufacturing, wholesale and research of medical disinfectant products.

Fire fighters were deployed to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjacent structures. Authorities said the situation was still being brought under control while damage assessments were under way.

Ceremony honours fallen soldiers at Ta Kwai temple

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 15:58

SURIN — 22 April 2026 — Thai officials and residents gathered at Ta Kwai temple in Surin province on Tuesday to honour fallen soldiers and promote heritage tourism along the Thai-Cambodian border.

The ceremony, organised by Bak Dai Subdistrict Administrative Organisation in Phanom Dong Rak district, included offerings, traditional dance performances and a wreath-laying tribute at the Thai Protectors Monument.

At 7:30, more than 400 local dancers performed a ritual ceremony in front of the temple, paying respect to sacred spirits and commemorating soldiers who died defending Thailand’s sovereignty. Surin governor Jamroen Waenphet presided over the event.

It marked the first such ceremony since clashes previously occurred in the area, after which Thai forces regained control. The event had been held annually before the conflict.

At 08:30, Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen led a merit-making ceremony for monks and a remembrance service for fallen soldiers. Culture Minister Sabida Thaiset joined the event, along with military officials, veterans and members of the public.

Adul said the ceremony honoured the bravery of troops who secured the area, reaffirming the military’s readiness to defend national sovereignty. He added that infrastructure development would be accelerated to improve access, utilities and communications in line with government policy.

Sabida said Ta Kwai temple is an important archaeological and cultural site reflecting the region’s historical and artistic heritage. She said restoration efforts would prioritise safety while preserving the site’s original character.

She added that local authorities are working to promote conservation alongside tourism development to raise the profile of Surin’s historical attractions and generate income for communities.

Later, at 12:00, the delegation visited the Ta Muen Thom temple complex along the Thai-Cambodian border before returning.

The event also commemorated past border clashes, including those on 22 April 2011 and between July and December 2025, honouring the sacrifices of Thai soldiers.

Abnormal fish found in Mekong near Loei sent for tests

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 15:27

Abnormal fish found in Mekong near Loei sent for tests

LOEI — 22 April 2026, Fishermen in Chiang Khan district have found a Mekong fish with unusual lesions covering its body, raising concerns over possible water contamination, local officials said.

The fish, a pla khae weighing about 100 grams and measuring 23 centimetres, was caught near Don Khai on Tuesday morning. Its body was covered with bumps, prompting fishermen to avoid selling or consuming it over fears of toxic contamination.

Channarong Wongla, secretary of a local Mekong riverside fisheries and tourism community group, said this was the third such case reported in the past two months.

He said the species typically feeds near the riverbed and preys on smaller fish. The specimen will be sent to an environmental science institute and relevant authorities for analysis.

“The condition appears similar to exposure to toxins or chemical contamination in the Mekong,” he said, warning that ongoing irregularities in river conditions could affect fish populations, consumer safety and fishermen’s livelihoods.

He urged authorities to investigate water quality and determine the cause before further ecological damage occurs.

Concerns come amid previous reports over the past one to two years of excessive heavy metal contamination in the Kok River in Chiang Rai, linked to mining activities in Myanmar. The Kok River flows into the Mekong, while mining operations have also been reported along tributaries on the Lao side of the river opposite Loei.

Iran attacks ship in Strait of Hormuz, complicating diplomatic efforts to resume talks

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Associated Press

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22 April 2026, 14:34

Iran attacks ship in Strait of Hormuz, complicating diplomatic efforts to resume talks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, damaging the vessel and complicating efforts to bring the United States and Iran together in Pakistan for talks to end the war.

The morning attack by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard came after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran, which had been due to expire on Wednesday, to give Tehran time to come up with a “unified proposal” ahead of possible negotiations.

Iran has offered no formal acknowledgment of Trump’s ceasefire extension.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for agreeing to the extension, saying it would buy time for ongoing diplomatic efforts.

“With the trust and confidence reposed in us, Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for a negotiated settlement of the conflict,” he wrote on X.

Trump said the U.S. would continue its blockade of Iranian ports, which Iran has called “unacceptable,” and has indicated was a reason it had not yet agreed to join talks in Islamabad.

The Revolutionary Guard vowed Wednesday to “deliver crushing blows beyond the enemy’s imagination to its remaining assets in the region.”

Iran claims ship ignored warnings before attacked

Wednesday’s attack in the Strait of Hormuz came after the U.S. seized an Iranian container ship after shooting it this past weekend and boarded an oil tanker associated with Iran’s oil trade in the Indian Ocean.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, a monitoring agency run by the British military that first reported the 7:55 a.m. attack, said a Revolutionary Guard gunboat did not hail the ship before firing. It added that nobody was hurt in the attack.

Iran’s Nour News, however, reported that the Guard only opened fire on the ship after it had “ignored the warnings of the Iranian armed forces.” Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency described the attack as Iran “lawfully enforcing its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

In peacetime, about 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas transits the strategic waterway, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open oceans and was fully open until the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28 to start the war.

Since then Tehran has throttled shipping traffic through the strait, causing oil prices to skyrocket and impacting global economies.

In early trading on Wednesday, Brent crude oil, the international standard, was trading at close to $98 a barrel, up more than 30% since the day the war started.

Pakistan forges ahead with diplomatic efforts

Pakistan has been working tirelessly to bring both sides together for a second round of talks.

So far, Iran has not committed but Pakistani officials there have expressed confidence that Tehran will send a delegation to resume negotiations. The first round April 11 and 12 ended without an agreement.

Over the weekend, Iran said that it had received new proposals from Washington, but also suggested that a wide gap remains between the sides. Issues that derailed the previous round of negotiations included Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the strait.

Following Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire extension, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he hoped it would create “critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States,” according to his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

Since the war started, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran, according to authorities. More than 2,290 people has been killed in Lebanon, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen have died in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

Parasailing horror in Phuket as cable snaps mid-air, tourist plunges into sea

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 14:10

A parasailing accident off Kamala Beach in Phuket has gone viral after a video showed a tourist and a staff member falling into the sea when a tow cable suddenly snapped mid-air.

The incident occurred on 20 April 2026, at Kamala Beach in Kathu district, Phuket, when a speedboat was towing a parasail carrying a foreign tourist and an operator supervising the activity.

In the footage widely shared on social media, the parasail initially lifts smoothly into the air before the cable abruptly breaks. Both the tourist and the staff member then fall into the sea, shocking bystanders at the scene.

Online posts accompanying the clip described it as a serious safety incident, prompting widespread discussion over safety standards in water-based tourism activities in Thailand. Many social media users questioned equipment maintenance and operational safety, with comments ranging from concerns over worn-out cables to calls for stricter inspections of adventure tourism operators.

The incident has fuelled calls for relevant authorities to urgently review safety regulations to restore tourist confidence and prevent similar accidents.

On 22 April at 10:00, Kamala Police, along with marine police, the Phuket Marine Office and local boat operators, inspected parasailing operators in the Kamala area.

Authorities checked business licences, crew documentation, and conducted drug tests on staff. No illegal substances or initial violations were found.

Preliminary findings suggest the accident was caused when the tow rope came into contact with the boat’s propeller, resulting in damage and the cable snapping mid-air.

Authorities later held a joint meeting with relevant agencies to discuss preventive measures and improve safety standards. The Phuket Marine Office has been tasked with further investigation into whether any legal violations occurred among crew members.

If wrongdoing is found, authorities said they will proceed with legal complaints against the operator and involved staff.

Suspected monks probed after video sparks outcry

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 14:05

Suspected monks probed after video sparks outcry

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 22 April 2026, Authorities are investigating a group of individuals seen in a viral video wearing monk-like robes and allegedly drinking alcohol and sniffing glue beneath a century-old bodhi tree, officials said.

Police, religious officials and local clergy inspected the site behind the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administrative Organisation after complaints from the public.

At the scene, officers found liquor bottles, glue containers, cooking equipment and clothing. The area, located under a large bodhi tree, is partially concealed and resembles a hollow, making it a possible gathering spot.

Pornphana Saenkarun, director of the provincial office of Buddhism, said it was not yet clear whether those in the video were genuine monks or impostors.

“We thank the public for reporting inappropriate behaviour,” he said. “However, we cannot yet confirm if the individuals are ordained monks or people pretending to be.”

He urged the public to report similar incidents to religious authorities or police so they can be investigated.

A representative of the local monastic authority said no such individuals were found during the inspection and their temple affiliation could not be identified. The video has been forwarded to local ecclesiastical leaders to help determine whether those involved belong to any temple.

Police said they received reports of the group at about 17:00 the previous day and dispatched patrol officers, but no suspects were found.

Investigators are reviewing video footage and gathering witness statements to identify those involved and take legal action.

Authorities said patrols in the area will be increased and coordination with religious bodies strengthened to prevent similar incidents and maintain public confidence.

No more guessing! Bangkok to install 500 digital bus stop signs with real-time arrival updates

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 13:13

Bangkok is rolling out a major upgrade to its bus stop network, with plans to install 1,100 upgraded stops this year—almost half of which will feature digital real-time displays showing bus arrival information.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Ekwaranyu Amrapal said on April 21 that the city is modernising bus stops across the capital to make public transport more convenient, accurate and user-friendly for both residents and tourists.

The upgrade covers two main formats: redesigned standard bus stops and new digital bus stops. The project aims to make route information, directions and arrival times easier to access in one place.

Bangkok currently has around 5,199 bus stops in use, with 1,100 targeted for upgrades this year. This includes 600 redesigned physical stops and 500 digital bus stops.

The redesigned stops are intended to improve clarity and usability, featuring clearer route and line information, walking maps showing passengers their location and nearby connections, and more than 30 nearby landmarks and points of interest. Designs are also adapted to suit different areas, from high-traffic commercial zones to residential neighbourhoods.

A key highlight of the upgrade is the introduction of digital bus stops, which will display real-time estimated arrival times of buses, reducing uncertainty for passengers waiting at stops. The system integrates data from both public and private transport operators.

Installation is currently underway, with clearer rollout expected from May and full completion planned within 2026.

The project is a collaboration between the BMA, Mayday, Grab and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, combining funding, technology and transport data to support the system.

“This bus stop upgrade is not just about changing infrastructure, but about improving the overall commuting experience in Bangkok—making travel planning easier, reducing confusion over bus routes, and enabling smoother connections. From now on, waiting for a bus in Bangkok will no longer be a guessing game,” the spokesperson said.

Factory worker, 21, alleges repeated assault by driver

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Khaosod English

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22 April 2026, 12:55

Factory worker, 21, alleges repeated assault by driver

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 21 April 2026, A 21-year-old factory worker has accused a company bus driver of sexually assaulting her, alleging he had targeted female passengers repeatedly without being reported.

The woman, identified as Ms. A, said the incident occurred on her first day of work after she boarded a factory shuttle bus to return home.

She said she had mistakenly taken the wrong route and became the last passenger on board. During the journey, she moved to a front seat and asked the driver about directions. He initially spoke normally but later began acting suspiciously.

The driver then pulled into a petrol station, locked the vehicle and approached her, allegedly groping her and making sexual remarks.

The woman said she managed to stay calm and recorded video as evidence before opening the door and fleeing the bus to seek help.

After the incident, the driver reportedly returned in a private car, claiming his actions were a joke and showing his identification card. The victim said she did not believe him and remained in a state of shock before he fled.

She alleged the driver had behaved similarly towards other female passengers in the past, but victims had been reluctant to come forward due to fear and embarrassment, allowing the behaviour to continue.

The woman said she plans to file a police complaint and submit video evidence. She also called on authorities to tighten background checks and oversight of transport staff to prevent similar incidents and ensure passenger safety, particularly for female workers.

Iran claims ship ignored warnings before attacked

Pakistan forges ahead with diplomatic efforts

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