Thai FM: Myanmar must address ASEAN concerns to rejoin bloc

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22 April 2026, 12:42

NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow travelled to Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday for an official visit and is scheduled to meet Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, focusing on bilateral cooperation, border security or cross-border crime, and regional environmental concerns.

Speaking to reporters, Sihasak said the visit carries three main objectives, beginning with congratulations to Myanmar on forming a new government, which he described as an important political transition that could pave the way toward peace and reconciliation efforts among different groups in the country.

He said Thailand, as a close neighbour, wants to see sustainable peace in Myanmar.

The second objective, he said, is to open a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, particularly in strengthening cooperation on border security, suppression of transnational crime networks — especially scam operations — and drug trafficking, which he said has increasingly affected Thailand.

He also highlighted the need for cooperation on environmental issues, including water and air pollution, and stressed the importance of restoring border trade, which he said accounts for around 80% of total trade between the two countries.

Sihasak added that Thailand supports Myanmar’s return to ASEAN engagement through a “step-by-step” approach, noting ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. He said progress has been limited, and Myanmar must address ASEAN’s concerns if it is to reintegrate fully into the bloc. He also said Thailand is ready to play a leading role in facilitating dialogue.

He welcomed Myanmar’s new government announcement of a pardon for political figures, including the former president, and expressed hope such steps would continue.

The foreign minister also said both sides would discuss reducing violence along the Thai–Myanmar border, noting humanitarian needs in Myanmar and suggesting greater involvement from ASEAN and international organisations in providing assistance.

Referring to recent incidents in which Myanmar military aircraft reportedly dropped ordnance that crossed into Thai territory, Sihasak said Thailand wants to see reduced use of force along the border and a de-escalation of fighting.

He added that military-to-military cooperation remains an important channel, noting previous high-level visits between armed forces leadership and joint discussions on border security. Thailand is expected to host the next round of talks.

Sihasak also said the issue of PM2.5 pollution would be raised during the visit, describing it as a shared concern among Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos that requires urgent regional cooperation.

Anutin warns Myanmar fighting must not affect Thailand

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22 April 2026, 12:03

20260422104938_4955 — Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul

BANGKOK — Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday expressed concern for Thai residents along the Thai–Myanmar border, warning that fighting across the border must not spill into Thailand.

Speaking at 10:10 at the Interior Ministry, Anutin said a regular meeting had issued several directives on managing border security amid ongoing clashes in Myanmar. He said he was concerned about the situation in all aspects.

Asked about Thai residents affected by stray ordnance landing on Thai soil, Anutin said authorities were responding through all available channels, including diplomatic engagement and measures to ensure public safety.

He said Myanmar authorities had confirmed the incidents were part of internal fighting and not an intentional violation of Thai territory.

“We are not accepting this. If there is fighting, it must remain on their side. Our country must not be affected,” he said.

Separately, on 20 April at 11:00, the Myanmar Air Force deployed Yak-130 and MiG-29 fighter jets to carry out air strikes near a hospital operated by the Karen National Union (KNU) and nearby civilian homes in Hpapun township, Karen state, about 500 metres from the Thai border.

One bomb landed across the border in Thailand along the Salween River near Ban Mae Waen, triggering panic among Thai residents, who fled the area in fear.

Dashcam shows toddler cycling onto busy Nong Khai road

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22 April 2026, 11:27

Dashcam shows toddler cycling onto busy Nong Khai road

NONG KHAI — 20 April 2026, A dashcam video has captured a three-year-old child riding a tricycle into the middle of a busy road, prompting a driver to brake suddenly before bystanders rushed in to help.

The footage was posted by Wareerat Pansombun, who recorded the incident at about 14:00 while driving from Nong Khai town towards Phon Phisai district on the Nong Khai–Phon Phisai road at around 70 km/h.

As she approached Ban Hua Hat in Ban Duea subdistrict, she spotted the toddler cycling in the roadway from a distance. She sounded her horn continuously and signalled to three vehicles behind her, which also honked and slowed down.

Two women ran from the roadside and managed to remove the child from the road safely.

Wareerat said the outcome could have been far worse if vehicles had been travelling faster, urging parents to supervise young children closely and not allow them onto busy roads.

The route is typically heavily trafficked, with vehicles travelling at speed, raising the risk of a serious accident if the child had not been seen in time.

Social media users later commented that the child lives about 300 metres from the road near the Mekong River. The people who assisted were not the child’s parents but a food vendor and nearby residents who responded after hearing prolonged car horns.

PM2.5 still hits half of Thailand hard, north in crisis

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22 April 2026, 11:12

PM2.5 still hits half of Thailand hard, north in crisis

BANGKOK — 21 April 2026, Air pollution exceeded safety limits in 38 provinces across Thailand on Monday, with the north remaining in a critical condition and eight provinces recording hazardous levels, authorities said.

The Pollution Control Department reported at 07:00 that 24-hour average PM2.5 levels ranged from 13.4 to 132.0 micrograms per cubic metre, above the national standard of 37.5 in many areas.

Northern provinces were the worst affected, with readings between 38.7 and 132.0, and eight provinces, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Nan, Phayao, Sukhothai and Phitsanulok are classified as red zones posing health risks.

The highest level was recorded in Huai Khon subdistrict of Nan’s Chaloem Phra Kiat district at 132.0 micrograms per cubic metre.

In the northeast, levels ranged from 21.8 to 73.8, while the central and western regions recorded 25.5 to 73.2, with most areas exceeding standards.

Air quality in the east and south remained largely within safe limits, with readings between 13.4 and 30.2, and 15.4 to 23.7 respectively.

In Bangkok and surrounding areas, pollution exceeded the standard at one monitoring station, with levels between 17.7 and 38.7.

Authorities advised the public to limit outdoor activities and use protective measures, especially in high-risk areas, and to seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.

Wildfire near Mae Hong Son park quickly contained

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22 April 2026, 10:59

Wildfire near Mae Hong Son park quickly contained

MAE HONG SON — 22 April 2026, A forest fire came close to spreading into Tha Pong Daeng public park before being brought under control by authorities, officials said, as air pollution in the province remained at hazardous levels.

Kanchit Wongphraya, a forestry officer and head of forest protection units in Muang Mae Hong Son, said the blaze broke out at about 13:40 on 21 April near Ban Sop Pong in Pang Mu subdistrict.

Firefighting teams, including forestry officials, soldiers, local administrators and villagers, were deployed to tackle the blaze, which was contained by 15:40 after burning about 14 rai (around 2.2 hectares) of dry dipterocarp forest.

The affected area borders Tha Pong Daeng public park, land once granted by King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a public recreation area for nearby communities.

Officials said forest fires in Mae Hong Son continue to be caused largely by illegal burning, although the number of hotspots has declined as many areas had already been burned earlier.

The Pollution Control Department reported that 24-hour average PM2.5 levels measured at 7:00 on 22 April reached 105.7 micrograms per cubic metre in Pai district, well above safe standards and posing health risks.

Satellite data from the Suomi NPP system detected 23 hotspots in the province early on Tuesday, indicating a gradual decrease.

However, thick haze continued to blanket Mae Hong Son town, with visibility reduced to about 2 kilometres on Tuesday morning, according to the provincial meteorological office.

Man found dead in Nakhon Ratchasima moat

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22 April 2026, 10:36

Man found dead in Nakhon Ratchasima moat

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 22 April 2026, An unidentified man was found dead in a city moat early on Tuesday, with police suspecting he may have drowned while trying to cool off in the heat.

Police were alerted at 2:00 to the body in the moat in front of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court, within the municipal area.

At the scene on Ratchanikul Road, opposite the entrance to Thanon Chira Junction railway station, officers found the body of a man believed to be about 40 years old. He was wearing shorts and no shirt, lying face-up in the water.

Rescue workers retrieved the body for examination. Authorities estimated he had been dead for at least six hours and found no signs of assault or injuries. No identification documents were discovered.

The body was sent to Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for a forensic autopsy.

Police said no one in the area recognised the man. The vicinity is known to be frequented by homeless and vulnerable people seeking shelter.

Investigators believe the man may have entered the moat to bathe due to the hot weather, suffered cramp and drowned.

Local official suspected for forest fire, wildlife hunting

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22 April 2026, 10:14

Local official suspected for forest fire, wildlife hunting

PHETCHABURI — 22 April 2026, Authorities are gathering evidence to pursue a suspect believed to have started a forest fire while hunting protected wildlife in Kaeng Krachan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, officials said.

Mongkol Chaipakdee, head of the park, said about 5,000 rai (around 800 hectares) of forest have been damaged by the blaze.

Officials also found evidence of poaching in the affected area at Mae Kamei Bon in Nong Ya Plong district, including the carcasses of two gaurs. The animals had been shot dead with a shotgun, with pellets found lodged in their bodies. The remains are being examined to confirm the cause of death as part of the investigation.

Mongkol said authorities have obtained photographs of a suspect believed to have set fires to drive wildlife into the open for hunting. The individual is suspected to be a member of a subdistrict administrative organisation council.

According to investigators, the suspect allegedly entered the forest multiple times using a motorcycle, accompanied by hunting dogs and carrying a shotgun.

The method involved setting fires to flush gaurs into predetermined areas before ambushing them. However, the fires spread uncontrollably, resulting in a wider forest blaze.

Officials found spent shotgun cartridges at the scene, and hunting dogs were also present in the area.

Authorities are expanding the investigation and compiling evidence to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Gunfire erupts at Rayong Wan Lai event, no injuries

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22 April 2026, 09:48

Gunfire erupts at Rayong Wan Lai event, no injuries

RAYONG — 22 April 2026, Rival groups of youths exchanged gunfire during a crowded Songkran “Wan Lai” celebration in Map Ta Phut, sending revellers fleeing in panic, police said. No injuries were reported.

The incident occurred at about 1:00 at Map Ta Phut market in Muang district, just metres from a police monitoring point, where officers had been deployed due to recurring violence at the annual festivities.

Authorities said large numbers of workers and youths had gathered in the area, with pickup trucks fitted with sound systems playing music as people danced and splashed water.

A dispute broke out between two groups for unknown reasons, escalating when one side began throwing wooden sticks and bottles. The opposing group then drew a firearm and fired multiple shots.

Crowds of residents and tourists ran for cover as the shooting unfolded.

Police stationed nearby rushed to the scene immediately after the gunfire stopped, prompting both groups to disperse into the crowd and flee.

Investigators said the use of a firearm in a public place was a serious offence. Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and videos recorded by bystanders to identify those involved and bring them to justice.

Drone captures rare mating dugongs off Trang coast

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22 April 2026, 09:12

Drone captures rare mating dugongs off Trang coast

TRANG — 21 April 2026, Drone footage has captured a rare sight of two dugongs embracing and mating in the sea off Koh Libong, a key habitat in southern Thailand often dubbed the “dugong capital”, researchers said.

The images were released by the Lower Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, whose director, Santi Nilwat, said the behaviour had not been documented in the area for several years.

Surveys also found multiple groups of dugongs, typically 3 to 7 animals, scattered around the Koh Libong archipelago in Kantang district, signalling a positive trend after the animals had previously migrated due to seagrass die-offs.

Since February 2026, aerial and drone surveys have recorded at least 72 dugongs in Trang waters, including at least two mother-calf pairs. No dugong strandings have been reported so far this year, in contrast to previous years when deaths were linked to seagrass shortages.

Parts of the seagrass beds, covering more than 20,000 rai (about 3,200 hectares), have begun to recover, providing a vital food source and encouraging the animals’ return.

Santi said Trang had seen dugong migration in recent years, but the latest findings suggest a recovery in both the population and their habitat.

Koh Libong remains the area with the highest concentration of dugongs due to its extensive seagrass meadows. In past years, around 10 stranded dugongs were typically recorded annually, rising to about 20 deaths per year in 2024–2025 due to deteriorating seagrass, which forced the animals to migrate and left some starving.

“This year, no strandings have been found in Trang, which is very encouraging,” he said.

Erawan National Park closes due to forest fires, PM2.5 spike

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21 April 2026, 19:52

Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi has temporarily closed all tourism activities and overnight stays after worsening forest fires and hazardous PM2.5 pollution levels exceeded safety standards, officials said on 21 April 2026.

Park chief Phiphat Chimpli said the closure follows ongoing forest fire and haze conditions in the area, which have pushed the 24-hour average PM2.5 level to 42.9 micrograms per cubic metre—considered harmful to both visitors and staff. He added that some areas of the park have already been damaged by the fires.

The Erawan National Park announced the suspension of tourism and camping services from 21 April 2026 at 13:00 onwards. Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring public safety and allowing staff to focus on firefighting operations and environmental recovery.

Park authorities said they are coordinating with Kanchanaburi provincial officials to widely inform the public and are closely monitoring air quality and fire conditions. The park will reopen once conditions return to normal and the area is deemed safe, with updates available through its official Facebook page.

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