Teacher catches crow stealing boiled eggs on camera

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25 April 2026, 17:32

Teacher catches crow stealing boiled eggs on camera

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 25 April 2026 — A schoolteacher in northeastern Thailand set up a camera to catch a suspected thief who had taken a tray of boiled eggs, only to discover the culprit was a crow.

CCTV footage outside the room of Anuwit Tiamkrathok, an art and music teacher at Ban Mabkrad School in Khon Buri district, captured the bird repeatedly stealing eggs left overnight.

Anuwit said he regularly boiled large batches of eggs and stored them for convenience. On 23 April, he left a tray in a pot outside his room overnight, only to find them all gone the next morning.

After questioning staff and students without success, he initially suspected a dog but doubted it could remove the eggs without knocking over the pot.

He then repositioned his camera and left two boiled eggs as bait. Footage showed a crow swooping in at 5:50 to take one egg, before returning at 6:19 to grab the second.

“I never expected the thief would be a crow from nearby,” he said.

Thailand plans to scrap visa-free stay, cut duration

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Khaosod English

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25 April 2026, 17:24

Thailand plans to scrap visa-free stay, cut duration

BANGKOK — 25 April 2026, Thailand is considering scrapping its 60-day visa-free entry scheme for foreign visitors and reducing permitted stays, as authorities shift focus towards higher-spending, long-stay tourists, officials said.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the government is reviewing the policy after a trial period and is preparing to submit proposed changes to the Cabinet soon.

The measure currently allows travellers from 93 countries and territories to enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days. Officials now plan to scrap the blanket scheme and revert to country-specific arrangements, while exploring new visa options tailored to different markets.

Surasak said the changes aim to better reflect actual travel patterns and curb misuse of the system.

“More than 90% of tourists stay between one and 30 days, while only about 10% remain longer,” he said. “Allowing extended stays may enable some individuals to work illegally or engage in improper activities.”

He said the revised approach would prioritise “quality tourists” who stay longer and contribute more to the economy, while serving as a screening mechanism for undesirable visitors.

The Foreign Ministry has already discussed the proposal, which will require Cabinet approval to amend the original resolution.

Separately, authorities are also pushing ahead with plans to introduce a 300-baht tourism fee for foreign arrivals by air. The levy would fund tourism development, safety measures and infrastructure improvements.

Surasak said such fees are common internationally, citing Japan’s departure tax as an example, and insisted the measure would not deter visitors but help strengthen Thailand’s tourism sector in the long term.

Temple thieves steal 200kg safe, flee with donations

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Khaosod English

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25 April 2026, 16:33

Temple thieves steal 200kg safe, flee with donations

KHON KAEN — 25 April 2026, Police are hunting suspects who broke into a prominent temple in northeastern Thailand, stole donation boxes and carried off a safe weighing more than 200kg before smashing it open and fleeing with cash.

CCTV footage circulating on social media shows a slim man wearing a cap and face mask moving around Wat That Phra Aram Luang in Mueang district, searching for valuables and prying open donation boxes placed around the temple grounds.

Temple caretaker Thongdee Thonglon, 76, said the intruders likely climbed into the compound from outside before breaking into donation boxes near the pagoda and inside the ordination hall. A safe containing donations was taken from inside the hall and later found broken open in a nearby alley.

He estimated the thieves made off with around 40,000 to 50,000 baht in donated money. Some boxes were successfully forced open, while others showed signs of attempted break-ins.

Thongdee said the temple had switched off electricity at the time of the incident, leaving some internal cameras unable to record the theft. He added that petty theft had occurred before, but this was the first time a safe had been stolen.

Police said evidence from CCTV footage suggests two groups of suspects may be involved, one acting alone and another consisting of two individuals. One suspect has been detained and reportedly admitted to stealing less than 100 baht, while investigators are working to identify whether the second group was responsible for taking the safe.

Authorities are reviewing additional surveillance footage in nearby areas as they continue efforts to locate and arrest those responsible.

Injured pangolin rescued from wildfire zone

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25 April 2026, 16:01

Injured pangolin rescued from wildfire zone

MAE HONG SON — 25 April 2026, Wildlife officers have rescued a severely injured pangolin from a wildfire-hit area in northern Thailand, highlighting the growing toll of forest fires on vulnerable species.

Officials said the female Sunda pangolin was found by a firefighting team from Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park while tackling blazes west of Wat Pa Tham Wua.

The animal was discovered weak and struggling for breath, sheltering in a hollow to escape the flames after becoming trapped by the fire. Initial checks showed serious injuries, including damaged and deformed scales along its back and a partially severed tail, believed to have resulted from both human activity and the wildfire.

The pangolin was transported to Pang Tong Wildlife Breeding Station, where veterinarians began urgent treatment, cleaning wounds to prevent infection and monitoring for shock and stress. Officials said efforts are being made to replicate a natural environment during recovery, with plans to release the animal back into the wild once it is fit.

Chaiyacharn Sriyong, director of a regional protected areas office, said wildfires were not only destroying forests but also killing wildlife indirectly, particularly slow-moving species like pangolins that cannot escape in time.

Authorities urged the public to refrain from burning forests, warning that a single act could cost wildlife their lives. They also encouraged people to report injured animals or suspected illegal burning via a national park hotline.

Australia-Thai Rabbit Card art show opens in Bangkok

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25 April 2026, 15:32

BANGKOK — 22 April 2026, The Australian Embassy in Thailand, in partnership with Siam Piwat Group, has launched a Rabbit Card design exhibition at Siam Discovery, showcasing creative works that highlight ties between the two countries.

Running from 22 April to 17 May, the exhibition features 35 selected designs from the third Rabbit Card Design Competition, organised by the embassy. The winning entry has been produced as a limited-edition Rabbit Card.

Australian Ambassador to Thailand Angela Macdonald said the exhibition followed strong public interest in the competition, which attracted more than 100 submissions across a wide range of styles and age groups.

“It is encouraging to see iconic symbols such as the Australian koala and the Thai elephant reinterpreted to reflect the close relationship between our nations,” she said.

The top prize was awarded to Kiadtisak Paramasin, whose design combines Thailand’s mythical temple guardian “Yak” with an Australian kangaroo. He received a return flight from Bangkok to Sydney and a two-night hotel stay, sponsored by Thai Airways and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok.

Other winners included first runner-up Korakot Chaiyont, who received a hotel stay, and second runner-up Pison Wimonsoponkitti, who was awarded gift sets featuring Australian and Thai products.

Organisers said the exhibition also includes interactive activities, with visitors able to take part in a design challenge for a chance to win limited-edition cards.

The display is being held on the third floor of Siam Discovery until 1 May before moving to the fifth floor from 2–17 May.

Thailand backs royal-led development plan expansion

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25 April 2026, 15:19

Thailand backs royal-led development plan expansion

BANGKOK — 25 April 2026, Thailand has approved a fifth-phase action plan to expand royal initiative-led development projects to 32 provinces nationwide, aiming to strengthen self-reliance and sustainability, officials said.

Mr. Grisada Boonrach, Chairman of the chairman of the Royal Initiative Discovery Institute, under the Royal Initiative Discovery Foundation, said the board endorsed the 2028–2032 plan at its annual meeting on 24 April, focusing on integrating efforts across sectors to improve livelihoods based on the sufficiency economy philosophy.

The foundation will continue its mission to “preserve, build upon and extend” royal initiatives under the guiding principles of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, drawing on the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s development concepts.

From October 2025 to March 2026, projects worth more than 416 million baht were implemented across water resource management, agriculture and environmental sectors.

Water development remains central, with surveys covering 1,911 water sources in 21 provinces and 136 rehabilitation projects in the Mun River basin expected to benefit more than 36,000 rai of farmland.

Agricultural programmes have focused on boosting productivity, including export-grade durian in the southern border provinces, safe vegetable farming in the northeast and the use of smart agriculture technology for crops such as coconuts in Khon Kaen and limes in Nan.

The foundation is also advancing “centenary village” projects in 10 communities across eight provinces as models for sustainable self-sufficiency, alongside initiatives to strengthen household food security.

Under the fifth-phase plan, operations will expand from 22 to 32 provinces, with a target of rehabilitating 150 small-scale water sources annually, totalling 750 over five years.

The strategy includes four pillars: development promotion, the establishment of 50 co-learning centres, proactive public communication and organisational upgrades through digital systems.

The plan also aims to enhance 10 key agricultural products, including organic durian, robusta coffee and high-quality rice, to generate stable income for farmers.

Krisada said the initiative would move beyond pilot areas to broaden its impact nationwide, embedding royal development principles into everyday life.

The five-year plan is expected to require a budget of about 1.57 billion baht, funded through a combination of state allocations, foundation resources and private sector cooperation.

Ex-husband opens fire on car, injures former wife and man

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25 April 2026, 15:15

Ex-husband opens fire on car, injures former wife and man

SURAT THANI — 24 April 2026, A man opened fire on a car carrying his former wife and another man in southern Thailand, injuring both before fleeing, police said.

Investigators said the victims, identified as 35-year-old Phatsakorn Thongphat and 37-year-old Apiradee Limsuwan, arrived at Surat Thani Hospital with gunshot wounds late on Friday.

According to police, the pair had been travelling in a Honda car from a residential area in Khao Tha Phet towards the city centre along the Surat Thani–Na San road when they were intercepted in Makham Tia subdistrict.

A suspect, identified as 39-year-old Anusorn, Apiradee’s former husband, allegedly drove alongside their vehicle and fired multiple shots from an unknown firearm.

Phatsakorn, who was driving, was hit in the right side of his torso, while Apiradee sustained a gunshot wound beneath her chin. The attacker fled the scene.

The victims drove themselves to hospital, where they remain under treatment.

Police said forensic officers and investigators are examining the scene and reviewing nearby CCTV footage to trace the suspect’s escape route. Authorities are seeking a warrant for his arrest.

After last year’s fighting with Thailand, Cambodia readies new conscription law for men aged 18-25

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Associated Press

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25 April 2026, 14:50

After last year's fighting with Thailand, Cambodia readies new conscription law for men aged 18-25

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A law requiring Cambodian males aged 18 to 25 to serve in the military for two years has gained Cabinet approval following two spates of deadly combat last year with neighboring Thailand.

The new draft law on conscription will replace an existing law dating from 2006 that was never implemented and no longer addresses current and future needs, a government spokesperson said Friday.

The existing law specified 30 as the maximum call-up age. Women will be allowed to serve on a voluntary basis.

Spokesperson Pen Bona said the draft law, with eight chapters and 20 articles, was adopted by the Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday.

Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.

Hundreds of thousands of people in both countries were displaced and about 100 Cambodian soldiers and civilians lost their lives. There has been no new fighting since a December ceasefire, though tensions remain high.

A government statement described military service as an essential duty and a great honor allowing the Cambodian people to contribute to national development and defend the motherland.

Prime Minister Hun Manet said in July last year when relations with Thailand were deteriorating that Cambodia would implement conscription this year. He said that soldiers joining through conscription are more effective and professional than a voluntary force, and that conscription will be used to fill shortages and upgrade military capabilities.

The legislation will be sent to the National Assembly and the Senate for approval, and become law once King Norodom Sihamoni signs it.

Police expose scam gang route at border sugarcane fields

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Khaosod English

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25 April 2026, 14:04

Police expose scam gang route at border sugarcane fields

SA KAEO — 25 April 2026, Police and soldiers have identified a sugarcane field near the Thai-Cambodian border as a key route used by call-centre scam gangs to traffic victims across the frontier, officials said.

Officers from Provincial Police Region 2, supported by the Burapha Task Force, led a rescued victim, a director of a boys’ love television series, and an associate to point out locations in Phan Suek subdistrict of Aranyaprathet district where they were allegedly taken across the border.

Authorities said the victims had been lured with offers of work and investment training before being smuggled into Cambodia and forced to work as scammers in the border city of Poipet. They were recently released.

The area, largely made up of farmland, allows easy crossing on foot, particularly in the dry season when there are no natural water barriers. Officials said traffickers frequently use such natural routes through Phan Suek and nearby Khlong Nam Sai subdistrict to move Thai nationals out of the country illegally.

Maj. Gen. Thitiwat Suriyachai, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 2, said Thais continue to be deceived into taking jobs in neighbouring countries, with local guides often used to escort victims across informal crossings.

He said authorities have intelligence on the network involved and will step up patrols and border controls.

Investigators also believe the operation extends beyond a previously identified network leader known as “Mr Moo” and may involve former local officials suspected of facilitating the crossings. The individuals have been suspended pending investigation.

Officials warned the public to be cautious of job offers near border areas, particularly those promising high pay or requiring pre-employment training, as they may be linked to human trafficking or scam operations.

Bangkok installs barriers to stop motorbikes on pavements

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Khaosod English

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25 April 2026, 13:44

Bangkok installs barriers to stop motorbikes on pavements

BANGKOK — 24 April 2026, Bangkok authorities have installed metal barriers on pavements in Khlong Toei district to prevent motorcycles from driving on footpaths, following repeated public complaints.

Sittichai Aranyaganon, assistant secretary to the Bangkok governor, inspected the site at the intersection of Rama IV and Sukhumvit roads (Phra Khanong junction), an area known for frequent violations.

He said the problem stems from distant U-turn points, closely spaced side streets and narrow roads, compounded by large vehicles often occupying all lanes, making it difficult for motorcycles to pass and prompting some riders to mount the pavement.

The Khlong Toei district office has installed “S-Guard” steel posts along the pavement, which officials say have proven effective. Authorities consulted road users before installation, as the area is near a BTS Skytrain station and heavily used by both Thai residents and foreign visitors.

“We want all road users, especially motorcyclists, to respect traffic rules,” Sittichai said.

Local residents and shopkeepers reported noticeable improvements, saying the barriers have reduced danger and noise.

One regular pedestrian said she previously felt unsafe walking with headphones, as motorcycles approaching from behind could not be heard. Since the installation, she said, she feels more secure.

Residents added that the design allows access for other users, including wheelchair users, cyclists and travellers with luggage, while effectively blocking motorcycles.

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