Two Taiwanese arrested for wildlife smuggling at airport

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3 April 2026, 17:35

Two Taiwanese arrested for wildlife smuggling at airport

BANGKOK — 3 April 2026, Thai authorities have arrested two Taiwanese men accused of attempting to smuggle protected wildlife out of the country via Don Mueang airport, officials said.

The arrests were made at about 3:45 on during a joint operation involving wildlife checkpoint officers, environmental crime police, airport authorities and airline staff.

Officials said the suspects, aged 25 and 32, were preparing to board a flight to Kaohsiung when they were stopped and searched.

Three live protected animals were found concealed on their bodies: two Asian small-clawed otters and one slow loris.

The men were taken into custody along with the animals and handed over to investigators from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division.

They face charges under Thailand’s Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 2019, including illegal possession of protected wildlife and attempting to export protected species without permission.

Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin had ordered authorities to pursue the case strictly and expand the investigation to identify any trafficking network involved.

Officials have also been instructed to tighten inspections at airports and border checkpoints nationwide as part of efforts to combat transnational wildlife trafficking.

Water shortage leads to fatal fall for 75-year-old woman

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 17:01

Water shortage leads to fatal fall for 75-year-old woman

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — 3 April 2026, a 75-year-old woman drowned after slipping into a water ditch while collecting water from a coconut grove near her home, police said.

The incident was reported on in Chian Yai district, where officers, a doctor and rescue workers found the woman’s body in a ditch in Moo 5 of Sai Mak subdistrict.

Authorities said there were no signs of assault.

Preliminary findings indicated that the woman left her home after tap water became unavailable and went to fetch water from a nearby ditch. She is believed to have slipped face-first into the water and was unable to get out.

Her body was later discovered by local residents.

Relatives said they did not suspect foul play. The body was released to the family for funeral rites after a post-mortem examination.

Woman mistaken for corpse discovered unconscious

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 15:00

Woman mistaken for corpse discovered unconscious

SI SA KET — 3 April 2026, a woman initially feared dead after being found lying motionless in roadside bushes in Si Sa Ket province was later discovered to be alive but unconscious, police said.

The incident was reported at about 9:00 when officers from Si Sa Ket City Police Station were alerted by residents to an unidentified woman lying in bushes along Chalerm Ratch Road in Non Khwao community, Pho subdistrict, Mueang district.

Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene, outside a roadside restaurant lined with plant pots and shrubbery. Inside the bushes, they found a woman curled up and unresponsive.

The woman, believed to be aged between 40 and 50, had no identification documents. She was wearing an orange short-sleeved shirt and black-and-white striped shorts. No visible injuries were found, but she was still breathing.

Attempts to rouse her were unsuccessful, leading officials to believe she had lost consciousness. A plastic bottle of water was found nearby, but contained only plain water with no suspicious substances or unusual odour.

A local resident, Bua Phan Saenthaweesuk, 70, who first discovered the woman, said she had arrived at around 8:00 to water plants in front of the restaurant on her first day of work.

While tending to the plants, she noticed something unusual in the bushes. Upon closer inspection, she was shocked to find a woman lying still and initially believed she was dead.

Frightened, she flagged down passing vehicles to alert authorities.

Rescue workers later confirmed the woman had vital signs and provided first aid before transporting her to Si Sa Ket Hospital for further examination and treatment.

Myanmar’s parliament elects ruling general as president, keeping the army in charge

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Associated Press

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3 April 2026, 14:15

Myanmar President — FILE - Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar's military council, inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s parliament on Friday elected Min Aung Hlaing, a general who ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in 2021 and kept an iron grip on power for the past five years, as the country’s new president.

The move marks a nominal return to an elected government but is widely considered to be an effort to keep the army in power after an election organized by the military that opponents and independent observers deemed neither free nor fair.

Min Aung Hlaing was one of three nominees for the president’s post, but was virtually guaranteed the job as lawmakers from military-backed parties and appointed members from the army hold a commanding majority in parliament.

Aung Lin Dwe, speaker of parliament’s combined upper and lower house, announced that Min Aung Hlaing won 429 out of the 584 votes. The two runners-up became vice presidents.

Min Aung Hlaing, who holds the rank of senior general, had earlier relinquished his post of the commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position. A close aide, Gen. Ye Win Oo, took over the powerful job.

The 69-year-old Min Aung Hlaing had been the military chief since 2011. Under a military-imposed constitution, he held major power even before overthrowing Suu Kyi’s government.

Parliament members were elected in three phases in December and January. Major opposition parties, including Suu Kyi’s former ruling National League for Democracy, were either blocked from running or refused to compete under conditions they deemed unfair. Suu Kyi has been held in prison.

57 million litres of fuel go missing en route to Surat Thani, justice minister says

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 14:03

Iran Asia Russia Crude Oil — FILE - A sign announcing 'Diesel fuel has run out' is displayed on a gas staton, in Prajuab Kirikhan, Thailand, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Grant Peck, file)

BANGKOK — Authorities confirmed that 57 million litres of fuel went missing during transport from a southern depot to Surat Thani province, prompting the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take over the case as a special investigation.

Rutthapol Naowarat, Minister of Justice, speaking at the Centre for Administration and Monitoring of the Situation in the Middle East at Government House, said the loss was discovered during inspections into fuel stockpiling and illegal sales.

He explained that in Surat Thani, 96 tanker trips transported fuel from a depot to six storage facilities. Of the 217 million litres that left the depot, only 160 million litres arrived, leaving 57 million litres unaccounted for.

The minister said the DSI has set up a war room to investigate the incident, summon those involved for questioning, and trace the missing fuel. Authorities are working to determine how the discrepancy occurred and whether illegal activity was involved.

Human remains found on damaged Thai cargo ship in Hormuz Strait

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 13:37

BANGKOK — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that human remains have been found aboard the Thai-flagged cargo vessel Mayuree Naree, where three Thai crew members went missing following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz last month.

The development follows an earlier update issued on 30 March regarding the fate of the three crew members, who were on board the vessel when it encountered an incident while transiting the strategic waterway on 11 March.

According to the ministry, it was informed by Precious Shipping, the owner of the vessel, that a specialised search and rescue team hired by the company had conducted a second search operation on the ship. The team inspected all accessible areas as thoroughly as conditions allowed.

The vessel had sustained damage from a fire, with flooding reported in the engine room and nearby sections, complicating search efforts. During the operation, the team discovered parts of human remains in damaged areas of the ship. However, the identities of the remains have not yet been confirmed.

The company has already informed the families of the three missing crew members of the latest findings.

The ministry expressed its condolences over the development and said it is coordinating closely with relevant Thai embassies, Iranian authorities, and other agencies to expedite the identification process. Further updates will be provided as they become available.

The ministry also called on all parties involved to return to dialogue and diplomacy in line with international law and the United Nations Charter, stressing the importance of civilian safety and secure maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Cambodian teen, arrested with guns in Sa Kaeo raid

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 12:56

Cambodian teen, arrested with guns in Sa Kaeo raid

SA KAEO — 2 April 2026, a 17-year-old Cambodian national has been arrested after police seized three firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition during a raid on a house in Aranyaprathet district.

The operation was carried out by Khlong Luek Police under a search warrant issued by Sa Kaeo Provincial Court.

Police said the suspect, 17-year-old Cambodian, from Poipet in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, was apprehended at a residence in Tha Kham subdistrict.

Officers seized three firearms, including a registered single-barrel break-action shotgun, along with two improvised 9mm guns. A quantity of ammunition was also recovered, including 12-gauge shotgun shells of various brands and a .22 round.

In addition, police found several metal pipes and components believed to have been used in the assembly of improvised firearms.

The suspect faces two charges: illegal possession of unregistered firearms and ammunition, and entering and residing in the Kingdom without legal permission.

He has been handed over to investigators at Khlong Luek Police Station for further legal proceedings.

3 German tourists attacked in Phuket street brawl, police launch manhunt

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 12:39

PHUKET — Three German tourists were injured early Friday morning after being attacked by a group of Thai nationals in Patong, prompting authorities to launch a manhunt for the suspects.

Police at Patong station were notified of the incident at 03:00 on 3 April 2026. The attack took place on Thaveewong Road, in Soi Bangla, Patong subdistrict, Kathu district. Officers arriving at the scene found a large crowd of residents and tourists gathered around the injured foreigners.

The victims were later identified as Mr. Pascal Werner, 20, Mr. Ben Vollmer, 19, and Mr. Jann-Arne Maximilian Buchlaub, 19, all German nationals. First responders from the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation provided initial treatment before taking them to Patong Hospital for further care.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the attackers were a group of Thai nationals who fled the scene immediately after the incident. Patong police, together with their investigative team, are collecting evidence at the scene and reviewing nearby CCTV footage to identify and apprehend those responsible.

Authorities are also interviewing witnesses and individuals connected to the case to determine the motive behind the attack. The incident has caused concern among tourists and raised questions about Phuket’s safety and reputation as a major tourist destination.

Poll finds 82% doubt govt’s economic crisis response

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 11:34

Poll finds 82% doubt govt’s economic crisis response

BANGKOK — 3 April 2026, more than 80% of Thais lack confidence in the government’s ability to handle the economy if a prolonged Middle East conflict drives up energy costs, according to a survey by the King Prajadhipok’s Institute.

The poll, titled “Public Voices on the New Government’s Handling of the Energy and Economic Crisis”, was conducted between 27 and 30 March 2026 among 2,000 respondents aged 18 and over nationwide.

Results released by Issara Sereewattanawut, secretary-general of the institute and director of KPI Poll, showed that 82.1% of respondents had little or no confidence that the new administration, dubbed “Anutin 2”, could manage the economy if the conflict in the Middle East drags on. Only 12.8% expressed confidence, while 5.1% were unsure.

The survey also found that three in four respondents were highly concerned about economic stability, citing the rapid rise in energy prices. Many said the government had yet to introduce clear measures to cushion the impact of external shocks stemming from the conflict.

At the same time, public opinion was more divided over the use of state funds to subsidise energy prices. Some 38.6% said they would accept significant government spending in the short term, even if it meant less funding for other policies this year, as energy costs directly affect most people.

A further 25.3% said such spending would be acceptable only during a short-term crisis, while 14.9% supported targeted assistance limited to low-income groups and the transport sector.

However, 11.1% opposed the approach, arguing that public funds should be reserved for long-term priorities, and 10.1% said they were undecided.

Hun Manet vows licence revocation for any company tied to fuel smuggling from Thailand

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2026, 11:32

PHNOM PENH — Cambodian Prime Minister has ordered an investigation into reports of illegal fuel smuggling from Thailand into Cambodia, following Thai media coverage of an alleged cross-border network.

In a statement posted online, Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, said he had seen reports about a smuggling ring bringing fuel illegally from Thailand for sale in Cambodia. He instructed Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy, Sar Thet, Commissioner of National Police, and Kun Nhem, Director General of Customs and Excise, to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

The Cambodian leader said that if the allegations are confirmed, authorities must identify all individuals involved and take the “strictest legal action” against them. He added that any fuel companies found to be linked to the operation would face licence revocation.

Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, also warned that any government officials or members of the armed forces implicated in the case would be dismissed and permanently removed from public service, regardless of rank or position.

He reiterated that Cambodia has suspended imports of all fuel and gas products from Thailand since June 2025, stressing that the country no longer depends on Thai energy supplies and has sufficient sources from other countries.

The issue surfaced after Thai authorities flagged a suspected smuggling network, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul condemning those involved as “bad actors.”

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