Defence: The Royal Thai Navy chief went on a three-day visit to neighbouring Cambodia to tighten military cooperation, according to a navy source.
Thai navy chief, Adm Somprasong Nilsamai met his Cambodian counterpart, Adm Tea Vinh and Gen Vong Pisen, chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, from Friday to Sunday to encourage more visits and teleconference calls between the two countries, the source said.
Adm Somprasong also attended a meeting with Gen Tea Banh, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, the source said. Both sides reportedly agreed to do more to solve problems along the Thai-Cambodia border and regularly conduct health checks on border crossers to contain Covid-19 transmissions.
Satellites detect 1K plus hotspots
Pollution: Satellites detected 1,224 new hotspots in northern provinces from March 7-13.
Maj Gen Prasitthipong Mooldee, deputy chief of the forest fire command centre, said the hotspots were mostly seen in Mae Hong Son, Phetchabun and Phichit.
He said 426 were in conserved forests, 410 in protected areas, 249 in agricultural areas and 86 in reform lands. Maj Gen Prasitthipong said last week, PM 2.5 in the North was measured at 26–69 µg/m³, PM10 at 38–79 and AQI at 34–142. Mae Hong Son's tambon Chong Kham had the highest pollution levels, he said.
Line Man 'drug dealers' busted
CRIME: Two people were nabbed for dealing drugs while posing as Line Man riders to avoid arrest in Bangkok, police said yesterday.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau said the two suspects, identified only as "Neti" and "Rewat", had been selling drugs through the popular instant messaging application since April last year. The pair allegedly made 50,000 baht a month. Neti was arrested at a house in Nong Khaem district, while Rewat was arrested in an undisclosed location, where authorities found 420 Rohypnol-brand flunitrazepam pills.
Police seized 3kg of crystal meth, 34,000 speed pills, 300 ecstasy pills, 1.197kg of ketamine and three motorcycles in the raids.
Fishery official on migrant rap
Kanchanaburi: A Department of Fishery official has reportedly been suspended for leading illegal migrants into the country and using a state vehicle to transport them.
Wuthipong Sukmongkol, 35, was removed from duty in Kanchanaburi after he confessed to having helped Myanmar migrants looking for work into the country, according to Chalermchai Suwannarak, director-general of the department.
He committed the crime twice, with the latest taking place on Sunday in Muang district, Mr Chalermchai said.
In the incident, three Myanmar women slipped into the country illegally with Mr Wuthipong's assistance, Mr Chalermchai said.
Joint military exercise starts
Defence: More than 1,200 Thai, Singaporean and US air force service members are reportedly taking part in the Cope Tiger 2022 military exercise in Nakhon Ratchasima and Lop Buri until March 25.
A total of 521 soldiers and 28 helicopters from the Royal Thai Air Force were taking part, while 585 soldiers, 24 helicopters and five anti-aircraft weapons systems came from Singapore, a source said, adding the US has sent 12 helicopters and 163 soldiers.
It involves training in air attacks, anti-aircraft defences, intelligence operations and using unmanned aerial vehicles, the source said.