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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Thailand video news | American paraglider crashes into power pole on Koh Larn, British man arrested for traffic island stunt, indecency and yaba use in Phuket
In today’s Thailand video news, Jay brings you key stories from across Thailand and the wider region, ranging from dramatic adventure-sport accidents and record-setting Antarctic skydives to law-enforcement crackdowns and developments in space technology. The lineup includes an American paraglider crashing into a power pole on Koh Larn, Thailand’s flag-raising Antarctic skydiving record, a public indecency case in Phuket, the…
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Egyptian man arrested for illegally working as barber in Phuket
Police arrested an Egyptian man in Phuket yesterday, January 12, for illegally working as a barber after he was caught providing services to a foreign customer. Officers from Patong Police Station acted on a complaint from a local resident who reported that a foreign national was operating a barbershop on Phang Mueang Sai Kor Road in the Patong sub-district of…
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Pheu Thai eyes gaming industry reform to boost digital economy
Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial and MP candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat met with gaming industry leaders in Bangkok yesterday, January 12, to explore ways to elevate the country’s position in the global digital economy. Executives from the Thai Game Software Industry Association (TGA), along with developers, publishers and platform operators, joined the meeting. The discussion aimed to address challenges and potential in…
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Police rule out murder in deadly house fire in Chiang Mai
Police insisted that the deadly house fire in Chiang Mai province that killed a family of five was an accident, while criticising some media outlets for spreading misleading and unverified information. The tragedy occurred on January 8, when a fire broke out at a two-storey home in the Pa Dad sub-district of Chiang Mai. Five family members, including five year…
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Amazing Thailand x LISA teaser drops ahead of full film release
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released the teaser for its latest tourism advertising film featuring Thai-born K-pop star Lalisa Manobal on Friday, January 9. The full film is scheduled to launch on January 28. TAT first announced Lisa as its global tourism ambassador in October, encouraging fans to look forward to a campaign showcasing Thailand’s most beautiful destinations through…
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Why Thailand’s casino debate misses the real gambling issue
Thailand’s long-running argument over casino legalisation has again stalled, with proposed entertainment complexes dominating headlines while enforcement questions sit in the background. In early 2026, the political focus remains on whether large, integrated resorts should be allowed, where they might be built, and how much tourism revenue they could generate. Meanwhile, betting activity already woven into daily life continues with…
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American paraglider crash into power pole on Koh Lan
An American paraglider was rescued this afternoon, January 12, after crashing into a high-voltage electricity pole on Koh Lan, prompting a temporary island-wide power outage as rescue workers brought him down. The incident occurred around 2.30pm near Tawaen Beach in Moo 7, Na Kluea subdistrict, Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Foundation…
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Thai flag flies high in Antarctic skydiving record
Thai doctor and skydiver Dr Thanaborworn Sirikunakornkul, also known as “Super Tum,” has set a Guinness World Record after completing a high-altitude skydive over Antarctica while carrying a giant Thai flag. The jump was confirmed by Thailand’s Public Relations Department. It marks another milestone for Dr Thanaborworn, who is Thailand’s first HALO-certified skydiver. HALO, or high-altitude low-opening, is a specialised…
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Foreign man exposes himself to Thai woman in Phuket car park
A Thai woman exposed a foreign man after he exposed his genitals in front of her in the Kamala area of Phuket yesterday, January 11. The woman shared photos of the foreign suspect with the Phuket Times Facebook page. In the images, the man was seen wearing a light blue Hawaiian shirt left unbuttoned and white shorts. He was standing…
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Thailand’s THEOS-2A satellite launch fails after rocket malfunction in India
Thailand’s mission to expand its space capabilities suffered a major setback today, January 12, after the high-resolution Earth observation satellite THEOS-2A failed to reach its intended orbit. The launch took place at 11.47am Thai time from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, using the Indian PSLV-DL (PSLV-C62) rocket. However, around 380 seconds after liftoff, an anomaly was detected during…
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Italian man slammed for insulting Thai taxi driver comparing him to dog
Thai and international netizens condemned an Italian man after he posted a video insulting a Thai taxi driver for eating from a plastic bag, allegedly comparing the driver to a dog. The Italian tourist shared the video on his Facebook account yesterday, Saturday, January 11, along with a caption written in Italian. The caption was later translated as, “Enjoy travelling…
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Uzbek man detained after alleged assault on teenage girl in Phuket
An Uzbek national was taken into custody in Phuket last night, January 11, after allegedly assaulting a teenage girl inside a restaurant in the Mai Khao area. The incident reportedly occurred around 10.20pm at the Golden Cat Restaurant on Soi Mai Khao 5 in Moo 4 of Mai Khao Subdistrict. Police from Tha Chatchai Police Station confirmed that the suspect,…
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British man arrested for traffic island stunt, indecency, and Yaba use
Phuket police arrested a British national after a viral video showed him driving on a traffic island, using methamphetamine (Yaba), and urinating on road. The 24 year old British national, Lee Terry Obrien, was arrested yesterday, Sunday, January 11, after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media. The video, originally shared by local news outlet Newshawk Phuket, showed the…
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Three power poles down after pickup veers off road in Pattaya
A late-night pickup crash in Pattaya on January 11 toppled three high-voltage power poles across Soi Paniad Chang, leaving live wires on the road and forcing police to shut down the area. The incident occurred at 10.36pm on Soi Paniad Chang in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Police and rescue teams were called to the scene after receiving reports that…
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Thai police strangled in Bangkok traffic dispute, suspect still at large
A Thai man remains at large after strangling a police officer during a road rage incident in the Don Mueang area of Bangkok on Thursday, January 8. The injured officer, Police Sergeant Satawat Seirattanapong, shared CCTV footage and details of the incident on his Facebook page on Friday, January 9, one day after the altercation. The confrontation reportedly occurred on…
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Filipina slams English skill in Thailand, Thai teacher responds
A Thai English teacher responded yesterday, January 11, to a Filipina tourist’s rant about English not being understood in Thailand, saying respect and cultural understanding matter more than language fluency. The tourist posted a blunt complaint saying… “I’m Filipina. Of course my English is good but when I arrive in Thailand it’s f***ing useless. Even if I speak…
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Orange cat’s meows lead to bridge pillar rescue in Samut Prakan
An orange cat stuck more than 10 metres above ground on a concrete bridge pillar in Samut Prakan was safely rescued last night, January 11, after locals heard it meowing for two days. At around 7pm, the Dan Samrong Subdistrict Municipality deployed a cherry picker truck to rescue the cat from a pillar beneath the Si Thepha overpass along Srinagarindra…
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Thailand video news | Southern Thailand petrol stations suffer multiple attacks, Children’s day military exhibitions draw big crowds across Thailand
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover the news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories include a string of arson attacks at 11 petrol stations in the south of Thailand, Elon Musk’s Grok being blocked in multiple countries over sexually explicit deepfake concerns, and a little later serious issues warning to tourists over rabid monkey attacks.…
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Drug suspect escapes after police officer grants ‘farewell’ release
A police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat was dismissed from government service after releasing his friend, a detained drug suspect, who later escaped from custody. The officer claimed the suspect deceived him by saying he wanted to say goodbye to his family before imprisonment. The suspect, Ekkaluck Datepalit, was arrested on Saturday, January 10, for possession of a Category 1…
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Narathiwat imposes curfew after attacks at 11 petrol stations in Deep South
Narathiwat province is under a nightly curfew following a series of bombings and fires at petrol stations across three Deep South provinces on Saturday, January 10. Explosions and fires were reported at 11 petrol stations in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat late on Saturday night. All of the affected petrol stations belong to the same operator, PTT. According…
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Lost British cyclist safely rescued from Chiang Mai forest
Thai rescue teams yesterday, January 12, successfully located a British cyclist who became lost in a forest while cycling towards Chiang Mai city centre. The Chiang Mai Provincial Police Office coordinated with the Phrao Wang Hin Rescue Foundation after the cyclist, 63 year old British national Gordon Dewar, contacted authorities to request assistance. Rescue teams quickly mobilised volunteer motocross riders,…
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Buffalo bolts from slaughterhouse into Chiang Mai snooker shop
A buffalo escaped from a slaughterhouse yesterday morning, January 11, causing chaos as it smashed through the glass entrance of a snooker shop, sending customers and staff fleeing. The incident occurred around 9.30am when police from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station received reports that a buffalo had broken loose and was running wild on the streets. Witnesses said the animal…
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Russian teen killed after speedboat hits fishing boat in Krabi
A Russian tourist lost her life and at least 11 others were injured after a speedboat collided with a fishing boat in the sea off Krabi yesterday, January 11. Authorities later found methamphetamine (Yaba), cannabis, and kratom aboard the speedboat, and the driver tested positive for drugs. Officers from the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre were alerted to the collision…
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British-Australian man found dead on yacht off Phuket coast
A man holding both British and Australian citizenship was found dead aboard his private yacht anchored off Khao Khad beach in Phuket yesterday, January 11, with the cause of death still under investigation. The discovery was made around 12.30pm when a German friend, 54 year old Matthias Lepke, who had been moored nearby, became concerned after not seeing the man…
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Pheu Thai aims to transform Chiang Mai into inclusive growth model city
Pheu Thai has introduced policies to transform Chiang Mai into a model city for inclusive growth, integrating creative industries, cluster tourism, diversity, and educational reform. Prime ministerial candidates Yodchanan Wongsawat and Suriya Jungrungreangkit from the Pheu Thai Party visited Chiang Mai on Saturday. They conducted a public forum to gather opinions from the LGBTQIA+ community, creative workers, cultural professionals, and…
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Concerns raised over election accessibility for disabled voters in Thailand
Local disability organisations have raised concerns that the upcoming general election may not provide an equal voting experience for people with disabilities. They cite issues such as inadequate access to policy information, insufficient voting aids, and potential confusion over the proposed use of colour-coded ballot papers. Representatives highlighted the added challenge posed by the February 8 elections coinciding with a…
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Phuket police tighten drug checks for Electric Daisy Carnival
Phuket police are set to intensify their measures to prevent drug entry at the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) concert, in response to two fatalities at last year’s event. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Sinlert Sukhum announced that more than 200 officers will be deployed to safeguard the venue, with stringent drug checks at all entry points. Authorities stressed that these checks…
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Bombings and arson hit 11 petrol stations in southern Thailand
In the early hours of January 11, a series of bombings and arson attacks targeted 11 petrol stations across the southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat. These incidents are believed by security forces to be orchestrated by insurgent groups to create unrest in the region. Reports indicate that an explosion and subsequent fire at one petrol station caused…
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Tourists warned: Monkey bites pose rabies risk in Phuket
A British volunteer in Phuket, Vinnie Modell, who founded the Rescue Team Volunteers Phuket, is urging tourists to exercise caution around local monkeys due to risks of injury and potential rabies transmission from bites. Modell reported that at least ten tourists received treatment for monkey bites during the recent Christmas and New Year holiday period. These incidents underscore ongoing risky…
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Ayutthaya family tragedy: 19-year-old’s knife attack kills two
A tragic incident occurred yesterday, on January 10 at 6pm in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, where a 19 year old attacked his family and neighbours with a knife, resulting in two deaths and one serious injury. The altercation reportedly started over a disagreement about cooking rice. Upon receiving the report, Police Lieutenant Thitikorn Julawanit, Deputy Inspector at Bang Pa-in…
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