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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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Thai musician killed on Korat road after conflict with rival band
Police today, January 19, arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of a drummer in Nakhon Ratchasima province, following a long-running conflict between their music bands. The victim, 47 year old Phichate, the drummer and leader of the Rai Kart music band, was found dead at 4.47am on Saturday, January 18, on Dan Khuntod–Thepharak Road in the Dan Khuntod…
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Thailand considers invitation to join US-led Gaza peace board
Thailand is reviewing an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join a proposed international ‘Board of Peace’ aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, January 19. The initiative, part of Trump’s proposed Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, outlines the creation of a peace board initially focused on Gaza, with…
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Thai police caught taking bribes and freeing Chinese suspects
One Thai police officer was dismissed from service, while four others remain under investigation, over allegations of taking bribes and unlawfully releasing Chinese suspects wanted by Chinese authorities. The corruption scandal came to light after Ma Guangxu, also known as Ah-hang, disappeared from a detention facility earlier this month. The Chinese national was held in custody pending deportation to China, where…
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Himalayan vulture crash-lands in Tak during migration
A rare Himalayan Griffon Vulture was rescued on January 19 after it collapsed in front of a house in Tak province, appearing too weak to fly and prompting residents to call for help. The exhausted bird was first seen gliding overhead with its wings fully spread before it crash-landed behind a house in Chiang Thong subdistrict, Wang Chao district. The…
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Foreign man seen rolling on Phuket street near EDC event
A video clip showing a foreign man rolling around in the middle of a busy road in Phuket was shared online today, January 19, quickly going viral on social media. The incident itself took place two nights earlier, on January 17, near the site of the EDC Thailand 2026 event, during heavy traffic. The 12-second video, originally posted by the…
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Bangkok homeless man steals luxury bag from Chinese tourist
Police arrested a Thai homeless man for snatching a luxury bag from a Chinese tourist outside a restaurant in Bangkok’s Yan Nawa area on Friday, January 16. The Chinese victim filed a theft complaint with Yannawa Police Station at around 9.45pm. She told officers that she had been dining at a restaurant on Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road and briefly left her belongings…
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New cold surge to sweep Thailand, drop 4°C from Jan 21
Thailand Braces for New Cold Surge: Temperatures to Drop 2-4°C Starting Jan 21 BANGKOK – The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) announced a weather warning on January 19, 2026, advising residents to prepare for a new moderate high-pressure system from China. This cold air mass will cover upper Thailand and the South China Sea, causing temperatures to plummet by 2-4°C across…
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Woman found dead at Ayutthaya historical site in confirmed suicide
A female tourist was found dead inside a historical site in Ayutthaya this morning, January 19, with police confirming the death was a suicide after discovering a farewell letter and a sharp object at the scene. Police were alerted at around 7.30am after a woman was discovered unresponsive within the Ayutthaya Historical Park area in Ban Pom subdistrict, Phra Nakhon…
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Thailand video news | knife incident on Sukhumvit raises fresh public safety questions, Chiang Mai temple plans tourist ban after yoga session sparks outrage
Today we’ll be talking about a shocking knife-wielding incident that occurred on a crowded Sukhumvit road over the weekend, a controversial ruling over the death of a Thai man in America and the teen responsible for it, and a little later, believe or not despite some of these sensational headlines, crime in Bangkok has seen a significant drop over the…
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Sharing is caring: Thai woman openly dates twin brothers
A 24 year old woman from Nakhon Phanom broke Thai TikTok after casually announcing that she’s happily in a relationship with both twin brothers. The woman, known as Fah, posted a TikTok video stating that she is dating both twins simultaneously, captioning the clip with the words “I have two husbands.” The video quickly gained traction, with viewers weighing in…
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‘Naturist’ resort in Thailand bans outdoor sex and photos, says guest
A Facebook user has drawn attention to a naturist resort in Thailand after sharing a personal review that included photos and a short video. The resort follows naturist principles, requiring guests to remain unclothed at all times when participating in activities such as swimming, sunbathing, walking, or using shared spaces. Wearing clothes is not permitted within the premises. According to…
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Thai man loses diamond ring in Phuket EDM festival, ruining proposal plan
A Thai man lost a diamond ring worth about 300,000 baht and multiple credit cards to a pickpocket at an EDM music festival in Phuket on Saturday, January 17, shattering his plan to propose to his girlfriend. The victim’s girlfriend shared details of the incident on her Facebook account, Acare Alice, yesterday, January 18. The theft reportedly occurred during the…
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Venomous fish sting leaves man numb on Jomtien Beach
A man’s fishing trip on Jomtien Beach took a painful turn yesterday, January 18, when a sea catfish spine pierced his hand, leaving him in excruciating pain and partially numb. The incident occurred when a concerned citizen alerted authorities to an unconscious man lying on the sand near Soi 1, Jomtien Beach. Municipal officers arrived on the scene and found…
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Thailand’s PM2.5 levels soar, posing health risks in 38 provinces
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported that 38 provinces in Thailand, primarily in the Northeast and Central Plains, experienced elevated levels of ultrafine dust on Sunday morning. At 8am, Gistda indicated that particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less (PM2.5) ranged from 37.6 to 75.6 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) across these provinces. Meanwhile,…
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Phuket to enhance marine safety after fatal collision and fire
Phuket is set to introduce comprehensive marine safety measures following a lethal speedboat collision near Phi Phi Island and a significant fire that destroyed numerous tour boats in Chalong Bay within a week. These incidents have highlighted systemic issues in Phuket’s marine tourism sector. On January 11, a tragic tour speedboat collision occurred near Phi Phi Island, resulting in the…
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Crane accident claims life of woman on train, prompts grief in Thailand
A tragic crane accident claimed the life of Chayani Wannathawi, aged 60, when it collapsed onto a train near Sikhiu subdistrict in Nakhon Ratchasima province on January 14. The incident resulted in a derailment and fire, causing multiple injuries and fatalities. Yesterday, on January 17, reporters visited Ban Phon Khwao Temple in Mueang Sisaket district, where funeral rites for Chayani…
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Bangkok crime rates drop 17% in 2025, arrests improve
Bangkok recorded a notable decline in crime rates in 2025, alongside improved arrest rates. This reflected more proactive and targeted policing by the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB). MPB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom released crime statistics covering the period from January 1 to December 31, comparing the figures with the same timeframe in 2024. He reported a significant year-on-year…
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Chiang Mai temple to ban tourists following ‘Disrespectful’ yoga
Chiang Mai Temple Threatens to Ban Tourists Following ‘Disrespectful’ Yoga and Climbing. CHIANG MAI – Wat Pha Lat, a historic temple in northern Thailand, issued a strict ultimatum to visitors. The administration warns that it may permanently close its gates to the public if tourists continue treating the sacred grounds as a gymnasium or recreational park. The 13th-century forest temple,…
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Phuket Airport sees flight and passenger surge in 2025 recovery
Phuket International Airport recorded strong growth in both flight movements and passenger numbers in 2025, reflecting a continued recovery in the aviation and tourism sectors and renewed traveller confidence, according to airport director Monchai Tanod. Performance over the past year exceeded 2024 levels and approached figures seen in 2019, the airport’s peak year before the Covid-19 pandemic. The results underline…
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Chaiyaphum festival shooting leaves man blind, police delay charges
An altercation at an annual festival in Chaiyaphum led to a violent incident on Friday, January 16, when the owner of a BB gun shop allegedly shot the owner of a nearby ear-piercing shop. The victim suffered severe injuries, including blindness in the right eye. Despite the serious nature of the incident, police have not yet pressed charges against the…
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Knife-wielding woman’s Sukhumvit rampage raises safety concerns
A woman wielding a knife caused chaos on Sukhumvit Road, attempting to stab passersby and sending shockwaves through the busy area as pedestrians scrambled to avoid the unfolding violence. It was revealed that she had been involved in a similar knife attack incident on a bus the previous month, suggesting a troubling pattern of behaviour. Locals eventually restrained her after…
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Phuket hotel staff issued key to intruder targeting female guest’s room
Phuket hotel admits a staff member issued a Master Key to an intruder caught on video trying to enter a female guest’s room. Police are investigating the security breach. PHUKET – A female tourist staying at a hotel in Phuket experienced a severe security breach after an intruder attempted to enter her room using an unauthorized key card. The events…
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Defence minister says third border clash remains possible
Defence Minister General Natthaphol Nakpanich has acknowledged that a third border clash remains possible if Cambodia fails to comply with existing agreements, while stressing that Thailand continues to prioritise a peaceful resolution. The minister made the remarks during a visit to border areas in eastern Thailand on January 16, 2026. He travelled to Sa Kaeo and Trat provinces to inspect…
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Wild elephant enters temple during funeral
A wild elephant from Khao Yai National Park entered a temple during a funeral ceremony in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, causing monks and attendees to flee the area for safety. The incident occurred at around 7.20pm on January 16, 2026, at Wat Khao Wong in Nong Nam Daeng subdistrict. The elephant, known locally as “Phlai Duan”, walked into…
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Traffic police arrest three Vietnamese men with guns and drugs in Bangkok
Traffic police in Bangkok have arrested three Vietnamese men after firearms and illegal drugs were found during a routine drink-driving checkpoint in Wang Thonglang district. The arrests took place at about 1.40pm on January 17, 2026, when officers from Wang Thonglang Police Station were conducting alcohol breath tests in front of a petrol station on Pracha Uthit Road, in Phlapphla…
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Funeral shooting leaves one dead as suspect surrenders
A fatal shooting at a funeral ceremony in Phatthalung province has left one man dead, with the suspect surrendering to police several hours later and admitting to the killing. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on January 17, 2026, at Wat Khuan Peng in Moo 10, Khok Sai subdistrict, Pa Bon district. Police from Pa Bon Police Station were called…
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300kg of crystal meth seized and two traffickers arrested
Authorities have seized approximately 300 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and arrested two suspected members of a drug trafficking network in Mueang district, Sakon Nakhon province, following a coordinated security operation. The arrests took place at about 9.10pm on January 16, 2026, in the parking area of the bypass market in Dong Mafai subdistrict. Officers recovered six sacks containing an estimated…
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Engineers find the irregularities after crane collapse onto train
Structural engineers have identified several irregularities following the collapse of a construction crane onto a passenger train in Sikhiu district, while confirming that the primary cause of the incident has yet to be determined. At about 4.40pm on January 16, 2026, Mr. Chuleart Jitjueajun, vice president of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, led a team of engineers to inspect…
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Search intensifies for second victim in well murder case
Rescue workers in Lopburi province intensified their search on January 17, 2026, after detecting an odour believed to be from a decomposing body inside an abandoned well, where a second murder victim is thought to be buried. The operation centres on the search for Ms Jiraporn, known as “Teacher Lek”, aged 61, who was allegedly killed by her nephew along…
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Rama 2 Road collapse overturns pickup truck in Bangkok
A section of Rama 2 Road collapsed early on the morning of January 17, 2026, causing a pickup truck to overturn in a Bangkok-bound lane and leading to severe traffic congestion in the area. The incident occurred at approximately 6.30am on the inbound side of Rama 2 Road, near the Big C Rama 2 shopping complex, in Samut Sakhon province.…
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