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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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Russian mother flies to Pattaya to search for son missing with US$10,000
A Russian mother travelled to Pattaya to search for her son, who has been missing since January 7 after reportedly carrying US$10,000 in cash, or about 320,000 baht. The 51 year old Russian woman, Olga, gave an interview to Thai media through an interpreter in the early hours of today, January 14, expressing deep concern for the safety of her…
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Naked Belgian man seriously injured after fall from Pattaya hotel
A Belgian man sustained serious injuries after falling from the seventh floor of a hotel in Pattaya while naked in the early hours of today, January 13. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station, along with rescuers from Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Rescue Foundation, were notified of the incident at around 2.30am. The fall occurred at a hotel located on Soi Buakhao,…
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Filipina tourist apologises after viral rant about English in Thailand
The Filipina tourist, Ann Berdin, who sparked online backlash for complaining that English is useless in Thailand, has responded in a video posted today, January 13, clarifying that she meant no harm and was simply sharing her experience. In the now-deleted viral clip, the tourist had vented her frustration, saying no one in Thailand seemed to understand English, including…
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Russian drug dealers arrested during ‘mushroom temple’ raid in Phuket
Police arrested two Russian men and seized around 10 kilogrammes of magic mushrooms during a raid on a property dubbed the “Mushroom Temple” in the Rawai district of Phuket today, January 13. A Russian woman managed to escape from the arrest. Officers from Chalong Police Station launched the operation after receiving complaints that Russian nationals were illegally selling magic mushrooms…
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Foreign man assaults train officers sparking retaliation from Thai passengers
A foreign man, believed to be heavily intoxicated, allegedly assaulted two Thai train officers before being attacked by fellow passengers and forcibly removed from a train. The incident was filmed by a witness, Ameenah Tokyousoh, who shared the footage on his Facebook account yesterday, January 12. The video showed chaos inside a passenger carriage, but the exact route and location…
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Jealous customer attacks Myanmar man in Samut Prakan
A Myanmar man was left critically injured after being attacked with a knife outside a convenience store in Samut Prakan early this morning, January 13, during his first visit to see his girlfriend. The incident took place at around midnight in Soi King Kaew 41, Racha Thewa subdistrict, Bang Phli district. Emergency responders from Por Teck Tung Foundation’s Suvarnabhumi unit…
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Thai woman killed after saving colleague from loader accident in Phrae
A Thai woman lost her life in a tragic workplace accident in Phrae province after sacrificing herself to save a colleague from being struck by a loader at an agricultural product store. Officers from Mueang Phrae Police Station were alerted to the fatal incident at around 2.30pm yesterday, January 12. Police arrived at the agricultural product store in the Mae…
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Quick-thinking Thai teen outsmarts call centre scammer in Chai Nat
A call centre gang tried to scam an 18 year old student in Chai Nat out of 50,000 baht yesterday, January 12, but quick thinking and help from his parents and police turned the tables just in time. The student, nicknamed Ikkyu, received a morning call from someone claiming to be a mobile network manager, who accused him of involvement…
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Truck crash in Phatthalung reveals suspected Rohingya smuggling
A road crash involving two trucks in Phatthalung yesterday, January 12, left multiple people injured and led police to uncover what they believe was the illegal transport of Rohingya migrants. The accident occurred on the southbound lane of the Asia Highway in Moo 1, Chamong subdistrict, Khuan Khanun district. Officers from Khuan Khanun Police Station responded to the scene alongside…
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36 foreigners arrested in Pattaya for illegal work, overstay, and drugs
Police raided an accommodation building in Pattaya yesterday, January 12, arresting 36 foreigners for illegal entry, working without permits, visa overstays, and drug use. Officers from the Chon Buri Provincial Immigration Bureau, together with Tourist Police, launched the operation as part of a wider crackdown on illegal foreign nationals aimed at improving safety and restoring confidence among residents and tourists.…
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Dog guards owner’s body as elderly woman dies in Nonthaburi
An elderly woman was found dead yesterday, January 12, at her home in Soi Ngamwongwan 8, Nonthaburi, with her loyal dog refusing to let anyone near the body, prompting an unusual rescue operation. The discovery was made after officers from Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station received a report of a death at a two-storey wooden and concrete house. Rescue volunteers from…
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Car and skeleton recovered from canal, linked to missing Thai man
Police yesterday, January 12, recovered a sedan from an irrigation canal in Kanchanaburi, along with a human skeleton believed to belong to a Thai man who went missing more than two years ago. Officers from Tha Muang Police Station were alerted to a submerged vehicle in an irrigation canal in the Tha Muang district at around 9.30am. The discovery was…
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January 13 weather: Cold, haze persists, light rain in South Thailand
Thailand continues to experience cool to cold weather in the North and Northeast, with morning fog and dry air conditions, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecast issued today, January 13. A weakening high-pressure system over upper Thailand and the upper South is causing temperatures to rise slightly by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (°C) in most regions. However,…
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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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Six Myanmar workers fired after rider attack in Samut Prakan
Six Myanmar workers were dismissed yesterday, January 12, after allegedly assaulting a food delivery rider outside a restaurant the day before in Bang Bo, Samut Prakan, prompting authorities to shut down the establishment indefinitely. The incident, which occurred on January 11, was captured on video by the rider. The footage showed a Myanmar worker wearing a white shirt exiting the…
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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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Chiang Rai noodle shop owner Aunt Pan killed in domestic incident
A well-known boat noodle shop owner was found dead yesterday, January 11, inside her home in Chiang Rai after a violent domestic incident involving her adult son, police confirmed. The incident took place at a boat noodle shop in Mueang Chiang Rai district. Officers from Chiang Rai City Police Station responded to reports of a disturbance at the property,…
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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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Israeli nationals arrested in Koh Pha Ngan drug bust
Police in Surat Thani arrested three Israeli tourists and their alleged drug supplier yesterday, January 11, on Koh Pha Ngan after complaints about a noisy late‑night party led officers to uncover illegal drugs at a rented villa. The arrests took place on Sunday at a luxury villa on Koh Pha Ngan, after tourist police received reports of loud music and…
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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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Thai man and 9 foreigners arrested during Chon Buri gambling den raid
Immigration Bureau officers raided an illegal gambling den at a luxury housing estate in Chon Buri on Saturday, December 10, arresting 10 suspects, including one Thai national and nine foreigners. The raid followed information obtained from a Chinese man identified as Dahua, who had previously been arrested for illegally selling laughing gas, or nitrous oxide. Dahua reportedly sold the substance…
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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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