News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Chinese real estate agent robbed at scissor-point in Pattaya
A Chinese woman working as a real estate agent in Pattaya was robbed at scissor-point early today, January 12, while driving a man she believed to be a potential buyer to view a property. The victim, identified as 35 year old Yang Wang, told police that the incident occurred after she picked up a man who had contacted her earlier…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Mobile grocery scandal: woman arrested in 300 baht fraud case
The mobile grocery trade has been thrown into turmoil following the arrest of a woman accused of acting as a so-called ‘money mule,’ a case that has drawn widespread attention and concern. The woman claims she was deceived by a vendor into scanning her face and allowing the use of her state welfare card, after being promised free groceries and…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Thailand mourns public health pioneer Dr Prawase Wasi’s passing at 93
Thailand mourns the loss of Dr Prawase Wasi, a distinguished public health scholar and civil society leader, who passed away peacefully at his Bangkok residence on Saturday night at the age of 93. His passing was confirmed at 8.53pm. Dr Prawase, an honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Thailand, was revered as a senior figure in Thai civil society.…
-
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…
-
Pattaya alley disputes distress cancer patient’s family
In South Pattaya, a typically quiet residential alley has been the scene of multiple disputes, leaving a homeowner and her seriously ill father in distress. Yesterday, on January 10, a CCTV clip from a house in Soi Kaophai 2 gained attention on social media. The footage shows transgender women gathered in the narrow alley to resolve a personal issue, which…
-
Thai woman alleges forced labour after scam led her to Cambodia
A Thai woman has reported to police that she was deceived into travelling to Cambodia, where she was detained, forced to work for a scam operation, and later released after her bank accounts were frozen. The account was given on January 10, 2026, at 6.22pm, when the woman, identified as Ms. Aim, 35, met officers at the Technology Crime Reporting…
-
Border traders delay investment amid fears of renewed clashes
Border traders and farmers in areas near the Thai-Cambodian border are delaying investment and selling produce early amid fears of a renewed military clash, according to reports from local communities in Buriram and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Residents in Ban Kruat district, Buriram province, said uncertainty remains high despite a ceasefire agreement signed between Thailand and Cambodia. Villagers described ongoing concern…
-
Children’s Day military displays draw crowds nationwide
On January 10, 2026, Children’s Day events across Thailand featured large-scale military displays organised by the armed forces, drawing families to army camps and air force bases to view equipment demonstrations and aircraft flyovers. At 3.21pm, crowds gathered at the football field of the 6th Infantry Division at Somdej Phra Phutthayodfa Chulalok Maharaj Camp in Si Somdet district, Roi Et…
-
Taxi robbery suspect arrested after knife attack under bridge
A man has been arrested in Samut Sakhon Province following a late-night taxi robbery under the Tha Chin River bridge, while a female accomplice who allegedly planned the offence remains at large. The incident occurred on January 7, 2026, at around 11.30pm, when a taxi driver was robbed at knife point at a U-turn beneath the bridge in Tha Chin…
-
Retail tycoon dies after Mercedes crashes and caused blackout
A retail business owner died at the scene after losing control of his Mercedes-Benz and crashing into multiple power poles in Bueng Kan province, triggering a city-wide power outage in the early hours of Friday. Police from Seka Police Station said the crash occurred at about 3.00am on January 10 on Highway 2026, the Seka–Bueng Khong Long road, near Ban…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.