SAKON NAKHON — 17 January 2026, Thai security forces have seized about 300 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and arrested two suspects in an integrated operation in Sakon Nakhon province, authorities said.
The operation was carried out under the direction of the Second Army Region and the Northeast Border Narcotics Suppression Command. Forces worked with Border Patrol Police Region 2, the Surasak Montri Task Force and related agencies to act on intelligence expanded from border areas.
Security officials said intelligence indicated a drug trafficking network was moving narcotics from the border district of That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom province into inland areas. Authorities deployed joint units to monitor and track the suspects.
One of the two car, used to transport crystal methamphetamine.
At 21:10 on 16 January 2026, officers intercepted the suspects at the bypass market car park in Dong Mafai subdistrict, Mueang Sakon Nakhon district. They seized six sacks containing about 300 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, along with two vehicles and two mobile phones.
The suspects were identified as Rungsak Suphon, 34, from Bueng Kan province, and Kritthaphat Mekkhon, 48, from Nakhon Phanom province. They were taken, along with the evidence, to Border Patrol Police Region 2 for arrest records before being handed to investigators at Dong Mafai police station for prosecution.
A security source said the seizure reflected close intelligence sharing and coordinated operations among multiple agencies, underscoring intensified efforts to block drug trafficking along the border and dismantle supply routes into Thailand’s interior.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaks at the Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative think tank, a day after meeting with President Donald Trump and members of Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said on Friday she’s confident of her country’s eventual transition to democracy after the U.S. military ousted former President Nicolás Maduro.
But she acknowledged the challenge of holding free elections after decades of autocratic rule and declined to set any timetable. When pressed, she also took pains to avoid giving any details on her plans to return home, saying only that she would return “as soon as possible.”
Her struggle to offer clear answers in Friday’s news conference reflects how President Donald Trump’s endorsement of a Maduro loyalist to lead Venezuela for now has frozen out the nation’s Nobel Peace Prize -winning crusader for democracy.
With little choice but to put her faith in the U.S. and hope for an eventual transition, Machado has sought to cozy up to Trump, presenting her Nobel medal to him a day earlier at the White House.
As Machado was meeting with Trump, CIA Director John Ratcliffe was in Venezuela meeting with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, further confirmation that Maduro’s longtime second in command was the woman that Washington preferred to see managing Venezuela at the moment.
Speaking to reporters at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, Machado said she was “profoundly, profoundly confident that we will have an orderly transition” to democracy that would also transform Venezuela’s self-proclaimed socialist government long hostile to the U.S. into a strong U.S. ally.
She dismissed the perception that, in choosing to work with Rodríguez, Trump had snubbed her opposition movement, whose candidate was widely believed to have beaten Maduro in the 2024 presidential election.
“This has nothing to do with a tension or decision between Delcy Rodríguez and myself,” she said, but avoided elaborating in favor of more general assertions about her party’s popular mandate and the government’s dismal human rights record.
“The only thing they have is terror,” she said of Maduro’s government.
Machado waved away the suggestion that her movement wouldn’t be able to assert authority over security forces that remain loyal to Maduro and have long benefited from corruption under his government.
“There are not religious tensions within the Venezuelan society or racial or regional or political or social tensions,” she said.
But she also acknowledged “the difficulty of destroying a 27-year structure allied with the Russians and the Iranians.”
“We are facing challenging times ahead,” she said.
In apparent deference to Trump, she provided almost no details on Friday about what they discussed or even what she thought the U.S. should do in Venezuela, saying, “I think I don’t need to urge the president on specific things.”
Trump has said little about his administration’s plans for holding new elections in Venezuela and far more about its vision for reviving the nation’s crumbling oil infrastructure. He’s relying on a crippling oil blockade and threats of further military action to keep the interim government in line.
In a sign that the U.S. is exploring the restoration of relations with Venezuela, U.S. officials are considering reopening the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, which Trump closed during his first administration.
Machado traveled to Washington looking to rekindle the support for democracy in Venezuela that Trump showed during his first administration. She presented him with the prize she won last year, praising him for what she said was his commitment to Venezuela’s freedom. The Nobel Institute has been clear, however, that the prize cannot be shared or transferred.
Trump, who has actively campaigned to be awarded the prize, said Machado left the medal for him to keep. “And by the way, I think she’s a very fine woman,” he said. “And we’ll be talking again.”
That was of small comfort after Trump said it would be difficult for Machado to lead because she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.”
Machado crisscrossed Venezuela ahead of the 2024 presidential elections, rallying millions of voters looking to end 25 years of single party rule. When she was barred from the race, a previously unknown former diplomat, Edmundo Gonzalez, replaced her on the ballot. But election officials loyal to the ruling party declared Maduro the winner despite ample credible evidence to the contrary.
Machado, revered by millions in Venezuela, went into hiding but vowed to continue fighting until democracy was restored. She reemerged in December to pick up her Nobel Peace Prize in Norway, the first time in more than a decade that she had left Venezuela.
Venezuelan opposition leader MarÌa Corina Machado greets supporters on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
___ By JOSHUA GOODMAN and ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press
DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Darlene Superville in Washington and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed.
CHONBURI — At 11:20 on 17 January 2026, Yodchanan Wongsawat, the Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate, spoke about campaigning in Chonburi province and how the party aims to win more seats than in the previous election.
Yodchanan said policy was key, citing plans addressing pollution buffers, the marine environment, fisheries and so-called grey capital. He said party candidates had prepared thoroughly and maintained a continuous presence on the ground. He added he was pleased many voters had responded positively and were able to discuss the party’s policies.
Asked whether he was concerned about fierce competition in Chonburi and the fact that influential local political families were no longer aligned with Pheu Thai, Yodchanan said the party’s candidates had been working consistently in their constituencies. He said the era of relying on powerful local families was over, stressing that what mattered most was who could win the hearts of the people.
“The answer is those who work continuously and have experience,” he said. Tourism would also be a key issue in this election, he added, noting that attracting visitors must go hand in hand with restoring the sea and ensuring clean air. He said the party had communicated this clearly and set an ambitious target of winning all seats, adding that in Chonburi it was aiming for 10 constituencies.
Asked about claims of a secret deal among three major political parties, including Pheu Thai, Yodchanan dismissed the suggestion. He said the most important thing was for the public to remain vigilant, stressing that elections must reflect the will of the people and that no deal could succeed without voters’ support.
Pressed on speculation that visible political conflicts were merely staged as a front for future benefits, Yodchanan said Pheu Thai had no such conflicts. He said the party’s focus remained on developing strong policies, listening to public opinion on the ground and clearly communicating its work to voters.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event to promote investment in rural health care in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON — 16 January 2026, US President Donald Trump said at the White House that the United States could impose tariffs on countries that oppose Washington’s plan to take control of Greenland, despite strong objections from several nations, particularly in Europe.
Denmark, which administers Greenland and is a key US ally as well as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has been among the countries rejecting the idea.
Trump said the United States wants Greenland for national security reasons and insisted that Washington must obtain the territory, either through a purchase or by using military force if necessary. He said the island is strategically important despite its small population, citing its mineral resources and its role in early-warning systems for naval and missile threats.
However, Trump did not specify which countries might face higher tariffs, nor did he explain what legal authority he would use to impose such measures in pursuit of acquiring Greenland.
The United States currently has more than 100 troops stationed at Pituffik Space Base, a missile detection facility in Greenland that has been in operation since World War II. Under existing agreements between Washington and Copenhagen, the US is permitted to deploy military forces to the island.
Trump has argued that US ownership of Greenland is necessary to protect it from Russia and China. Danish military officials have disputed that claim, with the head of Denmark’s Arctic Command saying there is no evidence of Russian or Chinese vessels operating around Greenland as alleged.
European countries have voiced support for Denmark and Greenland, stressing that the Arctic is also of strategic importance to Europe and that security in the region is a shared NATO responsibility.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress is visiting Greenland. The group has held talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who is leading the delegation, said the visit aims to listen to local perspectives and convey them back to Washington in an effort to reduce tensions.
Republican Congressman Jeff Landry said the United States should engage directly with Greenland rather than Denmark and expressed confidence that a deal could eventually be reached to purchase the territory.
Republican Congressman Jeff Landry said the United States should engage directly with Greenland rather than Denmark. In a US television interview, he said: “We don’t go in there trying to conquer anybody … we represent liberty, we represent economic strength, we represent protection.”
President Donald Trump speaks during an event to promote investment in rural health care in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
UDON THANI — 17 January 2026, A rooftop “ninja” thief struck an amulet stall for the fourth time in a month, stealing religious items worth nearly 300,000 baht and prompting police to intensify a manhunt, authorities said.
Police were alerted to the burglary at the Udon Thani Municipal Amulet Centre, where the suspect entered through the roof before breaking through the ceiling and stealing several amulets and Buddha statues, said investigators from Muang Udon Thani police station.
The owner, 57-year-old Issara Phuk, told police the thief climbed onto shelving, punched through the ceiling and lowered himself into the stall. Closed-circuit television footage showed the suspect at about 03:53 on 16 January 2026 wearing a long-sleeved top with a hood, calmly carrying out the theft despite an audible siren and an automated warning announcing an intruder.
Issara said the same thief is believed to be responsible for three previous break-ins at the stall. This time, six well-known religious items were taken, including Luang Phor Phra Bhucha, a Luang Phor Sothon amulet and a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue, with losses estimated at tens of thousands of baht. The suspect also damaged CCTV cameras and removed a memory card before fleeing.
The owner pointed at the roof that the thief broke in.
Police said a special investigative unit, known as the “Phirun” team, has been deployed to gather evidence and track down the suspect, noting that repeated attacks suggest the thief may strike again if not apprehended.
Issara said the four burglaries over the past month have cost him more than 300,000 baht in total. He described the suspect as a professional who knows the shop’s vulnerabilities well.
“The first time he broke the door. The next time he tried to pry his way in, so I bricked it up,” Issara said. “This time he came from above, through the roof, snapped the camera, cut the power and took the memory card. It’s as if he knows the entire system.”
Visibly distressed, Issara said weak business conditions and repeated thefts have left him exhausted and close to giving up the trade he has worked in for nearly a decade. He urged police to act swiftly, noting that the stolen items were large and difficult to move alone.
“How can one person steal things this big and still not be caught?” he said. “If this continues, I may have no choice but to quit.”
PATHUM THANI — A Facebook user posted images of gecko in cooked sticky rice in a public community news group for Rangsit, saying he became violently ill after eating it, triggering a wave of reactions from other users.
The post, shared by a user under the name Rakna Manita, said he felt nauseous and began vomiting from 07:00 and had not recovered, forcing him to see a doctor and take time off work. He asked other members to recommend medication for nausea, saying he felt exhausted and sick throughout the day. He added that he could not name the shop where the food was bought to avoid potential legal issues under the Computer Crime Act.
After the images were posted, many social media users commented, with some saying the images were disturbing and made them feel sick themselves.
On 17 January 2026, reporters contacted the Facebook user, identified as Suthep Kaenla, 51, a food delivery rider. He said he had gone to pick up his girlfriend after work and stopped to buy a packet of sticky rice with fermented pork, which he regularly purchases from a roadside stall.
After returning home, he began eating and had nearly finished when he noticed something black inside the rice. At first, he thought it was mould, but after inspecting it more closely, he discovered it was a gecko.
“At first, I felt fine, but once I realised what it was, I started vomiting uncontrollably,” he said. He later developed diarrhoea from about 07:00 until midday, leaving him extremely weak and exhausted.
Unable to cope with the symptoms, he sought medical treatment. Doctors gave him medication for nausea and vomiting, along with oral rehydration salts, and said the symptoms were likely caused by food poisoning. His condition has since improved, though he said the incident still lingers in his mind.
Suthep said the stall is located in the Khlong Nueng area of Khlong Luang district and is one he frequents because it is on his regular route. He initially considered taking legal action but decided against it, saying he felt sympathy for the vendor, who has young children and depends on the business for income.
He said he plans to speak privately with the vendor to raise concerns about hygiene without harming their livelihood. He also called on consumer protection authorities to conduct spot checks on roadside food stalls, particularly on cleanliness and food safety.
He warned consumers to check food carefully before eating, saying unexpected contamination can have serious consequences. He added that the stall is usually very busy, especially in the mornings, and sells large volumes of food.
SAMUT SAKHON — At about 07:00 on 17 January 2026, Samut Sakhon City Police received a report of a vehicle plunging into a large hole on the Rama II Road frontage lane inbound to Bangkok, outside the Chok Thawee Timber shop in Maha Chai subdistrict.
Traffic police led by Pol Capt Pacharaphon Phaosamran were dispatched to the scene, where they found a grey-black Isuzu D-Max pickup truck. The front right wheel had sunk into a hole about 1 metre wide, 1.5 metres long and roughly 1 metre deep, leaving the remaining wheels suspended above the road surface and raising fears the vehicle could tip over.
Police called in a tow truck to remove the pickup from the carriageway and placed traffic cones to warn motorists of the danger. The driver, Samphan Puhuai Phra, 32, from Samut Prakan province, was uninjured.
The road surface was flooded with tap water, and a backhoe was seen parked nearby alongside large water pipes laid along the roadside. Authorities said the pipes belong to the Samut Sakhon City Municipality.
Samphan said he was returning from work and heading home to Bangkok, driving behind a six-wheel lorry. The road surface appeared normal and dry until it suddenly collapsed beneath his vehicle, causing it to drop into the hole.
Deputy mayor Sakchai Nimitpanya, who visited the scene, said he had been alerted at about 05:30 that tap water had stopped flowing across the city. Initial inspections could not immediately identify the cause because the pipes are underground. He ordered urgent inspections and repairs.
He said the area has been under work for five to six months to install a temporary water pipeline while construction of an elevated section of Rama II Road continues. Once the project is completed, the pipeline will be relocated back to its original alignment. Municipal officials will discuss compensation with those affected, he added.
Reporters said the road subsidence caused by the burst pipe occurred about 1 kilometre from the site of a crane collapse earlier, but on the opposite side of the road. The crane incident was on the outbound lanes, while the subsidence was on the inbound side. Both incidents caused severe traffic congestion.
Following the incident, the Samut Sakhon City Municipality issued an emergency notice saying a 1,000-mm water transmission pipe had ruptured on the Rama II Road frontage lane at kilometre marker 29+300 inbound to Bangkok, outside Thawee Construction Materials shop. The damage halted tap water supply across all municipal service areas, and motorists were advised to avoid the area. The municipality apologised for the inconvenience.
Bangkok business district cityscape with skyscraper at twilight.
Bangkok has been ranked the world’s third-best destination to visit in 2026 by The New York Times, making it the top-ranked city in Asia and Southeast Asia on the newspaper’s annual “52 Places to Go in 2026” list.
The list placed “Revolutionary America,” highlighting celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary, at No.1, followed by Warsaw, Poland, at No.2. Bangkok claimed the third spot, ahead of destinations such as Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, Bandhavgarh in India, and Dallas in the United States.
Describing Bangkok as “a frenetic city taking steps toward a greener future,” The New York Times highlighted the Thai capital’s efforts to improve its urban environment. The report noted new green spaces in the city centre, including a 20-acre green corridor connecting Benjakitti and Lumphini parks, as well as a mile-long elevated walkway at Benjakitti Park overlooking lotus ponds and mangrove forests.
The newspaper also pointed to Bangkok’s growing arts scene, citing Dib Bangkok, a new contemporary arts hub showcasing immersive works by Thai and international artists. Beyond the capital, it highlighted Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a historic Buddhist temple complex north of Bangkok that recently completed a 12-year restoration.
Recent transport upgrades were also mentioned, including artificial intelligence–managed traffic systems, air-conditioned electric buses, and improved safety standards for motorcycle taxis, which are expected to benefit visitors navigating the city.
Other destinations in the top 10 include Oran in Algeria, Route 66 in the United States, Saba in the Caribbean, and Poblenou in Barcelona. In Southeast Asia, Penang in Malaysia ranked 15th, Vietnam 34th, and Camiguin in the Philippines 37th.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spokesman Ekwaranyu Amrapala welcomed the ranking, saying the city was proud that its efforts to improve quality of life and urban development had gained international recognition. He added that being ranked third in the world and first in Asia and ASEAN reflected Bangkok’s growing appeal on the global stage.
Thai social media users were amused after Sam Chuk Police Station in Suphan Buri province posted a playful message inspired by the popular anime One Piece but with a serious mission.
In the post, police jokingly said the “Straw Hat Pirates” had paused their search for the legendary One Piece treasure to help crack down on drug-related crime in Sam Chuk district. The message referred to officers from the Sam Chuk investigation unit, who recently conducted patrols around the Tha Kaphi area and arrested several suspects linked to theft cases.
Police said the suspects were charged with drug use and driving under the influence of narcotics, and legal action is now under way.
The post quickly went viral, drawing praise and humorous comments from online users, many of whom joked about characters and locations from the One Piece universe. The post was widely shared, with users applauding the creativity of Thai police.
Sam Chuk Police have previously attracted attention online, including an earlier post showing officers wearing princess-themed costumes while announcing an arrest.
Pol. Col. Kietchai Koetcho, chief of Sam Chuk Police Station, said the post was an idea from the investigation team aimed at making police communication more engaging for the public. He added that the cartoon-style images were created later using AI to protect officers’ identities, while officers wear standard uniforms during actual operations.
Despite the playful approach, police stressed that their main mission remains maintaining public safety and peace in the community.
CHIANG MAI, 16 January 2026 — Immigration police in Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai have arrested two Chinese and a Thai woman accused of acting as a nominee in the illegal operation of a luxury hotel, while a third Chinese suspect remains at large, authorities said.
Chiang Mai Immigration officers executed court warrants to arrest two Chinese investors, identified as Mr. Ma and Mr. Mi, at a four-star hotel on Chang Klan Road in the city centre. A Thai woman, identified as Ms. Jin, was also arrested for allegedly acting as a nominee shareholder and manager. Each suspect faces multiple charges.
Police said a fourth suspect, Ms. Ma, the Chinese wife of one of the investors, fled to China before the arrests and is still being sought.
Pol. Lt. Col. Sutheethep Phonruenimit, an immigration inspector leading the operation, said investigators had been tracking the case since August 2025. Evidence showed the hotel, which has 22 rooms, was effectively controlled by Chinese nationals despite Thai law restricting foreign ownership and operation of certain businesses.
According to investigators, Ms. Jin held a 55.56% stake in the company, while Mr. Ma and Mr. Mi each held 22.22%, with a total investment of 4.5 million baht. Although management positions were changed several times, police said the Chinese investors remained in control.
Financial records showed the hotel earned about 400,000 baht from guest stays and an additional 1.5 million baht from travel agencies, with funds transferred to the bank account of Ms. Ma. Police said the financial trail supported allegations of nominee arrangements.
A complaint was filed with Chiang Mai City police on 14 November 2025. After gathering witness testimony, documents and financial evidence, the Chiang Mai Provincial Court issued arrest warrants on 8 January 2026.
Maj. Gen. Sarawut Khon Yai, commander of Immigration Division 5, said similar violations were widespread, particularly in the tourism sector. He warned Thai nationals against acting as nominees and urged foreign investors to conduct business legally.
“If foreigners want to do business in Thailand under the law, the country welcomes them,” he said. “But nominee arrangements cause money to flow out of the country and violate laws that reserve certain occupations for Thai nationals.”
In a separate case, Chiang Mai immigration officers and provincial employment officials arrested a Japanese man for working without a permit after social media posts showed him selling homemade matcha ice cream outside a temple in Hai Ya subdistrict.
The suspect admitted he was staying in Thailand on a non-immigrant O visa based on marriage to a Thai national and had not applied for a work permit. He was handed over to investigators at Chiang Mai City police station for legal proceedings.
