Four husbands, one wife: Thai party floats unusual gender equality policy

By

-

13 January 2026, 12:45

A Thai prime ministerial candidate has sparked widespread debate after proposing a policy that would allow women to have up to four husbands, with the consent of all parties, as part of what he describes as a gender equality platform.

Mongkolkit Suksintharanont, a PM candidate from the Thai Alternative Party, said in a recent social media post that “in terms of gender equality, women should be allowed to have no more than four husbands, if it is mutually accepted.” The proposal quickly drew attention online, with users debating whether it reflected progressive thinking, political satire or a deliberate attempt to provoke discussion.

The proposal is the latest in a series of unconventional policy ideas promoted by Mongkolkit, who has built a public profile around eye-catching statements rather than traditional policy platforms. In the past, he has suggested creating a “space force” for Thailand, offering cash incentives to women who become pregnant to address declining birth rates, mandating daily exercise for working-age citizens in exchange for pay rises, and strengthening the military, including the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons.

605531329 32923540073957830 2567647547247009879 n — Mongkolkit Suksintharanont, a PM candidate from the Thai Alternative Party.

While Mongkolkit has not explained how the multi-husband policy would be implemented in legal or social terms, the announcement has already triggered broader discussions about marriage law, gender rights and the role of political messaging in Thailand’s public discourse.

Thailand Says Failed THEOS-2A to Fall Into Indian Ocean

By

Khaosod English

-

13 January 2026, 11:58

Thailand Says Failed Theos-2A to Fall Into Indian Ocean

BANGKOK — 13 January 2026, Thailand’s space agency said a failed satellite launch is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and fall into the southern Indian Ocean, far from populated areas, posing no risk to people or property.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, or GISTDA, said in a statement that the THEOS-2A satellite could not be placed into orbit after a malfunction occurred during the final phase of the launch of India’s PSLV-C62 rocket.

theos2 3 — The rocket’s flight path deviate from its planned trajectory.

The satellite was launched on Monday, 12 January 2026, at 11:48 local time aboard a rocket operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation. GISTDA said an attitude control anomaly during the latter part of the rocket’s third stage caused the flight path to deviate from its planned trajectory, preventing THEOS-2A and 15 other satellites from reaching orbit.

According to ISRO’s assessment, the rocket and satellites are expected to burn up during atmospheric re-entry over the southern Indian Ocean, a remote area well away from communities.

GISTDA said the THEOS-2A mission was covered by launch insurance, which includes provisions for rebuilding the satellite and conducting a future relaunch in the event of failure. Discussions on the next steps are under way, and further details will be announced once a conclusion is reached.

The PSLV rocket has been used in 63 launches, with 60 considered successful, giving it a success rate of 95.24%, which GISTDA said is high by industry standards. The rocket was designed to place satellites into orbit at an altitude of about 500 kilometres, matching the design parameters of THEOS-2A.

Despite the setback, GISTDA said the project demonstrated Thailand’s growing capability in satellite development and workforce readiness. The agency and its engineers plan to apply the knowledge gained from THEOS-2A to future satellite projects to strengthen the country’s space technology capacity and support national development.

Bangkok, Fukuoka join forces to boost waste management

By

Khaosod English

-

13 January 2026, 09:59

Bangkok, Fukuoka join forces to boost waste management

BANGKOK — 13 January 2026, Bangkok’s Metropolitan Administration has partnered with Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture to strengthen staff expertise and raise standards in comprehensive municipal waste management.

The collaboration was highlighted at a training programme that opened on 12 January at the Twin Towers Hotel in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district. The opening ceremony was presided over by Thotsapol Suparee, deputy director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department.

Kayako Haraka, deputy director of Fukuoka’s Environment Department and head of its Environmental Policy Division, addressed participants online, outlining the long-standing cooperation between the two cities. Senior officials from Bangkok’s waste management and international affairs offices, along with civil servants, trainers from Fukuoka prefecture, Japanese environmental organisations and trainees, attended the event.

Thotsapol said the programme aims to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of efficient waste management practices in line with international standards. It also provides a platform to exchange experience with experts from Fukuoka, enabling Bangkok officials to apply the lessons learned to improve waste management across the capital.

The trainees include 100 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials working in cleanliness and waste management roles, ranging from operational to senior professional levels. Each district office nominated two participants. The two-day course, held on 12–13 January, featured expert speakers from Fukuoka prefecture, the Japan Environmental Sanitation Centre and the Fukuoka Environmental Foundation, who shared practical knowledge directly relevant to daily operations.

Waste management is a key issue under Bangkok’s 20-year development plan, which focuses on reducing and controlling waste at source and improving efficiency throughout the entire process, from collection and transport to final disposal, in accordance with academic and environmental principles.

The initiative aligns with the city’s environmental policy, which emphasises creating district-level models for complete and integrated waste separation. Particular focus is placed on separating waste at source and managing organic waste through targeted organisational approaches.

To achieve these goals, Bangkok has prioritised upgrading the skills of frontline waste management personnel and learning from international best practice. This has led to a three-year cooperation programme with Fukuoka prefecture, running from 2024 to 2027, under a sister-city framework.

The partnership reflects Bangkok’s growing urgency to address waste disposal challenges as volumes continue to rise with urban growth. By drawing on Fukuoka’s experience, the city hopes to translate policy into practical improvements on the ground to build a more sustainable system for the long term.

American Paraglider Rescued After Getting Stuck on High-Voltage Power Pole in Koh Larn

By

Khaosod English

-

12 January 2026, 17:57

news102585_qJh8Wq5tyC1768213413 — Rescue workers help a U.S. paraglider after his parachute became entangled on a high-voltage power pole on Koh Larn island, off Pattaya, Thailand.

PATTAYA — A U.S. man was rescued after his paraglider became entangled on top of a high-voltage electricity pole on a popular tourist island off Thailand’s eastern coast, officials said Monday.

Rescue workers were alerted at about 14.30 on 12 January that a foreign tourist had become stranded atop a power pole near Tawaen Beach on Koh Larn island, off Pattaya in Chonburi province.

Police and emergency responders found the man, identified as Michael Travis Langhart, 55, of the United States, hanging more than 10 meters (33 feet) above the ground after his parachute lines became caught on the pole. Witnesses said he was shouting for help as tourists gathered nearby.

The rescue was complicated by the risk of electrocution, prompting authorities to coordinate with the local electricity utility to cut power across the island before attempting the rescue. The blackout affected the entire island for nearly an hour while rescue workers secured the man and lowered him safely to the ground.

Langhart suffered minor abrasions to both legs and burn injuries consistent with an electric shock, officials said. He was taken to Koh Larn Hospital and later prepared for transfer to a hospital in Pattaya for further treatment.

Authorities said Langhart is a licensed paraglider affiliated with the Royal Aeronautic Sports Association of Thailand. He had launched from a hilltop on the island and was attempting to land near the beach when he lost control and drifted into the power pole.

Officials said the incident is under review, and no other injuries were reported.

Trump Says Weighing Tough Response to Iran Crackdown, Tehran Says Ready for War but Also Dialogue

By

Reuters

-

12 January 2026, 16:45

Iran Protests — In this frame grab from video taken by an individual not employed by The Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran shows people blocking an intersection during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Thursday Jan. 8, 2026. (UGC via AP)

DUBAI, Jan 12 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said the U.S. may meet Iranian officials and was in contact with the opposition, as he weighed a range of strong responses including military options to a violent crackdown on Iranian protests which pose one of the biggest challenges to clerical rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

“We are ready for war but also for dialogue,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday in a briefing to foreign ambassadors in Tehran via English translation.

Trump has warned Iran‘s leaders that the United States would attack if security forces open fire on protesters.

U.S.-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested.

Iran has not given an official toll and Reuters was unable to independently verify the tallies.

Trump said on Sunday that Iran had called to negotiate its nuclear programme, which Israel and the U.S. bombed in a 12-day war in June.

“Iran wants to negotiate, yes. We might meet with them. A meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what is happening before the meeting, but a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

Trump was to meet with senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for Iran, a U.S. official told Reuters on Sunday. The Wall Street Journal had reported that options included military strikes, using secret cyber weapons, widening sanctions and providing online help to anti-government sources.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Washington against “a miscalculation.”

“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran‘s elite Revolutionary Guards.

DOZENS OF BODY BAGS

The protests began on December 28 in response to soaring prices, before turning against the clerical rulers who have governed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranians, who are struggling to make ends meet, have grown increasing resentful of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, whose business interests including oil and gas, construction and telecommunications are worth billions of dollars.

State TV on Monday aired live footage of large crowds attending a funeral procession for security forces killed in Shahrud and pro-government demonstrations in cities such as Kerman, Zahedan and Birjand, held “in condemnation of recent terrorist events”. It also relayed calls from various senior officials inviting people to take to the streets on Monday.

Iranian authorities accused the U.S. and Israel of fomenting trouble and called for a nationwide rally on Monday to condemn “terrorist actions led by the United States and Israel,” state media reported.

The situation in Iran is “under total control” after violence linked to protests spiked over the weekend, said Araqchi. He added Trump’s warning against Tehran of action should protests turn bloody had motivated “terrorists” to target protesters and security forces in order to invite foreign intervention.

The flow of information from Iran has been hampered by an internet blackout since Thursday. Trump said on Sunday he would talk to Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran through his Starlink satellite service.

Araqchi said internet service will be resumed in coordination with security authorities.

Footage posted on social media on Saturday from Tehran showed large crowds marching at night, clapping and chanting. The crowd “has no end nor beginning,” a man is heard saying.

State TV showed dozens of body bags on the ground at the Tehran coroner’s office, saying the dead were victims of events caused by “armed terrorists”, as well as footage of loved ones gathered outside the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre in Tehran waiting to identify bodies.

Reuters verified the locations.

Authorities on Sunday declared three days of national mourning “in honour of martyrs killed in resistance against the United States and the Zionist regime,” according to state media.

Three Israeli sources, who were present for Israeli security consultations over the weekend, said Israel was on a high-alert footing for the possibility of any U.S. intervention.

Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June 2025, which the United States briefly joined by attacking nuclear installations. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel and an American air base in Qatar.

‘RIOTERS AND TERRORISTS’

While Iranian authorities have weathered previous protests, the latest have unfolded with Tehran still recovering from last year’s war and with its regional position weakened by blows to allies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah since the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israel.

Iran‘s unrest comes as Trump flexes U.S. muscles internationally, having ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and discussing acquiring Greenland by purchase or force.

Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Iran expert, thought it unlikely the protests would topple the establishment.

“I think it more likely that it puts these protests down eventually, but emerges from the process far weaker,” he told Reuters, noting that Iran‘s elite still appeared cohesive and there was no organised opposition.

Trump, posting on social media on Saturday, said: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”

(Additional reporting by Elwely Elwelly in Dubai. Rami Ayyub, Maayan Lubell and Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem, Steve Holland in Washington; Video verification by Mahezabin Syed, Eleanor Whalley and Marine Delrue; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Sergio Non, Lincoln Feast and Michael Perry)

Tourist police arrest fugitive in 440,000-meth-pill case

By

Khaosod English

-

12 January 2026, 15:40

Tourist police arrest fugitive in 440,000-meth-pill case

KHON KAEN — Tourist police in northeastern Thailand have arrested a 28-year-old man wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with the trafficking of 440,000 methamphetamine pills, after he went into hiding in Khon Kaen province.

At 14:30 on 12 January 2026, officers from Sub-Division 1 of Tourist Police Division 2, led by Col. Ronnapat Phengyuak, carried out the arrest with investigators from the Khon Kaen tourist police unit. The suspect, identified as Kittithat Duang-uam, was detained at a well-known apartment building on Chimpalee Road in the Non Than area of Khon Kaen municipality.

Kittithat, a resident of Lan Sak district in Uthai Thani province, was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Bueng Kan Provincial Court for possession of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine tablets) with intent to sell. He was taken into custody and questioned at the Khon Kaen tourist police station.

Col. Ronnapat said the arrest followed the detection of the suspect by the tourist police’s AI-powered facial recognition system, which is installed across Khon Kaen municipality. The system flagged the suspect’s presence in the area earlier this month, prompting officers to conduct further checks and surveillance.

Investigators later confirmed that Kittithat was a key suspect wanted by Lao Luang police in Bueng Kan province. He was allegedly part of a group involved in smuggling 440,000 methamphetamine pills in Bueng Khong Long district, but had previously evaded arrest.

Police tracked him to the apartment in Non Than subdistrict, where they found him hiding in a rented room. Officers identified themselves, conducted a search and took him into custody under a Bueng Kan Provincial Court warrant dated 24 September 2024.

Col. Ronnapat said the suspect declined to make a statement, but identity checks confirmed he was the individual named in the warrant. He was formally charged with jointly possessing a Category 1 narcotic for sale in violation of the law.

The suspect has been transferred to Lao Luang police station for further legal proceedings.

Cambodian, South Korean Police Arrest 26 for Alleged Scams, Sex Crimes, Blue House Says

By

Reuters

-

12 January 2026, 15:31

SEOUL, Jan 12 (Reuters) – A joint investigative team of Cambodian and South Korean police has arrested 26 suspects over alleged online scams and sex crimes targeting South Korean citizens, the Korean presidential office said on Monday.

The bilateral task force found that the suspects allegedly extorted about 26.7 billion won ($18.25 million) from 165 South Koreans through online scams, in which they pretended to be police or financial regulators, Kang Yu-jung, a spokeswoman at the Blue House, said at a briefing.

The suspects also allegedly coerced multiple female victims into filming sex videos and photos for distribution, Kang said, declining to elaborate on details.

Cambodian police made the arrests with assistance from the task force and South Korea’s intelligence agency, she added.

The suspects will be extradited to South Korea to face punishment, she said.

The Cambodian government could not immediately be reached for comment on the arrests and allegations.

($1 = 1,463.0000 won)

(Reporting by Heejin Kim; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

Twelve Thais detained after being smuggled into Cambodia via forest border route

By

Khaosod English

-

12 January 2026, 14:51

9888000 — Thai officials question 12 Thai nationals after they were returned from Cambodia on Tuesday for allegedly crossing the border illegally through a forest route in Trat province.

TRAT — Thai authorities on Tuesday received 12 Thai nationals from Cambodian officials after they were arrested for illegally crossing the border into Cambodia through a forest route in eastern Thailand, local officials said.

The group was handed over at Ban Cham Yeam checkpoint in Koh Kong province, Cambodia, at around 11.00 on 13 January and transferred to Khlong Yai district in Thailand’s Trat province, according to Kallaya Prasitphak, district chief of Khlong Yai.

The 12 had been detained by Cambodian authorities on 8 January after allegedly entering the country illegally through a natural crossing point in the Khao Wong area of Khlong Yai subdistrict.

After their return, Thai marines from Unit 182 searched their belongings and recorded their personal details, while public health officials conducted medical screenings. Eleven were found to be in good physical health, but one 44-year-old woman was in a state of severe anxiety and panic, repeatedly asking whether she was back in Thailand. Officials said she had a history of depression and anxiety disorder and was taken to rest under medical supervision.

A 23-year-old man from Khlong Yai, identified only as Noi, admitted to leading the group across the border on foot through the forest route. He said he used the Khao Wong natural pass because the official border checkpoint was closed and claimed the route was safe and free of landmines.

Noi said he escorted two groups across the border on the evening of 8 January, using darkness to avoid detection. He said his role was only to guide them on foot to a meeting point at Khao Wong monastery, where vehicles were waiting to take them onward.

He said he was paid 6,000 baht per person for the job by an employer, and insisted that no Thai officials were involved in the operation. He said the crossings were timed to avoid military patrols.

One of those detained, a 35-year-old woman from Phichit province, said she had been working as a nursing assistant but quit because the income was not enough. She later worked in a factory but still struggled financially. She said she saw a job advertisement online offering 25,000 baht per month to work as an administrator for a poker website in Poipet, Cambodia, and decided to apply.

She said she was instructed to meet at a hotel in Chanthaburi province, where transportation was arranged to take her near the border before being led across on foot.

Thai authorities said the case highlights ongoing risks of illegal border crossings and possible links to online gambling and scam operations operating across the Thai-Cambodian border.

Investigations are continuing.

Young Nurse Dies Suddenly During Night Shift

By

Khaosod English

-

12 January 2026, 14:18

ROI ET — 11 January 2026, A 30-year-old nurse in northeastern Thailand has died after suffering cardiac arrest while working a night shift, prompting an outpouring of grief and renewed discussion about the health risks faced by medical staff who work irregular hours.

Roi Et Hospital said in a Facebook post on 11 January that Yupharak Sukwandee, a registered nurse in the hospital’s female internal medicine ward, died after her heart stopped while she was on duty overnight.

The hospital expressed condolences to her family, colleagues and loved ones. Many social media users also posted messages of mourning, with some saying they had only recently seen her share a photo on social media of having dinner with her boyfriend shortly before her death.

A colleague identified her as “Nong Eve” and said the nurse had complained of diarrhea and fatigue before starting her shift but continued working. The colleague said she later collapsed in a bathroom during her shift and could not be revived.

The death has drawn attention to the risks faced by doctors and nurses who work overnight and rotating shifts. In a widely shared post, Thai physician Surath who writes about health and neuroscience, said shift work can disrupt the body’s natural biological clock and place additional stress on the heart and nervous system, especially for people with undiagnosed underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, high cholesterol or diabetes.

He urged medical workers and others who work night shifts to undergo regular health checkups, pay attention to warning signs such as palpitations, chest pain or unusual fatigue, and to prioritize sleep and stress management.

“No one should have to die simply because they performed their duty too well,” he wrote.

Thailand Eyes Southeast Asia’s First Disneyland

By

Khaosod English

-

12 January 2026, 13:07

Hong_Kong_Disneyland_Castle — Castle of Magical Dreams, icon of Hong Kong Disneyland, in 2023

BANGKOK — Thailand is seeking to attract the first Disneyland theme park in Southeast Asia as part of efforts to boost tourism and support major transport and aviation projects in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor, a senior official said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the government wants to bring Disneyland into the EEC area to serve as a major tourist attraction and help increase passenger numbers for the high-speed rail project linking Bangkok’s Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports with U-Tapao airport.

He said the theme park would also support the development of U-Tapao airport and the surrounding aviation city, making the large-scale infrastructure investments more economically viable and helping push the projects forward.

“There is no Disneyland in Southeast Asia,” Phiphat said. “If we can bring it into the EEC, Thailand would be the first country in the region.”

Phiphat said Thailand plans to first invite the Walt Disney Company to invest directly. If Disney chooses not to invest, Thailand could seek to operate the park under a licensing agreement instead.

He said Thailand has advantages over regional competitors such as Singapore, including its geographic location, strong service industry and a climate that is not too hot or too cold for tourists.

“If we can bring Disneyland here, it would become a major draw for foreign visitors and encourage them to stay longer in the area,” he said.

Hot News

LATEST NEWS