Two Killed, 14 Injured as Minivan Plunges off Mountain Road

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5 January 2026, 13:09

Two Killed, 14 Injured as Minivan Plunges off Mountain Road

WANG NAM KHIAO — Two women were killed and 14 others injured after a passenger minivan plunged off a mountain road in northeastern Thailand when the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, police said.

The accident occurred on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, on Highway 304 at kilometre marker 243, a winding mountain section in Udom Sap subdistrict, Wang Nam Khiao district, Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Police Lt. Col. Nakhon Thanomsap, an investigator at Udom Sap police station, said officers were alerted to the crash and rushed to the scene with traffic police and rescue workers.

Authorities found a white Toyota minivan, registered in Bangkok, overturned at the bottom of a ravine more than 10 metres below the road. The vehicle was severely damaged, with its wheels pointing skyward.

Fourteen injured passengers were rescued from inside and around the vehicle and taken to Pak Thong Chai Hospital and Wang Nam Khiao Hospital. Two female passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Nakhon Ratchasima provincial police commander Maj. Gen. Narongsak Phromtha later visited the site with senior officers to oversee the response. The crash occurred on a steep and hazardous stretch of road between Khao Yai National Park and Thap Lan National Park, an area known for frequent accidents.

Police said the driver, identified as Danai Prachit, told investigators he had departed from Pattaya in Chonburi province at 5 a.m. to transport passengers to the new bus terminal in Nakhon Ratchasima. At about 10 am, while driving uphill, he reportedly became drowsy and lost control of the vehicle, which struck a guardrail before tumbling down the slope and rolling several times.

Investigators believe the driver may have been fatigued due to lack of rest. The minivan has been impounded for inspection, and legal proceedings will follow, police said.

Chinese Influencer Found Injured and Homeless in Cambodia

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5 January 2026, 10:06

Chinese Influencer Found Injured and Homeless in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A young Chinese internet influencer who disappeared after travelling to Cambodia for what she believed was a high-paying job has been found injured and homeless in the coastal city of Sihanoukville, Chinese authorities said.

Images of the woman, showing her begging on the streets with a visibly injured leg and holding medical scan films outside hotels, spread widely on Chinese and international social media in recent days, sparking concern and online debate.

The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia said in an official statement on Jan. 4, 2026, that it had located the woman. She was identified by her surname Wu, aged about 20, though some reports said she is 26. She is from Fujian province and had worked as a content creator on a short-video platform, where she had more than 24,000 followers.

Her last social media post, dated Dec. 6, 2025, said she was in Cambodia.

According to the embassy, Wu left school after completing middle school and told her family she was working in Jiangsu province. In fact, she travelled to Cambodia in April 2025. Her family later transferred her more than 80,000 yuan (about 400,000 baht) to support her.

cxinfinsnv 2 1 — The young woman found homeless and injured in Sihanoukville.

On Dec. 26, 2025, Wu contacted her father asking for 2,200 yuan (about 10,000 baht) for medical treatment for her leg. She then lost contact with her family.

Relatives later recognised her in images circulating online and alerted Chinese police, who coordinated with the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia to search for her.

Embassy officials in Sihanoukville found Wu on Jan. 3, 2026, at a local hospital in poor physical condition. She was later transferred to a better-equipped medical facility. Wu told officials she had been lured to Cambodia with promises of a high salary but was eventually abandoned and left to live on the streets.

Her condition has since improved, and the embassy has contacted her family to arrange her return to China.

Her father previously told Chinese media through tears that he only wanted his daughter to return home safely.

The case has drawn renewed attention to employment scams targeting Chinese nationals in Cambodia, particularly in Sihanoukville, which has become notorious for illegal online gambling operations, call-centre fraud and human trafficking. Victims are often stripped of their passports, abused or abandoned if they fail to meet criminal targets, rights groups and authorities say.

3 Thai Boys Praised for Turning in Lost Wallet in Chiang Mai

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4 January 2026, 18:11

3 Thai Boys Praised for Turning in Lost Wallet in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI — Three Thai boys were praised by police after finding a lost wallet believed to belong to a foreign resident and turning it in to authorities to help locate its owner.

Police at Mae Ping station said the incident occurred on Jan. 3, 2026, near an oil depot in the Wat Ket area of Chiang Mai city.

The boys were identified as Theeraphat Thipdam, known as Film; Patcharanon Krongsuk, known as Namo; and Thitikorn Boonphimon, known as Remote. All three live in military housing near the PTT oil depot in Wat Ket subdistrict.

triboya 2 — The wallet and its belongings, the the three boys found.

According to police, the boys were playing outside their homes at about 4:30 pm when they spotted a black embroidered fabric wallet lying near a fence. They opened it and found Thai banknotes, some U.S. dollars and a driving licence identifying the owner as a foreign woman.

The boys informed nearby adults, who then contacted Mae Ping police. Officers collected the wallet and are working to trace the owner so it can be returned.

triboya 3 — Driving lincense of the foreign resident who authorities believe to be owner of the wallet.

Police said anyone who recognises the owner based on the driving licence details can contact Mae Ping police station. Officers commended the boys for their honesty and good citizenship.

Winter Magic in Udon Thani: The Red Lotus Sea Is Open!

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4 January 2026, 18:00

news3071_0E62a3DroA1734270974 — A tourist soaks in the breathtaking sunrise view over the vibrant Red Lotus Sea in Udon Thani.

UDON THANI — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officially launched the annual tourism season for the Red Lotus Sea at Nong Han Kumphawapi on December 15, marking the beginning of the peak blooming period for the region’s iconic aquatic flowers.

Covering over 22,500 rai (36 Km²), the freshwater lake has transformed into a vibrant expanse of pink water lilies, a natural spectacle that occurs only once a year during the cool season. The blooming season typically runs from December through February, drawing thousands of domestic and international tourists to Udon Thani province.

Traveler Information and Boat Services
To witness the lotuses in full bloom, local boat operators recommend arriving at the Ban Diam Pier between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., as the flowers begin to close when the sun strengthens in the afternoon.

Boat Service Rates:

Large Boat (up to 6 passengers): 500 THB per trip

Small Boat (up to 2 passengers): 300 THB per trip

The boat services operate daily from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year, local guides noted that the lotuses are blooming particularly close to the shore, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery within a shorter boat ride. Beyond the floral display, the lake remains a rich biodiversity hub, home to various species of rare birds and fish, offering a tranquil escape for nature enthusiasts throughout the four-month season.

Blood-Soaked Son Beheads Mother and Dumps Head in Rice Field

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4 January 2026, 17:13

news100507_RjtLTyi8BX1767505890 — Forensic officers and police investigators process the scene at a residence in Senangkhanikhom District on Sunday following the decapitation of a 71-year-old woman.

AMNAT CHAROEN — A 42-year-old man was arrested Sunday morning after allegedly beheading his 71-year-old mother with a machete and carrying her severed head to a nearby rice field before wandering through his village drenched in blood.

Authorities took Mongkol Inthanon into custody at approximately 8:30 a.m. in the village of Ban Non Sung after terrified residents reported seeing him sitting on a roadside with his face and body covered in gore. The victim, identified as Sroi Inthanon, was found decapitated inside the family home in the Senangkhanikhom District.

Witness Lamyai Sangsawee, 57, recounted the chilling encounter, stating she initially believed the suspect had been injured in an accident. She told reporters she asked him who had attacked him, but he responded only with a menacing, wild-eyed stare. Sensing immediate danger, she fled the scene to alert the village headman and expressed concern for the victim’s safety, noting the suspect had recently returned from a rehabilitation center.

Village headman Chanchan Sangkharuek said he issued an emergency warning over the community’s public address system before leading a group of neighbors to the residence. After gathering enough people to safely enter the house, the group discovered the mother’s body. The village headman immediately notified law enforcement to take the suspect into custody.

Investigators from the Senangkhanikhom Police Station recovered the victim’s head in a rice field adjacent to the house. Pol. Col. Suwicha Boonjim, the district police chief, confirmed that forensic teams have collected the murder weapon and DNA samples for further analysis.

Mongkol has been charged with intentional murder. While the suspect has a prior history of rehabilitation, police stated they are currently awaiting toxicological results to determine if any substances were in his system at the time of the slaying as they move forward with the legal proceedings.

The Search for Unexploded Ordnance Near Border Continues

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4 January 2026, 16:35

The Search for Unexploded Ordnance Near Border Continues

BAN KRUAT — Thai authorities and local residents are continuing to search for unexploded ordnance believed to have landed on the Thai side of the border in Ban Kruat district, officials said, with at least 130 items found so far.

Local administrative officials, village leaders and residents resumed searches on Jan. 4, 2026, after villagers reported finding suspected rockets and mortar rounds in farmland. The effort has been slow because explosive ordnance disposal, or EOD, teams must first inspect and destroy any unexploded devices, officials said.

Most of the items found in Ban Kruat district, in Buriram province, have been mortar rounds rather than BM-21 multiple-launch rockets, authorities said.

The latest discovery was made by Sanang Nuengprakhon, 53, a village security volunteer, who found another mortar round while tapping rubber trees on his land. With the latest find, officials said a total of 130 pieces of ordnance — both unexploded and already detonated — have been identified in the district.

Sanang said administrative officials and EOD teams have been working with villagers to survey the area daily, pausing only during the New Year holiday. He said officials believe more ordnance remains buried in the ground or scattered across farmland. Community forest areas have been harder to search, so teams have prioritised agricultural land, he said.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Second Army Region said Cambodian military drones have been spotted conducting intermittent surveillance flights near the Sai Taku border pass in Chanthaphet subdistrict, Ban Kruat district. Authorities said security personnel in the area have been placed on heightened alert.

‘Facts Over Propaganda’: Thai Army Exposes Cambodian War Crimes and Human Shield Tactics

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4 January 2026, 15:48

BANGKOK — The Thai military issued a scathing condemnation of Cambodian forces on Sunday, exposing evidence of systematic war crimes and the use of human shields along the disputed border. The Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Joint Information Center urged the international community to look past “propaganda” and examine verified facts regarding violations of Thai sovereignty and international law.

Official reports indicate that Cambodian armed forces have intentionally stationed troops and ammunition depots within civilian centers to serve as human shields, a grave breach of international humanitarian law. This strategy reportedly forces military conflict into populated areas, directly endangering non-combatants and violating the principle of precaution. Thailand has documented significant damage to homes and local infrastructure that held no military significance, categorizing these deliberate strikes on civilians as war crimes.

Beyond the battlefield, Thai officials highlighted a pattern of systematic military provocation and the neglect of fallen Cambodian soldiers, which violates the basic humanitarian duty to treat the deceased with dignity. Acknowledging the challenges of modern information warfare, the Thai military emphasized that facts must prevail over discourse. The military concluded by calling on global observers to judge the situation based on verifiable evidence and international law rather than misinformation.

Officials Arrest 8 Undocumented Workers at Construction Site

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Khaosod English

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4 January 2026, 15:10

Officials Arrest 8 Undocumented Workers at Construction Site

MAE SARIANG — Thai authorities arrested eight undocumented migrant workers and their employer during a raid on a construction site in Mae Sariang district in the northern province of Mae Hong Son, officials said.

The operation took place at about 11 am on Jan. 4, 2026, after local authorities received a tip-off that foreign workers were being employed illegally. District chief Worasaek Phanthong ordered security officials to inspect the site, officials said.

The inspection team, led by Weerawat Kitmanasap, head of security administration in Mae Sariang district, included members of the local volunteer defence corps, police officers from Mae Sariang police station and immigration officials.

Authorities found eight Myanmeses working at the site. Initial checks showed they did not have valid immigration documents or work permits. All eight workers were taken into custody, along with their Thai employer, officials said.

The workers were charged with entering and staying in the country without permission and working without a permit. Penalties include fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht and deportation to their country of origin.

The employer was charged with hiring foreign workers without valid work permits. Under Thai law, the offence carries fines of between 10,000 and 100,000 baht per illegal worker. Repeat offenders may face imprisonment and a ban on hiring migrant workers for three years, officials said.

Authorities said the operation was carried out in line with policies set by the Internal Security Operations Command and the Interior Ministry to regulate migrant labour and address security concerns in border areas.

America: Global Cop or Global Mafia State?

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Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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4 January 2026, 14:15

APTOPIX Trump US Venezuela — President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago club, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The “large-scale” invasion and abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife yesterday, under the order of US President Donald Trump, marks a return of American unilateralism and exceptionalism with a bang.

Trump even announced that Maduro will not be the only one to stand trial in the US for alleged drug-related charges.

Europe, still dependent on the US security umbrella, didn’t dare to come up with a unified denunciation. One EU leader even tacitly welcomed the regime change by the superpower nation—or the rogue superpower.

“We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was quoted as saying by the German public media DW News, which also cited a few other European leaders.

The German Foreign Office meekly issued a statement saying, “We are monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely and following the latest reports with great concern,” according to DW reports.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry left no one guessing which side it is siding with; DW quoted the Ministry as saying: “Ukraine has consistently defended the rights of nations to live freely, free of dictatorship, oppression, and human rights violations. The Maduro regime has violated all such principles in every respect.”

In France, my French acquaintance, Yan Marchal, posted the following summary: “In France, while both the far-left and the far-right agreed (for once) in condemning Trump’s attack on Venezuela in unequivocal terms, President Emmanuel Macron remained silent, merely having the MFA release a clumsy, watered-down statement. Is it a failure to read the room? Or does he just no longer care?”

The truth is, America probably wouldn’t care much if Venezuela were a distant country it didn’t regard as part of its own “backyard”.

America probably wouldn’t care if Venezuela did not possess the world’s largest proven oil reserves (estimated at about 300 billion barrels), and if it had not moved to nationalise US oil assets in Venezuela and largely bring them back under state control in 1976.

America probably wouldn’t have gone so far as to “capture” or kidnap President Maduro if the country’s leader hadn’t repeatedly denounced the United States as an imperialist power—instead of paying it deference and kowtowing to Trump. America probably wouldn’t have invaded Caracas if the country were strong and large enough, on the scale of Brazil.

Moreover, America seized the opportunity presented by Venezuela’s economic crisis, with nearly 8 million out of 31 million people emigrating over the past years and a healthcare system in crisis. According to The CIA World Factbook 2025-2026: “Venezuela’s ongoing socio-economic, political, and human rights crises have resulted in widespread poverty and food insecurity and devastated the country’s healthcare system. According to a 2018 national hospital survey, many hospitals were unable to provide basic services, and 20% of operating rooms and intensive care units were non-functional. Hospitals report shortages of water (79%), medicines (88%), and surgical supplies (79%).”

According to the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Venezuela in 2025 ranks at number 160 among 180 nations surveyed.

“After his disputed re-election in 2024, Nicolás Maduro again stepped up his persecution of the media and journalists, who became direct targets. The authorities regard the independent press as an enemy of the state and use a climate of terror to silence it. Their tools include an ‘anti-hate’ law and other legal provisions that serve to criminalise journalists and threaten them with drastic penalties. Journalists can be prosecuted on charges of terrorism, incitement to hatred, or criminal association. Digital censorship has also been stepped up, with news site blocking and increased surveillance resulting in widespread self-censorship.”

Yes, Maduro is a dictator who came to power through elections that have been widely regarded as fraudulent, and he does not enjoy popular support the way his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, once did. That is also why some Venezuelans are celebrating and hoping that a transition period under the US will be better than life under Maduro.
However, that doesn’t diminish the fact that the US is indeed a global mafia state.

By the way, no one should expect a US invasion of Myanmar, which is ruled by an even more murderous regime in Naypyidaw, because there are no mega oil reserves, it is not located in the American backyard, and because they are not calling the US out for what they are –an imperialist state, a global mafia state.

#Thailand #USA #Venezuela #Madurocaptured

A Rare Black Panther Spotted in Kaeng Krachan Forest

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4 January 2026, 13:35

A Rare Black Panther Spotted in Kaeng Krachan Forest

KAENG KRACHAN — A rare black panther was spotted walking along a road in Kaeng Krachan National Park during the New Year holiday, delighting tourists visiting the UNESCO-listed forest, park officials said.

The sighting occurred on Jan. 4, 2026, near kilometre marker 21 on the road leading up Phanoen Thung mountain, said Mongkol Chaiyaphakdi, chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park. The animal was photographed by a foreign tourist, and the images were later shared by park authorities.

The black panther, a protected species, was seen emerging from the forest and walking along the roadside for a short time before returning to the trees. Park officials said the animal may have come out in search of warmth, as temperatures in the forest have been unusually cool.

news100505 gexMkvVd5R1767505551 — The black panther spotted walking along a road in Kaeng Krachan National Park.

Mongkol said wildlife activity has increased in the park during the cooler season and urged visitors to exercise caution when encountering animals.

Tourists are advised to keep a safe distance, avoid approaching or disturbing wildlife, stop vehicles well away from animals and refrain from making loud noises. Feeding wild animals is strictly prohibited, as it can cause them to become accustomed to humans and lead to unpredictable behaviour, he said.

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