Bangkok News
Dive into the latest happenings in Bangkok with The Thaiger. Our team delivers up-to-date news, insightful analysis, and exclusive stories from the heart of Thailand’s dynamic capital. Keep your finger on the pulse of Bangkok’s ever-evolving political, economic, and cultural scene, as well as its thriving entertainment and nightlife. Stay informed about local events, transportation updates, and expat experiences in this vibrant metropolis.
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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Thai police arrest six Chinese nationals in call centre fraud bust
Thai police have taken decisive action against an international call centre fraud operation by arresting six Chinese nationals in Bangkok. The operation, which was uncovered in a luxury condominium on Ratchadapisek Road, Huai Khwang, involved a sophisticated network of equipment, including 286 Sim Boxes, 208,652 SIM cards, and 636 mobile phones. The arrested individuals, identified as Fengran Wen, Zhang Jun,…
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Bangkok bust: 6 Chinese arrested with 200k SIM cards
Police in Bangkok have dismantled a major call centre gang, arresting six Chinese nationals who had set up their operations in a luxury condominium in the heart of the city. The suspects were found with an astonishing 208,652 SIM cards and 286 SIM boxes, alongside other electronic equipment. Entering Thailand on student and tourist visas, the group had been operating…
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Thai government to choose sites for casino complexes
The Thai government is set to centrally determine the locations for proposed casino-entertainment complexes, a move aimed at ensuring fair competition among prospective investors, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. The initiative hinges on the passage of a bill legalising gambling, which is currently under consideration. “If the locations are chosen by the government, this will allow investors to…
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Thai court orders DLT to issue vehicle tax sticker to driver
A driver has triumphed in a legal battle against the Department of Land Transport (DLT) over their refusal to issue a vehicle tax sticker due to unpaid traffic fines. The Central Administrative Court instructed the department to provide the sticker to the driver, who had filed a lawsuit against the DLT, its director-general, the Bangkok Land Transport office, and the…
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PM Paetongtarn crowned Politician of the Year in Bangkok poll
Move over, rivals! Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has stormed ahead in the political popularity race, clinching the top spot in a nationwide survey that crowned her Politician of the Year 2024. The North Bangkok Poll, conducted by North Bangkok University between December 10 and 15, asked 1,500 respondents from across Thailand a simple but telling question: “Who do you think…
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Thai girl forced to send explicit photos of herself and mother for game items
Bangkok police allegedly refused to take a complaint from a 10 year old girl after she was tricked into sending explicit pictures of herself and her mother in exchange for game items. The Thai mother took to her Facebook account to share the story of how her 10 year old daughter fell victim to a scammer, as a warning to…
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Bangkok police arrest scrap shop owners for pollution offences
Police launched Operation STOP POLLUTION THE SERIES 3, targeting 14 scrap shops in On Nut’s waste alley for releasing foul odours and causing environmental pollution. Police acted on complaints from locals in Phra Khanong, Bangkok, about improper waste management and air pollution issues. The operation, led by police officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NREC), resulted in…
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Heroin addiction: Temple donation box thief arrested in Bangkok
Bangkok police apprehended a 22 year old Thai man for allegedly breaking into donation boxes at temples to fund his heroin addiction, under the guise of treating an illness. Vorakan was arrested after a comprehensive investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Bang Rak police officers. The arrest took place at a car park of a temple in the…
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Bangkok crowned Christmas travel top spot, beating Tokyo
Move over Tokyo, Bangkok is stealing the spotlight this festive season! Agoda’s latest insights reveal that Thailand’s bustling capital has clinched the title of the world’s top destination for international travellers this Christmas. With a 14% surge in accommodation searches compared to last year, Bangkok has overtaken Tokyo and is proving irresistible to holidaymakers. Bangkok also ranks as the second…
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Thai farmers receive 20 billion baht in government aid
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has disbursed 20 billion baht over the past three days to 2.6 million farmers as part of a government initiative aimed at supporting rice producers. The goal is to benefit 4.6 million households with a total budget of 37.4 billion baht. Chatchai Sirilai, Manager of BAAC, announced the progress of the financial…
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Thailand health ministry warns of new year disease risks
The Ministry of Public Health issued a warning about diseases to watch out for during the new year, particularly influenza and sudden hearing loss. They urged travellers to monitor their health upon returning from trips abroad. With the weather cooling down and many people travelling internationally, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) has updated its list of diseases with potential…
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Police officer cites Buddhism in rejecting promotion
A police officer from Lamae Police Station in Chumphon province caused a stir by formally requesting not to be considered for a higher-ranking position. The officer, Pisan, provided a philosophical reasoning drawn from Buddhist teachings to support this unusual decision. Pisan, who serves as an inspector at Lamae Police Station, officially sent his request to the Chumphon Provincial Police Commander.…
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Khlong Toei residents unite to control fire in Bangkok village
A fire erupted in the Khlong Toei community in Bangkok, specifically in the 70 Rai Village, where residents joined forces to extinguish the flames. The fire was brought under control by 10.41pm yesterday, December 18 after a quick response from local firefighters. The Rama Radio Centre received a report via hotline 199 about a blaze affecting residential homes in the…
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2 Vietnamese men arrested for thefts at love hotel, over 500 evidence seized
Police arrested two Vietnamese men at a love hotel in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok yesterday, December 18, following a spate of thefts in the area. Over 500 pieces of evidence were seized. Officers from Chaiyaphruek Police Station received multiple complaints regarding thefts in the Bang Bua Thong, Bang Kruai, Bang Si Mueang, and Chaiyaphruek areas of the province. A covert…
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Court dismisses claims of favouritism in Thaksin hospital stay
The Constitutional Court dismissed allegations yesterday that state officials facilitated former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hospital stay during his prison sentence. The petition, brought forward by Kongdecha Chairat, accused key figures, including Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, the Department of Corrections (DoC) Director General, and the chief of Bangkok Remand Prison, of allowing Thaksin to serve his sentence at…
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Thailand goes high-tech: New E-Visa set to transform travel
Thailand is taking a leap into the digital age with the launch of its revolutionary Thai E-Visa system, simplifying life for globe-trotters everywhere. From January 1, 2025, international travellers can kiss goodbye to cumbersome paperwork and apply for their visas online with ease. This slick new development promises to make the visa process faster, safer, and more convenient, ensuring the…
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Thailand’s first F1 race planned for Bangkok’s Chatuchak by 2027
The Thai government is continuing the Formula One (F1) project initiated by former Prime Minister (PM) Srettha Thavisin, with plans to hold Thailand’s first F1 race in the Chatuchak neighbourhood of Bangkok. F1 enthusiasts were given hope after former PM Srettha discussed the project with the race organisers during his visit to France in March this year. The former PM…
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AMLO freezes assets worth billions in major fraud crackdown
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has made remarkable strides in addressing fraud cases, including those involving notable figures and corporations, resulting in the seizure and freezing of assets valued at billions of baht. The development was shared by AMLO Secretary General Theppasu Bavornchotidara and Witthaya Neetitham, its spokesperson, following a meeting with the transaction committee. Twelve significant cases have seen…
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PEA to sue firms for illegal cable use on power poles
Private firms and state enterprises face legal action by the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) for the illegal installation of communication cables on power poles. This decisive move follows directives from Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, urging the PEA to clamp down on these violations. The PEA has long grappled with this issue. According to Prasit Chanprasith, the…
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Family of young girl injured by drunk driver seeks compensation
A family in Bangkok is still seeking compensation for an accident which left a young girl severely injured. In 2014, a drunk driver, racing a modified pickup truck, lost control and crashed into a steakhouse at the entrance of Soi Ekachai 119, Bang Bon district, causing severe injuries to a young girl. Cartoon’s father fought a legal battle and won…
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Thailand rejects call to abolish death penalty
Thailand’s Cabinet dismissed the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) proposal to abolish the death penalty. This decision, announced by deputy government spokesperson Kharom Polpornklang, underscores the government’s alignment with the courts of justice, which deem capital punishment necessary for certain grave offences. The NHRC had pushed for the abolition, citing the global trend of eliminating what they consider an excessively…
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Thai motorists enjoy free expressway during new year holidays
The Government of Thailand has announced that motorists will enjoy free access to two expressways and two motorways during the new year holidays. The initiative aims to ease travel and encourage economic activity during the festive period. According to deputy government spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak, the fee waiver applies to the Burapha Withi Expressway, the Kanchanaphisek (Bang Phli-Suk Sawat) Expressway, the…
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Pheu Thai: Panthongtae Shinawatra plays no role in govt
The Pheu Thai Party swiftly quashed rumours spreading across social media about Panthongtae Shinawatra’s alleged appointment as chief of strategy and national economy. Chayapa Sindhuprai, serving as the party’s deputy spokesperson, made an emphatic statement on X, clarifying that these reports were unfounded and likely intended to sow confusion and damage the coalition government’s reputation. Chayapa asserted that during the…
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Homeless Thai woman confesses to bludgeoning boyfriend over hallucination
Police yesterday, December 17, arrested a homeless Thai woman in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok, for bludgeoning her homeless boyfriend to death in an abandoned house in Bangkok on Friday, December 13. The 56 year old homeless man, Udom “Pok” Art-onsri, was found dead at the abandoned house on Sukhaphiban 5 Road in the Saimai district of Bangkok on Saturday,…
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Malaysian man and Thai wife arrested in Bangkok for money laundering
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers arrested a Malaysian man and his Thai wife today at a luxury house in Bangkok for running a money laundering operation for a gambling website. The assistant to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Commissioner, Thatchai Pitaneerabut, and the acting Commissioner of the CCIB, Trairong Phewphan, along with 20 other officers today, , December 17,…
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Child smacking ban in Thailand gets Senate green light
In a landmark move for children’s rights, the Senate yesterday unanimously approved a draft amendment to Section 1567 of the Civil and Commercial Code, redefining the boundaries of parental discipline. The amendment, which had earlier sailed through the lower house, was deliberated and passed in all three readings in one day. It proposes a crucial update to the clause that…
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Former PM Srettha cleared in police chief appointment scandal
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) cleared former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Police Commission of any wrongdoing in the controversial appointment of Police General Torsak Sukvimol as National Police Chief. NACC spokesperson Saroj Phuengramphan announced the findings yesterday, December 16. “The commission found no evidence of misconduct or undue influence in the selection process.” The ruling puts to…
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DSI apprehends 5th suspect in illegal surrogacy case in Bangkok
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) apprehended another suspect involved in an illegal surrogacy network, marking the fifth arrest in the case. Police detained Siriporn, who was wanted under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on November 21, for allegedly engaging in commercial surrogacy operations and acting as a broker. Siriporn was caught at the DSI building in the…
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Bangkok gets ready to get a taste of the Jurassic era
Bangkok’s iconic Asiatique night market is undergoing a jaw-dropping transformation. A massive 6,000-square-metre section of the bustling riverside hotspot will soon transport visitors back 145 million years to the Jurassic era, complete with roaring dinosaurs and thrilling attractions. Wallapa Traisorat, CEO of Asset World Corporation (AWC), revealed that The World’s Largest Immersive Experience of Its Kind will open by the second…
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Thailand aims to boost trade with Mongolia to 2027 goals
Thailand is gearing up to expand its trade relations with Mongolia, aiming to surpass the 100 million US dollar mark in trade value by 2027. Following discussions with Amarsanaa Tumur, Mongolia’s Ambassador to Thailand, the Minister of Commerce, Phichai Naripthaphan, highlighted efforts to bolster economic cooperation through the Thailand-Mongolia Joint Trade Committee. This initiative aims to open new markets for…
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