Bangkok News

Bangkok news, politics, business, crime, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s capital. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Bangkok news source.

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  • Thailand braces for colder weather, strong winds, and heavy rain

    Thailand braces for colder weather, strong winds, and heavy rain

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a significant weather change with colder temperatures, strong winds, and heavy rain expected in the coming days. Specific regions, especially in the south, should prepare for severe weather conditions, and residents are advised to take health precautions. Yesterday, March 20, a high-pressure system from China affected the upper regions of Thailand and the South…

  • Weight woes: Bangkok tips the scales in obesity rankings

    Weight woes: Bangkok tips the scales in obesity rankings

    Following a report from the Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok has the highest number of overweight and obese residents in Thailand, including both adults and children. The World Obesity Federation has designated March 4 each year as World Obesity Day to inspire those affected to change their perspectives and lifestyles in order to combat obesity. The event also aims to…

  • Bangkok chokes its way into world’s top 10 most polluted cities

    Bangkok chokes its way into world’s top 10 most polluted cities

    Bangkok today landed among the world’s most polluted cities, ranking eighth in the latest IQAir report, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 141. The city’s air pollution has once again raised health concerns, especially for vulnerable groups. The AQI scale categorises air quality as follows: 0-50 (Good) 51-100 (Moderate) 101-150 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) 151-200 (Unhealthy) 201-300 (Very unhealthy) 301+…

  • ThaiBev’s Water Festival 2025 to boost tourism and spending

    ThaiBev’s Water Festival 2025 to boost tourism and spending

    Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) is set to organise the Water Festival 2025 from April 12 to 15, in collaboration with partners including the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Culture. Event chairman Suraphon Svetasreni stated that the festival aims to enhance tourism and generate over 10 million baht in spending. The festival will support Thai cultural tourism while…

  • Indian national found dead in Bangkok townhouse

    Indian national found dead in Bangkok townhouse

    A housekeeper discovered the unusual death of a 38 year old Indian national, who had rented a townhouse in Thon Buri district, Bangkok, for about two months. His relatives lost contact with him, prompting the house owner to request an inspection. At 2pm yesterday, March 19, Police Lieutenant Satha Duang-Iad, Deputy Inspector at Samre Police Station, responded to a report…

  • Thai taxi driver hits rock bottom, then throws rocks at Bangkok cab

    Thai taxi driver hits rock bottom, then throws rocks at Bangkok cab

    Police yesterday arrested a Thai taxi driver for throwing rocks at another taxi driver’s car in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The suspect claimed he committed the offence out of stress after his business went bankrupt. A 58 year old taxi driver named Pornsawat rushed to Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station in a state of fright on Tuesday, March 18,…

  • Bad karma: Ex-builder nabbed for 16m baht amulets, gold theft

    Bad karma: Ex-builder nabbed for 16m baht amulets, gold theft

    A former construction worker has been arrested for stealing 107 amulets and 35 baht worth of gold from a renowned amulet trader’s home, resulting in a loss of approximately 16 million baht. The arrest took place after a thorough investigation by the police in Lat Krabang. Today, March 19, at 9am, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, the Metropolitan Police Chief,…

  • Bangkok man arrested for alleged harassment of teen in park

    Bangkok man arrested for alleged harassment of teen in park

    A 28 year old man from Ubon Ratchathani was arrested for allegedly harassing a 17 year old girl in a public park. The incident, which took place at 10pm on March 17, involved the suspect, Max also known as Nantawat, diverting the teenager off her intended route and attempting to assault her in a secluded area. The arrest was made…

  • Rama II expressway lane reopens after fatal bridge collapse

    Rama II expressway lane reopens after fatal bridge collapse

    The inbound lane to the expressway on Rama II Road, affected by the bridge project collapse last Saturday, will reopen by tomorrow. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) stated that demolition work on the collapsed bridge is 90% complete, with the contractor, Italian-Thai Development (ITD), pledging compensation for victims. The collapse on Saturday, March 15, involved a concrete beam under…

  • PM rejects opposition’s request for full 30-hour debate control

    PM rejects opposition’s request for full 30-hour debate control

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has not approved the opposition’s request to control the entire duration of a 30-hour censure debate. She acknowledged that determining the length of the debate is not within her authourity. Yesterday, March 18, the Thai PM commented that the opposition’s request might not be logical, a sentiment echoed by the coalition government, which found the demand excessive.…

  • Thailand uncertain on US visa ban after Uyghur deportation

    Thailand uncertain on US visa ban after Uyghur deportation

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed uncertainty regarding her inclusion on a list of Thai officials recently barred from obtaining US visas following the deportation of 40 Uyghur detainees to China. Addressing the media yesterday, March 18, she said, “There’s no confirmation yet. I still don’t know.” The 38 year old PM explained that the Foreign Affairs Ministry would further clarify…

  • Former Thai rock star arrested for alleged drug peddling and abuse

    Former Thai rock star arrested for alleged drug peddling and abuse

    Former Thai rockband I-Zax frontman Patcharapol “Zax” Parnpoom has been arrested in Bangkok for allegedly abusing and trafficking drugs, marking a dramatic fall from his former music fame. The arrest follows an investigation tied to a major drug network, with police linking the 47 year old former rock star to multiple illegal activities. Patcharapol, once the lead singer of the…

  • Pickup truck’s unsafe metal door transport sparks expressway safety alert

    Pickup truck’s unsafe metal door transport sparks expressway safety alert

    A post from the ข่าวสารงานจราจรทางพิเศษ บางพลี-สุขสวัสดิ์ (Bang Phli-Suksawat Expressway Traffic News) Facebook page today highlighted a safety concern involving a pickup truck carrying metal doors on an expressway. The image accompanying the post showed the truck transporting oversized doors without proper securing methods. The post indicated that such vehicles are not allowed on expressways, as it violated regulations and poses…

  • Walking the talk: Bangkok chief to revamp Asoke footpaths by July

    Walking the talk: Bangkok chief to revamp Asoke footpaths by July

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt plans to renovate footpaths along Asoke Montri Road, with the project expected to start by July this year. Governor Chadchart, accompanied by Deputy Governor Wissanu Subsomphon, inspected the footpath along Asoke Montri Road on Sunday, March 16, to assess pedestrian issues in the area. He also livestreamed his visit on his Facebook page. The governor revealed…

  • Man meditates on Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, sparks emergency response

    Man meditates on Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, sparks emergency response

    A man dressed in white robes drew the public’s attention when he climbed the Democracy Monument and meditated on one of its ledges. The incident, which occurred around 3.40pm yesterday, March 17, prompted police and rescue workers to respond to the scene. The man, sitting in a meditative pose, caused confusion among passersby on Ratchadamnoen Road. Police and rescue teams,…

  • Cambodian woman claims friend stole 12 million baht lottery win

    Cambodian woman claims friend stole 12 million baht lottery win

    A Cambodian woman sought police assistance after her friend allegedly disappeared with two winning lottery tickets she had bought on her behalf. The tickets, valued at 12 million baht, were reportedly documented by the friend at the Bang Na Police Station. Piang, a Cambodian worker, yesterday, March 17, approached Police Lieutenant Colonel Kamonrat Phanoi, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation) at Bang Bua…

  • Illegal kratom and cigarette ring busted in Bangkok

    Illegal kratom and cigarette ring busted in Bangkok

    Three young people were apprehended today in the Thon Buri district of Bangkok for operating an illicit business involving the sale of contraband cigarettes and kratom juice mixed with cough syrup. The operation yielded daily earnings of nearly 10,000 baht. Police Major General Thathapoom Charupradit, head of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECS), directed Police Colonel Naruepol Karuna and Police…

  • Thai call scam losses fall by 200 million baht after power cuts

    Thai call scam losses fall by 200 million baht after power cuts

    The Thai government’s controversial decision to cut power, oil, and Internet services to border areas near Myanmar has reportedly paid off, with losses from call scams plummeting by at least 200 million baht. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong revealed that since the power cut-off on February 5, there has been a significant drop in cybercrime activity, with call…

  • Bangkok bus driver fined 2,000 baht after blind passenger falls (video)

    Bangkok bus driver fined 2,000 baht after blind passenger falls (video)

    The Department of Land Transport has fined a bus driver 2,000 baht after an incident where a blind passenger and their guide fell from a bus as they attempted to board through the rear door. The driver stated he was focusing on traffic to the right and did not notice passengers boarding. The Department of Land Transport yesterday, March 17,…

  • Assumption University addresses Myanmar student’s death

    Assumption University addresses Myanmar student’s death

    Assumption University in Bangkok is facing fierce criticism following the tragic death of a Myanmar student in a motorbike accident. The accident, which took place on November 18 last year, sparked accusations of negligence from both the university and emergency responders. The victim, along with his 17 year old cousin, was en route to the university when disaster struck. A…

  • Bangkok road sweeper gains fame as model after portrait by Russian man

    Bangkok road sweeper gains fame as model after portrait by Russian man

    A Thai road sweeper went viral on social media after a Russian photographer shared her portrait from a street photoshoot in Bangkok’s Chinatown on his TikTok account on Friday, March 14. The Russian photographer, Semyon Rezchikov, typically shares videos of himself taking portraits of people he meets on the street in each country he visits. The video shows the reaction…

  • Bridge over troubled water: BMA’s Bangkok river crossing race

    Bridge over troubled water: BMA’s Bangkok river crossing race

    Bangkok’s city planners are racing against the clock to complete the much-anticipated Kiakkai Bridge over the Chao Phraya River by 2026. This ambitious project is set to transform commuting across the bustling city, offering a smoother journey over the river. BMA Public Works Department chief Tawatchai Napasaksri dished out details on the various bridge projects currently weaving through the cityscape.…

  • Expressway chaos: Bangkok traffic mayhem as flyover tumbles

    Expressway chaos: Bangkok traffic mayhem as flyover tumbles

    Transport chiefs in Thailand have urged motorists to seek alternative routes after a key section of the Bangkok–Thon Buri expressway collapsed on Saturday, causing traffic bedlam and blocking crucial ramps. Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) chief Surachet Laophulsuk warned of severe congestion around the Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressway ramp, particularly near the Dao Khanong toll plaza, starting today, Monday, March…

  • Fool’s gold: Man in Bangkok arrested after gold store heist

    Fool’s gold: Man in Bangkok arrested after gold store heist

    A 35 year old man was apprehended after allegedly robbing a gold store in the Wat Chula area, stealing five 1-baht gold necklaces before returning home, where police arrested him. The suspect, Pramote Khongsriworakulchai, is accused of pawning one necklace, changing his appearance, and attempting to evade arrest. Yesterday, March 16, at 9pm, Police Colonel Anan Warasat, along with Deputy…

  • Thailand offers free HPV vaccines for girls and young women

    Thailand offers free HPV vaccines for girls and young women

    The Government of Thailand is offering free cervical cancer vaccinations to girls and young women aged 11 to 20 until the end of April, part of an initiative supported by the Ministry of Public Health. Cervical cancer, described by Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan as a silent disease, results in numerous fatalities annually in Thailand. The vaccine protects against the…

  • Police raid illegal gambling den in Suthisan, arrest 19 people

    Police raid illegal gambling den in Suthisan, arrest 19 people

    Thai metropolitan police raided an illegal gambling den in the Suthisan area, arresting 19 people, including the organiser, and seizing five items of evidence. The incident occurred yesterday, March 15, at around 10.50pm, in a rented room on Suthisan Winitchai Road. The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, with support from…

  • Three missing found after Rama 2 overpass collapse tragedy

    Three missing found after Rama 2 overpass collapse tragedy

    Three missing people from the Rama 2 overpass collapse have been located after an extensive search. The incident occurred on the Rama 3 – Dao Khanong – Outer Ring Road construction project, which is situated over the Rama 2 expressway. The collapse resulted in five fatalities and numerous injuries. As of 3.20pm yesterday, March 15, emergency services reported discovering two…

  • Horror on Rama II: Bridge collapse kills 5, injures 20

    Horror on Rama II: Bridge collapse kills 5, injures 20

    The death toll from a devastating bridge collapse on Rama II Road has climbed to five, with 20 others injured as emergency crews race to find more victims. The tragic incident, which unfolded in the early hours of today, March 15, has thrown Bangkok’s infrastructure safety into question. A loud bang shattered the silence at around 2am, sending a massive…

  • Man arrested in Bangkok after alleged molestation in Phayao

    Man arrested in Bangkok after alleged molestation in Phayao

    A 32 year old man was apprehended by police for two alleged incidents of molestation involving young women in a single day. The incidents reportedly took place in Phayao province, with the suspect fleeing to Bangkok before being captured. The arrest took place at a hotel near Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bang Sao Thong district, Samut Prakan province, following a…

  • Thailand confident FTA with EU will be finalised by year-end

    Thailand confident FTA with EU will be finalised by year-end

    Despite mounting pressure from the European Parliament over Thailand’s deportation of Uyghurs to China, the Commerce Ministry remains confident that free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union (EU) will stay on track, with a final deal expected by December 25. The controversy stems from a European Parliament resolution condemning Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghurs on February 27, warning…