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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  • Bangkok steals top spot for Chinese New Year celebrations

    Bangkok steals top spot for Chinese New Year celebrations

    Bangkok has emerged as the top destination for Thai and foreign tourists planning to celebrate Chinese New Year in Thailand, according to data from the digital travel platform Agoda. The vibrant capital outshone other popular spots, with accommodation searches surging ahead of the festivities starting January 29. Agoda revealed yesterday, January 15, that Bangkok topped the list for Thai tourists,…

  • Bangkok cracks down on smoky buses amid pollution crisis

    Bangkok cracks down on smoky buses amid pollution crisis

    To tackle Bangkok’s escalating air pollution, city officials inspected public buses for black smoke emissions at the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority’s (BMTA) Sathuphradit Depot on Tuesday, January 14. The initiative, led by Phonprom Wikitset, Advisor to the Governor of Bangkok, and Prapat Luangsirinapa, Director of the Environmental Office, aimed to address the city’s fine particulate matter (PM2.5) crisis. The inspections…

  • British fraudster nabbed in land scam at Bangkok airport

    British fraudster nabbed in land scam at Bangkok airport

    A British national was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport upon returning to Thailand, accused of orchestrating an elaborate property fraud worth nearly 20 million baht. Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), led by Police Colonel Theeraphast Yangyuen and Police Lieutenant Colonel Woraphot Lalitjirakul, apprehended the 57 year old British man, Quentin (surname withheld) yesterday, January 15 under an…

  • Dutch national arrested in Bangkok for US,000 gold scam

    Dutch national arrested in Bangkok for US$55,000 gold scam

    Thailand’s Immigration Bureau announced on Tuesday, January 14, the arrest of a 43 year old Dutch national for allegedly organising a gold scam in Bangkok. The suspect, named Ndille, is accused of deceiving customers by selling counterfeit gold pellets, claiming they were smuggled tax-free from Africa and offering them at below-market prices. Investigations uncovered that the suspect employed a sophisticated…

  • Thai PM faces petition over jailed activist adviser appointment

    Thai PM faces petition over jailed activist adviser appointment

    Activist Sonthiya Sawasdee has lodged a petition against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra concerning the appointment of a former jailed activist as her adviser. Sonthiya requested that the Office of the Attorney-General forward his complaint to the Constitutional Court regarding the appointment of Nattawut Saikuar, a significant figure in the red shirt movement, on October 4 last year. Sonthiya claims that…

  • Ex-Yakuza member arrested in Thailand over call centre scam

    Ex-Yakuza member arrested in Thailand over call centre scam

    A Japanese national, allegedly a former Yakuza member, has been detained in relation to a dismantled call centre operation in Thailand, as announced by the Immigration Bureau yesterday, January 15. Identified as 34 year old Yu Hamaji, police suspect him to have been the deputy leader of the Japanese gang that was intercepted in mid-December in Bang Lamung district, Chon…

  • Woman caught vaping on Bangkok BTS sparks outrage (video)

    Woman caught vaping on Bangkok BTS sparks outrage (video)

    A video capturing a woman allegedly vaping cannabis on a Bangkok Skytrain (BTS) has gone viral, igniting outrage and calls for stricter public behaviour enforcement. The shocking footage, shared on the Facebook page อีซ้อขยี้แหลก on January 12, shows the woman casually vaping on the train, surrounded by children and elderly passengers. The clip reveals the woman standing and texting while…

  • AI scam targets Thai PM: Paetongtarn exposes con attempt

    AI scam targets Thai PM: Paetongtarn exposes con attempt

    Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued a stark warning to the public about the dangers of AI-driven scams after narrowly escaping a sophisticated con involving a fake ASEAN leader. Speaking at a policy meeting for the 2026 fiscal budget, the 38 year old PM revealed she was targeted by a call centre gang using artificial intelligence to mimic the voice…

  • Milk can mayhem: Tin can falls from Parliament ceiling

    Milk can mayhem: Tin can falls from Parliament ceiling

    Thailand’s Parliament was rocked, literally, when an empty tin can of pasteurised milk plunged from the ceiling during a joint sitting, narrowly missing a group of MPs. The bizarre incident yesterday, January 14, has left security measures under intense scrutiny and raised serious questions about safety within the legislative chamber. Deputy House Speaker Paradorn Prissanananthakul addressed the issue during today’s…

  • Thai woman arrested in Bangkok for stealing luxury items

    Thai woman arrested in Bangkok for stealing luxury items

    Police apprehended a 50 year old Thai woman at a clubhouse in Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana district, Bangkok for allegedly stealing luxury items from her uncle, a judge. The stolen items, which include Hermes bags and diamond earrings, are valued at approximately 3.65 million baht. The incident came to light after the judge reported the theft to Mueang…

  • Polish man arrested for spanking Thai woman’s bottom (video)

    Polish man arrested for spanking Thai woman’s bottom (video)

    Police arrested a Polish man at his condominium in Bangkok for spanking a Thai woman’s bottom in a convenience store. He claimed he was unaware that his actions were illegal and stated that he had done the same thing to many women before. The Thai woman filed a complaint with Tung Maha Mek Police Station after being assaulted while picking…

  • Lufthansa and Thai Airways to revolutionise Eurasian travel

    Lufthansa and Thai Airways to revolutionise Eurasian travel

    In a bold move to redefine travel between Europe and Asia, Lufthansa and Thai Airways International are supercharging their partnership with a codeshare expansion that’s set to shake up the aviation industry. Starting this month, travellers will have unprecedented connectivity to Southeast Asia, as flights from Bangkok to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila take on a Lufthansa flight…

  • Interpol joins hunt for Cambodian suspect in Bangkok shooting

    Interpol joins hunt for Cambodian suspect in Bangkok shooting

    Interpol has issued a red notice for the arrest of a 24 year old Cambodian man implicated in the fatal shooting of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian opposition MP following a request from the Thai police. Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Sayam Boonsom, stated that the warrant will enable Interpol and the Cambodian National Police to locate…

  • Cambodian wanted for contract killing of Cambodian-French MP

    Cambodian wanted for contract killing of Cambodian-French MP

    Thai police issued an arrest warrant for a Cambodian man in connection with the contract killing of a former Cambodian-French opposition Member of Parliament in Bangkok. Police arrested the Thai gunman, Ekkaluck “Em” Parenoi, in Cambodia’s Prey Veng province on January 8 and brought him back to Thailand for questioning. Ekkaluck admitted to being hired to kill the former MP,…

  • Barking bad: Bangkok dealer’s pitbulls mask meth smells with poop

    Barking bad: Bangkok dealer’s pitbulls mask meth smells with poop

    In a barking mad drug bust, police uncovered a cunning scheme where a Bangkok dealer used his pitbulls to poop and pee to hide his methamphetamine operation. The dogs’ pee and poop were more than just a mess – they were meant to mask the whiff of a massive meth haul stashed right under their noses. Today, January 15, a…

  • Thailand to welcome foreign couples for surrogacy under new law

    Thailand to welcome foreign couples for surrogacy under new law

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is amending surrogacy legislation to align with the equal marriage law and to welcome overseas couples for surrogate births in Thailand. Director General of the Department of Health Service Support, Dr Panuwat Panket, shared updates yesterday, January 14, regarding the amendments to the Protection for Children Born through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act. These revisions are being…

  • Chinese couple beg for help in Bangkok amid son’s trafficking fears

    Chinese couple beg for help in Bangkok amid son’s trafficking fears

    A distraught Chinese couple has made a desperate plea outside the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, seeking help to find their missing son, suspected to be a victim of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. The couple, 64 year old Sun Maoxing and his wife 60 year old Wang Weiju, travelled from China’s Shandong province to Thailand on their first-ever trip abroad,…

  • Bangkok chokes on toxic air as PM2.5 levels hit danger zone

    Bangkok chokes on toxic air as PM2.5 levels hit danger zone

    Bangkok’s air quality plummeted to hazardous levels, with PM2.5 dust particles soaring to the orange health-threatening category across all 50 districts, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported today. The average PM2.5 concentration in the city reached 47.6 µg/m³ this morning, significantly exceeding the safe limit of 37.5 µg/m³. The five worst-affected districts are Nong Khaem (56.7 µg/m³), Khlong Sam Wa…

  • HK singer cancels Bangkok concert amid Chinese safety fears

    HK singer cancels Bangkok concert amid Chinese safety fears

    Hong Kong singer Eason Chan Yik-shun has abruptly cancelled his upcoming Bangkok concert, citing safety concerns for Chinese citizens travelling to Thailand. The February 22 show at Impact Arena was called off following the rescue of a mainland Chinese actor from a cross-border scam syndicate. Sunfan Media Group, the concert organiser, announced the decision last Friday, January 10. “After careful…

  • Rolling the dice: Thailand to legalise online gambling

    Rolling the dice: Thailand to legalise online gambling

    In a landmark move, the Thai Cabinet approved amendments to ministerial regulations aimed at legalising online gambling, with changes expected to be completed within a month. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Prasert Chantararuangthong revealed the decision today, following discussions at the Cabinet meeting yesterday, January 13. The amendments, spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital…

  • Bucket list gone wrong: Swansea gran’s naked Bangkok escapade

    Bucket list gone wrong: Swansea gran’s naked Bangkok escapade

    A 61 year old grandmother from Swansea found herself stark naked and wandering her hotel, allegedly after downing a tainted bucket of booze in bustling Bangkok. Janet West’s unnerving adventure adds a chilling chapter to the ongoing saga of suspected deadly drinks across Southeast Asia. West’s bizarre evening unfolded amid the wild festivities of the new year on Bangkok’s buzzing…

  • Police raid reveals sim box scam in Bangkok apartment

    Police raid reveals sim box scam in Bangkok apartment

    Police in Region 1 raided an apartment in the Lat Phrao area, uncovering eight sim box devices used for scam calls to defraud victims out of millions. The apartment was rented by a foreign national. Efforts are underway to expand the investigation and make arrests. Police Major General Worachat Saenkham, commander of the Region 1 Investigation Division, along with other…

  • Chinese woman accuses Thai police of 7 million baht extortion

    Chinese woman accuses Thai police of 7 million baht extortion

    A Chinese woman accused Thai police officers in Bangkok of extorting 7 million baht from her. However, several Thai nationals came forward to accuse the Chinese woman of operating an investment scam. The woman, identified only as Yujin, released a livestream video alleging corruption by officers at Prawet Police Station in Bangkok and urged her followers not to travel to…

  • PM Paetongtarn slams 4.4 billion baht asset allegations

    PM Paetongtarn slams 4.4 billion baht asset allegations

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has come out swinging against allegations of falsifying her assets statement, branding the claims as baseless and politically motivated. The accusations stem from a report by the Isra News Agency, suggesting that she misrepresented a staggering 4.4 billion baht debt owed to close family members. “It’s a debt between me and my relatives,” the premier insisted…

  • Foreign man pickpocketed at Bangkok shopping mall entrance (video)

    Foreign man pickpocketed at Bangkok shopping mall entrance (video)

    Three thieves, reportedly foreign nationals, pickpocketed a foreign man at the entrance of a shopping mall in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok this afternoon. Several news pages on Facebook shared a video showing the foreign victim searching for his stolen valuables in a black backpack outside the shopping mall, today, January 13. The mall is believed to be EmQuartier, located near…

  • Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger on face in fare dispute (video)

    Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger on face in fare dispute (video)

    A Thai taxi driver claimed self-defence after slashing a male passenger’s face on the roadside in the Silom neighbourhood of Bangkok on Friday, January 10. A witness shared a video of the incident near Silom Soi 6 in Bangkok at about 1am on Friday on his Up Dol Facebook account. The video showed the witness intervening in the argument between…

  • Bangkok man arrested for motorcycle theft after licence plate swap

    Bangkok man arrested for motorcycle theft after licence plate swap

    A patrol unit from Phetkasem apprehended a 37 year old man for motorcycle theft, catching him in the act as he attempted to swap out the licence plate of the stolen motorcycle. The arrest occurred yesterday, January 12 at 3pm, in the Lak Song subdistrict, Bang Khae district, Bangkok. The suspect, 37 year old Chaiyot “Boy” Boonyawong, confessed to stealing…

  • Foreign man found dead after fall from 23-storey Bangkok building

    Foreign man found dead after fall from 23-storey Bangkok building

    A foreign man was found dead after falling from a 23-storey building in the Phaya Thai area of Bangkok. The incident occurred at 5.30pm yesterday, January 12, with his body discovered inside a school’s perimeter. No identification documents were found on him. Police Lieutenant Weerachai Kaewsanga from Phaya Thai Police Station received a report about the fall near Si Ayutthaya…

  • Two men arrested for cable theft in Bangkok’s Si Phraya area

    Two men arrested for cable theft in Bangkok’s Si Phraya area

    Two men were arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing communication cables in the Si Phraya area in Bangkok. The suspects were apprehended by police after suspicious behaviour was observed, including inconsistent explanations for their presence at the scene. The arrest was conducted by a team led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and several other senior officers, including Police Major General…

  • Photographer arrested for obscene content on OnlyFans, earns over 2 million baht

    Photographer arrested for obscene content on OnlyFans, earns over 2 million baht

    A well-known photographer, 46 year old Thanakrit, was apprehended by the Metropolitan Investigation Bureau for distributing obscene images and videos of models on the subscription platform OnlyFans, reportedly earning over 2 million baht (US$57,590). The photographer, known by the nickname Ohm, has previously faced charges of obscenity. The arrest followed a complaint from a model, who alleged that the photographer…