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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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Cat’s out the bag! Cops claw back wildlife in Bangkok airport bust
In a purrfectly executed operation at Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok, Thai police proudly announced a successful swoop on a hair-raising attempt to smuggle exotic wildlife out of Thailand. The operation on Sunday, March 2, led to the apprehension of a 44 year old Indian woman, who was trying to wing it by sneaking protected animals aboard AirAsia flight FD 137 bound…
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Warehouse fire keeps Bangkok firefighters on toes for over 8 hours
A blazing inferno inside a frozen goods warehouse in Bang Phili proved to be a stubborn adversary for Bangkok firefighters, with the flames still not fully extinguished today after more than eight hours. Amid the chaos, the warehouse owner firmly denied any ammonia gas presence in the facility, easing some public safety concerns. Firefighters from a multitude of agencies converged…
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Royal Thai Navy’s billion-baht battle over subs and frigates
Thailand’s troubled submarine deal and ambitious warship plans are caught in political limbo, with the Pheu Thai-led government showing little urgency in making key defence decisions. As Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares for a censure debate later this month, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)’s long-stalled projects remain up in the air. The RTN initially accepted China’s offer of an S26T…
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Fury on the streets: Protesters clash with govt over casino bill
Angry protesters stormed the Finance Ministry yesterday, demanding the government scrap its controversial plan to legalise casinos. The demonstration, led by three hardline groups, accused Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat of backing a bill that, they claim, will open the floodgates for Thai gamblers rather than targeting foreign tourists. The Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, the Dharma…
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Heavy rain and hail hit Thailand amid summer storm
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) has issued its sixth warning for a summer storm expected to hit 46 provinces, including Bangkok, with heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and lightning in certain areas. Residents are advised to exercise caution. Issued at 5pm yesterday, March 6, the announcement details that northern, northeastern, central Thailand, Bangkok and its surrounding areas, and the…
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Luxury Mini Cooper goes up in flames on Bangkok street
A luxury Mini Cooper was destroyed after bursting into flames near Soi Thonglor 20 in Bangkok’s Watthana district this morning. The shocking fire erupted in front of Kasikorn Bank’s Sukhumvit 55 branch, leaving bystanders scrambling to contain the blaze. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sitthichai Jumprom of Thonglor Police Station received a report of the fire at 10.40am, today, March 6, and rushed…
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Court blocks Thaksin’s request to leave Thailand for Indonesia
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra faced a legal setback today after the Criminal Court denied his request to travel abroad. The court ruled that there was not sufficient reason to allow him to leave the country, blocking his planned trip to Indonesia for the upcoming ASEAN meeting. This morning, Thaksin arrived at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road in his…
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Optimus Prime creator clashes with bar over new figure donation
A Thai Optimus Prime creator clashed with a coffee shop and cocktail bar after a refusal to support his donation campaign to build two new figures following the viral and allegedly sacred figure near Bangkok’s Chinatown. The coffee shop and cocktail bar, Hypnotized, made the Optimus Prime figure go viral after sharing videos of offerings, including cocktails, engine oil, and traditional…
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New 100 baht note marks Finance Ministry’s 150th anniversary
The Ministry of Finance announced the release of a commemorative 100 baht banknote to mark its 150th anniversary. The note, which can legally be used for transactions, will be issued on April 14. The announcement was published on the Royal Gazette’s website, detailing the characteristics, colour, and size of the commemorative note. Signed by Pichai Chunhavajira, the finance minister, the…
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Road rage: Motorcyclist damages car mirrors in Bangkok
A motorcyclist was reported to have kicked and damaged a car’s side mirror outside a well-known Huai Khwang shopping centre in Bangkok following a traffic dispute. The incident, which escalated from an argument over a lane change, led to the motorcyclist fleeing the scene. The victim, who shared the event on Facebook under the name Mouy Worarat, explained that the…
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Bangkok man caught with meth pills during traffic stop
A Bangkok man’s suspicious behaviour at a traffic checkpoint led to his arrest after police found 60 methamphetamine (meth) pills hidden inside a cigarette pack. The operation took place yesterday, March 5 along the inbound Vibhavadi Road in Chatuchak district, where officers from the Vibhavadi Rangsit Traffic Control Centre were enforcing traffic rules, particularly targeting motorcyclists using the main lanes.…
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Bangkok bust: Nigerian duo caught in a powder keg of trouble
Two Nigerian nationals were apprehended in Bangkok following the implication of their involvement in drug trafficking by a woman caught attempting to smuggle cocaine into Japan. Both men were identified as overstayers and are now facing immediate immigration charges, alongside being investigated for alleged drug-related offences. Immigration and narcotics control police conducted a raid on a condominium on Navamin-Ram Intra…
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Home for Thais registration ends soon, housing lottery set for April
Registration for the Home for Thais initiative will end this month, with a property owner lottery scheduled for next month, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Since the project started on January 17, around 350,000 people have registered. However, fewer than half, approximately 140,000 applicants, have passed the initial qualification screening, making them eligible for housing loans from the…
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Bangkok residents raise alarm over illegal condo rentals, prostitution
Furious residents in Bangkok’s Nana district say their once-tranquil homes have been turned into a noisy nightmare, thanks to illegal condo rentals and prostitution. They claim foreigners are not only flouting the rules but also running a seedy prostitution racket, sparking serious safety concerns. People’s Party MP Bhuntin Noumjerm brought the issue to public attention, highlighting the ongoing distress faced by…
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Bet and busted: Poker faces flop in 51 million baht Bangkok bust
Thai police made a full house of arrests on Tuesday, swooping down on a clandestine poker den tucked away in a Bangkok warehouse. The audacious raid on March 4, led by officers from Ladprao Police Station, captured 52 gamblers, both locals and foreigners, caught red-handed amidst a sea of chips worth a staggering 51.4 million baht. Tipped off about the…
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Phuket Airport immigration chief transferred amid nepotism claims
Police Colonel Padthongtew Damapong, chief of Phuket Airport Immigration, has been promoted to head Nonthaburi Immigration, part of the Greater Bangkok area after only ten months. The move, which follows another fast-tracked promotion just 10 months earlier, raised eyebrows due to his high-profile family connections. Pol. Col. Padthongtew is the nephew of Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, the ex-wife of former…
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Bangkok Airways suspends northern flights due to smog
Bangkok Airways announced the temporary suspension of all flights between Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the northern destinations of Lampang and Mae Hong Son, as thick smog and hazardous air pollution continue to engulf the region. The airline confirmed that services would be grounded from March 15 to April 20 due to dangerously low visibility caused by persistent haze, which has…
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South Bangkok court allows class action against CPF by farmers
A group of farmers has taken a major step in their legal battle against agribusiness giant Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) after the South Bangkok Civil Court approved their class action lawsuit. The case, filed over claims of environmental damage and harm to livelihoods, was given the green light at 9am yesterday, March 4. The lawsuit alleges that CPF’s industrial operations…
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Digging trouble: Bangkok man arrested for shovelling blows at cops
A 38 year old man was arrested in Bangkok after allegedly assaulting two police officers with a shovel. The incident occurred on March 3, when the man, Kamla, was reportedly found engaging in indecent behaviour in public. Subsequently, he fled into a construction building, where the confrontation ensued. At approximately 9.04pm, police received a report of a man undressing and engaging…
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Man found dead in Bangkok tuk tuk with stab wound and drugs
A 49 year old man from Roi Et was found dead with a stab wound in a tuk tuk in Ratchathewi district, Bangkok. Police discovered 10 methamphetamine pills at the scene. The police are currently investigating the incident to determine the cause of death. The incident occurred at noon yesterday, March 4, when Police Lieutenant Jeeranan Kaoeian, Deputy Inspector at…
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Fast and furious: Bangkok tuk tuk race ends in crash, 3 injured
A high-speed tuk tuk race on a Bangkok road ended in a devastating crash, leaving three people seriously injured, including one driver with a severe head injury. The incident, which occurred late last night, March 3, sparked a police investigation, with officers awaiting blood alcohol test results. The collision happened around 10pm on Ratchadaphisek Road in Chong Nonsi, Yannawa district,…
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Bangkok condo illegally rented daily, reveals weak law enforcement
Residents and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have raised concerns over a condominium in Sukhumvit 11, developed by a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), where half of the 450 units are allegedly rented out daily through online platforms, highlighting weak law enforcement in Thailand. A foreign resident and unit owner at the condominium disclosed that more…
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Thailand upholds alcohol ban on Buddhist holidays with exceptions
Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Board has upheld the ban on alcohol sales during five major Buddhist holy days, with limited exceptions for specific locations. The decision, aimed at balancing religious observance with tourism promotion, is expected to take effect before Visakha Bucha Day on May 11. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Chantararuangthong, chaired the National…
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Bangkok condo technician fatally shot near home
A 29 year old maintenance technician from a condominium in Sathorn, Bangkok, was fatally shot while returning home from work. The incident occurred around 8pm,yesterday, March 3, near his residence in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok. He had recently enrolled in a well-known technical college for a month. Police Lieutenant Wiriyah Prathumsai from Thammasala Police Station, along with Police…
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Khlong Toei street vendors must vacate by March 16
Street food vendors at Khlong Toei Market 1 have been instructed to vacate by March 16 to enhance the visual appeal and pedestrian pathways along Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok’s Khlong Toei subdistrict. Deputy Bangkok Governor Jakkapan Phiewngam is leading the initiative and recently conducted an inspection of the area in preparation for the transition. On Saturday, March 2, Governor Jakkapan…
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Pill-shocked: War veterans’ hospital in prescription bribery scandal
In a bombshell revelation that has rocked Thailand, the War Veterans Organisation of Thailand (WVO) has lodged a damning complaint with the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), claiming that 20 government employees are knee-deep in a bribery scheme tangled up with drug prescriptions at the Veterans General Hospital. The explosive allegations were brought to light by WVO chief General Detnithit Luang-Ngam, and…
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Bangkok revamps Bueng Si Kan Lake for flood control
Bangkok is gearing up for a wetter future with a major transformation of Bueng Si Kan Lake in Lak Si district, turning it into a massive flood-control reservoir. The ambitious project is part of the city’s monkey cheek initiative to tackle increasing rainfall and prevent severe flooding in one of its most vulnerable neighbourhoods. Deputy Governor Wissanu Sabsomphon announced that…
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Fortune turns sour: Fengshui master’s gambling scandal exposed
Royal Thai Police (RTP) rounded up an unlucky 13 alleged masterminds behind a lucrative gambling website, reportedly raking in a staggering 1.6 billion baht annually. Assets amounting to 20 million baht have been seized in connection with the arrested gang. The case unravels the tangled web of 43 year old fengshui guru Thanawan Jiracharoenwes, infamously known as “Tili.” The smooth…
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Bangkok and Ratchaburi drug raids lead to two arrests
The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) conducted raids in Bangkok and Ratchaburi, arresting two men allegedly selling drugs online with blatant disregard for the law. Yesterday, March 2, Police Major General Athip Phongsivapai directed the operation, which led to the arrest of 37 year old Peerawut and 24 year old Suphapat. The suspects were apprehended under separate charges. Peerawut was…
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Bangkok police probe woman’s sexual assault by invisible men
Bueng Kum District Police in Bangkok have been called to untangle a Thai woman’s claims that she has been sexually assaulted by gang of invisible men over the past two years. The tale blends the supernatural with reality, as the alleged 52 year old Thai victim, Ning, alleges a harrowing two-year rape ordeal at the hands of an invisible gang.…
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