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.

  • Sponsored

    Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained

    Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...

  • Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi leads Southeast Asia aviation industry

    Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi leads Southeast Asia aviation industry

    Southeast Asia’s aviation industry is taking off this year, with major airports and emerging destinations recording impressive growth in seat capacity. Fuelled by surging travel demand, expanded airline networks, and strategic connectivity upgrades, the region is cementing its position as a global aviation powerhouse. Leading the charge is Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, adding a staggering 407,000 seats in January—a 16% increase…

  • Bangkok prison scrutinised for bribes and Chinese inmate privilege

    Bangkok prison scrutinised for bribes and Chinese inmate privilege

    A Thai political activist and former inmate accused officials at Bangkok Remand Prison of accepting bribes from a Chinese inmate and granting them privileges. The activist, Ekkachai Hongkangwan, took to Facebook on Tuesday, January 21, to share his experiences in Bangkok Remand Prison between 2022 and 2023. His post highlighted the comfortable lives of Chinese call centre scam suspects and alleged…

  • Bangkok taxi driver denies raping victim despite her fleeing in underwear

    Bangkok taxi driver denies raping victim despite her fleeing in underwear

    A Thai taxi driver denied raping his intoxicated passenger this past Sunday, January 26, despite the victim fleeing his home in Bangkok wearing only underwear to seek help. The victim filed a complaint with officers at Taling Chan Police Station on Sunday. The 60 year old taxi driver, Thanawat, turned himself in but denied all allegations. However, he could not…

  • Bangkok train ridership surges 60% amid free transport initiative

    Bangkok train ridership surges 60% amid free transport initiative

    Train ridership across Greater Bangkok experienced a significant 60% rise on January 26, marking the second day of the government’s week-long initiative of free public transport aimed at combating air pollution, as reported by the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) today, January 28. DRT director-general Pichet Kunathammarak noted that the city’s electric train network saw a 60.90% increase in ridership…

  • Critics slam 140m baht quick fix for Bangkok haze crisis

    Critics slam 140m baht quick fix for Bangkok haze crisis

    Critics have blasted the government for allocating 140 million baht to fund free public transport in Bangkok for one week, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money that fails to tackle the root cause of the city’s haze pollution crisis. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra introduced the measure, which began last Saturday, January 25, to combat surging levels of hazardous PM2.5…

  • New haze directives to combat deadly pollution in Thailand

    New haze directives to combat deadly pollution in Thailand

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will provide additional directives at a Cabinet meeting today to address the ongoing haze issue, according to government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. The meeting will prioritise PM2.5 pollution, following the prime minister’s return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, over the weekend. She emphasised that the worsening pollution crisis extends beyond national boundaries. The 38…

  • Bangkok exercise equipment probe clears officials of corruption

    Bangkok exercise equipment probe clears officials of corruption

    An investigation into alleged corruption in the procurement of exercise equipment for seven recreation and sports centres in Bangkok has concluded with no evidence of misconduct. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced yesterday, January 27, that the inquiry, initiated in June last year, found no grounds for graft allegations involving 29 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials in the 77.22 million baht project.…

  • 2 suspects at large after assaulting Thai doctor outside Bangkok clinic

    2 suspects at large after assaulting Thai doctor outside Bangkok clinic

    Police are searching for two suspects who physically assaulted a doctor outside his beauty clinic in Silom, Bangkok on Saturday, January 25. The 37 year old Thai doctor, Chanesd Srisukho, filed a complaint at Tung Mahamek Police Station after the incident, which occurred at 7.36am on Saturday. The physical assault took place outside Chanesd’s clinic, Mali Clinic, located in Silom…

  • Bangkok fire leaves three injured, investigations underway

    Bangkok fire leaves three injured, investigations underway

    A fire broke out in a commercial building in Bang Khun Thian, Bangkok yesterday, January 26 at 2.15pm, resulting in three injuries. A 57 year old man sought refuge on the rooftop, using water from a tank to cool himself as firefighters battled the flames for over four hours. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sathorn Rabiabpho received a report of the incident…

  • Worker electrocuted in Bangkok tragedy cleaning building

    Worker electrocuted in Bangkok tragedy cleaning building

    A tragic accident occurred in Bangkok’s Bang Kho Laem district when a 32 year old Myanmar man, identified as Nim, fell to his death after being electrocuted while cleaning the exterior of a five-storey commercial building. The incident happened at 1pm yesterday, January 25, with emergency services responding swiftly to the scene. Police Lieutenant Colonel Nattawut Rodsoongnoen from Wat Phraya…

  • Harley-Davidson dealer found dead in Volvo in Bangkok

    Harley-Davidson dealer found dead in Volvo in Bangkok

    A motorcycle parts dealer specialising in Harley-Davidson was found dead in a Volvo parked at the Phra Khanong transport office. The incident occurred yesterday, January 24, when the 51 year old dealer, known as Tom, was discovered in the driver’s seat without visible injuries. Police suspect he died from a pre-existing medical condition. The discovery was made at the entrance…

  • Transport ministry: Bangkok Port to host entertainment complex

    Transport ministry: Bangkok Port to host entertainment complex

    The Transport Ministry has approved a proposal for Bangkok Port to host an integrated entertainment complex. Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit referenced an instruction from his deputy, Manaporn Charoensri, to establish a committee to assess the feasibility of developing such complexes at locations like ports. Several potential sites are under consideration. Suriya highlighted the Khlong Toei area of Bangkok Port as a…

  • Bangkok ranks 4th worst for air quality as haze chokes city

    Bangkok ranks 4th worst for air quality as haze chokes city

    Bangkok’s air quality took a nosedive today, earning it the grim title of the fourth worst city in the world for air pollution, according to Swiss-based monitoring platform IQAir. The capital’s air quality index (AQI) hit a hazardous 188 as of 9.40am, with toxic PM2.5 levels far exceeding safe thresholds. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) declared 48 out of 50…

  • Rock singer offers compensation after fatal Bangkok van crash

    Rock singer offers compensation after fatal Bangkok van crash

    Rock singer Manaswin Nuntasane, also known as Tik Shiro, and his family have expressed their willingness to compensate the family of two people who died in a van accident in Bangkok on October 10 last year. They offer to pay 4 to 5 million baht, although the victims’ family is seeking 24 million baht. Tik Shiro, aged 63, addressed the…

  • Lawyer criticised for opposing equal marriage in Thailand

    Lawyer criticised for opposing equal marriage in Thailand

    Lawyer Thammarat Sarapanya has faced a wave of criticism following his comments on equal marriage, which he described as a violation of the universe’s laws. The remarks came after the new Marriage Equality Act, amending the Civil and Commercial Code, took effect yesterday, January 23. Thammarat expressed his views through his Facebook page “The Lawyer of Legality,” stating, “Equal marriage…

  • AMLO combats fraud by closing 680,000 mule accounts

    AMLO combats fraud by closing 680,000 mule accounts

    The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has listed 72,031 persons for electronic transaction monitoring and closed over 680,000 mule accounts. AMLO’s Assistant Secretary-General, Witya Neetitham, yesterday reported on the Transaction Committee’s actions from December 2024 to January under the leadership of AMLO Secretary-General Tepsu Bowonchodidara. The committee has targeted assets linked to drug offences, fraud, and online gambling. In drug-related offences,…

  • Bangkok hospital confirms no elderly death in foreign man rampage

    Bangkok hospital confirms no elderly death in foreign man rampage

    A hospital in Bangkok confirmed that no elderly patient deaths were reported following a rampage caused by a foreign man on Wednesday, January 22. The identity of the foreigner remains under investigation. A video showing a foreign man going on a rampage at what was later confirmed to be Sirindhorn Hospital in Bangkok was shared on the Facebook page AggressiveDoctor. The…

  • Temperatures drop as cold air mass covers Thailand

    Temperatures drop as cold air mass covers Thailand

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its first warning of a cold air mass that will result in significant temperature drops across upper Thailand. The southern region should also brace for heavy rainfall due to a monsoon. The notice outlines the impact from January 26 to 28. A new surge of high pressure or a cold air mass from China…

  • Airport arrest: Chinese murder suspects nabbed in Thailand

    Airport arrest: Chinese murder suspects nabbed in Thailand

    Two Chinese nationals wanted for murder in Hong Kong were arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday evening, January 22, as they attempted to flee justice. The suspects, identified as Yau Shu-Ko Enoch and Shimeobi Chinedu Nelson, are accused of committing a fatal crime in Hong Kong earlier that day. According to Police Major General Choengron Rimphadee, commander of Immigration…

  • Thai couple arrested in Bangkok condominium raid for producing Pod K

    Thai couple arrested in Bangkok condominium raid for producing Pod K

    Officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau raided a luxury condominium in Bangkok’s Thon Buri neighbourhood on Tuesday, January 21, and arrested a Thai couple for producing and distributing a new narcotic known as Pod K. Pod K, a substance similar in appearance to e-cigarettes, contains e-liquid laced with ketamine. This new drug gained popularity among Thai teenagers due to its accessibility,…

  • Foreign man goes on rampage in Bangkok hospital, allegedly leaving 1 dead

    Foreign man goes on rampage in Bangkok hospital, allegedly leaving 1 dead

    A foreign man went on a rampage at a hospital in Bangkok, attacking medical workers and patients’ relatives, allegedly causing an elderly patient to die of shock. The Facebook page AggressiveDoctor shared security camera footage of the assault yesterday, January 22, with a caption that read… “Intentionally attacks medical workers, even if they are female. Should he have been shot…

  • DSI investigates possible tampering in Tangmo’s death case

    DSI investigates possible tampering in Tangmo’s death case

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has approved an inquiry into the case of late Thai actress Tangmo, following concerns about potential external and official involvement. Suspicions have been raised regarding possible manipulation of the justice process. Police Lieutenant Colonel Yutthana Phaedam, Director-General of the DSI, authorised the investigation yesterday, January 22. This decision came after a complaint was filed…

  • Thailand and Yokohama strengthen Bangkok Port collaboration

    Thailand and Yokohama strengthen Bangkok Port collaboration

    The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) and the City of Yokohama in Japan have formalised a letter of intent to enhance their port operations and infrastructure on the 10th anniversary of their partnership. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit highlighted that this agreement will bolster cooperation in port development and infrastructure, with a focus on Bangkok Port. The collaboration aims to…

  • Thailand’s first LGBTQ+ couple registers marriage on historic day

    Thailand’s first LGBTQ+ couple registers marriage on historic day

    History was made in Bangkok as Thailand celebrated its first official day of equal marriage. Organised by Narumit Pride, alongside numerous government and civil society organisations, the event marked the start of marriage registration for LGBTQ+ couples nationwide, turning a long-awaited dream into reality. At 6.15am, the first couple, 33 year old Ploynapas Jirasukon and 32 year old Kwanporn Kongphet…

  • New Thai law lets LGBTQ+ couples sue for adultery compensation

    New Thai law lets LGBTQ+ couples sue for adultery compensation

    Thailand has made legal history by granting LGBTQ+ couples the right to sue adulterous spouses for compensation, marking a pivotal step towards equality under the law. The amendment, which came into effect today, ensure[s fair treatment for all couples, regardless of gender. The Civil and Commercial Code has been updated to allow LGBTQ+ spouses the same legal protections as heterosexual…

  • Thai driver released on 600,000 baht bail after killing motorcyclist

    Thai driver released on 600,000 baht bail after killing motorcyclist

    The Bangkok South Criminal Court released a Thai sedan driver on bail set at 600,000 baht this afternoon after he intentionally hit and killed a motorcyclist on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. The 30 year old suspect, Seree Srettheenamwong, was captured on a security camera deliberately crashing his white Toyota Altis sedan into a black electric motorcycle ridden by 49 year…

  • Bangkok gears up for historic equal marriage celebrations

    Bangkok gears up for historic equal marriage celebrations

    Love wins in Bangkok as the city prepares to celebrate equal marriage registrations for all couples starting tomorrow, January 23 when the Marriage Equality Bill comes into effect. From exclusive giveaways to romantic photo corners, each district is ready to make history while creating unforgettable memories for lovebirds. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has announced the city’s readiness to implement the…

  • Bangkok: Blind woman sexually harassed by cousin seeks help

    Bangkok: Blind woman sexually harassed by cousin seeks help

    A blind woman has sought help from Panadda Wongphudee, president of the Foundation for Good Deeds after enduring a month-long ordeal of alleged sexual harassment by her cousin. The police are set to issue a summons yesterday, January 21. The incident was shared on Panadda’s personal Instagram account, a well-known beauty queen, actress, singer, and presenter, who also serves as the…

  • Thai sedan driver arrested for intentionally hitting and killing motorcyclist

    Thai sedan driver arrested for intentionally hitting and killing motorcyclist

    A Thai sedan car driver hit and killed an app-based motorcycle rider following a traffic dispute on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok yesterday. Officers from Lumpini Police Station were alerted to the fatal accident on Sukhumvit Road in the afternoon. They arrived at the scene accompanied by rescuers from the Por Teck Tung Foundation. They discovered the lifeless body of 48…

  • Five arrested in Bangkok drug bust, 1.65 tonnes of Ice seized

    Five arrested in Bangkok drug bust, 1.65 tonnes of Ice seized

    Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), announced the arrest of five individuals involved in cross-border drug trafficking. They were apprehended during a significant operation that led to the seizure of 1.65 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, which was hidden in 33 cotton rolls within a warehouse located in Bangkok’s Rat Burana…