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’s digital wallet scheme registration starts today

    Thailand’s digital wallet scheme registration starts today

    Registration for the digital wallet scheme started today, August 1 at 8am and will be available 24 hours a day until September 15. The Thai government arranged for a call centre at 1111 to answer any questions around the clock. The digital wallet initiative, offering a digital currency worth 10,000 baht, has eight conditions and restrictions that citizens must meet…

  • Bhumjaithai eyes deputy House speaker role amid MFP uncertainty

    Bhumjaithai eyes deputy House speaker role amid MFP uncertainty

    Bhumjaithai Party is reportedly eyeing the position of first deputy House speaker if the Move Forward Party (MFP) faces dissolution next week. Currently, the role is held by Fair Party MP Padipat Suntiphada, who was originally a MFP MP for Phitsanulok province at the time of his nomination and selection. The law prohibits the main opposition party from having one…

  • Bangkok and five provinces face flood threat from high tides

    Bangkok and five provinces face flood threat from high tides

    Bangkok and five other provinces are on alert for potential floods due to high tides and continuous rainfall expected to persist tomorrow. The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) forecasted that elevated sea levels and ongoing downpours from August 2 to 8 will cause rivers to swell, posing a threat to low-lying areas along the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong,…

  • Thai defence minister demands US offset details for F-16 jets

    Thai defence minister demands US offset details for F-16 jets

    Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang urged the United States to provide comprehensive details on the offset policy related to acquiring F-16 fighter jets by today. The Thai government remains undecided on whether to opt for the Swedish-made Gripen by Saab AB or the US-made F-16 Block 70/72 by Lockheed Martin for its air force. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) aims…

  • Tang Rat app crashes amid rush for 10,000 baht digital wallet

    Tang Rat app crashes amid rush for 10,000 baht digital wallet

    The Tang Rat application crashed as numerous people rushed to download and verify their identities ahead of the registration for the 10,000 baht digital wallet set to begin tomorrow, August 1. It was reported today that the government, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and the Ministry of Finance, will open the registration for the 10,000 baht…

  • Thai man arrested for stealing from Bangkok laundrettes

    Thai man arrested for stealing from Bangkok laundrettes

    Thai police arrested a man suspected of breaking into coin-operated machines at several laundrettes in Bangkok. Despite his attempts to evade detection by adjusting surveillance cameras, he was ultimately caught. Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, Police Major General Noppasil Poolwasawat, Pol. Maj. Gen. Teeradech Thammasuthee, and Colonel Niwat Phuenguthaisri, along with their investigative teams, successfully apprehended 29 year old Chaiyanan.…

  • Ex-PM Thaksin’s Dubai dreams dashed: Medical treatment declined

    Ex-PM Thaksin’s Dubai dreams dashed: Medical treatment declined

    The Criminal Court dashed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hopes of jetting off to Dubai for medical treatment. The embattled ex-leader requested to travel to the UAE from August 1 to 16, citing a slew of health issues, including chronic pneumonia, respiratory and coronary symptoms, a torn right rotator cuff, and spinal disc herniation. Thaksin, who celebrated his 75th birthday last…

  • BTSC demands 40 billion baht Green Line overdue debt payment

    BTSC demands 40 billion baht Green Line overdue debt payment

    The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) declared itself ready to negotiate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krungthep Thanakom (KT) over the staggering debt tied to the BTS Green Line extensions. This comes hot on the heels of a Supreme Administrative Court ruling on July 26, giving both parties a 180-day deadline to cough up nearly 12 billion baht…

  • Activist Parit Chiwarak sentenced to two years for lese majeste

    Activist Parit Chiwarak sentenced to two years for lese majeste

    The criminal court of Thailand sentenced political activist Parit Chiwarak, also known as Penguin, to three years in prison for lese majeste, later reduced to two years without suspension. An arrest warrant has been issued for him to serve the sentence within a 10-year statute of limitations. The verdict was delivered today, July 31, at 10am at Criminal Court Room…

  • Steel plate falls on car on Rama 2 Road, Bangkok, during storm

    Steel plate falls on car on Rama 2 Road, Bangkok, during storm

    A steel plate fell onto a vehicle on Rama 2 Road, Bangkok, due to turbulent weather and strong winds, prompting a three-day suspension of work and compensation for those affected. The incident occurred on July 29 at approximately 11.45am. Sarawut Songsiwilai, Director-General of the Department of Highways, addressed the incident where a steel plate fell onto the bonnet of a…

  • Paws for thought: Orphaned dogs named after 28 Thai provinces

    Paws for thought: Orphaned dogs named after 28 Thai provinces

    The Voice Foundation is urgently seeking new homes for 28 small-sized dogs, all named after Thai provinces, following the death of their owner in Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok. The story has captivated the public, with the foundation’s unique naming scheme for the dogs catching widespread attention. The dogs were discovered after a concerned neighbour noticed the absence of their…

  • Chinese woman rescued from 15 million baht virtual kidnapping

    Chinese woman rescued from 15 million baht virtual kidnapping

    Thai police rescued a Chinese woman in Bangkok from a virtual kidnapping after a call centre scam gang tricked her into staging a kidnap and extorting 15 million baht from her parents. The Chinese man, Liang Luihua, hired a Thai woman, Napaphat Noppasettakarn, to file a complaint at Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station after his daughter, 21 year old Wang Jia…

  • TikTok star arrested at Bangkok airport for operating online gambling

    TikTok star arrested at Bangkok airport for operating online gambling

    Police arrested a Thai TikTok star at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok yesterday, after discovering she was operating a gambling website with over 4 billion baht in circulation. Officers from the Special Operation Unit for the Prevention and Suppression of Digital Crimes from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) arrested a 29 year old Thai woman named Chutima,…

  • MFP faces potential dissolution amid court ruling

    MFP faces potential dissolution amid court ruling

    Move Forward Party (MFP) remains resolute in its mission to promote progressive policies, regardless of the impending Constitutional Court ruling that could lead to its dissolution next week, according to spokesperson Parit Wacharasindhu. Parit announced that party leader Chaithawat Tulathon and chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat will present statements on Friday summarising the legal arguments submitted to the court. The court…

  • US urges Thailand to release Vietnamese activist facing extradition

    US urges Thailand to release Vietnamese activist facing extradition

    US Congress members have formally requested that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin release Vietnamese activist Y Quynh Bdap and assist in his resettlement to a third country rather than deporting him. This appeal was based on a letter signed by Michelle Steel, Luis Correa, John Moolenaar, and Chris Smith dated Friday, July 26. Activist 32 year old Bdap, who founded Montagnards…

  • Knife-wielding Thai man causes chaos in Prawet district, Bangkok

    Knife-wielding Thai man causes chaos in Prawet district, Bangkok

    A man wielding two knives caused chaos in the Prawet district of Bangkok after attacking locals. The Thai police are struggling to restrain him, urging residents to stay vigilant as the situation remains unresolved. A post on Facebook page Nakorn 45 Anuwat Phoampai detailed the incident. “Everyone ran for their lives! Rescuers arrived to assist a patient following a distress…

  • Disabled man arrested for throwing rock at car in Bangkok (video)

    Disabled man arrested for throwing rock at car in Bangkok (video)

    A Thai woman took to social media to warn motorists in Bangkok after a disabled man threw a rock at her car while travelling on Banthat Thong Road on Sunday, July 28. Many netizens shared that this man committed the same crime in the Silom area. The female driver shared the video of the disabled suspect attempting to flee from…

  • Chinese tourists accused of killing kitten with luggage

    Chinese tourists accused of killing kitten with luggage

    Thai netizens condemned two foreign tourists for kicking and running their luggage over a kitten, leading to its death in Soi Phayanak near Ratchathewi BTS Station in Bangkok. The tourists were widely assumed to be Chinese. News Facebook page Social Hunter 2022 shared pictures of the dead animal and the tourists, reported to be Chinese, on Sunday, July 28. The…

  • Noodle disaster: Jet ski capsizes leaves trio in Chao Phraya River

    Noodle disaster: Jet ski capsizes leaves trio in Chao Phraya River

    Three young men riding jet skis to enjoy a bowl of noodles found themselves in peril when one of their jet skis capsized in the Chao Phraya River near Bangkok. The incident prompted a rescue operation but the men managed to return safely to shore near Nonthaburi Pier. Volunteer officers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation yesterday, July 29, at 8pm, received…

  • MFP to lift the curtain: Bangkok gym gear scandal in the spotlight

    MFP to lift the curtain: Bangkok gym gear scandal in the spotlight

    The Move Forward Party (MFP) called for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to disclose the results of its investigations into alleged corruption within a procurement programme for gym equipment. Suphanat Meenchainan, MFP MP for Chatuchak, Bang Khen, and Lak Si, announced the procurement irregularities came to public attention online in June. The BMA reportedly faced procurement issues at nine of…

  • Amnesty bill committee divided on Thailand’s lese majeste inclusion

    Amnesty bill committee divided on Thailand’s lese majeste inclusion

    The House Committee tasked with studying an amnesty bill has concluded its work but has not reached a decision on whether offences under Section 112, the lese majeste law, and Section 110 of the Criminal Code should be included. Pheu Thai MP and Committee Chairperson Chusak Sirinil announced that the panel has endorsed a report for submission to the House.…

  • New bill to combat corruption in Thailand’s public sector

    New bill to combat corruption in Thailand’s public sector

    A new bill designed to streamline licencing and establish standards for government services is in the works, promising to be a significant tool in combating bribery and corruption in the public sector, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, the prime minister’s legal adviser. Wissanu, during a lecture on preventing corruption in the public sector amid digital disruption, highlighted that this bill is…

  • Thai cyber police seize gambling assets worth 190 million baht

    Thai cyber police seize gambling assets worth 190 million baht

    Thai cyber police arrested the owner of two major online gambling networks, seizing assets worth 190 million baht. The websites reportedly used cartoon profile pictures to attract young gamblers. Police disclosed that the networks generated over 480 million baht annually. The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) in Mueang Thong Thani announced the crackdown, which targeted the websites kingpigs1.com and duckystars.com.…

  • Bangkok ordered to pay over 12 billion baht to BTS within 180 days

    Bangkok ordered to pay over 12 billion baht to BTS within 180 days

    The Supreme Administrative Court upheld a ruling requiring Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krungthep Thanakom Company to pay BTS Group Holdings over 12 billion baht in outstanding debts related to the Green Line extension project within 180 days. The Supreme Administrative Court delivered its final verdict at 9am today, July 26, affirming the Central Administrative Court’s decision. The BMA and…

  • Heavy rain to batter 23 provinces in Thailand including Bangkok

    Heavy rain to batter 23 provinces in Thailand including Bangkok

    Heavy rain is expected to batter 23 provinces today, with Bangkok also facing a 70% chance of severe downpours. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned of flash floods and forest runoffs, urging residents to stay alert and take precautions. TMD forecasts that the eastern and western regions of the northern part of Thailand will experience very heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, the…

  • SAT-1: Suvarnabhumi Airport lounge launch hits a delay

    SAT-1: Suvarnabhumi Airport lounge launch hits a delay

    The newly opened satellite terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, known as SAT-1, has seen limited activity in its lounges and day rooms due to a lack of international flights, according to Miracle Group, an operator of airport lounges and hotels. The chairman of Miracle Group, Aswin Ingkakul, noted that large international airlines have not utilised the SAT-1 terminal as expected.…

  • Thailand joins forces with Cambodia to tackle call centre gangs

    Thailand joins forces with Cambodia to tackle call centre gangs

    Top police officials from Thailand and Cambodia have declared war on call centre gangs, vowing to put an end to their reign of terror. The two nations agreed to collaborate during a high-stakes teleconference held today, sparking hope for millions affected by these scams. The critical agreement was struck between the Royal Thai Police, led by Commissioner-General Police General Torsak…

  • Thaksin’s birthday bash: Alms, lunch, and A-list guests

    Thaksin’s birthday bash: Alms, lunch, and A-list guests

    Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to mark his 75th birthday with a private yet lavish celebration at his Chan Song Lar mansion in Bangkok. According to his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin will offer alms to Buddhist monks and host a lunch for a select group of close friends tomorrow. Paetongtarn revealed that her father plans to make…

  • Chao Phraya bridges to shine for King’s 72nd birthday celebrations

    Chao Phraya bridges to shine for King’s 72nd birthday celebrations

    Three iconic bridges over the Chao Phraya River will be illuminated starting tomorrow as part of the nationwide celebrations for the 72nd birthday of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. The Rural Roads Department announced this festive display, which will continue until next Tuesday, July 30. Decorative lights will adorn the Bhumibol 1 and 2 Bridges, which connect Bangkok…

  • Paetongtarn kicks Chalerm Yubamrung out of Party’s chat group

    Paetongtarn kicks Chalerm Yubamrung out of Party’s chat group

    Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has removed veteran politician Chalerm Yubamrung from the party’s LINE application group. However, she has stopped short of expelling him from the party itself. Paetongtarn revealed her decision today, July 25, just one day after Chalerm held a press conference at his home in Bangkok’s Bang Bon district, daring the party to…