Bangkok News

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  • Thai government greenlights energy subsidies and price caps | Thaiger

    Thai government greenlights energy subsidies and price caps

    Subsidies on electricity bills for vulnerable groups and caps on cooking gas and diesel prices have received the green light from the Thai government. The move aimed to alleviate the burden of burgeoning energy costs on the population. Deputy government spokesperson Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri disclosed that diesel prices will now be fixed at 33 baht per litre, from April 20…

  • Thai government sets plans for King Rama X’s upcoming birthday | Thaiger

    Thai government sets plans for King Rama X’s upcoming birthday

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a directive to all government departments to come up with proposals for events to mark the forthcoming sixth-cycle birthday of His Majesty King Rama X, scheduled for July 28. The announcement came in the wake of a Cabinet meeting yesterday. The 62 year old Thai prime minister requested that the plans be presented to the…

  • Airline engine mishap leaves Thai passengers gasping for air (video) | Thaiger

    Airline engine mishap leaves Thai passengers gasping for air (video)

    Thai passengers took to social media to complain about an airline that left them struggling to breathe on a plane for over an hour due to an engine failure. The incident reportedly occurred on a Nok Air flight from Bangkok to the southern province of Songkhla. A Thai woman shared her experience on a flight from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport…

  • American man wanted for sex crimes in US arrested in Bangkok | Thaiger

    American man wanted for sex crimes in US arrested in Bangkok

    Thai police arrested an American man yesterday at a condominium in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok after he evaded authorities following multiple sex crime charges in the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sought cooperation from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in extraditing the American criminal, Selva Delano Mudaliar. The 37 year old is described as a US…

  • Bangkok maintains top spot as tourist hotspot | Thaiger

    Bangkok maintains top spot as tourist hotspot

    Thailand’s vibrant capital of Bangkok retained its crown as the top tourist hotspot for the month of March, with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports‘ data revealing an impressive 4,459,579 visitors. The city, known for its bustling markets, opulent shrines, and vibrant street life, saw international tourists making up 49.60% of the visitors, leading to a hotel occupancy rate of…

  • Chinese businessmen extorted for 2.5 million baht in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Chinese businessmen extorted for 2.5 million baht in Bangkok

    Bangkok was the scene of a daring extortion case involving five Chinese businessmen and a group of Thais, including law enforcement officers, yesterday, May 5. A press conference, held by Din Daeng police and other relevant agencies, revealed the shocking incident where the businessmen were forcibly detained and extorted for 2.5 million baht. The incident began unfolding on April 25…

  • Bangkok taxi meter scam outcry after 1,800 baht airport fare | Thaiger

    Bangkok taxi meter scam outcry after 1,800 baht airport fare

    A recent social media post sparked an outcry over alleged taxi meter fraud in Bangkok. A passenger complaint was highlighted, claiming an overcharge for a ride from Bang Khae to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where the fare meter read an exorbitant 1,800 baht. The incident has raised concerns about overcharging and exploitation of foreigners by taxi drivers in the city. Bangkok’s…

  • Thai woman demands justice after taxi takes her to wrong airport | Thaiger

    Thai woman demands justice after taxi takes her to wrong airport

    A Thai woman is seeking justice after an app-based taxi driver took her to the wrong airport in Bangkok, causing her to miss her flight. The woman, whose identity was not revealed, shared her story on Facebook, expressing frustration that both the driver and the ride-hailing app refuse to take responsibility for her losses. The driver blamed her for not…

  • Russian man found dead in Bangkok canal with multiple cuts | Thaiger

    Russian man found dead in Bangkok canal with multiple cuts

    Locals discovered the dead body of a Russian man in the Hua Lamphong Canal in Bangkok yesterday. He bore more than 10 cut wounds on his wrists. Officers from the Bangrak Police Station investigated the body of the Russian man at around 8am yesterday. Locals in the area spotted the body in the Hua Lamphong Canal near Soi Santiphap in…

  • Bangkok’s street sweepers: Deputy governor’s vendor crackdown | Thaiger

    Bangkok’s street sweepers: Deputy governor’s vendor crackdown

    Lang Suan Road commercial area in Pathumwan, Bangkok, was bustling with activity this morning. However, not with the usual chaos of vendors setting up their street stalls, but a methodical inspection led by Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Chakkapan Phewngam, and his team of officials to clamp down on street vendor regulations, maintain public order and ensure cleanliness. This was not…

  • Bangkok’s eastern flank gets a wetland forest for recreation | Thaiger

    Bangkok’s eastern flank gets a wetland forest for recreation

    The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is transforming an 86-rai plot of land situated on Bangkok’s eastern flank into a wetland forest, a green space designed to provide urban dwellers with fresh air and recreational facilities. This plot, found in the Bung Kum district, was previously recognised as Klong Lam Bung Kum. Its initial purpose was to act as a floodwater-retention…

  • PM Srettha urges local authorities to monitor Covid-19 | Thaiger

    PM Srettha urges local authorities to monitor Covid-19

    PM Srettha issued a directive to local authorities to closely monitor the Covid-19 situation following a surge in cases during the Songkran festival. This came after the prime minister and public health officials voiced concerns about a potential increase in Covid-19 cases. Kenika Ounjit, a spokeswoman for the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, announced yesterday that local authorities have been instructed…

  • Bangkok: Thai authorities crack down on illegal immigrant workers | Thaiger

    Bangkok: Thai authorities crack down on illegal immigrant workers

    Thai immigration officers cracked down on immigrant workers allegedly encroaching on local professions in Bangkok’s bustling Ratchathewi district. Thai immigration officers, alongside immigration police and Phaya Thai police, have disclosed a meticulously planned operation aimed at eliminating immigrant workers accused of infringing upon the livelihoods of Thai locals without proper authorisation. The operation, which took place yesterday, saw more than…

  • Thailand and Bangladesh pursue free trade agreement | Thaiger

    Thailand and Bangladesh pursue free trade agreement

    PM Srettha confirmed that Thailand and Bangladesh are keen on pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two nations signed a letter of intent last week to speed up the negotiation process, marking a significant milestone in their collaborative efforts. Speaking at a press conference following his meeting with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the 62 year old Thai PM…

  • Thailand’s EC investigates potential senator election manipulation | Thaiger

    Thailand’s EC investigates potential senator election manipulation

    The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand is currently probing into claims of potential manipulation in the upcoming senator election process. The EC has cautioned potential candidates about registering with a questionable website. The EC indicated that the act of encouraging individuals to form groups for the Senate election competition could be a breach of election laws. Consequently, they have initiated…

  • Silencing the Voice: Pro-Thaksin outlet shuts down, sending shockwaves | Thaiger

    Silencing the Voice: Pro-Thaksin outlet shuts down, sending shockwaves

    A bombshell announcement rocks the media landscape as Voice TV, the longstanding bastion of pro-Thaksin views, announces it is shutting down. The board of Voice TV declared the end of its 15-year run, leaving some 100 journalists and staff members facing the axe. The abrupt closure has left tongues wagging, with no immediate rationale provided for the drastic move. Established…

  • Bangkok school directors get 20-year sentences for bribery | Thaiger

    Bangkok school directors get 20-year sentences for bribery

    The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Thailand handed down 20-year prison sentences to the former director and the former deputy director of Samsenwittayalai School. The two were found guilty of accepting bribes from parents, colloquially termed “tea money,” to secure their children’s admission to the school in 2017. Additionally, the court ordered the pair to pay…

  • Bangkok condo guard allegedly punched British woman (video) | Thaiger

    Bangkok condo guard allegedly punched British woman (video)

    A British woman and her Thai husband are pursuing justice following an incident at their Bangkok condominium where a security guard allegedly punched the woman in the face, resulting in severe mental health issues. CCTV footage, however, shows that the foreign woman initiated the physical altercation. Yesterday, April 25, Boon-ek Wongsuriyawattana, a 46 year old Thai man, accompanied his 37…

  • Thai government delays wage hike: Minimum muddle continues | Thaiger

    Thai government delays wage hike: Minimum muddle continues

    The Thai government has postponed the anticipated increase in minimum daily wage to 400 baht. The rise was initially set to take effect on Labour Day but the government will now await the outcome of a tripartite committee meeting on May 14. Karom Polpornklang, the deputy government spokesperson, confirmed yesterday that the wage increase would not start on May 1.…

  • Company executive arrested for DUI and police assault in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Company executive arrested for DUI and police assault in Bangkok

    A high-level global company executive faces legal consequences after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and assaulting a police officer during a checkpoint operation in Bangkok. The incident occurred early on Tuesday when the executive, driving a black Mercedes-Benz, was stopped at a breathalyser checkpoint along the motorway in Suan Luang district. Upon inspection, police found the…

  • Thai woman impersonates neurosurgeon, scams over 1 million baht | Thaiger

    Thai woman impersonates neurosurgeon, scams over 1 million baht

    In a significant operation, Thai police arrested a 35 year old woman for impersonating a neurosurgeon and defrauding medical staff and officials, alongside scamming a love interest resulting in losses of over 1 million baht. The suspect, identified only as Suwanaumpha or “Pla,” was apprehended yesterday in Bangkok. She was wanted on charges of fraud and entering false information into…

  • Facebook football fan’s foul play: Gambling page operator nabbed | Thaiger

    Facebook football fan’s foul play: Gambling page operator nabbed

    Thai authorities arrested a 28 year old man in Samut Prakan for operating a popular football Facebook page with over 300,000 followers, which was found to be secretly promoting online gambling sites. The arrest was made during a raid on a residence in Samut Prakan province led by the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), following an investigation into illegal content…

  • Former deputy PM’s 87 million baht car collection revealed | Thaiger

    Former deputy PM’s 87 million baht car collection revealed

    Former Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), General Prawit Wongsuwon, has been exposed for his staggering wealth, including a fleet of luxury cars worth 87 million baht, as reported by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The NACC, responsible for scrutinising the assets of political office-holders and government officials, made public Gen. Prawit’s lavish holdings,…

  • Thai MPs set to jump ship as PM Srettha prepares major reshuffle | Thaiger

    Thai MPs set to jump ship as PM Srettha prepares major reshuffle

    Two Members of Parliament from the ruling Pheu Thai Party are on the brink of securing seats in the Cabinet, according to insider sources. Paopoom Rojanasakul, a party-list MP, and Jiraporn Sindhuprai, representing Roi Et, were reportedly spotted at Government House on Tuesday, fuelling speculation of their imminent ascent. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, despite dismissing rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle…

  • Bank of Thailand warns government against digital wallet plan | Thaiger

    Bank of Thailand warns government against digital wallet plan

    Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, dismissed concerns about a confidential Bank of Thailand (BoT) document warning the government against the proposed digital wallet handout initiative. Phumtham, a prominent figure in the Cabinet, stated he was unaware of the document’s contents and questioned its credibility, insisting that if it were a real warning, it would have been officially…

  • Thailand proposes ASEAN Troika to mediate Myanmar crisis | Thaiger

    Thailand proposes ASEAN Troika to mediate Myanmar crisis

    Thailand has proposed a collaboration between three or more ASEAN member nations to engage with Myanmar’s military junta, to mitigate the crisis and restore peace in the conflict-stricken country. The nation maintained its commitment to extend humanitarian assistance and foster peace amid the turmoil. Nikorndej Balankura, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, announced yesterday that Thailand, through Laos, the current…

  • Health Ministry greenlights medical opium and magic mushrooms | Thaiger

    Health Ministry greenlights medical opium and magic mushrooms

    The Public Health Ministry authorised the utilisation of opium and magic mushrooms for medical treatment and research purposes. This groundbreaking decision, disclosed in a directive published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, signifies a significant shift in drug policy. Signed by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, the directive came into effect today. It categorises opium and psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as…

  • Bangkok taxi driver aids drunk motorist with damaged car | Thaiger

    Bangkok taxi driver aids drunk motorist with damaged car

    A recent incident involving a drunk driver whose vehicle sustained severe damage, including a missing tyre, has become a stark reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence. The event unfolded late at night on a busy Bangkok street and was captured on video by a local taxi driver who intervened to prevent further mishaps. The taxi driver, Phasda…

  • Shared toilets for teachers and students stir controversy | Thaiger

    Shared toilets for teachers and students stir controversy

    The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) sparked controversy with its recent decision to implement shared toilet facilities for teachers and students at all of its schools. The news was met with widespread criticism on a social media platform overseen by the Education Ministry. According to OBEC Secretary-General Thanu Wongchinda, shared toilets at schools for teachers and students will…

  • Bangladesh prime minister visits Thailand | Thaiger

    Bangladesh prime minister visits Thailand

    Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to make waves in Thailand as she embarks on a high-profile six-day mission, kicking off with her arrival today at the invitation of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Government House confirmed Hasina’s stay until next Monday, April 29, promising a flurry of diplomatic activity. A series of significant signings, including official agreements and memoranda…