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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Pheu Thai rethinks lese majeste inclusion in amnesty bill
Pheu Thai Party has reconsidered its earlier statement regarding the inclusion of Section 112, or the lese majeste law, in the amnesty bill. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that the matter is complex and requires public consensus to prevent future disorder. Phumtham, the deputy leader of Pheu Thai, mentioned that the party has not reached a…
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Chinese tourist missing in Thailand, 25 million baht ransom
A Chinese tourist has gone missing while holidaying in Thailand, with her father receiving a ransom demand of 25 million baht for her release. Police at Phra Khanong Police Station were alerted by a Thai-Chinese interpreter named Moo, who works with the national cycling team coach, about the missing Chinese woman, 27 year old Xinlei Lu. Lu, who arrived in…
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Election Commission unanimously agrees on senator selection
All seven election commissioners have unanimously agreed to proceed with the district-level selection of senators tomorrow, despite looming legal uncertainties. Election Commission (EC) Secretary General Sawaeng Boonmee announced yesterday afternoon that the commissioners have collectively decided against postponing the selection, which had been suggested by the EC Office. “There is no reason to delay.” The proposed delay was rooted in…
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Decline in family income threatens Thai children’s education
The average monthly income of Thailand’s very poor families has plummeted, placing children’s education in jeopardy. According to the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), these families’ earnings dropped to a mere 1,039 baht per month in 2023, down from 1,077 baht in 2020. This translates to a daily income of just 34 baht—far below the World Bank’s poverty line of 80…
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Vietnamese fugitive drug kingpin nabbed in Bangkok
One of Vietnam’s most wanted drug suspects has been captured in Bangkok after a year on the run. Vietnamese fugitive Nguyen Tuan Thanh was arrested at a luxurious condominium in Bangkok’s Watthana district, Police Lieutenant General Panurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), announced today. The capture was orchestrated following a tip-off from Vietnam’s Counter-Narcotics…
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Silent but deadly: Thai woman nabbed for using mute couriers in drug ring
Police arrested a Thai woman with impaired hearing in Bangkok for using mute people as drug couriers, believing they would be unable to identify her or other dealers if caught. Officers from the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Bureau (IDMB) and Makkasan Police Station arrested the 53 year old woman, Prayoon, with impaired hearing, for drug trafficking conspiracy at her…
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Power move: Energy Ministry to introduce National Energy Plan
The Energy Ministry announced yesterday that it is gearing up to unveil the National Energy Plan 2024 in September. This comprehensive strategy promises to revolutionise Thailand’s energy landscape with the introduction of nuclear plants and a pledge to cap electricity costs at under 4 baht per unit. The Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) revealed that this master plan will…
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Election bombshell: Call for senator vote delay amid legal storm
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn urged the Election Commission (EC) to halt the district-level selection of senators slated for this Sunday. Somchai insists it’s “better to be late than to rush ahead” before the Constitutional Court’s impending ruling. The Constitutional Court has accepted two petitions challenging the constitutionality of three provisions in the election law, and a decision date has…
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Queensland’s direct flights to Bangkok resume after four years
Jetstar is launching direct flights from Queensland‘s Brisbane Airport to Bangkok this December, a route last serviced by Thai Airways (THAI) before its suspension in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Brisbane Airport (BNE), backed by the Queensland Government, has been pivotal in restoring international connections post-pandemic. Reintroducing the Bangkok route is one of the final pieces in this…
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MFP’s bold stance amid PM Srettha scandal
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Chaithawat Tulathon quashed rumours that his party may align with the Pheu Thai party to form a new government if Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is ousted by the Constitutional Court for gross ethical misconduct. The scandal centres around the 62 year old Thai prime minister’s appointment of convicted Phichit Chuenban as PM Office minister. “The…
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Thai leaders dodge meeting with UN human rights commissioner
Thailand’s leaders, including the prime minister and foreign minister, sidestepped a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, during his Bangkok visit on June 5 and 6. Instead of rolling out the red carpet, Thailand’s leaders turned a blind eye, reducing Türk’s visit to a mere stopover, unlike his official engagements in Malaysia where he…
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Red Bull tycoon files lawsuit for 50 million baht over bribery claims
Red Bull energy drink magnate Chalerm Yoovidhya launched another defamation lawsuit, this time targeting a news outlet and four individuals, seeking 50 million baht in damages over bribery allegations. Chalerm disputes claims made by Police Colonel Wirut Sirisawatibutr, a former police officer turned columnist for Sueb Jark Khao. The allegations suggest the tycoon paid a 300-million-baht bribe to shield his…
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EC to clarify court ruling impact before Sunday Senate elections
The Election Commission (EC) is set to clarify the implications of a Constitutional Court ruling, which agreed to examine a petition challenging four contentious provisions in the Senate election law. This comes just before district-level voting is scheduled nationwide for Sunday. The court declined to issue an injunction, indicating no severe consequences were anticipated if the Senate election proceeded. The…
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Royal birthday bash amidst political firestorm
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsaeng has directed the military to orchestrate grand celebrations for His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary next month, even as tensions escalate over a controversial political amnesty bill. Preparations for the King’s 72nd birthday on July 28 are underway while Parliament debates whether to include Article 112 in the amnesty bill, which imposes up to…
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Laughing gas crackdown leaves Khao San Road breathless
The Thai authorities intensified their crackdown on the illegal sale of nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas balloons on Khao San Road, meanwhile also targeting foreign labourers hired by establishments to evade the law. At 9pm yesterday, senior officers led an operation to inspect entertainment venues and restaurants along Khao San Road. The main focus was an establishment at…
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Honest Bangkok cabbie cashes in, returns 80k to Maldivian man
A Thai taxi driver proved that not all of the capital’s cabbies are crooks when he returned 80,000 baht in cash, along with personal belongings, to a Maldivian man who left them behind while travelling from Banthat Thong Road to Pradipat Road in Bangkok. The Maldivian man, Ali Hafeez, left his backpack in an orange taxi while travelling from Banthat…
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Taste bud triumph: Time Out names Bangkok one of best food cities
Bangkok has been named the sixth-best city in the world for food by the renowned lifestyle magazine Time Out. The announcement was made today, June 5, bringing joy to many in Thailand’s capital. Chai Wacharong, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is thrilled with the news. Time Out, known for its focus on lifestyle,…
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Ex-boyfriend suspected of stabbing girlfriend to death in Bangkok
A resident contacted the police after witnessing a Thai woman being stabbed to death in the early hours of today in the Jomthong district of Bangkok The 33 year old witness, Klanarong Nitjakam, called officers at Bang Khun Tien Police Station to investigate the fatal stabbing, which happened at about 1.30am today, June 5. The victim, identified as 31 year…
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Thai man injured after at trip with a drunk taxi rider in Bangkok
A Thai man suffered an ankle injury when a drunk motorcycle taxi rider insisted on providing service, only to later collapse, ironically, in front of the Department of Land Transport on Phahonyothin Road in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok. The injured passenger, identified as Thanawat “Ton” Boonsong, shared a video of the drunk taxi rider on his TikTok account, @iboonsong.th,…
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Bangkok woman contracts rare lung infection from feeding pigeons
A Bangkok woman who regularly fed pigeons unknowingly inhaled fungal spores, leading to a lung infection and requiring surgery to remove a mass. Despite having no symptoms, she was diagnosed with cryptococcal pneumonia, which had formed a cavity in her lung. Manoon Leechawengwong, a respiratory disease specialist, shared the case on Facebook, detailing the woman’s condition. At 52 years old,…
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Srettha seeks legal counsel from Wissanu amid Pichit controversy
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has sought legal advice from his newly-appointed adviser, Wissanu Krea-ngam, to prepare his defence in court over the contentious appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. Srettha disclosed yesterday that a defence has already been drafted but requires further refinement before its submission to the Constitutional Court by June 10. “He is one of…
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Over 50% of Bangkok residents give Chadchart a thumbs up
Bangkok’s bustling streets are abuzz with approval for Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s performance, as a recent NIDA Poll reveals. After two years at the helm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Chadchart has garnered widespread satisfaction among residents. In an extensive survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), 2,000 Bangkok residents aged 18 and over shared their views…
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Thai Airways resumes daily Brussels-Bangkok route
Starting December 1, Thai Airways (THAI) will resume its daily direct passenger flights between Brussels Airport and Bangkok. This eagerly awaited route, which was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, significantly enhances Brussels Airport’s intercontinental offerings. After a four-year hiatus, Brussels Airport is thrilled to welcome back THAI, a former member of its prestigious airline community. The airline has once again…
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Stepfather arrested for sexual abuse of 12 year old girl in Bangkok
Authorities have apprehended a Thai man in Bangkok following a report from a doctor that a 12 year old girl claimed she had been sexually abused by her stepfather since she was six years old and that her mother did not believe her. The disturbing events began around 2017 when the girl was only six. Living with her biological mother…
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Chadchart signs MOU on renewable energy projects in Bangkok
Bangkok has taken a significant step towards becoming a smart city, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) Governor Wilas Chaloeysat. The agreement, formalised yesterday, aims to advance smart city development and renewable energy projects in Thailand’s bustling capital. Chadchart stressed the importance of sustainable energy and efficiency,…
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Man found dead at Bangkok petrol station
A man was found dead next to a Toyota C-HR car at a petrol station in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong area, while the woman who was with him has gone missing. Police are investigating and searching for the woman for questioning. Police Lieutenant Sumit Klangdi, Deputy Inspector of Phra Khanong Police Station, reported that at 11.40pm yesterday, a male body was…
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Bangkok Airways soars to new heights with cloud technology
In a move to stay ahead of the competition, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited has embraced RISE with SAP, a comprehensive business transformation package featuring cloud solutions, infrastructure, and services. This shift aims to boost the airline’s operational efficiency, adaptability, and competitive edge with state-of-the-art technologies. Bangkok Airways, a premier boutique airline in Asia, serves over 12 domestic and seven…
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Pride Month kicks off with Rainbow Runway in Bangkok (video)
Pride Month celebrations kicked off with grandeur on the 80-metre Rainbow Runway at the centralwOrld Rhythm of Pride 2024 event held at CentralWorld in Bangkok. The event underscored diversity and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, marking a significant celebration in the heart of Bangkok. The highlight of the event was Metinee Kingpayome, a prominent figure in the LGBTQIAN+ community, who…
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Ex-MP Vatana to return to Samut Prakan after 15 years on the run
Former Samut Prakan MP and Deputy Interior Minister Vatana Asavahame has announced his intention to return to Samut Prakan in two months to visit locals after evading corruption charges for 15 years. A housewarming ceremony took place yesterday at the new residence of Soontorn Pansangtong, the former deputy minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the former deputy chief of Samut…
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Thailand cracks down on illegal e-cigarettes to protect children
Authorities in Thailand are set to take decisive action against the illegal use of e-cigarettes, emphasising the need to protect children from the health risks associated with vaping. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared that the country has ignored the issue for too long, during an event commemorating World No Tobacco Day yesterday. “The authorities must begin solving the problem right…
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