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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    Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes

    Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...

  • Bangkok ex-boxer sets Malaysian tourists on fire in mall horror | Thaiger

    Bangkok ex-boxer sets Malaysian tourists on fire in mall horror

    Shoppers in central Bangkok were left horrified after a former Thai boxer allegedly doused two Malaysian tourists in flammable liquid and set them on fire outside a popular mall. Good Samaritans leapt into action to tackle the attacker before police arrived. The attack took place at around 10pm yesterday, August 7, on Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, in front of a well-known…

  • Toilet drug kitchen busted in Bangkok cannabis snack raid | Thaiger

    Toilet drug kitchen busted in Bangkok cannabis snack raid

    Bangkok police have uncovered a cannabis snack production house where toilets were used as mixing stations, seizing nearly a million baht’s worth of illegal products—just days after a toddler was hospitalised from eating one of the jellies. The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) launched the raid following social media reports that a two year old child had eaten a jelly,…

  • Bangkok toll booths go free for Mother’s Day travel | Thaiger

    Bangkok toll booths go free for Mother’s Day travel

    Drivers in Greater Bangkok can look forward to a free ride next Monday, as the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) scraps toll fees at 63 booths for the day in celebration of Mother’s Day. The toll waiver will run from 12.01am on Monday, August 11, to midnight on Tuesday, August 12, giving motorists a 24-hour break from charges on three…

  • Thailand tempest: Heavy rain set to drench Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thailand tempest: Heavy rain set to drench Bangkok

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning, predicting thunderstorms across 36 provinces, with Bangkok expected to be particularly affected, experiencing heavy rainfall in 60% of its area. Residents have been advised to exercise caution due to potential hazards from these conditions. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that thunderstorms will be prevalent throughout Thailand, driven…

  • Thai submarine deal saga drags on as China swaps engines | Thaiger

    Thai submarine deal saga drags on as China swaps engines

    Thailand’s long-running submarine drama just got another twist—with German engines scrapped, Chinese ones swapped in, and years added to the wait. On Tuesday, August 5, Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the Cabinet’s approval of major revisions to Thailand’s long-delayed submarine deal with China, but offered no further details, citing confidentiality. The updated contract for the Yuan…

  • Scottish expat loses legs in Bangkok lorry crash | Thaiger

    Scottish expat loses legs in Bangkok lorry crash

    A British man living in Thailand had both legs amputated after a horror motorbike crash with a lorry in Bangkok. Willie Braid, a 54 year old expat from Scotland, was hit while riding his motorbike in the capital on July 27. The driver of the lorry is alleged to have fled the scene in what appears to be a hit-and-run…

  • Bangkok breaks into world’s top 5 summer hotspots | Thaiger

    Bangkok breaks into world’s top 5 summer hotspots

    Despite border tensions and global economic uncertainty, Bangkok is stealing the travel spotlight once again — officially named one of the world’s top five most searched and booked destinations for summer this year. Booking.com’s latest global survey has revealed that the Thai capital remains a firm favourite among international travellers this year, ranking alongside exotic hotspots like Hurghada and Sharm…

  • Bangkok BTS trains wrapped in Thai flag as tribute to border soldiers | Thaiger

    Bangkok BTS trains wrapped in Thai flag as tribute to border soldiers

    The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) wrapped its trains in the Thai national flag to honour soldiers who sacrificed their lives protecting Thailand’s territory and citizens during recent border clashes with Cambodia. Tensions along the Thailand–Cambodia border escalated into military conflict in mid-July. After weeks of confrontation, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on July 29, bringing the fighting…

  • Thailand’s vape ban gets WHO seal of approval | Thaiger

    Thailand’s vape ban gets WHO seal of approval

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has endorsed Thailand’s ongoing prohibition on importing and selling e-cigarettes, while the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has committed to reducing vaping among young people through a “denormalisation” initiative. WHO Thailand senior public health specialist Dr Olivia Nieveras said that Thailand’s e-cigarette ban aligns with empirical evidence on the harm caused by vaping products and…

  • Thailand, Israel launch major cybersecurity collaboration workshop | Thaiger

    Thailand, Israel launch major cybersecurity collaboration workshop

    Thailand and Israel have inaugurated their most extensive government-to-government cybersecurity workshop to date, aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation and strengthen cybersecurity resilience. Beginning yesterday, August 5, the Thailand-Israel Cybersecurity Workshop is organised by Thailand’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) alongside the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. This event, spanning three days, takes place at the Carlton Hotel in Bangkok and gathers…

  • Army officer found dead in car at Bangkok mall | Thaiger

    Army officer found dead in car at Bangkok mall

    A 37 year old army officer was found deceased in his car in a shopping mall parking lot in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. Police discovered the vehicle filled with smoke and a stove beside the driver’s seat. Despite resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after. The incident occurred today, August 6, around 1.10am, when patrol officers from Bang Khen…

  • Thailand fights back: Border clashes, US tariffs shake nation | Thaiger

    Thailand fights back: Border clashes, US tariffs shake nation

    Thailand’s acting prime minister has vowed to steer the country through two of its biggest recent challenges—border violence with Cambodia and a US tariff bombshell—while rallying citizens with promises of support, peace, and unity. In a televised address today, August 5, titled Overcoming Two Crises, Moving Forward Together, Deputy Prime Minister and Acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai said the nation had faced…

  • Woman found dead at bus stop on Suwinthawong Road | Thaiger

    Woman found dead at bus stop on Suwinthawong Road

    A woman’s body was discovered under a roadside bus stop shelter along Suwinthawong Road, heading towards Chachoengsao province, on the evening of yesterday, August 4. Police Colonel Pakorn Chukhaw from Min Buri Police Station reported the incident at 7.40pm. Medical examiners from Police General Hospital and Poh Teck Tung Foundation officials were called to the scene. The location was a…

  • Thai man confesses to killing mother and hiding body in cement-filled bathtub | Thaiger

    Thai man confesses to killing mother and hiding body in cement-filled bathtub

    A Thai man surrendered himself to the police today, August 4, and confessed to killing his mother two weeks ago before hiding her body in a bathtub filled with cement. The 33 year old man, Tarn, visited Romklao Police Station in the Romklao, Lat Krabang district, Bangkok to confess to the crime. Officers rushed to his home in Soi Romklao…

  • Love triangle turns deadly in Bangkok minibus shooting | Thaiger

    Love triangle turns deadly in Bangkok minibus shooting

    A bitter love triangle turned deadly in Bangkok, leaving one man dead and another on the run. At around 2am today, August 2, a tragic shooting occurred outside an apartment on Rama 2 Road, leaving 38 year old minibus driver Anucha dead after being shot multiple times. The suspect, 36 year old Sira—also a minibus driver—is currently on the run.…

  • Bangkok–Cambodia border train back on track after clashes | Thaiger

    Bangkok–Cambodia border train back on track after clashes

    Thailand’s rail link to the Cambodian border is back in action after being temporarily derailed by escalating tensions. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on Wednesday, July 30, that full services from Bangkok to the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province have officially resumed. This marks the reopening of the final section of the eastern line…

  • Bangkok crackdown targets rogue motorcycle taxis | Thaiger

    Bangkok crackdown targets rogue motorcycle taxis

    Bangkok’s motorcycle taxi riders are facing a massive crackdown as city officials roll out an ambitious campaign to transform the capital’s thousands of taxi stands, targeting unruly drivers and unsafe practices. From this month until December, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will overhaul all 5,365 registered motorcycle taxi stands across the city. The sweeping initiative aims to boost safety standards,…

  • Happiness documented: Bangkok police pens official report after seeing sleeping dog | Thaiger

    Happiness documented: Bangkok police pens official report after seeing sleeping dog

    A 23 year old Thai man asked police officers to record his happiness after seeing a lovely stray dog sleeping on a pedestrian bridge in Bangkok. The police record of the man’s joyful moment went viral on Thai social media yesterday evening, July 31. The document appeared to be entirely official, complete with the Garuda emblem and the names of…

  • Bangkok doctors perform scar-free baby ops | Thaiger

    Bangkok doctors perform scar-free baby ops

    Thai doctors are now performing life-saving surgery on newborns using tools smaller than a pencil tip—without leaving a scar. The Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health has become the first medical centre in Thailand to perform advanced minimally invasive surgery on newborns, according to the Department of Medical Services (DoMS). DoMS Deputy Director-General Thanin Wechapinan announced the breakthrough this…

  • Pet paradise unleashed at Bangkok’s epic expo | Thaiger

    Pet paradise unleashed at Bangkok’s epic expo

    Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is set to transform into a wonderland of whiskers, wagging tails and wild surprises as the Pet Expo Championship 2025 kicks off with the theme The Magical Land of Friendship. Running daily starting tomorrow, July 31, from 10am to 8pm until Sunday, August 3, the event promises non-stop fun, furry festivities and some serious…

  • Thaksin hospital scandal: Supreme Court sets verdict date | Thaiger

    Thaksin hospital scandal: Supreme Court sets verdict date

    The Supreme Court has set September 9 as the day it will deliver its verdict in a highly watched case probing whether former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was unlawfully spared prison time by bunking down in the Police General Hospital (PGH) instead of a jail cell. The court concluded its seventh and final hearing in the self-initiated inquiry this week,…

  • Paetongtarn gets final lifeline in leaked tape scandal | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn gets final lifeline in leaked tape scandal

    Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been granted a last-minute reprieve by the Constitutional Court, which voted 5–4 in favour of extending her deadline to submit a defence in the now-infamous leaked audio scandal involving Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The decision, announced yesterday, July 29, allows Paetongtarn until August 4 to respond, a final extension under Section 31 of…

  • Knives and walkie-talkies found in Bangkok school sweep | Thaiger

    Knives and walkie-talkies found in Bangkok school sweep

    Bangkok police uncovered a stash of weapons hidden across two prominent educational institutions during a sweeping raid ahead of a major school celebration. Yesterday, July 29, more than 100 officers mobilised in Pathum Wan district for a coordinated crackdown targeting the Pathumwan Institute of Technology and Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok. The operation aimed to prevent clashes and violence during…

  • Activist urges dissolution of 7 Thai parties over Thaksin influence | Thaiger

    Activist urges dissolution of 7 Thai parties over Thaksin influence

    A complaint was filed with the Election Commission (EC) by a political activist yesterday, July 29, seeking the dissolution of seven political parties. The activist alleged that these parties permitted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to interfere in their internal operations, potentially breaching the organic law on political parties. Nopparuj Vorachitwutthikun, previously involved with the Phirap Khao (White Dove) 2006…

  • Bangkok couple arrested for motorcycle theft caught on CCTV | Thaiger

    Bangkok couple arrested for motorcycle theft caught on CCTV

    A couple riding a motorcycle in Bangkok were arrested after being caught stealing a parked motorcycle. Allegedly, this was not their first offence. CCTV footage captured the incident, revealing the pair’s criminal history, with one having a record of 13 previous arrests. The police apprehended them shortly after the crime. At 12.50am today, July 30, Police Major General Samart Promchat,…

  • Six dead in Bangkok market shooting amid longstanding disputes | Thaiger

    Six dead in Bangkok market shooting amid longstanding disputes

    A tragic mass shooting at the Or Tor Kor Market (Marketing Organisation for Farmers Market) on Kamphaeng Phet Road in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district has left six people dead, including the gunman himself. According to police and eyewitness reports, the victims include four security guards, one female vendor, and the suspected gunman. The incident occurred in broad daylight, causing panic among…

  • Mass shooting at Bangkok market leaves six dead, including gunman (video) | Thaiger

    Mass shooting at Bangkok market leaves six dead, including gunman (video)

    At least six people, including the gunman, have been killed in a mass shooting at a bustling market in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The tragedy unfolded around 1pm today, July 28, at the Or Tor Kor Market, a well-known fresh food hub popular with both locals and tourists. Police have identified the gunman as a 61 year old man, Noi. Dramatic…

  • Bangkok police arrest two men in 434kg meth bust | Thaiger

    Bangkok police arrest two men in 434kg meth bust

    Two men were arrested in connection with trafficking a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine, approximately 426 kilogrammes, from a residence in Soi Nuanchan, Bangkok. The suspects, identified as 39 year old Sunthorn, a motorcycle mechanic, and 31 year old Rattikorn with a history in drug trafficking, were apprehended on July 24 at around 6am. The arrest was part of the…

  • Bangkok drug bust: 27 arrested in police raid | Thaiger

    Bangkok drug bust: 27 arrested in police raid

    Police from Wang Thonglang station, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Investigation Unit 4, raided a drug-fuelled party in the Ramkhamhaeng area today. The operation resulted in 27 testing positive for drugs. The raid was commanded by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Police Major General Nopasilp Phulwasawat, Pol. Maj. Gen. Charin Kopatata, Deputy Police Commissioner General Pallop Aermla,…