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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Bangkok BTS accepts WeChat Pay
In a move set to revolutionise the travel experience for Chinese tourists in Bangkok, the city’s iconic BTS Skytrain has opened its gates to the Chinese WeChat Pay. Tourists will be able to enjoy a seamless journey across the vibrant city as this alternative payment option takes centre stage at every ticket vending machine across all 68 stations on the…
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Thai traditional dress set to be listed on UNESCO
The Ministry of Culture is gearing up to propose the inclusion of Thai traditional dress in UNESCO‘s prestigious intangible cultural heritage listings. The visionary behind this move is none other than Kowit Pakamart, the director-general of the Department of Cultural Promotion. To pave the way for this historic proposal, the department recently orchestrated a vibrant brainstorming session at the Thailand…
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Thai PM and Interior Minister slam brakes on gun licences until December 2024
In a bid to quell the rising tide of shooting tragedies, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul have issued a joint directive, temporarily halting the issuance of gun licences until December 19, 2024. The move, effective yesterday, December 20, was officially announced by Traisulee Traisoranakul, deputy government spokesperson, who revealed that the directive had been published in…
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Thai artist’s ethical odyssey: Morals across time and culture
In a riveting solo exhibition, Thai artist Sakarin Krue-On intricately weaves the tapestry of human morality, transcending temporal and cultural confines. Rather than a scathing critique of progress or tradition, his art masterfully unveils the intricate web of consequences arising from our choices, encouraging introspection on the pivotal moments where good and evil collide, irrespective of cultural or temporal backdrops. At…
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Will the 2024 fiscal year save the Thai economy?
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat revealed that Thailand‘s eagerly awaited 3.48 trillion baht budget for the 2024 fiscal year won’t see the light until early May. Originally set to kick off on October 1, the budget got tangled in the web of politics, with May’s election and the lengthy government formation process pushing the official start to September 5. According…
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Thailand Winter Festival fuels tourism boom
Thailand‘s vibrant cultural tapestry, woven with ancient traditions and modern spectacles, is driving a tourism surge, with the Thailand Winter Festival taking the spotlight as the grand finale of 2023. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wrapped up the year with a dazzling Thailand Winter Festival, featuring five cultural extravaganzas, including a Colorful Canals promotion for the mesmerising Loy Krathong…
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Stranded man sells appliances for 800 baht to visit ill sister
A 56 year old man was deceived and abandoned by a van driver, leaving him stranded along Bang Na-Trat Road, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province. Phorncharoen Saengthothep, originally from Udon Thani, was travelling back home to care for his sick sister suffering from diabetes and had sold his rice cooker and fridge for 800 baht to fund his journey.…
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Vet shares unusual tale of pet pig choking on pork meatball on TikTok (video)
A bizarre incident occurred when a local villager brought his pet pig to a vet in a fertiliser sack, after it choked on a pork meatball, yesterday, December 20. The incident was shared on TikTok by user @naynaykung019, who happens to be the treating veterinarian. The video clip shows the pet pig owner seeking help, stating that his pet pig…
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Illegal meatball factory raided, dirty products flood Bangkok and surrounding areas
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police conducted a raid at an illegal meatball factory in the central province of Pathum Thani on December 18. The substandard and dirty products were found to be shipped throughout Bangkok and surrounding provinces. CIB officers launched proactive measures and operations against illegal food producers in the country after six children suffered dizziness and rapid…
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Bangkok BTS Skytrain extends service hours to 2am on December 31
Bangkok BTS Skytrain will extend moments of happiness for the passengers with extended service hours from midnight to 2am on the last day of the year December 31. The board director of the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company, Surapong Laoha-unya, announced yesterday, December 19, that the BTS Skytrain will extend its operating hours at all stations and lines on on…
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The hidden struggle of Thailand’s overlooked workforce
Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO) Director, Piyanut Wuthison, has exposed the stark reality of the nation’s labour force where 21 million workers in the informal sector constitute a staggering 52.3% of Thailand‘s workforce. “Our annual survey sheds light on the silent warriors of the informal labour sector, a staggering 21 million strong. These workers, often grappling with irregular hours and…
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Government criticised after drunk teen found sleeping near Khao San Road
A Bangkok municipal official helped send a 16 year old drunk Thai girl home after she slept on a footpath near Khao San Road. Netizens urged authorities to pay attention to underaged partygoers. A popular news page, Thaicrime Online, shared a video showing a municipal officer from the City Law Office and two men carrying a drunk teenager to a…
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Thai man with mental illness disappears after his arrest in Bangkok
A Thai mother sought help from news agencies after her son, who had a history of mental health treatment, disappeared after being arrested by officers and was last seen at Don Mueang Police Station in Bangkok on December 1. The 57 year old woman Boonyuen revealed with Channel 3 that her son, Wasan Prasitthikasikorn, also known as Tee, had a…
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Cable thefts solved: Name on getaway car led to arrest of 3 thieves
Police were able to identify and arrest three thieves who were stealing electrical cables in Bangkok because the name of one of the thieves was written on the car they used to commit the crime. Officers from the Don Mueang Police Station received numerous theft reports from a construction site of the New Connect Don Mueang condominium on the Vibhavadi…
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Thai police and health agencies join efforts to tackle rising mental health-related crimes
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have joined forces with public health agencies, signing a game-changing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address the escalating issue of individuals with psychological disorders. The initiative aims not only to curb the growing number of attacks but also to ensure those affected receive the vital medical treatment they urgently require. Deputy National Police Chief, Police…
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Foreign buyers flock to Thailand’s tropical condos: Chinese and Russians lead
Foreign buyers such as the Chinese and Russian are dominating the condominium scene, turning Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket into international real estate playgrounds. A staggering 10,703 units, raking in a jaw-dropping 52.3 billion baht, exchanged hands in the nine months leading up to September, marking a whopping 38% surge from the previous year, according to the Real Estate Information Center,…
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Former MFP leader Pita faces court drama over media scandal
The former leader of the Move Forward party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat, is gearing up for a courtroom showdown to defend himself against allegations involving a media scandal. Former MFP leader Pita has declared his readiness to face the Constitutional Court next Wednesday, December 20. The political maverick is set to battle allegations that he held shares in the now-defunct iTV…
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Ex-Labour Ministry secretary faces horror as 40 million baht property title deeds vanish
A former Labour Ministry secretary revealed a shocking case where his mortgage title deeds for a home and land worth 40 million baht have disappeared. The property, a 418 square metre lot in an upscale village in Nonthaburi province, was mortgaged to a reputable bank in 2003. Paisan (surname withheld) explained that he had been regularly servicing the debt, reducing…
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Thai tourism boom: 9,000 Chinese flock to Bangkok for game-changing conference
Thailand played host to a jaw-dropping 9,000 Chinese entrepreneurs, propelling the country into the limelight as the ultimate business and leisure destination. Amid the glitz and glamour of Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a conference on agricultural products and technology. Chinese agricultural and technology experts, as well as economic professionals, attended the…
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Unemployed Thai man arrested for gold theft after his birthday party
Police arrested an unemployed Thai man for stealing a gold necklace from a shop in Bangkok after paying off debts and throwing himself a belated birthday party at a resort in the central province of Kanchanaburi. Officers at Phetchakasem Police Station received a theft complaint at the Mae Thong Kham gold shop on Phetchakasem Road in Bangkok’s Bang Kae district…
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Dangerous blue-ringed octopus found in seafood in Thailand
Seafood enthusiasts are urged to exercise caution as instances of the dangerous blue-ringed octopus found in food have been increasing, whether in barbecue restaurants, skewers prepared for grilling, or even sushi. But why is this particular species a cause for concern? Let’s delve into the interesting yet perilous world of the blue-ringed octopus, a creature that is 20 times more…
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Khao San Road unaffected by 4am closing time due to exclusion from approved zone
Tourism operators on Khao San Road expressed their indifference towards the forthcoming 4am closing time set to come into effect from today, stating it will have minimal impact due to the area’s exclusion from the approved zone for extended hours. Sanga Ruangwattanakul, who presides over the Khao San Road Business Association, pointed out that there is a prevailing confusion among…
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Former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob to be judged by charter court
The Constitutional Court will unveil its verdict on January 17 on the contentious share concealment accusations against former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob. Following a marathon six-hour hearing, Saksayam defended himself against all accusations. “I’ve laid bare the truth about my stake in Burijarearn Construction Limited Partnership. I’ve fully explained the matter.” The court spectacle featured an ensemble cast, including Varaporn Thetsen,…
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Thai tourism booms as over a quarter vow to return: Visa insights
A Visa study has uncovered that Thailand is set to witness a tourism surge with a whopping 28% of travellers who explored the country this year, expressing their firm intention to make a return within the next 12 months. The 2023 Global Travel Intentions Study by Visa, the largest and longest-running consumer insights study of its kind, has provided a…
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Thai hospital compensates family with 30,000 baht after medication mix-up
A hospital has compensated a family with 30,000 baht after a one year old infant was mistakenly given the wrong medication. The child, who had fallen and hit his head in the bathroom, was taken to a hospital in Samut Prakan province to have a brain scan. During the journey to another hospital for a second scan, a nurse gave…
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Jodd Fairs Rama 9 market in Bangkok reopens after fire
Jodd Fairs Rama 9 market in Bangkok announced its official reopening yesterday after a fire broke out and destroyed 120 shops on December 13. The fire slightly injured a Thai woman and destroyed shops, mostly fashion and clothing, on Wednesday, December 13. Huay Kwang district chief Paitoon Ngammook told the public that the market would be closed for at least…
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Vape trails go up in smoke: Police puff out a e-cigarette distribution network in Bangkok busts
A significant e-cigarette distribution network has been dismantled by the police, following a series of raids in Bangkok. The leader of the network, 32 year old Jenkij Hom-aroon, was apprehended during the operation that occurred yesterday. The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) spearheaded the operation, acting on information related to the Iqos Thailand FanClub. This Facebook group was identified as…
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Revolutionary roadmap revealed: Thailand’s expressway blitz to slash emissions
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) unwrapped an audacious 10-year blueprint set to roll out 200 kilometres of spanking new expressways, aimed at slashing a whopping 30% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The ambitious plan is the key to unlocking Thailand’s carbon neutrality by 2050, as revealed by EXAT Governor Surachet Laophulsuk at the electrifying Sustainability Forum 2024 hosted…
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Hot pot buffet shifts to cashless payments from January 2024
The renowned Hot Pot Buffet restaurant chain announced a shift in its payment methods, heralding the onset of a cashless society. As of January 1 next year, customers in Thailand can no longer pay with cash but must opt for credit card payments or QR code scanning. As society becomes increasingly cashless, many businesses have adapted their payment systems. They…
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Thai PM unleashes bold tourism overhaul: Second-tier provinces take centre stage
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin shook the foundations of Thailand‘s tourism strategy, revealing a radical shift during a high-stakes meeting at Government House. The Thai premier, flanked by Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Chief Thapanee Kiatphaibool, unveiled his masterplan to propel the nation into a perpetual high-season destination, leaving traditional hotspots like Chiang Mai…
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