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 has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Bangkok bust: Nigerian duo caught in a powder keg of trouble
Two Nigerian nationals were apprehended in Bangkok following the implication of their involvement in drug trafficking by a woman caught attempting to smuggle cocaine into Japan. Both men were identified as overstayers and are now facing immediate immigration charges, alongside being investigated for alleged drug-related offences. Immigration and narcotics control police conducted a raid on a condominium on Navamin-Ram Intra…
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Karaoke crackdown: Illegal workers caught off-key in Bangkok raid
The Department of Employment, under the Ministry of Labour, conducted a raid on seven karaoke venues in Khlong San district, uncovering 28 illegal workers. The operation, yesterday, March 5, followed a tip-off about foreign workers lacking proper permits. The investigation identified 52 migrant workers, with 24 possessing valid documents, while 28 were found working illegally. Legal proceedings have been initiated…
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Home for Thais registration ends soon, housing lottery set for April
Registration for the Home for Thais initiative will end this month, with a property owner lottery scheduled for next month, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Since the project started on January 17, around 350,000 people have registered. However, fewer than half, approximately 140,000 applicants, have passed the initial qualification screening, making them eligible for housing loans from the…
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Bangkok residents raise alarm over illegal condo rentals, prostitution
Furious residents in Bangkok’s Nana district say their once-tranquil homes have been turned into a noisy nightmare, thanks to illegal condo rentals and prostitution. They claim foreigners are not only flouting the rules but also running a seedy prostitution racket, sparking serious safety concerns. People’s Party MP Bhuntin Noumjerm brought the issue to public attention, highlighting the ongoing distress faced by…
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Phuket Airport immigration chief transferred amid nepotism claims
Police Colonel Padthongtew Damapong, chief of Phuket Airport Immigration, has been promoted to head Nonthaburi Immigration, part of the Greater Bangkok area after only ten months. The move, which follows another fast-tracked promotion just 10 months earlier, raised eyebrows due to his high-profile family connections. Pol. Col. Padthongtew is the nephew of Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, the ex-wife of former…
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Thai woman crashes car into boyfriend’s vehicle over jealousy
A Thai woman crashed her car into her boyfriend’s vehicle on a road in the Romklao district of Bangkok last night, following a dispute driven by jealousy. The argument arose after her boyfriend had repeatedly sneaked out to party with his friends. The Facebook page ZOOM Rayong shared a video of the incident, with a caption reading, “The couple argued,…
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Bangkok Airways suspends northern flights due to smog
Bangkok Airways announced the temporary suspension of all flights between Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the northern destinations of Lampang and Mae Hong Son, as thick smog and hazardous air pollution continue to engulf the region. The airline confirmed that services would be grounded from March 15 to April 20 due to dangerously low visibility caused by persistent haze, which has…
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South Bangkok court allows class action against CPF by farmers
A group of farmers has taken a major step in their legal battle against agribusiness giant Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) after the South Bangkok Civil Court approved their class action lawsuit. The case, filed over claims of environmental damage and harm to livelihoods, was given the green light at 9am yesterday, March 4. The lawsuit alleges that CPF’s industrial operations…
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Man found dead in Bangkok tuk tuk with stab wound and drugs
A 49 year old man from Roi Et was found dead with a stab wound in a tuk tuk in Ratchathewi district, Bangkok. Police discovered 10 methamphetamine pills at the scene. The police are currently investigating the incident to determine the cause of death. The incident occurred at noon yesterday, March 4, when Police Lieutenant Jeeranan Kaoeian, Deputy Inspector at…
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Prawit to lead no-confidence debate against PM Paetongtarn
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader General Prawit Wongsuwan is set to lead party members of Parliament in a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on March 24, according to PPRP Secretary-General Paiboon Nititawan. Paiboon stated that the PPRP will have a two-hour slot to scrutinise the prime minister, with General Prawit actively participating in the proceedings. The debate will address several…
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Fast and furious: Bangkok tuk tuk race ends in crash, 3 injured
A high-speed tuk tuk race on a Bangkok road ended in a devastating crash, leaving three people seriously injured, including one driver with a severe head injury. The incident, which occurred late last night, March 3, sparked a police investigation, with officers awaiting blood alcohol test results. The collision happened around 10pm on Ratchadaphisek Road in Chong Nonsi, Yannawa district,…
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Bangkok condo illegally rented daily, reveals weak law enforcement
Residents and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have raised concerns over a condominium in Sukhumvit 11, developed by a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), where half of the 450 units are allegedly rented out daily through online platforms, highlighting weak law enforcement in Thailand. A foreign resident and unit owner at the condominium disclosed that more…
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Bangkok condo technician fatally shot near home
A 29 year old maintenance technician from a condominium in Sathorn, Bangkok, was fatally shot while returning home from work. The incident occurred around 8pm,yesterday, March 3, near his residence in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok. He had recently enrolled in a well-known technical college for a month. Police Lieutenant Wiriyah Prathumsai from Thammasala Police Station, along with Police…
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Thai plane shame: Pakistanis stranded in Bangkok bust-up (video)
Chaos erupted for Pakistani travellers after they found themselves marooned in Bangkok for two long days after technical issue with a Thai Airways flight. In a maddening turn of events, passengers were left in suspense for six gruelling hours at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, clinging to the hope of an alternative flight. Those hopes were dashed, however, when Thai…
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Khlong Toei street vendors must vacate by March 16
Street food vendors at Khlong Toei Market 1 have been instructed to vacate by March 16 to enhance the visual appeal and pedestrian pathways along Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok’s Khlong Toei subdistrict. Deputy Bangkok Governor Jakkapan Phiewngam is leading the initiative and recently conducted an inspection of the area in preparation for the transition. On Saturday, March 2, Governor Jakkapan…
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Pill-shocked: War veterans’ hospital in prescription bribery scandal
In a bombshell revelation that has rocked Thailand, the War Veterans Organisation of Thailand (WVO) has lodged a damning complaint with the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), claiming that 20 government employees are knee-deep in a bribery scheme tangled up with drug prescriptions at the Veterans General Hospital. The explosive allegations were brought to light by WVO chief General Detnithit Luang-Ngam, and…
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Fortune turns sour: Fengshui master’s gambling scandal exposed
Royal Thai Police (RTP) rounded up an unlucky 13 alleged masterminds behind a lucrative gambling website, reportedly raking in a staggering 1.6 billion baht annually. Assets amounting to 20 million baht have been seized in connection with the arrested gang. The case unravels the tangled web of 43 year old fengshui guru Thanawan Jiracharoenwes, infamously known as “Tili.” The smooth…
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Boom to bust: Chinese investment in Thai property hits rock bottom
Once a beacon of opportunity, Thailand’s vibrant condo market for Chinese investors is now dimming, as economic clouds gather over China’s middle class. Stephen Yao, a former Chinese investments broker in Bangkok, and Pattaya, has seen his formerly bustling schedule dwindle. In 2017 and 2018, he made a staggering 32 trips from China’s Guangdong province to Thailand. But recent years…
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Bangkok and Ratchaburi drug raids lead to two arrests
The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) conducted raids in Bangkok and Ratchaburi, arresting two men allegedly selling drugs online with blatant disregard for the law. Yesterday, March 2, Police Major General Athip Phongsivapai directed the operation, which led to the arrest of 37 year old Peerawut and 24 year old Suphapat. The suspects were apprehended under separate charges. Peerawut was…
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Bangkok police probe woman’s sexual assault by invisible men
Bueng Kum District Police in Bangkok have been called to untangle a Thai woman’s claims that she has been sexually assaulted by gang of invisible men over the past two years. The tale blends the supernatural with reality, as the alleged 52 year old Thai victim, Ning, alleges a harrowing two-year rape ordeal at the hands of an invisible gang.…
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Thai man with depression falls to his death near Chatuchak Market
A Thai man suffering from depression yesterday fell to his death from the car park of a shopping mall near Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok. The 47 year old man, Wanna, fell from the fourth floor of the car park, yesterday, March 2. He sustained a deep cut on his right hand, a broken left arm, and severe internal injuries…
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Eagle talk to bogey walk: England putt Schmeichel’s hopes to rest
Team World vice-captain Peter Schmeichel said his Team England counterparts “talked a good game” before the tournament teed off, adding that the Reignwood Icons of Football trophy would not be “Coming Home” at the weekend. Unfortunately, the former Manchester United legend was left in the rough and forced to eat his words as Team England shattered the Dane’s bunkered dreams…
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Bangkok buses now accepts QR code and e-wallet payments
Thai Smile Bus, operating primarily in Bangkok, has expanded its payment options, now allowing passengers to pay using QR codes via PromptPay across all routes. Additionally, the service will also support Digital E-Wallet payments, such as True Money Wallet, which came into effect on March 1. Kulpornphat Wongmacharapinya, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Smile Bus Company Limited, announced the expansion…
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Japanese man arrested with ecstasy in Bangkok shopping centre
A 31 year old Japanese national was apprehended by Thonglor police yesterday while allegedly preparing to use ecstasy in a Bangkok shopping centre. Officers discovered four ecstasy tablets in his possession during the arrest. The arrest occurred around 2am, yesterday, March 1, near the fourth-floor restroom of a building in Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana district. The Thonglor police received a…
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Bangkok police seize illegal e-cigarettes worth 30 million baht
Bangkok Metropolitan police, in collaboration with officers from Phetkasem Police Station, yesterday conducted a raid on an illegal e-cigarette warehouse in Bang Khae district, Bangkok, confiscating contraband valued at over 30 million baht. Acting on a search warrant issued by the Thonburi Criminal Court, the police targeted a four-story commercial building after receiving information indicating the storage of illegal items…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport tightens checks amid Congo fever outbreak
Heightened disease control measures have been implemented at Suvarnabhumi Airport to screen travellers arriving from high-risk countries after reports of a mysterious fever outbreak in Congo. Doctor Panumas Yanwetsakul, Director General of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), addressed reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding an outbreak of an unknown illness in Congo. As of February 19, the…
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Deputy PM calls for fair censure debate, no Thaksin targeting
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai called for the opposition to engage in a constructive debate without involving former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is not part of the Cabinet. The no-confidence motion is directed at Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, raising speculation that the opposition may criticise Thaksin, her politically active father. Paetongtarn faces accusations of lacking leadership skills, knowledge, and…
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Thai govt warns foreigners on illegal condo rentals via Airbnb
Foreigners purchasing condominium units in Thailand and renting them out as hotels are infringing on local laws, the government announced yesterday through Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak. This warning follows reports of Chinese nationals leasing their condos to tourists via Airbnb. Residents in certain condominiums, particularly in the Sukhumvit area, have lodged complaints about disturbances caused by short-term tenants. Issues…
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Bangkok bans offerings at Optimus Prime statue for traffic safety
A towering Optimus Prime statue in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong district has become an unexpected shrine, drawing crowds of locals and tourists eager to offer gifts for good luck. However, local government officials have now banned the practice, citing safety concerns due to heavy traffic on Charoen Krung Road. The statue gained attention after a local shop owner credited it with bringing…
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Thailand Anti-Discrimination Bill set for Cabinet approval by April
The Department of Rights and Liberties Protection has announced that the government’s version of the Anti-Discrimination Bill is anticipated to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by April. Somdech Poonnampao, head of the department’s legal division, stated that the bill’s drafting originated from a 2019 proposal by civil society groups. These organisations encouraged the Ministry of Justice to prepare…
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