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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    Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained

    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...

  • Bangkok condo technician fatally shot near home

    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…

  • Thai plane shame: Pakistanis stranded in Bangkok bust-up (video)

    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…

  • Khlong Toei street vendors must vacate by March 16

    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…

  • Pill-shocked: War veterans’ hospital in prescription bribery scandal

    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…

  • Fortune turns sour: Fengshui master’s gambling scandal exposed

    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…

  • Boom to bust: Chinese investment in Thai property hits rock bottom

    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…

  • Bangkok and Ratchaburi drug raids lead to two arrests

    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…

  • Bangkok police probe woman’s sexual assault by invisible men

    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.…

  • Thai man with depression falls to his death near Chatuchak Market

    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…

  • Eagle talk to bogey walk: England putt Schmeichel’s hopes to rest

    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…

  • Bangkok buses now accepts QR code and e-wallet payments

    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…

  • Japanese man arrested with ecstasy in Bangkok shopping centre

    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…

  • Bangkok police seize illegal e-cigarettes worth 30 million baht

    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…

  • Suvarnabhumi Airport tightens checks amid Congo fever outbreak

    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…

  • Deputy PM calls for fair censure debate, no Thaksin targeting

    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…

  • Thai govt warns foreigners on illegal condo rentals via Airbnb

    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…

  • Bangkok bans offerings at Optimus Prime statue for traffic safety

    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…

  • Thailand Anti-Discrimination Bill set for Cabinet approval by April

    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…

  • Scaly situation: Bangkok mulls over monitor mayhem in the city

    Scaly situation: Bangkok mulls over monitor mayhem in the city

    Bangkok’s iconic Lumpini Park is grappling with a surge of reptilian residents, as the city considers crafty manoeuvres to manage the thriving water monitor lizard population that’s raised eyebrows, not alarms. At the heart of the city, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) faces a slippery challenge: an uptick in water monitors roaming Lumpini Park and the adjacent canal along the…

  • Ctrl-alt-delete: Thai police shut down notorious Singaporean hacker

    Ctrl-alt-delete: Thai police shut down notorious Singaporean hacker

    A cunning keyboard warrior’s reign of terror hit a roadblock as Thai police swooped on a notorious Singaporean hacker, capturing a cyber kingpin whose skills turned sinister. In a dramatic takedown, Thai police nabbed a 39 year old Singaporean hacker, known in the digital underworld as “Desorden GhostR.” The man, identified solely as Chia, faces a slew of charges, including…

  • Fairway to heaven: Icons of Football tee up for swings and banter

    Fairway to heaven: Icons of Football tee up for swings and banter

    Sparks flew and banter soared as football legends clashed over the fairway before the Icons of Football golf tournament tee-off this weekend. With friendly jabs and claims sure to slice through the tension, the stage is set for an unforgettable weekend of links and laughs. In a scene teeming with jabs heftier than a golf club, Team England and Team…

  • Cruise company apologises for pouring trash into Chao Phraya (video)

    Cruise company apologises for pouring trash into Chao Phraya (video)

    In a scandal that sparked outrage among environmentalists and Bangkok residents, Royal Galaxy Cruise issued a public apology after a video surfaced showing trash being dumped into the Chao Phraya River. The company expressed deep regret over the incident, blaming an untrained temporary employee for the environmental blunder. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, showed garbage being carelessly…

  • Thai restaurant owners accuse delivery rider of attempted assault

    Thai restaurant owners accuse delivery rider of attempted assault

    Two Thai restaurant owners accused a food delivery rider from LINE MAN of attempting to physically assault one of them over a forgotten order. The Thai woman shared security camera footage showing her and her husband engaged in a heated argument with the food delivery rider in front of their shop yesterday, February 26. “Hot-headed rider. We completed the order and…

  • Thai writer seriously injured after being hit on zebra crossing

    Thai writer seriously injured after being hit on zebra crossing

    A 69 year old renowned Thai writer sustained serious injuries after being hit by a pickup truck while using a zebra crossing in Bangkok on Monday, February 24. Officers from Phlapphla Chai Police Station received a report of the accident, which occurred on a zebra crossing near Disa Nukaram Temple in the Pomprap Sattru Phai district of Bangkok early in…

  • Cruise ship caught dumping trash into Chao Phraya River (video)

    Cruise ship caught dumping trash into Chao Phraya River (video)

    Outrage is sweeping Bangkok after shocking footage emerged of cruise ship staff dumping large amounts of trash into the Chao Phraya River every day. The scandal was exposed by former beauty queen Carla Porter, first runner-up of Miss Thailand World 2009, who posted the incriminating video on her Facebook page. The clip, secretly filmed by a friend, shows staff from…

  • No-confidence motion targets PM Paetongtarn

    No-confidence motion targets PM Paetongtarn

    Opposition Leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has launched a political firestorm by filing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, accusing her of incompetence and corruption. The motion, submitted under Section 151 of the Constitution at Parliament today, February 27, aims to unseat Paetongtarn amid claims of poor governance and political manipulation. Natthaphong, head of the People’s Party, announced that while…

  • Man threatens Bangkok police with machete over 1,000 baht fine (video)

    Man threatens Bangkok police with machete over 1,000 baht fine (video)

    A man, upset after his car was wheel-clamped for parking in a no-parking zone, threatened police with a machete, causing a commotion on a Bangkok street yesterday, February 26. The confrontation occurred in Soi Yothee, Bangkok, after police wheel-clamped a vehicle parked during restricted hours. The encounter was captured in a video posted on the Facebook page อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part…

  • Police seize SIM box used for scams in Bangkok condo

    Police seize SIM box used for scams in Bangkok condo

    Police operations led to the seizure of a Chinese-operated SIM box at a Bangkok condominium, used for financial scams. The room’s registered owner was a Chinese national using a Thai nominee. This operation took place yesterday, February 26 at 11.30am, under the direction of Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutr, Commissioner of Region 1. The team included Police Major General Chayanan…

  • Police seize 3,000 illegal e-cigarettes near Bangkok University

    Police seize 3,000 illegal e-cigarettes near Bangkok University

    In a major crackdown on illegal e-cigarette sales, Bangkok police arrested four suspects and seized over 3,000 e-cigarettes and vaping liquids from a warehouse located just 100 metres from a prominent university in the Samyan area. The bust was part of a wider initiative ordered by National Police Chief Police General Kittirat Panphet to target illegal vaping sales near educational…

  • Social Security Fund board rejects pension formula

    Social Security Fund board rejects pension formula

    The Social Security Fund (SSF) Board recently declined a proposed pension formula, citing its complexity as the reason for rejection. Board member Associate Professor Sustarum Thammaboosadee, who coordinates the Progressive Social Security Team, expressed regret over his inability to persuade the SSF Board to adopt the proposal. Despite this setback, he plans to continue advocating for the formula at the…