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.

  • Sponsored

    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Throttle warning: Thailand’s motorcycle market may hit the brakes | Thaiger

    Throttle warning: Thailand’s motorcycle market may hit the brakes

    Thailand’s motorcycle market is revving up but the industry’s top brass are warning it could stall in the slow lane before year’s end. While production and sales of motorcycles jumped in the first five months of 2025, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) says a cocktail of weak consumer spending, tight lending, and political unrest could derail the sector. Surapong…

  • Tuk tuk and truck drivers summoned after shocking Yaowarat crash | Thaiger

    Tuk tuk and truck drivers summoned after shocking Yaowarat crash

    Police summoned both a truck driver and a tuk tuk driver for legal proceedings following the circulation of a viral video showing a shocking collision on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok. The video, widely shared on Thai social media this week, shows a 10-wheel truck travelling in the middle lane veering into a tuk tuk carrying three passengers. At the moment…

  • Bangkok police bust illegal cannabis shop, arrest 28 year old man | Thaiger

    Bangkok police bust illegal cannabis shop, arrest 28 year old man

    A significant operation led by the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau resulted in the arrest of a 28 year old man, Worapong, at a cannabis shop in Din Daeng, Bangkok. The raid, which took place yesterday, July 9, uncovered illicit substances including psychedelic mushrooms, cannabis-infused electronic cigarettes, and edibles. The police operation was spearheaded by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, along…

  • Casino clash: Paetongtarn blasts Anutin for twisting Xi’s words | Thaiger

    Casino clash: Paetongtarn blasts Anutin for twisting Xi’s words

    Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra fired back at Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, accusing him of distorting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s views on Thailand’s controversial casino policy. Speaking in her capacity as culture minister, Paetongtarn took aim at Anutin’s claim that President Xi had voiced strong objections to Thailand’s plans for entertainment complexes that include casinos. “Xi offered various…

  • Man throws stones at cars in Bangkok, subdued by locals (video) | Thaiger

    Man throws stones at cars in Bangkok, subdued by locals (video)

    A dramatic incident unfolded on Srinakarin Road, near Soi 27, in Bangkok, when a man was seen carrying a metal rod and throwing stones at passing vehicles. The situation was captured in a TikTok video posted by user @ion_x_noi, yesterday, July 8, showcasing the tense moments as several brave locals intervened to subdue the man. The video depicted the man,…

  • Fermented fury: Barefoot pensioner splashes Hun Sen portrait | Thaiger

    Fermented fury: Barefoot pensioner splashes Hun Sen portrait

    Bangkok commuters were treated to a bizarre spectacle on Monday, July 7, when a barefoot pensioner splashed fermented fish sauce over a portrait of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, earning himself a small fine and a lot of attention. Retired tennis coach 69 year old Thewa Sritawan set out from his home in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi province, before dawn, carrying…

  • 3 thieves arrested for stealing luxury bags worth over 1 million baht | Thaiger

    3 thieves arrested for stealing luxury bags worth over 1 million baht

    Police arrested three suspects for stealing luxury bags worth over 1 million baht from a house in Bangkok and attempting to sell them. The victim filed a complaint at Phetchakasem Police Station after the theft occurred at a residence in Soi Phetchakasem 67, Bang Kae district, between 4.30am and 5am on July 4. Eleven luxury brand handbags were stolen from…

  • Thailand flexes soft power with food and film frenzy | Thaiger

    Thailand flexes soft power with food and film frenzy

    Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared Thailand’s creative soft power the key to global influence at a major Bangkok forum. Speaking yesterday, July 8, at the second annual SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Paetongtarn pulled no punches about the government’s ambitions to elevate Thailand’s soft power to dazzling new heights. “Creative culture…

  • Singaporean drug kingpin busted in Bangkok hideout | Thaiger

    Singaporean drug kingpin busted in Bangkok hideout

    A suspected Singaporean drug kingpin facing the death penalty in his home country has been busted in Bangkok, along with an Indonesian couple believed to be part of his international narcotics network. The 50 year old alleged drug trafficker, Tan Leng Chong, was busted on Saturday, July 5, along with an Indonesian couple believed to be part of a cross-border…

  • Bangkok unveils 47km canal walkway for safer commuting | Thaiger

    Bangkok unveils 47km canal walkway for safer commuting

    Bangkok is stepping up its game with an ambitious plan to reinvent urban commuting—a sprawling 47.5-kilometre walkway and cycle path project that promises to make getting around safer, greener, and more enjoyable than ever before. Yesterday, July 7, Deputy Governor Wisanu Subsompon showcased the Saen Saeb Canal footpath and bike lane extension during a media tour, underlining the city’s drive…

  • Chinese scammer busted in Bangkok credit card hacking spree | Thaiger

    Chinese scammer busted in Bangkok credit card hacking spree

    Thailand’s cyber cops have smashed a slick Chinese-led scam that tricked unsuspecting victims into handing over their credit card details and OTPs—fuelling a shopping spree that funded a shadowy cryptocurrency operation. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) announced that their Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) had arrested Ma, a 35 year old Chinese national, who masterminded the scheme from a hotel…

  • Thai human rights lawyer hit with 29 years for lese majeste | Thaiger

    Thai human rights lawyer hit with 29 years for lese majeste

    Thailand’s most prominent human rights lawyer has been slapped with yet another prison sentence, adding to his already staggering time behind bars for challenging the monarchy. Today, July 8, Bangkok’s Criminal Court sentenced Arnon Nampa to an additional two years and four months for royal defamation and sedition over a fiery speech he delivered at a protest in November 2020.…

  • Casino chaos: Thailand scraps gambling bill amid turmoil | Thaiger

    Casino chaos: Thailand scraps gambling bill amid turmoil

    Thailand’s rollercoaster ride to legalise casinos has come to a screeching halt, as the government announced it will withdraw the hotly debated Entertainment Complex Bill following fierce public backlash and a fresh wave of political upheaval. Yesterday, July 7, Chief Government Whip Visuth Chainaroon confirmed that a motion to pull the bill from the current parliamentary session will be raised…

  • Thai influencer and transwomen clash over South Korean bar host | Thaiger

    Thai influencer and transwomen clash over South Korean bar host

    A Thai social media influencer and a group of transwomen clashed at an entertainment venue in Bangkok, allegedly over a South Korean bar host. The altercation came to light after one of the transwomen, Mona, shared the story on her social media account. She accused the influencer, Duangporn “Yingaon” Chaiyarungyos, of making transphobic remarks during the confrontation. Mona alleged that…

  • Cambodia-Thailand scam empire busted in mega police raid | Thaiger

    Cambodia-Thailand scam empire busted in mega police raid

    A notorious crime boss running a luxury scam empire from Cambodia is on the run after Thai police swooped on 19 locations in an explosive crackdown on a sprawling transnational syndicate. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) stormed properties across Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chon Buri today, July 8, in coordinated raids aimed at dismantling the network behind…

  • Thai Lion Air’s Kolkata-Bangkok flight aborted over mid-taxi scare | Thaiger

    Thai Lion Air’s Kolkata-Bangkok flight aborted over mid-taxi scare

    Holiday plans were thrown into chaos in the early hours of today when a Thai Lion Air flight bound for Bangkok was forced to abort take-off and return to its parking bay after a technical snag triggered a mid-taxi scare at Kolkata Airport. Flight TLM243, scheduled to whisk 130 passengers and seven crew members back to Thailand, had only just…

  • Manchester gets Thai’d up with new direct flight to Bangkok | Thaiger

    Manchester gets Thai’d up with new direct flight to Bangkok

    Manchester Airport is flying high after bagging a brand-new direct route to Bangkok, making it the only airport outside London with a non-stop flight to the Thai capital. The weekly service, operated by Norse Atlantic Airways on a Boeing 787-9, will take off in November, offering northerners a hassle-free ticket to the most-visited city on the planet. Tickets have just…

  • Bangkok expressways free on July 10 and 11 for Buddhist holidays | Thaiger

    Bangkok expressways free on July 10 and 11 for Buddhist holidays

    Motorists in Bangkok will enjoy free access to major expressways for two days to mark the Asanha Bucha and Buddhist Lent holidays. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announced toll exemptions on July 10 and 11, from midnight to midnight each day. Some 61 toll booths across the Chalerm Maha Nakhon, Si Rat, and Udon Ratthaya expressways will waive toll…

  • Thailand to boost tourism with Muslim-friendly hotel certification | Thaiger

    Thailand to boost tourism with Muslim-friendly hotel certification

    A Bangkok hotel has become the first in Thailand to receive Muslim-friendly certification aimed at improving the tourism experiences of Muslim travellers. Ninareeman Binnima, a Thai veterinarian, said to Bangkok Post that many foreign Muslim business visitors struggle to find Halal dining options at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang international airports. She noted this issue affects Thailand’s reputation among Muslim tourists.…

  • Blaze at Bangkok supermarket quickly contained by firefighters | Thaiger

    Blaze at Bangkok supermarket quickly contained by firefighters

    A fire broke out at a supermarket near Vacharapol in Bangkok, with emergency services deploying two fire trucks to control the situation. The blaze, originating from a fruit display refrigerator, was reported at 4.50am today, July 7. Officers from Bang Khen Police Station were alerted to the fire inside the single-storey supermarket close to Sathira Dhammasathan on Vacharapol Road, Tha…

  • Steel structure collapse in Bangkok injures workers at construction site | Thaiger

    Steel structure collapse in Bangkok injures workers at construction site

    A steel structure collapsed at a construction site on Soi Nimitmai, Bangkok, last night, resulting in injuries to several workers and triggering a rapid response from emergency services. The collapse occurred around 7.45pm yesterday, July 6, when a substantial steel frame fell onto workers at the site, creating a chaotic scene as some people became trapped beneath the debris. Emergency…

  • Man falls from pylon onto road off Vibhavadi Expressway | Thaiger

    Man falls from pylon onto road off Vibhavadi Expressway

    A man climbed a pylon along the Vibhavadi Expressway before falling onto the road in the Din Daeng area. Emergency services provided first aid before transporting him to the hospital. The incident occurred at 3.45pm yesterday, July 5, as reported by the Amarin Radio Centre. The event took place near Rajamangala University of Technology East, within the Chakraphong Phuwana area…

  • Gamblers flee in panic as Bangkok casino busted in dramatic raid | Thaiger

    Gamblers flee in panic as Bangkok casino busted in dramatic raid

    A special operations team from the Department of Public Administration carried out a raid on a gambling den in Bangkok yesterday, located near a metro station. Acting on a direct order from Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, officials swooped in to enforce social order as part of the newly launched crackdown dubbed “Shut Down Saphan Mai Casino.”…

  • Thailand’s interior minister launches nationwide anti-drug campaign | Thaiger

    Thailand’s interior minister launches nationwide anti-drug campaign

    Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has committed to a comprehensive nationwide campaign to address narcotics, crime syndicates, and mafia-style figures, highlighting the drug crisis as a significant threat to national security. Phumtham, currently acting as prime minister, outlined these policies to senior ministry officials and provincial governors across the country on his inaugural day at the Ministry of Interior. He underscored…

  • Thailand denies imminent artefact return to Cambodia | Thaiger

    Thailand denies imminent artefact return to Cambodia

    Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has refuted claims that Thailand is on the verge of transferring 20 ancient artefacts to Cambodia. Yesterday, July 4, speaking as the new culture minister, Paetongtarn clarified that 23 artefacts were returned to Cambodia in 2015 following confirmation of their origins. Although the Cabinet approved in principle the return of another 20 artefacts related to…

  • Thai Mercedes-Benz driver allegedly slaps student over parking dispute | Thaiger

    Thai Mercedes-Benz driver allegedly slaps student over parking dispute

    A Mercedes-Benz driver allegedly slapped a female university student during a parking dispute outside a convenience store on Soi Sukhumvit 62 in Bangkok. The student shared a video on social media showing her and her boyfriend engaged in a heated argument with the driver. In the video caption, she wrote, “Wealthy Mercedes-Benz driver slaps university student in Soi Sukhumvit 62.”…

  • Bangkok gibbon smuggling busted at India’s Chennai Airport | Thaiger

    Bangkok gibbon smuggling busted at India’s Chennai Airport

    Chennai Airport has become the frontline in a bizarre wildlife trafficking saga after customs officers intercepted a passenger trying to smuggle two endangered gibbon monkeys from Bangkok — the second such brazen attempt in just two weeks. The passenger, who arrived on a Thai Airways flight in the early hours of Tuesday, July 1, aroused suspicion among customs sleuths. When…

  • Mae Manee Ponzi scheme leader arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport | Thaiger

    Mae Manee Ponzi scheme leader arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) apprehended a key figure in the Mae Manee Ponzi scheme at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The arrest, yesterday, July 3, occurred as Panhathai, also known as Narissara, was preparing to leave the country for a birthday celebration. Accused of deceiving over 1,000 victims into investments exceeding 200 million baht, she was detained based on an…

  • Casino bill meltdown: Government on brink amid public fury | Thaiger

    Casino bill meltdown: Government on brink amid public fury

    Thailand’s controversial casino bill to legalise vast entertainment complexes could collapse, as ministers rush to ease public outrage and political divisions. The government is now widely expected to withdraw the Entertainment Complex Bill from the House agenda, just days before MPs are set to meet on July 9. Chousak Sirinil, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed yesterday, July…

  • Bangkok tailor arrested for stealing from unlocked cars | Thaiger

    Bangkok tailor arrested for stealing from unlocked cars

    A tailor in Bangkok was arrested for allegedly stealing bags from unlocked cars to solve his debts, claiming unpaid tailoring jobs led to his actions. Three victims reported losses totalling over 130,000 baht. Yesterday, July 3, at 11pm, Police Major General Khomsit Rangsai of Bang Khun Thian Police Station led a press conference announcing the arrest of 48 year old…