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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PM Paetongtarn defends family time amidst farmers’ protest
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has responded to criticism following her controversial appearance with her children during a farmers’ protest outside Government House. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, March 18, has sparked outrage as farmers from 19 provinces unloaded truckloads of blackchin tilapia near the Government House fence. The farmers were protesting the government’s slow response to eradicating the…
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Indian national found dead in Bangkok townhouse
A housekeeper discovered the unusual death of a 38 year old Indian national, who had rented a townhouse in Thon Buri district, Bangkok, for about two months. His relatives lost contact with him, prompting the house owner to request an inspection. At 2pm yesterday, March 19, Police Lieutenant Satha Duang-Iad, Deputy Inspector at Samre Police Station, responded to a report…
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Thai taxi driver hits rock bottom, then throws rocks at Bangkok cab
Police yesterday arrested a Thai taxi driver for throwing rocks at another taxi driver’s car in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The suspect claimed he committed the offence out of stress after his business went bankrupt. A 58 year old taxi driver named Pornsawat rushed to Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station in a state of fright on Tuesday, March 18,…
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Bad karma: Ex-builder nabbed for 16m baht amulets, gold theft
A former construction worker has been arrested for stealing 107 amulets and 35 baht worth of gold from a renowned amulet trader’s home, resulting in a loss of approximately 16 million baht. The arrest took place after a thorough investigation by the police in Lat Krabang. Today, March 19, at 9am, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, the Metropolitan Police Chief,…
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Bangkok bust: 191 unit raids luxury home, nabs drug dealer
The 191 police unit conducted a raid on a luxurious residence in the Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok, arresting a man involved in drug possession. The operation, which took place yesterday, March 18 at 10.30am, resulted in the seizure of substantial evidence, including 313 ketamine vape pods, 80 bags of ketamine, 53 ecstasy pills, and 38 disposable e-cigarettes. The operation…
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Rama II expressway lane reopens after fatal bridge collapse
The inbound lane to the expressway on Rama II Road, affected by the bridge project collapse last Saturday, will reopen by tomorrow. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) stated that demolition work on the collapsed bridge is 90% complete, with the contractor, Italian-Thai Development (ITD), pledging compensation for victims. The collapse on Saturday, March 15, involved a concrete beam under…
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PM rejects opposition’s request for full 30-hour debate control
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has not approved the opposition’s request to control the entire duration of a 30-hour censure debate. She acknowledged that determining the length of the debate is not within her authourity. Yesterday, March 18, the Thai PM commented that the opposition’s request might not be logical, a sentiment echoed by the coalition government, which found the demand excessive.…
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Thailand uncertain on US visa ban after Uyghur deportation
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed uncertainty regarding her inclusion on a list of Thai officials recently barred from obtaining US visas following the deportation of 40 Uyghur detainees to China. Addressing the media yesterday, March 18, she said, “There’s no confirmation yet. I still don’t know.” The 38 year old PM explained that the Foreign Affairs Ministry would further clarify…
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Baht boost: Thailand greenlights 200 billion for Bangkok transit line
Thailand has sanctioned investment applications amounting to a total of 200 billion baht, spearheaded by a Bangkok transit line and three data centres, offering a potential uplift to the country’s subdued economic growth. The primary initiative is Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc’s 109 billion baht (US$3.2 billion) investment in the Orange Line, aimed at connecting Bangkok’s western and eastern suburbs,…
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Pickup truck’s unsafe metal door transport sparks expressway safety alert
A post from the ข่าวสารงานจราจรทางพิเศษ บางพลี-สุขสวัสดิ์ (Bang Phli-Suksawat Expressway Traffic News) Facebook page today highlighted a safety concern involving a pickup truck carrying metal doors on an expressway. The image accompanying the post showed the truck transporting oversized doors without proper securing methods. The post indicated that such vehicles are not allowed on expressways, as it violated regulations and poses…
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Walking the talk: Bangkok chief to revamp Asoke footpaths by July
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt plans to renovate footpaths along Asoke Montri Road, with the project expected to start by July this year. Governor Chadchart, accompanied by Deputy Governor Wissanu Subsomphon, inspected the footpath along Asoke Montri Road on Sunday, March 16, to assess pedestrian issues in the area. He also livestreamed his visit on his Facebook page. The governor revealed…
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Man meditates on Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, sparks emergency response
A man dressed in white robes drew the public’s attention when he climbed the Democracy Monument and meditated on one of its ledges. The incident, which occurred around 3.40pm yesterday, March 17, prompted police and rescue workers to respond to the scene. The man, sitting in a meditative pose, caused confusion among passersby on Ratchadamnoen Road. Police and rescue teams,…
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Branching out: Bangkok governor vows to plant over a million trees
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced a plan to plant 1.06 million trees in the eastern suburbs of the capital by April next year. The initiative will span nine districts, with the majority of 400,000 trees being planted in Nong Chok district. Klong Sam Wa and Lat Krabang will each see 300,000 trees, while the remaining districts will receive 10,000 trees…
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Illegal kratom and cigarette ring busted in Bangkok
Three young people were apprehended today in the Thon Buri district of Bangkok for operating an illicit business involving the sale of contraband cigarettes and kratom juice mixed with cough syrup. The operation yielded daily earnings of nearly 10,000 baht. Police Major General Thathapoom Charupradit, head of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECS), directed Police Colonel Naruepol Karuna and Police…
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Thai call scam losses fall by 200 million baht after power cuts
The Thai government’s controversial decision to cut power, oil, and Internet services to border areas near Myanmar has reportedly paid off, with losses from call scams plummeting by at least 200 million baht. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong revealed that since the power cut-off on February 5, there has been a significant drop in cybercrime activity, with call…
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Bangkok bus driver fined 2,000 baht after blind passenger falls (video)
The Department of Land Transport has fined a bus driver 2,000 baht after an incident where a blind passenger and their guide fell from a bus as they attempted to board through the rear door. The driver stated he was focusing on traffic to the right and did not notice passengers boarding. The Department of Land Transport yesterday, March 17,…
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Thailand considers raising pension age to 65, SSO clarifies
The Social Security Office (SSO) has clarified that the proposed increase in the retirement age for pension eligibility from 55 to 65 is a suggestion from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is not yet implemented in Thailand. SSO Secretary General Marasri Jairangsee indicated that this idea, initially presented by the ILO, has been under consideration by the SSO since…
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Bangkok road sweeper gains fame as model after portrait by Russian man
A Thai road sweeper went viral on social media after a Russian photographer shared her portrait from a street photoshoot in Bangkok’s Chinatown on his TikTok account on Friday, March 14. The Russian photographer, Semyon Rezchikov, typically shares videos of himself taking portraits of people he meets on the street in each country he visits. The video shows the reaction…
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Bridge over troubled water: BMA’s Bangkok river crossing race
Bangkok’s city planners are racing against the clock to complete the much-anticipated Kiakkai Bridge over the Chao Phraya River by 2026. This ambitious project is set to transform commuting across the bustling city, offering a smoother journey over the river. BMA Public Works Department chief Tawatchai Napasaksri dished out details on the various bridge projects currently weaving through the cityscape.…
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Expressway chaos: Bangkok traffic mayhem as flyover tumbles
Transport chiefs in Thailand have urged motorists to seek alternative routes after a key section of the Bangkok–Thon Buri expressway collapsed on Saturday, causing traffic bedlam and blocking crucial ramps. Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) chief Surachet Laophulsuk warned of severe congestion around the Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressway ramp, particularly near the Dao Khanong toll plaza, starting today, Monday, March…
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Last call: Drunk man’s tragic death in a Khlong Tan police cell
A 55 year old man died in a detention cell at Khlong Tan Police Station after being arrested for disorderly conduct while drunk. His family revealed he had a heart condition and a history of drug use. The incident involved a man, Pairoh, whose surname is withheld, causing a disturbance in Soi Phatthanakan 10 Intersection 1. Police from Khlong Tan…
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Thailand offers free HPV vaccines for girls and young women
The Government of Thailand is offering free cervical cancer vaccinations to girls and young women aged 11 to 20 until the end of April, part of an initiative supported by the Ministry of Public Health. Cervical cancer, described by Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan as a silent disease, results in numerous fatalities annually in Thailand. The vaccine protects against the…
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Police raid illegal gambling den in Suthisan, arrest 19 people
Thai metropolitan police raided an illegal gambling den in the Suthisan area, arresting 19 people, including the organiser, and seizing five items of evidence. The incident occurred yesterday, March 15, at around 10.50pm, in a rented room on Suthisan Winitchai Road. The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, with support from…
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Three missing found after Rama 2 overpass collapse tragedy
Three missing people from the Rama 2 overpass collapse have been located after an extensive search. The incident occurred on the Rama 3 – Dao Khanong – Outer Ring Road construction project, which is situated over the Rama 2 expressway. The collapse resulted in five fatalities and numerous injuries. As of 3.20pm yesterday, March 15, emergency services reported discovering two…
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Thailand braces for summer storms and temperature drop
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a second announcement warning of severe weather conditions, including summer storms with strong winds, hail, and lightning, followed by a significant temperature drop of up to 8°C in some areas. According to the department, from March 16 to 20, northern Thailand will experience variable weather with thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail. Some regions may…
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Man arrested in Bangkok after alleged molestation in Phayao
A 32 year old man was apprehended by police for two alleged incidents of molestation involving young women in a single day. The incidents reportedly took place in Phayao province, with the suspect fleeing to Bangkok before being captured. The arrest took place at a hotel near Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bang Sao Thong district, Samut Prakan province, following a…
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Thailand confident FTA with EU will be finalised by year-end
Despite mounting pressure from the European Parliament over Thailand’s deportation of Uyghurs to China, the Commerce Ministry remains confident that free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union (EU) will stay on track, with a final deal expected by December 25. The controversy stems from a European Parliament resolution condemning Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghurs on February 27, warning…
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Thai man shoots wife dead after being caught raping daughter
A Thai man surrendered to police after shooting his wife dead at a house in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok, reportedly because she caught him raping her 15 year old daughter. Officers from Phra Samut Chedi Police Station were called to the house in the Phra Samut Chedi district at 12.30am yesterday, March 13, following reports of a shooting. At…
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Heavy rain and storms to hit 28 Thai provinces including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for heavy rain affecting 28 provinces, including Bangkok, as residents prepare for severe weather conditions. The forecast predicts thunderstorms, strong winds, and a drop in temperature starting today, March 14, with the weather expected to remain volatile. The TMD forecasts that in the next 24 hours, the upper part of Thailand…
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Bangkok condo chaos: Illegal Sukhumvit rentals get eviction notice
Director General of the Department of Provincial Administration Chaiwat Juntiraphong targetted Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit area as part of a crackdown on illegal daily rentals in four condo units. Sparked by noise and security grievances lodged at the Damrongtham Centre, these actions align with the Hotel Act 2004. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the clampdown to restore…
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