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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PM Paetongtarn highlights policy successes in monthly address
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivered her monthly television address yesterday, February 2, highlighting her administration’s efforts and accomplishments since the beginning of the year. The programme, titled Okat Thai Kap Nayok Paetongtarn (Opportunities for Thailand with Prime Minister Paetongtarn), is scheduled to air on the first Sunday of each month on the NBT HD2 channel, which is controlled by the…
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Thai police uncover illegal Bitcoin mining, costing 500 million baht
In Samut Sakhon, an extensive illegal Bitcoin mining operation was uncovered by Thai police yesterday, January 31, resulting in significant financial losses due to unauthorised electricity usage over a three-year period. The operation, which led to over 500 million baht in losses, was discovered during a raid conducted by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) following abnormal power consumption reports…
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Bangkok campaign targets rice field burning to combat air pollution
Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has announced a campaign to eliminate burning in rice fields to tackle air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The initiative, launched yesterday in Nong Chok district, aims to address the issue across 80,000 rai of rice paddies and 4,000 farming households in 10 districts, including Nong Chok, Khlong Sam Wa, and Lat Krabang. Over…
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Thaksin Shinawatra allowed to leave Thailand with 5m baht surety
The Criminal Court has granted Thaksin Shinawatra permission to temporarily leave Thailand, requiring a 5 million baht cash surety to ensure his return. The former prime minister received approval yesterday, January 31 to visit Malaysia on Sunday and Monday. Thaksin named himself and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa as witnesses, supported by documentation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to validate…
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Cold weather warning in Thailand with frost on mountain tops
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, February 1, highlighting cold to chilly conditions in the north and northeast, with frost expected on mountain tops. Residents are advised to be cautious of fire hazards due to dry weather, while South Thailand faces monsoon effects with high waves at sea. In the next 24 hours, a…
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Phumtham dismisses refugee employment proposal as impractical
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expressed disapproval of Fair Party list MP Kannavee Suebsang‘s proposal to offer employment to refugees. Phumtham considers it impractical. Phumtham addressed concerns over the United States’ decision to reduce funding for hospitals in nine refugee camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border. He noted that the Thai government is also impacted by this decision,…
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Gem of a deal: Bangkok fair set to sparkle with 3.5 billion baht in trade
Organisers of the 71st Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair expect the event to generate over 3.5 billion baht in trade. Scheduled for February 22 to 26 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), the fair is hosted by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand, with support from various public and…
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Reckless Thai rider’s wild trip lands him fine, suspended jail term
In a courtroom twist that highlights the perils of flouting traffic laws, a young Thai rider found himself at the mercy of the justice system after a reckless ride through Bangkok. Jesada Pholyeam’s day of reckoning came as the court handed him a one-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a 3,000 baht fine. To make matters worse for…
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Thai lawyer Sittra charged in 111m baht fraud case
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has charged prominent lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, known as Lawyer Tam, and six others in a fraud case involving Jatuporn Ubonlert, also known as Madame Oy. The court ordered them to repay 111 million baht. This sum includes 72 million baht from a fraudulent online lottery investment scheme and 39 million baht from scams related…
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Burning rubber: Blazing inferno engulfs Bangkok car plant
In the early hours of this morning, chaos descended upon a renowned car assembly company in Lat Krabang, Bangkok, as a ferocious fire lit up the capital’s sky. Police Lieutenant Jirayu Wongsingh, an investigator from Chok Chai Noi Police Station, was jolted into action with reports of a blaze ripping through the company premises on Luang Phaeng Road, Thap Yao…
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Businessman assaults delivery rider at gunpoint in Bangkok
A prominent property businessman has been arrested and charged after allegedly forcing a delivery rider into his home at gunpoint and assaulting him. The rider was subsequently rescued. The suspect, 46 year old Sirianont Srikureja, president and CEO of a real estate firm, is being held at Hua Mak Police Station following his arrest on Wednesday for assaulting 46 year…
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Bangkok seeks air pollution control status amid rising PM2.5 levels
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to request the government’s declaration of Bangkok as an air pollution control area due to anticipated rises in PM2.5 levels over the coming week. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced yesterday, January 29, that he will present the proposal to the Cabinet next week. Declaring Bangkok a pollution control area would empower the BMA to…
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University student killed in bus accident in Bangkok
A tragic accident occurred today when a second-year university student riding a motorcycle was fatally struck by an air-conditioned bus on Phahonyothin Road in the Bang Khen district. Officers from Bang Khen Police Station received a report of the incident today, January 30, involving a bus and a motorcycle, resulting in a fatality. The accident took place on the inbound…
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Thai thief assaults and steals 10,500 baht from old man in Bangkok
Police arrested a Thai man for physically assaulting an 84 year old victim to steal 10,500 baht in cash on the side of a road in Bangkok on Monday, January 27. The daughter of the 84 year old victim filed a complaint with officers at Rat Burana Police Station after her father suffered a 5-centimetre-long and 2-centimetre-deep head wound from…
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Thailand’s ‘one ticket’ travel plan moves forward
Thailand is one step closer to a game-changing transport upgrade, with the House of Representatives approving the Pheu Thai Party’s draft bill for an integrated ticketing system. The move, passed with 226 votes in favour and 142 against, promises a seamless travel experience for commuters across urban trains and buses. But not everyone is on board. The House ditched a competing proposal from the People’s Party, opting instead…
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Bangkok student shooting leaves one critically injured
Police in Bangkok have launched an investigation following a shooting incident involving a student from the Uthenthawai campus, leaving one person critically injured. The incident took place near the Maboonkrong area at the intersection of Phaya Thai and Chula 12 roads on the evening of yesterday, January 29. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, the Commissioner of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, instructed…
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Civil group pushes for casino referendum with 50,000 signatures
A civil network has initiated a campaign to collect signatures for a referendum on the potential legalisation of casinos in the country. Thanakorn Komkris, Secretary General of the Stop Gambling Foundation, stated that the network aims to collect a minimum of 50,000 signatures to prompt a referendum for public input on the matter. Previously, the foundation launched an online petition…
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Thai cops shut down illegal steroid lab in Bangkok
Thai police have smashed a massive underground steroid operation, seizing 1.9 million unregistered Dexamethasone tablets in a dramatic raid in Bangkok on January 24. The joint crackdown by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Central Investigation Bureau (CIB)exposed a dangerous black market scheme, where the powerful steroid was being illegally produced and mixed into health products, from herbal remedies and drinks to cosmetics. Dexamethasone, a controlled substance…
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High-profile Chinese inmate accuses Thai officials of treating him unfairly
A high-profile Chinese inmate sought assistance from INTERPOL, accusing Thai officials at Bangkok Remand Prison of treating him unfairly. This Chinese inmate is She Zhijiang, the Chinese President of Yatai International Holding Group (IHG) and the founder of the crime hub in Shwe Kokko, Myanmar. He was arrested in Thailand in August 2022 and imprisoned at Bangkok Remand Prison. Zhijiang was arrested…
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Thailand denies mistreatment of jailed Chinese gambling tycoon
Thailand has refuted allegations of mistreatment against She Zhijiang, a jailed gambling tycoon facing extradition to China over charges of running illegal online gambling operations in Southeast Asia, said Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. She, a Chinese Cambodian businessman, has claimed he experienced inhumane treatment in a Thai prison, including violence that has rendered him unable to stand. This claim was…
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2 Chinese and 4 Burmese nationals arrested in Bangkok salon raid
Thai Tourist Police officers arrested two Chinese and four Burmese nationals for illegally working at a beauty salon in the Rama 9 neighbourhood of Bangkok yesterday. The Tourist Police launched a special operation called “Happy Chinese New Year 68” and raided a beauty salon in Rama 9, named Yinhaijinchuan Barber & Salon, where the Chinese suspects were arrested. In addition…
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Thai Airways’ A320 business class: Luxury or letdown?
Thai Airways is stepping up its game, rolling out regional business class on its single-aisle Airbus A320 jets, promising premium perks and a smoother flying experience. But is it the luxury upgrade travellers crave—or just a glorified economy seat with extra legroom? Dubbed Royal Silk Class, Thai’s A320 business cabin features 12 wide reclining seats with a 38” pitch and 5” recline—a significant improvement over…
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Bangkok residents frustrated by Chinese New Year fireworks chaos (video)
Residents in Bangkok are voicing their dissatisfaction over Chinese people setting off fireworks to celebrate the Chinese New Year, with little regard for police intervention. The fireworks have sparked fires in nearby grasslands, causing chaos for fire services, and have left pets in distress. Social media users have reported complaints from multiple areas across the city, including Huai Khwang, Rama…
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Man arrested in Bangkok for motorcycle theft and knife threat
A 47 year old man was apprehended by Sutthisan police after allegedly threatening a victim with a knife and stealing their motorcycle yesterday, January 28. The suspect, identified as Nui Somchai, was caught during a routine patrol after officers noticed suspicious behaviour near Sutthisan Police Station in Bangkok. Police Colonel Siam Boonsom directed Police Colonel Porntep Chalermkiat and other officers from…
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Vietnamese national arrested for illegal cannabis farm in Bangkok
A Vietnamese national was arrested for illegal cannabis cultivation in a building in Bangkok, following complaints about noise and odours. The suspect claimed to have been hired by a Thai person for 20,000 baht a month. Yesterday, January 28, Police Major General Prasart Kemmaprasit, Commander of Immigration Division 1, alongside officers including Police Colonel Rapeepat Utsaha, Deputy Commander and Acting…
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Thai taxi rider arrested for snatching Burmese woman’s gold necklace
Police arrested a Thai motorcycle taxi rider for snatching a gold necklace from a Burmese victim as she was walking on a footpath in Bangkok on Sunday, January. 26 The Burmese woman, Moe Moe Win, lodged a complaint with Phetchakasem Police Station at around 9.40am on Sunday following the theft. The incident occurred outside the Nanyang shoe factory in Soi…
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Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi leads Southeast Asia aviation industry
Southeast Asia’s aviation industry is taking off this year, with major airports and emerging destinations recording impressive growth in seat capacity. Fuelled by surging travel demand, expanded airline networks, and strategic connectivity upgrades, the region is cementing its position as a global aviation powerhouse. Leading the charge is Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, adding a staggering 407,000 seats in January—a 16% increase…
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Bangkok prison scrutinised for bribes and Chinese inmate privilege
A Thai political activist and former inmate accused officials at Bangkok Remand Prison of accepting bribes from a Chinese inmate and granting them privileges. The activist, Ekkachai Hongkangwan, took to Facebook on Tuesday, January 21, to share his experiences in Bangkok Remand Prison between 2022 and 2023. His post highlighted the comfortable lives of Chinese call centre scam suspects and alleged…
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Bangkok train ridership surges 60% amid free transport initiative
Train ridership across Greater Bangkok experienced a significant 60% rise on January 26, marking the second day of the government’s week-long initiative of free public transport aimed at combating air pollution, as reported by the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) today, January 28. DRT director-general Pichet Kunathammarak noted that the city’s electric train network saw a 60.90% increase in ridership…
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Thai motorcyclist hits South Korean man on zebra crossing
A Thai motorcyclist struck a South Korean pedestrian at a zebra crossing on a Bangkok road on Thursday, 23 January. The incident occurred at the same location as a case in 2022 when a Thai ophthalmologist was fatally struck by a motorcycle. The Facebook page เรารักด่านตรวจ (translating to “We Love Police Checkpoints”) shared dashcam footage of the accident on Phaya…
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