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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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Casino chaos: Thailand scraps gambling bill amid turmoil

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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…

  • Sri Lankan man caught smuggling snakes in underwear at Bangkok airport

    Sri Lankan man caught smuggling snakes in underwear at Bangkok airport

    Officials from the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network (Thailand WEN) arrested a Sri Lankan man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok for wildlife trafficking after discovering three snakes hidden in his underwear. Phonlawee Buchakiat, Director of the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Centre, reported the successful operation on the official Facebook page of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation yesterday,…

  • Norse Atlantic soars with new Thailand routes, slashes US services

    Norse Atlantic soars with new Thailand routes, slashes US services

    Norse Atlantic Airways is ramping up its winter schedule, adding four exciting new routes connecting Europe with Thailand as part of its ongoing expansion into Southeast Asia. Set to launch in October and December, these new flights are designed to tap into the surging demand for travel to Thailand, one of the top destinations for European leisure travellers. The carrier…

  • 4 of 7 suspects arrested for 3.4 million baht robbery in Bangkok car park

    4 of 7 suspects arrested for 3.4 million baht robbery in Bangkok car park

    Police arrested four out of seven suspects who robbed three victims of 3.4 million baht in the car park of a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao area on Monday, June 30. A seven-member criminal gang lured the three victims into exchanging 3.4 million baht in cash for 100,000 USDT in cryptocurrency at the shopping mall. The victims were then…

  • Thai abbot denies staging 23 million baht theft at Bangkok temple

    Thai abbot denies staging 23 million baht theft at Bangkok temple

    A Thai abbot denied staging a 23 million baht theft, maintaining his innocence, despite police discovering that he covered the lenses of security cameras in his office with paper. The abbot of Mueang Temple in Bangkok, 78 year old Phra Ratchawatchara Phattanatorn, reported the loss of 10 million baht in cash and nearly 13 million baht in gold bars to…

  • Serious accident on Chalong Rat Expressway leaves two injured

    Serious accident on Chalong Rat Expressway leaves two injured

    An horrific traffic accident occurred on the Chalong Rat Expressway at 6am today, July 3 when a Land Rover driving against the traffic collided with a Mercedes-Benz. The crash resulted in both vehicles being severely damaged and overturned. The incident left both drivers with serious injuries, prompting an immediate police investigation using CCTV footage. The accident occurred on a three-lane…

  • Bangkok Bank backs Thai businesses entering Indonesia’s market

    Bangkok Bank backs Thai businesses entering Indonesia’s market

    Bangkok Bank (BBL) is prepared to aid Thai medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand into Indonesia, where there is significant potential across various supply chain industries. During the 2025 Indonesia Investment and Trade Forum, hosted by Bangkok Bank and its Indonesian affiliate Permata Bank, BBL president Chartsiri Sophonpanich highlighted Indonesia’s promising economic and social prospects. The country’s GDP per capita…

  • People’s Party backs new interim PM without joining coalition

    People’s Party backs new interim PM without joining coalition

    The People’s Party (PP) expressed its willingness to support the election of a new prime minister without joining the governing coalition, provided that the succeeding administration serves solely as a temporary government. This interim government would be tasked with organising a General Election and conducting a public referendum to establish a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) for rewriting the charter. The…

  • Legal battle intensifies over Paetongtarn’s audio scandal

    Legal battle intensifies over Paetongtarn’s audio scandal

    Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s temporary suspension from duties as prime minister following a decision by the Constitutional Court, could have significant political consequences in the future. The court yesterday, July 1, voted 7-2 to accept a petition filed by senators seeking her removal, based on an audio clip allegedly featuring a conversation between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The…

  • Student survives bus collision at Bangkok pedestrian crossing (video)

    Student survives bus collision at Bangkok pedestrian crossing (video)

    A university student in Bangkok is lucky to be alive after being run down by a bus while crossing the road via a zebra crossing. The horrifying incident, captured on a nearby surveillance camera, quickly went viral after being shared online. Despite being hurled several metres from the point of impact, the young woman survived the crash and is now…

  • Bangkok abbot’s wealth questioned after he reports 23 million baht theft

    Bangkok abbot’s wealth questioned after he reports 23 million baht theft

    An abbot at a Bangkok temple reported to police the theft of 10 million baht in cash and nearly 13 million baht in gold on Sunday, June 29. He insisted the valuables were his personal property and not related to temple donations. Phra Ratchawatchara Phattanatorn, the abbot of Mueang Temple in Bangkok’s Bang Khae district, assigned the temple manager, Sakda Lertritsomboon,…

  • DLT warns against counterfeit licence plates sold on social media

    DLT warns against counterfeit licence plates sold on social media

    The Department of Land Transport (DLT) warned about the growing online trade of counterfeit licence plates. The warning, which targets the public, highlights the rising dangers posed by purchasing these fake plates, which are increasingly being marketed via live streams on popular social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. DLT Deputy Director General and spokesperson Seksom Akraphand raised concerns…

  • Bangkok minimum wage hits 400 baht: Boost for 700,000 workers

    Bangkok minimum wage hits 400 baht: Boost for 700,000 workers

    A historic pay boost is on the horizon for Bangkok’s workers, as the government acknowledges a major wage hike that will benefit hundreds of thousands. The Cabinet has officially confirmed a significant increase in Bangkok’s minimum wage, with the daily rate set to rise to 400 baht starting July 1. The wage increase, which will benefit approximately 700,000 workers, was…