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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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British man quits England for Thailand’s tropical tranquility
A disgruntled British man declared he had quit England for Thailand pledging never to return to his homeland. Riyan Ruparelia left Blighty for the Land of Smiles in January vowing he’d had enough of truth-twisting ruling Conservative Party, Sir Keir Starmer’s Tory-lite opposition Labour Party, and the economic destruction of the United Kingdom, and not to mention its soaring crime…
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NBTC disaster alert system: No more SMS alerts
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) alongside Advanced Info Services Plc (AIS) has pioneered a mobile phone broadcasting service primed to forewarn citizens of imminent natural disasters. At a joint press conference, NBTC chairman Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck and Varunthep Watcharaphon, AIS’s chief of business relations, unveiled the successful trial of this innovative broadcasting service. Funded by the Universal Service Obligation…
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Filipina ladyboys accused of illegally offering sex services in Bangkok
Following the clash between Thai and Filipina transwomen on Soi Sukhumvit 11 in Bangkok yesterday, some locals came forward to accuse the Filipina ladyboys of illegally offering sex services to European tourists in the area. The altercation between Thai and Filipina transwomen reportedly sparked after more than 20 Filipina ladyboys attacked two Thai transwomen and stole their belongings. A friend…
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Thailand’s tourism trunkated: Captive elephant breeding exposed
Thailand stands accused of a sinister practice: the captive breeding of elephants for its lucrative tourism industry. But the horrors extend far beyond just elephants. Researchers have uncovered alarming findings, exposing the grim reality lurking behind the scenes of the wildlife entertainment industry. In a study conducted by World Animal Protection (WAP), the scope of the issue is laid bare.…
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Former salesman’s illegal bullets seized by Thailand police
The Thai authorities apprehended a former ammunition salesman for allegedly engaging in illegal bullet sales online, unearthing an arsenal of 31,800 cartridges at his residence in Khlong Toei district. Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, disclosed today that 66 year old San Panjitkaeo was apprehended while dispatching parcels of cartridges to buyers at a courier…
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PM Srettha to stress infrastructure projects at ASEAN-Australia Summit
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to highlight the nation’s infrastructure advancements, particularly the Land Bridge and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) projects, at the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit continuing until tomorrow, according to an official government representative. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke announced yesterday that the Thai prime minister will also seek to strengthen collaboration in logistics, capitalisation of Free…
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Thailand considers scrapping arrival cards for Malaysian tourists
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced today the potential removal of the necessity for Malaysian tourists to complete arrival and departure cards at primary border crossings, aimed at promoting tourism and business growth. Currently, all visitors arriving via the Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla, regardless of nationality, are waived from the requirement to fill out the Tor Mor 6 (TM 6) cards.…
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Former Thai PM Yingluck cleared in major corruption case
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Holders of Political Positions yesterday delivered a resounding verdict, absolving Yingluck Shinawatra and five co-defendants of malfeasance and corruption allegations. The charges stemmed from the allocation of a hefty 240-million-baht campaign budget aimed at promoting the Yingluck government’s ambitious 2-trillion-baht infrastructure projects. Commenting on the verdict, Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and…
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Thai government issuing smart ID cards to Buddhist monks
The Thai government has begun issuing smart ID cards to over 100,000 Buddhist monks across the nation, revealed Puangpet Chunlaiad, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. These ID cards contain crucial details about each monk’s history and are linked to the country’s citizenship database managed by the Interior Ministry. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to enhance…
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Royal Thai Air Force relinquishes golf course for airport expansion
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) yesterday made a startling decision to relinquish its longstanding ownership of the Kantarat Golf Course, situated near Don Mueang Airport, to make way for the expansion of the airport, confirmed a spokesman from the Defence Ministry. Jirayu Houngsub, the political affairs spokesperson at the Defence Ministry, disclosed that the intricate details of the handover…
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Loan rejections soar for Thai homes under 3 million baht
The Thai housing market is facing a significant challenge as a growing number of loan applications for homes priced below 3 million baht are being rejected. According to the Housing Finance Association, the rejection rate has spiked to 50%, highlighting the vulnerability of this segment despite its substantial market size. The association’s secretary-general and chairman of the executive board, Alangkot…
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Over a million Buddhists gather to venerate Buddha’s relics in Bangkok
Sanam Luang in Bangkok recently played host to over 1 million Buddhists who congregated to venerate the relics of the Lord Buddha and his chief disciples, Sariputra and Moggallana. The Ministry of Culture reported this mass gathering took place between February 24 and March 3. The Culture Minister, Sermsak Pongpanich, revealed that roughly 100,000 Buddhists visited each day during the…
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Violent clash between Thai and Filipina trans groups rocks Bangkok
Chaos erupted early this morning outside a hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11 when a violent confrontation broke out between Thai and Filipina ladyboys. The Thai group assembled in response to an incident today, March 5, where a Thai ladyboy was assaulted and robbed by a group of about 20 Filipina ladyboys. Tensions heightened as the Thai group demanded justice, leading…
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Bangkok hosts Lim Ko Niao spiritual event for devotees
Bangkok’s Po Teck Tung Foundation currently hosts a revered spiritual event, inviting devotees to venerate the goddess Lim Ko Niao from Hat Yai. The event at the foundation’s headquarters in Plabplachai is a collaborative effort with the Samakkhi Mitrapap Foundation (Thung Siang Tung) from Hat Yai. It runs from March 10 to 13 corresponding to the Western calendar. On Sunday,…
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Thai woman exposes half-naked motorbike rider (video)
A Thai woman shared a video of a half naked motorcycle rider from a ride-hailing application on social media to warn other users. The 20 year old victim shared a video of her ride on Facebook and Instagram. The video showed the indecent motorcycle rider wearing a black jacket without any underwear. The woman stated in the video caption… “Do…
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Indian man escapes after hitting Thai boy with motorcycle on footpath
An Indian man finally surrendered to police and paid 5,000 baht in compensation after he hit a six year old Thai boy with a motorcycle on a footpath in the Lat Krabang district of Bangkok on February 29. A Thai mother sought help from Channel 7 after her son suffered a bruise on his cheek in a motorcycle accident on…
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From top chef to Michelin stars: The inspiring journey of Chef Tam
Top Thai chef Chudaree Debhakam, better known as Chef Tam, reminisced about the nerve-wracking moments preceding the grand announcement at the 2024 Michelin Guide Thailand Ceremony. Chef Tam’s restaurant, Baan Tepa, clinched two Michelin stars, catapulting her into culinary stardom and making history as the first Thai female chef to achieve such a feat. “Retaining a single Michelin star is…
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Thai surrogacy revolution: Foreign couples welcome
Authorities in Thailand are on the brink of a groundbreaking change in surrogacy laws, poised to welcome foreign couples into the country for surrogate births, reveals the Department of Health Service Support. The current legislation, known as the Protection for Children Born through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act, restricts surrogacy services to Thai nationals alone, clarified Arkhom Praditsuwan, the department’s deputy…
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Myanmar seminar: Promoting dialogue amid political turmoil
In a bold move challenging the Myanmar junta’s objections, Thai politicians kickstarted a two-day seminar delving into Myanmar’s political turmoil. Despite diplomatic tensions, the event aims to foster dialogue among stakeholders. Thai parliament’s Move Forward Party (MFP) member Rangsiman Rome, leading the House committee on national security, initiated the seminar with a vision of promoting peace and sustainability in Myanmar’s…
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Bangkok’s iconic river sees revamped Tha Tien Pier reopened
Tha Tien pier, nestled in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district, is poised for a grand reopening following extensive renovations, announced Marine Department Director-General Kritpetch Chaichuay. Teaming up with the Crown Property Bureau, the department has meticulously upgraded the pier and its environs to seamlessly blend with the area’s rich historical architecture. Endorsed by the preservation committee overseeing Rattanakosin and old cities,…
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Chinese tourist mowed down on zebra crossing in Samut Prakan
A Chinese tourist was fatally struck down on a zebra crossing by a reckless pickup truck driver in Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province. The Chinese tourist, merely on his first day in Thailand, faced an untimely demise in the flurry of Friday night chaos. Authorities have launched a frantic search for a 35 year old Cambodian suspect allegedly behind…
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Thailand apologises to India for comments on rice export policy
A formal apology to India has been issued by Thailand, following inappropriate comments made by Thailand’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) ambassador regarding India’s rice export policy. The comments were made during the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in the United Arab Emirates. Phumtham Wechayachai, the Commerce Minister of Thailand, confirmed the apology. The Indian government received a written apology…
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Poker tournaments gain popularity in Bangkok
Despite gambling being illegal across Thailand, Bangkok is increasingly considered as a world hub for professionals earning enough income and living the good (that is, relatively cheap) life. Like digital nomads or other online entrepreneurs, poker professionals continue to settle in Bangkok and other coastal cities for the exact same reasons. According to media reports from 2022, moving to Thailand…
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Bangkok’s Loy Krathong goes digital and eco-Friendly, wins Asia Pinnacle Awards
Bangkok won the Asia Pinnacle Awards for Best Eco-Friendly Festival category under Loy Krathong Digital’s judges’ assessment on 28 February. BMA Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary to the Governor of Bangkok, Mr. Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, announced that the first “Bangkok Digital Loy Krathong Festival”, held on November 27, 2023, at Khlong Ong Ang, Phra Nakhon District, and Samphanthawong District by the Bangkok…
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PM Srettha’s billion-baht plan to transform Suvarnabhumi Airport
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced plans to boost the annual capacity of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan. “We’re gearing up to more than double our capacity to a staggering 150 million passengers annually.” Currently handling a substantial 60 million passengers, Suvarnabhumi Airport is set for a dramatic makeover, including the addition of a third runway. This makeover will catapult…
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Dine-and-dash: Fake cop shirks 1,500 baht bill from Michelin-starred Jay Fai
Bangkok’s culinary Michelin-starred hotspot, Jay Fai, fell victim to a brazen food theft, leaving locals and tourists stunned as a fake cop vanished after downing a delectable 1,500-baht feast. The Samranrat Police Station is hot on the trail of the impostor but with no affiliation to their force. Colonel Tossapon Ampaipipatkul, the superintendent leading the investigation, reassured that the police…
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2 Chinese men arrested at Bangkok airport for fake Canadian passports
Officers from the Immigration Bureau arrested two Chinese men at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok for attempting to travel to Taiwan on fake Canadian passports. EVA Air check-in staff reported to the immigration police that two Chinese nationals presented their Canadian passports at the counter for the flights to Taipei in Taiwan. According to the flight schedule, the two were…
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Bangkok’s expressway toll fees skyrocket starting today
Toll fees along Bangkok’s Chalong Rat and Burapha Withi expressways are seeing a steep increase starting from today, March 1. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) dropped this bombshell earlier this month, announcing a hefty hike in toll charges. For four-wheel vehicles traversing the Chalong Rat Expressway, be prepared to shell out an extra 5 baht, pushing the toll to…
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Off-duty officer causes multiple collision in Samut Prakan
A police officer driving under the influence of alcohol caused a multi-vehicle collision in Samut Prakan province, claiming a gearbox issue led to the crash. The officer, who was driving a Toyota Vios, collided with a bus and then reversed into two parked pickup trucks. The incident, which occurred near Soi Nakhon Khuean Khan 8 in the Phra Pradaeng district,…
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Don Mueang Airport combats congestion with designated drop lanes
An initiative to combat heavy traffic congestion at Don Mueang International Airport‘s Terminal 2 will see the enforcement of designated passenger drop lanes for taxi drivers starting today, March 1. This mandate is part of the Transport Ministry’s broader strategy to enhance passenger experience at the nation’s largest low-carrier hub, an imperative necessity as the Songkran holiday period is expected…
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