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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    How much travel insurance should cost you in Thailand (By trip length)

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  • Chinese investment boosts amulet trade in Bangkok’s Pantip Plaza

    Chinese investment boosts amulet trade in Bangkok’s Pantip Plaza

    The amulet business in Bangkok’s Pantip Plaza is booming, with foreign investors, especially from China, driving the trade of Thai Buddhist amulets and sacred objects. The market, once dominated by Thai collectors, has transformed into a major hub for Chinese investors, who have set up shop in the mall to cater to their fellow countrymen. Despite a slight downturn in…

  • Drunken Turkish teenager gets slapped by Thai woman in Bangkok

    Drunken Turkish teenager gets slapped by Thai woman in Bangkok

    A drunken Turkish teenager kicked off on Bangkok’s backpacker strip after losing his passport and ended up slapped, tackled, and cuffed after lashing out at a Thai woman near Khao San Road. The 18 year old was arrested in the early hours of yesterday, morning, June 24, after a booze-fuelled meltdown that turned violent, leaving bystanders shocked and police dragging…

  • Cambodia assures SEA games go ahead despite border tensions

    Cambodia assures SEA games go ahead despite border tensions

    Despite growing political tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, the kingdom’s athletes are pushing forward with their preparations for the upcoming 33rd SEA Games, set to take place in Bangkok this December. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), reassured the public that the ongoing border dispute will not interfere with the prestigious sporting event. Speaking…

  • Burglar caught in Bangkok with stolen Buddha statues and amulets

    Burglar caught in Bangkok with stolen Buddha statues and amulets

    Bang Khen police officers apprehended a burglar who targeted homes in the Ram Inthra area, stealing Buddha statues and amulets to sell to collectors for online gambling funds. At 4pm yesterday, June 24, Police Colonel Anan Warasat from Bang Khen Police Station, along with Deputy Police Colonel Sunpich Sirisoonthorn, Police Lieutenant Adul Phothakan, Police Lieutenant Suwapich Insingh, and the Bang…

  • Bangkok man arrested for selling e-cigarettes via online store

    Bangkok man arrested for selling e-cigarettes via online store

    Police in Phetkasem arrested a 32 year old man for using an online clothing store as a front to sell electronic cigarettes. The arrest took place yesterday, June 23, in front of a department store in Phetkasem, Bangkok, with police seizing some 166 items, including disposable electronic cigarette pods and refill liquids. Under the direction of Police Major General Pallop Aermla,…

  • High and dry: Health minister’s war on cannabis shops

    High and dry: Health minister’s war on cannabis shops

    The minister of public health declared a dramatic U-turn on cannabis policy but with thousands of shops raking in billions and a booming weed culture now woven into daily life, critics say his war on weed is destined to go up in smoke. Health chief Somsak Thepsuthin sent shockwaves through Thailand’s green economy today, June 24, by signing off on…

  • Bangkok’s Green Line future in doubt: Will 20-baht fare survive?

    Bangkok’s Green Line future in doubt: Will 20-baht fare survive?

    As the Green Line’s concession approaches its expiration in 2029, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is preparing to release a groundbreaking study to explore four potential operational models that could keep the popular 20-baht flat fare policy alive. This move comes after Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt proposed a transfer of the Green Line project to the Ministry of Transport, believing…

  • Bangkok taxi driver and passenger clash over payment method

    Bangkok taxi driver and passenger clash over payment method

    A cantankerous Bangkok taxi driver refused to accept a bank transfer and allegedly demanded an extra fare from a female passenger after she made him wait while withdrawing cash from an ATM. A Thai man who witnessed a heated argument between the taxi driver and the passenger shared a video on his Facebook account, เรารัก กัน ตลอดไป (meaning We love…

  • Giant dolls take over Bangkok for Squid Game Season 3 launch

    Giant dolls take over Bangkok for Squid Game Season 3 launch

    Young-hee, better known in Thailand as the “Gogowa doll,” and her male companion appeared near the Giant Swing in Bangkok to welcome the upcoming release of Squid Game Season 3, which is scheduled to launch on Netflix on June 27. The survival thriller series Squid Game is hugely popular among Thai fans. Created by South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk, its…

  • Bangkok cannabis shops raided for illegal gummy sales

    Bangkok cannabis shops raided for illegal gummy sales

    Thailand’s Health Minister initiated a crackdown operation on 20 cannabis shops across Bangkok, resulting in the closure of those selling cannabis-infused gummies without approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The minister emphasised the operation’s non-political nature. Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, yesterday, June 22, led the operation in collaboration with the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Office of the Narcotics Control…

  • Bangkok protest planned against PM over Cambodia issues

    Bangkok protest planned against PM over Cambodia issues

    Prominent protest figures are organising a demonstration in Bangkok, aiming to remove the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government due to its management of territorial issues with Cambodia. Jatuporn Prompan and other leaders gathered at Victory Monument this past Sunday, June 22, to reveal their plan to protest at the same location in six days. They asserted that the demonstration’s purpose is to…

  • Teenager dies in Bangkok motorcycle crash on Ratchadaphisek Road

    Teenager dies in Bangkok motorcycle crash on Ratchadaphisek Road

    A 17 year old male lost his life in a motorcycle accident on Ratchadaphisek Road, Bangkok, in the early hours of June 23. Two friends suffered severe injuries when his motorcycle collided with theirs, causing him to hit a barrier. Police Lieutenant Paritas Vibulyanon, investigator at Talat Phlu Police Station, was informed of the incident at 1.30am and responded alongside…

  • Bangkok hotel raid: 200 phones seized in Chinese bust

    Bangkok hotel raid: 200 phones seized in Chinese bust

    A police raid at a hotel in the Makkasan area of Bangkok has led to the discovery of a suspicious operation involving Chinese nationals, sparking fears of illegal activities. Acting on a search warrant, investigators from the Metropolitan Police Bureau uncovered a series of alarming findings that point to an underground phone trafficking network. The raid, which took place after…

  • Bangkok police arrest trio for selling drug-laced e-cigarettes

    Bangkok police arrest trio for selling drug-laced e-cigarettes

    Officers in Bangkok arrested a group yesterday for selling e-cigarette liquids laced with drugs online. The three suspects, 37 year old Netnapa, 46 year old Thanakorn, and 33 year old Pratchaya, were caught red-handed yesterday, June 20, with a large stash of illegal vaping liquids and equipment, sparking a serious drug trafficking investigation. The bust came after concerned residents in…

  • Senate seeks to oust Paetongtarn over leaked call with Cambodia

    Senate seeks to oust Paetongtarn over leaked call with Cambodia

    The Senate Speaker has petitioned the Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to remove Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office due to a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The petitions question if the Thai PM engaged in corruption by violating the Constitution or laws, or if she seriously breached ethical standards. Concurrently, the Constitutional…

  • Thai activist calls mass protest to ‘sink the boat’ over PM scandal

    Thai activist calls mass protest to ‘sink the boat’ over PM scandal

    Veteran activist Jatuporn Prompan has declared political war, calling for a mass protest at Bangkok’s Victory Monument on June 28. His mission? To oust Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whom he accuses of betraying the nation. At a fiery press conference held at the Rattanakosin Hotel on Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok, at 10am today, June 20, more than 40 prominent figures from…

  • United Thai Nation Party demands PM’s resignation

    United Thai Nation Party demands PM’s resignation

    The political ground is shaking as the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) threatens to walk out of the government coalition unless Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra steps down, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, the party leader and Energy Minister, made a terse announcement yesterday, June 19, following a closed-door executive meeting of the UTN in response to…

  • Democrat Party digs in: No exit from coalition after crisis talks

    Democrat Party digs in: No exit from coalition after crisis talks

    After hours behind closed doors, Thailand’s oldest political party has decided to stick with the ruling coalition — for now. The Democrat Party has confirmed it will remain part of the government coalition following a tense three-hour meeting yesterday, June 19, amid political turbulence triggered by a leaked audio clip involving Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun…

  • Thai man arrested after urinating on national flag and royal portrait

    Thai man arrested after urinating on national flag and royal portrait

    Police yesterday, June 19, arrested a Thai man at his residence in the Lat Phrao area of Bangkok after he shared videos of himself stomping and urinating on the Thai national flag along with a portrait of King Rama X. The suspect had posted several inappropriate videos to his Facebook account, showing himself using the national flag as a doormat,…

  • Pink Line plunge: Ridership nosedives 68% after fares kick in

    Pink Line plunge: Ridership nosedives 68% after fares kick in

    It was all aboard the ghost train on Tuesday, as passenger numbers on Bangkok’s extended Pink Line dropped a staggering 68% overnight — the moment commuters were asked to pay. The Department of Rail Transport revealed the dramatic fall in ridership just one day after the end of the Pink Line’s free test-run period. The extended two-station line to Muang…

  • Bangkok’s new mega road to Don Mueang set to open this month

    Bangkok’s new mega road to Don Mueang set to open this month

    Bangkok drivers are in for a traffic breakthrough as a major new link road connecting Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahon Yothin roads nears completion — and it’s set to open by the end of the month. The Bang Khen District Office confirmed the much-anticipated infrastructure upgrade is in its final inspection phase, with workers putting the finishing touches on what’s expected…

  • Bangkok expands low emission zones to cut truck pollution

    Bangkok expands low emission zones to cut truck pollution

    Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is enforcing penalties on 465 unauthorised trucks violating low emission zones, with plans to extend to 50 districts. More than 50,000 vehicles have already registered under the green category. Today, June 19, at the Environmental Office in Din Daeng district, Pornprom Vikitset, advisor to the Bangkok governor and sustainability executive, revealed measures to tackle PM2.5 pollution.…

  • Bangkok mechanic dodges tyre explosion in viral TikTok shocker (video)

    Bangkok mechanic dodges tyre explosion in viral TikTok shocker (video)

    A dramatic moment caught on TikTok has gone viral after a tyre unexpectedly exploded during a routine inspection, with the shop owner narrowly dodging disaster in the nick of time. Posted by user @chonkanyang, the video shows the terrifying near-miss at a tyre shop yesterday, June 18. The CCTV footage captures the calm before the blast as the shop owner…

  • Clip leak scandal: Paetongtarn says ‘This isn’t the time to fight’

    Clip leak scandal: Paetongtarn says ‘This isn’t the time to fight’

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra publicly apologised after an explosive leaked audio clip of her private conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen sparked a diplomatic firestorm. In an urgent press conference, the Thai PM addressed the nation and confirmed she had no idea the conversation was being recorded, let alone that it would be released to the public. “I didn’t…

  • Bangkok woman arrested for selling husband’s ammunition online

    Bangkok woman arrested for selling husband’s ammunition online

    Bangkok investigators detained a 33 year old woman for selling her husband’s ammunition online without his knowledge. Police charged her with illegal distribution and possession of ammunition. The arrest occurred yesterday, June 18 at Thaniya Soi 2 in Bangkok following an undercover operation. On June 12, around 1am, officials discovered a Facebook post in the group Food and Goods in Rama…

  • Ex-Bangkok MP jailed after Supreme Court slams defamation plea

    Ex-Bangkok MP jailed after Supreme Court slams defamation plea

    A disgraced ex-Bangkok MP has been marched off to jail after Thailand’s Supreme Court upheld a defamation conviction linked to a fiery hospital confrontation. Sira Jenjaka, once a high-profile figure for the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), was sentenced yesterday, June 18, to six months and 20 days in prison without suspension, following a long-running feud with Mongkutwattana Hospital director Majoe…

  • Commander takes no offence over PM’s private phone call

    Commander takes no offence over PM’s private phone call

    The Commander of the 2nd Army expressed his understanding after being mentioned in a private phone call between Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Cambodian President Hun Sen. PM Paetongtarn was accused of positioning herself against the Thai armed forces, particularly 2nd Army Commander Boonsin “Big Kung” Padklang, due to remarks made during her conversation with Hun Sen, yesterday, June…

  • Paet’s all, folks! Thai PM’s Instagram post sparks political meltdown

    Paet’s all, folks! Thai PM’s Instagram post sparks political meltdown

    Thailand’s embattled Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing the worst political crisis of her short premiership, after an emotional Instagram post backfired spectacularly and her ruling coalition began to collapse around her. PM Paetongtarn posted a cryptic message to her Instagram story at 8am, today, June 19: “People are not pretending to be sad, but pretending to be okay.” Less…

  • VietJet launches Bangkok-Seoul flights with 0 baht fares

    VietJet launches Bangkok-Seoul flights with 0 baht fares

    Get ready to pack your bags for Seoul, as VietJet Thailand announces its first-ever direct flight route from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Seoul (Incheon), set to take off on October 1. This exciting new connection marks a major milestone for the airline, expanding its network across Asia and offering passengers a convenient, budget-friendly travel option between two of the region’s most…

  • Thai woman suffers alleged electric shock at Bangkok mall’s ticket machine

    Thai woman suffers alleged electric shock at Bangkok mall’s ticket machine

    A Thai woman took to Facebook to share her experience of an unexpected electric shock from a car park ticket machine at a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Bang Na area. The victim shared on her Facebook post that the incident occurred on June 10. In her post, the woman wrote… “I was electrocuted by a car park ticket machine at…