Bangkok News
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Bangkok’s traffic gridlock gets a tech-tock fix
Bangkok’s notorious traffic mayhem is finally seeing a breakthrough, thanks to a two-year tech overhaul that’s got commuters breathing a sigh of relief. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the implementation of Area Traffic Control (ATC) technology has slashed journey times in the city’s busiest areas by a remarkable 25%. This traffic-taming triumph comes courtesy of the ATC system,…
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From heiress to hero: Thai FA Madam Pang’s journey
Madam Pang, a fifth-generation heiress from Thailand’s billionaire Lamsam family, has transformed Thai football with her passion, leadership, and jaw-dropping generosity. Born Nualphan Lamsam, the 58 year old business mogul comes from one of Thailand’s wealthiest families, with an estimated net worth of US$890 million (approximately 30.82 billion baht). As CEO of Mueang Thai Insurance and a pioneer in introducing…
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Bangkok traffic speeds up 25% thanks to smart solutions
Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams are easing, with efforts by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and traffic police delivering a 25% increase in traffic flow speeds over the past two years. The achievement was announced by BMA spokesperson Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, citing a report from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). The report identified 127 congestion hotspots in…
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Bangkok PM2.5 lands Democrat leader’s father in hospital
Suchatvee Suwansawat, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, shared a personal account of the impact of PM2.5 air pollution on his family, highlighting the severity of the issue. Suchatvee revealed that his father had to be rushed to the emergency room due to severe coughing and chest pain. Medical professionals diagnosed it as an allergic reaction to the polluted air,…
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Gay Thai man steals valuables after being ignored by sleeping date
Police arrested a gay Thai man for stealing valuables worth more than 100,000 baht from a dating application match allegedly due to anger after the victim fell into a deep sleep and failed to answer the door. Police apprehended the 38 year old Thai man, Jiradate, yesterday, January 8, at his home in the Taling Chan district of Bangkok. His arrest…
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Bolt drives change: Thai ride-hailing gets major boost with initiative
Ride-hailing giant Bolt is shaking up Thailand’s mobility industry with bold initiatives aimed at empowering drivers and modernising the regulatory landscape. Bolt, the global shared mobility platform, is doubling down on its commitment to raising industry standards in Thailand. In line with the nation’s e-hailing laws and guidelines set by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), Bolt is providing hands-on…
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Bangkok fire destroys 22 rooms, affects 33 in Klong Toey
A fire in Bangkok’s Klong Toey community ripped through and destroyed 22 rooms, affecting 33 residents in the community. Emergency services worked hard to control the blaze and set up a temporary shelter. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire. The incident occurred at 2.45am today, January 9, when Police Lieutenant Santi Chansathien, an investigator at the…
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Thai police arrest gunman for Cambodian-French politician murder
Thai police last night arrested the gunman responsible for the assassination of a former Cambodian-French opposition Member of Parliament in Cambodia‘s Phra Tabon Province. Another suspect, a Cambodian, who is believed to have stalked the victim from Cambodia to Bangkok, remains at large. The 73 year old Cambodian-French politician, Lim Kimya, arrived in Bangkok by a coach bus from Cambodia…
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Counterfeit cough syrup worth 100 million baht seized in Thailand
Police and health officials conducted raids in Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, and Bangkok on sites associated with the production and sale of counterfeit cough syrup, seizing items valued at over 100 million baht on the retail market. This operation involved collaboration between the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Nakhon Pathom provincial public health…
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Hippo star Moo Deng steals spotlight as election mascot (video)
The Election Commission (EC) has pulled out all the stops to boost voter enthusiasm for the upcoming provincial administrative organisation (PAO) elections, introducing an unlikely but adorable mascot—Moo Deng, the famous pygmy hippo calf. EC chairperson Ittiporn Boonprakong proudly presented Moo Deng during a lively ceremony at the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road. Speaking to a captivated audience, he…
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Boxer shorts-clad man blocks Bangkok traffic with Mercedes (video)
Traffic congestion is a common issue in Bangkok, often caused by the sheer volume of vehicles on the roads and accidents and unforeseen incidents which further exacerbates the situation. However, traffic was held up yesterday, January 7, by an unusual cause when a man clad only in boxer shorts parked his convertible Mercedes in the middle of the road and…
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Opposition plans censure debate against coalition government
The opposition is planning to file a motion for a censure debate against the coalition government by February, with the debate anticipated to occur between late February and early March. This was announced by Pakornwut Udompipatskul, a People’s Party list MP and head opposition whip. Pakornwut emphasised that the debate should not extend beyond the second week of March. Key…
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Thailand’s Children’s Day logo sparks joy and vitality
Thailand’s Ministry of Education has unveiled the heartwarming story behind the Children’s Day logo set to represent the nation from 2023 to 2027. The spotlight falls on Wikawee Rattamanee, a talented Silpakorn University student whose design won a nationwide competition last year. Her creation, centred on the theme of a child’s smile, earned her the top prize of 35,000 baht.…
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Thai woman arrested in onsen credit card theft, Chinese suspects involved
Police arrested a Thai woman at her condominium yesterday, January 7, for conspiring with Chinese suspects to commit credit card theft at several onsen establishments in Bangkok. Numerous onsen patrons came forward to issue warnings and seek justice after their credit cards were stolen following visits to various onsens in Bangkok. The stolen cards were used by the thieves, resulting…
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Suspects caught in theft of iPhone 14 Pro Max in Bangkok
Two suspects have been apprehended in connection with the theft of an iPhone from a 17 year old boy, the son of a department director, during a planned transaction near a prominent shopping mall on Rama IV Road. The incident occurred when the victim, known as A, arranged to sell the iPhone 14 Pro Max, blue in colour, and was…
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Cambodian-French ex-MP assassinated in Bangkok, Thai gunman at large
A former Cambodian-French opposition Member of Parliament was assassinated in Bangkok yesterday, January 7. The gunman, identified as a former soldier in the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC), remains at large. Officers from Chana Songkhram Police Station were alerted to a shooting on a traffic island opposite the popular tourist attraction Bowonniwet Vihara Temple in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district at around…
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Cyber police dismantle major Bangkok gambling network
Cyber police swooped on the Bangkok 198 online gambling network, arresting its financial executive and seizing luxury cars, along with over 9 million baht in cash, and uncovering a monthly turnover exceeding 10 million baht. Yesterday, January 7, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phivphan, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, instructed Police Colonel Surapong Thaiprasert and Police Colonel Apirak Champasri,…
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No luck for Yingluck: Former PM ineligible for prison programme
Yingluck Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand, will not qualify for release under the forthcoming alternative prison detention programme if she returns to Thailand, as she does not meet the new eligibility criteria, stated Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Yingluck was sentenced to five years imprisonment in August 2017. New regulations by the Department of Corrections (DoC) allow only those with…
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PM Paetongtarn defends Thaksin amid racist remark controversy
Stepping out from a Cabinet lunch today, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra launched into a defence of her father, Thaksin, after he was caught in making controversial racist comments during a rally speech. Thaksin’s remarks yesterday, January 6, criticised as discriminatory, sparked a backlash and calls from Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit for Paetongtarn to reprimand him. Initially caught off-guard by the journalists’ pressing…
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300 same-sex couples to wed in Bangkok as new law takes effect
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) anticipates that approximately 300 same-sex couples will get married in Bangkok on January 23 when the Marriage Equality Law comes into effect. Preparations for the event are underway, with Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon visiting district offices to oversee arrangements for marriage registrations. District officials have received training to guide couples through the necessary steps…
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Thai health minister reassures public over hMPV concerns
Thai Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin addressed concerns about the spread of the human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in China yesterday, January 6 at the Department of Health Service Support. The minister explained that hMPV is a seasonal virus that occurs annually and is self-limiting, often resolving without medical intervention. In previous years, such common illnesses were not highlighted, as they typically…
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Japanese man pickpocketed on Bangkok MRT, credit cards used in Isaan
A Japanese man became another victim of credit card fraud in Bangkok while travelling on the Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) train. This incident comes hot on the heels of another credit card fraud victim yesterday. The Facebook page Drama-addict shared details of a Thai woman who lost her credit cards after visiting an onsen in Bangkok yesterday, January 6. Her…
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Government House open this Saturday for National Children’s Day
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will open the Government House on Saturday, January 11, for children and their families in celebration of National Children’s Day. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced that the 38 year old Thai premier will participate in the festivities, which include various activities hosted by the Prime Minister’s Office. One highlight will allow children to sit in the…
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DDC issues raw pork warning as infection cases surge
People are strongly urged to avoid consuming raw or undercooked pork to safeguard against infection from streptococcus suis, also known as hearing loss fever, which can be life-threatening. This advisory comes in response to reports of a rise in cases during the recent extended holiday period in certain provinces. Doctor Taweechai Visanuyothin, Department of Disease Control (DDC) director of Regional…
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Monkey business: 100 macaques to be neutered in south Bangkok
Bang Khun Thian district chief Passara Natheethong announced that up to 100 macaques in the south Bangkok district will be neutered this month as part of an ongoing initiative to control their population in the district. Last year, 122 macaques underwent the procedure. Around 330 macaques are estimated to roam freely in three locations: the Khun Kala Monument, the Thian…
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SRT Red lines to get 319 billion baht upgrades: Transport Ministry
The Transport Ministry is planning to initiate several significant public transportation projects early this year, pending approval from the Cabinet, to enhance national connectivity. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that the projects involve extending the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) Dark Red and Light Red lines and advancing the second phase of double-track upgrades in the north, northeast, and south.…
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Bangkok cleans up act: Street vendors get the boot in Pathumwan
In a bid to spruce up the bustling streets of Bangkok and make them safer for pedestrians, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has given street vendors the boot from two major hotspots in the Pathumwan district. Ploenchit Road in Ton Son and the bustling area outside the Siam Scape building are the targets. Gone are the days when 17 vendors…
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Thai woman warns of credit card fraud after Bangkok onsen visit
A Thai woman issued a warning after nearly losing 85,900 baht in credit card fraud following a visit to an onsen in Bangkok. The incident has since gone viral on social media, prompting more victims to come forward. The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, yesterday, January 5, shared her story with the Facebook page Drama-addict. She revealed that…
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Kind foreign man praised for assisting Thai rescue team in traffic jam
A Thai rescue team expressed their gratitude towards a kind foreign man who assisted their operation by clearing a path for their emergency van on Phahurat Road in Bangkok on Saturday, January 4. A member of the rescue team, Chaiyapon Chanchua, shared a video of the foreigner on social media to commend his support. In the footage, the foreigner, dressed…
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Liberian duo arrested in Bangkok for US$90,000 gold scam
Two Liberian nationals have been detained in connection with a gold-selling scam in Bangkok that resulted in the theft of US$90,000, equivalent to around 3 million baht, from a Thai businessman. The scam involved swapping counterfeit banknotes for genuine ones. Police Colonel Pansa Amarapitak, the chief of Thong Lor Police Station, announced the arrest of 32 year old Solomon Varney…
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