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...

  • No need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand

    No need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand

    The Government of Thailand urged residents not to panic after the recent deluge in the north of the country, adding it won’t flood Bangkok or its neighbouring provinces. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai declared that the caretaker administration has everything under control. With waters wreaking havoc in Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, and Sukhothai, the emergency services are stepping up…

  • Bangkok jewellery fair set to sparkle with 3.5 billion baht in revenue

    Bangkok jewellery fair set to sparkle with 3.5 billion baht in revenue

    The upcoming 70th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair is gearing up to dazzle with an expected revenue haul of at least 3.5 billion baht, according to the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT). This glittering event, scheduled from September 9 to 13 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), is…

  • Bangkok to Beijing train: Mekong River railway bridge opens

    Bangkok to Beijing train: Mekong River railway bridge opens

    Travellers are one step closer to an epic train journey from Bangkok to Beijing as a new railway bridge over the Mekong River has opened, linking Thailand and Laos by rail for the first time. This milestone, completed last month, leaves just a few dozen miles of a trackless gap before the route can finally reach China. With the launch…

  • Thailand urged to subsidise public transport with vehicle tax funds

    Thailand urged to subsidise public transport with vehicle tax funds

    The Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) urged the government to subsidise public transport fares using funds sourced from taxes on personal vehicles, land, and windfall profits. This recommendation emerged during the inaugural meeting of the Consumer Council for Public Transportation Users, aimed at developing a safer and fairer public transport system through collaborative guidelines and projects. TCC President Boonyeun Siritham highlighted…

  • Suvarnabhumi Airport gears up for third runway trials

    Suvarnabhumi Airport gears up for third runway trials

    Suvarnabhumi International Airport is pulling out all the stops to ensure its much-anticipated third runway is ready for prime time later this year. With support from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), the Bangkok airport conducted extensive trial operations to guarantee the runway’s readiness to handle a significant increase in air traffic. To test every aspect of the new runway,…

  • Doctor charged for assaulting, stripping teenage boy in Bangkok

    Doctor charged for assaulting, stripping teenage boy in Bangkok

    Prosecutors have formally charged four individuals, including a doctor, for allegedly assaulting a 14 year old boy in Lak Si district, Bangkok and forcing him to strip. Evidence will be reviewed on December 9. The defendants have been granted temporary release. The Office of the Special Prosecutor for Criminal Cases 4 submitted a lawsuit against Doctor Weerayuth Naenna, Doctor Weerayut…

  • Japanese man loses 310,000 baht to visa scam and corrupt police

    Japanese man loses 310,000 baht to visa scam and corrupt police

    A Japanese man filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) after losing 300,000 baht in a visa scam and an additional 10,000 baht to a corrupt Thai cyber cop. The victim, 51 year old Shinichi Maeda, who runs a clothing export business in Thailand, revealed to CIB police that he has been living in Thailand for 20 years…

  • Teen arrested in Bangkok with homemade gun for self-defence

    Teen arrested in Bangkok with homemade gun for self-defence

    Police in Saimai apprehended a 16 year old boy found carrying a firearm on the side of the road. He claimed he was carrying the weapon for self-defence. A background check revealed previous charges of assault and attempted murder. At 9pm, yesterday, August 21, Police Colonel Rangsan Sonsing, Superintendent of Saimai Police Station, along with Deputy Superintendent Sanchai Sirirat and…

  • Slapgate scandal: Prawit faces ethics inquiry

    Slapgate scandal: Prawit faces ethics inquiry

    Thailand’s political scene has been rocked by an incident involving Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader, General Prawit Wongsuwon. The former deputy prime minister is now facing calls for an ethics inquiry after being caught on video slapping a reporter during a tense exchange last Friday. The News Broadcasting Council of Thailand (NBCT) and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association have formally…

  • Thai PM Paetongtarn’s star-studded birthday bash

    Thai PM Paetongtarn’s star-studded birthday bash

    Pheu Thai’s 141 MPs gathered yesterday to honour their leader, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on the eve of her 38th birthday. The event, which doubled as a heartfelt thank you to her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was held a day before Paetongtarn’s actual birthday at the party’s headquarters in the Shinawatra 3 Building. Paetongtarn, who officially turns 38 today, kicked off…

  • Pita vows to reform Thailand’s broken political system

    Pita vows to reform Thailand’s broken political system

    Thailand’s political arena has been thrown into disarray once again, as Pita Limjaroenrat, the embattled leader of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP), issues a stark warning: without judicial reform, the country will continue to go around in circles. Pita’s comments follow two seismic court rulings that not only disbanded his progressive party but also ousted a prime minister, leaving…

  • Bangkok teacher arrested for meth distribution from luxury condo

    Bangkok teacher arrested for meth distribution from luxury condo

    Police in Bangkok arrested a former secondary school teacher, at a luxury condominium on Pattanakarn Road in Suan Luang district, for allegedly distributing methamphetamine. The arrest occurred yesterday, August 20, after a detailed investigation revealed the former teacher’s involvement in drug trafficking from his condo. Officers from the Special Investigations Division and the Crime Analysis and Special Tools Division of…

  • New train service to link Bangkok and Penang in three months

    New train service to link Bangkok and Penang in three months

    Thailand will launch a new train service linking Bang Sue in Bangkok to Penang, Malaysia, within the next two to three months. The initial phase will be a six-month trial period, marking a significant step in cross-border transportation. The announcement was made yesterday, August 20, by Ekarat Sriarayapong, head of the Governor’s Office of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).…

  • Bangkok bus stop assault raises public safety concerns

    Bangkok bus stop assault raises public safety concerns

    A young woman shared her harrowing experience of being assaulted at a bus stop in Bangkok, vowing never to take a bus again. This incident, which she posted about on TikTok yesterday, August 20, has left her deeply shaken and questioning her safety in public spaces. A TikTok user, @dr.fk.surgeon, recounted a distressing event while taking her younger sister on…

  • Thai police seize nearly 4,000 unregistered cosmetics in Bangkok

    Thai police seize nearly 4,000 unregistered cosmetics in Bangkok

    Thai police have apprehended a Chinese national with nearly 4,000 unregistered cosmetic items, including nail polish, lipstick, and perfume, valued at over 51,876 baht (US$1,518). Police Colonel Santi Kornkaseam, Police Lieutenant Colonels Woraprat Vutthirak and Peerat Wessakosol, received a report from Police Captain Narongyot Rungrueang, leading to the arrest of Duan, a Chinese citizen, yesterday, August 20. The operation occurred…

  • Thai AirAsia X launches new Sydney-Bangkok route

    Thai AirAsia X launches new Sydney-Bangkok route

    Thai AirAsia X announces new direct flights between Sydney and Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Beginning December 2, these flights will operate six times a week, offering an attractive blend of convenience and affordability. With one-way fares starting at just 333 Australian dollars (around 7,600 baht), passengers can now book between August 19 and 25, for travel beginning in December.…

  • Actor QP involved in another fatal incident, raising public outcry

    Actor QP involved in another fatal incident, raising public outcry

    A recent incident involving the well-known Thai actor QP has resurfaced a previous case in which he was accused of causing a serious accident. QP, who recently garnered attention for a jet ski collision that resulted in two fatalities, was previously involved in a car accident that left a woman with fractured ribs. The woman, who was involved in the…

  • Fire engulfs luxury mansion in Nonthaburi, homeowner escapes

    Fire engulfs luxury mansion in Nonthaburi, homeowner escapes

    A fire broke out at a luxury mansion in the Bang Si Mueang area of Nonthaburi, forcing the homeowner to flee while having a meal. Police are currently investigating the cause of the blaze. Officers from Bang Si Muang Police Station, along with firefighters from Sai Ma Municipality and Bang Rak Noi Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO), and emergency volunteers, responded…

  • Nonthaburi long-boat races to feature king and queen’s trophies

    Nonthaburi long-boat races to feature king and queen’s trophies

    The Nonthaburi Municipality is set to hold its 15th annual traditional long-boat racing competition, contending for the prestigious King and Queen’s trophies. The event will take place over two days, starting August 24, along the Chao Phraya River near Nonthaburi Pier. Apichai Aramsri, Deputy Governor of Nonthaburi, Somnuek Thandetchakul, Mayor of Nonthaburi, Admiral Chairnarong Charernrak, President of the Rowing Association…

  • Thai woman seeks justice after false affair accusation with business partner

    Thai woman seeks justice after false affair accusation with business partner

    A Thai woman is seeking justice after being falsely accused of having an affair with her 80 year old business partner by his 70 year old ex-wife. The victim claimed that her husband recently died from stress after over seven years of a legal battle with the bitter old woman. The 37 year old Thai woman, Pimon Panwisai, sought help…

  • Teenagers rob student at gunpoint near Bangkok market (video)

    Teenagers rob student at gunpoint near Bangkok market (video)

    Two teenagers wearing helmets brandished a gun to rob a high school student on the roadside near Kam Pu Market, Soi Pattanakarn 20 in Bangkok, in full view of passersby. The incident was captured in a 31-second video shared by the Facebook page อีซ้อขยี้ข่าว3. The video, filmed by a concerned citizen, depicts the events that took place in the evening…

  • Bangkok taxi driver sparks outrage by refusing to use meter (video)

    Bangkok taxi driver sparks outrage by refusing to use meter (video)

    A social media storm has erupted after a passenger shared a video on TikTok exposing a taxi driver in Bangkok refusing to use the meter and demanding a flat fare. The incident, recorded by user @praewspmi, has drawn widespread criticism and calls for stricter enforcement of regulations. The video shows the passenger attempting to hail a taxi near the Siam…

  • Thai Smile Bus launches electric bus services across Bangkok

    Thai Smile Bus launches electric bus services across Bangkok

    Thai Smile Bus (TSB) launched 24-hour air-conditioned bus services across 13 routes in Bangkok, featuring electric-powered buses operating every hour. This initiative aims to assist night-shift workers who struggle with transportation. The service began today, August 20. Kulapornphas Wongmacharapinya, CEO of Thai Smile Group, announced that the licenced public transport provider has expanded its services to meet the demand for…

  • Monk attacked in Bangkok temple in midnight knife assault

    Monk attacked in Bangkok temple in midnight knife assault

    A temple resident under the influence of alcohol attacked a monk with a knife in the middle of the night in Bangkok. The monk sustained injuries requiring three stitches. The assailant, known for his loud and belligerent behaviour when drunk, had previous altercations with the monk. Late last night, a monk from a well-known temple in Phasi Charoen district, Bangkok was…

  • Tragedy strikes the Chao Phraya River: Two dead in jet ski collision

    Tragedy strikes the Chao Phraya River: Two dead in jet ski collision

    A devastating jet ski accident on the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district on Saturday night claimed the lives of two people. The jet ski, operated by 21 year old Shindanai Sae Lim, smashed into a small boat, raising serious concerns about his qualifications to handle the watercraft. The Provincial Marine Office’s Samut Prakan Branch acted promptly,…

  • Gun-toting dad holds daughter hostage in Bangkok standoff

    Gun-toting dad holds daughter hostage in Bangkok standoff

    A dramatic hostage situation unfolded yesterday in Lat Krabang Soi 16, Bangkok, as a father armed with a gun held his ten year old daughter captive inside their home. Police swiftly cordoned off the area, barring any unrelated individuals from entering the tense scene. The alarming incident came to light when the child’s mother alerted the police, reporting that her…

  • Walk on wild side: Bang Kapi skywalk to open by end of September

    Walk on wild side: Bang Kapi skywalk to open by end of September

    Bangkok Deputy Governor Wissanu Sapsompol announced that the capital’s Bang Kapi area is set to see the full opening of its skywalk by the end of next month. The skywalk project has faced delays, with only a 1-kilometre section from The Mall shopping centre to Wat Si Boonruang near the MRT Yellow Line currently accessible. The remaining section, which will…

  • DoH advises toll cuts over extension to ease Bangkok costs

    DoH advises toll cuts over extension to ease Bangkok costs

    The Department of Highways (DoH) urged the Government of Thailand to focus on reducing toll fees rather than extending the concession for the Don Mueang Tollway, as a strategy to lower living costs in Bangkok. Caretaker Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit recently proposed extending the current concession for Don Mueang Tollway Plc, which is set to expire in 2034. Suriya argued…

  • Thai window cleaner falls to death from 31st floor of Bangkok hotel

    Thai window cleaner falls to death from 31st floor of Bangkok hotel

    A Thai window cleaner fell to his death on Saturday after his scaffold gondola platform collapsed and plummeted from the 31st floor of a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok. Thong Lo Police Station officers were alerted to the fall of the gondola at a hotel in the Khlong Toei district of Bangkok at about 3.49pm on Saturday, August 17.…

  • Jet ski crash on Chao Phraya River leaves two injured, two missing

    Jet ski crash on Chao Phraya River leaves two injured, two missing

    A jet ski collided with a long-tail boat on the Chao Phraya River, leaving two injured and two missing near Bang Krachao pier. The incident occurred around 9pm yesterday, August 17, prompting immediate rescue efforts. The police reported the accident between the river’s Rama III and Phra Pradaeng sides. Upon arrival, rescuers found the damaged boats docked at Wat Bang…