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 to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?

    Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....

  • Thai and cry: Missing Dane dies in Bangkok police cell after meltdown

    Thai and cry: Missing Dane dies in Bangkok police cell after meltdown

    A Dane who vanished in Thailand has been confirmed dead, two months after his baffling disappearance sparked a desperate search led by his family and expats. The body of Jakob Jensen has been found in Bangkok, bringing a heartbreaking end to a mystery that gripped both Thailand and Denmark. The 41 year old, who went missing in March 2025, was…

  • High and dry: British bloke nicked in Euro cannabis run flop

    High and dry: British bloke nicked in Euro cannabis run flop

    A British man has been caught red-handed trying to smuggle a suitcase crammed with cannabis from Bangkok to Newcastle, the latest bust in a growing string of drug mule disasters linked to Thailand. The 31 year old was stopped at Vienna International Airport, yesterday, May 27, during a transit stop en route from Bangkok to Newcastle via Frankfurt, and was…

  • Bangkok ride-hail row erupts over forced toll fee (video)

    Bangkok ride-hail row erupts over forced toll fee (video)

    A viral TikTok video has ignited fierce debate over passenger rights after a Bangkok woman claimed her ride-hail driver ignored her route instructions and demanded she pay a toll she hadn’t agreed to. The incident came to light when TikTok user @aomsintupleng shared footage of the heated exchange during a ride. She said she had told the driver to avoid…

  • British holidaymaker dies after snorting killer cocktail in Bangkok

    British holidaymaker dies after snorting killer cocktail in Bangkok

    A fun-loving British holidaymaker died in a Bangkok hotel room after snorting what she thought was cocaine, only for it to be a deadly cocktail of heroin, tranquillisers and sleeping pills, an inquest has heard. Rebecca Turner, had been travelling in Thailand with her partner when the pair took a line of white powder, unaware it was a lethal blend…

  • Indian thief performs wai before fleeing with 93,000 baht

    Indian thief performs wai before fleeing with 93,000 baht

    An Indian man robbed nearly 100,000 baht from a currency exchange shop in the Bangrak district of Bangkok on Monday and performed a wai before fleeing the scene. He was ultimately arrested yesterday, May 27. Officers from Bangrak Police Station received complaints from two currency exchange shops in the area: X-ONE Currency Exchange Centre on Surawong Road and WISE Exchange…

  • Takin’ the mic! Thaksin pops up to preach on drugs

    Takin’ the mic! Thaksin pops up to preach on drugs

    Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has emerged from the shadows once again, this time turning up at the country’s top anti-narcotics office to lecture on drugs, all while dodging fresh rumours he’s planning another great escape. The former Thai premier rocked up at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Bangkok yesterday, May 27, brushing aside speculation…

  • Pom-pom pow! Big Pom swings at reporter in ‘strength test’ stunt

    Pom-pom pow! Big Pom swings at reporter in ‘strength test’ stunt

    Controversial Thai MP “Big Pom” stirred up fresh outrage after pretending to punch a female reporter during a bizarre exchange at party HQ, all while dodging serious questions on political rifts and budget bust-ups. General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), was back in front of the press yesterday, May 27, for the first time since taking…

  • Mexican actress battles brutal heat filming in Bangkok

    Mexican actress battles brutal heat filming in Bangkok

    A Mexican actress has opened up about the punishing heat she endured while filming the new action movie Fountain of Youth in Bangkok, calling it one of the toughest challenges on set. In a recent Zoom interview with The Star, actress Eiza González revealed how the scorching Thai weather made her shoot physically gruelling. “When we watch movies, we rarely think about the…

  • Bangkok taxi crackdown nets 76 drivers for cheating and refusals

    Bangkok taxi crackdown nets 76 drivers for cheating and refusals

    Bangkok’s tourist police are cracking down hard on taxi drivers who cheat tourists by refusing rides, avoiding meters, or blocking traffic. In a major enforcement sweep, 76 drivers were arrested for violating the law in the city’s busy tourist areas. Today, May 27, Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander-in-Chief of the Tourist Police Bureau, ordered strict action to ensure taxi…

  • 27 animals seized, 2 arrested in Bangkok airport wildlife sting

    27 animals seized, 2 arrested in Bangkok airport wildlife sting

    Thai police dealt a major blow to wildlife traffickers after intercepting 27 exotic animals hidden in luggage on two separate flights at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. The first haul included 20 blue iguanas and two sulcata tortoises found in the luggage of an Indian passenger preparing to board flight TG325…

  • BLACKPINK is back: Bangkok gears up for epic ‘deadline’ tour stop

    BLACKPINK is back: Bangkok gears up for epic ‘deadline’ tour stop

    BLINKs, it’s happening! K-pop royalty BLACKPINK is officially reuniting for a brand-new world tour—and yes, Bangkok is on the map. After making waves worldwide with solo projects and smashing records with their last tour, Born Pink, the chart-topping girl group is turning up the heat once again with the BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR <DEADLINE>. The electrifying new tour kicks off in Seoul on…

  • 4 year old Thai boy rescued after seen smoking cigarette in viral video

    4 year old Thai boy rescued after seen smoking cigarette in viral video

    A Thai man sought help for a four year old boy after encountering the young child smoking a cigarette and playing alone under the Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok. The man shared a video of the boy on his Facebook account, แฟร้งค์’ เฟิร์ต, yesterday, May 26, in the hope that a relevant government agency would intervene and provide the child…

  • Thai police ground aircraft for safety checks after fatal crashes

    Thai police ground aircraft for safety checks after fatal crashes

    The national police chief has suspended all police aircraft for comprehensive safety evaluations following two crashes within a month that resulted in the deaths of nine people. Police General Kittharath Punpetch announced yesterday, May 26, that all planes belonging to the Thai Police Aviation Division (TPAD) would remain grounded until they complete new safety inspections. “Experiencing two crashes in a…

  • Bangkok restaurant criticised over misleading birthday promotion

    Bangkok restaurant criticised over misleading birthday promotion

    A Japanese restaurant in Bangkok faces criticism after a customer’s dissatisfaction with a birthday promotion gained traction on social media. The incident was highlighted yesterday, May 26, by a well-known Thai consumer rights Facebook group. The customer visited a popular à la carte Japanese restaurant, enticed by an online promotion offering a complimentary salmon rice cake for those celebrating their…

  • From run to ruin: mini-marathon at Bangkok park turns out to be scam

    From run to ruin: mini-marathon at Bangkok park turns out to be scam

    Nearly 2,000 runners fell victim to a scam mini-marathon at Suan Luang Rama IX Public Park in Bangkok. The total amount of financial loss remains under investigation. Several runners took to social media yesterday, May 25, to condemn the organiser of the mini-marathon, Run for Destination 2025. Around 1,800 runners arrived at the venue only to find an eerily quiet…

  • Bangkok shakes hands with Google to launch AI traffic project

    Bangkok shakes hands with Google to launch AI traffic project

    Officials in Bangkok have teamed up with Google to launch an AI-driven initiative aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality in the capital. Yesterday, May 26, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Ekwaranyu Amrapal announced progress on the city’s ‘Green Light’ project, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to optimise traffic light systems in real-time. The project…

  • Bangkok driver rams into motorcyclist for stopping at zebra crossing

    Bangkok driver rams into motorcyclist for stopping at zebra crossing

    A Thai motorcyclist accused a hatchback driver of deliberately ramming into him on a Bangkok road on May 22, allegedly out of anger after the rider stopped at a zebra crossing, which briefly blocked the driver’s way. The 24 year old victim, Butchart, sought assistance from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after officers at Bang Khen Police Station allegedly ignored his…

  • Body of worker retrieved from 19-metre hole in Bangkok

    Body of worker retrieved from 19-metre hole in Bangkok

    The body of 33 year old Sarawut Chantasont, also known as Dao, has been successfully retrieved after falling into a 19-metre deep pile foundation hole at a construction site of the Orange Line metro project in Bangkok. The incident, which took place on May 19 at the site located between Soi Lan Luang 6 and 8, required an extensive rescue…

  • Bangkok mall busted for counterfeit luxury goods in crackdown

    Bangkok mall busted for counterfeit luxury goods in crackdown

    Yesterday, a major operation targeted a well-known shopping mall in Bangkok, uncovering counterfeit luxury brands, including bags and watches. The Thai government is intensifying its efforts to combat copyright infringement, aiming to remove Thailand from international watch lists for such issues. Government Spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap highlighted the importance placed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s administration on addressing all forms of…

  • Bangkok police arrest Chinese photo scam ringleaders

    Bangkok police arrest Chinese photo scam ringleaders

    A ruthless gang of Chinese and Thai fraudsters has been busted in Bangkok after swindling victims out of millions of baht with a bogus photo promotion scam. Two Chinese nationals, 29 year old Di Tian Shaanxi and 44 year old Li Shengyou, along with three Thai accomplices, were arrested near a shopping mall on Phahon Yothin Road on Thursday, May…

  • Thai actress reveals series of assaults by ex-boyfriend with police ties

    Thai actress reveals series of assaults by ex-boyfriend with police ties

    A Thai actress is seeking justice and protection after being brutally assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, who also threatened her against taking legal action, boasting of his father’s influence as a police officer. The actress, identified only as Bell, contacted the Foundation Campaigning to Reclaim Social Justice (CRSJ) for assistance and went public with her story, expressing hope that the suspect…

  • Thai defence minister warns of potential future coup

    Thai defence minister warns of potential future coup

    Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has not dismissed the potential for a future coup in Thailand, urging all sides to reflect on past events to bolster democratic institutions. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 2014 coup by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), he emphasised the need for patience and adherence to democratic processes, warning against…

  • Senators revolt: Block vote on key appointments amid scandal

    Senators revolt: Block vote on key appointments amid scandal

    Thailand’s political arena is heating up as a group of senators prepares to demand the suspension of a key selection process amid explosive allegations of vote-rigging. A coalition of so-called “minority senators,” led by Premsak Piayura and Nantana Nantavaropas, is gathering signatures to halt the Senate’s scheduled selection of members to several independent organisations during its session May 29-30. The…

  • Teen girl arrested for orchestrating online sex trade in Bangkok

    Teen girl arrested for orchestrating online sex trade in Bangkok

    A 15 year old girl has been apprehended for allegedly orchestrating an online sex trade, involving peers for up to 5,000 baht per engagement while pocketing commissions of 2,000 to 3,000 baht. Police coordinated the arrest after the suspect confessed to repeated involvement. Today, May 22, Police Major General Songklod Krikkritya directed Police Colonel Korkiet Wutjamnong and his team to…

  • Bangkok police arrest notorious motorcycle theft gang

    Bangkok police arrest notorious motorcycle theft gang

    Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, and senior police officials, successfully apprehended a motorcycle theft gang in Bangkok. The suspects, 45 year old Somsak, known as Ood, and 40 year old Ting Ko Ko Oo, yesterday, May 21, were caught in possession of four motorcycles and numerous spare parts in Soi Lat Phrao 119, Khlong Chan, Bang Kapi district. The investigation…

  • Overturned truck causes crude oil spill on Bangkok road

    Overturned truck causes crude oil spill on Bangkok road

    A sleepy trucker turned a Bangkok expressway into a hazardous oil slick early this morning after dozing off behind the wheel and flipping his 18-wheeler. The incident unfolded at 1.20am today, May 22, on the Kanchanaphisek Road, near kilometre marker 52+900 in Prawet district, as the 18-wheel trailer truck veered into the central reservation and overturned, spilling over 30 tonnes…

  • Thai airports to boost services for elderly and disabled passengers

    Thai airports to boost services for elderly and disabled passengers

    Flying in Thailand is about to get a major upgrade—especially for those who need it most. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is rolling out a new set of regulations aimed at dramatically improving service standards for passengers requiring special assistance. Whether you’re elderly, injured, or living with a disability, these new rules are designed to make air travel…

  • Man arrested in Bangkok for 8 million baht fraud scheme

    Man arrested in Bangkok for 8 million baht fraud scheme

    A 46 year old man has been arrested for fraud, impersonation, and deceiving victims into investing over 8 million baht. Before his arrest yesterday, May 21, Vorathep, known for his polished appearance, had been duping people by presenting himself as a doctor or executive. Police Major General Witthaya Sriprasertpab, along with Police Colonel Ekkasit Pansithao and Police Lieutenant Jeerattawat Kitrungruengdet…

  • Scam city: Bangkok tops list for tourist fraud

    Scam city: Bangkok tops list for tourist fraud

    Planning a holiday in Thailand? You’d better watch your wallet. Bangkok has just been named one of the world’s top hotspots for tourist fraud, with nearly half of all reported scams involving dodgy taxi and car rental deals, according to a new report by the Mastercard Economics Institute. Released this week and highlighted by CNBC, the report reveals a disturbing…

  • Prawit takes a tumble at Bangkok&#8217;s Wat Pho (video)

    Prawit takes a tumble at Bangkok’s Wat Pho (video)

    General Prawit Wongsuwan, better known as “Big Pom,” took a dramatic tumble down the stairs at Wat Pho, one of Bangkok’s most iconic temples, during a royal blessing ceremony on Monday evening. But despite the fall, party officials insist the political heavyweight is in fighting form. The incident occurred on Monday, May 19, just after 7pm, as General Prawit, leader…