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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  • Bangkok trials smart traffic system at 72 city intersections

    Bangkok trials smart traffic system at 72 city intersections

    Bangkok’s notorious traffic nightmare could finally be easing, thanks to a new ‘smart’ system that promises to slash waiting times and get drivers moving faster. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) rolled out its high-tech Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS) at 72 key intersections in a bold bid to revolutionise the capital’s congested roads. The trial initiative aims to replace outdated…

  • Bangkok drug gang busted: Major arrest and drug seizure

    Bangkok drug gang busted: Major arrest and drug seizure

    A significant drug gang member has been apprehended following months of investigation. Police seized nearly 500,000 methamphetamine pills, 1 kilogramme of ice, and 1 kg of ketamine. The arrest of the suspect, nicknamed Boonyaraksa, took place at 6am today, May 7, in the Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Major General Nopasilp Punsawat, and Major General…

  • Innocent man shot in head by friend’s rivals, his parents asasulted

    Innocent man shot in head by friend’s rivals, his parents asasulted

    A 19 year old innocent man sustained a serious gunshot wound to the head after his friend’s rivals opened fire at his home in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district on the night of May 5. The shooting and physical assault took place at a house in Soi Prasert Manukit 27. A neighbour managed to record part of the physical assault, which…

  • Pet Expo 2025 goes wild with stars, snakes and shopping galore (video)

    Pet Expo 2025 goes wild with stars, snakes and shopping galore (video)

    Thailand’s largest pet trade event, Pet Expo Thailand 2025, kicked off in style on May 1, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a four-day spectacle which drew over 200,000 visitors. Held at Halls 5 to 8 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, the event brought together more than 300 companies across 850 booths, offering products, services and cutting-edge innovations for…

  • DSI uncovers 30 forged signatures in SAO building collapse probe

    DSI uncovers 30 forged signatures in SAO building collapse probe

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has uncovered 30 forged signatures of engineers on documents related to the State Audit Office (SAO) building collapse, as part of an investigation into alleged nominee practices by China Railway No.10 (Thailand). In a meeting held yesterday, May 5, the DSI reviewed the progress of its ongoing investigation into the nominee case involving China…

  • Two teens arrested for fatal shooting in Bangkok

    Two teens arrested for fatal shooting in Bangkok

    Two suspects were apprehended following the fatal shooting of a 34 year old man in Soi Nuanchan 22 in Bangkok. The incident took place on May 3 when the suspects, riding a red PCX motorcycle without a license plate, fired approximately 15 shots before fleeing. Today, May 6, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom directed the arrest of 19 year old…

  • Thailand state welfare card benefits updated for May

    Thailand state welfare card benefits updated for May

    The Department of Comptroller General has announced the updated benefit schedule for state welfare cardholders in May, with key entitlements rolling out in two stages. Deputy Director General Tiwaporn Phasuk confirmed the details, urging recipients to check their eligibility and use the benefits promptly. On May 1, cardholders automatically received: A 300 baht monthly spending allowance, redeemable for essential goods…

  • Gang members arrested in Bangkok assault investigation

    Gang members arrested in Bangkok assault investigation

    Police apprehended several members of a gang involved in assaults on fellow nationals, with ongoing investigations focusing on two areas in central Bangkok. The incident stemmed from conflicts dated May 5, when Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom led a team to arrest three men linked to the attacks. Those arrested include 18 year old Chakraphat (surname withheld), a Thai Yai…

  • Paws and effect: New Bangkok law to shake up pet ownership rules

    Paws and effect: New Bangkok law to shake up pet ownership rules

    A new law set to take effect in Bangkok early next year will significantly alter pet ownership regulations. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Ordinance on Animal Keeping and Release Control 2024, coming into force on January 10 next year, seeks to manage stray populations and promote responsible pet ownership, particularly affecting dog and cat owners. The ordinance classifies Bangkok as…

  • UK roadshow rocks South Thailand with fair, farms and flair

    UK roadshow rocks South Thailand with fair, farms and flair

    The British Embassy in Bangkok wrapped up a whirlwind three-day roadshow across southern Thailand, marking a major milestone in the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Thailand. Running from April 28 to 30, the outreach tour made stops in Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani, showcasing a blend of serious diplomacy and lively community engagement.…

  • Young woman in Soi Ratchada 13 assaulted, suspects charged

    Young woman in Soi Ratchada 13 assaulted, suspects charged

    Police are actively assisting a victim assaulted in Soi Ratchada 13, who, after being discovered with drugs, has developed mental health issues. The person is currently receiving treatment, while police have charged four suspects and are searching for another. At 6pm yesterday, May 5 at Sutthisan Police Station, Doctor Thanakrit Jittareerat, assistant to the minister of public health, and Kanthas…

  • Thai police apologise after ignoring influencer’s stalking complaint

    Thai police apologise after ignoring influencer’s stalking complaint

    Thai police issued an apology to a female social media influencer for acting inappropriately and initially ignoring her complaints of being stalked and threatened by a Burmese man. The influencer, 28 year old Linrada “Lin” Warakornsittichai, posted on her Facebook account, Sanella Linvar, to seek help after officers from Bang Khun Thian Police Station failed to provide any updates on…

  • Bangkok woman assaulted by gang, mother seek justice (video)

    Bangkok woman assaulted by gang, mother seek justice (video)

    A large group of friends gathered at a police station after their friend, a 27 year old woman, was assaulted by a gang in Bangkok. The incident, which was captured on video, set her mother on a path to seek justice. Today, May 5, a video of a violent incident outside an apartment in Ratchada Soi 13, Din Daeng district,…

  • Australian man arrested in Thailand over armed robbery charges

    Australian man arrested in Thailand over armed robbery charges

    Thai immigration officers apprehended an Australian man linked to an armed robbery at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, according to official sources. The Aussie was detained on May 3 after arriving from Bali on Thai Airways flight TG432. He was intercepted while attempting to travel to Phuket on a connecting flight. The Immigration Bureau reported that biometric checks flagged him as banned…

  • Foreign restaurateurs accused of stealing menu from Bangkok eatery

    Foreign restaurateurs accused of stealing menu from Bangkok eatery

    A Thai restaurant in the Central Embassy shopping mall in Bangkok exposed the actions of a foreign couple who stole two menu books on April 29, reportedly intending to copy them to operate a restaurant in their home country. The well-known restaurant, Kaithong Original, shared CCTV screenshots of the couple on its official page on May 1, accompanied by a…

  • Thai parliament’s renovation plan criticised amid economic strain

    Thai parliament’s renovation plan criticised amid economic strain

    Thai Parliament faces criticism after requesting an additional budget of hundreds of millions of baht for renovations amidst economic challenges for many Thais. The budget would fund a 4D cinema and refurbish the seldom-used Sala Kaeo pavilion, a proposal widely condemned as frivolous by critics, including MPs from the People’s Party. The plan allocates 113 million baht to refurbish Sala…

  • 400 shark fins seized in major smuggling bust at Bangkok airport

    400 shark fins seized in major smuggling bust at Bangkok airport

    Thai Customs seized over 400 shark fins in a major bust. The fins were on their way to China, but thanks to a swift operation, their illegal journey has been stopped. Thailand’s Customs Department, in collaboration with Chinese authorities, successfully intercepted more than 400 shark fins in a significant smuggling operation aimed at curbing illegal wildlife trafficking. The 402 fins,…

  • Concrete chaos: Maniac hurls slab from Bangkok’s Bang Na bridge

    Concrete chaos: Maniac hurls slab from Bangkok’s Bang Na bridge

    The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has confirmed that a chunk of concrete that shattered a car’s windscreen earlier this week was deliberately thrown from a pedestrian overpass – and not a result of any structural failure. The shocking incident unfolded on Tuesday, April 29, on Bang Na-Trat Road, prompting immediate fears that debris had fallen from the Burapha Withi…

  • Heavy rain lashes 43 provinces, Bangkok braces for floods

    Heavy rain lashes 43 provinces, Bangkok braces for floods

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts heavy rain across 43 provinces today, with significant impact expected in the South and 60% of Bangkok. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential flash floods and forest run-off, particularly in areas near water flows or low-lying regions. The forecast for today, May 3, indicates that the South will experience increased rainfall with…

  • Giant monitor lizard statue draws crowds to Bangkok park

    Giant monitor lizard statue draws crowds to Bangkok park

    It slinks, it swims, and now it poses — Bangkok’s iconic monitor lizard just got a supersized tribute in the city’s most famous park. Tourists and locals heading to Lumphini Park can now snap selfies with a massive foam monitor lizard statue — a new temporary installation celebrating one of Bangkok’s most misunderstood but iconic residents. Sanon Wangsangboon, Deputy Governor…

  • Bangkok SAO death toll hits 68 after 5 more bodies found

    Bangkok SAO death toll hits 68 after 5 more bodies found

    Five more bodies have been recovered from the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building, bringing the death toll to 68. Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, reported that the bodies were discovered in Zone D between 10pm on Wednesday, April 30, and 9am yesterday, May 1. The search for the missing continues, with heavy machinery operating…

  • Filipino man stays at Bangkok hotels and vanishes without paying

    Filipino man stays at Bangkok hotels and vanishes without paying

    Police arrested a Filipino university student for staying at several five-star hotels in Bangkok without paying, causing losses of several hundred thousand baht. Officers from Immigration Division 1 received multiple complaints from hotel staff in Bangkok regarding fraudulent activities involving a Filipino national. The man reportedly deceived hotel employees to obtain free stays and meals at luxury hotels across the…

  • Thai Army denies online ops, says it’s just ‘correcting facts’

    Thai Army denies online ops, says it’s just ‘correcting facts’

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) claims that it does not engage in online military-style information-influencing operations but instead provides factual corrections to misleading social media information. During a House Committee on National Security meeting, the army spokesperson discussed the state’s use of social media. The session included representatives from the Office of Policy and Planning, Internal Security Operations Command, and…

  • Family demands answers after Rama II concrete block tragedy

    Family demands answers after Rama II concrete block tragedy

    The family of a 46 year old man who died after a concrete block fell on his vehicle on Rama II Road is seeking answers about his death. The incident, which resulted in Amnat’s passing at the hospital, left the family questioning whether a blood transfusion error contributed to his low blood pressure and subsequent death. On Tuesday, April 29,…

  • Fake police caught extorting migrant workers, employers in Bangkok

    Fake police caught extorting migrant workers, employers in Bangkok

    Officers arrested a Thai man posing as a police officer who extorted money from migrant workers and their employers at the popular tourist destination Asiatique the Riverfront, in the Charoen Krung neighbourhood of Bangkok Restaurant owners and business operators in the area questioned officers at Wat Phraya Krai Police Station about the frequency of operations targeting migrant workers after observing…

  • How to hack Thailand’s May holidays for a 10-day break

    How to hack Thailand’s May holidays for a 10-day break

    Get ready to pack your bags—May is shaping up to be a jackpot month for long holidays, and if you play your cards right, you could be lounging for 10 days straight. Hot on the heels of April’s Songkran break, May brings another wave of public holidays that offer golden opportunities for extended rest, road trips or relaxing staycations. Whether…

  • Chinese men accuse Thai official of extortion and illegal watch seizure

    Chinese men accuse Thai official of extortion and illegal watch seizure

    Two Chinese nationals accused Thai Customs officials of extortion and unlawful luxury watch seizure at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on August 4 last year. The alleged corruption by the Thai officials came to light after the news-focused X (formerly Twitter) account, Red Skull, shared the story on April 28. The account reportedly obtained the details from a man whose two Chinese…

  • Teenage degenerate caught with his hand in the kiddie trafficking till

    Teenage degenerate caught with his hand in the kiddie trafficking till

    In a jaw-dropping scandal, a teenage degenerate has been arrested by the Crime Suppression Division for orchestrating a shocking underage gay sex ring in Bangkok. The debauched 14 year old, referred to as “A,” confessed to gaining a 400 baht profit from his seedy enterprise, which involved exploiting friends of the same age. The saga unfolded on Tuesday night, April…

  • Transport ministry proposes MRT Act changes for 20-baht flat fare

    Transport ministry proposes MRT Act changes for 20-baht flat fare

    The Ministry of Transport is set to propose changes to the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Act during a special session of the House of Representatives next month. This aligns with the introduction of a 20-baht flat fare for the electric railway system planned for September. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri stated yesterday, April 29, that the ministry is finalising a…

  • Concrete slab from old overpass kills driver in Bangkok

    Concrete slab from old overpass kills driver in Bangkok

    A concrete slab fell from an older overpass onto a pickup truck, injuring the driver yesterday on the outbound side of Rama 2 Road in Bangkok. The incident, not related to the new bridge construction, prompted immediate action to assist the injured party. The accident occurred around 8am, yesterday, April 29, when concrete debris fell from an old overpass connecting Krathum…