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.

  • Sponsored

    Can health insurance help speed up your Thai visa process?

    The Thaiger key takeaways Having the right health insurance keeps your visa process moving without unnecessary hold-ups. Showing proof of coverage early can make approvals and renewals faster. Keeping your insurance active avoids surprises and ensures smooth compliance. Applying for...

  • Power play: Anutin eyes PM seat if Paetongtarn falls | Thaiger

    Power play: Anutin eyes PM seat if Paetongtarn falls

    Political winds are swirling in Bangkok as reports emerge of a secret pact that could see Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul take over as prime minister if Paetongtarn Shinawatra is booted from office. According to Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) deputy leader Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Anutin has urged PPRP leader Prawit Wongsuwan to back him for a six-month interim premiership, should the…

  • Bangkok court jails Chuwit for defamation, grants bail on appeal | Thaiger

    Bangkok court jails Chuwit for defamation, grants bail on appeal

    He called out a rival live on YouTube; now, firebrand former MP Chuwit Kamolvisit is heading back to jail. Yesterday, August 27, the Bangkok South Criminal Court sentenced Chuwit to 12 months in prison without suspension. He was found guilty of defaming and insulting former Special Branch deputy superintendent Santhana Prayoonrat. The sentence was later reduced to eight months because…

  • Paetongtarn to skip court ruling, waits from Govt House | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn to skip court ruling, waits from Govt House

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is currently suspended, will not attend the Constitutional Court for the ruling tomorrow regarding her leaked phone call with Hun Sen. She plans to monitor proceedings from Government House. Yesterday, August 27, Deputy Prime Minister’s Secretary-General Somkid Chueakong stated that the 39 year old Pheu Thai leader would arrive at Government House around noon tomorrow,…

  • Thai police arrest duo for selling wildlife on Facebook | Thaiger

    Thai police arrest duo for selling wildlife on Facebook

    Thai police arrested a 22 year old woman and a 39 year old man for illegally selling protected wildlife online. The operation also involved the seizure of firearms in a separate case in Bangkok. Police investigations revealed that protected wildlife, including one bearcat and one slow loris, were being advertised for sale on Facebook under the account name Chatree Kodkan.…

  • Bangkok woman arrested for illegal surrogacy with foreigners | Thaiger

    Bangkok woman arrested for illegal surrogacy with foreigners

    Yesterday, August 27, at approximately 1.50pm, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) apprehended a woman involved in illegal surrogacy arrangements for foreigners. Police Lieutenant Colonel Yuthana Praedum ordered the operation, which was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Chatupol Bongkotmas, deputy chief of the DSI. The arrest was carried out by the Centre for Investigation and Intelligence of the DSI, a…

  • Bangkok simulator wins UK aviation seal of approval | Thaiger

    Bangkok simulator wins UK aviation seal of approval

    Bangkok just scored a major lift-off in global aviation training: Acron Aviation’s state-of-the-art Airbus simulator has won the UK regulator’s seal of approval. Acron Aviation announced that its Airbus A320 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) at the Bangkok Training Centre (BTC) has been officially certified by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The approval, confirmed this week, marks a milestone for…

  • All aboard: Thai House passes new transit joint ticketing law | Thaiger

    All aboard: Thai House passes new transit joint ticketing law

    Thailand’s chaotic public transport ticketing system is on track for a major shake-up after MPs overwhelmingly backed a new law to unify fares across the country’s mass transit networks. The House of Representatives, chaired by Chaiya Phromma, First Deputy Speaker of the House, approved today the Joint Ticket Management Bill following a marathon debate on all 54 sections of the…

  • Parking pain: Don Mueang slaps higher charges on travellers | Thaiger

    Parking pain: Don Mueang slaps higher charges on travellers

    Flying from Don Mueang next year could hit travellers in the pocket before they even leave the ground: airport bosses have announced a parking price hike from December. Don Mueang International Airport confirmed that parking fees across all its facilities will rise sharply, with the 7-24 hour rate more than doubling from 110 baht to 250 baht. The revised structure…

  • Court countdown: Paetongtarn eyes comeback as ruling looms | Thaiger

    Court countdown: Paetongtarn eyes comeback as ruling looms

    A political comeback could be just days away as Thailand’s suspended prime minister prepares to step back into power, if the court gives the green light. Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was confident yesterday that she could resume her duties by Friday, coinciding with a key Constitutional Court ruling on her premiership. During a video conference with Cabinet ministers yesterday,…

  • Prisoners and soldiers eyed to fix Thailand labour crisis | Thaiger

    Prisoners and soldiers eyed to fix Thailand labour crisis

    Thailand’s labour minister has unveiled a drastic plan to plug crippling worker shortages: by deploying prisoners, soldiers, and even youth offenders into the country’s struggling workforce. Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit said urgent action was needed to tackle a labour crisis gripping the agriculture and production sectors. He confirmed he would propose measures to the Cabinet this week to get more…

  • Opposition MPs hit with 300 million baht energy defamation suit | Thaiger

    Opposition MPs hit with 300 million baht energy defamation suit

    Three senior members of the opposition People’s Party (PP) are facing a massive defamation lawsuit from one of Thailand’s energy giants, accused of smearing its reputation in a row over electricity pricing. PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and list MPs Woraphob Wiriyaroj and Supachot Chaiyasat appeared at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road yesterday, August 25, for a preliminary hearing in…

  • Fitness trainer in Bangkok severely injured in fall from building | Thaiger

    Fitness trainer in Bangkok severely injured in fall from building

    A 35 year old fitness trainer fell from a three-storey building within Soi Suksawat 62, sustaining severe injuries. The exact cause remains unclear, pending an interview with the injured party. The incident occurred at 10.30pm on August 25, when officers from Rat Burana Police Station and volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation responded to the scene in Bang Mod,…

  • Thai actress faces 2 years in jail for drunk driving but sentence suspended | Thaiger

    Thai actress faces 2 years in jail for drunk driving but sentence suspended

    A Thai actress faces two months’ imprisonment after confessing to drunk driving and refusing an alcohol test at a checkpoint in Bangkok on Sunday, August 24. Her sentence was suspended for two years. The 33 year old actress, Marie Broenner, and her alleged boyfriend, businessman Asakon “Boss” Singsikornkun, were caught on a viral video arguing heatedly with police officers at…

  • SmartLynx Thailand lands first jet ahead of big launch | Thaiger

    SmartLynx Thailand lands first jet ahead of big launch

    A new player is taxiing onto Thailand’s aviation scene as Thai SmartLynx Airlines has taken delivery of its very first aircraft, an Airbus A320, signalling its ambitious entry into the country’s skies. The 13.4 year old narrowbody jet, now carrying the Thai registration HS-SXA, touched down at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport on August 22. Previously flown by SilkAir, the A320…

  • Passenger plunges from bridge after Bangkok taxi driver falls asleep | Thaiger

    Passenger plunges from bridge after Bangkok taxi driver falls asleep

    An app-based motorcycle taxi rider fell asleep and crashed into a bridge railing in Bangkok, causing his female passenger to plunge onto the road below. The moment was captured on video and shared on TikTok by user @rnatpakan, showing the woman falling from the bridge at the Ratchayothin Intersection in the Chatuchak district at about 7am yesterday, August 25. She…

  • Bangkok launches 20-baht train fare registration amid legal uncertainty | Thaiger

    Bangkok launches 20-baht train fare registration amid legal uncertainty

    The registration for the 20-baht flat fare on Bangkok’s train networks began today, August 25, with the scheme promised to take effect on October 1, despite three relevant bills still awaiting Parliamentary approval. The Ministry of Transport, under the supervision of Pheu Thai Party member Suriya Juangroongruangkit, launched the scheme to reduce living costs for Thai citizens, aiming to increase…

  • Thai actress faces drunk driving charge after refusing test at police checkpoint | Thaiger

    Thai actress faces drunk driving charge after refusing test at police checkpoint

    A renowned Thai actress is facing a drunk driving charge after refusing an alcohol test at a police checkpoint in Bangkok’s Wang Thong Lang district in the early hours of yesterday, August 24. Officers from Wang Thong Lang Police Station had set up a checkpoint on Pradit Manutham Road when they stopped a green Porsche driven by 33 year old…

  • Bangkok police seize fake Marshall speakers worth 600,000 baht | Thaiger

    Bangkok police seize fake Marshall speakers worth 600,000 baht

    Yesterday, August 24, police in Bangkok apprehended six people suspected of selling counterfeit Marshall brand speakers and headphones. The operation, led by Police Major General Thantaphum Charuprat and involving collaboration with the Department of Intellectual Property and brand representatives, resulted in the seizure of 206 items valued at over 600,000 baht (US$18,480). The arrested individuals, identified as 45 year old…

  • Thai police arrest Myanmar national wanted for theft in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thai police arrest Myanmar national wanted for theft in Bangkok

    Thai immigration officers in Samut Songkhram apprehended a 27 year old Myanmar national, Zen Tun, wanted for theft after fleeing to work in Bangkok. As part of the crime crackdown strategy ordered by Police General Kittirat Phanphet, police were instructed to target criminal activity, including people with outstanding warrants and firearm-related crimes between August 15 to August 24. Police Lieutenant…

  • Thaksin dodges jail, lawyer eyes travel comeback | Thaiger

    Thaksin dodges jail, lawyer eyes travel comeback

    Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has walked free from a Section 112 trial, and his lawyer now wants his travel ban lifted. Lawyer Winyat Chartmontri announced plans to formally request the revocation of Thaksin’s travel ban following the former premier’s acquittal in a controversial lese majeste case. The Criminal Court cleared Thaksin yesterday, August 22, of charges under Section 112…

  • 4 Vietnamese arrested for turning Bangkok house into drug factory | Thaiger

    4 Vietnamese arrested for turning Bangkok house into drug factory

    Police arrested four Vietnamese nationals for transforming a rented house in the Lat Phrao area of Bangkok into a drug production facility. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) disclosed details of the arrests during a press conference yesterday, August 21, following the apprehension of the suspects in mid-August. The operation stemmed from discussions during the Thailand-Vietnam Bilateral Meeting…

  • Tempura favourite Tenya exits Thailand after 10 years | Thaiger

    Tempura favourite Tenya exits Thailand after 10 years

    Thailand’s tempura lovers are in mourning as popular Japanese restaurant chain Tenya is pulling the plug after nearly a decade in the country. Known for its crispy tempura bowls and authentic Japanese flavours, Tenya will shut its last two branches at Terminal 21 and Samyan Mitrtown on August 31, signalling the end of its run in Thailand. Originally launched in Asakusa,…

  • Thaksin faces jail as court drops royal insult verdict | Thaiger

    Thaksin faces jail as court drops royal insult verdict

    Thailand’s political soap opera enters a tense new chapter as the Criminal Court delivers its long-awaited verdict today in the lese majeste case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, exactly two years after his dramatic return from exile. Security is being ramped up around the courthouse, with media crews banned from entering without prior approval. Reporters will be allowed to…

  • Thailand drenched in heavy downpour brought on by monsoon | Thaiger

    Thailand drenched in heavy downpour brought on by monsoon

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall expected in 41 provinces, including Bangkok, where up to 70% of the area is expected to be affected. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential hazards due to the significant rainfall. Heavy rain is anticipated in certain areas across Thailand, with particularly severe conditions forecasted for the…

  • Lumpini Park’s new street food hub to open next year | Thaiger

    Lumpini Park’s new street food hub to open next year

    Bangkok’s famous street food scene is about to get a facelift, as the city races to complete its first official hawker centre next to Lumpini Park. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) confirmed that the Lumpini Park Hawker Centre, currently under construction on Ratchadamri Road, is set to open early next year. It’s designed to tidy up footpaths, raise hygiene standards,…

  • 2 doctors face jail time after cosmetic surgery leaves woman in coma | Thaiger

    2 doctors face jail time after cosmetic surgery leaves woman in coma

    A Thai doctor, who owned a clinic in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, faces six months in prison after a cosmetic surgery performed six years ago left a woman in a coma. Another doctor who owns the clinic faces three months behind bars. In 2019, 31 year old Apiphu Hirunyanit filed a complaint with Sutthisan Police Station after his younger sister,…

  • Paetongtarn’s fate fast-tracked in leaked clip scandal | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn’s fate fast-tracked in leaked clip scandal

    The political heat just got hotter for suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as Thailand’s top court fast-tracks her potential disqualification over a controversial leaked audio clip. At 10.30am today, August 21, the Constitutional Court began hearing witness testimony in a case brought by 36 senators who claim the prime minister violated ethical standards in a private conversation with Cambodian Senate…

  • Fake tower, real scam: Korean man busted in Bangkok SMS sting | Thaiger

    Fake tower, real scam: Korean man busted in Bangkok SMS sting

    A South Korean scammer took mobile fraud to the streets of Bangkok before cyber cops caught him with a fake cell tower in his car. On Tuesday, August 19, 35 year old Kim Do-yeong was arrested at Pracha Songkroah Intersection in Din Daeng district while driving a Toyota sedan loaded with a false base station (FBS) device. The high-tech kit…

  • Bangkok man arrested for stabbing taxi driver amid cannabis delusions | Thaiger

    Bangkok man arrested for stabbing taxi driver amid cannabis delusions

    A 30 year old man, Chawin, was apprehended for allegedly attacking a motorcycle taxi driver in Bangkok, resulting in severe injuries. Police acted on an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court, dated August 19, for causing grievous bodily harm. Chawin was taken into custody in Tha Ruea district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, with a folding knife found in his possession.…

  • Air Serbia eyes Bangkok return after decades-long break | Thaiger

    Air Serbia eyes Bangkok return after decades-long break

    Thailand could soon welcome more Balkan tourists directly, as Air Serbia considers reviving long-haul winter flights to Bangkok, a destination not served from Belgrade since the collapse of Yugoslavia. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirmed it’s in talks with the airline as part of a push to boost direct air access from the Balkan region. TAT’s marketing representative for…