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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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Transport Co warns against taxi surcharge at bus terminus
Amidst a surge of complaints, Transport Co Ltd, a state enterprise under the Transport Ministry, took swift action against taxi drivers fleecing passengers with a hefty 50-baht surcharge at the terminus, better known as Mo Chit 2, servicing provinces in the North and Northeast. As of Friday, Transport Co has put the brakes on the arrival area, redirecting all interprovincial…
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Chinese tourist mowed down on zebra crossing in Samut Prakan
A Chinese tourist was fatally struck down on a zebra crossing by a reckless pickup truck driver in Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province. The Chinese tourist, merely on his first day in Thailand, faced an untimely demise in the flurry of Friday night chaos. Authorities have launched a frantic search for a 35 year old Cambodian suspect allegedly behind…
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Thailand apologises to India for comments on rice export policy
A formal apology to India has been issued by Thailand, following inappropriate comments made by Thailand’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) ambassador regarding India’s rice export policy. The comments were made during the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in the United Arab Emirates. Phumtham Wechayachai, the Commerce Minister of Thailand, confirmed the apology. The Indian government received a written apology…
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Poker tournaments gain popularity in Bangkok
Despite gambling being illegal across Thailand, Bangkok is increasingly considered as a world hub for professionals earning enough income and living the good (that is, relatively cheap) life. Like digital nomads or other online entrepreneurs, poker professionals continue to settle in Bangkok and other coastal cities for the exact same reasons. According to media reports from 2022, moving to Thailand…
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AirAsia launches Takeover Thailand campaign with celeb partner
AirAsia is doubling down on its commitment to boost regional tourism, unveiling the Takeover Thailand campaign, aimed at thrusting Thailand into the spotlight as the go-to destination for travellers from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Strategically aligning forces with Tay Tawan, a distinguished Thai personality appointed as AirAsia’s Route Presenter for Malaysia, the airline is geared up to elevate the travel…
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PM Srettha’s billion-baht plan to transform Suvarnabhumi Airport
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced plans to boost the annual capacity of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan. “We’re gearing up to more than double our capacity to a staggering 150 million passengers annually.” Currently handling a substantial 60 million passengers, Suvarnabhumi Airport is set for a dramatic makeover, including the addition of a third runway. This makeover will catapult…
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Dine-and-dash: Fake cop shirks 1,500 baht bill from Michelin-starred Jay Fai
Bangkok’s culinary Michelin-starred hotspot, Jay Fai, fell victim to a brazen food theft, leaving locals and tourists stunned as a fake cop vanished after downing a delectable 1,500-baht feast. The Samranrat Police Station is hot on the trail of the impostor but with no affiliation to their force. Colonel Tossapon Ampaipipatkul, the superintendent leading the investigation, reassured that the police…
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2 Chinese men arrested at Bangkok airport for fake Canadian passports
Officers from the Immigration Bureau arrested two Chinese men at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok for attempting to travel to Taiwan on fake Canadian passports. EVA Air check-in staff reported to the immigration police that two Chinese nationals presented their Canadian passports at the counter for the flights to Taipei in Taiwan. According to the flight schedule, the two were…
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Thai skies to sparkle: 30 aircraft to blitz pollution and sizzle summer heat
In a move to combat air pollution and beat back the scorching summer heat, Thailand is unleashing a squadron of 30 aircraft across the nation. These aerial warriors aren’t armed with missiles but with the power to summon rain itself, in a bid to douse the flames of pollution and ease the parched lands. Artificial rain, also known as cloud…
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Off-duty officer causes multiple collision in Samut Prakan
A police officer driving under the influence of alcohol caused a multi-vehicle collision in Samut Prakan province, claiming a gearbox issue led to the crash. The officer, who was driving a Toyota Vios, collided with a bus and then reversed into two parked pickup trucks. The incident, which occurred near Soi Nakhon Khuean Khan 8 in the Phra Pradaeng district,…
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Don Mueang Airport combats congestion with designated drop lanes
An initiative to combat heavy traffic congestion at Don Mueang International Airport‘s Terminal 2 will see the enforcement of designated passenger drop lanes for taxi drivers starting today, March 1. This mandate is part of the Transport Ministry’s broader strategy to enhance passenger experience at the nation’s largest low-carrier hub, an imperative necessity as the Songkran holiday period is expected…
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Thailand PM unveils plan to become global cargo distribution hub
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin envisions the country as a regional aviation centre and one of the world’s top five cargo distribution hubs. During a live broadcast scheduled for Friday at 9.30am, the premier will elaborate on this ambitious plan on the government’s NBT television channel and various online and social media platforms. The news of this upcoming discourse was…
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Thai citizenship for migrant workers’ kids to boost birth rates
In a bid to address Thailand’s declining birth rates, the research director of inclusive development at the Thailand Research Development Institute (TDRI) has put forward a radical proposal to grant Thai citizenship to migrant workers’ children. With a projected drop of 100,000 births over the next four to five years, attributed to financial constraints and lifestyle choices, Dr Somchai Jitsuchon’s…
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Tuk tuks and taxis: Bangkok’s solution to overcharging crisis
In a move to safeguard tourists’ wallets, Bangkok unveils an arsenal of measures to tackle the notorious tuk tuk and taxi overcharging crisis. Amidst a flurry of concerns raised over the fleecing of foreign tourists by tuk tuk and taxi drivers, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has taken a decisive stand. Permanent Secretary Wanthanee Wattana spearheaded this pivotal moment following…
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Bangkok gems and jewellery fair exceeds expectations
The 69th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, concluded on a high note, exceeding its initial expectations. The event, organised by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT), recorded an estimated value of orders surpassing 3.7 billion baht, a 12% increase over the target.…
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Thailand’s hotels produce the most greenhouse gas in Asia
According to KResearch’s latest findings, Thai hotels are the leading culprits in greenhouse gas emissions, emitting a whopping 0.064 tonnes of carbon per guest each night, significantly higher than the regional and global averages of 0.057 and 0.019 tonnes respectively. Urging the government to intervene, KResearch emphasised the crucial role of sustainable practices in curbing this environmental menace. “While hotels…
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War on online scams: Nearly 40,000 fraudulent accounts frozen
Since its establishment on November 1 last year, the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC 1441) has waged a battle against cyber fraud, culminating in the freezing of 39,918 bank accounts, revealed Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong. Prasert disclosed that this drastic action was prompted by a deluge of 307,515 complaints received by AOC as of January’s conclusion. Explaining…
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Planting seeds of change: Thai veggie market sprouts into billion-baht industry
In a culinary revolution, plant-based food companies are urged to overhaul taste, slash prices, and boost health benefits. Will this signal a paradigm shift in global dining habits? The Thai plant-based food market, once a niche, is now a burgeoning industry worth billions. By 2024, it’s expected to skyrocket to 45 billion baht, according to Statista, a German online platform…
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Thai minister vows to improve Rama 2 Road traffic ahead of Songkran
The quality of traffic on Rama 2 Road in Thailand is set to improve ahead of the Songkran Festival, as promised by the Thai Minister of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, on February 27. The vow comes in the wake of a delay in the road’s construction, a setback attributed to the impact of Covid-19 on the contractors in charge of the…
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Ride historic steam trains from Bangkok to Ayutthaya on March 26
In a nostalgic nod to the past, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is reviving history with a special train journey from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Commemorating SRT’s 127th anniversary on March 26, the trip honours the inauguration of the rail link between the current and former capital cities back in 1896 by King Rama V. Passengers will have the unique…
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AOT and immigration unite to tackle Suvarnabhumi Airport queues
Airports of Thailand (AOT) and Immigration Division 2 are joining hands to tackle a pressing issue at Suvarnabhumi Airport: inordinately long passenger queues. The urgency to address this problem was triggered by the concerns raised by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin about the prolonged processing times at the airport. AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat and Immigration Division 2’s Police Major General Choengron…
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Bangkok police nab alleged serial rapist targeting schoolgirls
Police in Bangkok apprehended a 40 year old man, known by the alias Toey Bang Pho, who is accused of being a serial rapist targeting young girls in school uniforms. Toy, recently released from prison, allegedly resumed his criminal activities, leading to his capture today, February 28, in a condominium elevator in the Tao Poon area. The arrest was a…
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Myanmar millionaires’ property buying spree in Thailand skyrockets
Myanmar’s affluent elite have emerged as the unexpected champions of Thailand’s luxury property market, outspending even their Chinese and Russian counterparts. According to real-estate moguls Colliers, high-spending buyers from Myanmar have been swooping up lavish properties across Thailand’s bustling urban landscapes, becoming the new darlings of the country’s real estate realm. Karlo Pobre, the astute deputy managing director at Colliers,…
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PM Srettha urges action to ease traffic delays on Rama II highway
In response to mounting social media uproar over the Rama II highway’s perpetual construction nightmares, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a directive to the Transport Ministry to solve traffic congestion before the impending Songkran holiday frenzy. Connecting nearby Hua Hin to the capital, the route is essential for those planning to travel to the seaside resort from Bangkok. The 62…
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Chinese man arrested at Bangkok airport with 3,000 grammes of heroin
Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) officers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok arrested a Chinese man who attempted to smuggle 3,000 grammes of heroin into Australia. The drugs were concealed in books and powder bottles. The Thai Narcotics Control Board Office (ONCB), stationed in China, reported the drug trafficking plan involving a suspicious Chinese man to the AITF. Further investigation…
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Tenant finds unexplained stains in condo sparking online debate in Thailand
A recent social media post spurred widespread online discussion after a condo resident in Thailand shared images of mysterious stains found while cleaning a sofa. The post, uploaded by a popular Facebook page known for sharing curious and intriguing stories, depicted large blotches resembling bloodstains, prompting the tenant to question the origin of the marks and express concern over the…
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Dusit Thani Bangkok set for grand revival in 2024
Dusit Hotels and Resorts unveiled its intention to resurrect Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, with a projected reopening in September 2024. This new establishment will occupy the same prestigious location as its predecessor, a landmark in the Bangkok skyline from 1970 to 2019. Suphajee Suthumpun, the group chief executive of Dusit International, expressed that this new venture is a symbol of…
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Over 147,000 sign up for debt relief programme worth billions
Some 147,714 individuals have registered for the Interior Ministry’s debt relief programme within the past three months, an initiative aimed at combating a staggering debt value of 10.74 billion baht, confirmed Permanent Secretary Suttipong Juljarern on Monday. With the registration window, which started on December 1, set to close tomorrow, Suttipong urged those grappling with debt woes to expedite their…
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Bangkok breathes easier as PM2.5 levels fall but north faces rise
The upcoming week brings a breath of fresh air for Bangkok locals as levels of harmful PM2.5 pollutants, ultra-fine particulars, are expected to decrease. However, residents in the north and northeast are being warned of an imminent rise in air pollution due to prevalent wildfires in these regions. Sunday morning data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) air quality monitoring…
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Indonesian Embassy’s cash reminder for entry into Thailand
The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok issued a reminder to citizens planning a trip to Thailand to arm themselves with a substantial amount of cash to avoid the risk of being denied entry. Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Dewi Lestari, revealed Thailand’s stringent entry requirements in an exclusive interview with the Indonesian network RRI. Lestari clarified that regardless…
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