Bangkok News
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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20-baht flat fare on Bangkok trains postponed to November
The Transport Minister postponed the launch of Bangkok’s 20-baht flat train fare scheme from October to November, admitting that two relevant bills cannot be approved in time. The registration for the 20-baht train fare policy was announced yesterday, August 25, allowing Thai citizens to travel on the BTS and MRT networks for a flat fee. The initiative is aimed at…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Man steals lottery tickets worth over 27,200 baht in Bangkok
A man has been apprehended for stealing 272 lottery tickets worth over 27,200 baht, confessing his motive was to pay overdue instalments on his car. The incident occurred outside a noodle shop on Panya Inthra Road in Khan Na Yao district, Bangkok. The vendor had left the tickets with a friend while visiting the restroom. The thief threatened the friend,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Thailand’s lese majeste amnesty talks stall in Parliament
Plans to grant amnesty to lese majeste offenders have hit a political wall, as Parliament hesitates on revising the kingdom’s most controversial law. Thailand’s House Committee on Peace Building confirmed this week that the current conditions for granting amnesty under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, commonly known as the lese majeste law, remain unchanged. On Thursday, August 21, a…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Bangkok taxi rider tries to run down passenger for safety complaint
An app-based motorcycle taxi rider allegedly attempted to run over a female passenger after she complained about his dangerous riding on a Bangkok road. The 41 year old woman, identified as Aunyamanee, shared her account of the assault attempt with the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive. The incident occurred at around 2am yesterday, August 20, outside a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Bangkok buildings rattle as 5.4 quake strikes off Myanmar
Office workers fled, lamps swung, and nerves were tested as a powerful earthquake sent tremors through Bangkok high-rises this morning. Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division reported a 5.4-magnitude earthquake at 9.58am today, August 21, centred 10 kilometres underground in the Andaman Sea, roughly 211 kilometres southwest of Mae Sot district in Tak province. The tremors were felt across multiple districts in…
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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…
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Pheu Thai shuts down Prayut comeback rumours
Rumours of a shocking political U-turn have been flatly denied by the Pheu Thai Party, following claims they planned to nominate former coup leader and ex-Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha as their next candidate for premier. Slamming the speculation as fake news, Pheu Thai Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong told reporters the rumour had nothing to do with the party and dismissed…
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Bangkok’s ‘green lung’ boosted by Thai-Norwegian push
Bangkok’s “green lung” is breathing easier thanks to Bangchak Corporation’s bold reforestation push, now earning praise from the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (TNCC). The chamber, which counts Bangchak as a premium member, has put the energy giant’s environmental mission in the spotlight as it drives sustainability and biodiversity work in Bang Kachao, Samut Prakan province. Bangchak, led by Senior Executive…
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Glass door shatters at Bangkok mall, injuring children
A Thai woman issued a warning on social media after her daughter and nephew were injured when a glass door shattered at a shopping mall in Silom, Bangkok. The woman shared dashcam footage of the incident, along with photographs of the scene, on the Facebook page Drama-addict yesterday, August 19. The page published her account, which read… “Hi, I have something…
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Paetongtarn skips Cabinet again as court date looms
Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing the fight of her political life—and she’s staying silent. For the second week running, Paetongtarn skipped yesterday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, fuelling speculation as she prepares to take the stand in an explosive ethics case linked to a leaked phone call. The 38 year old leader, who also holds the post of culture…
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Thailand pushes for UNESCO glory with ancient shadow play
The Ministry of Culture confirmed yesterday that nang yai, a spectacular shadow puppet performance dating back to the 15th century, will be proposed for UNESCO’s Register of Good Safeguarding Practices by March 2026. Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, currently overseeing the ministry, said the campaign is officially titled the Community-based Revitalisation of Nang Yai Tradition in Thailand (CRNT). She described…
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Bangkok’s Banthat Thong to become global street food hub
Bangkok’s famous Banthat Thong Road could soon rival the world’s top foodie destinations after the Commerce Ministry unveiled bold plans to transform it into a global street food landmark. Once packed with up to 40,000 visitors a day, the bustling stretch has seen numbers dwindle amid rising rents, falling Thai spending power, and tougher competition. Business operators say survival has…
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Bangkok tops global Gen Z city list
Move over New York and London—Bangkok just stole the spotlight as the ultimate Gen Z city in the world. The Thai capital has clinched the- top spot in Time Out’s 2025 global ranking of the Best Cities for Gen Z, leaving some of the world’s most iconic destinations trailing in its wake. The survey gathered insights from over 18,500 locals…
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Bangkok nightclub raided, 328 detained in Huai Khwang operation
Yesterday, August 15, police conducted a raid on an illegal nightclub in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok, detaining 328 patrons, including 122 Thais and 206 foreigners. Six individuals tested positive for drugs, and four packets of “happy water” were discovered. Huai Khwang Police Station, in collaboration with various enforcement units including the Metropolitan Police Division and the Office of the Narcotics…
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GrabFood rider dies in collision with parked truck in Bangkok
A collision occurred on Rama 2 Road when a motorcycle driven by a GrabFood rider collided with the back of a parked 10-wheel truck, resulting in the rider’s death today, August 14, at 2.15am. Police Captain Prasert Phunkaew from Samae Dam Police Station reported the accident took place near an oil station at the entrance of Soi Rama 2, 94,…
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