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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    Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever

    If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...

  • 1 killed, 3 injured in oil tanker fire at Chao Phraya River pier in Samut Prakan | Thaiger

    1 killed, 3 injured in oil tanker fire at Chao Phraya River pier in Samut Prakan

    One person was killed and three were injured when an oil tanker caught fire following an explosion on the vessel. The tanker was docked at a pier on the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan, just southeast of Bangkok, when there was a sudden explosion. Three people were able to escape while another person was reported missing. Human remains were…

  • Japanese gangster arrested for allegedly stealing 2 million baht in gold from Bangkok shop | Thaiger

    Japanese gangster arrested for allegedly stealing 2 million baht in gold from Bangkok shop

    A Japanese man allegedly robbed a gold shop at Bangkok shopping centre, taking off with 975 grams of gold valued at around 2 million baht. Police say the suspect is involved with Japanese “Yakuza” crime syndicates. The Royal Palace Police Station received a report on Monday from a gold shop Thong Suay at The Old Siam Shopping Plaza, claiming that…

  • Body of cricket star Warne in Bangkok, awaiting repatriation to Australia | Thaiger

    Body of cricket star Warne in Bangkok, awaiting repatriation to Australia

    Thai police say the body of cricketer Shane Warne is in Bangkok, awaiting repatriation to his native Australia. Warne died of a suspected heart attack last Friday, while on holiday on Koh Samui. He was 52 years old and had a history of congenital disease, according to a Reuters report. Deputy police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen says Australian consular officials are…

  • Man who released cobras, cut himself at Bangkok intersection arrested at airport | Thaiger

    Man who released cobras, cut himself at Bangkok intersection arrested at airport

    A man who made headlines last month after releasing cobras and cutting himself at a busy intersection in Bangkok was arrested by police at Suvarnabhumi airport on Sunday evening. 47 year old Kanetpisanuthep Jakapopmahadecha, known as “K Hundred Million,” was arrested under six charges and has since been taken to Somdet Chaophraya Institute of Psychiatry for a psychiatric assessment. At…

  • Bangkok governor summoned by PM, asked to explain Covid treatment complaints | Thaiger

    Bangkok governor summoned by PM, asked to explain Covid treatment complaints

    The governor of Bangkok has been summoned by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and asked to explain why residents in the capital are unable to access Covid-19 treatment. According to a Nation Thailand report, Governor Aswin Kwanmuang met with the PM and was asked to explain the complaints from Bangkok patients. Addressing the media, the PM confirmed the meeting took place at…

  • Homeless man allegedly stabs Japanese man in Bangkok’s Nana area | Thaiger

    Homeless man allegedly stabs Japanese man in Bangkok’s Nana area

    Police officers arrested a Thai man for stabbing a Japanese expat in Bangkok’s Nana area on Sukhumvit Soi 13. Reports say the suspect ran down to Soi 19 with a bloody knife still in his hand. An officer shot him with a stun gun before detaining him. On Saturday, the man allegedly stabbed the 36 year old Japanese businessman in…

  • Bystander struck in the head by rubber bullet in Bangkok rally dies | Thaiger

    Bystander struck in the head by rubber bullet in Bangkok rally dies

    A 64 year old man who had been struck by a rubber bullet fired during one of the violent clashes with police at Bangkok’s Din Daeng area back in August died after several months of being bedridden. The Din Daeng area had been the site of numerous clashes between police and anti-government protesters, particularly a young group called “Thalugas” which…

  • National police chief suspects Tangmo’s death was an accident | Thaiger

    National police chief suspects Tangmo’s death was an accident

    Thailand’s national police chief says the death of actress Tangmo seems to have been an accident. He says evidence shows the death of the celebrity in Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River appears to have been an accident. An autopsy report shows the actress died from drowning. Her body also had a large cut on her leg, possibly from the speedboat’s propellor.…

  • “Joe Ferrari” objects to presence of human rights observers at torture-murder trial | Thaiger

    “Joe Ferrari” objects to presence of human rights observers at torture-murder trial

    Former police chief Thitisan Utthanaphon is calling for human rights observers to be blocked from attending his trial for torture and murder. Thitisan, who has been nicknamed “Joe Ferrari” because of the lavish lifestyle he lived and the luxury cars he accumulated while on a policeman’s salary, has asked the Criminal Court to stop the rights observers from attending his…

  • Walkway connecting Bangkok parks will be renovated in September | Thaiger

    Walkway connecting Bangkok parks will be renovated in September

    A walkway connecting Bangkok’s Lumpini and Benjakitti parks will be renovated in September. The walkway was first built in 1999. The renovation will give it better biking and running lanes, with flowers lining the sides. There will even be a park, as well as a rest area. The walkway is being referred to as the ‘green bridge’, and the Bangkok…

  • Tangmo’s mother accepts apologies, for a price | Thaiger

    Tangmo’s mother accepts apologies, for a price

    The mother of drowned actress “Tangmo” says she forgives two witnesses to her daughter’s death, and would accept a “financial gift” from one of them. Panida Siriyuthayothin, the mother of drowned actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong, appeared on Channel 3 yesterday to announce that she had forgiven two of the people who were on the speedboat… the owner and captain of…

  • Tangmo: Police investigate mysterious male voice as new evidence comes to light | Thaiger

    Tangmo: Police investigate mysterious male voice as new evidence comes to light

    UPDATE: Police are investigating a video captured on the mobile phone of Tangmo’s manager, Idsarin “Gatick” Juthasuksawat, after Thai netizens pointed out a mysterious male voice off-screen. The video, which was obtained by Nation Thailand and has since gone viral online, shows the late Thai actress posing on the speedboat with a cup of wine and playing with her hair…

  • Local government under fire again for shady street lamp purchases | Thaiger

    Local government under fire again for shady street lamp purchases

    An anti-corruption watchdog group is once again calling out a local government organisation for another purchase of expensive street lamps in Thailand. Many have accused a local administrative organisation in Samut Prakan, the next province just south east of Bangkok, of overpaying for the solar-powered lamps adorned with kinnaree figures of a mythical half-bird, half-woman, painted gold. Hundreds of the…

  • Bangkok officials install more than 62,000 security cameras around the capital | Thaiger

    Bangkok officials install more than 62,000 security cameras around the capital

    Officials in Bangkok have installed over 62,000 security cameras all over the capital, according to a Nation Thailand report. Bangkok governor, Aswin Kwangmuang, says the installation of 62,217 additional cameras has been done with the safety of residents in mind. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has also set up 13 monitoring centres, where CCTV footage can be checked. According to Aswin,…

  • Court acquits final 3 accused in zero-dollar tourism case, citing insufficient evidence | Thaiger

    Court acquits final 3 accused in zero-dollar tourism case, citing insufficient evidence

    The final 3 defendants in a zero-dollar tourism scam exposed in 2016 were acquitted by the Thai Supreme Court yesterday. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove the case against the 3. The zero-dollar tourism scam involved cheap package tours for Chinese tourists, who would be accommodated in cheap hotels, and taken to certain restaurants and on…

  • Former Thai airman signs up to fight Russian forces in Ukraine | Thaiger

    Former Thai airman signs up to fight Russian forces in Ukraine

    A former member of the Royal Thai Air Force is volunteering to fight alongside the Ukrainians defending their country against a Russian invasion. According to a Coconuts report, the former airman, who gives his name only as Chanapong, turned up at the Ukrainian embassy in Bangkok yesterday, saying he was there to enlist. “I want the Ukrainian people to know…

  • One of north India’s most wanted gangsters found in Thailand, entered on fake passport | Thaiger

    One of north India’s most wanted gangsters found in Thailand, entered on fake passport

    A gangster wanted in India on multiple murder charges was arrested in Delhi after he was detained and deported from Thailand on Tuesday. Indian media say the man was a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Kala Jathedi syndicate and was known as one of the most wanted criminals in north India. 28 year old Virender Partap, also known as Kala…

  • 3 metre long snakes found while clearing land in Bangkok | Thaiger

    3 metre long snakes found while clearing land in Bangkok

    Not one, but three pythons, each around three metres long, were found in an unoccupied plot of land in Bangkok. A worker was using a backhoe to clear the area when he stumbled across the large snakes. Rescuers also found another python and a green viper. They suspect at least 10 more snakes are in the area. The area in in…

  • Tourism authorities greet first Saudi direct arrivals, plan new schemes | Thaiger

    Tourism authorities greet first Saudi direct arrivals, plan new schemes

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand greeted Saudi tourist arrivals with traditional Thai performances and a water salute on Monday. The flight was the first direct flight to Thailand from Saudi Arabia in 32 years landed in Bangkok, at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This flight symbolised the recent reconciliation between Thailand and Saudi Arabia after decades of frosty relations following the Blue Diamond…

  • Tangmo’s friend reenacts incident for police to show how the actress fell in the Chao Phraya River | Thaiger

    Tangmo’s friend reenacts incident for police to show how the actress fell in the Chao Phraya River

    A friend of the Thai actress who was found dead in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok reenacted the celebrity’s fall off the speedboat today. The friend claims the actress, Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong, fell in the river while she was trying to pee off the back of the speedboat. Many people, including Tangmo’s mother, have questioned the claims and suspect…

  • Bangkok police allegedly shoots and kills colleague on accident while drunk | Thaiger

    Bangkok police allegedly shoots and kills colleague on accident while drunk

    A 50 year old police officer was shot to death at a police station in Bangkok, allegedly by his close colleague who was reportedly drunk and showing off his new guns. A senior police officer told Thai media that the officers were not on duty or in uniform were the shooting occurred. The off-duty officers were lounging an office at…

  • Bangkok bridge collapses, officials say mistake made during construction | Thaiger

    Bangkok bridge collapses, officials say mistake made during construction

    A 50-metre bridge in Bangkok collapsed over the weekend, reportedly due to mistakes made by the construction team that affected the structure. The collapse on Udomsuk road impacted traffic as well as the water tap system in the area. No accidents and losses were reported, and it was expected to be repaired within one month. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Secretary Khajit…

  • Fire breaks out at Major Cineplex in Bangkok’s Ekkamai area | Thaiger

    Fire breaks out at Major Cineplex in Bangkok’s Ekkamai area

    A cinema in Bangkok’s Ekkamai area caught fire early this morning, with flames spread on the fourth and fifth floor of the theatre. Major Cineplex Sukhumvit was closed when the fire broke out at around 4:43am today. Firefighters are investigating to determine what caused the fire. Early this morning, a vendor outside the cinema was preparing to set up shop…

  • Forensic experts uncover more about Tangmo’s death, two charged so far | Thaiger

    Forensic experts uncover more about Tangmo’s death, two charged so far

    Forensic experts have dismissed reports that Tangmo, the Thai actress who’s body was found yesterday, went to the back of the boat she fell off to urinate. The experts say she was wearing a body suit, which would have made this difficult. A preliminary autopsy showed Tangmo had sand in her lungs. Toxicology results are expected to take about seven…

  • Tangmo’s mum believes daughter’s death is suspicious | Thaiger

    Tangmo’s mum believes daughter’s death is suspicious

    In the aftermath of the mysterious death of Thai actress Tangmo, and the recovery of her body, after falling into Bangkok’s Chao Phraya, her mother told the Bangkok Post she believes something is suspicious. Tangmo’s mother, Panida, said it was hard to believe Tangmo and her five friends, one of whom was her manager, were on the boat just to enjoy…

  • Missing Thai actress’s body found in Chao Phraya river, Bangkok | Thaiger

    Missing Thai actress’s body found in Chao Phraya river, Bangkok

    The body of Tangmo, the Thai actress who fell in the Chao Phraya river on Thursday night, was found by a rescue team this afternoon. Rescuers from the Ruamkanyu Foundation reported finding Tangmo’s body flaoting in the river at around 1:10pm. Eakpan Bunluerit, a Thai actor who also happened to be volunteering in the search, confirmed the body was Tangmo’s.…

  • Driver of speedboat missing Thai actress fell from likely to be charged | Thaiger

    Driver of speedboat missing Thai actress fell from likely to be charged

    After Thai actress Tangmo fell into the Chao Phraya river from a speedboat on Thursday night, Bangkok police will likely charge the boat driver for negligence. If Tangmo is found dead, the charge will be negligence causing death. The driver’s full name is unknown right now, and he is only identified as Mr. Por. An unnamed source told the Bangkok…

  • Bangkok to open 9 community isolation centres with 970 beds for mild patients | Thaiger

    Bangkok to open 9 community isolation centres with 970 beds for mild patients

    Authorities from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration visited the new community isolation centre in the Thawee Wattana district of Bangkok. They were checking the centre before it officially opens. Nine more isolation centres will open, and are expected to offer 970 beds for Covid-19 patients in Thailand’s capital. The authorities also said the Bangkok Emergency Medical Centre improved its contact system to…

  • UPDATE: Junior policeman admits guilt over 9 charges relating to Bangkok zebra crossing death | Thaiger

    UPDATE: Junior policeman admits guilt over 9 charges relating to Bangkok zebra crossing death

    UPDATE: In an evening session, Pol L/C Norawich Buadok admitted guilt to the nine charges laid over the incident on January 21 where opthalmologist Waraluck Supawatjariyakul was hit and killed when the officer’s Ducati motorbike hit her on a zebra crossing in downtown Ratchethewi, Bangkok. The nine charges include driving a vehicle with no licence plate, using a vehicle without…

  • Prosecutors decide today if officer who fatally struck pedestrian will stand trial | Thaiger

    Prosecutors decide today if officer who fatally struck pedestrian will stand trial

    Prosecutors will today decide whether to indict a police officer who fatally struck a pedestrian while riding a Ducati motorbike at speed. Norawich Buadokw was off duty and riding the un-licenced superbike when he hit Bangkok ophthalmologist Dr Waraluck Supawatjariyakul on a pedestrian crossing. The incident happened on Phaya Thai Road in the Ratchathewi district of the capital on January…