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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  • Frendemy: Thai trans stabs friend in Soi 11 in Bangkok (video) | Thaiger

    Frendemy: Thai trans stabs friend in Soi 11 in Bangkok (video)

    A Thai transwoman stabbed her transgender friend outside a hotel on Soi Sukhumvit 11 in Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. The victim’s friend said the two were previously close friends. Officers from Lumpini Police Station and Ruan Katayu Rescue Foundation rushed to the stabbing scene at about 4am today, March 29. The transgender victim, 27 year old…

  • Thai foreign minister jets off to Japan for diplomatic meeting | Thaiger

    Thai foreign minister jets off to Japan for diplomatic meeting

    The Thai Foreign Minister is gearing up for a crucial diplomatic mission to Japan amidst mounting concerns over the potential revocation of visa-free privileges for Thai travellers. Reports suggest that Japan is contemplating this drastic measure due to a surge in Thais overstaying their welcome. In a statement released today, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara acknowledged Japan’s right to enforce its laws but…

  • Puffing problems: Bangkok seminar on e-cigarettes perils | Thaiger

    Puffing problems: Bangkok seminar on e-cigarettes perils

    A pivotal seminar in Bangkok about the perils of e-cigarettes was attended by administrators from 437 educational institutions. The event was orchestrated by Dr Puangpetch Chunlaid, the minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, commencing precisely at 9am. The seminar’s aim was to bring into sharp focus the rising concerns about e-cigarettes within Thailand’s societal fabric, especially regarding their easy…

  • Naked Chinese saved after suicide attempt at Bangkok cop shop | Thaiger

    Naked Chinese saved after suicide attempt at Bangkok cop shop

    Officers successfully prevented a Chinese man from a suicide attempt at Lumpini Police Station after he was arrested for causing chaos while drunk at a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 5 in Bangkok. Lumpini Police Station officers apprehended the 59 year old Chinese man, Fuyu Kinghai, at a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 5 in the Wattana district of Bangkok because he…

  • PM Srettha: Legalise casinos to save Thailand’s economy | Thaiger

    PM Srettha: Legalise casinos to save Thailand’s economy

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin advocated for the legalisation of casinos to combat the shadowy underworld economy in Thailand. PM Srettha outlined his vision for a new law permitting entertainment complexes housing legal casinos, aiming to drag illicit activities into the light and bolster national revenue streams. “We have to bring the grey [underground] economy into the light to allow us…

  • Police chief takes down lawyer for bribery charge | Thaiger

    Police chief takes down lawyer for bribery charge

    The legal team of Police Commissioner-General Police General Torsak Sukvimol is gearing up to take down a high-profile celebrity lawyer who pointed his finger at the police chief in the bribery case. Lawyer Suteepong Chevitcharoen, flanked by Atchariya Ruangrattanapong, chairman of the Crime Victims Assistance Club and a key member of Torsak’s legal defence squad, made the announcement. The target of…

  • Malaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption | Thaiger

    Malaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption

    Inquiries from Malaysian tourists have flooded hotel operators, eager for the inside scoop on Thailand’s immigration policy regarding the exemption of arrival cards for travellers from Malaysia. Songchai Mungprasitthichai, chairman of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, revealed that Malaysians are particularly curious about potential extensions beyond the current expiry date of April 30. Travellers from all corners of the globe…

  • Thailand on anthrax alert after Laos outbreak sparks fear | Thaiger

    Thailand on anthrax alert after Laos outbreak sparks fear

    Thailand is on high alert as anthrax fears surge following a deadly outbreak in neighbouring Laos, warns government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke today. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew to intensify preventive measures, especially in border areas, in response to the escalating threat. Srettha asserted that increased monitoring is crucial to safeguard the health of Thai citizens,…

  • Bangkok police seize 10 million baht in bogus health supplements | Thaiger

    Bangkok police seize 10 million baht in bogus health supplements

    The Thai authorities have cracked down on a dietary supplement company for falsely advertising health benefits, using celebrities as endorsers, and selling products worth over 7 million baht in a significant consumer protection case. In a major operation, Bangkok’s Consumer Protection Police Division, alongside officers from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conducted raids on warehouses in Bangkok and the…

  • Stainless steel recycling key to fighting climate change in Thailand | Thaiger

    Stainless steel recycling key to fighting climate change in Thailand

    Netherlands-based metals recycling powerhouse Oryx Stainless unveiled a study that could transform the climate change game in Thailand. A study commissioned by Oryx Stainless unearthed a remarkable potential for mitigating climate change through increased stainless steel recycling, shedding light on its societal and environmental benefits. Conducted by a collaboration of Thai and German scientists, with support from The Fraunhofer Center…

  • Parts of broken Bangkok MRT Yellow Line track fall on passing cars | Thaiger

    Parts of broken Bangkok MRT Yellow Line track fall on passing cars

    The MRT Yellow Line temporarily suspended its service indefinitely following a track breakage after damaged parts fell onto passing cars on Srinakarindra Road this morning. Mueang Prakarn News v2 page reported that the MRT Yellow Line train suddenly stopped mid-journey between Suan Luang Rama IX and Srinagarindra 38 stations at about 8.30am today. Some passengers were trapped in the train…

  • Thai AirAsia sees triple surge in China flight bookings | Thaiger

    Thai AirAsia sees triple surge in China flight bookings

    In the wake of the permanent visa-free arrangement between Thailand and China, Thai AirAsia saw a wave of soaring bookings, catapulting towards a threefold increase in flights from Thailand to mainland China. Tansita Akrarittipirom, the director of commercial operations at Thai AirAsia, revealed that the company is witnessing a seismic shift in passenger demographics. “Previously, only 10% of our passengers…

  • Bangkok police nab repeat offender with drugs worth thousands | Thaiger

    Bangkok police nab repeat offender with drugs worth thousands

    Bangkok’s narcotics suppression police made a significant arrest yesterday, detaining a 35 year old drug dealer in the Bang Sue district. The individual, Thawatchai, had been covertly distributing drugs to local youth and was found with a substantial stash of methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, and Yaba pills at his residence. This latest operation was led by Police Colonel Suradet Chatthai, the…

  • Exiled former celebrity minister Jakrapob returns to Thailand | Thaiger

    Exiled former celebrity minister Jakrapob returns to Thailand

    A former television celebrity and one-time Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office has set tongues wagging with his unexpected announcement of returning to Thailand. This marks his comeback after a self-imposed exile lasting 15 years, undertaken to avoid lese majeste charges. Jakrapob Penkair posted on Facebook yesterday: “At 7.35 am on March 28, I will return to serve Thailand.” The…

  • Bangkok travel: Airbnb’s ultimate creative guide revealed | Thaiger

    Bangkok travel: Airbnb’s ultimate creative guide revealed

    Airbnb has rolled out its inaugural city guide, Airbnb Creative Guide to Bangkok, shedding light on the capital’s creative hubs, diverse neighbourhoods, and local influencers. Aligned with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) mission to foster creative tourism and amplify Thailand’s soft power on the global stage, this guide is a collaborative effort, drawing insights from prominent Thai tastemakers and revered…

  • Thailand house of representatives approves same-sex marriage bill | Thaiger

    Thailand house of representatives approves same-sex marriage bill

    Thailand has taken a monumental leap forward in the quest for marriage equality, with the House of Representatives approving a same-sex marriage bill on its final reading. The bill, backed by all significant political parties, secured a resounding victory with 400 of the 415 members present voting in favour. A mere 10 representatives opposed the motion. Danuphorn Punnakanta, a Pheu…

  • Thai state personnel to receive Chinese language training | Thaiger

    Thai state personnel to receive Chinese language training

    A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), the Thai-Chinese Cultural Relationship Council (TCCRC), and the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College (BLCC). The agreement, centred on Thai-Sino cooperation, aims to provide Chinese language training for Thai state personnel. The signing ceremony took place at the King Prajadhipok Museum on Lan Luang Road in…

  • Migrant workers get free pass home for Songkran celebrations | Thaiger

    Migrant workers get free pass home for Songkran celebrations

    To ease the journey home for migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced yesterday that they will be exempted from re-entry fees if they wish to return to their home countries to celebrate Songkran between April 1 and May 15. The decision, greenlit by the policy committee on the management of alien workers, aims to…

  • Bangkok scoops best city prize in travel magazine survey | Thaiger

    Bangkok scoops best city prize in travel magazine survey

    Bangkok scooped the best city award in the Asia-Pacific region from the travel magazine DestinAsian, while Suvarnabhumi International Airport secured the second-best airport among 51 countries. Prime Minister Office spokesperson Chai Watcharong encouraged Thai people to celebrate the country’s recent successes following the acknowledgement by DestinAsian in its Readers’ Choice Awards. The rankings cover various aspects of travel including best islands,…

  • Bamboo barges battle plastic pollution in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Bamboo barges battle plastic pollution in Bangkok

    To tackle Thailand’s plastic pollution crisis, a pioneering project has been launched on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Black flies scattered as plastic waste cascaded from bamboo conveyor belts onto solar-powered barges, marking a significant step towards cleaner waters. Dubbed the “interceptor,” this innovative boat-like structure, trailing a floating barrier, utilises the river’s currents to guide plastic debris into…

  • Quick action: Bangkok police recover 70,000 baht for Chinese man | Thaiger

    Quick action: Bangkok police recover 70,000 baht for Chinese man

    Bangkok police officers demonstrated integrity by successfully recovering 70,000 baht in cash for a Chinese man who had lost his wallet on March 25, highlighting that not all Thai cops are corrupt. The Chinese man, Zhang Wei, rushed to Huay Kwang Police Station after finding himself without a wallet at midnight on March 25. Zhang believed he might have left…

  • Pickpockets theft of Norweigian-Thai couple was karma, say cops | Thaiger

    Pickpockets theft of Norweigian-Thai couple was karma, say cops

    A Thai police officer dismissed a complaint from a Norwegian man and his Thai girlfriend who lost 30,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone to four pickpockets outside a shopping mall in Bangkok. The Thai cop allegedly told the foreigner it was his fault, a result of bad karma in their past lives. The Thai woman and her Norwegian…

  • Former prosecutor files lawsuit in Red Bull hit-and-run case | Thaiger

    Former prosecutor files lawsuit in Red Bull hit-and-run case

    A former senior prosecutor from the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) filed a lawsuit against Police Colonel Thanasit Taengchan, a former forensic officer for the infamous 2012 hit-and-run incident involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, also known as Boss. Chainarong, accompanied by his lawyer Paisan Chuarphon, lodged the lawsuit at Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday. The case accuses Pol. Col.…

  • Minimum wage rises to 400 baht in 10 Thai provinces | Thaiger

    Minimum wage rises to 400 baht in 10 Thai provinces

    The minimum wage in selected areas of 10 Thai provinces is set to rise to 400 baht per day, as decreed by the tripartite wage committee yesterday. This new wage increase, which comes into effect on April 13, will apply to tourism-related businesses and four-star hotels with a staff of 50 or more. Pairoj Chotikasathien, the committee’s chairman and permanent…

  • Parents of eye doctor killed in hit-and-run to receive 27 million baht | Thaiger

    Parents of eye doctor killed in hit-and-run to receive 27 million baht

    A court ruling yesterday determined that a 23 year old police officer must pay 27.3 million baht in compensation to the parents of a doctor he fatally hit while riding a motorcycle in 2022. The incident occurred when the officer, Norawich Buadok, who was travelling between 108 and 128 kilometres per hour on his Ducati Monster big bike, struck 33…

  • Court clears Thai lawyer’s remark against Thaksin | Thaiger

    Court clears Thai lawyer’s remark against Thaksin

    Thai lawyer and politician Chuan Leekpai’s controversial statement branding ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra as a “harbinger of doom” for the Deep South has been deemed fair game by the South Bangkok Criminal Court. The legal battle, which teetered on the edge of defamation, reached its climax today with a verdict that left both sides reeling. The lawsuit, initiated just three days…

  • Can Thailand achieve high-income status by 2037? (video) | Thaiger

    Can Thailand achieve high-income status by 2037? (video)

    As Thailand steers towards high-income status by 2037, a formidable obstacle looms large: rampant flooding wreaking havoc on its economy. In an exclusive interview with Thai PBS World, the World Bank unveils a groundbreaking strategy to expedite flood management, potentially transforming Thailand’s economic landscape. Read on to discover the game-changing insights and bold plans set to redefine Thailand’s future. Amid…

  • Thaksin Shinawatra’s secretive meet-up sparks political uproar | Thaiger

    Thaksin Shinawatra’s secretive meet-up sparks political uproar

    Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s sudden appearance at the Pheu Thai Party’s headquarters has sparked intense speculation about his true intentions. To dispel mounting rumours, Phumtham Wechayachai, former Pheu Thai Secretary-General, clarified that Thaksin’s scheduled rendezvous on Tuesday was merely a gesture of convenience. “It’s not about control. It’s about respect.” Phumtham asserted that the visit was solely to facilitate…

  • Rapid test kit set to combat kidney disease epidemic | Thaiger

    Rapid test kit set to combat kidney disease epidemic

    Chulalongkorn Hospital unveils the nation’s first rapid kidney disease test kit, a potential game-changer in battling a growing health crisis. A research team, spearheaded by Dr Nattachai Srisawat, unveils the ALB11 kit, designed to swiftly detect microalbuminuria, a crucial marker for kidney disease, in the comfort of one’s home. “An initial screening for the disease is pivotal for swift medical…

  • Srettha fires back: Defends overseas trips amid criticism | Thaiger

    Srettha fires back: Defends overseas trips amid criticism

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin staunchly defended his international excursions and trips to neighbouring nations, asserting their vital role in ramping up foreign investment in Thailand and fostering stronger regional ties. Addressing critics head-on, the 62 year old PM justified his frequent forays into provinces to tackle local issues, such as combating the PM2.5 airborne pollution blighting Chiang Mai. Responding to…