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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Bangkok joins 30-baht healthcare scheme with 6 billion baht budget
A budget allocation of 5.9 billion baht has been approved to support the 30-baht healthcare scheme, which will now extend to Bangkok, making it the 46th province in the programme. The project will be officially launched on September 27. The announcement was made at the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in Bangkok, where Jadej Thamatachaaree, Secretary-General of the NHSO, explained…
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Thailand to give digital money to vulnerable groups via PromptPay
Thailand announced a significant economic stimulus package targeting vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities and state welfare cardholders. Starting Wednesday, September 25, the government will distribute 10,000 baht per person through the PromptPay system. The initiative, approved by the Cabinet for the 2024 economic stimulus plan, aims to support 14.55 million recipients. The distribution will be managed by the Comptroller…
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Capella Bangkok named World’s Best Hotel 2024
Capella Bangkok has taken the hospitality world by storm, claiming the coveted top spot on The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 list. Leaping from No.11 in 2023 to No.1 this year, the hotel not only tops the global rankings but also secures the title of Best Hotel in Asia. Since its 2020 opening, the riverside retreat has charmed guests with…
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Thailand Cabinet keeps VAT at 7% for another year
The Thailand Cabinet has decided to maintain the current value-added tax (VAT) rate at 7% for another year. This decision was announced by Jirayu Huangsub, an advisor to the Prime Minister of Thailand, at 12.40pm yesterday, September 17. The announcement follows a Cabinet meeting where the economic situation was discussed, especially concerning the VAT rate set to expire at the…
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National wage committee to finalise 400-baht minimum wage
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that the national wage committee will reconvene on Friday to discuss the implementation of a 400-baht minimum wage for large employers nationwide starting October 1. The tripartite committee, which includes representatives from employees, employers, and the government, met on Monday. However, all five employer representatives were absent, leaving only the 10 members from the employee…
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Jirayu Houngsub to become new Thailand govt spokesperson
Jirayu Houngsub, previously a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, is on course to become the new government spokesperson next week. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appointed Jirayu as her public relations adviser yesterday while his credentials are further scrutinised. The screening process for political appointees intensified due to a surge in ethics-related complaints. The Pheu Thai Party and PM Paetongtarn are…
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Green Day announces first Thailand concert in 14 years
Green Day fans are in for a treat as the legendary post-punk rock band announced a concert in Thailand after a 14-year hiatus. Scheduled for February 12, 2025, the event will take place at Impact Arena, Mueang Thong Thani, and is organised by Live Nation Tero. The announcement, made yesterday, September 16, has thrilled rock enthusiasts across the country. Green…
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Two Bangkok districts to become pedestrian paradise
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is shaking things up with a plan to transform the eastern districts of Phra Khanong and Bang Na into a pedestrian’s dream. In a move that will have locals leaving their cars at home, the new zones will encourage walking, running, and biking as part of a healthier, greener lifestyle. Deputy Bangkok Governor Tavida Kamolvej…
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Jet fuel boom: Thailand’s aviation set for sky-high growth
Thailand’s aviation sector is ready to soar, fuelled by a surge in air travel and jet fuel demand, according to Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Plc (BAFS). The refuelling giant, which serves Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, is seeing a bright future as the aviation industry bounces back from the pandemic slump. BAFS President ML Nathasit Diskul revealed the company’s expected…
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Ex-British PM Tony Blair joins Bangkok’s AI revolution
In a high-stakes meeting at Bangkok City Hall, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair sat down with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) could revolutionise public management. The duo’s discussions centred on one burning question: Can AI make Bangkok a more liveable city? Blair, executive chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), shared…
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Police quickly nab suspects in Bang Phli market burglary
Police in Bang Phli swiftly arrested two suspects less than 24 hours after a late-night burglary at a local market office. The suspects, 18 year old Anuwat, and 42 year old Natthapimon, were apprehended with stolen gold and cash worth nearly 1 million baht. Today, September 17, Police Colonel Pairoj Phetploy and Investigation Chief Santirat Ngernmun, along with a team…
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Ruling party loyalist set to chair Bank of Thailand amid rate dispute
A ruling party loyalist and critic of the central bank governor is set to be nominated as the chair of the Bank of Thailand (BoT), as the government seeks to assert influence over the institution amid ongoing disputes over interest rates. The Pheu Thai Party-led government plans to back 66 year old former deputy premier and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na…
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Thailand raises alarm on online child sexual harassment surge
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) raised alarms about the severe impact of sexual harassment on social media on children and young people. A recent social outlook report from the NESDC, released yesterday, indicates that victims of such harassment risk developing a range of social, emotional, and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. In some cases, these…
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Spirit sale: Haunted bed gives netizens ghost bumps in Bangkok
A Facebook user today posted a spine-tingling advert in a second-hand furniture group, offering a “spirit-confining wooden bed” for a mere 500 baht. The bed in question, an unassuming three-foot wooden frame, is allegedly haunted, though it no longer contains the talisman that previously kept any restless spirits in check. Describing the bed as fully functional and in good condition,…
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Samyan Smart City buries cables to enhance energy solutions
The Samyan Smart City project in central Bangkok is advancing, with significant efforts focused on relocating overhead power and communication cables underground, according to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA). Last month, overhead cables along Chulalongkorn Soi 12 leading to Banthat Thong Road, and near the King Rama VI Monument close to Lumpini Park, were removed. This initiative aims to eliminate…
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Thailand’s plan to ‘track’ down train costs with 20 baht fare cap
The Government of Thailand is considering taking over seven electric train lines, worth around 500 billion baht, to fulfil a campaign promise from the Pheu Thai Party to cap fares at a mere 20 baht per route. Finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit revealed that the Finance Ministry has been approached by the Transport Ministry, through the State Enterprise Policy Office,…
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Bangkok couple arrested for exploiting Shan state minors
Police arrested a couple in Bangkok’s Pracha Chuen area on allegations of exploiting minors from Myanmar’s Shan state for forced labour. The arrests took place yesterday morning when officials from the Department of Provincial Administration, alongside Pracha Chuen police officers, raided a house on Ngamwongwan Road in the Lak Si district. The suspects, identified only as 35 year old Golf,…
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Maldivian gangsters nabbed in Bangkok for overstaying visas
Thai police arrested three Maldivian nationals linked to a notorious gang, wanted for attempted murder, and overstaying their visas. The men were captured in Bangkok following a high-stakes operation on Ramkhamhaeng Road. Police Major General Phantana Nuchanart, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, led the press conference yesterday, September 13, revealing details of the bust. The suspects, all members of…
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Opposition calls for Pheu Thai’s pledged 600-baht minimum wage
The opposition urged the implementation of the Pheu Thai Party’s promised 600-baht minimum wage while criticising the government’s labour policy for a perceived lack of initiatives to enhance labour skills. Sia Jampathong, an MP from the People’s Party, highlighted these concerns during yesterday’s final day of a joint Parliament sitting. He noted that labour policy was conspicuously absent from the…
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Thai defence minister appoints ex-RTA expert as secretary
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai appointed General Trisak Indararusmi, a former expert with the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and a former classmate of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as his secretary. This appointment precedes Phumtham’s official commencement at the ministry, set for Monday. Gen. Trisak, an alumnus of Class 10 from the armed forces preparatory school, is expected to bring significant experience…
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Digital wallet delay: No green light before year-end
The highly anticipated second phase of Thailand’s digital wallet initiative is on ice, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira revealing that it’s unlikely to roll out before the end of the year. In a brief meeting with the press today, Pichai highlighted the need for a cautious approach, stressing that factors like timing and continuity must be…
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Thai woman falls from Nonthaburi bridge and lands on car below
A Thai woman was riding her motorcycle at high speed on the Rama IV Bridge in Nonthaburi province, Bangkok, when she reportedly crashed into the edge of the bridge and fell onto the bonnet of a sedan below. The owner of the sedan, 23 year old Naphat Sookmak, visited Pak Kret Police Station yesterday afternoon, September 12, to report the shocking…
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Crane collapses in Bangkok, injuring motorcyclist
A crane unexpectedly toppled in Thonburi, injuring a motorcyclist who was passing by. The incident left one person injured. It is suspected that the crane’s collapse was due to soil subsidence. Police are urgently investigating the cause. A crane collapsed at around 2pm yesterday, September 12, at a construction site for an underground railway near Soi Taksin 9/3 on Somdet…
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Fallen tree crushes cars on Banthat Thong Road in Bangkok storm (video)
A large tree fell on Banthat Thong Road, crushing parked cars during a heavy storm. CCTV footage captured the dramatic incident, which occurred yesterday evening. Strong winds and rain swept through multiple areas of Bangkok, causing significant disruptions. A powerful storm hit several parts of Bangkok yesterday evening, September 12, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. In the Pathumwan district,…
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Bangkok taxi driver berates passenger over travel distance
A taxi passenger in Bangkok shared a harrowing experience where the driver shouted and insulted him, even refusing to stop the car. The passenger complained to the taxi company, only to be told there was no driver by that name. A TikTok user recently posted a video capturing a distressing encounter with a taxi driver. The driver was seen shouting…
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Thailand’s economy to see 2.5% growth in 2024, EIC forecasts
Thailand is projected to experience a soft economic landing next year, according to the Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre (SCB EIC). The research centre has maintained its 2024 economic growth forecast for Thailand at 2.5% but has downgraded its 2025 outlook to 2.6%, down from previous forecasts of 2.9 to 3%. EIC chief economist Somprawin Manprasert explained that the downward…
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PM Paetongtarn unveils 10 policies on economic and social welfare
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivered the government’s policy statement to Parliament yesterday, outlining 10 urgent policies to address pressing national issues. The policies cover a broad spectrum of areas, with a focus on economic stability, social welfare, and national development. The government intends to undertake comprehensive debt restructuring, focusing particularly on housing and auto loans. Both formal and informal…
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AI scandal: PPRP slams fake Prawit leadership ambition audio clip
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) vehemently denied the authenticity of an explosive audio clip, which allegedly features its leader, General Prawit Wongsuwan expressing his desire to lead the country. The party insists the clip is an AI-generated fake. The controversial recording was aired on the popular programme Inside Thailand, alongside three other voice clips supposedly involving Prawit. In the first…
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World’s best hotel: Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental steals the show
Bangkok’s iconic Mandarin Oriental Hotel has officially snagged the prestigious title of the Best Hotel in Asia and the World, according to The Telegraph’s Hotel Awards. The British media giant, known for its high standards, placed the luxurious Thai retreat at the top of its 2024 list, beating fierce global competition. This award comes after The Telegraph’s hotel and destination…
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Bangkok’s 14 billion baht bailout for BTS debt moves forward
Bangkok is scrambling to settle a colossal 14-billion-baht debt to the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC). The Bangkok Council has taken a crucial step, setting up a special committee to scrutinise a draft ordinance allowing the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to access emergency funds. Council president Surajit Pongsingwitthaya convened an extraordinary meeting today, putting the spotlight on the hefty repayment…
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