Bangkok Post - April 19, 2025

In this issue

April 19, 2025

Songkran accidents drop by almost 25%

The \"seven dangerous days\" of Songkran travel concluded on Thursday, with the death toll reaching 253. However, the total number of accidents saw a nearly 25% drop compared to the same period last year.

1 min

Cultural events to mark Rattanakosin anniversary

The government is set to host a major cultural event in Bangkok from April 23 to 27 to mark the 243rd anniversary of the Rattanakosin Era.

1 min

PM wants collapse culprits charged

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will expedite the issuing of arrest warrants for those involved in the collapse of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building once sufficient evidence is found.

1 min

Thailand is 'just a facilitator'

Thailand's role in the recent talks between Asean chair Malaysia and the Myanmar junta in Bangkok is strictly that of a facilitator, the government clarified yesterday.

2 mins

Salvage work at SAO site speeds up

Police say 33 bodies identified from ruins, writes Wassayos Ngamkham

4 mins

Abandoned bag prompts alert at airport

An explosive precursor was discovered in a Swedish man’s bag at Udon Thani Airport, leading to his arrest after his flight landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

1 min

Parliament co-op seeks fraud probe

Members of the Parliamentary Official Saving and Credit Cooperative are calling for an independent investigation into a 14-million-baht fraud, raising concerns that more individuals may be involved than the one employee currently under scrutiny.

1 min

2.8m took part in Songkran in city

About 2.8 million people participated in Songkran celebrations in Bangkok, with Sanam Luang being the most popular venue, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

2 mins

Politician’s son faces charges over crash

The Royal Thai Highway Police will press charges against Smithithat Leenawat, the son of a prominent Pathum Thani politician, following a traffic incident.

1 min

Govt set to lift martial law in South

Phumtham to visit three provinces

1 min

Moscow removes Taliban from list of terrorist groups

MOSCOW: Russia on Thursday suspended its ban on the Taliban, which it had designated for more than two decades as a terrorist organisation, in a move that paves the way for Moscow to normalise ties with the leadership of Afghanistan.

1 min

178 arrested over KFC attacks

Police have arrested scores of people in Pakistan in recent weeks after more than 10 mob attacks on outlets of US fast-food chain KFC, sparked by anti-United States sentiment and opposition to its ally Israel's war in Gaza, officials said.

2 mins

Junta, opposition set to extend ceasefire

Myanmar's junta and a key opposition group have indicated they will extend a ceasefire to support more aid efforts after a devastating earthquake, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday, following rare high-level talks with the ruling military.

2 mins

Memes used to vent anger at trade war

BEIJING: While China's leaders use their economic and political might to fight Donald Trump's trade war \"to the end\", its army of social media soldiers are embarking on a more humorous campaign online.

1 min

Beijing promotes anti-'bullying' plan

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Global South nations that \"unilateral bullying\" was hurting a rules-based world, as Beijing kept up the diplomatic pressure on US President Donald Trump to roll back his punitive trade tariffs.

1 min

Kyiv, US sign MoU for minerals deal

Full agreement to be approved 'next week'

2 mins

US tells Rwanda to withdraw

The US special envoy to Africa on Thursday called on Rwanda to withdraw all its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo and stop any support for the M23 rebel group.

2 mins

Court charges 4 'ant smugglers'

LONDON: Four men, including two Belgian teenagers, pleaded guilty in a Kenyan court this week on charges of trafficking thousands of live ants, which Kenyan authorities said they had intended to sell as pets.

2 mins

Washington may walk away from peace talks

US President Donald Trump will walk away from trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that a deal can be done, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday.

1 min

Italy's Meloni says Trump will visit Rome

US President Donald Trump has agreed to an official visit to Rome and will consider also meeting representatives of the European Union while there, Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.

1 min

Mexico's missing persons crisis

When Rubi Cruz recognised her husband's belongings among personal items found at a suspected Mexican drug cartel training camp, she feared the worst that he had become a victim of forced recruitment.

2 mins

Mangione faces federal charges, death penalty

A federal grand jury has indicted Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering a UnitedHealth Group executive in New York last year, allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty in his case, according to court filings on Thursday.

1 min

India to ease nuclear liability laws to boost US investment

India is planning to ease its nuclear liability laws to cap accident-related penalties on equipment suppliers, three government sources said, in a move mainly to attract US firms that have been holding back due to the risk of unlimited exposure.

2 mins

Right of way for the rich

A serious accident involving a member of a powerful political clan in Pathum Thani and an elderly couple riding in a pickup truck on Bangkok’s eastern outer ring road has triggered public anxiety about whether justice will prevail.

2 mins

Leveraging Thailand's superyacht exposure

The feature of the 117 foot (35.7-metre) catamaran _Spiarzai_ in the television series _The White Lotus Season 3_, set in the Gulf of Thailand and in the waters around Phuket, highlights the potential of Thailand's superyacht market.

3 mins

How social media shapes our political memory

With Donald Trump's return to the White House, I've been reminded of a viral social media moment from just before his first rise to power in 2016.

3 mins

Beware the false promise of tariffs

In this era of growing protectionism, defending globalisation can feel like a losing proposition.

3 mins

Sudan's war and the Africa we don't see

Last Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Many have given up on Sudan, but that is wrong. It’s morally wrong when we see so many civilians beheaded, infants as young as one subjected to sexual violence, more people facing famine than anywhere else in the world.... We simply cannot look away.”

3 mins

Rocker helps Rangers bury lowly Angels

Kumar Rocker put together a solid outing to earn his first career win as the Texas Rangers downed the slumping Los Angeles Angels 5-3 to finish a three-game sweep in Arlington, Texas.

2 mins

Verstappen ‘very relaxed’ about his Red Bull future

Red Bull's motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said after last Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix that the team were concerned the Dutch driver might leave at the end of the season.

1 min

Verstappen 'very relaxed' about his Red Bull future

JEDDAH: Max Verstappen played it cool as speculation swirled around his Formula One future on Thursday, with Red Bull’s four-times world champion saying it was not on his mind and he was ‘very relaxed’.

1 min

Chelsea in Conference semi-finals despite loss

Chelsea edged into the Uefa Conference League semi-finals on Thursday when a 2-1 home defeat by Legia Warsaw was enough for a 4-2 aggregate win.

1 min

Thomas goes three clear after fine 61

SOUTH CAROLINA: Justin Thomas fired a sensational 10-under-par 61 to open up a three-shot lead after the first round of the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage at Hilton Head in South Carolina on Thursday.

1 min

Yan, Buhai share lead at LA Championship

China's Yan Liu and South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai both shot 9-under par rounds of 63 to share the lead after the first round of the LA Championship on Thursday.

1 min

Unravelling Real face fan fury and Athletic Bilbao Liga test

Real Madrid are still reeling from their Champions League destruction by Arsenal but must immediately refocus when they face Athletic Bilbao tomorrow lest the La Liga title escape them too.

2 mins

Reds poised for coronation

Relegation looms for Foxes and Ipswich

2 mins

Buriram out to secure T1 top honours

Defending champions Buriram United are confident of wrapping up the defence of their Thai League 1 crown at Ratchaburi tonight.

1 min

Mobile alert system dubbed a success

Technology broadcasts emergency messages to all receivers in a region

2 mins

Bangkok earns B4.09bn from Songkran

Bangkok generated the most revenue in the country during the Songkran holiday, tallying 4.09 billion baht this year, while the hotel occupancy rate nationwide dropped by 10% due to weak Chinese arrivals, which prompted hotels to offer aggressive promotions during the low season.

2 mins

Commerce chief calls for Asean-US talks

The commerce minister has called on Asean to quickly arrange a meeting aimed at developing a unified strategy and position for trade discussions with the US.

1 min

TARIFF-LINKED VOLATILITY EASES, BUT RISK STILL HIGH

Global stocks have faced unusual turbulence in the past three weeks since US President Donald Trump announced higher-than-expected reciprocal tariffs against dozens of countries.

3 mins

Creating a stir in instant coffee

The legal battle over control of Nescafé could affect how foreign firms look at partnerships here and unleash competitors.

6 mins

STOCKS MAKE SMALL GAINS AMID TRADE TALK HOPE

RECAP: Asian stocks notched small gains in thin trade yesterday as investors largely adopted a wait-and-see approach on tariff negotiations before making long-term bets. Some markets were closed for the Good Friday holiday.

5 mins

BBL posts 20% uptick in net profit in first quarter

Bangkok Bank (BBL) reported 20% year-on-year growth in net profit for the first quarter of 2025, supported by a sharp increase in fee-based income, despite a contraction in loan volume.

1 min

GWM devises plan for diesel cars in Rayong

Shift from EVs attributed to economic uncertainties

2 mins

REWIRING BRITAIN FOR AN ERA OF CLEAN ENERGY

National Grid, which owns the high-voltage electricity grid in England and Wales, is rebuilding it in a government-backed drive to attract investment and tackle climate change, writes Stanley Reed from London

5 mins

Can China fight deflation AND tariffs?

Its workers face double whammy of corrosive deflation, tariffs that threaten trade

4 mins

India plans to ease nuclear liability laws

India is planning to ease its nuclear liability laws to cap accident-related penalties on equipment suppliers, three government sources said, in a move mainly to attract US firms that have been holding back due to the risk of unlimited exposure.

1 min

US hits Chinese ships with fee

The United States unveiled new port fees on Chinese built and operated ships Thursday, in a bid to boost the domestic shipbuilding industry and curb China's dominance in the sector.

2 mins

Trump hints at end of China tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signalled a potential end to the tit-for-tat tariff hikes between the US and China that shocked markets, and that a deal on the fate of social media platform TikTok may have to wait.

1 min

Denza Z9 GT review

Premium brand from Chinese giant BYD is heading to Europe with this intriguing Porsche Panamera rival, writes James Attwood

5 mins

Volvo XC60 gets refreshed look, upgraded interior

Brand’s best-selling SUV gets a further update ahead of the arrival of its electric sibling, the EX60, write

1 min

Trump weighs sacking Powell as anger with Fed chief grows

US President Donald Trump's long-running dissatisfaction with Jerome Powell reached a fever pitch this week, with the president openly musing about dismissing the Fed chair over his interest-rate decisions, as some advisers have been counseling restraint.

3 mins

Intel CEO flattens leadership structure

Intel's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, is flattening the semiconductor giant's leadership team, with important chip groups reporting directly to him, according to a memo from Mr Tan seen by Reuters.

2 mins

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Bangkok Post is the leading English-language daily newspaper in Thailand and has the longest history of any newspaper in existence in the country. The Bangkok Post targets well-educated decision makers, including top executives and high-ranking government officials. The Bangkok Post was established by a group of American and Thai journalists and the first issue was launched on August 1, 1946 with only four pages. Now the Bangkok Post publishes about 60 pages a day.

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