Bangkok Post - May 02, 2025

In this issue

May 02, 2025

PM visits 'embassy' after Pope Francis' passing

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra yesterday visited the Apostolic Nunciature to Thailand, also known as the Vatican embassy, to sign the book of condolences following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.

1 min

US scholar cleared of lese-majeste charge

Prosecutors have dropped a lese majeste charge levelled against American academic Paul Chambers, it was announced yesterday.

1 min

Govt to buy more LNG from the US

The government aims to increase the amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchased from the United States from 1 million tonnes to 2.2 million tonnes annually within five years, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira.

1 min

Moody's cuts outlook for banks

Moody’s Ratings (Moody’s) yesterday changed the outlook of seven Thai financial institutions to negative from stable.

1 min

'Shaky' 6 months ahead

But Pichai says GDP target still in sight

2 mins

5 more bodies pulled from rubble

SAO BUILDING

1 min

Cable car study gets two-year extension

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has approved a two-year extension for the feasibility study of the proposed cable car project at Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei province.

1 min

Army denies use of online campaigns

'IO' only utilised to curb disinformation

1 min

Local hospital chief faces DUI probe

A disciplinary investigation will be launched against the director of a state-run hospital in Chaiyaphum who was allegedly driving under the influence when his vehicle crashed into a roadside food shop, seriously injuring two people.

1 min

Hospital sees breakthrough in stem cell transplant for cancer

Rajavithi Hospital has successfully performed its first stem cell transplantation on a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM), a form of cancer, marking a significant milestone in the hospital's efforts to advance life-saving medical technologies.

1 min

Platform riders ‘deserve better benefits’

A Thammasat University academic says that digital platform riders should be categorised as company employees under the social security law, and not a type of informal worker with limited access to basic work benefits.

1 min

Activists highlight key issues

Workers and activists in Bangkok marked Labour Day yesterday by calling for better protections and fairer treatment for employees.

1 min

PP presses premier about alleged tax-dodging notes

The People's Party (PP) is pressing ahead with an inquiry conducted in the House of Representatives into Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's controversial use of promissory notes (PNs) in a 4.43-billion-baht share acquisition, which the main opposition party suspects to be a tax-dodging ploy.

1 min

US to return art from Buri Ram temple

The United States will return to Thailand four sculptures believed to have been stolen from Prasat Hin Khao Plai Bat II in Buri Ram, according to the Fine Arts Department’s director-general Phnombootra Chandrajoti.

1 min

VAT mulled for firms with less revenue

B1.8m threshold may be erased

1 min

Nominee group nabbed

RAYONG

1 min

EEU FTA pressed at Brics talks in Rio

Thailand seized the opportunity to advance negotiations on a Thailand-Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) free trade agreement (FTA) during a bilateral meeting with Russia on the side-lines of the Brics Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brazil, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

1 min

Life-saving campaign can also save 22.8 billion baht

The government has launched a nationwide health initiative against non-communicable diseases (NCDs), targeting more than 38 million citizens in a bid to save over 22 billion baht in national healthcare costs.

1 min

Envoys mark 75 years of Thai-Indonesian relations

Asean ‘could bridge gap’ between powers

2 mins

US moves to calm India and Pakistan

'Terrorists' to face justice: Jaishankar

2 mins

Top court rules against Lee

South Korea's Supreme Court yesterday overturned an earlier ruling that had cleared election frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of an election law violation, throwing into doubt his eligibility to run for the presidency.

1 min

Cops arrest man after car ploughs into schoolchildren

Japanese police arrested a man after they said he ploughed his car deliberately into seven primary school children in the western city of Osaka yesterday.

1 min

Tourist video captures Kashmir attack

Panic pictured as militants opened fire on 'mini-Switzerland', writes NYT

2 mins

Yoon indicted for abuse of power, prosecutors say

Former president Yoon Suk-yeol was indicted yesterday for abuse of power over his martial law declaration, prosecutors said, adding to the impeached ex-leader's legal jeopardy.

2 mins

Syria reports IDF strikes, more clashes

Syria said Israel launched fresh strikes near Damascus on Wednesday, following two days of deadly sectarian clashes that left nearly 40 people dead. The violence prompted Israel to issue a warning over attacks targeting the Druze minority.

1 min

Mushroom meal victim 'hunched' in pain: hearing

The husband of an Australian woman accused of triple murder with a toxic mushroom-laced beef Wellington told a court yesterday his father was “hunched” in pain before he died.

1 min

Kyiv inks mineral deal with US

The United States and Ukraine Wednesday signed a minerals deal following a two-month delay, in what US President Donald Trump's administration described as a new form of American commitment to Kyiv following the end of military aid.

2 mins

Wild weather halts flights, shuts schools

Schools were closed and flights cancelled as New Zealand's capital, Wellington, was hit by its strongest winds in over a decade yesterday, while a state of emergency was declared in parts of the South Island after 24 hours of heavy rain.

1 min

Fires 'could reach Jerusalem'

Netanyahu declares 'national emergency'

2 mins

Harris re-emerges to take aim at Trump

Says economic policy ‘inviting a recession’

2 mins

Washington seeking tariff talks: media

The Trump administration has approached China seeking talks on US President Donald Trump's decision to impose 145% tariffs specifically targeting Beijing, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said yesterday.

1 min

Weinstein accuser recounts alleged rape

One of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers again told a New York court on Wednesday that he raped her, five years after testifying in the disgraced Hollywood producer's original sexual assault trial.

2 mins

Big two parties face major test as polls open in local elections

Polls opened in local elections yesterday tipped to inflict losses on the UK’s two main parties and confirm the rise of hard-right populists, portending the splintering ofa century-long political duopoly.

2 mins

Chambers case must end

Thailand's economy is under strain. Tariff talks with the Trump administration are stalled. Growth is plunging. Global tensions are rising. The last thing the country needs is a diplomatic crisis triggered by a flimsy lèse majesté charge — especially one that the public prosecutor now refuses to pursue.

2 mins

Where does the blame in Spain lie?

While it may be tempting to blame the unprecedented power outage that hit the Iberian peninsula this week on the rapid growth of wind and solar power in Spain, reliance on renewables is not to blame.

3 mins

Airlines, shippers paint souring oil demand picture

TARIFF WAR

3 mins

Donald Trump’s administration too ‘black-pilled’

If a striking thing about the period just before Donald Trump's second inauguration was the feeling that America was genuinely shifting to the right — wokeness crumbling, more minority voters and elite factions joining the GOP, every branch of government in conservative hands — a striking thing about the Trump administration is that it has governed as though none of this were the case.

3 mins

Trump tariffs sow divisions in Asean

President Donald Trump's unilateral imposition of tariffs across the United States' economic chessboard poses a critical test for Asean.

4 mins

Falcons get burned by prank call to QB Sanders

The NFL fined the Atlanta Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich US$100,000 on Wednesday over a phone number leak that led to a prank call to rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

2 mins

Blue Jays rally from 6 down, top Red Sox in 10th inning

Alejandro Kirk singled home the winning run in the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat the visiting Boston Red Sox 7-6 on Wednesday night.

1 min

Remembering Choi's 25 years on the PGA Tour

When the South Korean contingent shows up in strength at this week's The CJ Cup Byron Nelson — a legacy tournament which Sung Kang and KH Lee have tasted victories in recent years — they will look back with great pride the trailblazing exploits of one man who defied all odds to ensure the American dream isn’t quite the pipe dream.

4 mins

Gobert, Wolves gobble up Lakers

LOS ANGELES: The Minnesota Timberwolves sent LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers tumbling out of the NBA playoffs at the first hurdle on Wednesday, producing a clinical 103-96 win to complete a 4-1 series victory.

3 mins

Piastri is the man to beat in Miami

Norris loves layout, Verstappen on boil

2 mins

Sinner says he nearly left sport for good

World No.1 Jannik Sinner, who is about to return to action after a three-month doping ban, thought about walking away from tennis even while successfully defending his Australian Open title, but is coming back with a new mentality.

2 mins

Sandy to tame Ford's beast in Super Series

Expanding his racing programme for the 2025 season, multi-time champion Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik is set to compete in the highly competitive Super Pickup category of the Thailand Super Series with Aurora Ford Thailand Racing.

1 min

Mexico City to host races until 2028

Mexico City will host high-altitude Formula One races for at least three more years after a contract extension was signed on Wednesday.

1 min

O'Sullivan wobbles but blasts into semi-finals

Ronnie O'Sullivan insisted he would have to raise his game in order to win a modern-day record eighth snooker World Championship title after securing his place in this year’s semi-finals.

2 mins

Teenager Yamal saves Barca

Barcelona and Inter Milan shared a compelling 3-3 draw in a high-octane Champions League semi-final first leg clash on Wednesday, with teenage star Lamine Yamal shining bright.

3 mins

Buriram blitz seals 10th title

Rallying Angels fall short in crown chase

2 mins

Coach hails youngsters as Kawasaki reach first final

Kawasaki Frontale coach Shigetoshi Hasebe hailed his young players after they “stepped up” to reach the AFC Champions League final by stunning Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr.

1 min

Thai exports have chance to enlarge US market share

TRADE

2 mins

Supply glut hits petrochemicals

The US-China trade war is exacerbating problems for the industry, which was already struggling from an oversupply, write Lamonphet Apisitniran and Yuthana Praiwan

3 mins

Adapting to Asia's new growth model

Digitisation and decarbonisation are powerful new economic drivers. By Giorgio Gamba

2 mins

Motorcycle output downgrade mulled

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is considering downgrading Thailand's motorcycle manufacturing target, even though total production increased during the first quarter of this year.

1 min

EfraStructure lauds success of startups in Thailand

The EfraStructure fund says 51 local tech startups it supported generated a transaction value of 795 billion baht last year from 77 million transactions.

1 min

State enterprises disburse 30% of investment budget

At the end of March, state-owned enterprises had disbursed 30% of their total investment budget, which was set at 258 billion baht.

1 min

Investors urged to diversify overseas amid Thai volatility

Local bourse to remain unsettled

2 mins

Accenture says Thai businesses utilising benefits of agentic AI

Amid rising economic pressure, Thai businesses are turning to agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, agility and competitiveness.

3 mins

Mandarin Oriental overhaul underway

Flagship Bangkok hotel gets update

3 mins

Air conditioner firms seek support amid weak market

Companies in the air conditioner industry are calling for government support, while opting for marketing strategies amid weaker spending power, a trade war and new competitors entering the industry.

1 min

Reshaping industrial real estate

A look behind the rhetoric at how to build strategic industrial competitiveness. By Marcus Burtenshaw

6 mins

Vietnam used to be a safe haven for trade. Now it might not be

During President Donald Trump’s first US-China trade war in 2018, American companies flocked to Vietnam to sidestep escalating tariffs, and the country became increasingly critical to their bottom lines.

3 mins

Crypto fans meet at Token2049 in Dubai

Crypto enthusiasts descended on Dubai on Wednesday, gathering under the Gulf’s scorching sun and hoping the industry's buoyant mood can keep going despite signs the euphoria around US President Donald Trump's crypto fascination is ebbing.

2 mins

Trump's tariffs lead Japan to slash economic forecast

BoJ expects growth of 0.5% in fiscal year

2 mins

Jeju Air disaster spurs runway safety rethink

After a plane overshot a runway in South Korea, killing 179 people, a Times analysis found that global standards that help minimise fatalities are inconsistently followed, writes River Akira Davis and Selam Gebrekidan in Tokyo and Hong Kong

6 mins

Starbucks sales fall, but execs say turnaround plan working

Faster coffee. More baristas. More seating.

2 mins

Ikea opens Oxford Street store in London

Swedish furniture maker Ikea is backing Mayor of London Sadiq Khan's contentious plan to reserve Oxford Street for pedestrians, as the retail giant opens a store in one of the UK capital's most popular shopping districts.

1 min

Ukraine's critical minerals and how its deal with US will work

Ukraine and the United States on Wednesday signed a deal heavily promoted by US President Donald Trump that will give the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and fund investment in Ukraine's reconstruction.

3 mins

Apple ordered to loosen grip on App Store

Epic Games wins epic antitrust lawsuit

3 mins

Tesla chair denies plans to replace CEO Elon Musk

Tesla chair Robyn Denholm yesterday denied a Wall Street Journal report that said board members had reached out to executive search firms to find a replacement for CEO Elon Musk.

2 mins

US economy shrank in first quarter

Underlying economic growth stayed solid

4 mins

Everything is fine: Trump's cabinet gives short shrift to disapponting data

Contraction? What contraction? As far as US President Donald Trump and his cabinet were concerned on Wednesday all was well with the economy — and with everything else too.

2 mins

ART OF THE TIMES

Time is certainly one of Max Frintrop's working materials.

2 mins

Discover emerging and established artists at Mango Art Festival

Mango Art Festival will make a comeback to create new spaces for everyone to indulge in the power of arts for five days at River City Bangkok, Charoen Krung 24, from May 7-11.

1 min

Netflix's The Eternaut 'echoes fight against tyranny'

Survival through teamwork. It's a tale as old as time with particular resonance today, says Argentine actor Ricardo Darin of his latest project The Eternaut, which hit Netflix on Wednesday.

2 mins

Pope Francis interview with Martin Scorsese featured in new documentary

A new documentary from Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese will feature a conversation with the late Pope Francis about an effort the pontiff championed to provide education through cinema, the film's producers said on Wednesday.

1 min

Russia's revived Soviet-era music contest Intervision to take place in September

Russia will hold its Intervision music competition in September, organisers announced on Wednesday, after authorities revived the Soviet-era competition that was meant to rival Eurovision.

1 min

Ewan McGregor finally returns to London's West End stage in My Master Builder

The new Ibsen-inspired play My Master Builder digs into modern-day relationship politics, actor Ewan McGregor said at the show's official opening night on Tuesday.

1 min

MEDITERRANEAN INFLUENCES

This spicy clam chowder is St Augustine's best-kept secret

3 mins

WHEN THE MOUNTAINS CALL

Chef Prateek Sadhu on pushing the boundaries at India's first fine-dining restaurant

7 mins

Disney, Universal films to screen in China despite trade dispute

China is keeping the door open for Hollywood movies, even with the ongoing trade dispute with the US.

2 mins

RETURN TO DARKNESS

The latest season of The Last Of Us plunges viewers into deeper emotional turmoil and brutal realities

4 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.

Space does not allow a full display of the list of awards we have received over the past 60-plus years. Bangkok Post was originally the leading English newspaper in Thailand.

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