Bangkok Post - May 17, 2025

In this issue

May 17, 2025

'Bangkok Post' on Pride Awards list

The Bangkok Post has been shortlisted as one of five media outlets for the Bangkok Pride Awards 2025 in the category of Bangkok Pride Value of Offline News.

1 min

US scholar’s case not yet concluded

A prominent American scholar is still in Thailand after prosecutors dropped charges against him of insulting the monarchy, his family said, as his legal wrangle continues in a case that has raised concern in the US government.

1 min

ITD boss Premchai reports to cops over tower collapse in wheelchair

Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), and about 10 other people reported to police yesterday over criminal charges in connection with the collapse of the State Audit Office skyscraper in Bangkok that resulted in 92 deaths.

1 min

Disgraced abbot surrenders, defrocked

Almost 850 million baht was found to have been transferred to the account of a female broker linked to an online gambling network after police sifted through evidence related to the embezzlement allegations against the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing temple.

2 mins

Vietnam trade set to hit $25bn

Hanoi expects goal to be reached by 2030

2 mins

AoT eyes Phuket airport upgrade

Airports of Thailand (AoT) plans to upgrade Phuket International Airport to support up to 18 million passengers per year by 2029.

1 min

BDMS touts vaccines for flu season

Preventive vaccination is essential in reducing the severity of symptoms and limiting the spread of infectious diseases, especially as flu season approaches, according to medical experts from the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) group.

1 min

SRT to begin testing KiHa trains ‘before end of June'

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will begin testing KiHa 40 and 48 diesel trains before the end of next month, as it plans to start deploying the second hand trains from Japan on suburban feeder routes by year-end.

1 min

Ministry plans bilateral cybercrime talks

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) will hold a joint meeting of Thai and Cambodian authorities to strengthen efforts to crack down on cybercriminals.

1 min

Subianto to visit, sign agreements

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will pay an official visit to Thailand on Monday, where the two countries will formally elevate their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.

1 min

Phuket ready for Peranakan festival

Parade and noodle cook-off planned

2 mins

PM to visit fruit growers

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will visit Chanthaburi today as part of her initiative to promote Thai fruits and support local farmers.

1 min

SRT extends tunnel work on Sino-Thai rail project

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board has approved an 181-day extension of the civil engineering contract for the construction of the Muak Lek-Lam Takhong tunnel under the Sino-Thai high-speed rail project.

1 min

Controversial plan 'not just about tourism'

A Pheu Thai Party MP from Loei province said the proposed cable car to the top of Phu Kradueng is not solely intended to boost tourism, but also to support emergency operations and environmental management in the national park.

1 min

Phumtham 'ready to helm DSI'

Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday expressed his readiness to take temporary charge of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) should Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assign him the role.

1 min

Phu Kradueng cable car edges closer

Locals look forward to visitor earnings, but activists are still sceptical, writes Apinya Wipatayotin

2 mins

Syria 'open' on Israel ties: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Syria's new leadership wanted peace with Israel as he met its top diplomat following a US decision to ease sanctions.

1 min

During 'Nakba' event, Abbas urges action on Gaza

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, at a UN event on Thursday commemorating the Nakba, urged more action to end the war in Gaza, linking the historical displacement during Israel's creation to the current conflict.

1 min

Trump caps Gulf tour in Emirates

Secures $1.4 trillion investment pledge

2 mins

Estonia slams 'threat' after Russia violates airspace

Estonia accused Russia on Thursday of posing a “serious threat” to Nato after a Russian fighter jet violated the Baltic country’s airspace.

1 min

Lai rallies troops as China stirs

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te offered his support and encouragement to the armed forces yesterday ahead of what the government has warned could be a new round of Chinese military exercises near the island from as early as next week.

1 min

Moscow's forces capture two settlements

Kyiv says fighting continues in east

2 mins

Chega leader suffers second collapse before poll

The leader of Portugal’s far-right party Chega collapsed on Thursday during an open-air campaign rally ahead of tomorrow's general election and was rushed to hospital, two days after suffering a similar incident at another party event.

1 min

Nations mull online age curbs

France, Spain and Greece are pushing for mandatory age restrictions for users of social networks including Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook and Elon Musk’s X, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.

2 mins

2 climbers, from India and Philippines, die on Everest

An Indian climber and another from the Philippines became the first mountaineers to die on Mount Everest in the current March-May climbing season of the world’s highest peak, hiking officials said yesterday.

1 min

Ex-FBI director in hot water over online 'threat'

US law enforcement officials said on Thursday they were looking into a social media post by former FBI director James Comey depicting an image of “8647”, which some Trump supporters interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump.

2 mins

Nations trade blame over arsenal 'mismanagement'

India and Pakistan accused each other Thursday of failing to control their nuclear weapons, calling on the world to monitor their neighbour's arsenal just days after their most serious military confrontation in two decades.

1 min

Trump's plan hits barrier in Congress

GOP hardliners want deeper Medicaid cuts

2 mins

Ousted leader flies to Angola

Former Gabon president Ali Bongo, ousted in a coup in 2023, has flown to Angola with his wife and son, who were transferred from prison to house arrest last week, Angola's presidency said in a statement posted on Facebook.

1 min

Trans Niger pipeline bursts, spills crude

Nigeria's Trans Niger Pipeline, a major oil artery transporting crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal, burst and spilled oil into the local B-Dere community in Ogoniland, an environmental rights group said on Thursday.

1 min

Don't bother looking at us

The open bickering between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its largest coalition partner, Bhumjaithai, has prompted an opposition party to go on the defensive, according to observers.

3 mins

Tariff de-escalation helps ease threat of mass China layoffs

Yet job market pain persists for factory and other workers as nation faces hikes of 30%, writes Reuters

3 mins

Baht bucks trends

Re: “Baht poised to weaken further”, (Business, May 14) and “Foreigners get keen on Thai markets”, (Business, May 13).

1 min

Trade talks to-do list

Finally, the government has laid its cards on the table, giving details of the trade proposal it will submit to the US Trade Representative (USTR).

2 mins

US, Europe drive emissions higher

The world’s largest power polluter, China, made its biggest cut to power emissions since 2020 so far this year, but global power emissions have still held largely flat due to higher fossil fuel power generation in the United States and Europe.

3 mins

Pakistan's best chance to save its economy

As the military confrontation between Pakistan and India continues, Pakistan’s economy could be caught in the crossfire. The ongoing crisis has fuelled concerns that India may try to halt the flow of the Indus River into Pakistan — a threat that Pakistan’s struggling economy can ill afford.

3 mins

Thamanat aiming to ice BJT out of govt

The latest “cobra” incident — involving a politician defecting to the Klatham Party — demonstrates Capt Thamanat Prompow’s fervent attempts to make his party an alternative choice for the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government.

5 mins

Pope Leo XIV as a gift from God, Peru and me

It finally feels cool to be a Peruvian American former altar boy who went to Catholic high school and Catholic college.

4 mins

Jokic, Strawther star as Nuggets down Thunder

Nikola Jokic scored 29 points and unheralded bench player Julian Strawther produced a crucial late burst as the Denver Nuggets clinched a series-leveling 119-107 victory over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

2 mins

Vegas birdie blitz blasts him to top

Davis, Gerard lurk; McIlroy 10 behind

2 mins

City seek salvation in final

History beckons for Crystal Palace at Wembley in today’s FA Cup final as Manchester City have one final shot at avoiding a rare trophyless season under Pep Guardiola.

2 mins

Sinner demolishes Ruud, Gauff battles past Zheng

Jannik Sinner marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Thursday after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 as Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China's Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s final.

2 mins

Eagles hope to upset the Sky Blues

When Manchester City and Crystal Palace line up for the 144th FA Cup Final at Wembley today, there is little doubt that the Sky Blues will start as strong favourites.

2 mins

Buriram eye quad, Dragons seek a title

Thai League 1 champions Buriram United will face Nongbua Pitchaya while Ratchaburi will play Lamphun Warriors in the League Cup semi-finals this weekend.

1 min

Kunlavut soars, Ratchanok crashes out

Kunlavut Vitidsarn booked his berth in the semi-finals of the BWF Thailand Open at Nimibutr Stadium yesterday.

1 min

High stakes as Thailand face Japan

Thailand and Japan will face off in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup final at the Hohhot Sports Centre today.

1 min

Yamal gem wins Barca La Liga

Sprinklers rain on Catalan celebrations

3 mins

Trade plan recommends more US gas

Thailand is pushing ahead with a plan to import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US under the Alaska LNG Project, which aims to enhance national energy security.

1 min

Thai negotiators prepare for US talks

Commerce minister submits a series of proposals to the US Trade Representative

1 min

Bank rate cut to trim interest margin

Large local banks have lowered their interest rates in response to the Bank of Thailand's recent policy rate cut, a move that is expected to compress the banking sector's net interest margin (NIM) this year.

2 mins

Panel to discuss stimulus measures on Monday

New economic stimulus measures will include short-term investment initiatives, spanning 4-5 months, designed to sustain economic growth of at least 2% this year, says finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.

1 min

ASIAN MARKETS COOL AFTER RALLY FED BY TRADE TRUCE

RECAP: Asian markets limped into the weekend as investors consolidated gains after a week-long rally spurred by a truce in the China-US trade war.

4 mins

Would more debt fix the economy?

As the cabinet considers an emergency loan decree to shore up the economy, specific guidelines must be followed

5 mins

How a US-owned factory in China fights to survive Trump's tariffs

For a US-owned toy factory in China, tariffs are an existential threat, and its CEO says any import duty over 50% would make survival difficult, writes Nicholas P. Brown from New York

6 mins

Are China solar panels hiding a secret?

Rogue communication devices found that 'could be used to wreak havoc on grid'

5 mins

Tourism boosts Japan's 'Donki'

Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colourful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home.

3 mins

KGM Musso review

The artist formerly known as Ssangyong brings toughness, capability and value together in one flatbed package, writes Matt Saunders

6 mins

AM Rina revealed as 5.0-litre V8, manual tribute to the 1960s

Italian company’s new carbonfibre-bodied speedster harks back to nation’s classic racers, writes Charlie Martin

1 min

SEC looks into Coinbase user numbers

Crypto company claimed to have more than 100 million users in securities filings

4 mins

Japanese economy shrinks first time in year

Japan’s economy shrank for the first time in a year and at a faster pace than expected, data for the March quarter showed yesterday, underscoring the fragile nature of its recovery now under threat from US President Donald Trump's trade policies.

3 mins

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Bangkok Post Newspaper Description:

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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