Bangkok Post - March 27, 2025

In this issue

March 27, 2025

TV show spurs tourism

Koh Samui, the filming location of the popular TV series The White Lotus, has reported a 65% surge in hotel bookings, making it a leading destination for Songkran holidaymakers, says the government.

1 min

TV show spurs tourism

Koh Samui, the filming location of the popular TV series The White Lotus, has reported a 65% surge in hotel bookings, making it a leading destination for Songkran holidaymakers, says the government.

1 min

Political experts split on censure outcome

Political analysts yesterday offered mixed assessments on the two-day censure debate in which Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was the sole target.

2 mins

Eight nabbed in VGH fraud case

Eight suspects, including a retired colonel and a doctor at the Veterans General Hospital (VGH), were arrested yesterday for alleged medication embezzlement with damages of up to 60 million baht.

1 min

PM rules out cabinet reshuffle

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has confirmed a cabinet reshuffle is not on the cards after she sailed through a no-confidence motion, securing overwhelming support from lawmakers in parliament yesterday.

2 mins

First phase of M8 work set to begin in 2027

The first phase of the Motorway 8 (M8) project connecting Nakhon Pathom to Ratchaburi will begin in 2027, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said yesterday.

1 min

Cyber law revamp nears finish

'Minor issue' concerning SEC

1 min

LPG tanker runs aground

A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker ran aground at Koh Lan in Chon Buri. No injuries, gas leaks, or oil spills were reported.

1 min

Minimum wage by May 1: Phiphat

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn pledges a 400-baht wage increase by May 1, along with support measures for small and medium-sized (SME) businesses.

1 min

Task force to probe SSF investment record

Board kept in the dark on specific projects

1 min

Phuket gets two open-top EV buses

Phuket will launch two 18-seat open-top EV buses to promote tourism.

1 min

Activist demands focus on janitor probe

The well-known Sai Mai Tong Rod (Sai Mai Must Survive) webpage is asking authorities to keep a close watch on the investigation in which a school janitor has been accused of sexually abusing young girls, including a kindergartener, in Khon Kaen.

1 min

BJT sees 2nd MP hit with 10-year ban

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Mukdawan Luengsinil, the Bhumjaithai Party's (BJT) MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat, cannot contest or vote in an election for the next decade as punishment for violating the election law.

1 min

'Worst' fires kill at least 19

About 27,000 forced to leave their homes

2 mins

Opposition chief wins appeal

A South Korean appeals court yesterday reversed a lower court's ruling and found main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung not guilty of violating the election law, removing a barrier that could have blocked him from running for president.

1 min

YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume

A Pakistani YouTube star has been charged with blasphemy after launching a perfume named after the very law he has fallen foul of, police said on Tuesday.

1 min

Yunus heads to China for first state visit

Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus flew to Beijing yesterday for his first state visit as frosty relations with neighbouring India spur his caretaker administration to court new friends.

1 min

Glacier area shrinks by 26% over six decades

China's glacier area has shrunk by 26% since 1960 due to rapid global warming, with at least 7,000 small glaciers disappearing completely and glacial retreat intensifying in recent years, official data released in March showed.

1 min

Govt sentences publisher to three years in prison

China said yesterday it had sentenced a publisher to three years in prison for \"inciting secession\"

1 min

Anti-gay law 'could cost govt $7.8n per year'

A proposed anti-gay law in Kenya could cost the country up to $7.8 billion (about 260 billion baht) per year, a charity said Wednesday in a report on the economic impact of discrimination in East Africa.

1 min

Thousands arrested as protesters defy crackdown

Almost 1,500 people have been detained as tens of thousands continued protests in the Turkish capital on Tuesday after the arrest of the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

1 min

Army chief moved to sports post

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday retired and reassigned to the head of the country's army to the sports ministry, the presidency said.

1 min

Anti-Hamas slogans chanted at protest in Gaza

Hundreds of Palestinians shouted anti-Hamas slogans at a protest in northern Gaza on Tuesday calling for an end to the war with Israel, witnesses said.

1 min

Shocking' levels of mass bleaching drain life from reef off west coast

Alarming' levels of coral bleaching have been recorded off Australia's western coast, scientists said yesterday, turning huge chunks of a celebrated reef system a sickly dull white.

1 min

Syria blasts Israeli bombardment

Allies slam strike near Golan Heights

2 mins

Trump backs aide over chat leak

Insists no classified material was shared

2 mins

Judge halts effort to detain student over Gaza rally

A judge ordered US authorities on Tuesday to cease efforts to detain and deport a New York college student, as President Donald Trump presses his campaign against pupils linked to pro-Palestinian protests.

1 min

Nine dead in airstrikes on cartel stronghold

Nine members of Colombia’s biggest drug cartel were killed in government airstrikes, President Gustavo Petro, who is battling the worst violence in the country in a decade, said Tuesday.

1 min

Reeves to detail spending cuts

Finance minister Rachel Reeves was set to detail her plans on Tuesday for spending cuts as her Spring Statement yesterday to address the country’s ailing public finances.

1 min

'Ranch of horror' was cartel training site, minister says

Mexico's security minister has said on Tuesday there was evidence a so-called \"extermination\" strewn with human remains was an \"extermination camp\" but rather it was a cartel training site where those who resisted recruitment were killed.

1 min

New order to require proof of citizenship for elections

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered tightening controls on federal elections, including requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote, as the Republican continues to attack a system he insists remains tilted against him.

1 min

More charter change delay

A joint parliamentary decision to seek a legal ruling on whether politicians can form a charter drafting panel to make wholesale amendments without the need for a referendum means the process returns to square one.

2 mins

Renewables, natural gas surge

There is something positive for every type of energy in the International Energy Agency’s latest global review, but the loudest cheers will be from renewables and natural gas.

2 mins

Keep Muay Thai’s roots alive

For decades, most people have known Thai boxing, or Muay Thai, through televised matches, whereas the sport has an ancient legacy of diverse traditions that are obscured in the familiar ring fights.

4 mins

'No other land' repression by Israel writ large

Earlier this month, Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian filmmaker, won an Oscar for best documentary feature for No Other Land, an exploration of repression in the West Bank.

2 mins

Tariff man doubles down on his passion

US President Donald Trump has long been a staunch advocate of import tariffs, proudly calling himself “Tariff Man” and asserting that tariff is “the most beautiful word in the dictionary.”

3 mins

Organiser arrange extra security for harassed ace

World No.2 Iga Swiatek is receiving additional security at the Miami Open after she was harassed by a spectator during her practice.

1 min

Heat scorch Warriors on Butler's return to Miami

The Miami Heat thrashed the Golden State Warriors 112-86 on Tuesday, handing Jimmy Butler a stinging loss in his first game against his old club since his acrimonious exit.

2 mins

Djokovic impresses Serena and Del Potro

Novak Djokovic won 12 of the last 14 games of his match against Lorenzo Musetti to crush the Italian 6-3, 6-3 and move into the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in his best performance since the Australian Open.

2 mins

NY Giants to sign free agent QB Wilson

The New York Giants and NFL free agent quarterback Russell Wilson have agreed terms on a one-year deal worth up to US$2.1 million, including $1.5 million guaranteed, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

1 min

Fancied Dodgers eye repeat

New MLB season gets underway today

3 mins

Gout can be in the history books, says Olympic champion Tebogo

Australian schoolboy sprinter Gout Gout can become one of the top track athletes in history but should be not be rushed into competing with \"hungry\" senior rivals, Olympic 200 metres champion Letsile Tebogo said yesterday.

2 mins

Swab test to determine female gender

World Athletics said on Tuesday it had approved the introduction of the swab test to determine if an athlete is biologically female.

2 mins

Taremi helps Iran secure World Cup spot

Iran confirmed their qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday as Mehdi Taremi scored a second-half double to earn his side a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan in Tehran's Azadi Stadium in Group A of Asian preliminaries.

2 mins

Argentina too hot for Brazil

Hosts qualify in style, Ecuador are on track

2 mins

Brooks saves Wales with late equaliser

Wales handed North Macedonia an added-time present but then clawed back a scrappy equaliser as time expired to draw 1-1 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

2 mins

War Elephants limp to victory

Ishii admits attack must improve soor on

2 mins

Real Madrid closing in on Trent move

Trent Alexander-Arnold is closing in on a move to Real Madrid when his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season, according to reports on Tuesday.

1 min

Patama demands a polls rule shake-up

Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, has urged the new president of the National Olympic Committee of Thai land (NOCT), Pimol Srivikorn, to amend the organisation's charter, including the election procedure, to align with the IOC's charter to ensure governance is based on integrity and international standards.

1 min

Thailand races towards 2028 F1 dream

Thailand’s dreams of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix could soon become a reality, with plans to stage a race in Bangkok’s Chatchuchak area by 2028.

1 min

Salby strikes again, wins Tour of Thailand third stage

Danish rider Alexander Salby, who claimed the second stage victory, rode it in a row by winning the third stage of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand 2025 in Sa Kaeo yesterday.

1 min

Cabinet to consider casino bill today

Greater powers for SEC mulled

1 min

Higher incomes record more debt

Government employees, farmers and private sector employees are the most indebted, primarily because of home and car purchases, according to a 2024 survey conducted by the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO).

1 min

Local deposits forecast to expand by 1-3%

The deposits of Thais are expected to grow by 1-3% in 2025 year-on-year, in line with the slow growth of the Thai economy amid uncertainties both domestically and internationally, according to the Deposit Protection Agency (DPA).

1 min

SEC eager to develop carbon credit trade

Tokens to be allowed on exchanges

2 mins

Agency keen to limit living expenses

The Commerce Ministry is monitoring product prices and rolling out initiatives to help minimise living expenses for Thais.

1 min

Small firms get B60bn funding for sustainability

Banks have provided financing worth up to 60 billion baht to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support their transition to sustainability, according to the Bank of Thailand.

2 mins

Residential developers fine-tune strategy

Residential supply and demand in Chon Buri has shifted towards the rental market due to weakened purchasing power and high mortgage rejection rates among prospective local homebuyers, while foreign demand remains strong, according to property executives.

2 mins

Auto sector urged to brace for impact of US tariffs

The local automotive industry must prepare for the impact of US recipr-ocal tariff rates for specific industries starting next month, which could pile on further pres-sure on the sector, according to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research).

1 min

TCP Group homes in on youth market

The Thai energy drinks market is expected to grow this year, and TCP Group, the manufacturer and distributor of Red Bull, Beating Daesang, and Ready, aims to drive growth of its premium product segment by targeting the younger generation.

1 min

Thai AirAsia eyeing new growth markets

Thai AirAsia is asking the government to unlock travel with the sluggish Chinese market by launching a stimulus campaign.

2 mins

Amata busy preparing new industrial estate in Laos

Firm plans to spend B1bn in first phase

1 min

AIS, True eye 3500MHz band at auction

Spectrum may pave way for 6G service

3 mins

MUIC touts AI assistant for students

Mahidol University International College (MUIC) has launched the artificial intelligence (AI) platform “AI Copier” as a personal assistant for students.

2 mins

Border, transit trade increases 10.9% in first 2 months

The value of border trade and transit trade in the first two months this year reached nearly 300 billion baht, expanding by 10.9% year-on-year.

1 min

Pundits suggest country embrace artificial intelligence

Thailand must embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to drive economic growth, improve the quality of education and strengthen its core industrial sectors, according to an academic and tech pioneers.

3 mins

TikTok portrays itself as force for good

The popular video app, which could be banned in the United States next month, is portraying itself as a saviour of Americans and a champion of small businesses in a new campaign, writes Sapna Maheshwari from New York.

4 mins

AI start-up sees good ‘vibes’ from Pentagon

Anduril President Christian Brose said the AI-powered defence start-up, whose thunder left Lockheed over his early support of Donald Trump, has good “vibes” about the Trump administration’s shakeup of defence and willingness to do things differently.

2 mins

China floods the world with AI after DeepSeek success

DeepSeek did more than just show the AI industry you don't have to spend billions to build artificial intelligence.

3 mins

Toyota was high on Trump. Then came his tariff threats

Japanese automakers, initially optimistic about some of President Trump’s policies, are reckoning with potentially devastating US taxes on foreign-made cars, writes River Akira Davis from Tokyo

5 mins

Filipinos find a path out of poverty as virtual assistants

Nathalie Mago's workday begins after she's tucked her three daughters into bed and flicked off the lights in their house north of the Philippine capital, Manila.

3 mins

'Digital euro' sparks rumours

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde's recent remarks on a \"digital euro\" prompted a fresh wave of misinformation online, highlighting an uphill battle ahead to convince the public of the project's merits.

3 mins

Neglect hits Hungary railway

When Hungarian retiree Gyula Botos travels in the capital Budapest on the express train to Gyal, he tries to avoid the old diesel passenger trains, for fear of arriving very late.

3 mins

Europe investors say clock is ticking for AI

They expect returns to justify valuations

3 mins

US adds export restrictions to more Chinese firms

The Trump administration on Tuesday added 80 companies and organisations to a list of companies that are barred from buying American technology and other exports because of national security concerns.

3 mins

US consumer confidence tumbles to 12-year low

Americans are increasingly anxious about their jobs and finances as the Trump administration's trade policies and government cutbacks stoke concern about the economy.

2 mins

UK inflation boosts rate cut hopes

UK inflation unexpectedly cooled in February, strengthening the case for the Bank of England to cut interest rates again in May and providing a boost for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves ahead of a key economic statement yesterday.

1 min

How secure is Signal app, anyway?

App is at centre of US intelligence breach

3 mins

36 HOURS IN SINGAPORE

Do yourself a favour and stopover in the Lion City

6 mins

Impact Arena presents ultimate Thai street food experience

Myriad street food restaurants will be serving their delicious dishes on the same ground at \"Impact x Shell Chuan Chim 3\", which will kick off tomorrow and run daily from 3pm to midnight until April 6, at the front yard of Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.

1 min

Spider-Man, Harry Potter producers hired for new 007 film

The producers behind the Spider-Man and Harry Potter film franchises will oversee the next James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios announced on Tuesday.

1 min

UK judge slams Paddington Bear statue vandals

Two vandals who broke a statue of Paddington Bear in half were the \"antithesis\" of everything the affable character from British storybooks stands for, a UK judge sentencing the pair said on Tuesday.

1 min

The art of the ephemeral

Bangkok Kunsthalle presents “Painting as Event: Materiality and Light in the Practice of Xie Fan,” an exhibition that engages artist Xie Fan’s painting practice with performative and communal elements. It will take place from Saturday until March 31.

1 min

K-pop group TXT energised and excited for European tour debut

Popular K-pop group Tomorrow X Together, also known as TXT, is making its European tour debut feeling energised and more connected than two months away from the spotlight, its members said.

1 min

Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives unveils special launch deals

Centara Hotels & Resorts is celebrating the upcoming launch of Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives with an exclusive introductory offer. Opening in April 2025, guests are invited to experience this tranquil island retreat with special privileges and premium benefits, including Stay 4, Pay 3 and Stay 7, Pay 5 packages, upgrades and more for a limited time only.

1 min

STRANGE DAYS

HOW DID COVID CHANGE TRAVEL? YOU HAD A LOT TO SAY

6 mins

Is Hollywood too woke?

Sasha Stone has recast herself as a voice against what she perceives as the industry's liberal status quo

5 mins

WATER COOLER COOL

When the office is an influencer's best accessory

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.

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