Latest Bangkok News

Roof collapses at school in Thailand, killing 7 sheltering from rain

May. 23, 2023 00:44 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Seven people, including four children, died Monday when strong winds from a rainstorm caused a metal roof on a school’s activity center to collapse in northern Thailand, officials said Tuesday. The latest casualty was a 6-year-old boy who died late Monday night in...

Myanmar says official death toll from Cyclone Mocha at least 145, says aid is being provided

May. 19, 2023 05:23 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — The official death toll from the powerful cyclone that struck Myanmar has burgeoned to at least 145, including 117 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, state television reported Friday. It said the figure applied to the western state of Rakhine, where Cyclone...

Thai police arrest 2nd teenager for defaming monarchy amid renewed debate over rigorous law

May. 17, 2023 07:43 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Authorities in Thailand have charged a 16-year-old girl with defaming the monarchy for two messages she allegedly posted on Facebook two years ago, adding to an increasingly active debate over whether the law allowing her arrest should be reformed. Police charged the...

Thailand's opposition wins big election victory, challenging army-backed conservative establishment

May. 14, 2023 18:07 PM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s main opposition parties easily bested other contenders with virtually all the votes counted from Sunday’s general election, fulfilling many voters’ hopes that the balloting would serve as a pivotal chance for change nine years after incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth...

7 Buddhist monks accused of embezzling more than $5.3 million donated to temple in Thailand

May. 11, 2023 20:39 PM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Seven Buddhist monks are among nine suspects who are being held in pretrial detention after being arrested for allegedly embezzling assets worth about 300 million baht ($8.9 million) from donations received by a temple in Thailand’s northeast, authorities said Thursday. ...

Baby delivered, Thai PM candidate set to resume campaigning

May. 03, 2023 20:34 PM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — A popular candidate for prime minister of Thailand said Wednesday she’s eager to get back on the campaign trail, just two days after giving birth. Speaking at a news conference at the hospital in Bangkok where she gave birth, Paetongtarn Shinawatra said her new...

Thai party hopes protesters will become pro-reform voters

Apr. 27, 2023 00:17 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Three years ago, tens of thousands of mostly young people in Thailand took to the streets in heated demonstrations seeking democratic reforms. Now, with a general election coming in three weeks, leaders of the country’s progressive movement are hoping to channel the same radical...

Thai craft beer fancier fined for Facebook photo, review

Apr. 24, 2023 09:51 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Thailand handed a craft beer enthusiast a 150,000 baht ($4,360) fine and a suspended six-month prison sentence for violating a law on advertising alcoholic beverages by posting a photo of a beer with his evaluation of it on Facebook. Artid Sivahansaphan...

Heat wave in Thailand prompts warning to stay indoors

Apr. 22, 2023 11:33 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Extreme heat has sent temperatures soaring in Thailand as authorities warned people to stay indoors. The Meteorological Department’s forecast on Saturday said the highest temperature in the next 24 hours could reach 43 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) in...

Thai police say Chinese church members to be deported soon

Apr. 05, 2023 09:12 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — More than 60 self-exiled members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained in Thailand after receiving U.N. refugee status will be deported by next week, probably to a third country, officials said Wednesday. Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said...