Friday 20 March 2026

Good morning Bangkok. It's Friday and we're heading into the weekend at 28-36°C (82-97°F) with partly cloudy skies. The SET closed at 1,440.85 yesterday, up 6.97. Gold at ฿76,300-76,500 per baht weight. Thailand officially has a (re)confirmed prime minister. Central Cee plays tonight. And someone tried to take a selfie with a hippo. Happy Friday.

Thailand's most famous pygmy hippo is back in the news, and not for being adorable. A Thai man was arrested after climbing into Moo Deng's enclosure at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri on Tuesday evening. CCTV footage (now viral, obviously) shows a man in a black beanie, sunglasses, green tank top, and brown shorts approaching Moo Deng and her mother Jona while holding a tablet to film them. He slipped in around 5 PM while keepers were busy with cleaning duties. He was inside the pen for about a minute before staff noticed and removed him. Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy told AP the man had visited with his grandnephew and "just wanted a closer look." Moo Deng's keeper, Autthapol "Benz" Nundee, posted on Facebook: "Just because I can get inside the pool does not mean everyone can do the same. Hippopotami can be aggressive to people they are not familiar with." Both Moo Deng and Jona were unharmed but "slightly startled." The man has been arrested and released on bail. Under Thai law, trespassing carries up to one year in jail and a ฿20,000 fine.

Bottom line: Moo Deng has become a global social media star since 2024, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the zoo. That fame apparently convinced one man that the normal rules of "don't jump into a hippo enclosure" didn't apply to him. Pygmy hippos are endangered and can still bite hard enough to cause serious injury. If you want a selfie with Moo Deng, use the zoom lens like everyone else.

It's official. Anutin Charnvirakul was re-elected Thailand's prime minister yesterday in a parliamentary vote, winning 293 votes against 119 for People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, with 86 abstentions. He becomes the first Thai PM to be voted back into office in 20 years. Anutin's Bhumjaithai-led coalition with Pheu Thai and several smaller parties controls 292 of the 499 current seats. He pledged to get to work immediately on forming a cabinet and addressing the fuel crisis, telling opposition lawmakers: "Your voices are equally heard. I'm ready to accept suggestions." Anutin, 59, is a construction magnate who first became PM in September 2025 after a court removed his predecessor Paetongtarn Shinawatra. He dissolved parliament in December 2025 after a no-confidence motion attempt, and Bhumjaithai then won the February 2026 election decisively. Political scientist Napon Jatusripitak of ISEAS Singapore noted this could bring rare stability, as institutional powers appear aligned with the coalition for the first time in a long while. He still awaits formal endorsement by King Vajiralongkorn. Cabinet formation is next.

Bottom line: What matters for your daily life: Anutin inherits a fuel crisis (diesel up, 151 stations closed), a tourism slowdown (European arrivals down 14%), household debt near record highs, and a US trade probe hanging over the economy. The fuel crisis is his first test, and he'll need to move fast. For expats specifically, watch for any changes to visa policy, cost-of-living measures, and whether the new cabinet prioritizes tourism recovery or energy security. Probably both, out of necessity.

A Japanese gastrobar that's quietly become one of Thonglor's best new openings. Owners Vee and Am (who previously ran a chef's table) are on a mission to make sake less intimidating and more fun. Instead of the usual serious, reverent sake bar setup, they've built a warm mid-century space with elegant Japanese decor where you can explore easy-drinking sake varieties in beautifully designed bottles that look as good on your table as they taste. The food program bridges Japanese culinary tradition with modern gastropub flair: every nibble is designed to pair with the light, fruity, or dry notes of their sake selection. Think chef's table quality at gastrobar prices. Named one of Friday Bangkok's 10 Best Bars of 2025. With a 4.9 on google but with only 19 reviews, check it and show them some love.

TIP: This is one of those places that rewards curiosity. If you've never really understood sake beyond "warm or cold?", let Vee and Am guide you through their collection. It's an education disguised as a very good night out. Great for date night or a small group. Thonglor Soi 13 is stacked with good spots, so you can easily make a crawl of it.

Address: 261/3 Soi Thong Lo 13, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Instagram: @tipplesbkk

20 March 1995: The Tokyo subway sarin attack. Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released deadly nerve gas on five subway lines during rush hour, killing 14 and injuring thousands. It remains one of the most shocking acts of domestic terrorism in history and forever changed how governments approach chemical weapon threats in civilian spaces. Thirty-one years later, Bangkok's BTS still doesn't have platform screen doors on most stations, but at least nobody's tried to weaponize the air conditioning.

See you tomorrow morning.

— Devon

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