☀️ Good morning! A report reveals the Myanmar junta’s purchase of a 98-million-baht “ultra-luxe” Bangkok property. Two wastelands in Bang Sue are turning into public parks. Newly opened Golden Place highlights Tha Tian’s blend of heritage and modern life.

That’s the number of residents at Baan Im Jai, a Bangkok homeless shelter, who have secured jobs — marking the first success of the city’s new rehabilitation to integration model.

Why it matters: City Hall is rebranding the former Maen Sri Waterworks from a passive homeless shelter into a vocational hub designed to break the cycle of street living through economic independence. It opened in February.

State of play: Officials help restore lost ID cards so residents can open bank accounts and enter the workforce. They also provide tailored skills training.

Big picture: By matching participants with private-sector roles like security guards and service staff, the city aims to provide the stable income needed for them to transition into permanent, independent housing.

Bangkok is finishing a \waste-to-energy plant in On Nut to turn its mounting trash problem into clean power. The facility has begun receiving waste for initial system testing.

Why it matters: The city produces 8,700 tons of trash daily. The plant, first proposed in the early 2000s, will help reduce traditional dumping from 60-70% to 20%

By the numbers: The plant can incinerate 1,000 tons of solid waste daily, and it will generate 30 megawatts of electricity for the grid. It joins two other power plants in Nong Khaem and Sai Mai, which can incinerate 2,500 tons of daily trash combined.

State of play: A private company covered construction costs under a build-operate-transfer model. It earns revenue by collecting city waste disposal fees and selling the electricity.

Between the lines: The On Nut complex has a toxic track record. Lax city oversight on private contractors has left more than 7,600 nearby residents and Sirindhorn Hospital patients choking on severe landfill odors and air pollution for years.

The upgrade: The contractor says the plant is a fully enclosed system featuring “e-nose” sensors to actively monitor air quality and prevent odor leaks.

Following a 6-baht price hike last Wednesday, fuel shortages at Bangkok gas stations have sharply declined, but the sustained higher costs will increase the daily cost of living.

Zooming in: Bangkok has more than 1,000 gas stations. Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said Friday only about 180 gas stations are currently experiencing shortages, down significantly from the 30% that ran dry at the beginning of the crisis.

What they’re saying: Motorcycle drivers in Asok, Ratchada and Huai Khwang told The Reporters the cost to fill their tanks jumped from 100 to 150 baht overnight.

Between the lines: Higher transportation costs are already trickling down. Prices for electricity, meat, plastic packaging and boat services are rising.

What’s next: For Bangkok, city officials have secured a 30-day diesel reserve specifically to keep its fleet of garbage trucks, ambulances and fire trucks running.

A year after a deadly earthquake, city officials are touting the new BMA Command Center as a 24/7 digital safety net monitoring everything from air pollution to natural disasters.

Why it matters: The upgraded system and expanded manpower signal a shift from reactive scrambling to proactive crisis management.

What’s new: The center links about 65,000 CCTV cameras to a unified AI dashboard. By April, all Bangkok-run hospitals will have seismic sensors. The BKK Risk Map is also being upgraded to pinpoint vulnerable residents, like bedridden patients, for a precise response.

The quote: “The best way to commemorate the event is to correct what we think we can do better today,” said Deputy Gov. Thavida Kamolvej

Flashback: An earthquake in Myanmar sent tremors through Bangkok last year, causing the under-construction, 33-story State Audit Office building to collapse. At leaste 95 died. Investigations exposed substandard construction.

Bangkok’s bid to host World Pride 2030 includes plans for an LGBTQ museum, expanded diversity initiatives, inclusive public school curriculums and economic stimulants.

Why it matters: Despite the marriage equality law and the societal acceptance of the LGBTQ community in Bangkok, officials and advocates said there is more to do to embed inclusivity into the culture and economy.

The quote: “We think we’re progressive, but in reality, we’re not that far ahead,” said Deputy Gov. Sanon Wangsrangboon, pointing to school and civil service rules that some workers feel aren’t “equal enough.”

Zooming in: Sanon said the city is eyeing an LGBTQ museum to preserve community history. It also plans to expand DEI initiatives into the private sector and actively monitor “rainbow washing” to ensure corporate support is genuine.

What’s next: Bangkok Pride 2026 runs May 28-June 1 under the theme of “Patch the World with Pride.” Organizers expect more than 500,000 attendees this year. A major highlight includes a 300-meter-long rainbow flag paving Silom Road.

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