Close statute legal loophole
Close statute legal loopholeThe decision by officials to drop all legal charges against Phra Dhammajayo, the former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, raises alarm bells about the exploitation of the statute of limitations in the justice system. Many legal experts have called for a legal amendment to prevent the statute of limitations from running when suspects flee or refuse to appear. In many countries, including the US, the statute of limitations is paused when suspects intentionally flee. The government and lawmakers must address this legal abuse right away, before the next VIP suspect exploits it. Without a legal amendment or a quick arrest, this wealthy suspect will soon be able to walk free.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 08:58 UTC
Microsoft plans US$1 billion investment in Thailand
Microsoft plans US$1 billion investment in ThailandMicrosoft logo. (Photo: Pawat Laupaisarntaksin)Microsoft plans to invest US$1 billion in Thailand over the next two years in cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, the Thai government said in a statement. The investment includes developing digital skills of the Thai workforce, the statement said. Information technology (IT) spending in Thailand is expected to reach almost 1.1 trillion baht in 2026, up 8.36% year-on-year, thanks to AI infrastructure investment, according to business tech and insight firm Gartner's forecast. Gartner forecasts that spending on data centre systems in Thailand by enterprises and service providers will record the largest growth, increasing 27.9% to 70.6 billion baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 08:39 UTC
Think big: Photographer's return to large format
Taweesak Kaewjulsri, a former film‑industry editor turned large‑format photographer, has devoted himself to Linhof 4x5 work that seeks perspectives beyond human sight. He says the painstaking, hands‑on process — from mastering camera movements to developing his own film — is both a discipline and the core of his creative identity.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 08:13 UTC
'A throne fit for a king': DC golden toilet sculpture mocks Trump
A large throne with a golden toilet has been placed on the iconic National Mall in Washington in a critique of U.S. President Donald Trump's renovations to the White House. Styled to look like marble and gold, the throne features a toilet instead of a seat and a plaque that reads "A Throne Fit for a King."
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 08:13 UTC
Pricier fuel hits Tokyo cherry blossom river cruises
Pricier fuel hits Tokyo cherry blossom river cruises A cruise boat sails past blooming cherry blossoms along the Meguro River in Tokyo on Monday. The pink and white flowers that blossom in spring on cherry trees across Japan are a major draw for locals and tourists - and big business for companies such as cruise operator Tokyo Waterways. This year, though, Tokyo Waterways CEO Kazuyoshi Harada is not so upbeat because the Middle East conflict has pushed up fuel prices just as his demand is rising. "Since fuel consumption for us peaks during the busy cherry blossom season, the price hikes have been particularly hard on us," he said. Most customers booked their hanami-season cruises before the crisis, so raising ticket prices from 5,000 yen (1,000 baht) was not an option, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 08:03 UTC
Korean Air shifting to emergency mode as fuel prices soar
Korean Air shifting to emergency mode as fuel prices soarPeople look at Korean Air aircraft at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters)SEOUL - Korean Air will enter emergency management mode from April as rising oil prices driven by the war in the Middle East weigh on costs, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. The airline said in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters that if high oil prices persist, it expects significant disruption to its annual business targets, and will shift to an emergency operating system from April. The memo added that the airline plans to implement phased response measures based on oil price levels, and step up company-wide cost efficiency to offset surging fuel costs.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 07:38 UTC
EV loan demand set to rise amid spiking oil prices
EV loan demand set to rise amid spiking oil pricesA consumer explores electric scooters and motorcycles on sale at a Samut Prakan outlet, looking for an affordable alternative amid rising fuel costs. Banks expect stronger growth for electric vehicle (EV) loans this year, driven by improving demand in the auto segment amid rising oil prices. During the first two months of this year, EV loan approvals represented 30% of total new car loan bookings, said bank president Thakorn Piyapan. "We expect EV loan growth of 3-4% in terms of new loan bookings this year, up from our earlier target of 1%. The bank is considering adjusting its auto loan strategies to align with demand in the EV segment," said Mr Kampol.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 07:26 UTC
Paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse stolen from Italian museum
Three paintings by French masters Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse, reportedly worth an estimated $10 million in total, have been stolen from a museum in northern Italy in a heist that took less than three minutes.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 07:21 UTC
New Anutin cabinet gets royal approval
New Anutin cabinet gets royal approvalBhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, right, greets Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat after he received the royal command appointing him Thailand's 32nd prime minister, before the formation of his cabinet, at Bhumjaithai headquarters in Bangkok on March 20, 2026. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)The Royal Gazette announced on Tuesday morning His Majesty the King's appointment of the members of the new cabinet of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Thirteen cabinet ministers retain their positions from the previous Anutin administration and 14 others are brand-new ministers. After receiving royal approval for his cabinet, Prime Minister Anutin said swearing-in was tentatively set for next Monday. According to the announcement:Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is deputy prime minister and transport minister.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 07:09 UTC
The new oil shock
Even though Thailand can transport oil through the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices are soaring. (Photo: Athit Perawongmetha)This is not the first global oil crisis -- the 1973 oil embargo crisis was the first. Just five months after that crisis, oil prices quadrupled and never returned to previous levels. Given the current Middle East crisis, it seems that oil prices are likely to repeat the same pattern. India will seek crude oil sources from Russia to reduce its dependence on the Middle East.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 07:06 UTC
Missing Thai crew 'not found' in Iran-hit vessel
(Photo via Royal Thai Navy)A search for three crew members reported missing after a Thai-flagged cargo vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month failed to locate them, according to the ship’s owner. Mayuree Naree, owned by Bangkok-based Precious Shipping Plc, was struck on March 11 by Iranian projectiles while transiting the strategic waterway in ballast. Of the 23 crew members on board, 20 were rescued by the Omani navy after abandoning the vessel in a lifeboat and returned to Thailand on March 16. Executives of Precious Shipping Plc welcome the Thai crew members at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province on March 16, 2026. The families of the crew members have been informed, Hashim said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 06:46 UTC
Chiang Mai again has world's most polluted air
Chiang Mai again has world's most polluted airA helicopter of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department collects water from a reservoir to dump on a forest fire in Sri Lanna National Park in Mae Tang district in Chiang Mai province on Monday. (Photo: Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Operation Centre Region 3)Chiang Mai retained its position as the city with the world's most polluted air on Tuesday, with the northern tourist hub suffering under extreme smog. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the northern city was measured at 239, with the level of PM2.5 pollutants at 163.5 microgrammes per cubic metre, at 10am. The number of hot spots across Chiang Mai province also rose, to 303 locations from 89 on Monday, according to Gisda satellite images. The only good news from Chiang Mai was that dust pollution was expected to ease later in the day and continue to at least Thursday, according to the forecast of the weather tracking website.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 06:38 UTC
Gulf states tell US ending the war is not enough
Gulf states tell US ending the war is not enoughA photo dated Sept 12, 2024 shows Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones on display at a military parade in Tehran, Iran. But the big question confronting Gulf policymakers is no longer how the Iran war ends, but what kind of regional order follows, the four Gulf sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The Gulf states say that possibility must now be removed if the region is to be stable. But UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said Iran's attacks on Gulf states had had "profound geopolitical repercussions", cementing Tehran as the central threat shaping Gulf strategic thinking. - Security guarantees -Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Centre, said the Gulf states' message to Washington was no longer implicit but explicit -- that any agreement with Iran must directly address and guarantee the security of the Gulf states."
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 06:38 UTC
Hindu devotional clubbing sways India's youth
NEW DELHI — In India's capital, Hindu "bhajan clubbing" is electrifying nightlife, with revellers dancing to traditional devotional songs reimagined through guitars and pounding drumbeats, transforming public venues into spiritual hangouts. Bhajans -- devotional songs with ancient roots in Hinduism -- have long been used as a spiritual bridge between the individual and the divine. But "bhajan clubbing" represents a modern twist that is gaining traction in New Delhi, which hosted at least five major devotional concerts in March alone, drawing tens of thousands. 'Spirituality, not spirits'The phenomenon reflects a broader revival of public expressions of Hindu identity in India, alongside the growing political and cultural influence of Hindu populist narratives. "This kind of initiative in India, which uses devotional music to teach and connect with the next generation, is very good."
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 06:37 UTC
Iran fires missiles across Middle East as Trump threatens oil hub
Iran fires missiles across Middle East as Trump threatens oil hubIran has kept up missile attacks against Israel and nations across the GulfTEHRAN - Iran fired missiles across the Middle East on Tuesday as its capital was hit by fresh explosions, after US President Donald Trump threatened the country's key oil export hub, power stations and desalination plants. Iran, meanwhile, fired a new salvo of missiles at Gulf nations it accuses of serving as a launchpad for US strikes. In Saudi Arabia, authorities said they intercepted eight ballistic missiles, hours after Iran's top diplomat called on Riyadh to "eject US forces". Trump has claimed to be in direct contact with senior Iranian figures whom he has not identified publicly. Market experts warned that any US ground operation or wider Iranian retaliation could send oil prices to levels not seen since the 2008 commodity boom.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2026 06:05 UTC