Ex-midwife becomes first female Archbishop of Canterbury
Ex-midwife becomes first female Archbishop of CanterburyThe new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, the first woman to lead the centuries-old Anglican Church, is enthroned. The British monarch is its supreme governor, while the Archbishop of Canterbury is seen as the spiritual leader of Anglicans worldwide. Mullally, who is married with two children, becomes the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the first having been appointed in the late sixth century. Some churches around the Anglican world have long permitted women bishops, with the first appointed in the United States in 1989. Others, however, remain opposed such as the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Laurent Mbanda.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 14:06 UTC
List of price-controlled goods expanded
Nantapong Chiralerspong, director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office and ministry spokesman, said on Wednesday that authorities had stepped up nationwide monitoring of prices and consumer conditions. Fourteen violations were recorded in nine provinces under the Price of Goods and Services Act, largely involving failure to display price labels. Investigations found 14 cases of missing price tags, three instances of incorrect pricing and one of unclear labelling. However, some increases have been observed in pork, chicken and eggs, reflecting higher production and transport costs. A complementary “Thai Help Thai” scheme will link large and small enterprises to help stabilise prices of essential goods through negotiated oversight.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 14:03 UTC
Oil fund defends sudden steep price hikes
(Photo: Surachai Piragsa)The Oil Fuel Fund Office has defended the sharp six‑baht rise in fuel prices across Thailand, saying the increase was driven by soaring global oil prices and the need to maintain the fund’s financial stability. The increases followed a decision by the executive committee of the Oil Fuel Fund to cut subsidies to stabilise the fund’s finances. “We would like to assure the public that the Oil Fuel Fund is committed to maintaining appropriate domestic retail price stability,” he said. Whether the oil fund can cushion future volatility will hinge on its liquidity. “This round of reduced subsidies will help, but we cannot predict how high global prices may climb,” he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 13:11 UTC
Baht may fall further on oil price exposure
A historic surge in oil prices is exposing the fragility of import-dependent Thailand, compounding pressure on an already weakening currency and raising the risk of capital flight, analysts say. The baht has dropped more than 5% this month, the worst performance among Asian peers. After a strong performance late last year, the baht has come under pressure from a more than 40% surge in oil prices in March, with Thailand especially at risk due to its heavy reliance on imported crude. The oil price shock may drag on the nation’s finances and growth, said Jeffrey Zhang, a strategist at Credit Agricole, who sees the currency at 33 per dollar by year-end. Still, there are tentative signs the baht may stabilise if global risk sentiment improves, including any de-escalation in geopolitical tensions.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 13:08 UTC
Malaysia cuts subsidised fuel quotas on global oil price surge
Malaysia cuts subsidised fuel quotas on global oil price surgePeople walk against the background of Petronas Twin Towers at the 20th Asia Oil & Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 24, 2019. (File photo: Reuters)KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s government will cut subsidised allocations for its most popular fuel from April as it seeks to curb leakages and relieve fiscal pressure from a surge in oil prices owing to the Middle East conflict. The subsidy bill is expected to hit 4 billion ringgit a month as Brent oil prices reached $100 a barrel, the finance ministry said in a separate statement on Thursday. While elevated oil prices support government revenues and benefit state energy firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd, they also risk fuelling inflation. The government is also considering other measures to cut down fuel use, including working from home for both the public and private sectors.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 12:59 UTC
California jury finds Meta, YouTube liable for social media addiction
California jury finds Meta, YouTube liable for social media addictionPlaintiff attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett and family members celebrated a landmark win against Meta and YouTube which were accused of addicting young social media users. “$3 million is a slap on the wrist for companies like Meta and YouTube, which are two of the biggest ad sellers in the world,” said Jasmine Engberg of Scalable, which tracks the social media industry. She told jurors that her near-constant social media use “really affected my self-worth,” saying the apps led her to abandon hobbies, struggle to make friends and constantly measure herself against others. Meta and YouTube had maintained throughout that Kaley’s mental health struggles had nothing to do with their platforms. A separate New Mexico jury on Tuesday found Meta liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms and other dangers.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 12:57 UTC
Cabinet approves measures to ease fuel cost impact
(Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri)The caretaker cabinet on Thursday approved a series of measures aimed at easing the impact of soaring fuel prices on households and businesses, ranging from welfare card top-ups to soft loans for small businesses. Lavaron Sangsnit, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Finance, announced details of the measures following a special cabinet session held after retail fuel prices were increased by 14-22%. The measures include:Excise tax cut on fuel under reviewThe Ministry of Finance has been instructed to review options for lowering excise taxes on fuel, including the rate and duration of any reduction. Small public vehicles and motorcycle taxi drivers will also receive usage‑based assistance after registering with the Department of Land Transport. To ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for public transport, the Interior Ministry will coordinate designated refuelling points, while the Ministry of Energy will work on boosting fuel stocks at service stations in all provinces.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 12:57 UTC
Somalia football slowly becomes a women’s game
Somalia football slowly becomes a women’s gamePlayers of the U17 Somalia national team take part in a practice session at the Eng. The Ilays women’s team ultimately crushed their opponents Nasiib 5-0, but that did not dampen the mood. The women’s football championship was created in 2024, and initially involved only 80 players. “No one could have imagined that one day Somali women would play football in their country, where even men were forbidden to play by fighters who had declared football ‘un-Islamic’,” said Ali Abdi Mohamed, president of the Somali Football Federation. Its women’s team, which played its first friendly match in October in Djibouti, is not listed by the international federation.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 12:56 UTC
Ex-energy minister denounces fuel hike ‘robbery’
(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Former energy minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has lashed out at the government over the sharp increase in retail fuel prices, describing the move as “robbery” after authorities approved a reduction in subsidies. Mr Pirapan recently resigned as a party-list MP to allow Mr Atthawit, the party’s deputy leader, to enter parliament. (Photo: Parit Wacharasindhu Facebook)People’s Party wants answersParit Wacharasindhu, the spokesman for the opposition People’s Party, also criticised the abrupt increase, questioning the rationale behind the decision. He acknowledged that fuel prices would inevitably need to rise, but argued that gradual adjustments — such as increases of 30 to 50 satang per day — would help curb hoarding and short-term profiteering. “A sudden 6-baht jump suggests alignment with vested interests,” said Mr Suphanat, who won the most votes of any People’s Party MP in Bangkok.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 12:36 UTC
Gold miner to appeal court-ordered compensation
The Chatree gold mine straddles Phichit and Phetchabun provinces and currently employs about 1,000 people. Throughout the proceedings, it had submitted extensive evidence, including witness testimony, technical documents and academic input from multiple experts. The Chatree gold mine, it said, is among the most closely regulated mining operations in the country. Akara also highlighted cooperation with local public health authorities, including annual health checks for residents within a 5km radius of the mine and data-sharing for long-term monitoring. The company said the ruling is not final and remains subject to appeal.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 12:22 UTC
Prices frozen for necessary consumer products
Commerce ministry and major producers also teaming up to offer other items at discountsA consumer shops for instant noodle products at a Bangkok supermarket. (Photo: Somhatai Mosika)The prices of some necessary consumer products will be frozen while those of other products will rise, according to Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun. Manufacturers of such products would have to seek approval from the ministry’s Department of Internal Trade before raising their prices, she said. For some items, producers can raise prices as long as they announce the change. “If product prices are to rise, we must look into their costs to keep reasonable increments,” Ms Suphajee said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 12:08 UTC
G7 talks seek to mend transatlantic rupture on Iran
G7 talks seek to mend transatlantic rupture on IranFrench foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot acknowledges the world is going through a period of “tension and rivalry”. France will also on Monday host a separate G7 meeting bringing together finance ministers, energy ministers and central bank governors, Finance Minister Roland Lescure told RTL radio on Thursday. 'Misguided policies’While all G7 nations are close US allies, none have unambiguously offered support for the assault on Iran, angering Trump. British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Tuesday voiced unease that the war had shifted focus away from the Gaza peace plan and violence in the occupied West Bank. Over four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Barrot told AFP that support “for the Ukrainian resistance” and pressure on Russia would continue.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 10:57 UTC
Thai fuel prices soar by six baht a litre
(Photo: Piyarach Chongcharoen)Retail petrol and diesel prices in Thailand soared by six baht per litre on Thursday morning after the government abandoned costly attempts to cap them. The change means diesel prices are up by 18%, with more modest increases for other types of fuels. At PTT petrol stations, prices increased to 38.94 baht a litre for high-speed diesel, 54.64 baht for B7premium diesel, 40.68 baht for gasohol 91 petrol, 41.05 baht for gasohol 95, 36.05 baht for gasohol E20, 32.79 for gasohol E85, 52.04 baht for gasohol 95 premium and 49.64 baht for gasoline 95. Subsidies have been reduced from 26.99 baht to 19.12 baht per litre for high-speed diesel and B20 diesel, from 12.85 baht to 5.94 baht for gasohol E20, and from 9.73 baht to 3.26 baht for gasohol 95 and gasohol 91. The Oil Fuel Fund burned through 20 billion baht in three weeks to keep prices capped.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 07:53 UTC
No more excuses: World Cup pressure is on host USA
No more excuses: World Cup pressure is on host USA“We can no longer have low expectations,” says Alexi Lalas, who became one of the unlikely faces of the 1994 World Cup for the US team. When Fifa awarded the 1994 World Cup to the United States, it came with a condition: the Americans had to establish a top-tier professional league. “It’s actually the third most popular sport in the US — it beats baseball,” said Bettina Garibaldi, chief marketing and communications officer for the Fifa World Cup 26 New York New Jersey Host Committee. The numbers are crazy.”Her club’s ownership of New York City FC means that fan conversion — from casual World Cup viewer to committed supporter — has direct commercial stakes. The 1999 Women’s World Cup, played on home soil and culminating in Brandi Chastain’s iconic penalty-kick celebration, proved that footbal could capture a nation’s imagination.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 07:51 UTC
US activists work to connect Iranians via Starlink
Charges may be enhanced if the device is found to have been sent by a US organisation, Ahmadian pointed out. His group has supplied “up to 200” antennas to individuals in Iran, and has facilitated the sale of “more than 5,000 Starlink devices” by connecting ordinary citizens with underground resellers, he said. ‘More than 50,000’While the number of terminals within Iran is not publicly known, Ahmadian estimates that “there are more than 50,000 Starlink terminals in Iran, for sure”. For her part, James estimates that there are “tens of thousands” of Starlink devices in the country of 92 million. And earlier this month, a man described as the head of a network that sold internet access via Starlink was arrested by Iranian authorities.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 07:51 UTC