'Green China' story hides true energy picture
'Green China' story hides true energy pictureMany in the West gaze in awe at China's apparent dominance in green energy. China's real energy achievements -- dramatic energy ramp-ups to fuel prosperity, and advances in nuclear power -- remain overlooked. In 2025, the world invested $2.3 trillion (78 trillion baht) in green energy. The latest IEA data for 2023 show China adding five times as much coal as solar and wind energy. Green China is a sham, but it's time to emulate Beijing's real playbook by ramping up energy use and investment in nuclear R&D.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 22:34 UTC
War hits wallets
War hits walletsRe: "The Iran war's lasting energy shock", (Opinion, March 20). Dennis FitzgeraldEnergy gap widensRe: "Oil shock could spur EV, hybrid sales", (Business, March 19). The global energy grid is more stressed now, not less. This is reminiscent of the prelude to World War II unfolding through multiple regional confrontations that rapidly merged into a global catastrophe. Humanity has not learnt from the First Great War, the war to end all wars.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 22:34 UTC
BJT's rise cast shadow over watchdogs
BJT's rise cast shadow over watchdogsA photo from Thursday shows Anutin Charnvirakul interacting with Bhumjaithai Party Secretary-General Chaichanok Chidchob after he was elected the country's new prime minister in a parliamentary vote. (Photo: Reuters)Following parliament's decisive vote for a new prime minister, Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader Anutin Charnvirakul is making a triumphant comeback. House Speaker Sophon Zarum is a Buri Ram MP, while Senate president Mongkol Surasajja is a former Buri Ram governor. Furthermore, Buri Ram serves as Mr Anutin's official residence, and first deputy prime minister Songsak Thongsri is a Buri Ram MP and Mr Newin's cousin. This captivating political development smoothly paves the way for Mr Anutin and BJT to seize full, unhindered power.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 22:34 UTC
Mideast conflict threatens Thai growth
Mideast conflict threatens Thai growthFarmers and rice harvester operators wait in line at Phitsanulok fuel stations for up to 4-5 hours a day, while diesel purchases are capped at 500 baht per visit. Under a baseline scenario, the regulator assumes the conflict will subside in the first half of the year. Rising energy costs are expected to intensify cost pressures. The regulator is monitoring the extent to which businesses pass these higher costs on to consumers, with the overall impact depending on the duration of the conflict. "From the business sector's perspective, most operators remain reluctant to raise prices under current conditions and are attempting to absorb higher costs for now.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 22:34 UTC
Tourism groups eye B15bn stimulus
A tourism federation is urging the government to launch a stimulus programme for the next few months, while ensuring sufficient fuel supply to support road trips. Seven tourism associations under the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (Fetta) have called for stimulus projects worth a combined 15 billion baht, including cash handouts to local tourists, to prevent an industry downturn due to the Gulf war. This project aims to attract at least 1 million travellers, both domestic and international, under a total budget of 10 billion baht. "The tourism sector contributes 13% of GDP with an economic value of 2.7 trillion baht, and involves 4 million employees nationwide. The roadshows to South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and India will also take place earlier than planned to encourage more tour groups to choose Thailand.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 22:05 UTC
Gulf's decades-long strategy of sporting investment rocked by Mideast war
Gulf's decades-long strategy of sporting investment rocked by Mideast warThe Spanish Supercopa, hosted by Saudi Arabia in January, is just one of dozens of major sporting events now held in the Gulf. The Gulf countries have invested vast sums of money in bringing global sporting events to their shores as they try to diversify their hydrocarbon-dependant economies and improve their images abroad. Since the start of war in February, dozens of events due to be held in the Gulf have been cancelled or postponed. Qatar hosted the World Cup in 2022, one of the sporting world's crown jewels and a climactic moment for the country's strategy. But if there is chaos, or a more hardline Iranian government, organising major events in the Gulf would be "extremely difficult".
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 21:51 UTC
Savills announces acquisition of Eastdil Secured LLC
Savills, one of the world’s leading real estate advisory firms, has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Eastdil Secured, a global leader in real estate investment banking, in a landmark transaction valued at US$1.11 billion. By bringing together Savills’ global real estate advisory platform with Eastdil Secured’s investment banking expertise, the combined business is set to become one of the world’s leading advisors for large-scale commercial real estate transactions, particularly in deals exceeding US$100 million. The partnership also significantly expands Savills’ footprint in the United States — the world’s largest and most liquid real estate market — while creating new growth opportunities for Eastdil Secured across Asia Pacific. Executive CommentarySimon Shaw, Group Chief Executive Officer of Savills, said:“This is a transformational step for Savills. Eastdil Secured is a business we have long admired, with a highly complementary platform and shared client-first culture.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 19:44 UTC
British reality TV star found dead in Phuket
British reality TV star found dead in PhuketA deceased man in Phuket has been confirmed as British reality TV star Jordan Wright. Photo: @jordanwrights InstagramBritish reality television star Jordan Wright has been found dead in a drainage ditch on the Thai island of Phuket, authorities have confirmed. Police said a search of his room revealed no signs of disturbance or forced entry. He had previously appeared on British reality television programmes, including The Only Way Is Essex and Ex on the Beach. In the weeks prior to his death he had shared social media posts showing activities such as diving and motorbike riding while in Phuket.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 19:34 UTC
Fuel shortage thinning Suvarnabhumi taxi ranks
A tourist family loads luggage into an SUV taxi at Suvarnabhumi airport. Drivers of the larger vehicles, heavily affected by a fuel shortage, have begun scaling back services, raising concerns about reduced availability for travellers. (Bangkok Post file photo)A fuel shortage is severely disrupting taxi services at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with large SUV taxis gradually suspending operations and only about 2,500 vehicles currently in active service, out of a fleet estimated at more than 5,000, operators say. Drivers of the larger vehicles favoured by families and travellers with bulky luggage have had to stop working as they’re struggling to secure fuel supplies, Panlop Chayinthu, president of the Suvarnabhumi Taxi Coordination Association, said on Friday. “This is not about expensive fuel — it’s about fuel we cannot get,” Mr Panlop said, calling on the government to step in and address the issue.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 18:47 UTC
Police send ‘VIP runway’ case to anti-graft body
(Photo: Rancho Charnvee Facebook)Police have completed their investigation into a “VIP runway” on land owned by the family of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Nakhon Ratchasima and forwarded the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Investigators at the Pak Chong police station submitted the case file on Tuesday after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) declined to take it up as a special case. Those affected, including members of the Lam Takhong self-help settlement, accused civil servants, private individuals and corporate entities of colluding to build the unauthorised airstrip over a public road. Rancho Charnvee is owned by Mr Anutin’s family, who are the majority shareholders in Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc. A complaint about the runway was also made to the Constitutional Court, accusing Mr Anutin of abusing his authority by facilitating the use of public land for private aviation purposes, but the court dismissed the complaint.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 18:04 UTC
“When the ocean cannot speak”
How Claire Narida Charanachitta became a voice for marine conservation and the ocean’s silent inhabitantsThe ocean has always felt like home to Claire Narida Charanachitta. The documentary quickly gained international attention, winning seven awards across seven film festivals, including the New York International Film Awards, Global Film Festival Awards, Nature Without Borders International Film Festival and the World Whale Film Festival. The mobile platform will allow users to report environmental concerns, access marine conservation data and discover responsible travel opportunities. Despite global platforms and recognition, Claire often returns to her core motivation: the ocean cannot speak, and neither can the animals that depend on it. She continues to listen to the ocean and to use her voice to protect the fragile world beneath its surface.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 17:26 UTC
Action star Chuck Norris dies at 86
LOS ANGELES - Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star most famous for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger”, has died, his family said on Friday. “It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said in a statement on Instagram. Big-screen iconIt was a spell at an airbase in South Korea while serving as a young man in the US Air Force that gave Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris the martial arts bug. (Story continues below)Actor Chuck Norris holds up a T-shirt presented during a meet-the-troops stop at Ali Al Saleem Air Base in Kuwait on Oct 29, 2006. The show ran for eight seasons and spawned countless action-man jokes and memes, one being that Chuck Norris and Superman had a fight, with the loser (Superman) forced to wear their underpants on the outside.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 16:51 UTC
Hoppers: Survival is more than right and wrong
For a 'made for kids' story, Pixar's latest animation, Hoppers (2026), blends in a deeply nuanced view of environmentalism. Naturally, the story's antagonist is the authority figure pushing development at the expense of animal habitats: the town's mayor, Jerry. Jon Hamm as Mayor Jerry in Hoppers (2026). Piper Curda as Mabel in Hoppers (2026). Every creature in this world is simply trying to survive, and the film's quiet argument is that thriving should never require making others suffer, whether that means humans toward animals, animals toward animals, or humans toward each other.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 15:41 UTC
French jihadist jailed for life for Islamic State crimes
Sabri Essid took part in ‘genocide’ against Yazidi minority in IraqFrench jihadist Sabri Essid is seen in a video reportedly released by Islamic State. (Photo: AFP)PARIS - A French jihadist was sentenced to life in jail on Friday for involvement in Islamic State group atrocities against Iraq’s Yazidi minority, the first case in France to tackle the issue. “Sabri Essid took part in the genocide perpetrated by Islamic State,” presiding judge Marc Sommerer told the court. The Islamic State group regarded the Yazidis, who follow a pre-Islamic faith, as heretics. He is accused of buying several Yazidi women at markets and then repeatedly raping them, as well as depriving them of water and food.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 15:25 UTC
Teachers’ swift action averts possible knife attack
Police handcuff an 18-year-old gunman during the Hat Yai school shooting on Feb 11, an incident echoed on Friday when teachers in Phatthalung swiftly locked down a primary school to avert a possible knife attack. “We were worried he might use the knife on students or staff,” said the teacher, who asked not to be named. Mr Apidech said Mr Seksak had recently been released from prison on drug-related offences. “Given his background, we feared he could attack,” Mr Apidech said. The tragedy has spurred calls for tougher, system-wide safety measures, including better monitoring of high-risk individuals, improved training for school staff and reliable CCTV coverage.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2026 14:07 UTC