Pheu Thai on the outer
The Pheu Thai Party holds a meeting with MPs-elect on Feb 13. Pheu Thai PartyThe allocation of cabinet quotas has unsettled Pheu Thai Party, exposing internal tensions while raising questions over its electoral recovery. Electoral pathLooking ahead, the central question is whether Pheu Thai can regain dominance in the next election. He also pointed to competitive dynamics, arguing that Bhumjaithai may have reached its peak, while Pheu Thai could be positioned for recovery. If Pheu Thai succeeds in demonstrating competence and reconnecting with voters, a resurgence in the next election remains plausible.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:35 UTC
Govt urges Iran to let Thai ships pass
Govt urges Iran to let Thai ships passThe government is working closely with Iran to ensure the safe passage of Thai vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, said Panidone Pachimsawat, deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Panidone added Mr Sihasak had also held talks with Qatar's foreign minister, thanking Doha for assisting Thai nationals and arranging their safe return. He urged Thai nationals in high-risk areas to leave as soon as possible and to closely follow official advisories. He said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has also warned of scams involving individuals posing as embassy officials and asking for payment to arrange repatriation and stressed that no such fees are required. Thai nationals who need to leave Israel urgently are advised to contact the Thai embassy to arrange alternative travel assistance, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:35 UTC
Experts slam sharp surge in fuel price
Pattarapong ChatpattarasillEnergy experts have raised concerns over the recent sharp fuel price increase, warning that it could worsen hardship, open the door to profiteering, before urging the government to implement reforms. Assoc Prof Anusorn Tamajai, a People's Party (PP) MP and former Bangchak board member, said a gradual adjustment in line with global oil prices would have been more appropriate. He said the sudden retail petrol and diesel price hike, announced at 9pm last Wednesday, would not effectively curb fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries because price gaps -- driven by subsidies from the Oil Fuel Fund -- remain wide. Ms Areeporn also said the oil fund has been used beyond its intended purpose for too long and should have been preserved for times of crisis such as the current situation. She added there is uncertainty over whether fuel prices reflect a true market rate or continued reliance on the oil fund.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:35 UTC
Calls for more 'clean air rooms' in North
Calls for more 'clean air rooms' in NorthCivil group the Chiang Mai Breathe Council has called for an increase of "clean air rooms" across the province, warning many high-risk districts still lack access to such facilities despite the worsening PM2.5 pollution. Department of Health figures showed that among Chiang Mai's 25 districts, only 13 districts have established clean air rooms for their residents. The group said the locations of clean air rooms should be easily accessible online. The addition of public spaces, including cafés, shopping malls, co-working spaces and hotels, which have air purifiers into the list of clean air rooms would also improve public access. Health authorities are expanding clean air rooms, now numbering over 2,000, he said, and preparing mobile medical units for affected areas.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:35 UTC
3 bantengs released into the wild
3 bantengs released into the wildThree bantengs are released to the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary on March 27. PIYARACH CHONGCHAROENThree bantengs were released into Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary's Khao Suea unit in Kanchanaburi's Muang district, to increase its population in the wild. "Returning these animals to the wild is vital for restoring a species that once thrived here," she said. Bantengs are classified as endangered under the IUCN Red List due to hunting and habitat loss across Southeast Asia. "Bringing these three bantengs back is a critical step in restoring the forest ecosystem and ensuring the species' survival in Thailand," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:35 UTC
Fuel 'sufficient' as holiday nears
Government HouseThe government has confirmed there are sufficient fuel supplies to meet demand during the upcoming Songkran holiday, as authorities intensify nationwide distribution and monitoring efforts to ease public concerns over possible shortages. In addition, the public can check real-time fuel availability nationwide via the Fuel-Now application or its website. Meanwhile, Chatchai Khunlohit, deputy director-general of the Department of Energy Business, reported stable fuel production and consumption, with diesel output averaging 82.21 million litres per day and domestic use at 82.99 million litres, alongside 4.43 million litres in exports. Combined demand reached 87.42 million litres per day, while petrol output stood at 34.4 million litres, with total demand at 36.09 million litres. He said diesel consumption has risen from about 70 million litres per day earlier this year, reflecting stronger economic activity and travel.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:09 UTC
Ministry unveils cost-of-living help
Ministry unveils cost-of-living helpA vendor sells pork in Nonthaburi province. File photo: Pattarapong ChatpattarasillThe Commerce Ministry has unveiled a broad package of cost-of-living relief measures, including discounts of up to 50% on consumer goods from April 1, tighter oversight of fertiliser prices, and accelerated efforts to reduce farmers' production costs. Discounts of up to 50% will be available nationwide under the "Thai Helps Thais–Blue Flag" campaign, which begins on Wednesday. The ministry has also stepped up inspections of fertiliser prices following complaints from farmers in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Retail prices are typically about double the farm-gate rate, implying around 144 baht per kilogramme, though some markets have reported 170–180 baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:08 UTC
Hungary's anxious rural voters will decide Orban's fate
Hungary's anxious rural voters will decide Orban's fateThe countryside has long been a bastion of support for premier Viktor Orban's partyPUSZTAVACS (HUNGARY) - In the village of Pusztavacs in central Hungary, election posters on electricity poles remind voters of a looming poll, where nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban's future is on the line. I'll keep racking my brain about it," Eva Batta told AFP near the grocery store at the edge of Pusztavacs. The 71-year-old, who can no longer work to supplement her pension after surgery, said she feels the economy has worsened during Orban's latest term. - 'Orban provides' -Orban has repeatedly made overtures to rural communities, claiming that for his government "the village is not the past, but the future". "Construction has been booming," he told AFP before withdrawing cash, crediting various family support programmes introduced for the upswing.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 22:05 UTC
More arrests over attempted attack on US bank in Paris
More arrests over attempted attack on US bank in ParisA total of three suspects have so far been arrested in relation to the foiled bomb attack outside the US bank in Paris. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Saturday he thought the war in the Middle East might have motivated the attempted attack. Police detained a first suspect, possibly a minor, in the early hours of Saturday just after he placed a device outside the bank building, near the Champs-Elysees. Police said the suspect arrested early Saturday outside the bank had told them he was a minor and from Senegal. The Bank of America, whose global headquarters are in North Carolina, is a multinational investment bank and financial services holding company.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 14:59 UTC
Immigration warns of scam digital arrival card websites
Immigration warns of scam digital arrival card websitesA notice on the Immigration Bureau’s official website informs visitors that Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) registration is mandatory, free of charge and must be completed only through official channels. The Immigration Bureau has warned foreign travellers against fraudulent websites offering Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) services for a fee, stressing that registration, while mandatory, is free and available only through official channels. All foreign visitors must register their arrival details online, in advance, for immigration screening. They included tdac.info, which advertises document assistance services, and ivisa.com, a commercial visa-processing platform offering TDAC submissions for a fee. The Immigration Bureau said it is working with other agencies to track down and shut down the fraudulent websites.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 11:11 UTC
Israeli airspace restricted, few flights to Thailand
Israeli airspace restricted, few flights to ThailandAn Israeli military helicopter flies above the border between Israel and Lebanon on Saturday, as hostilities continued between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists based in Lebanon. (photo: Reuters)Israeli airspace will remain closed to most commercial flights until mid-April, with only two Israeli airlines allowed to operate infrequent flights between Tel Aviv and Thailand, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised on Sunday. Deputy spokesman Panidone Pachimsawat said the Israeli government had announced the further closure of its airspace until at least April 16. All international airlines had suspended services,Only two Israeli airlines, El Al and Arkia, maintained services between Israel and Thailand, and their flights were irregular and could be cancelled anytime, he said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday repeated its call for Thais to leave risk areas in the Mideast as soon as possible.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 11:06 UTC
Dust pollution at hazardous levels in North, Northeast
Dust pollution at hazardous levels in North, NortheastSoldiers from the army’s Veterinary and Remount Department patrol on horseback, monitoring PM2.5 pollution and preventing wildfires, in Huai Tueng Thao, Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai on March 13. (Photo: Royal Thai Army)Air pollution has reached hazardous levels in parts of northern and northeastern Thailand, with a growing risk to health as fine dust concentrations continue to rise. The Department of Health said on Sunday that PM2.5 levels in several provinces had climbed into the “red” and “orange” zones, indicating serious and moderate health impacts. A further 28 provinces across the North, Northeast, Central Plain and western regions recorded orange-level pollution. “Pollution levels are expected to remain above safe limits this week due to stagnant weather conditions and an increase in open burning in several areas,” Dr Amporn said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 11:04 UTC
AI to help prevent suicides from bridges
AI to help prevent suicides from bridgesRama VIII Bridge (file photo)Artificial intelligence is being used to help detect and prevent suicidal people jumping from bridges, beginning with Rama VIII Bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau said the National Research Council of Thailand sponsored the project,It launched in March last year, the purpose being to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to help curb suicides from bridges. AI-linked equipment was first installed on Rama VIII Bridge in Bang Phlat district, Bangkok. The project could be expanded to other bridges nationwide popular for suicides, Pol Maj Gen Pitak said. While they were busy talking, two bodies were found under Rama VIII Bridge.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 10:49 UTC
PM makes surprise visit to Isan petrol station
PM makes surprise visit to Isan petrol stationPrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul refills his rented car at a PTT petrol station in That Phanom district of Nakhon Phanom during a surprise visit to the province on Sunday (screengrab from Amarin TV)NAKHON PHANOM - Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul made a surprise visit to this northeastern border province on Sunday, stopping to top up his rented car at a petrol pump and reaffirming there will be adequate fuel for travellers during next month's Songkran festival. He drove a rented car from the airport to Wat Phra That Phanom Woramahawihan in That Phanom district, about 50 kilometres from Muang district. From Wat Phra That Phanom, Mr Anutin drove to a PTT petrol station in tambon That Phanom to refuel. The surprise visit to Nakhon Phanom and the petrol station came a day after the prime minister apologised for the government's mismanagement of the supply of petrol.and diesel to pumps nationwide as the Mideast war disrupts supply. During the previously limited fuel price rises, there were fuel shortages at petrol stations nationwide but after the initial price surge, shortages disappeared.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 10:39 UTC
Iran claims aluminium plant attacks in Gulf as Houthis join war
Iran claims aluminium plant attacks in Gulf as Houthis join warYemen's Houthi rebels are the latest faction to enter the Middle East war, firing a ballistic missile towards IsraelTEHRAN - Iran claimed on Sunday attacks on two major aluminium plants in the Gulf, further raising the economic stakes of the Middle East war after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis joined the conflict. With the official status of talks between Washington and Tehran uncertain, daily salvoes of strikes across the region have continued unabated. An Israeli military spokesman said attacks on Iranian military industry had intensified and "within a few days, we will complete attacks on all critical components." - Three journalists killed -On another front, Israeli attacks have continued in Lebanon, which was drawn into the conflict when Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli territory on March 2. On Saturday, the Israeli military killed three journalists in the south, including Al Manar correspondent Ali Shoeib, one of the network's most prominent war correspondents, who had covered Israeli attacks on Lebanon for decades.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2026 05:52 UTC