A coalition of academics, environmental organisations and civil society groups has urged Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to disclose all environmental and health impact assessment (EHIA) reports related to the proposed southern Land Bridge project.

DUBAI - The US military began a blockade of Iran’s ports, angering Tehran and adding uncertainty around ​the crucial waterway, although hopes for dialogue to end the war provided some relief to ‌oil markets where benchmark prices fell below $100 a barrel on Tuesday.

The Office of Insurance Commission's (OIC) decision to reduce the equity risk charge for domestic investments is expected to unlock significant institutional inflows into the stock market this year, as insurers gain greater flexibility to allocate capital to higher-return assets.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul extended Songkran greetings to Thais worldwide, highlighting the festival as a key cultural asset that can be elevated through the government's soft power strategy.

LONDON - Oil prices surged and stock markets broadly fell Monday after US-Iran peace talks broke down and President Donald Trump announced a plan to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, ratcheting up fears for Middle East energy supplies.

TEHRAN - The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed, and despite the Iranian military warning that it would treat any such action as an act of piracy.

PHUKET – Firefighters have fionally wxtinguished the blaze at the Phuket City municipal landfill after a battle lasting 30 hours .

Tourists in the capital are grappling with searing heat and sensory overload as the city braces for the annual Songkran festival, with temperatures climbing and crowds expected to swell in the days ahead.

TEHRAN - Iran and the United States failed to strike a deal Sunday to end the war in the Middle East, but there was no immediate return to hostilities and the region clung to hope that a fragile truce would hold.

As temperatures surge across Bangkok, stepping indoors is no longer a matter of comfort but, for many, a necessity.

The government is reviewing its visa-free entry scheme for foreign visitors, aiming to revise the policy to better target higher-quality tourism, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says has accepted recommendations about his government’s policy statement and will push forward all announced measures to ensure maximum benefit for the public, stressing that the government would complete its full four-year term.

Twenty people died and 132 were injured in 135 road accidents across Thailand on Friday — the first of the “seven dangerous days” of Songkran holiday travel, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said on Saturday.

If there is one issue that should naturally belong to the People’s Party, it is the politics of institutional reform — especially when that reform touches on the privileges, perks and opaque benefits enjoyed by political and state elites.

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with fee collection as proposed by Iran, together with high oil prices, is dampening the prospects for Thai exports and may push overseas shipments into contraction this year, economists say.

Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has announced urgent measures to accelerate plastic recycling in Thailand as the country grapples with a shortage of plastics caused by the ongoing Israel–US conflict with Iran.

A new hawker centre that has opened next to Lumpini Park will help the public access clean, high-quality street food, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Friday.

The cabinet on Saturday is expected to approve a cost-of-living relief package targeting vulnerable groups as well as the transport and agriculture sectors, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said on Friday.

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT/ISLAMABAD - A fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and ​Iran showed further strain on Friday, a day before they are to negotiate in Pakistan, as Washington accused Tehran of breaching promises on the Strait of Hormuz and Israel struck Lebanon with attacks that Iran has claimed violate the truce.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified law enforcement actions to reinforce market credibility, as a sharp rise in investment scams, largely driven by social media, emerges as a growing systemic risk.

A cat that was not enjoying the ride has become the object of some online criticism after a southbound train arrived at its final destination seven hours behind schedule.

WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - US President Donald Trump on Monday deleted a social media image apparently depicting him as Jesus after an outcry from religious leaders that he was being blasphemous.

A decision by Thailand’s insurance regulator to reduce the equity risk charge for domestic investments is expected to unlock significant institutional inflows into the stock market, as insurers gain greater flexibility to allocate capital to higher-return assets.

Deputy Democrat leader Korn Chatikavanij has called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate alleged irregularities at Bangchak Corporation Plc, citing concerns over corporate governance, board appointments and possible links to so-called "grey capital".

The Courts of Justice have warned Songkran revellers they could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a hefty fine of 200,000 baht if found guilty of physically molesting someone during crowded water fights.

SURIN - The army is allowing public access during Songkran to two strategic points fiercely contested during last year's border war with Cambodia - Ta Kwai ancient temple, which is a cultural heritage site, and nearby Hill 350.

SINGAPORE: Oil prices jumped above $100 a ‌barrel on Monday as the U.S. Navy prepared a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that could restrict Iranian oil shipments after the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war.

Songkran revellers take part in a water gun fight on the opening day of the 'Khao San World Water Festival 2026' on Khao San Road in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district on Sunday. The celebrations run through April 15. (Photos: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Seventy-one people were killed and 317 others injured in traffic accidents during the first two days of the Songkran festival holiday period.

Energy Minister Akanat Promphan warns the government will take tough action against oil hoarding, adding he has never bowed to business interests and that anyone found stockpiling fuel will face severe legal consequences, even if they are wealthy.

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, easing tensions in the Middle East and raising hopes for de-escalation after weeks of uncertainty.

The leaders of some of America’s largest banks were warned by a top US government official this week about a new artificial intelligence model from Anthropic that could lead to heightened risks of cyberattacks, according to three people briefed on the matter.

HOUSTON - The Artemis II capsule and its four-member crew streaked through Earth’s atmosphere and safely splashed down in ​the Pacific Ocean on Friday after nearly 10 days in space, capping the first voyage by humans to the vicinity of ‌the moon in over half a century.

Elephants splashed water, painted, and danced at Ayutthaya’s city pillar shrine on Friday to mark the start of Songkran, the 2026 Thai New Year. The event, co-organised by Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the provincial municipality, was held to preserve and promote Thai culture and to boost tourism.

Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat has set out an ambitious vision for Thailand to "win the tech war" by achieving technological sovereignty as part of his eight strategic pillars to address national challenges through research and innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.

Opposition MPs launched a broad attack on the government, accusing it of benefiting from flawed oil management, ignoring alleged fuel hoarding and failing to address transparency concerns in the energy sector.

Police on Friday seized nearly 2,000 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine that was being smuggled in a pickup truck loaded onto a ferry bound for the southern tourist island of Koh Samui, at a pier in Bangkok. Four suspects were arrested.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has filed a complaint against a group of investors and state officials accused of colluding to encroach on more than 3,000 rai of pristine rainforest in Ranong, causing damage estimated at over 200 million baht.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has reached a consensus that it has the authority to regulate over-the-top (OTT) platforms, and will embed this oversight in its upcoming Broadcasting and Television Master Plan (2026–2030).

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified law enforcement actions to reinforce market credibility, as a sharp rise in investment scams, largely driven by social media, emerges as a growing systemic risk.

A total of 154 people have been killed and 705 injured in road accidents across Thailand during the first four days of the “seven dangerous days” of Songkran holiday travel, with Bangkok recording the highest cumulative number of fatalities, authorities said on Tuesday.

More than 7,300 online crime cases were reported last week, with losses exceeding 397 million baht, says assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej.

Government Housing (GH) Bank, a state financial institution specialising in housing loans, is preparing to upgrade its operations through digital transformation and the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Thai companies with high leverage are likely to face negative cash flow over the next two years, due to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

TEHRAN - The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed, and despite the Iranian military warning that it would treat any such action as an act of piracy.

Ninety-five people died in road accidents during the first three days of the Songkran holiday, with more than 500 accidents reported as of midnight on Sunday.

Two months after a hard-fought general election, the new government has begun its administration, having formally presented its 20-page policy agenda to parliament last week.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has extended well-wishes to the public for the Songkran holidays, encouraging people to celebrate with family while prioritising safety and responsibility as festivities begin nationwide.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  - US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement, saying he was leaving after putting forward a "final and best offer".

ISLAMABAD: Negotiations between the United States and Iran ​appeared to have concluded for now, Iran's government said early on ‌Sunday, after a series of talks in Pakistan to end the six-week war between Washington and Tehran.

The cabinet has approved a 7.7-billion-baht economic relief package to support vulnerable groups, businesses, the transport sector and farmers in response to the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

There have been a number of announcements from state agencies to do with visa policies in Thailand over the past several months that seem to have made the matter rather convoluted.

Warong's push to cut MPs' perks steals momentum, forcing main opposition party into reactive bid to reclaim reformist ground v With diesel prices topping 50 baht per litre, govt faces increasing scrutiny over crisis management, communication.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has recently stated that the current energy crisis could be Thailand's last opportunity to restructure its economy and ensure long-term survival.

Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat has set out an ambitious vision for Thailand to "win the tech war" by achieving technological sovereignty as part of his eight strategic pillars to address national challenges through research and innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.

Natural gas remains a cornerstone of global power generation despite mounting concerns over liquefied natural gas (LNG) shortages linked to Middle East tensions, according to Gulf Development Plc, Thailand's largest energy company by market value and a major telecoms operator.

Despite recent geopolitical tensions, particularly the escalation in the Middle East and energy market disruptions, Thailand’s equity market has demonstrated resilience, with the benchmark SET Index rebounding past the 1,500-point mark on Friday.

South Korea is considering support for an undocumented Thai worker injured by an air gun alleged fired by his boss when he was at work in a factory and is still hospitalised in the East Asian country.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) delivered case files to the Supreme Court in a high-profile ethics case against 44 former Move Forward Party (MFP) MPs who signed a proposal to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declined to directly address concerns over private refiners preparing legal action against the government after it ordered a reduction in diesel refining margins, instead referring reporters to Energy Minister Akanat Promphan for clarification.