YALA — Long queues formed at petrol stations in Betong district of southern Yala province on 16 March as residents rushed to refuel amid concerns over global oil supply following fighting in the Middle East.
The surge in demand led to temporary fuel shortages at several stations. Some pumps posted signs reading “diesel sold out,” while others shortened operating hours to between 12:00 and 18:00.
At several stations, lines of vehicles stretched onto nearby roads as tanker trucks had yet to deliver new supplies. Some residents were also seen bringing large containers to store fuel for agricultural use and transport.
To manage demand, several stations limited purchases to no more than 1,000 baht worth of fuel per customer. The restrictions left some motorists travelling through the area unable to refuel.
Meanwhile, some residents who needed to travel long distances opted to cross the border to refuel in Malaysia, where fuel prices are cheaper than in Thailand.
In Malaysia, diesel sells for about 2.15 ringgit per litre, while RON95 petrol costs 1.99 ringgit and RON97 petrol 3.85 ringgit. The exchange rate is about 1 ringgit to 8.25 baht.
Malaysian authorities have limited purchases by vehicles from Thailand to no more than 35 ringgit per fill. The country subsidises fuel for its citizens and is seeking to prevent shortages caused by foreign demand.
According to Bernama, Malaysian officials have also stepped up monitoring of petrol stations near the Thai border to prevent possible fuel smuggling as global oil supply concerns grow.
In Kelantan state, 48 petrol stations along the Malaysia–Thailand border are under continuous surveillance by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.
Authorities said half of the stations are located within a 25-kilometre radius of the border and have been identified as potential hotspots for fuel smuggling.
Officials said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could drive higher fuel demand in border areas, prompting tighter enforcement and monitoring.
Myanmar's military representatives and Lawmakers take oath during a parliament session at Lower House in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar opened its first parliamentary session in more than five years on Monday following an election that did not include major opposition parties, ensuring that the ruling military is set to retain a firm grasp on power.
The military blocked Myanmar’s last parliament from convening when it seized power from the last legitimately elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and has governed without a legislature since then. It’s touted elections held in late December and January as a step toward the return of democracy.
But the military and its allies hold nearly 90% of the seats in two-chamber parliament, while Myanmar’s former ruling National League for Democracy and other major opposition parties were either blocked from running or refused to compete under conditions they deemed unfair.
CORRECTS THE YEAR – Myanmar’s military representatives arrive to attend for a session at Lower House parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Delegates wearing traditional attire arrived in the capital, Naypyitaw, on Monday for the opening session of the 373-seat lower house, which convened in the tightly guarded parliamentary complex, newly renovated after being badly damaged by last year’s earthquake.
Security forces sealed roads leading to the parliament, and vehicles were searched for explosives before entering.
The 213-seat upper house is scheduled to open Wednesday, with 14 regional parliaments set to convene two days after that.
A quarter of the 586 seats in the upper and lower houses — 166 seats — were reserved for the military by the military-written constitution, and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won 339. Twenty-one other parties won between one and 20 seats each.
The parliament session comes after phased elections were held in December and January in 263 of the country’s 330 townships.
Critics described the vote organized by the military government as an effort to legitimize its rule. The 2021 coup triggered widespread opposition that dragged Myanmar into a civil war.
Tom Andrews, a special rapporteur working with the U.N. human rights office, has urged the international community to reject the election results and any power arrangements that follow.
The new Parliament’s first task will be to elect a speaker for each house, then elect a president and two vice presidents.
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who currently heads the current military government, is widely expected to assume the presidency.
Myanmar’s military representatives take oath during a parliament session at Lower House in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
However, the constitution bars a president from serving concurrently as the army’s commander-in-chief — Myanmar’s most powerful post — raising questions about whether he would relinquish that role.
Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s 80-year-old former leader, is serving a 27-year prison term on charges widely viewed as spurious and politically motivated. Her party won landslide victories in the 2015 and 2020 elections, but was forced to dissolve in 2023 after refusing to register under new military rules.
An opposition shadow parliament, formed by elected lawmakers who were blocked from taking their seats when the military seized power in 2021, also held an online session on Monday.
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw claims it is the country’s sole legitimate parliament.
BANGKOK — Thailand will continue exporting oil to Laos despite concerns over regional fuel supply during the ongoing Middle East conflict, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.
Speaking at parliament on 15 March, Anutin confirmed that Thailand is still selling fuel to Laos and dismissed speculation that exports might be halted as neighbouring countries face growing concerns over energy security.
“I have already clarified this. We are still selling,” he said when asked whether Thailand would stop oil shipments to Laos during the current crisis.
Anutin stressed that Thailand has sufficient fuel reserves, with stockpiles currently estimated at around 90 days and expected to reach close to 100 days due to conservation efforts and reduced exports to third countries.
He said oil importers and refiners — including Thai Oil, Bangchak, Shell and Star Petroleum Refining — had assured the government that there are no signs of an impending shortage.
According to the prime minister, Thailand currently has the largest oil reserves among ASEAN countries.
“We have to consider the size of our economy and logistics. Some countries like Japan may have reserves for more than 200 days, but in ASEAN Thailand has the highest reserves,” he said.
Anutin urged the public to conserve energy to help increase the country’s fuel reserves, even though there is no immediate risk of shortages.
He also assured that Thailand’s electricity supply remains secure, noting that most of the country’s power generation relies on natural gas produced in the Gulf of Thailand.
Oil prices, he said, continue to fluctuate in line with global markets, but the government will use the oil fund to help stabilise prices and ease the burden on consumers.
Thailand imports about half of its crude oil from global producers affected by the conflict but continues to source the remainder from other regions, ensuring that supply chains remain intact.
The prime minister also said Thailand is open to discussing oil purchases with various suppliers, including Russia, adding that the state-owned energy giant PTT Public Company Limited maintains broad international trading networks.
“One Battle After Another” led the winners at the 98th Academy Awards, taking best picture and a total of six Oscars, while Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley won the ceremony’s top acting honours. Meanwhile, the animated hit KPop Demon Huntersmarked a milestone for Asian representation, winning best animated feature and best original song for “Golden.”
See the full list of 2026 winners below:
Best picture
WINNER: One Battle After Another
Bugonia
Frankenstein
F1
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best actress
WINNER: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best actor
WINNER: Michael B Jordan – Sinners
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent
Best supporting actress
WINNER: Amy Madigan – Weapons
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
Best supporting actor
WINNER: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
Best director
WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Best animated feature
WINNER: KPop Demon Hunters
Arco
Elio
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Best international feature
WINNER: Sentimental Value
It Was Just an Accident
Sirât
The Secret Agent
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Best documentary feature
WINNER: Mr Nobody Against Putin
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting Through the Rocks
The Alabama Solution
The Perfect Neighbor
Best original screenplay
WINNER: Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Blue Moon – Robert Kaplow
It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
Sentimental Value – Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier
Best adapted screenplay
WINNER: One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
Bugonia – Will Tracy
Frankenstein – Guillermo del Toro
Hamnet – Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell
Train Dreams – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best original song
WINNER: Golden – KPop Demon Hunters (by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park)
Dear Me – Diane Warren: Relentless (by Diane Warren)
I Lied to You – Sinners (by by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson)
Sweet Dreams of Joy – Viva Verdi! (by Nicholas Pike)
Train Dreams – Train Dreams (by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner)
Best original score
WINNER: Sinners – Ludwig Goransson
Bugonia – Jerskin Fendrix
Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat
Hamnet – Max Richter
One Battle After Another – Jonny Greenwood
Best cinematography
WINNER: Sinners – Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Frankenstein – Dan Laustsen
Marty Supreme – Darius Khondji
One Battle After Another – Michael Bauman
Train Dreams – Adolpho Veloso
Best film editing
WINNER: One Battle After Another – Andy Jurgensen
F1 – Stephen Mirrione
Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
Sentimental Value – Olivier Bugge Coutté
Sinners – Michael P Shawver
Best sound
WINNER: F1 – Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Frankenstein – Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern
One Battle After Another – José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor
Sinners – Chris Welcker, Benjamin A Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor and Steve Boeddeker
Sirât – Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas
Best visual effects
WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash – Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
F1 – Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington and Keith Dawson
Jurassic World Rebirth – David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan and Neil Corbould
Sinners – Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter and Donnie Dean
The Lost Bus – Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen and Brandon K McLaughlin
Best production design
WINNER: Frankenstein – Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
Hamnet – Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton
Marty Supreme – Jack Fisk and Adam Willis
One Battle After Another – Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino
Sinners – Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne
Best casting
WINNER: One Battle After Another – Cassandra Kulukundis
Hamnet – Nina Gold
Marty Supreme – Jennifer Venditti
Sinners – Francine Maisler
The Secret Agent – Gabriel Domingues
Best make-up and hairstyling
WINNER: Frankenstein – Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey
Kokuho – Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu
Sinners – Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine and Shunika Terry
The Smashing Machine – Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein
The Ugly Stepsister – Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg
Best costume design
WINNER: Frankenstein – Kate Hawley
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Deborah L Scott
Hamnet – Malgosia Turzanska
Marty Supreme – Miyako Bellizz
Sinners – Ruth E Carter
Best animated short
WINNER: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Butterfly
Forevergreen
Retirement Plan
The Three Sisters
Best live action short
WINNER (TIE): The Singers
WINNER (TIE): Two People Exchanging Saliva
A Friend of Dorothy
Butcher’s Stain
Jane Austen’s Period Drama
Best documentary short
WINNER: All the Empty Rooms
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
UDON THANI — A motorcycle ride-hailing driver in Udon Thani has drawn widespread criticism after a video showed him berating an overweight passenger during a trip, sparking a heated argument captured on camera.
The clip was posted on Facebook by a user who wrote, “There are still people like this,” and quickly spread across social media.
In the video, the rider is heard scolding the passenger about their weight, saying people who are overweight should not use the service.
The passenger responds that the driver should put up a sign clearly stating that overweight customers are not accepted.
The rider replies that drivers nowadays “do not take overweight passengers” and claims the practice has existed for a long time, adding that cancelling rides is not a serious issue. “You can ask any driver,” he says in the clip.
The passenger then fires back, saying the driver should have said so earlier and should not judge others. “Don’t judge others for being fat. You’re not thin either. You’re overweight too,” the passenger says.
The passenger later explained that they had booked the ride through an app and got on the motorcycle normally when the driver arrived.
However, the driver rode slowly at about 20–30 km/h. When the passenger asked if he could go faster because they were worried about missing a connecting bus, the driver reportedly replied, “Stop talking. You’re heavy, it’s hard to balance.”
The driver also allegedly said he initially did not want to accept the ride because of the passenger’s weight, prompting the passenger to take out a mobile phone and start recording the incident.
The incident has since sparked widespread debate online. Many social media users criticised the driver for lacking basic service etiquette and said he should not have mocked the passenger’s weight. Others said the situation could have been handled in a more respectful and professional way.
ANG THONG — 16 March 2026, Police have arrested teenage motorcyclists for dangerous riding, including wheelies on a highway, and seized 36 illegal motorcycles in a crackdown following a viral clip.
The footage showed male youths riding recklessly and competing in wheelies on Highway 3454 outside the State Audit Office in Sala Chao Rong Thong subdistrict, Wiset Chai Chan district, on 14 March 2026.
On the night of 15 March 2026, Ang Thong provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Kitti Sakunee ordered a joint operation led by senior officers and about 50 police personnel from multiple stations, including Wiset Chai Chan, Mueang Ang Thong, Pho Thong, Samko and Bang Chak.
The operation targeted illegal activity along the Wiset Chai Chan–Pho Thong road near the State Audit Office. Officers tracked down riders seen in the clip and charged them with driving without regard for the safety of others and reckless driving likely to endanger people or property.
Suspects were handed over to investigators at Wiset Chai Chan police station for legal proceedings.
Police also intensified enforcement against illegal motorcycles, seizing 36 vehicles lacking proper registration plates, documentation or required equipment.
Authorities warned visitors gathering along irrigation canal banks in Wiset Chai Chan district that any use of unregistered or non-compliant vehicles would result in arrest and seizure pending further legal action.
Wreckage of a yellow light aircraft after it crashed near a roadside shop in Phra Phutthabat district, Saraburi, around 18:30 on Sunday.
SARABURI — 15 March 2026, A light aircraft crashed into a roadside area in Saraburi’s Phra Phutthabat district on Sunday evening, striking power lines and a large tamarind tree before going down near a village shop and injuring the 75-year-old pilot.
Pol. Lt. Col. Saman Phuwipak, an investigator at Phra Phutthabat Police Station, said authorities received a report from a member of the public that a small aircraft had crashed near a shop along a road in Moo 2 (Soi 6), Than Kasem subdistrict, Phra Phutthabat district. He reported the incident to his superiors before heading to the scene with Pol. Col. Weerawut Damsuwan, superintendent of Phra Phutthabat Police Station, and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation.
At the scene, officers found a yellow light aircraft with the markings “US 27” written in English on its wings and fuselage. The aircraft was severely damaged, with debris scattered across the area.
One person was injured in the crash, a 75-year-old man and resident of Lopburi province. He sustained minor injuries but was conscious and able to communicate before being taken to Phra Phutthabat Hospital.
Nearby, authorities also found a damaged spirit house that appeared to have been struck by the aircraft. A red Yamaha PCX motorcycle, licence plate Khonyor 588 Lopburi, was also damaged and found toppled near the base of a large tamarind tree. The aircraft had reportedly clipped the tree, tearing branches and part of the trunk.
High-voltage power lines running along the roadside were also struck by the aircraft and torn down across four pole sections spanning about 2.5 kilometres, along with two sections of low-voltage lines covering about 1.5 kilometres, causing a widespread power outage in the area.
Workers repair power lines damaged when the light aircraft struck them before crashing
Achara Suksawat, the shop owner at the scene, said she was washing dishes when she heard a very loud engine noise approaching.
“I thought someone had brought a racing car to the resort nearby because the sound was extremely loud,” she said.
Moments later, she heard a crash and saw the aircraft strike the tamarind tree in front of her house before going down.
“I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. I ran out and saw an injured man lying there, still holding his phone,” she said.
Achara Suksawat, a shop owner, speaks to reporters after the aircraft crashed near her roadside shop
A small fire also broke out after the crash, but she and her brother managed to extinguish it with water before it could spread. Villagers and friends of the injured man later arrived and helped transport him to Phra Phutthabat Hospital.
Achara said local residents told her the injured pilot was believed to be a flight instructor and possibly a military officer, though she was unsure if that information was accurate.
She added that the large tamarind tree in front of her house likely prevented the aircraft from crashing directly into the building.
“I believe it was the protection of Luang Pho Khuai. I keep his image in my home, and I believe it protected us,” she said, referring to a revered monk.
She also said workers who usually sit under the tamarind tree to eat and drink were not there that day. Her nine-year-old grandson, nicknamed Boom, a Grade 3 student at Anuban Phra Phutthabat School, had been eating instant noodles near the spirit house moments earlier and had just walked away when the crash occurred. He sustained a minor head injury after being struck by a piece of debris.
According to villagers working in nearby fields, the aircraft had been flying unusually low and appeared to be experiencing mechanical problems. Witnesses said they heard the engine rev loudly before the plane struck high-voltage power lines, lost control and crashed into the large tamarind tree in front of the shop.
Pol. Lt. Col. Saman said investigators initially believe the aircraft may have been returning from a training flight and attempting to land at a small private airfield called Thantawan, located between Soi 4 and Soi 5, about 1 km from the crash site.
The pilot may have been trying to contact ground control to request a landing when the aircraft malfunctioned, leading to the crash, he said.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
BANGKOK — 16 March 2026, The government has warned the public to be wary of online scammers luring victims with fake “free fuel coupons” and links designed to siphon money from bank accounts.
Deputy government spokeswoman Lallida Pherdvivatana said the Anti-Online Crime Centre (AOC 1441) had issued an alert over a new scam exploiting global tensions and volatile oil prices. Fraudsters are circulating messages and advertisements claiming to offer free fuel coupons or discounts during an energy crisis to trick people into clicking links.
The messages are being spread via SMS, social media and fake advertisements impersonating petrol stations or well-known brands. They often use attention-grabbing phrases such as “Claim your 500-baht free fuel” or “Today only special coupon” to pressure victims into clicking without verification.
Lallida said that once victims click the link, they are redirected to fake websites resembling legitimate ones and prompted to enter sensitive information such as national ID numbers, bank card details or one-time passwords (OTP). The stolen data is then used to access bank accounts or conduct transactions immediately, with funds often transferred out within minutes.
In one case, a 34-year-old company employee received an SMS claiming to be a promotional campaign marking the anniversary of a well-known petrol station, offering a 500-baht fuel coupon. After clicking the link and submitting details to verify eligibility, more than 80,000 baht was transferred from the victim’s account in under 10 minutes. In another case, an online vendor lost more than 50,000 baht after responding to a fake social media advertisement offering a 300-baht fuel coupon.
The AOC advised the public to exercise caution when clicking links from SMS or unverified advertisements and to avoid entering card details, passwords or OTPs on suspicious websites. People should check promotions only through official company websites or pages.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency or exclusive benefits to deceive victims, Lallida said, urging the public to verify information carefully before providing sensitive data online.
If you are a victim of online fraud
AOC hotline: 1441 — request account suspension and assistance
Government hotline: 1111 — report scams or fake news
BANGKOK — King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida presided over the State Opening of Parliament on 14 March following the completion of the general election.
During the ceremony, the King delivered a royal address formally declaring the parliamentary session open.
“Now that the election of members of the House of Representatives has been completed and parliament has been convened for the year 2569 (2026), I hereby declare the opening of the parliamentary session from this moment onward,” the King said.
“I ask all of you who will perform legislative duties on behalf of the people of the entire country to uphold righteousness and the well-being of the people as your highest goal. Any deliberations that take place in this parliament should proceed in accordance with the constitutional process and achieve results that truly benefit the nation and the people.”
The King concluded by wishing that parliamentary proceedings run smoothly and that all involved enjoy happiness and prosperity.
BANGKOK — Human Rights Watch on 12 March urged Thai authorities to release Vietnamese anti-corruption activist Le Chi Thanh and ensure he is not forcibly returned to Vietnam, warning he could face arbitrary detention, torture and an unfair trial.
Le Chi Thanh, 43, was arrested by Thai immigration police on 6 March at his home in Pathum Thani after Vietnamese authorities cancelled his passport, which invalidated his visa. He is currently being held at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Center while appealing an order to revoke his visa and deport him.
“Returning Le Chi Thanh to Vietnam would place the outspoken anti-corruption activist in grave danger,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. She urged Thai authorities to release him, reinstate his visa and ensure he is not deported.
Human Rights Watch said Le Chi Thanh, a former Vietnamese police officer, used social media to expose alleged corruption in Vietnam and had previously been imprisoned over posts criticising authorities before travelling to Thailand in 2025.
The group added that Thailand’s Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act and international obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture prohibit returning people to countries where they risk torture or persecution.
