BANGKOK — Sophon Saram on Monday formally received the royal command appointing him Speaker of the House of Representatives at a ceremony held at Parliament.
The ceremony, held at 14:30, also saw Mallika Jirapanvanich receive the royal command appointing her as First Deputy House Speaker, and Lertsak Phattanachaiyakul as Second Deputy House Speaker. The appointment ceremony was conducted before the royal portrait of His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn at the parliament complex.
Cabinet members, representatives from political parties including Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai and Prachachart, as well as senior officials from the Secretariat of the Cabinet and the Secretariat of the House of Representatives attended the event. Participants later gathered for a commemorative group photograph in front of the royal portrait.
Following the ceremony, Sophon said he plans to schedule a parliamentary session to vote for a new prime minister on 19 March.
He said he hoped Thailand would have a fully empowered government before the Songkran festival, noting that the country is currently facing multiple challenges and requires a government able to operate with full authority.
When asked about the proposed constitutional amendments left unresolved by the previous parliament, Sophon said the matter would depend on the position of the incoming government and would have to wait until the new cabinet assumes office.
PATTANI — A border patrol policeman was killed and a suspected insurgent shot dead during a gun battle in Nong Chik district of southern Pattani on Sunday morning, security officials said.
Maj. Gen. Narong Tantisitthiporn, commander of the Pattani Task Force, said authorities received a report at about 05:30 that suspicious individuals believed to be insurgents were hiding in a forest behind a village in Moo 6, Ban Pakalue Song, Tuiyong subdistrict.
Security forces moved to surround the area and coordinated with local leaders to attempt negotiations.
At about 09:30, as officers closed in on a suspected house, the suspects opened fire with military-grade weapons, forcing the officers to take cover and return fire. The gunmen then fled into a rubber plantation behind the village, triggering a firefight that lasted about 10 minutes.
After the shooting subsided, police found that Pol. Sgt. Maj. Warathep Srisuwanchana of Border Patrol Police Company 43 had been critically wounded by a gunshot to the forehead. He was rushed to Pattani Hospital but later died from severe blood loss.
Authorities subsequently deployed a helicopter from the Anothai Task Force to conduct aerial surveillance while ground forces continued to surround the forest area. Suspects hiding in the plantation intermittently fired at officers, leading to further exchanges of gunfire and several explosions. Armoured vehicles were brought forward to support the operation.
By about 11:30, after the situation was brought under control, troops used a military excavator to clear parts of the area before advancing to inspect the site.
Officers discovered the body of a male suspect, believed to be around 30 years old, lying in tall grass inside the rubber plantation. He was dressed in black, and an M16 rifle fitted with a scope was found beside the body and seized as evidence.
Preliminary investigations indicate that at least two suspects were involved, with one escaping. Authorities are continuing to track the fugitive.
Security officials believe the group may be linked to the operational network of an insurgent known as “Wae Aree,” believed to be active in Yarang district. The same group was reportedly involved in a clash with security forces in Tha Kamcham subdistrict on 11 March, when one suspect was killed and two firearms — an M16 rifle and a .38 handgun — were seized.
Authorities suspect the group had been preparing attacks in retaliation against security forces and had been moving improvised explosive devices in the area. Security operations have since been intensified as investigators work to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects.
Thailand’s seafood industry is stepping up sustainability efforts as major retailers in the US and Europe increasingly scrutinise seafood supply chains.
Eight Thai industry groups have launched a long-running Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) under the Thai Sustainable Fisheries Roundtable to promote sustainable fishmeal production in line with the MarinTrust international standard.
The initiative focuses on traceability, factory standards and responsible sourcing of raw materials, aiming to ensure fish used in feed comes from sustainable fisheries.
More than 45 fishmeal factories have joined the programme, with three already achieving full MarinTrust certification — a move expected to strengthen Thailand’s seafood supply chain and competitiveness in global markets.
PATTAYA — 16 March 2026, Police detained nine migrant workers and seized weapons after more than 20 foreigners reportedly gathered for a fight on Pattaya’s Walking Street late Sunday night, causing panic among tourists.
At 23:46, Pol. Lt. Col. Chaowalit Suwanmanee, an inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, led officers from Pattaya police, tourist police and city enforcement officials to investigate reports of a planned brawl in front of the Siam Bayshore Hotel on Walking Street in South Pattaya, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.
Authorities found a large group of migrant workers gathering and preparing to confront a rival group. Officers quickly moved in to control the situation and detained nine suspects, including two Myanmar nationals and three Karen men. The nationalities of the remaining detainees were still being verified.
Police also seized two weapons, a pointed knife and a short folding knife. Some individuals involved in the incident fled the scene amid the confusion and the large number of tourists in the area, escaping on parked motorcycles.
One detained suspect from Myanmar, who could speak limited Thai, told police that more than 20 Myanmar migrant workers had arranged to meet to settle a dispute with a rival group following a previous conflict at the “Blue Square” area of Bali Hai Pier.
However, while the two groups were talking to resolve the issue, Pattaya officials arrived to inspect the area. Believing they were about to be arrested, both sides panicked and scattered, fleeing on motorcycles, the suspect said. He was unable to escape and was taken into custody.
Police have handed the suspects and the seized weapons to investigators at Pattaya City Police Station for legal proceedings and are continuing efforts to track down others who fled the scene.
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.
