The American Express Times
Monday, April 20, 2026
New plan to lower oil price
Thailand’s Energy Ministry is considering a second cut to refining margins this week, which could reduce fuel prices by over 2 baht per litre following a sharp spike in margins observed in early April. This move aims to ease the cost of living while carefully managing the country’s oil fund, which has accrued significant debt…
★ Featured Stories
PM, key ministers head North to ramp up pollution fight
Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul is leading a multi-ministerial delegation to Chiang Mai to coordinate government efforts against severe PM2.5 air pollution caused by wildfires and…
Iran says final deal with US still far off
Iran kept the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed amid stalled negotiations with the United States, demanding the lifting of a U.S. blockade on its ports…
Four arrested in cocaine ring bust
Thai police arrested four suspects, including Nigerian leader Nwaiwu Ifeanyi Placid, in a crackdown on a cocaine trafficking syndicate operating in Bangkok's nightlife districts. The…
Heat in 'danger' zone for 19 days
Bangkok has endured 19 straight days with hazardous heat index levels reaching between 42 and 51.9 degrees Celsius, posing serious health risks to residents. Authorities…
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Pacific nation to renew its climate fight
Vanuatu is reviving its push at the United Nations General Assembly with a revised draft resolution to strengthen accountability for climate-related losses and damages, following…
Remains of 50 babies, 6 adults found in Trinidad and Tobago
Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago discovered the remains of at least 50 infants and six adults at a cemetery near Port of Spain, prompting an…
Rublev, Fils fight back to reach final
Arthur Fils and Andrey Rublev both overcame first-set deficits to reach the Barcelona Open final, while Flavio Cobolli upset Alexander Zverev in Munich to end…
Suvichaya hot on Kim’s heels in LA
South Korea’s Sei Young Kim retained her two-stroke lead after three rounds at the LA Championship, scoring a 1-under 71 to reach 15-under 201 overall.…
Smoother sailing sinks oil prices
Iran announced that commercial vessels would be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz freely during the current ceasefire, prompting a sharp drop in oil…
Cop charged after Pattaya shooting
A Pattaya police deputy inspector has been charged with murder after fatally shooting a cannabis shop owner during an off-duty altercation on Walking Street. The…
Australian soldier charged with war crimes vows to clear name
Ben Roberts-Smith, a decorated former Australian soldier, has denied multiple war crimes charges related to unlawful killings in Afghanistan and pledged to clear his name…
Car scheme doubts
The Thai government has introduced an “old car for new” program offering subsidies and low-interest loans to encourage the replacement of older vehicles with electric…
Rybakina to meet Muchova
Elena Rybakina defeated Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1 to reach the Stuttgart Open final, where she will face Karolina Muchova. This marks Rybakina’s third final of…
Fitzpatrick extends lead, Scheffler charges
Matt Fitzpatrick extended his lead to three shots after a 68 in the third round of the RBC Heritage, while Scottie Scheffler surged into second…
OR launches self-service fuel pilot
PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc has introduced a self-service fuel system at select stations, allowing customers to refuel independently with a discount of 0.40…
Shady package leads to 6 arrests
Bangkok police arrested six South Korean men tied to an alleged online gambling scheme after discovering suspicious packages containing OTP generators, SIM cards, and mobile…
China seeks regulatory checks on growing AI ‘digital humans’
China's Cyberspace Administration has proposed new regulations to oversee the creation and use of AI-generated "digital humans," requiring clear labeling and banning unauthorized deepfake avatars…
7k+ Muslims to attend pilgrimage
Over 7,000 Muslims from southern Thailand are set to perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year, with the first group leaving from Hat Yai Airport on…
Gunman kills at least six people in Ukraine supermarket shooting
A gunman killed six people and injured at least 14 others in a mass shooting at a Kyiv supermarket before police fatally shot him after…
Norathip’s gaffe shows mistrust still rife
Lieutenant General Norathip Poyonok, commander of Thailand’s Fourth Army Region, faces calls for removal after linking private Islamic religious schools to violence and sparking controversy…
Napoli’s Serie A title defence nears end
Napoli's hopes of winning back-to-back Serie A titles suffered a major setback with a 2-0 home loss to Lazio, leaving them 12 points behind Inter…
Petrol station night curfew considered for motorists
The Thai government is considering a nightly curfew for petrol stations from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to address fuel supply volatility and rising prices.…
Thai firms exit Cambodia amid tensions
Several major Thai companies, including Major Cineplex Group and Thai President Foods, have scaled back or ceased operations in Cambodia due to ongoing nationalist backlash…
Hormuz reopening helps lift gold to one-month high
Gold prices rose to nearly $1,870 per ounce after Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, alleviating concerns about a prolonged Middle East conflict and its…
Pattaya City pushes Koh Lan overhaul
Pattaya City is overseeing the redevelopment of Koh Lan Na Baan pier and launching a waste incineration center to improve infrastructure and environmental management on…
Abuja and Ankara strike new 17-year defence deal
Nigeria and Turkey have signed a 17-year defense cooperation agreement to enhance Nigeria’s ability to combat jihadist insurgencies through joint training and defense industry collaboration,…
City’s Kensington Gardens reopens after terror scare
London authorities reopened Kensington Gardens after determining that suspicious items found near the Israeli embassy posed no immediate threat. The investigation followed an online claim…
China muscles in to act as regional power broker
China has escalated its diplomatic and military efforts to assert influence in global hotspots, including increased pressure in the South China Sea and a strategic…
Senate panel proposes VAT hike to curb debt
Thailand’s Senate committee on economic and fiscal affairs has proposed a tax reform package that includes raising the VAT rate from 7% to 10% and…
Two water contractors killed by IDF in Gaza, UN condemns
Two UNICEF contractors supplying clean water in northern Gaza were fatally shot by Israeli forces at the Mansoura water filling point, the only active station…
Lebanon army restores vital road and bridge damaged by strikes
Lebanon’s military reopened a crucial road and partially restored bridges damaged by Israeli airstrikes amid a largely upheld 10-day ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. This…
World watches as Pope Leo bedevils Trump
Pope Leo XIV has publicly condemned calls for religiously justified violence amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions, directly challenging inflammatory rhetoric from President Trump and Defense Secretary…
Bayern on cusp of title as Dortmund lose, Eta beaten
Bayern Munich moved within reach of their 35th Bundesliga title as Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 to Hoffenheim, extending Bayern’s lead to 12 points and requiring…
Metthier rolls out robots at Suvarnabhumi
Metthier, a subsidiary of SKY ICT, plans to deploy humanoid robots at Suvarnabhumi Airport by the end of 2026 to assist with passenger services and…
Natural gas key to growth
PTT Plc is ramping up its LNG trading operations with plans to increase volumes from 3.3 million tonnes in 2025 to 15 million tonnes by…
Baby brand recalls food jars
Austrian baby food company HiPP has recalled all jars from its "Carrot/Potato 190 grams" product line after possible rat poison contamination, believed to be an…
King James still reigns at 41 in rout
LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series, recording…
Buriram fall short in extra-time
Buriram United was eliminated from the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals after a 3-2 extra-time loss to Shabab Al Ahli, despite rallying from two early…
Pope Leo holds mass in Luanda
Pope Leo XIV held an open-air Mass near Luanda during the second day of his visit to Angola, calling for action against poverty, oppression, and…
Pitcher Sale shuts down Phillies as Braves fly high
Chris Sale pitched seven strong innings and Mauricio Dubon’s two-run single helped the Atlanta Braves secure a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, marking their…
Popp last-gasp pen saves Kirins
Muang Thong United won 2-1 against Nakhon Ratchasima thanks to a last-minute penalty converted by Willen Popp after a VAR review confirmed a handball in…