Saturday 14 March 2026

Good morning Bangkok. A little late today thanks to a publishing hiccup, but the news doesn’t wait. Let’s get into it. It's Saturday and we're looking at 28-37°C (82-99°F) today with cloudy skies and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms as the summer storm warning extends to 48 provinces. The heat index is at "warning" level, so avoid outdoor activity between 11 AM and 3 PM if you can. PM2.5 hit 43.7 µg/m³ yesterday, above the safe standard of 37.5. Wear a mask if you're exercising outside. Let's get into it.

Thailand's newly elected parliament holds its opening ceremony today, with King Maha Vajiralongkorn presiding over the event at Parliament House in Dusit. The ceremony follows the February 8 general election in which PM Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party won 191 of 500 seats. The House of Representatives is expected to hold its first working session tomorrow (Sunday) to elect a speaker and two deputy speakers. Anutin confirmed on Thursday that his coalition has been finalized: 13 parties holding approximately 291 seats, with Pheu Thai (74 seats) as the largest junior partner. Rumors point to Sophon Saram, currently deputy prime minister and a close associate of Newin Chidchob, as the likely speaker. The PM vote is expected around March 19. The People's Party (120 seats), which will lead the opposition, has tabled nine reform bills including electricity market liberalization and climate legislation. Voters also approved a constitutional referendum on election day, starting the process to replace the 2017 charter.

Bottom line: After three prime ministers in three years, Thailand is hoping for stability. If the timeline holds, Anutin should be confirmed as PM within a week. For expats, watch the energy and economic policy announcements. The new government inherits a diesel price freeze that's expiring, an oil crisis from Hormuz, and a US trade investigation. How quickly they act on these fronts will matter more than the ceremony today.

Thailand has expanded its crude oil stockpiles from 92 to 98 days of supply, as officials seek alternative sources and consider Russian imports for the first time. The expansion comes as Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first public statement, vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and warning that Iran could open "other fronts if necessary." The statement was read by a state TV anchor, with no video or audio of Khamenei himself released since the conflict began. Meanwhile, the 20 rescued crew from the Mayuree Naree have arrived safely in Oman, but search operations continue for the three missing sailors. The Royal Thai Navy is coordinating with Oman's navy through diplomatic channels. Separately, Thailand's Excise Department and Navy intercepted the vessel "B Maru 3" carrying 250,000 liters of illegal diesel, a sign that fuel smuggling is already increasing in response to the crisis. SCB EIC Senior Economist Dr. Poonyawat Sreesing warned that Thailand could face stagflation if energy prices surge further.

Bottom line: 98 days sounds comfortable until you realize Iran just promised to keep the strait closed indefinitely. Thailand has banned oil exports (except to Cambodia and Laos), is switching from B5 to B7 diesel starting today, and is running coal-fired power plants at full capacity. The government is in crisis management mode. Fill your tank this weekend. The diesel price cap expires within days and there's no confirmation it will be extended.

A French-owned artisan bakery tucked away in Chongnonsee that consistently gets called the best in Bangkok by people who know their bread. This is not so cute Instagram cafe, but a place for serious bread connoisseurs. Amantee imports premium organic flour from France and bakes everything in-house. The croissants are the reason to come: flaky, buttery, airy, and crisp without being oily. Multiple reviewers say they're the best pastry in Bangkok, full stop. The olive bread is loaded with olives in every bite, the palmiers are sugary and perfect, and the baguettes are the closest thing to Paris you'll find in this city. Fair warning: their best items sell out by late morning, so get there early on a Saturday. The space is small and charming, which is part of the appeal. They also have a counter inside Emporium (Another Story area) if the main shop is too far. 4.6 stars on Google. Croissants from ฿80, breads from ฿120. Open daily from 7:30 AM.

TIP: Go before 10 AM on weekends. The croissants and specialty breads sell out fast. If you can't get to Chongnonsee, the Emporium counter carries the core lineup. Pro move from a reviewer: order your pastries at Amantee, then grab coffee next door at WWA cafe. They'll serve it to you in the bakery.

Address: 2240, 12-13 Chan Kao Road, Chongnonsee, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120. BTS Chong Nonsi, then a 10-minute walk. Street parking available.

14 March is Pi Day (3.14). In 2019, Google engineer Emma Haruka Iwao calculated pi to 31.4 trillion digits using cloud computing. Today, Bangkok's parliament is opening and hopefully calculating a path forward that requires fewer digits of complexity. Happy Pi Day. Treat yourself to an actual pie.

See you tomorrow morning.

— Devon

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