Stocks slide as oil soars past $100 on Mideast warOil topped $100 a barrel for the first time since Russia's 2022 invasion of UkraineLONDON - Stock markets slumped as energy prices soared on Monday as supply disruptions from the Middle East war drove volatility and fanned inflation fears. Oil prices rocketed above $100 a barrel for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, after Iran retaliated to US-Israeli strikes by targeting sites in crude-producing Gulf nations. The jump in prices was even more vertiginous than after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when oil touched $130.50 per barrel. Asian stocks fell sharply as oil prices spiked. But equities in Europe and on Wall Street cut their losses as oil prices gave up their gains, even as G7 nations held off releasing oil from their strategic reserves.

Zelensky says 11 countries asking Ukraine for drone help against IranAn Iranian-designed Shahed 136 drone during a Russian attack on Kyiv in DecemberKYIV (UKRAINE) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that 11 countries had tapped Kyiv for help in how to counter Iranian drones being fired by Tehran in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes. "As of now, there are 11 requests from countries neighbouring Iran, European states, and the US. Some Ukrainian drone experts are already en route to the Middle East and are due there this week, Zelensky said over the weekend. Ukraine has proposed swapping Kyiv's drone interceptors -- drones designed to intercept incoming attack craft mid-air -- for expensive air defence missiles that Kyiv is in short supply of. Kyiv uses a mix of cheap drone interceptors, electronic jamming tools, anti-aircraft guns, fighter jets and helicopters to defend its skies from the Russian attacks.

Supply chains once optimised purely for cost are being redesigned for resilience, redundancy and geopolitical risk management. 'CHINA+1' AND BEYONDFor nearly three decades, China served as the backbone of global manufacturing, accounting for 28–30% of global manufacturing output. Meanwhile, China remains central to upstream supply chains, creating a more layered and distributed ecosystem rather than a full relocation. To remain competitive in the new supply chain order, Thailand can focus on several structural advantages:1. Strengthen regional supply chain integration: Thailand is well-positioned to act as a coordination hub linking Asean manufacturing networks to global markets through logistics, industrial services and digital supply chain platforms.

Mr Asadej said the Stock Exchange of Thailand believes foreign investors will return to Thailand once geopolitical tensions ease, as the Thai market can act as a safe haven in the region. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has expressed confidence that foreign investors will return to Thai equities once geopolitical tensions subside, noting that Thailand could serve as a regional safe haven and that the bourse has robust mechanisms to manage volatility during periods of crisis. Foreign investors have reduced their exposure to Thai equities recently, and market participants are closely monitoring flows in March. Mr Soraphol noted that the Thai stock market benefits from a diverse investor base and open investment structure. We believe foreign investors will return to Thailand once geopolitical tensions ease, as the Thai market can act as a safe haven in the region," Mr Asadej pointed out.

Premium teas and matcha from leading regions around the globe will be presented for your pleasure during World Taste Of Tea 2026, which will kick off tomorrow and run until March 17 on the 1st floor of CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Road. Held to offer a full spectrum tea tasting experience, the festival is an experiential platform that connects international brands, Thai SMEs and local producers, helping to expand the market while integrating tea culture into Bangkok's evolving lifestyle economy. They include yerba mate tea from Argentina; the Trunk brand from Japan; Sri Lanka's Dilmah brand; masala chai from India; Hua Cha Tea House from Kanchanaburi and Lin's Tea House & Eatery from Rayong; and the South Korean Super Matcha brand. Tea Bar, Two Be Tea, Sanji Matcha and Matshun.BKK. Take delight in Hong Kong egg tarts from Hashtag B; matcha sourdough shio pan from Tiengna Viennoiserie; and warabi mochi from Sanji Matcha.

Rising energy costs imperil Thai manufacturer's profitsGeopolitical conflicts in the Middle East are driving up energy costs, potentially affecting the logistics operations and packaging manufacturing arm of SET-listed Osotspa Plc (OSP), a Thai consumer product manufacturing conglomerate. The company has secured raw material contracts for the next six months, said Ratiporn Ratcharoen, group chief financial officer at OSP. In the worst-case scenario, if energy prices rise to US$140-150, profit margins could decrease by 1-2% this year. The situation in the Middle East could also affect sea freight shipments, as deliveries may be postponed. She believes that the company has various brands in its portfolio that are able to serve various segments of consumers.

The government is urged to prepare for a possible surge of travellers seeking a safe haven in Thailand. Yuthasak Supasorn, chairman of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, said the current conflict in the Middle East has reminded the tourism industry of the Russia-Ukraine war, where the short-term impact first falls on fuel prices and consequently affects international airfares, reducing long-haul markets. He said while the war in Eastern Europe has affected the long-term cost structure of aviation, the conflict in the Middle East has instead created immediate disruptions to regional flight schedules. The impact is expected to be apparent during the Eid al-Adha festival in May, which is a major travel season for the Middle Eastern market. This has led to the emergence of new travellers whose motivations extend beyond leisure, including escaping war, seeking temporary refuge or recovery, and pursuing relocation or investment, creating new dynamics for Thailand's tourism sector.

Amazon Web Services eyes Thailand as future AI hubMr Vatsun urged the government to continue its cloud-first policy and adopt AI governance to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence. Cloud service provider Amazon Web Services (AWS) Thailand has positioned its local cloud region as a future artificial intelligence (AI) hub, targeting enterprises' rising demand for highly complex, independent "frontier AI agents". "Our core advantage is providing the exact same global standard of cloud services worldwide. "We're going to see the rise of AI agents that can perform tasks and automate work. Key innovations include autonomous AI agents designed to automate software development, security testing, and operational troubleshooting without human intervention.

Thailand's smartphone market likely to face contractionThailand's smartphone market is likely to contract amid economic uncertainty, the Middle East conflict and rising memory component costs, according to Thai Samsung Electronics Co. The company said smartphone prices are expected to increase starting this month, while shortages of some models may occur in the second quarter due to supply constraints and higher component costs. Thais usage of artificial intelligence (AI) features ranks among the top two globally as AI-based smartphones are becoming more popular in the local smartphone market. Before the Iran war erupted, the mobile phone market this year was projected to be flat. Increasing pricesCommencing this month, Samsung will raise its smartphone prices by 5-20% due to the rising cost of memory.

Both wars broke out immediately after the end of a Winter Olympics -- and before the start of the subsequent Paralympics and ahead of a summer World Cup. He said Infantino, and IOC chief Kirsty Coventry, were showing "pragmatism" in the face of political reality. In addition to hosting the World Cup, the US will also host the next Olympics, in Los Angeles in 2028. "But it's quite rational, because he wants his World Cup to go well." Even though it has qualified, it could miss the World Cup.

France, allies preparing bid to 'gradually' reopen Strait of HormuzFrench President Emmanuel Macron was in Cyprus on Monday to discuss regional securityABOARD THE FRENCH AIRCRAFT CARRIER CHARLES DE GAULLE - France and its allies are preparing a "defensive" mission to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, President Emmanuel Macron said Monday as the Middle East war entered its second week. Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key Gulf waterway through which a fifth of global crude passes, has all but halted since the war broke out. The flagship Charles de Gaulle may eventually be deployed to the Strait of Hormuz as part of the announced mission, Macron said. Macron earlier said that France would contribute "in the long term" with two frigates to Operation Aspides. Separately, the French president on Monday morning spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon, the Elysee said.

Prior to the announcement, Mr Anutin had ordered a 15-day diesel price freeze, which is due to expire in five days. Finance Minister Ekniti said that, with global oil prices continuing to rise, Thailand must adapt quickly to reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels. Mr Santi said he had received a report that some businesses in Phangnga had experienced disruptions to their operations due to fuel shortages. "Rising fuel prices can affect other goods and services, potentially causing hardship for consumers," Mr Santi said. Separately, Korn Chatikavanij, Democrat deputy leader, called for the reintroduction of work-from-home measures to reduce domestic oil consumption as global oil prices surged above $110 per barrel on Monday.

Water emerges as a dangerous new war targetSeawater desalination plants, like this one in Saudi Arabia, provide drinking water to millions of people in the Middle East. Bahrain's interior ministry said Sunday that an Iranian drone attack damaged a water desalination plant, accusing Tehran of "randomly" targeting civilian infrastructure. Bahrain's national communication office later said the Iranian attack on a water desalination facility has had no impact on water supplies or network capacity. That makes desalination plants essential to the economy and drinking water supplies in the region. Desalination plants are often interconnected, which can limit the impact if one facility shuts down.

Bangkok Bank’s B2,000 e‑Savings minimum sparks outcryBangkok Bank has come under heavy criticism after announcing a new requirement that all e‑Savings accounts must maintain a minimum balance of 2,000 baht from April 9, or customers will be unable to withdraw or transfer funds. Under the new rule, any transaction that would reduce the balance below 2,000 baht will be blocked. Bangkok Bank urged customers to check their balances before making transactions and to top up their accounts if needed to ensure uninterrupted use of the e‑Savings product. Others said they planned to withdraw their money and close their accounts before the new rule takes effect. E‑Savings accounts are opened digitally through the bank’s mobile application and do not have a physical passbook, a feature that has made them popular for small deposits and light use.

Ukrainian bank worker detained by Hungary was forcibly medicated: KyivBudapest is yet to return the $40 million, €35 million and nine kilogrammes of gold bars seized from state-owned Oschadbank. (Photo: AFP)KYIV (UKRAINE) - Kyiv on Monday accused Hungary of grossly violating the rights of seven Ukrainian bank employees -- including by forcibly drugging a man with diabetes -- after they were detained with a truck of cash and gold. Kyiv said it was a routine transfer that abided by all relevant laws, but Hungary said they were arrested on a money-laundering probe. Kyiv said the actions were "unacceptable and disproportionate", amounting to a "cynical violation" of the European human rights conventions. But Hungary, which is a close partner of Russia, says Ukraine is deliberately stalling the re-opening in a form of "blackmail".