Keeping Asia's growth engine on track
Keeping Asia's growth engine on trackThis file photo, dated July 23, 2022, shows visitors hanging ribbons with messages calling for peace and reunification at a park near the DMZ, in Imjingak, South Korea. Strong domestic demand, rising middle classes, and rapid technological adoption continue to propel the region forward, cementing its role as the central driver of global economic growth. Geopolitical and geoeconomic pressures are accumulating in ways that threaten trade, investment, and regional stability. What were once treated as episodic shocks -- tariff disputes, political crises, or supply-chain disruptions -- are now hardening into structural challenges capable of reshaping Asia's economic trajectory. In this high-stakes environment, security and economic resilience are two sides of the same coin -- each indispensable to keeping Asia's growth engine from grinding to a halt.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 18:05 UTC
PTT eyes partners across value chain
Mr Kongkrapan has stressed the need for PTT to find new partners to strengthen its businesses. National oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc is seeking new business partners, hoping to secure additional funding to strengthen businesses within the PTT Group and create synergies to enhance long-term performance. PTT is planning to sell shares in its oil refining and petrochemical subsidiaries -- Thai Oil Plc, PTT Global Chemical Plc (GC) and IRPC Plc -- to global petrochemical companies seeking to expand in Southeast Asia. PTT will also approach investors about its electric vehicle (EV) charging business, operated by PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), he said. In the oil and retail business, PTT recorded an improvement in the non-oil segment, with net profit at OR rising by 47.8% year-on-year to 11.3 billion baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:53 UTC
Drilling down on US tariff manoeuvres
After the Supreme Court swatted away Trump's initial tariff attempt, he is expected to explore other avenuesGlobal trade is grappling with uncertainties stemming from unpredictable US trade policy regarding tariffs. The Explainer explores the implications of the recent tariff announcement on US trading partners and anticipates possible new measures. The new baseline duty is imposed under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows the president to impose tariffs unilaterally. Most of these suits were already in progress before the Supreme Court decision. One concern for regional economies is the potential end of product-specific tariff exemptions once Section 232 investigations related to national security conclude.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:53 UTC
Oakwood to debut in Hat Yai with CPN venture
Oakwood to debut in Hat Yai with CPN ventureAn artist's rendering of Oakwood Central Hat Yai, which is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The development marks the debut of the Oakwood brand in Hat Yai, reflecting strong hospitality demand in one of southern Thailand's economic hubs. Just 20 minutes from Hat Yai airport, the property is designed to cater to both leisure and urban living needs. Oakwood Central Hat Yai is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, offering 182 rooms and suites to capture growing cross-border travel demand from regional markets. Phoom Chirathivat, head of hotel business at CPN, said Hat Yai has strong year-round demand from both business and leisure travellers.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:53 UTC
Asian shares poised for best February on record
Asian shares poised for best February on recordRECAP: Asian shares were mixed yesterday as concerns about technology company valuations and geopolitical hotspots weighed on sentiment. But the MSCI Asia Pacific Index has gained 7.1% this month, making it the best February performance on record. After solid market gains since beginning of the week, the Thai index slid Friday on profit taking. Retail investors were net buyers of 3.54 billion baht, followed by brokerage firms at 1.25 billion and foreign investors at 430.37 million. Export value plunged 30.7% to 9.7 billion baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:53 UTC
Tech-led correction unlikely to be the last
Tech-led correction unlikely to be the lastPhoto: 123RFFollowing a correction in the US stock market prompted by concerns over high valuations of technology stocks and the potential disruption artificial intelligence (AI) could bring to various businesses, market concerns about a technology and AI bubble have begun to ease. However, we believe concerns about AI disruption in the technology and transport sectors will persist for some time. Elsewhere, a lower US inflation figure than expected for January improved the prospects for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, positively impacting the stock market. We expect global stock markets to remain volatile due to concerns about AI disruption until related stocks return to more attractive levels. We expect earnings to grow year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter in the next four quarters, thanks to the lower credit and funding costs.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:49 UTC
Regulator devises plan to secure LNG supply
Regulator devises plan to secure LNG supplyPTT's LNG receiving terminal in Map Ta Phut, Rayong. PTT PlcThe Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is preparing contingency measures to secure liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply as tensions between the US and Iran raise concerns over shipping routes in the Middle East. Natural gas, including LNG, fuels about 60% of Thailand's electricity generation. Measures include increasing piped natural gas from domestic and regional sources, securing additional LNG through long-term contracts (term LNG) and short-term purchases (spot LNG). Term LNG contracts provide stable supply over many years, while spot LNG allows buyers to purchase cargoes on the open market at current prices, offering flexibility but exposing them to volatility.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:49 UTC
Thailand targets global AI hub status
Suphachai Chearavanont says policymakers need to strengthen country's local digital capabilitiesMr Suphachai says Thailand urgently needs a comprehensive master plan and governance framework for AI. Policymakers should advance data localisation frameworks and strengthen local digital capabilities to enhance Thailand's long-term competitiveness in the global digital economy, he said. "Thailand urgently needs a comprehensive master plan and governance framework for AI," said Mr Suphachai. Global tech giants from the US and China, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Alibaba and Huawei, are seeking to invest in Thailand rather than taking sides. Most Thai digital businesses operate merely as original equipment manufacturers and do not own their own brands or intellectual property.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:49 UTC
Experienced Tasana shows class in ninth WBC Asia defence
Experienced Tasana shows class in ninth WBC Asia defenceTasana Salapat, right, and Mark Antonio fight during the WBC Asia bantamweight title bout. Both losses came in world title challenges, most recently against three division world champion Junto Nakatani in 2024. In the sixth round, a clash of heads resulted in a deep cut over Tasana's right eye, a common risk when a left handed fighter faces an orthodox opponent. The victory marked his ninth defence of the WBC Asia bantamweight title and kept him firmly positioned at No.12 in the WBC world rankings. What is clear is that Tasana remains within striking distance of world title contention.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:33 UTC
Ariya charges into contention
Ariya charges into contentionAriya Jutanugarn tees off at the first hole during the second round yesterday. The Thai world No.21 is just one stroke behind American Auston Kim, who shot a three-under-par 69 for a nine-under 135 total to sit atop the leaderboard for the second successive day. She finished the second round on eight-under 136 alongside Ariya and South Korea's Ryu Hae-Ran, who hit her second successive four-under 68. "Today I made some mistakes on my tee shots and approach shots, but my putting was very good. The weight of my putts was not perfect, but I managed to make the shots," said Ariya.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 17:33 UTC
UK Labour party loses parliamentary seat to left-wing Greens
UK Labour party loses parliamentary seat to left-wing GreensLeft-wing Greens beat the Britain's ruling Labour party in crunch local polls. Labour also finished behind the hard-right Reform UK party in the by-election for the parliamentary seat of Gorton and Denton in Manchester, as the country’s traditional two-party system fractures. Reform candidate Matt Goodwin, a 44-year-old political scientist registered some 10,500 votes, while Labour won just over 9,300. Anti-immigration Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, have led national surveys for over a year. Labour's candidate, Angeliki Stogia, was selected to run after the party's ruling body blocked the candidacy of popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 16:36 UTC
Japan PM opposes changing male-only imperial succession
Japan PM opposes changing male-only imperial successionJapan's Emperor Naruhito (centre left), Empress Masako (centre right), and other members of the Imperial Family wave to well-wishers during a public audience celebrating the Emperor's 66th birthday, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. (Photo: AFP)TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on Friday that she opposes changing the imperial family's male succession rules. The premier previously warned that revising the imperial family's succession rules is "an urgent matter", although this would likely involve "adopting" new members. During a policy speech last , she said that she hoped "discussions will deepen on how to ensure stable imperial succession... leading toward the revision of the Imperial House Law". Traditionalists have asserted that the "unbroken imperial line" of male succession is the foundation of Japan, and major changes would divide the nation.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 16:07 UTC
French prosecutors probe Al-Fayeds over sex trafficking
French prosecutors probe Al-Fayeds over sex traffickingScores of women say they were raped or molested by the late Egyptian-born tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed. French authorities began investigating the late Egyptian businessman and his brother Salah last year amid allegations of a vast system of sex trafficking and abuse on French soil. The French investigation, however, is handled by "a unit specialised in human trafficking", she told AFP. Louw told AFP she was first "spotted" by Mohamed Al-Fayed in 1993 while working as a sales assistant at Harrods. "The pattern is the same: selecting vulnerable young women, transport, accommodation, isolation and money, which is used to intimidate or corrupt," she said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 15:58 UTC
Love or lie?
To raise awareness of romance scams, COFACT (Collaborative Fact Checking) organised the forum “Love Or Lie? Supinya Klangnarong, founder of COFACT, said that romance scams are closer to people than they think. “This case made me realise that romance scams are closer to us than we think," Supinya said. Lt Col Peabprom explained that the format of a scammer’s behaviour is to make friends with a victim and quickly claim that they have fallen in love with the victim. When asked what kinds of warning signs can help alert the victims to the fact that they are being scammed, Lt Col Peabprom emphasised that love bombing is the first.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 15:51 UTC
Graft body hands over gold worth B1.5bn from ex-tax dept boss
The confiscated haul amounts to about 20,976 baht‑weight of gold (one baht‑weight equals 15.2 grammes), or roughly 319 kilogrammes. The NACC earlier found Satit “unusually wealthy” while he served as chief of the Revenue Department. The Supreme Court subsequently ordered the gold forfeited to the state. The impounded gold is part of a broader NACC investigation into a value‑added tax (VAT) refund fraud that cost the Revenue Department about 3.09 billion baht between 2012 and 2013. The scheme caused losses of over 3.09 billion baht to the state.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 15:44 UTC