Singapore, Taiwan find more assets tied to accused scam kingpin
A Bugatti Chiron Sport is displayed prior to an auction of luxury cars linked to the Cambodia-based Prince Group in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 2, 2026. The local investigation uncovered NT$10.7 billion (US$337 million) in laundered funds, most of which entered Taiwan through foreign currency remittances from 2016 to 2025, it said. Prince Group has denied the US and UK allegations, called them baseless and said they were an attempt to justify “the unlawful seizure of assets worth billions of dollars”. They said the scale of the alleged crimes and the harm caused were “exceptionally severe.”Of the laundered funds they identified, the prosecutors have seized assets valued at over NT$5.5 billion. She was among those sanctioned by the US, and is also one of the individuals Taiwan is indicting.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 16:22 UTC
Texas tests party fault lines as US midterms begin
Texas tests party fault lines as US midterms beginSupporters in Corpus Christi, Texas take pictures at a recent rally by US President Donald Trump, whose agenda is at stake in November's midterm elections. HOUSTON - A bruising Texas Republican primary is advancing to a runoff vote, laying bare the struggle for control of US President Donald Trump's party as the 2026 midterms began on Tuesday, while Democrats sparred over their own direction. Texas anchored the opening slate of the primary season, with North Carolina and Arkansas also holding contests that will help shape the fight for control of Congress. Crockett argues her combative, high-profile style can drive turnout in a state Democrats have not won statewide in three decades. In North Carolina, Democrats are targeting an open Senate seat they view as one of their strongest pickup opportunities.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 15:28 UTC
War to hobble supply chain as trade costs soar
War risk insurance could soar by 400% or more, say Thai industrialists(Bangkok Post file photo)Thai business and industry leaders are concerned that the Mideast war could significantly disrupt logistics and transport costs, with ripple effects for manufacturing in Thailand and other countries. He said war risk insurance premiums are expected to surge by 400-500% as tensions escalate, burdening international trade. “The costs for recalling products to Thailand are lower than the expenses incurred from unloading at alternative ports, which include storage fees. Freight rates from China to ports worldwide have risen by 6.5% compared with the previous week. The war is expected to shrink tourist arrivals from the Middle East by 70,000 to 80,000 this year, noted the JSCCIB.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 15:22 UTC
IMF chief sees three key impacts from war
International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva says slower productivity growth has been keeping the global economy from returning to pre-pandemic levels of economic expansion. Beyond the Middle East region, these impacts spread across countries worldwide, with heightened uncertainties undermining confidence in the global community, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday. The IMF assesses that Asia could increase productivity by 1% if AI is used to its potential. Mrs Georgieva acknowledged that Asia has pivotal role in shaping the global economic landscape. “In a world of high uncertainty, Asia is a driving force of global growth,” she said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 15:22 UTC
Court bans Sen Keskamol for false ‘professor’ claim
Dr Keskamol Pleansamai casts her vote for the Senate president at the first sitting of the newly elected upper house on July 23, 2024. The ruling also means that Dr Keskamol, 47, automatically loses her seat in the 200-member Senate. In one such message, she introduced herself as “Professor Dr Keskamol Pleansamai”, presenting herself as a specialist in mental health and aesthetic dermatology. The EC concluded that introducing herself as “Professor Dr” misled voters and gave Dr Keskamol an unfair advantage, violating Sections 62 and 77 of the organic law on the selection of senators. Dr Keskamol is also one of dozens of senators being investigated for collusion and vote-rigging in the 2024 poll.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 15:22 UTC
Iran claims ‘total control’ of Strait of Hormuz
A satellite image taken on March 2, 2026 shows smoke billowing from a vessel following an explosion from the port of Bandar Abbas along the strait of Hormuz. (Photo by 2026 Planet Labs PBC via AFP)TEHRAN - Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday they had total control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transit, as Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital. In Lebanon, which Hezbollah dragged into the war, Israel expanded its air strikes, targeting the area around the presidential palace and the militant group’s south Beirut bastion, killing 11 people according to Lebanese authorities. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the US and Israeli attacks have killed 787 people in Iran, a toll that could not be independently confirmed by AFP. On Wednesday, the European Commission said it was “ready” to defend EU interests after President Donald Trump threatened to sever trade with Spain for refusing to allow the US use of its bases to attack Iran.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 15:19 UTC
Thai stock market recovers after trading halt
The graph from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) shows the temporary trading halt just before the end of the morning trading session on Wednesday. On a day when local institutions (5.4 billion baht) and brokers (9.5 billion baht) were net sellers of Thai shares, bargain-hunting foreign investors were net buyers of just over 1 billion baht. The day also featured a trading halt on the SET, mai and Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) at 12.18pm, when the SET index plunged 117.52 points. All brokers were temporarily prohibited from using program trading from the resumption of trading until the market close on Wednesday. The slump in Thai stocks effectively wipes out the nearly 14% gains that the market had experienced after the decisive election victory by the Bhumjaithai Party last month.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 15:16 UTC
First Thai returnees expected to leave Mideast on Saturday
Overland travellers cross into Turkey from Iran at the Kapikoy border gate in eastern Van province on March 2, 2026. Thais seeking to return home from Iran will need to travel to Turkey first before boarding flights. (Photo: Reuters)The government will open registration on Thursday for Thai nationals seeking to return from the war-torn Middle East, with the first group expected to depart on Saturday. No Thai nationals have been reported injured or killed since the conflict began, acting Labour Minister Treenuch Thienthong said on Wednesday. About 28,000 Thai labourers are currently residing in Israel, with around 50 having made requests to return, the minister said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 14:31 UTC
What is worse than being told a lie? Being told a bad lie
What is worse than being told a lie? Being told a bad lieConstruction gloves at the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok. After receiving the accolade, it was found that the award-winning SSO account seemingly needed 69.5 million baht to achieve its purposes. The Social Security Office has been urged to clarify spending of 70 million baht on an app campaign. Worse yet, it goes as far as excusing how blatant and disrespectful Thailand’s particular brand of corruption can often be manifested.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 14:12 UTC
Countdown to new parliament session begins
The countdown has begun to the start of a new Thai parliament session, with the Election Commission’s official certification of the results of the Feb 8 poll. A speaker and deputy speaker will be chosen, after which the House will choose a prime minister, who will move to form a government. A new government is expected to begin working in April, a senior figure in the coalition-leading Bhumjaithai Party of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. The initial session will focus on electing the House Speaker and deputies. The Pheu Thai Party is reportedly planning to nominate Manaporn Charoensri, an MP from Nakhon Phanom and deputy party leader, for a deputy House speaker post.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 13:49 UTC
International school growth nears plateau
Analysts say these trends will inevitably narrow the domestic pipeline for fee-paying international schools. "International school costs stem largely from teacher salary packages, which depend on qualifications and experience," said Usa Somboon, president of ISAT. A growing share of applicants to international university programmes are graduates of domestic international schools. Jeeri-anong Cunningham, a teacher at KIS International School Bangkok, said many international school graduates still choose to study medicine or law in Thailand if they intend to pursue careers domestically. While international school students still represent a small fraction of Thailand's total student population, the sector's rapid expansion over the past decade has reshaped parental expectations.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 13:37 UTC
Liverpool rocked by last-gasp defeat at Wolves
Liverpool rocked by last-gasp defeat at WolvesWolves celebrate during their win over Liverpool. LONDON - Liverpool suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolves as Andre's stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the Premier League's bottom club on Tuesday. But Andre's first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. - Crest-fallen Slot -Liverpool were punished for their lethargic performance in the 78th minute. Habib Diarra's penalty fired Sunderland to a 1-0 victory against Leeds on their first Premier League visit to Elland Road since 2002.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 13:09 UTC
YLG touts safe-haven precious metal as risks escalate
YLG touts safe-haven precious metal as risks escalateYLG says for 2-3 years, persistent economic headwinds are expected to continue driving safe-haven demand. Adding to the rally, the baht weakened from 31 to 31.40 per dollar, amplifying gains in domestic gold prices beyond moves in the global market. Ms Tipa predicts an additional 10-15% upside, supported by geopolitical risk, currency volatility and financial system fragility. This preference underscores lingering concerns about counterparty risk and potential access disruptions during volatile periods, said Ms Tipa. "If you sell too early, buying back may be difficult as prices trend higher," said Ms Tipa.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 10:49 UTC
Council seeks to keep Thai digital data safe
The Digital Council of Thailand says the nation urgently needs to develop digital data sovereignty under Thai jurisdiction. Thailand urgently needs to develop digital data sovereignty under Thai jurisdiction, while prioritising the use of more locally developed artificial intelligence (AI) and software, according to the Digital Council of Thailand (DCT). Because of this shift, ensuring digital data sovereignty and maintaining independence from foreign control is absolutely critical for Thailand's national security, said Mrs Morragot. "To establish genuine digital data sovereignty, critical national data must not only reside physically in Thailand, but the entities managing it must also be of Thai nationality, owned by Thais, or strictly governed under Thai legal jurisdiction." Local businesses struggle with government procurement rules, which often penalise Thai companies for delays caused by global supply chain disruptions.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 10:49 UTC
Fifa offering $12 tickets to World Cup play-off tournament
Fifa offering $12 tickets to World Cup play-off tournamentThe Fifa World Cup 2026 mascots Maple, Zayu, and Clutch pose with a person dressed as the Empire State Building during a Fifa World Cup 2026 lighting ceremony marking 100 days until the tournament, at the Empire State Building, in New York City, the United States, on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters)WASHINGTON — Tickets for this month's World Cup Play-Off Tournament matches in Mexico, which will determine two of the final six vacant spots in this summer's historic 48-team tournament, went on sale Tuesday. The winners of those two matches will face Congo and Iraq, respectively, on March 31, with the winners of those matches clinching World Cup spots. It is a far cry from the upwards of $1,000 price tag attached to World Cup match tickets being sold on the International Federation of Association Football's (Fifa) official ticket resale website. Fifa announced in January that it received over 500 million ticket requests for this year's World Cup.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 09:18 UTC