Will US oil companies be the big winners from the Iran war?
Will US oil companies be the big winners from the Iran war? But the question remains whether the new war in the Middle East also leads to increased oilfield investment. - What does the Middle East war mean for US oil industry profits? Brent oil futures briefly surged above $85 a barrel on Tuesday, while European natural gas prices reached their highest level since 2023. The jump in the natural gas market is due to QatarEnergy's suspension of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 03:07 UTC
US has destroyed 17 ships and hit almost 2,000 targets in Iran, military says
US has destroyed 17 ships and hit almost 2,000 targets in Iran, military saysSmoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 3, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERSThe U.S. military has destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including a submarine, and struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran, the commander of the U.S. Central Command said on Tuesday. "Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman," U.S. Central Command's Brad Cooper said in a video posted to X.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 03:04 UTC
CP Group extends sustainability streak
Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group has been ranked by S&P Global among the world's top 5% industrial conglomerates for the fifth consecutive year. Teerapon Tanomsakyut, chief sustainability and strategic development officer of CP Group, said sustaining a top ranking was the result of systematic improvements to CP Group's environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, particularly the integration of ESG considerations into business strategy, risk management and long-term investment. Several CP Group subsidiaries were also recognised by S&P Global for leadership in their fields. True Corporation was ranked in the top 1% in the telecom services category; CP All and CP Axtra were both ranked in the top 5% in the food & staples retailing companies category; and Charoen Pokphand Foods received a top 10% ranking in the food products category. These rankings are indicative of how ESG considerations have become a driving force across all CP business groups, spanning agriculture, food, retail, telecom and digital businesses.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:56 UTC
Put guns in the crosshairs
Thailand has the second-highest rate of gun-related violence in Southeast Asia after Myanmar, which has been wracked by civil war for decades. There are now 10.3 million guns in private hands, including 6.2 million licensed weapons and 4 million unlicensed or illegal guns, according to the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey. This means it is unknown how many of the owners of those 6.2 million guns were mentally healthy when they obtained the weapons in the first place. It may present an uphill task for authorities to renew all 6.2 million gun licences. Gun-related violence can be reduced if guns are effectively prevented from falling into the wrong hands.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:56 UTC
War, politics clouding World Cup on 100-day countdown
War, politics clouding World Cup on 100-day countdownThe MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which will host the 2026 World Cup final on July 19. This summer's unprecedented 48-team World Cup with 104 matches across the US, Canada and Mexico had been an alluring prospect, with Fifa boasting of unprecedented ticket sales and sold-out matches. The head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, warned within hours that his nation could refuse to play in the tournament, saying "we cannot look forward to the World Cup with hope". Among the targeted nations were four countries qualified for the World Cup: Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Fear that ICE agents could target legally compliant visitors based on their skin colour or Hispanic accents has spread among World Cup fans, and could affect their willingness to attend the tournament.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:55 UTC
Trump says 'everything's been knocked out' in Iran
Trump says 'everything's been knocked out' in IranUS President Donald Trump spoke on Iran as he hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval OfficeWASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - US President Donald Trump on Tuesday boasted of wide damage on Iran inflicted by the US-Israel attack, while denying that Israel had forced his hand into launching the war. "Just about everything's been knocked out," Trump said as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, answering his first questions from reporters since the strikes began on Saturday. But Trump walked that back, saying that he acted to prevent Tehran launching an assault first. "Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they (Iran) were going to attack first. Trump also told protesters in Iran to hold off any major moves until the situation had stabilized.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:54 UTC
New airline hubs poised to gain from travel rerouting
Whatever the outcome, it will take a while for travel to recover from the shock. There will be retaliation -- sponsored and freelance -- against US interests elsewhere, further muddying the travel waters. In the short term, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways International and Singapore Airlines will benefit from this windfall. Travel can be at its most rewarding when disruption is afoot, not when the machine is greased and humming. And this is where a genuine travel revolution may happen to correct the post-Covid price spikes.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:51 UTC
CRC reports core profit declined by 6% in 2025
CRC reports core profit declined by 6% in 2025Central Retail Corporation Plc (CRC) reported consistent profitability last year, despite the wholesale and retail sector facing significant challenges and several pressures from global economic factors and weakened domestic purchasing power. The company recorded performance from continuing operations (excluding Italy) of total revenue of 253 billion baht in 2025, up 4% year-on-year, and 71.2 billion baht in the fourth quarter, a 12% year-on-year increase. The company reported a core profit of 7.43 billion baht in 2025, a 6% year-on-year decline, and 2.73 billion baht in the fourth quarter, up 17%. The board of directors agreed to propose to the 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approval of a total dividend payment for the operating results of 2025 of 1.11 baht per share. Including the first special dividend payment from the Rinascente divestment of 0.70 baht per share paid in 2025, the total dividend distribution amounts to 1.81 baht per share.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:51 UTC
Navigating new currents: Thailand-US trade after the tariff ruling
Thailand now ranks seventh among countries with which the US runs the largest trade deficits. Automotive exports remained strong, and notably many Thai-built vehicles and parts were exempted from the most recent US tariff round. The Real MeaningThe Supreme Court's ruling reduces the scope for emergency-based tariff measures. Leverage the digital economy: Services and digital trade face far fewer tariff barriers. The future of Thailand-US trade will not be defined by tariffs alone, but rather by how intelligently we respond.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:50 UTC
Piyabutr explains his split with PP
Piyabutr explains his split with PPPiyabutr: Criticises party organisationPiyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary-general of the Progressive Movement, has explained his decision to part ways with the People's Party (PP), saying it has strayed from core organisational principles and become increasingly centralised to the point of resembling an internal dictatorship. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Mr Piyabutr said that in his study of mass party theory, he has never encountered any school of thought suggesting that a mass party should function without leadership, without a decision-making centre, or without internal discipline. He rejected the notion that party members should freely criticise the party in public at will, without first debating issues internally. Nor, he said, should a political party become a vehicle for individuals seeking to elevate their own social or political status, or gain personal prominence. A political party founded to unite the people and drive broad social change must reconcile two potentially conflicting elements, centralisation and democracy, Mr Piyabutr said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:29 UTC
Rights body condemns Iran strikes
A satellite image shows an overview of the Presidential Complex and the compound of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, March 3, 2026, after airstrikes amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. (Photo: Reuters)The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned military strikes on Iran and urged an immediate halt to the violence. The NHRC on Tuesday issued a statement titled "Call to end violence and respect human rights principles in the case of military operations attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran". The commission expressed deep sorrow over the escalating conflict in the Middle East following joint United States and Israeli military operations against Iran. It urged a return to diplomatic negotiations and peaceful mechanisms, stressing that any resolution must prioritise "human rights principles and the well-being of global citizens".
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:16 UTC
Financial planning challenges in Asia
As a result, their primary financial goals are focused on a two- to three-year time frame. Almost half (44%) of the respondents aim to build a basic safety net for their families, while one-third (37%) hope to achieve financial independence. "It's clear that there is a shared sense of financial vulnerability across generations of middle classes in Asia," said Lee Yen Ho, group chief distribution and proposition officer at FWD Group. Generation Y (born 1981–95) juggle multiple financial responsibilities, with 49% worrying about saving for their own retirement. Although almost half (47%) are looking for a single, efficient solution to cover multiple family members, most (61%) have never heard of family insurance plans.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:08 UTC
Cambodia absence highlights fragile trust
(Photo: Reuters)Cambodia's absence from the Cobra Gold military drill this year signals a persistent lack of trust between Thailand and Cambodia, analysts say. Cobra Gold, the largest and the longest-running multinational military exercise in mainland Asia, has been hosted in Thailand annually since 1982. Amid ongoing border tensions, analysts say trust between Thailand and Cambodia remains fragile. Chaiwat Khamchoo, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science, said Cambodia would likely feel discomfort and distrust if it were to join Cobra Gold this year. On the other hand, he also does not see Thailand joining if Cambodia were to host a military exercise.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 02:01 UTC
Trump threatens Spain ties over Iran war refusal
Trump threatens Spain ties over Iran war refusalPresident Donald Trump criticized Britain and Spain during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich MerzWASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - US President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday to sever all trade with Spain after it refused to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran, while also lashing out at Britain for not cooperating more. We don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump said, adding that he had asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all dealings with Spain." The Spanish government quickly responded that it had a "mutually beneficial" trading relationship with the United States and other countries. During the 2003 Iraq invasion, Spain, then under conservative prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, staunchly backed the United States. - 'Not happy' with Britain -Britain, a steadfast ally of the United States throughout the two World Wars and in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, also decided not to join the assault on Iran.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 04, 2026 01:48 UTC
Myanmar residents rush to refuel in Thai border town
A street in the border town of Mae Sot is clogged with vehicles, mostly from Myanmar, waiting to enter service stations on Tuesday. (Photo: Assawin Pinitwong)The influx sparked concern among Mae Sot residents, who feared a potential fuel shortage and rushed to top up their tanks as well. Caltex raised diesel prices by 1.80 baht and most gasohol prices by 0.90 baht per litre. In Mae Sot, petrol stations reported long queues as drivers waited their turn. However, Myanmar nationals are still permitted to drive private vehicles across the border to refuel.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 03, 2026 22:26 UTC