Chinese-controlled coconut firms keeping Thai farmers poor
Police say that Chinese companies hiding behind Thai nominees illegally control aromatic coconut production in Ratchaburi province, hurt Thai farmers by keeping farm prices very low, and make huge profits from exports.

No fuel crisis, no need to hoard, says energy minister
Thailand does not face a fuel crisis as a consequence of the Mideast war, Energy Minister Atthapol Rerkpiboon said on Tuesday. Supplies are being delivered gradually, according to schedule and available storage capacity, and there is no need for hoarding, 

Apple now makes about 25% of iPhones in India after China pivot
Apple increased iPhone production in India by about 53% last year and now makes a quarter of its marquee devices there, reflecting the US company’s efforts to avoid tariffs on China.

Concrete barrier blamed for fatal Korean crash built ‘to save money’
SEOUL - A concrete barrier blamed for the deadly South Korean jet crash that killed 179 people in December 2024 had been built to cut costs, the state auditor said on Tuesday.

Iran vows to fight on and block all Gulf oil
TEHRAN - Iran vowed on Tuesday that not one litre of oil would be exported from the Gulf while its war with the United States and Israel continues, in a stark rebuke to President Donald Trump’s boast that the conflict was all but over.

Thai punters lured by Lao lottery
For many Thai lottery enthusiasts, a week is not seven days but three. There is only Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When the clock nears 8pm on these anticipated days, attention shifts toward Vientiane, where the latest set of winning numbers is announced.

Middle East countries cut daily oil output as ships stay clear of Hormuz
LONDON — Oil production cuts in the Middle East are deepening as the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway remains at a near-standstill, widening the chaos in energy markets.

Asian LNG buyers struggling to find supplies
Some Asian buyers of liquefied natural gas are struggling to find prompt cargoes after a war-related outage at the world’s largest export facility in Qatar tightened global supplies.

Govt officials ordered to work from home, suspend overseas trips
Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered officials at government organisations and state enterprises to work from home and suspend overseas trips, as part of measures to cope with the Mideast war's impact.

Asia airlines hike fares, eye groundings on fuel crunch risk
SINGAPORE — Airlines in Asia are raising ticket prices and mapping out contingency plans that include grounding planes as the escalating Middle East conflict threatens to trigger the worst oil shock since the 1970s.