Chat commerce gains ground
Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered conversational commerce is intensifying in Thailand as major platforms such as Meta and Line step up efforts to support local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Battery tax proposal to bolster competitiveness
A new battery tax structure is expected to help strengthen Thailand's competitiveness in the energy storage industry, according to the Excise Department chief.

Three brothers arrested over US embassy blast in Oslo
OSLO - Norwegian police said Wednesday three brothers had been arrested on suspicion of a "terrorist bombing" over a weekend explosion at the US embassy in Oslo, which caused minor damage but no injuries.

Thailand sends 40,000 stranded Europeans home
More than 40,000 European tourists stranded here by flight disruptions in the Middle East have safely returned home, aided by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand's (CAAT) temporary approval for tour operators in the originating countries to send charter flights to retrieve them.

All-conquering Mullins lands Champion Chase with Il Etait Temps
CHELTENHAM (UNITED KINGDOM) - Irish trainer Willie Mullins's juggernaut motored on as Il Etait Temps won the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, on Wednesday.

Amata prepares for major Southeast Asian growth
SET-listed Amata Corporation, an industrial estate developer, is preparing a major expansion across Southeast Asia, announcing plans to invest 10 billion baht to develop and upgrade industrial estates in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

War disrupts fertiliser supplies, puts food security at risk
PARIS (FRANCE) - With production in the Gulf countries at a standstill and gas prices rising, the war in the Middle East is disrupting the supply of fertilisers and posing risks for food security.

Built To Build rules out price hikes despite soaring oil costs
Homebuilder Built To Build Group says it will freeze prices for contracted clients despite rising oil prices fuelled by war in the Middle East, expressing confidence the conflict will subside by the end of this month.

Homebuyers advised to decide quickly
Banks are urging prospective homebuyers to make purchasing decisions within the first half of the year before costs rise further, amid concerns that inflation could increase under wartime conditions.

Investors turn to crypto and tokenised gold
Global investors are increasingly allocating part of their portfolios to both Bitcoin and gold, while the trading of tokenised gold on blockchain platforms is expanding rapidly amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, says digital asset platform Bitazza Thailand.