Ko hopes for solid show at Thai LPGAKiwi star Lydia Ko. The three-time Olympic medallist (bronze in 2016, silver in 2020 and gold in 2024) also highlighted the depth of competition on the LPGA Tour. The LPGA Tour is incredibly competitive -- every week feels like a major championship. Home hopes rest with eight Thai players, spearheaded by World No.1, Jeeno Thitikul, a seven-time LPGA winner. She is joined by former World No.1 Ariya Jutanugarn; Moriya Jutanugarn; Chanettee Wannasaen; Pajaree Anannarukarn; Pornanong Phatlum; qualifier Chanoknan Angurasaranee; and amateur standout Prim Prachnakorn.

Buriram target knockout stage as Shenhua arriveMuang Thong United's Kim Dong-Su, right, heads the ball. Hanif HassanBuriram United will be determined not to falter when they host Shanghai Shenhua in the AFC Champions League Elite tonight, knowing a draw will be enough to secure progression. For Shenhua, already eliminated, the fixture offers only pride and the chance to register a second win of the campaign. "This is a crucial match for Buriram United as we aim to reach the next round," he said. Shanghai Shenhua have dangerous players and we must be fully prepared."

The Korean Cultural Center marks the New Year with "Happy Seollal 2026" today at 6pm. Seollal -- Korean New Year -- is the traditional festival and national holiday commemorating the first day of the Korean lunar calendar, falling on Feb 17 this year. They include Korean war veterans, the ambassador, presidents of Korean organisations in the country and figures from the Thai arts and culture community. There will be a traditional music performance by Pine Tree, a Korean fusion folk band from the Chungcheongbuk province of Korea. This is also a chance to try traditional New Year's tteok mandu-guk (rice cake and dumpling soup) and fresh seasonal Korean strawberries.

Man splashed petrol on bank manager and demanded B5m at mallThe man was arrested after a failed attempt to rob a bank inside a shopping mall in Samut Prakan on Monday evening. Photo suppliedSAMUT PRAKAN: A man splashed petrol over a female bank manager at a shopping centre and demanded 5 million baht in cash. The man grabbed the manager’s jacket and demanded 5 million baht in cash from bank staff. The female bank manager later freed herself and fled the scene and eyewitnesses managed to overpower the robber while the latter tried to escape. The robber told police that he was jobless and drove from Chon Buri to the shopping mall in Samut Prakan to rob a bank branch there.

Speeding up for social impact: Joseph Ngo Hong and fellow participants push their limits at the Bosch Charity Run 2026, uniting for a good cause. That's exactly what over 400 individuals experienced at the recent Bosch Charity Run 2026 in Bangkok's vibrant Benjakitti Park. Building on a cherished tradition, the Bosch Charity Run once again brought people together for a cause far greater than themselves. As Joseph Ngo Hong, Managing Director of Bosch Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, put it, "The Bosch Charity Run blends physical activity, sustainability, and community engagement into one purpose-driven experience. The Bosch Charity Run 2026 is more than an event.

Students ask court to annul general electionUniversity students arrive at the Central Administrative Court in Bangkok on Monday to ask the court to annul the Feb 8 general election. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)A group of university students on Monday asked the Central Administrative Court to annul the Feb 8 general election, claiming that the barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers could illegally expose voters' choices. Activist students representing the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration went to the court on Chaeng Watthana Road, Bangkok, to file their complaint against the Election Commission’s (EC) organisation of the election. The Bhumjaithai Party of caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul won the Feb 8 general election. It is awaiting the EC's announcement of the official results while negotiating the formation of a coalition with other political parties.

Bhumjaithai bags 2 more minnows to boost govt numbersCaretaker Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul enters a cabinet meeting at Government House last week. (Photo: Reuters)The Bhumjaithai Party’s campaign to woo small parties to its side continued on Monday with the addition of two more small parties to the new government coalition. The latest move brings the total support for Bhumjaithai to about 278 votes so far from 10 parties. Attention is now shifting to the Klatham Party and whether it will remain in alliance with Bhumjaithai in forming the new administration. Klatham chief adviser Thamanat Prompow guided the party to winning a suprising 58 seats at the polls, becoming the fourth largest party - after Bhumjaithai, People’s Party and Pheu Thai.

Iran FM in Geneva for US talks, as Guards begin drills in Hormuz StraitIn this handout photo released by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo: AFP)GENEVA - Iran's foreign minister arrived in Geneva ahead of a second round of negotiations with the United States, as the Revolutionary Guards on Monday begin military drills in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The war games in the Strait of Hormuz, the duration of which was not specified, aim to prepare the Guards for "potential security and military threats" in the strait, state TV said. Tehran and Washington restarted negotiations this month after previous talks collapsed when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last June. Protest crackdownAraghchi is also set to hold talks with his Swiss and Omani counterparts as well as other international officials, Iran's foreign ministry said.

If you ask most leaders what is holding Thailand back, you will hear familiar answers. But the real issue is simpler and harder to admit: We struggle to make clear decisions and follow through. Real competitiveness today comes from a few simple but difficult practices:First, decisions must have one clear owner. The Leadership Shift Thailand NeedsWhether in large corporates, family businesses or public institutions, the challenge is the same. It is built by decisions that actually happen and by organisations that learn quickly when those decisions fall short.

Thirty four Australians released from Syrian camp holding IS-affiliated familiesSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters gather during an offensive against Islamic State militants in northern Raqqa province, Syria, on Feb 8, 2017. (File photo: Reuters)ROJ ​CAMP — Syrian Kurdish forces on Monday released 34 Australians who were detained in a camp holding families of suspected Islamic State (IS) militants in northern Syria, saying they would be flown to Australia ​from Damascus. Hukmiya Mohamed, a co-director ⁠of Roj camp, told Reuters that the 34 Australians had been handed to members of their families who had come to Syria for the release. Syrian government forces seized swathes of northern Syria from ⁠the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in January, before agreeing a ceasefire on January 29. "Shamima Begum's situation is the same as that of all the women in Roj camp ...

We're entering the Year of the Fire Horse tomorrow, with a string of festive celebrations presented at many leading shopping malls around town. The "Four Divine Powers", "Lion Dance On Plum Blossom Poles" and "Great Dragon Deity Auspiciousness" are staged at One Bangkok Park daily at 7pm. They include Fire Horse, Peace Horse, Youthful Horse, Golden Horse, Floral Horse, Celebration Horse, Lantern Horse and Splendid Horse. The "Prosperity Horse Carousel" brings together the eight Lucky Horses as symbols of abundance, sustainability, growth, physical well-being and year-round positivity. A major highlight, however, is the "Dragon, Lion And Lucky Horse Dance" performed by Long Qian Thailand, a renowned dragon and lion dance troupe with experience on international stages, tomorrow at 6pm.

Jihin Radzuan celebrates her third round TKO vs Gabriela Fujimoto at ONE Fight Night 40Those doubts now feel distant. Radzuan, who usually trains at Fairtex in Pattaya, completed this camp in Singapore under new coach Matt Pellino while dealing with visa issues in Thailand. A scheduled bout with Ayaka Miura in 2024 was scrapped after Radzuan narrowly failed hydration despite making weight – with Miura declining a catchweight. I’m extremely proud.”The coach believes the matchmaking may have been designed to push Radzuan further down the ladder. Sawada has called for an interim title fight against Miura at ONE 175 in Tokyo on April 29.

Thai contender faces six-month recovery after broken jaw in close defeat at ONE Fight Night 40Blood flies from Shadow Singha Mawynn_s mouth after a punch from Nico Carrillo at ONE Fight Night 40Shadow Singha Mawynn is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery on a broken jaw suffered in his ONE Championship interim featherweight Muay Thai title fight. “The surgery went well after the jaw fracture from the latest fight,” the team posted. People think they can stand and bang with me, but they can’t.”Shadow Singha Mawynn heads to the ring for his ONE Championship interim featherweight Muay Thai title fight against Nico CarrilloThe moment proved pivotal. Carrillo closed out the fifth as Shadow, later revealed to be fighting with a fractured jaw, wilted under the damage. Nico Carrillo pays tribute to Shadow Singha Mawynn for his performance at ONE Fight Night 40Two judges had the bout 47-47 but awarded Carrillo the criteria decision due to the knockdown and damage, while the third scored it 48-47 for the Scot.

Bitter pill: Taliban government shakes up Afghan medicine marketPharmacists report a shortage of many medicines since the Taliban authorities ordered them to become less reliant on imports from Pakistan. (Photo: AFP)KABUL — Afghanistan's decision to overhaul its medicine market was meant to improve quality and boost domestic production, but industry specialists say the swift changes have led to a litany of problems. "If a medicine was short in the market before, a call was made to Pakistan, and the medicine was delivered in two to three days," he said. He acknowledged it will take some time to shift the market, saying that officials were working with Iran, India, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Turkey, China and Belarus to source medicine. Some people believe that "if they use Pakistani medicine, they will be cured" -- but not if it came from India "or any other country", the industry source said.

KYODO — A rare Pokemon card fetched a record US$16,492,000 including the buyer's premium on Monday in New Jersey, making it the most expensive Pocket Monster trading card ever sold in a public auction. The Pokemon Illustrator card, which depicts the iconic cartoon character Pikachu, has a hobby card authenticator rating of 10, the highest possible grade. He bought the card in 2021 for $5.27 million, earning the Guinness World Record title for "most expensive Pokemon card sold at a private sale," according to the Guinness website. The successful bidder, who won the Pikachu card with a diamond necklace it hangs from, appeared at a livestream watch party for the auction on Paul's YouTube channel to collect the item. However, the auction house did not reveal his identity Monday morning when the auction ended.