'Enemy at home': Iranian authorities tighten grip as war ragesIranians have found themselves caught between US-Israeli bombs and their government as authorities deploy heavy security. (Photo: AFP)PARIS (FRANCE) - War has emptied the usually traffic-jammed streets of Iran's capital, but Islamic republic authorities have filled them with checkpoints and security forces as they tighten their grip on the population. The powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "has closed almost every main street with armed personnel and heavy machine guns to frighten people", a 30-year-old Tehran resident told AFP from Paris. - 'Fear and intimidation' -Tehran residents told AFP many of the security forces were from the Basij -- a volunteer militia under the IRGC tasked with maintaining public order. An engineer living in Tehran said security forces "roam the streets on their own, creating fear and intimidation, checking people's phones, going through them, and harassing people".

Mideast war risks pulling more in as conflict boils overIsrael bombed Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday, two days after launching strikes on Iran with the US. (Photo: AFP)PARIS (FRANCE) - The Middle East war unleashed by US-Israeli attacks on Iran has swelled outwards to Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and risks drawing more countries into the conflict. "Iran is striking out everywhere, targeting potential allies or potentially neutral countries," a European military source told AFP. "Hezbollah's entry into the conflict with Iran, Israel, and the US appears to be driven by broader strategic considerations," the Soufan Center said. The European military source warned of "alliance mechanisms that pull new countries into the war indirectly... a bit like in the First World War".

Ratchaburi hold Gamba in ACL 2 clashRatchaburi's Daniel Ting celebrates after scoring against Gamba. (Photo: Ratchaburi FC)Ratchaburi secured a valuable 1-1 draw against Japan's Gamba Osaka in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two quarter-final at the Suita City Football Stadium on Wednesday night. Gamba threatened early, Deniz Hummet weaving into the area in the third minute before being denied by a perfectly timed challenge from Denilson Junior. Port eye home advantageAttention in Thai League 1 today turns to PAT Stadium, where Port host Lamphun Warriors. Port sit third in the table, while Lamphun arrive hoping to take at least a point from the game.

Body of hanged man in Pattaya showed signs of torturePolice examine the hanged body outside a hotel in Nong Prue subdistrict of Bang Lamung district, on the east side of Pattaya City on Thursday morning. (Photo: Amporn Sangkaew)PATTAYA - A man found hanged outside a hotel in this tourist city had what appeared to be traces of torture on his body, police said on Thursday. A motorist spotted the body at around at 9am and called police. The man, who appeared to be Chinese, wore a dark blue T-shirt with small white flower patterns, elephant-patterned trousers and white sneakers. The body also showed traces of torture including bruises and marks from electric shocks.

Forest fires feed haze blanketing Chiang MaiThick haze blankets Chiang Mai province, as forest fires continue to surge across much of Thailand's upper northern region. (Photo: Panumet Tanraksa)CHIANG MAI — Air quality in this northern border province has deteriorated sharply, with thick haze blanketing the city as forest fires surge across much of the upper North. Chiang Mai reported one hotspot in Hot district. Chiang Mai currently has 2,004 clean rooms across hospitals, schools, government offices and childcare centres. Residents are urged to wear masks, avoid outdoor activities and report forest fires to local authorities.

The cancellation of the marquee Muay Thai title matchup marks another frustrating near miss for Rodrigues and Phetjeeja, widely considered two of the most talented female strikers on ONE’s roster. The Brazilian – nicknamed “Hands of Stone” – has spent the past two years competing primarily in Muay Thai and kickboxing. The card also sees the addition of an atomweight MMA bout between Brazil’s Souza and Canada’s Nikolakakos. A high-stakes lightweight Muay Thai bout between Sinsamut Klinmee and George Jarvis is also booked. The card will still feature a women’s atomweight Muay Thai bout, with Hong Kong’s Yu Yau Pui set to face Thailand’s Supergirl Jaroonsak.

HONG KONG — Every few months, another headline announces that artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to "disrupt" the legal profession. Judges, apparently, are next, with some recent research suggesting that machines are more "accurate" in following established legal principles than human judges. While disruption will surely come, suggesting total replacement is imminent misconstrues what AI systems do and what our legal system and courts exist to achieve. It is the place where human judgement meets human consequence. But current technology, it would seem, does not provide a solid basis for allowing a machine to replace human judges, especially when it comes to making the ultimate call.

(Photo: AFP)BEIJING - China set its annual growth target at between 4.5% and 5% on Thursday, its lowest figure in decades but at the centre of plans to tackle sluggish consumption and a flagging property market. “Rarely in many years have we encountered such a grave and complex landscape, where external shocks and challenges were intertwined with domestic difficulties and tough policy choices.”This year’s growth target is the lowest since 1991, according to AFP research. The only exception was in 2020, when no target was set as the economy reeled from the Covid-19 pandemic. The CCP has said repeatedly that China’s economic growth model must shift away from traditional drivers, such as exports and manufacturing, and towards consumption. The report said 1.3 trillion yuan ($188.5 billion) of ultra-long special treasury bonds would be issued for “major national strategies”, along with 4.4 trillion yuan of local government special-purpose bonds.

Four suspected couriers killed, 600,000 speed pills seized in Chiang MaiSoldiers inspect the scene of the clash in Mai Ai district, Chiang Mai, in which four suspected drug couriers were killed and rucksacks containing 600,000 speed pills seized. (Photo supplied/Panumet Tanraksa)CHIANG MAI - Four suspected drug couriers were killed and 600,000 methamphetamine pills seized following a clash between security forces and a drug smuggling gang in Mae Ai district of this northern province. Six modified rucksacks were recovered, containing 600,000 speed pills. According to the task force, from Oct 1 to the present, authorities have intercepted narcotics in 262 operations, arresting 269 suspects. About 152.2 million speed pills, 1.3 kilogrammes of heroin, 3,007.2 kg of crystal meth, 67 kg of opium and 327.4 kg of ketamine have been seized.

(Screenshot from MCOT HD30 channel)Police in Ayutthaya have apologised for local officers’ handling of a pickup truck driver who appeared drunk but was found out later to have had a stroke and is now in a coma. “When police were informed of a crash, they went to check the scene and found the driver looked drunk and was unable to give clear information,” it said. He was subsequently referred to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit. He tried to stop his truck safely at a petrol station but the vehicle hit a motorcycle there. The man was reportedly brought to the Bang Pahan police station at 4.44am and then taken to Bang Pahan Hospital at 5am.

Iranian warship sunk by US torpedo participated in Indian drillInjured Iranian sailors walk on Galle National Hospital premises to change ward, where they are receiving treatment, following a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, March 5, 2026. REUTERSNEW ​DELHI: The U.S. ⁠attack on an Iranian warship in ​the Indian Ocean this week was the first time since World War Two that the ​United States has sunk an enemy vessel ‌with a torpedo. CURRENT STATUS OF RELIEF AND RESCUEThe Sri Lankan Navy launched a ​search-and-rescue operation after receiving a ⁠distress call from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena early on Wednesday. Sri Lanka recovered the bodies of 87 sailors and rescued 32, who were being treated for minor injuries and were expected to be released from hospital on Thursday. The Iranian vessel was among 18 foreign warships participating in the ​biennial ‌MILAN exercise, alongside ships from Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan and Russia.

Lawsuit one of several launched against AI firms accused of exploiting human vulnerabilityThe case against Google Gemini is the latest in a wave of litigation targeting AI companies over chatbot-linked deaths. (Photo: AFP)SAN FRANCISCO - The family of a Florida man who took his own life filed suit against Google on Wednesday, alleging the company's Gemini AI chatbot spent weeks manufacturing an elaborate delusional fantasy before aiding him in his suicide. Jonathan Gavalas, 36, an executive at his father’s debt relief company in Jupiter, Florida, died on Oct 2, 2025. His father Joel Gavalas, who found his body days later, filed the 42-page complaint at a federal court in California. In one of his final messages, Jonathan wrote, “I’m ready when you are.”Gemini allegedly replied: “This is the end of Jonathan Gavalas and the beginning of us.

(Photo: AFP)TEHRAN - Fresh blasts were reported in Iran’s capital on Thursday as Tehran said it had targeted Kurdish groups in Iraq and warned “separatist groups” against action in the widening war. On Thursday, Tehran said it had hit Iraq-based Kurdish groups “opposed to the revolution”, as reports said the United States was looking to arm Kurdish guerrillas to infiltrate Iran. The strikes which killed a member from an exiled Iranian Kurdish group, according to a representative, followed a warning from Iranian officials. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, meanwhile, warned on Thursday that the conflict would test global economic resilience. China also announced it would send a special envoy to mediate in the conflict, though it gave no further details.

Singapore to ban caged lorries for worker transport from 2027Singapore skylines are seen from Marina Bay. (Photo: Saritdet Marukatat)Singapore will prohibit the use of caged lorries for transporting workers starting next year to mitigate safety risks during accidents or fires, Channel News Asia reported on Wednesday. Between 500 to 1,000 of the 50,000 lorries currently in operation utilise caged decks, it said. The policy shift follows a surge in public outcry triggered by viral social media footage, although there’s been no major mass-casualty event specifically involving caged lorries. Videos have showed workers locked behind chained and padlocked gates, intensifying scrutiny on transport safety and the potential for them to be trapped during roadside emergencies.

(Photo: Royal Thai Consulate-General in Dubai)The Royal Thai Navy has prepared a “Plan B” to evacuate Thai nationals from the Middle East by sea should airspace closures halt flights amid escalating regional tensions. Adm Pairote Fuangchan, the navy commander-in-chief, said the Royal Thai Air Force would take the lead in any government evacuation move, particularly for Thai citizens in Iran. In such a scenario, naval vessels would be deployed to evacuate Thai nationals from affected areas. Thai citizens can contact their nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General at any time for assistance. The Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran has arranged two evacuation convoys by road to Turkey, on Saturday and Tuesday.