Pornpawee powers on as Shi crashes outPornpawee Chochuwong will play Michelle Li in the last 16. Eighth seed Pornpawee defeated Unnati Hooda of India 21-12, 21-18 in the first round of the Super 1000 event at Utilita Arena Birmingham. Meanwhile, men's defending champion Shi Yuqi of China suffered his earliest loss in nearly three years, with India's Lakshya Sen causing the day's biggest upset. Women's top seed An Se-Young of South Korea moved safely through with a 21-8, 21-6 victory over Neslihan Arin of Turkey. Thai stars Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Ratchanok Intanon, Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Supanida Katethong were due to play later on Wednesday.

Airports of ThailandThe government has introduced visa relief measures after 166 flights were cancelled amid Middle East fighting, with immigration waiving overstay fines for stranded travellers. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports said it is closely monitoring travel disruption linked to the conflict between Israel and Iran. However, the cancellations have affected departure stamp procedures, raising the possibility of congestion at immigration checkpoints, particularly at Suvarnabhumi. "The volume of foreign travellers reflects Thailand's vibrant tourism atmosphere," Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. We are not complacent and wish to clarify the necessity of these measures to Thai society and foreign visitors."

Senators petition EC to drop Piya from panelA group of reserve senators on Wednesday petitioned the Election Commission (EC) to remove Pol Capt Piya Raksakul from the Senate collusion inquiry panel, citing alleged political bias after a photograph showing him with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul surfaced. Led by Akkarawat Pongthanachalitkul, the group submitted a formal request to the EC seeking the removal of Pol Capt Piya, who chairs Subcommittee 36 ruling on disputes related to the Senate collusion case. He cited EC regulations requiring inquiry subcommittee members to demonstrate political neutrality and integrity. It comprises seven members, with Pol Capt Piya later named chair. Mr Akkarawat said Pol Capt Piya's conduct could undermine public confidence in the panel's impartiality and called for his removal.

"For the public, there will not be a shortage of oil, but there may be an impact on price," he said. It will be another big wave of non-system oil," he said, adding smuggled fuel prices would also rise. "Our costs are already higher than the current fare structure," he said, calling for targeted state assistance, such as fuel price controls for bus operators or reduced import duties on spare parts. Diesel locally stands at 30.36 baht per litre, despite the government capping the price at 29.94 baht. While Thailand's oil reserves offer a buffer, the unfolding Middle East conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in pricing, logistics and public confidence.

Man City falter as Premier League leaders Arsenal go seven points clearArsenal celebrate Bukayo Saka's goal against BrightonLONDON - Manchester City stumbled in the Premier League title race on Wednesday, held to a costly 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest as Bukayo Saka's goal against Brighton sent Arsenal seven points clear. - Joao Pedro hat-trick -In the tight race for Champions League qualification, Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick for Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1, pushing Liverpool down to sixth spot. Cole Palmer made it 3-1 in the second half and Joao Pedro tapped home Alejandro Garnacho's cross to complete his hat-trick. The win lifted Chelsea to fifth spot in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Villa. The top five teams in the Premier League are almost certain to qualify for the Champions League thanks to the strong showing of English sides in Europe this season.

Iran says US-Israeli attack breaches international lawHeidari: Condemns 'war crime'Iran's ambassador to Thailand has condemned what he described as US-Israeli aggression against his country, calling it a grave breach of international law. Ambassador Nassereddin Heideri on Wednesday denounced attacks launched on Feb 28 against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He said such action violated Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter and fundamental principles including sovereign equality and the immunity of heads of state. He maintained that targeting a sitting head of state struck at the core norms governing relations among nations and risked destabilising the international system. Describing the incidents as war crimes and crimes against humanity, the ambassador urged United Nations action to halt the violence and hold those responsible to account.

Police watch over nearly 100 Vietnamese nationals arrested at a Bangkok office being used for an online gambling business targeting Vietnamese customers on Wednesday. (Police photo)Police arrested 94 Vietnamese people for allegedly running online gambling websites in Bangkok on Wednesday evening. After obtaining a search warrant, police found 94 Vietnamese workers — 69 men and 25 women — along with 68 computers and about 500 mobile phones. Some computer screens displayed gambling websites in Vietnamese. He claimed that he did not know they would be forced to work for an online gambling business.

The British crime drama “Peaky Blinders” concluded in 2022, but the Shelby family saga continues with a new sequel movie “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” that had its global premiere at England’s Birmingham on Monday (March 2).

HONOR unveiled on Sunday (March 1) a prototype “robot phone” featuring an integrated motorized gimbal and artificial intelligence designed to interact physically with users and its surroundings, marking the company’s latest push into embodied AI.

Thai business group keeps 2026 GDP growth forecast at 1.6% to 2.0%Sunset above the Buddha statue at Wat Klang pier on Thoet Thai Road, Bangkok, on Feb 21, 2026. (Photo: Eakkapod Tanvichien)A leading ​business group maintained ​its forecast ‌for Thailand's economic growth this year at 1.6% to 2.0%, but ​said ⁠on Wednesday a prolonged conflict in the ‌Middle East would hit activity. The group's forecast ⁠for exports, a key driver of Thai growth, was kept at a fall ​of 0.5% to 1.5%, the Joint ​Standing Committee ‌on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) reported. Southeast ⁠Asia's second-largest economy, which has ⁠lagged regional peers since the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, expanded 2.4% last ⁠year, with exports up ​12.9% as concerns over US tariffs drove front-loading. According to Bank of Thailand governor Vitai Ratanakorn, the new war in the Middle East could dent gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.1-0.15 percentage points due to the heightened risk to oil supply.

A Bugatti Chiron Sport is displayed prior to an auction of luxury cars linked to the Cambodia-based Prince Group in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 2, 2026. The local investigation uncovered NT$10.7 billion (US$337 million) in laundered funds, most of which entered Taiwan through foreign currency remittances from 2016 to 2025, it said. Prince Group has denied the US and UK allegations, called them baseless and said they were an attempt to justify “the unlawful seizure of assets worth billions of dollars”. They said the scale of the alleged crimes and the harm caused were “exceptionally severe.”Of the laundered funds they identified, the prosecutors have seized assets valued at over NT$5.5 billion. She was among those sanctioned by the US, and is also one of the individuals Taiwan is indicting.

Texas tests party fault lines as US midterms beginSupporters in Corpus Christi, Texas take pictures at a recent rally by US President Donald Trump, whose agenda is at stake in November's midterm elections. HOUSTON - A bruising Texas Republican primary is advancing to a runoff vote, laying bare the struggle for control of US President Donald Trump's party as the 2026 midterms began on Tuesday, while Democrats sparred over their own direction. Texas anchored the opening slate of the primary season, with North Carolina and Arkansas also holding contests that will help shape the fight for control of Congress. Crockett argues her combative, high-profile style can drive turnout in a state Democrats have not won statewide in three decades. In North Carolina, Democrats are targeting an open Senate seat they view as one of their strongest pickup opportunities.

War risk insurance could soar by 400% or more, say Thai industrialists(Bangkok Post file photo)Thai business and industry leaders are concerned that the Mideast war could significantly disrupt logistics and transport costs, with ripple effects for manufacturing in Thailand and other countries. He said war risk insurance premiums are expected to surge by 400-500% as tensions escalate, burdening international trade. “The costs for recalling products to Thailand are lower than the expenses incurred from unloading at alternative ports, which include storage fees. Freight rates from China to ports worldwide have risen by 6.5% compared with the previous week. The war is expected to shrink tourist arrivals from the Middle East by 70,000 to 80,000 this year, noted the JSCCIB.

International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva says slower productivity growth has been keeping the global economy from returning to pre-pandemic levels of economic expansion. Beyond the Middle East region, these impacts spread across countries worldwide, with heightened uncertainties undermining confidence in the global community, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday. The IMF assesses that Asia could increase productivity by 1% if AI is used to its potential. Mrs Georgieva acknowledged that Asia has pivotal role in shaping the global economic landscape. “In a world of high uncertainty, Asia is a driving force of global growth,” she said.

Dr Keskamol Pleansamai casts her vote for the Senate president at the first sitting of the newly elected upper house on July 23, 2024. The ruling also means that Dr Keskamol, 47, automatically loses her seat in the 200-member Senate. In one such message, she introduced herself as “Professor Dr Keskamol Pleansamai”, presenting herself as a specialist in mental health and aesthetic dermatology. The EC concluded that introducing herself as “Professor Dr” misled voters and gave Dr Keskamol an unfair advantage, violating Sections 62 and 77 of the organic law on the selection of senators. Dr Keskamol is also one of dozens of senators being investigated for collusion and vote-rigging in the 2024 poll.