Fire at Buddhist temple kills 5 in JapanA photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a temple burnt down in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on Friday. (Photo: Kyodo)YAMAGUCHI — A fire broke out early Friday at a Buddhist temple in the western Japan prefecture of Yamaguchi, killing five people, local authorities said. Police said five people are believed to have been living at the two-story wooden temple in Shimonoseki, which has a residential area connected to it. The fire was extinguished at around 5.40am, about three hours after a neighbour made an emergency call, according to the police and the local fire department.

The wildlife overpass linking Thap Lan and Khao Yai World Heritage Forests on Highway 304, opened in 2019, improves road safety while showcasing infrastructure designed for ecological sustainability. (Photo courtesy of Transport Ministry)PRACHIN BURI: The Department of Highways (DoH) hailed the success of the Wildlife Corridor on Highway 304, a forest-linking tunnel and overpass in operation since 2019, citing improved road safety and measurable ecological gains. The project features a road-level tunnel with a wildlife overpass above it, allowing animals to cross safely while maintaining natural migration routes. The design reflects extensive ecological studies of wildlife behaviour in the surrounding forest areas. Officials said the project exemplifies close collaboration between the DoH, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and conservation agencies.

Darling Husky 'Molly' dies after severe burnsSomchai Chanawanno bids farewell to Molly at the animal hospital of Prince of Songkhla University on Friday. (Photo: Tonlew Yanika Facebook account)Fans of Molly woke up to sad news on Friday morning when her owner announced the death of the Siberian Husky. #My Molly had fought a good fight and now it's time for an eternal rest," owner Tonlew Yanika posted on her Facebook page. (Photo: Tonlew Yanika Facebook account)Molly went missing from her home in Muang district on Feb 12. She was later found with severe burns over most of her body three days later.

Protect Hong Kongers in Japan, authorities urge Tokyo after tourist attackedOdori Park is an oasis for locals and tourists in the heart of Sapporo’s business district. However, local tour operators said the attack was likely an isolated incident that would not impact Hong Kongers' appetite to visit Japan. "The [government] has already expressed concerns to the consul general of Japan in Hong Kong, urging the Japanese government to ensure the personal safety of Hong Kong travellers in Japan in accordance with the law," it said. "There is no reason to believe it's a deliberate attack against Hong Kongers," he said. I believe it won't affect the appetite for Hong Kongers travelling there for holiday or business," he said.

China’s drone exports to Russia use a new route through ThailandExplosions are seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 8, 2025. In the same period, China shipped $186 million of drones to the southeast Asian nation, accounting for almost all drone exports to Thailand. In 2022, Thailand exported less than $1 million of drones, with none going to Russia, the government trade data shows. Exports of Chinese drones from Thailand are within the legal framework, Phantong Loykulnanta, director-general of Thailand’s Customs Department, said in an interview. Another company based on Bangkok’s outskirts, China Thai Corp, appears to be playing an even bigger role in the drone trade.

Nasa delivers harsh assessment of botched Boeing Starliner test flightNASA duo Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore were stuck on the ISS for nine months. "Starliner has design and engineering deficiencies that must be corrected, but the most troubling failure revealed by this investigation is not hardware. But the administrator insisted that "Nasa will continue to work with Boeing, as we do all of our partners that are undertaking test flights." But this turned into nine months after propulsion problems emerged in orbit and the Starliner spacecraft was deemed unfit to fly them back. Both Boeing and SpaceX were commissioned to handle missions to the ISS more than a decade ago.

Reinventing the ‘Sick Man’: Aman Modi’s Blueprint for Thailand’s Next ActAfter Thailand’s high-stakes election in February 2026, the kingdom finds itself at a crossroads. Enter Aman Modi, the newly appointed Head of BCG Thailand, part of the global management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG). A man who specialises in "total transformation," Modi isn't just looking at the balance sheets of Thailand’s largest conglomerates; he’s looking at the structural DNA of the nation itself. The "Sick Man of Asia" label, recently revived by a stinging analysis in the Financial Times, has sent ripples through Bangkok’s policy circles. Thailand’s processes, conversely, have sometimes been described by observers as fragmented across different ministries, leading to what some call "policy paralysis."

North Korea opens key party congressThis picture taken on Feb 1, 2026, and released by North Korea's KCNA shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivering a speech in North Pyongan province. (Photo via AFP)SEOUL — North Korea has opened a key party congress, state media said Friday, a once-in-five-years showcase that analysts say will outline a wide range of national priorities, including nuclear objectives. Pyongyang has also developed deep ties with Moscow during its war in Ukraine, with North Korean soldiers sent to fight alongside Russian forces. Any parade will be closely watched for signs of a shift in North Korea's military bearing. He even bucked decades of US policy by conceding that North Korea was "sort of a nuclear power".

Starlink loss a blow to Russian forces in Ukraine: expertsUkraine is battling Russia in the east. (Photo: AFP)PARIS (FRANCE) - US tech titan Elon Musk's move to cut Russian access to his Starlink satellites over Ukraine has probably disrupted Russian forces' tactical command and restricted their offensive capacity, but the war goes on. - Blackout fallout -Ukraine says that blocking Starlink has an enormous impact on Russian forces. "We knew that they used Starlink on the front", but "we did not believe that it was this crucial." The US-based Institute for the Study of War says that Ukrainian forces are probably taking advantage of Russia's loss of Starlink.

Crane crash investigations given 45-day timeframeThe Transport Ministry has ordered two fact-finding committees to complete investigations into recent crane accidents within 45 days, stressing that conclusions must be based on evidence and engineering principles to restore public confidence. The crane collapse occurred on Jan 14 when construction equipment fell onto a passing train, killing 30 people and injuring 69 others. In the M82 incident, the launching gantry crane dropped onto the Rama II highway in Samut Sakhon, killing two people and injuring two others on Jan 15. For the rail project, an engineering subcommittee has been appointed to conduct in-depth inspections, gather documents, and coordinate with academic institutions. Tests on materials and structures are underway, alongside technical data analysis and structural modelling to determine the root cause.

Luminara, the newest superyacht from Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, recently made its debut visit to Thailand. Deck9, the sole authorised representative in Thailand of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, welcomed Guru By Bangkok Post aboard to immerse in luxury, surrounded by design reminiscent of a world-class seaside resort. Luminara is the brand’s latest superyacht and has a strong connection to Malta, named after the traditional Maltese “L-Imnarja” festival of light and harvest. The vessel made its debut in Valletta's Grand Harbour in July 2025, with its design paying tribute to the island, including a Maltese lighthouse and a sculpture, aboard. Luminara’s inaugural arrival in Thailand also marks the launch of her Asia-Pacific voyages.

Tour showcases southern Thai heritageDiplomats from 45 countries are visiting Surat Thani as part of an official study tour aimed at showcasing the cultural diversity and rich heritage of southern Thailand while strengthening ties between foreign missions and local communities. The annual programme, titled the "Study Tour for the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Representatives and Spouses", began yesterday and runs until tomorrow. While Surat Thani is widely known as the gateway to Koh Samui, the MFA has curated a programme highlighting lesser-known cultural and natural attractions. Diplomats engaged in hands-on cultural experiences such as making traditional salted eggs and observing demonstrations of Muay Chaiya, a distinctive southern Thai martial art. Today, the diplomatic corps is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya during her visit to Surat Thani Rajabhat University.

Lawyer says People's Party knew of rape case pre-pollA lawyer has alleged that the People's Party (PP) was aware of the rape case against its Maha Sarakham candidate before the Feb 8 election but went ahead and fielded him anyway. The allegation came after the Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed the lower courts' judgements, stemming from an incident that occurred in 2020. The reversal resulted in a PP parliamentary candidate being sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for rape. He said the Supreme Court's decision marked the end of a long legal battle after both the trial court and appeals court had dismissed the case. He said once the Supreme Court's decision was finalised, the individual's status as a candidate and party member ceased.

In a neighbourhood where gold shop signs glow and street food carts putter past century-old shophouses, Louis Vuitton has checked in. As a brand that first made its name producing travel luggage, journeys and travel have always been the heart of Louis Vuitton. Featuring the Keepall travel bag introduced in 1930, the ingenious duffel changed the way people travelled forever. Don't forget to bring your Louis Vuitton passport cover, tags or small leather goods to the Conciergerie, which offers hot-stamping services created exclusively for Louis Vuitton Bangkok Hotel. Speedy Room 1930.

Sovereign technology key to national security, say punditsMs Panita, left, and ACM Prapas, centre, who urged Thailand to develop its own innovative technology. Thailand must develop its own sovereign technology and innovative infrastructure to ensure long-term national security and economic growth, say tech researchers and a military official. Using foreign technology means user data is constantly being collected and harvested, said ACM Prapas. By inventing and developing technology locally, the nation can effectively secure its own data, which protects its digital sovereignty and strengthens national security, he said. Technology must be successfully transferred across multiple agencies so the entire national security apparatus becomes more capable and less reliant on external dependencies over time, said ACM Prapas.