Ariya stays in hunt after a solid 69 in Singapore
Ariya stays in hunt after a solid 69 in SingaporeAriya Jutanugarn tees off at the 10th hole at Sentosa Golf Club. Singapore: Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn shot a three-under-par 69 to trail leader Auston Kim of the United States by three strokes after the first round of the Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club (Tanjong Course) in Singapore yesterday. Ariya shot four birdies and only one bogey to tie for eighth place with France's Celine Boutier and four other players. Ariya, a 12-time LPGA champion, said: "The course conditions today were quite difficult, harder than in previous years. There are still three more rounds to play, so I'll try my best and try to beat myself each day."
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 06:07 UTC
Emails to Chinese dancers allegedly threatened Australian PM
Emails to Chinese dancers allegedly threatened Australian PMA security scare at the Australian prime minister's residence this week was allegedly sparked by a bomb threat against Chinese dancers. (Photo: AFP)SYDNEY — A security scare at the Australian prime minister's residence this week was sparked by a bomb threat against an anti-Beijing Chinese dance troupe, the act's hosts said Friday. A copy of the Chinese-language email provided to AFP said "large quantities of nitroglycerin explosives" had been placed in the prime minister's residence. "If the Shen Yun performance proceeds anyway, the prime minister's residence will be blown into bloody ruins," the email warned. China banned Falun Gong, which it calls an "evil cult", in 1999 after 10,000 members peacefully demonstrated outside a government building in Beijing.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 06:05 UTC
Royal Thai Air Force rejects training link to fatality
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has released a statement regarding the death of Private Phrusapa Wimuttithamchai, stating medical examiners have determined the cause of death to be brain death, resulting from complications from an abscess in the brain. Air Vice Marshal Jakkrit Thammawichai, RTAF spokesperson, said the force deeply regrets the loss and extends condolences to the family. According to the statement, Private Phrusapa, 21, enlisted in the first intake of 2025 on May 1 and was assigned to the 1st Air Force Security Battalion in Don Muang district, Bangkok. He was sent to the Air Force Medical Department on May 6 and received medication, with follow-up appointments scheduled. Doctors concluded the cause of death was brain death resulting from a brain abscess linked to an infection.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 04:58 UTC
Businesses along border call for aid
TRAT: Businesses along the border are calling for urgent government intervention as they struggle to survive in the face of prolonged closures of key checkpoints as a result of ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Previously, Trat Mankong Co generated millions of baht each month from exporting construction materials, but revenues have now fallen to zero. He said there has been no concrete government assistance, while businesses continue to struggle with fixed costs such as salaries and loan repayments. In the short term, he urged the government to allocate special budgets directly to border tambon administrative organisations, suggesting 100 million baht annually for each border tambon from Ubon Ratchathani to Trat, excluding Sa Kaeo. In the long term, he urged the government to accelerate diplomatic negotiations and coordinate with provincial authorities and the Ministry of Interior to draft economic recovery plans, stressing that border communities should not bear the economic burden alone.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 04:58 UTC
Zulj hat-trick blitz as Buriram smash six
Zulj hat-trick blitz as Buriram smash sixBuriram United's Robert Zulj, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Phitiwat Sookjitthammakul. Defending champions Buriram United moved into the semi-finals of the FA Cup after they hammered League 2 side Khon Kaen United 6-0 at Chang Arena on Wednesday night. Austrian midfielder Robert Zulj scored a hat-trick for the Thunder Castle (39, 45+4, 60) while the other three goals came from Emmanuel Toku (45+5, 89) and Nathakorn Ratthanasuwan (67). Mlapa fired home the winning goal for Lamphun in the 102nd minute to send his team through to the last four. The Brazilian struck again in the 74th minute to help the team capture three important points.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 04:50 UTC
Voters believe election not clean, EC fails to fight cheating
Voters believe election not clean, EC fails to fight cheatingAn electoral official shows a ballot during the vote count on the day of the general election at a polling station tent in Bangkok on Feb 8. (Photo: Reuters)Voters overwhelmingly felt the general election was unfair, a poll showed on Friday, with the organisers criticised for their lackluster performance in making it clean. King Prachadhipok's Institute's latest survey said 87.7% of people believed the Feb 8 election was either somewhat or totally unfair and only 12.3% were satisfied with the results. The survey also showed 67.6% of respondents were not satisfied with the performance of the Election Commission in preventing and tackling vote-buying, although the poll organisers were commended for selecting ballot-dropping stations and election facilities for voters. The survey was carried out from Feb 13-16 by asking 2,000 people above the age of 18 across all regions.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 04:39 UTC
E-commerce giants form Thai trade group
(Illustration: Meanwell Packaging via Wikimedia Commons)Thailand needs a sustainable digital infrastructure to guarantee continued health of the industry, according to the Thai Digital Platform Trade Association (TDPA), a new trade group founded by major operators Grab, Lazada, Line Man Wongnai and Shopee. In light of this momentum, leading players recognised the importance of joining forces to sustainably elevate Thailand’s platform economy to global standards, said Lt Col Thamakorn Supatanarangsi, the president of the association. “We believe that precise, internationally aligned regulation will be a critical foundation for strengthening trust and ensuring the long-term, sustainable growth of Thailand’s platform economy,” she said. She cautioned against over-regulation, citing Europe’s loss of innovation to the United States, and called for balanced rules that allow the platform economy to grow. Lt Col Thamakorn denied a rumour that the platforms have lobbied the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand to delay finishing draft guidelines to regulate unfair trade practices on multi-sided digital platforms.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 04:26 UTC
Australian supermarket giant reins in AI assistant claiming to be human
Australian supermarket giant reins in AI assistant claiming to be humanWoolworths is one of Australia's largest supermarket chains and is far from the only company to have employed AI-powered customer service assistants. SYDNEY - Australian supermarket giant Woolworths has been forced to rein in an AI-powered customer service assistant after users reported it had been rambling about its mother. But users online reported Olive has in recent weeks gone slightly off-message while on the phone. Another user reported Olive had attempted "fake banter", talked about its relatives and made "fake typing sounds" while looking something up. Woolworths is one of Australia's largest supermarket chains and is far from the only company to have employed AI-powered customer service assistants.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 03:53 UTC
Pakistan bombs Kabul after Afghanistan attacks border
Pakistan bombs Kabul after Afghanistan attacks borderTaliban security personnel stand guard at a checkpoint in Kabul. ISLAMABAD (PAKISTAN) - Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies. An Afghan official reported multiple civilians wounded near the Torkham border crossing, at a camp for people returning from Pakistan. After repeated breaches of the initial ceasefire, Saudi Arabia intervened this month, mediating the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 03:53 UTC
Analysts see buoyant SET following rate cut
Analysts see buoyant SET following rate cutThe Monetary Policy Committee's policy rate cut gives a strong psychological boost to the SET index, says Koraphat Vorachet, assistant managing director and head of research at KSS. The upgrade adds 60 index points as a result of the unexpected rate cut and 80 points from upgrading its 2026 earnings per share forecast to 95 baht from 90 baht. Another cut possibleInnovestX Securities said policy space remains available for another rate cut in August, potentially bringing the policy rate to 0.75% by year-end amid sub-potential growth and negative inflation. "In our view, the policy rate remains on a downward trajectory. BMI, a British multinational research firm, also believes another rate cut is possible this year as the baht's strength adds further impetus for easing.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 02:56 UTC
Arsenal face Chelsea title test, troubled Spurs in spotlight
Arsenal face Chelsea title test, troubled Spurs in spotlightArsenal and Chelsea face off on Sunday. (Photo: AFP)LONDON - Premier League leaders Arsenal face a title test from London rivals Chelsea on Sunday. Manchester City can keep the pressure on Arsenal with a win at Leeds, while troubled Tottenham cannot afford another damaging defeat. Although Arsenal are five points ahead, City have a game in hand and host the Gunners in April. If City win their last 11 matches they guaranteed to win the title no matter what Arsenal do in their remaining 10 games.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 02:21 UTC
Sacred Karen tusks returned
Sacred Karen tusks returnedVillagers in traditional attire carry 400-year-old sacred elephant tusks back to the Karen 'long-haired hermit' community following their return on Thursday in Tak's Ban Lay Tong Ku, Umphang district. (Photo: Aswin Pinitwong)Tak province has returned a pair of 400-year-old sacred elephant tusks to the Karen "long-haired hermit" community of Lay Tong Ku in Umphang district, ending a years-long dispute over the culturally significant artefacts. The tusks were formally handed back during a ceremony yesterday presided over by Umphang district chief Manoch Phoniaem. Thai authorities later coordinated with the Karen Buddhist Democratic Army to recover the tusks. For security reasons, they were kept at the Umphang district office pending the resolution of ownership issues.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 02:10 UTC
Bhumjaithai nears majority in House
If the additional nine MPs can be brought in to join BJT, the total number of MPs able to support BJT leader Anutin Charnvirakul's bid for prime minister would rise to 301. The party is believed to be seeking a stable majority in the House of Representatives before formally opening coalition negotiations. Attention has centred on a bloc of nine MPs linked to Chalermchai Sri-on and Dech-it Khaothong within the Klatham Party. Despite the swelling parliamentary tally, BJT has stopped short of confirming whether Klatham or the Democrat Party would ultimately join the coalition. Asked whether 290-plus seats were sufficient, she said that a simple majority in the House was the operative principle, without specifying a definitive target.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 02:06 UTC
SCB predicts gradual baht decline
SCB predicts gradual baht declineSiam Commercial Bank (SCB) expects the baht to gradually weaken against the US dollar, reaching 33 baht per dollar in the fourth quarter of this year, driven by a combination of domestic and external factors. SCB forecasts the baht to ease to 31.50 per dollar in the first quarter, 31.70 in the second quarter, 32 in the third quarter, and 33 in the fourth quarter. Wachirawat Banchuen, senior strategist at SCB Financial Markets, attributed the baht depreciation outlook to both internal and external developments. Forex transactions conducted through digital platforms account for around 40% of SCB's total forex transactions. Last year online forex transactions grew by more than 30% year-on-year, said Mr Poulier.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 01:32 UTC
Sihasak defends border conduct in Europe: ministry
Sihasak defends border conduct in Europe: ministryForeign Affairs Minister Sihasak PhuangketkeowForeign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow used his recent visit to Europe to reaffirm Thailand's commitment to peace with Cambodia and firmly reject allegations that Thai forces had violated Cambodian territory, the ministry said yesterday. Mr Sihasak travelled to Paris, France, and Geneva, Switzerland, from Feb 23–25, where he held meetings with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and European officials, the ministry said. Mr Sihasak stressed that the ceasefire remains fragile but insisted Thailand has strictly adhered to its terms and never encroached on Cambodian territory, contrary to claims made by Phnom Penh, she said. The ministry has also formally protested to Cambodia following a recent cross-border shooting incident, underscoring Thailand's concern over actions that could undermine the ceasefire, she said. The mines were found some 500 metres inside Thai territory, and technical analysis confirmed they were newly planted by Cambodia rather than remnants of past conflicts, said RAdm Paraj Ratanajaipan, spokesman of the RTN.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2026 00:59 UTC