Ex-South Korea leader apologises for martial law crisis
Ex-South Korea leader apologises for martial law crisisYoon attends court on Feb 19 to learn his fate on insurrection charges stemming from the December 2024 martial law crisis. The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found Yoon guilty of leading a December 2024 insurrection designed to "paralyse" the National Assembly. "The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that," the judge said. Yoon was an unpopular president at the time of the martial law crisis. Martial law was lifted around six hours later, after lawmakers raced to the assembly building to hold an emergency vote.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 17:57 UTC
Thai hotel group Minor plans $1bn property fund
14 hotels to be sold into fund, Hong Kong listing of restaurant unit also consideredAnantara Koh Yao Yai Villas in Phangnga in southern Thailand is one of more than 600 properties operated worldwide by the Bangkok-based Minor International. Minor International Plc, Thailand’s largest hotel and restaurant chain operator, plans to set up its first real estate investment trust worth about $1 billion, and is exploring a Hong Kong listing of its restaurant unit to raise funds for debt repayment. The company is also exploring a Hong Kong listing for its restaurant unit, Minor Food Plc, Mr Rajakarier said, confirming a Bloomberg News report last week. Minor, whose hotels in Thailand were featured in the hit series The White Lotus, has been cutting debt to ease investor concerns after its 2018 acquisition of the European chain NH Hotel Group significantly increased liabilities. Shares of Minor (MINT) are up 7% this year, trailing the benchmark SET Index, which has advanced 17%.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 17:47 UTC
UK police search property as royals reel from Andrew’s arrest
UK police search property as royals reel from Andrew’s arrestCars wait at the entrance to Royal Lodge, the old residence of Britain’s former prince Andrew, where police said they are still conducting a search on Friday. (Photo: AFP)SANDRINGHAM, England - Police on Friday were searching the former home of ex-prince Andrew for a second day, as his sensational arrest tipped the British monarchy into a crisis unprecedented in its modern era. But royal commentators were in no doubt the first arrest of a senior royal in centuries signalled a profound crisis. The retail store worker added he still “liked” the royals and thought the ex-prince was just “one bad apple”. A YouGov poll conducted after Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest showed 82 percent believed he should be removed from the line of succession.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 17:05 UTC
Abhisit won’t close door on coalition
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says that a key principle for his party is that the government must remain free from interference. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has signalled that the party is keeping its options open on joining a government coalition, saying any decision would rest with the party’s board and MPs. He was responding to speculation that the Democrats would be in opposition to a Bhumjaithai Party-led coalition once the new government is formed. Mr Abhisit said the party would not actively seek talks but would remain open to discussions if approached. “I’m not making any move because a political party must be ready to serve either as the opposition or the government.”
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 16:55 UTC
City Hall launches major overhaul of park rules
The park is known for its forest park, vast wetlands and well-maintained jogging and cycling tracks. The BMA recently held two public hearings, both online and on-site, to allow residents to help shape how the city’s public parks are used. The existing regulations, in place since 2003, no longer match the increasingly diverse activities now common in city parks, officials say. While these additions have broadened access, they have also sparked disagreements among park users — prompting City Hall to revisit the rules in an effort to reduce friction and create parks “for everyone”, according to The Standard online news outlet. Officials will host three more on-site forums as follows:Feb 21 at Wachirabenchathat Park (aka Rot Fai Park)Feb 22 at Benjakitti ParkMarch 1 at Chaloem Phrakiat 80th Anniversary Park (aka Bang Khun Non Park).
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 16:33 UTC
Trump weighing strike on Iran as Tehran says draft deal imminent
Trump weighing strike on Iran as Tehran says draft deal imminentThe Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) and USS Frank E Petersen Jr (DDG 121) and support vessels sail in formation in the Arabian Sea on Feb 6, 2026. (Photo: US Navy via AFP)US President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran after ordering a major naval buildup in the Middle East aimed at heaping pressure on Tehran to cut a deal to curb its nuclear programme. Trump had suggesting on Thursday that “bad things” would happen if Tehran did not strike a deal within 10 days, which he subsequently extended to 15. Araghchi also said US negotiators had not requested that Tehran end its nuclear enrichment programme, contradicting statements from American officials. On Thursday, Trump again suggested the US would attack Iran if it did not make a deal within the timeframe he laid out.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 15:57 UTC
US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs
The conservative-majority US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act “does not authorise the President to impose tariffs”. The conservative-majority high court ruled 6-3 in the judgement, saying the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) “does not authorise the President to impose tariffs”. Trump has used tariffs — taxes on imported goods — as a key economic and foreign policy tool since returning to office last year. In November he told reporters that without his tariffs “the rest of the world would laugh at us because they’ve used tariffs against us for years and took advantage of us”. Trump’s Justice Department had argued that the IEEPA allows tariffs by authorising the president to “regulate” imports to address emergencies.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 15:51 UTC
US GDP growth misses expectations
(Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON - US economic growth cooled much more than expected in the final months of 2025, government estimates showed Friday, capping the first year of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Full-year GDP growth, in turn, came in at 2.2% in 2025, lower than the 2.8% figure for the previous year. Analysts generally expect any hit to economic growth from the record-long shutdown, which lasted from October to mid-November, to be temporary. The fourth quarter figure was a marked slowdown from the 4.4% growth seen in the July to September window. While artificial intelligence investments and spending by well-off families have powered the robust economic growth, it remains unclear if most households will feel uplifted by this boom.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 15:13 UTC
Arsenal aim to banish title jitters in Spurs showdown
Arsenal aim to banish title jitters in Spurs showdownArsenal face Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday. Manchester City can pile pressure on the Gunners with a win against Newcastle, while Michael Carrick heads to Everton aiming to bolster his bid to become Manchester United's permanent manager. Man City 'on the hunt'Tijjani Reijnders has warned Arsenal that Manchester City are primed to pounce after the leaders allowed them back into the title race. Carrick has Man Utd on the riseWayne Rooney has backed Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick to take the job on a permanent basis. FixturesSaturday (1500 GMT unless stated)Aston Villa v LeedsBrentford v BrightonChelsea v Burnley, Manchester City v Newcastle (2000)West Ham v Bournemouth (1730)Sunday (1400 unless stated)Crystal Palace v WolvesNottingham Forest v LiverpoolSunderland v FulhamTottenham v Arsenal (1630)Monday
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 14:53 UTC
B778 million in assets seized from criminal groups
One of the high-profile cases involves a narcotics network led by a suspect known as Freddy, with assets worth 31 million baht confiscated. Another major case involves an online gambling network led by a suspect known as Thada, with assets worth an estimated 421 million baht seized. Authorities seized assets worth about 34 million baht. Other actions included the seizure of assets worth 53 million baht linked to condominium investment schemes operated by The New Concept Co, and the freezing of 33 million baht in assets in an extortion case. Amlo said it is seeking court orders to transfer seized assets, worth about 109 million baht, to the government from a total of 11 cases.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 14:09 UTC
Northern Irish man arrested for credit-card hacking case
Northern Irish man arrested for credit-card hacking caseImmigration police arrest a 50-year-old suspect from Northern Ireland wanted in a credit card-hacking case in On Nut, Bangkok, on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)A 50-year-old man from Northern Ireland has been arrested in Bangkok’s On Nut area after evading authorities for more than two years over credit card hacking offences that caused nearly 2 million baht in damages. As a result, numerous luxury hotels were unable to claim payment for accommodation and services provided to the suspect. The officers also learned that the suspect attempted to breach hotel security systems by using forged electronic keycards to access elevators and restricted rooms, though these attempts were unsuccessful. When the arresting team learned that he would be checking into a hotel in On Nut with a Thai woman, they set up surveillance and arrested him on arrival.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 14:06 UTC
Former Prince Andrew is released after being arrested amid Epstein revelations
(Photo: Reuters)LONDON — British police on Thursday evening released Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, after taking him into custody for several hours, intensifying a long-running crisis for the monarchy over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It was the first time in modern history that a member of the British royal family had been arrested. The authorities said they had arrested Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, without providing details. The arrest came amid reports that the former prince had shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as a British trade envoy. Buckingham Palace has been dogged by scandal for years over separate allegations that the former prince sexually abused a young woman.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 14:06 UTC
Prachachart Party supports Anutin to be PM
Prachachart Party secretary-general Sugarno Matha (second from right, front) announces support for Anutin Charnvirakul as the new prime minister at the Bhumjaithai Party head office on Friday. (Photo: Bhumjaithai Party)The Prachachart Party officially confirmed backing Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul to be the new prime minister on Friday. Prachachart secretary-general Sugarno Matha on Friday led three other MPs-elect to announce political support alongside Bhumjaithai executives and said all five MPs-elect would work with Mr Anutin. Election-winning Bhumjaithai reportedly demanded Prachachart exclude Pol Col Tawee from participation in the coalition government to be formed after the official poll results. With Prachachart on its side, Bhumjaithai secured 291 MPs-elect to vote for Mr Anutin to lead the new government.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 14:03 UTC
Dusit Thani Hua Hin Offers ‘Breakfast On Us’ Exclusive for Dusit Gold Members
Dusit Thani Hua Hin Offers ‘Breakfast On Us’ Exclusive for Dusit Gold MembersHua Hin, Thailand — February 2026 — Nestled along the tranquil shores of the Gulf of Thailand and surrounded by lush tropical greenery, Dusit Thani Hua Hin invites travellers to embrace unhurried moments of relaxation with its exclusive “Breakfast On Us” offer, created especially for Dusit Gold members seeking a rewarding seaside retreat. Blending warm Thai gracious hospitality with contemporary comfort, Dusit Thani Hua Hin offers an inviting sanctuary for couples, families and wellness-minded travellers alike. Dusit Gold membership is complimentary and may be easily activated prior to booking. The “Breakfast On Us” offer is available for bookings now through 15 March 2026, with stays valid until 31 July 2026. Book now to enjoy exceptional value: https://bit.ly/_BreakfastOnUsNewsJoin Dusit Gold membership complimentary to unlock additional privileges:https://bit.ly/DTHHDGMSIGNUP
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 13:54 UTC
‘Aem Cyanide’ sentenced to life for murder of police officer
Police escort Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn to the Criminal Court on April 26, 2023, a day after her arrest. (Police photo)The Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced Sararat “Aem Cyanide” Rangsiwuthaporn to life imprisonment for poisoning a police officer with cyanide in Nakhon Pathom province. On Nov 20, 2024, the Criminal Court sentenced Sararat to death for poisoning and killing her friend, Siriporn Khanwong, with potassium cyanide. The court found she had placed potassium cyanide in Siriporn’s consumables, left her to die and stole her belongings. Investigators suspect Sararat administered potassium cyanide to 14 people between 2015 and 2023, allegedly to avoid debts or steal valuables.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2026 13:51 UTC