Italy stay in World Cup hunt as Wales, Ireland suffer penalty heartbreak
Italy stay in World Cup hunt as Wales, Ireland suffer penalty heartbreakNewcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali scored the opener in Italy's 2-0 win over Northern Ireland. Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean struck second-half goals in Bergamo to keep four-time World Cup winners Italy on track to end a 12-year absence from the tournament. - Lewandowski inspires Poland comeback -Sweden will play Poland in Stockholm for one of four remaining European tickets to the World Cup. Ireland looked well placed for a first trip to the World Cup since 2002 as Troy Parrott's penalty and own goal by Kovar put them 2-0 ahead. David Strelec's stoppage-time strike wasn't enough to deny Kosovo, who will host Turkey for the right to go to the World Cup.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 05:26 UTC
US judge suspends govt sanctions on AI company Anthropic
US judge suspends govt sanctions on AI company AnthropicAnthropic's dispute with the US government erupted when the company said its technology should not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons systemsSAN FRANCISCO (UNITED STATES) - A US federal judge on Thursday suspended sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump's administration on Anthropic, saying the measures likely violated the law in blacklisting the AI powerhouse for expressing unease about the Pentagon's use of its technology. In the northern district of California, Judge Rita Lin granted Anthropic's request for a preliminary injunction in its suit against the government, freezing a presidential order that barred all federal agencies from using Anthropic technology. The ruling also suspends a Pentagon designation of Anthropic, creator of the Claude AI model, as a national security supply chain risk -- a label typically reserved for organisations from unfriendly foreign countries. "We're grateful to the court for moving swiftly, and pleased they agree Anthropic is likely to succeed on the merits," a company spokesperson said. In her ruling, she said the government's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk was "likely both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious."
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 05:26 UTC
'True miracle': Napoleon's long-lost hat to go on display
'True miracle': Napoleon's long-lost hat to go on displayThe director of Musee Conde, Mathieu Deldicque, poses with a hat believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. "We know every stage of its history, from Napoleon's exile on Saint Helena right up to the present day." The imperial estate, brought back from Saint Helena, was awarded in 1836 to Napoleon's sister Caroline Murat. The newly authenticated hat will serve as the centrepiece of an exhibition devoted to the art collections of Napoleon's sister, opening in early June. In 2023, a hat belonging to Napoleon when he was French emperor sold for a record of nearly two million euros.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 05:26 UTC
8 Thais due home tomorrow
8 Thais due home tomorrowThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that eight Thai nationals evacuated from Iran are due to arrive home tomorrow, raising the total number of Thais assisted in leaving the Middle East since the latest conflict erupted there to 1,499. He added reports indicate the United States is preparing to deploy additional troops to the region to enhance operational readiness. Given the high level of uncertainty, the ministry reiterated its call for Thai nationals in high-risk areas to leave immediately, follow official advisories, and register their contact details with Thai embassies or consulates. Meanwhile, assistance efforts for the three Thai crew members stranded aboard the Mayuree Naree are continuing. Iranian and Omani authorities have conducted a joint operation, but the status of the trio has yet to be confirmed.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 05:16 UTC
Forces warn against new provocations
Forces warn against new provocationsThai marines have stepped up monitoring along the Thai-Cambodian border after reports of renewed provocations, with commanders warning any further violations could prompt a response. He said the past week had seen intermittent provocations from the Cambodian side, including gunfire, which he described as a clear breach of the Thai-Cambodian ceasefire agreement reached on Dec 27, 2025. Capt Thammanoon said he has warned Cambodian counterparts that any further provocations would be met with retaliation. Regarding the disputed Thmor Da casino building, which Cambodia had previously advanced into, Capt Thammanoon confirmed it is now under Thai control. The broader Thmor Da area has increasingly become a hub for scam operations, reportedly run by Chinese-backed groups, said Capt Thammanoon.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 05:10 UTC
Japan pilot suspected of abusing power to grope cabin attendant
Japan pilot suspected of abusing power to grope cabin attendantA Japanese airline pilot has been indicted for allegedly groping a cabin attendant in a suspected abuse of power between work colleagues, people familiar with the case said on Wednesday. According to a complaint filed by Tokyo prosecutors in March last year, the 44-year-old All Nippon Airways pilot allegedly subjected the cabin attendant to unwanted touching while they were on a street in Takamatsu, western Japan, in October 2023. The indictment says the defendant used his position as a pilot to cause the victim to fear consequences, thereby making her unable to assert herself. After learning of the incident, ANA suspended the pilot, but later allowed him to return to work. The pilot was indicted without being detained.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 04:46 UTC
Bangkok heat index in ‘danger’ zone
Bangkok heat index in ‘danger’ zoneTourists take pictures in strong sunlight at the Pathumwan intersection skywalk in Bangkok. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)The heat index in Bangkok is in the danger zone, with “feels like” temperatures on Thursday ranging between 42 and 51.9 degrees Celsius, City Hall has warned. Official maximum temperatures in the capital are forecast to range between 34C and 39C over the next few days, according to the Meteorological Department. The heat index refers to the temperature the human body actually feels. The heat index can be divided into four levels:27.0 – 32.9C: Caution33.0 – 41.9C: Warning42.0 – 51.9C: DangerAbove 52C: Extreme Danger.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 03:55 UTC
Middle East war results in uneven impact across sectors
Middle East war results in uneven impact across sectorsThe ongoing Middle East conflict is emerging as a key risk to Thailand's equity market, but its impact on corporate earnings is uneven, creating both winners and losers across sectors, according to Bualuang Securities (BLS). He said this suggests while the war has not significantly harmed overall market earnings, certain sectors have been affected based on cost structures and revenue linkages. Sectors with strong earnings visibility and structural growth drivers remain attractive. Construction materials companies and downstream oil retailers are also struggling to pass on higher costs, he said. BLS also highlights opportunities in oversold names such as Bumrungrad Hospital (BH) and Minor International (MINT) where valuations have been pressured by war sentiment despite stable earnings outlooks.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 27, 2026 00:06 UTC
From strength to strength and honour upon honour
Bovet 1822's strong track record at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG) began with taking home the coveted Aiguille d'Or trophy in 2018. The Récital 22 Grand Récital stood out in the "Oscars of watchmaking" with a Tellurium Orrery, a flying tourbillon, a perpetual calendar, retrograde minutes and a nine-day power reserve. Miss Audrey is named after the eldest child of Pascal Raffy, who acquired and revived Bovet Fleurier SA in 2001. An everyday watch, the Récital 30 showcases an evolution of the ground-breaking world-time system that includes New Delhi and with pushers controlling the rollers. "Complicated yet simple to use, the Récital 30 is the result of our innovation, attention to detail, exceptional knowledge and the human touch of our artisans."
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 23:41 UTC
Venezuela's Maduro back in US court after stunning capture
Venezuela's Maduro back in US court after stunning captureProtesters outside the Manhattan courthouse held an inflatable figure of ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro handcuffed. (Photo: AFP)NEW YORK - Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro will appear Thursday in a New York court for the second time since his capture by US forces in an extraordinary nighttime raid. - 'Desperate' for justice -A police convoy believed to be carrying Maduro and Flores left the jail at around 4:00 am (0800 GMT) to reach the Manhattan court, AFP journalists saw. He said we must not be sad," said his son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, adding his father told him: "We are fine, we are fighters." At his first US court appearance in January, Maduro struck a defiant tone as he identified himself as the president of Venezuela despite being captured.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 23:27 UTC
Population shrinks to 65.8m
Population shrinks to 65.8mThailand's population fell to 65.8 million in 2025, according to the Department of Provincial Administration, which also revealed that Bangkok remains by far the country's most populous area. In an announcement issued by the Central Registration Office on Wednesday, the total population as of Dec 31, 2025 stood at 65.80 million. The figures show a decline from 2024, when the population was recorded at 65.95 million, marking a decrease of about 142,199 year-on-year. Bangkok continues to rank as the most densely populated province, with a population roughly double that of second-placed Nakhon Ratchasima. Currently, 5.26 million elderly people -- or 37.2% -- remain employed, mainly because they are still healthy and need income, she added.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 22:55 UTC
Trump goes off-script, US gone rogue
But now, somehow, President Trump has betrayed the movement that has carried him to office by waging a disastrous war on Iran in cooperation with Israel. Along the way, Mr Trump lashed out at the international system by imposing so-called "reciprocal" tariffs on April 2 last year, known as "Liberation Day". In the Middle East, the Trump II administration argued to "shift burdens" and "build peace". President Trump in 2026 sounds like President George W Bush in 2003, grasping for war justifications that are just not there. Mr Trump is using the same doctrine of "preemption" by attacking Iran first and trying to explain the reasons later.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 22:41 UTC
South Africa disinvited from G7 in France after US pressure: Pretoria
South Africa disinvited from G7 in France after US pressure: PretoriaIt was during that G20 in South Africa that French President Emmanuel Macron personally invited President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) to take part in the G7, Pretoria recalled. "We've learnt that due to sustained pressure, France has had to withdraw its invitation to South Africa to attend the G7 meeting," Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to the president, told AFP. "We are told that the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited," he said. It was during that G20 in South Africa that French President Emmanuel Macron personally invited Ramaphosa to take part in the G7, Pretoria recalled. "Notwithstanding all of these developments, South Africa remains committed to engage constructively with the US," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 21:57 UTC
ONE Championship shuts down women’s strawweight MMA division, releases Xiong Jingnan
Long-reigning champion departs as sources say promotion has shuttered the divisionXiong Jingnan with the ONE Championship strawweight MMA world titleONE Championship has decided to shut down its women’s strawweight MMA division and has released champion Xiong Jingnan. Xiong had not defended the strawweight belt since September 2022, when she beat Angela Lee by unanimous decision in Singapore to close their trilogy and record a seventh straight title defence. The 38-year-old Chinese fighter was the inaugural women’s strawweight MMA champion, claiming the belt in January 2018 with a fourth-round TKO of Tiffany Teo. Xiong Jingnan and Angela Lee enjoyed a notable rivalry in ONE ChampionshipA fourth fight between them had once appeared inevitable, particularly with Xiong calling for another shot at the atomweight belt. Her exit closes the book on ONE’s women’s strawweight MMA division as it existed for the better part of the past decade.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 21:35 UTC
Call for measures to restrain fuel price hikes
The Thai Chamber of Commerce is calling on the government to manage fuel prices, ensure adequate reserves, and speed up the implementation of energy-saving measures nationwide. FUEL AVAILABILITYEkapoj Yodpinit, president of the Thai Shrimp Association, said the government should take action to prevent fuel shortages. "Given global conditions, higher fuel prices are acceptable as users can manage their consumption. Fuel shortages have a greater impact on production than price hikes," he said, adding that he was unsure about current fuel availability after yesterday's significant price hike. He expressed concern that higher fuel prices will reduce consumer purchasing power as people become more cautious with their spending.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2026 20:36 UTC