ONE Championship: Hyu eyes Rodtang or Superlek after accepting Suablack catchweight
Hyu is targeting the ONE Championship flyweight kickboxing title in 2026Hyu Iwata said he did not care if Suablack missed weight – and ONE Championship’s rising Japanese kickboxing star proved it. By Friday morning, the 23-year-old had backed up those words, agreeing to proceed with the bout at a catchweight for their ONE Fight Night 41 clash at Lumpinee Stadium. “Everyone says I’m the next Takeru,” Hyu said. Hyu believes a knockout could push him straight into the conversation at the top of the flyweight kickboxing division. “I will hold the ONE Championship kickboxing belt,” he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 11:52 UTC
Vietnam police probe prominent journalist over ‘anti-state’ acts
Vietnam police probe prominent journalist over ‘anti-state’ actsMotorcycles are seen on a street in Hanoi, Vietnam, on June 30, 2016. (File photo: Reuters)HANOI — Vietnam’s police launched criminal proceedings into prominent journalist and blogger Le Anh Hung for alleged anti-state activities in a country where authorities maintain a tightly controlled media environment. The 52-year-old was previously convicted of “abusing democratic freedoms” and released from prison in 2023 after five years behind bars, according to VOA. In February 2025, journalist Truong Huy San was sentenced to 30 months in prison for posting articles on Facebook that were critical of the government. Vietnam’s parliament in December passed amendments to the press law that tighten restrictions over information gathering and sharing.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 11:36 UTC
Their Majesties to visit Laos on Monday
Their Majesties to visit Laos on MondayHis Majesty the King and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith jointly preside over the opening of the Friendship Bridge linking Bung Kan province and Laos’ Borikhamxay province on Dec 25, 2025. (Photo: Royal Household Bureau)His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen will pay a three-day state visit to Laos starting on Monday. The Huayxone-Huayxua project was the first royal project initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX). The visit, at the invitation of Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, will be the first in 32 years for the Thai king. HM King Bhumibol the Great and HM Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, visited Laos on April 7-8, 1994, after jointly presiding over the opening of the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge with Laos.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 11:06 UTC
No request yet on Thaksin’s parole, says justice minister
No request yet on Thaksin’s parole, says justice ministerThaksin : Eligible for parole consideration on May 9 after serving two-thirds of his one-year prison sentence. The Ministry of Justice has not received any proposals for parole for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat said on Friday, adding that any consideration in his case is to proceed under the normal committee process. Only in special cases of suspension does the justice minister personally decide, he said. The NSPRT’s objections must be examined carefully to avoid repeating past mistakes, the justice minister added. In its January petition, the NSPRT urged the justice minister to scrutinise Thaksin’s eligibility, arguing the review should be grounded in a transparent legal assessment rather than the time served alone.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 11:05 UTC
1,000 eager to return home
1,000 eager to return homeEighteen Thai workers arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport from Iran on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Foreign Affairs Ministry)Nearly 1,000 Thai workers in the Middle East have expressed a desire to return home amid the escalating regional conflict, according to the Ministry of Labour. Pichet Tongpan, deputy permanent secretary for labour, said on Thursday that 35 Thai workers have already returned to Thailand, including 17 from Bahrain and 18 from Iran. So far, about 940 Thai workers in the Middle East have informed authorities that they wish to return to Thailand, he said. Mr Pichet said the ministry is ready to assist returning workers immediately upon arrival, including guiding them in claiming benefits from the Overseas Workers Assistance Fund.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 09:28 UTC
Marine missions see twenty arrested
Marine missions see twenty arrestedAuthorities have arrested a Myanmar national and detained 19 Indonesian fishermen in separate maritime operations targeting fuel smuggling and illegal fishing in the Andaman Sea. Marine police later intercepted the vessel KT-224 near a floating pier in tambon Pak Nam of Muang district at about 8.30am. The suspect failed to present export documents and reportedly admitted he had been hired by another Myanmar national to deliver the fuel for 2,000 baht. In a separate operation, naval forces and maritime authorities arrested 19 crew members from two Indonesian fishing vessels for allegedly operating illegally in Thai waters. Prayut Rattanawan, Phuket provincial fisheries chief, said the two vessels seized were a trawler and a handline fishing boat.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:43 UTC
Trump says Iran shouldn't come to World Cup for 'own life and safety'
Trump says Iran shouldn't come to World Cup for 'own life and safety'Fifa chief Gianni Infantino said he and US President Donald Trump had discussed the Iranian team's participation at the upcoming World Cup. (Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump warned Iran's football team on Thursday their "life and safety" would be at risk if they took part in the upcoming World Cup in North America. Trump's comments came just two days after he told Fifa chief Gianni Infantino the Iranian players would be welcome despite the Middle East war. "The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. "The United States of America looks very much forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup," Trump wrote.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:35 UTC
Thousands of Chinese boats mass at sea, raising questions
Thousands of Chinese boats mass at sea, raising questionsThis photo taken on July 24, 2024, shows fishing boats berthing at a port to avoid Typhoon Gaemi in Xiamen, in eastern China's Fujian province. (Photo: AFP)TAIPEI — Thousands of Chinese fishing boats have been massing in geometric formations in the East China Sea, in coordinated actions that experts believe are part of Beijing's preparations for a potential regional crisis or conflict. "We've seen like two, 300, up to a thousand (Chinese fishing boats congregate), but anything exceeding a thousand I thought was unusual." China's massive fishing fleet operates in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and the South China Sea, competing with fishers from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. "They're actually part of the (Chinese) government, a flotilla, advancing their illegal interests in the South China Sea."
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:35 UTC
Thailand prepares to defend USTR on trade probes
Thailand prepares to defend USTR on trade probesCommerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun forms a special panel to handle new USTR probes into unfair trade practices between Thailand and the United States. (File photo: Commerce Ministry)The Commerce Ministry has set up a task force to compile evidence to argue against the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which included Thailand in its new investigations into unfair practices. The US trade office announced on Wednesday it would look into a number of countries accused of unfairly trading with the United States, with Thailand among its targets. Thailand was targeted after the US found a Thai-US trade imbalance of US$51 billion in Thailand’s favour last year, up from $46 billion in 2024. The USTR investigation is under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:34 UTC
TCG provides B14.5bn in credit guarantees for SME loans
TCG provides B14.5bn in credit guarantees for SME loansTCG staff provide financing services to clients. Banks that extend loans to SMEs with credit guarantees from the TCG file guarantee claims of around 10 billion baht annually, from a cumulative guaranteed portfolio of about 400 billion baht, said Mr Sittikorn. As of the end of 2025, the accumulated NPG ratio was 13% of total outstanding guarantees, unchanged from 2024 but 2-3 percentage points higher than in 2023. For 2026, the TCG targets new credit guarantees of more than 73.5 billion baht. In 2025, the TCG approved credit guarantees worth 40.6 billion baht, lower than the 53.7 billion baht approved in 2024.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:24 UTC
Fantastic Mr Stowaway: fox sails from Britain to New York port
Fantastic Mr Stowaway: fox sails from Britain to New York portThere are tens of thousands of urban foxes in Britain, according to academic research. (Photo: AFP)NEW YORK — A red fox that managed to slip onto a US-bound ship in Britain was discovered by customs officers in the Port of New York, a zoo in the city has said. "The Bronx Zoo regularly works with officials to help rescue wildlife that is illegally trafficked through nearby ports and airports," the zoo said. There are tens of thousands of urban foxes in Britain, according to academic research, and Britain has some of the highest-density fox populations in the world. They have been a part of the city landscape since the 1930s, when urban sprawl began to encroach on their rural territory.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:22 UTC
French fugitive wanted for attempted murder arrested in Phuket
French fugitive wanted for attempted murder arrested in PhuketImmigration officers have arrested a 46-year-old French national hiding in the Rawai area of Phuket province on Friday. (Photo: Phuket Immigration)PHUKET — Immigration officers have arrested a 46-year-old French national hiding in Phuket's Muang district after he was flagged on an Interpol red notice for attempted murder. Officers from Phuket Immigration carried out surveillance until they confirmed the man, identified only as Faisal, was inside a residence in tambon Rawai. A team led by Pol Lt Col Adisorn Boonchum, an inspector with Phuket Immigration, then moved in and detained him without incident. During questioning, Faisal admitted he was the person named in the arrest warrant.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:05 UTC
Spurs search for salvation, Arsenal ready for title charge
Spurs search for salvation, Arsenal ready for title chargeTottenham and Brazil forward Richarlison. Arsenal can move closer to their first Premier League title for 22 years with a win over Everton, while Manchester United meet Aston Villa in a crucial clash in the race for Champions League qualification. If third-bottom West Ham beat Manchester City on Saturday, Igor Tudor's 16th-placed side will have slipped even closer to oblivion by the time they face Liverpool at Anfield. The Gunners are seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City and can extend that lead to 10 points if they beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Fixtures:Saturday (1500 GMT unless stated)Burnley v BournemouthSunderland v BrightonChelsea v Newcastle (1730)Arsenal v Everton (1730)West Ham v Manchester City (2000)Sunday (1400 GMT unless stated)Crystal Palace v LeedsManchester United v Aston VillaNottingham Forest v FulhamLiverpool v Tottenham (1630)Monday
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:01 UTC
'Say a prayer and send it': Paralympic alpine skiers tackle fear
'Say a prayer and send it': Paralympic alpine skiers tackle fearIn the standing and sitting categories, many para alpine skiers are missing one or more limbs. Meg Gustafson, an American visually impaired skier, said that before a downhill: "I say a little prayer and then I send it." "Being scared and doing things scared, that's what it is to me," said the 31-year-old. American Anna Soens crashed early in her Paralympic debut in Cortina -- the first-ever downhill race of her career. Asked what the experience had taught her, the sitting skier grinned and said: "Land straighter!"
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:01 UTC
French soldier killed in attack in Iraqi Kurdistan
French soldier killed in attack in Iraqi KurdistanA plume of smoke rises following an interception of a drone in Erbil, Iraq on March 12, 2026. (Photo: AFP)PARIS — A French soldier was killed in an attack in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, confirming the first French military death in the Middle East war. The French military said earlier that drones had hit a base where troops were taking part in counter-terrorism training with Iraqi counterparts. The French military said on Thursday that six people had been wounded in the attack. No injuries were reported in that attack, but Italy said it was temporarily withdrawing its military personnel from the base.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2026 06:00 UTC