Myanmar polls open amid civil war, junta-backed party tipped to win
Overshadowed by civil war and doubts about the credibility of the polls, voters in ‌Myanmar were casting their ballots in a general election starting on Sunday, the ​first since a military coup toppled the last civilian government in 2021.

Prasit sentenced to 1,210 years in jail for fraudulent loan schemes
The Criminal Court has handed down a historic sentence against businessman Prasit Jeawkok, ordering 1,210 years in prison for defrauding the public through illegal loan schemes.

BJT Party names Varawut No 3
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party, announced Varawut Silpa-archa has been nominated as the party's third-ranked candidate on the party-list ballot.

City as hard to fathom as ever
As Thailand edges closer to the Feb 8 general election, Bangkok once again emerges as the country's most unpredictable and symbolically important political battleground.

JKN Global chief handed 2 years in absentia
The Bangkok South Kwaeng Court has sentenced Jakkaphong "Anne" Jakrajutatip, founder of JKN Global Group, to two years' imprisonment without suspension after finding her guilty of fraud involving a 30‑million‑baht corporate bond investment. The ruling was delivered in absentia after she failed to appear in court and remains at large.

Taiwan rattled by 7.0 magnitude quake
TAIPEI - A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck about 32 ‌kilometres ​off the northeastern coastal city of Yilan on Saturday, the Taiwanese weather administration said, with no ‌immediate report of major damage.

US strikes targeted IS militants, Nigeria says
ABUJA - US strikes in Nigeria this week targeted Islamic State militants from the Sahel who were in the country to work with the Lakurawa jihadist group and “bandit” gangs, a spokesman for the Nigerian president told AFP on Saturday.

Man City go top with 2-1 win at Forest
NOTTINGHAM, England - Manchester ‍City beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 to move provisionally ‌to the ​top of the Premier League table after Rayan Cherki grabbed a goal and assist away at The City Ground ‌on Saturday.

Russia pummels Kyiv ahead of Zelensky’s US visit
KYIV - Russia pummelled Ukraine’s capital with drones and missiles on Saturday, killing a woman and cutting power to hundreds of thousands, ahead of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s latest talks with US leader Donald Trump.

Holiday bus travel smooth so far
The state-owned Transport Co reports that more than 134,000 passengers travelled to and from Bangkok on Friday, with no reports of stranded commuters at bus terminals.