ONE Samurai 1 is preparing for a grand debut, bringing together sports fans from over 195 countries at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 29, with fights commencing at 12:30 p.m. Thailand time. The ONE Samurai series is designed as a monthly competition featuring top-tier and emerging Japanese fighters competing intensely across all formats—MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and grappling.

On April 24, ONE held a pre-event press conference led by founder, president, and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, alongside Chuntaro Tanaka, ONE's Japan CEO and commercial officer, with featured athletes answering media questions and demonstrating their readiness at New Pier Hall in Tokyo.

Chatri spoke about ONE Samurai 1's significance: "ONE Samurai marks the beginning of the greatest era in martial arts history—not just for Japan, but for the world. I promise that ONE will deliver the highest-quality, world-standard competition to restore Japan as a premier martial arts destination."

Tanaka highlighted the broadcast partnership with U-NEXT and Fuji Television, saying: "I believe combat sports have the power to move people. We want to use television as a starting point to grow the fanbase and expand reach. We're committed to this project with the understanding that if it doesn't succeed now, there may not be another chance. Despite obstacles, our unified team's collaboration has made free TV broadcast on Fuji Television a reality."

Featured athletes included flyweight (125-135 lbs) former ONE Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Japanese favorite Takeru, who participated in open workouts. Takeru expressed his commitment: "I will give everything I've accumulated and all remaining strength to win the ONE world championship belt. I must win to perfectly conclude my fighting career."

Rodtang responded: "Every fight matters to me, but facing Takeru this time is especially meaningful as it's his final bout. I've prepared to meet him again and am confident I'll win and bring this belt back to Thailand."

Kickboxing world champion Jonathan Haggerty (135-145 lbs) is preparing to defend his title against Japanese favorite Yuki Yoza. Haggerty stated: "I'm fully prepared to defend my belt at the highest level and excited to fight in front of Japanese fans."

Yoza confidently declared: "I believe I'm the strongest at bantamweight now and have trained hard to prove it. Now that Takeru is retiring, we Japanese fighters must step up and carry the responsibility.

The Khla Tham Party (KT) will convene its 2569 annual general assembly on April 28 at 1 p.m. at the Golden Tulip Sofferini Hotel in Bangkok with a major restructuring of the party executive committee on the agenda. Air Chief Marshal Thammanat Prompow, currently party advisor, will be promoted to party leader, replacing Narumon Phinyosinwattana, who will transition to the position of party treasurer in place of Bunyying Nitikaanjana from Ratchaburi. Phai Likkhit from Kamphaengphet will continue as party secretary. Air Vice-Marshal Yossasingha Leamlertsai from Chachoengsao will assume the role of party registrar, replacing Arthakorn Sirilattayakorn who becomes party spokesperson. Phakkaphoomi Boonpramuk from Tak will serve as party manager, while deputy party leaders include Police Lieutenant General Surin Palarai from Songkhla, Bunying, Air Vice-Marshal Anudis Nakorntarp, and Akkrasaen Lohveerakul from Chaiyaphum.

Farm Expo has partnered with agricultural networks from the public sector, private sector, and educational institutions to sign a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at driving comprehensive development of business, technology, and marketing in Thai agriculture. The collaboration seeks to connect knowledge, research, and innovation for practical applications with commercial scope, while elevating the capabilities of Thai farmers and strengthening their competitive position on the global stage.

Farm Expo CEO Norbadee Phadungjariyon, who coordinated the cooperation between relevant agencies, stated: "This cooperation represents a crucial step in systematically linking all sectors of Thai agriculture together. We believe that integrating knowledge, technology, and networks from strong partners will help accelerate development and elevate Thai agriculture to compete at the international level."

The cooperation stems from a shared commitment to advance Thai agriculture through the integration of knowledge, research, and innovation from leading organizations. Past collaborations have generated positive results across multiple dimensions, including promoting research and innovation for practical agricultural applications, creating networking platforms, and supporting Thai farmers' capacity development for international competitiveness.

The MOU signing includes both organizations renewing their cooperation and new partners joining to expand the collaborative network further. Organizations renewing their cooperation include Kasetsart University, Chiang Mai University, the Agricultural Research Development Office (Public Organization), the Digital Economy Promotion Office, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization), the Thai Industry Council, Farm Expo Company Limited, and TechSoft Media Company Limited.

New organizations joining include the Agricultural Land Reform Office, the Land Development Department, the Department of Agriculture, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, PostToday Company Limited, and Marketeer.

Existing partner agencies including the Department of Agricultural Extension, the Rubber Authority of Thailand, and the National Innovation Office, whose previous MOUs remain in effect, also participated in this ceremony to demonstrate the strength of the ongoing and tangible cooperative network.

Under this MOU, key objectives include promoting public-private cooperation in developing Thai agriculture, disseminating knowledge and integrating modern agricultural technology to farmers nationwide, and driving business development and marketing of agricultural products both domestically and internationally.

The cooperation encompasses five main dimensions: macro-level knowledge information exchange, support for access to modern agricultural technology, business development to elevate agricultural products to global markets, marketing opportunities through communication tools, and promoting agriculture for environmental sustainability toward Net Zero goals.

This cooperation is set for a three-year period, with all parties able to jointly review and consider continuation.

Soccer Schedule April 27, 2025

English Premier League Manchester United vs Brentford kicks off at 2:00 AM and will be broadcast live on Mono Max. The "Red Devils" Manchester United welcome the "Killer Bees" Brentford to Old Trafford. Both teams have played 33 matches so far. Manchester United has won 16, drawn 10, and lost 7, accumulating 58 points and sitting in 3rd place. They need more points to secure a top-five finish. Brentford has won 13, drawn 9, and lost 11, with 48 points in 9th place, fighting for a European football spot.

Manchester United are expected to field Benjamin Sesko, Bruno Fernandes, and Bryan Mbeumo, while Brentford will likely use Igor Thiago, Mikkel Damsgaard, and Kevin Shade. Manchester United are riding high in confidence, and although Brentford are a tough opponent, the home side are favored to win.

Italian Serie A Cagliari vs Atalanta kicks off at 11:30 PM. Cagliari host Atalanta at the Unipol Domus stadium. Both teams have played 33 matches. Cagliari has won 8, drawn 9, and lost 16 with 33 points, sitting in 16th place and needing to avoid relegation. Atalanta has won 14, drawn 12, and lost 7 with 54 points in 7th place, competing for a European berth. Despite Cagliari's home advantage, Atalanta's superior quality gives them better winning chances.

Lazio vs Udinese kicks off at 1:45 AM. Lazio host Udinese at Stadio Olimpico. Both teams have played 33 matches. Lazio has won 12, drawn 11, and lost 10 with 47 points in 9th place. Udinese has won 12, drawn 7, and lost 14 with 43 points in 11th place. Neither team faces much pressure. Lazio have a home advantage and superior squad depth, making them clear favorites.

Spanish La Liga Espanyol vs Levantle kicks off at 2:00 AM. Espanyol host Levante at RCD Estadi. Both teams have played 32 matches. Espanyol has won 10, drawn 8, and lost 14 with 38 points in 14th place, needing points to avoid relegation. Levante has won 8, drawn 8, and lost 16 with 32 points in 19th place, desperately fighting for survival. Espanyol's recent form has been poor, while Levante appear to be building momentum, making the visitors unlikely to lose.

Two Chinese suspects have been arrested for robbing a gold shop in Nakhon Ratchasima, with police recovering over 30 gold rings from the crime. The masked robbers smashed display cases at the shop around 10:21 a.m. and escaped in a Yaris, triggering a multi-unit police pursuit. On April 27, 2569, officers from Bangkok Metropolitan Police Divisions 4 and 5, along with immigration police, arrested Zou Qintao, 27, and Song Haolong, 19, at a car rental location in Sukhumvit Soi 77, Pravet district, Bangkok. The suspects are currently in custody at Pravet Police Station pending interrogation, following coordination between Chok Chai Police Station and Division 3 crime investigation units.

Ten prominent MPs from the main opposition People's Party (PP) may have breathed a sigh of relief last Friday after the Supreme Court decided to accept a petition alleging serious ethical misconduct against them, but refrained from suspending them from their parliamentary duties. The petition stems from their proposed amendment to the royal defamation law.

Their faces remained stern and stressed at the press conference, however. The court also instructed them not to speak publicly about the case regarding their attempt to amend the lese majeste law, also known as Section 112 of the Criminal Code. This gag order effectively renders them unable to defend themselves in the court of public opinion.

The list of those facing the case includes PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut (who is soon to be appointed as the opposition leader), and deputy leaders Rangsiman Rome and Sirikanya Tansakul. In total, the case targets 44 former Move Forward Party MPs—the predecessor to the People's Party—including former leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

The fact that the petition was filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and accepted by the Supreme Court raises serious concerns about the Thai justice system. A key duty of any Member of Parliament is to serve as a legislator—to propose, amend, and enact laws. Now, these 44 individuals face a potential life ban from politics for merely signing a petition to amend a law.

Ironically, the bill was never even tabled in Parliament due to opposition from other MPs. The proposal sought only to reduce the heavy penalties of Section 112 and designate the Bureau of the Royal Household as the sole complainant to prevent the law from being abused by third parties.

If a law cannot be amended, it ceases to be a legal instrument and becomes a belief system—or a cult. If the Supreme Court adjudicates that legislators cannot amend the lese majeste law, it enshrines the royal defamation law as a "special" law, standing above all others and immune to change. This is detrimental to the genuine democratization of Thailand. Furthermore, it is not beneficial to the monarchy itself, as it will deprive the monarchy institution of critical feedbacks from the press, the public and MPs. The persistence of such draconian laws, carrying maximum prison terms of 15 years, means that critical public feedback regarding the role of the monarchy in Thai society remains a very high-risk undertaking.

For example, monarchy reform movement co-leader Arnon Nampa is currently serving 31 years of combined prison terms, mostly for critical remarks made on rally stages—remarks deemed by judges to be defamatory and/or insulting to the monarchy.

The movement today is inactive, if not almost dead. While tens of thousands once listened to Arnon's rousing speeches, current rallies calling for his right to bail—which has been denied 104 times over the past two years and seven months—struggle to gather more than 200 people.