Bleaching affects reefs in Phangnga, KrabiOcean anomalies Divers inspect the coral reefs around the Ang Thong Marine National Park in Surat Thani to examine widespread abnormalities such as coral pink spots, pink patches and bleaching there. An investigation into the bleaching situation and measurements of the seawater temperatures were conducted on May 12-13. The probe showed that seven coral reef sites in Moo Koh Surin National Park have experienced bleaching of 5–50%. The national park is now closed for the rainy season and will reopen on Oct 15, the park said. The marine national park has arranged new snorkelling areas for people to use instead.

As of 2023, Myanmar gas accounts for 14% of Thailand's total gas supply or approximately 4.6 billion standard cubic feet per day. The remaining supply is divided between gas from the Gulf of Thailand (61%) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imported from abroad (25%). Gas-based electricity accounts for 53% of Thailand's total electricity production, with 33% from Gulf of Thailand gas, 12% from imported LNG, and 8% from Myanmar gas. These additional energy production costs would increase the fuel adjustment charge (Ft) by 0.22 baht per unit. It is now necessary to quickly adjust or implement energy policies to reduce Thailand's current reliance on imported LNG and fossil fuels.

India Inc must only cheer growth, not question itThis photo, dated Aug 21, 2023, shows customers buying fruit and vegetables at an open-air evening market in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo: Reuters)Large parts of corporate India aren't exactly feeling the economy's world-beating growth performance. Mr Syngle has referred to GDP often enough in the past, as a guidepost to business. But this time, the opposition Congress Party used his statement to poke a hole in the government's claim that India is the world's fifth-largest economy. Those who make pricing decisions and deploy capital aren't all taken in by the rhetoric -- but by now, most executives like Mr Syngle know better than to air their concerns in public.

Prince Harry cannot amend his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid newspapers to include allegations involving his wife Meghan and he and others cannot pursue claims against the media mogul himself, London's High Court ruled on Tuesday.

PM Srettha orders three days of observances by state agencies and enterprisesCandles are lit to offer condolences over the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (second from left) and others, outside the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Monday. (Photo: Reuters)Government agencies and state enterprises will fly their flags at half-mast for three days to commemorate the passing of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said on Tuesday. To express official condolences, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin instructed the observance to take place on three working days: May 23-24 and May 27, he said. The president was 63 years old. Thailand also expresses its deepest condolences to the people and government of Iran, the government said.

Three capital market organisations will meet on Tuesday to reach a final conclusion on the tax-deductible funds they want to propose to the Finance Ministry, hoping to revive investments in good fundamental stocks in the Thai stock market. Tax-deductible funds will be one of the tools that help the Thai capital market attract more institutional investors. According to Mrs Chavinda, the Thai stock market is under many pressures, with a continuous sell-off by foreign investors causing the index to fall below 1,400-points. The AIMC believes that if there are measures to stimulate the economy and investment, the Thai stock market will recover once again. Asia Plus Securities (ASPS) said that amid the recovery of listed Thai companies' earnings and the recovering economy, the stock market still needs tax-saving LTFs to make trading more robust.

Public keen on strict curbsMost Thais support the government's plan to relist cannabis as a narcotic and limit its use to medical purposes, according to a survey carried out by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida). When asked if they see cannabis as a narcotic, 53.7% of respondents said "yes", but admitted the plant has medicinal properties. Approximately 33.6% said cannabis is a narcotic plant with no medical benefits, while 11.6% said cannabis is not an illegal drug. About 11% said the government should support cannabis and cannabis-related products, while 7.4% said the government should support the development of cannabis as a cash crop. When asked if they ever used cannabis, 69% said "yes" while 31% said "no".

Ministry clarifies school uniform exemptionA father helps his son try on a new school shirt at Patthavikorn Market in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district on May 8, 2024, about a week before schools reopened. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The Education Ministry clarified on Sunday that its recent letter exempts students from wearing uniforms on a case by case basis and did not "cancel" the school uniform requirement, as claimed on some social media accounts. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the ministry’s spokesman, said the letter’s subject was “exemption or relaxation of school uniform rules” and nothing in its content said the rule was cancelled. For example, in a family with five children, the parents might not be able to afford school uniforms for all of them at the same time. Many thought the ministry had revoked the school uniforms for good, and that they had therefore wasted money for nothing,” Mr Siripong complained.

Heavy rains throughout next weekThe Meteorological Department predicts heavy rains in the western parts of the North, the Central Plain and the South from April 20 to 26 due to southwesterly winds and low pressure areas. Kornrawee Sitthichivapak, director-general of the department, said on Sunday that heavy rains were possible during the period from Monday to Sunday because southwesterly winds would be more powerful in the Andaman Sea, the country and the Gulf of Thailand from Monday to Thursday. Low pressure areas would cover the Gulf of Martaban from Wednesday to Sunday, she added. She warned people in the western parts of the North, the Central Plain and the South to be prepared for possible flash floods and run-off. Waves in the Andaman Sea could be two to three metres high from Tuesday to Sunday.

Court may suspend PM pending ethics rulingPrime Minister Srettha ThavisinPrime Minister Srettha Thavisin may face suspension from duty if the Constitutional Court accepts a petition from a group of senators accusing him of violating a code of ethics over the appointment of a PM's Office Minister. On Friday, 40 senators asked the court to rule on the status of Mr Srettha and PM's Office Minister Pichit Chuenban after the latter was appointed to the post in a recent cabinet reshuffle. According to a source at the court, judges usually meet on Wednesdays, but the upcoming Wednesday is a Visakha Bucha public holiday. If the court accepts the petition, judges may order Mr Srettha and Pichit to be suspended from duty pending a ruling, the source said, adding the pair will then have 15 days to submit their defence. A source in cabinet earlier said Pichit's imprisonment in the 2008 contempt of court case did not render him ineligible to be appointed as a cabinet minister.

Join Pongdet Chamdoung on a coffee journey, starting with simple moka pot brews shared with everyone. His discovery of Omkoi coffee inspired him to develop unique roasting methods and equipment.

The popular decimation of India's democracyPolice stand near a display of Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, during a campaign rally in Mumbai. Yet Mr Modi has the backing of educated, urban, aspirational youth. These defections contribute to a decline in reported political corruption, but the actual extent of the problem is another story. By blocking investigations of questionable business deals involving BJP leaders, the government effectively grants those it favours a kind of "sovereign guarantee" of impunity. By lending credence to BJP hype, Western business leaders, politicians, and media have become complicit in the hollowing out of India's democracy.

School director, retired teacher nabbed for buying sex from student, 12Police from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) announce the arrest of five suspects in a child sex abuse in Khon Kaen. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)A director of a primary school in Khon Kaen and a retired teacher were arrested for allegedly buying sex from a 12-year student in this northeastern province. The investigators then arrested two resort owners – Mr Sitthiporn and Ms Daoruang -– in Khon Kaen. Subsequently, arrest warrants were issued for Mr Poj, school director, and Mr Wichai, a retired teacher. The girl studied at the school where Mr Poj was the director.

Somchai's shift from AIS to PTT's OR could enable allianceMr Somchai says he was approached to lead several firms. Mr Somchai said several companies have approached him to assume a leadership post after his term at AIS expires later this year. Changes to PTT's and OR's board of directors present an opportunity for Mr Somchai on the OR board. Later, Mr Somchai was nominated the new chairman of OR's board and a director by the nomination and remuneration committee. "My term at AIS ends this year, but a clearer picture is up to the board director," said Mr Somchai.

Foreigners arrested for illegally running daycare, wakeboarding centreTourist police pose with the Russian woman, seated, who was arrested on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, on Wednesday. (Photo: police)SURAT THANI: Several foreigners were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly operating a daycare facility and a wakeboarding service centre on Koh Phangan. Tourist police reported that a 26-year-old Russian woman and a Myanmar woman, 18, were arrested at a house while receiving foreign children for daycare. The Myanmar woman said she had been working there as a helper for over a year. A Russian man was arrested for illegally operating the shop, which opened in December last year.