As a leader and avid student of leadership, I find it fascinating to watch how real-life leadership is transforming in many Thai organisations. Empowerment means pushing the limits to help others reach their full potential. Your job is to make others better through your work and to build their capability to stay empowered forever. However, you are a critical part of this, and your organisation’s success. These seven areas provide a great starting point to empowering, feeling empowered and acting empowered.

RAYONG: Authorities are concerned about the massive oil leak from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand, which is now bearing down on Prao Bay in Koh Samet. The leak from the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc, which was first detected last Tuesday, polluted Mae Ramphueng Beach on mainland Rayong. However, Rayong governor Charnna Ieamsang said authorities are having trouble controlling another oil slick from the pipeline which is threatening the resort island of Koh Samet. Ten ships have been sent to stop the slick from reaching the shores of Koh Samet, he said. Speaking after an inspection at Mae Ramphueng Beach, Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Department of Health, said the sludge had contaminated areas occupied by 15 local businesses and three fish markets.

The image makeover of the airlines, the largest among the carriers in India, is being urgently done as nearly 53 percent of air passengers is estimated to be the tech-driven millennials. This figure is expected to go up to more than 60 percent in the next 10 years, according to a senior airlines marketing executive. The executive said given India's young demographic profile, Air India in its new avatar needs to target the millennials who need a flying experience markedly different from the old one. One of the changes Air India plans in its approach is to address the passengers as "guests" who will get to hear a recorded message from iconic Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata, reports our New Delhi correspondent. The private Air India has to work really hard to shed the tag of "late Latif" when it comes to maintaining punctuality of take-off and landing.

But before they pack their bags, one question begs an answer: "Is Saudi Arabia still a gold mine of labour opportunities as it once was?" ''Saudi Arabia is no longer ideal for unskilled workers 'digging for gold' ". Saudi Arabia has also experienced some economic doldrums, dogged by rising unemployment. Although Saudi Arabia has large construction projects in the pipeline, it needs to hire specialists to work them. The biggest employer countries for Thai workers are Taiwan (49,451 Thai workers), followed by Israel (20,044 workers), South Korea (14,310), Japan (4,347) and Singapore (1,487).

Malaysian firms facing US bans over forced labour summoned by ministryFILE PHOTO: Workers collect rubber gloves at Top Glove's factory in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, March 11, 2008. (Reuters)KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Human Resources Ministry said on Sunday it would call in all companies facing US import bans over suspected forced labour practices to discuss immediate action to address the allegations. The agency also determined that Malaysian palm oil producer Sime Darby Plantation Bhd uses forced labour in its operations and that the company's goods were subject to seizure. The minister had acknowledged that forced labour allegations against Malaysian firms had affected investors' confidence in the country. Malaysia last year announced a National Action Plan on Forced Labour to eliminate abusive practices such as debt bondage, unhygienic dormitories for workers, and excessive overtime, by 2030.

Pall hangs over China's GamesThe Beijing Winter Olympics begin on Feb 4 -- and not without controversy given they are taking place as Beijing wrestles with human rights issues. To deal with PR problems, the host nation is going to great lengths to control the narrative during the Winter Games. These, however, coincide with equally stringent and strident responses to anything hinting of protest pertaining to human rights issues. It is worth mentioning that China is the first nation in the world to host both Summer (in 2008) and Winter Olympic Games. In 2008, China hosting of the Summer Olympic Games was under the slogan "One World One Dream".

An environmental scientist from Burapha University collects a crude oil sample on Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong on Saturday. Crews in yellow plastic protective suits fanned out along the beach on Saturday afternoon to start cleaning up the oil slick that began washing ashore late Friday night. Marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat said the oil slick was expected to continue to wash up on shore over the coming days due to stronger winds. For struggling resorts and tourism-dependent businesses at Mae Ramphueng beach and the surrounding area, the pollution and lack of swimmers could spell disaster for livelihoods. Twelve navy ships and three civilian ships along with a number of aircraft were also working to contain the spill at sea with booms and dispersant spray.

The policeman attended Dr Waraluck's funeral last week and left the monkhood the same day. "Dr Waraluck's father said he did not want his daughter to die in vain," he said. It is common to see pedestrians at zebra crossings wait for vehicles to pass before scurrying to the other side. In Dr Waraluck's case, police were checking the speed at which the Ducati was driven when it hit the doctor. Discipline a rarityRungarun Suyata, a 57-year-old engineer, said Dr Waraluck's case showed a lack of discipline on the policeman's part.

Isolated thundershowers; temperature lows of 17-22 °C and highs of 33-35 °C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-15 °C. Central: Partly cloudy with morning fog and isolated light rain; temperature lows of 23-24 °C and highs of 35-37 °C. East: Partly cloudy with morning fog and isolated light rain. Isolated thundershowers; temperature lows of 24-27 °C, highs of 32-36 °C; waves below 1 metre high and about 1 metre offshore. South (east coast): Partly cloudy with isolated light rain.

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella re-elected, easing crisisItalian President Sergio Mattarella has served a tumultuous seven-year term but is a unifying figureROME - Italy's parties Saturday voted overwhelmingly for outgoing President Sergio Mattarella to remain for another term, averting the political chaos a failure to elect his successor could have sparked in the eurozone's third-largest economy. The former constitutional court judge had repeatedly ruled out serving for a second term, but gave in Saturday after Italy's bickering political parties failed to find another viable candidate. Constitutional expert Gaetano Azzariti earlier told AFP Mattarella's election would be for the full seven-year term, but he could resign earlier. Mattarella has already served a tumultuous seven-year term, during which he has sought to be a unifying figure through five different governments and the devastation of coronavirus. Draghi has also managed to keep squabbling between Italy's parties to a minimum.

Related NewsNarcotics board greenlights marijuana, hemp legalisationDon’t sow those marijuana seeds just yet, says WissanuMarijuana legalisation a step closer to realityGrowing:Individual growers must register with relevant authorities. However, even though marijuana has been removed from the list of Category 5 narcotics, there is still a lot of confusion about how it can be consumed. Anutin has insisted that all recreational use of marijuana is illegal and those misusing it will face legal action. Dangers of legalisationChitlada Areesantichai, director of Chulalongkorn University’s Centre for Addiction Studies (CADS), said the centre has studied 29 samples of marijuana-laced food products over the past two months. Meanwhile, dry food like noodles can have as much as 32 to 35 per cent of THC, the study showed.

The new feature is currently only available on the Facebook messenger app. Facebook users of other apps might have to wait a while before this and other new features are available. Zuckerberg added. “We're also adding GIFs, stickers, and reactions to encrypted chats too.”The new security feature will let users know if someone screenshots their conversation without their consent. Capturing conversation without consent may violate the law while posting it might violate a separate law.

Mine closure haunts govtBetween 2014–2019, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, invoked more than 400 orders using Section 44 of the military government's interim charter. Yet, Gen Prayut was praised -- even by anti-government grassroots activists -- for using this interim regulation in 2016 to close a gold mine operated by Akara Resources in Phichit province. The mine eventually closed in January 2017, and the coup maker was praised for his audacity in standing up against a gold mining company, which was a subsidiary of the Australia-based Kingsgate. Prior to its closure, the company was accused by villagers and conservationists of polluting their community, an allegation the firm sternly denied. In addition, the industry ministry has awarded a gold mining exploration opportunity across the country to the company.

The FPO predicts private consumption this year is expected to expand by 4.5%. The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has maintained its average forecast for Thai economic growth this year at 4%, mainly as a result of recovering domestic consumption and the tourism sector, says the office's director-general Pornchai Thiraveja. The FPO predicted economic growth this year within a range of 3.5-4.5%, he said on Friday. The office upgraded its forecast for 2021 economic growth to an average of 1.2% from 1% as a result of strong exports, state stimulus packages and a successful vaccination programme. According to the FPO, private consumption this year is expected to expand by 4.5%, while export sector growth is forecast at 3.6%.

Who could benefit from the crisis over Ukraine? With the latest tensions, high-level and top-level negotiations have been underway among many players going beyond Russia and Ukraine. Yet, people might have questions about the situation and above all the motives of the key players in the Ukraine crisis. The events of 2014 became possible because there was a sudden crisis in connection with the internal political situation in Ukraine. In conclusion, one can expect that the Ukraine crisis is unlikely to escalate into war, unless there is some kind of accident.