Middle East conflict hits tourism in PhangngaThe war in the Middle East is affecting the tourism industry, with Phangnga province reporting a sharp decline in European arrivals and estimated losses of nearly 1.7 billion baht, the Phangnga Hotel Association said. Fighting has disrupted air travel across Middle Eastern airspace, affecting routes commonly used by long-haul flights from Europe to southern Thailand. Airlines have been forced to reroute flights to avoid the conflict zone, raising costs and pushing ticket prices up by more than 20%. Hotel operators in Phangnga said they are struggling to retain European guests, with postponements and cancellations exceeding 20% compared with the same period last year. Phangnga is particularly vulnerable because most long-haul flights from Europe traditionally pass through the Middle East to minimise fuel costs.

Explore the subconscious through evolving butterfly imagery during "How Many More Butterflies Will I See In My Lifetime? ", which is running at Central Space, Level 3, Central: The Original Store until March 31. The inkblots seen as butterflies by some and something entirely different by others become a symbol of interpretation and the workings of the subconscious. Rather, it becomes a mirror reflecting the viewer's perception in that very moment. Central: The Original Store is on Charoen Krung Road and opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

Phone-free classroomsThe Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's initiative to limit smartphone use in classrooms is a welcome step in the right direction. Studies by organisations such as Unesco suggest that while digital technology can support learning when used purposefully, unstructured smartphone use often undermines concentration. The issue is not merely the amount of time students spend on screens, but the nature of the digital environment itself. Indeed, classrooms are among the few remaining places where attention can be nurtured and the thinking process guided by educators rather than by opaque algorithms. Bangkok's policy will succeed not simply if students put their phones away, but if it restores the balance between connectivity and concentration.

The Gulf region's tough choicesSmoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on Saturday. AFPThe United States and Israel have launched a war that the Gulf states invested heavily in diplomacy to prevent. In recent months, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia had landed on opposite sides of armed conflicts in Sudan and south Yemen. If diplomacy cannot deliver that outcome, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states may, individually or collectively, consider other options. The most likely near-term posture for the Gulf states is strategic patience -- ironically, an approach Iran itself has long favoured.

Mall Ramkhamhaeng turns to cultureAn artist's impression of a revamped The Mall Ramkhamhaeng. The Mall Group Co Ltd, owner and operator of The Mall Ramkhamhaeng, is transforming the shopping complex into a cultural retail hub. The "1981 Soul & Sold" project features a new cultural retail concept integrating commerce, culture and community into one destination. The Mall Group intends to adopt a project-based collaboration model, inviting specialised partners to contribute to concept development and tenant curation. Launched in 1983, The Mall Ramkhamhaeng was the company's first shopping centre and has long served as a landmark in the district.

All eyes on Iranian film at the OscarsA May 25, 2025, photo shows Iranian director, screenwriter and producer Jafar Panahi receiving the Palme d'Or for 'Un simple accident' at the Cannes Film Festival. This year, an Iranian film could win an Oscar. If it wins Best International Feature or Best Screenplay, it'll be the second Iranian film to receive the honour (the first was Asghar Farhadi's A Separation from 2012, which won both categories). To Thai audiences, the release of Majid Majidi's 1997 film Children of Heaven at Siam Theatre was an eye-opening introduction to Iranian cinema. And yet the life in cinema of Iranian filmmakers has long resembled a different kind of war.

All Thailand Tour aims to raise local players' gameThe All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT) 2026 -- the oldest and most established professional golf tour in Thailand -- champions the "One More Thing" concept to elevate Thai professionals to the international level. Entering its 27th year, the ATGT aims to be more than just a domestic competition and seeks to develop Thai golfers holistically, said the tour's CEO Jakraphong Thongyai. There were also golfers who went on to win on the Asian Tour such as Ekparit Wu and Poosit Supupramai, confirming that ATGT is a crucial stepping stone for Thai golfers. ADT event at Royal Hua HinThe Thailand Professional Golf Association (TPGA) announced its partnership with the Asian Tour to organise an Asian Development Tour (ADT) level event -- the Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship 2026 -- between April 23-26 at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course. The tournament will offer World Ranking Points (OWGR), giving Thai golfers opportunities to climb the ranks to the Asian Tour.

Trade officials advised to find new export marketsThe caretaker commerce minister has directed commercial attachés to explore new potential markets, as well as actively promote and distribute agricultural products and other promising services in the global market. In China, the ministry wants to promote Thai agricultural products, food and lifestyle goods, while expanding market access in western and inland areas. Authorities will monitor rising regional tensions in the Middle East while identifying alternative logistics routes to ensure supply chain continuity, said Mrs Suphajee. She called on commercial attachés to accelerate efforts to promote Thai agricultural products and fruits overseas ahead of the upcoming harvest season. "We must adapt quickly to a rapidly changing world and work more proactively -- expanding new markets, adding value to Thai products, and supporting Thai entrepreneurs to compete effectively in the global market," Mrs Suphajee said.

SET-listed SKY ICT, a smart aviation technology company, and its smart facility service subsidiary Metthier are committed to capitalising on technology to help Thailand build smart cities and achieve energy efficiency and better environmental management. This focus led to the development of the METTRIQ integrated intelligent building management platform. He said Metthier adopted AI, IoT and database technologies to develop an integrated building management approach covering both safety and energy management. SIX PILLARSHe said the six core pillars for sustainable building management comprise: durable and maintainable design, energy efficiency, use of environmentally friendly materials, waste reduction, water efficiency and indoor environmental quality. The METTRIQ platform combines 12 features in a single platform, ranging from CCTV systems and automatic access control to electricity and water management systems.

Located on the ground floor, Tarntawan Clinic is offering a lifeline to abortion seekers who enjoy limited access to legal services. It provides medical abortion for those who are up to 12 weeks pregnant through telemedicine. Tamtang campaigns for access to safe and legal abortion in Thailand, mainly through consultations and coordination. Criteria for legal abortion include threat to a mother's life, foetal defect, and sexual assault. Some require parental consent from abortion seekers, even though the age threshold is set at 15.

Small firms face high finance costsThe Bank of Thailand has raised concerns about rising financial costs for micro-SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) as they increasingly rely on nano-finance loans amid tighter access to bank credit. "For micro- and nano-finance loans, micro-SMEs are typically charged interest rates close to the regulatory ceiling of 28-33% per year," noted the minutes. Although bank interest rates have declined in line with earlier policy rate cuts, funding costs for micro-SMEs remain elevated. Apart from increased borrowing through high-interest loans, the credit risk of this borrower segment remains relatively high, the minutes noted. Interest rates across the banking sector have gradually declined over the past 18 months, in line with the regulator's monetary easing cycle.

Thailand has begun to explore the concept of local e-commerce sovereignty with the debut of Pantip Mall e-marketplace, as regulators and local e-commerce veterans share growing concerns over the dominance of foreign platforms. Pantip Mall is slated to launch a beta test in April and May before a grand opening in June. Digithun is the technology partner of Pantip Mall and developer of enterprise e-commerce solution ShopSCAPE. SOVEREIGNTY DRIVEMr Niwat said Pantip Mall symbolises the push for Thai e-commerce sovereignty, countering foreign market dominance and their rising fees. Thanawat Malabuppha, honorary president of the Thai e-Commerce Association, said Pantip Mall is an alternative for digital sovereignty in the local e-commerce market worth 1.15 trillion baht.

High energy and logistics costs pile more pressure on entrepreneurs, said Sangchai Theerakulwanich, strategy chairman for the Federation of Thai SMEs. RETAIL SECTORConcerns are growing among SMEs in the retail and wholesale sectors as large conglomerate retail chains continue their rapid expansion. Thailand does not have specific laws to protect local businesses or zoning regulations designed to enhance the competitiveness of local operators against large retail chains. "The expansion of large retail chains into local areas will definitely impact small players. To support small businesses, Mr Chanon urged the government to help stabilise costs for restaurant operators, particularly by managing prices for key inputs such as energy.

AFP is bringing you all the latest developments from the star-studded 98th Academy Awards in Hollywood. First up is the red carpet, where cinema's A-listers will don their most fabulous fashion ahead of entertainment's most glam evening of the year. Watch this space for the latest:-- who stars in Norwegian family dramedy for which she is up for best actress -- said on the carpet she's "so overwhelmed." Hollywood's perennial nominee but never a winner, said on the red carpet that "I never give up hope" -- maybe the 17th time is the charm. Likewise , the singer who is among the ensemble scheduled to perform the best original song nominee from "Sinners," said "it's just a dream come true."

Meanwhile, businesses face mounting pressure as higher energy costs threaten to drive up production expenses and deepen the energy crisis. Raw material prices remain largely stable because the government is subsidising fuel prices and warning suppliers against raising prices. However, the consumer price index could accelerate in March as energy prices surge following the war. Trawut Luangsomboon, chief executive and co-founder of Jitta Wealth, warned interest rates could rise if the Middle East conflict continues to push up inflation. "Even without war, people were already struggling with high energy prices," said Mr Aat.