Boonsong granted temporary release to attend mum's funeralFormer commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, second from right, attends the funeral rite of his mother in Chiang Mai province on Monday. (Photo: Sarawut Saetiao Facebook Account)Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom was granted temporary release from prison to attend his mother's funeral, Wuttichai Jenwiriyakul, director of the Klong Prem Central Prison, confirmed on Tuesday. The prison chief made the comment after photos of the convict showing up at his mother's funeral in Chiang Mai on Monday were shared online. Boonsong had filed a request for temporary release so that he could attend the funeral, and all procedures were properly followed, Mr Wuttichai said. Mr Somsak said he had not received any reports from concerned agencies about the former minister's presence at the funeral, although the Corrections Department chief has the authority to grant temporary release to prisoners.

Now Thailand is hit by La Niña phenomenon, but no storms to cause huge floods like 2011Thailand was hit by major floods in 2011 due to the La Niña phenomenon, which made the rainy season arrive sooner than usual. This was made worse by five storms that had hit Thailand that year, increasing the average rainfall by 27 per cent. The La Niña phenomenon has also taken place this year, resulting in rains arriving sooner than expected, however, Thailand has not been directly hit by storms this year, while the average rainfall so far has been recorded as 21 per cent above the normal amount.”There are estimates that there will be around 10 per cent more rainfall than usual, rising slightly from 8 per cent more last year. Causes of flooding in ThailandNatural causes:- Low pressure masses- Storms, such as depression and tropical storms and typhoons- Monsoon trenches- Southwest monsoon- Northeast monsoon- Dams collapsingMismanagement:- Disagreement between government and local administrations- Lacking capable officials to deal with natural disasters- Lacking coordination among government agencies- Ignorance of people in remote areas

Queen Elizabeth's coffin was taken from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London after the state funeral, where it was transferred to a hearse to begin its journey to Windsor. There, the procession travelled along the Long Walk past thousands of people. Queen Elizabeth's black pony Emma watched the monarch's funeral procession pass by on the grounds of Windsor Castle and the queen's two corgis, Sandy and Muick, were also brought out for the arrival of the coffin at the castle. Then Queen Elizabeth's coffin was lowered into a vault at Windsor Castle, her final resting place. As the congregation sang "God Save the King", King Charles, who faces a huge challenge to maintain the appeal of the monarchy as economic hardship looms in Britain, appeared to be fighting back tears.

As Ronaldo emerged, a young fan wearing a United shirt ran towards the five time Ballon d’Or winner. Ronaldo hugged the young boy and asked for a pen to sign the fan’s shirt. Fans were quick to jump on social media to show their appreciation towards Ronaldo. After the meeting with the young fan, Ronaldo started and scored in United’s 2-0 win over the Moldovan side.

Double-track lines to open this yearFive double-track railway routes, three of them to the South, are set to open this year with the aim of cutting journey times and increasing logistical efficiency, the government said on Monday. Mr Anucha said a double-track railway is not only safer but will reduce freight transport costs and improve the country's competitiveness. Seven double-track rail routes, 985km in all, are being implemented, one of which has been wholly completed -- the 106-km Chachoengsao-Klong Sib Kao junction-Kaeng Koi Junction route, which was opened in 2019. They are Lop Buri-Pak Nam Pho (145km), Mab Kabao-Thanon Jira Junction (135km), Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin (169km), Hua Hin-Prachuap Khiri Khan (76km) and Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon (167km). Mr Anucha said that once open, a new line will also cut the Bangkok to Hua Hin travel time from five to two hours.

"If the Fed can tackle inflation effectively and people can get back to work, the situation may improve," Duitz said. He added that global stocks usually bounced back eventually from unprecedented shocks like the Covid-19 crisis, which has triggered supply disruption and inflation. He noted that many companies are still able to pay dividends despite the pandemic and rising prices. He also expects dividends to grow by an average of 7 per cent this year and 5 per cent next year.

Tourism 'near to pre-Covid level'Tourists crowd Yaowarat Road, Bangkok, on Sept 17. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Tourism is bouncing back close to pre-Covid 19 levels, with at least 10 million international tourist arrivals targeted this year, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri. Five million foreign tourists have arrived in Thailand since the beginning of the year. Mr Anucha said the government has set the target of welcoming at least 10 million foreign tourist arrivals this year. In Phuket, a strong tourism recovery is also evident.

Chevron, PTTEP vying for Gulf licencesUS-based Chevron Offshore (Thailand) and PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) are competing for new licences for offshore petroleum exploration and production in the Gulf of Thailand, according to the companies. The licences, to be granted under a 24th round of auctions covering three offshore areas, do not include the Erawan and Bongkot gas blocks, currently operated by PTTEP. Winners will be awarded petroleum exploration and production rights under production-sharing contracts, or PSCs. PTTEP told stock investors last month it was determined to secure the licences in the auctions. Chevron has recently announced it would bid for an exploration and production licence at G2/65 block.

He said the two agencies were taking action in line with their respective jurisdictions. Arkhom added that the central bank had also made moves to warn the public against being lured by forex scams. Some 9,000 complaints have been registered so far with the Department of Special Investigation, regarding losses of about 2 billion baht after investing in the Forex-3D scheme. On Monday, the SEC explained that it has no authority to supervise foreign currency exchange as the power belongs to the central bank.

However, Public Health Ministry announcements after cannabis was legalised on June 9 dictate that the herb should be used for medical purposes, government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Sunday. She gave the example of a June 15 announcement banning public smoking of cannabis, which carries punishment of up to one year in jail, a 2,000 baht fine or both. She added that a June 17 announcement limits the amount of cannabis individuals can possess and bans sale of the herb to children and pregnant women. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs must get permission before using cannabis or hemp in foods, medicine or cosmetics.

Royal Forest DepartmentThe Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's effort to fight climate change by using carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems as natural carbon sinks is getting a lot of flak. The ministry pointed to promising outcomes of the campaign to promote carbon credit trading in the forestry sector, as many big corporations have shown an interest in growing more forestland to gain carbon credits. According to Thailand Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory System, as of 2016, the forestry sector had sequestered over 91 million tonnes of CO2. The carbon credit exchange programme in the forestry sector has received overwhelming interest from the private sector, said Komsan Ruengritsarakul from the Community Forest Management Office of the Royal Forest Department. "So, to strengthen the carbon market, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with its partners is now improving the management of the carbon credit exchange, while additional incentives will also be introduced to attract more participants in carbon market trading."

Plastic ban to be done in phasesThe government is planning to ban plastic scrap imports in 2025, a move that will be carried out in phases over the next three years, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa. Members also listened to suggestions by stakeholders about the ban on the import of plastic scrap for raw materials in the industrial sector. He said the panel agreed that 14 plants located in free trade zones would be able to import plastic scrap until 2024 in two phases. He said the Department of Pollution Control will draft a 2023–2027 plastic waste management plan, focusing on four key areas, including removing plastic waste from landfills for recycling by 2027, he said. The ministry aims to reduce plastic waste yearly via a campaign to curb single-use plastic bags in department stores and convenience stores nationwide.

Chanunpat Pisanapipong, executive director of the Thai Trade Centre in Hong Kong, said more than 240 brands from 15 countries were participating in the exhibition, and Thai products received a lot of attention. She said visitors, including importers and businesses, paid particular attention to clothes and accessories made from natural materials. Chanunpat added that more than 30 business matches between Thai businesses and importers from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, India and the US had been made during the exhibition. Hong Kong is Thailand's 12th largest trade partner. In 2021, Thailand’s exports to Hong Kong came in at US$11.59 billion, up 2.65 per cent year on year.

Shrewsbury’s principal Rob Millar noted that learning outside of the classroom is just as important as learning in school. And the real-life experience gained from the “Equity Partnership's School Network Season 4” would help students develop skills they need to survive in society, he said. Earnearn, a DBS Denla British School student who is participating in the project for the second year, said it gave her the chance to apply business knowledge she learns in class. EEF's Kraiyos said the project was a model for social innovation aimed at eliminating educational inequity via collaborations among different sectors. It would also provide students with an alternative learning path to compensate knowledge gaps that opened during the pandemic, he added.

India welcomes back cheetahs, 70 years after local extinctionThis photograph taken on Saturday and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) shows a wild cheetah being released at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh state. NEW DELHI: Eight Namibian cheetahs arrived in India Saturday, decades after their local extinction, in an ambitious project to reintroduce the spotted big cats that has divided experts on its prospects. Officials say the project is the world's first intercontinental relocation of cheetahs, the planet's fastest land animal. Cheetahs became extinct in India primarily because of habitat loss and hunting for their distinctive spotted coats. An Indian prince, the Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo, is widely believed to have killed the last three recorded cheetahs in India in the late 1940s.