Adisak Laochan, Chief Executive Officer of Chememan Public Company Limited (CMAN), a lime and chemical products manufacturer under the CHEMEMAN brand, has announced that the company is accelerating operational efficiency improvements to manage risks effectively and mitigate the impact of energy prices, which account for 25-30% of total costs, along with significant freight rate increases. Approximately 70-80% of the company's customers can adjust pricing based on costs within a short timeframe, and nearly all customers can adjust prices according to contract terms in severe situations.

The company is pursuing aggressive strategies through energy diversification and intensive supply chain management, including plans to increase electric truck (EV) usage to 50% of total fleet needs by 2026 to reduce oil price impacts, implementing mixed energy approaches in production using coal, gas, and electricity, and investing in alternative energy sources such as solar farms for long-term efficiency gains.

"These cost-saving measures are being studied for feasibility across our foreign business units. During this period, the company will not enter into long-term contracts with fixed pricing, and will adjust product prices promptly to reflect increased operational costs," the statement said.

For fiscal 2025, the company recorded net profit of 361 million baht after significantly reducing debt, positioning the company for future business expansion while maintaining consistent dividend payments. The shareholders' meeting approved dividend payments of 0.15 baht per share, totaling 144 million baht, representing approximately 40% of net profit and reflecting stable cash flow and strong financial discipline.

Adisak stated that in today's world, uncertainty is commonplace, and while the company does not view business operations as easy, it is confident that an increasingly robust business structure will enable significantly better management of volatility than in the past.

"This situation also presents business opportunities for the company, particularly in India and Vietnam markets, where we are implementing regional growth strategies through expansion and acquisition in strategic areas including Indochina, India, and Australia to build long-term strength, despite Middle East tensions creating ripples in the global economy," he added.

Currently, the company ranks among the world's top 10 lime producers with annual production capacity exceeding 1.2 million tons. Lime is a critical basic chemical used extensively across numerous industries. Chememan operates high-quality limestone mines in Thailand and Vietnam, and operates lime production plants using modern technology and innovation in Thailand, Vietnam, and India, plus a distribution center in Australia, enabling the company to expand its customer base across multiple industrial groups while focusing on developing high-value-added products for target customers.

However, the company exports 60% of its total lime sales volume to over 30 countries across Asia, Australia, and Africa through an extensive business network, which is a significant factor driving growth opportunities.

Parliament has approved Nophadol Pherierueksa as Secretary-General of the Legislative Drafting Committee with 436 votes on May 6, 2569. During the House of Representatives meeting chaired by Speaker Sophon Saranom, Deputy Prime Minister Pokorn Nilprapan explained that the position has been vacant since March 30. The Cabinet approved Nophadol's nomination on April 21 to fill the vacancy. According to Section 63(3) of the Legislative Drafting Committee Act B.E. 2522, the secretary-general must be a civil servant.

Parliamentarian Nattavut Buapprathum of the Pracharaj Party raised concerns about the distinction between position-specific and person-specific qualifications. He questioned whether the secretary-general's position allows serving as a board chairman in government agencies, state enterprises, or private companies, and whether it would ensure neutrality. He cited examples of Pokorn previously serving on Bank of Thailand and other boards while as secretary-general, and noted that Nophadol similarly held corporate positions but recently changed to independent director status on April 8—timing that coincided suspiciously with government formation efforts.

Nattavut questioned what legal authority permits the secretary-general to sit on various state organization boards and whether it serves national interest. He also noted differences between House and Senate procedures, as the Senate has investigative powers while the House does not.

Pokorn clarified that under Section 63(3) of the Legislative Drafting Committee Act, the secretary-general is classified as a civil servant and thus falls under the Civil Service Act B.E. 2504, which states in Section 83(6) that civil servants cannot serve as managers or executives in private partnerships or companies.

Real Madrid fans have launched an "Mbappé Out" online petition demanding that French striker Kylian Mbappé be removed from the club, with over 9 million signatures collected so far.

Previously, reports indicated that Mbappé was experiencing difficulties at Real Madrid because his teammates in the "White Kings" were unhappy with his perceived selfish attitude both on and off the pitch.

Now the French international is losing support from Real Madrid fans globally, to the point where an online petition has emerged under the "Mbappé Out" campaign with the message: "Real Madrid fans, make your voice heard. If you believe change is necessary, don't stay silent. Sign this petition and stand up for what you believe is best for the club's future."

Currently, over 9.1 million people have signed the campaign.

On April 6, a large family sparked worldwide online debate after deciding to purchase a home they had never seen in person. The story of Lexxi Thomas went viral after she posted a TikTok clip revealing how she and her husband decided to take all nine children on a drive across three states from Florida to move into a new house they had never laid eyes on. The family arrived at the home around 2 AM, and the moment they opened the door, all nine children ran inside to explore every corner, turning on lights in each room with audible excitement. Thomas described the moment as filled with thrilling surprise, from the size of the bedrooms to the smallest details inside the house. Though there were some uncertain points, such as storage areas, everything was overshadowed by the feeling that "this is the right house." The decision to purchase happened quickly after the family spent several months searching for homes across multiple states and had nearly agreed to buy another property before changing their minds at the last minute, believing something better was waiting. Thomas revealed that they used faith and prayer as part of their decision-making process, and just three days later, they found this house, which felt right from the moment they saw the photos. Without ever visiting the location in person or even exploring the surrounding neighborhood, the family made an unconditional offer to buy immediately before packing up and moving in later. However, after the clip was shared online, there was considerable criticism, particularly regarding the house layout and certain design choices that netizens found unusual. But Thomas insisted those opinions didn't match the family's actual experience. "We already knew the online world would be like that, but those things don't affect how we feel about this house at all," she stated. Since moving in, the family confirmed that their first impression remained unchanged, and the house has become a place where everyone feels deeply connected.

Both are sharing sweet moments together! Lamyai Hai Thongkham posted her own adorable video revealing cute couple plushies, while Kaptain Chang made a bold move asking for love permission. After the country music singer attended Kaptain Chang Kritsada's birthday celebration, stirring up social media buzz, fans and close friends rallied behind them and wondered if they were officially announcing their relationship. Most recently, Kaptain Chang Kritsada posted an intimate photo with Lamyai in what appeared to be a lap-sitting moment, tagged the singer's Instagram, and captioned it clearly: "Asking for love permission." The country music star responded with heart emojis, seemingly confirming the relationship. Earlier, Lamyai had posted sweet videos of them sitting together in a car with dog emojis and holding matching cute dog plushies, which Kaptain Chang then reshared to his story with heart emojis. Comments poured in with praise about their chemistry, calling them adorable and saying they're clearly in love.

Will fans get their wish? R of The Star reveals his answer after inviting Bee Sukrit to reunite The Star, with fans requesting he help 'pull Bee out of the monastery'—though he expressed fear of karmic repercussions.

Although The Star has been absent from the music scene for quite some time, the band's name remains dear to fans' hearts. There's been a strong movement calling for Bee Sukrit to return to performing, with many even turning to senior member R of The Star for help in getting Bee to 'leave the monastery.' Recently, R was spotted at the premiere event for the film KHAO KALA, where he opened up about his current life, including his decision to withdraw from a restaurant partnership due to severe flooding, and provided updates on his plans to return to music. He also shared the moment when he invited Bee for a The Star reunion—to which Bee replied bluntly: 'I've quit singing.'

How are things going for you these days, R? 'I've been working, honestly. I withdrew from the restaurant at the end of last year because of the massive flooding. We just couldn't handle it.'

How long had the restaurant been open? 'Actually, the original owner opened it before I came in. I became a partner and helped with content creation and social media. There was me, my younger sister Thanya, and Euay who joined us.'

Did you withdraw your shares alone? 'Thanya withdrew too. Right now there are two other partners left. The restaurant is still open and running, but we're no longer involved. We're still on good terms though.'

Was flooding the main reason you withdrew? 'Yes, it flooded for almost three months last year. We couldn't manage. It was impossible to restructure it as a chill spot for customers because our kitchen was at the front. Between the distance and various expenses we had to cover while closed, we decided it was better to withdraw.'

How's work in the entertainment industry right now? 'I have the sitcom Uncle from the Alley, the film Khao Kala, and another TV drama coming out—a primetime show on Channel One. (Are you having to dip into savings?) Maybe not to that extent yet. I'd say we're managing. I still have other food businesses running, and we're currently rebranding them.'

What about music and concerts? 'Is it too late? Actually, I've been planning to work with M (Arthapol) for a while now. I'm currently taking singing lessons from younger artists to upgrade my skills a bit, so I can get back into music soon. I'm going back to school because I want to bring something new to the table. Even though I have a foundation, the industry now requires more advanced skills.'

Do you feel pressured? Now that you're older, how will releasing a single now feel? 'Yeah, I'm not really sure, because the new generation artists are very talented. I'm not expecting the first song to be a smash hit. I'll just keep creating. These days you don't really need a record label anymore—I can promote myself. Making music with friends isn't expensive either.'

How far along is the music project? 'I've just started taking singing lessons and found some references. I'm planning a rock-influenced direction with other elements mixed in—maybe rap or R&B. It could be Medium Rock, possibly as a duet with M—like an uncle version of a couple track. You can start using the hashtag now: rm mr. It should happen this year.'

There's been a lot of talk about The Star reunion lately, and people really miss the band. Is there a chance you could all get back together? Do you think Bee might leave the monastery? 'I've invited Bee before, but I think it's difficult. I sent him a line. When I saw The Star's Class 8 reunion, I thought maybe we should do something for Class 3 since it's been so long and fans probably miss us. So I messaged him asking if he thought we could reunite like Class 8 did. Bee texted back saying: "Brother, I've quit singing."'