BANGKOK — 2 July 2026, A Thai marine scientist has warned that rising sea temperatures could trigger another widespread coral bleaching event, as global monitoring shows conditions rapidly worsening ahead of a forecast super El Niño.

Asst. Prof. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, Deputy Dean for Special Affairs at the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, shared an image published by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday. NOAA is responsible for monitoring and forecasting changes in the climate, oceans and ecosystems.

The graphic shows NOAA's global coral bleaching alert map, projecting bleaching risks across oceans worldwide as an impending super El Niño develops. The highest warning level, shown in purple, has already appeared across parts of the central Pacific Ocean.

Thon said the NOAA graphic illustrates a terrifying threat that is gradually creeping closer. The coral bleaching alert system has five colour-coded levels, and Thailand has not seen areas approaching the highest warning colours for a long time. Now, however, purple zones have already emerged across parts of the central Pacific.

Sea surface temperatures are directly linked to coral bleaching, he said. Although the world has entered the early stages of El Niño only recently, the highest-level warning zones are already beginning to appear.

"I don't want to imagine how severe conditions could become when El Niño reaches its peak and develops into a super El Niño between November and January," Thon said.

Based on the projection, he said the red and purple zones are expected to gradually move closer to Southeast Asia, signalling that another major coral bleaching event could be approaching.

Although scattered bleaching incidents have already been reported, Thon said there are still about six months to prepare before the most critical period arrives.

If current projections continue, he warned that Thailand's marine ecosystems could face their most severe impacts between February and June next year.

The Faculty of Fisheries is now accelerating preparations at several study sites, focusing on coral reefs and seagrass beds while exploring ways to help protect them if sea temperatures rise significantly. Even if the effort can cover only limited areas, he said, the faculty will do everything within its capability.

Thon added that unusually warm seas would affect not only marine ecosystems but also coastal fisheries, aquaculture and tourism, as some reef areas may need to be temporarily closed to allow ecosystems to recover.

"We need to prepare Plans A through Z thoroughly. The warning signs are already here, signalling that this upcoming onslaught could be extremely severe," he said. "A red alert is approaching."

On July 2, 2025, at Parliament, Asapol Sannaitripath, a Thai Rak Thai legislator from Si Sa Ket and chair of the House's anti-corruption committee, addressed allegations made by Phongsakorn Saothorn, a former Agriculture Ministry official known as Kreed, in an audio clip. Saothorn claimed the previous anti-corruption committee engaged in extortion starting in December 2024. Asapol confirmed he was not in his committee position at that time and stated his investigation found the named advisor did not actually exist, though someone with the same surname had served on the previous committee. He firmly denied allegations of bribery to suppress information, calling such claims damaging to Parliament's reputation. Asapol said he would coordinate with committee staff to write to Parliament Speaker Sophon Saranrom requesting the legal office pursue charges against the accuser to prevent public misunderstanding and protect Parliament's dignity. He also urged the speaker to prevent anyone in or out of the committee from soliciting favors from outsiders.

Parliament unanimously approved a 10.328 billion baht budget transfer bill in just 15 minutes on July 2, 2569, with Deputy House Speaker Mallika Jirapongphanit chairing the session. The special committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ek Niti Nitithumprapat and the Finance Minister, had already completed its review of the five-article bill, which consolidates allocations from 118 budget-receiving units into a central reserve fund. The reallocation aims to enable efficient budget management and address urgent national challenges Thailand faces in fiscal year 2569, including geopolitical conflicts, border security issues, financial market volatility, climate change, and disasters affecting infrastructure, energy prices, and cost of living.

The bill proceeded without amendments, allowing Parliament to breeze through agenda item 2 with only 30 seconds spent reading the details. The final vote on agenda item 3 passed with 449 votes in favor, zero against, and two abstentions. The committee noted recommendations for the government to ensure cost-effectiveness and legal compliance, while suggesting the Budget Bureau establish systematic measures to prevent repeated budget lapses or reversals and review allocation, procurement, and project management processes. Parliament completed both readings in 15 minutes total, after which the bill proceeds to the Senate for further consideration.

Thai drug enforcement authorities say they have identified the source of a drug trafficking network and hidden heroin shipments sent through a female airline crew member. Officials expect clarity on the case within one to two days. On July 2, Areephakdi Ngenbarun, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), disclosed that ONCB officers launched a nationwide drug network investigation on the night of July 1. The investigation uncovered a trafficking operation originating from the Golden Triangle in neighboring countries. Authorities are determining whether the network directly connects to the airline worker's case, with preliminary findings showing both connected and unconnected elements. Officials requested time to thoroughly review all investigation results before issuing a full statement later that day.

When asked about reports of arrests related to a suspected sedan and individuals in a Bangkok soi during the early morning of July 1, Areephakdi stated the case appeared to be a separate matter initially unconnected to the airline worker's case, though the ONCB is aggressively pursuing related leads. Officials expect clarity within one to two days, following directives from the ONCB secretary-general to conduct operations thoroughly.

Regarding a suspect vehicle in Bangkok potentially involved in heroin trafficking, Areephakdi expressed confidence that extensive CCTV coverage in the capital would enable investigators to track and interrogate the individual even if they don't voluntarily report, thereby establishing connections.

Areephakdi stated the primary objective within one to two days is dismantling the trafficking ring and identifying drug smuggling routes from Thailand to Australia. The network apparently uses "mules" or couriers to transport heroin and store it before export. The ONCB has obtained partial information on routes and identified network members and recipients in Australia. All findings will be coordinated with Australian authorities.

When asked why the airline worker trusted a Facebook page called "Rose Rose" and agreed to carry luggage across borders despite strict crew regulations, Areephakdi noted officials have been suspicious throughout, as the items lacked clear ownership documentation. The airline worker herself remains the best source for answers. Australian authorities are compiling her statement for the ONCB.

Areephakdi confirmed the ONCB has identified the source of the trafficking network and luggage involved in the airline worker's case but is still conducting deep operations and cannot yet reveal details. Officials confirmed the heroin originated abroad and are tracing its specific source. The network uses three primary trafficking routes: the Northern region, the Northeastern region (Golden Triangle), and Kanchanaburi province, as Thailand has no heroin production. Traffickers typically use Thailand as a repackaging and transshipment hub before delivery to airline crews.

Authorities in Chonburi Province launched a coordinated sweep on July 1st targeting foreign beggars after online photos of a disabled Cambodian man carrying his young child while panhandling in Pattaya's Soi 6 entertainment zone sparked public outrage. Officers apprehended 35-year-old Cambodian national Tok attempting to flee in his wheelchair near Pattaya Beach, though his child was not found during the operation.

During interrogation, Tok claimed his wife was often unavailable to watch the child, forcing him to bring the boy along while begging. He acknowledged being previously photographed and criticized online, which prompted him to temporarily stop the practice. Tok admitted to living illegally in Thailand for over 10 years, earning 200-300 baht daily from begging and choosing to stay because conditions were better than in Cambodia. He confessed to being deported multiple times but repeatedly re-entering Thailand illegally through natural border crossings in Sa Kaew Province before Thai smugglers transported him to Pattaya via van for 5,000-6,000 baht per trip.

During the same operation, authorities discovered two additional Cambodian beggars: 42-year-old Nang Moi, carrying a 2-month-old infant and accompanied by a 7-year-old child soliciting from tourists, and 50-year-old Nang Po engaging in similar activity. All suspects were taken to Pattaya City Police Station for processing before being transferred to Chonburi Immigration for legal proceedings and deportation. The two children were placed under the care of Chonburi's Child and Family Protection Home.

Officials announced intensified operations against foreign beggars and human smuggling networks, particularly targeting cases involving child exploitation, citing damage to Pattaya's reputation as a world-class tourist destination.

On July 2, 2569 at 9:30 AM, the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Anti-Misconduct, chaired by Asaploet Sanntriiphop, a Pheu Thai MP from Sisaket, convened to examine state officials' involvement in civil service and local government recruitment examination fraud. The committee summoned Deputy Commander Jarunyakiart Paankaew of the Central Investigation Police and investigating officers to brief them on the case.

Asaploet revealed that the committee invited police officials involved in both the local examination fraud case and the arrest of the Phuket provincial official. The committee will question the progress of the investigation, including audio recordings. Following today's briefing, the committee will reconvene next week and summon related agencies including the Department of Local Administration, examining universities, and will review findings from the Interior Ministry.

When asked whether authorities can ultimately identify the masterminds, Asaploet stated that the committee is concerned about the case's progress and invited the Central Investigation Police to provide additional details about their investigation and current findings. Public attention focuses on ten civil servants arrested in Nonthaburi and who the principal offenders are, as local examination fraud is a serious matter.

Asaploet noted his party has fought this issue since 2023, having previously discussed it with former Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul when he served as Interior Minister. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2567 between the Interior Ministry and five agencies to combat local examination fraud, resulting in the first prosecution in 2569. This confirms Pheu Thai's genuine opposition to such corruption, marking the beginning of dismantling the fraud network.

During a recent Pheu Thai party meeting on June 28, members agreed that regardless of who commits fraud—within the party or any organization—they will receive no protection and cases will be pursued fully.

"Pheu Thai takes this very seriously," Asaploet said. "We will pursue this without selective prosecution, targeting mid-level and high-level offenders. The committee will follow through completely and implement preventive measures to ensure this does not happen again."

When asked about proposals for local authorities to conduct exams instead of the central government, Asaploet noted that corruption exists at both levels. Examples have emerged in Maha Sarakham and Kalasin provinces with convictions of subdistrict administrators. The solution lies not in where exams are held, but in improving procedures and safeguards. He suggested studying how legal, prosecutorial, and judicial exams avoid such corruption, and called for reviewing the draft Local Government Personnel Management Act currently before the Senate, which could result in legislative changes.