Climate change 'threatens food security'
Experts are urging the government to come up with plans to mitigate the problem, with food security among their greatest concerns. Witsanu Attavanich, an economics lecturer at Kasetsart University, is leading a research project entitled "Effects of Climate Change on Thailand's Agriculture." Also, the state-owned agency should work closely with local organisations to train farmers on how to adapt to climate change. He also said the problem of declining food security might lead the government to throw its support behind GM crops, which is not ideal for enhancing food security. Mr Pirun said the department will work with other stakeholders on adaptation plans against climate change.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 06, 2024 10:47 UTC
Suspend classes on very hot days: education official
Suspend classes on very hot days: education officialStudents walk under strong sunlight in Pathumwan district. (Bangkok Post file photo)The secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission is advising school management to suspend onsite teaching on extremely hot days. On extremely hot days, school management should suspend outdoor activities and supply sufficient drinking water. Also, they could suspend onsite classrooms and implement online classes instead, Mr Thanu said. Climate expert Assoc Prof Seree Supratid wrote on Facebook that due to global warming, the hottest period in Bangkok could increase from 17 days to 80 days each year, from March to May.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 05, 2024 07:16 UTC
Poll: Slim majority wants new charter to keep existing royalty sections
Poll: Slim majority wants new charter to keep existing royalty sectionsA replica of the charter in the form of an accordion-style parchment sits on a golden tray under a spotlight at Democracy Monument. (Bangkok Post file photo)A majority of people agree with writing a new charter without changing Chapters 1 and 2 which contain general principles and royal provisions, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. The poll was carried out on Apr 30 - May 1 on 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country to compile their opinions on amending the constitution. Asked whether they are confident that the production of the new constitution would improve the country's politics, the answers varied as follows:37.95% were not confident at all26.03% hardly confident19.31% relatively confident15.11% very confident1.60% did not answer or were not interestedAsked whether they are confident the charter rewrite would be completed within the current Lower House's term, the answers were as follows. 46.03% not confident at all31.37% hardly confident12.67% relatively confident6.80% very confident3.13% did not answer or were not interested.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 05, 2024 06:11 UTC
Bodies found in Mexico where 3 tourists went missing
Mexican authorities found three bodies on Friday (3 May) in the state of Baja California, where an American and two Australian tourists were reported missing, according to three sources with knowledge of the investigation.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 05, 2024 04:35 UTC
Indian nationals arrested in murder of Sikh activist in Canada
People gather at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, site of the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on Friday. (Photo: Reuters)OTTAWA - Canadian police arrested three Indian nationals on Friday linked to the murder of a Sikh activist that sparked a major diplomatic clash between Canada and India. Authorities detained the suspects accused of roles in killing Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. Police said the men were Indian citizens living in Edmonton: Karan Brar and Kamalpreet Singh, both 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28. They have each been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 04, 2024 17:17 UTC
SET touts dividend stocks amid volatility
SET touts dividend stocks amid volatilityBull and bear mascots sit in the Stock Exchange of Thailand museum on Ratchadaphisek Road. Dividend stocks can provide substantial returns, especially compared with bank deposits, as many stocks offer a dividend yield of more than 5%, paying a dividend of 20% per year. To facilitate investment in dividend stocks, the SET has selected stocks for a "dividend universe" group every year since 2016. Dividend universe stocks have an average dividend yield of 4.11% per year, higher than the market average of 2.88%, while 43 of the 141 companies have a five-year average dividend yield higher than 5% per year. The top 15 stocks in the SET High Dividend Index have a three-year dividend yield ranging from 4.75% to 22.1%, averaging 8.01% per year.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 03, 2024 11:38 UTC
World-class aquarium in central Bangkok
Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World, a world-class aquarium located at Siam Paragon shopping complex in Bangkok, covers about 10,000 square metres with hundreds of different species on display. The marine tourism destination offers numerous activity zones for both adults and children, including a 270-degree glass tunnel, virtual reality (VR) adventures and the Jellyfish Universe.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 03, 2024 09:20 UTC
Board of Investment reveals new project proposals rise 31% in Q1
Board of Investment reveals new project proposals rise 31% in Q1The Board of Investment (BoI) reported a 31% year-on-year surge in the value of new investment project proposals in the first quarter, tallying 228 billion baht, with electronics and electrical appliances the segment comprising the highest value. The rise in investment applications also resulted from the government's roadshows organised abroad to encourage foreign entrepreneurs to invest in Thailand, he said. From January to March this year, foreign direct investment rose 130% year-on-year, totalling 460 projects with a total investment value of 169 billion baht, up 16%. Singapore led with investment applications tallying 42.5 billion baht, followed by China with 34.7 billion, Hong Kong 26.6 billion, Taiwan 20.0 billion and Australia 17.2 billion. In the first quarter, the BoI approved 785 investment projects valued at 255 billion baht, marking a 6% increase year-on-year.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 03, 2024 09:08 UTC
Thaksin’s trip to Phuket under scrutiny
(Photo supplied)Paroled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s trip to Phuket, which he claimed to be a private leisure trip, has drawn flak as he was seen meeting several local administrative officials and business figures on the island. The trip has also raised questions about its real purpose and whether it violated the conditions of Thaksin’s parole. Phuket, he said, is among the cities the government believes have the potential to host such an entertainment complex. Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, an Move Forward MP for Bangkok, said no one would have questioned the purpose of Thaksin’s trip had he kept a low profile instead of going around inspecting various development projects and pitching his suggestions. The MP noted that Thaksin’s trips gained more attention from the media than the government’s mobile cabinet meetings.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 02, 2024 22:16 UTC
South Africa, Thailand forge ahead together
Bilateral relationships between Thailand and South Africa have yielded good outcomes, especially in the agricultural sector, according to South Africa's Ambassador to Thailand Darkey Africa. Mr Africa gave the Bangkok Post an exclusive interview to mark the 30th anniversary of freedom and democracy in South Africa and three decades of the South Africa-Thailand bilateral relationship. "Thailand and South Africa's relationships over the past 30 years have been positive," Mr Africa said. He said he'd also love to introduce beef and wine from South Africa -- regarded as some of the world's best -- to Thailand. We are now able to talk about non-racial South Africa with positive prospects of prosperity and development," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 02, 2024 03:36 UTC
Impact of loan rate cuts on key players deemed as limited
Impact of loan rate cuts on key players deemed as limitedPeople seek consultations about how to settle their debts at an event in January. According to an analyst in the banking sector, the loan rate cuts by the four major banks account for 7-10% of each bank's total loan portfolio. "The impact of the loan rate cuts will be limited, helping the banks in managing asset quality amid an uneven economic recovery," said the analyst, who requested anonymity. KTB's loan rate reduction is estimated to affect about 300,000 retail loan accounts with a total credit line of 200 billion baht. Around 200,000 customers qualify for the loan rate reduction, with a total credit line of 82 billion baht, according to KBank.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 02, 2024 02:13 UTC
Extreme heat bends railway tracks
Cold water and ice used to restore normal conditions on line in Nakhon Si ThammaratWorkers cool down bent railway tracks in Ron Phi Bun district of Nakhon Si Thammarat with water and ice on Tuesday. (Photos: State Railway of Thailand)Extremely hot weather warped rails in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, and it took railway workers about an hour to cool them down to make the tracks usable again, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said on Wednesday. The rail deformation was spotted between the Ron Phi Bun and Khao Chum Thong stations in Ron Phi Bun district of Nakhon Si Thammarat at 2.20pm on Tuesday, said Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, chief of the SRT governor's office. Extremely hot weather at the time caused expansion and stress on rails and sleepers on a section of the rail line and the tracks were bent out of shape, he said. SRT employees and rescue workers treated the bent tracks and hot concrete sleepers with cold water and ice and the tracks returned to their normal state in about an hour, Mr Ekarat said.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 02, 2024 02:00 UTC
Move Forward wins extension to submit defence
(Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)The Constitutional Court on Wednesday granted the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) a 15-day extension to submit a written defence in the party dissolution case against it. The original deadline was April 18 but the party requested a 30-day extension. The EC was acting in response to a Jan 31 Constitutional Court ruling that found the Move Forward policy constituted an attempt to undermine the constitutional monarchy. However, Move Forward refused to budge and Pheu Thai went ahead to form a new coalition. Move Forward’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party, was dissolved in 2020 by the charter court following an EC complaint about a campaign finance violation.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 01, 2024 22:03 UTC
Country aims for 2-5% growth in future food exports
Country aims for 2-5% growth in future food exportsIn 2022, future food exports tallied 142 billion baht, up 24% year-on-year. In 2023, the value of exports of future food amounted to 143 billion baht, up 1% from 2022, accounting for 9% of all food exports. The most popular segment of future food was functional food and functional ingredients, valued at 128 billion baht, up 1%, accounting for 89.5% of all future food exports. Functional food products, such as energy drinks, probiotic yogurt, and kombucha hold a dominant position in the market, comprising 97% of all Thai future food products. Organic food refers to food products that are grown or processed without chemicals and genetic modification while medical food refers to food products that are used instead of medicine or as supplements and are provided under a doctor's supervision.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 01, 2024 13:01 UTC