Illegal hunting threatens songbird prized as delicacy: study

14 Sept 04:43 Key points summarised by AI

Illegal hunting of ortolan buntings, an endangered songbird, persists in southwestern France, driven by its status as a rare culinary delicacy despite decades of bans.
A new study confirms that this illicit hunting significantly contributes to the ortolan's decline, compounding threats from habitat loss and pesticide use, projecting a high risk of extinction within a century.
Despite European Union protection directives from 1979, France long tolerated the hunt, facing increasing legal and activist pressure that has recently led to upheld fines against violators.
Experts emphasize that ending the hunt would double the ortolan's chance of survival, though broader agricultural reforms are also crucial for the species' long-term preservation.

Cabinet approves ฿10.5bn central fund for flood relief

Yesterday 14:04 Key points summarised by AI

The Cabinet allocated 10.5 billion baht from the fiscal 2027 central emergency fund to provide financial relief for flood victims.
This funding will cover remaining compensation payments and relief operations for severely affected households, as fiscal 2026 funds have been exhausted.