Race to find alternative bio-substances as ban on 3 farm chemicals approaches

14 Sept 03:18 Key points summarised by AI

Officials are urgently seeking non-chemical alternatives, especially bio-herbicides, as a ban on paraquat, glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos nears, noting current bio-products control pests but not weeds.
Contingency plans involve heavy machinery, but the long-term focus is on bio-herbicides, with promising research on microbes and a farmer successfully using them for seven years at similar costs to traditional chemicals.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Today 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.