Thailand’s SFST scoops World Soil Day Award

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PUBLISHED: 6 December 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

The King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award 2023, bestowed by the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) of the United Nations, was given to the soil and fertilizer society of Thailand ( SFST ).

In recognition of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s important contributions to enhancing living conditions in areas through green land management, the UN declared December 5 to be World Soil Day.

The action also supports the UN’s objectives for sustainable development, including poverty eradication, food security, and environmental management.

The FAO, which was founded in 1945 to promote nations all over the world to start green ground control activities to achieve the UN’s goals, and Thailand are the sponsors of the award.

The SFST received the award this month, according to Rapeepat Chantarasriwong, director-general of the Agriculture Department and the organization’s chairman, who announced this to the internet yesterday.

According to him, the SFST started a ground management project last year with the theme” Soils, Where Food Begins” to increase awareness of soil conservation for conservation and emphasize how important land is for food production and life support.

Government organizations, the civil society business, privately run underpinnings, and the agrarian business all made contributions, including those from the World Soil Association, Agri-Nature Foundation, Department of Land Development, Agricultural Department, Kasetsart University and Maejo University.

A UN committee made up of representatives from soil resource-related organizations afterwards reviewed the effort and declared the SFST the winner.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives hosted the World Soil Day celebration monday at the Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Center in Chachoengsao, and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony.

The King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award was even given to the SFST on behalf of the UN by Her Royal Highness.

Receiving the award this year and for the first time in the previous ten years gives all Thais great satisfaction, according to Rudklao Suwankiri, a deputy government spokeswoman.

Anucha Nakasai, the lieutenant crops and cooperative minister, has told all important organizations—especially farmers—to take the lead in conservation efforts and be aware of the value of soil and water.

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CCSA staffer passes away

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PUBLISHED: December 6, 2023, 4:00 p.m.

CCSA staffer passes away
Briefing on Covid, Natapanu

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Natapanu Nopakun passed away on Monday after giving press briefings in English for the now-dissolved Centre for Covid- 19 Position Management (CCSA ).

Natapanu, who served as the deputy spokeswoman for the government and assistant commander of the Department of Information, had been receiving medical attention for some time, according to MFA representative Kanchana Patarachoke.

Former CCSA official Taweesilp Visanuyo-thin stated that the news came as a surprise while describing how committed the standard was to his work.

Top minister Natapanu had extensive experience in bilateral and multilateral politics.

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Mount Marapi eruption: ‘I dodged the rock, it broke my finger’

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Muhammad Fadli in hospital
Written by Jerome Wirawan
Jakarta, Indonesia

On Sunday evening, the ground began to tremble as Muhammad Fadli was getting close to Mount Marapi’s summit.

He and three friends took cover behind a stack of mountains when they heard the buzzing.

However, another that was the size of a mortal fist flew in his direction.

He told BBC News Indonesia,” I dodged it with my bare hand, and it broke my finger.” Then another stone broke his knee.

On Sunday, the rumbling sound signaled the start of Mount Marapi’s explosion.

The volcano released a 3 km (9,800 ft ) ash cloud into the atmosphere, enveloping the nearby villages.

There were 22 fatalities, and one hiker is also missing. Twelve additional damaged hikers are receiving medical attention in a hospital.

Muhammad recalled the experience on Tuesday while receiving treatment at Padang Panjang Hospital in West Sumatra. He claimed that shortly after the volcano erupted, dense dark dust clouded his vision. He was completely unable to see his area.

With 17 other companions, he had been beginning their climb of Mount Marapi, also known as the” Mountain of Fire,” on Saturday. But when the volcano began to erupt, four of them—including Muhammad—broke off from the rest of the team.

He claimed that after a rock fell on his mind, one of his friends, whom he was sheltering, nearly lost perception.

The party slowly descended the hill in perilous conditions in an effort to minimize the heat cloud.

He claimed that” We kept trying to move downward by constantly looking for areas in the mountains to defend ourselves.”

In order to notify a shield to their predicament, they hoped to locate telegraph signals.

Muhammad contacted the National Search and Rescue Agency right away after they discovered it and was told to wait at a street knife where they would be picked up.

It may take eight days for the rescuers to show up.

Muhammad, however, claimed that he “finally felt relief” when they did.

Muhammad was carried by firefighters on a bed in anguish after suffering burns, broken bones, and wounds.

He claimed that despite our injuries, my three companions and I were able to succeed.

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Of Indonesia’s 127 mountains, Mount Marapi is one of the most effective, despite being well-liked by climbers.

However, Mohammad added that he had previously climbed the mountain and that there were no indications that it was about to emerge when they began their hike at the weekend.

In a digital message from the mountain, Zhafirah Zahrim Febrina, another traveler, begged her mother for assistance. She is currently being treated in a clinic.

The 19-year-old scholar, whose name is Ife, appeared startled, her face burned, and her hair matted with a thick layer of gray ash.

The BBC Indonesian assistance was informed by her aunt Rani Radelani that her sister underwent severe trauma.

Ife was unable to cease crying during the visit. She lamented that the volcanic dust made her body feel warm.

Rani, however, made an effort to persuade her sister never to give up. She claimed that she was frightened, warm, cold, and sleepy. You have to be powerful, you are strong, I told her, Ms. Radelani remarked.

Since 2011, Mount Marapi has been on Alert status, which means that locals are advised not to approach the mountain’s summit within a radius of 3 km ( 1. 8 miles ), but hikers were given permission to do so in July.

The West Sumatra Natural Resource Conservation Agency, or BKSDA, has climbing regulations, including one that forbids anyone from getting close to the volcano.

Before hikers climbed the mountain on the trip, BBC Indonesian was unable to confirm whether these regulations had been implemented there.

The third-largest and northwest of Indonesia’s 18, 000 territories, Sumatra is where Marapi is situated. It has a height of 2, 891 meters ( 485 feet ).

The Indonesian archipelago is located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where there is a lot of geological and volcanic activity due to the convergence of western plates.

Map showing location of Mount Marapi in Sumatra

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Unified, assertive ASEAN needed as US, China spar

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The Indo-Pacific state’s conundrum is centered on the current China-US relationship, which is the connection between the oldest and newest big powers in the world.

The impressive encounter between Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong in Shanghai in 1972 served as the foundation for this connection. Three years after army skirmishes between the original allies along the Azur River in 1969 nearly resulted in open battle and, according to reports, with the United States dampening Russian overtures to help an assault on China’s developing nuclear forces, they met more than a decade after the collapse of the Russian Union-China alliance.

After that, the US-China connection had some connection and depth, despite sporadic frictions. For example, the Reagan administration also gave the Pentagon instructions to prepare for important aid to China in the event of a Sino-Soviet issue. China also hosted US cleverness and verification facilities aimed at the Soviet Union.

Deng Xiaoping’s tests with business finance from the late 1970s and subsequent implementation of the business structure as a key element of” socialism with Chinese characteristics” were an enduring supply of US enthusiasm about relations with China. According to Washington’s rudimentary rule of thumb, economic liberalism had finally permeate Chinese political culture.

During the 2000 presidential poll campaign, when Al Gore and the Democrats continued to refer to China as a “partner” while Republicans supporting George W. Bush preferred “rival” or” competitor,” the earliest indications of an even more profound shift in US trust about an amicable relationship with China appeared.

The new millennium added a critical element to the China aspect: it became more obvious that Beijing would gain economic clout and modern features comparable to those of an important strength and develop further to become the largest economy in the world.

Because they reduced US power and influence and heightened the probable issue from China, big US policy mistakes, such as the 2003 involvement in Iraq and the global financial crisis of 2007–2008, had a greater impact.

As was commonly anticipated, it has been extremely difficult to ensure that the post-Cold War contours of the Indo-Pacific exhibit strong stability. Many people trusted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) as the most suitable manager of the region’s first-ever multilateral security process as it broke down in the early 1990s.

Following the ASEAN Regional Forum ( ARF), a number of bilateral initiatives aimed at high-level dialogue as well as the East Asia Summit and AsEAN Defense Ministers Meeting emerged.

However, these activities have not been successful in fostering sentiments or creating procedures to control and lessen regional tensions and the possibility of conflict. The infamous” Thucydides Trap” has been transformed into a regional theme music by the escalating hostility between the United States and China, which has also stoked disputes, replaced optimism with apprehension, and deflated the local spirit.

Given these facts, the new resurgence of US-China relations is a positive enhancement that merits nurturing because it will lessen the possibility of the long-standing hostility that has crept back into the relationship over the past few decades. Engagement can assist in pushing these giants in the direction of a more acceptable hotel and an improved regional security agenda.

While local nations should support and encourage this effort, which they most certainly will, ASEAN has a critical agency in this regard. Any actor vying for local dominance must sometimes intimidate or win this group of medium and small powers over. About 30 years ago, ASEAN was able to take control of the ARF thanks to the realization of that fact, and this is still the case today.

Two overwhelmingly strong states should be easily accepted, managed, and further incorporated into ASEAN’s security architecture. By doing so, the 2019 ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific may reflect the idea of equality.

ASEAN needs to make it clear that it is reckless and dangerous to the peace and stability of the region to try to include or eliminate a rival power. History should serve as a guide because prior conflicts in different parts of the world demonstrate that important players have reluctance to be motivated by hazy and deceptive notions of excessive power and influence. That tendency frequently results in undesirable, if not sad, outcomes.

In the hopes that Beijing and Washington will pay attention and refrain from repeating past errors, ASEAN should persistently deliver that message to both cities.

This may serve as a springboard for ASEAN officials to promote sincere dialogue with and between the United States and China to determine shared objectives and objectives for the region as well as an action plan to swiftly accomplish them.

To define the scope and stem of the different issues and/or themes that require attention, as well as to facilitate and enhance this work, ASEAN leaders should consult knowledgeable analysts. Thus, it would be obvious that ASEAN is serious.

The Indo-Pacific region is up against a formidable challenge that necessitates focused leadership from numerous organizations, most prominentlyASEAN.

( ron ) Ron Huisken&nbsp [email protected] Au ) is the director of the CSCAP Regional Security Outlook and an adjunct associate professor in the Strategic &amp, Defense Studies Center at Australian National University.

Pacific Forum previously published this article, which was adapted from the advantages to the&nbsp, Regional Security Outlook 2024 prepared by the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific. With agreement, it is republished.

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Chinese stocks slump after Moody’s outlook cut

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Following Moody’s Tuesday downgrading of its assessment of the credit ratings for the Chinese government from” stable” to “negative,” stock markets in Hong Kong and mainland China experienced a decline.

The Hang Seng Index, a standard for Hong Kong’s stock market, dropped 1.9 % to close on Tuesday at 16, 327, the lowest level since November 2022. Since October of this year, the Shanghai Composite Index has dropped 1.7 % to 2,972, breaking its emotional support of 3,000 once more. &nbsp,

Investors ‘ concerns about the slowing Asian economy caused Japan’s Nikkei 225 to fall 1.37 % on Tuesday, but the index has risen 27.5 % so far this year. In 2023, the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 4.63 percent while the Hang Seng Index fell 19 %.

China’s A1 long-term local and foreign currency issuer ratings were upheld by Moody’S on Tuesday, but the company downgraded its outlook on the country to bad, citing its slower medium-to-long economic growth and continued property sector downsizing.

According to Moody’s, the shift “reflects rising data that financial aid will be provided by the government and wider public sector to economically stressed regional and local institutions and state-owned companies.”

This trend, according to the statement, “poses large downside risks to China’s governmental, economic, and institutional strength.”

It continued,” The perspective change also reflects the increased risks associated with architecturally and persistently lower medium-term economic development and the ongoing property market downsizing.” &nbsp,

effect that is controllable

The Ministry of Finance of China stated in a speech that it is “disappointed” by Moody’s downward rating view.

It stated that Moody’s worries about the prospects for economic development in China, governmental sustainability, and other issues are superfluous.

It stated that” when our land revenue declines, our charges in transfer payment will also decrease.” Although our property-related tax revenue has decreased in recent years, its proportion to our public money has no substantially decreased.

According to the report, the effect of the property market downturn on local general public and governmental costs is controllable and architectural.

It stated that “in recent years, our nation has established an administrative system to stop and resolve regional government debt risks.”

According to the statement, the initial spread and expansion of improper and chaotic borrowing by local governments has been stopped, and the disposal of local authorities debts has yielded positive results.

The outstanding local debt at the end of last year was 62 trillion yuan ( US$ 8.68 trillion ), which included the debts of the local governments, which totaled 35.1 trillion and 25.9 trillion, respectively. &nbsp,

China’s local debt to GDP ratio, according to the finance ministry, was only about 50.4 %, which is lower than the major economies ‘ and emerging market nations’ internationally recognized 60 % warning line. &nbsp,

The local government financing vehicle ( LGFV ) debt, which analysts estimated at about 60 trillion yuan at the end of 2022, was not included in the official local debt figure. &nbsp,

China’s debt-to-GDP ratio, if the LGFV debt is taken into account, should be 99 %, as opposed to the 263.9 % for Japan and the 12 % for the US.

slowing of the business

According to Moody’s, the nation will experience 4 % annual GDP growth in 2024 and 2025, and an average of 3.8 % from 2026 to 2030.

The Economic Daily, a state-owned news, declared on Tuesday that Moody’s “unwarranted and flawed” decision to cut off the credit outlook for China.

In the statement, Feng Qiaobin, assistant director of economic analysis at the Development Research Center of the State Council, was quoted as saying that Moody’s did not fully understand the Chinese economy and failed to take into account the most recent plan support for the home business and the results to be delivered. &nbsp,

China set a 5 % economic growth goal for 2023 in March. &nbsp,

China’s GDP increased 5.2 % in the first three quarters of this year from a year ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) on October 18. &nbsp,

Consumption increased 6.8 %, external trade in US dollars decreased 6.4 %, and fixed-asset investment increased 3.1 % for the same period as the” three horses” of the Chinese economy. &nbsp,

A 7.2 % increase in investment made by state-owned businesses contributed to the 3.1 % growth in fixed-asset investment. Private investment decreased by 0.6 % over the first nine months. &nbsp,

The finance ministry stated on Tuesday that” the input of local consumption to China’s socioeconomic development continues to increase.” &nbsp,

It stated that GDP growth was driven by consumption and investment by 4.4 and 1.6 percent items, both. Additional trade, yet, slowed GDP growth by 0.8 percent points. &nbsp,

Read: The house loan program in China might or might not be successful.

@jeffpao3 Following Jeff Pao on Twitterat&nbsp.

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Turkmenistan: Former leader’s football team sweeps league

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Arkadag teamFederation of Turkmen Football
Robert Greenall
News from BBC

Turkmenistan’s major league football team made a spectacular debut by taking home the national championship in its inaugural campaign.

Arkadag, however, is no common club. It was established by autocratic former president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and boasts the majority of the national team members.

According to reports, supporters of various groups have complained about match-rigging.

Last year, Mr. Berdymukhamedov, who oversaw a restrictive, mysterious state, gave his son Serdar the presidency.

He now serves as the head of the Turkmen congress.

The Arkadag team was established by the original president in April, and it was inaugurated in June in a fresh display area of the same name that was constructed within five years. He created the group’s uniform.

The official name of Mr. Berdymukhamedov senior, Arkadag, which means protector or guardian, is also used.

President Berdymukhammedov leading a bike ride

shabby pictures

Before the start of the season, the team acquired the majority of its adversaries ‘ best people.

With four games remaining, it claimed the top spot in the division on Sunday after winning all of its league game.

It only faltered again, drawing 1-1 with Besa Doberdoll of the second division of North Macedonia in a friendly match in Bulgaria.

The team is currently aiming for a triple victory.

According to scorer Didar Durdyev, who was quoted by AFP on Tuesday,” This encourages us to get more victories, we may try for the Turkmenistan Cup.”

However, one supporter of a foe team was cited by the Europe-based web Hronika Turkmenistana as saying that officials were openly aiding Arkadag’s victory.

The fan claimed that the referee badly gave Arkadag a sentence in the 91st minute of their game against Shagadam, giving them the victory.

The enthusiast continued by saying that Arkadag was stifling interest in the sport across the nation.

Former President Berdymukhamedov, then 66, was well-known for winning a number of sporting events while in office, including biking, horseback riding, and motor racing. He frequently appeared in videos showcasing his athletic skill.

He also led large works, walks, and cycles rides to actively encourage activity among locals and government representatives.

All of these were viewed as characteristics of what was regarded as an authoritarian regime, in which he oversaw a shoddy record on human rights while maintaining both his cult of personality and his position monopoly on the media.

Under his brother Serdar, who took office in March 2022, not much has changed.

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What you need to know about Malaysia’s digital arrival card

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THE ARRIVAL CARD IS SUBMITTED BYME. UPON ARRIVAL, WHAT DO I Accomplish?

Before going through the emigration counter, you may provide a current passport and an authentic online arrival card for validation.

Malaysia’s automatic access method, also known as an autogate, is also available to visitors from Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States, and the UK.

When first-time visitors arrive, they must register and have their passports verified at a regular desk before using the autogate to leave.

You can enter and exit the country right away using the autogate if your card has already been registered on a prior visit.

DO YOU HAVE ANY Needs I SHOULD REMEMBER?

A current card is necessary for every arrival.

Your card may be appropriate for at least six months if you plan to arrive at one of Malaysia’s airports. Your card may have a minimum three-month validity if you plan to arrive through one of the area checkpoints.

MALAYSIA IS DOING THIS, WHY?

Malaysia wants to “attract foreign tourists and make regional income” under its Visa Liberalization Plan.

The Malaysian Immigration Department stated in a Twitter post on Friday that” this will guarantee Malaysia continues to lead in important companies funding and tourism in the Eastern place.”

A student go, a multiple entry visa facility, an Umrah transport visa, and an enhancement to the validity and enrollment period of visas and cultural visit passes were among the other initiatives that were implemented.

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Probe ordered into tourist wearing police uniform in video

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Published: December 5, 2023, at 19:14.

Probe ordered into tourist wearing police uniform in video
A Thai authorities costume is on a Chinese visitor. ( TV screen capture )

Torsak Sukvimol, the head of the national authorities, has ordered a fact-finding investigation into the video, which shows an unidentified police officer standing by to open the car door for the Chinese tourist while he is wearing the lower part of petty police uniform.

The investigation will look into the nature of the picture, the setting in which it was recorded, and the people wearing the authorities uniform, according to police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong on Tuesday.

When asked if the international visitor would agree to an interview, he replied that the results were anticipated quickly and that further consideration would be given once the details were established.

Before deciding whether there is a violation of the law or laws, this wait for the fact-finding investigation. The police captain has mandated an investigation into the video, he claimed.

He advised tourists not to wear standard uniforms or ask police to drive for them when asked about the possible effect of the shared video on the reputation of Thai police. They might be breaking the law, he claimed. &nbsp,

He added that when tourists try to use their place, products, or uniforms for content creation, police may exercise the utmost precaution.

The people in the film was a police commander with Central Police Tactical Training, according to Pol Maj Gen Somporn Sajjapoj, deputy chief of the Police Education Bureau.

The official acknowledged that he and his Taiwanese tourists companion were the subjects of the video during questioning. The policeman claimed that his companion had worn his officers even inside his vehicle.

A user by the name of Luijeen posted the relevant picture on Instagram along with several still images of a Chinese tourists donning the best of his police uniform, complete with name badge, rank insignia, and decorations.

With 1.4 million followers, Luijeen questioned whether this behavior was correct and brought up the controversy surrounding a Chinese tourist who was given an unapproved VVIP service by police at the beginning of this year. &nbsp,

The Chinese tourists posted various videos on Chinese social media platforms in which she claimed to have been rapidly escorted through immigration and offered a police motorcycle to accompany her to her lodge in Pattaya. This led to the investigation of four police officers.

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Netherlands returns colonial-era artefacts to Sri Lanka

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COLOMBO: As part of efforts by the former colonial power to right historical wrongs, the Netherlands returned six artifacts on Tuesday ( Dec 5 ) that were taken from Sri Lanka more than 250 years ago. These items included a cannon, ceremonial sword, and two guns. Following the French government’sContinue Reading