Education: Most parents are worried about their children's health safety when they go back to school on Wednesday after a long break during the coronavirus outbreak, an online poll by Suan Dusit Poll has found.
The survey showed 73% of 1,253 respondents surveyed between last Tuesday and Saturday admitted they are most concerned about Covid-19 prevention measures at schools.
The poll also saw 45% calling for clear and strict Covid-19 prevention measures to be imposed at schools, including the wearing of masks, regular hand washing and social distancing.
Another top concern among parents concerns online learning which is being introduced alongside classroom learning. It was earlier suggested that classes may need to be split with students taking turns coming to school on alternate days.
Another sea turtle nest on Koh Samui
Surat Thani: Authorities have found another sea turtle nest on Koh Samui, bringing the total number of nests discovered on the island this year to 18.
CCTV footage from a hotel on Thong Nan beach showed a hawksbill sea turtle laying her eggs on Friday evening. Authorities have seen more sea turtle nests than in previous years, which they say is due to the absence of tourists on the island's beaches.
The Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre has yet to count the number of eggs in the nest, so staff of a hotel near the nest have erected a fence to protect it from poachers and predators.
Surat Thani governor, Wichawut Jinto, said five turtle nests have been found on Thong Nan beach alone.
Floods recede and clean-up begins
weather: Flash floods triggered by forest runoff in the far North on Saturday night have receded as residents began a cleanup operation yesterday, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).
DDPM secretary-general Chayapol Thitisak said the heavy rain triggered widespread runoff over 21 mostly mountain villages in Lamphun, Phayao, Lampang and Chiang Mai. The floods affected 375 households although no injuries were reported.
The department said the floods had eased yesterday and residents who fled the water earlier have returned to clean up their homes.
Longan subsidies as glut fears rise
AGRICULTURE: The government will provide a subsidy to longan growers and exporters this year as supplies of the fruit are expected to grow by 20% raising concerns prices may drop because of a surplus.
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said longan supplies from the North are entering the market.
After talking to farmers and exporters, including those in Chiang Mai and Lamphun, the two biggest longan producing provinces, the ministry decided to give a subsidy of three baht per kilogramme to farmers and 5 baht/kg to exporters.
The subsidy is an incentive for them to find overseas markets for their produce, Mr Jurin said.
Pair nabbed for smuggling meth
NAKHON PHANOM: Two men have been arrested with 42,000 methamphetamine pills and 100 grammes of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, in their possession.
Deputy governor Chatree Chanvirachai identified the men as Vichai Niwongsa, 29, and Veerapong Ngaonoi, 45, both from Tha Uthen district.
Mr Chatree said Mr Veerapong, a fisherman by trade, worked for a drug smuggling ring in Laos, regularly bringing in drugs on long-tail boats across the border to Mr Vichai, a major dealer in Nakhon Phanom. Mr Veerachai was paid 50,000 baht each time.