The silent dragon: the urgent battle against hepatitis

21 Sept 03:52 Key points summarised by AI

Hepatitis, a 'silent dragon,' claims one million lives annually and causes 80% of global liver cancer, often progressing undetected until severe, end-stage disease.
The Asia-Pacific region bears 63% of global liver disease deaths, yet many countries lack optimal national plans and political commitment to combat the preventable infection.
Experts advocate for declaring hepatitis an emergency in high-burden nations, implementing widespread screening, vaccination, and early detection programs to meet the WHO's 2030 elimination targets, stressing that prevention costs far less than inaction.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.