G20 host Indonesia waiting to see if Putin will attend summit

13 Sept 13:21 Key points summarised by AI

Indonesia, as the G20 host, is awaiting confirmation on Russian President Vladimir Putin's attendance at the upcoming Bali summit, noting that preparations have been significantly complicated by the Ukraine war.
The conflict has created deep divisions among G20 members, overshadowing the summit's original focus on pandemic recovery and making consensus on joint statements extremely challenging.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi described the preparations as "very difficult," indicating that a traditional joint communique is unlikely, with efforts now directed towards a "leader’s declaration."
Despite calls for Russia's expulsion from the G20, Indonesia maintains it cannot remove a member without the consensus of all G20 countries, emphasizing the group's primary focus on economic issues.

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.