Seawalls: A boon or bane for Thailand’s beautiful beaches?

22 Sept 11:17 Key points summarised by AI

Seawalls, intended to combat coastal erosion, are paradoxically destroying Thailand's beautiful beaches, drawing widespread dismay from locals, tourists, and environmental experts.
Academics assert that seawalls inevitably eliminate sandy shores by disrupting natural beach replenishment processes, making them a 'death sentence' for coastal ecosystems.
Environmental groups are actively protesting the surge in seawall construction, especially since the removal of mandatory environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in 2013 led to a significant increase in projects.
Critics argue seawalls are a costly and ineffective solution, with cheaper, nature-based alternatives like relocation or coastal forestation often overlooked in favor of these damaging 'grey measures'.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Today 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.