Curfews considered in harsher measures to control forest and farm fires

13 Sept 13:17 Key points summarised by AI

The Thai government is contemplating severe measures, including curfews, to combat widespread forest and farm fires that are significantly worsening air pollution, particularly in northern and north-eastern regions.
Despite appeals to ASEAN for regional cooperation against cross-border haze and urging citizens to cease burning, the issue persists, underscoring a persistent regional challenge.
Thailand registered a 5-year record high of 5,572 hotspots, with neighboring countries like Myanmar and Laos also reporting thousands, indicating a widespread and severe fire problem.
The Minister acknowledged that the PM2.5 dust problem this year is substantially worse than the previous year, with current mitigation efforts proving insufficient to manage the escalating crisis.

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.