Hundreds of firefighters tackling fires in western forest complex

14 Sept 01:50 Key points summarised by AI

Approximately 250 firefighters are deployed to Thailand's western forest complex, successfully reducing over 200 detected hotspots to around 60, though 1,600 hectares have already been damaged.
Forest fires began two weeks earlier this year due to dry weather, exacerbated by villagers accessing forests for products and hunting.
GISTDA identifies nine provinces, including Tak and Chiang Mai, as high-risk areas, with farmlands and protected forests particularly vulnerable to burning for agricultural purposes.
On February 8, Thailand recorded 1,151 hotspots, with Kanchanaburi leading, while neighboring countries like Myanmar and Cambodia also reported significant fire activity.

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.