Hope and heartbreak in rescue efforts for elephants in flooded Chiang Mai

11 Sept 03:56 Key points summarised by AI

Chiang Mai's elephant sanctuaries are experiencing severe flooding for the second time in six weeks, leading to reports of elephant deaths and making rescue operations extremely difficult due to inaccessible areas and strong currents.
Despite the challenges, rescue efforts are underway with the Thai Air Force, veterinary teams, and mahouts actively searching for and relocating elephants, with some successfully moved to higher ground.
A significant moment of hope emerged with the successful, hours-long rescue of 'Pang Mae Boon,' a blind and elderly elephant, by dedicated volunteers.
Flash floods and landslides hindered timely elephant relocation by sanctuary owners, forcing many elephants to independently seek higher ground as water levels rose dangerously high.

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.