'Merchant of Death' back in weapons business, WSJ reports

14 Sept 01:27 Key points summarised by AI

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as 'the merchant of death' and freed two years ago in a prisoner swap, has reportedly re-entered the international weapons trade.
Bout is attempting to broker a $10 million deal to supply small arms to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
This reported activity signifies a return to his notorious past, where he supplied weaponry to various rogue groups globally before his 2008 arrest and U.S. conviction.

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.