2024’s elephant tragedy sparks soul-searching on safety of national icon

15 Sept 09:00 Key points summarised by AI

Two elephants, including a blind one, tragically drowned in October floods in Chiang Mai, causing widespread shock and concern across Thailand regarding the safety of its national emblem.
The incident at Elephant Nature Park sparked controversy, with critics questioning the park's no-chain policy and alleged delayed evacuation, though the founder defended their actions amidst rapidly rising floodwaters.
Despite the loss, over 100 elephants from the park were successfully rescued through a challenging coordinated effort involving officials and mahouts, highlighting both the tragedy and the extensive rescue operations.

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.