Fruits and vegetables grown in Kok River basin risk heavy metal contamination

17 Sept 05:41 Key points summarised by AI

Tests reveal 80% of fruit and vegetable samples from the Kok River basin in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, posing significant health risks.
Environmental forensic science will investigate the contamination's origin, suspected to be from mining activities in Myanmar or excessive pesticide use, with bird’s eye chillies, cucumbers, and mangos among the most affected crops.
Farmers are urged to adopt alternative crops and avoid Kok River water, while stakeholders, including the Thai and Myanmar governments, are called upon to urgently address the issue to prevent economic impact on local growers.

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.