Thai gov't mobilises forces to tackle air pollution crisis

Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and related officials have met on tackling the severe issue of air pollution.
Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and related officials have met on tackling the severe issue of air pollution.

Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and Captain Thamanat Prompow, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, shared the outcomes of the committee on sustainable air pollution management's recent meeting.

Pol. Gen. Patcharawat disclosed that the Prime Minister has mandated stringent enforcement of laws against illegal burning. He also instructed northern provincial governors to provide direct updates on their efforts. The nine strategies the government has recently implemented are making progress and are well-coordinated, showcasing the ministry's proactive approach rather than a reactionary stance.

Meanwhile, Captain Thamanat announced the operational center in Chiang Mai is equipped and ready, supported by multiple agencies. These units include the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Air Force, the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. These organisations are reportedly prepared to deploy all military resources to Chiang Mai when needed.

On the issue of transboundary haze, Captain Thamanat noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in talks with neighboring countries to minimise and stop burning practices. Additionally, the army is facilitating discussions through the general border committee.

He assured that these efforts would not disrupt the Songkran festival, emphasising the commitment to combat pollution. Senior officials from various ministries will soon augment the operations in Chiang Mai./.
VNA

See more

New species of long-necked dinosaur discovered in Thailand

New species of long-necked dinosaur discovered in Thailand

According to the latest announcement from the Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum under Thailand's Department of Mineral Resources, the fossil of the newly identified dinosaur species was discovered at the Phu Noi fossil site in Kalasin province, embedded in rock layers of the Phu Kradung Formation dating to the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago.

Indonesia promotes aviation ecosystem development

Indonesia promotes aviation ecosystem development

INACA Chairman Denon Prawiraatmadja said the third IAS serves as a collaborative platform for the government, industry players, and all stakeholders to sustainably strengthen the national aviation ecosystem.

AI-powered robots displayed at an event in Malaysia (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia unveils strategy to counter future cyber threats

Malaysia must shift from conventional security methods to a more comprehensive strategy to address rapidly evolving threats, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), post-quantum cryptography and drones.

Containers are handled at a port in Penang state, Malaysia. (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia central bank upbeat on 2026 economic growth

Domestic demand continues to be underpinned by a stable labour market, strong export performance and sustained investment activity. Rising exports are expected to support employment and private consumption, while growing demand linked to artificial intelligence and the electrical and electronics sector is expected to provide an additional boost.

Thai court jails bank employees over mule account scam network

Thai court jails bank employees over mule account scam network

The court in Pattaya province found that four employees of a commercial bank in Pattaya, including a branch manager, had facilitated the opening of bank accounts for Chinese nationals entering Thailand on tourist visas. The accounts were later used as mule accounts to receive funds fraudulently obtained by call-centre scam gangs.

Illustrative Image (Photo: VNA)

Philippines posts record rice imports in first half of 2026

According to the BPI, rice imports from January to June rose 20.1%, or about 460,000 tonnes, from 2.29 million tonnes in the same period last year. The first-half total already accounts for around 57% of the government's full-year import target of 4.8 million tonnes.

A booth of Palestine at the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia (HEI) 2026 in Jakarta. (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia eyes central role in global halal economy

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta said promoting the D-8 Halal Economic Initiative is a concrete step towards strengthening Indonesia's economic integration with the Islamic world amid a volatile global economy. He added that the halal economy will become a new driver of Indonesia's economic growth and export expansion.

Thailand busts fake birth certificate ring for foreign children

Thailand busts fake birth certificate ring for foreign children

According to the Royal Thai Police, the network recruited Thai men to pose as the fathers of foreign-born children in order to complete birth registration procedures and fraudulently secure Thai citizenship. Preliminary investigations found that 164 children had been registered through the scheme over the past five years.

The Petronas Twin Towers, a tourist magnet of Malaysia, as seen from the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia sees rise in international tourist arrivals

The growth was driven by strong demand from key source markets, including ASEAN member states, China, Japan, Australia, China's Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Indonesia develops breakthrough nickel ore processing technology

Indonesia develops breakthrough nickel ore processing technology

Unlike conventional refining methods that typically process only one type of nickel ore, the new process developed by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) can handle both saprolite and limonite ores within a single refining sequence.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pose for a photo at the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia, India launch Prambanan cultural heritage conservation project

Speaking at the July 8 event, Prabowo described Prambanan as not only a historic monument but also a symbol of the great civilisation of the Indonesian archipelago. He noted that the Ramayana bas-reliefs adorning the temple walls stand as vivid testimony to the centuries-old cultural exchanges and enduring ties between the civilisations of Indonesia and India.

A cargo port in India (Photo: ANI/VNA)

India seeks to reshape ties with ASEAN

Since launching its Act East policy and, more recently, the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, India has shifted from merely "looking East" to actively “acting East”, placing ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region at the centre of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

Thai commission strengthens trade competition framework

Thai commission strengthens trade competition framework

Following its participation in negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN – Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, the TCCT underscored the growing importance of incorporating competition law cooperation into international trade agreements.