Thailand toughens measures to combat northern forest fires

STORY: Thailand toughens measures to combat northern forest fires SHOOTING TIME: March 11, 2024 DATELINE: March 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:09 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of forest fires in Thailand 2. various of Thailand STORYLINE: Thailand is toughening up measures to combat forest fires, including a ban on unauthorized access to conserved areas, as unhealthy levels of airborne dust continued to plague most northern provinces on Monday. Increased surveillance and patrols on protected forest areas will be enforced, and any trespassers caught starting forest fires, a major source of PM 2.5 pollution, will face strict legal action, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan said in a statement on Sunday after meeting with local officials. The Pollution Control Department reported that air quality in most of the country's 17 northern provinces remained at unsafe levels on Monday, with concentrations of PM 2.5 pollutants in some areas of Chiang Rai province

New Komeito's Sawa found dead in dorm of heart failure

New Komeito's Sawa found dead in dorm of heart failure

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in August 2000 shows New Komeito party lawmaker Tamaki Sawa, who was found dead early Aug. 9 in a parliamentary dormitory in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, apparently of heart failure. Because there were no signs of trespassers and no suicide note, the police said they believe she collapsed suddenly.

Tibetan villagers herald prosperity through tourism

STORY: Tibetan villagers herald prosperity through tourism DATELINE: Oct. 3, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:31 LOCATION: NYINGCHI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. aerial view of Galai Village 2. various of peach orchards 3. various of peach blossoms 4. various of houses and roads in Galai Village 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): DAWA GYALTSEN, Galai villager 6. various of Dawa driving 6. various of tourists 7. shot of Galai Village STORYLINE: Just a 10-minute drive away from downtown Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, sits Galai, a village dubbed the "village of peach blossoms." Galai boasts more than 1,200 wild peach trees, with the oldest one being more than 600 years old. The village is surrounded by pink flower blooms in spring. Villagers in Galai used to be annoyed when their restful lives were disturbed by trespassers hopping in to savor the quaint peach blossoms around their houses and farms. They would simply cut down peach trees for firewood, or build fences to solve the problem of ir

New Komeito's Sawa found dead in dorm of heart failure

New Komeito's Sawa found dead in dorm of heart failure

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in August 2000 shows New Komeito party lawmaker Tamaki Sawa, who was found dead early Aug. 9 in a parliamentary dormitory in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, apparently of heart failure. Because there were no signs of trespassers and no suicide note, the police said they believe she collapsed suddenly. (Kyodo)