Olympics-Tokyo hands Olympic flag to Paris, prepares to douse its flame

21 Sept 02:40 Key points summarised by AI

Tokyo officially passed the Olympic flag to Paris, signaling the end of the 2020 Games and the commencement of preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The closing ceremony in Tokyo provided athletes with a unique, park-like experience, a stark contrast to their otherwise restricted stay, highlighting human connection despite the pandemic.
The spectator-less Tokyo Games concluded with a $15 billion cost to Japan, falling short of its initial goals of symbolizing triumph over the pandemic or generating a tourist boom.
Paris, promising a "Games for the people" in 2024, has already begun preparations, though initial fan zone events required vaccine certificates or negative COVID-19 tests, reflecting continued pandemic challenges.

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.