3 journalists face axe over an investigation into senior monk in Thailand

16 Sept 09:08 Key points summarised by AI

Three journalists, one fired and two suspended, face disciplinary action for allegedly inappropriate conduct during their investigation into a 98-year-old Buddhist monk accused of sexual harassment.
The News Broadcasting Council of Thailand and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association issued a joint statement, warning reporters against crossing professional ethical lines in their coverage.
The controversy stemmed from a temple visit by reporters and an anti-misconduct crusader to verify a video clip, which later became suspected of being staged, leading to accusations of disrespect from the monk's followers.
Workpoint News fired its reporter, while Channel 8 and Channel 3 suspended their respective reporters for 7 and 15 days, pending further investigation into their roles in the controversial coverage.

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.