Royal Thai Police suspend welfare gun program indefinitely

25 Sept 07:15 Key points summarised by AI

Royal Thai Police (RTP) indefinitely suspended its welfare gun program after discovering officers exploited a loophole to resell firearms online.
The suspension addresses the misuse of "Por 3" gun purchase permits, which allowed officers to obtain multiple firearms without limits and then resell them for profit.
RTP is considering implementing new technology, such as QR codes on handguns, to track firearms and prevent future illicit resales and malpractice.
This decisive action follows a major incident where a police officer allegedly stole and resold 159 guns from a station, highlighting the urgent need for tighter controls.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.