Thailand hunts for missing ancient site treasures

23 Sept 04:16 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's newly designated UNESCO World Heritage site, Si Thep, is missing numerous ancient artifacts, stripped by looters over decades, making it challenging for archaeologists to fully reconstruct its rich history.
Archaeologists face significant hurdles in understanding Si Thep's past, with an estimated 20 objects stolen and 11 identified in US museums, leaving critical gaps in the site's historical narrative.
The Thai government is pursuing a 'discreet' diplomatic strategy to repatriate these cultural treasures, having recovered approximately 340 objects since 2017, despite the slow process aimed at preserving international relations.
While Si Thep's UNESCO status promises to boost tourism, it also intensifies concerns about the site's conservation and emphasizes how the absence of key artifacts diminishes the complete story available to visitors and researchers.

Application for ‘Nene Royal’ trademark withdrawn

Today 18:24 Key points summarised by AI

A third-party application for "NENE" and "NENE ROYAL" trademarks was officially withdrawn, resolving a high-profile dispute over the Thai pop artist's name.
Black Lotus Global LLC, managing Nene Royal's rights, has legitimate trademark applications for various categories under fast-track processing, with final approval anticipated by February 2027.
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) monitors international trademark filings to protect Thai creators and advises early registration to prevent unauthorized third-party claims, noting a "NENE" trademark already registered in South Korea.