US museum agrees to return “Golden Boy” statue to Thailand

15 Sept 03:54 Key points summarised by AI

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET) has agreed to return two ancient Thai sculptures, including the bronze 'Golden Boy' statue of Lord Shiva, which were smuggled from Thailand over 50 years ago.
The return follows The MET's investigation linking the artifacts to Douglas Latchford, an antique trader indicted for illegal dealings, leading to their removal from the museum's inventory.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Today 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.