Japanese tourist in Chiang Mai fined for resisting police over sky lantern

13 Sept 12:35 Key points summarised by AI

A Japanese tourist was fined 3,000 baht in Chiang Mai for resisting police who stopped him from flying a sky lantern, violating a New Year's Eve ban.
The incident, captured in a viral video, led to the tourist, 'Hirano', being taken to the police station; he later apologized to the officer after an interpreter explained the local regulations.
Hirano expressed regret, admitted he was unaware of the ban in that specific area, and accepted the charge and fine for resisting an officer.
The event prompted calls for clearer communication about sky lantern prohibitions, reinforced by a separate car fire in a nearby province attributed to a lantern.

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.