MPs attend a parliament session. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) In an unexpected turn of events, the House faced a fierce debate on Wednesday over a contentious bill proposed by the Move Forward Party. The bill, championed by Bangkok MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, aimed to legalize the adult entertainment industry and its associated products, including pornographic materials and sex toys. Despite the fervor and impassioned arguments from its proponents, the bill stumbled at its first reading. Taopiphop’s vision was to amend Section 287 of the Criminal Code, which currently enforces a blanket ban on all types of adult materials, covering everything from pornographic images to sex toys. His proposal, however, wasn’t a carte blanche endorsement for all adult content. The amendment sought to maintain strict prohibitions on any pornographic materials that involved sexual violence, rape, or paedophilia, ensuring a line was drawn to protect against exploitation. Furthermore, it put forth age restrictions, disallowing…
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Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin descended gracefully from his office at the illustrious Thai Khu Fah building at Government House, ready to face the throng of reporters assembled in anticipation. With the Constitutional Court’s decree to dissolve the opposition Move Forward Party fresh on everyone’s minds, the Prime Minister’s words carried unprecedented weight. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) On this pivotal Wednesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphatically clarified that he had no knowledge of any cabinet ministers trying to entice MPs from the opposition Move Forward Party by dangling the hefty lure of 20-30 million baht. He stated with unwavering resolve that if such underhanded attempts were indeed afoot, it would be grossly inappropriate for any party to engage in such political skullduggery. Addressing the media ahead of the pivotal Constitutional Court ruling that ultimately led to the party’s dissolution, Mr. Srettha asserted, “If the Move Forward Party holds fast to its assertion…
Move Forward Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun addressed a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday evening following the court-ordered dissolution of the party earlier that day. Flanking her were now-banned party executives: Chaithawat Tulathon (left), chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat (second from left), and Amarat Chokepamitkul (right), as shown in an image from the Move Forward YouTube channel. Despite the shocking dissolution, MPs from the disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP) will find refuge in their “new home” come Friday, according to Sirikanya Tansakun, who is anticipated to spearhead this nascent political entity. Intriguingly, Ms. Sirikanya isn’t among the 11 party executives who were handed a 10-year political ban by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday. During the news conference, held at the party’s headquarters in the Hua Mak district of Bangkok, Sirikanya joined her fellow executives to deliberate on the court’s ruling and lay out their roadmap for…
Bangchak Sriracha Public Company Limited (BSRC) has unveiled an impressive performance report for the first half of 2024. The company boasts total revenue from sales and services amounting to THB 129,631 million, an EBITDA of THB 3,604 million, and a profit of THB 1,077 million, translating to an earnings per share of THB 0.31. The refinery business has reached a new pinnacle, setting a record with a high refining utilisation of 154,900 barrels per day in May, and averaging 152,200 barrels per day throughout the first half of the year. The total sales volume soared to an extraordinary 4,745 million litres, marking a 16% surge from the previous year. BSRC’s CEO, Bundit Hansapaiboon, shared that despite the turbulent energy prices, the company demonstrated remarkable success in both the Refinery and Marketing segments during the first half of 2024. Bundit emphasized that BSRC’s unwavering dedication to maximizing refining utilisation led to…
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement at New Clark City in the Philippines last Wednesday as four remarkable Thai students were lauded for their stellar performance at the inaugural International Nuclear Science Olympiad 2024 (INSO 2024). Held from July 31 to August 7, the competition aimed to fuel young minds with a profound understanding of nuclear sciences, inspiring them to become vanguards of the future and fostering an international network for nuclear energy enthusiasts. In a showdown that saw 55 brilliant young contenders from 14 Asia-Pacific nations vying for the top honors, the Thai team grabbed the spotlight. These twelfth-graders walked away with one glittering gold medal and three illustrious silver medals, proving their mettle and shining a light on Thailand’s burgeoning talent in the nuclear sciences. The crowning glory of the team was Nopparuj Sodsri from the renowned Kamnoetvidya Science Academy (KVIS), who clinched the coveted gold medal. Joining him…
In an electrifying turn of events on Wednesday, the Constitutional Court announced its decision to disband the Move Forward Party, finding it guilty of endangering the constitutional monarchy and compromising national security. The ruling, announced at 3 pm, sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as the court declared that the MFP’s persistent and profound campaigns aimed at amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code—better known as the lese-majeste law—constituted a severe threat to both the monarchy and the nation’s security. The court highlighted a series of actions by the MFP, starting with their proposal to amend the controversial law on March 25, 2021, followed by vigorous campaigns leading up to the May 14, 2023 election. The party also expressed its amendment intentions through numerous political avenues and channels, according to the court’s findings. “Their campaigns eroded the revered value of the royal institution and revealed an intent to leverage the…
Since 24 July 2024, a wave of discontent has surged along Sukhumvit Road, right in front of the Thaioil refinery nestled in the bustling Si Racha District of Chonburi Province. The heart of the discontent? A legion of workers, echoing their unresolved grievances due to non-payment by contractors. What started as a protest by employees of One Turn Ten Company Limited (“One Turn Ten”), EMCO LTD (Thailand) Company Limited (“EMCO”), and Thai Fong Engineering and Construction Company Limited (“Thai Fong”)—subcontractors of Sinopec Engineering Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“Sinopec”)—soon saw a growing tide. The brigade expanded with more workers from Himmawan Engineering 2009 Co., Ltd. (“Himmawan”), Siwakrit Construction & Engineering Company Limited (“Siwakrit”), KUN Supply Construction Limited Partnership (“KUN”), and C.Y. Group Limited Partnership (“CY”). They, too, marched against the silence of their employers Siwakrit, KUN, CY—all subcontractors under SCI Siam Corea Industrial Company Limited (“SCI”). Now, here’s where the corporate…
Mr. Eric Choi, Partner, Majin International Ltd. Dr. Wichuda Namsiripongpun, Senior Aesthetics and Hair Specialist at GIA Clinic (GIA Aesthetics) Mr. Daniel Kwak, Partner, Majin International Ltd. Dr. Chris Gunwoo Kim, Le Diamant Stemcell Clinic, Korea University Hospital, Anti-Aging Clinic and Cosmetic Surgery Mr. Jason Hwang, Managing Director, Majin International Ltd. Mr. Kevin Park, Director of Global Sales, RevMed Mr. Giacomo Iobizzi, Secretary-General of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC) Majin International Ltd., a global trading company and distributor of high-tech medical devices, proudly stands as the sole distributor of RevMed NovaStem products in Thailand. Recently, they hosted an exclusive seminar titled “Regenerative Therapies and NovaStem BC” in collaboration with the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC). This prestigious event was held at the Ballroom Park Hyatt Hotel in Bangkok, attracting an elite gathering of experts and innovators eager to discuss the transformative advancements in regenerative medicine and its vast potential…
Pita Limjaroenrat, the chief adviser to the Move Forward Party, confidently chatted with reporters outside the parliament early Wednesday morning. The air was tense with anticipation as everyone awaited the Constitutional Court’s ruling on whether the party would be dissolved. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya) Just hours before the court’s decision, Mr. Pita expressed unwavering confidence in the party’s written defence, asserting that the facts and legal aspects would ensure justice prevailed. He candidly admitted that some party MPs had been approached by other parties to switch allegiances, but assured they remained steadfast in their loyalty. Mr. Pita arrived at the parliament, ready to engage in a debate on the Land Transport Amendment Bill, all the while knowing that the Constitutional Court was set to hand down its pivotal ruling that very afternoon. Move Forward (MFP) stood tall as the largest opposition force against the government coalition, a beacon of hope for…
Tempers flared and accusations flew as the Senate plunged into pandemonium on Monday. The main bone of contention? The selection of committee members to scrutinize the qualifications of the freshly minted attorney-general. The majority bloc, characterized by its distinctive “Blue” banner, flexed its political muscle and essentially voted itself into dominance, leaving minority factions crying foul. The Senate floor turned into an arena as three rival groups—the “New Breed” and “White” factions, who have aligned themselves against the dominant “Blue” bloc—sparred verbally. The minority factions vehemently argued for their fair representation on the committee. Stepping into the fray, Senator Niran Yupakdi from the New Breed camp called for 15 senators, presumably from the Blue camp, to be appointed to the committee. Not to be outdone, the New Breed faction also nominated 10 of its own senators, while the White camp threw their candidates into the ring. By the end of…