A pianist, Brendan Kavanagh, expressed frustration at the 'absurd' request from flag-waving Chinese tourists who urged him not to film as he performed at the bustling St Pancras station in London. Kavanagh, known for playing boogie woogie tunes at the station and often live-streaming on YouTube, encountered a group of Chinese tourists during his performance.

A woman from the group, claiming to work for Chinese TV, approached him and inquired about the visibility of her group in his camera frame. She then requested him to stop filming. In the video, which was later uploaded to X, the tourists surround the pianist as he repeatedly asserts his right to film in a public space. He emphasizes, 'We are in Great Britain, not China.'

Former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, announced on Saturday that he will be delaying his much-anticipated return to the kingdom. The 74-year-old billionaire, who won two elections in the past but was ousted in a 2006 military coup, has been living in self-exile for the past 15 years, expressing his desire to return home despite facing what he believes are politically motivated criminal charges.
In a tweet on his recently rebranded account, "X," Thaksin cited a medical appointment as the reason for postponing his return. He mentioned that the delay will not exceed two weeks, leaving many speculating about the potential implications of his return to Thailand's already tense political landscape.
Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was a prime-ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai party, had previously announced that her father was scheduled to arrive in Thailand on August 10.
However, his return has the potential to ignite further tensions in the country, which is currently grappling with a political deadlock. The military-dominated Senate recently thwarted the Move Forward Party's leader from becoming prime minister, even though the party secured the most parliamentary seats in the May election.
The Pheu Thai party, backed by Thaksin, has been striving to form a government, with property tycoon Srettha Thavisin being nominated as its potential prime minister. Nevertheless, the House speaker has postponed the prime ministerial vote until after a constitutional court ruling scheduled for August 16.
Napisa Waitoolkiat, a political analyst from Naresuan University, highlighted recent speculation about a possible deal between Thaksin and the elite to form a coalition that includes pro-military parties. The delay in his return might indicate that such a deal has not been finalized.
Since 2001, parties linked to Thaksin have dominated Thai politics, but their leadership has been marred by military coups and court rulings, resulting in the removal of two prime ministers. Thaksin himself has been residing in self-exile, primarily in Dubai, since 2008. He occasionally communicates with his supporters on the Clubhouse social media platform using the alias "Tony Woodsome."
During his time abroad, Thaksin faced convictions in four criminal cases, but one of them has surpassed the statute of limitations. He still awaits sentencing for the remaining three cases, amounting to a total of 10 years in prison, and is also under investigation in another ongoing case.
In May, Thaksin expressed his willingness to face justice, asserting that the charges against him were politically motivated. Despite the uncertainties surrounding his return, Thaksin's presence in Thailand would undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the country's political landscape.

Former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, announced on Saturday that he will be delaying his much-anticipated return to the kingdom. The 74-year-old billionaire, who won two elections in the past but was ousted in a 2006 military coup, has been living in self-exile for the past 15 years, expressing his desire to return home despite facing what he believes are politically motivated criminal charges.
In a tweet on his recently rebranded account, "X," Thaksin cited a medical appointment as the reason for postponing his return. He mentioned that the delay will not exceed two weeks, leaving many speculating about the potential implications of his return to Thailand's already tense political landscape.
Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was a prime-ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai party, had previously announced that her father was scheduled to arrive in Thailand on August 10.
However, his return has the potential to ignite further tensions in the country, which is currently grappling with a political deadlock. The military-dominated Senate recently thwarted the Move Forward Party's leader from becoming prime minister, even though the party secured the most parliamentary seats in the May election.
The Pheu Thai party, backed by Thaksin, has been striving to form a government, with property tycoon Srettha Thavisin being nominated as its potential prime minister. Nevertheless, the House speaker has postponed the prime ministerial vote until after a constitutional court ruling scheduled for August 16.
Napisa Waitoolkiat, a political analyst from Naresuan University, highlighted recent speculation about a possible deal between Thaksin and the elite to form a coalition that includes pro-military parties. The delay in his return might indicate that such a deal has not been finalized.
Since 2001, parties linked to Thaksin have dominated Thai politics, but their leadership has been marred by military coups and court rulings, resulting in the removal of two prime ministers. Thaksin himself has been residing in self-exile, primarily in Dubai, since 2008. He occasionally communicates with his supporters on the Clubhouse social media platform using the alias "Tony Woodsome."
During his time abroad, Thaksin faced convictions in four criminal cases, but one of them has surpassed the statute of limitations. He still awaits sentencing for the remaining three cases, amounting to a total of 10 years in prison, and is also under investigation in another ongoing case.
In May, Thaksin expressed his willingness to face justice, asserting that the charges against him were politically motivated. Despite the uncertainties surrounding his return, Thaksin's presence in Thailand would undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the country's political landscape.

After dissolving the eight-party pro-democracy coalition that included Move Forward, the progressive party that won the most seats in Thailand's recent election, Pheu Thai, the party with the second most seats, has now formed a coalition government with itself at the helm, collaborating with several smaller parties. Pheu Thai has put forward Srettha Thavisin, a wealthy former CEO of a major real estate company with little political experience, as their candidate for prime minister.
With Move Forward now relegated to the opposition, it is highly likely that Srettha will be confirmed as prime minister. Unlike Move Forward's leader, who had the initial chance to form a coalition, Srettha does not support changing the draconian lese-majeste 112 law, which prohibits criticism of the monarchy. His adherence to the status quo makes him acceptable to the 250 military-appointed senators who constitute the upper house of parliament. Their refusal to vote for the initial eight-party coalition led to its downfall. Even though the Move Forward coalition held a majority in the 500-person lower house, leader Pita Limjaroenrat needed a combined 376 votes from the upper and lower houses to become prime minister. This requirement grants significant power to the conservative, military-appointed senators in shaping the composition of parliament.
For nearly two decades, Pheu Thai was known as the party championing democracy and economic equality in Thailand, with its prime ministers ousted in coups on two occasions. During Thaksin Shinawatra's tenure as prime minister, the party introduced a series of populist policies, such as universal health care, which brought crucial benefits to Thailand. However, Thaksin's own commitment to democracy was questionable at times, given his oversight of extrajudicial killings in southern Thailand, intimidation of the press, and attempts to influence other institutions. Nonetheless, Pheu Thai was generally considered the primary pro-democracy party for two decades. Nevertheless, it was always pragmatic and did not vigorously advocate for major institutional changes, like lese-majeste reform, which are gaining popularity in Thailand.
By discarding Move Forward and forming a coalition with older and relatively conservative parties, Pheu Thai may have sacrificed its reputation as the party of democracy, even though it will now govern. This move sparked protests by younger Thais who demonstrated outside Pheu Thai's offices and burned effigies of the party's leaders in response to the announcement. Pheu Thai will likely be viewed, especially by younger Thais, as just another part of the Thai establishment, which has long disregarded the popular will.

To its credit, Pheu Thai has refused to include openly pro-military parties in its coalition, although this is a feeble gesture since Pheu Thai did not require the support of those smaller parties to form a government. Pheu Thai has also promised to hold a referendum on whether to create a new constitution. If Thais vote in favor of a new constitution, Pheu Thai claims it will dissolve parliament. However, there is skepticism about whether Pheu Thai, while in power and with Thaksin's imminent return to Thailand, will actually carry out such a referendum, especially considering the potential reconciliation between Thaksin and the establishment and monarchy.
These are minor positive steps indicating that Pheu Thai may recognize the negative perception of its actions among many Thai democrats and that it is attempting to demonstrate its commitment to a vision of Thai democracy.
Nonetheless, numerous Thais, particularly the younger generation, have moved beyond Pheu Thai's gradual approach (although the referendum would represent a significant change) and demand sweeping institutional reforms across all aspects of Thai society, including the monarchy. This is why, despite initial polls predicting Pheu Thai's dominance in the election, the party performed poorly. The younger voters who supported Move Forward represent the future of Thai politics.

The Thai Constitutional Court's recent decision to suspend the frontrunner for prime minister, based on politically motivated charges, is a significant blow to democracy in Thailand, according to a statement from Human Rights Watch today. The reformist Move Forward Party, led by Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, had secured the highest number of parliamentary seats (151) in the May 14, 2023 election, giving them the mandate to lead efforts in forming a new government.
On July 19, the Constitutional Court accepted the Election Commission of Thailand's allegations against Pita, claiming that he violated electoral rules and was ineligible to run for office due to his shares in the iTV media company. However, it should be noted that the company had not been broadcasting for 15 years and was delisted from the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2014.
Human Rights Watch's Asia director, Elaine Pearson, criticized the military-backed conservative elites for manipulating the constitutional and legal frameworks established after the 2014 coup to prevent a popularly elected political leader from taking power. Pearson expressed concern about the direction Thailand is heading, fearing that it could severely harm democratic principles.
The suspension of Pita from parliament is just one of the attacks against him and the Move Forward Party. Military junta-appointed senators, along with the United Thai Nation Party and its allies, blocked Pita's nomination as prime minister, arguing that his party's proposal to reform the draconian lese majeste law amounts to an attempt to overthrow the monarchy.
Despite needing 375 votes to secure the position of prime minister, Pita only received 324 votes in his favor, and his nomination was defeated on July 14. In a subsequent joint sitting on July 19, 394 out of 715 MPs and senators present voted against renominating Pita for the position, further complicating his chances.

The Constitutional Court suspended Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, from his position as a lawmaker this morning, just as the parliament reconvened for a second round of voting on his bid to become the prime minister.
After the court unanimously accepted an election Commission petition to investigate whether the 42-year-old politician violated election law by owning shares in a defunct media company, crowds started gathering outside the parliament. The petition argued that Pita should be disqualified from serving in parliament as he possessed 42,000 shares of ITV Public Co. Ltd.
Pita has 15 days to respond to these allegations.
It remains unclear how this suspension will immediately affect the ongoing session of parliament, which was meeting for a second vote today, a week after Pita's initial denial for the premiership, largely due to opposition from military-appointed senators.
As of early Wednesday afternoon, the debate continued inside the parliament in Bangkok's Dusit district. Outside, protesters assembled at the front gate, where orange smoke, associated with Pita's progressive Move Forward Party, filled the air as people voiced their disapproval, viewing it as the latest attempt to deny power to a duly elected leader.
On the other side of the gate, a large group of riot officers stood guard, instructing the crowd not to throw anything inside the building.
In the first round of voting last week, Pita received the support of 324 lawmakers in both houses, falling short of the simple majority required, which is 376. He was voted down by 181 nays and 198 abstentions, effectively rejecting his bid.
It appears unlikely that Pita would win in the second round, as the military-appointed senate remains steadfast in their opposition to his leadership.
The coalition of parties led by Move Forward reached an agreement earlier this week that if Pita does not succeed on Wednesday, a candidate from the second-place Pheu Thai Party will be nominated for the top political position.

Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat is facing another opportunity to become the country's prime minister next week, but the path to power remains uncertain. The leader of the Move Forward Party has pledged to amend a law that prohibits criticism of the monarchy, but this stance has caused deep divisions and mistrust among conservative royalists in the Senate. In the first parliamentary vote, Limjaroenrat fell 51 votes short of the majority needed to secure the top job. The outcome highlights the risk of prolonged political turmoil and the potential for large-scale protests if a new government is not formed promptly.
The next vote is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, and Limjaroenrat will have another chance to stand for prime minister if nominated by his eight-party alliance. Alternatively, the Pheu Thai party, the second-largest party in the coalition, may put forward its own candidate from a list of three potential contenders. These candidates include Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; former property tycoon Srettha Thavisin, and Chaikasem Nitisiri, the party's chief of strategy and political direction.
The major point of contention between the Move Forward Party and conservative royalists is the proposed amendment to Article 112, known as the lèse-majesté law, which criminalizes criticism of the monarchy. Move Forward intends to revise certain parts of the law to prevent its abuse as a political tool, but many senators object to any changes, fearing the complete dismantling of the law. The proposed amendments include reducing the maximum prison sentence for defamation of the king to one year and six months for the queen, heir, or regent.
The younger generation in Thailand is disenchanted with the country's royalist military establishment, especially due to the use of the lèse-majesté law against young protesters in 2020. The law was invoked in around 250 out of 1,914 prosecutions related to the 2020 protests, with many cases involving minors. Limjaroenrat acknowledged the pressure and incentives influencing the senators' votes and expressed his intention to convince them to follow the will of the people.
To further complicate matters, Move Forward Party lawmakers have proposed an amendment to bar junta-appointed senators from participating in the subsequent vote for prime minister. However, this amendment faces significant hurdles, requiring approval from one-third of senators and support from opposition parties.
Move Forward Party campaigned on an ambitious agenda of structural reforms targeting the monarchy, monopolies, and military. Their surprising majority in the May elections, along with the Pheu Thai Party, represented a significant shift in power away from conservative politicians who had dominated during nine years of military rule. However, their slim majority has made it challenging to implement their reform agenda and navigate the complexities of the institutions they seek to change.
The uncertainty surrounding Limjaroenrat's qualifications and the constitutionality of Move Forward's policy on amending the lèse-majesté law remain key risks. The constitutional court received a fresh complaint accusing Move Forward's plans of "overthrowing a democratic government" by reforming the law. The court is also considering disqualifying Limjaroenrat as a member of parliament due to a violation of electoral rules. These developments mirror the events that led to the dissolution of the Future Forward Party, including the disqualification of its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
Analysts express skepticism that anything will change and predict a similar fate for Limjaroenrat as his predecessors. The outcome of the upcoming vote and the court's rulings will determine the future political landscape in Thailand and the fate of the proposed reforms.

The parliamentary session held on July 13 saw discussions on proposed amendments to Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as Article 112, which pertains to the monarchy in Thailand. Notably, the opposition members, mainly senators and MPs from the former ruling coalition, accused the Move Forward party of attempting to undermine the monarchy through these proposed amendments. This was in line with previous statements from royalist senators and members of parliament who expressed their unwillingness to vote for Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister if he persisted with the amendment of Article 112.
The session commenced at 10:00 a.m. with the nomination of Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward party, as a candidate for the position of Thailand's new prime minister by Chonlanan Srikaew, the leader of the Pheu Thai party, which was involved in the formation of the government. Subsequently, several deputies and senators took turns addressing the assembly.
The speakers who were not part of the government criticized Pita and the Move Forward party for their strict adherence to Article 112. Only a few individuals mentioned the issue of Pita's ownership of ITV shares, which is currently under consideration by the Constitutional Court.
Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, one of the speakers, opposed the amendment to Article 112, arguing that it would result in defamation and unfair criticism on social media platforms. He believed that such changes would undermine the constitutional protection afforded to the monarchy, potentially leading to blasphemy charges against anyone accused under Article 112. According to Kamnoon, this would diminish the respect that should be accorded to these revered institutions.