NLA unanimously passes Sangha Council bill in straight readings

13 Sept 19:33 Key points summarised by AI

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) unanimously approved a bill to amend the Sangha Supreme Council Act, the governing body for Buddhist monks in Thailand.
This new legislation transfers the power to select and remove the 20 members of the Sangha Supreme Council from the council itself directly to His Majesty the King.
The bill eliminates the practice of senior monks holding ex-officio positions, allowing the King to handpick well-qualified individuals for the council.
This significant shakeup follows recent corruption scandals and embezzlement investigations involving former council members and other senior monks.
The current council's term will end in two months, after which the King will appoint new members under the provisions of the revised act.

Application for ‘Nene Royal’ trademark withdrawn

Yesterday 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A third-party application for "NENE" and "NENE ROYAL" trademarks was officially withdrawn, resolving a high-profile dispute over the Thai pop artist's name.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.