<p>An artists&rsquo; and academics&rsquo; network has launched a campaign calling for support for freedom of expression in art and academia, after art critic Pearamon Tulavardhana was sued for defamation by a Chiang Mai University lecturer whose work was part of an exhibition she criticized.</p>

<p>A Move Forward Party (MFP) bill to allow more alcohol businesses to enter the industry and to legalise non-commercial alcohol production, has been rejected by a mere two votes in parliament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday (31 October), family and friends gathered to celebrate what would have been the 37th birthday of activist Siam Theerawut, who has been missing for the past three years and whose fate remains unknown.</p>

<p>Chinese president Xi Jinping will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which will take place in Bangkok on 14 &ndash; 19 November, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Monday (31 October).</p>

<p>Jumpol Manmai, a former deputy police chief who for a time served as King Vajiralongkorn&rsquo;s Grand Chamberlain for security and special activities, has passed away at Siriraj Hospital from a lung infection.</p>

<p>Samyan Press, a publishing house run by Chulalongkorn University students, said last week that its staff&nbsp;was&nbsp;approached by a Chinese businessman who tried to bribe them into closing their business in order to improve the businessman&rsquo;s relations with the Chinese authorities.</p>

<p>2 months after the parliamentary approval, the bill preventing state-led torture and enforced disappearance has been enforced.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An ultra-royalist known as &ldquo;K 100 Million&rdquo; (เคร้อยล้าน) attacked Progressive Movement leader and former Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit as he was signing books at the Progressive Movement Foundation&rsquo;s booth at the annual National Book Fair at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on Sunday (23 October).</p>

<p>A court in Narathiwat on Wednesday (19 October) <a href="https://tlhr2014.com/archives/49727">sentenced</a> a 31-year-old woman to 9 years in prison on charges of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act for sharing Facebook posts about the use of violence to disperse pro-democracy protesters in 2020 and the public being prohibited from using Sanam Luang.</p>

<p>A group of activists in Nakhon Ratchasima were detained by police on Wednesday night (19 October) after they stood next to the road holding a protest sign while a royal motorcade went past.</p>

<p>A gathering took place in the Siam shopping district on Monday (16 October) on the 2nd anniversary of <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/8849">the 16 october 2020 crackdown on the protest at Pathumwan intersection</a>. The gathering called for an amnesty for all who face charges for participating in political protests.</p>

<p>A man was arrested on Saturday evening (15 October) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) and charged with royal defamation for refusing to sit down and shouting as King Vajiralongkorn&#39;s&nbsp;royal motorcade went past.</p>