The G25 and legal expert Jerald Joseph call for reforms to protect the judiciary from political influence. The positions of the next president of the Court of Appeal and the president of the Supreme Court are hanging in the balance. Urgent reform of the 2009 Judicial Appointments Commission Act is also called for.
Four children are among the dead, with several more wounded. The airstrike came in the wee hours of this morning. The military regime has not yet issued a comment. For ASEAN, a vote in Myanmar is "not a priority." The bloc is pushing the junta to "live up to its commitments" to engage in talks and achieve peace.
In Thailand, the lucrative coconut market relies on the exploitation of more than 3,000 specially trained monkeys of endangered species. An international boycott campaign against the mistreatment of these animals is driving producers to adopt new systems.
A TikTok video shows the cleric secretly encouraging non-Muslim children to convert. The court ruled such practice unconstitutional and ordered controversial Firdaus Wong Wai Hung to delete the videos. The case fuels ongoing debates in Malaysia over religious freedom, parental authority, and the role of faith in public institutions.
The facility run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd celebrated 25 years of service to survivors of gender-based violence and street life. It is a haven where, with work and education, girls can overcome neglect and trauma. Some speak about their experience, about rediscovering “the delight of childhood again” and having “faith that no one will harm or mistreat me.”
The government has approved a plan to cap rail fares at 20 baht (US$ 0.60) in the capital's metropolitan area. The aim is to encourage motorists to use public transport. The price applies only to Thai citizens, not foreigners. This represents savings of just under US$ 310 million.