Stefano Vecchia

The latest elections brought significant change to Thailand’s parliament, with female representation rising to 19 per cent (96 MPs out of 500). As a "new generation" enters politics, a "paradigm shift" is unfolding. In the military-appointed Senate women are but 6 per cent.

The PIME missionary reflects upon yesterday's attack. In the Philippines since 1977, he is the founder of the Silsilah Movement. In Marawi, people continue to suffer the consequences of “what happened six years ago with the siege of the city by the Maute, a group associated with the Islamic State”. Following the latest incident, “It is hard to say now what the possible consequences will be, including for the peace process”.

The decision to appoint the former general was met with astonishment and discontentment. Another illiberal figure is in a position of great influence. The country's political system appears increasingly weak and restricted. The current government has the votes in parliament to implement reforms, but is delegitimised by the majority that expresses it.

The conflict began in 1969 when the father of the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, was in power. Since then, more than 40,000 people have died, mostly civilians. Six years after Duterte halted negotiations, the parties signed a statement pledging to seek a fair and peaceful solution. Last week, an amnesty was granted to detained rebels.

Dozens of companies have been blacklisted for failing to comply with regulations in construction, agriculture, and fisheries. Some recruitment agencies have seen their licences temporarily revoked. The move comes as thousands of Myanmar nationals seeking refuge and opportunities across the border are turned back.

The Southeast Asian country is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention. In 2019 it established a National Selection Mechanism empowering police to screen applicants, most of whom come from neighbouring Myanmar, where a civil war is raging. Many others are stateless.

According to a survey two years ago, at least 75 per cent of women have experienced some form of assault, but more than 87 per cent of cases go unreported. The government has proposed a number of new initiatives, mainly concerning training and care for the victims, who are often minors.

To boost the birth rate, the Chinese president and the Communist Party are looking to women. The reasons for the plummeting birth rate are attributable to the one-child policy, the economic crisis China is going through, and a cultural change among the younger generations.

The Social Weather Stations recently released its latest findings. Except for the capital, more households rate themselves as poor, especially in the south of the country, with an increase of almost two million households in five years. The Always Poor number 9.7 million.

The 24-hour standard for particulates has been lowered to 37.5 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m3). Efforts are underway to curb seasonal agricultural residue burning, which also occurs in neighbouring Myanmar. According to some estimates, poor air quality causes 32,000 premature deaths per year in Thailand.

About 188,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure security in local (barangay) elections next Monday. The vote will be held on October 30 and promises to be a major event.

Stranded in the Gaza Strip, their fate worries the Philippine government but their resilience in the face of adversity is a source of pride for Filipinos at home. Israel is host to 30,000 migrants from the Asian country; at least four died in the Hamas attack on 7 October.