Today's news: North Korea's economy is experiencing record growth thanks to Russian military contracts. The United States revokes visas for Mahmoud Abbas and 80 Palestinian officials to prevent them from attending the UN General Assembly. China released a list of "authorised sources" for news on digital platforms. In Japan, a government-sponsored video simulation shows the effects of a possible volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji.
According to the Constitutional Court, the prime minister violated her duty of integrity because of what she said in a controversial phone call, whose audio was released by Cambodia’s Hun Sen. The military-aligned party is moving toward a deal with Anutin, a former Shinawatra ally in government. Meanwhile, Thailand’s military warns that it is ready to respond to further "provocations" from Phnom Penh.
According to the Ministry of Higher Education, 10,000 visas are set to be cancelled. A wave of arrests, especially in the provinces of Chiang Mai and Phuket, suggests widespread abuse of long-term residence permits. Private universities have also been implicated, but they deny all wrongdoing, blaming instead corruption among public officials.
The Thaksin’s case will be heard on 22 August, while his daughter Paetongtarn’s case will be heard on 29 August after her prime ministership was suspended over the latest military confrontation with Cambodia. This marks a new chapter in Thailand’s long crisis; unable to turn the page, the country pursues its long decline.
The ASEAN-brokered ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appears to be holding despite Thai military reports of fresh Cambodian violations. More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. US tariffs on both countries and the political crisis in Bangkok hover in the background. The Constitutional Court's ruling on suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is expected on 4 August, with the potential of changing the balance of power between the civilian government and the military establishment.
The announcement was made in Malaysia, where Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar read a statement in the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Interim Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. A new cross-border committee meeting is set for 4 August to consolidate the agreement. Archbishop Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok warns against exploiting “historical complexities” to “incite nationalist sentiment and divert public attention from domestic issues”.
