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UN, TIJ honour late princess’ justice work

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) jointly hosted a commemorative event titled “A Legacy of Justice and Compassion” on Monday to honour Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati.

Held at the UN building, the event highlighted her contributions to the justice system, particularly her advocacy for women and girls, as well as women in prison.

Janelle Weissman, UN Women Asia and the Pacific officer-in-charge, said the princess had built a lasting legacy through efforts to improve the lives of women and girls, eliminate violence against women and improve conditions for women prisoners.

“It has been incredibly powerful and important to ‘leave no one behind’, including those in prisons. Her leadership in promoting the elimination of all violence against women and girls was especially impactful,” Ms Weissman said.

“She served as a spokesperson for global UN campaigns, helped shape better laws in Thailand and created pathways for change worldwide.”

Ms Weissman said the princess’s work had helped position Thailand as a model in safeguarding the rights of women and girls, particularly those in prison. Phiset Sa-ardyen, executive director of the Thailand Institute of Justice, said the princess’s Bangkok Rules had raised international standards for the protection and treatment of women prisoners and helped ensure opportunities for them to rebuild their lives.

The institute will continue working with the UNODC to accelerate implementation of the Bangkok Rules, including by incorporating the experiences of formerly incarcerated women involved in social initiatives.

“She helped shift the discourse by bringing a ‘human face’ into the discussion. Previously, the system was viewed mostly through legal perspectives and institutions. She was forward-thinking, introducing ideas 10 to 15 years ahead of their time and emphasising that justice services should be designed around people’s needs,” Mr Phiset said.

Delphine Schantz, UNODC regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said the princess, as the UNODC’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Rule of Law, helped turn policy ideas into international standards through the Bangkok Rules.

“She understood that women require different treatment and paved the way for other member states to adopt similar practices,” Ms Schantz said.

Garin sees energy sector attaining more infra gains

ENERGY Secretary Sharon Garin is optimistic about achieving greater infrastructure accomplishments in the energy sector, having significantly improved the response times of the agencies under the department.

Her optimism is anchored on the fact that all the agencies involved with the DOE are much more accomplished now.

‘Napocor [National Power Corporation] is slowly starting its hybridization to reduce our dependence on diesel. Transco [National Transmission Corporation] is doing the same by expanding its mandate. I believe that NEA [National Electrification Administration] is also expanding its focus to include solar solutions,’ she said.

‘I am positive that we will accomplish even more in 2027. It’s not easy to solve problems in energy because it takes time, and there are many components.

‘We just keep on going. I think in a few months or years, more improvements will be seen. We’ve learned fast, and our response time is faster now. So, I am quite optimistic about 2027,’ she added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week. Garin said her office has already provided Malacañang with updates on the agency’s accomplishments.

‘We are preparing for what his directive will be for the DOE. We’re ready and I think energy will be a very important topic because it is a very important topic worldwide. So, we’re ready for whatever directive the President gives,’ she said.

Garin noted that most of the President’s directives from last year have already been ticked off the box. ‘Last year, he gave instructions about lifeline rates, net metering, and a few other things. We have finished those.

We’re now doing assessments, and creating master plans for Visayas, Mindoro, and Palawan. There are also new accomplishments in addition to the directives of the President. We fast-tracked so many RE [renewable energy] projects, which were pushed by the oil crisis,’ she said.

This was made possible by the green energy auction (GEA), which is the primary market established by the DOE to accelerate private investment in clean energy designed to achieve the country’s firm, non-negotiable RE targets-35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

Earlier, the DOE said it has awarded roughly 20 gigawatts of RE capacity through the green auctions. ‘GEA is very successful. We’ve awarded 20 gigawatts,’ said Garin.

WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 21, 2026

Vice President Sara Duterte trial resumes Tuesday, with all eyes on National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag as he takes the witness stand and testify under Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which centers on Duterte’s alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marco Jr., his wife Liza Marcos-Araneta and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Matibag’s testimony comes amid heightened tensions stemming from his previous public disputes with some senator-judges

Kombos congratulates Ed Miliband on his appointment as UK Foreign Secretary

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos congratulated Ed Miliband on his appointment as Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom.

‘I look forward to further strengthening bilateral relations and strategic cooperation across a range of areas, working together on regional stability, as well as on shared EU-UK priorities’, he said today in a post on X.

He also conveyed his best wishes to Yvette Cooper, for her new duties as Health Secretary of the United Kingdom.

Court acquits ‘Aem Cyanide’ in fifth murder case

Convicted poisoner Sararat “Aem Cyanide” Rangsiwuthaporn has been acquitted on one of the many murder charges brought against her.

In her fifth murder trial, the Criminal Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to prove she poisoned a vegetable vendor with cyanide.

Sararat, 39, had been charged with the premeditated murder of Rosjarin ‘Phi Noi’ Nilnoi, a vegetable vendor. The ruling was delivered on Tuesday morning at the Criminal Court in Bangkok.

Prosecutors charged Sararat with mixing cyanide into a salad given to Rosjarin with the intention to kill her, motivated by a 60,000-baht debt.

Ms Sararat denied the charges.

In its judgement, the court said the case was reopened after reports emerged in March 2023 linking Sararat to a series of suspected cyanide poisonings. Rosjarin’s husband subsequently became suspicious that his wife’s death in 2022 may also have been connected and filed a complaint accusing Sararat of deliberately poisoning her.

During the trial, the prosecution called the physician who treated the victim. The doctor testified that the victim’s blood showed severe metabolic acidosis, a condition that could result from either severe infection or poisoning.

However, the witness could not confirm that cyanide was the poison involved, identify what toxic substance had entered the victim’s body, or determine how it had been administered.

The court ruled that the medical evidence was insufficient to establish that the victim had been poisoned with cyanide by the defendant.

The court also questioned the reliability of testimony from an employee of the deceased, who claimed to have seen Sararat deliver the salad. The employee was unable to answer defence questions regarding the make of the defendant’s vehicle, despite claiming to recognise it because Sararat frequently visited the victim. The court found the testimony unreliable.

The court also rejected the prosecution’s argument that the alleged murder was motivated by a 60,000-baht debt. Evidence showed that the victim had pawned her car to Sararat for 100,000 baht and had already repaid 50,000 baht.

After the victim’s death, Sararat allegedly demanded that the victim’s husband pay 600,000 baht to redeem the vehicle. The amount was later negotiated down to 300,000 baht, which he paid before recovering the car.

Given these circumstances, the court ruled that the alleged debt did not provide a convincing motive for murder and concluded that the prosecution’s evidence failed to establish a clear link between the defendant and the alleged poisoning. The court dismissed the case.

In the first case against her, Sararat was sentenced to death for the murder of Siriporn “Koi” Khanwong, who died near a riverside pier in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province.

In the second case, involving the poisoning death of Pol Maj Nipa Sangchan, known as ‘Inspector Pu’, the court initially imposed the death penalty but commuted the sentence to life imprisonment because her testimony was deemed beneficial to the proceedings.

In the third case, concerning the death of engineer Nittaya Kaewbuppha in Nakhon Pathom province, the court acquitted Sararat, citing insufficient evidence that she possessed cyanide or had a financial motive.

In the fourth case, involving the poisoning death of Pol Capt Sukanda “Captain Nui” Wimonmal, a former finance officer at Phu Pha Man police station in Khon Kaen province, the court sentenced Sararat to death. The sentence was later reduced by one-third to life imprisonment.

Investigators suspect Sararat administered potassium cyanide to 14 people between 2015 and 2023, allegedly to avoid debts or steal valuables. They linked the serial cyanide killer to heavy online gambling, large bank transactions and attempts to hide evidence.

The Kanchanaburi native, dubbed “Aem Cyanide” after police found traces of cyanide in the victims’ bodies, was arrested on April 25, 2023, and she was pregnant when caught.

Police wrapped up their investigation into her criminal cases in June 2023, about the time she miscarried during the fifth or sixth month of her pregnancy.

Cyprus steps up missing persons’ campaign as refugee communities back renewed reunification efforts

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides reaffirmed on Tuesday the Government’s commitment to intensifying efforts to determine the fate of all missing persons in Cyprus. In a separate meeting, representatives of Turkish-occupied communities expressed their backing for renewed reunification talks ahead of a visit by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to the island, next week.

During his meeting with representatives of organisations of relatives of missing persons from Cyprus and Greece, President Christodoulides outlined initiatives being pursued at local, European and international levels to advance investigations into one of the island’s longest-standing humanitarian issues.

Presidential Commissioner Marios Hartsiotis said the government was stepping up efforts to establish the fate of all missing persons and confirmed that the issue would be raised by the President during the UN Secretary-General’s upcoming visit to Cyprus.

Maria Kalbourtzi, President of the Panhellenic Committee of Parents and Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons of the Cyprus Tragedy, welcomed progress in the identification of remains, including those subjected to chemical treatment, and said work was continuing to identify additional remains and return them to families. She also highlighted plans for a renewed international awareness campaign on the issue.

Pancyprian Organisation of Relatives of Missing Persons President Nikos Sergides said the organisations and the government had agreed on specific actions to promote the issue internationally, including through the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Earlier on Tuesday, representatives of the Committee of Occupied Communities from Famagusta, Nicosia and Kyrenia also met with President Christodoulides, expressing support for his efforts to resume Cyprus peace negotiations on the basis of United Nations resolutions and European Union principles.

Committee Chairman Michalis Tziortas said members were briefed on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and preparations for the UN chief’s visit. He stressed that a continued deadlock was “the greatest danger” and called on political institutions, the Church and all stakeholders to support efforts towards a comprehensive settlement.

The meeting also covered issues affecting displaced persons, including loss of use of occupied properties, place names and confidence-building measures.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.

A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.

According to statistical data published on the CMP website by June 30, 2026 out of 2002 missing persons 1,719 were exhumed and 1,075 were identified. Out of 1,510 Greek Cypriot missing persons 764 were identified and 746 are still missing. Out of 492 Turkish Cypriot missing persons 311 were identified and 181 are still missing.

Why next regional financial hub may not be Dubai or Istanbul, but Baku

The geopolitical map of Eurasia has long highlighted Baku as a crucial node for energy corridors and transit logistics. However, a quiet yet profound shift is currently taking place underneath the surface of these traditional economic pillars. The financial architecture of Azerbaijan is undergoing a significant transformation, moving rapidly away from a purely domestic, resource-reliant model toward becoming an ambitious regional financial hub. For years, the flow of capital in the region was largely unidirectional, with wealth generated from oil and gas being reinvested internally or funneled into major global markets. Today, a new narrative is unfolding-one where South Caucasus and Central Asia are becoming financially intertwined, with Azerbaijan positioning itself as the vital anchor of this emerging economic corridor.

This evolution did not happen overnight, nor is it an accidental byproduct of market forces. It began with the calculated outward expansion of Azerbaijani banking institutions. The initial footsteps of this journey were marked by a prominent local bank establishing a solid presence in the neighboring markets of Turkey and Georgia, effectively testing the waters of cross-border corporate financing. These moves demonstrated that domestic financial entities possessed the operational maturity and capital depth to compete outside their home turf. Building upon this foundation, the momentum accelerated dramatically at the beginning of this year when another leading Azerbaijani financial institution executed a landmark acquisition, purchasing a commercial bank in Uzbekistan. This strategic entry into the heart of Central Asia signaled a shift from merely opening foreign branches to acquiring fully integrated, high-performing assets abroad, illustrating an assertive export of banking expertise and liquidity.

While these cross-border banking expansions showcased Azerbaijan’s ability to export capital, the true test of a financial center lies in its capacity to attract foreign players seeking to raise funds. This missing link is now being forged as a prominent mobility enterprise from Kazakhstan prepares to issue corporate bonds on the Baku Stock Exchange. Because local regulatory frameworks mandate strict risk mitigation for foreign entities, this upcoming issuance will be backed by an unconditional guarantee from a domestic bank. This mechanism is groundbreaking for the local ecosystem. For the first time, a private foreign corporation is bypassing traditional global financial capitals to seek liquidity directly from Azerbaijani institutional and retail investors, using a local bank as its shield of credibility.

This impending bond issuance represents a historic first step-a literal icebreaker for the domestic capital market. If this initial transaction proves successful and demonstrates smooth execution, it will establish a highly visible precedent for the entire region. Businesses across Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan that require optimal, localized financing without the astronomical legal and administrative costs of Western mega-exchanges will naturally begin to look toward Baku. A successful debut proves to the regional corporate community that the Azerbaijani market possesses the necessary depth, sophisticated brokerage infrastructure, and investor appetite to absorb foreign debt efficiently.

The macroeconomic implications of this trend for Azerbaijan are profound. Instead of allowing vast sums of domestic liquidity to sit passively within standard low-yield instruments, the local financial system is creating a conduit to actively finance regional innovation and infrastructure. Azerbaijani banks are transitioning from traditional lenders into regional guarantors and underwriters, earning diverse fee income and elevating their institutional prestige. Simultaneously, local investors gain access to high-quality, diversified assets that offer a compelling balance between risk and reward, shielded by the security of domestic bank guarantees.

Ultimately, what we are witnessing is the convergence of the South Caucasus and Central Asian financial landscapes into a unified ecosystem, with Baku acting as its geographical and economic bridge. The historical trade routes of the Silk Road are effectively being digitized and financialized. By transforming from a regional credit consumer into an active capital exporter and an attractive fundraising destination, Azerbaijan is successfully rewriting its economic identity. If the current trajectory holds and more regional enterprises follow this path, the vision of Baku as the dominant financial center of the Caspian region will transition from an ambitious policy goal into an undeniable reality.

Tech experts highlight AI work challenges

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is forcing organisations to rethink workforce skills, accountability and cybersecurity to prevent job displacement and operational risk, say tech pundits.

M.L. Luesak Chakrabandhu, president of the Association of Thailand Open Source Federation and director of the Digital Council of Thailand, warned of massive job displacement for those who fail to adapt to survive the severe societal and workforce impacts of advancing AI technologies.

Cybersecurity success requires a dedicated, accountable person in charge rather than just a focus on making profits, he said, speaking at a digital workforce forum held yesterday by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (Nectec).

He sees challenges in a post-artificial general intelligence (AGI) era, predicting that individuals who lack technology and integration skills face a 95-100% chance of job loss.

“Organisations failing to design secure systems and integrate AI will face operational conflicts and jobless productivity, while nations could suffer from stagnant GDPs and inefficient supply chains.”

M.L. Luesak said AI can never replace human accountability because it cannot bear legal responsibility or be held liable. “Humans will always remain the accountable decision-makers, as well as the creators and consumers who define AI’s purpose.”

He outlined a three-tier upskilling strategy: executives and boards should become “Humans Beyond the Loop” — intent architects responsible for strategy, governance and guardrails; middle managers should serve as “Humans Over the Loop” — orchestrating workflows and validating AI outputs; while all employees should operate as “Humans In and On the Loop” — filtering AI-generated information and ensuring tasks align with organisational goals and safety.

Future skills

Tatchapol Poshyyanonda, country director of Palo Alto Networks for Thailand and Vietnam, said security should be viewed as an enabler of potential rather than merely a business expense.

“Because hackers are using AI, defenders must use AI to fight back and reduce incident response times from hours down to mere minutes.”

Top executives must take the lead by defining clear business priorities for AI and establishing “Trust AI” — ensuring data accuracy, appropriate models and verifiable results — rather than just blindly following tech trends.

Organisations are encouraged to adopt a five-stage AI governance framework covering assessment and inventory, governance and design, protection and operations, monitoring and assurance, and continuous reporting and improvement.

Future cybersecurity professionals will need to have AI and data literacy, AI security knowledge, AI agent management, threat analysis, critical thinking, ethics and governance, alongside communication and collaboration skills.

Data classification

Panita Pongpaibool, deputy executive director of Nectec, said humans are the most critical vulnerability in any cybersecurity system.

Organisations should implement mandatory security awareness training, such as phishing email simulations, for all employees.

Top executives — not just IT departments — must take responsibility for classifying corporate data because IT does not know the business value of the data.

Nectec also provided an open-source cybersecurity monitoring system developed for SMEs to help them achieve high-quality security affordably.

Natural Intelligence

AVM Amorn Chomchoey, secretary general of the National Cyber Security Agency, said AI users must develop their “natural intelligence”, specifically critical thinking and cognitive skills, to avoid being manipulated or becoming willing victims of AI.

Scammers are using advanced AI to conduct highly realistic fraud. In Thailand, while scams remain a severe issue, daily financial losses from these scams have recently decreased to around 15-35 million baht.

Cybersecurity is the fundamental framework of any digital system. Organisations must integrate security into AI systems from the very beginning of their development.

Users should not blindly trust digital interactions; “digital trust” must be granted only after careful verification.

Furthermore, every organisation must urgently establish clear guidelines and acceptable use policies for AI to ensure that employees use the technology safely, responsibly and without exposing sensitive data.

“A lack of budget is not a valid excuse, as free open-source tools and learning resources are widely available, though they require more hands-on effort from the team.”

Santi Siritheerajesd, child protection specialist of Unicef Thailand, said the core risks of the internet include inappropriate content (violence/18+), dangerous contact (grooming), poor conduct by youths themselves, and contact/data privacy issues.

He warned that malicious actors are weaponising AI, such as using deepfakes for extortion or manipulating AI prompts to bypass safety guardrails and generate abusive images.

A case against a 37-year-old father regarding his son’s death filed with Paphos court

A case against the 37-year-old father, who faces a charge of causing death by reckless, careless, or dangerous conduct in connection with the death of his 3-year-old child, was filed today with the Paphos District Court.

The court set the trial for July 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., and ordered his release from custody on a 20 thousand euros bail and other strict conditions.

Specifically, the 37-year-old was to be placed on the stop list, and was ordered to surrender all his travel documents, to appear once a week at the Paphos Central Police Station, to refrain from passing through crossing points to Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, and to provide the police with his full residential address.

After fulfilling all the conditions imposed by the court, the 37-year-old was released pending his next court hearing. It is recalled that the Attorney General issued instructions for the criminal prosecution of the 37-year-old after evaluating all the evidence gathered during the police investigation.

According to reports, a trace of alcohol was detected in the defendant’s blood, a factor that is expected to be considered during the trial.

The tragedy occurred around 6:00 p.m. last Sunday, when the 3-year-old child, who was staying with his parents at a hotel in the Paphos district, fell from the fourth floor of the building.

According to the police and the findings of the autopsy conducted at the Nicosia General Hospital Morgue, the cause of death was severe traumatic brain injury, as well as multiple injuries to the body and vital organs, which were caused by a fall from a height.

UKMTO reports attack on commercial vessel near Strait of Hormuz

A commercial vessel has come under attack near the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident occurred approximately 17 nautical miles east of Dibba, in the United Arab Emirates.

The vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile, damaging its steering system. All crew members were reported safe, and an investigation into the incident has been launched.

The name of the vessel, its flag state, and details of its cargo have not been disclosed.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, holding significant strategic importance as approximately 20% of global oil supplies and around 25% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports pass through it. Essentially, it serves as an energy artery for countries in Asia, Europe, and even the United States.

The strait separates Iran from Oman, and in some areas, the width of the shipping channel is only two miles on each side. Given its critical role in global energy supply chains, ensuring the safety and security of this vital waterway is paramount for international trade and economic stability.