Thailand's ex-leader will be charged with majesty
Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be prosecuted for insulting the royal house - so-called majesty crime, several media reports.
Thaksin was accused of defaming the royal family as early as 2015, in connection with an interview in the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, writes CNN. Thaksin has denied the allegations.
- He is ready to prove his innocence in the legal system, says his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree.
Thaksin, 74, was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, when he was forced to resign following a military coup. After 15 years in exile, he returned to his homeland in 2023 and was promptly arrested.
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Political situation in Egypt
Egypt raises bread prices - by 300 percent
Egypt is raising the prices of the country's subsidized bread by 300 percent, the government says, according to Reuters.
Bread has been subsidized for decades, and an attempt to raise prices led to riots in 1977.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly says, according to the news agency, that he is aware that the issue is sensitive.
- But we see what the bill for the subsidies means for the Egyptian state, so we choose to make as small a change as possible to ensure the sustainability of the support.
The bread subsidies are estimated to cost Egypt in economic crisis the equivalent of SEK 28 billion
a year.
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The North Korea crisis
North Korea sends feces balloons across the border
Residents of North South Korea are being urged to be on their guard following reports that North Korea sent over 150 balloons containing garbage and feces across the border, The Guardian reports.
The move comes after North Korea's defense minister warned that the regime would retaliate against South Korean activists who sent leaflets with critical messages across the border.
“These actions by North Korea clearly violate international law and are a serious security threat to our people. We call on North Korea to immediately stop these inhumane and vulgar acts," wrote South Korean authorities according to the Yonhap news agency.
Peter Ward, a researcher at the Sejong Institute, does not believe the North Korean balloons will lead to military escalation.
- This type of gray zone tactic is more difficult to counter and has less risk of uncontrollable military escalation, even if it is terrible for the civilians who are the target, he says.
Climate threat Threatening water shortage
Poop water can be made drinkable with a new method
The problems of drought and water shortages are growing in the wake of climate change - but it is possible, and cheap, to purify wastewater into drinking water. This is shown by Maria Takman in a new doctoral thesis at Lund University of Technology according to GP.
In collaboration with Österlen VA, Takman, who conducts research in water supply and sewage technology, has developed a three-step method. The water is first purified with a membrane bioreactor, and then with granulated activated carbon. Finally, it is disinfected with ultraviolet light.
Almost all harmful substances analyzed – drugs, metals, bacteria and hundreds of microorganisms and chemicals – disappeared.
- It's a fairly short process, which is why I didn't think it would pass so many limit values, says Takman.
The exception was nitrate, but it is easy to purify, says Takman. A question mark, however, is how new, unknown chemicals are to be discovered and purified.
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