Political situation in Thailand
Thailand's former leader receives royal pardon - released
Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released from prison after being pardoned by the royal family, Thai authorities said, according to AFP.
Thaksin was sentenced to one year in prison for corruption and abuse of power. He served eight months and was released on parole in May on the condition that he wear an electronic anklet.
He was pardoned on Queen Suthida's birthday on June 3, citing his age and health. Now he will not have to wear the anklet.
Political situation in Germany
Politically motivated violence is increasing in Germany
Politically motivated violence has increased sharply in Germany, the German government says, according to Politico.
– The majority of the crimes were committed by right-wing and far-right actors, which once again shows that the greatest danger currently comes from right-wing extremism, says Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
However, actors on the left are the fastest growing group of perpetrators.
A total of 85,837 politically motivated crimes were reported in Germany in 2025. That is twice as many as ten years ago.
The climate threat COP31
COP31 values: “Electrify everyday life”
A third of the world’s energy needs should be met by electricity within ten years, says Turkish Foreign Minister Murat Kurum, who is hosting the upcoming COP31 climate summit, according to The Guardian.
“By electrifying everyday life, we can protect families and companies from unstable energy markets,” he says.
Today, electricity accounts for around 20 percent of the world’s final energy consumption. It is primarily sectors such as transport, heating and industry that need to increase their use of electricity instead of fossil fuels, according to Murat Kurum.
The stabbing attack in Belfast
Demonstrators set fire to a bus in Belfast after a stabbing attack
Large demonstrations are underway in Belfast, Northern Ireland, after a man was attacked with a knife on Monday evening, reports the BBC.
Among other things, the demonstrators are said to have set fire to garbage cans and a bus. Emergency services are on site to put out the fire. Public transport has been suspended until further notice, Translink reports.
Several of the demonstrators are wearing balaclavas, according to the BBC's reporter on site. According to witnesses, they are throwing bricks at the windows of residential buildings and firing rockets.
They are demonstrating against migration, as the man suspected of carrying out the attack is said to be from Sudan.
Middle East Crisis Protests
France Deports Another Israeli Minister
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is banned from entering France, the French government announced, according to AFP.
“Smotrich actively promotes the occupation of the West Bank, the recolonization of Gaza and the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority and its devastating consequences for the Palestinian population,” writes French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on X.
In May, Israel’s Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was also deported.
The decision is part of a joint sanctions package that France has drawn up together with the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. The other countries have already issued travel bans on both ministers in June last year.
Middle East Crisis Gaza War
UN: Hamas police injured and executed Palestinians
Police forces and militant groups belonging to Hamas publicly beat, injured and executed dozens of Palestinians during the war with Israel, which may constitute war crimes. This is stated in a UN report according to AP.
According to the report, in many cases the perpetrators claimed that the victims, for example, collaborated with Israel or had stolen humanitarian aid, and that the beating or execution was the punishment.
Of the 249 cases covered by the report, of which 108 were fatal, known representatives of Hamas were responsible for about a quarter.
“Hamas-linked forces have exploited the vacuum created by relentless Israeli attacks and widespread devastation,” said Srinivasan Muralidhar, head of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which is behind the report.
