<p>On 8 Aug, the Criminal Court granted bail to Norawase Yospiyasathien who had been arrested and detained by police three days earlier for l&egrave;se majest&eacute;.</p>

<p>Full length interview with Pavin Chachavalpongpun, Fellow and Researcher on Political and Strategic Affairs, ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC), Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, National University of Singapore about the Yingluck administration's challenges in restoring Thailand's image and relations with neighbouring countries and the world</p>

<p>On a small island, out of sight and out of mind, some 2,600 kilometres northwest of the Australian coast, thousands of refugees have been held behind barbed wire in a high-security detention centre while their asylum applications are being processed. </p>

<p>GENEVA / BANGKOK &ndash; United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, will begin an official visit to Thailand from 8 to 19 August to examine the impact of anti-trafficking measures in the country. &ldquo;During my mission, I wish to reach out to a wide range of stakeholders and trafficked persons themselves, so that their voices are heard and can be considered in the national laws, policies and measures related to trafficking in persons,&rdquo; the Special Rapporteur said.</p>

<p>While international media report that the security forces of President Basher Al Assad have, since Sunday, escalated their attacks against pro-democracy civilians, resulting in some 200 deaths, Syria&rsquo;s ambassador to Thailand prefers Syrian state-owned reportage: claiming international reports are simply &ldquo;not true.&rdquo;</p>

<p>At the first anniverary of the treaty banning cluster bombs becoming binding under international law on 1st Aug, campaigners condemned Thailand&rsquo;s recent use of cluster bombs against Cambodia, despite both countries recently announcing their plans to ratify the treaty.</p>

<p>Following the horrendous attacks in Norway on Friday July 22, leaving 76 people dead, Prachatai visited the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok to express sincere condolences and sympathies in connection with the Embassy&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/2681">condolence service</a> and for an interview with Mr. Erik Svedahl, Minister Counsellor.</p>

<p>July 22, 2011 will be remembered as one of the darkest days in Norwegian history. A day struck by two horrendous attacks leaving 76 people dead, most of them teenagers sharing a strong passion for democracy, welfare and solidarity. A day we will never forget.</p>

<p>The Royal Thai Army has been ranked 19th in www.globalfirepower.com&rsquo;s 2011 World Military Strength Ranking, moving up from 28th last year.</p>

<p>&lsquo;I have always said that we must not doubt loyalty.&nbsp; If anyone does, he or she is not Thai. So Thais must not doubt loyalty because we were born with this word, and we will die with it, no matter what,&rsquo; Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha told an audience on 26 July.</p>

<p>The pieces are still scattered as to what happened and who bears responsibility for the fire that burned down the Central World shopping complex and the search for truth in the ashes of last year&rsquo;s protest continues in Bangkok South Criminal Court.&nbsp; </p>

<p>The Defence Ministry and Army have agreed, under a civil court settlement, to pay compensation to the family of <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/search/node/kaseng">Yapha Kaseng</a>, an imam who was killed in a military camp in Narathiwat in 2008. </p>