<p>Taking up the position as acting Prime Minister, Gen Prawit Wongsuwan is under the spotlight as he assumes responsibility for political developments. While he has long been adept at playing behind-the-scenes kingmaker, the question of how he will perform as the country&rsquo;s temporary leader remains.</p>

<p>Public prosecutors have filed formal charges against a group of officials who stand accused of murdering and concealing the body of a land rights activist back in 2014. Despite the move, civil rights advocates remain skeptical that justice will be served in the case.</p>

<p>The opening shot of the now-viral commercial shows homes submerged by a flood, a familiar sight in Thailand&rsquo;s news coverage of flood-prone regions. A man and a boy are seen stranded on one of the houses as the rain pours down all around them.</p>

<p>The execution of four anti-coup activists by the Myanmar junta prompted crowds of Myanmar migrants to protest in Thailand to express solidarity with the deceased. Despite widespread condemnation, calls for action have yet to materialise.</p>

<p>Recent visits from the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Defence mark a shift in US-Thai relations as the Biden administration seeks re-engagement with its longtime ally amidst increased US-China competition and heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.</p>

<p>A joint parliament meeting has approved the calculation formula for party-list MPs. Observers see the result as an attempt to forestall landslides by big parties, especially the Pheu Thai Party, but there are questions &nbsp;whether it will be effective.</p>

<p>The BMA is planning to impose a maximum price of 59 baht on BTS extensions. Scrutinised by stakeholders, the proposal has given rise to a high profile debate. The fare issue is only the tip of the iceberg, however.&nbsp; Much deeper problems remain to be addressed.</p>

<p>Following the stunning victory on Sunday night by gubernatorial candidate Chadchart Sittipunt, who carried all of Bangkok&rsquo;s 50 districts in a record-breaking sweep, many observers spent Monday speculating what the phenomenon would mean for Thai politics on the national level.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a new surge of detentions, six people are in jail in connection with the royal defamation law &ndash; five of them denied bail to contest the charges outside prison. A human rights lawyer said the move illustrates the authorities&rsquo; obsession with smothering any public criticism of the monarchy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The online shopping app LAZADA has become the target of a boycott by the Thai authorities and netizens in protest against their online sales campaign that has been seen as mocking the disabled, with royalists also angry that it somehow defames the monarchy.</p>

<p>With the ongoing political division in Thailand, controversies and boycott campaigns surrounding Sitala and other right-wing celebrities will not go away any time soon.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0.28cm; text-align:left"><span style="background:transparent"><span style="line-height:108%"><span style="orphans:2"><span style="widows:2"><font face="Calibri, serif"><font size="2"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font size="3"><font style="font-size:12pt">The women, feminist, and LGBTQ+ groups in Thailand helped nonviolent resistance by contributing to a more inclusive movement, through adding gender issues, reinterpreting politics and creating a safe space for participants. They also equipped the campaign with creativity and resilience.&nbsp;</font></font></font></font></font></span></span></span></span></p>