THAILAND
Court orders extradition
The Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday ordered the extradition of a detained Vietnamese activist, despite fears among rights groups that he could be at risk if sent home. The court granted Vietnam’s request for the extradition of Y Quynh Bdap, who was detained in Bangkok in June. The cofounder of the Montagnards Stand for Justice group was convicted in absentia in Vietnam in January on allegations that he was involved in organizing anti-government riots in the Vietnamese province of Dak Lak in June last year. He now has 30 days to file an appeal and the Thai government could also decide diplomatically not to enforce it. “Y Quynh Bdap would be at real risk if returned to Vietnam,” Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said at the time the activist was apprehended. “Thai authorities should immediately release this prominent religious freedom advocate and refugee. Returning him to Vietnam would be a violation of Thailand’s obligations under Thai and international law.”
NIGERIA
World Bank approves loan
The World Bank yesterday said it has approved a US$1.57 billion financing package for the nation under a new program to support its health and education sectors and help provide sustainable power. The largest lender to the African nation, the bank has more than US$15 billion in loans at the end of March, data from the Debt Management Office showed. The bank said in a statement that the money would help increase availability and effectiveness of financing for basic education and primary healthcare service delivery. “The new financing includes US$500 million for addressing governance issues that constrain the delivery of education and health, US$570 million for the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program and US$500 million for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project,” it said.
HONG KONG
Fifth foreign judge to leave
A record fifth foreign judge is to leave the top court this year, further thinning the ranks of overseas jurists whose presence was seen as a selling point for foreign companies looking to do business in the territory. Nicholas Phillips, a member of the UK House of Lords, would not extend his term as a non-permanent judge at the Court of Final Appeal, which expired yesterday, a spokesperson for the judiciary said. Phillips, 86, cited “personal reasons” for his decision after serving since 2012, the person said. Only six foreign judges will remain on the court after Phillips’ departure, down from 15 in 2019, a level last seen in the early years following the handover.
UNITED STATES
Kris Kristofferson dies
Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died. Kristofferson, 88, died at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said in an e-mail. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family. No cause was given. Starting in the late 1960s, the Brownsville, Texas native wrote such classics standards as Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down and Help Me Make it Through the Night. Kristofferson was a singer himself, but many of his songs were best known as performed by others, whether Ray Price crooning For the Good Times or Janis Joplin belting out Me and Bobby McGee. As an actor, he played the leading man opposite Barbra Streisand and Ellen Burstyn, but also had a fondness for shoot-out Westerns and cowboy dramas.
World News Quick Take – Taipei Times
