Malta Faces Corruption Crisis Warning After Journalist's Assassination; Thailand Holds School Shooting Drills

Malta has been warned of a looming corruption crisis and ongoing risks to journalists following the assassination of anti-corruption reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017. A Council of Europe inquiry, led by Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti, highlighted that the failure to implement legal protections still leaves journalists vulnerable. The inquiry's opening underscored concerns that without strengthening the rule of law, Malta remains susceptible to repeated instances of high-level corruption.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand is conducting school shooter drills in response to a rise in such attacks. These drills aim to prepare students for potential violence, reflecting growing concerns about safety in educational institutions across the region. Meanwhile, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, with ongoing agony for the bereaved as they await the trial of the alleged mastermind. Separately, Gambia's president has urged calm amidst protests against persistent, prolonged blackouts that have plagued the nation since June.