Thai opposition leader faces ethics trial over royal insult reform

Thailand's main opposition leader and nine other MPs were among dozens on trial Tuesday, accused of ethics breaches over attempts to reform the kingdom's strict royal insult law. The 44 defendants, whose trial opened at the Supreme Court, include Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, whose progressive People's Party came second in February's general election.

On Tuesday, the prosecutor submitted the names of 17 witnesses to the Supreme Court, including officials from parliament and the NACC, with the first expected to take the stand on August 25. None of the MPs on trial were in court, according to a media.