Mr. Terry Raymond, a 72-year-old American, and Ms. Kanjana, his Thai stepdaughter who had been separated from him for 48 years, cry and hug each other with joy in Buriram Province on August 6, 2024.
BURIRAM — A 72-year-old American flew across the country to Buriram, Thailand, to look for his daughter, from whom he had been separated for 48 years. With the help of a friend who has a Thai wife, father and daughter finally met and both cried and hugged each other with joy.
The moment Mr. Terry Raymond, a 72-year-old American, and Ms. Kanjana Milkevitch, a 49-year-old woman, embraced in Buriram after 48 years of separation was captured in a video clip shared on social media on August 6. The heartwarming scene was showered with congratulatory messages from internet users.
Ms. Kanjana said that her American father was a former GI who had gone to the Vietnam War 50 years ago and lived in Nakhon Phanom. There he happened to meet her mother, Mrs. Supaporn, who is now 73 years old.
At the time, her mother was pregnant by another American man who refused to take on the responsibility. Mr. Terry stepped in and took care of her mother during her pregnancy and after Ms. Kanjana’s birth.
Mr. Terry cared for Ms. Kanjana until she was about a year old, when he returned to the United States. After that, she and her mother never saw him again. Ms. Kanjana said she kept looking for Mr. Terry, even though he was not her biological father, because he had cared for her since she was born and had created a bond like that of a real father and daughter. She later found out that he had also tried to find her and her mother.
A photo of Mr. Terry Raymond 50 years ago, when he had come to Thailand during the Vietnam War, is shown to reporters on August 6, 2024.
In 2019, she contacted Mr. Terry via social media, much to her delight, and they had been conversing on Facebook ever since. Mr. Terry promised to come to Thailand to see her and her mother, but the COVID-19 pandemic in that year prevented international travel. However, he assured her that he would visit once the situation improved, and she provided him with her address.
On 31 July 2024, Mr. Terry finally traveled to Thailand to surprise Ms. Kanjana and her mother without notice. He arranged for a friend with a Thai wife to pick him up, but they missed each other. He then took a bus to Buriram and then a cab to Nang Rong district to look for his daughter’s house.
However, due to a language barrier with the cab driver, he was taken to Nang Rong Hotel in Chaloem Phra Kiat District, Buriram Province.
The hotel staff helped search for the name given by Mr. Terry and Ms. Kanjana was notified that her father was at the hotel. She immediately rushed to him and brought a red rose and a garland of marigolds as a token of her love for him.
Mr. Terry Raymond, a 72-year-old American, and Ms. Kanjana, his Thai stepdaughter who had been separated from him for 48 years, cry and hug each other with joy in Buriram Province on August 6, 2024.
“When I saw my father, I was overjoyed and excited. I never thought we would see each other again after 48 years of separation. Even though he is not my biological father, he took care of me from the time I was in my mother’s womb until I was one year old. I feel a bond like between father and daughter,” said Ms. Kanjana.
Mr. Terry is expected to return to the United States on 21 August. During that time, she plans to take him to live with her mother and stay in her home. If the opportunity arises, she may also travel to the United States to visit him.
With the help of a friend who has a Thai wife, father and daughter finally meet at Nang Rong Hotel in Buriram.
Ms. Than Worachak, an employee of the Nang Rong Hotel, said that on 4 August, a cab driver dropped off a passenger at the hotel. He stayed for a night and tried to say that he was looking for someone. Ms. Than could understand a little and called the hotel owner to help communicate.
They found out that Mr. Terry had traveled from the United States to find his daughter, from whom he had been separated for a long time.
The hotel owner then searched for the daughter’s name on Facebook and found her posts looking for her American father. They called the number listed in the post, and when father and daughter finally met, everyone was delighted that the hotel had helped bring them back together.
Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand, left, looks on after Match Referee Shawn Reese raises the arm of Imane Khelif of Algeria to announce the winner of their women's 66kg semifinal boxing match, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris, France. (Richard Pelham/Pool Photo via AP)
PARIS (AP) — Boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria has advanced to the gold-medal bout in the women’s welterweight division with a semifinal victory at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night amid scrutiny over misconceptions about her gender.
Khelif defeated Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand 5:0 in the semifinals at Roland Garros, where the crowd roared and chanted her name throughout her three-round fight. Khelif has won three consecutive bouts in Paris, and she will win either a gold or a silver medal when she completes the tournament on Friday by fighting China’s Yang Liu.
Khelif had already clinched Algeria’s first medal in women’s boxing before she stepped into the ring to rousing roars at Court Philippe Chatrier.
Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, left, fights Algeria’s Imane Khelif in their women’s 66 kg semifinal boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
She controlled her bout with Suwannapheng, who took a standing 8-count late in the third after absorbing a series of punches. Khelif has won every round on every judge’s card in her two fights that have gone the distance in Paris.
After hugging Suwannapheng, Khelif celebrated in the ring, running wildly in place while pumping her fists as the crowd roared for her.
With one more victory, Khelif would win Algeria’s second boxing gold medal, joining Hocine Soltani (1996).
The ending of Khelif’s first bout in Paris propelled her into the center of a worldwide divide over gender identity and safety regulations in sports. Her first opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, tearfully quit after just 46 seconds, saying she was in too much pain from Khelif’s punches.
Carini’s abandonment of the fight led to comments from the likes of former U.S. President Donald Trump, “Harry Potter” writer J.K. Rowling and others falsely claiming Khelif was a man or transgender.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in their women’s 66 kg semifinal boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
In an interview with SNTV, a sports video partner of The Associated Press, Khelif said the wave of hateful scrutiny she is facing “harms human dignity” and called for an end to bullying athletes.
Khelif also said she felt the “best response” to the uproar around her would be to win a gold medal — and now she’s one win away from claiming it.
Khelif entered the ring against Suwannapheng to cheers echoing through the famed tennis arena. Roland Garros welcomed a prominent turnout from Algerian fans voicing their national pride in a boxer whose stigmatization by the Olympic-banished International Boxing Association has been taken very personally in her country.
Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, left, fights Algeria’s Imane Khelif in their women’s 66 kg semifinal boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Both fighters came out aggressively, trading punches from distance. Khelif was more accurate while winning the first round on all five cards, and she repeated the performance in the second.
The fight got more physical in the third, with Suwannapheng pushing forward to make a comeback. The bout was stopped for a standing 8-count late in the third when Suwannapheng absorbed a few head punches in succession, although Suwannapheng appeared to shrug as if it wasn’t necessary — as is often the case in Olympic boxing, where referees can stop a bout for relatively minor reasons.
Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat has lunch with ambassadors and senior diplomats from several embassies at the German Embassy on August 2, 2024, to discuss the 'ongoing crisis of democracy.' (The German Embassy)
BANGKOK — The fate of Thailand’s Move Forward Party, which is popular among the younger generation and won the most seats in the 2023 election, may be decided by the Constitutional Court’s potential order to dissolve it. This situation is of great interest to both Thai people and allied countries.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court will rule Wednesday on whether the Move Forward Party violated the constitution by proposing to amend a law that forbids defaming the country’s royal family. A petition to the court requested the party’s dissolution and a 10-year ban on political activity by its executives, including former chief Pita Limjaroenrat.
The dissolution of popular parties, including former iterations of the Pheu Thai Party, has historically coincided with coups d’état in Thailand. Therefore, it’s not surprising that foreign governments or international organizations would show interest and concern for Thailand’s democracy, which has often been interrupted.
The Associated Press, an American news agency, noted that the legal action has drawn widespread criticism as it’s seen as part of a years-long attack against the country’s progressive movement by conservative forces trying to keep their grip on power.
However, the interest shown by foreign governments or international organizations in this matter has been criticized by some groups as an attempt to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat took a group photo with ambassadors and senior diplomats from several embassies at the German Embassy on August 2, 2024. (The German Embassy)
To Interfere or Not to Interfere
The meeting between Pita Limjaroenrat, the chief adviser to the Move Forward Party chairman, and diplomats from 18 countries, including the UK, South Korea, Japan, France, the US, Canada, the EU, Sweden, and Germany, at the German residence took place six days before the Constitutional Court’s decision on Wednesday.
Therefore, some people criticized this action as a breach of political etiquette and interference.
Criticism on social media was further fueled by comments from former Democratic Party MP Rachada Dhanadirek, who echoed the widespread agreement online. She stated that the ambassadors of these 18 countries should not interfere in Thailand’s judicial process by expressing their support for the Move Forward Party.
Rachada also claimed that these diplomats “lack manners” and called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reprimand them.
One of the 18 ambassadors who attended a lunch meeting with Pita spoke to Khaosod English on condition of anonymity.
“I believe the point has been made, and there’s no benefit in prolonging this side discussion about alleged foreign interference. This narrative is being pushed to distract from the actual issue at hand,” the ambassador stated.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated in an interview that diplomats representing their governments would not interfere in domestic affairs. He mentioned that talks between politicians, whether from the government or the opposition, and diplomats or foreign representatives are not uncommon.
“I do not believe that foreign countries are interfering, because sovereignty belongs to us. That is why today we should let the judicial process take place as it should. We have to respect it. If we do not respect it, who will respect our judicial process? Let the judiciary do its job,” Phumtham said.
Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat shakes hands with Ernst Reichel, the German Ambassador, when he is invited to meet with ambassadors and senior diplomats from several embassies at the German Embassy on August 2, 2024.
The International View of Thailand
Parit Wacharasindhu, spokesperson of the Move Forward Party, explained that there are three points where Phumtham’s interview matches the facts. First, he confirmed that talks and dinners between ambassadors, embassy officials and political factions, whether government or opposition, are normal. In the case of Pita, he was invited by the embassy.
Secondly, he did not see any statements in the diplomats’ remarks that could be regarded as interference in Thai justice, an impression also held by Phumtham.
Finally, he believes that the government is likely to agree that in a globally interconnected world, the international view of Thailand can influence cooperation in areas such as trade, international human rights protection and Thailand’s opportunities on the world stage, such as membership of the UN Human Rights Council.
When reporters asked Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin about this issue, he said that the ambassadors of the 18 countries probably understand very well that the judicial and administrative systems are clearly separated. The executive has no right to interfere in the judicial process, which is neutral and internationally recognized.
“I respect the judicial process, even in my own case. If there are problems or complaints, it is our duty as prime minister to inform the judiciary and await the decision. As for my case, I already filed it last week and I expect the decision on August 14. I have not spoken to anyone about it and our country is sovereign,” said the Prime Minister.
When asked about the Foreign Ministry’s letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the case, Prime Minister Srettha said that it was the Ministry’s duty to make it clear that the government’s stance was not to interfere in the judiciary and that it would not allow anyone to interfere in its legal system.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court
Letter to UN Does Not Prejudge
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Russ Jalichandra explained that the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was a response to questions based on complaints from special mechanisms regarding past processes, including the Constitutional Court’s decision on January 31, 2024, and the Election Commission’s petition to the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Move Forward Party. The clarification sent included facts and the status of the case as of the date of responding to the complaint, as well as related legal processes.
He countered iLaw organization’s headline “Thai government explains that the party dissolution petition is in accordance with the constitution, emphasizing that Section 112 is already concise and appropriate to have severe penalties” as a headline that summarizes in a way that doesn’t match the content and reality, creating misunderstanding.
“The Thai government is not involved in the lawsuit to dissolve the Move Forward Party and cannot interfere with the Constitutional Court’s decision. This Thai letter does not prejudge,” he said.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also stated that the government does not agree with the dissolution of political parties because there have been many dissolutions of political parties in the past, from Thai Rak Thai, People’s Power, Thai Raksa Chart, etc. The dissolution of parties that are connected to the people prevents the people’s voices from being truly reflected.
“The power to dissolve political parties by the court is in accordance with the 2017 Constitution. Therefore, the government does not interfere with the Constitutional Court’s ruling,” he said.
Police Major General Noppasilp Poonsawat, Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commander, invites the mother of the Japanese man to hear the investigation results at Khlong Tan Police Station on August 6ม 2024. It was found that her son had died in Chiang Mai province last year.
BANGKOK — Miss Yoshimi, a 66-year-old Japanese woman, filed a report at Khlong Tan Police Station in Bangkok, stating that her son, Mr. Takahiro Nishi, aged 36, had disappeared in Thailand after losing contact since 2020. However, she received two emails requesting money from him in 2023.
Investigation revealed that Takahiro entered Thailand on March 5, 2020, through Nong Khai Immigration. He lost contact with his mother via Line on June 29, 2020.
During his stay in Thailand, Takahiro was arrested with a friend named Maresuke T. on November 10, 2020, on embezzlement charges. They were sent to the Southern Bangkok District Court on November 12, 2020. The court allowed only Maresuke to be released on bail on that day.
On November 18, 2020, Takahiro was granted bail, with Maresuke’s Thai wife posting 100,000 baht ($2,810) as surety for each of them.
On March 5, 2021, his visa was extended at Nakhon Sawan Immigration with permission ending in 2022.
On September 8, 2022, an arrest warrant was issued for Takahiro for jumping bail.
Police Major General Noppasilp Poonsawat, Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commander, meets with the investigation team regarding the case of the missing Japanese man at Khlong Tan Police Station before announcing the investigation results on August 6, 2024.
On June 9, 2023, Takahiro’s mother in Japan received an email claiming to be from her son requesting 1 million yen ($6,900) for medical treatment. She transferred the money through a Japanese bank.
On June 21, 2023, she received another email requesting 300,000 yen ($2,070), with an attached photo of her son looking emaciated. Feeling suspicious, she didn’t transfer money this time.
Takahiro’s relatives inquired with Immigration and found no record of him leaving Thailand. Fearing for her son’s safety, Miss Yoshimi filed a report at Khlong Tan Police Station on August 5, 2024.
On August 6, Police Colonel Wachirakorn Wongboon, superintendent of Khlong Tan Police Station, met with the investigation team to expedite the search for Takahiro, inviting Mr. Maresuke’s Thai girlfriend for questioning.
Later, Police Major General Noppasilp Poonsawat, Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commander, announced that records from San Sai Police Station in Chiang Mai showed a Thai woman had reported Takahiro’s death due to illness at a residence in San Sai subdistrict on June 8, 2023, at 10 p.m. However, an email requesting money was sent to his mother the following day.
Mr. Maresuke is detained at a rented house in Bangkok’s Ram Inthra area for questioning at Khlong Tan Police Station on August 6, 2024.
The police have informed the embassy and family that Takahiro’s body is being kept at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. The cause of death was listed as pneumonia. The family doesn’t dispute the death but wants to confirm the identity. Police will send DNA test results to the family for confirmation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Maresuke has been detained from a rented house in Bangkok’s Ram Inthra area for questioning. His visa was found to have expired, so he will be charged with overstaying.
He will be further investigated regarding the emails requesting money from Takahiro’s mother and the use of a credit card for food and hotel expenses from July 4-6, 2024. The police will continue their investigation to determine if he was involved or if it was someone else.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) is elevating the in-flight dining experience through a strategic partnership with VietjetThailand. Starting August 5, 2024, travelers on over 50 routes across Asia can savor five unique ready-to-eat dishes, now available at Sky Cafe. The menu includes Chicken Green Curry Rice, Chicken Noodles, Chicken Basil Rice, Teriyaki Chicken Rice, and Vegetarian Fried Rice, all meticulously prepared by CP Foods’ esteemed chefs.
This culinary upgrade follows a memorandum of understanding signed by key executives: Luong Truong An, Executive Vice President of Vietjet Thailand ; Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Head of Commercial at Vietjet Thailand ; Supara Sriboon, Sales Director – Food Service Business at CP Foods; and Anarkawee Chooratn, Head of Marketing at CP Foods.
Supara Sriboon of CP Foods remarked, “We are building on our strong presence in Vietnam with this initiative and are grateful for the trust in CP Foods’ quality. Our R&D team has tailored these dishes to meet the varied tastes and dietary needs of travelers. Notably, our Chicken Basil Rice has garnered the ‘Superior Taste Award 2023‘, a testament to its exceptional flavor and quality, as judged by over 200 international chefs.”
Pinyot Pibulsonggram from Vietjet Thailand shared his excitement about the collaboration, noting, “This partnership underscores our commitment to enhancing the travel experience with innovative and superior meal options that aim to set new benchmarks in in-flight cuisine.”
Beginning August 5, passengers can pre-order these flavorful dishes via the VietJet Air website and Manage Booking portal following their ticket purchase. The collaboration is set to expand further with the introduction of two additional dishes in October 2024: Stir-fried fresh rice noodles with dark soy sauce (Pad See Ew) and Penne in White Sauce. These new offerings promise to enrich the culinary journey of every Vietjet Thailand traveler with a taste of international flavors.
BANGKOK — Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed the Revenue Department, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), and the Royal Thai Police to investigate the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu’s entry into the Thai market and other global markets. There is concern that money might be sent back to China without paying taxes to Thailand.
On August 6, Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, explained that we need to understand that the global trading system is changing and online trading is on the rise, which aims to cut out the middleman to maximize benefits for consumers.
Such systems are developing globally and have an impact on individual countries. It is therefore necessary for us to monitor this. As for the Temu platform, it has only been on the market for two weeks. The Ministry of Commerce has been tasked by the Prime Minister to monitor this matter as part of its duties.
We are currently preparing for a meeting of three ministries: the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Commerce, including the Department of Foreign Trade. This involves products that are sold, such as food and drugs, which require discussions with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure strict standards. The Ministry of Industry will review the industry standards (TIS).
All measures must comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and we will look at how we can protect ourselves. We assure you that we are not neglecting this matter and are actively looking into it.
Phumtham emphasized that we need to keep pace with changes in the world by changing laws and processes. It is not about resisting, but about enforcing the laws to better protect Thai consumers. There are both positives and negatives to consider and we should not see this as a zero-sum game. We already trade durians and other goods with China. As the rules of global trade change, Thailand needs to keep abreast, monitor the situation and develop preventive measures.
When asked if there will be measures to ensure that Temu pays taxes in Thailand, Phumtham said that there is no concrete evidence yet of how much money is being transferred abroad. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. He has instructed the Ministry of Commerce to discuss tax measures with the Ministry of Finance in accordance with WTO rules.
Prasert Chantaruangthong explained that Temu was registered with the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) at the beginning of July. The authorities monitor whether the platform’s direct sales from factories lead to lower prices as the goods are not branded. They must consider factors such as product quality, as discounts can be as high as 90 percent. The competent authorities must monitor these aspects closely.
The DE Ministry will focus on platform-related issues such as returns and logistics, while quality and standards will be overseen by other regulators. The large number of products sold through the application cannot lead to a blanket shutdown due to a few substandard items.
According to Momentum Works, a business consulting service provider in Singapore, the value of Thailand’s e-commerce market in 2023 was 19 billion US dollars, growing 34.1% from the previous year. This makes it the second-largest market in the region, after Indonesia. In 2023, Shopee dominated the e-commerce market share in Thailand with 49%, followed by Lazada at 30% and TikTok Shop at 21%.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Finance Ministers attend a Senate meeting to consider the draft Supplementary Budget Act for the fiscal year 2024 to implement the Digital Wallet project at the Parliament on August 6, 2024.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s consumer confidence hit its lowest point in 11 months this July, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline amid growing concerns over political instability.
On August 6, Thanavath Phonvichai, President of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Chief Advisor of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, announced the results of the July 2024 Consumer Confidence Index survey.
The index decreased from 58.9 to 57.7, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline and reaching its lowest level in 11 months since September 2023.
Consumers are concerned about potential political instability in Thailand due to future Constitutional Court rulings regarding the dissolution of the Move Forward Party and the case determining whether the Prime Minister’s ministerial status should end.
“People are worried that Thai politics may lack stability in the future. The possible dissolution of the Move Forward Party is not expected to significantly impact the economic system. However, if a political accident occurs requiring a change in Prime Minister, it could create a political vacuum for about 4 months, affecting the country’s overall economic management. This could potentially reduce Thailand’s economic growth by 0.3% this year, with the whole year possibly expanding by only 2%,” Thanavath said.
Thanavath Phonvichai, Chief Advisor of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, announces the results of the July 2024 Consumer Confidence Index survey at the UTCC, Bangkok on August 6, 2024.
Consumers also view that the Thai economy is starting to trend downward because budget disbursement is still low. There’s a risk that this year’s GDP growth could be lower than 2.5% if the government doesn’t implement clear economic stimulus measures. Additionally, the global economy is fragile due to the U.S. economic slowdown and rising unemployment rates, as evidenced by significant drops in global stock markets, especially in Asia, which fell by up to 5%.
The survey indicates that consumers perceive a slow economic recovery due to the lack of clear economic stimulus measures, rising energy prices (especially gasoline), concerns about the prolonged war in the Middle East, and the fragile global economy due to the U.S. economic slowdown.
Regarding the government’s 10,000 baht digital wallet stimulus measure, it’s expected to proceed normally, with spending likely to begin from December 2024. It’s anticipated that 80% of eligible citizens will use the funds immediately in the first month, injecting 200-250 billion baht into the economic system.
The spending over the first three months, extending to January and February 2025, is expected to circulate a total of 300-400 billion baht in the system, potentially boosting Thailand’s economic growth this year by 0.5-0.7%.
This could increase the overall growth rate to 2.6-2.8%, higher than the previous forecast of 2.4-2.6%.
FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak during a campaign rally, July 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris, a daughter of immigrants who rose through the California political and law enforcement ranks to become the first female vice president in U.S. history, formally secured the Democratic presidential nomination on Monday — becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket.
More than four years after her first attempt at the presidency collapsed, Harris’ coronation as her party’s standard-bearer caps a tumultuous and frenetic period for Democrats prompted by President Joe Biden’s disastrous June debate performance that shattered his own supporters’ confidence in his reelection prospects and spurred extraordinary intraparty warfare about whether he should stay in the race.
Just as soon as Biden abruptly ended his candidacy, Harris and her team worked rapidly to secure backing from the 1,976 party delegates needed to clinch the nomination in a formal roll call vote. She reached that marker at warp speed, with an Associated Press survey of delegates nationwide showing she locked down the necessary commitments a mere 32 hours after Biden’s announcement.
FILE – Supports hold up signs in support of Vice President Kamala Harris at an event, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf, File)
Harris’ nomination became official after a five-day round of online balloting by Democratic National Convention delegates ended Monday night, with the party saying in a statement released just before midnight that 99% of delegates casting ballots had done so for Harris. The party had long contemplated the early virtual roll call to ensure Biden would appear on the ballot in every state. It said it would next formally certify the vote before holding a celebratory roll call at the party’s convention later this month in Chicago.
An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted after Biden withdrew found 46% of Americans have a favorable view of Harris, while a nearly identical share has an unfavorable view of her. But more Democrats say they are satisfied with her candidacy compared with that of Biden, energizing a party that had long been resigned to the 81-year-old Biden being its nominee against former President Donald Trump, a Republican they view as an existential threat.
FILE – Vice President Kamala Harris waves during a campaign rally, July 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Already Harris has telegraphed that she doesn’t plan to veer much from the themes and policies that framed Biden’s candidacy, such as democracy, gun violence prevention and abortion rights. But her delivery can be far fierier, particularly when she invokes her prosecutorial background to lambast Trump and his 34 felony convictions for falsifying business records in connection with a hush money scheme.
“Given that unique voice of a new generation, of a prosecutor and a woman when fundamental rights, especially reproductive rights, are on the line, it’s almost as if the stars have aligned for her at this moment in history,” said Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California, who was tapped to succeed Harris in the Senate when she became vice president.
A splash in Washington before a collapse in the 2020 primaries
Kamala Devi Harris was born Oct. 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, to Shyamala Gopalan, a breast cancer scientist who emigrated to the United States from India when she was 19 years old, and Stanford University emeritus professor Donald Harris, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Jamaica. Her parents’ advocacy for civil rights gave her what she described as a “stroller’s-eye view” of the movement.
She spent years as a prosecutor in the Bay Area before her elevation as the state’s attorney general in 2010 and then election as U.S. senator in 2016.
Harris arrived in Washington as a senator at the dawn of the volatile Trump era, quickly establishing herself as a reliable liberal opponent of the new president’s personnel and policies and fanning speculation about a presidential bid of her own. Securing a spot on the coveted Judiciary Committee gave her a national spotlight to interrogate prominent Trump nominees, such as now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“I’m not able to be rushed this fast,” then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions said during a 2017 hearing as Harris repeatedly pressed him on potential conversations with Russian nationals. “It makes me nervous.”
Harris launched her 2020 presidential campaign with much promise, drawing parallels to former President Barack Obama and attracting more than 20,000 people to a kickoff rally in her hometown. But Harris withdrew from the primary race before the first nominating contest in Iowa, plagued by staff dissent that spilled out into the open and an inability to attract enough campaign cash.
Harris struggled to deliver a consistent pitch to Democratic voters and wobbled on key issues such as health care. She suggested she backed eliminating private insurance for a full government-run system — “Medicare for All” coverage — before releasing her own health care plan that preserved private insurance. Now, during her nascent general election campaign, Harris has already reversed some of her earlier, more liberal positions, such as a ban on fracking that she endorsed in 2019.
And while Harris tried to deploy her law enforcement background as an asset in her 2020 presidential campaign, it never attracted enough support in a party that couldn’t reconcile some of her past tough-on-crime positions at a time of heightened focus on police brutality.
Joining Biden’s team — and an evolution as vice president
Still, Harris was at the top of the vice presidential shortlist when Biden was pondering his running mate, after his pledge in early 2020 that he would choose a Black woman as his No. 2. He was fond of Harris, who had forged a close friendship with his now-deceased son Beau, who had been Delaware’s attorney general when she was in that job for California.
FILE – President Joe Biden, right, walks with Vice President Kamala Harris in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 13, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Her first months as vice president were far from smooth. Biden asked her to lead the administration’s diplomatic efforts with Central America on the root causes of migration to the United States, which triggered attacks from Republicans on border security and remains a political vulnerability. It didn’t help matters that Harris stumbled in big interviews, such as in a 2021 sit-down with NBC News’ Lester Holt when she responded dismissively that “I haven’t been to Europe” when the anchor noted that she hadn’t visited the U.S.-Mexico border.
For her first two years, Harris also was often tethered to Washington so she could break tie votes in the evenly divided Senate, which gave Democrats landmark wins on the climate and health care but also constrained opportunities for her to travel around the country and meet voters.
Her visibility became far more prominent after the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that dismantled Roe v. Wade, as she became the chief spokesperson for the administration on abortion rights and was a more natural messenger than Biden, a lifelong Catholic who had in the past favored restrictions on the procedure. She is the first vice president to tour an abortion clinic and speaks about reproductive rights in the broader context of maternal health, especially for Black women.
Throughout her vice presidency, Harris has been careful to remain loyal to Biden while emphasizing that she would be ready to step in if needed. That dramatic transition began in late June after the first debate between Biden and Trump, where the president’s stumbles were so cataclysmic that he could never reverse the loss of confidence from other Democrats.
Headed to the top of the ticket
After Biden ended his candidacy July 21, he quickly endorsed Harris. And during the first two weeks of her 2024 presidential bid, enthusiasm among the Democratic base surged, with donations pouring in, scores of volunteers showing up at field offices and supporters swelling so much in numbers that event organizers have had to swap venues.
The Harris campaign now believes it has a renewed opportunity to compete in Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia — states that Biden had started to abandon in favor of shoring up the so-called “blue wall” states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
“The country is able to see the Kamala Harris that we all know,” said Bakari Sellers, who was a national co-chair of her 2020 campaign. “We really didn’t allow the country to see her” four years ago. Sellers said: “We had her in bubble wrap. What people are seeing now is that she’s real, she’s talented.”
FILE – Attorney Douglas Emhoff, left, and California Attorney General Kamala Harris arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Feb. 22, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Yet Democrats are anticipating that Harris’ political honeymoon will wear off, and she is inevitably going to come under tougher scrutiny for Biden administration positions, the state of the economy and volatile situations abroad, particularly in the Middle East. Harris has also yet to answer extended questions from journalists nor sit down for a formal interview since she began her run.
The Trump campaign has been eager to define Harris as she continues to introduce herself to voters nationwide, releasing an ad blaming her for the high number of illegal crossings at the southern border during the Biden administration and dubbing her “Failed. Weak. Dangerously liberal.”
The Republican nominee’s supporters have also derisively branded Harris as a diversity hire, while Trump himself has engaged in ugly racial attacks of his own, wrongly asserting that Harris had in the past only promoted her Indian heritage and only recently played up her Black identity.
His remarks are previewing a season of racist and sexist claims against the person who would be the first woman and the first person of South Asian heritage in the presidency.
“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black,” Trump said while addressing the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists. “So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?”
In her response, Harris called it “the same old show — the divisiveness and the disrespect” and said voters “deserve better.”
“The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts,” Harris said at a Sigma Gamma Rho sorority gathering in Houston. “We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us.”
Medalists, from left, Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, gold, Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, silver, and Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia, bronze, celebrate on the podium of the men's singles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
PARIS — “Coming to the Olympics for the first time and winning a medal, even if it’s not gold, is not a bad thing. From now on, I will try to go back and continue developing myself,” said “View” Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Thai star badminton player.
He received the silver medal in the match where he lost to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen 21-11, 21-11. This achievement also propelled him to world No. 4 in the badminton rankings, up from No. 8.
Kunlavut, 23, made history by winning the first Olympic medal for the Thai national badminton team, and it’s the first medal for Thailand at the Paris Olympics 2024. This made Thai fans across the country who watched the live broadcast of the competition rejoice, even though it wasn’t a gold medal.
Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn celebrates after winning the silver medal at the men’s singles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is one supporter who immediately posted a message praising “View” Kunlavut after the match ended.
“The silver medal that View Kunlavut won in these Olympics is a medal of pride. I believe it will inspire many new generation children to play badminton more. Thank you, View, for your sacrifice and dedication of body and mind in training for the nation. Congratulations on this success as well. There’s really nothing to regret. Fight again next time. You are a hero to all Thai people,” the Prime Minister said.
Kunlavit said Axelsen, who defeated him 21-11, 21-11, really played better than he did. He’s not yet at the level where he can beat the Danish player and still needs to continue learning.
Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn congratulates Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen who beat him in the men’s singles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Matichon Photo)
“He’s always played this style against me. Perfect in everything. He’s still the best now, I have to admit. In the second game, I knew I couldn’t fight against his game plan. At that time, I wasn’t thinking about anything, just playing according to my thoughts, trying to find other ways to play to create more new game plans.”
Axelsen, the 30-year-old from Denmark defended his men’s singles title after defeating Kunlavit in the final in just 52 minutes. He became the first European to win back-to-back badminton singles gold at the Olympics. Like in Tokyo three years ago, his medal in Paris is the only one earned by a European in the sport.
He celebrated by running around the court and waving the red-and-white Danish flag over his head. Fans in the stands chanted, “Viktor! Viktor!”
From left, medalists Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, silver, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, gold, and Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, bronze, celebrate on the podium of the men’s singles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Matichon Photo)
Axelsen later celebrated on the podium of the men’s singles badminton with silver medalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn and bronze medalist Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia.
Kunlavut said after Olympics, he still has the Japan Open tournament at the end of August, and after that, he’ll probably take a break because the Olympics are quite tiring, judging from the 10-day competition period. When he gets back to Thailand, he’ll probably sleep for a full 2 days.
He also said that he wants to maintain his best form in every tournament. As seen from the beginning of the year until now, he still hasn’t won any championships, his form has been up and down. So from now on, he wants to control his form to be at its best.
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul congratulates Kunlavut Vitidsarn who won silver in the men’s singles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Matichon Photo)
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Vice President of the Badminton World Federation, and President of the Badminton Association of Thailand, posted a message saying that although View Kunlavut lost, he has won the hearts of Thai people and fought to his fullest potential.
“His silver medal win in the 2024 Olympic Games is considered a historic moment for Thai badminton in 32 years, after the sport was first included in the Olympics in 1992.
In addition, View will receive a reward from the government through the National Sports Development Fund, Sports Authority of Thailand (NSDF) totaling 6,000,000 baht ($170,000) if paid in a single installment, or 7,200,000 baht ($200,000) if divided into payments, with 50% paid upfront and the remaining 50% paid monthly over 4 years,” she remarked.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, front left, accompanied by his wife Pich Chanmony, presses the button during a groundbreaking ceremony of China-funded Funan Techo canal that will connect the country’s capital Phnom Penh with Kep province on the country's south coast, Prek Takeo village, Kendal province, Cambodia, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
PREK TAKEO, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia broke ground Monday on a controversial, China-funded canal to link the capital Phnom Penh to the sea, despite environmental concerns and the risk of straining ties with neighboring Vietnam.
The $1.7 billion, 180-kilometer (111 miles) Funan Techo canal is planned to connect the country’s capital with Kep province on Cambodia’s south coast, giving it access to the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia hopes the 100-meter (328 feet)-wide, 5.4-meter (17.7 feet)-deep canal will lower the cost of shipping goods to the country’s sole deep-sea port, Sihanoukville, and reduce reliance on Vietnamese ports.
The project highlights the outsized role that China plays in Cambodian politics and economy. Meanwhile, concerns remain about the potential environmental impacts of the canal, especially on the flow of the Mekong River, which feeds millions of people across six countries through its fish and the agriculture that it sustains.
The project has Vietnam worried, both about the effect on its Mekong Delta rice-growing and about Cambodia moving out of its orbit, said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
“There is a concern that most of the Cambodian exports might be diverted from the current route, crossing the Vietnamese border to Vietnamese ports and moving away from that to Cambodian ports,” he said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his wife Pich Chanmony, front left, receive blessings from Buddhist monks during a groundbreaking ceremony of China-funded Funan Techo canal that will connect the country’s capital Phnom Penh with Kep province on the country’s south coast, Prek Takeo village, Kendal province, Cambodia, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
But Hanoi has expressed its concerns quietly, if at all, Giang said. Given the “complex historical legacy” between Cambodia and Vietnam — despite strong bilateral ties, the two nations have a contentious relationship — Vietnam is reticent to openly criticize Cambodia lest it be seen as impinging on its neighbor’s sovereignty, he said.
Analysts say that the infrastructure project is in part an effort by Cambodia’s ruling elite to invigorate support for Hun Manet, who last year took over the wheel of government from his father, Hun Sen, who led Cambodia for 38 years.
The government declared Monday — also Hun Sen’s birthday — a holiday so Cambodians could participate in the “celebration in a joyful, crowded and proud manner.” Thousands of people wearing t-shirts with photographs of the father and son began gathering at the canal site, that was covered in Cambodian flags. Billboards promoting the economic benefits of the canal dominated the countryside.
The canal will promote “national prestige, the territorial integrity and the development of Cambodia,” Manet said, adding that the country had built bigger and more expensive infrastructure projects before. But this “historic” canal was different and had nationwide support, he said.
“We will build this canal, no matter the cost,” he said.
Cambodian civil servants attend a groundbreaking ceremony of China-funded Funan Techo canal that will connect the country’s capital Phnom Penh with Kep province on the country’s south coast, Prek Takeo village, Kendal province, Cambodia, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
He emphasized that while the canal would be jointly built by Chinese and Cambodian companies, the latter would have a 51% majority share and thus maintain control. Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol confirmed that the Chinese state-owned construction giant China Road and Bridge Corporation had landed the contract to build the canal.
The U.S.-based nonprofit Stimson Center has warned that the canal would cause “significant transboundary impacts to water availability and agricultural production in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.” The region is where 90% of rice exported from Vietnam is grown.
The Cambodian government has dismissed these concerns.
Earlier in April, Vietnam had asked Cambodia to share information about the canal. “We have asked Cambodia to collaborate closely with Vietnam and the Mekong River Commission in sharing information and assessing the project’s impacts on water resources and ecosystem in the Mekong Delta region.”
China’s outsized presence can be seen in the numerous Chinese-funded projects, hotels and casinos dotting the Cambodian landscape. China’s state banks have financed airports, roads and other infrastructure built with Chinese loans. Nearly 40% of Cambodia’s over $11 billion in foreign debt is owed to China.
In June 2022, China and Cambodia broke ground on a naval port expansion project that has raised concerns from the U.S. and others that it could give Beijing a strategically important military outpost on the Gulf of Thailand. Hun Sen in 2019 reportedly granted China the right to set up a military base at the Ream Naval Base. He has long denied that, saying Cambodia’s Constitution prohibits foreign military facilities.
