ONYX Hospitality Group Sets Revenue Target Of Over THB 9,400 Million for 2024

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21 May 2024, 15:19

Expansion Plans: 9 New Locations for Amari, OZO, and Shama Brands Set to Open at Home and Abroad by 2025, Catering to Tourism Recovery Both Domestically and Internationally

The expansion strategy solidifies the company’s aim to achieve its vision of becoming “The Premier Medium-sized Hospitality Management Company in Southeast Asia.”
ONYX Hospitality Group is moving ahead with its expansion plans to manage over 50 hotels and properties by 2025, and 70 by 2028.

ONYX Hospitality Group, a prominent entity within the Italthai Group of Companies, stands as a premier enterprise in Thailand, excelling in the management of hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences. Its portfolio includes esteemed brands with wide recognition across the Asia Pacific region, including Amari, OZO, Shama, and Oriental Residence, of which operations are guided by the vision of becoming “The Best Medium-sized Hospitality Management Company in Southeast Asia.”

ONYX Hospitality Group offers a comprehensive range of accommodation brands catering to the diverse needs of both short-term and long-term stays across many countries. These brands are well-equipped to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travelers. Beyond accommodation, ONYX Hospitality Group also manages a variety of businesses in the hospitality industry, such as spas and food and beverage outlets. Some of these include maai spa, Breeze spa, Prego, Amaya, Chom Sindh, and Nila.

Yuthachai Charanachitta, the CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group, said: “The company has set an ambitious revenue target of 9,463 million Baht for 2024. The Amari and OZO brands are pivotal in driving this revenue goal, with the Shama brand also experiencing consistent positive growth due to increasing market demand. Moreover, ONYX Hospitality Group’s efficient management, supported by over five decades of experience, has earned the trust of its customers and business partners. This trust is reflected in the long-term contracts through which they conduct business together. The company’s 2024 revenue target aims for a growth of more than 19% compared to the previous year and 23% compared to 2019, pre-COVID-19 outbreak.”

Guided by the principle of “A Tailored Approach to Hospitality,” ONYX Hospitality Group underscores collaboration with suppliers and partners. Leveraging over five decades of expertise and experience, alongside a deep understanding of the Southeast Asian travel industry, the company meets business requirements with flexibility as a key organisational strength, enabling the development of strategies driving exceptional growth.

In the first quarter of 2024, ONYX Hospitality Group achieved a remarkable year-on-year growth rate of 29%. This growth was fueled by tourism recovery, particularly an increase in the number of Chinese tourists. As a result, Chinese travellers have surged to become ONYX Hospitality Group’s top revenue source, for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. Thailand remains the second-largest market for ONYX Hospitality Group, with resorts in Phuket and Pattaya enjoying popularity among Thai people for both domestic travel and staycations. Russia ranks third as an important market for ONYX Hospitality Group, particularly for resorts in Phuket and Pattaya. It continues to be the key market, alongside other growing markets such as Japan, Korea, and India, showing strong year-over-year growth.

ONYX Hospitality Group currently operates a diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments across Thailand, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Lao PDR. The company is actively expanding its presence both domestically and internationally, with plans to open more than 9 additional locations by 2025. These new locations include 3 in Malaysia, 2 in China and Hong Kong, 2 in Thailand, 1 in Laos, and 1 in Sri Lanka, among others.

In Malaysia, ONYX Hospitality Group is gearing up for expansion with the introduction of three new hotels: Ozo Medini, Shama Medini, and Shama Suasana Johor Bahru. This move will increase its portfolio of hotels in Malaysia to a total of 7 locations, making Malaysia the first country outside Thailand to feature all three of ONYX’s brands, including Amari, OZO, and Shama. This aligns with ONYX Hospitality Group’s vision and focus on Southeast Asia, leveraging Malaysia’s tourism potential and capacity to cater to the MICE market.

The renowned Amari brand, popular among Thai and foreign tourists, strategically targets the City MICE, Urban MICE, and resort markets in the upper-upscale segment. Planning to introduce three new properties:

Amari Colombo in Sri Lanka is scheduled to open in Q4 2024. The 27-storey tower will boast 167 rooms and suites, a signature restaurant, and a spa operating round-the-clock. Guests can also enjoy a rooftop swimming pool, bar, and recreation area, along with a special Thai restaurant, all offering breathtaking views of the ocean and city skyline. Additionally, the hotel will feature a dedicated executive floor with exclusive executive lounge access.

Amari Vientiane in Laos is scheduled to open in Q4 2024, marking Amari’s second hotel brand in Laos after the iconic Amari Vang Vieng Hotel. This expansion solidifies ONYX Hospitality Group’s prominent presence in this captivating destination. Amari Vientiane boasts an impressive array of amenities, including an all-day dining restaurant, 248 meticulously decorated guest rooms, a rooftop executive lounge, a rooftop specialty restaurant, a rooftop bar, extensive banquet facilities, a ballroom, and a conference room. Additionally, guests can enjoy a state-of-the-art fitness room, Breeze Spa, a main swimming pool, a children’s swimming pool, and a recreational zone for children.

Amari The Tide Bang Saen in Thailand is scheduled to open in 2025. Situated on the lively promenade opposite the renowned Bang Saen Beach, the hotel offers a comfortable retreat in the heart of this tranquil seaside city. Just under 90 minutes by car from Bangkok, guests can easily explore nearby tourist attractions, coffee shops, and local restaurants along the seaside. The property offers 154 guest rooms in 7 styles, catering to families and business travellers visiting nearby industrial estates or attending special meetings and events. The hotel features a restaurant open all day, a signature spa, a swimming pool, a fitness center, a kids’ club, and various other amenities. Additionally, it boasts 5 meeting rooms capable of accommodating up to 1,000 guests.

In addition to the launch of Amari’s new hotels and residences, in late 2024, the brand will see another significant development with the official opening of Amari Bangkok. Having undergone renovations and rebranding from “Amari Watergate Bangkok”, the property aims to become the city’s premier destination, catering to leisure, business, and MICE travelers. The newly renovated Amari Bangkok features all-new premier rooms and suites boasting contemporary interior decor. To cater to travellers from around the globe, several new restaurants have been added, including the intriguing “Nila” and “Chom Sindh”. Additionally, the hotel is gearing up to introduce “maai spa” following the successful launch of the “maai spa” brand by ONYX Hospitality Group, with the first branch opening at Amari Pattaya in 2023.

Yuthachai highlighted that each of ONYX Hospitality Group’s brands has demonstrated remarkable growth. Apart from the Amari brand, another prominent brand under ONYX Hospitality Group is “Shama”, which currently boasts over 2,500 accommodation units across 20 properties. Particularly in Thailand, Shama has experienced a growth of up to 200% within 5 years. In Hong Kong, “Shama” is regarded as a leader and holds the position of No.1 international serviced apartment provider with 7 properties.

Currently, ONYX Hospitality Group is further expanding its Shama serviced apartment brand in response to the growing trend of seeking long-term accommodation, both domestically and internationally. This includes projects like Shama Suasana Malaysia, Shama Hub Metro South Hong Kong, and Shama Hub Qiantang Hangzhou, China.

Recently, a contract signing ceremony was held for the management of “Shama Rayong”, scheduled to open in 2026. It is strategically located for convenient travel, connected to Rayong city center and the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. The property is also in proximity to several significant industrial estates and business districts, including WHA Rayong 36 and CPGC. In addition to its strategic location, Shama Rayong is surrounded by numerous international schools and offers easy access to various destinations within Rayong. The property features over 150 rooms, including studios and 1-2 bedroom units, along with amenities such as a restaurant, swimming pool, fitness room, and conference facilities. With the unique hospitality service of the Shama brand, Shama Rayong is poised to leave a lasting impression on every guest.

OZO, the hotel brand tailored for travellers seeking simplicity and excitement, is renowned for its dynamic venues that invite guests to the thrill and vibrancy of travel. As a flagship brand of ONYX Hospitality Group, OZO is set to officially launch its latest property in June 2024. Moreover, plans are underway for the launch of OZO Medini in Malaysia during the second quarter of the same year, marking the brand’s fifth establishment alongside OZO Pattaya, OZO Phuket, OZO Samui, and OZO Georgetown Penang.

Introducing new hotels and planned developments are integral to ONYX Hospitality Group’s strategy to achieve significant expansion in the hotel, resort, and serviced apartment business in Southeast Asia. With a trajectory aiming for over 50 hotels and properties under management by 2025 and a target of 70 locations by 2028, the company is steadfast in its vision of becoming “The Best Medium-sized Hospitality Management Company in Southeast Asia.”

In its quest to bolster the tourism sector, ONYX Hospitality Group has diversified its portfolio beyond hotel brands, venturing into various hospitality domains. An example of this expansion is the forthcoming launch of another Prego restaurant. Prego, renowned for its authentic Italian cuisine and captivating food culture since its inception in 2003, continues to captivate palates. Scheduled to open its newest branch at Kata Beach, Phuket, by 2024, this addition underscores ONYX’s commitment to culinary excellence.

Moreover, ONYX Hospitality Group recently introduced “Nila”, a pioneering restaurant concept showcasing coastal Indian cuisine – a rare gem in Thailand’s culinary landscape. Targeting the discerning Indian market and adventurous food enthusiasts, Nila celebrates the rich culinary heritage of India’s river states under the culinary stewardship of Chef Bharath S. Bhat, Thailand’s inaugural Iron Chef winner. Complementing this is “Chom Sindh”, a culinary haven highlighting Thai freshwater delicacies, embodying the essence of Thai hospitality.

In addition to its business operations, ONYX Hospitality Group is committed to creating sustainability by emphasising sustainable practices. This includes the cost-effective use of electrical energy, water conservation, and responsible waste management. These efforts align with the increasing number of travellers seeking environmentally conscious options, giving ONYX Hospitality Group a competitive advantage. Recognising the need to reduce the impact of travel and tourism, this responsible approach to sustainability not only benefits the ‘present’ but also looks towards the ‘future,’ ensuring that the next generations will inherit positive outcomes from their travel.

ONYX Hospitality Group believes that even small changes can lead to significant improvements. Therefore, the company is committed to creating positive change in the industry’s sustainability landscape. At the start of 2024, ONYX Hospitality Group made history by becoming the first hotel management company in Asia Pacific to announce a long-term commitment to partnering with UNESCO for cultural sustainability. This partnership not only sets goals for achieving carbon neutrality but also represents a significant milestone in ONYX Hospitality Group’s dedication to sustainability.

Visit the website at www.onyx-hospitality.com

“Carabao Coach The Coaches” Project with EFL Continues Year 4

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Contributor

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21 May 2024, 14:21

Carabao Partners with EFL for Year 4 of “Carabao Coach The Coaches” Project, Bringing World-Class Football Expertise to Empower Thai Coaches

The project highlights the company’s sponsorship of the Carabao Cup and its leadership in sports marketing.

Carabao Group solidifies its position as the main official sponsor of the Carabao Cup football competition and as a leader in sports marketing by extending the “Carabao Coach the Coaches” project into its fourth year. By collaborating with The English Football League (EFL), the company is bringing world-class coaches to Thailand to provide intensive training in football science to Thai coaches.

This initiative aims to enhance and develop their coaching skills to meet global standards, facilitated by professional coaches from EFL. This further develops Thai youth footballers, aiming to nurture their skills to potentially become professional footballers in the future.

Mr.Kamoldist Smuthkochorn, Deputy Managing Director of Carabao Group, highlighted that the “Carabao Coach the Coaches” project is now in its fourth consecutive year. This initiative aims to enhance and deepen the potential and football knowledge of coaches in Thailand. Participants will undergo an intensive training course, comprising both practical and theoretical aspects, conducted by coaches from the English Football League (EFL).

The objective is for participants to develop and implement teaching strategies for youth football players, ensuring they acquire correct practice and playing skills. The training course offers an opportunity for participants to ask questions, exchange knowledge, and gain firsthand experience. A unique aspect of this project is that accommodation and meals are provided free of charge to attendees, making the training entirely cost-free.

The lineup of visiting EFL coaches comprises talented and experienced individuals who will share their knowledge with Thai football coaches. One notable coach is Leroy Moore from Leicester City Football Club. Moore began his coaching career in the pre-academy, where he was in charge of recruiting seven- and eight-year-olds for the club’s youth teams. He was recently selected as one of twelve coaches from thousands of applicants for the “Premier League Coaching Skills and Expertise” project. Brian Quailey, an English coach, is also part of this project.

He currently serves as the Foundation Phase Coach for the U11 youth team at Leicester City Football Club. John Thompson, another coach from Leicester City Football Club, started his coaching career by applying his adult football experience to grassroots youth games. He later had the opportunity to develop players at Leicester City and was invited to become a coach and scout for the academy. With over 20 years of experience at the club, he has overseen the training of footballers aged 5-9 years.

Thompson holds a UEFA B License, The National Talent Identification & Scouting Level 2 certification, and has completed the Safeguarding Children course. Michael Wright, an English coach, serves as the Lead Coach and program manager for Southampton Football Club, overseeing the development of youth players aged 8 to 11 years old.

“Carabao Group continues to strengthen our position as the main official sponsor of the Carabao Cup football competition and a leader in sports marketing, by enriching the Thai football industry with world-class experiences. Our ongoing collaboration with the English Football League aims to bring talented football coaches and experiences from England to Thailand. The project is destined to transfer knowledge, skills, and football coaching techniques to Thai youth coaches, with the goal of nurturing future professional football players,” said Kamoldist.

In the “Carabao Coach the Coaches” project’s fourth year, 360 trainees will participate, split into 6 groups of 60 each, for 3 days per group at Rajpracha, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The Groups are scheduled as follows: Group 1 from April 29 to May 1, Group 2 from May 1 to May 3, Group 3 from May 3 to May 5, Group 4 from May 7 to May 9, Group 5 from May 9 to May 11, and Group 6 from May 11 to May 13, 2024.

Controversy Erupts Over Thai Monk Accepting Donated BMW Luxury Car

By

Khaosod English

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21 May 2024, 14:08

BMW monk — The Facebook page "Mae Chee Zhen Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In" posted a photo of the nun and the temple's disciples offering the BMW car to Luang Ta Sinsap Jaranathammo, also known as Luang Ta Sin Kid, of Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In.

UBON RATCHATHANI – “Is it appropriate for a monk to accept a donation of a BMW 750e, priced at nearly 7 million baht?” This question is particularly pertinent when the monk belongs to the Dhammayuttika Nikaya or Thammayut order.

This question has been widely debated on Thai social media after the Facebook page “Mae Chee Zhen Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In” posted a photo of the nun and the temple’s disciples offering the BMW Series 7 to Luang Ta Sinsap Jaranathammo, also known as Luang Ta Sin Kid, of Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In. (Luang Ta means Elder Monk)

monk bmw1 — Luang Ta Sinsap Jaranathammo, also known as Luang Ta Sin Kid

Luang Ta Sinsap is a famous preacher at Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In in Sirindhorn District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. He is known for his sermons that connect with the villagers, using simple language and content that keeps up with the country’s situation.

His title “Luang Ta Sin Kid” does not mean “thoughtless monk,” but he says this name is meant to convey that he is one who stops evil thoughts.

Regarding the offering of the BMW Series 7 to Luang Ta Sinsap, Mae Chee Zhen posted, “Since Luang Ta travels frequently for invitations, Mae Chee and all the disciples wanted to offer the most valuable and worthy vehicle. Therefore, we jointly purchased a BMW 750e to offer to Luang Ta Sinsap of Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In for use in traveling to spread the goodness of Buddhism further.”

443733020 — The Facebook page “Mae Chee Zhen Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In”

However, since monks in the Thammayut sect and those residing in forest temples are expected to have rigorous practices that are in line with the Vinaya (monastic discipline), to practice what is right and virtuous, and to be more detached from external stimuli than city temples, which are mostly in the Mahanikaya sect, the BMW issue has become a topic of debate in society.

441880180 — The Facebook page “Mae Chee Zhen Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In” posted a photo of the temple’s disciples offering the BMW car to Luang Ta Sinsap Jaranathammo, also known as Luang Ta Sin Kid, of Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In.

Luang Ta Sinsap responded to the criticism on May 20, saying that he accepts donated items without caring whether they are luxury cars or not because he does not desire them. Donations are a matter of the heart and faith, not value. Those who attack him should gather information about him first.

“I have to force myself to sit in a BMW Series 7, to be honest. The word ‘appropriate,’ do you want people to offer bad things to monks? They bring good and valuable things to offer with their hearts. Why would I refuse? People have faith. Even if I don’t use it, they would be disappointed. Never mind a BMW, they would even dare to buy a Rolls-Royce for me,” he said.

Luang Ta Sinsap said he never thought of being ordained to live comfortably or be rich like when he was a car tent owner. Throughout his ordained life as a monk, he lived in hardship, fasting, and walking on pilgrimages in the forest with perseverance.

“Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In has been built for 4 years and already has 700 kutis (monks’ living quarters). It takes care of 700 people who truly seek the Dhamma. This temple has no kathin, pha pa, or donation boxes. If I were not truly dedicated, could I support 700 people?” he said.

Luang Ta Sinsap also said that since his ordination, he has only done good deeds and has never done anything inappropriate. The things his disciples offer, he donates further. He has more than 10 cars, including 5 Mercedes-Benz. Donations amount to tens of millions of baht, which he donates without ever accumulating money or gold.

Amal Clooney Is One of the Legal Experts Who Recommended War Crimes Charges in Israel-Hamas War

By

Associated Press

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21 May 2024, 10:45

Amal ClooneyGeorge Clooney — FILE - Amal Clooney, left, and George Clooney arrive at a screening of "The Tender Bar," Oct. 3, 2021, at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Amal Clooney is one of the legal experts who recommended that the chief prosecutor of the world’s top war crimes court seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of the militant Hamas group.

The human rights lawyer and wife of actor George Clooney wrote of her participation in a letter posted Monday on the website of the couple’s Clooney Foundation for Justice. She said she and other experts in international law unanimously agreed to recommend that International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan seek the warrants.

Khan announced his intention to do so on Monday, saying that actions taken by both Israeli leaders and Hamas in the seven-month war in Gaza amounted to war crimes.

“I served on this Panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives,” Clooney wrote. “The law that protects civilians in war was developed more than 100 years ago and it applies in every country in the world regardless of the reasons for a conflict.”

The panel comprised experts in international humanitarian law and international criminal law, and two of its members are former judges at criminal tribunals in The Hague, where the ICC is based, Clooney wrote. She added that their decision was unanimous. The panel also published an op-ed about its recommendation in the Financial Times on Monday.

A panel of three judges at the ICC will decide whether to issue the arrest warrants and allow a case to proceed. The judges typically take two months to make such decisions.

In his announcement Monday, Khan accused Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders — Yehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh — of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the move as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also lambasted the prosecutor and supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas.

Israel is not a member of the court, so even if the arrest warrants are issued, Netanyahu and Gallant do not face any immediate risk of prosecution. But the threat of arrest could make it difficult for the Israeli leaders to travel abroad. Hamas is already considered an international terrorist group by the West.

AP24049682555421 — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a gathering of Jewish leaders at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

The latest war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, when militants from Gaza crossed into Israel and killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage.

Since then, Israel has waged a brutal campaign to dismantle Hamas in Gaza. More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, at least half of them women and children, according to the latest estimates by Gaza health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas militants.

The war has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing roughly 80% of the population and leaving hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of starvation, according to U.N. officials.

The ICC was established in 2002 as the permanent court of last resort to prosecute individuals responsible for the world’s most heinous atrocities — war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.

The Rome Statute creating the ICC was adopted in 1998 and took effect when it got 60 ratifications on July 1, 2002. The U.N. General Assembly endorsed the ICC, but the court is independent.

Without a police force, the ICC relies on member states to arrest suspects, which has proven to be a major obstacle to prosecutions.

Netanyahu said last month that Israel “will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense.” He said that while the ICC won’t affect Israel’s actions, it would “set a dangerous precedent.”

AP24141585172909 — FILE – Exterior view of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor said Monday, May 20, 2024, (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

WHAT IS THE ICC?

The ICC’s 124 member states have signed on to the Rome Statute. Dozens of countries didn’t sign and don’t accept the court’s jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide and other crimes. They include Israel, the United States, Russia and China.

The ICC becomes involved when nations are unable or unwilling to prosecute crimes on their territory. Israel argues that it has a functioning court system, and disputes over a nation’s ability or willingness to prosecute have fueled past disputes between the court and individual countries.

In 2020, then U.S. President Donald Trump authorized economic and travel sanctions on the ICC prosecutor and another senior prosecution office staffer. The ICC staff were looking into U.S. and allies’ troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan.

U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration has provided crucial military and political support for the Gaza offensive, lifted the sanctions in 2021.

The ICC has 17 ongoing investigations, issued a total of 42 arrest warrants and taken 21 suspects into custody. Its judges have convicted 10 suspects and acquitted four.

In its early years, the court was criticized for focusing on crimes in Africa, but now it has investigations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

WHAT IS THE ICC’S RELATIONSHIP TO ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES?

The U.N. General Assembly raised the Palestinians’ status in 2012 from a U.N. observer to a nonmember observer state. That opened the door for the Palestinian territories to join international organizations, including the ICC.

The ICC accepted “The State of Palestine” as a member in 2015, a year after the Palestinians accepted the court’s jurisdiction.

The court’s chief prosecutor at the time announced in 2021 that she was opening an investigation into possible crimes on Palestinian territory. Israel often levies accusations of bias at U.N. and international bodies, and Netanyahu condemned the decision as hypocritical and antisemitic.

Khan, the current ICC prosecutor, visited Ramallah and Israel in December, meeting Palestinian officials and families of Israelis killed or taken hostage by Hamas militants in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Israel-Hamas war.

Khan called Hamas’ actions “some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, crimes which the ICC was established to address,” and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Khan said “international humanitarian law must still apply” in the Israel-Hamas war and “the Israeli military knows the law that must be applied.” After the visit, Khan said that an ICC investigation into possible crimes by Hamas militants and Israeli forces “is a priority for my office.”

WHO ELSE HAS THE ICC CHARGED?

Last year, the court issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Russia responded by issuing its own arrest warrants for Khan and ICC judges.

Other high-profile leaders charged by the court include ousted Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir on allegations including genocide in his country’s Darfur region. Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was captured and killed by rebels shortly after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest on charges linked to the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Red Lobster Seeks Bankruptcy Protection Days After Closing Dozens of Restaurants

By

Khaosod English

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20 May 2024, 23:52

Red Lobster Bankruptcy — FILE - Signs for a Red Lobster restaurant are shown in San Bruno, Calif., Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Red Lobster, the casual dining chain that brought seafood to the masses with inventions like popcorn shrimp and “endless” seafood deals, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The 56-year-old chain made the filing late Sunday, days after shuttering dozens of restaurants.

“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth,” said Red Lobster CEO Jonathan Tibus, a corporate restructuring expert who took the top post at the chain in March.

Red Lobster said it will use the bankruptcy proceedings to simplify its operations, close restaurants and pursue a sale. As part of the filings, Red Lobster has entered into a so-called “stalking horse” agreement, meaning it plans to sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its lenders.

In recent years, Red Lobster has been struggling with increasing competition from fast casual chains like Chipotle and Panera as well as rising lease and labor costs. Its all-you-can eat deals for shrimp and lobster, which it has offered for decades, also became increasingly expensive.

The Orlando, Florida-based chain was founded by Bill Darden, who wanted to make seafood restaurants more accessible and affordable for families.

Darden got his start in the restaurant business in Waycross, Georgia, in 1938, when he opened The Green Frog. He boldly refused to segregate the restaurant’s patrons, which went against state laws at the time. When he opened the first Red Lobster near Orlando in 1968, he again invited customers to sit anywhere they chose.

Darden sold Red Lobster to General Mills in 1970, and he continued to run restaurants as a General Mills executive. General Mills later went on to form Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden and other chains. Darden Restaurants was spun off from General Mills in 1995.

Red Lobster had legions of fans for dishes like lobster linguini and its buttery Cheddar Bay biscuits.

“There is no one of-woman-born who does not like Red Lobster cheddar biscuits. Anyone who claims otherwise is a liar and a Socialist,” comedian and actress Tina Fey wrote in her memoir “Bossypants.”

But the restaurant had trouble keeping up with competitors and bringing in younger customers. Darden Restaurants sold Red Lobster to a private equity firm in 2014. Thai Union Group, one of the world’s largest seafood suppliers, first invested in Red Lobster in 2016 and upped its stake in 2020.

Then last fall, Red Lobster lost millions of dollars on its Ultimate Endless Shrimp promotion, which charged $20 for all-you-can-eat shrimp deal.

“We knew the price was cheap, but the idea was to bring more traffic in the restaurants,” Ludovic Garnier, the chief financial officer of Thai Union Group, Red Lobster’s former co-owner, said in an earnings call with investors.

Garnier said the deal did work, and restaurant traffic increased. But more guests opted for the $20 deal than Red Lobster expected, Garnier said, adding “we don’t earn a lot of money at $20.” For the first nine months of 2023, Thai Union Group reported a $19 million share of loss from Red Lobster.

In January, Thai Union Group announced its intention to exit its minority investment in Red Lobster. CEO Thiraphong Chansiri said the COVID-19 pandemic, industry headwinds and rising operating costs had hit the dining chain hard and caused “prolonged negative financial contributions to Thai Union and its shareholders.”

Restaurant liquidator TAGeX Brands announced last week that it would be auctioning off the equipment of over 50 Red Lobster locations that were recently closed. The store closures span across more than 20 states — reducing Red Lobster’s presence in cities like Denver, San Antonio, Indianapolis and Sacramento, California.

The seafood restaurant chain said in a court filing that it has more than 100,000 creditors and estimated assets between $1 billion and $10 billion. The company’s estimated liabilities are between $1 billion and $10 billion.

Red Lobster operates 700 locations worldwide.

Candidates Begin Registering in Complicated Process To Select Thailand’s New Senate

By

Associated Press

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20 May 2024, 20:29

Thailand Senate — Potential candidates to become members of Thailand's next Senate arrive at the Phaya Thai district office in Bangkok on Monday, May 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI, BANGKOK — Thailand on Monday officially began the selection of new senators, a process that has become part of an ongoing war between progressive forces hoping for democratic political reforms and conservatives seeking to keep the status quo.

Hopeful candidates headed to district offices across the country on the first day of registration to compete for one of the 200 seats in Parliament’s upper house.

The power of the Senate — although limited compared to the House of Representatives, which is tasked with law-making responsibilities — was demonstrated dramatically when it blocked the progressive party that won the most seats in last year’s election from forming a new government.

The senators were able to do so because of the 2017 Constitution, passed under a military government, which requires the prime minister to be approved by a joint vote of the elected House and the Senate, which was appointed by the military regime.

The Move Forward Party was opposed by senators who disapproved of its vow to seek reforms of Thailand’s monarchy.

The process of selecting the new senators will include three rounds of voting: district, provincial and national.

Unlike the elected lower house legislators, the senators will be chosen by their fellow applicants, competing in 20 categories such as occupation or social position, including women, the elderly and the disabled.

The final results are expected to be announced in July.

AP24141268730084 — Potential candidates to become members of Thailand’s next Senate arrive at the Phaya Thai district office in Bangkok on Monday, May 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The selection process in the Constitution is so complicated and unclear that critics say it was deliberately designed to discourage public participation. Critics say the Constitution also allows the state bureaucracy to hold more power than directly elected political officeholders.

The new senators will no longer be able to take part in selecting a prime minister but will retain the power to approve legislation passed by the House.

They also have the power to select members of nominally independent regulatory bodies such as the Election Commission and the Constitutional Court, whose work has been widely seen as impeding efforts at political reform and crippling proponents with legal penalties, including prison.

The Senate’s votes are also required to amend the Constitution. The governing Pheu Thai party is pushing for a new charter to replace the 2017 one to facilitate certain reform efforts promised during the campaign.

Civil society groups have campaigned to raise public awareness and encourage those favoring democratic reforms to enter the Senate selection process.

AP24141268990667 — Thai officer check document from potential candidates to become members of Thailand’s next Senate arrive at the Phaya Thai district office in Bangkok on Monday, May 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Law reform advocate Yingcheep Atchanont of the group iLaw has been organizing public discussions on the importance of the Senate and workshops to help would-be applicants understand how the selection process works.

“We are telling people what to do if they want change. There have been calls in recent years to reduce the power of the Senate, to get rid of the Senate,” he said. “All of this can only happen if we can amend the Constitution, and we need enough votes from the senators for that.”

Candidates must be more than 40 years old and have more than 10 years of experience in their chosen occupational group, the latter provision not applying for those competing in one of the social identity groups. They also cannot campaign or do anything that can be interpreted as campaigning.

Even the Election Commission has acknowledged how complicated the process is but says it will be able to carry it out smoothly and transparently.

Purawich Watanasukh, a political science lecturer at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, said he thinks the complicated rules were intentionally designed to reduce public participation.

“This is the contest of the people to debug not just the Senate itself, but the Constitution, which would lead to a new political landscape in Thailand,” he said, ““It will be the next battleground between the progressive movement and the establishment.”

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Associated Press video journalist Jerry Harmer contributed to this report.

Discoverer of ‘Golden Boy’ Regrets Damage to Historic Sculpture

By

Khaosod English

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20 May 2024, 19:18

golden boy new — Thailand's National Museum hosted a welcome-home ceremony Tuesday for two ancient statues that were illegally trafficked from Thailand by a British collector of antiquities and were returned from the collection of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 21, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/ Worapong Charoenpol)

BURIRAM – The Thai archaeological community is abuzz this week after The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET) in New York, USA has returned two artifacts to Thailand. These are a bronze sculpture titled “Standing Shiva” or “Golden Boy,” dating back to around 1600 BE (11th century AD), and a bronze sculpture “The Kneeling Female,” which is about 900 years old.

The two precious items arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 20, and will be displayed at the National Museum, Phra Nakhon District.

Meanwhile, a reporter from Khaosod interviewed Ms. Nil Petsakul, 69, who discovered the “Golden Boy” about 50 years ago in Ban Pong Sadao, Moo 20, Ta Chong Subdistrict, Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province, where Ban Yang Castle is located. She spoke in the local Khmer language through a translator.

golden boy back4 — Ms. Nil Petsakul, 69, who discovered the “Golden Boy” about 50 years ago in Ban Pong Sadao, Moo 20, Ta Chong Subdistrict, Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province.

In 1974, she and her husband were digging for wild sweet potatoes in the area when they discovered an unusual object. They first dug up a blackened leg and continued digging until they found what appeared to be a Buddha statue. They called their relatives, who helped them excavate the rest.

They brought the approximately 150 c.m. tall statue home and cleaned it, discovering a radiant light emanating from it, which led them to believe it was valuable. They then prayed for the light to cease.

After that, they consulted a police officer at Lam Plai Mat police station in Lam Plai Mat district, Buriram province, to sell the statue. The police took them to Bangkok where they sold the statue to a foreigner for 1,200,000 baht after originally asking for 1,600,000 baht. They refused to give any information about how the money was divided and why they now have no money.

golden boy back5 — Ban Pong Sadao, Ta Chong Subdistrict, Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province

Mrs. Natthaphon Petsakul, the daughter of Nil, expressed her mother’s disappointment when she saw the returned “Golden Boy” with missing diamond accessories that were part of the original statue. This included a crown, eyes, a necklace, bracelets and a belt, which are now missing.

Dr. Thanongsak Hanwong, an independent archaeologist and a member of the committee for the repatriation of Thai artifacts, stated that two books, “Khmer Bond” and “Khmer Gold,” written by Douglas A.J. Latchford, confirmed that the “Golden Boy” was found at Ban Pong Sadao in Buriram, Thailand. The team of Thai archaeologists took over three years to confirm this by piecing together clues from the books.

AP23349661698410 — This March 2007 photo shows a bronze sculpture titled “Standing Shiva” or “Golden Boy” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Metropolitan Museum of Art via AP)

The discovery of the bronze sculpture of the “Golden Boy” is of great significance and changes the historical understanding of the ancient Khmer culture and its beliefs. It was originally thought that the Khmer empire spread from Cambodia to the Khorat Plateau. However, new evidence suggests that the Khmer Empire was first present on the Khorat Plateau before expanding to Siem Reap in Cambodia.

He further explained that the clear evidence includes the fact that his grandson, King Suryavarman II, built Angkor Wat, and most notably, King Jayavarman VII, who constructed the Bayon temple and adhered to Mahayana Buddhism, just like King Jayavarman VI.

Therefore, this practice of Mahayana Buddhism was passed down until the final era of Khmer culture. Importantly, before this, the discovery of the bronze Prakhon Chai sculpture, dating back to around 1300 BE (about 700 years ago), was found just 5 kilometers from the site where the “Golden Boy” was discovered. This sculpture is older than the bronze-cast “Golden Boy,” which dates to around 1623 BE, by over 300 years.

golden boy back7 — Panombut Intarachoti, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, received the Golden Boy sculpture from The Met, which was returned to Thailand on May 20, 2024.

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Who Is Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Mokhber, Appointed Acting President After Crash?

By

Associated Press

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20 May 2024, 18:04

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s first Vice President Mohammad Mokhber was appointed as acting president of the Islamic Republic on Monday after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in the country’s northwest.

Mokhber, 68, largely has been in the shadows compared to other politicians in Iran’s Shiite theocracy. Raisi’s death under the constitution thrust Mokhber into public view. He is expected to serve as caretaker president for some 50 days before mandatory presidential elections in Iran.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the announcement of Mokhber’s appointment in a condolence message he shared for Raisi’s death in the crash Sunday. The helicopter was found Monday in northwestern Iran.

AP24141200622282 1 — Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, right, and Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member States in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Despite his low-key public profile, Mokhber has held prominent positions with in the country’s power structure, particularly in its bonyads, or charitable foundations. Those groups were fueled by donations or assets seized after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, particularly those previously associated with Iran’s shah or those in his government.

Mokhber oversaw a bonyad known in English as the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order, or EIKO, referring to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The U.S. Treasury said the organization oversaw billions of dollars in assets as “a business juggernaut under the direct supervision of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that has a stake in nearly every sector of the Iranian economy, including energy, telecommunications, and financial services.”

AP24141207776578 — FILE – Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber poses for a photo ahead of the Second Caspian Economic Forum outside Moscow, Russia, Oct. 6, 2022. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

“EIKO has systematically violated the rights of dissidents by confiscating land and property from opponents of the regime, including political opponents, religious minorities, and exiled Iranians,” the Treasury said in 2021 in sanctioning Mokhber. The European Union also had sanctioned Mokhber for a time with others over concerns then about Iran’s nuclear program.

As the head of EIKO, Mokhber oversaw an effort to make a COVID-19 vaccine during the height of the pandemic, pledging to make tens of millions of doses. Only a fraction of that ever made it to the public, without explanation.

Mokhber previously worked in banking and telecommunications. He also worked at the Mostazafan Foundation, another bonyad that’s a major conglomerate that manages the country’s mega-projects and businesses. While there, he found himself entangled in a bitter legal dispute between mobile phone service providers Turkcell and South Africa’s MTN over potentially entering the Iranian market.

MTN ended up entering Iran. A Turkcell filing alleged Mokhber sought MTN’s help in securing “certain defense equipment” in exchange for potentially working with it as opposed to Turkcell.

Mokhber used “improper influence up to and including negotiating with and on behalf of the Supreme Leader in MTN’s favor,” Turkcell later alleged in a legal filing. An MTN report later said there were no arms transfers, though it acknowledge Mokhber was a player in Iran’s decision to go with MTN.

Iranian media reports suggest Mokhber, who holds a doctorate in international law, was crucial in Iranian efforts to bypass Western sanctions on its oil industry.

Mokhber has been a member of Iran’s Expediency Council since 2022, which advises the supreme leader, as well as settles disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional watchdog that also oversees the country’s elections.

Mokhber was born Sept. 1, 1955, in Dezful in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province to a clerical family. He served as an officer in the Revolutionary Guard’s medical corps during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, according to the pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran.

“Mokhber used the vast wealth accumulated by EIKO — at the expense of the Iranian people—to reward regime insiders like himself,” UANI said. “Managing the patronage network endeared him to the supreme leader, but at a cost.”

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IRAN’S NUCLEAR NEGOTIATOR APPOINTED AS FOREIGN MINISTRY CARETAKER, STATE TV REPORTS

TEHRAN — Iran’s acting president has appointed the country’s nuclear negotiator as the Foreign Ministry caretaker after Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was killed in a helicopter crash, state TV reported Monday.

Acting President Mohammad Mokhber appointed Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran’s nuclear negotiator, as Foreign Ministry caretaker, Cabinet spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi was quoted as saying.

Mokhber was appointed acting president by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday after the crashed helicopter was found in northwestern Iran.

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The Controversial 10-year-old Rice is Safe, Medical Sciences Department Confirms

By

Khaosod English

-

20 May 2024, 15:40

rice test1 — The Department of Medical Sciences displayed two samples: 3 kilograms and 5 kilograms of rice, which were sent on May 9 for testing.

BANGKOK – On May 20, Dr. Yongyot Thammawut, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, held a press conference to announce the results of testing 10-year-old rice from a warehouse in Surin Province, which was received from the Ministry of Commerce. The tests focused on chemical residues, contamination of toxic substances from mold, and the nutritional quality of the rice, using the ISO/IEC 17025 standard quality system.

The rice sent for testing by the Ministry of Commerce consisted of two samples: 3 kilograms and 5 kilograms of rice, which were sent on May 9, 2024. The Department of Medical Sciences also purchased two additional samples of rice from stores around the ministry to serve as control samples for comparison with the rice consumed by the public daily. The results showed that there were no differences in nutritional value and no contaminants were found.

rice test2 — Dr. Yongyot Thammawut, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences (second from the left), held a press conference to announce the results of testing 10-year-old rice from a warehouse in Surin Province.

Dr. Yongyot stated that the testing for aflatoxins (B1+B2+G1+G2) and 7 other types of mold, including Deoxynivalenol, Fumonisins (B1+B2), Ochratoxin A, Citrinin, Trichothecenes HT-2 toxin, Trichothecenes T-2 toxin, and Zearalenone. The tests showed no residues of these substances were found. When the tests were repeated for another round, no residues were found either.

In the examination for vitamins and minerals that were expected to have deteriorated, it was found that the 4 rice samples had no differences in their vitamin and mineral content.

“This is what the Department of Medical Sciences has been testing for the past 10 days, confirming that the tests were conducted straightforwardly by skilled and independent personnel,” he said.

As the Director-General, he insisted that he never instructed, ordered, or pressured anyone to conduct the tests in any way. He also confirmed with the executives of the Department of Medical Sciences that the press conference must be based on the results sent by the scientists in the lab, and there will be no distortion from the test results, not even a single item.

Earlier, a reporter of the 3-dimension news program at Channel 3 who had received some of the rice at the Surin warehouse sent the samples for testing at the laboratory of Kasetsart University. The news program reported the result on May 18 that there is no toxic substances that cause cancer (aflatoxins) or contaminants harmful to consumption.

The rice brought for testing this time is part of the 112,711 bags stored in the warehouse of Kitttichai Company, Lang 2, Prasat District, and 32,879 bags stored at Poon Phol Trading Company, Mueang District, Surin Province, totaling approximately 150,000 bags.

Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai shows a scoop of cooked 10-year-old rice during an inspection of a warehouse in Surin province, where the stock of rice originally brought in as part of PM Yingluck Shinawatra's controversial rice price mortgage program are kept, on May 6, 2024. — Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai shows a scoop of cooked 10-year-old rice during an inspection of a warehouse in Surin province, where the stock of rice originally brought in as part of PM Yingluck Shinawatra’s controversial rice price mortgage program are kept, on May 6, 2024.

On May 6, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Minister of Commerce, invited the media, mill owners, exporters, the provincial governor, the provincial police chief, members of the House of Representatives, and relevant individuals to witness the rice being packed and loaded onto police trucks to be taken to Poon Phol Trading Co., Ltd. mill, Lang 4, Chaneang Subdistrict, Mueang Surin District. The rice was to be cooked and eaten to prove that the rice stored in the two warehouses was well-preserved and of sufficient quality to be put up for auction for export.

Phumtham confirmed that the government’s handling of this matter has nothing to do with former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was found guilty of negligence in the rice pledging scheme, causing damage. He merely wants to manage the rice that is still left in the warehouses, which the private sector considers to be of good quality and wants to export to Africa.

“Those who come to bid will listen to the information from the Department of Medical Sciences, and they will have to check the quality themselves as well. We do not think that the lives of Thai people are more important or that African people are not important, but Africa is a market that buys old rice, and this rice is Hom Mali rice, so it should be even better. I have eaten it and have had no problems,” he said.

He said that the Ministry of Commerce would conduct the auction within May or at the latest by June.

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Taiwan’s New President Lai in His Inauguration Speech Urges China To Stop Its Military Intimidation

By

Associated Press

-

20 May 2024, 14:04

Taiwan President — Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te delivers an acceptance speech during his inauguration ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te in his inauguration speech has urged China to stop its military intimidation against the self-governed island Beijing claims as its own territory.

“Fellow compatriots, we have the ideal of pursuing peace, but we must not have illusions,” Lai said after being sworn into office. “As China has not yet given up its use of force to invade Taiwan, we should understand that even if we fully accept China’s proposition and give up our sovereignty, China’s attempt to annex Taiwan will not disappear.”

He takes over from Tsai Ing-wen, who led Taiwan through eight years of economic and social development despite the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s escalating military threats.

AP24141162216174 — In this photo released by the Taipei News Photographer, President-elect Lai Ching-te gets sworn in as Taiwan’s new president during his inauguration ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Taipei News Photographer via AP)

Thousands of people gathered in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei for the inauguration ceremony. Donning white bucket hats, the attendees watched on large screens the ceremony’s emcees narrating Lai’s swearing-in ceremony, followed by a military march and colorful artistic performances featuring folk dancers, opera performers and rappers. Military helicopters flew in formation, carrying Taiwan’s flag.

Lai accepted congratulations from fellow politicians and delegations from the 12 nations that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as well as politicians from the U.S., Japan and various European states.

Lai, also known by his English name William, has vowed to continue his predecessor’s push to maintain stability with China while beefing up Taiwan’s security through imports of advanced fighters and other technology from close partner the U.S., the expansion of the defense industry with the manufacture of submarines and aircraft, and the reinforcing of regional partnerships with Taiwan’s unofficial allies such as the U.S., Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

AP24141156497490 — In this photo released by the Taipei News Photographer, Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, center, with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, left, is greeted by former President Tsai Ing-wen, right, during Lai’s inauguration ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Taipei News Photographer via AP)

AP24141056745922 — New Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, center, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, right, and former President Tsai Ing-wen wave during Lai’s inauguration ceremonies in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 20, 2024.AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken congratulated Lai on his inauguration. “We look forward to working with President Lai and across Taiwan’s political spectrum to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Blinken said in a statement from his office.

Lai, 64, takes over from Tsai Ing-wen, who led Taiwan through eight years of economic and social development despite the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s escalating military threats. He is seen as inheriting her progressive policies, including universal health care, backing for higher education and support for minority groups, including making Taiwan the first place in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

Lai, who was vice president during Tsai’s second term, came across as more of a firebrand earlier in his career. In 2017, he described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan’s independence,” drawing Beijing’s rebuke. He has since softened his stance and now supports maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and the possibility of talks with Beijing.

AP24141165953233 — In this photo released by the Taipei News Photographer, people gather to watch monitor screens showing new President Lai Ching-te delivering a speech during Lai’s inauguration ceremonies in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Taipei News Photographer via AP)

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has been upping its threats to annex it by force if necessary.

Lai will build on Tsai’s efforts to strengthen ties with the U.S., which doesn’t formally recognize Taiwan as a country but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

During Tsai’s tenure, Taiwan became the first society in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, though critics say she skirted political responsibility by leaving the decision up to the Supreme Court and a series of referendums.

She oversaw a controversial pension and labor reform and extended the military conscription length to one year. She also kickstarted a military modernization drive, including a program for building indigenous submarines at more than $16 billion each.

Tsai’s leadership during the pandemic split public opinion, with most admiring Taiwan’s initial ability to keep the virus largely outside its borders but criticizing the lack of investment in rapid testing as the pandemic progressed.

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