Villagers in Tak Wait For a New Road and Electricity So Long

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3 August 2023, 18:53

Many places in Thailand’s rural districts still lack roads and electricity, and children have to do their homework by candlelight.

On August 3, villagers in Tak Province gathered and demanded support from government agencies such as the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to expedite the approval of electricity installation and road construction in their village. They have been waiting for 8 years and are facing legal obstacles.

Chanchai Kireechai, the head of the local administrative organization in Mae Usu Subdistrict, Tha Song Yang District, mentioned that 11 village leaders from different areas of Tak Province along with more than 50 villagers gathered to ask the authorities to manage and approve the forest area for their village.

The terrain where the villagers live is high and remote, making it difficult for them to reach the village. The dangerous journey poses risks to the students, especially on rainy days when the road becomes slippery and leads to frequent injuries.

The current problem is that the Forestry Department classifies the villagers’ area as Zone A, which means that it is a fertile watershed forest. However, the concrete and steel reinforced road requested by the villagers does not require logging and is only 4 meters wide.They need the road to enter and leave the village, but in the current situation, the villagers cannot even build a small path for a motorcycle.

Mr. Phada, a resident of Mae Ramat district, added that sometimes emergencies occur, but because of the slippery road, they cannot take patients out of the village. It takes over 6 hours on foot to reach the nearest medical facility, which is only 4 kilometers away. In some cases, people have even died trying to get medical help.

In addition, on rainy days when the road is slippery, the teacher and the health worker cannot travel and perform their duties. In some villages that are only 1 kilometer from the main road, there is no electricity because they fall under the jurisdiction of the forestry department.

Children have to study in the dark and do not have access to electricity as in other areas. The local government organization cannot provide budgetary funds to help. Therefore, they are asking the Forestry Department and the National Parks Department to urgently look into solving the problem.

tak road2 — Children have to study in the dark and do not have access to electricity.

Surachai Ajonbun, Director General of the Royal Forest Department, stated that he requested information from the director of the Forest Resources Management Office 4 in Tak Province regarding the Subdistrict Administrative Organization’s application for the use of forest areas, but the documents did not meet the requirements.

It must contain complete information documents along the construction plan for the forest border. There has been public commentary from the local community.

If the documents are complete, The Tak Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office and the Royal Forest Department will jointly inspect the land and provide recommendations to the governor of Tak Province. Then the governor sent a message to the Forest Department again, saying that various construction projects must not affect natural resources or the environment.

If they build on the exit road, they can ask for permission.

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Selection of Thailand’s New Prime Minister Delayed Again, To Await Court Decision on Election Winner

By

Associated Press

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3 August 2023, 17:13

Thailand Politics — Lawmakers gather during a meeting at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI — A parliamentary vote to select Thailand’s new prime minister expected on Friday was delayed again after a court put off a decision in a case involving the progressive party that won May’s election, adding to growing uncertainty about when a new government can take office.

The Constitutional Court on Thursday said it needs more time to deliberate on whether to accept a petition from the state ombudsman on whether it was constitutional for Parliament to bar Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, the surprise election winner, from being nominated as a prime ministerial candidate a second time.

The progressive Move Forward Party finished in first place in the May election and assembled an eight-party coalition with 312 seats in the 500-member lower house. But Parliament has struggled to confirm a new prime minister, which requires a majority vote together with the conservative 250-member appointed Senate. Pita’s initial bid last month fell short by more than 50 votes, largely because only 13 senators backed him. He was barred from a second try the following week when Parliament voted that he could not submit his name again.

AP23204494172912 — Supporters of the Move Forward Party hold a portrait of Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, July 23, 2023.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Many senators, who were appointed by a previous military government, said they would not vote for Pita because of his party’s call to reform a law that makes it illegal to defame Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, has been abused as a political weapon. The Senate’s members see themselves as guardians of conservative royalist values which hold the monarchy to be sacrosanct.

Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks to reduce the influence of the military, which has staged more than a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and big business monopolies.

After Pita was barred from a second bid, several complaints were submitted to the state ombudsman asserting that the action violated the constitution. The complainants include private citizens and lawmakers from Pita’s party. When the case was filed to the court last week, Parliament postponed the vote but rescheduled it days later, although the court had yet to make a decision.

The court said in a statement Thursday that it will meet again on Aug. 16 to decide whether to accept the petition. If accepted, the court could order the vote to be postponed until it issues a ruling.

AP23195483297327 — Supporters of the Move Forward Party hold posters reading “Cancel senators” gather during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said the vote for a prime minister would be delayed pending the court’s decision. He said Parliament will still convene on Friday to debate a Move Forward petition seeking an amendment of the military-enacted constitution to eliminate the Senate’s de facto ability to veto a prime minister candidate.

Regardless of the court ruling, Pita’s chances of being nominated again appear nil. Move Forward faces several legal challenges which its supporters see as dirty tricks deployed by its political opponents to cling to power. One of the cases, which accuses Pita of violating the constitution by running for office while allegedly holding shares in a media company, resulted in him being suspended from Parliament last month while Parliament was debating his second nomination.

In the latest major blow, Pheu Thai, the second biggest party in the eight-party coalition, which took over the lead role in forming a government after Move Forward’s two attempts, said Wednesday that Move Forward has been excluded because its platform to reform the royal defamation law made it impossible to rally enough support from other parties and the Senate.

AP23214341034773 — Leader of Pheu Thai party Chonlanan Srikaew talks to reporters after a news conference at Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Chonlanan Srikaew, Pheu Thai’s leader, said the party does not support Move Forward’s call to amend the law and will form a coalition with new partners and nominate its candidate, real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin, as prime minister.

Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties affiliated with ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire populist who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. His daughter has announced that he plans to return on Aug. 10 following years of self-imposed exile to escape a prison term in several criminal cases which he has decried as politically motivated.

The party’s plan to unveil its new coalition partners on Thursday was also postponed following the court’s announcement.

Central Bank Could Raise Rate Again; Protests Weigh on Economy, Economist Says

By

Khaosod English

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3 August 2023, 15:15

The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on August 2 announced a rate hike for the seventh time since August 2022, resulting in a policy rate at 2.25 percent, the highest rate in 9 years.

Pongsak Luangaram, assistant professor and lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Economics, said the central bank has one more chance to raise the interest rate this year, leading to the rate remaining at 2.5 percent, mainly because of the risk of inflation.

Although the inflation rate started to slow down due to high inflation last year, there are still risks for the future, especially with regard to El Nino, which could significantly affect food prices.

dr.pongsak — Pongsak Luangaram, assistant professor and lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Economics

“We are not putting on the brakes like the FED, but we are coming off the gas pedal of expansionary monetary policy because the Thai economy is recovering more slowly than many countries, unlike the U.S., whose economy is growing so fast that they have to put on the brakes,” ha said

Pongsak responded to public concern about the delay in forming a government, whether 3 or 6 months, which could jeopardize government investment, that the money share from government investment is relatively small compared to GDP. The government spending is still normal, while private sector investment and consumption are having a greater impact on the economy, which he believes is improving.

AP23195482672999 — Supporters of the Move Forward Party stage a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

“If you ask the public, everyone knows that if the Pheu Thai Party leads the formation of the government, several pro-economic measures will follow, be it the distribution of money or the increase of wages. I believe that if Pheu Thai comes to power, the party will focus on fiscal policy to show the public that the party is working. At the same time, monetary policy is less loose so the economy can return to normal,” Pongsak said.

He added, however, that the delay in forming a government or the conflict in parliament is not as much of a concern as the violence on the streets, which has a direct impact on the tourism industry and affects the economic recovery.

piti ditsatat — Piti Disyatat, Bank of Thailand assistant governor

Piti Disyatat, Bank of Thailand assistant governor had previously said of the political risks to the economy that the delay in forming a government would affect the distribution of the budget, resulting in the budget being implemented 2 quarters slower than planned, or that the budget could not be used until early 2024.

Previously, only a 1 quarter delay was expected. In addition, this would affect the budget process and policy, which in turn would affect private confidence and investment, both domestic and foreign.

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Singapore Executes Third Prisoner in 2 Weeks for Drug Trafficking

By

Associated Press

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3 August 2023, 12:34

Singapore Death Penalty — Singapore hanged a third prisoner in two weeks on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, for drug trafficking despite calls for the city-state to halt capital punishment for drug-related crimes. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore hanged a third prisoner in two weeks on Thursday for drug trafficking despite calls for the city-state to halt capital punishment for drug-related crimes.

The Central Narcotics Bureau said Mohamed Shalleh Abdul Latiff, a 39-year-old Singaporean, was executed at Singapore’s Changi Prison after being accorded due process under the law. He was sentenced to death for trafficking 54 grams (1.9 ounces) of heroin, an amount “sufficient to feed the addiction of about 640 abusers for a week,” it said in a statement.

Transformative Justice Collective, an anti-death penalty advocate in Singapore, said Shalleh, an ethnic Malay, worked as a delivery driver before his arrest in 2016. He was sentenced in 2019 but his appeal was dismissed last year. The group said Shalleh had maintained in his trial that he believed he was delivering contraband cigarettes for a friend to whom he owed money, and he didn’t verify the contents of the bag as he trusted his friend.

The High Court judge ruled that their ties weren’t close enough to warrant the kind of trust he claimed to have had for his friend. Although the court found he was merely a courier, Shalleh was given the mandatory death penalty because prosecutors didn’t issue him a certificate of having cooperated with them, it said.

Singapore’s laws mandate the death penalty for anyone convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams (17.6 ounces) of cannabis and 15 grams (0.5 ounces) of heroin.

Shalleh was the fifth person to be executed this year, and the 16th executed for drug offences since the city-state resumed hangings in March 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two other citizens were executed last week: Saridewi Djamani, 45, who was the first woman to be hanged in 19 years on Friday, for trafficking about 31 grams (1 ounce) of heroin; and Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, hanged two days prior for trafficking around 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin.

Human rights groups, international activists and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug offenses and say there is increasing evidence it is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities insist capital punishment is important to halting drug demand and supply.

Critics say Singapore’s harsh policy punishes low-level traffickers and couriers, who are typically recruited from marginalized groups with vulnerabilities. They say Singapore is also out of step with the trend of more countries moving away from capital punishment. Neighboring Thailand has legalized cannabis, while Malaysia ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes this year.

Beijing Records Heaviest Rainfall In At Least 140 Years, Causing Severe Flooding And 21 Deaths

By

Associated Press

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2 August 2023, 22:54

China Flooding — Rescuers using rubber boats evacuate trapped residents through flood waters in Zhuozhou in northern China's Hebei province, south of Beijing, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

ZHUOZHOU, Hebei (AP) — China’s capital has recorded its heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years over the past few days after being deluged with heavy rains from the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri.

The city recorded 744.8 millimeters (29.3 inches) of rain between Saturday and Wednesday morning, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said Wednesday.

Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei have been hit by severe flooding because of the record rainfall, with waters rising to dangerous levels. The rain destroyed roads and knocked out power and even pipes carrying drinking water. It flooded rivers surrounding the capital, leaving cars waterlogged, while lifting others onto bridges meant for pedestrians.

AP23214297752745 — A woman carries her pet dogs as residents are evacuated on rubber boats through floodwaters in Zhuozhou in northern China’s Hebei province, south of Beijing, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Among the hardest hit areas is Zhuozhou, a small city in Hebei province that borders Beijing’s southwest. On Tuesday night, police there issued a plea on social media for lights to assist with rescue work.

Rescue teams traversed the flooded city in rubber boats as they evacuated residents who were stuck in their homes without running water, gas or electricity since Tuesday afternoon.

“I didn’t think it would be that severe, I thought it was just a little bit of water and that it would recede,” said 54-year-old Wang Huiying. She ended up spending the night on the third floor of her building as the water seeped into the first floor, which holds her steamed bread shop. All the machinery is now underwater.

It’s unknown how many people are trapped in flood-stricken areas in the city and surrounding villages. Rescue teams from other provinces came to Zhuozhou to assist with evacuations.

“We have to grasp every second, every minute to save people,” said Zhong Hongjun, the head of a rescue team from coastal Jiangsu province. Zhong said he had been working since 2 a.m. Wednesday when they arrived, and expects to work into the night. They’ve rescued about 200 people so far. “A lot of the people we saved are elderly and children,” he said.

On Wednesday, waters in Gu’an county in Hebei, which borders Zhuozhou, reached as high as halfway up a pole where a surveillance camera was installed.

Gu’an county resident Liu Jiwen, 58, was evacuated from his village on Tuesday night. “There’s nothing we can do. It’s natural disaster,” he said.

Two other people were trying to pass through the flooded areas to rescue a relative trapped in a nearby village.

Nearly 850,000 people have been relocated, local authorities in Hebei province said.

AP23214242273989 scaled — Residents are evacuated by rubber boats through flood waters in Zhuozhou in northern China’s Hebei province, south of Beijing, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

On Wednesday, the number of confirmed deaths from the torrential rains around Beijing rose to 21 after the body of a rescuer was recovered. Wang Hong-chun, 41, was with other rescuers in a rubber boat when it flipped over in a rapidly flowing river. Four of her teammates survived.

At least 26 people remain missing from the rains.

The previous record for rainfall was in 1891, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said Wednesday, when the city received 609 millimeters (24 inches) of rain. The earliest precise measurements made by machines are from 1883.

Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, called the recent rainfall “extreme.” Last year’s total rainfall in Beijing did not even top 500 millimeters (19.6 inches).

Ma said there should be a review of how cities are planned because some places experience repeat flooding. “We need to avoid building large-scale construction … in low-lying areas,” Ma said.

AP23214431189365 — In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, workers remove fallen debris from a railway track at a flood hit Village in Mentougou district on the outskirts of Beijing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Ju Huanzong/Xinhua via AP)

The record rainfall from Doksuri, now downgraded to a tropical storm, may not be the last. Typhoon Khanun, which lashed Japan on Wednesday, is expected to head toward China later this week. The powerful storm, with surface winds of up to 180 kph (111 mph), may also hit Taiwan before it reaches China.

Thousands of people were evacuated to shelters in schools and other public buildings in suburban Beijing and in nearby cities. The central government is disbursing 44 million yuan ($6.1 million) for disaster relief in affected provinces.

The severity of the flooding took the Chinese capital by surprise. Beijing usually has dry summers but had a stretch of record-breaking heat this year.

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ANDY WONG reported from Zhouzhou. HUIZHONG WU reported from Taipei, Taiwan. Associated Press news assistant Caroline Chen and researcher Wanqing Chen contributed to this report.

Police Issue Arrest Warrant Against Owner of Fireworks Warehouse

By

Khaosod English

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2 August 2023, 20:29

On August 2, police issued arrest warrants for the owners of the fireworks warehouse in Narathiwat province whose explosion killed at least 11 people and injured more than 120.

The people on the arrest warrant are Mr. Sompong Nakul, 42, and Ms. Piyanuch Puengvirawat, who are believed to be in Malaysia. Police officers issued an arrest warrant after waiting for the two to appear at the police station on August 1, but neither showed up.

The two owners were previously arrested at the Muno Police Station on July 16, 2016, for selling fireworks without a license and violating officers’ orders under the emergency decree. However, both were not prosecuted because the prosecutor decided not to charge them.

The national police chief also ordered officers in all areas to search for the two and bring them to trial.

AP23210468817043 — People speak on their phones in front of a house damaged by an explosion at a firework warehouse in Narathiwat province southern Thailand Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Kriya Tehtani)

This time, the four officers of Muno Police Station were transferred to temporary duty. The police also set up a truth investigation committee headed by Pol. Maj. Gen. Prabpal Mee-Mongkol, deputy commissioner of District 9. They want to speed up the investigation and report the result back to the police chief.

The police were pressured by the public and questioned why they allowed the warehouse to store such dangerous substances for so long.

AP23210468893410 — Thai Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel examine the site of an explosion at a firework warehouse in Narathiwat province southern Thailand, Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Kriya Tehtani)

Deputy Commissioner of Police Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpal stated during a visit to the Muno Market disaster area that the police would investigate all components; it would not finish with just two fireworks warehouse owners. They will look into whether the two husbands and wives are truly the proprietors or if they are only nominees.

Furthermore, any official who failed to fulfil his or her responsibilities must be investigated. “We have almost 200,000 officers in our organisation. It is a lie to pretend that no bribes were involved. In any case, this organisation still has more good people than bad,” he added.

muno surachate — Deputy Commissioner of Police Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpal (center) visited the Muno Market disaster area on August 2, 2023.

At the same time, Chaiwat Pattanapisaensak, Doctor of Public Health in Narathiwat Province, warned the public not to visit the fire scene, including nearby places such as Muno Market and the community where the warehouse was located, because saltpeter from the fireworks is still present in these areas, which could lead to an explosion if there is a flare-up, which could be from the cigarette.

Reformist Thai Party Is Excluded From Coalition To Form the Next Government, Runner-up Party Says

By

Associated Press

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2 August 2023, 17:28

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI — The progressive political party that won the most seats in Thailand’s general election has been excluded from a coalition to form the next government, its former ally said Wednesday. Conservative lawmakers strongly oppose the party over its proposed reform of a law banning criticism of the country’s monarchy.

Thailand has struggled for nearly three months to form a government and select a new leader since its election in May. Move Forward Party, the surprise winner, pulled together an eight-party coalition with 312 seats in the 500-member House. However, under the military-enacted constitution, confirming a new prime minister requires a majority vote by both the elected House and the 250-member Senate, which was appointed by a previous military government.

An initial bid last month by Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat fell short by more than 50 votes, largely because only 13 senators backed him. His second attempt the following week was blocked by a procedural vote in Parliament, which said his name could not be nominated again.

Parliament plans to convene on Friday for its third attempt to select a successor to Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army commander seized power in a 2014 coup and was returned as prime minister after a 2019 election, despite a pending court decision that could delay the vote again.

The Constitutional Court is to meet on Thursday to decide whether to accept a petition from the state ombudsman seeking a ruling on whether Parliament’s rejection of Pita’s renomination was unconstitutional. If accepted, the court could order the vote to be postponed until it issues a ruling.

After its two failed attempts, Move Forward handed over the lead in forming a new government to the populist second-biggest party in the coalition, Pheu Thai. Chonlanan Srikaew, Pheu Thai’s leader, said at a news conference Wednesday that after talking with other parties and senators, it was clear that Move Forward’s stance on the monarchy, which he called “the important institution of our country,” was a major obstacle for the coalition in rallying enough votes in Parliament to confirm a new prime minister.

Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks to reduce the influence of the military, which has staged more than a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and big business monopolies.

Chonlanan said Pheu Thai will attempt to form a coalition government without Move Forward and would nominate real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin for prime minister. The party will announce its new coalition partners on Thursday, he said.

“The Pheu Thai party would like to express its sincerity to our friends in all political parties and the Senate, including the people, that this is the way we can preserve the important institution of the country as the cornerstone of all people in the nation, and at the same time push forward the demands of the people under these restrictions,” Chonlanan read from a party statement.

AP23214353860720 — Supporters of the Move Forward Party burn an effigy during a protest at Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Chaithawat Tulathon, Move Forward’s secretary general, said Pheu Thai did not ask it to back down from its monarchy reform policy, but that all parties it had spoken to did not want Move Forward in the government.

Move Forward has filed a petition in Parliament seeking to amend the constitution to eliminate the unelected Senate’s ability to veto prime ministerial candidates, which also will be debated on Friday.

The Senate sees itself as the guardian of conservative royalist values. Many senators said they would not vote for Pita because of his party’s call for reform of the law prohibiting defamation of the royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, has been widely abused as a political weapon.

Public frustration has grown over Parliament’s failure to name a new leader. Supporters of the Move Forward Party have staged several protests calling for senators to stop blocking the candidate from the eight-party coalition.

Dozens of protesters rallied on Wednesday to demand the eight-party coalition remain together. They arrived at the Pheu Thai headquarters as the news conference was being held. Reacting to the news that Move Forward was ousted from the coalition, they laid effigies at the front gate and set them on fire.

Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties affiliated with ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire populist who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. His daughter has announced that he plans to return on Aug. 10 following years of self-imposed exile to escape a prison term in several criminal cases which he has decried as politically motivated.

Warner Bros. Apologizes Over A-Bomb-Related Social Media Flap

By

Kyodo News

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2 August 2023, 16:31

Culture The Color Pink — FILE - Margot Robbie in a scene from "Barbie." With the Friday, July 21, 2023. (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP, File)

TOKYO – Warner Bros. in the United States has apologized over a social media controversy involving the official promoter of its blockbuster movie “Barbie” cheerfully engaging with user posts linking the film’s main character to atomic bomb-related imagery inspired by the biopic “Oppenheimer” released at the same time.

Following the Japanese distributor’s criticism on Monday of its U.S. counterpart, Warner Bros. Film Group reportedly said in a statement to multiple media outlets, “Warner Brothers regrets its recent insensitive social media engagement. The studio offers a sincere apology.”

Warner Bros. Japan LLC had expressed regret over the U.S. headquarters’ Barbie Movie account’s responses to some social media posts, apparently referring to its positive replies to mashups of the bubbly satire and the film about Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist who led the project of making atomic bombs.

The two films have topped the U.S. box office since they came out on July 21. Seizing on the simultaneous release of the contrasting films, media have referred to the two collectively as “Barbenheimer” and a host of memes have sprouted up online.

AP23209808109588 — A patron buys a movie ticket underneath a marquee featuring the films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” at the Los Feliz Theatre, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

One such image appears to depict the actors who portray Barbie and Oppenheimer posing happily in front of an apocalyptic blast that some in Japan have said resembles the real destruction of the U.S. atomic bombs dropped at the closing stage of World War II.

The Barbie Movie account replied to the viral post, saying, “It’s going to be a summer to remember” with an emoji of a face blowing a kiss.

Another user apparently replaced the “Barbie” star’s hair with a mushroom cloud in a separate image. The film’s official account said, “This Ken is a stylist,” referring to the name of Barbie’s boyfriend.

“Barbie” is slated for release in Japan on Aug. 11, while there is no information about whether “Oppenheimer” will hit theaters in the country.

The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, causing an estimated 210,000 deaths by the end of the year, mostly among civilians, according to the cities.

Many U.S. polls have indicated that some in the country believe the nuclear attacks on Japan were necessary to end the war.

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CP Foods Contributes to the ‘Science Lab’, Enhancing Rural Kids Learning

By

Contributor

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2 August 2023, 16:09

Charoen Pokphand Foods Company Limited (CP Foods) continues to strengthen the development of Thailand’s education through the CONNEXT ED project, initiated by CP Group in collaboration with CP Group’s affiliates and leading Thai companies, aiming to synergize their business expertise to modernize and boost the competitiveness of Thailand’s education system.

The “Science Lab” at Nong Nok Khian Samukkee School in Pak Thong Chai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, is an initiative under the CONNEXT ED Foundation’s Crowdfunding Project, with significant backing from CP Foods. The lab is equipped with modern scientific equipment for hands-on learning, leading to an experimental-based curriculum, providing a stimulating learning environment to delve into students’ scientific interests.

Nong Nok Khian Samukkee School, a medium-sized primary school catering to 265 students from preschool to grade 9 (Mattayom 3), joined the CONNEXT ED Project in 2019. Under this project, the school initiated the “Weaving Skill for Life” project in 2020 and, in 2022, participated in the Crowdfunding Project to establish the Science Lab Classroom. This year, the school is now seeking funds to implement the school’s integrated agriculture project.

Ms. Sukanya Butprom, the school’s science teacher, emphasizes the crucial role of the Science Lab in enhancing rural students’ science comprehension and skills. The lab provides opportunities for students to participate in practical experiments, conduct research, and engage in problem-solving activities, thus fostering their teamwork and critical thinking abilities. Ms. Butprom emphasized that the lab plays a vital role in reducing the educational disparity between students from rural and urban communities.

The science lab has helped improve the school’s academic achievement scores in science subjects to be higher than the national level (O-NET). The average score for science subjects of grade 6 students was 46.94, which is higher than the national average score of 39.34. Similarly, the average score of grade 11 students was 39.08, also higher than the national average of 33.32. In addition, the experiences and skills gained from learning in the science lab have led the school to earn several awards and certificates, including winning the gold medal in the regional school science project competition at the primary school level, as well as the gold award for scientific invention at the primary school level, etc.

Pranutwat Suriyojo, a 13-year-old student, appreciates that his school established the Science Lab for enhancing his scientific knowledge and ability to engage in science projects. He takes great pleasure in the hands-on learning approach and credits the lab for fueling his passion for science.

Panadda Sodoking, the 14-year-old student council president at Nong Nok Khian Samukkee School, expressed pride in her school and appreciation for the Science Lab. She noted that the lab has deepened her scientific understanding and honed her scientific skills. She also extended gratitude to CP Foods for their critical contribution to realizing the Science Lab.

The Science Lab symbolizes CP Foods’ commitment to advancing education in Thailand. As a founding member of the CONNEXT ED Foundation, CP Foods strives to standardize the quality of education to ensure equitable access for all Thai children. The establishment of the Science Lab, which promotes hands-on learning, exemplifies CP Foods’ continuous efforts in supporting Thai education.

Who is Srettha Thavisin, A New Prime Minister Candidate?

By

Khaosod English

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2 August 2023, 14:47

Srettha Thavisin, 60, former CEO of a leading real estate conglomerate, of the Pheu Thai Party is expected to become Thailand’s next prime minister candidate after Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party, cannot overcome opposition from senators who emerged from the previous coup in the process of renomination on July 19.

Pheu Thai Party has formally announced on August 2 it will nominate Srettha as its PM candidate for the next bicameral vote expected to be on Friday, August 4. The party also said it’s now seeking to form a new coalition without Move Forward Party due to the latter’s refusal to withdraw its pledge to amend the lese majeste law.

Srettha is considered a representative of liberal political ideas, but not too extreme. He has experience in governing, a broad vision and can communicate clearly with the public, including the younger generation. He stresses the importance of addressing the problems of economic and social inequality that need to be solved.

Srettha Thavisin, nicknamed Nid (which means little), was born on February 15, 1963. He received his master’s degree in finance from Claremont Graduate School in the United States.

He has been married to Dr. Parkpilai Thavisin, an elderly health care specialist, for over 34 years. Dr. Parkpilai works at VitalLife, a vitality and wellness center, at Bumrungrad Hospital. They have three children together.

srettha family — Srettha Thavisin and his family

Srettha began his career in 1986 as a production assistant at Procter & Gamble Company, where he worked for four years. He then moved to San Samran, the company owned by Apichart Chutrakul, his older siblings and cousins. Later, the company changed its name to Sansiri. In the following years, Srettha held the position of CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the company.

Personally, Srettha loves football and supports Liverpool FC. He once paid £10,000 for a UEFA VIP package card, which included accommodation at the Intercontinental Hotel in central Kiev, Ukraine, to watch the Liverpool team play Real Madrid in the 2018 final, which the Madrid team won.

He had contributed to football by developing younger players through the Sansiri Academy since 2006, which provides free training to young people. One of the project’s participants is Thai national team player Chanathip Songkrasin.

“Khun Nid provides poor children with the opportunity to learn to play football.” Because of the possibilities he provided, I am who I am today. Maybe it’s not everything that makes me successful, but it’s a big part of what I have now. “This is not a bad person; this is a rich person, a good person, a generous person,” Chanathip explained.

In late 2022, Srettha made the decision to enter politics by becoming a member of Pheu Thai Party. He then officially resigned from his post as CEO on April 4, 2023. He entered the election race focused on winning support through economic policy, which is a major selling point of the Pheu Thai Party.

AP23131396224519 — Real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin, one of the opposition Pheu Thai Party’s three registered nominees for prime minister, waves to supporters during a general election campaign in Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

However, he could not resist the popularity of Pita and the Move Forward Party in the last election. The Pheu Thai Party lost to the Move Forward Party by a margin of 10 seats and a total of 4 million votes.

Pita has created a phenomenon called ‘Pita mania’ and has a new generation of followers called ‘Domsom’ (Orange fandom) who enthusiastically welcome him wherever he appears after leading the party to electoral victory, but the elite, the big business groups, and the old power factions have prevented Pita in every possible way.

Pita has been ordered by the Constitutional Court to stop performing MP duties on July 19, 2023, pending the ruling on whether he lacks the qualifications to be an MP due to his ITV shareholding.

ingshin srettha — Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated on Tuesday, July 18, that she completely backs Srettha Tavisin to become prime minister.

As a result, the chances of becoming prime minister on the liberal political spectrum shifted to Srettha Thavisin, who is warmly welcomed by the business community. This is also reflected in the Thai stock market index. Since Pita’s defeat in the first round of voting on July 13, the stock index has continued to rise.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, another PM candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, stated on Tuesday, July 18, that she completely backs Srettha being nominated as PM. He is a person who can solve problems in a timely manner.

Thaksin Shinawatra, the former PM spoke in a video call on his birthday, July 26 at a meeting of Pheu Thai MPs that he was delighted to celebrate his birthday before coming home. He would love to come back to raise his grandchildren and let his daughter, Phaetongtarn, work for the party while Srettha Thavisin, a candidate for Prime Minister, would work at the Government House.

His mention means he is assured that Srettha will become Thailand’s 30th prime minister.

However, since the Pheu Thai Party has decided to abandon the Move Forward Party and disintegrate the eight-party coalition in order to form a new coalition and obtain the approval of the majority of senators, it has definitely faced protesters, both supporters of the Move Forward Party and pro-democracy groups.

Srettha said on July 20 that the next PM vote must be a “no lese majeste law” issue; otherwise, the junta-appointed senators won’t support the candidate. “It’s very basic math,” he added.

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