Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club, the very first golf course in Thailand for night golf and stars-gazing is awarded with the Amazing Dark Sky in Thailand Certificate by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the National Astronomic Research Center of Thailand (NARIT).
Seen receiving the certificate at the recent award presentation ceremony from the TAT Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn is Mr. Akkaraphong Jurangkool, Group Managing Director of Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club, with Ms. Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, Deputy Governor of TAT, Dr. Saran Poshyachinda, Executive Director of National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand and Ms. Hatairatn Jurangkool, Senior Executive Vice President of Summit Corporation Group, Ms. Phuwanida Techatanasombat and Mr. Narongridh Sukchaiprakarn, Executives of Summit Green Valley Chiangmai recently attended.
Officers from the Khao Yai Patrolling Unit, Pha Kradat, Moo See, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, rescued a female gaur stuck in the mud of the water hole in Khao Yai National Park near Toscana Resort Khao Yai.
It was believed that the gaur was there because she is blind in both eyes.
Officials requested a crane from the hotel to lift the gaur out of the mud. After spending more than 4-5 hours doing so, they managed to lift the gaur late on July 16 and subsequently took care of it at the Pha Kradat.
They have named her “Chaba Kaew” and it is currently in the care of Chananya Kanchanasaka, a veterinarian who stated Chaba Kaew was still showing signs of weakness due to her advanced age, which is estimated to be at least 30 years, judging by the curvature of her horn that is almost touching at the tips.
However, on July 19, Khammuan Thongtam, head of the Pha Kradat unit, said that Chaba Kaeo was in much better shape. She can generally eat and drink water.
Chaba Kaeo was in much better shape on July 19.
During this time, residents and officials in Khao Yai have encountered several blind gaurs. Many people believe that this could be due to the piss of the hyena. However, experts explain that this is not the case. Instead, the blindness is caused by a disease transmitted by a certain type of insect that is particularly prolific during the rainy season.
Attapol Charoenchansa, acting director general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, explained that these insects are called eye flies. They are widely distributed in certain areas of Thailand, especially the species “siphunculina funicola”.
The eye fles or siphunculina funicola
These insects infest and feed on the eye secretions of gaur calves and cause symptoms such as red eyes, eye irritation, excessive tearing, and a large amount of eye discharge. It can lead to eye infections that spread to the lacrimal glands behind the ears, causing pain and swelling. Usually, the infestation starts in one eye and then spreads to the other, eventually leading to permanent blindness of both eyes.
The infection transmitted by these eye flies can occur in gangsters of all sexes and ages. Factors such as general health and genetics may play an additional role in susceptibility to the infection.
Chaba Kaew is blind in both eyes.
When flies feed on blood and eye secretions from wounds, the healing process is delayed, making the wounds difficult to treat and resulting in chronic wounds. These chronic wounds can serve as entry points for various diseases, leading to infections of the bloodstream and, in some cases, death.
Numbers of this insect species can increase rapidly during the dry and wet seasons, and climate change may play a role in these fluctuations. Currently, there are no clear data on whether there is an increase in bacterial infections or the emergence of new viruses associated with these eye flies.
Researchers are still studying the situation and gathering information to better understand it. Dealing with the problem of these insects is a challenge. Of course, they rely on birds that feed on insects to control their population.
Thailand has jumped six places to 64th in the World Passport Power Ranking based on the number of locations its holders have visa-free access to, according to a recent survey released by a consultancy firm, Henley & Partners Holdings Ltd.
A consulting firm published a press release on July 18 saying that Japan has been knocked off the top spot on the Henley Passport Index for the first time in five years and bumped into 3rd place, according to the latest ranking, which is based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Singapore is now officially the most powerful passport in the world, with its citizens able to visit 192 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. Germany, Italy, and Spain all move up into 2nd place with visa-free access to 190 destinations.
Singapore, a neighbour of Thailand, is now officially the most powerful passport in the world. / henleyglobal.com
Japanese passport holders join those of six other nations — Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden — in 3rd place with access to189 destinations without a prior visa.
Afghanistan remains entrenched at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index, with a visa-free access score of just 27, followed by Iraq (score of 29), and Syria (score of 30) — the three weakest passports in the world.
The general trend over the history of the 18-year-old ranking has been towards greater travel freedom, with the average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free nearly doubling from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2023.
However, the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than it has ever been, with top-ranked Singapore able to access 165 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan.
Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows planes in parking slots at Tokyo’s Haneda airport on April 30, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says only eight countries worldwide have less visa-free access today than they did a decade ago while others have been more successful in securing greater travel freedom for their citizens.
“The UAE has added an impressive 107 destinations to its visa-free score since 2013, resulting in a massive leap of 44 places in the ranking over the past 10 years from 56th to 12th position. This is almost double the next biggest climber, Colombia, which has enjoyed a jump of 28 places in the ranking to sit in 37th spot.
Ukraine and China are also among the Top 10 countries with the most improved rankings over the past decade.
Pita Limjaroenrat, left, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May's general election attends a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
GRANT PECK and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI — Thailand’s Parliament voted Wednesday against allowing the leader of the progressive party that finished first in May’s general election a second chance to be confirmed as prime minister.
Pita Limjaroenrat had assembled a coalition of parties holding a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives. But his nomination for prime minister was defeated in a joint vote of the House and Senate last week, with conservative military-appointed senators mostly refusing their support over ideological differences.
The joint session debated Wednesday whether Pita could be nominated for a second time, and House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha then put the question to a joint vote. A motion to prevent him from running again was passed by a vote of 395 to 312, with eight abstentions. The meeting of Parliament was then adjourned.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday agreed to suspend Pita Limjaroenrat from his duties as a member of Parliament pending its ruling on whether he violated election law.
The court’s announcement came ahead of a likely second vote in Parliament on whether to confirm Pita as prime minister. His party was the top finisher in May’s general election and assembled an eight-party coalition that won 312 seats in the House of Representatives.
However, the coalition failed to win enough support in an initial vote last week from the non-elected, military-appointed Senate, which votes together with the lower house to select the country’s head of government.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May’s general election attends a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The court’s announcement would still allow Pita’s nomination and selection as prime minister, at least until a ruling. But it also puts pressure on him to make way for another candidate, perhaps even before a second vote scheduled for Wednesday can be held.
Thailand’s state Election Commission had referred Pita’s case to the court, saying there was evidence he had violated election law over his undeclared alleged ownership of media company shares, which candidates for the legislature are not allowed to have. His supporters have challenged the commission’s conclusion on what is widely seen as a minor technical transgression at worst.
Pita had been expected to have a last chance Wednesday to get the country’s Parliament to confirm him as the next prime minister after being rebuffed last week when he failed to get enough support from the Senate, whose members made clear they would not vote for him because of his party’s platform.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in May’s general election, raises his hand as he leaves Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The party campaigned with a promise to try to amend a law that makes it illegal to defame, insult or threaten Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is abused as a political weapon.
The Senate’s members, along with the army and the courts, are considered to be the conservative royalist establishment’s bulwark against change.
Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks reforms that would 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.
Ahead of Wednesday’s session, Pita posted a message on Twitter asking senators to apply the same principles they did in 2019, when they voted for the candidate of a military-backed coalition that held a majority of House seats. He also accused some senators of using the controversial claim that he is undermining the monarchy as an excuse to reject his candidacy, when their actual reason is that they feel their own interests are threatened by his party’s broader reform agenda.
Pita Limjaroenrat, left, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in May’s general election, holds his portrait before leaving Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
By midday Wednesday, Pita was not even guaranteed to get another chance at securing a needed majority in a combined vote of the lower house and the Senate. There first needs to be a parliamentary ruling on whether he can legally receive a second nomination for the prime minister’s post, which is not clear.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha was set to decide the matter after a debate. He was elected to the House from one of the smaller parties in the coalition backing Pita’s bid but has said he must consider the arguments for and against re-nominating Pita.
If Pita is disqualified, it is unclear whether Wednesday’s vote for prime minister will proceed. If a vote is held but fails to confirm Pita, it also is unclear whether a planned third round of voting would take place Thursday.
Pita said Monday said he would stand for prime minister again this week but declared he would allow a candidate from another party in his coalition to try for the post if he failed to attract substantially more votes than last week. There is little to suggest that he would gain many, if any, more senators this time around.
The media’s focus has already shifted to the putative replacement for Pita as nominee for prime minister.
He or she would come from the Pheu Thai party, which won 141 seats in the election, just 10 less than Move Forward’s 151. The eight-party coalition seeking to take power won 312 House seats in all, a majority of elected lawmakers.
A supporter of Move Forward Party holds a smoke flare during a protest outside Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanitchakron)
However, confirming a new prime minister requires a vote of a joint sitting of the lower house and the Senate. The coalition mustered only 324 votes last week, well short of the minimum 376 it needed.
Pita was Move Forward’s only candidate, while Pheu Thai registered three names: real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, the party’s chief strategist.
Srettha has emerged as the favorite. He entered active politics only last year, and on Tuesday won a public endorsement from Paetongtarn.
She mentioned his business acumen and experience, which are seen as Srettha’s strongest selling points to steady an economy which has had trouble bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic.
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)
If neither Pita nor a Pheu Thai candidate can win parliamentary approval, there will be pressure to assemble a new coalition, adding less liberal partners while dropping Move Forward because its position on royal reforms is seen as the stumbling block to a compromise.
For its part, Move Forward has declared it has no interest in serving in a government with parties tainted by links to the nine years of military-backed rule now ending, so it may be more comfortable in opposition.
“I think they would be willing to step out of the picture themselves and still feel like they are honoring what they announced to voters in the pre-election campaigning,” said Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand.
She said she was hopeful but pessimistic since the issue of reforms to the monarchy “makes politics going forward very hard.”
“I still don’t see how we can get these roadblocks out of the way,” Saowanee said.
The prospect of Pita being denied the prime minister’s job has already riled his supporters and pro-democracy activists, who have called for demonstrations on Wednesday.
UOB Thailand hosted its Mid-Year Outlook seminar today to help clients navigate the second half of 2023 amidst global economic risks. The seminar aims to provide investment insights and strategies that will enable clients to build resilience in their portfolios.
As the global economy experiences a slowdown, UOB Thailand advises clients to focus on building defensive portfolios with lower-risk core allocations in diversified multi-asset strategies and investment-grade bonds. Those with an appropriate risk appetite can then capture targeted tactical opportunities in Top Ideas -– Global Healthcare and Asia-ex Japan/ASEAN/China. The seminar also closely examines Asia-ex Japan becoming more independent from Developed Markets (DM), making it prime for investment opportunities.
Thai Economy – Resilience Amid Challenges
According to Mr Enrico Tanuwidjaja, Economist at Global Economics and Market Research, UOB, the Thai economy has shown strength in its recovery from the pandemic. He said, “We expect the positive trend to continue, with projected growth of at least 3 per cent this year and even stronger growth of around 3.5 per cent in 2024. The recovery in the tourism sector will contribute to a current account surplus, supporting Thailand’s external sector. We are optimistic about the country’s economic outlook with stable fiscal conditions and ongoing monetary policy measures.”
Mr Tanuwidjaja further added that the Thai economy is forecasted to encounter less significant inflationary pressure this year. Compared to the 6 per cent high in 2022, the average for this year is expected to be around 2.7 per cent, falling within the central bank’s goal range of 1 to 3 per cent for 2023. As the supply chain disruptions are improving, the inflation rate is expected to decrease and reach an average of 2.2 per cent in the upcoming year.
While challenges such as the ageing population and household debts persist, Mr Tanuwidjaja believes that the Thai economy can address these by exploring new sources of growth opportunities, such as competitive food exports, the digital economy, and e-commerce.
Strategies for Portfolio Resilience
Mr Abel Lim, Head of Wealth Management Advisory and Strategy, UOB, highlighted the need for robust portfolios to meet long-term financial goals. He added, “The first half of 2023 was a mix of expected outcomes and unexpected surprises for investors. We have been confronted with a crisis of confidence in the banking sector that led to the failure of three US regional banks, both within and outside the US. As Developed Market economies move into a slowdown, volatility is expected to persist into the second half of 2023. During this time, we focus on ideas and solutions that help clients build robust portfolios to meet long-term financial goals.”
With inflation reaching its peak and the global monetary policy tightening cycle nearing its end, Mr Lim suggested that now is an opportune time for clients to secure higher yields by investing in investment-grade bonds. He highlighted the potential benefits of longer-duration bonds, as attractive coupons may become scarce in the coming years. Bonds also tend to outperform stocks during economic slowdowns and recessions, offering the potential for both higher yields and capital gains.
Regarding the Top Ideas, Mr. Lim recommended Global Healthcare for clients with a risk appetite for stocks. He pointed out the industry’s defensive characteristics, supported by the secular trend of an ageing global population and technological advancements. While acknowledging short-term headwinds in the Asia-ex Japan/ASEAN/China region, primarily due to China’s uneven economic recovery and declining exports across Asian economies, Mr Lim remained positive about the medium-term prospects. He cited resilient regional consumption and lower valuations as factors contributing to this optimism.
Digital Advancements and Wealth Management Solutions
Mr Gidon Jerome Kessel, Head of Deposit and Wealth Management, UOB Thailand, emphasised UOB’s commitment to digital capabilities and personalised services. He said, “At UOB, we believe in combining human expertise with data and technology to deliver optimised and comprehensive services to our clients. Our upcoming wealth advisory tools, including the proprietary digital portfolio advisory tool (PAT), will empower our customers to monitor, manage, and optimise their investment portfolios effectively.”
UOB provides a wide range of quality investment strategies in onshore and offshore mutual funds. Specialised advice tailored to personal goals and additional privileges and benefits for existing customers cater to various life stages and market conditions.
Investors must be aware of their risk appetites and maintain a diversified portfolio to mitigate risks due to unforeseen events. UOB’s team of dedicated client advisors and specialists, together with a comprehensive suite of wealth advisory tools and investment products both onshore and offshore, offer expert advice built around what matters to each investor. Before making any investment decisions, investors should always ensure that they are clear about what they are investing in and have considered the potential risk factors.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Suchart Siengchin, KMUTNB President, revealed on 13 July 2023 that the iRAP Robot team of KMUTNB students had joined the World RoboCup Rescue 2023 during 4 – 10 July 2024 at Bordeaux, France.
Presently, the competition has been concluded. The iRAP Robot team from KMUTNB won the world champion for the ninth time. Also, the team won other two additional awards, including the Best in Class Mobility Award and Best in Class Mapping.
The RoboCup Rescue Robot 2023 was joined by 17 teams from 11 countries across the world, including United States, Germany, France, Japan, China, Australia, Turkey, Mexico, Bangladesh, South Korea and Thai.
The Hector Darmstadt team from Germany won the First runner-up while the Quix team from Japan won Second runner-up.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May's general election shows the lawmaker ID during a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
GRANT PECK and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI — Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday agreed to suspend Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, a top candidate to become prime minister, from his duties as a member of Parliament pending its ruling on whether he violated election law.
The court’s announcement came ahead of a likely second vote in Parliament on whether to confirm Pita as prime minister. His party was the top finisher in May’s general election and assembled an eight-party coalition that won 312 seats in the House of Representatives.
However, the coalition failed to win enough support in an initial vote last week from the non-elected, military-appointed Senate, which votes together with the lower house to select the country’s head of government.
Pita Limjaroenrat, bottom right, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May’s general election is surrounded by the party’s lawmakers during a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The court’s announcement would still allow Pita’s nomination and selection as prime minister, at least until a ruling. But it also puts pressure on him to make way for another candidate, perhaps even before a second vote scheduled for Wednesday can be held.
Thailand’s state Election Commission had referred Pita’s case to the court, saying there was evidence he had violated election law over his undeclared alleged ownership of media company shares, which candidates for the legislature are not allowed to have. His supporters have challenged the commission’s conclusion on what is widely seen as a minor technical transgression at worst.
Pita had been expected to have a last chance Wednesday to get the country’s Parliament to confirm him as the next prime minister after being rebuffed last week when he failed to get enough support from the Senate, whose members made clear they would not vote for him because of his party’s platform.
The party campaigned with a promise to try to amend a law that makes it illegal to defame, insult or threaten Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is abused as a political weapon.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May’s general election attends a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The Senate’s members, along with the army and the courts, are considered to be the conservative royalist establishment’s bulwark against change.
Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks reforms that would 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.
Ahead of Wednesday’s session, Pita posted a message on Twitter asking senators to apply the same principles they did in 2019, when they voted for the candidate of a military-backed coalition that held a majority of House seats. He also accused some senators of using the controversial claim that he is undermining the monarchy as an excuse to reject his candidacy, when their actual reason is that they feel their own interests are threatened by his party’s broader reform agenda.
By midday Wednesday, Pita was not even guaranteed to get another chance at securing a needed majority in a combined vote of the lower house and the Senate. There first needs to be a parliamentary ruling on whether he can legally receive a second nomination for the prime minister’s post, which is not clear.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha was set to decide the matter after a debate. He was elected to the House from one of the smaller parties in the coalition backing Pita’s bid but has said he must consider the arguments for and against re-nominating Pita.
If Pita is disqualified, it is unclear whether Wednesday’s vote for prime minister will proceed. If a vote is held but fails to confirm Pita, it also is unclear whether a planned third round of voting would take place Thursday.
Pita said Monday said he would stand for prime minister again this week but declared he would allow a candidate from another party in his coalition to try for the post if he failed to attract substantially more votes than last week. There is little to suggest that he would gain many, if any, more senators this time around.
The media’s focus has already shifted to the putative replacement for Pita as nominee for prime minister.
He or she would come from the Pheu Thai party, which won 141 seats in the election, just 10 less than Move Forward’s 151. The eight-party coalition seeking to take power won 312 House seats in all, a majority of elected lawmakers.
Pita Limjaroenrat, front left, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May’s general election hugs a lawmaker of the party during a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
However, confirming a new prime minister requires a vote of a joint sitting of the lower house and the Senate. The coalition mustered only 324 votes last week, well short of the minimum 376 it needed.
Pita was Move Forward’s only candidate, while Pheu Thai registered three names: real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, the party’s chief strategist.
Srettha has emerged as the favorite. He entered active politics only last year, and on Tuesday won a public endorsement from Paetongtarn.
She mentioned his business acumen and experience, which are seen as Srettha’s strongest selling points to steady an economy which has had trouble bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic.
If neither Pita nor a Pheu Thai candidate can win parliamentary approval, there will be pressure to assemble a new coalition, adding less liberal partners while dropping Move Forward because its position on royal reforms is seen as the stumbling block to a compromise.
For its part, Move Forward has declared it has no interest in serving in a government with parties tainted by links to the nine years of military-backed rule now ending, so it may be more comfortable in opposition.
“I think they would be willing to step out of the picture themselves and still feel like they are honoring what they announced to voters in the pre-election campaigning,” said Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand.
She said she was hopeful but pessimistic since the issue of reforms to the monarchy “makes politics going forward very hard.”
“I still don’t see how we can get these roadblocks out of the way,” Saowanee said.
The prospect of Pita being denied the prime minister’s job has already riled his supporters and pro-democracy activists, who have called for demonstrations on Wednesday.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, center. and Leader of Pheu Thai party Chonlanan Srikaew, left , wave to supporters after meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, July 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
GRANT PECK and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI— The leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party, which won a surprise first-place finish in May’s general election, is expected to have a last chance Wednesday to get the country’s parliament to confirm him as the next prime minister after he was rebuffed in a first round of voting.
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat fell short last week when he failed to get enough support from the non-elected Senate, whose members made clear they would not vote for him because of his party’s platform.
The party campaigned with a promise to try to amend a law that makes it illegal to defame, insult or threaten Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is abused as a political weapon.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, right , and Leader of Pheu Thai party Chonlanan Srikaew, C, wave to supportters after meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, July 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The Senate’s members were appointed by a military government rather than elected and are considered, along with the army and the courts, as serving as the conservative royalist establishment’s bulwark against change.
Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks reforms that would 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.
Pita is not guaranteed to get another chance at securing a needed majority in a combined vote of the House of Representatives and the Senate. There first needs to be a ruling on whether he can legally receive a second nomination for the prime minister’s post, which is not clear.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha is set to decide the matter after a scheduled debate. He was elected to the House from one of the smaller parties in the eight-party coalition backing Pita’s bid but has said he must consider the arguments for and against re-nominating Pita.
If Pita is disqualified, it is unclear whether Wednesday’s vote for prime minister will proceed. If a vote is held but fails to confirm Pita, it also is unclear whether a planned third round of voting would take place Thursday.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, left, and Leader of Pheu Thai party Chonlanan Srikaew shakes hands after meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, July 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Pita faces the prospect of additional bad news on Wednesday. The Constitutional Court is set to decide whether to accept a referral from the state Election Commission for a ruling on whether Pita violated election law and whether he should be suspended from his duties as a member of parliament in the meantime. When and whether the court would rule on either point is not known.
Pita said Monday said he would stand for prime minister again this week but declared he would allow a candidate from another party in his coalition to try for the post if he failed to attract substantially more votes than last week. There is little to suggest that he would gain many, if any, more senators this time around.
The media’s focus has already shifted to the putative replacement for Pita as nominee for prime minister.
He or she would come from the Pheu Thai party, which won 141 seats in the election, just 10 less than Move Forward’s 151. The eight-party coalition seeking to take power won 312 House seats in all, a majority of elected lawmakers.
However, confirming a new prime minister requires a vote of a joint sitting of the lower house and the Senate. The coalition mustered only 324 votes last week, well short of the minimum 376 it needed.
Pita was Move Forward’s only candidate, while Pheu Thai registered three names: real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. who was ousted by a 2006 military coup; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, the party’s chief strategist.
Paetongtarn was touted as the party’s top prospect during the election campaign, but Srettha has emerged as the favorite. He entered active politics only last year, and on Tuesday won a public endorsement from Paetongtarn.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, right, a leading Thai politician and youngest daughter of exiled former deposed Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin, left, two of the opposition Pheu Thai Party’s three nominees to become the next prime minister, greeted by supporters during general election final campaign rallies in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
She mentioned his business acumen and experience, which are seen as Srettha’s strongest selling points to steady an economy which has had trouble bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic.
If neither Pita nor a Pheu Thai candidate can win parliamentary approval, there will be pressure to assemble a new coalition, adding less liberal partners while dropping Move Forward because its position on royal reforms is seen as the stumbling block to a compromise.
For its part. Move Forward has declared it has no interest in serving in a government with parties tainted by links to the nine years of military-backed rule now ending, so it may be more comfortable in opposition.
“I think they would be willing to step out of the picture themselves and still feel like they they are honoring what they announced to voters in the pre-election campaigning,” Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand, said.
She said she was hopeful but pessimistic since the issue of reforms to the monarchy “makes politics going forward very hard.”
“I still don’t see how we can get these roadblocks out of the way,” Saowanee said.
The prospect of Pita being denied the prime minister’s job has already riled his supporters and pro-democracy activists, who have called for demonstrations on Wednesday.
A South Korean Marine's assault amphibious vehicle is mobilized to search for missing people in the Sam River in Yecheon, South Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Rescuers searched Tuesday for nine people still missing in landslides and other incidents caused by more than a week of torrential rains in South Korea, as the country’s military dispatched more than 10,000 troops to support rescue works.
The downpours pounding South Korea since July 9 have left 41 people dead, nine missing and 35 others injured. The rainfall has also forced about 12,780 people to evacuate and left about 28,600 households without power.
South Korean marines on boats search for missing people in the Sam River in Yecheon, South Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP)
During a Cabinet Council meeting Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered officials to mobilize all available resources to rescue any possible additional survivors, assist victims and conduct recovery works.
Yoon said the government plans to designate major rain-stricken areas as special disaster zones to help speed up the recovery.
The Defense Ministry separately said it was sending equipment and 11,000 soldiers on Tuesday to support government efforts to find the missing people and restore damages.
Much of the severe damage has been reported in South Korea’s central and southern regions, with the nine missing people listed in the southeastern North Gyeognsang province or the southeastern city of Busan.
A South Korean Marine’s assault amphibious vehicle is mobilized to search for missing people in the Sam River in Yecheon, South Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023.(Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP)
Also, 14 fatalities were reported from a tunnel in the central city of Cheongju, where 17 vehicles including a bus were trapped in a flash flood that may have filled up the passageway. Authorities earlier mobilized divers and other workers to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies before they reportedly ended searches inside the tunnel on Monday night.
Severe weather was also affecting many other places around the world. Earlier this month, relentless flooding also deluged parts of India, Japan, China, Turkey and the U.S
Although the destructive floods are occurring in different parts of the world, atmospheric scientists say they have this in common: With climate change, storms are forming in a warmer atmosphere, making extreme rainfall a more frequent reality now.
Officials from the Thung Khru police station in Bangkok encountered an unexpected situation on Monday while investigating the death of a roast pork vendor in a car. When the rescuers were going to remove her body, her dog ran from the house and leapt onto her lap.
Then the car alarm sounded throughout the area.
The officer tried to turn off the alarm by closing the car door, but all four car doors locked themselves. The woman’s husband had to use a remote key to unlock the door so that the officers could continue their work.
Khao Pan, a female Pomeranian dog, has been taken care of by her owner since she was a puppy. Khao Pan is very attached to her owner. Everyone took pity on her because her owner passed away.
Khao Pan, a female Pomeranian dog is very attached to her owner.
Anong, who died at age 54, lived with her husband and son in Bangkok’s Thung Khru District at Sinthawee Village 2, Soi Pracha Uthit 76. To kill herself, she lit the stove and smoked in a car parked in front of her house.
Her 62-year-old husband said that he, his wife, and their son usually wake up at 4 a.m. every day and help each other get ready for the motorcycle being towed to the side to sell grilled pork. But on July 17, he couldn’t find his wife when he woke up, so he went looking for her and found her dead in the car.
Anong’s husband said that his wife’s health problems and worry about the accident that happened two months ago have caused her a lot of stress. She was selling grilled pork from a sidecar when she fainted, causing her car to crash into a pickup truck until its tail light was broken. His wife was worried that someone would sue her.
