CP Brand Secures Marketeer’s No.1 Brand Thailand 2023 Award

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21 July 2023, 10:03

CP Brand proudly announces its remarkable achievement of securing the Marketeer’s No.1 Brand Thailand 2023 award. This prestigious recognition underlines CP Brand’s industry leadership and dedication to innovative research & development (R&D) for producing consumer-driven food solutions. Notably, the brand emerged victorious in the Frozen and Chilled Food categories, a testament to its ability to consistently align with consumer insights and deliver superior products.

The award was handed out following a comprehensive consumer survey conducted during 2022-2023 by Marketeer Magazine, an esteemed influence marketing publication in Thailand. This year, CP Brand triumphed in two categories: Frozen and Chilled Food, including the celebrated ‘CP Sausage,’ which has retained consumer trust for an impressive three consecutive years.

Anarkawee Chooratn, Head of Marketing at Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods), realizes the shift in modern consumers’ lifestyles and their conscious preference for better convenience and longer shelf-life products. “Our dedication to consistency in developing new products, underlining the “consumer-centric” concept, while upholding food safety adhered to international standards, along with our acute understanding of changing consumer demands, has been the primary catalyst in driving our growth and success,” expressed Anarkawee.

This third-time recognition as Thailand’s No.1 Brand serves as a motivating force for CPF, inspiring our constant pursuit of enhancing food safety and quality standards. “Our aim is to consistently earn consumer trust, providing innovative solutions that cater to the diverse needs of consumers across all age groups,” added Anarkawee.

The success of ‘CP Sausage’ reflects CPF’s dedication to creating products based on consumer demand. CPF recently launched CP Fit-It, in response to consumer trends leaning towards healthier food choices. Made with quality chicken breast meat, CP Fit-It offers 20 grams of protein per serving, equivalent to 5 egg whites, while maintaining low fat and sodium levels. This cutting-edge product was honored with the ‘World’s Best Taste of the Year 2023’ or the 3-star Superior Taste Award 2023 from the International Taste Institute, a further affirmation of its excellent taste and quality.

Our commitment in developing new products, underscoring the “consumer-centric” concept, while upholding food safety adhered to international standards, along with our acute understanding of changing consumer demands, has been the primary catalyst in driving our growth and success.

Additionally, CP Brand’s Frozen Food category continues to gain nationwide consumer awareness. CP Brand’s successful development of frozen food, which provides consumers with a fresh experience, is supported by Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) technology. This technology helps maintain the taste and nutritional value of the food without the need for preservatives. The company’s efforts to improve people’s health have resulted in a 30% reduction in salt content in various products such as CP Spaghetti Carbonara Chicken and CP Spaghetti with minced chicken and sausage, while still preserving their delicious taste. The company’s focus is on continuously delivering healthier innovations for consumers of all generations.

CP Foods is continually dedicated to producing nutritious and healthy innovative food by integrating innovative technologies throughout the production process. This commitment enables the company to consistently provide high-quality and delicious products. In addition, CP Foods continues to launch campaigns that align with emerging trends, always seeking fresh opportunities to better understand and serve consumers of all generations.

Mother Served Fresh Warrant For Claiming Money By Starving Daughter

By

Kyodo News

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20 July 2023, 22:14

osaka mother — Officials in the municipality of Daito, in Osaka, speak at a news conference on Wednesday regarding a case in which a mother is suspected of starving her daughter, hospitalizing her and claiming insurance payments. | KYODO

OSAKA – A 34-year-old mother in Osaka Prefecture has been served a fresh arrest warrant for allegedly swindling a cooperative out of mutual aid money by starving her child to the point of hospitalization for low blood sugar in January, according to police.

Kasumi Nawata, a part-time worker in Daito, allegedly withheld giving meals to her now 9-year-old daughter and had her hospitalized for ketotic hypoglycemia from Jan. 22 to Jan. 27 in order to defraud the cooperative of 60,000 yen ($430) in mutual aid payment.

The latest charge leveled against Nawata on Tuesday came as the police suspect she had her daughter, who was 8 years old at the time, admitted to the hospital 43 times.

The child spent a combined 332 days in a hospital since the spring of 2018, with her mother defrauding some 5.69 million yen from the cooperative and two other organizations that were supposed to cover hospitalization costs, investigative sources said.

Nawata has denied the allegation, saying she had not intended to cause her daughter to develop low blood sugar and that her aid application was not about deceiving the cooperative, according to the police.

Nawata’s smartphone records during the period showed that she invited her partner on a trip, as well as a friend to a bedrock bath, the sources said.

While she did not end up following through on either of the plans, the police suspect she hospitalized her daughter to earn time for recreational purposes, the sources said.

The daughter only consumed about 700 calories worth of food, including school meals, over the three days before her hospitalization, of which for one day she ate nothing, according to the police and the health ministry.

Her calorie intake during the period accounts for a mere 12-15 percent of the daily energy requirement for a girl aged 8 to 9, which stands at 1,500 to 1,900 calories, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said.

Ketotic hypoglycemia, which is caused by lengthy fasting, presents various symptoms, including convulsion and vomiting.

Of the 43 times the child was hospitalized, 39 were at the same hospital, with charges amounting to about 40,000 yen, the sources said.

The mother allegedly used the money she fraudulently received to pay for dining out and esthetic salon expenses, they said.

The case came to light after the hospital noticed Nawata telling her child over the phone, “Don’t eat, sleep,” while she was in hospital in early February, the sources said. The girl was subsequently taken into protective temporary custody at a local child consultation center.

Nawata was served three arrest warrants between March and June on suspicion of, among other crimes, causing injury by not feeding her daughter, leading to her developing low blood sugar, as well as forcing her to take laxatives.

While she has told the police that she gave her daughter the laxatives to improve her health, the police suspect that she intended to prolong her time in the hospital so that she could receive more mutual aid payments, as the girl had no constipation symptoms, according to the sources.

Foreigners Are Arrested For Working As Barber and Beauticians

By

Khaosod English

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20 July 2023, 19:16

beauty phuket3 — Three Russian women, ages 34, 32, and 26, were arrested for working as beauticians without a work permit.

Officers from Phuket Police investigated complaints of foreigners working as barbers in Patong Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket Province, as one of the 27 occupations that are fully forbidden to foreigners.

The business is located at 200 Pee Road, Rat Uthit. A Thai woman runs the business, and Osamh, a male barber, works there. When the cops arrived to investigate on July 19, he was giving tourists haircuts.

As a result, the police requested that they review his documents for admission into the Kingdom of Thailand as well as his work permit. Osamh does not have a work permit. He held Jordanian citizenship and accepted that he had worked as a barber at this shop.

jordan barber — Barber Osamh does not have a work permit.

Officers then arrested him and took him to the Patong police station to document the arrest and inform him of the allegations and his rights.

Another location under investigation is a beauty salon in Choeng Thale Subdistrict, Thalang District in Phuket, where three Russian women, ages 34, 32, and 26, were working or were being employed as beauticians without a work permit.

beauty phuket2 — A beauty salon in Choeng Thale Subdistrict where three Russian women have worked.

The Ministry of Labour recently urges employers and foreign workers to strictly comply with the law. If violations are found, employers who hire foreign workers without work permits or use them for unauthorized work face fines of between 10,000 and 100,000 baht per foreign worker employed.

Repeated violations could result in imprisonment of up to 1 year or fines of 50,000 to 200,000 baht, or both, as well as a ban on hiring foreign workers for a period of 3 years. Foreign workers who work without a work permit or engage in unauthorized activities face fines of between 5,000 and 50,000 baht and may be deported.

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A Gunman in New Zealand Kills 2 People Hours Ahead of First Game in Women’s World Cup

By

Associated Press

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20 July 2023, 18:14

APTOPIX New Zealand Gunman — Armed New Zealand police officers stand outside a hotel housing a team from the FIFA Women's World Cup in the central business district following a shooting in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — A man stormed a high-rise construction site in downtown Auckland early Thursday morning, shooting at terrified workers and killing two people hours before New Zealand planned to host the first game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament.

The gunman was found dead after a police shootout, during which an officer was shot and wounded. Four civilians were also injured.

The shooting happened near hotels where Team Norway and other soccer teams have been staying.

New Zealand Prime Minster Chris Hipkins said the tournament would go ahead as scheduled. Police said there would be heightened security at the tournament’s opening game to help reassure fans, and FIFA said a minute of silence would be observed before each of the two opening games.

“Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland,” Hipkins said. “The government has spoken to FIFA organizers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned.”

AP23201065595099 — In this image from a video, an injured police officer, second left, is led away to be placed in an ambulance following a shooting in Auckland, New Zealand Thursday, July 20, 2023. (TVNZ via AP)

“I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat,” he added. “This appears to be the action of one individual.”

The shooting jarred New Zealand, where active shooter incidents are rare, leading the country’s the main news websites and broadcasts.

Hipkins said the man was armed with a shotgun, adding that police arrived within minutes of the first emergency call and ran into harm’s way to save lives.

“These kinds of situations move fast, and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic,” Hipkins said.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the gunman was a 24-year-old who had previously worked at the building site, and his motive appeared to be connected to his work there.

The man identified as the shooter had a history of family violence and was serving a sentence of home detention, but had an exemption to work at the lower Queen Street site, Coster said.

The shooting began at about 7:20 a.m., and police soon swarmed the area.

AP23200795886871 — Armed New Zealand police officer stand at a road block in the central business district following a shooting in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

The shooter moved through the unfinished building firing at people, Coster said, as many workers fled or hid. He then barricaded himself in an elevator shaft on the third floor, Coster said, where SWAT-type officers engaged him after securing the floors above and below.

“The offender fired at police, injuring an officer,” Coster said. “Shots were exchanged and the offender was later found deceased.”

Coster said it wasn’t yet clear whether police had shot the man or he had killed himself. He said the suspected shooter didn’t have a gun license and so shouldn’t have been in possession of a firearm.

Outside, armed police officers placed an area in Auckland’s downtown on heavy lockdown, with streets cordoned off surrounding the harbor ferry terminal, which is popular with tourists. Police ordered bystanders to disperse and told people inside office buildings to shelter in place.

The shooting happened as soccer teams and fans gathered in New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which the country is hosting jointly with Australia. The opening match is scheduled to be played in Auckland on Thursday evening, between New Zealand and Norway. Hipkins said he was considering whether he’d attend the match as planned.

Team Norway captain Maren Mjelde said her teammates were woken up abruptly when a helicopter began hovering outside the hotel window.

“We felt safe the whole time,” she said in a statement. “FIFA has a good security system at the hotel, and we have our own security officer in the squad. Everyone seems calm and we are preparing as normal for the game tonight.”

AP23200819858644 — Police interview construction workers in the central business district following a shooting in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (Jason Oxenham/New Zealand Herald via AP)

Team USA said all its players and staff were safe and accounted for. It said the team was in contact with local authorities and proceeding with its daily schedule.

Officials at Eden Park, where the opening match of the FIFA tournament is taking place, said they were encouraging ticket holders to arrive early and there would be an increased security presence at the venue.

New Zealand has tight gun laws, imposed in 2019 after the country’s worst mass shooting prompted a sea change in attitudes toward guns. A shooter killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosques during Friday prayers in March 2019.

The prime minister at the time, Jacinda Ardern, vowed to ban most semiautomatic weapons within a month and she succeeded, with only a single member of Parliament voting against the ban.

A subsequent buyback scheme saw gun owners hand over more than 50,000 of the newly banned weapons to police in exchange for cash.

Coster said the shotgun used in Thursday’s shooting is not on the list of banned weapons.

“I want to acknowledge that this has been a shocking and traumatic event for those people who came to work and found themselves in the middle of an armed emergency,” Coster said. “Thankfully, many people were able to escape the building, but I know for those who hid or remained trapped, this was a terrifying experience.”

Coster said the officer who was shot was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, had stabilized, and was expected to undergo surgery Thursday. He said the others had injuries ranging from moderate to critical. It wasn’t immediately clear if all those injured had been shot.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that he and Secretary-General Fatma Samoura had met with New Zealand Sports Minister Grant Robertson following the shooting to discuss security arrangements for the tournament.

“We appreciate the collaboration with the New Zealand authorities from the earliest moment of this tragic incident,” Infantino said in a statement. “We have been involved in ongoing communication from the outset, and we have also received the necessary reassurances.”

Jennifer Deering, a tourist from Orlando, Florida, said she was initially shocked to learn of the shooting after a tour guide had previously assured her that Auckland “was very safe here, other than some petty thieves.”

Then she went about her day.

“It’s sad that it’s normal for us (Americans) to see something like this on the news,” she added.

Tourism New Zealand canceled a media welcome party that was to have been held Thursday afternoon at a location within the cordoned-off area downtown.

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JENNA FRYER reported from Auckland. NICK PERRY reported from Wellington, New Zealand.

What Is the Next for Prime Minister Candidate Vote?

By

Khaosod English

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20 July 2023, 15:37

srttha-20july-2 — Srettha Thavisin gave an interview to a group of journalists before attending a meeting at the Pheu Thai Party on July 20.

Pita Limjaroenrat, as expected, missed the chance to become prime minister, although he led his party to victory in the elections as the top candidate. He was unable to survive the encirclement by the established old power group with elements within the senators and lawfare.

What will the Thai political landscape be like in the future?

Immediately after the fall of Pita, supporters of democracy and supporters of the Move Forward Party gathered in various places, including at the monuments of democracy and in some provinces. However, the crowds were not very large and they did not succeed in creating a broad public mood.

One possible reason for this could be that another section of the masses who support the Pheu Thai Party believe that the chance for a united democratic alliance still exists and that this chance has now come with Srettha Thavisin, the party’s candidate for prime minister. That is why they have not yet joined the opposition movement.

Another reason might be, as Nidhi Eawsriwong, a senior Thai academic, has analyzed, that the military junta and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha have succeeded in making the Thai people vulnerable in a way that no previous military junta has ever managed. Instead of using violent methods like previous military leaders, they have mobilized all state apparatuses through legal means, leaving no room for the opposition to confront them directly.

democracy monument scaled — Pro-democracy protesters gathered at the Democracy Monument Wednesday afternoon protest the parliament’s refusal to allow Pita Limcharoenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, from being tabled for PM vote for the second time.

The formation of the government – which may include other parties that were not part of the previous 8-party alliance – now depends on the Pheu Thai Party, which has been accused of “fighting and fawning.” This means that it is pursuing a strategy of fighting for democracy while accommodating the old power group to some extent, including not amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

At present, it appears that the Pheu Thai Party is likely to propose Srettha Thavisin, a former CEO in the real estate industry, as its candidate. However, it seems to be better prepared and more cautious than the Move Forward party. This is because Pita seems to have been “set up” and had no chance even if nominated again. He is also facing legal action over allegations of media ownership, which could ultimately lead to the dissolution of the Move Forward party.

srttha 20july 1 — Srettha Thavisin, PM candidate of the Pheu Thai Party

On July 20, Chonlanan Srikaew, the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, stated that from now on, efforts to put forward a candidate for prime minister must be approached with the certainty that the nomination will be successful. He stressed the need to build trust before embarking on another battle, as no one wants to fight on a losing battlefield.

“No one will go into a battle on a lost ground and fight again. Otherwise, we will also lose our people, especially if we have only one candidate and cannot propose others. That will be the end. That’s the problem,” Chonlanan said.

AP23198476069051 — 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)

Despite Chonlanan’s statement that the formation of the government is still based on the alliance of the eight former parties, there is now growing opposition from the opposite camp. For example, the Bhum Jai Thai Party, which has the third-largest number of seats in parliament, said it would not support a Pheu Thai Party candidate if the Move Forward Party remained in government. Some right-leaning senators with a common alignment also hope to push the Move Forward Party into opposition.

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Chairman of the Parliament, announced that the next vote on the Prime Minister will be held on July 27, following the regular agenda. Candidates from political parties will be proposed and then qualifications will be discussed. 374 votes are needed to become prime minister.

However, it is uncertain whether the July 27 vote will produce a result; even the speaker of parliament said he was not sure. Nevertheless, the public hopes for a quick result and that a prime minister will soon be in office.

Srettha said on Thursday during the next PM vote on July 27, there 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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The Wait Is Over as Powerball Finally Has a Winner for Its Jackpot Worth Over $1 Billion

By

Associated Press

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20 July 2023, 12:37

A winning ticket has been sold in California for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion, the sixth largest in U.S. history and the 3rd largest in the history of the game.

The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were: white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. The California Lottery said on Twitter that the winning ticket was sold in Los Angeles at Las Palmitas Mini Market.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier estimate of $1 billion to $1.08 billion at the time of the drawing, moving it from the seventh largest to the sixth largest U.S lottery jackpot ever won.

AP23200761839850 — People line up to buy Powerball tickets at a 7 Eleven liquor store on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, in Chino Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)

The winner can choose either the total jackpot paid out in yearly increments or a $558.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.

The game’s abysmal odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was $2.04 billion Powerball in November.

The last time someone had won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one had won the grand prize.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AP23200695737627 — Pedestrians walk past an electronic sign hanging at a convenience store announcing a Powerball jackpot exceeding 1 billion dollars, Wednesday, July 19, 2023, in New York. The new jackpot for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing would be the seventh highest in U.S. history and the third largest for the game. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Named the First Dark Sky Golf Course in Thailand

By

Contributor

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20 July 2023, 10:00

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.

Wild Gaurs Of Khao Yai Are Blind Due To Eye Flies, Says Expert

By

Khaosod English

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19 July 2023, 23:53

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.

gaur blind2 — 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”.

gaur blind3 — 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.

wild gaur5 — 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’s World Passport Power Ranking Moves Up to 64th

By

Khaosod English

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19 July 2023, 20:38

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.

thailand — 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.

plane world — 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.

Thai Parliament Prevents Leader of Party That Won Election From Being Renominated for Prime Minister

By

Associated Press

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19 July 2023, 18:33

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.

AP23200139276143 — 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.

AP23200302510656 — 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.

AP23200298086501 — 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.

AP23200318886844 — 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.

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)

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.

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