Pattarakorn Teepbunyarat, a representative of Thailand Consumers Council, went to the Thai Central Investigation Bureau on June 1, 2023 with David Edward, 70, a British businessman who is a victim of a property scam.
They met with Lt. Col. Suchart Eimsawat, deputy of the 5th Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Division, to launch an investigation against a well-known real estate company on Samui Island in Surat Thani Province after Edward bought a condominium but the ownership could not be transferred.
Pattarakorn said Edward appealed to the council that he had agreed in 2016 to buy a condominium on Samui Island from the said company for 15 million baht. Every year, Edward visits the property 3 times and tries to apply for an ownership document but is unsuccessful.
Samui Island
On April 19, 2023, he found that the complex had not submitted a building permit. He found several suspicious evidences like a fake police record and a fake real estate licence. He also found that the company had not handed over the land rights to some clients and had sold or mortgaged some plots within the complex without the clients’ consent.
Pattarakorn added that after the investigation, there are many victims of the same business, with total damages amounting to about 100 million baht. Edward decided to approach the council for help.
David Edward (centre), 70, a British businessman bought a condominium but the ownership could not be transferred.
The investigators interview the victims as evidence and present the story to the commander.
It is reported that this company usually cheats on foreign clients who are not familiar with Thai laws and bureaucracy. When a client comes to visit, the company claims that the client can avoid paying fees or property taxes if buying their property.
The company then forges the title deed or the condominium deed. After the client transfers the money, they are unable to transfer ownership of the property.
A gondola navigates along Venice's historical Grand Canal as a patch of phosphorescent green liquid spreads in it, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)
MILAN (Euronews Green with AP) — When Venice’s famous Grand Canal suddenly turned bright green at the weekend, police and locals were understandably concerned.
Gondoliers could be seen punting through the phosphorescent waters while tourists took photographs of the green patch, from the Rialto Bridge up and along part of the canal.
Some pointed the finger at climate activists Last Generation. They did turn Rome’s Trevi Fountain black, after all. But they told police they were not responsible.
A firefighter on a boat looks at the arched Rialto Bridge along Venice’s historical Grand Canal as a patch of phosphorescent green liquid spreads in it, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Vigili Del Fuoco via AP)
But local authorities have now discovered that the liquid was fluorescein, a non-toxic substance used for testing wastewater networks.
Fluorescein is a manufactured organic dye used for scientific purposes. It is not ecologically harmful. Samples taken from the canal this week show that the water does not contain toxic chemicals.
The results “have not shown the presence of toxic elements in the samples analysed”, the statement said.
Where the dye came from and how it got into the canal in the first place is still a mystery.
People look at Venice’s historical Grand Canal as a patch of phosphorescent green liquid spreads in it, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)
The governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, posted a photo of the green liquid that spread through the water near the arched Rialto Bridge. The patch first was reported by local residents.
As it turns out, it’s not the first time the canal has been green: in 1968, Argentine artist Nicolás García Uriburu put fluorescein in the water to bring attention to the relationship between nature and civilisation during the 34th Venice Biennale. The low tide made the dye gradually disappear over the course of one day.
TK Park co-hosts “Play Matters” with PlanToys to encourage people of all ages to learn and have fun through play, which is beneficial to all
‘Play Matters’, a special educational and fun event, is back! Co-hosted by TK Park, PlanToys and their alliances, the event underlines the importance of play which is crucial for a child’s development, and indeed is beneficial to people of all ages. This year, the concept for this gripping event is ‘Circle of Play’ and will be arranged for your pleasure at TK Park’s San Fan Zone on the 8th floor of the CentralWorld from June 3 to 25, 2023.
Participants will find themselves enthralled by the kaleidoscope of activities specially created to suit the interests of people of all ages, from kids to teenagers and from adults to the Silver Age. Among the highlights is a set of special stations offering activities that are fun, exciting and educational.
Forest of Play – an incredible playpark to explore and find tools to help develop skills
The San Fan Zone will be turned into a learning and playing area incorporating a wide variety of interactive activities that allow kids to release their imagination, learn through play and explore new experiences. This playpark is specially designed and created to enable children to have fun experiences suited to different aspects of development and foster skills through play. This includes physical, intellectual, emotional and social development as well as language and communication skills.
Great for children aged 1 to 6 years. Group size: 15. Play time: 60 minutes per session. Open from June 3 to 25.
SMART Playground – inspiring the next generation of young innovators
Powered by KX Smart Play, the SMART Playground was creatively developed to help children build the 4 C’s to 21st century skills – communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity – enabling them to fully participate in today’s global community.
Come and play around with objects and ideas that help encourage innovative thinking. Put together the puzzle pieces to complete the circuit in order to make an alcohol dispenser. Explore how automata toys work through the circuit. And be inspired by a simple and creative project using an electric motor.
Great for children aged 4 to 6 years. Play time: 30 minutes per person. Open on June 3 only.
The Maker Club – A chance for young innovators to shine
The Maker Club brings budding innovators together to show off their talents and creativity. The program is specially designed to serve the interests, skills and abilities of young participants to help them learn to improve foundational C’s like creative and critical thinking.
They will show the steps for bringing their inventions to life, from designing a concept, to sketching their ideas and making a prototype, with the help of a team from PlanToys. By participating in the program, they will also undergo fun, challenging and experimental learning that will help them come up with ideas and prototypes aimed at solving current problems and helping protect the planet.
Great for children aged 3 to 12 years. Group size: a maximum of 12 per group with two sessions per day. Activity fee is 200 baht per person. Open from June 3 to 25.
Factorytalk Announces to Expand Software and Digital Solutions to Drive Digitization of Thailand’s Life Sciences and Healthcare Sectors in Alignment with Thailand 4.0 Initiative; Aims to Establish Thailand as a Global Hub for Future Expansion
Bangkok- Factorytalk, a leading provider of IT solutions and compliance consulting services in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, has announced the expansion of its sister company, BatchLine, in Thailand. The move aims to provide advanced software and digital solutions to ‘GxP’ regulated manufacturing companies in the country looking to digitize their operations and increase their competitiveness in the rapidly evolving industry landscape.
Mr. David Holt, the Managing Director of Factorytalk, said that the company is keen on taking advantage of the investment opportunities offered by Thailand’s growing life science sector and pharmaceutical industry, which has been stimulated by Thailand’s Industry 4.0 initiative. The company is particularly interested in biotech, medical devices, cell & gene therapies, and health tech, which are among the target areas of Thailand 4.0.
Factorytalk has been in operations in Thailand since 2004 with a range of IT products and compliance consulting services catering to various ‘GxP’ industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, herbal medicines, health tech, cosmetics, and F&B. According to
Mr. Holt, these regulated industries require compliance with Good ‘x’ Practices (GxP) – multiple disciplines including Manufacturing (GMP), Laboratory (GLP), clinical (GCP)
and others – is essential. Factorytalk’s goal is to help companies in Thailand and the surrounding regions digitize their operations to improve efficiency, quality, and competitiveness.
“We are excited to see the significant progress made in the Thai-backed projects aimed at achieving the goals of the Thailand 4.0 initiative, which includes tax incentives for foreign investors. Our company has also benefited from the Board of Investment (BOI)’s policies aimed at attracting foreign talents and reducing tax burdens during the initial years of operation. These measures have played a critical role in helping us establish and grow our software business in the region,” said Mr. Holt.
With the Thailand 4.0 scheme, the company is optimistic about the investment opportunities and is keen on leveraging the support of the BOI to expand its operations and target customers.
Factorytalk is expanding its offerings through its subsidiary BatchLine, with the aim to facilitate both established and new players in GxP-regulated industries, a smooth transition from traditional paper-based processes to modern, electronic systems by providing digital solutions of groundbreaking cloud EBR that simplify and streamline operations. By embracing digital transformation, those companies can significantly enhance efficiency and the quality of their products, making it easier for them to compete domestically against low-cost imports, while at the same time lowering barriers to export by increasing compliance to international GMP’s such as for the EU, US, and Australia. The scope of digitalization will cover the entire value chain, from manufacturing processes and quality control to distribution.
According to Mr. David Holt, one of the biggest challenges facing regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals is the high cost of traditional software systems. To address this challenge, Factorytalk has developed affordable products that provide world-class solutions and the benefits of digitalization for regulated manufacturing companies. These products leverage modern technology, including Cloud infrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT) physical interfacing, to bring significant benefits to the industry.
BatchLine’s software includes digital solutions for manufacturing, quality control & assurance, process monitoring, and data analytics. These software products are designed to help companies eliminate paperwork and enhance efficiency by digitizing the entire manufacturing processes through real-time monitoring, automation, and data-driven decision-making, while also ensuring that they meet GxP compliance requirements.
We are excited about expanding BatchLine’s base in Thailand to support the country’s digital transformation journey. With the experience and expertise from our international work in Japan, the United States, and Europe, we are able to package and deliver our tools and solutions to serve the needs of the Thai and SE Asian market. The expansion also includes building BatchLine’s Thai team as a regional hub, enabling the company to support global expansion,” Mr. Holt said.
The potential for growth in Thailand’s life sciences sector is significant, and Factorytalk is poised to support companies in the region with its expertise and experience in the industry. By providing world-class digital tools and strategies tailored to these emerging sectors, Factorytalk aims to help its clients succeed in the rapidly evolving and competitive market.
Factorytalk is a leading IT solutions and compliance consulting services provider for the life sciences and GxP regulated industries including pharmaceuticals, biotech, cell and gene therapy, medical device, herbal medicines, health tech, cosmetics, and F&B. The company’s member BatchLine offers software solutions that digitize entirely the paper Batch Record, saving time and costs, improving workflows with automation, distribution, and data analysis. Factorytalk has a team of experts operating across Asia, Europe, and the US from their offices in Bangkok, Thailand, and Daresbury, UK. The company has engaged with over 200 customers worldwide and has offered validation services and consulting services and systems implementation for
GxP-regulated manufacturing companies, government organizations, and regulators across the Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America regions.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walks to the House chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. as the House moves toward passage of the debt limit bill. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Veering away from a default crisis, the House approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package late Wednesday, as President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy assembled a bipartisan coalition of centrist Democrats and Republicans against fierce conservative blowback and progressive dissent.
The hard-fought deal pleased few, but lawmakers assessed it was better than the alternative — a devastating economic upheaval if Congress failed to act. Tensions ran high throughout the day as hard-right Republicans refused the deal, while Democrats said “extremist” GOP views were risking a debt default as soon as next week.
With the House vote of 314-117, the bill now heads to the Senate with passage expected by week’s end.
McCarthy insisted his party was working to “give America hope” as he launched into a late evening speech extolling the bill’s budget cuts, which he said were needed to curb Washington’s “runaway spending.”
But amid discontent from Republicans who said the spending restrictions did not go far enough, McCarthy said it is only a “first step.”
Earlier, Biden expressed optimism that the agreement he negotiated with McCarthy to lift the nation’s borrowing limit would pass the chamber and avoid an economically disastrous default on America’s debts.
The president departed Washington for Colorado, where he is scheduled to deliver the commencement address Thursday at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“God willing by the time I land, Congress will have acted, the House will have acted, and we’ll be one step closer,” he said. That wasn’t quite the case — the vote began about an hour and a half after Biden arrived in Colorado.
Biden sent top White House officials to the Capitol to shore up backing. McCarthy worked to sell skeptical fellow Republicans, even fending off challenges to his leadership, in the rush to avert a potentially disastrous U.S. default.
President Joe Biden walks to Marine One after talking with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Biden is traveling to Colorado. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Swift later in the week by the Senate would ensure government checks will continue to go out to Social Security recipients, veterans and others and would prevent financial upheaval at home and abroad. Next Monday is when the Treasury has said the U.S. would run short of money to pay its debts.
Biden and McCarthy were counting on support from the political center, a rarity in divided Washington, testing the leadership of the Democratic president and the Republican speaker.
Overall, the 99-page bill restricts spending for the next two years, suspends the debt ceiling into January 2025 and changes some policies, including imposing new work requirements for older Americans receiving food aid and greenlighting an Appalachian natural gas line that many Democrats oppose. It bolsters funds for defense and veterans.
Raising the nation’s debt limit, now $31 trillion, ensures Treasury can borrow to pay already incurred U.S. debts.
Top GOP deal negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana said Republicans were fighting for budget cuts after Democrats piled onto deficits with extra spending, first during the COVID-19 crisis and later with Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, with its historic investment to fight climate change.
But Republican Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the Freedom Caucus helping to lead the opposition, said, “My beef is that you cut a deal that shouldn’t have been cut.”
For weeks negotiators labored late into the night to strike the deal with the White House, and for days McCarthy has worked to build support among skeptics. At one point, aides wheeled in pizza at the Capitol the night before the vote as he walked Republicans through the details, fielded questions and encouraged them not to lose sight of the bill’s budget savings.
The speaker has faced a tough crowd. Cheered on by conservative senators and outside groups, the hard-right House Freedom Caucus lambasted the compromise as falling well short of the needed spending cuts, and they vowed to try to halt passage.
A much larger conservative faction, the Republican Study Committee, declined to take a position. Even rank-and-file centrist conservatives were unsure, leaving McCarthy searching for votes from his slim Republican majority.
Ominously, the conservatives warned of possibly trying to oust McCarthy over the compromise.
Biden spoke directly to lawmakers, making calls from the White House.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said it was up to McCarthy to turn out at least 150 Republican votes, two-thirds of the majority, even as he assured reporters that Democrats would supply the rest to prevent a default. In the 435-member House, 218 votes are needed for approval.
As the tally faltered in the afternoon procedural vote, Jeffries stood silently and raised his green voting card, signaling that the Democrats would fill in the gap to ensure passage. They did, advancing the bill that 29 hard-right Republicans, many from the Freedom Caucus, refused to back.
“Once again, House Democrats to the rescue to avoid a dangerous default,” said Jeffries, D-N.Y.
“What does that say about this extreme MAGA Republican majority?” he said about the party aligned with Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” political movement.
The U.S. Capitol is seen on a sunset Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Capitol Hill in Washington. After passage of a crucial procedural vote on the debt ceiling and budget cuts package negotiated between Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Joe Biden the U.S. still faces a potentially disastrous U.S. default in less than a week if Congress fails to act. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the spending restrictions in the package would reduce deficits by $1.5 trillion over the decade, a top goal for the Republicans trying to curb the debt load.
In a surprise that complicated Republicans’ support, however, the CBO said their drive to impose work requirements on older Americans receiving food stamps would end up boosting spending by $2.1 billion over the time period. That’s because the final deal exempts veterans and homeless people, expanding the food stamp rolls by 78,000 people monthly, the CBO said.
Liberal discontent, though, ran strong as Democrats also broke away, decrying the new work requirements for older Americans, those 50-54, in the food aid program.
Some Democrats were also incensed that the White House negotiated into the deal changes to the landmark National Environmental Policy Act and approval of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline natural gas project. The energy development is important to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., but many others oppose it as unhelpful in fighting climate change.
On Wall Street, stock prices were down.
In the Senate, Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell are working for passage by week’s end.
Schumer warned there is “no room for error.”
Senators, who have remained largely on the sidelines during much of the negotiations, are insisting on amendments to reshape the package. But making any changes at this stage seemed unlikely with so little time to spare before Monday’s deadline.
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LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING, STEPHEN GROVES and FARNOUSH AMIRI reported from Washington. Zeke Miller and writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
Leading perpetrators in Operation “Trust No One” were apprehended in Thailand for hybrid scams with victims in multiple nations.
Chinese couple Mr. Su Sauxian, 31, and Ms. Ke Yi Yi, 25, were charged under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on May 26 for their participation in the organisation, transnational crime, collectively defrauding people by appearing to be someone else, and money laundering.
Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittipraphat, Police Chief; Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukwimol, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Police; and Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat Nakornbancha, Commander-in-Chief of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, joined Mr. Christopher Cantrell, Legal Assistant, U.S. Embassy, and police officers involved in the investigation at a press conference at CCIB.
They displayed numerous luxurious items, including 14 colourful bearbrick figurines, designer handbags such as Hermes and Chanel, luxurious watches, foreign liquor brands, iPhones, iPads and MacBook computers with a combined value of over 600 million baht.
Bearbrick figurines
In addition, before a press conference, police searched twenty locations in Srinakarin and Krungthep Kreetha. They seized nine Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and Alphards, as well as more than 1.5 million baht in cash, land title certificates for housing estates worth more than 60 million baht, a title book for a luxury condominium in the Sukhumvit area, and four rooms, each worth 128 million baht.
It was also discovered that properties in the area of the Saladaeng Police Station, Chokchai Police Station, and Bang Saphan Police Station in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan were worth over 35 million baht.
According to Pol. Gen. Damrongsak, the online reporting system alerted the police that individuals had been cheated by hybrid scams. In order to befriend victims through various social media channels, criminals create false profiles. Later, they convinced victims to invest in fraudulent trading platforms for cryptocurrencies or other assets. There were many cases of damage, totaling more than 10 billion baht (288 million U.S. dollars).
Officials from the FBI, the US Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have also confirmed that two victims from the United States and one from the United Kingdom are connected to the network. The total worth exceeds 450 million baht (13 million U.S. dollars).
According to Lieutenant-General Worawat, the investigation revealed that perpetrators transferred funds to the trading platform’s account. It was discovered that the account was registered by a citizen of Laos and that it was used in many countries, including Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Dubai, and Laos, where it was initially discovered that those mentioned residence served as a concealing place.
Consequently, a warrant of inspection was issued. Important locations included a house in Sansiri, Soi Phatthanakan 32, Suan Luang district, as well as a two-story detached home in Palazzo Srinakarin, valued between 35 and 60 million baht.
The Chinese couple acted as administrators of the platform and hold a wallet account is to trade money into the system in which 450 million baht circulation in three months. Police have now suspended the transaction with a seizure of 60 million baht.
In addition, it was discovered that Thai nationals had registered more than 47 companies in the form of nominees, as well as more than 14 companies to buy houses for 22 Chinese, 10 Myanmar, 1 Cambodian, and 1 hill tribe person, all of whom had entered Thailand on tourist visas, retirement visas, student visas, etc.
Pol. Gen. Torsak stated that the Chinese accused couple was regarded as the leaders of the gang. The wife would deposit 50,000 to 100,000 baht at a time, and within the home that was purchased to be used as a meeting place for a group of Chinese individuals. Additionally, SIM cards from neighbouring nations were discovered. and numerous foreign currency.
The Royal Thai Police will retain information related to ongoing investigations into other cases.
Several BLINKs, the official fan name for South Korean pop group BLACKPINK, were in sorrow for not being able to get into the recent BLACKPINK concert in Thailand. Several BLINKS fell victim to an online ticket scammer from the “DISCO, the E-ticket real-deal”.
Pol. Maj. Theeradet Thammasutee, the metropolitan commander-in-chief, sent the metropolitan investigation team together with the PCT5 to arrest Nuttarika Yangsuay, also known as DISCO, 26, a local of Kanchanaburi, for selling fake concert tickets that caused a total loss of more than 700,000 baht (20,155 U.S dollars). She was arrested at Arunphak Apartment, Niam Klam Samakkhi Soi 2, Chorakhe Bua sub-district, Lat Phrao district, Bangkok.
Nuttarika Yangsuay, also known as DISCO
Nuttarika was charged with “online fraud”. The investigation revealed that she was prosecuted 9 times. She admitted all the misconduct to the officers and said that she had made a lot of money from several concerts in Thailand, especially BLACKPINK, which had interested many people.
She saw a way to make a profit by trying to buy as many BLACKPINK concert tickets as possible. She bought the tickets at a price of 9,600 baht each for about 200 tickets and resold them to fans at a price of 15,000 to 30,000 baht per ticket. She said more than ten thousand people wanted the ticket. She sold all 200 tickets and made a big profit.
Nuttarika then decided to sell all the tickets she had previously sold repeatedly until the concert date due to the persistent demand and her greed. On the day of the concert, the organiser noticed that several people had claimed the same seat. When they checked the name of the ticket holder, which was Nuttarika, the organiser reported the matter to the police.
She tearfully said that she returned some money to the victims, but there are several victims who stayed behind as she no longer has the money. She was in hiding in Lat Phrao until she was arrested by the police. She admitted to all the wrongdoings and promised to pay the money back to the victims.
A poster with pictures of Crown Prince Hussein and his fiancee, Saudi architect Rajwa Alseif is posted at the main road in down town Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
He’s heir to the throne in one of the oldest monarchies in the Middle East and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. She’s a Saudi architect with an aristocratic pedigree of her own.
Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, 28, and Rajwa Alseif, 29, are to be married on Thursday at a palace wedding in Jordan, a Western-allied monarchy that has been a bastion of stability for decades as Middle East turmoil has lapped at its borders.
The families have not said how the couple met or provided any details about their courtship. They were formally engaged at a traditional Muslim ceremony in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in August 2022 that was attended by senior members of Jordan’s royal family.
The bride and groom are destined to become a power couple in the Middle East, forging a new bond between Jordan and Saudi Arabia as the latter seeks to transform itself into a regional power broker.
A general view shows downtown Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Here’s a look at the bride and groom.
A US-EDUCATED ARCHITECT WITH ARABIAN TRIBAL ROOTS
Rajwa Alseif was born in Riyadh on April 28, 1994, the youngest of four children.
Her mother, Azza bint Nayef Abdulaziz Ahmad Al Sudairi, is related to Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, who is said to have been the favorite wife of Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, and gave birth to seven of his sons, including the country’s current ruler, King Salman.
For decades, the so-called Sudairi Seven, most of whom are now deceased, were seen as a major locus of power within the Saudi royal family.
Alseif’s father, Khalid, is a member of the Subai, a prominent tribe in the Arabian Peninsula with ancient roots. He’s also the founder of El Seif Engineering Contracting, which built Riyadh’s iconic Kingdom Tower and other high-rises across the Middle East.
Posters with pictures of Crown Prince Hussein and his fiancee, Saudi architect Rajwa Alseif, hangs at the entrance of the Luminus Technical University in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Rajwa studied architecture at Syracuse University in New York, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2017. A graduation video shows her receiving her degree in sparkling silver sneakers.
The year before, she led a Spring Break architecture symposium in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, that was funded by her father’s company.
“What made this trip so memorable for me… was seeing the students in the studio experience Arabic culture and architecture for the first time,” she was quoted as saying by a university newspaper.
She went on to earn a degree in visual communications from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.
An official biography shared by the Jordanian royal palace says her hobbies include horseback riding and handmade arts, and that she is fluent in English, French and her native Arabic.
Bikers flying Jordanian flags, dance with traditional songs during a rally celebrating the upcoming royal wedding, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, May 30, 2023.(AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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A CROWN PRINCE LONG GROOMED TO LEAD
Crown Prince Hussein was born June 28, 1994. His path to succession became clear when his father, King Abdullah II, stripped his own half-brother, Prince Hamzah, of the title of crown prince in 2004. Hussein was formally named heir to the throne five years later, at the age of 15.
He is the oldest son of Abdullah, 61, who has ruled Jordan as a reliable Western ally and voice of moderation through more than two decades of turmoil in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Iraq, all of which border the small, resource-poor kingdom.
The Hashemites, as Jordan’s ruling family is known, trace their lineage back to the Prophet Muhammad. They dwelled in the Hejaz region of what is now Saudi Arabia for centuries before King Abdul-Aziz Al Saud’s forces drove them out in 1925.
The Hashemites had led the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I, a rebellion dramatized by the 1962 film “Lawrence of Arabia.” They had hoped to rule over an Arab state encompassing much of the Middle East, but Western imperial powers betrayed them. The French drove them out of Syria and a nationalist uprising toppled them in Iraq, leaving them with only Jordan.
The crown prince is named for his grandfather, King Hussein, who ruled Jordan for 46 years until his death in 1999 and remains a beloved figure for many Jordanians.
It could be years before the crown prince becomes king, but his training has already begun.
Bikers flying Jordanian flags during a rally celebrating the upcoming royal wedding, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
He graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in international history in 2016 and from the British Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst the following year. He holds the rank of captain in the Jordanian military and routinely takes part in drills and ceremonies.
He has joined his father on overseas trips, including a recent meeting at the White House with President Joe Biden. The prince shared pictures from the visit on his Instagram feed, which has over 4 million followers and also features more casual photos.
In 2015, Hussein was the youngest person to ever chair a meeting at the U.N. Security Council, leading a discussion about how to help young people confront violent extremism and promote peace. Two years later, and just out of college, he addressed the U.N. General Assembly.
His experiences to date may have prepared him to rule Jordan, but he also exists in a world apart from most of his fellow citizens, who have suffered in recent years from diminishing economic prospects. Elected governments in Jordan have long served as a seawall for public anger, even as the king has always held the real power.
It’s a reality the young crown prince may have to confront someday, long after his palace wedding.
CPF Global Food Solution Public Company Limited (CPFGS), the leading global food solutions provider engaged in food products and services under CP Foods partnered with CPF Food Network Co., Ltd, and Makro hosted the Global Sourcing Business Matching 2023. This event served as a platform for high-quality food producers and business partners from around the world to showcase and trade a diverse range of food products from global brands while engaging with CPFGS and Makro’s business groups.
Held at Marriott Marquis Hotel in Bangkok from May 29-30, 2023, the event provided a unique opportunity for top-tier food producers and international business partners to present a wide spectrum of food products and interact with CPFGS and Makro’s business entities.
Kritsada Mapaisarnsin, Director for International Trade for North America, Australia, and Oceania at CPF Food Network, highlighted the immense potential of CPFGS’s worldwide network and distribution channels. Leveraging these resources, the event aimed to maximize global business opportunities for its partners from various nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Japan, the US, Chile, and ASEAN countries. The forum also functioned as a Global Trading Platform, ensuring Thai consumers have access to world-class food innovations.
Richard Dean Lovell, Director of CPF Australia Pty Ltd., echoed this sentiment by emphasizing the alignment of the event with the 3-Benefits Philosophy advocated by the CP Group. This guiding principle prioritizes benefits to the nation, society, and corporate advantages, in that order.
The Business Matching event was strategically designed to open new market opportunities for business partners worldwide, promoting mutual growth while introducing Thai consumers to a diverse array of high-quality and innovative products, including premium meat, fruit, food and beverage carefully curated by CPFGS’s team from around the globe.
Somchai Ketchaikosol, Director at CPF Food Network, expressed his excitement that the event continued the success story of THAIFEX 2023. This year’s collaboration between CPFGS and Makro witnessed the participation of 45 suppliers from various countries, a significant increase from the previous year’s 30 participants. The event received high praise from partners who appreciated the opportunity for intimate negotiations with CPF group companies and Thailand’s food business owners.
Spanning two days, the Global Sourcing Business Matching 2023 event facilitated business discussions with CP affiliates on the first day and with partners in food industry on the second day. The event agenda included activities such as Business Matching, a food exhibition booth, and an awards ceremony honoring partners of CPFGS and Makro. It provided an expansive platform for growth and consumer choices.
Despite Thai media reports of the mini-heart shots between Move Forward’s candidate for the 30th prime minister, Pita Limjaorenrat, the party’s leader, and Chonlanan Srikaew, the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, which was supposed to end rumours of conflict over the parliamentary speaker’s seat and boost confidence between the two parties, the public is reacting differently.
Rumours of collusion to form a government to challenge the Pita-led government persist as people are still commenting on social media after the photos of Srettha Thavisin, the Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister, with Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of Bhumjaithai who came third in the recent elections, were released at the Leicester football ground last Sunday.
Several comments still believe the secret deal is real.
Srettha Thavisin (right) met Anutin Charnvirakul (left) at King Power Stadium in Leicester, England on Sunday, May 28.
Seri Suwanmethanont, the senator, said on 31 May 2023 that what Pheu Thai said on Tuesday to support the party with the majority of votes was an act of a gentleman, but they were just words.
He claimed that Pheu Thai knew what would happen and that the party would seize the opportunity and form a government in the end.
Seri said Move Forward has been trying to use people to put pressure on various organizations, including Election Commission committees and senators, to support Pita as Thailand’s next prime minister.
Is this just an act of a gentleman?
“Pita has formed seven transition teams from the eight coalition parties; although this should be done after the government is officially formed, this is an act to persuade the public to have confidence in the party and use people to protect the party.” Seri said.
One of the reasons for the assessment that Move Forward cannot form a government is because of the abrupt change after the election. Move Forward was seen as a black sheep even though several parties are also in favour of democracy.
Move Forward speaks clearly about the amendment of Article 112, royal defamation, and talks about the corruption of government organizations. The party has also spoken to the media about transition teams preparing to form the new government, although the Election Commission has not yet certified the election results. In addition, Pita is being sued to verify his qualifications to be prime minister because he owns shares in ITV, the old broadcaster TV, which ceased operations long ago.
“No matter what happen we will stick together, always,” said Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew about coalition unity on Tuesday, May 30.
Wissanu Krea-ngam, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, said Wednesday it was acceptable for the party that will form the next government to want to talk to government officials, as this was seen as a sign of goodwill and has been done before. However, he advised that such an approach should be done more carefully as these officials are still working for the current government.
“This action is possible, but do not make it so overt or to show: ‘I will surely become the next government’. This action is not appropriate because [you] are not yet in government. Do not put pressure on government officials. They will feel queasy because they still have their current commanders who have full power under the law. Quarrel is a tough job,” Wissanu said.
Wissanu Krea-ngam
As for an investigation into Pita’s ownership of ITV media shares, Wissanu, as a legal expert, said that the case depends on the issue on appeal. The court will rule on such an appeal, and nothing more. If the issue is whether Pita’s MP status will remain, he can become prime minister. If the question is whether Pita still has a chance to become prime minister, he will remain MP.
Wissanu stated that the worst-case scenario for Pita’s disqualification is that emergency re-elections will be required nationwide, as Pita, as the party leader who registered his party members and candidates, is no longer qualified, resulting in the invalidation of his party’s elected MPs.
