Woman charged with trying to grab ICA officer’s revolver at Woodlands Checkpoint
SINGAPORE: A 33-year-old woman was charged on Thursday ( Aug 29 ) with attempting to grab the service revolver of an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ( ICA ) officer at Woodlands Checkpoint.
Under the Arms Offences Act, Xu Ting was charged with one count of attempting to possess an shoulder without permission.  ,
She was charged in the Court Violence Registry Chambers, which is not open to public. In the most recent cases where chargings took place in these halls, there have been cases where an accused man was hurt or taken to the hospital.
The Chinese federal is accused of reaching out to get a service pistol from a sexual ICA officer’s holster that was fastened to her belt.
This supposedly occurred at about 3.45pm on Tuesday at Woodlands Checkpoint.
The police claimed in a previous statement that they had received a call for assistance that day, and initial investigations revealed that Xu had been denied entry to Malaysia.
She was referred to the ICA work office for extra investigations when she arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint.
While being interviewed, she reportedly reached for the policeman’s pistol, and was promptly placed under arrest, the authorities said.
On September 12, Xu’s situation may be brought up again.
She may spend between five and ten years in prison if found guilty of attempting to be in possession of unlawful weapons.  ,
Because she is a woman, she may be caned, but the offence typically involves at least six cane strikes.
This is the next time a person has been charged at Woodlands Checkpoint this quarter.
A 37-year-old guy was accused on August 17 of photographing and recording videos without consent at a checkpoint’s lane counter.
South Korea battery maker boss arrested over deadly fire
A large stock flames in June that claimed the lives of 23 workers and injured nine others has resulted in the arrest of Aricell’s CEO, a North Korean lithium battery company.
A judge approved the subpoena for Park Soon-kwan’s arrest on Wednesday.
Prosecutors have said Aricell’s administration is suspected of working security violations. One of South Korea’s worst stock accidents in recent years was the flames.
Aricells ‘ family firm, S-Connect, did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.
Mr. Park apologized in an apology after the fire, saying:” We are profoundly saddened by the loss of life and would like to show our deepest sympathies and condolences to the grieving families.
We assume great responsibility and will honestly assist the families of the deceased in every way, he continued.
Following a police investigation, his arrest came after the factory’s manufacturing deadlines were discovered.
Investigators found that the plant had a number of security issues, including hiring unskilled staff to handle hazardous materials and failing to solve quality defects in batteries.
Aricell was alleged to have been dishonest in obtaining deals with the military.
Following some cell cell explosions, the fire broke out on June 24.
At the time of the hearth, the Aricell stock housed an estimated 35, 000 cell cell on its second floor, where batteries were inspected and packaged.
Due to the intense reaction between sodium fires and water, rescuers had to use dried dust to put an end to the incident, which took several hours to contain.
The subjects were generally foreign workers, from government’s including China and Laos.
South Korea is a leading manufacturer of sodium batteries, which are used in a variety of products, including laptops and electric cars.
K-pop singer Taeil leaves boy band over sexual crime accusation
Taeil, a song from South Korea, has left the K-pop group NCT following a sexual misconduct investigation, his tag announced on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old’s company, SM Entertainment, released a statement on X, saying the NCT part may flee from the child group after learning he has been “accused in a legal case related to a physical murder”.
Taeil, whose constitutional name is Moon Tae-il, is unable to continue his involvement with the team, despite the label’s designation of the nature of the alleged murder.
Taeil has not publicly commented on the claims.
SM Entertainment further stated that he is totally involved in the police investigation.
” We will give more comments as the research progresses”, the declaration, which was posted in Asian and translated by Associated Press, said.
According to North Korean press, the Bangbae Police Station in Seoul announced that it was looking into Taeil in connection with a physical violence.
Officers could not be reached for comment for The BBC.
Taeil was piece of NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, a worldwide famous North Korean boy band that appeared in 2016.
The party now has over two hundred members divided into several proteins, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish.
Taeil just participated in NCT 127.
On 15 August next year, Taeil got into a car accident in downtown Seoul, in South Korea, while travelling on his bike.
He briefly sat down his schedules to concentrate on his healing and therapy.
NCT is renowned for its experimental music that spans a variety of styles, and some of its discharges have charted on Billboard lists.
K-pop originated from South Korea and is an offshoot of roll, R&, B and hip-hop.
It has developed into a worldwide phenomenon, especially with the success of the boy group Song in the late 2010s.
The decline and fade of Australia’s soft power – Asia Times
This article originally appeared on Pacific Forum, and it has since been republished with authority. Read the original around.
Soft power is a government’s ability to attract and co-opt rather than pressure. In practice, soft energy allows countries to work their values, ideals, and society worldwide to , foster , kindness, improve security, and develop long-term partnerships.
Australia has long been a pillar of historical charm, democratic values and academic excellence—these elements have formed the core of Australia’s soft energy in the post-war time.
But, Australia’s soft power ratings have shown a distinct upward trend over the past decade. Ranking 6th in 2015 in the , The Soft Power 30 score,  , Australia slipped to 10th in 2019 and to 14th by 2023 in Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index.
In a time when non-coercive energy is extremely important, this constant decline has significant implications for Australia’s security and role.  ,
For instance,  , Edelman’s Trust Barometer , highlights the general decrease in Australia’s confidence levels in Southeast Asia: Australia was marked as one of the biggest losers on the score between 2021-2023, constantly landing in the hostility class with low scores between 1-49 out of 100.
This raises a significant issue for American politics in the Indo-Pacific region’s current state of global power competition. Before it is too late, Australia needs to strengthen its soft power politics to ensure its local influence and safety.
Canberra’s shifting interests in the region
The fiscal outlook for Australia’s existing national channels that support gentle power have gotten worse in recent years.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ( DFAT ) has massively shrinking funds, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC ) has seen an , A$ 526 million  ,  , ( US$ 357 million ) reduction in funding since 2022, and , tightening visa policies , is expected to affect educational diplomacy with tertiary institutions projecting an , A$ 310 million  , revenue shortfall in 2024.
While the Albanese state has pushed for financial , boosts , in specific areas, the general administrative environment is excessively negative. Why has this happened?
One explanation is that in the wake of Australia’s prolonged economic downturn and soaring debt following Covid-19, Canberra’s policies have increasingly prioritized domestic issues.
Faced with an expected gross debt of , A$ 598.5 billion  , for the fiscal year ending June 2024, the government has needed to redirect funds towards pressing domestic concerns such as healthcare, economic stimulus, infrastructure, and social services.
This fiscal realignment is also likely driven by the need to concentrate on policies that have a direct impact on voter approval as the elections approach. Yet despite these fiscal constraints, defense spending has surged.
The government has allocated a record , A$ 36.8 billion  , to defense in the 2024-2025 budget,  , marking a 6.3 % increase from the previous fiscal year.
This boost in defense expenditure reflects a return to hard power, in response to increasing , geopolitical tensions , and strategic imperatives of AUKUS over the next decade. Considering all factors, Australia has, unfortunately, pushed public diplomacy to the back burner.
These trends are troubling. However, it is also important to recognize Australia’s soft power efforts have always been relatively meager.
Australia has never established an international cultural agency, unlike the British Council ( 1934), the Japan Foundation ( 1972 ), and the Korea Foundation ( 1991 ). Since the end of World War II, Canberra has given economic and strategic interests precedence over soft power, preferring to invest money in areas that are directly related to national interests, such as trade and defense.
Public diplomacy has always been Australia’s weakest area of foreign policy, according to John McCarthy, the former ambassador to Indonesia.” Canada invests more in public diplomacy than Australia allocates for its entire foreign service.
That said, Australia’s soft power decline stems from more than just budgetary restraints. Controversial policies on , Indigenous rights , and , asylum seekers, perceived inaction on , climate change, inconsistent approach to , human rights issues, restrictions on , freedom of expression, and disputes over environmental management have all complicated our global image in the region.
Canberra’s foreign policy should be at the forefront of a concerted effort to prioritize the development of soft power through public diplomacy because we have so few resources available to advance our national interests.
Addressing the problem
First, Australia needs to make the most of its national assets by providing more pro-Australian leaders with international education. For many years, international education was one of Australia ‘s , triumphs , in public diplomacy.
The country’s higher education system is globally renowned for its quality and inclusiveness, attracting global talent from nations including China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and more. In 2023,  , eight , of Australia’s top ten source countries for international students were from Indo-Pacific nations.
Therefore, investing in international education not only improves Australia’s reputation abroad, but also cultivates generations of pro-Australian young leaders. Alumni of Australian universities frequently travel back to their home countries to take eminent positions in government, business, and civil society, acting as informal ambassadors and championing Australian values and policies in the area.
For instance, as Beijing ramps up policy and , security assistance , to Fiji and Papa New Guinea, investing in pro-Australian leaders is crucial for maintaining regional stability and promoting democratic principles, transparency, and sustainable development.
However, Australia’s reputation in international education has taken a hit following the recent tightening of visa policies. This has led to the , rejection , of over 50, 000 international applications between November 2023 and February 2024, and as visa rejections reach record-high numbers, students are  , seeking , educational opportunities elsewhere.
This opens the door to rival regional countries, which might otherwise have attracted students from other regions, and it goes in the wrong direction. While Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil emphasizes the need for , curbing migration levels,  , this approach has significant long-term consequences for Australia’s educational diplomacy and, by extension, public diplomacy.
There must be ongoing efforts to balance migration while preserving Australia’s reputation as a premier educational destination. One possible solution would be to adopt a program similar to Canada’s Student Direct Stream, which would help international students from important Indo-Pacific nations streamline visa requirements and sustainably manage migration levels.
Second, Canberra should prioritize investing money in public broadcasting to restore Australia’s international media presence.
As Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior fellow Graeme Dobell , writes,” Until the last decade, Australia was the pre-eminent international media voice in the South Pacific, as we had been since World War II”.
What was once a news presence in the 1990s that was comparable to CNN and the BBC has since vanished. In fact, Canberra’s continued efforts to withdraw resources from Australia’s broadcasting company ( ABC ) in an “<a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/abc-australia-s-waning-soft-power-star”>unfocused” and unstrategic manner is odd, given existing , <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301940227_Introduction_to_International_Broadcasting_and_Public_Diplomacy_in_the_21st_Century”>evidence , that international public broadcasting is still a powerful tool in promoting public diplomacy in the 21st , century.
Many of our regional competitors have also shown persistent growth in their media influence through continued financial investment by their governments, such as China ‘s , CCTV , and Japan’s NHK.
In comparison, the ABC’s budget is now among the smallest globally, a situation that must be urgently addressed. Without substantial financial support from the Australian government, Australia’s global voice cannot be rebuilt.
This additional funding must be implemented strategically. Over the past ten years, the majority of the ABC’s original programming has been geared toward Australian viewers, a situation that is being exacerbated by persistent financial constraints.
Rebroadcasting this kind of content in the Pacific, as expected, has had very limited impact because it lacks the necessary language and cultural relevance for regional viewers.
To address this challenge, the ABC must prioritize creating content that resonates with the varied interests, languages, and cultures of Indo-Pacific audiences. China’s successes in multilingual programming and content diversification serve as a compelling illustration.
By enhancing our media capabilities, Australia can better shape perceptions, boost visibility, and strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific audiences.
Australia’s decline in soft power is cause for concern. Despite making incremental improvements, our progress has not been quick enough to keep us in line with other regional, rapidly expanding competitors.
Canberra must improve its soft power projection to avoid falling irreversibly behind if Australia wants to defend its national security interests in a region with a shifting balance of power.
Helen Wu , ( [email protected] )  , is an Emerging Leader at Pacific Forum and a senior at New York University majoring in International Relations.
The opinions expressed in PacNet commentaries and responses are those of the respective authors. Alternative viewpoints are always welcome and encouraged.
South Korea’s Yoon says pension reform needed to ensure fairness, income security
Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, stated on Thursday ( Aug 29 ) that the nation’s national pension fund needs to be reformated to make it more equitable among generations and provide income security for an aging population. According to Yoon, there had been a decline in trustContinue Reading
A Kamala Harris win could juice military support for Ukraine – Asia Times
Russia has recently made renewed appeals to Western allies to raise their restrictions on the use of their long-range missiles to attack military targets in Russia as a result of its new military advances and fierce bombardment of Ukraine.
Everything is likely to change in the wake of the US national election, despite the necessity of Russian troops ‘ attacks on the strategically important town of Pokrovsk in the west of Ukraine.
There is still a strong chance that Donald Trump will win in November and immediately resign from US assistance to Ukraine, obstructing Kiev to ask for a resolution of the conflict on Russia’s conditions. Political and military calculations presently rule the turmoil due to this possibility.
When a Trump victory appeared all but certain, Zelensky made the decision to launch a counterattack against Russia by annexing the Kursk place in the early hours of August. His reasoning had many elements.
Second, if Ukraine were to be forced to bargain with Russia, taking Belarusian territory did give Kiev more power. However, the attack was also meant to demonstrate that the Russian military was not defeated or incapable of starting the offensive.
This was intended both for home use, as a morale boost, and for the advantage of Kiev’s supporters. The skill of Ukraine to win was starting to be doubted in the US. The Kursk unpleasant was meant to change that notion.
More, and this is more intriguing, the Kursk assault was also launched to refute the notion that Russia would never launch an offensive against its country using Western weapons as a catalyst for the conflict’s escalation. In the face of the looming American election, Kiev opted to call his bluff despite Putin’s persistent danger.
Why did Trump hazard a wider issue for the sake of a few months if he believes an approaching Trump administration may hands him victory in Ukraine on a plate, the logic goes?
However, the Biden administration’s prudence is likewise matched by Russian caution in the hope of a possible Trump win in November for similar reasons. The US and its friends have often prioritized preventing the conflict between Ukraine and Russia from waging a wider war with NATO.
Due to this, the West has increased the size and scope of the military support and supplies provided to Kiev just gradually. Through the first supply of the shoulder-launched missiles– manpads – in the first days of the conflict, stepping up to major battle tanks and finally F-16 strike aircraft, American support has been steady but instrumental.
The recent iteration of this strategy is probably the peaceful support and acceptance of the Kursk unpleasant from Kiev’s European allies. Like Zelensky’s reasoning, it’s informed by the same critical of improving Kiev’s negotiations position back of a possible Trump success, and the estimate of Russian restriction ahead of the vote.
A chance to much
However, Washington is right to assume that allowing Ukraine to launch attacks on targets deep within Russia with American missiles poses a hazard too far in this election, at least in the eyes of Washington.
While there are some Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress who support lifting the ban, the presidency is informed that this could be used as weapons for Trump.
He could use it to repeat his alarm claims that the management is dragging America into a third world war. If this contributed to a Trump success, the analysis goes, then it would be self-defeating.
Due to the gravitational pull of the national election, every aspect of it is considered. A Trump triumph would assuredly lead to a remarkable reversal of Kyiv’s US military, intelligence, and social support.
If Harris gets
However, a win for Harris may alter the US support structure. The removal of the possibility that a Trump administration would stifle the US’s idealist foreign policy would be the most significant change.
Biden may no longer be a lame-duck leader. Biden would remain intact by local boundaries and concentrated on his legacy for the remaining two and a half times.
The US might stretch its broken sanctions on Russian petroleum exports, which have been tolerated because of the need to keep gasoline prices low before the election, to name only one policy change we had anticipate.
If Harris is elected, it may push the Kremlin – and, by extension, China and some – to reconsider who they are dealing with. Trump has argued that Putin decided to launch his full-scale invasion of Ukraine based on an assumption, in the midst of America’s fatal departure from Afghanistan, that Biden was poor and uncertain.
Then Putin would be forced to fight a new leader, with what could be an entirely different administration. Although Harris’s idealist and alliance credentials are not in question, even though she is a relatively unknown variety when it comes to international affairs. She has served as vice president on numerous commissions for homeland security and intelligence.
And her national security advisor, Philip H. Gordon, claimed that the United States” can and should frequently would things to reduce conflict.” A Harris White House with a new set of policy guidelines raises the possibility of a unique set of actions to Kiev’s requests for assistance at the very least.
In the University of Birmingham’s Department of Political Science and International Studies, David Hastings Dunn is a professor of global politics.
This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original content.
Global wine rating app Vivino opening its world’s first retail store in Singapore at Raffles City
You’ve likely heard of Vivino, the app that allows people to check the label of any drink and call up testimonials from other people if you have a budding interest in wine. It’s also the largest online wine marketplace in the world with a collection of over 100 million ratings and reviews, with 65 million downloads spread out all over the world.
On Sep 19, Vivino’s second retail store in the world did soft-open on the first stage of Raffles City.
The business is launching in partnership with Singapore-based Wines Portal, a wine distributor based in seven nations and the owner of GrandCru Wine Concierge and e-commerce system Grand Cru.
Launched in Copenhagen in 2010 by Heini Zachariassen and Theis Sondergaard, Vivino, then headquartered in the United States, was started” with the goal to democratise wines, allowing people to charge and examine the wines they try”, said Morten Fillipsen, vice president, Vivino’s International Commerce.
” The idea originated from a desire to make wine available and pleasant for all, providing customers with personalised tips, a community-driven ranking system and a huge industry. It began as a digital platform to make wine lovers more convenient to find and enjoy high-quality beverages, bridge the gap between wine enthusiasts and the complicated world of wine.
Vivino’s real store aims” to disrupt the standard wine retail industry by offering a special, technology-driven financial experience that combines the best of digital innovation with the tactile, engaging nature of in-person shopping”, said Tracy Koo, CEO of Wine Portal.
Hema committee report: Sex abuse allegations rock Kerala film industry
Press Trust of IndiaAllegations. Sackings. Authorities problems.
Since last week, these phrases have been dominating news and shook up a buzzing movie industry in Kerala, southern India.
The state has been witnessing a flurry of sexual abuse allegations against some top male stars since a landmark report that looked into problems faced by women in the industry was released last week.
The industry, which makes around 150-200 Malayalam-language films a year, is a vital, vibrant business that has made some of the most critically acclaimed and progressive cinema emerging from India.
However, the 290-page report by a three-member panel called the Hema committee detailed the issues that women face in Malayalam cinema, including frequent sexual harassment and precarious working conditions. To conceal the identities of the survivors and those who are accused of harassment, redact portions of the report.
A number of women have spoken out in public about facing sexual assault and harassment in the industry since its release, some of whom have since given up acting.
More than a dozen police complaints have been filed against some male stars, two of whom have also filed counter-complaints.
The shake-up has been so huge that the entire top governing body of the state’s biggest film group- the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists ( AMMA )- was dissolved after its president, superstar Mohanlal, resigned on “moral grounds” after some members faced accusations.
” This is just the tip of the iceberg. Only a select few have so far spoken. More serious issues may emerge,’ ‘ actor Mala Parvathy told BBC Hindi.
The reactions to the first-of-its-kind report are being closely watched by people in India’s many film industries, including Bollywood. During the# MeToo movement, several women in various states had made allegations of sexual harassment against actors and filmmakers, but few of these cases have been investigated.
Women in Cinema Collective/FacebookThe government set up the Hema committee, headed by a former judge of the Kerala High Court, in 2017 in the aftermath of the shocking sexual assault on a leading actress. One of Kerala’s biggest actors, Dileep, was named by police as an accused and charged with criminal conspiracy. He has denied the charges, but was arrested and held in custody for three months before being released on bail. The case is still being heard in court.
Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra, who accused well-known director Ranjith of sexual harassment against her a few years after the release of the report, made the first public claim. He has refuted this, but he has quit as the head of the state’s elite motion picture school. Mitra has filed a police complaint.
Many of the other complaints echoe some of the assertions made by unnamed women in the Hema committee report that they were repeatedly asked to” compromise” and “adjust” in exchange for opportunities.
An actor had hugged and kissed her without her consent while they were filming, according to Minu Muneer, who also confirmed this to BBC Hindi and a number of other news outlets. She has also provided details on sexual misconduct committed by other professionals in the field, including Mukesh, a well-known actor and politician.
Mukesh has refuted the allegations made against him and accused Muneer of trying to blackmail him.
In a Facebook post, he wrote,” I welcome any investigation into allegations made against me and others in the film industry.
Jeo BabyTwo actresses have accused a director of knocking on their hotel room doors in the middle of the night. He has not responded to the allegation.
One actress alleged Siddique, a well-known actor, of raping her in 2016 and contacted the police. Siddique, who resigned as AMMA general secretary after the accusation, has denied this and accused the complainant of trying to” tarnish his reputation”.
The Kerala government was praised for starting a committee, but the report’s release also put it in the backseat.
After nearly five years of delay and numerous legal challenges brought by members of the film industry, the report, which was submitted in 2019, was only released last week. The government then declared that while it would investigate all complaints to the police, it would not independently handle any cases. But as pressure mounted, it has set up a special team to investigate complaints.
The government has also requested that the Kerala High Court give the government the complete report, including the 54 redacted pages.
Within the Malayalam film industry, reactions to the report have been mixed. Superstars have been accused of making a public statement by celebrities like Mohanlal and Mammotty.
Some actors praised the report’s release and demanded that the government launch a thorough investigation into the allegations. The government has been requested to reveal the names of the accused in the report by a prominent film employees ‘ federation.
Others have expressed regret that the report is being used to portray every man in the industry as a liar.
However, many people also argued that the report and the subsequent shake-up are necessary, positive, and necessary adjustments in a sector that is frequently praised for producing progressive movies.
” I am not ok with people saying,’ Malayalam industry is so rotten inside’. No, we are good inside, which is why we are fixing it, “actress Parvathy Thiruvothu, a founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective, an organisation formed in the aftermath of the 2017 assault, told a news channel.
It was the industries” you do n’t hear anything about” that people should be” worried about”, she added.
Meryl Sebastian provided additional reporting in Delhi.
Pheu Thai Party opens door to Democrats
On Wednesday, the Pheu Thai Party formally invited the Democrat Party to the fresh coalition government, putting their long-standing rivalries behind them.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong handed an offer to Democrat secretary-general Det-it Khaothong, fully asking the group to join the new state at the congress. Additionally, Lawmakers from both factions were present.
The proposal, seen by the internet, reads:” The Pheu Thai Party, as the head in the formation of the government, believes the Democrats have the skills, expertise and ideas to work with Pheu Thai. We would like to encourage the Democrat Party to meet the government and collaborate to improve the country’s quality of life.
When asked about the Democrats ‘ redistribution of government positions, Mr. Sorawong claimed that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra would make a decision on the issue. According to some studies, Democrat head Chalermchai Sri-on is expected to succeed Det-it Khaothong as deputy public health secretary and secretary-general Det-it Khaothong as natural sources and environment minister.
On Wednesday, Mr. Det-it thanked Pheu Thai for allowing the Democrat Party to serve in its place.
He stated that the group’s executive committee and MPs will convene on Thursday to support the candidate’s application to join the new government.
Asked if the alliance with Pheu Thai may upset Democrat followers, particularly in the South, which is its traditional redoubt, Mr Det-it said:” The Democrat Party has no issue with people. We just have like, understanding and forgiveness”.
He even shone admonition against Chuan Leekpai, a former president and member of the Democrat List, who has opposed the gathering joining Pheu Thai as its allies. ” When a group resolution is reached all had comply”, Mr Det-it said.
The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties engaged in a heated debate in 2010 when Abhisit Vejjaiva, the Democrat head, ordered police to recapture the site where red-shirt protesters supporting Pheu Thais had supported. The fight resulted in at least 85 mortality, typically involving demonstrators.
Mr. Chuan said on Wednesday that he would support the group’s solution at today’s party executives and MPs, but that he would also repeat his opposition to joining the Pheu Thai-led authorities.
” Some Democrat people are still alright,” he said. Only a few people have used their jobs within the organization to achieve their individual objectives, according to Mr. Chuan.
Tida Tawornseth, a former co-leader of the red-shirt United Democracy against Dictatorship, even slammed Pheu Thai for kissing and making up with the Democrats. She said Phue Thai wants to become a leader no matter what the methods are.
Cleanse of the Palang Pracharath Party
Also on Wednesay, the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ) slammed the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s decision to boot it out of the government, saying it was unjustifiable and that the PPRP had been betrayed.
After months of doubt, Pheu Thai confirmed on Tuesday that the group had resolved, with the help of its Members, to eliminate PPRP from the government line-up.
Samat Jenchaijitwanich, an outspoken PPRP part and former vice chancellor for justice, on Wednesday rejected the causes cited by Pheu Thai.
Pheu Thai MPs felt uneasy working with the PPRP in the state, according to Mr. Sorawong on Tuesday.
The MPs addressed their criticism of PPRP head Gen Prawit Wongsuwon by pointing out at a celebration meeting that Gen Prawit did not support Pheu Thai, judging from his abstinence from political sessions to support Ms. Paetongtarn’s replacement at a political meeting next week.
Mr Srettha was dismissed as prime minister by the Constitutional Court for appointing an ex-convict, Pichit Chuenban, to the article of PM’s Office secretary.
Pheu Thai even suggested that Gen. Prawit was responsible for 40 ex-coup-appointed legislators ‘ petitions to the court against Mr. Srettha.
Gen Prawit controls the PPRP, and Capt Thamanat Prompow, the group secretary-general, is also the party’s caregiver agriculture secretary.
In a research to Gen Prawit, Capt Thamanat claimed he has cut relations with a person he regarded greatly in the group. However, he continued to say that he and his party would be in the group unless they were expelled. In that situation, they would still be eligible to defect to another party while maintaining their MP position.
Pheu Thai made an ostensible reference to the Prawit sect when it announced it was axing the PPRP. The ruling party favored naming people connected to the Thamanat sect as government ministers or retaining them as government ministers.
A speculated record of government officials includes Akara Prompow, who is Capt Thamanat’s younger brother, and Kla Dharma Party chief Narumon Pinyosinwat as well as Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, who is now caregiver deputy agriculture minister.
According to reports, Mr. Akara is being offered a government position in Pheu Thai’s quota while Ms. Narumon and Mr. Atthakorn are closely related to Capt. Thamanat. Capt Thamanat has also had a long relationship with previous top Thaksin Shinawatra, who is held in high regard by Pheu Thai.
Mr. Samat Yestereday described the PPRP’s cooperation with Pheu Thai as positive. At the Aug 16 legislative election of Ms Paetongtarn as prime secretary, no functions, including the PPRP, competed for the best article. All 39 PPRP MPs voted for her. Gen. Prawit was unavailable because he was preparing a group for the Thai Olympic players who had left Paris.
Regarding Mr. Srettha’s departure via a petition signed by the 40 past senators, Mr. Samat said it was simple to refute Gen Prawit’s claim that he was a string puller.
However, a specific group acted in a much less pleasant manner by abstaining from voting for Ms Paetongtarn to be top, he said, referring to the Democrats. That group is also being incorporated into the case.
Powerful Typhoon Shanshan slams into southern Japan
For southwestern Kyushu, the JMA predicted an huge 1, 100mm of rain in the 48 hours to Friday night. Top tiles were blown off of homes, broken windows, and trees were depicted in a video released by the public broadcaster NHK TV. ” Our carport dome was blown away inContinue Reading