First person tried under Hong Kong’s national anthem law jailed for 3 months - South China Morning Post

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First person tried under Hong Kong’s national anthem law jailed for 3 months  South China Morning PostView Full coverage on Google News
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2023-07-20 14:02:29Z
CBMipAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zY21wLmNvbS9uZXdzL2hvbmcta29uZy9sYXctYW5kLWNyaW1lL2FydGljbGUvMzIyODMyNS9ob25nLWtvbmdzLWZpcnN0LXBlcnNvbi10cmllZC11bmRlci1uYXRpb25hbC1hbnRoZW0tbGF3LXNlbnRlbmNlZC0zLW1vbnRocy1qYWlsLXVzaW5nLXByb3Rlc3Qtc29uZ9IBpAFodHRwczovL2FtcC5zY21wLmNvbS9uZXdzL2hvbmcta29uZy9sYXctYW5kLWNyaW1lL2FydGljbGUvMzIyODMyNS9ob25nLWtvbmdzLWZpcnN0LXBlcnNvbi10cmllZC11bmRlci1uYXRpb25hbC1hbnRoZW0tbGF3LXNlbnRlbmNlZC0zLW1vbnRocy1qYWlsLXVzaW5nLXByb3Rlc3Qtc29uZw

Thailand's Pheu Thai could drop Move Forward to form new coalition, say analysts - CNA

Pheu Thai is expected to field its own candidate, business tycoon Srettha Thavisin, as its prime minister nominee in the next round of voting on Jul 27.

“If Pheu Thai wants to be very democratic, the best option is to work with Move Forward. However, if Pheu Thai wants to form a government, then its best option is to work with other parties,” said Dr Paul Chambers from the Center of ASEAN Community Studies at Naresuan University in Thailand.

“Because Move Forward has already been rejected by the palace. It has already been rejected by the powers that be. And so Pheu Thai most likely will work with parties that have been in the previous government to try to form a ruling coalition,” he told CNA’s Asia Now on Thursday.

PHEU THAI "IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION"

However, Pheu Thai has to “really evaluate” whether forming a new coalition that excludes Move Forward would be politically viable in the future, said Assistant Professor Surachanee Sriyai from the School of Public Policy at Chiang Mai University.

“We're not talking short game here (about) who's going to become prime minister but we're talking four years from now when the elections come around, would people still vote for Pheu Thai if Pheu Thai excludes Move Forward from this coalition,” said the academic, who wanted to be known as Asst Prof Hammerli.

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2023-07-20 11:21:00Z
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Thailand to hold another PM vote next week but Pita's bid over: Speaker - CNA

"If we have elections and this is all we get, why don't you just choose it yourself," a protestor said late on Wednesday drawing applause from a crowd gathered in central Bangkok wearing black.

A Twitter hashtag from the protest was used at least 2 million times.

Thailand's main stock index has climbed about 2.6 per cent since Jul 14, the day after Pita was first denied by parliament, while the baht has strengthened by 1.7 per cent against the dollar. Foreign investors bought 15.8 billion baht (US$465.53 million) net of Thai shares and bonds during Jul 14 to 19.

Next week, it is widely expected that real estate tycoon and political newcomer Srettha Thavisin from the runner-up Pheu Thai party, part of Pita's eight-party alliance, will be nominated for premier.

Activists are planning more gatherings and have asked people to wear black to protest what they see as rules stacked against the election winners.

The military-drafted constitution favours conservative parties, requiring any prime ministerial candidate to secure at least 375 votes from a joint sitting of the bicameral legislature including the junta-appointed 249-member senate and an elected 500-member lower house.

Protesters have called on the senators to resign and that Pita's eight-party coalition to stick together and uphold election promises.

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2023-07-20 07:45:44Z
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Thailand to hold another PM vote next week, but Pita's bid over - The Straits Times

BANGKOK - Thailand’s Parliament will hold another vote for a prime minister next week, which cannot include the leader of election winner Move Forward Party, a Deputy Speaker said on Thursday, after his re-nomination was blocked.

Parliament’s move to deny Mr Pita Limjaroenrat after a marathon debate on his eligibility on Wednesday triggered angry street protests, as a post-election crisis deepens two months after his party trounced military-backed rivals in an election.

“A candidate can only be nominated once in each parliamentary session,” Deputy House Speaker Pichet Chuamuangphan told Reuters on Thursday.

The US-educated Pita, 42, has faced tough resistance from conservative and royalist forces that clash with the party’s anti-establishment policies.

On Wednesday, Parliament voted to block his second bid for the premiership and the Constitutional Court suspended him as lawmaker as it investigates a case against him over allegations that he violated election law for holding shares in a media company. Mr Pita denies breaking election rules.

Legislative and judicial actions against him have drawn anger from his supporters.

“If we have elections and this is all we get, why don’t you just choose it yourself,” a protestor said late on Wednesday, drawing applause from a crowd gathered in central Bangkok wearing black.

A Twitter hashtag from the protest was used at least two million times.

Thailand’s main stock index has climbed about 2.6 per cent since July 14, the day after Mr Pita was first denied by Parliament, while the baht has strengthened by 1.7 per cent against the dollar.

Next week, it is widely expected that real estate tycoon and political newcomer Srettha Thavisin from the runner-up Pheu Thai party, part of Mr Pita’s eight-party alliance, will be nominated for premier.

Activists are planning more gatherings and have asked people to wear black to protest what they see as rules stacked against the election winner.

The military-drafted Constitution favours conservative parties, requiring any prime ministerial candidate to secure at least 375 votes from a joint sitting of the bicameral legislature, including the junta-appointed 249-member senate and an elected 500-member Lower House.

Protesters have called on the senators to resign and for Mr Pita’s eight-party coalition to stick together and uphold election promises. REUTERS

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2023-07-20 05:35:00Z
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Renovation company hired by pregnant woman stops work after getting 90% of payment - STOMP

A pregnant pause?

A company hired by a woman in a family way to renovate her home left the work unfinished after receiving most of the payment.

The Stomper has since found others who were similarly left in the lurch by the company, R3 Design and Build.

She recounted: "I engaged them when I was in the third trimester of my pregnancy last September. They hacked my house, left it and were gone after taking about 96 per cent of the payment."

She told Stomp the full amount was $58,000 and she had paid $55,608.

The Stomper shared screenshots of the WhatsApp messages where she tried in vain to get a refund from the company in March.

"I have since engaged a second reno company to finish up their work," she said.

"I've approached my MP for help, but they said it was not a scam as work did start though not completed. Hence, it was a 'dispute'.

"I have since gathered about five other victims who engaged the same company and are in the same situation."

R3 Design and Build is listed on the website Singapore Scam with about 10 complaints against them.

A Facebook user Durrah Atiqah Umar also complained about the company in November last year.

She said: "In May, the director of the company, Raymond, decided he did not want to proceed with the work even though 75 per cent was already paid. Thus we asked for a refund for work that was not done but received no reply up to this date. The company owes us roughly $6,000 to $7,000."

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2023-07-20 01:33:29Z
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Two people, shooter dead in shooting in New Zealand's Auckland - The Straits Times

SYDNEY - At least two people were killed, and six people wounded in a shooting at a construction site in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland, authorities said on Thursday, with the police saying the shooter was dead and risk from the incident was over.

The shooting in one of the busy streets in the city centre “has been contained and is an isolated incident,” New Zealand police said in a statement. “We can also advise that this is not a national security risk.”

The incident came just hours ahead of the opening match of the ninth Women’s soccer World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland later on Thursday.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the soccer tournament would proceed as planned, adding the shooting appeared to be the actions of an individual and that police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

“There was no identified political or ideological motivation for the shooting and therefore no national security risk,” Mr Hipkins said during a televised media briefing.

There will be no change to New Zealand’s security threat level, he said.

Italy team’s training has been delayed as players cannot get out of their hotel, the team said, while the US team said all its players and staff were accounted for and safe.

Mr Douglas Emhoff, the husband of US vice-president Kamala Harris and leading the presidential delegation to New Zealand to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup, is safe, the US embassy said.

Several streets in Auckland were cordoned off, all ferry services into the city have been cancelled and buses running through some areas will be detoured.

“This is a scary situation for Aucklanders on their Thursday morning commute to work. Please stay at home, avoid travel into the city centre,” Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said in a tweet.

Police said the shooter, armed with a pump action shot gun, moved through the building site and after reaching the upper levels, he “contained himself within the elevator shaft.”

“Further shots were fired from the male, and he was located deceased a short time later,” police said.

“Details around what has exactly occurred are still emerging, and police will continue to provide updates around injuries and the circumstances.” REUTERS

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2023-07-19 22:25:00Z
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Thai Parliament Bars Election Winner From Running for PM Post - Bloomberg

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1. Thai Parliament Bars Election Winner From Running for PM Post  Bloomberg
2. Thai court suspends Pita as lawmaker as parliament votes on PM  CNA
3. Last chance for Thailand's Pita to become prime minister as Parliament votes  The Straits Times
4. MFP's hopes begin to fade  Bangkok Post
5. The future of Pita and liberal democracy at home  Bangkok Post
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-07-19 10:13:39Z
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