News
Thailand’s Prime Minister Gets Cold Welcome in Chiang Mai Province
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Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visited northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province on Friday, and was confronted by a woman complaining about economic hardship and saying she couldn’t wait for the premier to dissolve the House and call an election.
The prime minister was leaving the Khruba Sriwichai statue in Chiang Mai for his next stop on an official visit to the northern province when the woman, later identified as Ms. Wandee Ratduang, shouted that she had flowers for him.
Ms. Wandee drew his attention by presenting him with withered flowers, candles, and joss sticks, demanding to know when he would dissolve Parliament. Gen Prayut advised her to hold off until an official announcement was made.
She told the Bangkok Post reporter she had had enough of the current government while flashing an anti-government three-finger symbol. She stated it was time to replace the Prime Minister and asked when the elections would be held.
Ms. Wandee, a Phichit native, said the withered flowers represented the country’s state after eight years under Gen Prayut’s leadership. Security officers stood nearby but did not attempt to escort her away.
Thailand Justice Minister Resigns
Somsak Thepsutin confirmed that he would rejoin the Pheu Thai Party as he announced his resignation as justice minister and refusal to serve as caretaker. He stated that he decided to leave the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) because it needs to fully oversee economic ministries, implying that it cannot properly solve the country’s economic struggles.
He attributed this to the rulingPalang Pracharath Party winning only 118 House seats in the 2019 general election, forcing it to form a coalition government and share economic portfolios with its partners. Mr. Somsak believes Pheu Thai, poised for a landslide victory in the upcoming election, is a good fit for him.
“I’ve decided to apply to join Pheu Thai, but I also want to make it clear that I’m stepping down as Thailand’s justice minister and will not take on the caretaker role,” he said.
Army commander Narongpan Jitkaewtae stated that the personnel guidelines are intended to remind soldiers of the dos and donts of political participation as political campaigns ramp up.
He stated that soldiers are expected to conduct themselves professionally during this time and must adhere to guidelines already reviewed by the Election Commission (EC).
Election posters are popping up nationwide
Political parties in Thailand can hold campaign rallies inside military bases, according to the army chief, but they must submit requests through the EC and follow the rules because some military-supervised areas are restricted.
Election campaign posters are popping up nationwide, many of which are critical of the military’s role in politics or call for the abolition of conscription for Thai citizens.
When asked about campaign materials perceived to be critical of the military, Gen Narongpan stated that he has no say over where election campaign materials are erected but that they should not obstruct vehicle traffic or pose security or safety concerns.
Mr. Chuvit Kamolvisit, who has declared war on the coalition Bhumjaithai Party, filed a petition with the EC on Friday, accusing the party of violating party donation rules.
Section 72 of the Political Parties Act prohibits political parties and political office holders from accepting illegal donations or other benefits from sources suspected of being illegitimate. A political party may be disbanded as a result of the offense.
Mr. Chuvit has asked the polling agency to investigate donations made to the second-largest coalition party by Burijarearn Construction Co and determine whether the party has broken the law.
Burijarearn Construction is at the heart of the current Constitutional Court case against Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, the secretary-general of Bhumjaithai.
Mr. Chuvit claimed that Mr. Saksayam assisted the firm in obtaining concessions for 40 Transport Ministry projects from 2020 and 2022 and that Burijarearn Construction made several financial donations to the Bhumjaithai Party.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Friday that he had prepared a decree to dissolve Parliament before an election.
The decree would be subject to His Majesty the King’s approval and would take effect once published in the Royal Gazette. An election must be held 45-60 days after the dissolution of the Parliament.
Many online reports quickly concluded that the Parliament would be dissolved on Monday, but Gen Prayut was evasive.
“I have prepared (the decree). We have to wait. “We have to wait for the Royal Gazette announcement,” he told reporters during his visit to Chiang Mai Province.
He said: “We have to wait for the Election Commission, which has published a new election map of the country’s 400 constituencies, had previously scheduled voting for May 7, but a final date still needs to be set.
The Prime Minister, who has been in charge since a coup against Yingluck Shinawatra’s government in May 2014, will run under the banner of the new United Thai Nation (UTN) party.
While UTN is expected to win a few seats, Gen Prayut would again be a prime ministerial candidate if the party formed a government coalition.
According to the Constitutional Court, Gen. Prayut could only serve for 2 years before reaching the limit of 8 years from the date the current Constitution was proclaimed in 2017.
Pheu Thai Party Highly Favored
In the upcoming election, the Pheu Thai Party is widely expected to win the majority seats in the Parliament. It claims to aim for a landslide — as many as 310 seats — to advance its populist policies.
The Palang Pracharath Party, which currently leads the coalition government, is the other leading contender. Their prime ministerial candidate is Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, who is now being portrayed as a champion of democracy in the form of lengthy ghostwritten articles posted on Facebook in his name.
“This election will be a battle of ideologies, determining whether Thailand will remain conservative or sway more liberal,” Yuttaporn Issarachai, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, told Bloomberg.
“However, the military is so deeply embedded in Thai politics that bringing about military reform would require a super landslide, which is unlikely.”
There’s also the possibility of at least 3 million first-time voters, who account for more than 5% of those eligible to vote. This generation would have reached adulthood during the unprecedented youth protests in 2020 calling for Gen Prayut’s resignation and monarchy reforms.
Pre-election polls show opposition parties leading the ruling coalition, but the rules favor military-backed groups. That’s because the Constitution grants the 250-member Senate, mostly made up of establishment allies and includes more than 100 military and Royal Thai police appointees, the authority to vote on the next prime minister until early 2024.
Gen Prayut is counting on this group’s support to keep him ahead in the race for Prime Minister. Much will depend on how his conservative party fared in the polls against Palang Pracharath and the opposition led by Pheu Thai.
Pheu Thai and its predecessors have won every election in the last two decades, but three of their administrations have been terminated due to judicial rulings or military takeovers.
“I strongly believe that we will form the next government, which is why we are going to campaign for a landslide,” said Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the party’s face and one of its three prime ministerial candidates.
Asked about the prospect that her opponents might try to block Pheu Thai from governing, she said, “of course, of course”.
Some senators have already stated they will not vote for a Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, even if it has the most seats in the next House.
The Election Commission announced the boundaries of 400 constituencies on Thursday, with Bangkok having the most at 33, Nakhon Ratchasima having 16, and Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat having ten. Each of the five provinces, including Trat and Ranong, has only one seat.
Bangkok and 26 provinces in Central Thailand will have 122 MPs under the new boundaries, while 14 provinces in Southern Thailand will have 60 MPs.
Sixteen provinces in Northern Thailand will have 37 MPs, while the Northeast will have the most, with 133. The eastern region will have 29 representatives, while the western region will have 19.
News
Trudeau’s Gun Grab Could Cost Taxpayers a Whopping $7 Billion
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A recent report indicates that since Trudeau’s announcement of his gun buyback program four years ago, almost none of the banned firearms have been surrendered.
The federal government plans to purchase 2,063 firearm models from retailers following the enactment of Bill C-21, which amends various Acts and introduces certain consequential changes related to firearms. It was granted royal assent on December 15 of last year.
This ban immediately criminalized the actions of federally-licensed firearms owners regarding the purchase, sale, transportation, importation, exportation, or use of hundreds of thousands of rifles and shotguns that were previously legal.
The gun ban focused on what it termed ‘assault-style weapons,’ which are, in reality, traditional semi-automatic rifles and shotguns that have enjoyed popularity among hunters and sport shooters for over a century.
In May 2020, the federal government enacted an Order-in-Council that prohibited 1,500 types of “assault-style” firearms and outlined specific components of the newly banned firearms. Property owners must adhere to the law by October 2023.
Trudeau’s Buyback Hasn’t Happened
“In the announcement regarding the ban, the prime minister stated that the government would seize the prohibited firearms, assuring that their lawful owners would be ‘grandfathered’ or compensated fairly.” “That hasn’t happened,” criminologist Gary Mauser told Rebel News.
Mauser projected expenses ranging from $2.6 billion to $6.7 billion. The figure reflects the compensation costs amounting to $756 million, as outlined by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).
“The projected expenses for gathering the illegal firearms are estimated to range from $1.6 billion to $7 billion.” “This range estimate increases to between $2.647 billion and $7 billion when compensation costs to owners are factored in,” Mauser stated.
Figures requested by Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs concerning firearms prohibited due to the May 1, 2020 Order In Council reveal that $72 million has been allocated to the firearm “buyback” program, yet not a single firearm has been confiscated to date.
In a recent revelation, Public Safety Canada disclosed that the federal government allocated a staggering $41,094,556, as prompted by an order paper question from Conservative Senator Don Plett last September, yet yielded no tangible outcomes.
An internal memo from late 2019 revealed that the Liberals projected their politically motivated harassment would incur a cost of $1.8 billion.
Enforcement efforts Questioned
By December 2023, estimates from TheGunBlog.ca indicate that the Liberals and RCMP had incurred or were responsible for approximately $30 million in personnel expenses related to the enforcement efforts. The union representing the police service previously stated that the effort to confiscate firearms is a “misdirected effort” aimed at ensuring public safety.
“This action diverts crucial personnel, resources, and funding from tackling the more pressing and escalating issue of criminal use of illegal firearms,” stated the National Police Federation (NPF).
The Canadian Sporting Arms & Ammunition Association (CSAAA), representing firearms retailers, has stated it will have “zero involvement” in the confiscation of these firearms. Even Canada Post held back from providing assistance due to safety concerns.
The consultant previously assessed that retailers are sitting on almost $1 billion worth of inventory that cannot be sold or returned to suppliers because of the Order-In-Council.
“Despite the ongoing confusion surrounding the ban, after four years, we ought to be able to address one crucial question.” Has the prohibition enhanced safety for Canadians? Mauser asks.
Illegally Obtained Firearms are the Problem
Statistics Canada reports a 10% increase in firearm-related violent crime between 2020 and 2022, rising from 12,614 incidents to 13,937 incidents. In that timeframe, the incidence of firearm-related violent crime increased from 33.7 incidents per 100,000 population in 2021 to 36.7 incidents the subsequent year.
“This marks the highest rate documented since the collection of comparable data began in 2009,” the criminologist explains.
Supplementary DataData indicates that firearm homicides have risen since 2020. “The issue lies not with lawfully-held firearms,” Mauser stated.
Firearms that have been banned under the Order-in-Council continue to be securely stored in the safes of their lawful owners. The individuals underwent a thorough vetting process by the RCMP and are subject to nightly monitoring to ensure there are no infractions that could pose a risk to public safety.
“The firearms involved in homicides were seldom legally owned weapons wielded by their rightful owners,” Mauser continues. The number of offenses linked to organized crime has surged from 4,810 in 2016 to a staggering 13,056 in 2020.
“If those in power … aim to diminish crime and enhance public safety, they ought to implement strategies that effectively focus on offenders and utilize our limited tax resources judiciously to reach these objectives,” he stated.
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News
Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding, But Still Accounting 48% Search Revenue
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Google is so closely associated with its key product that its name is a verb that signifies “search.” However, Google’s dominance in that sector is dwindling.
According to eMarketer, Google will lose control of the US search industry for the first time in decades next year.
Google will remain the dominant search player, accounting for 48% of American search advertising revenue. And, remarkably, Google is still increasing its sales in the field, despite being the dominating player in search since the early days of the George W. Bush administration. However, Amazon is growing at a quicker rate.
Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding
Amazon will hold over a quarter of US search ad dollars next year, rising to 27% by 2026, while Google will fall even more, according to eMarketer.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the forecast.
Lest you think you’ll have to switch to Bing or Yahoo, this isn’t the end of Google or anything really near.
Google is the fourth-most valued public firm in the world. Its market worth is $2.1 trillion, trailing just Apple, Microsoft, and the AI chip darling Nvidia. It also maintains its dominance in other industries, such as display advertisements, where it dominates alongside Facebook’s parent firm Meta, and video ads on YouTube.
To put those “other” firms in context, each is worth more than Delta Air Lines’ total market value. So, yeah, Google is not going anywhere.
Nonetheless, Google faces numerous dangers to its operations, particularly from antitrust regulators.
On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that Google must open up its Google Play Store to competitors, dealing a significant blow to the firm in its long-running battle with Fortnite creator Epic Games. Google announced that it would appeal the verdict.
In August, a federal judge ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly on search. That verdict could lead to the dissolution of the company’s search operation. Another antitrust lawsuit filed last month accuses Google of abusing its dominance in the online advertising business.
Meanwhile, European regulators have compelled Google to follow tough new standards, which have resulted in multiple $1 billion-plus fines.
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Pixa Bay
Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding
On top of that, the marketplace is becoming more difficult on its own.
TikTok, the fastest-growing social network, is expanding into the search market. And Amazon has accomplished something few other digital titans have done to date: it has established a habit.
When you want to buy anything, you usually go to Amazon, not Google. Amazon then buys adverts to push companies’ products to the top of your search results, increasing sales and earning Amazon a greater portion of the revenue. According to eMarketer, it is expected to generate $27.8 billion in search revenue in the United States next year, trailing only Google’s $62.9 billion total.
And then there’s AI, the technology that (supposedly) will change everything.
Why search in stilted language for “kendall jenner why bad bunny breakup” or “police moving violation driver rights no stop sign” when you can just ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT, “What’s going on with Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny?” in “I need help fighting a moving violation involving a stop sign that wasn’t visible.” Google is working on exactly this technology with its Gemini product, but its success is far from guaranteed, especially with Apple collaborating with OpenAI and other businesses rapidly joining the market.
A Google spokeswoman referred to a blog post from last week in which the company unveiled ads in its AI overviews (the AI-generated text that appears at the top of search results). It’s Google’s way of expressing its ability to profit on a changing marketplace while retaining its business, even as its consumers steadily transition to ask-and-answer AI and away from search.
Google has long used a single catchphrase to defend itself against opponents who claim it is a monopoly abusing its power: competition is only a click away. Until recently, that seemed comically obtuse. Really? We are going to switch to Bing? Or Duck Duck Go? Give me a break.
But today, it feels more like reality.
Google is in no danger of disappearing. However, every highly dominating company faces some type of reckoning over time. GE, a Dow mainstay for more than a century, was broken up last year and is now a shell of its previous dominance. Sears declared bankruptcy in 2022 and is virtually out of business. US Steel, long the foundation of American manufacturing, is attempting to sell itself to a Japanese corporation.
SOURCE | CNN
News
The Supreme Court Turns Down Biden’s Government Appeal in a Texas Emergency Abortion Matter.
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(VOR News) – A ruling that prohibits emergency abortions that contravene the Supreme Court law in the state of Texas, which has one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the country, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. The United States Supreme Court upheld this decision.
The justices did not provide any specifics regarding the underlying reasons for their decision to uphold an order from a lower court that declared hospitals cannot be legally obligated to administer abortions if doing so would violate the law in the state of Texas.
Institutions are not required to perform abortions, as stipulated in the decree. The common populace did not investigate any opposing viewpoints. The decision was made just weeks before a presidential election that brought abortion to the forefront of the political agenda.
This decision follows the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended abortion nationwide.
In response to a request from the administration of Vice President Joe Biden to overturn the lower court’s decision, the justices expressed their disapproval.
The government contends that hospitals are obligated to perform abortions in compliance with federal legislation when the health or life of an expectant patient is in an exceedingly precarious condition.
This is the case in regions where the procedure is prohibited. The difficulty hospitals in Texas and other states are experiencing in determining whether or not routine care could be in violation of stringent state laws that prohibit abortion has resulted in an increase in the number of complaints concerning pregnant women who are experiencing medical distress being turned away from emergency rooms.
The administration cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in a case that bore a striking resemblance to the one that was presented to it in Idaho at the beginning of the year. The justices took a limited decision in that case to allow the continuation of emergency abortions without interruption while a lawsuit was still being heard.
In contrast, Texas has been a vocal proponent of the injunction’s continued enforcement. Texas has argued that its circumstances are distinct from those of Idaho, as the state does have an exemption for situations that pose a significant hazard to the health of an expectant patient.
According to the state, the discrepancy is the result of this exemption. The state of Idaho had a provision that safeguarded a woman’s life when the issue was first broached; however, it did not include protection for her health.
Certified medical practitioners are not obligated to wait until a woman’s life is in imminent peril before they are legally permitted to perform an abortion, as determined by the state supreme court.
The state of Texas highlighted this to the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, medical professionals have criticized the Texas statute as being perilously ambiguous, and a medical board has declined to provide a list of all the disorders that are eligible for an exception. Furthermore, the statute has been criticized for its hazardous ambiguity.
For an extended period, termination of pregnancies has been a standard procedure in medical treatment for individuals who have been experiencing significant issues. It is implemented in this manner to prevent catastrophic outcomes, such as sepsis, organ failure, and other severe scenarios.
Nevertheless, medical professionals and hospitals in Texas and other states with strict abortion laws have noted that it is uncertain whether or not these terminations could be in violation of abortion prohibitions that include the possibility of a prison sentence. This is the case in regions where abortion prohibitions are exceedingly restrictive.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which resulted in restrictions on the rights of women to have abortions in several Republican-ruled states, the Texas case was revisited in 2022.
As per the orders that were disclosed by the administration of Vice President Joe Biden, hospitals are still required to provide abortions in cases that are classified as dire emergency.
As stipulated in a piece of health care legislation, the majority of hospitals are obligated to provide medical assistance to patients who are experiencing medical distress. This is in accordance with the law.
The state of Texas maintained that hospitals should not be obligated to provide abortions throughout the litigation, as doing so would violate the state’s constitutional prohibition on abortions. In its January judgment, the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals concurred with the state and acknowledged that the administration had exceeded its authority.
SOURCE: AP
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