Thailand chooses a House speaker as the Move Forward Party tries to secure the prime minister job
Thailand's new government took a step closer to forming with the speaker of the House of Representative chosen Tuesday in what has been an arduous task before the next prime minister is named. The House vote for prime minister is the next major move, expected next week. The leader of the surprise election winner Move Forward Party, 42-year-old businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, has faced strong opposition from conservative lawmakers in his bid to take the job. A successful candidate must have the backing of a combined majority of the elected lawmakers in the Lower House and the military-appointed Senate, which represents the country’s traditional ruling class. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the Prachachat Party's veteran leader who is better known as Wan Noor, was the sole nomination for the speakership and was automatically chosen with no house vote required. “I will perform my duty with political neutrality,” Wan Noor gave a speech after the nomination. “I will perform my duty with transparency, honesty, and I will fully comply with the constitution and the rules of the parliament.” The House Speaker position was highly sought after as it could influence the passage of legislation. Move Forward said it needed the post to ensure their progressive policies, often blocked by conservative lawmakers, will pass through. But many members of the populist Phue Thai Party insisted that their party should take the crucial post as it was the second winner of the election. Weeks of tensions between the two parties over the speaker’s post had raised concerns over the unity of their coalition and added to the anxiety Move Forward is facing in forming a government, but the proposals Tuesday went according to a compromise the two parties made the day before. Move Forward and Pheu Thai, the two biggest parties in the coalition, each got a candidate endorsed for the two deputy speaker posts. Several Move Forward supporters expressed their disappointment in the speaker deal, fearing it would be seen as the party backing down, which could undermine their reform agendas. Party leader Pita wrote Tuesday on Facebook that the decision was reached in order to “preserve the unity of the work among parties of the coalition government” and that he fully trusts Wan Noor will serve the post with integrity and for the right causes. The general election in May saw Move Forward and Pheu Thai score a major win over parties in the army-backed ruling government. The victory alarmed the country’s conservative ruling establishment — especially with Move Forward, which they regard as radical and a threat to the monarchy because of modest reforms it had proposed during the election campaign. The election results reflected a public weary of nine years under Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army commander seized power in a 2014 coup. He was returned as prime minister after the 2019 election. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
1970-01-01 08:00
Who is Fuslie? YouTuber buys PewDiePie's hand-drawn painting at record-breaking price, fans call it 'tattoo material'
Fuslie wasted no time and placed an initial offer of $10,000 for the famous YouTuber's painting
1970-01-01 08:00
China accuses UK of harbouring Hong Kong fugitives
The UK had criticised Hong Kong for placing bounties on eight pro-democracy activists based overseas.
1970-01-01 08:00
How tennis could be harming your body – and why it does you good
With Wimbledon underway and Nick Kyrgios already out due to injury, is tennis actually any good for you? Every tournament brings fresh injuries into the public eye, but the sport’s praises are often sung by fitness fans all over the world. So, how does it weigh up health and safety-wise? Is it worth investing some time in the sport if you enjoy Wimbledon? Tennis elbow The most common injury in tennis is tennis elbow, says Lucy Macdonald, physiotherapist at Octopus Clinic, and it’s something which has affected the likes of Andy Murray and Venus Williams. “Tennis elbow is the generic term for pain in the elbow, normally where irritation of the tendon runs over the elbow.,” she says. “It is often caused by a sudden overload on a tendon, in a way it is not used to, and it cannot cope with the forces that are on it. Treating it involves modifying what you are doing. “It can also be caused by other racket sports, and even things like breastfeeding a baby or cutting hedges and gardening,” she explains. But, it isn’t the end of tennis dreams. You can treat it. “Do not completely rest, modify the load going through the elbow, reduce the frequency and longevity of playing tennis, but things like physical support and tape can also help. “Changing your technique to take pressure off the tendon can help,” Macdonald explains. “The long-term treatment is to gradually build up the resilience of the tendon – a top spin stroke adds the most pressure – and alongside that, use static contractions – exercises that are just contracting the muscle, holding it and then relaxing.” Wrist injuries Kyrgios has pulled out of Wimbledon already, due to a wrist injury. “People may get wrist injuries if they fall and fracture the wrist. Or if they get a repetitive strain injury – if you use your wrist a lot in terms of the strokes you use with a lot of topspin – you can get some overuse and cause a flare up,” says Macdonald. Ankles and knees “Being on a slippery court, it can be easy to go over on your ankle,” she continues. “It happens in a lot of sports, if you’re running for a ball or trying to change direction. “You might get some knee problems, as they take such a hit generally with any propulsive sport – you get wear and tear on the knees, and sudden twists could impact your medial meniscus. Strength training is the best thing for that.” The benefits Should you be worried about all these injuries if you want to start playing, though? “The main cause of injuries in tennis is the sporadic nature people play it. If they suddenly go and play once every few months, the body is not used to the movements required in tennis, ” Macdonald notes.“You may suddenly run across the court and strain your calf or rupture your Achilles, because you haven’t run in months. “If you play it regularly and are consistent with the amount you play, it can be really beneficial,” she says.Any exercise is good, but the social aspect of tennis is hugely motivating, if you’re meeting up with three friends to play tennis, you have to show up – it gets you exercising regularly if you do it consistently. Tennis is beneficial for “increasing your heart and breathing rate, which is really good for your cardio and respiratory system. It keeps the range of motion in your shoulders, improves your balance with direction changes, and reduces your risk of falling,” says Macdonald. So, don’t let the risk of injury put you off. “There are so many positives that outweigh the negatives. Exercise, in general, extends your life span, and every illness out there is reduced by doing exercise. Even though it may have some impact on our musculoskeletal system, it is overwhelmingly positive for your mental and physical health.”
1970-01-01 08:00
Roundup: Nina Agdal, Logan Paul Engaged; Anthony Edwards Lands Huge Extension; Home Run Derby Contestants Revealed
Nina Agdal and Logan Paul are engaged, Anthony Edwards got a huge extension, MLB Home Run Derby contestants revealed and more in the Roundup.
1970-01-01 08:00
Who helped 'injured' Logan Paul at WWE Money in the Bank?
Paul came dangerously near to suffering a 'major injury' after a harmful encounter at WWE Money in the Bank
1970-01-01 08:00
xQc shocked after streamer ohnePixel receives cases and capsules worth $118K in CS:GO trade offer, trolls dub it 'money laundering'
What are cases and capsules in CS:GO? Keep reading to delve deeper in the trade offer worth $118k
1970-01-01 08:00
Andrew Tate: 'King of masculinity' to host another Emergency Meeting on Rumble to reaffirm manhood, fans say 'can't wait'
Andrew Tate said, 'Men in groups are not only happy but also powerful'
1970-01-01 08:00
Arnold Schwarzenegger believes he had a part in the rise of AI
Arnold Schwarzenegger has said that he believes The Terminator had a role in AI development. Speaking in Los Angeles at ‘An Evening with Arnold Schwarzenegger’, the 75-year-old discussed the state of AI in 2023. Schwarzenegger said “today, everyone is frightened of it, of where this is gonna go.” He then goes on to say, “and in this movie, in ‘Terminator,’ we talk about the machines becoming self-aware and they take over.” Because of this he took a moment to commend the “brilliance” of James Cameron, the writer and director of the 1984 movie, because at that time they had only “scratched the surface of AI.” And it seems that the former governor of California attributes this development to The Terminator and James Cameron saying: “Now over the course of decades, it has become a reality. So it’s not any more fantasy or kind of futuristic. It is here today. And so this is the extraordinary writing of James Cameron.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “I wish I could take credit for this movie,” Schwarzenegger added, continuing to praise Cameron, “he’s just such an extraordinary writer and he’s such an unbelievable director.” “I can only take credit of the character that i played and the way I played it,” he added. “But I mean, he has created this character.” Back in May a Twitter user at the Dell Tech World conference shared that Cameron had begun writing a new Terminator movie but “wants to see how #AI shakes out before he goes any further.” At the Los Angeles event, Schwarzenegger said that whilst The Terminator franchise will continue, it will do so without him. “The franchise is not done. I’m done. I got the message loud and clear that the world wants to move on with a different theme when it comes to The Terminator.” He added that he looks at the franchise “very fondly,” attributing it to much of his success. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
'Liberty, equality, fraternity' for all? New riots make France confront an old problem
The lofty ideals of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" to which France aspires are embossed on its coins and carved above its school doors
1970-01-01 08:00
What is Kourtney Kardashian's net worth? Poosh founder says she 'doesn't need her sisters to make money'
'She wants a whole Kravis spinoff of The Kardashians that doesn't involve her sisters,' one source said
1970-01-01 08:00
Federal judge blocks Florida election law that would have set limits on voter registration
A federal judge on Monday blocked a Florida election law that would have set limits on voter registration in the state.
1970-01-01 08:00
