Ukraine reclaims village in Donetsk region from Russian troops amid grueling counteroffensive
Ukrainian forces have retaken the village of Urozhaine in the eastern Donetsk region, Kyiv said on Wednesday, after days of punishing battles as part of its counteroffensive against Russia.
2023-08-16 19:20
Zayed Sustainability Prize’s Beyond2020 Initiative Secures Clean Water for 9,000 Rural Ethiopians
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 16, 2023--
2023-08-16 19:18
Morgan to lead Wales in World Cup warm-up against South Africa
Jac Morgan looks increasingly likely to lead Wales at the Rugby World Cup after the flanker was named as captain for a warm-up match against reigning champions...
2023-08-16 19:16
Scotland scrum-half White cleared for Rugby World Cup
Ben White was included in coach Gregor Townsend's Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup announced Wednesday following fears the scrum half might...
2023-08-16 18:58
Rodrygo reveals he turned down Barcelona before joining Real Madrid
Rodrygo Goes has revealed the details of his move to Real Madrid, admitting he turned down the opportunity to join Barcelona in favour of a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
2023-08-16 18:56
German govt okays plan to legalise recreational cannabis
The German government approved a draft law Wednesday legalising the purchase and possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use, despite criticism from...
2023-08-16 18:53
German Cannabis Bill Passes Scholz Cabinet in Legalization Push
Germany’s ruling coalition approved a scaled-back plan to decriminalize personal use of cannabis in a first step toward
2023-08-16 18:51
How did Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez celebrate his birthday? Actor, 51, reportedly 'happy and content' with life
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first met in 2002 during the production of their film 'Gigli'
2023-08-16 18:48
Court clears the way for Thai Parliament to pick a new prime minister 3 months after elections
Thailand’s Constitutional Court cleared the way Wednesday for Parliament to vote for a new prime minister more than three months after national elections by declining to rule on a complaint over the rejection of the winning party's leader. The court had been asked to decide whether Parliament had violated the constitution by refusing to allow the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party to be nominated for a second time as a prime ministerial candidate. Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat had assembled an eight-party coalition with a majority in Parliament's lower house. But under the military-implemented constitution, a new prime minister must receive a majority of votes from both the elected House and the conservative appointed Senate, which was chosen by an earlier military government. Pita lost a first vote in Parliament for prime minister last month, with many senators voting against him because of his party’s call for reform of a law that makes it illegal to defame Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, has been abused as a political weapon. Members of the Senate, like the army, see themselves as guardians of traditional conservative royalist values. The combined Parliament then refused to allow Pita to be renominated for a second vote. Several lawmakers from Pita's party and private citizens submitted a complaint to the state ombudsman charging that the action violated the constitution. The ombudsman relayed the complaint to the Constitutional Court, which dismissed the case on Wednesday on the grounds that the complainants had not been directly affected by Parliament’s decision and therefore were not entitled to submit the case before the court. While the court’s decision suggested that Pita himself could file a petition seeking a ruling on the matter, Move Forward spokesperson Rangsiman Rome said Pita would not do so. He said Move Forward continues to strongly believe that Parliament can renominate a prime ministerial candidate, but that the issue should be resolved through parliamentary procedures, not the court. After its two failed attempts, Move Forward stepped aside to allow its biggest partner in the eight-party coalition, the Pheu Thai party, to attempt to form a new government. Pheu Thai, which finished second in the May polls, then excluded Move Forward from the coalition, saying its call to reform the royal defamation law made it impossible to gather enough support from other parties and the Senate to approve a new prime minister. Pheu Thai has since cobbled together a coalition of nine parties with 238 seats in the 500-member lower house, still short of the majority it needs. It plans to nominate real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as prime minister. Move Forward said Tuesday that its elected House members will not vote for a candidate from the Pheu Thai-led coalition. It said the coalition, which includes parties from the outgoing military-backed administration, had violated popular demand for political reform "that was clearly expressed through the election results.” The results of May’s general election were a strong repudiation of the country’s conservative elites and reflected the disenchantment in particular of young voters who want to limit the political influence of the military, which has staged more than a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Move Forward's stunning victory came after nearly a decade of military-controlled rule led by Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army chief ousted a Pheu Thai-led government in a 2014 coup and returned as prime minister after 2019 elections. Many believe that the current Pheu Thai-led coalition needs to include at least one of the two military-backed parties that were soundly rejected in the polls to achieve a House majority. Pheu Thai has not ruled out that possibility. Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties affiliated with ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire populist who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Thaksin has said he plans to return to Thailand soon following years of self-imposed exile to escape a prison term in several criminal cases which he has decried as politically motivated. Following the court’s decision, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha told reporters on Wednesday that he plans to set the next voting for prime minister on Tuesday and will meet with parliamentary leaders on Thursday to discuss the matter. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Modi says India's economy will be among the top three in the world within five years Grooming cases soar to record high as charity urges tech giants for support Poorer areas missing out because public funding system has broken down – study
2023-08-16 18:45
No. 9 Clemson hopes changes at quarterback, coordinator lead the Tigers back to the CFP
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney hopes changes at quarterback and offensive coordinator lead the ninth-ranked Tigers back to the College Football Playoff
2023-08-16 18:28
Duke thrived in Mike Elko's debut season. A tough schedule will be a Year 2 obstacle
Mike Elko helped jumpstart Duke’s teetering football program
2023-08-16 18:28
Bindeshwar Pathak: India's 'Toilet Man' who made urinating safely a reality
India is mourning campaigner and social reformer Bindeshwar Pathak who died on Tuesday, aged 80.
2023-08-16 18:27
