Did Ben Affleck undergo plastic surgery? Heeding Jennifer Lopez's advice left actor 'stiff-faced and swollen', source claims
'The truth is he hated how old and tired he started to look,' a source said about Ben Affleck being unhappy with his looks
2023-07-04 19:18
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
2023-07-04 19:17
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
2023-07-04 19:15
Why is Shia LaBeouf not in 'Indiana Jones 5'? James Mangold shares why actor is not playing Harrison Ford's son
James Mangold made it clear that Shia LaBeouf's character was not absent from the movie because of the actor's comments
2023-07-04 18:59
Where is Etta Ng now? Jackie Chan's emotional moment with on-screen daughter sparks discussion on disowned lesbian child
Jackie Chan's real-life daughter Etta Ng revealed in 2018 that she and her girlfriend were facing homelessness due to their 'homophobic' parents
2023-07-04 18:58
Shooting in Fort Worth leaves at least 3 dead and 8 others wounded
A shooting that erupted just before midnight Monday in Fort Worth, Texas, left at least three dead and eight others wounded, police said.
2023-07-04 18:57
'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
2023-07-04 18:57
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'
2023-07-04 18:54
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
2023-07-04 18:52
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.
2023-07-04 18:48
Ukraine Recap: NATO Chief Extends Tenure as Kyiv Forces Advance
NATO extended Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s by a year as the military alliance confronts Russia’s invasion, while Ukraine
2023-07-04 18:47
People are finally learning what SPAM actually stands for
Sandwiches have become increasingly elaborate creations: pillows of golden focaccia dripping with sumptuous pulled meats, tahini dressings, and spice-crusted roast veg. And yet, back in the day, you were lucky if you got a smear of margarine on yesterday’s white bread with a hunk of pink, pockmarked SPAM slammed unceremoniously in between. Ah yes, SPAM, there’s a reason why it became the butt of a Monty Python sketch and is now most commonly associated with the most annoying type of email correspondence. It’s unsexy, ultimately unhealthy and, at one point, was utterly unavoidable. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter However, as we’ve established, food standards have somewhat evolved since WWII rationing so SPAM doesn’t get as much of a look-in at lunchtime these days. Still, most of us have at least heard of it even if we’ve never actually tried it. Monty Python - Spam youtu.be But now, people have suddenly realised that they don’t actually know what the acronym of its name stands for. Plenty of people have their own theories, though, which they’ve publicly shared on Twitter. “What does SPAM stand for? Salty Piece A' Meat?” one asked. “I often conjectured that 'Spam' was an acronym for 'Spoiled Ham',” wrote another. Another nodded to an old joke made by retired stand-up comedian Bill Endgvall: “I finally figured out what spam stands for – stuff posing as meat.” While another suggested it actually connotes “scientifically processed animal matter”. To clarify, SPAM itself is processed meat made of a pork and ham mixture, salt, sugar, potato starch, water, and sodium nitrite. The meat is ground and combined with the other ingredients before it is transferred to its signature rectangular can, vacuum-sealed, and cooked inside, the Encyclopedia Britannica notes. And despite the plethora of alternative suggestions, the name is, in fact, a portmanteau for spiced ham. It was coined in 1937 by its creator, New York actor Ken Daigneau, whose brother was an executive at the manufacturer Hormel Foods. According to Britannica, Daigneau later confessed that he’d come up with the name before he’d even conceived of the product, thinking it was memorable. Well, he sure hit the money on that one. SPAM continues to be loved by millions of households across the world, with more than 10 varieties of meat available on the market. Indeed, in Hawaii where it is perhaps best loved by consumers, it is enjoyed in a number of unique ways, including as an alternative to raw fish or egg in a sushi-style dish called musubi. And sure, we love our kimchi cauliflower milk rolls and slow-cooked lamb flatbreads but, credit where it’s due, SPAM has proven that it's the truly simple things that often stand the test of time. 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.
2023-07-04 18:46
