Paetongtarn Shinawatra

U.S. Prime Press; It’s a momentous day as Thailand has elected a new leader. At just 37 years old, Paetongtarn Shinawatra is currently the youngest prime minister in the history of the nation. Her surname may sound familiar because she is a member of the Shinawatra family, a prominent family in Thai politics for a very long time. Her dad, Thaksin Shinawatra, was a prime minister too, and he’s had a huge influence on how things work in Thailand.

Paetongtarn stepping into this role comes at a pretty intense time. Just before she was elected, the previous prime minister was suddenly removed from office by the Constitutional Court, which has thrown Thailand into a bit of chaos. Many are concerned about what may happen to the nation’s democracy in the future. The lone candidate put out by her party, Pheu Thai, for the position was Paetongtarn, who received resounding approval in the legislature. But she will need the king’s approval before she can begin in earnest.

Continuing the Family Legacy

Not only is Paetongtarn a politician, but she is also a family heir. Even after being thrown out of office in 2006, her father, Thaksin, continued to play a significant role in Thai politics. She is now carrying on the legacy of her aunt, former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. This makes Paetongtarn the second woman ever to hold this position in Thailand. After her win, Paetongtarn talked to the press and said she feels really honored to have been chosen. Even though she’s new to politics, she’s no stranger to being in the public eye—especially after she made headlines last year for giving birth just two weeks before the national elections.

Big Challenges Ahead

Taking on the role of prime minister isn’t going to be easy for Paetongtarn. Just this week, the previous prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, was forced out of office, which was a big blow to the Pheu Thai party. The party has had a tough time because it often clashes with Thailand’s conservative elites—a powerful group that includes top military officials, royalists, and big business leaders.

Paetongtarn’s family knows how tough Thai politics can be. Her aunt Yingluck was removed from office before a military coup in 2014, and her dad has been living abroad since 2006 to avoid corruption charges. Another family member, Somchai Wongsawat, was briefly prime minister in 2008 but didn’t last long before being ousted.

Currently, Paetongtarn has a lot of work ahead of her as the leader of an 11-party alliance. She will need to find a way to strengthen the economy of the nation, which isn’t in great health, and get people to support her party again. Pheu Thai had promised to roll out a digital wallet cash handout scheme, but it’s been delayed, leaving many people wondering what Paetongtarn’s economic plans will look like.

Thaksin’s Influence Lives On

Even though Thaksin Shinawatra has been away from Thailand for years, his influence is still strong. Many people believe he’s still guiding the Pheu Thai party, first through his sister Yingluck and now through his daughter Paetongtarn.

When Thaksin returned to Thailand last August, it was around the same time that Srettha was being appointed prime minister by the Senate. Some experts think Thaksin made a deal with Thailand’s top leaders to make this happen, although he denies it.

The Political Scene Is Still Shaky

In a surprising move, the Pheu Thai party joined forces with its old military rivals to form a new government. This partnership kept the progressive Move Forward Party, which won last year’s elections with promises to shake things up, from taking power. Recently, the Constitutional Court accused Move Forward of undermining the monarchy and ordered the party to disband, which left 14 million voters without a voice. But the former members of Move Forward are already trying to start fresh under a new party name.

On top of that, the court also ruled that Srettha violated ethical rules by appointing a lawyer with a criminal record to his Cabinet.These court rulings are perceived by many as means of impeding genuine political change. As Paetongtarn Shinawatra steps into her new role, a lot of young people in Thailand might feel like having another Shinawatra in power means that real change is still out of reach.

Virginia State University (VSU)

U.S. Prime Press; ETTRICK – Virginia State University (VSU); Early Wednesday morning, around 12:36 a.m., police were called to Virginia State University (VSU) after reports of gunfire. When officers arrived at 218 Boisseau Street, they found four people who had been shot. Thankfully, none of the injuries were life-threatening, and all the victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

What We Know So Far

Right now, investigators have discovered that none of the people involved are currently enrolled at VSU for the upcoming fall semester, which starts on Monday, August 19.

Police Clarification

Chesterfield County police want to clarify that, despite what some reports have said, no officers fired their weapons during this incident. They have identified several suspects, and charges are expected soon. There’s no ongoing threat to the VSU community related to this shooting, and both Chesterfield County Police and VSU Police are working together on the investigation.

How You Can Help

If you happen to have any information about this incident, please reach out to the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or contact Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660. You can also submit tips through the P3 app.

About the Reporter

Kristi K. Higgins, also known as The Social Butterfly, is an award-winning columnist and covers trending topics and food Q&A at The Progress-Index. She was voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. If you have a tip about local trends or businesses, you can email her at khiggins@progress-index.com, or follow her on X at @KHiggins_PI and on Instagram at @socialbutterflykristi.

U.S. Prime Press; A lucky individual holds a Powerball ticket valued at an inconceivable $212 million. According to lottery officers, the winning ticket was bought in bordering Pennsylvania. It matched all five figures, plus the Powerball, during the game’s delineation on Monday, Aug. 12, securing the grand prize.

Position of Purchase Still Unknown

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Winning figures Revealed

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Slim Chances of Winning

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Previous Jackpot Winners

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Upcoming Draw

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