German Automakers Face Heat Over Tests on Monkeys, Humans

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30 January 2018, 10:12

A Volkswagen logo is seen on car offered for sale at New Century Volkswagen dealership in 2015 in Glendale, California. Photo: Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany — Public criticism of the German auto industry has escalated after a report that an industry-sponsored entity commissioned a study of the effects of diesel exhaust using monkeys, while another study exposed humans to low levels of one type of air pollutant.

The German government on Monday condemned the experiments and Volkswagen sought to distance itself from them, with its chairman saying that “in the name of the whole board I emphatically disavow such practices.”

The tests were reportedly commissioned by a research group funded by major German auto companies.

Revelations of the tests add a twist to the German auto industry’s attempt to move past Volkswagen’s scandal over cheating on diesel tests and the resulting questioning of diesel technology across the industry.

Volkswagen Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch said the tests must be “investigated completely and without reservation,” the dpa news agency reported.

A report by The New York Times found that the research group financed by top German car manufacturers commissioned experiments in which one group of monkeys was exposed to diesel exhaust from a late-model Volkswagen, while another group was exposed to fumes from an older Ford pickup.

The experiments were carried out in 2014 before Volkswagen was caught using software that let vehicles cheat on emissions tests. They were intended to show modern diesel technology had solved the problem of excess emissions, but according to the Times report the Volkswagen car in the tests was equipped with illegal software that turned emissions controls on while the car was on test stands and off during regular driving.

Volkswagen admitted using the software in 2015. The Volkswagen scandal led to public scrutiny of diesel emissions as regulators discovered that other companies’ vehicles also had higher emissions on the road than during testing, though not necessarily through illegal rigging. The industry has had to fend off calls for diesel bans in German cities with high pollution levels.

Daimler AG said it was “appalled by the nature and extent of the studies” and said that, though it didn’t have any influence on the studies’ design, “we have launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter.”

BMW said that it “did not participate in the mentioned study” on animals “and distances itself from this study.” It said it was investigating the work and background of the research group.

The Times report said the group that commissioned the studies, known by German initial EUGT, got all of its funding from the three automakers.

The Times report was followed by one in Monday’s edition of the Stuttgarter Zeitung daily that the now-closed research group also commissioned tests in which humans were exposed to nitrogen dioxide, which belongs to a class of pollutants known as nitrogen oxides. The group reportedly said the tests showed no effect on the subjects.

The human study, carried out by Aachen University, involved studying the effects of exposing 25 subjects, mostly students, to low levels of nitrogen dioxide like those that could be found in the environment – from a 40-liter bottle, not a diesel engine. The individuals gave informed written consent for the study, which was approved by the ethics committee of the university’s medical faculty, according to the study. The university said the study had no relation to the diesel scandal.

The German government condemned the reported tests on animals and humans. Transport Minister Christian Schmidt “has no understanding for such tests … that do not serve science but merely PR aims,” spokesman Ingo Strater told reporters in Berlin.

He called for the companies concerned to provide “immediate and detailed” responses, and said a ministry commission of inquiry that was set up after the emissions scandal broke will hold a special meeting to examine whether there are any other cases.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said that “the disgust many people are feeling is absolutely understandable.”

“These tests on monkeys or even humans can in no way be ethically justified,” Seibert said. “They raise many critical questions for those behind these tests, and these questions must urgently be answered.”

He questioned the aims of the tests. “The automakers have to reduce emissions of harmful substances further and further,” he said. “They should not be trying to prove the supposed harmlessness of exhaust with the help of monkeys or even humans.”

Seibert said that the supervisory boards of the companies concerned “have a particular responsibility.”

The governor of the German state of Lower Saxony, a major shareholder in Volkswagen, added his voice to calls for quick answers.

Stephan Weil, who sits on VW’s supervisory board, stressed that “the behavior of the company must in every respect fulfill ethical demands.” He said he hadn’t known about the tests.

Story: David McHugh, Geir Moulson

No Turning Back for Latest Lese Majeste Fugitive

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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29 January 2018, 18:30

BANGKOK — In the end, it was the threat of prosecution and a flight into long exile that melted longstanding tensions between pro-democracy activist Chanoknan Ruamsap and her parents.

Both mother and father are Yellowshirt royalists, but Chanoknan, who staunchly opposes the lese majeste law and is critical of the monarchy, said none of that mattered when they separated earlier this month within hours of her learning she would be prosecuted for royal defamation.

“That’s how it was. When we were about to depart, there was something more important. We all cried,” she said by phone Monday, describing the five hours that passed between receiving a police summons and departing her homeland.

Read: Pro-Democracy Activist Flees Prosecution For Royal Insult

In the end, the three cried as the 24-year-old activist boarded a flight to another East Asian city – she spoke on condition it not be revealed – nearly two weeks ago on Jan. 16. That day she entered an exile likely to last 15 years, as is the length of the statute of limitations of the draconian law that could see her jailed up to 15 years if convicted.

In the nearly two weeks that have passed, Chanokwan said she’s still at the beginning of a long and arduous application process for asylum. If granted, she would be the first Thai there to gain such status. Her local lawyer assures her, she said, that the case is strong as she has a strong record of opposing the military junta and the fact that the article that got her into trouble with the law was a professional biography of King Rama X written by the BBC Thai-language service.

A human rights activist based there told Khaosod English under the condition of anonymity that the process is a long and difficult one that has taken as long as 13 years to be completed.

Chanoknan, who knows someone there, said she’s set to make the country her new home. But she fell into a depression on arrival that lasted several days and progressed into taking ill.

But money is tight.

“It’s cold – very cold,” she said of the sub-zero temperatures there. “I fell ill until just a few days after I arrived. But I can’t see the doctor. I’m not insured and it’s very expensive. Emotionally it was also terrible at the beginning.”

In addition to foregoing the doctor, she has since moved out of the city for more affordable accommodations.

No Turning Back

The former spokeswoman for the now-defunct New Democracy Movement and a leader in its successor, the Democracy Restoration Group, said she understands that fleeing means being unable to return home for the next 15 years.

In the first week of December 2016, Chanoknan was attending a training course in Brazil when she learned about the arrest of fellow pro-democracy activist Jatupat Boonpattaraksa, aka Pai Dao Din. Jatupat was arrested for sharing a Facebook post about the BBC-produced biography of the new king. In response, Chanoknan shared the same article on Facebook in protest. She shared it with the message, “If the BBC dares to write, I dare to share.”

Nearly 3,000 other people also shared the article on Facebook.

The next thing she knew, her parents were contacting her from Bangkok, saying soldiers had visited their home telling them how upset they were about it and asking her to remove the post. She refused.

The Chulalongkorn University graduate said on the phone that she has no regret about removing the post which, over a year later, resulted in her becoming a fugitive.

She said talking about the monarchy is her natural prerogative and something she should not be jailed for. She bristles at those who now tell her she should have backed down.

“Some have told me, ‘You saw what happened [to Jatupat]. See, I told you. Why should you cry then?” she said.

Chanoknan said she’s most disturbed hearing this from those who identify as human rights defenders and political activists.

“They should support freedom of expression and not censorship,” she said. “I am true to the notion of human rights defenders. If we light a fire, we shouldn’t extinguish it ourselves.”

She noted that more than 2,900 other people shared the same biography and have not been arrested.

Read: Activist Says She Faces Arrest for Sharing Stories Online

Chanoknan said she knew staying meant at least two and a half years in prison if she confessed as Jatupat did following months of confinement. It would likely be five years if she refused to confess. Royal defamation is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

She chose escape.

“It’s wasn’t difficult to take 30 minutes to decide. It’s much more difficult coming to terms with it afterward. To accept that I had to leave home, leave the home where I grew up for good.”

Rangsiman Rome, a colleague in political activism, called Chanoknan, who led from the front in many street protests since the 2014 coup, a “very stubborn” person.

Rangsiman said her departure is a loss for Thai democracy but added that he understands her motivation because many have given up hope for justice when it comes to lese majeste cases, which have ramped up since the military seized power and are criticized as being more about suppressing dissent than protecting the royal family.

He questions why the only two of thousands to be prosecuted also happened to be critics of military rule.

“Why were others who shared not prosecuted? Why has nothing happened to the BBC? Not that I support any prosecution,” Rangsiman said.

Beside her parents, Chanoknan rang up two or three close friends to inform them that she had been charged with insulting the monarchy. Those friends quickly came to her Bangkok home to see her one last time in Thailand.

“Mostly I told them I loved them, and added that if they want to see me back here, they would have to help abolish the law,” Chanoknan said, adding that she only managed to pack a few items before she fled, including some clothes, toiletries, her computer and a favorite signature red tote bag by Michael Kors.

Her parents withdrew a wad of cash and handed it to her, but Chanoknan said that from now on, she wants to stand on own her feet in exile. That’s why Chanoknan said she looked for a cheaper place to stay, to build a life while remaining engaged in political activism.

Reporter, 2016 Charter Opponents Acquitted by Court

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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29 January 2018, 17:06

The five accused at a police station in Ratchaburi on July 10, 2016

RATCHABURI — A court Monday cleared four activists and a reporter of violating a special elections law in 2016 for allegedly participating in a campaign against it.

In its Monday decision, a provincial court ruled that while the defendants did distribute stickers printed with messages discouraging voters from supporting the junta-backed charter, the messages did not violate any laws.

The stickers were printed with messages such as “Vote No!” and “a future that we do not choose.”

The five, who were arrested in Ratchaburi province in July 2016, were found guilty of refusing to give fingerprints at the time of their arrest, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which represented them in court. They were each fined 500 baht, the group said in a statement.

The five include activists Pakorn Areekul, Anucha Rungmorakot, Panuwat Songsawatchai and Anan Loked, and Prachatai reporter Taweesak Kerdpoka.

They were arrested after police stopped and searched the pickup truck they were traveling in. Taweesak was charged despite his protest that he was not campaigning but only traveling with the activists for a story.

They were accused of breaking a special law put in place that banned any attempt to “mislead” the public into voting one way or another in the run-up to the August 2016 referendum.

The referendum was passed by a wide margin of votes before being modified by King Rama X upon his accession to the throne and becoming the law of the land.

Bow Before Wednesday’s ‘Super Blood Moon’

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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29 January 2018, 16:59

PRACHINBURI — Feel like stripping off your clothes and howling at the heavens? Waking from fever dreams of hunting manflesh with your pack? Then you might want to go see a doctor: The blood moon rises in two days.

The pending total lunar eclipse will be visible to skywatchers in Thailand for over an hour Wednesday night, the national astronomy organization said.

What’s also a considered a “supermoon” for its proximity to the earth, the lunar display will be the second full moon of January, which makes it a “blue moon” as well. Whatever it’s called, the “full, brick-red moon” will be visible nationwide from 7:51pm until 9:07pm, according to the National Astronomical Research Institute.

In addition to viewings hosted at its locations throughout the country, the institute will hold official blood moon-viewing events at Central Festival Chiang Mai, the Regional Observatory for the Public in Korat, the Regional Observatory for the Public in Chachoengsao province and the Golden Mermaid Statue on Samila Beach in Songkhla province.

Chachoengsao is the closest venue to Bangkok.

Viewings at these spots start from 5pm and run until 10pm. For more information, contact the institute’s Facebook.

A blood moon, or lunar eclipse, is an astronomical phenomenon where the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow during its orbit, causing, the Sun, Earth and Moon to be aligned. The Earth’s shadow refracts sunlight onto the moon, throwing a red color onto the lunar body. Wednesday’s total lunar eclipse means that the moon will pass through the middle of Earth’s shadow, making the moon redder than it would during a partial lunar eclipse.

Unleash Rage at Bangkok Hardcore Music Fest Saturday

By

Mongkorn Timkul, Correspondent

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29 January 2018, 16:22

Top: BLAST / Facebook

BANGKOK — Thrash, head bang and crowd surf this weekend when a festival brings the opportunity to dive into the screaming underground of hard-edged music.

Bangkok’s music festival scene will come alive in the coming months with many EDM events, but on the flip side, Blast & Nong Fest will kick out the DJs to play host to the capital’s best hardcore, punk and rock bands such as Darkest Romance, Stray Wolves and Brand New Sunset.

Created by and for those who like it rough, Blast & Nong fest is a new festival dedicated to hard edged music lovers to be staged at an arts and culture venue in western metro Bangkok. Blast & Nong Fest is named after organizers Blast Mag and famed record store Nong Thaprachan.

“We want to showcase the underground acts to a larger audience,” festival organizer and Blast Mag editor Saranpong “Yos” Sookpanon said.

Many of the bands have a large following but Yos hopes the event will give the bands more exposure and in turn widen their fan base.

“There are underrated bands in the show. Sinners turned Saints is really good. They’re like Envy (a Japanese melodic post-hardcore band), like Desktop Error but more aggressive and heavier,” Bangkok hardcore scene fan Seth Chotiwong said.

Blast & Nong Fest starts at 4pm on Saturday at Changchui. Tickets are 200 baht and will be sold at the door. The venue is located near the Bang Bamru Railway Station on Sirindhorn Road in Bang Phlat district.

‘Changchui’ Opens This Week with 3 Days of Music, Film, Art

University Refuses to Release ‘Censored’ Junta Poll Results

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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29 January 2018, 15:55

Deputy junta chairman Prawit Wongsuwan speaks to reporters Nov. 28, 2016

BANGKOK — A transparency activist Monday called upon a university pollster to release the results of a survey about a top junta figure’s luxury watch collection it censored at the last minute.

Sarinee Achavanuntakul, co-founder of investigative news organization ThaiPublica, said the public has the right to know what the National Institute of Development Administration, or NIDA, found out about the public’s opinion of deputy junt leader Prawit Wongsuwan’s possession of millions of baht worth of luxury watches he failed to mention in mandatory disclosures of his assets.

“This is something that the public wants to see,” Sarinee said. “For the sake of transparency, the poll results should be released because it was conducted properly.”

Read: ‘Borrowed’ Watches May Not be ‘Assets,’ NACC Says

NIDA rector Pradit Wanarat said in a Monday news conference that the junta was not behind quashing the poll. Pradit was speaking a day after the man in charge of the polling agency resigned in protest of the decision to “self-censor” publication of the results.

The survey, he explained, asked respondents whether they believed Gen. Prawit’s explanation that he did not need to declare the more than two dozen timepieces because he says were borrowed from friends.

In a Monday’s interview, Pradit said he would only release the poll results after the investigation on Prawit is concluded, lest it “influences” the popular opinion and force the anti-graft agency to appease the public.

“The NACC reads the news that reporters write, too,” Pradit said, referring to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. “They will see what the people are feeling. And if it turns out their decision follows the popular opinion, they will be accused of following those opinions.”

NIDA regularly publishes polls showing strong support for the junta and its leaders. In August, it said 81 percent of respondents believe junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha is motivated by love for his country. Another poll published in October claimed 71 percent of participants wouldn’t mind if the junta delayed the next election.

In today’s interview, Pradit said NIDA has always adhered to rigorous polling methods and he believes the incident will not affect credibility of his polling agency.

But the decision already prompted Arnond Sakworawich, the university’s chief pollster, to publicly announce his resignation. While Arnond said he still supported the junta and the 2014 coup that brought the regime to power, his political stance did not mean he had to “lick” their boots.

“Academic freedom and mutual respect are most important to me,” Arnond wrote. “I supported the coup, and I still support the government, but if there is anything wrong or unfair, I don’t have to lick top boots.”

He later added another post saying the government did not interfere with the poll.

“The government/military/NCPO was not involved in censorship of the result of NIDA poll. Arnond wrote. “Please stop linking it to the government/military/NCPO.”

He added in English, “This is self-censor.”

Arnond could not be reached for comment as of publication time. His remark was criticized by the NIDA rector in today’s interview.

“Suppose Mr. A is charged and accused of something in court. Then a state university goes around and asks people if they think he did it,” Pradit said. “That’s not academic freedom. That’s influencing the outcome of a case.”

Sarinee, the transparency activist and writer, said the incident is yet another example of limits on free expression under the military regime.

Although the university insisted it self-censored the poll without government interference, Sarinee said the junta has a track record of censoring speech, citing instances it has blocked academic seminars and its prosecution of activist Veera Somkwamkid for a mock online poll about junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha back in March.

“Even though the professors say it’s not about censorship, it reminds me a lot of Veera’s case,” she said.

Police Capture Thai Woman Suspected in Italian’s Murder (Video)

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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29 January 2018, 12:26

Amaury Rigaud in police custody Sunday night in Tak.

TAK — Police on Monday morning arrested a Thai woman wanted for the murder of her Italian husband along with her French boyfriend.

Police arrested Rujira Iemlamai in the forest near the Kamphaeng Phet-Tak border one day after they took into custody Amaury Rigaud, a French national also accused in the crime. Rujira and Rigaud are suspected of murdering Rujira’s Italian husband, Giuseppe de Stefani, 61, whose dismembered and charred body was found in the Phichit forest on Jan. 19.

“We just got the Thai woman half an hour ago,” Col. Karun Wongjunthalamanee of Wang Chao Police said just before noon. “She wasn’t vicious or resisting arrest. She was really quiet.”

Karun said he and his men arrested Rigaud on Sunday night before seeking Rujira in the same area, believing she hadn’t gone far. Riguard, 33, has been taken to the local police station in Phichit where the crime occurred.

430971 — Police examine the getaway vehicle spray painted black on Sunday in Tak.

Karun said police will interrogate Rujira, 38, as soon as possible.

Last night police found Rigaud in a longan orchard in Tak’s Chiang Thong subdistrict. With him, they found a Toyota Yaris spray-painted black. Police said it was the same witnesses saw fleeing the crime scene.

“I don’t know,” Rigaud said in Thai on Sunday night when police and reporters at the scene asked where Rujira was.

De Stefani’s body was found Jan. 19 in the woods of Bueng Na Rang. Police believe Rujira and Riguard attempted to burn the Italian’s remains after killing and dismembering him.

Arrest warrants were issued for the pair on Wednesday.

After the abandoned vehicle was located Sunday evening in Tak’s Wang Chao district, police set a search perimeter that included forested areas straddling the border between Tak and Kamphaeng Phet provinces.

Rujira’s daughter from a previous relationship identified de Stefani’s body because she recognized one of his tattoos visible on his remains.

A police search of Stefani’s house revealed a note he wrote to Rujira that read, “You told me that you loved me only because you wanted money. I have never met a bad person like you before.” Neighbors told police that Rujira and de Stefani often fought.

french2 — Amaury Rigaud is escorted by police Monday in Phichit province.

447200 — Police with Amaury Rigaud Sunday night in the Tak forest.

Pro-Democracy Activist Flees Prosecution For Royal Insult

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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29 January 2018, 11:38

Chanoknan Ruamsap being removed from a protest and taken into custody.

BANGKOK — Police said Monday they were not directed by higher authorities to summon a pro-democracy activist over a year-old royal insult claim that prompted her to flee the country.

A day after Chanoknan “Cartoon” Ruamsap announced she had left Thailand rather than be prosecuted for sharing a BBC Thai biography of King Vajiralongkorn in December 2016, the head of investigations at Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao police the case was delayed for a year due to staffing changes.

“We work as a team,” Viboon said.

Asked if the military junta or the military government had ordered police to issue the summons, Viboon said no. “There was no [such directive],” he said. “I proceeded with it in accordance with the law.”

Read: Activist Says She Faces Arrest for Sharing Stories Online

Chanoknan, 25, cited the Jan. 16 summons letter in a message announcing her hasty decision to flee Thailand.

“The time for decision-making was very short. I had less than 30 minutes to decide whether to stay or leave,” she wrote. “The difficulty was that leaving this time means I will never be able to return. I made the decision and told my father and mother. Everyone was shocked. But they agreed. No one wants me to be in prison for five years for a post sharing BBC news.”

She fled the same day.

Chanoknan was a spokeswoman of the now-defunct New Democracy Movement and one of the protest movement’s few visible female leaders. She has been arrested several times in the past for her activism, including a January 2016 attempt to visit a billion-baht army project tainted by allegations of graft.

She’s the second person to be charged with lese majeste, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa is serving a sentence of two and a half years for sharing the same biography produced by BBC Thai-language news on Facebook.

Jatupat was arrested within days of its Dec. 1 publication and languished in jail for months before confessing to the crime in hope of a lenient sentence. Upward of 3,000 other people shared the same biography.

Following his arrest, Chanokwan said she was threatened with prosecution over the post while traveling abroad. “I don’t think what I posted was wrong because I believe in freedom of expression, and freedom of speech is a human right, which [is] what I’m fighting for right now,” she said from Brazil in December 2016.

Only Jatupat and Chanokwan have been subject to prosecution. Her police summons comes amid fresh protests against the ruling junta, which has seen its public standing damaged by scandal and an apparent lack of accountability.

Col. Viboon said he’s aware that Chanoknan had announced online her decision to flee.

“We will have to check and if so, we’ll be seeking an arrest warrant from the court,” he said.

In the summons, Chanoknan was supposed to report to Viboon directly at Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao Police Station on Jan. 18. Lese majeste charges can be filed by anyone against anyone; her’s was filed by a soldier named Lt. Sombat Dangtha.

The crime also has a 15-year statute of limitations.

Bruno Mars Wins Grammy For Record and Song of the Year

By

Associated Press

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29 January 2018, 11:31

NEW YORK — Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” is giving the singer a solid gold night at the Grammys: He’s won five of the six awards he’s nominated for, and is still up for album of the year.

Mars won two of three biggest awards Sunday — record of the year for “24K Magic” and song of the year for “That’s What I Like” — on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.”My father, if you’re watching this, I love you,” said Mars. “This is for the fans.”

Kendrick Lamar also picked up five awards, including best rap album for “DAMN.” and best rap/sung performance for “Loyalty,” with Rihanna.”This is special man. I got a lot of guys in this building that I still idolize today,” said Lamar, naming Jay-Z, Nas and Diddy as inspirations.

At the end, Lamar closed with: “Jay for president.”

In the pre-telecast, Lamar won best rap song, best rap performance and best music video for “HUMBLE.”

Lamar, nominated for seven awards, kicked off the Grammys with a powerful and poignant performance featuring video screens displaying a waving American flag behind him, as background dancers dressed as army soldiers marched and moved behind. He was joined Sunday by U2’s Bono and The Edge, and also Dave Chappelle — who told jokes in between Lamar’s performance.

At one point, Lamar’s background dancers, dressed in red, were shot down as he rapped lyrics, later coming back to life as fire burst to end the six-minute performance.Kesha gave a passionate performance at the Grammy Awards with the help of powerful women behind her, including the Resistance Revival Chorus.

She was joined by Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels, Andra Day and Bebe Rexha for her Grammy-nominated song, “Praying.” Dressed in white, they won over the audience and hugged at the song’s end as some audience members cried, including Hailee Steinfeld.

Kesha, who earned her first pair of Grammy nominations this year, has been in a legal war with former producer and mentor Dr. Luke. Janelle Monae introduced the performance with strong words.

“We come in peace but we mean business. To those who would dare try to silence us, we offer two words: Time’s Up,” Monae said. “It’s not just going on in Hollywood. It’s not just going on in Washington. It’s here in our industry, too.”

Before the performance, Maren Morris, Eric Church and Brothers Osborne performed an emotional rendition of Eric Clapton’s “Tears In Heaven” — written after his son died — in honor of the 58 people who died at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas last year. The names of the victims were displayed behind them as they performed.

The performances were two of the show’s serious moments. Dozens of artists and music industry players also sported white roses in support of the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements against sexual abuse and harassment.

Sting’s performance was somewhat political as he sang his 1987 song, “Englishman in New York,” which includes the lyrics, “Oh, I’m an alien, I’m a legal alien, I’m an Englishman in New York.”

Mars gave an energetic and colorful performance of “Finesse” with breakthrough rapper Cardi B; Pink was a vocal powerhouse while she sang “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken”; and Rihanna, DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller teamed up for a vibrant performance of “Wild Thoughts.”

A shaking Alessia Cara won best new artist, winning over SZA, Julia Michaels, Khalid and Lil Uzi Vert.

“Thank you to my parents and my brother for believing in me,” she said, also urging the crowd to “support real music and real artists because everyone deserves the same shot.”

Chris Stapleton won three awards, including best country album, best country song and best country solo performance.

“We always try to make great records … and I guess this is a testament to that,” Stapleton said.

The Rolling Stones picked up their third career Grammy — for best traditional blues album for “Blue & Lonesome,” while Ed Sheeran won best pop vocal album. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Childish Gambino, who picked up best traditional R&B performance, gave a smooth and sultry performance of “Terrified” in all-white featuring screeching high notes. Gambino was joined by young singer-actor, JD McCrary, who matched his vocals and sings on the original track.

Little Big Town, who sang their Taylor Swift-penned No. 1 hit “Better Man,” also won best country duo/group performance with the song. Lady Gaga won over the audience with a rousing performance of the songs “Joanne” and “Million Reasons,” while Sam Smith gave a powerful performance of the song “Pray

The Weeknd, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Reba McEntire, LCD Soundsystem, Portugal the Man and Shakira also won early awards. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, both Oscar and Tony winners, won best musical theater album for “Dear Evan Hansen,” shared with Tony winner Ben Platt.

Chappelle won best comedy album during the televised show.

“I am honored to win an award, finally, and I wanted to thank everyone at Netflix, at ‘Saturday Night Live,’ at ‘The Chappelle Show,'” he said.

Puppies were passed to the losers of best comedy album, including Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman and Jim Gaffigan.

Posthumous Grammys were also handed out to actress Carrie Fisher, singer Leonard Cohen and engineer Tom Coyne, who worked on Mars’ “24K Magic” album. Double winners included Jason Isbell, Justin Hurwitz and CeCe Winans.

Story: Mesfin Fekadu

Cambodia Charges Foreigners After Pornographic Dance Arrests

By

Associated Press

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29 January 2018, 10:43

Monks use smartphones at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia in a May 2015 photo. Photo: Ariel Leuenberger / Flickr

PHNOM PENH — Cambodian prosecutors charged 10 foreigners Sunday with producing pornographic pictures after they were arrested at a party in Siem Reap town, near the country’s famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

Police said they raided a rented villa on Thursday where the foreigners were taking part in what organizers billed as a pub crawl and found people “dancing pornographically.” While almost 90 foreigners were detained, all but 10 were released.

The 10 arrested are five British nationals, two Canadians, one Norwegian, one New Zealander and one from the Netherlands. A statement on the arrests posted on the National Police website Sunday included photos showing clothed young adults rolling around together on a dance floor.

The prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, Samrith Sokhon, told The Associated Press by phone that those charged face up to a year in prison if convicted.

He said after producing the photos, the foreigners shared them on social media.

“Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodia’s traditions,” he said.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office confirmed they were in contact with British nationals in Cambodia.

“We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families,” the office said in an emailed response to questions from the AP.

Story: Sopheng Cheang

No Turning Back

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