Opinion: Thaksin Returning, Pheu Thai in Bed with Military Parties. What About Thailand?

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20 August 2023, 17:01

Ousted and fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinwatra’s scheduled return to Thailand on Tuesday, Aug. 22, the same day for the bicameral vote for PM, after a decade and a half in exile means he is now confident the Pheu Thai Party will be back in power.

According to his daughter Paethongtarn Shinawatra, she will be awaiting Thaksin’s arrival at 9am Tuesday. The vote for the new PM, with Srettha Thavisin as Pheu Thai PM candidate, will take place at around 3pm on the same day, according to Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

That means the 74-year-old Thaksin must be supremely confident the vote is all but a matter of formality as he would have to rely on a generosity of the Corrections Department in hosting him at ‘Bangkok Hilton’ soon after his arrival for corruptions and abuse of power convictions (at least initially until he seeks a royal pardon or be allowed to move to a hospital, citing ill health and old age) and other state organs including the police and the Justice Ministry to be under Pheu Thai Party’s control if not imminent control or influence.

If Srettha is elected on that same Tuesday, which is the day after tomorrow, The Pheu Thai Party would not be legally running the government right away until they are appointed by HM the King. Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai was quick to deny yesterday the party has anything to do with Thaksin and his return, however.

Believe Phumtham at your own peril but we all know Thaksin is the founder and towering figure of what is now the Pheu Thai Party and essentially de facto leader for life of the Pheu Thai Party. This explains why his younger sister Yingluck Shinwatra, became PM despite little prior political experience and also why his daughter, Paethongtarn, is now one of the three PM candidates for the party although she is a political novice and only 36.

At one time, but not during this election campaign, the Pheu Thai Party’s election slogan was “Thaksin Thinks, Pheu Thai Acts.” Only a fool should believe this political party is not primarily controlled by Thaksin from exile over the past decade.

Wanting to be back to Thailand to spend his remaining years at home (there is no point returning on a wheelchair or when you are too sick to enjoy your billions of baht), Thaksin, or rather the Pheu Thai Party, apparently has made the ultimate deal by getting the two major pro-junta de facto military parties on board as part of the coalition.

This is probably the only way for Pheu Thai to form the government as under the unfair rules stipulated in the junta-sponsored constitution. They will be needing dozens of the votes from the 250 junta-appointed senators to clinch the PM seat. That means both the United Thai Nation Party, which had former junta leader and caretaker PM Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha as its PM candidate, and Phalang Pracharath Party, whose leader is former deputy junta leader and caretaker Deputy PM Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, are indispensable in attracting the necessary junta-appointed senators’ votes.

There is no such thing as a free lunch and Pheu Thai’s decision to form a grand coalition with the two pro-junta parties comes with a price.

During the campaign, its leaders, including PM candidate Srettha, vow not to be in a coalition with pro-junta parties. Now they just have to find ways to basically say they did not lie but that either the situation has changed, or this is for the best of Thailand’s future.

One key Pheu Thai promoter, starchitect Duangrit Bunnag, a key member of Care Group, which is a Pheu Thai’s Think Tank, was so certain that such scenario where Pheu Thai is in bed with United Thai Nation, Phalang Pracharath, and Bhumjai Thai was impossible that he recently posted on social media daring others to throw feces on his head if such scenario turns out to be a reality and told worried people to stop imagining.

Duangrit has yet to honor his words as of publication time Sunday. To be fair to Duangrit, I really do not know whether he flatly lied to the public or was taken for a ride by the Pheu Thai Party – a victim of Pheu Thai propaganda.

Meanwhile, de jure Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew publicly declared before the May 14 general election, “I, the party leader, clearly declare we won’t join hands with Phalang Pracharath. We won’t join hands with [Gen.] Prawit. If we do, I will resign as leader of the party.” As of press time, Cholnan has expressed zero interest in resigning and a leaked new cabinet lineup saw Cholnan being the new Public Health Minister.

It is not just promises broken (or lies) as a result of Pheu Thai getting United Thai Nation and Phalang Pracharath on board that would have a long-term negative impact on Thai politics, but the new government will likely not be able to reform the armed forces and police as they are crucial to the powers of the deep state.

Civilian control of the military will continue to be a pipe dream for Thailand. What’s more, what the military junta has failed to achieve over the nine years of military and subsequently semi-military rule is now a reality – a breakup of the so-called “pro-democracy” camp between Pheu Thai and Move Forward and their respective supporters.

There is no denial that Pheu Thai will now get a chance to prove it can turn the Thai economy around and that seems to be their strength judging from its past record. They have not been in power since the May 2014 coup, led by Prayut and Prawit, which ousted its government and to say the Thai economy did not do well under Prayut is a huge understatement. This is Pheu Thai’s strength.

The established elites, and deep state, so wary of Move Forward Party’s pledge to amend the controversial lese majeste law and more can also breath a respite for the meantime as Move Forward Party will be in the opposition.

Thailand’s attempt to send the army back to its barracks nearly a decade after the coup has failed and the Pheu Thai Party has chosen to be in bed and share power with them instead. But at least Thaksin will (finally?) get to return home.

He will no longer be just another Jack Ma-looking billionaire strolling in Dubai, Hong Kong or London. Here in Thailand, he is Thaksin Shinawatra, “the longest-serving democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand” as he described himself on his Twitter account in English. And those working under him refer to him “nai yai” (นายใหญ่) or “the Big Boss”. It was a high price to be paid for Pheu Thai and Thailand itself to have the Big Boss returning home.

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Wild Elephant Plai Khai Nui Is Arrested By Court Order To Relocate

By

Khaosod English

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20 August 2023, 14:28

The court now has ordered that Plai Khai Nui, a wild elephant that has been living in a community area in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in southern Thailand for two years, be moved out of the area by August 22.

However, the officials later requested permission to extend the deadline in order to look after the elephant’s health and locate him a suitable new home.

This could be a long-term case study on how to deal with conflict between humans and wild elephants in Thailand.

According to the order of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Administrative Court, Plai Khai Nui is controlled by National Park Department officials by blocking off a restricted area on the edge of the forest behind the Klong Lai Watershed Management Unit’s office since being arrested on August 12 in the Mueng Kao forest, Na Reng Subdistrict, Nop Phitam District.

plai khai nui 1 — Footage from CCTV showed Plai Kai Nui raiding the community.

It took authorities several hours to capture Plai Khai Nui and bring him under control so that he could be released in the wild in other regions.

The plaintiffs in this case are 104 people who are suing the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, requesting that the court order the Department to relocate this wild elephant to a more appropriate region after it destroyed crops and property in the community.

plai khai nui 3 — Plai Khai Nui was watched 24 hours a day.

During this time, park officials from Khlong Klai Watershed Management Unit, Khao Nan National Park, and Krung Ching Waterfall National Park set up a team to watch over Plai Khai Nui 24 hours a day. Mahout Aod or Wiroj Supradit, a local mahout assigned by the Department of National Parks, is also helping to care for the elephants. When compared to other wild elephants, Plai Khai Nui acts in strange and violent ways.

Officials ask villagers to bring food for the elephants. To change what Plai Khai Nui eats, they ask people to bring food from the forest, like wild bananas. They haven’t given him permission to eat homegrown fruit or durians.

plai khai nui area — The community area is located among the Mueng Kao forest, Na Reng Subdistrict, and Nop Phitam District.

Veterinarians are also there to check on the health of this wild elephant. They found that he had a cut around his trunk, many sores on his skin, and needed to be isolated until his health problems improved before he could go back into the wild.

Previously, a male wild elephant in Loei Province, northeastern Thailand, was shot dead in the forest of Ban Nam Phu, Si Song Rak Subdistrict, in Dan Sai District. One villager found him on August 17 and notified the authorities.

ele shot1 — A male wild elephant in Loei Province, was shot many times to death.

Officials from the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary examined the elephant and found that him had been shot seven times, including four times in the head and once in the middle of the forehead. They thought the elephant was dead for more than a week.

People who don’t like having elephants go into their farms could be the ones responsible. But the police have not yet taken anyone into custody.

ele shot2 — Even though the elephant is the national animal of Thailand, many of them were killed.

Under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 2019, “elephant” is the 127th protected animal. This law says that no one can hunt protected and saved wildlife. A person who breaks the law can go to jail for 1–10 years or pay a fine of 1,000,000 baht, or both.

Elephants going back to their old homes in places where people now live has been a sensitive topic for a long time. As the elephant is the national animal of Thailand, the government set up an Elephant Conservation and Management Committee last year to help solve the issues.

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US, Japan And Australia Plan Joint Navy Drills In Disputed South China Sea

By

Associated Press

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20 August 2023, 13:45

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United States, Japan and Australia are planning a joint navy drill in the South China Sea off the western Philippines this week to underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after a recent show of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters, Filipino security officials said Sunday.

On Aug. 5, Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons against Philippine vessels in the contested waterway where disputes have long been regarded as a potential flashpoint and have become a fault line in the rivalry between the U.S. and China in the region.

The drill will include three aircraft and helicopter carriers sailing together in a show of force and undertaking joint drills. Their commanders are set to meet with Filipino counterparts in Manila after the offshore drills, two Philippine security officials told The Associated Press.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to publicly discuss details of the planned drills.

AP23044056095412 — An E/A-18G Growler aircraft launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Calabrese/U.S. Navy via AP)

The U.S. plans to deploy an aircraft carrier, the USS America, while Japan would send one of its biggest warships, the helicopter carrier JS Izumo. The Royal Australian Navy would send its HMAS Canberra, which also carries helicopters, one of the two officials said, adding that the joint drill was planned a few months ago.

The Philippines would not be part of this week’s drills due to military logistical limitations but is open to becoming a participant in the future, the official said.

The United States, Japan and Australia were among several countries that immediately expressed support for the Philippines and concern over the Chinese action following the tense stand-off earlier this month.

Philippine officials said six Chinese coast guard ships and two militia vessels blocked two Philippine navy-chartered civilian boats taking supplies to the Philippine forces stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal. One supply boat was hit with a powerful water cannon by the Chinese coast guard while the other managed to deliver food, water, fuel and other supplies to the Filipino forces guarding the shoal, the Philippine military said.

In this photo taken March 29, 2014, a Chinese Coast Guard ship attempts to block a Philippine government vessel as the latter tries to enter Second Thomas Shoal to relieve Philippine troops and resupply provisions. Photo: Bullit Marquez / Associated Press

The Chinese coast guard acknowledged its ships used water cannons against the Philippine vessels, which it said strayed without permission into the shoal, which Beijing calls Ren’ai Jiao.

“In order to avoid direct blocking and collisions when repeated warnings were ineffective, water cannons were used as a warning. The on-site operation was professional and restrained, which is beyond reproach,” the Chinese coast guard said. “China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty.”

The Philippine military said on Saturday that it would again attempt to deliver basic supplies to its forces in the Second Thomas Shoal, but didn’t provide further details.

The mission “to the shoal is a clear demonstration of our resolve to stand up against threats and coercion and our commitment in upholding the rule of law,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement.

Following the incident, Washington renewed a warning that it is obliged to defend its longtime treaty ally if Philippine public vessels and forces come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

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Thaksin Explains His Return Date as the Day the New PM Voted

By

Khaosod English

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19 August 2023, 16:28

It will be Super Tuesday in Thai politics, as the prime minister vote will be held for the third time on August 22, and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand.

The ousted and fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra tells BBC Thai in an interview on August 19 before flying on a private jet from Dubai to Singapore that he will definitely return to Thailand on August 22, as his daughter Paetongtarn has informed the public, and that the trip will not be postponed anymore.

Thaksin said the return trip schedule was unrelated to the prime minister’s vote. He had chosen the date before the House Speaker Van Muhammad Noor Matha announced the bicameral prime minister vote. In any case, he expected Pheu Thai Party candidate Srettha Tavisin to become Thailand’s 30th Prime Minister.

thaksin ing august14 — instagram: ingshin21

“I had originally planned to return on July 31, but the government declared it a holiday. Therefore, I postponed it until August 10, but someone went to find a fortunate time to view it on August 22, which is an encouraging day. Thaksin said, “Even though I didn’t believe it, I don’t want to offend; I want everyone to love one another, and I want the country to be peaceful.”

Thaksin also stated that he did not return on August 21 because it was Paetongtarn’s birthday. If he returned that day, his youngest daughter would miss her birthday since he would be in prison. When he landed in Thailand on August 22, he had to go through the process, which included reporting himself to officials and being fingerprinted.

AP23218211047954 — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, walks together with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Suaturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (Cambodia’s Prime Minister Telegram via AP)

Last time a billionaire fugitive former premier who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, posted on his Twitter account on August 5, he would postpone his arrival to Thailand by about two weeks as “the doctor summoned him for a health checkup.”

However, a day after, he attended a birthday party for outgoing Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh. His appearance in Cambodia came at a politically sensitive time in Thailand, after the parliament delayed the PM vote.

Pheu Thai currently has a coalition of 11 parties with 314 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, leaving Move Forward Party, the former alliance, as the opposition. It still requires some support from the unelected Senate in order to secure 375 votes out of 750 parliamentarians.

Move Forward has announced it would not support a candidate from a Pheu Thai-led coalition that includes parties from the outgoing military-backed government.

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Michael Jackson Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Revived By Appeals Court

By

Associated Press

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19 August 2023, 14:06

Michael Jackson Accusers Lawsuit — FILE - Michael Jackson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, Calif., May 25, 2005. (Aaron Lambert/The Santa Maria Times via AP, Pool, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California appeals court on Friday revived lawsuits from two men who allege Michael Jackson sexually abused them for years when they were boys.

A three-judge panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal found that the lawsuits of Wade Robson and James Safechuck should not have been dismissed by a lower court, and that the men can validly claim that the two Jackson-owned corporations that were named as defendants in the cases had a responsibility to protect them. A new California law that temporarily broadened the scope of sexual abuse cases enabled the appeals court to restore them.

It’s the second time the lawsuits — brought by Robson in 2013 and Safechuck the following year — have been brought back after dismissal. The two men became more widely known for telling their stories in the 2019 HBO documentary “ Leaving Neverland.”

A judge who dismissed the suits in 2021 found that the corporations, MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc., could not be expected to function like the Boy Scouts or a church where a child in their care could expect their protection. Jackson, who died in 2009, was the sole owner and only shareholder in the companies.

The higher court judges disagreed, writing that “a corporation that facilitates the sexual abuse of children by one of its employees is not excused from an affirmative duty to protect those children merely because it is solely owned by the perpetrator of the abuse.”

They added that “it would be perverse to find no duty based on the corporate defendant having only one shareholder. And so we reverse the judgments entered for the corporations.”

Jonathan Steinsapir, attorney for the Jackson estate, said they were “disappointed.”

“Two distinguished trial judges repeatedly dismissed these cases on numerous occasions over the last decade because the law required it,” Steinsapir said in an email to The Associated Press. “We remain fully confident that Michael is innocent of these allegations, which are contrary to all credible evidence and independent corroboration, and which were only first made years after Michael’s death by men motivated solely by money.”

Vince Finaldi, an attorney for Robson and Safechuck, said in an email that they were “pleased but not surprised” that the court overturned the previous judge’s “incorrect rulings in these cases, which were against California law and would have set a dangerous precedent that endangered children throughout state and country. We eagerly look forward to a trial on the merits.”

Steinsapir had argued for the defense in July that it does not make sense that employees would be legally required to stop the behavior of their boss.

“It would require low-level employees to confront their supervisor and call them pedophiles,” Steinsapir said.

Holly Boyer, another attorney for Robson and Safechuck, countered that the boys “were left alone in this lion’s den by the defendant’s employees. An affirmative duty to protect and to warn is correct.”

Steinsapir said evidence that has been gathered in the cases, which have not reached trial, showed that the parents had no expectation of Jackson’s employees to act as monitors.

“They were not looking to Michael Jackson’s companies for protection from Michael Jackson,” the lawyer argued said.

But in a concurring opinion issued with Friday’s decision, one of the panelists, Associate Justice John Shepard Wiley Jr., wrote that “to treat Jackson’s wholly-owned instruments as different from Jackson himself is to be mesmerized by abstractions. This is not an alter ego case. This is a same ego case.”

The judges did not rule on the truth of the allegations themselves. That will be the subject of a forthcoming jury trial in Los Angeles.

“We trust that the truth will ultimately prevail with Michael’s vindication yet again,” Steinsapir said Friday.

Robson, now a 40-year-old choreographer, met Jackson when he was 5 years old. He went on to appear in three Jackson music videos.

His lawsuit alleged that Jackson molested him over a seven-year period.

Safechuck, now 45, said in his suit that he was 9 when he met Jackson while filming a Pepsi commercial. He said Jackson called him often and lavished him with gifts before moving on to sexually abusing him.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were victims of sexual abuse. But Robson and Safechuck have come forward and approved of the use of their identities.

The men’s lawsuits had already bounced back from a 2017 dismissal, when Young threw them out for being beyond the statute of limitations. Jackson’s personal estate — the assets he left after his death — was thrown out as a defendant in 2015.

Controversial Topic: Thai Teens Drink More Soju Due to K-Series

By

Khaosod English

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19 August 2023, 08:19

soju1 — A scene from Korean Series "Work Later, Drink Now" (2021)

Political discussions about the “Alcohol Control Act” are a hot topic among the public after Padipat Suntiphada, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, posted a video of himself on Facebook drinking locally produced beer in Phitsanulok province.

He was accused of violating the law that prohibits a person from promoting alcoholic beverages.

Padipat clarified that he was expressing pride in the local product of his province. Other members of the Move Forward Party proposed amendments to existing legislation to liberalize alcohol sales. This move is inspired by South Korea’s successful use of “Soju” as a soft power to expand its alcohol market.

Padipat Suntiphada, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said he was proud of Pitsanulok’s craft beer.

However, those advocating for reduced alcohol consumption remain uneasy about this development, and question whether it is soft power or drunk power.

Boonyou Khorpornprasert, an academic who is a member of the Law Reform Subcommittee to Amend the Alcohol Control Act of 2008, addressed the impact of Korean dramas depicting characters consuming “Soju,” saying that such depictions have created a desire among Thai consumers to try the drink.

Consequently, the marketing and sales of alcoholic beverages such as “Soju” have experienced significant growth in Thailand due to the influence of these series. This trend reflects the effective impact of advertising and marketing strategies, both in theory and in practice, especially among the target group of young people.

soju2 — South Korea has promoted soju as a soft power.

Based on a nationwide survey conducted by the Center for Alcohol Studies in 2022, it was found that alcohol use among novice youth ages 15 to 24 increased by 6 percent compared to the previous survey. Most notably, there was a significant increase of about 7 percent among female drinkers and about 5 percent among male drinkers.

The survey attributes this increase to promotional efforts, particularly through modern media channels such as social media. Korean dramas are part of these marketing efforts, encouraging experimentation with alcohol.

“Advertising and marketing through the portrayal of products in movies, dramas, or series is not a new concept; it has been around since the 1980s and 1990s. Korean drama series promoting “soju” can be considered as a form of subtle advertising,” Boonyou explains.

soju3 — Korean drama series promoting “soju” can be considered as a form of subtle advertising.

He added the trend of consuming TV series or movies through apps has added to this effect, as it does not need to be blurred. So it falls into the realm of illegality, but it’s hard to control because it’s subscription-based and requires access codes.

In Thailand, the Excise Department controls alcohol beverage manufacture and distribution, but access and advertising are governed by legislation. We wish to protect public health and decrease the influence of alcohol on youth. As a result, it must be monitored in order to make access difficult and to keep advertising in check.

“We do not completely ban advertising.” You may, however, advertise, depending on the conditions. “There is a ministerial rule governing advertising that is not freely practised,” he stressed.

‘Complete Betrayal Of Trust:’ Neonatal Nurse In A British Hospital Found Guilty Of Killing 7 Babies

By

Associated Press

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19 August 2023, 03:24

Britain Baby Deaths — This court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook from Aug. 11, 2023 shows of nurse Lucy Letby at Manchester Crown Court in Manchester, England. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP) — A neonatal nurse in a British hospital was found guilty Friday of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six others during a yearlong campaign of deception that saw her prey on the vulnerabilities of sick newborns and their anxious parents.

Following 22 days of deliberation, the jury at Manchester Crown Court convicted 33-year-old Lucy Letby of killing the babies, including two triplet boys, in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England between June 2015 and June 2016. She will be sentenced on Monday.

“Parents were exposed to her morbid curiosity and her fake compassion,” said senior prosecutor Pascale Jones. “Too many of them returned home to empty baby rooms. Many surviving children live with permanent consequences of her assaults upon their lives.”

Her attacks, Jones said, were “a complete betrayal of the trust placed in her.”

AP23230451083998 — Nurse Lucy Letby. A neonatal nurse in a British hospital has been found guilty of killing seven babies and trying to kill six others. (Cheshire Constabulary via AP)

Families of the victims said they will “forever be grateful” to jurors who since last October had to sit through 145 days of “grueling” evidence.

In a joint statement read outside court, they also expressed their gratitude to all those who came to give evidence during the trial, which they described as “extremely harrowing and distressing” to listen to.

“To lose a baby is a heart-breaking experience that no parent should ever have to go through, but to lose a baby or to have a baby harmed in these particular circumstances is unimaginable.,” they said.

Letby’s motives remain unclear but the scale of her crimes points to intricate planning.

She was accused of deliberately harming the babies in various ways, including by injecting air into their bloodstreams and administering air or milk into their stomachs via nasogastric tubes. She was also accused of poisoning infants by adding insulin to intravenous feeds and interfering with breathing tubes.

The British government launched an independent inquiry soon after the verdicts that will look into the wider circumstances around what happened at the hospital, including the handling of concerns raised by staff.

“This inquiry will seek to ensure the parents and families impacted get the answers they need,” Health Secretary Steve Barclay said. “I am determined their voices are heard, and they are involved in shaping the scope of the inquiry should they wish to do so.”

AP23230445040129 — This court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook from Aug. 10, 2023 shows of nurse Lucy Letby at Manchester Crown Court in Manchester, England. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

One of the senior doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital told the BBC he had repeatedly tried to raise the alarm about Letby but hospital executives failed to investigate the allegations.

Dr Stephen Brearley, the lead doctor in the neonatal, said the hospital tried to silence doctors who complained about Letby and delayed calling the police.

The jury of seven women and four men deliberated for 22 days before reaching the verdict. One juror was excused well into deliberations for personal reasons, and the judge later gave the remaining 11 jurors the option of reaching a verdict with 10 people in agreement instead of a unanimous decision.

Letby was found guilty of the seven murders and of seven charges of attempted murder relating to six children. She was cleared of two charges of attempted murder and the jury could not reach a verdict on several others.

Some of the verdicts were announced in court earlier in the month, but the judge imposed a ban on reporting them until deliberations were complete.

During the lengthy trial, prosecutors said the hospital in 2015 started to experience a significant rise in the number of babies who were dying or suffering sudden deteriorations in their health for no apparent reason. Some suffered “serious catastrophic collapses” but survived after help from medical staff.

Letby was on duty in all the cases with prosecutors describing her as a “constant malevolent presence” in the neonatal unit when the children collapsed or died. They said the nurse harmed the babies in ways that did not leave much of a trace, and that she persuaded her colleagues that the collapses and deaths were normal.

AP23230519161029 — Members of the media outside the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, England, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Jacob King/Pool photo via AP)

Police launched an investigation into the baby deaths at the hospital in May 2017 and Letby was eventually charged in November 2020.

“The last thing we expected to find was a suspect responsible for these deaths and non-fatal collapses,” said the senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes.

“Turning up at the home of a family who have lost a baby, grieved for their loss and are trying to move on from that is difficult enough, but having to tell them that someone who was meant to be caring for their little one could ultimately be responsible for their death — is not an easy task,” he added.

Letby testified for 14 days, proclaiming her innocence. During the trial, the defense argued that she was a “hard-working, dedicated and caring” nurse who loved her job and that the infants’ sudden collapses and deaths could have been due to natural causes, or in combination with other factors such as staffing shortages at the hospital or failure by others to provide appropriate care.

Letby fought back tears on Aug. 8 as the jury found her guilty of two counts of attempted murder and burst out crying as she left the courtroom. She was present again three days later when she was convicted of four murders and another two attempted murders.

She declined to be in the courtroom as additional verdicts were announced Friday and has indicated to the court she does not wish to appear in court Monday, nor to follow the sentencing hearing via videolink.

A note police found at Letby’s home after she was first arrested in 2018 will now stand as a chilling confession.

“I don’t deserve to live,” she wrote on a green sticky note shown in court. “I killed them on purpose because I’m not good enough to care for them.”

“I am a horrible evil person,” she wrote. “I AM EVIL I DID THIS.”

Shinkansen Metal Transformed Into Baseball Bats To Hit Market In Oct.

By

Kyodo News

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18 August 2023, 22:00

TOKYO – Metal from scrapped shinkansen bullet trains has been recycled into children’s baseball bats, which are set to be released in a limited edition in October, according to a Japanese sporting goods firm and a railway company.

Mizuno Corp. and Central Japan Railway Co. said they plan to sell 1,400 bats priced at 14,300 yen ($98) each, with three designs, including one paying homage to the iconic blue and white colors of the Tokaido Shinkansen and markings resembling it.

The second variant looks similar but has a silver hue to it, while the third design, mostly yellow, is modeled after test trains nicknamed “Dr. Yellow.”

Baseball and railway lovers can purchase the bats from Oct. 14, known as Railway Day, which is nationally recognized to celebrate railways.

JR Central decommissions bullet trains that are a decade or so old, scrapping seven from the Tokaido Shinkansen Line annually. The retrieved aluminum has so far been purified and then reused as decorations for buildings.

For the bats, metal compositions are altered to ensure the same durability as the conventional metal bats.

The two environmentally conscious companies say data showed around 97 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, a factor contributing to global warming, are cut when recycled in this way compared with making new aluminum.

“We had a hard time recreating the colors of the shinkansen trains but we want to give the kids new dreams and hopes through our products and expand the world of baseball,” said Takumi Nakata, a Mizuno Corp. executive officer, at a press conference in Tokyo.

“I’d like children to hit balls at a speed of 285 kilometers per hour,” Akihiko Nakamura, a vice president of JR Central, added, referring to the fastest speed of a Tokaido Shinkansen train.

China Appears To Be Building Runway on Disputed South China Sea Island

By

Kyodo News

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18 August 2023, 17:58

China South China Sea — This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows Triton Island in the South China Sea on Feb. 20, 2023. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

China appears to be constructing a runway on a disputed island in the South China Sea claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan in its latest move to claim sovereignty in the contested waters, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Friday citing satellite images.

The South China Morning Post said what appears to be a 630-meter-long airstrip was seen last month on Triton Island, part of the disputed Paracel Islands, in images taken by the European Space Agency.

Triton Island, the southernmost and westernmost of the Paracel Islands, has been under Chinese control since 1974 following a naval conflict.

runway South China Sea — This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows Triton Island in the South China Sea on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Vietnamese and Chinese authorities have yet to respond to requests for comment, according to the report.

At a press conference on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin defended the construction of the runway, saying that Triton Island is “part of China’s inherent territory” and what Beijing has done there is “consistent with international law and beyond reproach.”

China and Vietnam have ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In April, Beijing opened a hotpot restaurant on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands, triggering criticism from Hanoi.

China has also built runways on the Spratly Islands, another group of disputed isles in the South China Sea.

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Marriott Bonvoy Celebrates the Magic of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Thailand

By

Contributor

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18 August 2023, 17:41

Eight hotels in Bangkok and Pattaya reveal their festive mooncake collections, perfect for a daytime treat or presented in an elegant gift box for friends, family or business partners

August 2023, Bangkok, Thailand – Marriott Bonvoy is gearing up for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Thailand with a series of mouth-watering mooncakes, elegant gift boxes and exclusive promotions at eight of its outstanding hotels in Bangkok.

The expert pastry chefs at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok, The St. Regis Bangkok, JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, W Bangkok, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, and Courtyard by Marriott North Pattaya have created a selection of classic and contemporary mooncakes that can be enjoyed as a sublime snack or as the perfect present for friends, family and colleagues at this auspicious time of year.

The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok has unveiled its luxurious mooncake gift box collection for 2023, with four signature flavors and two classic varieties. The Athenee Treasure Box symbolizes beauty, wealth and prosperity, and for the ultimate gift, the limited edition Arianna’s Bouquet per Vittoria Collection comprises four mooncakes plus a complimentary Bouquet per Vittoria Collection Foulard. Prices start from THB 1,088 per box.

The St. Regis Bangkok invites you to step into a world of enchantment and exceptional flavors with its collection of “Mythical Mooncakes” at The Lounge this Mid-Autumn Festival. Packaged in a versatile and elegant cosmetic box, this exquisite selection of mooncakes comes in four delectable flavors: durian, red bean, mixed nuts, and new for 2023, Thai tea with macadamia nuts. A set of four assorted mooncakes is priced at THB 1,888 net.

JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok’s Man Ho Chinese Restaurant has meticulously crafted a mooncake gift box in a blue willow pattern that symbolizes unbreakable bonds. Within this enchanting box lies a treasure trove of flavors: durian, mixed nuts, lotus seeds, and date palm & macadamia, all with an egg yolk. Experience the joy of giving and the delight of savoring these exceptional mooncakes. A four-piece box is priced at THB 1,288 net.

Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is giving a modern twist to the time-honored traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The master chef at Pagoda Chinese Restaurant has crafted a selection of mouth-watering mooncakes, including classic recipes and a trio of signature flavors. Presented in elegant boxes, these are the perfect gifts for loved ones at this auspicious time of year. Prices start from THB 228 per piece or THB 1,288 per box.

Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse has thoughtfully crafted a selection of mooncakes that reflect the Mid-Autumn Festival’s rich traditions and legends, with flavors including lotus seeds, jujube, mixed nuts & pork bak-kwa, and Chanthaburi durian, all with a single egg yolk. The luxurious red packaging and rabbit motifs embody the festival’s spirit. Prices start from THB 1,188 net for the Lunar Luxury Box (four mooncakes) and THB 188 for an individual box.

W Bangkok is elevating the sense of good fortune this Mid-Autumn Festival by journeying over the moon to bring you “The Curious Rabbit,” a vibrant selection of mooncakes with four original snow-skin varieties – banoffee, citrus, rum & raisin, and red velvet – and four baked versions in modern flavors: salted caramel, durian delight, chestnut, and fruit & nuts. These are priced at THB 1,599 per box (four pieces), or THB 199 net per piece.

Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival at Fei Ya, its contemporary Chinese restaurant, with an exclusive selection of exquisitely crafted “Ren Regal Mooncakes.” These hand-baked delicacies come in four intriguing flavors: lotus paste with egg yolk, durian with egg yolk, chestnut & macadamia, and custard. The hotel’s stylish yet luxurious presentation boxes each contain four assorted mooncakes. A four-piece box is priced at THB 1,057net.

Courtyard by Marriott North Pattaya inviting you to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in style with exquisite mooncakes that are crafted with the utmost care and premium ingredients. Treat yourself to a delightful journey of flavors. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to savor delectable mooncakes at Courtyard by Marriott North Pattaya. A set of eight-piece is priced at THB 1,618.

Mooncakes are an inseparable part of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated all across East Asia on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. These tasty treats can be enjoyed as a delightful daytime snack with loved ones, accompanied by a pot of tea, or presented to friends, family, colleagues or business partners as an auspicious gift.

For more information and to order your mooncakes, please CLICK HERE or contact each hotel directly. Enroll to be Marriott Bonvoy member to receive the latest news and exclusive benefits, CLICK HERE and sign-up for free! To learn more about Marriott International’s hotels and resorts in Thailand, please visit www.marriott.com.

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