Armed police officers and emergency services near the scene of a shooting in Hamburg, Germany on Thursday March 9, 2023 after one or more people opened fire in a church. The Hamburg city government says the shooting took place in the Gross Borstel district on Thursday evening. (Jonas Walzberg/dpa via AP)
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — A shooting at a Jehovah’s Witnesses hall in the German city of Hamburg killed eight people, apparently including the perpetrator, police said Friday. An unspecified number of other people were wounded, some of them seriously.
Police gave the figure on their website. There was still no word on a possible motive for the shooting on Thursday evening that stunned Germany’s second-biggest city. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a former Hamburg mayor, described the shooting as “a brutal act of violence.”
Police said during the night that they believe that there was only one shooter, and that that this could be a person who was found dead in the building.
Investigators worked through the night to secure evidence. On Friday morning, forensic investigators in protective white suits could still be seen outside the building as a light snow fell. Officers placed yellow cones on the ground and windowsills to mark evidence.
Armed police officers near the scene of a shooting in Hamburg, Germany on Thursday March 9, 2023 after one or more people opened fire in a church. (Jonas Walzberg/dpa via AP)
Hamburg officials said there would be a news conference Friday afternoon to discuss details.
David Semonian, a U.S.-based spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said in an emailed statement early Friday that members “worldwide grieve for the victims of this traumatic event.”
“The congregation elders in the local area are providing pastoral care for those affected by the event,” he wrote. “We understand that the authorities are still investigating the details of this crime. We appreciate the courageous help provided by the police and emergency services.”
The scene of the shooting was the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Hall, a boxy three-story building next to an auto repair shop in the Gross Borstel district, a few kilometers (miles) from downtown Hamburg.
Police spokesman Holger Vehren said police were alerted to the shooting about 9:15 p.m. and were on the scene quickly.
He said that after officers arrived and found people with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground floor, they heard a shot from an upper floor and found a fatally wounded person upstairs who may have been a shooter. He said police did not have to use their firearms.
The Hamburg city government says the shooting took place in the Gross Borstel district on Thursday evening. (Jonas Walzberg/dpa via AP)
Student Laura Bauch, who lives nearby, said there were around four periods of shooting, German news agency dpa reported. “There were always several shots in these periods, roughly at intervals of 20 seconds to a minute,” she said.
She said she looked out her window and saw a person running from the ground floor to the second floor of the Jehovah’s Witnesses hall.
Gregor Miesbach, who lives within sight of the building, was alerted by the sound of shots and filmed a figure entering the building through a window. Shots can then be heard from inside. The figure later apparently emerges from the hall, is seen in the courtyard and then fires more shots inside.
Miesbach told German television news agency NonstopNews that he heard at least 25 shots. After police arrived, one last shot followed about five minutes later, he said.
His video showed a person firing multiple shots into the building through a first floor window before the lights inside the room went out.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are part of an international church, founded in the United States in the 19th century and headquartered in Warwick, New York. It claims a worldwide membership of about 8.7 million, with about 170,000 in Germany.
Members are known for their evangelistic efforts that include knocking on doors and distributing literature in public squares. The denomination’s distinctive practices include a refusal to bear arms, receive blood transfusions, salute a national flag or participate in secular government.
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Moulson reported from Berlin. Associated Press journalist David Rising contributed to this story from Bangkok.
As people around the world live longer, the need for comprehensive and innovative cardiac care is ever increasing. According to Mrs. Artirat Charukitpipat, CEO of Bumrungrad International Hospital, “the World Health Organization estimates heart conditions take about 18 million lives each year. The data reveals this trend is likely to continue and become more complex in the near future due to the elderly’s risk of facing heart health conditions.”
“Bumrungrad International Hospital recognizes the importance of improving the level of care and prevention which includes promoting healthy lifestyles, as well as screening and early detection programs for risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol in response to the increasing number of heart disease cases and their associated complications”, as Mrs. Artirat Charukitpipat further revealed.
As Bumrungrad CEO explains, “Bumrungrad Heart Institute is one of our Centers of Excellence. Our professional team provides care for even the most complex heart conditions. Achieving success in such cases requires a good cooperation with the full support of a multidisciplinary team. They work with the same goal in mind. That goal is to keep patient safe and enhance patient quality of life.”
The Bumrungrad Heart Institute is the result of the ambitious vision of the executive board of the hospital and Professor Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee, Cardiologist and Director of the Bumrungrad Heart Institute. As Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee explains, “Bumrungrad Heart Institute aims for the most comprehensive treatment and best outcomes for patients with all kinds of heart diseases.”
“We aim to be a state-of-the-art medical facility in all areas of cardiology, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, advanced heart failure and heart transplantation, structural heart disease, cardiogenetics, congenital heart disease, cardiac screening, and preventive care. We are also equipped with a cardiac care unit, which provides 24-hour care for cardiac patients requiring acute care or post operative recovery to enable them to return to the best of their ability as soon as possible.”, Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee elaborated.
As a Center of Excellence, the Bumrungrad Heart Institute already leverages the world-class knowledge and technological resources of the hospital, providing an excellent foundation for providing high-quality patient outcomes immediately. Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee confirmed this by commenting that, “Bumrungrad actually had everything to take the best care of the patients. The executive board is very visionary and wanted to do research. It is the only way to keep getting better because by doing research, we keep learning, improving and finding a better way to treat our patients, and we are never complacent on our past success.”
Given such a successful foundation, both the Bumrungrad board and Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee clearly identify research, technology, and innovation as the key drivers to the Bumrungrad Heart Institute’s future growth and development. As Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee illustrates, “Moreover, Bumrungrad constantly invests extensively in technology and equipment, including some that don’t necessarily yield a return. So, with the team of experts we have, the Bumrungrad Heart Institute can be a truly world-class center of excellence. Some examples of previous research include Brugada syndrome in Thailand: Three decades of progress, Epicardial substrate ablation for Brugada syndrome, and Benefits and risks of catheter ablation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation.”
It is also important to note that Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee brings with him a wealth of research and experience, as he is one of the world’s first investigators to uncover the true cause of sudden unexplained death or dying in your sleep. Moreover, Bumrungrad Heart Institute has one of the best arrhythmia centers in the world that not only carries out cutting edge research but also performs complex catheter ablation for difficult arrhythmia cases.
Moreover, the Institute has become a tertiary referral center for the Asia pacific region and keeps expanding to the rest of the world. Patients come to get their arrhythmia care from all over the world, including the US and Europe. The center is also known for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation treatment since it is one of the few places in the world that routinely and sophisticatedly maps and ablates AF substrates with its CFAE ablation in conjunction with CardioInsight non-invasive mapping, a technology that the center adopted early on, back in 2016.
On the topic of the Heart Institute’s research efforts, Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee is proud to note that, “We publish around ten papers a year in major medical journals and we’re proud of that record. We’re also working on an AI project with Chulalongkorn University and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang to monitor sudden cardiac arrest. Most importantly, we’ve become an international consultant, receiving cross-reviews by international institutions from the USA, Europe, and Japan. Many want to come to see our work and collaborate.”
Dr. Achirawin Jirakamolchaisiri, Cardiologist and Director of Heart Institute Operations and Service Line at Bumrungrad International Hospital, reminds us that, “cardiology is a complex field that encompasses many different sub-specialties. Each subspecialty focuses on a specific area of heart health, and understanding these different areas is crucial for providing optimal patient care, while striving to deliver the best positive patient outcomes in every case.”
Dr. Achirawin Jirakamolchaisiri shared patient outcome data which clearly demonstrate that the Heart Institute’s success in delivering on its goal of providing truly world-class care:
Coronary Heart Disease: This sub-specialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of blockages in the coronary arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and other serious cardiac events. In 2022, we delivered Coronary angiogram & Percutaneous coronary intervention in a total of 812 cases with a success rate of 99.2% while the U.S. benchmark was at 95%. The composite complication rate is at 0.39% while the U.S. benchmark was at 2.65%. Average length of stay is only 1 day after procedure.
Cardiac Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology: This sub-specialty deals with the diagnosis and management of abnormal heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and other arrhythmias. Last year, we treated 183 cases of Electrophysiology with 100% success rate using Atrial fibrillation ablation with only 4.35% complication rate, whereas the U.S. benchmark was at 6.5%. While Ventricular tachycardia ablation had a 100% success rate with no complications.
TAVR/TAVI: This sub-specialty involves minimally invasive procedures to replace the aortic valve in patients with aortic stenosis, a condition in which the valve becomes narrowed and obstructs blood flow. Bumrungrad Heart Institute had 26 cases of Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR/TAVI) which is the greatest case volume in Thai private hospitals with a 100% success rate and no complications.
Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation: This sub-specialty focuses on the care of patients with severe heart failure, including those who may require advanced treatments from multidisciplinary team or heart transplantation. The Bumrungrad Heart Institute is the first and only private hospital in Thailand with heart transplant capability and which received clinical care program certification by JCI. We had a 100% 1 year survival rate after heart transplantation with no complications.
Coronary Bypass Surgery: This sub-specialty involves surgical procedures to bypass blocked or narrowed coronary arteries, restoring blood flow to the heart muscle. Last year, 430 cardiothoracic surgeries were performed with 71 cases being coronary artery bypass graft. There was 0% In-hospital mortality while the U.S. benchmark was at 2.1%. And there was no Post-op-stroke while the benchmark was at 3%.
Cardiac Rehabilitation: This sub-specialty provides supervised exercise and lifestyle modification programs to help patients recover from heart disease and prevent future cardiac events. With our Cardiac Rehabilitation, 100% (benchmark 90%) of our post op bypass surgery patients reached optimal functional status within 7 days, while 97% (benchmark 90%) of post PCI patients reached optimal function status within 4 days.
Cardiogenetics: This sub-specialty deals with the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease, including inherited conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and familial hypercholesterolemia. Fortunately, advances in technology and knowledge of genetics have made it possible to check for certain genes and see how vulnerable one is to heart diseases. Gene testing can save the lives of people who have not yet shown symptoms. It can also help those planning to have children. And we had 360 screenings last year.
As the data show, it is abundantly clear the Bumrungrad Heart Institute performs at the top of its class in delivering the most effective medical care to its patients.
Forensic police inspect the scene of a fatal stabbing in front of Platinum Fashion Mall in Bangkok on Mar. 9, 2023.
BANGKOK — A Myanmar national was arrested Thursday for the alleged murder of a compatriot outside a mall in downtown Bangkok.
The victim, Phyu Mar Aung, was stabbed at least five times with a folding knife in front of Platinum Fashion Mall in Ratchathewi district on Thursday afternoon and died at the scene. The attacker, Thet Lin Oo, was arrested shortly after and charged with murder, Phayathai police superintendent Krissadaporn Jong-aksorn said.
“We believe it was driven by personal issues at work,” Pol. Col. Krissadaporn said.
He said both Myanmar nationals were employed by the same local fruit vendor. The suspect told police he killed his coworker out of anger after she told their employer that he was incompetent at work.
The suspect was taken to Phayathai Police Station to hear his charges.
Worker uses his equipment at the construction site of the new capital city in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Indonesia began construction of the new capital in mid 2022. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
PENAJAM PASER UTARA, Indonesia (AP) — Orange-red ground has been broken in the jungle of East Borneo, where the Indonesian government has begun construction of its new capital city.
Officials promise a “sustainable forest city” that puts the environment at the heart of development and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2045. But the project has been plagued by criticism from environmentalists and Indigenous communities, who say it degrades the environment, further shrinks the habitat of endangered animals such as orangutans and displaces Indigenous people that rely on the land for their livelihoods.
Indonesia began construction of the new capital in mid 2022, after President Joko Widodo announced that Jakarta — the congested, polluted current capital that is prone to earthquakes and rapidly sinking into the Java Sea — would be retired from capital status.
The construction site of the new capital city is seen from a hill in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Plans for the new capital — about twice the size of New York City — are grandeur. Officials tout the creation of a futuristic green city centered on forest, parks and food production that utilizes renewable energy resources, “smart” waste management and green buildings.
“We have to think beyond what is happening today and try to tackle (things) that are futuristic,” said Bambang Susantono, chairman of Nusantara National Capital Authority, speaking about the city’s design and ability to answer future challenges.
Digital renderings shared by the government show a city surrounded by forest, with people walking on tree-lined sidewalks and buildings with plant-covered rooftops surrounded by walking paths, ponds, clean creeks and lush forest.
Building architecture is inspired by modern urban towers combined with traditional Indonesian architecture: the presidential palace in the shape of a garuda — a mythical bird and the national symbol of Indonesia — and other buildings that give a stylistic nod to traditional architecture used by Indigenous groups around the archipelago.
In its current state, the new city is far from the tidy finish presented by its planners, but there is progress. Basuki Hadimuljono, Indonesia’s minister for public works and housing, said in February that the city’s infrastructure is 14% completed.
A digital rendering showing the lay out of presidential palace compound at the new capital city are displayed at its construction site in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Some 7,000 construction workers are clearing, plowing and building the first phases of the site. Worker dormitories, basic roads and a helipad are already being used. Construction of key buildings — such as the presidential palace — is expected to be completed by August 2024.
Sites visited by The Associated Press in early March showed mounds of freshly turned earth with excavators and cranes around them. At least one site has a sign with a QR code that visitors can scan to see 3D visuals of what the area will look like when finished; others have printed signboards showing what’s to come.
The government has said it’s working to be considerate of the environment. Signs of a more-conscious approach to construction are visible: patches of trees remain fenced-off to protect them from machinery, a plant nursery has already started for the replanting process officials promise and industrial forest surrounds the site.
But with construction set to ramp up this year, environmentalists warn building a metropolis will speed up deforestation in one of the world’s largest and oldest stretches of tropical rainforest. Forests, called the lungs of the world, suck in planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and are home to numerous wildlife species. The island has already been compromised by palm oil plantations and coal mines.
An orangutan climbs trees at BOSF’s (Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation) Samboja Lestari Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, near the site of the construction of the country’s new capital city in Samboja, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Thursday, March. 9, 2023.
Dwi Sawung, an infrastructure specialist at the Indonesian Forum for Living Environment, an environmental nongovernmental organization that has been monitoring the new capital project, said that the government’s plans lack consideration of the region’s unique wildlife like orangutans and sun bears. The new city cuts through an important animal corridor.
“The animals should be relocated first and then build the construction,” he said. “But since they need to hurry up, they just built the area without relocating the animals first.”
Experts have also expressed concerns about how the new capital will be powered. While the government vows the city will rely on a “smart energy” system, groups worry that some of the region’s coal-fired power plants could be used in the short term.
Indonesia has significant energy potential from solar, hydropower, geothermal, wind and other sources, but only some 12% of them are tapped, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. And while user-friendly public transport might keep cars off the city’s roads, there will likely be extensive air travel between the new capital and Jakarta, about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) away.
Indigenous groups that reside in the region and already lost parts of their land fear that urban sprawl from the new capital could make things even worse.
A car cruises on a dirt road at the construction site of the new capital city in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Officials have vowed to respect Indigenous rights and compensate those losing their homes. Local officials said they would verify all land claims and accept documents of proof of ownership, but much of the area is passed down through families without paperwork and not all tribal areas are formally recognized.
“We do not want to be relocated. We do not want they move our graves of our ancestors, or make changes or remove our historical site,” said Sibukdin, an Indigenous community leader, who like many in the country only uses one name and lives in Sepaku, a ward very close to the construction area.
Susantono said that Indigenous residents have “a couple of options for them to be included in the process” including compensation, relocation or share ownership of stores that will open.
“We are going to always persuade them and tell them about the future of the city,” he said. “Hopefully they will understand that this is for the sake of everybody.”
But as Indonesia continues to court investors, construction is moving forward, with the government planning to inaugurate the city on Aug. 17 next year to coincide with Indonesia’s Independence Day.
“Nusantara is the city for tomorrow,” said Susantono. “It will become a vibrant city, not just a government city.”
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EDNA TARIGAN and VICTORIA MILKO reported from Jakarta. AP photographer Achmad Ibrahim and videographer Fadlan Syam contributed to this report from East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
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Antje Menikheim, left, lead scenic painter for Sunday's 95th Academy Awards, and carpet coordinator Geoffrey Coleman inspect Oscar statues in preparation for the event, Wednesday, March 8, 2023, near the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood is gearing up for the 95th Academy Awards, where “Everything Everywhere All at Once” comes in the lead nominee and the film industry will hope to move past “the slap” of last year’s ceremony. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Oscars, including when they are, where to watch the live show and this year’s controversies.
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WHEN ARE THE OSCARS?
The Oscars will be held Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony is set to begin at 8 pm EST and be broadcast live on ABC.
CAN YOU STREAM THE OSCARS?
The broadcast can be streamed with a subscription to Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and Fubo TV. Some of these services offer brief free trials. You can also stream the show on ABC.com and on the ABC app by authenticating your provider.
(Note from Khaosod English: For those who are in Thailand, you can watch live broadcasts on True Film 1 (115/222) and True Visions Now (online application trueID) on March 13, since 5.30 a.m. It will rerun at 8 p.m. on that day.)
Sunset casts a pink glow over the Los Angeles skyline as seen from behind the famous Hollywood sign Wednesday evening, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)
WHO’S HOSTING?
Jimmy Kimmel will host for the third time and his first time since 2018. That was also the last Oscars to feature a solo host. The show went hostless for several years after Kimmel’s last outing. Last year, Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes hosted as a trio. In an ad for this year’s show styled after “Top Gun: Maverick, ” Kimmel made his humble case for being the right person for the job while noting that he can’t get slapped because “I cry a lot.”
WHAT’S NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE AT THE 2023 OSCARS?
The 10 movies competing for best picture are: “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Elvis,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “The Fabelmans, ” “Tár,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Women Talking.” Here’s a guide to how you can watch them.
This combination of photos shows promotional art for Oscar nominees for best feature, top row from left, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Elvis,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” bottom row from left, “The Fabelmans,” “Tár,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Triangle of Sadness,” and “Women Talking.” (Netflix/Disney/Searchlight/Warner Bros./A24/Universal/Focus/Paramount/Neon/Orion-United Artists via AP)
WHO’S PRESENTING?
Presenters include: Halle Bailey, Antonio Banderas, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Chastain, John Cho, Andrew Garfield, Hugh Grant, Danai Gurira, Salma Hayek Pinault, Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh and Sigourney Weaver.
They join a previously announced group including: Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy, Janelle Monáe, Deepika Padukone, Questlove, Zoe Saldaña and Donnie Yen.
A third wave was announced Thursday: Halle Berry, Paul Dano, Cara Delevingne, Harrison Ford, Kate Hudson, Mindy Kaling, Eva Longoria, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Olsen, Pedro Pascal and John Travolta.
FILE – Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks at the Oscars in Los Angeles on March 4, 2018. Kimmel will again preside over the ceremony on Sunday. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR THE SHOW?
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has said that winners to all categories will be announced live on the show. (Last year, some categories were taped in a pre-show, something that caused an uproar among academy members.)
All signs point to a full slate of musical performances, with Rihanna performing “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava singing Chandrabose and MM Keeravaani’s “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR.
Nominee Lady Gaga, on the other hand, will not sing “Hold My Hand,” from “Top Gun: Maverick,” during the show. On Monday, show producers announced that Lenny Kravitz will deliver the “In Memoriam” performance.
WHO ARE THE FAVORITES?
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s indie sci-fi hit “Everything Everywhere All at Once” comes in with a leading 11 nominations. Close on its heels, though, is the Irish friends-falling-out dark comedy “The Banshees of Inisherin,” with nine nods, a total matched by Netflix’s WWI film “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) may have a slight edge on Cate Blanchett (“Tár”) for best actress.
A cast in a motion picture for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” at the 29th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Best actor is harder to call, with Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) and Austin Butler (“Elvis”) in the mix.
In the supporting categories, Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) are the frontrunners, though Jamie Lee Curtis’ Screen Actors Guild Awards win may have thrown a wrench into the supporting actress category.
Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”) may win his third best director Oscar, though the Daniels may have emerged as the frontrunners.
AP Film Writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle are predicting a big haul for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
This combination of photos shows Oscar nominees for best performance by an actor in a leading role, from left, Austin Butler in “Elvis,” Colin Farrell in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Brendan Fraser in “The Whale,” Paul Mescal in “Aftersun,” and Bill Nighy in “Living.” (Warner Bros/Searchlight/A24/A24/Sony Pictures Classics via AP)
WHAT’S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL THIS YEAR?
Aside from the usual snubs and surprises, this year’s biggest to-do has been the debate surrounding Andrea Riseborough’s unexpected nomination for best actress. Riseborough was nominated for the little-seen, Texas-set drama “To Leslie” after many A-list stars rallied around her performance.
When two other best-actress contenders — Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”) and Viola Davis (“Woman King”) — were snubbed, some saw that as a reflection of racial bias in the film industry.
The academy launched an inquiry into the star-studded, grassroots campaign for Riseborough but found no reason to rescind her nomination.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?
Just the reading of the title to one of this year’s short film nominees should prompt a wave of giggles. John Williams (“The Fabelmans”), up for best score, is the oldest nominee ever, at 90 years old.
After historic back-to-back best-director wins by Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”), no women were nominated this year for best director.
Also don’t expect to see Will Smith at the Oscars anytime soon. After striking Chris Rock at last year’s ceremony, Smith was banned by the film academy from attending for 10 years. In a live Netflix special on Saturday, Rock finally punched back at Smith with a blistering stand-up set about the incident.
FILE – Will Smith, right, hits presenter Chris Rock on stage while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
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Complete list of 2023 Oscar nominees
Nominees for the 95th Academy Awards, announced Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California:
Best picture: “All Quiet on the Western Front”; “Avatar: The Way of Water”; “The Banshees of Inisherin”; “Elvis”; “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; “The Fabelmans”; “Tár”; “Top Gun: Maverick”; “Triangle of Sadness”; “Women Talking.”
Best actor: Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”; Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Austin Butler, “Elvis”; Bill Nighy, “Living”; Paul Mescal, “Aftersun.”
Best actress: Ana de Armas, “Blonde”; Cate Blanchett, “Tár”; Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie”; Michelle Williams, “The Fabelmans”; Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
This combination of images shows Oscar nominees for best actress, from left, Cate Blanchett in “Tár,” Ana de Armas in “Blonde,” Andrea Riseborough in “To Leslie,” Michelle Williams in “The Fabelmans,” and Michelle Yeoh in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” (Focus Features/Netflix/Momentum Pictures/Universal/A24 via AP)
Best director: “Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”; Todd Field, “Tár”; Ruben Ostlund, “Triangle of Sadness.”
Best supporting actress: Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”; Hong Chau, “The Whale”; Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
This combination of images shows Oscar nominees for best supporting actress, from left, Angela Bassett in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Hong Chau in “The Whale,” Kerry Condon in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Jamie Lee Curtis in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and Stephanie Hsu in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” (Disney/A24/Searchlight/A24/A24 via AP)
Best supporting actor: Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway”; Judd Hirsch, “The Fabelmans”; Brendan Gleeson, “Banshees on Inisherin”; Barry Keoghan, “Banshees of Inisherin”; Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
This combination of photos shows Oscar nominees for the best supporting actor category, from left. Brendan Gleeson in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Brian Tyree Henry in “Causeway,” Judd Hirsch in “The Fabelmans,” Barry Keoghan in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” and Ke Huy Quan in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” (Searchlight/Apple/Universal/Searchlight/A24 via AP)
International film: “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany); “Argentina, 1985” (Argentina); “Close” (Belgium); “EO” (Poland); “The Quiet Girl” (Ireland).”
Best animated feature: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”; “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”; “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”; “The Sea Beast”; “Turning Red.”
Original screenplay: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; “The Banshees of Inisherin”; “The Fabelmans”; “Tár”; “Triangle of Sadness.”
Adapted screenplay: “All Quiet on the Western Front”; “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”; “Living,”; “Top Gun: Maverick”; “Women Talking.”
Visual Effects: “Avatar: The Way of Water”; “Top Gun: Maverick”; “The Batman”; “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”; “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
Music (original score): Volker Bertelmann, “All Quiet on the Western Front”; Justin Hurwitz, “Babylon”; Carter Burwell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Son Lux, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; John Williams, “The Fabelmans.”
Original song: “Applause,” from “Tell It Like a Woman”; “Hold My Hand,” from “Top Gun: Maverick”; “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”; “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”; “This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Documentary feature: “All That Breathes’; “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”; “Fire of Love”; “A House Made of Splinters”; “Navalny.”
Cinematography: James Friend, “All Quiet on the Western Front”; Darius Khondj, “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”; Mandy Walker, “Elvis”; Roger Deakins, “Empire of Light”; Florian Hoffmeister, “Tár.”
Costume design: “Babylon”; “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”: “Elvis”: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”: “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.”
Animated short: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”; “The Flying Sailor”; “Ice Merchants”; “My Year of Dicks”; “An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I Think I Believe it.”
Live action short: “An Irish Goodbye”; “Ivalu”; “Le Pupille”; “Night Ride”; “The Red Suitcase.”
Documentary short: “The Elephant Whisperers”; “Haulout”; “How Do You Measure a Year?”; “The Martha Mitchell Effect”; “Stranger at the Gate.”
Film editing: “The Banshees of Inisherin”; “Elvis”; “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; “Tár”; “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Sound: “All Quiet on the Western Front”; “Avatar: The Way of Water”; “The Batman”; “Elvis”; “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Production design: “All Quiet on the Western Front”; “Avatar: The Way of Water”; “Babylon”; “Elvis,” “The Fabelmans.”
Makeup and hairstyling: “All Quiet on the Western Front”; “The Batman”; “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”; “Elvis”; “The Whale.”
Srettha Thavisin, CEO of Sansiri, one of the big players in Thailand’s real estate industry, who recently took the advisory chairman of the Pheu Thai party, tweeted an announcement about his break from his role at Sansiri. He said he wanted to bring his experience to politics to boost the economy and reduce inequality. He justified the break without salary as a sign of his fairness and hopes for the support of employees.
photo by Khaosod
He later attended a party meeting with the executive committee, which was also attended by former Prime Minister Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who serves as the party’s chairperson. Srettha said his pause from Sansiri was fair to all because he wanted to devote himself fully to politics and the election campaign.
photo by Khaosod
For the general meeting, Pheu Thai stated the party’s intention to win as many seats as possible, namely 310. Paetongtarn added that the strategic goal is the 310 seats MP, as Pheu Thai wants to form a strong cabinet and overthrow the “regime of Prayut'”. The party has this goal in mind.
Srettha pointed out the problem of wages. If Phue Thai wins the election, he said he is confident of raising the minimum wage to 600 baht by 2027. He added that all jobs should have access to decent wages.
photo by Khaosod
For macro-economic policies, he aims for the economy to grow by at least 5 percent while Pheu Thai leads the cabinet and works for education, as he did previously in Ratchaburi when he donated THB 100 million with Sansiri to bring children into the public education system.
The party also introduced two sports policy advisors: Pimol Srivikorn, president of Taekwondo Association of Thailand and Chalitrat Chanrubeksa, president of Squash Association of Thailand.
Pimol Srivikorn,(center) / photo by Khaosod
Pimol, is also a prominent businessman and chairman of TCM Corporation Plc. He is known for the association’s success in enabling Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit to win an Olympic gold medal in 2020.
Pimol said Pheu Thai Party is not just about working for a better economy and people’s livelihood but about promoting sports as Thailand’s soft power.
The Thai public demanded a solution to air pollution when a video went viral showing a house filled with black, polluted smoke coming from the opposite direction towards the owner’s house as if it were toxic smoke.
The video says: “People are in pain. If this is the amount of smoke, you can imagine the smell. We do not need to talk about the drying of the laundry. This is cancer. Can any government agency help the people? What do you think about this? #negligent 7/3/23 3.23 pm. Lopburi. Today I can not dry my laundry or open the door because???”
After the video was published, several people commented on the post. Some thought that the video showed a scene similar to the one in the film The Mist. Another commented that a nearby cement mixing plant used shades and water to trap dust, which was somewhat helpful, but this plant had nothing to protect the nearby flat.
The video went viral as people in different areas experienced the same polluted problem that is so far unsolvable. The Pollution Control Department released a daily report on March 9 showing that 52 provinces, including Lopburi had PM2.5 levels above normal.
A Khaosod reporter visited the house seen in the video. It is located in Moo 8, Tha Sala sub-district, Lopburi province. Best, 23, the younger brother of the owner, said the polluted smoke seen in the viral video was from dust from the nearby large cement plant, which is about 20 metres away and separated by a road.
Best also showed the reporter the dust that was left, not only in his house but also in several nearby neighbours. Some people had to go elsewhere and wait for things to improve before returning to their homes because everything was so bad. The owner of the business has not taken any action so far.
Best’s family members have started getting health effects from the dust. Some members have respiratory problems. In addition, they also suffer from noise pollution. Every day when the company starts its machines, the family members have to go inside and clean the floor outside more than 10 times a day.
According to Best, when the company is off work or when the company is on holiday, it is the best day for the family.
“I would like to complain to the relevant authority and ask the owner of the company’ to do more for the residents than just pouring some water to catch the dust. The company should clean people’s houses and talk about how the company will take care of people because they have nowhere else to go.”
Leaders from private sector and civil society, at the Asia Inclusive & Responsible Business Forum (Asia-IRB), highlighted the benefits of integrating sustainability into business models and stressed on the need for active collaboration for putting the well-being of people and planet at the heart of all business practices.
The Asia-IRB Forum, organized by Oxfam in Bangkok on 28th February 2023, convened more than 80 business leaders, civil society groups from Asia and international agencies. Discussions were held on how businesses are taking steps and have benefitted from providing decent wages, empowering women, being inclusive, and adapting to create clean production and supply chains which have minimum impact on the climate. The forum also looked at ways of strengthening collaboration between different stakeholders.
Cambodian producer and exporter of organic rice AMRU Rice was among the 15 private sector speakers to take the stage and share insights on their responsible business practice approach.
“We are trying to build an ecosystem where everyone in the value chain benefits, particularly the small-scale farmer. Our model promotes fairer commercial benefits to farmers through direct share ownership, fair price and premiums for their crops through Contract Supply Agreements. We are working closely with civil society to support crop diversification which could enable a yearlong income for the farmers. We also promote climate resilience techniques with farmers including the use of greenhouses and intercropping, to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase productivity,” said Kunthy Kann, Vice President, AMRU Rice.
Oxfam recognizes the enormous positive impact that businesses can have in reducing poverty, but corporations have also contributed to increased inequality, climate change and environmental damage. During the pandemic, Oxfam research, “Not in This Together” highlighted how unfair business systems led to corporations making profits while workers in the food supply chain struggled to retain their jobs.
“Asian companies are increasingly recognizing the global pursuit of environmental and social justice. But it is not enough. For a more inclusive and responsible economy, companies should go beyond the project-based corporate social responsibility approach and implement sustainable practices into their core operational models.
This forum highlighted how companies of different sizes operating in diverse economies– Thailand to Nigeria— can and have adopted more planet and people-oriented strategy without compromising on their financial performance,” said Jacques-Chai Chomthongdi, Private Sector Lead, Oxfam in Asia.
Bangkok based global seafood processor and exporter company Thai Union spoke about collaborating with the civil society at global and local level to improve knowledge on critical ethical issues.
“We leveraged the knowledge of civil society to support effective monitoring and capacity building of our operations. We also contracted fishing vessels to promote safe and legal labor… Working in partnership was fundamental to build an inclusive and sustainable business model. We need to collaborate with everyone – governments, civil society and customers,” said Prad Kerdpairoj, Regional Director of Sustainability, Thai Union.
In lower income economies, a large share of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are a source of livelihood for the base of the pyramid population. Individual SMEs have the potential to adopt actions that empower local communities, provide decent working conditions and access to social protection.
A healthcare startup in Combodia is improving elderly care and providing accessible healthcare via mobile clinics. The company also focuses on implementing reforms that promote the well-being of women workers.
“Investing in a healthcare startup has a significant social impact. Our successes [business] have led to better healthcare outcomes and improved access to medical services, especially for underserved communities. This has led to a more equitable distribution of healthcare resources and, reducing health disparities, said Phirum Dyphan, CEO, MUCH Mobile Healthcare (Cambodia).
JAEBEE Furniture is a Nigerian social enterprise that adheres to OXFAM’s social enterprise model, prioritizing the creation of a more inclusive and equitable world. Apart from selling their products, they also run an academy where they train and teach people about the strategies to build their own furniture business.
“We know that investing in women’s education and employment is critical to making a social impact. We’re committed to providing a platform for disadvantaged women in our communities, and bringing young women who are out of school into our furniture business. By taking care of people in our community, we’re able to reduce overhead costs and increase profitability. Our approach is all about helping people – because we know that when we help others, we all benefit,” said Igbodike Joy Bamidele, CEO, Jaebee Furniture (Nigeria).
The forum concluded with stakeholders committing to continue working towards equitable business models, explore opportunities and take action to help other businesses of all sizes prioritize purpose, fairness and sustainability as much as profit to create a ‘human economy’.
Bayern's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting celebrates a goal that was later dissallowed during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern beats PSG
MUNICH (AP) — Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s goal lifted Bayern Munich past Paris Saint-Germain and into the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Wednesday.
After former PSG forward Kingsley Coman scored in the first leg, Choupo-Moting — another former PSG player — extended Bayern’s lead in the second leg in a 2-0 victory Wednesday to complete a 3-0 win on aggregate in the Champions League round of 16.
PSG’s Lionel Messi reacts during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)
Shortly after having a goal ruled out for offside, and also inadvertently blocking a teammate’s shot, Choupo-Moting scored in the 61st minute to put Bayern on course for the quarterfinals and send Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and PSG heading toward its earliest Champions League exit since 2018-19.
Bayern’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer, centre, saves in front of PSG’s Kylian Mbappe during the Champions League group round of 16 second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Goretzka and Thomas Müller teamed up to take the ball off Marco Verratti and Goretzka squared the ball for Choupo-Moting to apply a simple finish with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded.
Two substitutes then linked up to make sure of the win on the counter in the 89th, with João Cancelo surging down the right flank before playing in Serge Gnabry to score.
PSG had dominated the first half of the game and was only denied the lead by a goal-line clearance from Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt, but Bayern regained its focus in the second half to secure the win.
Bayern players celebrate after the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Bayern won 2-0. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Games between PSG and Bayern have helped define the career of Choupo-Moting, a late-developing 33-year-old forward who until this season was best known as a backup striker for Robert Lewandowski at Bayern.
Choupo-Moting played for PSG against Bayern when the German team won the Champions League final in 2020. After signing for Bayern as a free agent the following season, he scored once in each leg in a defeat on away goals to PSG in the Champions League quarterfinals.
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Tottemnham Hotspur 0-0 AC Milan
LONDON (AP) — AC Milan advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after holding 10-man Tottenham to a goalless draw on Wednesday.
Brahim Diaz’ strike in the first leg of the round-of-16 matchup was enough to separate the teams as even the return of manager Antonio Conte could not inspire a comeback from Spurs.
Tottenham’s head coach Antonio Conte, left, greets AC Milan’s manager Stefano Pioli ahead of the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Seven-time European champions Milan cruised through the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which saw Cristian Romero sent off in the second half.
Harry Kane’s 94th minute header was the closest the home team came to leveling the score on aggregate — before Milan substitute Divock Origi hit the post in a frantic finish.
Conte was back on the sideline for Tottenham after spending two-and-a-half weeks in Turin recovering from gallbladder surgery.
But he could only watch on as his team failed to break down Italian champions Milan, meaning Tottenham’s 15-year wait for a trophy goes on.
Tottenham’s Cristian Romero, center, gets a yellow card from referee Clement Turpin after a foul on AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, bottom, during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
FILE - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Friday, June 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool, File)
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan announced Wednesday that their daughter had been christened in a private ceremony in California, publicly calling her a princess and revealing for the first time that they will use royal titles for their children.
Princess Lilibet Diana, who turns two in June, was baptized on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor, Harry and Meghan said in a statement. Lilibet’s title and that of her brother, Archie, who will be four in May, will be updated on the Buckingham Palace website later.
The announcement marked the first time that the children’s titles had been used in public.
Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Misan Harriman/
The question of the children’s titles took center stage two years ago during Harry and Meghan’s television interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan, who is biracial, said that when she was pregnant with Archie “they” — presumably the palace — “were saying they didn’t want him to be a prince … which would be different from protocol.”
Meghan suggested that this was because Archie was the royal family’s “first member of color” and would have marked the first time a royal grandchild wasn’t given the same title as the other grandchildren.
At the time, royal experts said Meghan’s comments appeared to be based on a misunderstanding of the way royal titles are conferred.
Titles are conferred in line with a decree issued by King George V in 1917 that limits the titles of prince and princess to the male-line grandchildren of the sovereign.
As long as the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive, Harry and his older brother, Prince William, were the sovereign’s grandchildren. Harry and William’s children, as great grandchildren, didn’t receive the titles automatically.
But Elizabeth had the power to amend the rules, and in 2012 she decreed that the children of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, would be princes and princesses. This decree didn’t apply to Harry and Meghan.
However, the situation changed when King Charles III ascended the throne on the death of his mother last September. William and Harry are the king’s sons, meaning their offspring are now royal grandchildren and so entitled to be known as prince and princess.
Nonetheless, they have remained a plain “master” and “miss” on the Buckingham Palace website for the past six months
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