bust

Reminds me of the Traffic Ladies Of Pyongyang

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo was arrested late last year by Thai police on suspicion of the murder. In short: A Spanish national is accused of murdering a Colombian surgeon on the Thai island of Koh Phangan. Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is charged with murdering Edwin Arrieta Arteaga and concealing his body. What's next? He has pleded guilty to hiding the body but not guitly to all other charges. The son of a famous Spanish actor has gone on trial in Thailand, accused of killing a Colombian surgeon on a popular tourist island known for its full Moon rave parties. Warning: This story contains details that may be distressing to some readers. Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, was indicted by prosecutors in October last year over the death of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, whose remains were found stuffed in plastic bags at a landfill on Koh Phangan. Lawyer Juan Gonzalo Ospina Serrano, who represents Edwin Arrieta's family, told reporters at the Koh Samui Provincial Court before the trial that the family trusts Thai prosecutors to deliver justice. "They are grateful and hope that Thai law is forceful and that the truth can be told," he said. The charges include premeditated murder, concealment of a body and destruction of other people's documents, which is related to the alleged damaging of Mr Arrieta's passport He pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder and destruction of documents but pleaded guilty to hiding the victim's body. The charge of premeditated murder carries a possible death penalty. The maximum sentence for damaging documents carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a 100,000 baht ($4,150) fine. The concealment or damaging of a body carries a year in prison and a 20,000 baht ($830) fine. Koh Phangan is known for its parties that run all night.(AP: Adam Schreck) The trial is opening with statements from witnesses brought in by the plaintiff, said Mr Sancho's lawyer, Apichart Srinual. When asked whether he was confident about his defence case, he said "it depends on the evidence", adding that "there are a lot of witnesses. It depends on what they will say." Mr Sancho was driven to the court in a closed car and was not visible to reporters waiting outside. His father, Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, also came to the court but declined to comment. Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho was in court for the opening of his son's trial.(AP Photo: Suthipong Charoenjai) Mr Sancho, a chef, was arrested in August after the remains of Mr Arrieta were discovered in landfill. Police said Mr Sancho came in to report a missing person and was subsequently detained. Police said he later reportedly confessed to killing and dismembering Mr Arrieta and dumping the body parts in the landfill and the sea, though he denied that his action was premeditated. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-10/son-of-spanish-film-star-accused-of-thai-island-murder/103688050

And Governor Gretchen Whitmer gets a free pass. Parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley sentenced to at least 10 years in prison In short: James and Jennifer Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a US mass school shooting. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after their son, Ethan, killed four people at his Michigan school in 2021. What's next? The judge has sentenced the pair to at least 10 years behind bars. The parents of a Michigan teen who shot and killed four classmates have both been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison, after a jury convicted them of manslaughter in a rare case of parents being held responsible in a school shooting. Jennifer and James Crumbley, Ethan Crumbley's parents, were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teen’s mental health. They were sentenced immediately after several parents of the victims gave emotional impact statements in an Oakland County courtroom on Tuesday. "Not only did your son kill my daughter, but you both did as well," Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, 17, told the court as she wept. Ethan Crumbley (left) in a mughshot alongside parents Jennifer and James. (Reuters Photo: Oakland County Sheriff) James Crumbley sat impassively while his wife Jennifer hung her head. Ethan Crumbley was 15 at the time of the shooting at Oxford High School in 2021. He pleaded guilty in 2022 to four counts of first-degree murder and other charges, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December. In remarks to the court before sentencing, Jennifer Crumbley, 46, said she expressed her "deepest sorrow" and said she had had no inkling her son was capable of killing. "My husband and I used to say we have the perfect kid. I truly believed that," she said, naming her son's victims several times. "I didn't have a reason to do anything different. This is not something I foresaw. "If there's anything the general public can take away from this, it's that this could happen to you, too. "I will be in my own internal prison for the rest of my life. Addressing the court, her 47-year-old husband said, "I am sorry for your loss as a result of what my son did. My heart pours out to every single one of you." Gun and warning signs key to case Prosecutors in the trials of both Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley said the parents were criminally negligent for providing a gun for their child as a Christmas present and for ignoring signs his mental health had deteriorated and that he was potentially violent. The parents' legal teams argued, among other points, that it was impossible for the mother and the father to envision their son would carry out a mass shooting. The United States, a country with persistent gun violence, has experienced a series of school shootings over the years, often carried out by current or former students. There is little precedent for the criminal charges faced by the Crumbleys, who are the first parents known to be charged with manslaughter in a school shooting carried out by one of their children. James Crumbley purchased the 9mm semi-automatic handgun as a Christmas present for Ethan just four days before the shooting on November 30, 2021. Prosecutors said during the trials that on the morning of the rampage, both of Ethan's parents were summoned to their son's school after teachers discovered violent messages and drawings on his schoolwork. The Crumbleys were told Ethan needed immediate counselling. But prosecutors said the couple resisted, taking the teen home that day, and didn't search his backpack or ask him about the gun they knew he could access. Ethan Crumbley was returned to class. He later walked out of a bathroom with the gun and began firing, according to prosecutors. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-10/jennifer-james-crumbley-sentenced-over-michigan-school-shooting/103688212

Is DDave still around? Tried contacting him last time I was in town but without success. Last time I saw him he was doing some work for another board member who's name escapes me.

Unrelated but reading another article on the "Rink" about the sulphur smell in Bangkok, when was there some decent rain there?

Sorry! You lost me

Could apply that to the Trump supporters equally 😊

Is that woman on the right pointing? I hope so. Would be the Thai thing to do.

Authorities have conducted a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause and concluded it's someone else's fault.

There was a road collapse on Saturday on Chaeng Watthana Road, outbound to Pak Kret Pier in Nonthaburi province. The area in front of Wat Bo was closed to traffic, and vehicles could not enter Pak Kret Pier directly. Before the incident occurred at 11.25am, a man was riding a motorcycle with his daughter, but her shoe slipped off. They went back to retrieve it in front of Wat Bo, and it was at that moment that the road collapsed. People nearby rushed to help and rescued the daughter. They also assisted her father by lifting the motorcycle on to the sidewalk. Upon inspection, police found that the collapsed area in front of the temple is about 4 metres deep and 15 metres wide, with water flowing into the hole. It is suspected that this water is seepage from the Chao Phraya River. The police have revealed that construction work in this area is part of an electrical project, with power lines being laid in the area for several days prior. The cause of the collapse is suspected to be a large truck, but it has not been confirmed yet. Authorities will conduct a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause. A vendor said that early that morning, she had a feeling that something might happen because there were some problematic spots in the area. She wants the relevant authorities to expedite repairs because she is losing income; she cannot sell goods, and will have to pack up her store because of the collapsed road.

Exactly. Only driven through there a couple of times and 2,500 would be a small percentage based on what I witnessed.

Russia to Shower More Support on Generals During Myanmar New Year Russia has been a true friend to Myanmar’s military regime and is proving its intimacy again by promising to join the generals in celebrating the Thingyan Festival in Naypyitaw. The Russian Embassy in Myanmar will debut its own Thingyan pandal (water-spraying station) in the junta’s nerve center. The panda will be the first set up by the Russian Embassy and will give a much-needed boost to the propaganda campaign of the diplomatically isolated regime. The latest flurry of diplomatic engagement between the two has been occurring as the military regime enforced the national conscription law over the past two months. Russian deputy foreign minister Andriy Rudenk paid a call on Min Aung Hlaing on Feb. 20, 10 days after the regime enforced the national conscription law. The two discussed plans for boosting ties and enhancing cooperation in nuclear technology. Then, junta-appointed election body chief Ko Ko flew to Russia to observe its presidential election, followed by Min Aung Hlaing offering congratulations to President Vladimir Putin on his re-election. Junta propaganda newspapers featured Min Aung Hlaing’s congratulatory message. He then flew to Yangon to be interviewed by Russia’s ITAR-TASS Media. The junta boss made his debut on Russian TV where he was portrayed as a family man and a devout Buddhist brimming with physical strength. Junta electricity minister Nyan Tun and science and technology minister Myo Thein Kyaw attended the XIII International Forum ATOMEXPO 2024 in the Russian city of Sochi on March 25-26. The duo visited Novosibirsk State Technical University and the Nuclear Energy Information Center. Russian deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin visited Myanmar to attend Armed Forces Day celebrations in Naypyitaw on March 27. The following day, Russia and the regime exchanged honorary medals. Min Aung Hlaing conferred honorary titles that he created only a week ago on 27 Russian military officers. The Russian Defense Ministry also showered medals on Min Aung Hlaing, Soe Win, chief of general staff (army, navy, air force) Maung Maung Aye, joint secretary of the State Administration Council and military intelligence chief Ye Win Oo, transport minister Mya Tun Oo, junta cabinet office minister and former admiral Moe Aung, and air force chief Tun Aung. The two armies have also announced they will hold joint military combat and operational training later this year. More than 50 joint military activities are planned, according to reports citing Russia’s defense ministry. Russia has always been helpful to the regime, even before it came under pressure for introducing mandatory military service. Russia is among the very few countries that have publicly embraced the regime with unabashed affection. Bilateral relations have developed by leaps and bounds since the coup. Russia has used its veto to protect the regime at the United Nations Security Council, provided nuclear technology and sold arms to the regime. Russia is the only country that has invited coup maker Min Aung Hlaing for an official visit. The two pariah nations have been pursing multisectoral cooperation, even cooperating in academic and cultural matters. While the regime suffered major defeats during the anti-regime Operation 1027 and subsequent offensives after November, Russian Navy chief Admiral Nikolai Evmenov visited Min Aung Hlaing. The military band of the Russian Navy also entertained the coup maker. Putin in December dispatched Russian Security Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev to Naypyitaw to confer the Order of Alexander Nevsky on his major arms buyer. The regime’s attempt to give a false impression of stability in Myanmar through Thingyan celebrations failed previously. But this year, Russia has offered a helping hand, organizing a pandal, and even featuring musical shows by Russian singers.

Thai officials unveil plan to control Lopburi's macaque population after tourists injured by animals In short: Thai authorities have announced a plan to control the population of macaques that roam the city of Lopburi. A monkey recently knocked a motorcyclist off their bike and dragged a tourist to the ground in an attempt to get food. What's next? Thousands of monkeys will be rounded up and put in custom enclosures to try and bring peace to the city. A Thai city battling an out-of-control monkey population that has knocked motorcyclists off bikes and dragged tourists to the ground has unveiled a plan for peace. After at least a decade of human-monkey conflict, Thai wildlife officials have announced a plan to rein in the macaque population in Lopburi. The macaques that roam the city are a cultural symbol and a major tourist draw but recent encounters between the animals and visitors have sparked calls for change from locals. The monkeys frequently try to snatch food from humans, sometimes resulting in tussles that can leave people with scratches and other injuries. In March, local outrage grew when a woman dislocated her knee after a monkey pulled her off her feet to grab food, and another man was knocked off a motorcycle by a hungry monkey. Plan to enclose 2,500 monkeys The director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Athapol Charoenshunsa, said that authorities hope to round up some 2,500 urban monkeys and place them in massive enclosures. He said efforts will also be focused on allowing a limited number of monkeys to stay at liberty in the city. "I don't want humans to have to hurt monkeys, and I don't want monkeys to have to hurt humans," he told reporters during a news conference in Bangkok. An official monkey-catching campaign launched last week, prioritising more aggressive alpha males, has nabbed 37 monkeys so far. Most of those caught have been placed under the care of wildlife authorities in the neighbouring province of Saraburi, while others were sent to the Lopburi Zoo. Officials said they plan to capture the rest of the monkeys once the enclosures are complete, especially those in the residential areas. Separate cages will be prepared for different troops of monkeys to prevent them from fighting. Mr Charoenshunsa said he expects the first phase of the operation to start within weeks, and believes the huge cages will be able to contain thousands of them and "will solve the problem very quickly". He said work is also underway in other areas of Thailand that are also facing problems with monkeys, such as Prajuab Kiri Khan and Phetchaburi. He said 52 of the country's 77 provinces report frequent problems from monkeys. The monkeys are a symbol of the province, about 140 kilometres north of Bangkok, where the ancient Three Pagodas temple celebrates an annual "Monkey Buffet" festival, and they're commonly seen throughout the city. Macaques are classified as a protected species under Thailand's wildlife conservation law. Local officials began threatening fines for feeding monkeys outside a few designated areas around the main tourist attractions in recent years. Previous control measures have fallen short. From 2014 to 2023, the wildlife authorities neutered about 2,600 Lopburi monkeys. AP/ABC https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-04/lopburi-monkey-control-plan-prompted-by-tourist-injuries/103665728

I stay in touch with him and spoke to him about it. Shame considering not too many post anymore.

I don’t think any of those Japanese Prison Guards on Thai Burma Rail construction were rugby supporters either.

Hard mob to understand the Japanese. I remember a few years ago, I took a mate who has a bit of an interested in visiting significant places relating to war, up to Kanchanaburi to visit Hellfire Pass. Portrayed them as absolute cnuts. That same night we went to the Sportsman in Soi 13 to watch the opening game of the Rugby World Cup 2019 between Japan and Russia. The Japanese would applaud the Russians every time they score or forced a turnover 😳

I suppose now you're going to tell me Independence Day wasn't entirely truthful 😃

What is it with Hollywood's obsession with movies based around war? Curious to know how many academy awards have gone to those such movies.

The one and only Tucker Carlson was mentioned in various media outlets. God help Us.

And an estimated 30 per cent of the 270 million sub-munitions dropped didn't detonate.

Interesting map below https://brilliantmaps.com/uk-us-bombs-ww2/

"But the film also depicts the atomic bomb in a way that seems to praise it, and as a person with roots in Hiroshima, I found it difficult to watch." Thought that said a lot more than the entire story.

After winning seven Oscars, Oppenheimer, a film depicting the creation of the atomic bomb, has opened in the only country to have suffered its devastating effects. Universal Pictures left Japan off its release schedule for worldwide screenings, despite the country being a major market for Hollywood. The film was eventually picked up by independent film distributor Bitters End and released on Friday. Christopher Nolan's biopic about US physicist J Robert Oppenheimer and the race to develop the atomic bomb has grossed more than $US953 million ($1.4 billion) since being released in July last year. But in Japan, his creation has left a permanent mark, after the US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, which killed more than 200,000 people. 'Difficult to watch' for people in Hiroshima Film goers in Hiroshima on Friday had a mixed response after seeing the film for the first time. Toshiyuki Mimaki survived the bombing of Hiroshima. He was three at the time. "During the whole movie, I was waiting and waiting for the Hiroshima bombing scene to come on, but it never did," Mr Mimaki said. The film does not directly show the consequences of the atomic bomb. Instead, it focuses on Oppenheimer as a person and his internal conflicts. Former Hiroshima mayor Takashi Hiraoka was critical of the film for lacking a Japanese perspective. "The horror of nuclear weapons was not sufficiently depicted," Mr Hiraoka said. "The film was made in a way to validate the conclusion that the atomic bomb was used to save the lives of Americans." Kawai, 37, was also among those to see the film on its opening day. "This is an amazing film which deserves to win the Academy Awards," he said. "But the film also depicts the atomic bomb in a way that seems to praise it, and as a person with roots in Hiroshima, I found it difficult to watch." Japanese director Takashi Yamazaki has previously said he would like to see a movie showing Japan's experience of the bomb. "I feel there needs to be an answer from Japan to Oppenheimer," he said in an online dialogue with director Christopher Nolan, who agreed with his sentiment. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-29/oppenheimer-opens-in-japan-eight-months-after-release/103650264