Thai construction tycoon and 14 others surrender to police over fatal Bangkok tower collapse
©Reuters
A Thai construction tycoon and 14 others surrendered to police on Friday over a building collapse that killed nearly a hundred workers during a powerful earthquake in March, authorities said.
The partially built 30-storey State Audit Office tower in Bangkok was the only building to collapse from tremors emanating from the powerful 7.7 magnitude quake in neighbouring Myanmar. Rescue teams have recovered 92 bodies during a six week operation from the collapsed site. Four were still missing.
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Really p****d' Trump ‘to reveal aggressive Ukraine weapons plan TODAY' – after saying he's ‘very disappointed' in Putin
DONALD Trump said he is "very disappointed" in Vladimir Putin for "bombing people at night" and has vowed to send sophisticated US weapons to Ukraine. The US President is expected to unveil what will be an "agressive" new weapons plan for Ukraine at a high-stakes meeting with Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte today. 7 Donald Trump speaks with the media after attending the FIFA Club World Cup final upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Sunday Credit: Reuters 7 A firefighter works at the site of a Russian drone strike in Lviv, Ukraine on Saturday Credit: Reuters 7 The US President is said to be 'very disappointed' with Vladimir Putin Credit: AFP 7 The plan is said to include long-range missiles and offensive systems capable of striking deep inside Russian territory, according to Returning from the FIFA Club World Cup final, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday: "I am very disappointed with President Putin. "I thought he was somebody that meant what he said, and he'll talk so beautifully and then he'll bomb people at night. We don't like that. "We will send them Patriots which they desperately need because Putin … really surprised a lot of people. It's a little bit of a problem there, I don't like it." Read more on Ukraine war Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told Axios on Sunday: "Trump is really p****d at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive." Trump indicated that the US would not only supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems but also It comes as Two people were killed and 28 injured in Kyiv last Thursday alone, with further strikes hitting a maternity hospital in Kharkiv over the weekend. Most read in The US Sun Trump's change in tone marks a dramatic reversal from his earlier position in office, where he had long opposed sending offensive weaponry to Kyiv and clashed openly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But frustration has been mounting in recent weeks, particularly following a July 3 phone call with Putin, in which the Kremlin tyrant reportedly told Trump he planned to escalate operations to "He wants to take all of it," Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron shortly afterwards, according to a source cited by Axios. Nato jets scrambled as Putin launches one of war's biggest attacks in Ukraine That phone call was reportedly a turning point. In the days that followed, Trump intervened to restart US weapons deliveries that had been paused by the Pentagon and vegan crafting a weapons package that appears to include long-range missiles. "They are going to pay us 100% for them. It is going to be business for us," Trump said. "They do need protection." At Monday's meeting with Nato's Rutte, Trump is also expected to back a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia's financial and energy sectors. "We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump said during a cabinet meeting last week. 7 An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv on Thursday Credit: Reuters 7 The site of a drone strike in Odesa, Ukraine, on Friday Credit: EPA 7 Soldiers of Ukraine's 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions at the frontline in Donetsk region Credit: AP The forthcoming sanctions, which Trump hinted could be rolled out "totally at [his] option," represent a rare show of unity between the White House and hawkish lawmakers in Congress. The move comes amid increasing signs of Russian reliance on foreign allies — especially North Korea. It comes as North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un pledged "unconditional support" for Putin's war in Ukraine during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to The rogue regime has reportedly deployed over 12,000 troops and millions of rounds of artillery to support Russia's war effort, with plans to send tens of thousands more. In exchange, Moscow is believed to be supplying Pyongyang with military equipment and technology, and has committed to aiding in the reconstruction of Russia's war-damaged territories, including Kursk. As North Korea and Russia tighten their military ties, the Trump administration's growing aggressiveness signals a stark turn in U.S. strategy — one that some officials hope will finally shift Putin's calculus. "I will say the Ukrainians were brave, but we gave them the best equipment ever made," Trump said last week. "They were able to shoot down a lot of things." What is the Patriot missile system? THE Patriot missile system (MIM-104) is a US long-range, surface-to-air defense platform designed to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and even ballistic missiles. Originally developed during the Cold War, it has been continuously upgraded, with its most modern versions—PAC-2 and PAC-3—offering different capabilities. PAC-2 missiles use explosive warheads to target aircraft and cruise missiles, while the PAC-3 variant is optimised for missile defense, using a high-speed 'hit-to-kill' approach to destroy incoming ballistic threats through direct impact. The system is supported by an advanced radar (AN/MPQ-65) that can track over 100 targets simultaneously and guide multiple missiles at once. A single battery can protect a wide area, but its coverage is still finite, making it most effective when used as part of a layered air defense network. Patriot systems have been deployed by the U.S. and many allies and have seen combat in conflicts like the Gulf War and, more recently, in Ukraine. While extremely capable, each missile is costly—PAC-3 rounds can exceed $4 million—and the system can be overwhelmed by mass attacks if not properly supported.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Girl, 8, found barking at strangers after 'being raised by dogs'
The disturbing tale of an eight-year-old boy who only communicated by barking after he was found being raised by dogs has shocked the world after news broke last week. The neglected youngster was discovered in a filthy hut in the Thai province of Uttaradit last week and children's activist Paveena Hongsakul said: "He didn't speak, he just barked. It was pitiful to see." But as shocking as the discovery was, it is not the first time a child grew up living among a pack of wild dogs. Oxana Malaya suffered a similar fate and was the same age when she was discovered. Below we look back at her bizarre upbringing that has striking parallels with the recent case in Thailand. Oxana was just three years old when her abusive and alcoholic mum and dad abandoned her in Kherson, Ukraine. Trying to escape the bitter cold after being left outside, she sought shelter in a kennel with her pet dog, Naida. This would be her home until she was found five years later. Soon, Naida, along with other strays in the area, treated the girl as an equal, and would share their food and keep her warm. It wasn't long before the little girl copied the mongrels after losing the ability to speak. Rather than act like a normal child, she barked to communicate and panted and travelled on all fours. Oxana licked herself clean just like how the dogs did and she also ate her meals, often including raw meat, off the floor after losing any human skills she once possessed. She lived like this in the poor village of Nova Blahovishchenka for five years but authorities got involved after Oxana barked at a neighbour when she was eight. After police arrived, her loyal canine friends aggressively tried to protect her, until the barking girl was removed from the kennel after the dogs were distracted by food. Oxana was taken by social services in 1991 before eventually adjusting to human life after being welcomed to a foster home. She is now in her early 40s and lives in a special care institution. Rather than try and hide her past, she has been open about it and once told 60 Minutes Australia how her mother had too many children and therefore there weren't enough beds for everyone. This eventually led her to the kennel. She remembered: "I would talk to them, they would bark and I would repeat it. That was our way of communication." Her high profile feral case led to experts studying her. Director of the special care institution where Oxana is based, Anna Chalaya, said: "She was more like a little dog than a human child. "She used to show her tongue when she saw water and she used to eat with her tongue and not her hands." Oxana is also said to have the mental capacity of a six-year-old and child psychologist Lyn Fry once said: "I don't think she's ever going to be able to read or do anything else that is going to be useful. "If you haven't got language by about five, you're probably not going to get language at all." In 2006, Oxana reunited with her dad and half-sister, but the awkward meeting did not help with her ongoing trauma. And speaking about how she still seeks the comfort of dogs while struggling, she added: "When I feel lonely, I find myself doing anything, I crawl on all four. This is how lonely I feel. Because I have nobody, I spend my time with dogs, I go for walks and do anything I want to."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Meredith Kercher's killer Rudy Guede to stand new trial over ‘sexual assault' of ex-girlfriend in Italy
THE man convicted of murdering British university student Meredith Kercher has been charged with sexual assault against his former girlfriend. Rudy Guede, 38, is once again 6 Rudy Guede spotted for the first time since his release from prison Credit: Louis Wood 6 Guede arrested ater the murder of Brit Brit Meredith Credit: Getty 6 Brit Meredith was murdered in Italy in 2007 Credit: Alamy 6 Rudy Guede watches during his appeal against the sentence he received in the Meredith Kercher murder trial Credit: Reuters Guede served just 13 years of his 16-year jail sentence after he was convicted of killing Ms Kercher in 2007. He was During his time in prison, Guede started dating a 25-year-old woman, who later ended their relationship in 2023 and pressed charges against him, according to local Italian media. Guede has been placed under a "special surveillance" regime since last year, when police began their investigation into the alleged sexual assault, read more on the case According to a Rome court ruling, Guede must inform the police anytime he leaves Viterbo, his city of residence. He has been fitted with an electronic ankle tag and was banned from having any contact with the woman behind the sexual assault allegations. Carlo Mezzetti, his lawyer, told CNN that Guede was innocent and feared he would not get a fair trial given his previous conviction. Some 100,000 photos, thousands of chats and audio messages between Guede and the unnamed victim are among the evidence set to be presented in the trial, according to the media outlet. Most read in The Sun The exchange student from the University of Leeds had been stabbed 47 times. Watch weeping Amanda Knox break down as her slander conviction is UPHELD in final twist of Meredith Kercher murder saga Ms Kercher shared her flat with her American roommate, Amanda Knox. Ms Knox was convicted alongside her then-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito - but they both were fully acquitted by Italy's Supreme Court in 2015 following a sensational legal battle. Though At the time of Guede's release, Ms Knox said that Guede has been "able to cause harm to more young women" since his release. She wrote in a post on X: "Guede was never held fully accountable for murdering Meredith, as he was only convicted of rape and of 'participating in the murder.' "Essentially he was charged with being an accomplice for a crime he committed alone. He was sentenced to 30 years. 6 Knox accompanied by security guards arrives in court for the preliminary hearings into the murder of British student Meredith Kercher Credit: EPA 6 Knox and then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito looking on outside the rented house where the 21-year-old Brit Meredith was found dead Credit: Associated Press "On appeal, that was reduced to 16. He was released on 'good behavior' after serving 13 years..." Knox has since gone on to become an author and journalist and has spoken openly about her treatment during the ordeal. In 2020, Knox told "I continue to this day to be shocked that he is the forgotten killer," Knox said. "The one who was quietly tucked away, convicted of a lesser crime, and does not have to live with the burden of forever being associated with Meredith's death. "I do know that many, many people have suffered a great deal because of what he did.' Timeline of Meredith Kercher saga November 1, 2007 – The murder of Meredith Kercher: British exchange student Meredith Kercher, 21, is found dead in the apartment she shares with Amanda Knox in Perugia, Italy. Her throat is slashed, and signs suggest she may have been sexually assaulted. November 6, 2007 – Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito arrested : Amanda Knox, her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and Patrick Lumumba, Knox's boss at a local bar, are arrested in connection with Kercher's murder. Knox accuses Lumumba of the killing during a police interrogation. November 20, 2007 – Patrick Lumumba released : Lumumba is released after police find no forensic evidence linking him to the murder. He was falsely implicated by Knox during a contentious interrogation. December 6, 2007 – Rudy Guede arrested in Germany : Rudy Guede, a 20-year-old Ivorian man, is arrested in Germany and extradited to Italy. His DNA is found on Kercher's body and at the crime scene. October 28, 2008 – Guede convicted of murder : Guede opts for a fast-track trial and is convicted of Kercher's murder. He is sentenced to 30 years in prison, later reduced to 16 on appeal. January 16, 2009 – Knox and Sollecito trial begins : Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito stand trial for the murder of Kercher. Prosecutors allege a sex game gone wrong, while the defence argues that Guede acted alone. December 4, 2009 – Knox and Sollecito convicted: Knox and Sollecito are found guilty. Knox is sentenced to 26 years in prison; Sollecito receives 25 years. November 24, 2010 – Appeals process begins : Knox and Sollecito appeal their convictions. A key focus is the forensic evidence, including DNA found on a knife and a bra clasp. October 3, 2011 – Knox and Sollecito acquitted : An appeals court overturns their convictions, citing errors in the forensic investigation. Knox is freed and returns to Seattle. March 26, 2013 – Italy's Supreme Court orders retrial : Italy's Court of Cassation annuls the acquittals, ordering a retrial for Knox and Sollecito. January 30, 2014 – Knox and Sollecito reconvicted: Knox and Sollecito are reconvicted in their retrial. Knox, now in the U.S., is sentenced to 28.5 years in prison. March 25, 2015 – Final acquittal: Italy's Supreme Court definitively acquits Knox and Sollecito of Kercher's murder, citing lack of evidence and glaring errors in the investigation. November 2021 – Rudy Guede released : Rudy Guede, the sole person definitively convicted in connection with Kercher's death, is released from prison after serving 13 years. 2023 - present – Knox's slander conviction: Despite her acquittal, Knox is convicted of slander for falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba. 2023: The European Court of Human Rights rules that Knox's rights were violated during her 2007 interrogation. June 2024: An Italian court upholds her slander conviction, a decision confirmed by Italy's high court in January 2025.
