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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Saturday 8 February 2025
Scouting trouble: Russian woman nabbed after uniform theft in Phuket By Petch Petpailin Photo via Facebook/ เกษม สำราญ Police arrested a Russian woman in Phuket after breaking into a local’s house and stealing a scout uniform before leaving. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351120-scouting-trouble-russian-woman-nabbed-after-uniform-theft-in-phuket/ -
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Kanye West Declares Himself a Nazi, Sparks Outrage with Anti-Semitic and Offensive Tirade
Kanye West ignited a storm of controversy on Thursday night, launching into a shocking anti-Semitic, sexist, and homophobic rant while also claiming to have control over his wife, Bianca Censori. The rapper, 47, left fans confused as he also made a bizarre plea to former President Donald Trump, urging him to free rapper Diddy from prison. West first faced accusations of anti-Semitism in 2022 after making inflammatory remarks. He later issued an apology, stating he never intended to offend or demean the Jewish community. However, in a dramatic reversal, the rapper took to social media to double down on his views, stating that he would never “trust or work with Jewish people” again and that he would not apologize for his beliefs. Among his most shocking statements, West boldly declared: "I AM A NAZI," later adding, "I LOVE HITLER NOW WHAT B*****S." Concerns over his treatment of Bianca Censori escalated after he addressed speculation that she is a victim of coercive control. West claimed he had "dominion" over his wife, following her controversial nude appearance at the Grammys. In a string of increasingly aggressive posts, West seemed prepared to face the consequences of his remarks, stating, "IF I LOST EVERYTHING AGAIN TONIGHT WAS WORTH IT I CAN DIE AFTER THIS." He insisted that he was sober while making these statements and vowed to cut ties with anyone who disagreed with him, using homophobic slurs to attack those who support Vice President Kamala Harris. West's tirade escalated as he issued a violent warning, writing, "ANY N*A COME IN MY FACE AN ASK ME ABOUT THAT PUFF ST IM STEALING OFF THEM IMMEDIATELY I DONT GIVE A F**K IF YOU 8 FEET TALL IMA JUMP AND STEAL OFF YOU." He also lashed out at what he called "woke" culture, taking issue with plus-size models in fashion shows. In a message that name-dropped singer Adele, he wrote, "FK ALL THIS WOKE ST THEY PUTTING FAT B*S ON THE RUNWAY NOBODY WANNA SEE THAT ST ITS UNHEALTHY IT PROMOTES OBESITY AND THE WILD ST IS IF THE FAT B*****S LOOSE WEIGHT THEN THEY LOOSE THEIR ACCEPT FOR ADELLE CAUSE SHE ACTUALLY HAS ANOTHER TALENT THEN BEING USED AS A PAWN FOR POLITICAL AGENDAS [sic]." West then turned his attention back to his anti-Semitic rhetoric, retracting his previous apology and raging against Jewish businesspeople, stating, "IM NEVER APOLOGIZING FOR MY JEWISH COMMENTS I CAN SAY WHATEVER THE FK I WANNA SAY FOREVER WHERES MY F*ING APOLOGY FOR FREEZING MY ACCOUNTS SUCK MY D**K HOWS THAT FOR AN APOLOGY." Continuing his unfounded claims, he accused the Jewish community of targeting Black and Latino children through abortion, writing, "BE CLEAR YOU JEWISH N****S DONT RUN ME NO MORE THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY AND THIS IS MY FREE OPINION YOU ABORT BLACK CHILDREN FOR STEM CELLS ABORTION IS MURDER AND ITS PUSHED ONTO THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES." West made it clear that anyone who disagreed with him should not work for him, stating, "AMY JEWISH PERSON THAT DOES BUSINESS WITH ME NEEDS TO KNOW I DONT LIKE OR TRUST ANY JEWISH PERSON AMD THIS IS COMPLETELY SOBER WITH NO HENNESY [sic]." His rant initially began with a focus on rapper Diddy, who has been in prison on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, which he vehemently denies. Addressing Diddy, West tweeted, "FREE PUFF," before accusing celebrities of abandoning him. He wrote, "ALL THESE CELEBRITY N****S AND BS IS PY YALL A WATCH OUR BROTHER ROT AND NEVER SAY ST." Comparing his situation to Diddy's, West referenced the rapper’s falling out with Diageo, the global beverage company that distanced itself from him. Using racist slurs, he added, "ALL YOU PLEEEEEASE COME AT ME THATS HOW WE SPOT THE KS LET THESE WHITE PEOPLE AND JEWISH PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND SAY FK DIAGEO AND F**K ALL YALL N***S IN ADVANCE." West also suggested launching a clothing collaboration between his Yeezy brand and Diddy's Sean John label, claiming they would "split the profits 50/50." He argued that Diddy's legal troubles were a racial issue, stating, "JUST FOR CLARITY THEY TYRING TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF PUFF ME AND MY BROTHER HAD OUR ISSUES BUT THESE WHITE PEOPLE TRYING TO USE PUFF TO SCARE N****S IM NEITHER SCARED NOR BRAVE THIS JUST ME." In addition to his Twitter rant, West took to Instagram to demand Trump intervene on Diddy’s behalf, tagging the former president with the message, "FREE DIDDY." From behind bars, Diddy responded by reposting West’s messages, writing, "Thank you to my brother @Ye," and linking to Yeezy. West’s actions have led to widespread condemnation, recalling his previous fall from grace in 2022 when major brands such as Adidas, GAP, and Universal severed ties with him following similar anti-Semitic outbursts. Despite losing lucrative deals, West remains defiant, writing, "WHAT YALL GONE DO CANCEL MY SNEAKER DEAL CANCEL MY RECORD DEAL FREEZE MY ACCOUNTS FK ALL YALL N****S SLAVERY IS A CHOICE IM SPEAKING MY MIND NOW I AINT EDITING ST AGAIN EVER." West’s latest tirade has once again drawn intense backlash, with many calling for further consequences over his incendiary statements. Based on a report by The Daily Mail 2025-02-08 -
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Starmer Pledges to Overhaul Planning Rules for Nationwide Nuclear Expansion
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to push past “Nimbyism” as he lifts restrictions on where nuclear power plants can be built across England. The move is intended to accelerate the approval of a wave of "mini" nuclear reactors, with the first expected to be operational by 2032. Starmer’s broader initiative aims to override opposition to key infrastructure projects, including housing developments, wind farms, data centers, and pylons, as his government seeks to cut through red tape. The UK has not constructed a new nuclear power station since 1995. Under current regulations, nuclear plants can only be built in eight designated areas in England and Wales. These restrictions will now be scrapped, allowing more sites to be considered for nuclear expansion. While the move is being positioned as a step toward securing the country’s energy future and ensuring a clean power supply, it will also bar Chinese firms from investing in the projects. Despite Starmer’s confidence, some Labour MPs—particularly those representing rural constituencies—are privately concerned that large-scale development in their areas could weaken their chances of re-election. Addressing these concerns on Wednesday, the Prime Minister made clear his intention to challenge opposition. “By going for more sites than the eight, then obviously you’re opening up more space. There’s no point us pretending otherwise," he said. "That means there is the potential now for nuclear sites in places where, until now, it wasn’t thought they would ever be. We do have to push past the Nimbyism, and we’re going to do so on housing and other infrastructure.” To ease local opposition, the government may offer discounted energy bills to residents near newly built nuclear plants. A similar incentive has already been introduced for onshore wind farms under Starmer’s administration. The changes are being made to the “national policy statement,” which has not been updated since 2011. This document serves as a key guideline for councils, planning inspectors, and courts when assessing infrastructure projects. Under current rules, new nuclear power stations are permitted only in Bradwell, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Oldbury, Sellafield (Moorside), Sizewell, and Wylfa. The revised policy will remove site-specific limitations while maintaining restrictions on construction in densely populated areas and near military installations. The usual planning process for projects categorized as critical national infrastructure will remain in place, allowing communities to voice objections. However, the Prime Minister suggested that his party’s significant parliamentary majority would provide the necessary leverage to advance these initiatives. “We have got the advantage of a big majority to help us. There’s a window here which, to be fair, we haven’t had that big working majority in Parliament for a long time now,” Starmer stated. The policy changes will not directly impact Scotland or Northern Ireland, where devolved governments set their own nuclear energy policies. However, in England and Wales, the removal of site restrictions marks a major shift in nuclear planning regulations. Investment from Chinese companies, whether state-backed or private, is unlikely to be welcomed in the construction of these new power stations, according to the Prime Minister. This follows the government’s ongoing efforts to limit Chinese involvement in critical national infrastructure. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-02-08 -
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Lawmakers Move to Prohibit DeepSeek App on Government Devices Amid Security Concerns
WASHINGTON—A bipartisan effort is underway to ban the DeepSeek chatbot application from all government-owned devices due to fears that the app could provide user data to the Chinese government. The bill, set to be introduced Thursday, is spearheaded by Representatives Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, and Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey. The move mirrors past congressional action against TikTok, which led to the app's prohibition on government devices and initiated efforts to block its operations in the U.S. "This should be a no-brainer in terms of actions we should take immediately to prevent our enemy from getting information from our government," Gottheimer said. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company that burst onto the scene just last month, has rapidly become the most downloaded app in the U.S. The company’s decision to release its AI models as open-source software contributed to its immediate popularity among businesses, developers, and consumers. However, concerns have emerged over its potential risks to data security. An analysis conducted by Ivan Tsarynny, CEO of Feroot Security, a firm specializing in data protection and cybersecurity, revealed that the chatbot contains concealed code capable of transmitting user login information to China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company banned from operating in the U.S. The Associated Press had previously published Tsarynny’s findings. "Our personal information is being sent to China, there is no denial, and the DeepSeek tool is collecting everything that American users connect to it," Tsarynny stated in an interview. This revelation prompted LaHood and Gottheimer to craft legislation aimed at blocking DeepSeek from government networks. Both lawmakers hold key positions on a subcommittee of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, making them central figures in U.S. cybersecurity oversight. "Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data," LaHood emphasized, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. Several countries have already moved to restrict DeepSeek's access to government systems. On Tuesday, Australia announced a ban on the app from its government networks, citing data-security concerns. Key ministries in South Korea implemented similar restrictions this week, and Italy had already done so in January. Some federal agencies, including the U.S. Navy and NASA, have already blocked the app due to security and privacy concerns. Texas was the first U.S. state to implement a ban on DeepSeek for government devices, citing national-security risks. The approach taken against DeepSeek closely resembles Congress’s actions against TikTok in 2022 when the app was banned from government devices as part of a spending bill. Lawmakers were concerned that the Chinese government could access user data, leading to further efforts to prohibit the app entirely unless it severed ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Although Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok to secure an American buyer, the deadline passed without a sale. In response, President Trump extended the timeframe for TikTok to divest its U.S. operations. The company has repeatedly denied sharing American user data with the Chinese government, asserting that it would not comply with such a request. Based on a report by WSJ 2025-02-08 -
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Short-Term Air Pollution Exposure Poses Serious Risks to Brain Function, Study Warns
Even brief exposure to air pollution can disrupt cognitive functions essential for daily life, a new study has revealed. Researchers have found that air pollution can impair a person’s ability to interpret emotions, focus on tasks, and engage in social situations, shedding new light on the broader dangers of environmental toxins beyond their well-documented effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Published in *Nature Communications*, the study demonstrates that short-term exposure to high levels of air pollution can immediately reduce cognitive performance. "Our study provides compelling evidence that even short-term exposure to particulate matter can have immediate negative effects on brain functions essential for daily activities such as doing the weekly supermarket shop," said Dr. Thomas Faherty, a researcher at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study. To measure the impact of air pollution on cognitive function, participants were exposed either to high levels of air pollution, simulated using candle smoke, or to clean air. Researchers then tested their cognitive performance before exposure and again four hours later, focusing on working memory, selective attention, emotion recognition, psychomotor speed, and sustained attention. While working memory remained unaffected, selective attention and emotion recognition declined significantly following exposure to polluted air. These effects were observed regardless of whether participants inhaled through their mouths or noses, indicating that the route of inhalation played no significant role in the cognitive impact. Scientists believe that inflammation triggered by particulate matter, a major component of urban air pollution, could be responsible for these impairments. While working memory appears more resilient to short-term exposure, attention and emotional processing are particularly vulnerable. "Poor air quality undermines intellectual development and worker productivity, with significant societal and economic implications in a high-tech world reliant on cognitive excellence," said Professor Francis Pope from the University of Birmingham, another co-author of the study. He warned that reduced productivity could impact economic growth, underscoring the urgent need for stricter air quality regulations and public health initiatives to combat pollution’s effects on brain health, particularly in urban environments with high pollution levels. Selective attention is a crucial cognitive skill, enabling individuals to focus on goal-oriented tasks, such as navigating a grocery store while ignoring distractions. Emotion recognition, another essential function, allows people to interpret social cues and respond appropriately in interpersonal interactions. The study highlights the importance of understanding how air pollution affects these critical mental processes and calls for further research into how different pollution sources influence brain health, especially in vulnerable populations like older adults and children. Professor Gordon McFiggans from the University of Manchester stressed the significance of this research in protecting at-risk groups. "This study shows the importance of understanding the impacts of air pollution on cognitive function and the need to study the influences of different sources of pollution on brain health, particularly in vulnerable older members of society," he said. Air pollution remains the leading environmental health risk worldwide, contributing to premature mortality and various diseases. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), one of the most harmful pollutants, was linked to 4.2 million deaths in 2015 alone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO advises that PM2.5 concentrations should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic meter over a 24-hour period, with an annual limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. However, pollution hotspots such as Delhi frequently report levels as high as 249 micrograms per cubic meter, vastly exceeding recommended safety limits. The study’s authors emphasize the need for further research to determine how different pollution sources affect cognitive function and to identify protective measures that could mitigate these effects. They urge policymakers to recognize air pollution as a cognitive health issue, not just a respiratory or cardiovascular one. "Our brains are just as vulnerable to environmental toxins as our lungs, and it's time public health policies reflect that reality," Dr. Faherty warned. Based on a report by The Independent 2025-02-08 -
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Russia prepared for tough negotiations with Trump
Russia is prepared to drive a tough negotiation with U.S. President Donald Trump over Ukraine, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who made the statement on Wednesday. The senior Russian diplomat discussed the possibility of Trump facilitating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, as outlined in remarks published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website. Trump has repeatedly vowed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, now approaching its third year. Trump has indicated that both Russia and Ukraine would need to make compromises to achieve peace. However, Kyiv has firmly rejected the idea of surrendering any of its territory to Moscow, while Putin has continued to insist that Ukraine must abandon its ambitions of joining NATO. Ryabkov stated that Russia remains "open to dialogue and ready to negotiate [with the U.S.] through a hard bargain while taking into account the 'realities on the ground' and our national interests." He emphasized that Washington must take the first step in improving U.S.-Russia relations, which have significantly deteriorated since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "It is up to [Donald] Trump and his team to make a decision," Ryabkov added. While the Kremlin has confirmed that it has reached out to Trump’s team for talks, it has not clarified whether Putin and Trump have directly communicated about the war in Ukraine. Sean Monaghan, a visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank, noted that Trump’s unpredictable nature and deal-making style could potentially help Ukraine negotiate a ceasefire on more favorable terms. "His temperament and character, combined with shifting political, military, and economic conditions around the war, could make an ultimatum strategy viable again," Monaghan wrote. Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that U.S. allies anticipate the Trump administration will unveil a proposal to end the war at the upcoming Munich Security Conference in Germany. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, "There are indeed contacts between individual departments, and they have intensified recently, but I cannot tell you any other details." Trump is expected to meet with Putin soon. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he confirmed that talks are planned "with various parties, including Ukraine and Russia." "We'll be speaking, and I think we'll perhaps do something that'll be significant. We want to end that war," he stated last week. Based on a report by Newsweek 2025-02-08
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