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NO MENTION OF THE MASSIVE POLLUTION NUMBERS ANYMORE - WHY?
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Trump Officials Discussed Secret Yemen Strike Plans on Signal, Accidentally Added Journalist
Former national security officials have reacted with shock and disbelief following a report by The Atlantic that revealed members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet had shared detailed operational plans for US military strikes on Yemen in a group chat using the encrypted messaging app Signal. Adding to the gravity of the situation, a journalist was mistakenly included in the conversation. The Trump administration acknowledged the authenticity of the messages but provided no explanation for why sensitive national security discussions occurred outside classified government systems. According to The Atlantic, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz initiated a text conversation earlier this month with top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to discuss military action against Houthi militants threatening international shipping in the Red Sea. Unintentionally, Waltz also added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the chat. The messages contained discussions on the timing of the strikes, which were later executed. Following the operation, the officials congratulated themselves before Goldberg discreetly removed himself from the chat. The incident left former officials stunned. “Dear Sweet Baby Jesus,” one former senior US official remarked in response to the report. Another former official, when asked if the Biden administration had ever used Signal in a similar manner, simply replied, “No.” Signal is widely used by journalists and government officials due to its strong encryption, but national security experts warn that discussing classified military operations on such a platform presents an unacceptable risk. Several officials confirmed they could not recall any previous instance in which Signal had been used to share classified information. Security protocols dictate that top officials should communicate through secure systems designed for classified material. “They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike,” a former senior intelligence official said. “You have a total breakdown in security about a military operation.” Although Signal is considered highly secure, reports indicate state-backed hackers have attempted to breach it. A recent report from Google-owned security firm Mandiant found that Russian-linked operatives had tried to infiltrate the Signal accounts of Ukrainian military personnel. A Western intelligence official acknowledged Signal’s strong encryption but stated, “It should never be used for classified or operational data, let alone policy discussions at a top government level.” Using an unapproved app to discuss classified information and mistakenly including a journalist in the chat raises serious legal implications, including potential violations of the Espionage Act, which criminalizes the mishandling of national defense information. Former Justice Department officials noted that such an error would typically trigger an FBI investigation. However, because senior Trump administration officials were involved, it is unlikely that any internal investigation will take place. “If anyone else did it, no question it would be investigated,” a former Justice Department official said. Trump distanced himself from the controversy when asked about the revelations. “I don’t know anything about it,” he told reporters. “I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic… I know nothing about it. You’re telling me about it for the first time.” He dismissed concerns about the breach’s impact, saying, “It couldn’t have been very effective, because the attack was very effective.” According to The Atlantic, Hegseth shared specific operational details in the chat, including target locations, weapons to be deployed, and attack sequencing. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also contributed, sharing what appeared to be intelligence-related information. Former officials believe this information was likely classified at the highest level. Former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta criticized the blunder, saying, “Somebody needs to get fired. How the name of a journalist was added to that list—this is just a serious blunder.” Panetta warned that if the reporter had been someone other than Goldberg, they could have immediately relayed the information to Houthi militants, potentially leading to attacks on US forces. The US government has dedicated systems for classified communication, such as the Secret Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) network and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS). Experts pointed out that classified information cannot be forwarded from these systems to an unclassified network, meaning Hegseth or someone working for him would have had to manually transfer it. “He somehow had to transfer it or copy it to get it onto Signal in the first place,” a former defense official explained. “You can’t forward a classified email to an unclassified system.” National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes acknowledged the authenticity of the message thread and stated that officials were reviewing how an “inadvertent number” was added. “The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security,” Hughes said in a statement. Vice President Vance expressed concerns in the chat about the potential political ramifications of the strikes. “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.,” Vance reportedly wrote. Despite the breach, Trump administration officials focused on defending their internal discussions rather than addressing the security implications of using Signal. William Martin, communications director for Vice President Vance, insisted, “The Vice President’s first priority is always making sure that the President’s advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.” The revelations sparked outrage among congressional Democrats, with some vowing to press intelligence officials for answers in an upcoming House Intelligence Committee hearing on national security threats. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the committee’s top Democrat, stated, “I am horrified by reports that our most senior national security officials, including the heads of multiple agencies, shared sensitive and almost certainly classified information via a commercial messaging application, including imminent war plans.” He emphasized the “calamitous risks of transmitting classified information across unclassified systems” and warned that, if true, such actions would represent a flagrant violation of laws designed to safeguard national security. The controversy is particularly ironic given past Republican criticisms of private email use for classified government business. In 2016, then-Senator Marco Rubio lambasted Hillary Clinton for using a private email server, saying, “Hillary Clinton put some of the highest, most sensitive intelligence information on her private server because maybe she thinks she’s above the law… This is unacceptable. This is a disqualifier.” Based on a report by CNN 2025-03-25 -
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12-Year-Old Boy Dies in Motorcycle Crash During School Holidays
Picture courtesy of Khoasod. An incident has claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy in Uthai Thani after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a roadside metal barrier. The incident occurred at approximately 09:30 on March 24 on the Nong Chang-Lan Sak Road, in Moo 9, Bung Fang Village, Thung Nangam Subdistrict, Lan Sak District. Police from Lan Sak Police Station, along with emergency responders from the Thung Nangam Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, rushed to the scene upon receiving the report. Upon arrival, they found the young boy unconscious in the roadside grass. Rescue workers attempted to revive him and quickly transported him to Lan Sak Hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries. The victim was identified as Kiatisak, a 12-year-old student in his final year of primary school. At the scene, officers discovered a red Honda Wave motorcycle, which had no licence plate, lying in the road. The vehicle had sustained damage, with broken lights and a deformed front. A witness who discovered the victim said they were driving past when they noticed the overturned motorcycle and, upon slowing down, saw the boy lying beside the road. The witness immediately alerted the authorities and local residents for assistance. However, they were unsure whether the child had crashed on his own or if another vehicle had been involved. As the boy’s school was currently on holiday, and it was likely that the boy had been visiting a friend before the crash occurred on his way home. An initial investigation of the crash site revealed impact marks on the roadside metal guardrail, suggesting that the victim was thrown onto the shoulder of the road upon collision. However, police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause, including the possibility of another vehicle being involved. -- 2025-03-25 -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 25 March 2025
Thailand's Ambitious Land Bridge Project Gains Global Interest Image courtesy of issuu Thailand is forging ahead with its ambitious Land Bridge project, a megastructure aimed at linking the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. This development comes as the Thai government confirms continued commitment, spearheaded by Transport Minister, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, amid keen interest from international investors in China and the Middle East. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1355666-thailands-ambitious-land-bridge-project-gains-global-interest/ -
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Thailand's Ambitious Land Bridge Project Gains Global Interest
Image courtesy of issuu Thailand is forging ahead with its ambitious Land Bridge project, a megastructure aimed at linking the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. This development comes as the Thai government confirms continued commitment, spearheaded by Transport Minister, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, amid keen interest from international investors in China and the Middle East. The proposed Land Bridge, estimated at a staggering cost of 1 trillion Baht, was introduced in a nationwide initiative to improve Thailand’s logistics and bolster its standing in the global marketplace. Minister Suriya, a prominent figure in this initiative, embarked on a promotional tour to attract global investment. The tour successfully captured the attention of several key players, including Dubai Port World, a company expressing significant interest in participating in the project’s bidding process. To facilitate this monumental task, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) has crafted the Southern Special Economic Development Zone (SEC) Bill. This legislation serves as a regulatory framework and has been made available for public review online. The decision to go live with the bill is the first step in a highly structured process towards realising the Land Bridge. Public consultation sessions are scheduled next month in Bangkok and Surat Thani, where stakeholders will have the opportunity to voice their opinions. Following these consultations, a comprehensive summary of public feedback will be sent to the Ministry of Transport. Should all proceed as planned, the SEC Bill is expected to secure cabinet approval by May, prior to its submission to parliament. Minister Suriya is confident that the SEC Bill will be enacted this year, enabling the commencement of the bidding process in the following year. Already, preliminary discussions with potential investors have played a crucial role in shaping the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the project. The government’s strategic approach is designed to attract both domestic and international investors under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which offers a 50-year concession for project development and management. The Land Bridge aims to significantly modernise Thailand's maritime infrastructure. It involves the transformation of Chumphon Port into a modern deep-sea hub, connecting it to Ranong Port. The latter will evolve into a pivotal freight container port, serving as a vital trade gateway to South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, strengthening ties under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Through this project, the Thai government articulates its vision of enhancing regional connectivity and transforming maritime transport, ultimately strengthening the nation’s economic competitiveness on the world stage, reported Bangkok Post. -- 2025-03-25 -
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Who has the 'right of way'?
➡️ In Thailand, the driver turning left has the right of way over the driver turning right, because the right-turning vehicle must cross traffic. Summary: Thailand drives on the left. Left turn = easy, no need to cross traffic. Right turn = must yield to oncoming vehicles. ✅ So, the left-turning driver has the right of way. -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 25 March 2025
Forest Firefighter Suffers Severe Cramp & Collapses, During Operation in Kanchanaburi A forest firefighter was rushed to hospital after suffering severe cramps, that left him unable to move and leading to him collapsing. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1355665-forest-firefighter-suffers-severe-cramp-collapses-during-operation-in-kanchanaburi/
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