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1
School in Chiang Mai city that doesn't require background check for English teachers?
No. Try Mexico, Afghanistan or some place farther. -
22
Told Him Big C, Got Jomtien and a 400 Baht Stitch Up Instead
Crikey, it's a mirror image to that of the nasty, miserable foreigners here in Thailand. -
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Trump Administration Debuts Legal Blueprint for Disappearing Anyone It Wants
Using the term "disappeared" is disingenuous. -
208
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant Over Alleged War Crimes
Did he say anything about war crimes being a justification for retaliatory war crimes? -
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Chemical burns, assaults, electric shocks - Gazans talk of torture in Israeli detention
Warning: This article contains distressing content Palestinian detainees released back to Gaza have told the BBC they were subjected to mistreatment and torture at the hands of Israeli military and prison staff, adding to reports of misconduct within Israel's barracks and jails. One man said he was attacked with chemicals and set alight. "I thrashed around like an animal in an attempt to put the fire out [on my body]," said Mohammad Abu Tawileh, a 36-year-old mechanic. We have conducted in-depth interviews with five released detainees, all of whom were arrested in Gaza in the months after Hamas and other groups killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostage. The men were held under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law, a measure by which people suspected of posing a security risk can be detained for an unspecified period without charge, as Israel set out to recover the hostages and dismantle the proscribed terror group. The men say they were accused of having links with Hamas and questioned over the location of hostages and tunnels, but were not found to be involved in the 7 October 2023 attacks - a condition Israel had set for anyone released under the recent ceasefire deal. Some of those freed under the deal were serving sentences for other serious crimes, including the killing of Israelis, but that was not the case for our interviewees. We also asked the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Prison Service (IPS) if there were any convictions or accusations against the men but they did not respond to that question. In the men's testimony: They each describe being stripped, blindfolded, cuffed and beaten Some also say they were given electric shocks, menaced by dogs, and denied access to medical care Some say they witnessed the deaths of other detainees One says he witnessed sexual abuse Another says he had his head dunked in chemicals and his back set on fire We have seen reports by a lawyer who visited two of the men in prison, and have spoken to medical staff who treated some of them on their return. The BBC sent a lengthy right of reply letter to the IDF which laid out in detail the men's allegations and their identities. In its statement, the IDF did not respond to any of the specific allegations, but said it "completely rejects accusations of systematic abuse of detainees". It said some of the cases raised by the BBC would be "examined by the relevant authorities". It added that others "were brought without sufficient detail, without any detail regarding the identity of the detainees, making them impossible to examine". It continued: "The IDF takes any… actions which contradict its values very seriously… Specific complaints about inappropriate behaviour by detention facility staff or insufficient conditions are forwarded for examination by the relevant authorities and are dealt with accordingly. In appropriate cases, disciplinary actions are taken against the staff members of the facility, and criminal investigations are opened." The IPS said it was not aware of any of the claims of abuse described in our investigation, in its prisons. "[A]s far as we know, no such events have occurred under IPS responsibility," it added. Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne, co-director of the Centre for International Law at the University of Bristol, said the treatment the men described was "entirely inconsistent with both international law and Israeli law", and in some cases would "meet the threshold of torture". "Under international law, the law of armed conflict requires you to treat all detainees humanely," he said. "The obligations relating to the basic needs of detainees are unaffected by any alleged wrongdoing. Full Story from the BBC 08.04.2025 -
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World stock markets plunge again as Trump doubles down on tariffs
Global stock markets plunged to pandemic-level lows Monday as Trump’s tariff blitz sparked panic selling, with the S&P 500 teetering on bear market territory and Asian indexes suffering historic crashes. The meltdown follows China’s retaliatory 34% tariffs and Trump’s vow to keep his “beautiful” trade penalties in place despite economic chaos—a crisis analysts warn could eclipse 2008’s financial collapse. Market Carnage: Asia Collapse: Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 cratered 7.8%, its worst day since 2020. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng nosedived 13.2%—its steepest single-day drop ever—while Shanghai’s index lost 7.3%. Europe’s Rout: Germany’s DAX briefly crashed 10% at open before stabilizing at -5.8%, mirroring Paris’ CAC 40 (-5.8%) and London’s FTSE 100 (-4.9%). U.S. Pre-Market: S&P 500 futures sank 3.4%, threatening to push the index into bear territory (-20% from peak), with Nasdaq futures down 5.3%. Tariff Domino Effect: Trump’s 10-50% tariffs on 185 nations—including 34% on China and 20% on the EU—met immediate retaliation. Beijing slapped 34% duties on U.S. goods, restricted rare-earth exports, and blacklisted 11 American firms. “This isn’t a trade war—it’s economic mutually assured destruction,” said Natixis’ Gary Ng. Key Flashpoints: Recession Warnings: JPMorgan slashed U.S. GDP forecasts to -0.3% for 2025, predicting 5.3% unemployment as tariffs bite. Supply Chain Chaos: Howmet Aerospace declared force majeure on Airbus/Boeing parts, while Amazon faces profit headwinds and Tesla halted Shanghai exports. Safe-Haven Rush: Walmart and Costco surged as investors fled to consumer staples; Bitcoin dropped 4% alongside risk assets. Corporate Casualties: Tech Wreck: Apple suppliers TSMC and Foxconn halted expansion plans, citing tariff uncertainty. Auto Apocalypse: Ford shares hit a 12-year low as EU tariffs threaten $2bn in annual losses. Energy Crisis: Chevron warned of $5/barrel oil price spikes if Middle East supply chains fracture. Political Fallout: Trump doubled down Sunday, calling tariffs “medicine” for a “sick” global trade system. But allies revolted: Israel’s Netanyahu seeks tariff relief in Monday talks, while Taiwan proposed zero-tariff negotiations. The EU is compiling a retaliation list targeting Kentucky bourbon and Florida oranges, and India eyes a bilateral deal to avoid U.S. duties. China’s Gambit: State media declared tariffs a chance to “turn crisis into opportunity,” vowing to boost domestic tech and rare-earth dominance. Goldman Sachs warns China’s GDP could drop 0.7% this year, but officials plan rate cuts and industry bailouts. Federal Reserve Dilemma: Jerome Powell faces a nightmare scenario: cutting rates to offset tariff pain risks hyperinflation from import price hikes. “We’re trapped between recession and stagflation,” said former Fed economist David Wilcox. Sector Breakdown: Tech: Nasdaq’s 5.3% drop reflects tariff costs on chips and cloud services. Energy: Brent crude sank to $63.25/barrel on demand fears, hammering Shell and BP. Pharma: Pfizer warned of drug shortages as India restricts U.S. API imports. Historical Parallels: The selloff’s speed—$6 trillion wiped in two days—rivals 2008’s Lehman collapse. But unlike 2020’s COVID crash, this crisis lacks a central bank “bazooka” fix. What’s Next: Fed Decision: Emergency rate cut likely by July, despite inflation risks. Corporate Exodus: U.S. manufacturers face “nuclear winter” unless Trump pauses tariffs, warns billionaire Bill Ackman. Market Reality Check: Citi warns earnings haven’t priced in full tariff impacts: “There’s ample downside left.” Why It Matters: This isn’t just a market correction—it’s a stress test for globalization. With rare-earth supply chains fracturing and SMEs facing bankruptcy, the world faces a choice: capitulate to Trump’s demands or risk a 1930s-style trade collapse. Based on a story by AP 08.04.2025
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