Thailand jail

Journalists Alan Morison, Chutima Sidasathian facing seven years in Thailand jail for online news story.

The trial of Australian journalist Alan Morison and his Thai colleague Chutima Sidasathian has begun today on the Thai island of Phuket.

The pair have been fighting against charges that relate to the publication of a story on website PhuketWan.com since December 2013.

Mr Morison, who is a former senior editor of The Age newspaper, said they were facing up to seven years in prison for simply quoting a paragraph from an award winning story by the Reuters news agency.

"I'd like to stay free. There is a prospect of jail. We don't think it's likely because we are innocent. But you know, I guess it makes us very concerned about the future," he said.

Mr Morison and his colleague are charged with defamation and violating the Computer Crimes Act.

The defamation charges relate to one paragraph published on the website which cites a Reuters investigative report alleging some navy officials "work systematically with smugglers to profit from the surge in fleeing Rohingya refugees".

The Reuters news agency was honoured with one of journalism's most coveted awards for the story, a Pulitzer prize.

But Mr Morrison said publishing the same report online has had very different consequences for those working in Thailand.

"We'd hoped that the military government might see sense in creating a better atmosphere between it and the media but they have chosen to continue the case, which indicates that the future of the Thai media is not going to be rosy," Mr Morison said.

"Unfortunately, the Thai media is also fairly subdued about these kinds of issues.

"Freedom of the media doesn't get a big run in the Thai press the way it should."

Concerns case could set a dangerous precedent

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance are just a few of more than half a dozen international organisations to have expressed outrage that Thai authorities have not dropped the charges against the journalists.

Elaine Pearson, the Australia director of Human Rights Watch, is worried this case could set a precedent.

"This is actually the first time that any of the Thai armed forces have tried to use the Computer Crimes Act against journalists, and so we're really concerned about the precedent that this sets in terms of... going after critical journalists that write stories that the military government doesn't like," she said.

"Particularly in an environment where the prime minister, General Prayut, has made statements like, 'oh it's okay to go out and shoot journalists or to execute them'."I think we're really very concerned about freedom of expression right now in Thailand."

origina post found herhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/

murdered on a paradise beach

 Brits murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand.

THE families of two Brits murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand may never see justice — amid fears of a police cover-up.

The killings of backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, last September cast a grim shadow over the holiday hotspot.

The suspicion of a cover-up is the latest twist in the trial of two Burmese migrants over the killings.

The case against Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 22, has been riddled with controversy.

Victims Hannah and David Press Association

Rumours of a set-up by Thai authorities, desperate to preserve the country’s “paradise” image for tourists, are rife.

And now lawyers for the accused say the lack of re-testable DNA samples is proof of a disastrous police investigation, and possibly even a cover-up.

Brits who hoped for the sort of transparent, fair trial they would expect at home look increasingly like they might be disappointed.

The police say they have a watertight case and DNA links the defendants to the crime scene.

But critics, who include a group of British expats, reckon the Burmese men are scapegoats.

The trial, which adjourned on Friday after just three days, did nothing to dispel those fears.

Events at the small courtroom, on the island of Koh Samui, 6,000 miles from the UK, exposed the darker side of Thailand.

Journalists have been told they can’t write notes in court — something not unheard of but rare in Thailand — and the local press is conspicuous by its absence. Then there is the intimidation.

Thickset, menacing-looking Thai men hang around the court, glaring at witnesses and western journalists. We are told some are police officers in plain clothes

Thai cops nab suspects on beach Barcroft Media

Sky News’ local Thai translator refused to return to court on day two of the trial saying she had been “frightened off by the mafia”.

The defendants initially admitted killing Hannah, 23, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, who was also sexually assaulted, and David, 24, of Jersey, on the island of Koh Tao.

The suspects later insisted they were forced to confess after being tortured by interrogators.

If found guilty they could face the death penalty by lethal injection. But in a significant development, the court agreed to let the defence re-test supposedly damning DNA.

The move could eventually see the case chucked out as only a handful of items found at the crime scene can be re-examined.

These include a garden hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, and a few pieces of clothing.

Defendants Wai Phyo (L) and Zaw Lin face the death sentence if found guilty AFP

Swabs of DNA taken from Hannah and David’s bodies have all been used up, the court heard.

The trial is due to resume next week and the defence is preparing to argue for the men’s acquittal.

A small army of expats have been at court each day to make it clear they think the wrong men are in the dock.

Andy Hall, who campaigns on behalf of Burmese workers who are often poorly paid, badly treated and given few rights, helped organise the defence team, whose lawyers are working for free.

Andy, originally from Peterborough, said: “They told us they feared for their lives and they believed they were just going to disappear if they didn’t admit to the crime. They were threatened with execution, with being burned, with being electrocuted.”

Last picture of Hannah (left) and David (right)

Mr Hall stressed: “We are not working to ensure that someone guilty of crime gets off. We are here to ensure a fair trial and justice for everybody.”

Up to a dozen westerners take seats in court at various times, behind the defendants who are shackled and in orange prison uniforms.

Locals talk of corruption, violence and threats all being part of island life. A handful of wealthy Thai families “run” Koh Tao, own many businesses and have the local cops eating out of their hands.

Police deny any wrongdoing.

A British woman, who refused to be identified, said she believed the defendants had been set-up.

“You have to understand how things work out here,” she said.

Pair captured on CCTV leaving beach party before tragedy Barcrift Media

The trial has been horrendous for Hannah’s dad and brother, and David’s parents and brother, who have attended the court.

Craning their necks to hear the whispers of the translators next to them, they have had to endure unbelievably distressing evidence.

Witnesses described how David and Hannah’s semi-naked bodies were discovered.

Hannah's grieving family Reuters

The families have also had to see photos of their bodies, taken at the crime scene.

But despite all the rumours, the Miller family is keeping an open mind. A verdict won’t be delivered until October.

Original found her:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft makes closest approach to Pluto.

Horizons spacecraft made its close fly-by encounter with Pluto after a nine-year journey of more than 5 billion kilometres.

The probe whizzed by the dwarf planet at 9:49pm (AEST) and will beam never before seen photos of Pluto back to Earth which will take approximately four hours.

NASA expects to receive a signal from the spacecraft later this evening to find out whether or not the spacecraft survived the encounter.

Pluto comes into focus

NASA's New Horizons will replace distant images of Pluto with new ones that should allow us to see objects about the size of a 50-metre swimming pool.

Experts said there was a one in 10,000 chance that the baby grand piano-sized spacecraft could collide with debris in the region beyond Neptune, known as the Kuiper Belt.

New Horizon's photos will replace the only tiny pixelated images of Pluto we have had prior to now, and reveal specifics of Pluto previously only subject to speculation.

"This is truly a hallmark in human history," said NASA's head of the science mission directorate, John Grunsfeld.

Original found her:http://www.abc.net.au/news

Iran nuclear deal hailed.

'Historic' Iran nuclear deal hailed.

World powers have reached a deal with Iran on limiting Iranian nuclear activity in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions.

US President Barack Obama said that with the deal, "every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off" for Iran.

His Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, said it opened a "new chapter" in Iran's relations with the world.

Negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - began in 2006.

The so-called P5+1 want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.

Iran, which wants crippling international sanctions lifted, has always insisted that its nuclear work is peaceful.

Original found her:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east

Masterchef At the Wheel

Masterchef And DRIVING .

A woman was caught by a fellow motorist watching Masterchef.

 to read more on this click the link her:https://twitter.com/TheSun/status/620945089888681984

Jeremy Clarkson:

Jeremy Clarkson last ever lap of the Top Gear test track.

About to do my last ever lap of the Top Gear test track. What car should I use? .

to read more on this click the link her :https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson/status/620560973334728704