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UK Police Arrest Former Hospital Executives After Lucy Letby Baby Murders

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UK Police Arrest Former Hospital Executives After Lucy Letby Baby Murders

LONDON (BN24) — British police have arrested three former senior executives of the hospital where nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven infants, as investigators probe whether leadership failures contributed to the deaths that shocked the nation.

Cheshire Constabulary said Tuesday that all three individuals were detained on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016. At the time, Letby worked there as a nurse and was later found guilty of killing seven newborns and attempting to murder seven more.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes confirmed the arrests stemmed from an expanded investigation into potential corporate manslaughter at the hospital, which was launched in October 2023 after Letby’s conviction.

“This is an extremely complex and sensitive inquiry,” Hughes said in a statement. “It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offenses of murder and attempted murder.”

Authorities said the probe has widened to examine whether hospital leadership failed in their legal duty to protect vulnerable infants despite mounting evidence of an unusual rise in deaths. All three arrested former leaders were part of the hospital’s executive team during the period when Letby carried out her attacks.

Police said they have been released on bail pending further inquiries. Investigators are also reviewing additional cases of newborn deaths and non-fatal collapses at Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital between 2012 and 2016, including during Letby’s training placements.

Letby, 35, is serving a rare sentence of life without parole — the maximum penalty under English law. But her conviction has become the focus of a growing debate over whether she received a fair trial, and whether the medical evidence used to convict her was flawed.

In February, a group of 14 doctors held a press conference to challenge the scientific basis of the prosecution case. Dr. Shoo Lee, a retired Canadian neonatologist, said the panel concluded the babies likely died of natural causes or inadequate medical care rather than deliberate harm.

“In summary then, ladies and gentlemen, we did not find murders,” Lee said at the time.

Letby has consistently denied all charges. Her defense lawyer, Mark McDonald, has argued that the findings “completely demolished” the prosecution’s claims. He has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to examine whether her conviction should be referred to the Court of Appeal.

The CCRC has not set a timetable for a decision.

Letby’s case has become one of the most contentious criminal convictions in recent British history, sparking public outrage, parliamentary debate, and international scrutiny over hospital safety and accountability.

Trump Administration Concludes Harvard Violated Civil Rights Over Antisemitism Complaints

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Trump Administration Concludes Harvard Violated Civil Rights Over Antisemitism Complaints

WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Trump administration has determined that Harvard University violated federal civil rights laws by failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from persistent harassment and threats, according to a letter obtained by the Wall Street Journal.

The administration’s letter, sent Monday to Harvard President Alan Garber, accused the university of displaying “deliberate indifference” as Jewish and Israeli students were repeatedly targeted on campus. Administration attorneys warned Harvard it risked losing all federal financial support if it did not act immediately to address the findings.

“Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources and continue to affect Harvard’s relationship with the federal government,” the letter stated.

The decision marks the most serious escalation yet in the Trump administration’s efforts to penalize elite academic institutions it says have ignored antisemitism while promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies at the expense of campus safety.

Harvard, the nation’s oldest university, has emerged as a central target of the administration’s campaign, which has included moves to restrict the school’s tax exemptions and limit its ability to enroll international students.

According to the letter, Harvard allowed antisemitic harassment to persist unchecked for more than two years. Officials described incidents in which Jewish and Israeli students were “assaulted and spit on,” prompting many to hide their identities. The letter also cited antisemitic vandalism, including an Israeli flag defaced with a swastika and imagery showing a Star of David fused with a dollar sign.

The pressure on Harvard intensified after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which sparked a surge in tensions and protests on American campuses. In April, the university released internal reviews acknowledging that Jewish and Muslim students both felt threatened and describing efforts to ease hostility.

The civil rights finding could lead to a formal lawsuit by the Justice Department or a negotiated settlement. Previous administrations have typically favored voluntary agreements to resolve such complaints.

Even as the Trump administration raised the stakes with Harvard, the president hinted at possible reconciliation. Earlier this month, Trump suggested in a social media post that negotiations were progressing, writing: “We have been working closely with Harvard, and it is very possible that a Deal will be announced over the next week or so. They have acted extremely appropriately during these negotiations and appear to be committed to doing what is right.”

Harvard has filed its own lawsuit challenging the administration’s threats to funding and tax status, arguing that they violate constitutional protections of free speech and due process.

The administration has taken similar action against other universities. Last week, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan resigned after officials warned that UVA would face steep cuts to research funding, student aid, visas and jobs if he remained in office, according to Sen. Mark Warner.

The standoff underscores Trump’s broader pledge to crack down on what he calls ideological bias and anti-Jewish sentiment in higher education, even as universities warn that the administration’s approach threatens academic freedom.

Trump Floats Deporting Musk, Heads to Florida for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Launch

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Trump Floats Deporting Musk, Heads to Florida for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Launch

WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday declined to rule out the possibility of deporting billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, further escalating his feud with the former head of his own government efficiency office.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 11: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joins U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is to sign an executive order implementing the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) “workforce optimization initiative,” which, according to Trump, will encourage agencies to limit hiring and reduce the size of the federal government. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Speaking to reporters as he prepared to depart for Florida, where he is set to open the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center for migrants, Trump said his administration may consider action against Musk.

Asked directly whether he would look at deporting the South African-born CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Trump responded: “I don’t know, we’ll have to take a look.”

He added that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk once led as a special government employee, could also be tasked with investigating federal subsidies Musk’s companies have received.

Trump has repeatedly claimed Musk’s businesses depend heavily on taxpayer funds, warning in a social media post earlier this month that without them, Musk “would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”

The exchange came as Trump prepared to promote his latest immigration crackdown with the opening of the Florida detention facility, an island center surrounded by swamps the administration has dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Before boarding Air Force One, Trump delivered a typically wide-ranging set of remarks. He mocked Zohran Mamdani, the Democrats’ nominee for mayor of New York City, calling him a “total nutjob” and a “communist.”

Turning to the new detention complex, Trump described how immigrants held at the facility will need to avoid wildlife if they attempt escape.

“Snakes are fast, but alligators—if we’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator, if they escape prison…don’t run in a straight line…your chances go up about 1%,” he said.

Trump also returned to his running feud with Musk over the GOP’s sweeping spending package, known as the “big beautiful bill,” which Musk has called fiscally reckless. The president accused Musk of being “very upset” that the administration plans to terminate electric vehicle mandates—a cornerstone of Tesla’s business.

“Not everyone wants an electric car,” Trump said before climbing the steps of the plane, where he briefly slipped but recovered his footing.

Speaking again to reporters after the incident, Trump warned Musk could face further consequences beyond losing clean energy incentives.

“He could lose a lot more than that,” Trump said.

The escalating tensions between the president and Musk follow weeks of public recriminations. Musk has repeatedly condemned the spending bill, vowing to help unseat lawmakers who back it and threatening to launch a new political party.

Meanwhile, Trump’s visit to Florida underscores his broader campaign to shore up support for his immigration agenda and rally conservatives as Congress prepares to vote on amendments to the bill.

Actor John Cusack Says Iran ‘Should Get’ Nuclear Weapons to Deter U.S. and Israel After Trump’s Airstrikes

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Actor John Cusack Says Iran ‘Should Get’ Nuclear Weapons to Deter U.S. and Israel After Trump’s Airstrikes

LOS ANGELES (BN24) — Actor John Cusack sparked controversy over the weekend after declaring that Iran should acquire nuclear weapons to counter what he called unrestrained U.S. and Israeli aggression across the Middle East, remarks that came days after President Donald Trump ordered a major military assault on Iranian targets.

Cusack, known for films including Say Anything and High Fidelity, posted his comments on X last Friday, writing that nuclear weapons are “the only way to deter U.S. and Israel from bombing every country in Middle East.”

“Iran will surely rush to get a nuclear weapon—and they should get one,” Cusack wrote to his nearly 2 million followers, underscoring his support for Tehran’s nuclear ambitions as a counterbalance to American and Israeli power.

The remarks arrived less than a week after Trump announced a wave of airstrikes that targeted three Iranian facilities suspected of developing nuclear weapons. According to the Pentagon, B-2 stealth bombers on June 21 dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on sites across Iran in what the president called “a spectacular military success.”

Cusack has for months been openly critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and recent cross-border clashes with Iran. In a series of posts prior to endorsing an Iranian nuclear arsenal, he accused the United States of aligning itself with what he described as a “genocidal regime” in Israel.

“Blind allegiance for Israel is alliance to a genocidal regeme—it’s a nation state—run [by] a murderous gangster—not some fixed star,” he wrote in another message, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Cusack also condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which Israeli defense officials have said targeted Hezbollah positions in retaliation for rocket attacks.

“Israel bombs Lebanon! Well, they can’t have any days when they are not illegally bombing someone while the US grovels,” he wrote.

The Oscar-nominated actor did not stop at foreign policy. He weighed in on domestic politics as well, praising democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, calling it a “f— you to billionaires, dem establishment, and the genocide in Gaza—the bombing of Iran.”

Cusack’s comments quickly drew backlash from conservative critics who accused him of legitimizing nuclear proliferation and minimizing the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran. But the actor, who has long been outspoken about U.S. military interventions and Middle East policy, did not retract his statements over the weekend.

Neither the White House nor the Israeli government responded publicly to Cusack’s remarks. Trump has repeatedly defended the June 21 strikes as necessary to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons, saying Tehran’s nuclear ambitions were a red line for U.S. security.

Foxnews

Elon Musk Brands GOP a ‘Porky Pig Party’ as Rift with Trump Grows Over Record Spending Bill

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Elon Musk Brands GOP a ‘Porky Pig Party’ as Rift with Trump Grows Over Record Spending Bill

WASHINGTON (BN24) — Tech mogul Elon Musk intensified his public break with President Donald Trump and Republican leadership on Monday, slamming the party’s sweeping spending legislation as proof that the United States is ruled by a “Porky Pig Party” and threatening to launch a new political movement in response.

Musk, the former head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), unleashed a barrage of criticism on his social platform X, claiming that the GOP-endorsed bill demonstrates the existence of a “uniparty” more interested in bloated budgets than fiscal discipline. His remarks marked a dramatic escalation in a feud with Trump that has unfolded across social media and drawn increasing attention from both political camps.

“It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS, that we live in a one-party country — the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” Musk wrote on X as the Senate debated the House-approved spending package. “Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”

By Monday evening, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO doubled down, declaring that “if this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day.” Musk claimed the current political order is an illusion of choice. “They just pretend to be two parties… it’s just one uniparty in reality,” he wrote, attaching a graph showing the steadily rising national debt.

The billionaire’s criticism predates his official departure from the Trump administration, where he had been tasked with reducing government waste. Since leaving DOGE earlier this month, Musk has called the GOP’s bill a “disgusting abomination” and accused it of undoing much of the savings his office had achieved. He warned that the legislation would not only add trillions to the national debt but would also jeopardize renewable energy initiatives and job creation.

Despite the mounting tension, President Trump responded with a conciliatory tone in an interview with Fox Business on Sunday, calling Musk “a wonderful guy” but acknowledging their recent differences. “He got a little bit upset, and that wasn’t appropriate,” Trump said, while reiterating that he supports consumer choice over mandates for electric vehicles, a policy seen as a direct challenge to Musk’s core business interests.

Trump added that Musk “campaigned with me” in the past and predicted he would “do well always,” even as their policy views continue to diverge. However, the president also questioned Musk’s motivations, suggesting the fallout may stem from Musk not getting everything he wanted under the administration’s current energy policies.

White House officials declined to comment directly but pointed to remarks made by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R–S.D., who said Musk was mischaracterizing the bill’s impact. Thune explained that the legislation deals primarily with mandatory, not discretionary, spending — the area where Musk’s DOGE office had focused its reform efforts.

Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, backed that assessment in an interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck, noting that any changes to discretionary spending — such as those DOGE targeted — would still need to pass through the standard congressional appropriations process.

Musk’s attacks have struck a nerve within the Republican Party, especially given his past support. He spent nearly $300 million backing Trump’s re-election campaign and played a central role in crafting the administration’s cost-cutting agenda. Now, his open rebellion threatens to sow division ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and complicate efforts to project party unity behind the president’s economic agenda.

Adding to the drama, Musk recently posted — and later deleted — a controversial comment attempting to link Trump to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, a move that fueled further backlash and underscored how bitter the once-close alliance has become.

Still, Musk insists his frustration is rooted in principle, not personality. “Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE,” he wrote Monday night, capping off a day of attacks that suggest his political ambitions are far from over — and his clash with Trump far from resolved.

Source: Foxnews.com

Decapitated Bodies Hung from Bridge as Cartel Violence Leaves 20 Dead in Sinaloa Drug War Fueled by El Chapo’s Sons

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Decapitated Bodies Hung from Bridge as Cartel Violence Leaves 20 Dead in Sinaloa Drug War Fueled by El Chapo’s Sons

CULIACÁN, Mexico (BN24) — A fresh wave of cartel violence struck the Mexican state of Sinaloa on Monday as authorities discovered four decapitated bodies dangling from a freeway bridge in Culiacán, the capital of the western state long regarded as the heart of the nation’s drug trade.

The grisly display underscored the escalating power struggle within the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, where rival factions have been locked in open warfare since last year. Officials said the four corpses were suspended over the main road exiting the city, their severed heads stuffed into a plastic bag discarded nearby.

Elsewhere along the same highway, investigators found 16 additional male bodies crammed into a white van, many bearing gunshot wounds and at least one also decapitated. A note left at the scene, purportedly authored by one of the warring groups, declared ominously: “WELCOME TO THE NEW SINALOA.”

The killings are the latest chapter in a violent struggle for dominance between the factions known as Los Chapitos—led by the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán—and their internal rivals in La Mayiza. Once credited with maintaining a relative calm across Sinaloa through near-total control, the cartel has fractured, plunging Culiacán into a state of siege that has become almost routine.

Since the conflict erupted last September, shootouts and ambushes have left homes and businesses bullet-riddled and forced repeated school closures. Heavily armed young men patrol intersections on motorcycles, their faces hidden by masks.

According to Sinaloa state prosecutors, the surge in violence followed the abduction of a faction leader by one of El Chapo’s sons, who allegedly delivered the captive to U.S. authorities aboard a private plane. The dramatic move ignited a bloody feud that has drained resources and upended alliances.

Officials and analysts say Los Chapitos have become so desperate to maintain their grip that they have forged a pact with the Sinaloa Cartel’s historical enemy, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The New York Times reported that in exchange for cash and weapons, Los Chapitos agreed to cede swaths of territory to their longtime rivals—a bargain that could undermine their capacity to control trafficking routes critical to moving drugs from production to export corridors.

One senior Sinaloa Cartel member, speaking anonymously to U.S. media, described the group’s financial collapse under the costs of sustained warfare. “Los Chapitos were gasping for air, they couldn’t take the pressure anymore,” he said. “Imagine how many millions you burn through in a war every day: the fighters, the weapons, the vehicles. The pressure mounted little by little.”

Vanda Felbab-Brown, a scholar at the Brookings Institution who specializes in armed groups, warned the ramifications of the internal fracture could reshape criminal markets across the hemisphere. “It’s like if the eastern coast of the U.S. seceded during the Cold War and reached out to the Soviet Union,” she said. “This has global implications for how the conflict will unfold and how criminal markets will reorganize.”

While Sinaloa officials insisted Monday that military and police operations would restore order, many residents believe the government has lost control of the violence. Feliciano Castro, a spokesman for the state government, acknowledged the magnitude of the crisis and said security forces were coordinating efforts to “reestablish total peace in Sinaloa.”

Yet for people in Culiacán, the carnage has become a grim part of daily life—dead bodies turning up with sickening regularity as cartel factions battle for supremacy in the birthplace of Mexico’s most notorious drug dynasty.

Source: dailymail

Trump Urges Government Watchdog, DOGE, to Probe Subsidies for Musk’s Companies Amid Feud Over Spending Bill

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Trump Urges Government Watchdog, DOGE, to Probe Subsidies for Musk’s Companies Amid Feud Over Spending Bill

Washington, DC (BN24) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to scrutinize subsidies received by Elon Musk’s companies, suggesting the move could save taxpayers billions.

The comments came as the bitter clash between Trump and Musk escalated, following the tech billionaire’s renewed attacks on Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill.

“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production, and our country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

Musk quickly fired back on X: “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.”

The rift underscores how quickly their once-strong alliance has unraveled. Musk spent nearly $300 million backing Trump’s reelection campaign and was appointed to lead DOGE, Trump’s high-profile initiative to slash federal waste and streamline government spending. But the two have turned on each other over the fiscal impact of the tax-and-spending package, which independent analysts estimate will add $3 trillion to the national debt.

Musk argues the legislation undermines the savings achieved by DOGE and betrays Republican promises to rein in deficits. Over the weekend, he called the bill “utterly insane and destructive,” and on Monday escalated his criticism further:

“Lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but backed this should hang their heads in shame!” he wrote. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

He also renewed his call for a new political movement, mocking the current system as “the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”

Trump’s latest salvo threatened to hit Musk’s sprawling business empire, including electric vehicle maker Tesla and rocket firm SpaceX. The latter has approximately $22 billion in government contracts through SpaceX and its satellite division Starlink.

Musk’s companies have received substantial government support over the years, from electric vehicle tax credits and renewable energy incentives to lucrative federal contracts. Analysts say unwinding those relationships would be complicated and potentially disruptive to U.S. infrastructure and defense.

The feud has already rattled financial markets. Tesla shares plunged 5% in Frankfurt trading Tuesday, and the company briefly lost $150 billion in market capitalization during the height of the dispute earlier this month before recovering.

Republican strategists are increasingly concerned that the high-profile clash could fracture the party and undermine its prospects heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

Despite Musk’s fiery rhetoric, it remains unclear whether his criticism or calls for primary challenges will have any impact on the bill’s fate in Congress. But the spectacle has spotlighted the uneasy alliance between a president who champions big spending and a billionaire who built his reputation—and part of his fortune—on government contracts while now demanding the end of subsidies for everyone, including himself.

British PM Starmer Grapples With Labour Rebellion Over Welfare Reform as First Year in Office Ends in Turmoil

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British PM Starmer Grapples With Labour Rebellion Over Welfare Reform as First Year in Office Ends in Turmoil

LONDON (BN24) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is marking his turbulent first anniversary in office this week while battling a revolt within his Labour Party over contentious welfare reforms. The rebellion — triggered by a parliamentary vote scheduled for Tuesday — threatens to deepen internal divisions and underscores the challenges Starmer faces amid plummeting approval ratings and economic stagnation.

Starmer, who swept to power in a historic Labour landslide on July 4, 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule with 412 seats in the House of Commons, is now confronting mounting dissatisfaction both inside Parliament and across the country.

Despite early international successes — including securing a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump and bolstering NATO unity over Ukraine — his domestic standing has sharply deteriorated. Britain continues to wrestle with stubborn inflation, sluggish economic growth, and persistent cost-of-living pressures. Polls show Starmer’s personal approval ratings nearing the record lows of former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was ousted after just 49 days in office in 2022.

John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, offered a stark assessment: “It’s the worst start for any newly elected prime minister in modern British history.”

At the center of the unrest is a controversial welfare reform bill that seeks to tighten eligibility requirements for disability benefits. The proposal, intended to save up to £5 billion ($7 billion) annually, would require claimants to meet stricter thresholds for physical or mental disability — a measure the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated could reduce benefits for 3.2 million people by 2030.

The backlash within Labour has been fierce. More than 120 party MPs initially threatened to vote against the bill, forcing Starmer’s government to retreat. In a last-minute concession, the prime minister pledged that current benefit recipients would not be affected and vowed to consult disability advocacy groups on the changes. However, nearly 40 MPs still signed an amendment rejecting the bill entirely.

“This is not the right thing to do. It’s not a Labour thing to do,” MP Rachel Maskell, a leading critic, told the BBC. “We are here to protect the poor and defend the future of disabled people.”

The welfare revolt is the third major U-turn by the Starmer government in recent weeks. In May, it abandoned plans to cut winter heating subsidies for pensioners. In June, the prime minister bowed to political and public pressure — including from Elon Musk — to launch a national inquiry into institutional child sex abuse.

Rob Ford, politics professor at the University of Manchester, called the backtracking “a failure of leadership,” noting that such instability is unusual for a government with a commanding parliamentary majority. “I can’t think of a precedent in postwar politics for a new prime minister suffering such a blow this early while holding such a dominant position in the Commons,” he said.

The scrapped and softened policies have also left holes in Labour’s fiscal plans. Revised estimates suggest the welfare reforms will now save just half the projected £5 billion, complicating efforts to invest in public services without raising taxes. Starmer’s government has already introduced tax hikes for employers and farmers — moves it blames on the fiscal legacy of Conservative mismanagement.

While Labour boasts achievements such as a higher minimum wage, expanded workers’ rights, and increased NHS funding, these have failed to significantly shift public opinion in Starmer’s favor.

The prime minister recently acknowledged strategic missteps, telling the Sunday Times that he had been too focused on foreign policy during the welfare rebellion. “I should have acted sooner to bring colleagues onside,” he admitted.

Starmer’s internal troubles come against the backdrop of a rapidly changing political landscape. The Conservative Party, decimated in last year’s general election and now down to just 121 MPs, is no longer the dominant opposition force. Instead, Reform U.K., a far-right populist party led by Nigel Farage, is gaining traction. It won just five seats in Parliament but has topped recent opinion polls — drawing support from disillusioned Labour and Tory voters alike.

The prime minister’s key advantage is time. With no requirement to call another general election until 2029, Starmer has a runway to recover. But analysts warn that the rebellion may signal deeper discontent that could resurface as further hard fiscal choices loom.

“There’s still time to turn it around,” Ford said. “But this won’t be the last hard decision Starmer has to make — and the next fights may be even tougher.”

Thailand’s Constitutional Court Suspends Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Over Leaked Call With Cambodian Leader

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Thailand’s Constitutional Court Suspends Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Over Leaked Call With Cambodian Leader

Thailand (BN24) – Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office while it investigates whether she committed a serious ethics breach during a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

The nine-judge panel voted unanimously to accept the petition against Paetongtarn and, by a 7-2 margin, to bar her from performing prime ministerial duties while the case proceeds. She now has 15 days to submit evidence in her defense.

Paetongtarn, 38, has come under mounting criticism for her handling of a tense border dispute with Cambodia that erupted into armed clashes on May 28, leaving a Cambodian soldier dead. The leaked recording of her call with Hun Sen — in which she appeared to criticize a Thai regional army commander and express a willingness to appease Cambodia to defuse tensions — ignited protests and fractured her governing coalition.

Speaking after the ruling, Paetongtarn said she accepted the court’s process and would fight to clear her name.

“I only thought about how to avoid trouble, how to avoid armed confrontation, and how to keep our soldiers safe,” she said. “I could never accept saying anything that would cause negative consequences.”

She apologized to those angered by the controversy and departed Government House shortly after the suspension was announced.

Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit is expected to serve as acting prime minister, though no formal appointment has been confirmed.

Earlier in the day, King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed an emergency Cabinet reshuffle triggered when the Bhumjaithai Party, a key coalition partner, quit the government over the uproar. The reshuffle removed Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charvirakul as deputy prime minister. Paetongtarn was named culture minister in the new Cabinet but it remains unclear whether she can be sworn into that role while suspended as prime minister.

Public anger over the leaked call has been intense. Over the weekend, thousands of nationalist demonstrators marched in central Bangkok demanding her resignation.

In parallel, Paetongtarn also faces a separate ethics probe by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which could also lead to her removal.

Thailand’s courts — especially the Constitutional Court — are widely seen as strongholds of the royalist establishment, frequently used to weaken or unseat elected governments aligned with the Shinawatra family. Her predecessor was removed last year over ethics violations, continuing a pattern dating back two decades.

The complaint was filed by senators elected last year to replace the military-appointed chamber created after the 2014 coup. Those senators have themselves faced allegations of manipulating the vote to install allies of Bhumjaithai.

Two of Paetongtarn’s ministers — Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and former defense minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who is slated to become interior minister — are also under court investigation over alleged abuse of power related to the Senate vote. The court in May partially suspended Tawee from overseeing the Department of Special Investigation, which is handling the case.

Paetongtarn is the youngest daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the populist billionaire prime minister ousted in the 2006 coup. She is the third Shinawatra to hold the premiership after her father and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2014 coup.

Thaksin, who returned to Thailand last year after years in exile, is facing multiple legal battles. On Tuesday, he attended a court hearing over a 2015 defamation case involving comments he made about the monarchy.

He is also under scrutiny over his brief stay in prison, which was quickly converted into hospital detention before he received a royal pardon that reduced his sentence to one year, of which he has served none behind bars. Critics say the arrangement allowed Thaksin to avoid accountability and have called for him to be sent to prison to serve the remainder of his term.

Al Hilal Knock Manchester City Out of Club World Cup in Extra-Time Classic

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Al Hilal Knock Manchester City Out of Club World Cup in Extra-Time Classic

Club World Cup Result — Manchester City 3-4 Al Hilal

Orland0, Florida (BN24) – Al Hilal stunned Manchester City with a dramatic 4-3 victory after extra time in Orlando, eliminating one of the tournament favorites in a pulsating Round of 16 showdown.

Marcos Leonardo was the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 112th minute — his second of the match — after Ederson had brilliantly denied Sergej Milinkovic-Savic moments earlier. The Saudi Pro League side’s triumph capped a seven-goal thriller widely hailed as the game of the tournament.

Bernardo Silva put City in front inside 10 minutes in contentious fashion after the referee ignored two handball appeals in the build-up. Al Hilal gradually grew into the contest under new manager Simone Inzaghi, carving out counterattacks that began to trouble Pep Guardiola’s team.

The second half exploded into life. Leonardo equalized with a clever header before Malcom sprinted clear to put Al Hilal ahead. Erling Haaland responded swiftly, smashing in a rebound to draw City level at 2-2.

Chances came and went as both teams pushed for a winner. Haaland saw an angled strike cleared off the line in the 85th minute, while Mohamed Kanno squandered a golden opportunity with a miscued header.

Extra time brought more drama. Kalidou Koulibaly powered in a corner to restore Al Hilal’s lead, only for Phil Foden to equalize again, steering a low cross beyond the goalkeeper. But it was Leonardo who delivered the final blow, pouncing on a loose ball to seal Al Hilal’s place in the quarter-finals against Fluminense.

The result marks the first major upset of this year’s Club World Cup and leaves Guardiola and Manchester City to reflect on a rare early exit.

Key Talking Points:

  • Manchester City’s defense was repeatedly exposed on the counterattack.
  • Al Hilal, missing Aleksandar Mitrovic, showed remarkable resilience and quality in the final third.
  • The Saudi Pro League side’s win underscores their growing strength on the international stage.

What’s Next:
 Al Hilal advance to face Brazilian side Fluminense in the quarter-finals. Manchester City return home with only frustration and lessons from an unexpectedly early elimination.

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