CharlieH

You cannot delete, ask a Mod to close or Support.

CLOSED Do not post in pale gray text highlighted etc. as per forum nettiquette. Troll topic.

Newspapers and politicians discuss general’s skin tone, saying actor’s casting in the role created ‘a historical error’ A decision to cast black actor Denzel Washington as the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal in an upcoming Netflix film has sparked a small but heated debate in Tunisia, the military general’s birthplace. After a similar controversy on race and representation in nearby Egypt over a Netflix docudrama about Cleopatra, Tunisian newspapers, social media and even the halls of parliament have seen discussion on the skin tone of the long-dead leader. French-language Tunisian news outlet La Presse published an article saying the casting created “a historical error”, while on social media, some users accused Netflix of promoting “woke culture”. An online petition signed by 1,300 people urged Netflix to “cancel its pseudo-documentary” and called on the ministry of culture to “take action against the attempt to steal our history”. FULL STORY

Australian climate change minister, Chris Bowen, says umbrella group of countries is united in saying draft agreement is too weak A group of countries including Australia, the US, the UK, Canada and Japan have said they will “not be a co-signatory” to “death certificates” for small island states, and have demanded a stronger agreement at the Cop28 summit to deal with fossil fuels and address the climate crisis. A statement delivered by the Australian climate change minister, Chris Bowen, on behalf of what’s known as the umbrella group of countries, came as tensions flared at the United Arab Emirates over the text of a draft deal proposed by the summit presidency. Released early on Monday evening local time, the draft avoided highly contentious calls for a “phase-out” or “phase-down” of fossil fuels in an attempt to find consensus from nearly 200 countries that have been meeting in Dubai for nearly a fortnight. Some observers welcomed elements of the draft, including the first mention in a Cop text of reducing fossil fuel production, but others were scathing, describing it as “grossly insufficient” and “incoherent”. Cedric Schuster of Samoa, the chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, said: “We will not sign our death certificate. We cannot sign on to text that does not have strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels.” Bowen referred to Schuster’s statement in his intervention in a later meeting between government representatives and the UAE summit president, Sultan Al Jaber. He was speaking on behalf of the umbrella group of countries, which also includes New Zealand, Norway, Israel, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. “My friend Cedric Schuster, the Samoan minister, said tonight of this draft that we will not sign our death certificates,” Bowen said. “That’s what’s at stake for many countries who are represented here tonight and many people who do not have a voice. We will not be a co-signatory to those death certificates.” FULL STORY

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a battle to persuade Tory MPs to back his flagship Rwanda bill, ahead of a key vote on Tuesday. The legislation seeks to revive the government's plan to send some asylum seekers to the east African country. MPs on the right of the party have said the bill does not go far enough and will not work in its current form. But more centrist MPs warned against any changes which would breach international law. Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace urged his fellow Tory MPs not to "wreck" the government by voting down the bill. Writing in the Telegraph, he warned against "making the perfect (but unrealistic) the enemy of the good". Former attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox told BBC Newsnight that "if we go on like this of course we're going to switch off millions of people upon whose votes we depend". He told the programme: "This bill is the beginnings of the solution to the problem… We need to unite - improve it - but get it through." The Safety of Rwanda Bill faces its first Parliamentary test - known as its second reading - on Tuesday, when MPs get a chance to debate and vote on the main principles of the bill. The aim of the policy is to deter migrants from crossing the Channel and it is central to the government's plan to "stop the boats" - which Mr Sunak has made one of his key priorities. A rebellion by Tory MPs could sink the Rwanda scheme and severely damage the prime minister's authority. How much trouble is PM in over Rwanda bill? Why does the UK want to send asylum seekers to Rwanda? Chris Mason analysis: PM's authority is on the line Among those on the right of the party, the New Conservatives group said the bill required "major surgery or replacement". FULL STORY

The US Supreme Court has been asked to decide whether Donald Trump can be prosecuted for crimes he allegedly committed while he was president. Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing two criminal investigations into Mr Trump, asked the court on Monday for a quick ruling on whether he is immune from federal prosecution. The top court later agreed to consider his request. It asked Mr Trump's legal team to file a response by 20 December. The former president is scheduled to stand trial in March on federal charges relating to an alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election results. But his lawyers have repeatedly argued that former presidents cannot face criminal charges for conduct related to their official responsibilities. That argument, however, was rejected by a lower court judge earlier this month who ruled the case could go ahead as planned. Mr Trump then said he would appeal that decision. Mr Smith's rare direct request to America's highest court on Monday was an attempt to leapfrog the lower courts altogether and quickly settle the matter. Mr Smith wrote in his request: "This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former president is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution." He added that Mr Trump's claims of presidential immunity are "profoundly mistaken" and "only this court can definitively resolve them". The Trump campaign earlier accused Mr Smith of trying "a Hail Mary by racing to the Supreme Court and attempting to bypass the appellate process". "There is absolutely no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump and tens of millions of his supporters," a spokesperson said. A very simple guide to Trump's indictments Five takeaways from Trump's third indictment Court says Trump can be sued for Capitol riot The billion-dollar question at heart of Trump fraud trial Prosecutors rarely seek the top court's intervention before a lower appeals court rules on a matter, and Mr Smith's request reflects the urgency of his case. If Mr Trump's appeal delays the trial beyond the November 2024 election, it raises the possibility that the former president could return to the White House before his case is fully resolved. FULL STORY

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an impassioned appeal for continued US military aid as he arrived in Washington on Monday. Addressing military officials, he said Ukraine is not fighting just for its own freedom but for global democracy. His comments come as an aid package worth millions languishes in Congress amid a partisan political row. Rebuking Republicans, who are blocking the aid, Mr Zelensky called the delay a "dream come true" for Vladimir Putin. "If there's anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it's just Putin and his sick clique," the Ukrainian leader argued. Mr Zelensky is expected to make similar remarks in a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday. He will also meet House Speaker Mike Johnson, a noted sceptic of additional military aid. The visit marks Mr Zelensky's third trip to the US since Russia's 2022 invasion, and the White House said in a statement on Sunday that his visit was meant "to underscore the United States' unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion". Ukraine counter-offensive hopes 'didn’t come true' Ukraine aid from US in doubt after failed Senate vote Olena Zelenska: Ukraine in 'mortal danger' without aid The US military aid package, worth $60bn (£47.9bn; €55bn), is currently stalled in Congress, facing pushback from Republicans who argue that more money should be going to domestic security at the US-Mexico border. A vote in the Senate last week saw a package, which included the funding but no border measures, blocked by Republicans. FULL STORY

Please refer to the correct forum/topic for this content. https://aseannow.com/forum/424-air-pollution-in-thailand/

In a move to align with the Liberal government’s commitment to “inclusivity,” Canadian military bases are required to provide menstrual products, including tampons and pads, in men’s washrooms by December 15. This directive, issued by Employment and Social Development Canada, extends to all federally regulated workplaces and military installations. True North has independently verified the implementation of this policy in at least one Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) military base, where menstruation kits are now available in men’s washrooms. Major Soomin Kim of the Department of National Defence confirmed that this decision aligns with federal government directives, emphasizing compliance with the Canada Labour Code. “Starting December 15, 2023, as per the Canada Labour Code, all federally managed washrooms will be required to provide menstrual products to all employees,” Major Kim told True North. The federal directive underscores its commitment to “better protect menstruating employees” by mandating the presence of menstrual products in all toilet rooms, irrespective of their designated genders. According to a recent federal briefing note, the CAF is facing a recruitment crisis as it struggles to find willing Canadians to fill the military’s thinning ranks. FULL STORY

My Office gives an "under consideration" every year for extensions based on marriage. I have had ONE home visit in the last 10 years. As I think many of us now Know, these things can not only vary by office and province, but even by who you see on the day. One thing consistent is the inconsistency.

It sometimes causes a glitch which is why we recommend not quoting more than one post in a response.

Laptop upgrade adds M3 chips, more power, longer battery life, brighter screen, lower price and darker colour Apple’s latest upgraded MacBook Pro adds a wider range of chip options, a cheaper price and a new black colour option, alongside even greater performance and battery life. The much-loved laptop now starts at £1,699 (€1,999/$1,599/A$2,699), which isn’t exactly cheap but is £450 less than its predecessor, lowering the barrier to entry significantly. The outside of the machine has the same great-looking combination of retro and modern design of its predecessor, solidly made from aluminium with a precision worthy of the price. The port selection remains the same, including the very welcome HDMI port and full-size SD card slot. The screen is still one of the very best on a laptop: sharp, smooth and super bright when working with or viewing HDR content. It is now 20% brighter in general use compared with its predecessor, which was noticeable when working on documents in bright winter sun. New for 2023 is the space black colour option, which is more of a very dark grey but is about as black as you can make anodised aluminium. It looks great and repels fingerprints better than before. The new colour is limited to the mid- and high-end versions of the machine starting at £2,099 (€2,499/$1,999/A$3,499). Specifications Screen: 14.2in mini LED (3024x1964; 254 ppi) ProMotion (120Hz) Processor: Apple M3, Pro or Max RAM: 8, 18 or 32, or up to 128GB Storage: 512GB, 1, 2, 4 or 8TB SSD Operating system: macOS 14.1 Sonoma Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD camera Connectivity: wifi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2/3x USB/Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.1, SD card, headphones Dimensions: 221.2 x 312.6 x 15.5mm Weight: 1.55 to 1.62kg FULL REVIEW ARTICLE

Winter is fast coming to Gaza. Rain storms and powerful winds have already swept through the coastal strip, scattering tents and soaking those with little shelter in a crisis in which about 1.8 million Palestinians have been displaced by Israel’s offensive. And with the advent of winter, an already catastrophic situation in which almost all of Gaza’s healthcare has collapsed is quickly worsening. Women are giving birth in tents in unsterile conditions. Smoke from the wood fires is exacerbating respiratory ailments. Those in need of medicine have been forced to go sometimes to up to 10 pharmacies in an often fruitless search. “It’s so cold, and the tent is so small. All I have is the clothes I wear, I still don’t know what the next step will be,” said Mahmud Abu Rayan, displaced from the northern town of Beit Lahia to Rafah. “We didn’t see anything good here at all. We are living here in a tough cold. There are no bathrooms. We are sleeping on the sand,” added Soad Qarmoot, a Palestinian woman who was also forced to leave Beit Lahia. “I am a cancer patient,” Qarmoot said as children circled a wood fire for warmth. “There is no mattress for me to sleep on. I am sleeping on the sand. It’s freezing.” Displaced Palestinians who spoke in Rafah in recent days, tell a similar story: a perfect storm of colder weather, hugely overcrowded and insanitary conditions and a lack of food and proper shelter. Communicable diseases are increasing alarmingly, according to surveillance data shared by the World Health Organization. There is bloody diarrhoea, respiratory infections, jaundice, hepatitis A and meningitis. A shortage of antibiotics is driving deaths from post-operative infections among the wounded. The chronically ill, unable to access care and medication are dying often unrecorded as victims of the war. The mother of Ramzy S, aged 54 years, who had been evacuated from northern Gaza to Rafah, was one of those cases. “My mother died last week,” Ramzy told the Guardian. “She had high blood pressure and diabetes. We’re living in bad conditions in a Rafah UNRWA shelter. We’re in tents, lacking the most basic things we need, and everything is hard to get. FULL STORY

The next election is set to be the most unequal in 60 years thanks to a rising gap in voter turnout based on age, income, class, home ownership and ethnicity, a new study has found. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), a centre-left thinktank, found that the turnout gap was negligible between social groups in the 1960s, but that it had grown by 2010 to 18 percentage points between the top set of earners – who are more likely to vote – and the bottom set. It rises to a 23-point gap between homeowners – who were more likely to vote – and renters, and a 15-point gap between graduates and those who did not go to university. There are 28 points between those aged 61 and over who were more likely to vote than 18-24-year-olds. The IPPR found that nine in every 10 people in the top third of the income distribution voted in the two most recent general elections, compared with only seven in 10 from the bottom third. The bottom third of earners were about three times more likely to say it is not worth voting than the top third, while renters are also more than twice as likely as homeowners to say the same. The study also analysed those who have been in contact with politicians, finding that one in three university graduates has directly contacted a politician, compared with one in seven people without degrees. The study did not look at whether the Conservatives or Labour benefit most from the gap in turnout, although older voters are more likely to opt for the Tories than Labour. Dr Parth Patel, a senior research fellow at the IPPR, said one of the consequences was that government policy was more attuned to the needs of the older, better-off and those with higher levels of education. FULL STORY

I cant say i have but then I havnt been actively looking for them, I will keep an eye now though.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — It wasn’t the most uplifting of inaugural addresses. Rather, Argentina’s newly empowered President Javier Milei presented figures to lay bare the scope of the nation’s economic “emergency,” and sought to prepare the public for a shock adjustment with drastic public spending cuts. Milei said in his address to thousands of supporters in the capital, Buenos Aires, that the country doesn’t have time to consider other alternatives. “We don’t have margin for sterile discussions. Our country demands action, and immediate action,” he said. “The political class left the country at the brink of its biggest crisis in history. We don’t desire the hard decisions that will need to be made in coming weeks, but lamentably they didn’t leave us any option.” South America’s second largest economy is suffering 143% annual inflation, the currency has plunged and four in 10 Argentines are impoverished. The nation has a yawning fiscal deficit, a trade deficit of $43 billion, plus a daunting $45 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund, with $10.6 billion due to the multilateral and private creditors by April. “There’s no money,” is Milei’s common refrain. He repeated it Sunday to explain why a gradualist approach to the situation, which would require financing, was not an option. But he promised the adjustment would almost entirely affect the state rather than the private sector, and that it represented the first step toward regaining prosperity. “We know that in the short term the situation will worsen, but soon we will see the fruits of our effort, having created the base for solid and sustainable growth,” he said. FULL STORY

Former President Trump on Sunday, in a last-minute reversal, said he won’t be testifying again in his New York fraud trial, posting on Truth Social that he has already “successfully and conclusively testified” in the case and had nothing more to say. Trump had been expected to take the stand Monday to be questioned by his own defense team as the nearly two-month-long trial winds down. Trump previously testified last month under questioning by the New York attorney general’s office and was unexpectedly hauled to the witness stand once before to respond to the judge’s assertion that he had violated a gag order in place. “As everyone knows, I have very successfully & conclusively testified in the corrupt, Biden directed, New York state attorney general’s rigged trial against me,” Trump wrote Sunday in a Truth Social post. In a separate post, Trump wrote, “Based on the above, and the fact that our unassailable final expert witness has been so strong and irrefutable in his testimony, which will conclude on Tuesday, & that I have already testified to everything & have nothing more to say other than that this is a complete & total election interference (Biden campaign!) witch hunt, that will do nothing but keep businesses out of New York, I will not be testifying on Monday.” One of Trump’s lawyers in the case, Chris Kise, reiterated the notion in a statement shortly after the Truth Social post and also referred to the gag order imposed by the judge that limited how much the former president could speak about those overseeing the trial. FULL STORY

Makros for Lamb,including Legs and shanks. Thai family love it. Great cold in sandwiches or recycled into a curry or stew.

And yet another topic descends into a Bickering fest. This is getting really tiresome. CLOSED.

Donald Trump will give the final word in his defense against claims his business engaged in a decade of fraud as the New York trial threatening his business empire nears its end. The former president is expected to take the witness stand for a third time Monday, this time under questioning from his own legal team. In testimony last month during the state’s case, Trump defended his business practices by downplaying key financial documents and declaring the trial corrupt. His fiery testimony often grew political, more akin to a stump speech than a direct examination as he railed against the judge and New York attorney general whom he decried as “frauds” and “political hacks.” “It’s a disgrace that a case like this is going on; all you have to do is read the legal scholars — the papers — and you’ll know,” Trump testified in November, raising his voice. “This is a political witch hunt.” But with Trump’s counsel steering the questioning this time, the former president will have significantly more latitude to set the narrative and espouse his side of the story. Throughout the defense case, which began in mid-November, several witnesses reprised previous testimony while offering up their own spin. The first time Donald Trump Jr. testified in the New York attorney general’s case, he distanced himself from documents at the heart of the case – his father’s statements of financial condition, which detail the value of the Trump Organization’s various assets and were sent to banks and insurers to secure loans and deals. New York Attorney General Letitia James’s (D) lawsuit claims the Trump Organization falsely adjusted the value of its assets to receive tax and insurance benefits. FULL STORY

A new indictment of Hunter Biden became public on Thursday evening. President Biden’s son faces a total of nine charges — three felonies and six misdemeanors — in relation to tax evasion and other tax-related matters. Biden already faces gun charges, relating to allegedly lying about his use of illegal drugs in the process of buying a gun in 2018. The new charges were approved by a grand jury empaneled by Special Counsel David Weiss. Weiss was first appointed as the U.S. Attorney for Delaware by former President Trump but continued in the role after Present Biden’s election. Weiss has received criticism from Republicans more recently for purportedly being too lenient on Hunter Biden. He was appointed special counsel in August. The charges, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, come after a plea deal collapsed during the summer. Biden is expected to vigorously contest the charges. If convicted, he would face a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison. Here are the political takeaways from the new indictment. Trump and Hunter Biden criminal trials loom in an election year There are plenty of differences in the trials facing former President Trump and Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden has never held or sought public office. His alleged offenses, though serious, pose no fundamental threat to American democracy comparable with the details of Trump’s indictments relating to election interference and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. But a Biden trial would be embarrassing for father and son alike. The alleged law-breaking is only part of the story. There is also its luridness to consider. Hunter Biden has himself written about his conduct while he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction following the death of his brother Beau in 2015. A trial would bring fresh attention to a lifestyle that, according to the indictment, included vast expenditures on “drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing and other items of a personal nature, in short everything but his taxes.” FULL STORY

Donald Trump has nudged ahead of Joe Biden in national polling for the 2024 presidential election, a survey published on Saturday revealed, a day after the US president branded his predecessor as “despicable” at an event in California. The Wall Street Journal poll shows Biden with the lowest approval rating of his presidency, a finding broadly in line with other recent studies that have sparked concern in Democratic circles less than a year before voters go to the polls. It shows Trump leading Biden by four points, 47% to 43%, the first time this survey has shown that the former US president is favored in a head-to-head test of the likely 2024 White House matchup, the WSJ said. When five potential third-party and independent candidates are included, drawing a combined 17% support, Trump’s lead expands to six points, 37-31. Although Biden has expressed his desire to run for a second term, many in the Democratic party would like to see him stand down, fearing his advancing age – 81 on election day and 86 after eight years in the White House if he wins next year – will turn off voters. The indictment of the president’s son, Hunter Biden, in California on Thursday on nine criminal tax charges places additional obstacles in his path to re-election. Meanwhile Trump, despite leading the race for the Republican nomination by almost 50 points, according to RealClearPolitics, is no shoo-in either, largely because of his own multiple legal woes. The candidate who will himself be 78 on polling day remains in peril from four concurrent criminal cases against him, some over his illegal efforts to overturn Biden’s 2020 victory. At a fundraiser on Friday night, Biden laid into Trump for his actions on 6 January 2021, the day of the Capitol riot by his supporters trying to prevent Congress certifying the election result. FULL STORY

Families fear that James Cleverly’s proposals, which more than double the earnings threshold, could force separation and exile There was growing anger on Saturday night over the government’s “love only for the rich” plans that would force thousands of British families to choose whether to split or go into exile. James Cleverly, the home secretary, announced last week that a British citizen who wants to sponsor their foreign spouse to live with them in the UK will need to earn at least £38,700 a year to qualify for a family visa application. The changes are expected to cut the number of family visas by about 10,000, according to reports of government briefings, adding to the thousands of “Skype families” who have already been separated by the previous rules where the British partner needed to earn an £18,600 salary. Campaign group Reunite Families UK said that hundreds of people joined it last week after the announcement that would mean only about a quarter of British people would earn enough to sponsor a spouse. “Everyone feels the rug has been pulled from under their feet,” said Jane Yilmaz, co-founder of the group. “They’ve dropped this bombshell just before Christmas, and it’s devastating for our families. “We’ve got people who are separated because they couldn’t reach the £18,600 threshold. There’s no way those families are going to reach the new target,” Yilmaz said. “And we’ve got loads of members who are exiled who have always lived in hope they might be able to come back to their own country. The government harps on about family values and how important the family unit is, then they do this.” Andreea Dumitrache, co-CEO at the3million, representing EU citizens in the UK, said the rise was “a blatant attack on families across the country”, and that ministers should scrap it. “Our British friends living in the EU will struggle to come back to the UK, with many having to choose between their own families abroad and a parent Conservative commentators and politicians have also voiced concerns, including Lord Barwell, Theresa May’s former chief of staff, who said it was “morally wrong and unconservative to say that only the wealthiest can fall in love, marry someone and then bring them to the UK”. And in a piece for Conservative Home, the website’s deputy editor, Henry Hill, said the £38,700 figure “potentially stands to bar an awful lot of Brits from marrying a foreigner”. “It’s hard to imagine this was ever actually a priority,” he added. FULL STORY

Went into an Amway shop near me one day, They refused to serve me and I was asked to leave, No Farangs allowed !

MOVED to Health forum