TorquayFan

Trump's behaviour to the Japanese P.M. was simply, moronic . . .

IMO too many aspects in this thread. Comments so far reflect that. One topic per thread might generate some lucid discussion. The war continues . . . . .

Crikey that sounds like a nightmare - (I have seen Jomtien ImmiG up close). But I do my TM 30 at Chanthaburi and the paperwork is mindboggling ! You have my sympathy - good luck ! (BTW last time I was away, with Missis, she checked in/out so no TM30 - sweet. If I travel alone, I have to do the TM 30).

Johnny F Badenoch is clever that's in no doubt, but her constant shrewish carping is irrelevant now - she can indulge herself in that carp but Starmer has a hundred bigger problems to deal - while all Kemi has to do is whip up the hysterical 'let's get him' attitude of the British media AND the clueless anti-incumbent brigades endemic to the UK. Regarding Starmer, call him what you will but that says more about you than him. You have read it wrong, Starmer is much admired by a the quiet majority in the UK and has gained much respect worldwide by refusing the UK to join the USA's criminal offensive in Iran - and God Bless Him for that !!!

Yellow, nothing matters except getting Trump" - you sound as weird as your Leader ! What do you mean ? Trump and his clown crew have made a massive mistake and that's that! "until the left flushed them down the toilet" - weird again Yellow! You must have your head in a bucket to have missed that Iraq also did not pose an 'immiment threat', (the pretext for that war) AND a quick look at Afghanistan today only shows strengthened Taliban horrors. I think most Americans would admit the error in Iraq 2003 and the 4000+ bereaved US Families would deplore the pointless Afghan campaign and most intel on 9/11 has since suggested that Saudi Arabia were instrumental with Al Qaieda. And "the Left". Anyone who isn't a Trumpster is apparently a "Leftist' to you - bizarre. Take that bucket off your head please !

What a weird question Merrill ! Would mistakes made in the past, excuse mistakes being made right now? But from memory, the 2003 Iraq war was GWB/Blair and Afghanistan was GWB again.

Johhny F - Im not sure Labour are yet 'toast' as you say. WHEN push comes to shove, you can forget Reform AND the Greens. Remember Labour got the massive majority with around 30% of the vote and a lot of that support will vote Labour again IMO. And the Tories ARE lost atm. But, we'll see !

Yes I watched PMQ's. Badenoch's trying to build the 'bad judgement' case against Starmer. We can guess that Starmer didn't talk the Epstein aspect through with Mandelson personally but it is evidenced that the correct protocols were otherwise followed. Actually, given that Starmer was faced with trying to cope with a new and demonstrably maniacal US President, I think it was a justifiable gamble to appoint the gruesome Mandelson, but unfortunately that didn't pay off. Starmer has apologised and that's that. Badenoch is a horrible hag and can't move on. MUCH worse than Starmer's mistake is the Badenoch brainwave to take the UK into the Iran war with idiot Trump ! I wouldn't trust her to be a traffic warden ! The Tories are doomed until they get rid of her.

I have always thought that Farage and Reform amount to no more than a 'puff of wind'. The few places Reform have gained some power seem to be in chaos - NO WAY they would be ready to make up a UK Govt. when the election happens. Farage is a charlatan and no more than a temporary refuge for the UK's rampant anti-incumbency and he has yet to become a target for the ever-hounding media - he won't come through protracted examination. The worrying point is who else to vote for? Although Starmer has played a blinder in staying OUT of the Iran war, it's undeniable that Labour have made massive blunders in the last 2 years. Although Labour have a massive majority, the Party constantly undermines the Leader with daft extreme stuff. And the Tories - Badenoch is a horrible disaster and won't carry the electorate when an election comes. Although I'm leftish by inclination, I yearn for the steady days of Sunak/Hunt !

Oh dear. Cracks already appearing in supplies of jet fuel. China and Thailand stop exporting jet fuel ! https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3217823/vietnam-braces-for-flight-cuts-from-april-after-china-thailand-ban-jet-fuel-exports?

Thanks Tomaz - that says it all. Disgusting Trump and shame on his MAGA followers . . . . .

Hummin - who are you flying with ? Mid East Airlines obviously dodgy atm but others should be ok for a while . . . I'm booked EVA for June but am already prepared for disappointment. Netanyahu's and puppet Trump's war has turned our World upsidedown !

No end in sight Guys - it's simply getting much worse ! Trump and his equally barmy Crew are a shame on the USA and all those MAGA who supported them. The Middle East and the wider World will not recover from this madness for a decade or more. Good luck to all . . . peace !

As predicted, this IS going to be a massive problem for Expats hoping to fly back for home visits. I've read often that the supply of aviation fuel was likely to be the big problem, and here it is. From the DT today . . . . First European airline cancels flights as jet fuel prices soar"Flag carrier for Denmark, Norway and Sweden to scrap hundreds of journeys this week. SAS is the largest carrier so far to cancel flights because of the jet fuel crisis Scandinavia’s largest airline has become the first major carrier in Europe to scrap flights because of surging fuel prices triggered by the US-Iran war.Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the flag carrier for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, said on Tuesday that it will scale back flights in response to the “sharp ⁠and sudden increase” in jet fuel costs. The Stockholm-based company said that the cancellations amount to hundreds of flights this week, although most of the services scrapped are on short routes within Scandinavia where alternative connections are available. “Given the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the sharp and sudden increase in global fuel prices, we are taking measures to strengthen our resilience,” said a spokesman. “One such measure is a limited number of short-term flight cancellations.” The move is significant because SAS is the largest carrier so far to cancel flights because of the jet fuel crisis. SAS ferries around 25 million travellers around the world every year. Last week, Air New Zealand, which carries 16 million passengers a year, also cut flights because of the fuel surge. SAS’s decision to strike flights from its timetable will stoke concerns that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a wider crisis among European airlines as the price of kerosene – the industry’s single biggest cost – makes flying unprofitable. About half of European jet fuel imports normally pass through the Strait, with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia among major suppliers. However, SAS has been an outlier among European operators in recent years, “hedging” less of its fuel requirements to save money. SAS said in February last year that it was hedged on none of its fuel needs for the following 12 months after dropping rules that had required coverage on at least 40pc of consumption. It is not clear where the carrier’s hedging stands for the current year. Fuel-hedging protectionsWithout the hedges, which guarantee access to fuel at a specified price, airlines are fully exposed to fluctuations in crude oil prices, which surged to a four-year high following the start of the US and Israeli war on Iran. International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways (BA), said last week it was largely safeguarded from oil price fluctuations for now, with 80pc of its fuel needs hedged for the rest of March and 70pc for the second quarter. Low-cost carriers have some of the most comprehensive fuel-hedging policies in place. Ryanair revealed in January that it was 84pc hedged at $77 a barrel for the current quarter and 80pc hedged at $67 for the whole of the fiscal year beginning in April. Experts have nevertheless warned that even those airlines which are well protected could be forced to increase fares for passengers once those hedging protections expire. IAG’s hedging cover drops to less than 60pc of its anticipated needs for the busiest summer months, meaning that BA’s fuel bill could skyrocket if hostilities in the Middle East persist. SAS had already hiked its fares in a bid to pass on rising fuel costs to passengers, having said that the “magnitude” of the increase was too great for it to absorb. Major carriers including Air France-KLM, Cathay Pacific and Qantas have done likewise, while stopping short of slashing services." Thanks again Donald !

DrJack - please note, I said the single ticket 'might' cost more.