TorquayFan

The Police in the UK lost their way decades ago. We have seen a succession of appalling scandals, a drop in the numbers of Police seen on the street, an emerging failure to tackle domestic burglaries and car crime and a preoccupation with matters 'woke'. The recent widespread was a severe shock and a real wake up call to the UK but the Police, Courts and Starmer himself seem to have made a decent job of quelling this 'uprising'. The UK has indeed been through a major crisis. However, all is not lost even though no-one seems to know just how to resolve the issue of excessive Immigration. IMO it's important we don't lose sight of the fact that vast swathes of the UK function well enough and the Community is still largely made up of well intentioned Folks living good lives. So 'nil desperandum' is my motto - moaning that successive Govts have laid the ground for these problems is pointless. However, it ain't gonna get better anytime soon and Brits do undoubtedly have to adjust adjust expectations to reality - taxes will inevitably continue to rise and spending cuts wll be made - historic Govt overspending has reached £40K per head and as in many Nations - this is not sustainable indefinitely. But all is not lost as many seem to suggest though the path back to reality will be long and painful. Law and Order came under serious attack during the recent riots and these events have been a shock. Let's hope the present 'pause' lasts.

Sorry Denim - to clarify, I meant at the end of the coming term, that is 2028. It's a serious point - Trump comes over as quite barmy already. ATB

After Team Trump have mercilessly hammered Joe Biden about his age, now it's now dangerous Don's turn to take the heat on this front. After all, were Trump to be elected in November, he would be significantly older than Joe Biden is now. Though Trump appears physically fitter than Biden right now, doubts over Trump's frequent bizarre statements and personal sanity abound. In the background, inexperienced VP candidate Vance and the clouds surrounding Project 2025, the differences between the GOP and democratic positions are about to become stark indeed. It will be good to see this drama unfold. Can the Dems reassert some sanity into US politics?

Joe Biden remains well respected by much of America despite his obvious frailties - he has a lot of grit and experience and there's no need to chuck it all aside. So why doesn't Biden simply step down to Vice President and carry out that usual advisory role with Kamala Harris taking over as President ? I'm a Brit and claim no expertise in US matters but I think such a move would appeal to most Democrats, attracting many waverers and also some Republicans who rightly dread the ascendance of Trump . . . .

Here's an idea ! Biden obviously can't front this up but his experience in the background would be very helpful. Step 1 - Biden steps down as a Candidate in favour of Kamala Harris Step 2 - Kamala Harris appoints Biden as VP Candidate Job done ? One thing Biden is not able to do - he can't see past Jill's loyalty to realise that, at this time of his life, he should free himself up from this sh*t and spend some time looking after HER . . . Biden unfortunately must GO, however it happens.

A 'fascinating revelation' ? That's one way of putting it. Yet China is irrefutably a bad actor, both to it's own people and to many other Countries. Thailand seems to have a history of encouragement and tolerance of awful regimes. On top of the news that China is apparently conducting military exercises with Belarus, negotiations continue to purchase a military submarine. That's even as the Chinese EV industry continues to undermine Thailand's previously thriving car CKD/manufacturing, (now Honda packing their bags at Ayutthaya) it seems that the Thai Govt have full connivance with this demise, seemingly terrified to impose overdue tariffs on EV imports. Meanwhile, Mr DIY, CJ Stores and the like, flood Thailand with cheap wares jeopardising countless thousands of established Thai businesses. Chinese tourists are frantically courted as tourist spots bulge. Thailand needs to take care who it chooses as bedfellows in international matters. Lying down for every baht will not have a good outcome . . . . .

I don't agree with the tone of many comments here but 'Generalised Fury Disorder' has dominated the discussion so far, (fed amply by the habit of easy abuse that has developed on social media). My own opinion of Rishi Sunak - at the time he was Chancellor I thought him somewhat profligate but as PM, IMO, he has done a steady job, made much more difficult by Tory squabbling. The Rwanda saga was certainly a dead duck from the start, but otherwise Sunak has been a steady hand with Jeremy Hunt as an admirable Chancellor and he has clearly worked very hard for us Brits - a thankless task at the best of times. Sunak took over an impossible mix of deeply ingrained problems and after the carnage of Johnson and Truss, he deserves some credit for 'steadying' the ship at least. The only upside of the emergence of the 'Reform Party' is that one day, maybe with the Lib Dems, they can implement Proportional Representation. PR has to come one day - it's crazy that Labour have a massive majority with little over a third of the vote. As for the underlying realities, none of the UK Parties seem to have a plan to get Govt. spending under control - overspending as we have in recent decades doesn't seem to have led to good results - the whole shebang is on a cliff edge. And what do we have to show for it ? Interesting times.

As a Brit on summer sojourn, in a Pub before the football yesterday, I happened to meet a 'Reform' candidate. Farage and Reform cut an interesting if not tempting picture sometimes - to the point that Polls show that Reform have a 1% higher rating for voting intent than the Tories atm. The Pub was surprisingly quiet, maybe 20 Folks, and I heard this Guy say he was the local Candidate. He was at the Bar alone so I approached him for a chat to which he was pleasantly receptive. After the football he was due to address a Meeting at a local Church Hall. I asked him about Reform's spending plans in the context of interest rates and current UK Govt borrowing, which stands at about £180K for each member of the population and £400K for each family unit, (can you believe that). His response was to the effect that a Reform Govt. would just not pay it back when due and that the Bond holders would just have to stuff it - a brilliant economic policy making Liz Truss look like a genius of Einstein or John Maynard Keynes calibre. I quietly asked what his background was and apparently, its nothing of note, except for the common cant of being broke after 14 years of Tory rule. I'm not suggesting this affable clown is typical of Reform candidates but I think this to be, a tale of caution. Vote for these hastily assembled reform candidates and see who you get !

After a rigorously fair and thorough trial, 12 good men and women have found Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts relating to election fraud in 2016. Judge Merchan, though under persistent pressure from Trump's appalling behaviour throughout, has been exemplary in sticking to his task. Trump presented only 2 defence witnesses - why was that ? Trump did not testify in his own defence ??? Who can doubt that in truth, justice has been done ? I'd like to see Judge Merchan give Trump a 4 year suspended jail sentence but one day in jail for each of the 10 contempts of Court committed during the trial. The gag order should also be extended to cover continued gratuitous insults to Merchan, Bragg and others involved. Trump - finally brought to account after a lifetime of seedy, fraudulent and disgusting behaviour. I cannot understand why anyone would consider voting for him in November. Time for the Republicans to ditch him and bring another Candidate forward.

Thanks for all the replies. Re. this earlier, "Watching the plans of both Parties, it's interesting to ponder this : National debt per household in the UK equates to £430K and per person, £180K" Any comment on that ? ATB

Charlie Ko - the West 'itching to go to war'. Hardly. After all, Putin HAS invaded Ukraine and threatened Europe while China militarises the South Seas and threatens Taiwan. Stocky - you say no run on the £ and I hope you are right. Celsius - the definition of 'chav' - "a young person who wears fashionable sportswear or flashy jewelry but is regarded as badly behaved or as having lower-class taste". I'll take that as a compliment as I'm 76 LOL. With respect, that's the worst type of post - nothing to say and just trying to insult. I'll be back in the UK next month, trying to set it straight! (wink) Howerde - the 'conscription' idea won't progress with a change of Govt. Within a decade, the State Pension will be unaffordable and will have to be cut back, starting with the 'triple lock' SOON.

Most pundits seem to think that the PM called early for the General Election because of an expectation that, with fuel prices going up again, inflation is likely to rise again with interest rates not going down later this year as anticipated. Myself I think Sunak got it wrong - it seems to me he has traded an unknown chance later for a certain defeat now - average polls show Labour about 20% ahead. My natural tendency would be to vote Labour but I won't this time - I don't trust them on Immigration, Defence and 'matters woke' and that's just for starters ! Watching the plans of both Parties, it's interesting to ponder this : National debt per household in the UK equates to £430K and per person, £180K. That's the extent to which the Nation has indulged itself, economically to this point. I find that most people are oblivious of these facts and as a reminder, limping Britain still overspends by 3% of GDP p.a. Massive bills for the 'infected blood' debacle and the Post Office shame are just around the corner and with defence, police, prisons, schools and the NHS all in a parlous state, are spoilt Brits prepared for what might be around the corner, again? We need to continue borrowing at least 3% of GDP to hold life together BUT, having seen the reaction of World markets to the Truss nonsense, what reaction will we see when the Labour Party takes over - it could be interesting. Will there be a run on the £ ???? Roger Bootle, a respected Economist writing in the DT, observes today, "Since 1931, every Labour government except one has had to endure a major event connected with sterling." We'll see !!

Of course, EV's will have their place in the future but so inevitably, will ICE vehicles. This thread's topic, "Thailand Faces Economic Question', is only focused on EV's as a part of the economic question, i.e. China's insidious takeover and undermining of it's neighbours. IF I ever buy an EV it won't be a Chinese brand. For me it's hard to ignore China's economic and military aggression around this very region, that's IF I could ever forget the horrors of the covid pandemic, clearly emanating from Wuhan and it's Institute and come to that, the criminal way in which they have treated the Uighers. Thailand should take great care when dealing with this Chinese regime - they are bad actors - all around the World.

Yes China poses a very serious threat to Thailand's car manufacturing industry and the Thai Govt would IMO, be well advised to take firm action to protect this sector. The insidious influence of China doesn't end there. Take little Chantaburi - it now has 5 branches of Mr DIY which has sucked the life out of many local traders. The 'CJ' chain has proliferated too. China finances infrastructure projects and the 'High Speed Railway' is underway. The dollar has been set aside. Thailand's fevered tourist policy encourages massive numbers of Chinese visitors. This is madness for Thailand. I see China as a bad actor, taking over in the South seas and they are an imminent threat to Taiwan. Thailand has to assert it's position against this major neighbour, a World power, and not just roll over.

Lacesit - yes, I probably should have posted 'treatment' not 'cure'. However, I believe after 5 years with no progression, the word cured is used. Someone better in the 'know' than I am, might be able to clarify the point. There's massive activity around 'Immunotherapy' at the moment. And cancer vaccines are definitely in full focus now after a few unsuccessful efforts some years ago. We'll see. ATB

Presnock of course you are right that lifestyle is crucial to the possibilities of remaining healthy as long as possible. You are also right that food industries lead the populace into bad diets wherever they can and that is disastrous. I am sorry to read that your own Family have suffered so much. Myself, whilst being cynical of some big Pharma moves, (e.g. the demonising of aspirin), I think you go much too far with this statement, "as long as big pharma can still make trillions of $$$ in my honest opinion a cure will not be found by their researchers." Pharma do find and will find or acquire other new cures. BUT these new cures should be reasonably priced - the checkpoint inhibitors I mentioned in the last post are VERY expensive - I doubt that this is justified. The Pharmas should make sure that their products are affordable to all those that need them. As for the 'fairy tale' - have a look through the links in my last - cures ARE BEING found. ATB

No-one looks forward to the pain and heartache of severe illness and death, be it due to Cancer or whatever - but it happens and we all die sometime. As for cancers, we can be encouraged by medical advances in recent years, particularly in the field of Immunotherapy. In addition to the advent of 'checkpoint inhibitors', (such as Keytruda and Optivo) for late stage cancers, vaccines for treatment are now emerging and show considerable promise. You may have read of Moderna's mRNA 'personalised' vaccines in recent months and they do show some promise -(their vax is 'personalised' insofaras a sample from a tumour is taken to determine and develop the precise immune agent needed - it's a lengthy process). Personalised vaccines are extremely costly. A small Company based in Oxford/Nottingham has, for the last 20 years, been developing DNA vaccines and current trials are showing that 'Immunobody' enhances the success of checkpoint inhibitors, broadly from a 50% response to an 80% response. Immunobody vaccines do not need to be personalised, can be used on diagnosis, the application is needle-free and they are much less costly. Other Companies are working in this field too. Scancell, in whom my interest lies, have the Immunobody vaccines trialing for melanoma stage 3/4, and Moditope, for solid tumours in advanced head and neck, triple negative breast, ovarian and renal cancers. Scancell also have antibody platforms, Glymab and Avidimab in development. Scancell are just one of the pioneers - you can read more here https://scancell.co.uk/immunobody and https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/SCLP/ Depressing as all thought of cancer and the gruelling current treatments are, maybe, in the near future, the outlook may be brighter ! Stay well all ! (2 baht, just seen yours and wishing you the best).

Yellow - 30 years ? I'd guess more like 5 years . . . . and CNN didn't tell me, I watch a variety of sources, hours of it ! Yagoda no of course I've not been in the Courtroom. Whilst a Jail sentence doesn't disqualify Trump, I would expect the Republicans would dump him fast if it gets to that point . . . . Re. your reply to Danderman - there is a mountain of evidence and Trump's in deep trouble, - it couldn't happen to a nicer Guy.

Michael Cohen is back on Monday - the 'cross' may be finished and the next stage will be the Prosecution on 'redirect', going through any matters from arising from the defence. It's fair to say that Cohen has surprised many by his composure throughout and though he obviously hates Trump, (I wonder why?), most of his evidence has already been pre-corroborated by other witnesses, so his evidence is fully credible. Crystal clear that all this was done on Trump's instructions for the purpose of avoiding the negative influencing of 2016 voters. It's a mess of his own making. Sad to see 'substantial' Republican figures ranting daily outside the Courtroom. Just what is it with this obsession about Judge Merchan's daughter? I hope Trump is convicted and jailed. The Republican's can see the writing in the wall, with an average of 20% of votes in the primaries still going to lapsed candidate Nicki Haley. It's time they dumped Donald in the nappy bin and put forward other Candidates. .

Yellow - have a look at this https://youtu.be/jKGHBriP6RE

Danderman . . . or 34 counts of falsifying business records by falsely coding payments as legal expenses, misdemeanors but upgraded to felonies, because it was done for the purpose of keeping it from the electorate, (the hushing up), and actually, the tax man too. It's evident that it was nothing to do with Melania. Trump and the GOP were in a panic because of the 'access Hollywood' debacle. https://youtu.be/oloQmY6sMn4?t=7

Skip - I couldn't disagree with you more. This 'Election interference' trial has been conducted very fairly. It's Law and Order asserting itself, not political. Judge Merchan has been benevolent in not jailing Trump already. Trump has lied and cheated for decades and it may be coming home to roost. Michael Cohen's evidence is damning and confirms much evidence presented already, by other witnesses. Trump's behaviour outside the Court each day and at his rallies is frankly unbelievable. Did you see him extolling the virtues of Hannibal Lector at the NJ rally? 100,000 claimed for there last weekend ! Ha Ha ! It's a source of amazement to me that Trump has any supporters left. He appeals to Folks who are looking to be different, 'special', macho or some other blather. Wake up !

Yellow, "exposes" is a typo I think. You contend, "But reimbursing your attorney for exposes they incur on your behalf, is a legal expense". Very funny. Or is that from 'expose', (in the sense of discovering) ? However, your assertion is not right. Say you pay an Attorney for conveyancing of £5,000 and £100,000 for a house. That's legal expenses £105,000 ? Clearly not ! ATB

Yellowtail - "Is having your attorney arrange an NDA with someone not legal expense?" Paying your Attorney for his work IS a legal expense but money paid to the other Party in the NDA, in this case, Stormy, is NOT !

Hanaguma re. yours, "It is also plausible that Trump wanted to keep the strumpet away from his family, his business, and his reputation. The payment could have been for any of these very realistic situations as well, and just happened to occur during the election cycle.." IMO that suggestion doesn't stand up to examination. Evidence was given that Trump tried to delay payment until AFTER the election, because then he could NOT pay Stormy at all - she realised this and insisted that payment should be made before the election. Somewhat illustrating that the purpose of the 'hush' was not keeping it from Melania, but keeping it from the Electorate . . . . .