Jim Waldron

While the media continue to focus on the growing list of high-profile personalities now in damage-control mode, the definitive message must always be that of Prince Edward who recently emphasized the importance of remembering Epstein’s victims!

The ultimate 'perfect storm'. A possibly tired rider, a sleepy rail employee, an industrial district where the lighting at rail crossings isn't that great. If that's not enough, even the heavens were against her because the moon was in the 'New Moon' phase! When you’re at one of numerous rail crossings in Phan Thong District in the middle of the night, you’re most likely dealing with freight trains heading to or from the ports at Laem Chabang. Flatbed carriages especially are low, dark, and often have zero reflective markers. On a dark night they would be practically invisible. If the railway employee moved the barrier prematurely, he basically gave that poor woman a 'green light' to drive straight into a wall of moving steel she never even saw.

Animalmagic, Thank you for pointing this out. Must have been my phone's predictive text! JW

You could be excused for thinking the Spectre C affair seems like it is straight out of a James Bond script. What would Ian Fleming make of this? A shadowy company with a name that practically screams “villainous organization,” accused of running covert information operations to tilt the political playing field. Swap Bangkok for MI6 headquarters and you’d have the makings of a 007 plotline. The calls for the People’s Party’s dissolution add another layer of intrigue, as if the political stage has morphed into a high-stakes casino, where tuxedoed figures slide chips across the table while Spectre’s agents pull invisible strings from the shadows. Yet, much like Bond villains who hatch elaborate schemes only to be foiled in the final act, it’s hard to imagine this case reaching the dramatic conclusion its petitioners hope for. One hopes the courts will demand solid evidence, and not just whispers of conspiracy. Still, the imagery is irresistible, Spectre C lurking in the shadows, dossiers of IO campaigns, and political operatives playing cat-and-mouse. Whether this ends in dissolution or simply fizzles out, the narrative already feels more Casino Royale than constitutional law.

Honestly, I don’t think the NHRC’s intervention really helps. Calling for urgent investigations when the courts are already handling the complaints only risks creating confusion. For the NHRC to step in now seems more like an attempt to justify its own relevance rather than adding any real value. Instead, this comes across more like a “toothless tiger” making noise without the authority to resolve the issue. If anything, it highlights the need for institutions to respect each other’s roles! Courts deal with disputes, while commissions should focus on broader reforms rather than chasing headlines.

Scammers are parasites, plain and simple. They don’t just steal people's money, they rob them of their peace of mind and dignity. In my book, for those caught and proven guilty, the punishment needs to be severe. Given that these guys have operated in several countries, I’ve no doubt the Chinese authorities will deal with them appropriately.

Rubio’s remarks in Hungary and Slovakia expose the U.S. as a two‑faced Janus! One mouth preaching unity, the other pushing division. At a time when cohesion is vital, Europe should be wary of the rhetoric that plays both sides and leaves the EU less secure.

Vale Jesse Jackson. The Reverend Jesse Jackson’s passing at 84 closes the chapter on one of the most influential voices in America’s civil rights movement. A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson dedicated his life to fighting segregation, expanding voting rights, and pushing for greater inclusion in politics. His two presidential campaigns broke barriers, and his activism extended well beyond the U.S., advocating for peace and human rights worldwide. Whatever one’s politics, his legacy is undeniable. Jesse Jackson reshaped the conversation about equality and justice, leaving behind a record of courage and persistence that one hopes, will continue to inspire generations.

Seen plenty of these cases over the decades. Thailand’s defamation laws are very strict, and the whole issue of “face” plays such a big part. When politicians or big business are involved, it usually ends up in high‑profile court battles. Nattapong has denied the allegations and put in his defence, so now it’s in the court’s hands. What strikes me is the timing, with hearings not until October. That leaves everyone waiting around for months, with reputations hanging in limbo. Typical of how the system grinds along here. Beyond the individuals, the eventual outcome could also affect policy and big monopolies. Just another reminder of how slowly the wheels of justice turn in Thailand

A Tale of Two Speeches Even though, in her maiden speech on the world stage AOC stumbled badly on Taiwan, she still managed to deliver a strong ideological message about workers and global solidarity. By contrast, Newsom's speech was polished and climate‑focused, and it must have reassured European leaders the U.S. isn’t just Trump’s America. His blunt line that “Trump is temporary. He’ll be gone in three years” is certain to have reassured many in the room. Yes, Europe–U.S. relations have taken a beating, and AOC’s Taiwan answer (revealing her lack of foreign policy experience) didn’t help. But, Newsom’s confident pitch showed there’s certainly light at the end of the tunnel. Credible, positive American leaders are still out there, ready to rebuild trust and partnership once the current storm has passed.

Here we go again—Thaksin, Prayut, Pheu Thai, now Bhumjaithai. Meanwhile, the China–Thailand high‑speed rail, supposedly the key link to this grand plan, crawls along at snail pace with completion dates pushed into the next decade. If history is any guide, the land bridge risks becoming yet another Thai mega‑project dream that looks great on paper but never eventuates. Investors may be “interested”, but until the rail link and enabling legislation actually happen, this feels more like déjà vu than a breakthrough. And even if it does, the benefits for Thailand look limited. More likely, it will be a case of Thailand pays the bill and China gets the shortcut!

I think the Thai Restaurant Association is missing the bigger picture here. Their complaint about foreign entrepreneurs “harvesting” Thai recipes abroad feels misplaced. Thai food has long been a global favourite, and it’s only natural that chefs and restaurateurs worldwide will adapt and profit from it. Expecting Thailand to somehow control or profit from every pad thai sold in London or Seoul is simply farcical! Instead of worrying about what others are doing overseas, the focus should be on strengthening the domestic industry. The real issue seems to be oversaturation at home. Walk down any street in Bangkok and you’ll see countless restaurants, cafes, and food stalls competing for the same shrinking pool of customers. Rising costs and weaker consumer spending only make that competition harsher. Injecting liquidity or reviving co-payment schemes might provide temporary relief, but it doesn’t solve the structural problem of just too many players chasing too little demand. If the industry wants long-term sustainability, it should be looking at consolidation and quality improvements rather than expecting government bailouts every time the market tightens. Food festivals and “Super Street Food” projects sound nice, but they don’t address the elephant in the room - Thailand’s hospitality sector is overcrowded, and until that’s acknowledged, no 90-day rescue plan will fix the underlying problem.

The Thai Facebook page “Army Military Force” has alleged that Cambodian soldiers were deliberately setting fires along the border as a tactical maneuver. “…The intention, according to the posts, is to reduce visibility for Thai forces, who reportedly hold higher ground and have been intercepting Cambodian communications…” However, according to the Top News report I watched this morning, the attempt appears to have backfired badly thanks to a change in wind direction, destroying some Cambodian buildings rather than obscuring Thai positions. With no official confirmation yet from Thai authorities, this remains speculative. One thing is painfully clear though: incidents like this only add fuel to the fire. Tensions along the frontier are already high, and indiscriminate actions, especially if civilians get involved, could easily escalate into renewed conflict.

This sounds almost too good to be true, and you know what that usually means! A quick Web search reveals that worldwide, laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery usually achieves success rates around 90–95%, according to Harvard‑affiliated research published in JAMA Network Open. The critical concern with Yang Talat Hospital’s 100% figure it that it comes from just 19 patients, which is far too small a sample to compare with global averages. As a regular visitor to Kalasin, I actually know this hospital and I have to tell you that it is not a large regional or general hospital. Instead, it is a district hospital serving the local community. So while the programme indeed deserves credit for offering free colonoscopy screenings for locals aged 50 and over, and for catching cancers early, the headline figure should be seen as a local success story only rather than a benchmark against global averages. Reference: JAMA Netw Open Published Online: May 9, 2022 2022;5;(5):e2210861.doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.10861, online at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2792067, accessed 16 February 2026.

“...The video has prompted many Thai users to criticize the owner, with accusations that her discriminatory behavior has persisted for years without intervention from authorities...” It’s clear from this that Thai people themselves are speaking out strongly against the shop owner’s actions. The matter is already being addressed within Thailand, both on social media and in local coverage. Given that, there’s really no need for outsiders to pile on further criticism. The Thai public has the issue in hand, and their voices are the ones that will carry weight in shaping how authorities respond.

The Submariner is an interesting item to single out in this debate! It so happens that even 'American-made' watch companies like Weiss Watch Company or Fine Timepiece Solutions in Arizona are being hammered by these duties. The reason being that there isn't a single factory in the U.S. that makes every tiny screw, gear, or hairspring. When those critical components are imported, they are often taxed at the same rate as a finished luxury watch. My point here being that because modern manufacturing is globally integrated, even “Made in USA” products often carry hidden tariff costs! This isn't about "leftist howling", it’s about a repressive domestic consumption tax. Recent data from the New York Fed shows that nearly 90% of the tariff burden is paid by U.S. firms and consumers, not foreign exporters. For the "poor", this equates to an average tax increase of $1,300 per household in 2026, not on Rolexes, but on the food, tools, and essentials that keep them going.

The importance of a strong opporsition cannot be overstated. If proof is needed, just look at the turmoil in the U.S. To use an Australian political slogan coined by Don Chipp, the founder of the Australian Democrats in 1980, the task of the opposition is to "Keep the bastards honest"! I'm sure that (within the constraints of Thailand’s variant of "democracy"), a People’s Party led opposition will certainly hold the Bhumjaithai-Pheu Thai coalition accountable, ensuring they act with integrity and transparency, and keeping them true to their word. This can only be good for Thailand.

Yellowtail, You've put up some good arguments throughout this discussion, but I think your last one in wrong! Tariffs function much like a regressive tax. While wealthier households can absorb price increases more easily, lower‑income families feel the impact more directly because a larger share of their income goes toward everyday goods. Even if some industries benefit from on‑shoring and wages rise in certain sectors, the immediate effect of tariffs is higher consumer prices across the board. That means the burden falls disproportionately on those with the least disposable income, not primarily on the wealthy.

You could say the Feds Trump the States!

Looks like poor Ben the software engineer spends far too much time in the world of virtual reality and not nearly enough time in the world of actual reality.

Among the many scientists who believe in ET, Professor Brian Cox has proposed that simple life is likely widespread in the universe, but intelligent life is rare because of the extensive time needed for its evolution. He suggests that even if intelligent life exists, the vast distances and the speed of light limit interaction, resulting in a state of "cosmic quarantine" for humanity. You can watch a video of his discussion on YouTube at https://share.google/DkVOdp2ZZIMLwSJB7

This is hardly the kind of progress Thailand should be celebrating. The Thai–Chinese high‑speed rail project, like Rama 2 Road, continues to expose the chronic weaknesses of large infrastructure in Thailand: delays, incomplete contracts, and constantly shifting timelines. Officials may boast of “51% completion” for Phase 1, but that figure is rather misleading. Two major sections remain unsigned, meaning that half‑finished progress is being celebrated while fundamental parts of the route haven’t even started. The projected start of operations in 2030 for the 251 km Phase 1 section is another red flag. For a project first launched nearly a decade ago, this timeline reflects glacial progress. If the 357 km Phase 2 section follows the same pattern, it's 2031 target looks more like a pipe dream than a realistic schedule. With costs of 179 billion baht for Phase 1 and 256 billion baht for Phase 2, efficient project management and strict accountability should have been non‑negotiable. Yet the current pace almost guarantees that the project will not be delivered on time or at the scale promised. What this update really shows is not meaningful progress, but the chronic persistence of delays, project failures, and bureaucratic inertia. Until contracts are signed and construction accelerates, Thailand’s high‑speed rail will remain a symbol of inefficiency rather than a source of national pride, and risks becoming another "Seven-Generation" project!

On the face of it, this report is disturbing. The allegation that newly planted landmines were found inside Thai territory highlights the dangers faced by Thai soldiers even during what is supposed to be a ceasefire. At the same time, the details cannot yet be independently confirmed. We have only the Thai authorities’ account, and there has been no official response yet from Cambodian sources! Until both sides provide verifiable information, it remains difficult to assess the full picture. What is clear is that any deployment of anti‑personnel mines would represent a serious breach of international humanitarian law. The situation shows how fragile border security remains, and how quickly tensions can escalate when national pride seems more important than trying to constructively resolve differences.

It’s starting to look increasingly likely that Thai voters may be heading back to the polling booths. The Administrative Court has already accepted lawsuits challenging the 2026 election procedures, while protest groups continue to demand recounts or even fresh elections. Despite the EC insisting the bar codes and QR codes are lawful and do not compromise secrecy, it appears they failed to announce the use of these codes before ballots were cast! Clarification only came after the election, in response to mounting public concerns and social media criticism. In so doing, the EC has created a perception of secrecy and reactive communication. Even if the system itself is secure, the lack of early disclosure has clearly undermined public trust. The real challenge for the Election Commission is whether it can now maintain public legitimacy. Even if its procedures are legally sound, once a significant portion of the electorate believes the process was opaque, the system risks losing credibility. In democracies, perception of fairness is every bit as important as the mechanics of fairness.

Let's not forget that (apart from the long-running border dispute between the two countries) this displacement crisis stems from the leaked phone call between then-Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia’s Hun Sen. Many Thais saw this as a betrayal of their sovereignty, leading to the collapse of the government after a Constitutional Court ruling, and the military confrontation that continues to leave the border in a state of "frozen" conflict. According to World Vision, as of February 6, 2026, nearly 98,000 Cambodians were still displaced in over 100 temporary sites. While the Thai Government reports that most of its 400,000 evacuees have returned, many now live behind shipping container walls that block access to their former livelihoods. The Humanitarian Response Forum HRF notes that many Cambodians are prevented from returning home because of fresh mine contamination and damaged infrastructure. Unfortunately for Ms Proeung and the thousands of others still affected, this could end up like other long-standing disputes in Kashmir or Cyprus. Especially given Anutin's plan to fortify disputed zones with permanent "security walls".