Ajarnbrian

Those selfish individuals using visa-free entry for working have spoiled things for longer term visitors. Get the right visa if here for work!

Good, decent Americans would not stoop so low. The office of president has been diminished further in this latest act and refusal to apologise.

Naive, highly selective, sensationalist view. Soi Cowboy in Bangkok, Soi 6 Pattaya, Soi Bangla in Patong are obviously notorious places that you don’t stumble on by chance. In any country you don’t get involved in drugs and prostitution unless you’re ready for the consequences. The presenter said she had no backpacking experience, said many visitors pay the ultimate price and that she is scared of Thailand. Well, 933,000 British visitors to Thailand last year but she gave no context, no research and little understanding in this weak BBC programme.

Menacing, threatening leading to jail? perhaps so. Criticising, not at all!

You’re confused. VAT is a sales tax, not a tariff. It’s imposed on all British made or imported goods. Tariffs are a tax on imports

Tariffs will hurt American consumers and components importers. Brings inflation, retaliation and possible trade wars, reduced economic activity and breaking of trust with trading partners. Terrible misreading of basic economics.

Politicians should expect this, especially those who are controversial. Well said Brian.

“We need competent people. We need smart people.” Absolutely right, sensible conservatives realise this.

Are you an attention-seeking lawyer looking for work? What ‘evidence’ do you, or indeed any reader here, actually have?

It would be hard to find those in British politics who like Trump, other than the opportunistic Farage.

Mandelson should be a good appointment. He has been a slippery schemer in British politics. Well suited to the role.

In the American political system Donald Trump won by a clear majority of votes. Now many of those voters may be uneducated, naive or feeling left behind and they saw the Democrats as hopeless but that is still clear support for Trump and a mandate to govern.

For those who imagine UK lacks free speech these days, remember the level of hate speech and dangerous misinformation being spouted by extremists online these days. Also remember how much worse it is for free speech in China, Russia. Despite its faults, UK is preferable to most countries,

Good that JK Rowling calls out this. Nothing against transgender people who get on with their lives without harming others. But for Edinburgh City Council to celebrate the life of a violent criminal who happens to identify as transgender is an insult to all victims of violence.

Laos is a beautiful country. The tragedy happened in Vang Vieng, where other young travellers have died over the past decade or so. Avoid the place, go to other destinations in Laos, stick to a bottle of Beer Lao.