Returning to UK Permanently with Computer Equipment etc.
-
Recently Browsing 0 members
- No registered users viewing this page.
-
Topics
-
-
Popular Contributors
-
-
Latest posts...
-
0
Chinese Man Arrested After Secretly Filming Sex with Over 1,600 Men and Selling Clips Online
Chinese Man Arrested After Secretly Filming Sex with Over 1,600 Men and Selling Clips Online A 38-year-old Chinese man, known as "Sister Hong" or "Uncle Red of Nanjing," was arrested for distributing pornography after allegedly filming secret sex videos with over 1,600 men in his apartment. Disguised with makeup and wigs, he lured men in and shared the videos in paid online groups. Victims, some unaware of the filming, have reported him after recognising themselves in leaked clips. The scandal has ignited outrage over privacy violations and public health fears, with authorities offering medical support but withholding details about his health status. He may also face charges for privacy violations beyond the pornography offence. -
0
UK If Starmer doesn’t start sacking his rebellious MPs, they’ll sack him
Sir Keir Starmer’s grip on power is increasingly under pressure as Labour backbenchers grow bolder in their opposition to welfare reforms. If the Prime Minister continues to avoid disciplining his rebellious MPs, the danger is not only policy paralysis—but the potential unravelling of his own authority. Labour MPs angry over the party’s refusal to abolish the two-child benefit cap may want to look inward. The ongoing expansion of the benefits system, driven by surging claims and spiralling costs, has reached an inflection point. Every day, around 1,000 new sickness benefit claims are submitted. Since the Covid lockdowns, an additional 660,000 people have declared themselves too ill to work. From November 2019 to now, the number of working-age adults claiming disability has soared by 50 percent. Meanwhile, Universal Credit claims requiring little or no effort to find employment have ballooned. From 2.6 million in 2019–2020, the number rose to 3.5 million by 2024–2025. This is not just a momentary spike—it’s the sign of a system buckling under strain. In an era when “crisis” is often thrown around casually, the crisis in welfare spending is both real and urgent. The current trajectory is, quite simply, unaffordable. Ordinary families dealing with financial challenges typically look for ways to reduce spending. Labour MPs, by contrast, appear committed to opposing any measure that might limit the state’s payouts—even modest proposals aimed at putting the welfare state on sustainable footing. Last week, their opposition sank a restrained attempt at reform. Now, they are pushing for an outright increase in spending by targeting the two-child benefit cap. The arguments for abolishing the cap are not without merit. Around 1.6 million children are affected by the restriction. But the financial reality cannot be ignored: eliminating the cap would cost at least £3.5 billion a year. That figure dwarfs any savings Labour might have salvaged from the scrapped welfare reform bill. And yet, Labour MPs seem unwilling to entertain the idea that a functioning welfare state must be based on tough trade-offs. The party once celebrated for its reputation for fiscal responsibility under Gordon Brown and Tony Blair now seems unrecognisable. The desire to signal compassion appears to outweigh any concern for affordability. There’s scarcely a taxpayer-funded program Labour MPs won’t defend—particularly if doing so earns them favour in their constituencies. But this short-term political calculus risks enormous long-term damage. A system that pays generous out-of-work benefits indefinitely is not financially viable. The government’s stated priority is economic growth. That ambition must be coupled with a serious effort to reduce the explosion in disability claims. Imagine a Britain where the population is getting healthier each year and contributing more in taxes than it draws in benefits. Sadly, that’s a fantasy in today’s climate. Labour, it seems, is content to watch benefit costs rise. Worse, it is actively encouraging that rise. The pandemic is the favored justification, but the argument wears thin. Covid was disruptive, yes—but it doesn’t explain why so many are still on long-term benefits years later, particularly when most recovered fully and society has long since reopened. Emboldened by their recent success, Labour’s backbenchers may seize the next big moment: the Budget. “Rachel Reeves is hardly seen as the ‘iron chancellor’ of her generation,” the article notes, “and neither is Keir Starmer the kind of Prime Minister who is ‘not for turning’.” If they sense weakness, MPs may force a showdown. No Budget has been defeated in modern parliamentary history—but in this volatile mix of rebellious MPs, economic hardship, and wavering leadership, 2025 could deliver just such a political earthquake. If Starmer continues to placate rather than lead, he may soon find himself the victim of the very same MPs he now refuses to discipline. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily Telegraph 2025-07-12 -
95
USA Epstein Case Becomes a Boomerang for Trump-Era Conspiracy Theorists
When the question was asked soecific to files, not docs or information, and she answered she had it on her desk for review there isn't any confusion except in your ability to try to find a excuse to cover yourself and her admission -
2
Rainy Season Ride around Kanchanaburi
Today, day three of our ride we rode from Kanchanaburi up to Pilock to the viewpoint overlooking Burma, stopping at Route 3272 viewpoint, here. https://maps.app.goo.gl/hHjrtug3TyEi3ihE9 Nern Sao Thong viewpoint at the to was totally clagged in and it started raining when we were there. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1VseHxn9FKf9V3B68 We rode in the rain to find a hotel in Thong Pha Phum. https://www.relive.com/view/vXvL5Np9j1O -
0
Economy Thailand's Central Bank Dismisses Deflation Fears Amid Low Inflation
Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post Despite growing concerns from economists, the Bank of Thailand has assured that deflation is not yet a reality, even as the country grapples with persistently low inflation rates. Addressing a monetary policy forum on Wednesday, Surach Tanboon, the senior director of the central bank's monetary policy department, clarified the situation. He noted that while inflation remains subdued, this is largely due to declines in energy and fresh food prices, rather than a widespread drop across various sectors. Essential consumer goods, crucially, continue to see price increases, reflecting ongoing high living costs. "The categories of goods with continuously rising prices are mostly everyday items, such as ready-to-eat food, cooking ingredients, and non-alcoholic beverages. In this context, we have not seen any deflationary signals," explained Mr Surach. Deflation, characterised by a general decline in prices and often linked to reduced money supply and credit, leads to an increase in the purchasing power of currency over time. However, the central bank’s projections offer some reassurance, with headline inflation expected to be 0.5% this year, rising slightly to 0.8% by 2026. Core inflation is forecast at 1.0% this year, marginally dropping to 0.9% next year. Food inflation is anticipated to be 1.2% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026, whereas energy prices are predicted to decline by 3.2% this year, with a smaller decrease of 1.3% next year. However, the Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) has issued a more cautious outlook, predicting a continuation of the inflation slowdown into the third quarter, following a notable drop to 0.25% in June. Concerns of a potential deflation onset linger, driven by falling energy prices and reduced fresh vegetable and fruit costs, including significant declines in staple items like rice and durian. K-Research projects inflation to dip into negative territory in the third quarter before recovering by the year’s end. Their forecast for 2025 stands at 0.3%, citing ongoing pressures from global energy price falls, increased low-cost imports from China, and Thailand's weakening economy. Similarly, Sathit Talaengsatya, an economist at UOB Thailand, warned of deflation risks, noting sluggish domestic demand alongside slower economic growth as major contributors to the declining inflation rate. UOB estimates inflation to reach 0.6% by late 2025. As the Bank of Thailand navigates these choppy economic waters, its vigilance over price trends remains crucial to averting potential deflation and ensuring continued economic stability in the region. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-11 -
18
Report Hospital Stay Mystery: Thaksin’s Jail to Hospital Transfer Scrutinised
You apparently do not understand the pardon he got from the King. His pardon was a reduction in sentence. Not a full pardon for all the jail time he was supposed to serve.
-
-
Popular in The Pub
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now