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Thailand looks at easing visa rules in bid to boost tourism
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/Featured Quiz 14 March 2025 - Weekly Featured - It Happened in 1955
I just completed this quiz. My Score 70/100 My Time 88 seconds -
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Motorcyclist Killed in Crash on Dark Overpass as Residents Demand Streetlight Repairs
Time to move into the real world 👀🙄😎 -
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Foreigner Assaults Thai Man in Road Rage Incident in Pattaya
Thanks for the full explanation of what happened, it's an impressive talent you have. -
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Bhutan Seeks Thai Expertise to Boost Tourism Amid Cultural Festivities
So all the other countries.world wide who do accept tourists with class yet don't charge the fee..... -
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Lavish Government Spending Under Fire as Labour Pledges Crackdown
Civil servants have come under scrutiny for extravagant spending on taxpayer-funded credit cards, prompting the government to pledge tighter controls. Reports reveal that officials have used these cards for luxurious expenses, including stays at high-end hotels, outings to a Barbados yacht club, and even a course on "value for money." Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, is set to announce a crackdown on Whitehall’s use of government-issued credit cards. While Labour previously criticized the Conservative government for reckless spending, recent revelations have embarrassed the party, showing that costly expenditures have continued unchecked since Labour came to power last July. McFadden has since launched an urgent review into the issue, with measures expected to limit who can access these cards and what they can be used for. Shortly after the general election, the Cabinet Office charged £1,820 to a government credit card for a course on “value for money.” In July, the Prison and Probation Service spent £814 at “Chips Isle of Wight,” a retailer specializing in retro video games. The Department for Education also racked up a £7,230 bill with the Marriott hotel chain for an “away day” event for civil servants in August. In November, the Department for Business spent £1,080 at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts' business program, which claims to use acting techniques to improve leadership and public speaking skills. December saw even more controversial spending, with Angela Rayner’s housing department paying £609 to rent a meeting space at a city farm just a mile from its taxpayer-funded offices. That same month, the Foreign Office spent nearly £11,000 at John Lewis and another £1,300 at the luxury department store Fortnum & Mason. Additionally, David Lammy’s department charged £650 to a specialist chandelier firm and £4,100 for swimming pool maintenance. A Labour insider defended the government’s stance, saying, “We will not allow taxpayers’ money to be frittered away in this irresponsible way. We will be ruthless in tackling the waste to which the Tories turned a blind eye, so we can prioritise cash on more hospital appointments, teachers in classrooms, and police back on the beat. To get a grip on the problem, Pat McFadden has ordered an urgent review of who has access to these government credit cards and what they can be used to purchase. We will set out more action in the coming weeks.” Records indicate that extravagant spending has persisted for years. In January 2023, Foreign Office staff spent £920 at the Nassau Yacht Club in Barbados, £965 at a bowling club in Toronto, and £2,900 at an art deco cinema in Wellington, New Zealand. The following October, the department spent £673 on a website that sells life-size celebrity cardboard cutouts, including a full-sized replica of Harry Styles priced at £45. In November 2022, another £684 was spent at a leisure company in the Lake District offering axe-throwing and clay pigeon shooting. A government spokesperson emphasized efforts to curb wasteful spending, stating, “We are fully focused on tackling wasteful spending and inefficiency across government. That’s why we are carrying out huge reforms to create an agile and productive state. We are fundamentally changing the way public services, civil servants, and the UK deliver for the public, building on the first eight months of the Government’s agenda.” Foreign embassies sometimes use procurement cards to host political and business leaders or to promote Britain’s interests abroad. However, as scrutiny intensifies, Labour’s promised crackdown is expected to introduce significant changes to the use of taxpayer-backed credit cards. Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-03-18 -
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Migrants ‘treated badly by press’, fairness handbook tells judges
A judicial handbook advising judges on fair treatment in court has sparked criticism for its stance on migrants and its use of a contentious definition of Islamophobia. The Equal Treatment Bench Book, a 352-page document published annually by the Judicial College, aims to enhance judges' understanding of those appearing before them and to promote effective communication in courtrooms. However, critics argue that it promotes political bias and a two-tier justice system. The handbook states that migrants and asylum seekers face negative portrayals in sections of the UK press and some political debates. It notes that many have suffered imprisonment, torture, or rape before fleeing their home countries and that asylum seekers in the UK often experience high levels of stress due to insecurity, social isolation, and the fear of deportation. The guide cites figures from the Home Office, highlighting that while the UK received 74,751 asylum applications in 2022, Germany processed 244,132 and France 156,103. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has criticized the guide, calling it a sign of a politically influenced judiciary. “This guidance is another concerning example of the politicisation of the judiciary. Sentencing decisions should be made on the facts of the case, not on activist guidelines which are pro-open borders. Illegal migrants and asylum seekers who break the law should not be treated any less robustly than a British citizen, otherwise we have a two-tier system.” The handbook also adopts the definition of Islamophobia proposed by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on British Muslims in 2018, which states that “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” The definition has been widely criticized, including by Muslim groups, for being overly broad and potentially restricting free speech. Fiyaz Mughal, founder of Tell MAMA, an organization that monitors anti-Muslim hate incidents, expressed serious concerns about its inclusion. “We’re now moving into Stasi-land when such a loose definition [is used] through which a coach and horses could be driven through by people who want to defend their Muslimness, and which can be used to stop free speech and the right of people to question beliefs. The judiciary always is willing to listen to issues of inclusion but this avenue is being abused by some really bad actors to attempt to get a form of protection of religious beliefs and practices through the back door and through our judiciary.” Jenrick also condemned the handbook’s stance on the matter, saying, “The APPG definition of Islamophobia is a Trojan horse for a blasphemy law — the judiciary should stick to established law to tackle anti-Muslim hate, not writing in ever more expansive definitions.” The guide further advises judges not to raise “unnecessary objections regarding dress code” in cases where defendants wear a full-face veil and encourages them to “show understanding” if defendants are unable to attend court due to religious observances. The Judicial Office has been contacted for comment on the controversy surrounding the handbook. Based on a report by The Times 2025-03-18
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