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British family makes desperate plea for grandfather seriously ill in Thailand
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Less-Refined Farang: Are Farang in Asia now less refined than before?
This too concerns me as I prepare for a working vacation to BKK. But really I know the writing is on the wall. As I searched on YouTube for information on BKK, all I could find was how to live on a pittance in BKK and still have fun. Worse still are the posts on how groups of Indians club their money together to go all in on a group shag of a prostitute in order to save money (even commenting on the "bonus" shag to be had by all in the morning). Probably its age-related. I was a backpacker for couple of years out of college but these days I find them irritating. Couple years ago I met up with a friend in Tokyo. For some incomprehensible reason he brought along 2 European backpackers to dinner with us. After dinner they argued that I needed to pay more based on their calculation. I said, I couldn't care less and paid for the whole dinner. Later we went to a bar and they were counting up coins to pay for their drinks. Again I felt so sorry for them I paid the bill myself. Just embarrassing all the way round. So, I will do my best to avoid these situations. As one poster said, just head to the high class places. This is what I am optimistic for BKK - i am hoping to be able to frequent top class venues for a fraction of the price found in Tokyo, Shanghai, HK, etc. I suppose I will do a reconnaissance of Soi-Cowboy and other such places in order to be informed. But, to the OP's point, and with no experience of BKK myself, I would hope there is a high class, top notch experience to be had away from the YouTubers, backpackers, Social-Security brigade. -
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Starmer’s Attempt to Block BBC Report on Sue Gray’s Salary Sparks Controversy
Sir Keir Starmer personally intervened to prevent the BBC from reporting that his chief of staff, Sue Gray, was earning more than him, enlisting the help of Britain’s most senior civil servant, Simon Case. The cabinet secretary contacted both the BBC’s director-general, Tim Davie, and political editor, Chris Mason, urging them to reconsider broadcasting details about Gray’s pay rise. The controversy arose when the BBC informed Downing Street that it was preparing to reveal that Gray had secured a salary increase to £170,000—£3,000 more than Starmer himself earns as prime minister. Starmer and his team were determined to keep this information from the public, believing it would set a dangerous precedent. They also rejected claims that Gray had orchestrated her own pay raise and viewed the report as a hostile and anonymous attack on a respected civil servant who had previously authored the partygate report. Case’s direct intervention was notable, as such high-level conversations between government officials and the BBC are typically reserved for matters of national security or situations that could endanger UK personnel. While he stopped short of explicitly telling the BBC not to run the story, he emphasized concerns over its wider implications. He argued that exposing Gray’s exact salary would cross a line and warned that excessive media scrutiny of public servants could deter talented individuals from taking on senior roles in government and broadcasting. Although government salaries for special advisers are published in pay bands annually, the precise disclosure of Gray’s earnings was unusual. Starmer’s aides were also growing increasingly frustrated with what they saw as sarcastic and aggressive anonymous briefings against Gray from within Downing Street, some of which were leaked to the BBC. One insider even mocked Gray’s role in preparing Labour for government, quipping, “If you ever see any evidence of our preparation for government, please let me know.” Despite these efforts, the BBC proceeded with the story on September 18. Mason later defended the corporation’s decision, citing the public interest in transparency and accountability. The fallout was swift, fueling accusations of dysfunction within Starmer’s administration. The controversy forced Starmer to insist that he remained "completely in control" of his government, but the damage was done. The situation became so toxic that Gray was absent from the Labour Party conference the following week. A little more than two weeks later, she was dismissed, marking a dramatic end to her tenure as Starmer’s chief of staff. The incident has raised serious questions about Labour’s internal cohesion and the prime minister’s ability to manage his top team in the early days of his administration. Based on a report by Sunday Times 2025-02-10 -
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Labour Faces Fresh Crisis as Second MP Caught in Controversial WhatsApp Group
Labour is under increasing pressure to take action against a second MP linked to a controversial WhatsApp group that circulated sexist and racist messages. This comes after Andrew Gwynne was removed from his role as a health minister following the exposure of offensive online exchanges, including one message where he expressed hope that an elderly voter who didn’t support Labour would "die before the next election." "Housing Minister it’s ‘concerning’ Labour councillors didn’t call out antisemitic WhatsApp messages." One of the most shocking exchanges involved a 72-year-old woman who had contacted her local councillor regarding bin collections. After she mentioned that she hadn’t voted Labour but wanted to raise an issue, Gwynne allegedly wrote a suggested response: “Dear resident, F*** your bins. I’m re-elected and without your vote. Screw you. PS: Hopefully you’ll have croaked it by the all-outs.” The term "all-outs" refers to elections where all council seats are contested at once. The leaked messages, obtained by *The Mail on Sunday*, contained further offensive content. Gwynne was found to have written that someone "sounds too Jewish" and "too militaristic," seemingly based solely on their name. Other messages included racist remarks about veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott, mocking her historic achievement of becoming the first Black MP to speak at Prime Minister’s Questions. There were also sexist comments about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and crude references to a local Labour leader. Discussing an upcoming Labour meeting, one group member referenced Marshall Rosenberg, a late American psychologist known for conflict resolution techniques. Gwynne responded: “No. He sounds too militaristic and too Jewish. Is he in Mossad?” The remark plays into an enduring anti-Semitic stereotype, according to Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Anti-Semitism. Gwynne’s history with online controversy dates back to 2018 when it was revealed he was in a Facebook group called "Labour Supporters," where anti-Semitic messages were shared. At the time, he distanced himself, saying: “I was added to this Facebook group without my knowledge or permission. I DO NOT support the posts and I ABHOR anti-Semitism. It has absolutely NO place in the Labour Party or in society. End of.” However, just months later, he was engaging in anti-Semitic banter in the WhatsApp group, even joking, “Geoffrey the Giraffe says don’t be nasty to the Jews,” referencing the mascot of the defunct Toys R Us chain. Gwynne also made offensive jokes about Diane Abbott’s role at Prime Minister’s Questions in October 2019. Abbott’s appearance was a historic moment as she became the first Black parliamentarian to represent her party in the weekly debate. When a group member questioned whether this moment was "a joke," Gwynne replied: "Because it’s Black History Month apparently." Another councillor suggested alternative Black MPs, both living and dead, saying: "Was David Lammy not available? I’d also take the corpse of Bernie Grant." Gwynne then added: "Or Desmond Swayne? Justin Trudeau??" This appeared to be a reference to the two politicians’ past controversies involving blackface caricatures. With Labour already reeling from the fallout of Gwynne’s removal, pressure is mounting for further disciplinary action. Whether others in the WhatsApp group will face consequences remains unclear, but the scandal has once again raised concerns about inappropriate behaviour within the party’s ranks. Based on a report by Daily Mail | Sky News 2025-02-10 -
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Plans for Chinese Mega-Embassy in London Spark Protests, National Security Concerns
Thousands of demonstrators, including prominent politicians, gathered in east London on Saturday to protest against plans for a massive new Chinese embassy, which critics warn poses a serious threat to national security. China initially submitted its embassy plans in 2022, but Tower Hamlets borough council rejected the proposal. Speculation suggested that the Conservative government at the time would have supported the decision had China appealed. However, just weeks after the Labour Party’s general election victory, Beijing resubmitted its largely unchanged plans. Tom Tugendhat, the shadow security minister, echoed Jenrick’s concerns, arguing that the embassy represents an extension of China’s authoritarian influence. “This protest is not about bricks and mortar. This protest is not about our relationship with the Chinese people we’re proud to call friends,” he said. “This protest is about the CCP. It is about the spread of oppression and silence and fear. It is about the hatred that Xi Jinping and his Marxist nationalist ideology have spread in China. And we will not allow it to spread here in London.” The demonstration saw around 2,000 protesters chanting “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong” and “Mega embassy, mega no.” Many had traveled from across the UK, arriving on coaches from Scotland, Liverpool, Reading, and Manchester. Police clashed with masked demonstrators as tensions escalated, with officers forced to retreat as protesters linked arms and moved aggressively toward them. Several senior political figures joined the protest, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader, and Blair McDougall, Labour MP for East Renfrewshire. Despite the widespread opposition, Beijing has found support within the UK government. The embassy application was reportedly a topic of discussion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a recent phone call. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared to back the project in a joint letter to the Planning Inspectorate last month. Crucially, they revealed that the Metropolitan Police had withdrawn its previous objections—greatly improving Beijing’s chances of securing planning approval. UK foreign secretary David Lammy and home secretary Yvette Cooper have intervened on China’s planning application for an enormous new London embassy, signalling their support while outlining conditions for the proposed site. In a joint letter to the Planning Inspectorate for England on Jan 14, Lammy and Cooper stressed the “importance of countries having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals”. While the final decision remains pending, the strong public backlash suggests that the battle over the proposed Chinese mega-embassy is far from over. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph | Financial Times 2025-02-10 -
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Time to End "Pay to Slay" the Palestinian Authority’s Terror Funding Network
With President Donald Trump’s inauguration, 2025 marks a critical opportunity for change in both the United States and the Middle East. One of the most pressing issues demanding immediate action is the financial pipeline that channels Western aid into the hands of terrorists, in direct violation of both U.S. and Israeli law. At the heart of this system are the Palestinian Authority’s Martyrs’ Fund and Prisoners’ Fund—programs that sustain and incentivize violence through direct payments. The numbers are staggering. In 2016 alone, the PA allocated $315 million—amounting to 8% of its budget—toward payments for terrorists and their families. These monthly stipends frequently surpass the average salary in the West Bank. PA President Mahmoud Abbas has openly declared, “If we are left with one penny, we will spend it on the families of prisoners and martyrs.” The financial incentives don’t stop with monthly payments; terrorists released from Israeli prisons receive additional benefits. Those who served between one and three years are given a $1,500 bonus, while prisoners incarcerated for 30 years or more receive $25,000. In addition to these payments, they are granted free health insurance, university tuition waivers, and guaranteed government jobs, with promotions linked to the length of their prison sentences. Those who served the longest are awarded ranks equivalent to senior government officials. The tragic case of Taylor Force, a 28-year-old West Point graduate, highlights the deadly consequences of these policies. In 2016, Force was brutally stabbed to death in a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. Despite his senseless murder, the terrorist’s family continues to receive monthly payments from the PA. In response, Congress passed the Taylor Force Act in 2018, halting U.S. economic aid to the PA until these payments ceased. However, despite this legislation, the Biden administration did little to pressure the PA into ending its terror stipends. Recent events have only worsened the problem. The PA’s official newspaper, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, recently reported that 23,210 new “martyrs” and 3,550 new prisoners—including many Hamas members—became eligible for payments following the October 7, 2023, attacks. In addition, the 734 terrorists released as part of the January 26, 2025, prisoner exchange have already received nearly $142 million in compensation. One of them, Muhammad Al-Tous, has personally been awarded $631,394. The international community must recognize that the PA’s survival is dependent on foreign aid, much of which ends up funding terrorism. Yet, instead of taking responsibility, PA leaders frame any attempt to cut off these payments as “aggression against the Palestinian people.” Abbas has gone as far as to call these payments a “social responsibility,” even as his administration sought to gain control over Gaza—a move that would effectively hand governing power to an entity financing terror. The Trump administration now has a chance to reverse this dangerous reality. The PA must be held accountable for its role in sustaining terrorism, and international donors must be pressured to stop enabling a system that rewards violence. The time for action is now. Based on a report by USA Today | Washington Examiner 2025-02-10 Related Topics Legislation Reintroduced to Sanction Palestinian Leadership Over Terror Payments -
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Europe’s Far-Right Leaders Rally Behind Trump, Call for a Conservative Revival
At a major gathering in Madrid, far-right political leaders from across Europe heaped praise on Donald Trump, expressing their desire to emulate his political success and bring a similar right-wing resurgence to the continent. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italy’s deputy premier Matteo Salvini, French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, and Dutch PVV founder Geert Wilders were among those in attendance at the event, organized by Spain’s far-right Vox party. Addressing a crowd of around 2,000 flag-waving supporters, the speakers condemned illegal immigration, leftist policies, migrant rescue NGOs, and what they described as the dangers of "wokeism." Orbán, a staunch Trump ally, celebrated what he called “the Trump tornado,” stating that the former US president’s victory in the upcoming November election would have global consequences. “Yesterday we were heretics, today we're mainstream,” he proclaimed, suggesting that Trump’s rise was shifting political dynamics worldwide. The audience cheered in agreement, with regular jeers directed at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Throughout the event, there were frequent calls for a new "Reconquista," a reference to the medieval Christian conquest of Muslim-controlled regions in Spain. This historical parallel was used to frame the fight against immigration and multiculturalism as a cultural and political battle. Despite concerns over Trump’s threats to impose heavy tariffs on European imports, Salvini and Vox president Santiago Abascal dismissed these fears, arguing that the European Union’s own policies—such as the Green Deal and economic regulations—posed a greater risk to European prosperity. One of the dominant themes of the conference was the need to fortify Europe’s borders against illegal immigration, even though statistics from the EU border control agency Frontex indicate that irregular border crossings dropped significantly in 2024. Nevertheless, speakers continued to highlight immigration as a central threat to European identity and security. Marine Le Pen emphasized the strategic importance of their political movement, boasting that their Patriots for Europe group, which holds 84 seats in the European Parliament, would be “the only ones that can talk with the new Trump administration.” This assertion underscored the belief among Europe’s far-right leaders that a second Trump presidency would provide a crucial opportunity to reshape transatlantic relations and strengthen nationalist movements across the continent. The gathering in Madrid signaled a coordinated effort among Europe's far-right parties to capitalize on Trump’s influence, presenting themselves as the true defenders of traditional values, national sovereignty, and economic freedom. With the U.S. election looming, their message was clear: a Trump-style political transformation in Europe is not just desirable, but inevitable. Based on a report by BBC 2025-02-10
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