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Re US retirees - Updating bank account for SSA direct deposit.
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Thailand plans 14 new floating solar farms to boost renewable energy
Watch all their work get destroyed.....lol -
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Trump's 'huge lie' shows 'he’s taking everyone for an idiot': analysis
Trump's 'huge lie' shows 'he’s taking everyone for an idiot' And it's working! These geniuses didn't have clue: Muslims who voted for Trump upset by his pro-Israel cabinet picks What? He's pro Israel? Who'da thunk? What next, that he favors Putin over his own country? C'mon, how can that be? -
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Renew Thai DL on METV (Now that Embassy no longer gives POR)
Hi, Thanks for replies. Seems reasonable. When we first started going to thailand to stay there for winter we were going to have GF do TM30 for me in her house (her name is on book), but when we asked at local police station (we have house in Prawet district of BKK) they said it really was not a big deal so we never did it. I only mentioned the "lease" cause I thought that was needed to get the TM30, like there needed to be some sort of contract to show I am staying at their house, but if that just be placed on the TM30 form itself and no supporting documentation needed that would be even better. So just fill out attached at take to immigration along with GF and all the usuall passport and visa junk and should be able to get the TM30? Appreciate it Darren -
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THIS is how Farang keep SUPER-CLEAN in Thailand: Being Farang, I use "SuperClean".
Your post are like an AI on magic mushrooms. -
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U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation to Counter UN Actions Against Israel
U.S. Senators Katie Britt of Alabama and Jim Risch of Idaho have introduced the Stand with Israel Act, a bill aimed at countering perceived bias and actions against Israel within the United Nations. The legislation seeks to prohibit U.S. funding for any UN agency that moves to expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise limit Israel's participation. Senator Britt emphasized the importance of standing with Israel, particularly in light of recent events. “The UN should be pressuring Hamas to release every single hostage, not punishing Israel for defending her people and her very existence. There has been a troubling pattern of anti-Israel sentiment across the UN and its affiliated bodies that has undoubtedly undermined their credibility. Not a single dime of taxpayer money should be used to support or fuel antisemitism. It is imperative we use every tool in our toolbox to stand firm with the Jewish people and our great ally, Israel. This includes rooting out and condemning antisemitism in every corner of our own nation,” Britt stated. Senator Risch also expressed strong disapproval of efforts to challenge Israel's status at the UN, describing such attempts as inherently antisemitic. “Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly antisemitic. If UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the United States must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all I can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences,” Risch remarked. The legislation has garnered widespread support, with Senators Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, Bill Cassidy, and others co-sponsoring the measure. In total, 34 Republican senators have signed on, signaling a unified stance against what they perceive as UN actions undermining Israel’s position. This Senate initiative parallels bipartisan efforts in the House of Representatives, where Congressman Mike Lawler introduced companion legislation, HR 9374. Together, these bills reflect a commitment by U.S. lawmakers to reinforce their longstanding alliance with Israel and combat perceived antisemitism within international organizations. Text of the Stand with Israel Act can be found here. Based on a report by "britt.senate.gov" 2024-11-16 -
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Essex Police Under Scrutiny for Domestic Abuse Failures Amid Investigation of Allison Pears
Essex Police, the force currently investigating Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson, has faced significant criticism for its track record on protecting women. Recent figures reveal that the force has had the lowest rate of warnings about potentially abusive partners under Clare’s Law, a measure designed to protect individuals from domestic violence. Clare’s Law, named after Clare Wood, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2009, enables individuals to request information about a partner’s history of abusive behavior. The law operates through two mechanisms: the Right to Ask and the Right to Know. The Right to Ask allows individuals to inquire about their own partner or someone close to them, while the Right to Know requires police to assess domestic abuse intelligence and determine whether potential victims should be informed. In Essex, the Right to Know is applied in every reported domestic abuse incident, with police evaluating whether an internal application for disclosure should be made. If approved, this process enables the proactive release of information to protect a potential victim. However, statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the year ending March 2023 show that Essex Police had the lowest Right to Know disclosure rate in England and Wales, acting on just 6.84 percent of cases. This figure stands in stark contrast to the national average. Across England and Wales, the rate of Right to Know disclosures has dropped significantly in recent years, from 55.3 percent in 2019 to 42.5 percent in 2023. Despite the decline, the number of internal applications for disclosure under this scheme has risen sharply, increasing by 147 percent from 7,252 in 2019 to 17,925 in 2023. The Right to Ask mechanism has experienced similar trends. The rate of disclosures under this route fell from 40 percent in 2019 to 35.8 percent in 2023, even as applications quadrupled from 6,496 to 27,419 in the same period. Det Supt Matt Cornish, Essex Police’s lead on domestic abuse, acknowledged the need for improvement. “We recognize that we need to do more to support victims,” he said. He outlined the rigorous considerations involved in disclosure decisions, including whether the information is necessary to protect the person, whether there is an urgent need for the disclosure, and whether it is proportionate to prevent further crime. Legal advice is sought in complex cases to ensure decisions are made appropriately. The scrutiny of Essex Police's handling of domestic abuse cases comes amid broader criticism of the force. In July, a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation revealed that in Thurrock, Essex, 93 percent of car-related crimes resulted in no suspect being identified. This adds to the growing concerns about the force’s overall effectiveness and prioritization of resources. As Essex Police works to address these issues, the statistics highlight the challenges it faces in balancing procedural rigor with the urgent need to protect victims of domestic abuse. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-11-16 -
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Accusations of Hypocrisy as Private Jet use Doubles Travelling to Cop29
Private jet traffic to Baku, Azerbaijan, has surged as global leaders and influential figures gather for the UN’s annual climate summit, Cop29, igniting accusations of hypocrisy over the choice of high-emission travel. In the lead-up to the event, Baku’s international airport recorded 65 private jet landings, with 45 arriving on Sunday and Monday as delegates convened. This marks a significant increase from last year, when 32 private jets landed during the same period. While this count is lower than in Dubai last year or Glasgow in 2021, the surge in high-carbon flights has drawn attention, especially as high-profile attendees seek to address the global climate crisis. The optics of these arrivals have triggered criticism from environmental advocates who highlight the outsized emissions linked to private jets. Denise Auclair, representing the Travel Smart Campaign, stressed the impact of these flights, noting, “Private jets have a disproportionate impact on the environment. They are five to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes per passenger and 50 times more polluting than trains. The number of arrivals by private jet we are seeing at Cop29 puts front and center the hypocrisy of using a private jet while claiming to be fighting climate change.” Auclair added that for some executives, a single long-haul private flight can produce more CO₂ than multiple people might emit over the course of an entire year. This critique echoes findings from Linnaeus University in Sweden, where researchers analyzed over 18.6 million private flights, revealing that certain celebrities produce over 500 times the annual carbon emissions of the average person. Events such as the 2022 Qatar World Cup and last year’s Cannes Film Festival have been linked to major spikes in private jet use. In comparison, last year’s Cop28 in Dubai saw 644 private flights, which collectively emitted an estimated 4,800 tonnes of CO₂. Despite these figures, sources close to aviation operations argue there are “understandable” reasons for some dignitaries to forgo commercial travel, citing security and logistical challenges. Yet the environmental impact remains clear. Between 2019 and last year, annual private aviation emissions rose by 46 percent, reaching 15.6 million tonnes of CO₂—roughly equivalent to Nepal’s yearly emissions. Climate advocates like Alethea Warrington of the charity Possible denounce the practice. “For CEOs who claim to care about tackling the climate crisis, using a private jet to get to Cop shows blatant hypocrisy,” Warrington stated. “Travelling by private jet is a horrendous waste of the world’s scarce remaining carbon budget, with each journey producing more emissions in a few hours than the average person around the world emits in an entire year.” The conference also saw some notable absences, with leaders from several of the top 13 carbon-emitting nations, including U.S. President Biden, China’s President Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, opting not to attend. Argentina’s President Javier Milei went a step further, ordering his country’s representatives to withdraw entirely from Cop29. Known for his controversial views on climate change, which he once dismissed as a “socialist lie,” Milei has also signaled the possibility of Argentina’s exit from the Paris Agreement, which mandates greenhouse gas reductions. With over 67,000 people registered, this year’s conference is the second largest in history, following Dubai’s Cop28. The gathering has underscored the urgency of addressing climate change but also highlighted ongoing challenges in aligning global commitments with the actual practices of those in power. For many critics, the arrival of private jets in such high numbers is a troubling contradiction at a moment demanding tangible action. Based on a report by The Times 2024-11-16 -
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Council Tax Bills to Increase by Over £100 in April Amid Cap Freeze
Families in England are bracing for significant council tax hikes in April, as the government confirms a cap on increases will remain at 5 percent. This move sets the stage for bills to rise substantially, with the average family facing an increase of more than £100—almost three times the current rate of inflation. Sir Keir Starmer’s press secretary clarified the government’s stance during a briefing on Wednesday, stating that the threshold allowing councils to raise taxes “isn’t changing.” This confirmation follows an exchange in the House of Commons, where Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Starmer to confirm whether the cap would be altered. Although Starmer avoided directly addressing the question, his press secretary later reiterated, “The threshold remains the same.” Under the unchanged cap, local authorities can impose a rise of up to 5 percent without requiring a referendum or special government permission. This increase far exceeds the current inflation rate of 1.7 percent. For the average band D property, council tax bills are set to climb to £2,171 for the 2024–25 financial year—an increase of £106 compared to the previous year. Households in the highest band, band H, will see even steeper hikes, with last year’s £4,342 bill rising by £217. In recent years, council tax increases were limited to 2.99 percent, with an additional 2 percent permitted for councils managing social care responsibilities. However, the ability to raise taxes by up to 5 percent has become critical for many local authorities. A survey by the Local Government Association revealed that one in four councils anticipates needing emergency financial support to avoid bankruptcy within the next two years. Despite this, some councils may hesitate to implement the full increase, given the upcoming local elections in May. Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council and chairman of the County Councils Network, acknowledged the budget allocation's marginal benefits but emphasized that it falls short of resolving broader financial challenges. “The money does not eradicate councils’ funding gap,” Oliver explained, pointing to rising costs driven by the new minimum wage as an additional strain. “Therefore, councils will have little choice but to raise council tax and still will need to take difficult decisions over services to balance their budgets.” As local governments grapple with financial pressures and essential services hang in the balance, the decision to freeze the cap on council tax increases underscores the ongoing tension between fiscal responsibility and meeting community needs. For many families, the rising costs represent a growing burden amidst already challenging economic conditions. Based on a report by The Times 2024-11-16
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