rickudon

19 million dollars is a big incentive to lie. Is there any evidence other than her claims?

Good to see that police and immigration authorities were doing their job well. Plus one respect.

The impact of this climate change is creeping up slowly. the deniers will always be able to quote some historical climate event that was worse, but the reality is that give it another 10 years and many people will be impacted by some event (whether it be heat wave, forest fires, droughts, floods or unusual storms) nearly every year. Maybe not many deaths, but the financial costs will make many countries, and families, poorer - a bit like wars. Prevention is better than doing continuous repairs.

Torching ambulances is a poor choice of targets to show your displeasure at Israel's wars. Plenty of other targets which are more relevant, just needs a bit of research and planning.

Israel started this war as soon as Oman announced Iran's agreement to give up their 60% enriched Uranium - Israel wants to destroy Iran, the Uranium is an excuse. Killing Iran's leaders just ensures the war wouldn't end quickly. Israel is now busy trying to destroy Iran's infrastructure, they want a dysfunctional state like in Syria and Lebanon (also Israel's doing). Israel has a long history of assassinating any of their enemies who try to make peace deals with the USA. Total Middle-east hegemony is Israel's aim.

Not all, there are fee free cards, like Halifax Clarity. The only 'fee' is the Mastercard currency exchange rate. Typically, this gives me about 0.7 baht less per GBP than the midmarket rate; usually slightly better than Wise. Obviously, you still have to pay interest on the debt, so payoff as soon as the transaction is posted on your card account.

Trump will look for an exit. Probably Cuba. Trump has rally been sucker punched by Israel. Regime change was unlikely, and as soon as Oman announced that Iran had agreed to give up there 60% uranium, Israel attacked, as the last thing they wanted was an Iran which had averted the war. Israel took out the Iranian leaders AND any moderate leaders who might do a deal with the USA. Result - the hard-liners are now in charge who have no interest in ANY deal. That suits Israel, who will enjoy destroying Iranian infrastructure until it is too weak to present any threat. Also, Turkey is next apparently. Iran signed a deal with the USA and major European countries to stop enriching Uranium above commercial levels, and the IAEA found no evidence of any transgressions. Trump scrapped that deal in 2018. Iran was only enriching the Uranium to pressurise for a new deal. Khamanei had issued a fatwa banning nuclear weapons. It would be an offence against god to do so while that fatwa was in place. Iran is a technologically advanced country, if Pakistan could develop nuclear weapons, Iran could have done so years ago. Israel has one aim - hegemony over the whole middle-east. From resolution 181, pushed by the USA (which allocated 56% of Palestine to Jews, even though Arabs made up 60% of the population) to the present day, Israel has ignored all that the UN has stood for with full support of the USA and the acquiescence of most Western states; Israel developed nuclear weapons but it is Iran that is being punished for supposedly wanting them, not Israel. One fact that most do not realise - where are Israeli nuclear missiles aimed at? Not just other Middle-eastern nations, but Europe as well. Ignore the Israeli propaganda. Israel is the real cancer.

In Udon Thani diesel is mainly sold out. No problem with 91 and 95, although some petrol stations limiting sales to 500 or 1,000 baht. No big queues. I filled up last week, and as schools on holiday, have enough until May. Wife has electric bike for short haul.

Today 2 reports in Udon of fuel rationing at the pumps....

Netanyahu led Trump by the nose into this war. When AIPAC saw that a deal was getting close, Israel decided what the USA would do. Everyone else in the world (apart from Putin) suffers the consequences. Israel doesn't care if USA gets bogged down in a never ending war, they got what they wanted; massive chaos in Iran (and the rest of the Middle-East); they want weak neighbours.

12 years on marriage and only home visit was the one 12 years ago. But then i'm not a yank, so not at risk...

No. The land was stolen from the previous occupants. That was a done thing in the past, but not acceptable in the last 100 years or so.

I use Krungsri bank to do a counter withdrawal at least once a month using my credit card. No fees (it is a Mastercard). Other banks have declined to do so or want to charge a fee. I usually take 50,000 baht a time. Never tried for more.

Last 20 years have seen more problems than solutions. Sliding into Dystopia - think Trump, more wars, degrading environment.

If not in Udon for 15 years, the road infrastructure is vastly improved. Also UDtown created which is a large open air shopping area and entertainment/ food area, next to railway station.