https://aseannow.com/rss/44-thailand-news.xml/National and regional news from all around ThailandenStealing Venezuela’s oil !! how low can you yanks get !!!Sun, 17 May 2026 04:32:26 +0000Yes, another farang that is allergic to Thai food but ok. The weight on foreigners is shocking. I'm even more shocked to see it on expats. It's all pub grub and beer for the men and breads and sweets for the farang fatty women - although never noticed many if any women in business coming to Asia I know the vast majority of you don't pay cash for the seat. You spend years tallying up every conceivable point on your Visa cards which have learned every detail about your lives in the process. You buy a discounted ticket. It's an extension on the two week baht millionaire scheme 🤣Sun, 17 May 2026 04:31:23 +0000Very poor driving and decision making from bus driver. You simply do not get caught in traffic in such a dangerous position. According to driving laws here, you aren't even supposed to stop within 5 meters of the track, not that that would be observed anyhow. However, poor operational procedures on behalf of the railway management are also to blame... and comes off as completely "yee-haw, let's saddle up boys".Sun, 17 May 2026 04:31:09 +0000This has NOTHING to do with AI. Stop joking. This has been the concesnsus of informed science opinion for many decades. Even the crazy Mormons know this.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:30:38 +0000Back than when I got into Asia Now, they use to reveal the members who replied to posts, they stopped allowing it for some privacy issue or somthing, I say bring it back, let the people put the name where their comments are, or are they hiding behind anonymity to be able to put out their putrid opinions, com'on, be a man/women and front up.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:30:13 +0000What a joke !! would not be in a yanks shoes right now !!Sun, 17 May 2026 04:29:10 +0000Can you not read? Both UK airports I pictures are fast track immigration on arrival. Many other countries have the same as I said. Some countries don't. From the tone of your posts (hiso, business passengers are fat) it is clear you have a chip on your shoulder. I'll continue to travel how I like, you do you, and keep feeling bitter about it. Bye bye.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:29:07 +0000Boiling Blood keeps one young. I agree.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:29:02 +0000There is NO loyalty on Taiwan. The entire island is infested with passive-aggressive backbiters. Disgusting, really..... Disgusting culture. You know, when the the Mainlanders fled to Taiwan, they were completely disgusted. Even the Japs were happy to finally be rid of that Island Albatross. We fortified Taiwan in many ways to offset Chinese influence in the area. We offered tremendous and crazy economic support. BUT........"ARE THEY GRATEFUL" "NO.....THEY'RE SPITEFUL......" You gotta live there in Taiwan to see the lack of loyalty. Ha! Loyalty in Taiwan? JOKING.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They scam each other. They use passive-aggressive PAYBACK schemes to attack their own kind. And, you talk of loyalty from these islanders? No Way Jose...Sun, 17 May 2026 04:27:51 +0000I see a patriot with her heart in the right place, but doing it all wrong. There is nothing extreme rightwing or neo-nazi about it. Just the left likes those words.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:26:29 +0000Well, you learned something today Gramps. You're welcomeSun, 17 May 2026 04:25:42 +0000...... and it now is.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:25:09 +0000BileSun, 17 May 2026 04:24:57 +0000In western Myanmar, rice farmer Maung Nu Sein is facing a grim calculation. Fuel to plough his fields and fertiliser to nourish his crops are stuck 2,000 miles away, blocked by Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Already battered by five years of civil war, Myanmar’s farmers now find themselves squeezed by a distant conflict that has sent costs soaring and supplies dwindling. The coup of 2021 plunged the country into turmoil, displacing millions and wrecking the economy. Farmers in Rakhine state were struggling with low rice prices and military blockades long before the Middle East crisis. But the closure of one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes has compounded their misery. Myanmar imports 90% of its fuel and almost all fertiliser, much of it routed through Hormuz. Without it, rice yields are collapsing. The World Food Programme warns that the timing could not be worse. Fertiliser demand peaks as planting season begins, yet prices have spiralled beyond reach. Ploughing a field that once cost $24 in fuel now costs nearly $500. “The rice we sell does not even cover the cost of fuel,” says Maung Nu Sein, who has halved the land he cultivates. The human toll is stark. Families are eating half‑meals, pawning property, and begging on the streets. In makeshift camps, displaced mothers grind chilli to eat with rice, while newborns go hungry for lack of milk. The WFP estimates 12.5 million people in Myanmar are already food insecure, and warns of famine‑like conditions if supplies do not resume. Even in Yangon, far from the front lines, daily costs have doubled. Tailors cannot afford fabric, parents struggle with school fees, and basic staples have risen by more than 20% since the Iran war began. Experts caution that the crisis could ripple across Asia, denting rice production at a time when El Niño threatens hotter, drier conditions. For Myanmar, the convergence of civil war and global conflict is devastating. “This war is increasingly choking us,” says Maung Nu Sein. “If we don’t do the farming, who will feed us?” -2026-05-17Sun, 17 May 2026 04:23:42 +0000So, by your own admission. Of the airports you have specifically named only hiso Dubai has priority VIP. Which given the culture I'm not at all surprised. Fast track in your photo I presume is prescreened security not pay4play priority. You've actually made my case. Thanks Y'all can get married or get in line like the plebs you are. US definitely does not have vip serviceSun, 17 May 2026 04:21:58 +0000And I'm still sticking by that statement, don't take my words for it, all you have to do is go to google/wikipedia and search for '' inventions and discoveries by jewish people'' and do the same for Arab/Muslim people and see the results. back than, jewish people were without a country or an army, I dare anyone to fluck with us now.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:21:31 +0000Lived in my nice muban here in Don Muang for 27 years. Never heard of this before. Called a few friends living in different mubans around Bangkok and Nonthaburi and they have never heard of this either. Perhaps you could expand or explain where you came up with this.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:20:53 +0000Kash Patel, a one-eyed monster, is on the job and taking out these terrorists. Just on Friday: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iraqi-national-arrested-and-charged-providing-material-support-iranian-backed-terroristSun, 17 May 2026 04:20:23 +0000Students in Yangon gathered this week to celebrate the four‑year milestone of a scholarship programme funded by the Bank of China and the University of Yangon. The initiative, launched in 2022, has supported 100 students with stipends covering tuition, travel and books — easing financial burdens and motivating young people to pursue their studies. The ceremony, reported by Xinhua, was attended by Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Education Zaw Myint, who praised the scheme as a symbol of deepening friendship between the two countries. He stressed that education is central to Myanmar’s future development, social stability and national progress. For the students, the impact is tangible. Engineering and mathematics undergraduates described how the support allowed them to continue their studies despite financial hardship, while a final‑year law student said the stipend gave her the strength to persevere after the disruption of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Yet beyond the personal stories lies a broader geopolitical narrative. The scholarships are funded by the Bank of China’s Yangon branch and backed by the China Foundation for Rural Development. Their presence underscores Beijing’s growing influence in Myanmar, not only through infrastructure and trade but also through education and soft power. The timing is significant. As Myanmar grapples with political turmoil and international isolation, China’s role as a patron of talent development offers both relief and leverage. By investing in young people, Beijing strengthens ties with the next generation while embedding itself more deeply in Myanmar’s social fabric. For Xinhua, the message is clear: China is not just a neighbour but a partner shaping Myanmar’s future. The scholarships may be modest in scale, but they symbolise a wider strategy — one in which education becomes another channel of influence in the Mekong region. -2026-05-17Sun, 17 May 2026 04:20:09 +0000The history of trade practices and planning for the future with Taiwan was a disaster. This disaster was so readily apparent to ANYONE who was there during that time. However, at that time, the nitwits running the USA were preoccupied with things like their daily ablutions, and cared not for the next decade, and the next. Now, we (the Free World) is in an impossible position, in view of the near impossibility of quickly reproducing in North America the infrastructure necessary to duplicate the Chip-Fab capabilities concentrated in about two-square miles of space in ugly Hsin-Chu. What an UGLY place it is.... Ever been there? Actually, when people say impossible, I doubt it really is impossible. It's purely a matter of the lack of will, and lack of confidence. Americans would prefer to eat Big Macs and Die for Diabetes....maybe.....Sun, 17 May 2026 04:19:34 +0000Well, it's true. But I stated that because another posted quibbled how I knew that. I stated I see it with my own eyes on the planes, everywhere. It's not even debatable. 50+ yo American are over 50% morbidly obese and UK is right behind. We could probably add Germany as well there.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:19:25 +0000Home made?Sun, 17 May 2026 04:19:07 +0000I soak muddy ones in a bicarbonate of soda solution for a while.Sun, 17 May 2026 04:18:26 +0000Sun, 17 May 2026 04:18:14 +0000Trump Boasts US Has ‘Made A Fortune’ From Venezuelan Oil US President Donald Trump has claimed Washington has “made a fortune” from Venezuelan oil following America’s lightning-fast military campaign that toppled the regime of former leader Nicolás Maduro — as tensions continue simmering across Latin America. Speaking to Fox News after returning from his high-profile trip to China, Trump bragged that the operation against Venezuela had showcased “the most powerful military in the world.” “I built during my first four years the most powerful military in the world that was shown in Venezuela,” Trump declared. “It took 48 minutes and 13 seconds, and it was over.” The president described Venezuela as “a strong country with a strong military,” but insisted it collapsed almost instantly once US forces moved. Trump Says America Profiting From Venezuelan OilTrump also made the striking claim that the United States has financially benefited enormously from Venezuela’s vast energy reserves since the intervention. “By the way, we have made a fortune with their oil,” he said, while also claiming Caracas itself had earned “more money in the last eight months than they’ve made in the last 10 years.” Venezuelan Oil Field The remarks are likely to inflame critics who already accuse Washington of pursuing regime change for strategic and economic gain rather than democracy promotion. ‘51st State’ Comments Spark FuryTrump has also continued teasing the idea of turning Venezuela into America’s “51st state,” echoing previous controversial remarks he has made about Canada. A recent Truth Social post reportedly showed a map of Venezuela draped in the American flag, fuelling outrage among Venezuelan nationalists and raising alarm across the region. In the past, such comments would have triggered furious anti-American rallies led by Venezuela’s ruling socialist movement, known as Chavismo. But this time, officials in Caracas have responded far more cautiously. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez insisted Venezuela would remain sovereign but avoided directly escalating tensions with Washington. “We will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history,” she said. “Venezuela is not a colony, but a free country.” Cuba Also In Trump’s SightsTrump also hinted that Cuba could soon move closer to Washington, describing the communist-run island as “a totally failed nation.” “I think we’ll be turning it,” Trump said. “They’re gonna have to come to us.” He pointed to ongoing US humanitarian aid offers and suggested Havana’s economic struggles could eventually force major political concessions. Latin America Watching NervouslyAnalysts say Trump’s increasingly blunt rhetoric reflects a dramatic expansion of American influence across the region — but also risks reigniting deep anti-US sentiment in Latin America. Critics warn the language about oil wealth, military power and annexation feeds accusations that Washington is treating sovereign nations as strategic assets rather than partners. For now, however, Venezuela’s weakened leadership appears more focused on survival than confrontation — even as Trump openly boasts about reshaping the region on America’s terms. SOURCESun, 17 May 2026 04:17:42 +0000