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From Thai PBS World Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has resigned, state media said Tuesday, after days of rumours he was about to be sacked as part of a major anti-corruption drive that has seen several ministers fired. Phuc has “submitted his resignation from his assigned positions, quit his job, and retired”, state news agency VNA said. Phuc’s sudden departure is a highly unusual move in communist Vietnam, where political changes are normally carefully orchestrated, with an emphasis on cautious stability. State media said the communist party had ruled he was responsible for wrongdoing by senior ministers under him during his 2016-2021 stint as prime minister, before he became president. Two deputy prime ministers were sacked this month in an anti-corruption purge that has led to the arrest of dozens of officials, with many of the graft allegations relating to deals done as part of Vietnam’s Covid pandemic response. Earlier this month, the country’s rubber stamp National Assembly removed Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam from their positions as deputy prime ministers. Minh was a minister of foreign affairs while Dam was in charge of the country’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. At least 100 officials and businesspeople, including Dam’s assistant, have been arrested in connection with a scandal involving the distribution of Covid-19 testing kits. Thirty-seven people — many of them senior diplomats and police — have also been arrested in an investigation over the repatriation of Vietnamese during the pandemic. Phuc, 68, was elevated to the largely ceremonial role of president in April 2021 after winning plaudits for the country’s broadly successful handling of the pandemic. Authoritarian Vietnam is run by the Communist Party and officially led by the party general secretary, president, and prime minister, with key decisions made by the politburo, which now numbers 16. Le Hong Hiep, a fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said Phuc’s resignation may also be linked to political infighting. “It’s mainly related to corruption investigations but we cannot rule out the possibility that his political rivals also wanted to remove him from his position for political reasons,” he told AFP.

A few days ago at JFK airport in New York, what's known as a runway incursion occurred involving a 777 and and a 737. If an air traffic controller hadn't intervened, a high-speed collision appeared inevitable. Here's the audio between air traffic controllers and the pilots. Because the 737 had to make an emergency take off rejection, it could not continue its flight until it underwent detailed checks by mechanics. The 777 did not and was was permitted to continue to London. The 737 was traveling at 115 mph when it braked. It took 661 feet to come to a stop. It looks like the 777 crew may have mistook runway 4L for runway 31L. Complete details at https://airlinegeeks.com/2023/01/16/audio-authorities-investigating-near-miss-at-jfk/

Many shops offer four-hand massage. That seems to be a good starting point for a potential 3-way once the door closes.

The illegal ones don't offer tea money.😉

From Radio Free Asia To rein in accelerating inflation that has reached nearly 40 percent, authorities in Laos have ordered all money changing shops to close and allowing only banks to exchange foreign currencies and bans on the import of some kinds of foods that are produced domestically. The country’s National Statistics Bureau reported year-to-year inflation of 39.3% in December 2022, up from 38.5% the month before, making it the highest among the Association for Southeast Asian Nations members. Authorities said they would ban the import of some kinds of pork, beef, fish and vegetables. Trade officials told RFA that authorities were forced to take harsh economic measures because Laos has been suffering a massive trade deficit, hitting a whopping $926 million in 2022. “We are planning to reduce the import of goods and to promote domestic production,” a trade official from Savannakhet province told RFA’s Lao Service on the condition of anonymity. “We already have a lot of goods produced here in the country, but the problem is that our consumers prefer imported goods to domestic ones.” Rising inflation presents a test for new Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who began his new term this year promising to “raise the spirit of the revolution to the highest level.” Top economic officials are hoping for a recovery in tourism and a loosening of travel restrictions, particularly from China Authorities have banned imports of cabbage, garlic, lettuce, broccoli, onion, chilly, celery, eggs, pork, duck, beef, tilapia, and all other freshwater fish. Laos’s cabinet agreed on the import ban during a Dec. 24 meeting, the Lao Pattana newspaper reported. Meanwhile, Laos’ central bank issued a notice on Jan. 13 revoking all permits for money exchangers in the country. Impact on citizens Many lower-income earners in Laos’s capital Vientiane and across the country have grown even poorer and have less to spend on food, healthcare and education. More young Laotians are moving to Thailand to find work, with the Migrant Working Group, a Thai-based NGO, estimating that more than 50,000 people moved from Laos to Thailand for work in the last year, with about 250,000 Laotians working in the country legally. Nearly half a million Laotians are estimated to be working in Thailand without permits. Several workers RFA spoke with said that they moved because they couldn’t find work in Laos. “The [import] ban will be affecting our livelihoods, but we have to have some domestic production,” one Lao economist told RFA. “If our prices are lower than imported goods, then our people will consume our products.” Similarly, an employee of an import-export company based in Vientiane told RFA that the company has been “suffering from low sales because products are getting more and more expensive, too expensive for many Laotians.” While the import ban is going into effect, it is unclear if domestic production of the banned goods will be enough to supply Laos’s market. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/laosrisingcostsinflation-01132023173517.html

The title that appears in this post is from a current article on the website of the Economist. It can be accessed only after registration: https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/01/12/how-cambodian-music-survived-the-horrors-of-the-khmers-rouges From the London Review Bookshop -- Away From Beloved Lover. By Dee Peyok. Granta In the swinging 1960s, after nearly a century of colonisation, Cambodia had gained its independence and was ready to rock. Young musicians from the countryside flocked to the vibrant cosmopolitan capital city of Phnom Penh. Teenagers cycled along the Mekong River, guitars slung across their backs, on their way to rehearse Khmer covers of The Beatles or Pink Floyd. The city was a melting pot of sound: old fashioned rock'n'roll, early heavy metal, crooners and swooners and love duets. The music stopped on 17th April 1975: the Khmer Rouge army captured Phnom Penh, ending the civil war and beginning the genocide. Around 90% of the musicians died in the killing fields. But a few fled, to the US or France, taking what remained of their music with them. In Away From Beloved Lover, Dee Peyok travels across Cambodia, piecing together the story of the country and its golden era of music. She interviews surviving superstars and their relatives in places as disparate as a traditional house on stilts by a rice paddy, an artist's studio deep in the ancient forests, and a cafe in the new, divided Phnom Penh. Away From Beloved Lover is a musical travelogue that tells the story of Cambodia, past and present, in a thrilling new way. It is an immersive exploration of a country set to a soundtrack too long silenced, and finally able to play.

From Pattaya News By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya Tourist Police were satisfied after finding no illegal prostitutes during yesterday’s tour around risky spots. The inspection, which aimed to stifle illegal prostitution and came after complaints from concerned citizens claiming prostitutes were operating in Pattaya, took place at midnight on January 14th and was led by Pol. Lt. Col. Pichaya Kheawpluang. The police patrolled around risky spots such as Beach Road and Walking Street to look for suspects and put flyers on venues’ front gates to warn tourists to “Be aware of their belongings and don’t trust strangers.” Tourist Police identified risky places in Pattaya as crowded tourist attractions, dark and/or deserted places as well as Pattaya Beach. Pol. Lt. Col. Pichaya told The Pattaya News that he would install more lights in these places and repair all broken CCTV cameras or cut down obstructive tree branches to increase visibility. As of last night, he said he did not find any potential suspects for prostitution but would continue to patrol on a regular basis to keep tourists safe. ======================= Pattaya Police Station to Welcome New Chief Pol. Col. Thanapong Photi will be appointed as the superintendent of the Pattaya police station, on February 1st, 2023. He will replace former superintendent Pol. Col. Kunlachart Kunlachai although the reason for this has not been reported.

From Thai PBS World Cabbies must get meters officially adjusted to new fares Taxi drivers must get their meters adjusted before they will be allowed to charge the new fares, an increase of 6% on the old rate, according to the Land Transport Department. A meter adjustment service will be available at the Krung Thep Aphiwat Train Terminal (aka Bang Sue Grand Station) from tomorrow until February 28th from 8am until 5pm every day except Sunday. The service is being provided by four private companies and the adjustment fee ranges from 300-350 baht. Seksom Akraphand, deputy director-general of the Land Transport Department, said that the service at the railway station can accommodate 1,600-1,800 cars a day, adding that, after the meters are adjusted, they will be officially certified and sealed. Apart from the train terminal, he said taxi drivers can take their cars to the Land Transport Department for meter adjustment. Between 500 and 600 cars can be serviced each day there. Responding to complaints from numerous cabbies that the meter adjustment fee is unrealistically expensive, he said that a microchip in each meter has to be replaced. Seksom insists that the new fares have been set after careful study and consideration, as he reminded taxi drivers to improve their service quality, refrain from rejecting fares or taking advantage of passengers.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Marlowe Malhotra, who runs Vicky Travel, reckons that the boom times are returning to Pattaya. “International air fares to and from Thailand are at last slowly coming down,” he says, “whilst the massively expanded U-tapao airport is providing fast motorway links to both Bangkok and Pattaya.” A Pattaya businessman since the 1970s, Marlowe expects Thailand as a whole to see 25 million visitors in 2023, with at least 9 million homing in on Pattaya. The biggest factor, according to Marlowe, is the abolition of the requirement for tourists to show health and insurance documentation to get into Thailand. “There was some confusion about the issue in early January which led to some Europeans cancelling their vacations, but Thailand is now just as open as before the pandemic.” He reckons that the pent-up demand for foreign travel is only just beginning. Vicky Travel, almost unique in Pattaya for having remained open throughout the pandemic, is diversifying beyond just selling air tickets or booking accommodation. “Many Europeans, Americans and Australians want side trips to neighboring countries such as Cambodia or Vietnam and may well require an online visa as well as pre-flight registration,” says Marlowe’s daughter Vicky. “Because we are up to date with the requirements and the online systems, we are getting more and more enquiries.” Marlowe accepts that India and Russia – and potentially China of course – have expanding niche markets in Thailand, he notes that many of the longstay visitors are British and Scandinavians. For example, most of the one-day visa runners to the Cambodian border are European passport holders seeking another 45 days on entry plus another month later at local immigration. “They can actually spend five months in Thailand without needing a prior visa, with just a single day trip to the border, and the European snowbird retirees are certainly taking advantage of this.” “Of course, Pattaya is changing. It always has been. It’s no longer a wild west town and has become more family orientated with business conferences now flocking to the high class hotels. But its beaches are still the second most popular seaside search on the internet and there’s no shortage of raunchy night life for those seeking it. Pattaya has found the secret of continuous expansion as the criticisms just bounce off.” That’s evolution.

You'll have no problem bringing guests back to Amara. Have stayed there numerous times in the past. Walk to Patpong in less than 10 minutes. Rooms are on the compact side but very comfortable, well appointed and spotless. The rooftop pool is great and there's a gym on one of the higher floors. Buffet breakfast very good. TIP: join their frequent guest program before reserving for member only rates.

I believe these are those.

From The Nation The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to increase the number of flights in a bid to boost tourism during the high season. "The flight load capacity must reach 90 per cent during the high season this year," TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Friday. The high season in Thailand is from November to March. He added that Chinese authorities have requested information from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to boost the number of flights to 2019 levels, before the Covid-19 pandemic. Yuthasak said the TAT aims to attract high-spending tourists to Thailand to help achieve the goal of generating 2.38 trillion baht from 25 million foreign travellers. "TAT will propose extension of visa on arrival from the current 30 days to enable tourists to stay in Thailand until the end of this year," he said.

From Thailand News Agency BANGKOK, Jan 13 (TNA) – A taxi fare rise for the first time in eight years took effect for taxis in Bangkok on Friday as Prime Minister Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha ordered relevant agencies to assess its impact on people. Effective today, the fare starts at 35 baht for small taxis and 40 baht for big ones and then climb up depending on traveled distances. Then the fare will be 6.5 baht per kilometer from the 2nd to 10th kilometer, 7 baht per kilometer from the 11th to 20th kilometer, 8 baht per kilometer from the 21th to 40th kilometer, 8.5 baht per kilometer from the 41th to 60th kilometer, 9 baht per kilometer from the 61th to 80th kilometer and 10.5 baht per kilometer from the 81th kilometer onwards. In traffic congestion, the fare will be 3 baht per minute for all cabs on the condition that taxi speeds are lower than 6 kilometers per hour. (TNA)

I never (by choice) seem to find Pattaya on my itinerary so I'll take your word for it, Rob. And if that's indeed the case, I'm sure they all know it. Let's wish them the best as they struggle with their health issues. Here's a reliable site where anyone can access information about any medical-related symptoms that concern them from one of the world's most respected clinics. Probably better advice than any of us can offer. 🙂 https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptom-checker/select-symptom/itt-20009075

External exams, one-on-one, in a doctor's office I'm sure can help direct the physician's decision about what specific tests to order. But from walking by bars at JC or BT, gimmie a break. Sometimes a little knowledge is dangerous. After you've been around the forum for a while you'll notice that it's quite common for threads to stray away the opening topic. And it was your comments on elderly farangs that took the thread in a new direction

Surely obesity can be diagnosed from afar, but no physician worth his salt would diagnose diabetes or liver malfunction from afar. I'm not sure even graduates of George Santos Medical School would attempt it. As for drinking habits, the most comments you read on the boards is that older farangs tend to nurse a single beer all night. There's no denying that there's a large number of old gay men living in Patttaya. As with all old men, they share some common maladies. But does it serve any purpose to lump them together as the subject of ridicule on a forum dedicated to all gay men, especially when made by younger gay men. It's generally acknowledged that the majority of members of all three boards are older men. We know we're old and we know what are ailments are. We don't need to be reminded of that by a fellow forum member. Let's leave the clinical diagnosis to their real doctors.

The Thai government appears on the verge of pivoting yet again on the subject of Covid, according to an announcement by the Department of Disease Control (DDC). From the National News Bureau of Thailand DDC Director-General Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong spoke of monitoring measures for COVID-19 amid increasing foreign tourist numbers and with Chinese tourists now making up a significant portion of arrivals. He said airports are implementing rigorous screening measures for international arrivals and these measures will be expanded to land border crossings. Dr. Tares said travelers who are required by their country of origin to take an RT-PCR test before re-entry would need to possess health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment. At present, the countries requiring this are India and China. Dr. Tares said the collection of wastewater from aircraft for testing so far yielded samples of the Omicron BA.5 strain, which is found in Thailand. Results from these random tests are yielded about 1 week after a flight. In Bangkok, the DDC has prepared two vaccination sites for foreign tourists who want to get vaccinated. The first is the Bang Rak medical center on Sathong Tai Rd. The other is the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention in Bang Khen district. The sites are expected to commence service next week and will also offer RT-PCR testing. Coordination is being made with health agencies in tourism cities such as Phuket, Chonburi, and Chiang Mai in setting up similar vaccine service points. The DDC chief explained that international travelers who purchased health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment will be able to get treatment at any hospital. They will also be able to enter hotel quarantine if they only display mild or no symptoms. Dr. Tares said there is currently no need to open hospitels for Covid patients. ==================================== However, with another government agency eyeing a huge increase in foreign tourists, it's probably wise not to give too much credibility to either at this point. Tourism Ministry Eyes 80m International Tourists In 2027 BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports hopes to drive up the number of international visitors to Thailand to 80 million over the next five years. This optimistic target will see the number of international visitors doubling the pre-pandemic figure, and exceeding the country’s current population of 70 million. Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said this target, once achieved, could raise the country’s tourism revenue from 1.93 trillion baht in 2019 to 5 trillion baht. He said this target also calls for an upgrade to tourism safety standards, in order to accommodate the influx of visitors.

You claimed you don't judge but you somehow managed--from a distance--to diagnose four medical conditions and "obvious drinking habits" from a group of strangers. That must have been some medial school you attended. Most internists require battery of tests and personal exams to do the same.

Physician, heal thyself. Luke 4:23

From Reuters BANGKOK, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Thai officials found assets belonging to adult children of Myanmar's junta leader during a raid on the Bangkok apartment of a Myanmar tycoon charged with drug trafficking and money laundering, according to an official record and two people with knowledge of the case.Title deeds and bankbooks belonging to Min Aung Hlaing’s daughter and son were found at the home of Tun Min Latt, 53, when he was arrested in the Thai capital last September along with three Thai nationals on charges of conspiracy to traffic narcotics and money laundering. Tun Min Latt, who has interests in hotels, energy and mining, is a close associate of Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power from the democratically elected government in February 2021, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters last year. He has procured supplies for the military, the sources said. Publicly available pictures show them together at an arms fair in 2019. Tun Min Latt is in pre-trial detention; his lawyer could not be reached for comment. Min Aung Hlaing’s son Aung Pyae Sone and his daughter Khin Thiri Thet Mon, who along with their father have been sanctioned by the United States and Canada, did not respond to requests for comment by Reuters. The U.S said they had businesses that "directly benefited from their father’s position and malign influence".

From The Nation An Austrian man fell to his death from the fourth floor of his hotel room in Bangkok’s Khlong Toei district on Tuesday night (January 10). The deceased, identified as Mario Fruhwirt, 49, an Austrian national, suffered fatal injuries to his head after he fell from his room on to the hotel’s awning and landed on the ground, Lumpini Police Station officials said. Police found several empty cans of beer and a broken glass window panel in his room on the top floor of the four-storey hotel. Investigators speculated that the deceased might have been drunk and jumped through the window, breaking the panel. A hotel staffer said Fruhwirt had checked into the hotel alone on January 3 and was scheduled to check out on Saturday. Police are reviewing CCTV footage within the hotel to see if anyone had made contact with the deceased before his death. The Austrian Embassy has been informed to contact the deceased’s relatives to identify and take custody of the body.

CAUTION. Subject to change on a whim. 🙂 From the Thaiger The government announced plans to introduce its long-mooted 300 baht tourist fee for foreign visitors in June. The tourism fee was originally planned to be imposed on foreign travellers at the beginning of last year but the idea was put on hold after the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant and details of how the government planned to collect the money.

From Pattaya Mail By Warapun Jaikusol Pattaya Thais may still be wearing masks nearly all the time, but they’re using condoms less than before Covid-19. Nurse Nakanya Jantrakard of Pattaya’s Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Department, said both reported cases of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases have increased since 2019. While protection from the coronavirus seems forefront in the minds of Thais, particularly young ones, protection against sexually transmitted viruses and bacterial infections doesn’t seem as important now. Sex workers reportedly are using condoms less in the bedroom as well, but afterward are sure to mask up. In the meeting with charity networks, health workers and NGOs, representatives wrung their hands about the problem and wondered how they can reverse the trend.