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From ABC News 26 bodies found as search ends at Cambodian hotel fire site POIPET, Cambodia -- The search for bodies in the wreckage of a burned-out casino hotel complex in western Cambodia has concluded with 26 people confirmed dead, a senior official said late Friday. Banteay Meanchey province Governor Um Reatrey told The Associated Press by phone that after 39 hours of rescue and search operations, there were also 57 injured survivors from the Wednesday night fire at the Grand Diamond City casino and hotel in the town of Poipet. Seventeen of the dead were from Thailand, one each from Nepal, Malaysia and China, and six bodies were yet to be identified, he said. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, just across the border from Poipet, said there had been 27 deaths — 26 in Cambodia and one in a Thai hospital. It said of the 112 people injured, 27 remained in hospitals and 85 had returned to their homes. Thailand’s Ruamkatanyu Foundation, a social welfare organization that sends volunteers to disaster scenes, said Friday the search operation in the main 17-story building of the casino complex was completed, and it was withdrawing its teams. It said its searchers could not enter the more badly damaged 6-story part of the complex because it was too unsafe. An initial investigation found that the fire may have been caused by New Year’s holiday decorations that drew too much electricity, causing wires to overheat and burn, local authorities said.

No explanation necessary, as others have said. Members aren't paid and contribute on a pro bono basis. Given that many posts are done on a tiny phone keyboard it's impressive that our stuff reads so well in the first place.🙂

From The Star VIENTIANE (Xinhua): The Laos National Assembly on Friday (Dec 30) elected Sonexay Siphandone (pic) as the country's new Prime Minister to replace Phankham Viphavanh who has resigned citing health reasons. The Lao cabinet was reshuffled at the conclusion of the fourth ordinary session of the National Assembly (Ninth Legislature) of Laos in Vientiane, according to local TV reports. The assembly approved the nomination from Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, naming Sonexay Siphandone as the new prime minister, with an overwhelming majority of 149 out of 151 votes. Phankham Viphavanh, 71, said in his speech at the assembly that he was retiring from politics.

From Channel News Asia Malaysia announces restrictions amid China’s COVID-19 surge KUALA LUMPUR: Amid a concern over the rise of COVID-19 cases in China, all visitors entering Malaysia will have to undergo temperature screening checks for fever. Those who are found to have fever, are symptomatic or have self-declared their symptoms will then be sent to a quarantine centre or to the health authorities for further checks. In a statement on Friday (Dec 30), the country’s Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa also said that those who have been to China within the last 14 days of their arrival into the country will need to undergo the RTK-Ag test (rapid antigen test). These samples will then be sent for genome testing if they are found to be positive for Covid-19, Dr Zaliha said. At the same time, those who have been in close contact with people who have travelled to China in the last 14 days, or exhibit influenza-like illnesses or severe acute respiratory infection will also need to be tested for COVID-19. The Member of Parliament for Sekijang said these measures were part of Malaysia’s increased surveillance for COVID-19 in order to ensure that steps can be taken to check the spread of the disease in the country and monitor for possible new variants.

Like Russia, Myanmar has become a pariah nation as dictators rule the land and its people. From Thai PBS World / AFP (AFP) – Ousted Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to another seven years in jail as her long series of trials ended on Friday, with the Nobel laureate now facing more than three decades behind bars. A prisoner of the military since a coup last year, Suu Kyi, 77, has been convicted on every charge levelled against her ranging from corruption to illegally possessing walkie-talkies and flouting Covid restrictions. On Friday she was jailed for seven years on five counts of corruption related to the hiring, maintaining and purchase of a helicopter for a government minister, a case in which she allegedly caused “a loss to the state”. Suu Kyi — sentenced to a total of 33 years following 18 months of court proceedings that rights groups have dismissed as a sham — appeared in good health, a legal source familiar with the case told AFP. “All her cases were finished and there are no more charges against her,” said the source, who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. Journalists have been barred from attending the hearings and Suu Kyi’s lawyers have been blocked from speaking to the media. The road leading to the prison holding Suu Kyi in the military-built capital Naypyidaw was clear of traffic ahead of the verdict, said an AFP correspondent in the city. Former Myanmar president Win Myint, who was co-accused with Suu Kyi in the latest trial, received the same sentence, the source said, adding that both would appeal.

As I attempted to get updates on the fire this morning I found some of the most comprehensive coverage from the Associated Press on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC) website. After reading as much as I could from many different sources, and watching numerous videos, I'm inclined to believe that the factors responsible fort such rapid spread--and a still unknown number of fatalities--will be many. Although some are already talking about an electrical short as the cause, the most pertinent contributing issues will be (as PeterRS notes above) insufficient and blocked exit ways along with shoddy construction, inadequate water supply, lack of automatic fire detection and suppression systems, and delay in notification of emergency services. If your New Year's celebrations bring you to any crowded venue, make it a point to locate alternative exits. Keep in mind that the further you go above or below street level, chances of survival get progressively lower. From The Associated Press / CBC A fire that lasted more than 12 hours in a hotel-casino in Cambodia killed at least 19 people and injured more than 60, officials said, while other victims were apparently not yet accounted for Thursday. Neighbouring Thailand sent fire trucks and emergency workers to help cope with the crisis in the bustling border town of Poipet. Some victims were believed to still be under debris or in locked rooms that rescue teams could not immediately access, so the death toll was expected to rise, said Sek Sokhom, head of Banteay Meanchey province's information department, who also gave the injury toll. The dead and injured people were of several nationalities, including Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese and Cambodian, he said. A local Buddhist temple was being used to receive bodies. Videos posted on social media showed people falling from a roof after they were trapped by the fire at the Grand Diamond City casino and hotel in the town of Poipet. Many of the customers and staff were from Thailand. In a video posted by Cambodia's firefighting agency, onlookers could be heard shouting pleas to rescue people trapped on the roof of the hotel complex, which is more than a dozen storeys at its highest point. The video showed at least one man falling as the flames reached the roof. "Oh, please help rescue them. Pump water, pump water," shouted onlookers. The Department of Fire Prevention, Extinguishing and Rescue posted that calls for help were heard from the 13th, 14th and 15th floors at 4 a.m. and hands were seen waving from windows as well as a mobile phone's flashlight signalling from inside the complex. Thailand's public television network, Thai PBS, reported that 50 Thais, both staff and customers, had been trapped inside the casino complex. It reported that Cambodian authorities requested help to deal with the fire from Thailand, which sent five firetrucks and 10 rescue vans. Poipet in western Cambodia is opposite the city of Aranyaprathet in more affluent Thailand, and there is busy cross-border trade and tourism. Thai PBS cited reports that Aranyaprathet Hospital's emergency ward was full and other victims had to be sent to other hospitals. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cambodia-hotel-fire-1.6699318 ======================= 27 Thais die in casino blaze The Bangkok Post is reporting that a total of 27 Thais have died in the fire. ======================= From Thai PBS World Remains of 10 Thais who died in Cambodia’s casino fire brought home The bodies of ten Thais who were killed in a Cambodian casino fire on Wednesday were brought back to Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo Province this morning (Friday), to be claimed by their relatives. About 20 more bodies are believed still to be trapped in the ruins of the Grand Diamond City casino, as Thai and Cambodian rescue teams await confirmation from construction inspectors that the building is safe for them to enter to search for those still unaccounted for. One of the rescuers said that there is a danger that the building may collapse and, therefore, an assessment of its safety by the inspectors is essential. Three of the dead, believed to be Thais, are still in Poipet township, pending identification by Thai and Cambodian forensic officials. Thai and Cambodian rescue teams are expected to resume their search for the missing people in the ruins this afternoon,after search operations were suspended yesterday for fear that the building may collapse. It had taken fire crews seven hours to extinguish the blaze, with the support of fire trucks sent from Thailand.

The Bangkok Post is reporting that the casino complex is owned by a former Thai cabinet minister. Vaatanna Asavahame fled Thailand in 2008 before being convicted in connection with the Klong Wastewater Treatment scandal, one of the biggest corruption cases in the country;'s history.

I talk with guys who work the massage shops regularly and they are reporting frequent "Chinese" customers. While it's indeed possible as you say that they're from elsewhere, neither can you be definitely sure they're from the mainland. Again, you could be correct but with the Thai government announcing today that no special restrictions will be placed on them (and that the government is considering offering free, voluntary vaccinations on arrival to those from China and elsewhere) only time will determine how this all plays out. I believe the mainland Chinese will begin arriving in significant numbers in '23.

From The News Hour (PBS /USA) In one of the world's most popular sex tourism destinations, sex workers, nonprofit organizations and politicians are part of a growing movement to decriminalize the industry. It's an attempt to help sex workers earn basic rights and protections. Special correspondent Neha Wadekar reports from Thailand. Continues with video: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/movement-in-thailand-aims-to-help-sex-workers-earn-basic-rights-and-protections

From Thailand News Agency No Special Measures for Chinese Visitors BANGKOK, Dec 29 (TNA) – The country will not need any strict disease control measure for Chinese visitors, the public health minister said. Anutin Charnvirakul, the public health minister and deputy prime minister, said officials from the Department of Disease Control, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Transport discussed measures to be imposed in response to China’s planned country reopening on Jan 8 and they agreed that existing measures would be enough. The Chinese government required outbound Chinese travelers to undergo RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 and receive at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Most Chinese people had natural antibodies for COVID-19 also because 60% of the Chinese population already contracted the disease, Mr Anutin said. When Chinese tourists arrive, they must purchase health insurance so that they will have proper care if they fall sick, he said. If Chinese visitors would like a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, the Thai government would have AstraZeneca vaccine for them but they would have to pay for it, Mr Anutin said. (TNA)

From Thai PBS World At least 50 Thai gamblers and employees of a Cambodian casino in the Poipet border town were reported to be trapped inside after the casino caught fire late Wednesday night. A number of people, mostly Thais, were injured and were taken to the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province, for treatment. It is not known whether or how many people have died in the fire, as some witnesses claim that they saw some people jumping from the 5th floor of the building, which is located at about 20 metres from the border. About 50 people were seen on the roof. Five fire trucks and about 10 rescue vehicles and ambulances rushed to the scene to help extinguish the fire and help victims. At about 2am this morning (Thursday), it was reported that the Aranyaprathet district hospital’s emergency ward was full of fire victims, many of them Thai women. Some of the injured were sent to the Kasemrad Aranyaprathet private hospital. Witnesses said that they saw fire on the second and third floors of the casino and a lot of smoke billowing out of the building. The latest reports from the scene say that the fire has intensified and has spread to nearby buildings. More fire trucks and rescue teams from other districts of Sa Kaeo Province been sent to help control the blaze. Poipet is a favourite destination for Thai gamblers, as gambling is illegal in Thailand and there are many casinos just over the border, some owned by Thai businessmen. ============================ From CNN Death toll rises and dozens remain missing Phnom Penh, Cambodia CNN — The death toll has risen to at least 19 and dozens of others remain missing after a fire engulfed a casino complex in Cambodia on Wednesday, according to local authorities. Another 70 people were injured in the blaze at the Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino in Poipet, a city that borders Thailand, and the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers search for victims who were trapped in the building, Banteay Meanchey province spokesman Sek Sokhom told CNN. Thai rescue workers who responded to emergency calls from Cambodian authorities said some victims had jumped to their deaths from the burning building in a frantic attempt to escape. “Two people died immediately when they hit the ground and around four to five (others) broke their legs,” said Peerapan Srisakorn, from the Aranyaprathet Rescue Foundation. Peerapan told CNN his team alone saw 11 bodies, including seven who had died from smoke inhalation and were found in locked hotel rooms, and said it was very difficult for rescue workers to survey the building as it was full of thick smoke. Videos on the group’s Facebook page showed rescue workers in helmets and protective gear walking through smoke-filled corridors. Sokhom said the hotel used an electric system for rooms and elevators, so when the fire started and the building lost electricity, many people were stuck in their rooms and could not escape. Approximately 700 Thai citizens were rescued and sent to hospitals in Thailand, according to authorities. Peerapan told CNN his team alone saw 11 bodies, including seven who had died from smoke inhalation and were found in locked hotel rooms, and said it was very difficult for rescue workers to survey the building as it was full of thick smoke. Videos on the group’s Facebook page showed rescue workers in helmets and protective gear walking through smoke-filled corridors. Sokhom said the hotel used an electric system for rooms and elevators, so when the fire started and the building lost electricity, many people were stuck in their rooms and could not escape. Approximately 700 Thai citizens were rescued and sent to hospitals in Thailand, according to authorities. https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/28/asia/cambodia-poipet-grand-diamond-casino-hotel-fire-intl-hnk/index.html

Exactly! Always bear in mind that "nothing is written." Great example of what can happen in you go into a shop without a specific agenda and allow things to unfold. The experience begins after the door to he room is closed.

9-Teen opened earlier this year in a shop fronting on Silom Rd., just beyond Soi 6. That is the location that some members have reported on in recent months. From what I am told, the owners have since taken over what was once a restaurant on Soi 6 and are now reportedly renovating it into a massage shop. What their intentions are for the original shop on Silom Rd. is unknown.

Just spoke with one of the guys who works on Soi 6. He provided me with updated information of shops: LEFT SIDE (from Silom): 9-Teen (under renovation) Relax Massage RIGHT SIDE (from Silom) Center Point Massage (mixed) Ma Ha Massage The Paradise M-Star Massage I may have misunderstood some of our LINE conversation so I can't guarantee the accuracy. When I'm again in town, I'll confirm the above information.

From Japan Times Japan to tighten borders for travelers from China on Dec. 30 Japan will tighten its border controls for travelers from China on Friday, as the latter nation is seeing a surge in COVID-19 infections, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday. The announcement, which marks the first time Japan has tightened its borders since foreign tourists were allowed to enter without restrictions in October, pours cold water on expectations of an influx of Chinese tourists over the Chinese New Year period, which begins Jan. 22. Kishida’s abrupt announcement comes only a day after news that China will scrap its quarantine for incoming travelers from Jan. 8, one of the country’s most significant steps since it effectively abandoned its two-year “zero-COVID” policy. All travelers from China, including Japanese citizens and returning foreign nationals living in Japan, as well as those who have been to China within the previous seven days will be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival in Japan. Those who test positive will be required to quarantine at designated facilities for seven days. The quarantine period for those who test positive is expected to be seven days if they have developed symptoms. For those who are asymptomatic, the period will be shortened to five days if they test negative on the fifth day, according to the health ministry. The number of flights from China will also be limited to guard against a sudden increase in COVID-19 infections in Japan, Kishida told reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office. Arrivals from China, Hong Kong and Macao will be limited to four airports: Narita, Haneda, Kansai International and Chubu.

From Xinhua VIENTIANE, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Lao government has announced the cancellation of required results in 48 hours of Antigen Test Kit (ATK) or Rapid Antigen Test for people entering Laos. In addition, travelers entering Laos are no longer required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. According to a report issued on Tuesday from the Center of Information and Education for Health under the Lao Ministry of Health, the announcement aims to facilitate local residents and foreigners who want to depart from Laos or enter the Southeast Asian country. In May, the Lao government announced the reopening of all international border crossings after a lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Will be glad to oblige when I'm next in town. I believe two are on the left side and four on the right. With the completion of the new 9-Teen shop on left, that will bring the total to seven. From what I'm told by those who work there, the Quarter Hotel at the end of Soi 6 (dogleg turn) has provided increased foot traffic which is already reported to be brisk with the advent of high season. The two shops I'm most familiar with (Ma Ha and The Paradise) are situated on the right side, opposite Silom Alley 8.

From The Diplomat By Tom Fawthrop A bold Cambodian plan to secure World Heritage status along their stretch of the Mekong, where the free-flowing river has sustained some of the world’s greatest biodiversity, could provide much-needed respite to a river in danger of dying from dams and over-exploitation, experts say. In Phnom Penh, the Environment Ministry’s Under-Secretary of State Neth Pheaktra shared their plan to secure UNESCO world heritage recognition for all the rich biodiversity to be found along the long stretch of the Mekong from the Lao border to the province of Kratie over 200 km downstream. Marc Goichot, a freshwater resources and Mekong specialist for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), welcomed the selection of this site. “The wide variety of habitats along this part of the Mekong in Cambodia creates perfect conditions for wildlife to thrive, making this area a miraculous area for freshwater biodiversity,” he said. WWF is assisting in the preparation of the government’s application to UNESCO. Goichot sees the UNESCO proposal as an exciting step forward for the conservation of the planet’s rivers. “The planned Mekong World Heritage site would play a key role in protecting the planet’s biodiversity” because the selected site includes “95 deep pools that provide refuge for migrating fish and a spawning habitat for globally important critically endangered species including, Irrawaddy dolphins, giant stingrays and giant catfish.” Cambodia is already home to three heritage sites, including the legendary Angkor Wat and one natural heritage site, the successful U.N.-backed biosphere reserve and the bird sanctuary site on Tonle Sap, the biggest inland lake in the region. UNESCO experts in Phnom Penh expect that an application to add a biodiversity conservation zone along the Mekong as a natural heritage site would be fast-tracked, given that it could bring about an immense contribution to implementing agreements reached at COP15 of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference. Kampi village, just outside the town of Kratie, lies along a stretch of the Mekong best-known for its dolphin-watching and ecotourism activity. The area also ranks as one of the world’s richest biodiversity spots and is a sanctuary for many endangered species. WWF has listed over 411 fish species resident here (out of 11,00 for the whole Mekong River), along with 281 bird species and 46 reptile species. Apart from the 92 surviving Irrawaddy dolphins, wildlife experts were excited by the rarely-seen giant stingray landed by fishermen in 2022, a giant that mostly hangs out in the deepest pools of the river. While the Ministry of Environment had been mapping out its plans to better protect one of the few undammed areas left on the Mekong, Okna Kith Meng – the chairman of the Royal Group, which built its fortunes from real estate, telecommunications, and partnering with international investors – has quietly secured permission from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, to carry out a feasibility study to revive the controversial Stung Treng dam. A plethora of scientific studies, dating back to the first attempt to build the Stung Treng dam in 2007, have so far dissuaded the government from going ahead with the project. The losses to fisheries, wildlife, and the rural livelihoods of hundreds of thousands would far outweigh any benefits in electricity, according to the most recent WWF report, published in 2018. Another Cambodian project, the Sambor dam lying downstream from Stung Treng, was condemned as a recipe for “killing the Mekong” by the U.S.-based Natural Heritage Institute consultant report, which was leaked to the Guardian. Many Cambodians struggle to understand why any company would want to resurrect a dam that has already been twice rejected, and which most Mekong watchers had assumed was dead and buried, after the announcement of the 2020 moratorium on dams. Say Samal, the environment minister, delivered Cambodia’s progressive energy commitments to the COP26 summit in November 2021. Yet only six weeks later, this policy had been called into question when the Ministry of Mines and Energy quietly approved the Cambodian tycoon’s request to proceed with a feasibility study on resurrecting the Stung Treng dam. The study, approved in December 2021, was completed in June 2022 without any consultation with Stung Treng communities. Continues with photos at https://thediplomat.com/2022/12/cambodia-seeks-unesco-world-heritage-status-to-protect-a-mekong-biodiversity-hotspot/

From Thai Enquirer Thailand should look to impose restrictions The Thai government should look at imposing preventive measures to test or restrict travelers from China and countries where a lot of Chinese tourists have visited, the main opposition Pheu Thai Party said. “Given the [Covid-19 outbreak] situation in China, Thailand should cautiously prepare for the influx of Chinese tourists,” said former deputy prime minister Chaturon Chaisang who is a member of Pheu Thai’s strategy committee. “We should have some guards up…and tests should be administered to find out what kind of variants are coming in from China to find out if they are more severe than the variants that have been found in Thailand,” he said.

From Thai PBS World Three more bodies, believed to be those of missing HMTS Sukhothai crew, were recovered from the sea today (Wednesday), according to Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin. He said that the number of bodies found has increased to 24, with 20 of them in the process of being identified, while the number of crew still missing has dropped to five.

So if we follow your reasoning to its illogical conclusion, there's no reed to take safeguards against HIV because that, too, is over. Or is HIV a con, too?

The Economic Times is reporting that the Health Ministry of India will require RT-PCR tests from passengers arriving China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand.

From Pattaya News New Year Countdown on Koh Larn set to boom with big concerts from Thailand’s top acts As the end of the year approaches, Koh Larn in Pattaya is getting ready to celebrate the New Year in style with a countdown event that promises to be the brightest highlight of this year’s last holiday season. On December 31st, the island will come alive with concerts featuring Pujan Longmai & Ken Noi Roi Leela, OG-ANIC & URIUS, BOOM BOOM CASH, and many other top performers. In addition to the concerts, there will be a range of activities and attractions on offer at the New Year countdown event. Food stalls and vendors will be serving up delicious local and international cuisine, while street performers and other entertainers will keep the crowds entertained throughout the night. As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the skies above Koh Larn will be illuminated with a stunning fireworks display slated for December 31st to beautifully end this year and welcome the next.

I appreciate the fact that the moderator has devised a way to give us a moment of pause before we reply to a newbie's open-ended request for information already readily available on site (the blue palm out symbol).

I've met countless otherwise straight guys who rapidly rise to the occasion. It seems obvious to me that they are enjoying themselves I believe sexuality is an amazingly adaptive and complex part of our make up that defies a one size fits all definition.