Bangkok, Chonburi, Songkhla chosen as venues for SEA Games 2025
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) on Wednesday selected Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla provinces as the venues for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) to be hosted in 2025.
The board of directors made the selection during a teleconference meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and SAT governor Kongsak Yodmanee attended the meeting.
The 33rd SEA Games will be held from December 9 to 20,2025. The biennial multi-sport event brings together participants from the 10 Asean members and Timor-Leste.
The meeting also selected Nakhon Ratchasima as host for the 13th Asean Para Games, which will be held from January 20 to 26, 2026.
During the meeting, Prawit thanked the SAT and sports associations for bringing fame to the country by helping Thai athletes win many sports events recently.
Prego expands its flavourful Italian fine dining to Pattaya
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
Stephanie Adair
Amari Pattaya celebrated a new dining experience on January 20th with the official opening of Prego Pattaya. This is the chain’s third location, after Samui and Bangkok.
The Italian restaurant has been serving its dishes for 19 years, but what makes Prego stand out is its aromatic wood-fired pizza.
Prego chef Marco Boscaini brings his renowned classic Italian flavors to the shores of Pattaya. The rustic, trattoria-inspired design echoes Prego’s very first location on Koh Samui.
In 2018, chef Boscaini’s signature “Risotto Alla Montanara” was listed as one of the “100 Best Risottos” in the world in a book showcasing the famous dish.
At Prego Pattaya, guests can enjoy more of his signature dishes, including Prego Fettuccine alla Bolognese, homemade pizzas made fresh to order in a pizza oven located at the heart of the restaurant, the dessert tiramisu, and numerous other creations.
Prego Pattaya is located on the beachfront with a dining space seating up to 144 guests.
Its outdoor space is ideal for al-fresco dining while catching the beautiful sunset with a drink in hand. Prego’s wine, cocktail and mocktail lists are extensive.
Suphot Prakitjanuruk, area general manager, told The Nation that Prego’s ambition was to bring the ultimate Italian dining experience to one of Thailand’s most popular beach resorts.
Suphot said ONYX Hospitality Group CEO Yuthachai Charanachitta was so inspired by Prego that he encouraged its expansion.
The restaurant’s debut in Bangkok was at the Amari Watergate, which makes its Pattaya location the second collaboration with Amari hotels.
Suphot is confident in its success, as the soft launch in November last year was more popular than expected.
He said Prego will add a restaurant in Phuket and a second branch in Samui. “We aim that in 2023 we will have five branches,” he said.
Prego Pattaya is open daily for lunch and dinner from noon till 11am.
During the Bangkok Film Festival, held last weekend at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, film buffs were given a chance to learn about the art of post-production in the seminar “Decode the Post Production: Art and Heart of Film”.
In the world of film and television soaps, the most overlooked yet most important part is the post-production process. It may take just 30 days to shoot a film, but it can take twice the time to edit the picture and sounds.
During the Bangkok Film Festival, held last weekend at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, film buffs were given a chance to learn about the art of post-production in the seminar “Decode the Post Production: Art and Heart of Film”. Sharing their experiences were film directorand editorLee Chatametikool, sound designer Nopawat Likitwong, film director Supharat Boonmayam and film and TV script writer Arm Issara.
Bangkok Film Festival, Bangkok, Thailand
“I think the most difficult thing people don’t understand about post production is because post production is invisible, it’s something that you’re not aware of that happens so with good editing, you shouldn’t be aware that there’s good editing and sound and all that stuff. So there’s all this work that goes in and people don’t actually know it’s there, so that’s the hardest thing, but it’s the fun part.”
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival
During the Covid-19 pandemic, when we could not leave our homes due to lockdowns, streaming platforms began taking over as the prime source of entertainment. Has this affected or changed the quality of post-production work?
“Yes and no, so I think we used to have movies for the cinema and now there are streaming on smaller screens. The gaps in terms of technical, has kind of narrowed between the 2. So actually now your cell phone and TV screens have quality that’s almost the same as the cinema, it’s just different size and the sound quality you get at home is high as well. So there’s the same opportunity to tell good stories, whether it’s on a big screen or at home. And for streaming platforms they are always streaming at a high quality, the quality that’s doing surround sound like in the cinema or high definition or high dynamic ranges. So in the end, the technical side of both is pretty much the same now.”
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand
Sound designer Nopawat Likitwong has pointed out that streaming platforms give a longer timeline for post-production crew to complete their work and also offer more opportunities for those interested in working in the film industry.
“For my job, I think that I have more advantages for having more channels because the big screen is still there but I have more channels to service. It is not that much different to me and I think it’s a great opportunity for people who want to jump into this business as well.”
Viewers may not notice the magic and the hard work that goes into post-production, but both Lee and Nopawat say that watching viewers get completely immersed in a film is what truly makes their job a success.
Nopawat Likitwong, Sound designer, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand
Asset World spending 1 billion baht to rebrand flagship
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Asset World Corp (AWC) is investing 1 billion baht to turn its flagship office tower, The Empire, into what it calls a “revolutionary lifestyle space that embraces the future of work-life integration”, the company announced on Wednesday.
AWC CEO and President Wallapa Traisorat told a press conference that 1,500 square metres of The Empire will be turned into a co-living space, bringing a home-like experience and large facilities to the workplace. These will include a living room, a communal kitchen and dining area, a kids’ room, and a pet hotel, she said.
The company is also rebranding the building’s rooftop, saying it will offer a wider range of international food and beverages.
AWC will continue to offer tenants hotel-like services through an app connecting them to all AWC-affiliated hotels.
Wallapa said The Empire was “currently valued at 20 billion baht”.
Its renovation and rebranding will be completed in November, with its co-working space opening in the first quarter of this year, she said.
Cat litter Thai startup forges new partnership to penetrate domestic market
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
Nongluck Ajanapanya
A fully Thai-owned organic cat litter startup is tying up with Thonglor International Pet Hospital and a private investor to scale up its manufacturing process and grow sales by 10 per cent over the next five years.
Wealthy Moggie Innovation (WMI) expects the 10-million-baht investment to assist the company in implementing an active marketing strategy to raise brand awareness of “Hide and Seek” cat litter in the domestic market.
Vattanaporn Tungsagna, WMI’s sales director, co-founder, who is also a cat lover, told a press conference on Wednesday that Hide and Seek is made entirely of Thai cassava.
“After finding out that the majority of cat litter in Thailand is imported, we were perplexed as to why there has been no made-in-Thailand product, even though we have plenty of natural sources. So we started experimenting until we found the right ingredients that are both effective at eliminating odours and safe for cats, owners, and the environment,” he explained.
He estimates the product currently has a 1-2% market share in Thailand. He expects to reach at least 10% in the next five years. Meanwhile, he hopes to expand his pet shop partners from the current 400. According to Wattanporn, there are over 5,000 pet stores in Thailand.
The company aims to earn 22 million baht from product sales this year as there has been a surge in international orders. The company’s plant can produce 40 containers per month.
“We also intend to launch a new innovative cat-litter product that will aid in the early detection of feline disease. The product will be available around the middle of the year,” he said.
He added that the products were well received in the market, particularly in the international market. When compared to other brands, Hide and Seek clumps up quickly, according to customer feedback. Furthermore, the product is chemical- and odour-free, has long-lasting odour control, high absorbtion, and is safe to flush.
“We are now exporting to South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, and Dubai. We are in discussions with dealers both in India and Japan. Unfortunately, we are not popular in our home country. So, we need a more comprehensive marketing strategy to raise brand awareness,” Wattanaporn said.
He added that Hide and Seek cat litter sales would help increase the value of cassava grown by Thai farmers by up to 16 times.
Poolperm T.charoenpoolporn, Thonglor International Pet Hospital executive director and finance director, said that growth opportunities in the pet industry average about 5-10% per year, as couples without children, LGBTQ groups, and the elderly are increasingly looking for pets. These people are willing to spend money on food, utensils, and services to improve the quality of life of their pets.
He believes that the joint investment with WMI will yield enormous returns.
Boonpaween Boonmechote, an independent investor and Thai Union Frozen Products’ planning and strategy department manager, added that the goal of his joint venture is to bring about improvements in production processes, cost reduction, productivity improvement, expand distribution channels, and the opportunity to export cat litter products.
Wealthy Moggie Innovation has received support from Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA) through “Nilmangkorn” (Onyx Dragon horse), an accelerator programme that helps Thai entrepreneurs and startups grow their businesses.
Krithpaka Boonfueng, NIA deputy executive director, said the programme would educate and assist in the development of business plans and products by connecting business owners with NIA researchers and the investor network.
“WMI is our first onyx dragon horse from this programme. However, we intend to expand our Thai unicorn creations with ‘Nilmangkorn Season 2’, which will be open for applications soon,” she said.
Pan-arj Chairat, president of the NIA, said that the programme was part of the agency’s efforts to promote and support Thailand’s innovation ecosystem. The goal is to address innovative business development and use innovative tools to increase their own competitiveness as well as build a better understanding of the mechanism of joint ventures, he added.
JKN Global selects El Salvador to host 72nd Miss Universe pageant in Nov-Dec
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
After the grand success of Miss Universe 2022’s final round that registered almost one billion viewers from 121 countries, El Salvador has announced its decision to pay an undisclosed sum of money to JKN Global Group Public Company Limited to host Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
The 2022’s final round was broadcasted via streaming channels, social media as well as television networks including the number one Spanish channel Telemundo.
One of the key moments of the event that was lauded by foreign media worldwide was the beautiful speech by Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group, and the owner of the Miss Universe organization.
The CEO’s Woman Empowerment Vision celebrates feminism, while promoting cultural diversity, social opportunities, and gender equality. The speech also focuses on how to empower all women to feel empowered, through the concept of Transformational Leadership or leadership reforms to enhance the value of the Miss Universe pageant.
The television network Telemundo cited data from AGB Nielsen Media Research Company ratings survey that the live broadcast of the 71st Miss Universe Finals on Saturday January 14, was rated as the number one among channels in viewers aged 18 – 49. The channel, the only television network live broadcasted in the glamourous pageant, attracted more than 2.4 million viewers, with the highest number of viewers among the age group 18-49 years old, or 84% growth and a 54% increase in overall audience numbers compared to the previous year.
In the United States, audiences in the 18-49 age bracket are number one in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dallas, and Chicago. Talkwalker, a social media analysis website, said that the 71st Miss Universe Finals was ranked No. 1 in the lifestyle and social program category. It has 10.6 million social media views and 5.7 million audience participation from live broadcasts, online media, and social media distribution. 526 million minutes of content related to the Miss Universe Finals were watched, a 37% increase this year compared to last year.
As a result of the vision of supporting the empowerment and elevation of women and the success of the 71st Miss Universe pageant, Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s President, decided to pay an undisclosed sum of money to JKN Global Group Public Company Limited under the leadership of Anne Jakapong to host the 72nd Miss Universe pageant. The event will take place from November to December 2023, which was earlier announced on the Miss Universe stage for the first time in 12 years. The deal is considered one of the successes and pride of the Bangkok-based JKN Global Group.
After managing the Miss Universe Organization for two and a half months, Miss Anne Jakapong said, “We are committed to further developing and integrating the Miss Universe organization as a platform for empowering women for all people in the universe, to lead, to be able to inspire, to be role models to others, and the Miss Universe pageant must be a platform that is conducted with the most transparency and fairness.”
From all the statistics and achievements, Miss Universe is considered the world’s number one beauty pageant and is ready to move into a new dimension of the contest that will drive society and empower women as leaders of social reform. This will give Thailand a standing ovation in the eyes of the world as well as the power to drive global society towards better change in all dimensions.
Indonesia to accelerate oil and gas exploration amid high prices
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023
Publicly listed mining firm PT Merdeka Copper Gold has allocated capital expenditure (capex) of Rp 2.28 trillion (US$160 million) for the exploration of work in East Java, Maluku and Gorontaro provinces.
Corporate secretary Adi Adriansyah Sjoekri revealed the projects were gold and silver mining in Tujuh Bukit, East Java; copper mining in Wetar Island, West Maluku; and gold mining in Gorontalo.
“All of the expansion projects will be completed this year so that they will optimally contribute to the company’s performance soon,” said Adi, recently.
Merdeka’s gold production in 2018 grew by 17.57 % to 167,506 ounces from 142,468 ounces in 2017. It targeted to increase its gold production to between 180,000 and 200,000 ounces of gold by the end of 2019.
“Up to the first quarter of this year, our company has produced 46,515 ounces of gold,” Adi said, adding that the average price of gold in 2018 was $1,269 per ounce, or 0.89 % higher than the $1,257 per ounce average price in 2017.
Apart from exploring new blocks, Adi said the company was also in the process of expanding the existing mining in Tujuh Bukit, East Java.
Japanese government set to legalize medical marijuana
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023
The government is poised to allow the use of medical marijuana to treat patients with intractable diseases, according to the outline of bills revealed on Tuesday.
The government is considering submitting bills including one to revise the Cannabis Control Law during the current Diet session.
The proposed revision would also criminalize the use of marijuana.
In countries including the United States and Britain, medicine made from cannabis plants is used to treat patients with intractable epilepsy and other diseases for which existing drugs are ineffective.
Cannabis plants contain a substance that has an intoxicating effect, which is one of the reasons why the use of marijuana in medicine is prohibited in Japan. The proposed revision would enable such patients to use drugs made from cannabis plants.
The use of marijuana, there are currently no penalties for using it because farmers who cultivate cannabis with permission from prefectural governors might intake substances from the plant during harvesting.
Marijuana has been dubbed a “gateway drug” as it is said to lead to other forms of drug abuse. The government intends to strengthen the crackdown on marijuana to prevent abuse of the drug among young people, which is becoming a social problem.
‘Sea change’ in Germany’s relationships with its neighbours – analyst on Ukraine tank decision
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023
Germany said on Wednesday it would supply its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry that Kyiv sees as crucial to defeat Russia’s invasion but Moscow casts as a dangerous provocation.
“The fact that the Germans were finally willing to supply the Ukrainians with these tanks really does show that this is a sea change in the way that Germany views its relationship with Russia and with Russia’s neighbours, and also, I would say, with, with Central and Eastern Europe,” said Angela Stent, Georgetown University Professor Emerita and author of “Putin’s World: Russia against the West and with the Rest.”
Pressure has been building for weeks on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz‘s government to send the tanks and allows Nato allies to do the same before expected spring offensives by both sides.
Scholz’s government had stalled, wary of moves that could prompt Russia to escalate the war or draw Nato into becoming a party to the conflict.
Germany’s decision paves the way for other countries such as Poland, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands and Norway to supply some of their Leopard tanks to Ukraine, going some way towards delivering the hundreds of tanks that Ukraine says it needs.
“If you look at the past year of the war, at every step there’s been a reluctance to supply, you know, more advanced weaponry to Ukraine because of the fear of Russian escalation of the Russian reaction,” Stent said. “Yet, slowly but surely, all of these constraints have vanished.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Scholz for Germany’s “important and timely decisions,” saying they were a “green light for partners to supply similar weapons.”
Germany aims to quickly establish two battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine and initially provide 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its own inventory.
A battalion normally comprises three or four companies with around 14 tanks each. Poland has also pledged 14 tanks and Britain has promised 14 of its own Challengers.
Germany’s tanks would probably be ready in three-four months, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.
Training of Ukrainian troops in Germany will begin soon, and Germany will also provide logistics and ammunition. Germany said it would also issue the appropriate transfer permits to partner countries that want to deliver Leopard 2 tanks quickly from their own stocks.
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival 
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand 
Nopawat Likitwong, Sound designer, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand
Wallapa Traisorat
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