Phichit temple offers smiles at the end of the rainbow
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
A temple in Phichit’s Wang Sai Phun district has caught everybody’s attention after getting its crematorium painted in rainbow colours instead of traditional white or cream.
Now the crematorium of Wat Nong Plong is painted bright yellow, red, blue, pink, green and purple to reportedly make mourners smile.
The renovation has also seen some small chedis storing the remains of the dead being relocated to the wall.
Monk Phra Manas said the chedis were being relocated because the area where they were being stored was getting overcrowded. He also said that now robbers may think twice about scaling the wall for fear of waking up the deceased.
15th World Film Festival of Bangkok wraps up with Apichatpong bagging Victor Award
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Bangkok’s 15th World Film Festival wrapped up on Sunday evening with a word of advice from one of Thailand’s star independent filmmakers, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. While receiving the Kriengsak “Victor” Silakong Award, the filmmaker called on his peers to “never give up”.
The award was created in memory of Kriengsak “Victor” Silakong, the film festival’s long-time director who died unexpectedly on March 27 this year.
While receiving the honour, Apichatpong applauded Kriengsak for his work in making the World Film Festival a showcase for emerging filmmakers from across the world.
Remembering Kriengsak for his love for life, Apichatpong called on the audience to observe a minute of silence in his honour.
He then shared his thoughts on the 25 years he has spent in the film industry.
“So far, I honestly don’t know why I make films. To all the other filmmakers here, do you know why you make films? I only know that for me, it’s not about telling a story, but connecting to this vast world of people,” he said. “Tonight this award reminds us to keep asking questions and to appreciate the mystery of this journey.”
Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
Recounting a disparaging remark a senior government official made some 15 years ago that nobody would want to see his films, Apichatpong gleefully said: “The fact is I’m still here.”
“What I want to tell all filmmakers is please don’t give up. I’m not saying this to be spiteful, but do not give in to fear or authority. We all contribute to the grand conversation of what a filmmaker can do, so keep on recording.”
Meanwhile, Lithuania’s Edvinas Puksta, who was one of the four jurors, spoke about the 21 films in the running for the Lotus Award. He said each of the 21 films was excellent in its own category, and choosing the winners was very difficult. This is why, he said, the jury unanimously decided to hand out seven jury prizes instead of three.
(From left) Donsaron Kovitvanitcha,Edvinas Puksta, Bianca Balbuena, Anucha Boonyawata, Dušan Zorić, Matija Gluščevićna and Witawat Meksawan
Serbian directors Dušan Zorić and Matija Gluščević, who jointly won the Lotus Award for Best Director for their fantasy drama “Have You Seen This Woman”, said they were surprised they won but were glad their message had been heard.
Their film, they said, was not just about a middle-aged woman’s internal and external journey, it was also about discovering our personal identities.
In his closing speech, film producer Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, who oversaw the festival this year, thanked everybody for making the event a success and promised to offer an even better line-up next year.
The 10-day World Film Festival wrapped up on Sunday at SF Cinema in CentralWorld with the handing out of eight awards.
Considered Southeast Asia’s largest film festival, the 15th edition returned after five years under the “Return to Cinema” theme. It showcased 61 top films, including 20 experimental films, from 51 countries including France, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Ukraine, Brazil, Croatia, Poland, Tunisia, Serbia, and even Mongolia.
The World Film Festival of Bangkok is run by The Nation with support from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Culture Ministry, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Thai Media Fund and the Tourism and Authority of Thailand.
2022 World Film Festival Award winners Kriengsak Silakong Award: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Lotus Awards Best Film: “Klondike” by Maryna Er Gorbach (Ukraine) Best Director: Dušan Zorić and Matija Gluščević, “Have You Seen This Woman” (Serbia) Grand Jury Prize: “Scala” by Ananta Thitanat (Thailand) Jury Prize for Best Screenplay: “Victim” – Written by Jakub Midvecky, directed by Michal Blasko (Slovakia) “Stonewalling” – Written and directed by Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka (China) Jury Prize for Best Ensemble “Joyland” – Directed by Saim Sadiq (Pakistan) Jury Prize for Technical Achievement for Cinematography “Autobiography” – Directed by Makbul Mubarak (Indonesia)
Nearly 4,000 patients with Covid hospitalised in Thailand, 107 deaths reported in a week
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
A total of 3,961 patients, who were diagnosed with Covid-19, received treatment in hospitals during the past week and 107 patients succumbed to the disease, the Disease Control Department (DCD) reported on Monday.
In its weekly report, the DCD said 3,961 patients were hospitalised from December 4 to 10, or an average of 566 patients a day.
The DCD said 107 people had died of Covid during the period, an average of 15 deaths a day. The number of Covid deaths since January 1 has reached 11,694, the DCD added.
The department said a total of 143,250,945 doses of Covid vaccines have been administered — 57,095,546 first doses, 53,579,321 second doses and the rest were third or later doses.
The DCD said that as of December 10, 649 patients were still being treated for lung infections and 385 of them needed ventilator support.
Meanwhile, Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, pulmonologist of Vichaiyut Hospital, posted on his Facebook page on Monday that Thailand should closely monitor new Omicron subvariants that are spreading in India.
Manoon explained that new Covid strains, which have spread in India, would be detected in Thailand soon.
He said Thailand should get prepared to cope with the spread of XBB variant not long after the spread of the BA.2.75 variant like what had happened in India.
The doctor explained that the XBB variant was much more infectious and it could evade immunity from vaccines and natural immunity from previous infections.
Also on Monday, Yong Poovorawan, a professor of paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, posted on his Facebook wall that the new round of Covid spread would continue until February.
Yong said the infection rate tended to increase during the rainy and winter seasons similar to the spread of influenza.
Yong said the infection rate would decline after February and would rise again in June when the rainy season starts.
He added that by next year, almost all Thais would have immunity against Covid.
NBTC team to oversee OTT streaming operators amid digital push
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has planned to set up a working team to supervise over-the-top (OTT) streaming operators to meet with changes in telecommunications technology.
NBTC deputy secretary-general of broadcasting Phoomsisth Mahavessiri said on Monday that Thailand’s telecommunications had become more complicated amid the transition towards a digital economy.
“Many organisations have improved their structure to meet with the digital era,” he said. “Meanwhile, consumers have changed their behaviour amid changes in telecommunications.”
He said the NBTC has implemented a strategy to supervise three groups of OTT streaming operators:
— Operators of websites or applications for use in daily life, such as Lazada, Uber, Airbnb, Dropbox and Google Maps.
— Operators of interpersonal communication platforms, covering social media (Facebook and Instagram) and instant messaging (Line, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp).
“The emergence of OTT streaming operators has resulted in cost burden for internet network operators,” he said, adding that the business caused difficulties in tax collection as well.
— Operators of television and video streaming platforms on the internet, such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Line TV.
Phoomsisth added that people are now able to access internet via various channels, such as smartphone, desktop, laptop and tablet, citing the National Statistical Office’s data.
He said the value of OTT streaming in Thailand has continued to increase since 2019 and it is expected to hit $877 million (30.53 billion baht) in the next three years.
“Meanwhile, the number of OTT streaming users is expected to hit 2.1 million people next year,” he added.
UNAids praises Thailand for wiping out mother-to-child HIV infections
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
UNAids will be holding its board meeting in Chiang Mai on Tuesday in a symbolic gesture to congratulate Thailand for its success in reducing HIV transmissions and eliminating mother-to-child infections.
This is the first time in 14 years that the UNAids Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) will be meeting outside Geneva.
The meeting will run from Tuesday to Friday, deputy government spokesperson Trisulee Trisaranakul said.
“Though this is the first UNAids PCB meeting outside Geneva in 14 years, it will be the second time it is meeting in Chiang Mai,” she said, adding that the first time UNAids PCB met in Chiang Mai was in 2008.
The 2008 meeting was chaired by then-public health minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, and the one this year will be chaired by incumbent Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Trisulee said UNAids had released a statement on November 11 praising Thailand’s global leadership in tackling Aids. She said Thailand was also commended for becoming a good example for other nations to follow.
She added that the UN agency has also voiced confidence that the Chiang Mai meeting will encourage other Asia-Pacific nations to fulfil their pledges to the UN Aids programme.
Taoufik Bakkali, director of the UNAids regional support team for Asia Pacific, said on Sunday that the meeting in Thailand will motivate the fulfilment of commitments made by the community of nations in 2021.
“We are grateful to Thailand for its global Aids response leadership. The country has taken significant strides toward ending its HIV epidemic and is setting an example to the world of translating political will into action,” Bakkali said.
Thailand has made considerable progress in the battle against Aids, especially in providing life-saving tests and treatment to people living with HIV.
Thailand was the first country in the region to have been validated in 2016 for eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmissions.
The country has also joined the Global Partnership to Eliminate all Forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination, the UNAids said.
Since 2010, Aids-related deaths in Thailand have dropped by 65% and new infections by 58%. Last year, some 94% of people living with HIV in Thailand were aware of their status, 91% of those diagnosed were being treated and 97% of them achieved viral suppression.
Trisulee said UNAids also congratulated Thailand for integrating HIV treatment into its universal healthcare system, thus making it possible to control HIV transmission sustainably.
“Knowledge of Thailand’s success will be shared with the 22 members of UNAids during the meeting,” Trisulee said.
Meanwhile, 11 Thai companies were listed on DJSI World, which features the globe’s top 10% of firms in terms of economic, environmental, and social criteria.
The listings reflected the Thai firms’ focus on balancing business and social concerns while creating trust among Thai and foreign investors, the SET commented.
It added that the push for sustainability was also reflected in Thailand gaining most listings in Asean on the FTSE4Good Index and MSCI ESG Universal Index, with 40 and 42 respectively.
SET president Pakorn Peetathawatchai said businesses that operate with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles not only shield themselves from crises but also increase competitiveness and trust.
The Revenue Department is drafting classification criteria for digital tokens to ensure that tax collection does not hinder digital-asset development, director-general Lavaron Sangsnit said on Sunday.
Certain kinds of digital tokens could be exempted from value-added tax (VAT), while others will not be subject to taxes like other forms of investment, Lavaron said.
He added that the new classification criteria will put each kind of token in a category based on its asset type.
“For example, tokens that can be traded like shares will be treated and taxed like shares. The same goes for tokens that can be used as debentures,” he said.
Lavaron said the classification criteria will also help investors to identify types of utility tokens according to their different uses.
In March, the government exempted VAT and personal income tax deduction on trade of cryptocurrencies and digital tokens until December 31 next year.
The measure aims to support development of infrastructure, payment systems and the digital economy.
Currently the Royal Decree on Digital Assets Business classifies digital assets as either cryptocurrencies or digital tokens.
It defines cryptocurrencies as electronic data units created as a medium of exchange for the acquisition of goods, services or other rights.
Digital tokens are defined as electronic data units specifying the right of a person to participate in an investment, or to acquire specific goods, services or other rights under an agreement between the issuer and the holder.
Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing tighter controls on digital assets trading to protect investors after a series of high-profile bankruptcies in the global industry.
Baht weakens slightly as crucial US Fed meeting looms
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
The baht opened at 34.84 to the US dollar on Tuesday, weakening slightly from Friday’s close of 34.79 after the Constitution Day holiday on Monday.
The currency will likely move between 34.75 and 34.95 against the greenback during the day and between 34.50 and 35.20 during the week, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
Poon cautioned that the baht could fluctuate and weaken amid a possible sell-off of risky assets. Last week saw foreign investors make net sales of 5 billion baht in the Thai stock market.
Poon said the baht would also face downward pressure if the gold price falls and triggers purchases.
For the dollar, he advised investors to look out for US inflation concerns and the US Federal Reserve’s decision on the interest rate at its two-day meeting starting today (Tuesday, US time). Dollar strengthening is forecast if the Fed signals an interest rate ceiling higher than market expectations of 5.25%.
Thailand’s 10 border special economic zones log THB37bn investment
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
Thailand’s 10 border special economic zones (SEZs) have drawn investment worth 37 billion baht so far, the government reported on Monday. Infrastructure projects to support business in the 10 SEZs are also 89% complete, government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is confident the economic zones – located in Tak, Mukdahan, Trat, Sa Kaew, Songkhla, Nong Khai, Narathiwat, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Phanom and Kanchanaburi – will boost development and income for rural people in the remote provinces, she added.
The border SEZs were initiated in 2015 to tap potential for trade and investment from neighbouring countries and the Asean Economic Community. The Board of Investment offers privileges for companies setting up operations in the zones.
Ratchada outlined progress in five aspects of border SEZ development.
– Private investment: Since 2015, private firms have invested about 37 billion baht in the 10 SEZs.
– Infrastructure: Major projects include the construction of the Trat-Hat Lek highway and Highway 211 from Chiang Khan to Nong Khai. Overall, infrastructure construction is 89% complete.
– Development of Treasury Department land: The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and private firms have leased special zones in Sa Kaew and Songkhla to build industrial zones that have already attracted investors. Special zones in Trat, Nakhon Phanom and Kanchanaburi have been leased by investors.
– Immigrant workers: One-stop migrant worker management centres have been established in all 10 provinces and approved employment of 508,000 workers from neighbouring countries.
– Centres to aid daily recruitment from neighbouring countries: The centres have facilitated the employment of some 27,000 workers who cross the border back and forth each day.
Survey shows public confidence in government’s ability to tackle economic issues
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
The Khon La Khrueng (Let’s Go Halves) campaign has been the most beneficial government scheme, according to a survey by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri on Monday said that the NSO had surveyed 6,970 people aged over 15 years, from October 17 to 31, about their opinion on the government’s policies.
According to the survey, the respondents considered the following schemes as most beneficial to them:
Khon La Khrueng (Let’s Go Halves) – 75.8%
State Welfare Card – 69.9%
Electricity Bill relief – 59.2%
Rao Chana (We Win) – 25.1%
Mor33 Rao Rak Kan (Section 33 Rao Rak Kan) – 14.8%
The survey also asked about the public’s satisfaction level with the government’s management. The respondents were:
Mostly satisfied – 7.7%
Very satisfied – 34.4%
Moderately satisfied – 41%
Less satisfied – 14.7%
Do not satisfied – 2.2%
According to the survey, people aged over 40 years were more satisfied with the government’s management than those aged under 40.
Farmers and people who were house-husbands, housewives, retirees, students, and unemployed people were more satisfied than people in other occupation groups.
The survey also asked about the respondents’ trust in the government tackling economical issues: The respondents were:
Most confident – 5.8%
Very confident – 29.6%
Moderately confident – 40.8%
Less confident – 20.6%
Not confident – 3.2%
Lastly, the survey also ranked the top five issues that people would like the government to help with urgently. They chose:
Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
(From left) Donsaron Kovitvanitcha,Edvinas Puksta, Bianca Balbuena, Anucha Boonyawata, Dušan Zorić, Matija Gluščevićna and Witawat Meksawan
Meanwhile, Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, pulmonologist of Vichaiyut Hospital, posted on his Facebook page on Monday that Thailand should closely monitor new Omicron subvariants that are spreading in India.
Also on Monday, Yong Poovorawan, a professor of paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, posted on his Facebook wall that the new round of Covid spread would continue until February.
Thailand has made considerable progress in the battle against Aids, especially in providing life-saving tests and treatment to people living with HIV.
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