Korat’s bright yellow sunflower field becomes latest social-media ‘check-in’ spot
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
A 100-rai field in covered in bright yellow sunflowers in Nakhon Ratchasima has become a brand new online “check-in” spot for local social media networkers.
The field, which is part of Rajabhat Nakhon Ratchasima University’s agricultural research centre, has been open to the public since December 9.
The campus is located in Muang district’s Chaimongkol area.
People can enter the field to take photographs or selfies with the tall bright yellow blossoms from 8am to 6pm daily until January 15.
The centre said the field has become very popular among tourists thanks to the cool temperatures and the bright vista. Visitors can also feed milk to baby goats frolicking in the field.
The temperature in Korat on Tuesday was chilly at 17 degrees Celsius.
Chiang Mai welcoming more tourists as flights start returning
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
Chiang Mai returned to its top spot as a favourite destination after the number of daily arrivals rose beyond 20,000 in December.
Nattawut Ta-inta, Chiang Mai Airport’s deputy director, recently said that the airport now welcomes between 18,000 to 20,000 passengers daily; of them, some 2,000 are international arrivals.
Some 130 domestic and about 20 international flights land in Chiang Mai daily. He said 11 international airlines have returned to their pre-pandemic schedule, including flights from Incheon and Busan in South Korea; Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam; Singapore; Luang Prabang in Cambodia; Taiwan capital Taipei; Hong Kong; Yangon in Myanmar; and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
He said before Covid-19 arrived in 2019, Chiang Mai welcomed some 35,000 travellers daily, 30% of whom were foreigners and the remainder domestic.
Nattawut added that in the pre-Covid era, the airport saw 145 domestic flights and some 90 flights landing daily, including 14 from China alone.
“Chiang Mai Airport has the slots ready for all airlines to reinstate their flights. They just need to notify the airport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand,” he said.
“Recently, Myanmar Airlines began flying twice a week from Yangon and will increase its flights gradually,” he said.
He expects China to open its borders in March, which may encourage Chinese travellers to return to Chiang Mai. He also said he believes more airlines will start flying to Chiang Mai from January.
Prayut may reveal his political plans after Brussels trip
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday hinted that he might spell out his political future after he returns from a trip to Brussels later this week.
Before he boarded an Air Force plane at the Don Mueang military airport for a trip to Brussels on Monday, reporters approached him for comments about his political future.
A reporter asked him whether he would officially announce his political future once he returns from Brussels, Prayut replied: “I’ll answer this question when I return.”
The prime minister is attending the Asean-European Union Summit in Brussels to mark the 45th anniversary of ties between the two groupings. He is scheduled to leave Brussels on Thursday.
It has been widely speculated that Prayut and a group of Palang Pracharath Party MPs would join the new Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party in a bid to enable him to continue as prime minister for two more years after the next general election.
The election is tentatively scheduled for May 7 subject to the House of Representatives not being dissolved before it completes its four-year term on March 22.
If Prayut wins the prime minister’s post again, he will be able to remain in office until 2025 in accordance with a ruling of the Constitutional Court.
A reporter asked Prayut to comment on a recent opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration that Ruam Thai Sang Chart has little chance of deciding the next coalition leader. Prayut replied: “I don’t know who carried out the survey and whom they interviewed.”
Asked whether the survey’s results would affect his political decision, Prayut shrugged his shoulders and said: “Not at all”.
When asked whether he had any concerns during his trip, Prayut replied that he had no worries because he had put in place a system for governance to proceed systematically and he has entrusted all policies to respective committees and ministries to carry out.
Factories using 3 chemicals have until Thursday to register for 2023 import quota
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
Factories using controlled chemicals are required to register and provide details on their production processes within this week, as the government tries to crack down on the production of narcotics.
Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said on Tuesday that more than 140 factories have been found to use sodium cyanide, benzyl cyanide and benzyl chloride and they are required to provide details on their consumption of these chemicals.
The import and export of these chemicals was suspended on November 21 to ensure all control measures are in place to ensure they are not used to make methamphetamine, he said.
Jullapong Thaweesri, director-general of the Industrial Works Department, said that since import-export was suspended, his department has been working on finding the exact quantity that is available in the country.
He said from now on, the import of these three chemicals will be approved on a case-by-case basis once control measures have been drafted.
Jullapong said each factory will have to justify their stocks and purchase of the chemicals by providing details of exactly how much is used.
He said importers, exporters and end users of these three chemicals are also required to register and provide details of consumption on the department’s website by Thursday (December 15).
He added that his department should have the import quotas of these chemicals for 2023 approved and ready within next month.
However, factories that fail to meet the Thursday deadline can register later, but the department will take time to approve their import quota, Jullapong said.
27 Thai immigration police officers found to be aiding Chinese triads
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
Investigators believe at least 27 immigration police officers have made it possible for members of Chinese triads to stay illegally in Thailand.
Deputy National Police chief General Surachet Hakparn told the press on Sunday that investigators came to this conclusion after interrogating 27 suspects over the past two weeks.
He said some of the suspects broke down and admitted to their crimes due to overwhelming evidence.
“I believe more immigration police officers are involved,” he said, vowing to take strong action against these officers with no exceptions.
Police launched a nationwide investigation last month after former massage parlour tycoon and politician Chuwit Kamolvisit provided information on alleged Chinese triads operating in Thailand.
The tip-off quickly led to an arrest warrant being issued for alleged triad kingpin Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant.
Chaiyanat is married to a senior Thai police officer and has gained Thai citizenship through this marriage.
He surrendered to police on November 23 and has been denying all charges.
Police believe Chinese triads are operating in at least 18 provinces, including Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima and Udon Thani.
Surachet added that the case against Chaiyanat has made considerable progress and there is plenty of evidence to support money laundering charges. He said available evidence should help uproot Chaiyanat’s financial network that has been funding criminal operations in Thailand.
When asked about Chuwit’s concerns about the transparency of the investigation, Surachet said police are open to advise and will look into all evidence that turns up, including tips on social media.
“Investigation will be based on evidence and the witnesses we find, not on instincts alone,” he said.
He added that so far, more than 100 Chinese nationals have been arrested and are being questioned, while Chaiyanat has been denied bail and will remain behind bars until the investigation is over.
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.
Asked whether the survey’s results would affect his political decision, Prayut shrugged his shoulders and said: “Not at all”.
He said from now on, the import of these three chemicals will be approved on a case-by-case basis once control measures have been drafted.
He added that his department should have the import quotas of these chemicals for 2023 approved and ready within next month.
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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