Atthaya named golf’s Rookie of the Year after rising to world No 1
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022
Nineteen-year-old Atthaya Thitikul has won the 2022 Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year award after winning LPGA Tour titles and rising to world No 1 in her first year as a professional golfer.
The LPGA Tour handed out year-end silverware at its annual awards show on Thursday in Florida.
The 2022 Player of the Year and money leader will be decided this week at the CME Group Tour Championship.
Atthaya is one of four players in the running, led by favourite and former world No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who has had a comeback year on tour.
The other two players who can still win Player of the Year are Australian Minjee Lee and Canada’s Brooke Henderson.
Ko leads Lee in the standings by just one point and will clinch the award with a victory at the Tour Championship.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Chun In-gee won the Founders Award for the player who best embodies “the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA”.
The Annika Major Award for the best performance across all five Majors this season went to Minjee Lee.
She won the US Women’s Open, earned a tie for second at the Women’s PGA Championship, came 12th at the Chevron Championship and tied for 43rd at the Amundi Evian Championship. She closed out her major season with a tie for fourth at the Women’s Open, her fifth top-10 result in nine appearances at the championship.
French leader Macron ‘knocked out’ by Muay Thai at legendary Bangkok stadium
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022
French President Emmanuel Macron took time out during the Apec summit to visit the famed Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.
The French leader visited the stadium, where legends of Muay Thai have fought since 1945, to speak with fighters on Thursday.
Macron arrived in Thailand to attend the annual Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok on Friday and Saturday, but the French president is known to have a keen interest in sports.
Welcoming him at Rajadamnern Stadium were Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, media firm Plan B’s managing director Pinijsorn Luechaikajohnpan, and the stadium’s executive manager Jit Cheosakul.
Macron told them that he was a big sports fan and liked watching football and boxing, including Muay Thai.
He then watched ringside as two Muay Thai fighters gave a demonstration of their martial arts skills in a short sparring exhibition, showcasing traditional kicks and leg-swipes that have become a staple of modern mixed martial arts.
Macron was also gifted a pair of Muay Thai shorts with his own name written across them, said Thainchai Pisitwuttinan, CEO of Global Sport Ventures, organiser of the Rajadamnern World Series.
The French leader tweeted a video of himself speaking to students at the stadium and watching as they sang “The Marseilles” French national anthem. He also praised Muay Thai as not just Thailand’s national sport but also a treasure worthy of global respect.
Qatar’s decision to ban beer sales at World Cup stadiums was generally met with sympathy by fans on the Doha corniche on Friday (November 18).
Organisers of the tournament made the unexpected announcement after previously saying there would be opportunity to purchase Budweiser – FIFA’s beer partner – during matches.
Supporters who spoke to Reuters were understanding of the decision.
“I think we should enjoy the game with or without it, in the end it is a party for everyone,” said Omar Lopez, an Ecuador fan. “I think if they did it has something a lot to do with their religion and I respect that. Everyone is going to enjoy the game with or without it.”
A Qatari national who only gave his name as Saqr said: “You need to respect our tradition as alcohol is prohibited in Islam, so you cannot drink in front of Islamic people so we need people to respect our culture, but we respect their culture also, so we make some specific places, there you can drink a beer.”
However Nahir Nieto, from Argentina, insisted alcohol was a World Cup essential.
“You share beers with friends, with family when you are happy,” she said. “And Argentina is very happy today because we are at a World Cup, we really want to win so (beer) is unmissable. It is like a bottle of water when you are in the middle of the desert. For sure, we had the idea there would be beer. I am not sure what is going to happen.”
The reversal permits World Cup sites to sell only non-alcoholic beverages, which represents a reversal of an agreement that approved international sponsor Budweiser to sell at all events.
“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing the sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” FIFA said on Friday.
Approved “fan zones” near the stadium can still sell alcoholic beverages. Fans found attempting to bring their own alcohol into stadiums will be barred from the game and tournament.
One-day event to showcase 110 decorated manhole covers from across Japan
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022
Manhole covers are everywhere and many people just walk by them on the street without even thinking about them. Increasingly in many parts of Japan, however, artistically designed covers are making pedestrians stop in their tracks for a closer look.
A one-day free event showcasing 110 such covers from all across Japan will be exhibited at the 10th Manhole Summit in Tokorozawaon Nov. 19, just north of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture.
This “street art” has been attracting attention from around the world. By drawing visitors to the event to see the variety of designs on manhole covers, many of which are often region-specific, the organizers aim to promote understanding of sewage systems.
The theme this year looks to convey the cool aspects of manhole covers, with the largest number ever displayed for the Manhole Summit.
Two specially made manhole covers featuring the anime “Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin,” which were created to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Tokorozawa’s incorporation, will be among the must-see covers on display. The event will also include a discussion on decorated manholes, a stamp collection challenge and free distribution of Gundam manhole cards in English.
The venue, Tokorozawa Sakura Town, is on the site of the city’s former sewage treatment facility.
Fukuoka Prize laureate Danny Yung brings his latest stage work, plus a conference, to Bangkok Theatre Festival this weekend.
For those who have read The Nation throughout these years, Hong Kong stage director, designer and cultural activist Danny Yung is already a familiar name. For example, our National Artist Patravadi Mejudhon performed in his “Book of Ghosts” at Hong Kong Arts Festival 2009, B-Floor Theatre’s Ornanong Thaisriwong and 18 Monkeys Dance Theatre’s Jitti Chompee participated in his “One Table Two Chairs” platform.
Others may recall his exhibition “Tian Tian Xiang Shang: Arts Is Learning Learning Is Arts at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre three years ago on which Bangkok Post wrote, “Anyone with a voice can contribute to the BACC’s experimental 8th floor installation.”
If none of these rings any bells, here’s part of the Fukuoka Prize citation for the co-artistic director of Zuni Icosahedron: “As a stage director, dramatist and performance artist, Mr. Danny Yung (Rong Nianzeng) has created more than 100 experimental theatrical works, and also has dedicated himself to the areas of international exchange, cultural policies and art education.
He has contributed greatly to the development of Asian arts and culture through his diverse projects, which have created connections between people across time and space, between Asia and the rest of the world, and between traditional culture and modern art.”
Thanks to the support by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) and the cooperation with World Performances @ Drama Chula program, Yung’s latest production “Interrupted Dream” is part of Bangkok Theatre Festival 2022.
For this work, he was inspired by the tenth scene of Tang Xianzu’s “Peony Pavilion”.
Yung wrote, “The scene provided us significant rooms for imagination and the vicissitudes of life presented in and outside the theatre. Among the variety of symbols and narratives, we went with the flow to look for individual and collective imaginative space. ‘Peony Pavilion’ was banned several times 450 years back.
Every time it was restaged, it turned into even more indulged and plaintively showy. Now, all of us, please look at this theatre, look at its confines and taboos, and attend to the way we see and be seen in ‘Interrupted Dream’”.
Two months ago, “Interrupted Dream” was the opening work for the InlanDimensions International Arts Festival in Poland. Rossella Ferrari, China studies professor at University of Vienna, wrote that the play is about “boundaries and transgressions—between wake and dream, passion and duty, innocence and guilt, the living and the dead, corporeal reality and ghostly appearances.”
Having studied Yung’s works for years, she noted, “Yung has never been afraid of boundaries—and of transgressing them” and that “this work is no exception.”
“Contemporary history, invoked with varying degrees of allusion in previous iterations of the series, takes centre stage in this most recent version. Yung’s newest production crosses what is, arguably, the ultimate boundary in current public discourse in Hong Kong, as it opens with footage of the 2019/20 Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill protests and explicit visual references to technologies of surveillance.”
As Yung’s stage works are also known for their visual elements, Ferrari pointed out, “Emblematic of the production’s media design, a thin red line keeps appearing and disappearing on the back screen throughout the performance as if to signal a boundary to a forbidden zone, which the six performers onstage must negotiate with and push back constantly, almost ritually.
Likewise, fast-multiplying red squares moving rapidly across the screen frame the faces of the protesters in the opening video footage – in an obvious nod to the ubiquity of facial recognition systems and control mechanisms during the protests, as well as throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Bangkok audiences will soon—to be more precise, tonight (November 18) and tomorrow 7pm at Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts—find out how this is relevant to what happened here in the past few years.
Concurrently is an international conference “Toward a Human Resource Development Initiative for Cultural Exchange”, conducted entirely in English and with hybrid (on-site and online) mode, with Yung and Surapone Virulrak, president of the Royal Society and former vice president of Chulalongkorn University as keynote speakers.
Others who will share their experience and thoughts include National Artist Janaprakal Chandruang; Rachel Cooper, Asia Society’s director of global performing arts and special cultural initiatives; Yusaku Imamura, Tokyo University of the Arts’ vice president; and Hans-Georg Knopp, former secretary general of the Goethe Institut headquarters. It’s on Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20, 2 to 5pm at Maha Chulalongkorn building. There’s no registration fee.
Siam Piwat joins forces in APEC 2022 to drive sustainability to the economy, society, and environment, bringing pride to the Thai nation
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022
Bangkok (November 18, 2022) – Siam Piwat Group is a leading property and retail developer, owner of global destinations including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery, and a joint-venture partner of ICONSIAM and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok.
As an Official Communication Partner of the 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC 2022), Siam Piwat is joining forces to welcome delegates from 21 economies members and members of the press around the world. The partnership is a great opportunity for Siam Piwat to support the Thai government and be a part to reaffirm confidence towards Thailand, which pave ways to increasing investment and business opportunities, especially in tourism and hospitality businesses.
To welcome delegates from around the world, Siam Piwat is showcasing its business approach to sustainability at APEC Showcase Green Press Center, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center from November 14-19, 2022. Through the concepts “the Universe of Value,” “Shared Value,” and “Co-creation,” Siam Piwat has delivered experience beyond expectations both on physical and digital platforms, creating an ecosystem to achieve mutual success as part of its “Collaboration to Win” strategy and fostering sustainable value in every process and business operation to create mutual growth for the people, the environment, and economy.
Within the APEC Showcase Green Press Center, Siam Piwat’s showcase’s most prominent feature is a golden woven structure reminiscent of APEC’s Chalom logo, or a woven bamboo basket with the information displayed on a large 360o digital screen recounting the achievements and successes of Siam Piwat over the past 63 years as a developer of world-class destinations that have accomplished a global top-of-mind position among the public, customers, and business partners. The booth also delineates Siam Piwat’s business philosophy in fostering mutual growth sustainably in line with APEC 2022’s main theme “Open. Connect. Balance.”
Siam Piwat’ s booth also features demonstrations of Thai handicrafts from ICONCRAFT and Sook Siam that reflect the Thai identity. Held in collaboration with communities and various sectors, featuring different Thai arts and craft each day.
On November 16, 2022, ICONSIAM was honored to co-host and be the venue for the Welcome Reception for the APEC CEO Summit Thailand 2022. Attendees discovered the impressive experience where the river-front River Park area was transformed into a courtyard with Traditional Thai dance performance and puppet theatre show which is a cherished cultural heritage of Siam. Participants also enjoyed the taste of traditional delicacies from four regions of Thailand, emphasizing food as one of the country’s key ‘soft power.’ Featured also were Thai Arts and crafts demonstrations.
On November 17, 2022, Siam Paragon was chosen as the venue for Gala Dinner, to show appreciation for over 1,000 delegates of APEC CEO Summit Thailand 2022. A special evening was held at Royal Paragon, 5th floor, Siam Paragon, which was beautifully designed as a banquet venue under the theme of “Connect the World.” The participants were greeted by performers of Khon which is a national performing art heritage. Showcased also were traditional Thai arts and crafts such as exquisite fruit carving, garland making, khon mask panting, potpourri making. The delegates also enjoyed the taste of authentic Thai food and magnificent performances.
Hosting APEC 2022 is an important agenda of Thailand and Siam Piwat Group is proud to be a part of this major event, presenting Thai identities to the world, delivering great impression and marking Thailand as a global destination – a must-visit and top-of-mind destination for people all over the world.
Apec ministers set 3 priorities for trade and investment, endorse Bangkok Goals on BCG
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022
Apec ministers on Friday issued a 48-point joint statement, setting three priorities to promote trade and investment among member economies.
The three priorities are: open to all opportunities, connect in all dimensions, and balance in all aspects.
“This year, under the Apec 2022 theme ‘Open. Connect. Balance.’, we advanced our work through three priorities, to promote trade and investment that is open to all opportunities, to reconnect the region in all dimensions, and to drive Apec towards balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth through approaches such as the Bio-Circular-Green [BCG] Economy,” the ministers said in their statement.
Concerned ministers from the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) met at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on Thursday (November 17).
The meeting was chaired by two Thai Cabinet members — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai and Deputy Premier and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.
“At our meeting, we deliberated on Apec’s achievements in 2022 under this year’s priorities, provided guidance on our future work, and discussed the way forward for Apec,” the statement said.
In order to advance Apec’s agenda on sustainability, the ministers welcomed the Bangkok Goals on BCG Economy and submitted it for endorsement by Apec leaders’.
“The Bangkok Goals will support the BCG Economy as an approach to achieve inclusive, balanced and sustainable recovery from Covid-19, long-term resilient economic growth, and environmental and climate objectives in the Apec region in a comprehensive and holistic manner, creating synergy across multiple policy areas and building on Apec’s existing commitments and workstreams,” the statement said.
The ministers also welcomed the launch of the “Apec BCG Award” this year to recognise achievements in sustainability in the region and looked forward to awarding the first winners next year.
The ministerial meeting also approved the report of the 2022 Apec senior officials’ meeting chair and the senior officials’ report on economic and technical cooperation. The ministers also endorsed the Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report to Ministers. They approved the 2023 Apec Secretariat Account Budget and the corresponding level of members’ contributions for 2023.
The ministers reiterated the grouping’s strong commitment towards the achievement of the Apec Putrajaya Vision 2040, to realise an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, “for the prosperity of all our people and future generations”, the joint statement said.
The Apec ministerial meeting agreed to continue highlighting the serious threat posed by corruption, which undermines government accountability and public trust and impedes economic growth.
“To facilitate the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, by relevant economies, we are determined to further implement the ‘Beijing Declaration on Fighting Corruption’ and the ‘Santiago Commitment to Fight Corruption and Ensure Transparency, as well as the Apec Principles on the Prevention of Bribery and Enforcement of Anti-Bribery Law’,” the statement said.
The ministers reaffirmed Apec’s commitment to deny safe haven to corruption offenders and their illicit assets, in accordance with domestic laws, and to combat cross-border corruption.
“We are committed to learning from each other, taking practical action and a united approach, including through collaboration with other international organisations, the private sector and civil society, as appropriate. We reaffirm our commitment to combat cross-border corruption. We will continue to address corruption that prevents women’s empowerment and reduces their opportunities for economic development.”
The ministers also thanked Thailand for hosting Apec in 2022 and welcomed preparations for Apec 2023, which will be hosted by the United States. They also confirmed Peru and South Korea as hosts of Apec 2024 and 2025, respectively.
“We look forward to continuing our important work in building the Asia-Pacific we aspire to become,” the statement said.
Thai puppetry performed by Joe Louise during APEC 2022
Puppets in Thailand have a long history of being used in Thai entertainment. The Joe Louis Theatre, named for its founder, a legendary puppeteer, has been at the center of efforts to keep this delicate art form alive and thriving for decades.
Apec 2022: Showcase for shimmering beauty of Thai silk
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Apec leaders and their spouses were charmed by the beauty of Thai silk as they dined at the gala dinner hosted on Thursday evening at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall.
The dresses, showcased in the “Thai Silk through the Eyes of Apec” show, had been designed by 21 designers from member countries and were so stunning that French President Emmanuel Macron commented they should be shown off at the Paris Fashion Week.
Members of the media were given a chance to admire the creations again on Friday at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Innovation, cooperation keys in striking balance between rising energy demand and reducing carbon footprint
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022
Jarupong Krisanaraj
Policies, innovations and collaborations are keys for maintaining future growth and preserving the planet, speakers at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) CEO Summit said on Friday.
During the session “Powering Future Growth and Preserving the Planet”, Exxon Mobil low carbon solutions president of Asia Pacific, Irtiza H Sayyed, said enabling policies, innovations and cross-border collaborations are needed to help spur carbon capture and sequestration across the Asia Pacific.
Given the disparity in economic development across the Asia-Pacific, he said flexible agreements are needed to support the supply chain between advanced economies with high emissions of carbon dioxide and developing economies with carbon dioxide storage capacity.
Irtiza H Sayyed
“While advanced economies are able to absorb costs, emerging markets face greater challenges given the impact on economic growth,” he told delegates at Bangkok’s Athenee Hotel.
“We need to strike a balance between growing energy demand and the need to lower carbon footprint.”
Harald Link
Meanwhile, B.Grimm Power president Harald Link said collaboration and partnership are critical to achieve meaningful change in addressing the climate crisis.
“Policy support is also needed to encourage the transition to clean energy,” he said. “We want to reduce greenhouse gas, let’s cooperate.”
Nirandorn Rojanasomsith
PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) executive vice president of domestic asset group Nirandorn Rojanasomsith said PTTEP would begin to capture and sequester carbon dioxide emissions in 2025 or 2026, starting with reservoirs in the Gulf of Thailand.
He said fossil fuels are expected to remain the most reliable source of energy for the next 20 years, but would gradually shift as renewable technologies evolve.
“Fossil fuel and natural gas will be with us for another 20 years, in my opinion, because those are the most reliable energy sources,” he said, “But sooner or later, fossil fuel will dry out.”
Irtiza H Sayyed
Harald Link
Nirandorn Rojanasomsith
SootinClaimon.Com 