Thaworn eyes another jackpot at 1-million-baht Thai Senior Tour finale
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022
THE NATION
One million baht will be up for grabs at the fifth and final event of this year’s Thai Senior Tour, held at Artitaya Golf & Resort in Nakhon Nayok from September 25-27.
After two rounds of competition, the top 60 golfers will qualify for the final day and a shot at the one-million-baht purse.
Previous tournaments were held in Chiang Mai in March, Nakhon Ratchasima (April), Hua Hin (June), and Phuket (August).
Asian Tour legend Thaworn Wiratchant won the first three tournaments while Somboon Leelathitikul was victorious in Phuket last month.
TSPGA president Suthin Darunyothin said this month’s tournament might not be the season finale after all, as the association is waiting for confirmation of another event in November.
Meanwhile, the next season will start in February. Suthin said he hoped to see more foreign golfers on tour next year as the Covid-19 situation improves. He added that the association will also boost amateurs’ efforts to turn pro.
The story behind major changes at Nation Group, Thailand’s eminent media organisation, was revealed by vice chairman Adisak Limparungpattanakij at the Trusted Media Summit APAC 2022 event, held virtually on September 20-21.
The seminar was organised by Google News Initiative, Cofact (Thailand) and network partners after their recent public survey of trust in Thai media’s political reporting. The survey revealed that Bangkokians had highest trust in media when it came to news reporting and presentation techniques (score 3.42), but lowest trust when it came to transparency and professional ethics of journalists (2.91).
“Trusted media is the most valuable asset for the journalistic profession,” affirmed Adisak, executive committee vice chairman at Nation Group (Thailand). “However, it is also the asset that is hardest to maintain.”
During a “Lightning Talks” seminar, Adisak revealed the core mission to “bring The Nation back to earth” as well as outlining changes and challenges that have shaken up Nation Group and Thai society over the past few years.
“What severely damaged our credibility as journalists was allowing Nation TV news anchors and moderators to influence the editorial team,” said Adisak. “There was no filtering whatsoever on what was presented on Nation TV programmes during 2019-2020. Anchors and moderators selected whatever they liked, including one-sided information and fake news, and then persuaded the audience to agree with them.”
“It is as though Nation TV audiences were being hypnotised during those two years,” he added.
Adisak said the decline of audience trust and confidence in the company was the turning point that spurred major change within the organisation over the past few years.
“The voice of news consumers made us think about what we had done wrong that caused over 50 of our employees to resign at the same time,” said Adisak, clarifying that the mass resignation had happened before his return to Nation Group as a vice chairman.
“This incident was the beginning of our return to the ‘Nation Way’ – the way of professional media. Since then, we have embarked on a mission to restore trust among news consumers and external parties, as well as raise the morale of employees through communication,” he said.
Adisak said Nation Group had learned from this lesson that trustworthiness is the most important asset of a media organisation. It is the hardest asset to keep but is also of the greatest value to all journalists.
“Trust in your media output leads to you being trusted as an organisation. I constantly reiterate the message to all Nation Group employees: stay committed to this principle,” said Adisak.
Fiona slams Canada’s Atlantic coast, capsizing homes
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described storm Fiona as “very powerful and dangerous” on Saturday after it ripped into eastern Canada with hurricane-force winds, forcing evacuations, knocking down trees and powerlines, and even capsizing houses near the ocean.
“People have seen their homes washed away, seen the winds, ripped schools, roofs off. But as Canadians, as we always do in times of difficulty, we will be there for each other,” Trudeau said at a press conference.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the centre of the storm, downgraded to Post-Tropical Cyclone Fiona, was now in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and losing some steam. The NHC cancelled hurricane and tropical storm warnings for the region.
Port aux Basques, on the southwest tip of Newfoundland with a population of 4,067, bore the brunt of the storm’s rage.
The mayor was forced to declare a state of emergency and evacuated parts of the town that suffered flooding and road washouts.
Mayor Brian Buttons from Channel-Port Aux Basques in Newfoundland said he was declaring a state of emergency on Saturday after powerful storm Fiona slammed into eastern Canada.
“My only message to you people right now is if you don’t leave now, we may not be able to get you out of there when we really need to, so you need to go now.” Mayor Buttons warned his citizens.
Several homes and an apartment building were dragged out to sea, Rene Roy, editor-in-chief of Wreckhouse Weekly in Port aux Basques, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
“With the storm track the way it is, that puts southwestern parts of Newfoundland and Labrador right in that area of some of those extreme wind,” Bob Robichaud, a meteorologist with the Canadian Hurricane Centre, said at an online briefing by officials.
“That coupled with the fact that they’re wide open to the incoming surf and storm surge, that’s why you’re seeing what you’re seeing there right now,” he added.
Trudeau met on Saturday morning with members of a government emergency response team, and later told reporters that the armed forces would be deployed to help with the clean-up.
Trudeau had delayed his planned Saturday departure for Japan to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe but said he now would no longer make the trip. Instead, he said he would visit the storm-damaged region as soon as possible.
“The last thing I want to do is displace any of the extraordinary emergency teams and authorities who are rightly focusing on everything needed on the ground,” Trudeau told reporters. “But I will be out there to see people and to demonstrate that all Canadians stand with them as quickly as is responsible.”
Federal assistance has already been approved for Nova Scotia, Trudeau said, and more requests are expected.
Some 79% of customers, or 414,000, were without power in Nova Scotia, and 95%, or 82,000, had lost power on Prince Edward Island, utility companies said. Police across the region reported multiple road closures. The region was also experiencing spotty mobile phone service.
Fiona, which nearly a week ago battered Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean, killed at least eight and knocked out power for virtually all of Puerto Rico’s 3.3 million people during a sweltering heat wave.
Fiona made landfall between Canso and Guysborough, Nova Scotia, where the Canadian Hurricane Centre said it recorded what may have been the lowest barometric pressure of any storm to hit land in the country’s history.
Ian Hubbard, the meteorologist for the Canadian Hurricane Centre, told Reuters it appears Fiona lived up to expectations that it would be a “historical” storm.
Storms are not uncommon in the region and typically cross over rapidly, but Fiona is expected to impact a very large area.
While scientists have not yet determined whether climate change influenced Fiona’s strength or behaviour, there is strong evidence that these devastating storms are getting worse.
A social media user captured Storm Fiona battering Nova Scotia on Saturday as it ripped into eastern Canada with hurricane-force winds, forcing evacuations, and knocking down trees and powerlines.
The video showed lightning forks and trees bending in the wind, as well as sparks coming from powerlines damaged in the storm.
Image released showing Queen resting place in Windsor
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022
Buckingham Palace published a photograph on Saturday from Queen Elizabeth’s final resting place at the royal chapel in Windsor, featuring a ledger stone bearing her name and those of her parents, and husband Prince Philip.
The stone, made of black Belgian marble, sits in the King George VI Memorial Chapel which Queen Elizabeth commissioned in 1962 as a burial place for George VI, her father. The queen was interred there on Monday after a state funeral in Westminister Abbey.
The brass lettering on the stone reads “George VI 1895-1952 / Elizabeth 1900-2002” on the top two lines, followed by a garter star and then “Elizabeth II 1926-2022 / Philip 1921-2021” on the bottom two lines.
Queen Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, is also interred at the chapel, at Windsor Castle west of London.
Elizabeth died on Sept. 8 at Balmoral Castle, her summer home in the Scottish highlands, after 70 years on the throne. Her son Charles became King Charles III.
Heavy rain, flash flooding forecast for all regions on Sunday
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022
THE NATION
Sunday will bring heavy to very heavy rain and gusty winds to the North, Northeast, Central Region including Bangkok, East and South (west coast), according to the Thai Meteorological Department.
“People should beware of severe conditions that may cause flash floods and overflows, especially in foothills around waterways and lowlands,” it said.
Typhoon Noru is forecast to pass over the Philippines into the South China Sea from Sunday to Monday before hitting Vietnam by Tuesday and Wednesday as it approaches Thailand.
Sunday’s 24-hour weather forecast for Thailand:
North: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy to very heavy rain in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Phichit and Phetchabun. Temperature lows of 22-25C and highs of 31-33C.
Northeast: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy to very heavy rain in Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. Temperature lows of 23-25C and highs of 29-32C.
Central: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy to very heavy rain in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Lopburi, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon. Temperature lows of 23-25C and highs of 31-33C.
East: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain in Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Temperature lows of 24-25C and highs of 29-32C. Waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.
South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Temperature lows of 23-25C and highs of 32-34C. Waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres in thundershowers.
South (west coast): Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi. Temperature lows of 23-25C and highs of 29-32C; waves 1-2 metres high and about 2 metres in thundershowers.
Bangkok and its vicinity: Fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain. Temperature lows of 24-26C and highs of 31-32C.
Bangkok governor orders flood preparations as storm Noru approaches Thailand
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered preparations for possible flooding as tropical storm Noru approaches Thailand.
On Saturday, Chadchart said city authorities were keeping canal levels as low as possible to leave capacity for more rainwater, with the storm due to arrive on Wednesday and Thursday.
More than 200,000 sandbags have been allocated to build flood walls around vulnerable Bangkok communities, the governor said.
Communities have also been encouraged to prevent flood damage by participating in defending themselves, he added.
However, heavy rain from storm Noru is more likely to hit northern Thailand.
“Bangkok may feel only a mild impact but there will be water runoff from the North and rising sea tides,” he said.
City officials have been ordered to build sandbag walls along waterways, particularly in sections not guarded by concrete embankments, he added.
Chadchart was also asked to comment on a harsh Facebook rebuke delivered by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to a critic of the governor.
He said that though he had not seen the controversial message, he did not encourage such arguments.
“Everyone has the right to express their opinions. We listen to criticism as well as compliments. We are not perfect and will do whatever we can to improve things,” he said.
Celestial kiss: Jupiter moves closest to the Earth in nearly 6 decades on Tuesday
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022
The solar system’s largest planet, Jupiter, will be shining bright in the night sky on Tuesday as it moves closest to the Earth in 59 years.
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Narit) said on Saturday that for the first time since October 1963, Jupiter will be just 591 million kilometres away from our planet.
After sundown on Tuesday, a “very bright” Jupiter will be visible in the eastern skies until sunrise if there are no clouds, Narit said on its Facebook page.
If stargazers use a four-inch telescope with a magnification of at least 30 times, they will even get to see the ring of tiny dust particles around Jupiter as well as its four major moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
The “big four” are collectively called “Galilean moons” as they were discovered over four centuries ago by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei.
Narit is holding a stargazing event in four locations across the country that people can join to spot Jupiter and its Galilean moons from 6pm to 10pm on Tuesday.
The event will be held at Princess Sirindhorn Astropark in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima Observatory, Chachoengsao Observatory, and Songkhla Observatory. Entrance is free.
Narit is also working with about 560 schools across the country to make telescopes freely available for this rare celestial event. The agency will also live-stream Jupiter’s movements on its Facebook page from 7pm onwards.
Thailand to work with partners in accelerating actions to achieve Sustainable Development Goals
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022
THE NATION
On September 22, Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted a side event “Regional Pathways to the Global Goals: ASEAN’s Approach towards SDGs Implementation and Sustainable Post-COVID-19 Recovery” in the margins of the 77th Session of the UNGA High-level Week.
The event was co-organised by Thailand, as ASEAN Coordinator on Sustainable Development Cooperation, and the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue, with the aim to exchange ideas and views on approaches to regional collaborations and partnerships in advancing the sustainable development agenda especially in the context of the post-COVID-19 recovery.
Activities in the event include High-level segment with remarks by the Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, and Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, followed by a panel discussion. The event was attended by representatives from ASEAN Member States, ASEAN’s external partners and UN agencies.
In his opening remarks, Don emphasised the need to accelerate actions to achieve the SDGs, particularly as a quadruple shock – COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflicts, and supply chain disruption – has undone hard-won progress made thus far on sustainable development. He suggested two key elements that are preconditions for taking forward SDGs implementation, namely (1) ensuring a peaceful environment conducive to sustainable development and reinforcing constructive cooperation to build strategic trust and create mutual benefits; and (2) enhancing partnerships through synergies, the whole of society approach, and multi-stakeholder engagement for the UN 2030 Agenda.
Reiterating ASEAN’s commitment to promoting these two key elements, the Foreign Minister highlighted ASEAN’s undertakings to promote peace and partnerships for sustainable development through frameworks and mechanisms such as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), the Complementarities Initiative, and the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD). Meanwhile, Senator Wong reiterated Australia’s commitment to deepen engagement and increase sustainable development cooperation with ASEAN to realize a peaceful and prosperous region for the benefit of the peoples.
During the panel discussion, representatives from Indonesia, as the incoming Chair of ASEAN in 2023, the European Union, the FAO, and the Rockefeller Foundation exchanged views on how ASEAN and partners, through the 4Ps – public, private, people, partnership – model, can help turn crisis into opportunities and concretely translate regional development vision into actions. The importance of inclusive collaboration based on mutual benefits was also highlighted as one of the key enabling factors in addressing both short-term and long-term challenges of the SDGs implementation. Panelists commended Thailand for taking the lead in convening dialogue on this issue and reiterated commitments to continue working closely with ASEAN to deliver the SDGs.
This side event serves not only to provide a platform for ASEAN and various stakeholders to deepen engagement and brainstorm ways forward for accelerating SDGs implementation, but it also reflects ASEAN’s continuing contribution to the global efforts in realizing the SDGs and to promoting sustainability in all dimensions at the global level.
Thailand’s first match in Volleyball World Championship live on TV from 5.45 tonight
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022
THE NATION
Thailand will open their campaign in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship against Turkey tonight (Saturday). The match will be broadcast live on Workpoint TV channel 23, starting 5.45pm Thai time.
Held every four years, the tournament kicked off on Friday in the Netherlands and Poland.
Twenty-four countries have qualified, with the final due on October 16. Joining Thailand and reigning champions Serbia are Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Netherlands, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Turkey, and the United States.
The tournament’s first game on Friday saw Poland beat Croatia 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-15). On Saturday the Netherlands crushed Kenya by the same score (25-11, 25-17, 25-11).
Thailand have been drawn in Group B along with Poland, Turkey, Dominican Republic, South Korea, and Croatia.
Thailand’s first-round matches will be broadcast live on Workpoint TV channel 23:
– Thailand vs Turkey: Saturday, September 24 at 5.45pm
– vs Poland: Wednesday, September 28 at 1.15am (rerun 9.20am)
– vs Croatia: Wednesday, September 28 at 6.45pm
– vs South Korea: Thursday, September 29 at 6.45pm
– vs Dominican Republic: Saturday, October 1 at 6.45pm
Thailand have qualified for the Women’s World Championship five times in the past: 1998 (13th place), 2002 (17th place), 2010 (13th place), 2014 (17th place), and 2018 (13th place).
It was surely unthinkable that Roger Federer’s trophy-laden career would end with a defeat but that is what transpired as the 41-year-old Swiss maestro lost alongside Rafael Nadal on an emotional night at the Laver Cup on Friday (September 23).
In front of a 17,500 sell-out crowd at London’s O2 Arena, 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer returned from more than a year away for a last dance in tandem with his great rival on a gripping and memorable finale by the Thames.
With the clock already well past midnight, Federer had the chance to seal victory in the doubles clash when he served at match point in a tense deciding tiebreak but it was not to be as Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe ruined the script.
Sock thumped a forehand winner to seal a 4-6 7-6 11-9 win for Team World. After a brief moment of almost silence around the packed arena, the crowd erupted to salute an emotional Federer.
The London crowd had to wait for the arrival of Federer and Nadal as British favourite Andy Murray and Alex De Minaur engaged in a series of interminable rallies in a grinding opening match of the night, eventually won by De Minaur.
Murray’s two Wimbledon titles mean he is a national sporting icon but the night was all about Federer — a player who resides in the pantheon of sporting greats along with the likes of Pele, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali.
Even Federer’s practice sessions at the O2 were standing room only affairs and an electric atmosphere greeted him as he walked out into the cavernous arena alongside Nadal just after 10pm local time for what would be his last dance.
“I’ve done this thousands of times, but this one feels different. Thank you to everybody who’s coming tonight,” Federer has posted on Twitter earlier in the day.
It certainly felt that way too for everyone present in a crowd which included Australian great Laver — the man who inspired Federer to create the novel team event.
After the coin toss formalities loud roars accompanied Federer and Nadal, otherwise knows as ‘Fedal’, as they warmed up to the sound of The Clash’s London Calling booming around the venue — Federer raising his arm in salute after his introduction.
An even bigger cheer went up when Federer punched away a volley in the opening game — his first competitive shot since a demoralising defeat by Hubert Hurkacz in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2021 when he lost the last set 6-0.
During the changeovers the video screens showed some iconic moments of Federer’s 24-year professional career with tributes from Nadal and his mother Lynette.
American duo Sock and Tiafoe, pantomime villains for the night, tested Federer’s reactions with some lusty blows aimed at the Swiss maestro who would have demanded nothing less.
Federer was equal to pretty much everything though, his silky shot-making and nimble footwork very much intact despite such a long time away from the match court.
The pair with a combined age of 77 and 42 Grand Slam titles between them edged the opening set by breaking Tiafoe’s serve.
Despite the party atmosphere in the stadium, there was no danger of Federer’s farewell match turning into an exhibition.
It was serious business and after they fell a break down early in the second, Federer and Nadal stormed back and looked poised for a straight sets win but were instead dragged into a tense deciding tiebreak with the clock past midnight.
Chants of ‘Let’s Go Roger Let’s Go’ resounded around the packed stands as Federer and Nadal clawed their way towards a victory the occasion demanded but they fell agonisingly short.
