Time Travel to Dystopian Thailand of ’10 Years’ – It Looks Like Today

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19 December 2018, 15:12

The most political film to hit theaters in recent years, “Ten Years Thailand” is instigating excitement and making ripples among audiences anxious about the future.

Four Thai new wave auteurs as cynical as their viewers created vignettes reflecting a political and cultural climate in which even the first democratic election after nearly five years under military rule looks like a mirage. Bleakness and despair weigh heavily on each chapter, and their collective dystopian vision for the kingdom’s future is sure to leave heads heavy with thought.

The film, now in wide release, is part of the “Ten Years International Project,” an international anthology hatched after 2015’s “Ten Years” made a stir in Hong Kong by biting at Beijing’s grip on the island. It’s since given voices to filmmakers in Taiwan and Japan to address their own troubling situations.

Throughout, the combined narratives of the Thai version revisit topics of dictatorship, censorship and a culture of fearful silence. While it’s refreshing to see filmmakers tap aggressively into political topics largely avoided by the arts and mass culture, much of what’s presented as Thailand a decade out seems more preoccupied with a troubled past and present than what lies ahead.

“The atmosphere in society at the moment hasn’t really changed much. Ever since 2014, we’ve had a military government. It’s not a normal time,” said Aditya Assarat, one of the filmmakers. “I believe 10 years is not a very long time ahead. I hope things will get better.”

Aditya’s hint of optimism is well-exhibited in his beautifully shot “Sunset,” which opens the film. Though presented in black and white, it offers the most warmth and humanity of the four. It calls out the absurdity of a recent incident in which soldiers raided art galleries for displaying “inappropriate works.” In the fictional telling, the powers that be are most enraged over photos that show a soldier and a policeman crying.

His portrayal of the security forces – easily painted as villains – is more nuanced than one would expect, as they don’t really seem to give a damn if the art stays or goes. The protagonist, an Isaan-born soldier, is somewhat drawn to the offending photos, but, even then, they matter much less to him than the girl he’s in love with.

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โพสต์โดย 10 Years Thailand เมื่อ วันจันทร์ที่ 3 ธันวาคม 2018

Those heartwarming feels are followed by furry fury. “Catopia,” by Wisit Sasanatieng, depicts a world where humans struggle to survive radical half-feline creatures (in fairly decent CGI) possessing all the worst qualities. Playing with notions of fear and deception under mob rule, the episode takes audiences to a future resembling the country’s hyper-polarized past, when anyone who thought differently wasn’t spared. It’s a message that could have been hammered home more effectively with a stronger screenplay and performances.

In the dialog-free “Planetarium,” Chulayarnnon Siriphol pairs a flashy sci-fi feel rare in Thai cinema with an ear-catching score and ambitious production. Unfortunately it all falls flat with a stale tale of boy scouts brainwashed by a corny looking matron at an academy that annihilates those who fail to obey.

Chulayarnnon clearly attempted to create the most extreme depiction of cultural conservatism and rule of terror with characters donning multiple uniforms and mindlessly chanting, saluting and drilling. In the end, it could have been more powerful had it not crammed in too many random, symbolic sequences (a helmeted monk preaching; a photo shoot for the kind of insipid “Happy Monday” Line spam elders like to share) at the cost of focus. Instead, everything just falls all over the place.

More than halfway through, and the whole thing looks more like the Thailand of today rather than in “Ten Years” time. The first three stories feel like an outlet for the directors’ frustrations about recent political incidents stemming from the turbulent past rather than insights into the future they are leading toward.

But “Song of the City,” by internationally acclaimed director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, steers the film back to the concept that made the Ten Years project a sensation elsewhere in Asia. Although looking the least political, it makes the most simple and biting prediction of them all.

In long shots from fixed vantage points without any apparent storyline, “Song” shows characters, performed by familiar Apichatpong regulars, scattered around a park in Khon Kaen where a statue of one of Thailand’s most notorious dictators remains towering to this day. Around the secluded statue of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, ambient melodies of a marching band repeatedly play the national anthem, never-ending construction work grinds on, and the people, all from different backgrounds, engage in seemingly meaningless conversations. It’s a visual snapshot of a country hopelessly stagnated, where nothing changes for better or worse.

At a UN panel discussion in October, the artists gathered to talk about freedom of artistic expression. Pen-ek Ratanaruang, one of the most renowned Thai directors whose 2013 political documentary “Paradoxocracy” was spoiled by censors, gave his thoughts on why Thai artists have shied away from politics.

“It feels very uncomfortable in our country at the moment. … I feel that I have to be very careful about my work when I put my political doubts in it,” he said. “Anything related to politics is scary. The sense that we shouldn’t question puu yai, the leaders, is in our blood. The attempt to terrorize the people being governed is very intense. It makes us start to practice self-censorship.”

Regardless of the original conceit, all four stories dispense a rare and strong dissatisfaction with the current state of the country in a small wave of resistance to the authorities in yet another time of oppression. The great attention the film is drawing suggests audiences also feel as troubled as the filmmakers by an ominous future looming over all.

“10 Years Thailand” is currently showing in Thai with English subtitles at many major cineplexes nationwide. It is rated PG 13 and has a runtime of 95 minutes. Check listings for showtimes.

Bangkok’s Occult Arts Parlor ‘Maison Close’ Calling it Quits

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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19 December 2018, 14:45

BANGKOK — After a year of dark delights, a bar and arts space delving into taboo human appetites will close with the year.

Those who like black metal, splattercore, fetish and the occult, or just a strong ya dong cocktail; have only days to say goodbye to Maison Close before it shuts for good later this month.

Since opening the space just of Charoen Krung Road that also houses his extensive collection of art and oddities, owner Steve Bessac said business hasn’t gone as well as he expected.

Read: Quirk, Kink and Death Play in Shadow at ‘Maison Close’

“For me, I can just say that it’s hard in Bangkok, especially with the kind of art and events I’m doing,” Bessac said in a message Wednesday.

Bessac, who talked to Khaosod English earlier this year about his vision, added that it’s difficult to keep Maison Close going since he’s has to run the bar, tattoo shop and art gallery by himself.

“Maybe [I’ll] do some Maison Close events but somewhere else,” he said.

Maison Close will host a Christmas Shibari Party on Saturday, then a final closing party on Dec. 29.

53 Journalists Killed Worldwide so Far in 2018, Report Says

By

Associated Press

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19 December 2018, 14:32

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi speaks during a press conference in 2015 in Manama, Bahrain. Photo: Hasan Jamali / Associated Press

NEW YORK — The number of journalists killed worldwide in retaliation for their work nearly doubled this year, according to an annual report by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The New York-based organization found that 34 journalists were killed in retaliation for their work as of Dec. 14, while at least 53 were killed overall. That compares to 18 retaliation killings among the 47 deaths documented by the committee in 2017.

The report issued Wednesday includes the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a native of Saudi Arabia fiercely critical of its royal regime. His Oct. 2 death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has led to tremors on the global political scene around allegations that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved.

Khashoggi lived in self-imposed exile in the United States, and had gone to the Saudi consulate to formalize his divorce, but was instead strangled and dismembered – allegedly by Saudi agents.

Asked whether he believed the crown prince had ordered Khashoggi’s murder, President Donald Trump said last month, “Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t.” While the president condemned the violence against journalists, the committee noted that he has called them “enemies of the people.”

In addition to retaliation killings, journalists have died in combat or crossfire, or on other dangerous assignments. The deadliest country for journalists this year has been Afghanistan, where 13 journalists were killed, some in back-to-back blasts staged by suicide bombers and claimed by the militant group Islamic State, according to the report.

The deadliest single attack on the media in recent U.S. history came on June 28, when a gunman in Annapolis, Maryland, opened fire in the newsroom of the Capital Gazette and fatally shot four journalists and a sales associate. The man had threatened the newspaper after losing a defamation lawsuit.

In addition, the committee said the imprisonment of journalists has been on the rise.

“The context for the crisis is varied and complex, and closely tied to changes in technology that have allowed more people to practice journalism even as it has made journalists expendable to the political and criminal groups who once needed the news media to spread their message,” the committee said in its report.

Time magazine last week recognized jailed and killed journalists as its “person of the year,” including Khashoggi, Maria Ressa imprisoned in the Philippines, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo imprisoned in Myanmar, and staff at the Capital Gazette.

Journalists also have died this year in Slovakia, where 27-year-old investigative reporter Jan Kuciak was fatally shot while probing alleged corruption, and in Malta, where Daphne Caruana Galizia, on a similar mission, was killed by a bomb placed in her car. At least four journalists were murdered in Mexico, two in Brazil, and two Palestinian journalists were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during protests in the Gaza Strip, according to the report.

In Syria and Yemen, two of the worst civil-war decimated countries, the fewest journalists were killed since 2011. Three died in Yemen, and in Syria, the committee recorded nine deaths compared to a high of 31 in 2012. However, the drop may be due to limited access or extreme risks that discourage media visits, the committee said.

Story: Verena Dobnik

Yemeni Mother Wins Fight to Fly to US and Give Dying Son a Kiss

By

Associated Press

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19 December 2018, 14:23

This recent but undated photo, released Monday, shows Ali Hassan with his dying 2-year-old son Abdullah in a Sacramento, California hospital. Photo: Associated Press

All Shaima Swileh wants is to give her son one more kiss before he dies.

The Yemeni woman is about to get her wish after winning her fight for a waiver from the Trump administration’s travel ban so she can fly to California where her 2-year-old son is on life support.

The State Department granted Swileh the waiver on Tuesday after lawyers with the Council on American-Islamic Relations sued this week, ending a year-long battle for the family. Swileh is planning to fly to San Francisco on Wednesday to see Abdullah at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

“This will allow us to mourn with dignity,” the boy’s father, Ali Hassan, said in a statement provided by the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Hassan, who is a U.S. citizen and lives in Stockton, brought Abdullah to California in the fall to get treatment for a genetic brain disorder.

“My wife is calling me every day wanting to kiss and hold her son for the one last time,” Hassan said, choking up as he made a public plea at a news conference Monday, a day before the government granted the visa.

The couple moved to Egypt after marrying in war-torn Yemen in 2016 and had been trying to get a visa for Swileh since 2017 so they could all move to California. Citizens from Yemen and four other mostly Muslim countries, along with North Korea and Venezuela, are restricted from coming to the United States under the travel ban enacted under President Donald Trump.

When the boy’s health worsened, the father decided to go ahead to California in October to get their son help.

As Swileh and her husband fought for a waiver, doctors put Abdullah on life support.

“I am emailing them, crying, and telling them that my son is dying,” Hassan said in an interview with The Sacramento Bee newspaper.

After getting electronic responses, Hassan started losing hope and was considering pulling his son off life support to end his suffering. But then a hospital social worker reached out to the council, which sued Monday, said Basim Elkarra of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Sacramento.

Swileh lost months with her child over what amounted to unnecessary delays and red tape, Elkarra said.

State Department spokesman Robert Palladino called it “a very sad case, and our thoughts go out to this family at this time, at this trying time.”

He said he could not comment on the family’s situation but that in general cases are handled individually, and U.S. officials try to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States while protecting national security.

“These are not easy questions,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of foreign service officers deployed all over the world that are making these decisions on a daily basis, and they are trying very hard to do the right thing at all times.”

Immigration attorneys estimate tens of thousands of people have been affected by what they call blanket denials of visa applications under Trump’s travel ban, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in a 5-4 ruling in June.

The waiver provision allows a case-by-case exemption for people who can show entry to the U.S. is in the national interest, is needed to prevent undue hardship and would not pose a security risk.

But a lawsuit filed in San Francisco says the administration is not honoring the waiver provision. The 36 plaintiffs include people who have had waiver applications denied or stalled despite chronic medical conditions, prolonged family separations or significant business interests.

“We hope this case makes the administration realize the waiver process is not working,” Elkarra said. “Thousands of families have been split apart, including families who have loved ones who are ill and are not able to see them in their final hours. I’m sure there are more cases like this.”

In addition to the waiver, the government gave Swileh a visa that will allow her to remain in the United States with her husband and begin a path toward U.S. citizenship, Elkarra said.

Story: Julie Watson

Transit Authority to Look Into BTS Wheelchair Ramp to Nowhere

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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19 December 2018, 12:49

SAMUT PRAKAN — Less than two weeks after a slew of new BTS stations opened in southeast metro Bangkok, netizens pointed a glaring oversight at one of them – an inaccessible wheelchair access ramp.

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand said Wednesday it would investigate why a ramp connects an elevator at the new BTS Sai Luat’s No. exit 2 to absolutely nothing Wednesday, drawing ridicule online.

“We designed stations on the Bearing-Samut Prakan line by adhering to universal design principles which allow every group of people, especially the disabled and elderly, to access the trains,” the authority said in a statement.

It said local district authorities would be contacted to determine the boundaries of the public sidewalk and the ramp before “extending the sidewalk.”

The ramp leads down from a elevator, switches back and leads down to a weed- and rubbish-strewn offset beside a fence.

The ramp first drew infamy online with photos posted Saturday to a group that calls out Bangkok’s often navigability-challenged footpaths. A fan page was soon created specifically for the BTS Sai Luat elevator.

“Saturday night, I was out long-distance biking when I passed BTS Sai Luat and stopped in my tracks,” the photographer, Facebooker Ahmel Al-Sharif, wrote Monday. “The station’s design might be correct in terms of international standards, but you also need to investigate to see that your construction works with the environment around it. How could you finish construction like this?”

The BTS Skytrain extension to BTS Kheha in Samut Prakan opened Dec. 6, and is free until April 15.

The BTS has notoriously failed to accommodate disabled commuters for years. In May, City Hall approved 256 million baht to install additional elevators, over four years after the Supreme Court ruled all Skytrain stations must be fully accessible. Its failure to do so is the subject of several lawsuits.

Disabled Commuters Sue Bangkok’s MRT For 16.8M Baht

City Hall Approves 256M Baht For BTS Elevators

City Hall and Activists to Survey BTS Accessibility

Disabled Activist Rages after Denied Elevator at BTS Asok

BTS Class-Action Suit Back on Track After Year Delay

Three Years of Excuses Later, BTS Still Not Accessible

Here’s a Map of Which BTS Stations Are Accessible

Activists Ask Court to Probe City Hall’s Failure to Make BTS Accessible

City Hall Challenge Delays Decision on BTS Accessibility Suit

Elevators Unveiled at Four BTS Stations – But Do They Work?

How Long to Install BTS Elevators? City Hall Says 3 Years.

Wheelchair Rally to File Class-Action Lawsuit Over BTS Accessibility at Court

City Hall Fails to Make BTS Accessible 2 Years After Court Ruling

Broken Promises: BTS Still Off Limits to Disabled

BTS Stations Remain Inaccessible to Disabled, a Year After Landmark Ruling

Court Orders Skytrain to Accommodate Disabled Passengers

Pro-Junta Party Gala Dinner Aims to Raise 600M Baht

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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19 December 2018, 12:39

Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana waves a flag of Palang Pracharat Party on Sep. 29, 2018.

BANGKOK — A party linked to the ruling regime expects a star-studded Wednesday gala dinner to raise at least 600 million baht for its election campaign.

Each of the 200 banquet tables at the event, called “One, United Thailand,” costs 3 million baht. Planned for a hall in the Muang Thong Thani complex, the gala will also feature a concert by star musicians such as Koh Mr. Saxman, Tata Young, John Nuvo and Rang Rockestra to serenade VIP supporters of the Palang Pracharat Party.

The dinner will conclude with a speech by party leader Uttama Savanayana, who doubles as the Industry Minister in the junta’s cabinet. Uttama and three other ministers in Palang Pracharat have refused to resign from the cabinet despite calls from other parties who voice concern of favoritism.

Party secretary Wichian Chavalit told reporters today that each of the party’s MP candidates are expected to spend about 2 million baht campaigning.

Tonight’s dinner is set to be the biggest fundraising event so far this campaign season and comes one day after a similar gala for the party of former Democrat executive Suthep Thaugsuban raised 200 million baht last night.

JD Central and JD.Com Joins Government to Create Sustainable Jobs, Pushing Thai SME to Global Market (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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19 December 2018, 12:15

JD CENTRAL and JD.com enter to strategic partnership with Thai Government aims to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness to create sustainable jobs pushing Thai SME to standout in global market.

JD CENTRAL, an e-commerce joint venture between JD.com and Central Group, together with JD.com, the largest retailer in China, signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC)
The MOUs indicate the e-commerce giants’ commitment to Thailand, with key initiatives such as enhancing competitiveness of Thai SMEs and pushing Thai products to enter international market, providing IT Solutions for logistics and supply chain development, and empowering Thai students with digital e-commerce skills. This demonstrates the commitment of the Thai e-commerce giant in enhancing the competitiveness of Thai SMEs in a global scale.
Currently, JD CENTRAL and JD.com have brought quality Thai products to Chinese consumers via JD Thailand Official Flagship Store on JD.com.
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Bangkok, December 17, 2018 – Today Mr. Yol Phokasub, Chairman of the Board of Central JD Commerce, sign and witness the three Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between JD CENTRAL and JD.com with the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). The strategic partnership between the major e-commerce companies, the Thai public sectors, and the university shows support of Thailand 4.0 policy and Thailand’s bid to become a major e-commerce hub for ASEAN in the near future

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The collaboration comes to fruition after the official launch of JD CENTRAL earlier in September, and represents a major step towards the company’s pledge to reinforce technological development and economic prosperity in Thailand. The MOUs mark a crucial milestone for JD CENTRAL, JD.com, and Thai government sector as well as the university to forge a longstanding relationship that will help lay the foundation of e-commerce and e-logistics infrastructure, which not only profoundly contribute to the digitalization of Thailand and accelerate Thai businesses’ capacity in the global market but also enhance Thai students learning experience to achieve working-level digital literacy in preparation for the digital business world in a sustainable way.

Mr. Yol Phokasub, Chairman of the Board, Central JD Commerce, remarked, “JD Central has recognized the potential and growth of the eCommerce market in Thailand, thus collaborate with Thai governments and educational institutions in today’s MOU ceremony. The partnership today emphasizes our aspiration to continuously further support the overall economy together with driving e-commerce growth at a global level. We have been launching JD Thailand Official Flagship Store on JD.com which allows Thai exports to sell in China and also offer innovative logistics and supply chain solutions to the government agencies which are keys to uplift the country’s infrastructure. Besides, empowering Thai educational personnel and students with real digital experience to produce skilled resources is also an important foundation for Thailand to fulfill e-commerce ecosystem as well”

Ms. Christine Wong, Vice President of International Government Affairs, JD.com said, “Over the past 10 years, we have continuously improved people’s lives, retail development and infrastructure in China through e-commerce and innovative technologies, making technology shaping life a reality. We believe that by working with DITP and depa, these solutions will be able to serve the people and enterprises in Thailand too, accelerating Thailand 4.0 scheme. Meanwhile, we will help companies to provide 100% Thailand excellence to overseas consumers who focusing on quality and authenticity.”

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The scope of strategic cooperation between JD CENTRAL, JD.com, and DITP, seek to facilitate and promote cross border e-Trade, while enhancing Thai SMEs’ competitiveness. Such initiatives will help Thai businesses engage in global market and cross-border e-commerce to China. Thai SMEs will be able to access Chinese market through JD’s platforms and enjoy specialized training on cross border e-commerce, analytic on consumer insights, digital payments, and logistics. Meanwhile, synergy between Thaitrade.com and JD.com is encouraged, which will provide considerable business advantages such as business matchmaking for sellers and buyers, and the promotion of Thai products toward Chinese consumers on JD.com.

Miss Banjongjitt Angsusingh, Director General Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce said “One of DITP’s strategies is to ensure Thailand’s industry image as a quality producer and exporter. As key e-commerce players that value quality and authenticity, we believe that JD.com and JD CENTRAL will bring the value of trust and confidence in Thai products to the Chinese consumers who increasingly seek for high-quality goods. With the current surge of digital business trends, DITP’s partnership with JD.com and JD CENTRAL will surely boost economic prosperity in Thailand.”

On the other hand, the collaboration between JD CENTRAL, JD.com, and depa holds more value on technological development and technical knowledge sharing. The MOU supporting entrepreneurship and the digital technology sector will allow the development of logistics solution and supply chain system with Thailand Post Company Limited. Meanwhile, JD CENTRAL and JD.com will collaborate with depa in the area of automation and robotics, which will help pioneer projects that can efficiently increase production and significantly improve logistics service. Last but not least, E-learning center and Smart Cities Initiative will be established under this agreement. These projects will ensure Thai businesses with essential e-commerce skills and technological knowhow, enabling them to effectively operate in a highly digitalized environment.

Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President of Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society said “In line with Thailand 4.0 policy, depa is obligated to pursue the development of digital infrastructure and proficiency that benefit Thai economy and society. With this partnership, Thailand can leverage the cutting-edge e-logistics innovation brought by JD.com and JD CENTRAL, which is essential to the ever-growing Thai e-commerce businesses. These initiatives can also spark further digital innovation in the country while benefiting development in social and economic dimensions.” $C:\Users\dell\Downloads\khaosodenglishvip1425\5.JPG$

Meanwhile, the commitment between JD CENTRAL and UTCC is also the key to enhance Thailand’s education to empower students’ first-hand knowledge in e-commerce towards digital transformation. JD CENTRAL will not only provide practical experience making them become more skillful and knowledgeable but also establish its learning and operational center to facilitate student engagement with e-commerce innovations. This include the Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and Autonomous Technology which present opportunities that expected to broaden university experience through its teaching and learning activities.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sauwanee Thairungroj, President of University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said “University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce is the top university in trade and services. Being the first to offer logistics engineering programs in Thailand, we always strive to keep our students up-to-date. We are now introducing our students to Smart Logistics approaches. We also put a lot of emphasis on continuously developing digital and e-commerce skills for Thai entrepreneurs as well as students. For instance, we have an e-commerce training for our fourth-year students to equip them with preliminary e-commerce skills so that they can pursue a career in e-commerce after graduation. The academic partnership with JD CENTRAL reaffirms UTCC’s commitment to helping our students to have a better understanding of digital, e-commerce and logistics industries and gain a valuable work experience from the company through WiL (Work – integrated Learning).

Apart from the strategic partnership made with DITP, depa, and UTCC, JD CENTRAL and JD.com have made noticeable efforts in support of Thai economy and digital development. JD Thailand Official Flagship Store (thailand.jd.hk) by JD CENTRAL is a store where Chinese customers can find Thailand’s high-quality products on JD.com. Launched in June 2018, the store acts as a gateway for Thai products to China. At present, the site hosts five categories with wide varieties of choices that are popular among Chinese consumers, including beauty, food and beverage, home living, healthcare, and medical care. Popular goods in the store include latex pillow and dried durian.

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About JD.com

JD.com is a leading technology driven e-commerce company and retail infrastructure service provider in China. Its cutting-edge retail infrastructure enables consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it. The company has opened its technology and infrastructure to partners, brands and other sectors, as part of its Retail as a Service offering to help drive productivity and innovation across a range of industries. JD.com is the largest retailer in China, a member of the NASDAQ100 and a Fortune Global 500 company.

About JD CENTRAL

JD CENTRAL is an e-commerce joint venture between Central Group, the biggest retail conglomerate in Thailand, and JD.com, the largest retailer in China. The company aims to provide the best e-commerce experience in Thailand, by offering the widest range of high-quality and authentic products from local and international brands at the best prices, along with quick, reliable, and efficient world-class logistics and delivery, together with best in class O2O integration. JD CENTRAL’s vision is to become No.1 Online Platform and most trusted brand in Thailand. Our core mission is to empower everyone by creating a joyful and hassle-free shopping experience. JD CENTRAL also seeks to play a leading role in enhancing the competitiveness of Thai SMEs globally and in helping Thailand uplift the country’s logistics infrastructure to an international standard. We are also committed to supporting Thailand’s bid to become a major e-commerce hub for ASEAN in the near future.

Bangkok to Surf ‘The Internet’ Digital Era R&B Next Year

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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19 December 2018, 11:54

BANGKOK — Spawning from now-defunct hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, comes The Internet.

Hailing from Los Angeles, modern R&B supergroup The Internet will be coming to Bangkok in February, indie music gig promoter Have You Heard? announced Wednesday morning.

The concert will take place Feb. 21 at Voice Space, the event hall of Voice TV, on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road. Tickets start at 1,800 baht and will be on sale on Ticketmelon from 11am on Sunday.

The Internet was founded in 2011 by Odd Future members Syd and Matt Martians. They had their major breakthrough in 2015 when their “Ego Death” was nominated for the Grammy Awards’ best urban contemporary album. Check out their “Girls,” “Special Affair” and “Come Over.”

The outfit’s name was given after Syd was amused by how his Odd Future mate answered to a reporter “I come from the internet.”

Celebrate Festive Season With Christmas Afternoon Tea at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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19 December 2018, 11:49

BANGKOK — Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is inviting guests to indulge in a special Christmas Afternoon Tea, with a wide selection of premium teas and festive snacks served in the sophisticated surroundings of the hotel’s Lobby Lounge.

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Available every afternoon (12.00 to 18.00 hrs) between November 25 and December 25, 2018, this culinary occasion is perfect for friends and family members who want to come together for a heart-warming pre-Christmas reunion or celebration. Priced at just THB 999++ for two people, this is the ideal occasion for all couples, including mothers and daughters, siblings, new friends and old acquaintances.

The Christmas Afternoon Tea set includes a choice of two pots of coffee or tea and two glasses of green tea frappe, accompanied by a festive selection of light bites.

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Sweet treats include Christmas fruit cake, traditional stollen, Mont Blanc cake, coconut rock macaroons, cinnamon stars, almond gingerbread, chocolate Christmas bulbs, raspberry Christmas cookies, and ginger-spiced scones with clotted cream and jam.

On the savory side, guests can enjoy king crab and mayo finger sandwiches, beetroot-cured sea bass with shallots and dill, foie gras terrine with quince chutney, and house-smoked salmon with Arvruga caviar and lemon.

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These bite-sized delights will be accompanied by a choice of refreshing beverages. The Lobby Lounge at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park serves the finest teas from the Dilmah Silver Jubilee Gourmet Range. The green tea selection includes Organic Sencha, Organic Leafy Green, Ceylon Full Leaf Green and Natural Jasmine Green, while black teas include Pure Darjeeling Single Region, Nuwara Eliya Afternoon Tea, Silver Jubilee Earl Grey, Ceylon Original Breakfast Tea. The Watte Series meanwhile, features four exquisite Sri Lankan teas: Ran Watte, Uda Watte, Meda Watte and Yata Watte.

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Alternatively, guests can choose from a range of herbal blends and infusions, such as Pure Chamomile Flower and Natural Infusion of Blueberry, as well as premium coffees. The Christmas Afternoon Tea Set is inclusive of two glasses of green tea frappe. For more information and to book your Christmas Afternoon Tea, please contact +66 (0) 2 059 5999 or email [email protected].

Or connect with us via these channels:

Website: www.bangkokmarriottmarquisqueenspark.com

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Sun, Snow and Shirtless: Asia’s Sports Photos of 2018

By

Associated Press

-

19 December 2018, 11:21

Kantana Nanthisen, Anuwat Chaichana — Lao's Kantana Nanthisen, left, kicks a ball against Thailand's Anuwat Chaichana during men's sepak takraw team doubles final match at the 18th Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

From scorching tennis courts in a summer Down Under, to the ice and snow of Pyeongchang, the surf and sand of Australia’s Gold Coast and the humid, hectic heart of Jakarta, a rich diversity of Asia’s venues have been showcased for a global sporting audience in 2018.

Roger Federer started the year by winning an unprecedented 20th Grand Slam singles tennis title at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where Caroline Wozniacki won her first major title in what really was a great day for the Dane.

International sporting attention quickly shifted to Winter Olympics, where a shirtless Tongan cross-country skier stole the show at the opening ceremonies. But it was a thawing of tension between the Koreas, highlighted by an historic joint team in the women’s ice hockey, that largely took some focus off the high-profile figure skating and Alpine skiing in the games that were hosted by South Korea.

The Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games were the two major, multi-sports showpieces of the year and were held on either side of the soccer World Cup in Russia.

Athletes from as far afield as Antigua and Zambia competed in April on the Gold Coast at the Commonwealth Games, featuring a collection of countries and territories that comprised the old British Empire. The Aussies regained top spot on the medals table from England, and India moved into third.

Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia co-hosted the Asian Games, the regional Olympic-style event that gathers 10,000 athletes from across the continent every four years. China finished atop the standings in August, but Japan narrowed the gap and achieved a significant goal in the process: preparing young athletes for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

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