The PARQ Supports Boundless Learning Through “Growing Together” Event in Collaboration with Saturday School and Partners Across All Sectors
Education is not just about academic knowledge; it is the ultimate factor that enhances quality of life through mental well-being, attitudes, and analytical thinking. The PARQ, a mixed-use lifestyle project focused on developing smart offices and retail spaces under the concept of “Life Well Balanced,” has joined forces with the Saturday School Foundation and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the “Growing Together” initiative. This event, held on August 17th, 2024, at The PARQ Life, aims to create a boundless learning space, providing youth with opportunities to engage in a wide range of educational activities and proudly showcase their work. This initiative reaffirms The PARQ’s commitment to creating spaces that enhance the quality of life and well-being for all users and the surrounding community as Thailand’s first WELL certified project.
Mr. Kamolnai Chaixanien, Executive Director of TCC Assets Thailand Co. Ltd. and executive at The PARQ, highlighted that The PARQ is dedicated not only to promoting work-life balance but also to providing a space that fosters quality living and well-being for individuals of all genders and ages. The PARQ recognizes the importance of education in cultivating knowledge, critical thinking, and ethical behavior, which are essential for sustainable living in society. The PARQ Life is proud to have become an extended learning space beyond the classroom, enabling individuals to explore their potential and prepare for future careers. Additionally, it offers a creative environment where everyone can engage in productive leisure activities.
Mr. Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn, the Founder and CEO of Saturday School, emphasized the foundation’s decade-long mission to create out-of-classroom learning opportunities. Over the past 10 years, the foundation has engaged 18,043 students with the support of 5,283 volunteers across 14 provinces. “Our vision is to see Thailand filled with children who dare to follow their dreams and return to create positive change in their communities. There is nothing more valuable than providing hands-on experience to help children discover their true abilities and develop their potential for the future,” said Mr. Sorawit.
He added, “We, at Saturday School, are deeply honored to receive support from The PARQ, whose project development concept of balanced living aligns with the core of integrated teaching and learning, which is balance. This balance is reflected in the blending of knowledge into a harmonious and systematic approach, presented through a variety of engaging activities such as stage performances, workshops, exhibitions, and online videos. These activities encourage students and participants to apply what they have learned, develop critical thinking skills, expand their knowledge and experiences, and gain new skills that can be applied in everyday life.”
The event also featured distinguished guests, including Ms. Gwendolyn Cardno, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, and Mr. Sanon Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, who participated in the opening ceremony of the “Growing Together” event. Additionally, the event included discussions on various topics such as “Can Volunteering Really Change Education?” and “Business x Education: Where is the ROI?” These discussions provided a platform for exchanging views on education to drive further improvement and inspire children to grow together in a sustainable society.
The success of the past 10 years demonstrates the continuous expansion of knowledge through the support and collaboration of like-minded partners from all sectors. The PARQ, in particular, has opened its space for students, the general public, and others to exchange knowledge, experiences, and positive attitudes. As Mr. Sorawit concluded, “The future of our education is in your hands.”
For the latest updates and more information about the “Growing Together” event, please visit: Facebook: The PARQ Instagram: @THEPARQBKK Website: www.theparq.com Tel. 0 2-080-5700 #ThePARQ #LifeWellBalanced #GrowingTogether
A Thai police officer escorts Spanish Daniel Sancho Bronchalo on suspicion of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon from Koh Phagnan island to Koh Samui Island court, southern Thailand, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Somkeat Ruksaman)
BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Thailand on Thursday found Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a member of a famous Spanish acting family, guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced him to life in prison, in a lurid case that involved the victim being dismembered.
The Koh Samui Provincial Court issued an initial sentence of death for Sancho, but in its ruling commuted it to life imprisonment due to his cooperation during the trial, Police Col. Paisan Sangthep, deputy commander of the Surat Thani Provincial Police, who attended the hearing, told The Associated Press.
Media gate is seen outside Koh Samui provincial court in southern Thailand, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanapat Cherajin)
Sancho, a 30-year-old chef with a YouTube channel, had been charged with the murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old plastic surgeon from Colombia, when both were vacationing on the Thai holiday island of Koh Pha-ngan in August last year.
The convicted man is the son of Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre, a prominent Spanish actor, and Silvia Bronchalo, who has also been in acting. Both parents are 49 years old.
At his trial on the island of Samui, Sancho claimed he got into a fight with Arrieta for allegedly trying to sexually assault him. He said that Arrieta fell as they scuffled and hit his head on a bathtub, losing consciousness and then dying.
Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, father of Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, talks to reporters arrives at Koh Samui provincial court in southern Thailand, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanapat Cherajin)
He had pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder.
Sancho acknowledged dismembering the victim’s body and disposing of the parts on land and at sea. For the charge of concealing or damaging a body, he received a four-month prison sentence, reduced to two months for acknowledging the act, said Paisan.
He had also pleaded not guilty to the charge of destroying another person’s documents — the victim’s passport — for which he received a two-year prison term.
The elements of the case — violent death on a holiday island, the celebrity connections and the lurid details — attracted huge coverage in Spanish media. HBO produced a Spanish-language documentary on the events.
The case came to light when trash collectors found a sawed-off pelvis and intestines weighing about 5 kilograms (11 pounds) in a fertilizer sack at a garbage dump.
Shortly after that, Sancho reported to police that Arrieta was missing, and police then gathered evidence linking the two men that led them to detain and interrogate him.
Thai police forensic officers investigate a garbage dump site as they search for parts of the body of a Colombian surgeon in Koh Phagnan island, southern Thailand, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Somkeat Ruksaman)
Police established a narrative, claiming to the press that Sancho had confessed to the murder and saying he had planned it because Arrieta threatened to disgrace him and his family by revealing their alleged sexual relationship.
Sancho, through his father and his lawyers, said that was a distorted version of what he told police, and denied having a sexual relationship with Arrieta.
Police obtained surveillance video showing Sancho allegedly purchasing a knife, rubber gloves, garbage bags and cleaning solutions at a convenience store before Arrieta’s death, which prosecutors claimed bolstered the charge of premeditated murder.
In his closing statement earlier in his trial, Sancho told the court he regretted his actions, the Spanish newspaper El País reported.
“I am sorry that a life has been lost and that parents have lost a son,” Sancho said. “I am sorry that his family was not able to bury him properly. I’m sorry for what I did after the death.”
BANGKOK — Dr. Supavud Saicheua, Chairman of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), gave a special interview to Prachachat Business in which he analyzed urgent issues of economic reform. He suggested promoting the agriculture and food sectors as well as high-end services as new growth engines for the country to create jobs for Thais, thus ending the “Detroit of Asia” concept for Thailand.
He explained that it would be very difficult for Thailand to compete with China in the manufacturing industry. If even the US and Europe are struggling, how could Thailand compete? Japan is also facing challenges.
Dr. Supavud Saicheua, Chairman of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)
China currently has the capacity to produce around 40 million cars, but only sells 22 million domestically. The remaining 18 million have to be exported. We see a lot of cheap Chinese electric cars being exported to our country. China also has an eightfold overcapacity in solar cells.
In the meantime, China’s domestic economy is indeed struggling. Many industries in China have collapsed. Chinese manufacturers have to export because competition at home is much more intense. Thailand is naturally becoming a place for them to find new markets.
Where does Thai industry go when facing China ?
Thailand needs to think about how to coexist with China in a good way. We need to focus on agriculture, possibly more high-tech agriculture with higher yields. Have we started that yet? Not really. Even without doing much, Thailand is already the 4th or 5th largest exporter of agricultural products to China, which is not bad.
The most important basis is to increase the per capita productivity of farmers in order to secure them a higher income. If we do not do this, then we are missing an engine of growth. In the past, we neglected the agricultural sector because we had other engines of growth such as tourism and industry.
“We made hard disk drives, but that is no longer profitable because SSDs have replaced them. The concept of the ‘Detroit of Asia’ has been overtaken by electric vehicles. So we need to seriously rethink and stop saying that the agricultural sector is just the “backbone of the country.”
Rice harvesting in progress at a paddy field in Surin province, Nov. 23, 2016.
From his point of view, agrarian reform is the greatest challenge. However, nothing has been done in the last 20 years, so structural issues are now urgent. This is the economic structure that we need to address.
Agricultural reform is crucial because Thailand has made no progress at all. Productivity per rai (unit of land) has not improved. There has been no growth in staple crops such as rice, but exports of fruit and vegetables such as durian have increased. The problem is that this has not yet become the “main concept of the nation” because we have always said that Thailand must be the “Detroit of Asia”, which should no longer be said.
The big goal for Thailand must be to no longer be the “Detroit of Asia” but a combination of quality services and agriculture that utilizes good soil, good water, good food, good health and creates a livable, safe country. We can achieve this because Thais are already hospitable, and we need to maintain that.
Great Wall Motors (GWM) manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand, Jan. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Dr. Supavud said that the ecosystem of our automotive industry should be preserved, but it cannot remain the same. For example, if we used to make exhaust pipes and radiators, EVs don’t have these parts, so we have to accept that they will disappear. The question is: if the manufacturing industry shrinks, what will take its place and drive the country’s economy? That would be agriculture, which should be upgraded. If you look at the trends, various factors indicate that China could improve its agricultural sector and change the trend of the last 20 years.
China is also currently facing two trends:
1. an aging population, which means that labor resources cannot be used as extensively as before. As the leadership has decided to focus on the manufacturing sector, the agricultural sector — where agricultural technology is quite difficult — will be affected.
2. The Chinese population will become more prosperous. Even if the economy grows more slowly, by 3-5 percent per year, people will consume higher quality food as they become wealthier, which will increasingly challenge the agricultural sector. Thailand can address these issues.
Solutions to attract foreign billionaires
The NESDC Chairman expressed the view that global GDP is currently barely growing, there are more older people and the world is facing an interest rate problem. The question is whether we can survive.
The principle is that we need to increase GDP, to come back to the original question: What drives economic growth? As already mentioned, growth must come from higher value agriculture. Then we need to link it further: if agriculture is good, food is good, healthcare is good, then we can sell wellness tourism and make it more than just tourism — attract billionaires to stay longer, maybe three months.
To achieve this, we need to convey the sense that Thailand is truly livable and safe, with good food, healthcare and medical services. Perhaps we need to think about allowing foreigners to buy houses here, as opposed to the current semi-illegal purchases via nominees.
If we continue like this, we will not attract good quality wealthy people, only those who come to launder money. But if we say that we allow foreigners to buy houses, we will be accused of selling the country.
A rendering of One Bangkok provided by its developers, TCC Assets and Frasers Property Holdings released on April 4.
“This needs to be thought through. If we give land to foreign companies to build factories, we accept it because we see it as foreign direct investment, but it drives up land prices. These things need to be discussed thoroughly. Don’t just claim it’s selling the land and then stop everything. We need to rethink. For example, if foreigners are allowed to buy houses in Thailand, similar to Singapore, with an additional tax of 20-30%, the government could use that money to build houses for Thai people. There are ways to do this. But if we continue to call it selling the country, we can’t move forward.”
US Election as a Significant Event
Dr. Supavud also mentioned that the most important event in the remaining time is the US election, where the polls are very close. If Kamala Harris wins, everything could stay the same. However, if Donald Trump wins, there could be big problems because Trump would further cut taxes for the rich, further increase the budget deficit and quickly push the national debt to over 100 percent of GDP.
This would lead to a rise in long-term US interest rates, which would drive up long-term interest rates globally and also in Thailand. Therefore, the management of government debt in Thailand will be very important as the Thai government often issues long-term bonds with a maturity of 7-10 years, which will increase financing costs.
Another concern is Trump’s aggressive trade protectionism, which would severely impact the domestic labor force. This will be very worrying if Trump comes to power. So we need to think about how best to protect ourselves.
Athletes Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Nantenin Keita, Fabien Lamirault, Alexis Hanquinquant and Elodie Lorandi look up after they lit the cauldron during the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
PARIS (AP) — Just weeks after hosting the Olympics, Paris inaugurated the 2024 Paralympics on Wednesday with a nearly four-hour-long opening ceremony in the heart of the city.
Against the backdrop of a setting sun, thousands of athletes paraded down the famed Champs-Elysées avenue to Place de la Concorde in central Paris where French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Paralympic Games open.
About 50,000 people watched the ceremony in stands built around the iconic square, which is the biggest in Paris and is visible from afar because of its ancient Egyptian Obelisk. Accessibility for athletes in wheelchairs was facilitated with strips of asphalt laid along the avenue and placed over the square.
Volunteers cheer on a member of the French delegation during the opening Ceremony for the Paralympic Games in Paris on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Felix Rodriguez-Scheyer)
More than 4,000 athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments will compete in 22 sports from Thursday until Sept. 8. Organizers say more than 2 million of the 2.8 million tickets have been sold for the various Paralympic events.
The opening ceremony was held outside the confines of a stadium, just like when the Olympics opened in the city on July 26. Fighter planes flew overhead, leaving red-white-and blue vapors in the colors of the French national flag, before the delegations entered the square in alphabetical order.
Some delegations were huge — more than 250 athletes from Brazil — and some were tiny — less than a handful from Barbados and just three from Myanmar.
Ukraine’s delegation got a loud cheer and some of the crowd stood to applaud them.
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool Photo via AP)Portugal athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)From third left, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Andrew Parsons, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, French President of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organising Committee (COJO) Tony Estanguet and Paris’ mayor Anne Hidalgo attend the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, Wednesday Aug. 28, 2024. (Julien De Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Flag bearers Steve Serio and Nicky Nieves led the U.S. team’s delegation. The French arrived last and to roars from the crowd, which then sang along to popular French songs, including “Que Je T’aime” by late rocker Johnny Hallyday.
Throughout the show, directed by Thomas Jolly who also led the Olympic opening ceremony, singers, dancers and musicians with and without disabilities performed on stage together seamlessly, projecting a theme of inclusion and overcoming physical differences. Lucky Love, a French singer who lost his left arm at birth, was joined by performers in wheelchairs. Other acts featured dancers with crutches.
Images of athletes are projected on the Luxor obelisk during the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)The Obelisk of La Concorde plaza and the Eiffel Tower get lightenings during the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, on La Concorde plaza in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said he hoped the Paris Paralympics would start an “inclusion revolution” beyond the field of sport.
“The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will show what persons with disabilities can achieve at the highest level when the barriers to succeed are removed,” he said in a speech. “The fact these opportunities largely exist only in sport in the year 2024 is shocking. It is proof we can and must do more to advance disability inclusion — whether on the field of play, in the classroom, concert hall or in the boardroom.”
As the ceremony concluded, the Paralympic torch was carried into the area by former Olympic wheelchair tennis gold medalist Michaël Jérémiasz, who was surrounded on stage by dozens of torchbearers. Five French Paralympians lit the Olympic cauldron, which is designed to look like a hot air balloon and glowed gold-like in the night.
The Paralympic flag was raised high into the night sky and its emblem adorned the top of the Arc de Triomphe about 3 kilometers (2 miles) away.
Although Wednesday night’s show started at 8 p.m. local time, fans had gathered hours earlier under a scorching sun to get top spots along the way. As performers entertained the crowd on stage, volunteers danced alongside Paralympians as they waved their national flags and the sky gave off a postcard-perfect orange glow.
Tony Estanguet, the president of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, called Paralympians “immense champions who we have the honor of being with tonight.”
The first medals handed out on Thursday will be in taekwondo, table tennis, swimming and track cycling. Athletes are grouped by impairment levels to ensure as level a playing field as possible.
The closing ceremony will be held at Stade de France, the national stadium.
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military council, salutes on stage during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 79th Armed Forces Day, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
BANGKOK (AP) — A military court in Myanmar has given a life prison sentence to a local journalist and sentenced one of his colleagues to 20 years after convicting them under a counterterrorism law, their editor said Wednesday.
The sentences for Myo Myint Oo and Aung San Oo of the independent online news service Dawei Watch appear to be the most severe dealt to any journalist since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The takeover triggered armed resistance and an ongoing civil war.
Myanmar is one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists, second only to China, according to the Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, which ranks it near the bottom of its Press Freedom Index at 171st of 180 countries.
Last week, two freelance journalists in Myanmar were killed, one allegedly after being captured, when security forces raided the home of one of them in the southern state of Mon. Several local resistance fighters were also killed.
Dawei Watch’s Myo Myint Oo, 41, and Aung San Oo, 49, were arrested separately last December at their homes in the coastal town of Myeik, about 560 kilometers (350 miles) south of Yangon, three days after returning from hiding.
The military government hasn’t commented on their cases.
Aung San Oo, left, and Myo Myint Oo, pose for a picture in front of the office of the Tanintharyi Weekly Journal published by Dawei Watch media, in Dawei township in Tanintharyi region, Myanmar, in 2020. A military court in Myanmar has given a life prison sentence to a local journalist and sentenced one of his colleagues to 20 years after convicting them under a counterterrorism law, their editor said Wednesday. (Zaw Zaw (Myeik) via AP)
Kyaw San Min, the chief editor of Dawei Watch media, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Aung San Oo was initially sentenced to 20 years in prison by a military court in Myeik prison in February and Myo Myint Oo was handed a life sentence by the same court in May, but he was unable to learn further details.
He said both men were convicted under Myanmar’s Counterterrorism Law, but the circumstances were not clear. The law punishes acts of violence and “acts of exhortation, persuasion, propaganda and recruitment of any person to participate in any terrorist group or activities of terrorism.”
Kyaw San Min said the information about the sentences had been been received some time ago but he withheld it until now, when the security of the men’s family members had been secured. He did not elaborate.
“The sentences imposed on the two journalists are quite severe. Sentencing the journalists with such large penalties is very unjust,” the editor said.
Kyaw San Min said a total of five reporters and a columnist from Dawei Watch have been arrested since the army began cracking down on independent media after its seizure of power. Three of the journalists have been released.
Most media outlets, including Dawei Watch, now operate semi-clandestinely, publishing online as staff members try to avoid arrest. Others operate from exile.
Dawei Watch released a statement on its Facebook page on Tuesday saying it strongly condemned the military government for illegally arresting, interrogating and detaining the journalists without giving them the right to fair defense under the law.
“We urge their immediate release,” it said.
The statement said the security forces told Myo Myint Oo and Aung San Oo they were being detained because of their reporting. Their laptops and phones were seized.
The two were beaten during four days in a detention center before being transferred to prison, the statement said. The AP and others have reported how some detainees are tortured after their arrests.
“These types of extreme court rulings aim to instill fear among all reporters and will have a chilling effect across Myanmar’s independent media,” Shawn Crispin, Southeast Asia representative for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, said in an emailed statement.
At least seven media workers in Myanmar have been killed and others tortured while in detention since the military takeover, according to media workers in Myanmar who track the situation. They say at least 15 media outlets have had their licenses revoked and at least 172 journalists have been arrested, with about 40 to 50 still detained and half of those convicted and sentenced.
Most of the detained journalists were charged with incitement for allegedly causing fear, spreading false news or agitating against a government employee or for violating the Counterterrorism Law.
The Customs Department announces the discovery of methamphetamine and ketamine worth over 14.74 million baht ($342k).
BANGKOK — The Customs Department, in collaboration with the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF), which includes the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, announced the discovery of methamphetamine and ketamine worth over 14.74 million baht ($342k).
Panthong Loykulnanta, the Customs spokesperson, stated on August 28 that officials at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Cargo Inspection Office examined a high-risk express cargo export declaration on August 26. The shipment, destined for Australia, was declared as a “Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner” weighing 21 kilograms. X-ray imaging and physical inspection raised suspicions of hidden contents.
Officials coordinated with the Investigation and Suppression Division and the AITF operational team for further inspection. They found 6 foil-wrapped packages concealed inside green tea bags. Upon opening, clear crystal substances were discovered, which tested positive for methamphetamine (Ice), a Category 1 narcotic.
The total weight, including packaging, was approximately 5.6 kilograms, valued at 13.44 million baht. Further investigation is ongoing to identify those involved.
This act constitutes an attempt to smuggle Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) out of the kingdom without permission, violating Sections 244 and 252 in conjunction with Sections 166 and 167 of the Customs Act 2017 and the Narcotics Code.
The Customs Department discovers ketamine hidden in international postal parcels at the Bangkok Express Mail Center, originating from Germany. The drug was concealed in three containers of dietary supplements.
Earlier, on August 23, the Customs Department discovered ketamine hidden in international postal parcels at the Bangkok Express Mail Center, originating from Germany. The drug was concealed in three containers of dietary supplements. Testing confirmed it as ketamine, a Category 2 psychoactive substance, weighing approximately 1.307 kilograms including packaging, valued at 1.30 million baht. The parcel was seized for further legal proceedings.
This act violates Sections 244 and 252 of the Customs Act 2017 and the Narcotics Code, constituting the importation of prohibited goods into the kingdom.
The Customs spokesperson added that the department continuously works to prevent and suppress drug trafficking through all channels. In the fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023, to August 27, 2024), the Customs Department has recorded 130 drug seizure cases with a total value of 1,018.47 million baht ($29.8 million).
Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music
BANGKOK — Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music returns for its 26th year, offering a spectacular showcase of global talent from September 7 to October 20, 2024, at the Thailand Cultural Centre. This year’s festival features 18 performances with over 1,000 artists from around the world.
Highlights of this year will start with “Marie Antoinette” from France, followed by the Bolshoi Ballet presenting “Swan Lake,” while Novosibirsk Ballet from Russia presents “Spartacus,” “Don Quixote,” and “Carmen Suite.” Tokyo City Ballet performs “The Nutcracker.”
The State Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan offers rare classical performances. In opera, the Chinese National Opera House presents unique renditions of “La Boheme” and “Turandot.”
For modern dance, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Vertigo bring contemporary pieces from New York and Israel, respectively. In ice skating, The Imperial Ice Stars perform “Swan Lake on Ice” and “Peter Pan on Ice.”
The festival also expands its Student Outreach Program, offering innovative masterclasses to expose disadvantaged Thai youth to the arts. Supported by numerous public and private partners.
The 13 shows with a total of 18 performances, featuring a total of more than 1,000 spectacular performers, have details as follows:
Marie Antoinette
Malandain Ballet Biarritz
with Opéra Royal Château de Versailles Orchestra, France
Saturday, September 7, 2024, 7:00 PM
Supported by the Embassy of France
The season kicks off in glamorous fashion with “Marie-Antoinette,” from neoclassical choreographer Thierry Malandain’s Malandain Ballet Biarritz. History buffs, fashion-lovers, those wooed by tragedy: “Marie-Antoinette” has something for everyone.
Marie Antoinette
The juxtaposition of politics and flirtation, [presented] by the French Revolution, [presented] through the power of dance. This stunningly beautiful deep-dive into the psychology behind one of the world’s most famously demonised queens will emotionally and artistically. “Marie-Antoinette” not only premiered at Versailles[,] but also, here in Bangkok, is accompanied by the orchestra of the Royal Opera House of Versailles.
Swan Lake
Bolshoi Ballet, Russia
Friday, September 13, 2024, 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 14, 2024, 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 15, 2024, 2:30 PM
Supported by the Embassy of Russia
A truly historic event comes with the Bolshoi Ballet, the world’s best-known ballet company and also the oldest, performing in Thailand for the first time ever with a cast of 170 artists.
Swan Lake – Bolshoi Ballet
The iconic “Swan Lake” was actually commissioned by the Bolshoi and first performed there in 1877, and 150 years later remains a truly unforgettable experience.
Tchaikovsky’s first ballet–the tale of an enchanted swan, Odette, whose true love, her devoted prince Siegfried ready to defy his parents for her, is tricked into betraying her by the Evil Genius and his puppet Odile–is as glorious a theatrical spectacle as ever, particularly with this triumphant choreography from Yuri Grigorovich.
The Nutcracker
Tokyo City Ballet, Japan
Wednesday 18 September 2024, 7:00 PM
No festive season can be complete without “The Nutcracker.” A fairytale dreamscape of empathetic Clara’s love for her Nutcracker Prince takes in the epic battle between the rat and mice kings, the angelic snow fairies, and a glorious party in the colourful, irresistible Land of Sweets.
The Nutcracker – Tokyo City Ballet
From a rush through the snow to attend a much-anticipated Christmas party, to its finale filled with childlike wonder, this version of “The Nutcracker” is all the more moving as performed by Tokyo City Ballet, which is making their Bangkok debut under the talented eye of artistic director Etsuko Adachi, a multi-award-winning former principal dancer. Audiences will be enchanted with Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday classic.
Paul Taylor Dance
Paul Taylor Dance Company, USA
Saturday 21 September 2024, 7:00 PM
Supported by the Embassy of the United States of America
Paul Taylor is hailed as part of the pantheon that created American modern dance. (Photo by John McCoy)
Contemporary dance fans will be thrilled to see what the New York Times has called, “One of the most exciting, innovative, and delightful dance companies in the entire world.” Paul Taylor Dance Company will perform three wonderful modern pieces: the mesmerizingly bustling and athletic “Rush Hour;” the infectiously rhythmic “Somewhere in the Middle” featuring a soundtrack by Duke Ellington, Count Basie and more greats; and the inspirationally triumphant “Promethean Fire.” Lose yourself in this evening: it’s sure to be a powerful immersion in the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of life as a ‘New Yorker.’
Swan Lake On Ice
The Imperial Ice Stars, UK
Thursday 26 September 2024, 7:00 PM
Friday 27 September 2024, 7:00 PM
Choreographed by award-winning Tony Mercer and Olympic figure skating gold medalist Evgeny Platov, the Imperial Ice Stars are globally renowned winners of more than 100 competition medals.
Swan Lake On Ice
The Imperial Ice Stars will completely wow the audience with two shows packed with fast-paced, gravity-defying moves, some of which have never been attempted by anyone else and are so complex they haven’t even been named. With the exotic prospect of elaborate ice skating spectacles in tropical Bangkok, the performers glide across 14 tons of ice, equivalent to the weight of three elephants.
“Swan Lake On Ice,” which has earned them the prestigious Manchester Evening News ‘Best Special Entertainment Award,’ dazzles with 110 lavish costumes designed by renowned Russian costume designer Albina Gabueva, head designer at Moscow’s famed Stanislavsky Theatre, and made by the famous Bolshoi Ballet costume cutters.
Peter Pan On Ice
The Imperial Ice Stars, UK
Saturday 28 September 2024, 2:30 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday 29 September 2024, 2:30 PM
An action-packed delight for kids and adults alike “Peter Pan on Ice,” based on JM Barrie’s beloved classic of the boy who wouldn’t grow up, astounds with breathtaking leaps, throws, spins, and daredevil aerial fighting, matched by original music and songs, state-of-the-art animated scenery, dazzling costumes and fire-on-ice. Enraptured by this nostalgic show, we’ll all believe we can fly!
Vertigo Dance
Vertigo Dance Company, Israel
Tuesday 1 October 2024, 7:00 PM
Cutting-edge dance company Vertigo, from Israel, is acclaimed for its innovative choreography blending contemporary dance with elements of ballet, theatre, and multimedia to explore diverse themes with fluid movements and striking visuals.
Vertigo Dance Company
The collaborative trust of Noa Wertheim and Adi Sha’al, Vertigo’s show offers two moving performances. “Makom” in Hebrew means “place,” a real or imagined home or spiritual refuge, and this moving piece explores a world out of balance, and humanity’s quest to restore equilibrium and return home. “Mana,” which takes its name from the Zohar poem, is an inspirational vessel of light. You’ll feel increasingly buoyant as the piece progresses, and ultimately healed.
State Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan
Saturday 5 October 2024, 7:00 PM
The State Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan–a showcase of the nation’s most talented young musicians, winners of international competitions, and active participants of other symphony and chamber orchestras–will dazzle audiences with three pieces that are rarely seen in Bangkok.
State Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan
Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 5 is a masterpiece renowned for its complexity, performed by a full ensemble of 80 musicians. Peer Gynt Suite No. 2 is a cherished collection of exciting, adventurous orchestral pieces. Based on Gounod’s opera “Faust,” the 1854 “Fantaisie Brilliante” is a virtuosic violin masterpiece that will leave you gaping at the technical brilliance of the violinists.
Spartacus
Novosibirsk Ballet, Russia
Wednesday 9 October 2024, 7:00 PM
Supported by the Embassy of Russia
The Novosibirsk Ballet, too, has always had a special destiny: The only theatre in the world to be built and opened during World War II, it grew out of future-looking ideas and is dedicated to the artistic education and advancement of youth, making it beautifully aligned with Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music.
Spartacus – Novosibirsk Ballet
Gladiators are inherently dramatic, and this violent, romantic saga of bravery, heroism, and man’s desire to be free is like no ballet you’ve ever seen. Through the choreography of Yuri Grigorovich, follow “Spartacus” through ancient Rome in his conflicts with the inhuman Craccus, his love story with Phyrgia, his embrace of his ultimate destiny.
Don Quixote
Novosibirsk Ballet, Russia
Friday 11 October 2024, 7:00 PM
Supported by the Embassy of Russia
The Novosibirsk Ballet will also make us fall in love with two wildly different, equally fascinating protagonists. Prepare to be enchanted by a vibrant performance of “Don Quixote,” where dynamic choreography and graceful prowess bring Cervantes’ classic fantastical tale to life, from bustling Barcelona to an enchanted forest, a royal castle to a gypsy camp, and of course that famous meadow of windmills.
Don Quixote – Novosibirsk Ballet
Carmen Suit & Ballet Fantasia
Novosibirsk Ballet, Russia
Saturday 12 October 2024, 7:00 PM
Supported by the Embassy of Russia
“Ballet Fantasia” is seven divertissements of standalone choreographic masterpieces showcasing individual dancers’ skills, from The Dying Swan, a symbol of Russian ballet created originally for the great dancer Anna Pavlova, to Polovtsian Dances, which choreographer Mikhail Fokine considered his most important dance. The second half of the evening, experience the captivating “Carmen Suite,” the tale of a tragic love triangle that will leave you spellbound.
Ballet Fantasia & Carmen Suite
La Boheme
China National Opera House (CNOH), China
Thursday 17 October 2024, 7:00 PM
Supported by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Embassy of Italy
Icon status achieved by The China National Opera House, a beacon of cultural excellence, which brings a cast of more than 200 singers and musicians for two stunning Puccini shows on the occasion of the composer’s centenary celebration.
La Boheme – China National Opera House
“La Bohème” features Italian soprano Francesca Micarelli and tenor Paolo Lardizzone in a moving opera set in the old Quartier Latin of Paris. How much optimism can a person maintain as life begins to look ever bleaker? Are there such things as signs and fate? Can you improve your lot through creative talent, love and will alone? The dramatisation of existential questions such as these will stirring powerful emotions in the audience.
Turandot
China National Opera House, China
Sunday 20 October 2024, 4:00 PM
Supported by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Embassy of Italy
Turandot – China National Opera House
Starring Italian tenor Max Jota and soprano Maria Tomassi, the story of Princess “Turandot” and her stream of ill-fated suitors is a suspenseful redemption tale that emphasises the importance of loyalty and the power of love. How will it end? Immerse yourself in this twisting tale to find out. The elaborate and regal costumes, jewellery and props are the epitome of eye candy, leaving audiences wanting more.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrives at Shinawatra Tower 3 on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road to work on August 27, 2024. She is still waiting to be sworn in together with the new Cabinet in order to be able to work at the Government House.
BANGKOK — Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces major challenges to become prime minister as expected. Both she and the Pheu Thai Party have had complaints filed against them to obstruct their leadership of the government at this time.
Although she had received 314 votes in the House of Representatives, which easily confirmed her as chief executive, the lack of a single vote from Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, the leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), is a political complication for the youngest prime minister in Thailand’s history.
Thailand’s second female prime minister has not yet been able to start helping citizens affected by the severe flooding in the north or tackle other tasks as head of government as she has not yet formed a cabinet as required by the constitution.
This government formation is proving to be more complex than in the past, partly due to the fact that Srettha Thavisin was disqualified from office by the Constitutional Court for having previously appointed “a person with blemishes.”
PPRP Out, Democrat In
Paetongtarn is not only the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Thailand’s most popular but divisive political figures—a fact that has garnered her both supporters and opponents—but she also faces a political climate characterized by a constitution that allows for political gamesmanship with serious consequences.
The Democrat Party receives a letter from the ruling Pheu Thai Party to have DP join the coalition and to submit names of people qualified to become Cabinet members on August 28, 2028.
Although the Palang Pracharath Party is the third largest party in the coalition government with only 40 seats after the Pheu Thai Party and the Bhumjaithai Party, a clear split within the party between supporters of Gen. Prawit and those of Capt. Thammanat Prompao, Palang Pracharath’s secretary-general, has hampered Paetongtarn’s efforts to form a government.
Thammanat who has long maintained a relationship with Thaksin, had taken advantage of the transitional period of government formation to declare his “independence” from Gen. Prawit and join the government with the Pheu Thai.
Pheu Thai Party has now cut Palang Pracharath Party under Gen. Prawit out of the government. On August 28, they attracted most of the Democrat Party’s MPs to join the government instead. This is despite the fact that former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, a 17-time MP from Trang province who had strongly declared multiple times that he would never ever work with the Pheu Thai Party, did not join.
Democrat Party secretary-general Dech-it Khaothong said that the party will obtain two Cabinet seats. This is observed as the disintegration of the Democrat Party after 78 years, as it is Thailand’s oldest party.
Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, a 17-time MP from Trang province has strongly declared multiple times that he would never ever work with the Pheu Thai Party.
Who Betrayed Whom?
Samart Jenchaichitrawanich, a Palang Pracharath Party MP loyal to Gen. Prawit, attacked the Pheu Thai Party, accusing them of betrayal, after they had already voted for Paetongtarn and then later pushed them aside.
He also stated that his party had nothing to do with the 40 junta-appointed senators who petitioned the Charter Court, which led to the removal of PM Srettha. When asked if there would be retaliation, he said no, but they would use legal processes.
The declaration to use legal processes in response has already appeared over the past two days. An anonymous individual submitted a petition to the Election Commission (EC) to consider dissolving the Pheu Thai Party, claiming it is controlled by Thaksin.
On August 28, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a member of the Palang Pracharath Party, also submitted a petition to the EC to investigate whether Ms. Paetongtarn should be disqualified from the position of Prime Minister for holding shares in a private company after taking office.
This move by Ruangkrai underscores that Pheu Thai Party members no longer want to see the Palang Pracharath Party under Gen. Prawit involved in the government, because they distrust him.
Moreover, Gen. Prawit’s harassment of a journalist by hitting her on the head, on the day he didn’t vote for Paetongtarn, further added weight to Pheu Thai’s decision to remove Palang Pracharath from the government.
Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, the leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, has countered the Pheu Thai by appointing former Pheu Thai MP Wan Yubamrung, who recently defected to his party, to oversee political affairs across Bangkok.
Enemy Becomes Thorn
Thaksin recently shared details of Gen. Prawit’s resentment against him behind the scenes during a public visioning statement on August 22. The resentment stemmed from Thaksin’s refusal to support Gen. Prawit, a retired military officer, as chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on the grounds that someone from the military might lack legal expertise.
Since then, Thaksin believes that Gen. Prawit has been behind several unfriendly actions against him. Although he did not specify which events, it is evident that as a “big brother” of the coup leaders, alongside Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha and Gen. Anupong Paochinda, who seized power from Yingluck Shinawatra’s government, Thaksin’s younger sister, Gen. Prawit played a significant role.
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, left, and his daughter and newly elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrive before the royal endorsement ceremony appointing Paetongtarn as Thailand’s new prime minister at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit).
As a result, 40 junta-appointed senators, believed to be close to General Prawit and not supportive of Srettha Thavisin, successfully petitioned to remove Srettha from office, shaking the relationship between the two parties.
Recently, Gen. Prawit has countered the Pheu Thai by appointing former Pheu Thai MP Wan Yubamrung, who recently defected to his party, to oversee political affairs across Bangkok.
Although this appointment is unlikely to have much impact on the Pheu Thai party, as Bangkok has become a stronghold of the Move Forward party, which has since been renamed the People’s Party, the ongoing conflict between Thaksin and Gen. Prawit continues to be a thorn in the side of the new Pheu Thai-led government and Prime Minister Paetongtarn in particular.
BANGKOK — The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with African diplomatic missions, will host “The Colours of Africa 2024,” a cultural event from September 9-11 at Central World’s Eden Zone 1.
Ms. Sasirit Tangulrat, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East, and African Affairs, and Mr. Thanawat Sirikul, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, announced the event alongside Mr. Kiptiness Lindsay Kimwole, Kenya’s Ambassador to Thailand and Dean of the African Diplomatic Mission.
Mr. Thanawat highlighted the cooperation of 12 African nations—Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Botswana, and South Africa—in organizing the event, with support from private sectors.
Mr. Thanawat Sirikul, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Ms. Sasirit Tangulrat, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East, and African Affairs, announced the event alongside Mr. Kiptiness Lindsay Kimwole, Kenya’s Ambassador to Thailand, on August 27, 2024.
Ms. Sasirit explained that the event aims to enhance Thai understanding of Africa and foster people-to-people connections. “Africa is a vast region with over 1.2 billion people, mostly of working age, and is becoming increasingly important to Thailand. Since establishing diplomatic ties with African nations in 1955, we’ve sought to strengthen these relationships through events like this,” she said.
“Africa is a large region with over 1.2 billion people, most of whom are of working age. Thailand has had diplomatic relations with African countries since 1955. This activity aims to bring people from both sides together to understand each other better.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized “The Colors of Africa” in 2017, 2019, and 2023. Africa is the second-largest region in the world. Many of its countries have developed their economic infrastructure, making it a promising market and investment opportunity for Thailand in the future.” Ms. Sasirit said.
The Colours of Africa 2024″ will include:
A quiz on African geography
Cultural performances including fashion and music shows
Exhibitions by African embassies and businesses
Student competitions in quizzes and English speech contests with themes like “Africa in My Imagination” and “Africa: Land of Opportunities”
Opportunities to win trips to Africa, sponsored by Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Minor Hotels Group
Ambassador Kimwole described Africa as a continent rich in opportunity and diversity. He emphasized that the event will counter negative stereotypes and showcase Africa’s vibrant culture and economic potential.
“Africa is a colorful continent with diverse identities, all beautifully connected. There is also a very high middle class growth rate of around 600 million people,” he stated.
The event will feature booths with African coffee, tea, foods, wine, textiles, gems, tourism information, and investment opportunities in this growing region.
Mr. Kiptiness Lindsay Kimwole, Kenya’s Ambassador to Thailand and Dean of the African Diplomatic Mission
Methanol and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) are detected in herbal liquor selling in 18 stores in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — The Department of Disease Control and the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, reported on August 28, 2024 that methanol poisoning from consuming contaminated herbal liquor in the Khlong Sam Wa area has led to another death, bringing the death toll to six. Of the 2 most recent deaths, 1 person died at home.
There are 37 cumulative cases of patient, including 7 patients are on ventilators, while 9 have recovered.
The investigation is primarily being conducted by the Min Buri Police Station, which has inspected 18 herbal liquor stores in the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Division 3 area and one store in Soi On Nut 77 in cooperation with the Excise Department, the Medical Sciences Department and the Medical Office of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
Police Major General Wathee Asawutmangkun, Commander of the Central Police Forensic Science Division, and his team announce on August 27, 2024 the results of the autopsy of those who died from methanol poisoning after drinking illegal liquor. They state that there is a possibility that brain hemorrhage was caused by methanol toxins mixed in the bootleg alcohol. However, they must wait for the official laboratory results, which will be available in 30 days.
Further investigation by the Excise Department led to the discovery of an illegal factory where methanol was being mixed, resulting in the closure of 18 herbal liquor stores.
During tests of the problematic herbal liquor, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) was detected in the factory of S and Art in Soi Kanchanaphisek 025, Sub-Soi 1-3, Thap Chang Subdistrict, Saphan Sung District, Bangkok, as well as in the house of “Jay Pu” and all 18 stalls where the liquor was sold.
Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used for surface cleaning, as a solvent and as a disinfectant in medicine and is also used as a solvent in various industries. It should never be used for drinking.
There are three suspects in this case: Mrs. Passara, also known as “Jay Pu”, 49 years old, who obtained the liquor from Mr. Surasak and Mr. Surachai, known as Es and Art, two brothers, who concocted the recipe for the herbal liquor and supplied it to all 18 stalls.
Mrs. Passara, also known as “Jay Pu”, 49, gives information to police investigators at Minburi Police Station on August 26, 2024.
Investigations into the origin of the illicit liquor consumed by the persons concerned revealed that the herbal liquor production belonged to Jay Pu. She stated that she received white liquor from the two brothers Es and Art and used it to make herbal liquor by boiling it with Chinese herbs and other ingredients and then selling it to the stalls.
Jay Pu tearfully explained that her family had been selling herbal liquor for over 30 years, since her father’s time, and that they had never had any problems. She used to order from one of her father’s regular suppliers, but about a year ago, Es and Art, her partner’s cousins, came to her with a recipe for white liquor and asked her to help buy it.
The liquor was tested and it was found to be the right alcohol content and tasted similar to the old supplier. So, out of pity, she decided to order from them and bought it for 900 baht for 25 liters, the same price as the previous supplier.
There had been no problems last year. She regularly tasted the schnapps herself and only noticed something unusual in mid-August when customers complained that the schnapps was bland, not strong and had a fizzy taste. She called to ask why the taste had changed or if the ingredients had been altered, and was told they would make adjustments.
After tasting the last batch, she noticed a weaker aroma, but thought it was not a big deal since her father had taught her that herbal liqueur should have a stronger herbal smell than schnapps.
However, after tasting the last batch, she got mild diarrhea for three days, but did not think much of it until she heard about the deaths. She was shocked and did not understand how this could have happened. She deeply regretted it and was sorry because she did not want anyone to die, especially as the deceased were her friends.
Methanol and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) are detected in herbal liquor selling in 18 stores in Bangkok.
She also mentioned that she wanted to visit everyone in the hospital, but she was afraid that they would not understand. She had spoken to some relatives of the deceased and found out that one of the deceased was her friend who had been drinking this herbal liquor for many years and had chronic health problems. He drank herbal liquor frequently but refused to take his medication and had been in and out of the hospital several times before this incident.
“Since this incident, I’ve been stressed out and receive calls non-stop. I want to answer every call because I’m so sorry for what happened and I don’t understand how it could have happened. I’m not crying to get attention, I’m really sad about the incident,” said Jay Pu.
The investigating officers have received preliminary results from the Excise Department. As a result, they have charged Je Poo with 4 offenses, consisting of producing alcohol without a license, selling alcohol without a license, negligent conduct resulting in the death of others, and negligent conduct causing serious injury to others.
