GULF OF THAILAND – The Thai Navy and the U.S. Navy have completed their search and decommissioning for hazardous materials operation of HTMS Sukhothai on Monday, March 11, 2024. The entire ship was recovered without locating the five missing people, although 58 pieces of ‘evidence’ were discovered.
Ambassador Robert F Godec remarked on Board HTMS Angthong, saying as follows:
Admiral Adoong Pan-iam, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Navy and Ambassador Robert F Godec
“I have just returned from a visit to the MV Ocean Valor hosted by the Royal Thai Navy, for which I want to personally thank Commander-in-Chief Admiral Adoong Pan-iam and his team. As you know, the Ocean Valor has been conducting joint light salvage operations with Royal Thai Navy and United States Navy divers at the site of the HTMS Sukhothai since February 19.
In solemn commemoration of this final day of the joint mission, we presided over the presentation of the HTMS Sukhothai’s anchor retrieved by the salvage team, to the Royal Thai Navy. It has been both humbling and a tremendous honor for me to observe firsthand the skill and courage of expert Thai and U.S. divers working side by side in challenging conditions to successfully carry out the objectives of this joint operation.
My thoughts are also with the families of the 29 brave servicemen of HTMS Sukhothai who lost their lives in the line of duty. I trust that the findings provided by this mission will provide a measure of closure to all involved.
The successful execution of this joint operation underscores the enduring 190-year friendship between the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States. It has also deepened the cooperation and ties between our two Navies and demonstrates the strength of our partnership at its best.”
FILE - Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales smiles during her visit to Sebby's Corner in north London, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File )
LONDON (AP) — Kate, Princess of Wales, apologized Monday for “confusion” caused by her editing of a family photo released by the palace — an image of Kate and her children that was intended to calm concern and speculation about the British royal’s health, but had the opposite effect.
Several news agencies that initially published the photo, including The Associated Press, withdrew the image over concerns about digital manipulation. Issued by the couple’s Kensington Palace office on Sunday to mark Mother’s Day in Britain, it was the first official photo of 42-year-old Kate since she had abdominal surgery nearly two months ago.
The retractions sent the online rumor mill, already rampant with speculation over Kate’s operation and recuperation, into overdrive. The PR disaster is more evidence that the royal family’s long-held mantra — “never complain, never explain” — is impossible in a social media-saturated era.
In a post on social media, Kate said that “like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.”
“I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused,” the post said.
Kate, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Britain’s Prince William sit in the Royal Box on Centre Court for the final of the men’s singles between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
In the past, the palace has issued several of Kate’s family snapshots featuring her and heir to the throne, Prince William, with their children Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5.
The latest photo was taken by William, Kensington Palace said. In an accompanying social media message, Kate said: “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.”
While there was no suggestion the photo was fake, AP retracted it because closer inspection revealed the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards. For instance, it contained an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand with the sleeve of her sweater.
Other major news agencies, including Getty, Reuters, AFP and the U.K. national agency, PA, also withdrew the photo.
Kensington Palace said it would not release the original unedited photograph. And while Kate’s statement provided a measure of clarification, it looked unlikely to stop the swirl of rumor that has accelerated during her absence from public duties.
Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the mishandled photo release “is damaging for the royals.”
“They knew there would be intense interest in any picture they released of Kate,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Their challenge is that people will now question whether they can be trusted and believed when they next issue a health update.”
Police officers stand guard outside The London Clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery, in London, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
The royal family is under particular scrutiny because King Charles III has also had to cancel public duties while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements, though he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.
Charles’ relative openness about his diagnosis was a departure for the generally secretive royal family. But it has been eclipsed in popular interest by curiosity over Kate’s condition. In the absence of firm information, conspiracy theories have rushed to fill the vacuum.
The release of the photo followed weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to Kate since she left a hospital Jan. 29 after a nearly two-week stay following planned surgery. She hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas Day.
Anti-monarchy protesters demonstrate outside Westminster Abbey watched by police before members of the Royal family arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey in London, Monday, March 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Kate underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the operation have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace said it was not cancer-related.
Although the palace initially said that it would only provide significant updates and that she would not return to royal duties before Easter — March 31 this year — it followed up with a statement last month saying she was doing well.
At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: “We’ve seen the madness of social media and that is not going to change our strategy. There has been much on social media but the princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that.”
Further questions were raised last week when the British military seemed to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a Trooping the Color ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.
It’s up to palace officials, not government departments, to announce the royals’ attendance at events. Kensington Palace didn’t confirm any scheduled public events for Kate, and the army later removed reference to her attendance.
William, Queen Camilla and other senior royals attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday. Neither Kate nor the king was due to be at the event, which drew a crowd of several dozen anti-monarchist protesters holding signs reading “Down with the Crown.”
Veteran public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said the photo gaffe exposed a wider PR problem for the monarchy.
“There doesn’t seem to be that much joined-up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organization to manage in terms of PR,” he said.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation,” he said of Kate’s apology Monday. “The question is, with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it. And I’m not sure that they will.”
TRAT – On March 11, Mr. Loi Tapila, 70, a junk collector from Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand, finished his trip in Trat Province, which fulfilled his dream to see the sea for the first time in his life.
He is now on the way back to Ubon Ratchathani, driving his Saleng vehicle.
“Grandpa Loi” became famous on social media since travelling by Saleng vehicle from Nam Yuen District, Ubon Ratchathani, on March 3 to Trat Province, wishing to see the sea. The target was met on March 9 with strong public support.
As his trip helped promote Trat tourism, the Trat Provincial Tourism Industry Council provided him with lodging at a 6-star hotel, food, and a Koh Chang ferry port with free ferry voyages.
Trat people come to say goodbye to Granpa Loi on March 11, 2024.
“Today, I saw Koh Chang, saw the sea, and played in the sea just as I planned. It goes beyond my wildest dreams. Originally, I assumed that I would only see Koh Chang. I just see sea water. But I assumed I’d be able to cross to Koh Chang. I observed clean sea water, which was stunning, and no rubbish. “I thank everyone,” he stated on March 9.
Saksit Mungkarn, former president of the Trat Tourism Industry Council, stated that supporting and welcoming Grandpa Loi to Koh Chang District shows the goodwill of Trat residents and tourism operators in wanting to make his dream come true. Grandpa Loi’s expression and words showed that he was very pleased with this trip. He had the chance to swim, dive, and taste seawater. Everyone was happy with him.
Grandpa Loi had the chance to see, swim and taste seawater. Everyone was happy with him.
“I have never felt this happy in my life since I was born. Thank you to everyone in Trat for welcoming me so warmly. I had never felt so warm. “Everyone is considerate, friendly, and generous in everything,” Grandpa Loi said through tears.
He will travel directly back to Ubon Ratchathani by staying one night at the PTT Khlung Petrol Station in Chanthaburi Province.
The elderly man has been living alone since he separated from his wife many years ago, and all of his children have families. He has no way to make a living and is unable to do hired work due to his age. He supports himself by collecting bottles and garbage that can be recycled and sold. He started on this journey in a Saleng vehicle with 200 baht.
Grandpa Loi said that in the future, when he is physically ready, he will ride Saleng to visit the southern region. The target is Su-ngai Kolok District, Narathiwat Province, after he used to ride to the northern region to Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province, which took 20 days.
“Thank you to everyone in Trat for welcoming me so warmly,” Granpa Loi said when he was leaving.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, top right, applauds as he leaves after the closing session of the National People's Congress held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, March 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
BEIJING (AP) — China’s national legislature wrapped up its annual session Monday with the usual show of near-unanimous support for plans designed to carry out ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping’s vision for the nation.
The weeklong event, replete with meetings carefully scripted to allow no surprises, has highlighted how China’s politics have become ever more calibrated to elevate Xi.
Monday’s agenda lacked the usual closing news conference by the premier, the party’s No. 2 leader. The news conference has been held most years since 1988 and was the one time when journalists could directly question a top Chinese leader.
The decision to scrap it emphasizes Premier Li Qiang’s relatively weak status. His predecessors played a much larger role in leading key economic policies such as modernizing state companies, coping with economic crises and leading housing reforms that transformed China into a nation of homeowners.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, press a button to vote as Premier Li Qiang looks on during the closing session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, March 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The nearly 3,000-member National People’s Congress approved a revised State Council law that directs China’s version of the cabinet to follow Xi’s vision. The vote was 2,883 to eight, with nine abstentions. Other measures passed by similarly wide margins. The most nays were recorded for the annual report of the supreme court, which was approved by a 2,834 to 44 vote.
In brief closing remarks, Zhao Leji, the legislature’s top official, urged the people to unite more closely under the Communist Party’s leadership “with comrade Xi Jinping at its core.”
The party leaders who run the State Council used to have a much freer hand in setting economic policy, Neil Thomas, a Chinese politics fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said in an emailed comment.
“Xi has been astonishingly successful in consolidating his personal hold over the party, which has allowed him to become the key decisionmaker in all policy domains,” he said.
As the party champions innovation and self-reliance in technology to build a modern, wealthy economy, it is leaning heavily on more overtly communist ideology that harkens to past eras. Xi has fortified the party’s role across the spectrum, from culture and education to corporate management and economic planning.
“Greater centralization of power has arguably helped Xi to improve central government effectiveness,” Thomas said, “but the benefits may be outweighed by the costs of stifling political discussion, disincentivizing local innovation and more sudden policy shifts.”
Along with following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought and other party directives, developing “new quality productive forces” — a term coined by Xi last September — emerged as a catchphrase at this year’s congress.
The term suggests a prioritizing of science and technology as China confronts trade sanctions and curbs on access to advanced know-how in computer chips and other areas that the U.S. and other countries deem to be national security risks.
On the diplomatic front, China kept Wang Yi as foreign minister. He had stepped back into the post last summer after his successor, Qin Gang, was abruptly dismissed without explanation after a half-year on the job.
Analysts thought the Communist Party might use the annual congress to appoint a new foreign minister and close the book on an unusual spate of political mishaps last year that also saw the firing of a new defense minister after a few months on the job.
The Organic Law of the State Council was revised for the first time since its adoption in 1982. The revision calls for the State Council to “uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China.” It also adds the governor of China’s central bank to the body.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, applauds with leaders and delegates after attending the closing session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, March 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Echoing words seen in just about every proposal, law or speech made in China these days, it spells out that China’s highest governing officials must adhere to the party’s guiding ideology, which refers back to Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and culminates in Xi’s philosophy on “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.”
Alfred Wu, an expert on Chinese governance at the National University of Singapore, said the revision institutionalizes previously made changes, making it harder to reverse them. He described the congress as a “one-man show” that shows Xi’s determination to create a system in which the party leads on policy, diminishing the role of the State Council and the legislature.
“His determination is very clear,” Wu said. “He is willing to change everything.”
During this year’s congress, many provincial meetings were opened to the media for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, though they were carefully scripted with prepared remarks and none of the spontaneity once glimpsed in decades past.
Marching orders endorsed by the congress include calls to ensure national security and social stability at a time when job losses and underpayment of wages have sparked a growing number of protests.
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Associated Press researchers Wanqing Chen and Yu Bing contributed to this report.
BANGKOK — Promoter Live Nation Tero on Sunday announced ticket prices for the upcoming LANY concert in Bangkok.
The American pop-rock band will perform in Bangkok at Impact Challenger Hall on Oct. 6, 2024. Tickets range from 2,300 to 11,500 baht and can be purchased online from 10am on Mar. 15. LANY fanclubs, Mastercard holders, Live Nation Tero members can get pre-sale tickets online at earlier dates starting from Monday.
This will be the sixth time that LANY performs in Bangkok since their debut show in 2017. The concert is part of the Asia leg of the “a beautiful blur” tour to promote their latest album of the same name released last September. The band will also stop at other Asian cities such as Singapore, Tokyo, and Seoul.
LANY, an acronym for “Los Angeles New York,” was formed in Nashville in 2014 and rose to fame through tracks they uploaded on audio streaming service SoundCloud. The band is made up of frontman Paul Jason Klein, who also serves as the guitarist, and drummer Jake Clifford Goss. They are best known for hits such as “Malibu Nights,” “ILYSB,” and “Cause You Have To.”
Cocaine is hidden in a clothes drying rack sent from America.
BANGKOK – The Secretary General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lakboon, led a press conference on March 11, 2024, to suppress transnational criminal networks, arresting three Nigerian men and seizing 5,360 grammes of cocaine from the United States. The drugs were destined for sale in entertainment venues.
The seizure was made by the Customs Department’s Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF), which inspected an international parcel (inbound) containing 5,360 grammes of cocaine hidden inside the central core of 5 steel clothes drying racks. The parcel was sent from the United States and arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 6.
The investigation stemmed from the “Nana Un-Jai” operation in the Nana area of Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok. The ONCB and partner agencies found that groups of West Africans were selling drugs to Thai and foreign tourists in the area. The drug trade was often linked to prostitution, with prostitutes receiving a share of the profits from drug sales from the West African groups.
Three Nigerians were arrested while waiting to receive the parcel containing the 5,360 grammes of cocaine.
Following the seizure, the task force expanded its investigation and placed surveillance on the parcel delivery location. Three Nigerians were arrested while waiting to receive the parcel containing the 5,360 grammes of cocaine.
A subsequent raid on a room in the Samae Dam sub-district of Bang Khun Thian district, Bangkok, found equipment used to hide drugs, including plastic bags for packaging and a digital scale.
The ONCB secretary-general said that the investigation assumes that the network prepared the sale of the drugs in entertainment venues. The investigation also revealed that the three suspects were involved in a network that has been sending drugs in packages between countries since 2020. They were linked to 4 previous drug seizures in which 8 people (7 African men and 1 Thai woman) were arrested and 12.7 kilograms of cocaine and 6,613 ecstasy pills were seized.
Thai officials inspect the seized narcotics.
According to statistics from the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) and Seaport Interdiction Task Force (SITF) cooperation project, West African networks were involved in more than half of the arrests/seizures in 2022-2023. Most of the drugs seized were cocaine from South America.
2023: 26 cases, 32 suspects, 59.215 grams of cocaine, 15.157 grams of ice, 4.054 grams of heroin (13 cases involving West African networks, 13 suspects, 23.09 grams of cocaine)
2024: 41 cases, 49 suspects, 184.91 kg of heroin, 166.744 kg of ice, 48.439 kg of cocaine, 73.345 kg of ketamine, 3,598 ecstasy pills, 12 methamphetamine pills (20 cases involving West African networks, 24 suspects, 35.959 kg of cocaine, 8.97 kg of heroin)
The ONCB will coordinate with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to investigate and expand the network of suspects. Finally, the ONCB would like to warn Thai women not to be enticed by foreign men into becoming involved in drug trafficking or receiving packages of drugs.
Marriott Bonvoy’s spectacular wedding & honeymoon showcase will be staged at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok on March 23 – 24, 2024
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Marry Me at Marriott, Marriott Bonvoy’s glamorous wedding and honeymoon fair, returns to Bangkok this March, providing brides, grooms and professional wedding planners with everything they need to create their ultimate “big day” at hotels and resorts across Thailand.
Hosted at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok from March 23-24, 2024, this two-day “Vanilla Sky” themed wedding showcase will immerse guests in a world of elegant romance. Representatives from 37 of Marriott’s world-class hotels and resorts will be present, ranging from stylish city hotels to beautiful beachfront resorts, elegant upcountry retreats and more, creating an endless array of options for couples who want to share their eternal vows in the “Land of Smiles.”
These hotels and resorts, which encompass distinct brands, will offer an unparalleled selection of venues for every size and style of wedding, from glittering ballrooms to idyllic alfresco spaces, including some of the world’s finest beaches. These exceptional venues can also set the stage for pre-wedding photo shoots, engagement ceremonies, bridal rituals, sparkling receptions, heavenly honeymoons and more.
Couples will be able to meet Marriott’s trusted professional partners, which range from wedding planners, dressmakers and jewelers to photographers, beauty therapists, musicians and more, to personalize every element of their big day. And of course, every hotel and resort attending Marry Me at Marriott will present a selection of exclusive promotions and packages, which can be customized to suit every budget. Brides and grooms who confirm their booking during the wedding fair will be treated to a series of special offers and value-added perks!
So, whether you’re dreaming of an intimate island wedding in Koh Samui, a serene seafront ceremony in Phuket or Hua Hin, a glamorous ballroom celebration in the beating heart of Bangkok, or any other size or style of occasion, Marriott Bonvoy will be able to make your wedding dreams a reality.
Marry Me at Marriott will be staged at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit’s spectacular ballroom on Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24, 2024, from 10am to 8pm. Come and chat with our experts!
Hotels participating in Marry Me at Marriott include:
Marriott Executive Apartments Sukhumvit Park
Le Méridien Bangkok
JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok
Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15
The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok
The St. Regis Bangkok
Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel
The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park
W Bangkok
Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok
Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Le Méridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa
ITD Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited
BANGKOK – The talk of the town in the Thai construction contractor industry is the case of Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (ITD), which has assets of over 100 billion baht (2.83 billion U.S. dollars), liabilities of over 100 billion baht, and annual revenue of 50–60 billion baht (1.41–1.69 billion U.S. dollars).
The business under the wing of the Karnasut family, which has controlled the construction empire of mega-projects both domestically and internationally for over 6 decades, is facing liquidity problems.
They are facing cash flow issues and are unable to pay subcontractors, amidst a lack of major project bids, rising interest rates, and over 10 billion baht in bond payments due this year and next. As a result, they have had to ask bondholders to vote to postpone payments for 2 years.
Premchai Karnasuta, Executive Chairman of the Italian-Thai Group Company, welcomed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to inspect the environmental measures plan for the potash mining project of Asia Pacific Potash Corporation Limited (APPC), a subsidiary of “Italian-Thai,” in Nong Phai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province, on February 19, 2024.
Recent news from Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (ITD) admits that the company has been struggling with liquidity problems for some time. This is mainly due to overseas investment projects, such as the Dawei project, in which over 7-10 billion baht have already been invested, but not progressing. This is due to various factors, including the political and economic situation in Myanmar, which is still uncertain.
There are also other projects, such as the potash mining project in Udon Thani province, which has caused the company a lot of trouble in the last 1-2 months. As a result, some construction sites have been slow to make their payments, instead of on the 5th and 20th of each month as originally planned.
“We have changed the way we pay our employees. The four big banks, which are our creditors, now have control over our finances. They pay the salaries of employees and suppliers directly when the money from the construction fees comes in. The banks also want cash flow because we have a lot of debt, about 100 billion baht. We are currently in talks with the banks to ask them to support us and increase our liquidity. We have been in talks for 2 months now and expect to close by the end of March,” the source said.
ITD Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited
On February 29, 2024, Italian-Thai sent a letter to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, shareholders and investors, stating that the company is required to submit its consolidated financial statements and separate financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, later than the deadline set by law and regulations.
The reason for this is that some of the data is currently being processed by the company and the auditor needs a little more time to review it to ensure that the financial statements are accurate, complete and reliable. Therefore, the company would like to inform you that it is postponing the submission of its annual financial statements and expects to be able to submit them by 29 March 2024.
Italian-Thai is a major contractor that, when it comes to work in hand, must have at least 100 billion baht in value. Roads, expressways, bridges, electric trains, dual-track trains, high-speed trains, airports and ports all bear the Italian-Thai stamp.
Sources from the construction contractor industry analyze that Italian-Thai’s problem is like a snake eating its own tail. If it collapses, it will have a domino effect. The state will probably not let it collapse and the banks will have to step in to help.
FILE - Taylor Swift arrives at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. Photo: Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP File
Thanks to PM Srettha Thavisin who said last month that the Singaporean government paid two to three million dollars per show to American songstress Taylor Swift to ensure that she performs exclusively in Singapore while in Southeast Asia, the disclosure has led to lessons and debate among the neighbors of Singapore.
First the lessons. The Singaporean government is pro-active in wooing world-class performers to come to its city state while we probably could not say the same about Thailand and other ASEAN neighbors.
Singapore’s Straits Times on March 2 ran an interview with Edwin Tong, Singapore Minister of Culture, Community and Youth, that Team Singapore, a multi-agency team, was led by no less that the minister himself. They headed to Los Angeles more than a year ago to look for opportunities to boost Singapore as an international hub for entertainment, arts, and culture.
“One such meeting was with Swift’s agent, and very quickly we saw an opportunity because she had not yet announced international tour dates, so we put forward a proposition to come to Singapore … (and figured out) what can we do to make it work for you, dates, and venue-wise and so on,” Tong was quoted as saying.
Back to Thailand, Srettha was not even the prime minister a year ago and it was the lame duck junta-leader-turned-PM Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha still running the show while doing very little. So, there was absolutely no competition here.
And even if Team Thailand (and there is no Team Thailand really, due to deep political division) wants to compete in wooing Swift, one will quickly come to the realization that our mega concert venues like Rajamangala National Stadium are no match for the Singapore National Stadium for at least two main reasons.
Transports to and from the site on Ramkhamhaeng Road are nightmarish with no direct link by skytrain or subway. It has no retractable roof or air conditioning, so when it is too hot or raining, concertgoers are at the mercy of the elements. Other Thais online point out to the fact that Singapore is much more affluent, thus the locals are more able to afford expensive tickets.
If Srettha is serious about turning Bangkok into a world-class hub of concerts and entertainment, I suggest he stops hopping around foreign states for a while, go back to a drawing board, and meet with experts, officials, and business people, and come up with a concrete plan and reveal it to the public to see whether it is even feasible.
Now the debate, or controversy.
After Srettha made the remark, even Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong was questioned during a joint press conference with Australian PM Anthony Albanese by a reporter while attending ASEAN-Australia Summit in Melbourne earlier this week.
AFP quotes Lee as saying: “Our agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform, and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia … The deal was reached. And so, it has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don’t see that as being unfriendly.”
As for AP, it quotes Lee from the same press conference as saying “certain incentives” were provided to Swift using Singaporean government funds set up to rebuild its tourism industry. Lee did not divulge on how much the Singaporean government exactly spent to “incentivize” the 34-year-old Swift and we will unlikely not know the exact amount.
According to AP: “Lee suggested that if Singapore hadn’t struck an exclusive deal, a neighboring country might have done so.”
So, was it an unfriendly act towards Singapore’s ASEAN neighbors?
Well, it depends. One man’s “incentives” is another man’s “bribery.” Despite Singapore’s clear infrastructural supremacy over its ASEAN neighbors, including Thailand, with seamless mass transportation links to the concert venue, its world-class Changi Airport, its wealth, she still feels inadequate to the point where she has to offer a monetary incentive (or bribe Swift) to perform exclusively in Singapore while in Southeast Asia.
Is it unfriendly? Well, it is at least inconsiderate to resort to the use of such a grey tactic. (Interestingly, Singapore is known for its plethora of signs reminding the public to be “considerate” to staff working at hospital, condominium, and even fast-food joints like McDonald’s).
Three examples on differing views on the controversy among the readers of Philstarlife, an online media in the Philippines.
First from a Malaysian reader Lenny Carrey: “Singapore has just embarrassed itself with this lame defense! Monopoly and any effort to refrain any form of competition and competitiveness are some principles totally resented by free market capitalism! If this is not a form of bribe, well, people with such ridiculous mindset really need to get themselves reeducated once again!
Now an example of a second opinion on the same comment section by Filipino Jennifer Ramirez: “Singapore has all the resources and way better people in the government and probably even in the whole country. So, they deserve whatever positive vibes they’re getting.”
Then a third opinion, also from a Filipino, Neils Mariano: “Why blame Singapore? I believe they were smart to offer that deal. It’s Taylor Swift you must question.”
Anyhow, the same article on Singapore’s Straits Times basically says the money its government paid to Swift to only perform in Singapore while in Southeast Asia was more than worth it. “More than 300,000 tickets have been sold for the six shows, which will draw fans from South-east Asia, with Singapore being Swift’s only stop in the region. The Straits Times reported economists estimating that it could boost Singapore’s economy by up to $500 million in tourism receipts.”
But then, what is the price of “incentivizing” Swift to just perform in Singapore but not elsewhere in Southeast Asia? What is the price of negative feelings toward Singapore generated among some Thais, Filipinos or Indonesians for using such tactics at the expense of its neighbors?
For a small city state like Singapore, maintaining a truly friendly neighbors with positive attitudes toward Singapore is priceless.
The cast and crew of "Oppenheimer" accept the award for best picture during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Christopher Nolan has won best director at the Academy Awards for his blockbuster biopic “Oppenheimer,” a long-awaited coronation for arguably Hollywood’s preeminent big-screen auteur.
Nolan has had many movies in the Oscar mix before, including “Inception,” “Dunkirk” and “The Dark Knight.” But his win Sunday for direction is the first Academy Award for the 53-year-old filmmaker.
In his acceptance speech, Nolan noted cinema is just over a hundred years old.
“We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here,” said Nolan. “But to think that I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.”
Christopher Nolan accepts the award for best director for “Oppenheimer” during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Cillian Murphy accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role for “Oppenheimer” during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Cillian Murphy, the veteran Irish actor whose titanic performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer centered one of the year’s most acclaimed films, also won best actor. It’s the first Oscar for Murphy, a longtime Christopher Nolan regular handed a rare leading role in “Oppenheimer.”
“I’m a very proud Irish man standing here tonight,” said Murphy. “For better or worse, we’re all living in Robert Oppenheimer’s world. I’d like to dedicate this to the peacemakers.”
“Oppenheimer,” a solemn three-hour biopic that became an unlikely billion-dollar box-office sensation, was crowned best picture at a 96th Academy Awards that doubled as a coronation for Nolan.
After passing over arguably Hollywood’s foremost big-screen auteur for years, the Oscars made up for lost time by heaping seven awards on Nolan’s blockbuster biopic.
Robert Downey Jr., winner of the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for “Oppenheimer,” from left, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, winner of the award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for “The Holdovers,” Emma Stone, winner of the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role for “Poor Things,” and Cillian Murphy, winner of the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role for “Oppenheimer,” pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Protest and politics intruded on an election-year Academy Awards on Sunday, where demonstrations for Gaza raged outside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and awards went to “Oppenheimer,” “The Zone of Interest” and “20 Days in Mariupol.”
Sunday’s broadcast, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, had plenty of razzle dazzle, including a sprawling song-and-dance rendition of the “Barbie” hit “I’m Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling, with an assist on guitar by Slash. A sea of Kens swarmed the stage.
The lead winner, as expected was “Oppenheimer,” the blockbuster biopic. Though not quite the clean sweep that some expected, “Oppenheimer” was overpowering all competition — including its release-date companion, “Barbie” — winning awards for its cinematography, editing, score and Robert Downey Jr.’s supporting performance.
Downey, nominated twice before (for “Chaplin” and “Tropic Thunder”), notched his first Oscar, crowning the illustrious second act of his up-and-down career.
Robert Downey Jr. poses with the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for “Oppenheimer” in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
“Barbie,” last year’s biggest box-office hit with more than $1.4 billion in ticket sales, didn’t win an award until almost three hours into the ceremony. It won best song (sorry, Ken) for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ “What Was I Made For?” It’s their second Oscar, two years after winning for their James Bond theme, “No Time to Die.”
But after an awards season that stayed largely inside a Hollywood bubble, geopolitics played a prominent role. Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza snarled traffic around the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, slowing stars’ arrival on the red carpet and turning the Oscar spotlight toward the ongoing conflict. Some protesters shouted “Shame!” at those trying to reach the awards.
Jonathan Glazer, the British filmmaker whose chilling Auschwitz drama “The Zone of Interest” won best international film, drew connections between the dehumanization depicted in his film and today.
“Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people, whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel, or the the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims, this dehumanization, how do we resist?”
The war in Gaza was on the minds of many attendees, as was the war in Ukraine. A year after “Navalny” won the same award, Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing chronicle of the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, won best documentary. The win, a first for The Associated Press and PBS’ “Frontline,” came as the war in Ukraine passed the two-year mark with no signs of abating.
A protester holds a poster during a demonstration in support of Palestinians calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as the 96th Academy Awards Oscars ceremony is held nearby, Sunday, March 10, 2024, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
“This is the first Oscar in Ukrainian history,” said Chernov. “And I’m honored. Probably I will be the first director on this stage to say I wish I’d never made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this (for) Russia never attacking Ukraine.”
In the early going, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Frankenstein-riff “Poor Things” ran away with three prizes for its sumptuous craft, including awards for production design, makeup and hairstyling and costume design.
Kimmel, hosting the ABC telecast for the fourth time, opened the awards with an monologue that drew a few cold looks (from Downey, Sandra Hüller and Messi, the dog from best-picture nominee “Anatomy of a Fall”). But Kimmel, emphasizing Hollywood as “a union town” following 2023’s actor and writer strikes, drew a standing ovation for bringing out teamsters and behind-the-scenes workers — who are now entering their own labor negotiations.
The night’s first award was one of its most predictable: Da’Vine Joy Randolph for best supporting actress, for her performance in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” An emotional Randolph was accompanied to the stage by her “Holdovers” co-star Paul Giamatti.
“For so long I’ve always wanted to be different,” said Randolph. “And now I realize I just need to be myself.”
Though Randolph’s win was widely expected, an upset quickly followed. Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” won for best animated feature, a surprise over the slightly favored “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Miyazaki, the 83-year-old Japanese anime master who came out of retirement to make “The Boy and the Heron,” didn’t attend the ceremony. He also didn’t attend the 2003 Oscars when his “Spirited Away” won the same award.
Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy And The Heron.” (Studio Ghibli/GKIDS via AP)
“Godzilla Minus One,” from writer-director Takashi Yamazaki, marked the first time the prehistoric reptilian monster was nominated for an Oscar in the franchise’s 70-year history. It is the 37th film in the film series, which usually uses Godzilla as a sober symbol of nuclear holocaust and atomic trauma.
Kiyoko Shibuya, left, and Takashi Yamazaki, winners of the award for best visual effects for “Godzilla Minus One,” pose at the award engraving station at the Governors Ball after the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
“Godzilla Minus One” became the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film ever in the U.S. and Canada. Only two international live-action movies — “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Life Is Beautiful” — collected more than the $56.4 million grossed by “Godzilla Minus One.”
Best original screenplay went to “Anatomy of a Fall,” which, like “Barbie,” was penned by a couple: director Justine Triet and Arthur Harari. “This will help me through my midlife crisis, I think,” said Triet.
In adapted screenplay, where “Barbie” was nominated — and where some suspected Greta Gerwig would win after being overlooked for director — the Oscar went to Cord Jefferson, who wrote and directed his feature film debut “American Fiction.” He pleaded for executives to take risks on young filmmakers like himself.
Messi the dog from the film “Anatomy of a Fall” appears in the audience during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Ryan Gosling performs the song “I’m Just Ken” from the movie “Barbie” during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
“Instead of making a $200 million movie, try making 20 $10 million movies,” said Jefferson, previously an award-winning TV writer.
The Oscars belonged largely to theatrical-first films. Though it came into the awards with 19 nominations, Netflix was a bit player. Its lone win came for live action short: Wes Anderson’s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” based on the story by Roald Dahl.
While “Barbie” bested (and helped lift) “Oppenheimer” at the box office, it appears likely it will take a back seat to Nolan’s film at the Oscars. Gerwig was notably overlooked for best director, sparking an outcry that some, even Hillary Clinton, said mimicked the patriarchy parodied in the film.
Historically, having big movies in the mix for the Oscars’ top awards has been good for broadcast ratings. The Academy Awards’ largest audience ever came when James Cameron’s “Titanic” swept the 1998 Oscars.
Last year’s ceremony, where a very different best-picture contender in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” triumphed, was watched by 18.7 million people, up 12% from the year prior. ABC and the academy are hoping to continue the upward trend after a nadir in 2021, when 9.85 million watched a pandemic-diminished telecast relocated to Los Angeles’ Union Station.
