The Bulletin

Stephff's world

A night with Thai climate change storytellers

Press Conference,
Monday, 17 February, 6.30pm

Changing Climate Changing Lives Film Festival (CCCL) is a platform for young filmmakers and artists in Thailand and beyond to share stories about climate change impacts, community resilience and inspiring innovation.

Every year, CCCL holds an annual short film competition and awards ceremony at the festival. This year the festival will take place from February 15 to 16 at the Alliance Française Bangkok and from February 17 to 23 nationwide.

We will present 36 outstanding short films, chosen from over 800 submissions from Thailand and other Asian countries, representing 21 countries. Winning films will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will take place on February 16 at 6 pm.

Following the award night, we proudly present the "Press Conference: A Night with Thai and Asian Climate Change Storytellers" at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) Clubhouse.This event celebrates the creativity and commitment of filmmakers who masterfully use their craft to address environmental challenges in films.

The evening will feature a panel of award winners of the 2025 CCCL Film Festival comprising emerging and professional Thai and international filmmakers.

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‍Highlights:

• Filmmaker panel: A compelling discussion with winners and finalists on the inspiration behind their films and the vital role of storytelling in tackling the climate crisis.
• Networking reception: A casual reception for filmmakers, sustainability advocates, media and guests to connect.
• Film screenings: A special showcase of the winning films.

Guest Speakers & Panelists:

• Award-winning filmmakers of the CCCL Film Festival 2025. (TBA)

RSVP & Contact:

‍Please RSVP at bit.ly/cccl-press to attend the event.

or media inquiries, please contact Khun Fah, Suphawadee Cho.charoenphon, CCCL communication assistant, via email: admin@ccclfilmfestival.com, or phone: 091-139-8544

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‍This is not an FCCT-organized event.

Free and open to all.

All attendees will receive one complimentary drink.

The red emperor and Donald Trump II: Two styles in leadership

Discussion,
Wednesday, 19 February, 7pm

A high-risk year lies ahead in the most important bilateral relationship in the world, between China and America. The two Pacific giants enter a new era under two powerful leaders with strong agendas, privileged backgrounds but utterly different experiences of adversity and triumph.

How will Xi Jinping and Donald Trump manage this vital strategic dialogue? The two men met during Trump’s first term but their cordial relations turned sour after Covid-19 broke out in 2020. Now it falls to both of them to start again.

Michael Sheridan is the author of The Red Emperor, described by the Financial Times as “the most vivid and compelling biography of Xi to date” and picked by that paper as recommended reading for the incoming US administration.

It has been shortlisted for the Hatchards and Biographer’s Club First Biography Prize, and translation rights have been sold in numerous languages, including Polish and Japanese.

The author collected eyewitness accounts of Xi and Trump from sources who were in the room or at the table in close personal encounters. He tells how the two men failed to bond despite their heritage as sons of powerful fathers.

His book tells how China and America turned into open adversaries during Xi’s period in power since 2012 through three US presidencies, emphasising that a hawkish line on China is now established bipartisan policy in Washington.

‍The Red Emperor digs deep into Xi Jinping’s youth, childhood and early career to paint a portrait of China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Working with researcher Howard Zhang, former head of the BBC’s renowned Chinese News Service, the author drew on reams of official publications, Xi’s own writings, little-known recollections by relatives and friends and a seam of gossip and scandal from the wilder shores of the Chinese internet – which the book treats with due caution but lays out for the reader to judge. It is the story of Xi the man.

Michael Sheridan first reported from China in June 1989 and later served as Far East Correspondent of The Sunday Times for twenty years from 1996 to 2016, based in Hong Kong and  Bangkok. Earlier he worked for Reuters, ITN television news and The Independent reporting on wars in the Middle East, international diplomacy and European politics, with postings in Rome, Beirut and Jerusalem. He is the author of The Gate to China (2021), an acclaimed history of Hong Kong.

Michael will be in discussion at the FCCT with Keith Richburg, a member of the Washington Post’s editorial board since 2023, and a veteran observer of Xi Jinping and China. Keith’s storied career as a foreign correspondent includes postings as the Post’s bureau chief in Beijing and Hong Kong. He was president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong from 2021 to 2023.

Copies of The Red Emperor will be available on the night.

Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.

Non-members can use this link.Members free, non-members 300 baht; Thai media and students with ID, 150 baht.

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Bar and restaurant open.

Launch of the Asia and the Pacific SDG progress report 2025

Report launch,
Tuesday, 18 February, 11am

"The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2025" offers the most up-to-date data and insights to track progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the region.

The report showcases innovative approaches and partnerships that inspire hope and provide actionable pathways for transformative change and calls attention to persistent challenges -- such as climate change, disasters, and data gaps -- that threaten to leave populations in the most disadvantaged situation behind.

Join us in the FCCT clubhouse or via Facebook Live, to hear from:

‍Lin Yang, deputy executive secretary for programme, Office of the Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

‍Rachael Beaven, director, statistics division, ESCAP.Gita Sabharwal, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia.

‍Arman Bidarbakht Nia, head, statistical data management unit, statistics division, ESCAP.

Moderator: Kavita Sukanandan, public information officer, communications and knowledge management section, ESCAP

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‍To book in advance, please register here: https://bit.ly/register_SDG2025.

Event website: https://bit.ly/launch-SDG-report2025

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This is not an FCCT-organized event.

Free and open to all. Food and beverages will be available.

Board games night

Tuesday, 18 February, 7pm

Join us for a chilled night of board games with The Boring Club. Try your luck with classics like chess and backgammon or modern games including Catan and Pandemic.

The bar and restaurant will be open. Try our pizzas from the new pizza oven. The Boring Club meets at the FCCT clubhouse for games every Tuesday at 7pm.

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Free and open to all.

Securing the future of Thai media: Tools for success

Seminar,
Wednesday, 26 February, 2.45pm

How can media outlets in Thailand secure their future success amidst a rise in concerning trends?

Threats such as declining audience trust, changes to revenue models, more competitive advertising markets, the rise of AI and the growth of non-traditional news content are challenging news organizations worldwide and have led to a search for solutions.

What tools and methods can responsible media outlets use to continue their essential role as providers of trustworthy information in this new world?

Join Reporters Without Borders and the National Union of Journalists in Thailand for an in-depth look at solutions which can secure continued success and sustainability for Thai media outlets.

Host: Mitch St.Hilaire, Asia-Pacific representative, Reporters Without Borders's journalism trust initiative.

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To confirm your attendance, please email mmcanally-ext@rsf.org.

Event live stream will take place on FCCT’s Facebook page.

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This is not an FCCT-organized event.

Free and open to all. Light catering will be provided.

FCCT pub trivia

Friday, 28 February, 7pm

Gather your friends and colleagues for a night of pub trivia at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.

Come for a bite and a beverage and test your knowledge. 1,000 baht bar tab up for grabs for the winning team, to be redeemed on the night.

Advanced table bookings encouraged here.

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Free and open to all.

The FCCT is grateful for the support of corporate sponsor Bitkub. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

The FCCT expresses appreciation for the support provided by corporate sponsor Bumrungrad International Hospital. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

Heart valve disease: A possible hidden danger!

The heart consists of 4 chambers with the valves opening and closing to let blood pass through between the upper and the lower chambers in one direction, and not backward.

Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart valves do not open or close properly. This causes the heart muscles to work harder to pump blood for the body’s requirements. This can result in heart failure and death.

What are the symptoms of heart valve diseases?

• Fatigue, tired when doing daily activities.
• Difficulty breathing while doing activities or lying down.
• Rapid weight gain.
• Swelling in various organs such as the abdomen, legs, ankles and feet.
• Cardiac arrhythmia such as fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Fever and body aches, if due to infection.
• In severe cases, too much fluid in the lungs, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

What is the treatment for heart valve disease?‍

There are many ways to treat heart valve disease. Currently, Bumrungrad Hospital has the technology for heart valve replacement without surgery, offering good results and highly safe.

Learn more about heart valve disease and treatment option here.

Send us an enquiry today by clicking here.

FCCT’s new podcast: Dateline Bangkok episode three

For this week's episode of the Dateline Bangkok podcast, Tommy Walker speaks with Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn.

This interview will discuss Mookdapa’s work as an activist, Thailand’s marriage equality bill and the LGBTQ+ community.

Mookdapa talks about how she got into activism for gender rights, including her studies in London, her work at Fortify Rights and her participation in Thailand’s 2020 protests.

Mookdapa also explains the importance of Thailand’s marriage equality law, why it matters and what other gender related issues she continues to advocate for.

Watch the full episode here.

Also now on Spotify.

New to Bangkok? Under 35?

Are you under 35? Check out our special offer below! For further details, please contact info@fccthai.com.

New FCCT merchandise

Advertise in the FCCT's Bulletin at special discount rates

Individuals and organisations are welcome to take out advertising in the weekly FCCT Bulletin which reaches nearly 4,000 people in the club’s network. Guidelines

• Write a catchy headline, followed by a maximum of three sentences + contact email/phone number/ link to a website for further details if applicable.

To book an ad please email: info@fccthai.com