Portugal power into last eight with 6-1 demolition of Switzerland
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
Goncalo Ramos scored a stunning hat-trick as a slick Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1 on Tuesday (December 6) to storm into the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos took the brave call to bench Cristiano Ronaldo and was rewarded with an artful display from his side as they set up a last-eight clash with Morocco, who stunned Spain in a penalty shootout earlier in the day.
Ramos, making his first start at the World Cup, gave Portugal the lead in the 17th minute after latching onto Joao Felix’s pass and smashing the ball past Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer at his near post from an acute angle.
The 21-year-old Benfica striker scored his second, and Portugal’s third, six minutes after the break by getting onto the end of Diogo Dalot’s low cross and he completed his hat-trick in the 67th with a delicate dinked finish.
Pepe had doubled Portugal’s lead with a powerful header from a Bruno Fernandes corner after 33 minutes and Raphael Guerreiro rifled in their fourth in the 55th before Rafael Leao completed the rout in added time with a curled finish.
Manuel Akanji scored a consolation goal for the Swiss from a corner just before the hour.
Muay Thai ace Buakaw draws attention at NY Times Square
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2022
Thailand’s famous Muay Thai champion and martial artist, Buakaw Banchamek, made it to the famous digital billboard in New York’s Times Square for the second time in a year.
The digital billboard showcases the upcoming Rajadamnern World Series (RWS) match between Buakaw and 21-year-old Ukrainian boxer Olexander Yefimenko in Bangkok’s Rajadamnern Stadium.
The kickboxing duel between Buakaw and Yefimenko will be held in three rounds of three minutes each on Friday (December 9). Boxing fans can watch live broadcast on Workpoint TV at 9.15pm (Thailand time).
Previously, the advert featuring Buakaw had been shown above the Manhattan landmark in July to promote the Muay Thai legend’s comback in the RWS tournament on August 19.
Up to 450,000 people pass Times Square each day, making it a prime spot for advertisers seeking to draw eyeballs.
A billboard here can range in cost from $5,000 (183,000 baht) per day to well over $50,000, according to advertising company Inspiria. Typically, the minimum amount of money required to advertise for 1-3 days ranges from $5,000 to $25,000.
Precocious 11-year-old Trang girl makes waves online with her paintings
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
An 11-year-old student in Kantang district of Trang province has earned more than 200,000 baht over the past two years by selling her watercolour paintings via her Facebook page.
Pornpawee “Organ” Uttasuradee, a Prathom-6 student at Wat Trangkhaphum Phuttawat Municipal School, has been studying watercolour painting from the time she was five years old.
When Pornpawee was nine, her mother decided to open a Facebook page “N’August N’Organ” and put her watercolour paintings on sale, at 10,000 baht apiece, as she was impressed with her daughter’s talent.
Pornpawee’s paintings caught the attention of many foreigners. She was able to sell two to three paintings per month, generating 20,000 to 30,000 baht in income.
Most watercolour paintings being sold on her Facebook page depict natural scenery, such as rice fields, mountains and the sea.
Following her success in selling her works, Pornpawee has been invited to teach watercolour painting to other students at her school.
Pornpawee said she started learning watercolour painting when she was five. She added that she has a lot of paintings right now.
“I decided to continue studying watercolour painting as my teacher praised my talent,” she said.
Meanwhile, Pannarai Wongaree, a Prathom-3 student at Wat Trangkhaphum Phuttawat Municipal School, said he was proud that Pornpawee was his teacher.
He said he got a lot of knowledge after learning how to draw a cat on a tree branch from her, adding that he will show his painting to his grandparents.
A slang term to describe lazy behaviour – “goblin mode” – was named by Oxford English Dictionary as this year’s word of the year, according to Oxford University Press, which publishes the dictionary.
This was the first year a public vote was used to select the word of the year. The phrase took 93% of the votes cast, or 318,956.
“Goblin mode” is defined as “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations”.
Oxford University Press said the term started appearing online in 2009, but went viral earlier this year over a fictitious headline scandal involving actress and model Julia Fox as well as a popular Reddit post describing someone who has been acting like a goblin.
As Covid restrictions eased, the term continued to grow as people realised they did not want to go back to the way life was before.
“Given the year we’ve just experienced, ‘goblin mode’ resonates with all of us who are feeling a little overwhelmed at this point,” Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, told the BBC. “It’s a relief to acknowledge that we’re not always the idealized, curated selves that we’re encouraged to present on our Instagram and TikTok feeds.”
Oxford’s runner up was “metaverse”, the term assigned to the virtual world introduced by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, with 14,484 votes, followed by #IStandWith, a hashtag that shows support to victims of war in Ukraine, with 8,639 votes.
Meanwhile, Collins English Dictionary named “permacrisis” as its word of the year. The word refers to an extended period of instability and insecurity, which may sum 2022.
Merriam-Webster dictionary announced “gaslighting” as its word of the year, based on searches for the word on merriam-webster.com that increased 1,740% in 2022.
Merriam-Webster’s definition for “gaslighting” is the psychological manipulation of a person, usually over an extended period of time, that “causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories and typically leads to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, uncertainty of one’s emotional or mental stability, and a dependency on the perpetrator”.
Thailand is tapping Nasa expertise to set up its northern “space lab” in Chiang Rai province.
A Nasa delegation has been invited to visit the Space Technology Laboratory at Wiangpapao Technical College on January 25 to exchange knowledge on the development of space affairs.
The knowledge exchange was agreed at a videoconference meeting between Nasa officials and the House committee on communications, telecoms and digital economy and society,its vice chair Settapong Malisuwan said on Tuesday.
Discussion during the meeting covered US-Thailand cooperation on space technology, climate change, global warming and natural crises, Settapong said. Nasa is interested in these problems because they impact the whole globe, he added.
Cooperation with Nasa would also help Thailand in surveying, analysing, and forecasting the weather, he said. Accurate weather forecasts are seen as vital to boosting agriculture and combating impacts of the seasonal drought-flood cycle in Thailand.
The space technologies developed with Nasa would help Thailand solve crises, conserve natural resources, and plan agricultural output for the next 5-10 years, Settapong said.
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla entered the Thai market today, offering two models at starting prices of less than 2 million baht each, according to an announcement on its website.
The EV pioneer had hinted in November that it would enter the Thai market this month.
On Wednesday, Tesla began accepting reservations for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, saying deliveries will begin gradually in February next year. Reservations can only be made through its website.
It released the following price list (excluding autopilot and full self-driving options) for the two models:
Model 3
Single motor (rear-wheel drive): 1.759 million baht
Long range (dual motor, all-wheel drive): 1.999 million baht
Performance (dual motor, all-wheel drive): 2.309 million baht
Model Y
Single motor (rear-wheel drive): 1.959 million baht
Long range (dual motor, all-wheel drive): 2.259 million baht
Performance (dual motor, all-wheel drive): 2.509 million baht
Purchases include a four-year (or 80,000km) warranty for the vehicle and an eight-year warranty for the battery (160,000km for rear-wheel drive and 192,000km for all-wheel drive).
Tesla also announced it will open its flagship store and its first car-delivery and service centre in the first quarter of next year. It will also open 10 charging stations in Thailand next year, it said.
JBP joined forces with alliances, heading toward sustainable business development under “One World One Future Together”
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
Climate Change is causing severe environmental impacts and turbulence across the globe. Organizations and the general public are now focusing their attention on environmentally-friendly and sustainable business practices.
Mr. Sarawut Rachanakul, Chief Executive Officer of JBP International Paint and President of the Thai Paint Manufacturers Association, is one of the industry leaders to spearhead the company’s strong commitment in promoting sustainable business practices through words and actions rather than as a trend of doing business.
Realizing the impacts on health and the environment from the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic and PM 2.5 air pollution in Thailand two years ago, JBP International Paint is committed to solving the problems by introducing new high-quality, environmentally and health-friendly paint products and plastic paint containers for consumers with support from Srithai Superware, Thailand’s leading manufacturer to ensure corporate social responsibility of the product and for the Thai people.
On November 11, JBP International Paint Company Limited, Thailand’s leading manufacturer and distributor of the paint industry represented by Mr. Chongkol Rachanakul, Chairman of Executive Committee, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with key business alliances : Srithai Superware Public Company Limited, CRC Thai Watsadu Company Limited, and UAC Global Public Company Limited to collaborate on the “One World: One Future Together” project with aims to remediate global turbulence, reduce energy usage and greenhouse gases emission and announce readiness to ensure environmentally friendly business practices and foster Thailand’s economy toward sustainable growth.
Mr. Chongkol Rachanakul, Chairman of Executive Committee of JBP International Paint, said, “Sustainable development and sufficient economy philosophy are the core principles that our company upholds and promotes to everyone in the organization. We are concerned about the current environment issues so we want to promote the concept of the green supply chain that not only reduces environmental problems but also enhances our sustainable business practices to another level.”
Mr. Sarawut Rachanakul, Chief Executive Officer of JBP International Paint, said, “We are aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly over the next decade. We are setting goals toward the realization of carbon neutrality by switching or transitioning to lower carbon alternatives and developing innovative environmentally friendly technology. In addition, this will continue to play a big part in shaping product development in our industry which is good for consumers and the environment that will be the way to more sustainable production models in the future.”
Mr. Chaiwat Kulphattaravanich, Executive Director of Srithai Superware, said, “Our company’s core business principles are Environment Social and Governance (ESG). We are committed to delivering environmentally friendly products and services that help to reduce greenhouse gases emission for the better quality of life of the people and the planet.”
Mr. Suthisarn Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of CRC Thai Watsadu, said, “At CRC Thai Watsadu, we are ready to help deliver positive values to the society and environment by reducing energy consumption. This will set an example for the retail industry transformation to become a green retailer for sustainable business practices.”
Mr. Kitti Jivacate, Chairman of Executive Committee of UAC Global, said, “We realized the impacts of environmental and energy crises. Therefore, we are committed to building a stable and sustainable business while maintaining our responsibility for the society and environment. We are ready to join hands with all sectors in maximizing benefits to the society and environment.”
The signing of this MoU signified future collaboration among 4 companies whereby each business organization will bring their own sustainable business practices to exchange with each other in order to develop, expand, and introduce new innovations for products and services to promote sustainable growth.The partnership will also include the development of sustainable products which can be truly identified as a “Green Supply Chain” in the future.
The MOU signing ceremony was also witnessed by honorable guests: Mr. Sanan Angubolkul, President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce who gave opening remarks together with Mr. Yuttana Jiamtragan, Chairman of the Circular Economy and Environmental Committee Thai Chamber of Commerce who also gave congratulatory speech and endorsement for “One World : One Future Together” project which aims to foster sustatinable development at international level as well as to achieve objectives of social, economic and environment development for a better planet. Other notable guests presided over at the event include Mr. Korn Narongdej, Ms. Sikanya Saktidej Bhanubandh, and Mr. Akarat Wannarat.
DTAC launches online solutions platform to assist SMEs with digitalisation
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Thailand’s internet service provider, Total Access Communication (DTAC), in partnership with Telenor and Google Cloud, has created B-LAB, its first online solutions platform, aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to successfully navigate the digital transformation process.
Siripong Nokthanok, strategic vice president of SMEs sales division, told a group of journalists on Tuesday that B-LAB is a one-stop solutions platform for assisting SMEs in connecting, learning, and expanding their businesses.
“It is the end result of our research into our SME clients’ problems. By giving them access to a knowledge hub, customised software as a service, and mobile connectivity solutions, B-LAB is intended to empower them to fully digitalise their businesses and achieve profitable growth,” he noted.
Siripong Nokthanok
According to Lars Kristian Straatviet, vice president of B2B digital sales, one of the biggest barriers to businesses going digital is a lack of relevant competencies and skills.
DTAC has built a rich community ecosystem on B-LAB in collaboration with Telenor and Google Cloud. The platform is simple to use and meets individual needs with a 24/7 Thai support team, he said.
Lars Kristian Straatviet
“That means they [SMEs] can consult our service team at any time, from anywhere. We do not, however, want to be an open marketplace like Amazon Web Service. We simply want to focus on SMEs in order to provide them with unique added value,” Lars said.
He added that B-LAB’s priority now is to be a one-stop SMEs and e-commerce platform with the best software solutions, and to be learning partners with their SMEs in order to help them sustain their growth.
B-LAB can be used by sole proprietorships, such as online retailers, freelancers, content creators, lawyers, accountants, or consultants, as well as businesses that work in teams, Lars said.
The package price starts at 92.50 baht per month per user and there is also a 50% discount available for new business owners, he said. For those who are hesitant to subscribe, DTAC is offering a free 30-day trial.
Siripong believes that with over 3 million SMEs in Thailand, B-LAB can meet demand and see significant growth. He added that because B-LAB is the first of its kind in the region, Thailand will serve as a great model for the rest of the region and the world.
Sizzler alters strategy to cater to customers’ hunger for premium experience
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Sizzler, a western-style steak, seafood, and salad restaurant franchise, has adjusted its marketing strategy by creating an impressive dine-in experience with a premium menu to give consumers a special feeling.
Kreetakorn Siriatha, chief of financial and strategy officer, The Minor Food Group Pcl, Sizzler’s parent company, told a press conference on Tuesday that specialty is a food trend for 2023.
There is a demand for premium foods that make consumers feel special, he explained. For example, some people now prefer to drink specialty coffee rather than plain coffee.
The new strategic plan is being implemented as the dine-in restaurant industry continues to recover from the post-Covid era, where competition is fierce. Many players are working hard to win over consumers’ hearts in order to win over their loyalty, while newcomers are entering the market with new and amazing concepts.
“As a result, the industry has become extremely diverse. Though it is beneficial for customers to have more options, we must transform ourselves as quickly as their demand changes in order to stay on top of our customers’ minds,” Kreetakorn elaborated.
He pointed out that Covid has altered consumer behaviour. Aside from being concerned about healthy food and its safety, they want something premium and unique that will add value to their experience.
That is why, in addition to introducing new recipes with imported ingredients for a limited time in each season, Sizzler plans to open a dozen new branches in Bangkok’s suburbs and large provinces while renovating stores with more space and green colour tone under the Healthy Food Happy Mood concept.
Kreetakorn Siriatha (Center)
The concept focuses on medium-sized stores including innovation and creativity in store layout, new recipes, and a premium salad bar to attract more customers with high purchasing power in each location, he said.
Meanwhile, the loyalty programme e-member system at Sizzler has been upgraded, further enhancing member benefits. With these unique offers, which go beyond discounts, the company hopes to more than double its current membership base of 200,000.
Kreetakorn stated that competition in the restaurant industry is no longer primarily about discounts and promotions. It is how to always adjust its business to meet customers on time or ahead of schedule.
In response to the growing market, he said that Sizzler will have 61 stores nationwide by the end of 2022. The majority of Sizzler’s business is still dine-in, but the company’s delivery and takeaway services have grown significantly.
Consumer behaviour and the stimulation of consumer purchasing power through the introduction of various promotions are the growth factors.
The “Sizzler to Go” model, which focuses on serving food and drink recipes that suit consumers’ fast-paced lifestyle and require convenience in settings like train stations and hospitals, supports the growth. There are currently four branches, which may also help to increase the percentage of Sizzler’s overall sales.
Siripong Nokthanok
Lars Kristian Straatviet
Kreetakorn Siriatha (Center)
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