From Crusaders to Rising Sun, politically sensitive items banned at World Cup
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022
FIFA has been barring supporters from donning outfits or flags that could be offensive to other nations at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
It was recently reported that the international governing body of soccer has told English fans not to wear medieval Crusader costumes at the World Cup.
“Crusader costumes in the Arab context can be offensive against Muslims. That is why anti-discrimination colleagues asked fans to wear things inside out or change dress,” the Times of London reported, quoting a FIFA official.
The controversy broke out when some fans of the England team donned fake chain mail armour, swords and shields to imitate Crusader soldiers, during Friday’s game against the US that ended in a scoreless draw. There were also some similarly dressed English fans who appeared at an earlier game against Iran, which ended in a 6-2 England victory.
The Crusades refer to a series of religious wars during the medieval period launched from European countries following the Catholic Church against Islamic nations located in what is now the Middle East.
A similar controversy ensued surrounding the Rising Sun flag carried by some Japanese supporters in Sunday’s match between Japan and Costa Rica, which ended in Costa Rica’s 1-0 victory. It was reported that FIFA officials stopped fans from hanging and displaying the controversial flag.
The Rising Sun flag was used by the Japanese military during World War II, and is regarded as a symbol of the Japanese Empire in countries formerly colonized by it, including Korea.
Seo Kyoung-duk, a general education professor at Sungshin Women’s University who is known for his promotion of Korean culture, said this holds a “very significant meaning” since it marks the first time FIFA has officially prohibited the use of the flag by fans.
“It was a decision that honoured soccer fans all around the world, not just in Asia,” he said.
FIFA has yet to issue an official statement regarding the Rising Sun flag.
Fernandes double sends Portugal through to World Cup last 16
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022
THE NATION
A second half brace from Bruno Fernandes sent Portugal through to the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday (November 28) to join France and Brazil after a 2-0 win over a lacklustre Uruguay.
Fernandes scored with a cross intended for Cristiano Ronaldo that sailed fortuitously into the net on 54 minutes and converted a spot kick in stoppage time to put his side into the knockout stages with a match remaining.
Portugal had the lion’s share of the possession and dominated for most of the Group H match, but struggled to create clear-cut chances until the second half in a game where Uruguay looked out of sorts and lacked initiative.
It was the third time at a World Cup that Portugal had won two successive group-stage matches and the previous two times led to streaks into the semi-finals.
Ronaldo set the tone for the match with some early showboating when he used a shoulder to redirect a long throw into the path of William Carvalho, whose powerful volley sailed over the bar.
Portugal looked threatening on the approach but struggled to create goalscoring chances, with Bernardo Silva, Fernandes and Joao Felix frustrated in front of the goal early on.
But it was Uruguay with the best chance of the half 32 minutes in when Rodrigo Bentancur picked up the ball and ran half the length of the field, skipping around three defenders before firing off a low shot that was blocked by the advancing keeper Diogo Costa.
Portugal
Bentancur was at the centre of the action again a few minutes later when his outstretched leg met a cross from the left from Mathias Olivera, trickling through to Darwin Nunez who failed to convert from close range.
Portugal battled hard for a goal and Felix came close on 52 minutes when he blasted low into the side netting.
They finally broke the deadlock two minutes later when Fernandes’ cross floated past Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, who was rooted to the spot as Cristiano Ronaldo rose to head the ball and initially celebrated the goal as his.
Uruguay had a brief rally to try to get back into the match after a raft of substitutions, with Facundo Pellistri making an instant impact, Luis Suarez coming close and Maxi Gomez hitting the post.
But the match belonged to Portugal and Fernandez, who coolly converted a penalty in stoppage time after a handball in the box that required a VAR review.
Hungry for more, Fernandes almost scored a hat-trick deep into stoppage time, with his effort saved at the near post by Rochet and a strikein in the last few moments that cannoned off the post.
Brazil overcame the absence of Neymar to beat Switzerland 1-0 and advance to the round of the 16 of the World Cup on Monday.
Brazil overcame the absence of Neymar to beat Switzerland 1-0 and advance to the round of the 16 of the World Cup on Monday.
Casemiro scored in the 83rd minute with a shot from inside the area to put Brazil in the last 16 with a match to spare in Group G.
Brazil forward Neymar stayed at the team’s hotel treating a right ankle injury sustained in the opener in Qatar. Team doctors have not yet given a timetable on his return – or said if he will return at all.
The win gave Brazil six points from two matches, leaving Switzerland with three. Serbia and Cameroon, which drew 3-3 earlier Monday, have point each.
Switzerland, which had no attempts on target, needs a win in the last match against Serbia to guarantee its spot in the next stage. A draw may be enough depending on the match between Brazil and Cameroon.
The result extended Brazil’s unbeaten run in the group stage to 17 matches, with 14 wins and three draws. It has lost only one of its last 29 group games, with the last defeat coming against Norway in 1998 in France.
Switzerland had lost only two of its last 13 group matches at the World Cup.
Brazil
It was an even match early on, with both teams trying to control the game but not creating many significant chances. Without its injured playmaker, Brazil struggled to get near Switzerland’s area until Casemiro scored with a nice one-timer into the far corner, using the outside of his right foot in a shot that deflected slightly off defender Manuel Akanji.
Brazil coach Tite replaced Neymar with midfielder Fred, freeing up Lucas Paquetá to play closer to the attack. Éder Militão, who plays as a central defender at Real Madrid, came in for Danilo in the right back position, instead of veteran Dani Alves.
With Paquetá not being able to create much for Brazil, Tite began the second half with Rodrygo in the team. Richarlison, who scored both of Brazil’s goals in the opener, was not as effective and was substituted in the second half.
Vinícius Júnior thought he had given Brazil the lead with a shot from inside the area after a pass by Casemiro in the 64th, but video review determined there was offside in the buildup. Few had noticed it until the VAR call was announced at Stadium 974.
Both teams won their opening matches, with Brazil defeating Serbia 2-0 and Switzerland beating Cameroon 1-0. Brazil and Switzerland also met in the group stage in 2018, drawing 1-1.
Saurus Coffee and Gallery is an ideal destination for people with a love for dinosaurs in Ho Chi Minh City.
Pham Cong Ly developed an interest in dinosaurs after watching the Jurassic Park movie in 1993 when he was a child. Through time, his passion raised in his mind the idea of a place for locals to enjoy those “extinct creatures”.
That is how Saurus Coffee and Gallery was born.
Located in HCM City, and open every day of the week from 7am to 10pm, Saurus is a complex building of galleries, restaurants, and cafes divided among three floors.
There are over 100 models of dinosaurs, including everything from handmade statues to extremely rare, discontinued models.
At the entrance, the first thing that blows visitors’ minds is the giant, magnificent, six-metre tall Brachiosaurus, a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic period, a statue that can be seen from any floor of the building. The total cost to create this statue was VNĐ5 billion (over US$200,000).
Inside, customers can find a warm café space, a place not only for enjoying drinks but also cakes with dinosaur decorations. The highlight of the cafe area is a majestic plastic statue of a T-rex dinosaur.
A giant six-metre-tall Brachiosaurus model at the Saurus Coffee and Gallery entrance. – Photo courtesy of Saurus Coffee and Gallery
When visitors arrive on the second floor, the first thing that appears in front of them is a magnificent dinosaur gallery designed to look like Vietnamese terraced rice fields, and this is where the most special dinosaur statues of the whole building are located.
According to Ly, the owner of Saurus Coffee and Gallery, the plastic statues come from all over the world and are all limited editions, produced only in very small quantities.
An example of this is the “Baby Blue” dinosaur model version of the Jurassic Park movie. It is one of the few statues left in the world due to it being a limited edition and being no longer in production.
Most of the models here are made of resin and regularly cleaned with brushes. This helps the model not suffer from temperature changes, which can cause plastics to shrink, he added.
Moving up to the last floor of this fantastic building, the smell of the sweet scent of steak and other delicious foods fills the room. This section presents a large transparent glass cabinet containing dozens of different types of dinosaur designs, from little toy figures to massively detailed statues.
Saurus is crowded most of the time, especially on weekends. From the young to the old, from those looking for a new place to spend a boring weekend to those who are truly passionate about the ancient creatures and want to find a community to share their love, there is something for everyone.
Two rare
Therefore, the customers are most often families with children.
Thuy Duong, a visitor from Thu Duc City, said, “When I first heard about it [Saurus Coffee and Gallery], I thought it would be a great place for my daughter to spend time on the weekend. I was right, she loved it. It is good to know that there is a place where the child can see real models of dinosaurs that they can only see on television.”
According to Ly, the future target is to develop Saurus to become an amusement area with integrated dining. He is also working to build a model production area for all ages to connect and develop the Vietnamese model-making community.
“In the journey of learning about model collection, I have met many big brands from all over the world. It made me wonder why in Vietnam there isn’t anything like that. My future target is to develop a modelling production business that can reach the global market,” Ly told Viet Nam News.
Chau Nhat Tan from Phan Thiet, who joined a model-making community in HCM City, told Viet Nam News: “After joining this community, I have made friends with many people who are passionate about model making. I feel the love and fascination with dinosaurs from everyone here, especially from Ly. This is also a great opportunity to help people get closer to the dinosaur age through dinosaur models from around the world.”
The price for food and drinks is around VNĐ50,000 to VNĐ300,000, and there is no entrance fee.
Analysis: Thailand’s property market landscape in post-Covid era
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022
Marciano Birjmohun, Vice President of Business Development for Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Ltd, provides his market update results.
Living in Thailand since 2011, I have seen firsthand the exponential growth of infrastructure, tourism and real estate. No longer is Onnut is the last stop on the Sukhumvit line, but far extension into a neighboring province is possible. Following primary observations in the Real Estate sector come from my intrinsic involvement in this industry as executive and engagement on both sides of the value chain.
Post Covid…New Normal?
Covid has reconditioned our behavior and living habits indefinitely. Post Covid means larger living spaces, more privacy and a demand for projects that compliment individual lifestyles. The foreign market has always been attracted to the Thai real estate market, and Thailand is one of the few countries in the region that can offer a variety of property choices based on geographical preferences such as coastal, metropolitan or mountain areas. A unique value proposition that makes Thailand still one of the top destinations for real estate.
In post Covid, we have seen a notable shift in buyer behaviors from overseas, second homes and end-users dominate the scene in any region of the country. The uptake of premium assets with a higher grade of specifications, extended facilities, low density, limited units per floor, privacy and accessibility to primary and secondary necessities such as transportation, shopping centers, education and healthcare are high in demand. Perhaps one of the most appreciated demands have been in the housing sector (“Moobaan”) despite the absence of freehold ownership allocation for foreigners, this has not been a threshold for buyers and developers. Taking Phuket as example, where villas are acquired by foreigners through either a BVI structure (British Virgin Islands), Leasehold agreement or Thai company formation. A common practice that does not withhold foreigners to continue acquisitions in the foreseen future.
From a global perspective, Thailand still holds one of the lowest closing costs to acquire real estate. This is often overlooked during the project marketing pitch but worth mentioning again. Most importantly, these costs are uniform across the kingdom, making it comfortable for investors to make acquisitions in different provinces. Foreign buyers welcome Thailand’s closing cost structure with much enthusiasm.
The sentiment to acquire property as mean of investment vehicle is no longer the main objective, Covid teaches us that even established property markets CANNOT withstand this economic impact. Therefore, foreign buyers are now securing assets that provide their families long term security in the sense of generational living. Generational living is simply clarified where 2 or 3 generations life together in one household.
The condominium market
Buyers have become more sophisticated, in the capital Bangkok we have seen a healthy up take of units with larger living spaces; multiple bedrooms, extended facilities, better unit functionality and most of all privacy. The sophistication can be explained deeper, because post Covid buyers are willing to pay more to satisfy their needs.
From a developer perspective this is where service aptitude plays an important role. In short, this entails a developers’ ability to recognize opportunities to exceed customers’ expectations. Thailand is the land of smiles and when dealing with foreign buyers the high and low cultural context plays an important role in the communication. Developers that have bi-lingual sales teams tend to attract more successful foreign transactions than traditional companies.
The demand
So where does the foreign demand 2022 come from? Well, this is subjective to the ability of the sales team at each developer, but a few buyer groups have been notable:
Overseas Chinese holding a foreign passport. Many Chinese families from Cambodia have been flocking the Thailand market to seek a better life for their families. Education, Healthcare and Infrastructure is one of the key drivers
Myanmar, with ongoing political unrest, the Burmese have been the top-ranking buyers in the capital. With a variety in purchase power, both resales to newly build projects are of demand. Thailand provides them a safe haven not far from home
The new money or “Nouveau Riche”, buyers who acquired their wealth within their own generation. Many of them are in the technology and venture capital space trying to secure assets that accommodate their aspirational lifestyle
Expats have always been and remain an intrinsic part of the foreign sales quota, many of them have seen the transition and upgrade of Thailand’s real estate market. Enabling them to make sound decisions with a long-term objective
From Russia with love, it has not gone unnoticed that the Russian Ruble has kept its strength in the last quarters of the year, benefiting the coastal locations such as Phuket, Pattaya and Hua Hin
B2C Relations – The Agent
The vast majority of foreign transactions are the result of agent efforts. For foreign buyers, new or not familiar to Thailand’s real estate landscape, agents are often the first point of contact and an essential part of Thailand’s real estate market. For many foreigners, the agents are not just a salesperson, but also their tour guide, translator, legal counsel, troubleshooter and most importantly a new friend.
The trust and dedication real estate agents provide foreign buyers cannot always be leveled on the developer side. Many agents go up and above to accommodate foreign buyers to their best ability, and most important they remain a consistent contact for years to come. This is not a trend, but a given fact that agents are the engine behind foreign transactions (note to developer).
Thailand going forward
Thailand has been raising its living standards for the better and despite skeptics the country remains a top destination. The residential sector has gone through a revolution, not only in asset class diversity but also strategic locations and architecture. Branded residences have made their entry a decade ago, placing Thailand in the spotlight for lifestyle-oriented investments – attracting a wealthy demographic.
Overseas markets have changed their property taxations drastically, but Thailand remains a consistent role model. Foreign buyers will diversify further away from the capital, and peripheral areas will see a growing demand from overseas.
Although still in early stage, developers will receive more demand from foreign buyers for sustainability and carbon neutrality in real estate. A good initiative that will strengthen the competitiveness level of Thailand’s real estate market going forward.
Did Tesla drop a hint on revving up Thai EV market?
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022
Electric vehicles manufacturer Tesla on Monday hinted at arriving in the Thai EV market in December.
On Monday, Tesla opened a Line Official account ‘@TeslaTH’. It also posted a picture with the message “Hello Thailand” and “December 2022”.
At press time, there was no further information but automotive experts expected the cars would be delivered at the beginning of 2023 if the reservation opens in December.
Tesla registered as a company in Thailand on April 25 with initial capital of 3 million baht but it was later increased to 253 million baht.
According to the Business Development Department’s website, the company’s board had three members — David Jon Feinstein, Vaibhav Taneja, and Yaron Klein — who were executives at the US headquarters.
The company has registered to sell passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and similar small cars. It aims to sell EVs and power systems including its equipment.
Researchers laud Thailand’s potential in becoming regional EV hub
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Though Thailand came in ninth among 15 countries in terms of readiness to adopt electric vehicles, it still has a very good potential to become an EV manufacturing hub soon.
Thailand’s potential was unveiled on Tuesday at the release of Arthur D Little (ADL)’s report “Unleashing Thailand’s Electric Mobility Potential”.
This report comes after the 15 countries were ranked in ADL’s annual Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index (GEMRIX 2022).
Andreas Schlosser, ADL partner and global chief of the automotive department, told the press that electric vehicles were fast becoming popular with overall usage rising over the past two years.
“Thailand is also well prepared for EVs in terms of market, users, infrastructure, and government,” he said.
However, he pointed out, that though the Thai EV market is growing thanks to government policies and moves to attract investment, there are still many challenges it must address to maintain competitiveness.
Hirotaka Uchida
Hirotaka Uchida, chief of ADL operations in Thailand, said the development of an EV industry is critical for Thailand to maintain its position as the “Automotive Hub of Asia”, and to do that, the government needs to build a stronger EV charging infrastructure and encourage more start-ups to join the EV ecosystem.
He said Thailand lags behind Indonesia in terms of lithium battery production and cannot compete with Vietnam when it comes to funding.
However, he said, Thailand can benefit from its strong foreign allies like China and Japan, which will help the Thai EV industry grow exponentially.
Besides, Thailand’s experience as an internal combustion engine manufacturer has also helped with its transition to becoming an EV engine producer.
“What you need to focus on now is strengthening what you are good at and speeding up the improvement of your EV charging stations and infrastructure to support a wide adoption of EVs among Thai consumers,” Uchida said.
In the report, ADL identified five key challenges in Thailand’s transition to electric mobility. They are:
Shifting to mixed energy and relevant supplier base
Competitiveness in the supply of batteries
Building a charging infrastructure
Building awareness of carbon neutrality
Potential in the export market
Akshay Prasad
Akshay Prasad, ADL Southeast Asia’s senior engagement manager, said for Thailand to evolve into an EV ecosystem, all players will have to collaborate across the value chain.
Local players should also establish a Thai EV brand, which will serve as a game changer for the future of Thailand’s auto industry, he said.
“To become a regional EV export hub, Thailand needs to have its own national brand and then it should explore new potential markets like Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Middle East,” Prasad said.
He also advised Thailand to look into battery recycling and continue developing alternative options. He said that though the country lacks nickel, it does have zinc, which is a useful ingredient in making batteries.
Andreas Schlosser
Schlosser backed Prasad’s idea on battery recycling, saying this would ensure that EV batteries do not end up polluting the environment after three to five years of use.
According to the study, the sale of EVs in Thailand should surge by more than 500 times from 1,572 units in 2020 to about 831,161 units by 2030.
By 2030, the report said, Thailand should have 61,000 electric cars and pick-trucks, 763,000 motorcycles and 7,000 buses and trucks.
However, the three ADL representatives said that though these figures are impressive, they are still not sufficient for the country to become an Asean EV hub.
But once Thailand addressed its weaknesses and strengthened its abilities, it can start playing an important role in the global EV ecosystem and be at the forefront regionally.
Meanwhile, Norway took the top spot in this year’s GEMRIX index, followed by China, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in that order. Thailand held the 9th spot after the United States, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, while Mexico, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and South Africa held up the rear.
The countries were divided into four groups, namely global benchmark, ambitious followers, emerging EV markets and starters.
JKN gets Miss Universe brand ready for listing on NYSE in 2025
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022
After acquiring Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) in October, Thailand’s JKN Global Group Plc (JKN) is now getting ready to have it listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) by 2025.
MUO has the potential to grow, JKN’s chief executive Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip said recently after meeting with business leaders in the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors to build potential alliances and partnerships.
She said the beauty pageant business, especially the Miss Universe brand, has the potential to generate stable revenue, especially in the health and beauty market.
Plus, she said, with 70 years in the beauty pageantry business under its belt, MUO is a well-established global brand. This, she said, gives it a significant advantage in getting listed on the NYSE by 2025, under its new company JKN-Metaverse.
After acquiring MUO on October 25 for 800 million baht, JKN believes the brand will generate growth of at least 40% and prove to be an engine in its drive to become a big player in the global content commerce industry.
To make the Miss Universe brand synonymous with Thailand, Jakkaphong met Yuthasak Supasorn, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Culture Minister Ittiphol Kunplome.
Her proposal was to hold a Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, which has already hosted the pageant three times, in 1992, 2005 and 2018.
The 2022 Miss Universe will be crowned in New Orleans, United States.
“It will be good to host the Miss Universe pageant under the ‘Amazing Thailand’ and ‘Amazing New Chapters’ tourism promotional concepts. This will offer travellers a valuable but different experience,” Yuthasak said.
Separately, as part of its plan to have MUO listed in NYSE, JKN has announced the following streams of income for the brand:
• Franchise fee: Revenue from the country hosting the Miss Universe pageant
• Hosting fee: Revenue from granting the right to host the Miss Universe pageant
• Production fee: Revenue earned from the production of the pageant every year
• Sponsorship fee: Revenue from sponsoring the pageant
• Merchandise and licence fees: Revenue from merchandise and licence of products and services under the Miss Universe brand
• Broadcast fee: Revenue from TV stations across the world broadcasting the contest
• Miss Universe programme and format fee: Revenue from operating shows, such as “Road to the Universe”
• Talent management fee: Revenue from Miss Universe winner’s management
• Ticket sales: Revenue from the sale of contest tickets across all platforms.
Techsauce cooks up new strategy to incubate new start-ups
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Techsauce Media, a top knowledge-sharing platform, is partnering with 25 companies to incubate 10 start-ups in Thailand and the region.
The objective is to be part of an ecosystem that seeds start-ups and turns them into engines to drive the Thai economy.
Oranuch Lerdsuwankij, co-founder and CEO of Techsauce Media, said the project was launched after the company realised that funding was the most difficult issue for most start-ups.
As per the Techsauce Start-up Directory, Thai start-ups attracted less investment this year compared to 2021, even though the total value of investments in 2022 had been pushed up by one huge deal.
Data shows that most venture capitalists prefer to invest in start-ups that have grown to some extent instead of those in their early stages.
“This trend is bad for Thailand in the long run,” Oranuch said. “As a tech ecosystem builder, Techsauce has established the Thailand Accelerator project to help start-ups in Thailand and Southeast Asia raise funds and grow their businesses sustainably by using our resources and a global network built over a decade.”
Charle Charoenphan, Thailand Accelerator’s programme director, said the accelerator is one of the key cogs for building an ecosystem of young entrepreneurs across the world. This ecosystem, he said, will help them grow faster in terms of customer base and revenue.
Start-ups interested in joining the accelerator program should be prepared to expand their market in Southeast Asia and already have products or services available. The start-up should also be in the Seed or Pre-Series-A funding stage.
Batch 1 of the project focuses on four business groups: impact and climate, tech, Software as a Service (SaaS), and AI and machine learning technology.
Charle said the programme was not just limited to Thai businesses because Techsauce wants local companies to learn from their foreign counterparts.
This is the first step for the participants to experience true competitiveness as well as widen their outlook, which will help in the development of their business internationally, Charle explained.
Techsauce’s new venture was applauded by nearly all bigwigs in the start-up industry, including Sarun Sutuntivorakoon, Thai Venture Capital Association president; Chinawut Chinaprayoon, executive vice president of Digital Economy Promotion Agency; Yutthana Srisavat, Thai Start-up Association president; and Pariwat Wongsamran, director of Startup Thailand.
At a discussion on “Elevating Start-up Ecosystem”, they agreed that more accelerating and incubating programmes are necessary to boost the number of start-ups and help in their development in Thailand and the region.
Most start-ups in the early stages are weak in doing business, and accelerators usually help them close those gaps.
Meanwhile, Oranuch said those interested have until December 31 to apply and the list of qualified candidates will be announced in January.
Those selected will receive three months of training from world-class mentors before they pitch their ideas to investors in May.
A giant six-metre-tall Brachiosaurus model at the Saurus Coffee and Gallery entrance. – Photo courtesy of Saurus Coffee and Gallery
Hirotaka Uchida
Akshay Prasad
Andreas Schlosser
SootinClaimon.Com 