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‘Made in China’ marches to 2022 FIFA World Cup

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2022

An array of products made in China, from stadiums and souvenirs to new energy vehicles was unveiled on the global stage, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicking off on Sunday in Qatar, marking another year of Chinese brands marching massively in the feast of football competition.

Chinese Ambassador to Qatar Zhou Jian highlighted China’s contribution to the Qatar World Cup. “Chinese elements are extremely prominent,” he said, “The Lusail Stadium has become an iconic landmark in the World Cup. From infrastructure to telecommunications, from 1,500 new energy buses to solar power plants, from match supplies to souvenirs, ‘made in China’ can be found everywhere in Qatar.”

Chinese companies are providing more sponsorship revenue, than enterprises from any other country at the 2022 World Cup, with $1.4 billion compared with $1.1 billion from the United States firms, according to London information services firm GlobalData.

Lusail Stadium, constructed in cooperation by Qatar and the China Railway Construction Corp, is the main venue of this year’s World Cup, where 10 matches will be hosted, including the final on Dec 18.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 mascot products are displayed at a gift shop at the Qatar National Museum in Doha, Qatar, Nov 13, 2022. (NIKKU / XINHUA)

The host nation spent over $200 billion over 12 years building roads, hotels, stadiums and soccer facilities. Shaped like a date palm bowl and an enamel lantern, the gleaming Lusail Stadium with its 80,000 capacity, is one of eight lavish stadiums.

It is the first time a Chinese company has built a World Cup venue, and the Lusail Stadium is featured on the new 10-riyal ($2.75) banknote of Qatar.

Chinese major phone maker Vivo is the official smartphone of the 2022 World Cup, as well as the only mobile device that is an event sponsor.

Dongguan Wagon Giftware in Guangdong province has obtained authorization for global distribution and manufacturing of official commodities at FIFA World Cups for the past 28 years, including this year’s trophy replicas.

The official mascot of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, La’eeb, an Arabic word meaning super-skilled player, was also made in Dongguan.

Data from online marketplace AliExpress involving global trade showed that sales of Chinese-produced flags and soccer shoes skyrocketed by 300 % and 200 %, respectively, in November, from a month earlier, while the sales of Chinese-made table soccer machines soared by 120 % month-on-month in November.

Ma Xiang, who is in charge of World Cup sales at AliExpress, said the platform has stocked about 10 million items for this year’s World Cup.

Photo taken on Sept 9, 2022 shows the interior view of the Lusail stadium, the main stadium of FIFA World Cup 2022, on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar. (NIKKU / XINHUA)

Besides, two giant pandas from China arrived in Qatar on Wednesday ahead of the 2022 World Cup. These “Chinese elements have deepened the friendship between the people of China and Qatar, consolidated the cooperation foundation between the two countries, and injected a strong impetus to the development of bilateral relations,” Ambassador Zhou said.

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More than 160 dead, hundreds injured after 5.6 earthquake hits Indonesia

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2022

A 5.6-magnitude shallow quake rattled Indonesia’s West Java on Monday, sending tremors as far as Jakarta and killing dozens of people, injuring hundreds of others and damaging scores of buildings.

Strong tremors lasting 10 to 15 seconds saw panicky people fleeing their homes in West Java’s Cianjur regency, just 10km away from the epicentre of the land quake that struck at 1.21pm local time.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said the death toll has risen to 162 and there were more than 13,000 people displaced. Indonesia’s Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Monday night that 25 people were still trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Earlier, Cianjur Regent Herman Suherman said 40 children were among the dead, while at least 700 were injured, many of them suffering broken bones from falling rubble.

More than 2,270 houses were damaged, as well as a boarding school, a hospital and three educational facilities.

Landslides after the quake left a number of cars buried and blocked off cross-provincial roads in Cianjur regency. Electricity was cut off in several areas.

“Many roads are cut off such that cars and motorbikes cannot pass. Village heads in Cianjur reported that they needed heavy equipment to clear debris from damaged buildings and landslides,” said Herman.

Television footage showed people and children panicking as they poured onto the streets, some crying and bleeding from head injuries. Victims were seen being treated at the Dr Hafiz Hospital’s carpark in Cianjur.

Cianjur resident Jajang, 51, who like many Indonesians goes by a single name, told Kompas.com that he was at a car repair shop when the quake struck. He managed to escape just as the walls started to crumble.

“Without warning, I felt the building shake a little and start to collapse,” he said. “I rode a motorbike to the health centre, with my face totally covered in blood.”

Resident Ai Rohmah, 47, told the same news portal that she was trapped in her house by a refrigerator and falling bricks, and had to be rescued by her neighbours.

Major General Suharyanto, head of BNPB, told the media earlier: “We are continuing to update figures and the number of victims are expected to rise.”

Some areas in Cianjur remained isolated due to landslides.

Aftershocks were also felt in the surrounding West Java regencies including Sukabumi, Bogor and Bandung, and in the capital Jakarta about 100km north. Lower-intensity tremors were still being felt on the ground on Monday night, the authorities said.

Indonesia sits on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

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‘Krunchy Dream’ welcomes Russian customers after Krispy Kreme exit

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022

Russians craving a doughnut fix can now visit ‘Krunchy Dream’, a string of new cafes opening where US chain Krispy Kreme Inc shops once stood, as the latest imitation Western brand hits Russian streets.

Soon after Russia launched what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine, Krispy Kreme suspended all shipments of doughnut-making supplies and ingredients to Russia and ended the agreement with its lone Russian franchisee.

The U.S. chain was one of scores of Western firms to leave the country and other apparent imitations have since sprung up in Russian cities, with Stars Coffee running coffee shops formerly owned by Starbucks Corp and “World of Cubes” filling the void left by Danish toymaker Lego.

A company owned by restaurateur Arkady Novikov, Krispy Kreme’s former franchise partner, applied to register the Krunchy Dream trademark in late September, the RBC daily reported on Monday (November 21).

Novikov Group and Krispy Kreme did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a financial results statement in August, Krispy Kreme said it had closed 30 franchise shops in Russia.

Reuters

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Indonesia earthquake: Over 50 dead and 700 injured

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake killed 56 people and wounded hundreds in Indonesia’s West Java province on Monday, with rescuers racing to treat the injured as aftershocks hit.

The quake’s epicentre was the town of Cianjur, about 75 km (45 miles) southeast of the capital, Jakarta.

Health workers and military medics were treating the injured at a triage outside the Cianjur Regional Public Hospital, as the Cianjur regent Herman Suherman said the area of Mangun, near Cianjur, was blocked due to a landslide and victims have not been able to evacuate.

The national disaster agency (BNPB) said 23 people were likely still trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. More than 1,770 houses were damaged and nearly 3,900 people had been displaced in Cianjur, spokesperson Abdul Muhari said.

Indonesia straddles the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, a highly seismically active zone, where different plates on the earth’s crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Reuters

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Malaysian parties have until 2pm Tuesday to form govt

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022

Malaysian political party leaders have until Tuesday to submit coalition details for the formation of a new government.

Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, the comptroller of the Royal Household, said the king has agreed to extend the deadline for the process and nomination of Malaysia’s 10th prime minister to 2pm on Tuesday.

“His Majesty’s order of approval is a follow-up to the requests from the leaders of political parties and coalitions of political parties that have been received by the Istana Negara on Monday.

“In connection to that, His Majesty called and advised all the people to be patient and calm until the formation process of the new government and the nomination of the 10th prime minister has been completed.

“His Majesty also reminded the people that the administration of the country is running as usual under the management of the caretaker prime minister based on the principles outlined for the caretaker government,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah outside the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Reuters

Ahmad Fadil added that His Majesty called on the people to join together in praying that the process of forming a new government and the nomination of the future premier would be simplified and run smoothly for the sake of the country.

“His Majesty also called on the people to join together in praying for Malaysia to be blessed and protected from any form of disaster and calamity,” he said.

On Sunday, the king had given a deadline of 2pm on Monday for political parties to form a government and present a PM candidate.

The Star
Asia News Network

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Samsung tops global brand ranking, outpacing Google, YouTube

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics was ranked the highest in the UK-based market research firm YouGov’s annual Global Best Brand Rankings in 2022.

Of 380 brands in 38 markets including the US, the UK, China, India and South Korea, Samsung scored 127 points overall to take the top rank, followed by Google’s 106, YouTube’s 85, Netflix’s 59 and Shopee’s 51 points.

The score was based on YouGov’s estimate of the 12-month brand ranking through September 2022.

Samsung’s position on the list has been rising over the past four years. After staying in the No 4 position in 2019 and 2020, Samsung came in second after Google in 2021 and overtook it this year.

Of the 38 markets polled, 19 put Samsung on their respective top 10 lists of global brands for 2022. Samsung topped the chart in the estimates of Ireland, South Korea, the Netherlands and Vietnam, and came in second in France, Pakistan, the Philippines and the UK.

This indicates that Samsung, a manufacturer of smartphones, home appliances and semiconductor chips, has outperformed the other rivals in terms of the average impression, quality, value, satisfaction and reputation, according to YouGov’s BrandIndex estimate.

The news came a few weeks after brand consulting firm Interbrand recognised Samsung Electronics as the No 5 global brand for the third straight year, as it was evaluated for $87.7 billion with a 17% growth year-on-year. Samsung followed Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google.

Samsung then cited its efforts to consolidate the multidevice experience involving white goods and mobile products mainly through the integration of SmartThings app, as well as innovations based on consumer experiences and lifestyle.

Meanwhile, within Korea, Samsung was followed by pain reliever Tylenol, processed food brand Ottogi, sportswear brand Nike and local rival LG.

The Korea Herald
Asia News Network

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Hong Kong leader tests Covid positive after meeting Xi, Prayut in Bangkok

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee tested positive for Covid-19 after attending the Apec summit in Bangkok last week, where he sat next to Chinese President Xi Jinping and met with other world leaders.

Lee and Xi were both pictured maskless at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, despite China’s strict zero-Covid policy.

Lee tested positive on arrival at Hong Kong Airport and is now isolating and working from home, Hong Kong authorities said on Monday. The summit ended on Saturday.

On Thursday, Lee met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Suvarnabhumi Airport’s executive lounge for bilateral talks on boosting investment, supply-chain connectivity and trade of agricultural goods. The two leaders were both pictured maskless posing next to each other for photographs at the summit.

However, Prayut tested negative for Covid-19 on Monday, according to local media reports.

The number of Covid cases in Hong Kong is currently on the rise, with 7,763 new cases and 13 fatalities reported on Sunday.

Hong Kong has just eased its Covid regulations to allow foreign tourists to visit theme parks, museums and exhibitions.