Liverpool’s Klopp hopes his side can remain calm to beat Ajax
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
THE NATION
Liverpool are working on improving their consistency as they seek qualification to the knockout stages, manager Juergen Klopp said on Tuesday (October 25), the eve of his team’s Champions League fixture against Ajax.
Liverpool qualify from Group A by avoiding a loss against Ajax.
Liverpool, runners-up in the Champions League and Premier League last season, have looked far from their best this term and Klopp said injuries have hampered their progress.
Striker Darwin Nunez is set to return from injury but midfielder Thiago Alcantara remains sidelined.
Nunez missed the 1-0 Premier League defeat by Nottingham Forest at the weekend due to a hamstring niggle while Thiago was a late withdrawal due to an ear infection.
Liverpool beat Ajax 2-1 in the reverse fixture. The English side can secure qualification with a game to spare in what would be a fine turnaround following a heavy loss to Napoli at the start of the campaign.
Klopp’s second-placed side have nine points from four games, six points more than Ajax. Napoli, who are already through to the knockout stage, lead the group with 12 points.
Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League after 11 games, 12 points off leaders Arsenal.
Qatar ruler hits back at ‘unprecedented’ criticism of World Cup hosts
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
THE NATION
Qatar’s ruling emir on Tuesday lashed out at criticism of the country over its hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, complaining of an “unprecedented campaign” targeting the first Arab nation to hold the tournament.
Since winning hosting rights for the World Cup over a decade ago, Qatar has faced scrutiny and criticism for its treatment of migrant workers and the gay community, among other issues.
The alleged abuses affecting legions of low-paid laborers who power Qatar’s economy and built its gleaming World Cup stadiums have been a lighting rod for protest around the world, especially in Europe.
Qatar has repeatedly pushed back on the complaints, insisting that it has improved protections for migrant workers and that the criticism is outdated.
In a televised speech before Qatar’s legislative body on Tuesday, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said Qatar “has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced.”
“The campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign,” he said.
Rights groups have credited Qatar with improving its labor laws, such as by adopting a minimum monthly wage of around $275 a month in 2020, and for dismantling the “kafala” system that had prevented workers from changing jobs or leaving the country without the consent of their employers.
General view of a World Cup sign at Doha Corniche REUTERS
However, activists call for more to be done.
In recent months pressure has also mounted on Qatar over its criminalization of homosexuality.
Qatari law calls for a prison sentence of one to three years for adults convicted of consensual gay or lesbian sex.
European soccer federations last month announced their intention for captains to wear an armband with a rainbow heart design as part of an anti-discrimination campaign during international matches.
In his speech, Sheikh Tamim promised the glaring spotlight of the world’s biggest sporting event would benefit Qatar, too.
“This is a great test for a country the size of Qatar that impresses the whole world with what it has already achieved and is achieving,” he said.
The tournament starts on Nov. 20 and the final is set for Dec. 18
Female charity golf tournament to see Mercedes-Benz sedan as top prize
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
THE NATION
Benz Primus has teamed up with the Thai Ladies Professional Golf Association to hold its “Primus Pro-Am Charity Invitational 2022” tournament on November 15 at RG City Golf Club in Pathum Thani.
Mercedes Benz customers will be able to take part in the tournament with 27 Thai female professional golfers, with proceeds going to the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital.
The golfers include Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, Anchisa Uttama, Saraporn Chamchoi and Kultida Pramphun. Contestants could get a chance to play alongside these professionals and learn from them.
The tournament is accepting 27 teams with a 5,000 baht registration fee, which will be donated without deducting any expenses.
Each team of four will play alongside one professional golfer for 18 holes, with the hole-in-one prize being a Mercedez-Benz C 220d Avantgrande sedan worth 2.59 million baht.
The event will also see golfers providing advice and answering golf-related questions while demonstrating professional techniques.
Guardiola: “I don’t know how many millions of penalties we have missed”
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
Reuters
Reaction from Pep Guardiola after a stalemate in Dortmund confirmed his Manchester City side as UEFA Champions League Group G winners on Tuesday.
City had a glorious chance to take the lead when Mahrez was tripped in the box just before the hour mark, but his penalty was saved by Gregor Kobel.
The miss proved not to be costly, as the goalless draw earned City the point they needed to guarantee top spot with a game to spare.
“Listen, I admire a lot, the courage and the bravery (from) the guys who take the penalty, but this is the reality, it’s not about Riyad. Since we (I) arrived here, I don’t know how many millions of penalties we have missed and this is a big problem, so. And we did it in this competition a few times, like, when you miss it, it’s difficult.” said Pep Guardiola
“Three things. I saw him so tired. Second one, he had a little bit of influenza in his body, like Joao – Joao played with fever. And the third, he had a knock in his foot and that’s why he was not able to play the second half.”
Manchester City
By gaining a point, Dortmund have also booked their spot in the knockout stages.
Guardiola admitted that penalties has become a “big problem” for club, with City failing to convert 25 of their 80 penalties since he took over in 2016.
Guardiola also revealed star player Erling Haaland was brought off at the break for three reasons – fatigue, fever and a knock.
The Spaniard says the player and club will await further assessment but the striker was “walking more or less quite good”.
Giant new mural celebrates ‘warrior’ Maradona in Buenos Aires
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
Reuters
An Argentine artist has painted a giant mural of late soccer legend Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires to commemorate what would have been the World Cup winner’s 62nd birthday at the end of October.
Muralist Martín Ron filled the 1,600-square-meter (17,000- square-ft) wall in the heart of the city with a depiction of Maradona, based on a photo of him urging his team on during the World Cup final against Germany in 1990, which Argentina went on to lose.
“We already know that he was the best player in the world, but who was he as a person? He was a warrior, he went up against adversity, even all injured, he faced whatever came at him,” Ron, 41, told Reuters.
Maradona died of cardiac arrest at the age of 60 in late 2020, which sparked off a nationwide period of mourning for the troubled star who was revered by millions and nicknamed “D10S”, a play on his shirt number and the Spanish word for “God”.
The nearly completed mural will take in total some 25 days of work for Ron and a team of seven artists, and uses 800 liters (200 gallons) of paint. Ron said it was the largest mural of Maradona ever – around 45 meters (148 ft) high, similar in height to New York’s Statue of Liberty.
Ron added three stars to the mural to represent Argentina’s two World Cup wins in 1978 and 1986 – and what he hopes will be another in Qatar this year.
AXONS launches platform to provide farmers with cutting-edge tech
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Thai agri-tech information system development specialist AXONS has launched an “OPEN Platform” to provide farmers with cutting-edge technology so they can expand their businesses.
AXONS managing director and executive Sunsern Samaisut said at a press conference on Wednesday that the move is part of the company’s business strategy to expand its customer base.
He expects the platform to encourage farmers to “easily digitalise” their farms and businesses.
Sunsern pointed out that technology is required to increase the amount of food available. This will help meet the needs of a growing global population, which is expected to reach a massive 10 billion by 2050.
“Whether it’s agricultural crop production, livestock farming, or food processing, technology can help businesses lower costs while improving quality and production efficiency across their value chain,” Sunsern noted.
He said that after being the driving force behind the success of leading companies for more than 40 years, particularly Charoen Pokphand Foods, one of the world’s largest food chains, AXONS decided to launch the open platform.
The goal is to allow farmers and other customers to participate in the network’s expansion and use digital technology to drive business operations and growth.
AXONS has developed innovative agricultural technology for upstream (crops for animal feed, horticulture, land and aquatic animal farms), midstream (food processing business, warehouse management, and transportation management), and downstream (food processing business, warehouse management, and transportation management), including industries (wholesale-retail business, fresh market, restaurant, delivery platforms, and CRM – Customer Relationship Management).
It also covers both offline and online channels (O2O), including a quality traceability platform built on blockchain technology to ensure transparency, transforming every organisation into a digital workplace.
“Through the concept of ‘shared digital infrastructure’, businesses of all sizes can afford AXONS’ cutting-edge technology, which can help them reduce reliance on international software, lower production costs and increase efficiency,” Sunsern explained.
The agri-tech industry is now valued at more than US$17 billion (647.6 billion baht) and is expected to grow to $40 billion in the next five years.
Hence, Sansern believes AXONS has been presented with a golden opportunity to elevate the country’s agricultural industry and food chain management to a global level.
Thailand, he said, has robust agricultural infrastructure. The agricultural sector contributes 1.38 trillion baht to the country’s GDP, making it the “Kitchen of the World”. Therefore, the advancement of agri-tech will elevate and accelerate Thailand’s position as a global agricultural leader, he added.
PTTEP continues to expand investment in UAE, acquires stakes in Sharjah Onshore Area A exploration block
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
THE NATION
Bangkok, October 26, 2022 – PTTEP further expands its investment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by acquiring 25% participating interest in the Sharjah Onshore Area A from Eni. The investment is PTTEP’s fifth project in the UAE as the company continues to strengthen presence and growth in the petroleum prolific area in the Middle East.
Mr Montri Rawanchaikul, Chief Executive Officer of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), revealed that the company’s subsidiary, PTTEP MENA Limited, has signed a Farm-in Agreement to acquire 25% stake of the Sharjah Onshore Area A, an exploration block of the Sharjah Emirate from Eni Sharjah B.V., a subsidiary of Italy-based integrated Energy Company Eni. The process is expected to be completed within 2022 after fulfilling conditions in the agreement and obtaining government approvals.
“PTTEP continues to expand our investment in our strategic focus area in the Middle East, with this Sharjah Onshore Area A being the fifth project in UAE since the company’s first entry into UAE in 2019. The investment reflects our strategic emphasis on natural gas resources and the growing partnership with Eni through which our strengths are combined to unlock new reserves,” said PTTEP’s CEO.
Situated in the Sharjah Emirate, north of the UAE, Sharjah Onshore Area A spans over an area of approximately 437 square kilometers. Eni has been awarded this exploration block from Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) in early 2019. Upon the completion of the acquisition, participating interest of Sharjah Onshore Area A will comprise Eni Sharjah B.V. (Operator) 50%, SNOC 25% and PTTEP MENA 25%.
Apart from the Sharjah Onshore Area A, PTTEP invests in four other projects in the UAE namely the Abu Dhabi Offshore 1, the Abu Dhabi Offshore 2, and the Abu Dhabi Offshore 3, and the Sharjah Onshore Area C. All are in the exploration phase and in partnership with Eni. PTTEP and Eni recently announced a successful discovery of significant gas resources in the Abu Dhabi Offshore 2 in August this year.
JKN aims to become global content commerce firm after securing Miss Universe rights
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
Thai firm JKN Global Group (JKN) secured the rights to the Miss Universe pageant in a bid to strengthen its business and become a “global content commerce company”.
JKN on Tuesday announced the acquisition of Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) after successful negotiations with IMG Worldwide, the subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings, for around US$20 million (approximately 762 million baht).
JKN chief executive Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip said MUO is a global organisation that was founded 71 years ago. Around 500 million people across the world watch the competition, while contestants from as many as 94 countries vie for the crown each year.
The acquisition of MUO will transform the business in managing the rights of the Miss Universe pageant in each country, Jakkaphong said.
Meanwhile, the company plans to use the Miss Universe brand to strengthen its commerce businesses – from food, beverages and supplements to cosmetics and lifestyle products.
“JKN’s acquisition of MUO is one of the strategies that will drive business growth,” she said.
“JKN will not only manage the pageant and broadcast the Miss Universe contest but will also use the brand to build on producing and marketing consumer goods in every country to create growth for JKN and help it become a ‘global content commerce company’,” Jakkaphong said.
She also mentioned that she founded a company called JKN Metaverse in the United States to facilitate the transfer of five companies : 1. IMG Universe 2. IMG Universe FranchCo 3. Miss USA BR Production 4. MUO Productions 5. Miss USA Productions OH
Once the transfers are complete, IMG Universe will be renamed JKN Universe and IMG Universe FranchCo will be called JKN Universe FranchCo.
Consumer group seeks probe of alleged law breaking by NBTC in True-Dtac case
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) on Wednesday asked the House committee on corruption prevention and suppression to probe alleged law breaking by the telecom watchdog over the planned merger of two telecom giants.
TCC secretary-general Saree Ongsomwang filed a complaint with Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, chairman of the House panel, alleging the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) violated several points of the law last week when it gave the green light for True Corporation and Total Access Communication (Dtac) to go ahead with their merger deal.
The NBTC voted 3:2 on the resolution, saying it had no power to either approve or reject the merger but could only enact measures to govern the deal to minimise the impact on consumers.
Saree said the way the five NBTC members voted could violate Section 157 of the Criminal Code that prohibits state officials from committing malfeasance or nonfeasance.
The initial vote resulted in a draw of two-two because a NBTC member abstained, so the chairman cast a decisive vote to “acknowledge” the amalgamation.
Saree noted that a NBTC directive issued in 2018 stipulated that if two types of telecom businesses are merged, it must comply with Point 8 the NBTC directive issued in 2006, which empowered the watchdog to consider approving or rejecting the deal.
In particular, Saree said, the TCC suspected that the NBTC member who abstained had allegedly committed dereliction of duty.
She noted the NBTC had also failed to hold public hearings on mitigation measures issued to govern the deal.
Saree said the TCC believes the governing measures will not benefit consumers and will discourage the merged companies from investing to expand mobile phone access in rural areas.
After receiving the complaint, Sereepisuth said the NBTC act required such a deal to be deliberated upon by seven NBTC members, so he wondered why only five members considered it and gave it the green light.
“I suspect the process was rushed through and there might be a conflict of interest,” Sereepisuth said.
The TCC had earlier said it would file a lawsuit with the Central Administrative Court as well to ask it to order the revocation of the NBTC’s acknowledgement of the merger and to issue an injunction to suspend the merger pending a ruling by the court. The lawsuit is expected to be filed next month.
CPS: One-stop logistics service provider, Thai company penetrating global market
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
THE NATION
CPS Shipping and Logistics Company Limited (CPS), an integrated transport and logistics service provider, has set strategies for growth in 2023 by joining forces with Korean partners to expand its portfolio with a new focus on large projects both Power Plant Project and Petrochemical Project in a bid to strengthen the Thai company to meet international standards.
CPS Shipping and Logistics Company Limited (CPS) is one of the Thai firms established by Thai entrepreneurs. With strong partners from Korea, the company can penetrate markets in both Thailand and Korea. Over the past 11 years, CPS Shipping and Logistics Company Limited (CPS) has grown continuously. The company prompts to build the reputation of Thai transport and logistics with high competitive capabilities and to compete with foreign shipping companies.
Mr Gil Hwan Kim, Chief Executive Officer of CPS Shipping and Logistics Company Limited said that almost every market faced the same difficulty during COVID-19 outbreak 2019 to 2022. However, he believed that global markets including transport and logistics businesses would be able to bounce back in active after 2023.
Gil Hwan Kim said about 100 Korean companies operating businesses in Thailand including three major players: Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and POSCO. As such, CPS can create many opportunities from electrical and electronic industry, automobile industry, energy and petrochemical industry, bringing even more strength for CPS.
Having good partners from Korea is one of key successes for CPS. In this regard, Mr Gil Hwan Kim said “Throughout the last 20 years, I have worked mainly in sales with Korean partners. But working with a Thai company is an eye-opener and I can discover new opportunities in Thailand. As a result, collaboration brings more strength to CPS to become an integrated logistics company that can serve customers in both Thailand and Korea”. In the past, CPS has grown strongly and expanded its customer base into manufacturing areas such as EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction). The company planned to capture more customers in China and Europe in 2023. It hoped that every staff member would help work and convey CPS reputation to become an international brand in the coming year.
Sukhawan Sutthiwong, Managing Director of CPS Shipping and Logistics Company Limited (CPS), said that CPS was founded in 2011 with only five employees, starting from the shipping and logistics business. The company has been expanding business steadily until the present. CPS operates an integrated transportation and logistics business. Under the company’s intention, it wishes to create a remarkable Thai logistics business as strong as foreign companies. During COVID-19 epidemic, CPS has developed potential employees along with technology development to be ready to tackle uncertainty situations. Currently, staff are able to work from home or work from anywhere without interruption.
Sukhawan said that over the past 11 years, CPS has grown continuously. Until now, it is the total logistics provider serving customs clearance, sea freight, air freight, truck freight, import permit service, customs specialist involved transportation regarding BOI investment and multimodal cross border transport.
For the next step of CPS, Sukhawan said the company would continue to build strength to be more outstanding. “We have partners from Korea and all over the world. CPS planned to add more jobs, increase the number of existing transactions. Currently, we have three large concession transport projects for next year, hoping it will be another good year for us”
CPS Shipping and Logistics Company Limited (CPS) is a total logistics provider with more than 20 years of experience. The company provides international delivery services via air, sea, truck, project and factory transport, customs clearance and investment formalities. With professional teams and pro-long experience, the company is committed to increase competitiveness of customers and satisfaction under its vision set to be an integrated logistics management in Thailand with international standards.
General view of a World Cup sign at Doha Corniche REUTERS
branding is seen inside a mall in Doha REUTERS
