Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Gold prices gain

    Gold prices gain

    SJC gold price gained 0.07% to VND66.6 million ($2,808.64) per tael Thursday morning. Gold ring price went up 0.09% to VND54 million per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Globally gold prices traded in a tight range on Thursday as some investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of U.S. jobs data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path.

    Spot gold was little changed at $1,813.39 per ounce, trading in a $5 range, after hitting its lowest since Feb. 28 on Wednesday.

    Gold is considered a hedge against inflation, and interest rate hikes to control rising prices make it less attractive. Rate hikes also dim the non-yielding bullion’s appeal.

    “The gold market has been muted… the market is still trying to digest where the Fed will go after Powell mentioned the final interest rates might be higher than initially expected,” said Brian Lan, managing director at Singapore-based dealer GoldSilver Central.

    Fed Chair Powell on Wednesday reaffirmed his message of higher and potentially faster interest rate hikes, but emphasized that debate was still underway with a decision hinging on data to be issued before the U.S. central bank’s policy meeting in two weeks.

  • Mercedes recalls 492 faulty cars in Vietnam

    Mercedes recalls 492 faulty cars in Vietnam

    Mercedes Vietnam announced it would recall 492 ML and GLE cars sold in Vietnam beginning March 15 to fix inconsistent design features and repair errors in the spare wheel compartment.

    The affected SUVs were manufactured and imported between February 2012 and October 2019.

    German luxury vehicle company Mercedes recalls ML and GLE SUVs in many countries, including Vietnam, because of concerns that water could collect in the spare tire wheel compartment, leading to a possible fuel pump malfunction and subsequent engine stalls without prior warning.

    This increases the risk of accidents and injuries for other road users.

    To fix the problems, Mercedes Vietnam dealerships will inspect the vehicles for any damage, install a water drain plug in the spare tire well, and replace the fuel pump if necessary.

    The company reported that such repairs should only take about 30 minutes per automobile.

    Mercedes GLE is a mid-size luxury SUV, first launched in 1997. Cars sold in Vietnam are imports that compete with rivals like the BMW X5, Lexus RX and Audi Q7.

    In Vietnam, GLEs is currently priced at VND4.509-5.679 billion (US$191,000-240,600).

  • UBS Invests in Incubator Fund

    UBS Invests in Incubator Fund

    Switzerland’s fintech and insurtech ecosystem is getting a boost by partnering with the country’s largest bank.

    Startup incubator and accelerator Tenity (formerly known as F10) and UBS are entering a strategic partnership, according to an emailed statement on behalf the two parties, Thursday.

    Tenity is a startup incubator with an investment arm that invests in technology companies in the financial and insurance industries. It focuses on early-stage companies in several countries.

    UBS’s strategic venture and innovation unit, UBS Next, which already invests in fintechs directly, will also invest in the Tenity Incubation Fund, the statement adds.

    The partnership with Tenity allows us to expand our fintech network and align innovative ideas and solutions at an early stage, specifically tailored to the needs of our clients in Switzerland, President UBS Switzerland Sabine Keller-Busse, said.

    Having UBS as a strategic partner will help our current and future portfolio companies bring even more innovation to this critical industry, Andreas Iten, CEO, and co-founder Tenity said.

    More than 250 companies have participated in Tenity programs so far. The new fund will seek to invest in up to 400 new companies.

  • WhatsApp’s upcoming update will help you combat unwanted spam

    WhatsApp’s upcoming update will help you combat unwanted spam

    At this point, is it any wonder that WhatsApp is one of the first-choice IM (instant messaging) apps out there? It is available on both Android and iOS, it has end-to-end encryption for extra security and — most notably — it is constantly getting updated with new features.

    But people don’t just use WhatsApp for themselves — numerous businesses opt to have a WhatSapp communication channel open, so that customers can get in touch more easily. While that sounds awesome, it also means that their info is public, and as such, not every caller is a customer, per say.

    Luckily, WhatsApp realizes the value of this utilization of its app, and as such is reportedly working on a feature to help users handle spam calls more effectively. This information comes courtesy of WABetaInfo and it describes how one toggle can take care of all of this spam-related hassle.

    The WABetaInfo team has managed to uncover development traces of this new feature through the latest release of the WhatsApp beta program on Android. By the looks of things, this is intended to function as follows: users can mute calls from unknown callers. Simple as that!

    That, however, wouldn’t be helpful for businesses. As such, WhatsApp will still let users keep a record on who has called, just in case there is ever a need to call back. Said records will be kept in the Call List and Notification Center, just as with any other call.

    Right now, the feature is still under development, so we don’t really have a release date for this one. But by the sound of things, it will be worth the wait, as it will not only help alleviate the stress of spam calls, but also help with combating scammers and trolls.

  • How to Make Money with NFTs

    How to Make Money with NFTs

    With the explosion of cryptocurrency and the blockchain over the past few years, NFTs have grown too. While they may not be as popular as most cryptos, many experts believe NFTs will play a huge role in our future online world.

    While NFTs don’t have the best reputation, they are certainly something that is only going to get better with age. If you don’t know what they are or you are looking for ways to make money with them, this post is for you.

    What is an NFT?

    If you had to Google “NFTs explained,” you may be hit with a wall of content you don’t quite understand. However, in simple terms, an NFT is a unique digital asset that can be bought and traded, much like a painting or a baseball card.

    Owning a digital asset means you can make money from it, and it can grow in value. It is also not possible for someone to own it unless you sell it to them. There is also the common misconception that having a picture of an NFT is the same as owning it.

    Think about this example; there is a big difference between owning an original Banksy artwork and simply downloading a photo of it onto your phone; that is also how NFTs differ, except the original is online too.

    What can you sell as an NFT?

    When it comes to what can be an NFT, the sky’s the limit. Almost anything can be an NFT, a photo you took on holiday, or the characters of a video game you made. The most popular NFTs nowadays are pieces of art, art collections, and video game assets.

    NFT flipping

    The first way to make money with NFTs is to flip them. Flipping and trading are slightly different, with flipping being the process of minting NFTs at a very low price and then selling them for a large profit.

    Flipping can be risky, though, as minting costs money, and there is no guarantee if or when the NFT will sell. While this type of risk is true for all kinds of investments, minting requires more of your money, which makes it a slightly bigger risk.

    NFT collections

    Instead of selling individual NFTs, one of the more attractive investment opportunities for investors is to offer collections. If you have a great NFT, you are more likely to make a greater profit selling a collection than an individual asset.

    Take Pokemon cards, for example; selling a random card from a collection is far less appealing than selling the complete collection.

    NFT investments

    You can also play the long game when trying to make money with NFTs and choose the investment route. NFT value goes up and down just like any other crypto, and there are several out there that are still very sought-after.

    You can also choose to invest early in a new project, and while this takes a bit more knowledge and research, it is a great way to get in at a very low price and maximize your profits.

    Make game assets

    This is one area that is seeing a lot of growth within the world of NFTs. Crypto and blockchain-based video games are exploding in popularity, and designers are using NFTs to fill their games and create value by making unlockables, like skins and characters, NFTs that can be bought and sold.

    Creating a game character, for instance, can net you a very healthy profit if the character was to grow in popularity. Once again, this requires skill and knowledge, but nothing that can’t be learned online.

    NFT rentals

    While this one may sound a bit bizarre, you can rent out your NFTs. Depending on what type of NFT you have, there is the chance to rent it out for others to use for a particular purpose. This can range from videos to video games or content in general.

    NFT staking

    If you have been in the world of crypto for a while, you probably already know what staking is. In simple terms, staking is locking your NFT asset into a smart contract or DeFi protocol, which then yields you rewards and financial gains.

    You essentially use your NFTs as collateral, but in exchange, you retain ownership of your assets, and you are able to make money from them.

    NFT trading

    Finally, you can go the much more simple route and trade NFTs. Unlike flipping, you aren’t part of the minting process at all; instead, you are using our crypto to buy NFTs, wait for them to increase in value, sell them for a profit, and buy more.

    As mentioned, the NFT market works in the same way as the stock, forex, and crypto market; prices are constantly fluctuating, allowing you to get in low and sell high almost whenever you want.

     

  • Vietnam’s richest man launches electric taxi firm

    Vietnam’s richest man launches electric taxi firm

    Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnam’s richest man, has established GSM, an all-electric taxi operator with a charter capital of VND3 trillion ($126.85 million). Vuong, who is also the chairman of Vingroup, owns a 95% stake in the company.

    GSM, which stands for “Green, Smart and Mobility,” will launch its taxi services starting in April in Hanoi, with plans to go nationwide by the end of the year.

    The company will also rent Vinfast’s VF e34 and VF 8 electric cars to transport companies.

    GSM expects to have 10,000 cars and 100,000 motorbikes, all made by VinFast, a unit of Vingroup.

    The company was established to speed up the completion of Vietnam’s green ecosystem and smart transport, said GSM CEO Nguyen Van Thanh.

    Customers can experience electric vehicles, whether for a few minutes in a taxi, or a few months in a rented car, which Thanh says will help speed up the green revolution in Vietnam.

    Last year, VinFast delivered 7,200 electric cars to Vietnamese customers. And in December last year its two models, the VF e34 and VF 8, were among the top 10 best-selling models in Vietnam.

    The company delivered its first electric cars to American customers on March 2.

  • MacBook prices drop with new model launch

    MacBook prices drop with new model launch

    The price of MacBook Pro 2021 laptops has decreased by 11.2% leading into the launch of the new model next week.

    Apple authorized resellers in Vietnam said a MacBook Pro 2021 sells for VND42.9 million ($1,813), down 11.2% since January and 18.9% from December 2021 when it was officially distributed in the Vietnamese market for the first time.

    They will start selling MacBook Pro 2023 laptops and Mac minis in mid-March.

    According to Pham Tuan Anh, a manager of electronics retail chain ShopDunk, the MacBook Pro 2021’s market share is less than 10% at the moment.

    Consumers with over VND40 million to spend on a computer tend to buy MacBook Pros or Airmodels running the M2 chip with higher configurations, instead of picking up a 2021 MacBook Pro without the M2 chip.

  • Honda Motorcycles And Scooters India Twitter Page Hacked

    Honda Motorcycles And Scooters India Twitter Page Hacked

    The official Twitter account of Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India was hacked over the weekend. The company today put out a statement on social media asking people to stop any interactions with its Twitter handle until further notice and disregard any posts or communications on the page since Sunday, March 5. The company also said it contacted Twitter to re-establish control of its account.

    A look at the official Twitter handle of HMSI shows that the page has since lost the blue tick that identified it as the official handle as well as dropped the profile image. The link to the official website has since been rand another while the latest retweeted story is to a third-party NFT page. Similarly, the section under likes are filled with tweets of third-party art creator pages.

    Honda has said it is looking to re-establish its control over its Twitter account as soon as possible.

    The company has recently been teasing a new motorcycle for the Indian market. The new model is expected to sit in the 100cc commuter segment and be called the Shine. The model is set to be launched in India on March 15.

  • Krispy Kreme creates Lotus Biscoff biscuit-inspired doughnuts

    Krispy Kreme creates Lotus Biscoff biscuit-inspired doughnuts

    Airline travel might be a little unpredictable right now, but there’s one thing you can always count on: Krispy Kreme to serve up delicious doughnuts. Even if you’re not flying this month, you can still enjoy one of your favorite airplane treats at your local doughnut shop.

    We’re not talking about stale pretzels or a bag of peanuts, we’re talking about sweet and caramelly Biscoff cookies. Starting January 9, Krispy Kreme is adding three new Biscoff-flavored doughnuts.

    Krispy Kreme and Lotus Biscoff are partnering to create the first-of-its-kind cookie butter-flavored doughnut collection, which will be available for a limited time at participating Krispy Kremes nationwide. The collection includes a Biscoff Iced Dougnut, Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake Doughnut, and Biscoff Cookie Butter Kreme Filled Doughnut.

    The Biscoff Iced Doughnut is an Original Glazed doughnut dunked in Biscoff Cookie Butter icing. The Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake Doughnut is an Original Glazed doughnut dunked in Biscoff Cookie Butter icing and finished with a swirl of cream cheese buttercream and Biscoff crumble. The Biscoff Cookie Butter Kreme Filled Doughnut is a doughnut filled with Biscoff Cookie Butter Kreme, dunked in Biscoff Cookie Butter icing, and finished with dark chocolate icing and Biscoff crumble.

    To add to this first-class experience, any customer who purchases a Krispy Kreme Biscoff doughnut will receive a free package of Biscoff cookies just like you would on a flight, while supplies last.

    Most of the time these limited-run menus are only available at Krispy Kreme stores, but the Biscoff collection will also hit retailer shelves. If you don’t have a Krispy Kreme near you, you can find the six-pack Biscoff collection at Walmart, Kroger, Food Lion, Publix, Stater Brothers, Wakefern, and more stores. To see if the collection is available at your local grocery store, you can visit Krispy Kreme’s site.

  • Aldi sued over ‘copycat’ snacks

    Aldi sued over ‘copycat’ snacks

    Australian children’s snack food brand Little Bellies is suing German supermarket chain Aldi for alleged copyright breaches of several organic fruit and vegetable puff snacks.

    Aldi, which famously mimics well-known brands and creates comparable in-house products at a much cheaper price, has emerged victorious in several legal battles in Australia since it launched here in 2001.

    US snack food giant Frito-Lay sued Aldi in 2001 over its Cheezy Twists, alleging a breach of its Twisties trademark. Frito-Lay won the first battle in the Federal Court, but Aldi appealed and had the ruling overturned.

    In 2015, Israeli beauty company Moroccanoil Israel sued Aldi for alleged trademark breaches of its Moroccan Argan Oil hair care products. Moroccanoil lost the original case, and an appeal.

    The owners of Little Bellies hope a different tack – suing for an alleged copyright infringement – may yield a different outcome.

    The holding company that owns the intellectual property for the Baby Bellies, Little Bellies and Mighty Bellies snack ranges, Hampden Holdings IP, alleges Aldi has ripped off its Organic Blueberry Puffs, Organic Apple & Cinnamon Puffs and Organic Carrot Puffs since at least August 2021.

    Hampden Holdings licenses the brands to Every Bite Counts. According to regulatory filings, both firms are owned by brothers Steven and Clive Sher.

    In Britain, supermarket chain Marks & Spencer sued Aldi for copyright infringement of its light-up Christmas gin bottle. Last month, the High Court in London ruled Aldi infringed on M&S’s copyright. A second copyright dispute between the two companies over a caterpillar cake was settled, and Aldi made a number of tweaks to its design.

    Aldi is not the only discount chain that has been targeted in legal action. Fellow German discount chain Lidl was sued last year by Lindt & Sprüngli over its well-known chocolate gold bunnies. A Swiss court ordered Lidl to destroy the bunnies and prohibited their sale, saying they infringed Lindt’s trademark.

  • How Tag Heuer is evolving to stand the test of time

    How Tag Heuer is evolving to stand the test of time

    I’ll be honest, TAG Heuer is not really a brand that I love. Sure, I like the classics such as the Monaco and other icons, but if I won the lottery then I wouldn’t be visiting the TAG Heuer boutique. So, the fact that I’ve chosen them as the brand that won 2022 signifies exactly how impactful their year has been, surpassing all of my expectations and then some. Sure, brands like Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre have also released plenty of stunning watches in the last year, but it doesn’t feel as special when I’ve come to expect their excellence. Watches & Wonders felt like an answer to the watch community’s unasked questions, recapturing the Aquaracer’s professional diving credentials, incorporating some exciting emerging technology, and even creating a never-before-seen diamond-infused case.

    The Aquaracer was TAG Heuer’s focus in that first big 2022 release, spearheaded by the Professional 1000 Superdiver which gives them representation in the saturation diver market. Its bulk and attitude is backed up by impressive specifications and an edgy titanium case. If stealth and efficiency is more your thing, TAG Heuer incorporated solar technology into the black dial of their Aquaracer Solargraph, for unending power and quartz accuracy. The murdered-out case is complemented by a forged carbon bezel and brightly contrasting markers, with a pale blue seconds hand making it easy to read. As if that wasn’t enough, the entire Aquaracer range was evolved with the Professional 200 line, trimming the fat from the diameters, bringing in some smoky gradient dials, and refusing to overly feminize the 30mm models.

    While there was a lot of love for the Aquaracer during Watches & Wonders 2022, by far the most attention-grabbing watch was the diamond-laden TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma. Setting diamonds into a watch case and dial is nothing new in the slightest, and so TAG Heuer shook things up by doing it in a way nobody else has done before, giving an effect that’s bold, masculine, and exciting. The dial looks like it’s made from some crushed diamond dust, but it’s actually grown in a single piece in a chaotic crystal structure that causes the rough texture. Diamond baguettes have been cut for the hour markers in a mormore traditionallye two horizontally aligned subdials are balanced by a skeletonised tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock. The most impressive part is the black anodised aluminium case with huge diamonds set into it seemingly at random, complete with a solid diamond crown.

    Nostalgia is funny, especially when younger generations start to yearn for days that the older generations still feel like yesterday. But, TAG Heuer have been indiscriminate with their choices of retro homages, bringing back some watches and styles which have been missing from their catalogues for too long. The first is the TAG Heuer Monaco Dark Lord Special Edition, paying tribute to the original reference 74033 from 1977. As an early example of a racing chronograph with a black PVD coating, the originals are notoriously hard to find, and when they are found their coatings may well have been scratched away by something as innocent as being stored in a cupboard. This modernised 2022 version features a scratch-resistant DLC coating on a titanium case (a first for the Monaco) which lightens up the weight, yet keeps the deep matte black that makes those Sith-red hands pop.

    The next throwback was the release of a new TAG Heuer Formula 1 range, complete with some of the bright colours that initially made the watches so cool in the ‘80s. Although the specs and quality of the more recent Formula 1 watches are definitely improved from those early fibreglass and quartz ones, they did tend to feel more stern and sterile due to their darker colour schemes. The new 2022 models in green, yellow and red are all incredibly vivid thanks to a finely brushed sunburst texture, and get a heap of helping contrast from the black PVD-coated bezel. It’s the lighthearted fun of bright colours that capture the same childlike imagination and excitement which brings Formula 1 fans into the sport in the first place.

  • Tips To Consider When Selecting A Web-Based Casino Game To Play On Kubet Casino

    Tips To Consider When Selecting A Web-Based Casino Game To Play On Kubet Casino

    There are so many internet-based casinos on the web nowadays. Kubet Thailand is among these gambling websites. Online casinos are no different from physical casinos; the experience is the same. Except that online casinos perform everything on the web. Many gamblers agree that slot gaming site are enjoyable and straightforward to play, but how you interact with the site is entirely up to you. Without a checklist, jumping into the many online casinos would be foolish. If you want to play your favorite games with ease and enjoyment, you should have a list of the qualities you look for in a website. If you’re looking for a good slot gaming website, the following items should be added to your list:

    Customer service provided

    You should choose a web-based betting club with the best customer service. You ought to be treated fairly, and that should never change! A group of knowledgeable staff should be ready to assist you if you have a request or, generally, objection regarding the website. In addition, a casino that places a high value on its patrons has a site structure that ensures that the application can be used on any device, whether Android or iOS. A few websites provide various translations of their pages to accommodate all punters.

    Rewards, bonuses, and jackpots

    It is common knowledge that a person needs what he perceives to be acceptable, so you will likely choose a site that offers a significant discount and huge bonuses. The majority of destinations provide prizes and rewards, such as welcome awards, free spins, and new client rewards. You should choose an online slot gaming site that offers tips and rewards because you might get a good enough qualification. Be careful not to get conned while playing on any slot game website, like kubet, and make sure you find incentives for your money so you can at least get something out of the fun. To ensure you steer clear of hackers, settle for a secure online casino with strict security measures in place.

    A vast selection of games

    The majority of slot gaming websites, like kubet.kim is top casino platform in Thailand, provide a variety of games for players to examine. In contrast to physical gambling establishments, online club games can host any number of games. This is because online casinos are not limited to floor space. To avoid getting bored, you should choose a gambling club website with a lot of games. In addition, endless games will guarantee that you will beat your favorite games, saving you the hassle of moving from site to site in search of your favorite games.

    Legal issues

    Before engaging in any betting, it is prudent to determine whether it is legal in your country. Find a suitable betting website if that’s the case. After you’ve found a few sites where you want to play, check out how they handle legal issues. Was the website made lawfully? Do they have a license to support their claim? You don’t need to worry about the law if the website is legal.

    Flexibility and accessibility

    When you play at kubet, you can play at any time, any place, and around the clock. You can play in the convenience of your own home while relaxing in a park or waiting for your flight in any situation you can imagine. When you move to a new location, you won’t have to worry about closed sites. The great thing about online casinos is that you can play from anywhere with a good server, a smart device, and a fast, secure internet connection.

    Gambling games are enjoyable, but the entertainment level you receive depends entirely on the website you choose. Since you get a one-of-a-kind betting experience, stick with reputable online gambling platforms.

     

  • Pepper export value down 7.4% in two months

    Pepper export value down 7.4% in two months

    Vietnam exported over 41,000 tonnes of pepper worth $129 million in the first two months of this year, up 35% in volume, but down 7.4% in value over the same period from 2022

    The average export price of the Vietnamese spice in February 2023 was $3,059 per tonne, a downturn of 11.1% compared to the previous month and 32.8% year-on-year, according to the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

    During the reviewed period, its average export price stood at $3,177 per tonne, a fall of 31.4% compared to last year’s corresponding period.

    The ministry has said the global pepper market is forecast to recover due to increasing demand from importers.

  • Air cargo transport plunges

    Air cargo transport plunges

    Aviation cargo transport passing through Vietnam’s airports dropped 28.2% year-on-year in the first two months of 2023 to 168,000 tons, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

    Industry insiders say that the spreading global economic recession has led to a decline in consumption. Although China has reopened its economy, the delivery of Chinese materials and goods to other countries has not fully resumed yet.

    Do Xuan Quang, deputy CEO of Vietjet Air, said that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is also limiting global deliveries even though shipping costs have dropped.

    Vietjet Air has seen its cargo transport fall from nearly 100,000 tons in previous years to around 65,000 tons last year, Quang told VnExpress.

    Vietnam Airlines Group transport in the first two months also declined from the same period in recent years. The company did not reveal by how much.

    A representative of an air cargo transportation company, who asked not be identified, said that in the first two months of the year delivery from Vietnam to Japan plunged 20% year-on-year.

    Other routes that the company operates still have not recovered from Covid-19.

    Data from the CAAV shows that domestic cargo in the first two months rose slightly year-on-year to 51,000 tons, while international cargo fell 37.3% to 117,000 tons.

    Domestic airlines delivered only 42,500 tons in the period, down 14.2 % year-on-year.

    The Vietnam Logistics Association (VLA) expects air cargo transport in Vietnam to recover later this year, but slowly as there are many uncertainties in the global market.

    This is shown by transportation data from local logistics companies. The industry is capable of delivering 1.5-2 million tons a year but currently they are shipping only nearly 1 million tons.

    The busiest route in the country, HCMC to Hanoi, is operating at only one-third of cargo capacity.

    Dang Anh Tuan, a media representative of Vietnam Airlines, said that there is still a niche market for aviation transport, such as delivering high-end tech equipment.

    Vietnam’s cargo transport market is dominated by foreign airlines. There are 29 international carriers which are specialized in delivering cargo and they account for over 80% of market share.

    Vietnamese companies, however, are seeking to change that.

    Vietravel Airlines last year launched its own cargo carrier Vietravel Airlines Cargo in partnership with HCMC-based Asean Cargo Gateway.

    Earlier this year Bamboo Airways established Bamboo Airways Cargo.

  • South Korea’s first Five Guys store to open at the end of June in Gangnam

    South Korea’s first Five Guys store to open at the end of June in Gangnam

    South Korea’s first Five Guys burger restaurant is set to open in Gangnam, southern Seoul, by late June, its operator said Monday.

    The store, set to open in the bustling commercial district near Gangnam Station, will have up to 150 seats, according to Galleria Department Store owned by Hanwha Solutions.

    Established in 1986 as a Virginia-based family business, Five Guys is famous for large quantities, free peanuts and flexible options that give customers more than 250,000 possible ways to order.

    The operator said it plans to additionally open more than 15 Five Guys stores in South Korea in the next five years.