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Category: General

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest General Retail news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Grab acquires Malaysian supermarket chain Everrise

    Grab acquires Malaysian supermarket chain Everrise

    Ride-hailing Grab is acquiring Malaysian supermarket chain Everrise as part of its ongoing efforts to grow its grocery business in a vital market.

    The company is purchasing the supermarkets from Navis Capital Partners but has not revealed the deal’s value, it said in an announcement Monday as reported by Bloomberg.

    Everrise operates 19 high-end grocery in East Malaysia.

    Grab intends to modernize Everrise’s operations with digital tools and introduce on-demand grocery delivery for its customers.

    The move came three years after Grab’s acquisition of Jaya Grocer, a larger Malaysian chain primarily based in the Klang Valley near Kuala Lumpur.

    As Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing and food delivery company, Grab is venturing into new sectors like online banking and groceries to stay competitive with rivals such as Indonesia’s GoTo Group.

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  • Chubb acquires Liberty Mutual’s insurance businesses in Vietnam, Thailand

    Chubb acquires Liberty Mutual’s insurance businesses in Vietnam, Thailand

    Chubb Limited has announced agreements to acquire the insurance businesses of Liberty Mutual in Thailand and Vietnam without disclosing the terms.

    The two companies — LMG Insurance in Thailand and Liberty Insurance in Vietnam —offer a range of consumer and commercial property and casualty (P&C) products, including automotive, acccident & health and non-motor insurance such as fire/property and industrial all-risk.

    This portfolio is coupled with complementary distribution through 56 branches, 2,600 brokers and agents, and 26 finance partners. The combined operations produced approximately US$$275 million in net premiums written in 2024.

    The transactions are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025 (Thailand) and late 2025 / early 2026 (Vietnam) and are subject to required regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

    With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients.

    The company is defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally.

    Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb employs approximately 43,000 people worldwide.

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  • Conversational “LLM Siri” might not arrive until iOS 20

    Conversational “LLM Siri” might not arrive until iOS 20

    Many iPhone users, including myself, have eagerly waited for the new “personal Siri” that can go through emails, texts, and other apps to find the answers to personal questions you might ask Siri to respond to. For example, you might ask Siri to tell you the date and time when your mother’s plane will arrive at the airport so you can pick her up. The new “personal Siri” will look through apps for correspondence containing the answer and pass it along to you.

    In his weekly Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that this feature will be released in May, 11 months after Apple previewed it during last year’s WWDC Developers Conference. Gurman says that the current version of Siri has two brains. One deals with legacy requests like making calls, and setting alarms and timers. The other brain handles advanced questions and tasks and is the one that will go through user data to respond with personal information.

    Gurman says that in order to rush Apple Intelligence out in time to be included in iOS 18, Apple did not put the two “brains” together which he blames for the feature not working as smoothly as it should. The Bloomberg scribe says that a new “Siri architecture” will be displayed at this year’s WWDC convention in June before getting rolled out in June 2026 as part of iOS 19.4. At that time, both of Siri’s brains should be merged into one bigger brain and this will result in a smoother-running Siri.

    But one new Siri capability, Large Language Model Siri (known around Cupertino as “LLM Siri” for short) will not be available until iOS 20 in 2027! This is the version of Siri that is more conversational and gives Siri many of the features that we like to see in AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini to name a couple. And this leaves Apple way behind in AI. Even Amazon, with the unveiling of its Alexa+ last week, has moved far ahead of Apple in this field.

    Remember the awe you felt when Apple introduced Siri with the iPhone 4s in 2011? Remember how cool you thought this technology was when you saw Siri in use for the first time? Apple clearly had an opportunity that it let slip away.

    Part of the problem is that Apple has had some key employees poached and some supplies, like AI accelerators made by Nvidia, are getting hard to find. Heck, even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the other day that his company had run out of GPUs. Gurman says that Apple’s more than capable chip team is working on “solutions” which means that Apple is developing its own AI accelerator chip.

    For now, you can follow my game plan as long as you don’t mind installing beta versions of iOS. I plan to continue installing each new beta release hoping that some of them will include new Siri features. I do this so I can show you any new changes when they occur. You can do this to be first on your block and thus impress your friends and family by having “personal Siri” and eventually “LLM Siri” on your iPhone. One warning: you might have to deal with the unstable nature of beta releases until stable iOS 20 is released in September 2027 so back up your iPhone first.

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  • Thailand tightens disease control measures at Suvarnabhumi Airport

    Thailand tightens disease control measures at Suvarnabhumi Airport

    The Department of Disease Control (DDC) under Thailand’s Ministry of Heath has tightened disease control measures at Suvarnabhumi International Airport regarding an outbreak of an unknown illness in Congo, its Director General Doctor Panumas Yanwetsakul has said.

    Currently, no suspected cases of this disease have been identified in Thailand. Nevertheless, the DDC has enhanced surveillance, prevention, and control measures, including stricter screening protocols at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

    Travelers arriving from Congo are required to undergo temperature checks and provide their addresses and contact numbers in Thailand, along with details of their departure from Congo.

    Additionally, those who have traveled from Congo within the last 21 days must complete a health reporting form and adhere to the guidelines on the Health Beware Card issued by health officials.

    People who have been in Congo within the past 21 days should monitor for initial symptoms such as fever exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, fatigue, or exhaustion. If these symptoms worsen, they must seek medical attention immediately and inform doctors of their travel history for diagnosis and treatment to prevent disease transmission, Dr. Panumas advised.

    As of Feb. 19, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s data indicated that the outbreak in Boloko and Bomate villages in Equateur province of Congo had resulted in 955 cases and 60 fatalities, reflecting a 6.3% fatality rate.

    Laboratory tests confirmed that the illness was not caused by the Ebola or Marburg viruses.

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  • Google Maps will add this feature from Waze to make driving more colorful and fun

    Google Maps will add this feature from Waze to make driving more colorful and fun

    When Google bought Waze for $1.3 billion in 2013, it was obvious that it would move some of Waze’s crowdsourcing features to Google Maps. Over the years, Google has added many Waze-like features such as the ability to quickly report a crash, a slowdown, police activity, construction, a lane closure, a stalled vehicle, an object on the road, a flooded road, low visibility, and an unplowed road. All of these hazards can be reported in seconds.

    Now, Google Maps is adding another feature associated with Waze. The former will be adding new car icons to replace the blue arrow and other icons that can be used to represent your car on the navigation map. You can make this change on your iOS or Android-powered handset by pulling up the the menu from the handle near the bottom of the screen that shows how much time is left on your drive, the mileage remaining on your journey, and the estimated time of arrival. Grab the handle, swipe up and you’ll see a menu with several options.
    The next to last option reads Vehicle icon. Tap on it and you can select from the traditional arrow icon, a sports car, a pickup truck, an SUV, a sedan, and more for a total of eight icons. Just swipe through them to sell all of your choices. There are eight color options including:
     

    • Glacier white
    • Night black
    • Ash gray
    • Poppy red
    • Sky blue
    • Sunny yellow
    • Aqua green
    • Sunset magenta

    Another way to change your icon is to tap on the default vehicle icon that appears once you set your destination and start navigation. You must have the most up-to-date version of Google Maps on your iOS or Android-powered device to get this feature. One way to do this would be to tap on this link and install the latest version of Google Maps for iOS on your iPhone. If you own an Android device, press this link to install the latest Google Maps build on your Android phone.< Everything about the new car icons, from the way they look to the UI used to select your car and the color that you want the vehicle to be, looks like it just stepped right out of the Waze app. Google Maps and Waze have two separate functions. The former is for those who not only want to navigate quickly and safely from "A" to "B," but also want recommendations on where to dine, where to spend the night, where to find local entertainment, and more. Waze is more about the actual journey and using crowdsourced information that makes the drive easier to make.

  • Text bubbles fill out before your eyes on the latest version of Google Messages

    Text bubbles fill out before your eyes on the latest version of Google Messages

    Google constantly works on improving certain native Android apps. Google Maps is one of those, and so is Google Messages for Android. We’ve recently passed along some new updates coming to the Google Messages app, including a larger pill-shaped text field, and a revised user interface for the “view details” feature. Now, we’ve caught wind about another change that is supposed to improve the look of the Google Messages app for Android.
    First spotted in the January beta of the app in version 20250115_03_RC00, the new chat bubble animation lives in the stable version of the app, 20250212_01_RC00. With the new version installed on your Android phone, messages will no longer just slide up when sent or received. Instead, a new animation will show the message bubbles starting out small and then growing in size to fill out the space they are allotted. It is not a major change but it brings a cool new look to the Messages app and the good news is that the new animation works regardless if a message is being sent or received via RCS or SMS.
    To be clear, there is no way you can disable this feature once the update is installed on your phone. And its also possible that if you didn’t know that this change is coming, you might not notice a difference when it does finally arrive on your Android phone. The new-look message bubble should start appearing on Android phones sometime during the next few weeks.
    With the open nature of Android, there are so many messaging apps available in the Play Store that you might not be using Google Messages. If you want to make a change and install the app on your Android phone, you can always tap on the following link to download Google Messages from Google’s app storefront.
    If you want to know whether you have received the new look message bubbles, go to Settings > Apps > All Apps > Messages and scroll down to the very bottom of the page. That’s where you will find the version number of the Google Messages app that is on your Android phone. To reiterate, you’re going to want to see a stable version number of 20250212_01_RC00 or higher. For example, the version of Google Messages on my Pixel 6 Pro running Android 16 beta 2 is 20250225_00_RC00.
    If you do have the new expanding text bubble on the Google Messages app installed on your Android phone, let us know how you like it by writing your comments in the box below.
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  • Why Phuket is Southeast Asia’s Most Attractive Property Market

    Why Phuket is Southeast Asia’s Most Attractive Property Market

    Phuket has long been one of Thailand’s most popular destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year with its beaches, warm climate, and lifestyle. But beyond tourism, the island has become a real estate hotspot, drawing investors, retirees, and expats looking for a place to live or a profitable property investment.

    Buying a villa for sale in Phuket isn’t just about having a private getaway—it’s also a smart financial move. Property values have remained strong, rental demand is high, and new infrastructure projects are making the island even more accessible. Whether you’re looking for a home or an investment, Phuket offers plenty of opportunities.

    Why Phuket’s Property Market Is Growing

    Several factors have made Phuket an attractive place for real estate buyers:

    1. A Strong Tourism Economy

    Tourism is the backbone of Phuket’s economy, with over 9 million visitors a year. The island attracts a mix of short-term vacationers and long-term visitors, creating strong demand for rental properties. Many investors purchase villas to rent them out on platforms like Airbnb or through local rental agencies.

    With direct flights from cities across Asia and beyond, Phuket remains one of the easiest places to visit and invest in, keeping the real estate market active.

    1. High Demand for Private Villas

    The shift toward private living spaces, especially after the pandemic, has increased demand for standalone villas with pools and gardens. Travelers and long-term residents prefer spacious homes over crowded hotels or condominiums.

    Areas like Bang Tao, Kamala, and Rawai have seen a surge in new villa developments, catering to foreign buyers who want modern, fully equipped homes in quieter parts of the island.

    1. Lifestyle and Infrastructure Development

    Phuket isn’t just about beaches anymore. The island has seen rapid growth in infrastructure, with new shopping malls, international schools, private hospitals, and even a planned light rail system to improve connectivity.

    Shopping centers like Central Phuket, Jungceylon, and Porto de Phuket now offer high-end retail and dining, while world-class hospitals provide top-tier healthcare, making Phuket a practical choice for long-term living.

    Where to Buy a Villa in Phuket

    If you’re looking for a villa for sale in Phuket, different areas cater to different needs:

    Bang Tao & Laguna – A popular area for luxury villas, golf courses, and family-friendly living. Close to international schools and high-end restaurants.

    Kamala – Known for its exclusive hillside properties with ocean views, attracting high-net-worth buyers.

    Rawai & Nai Harn – A quieter area with a mix of affordable and high-end villas, ideal for long-term living.

    Surin & Layan – Some of the most scenic beaches in Phuket, home to upscale villas with resort-style amenities.

    Whether you want a beachfront villa or a home in a gated community, Phuket has options for different budgets and lifestyles.

    Buying Property in Phuket as a Foreigner

    Foreigners can’t directly own land in Thailand, but there are legal ways to invest in villas:

    Leasehold Agreements – A common option where you lease the land for up to 30 years, with renewal options.

    Thai Company Ownership – Some buyers set up a Thai company to own the property legally.

    Condominium Freehold – If a villa isn’t your preference, you can own a condo freehold under Thai law.

    Consulting a local property expert is the best way to navigate the legal aspects and ensure a secure investment.

    Is It a Good Time to Buy?

    Phuket’s real estate market has remained strong, even during economic fluctuations. Prices have been rising steadily, and with increasing tourism and infrastructure projects, property values are expected to grow.

    For those looking at long-term investments, rental income, or a retirement home, now is a good time to explore opportunities in Phuket’s real estate market.

    If you’re interested in finding a villa for sale in Phuket, working with a trusted agency can help you get the best deals and avoid common pitfalls. Phuket’s mix of lifestyle and investment potential makes it

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  • Update to Google Messages app leaves it with a larger pill to swallow

    Update to Google Messages app leaves it with a larger pill to swallow

    It appears that after an update Google has seemingly increased the size of the text field in the Google Messages app. The text field, the pill-shaped area where new messages are typed into, has been the beneficiary of an increase in size that makes it thicker and longer (no wisecracks, please). It certainly is not an illusion and neither is the size increase of the Voice memo button which is outside of the text field on the right side and turns into the send button.
    All of the buttons remain in their same places with the plus button still found inside the text pill on the left side. That button opens up several features including:
    • Gallery
    • GIFs
    • Stickers
    • Files
    • Location
    • Contacts
    • Schedule Send
    • Selfie GiF
    Other shortcuts inside the text pill include the smiley face emoji which takes you to the emoji keyboard when tapped. Lastly, inside the pill there is the Gallery shortcut which shows the camera app on top with the photo gallery on the bottom. The wider text pill in the Messages app has appeared with beta version 20250224_01_RC00 of the app.
    While Google has yet to roll out this update widely, you can always look for it by opening the Play Store app and tapping the profile icon in the upper right corner. Tap on Manage apps & device, Updates available, and scroll down to Messages. If the app is listed there, it means that an update for the app is available. Tap on “Update” and let the process finish. The latest update to the app on my phone was version 20250225_01_RC00 which means that you should probably update the app right away if you want the larger text field right away.
    You can check to see which version of the Google Messages app is on your phone by going to Settings > Apps > See all XXX apps > Messages. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the version number of the app that is installed on your phone.
    If you aren’t using Google Messages on your Android phone (after all, there are many options to choose from), you can add it to your handset by tapping on this link which will take you to the Google Play Store from where you can download the Google Messages app.
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  • Siri on your iPhone could be getting help from one of its biggest competitors soon

    Siri on your iPhone could be getting help from one of its biggest competitors soon

    As previously reported, it looks like Apple might soon let you choose between different AI models to power Siri. Currently, Apple Intelligence allows users to route Siri requests through ChatGPT for richer responses. However, a recent discovery in Apple’s software code suggests the expansion of these integrations to include other AI models, like Google’s Gemini — and that this might happen soon.

    A code sleuth found references to both “Google” and “OpenAI” within the Apple Intelligence framework in a backend update accompanying the iOS 18.4 beta. This suggests Apple is preparing to offer users a choice of AI models, similar to how you might choose a search engine in your browser. While this doesn’t guarantee Gemini integration in the final version of iOS 18.4, it strongly indicates that Apple is actively working on it. It’s possible this feature could arrive in a later iOS 18 update, or perhaps be a key feature of iOS 19.

    The backstory here is that Apple has been working on improving Siri’s capabilities for years. While Siri has made progress, it has often lagged behind other virtual assistants in terms of understanding complex requests and providing contextually relevant answers. By integrating with third-party AI models like ChatGPT, Apple has already shown a willingness to look beyond its own technology to enhance Siri’s performance.
    The potential addition of Gemini and other models further underscores this approach. It signifies a shift towards a more open and collaborative approach to AI development, where different companies can contribute their expertise to create a better user experience.

    This could be a major step forward for personal assistants. Having the ability to choose between different AI models could personalize the experience and allow users to leverage the unique strengths of each. For me, this is exciting because it’s proof that Apple is making some headway with the more helpful and intelligent Siri that has been promised. I often find myself frustrated with Siri’s limitations, so the prospect of it becoming more capable and adaptable is definitely appealing. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and what other AI integrations Apple might introduce in the future.

  • Why More People are Going to Thailand for Alcohol Rehab

    Why More People are Going to Thailand for Alcohol Rehab

    Alcohol rehabilitation, often shortened to alcohol rehab, is the process in which an individual will partake in different therapies and treatments in order to overcome the effects of an alcohol addiction.

    This can be done in many different ways and with many different unique alterations for each individual case; there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to rehabilitative care as every individual is different and will therefore experience different effects.

    With alcohol addictions, it is often recommended that individuals attend residential rehab due to the complications and issues that can arise during the recovery process. This will be covered in further detail across this article.

    Why do individuals need alcohol rehab?

    All individuals who struggle with alcohol misuse or addiction should consider some form of rehabilitation, as without it their condition can often worsen significantly and cause lifelong effects to their physical and mental health.

    This does not necessarily mean that these individuals must seek alcohol rehab in Thailand, but there are many reasons why this may be the most suitable option for individuals struggling with an alcohol addiction.

    Alcohol, specifically, has been linked to damage of the cardiovascular system (1) – a serious cause for concern if left untreated.

    Alcohol rehab abroad – who is it suitable for?

    Alcohol rehab is something that all individuals struggling with alcohol should consider. Not only can alcohol have serious and life-threatening effects on the individual themselves, but it can also severely affect those around them i.e., close friends and family.

    Alcohol rehab abroad is therefore something that some individuals may consider, either for specific medical or personal reasons, or just for a change.

    It may not be suitable for every individual to attend alcohol rehab abroad, but it is something that many individuals should enquire about.

    Many studies in the field of addiction focus on the US population, but these studies often show that residential rehabilitation is the most effective form of treatment in terms of individuals’ reports and satisfaction with care (2).

    Benefits of alcohol rehab in Thailand

    There are many reasons why an individual may choose to attend alcohol rehab abroad in places such as Thailand rather than their country of residence.

    As mentioned above, alcohol rehab abroad in places such as Thailand may not be suitable for every individual case, but this should be discussed thoroughly before an individual makes any final decisions.

    This discussion could be had with a medical professional or addiction expert but is essential before the individual chooses any rehabilitation options in order to avoid future confusion and/or delay of care.

    The following subheadings outline why Thailand is such as popular destination for alcohol rehab abroad, and how this may aid their future care.

    1. Privacy

    When attending alcohol rehab far away from the individual’s country of primary residence, they are providing themselves with complete privacy.

    In some cases, individuals may choose to attend alcohol rehab in private, without telling most people where they are going and what they are doing.

    When it comes to alcohol rehabilitation in Thailand, individuals are unlikely to see anyone they know, they are in a completely fresh environment and are often separated from influences such as their phone, social media, and other connections with the wider world.

    This allows for complete privacy and discretion when recovering – something which may be essential for care in the case of high-profile clients or for those who would prefer to recover without intervention from outside sources.

    2. Focus and lack of distraction

    As well as being a source of private and discrete care, partaking in rehab abroad can also be a great motivational factor for individuals undergoing their recovery journey.

    By taking themselves away from their previous environment, individuals can often feel more motivated toward committing to a rehabilitation programme as they have often travelled a long time or have spent a long time preparing for this form of care.

    Not only does this provide motivation and a boost in attitude toward alcohol rehab, attending alcohol rehab in Thailand can be a great way for individuals to avoid distractions, meaning that they have a greater overall focus on care and spend more dedicated time on this process than they may do in their primary country of residence.

    3. Thailand’s specialities

    In general, there are many benefits to attending alcohol rehab while in a country such as Thailand, with many of these being specialised to this location.

    Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is renowned for its beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and a strong connection with spirituality.

    Spirituality is something that can greatly benefit individuals seeking alcohol rehab as – when combined with other forms of treatment – holistic therapies such as yoga and meditation can greatly increase an individual’s perception of their care, increasing motivation and helping them to discover more about themselves and their struggles with alcohol.

    The stages of rehabilitation

    In general, alcohol rehab (and other forms of rehabilitation in general) often follows the three stages of care.

    These stages are designed to lead on from one another, meaning that an individual must progress through each stage in turn to gain the full benefits from each and to prepare them for the next.

    For example, the detoxification stage is first and this is where an individual will withdraw from the substance that they are addicted to and prepare their body physically for the further stages.

    With alcohol, a detox session must always be supervised by a medical professional to avoid the harmful and potentially life-threatening effects that may arise during this process.

    Next, an individual will partake in a variety of different therapies and specific treatments that are recommended and specialised to their individual needs. This stage focusses on the individual’s mental well-being and is often the longest stage of care.

    As a final (and often ongoing) stage, aftercare is essential. This refers to any further treatment that an individual receives to treat the effects of their addiction after the majority of their care within a centre.

    Some centres offer complimentary aftercare, but this should always be mentioned and checked before the individual makes any final decisions about their alcohol rehab in Thailand.

    Get the help you need today

    Alcohol rehab is essential for any individual who feels as though they may be struggling with alcohol, so getting help sooner rather than later is always recommended.

    Get in touch with your local healthcare services or start looking at the different referral services that are available in your area today.

    References

    [1] Moushmoush, B. and Abi-Mansour, P., 1991. Alcohol and the heart: The long-term effects of alcohol on the cardiovascular system. Archives of Internal Medicine, 151(1), pp.36-42.

    [2] Kumar, T.P., Nagaraju, G.V., Swamy, P.K., Bhanu, K.U. and Salam, A., 2018. Alcohol Rehabilitation: Right Treatment and New Beginning. Indo American Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.

  • Instagram’s biggest update is here to improve your social life

    Instagram’s biggest update is here to improve your social life

    Instagram usually rolls out small updates that add new features and improvements quite often, but every few months it releases major updates that completely change the way users interact with various aspects of the ap

    Earlier today, Instagram announced its biggest update for the year is making its way to users worldwide. The update focuses on the messaging experience, but Instagram also added new ways to share media, pin content, and made it easier to connect with people over DMs.

    One of the features that had been missing from Instagram ever since the app provided its users with the ability to message others is translation support. The latest update addresses this issue and introduces message translation, allowing Instagram users from different countries to communicate in their native languages.

    You can now use the translate feature in Instagram by holding down on the message sent or received in another language and tapping “Translate.” You should get a translation of the message below the original.

    Besides bringing the translate message feature to its users, Instagram is also adding the ability to share songs in DMs. Simply open the sticker tray in a chat and tap on the “Music” option to search for a specific song in the app’s library. You can then tap on the track to send a 30-second preview of the song to your friends.

    Another important new feature coming with the latest update is the ability to schedule messages. This comes in handy if you want to congratulate someone on a certain date, but you’re afraid you’re going to forget.

    You can now schedule text messages in DMs by typing the text message and holding down on the send button. You’ll be able to select the date and time when you want the message to be sent. This feature can also be used to schedule reminders for various tasks.

    But wait, there’s more! After introducing the ability to pin chat threads in a DM box, Instagram is now making it possible to pin specific messages to the top of any 1:1 or group chat. Users can try out the new feature by holding down on the message and tapping on “pin.” Up to three messages per conversation can be pinned at the moment.

    Last but not least, Instagram is finally adding QR code support, which means that users can now add friends to their group chats by sharing a personalized QR. When your friend scans the QR code you shared, it will be automatically added to the chat.

    To create a QR code invite, simply open the group chat and tap on the group name at the top. Select the invite link, then tap on QR code to view the QR code invite and share it with your friends via DM.

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  • DeepSeek removed from South Korea app stores pending privacy review

    DeepSeek removed from South Korea app stores pending privacy review

    Chinese AI app DeepSeek will not be available to download in South Korea pending a review of its handling of user data, Seoul authorities said Monday.

    DeepSeek’s R1 chatbot stunned investors and industry insiders with its ability to match the functions of its Western competitors at a fraction of the cost.

    But a number of countries have questioned DeepSeek’s storage of user data, which the firm says is collected in “secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China”.

    On Monday, Seoul’s Personal Information Protection Commission said DeepSeek would no longer be available for download until a review of its personal data collection practices was carried out.

    The Chinese AI firm has “acknowledged that considerations for domestic privacy laws were somewhat lacking”, the data protection agency said.

    It assessed that bringing the app into line with local privacy laws “would inevitably take a significant amount of time”, the agency added.

    “To prevent further concerns from spreading, the commission recommended that DeepSeek temporarily suspend its service while making the necessary improvements,” it said.

    DeepSeek has “accepted” that proposal.

    The app was removed from local app stores on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) and remains unavailable.

    The AI chatbot is still in use for those who have already downloaded the app.

    Seoul’s data protection agency said it “strongly advised” people to “use the service with caution until the final results are announced”.

    That included “refraining from entering personal information into the DeepSeek input field”, it said.

    Analyst Youm Heung-youl told AFP that the firm was yet to lay out a privacy policy “specifically tailored” for users in South Korea.

    “It has on the other hand disclosed a privacy policy for the EU and certain other countries, stating that it complies with the domestic laws of those nations,” Youm, a data security professor at Soonchunhyang University, said.

    “Deepseek needs to establish a privacy policy specific to Korea,” he said.

    This month, a slew of South Korean government ministries and police said they blocked access to DeepSeek on their computers.

    Italy has also launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s R1 model and blocked it from processing Italian users’ data.

    Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices on the advice of security agencies.

    U.S. lawmakers have also proposed a bill to ban DeepSeek from being used on government devices over concerns about user data security.

    In response to the bans, the Chinese government has said it opposes the “politicisation of economic, trade and technological issues”.

    It also insists it “has never and will never require enterprises or individuals to illegally collect or store data”.

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  • Singapore’s largest bookstore, Books Kinokuniya is downsizing

    Singapore’s largest bookstore, Books Kinokuniya is downsizing

    Singapore’s largest bookstore, the Books Kinokuniya flagship in Takashimaya shopping centre on Orchard Road, is downsizing – again.

    The company said changes will include refinement of its book collection while incorporating a lifestyle element, including a new cafe set to open this year.

    A recent rental negotiation with Toshin Development has led to announcements informing shoppers that Books Kinokuniya is “currently making changes to store layout” and advising them to approach staff if they cannot find what they need.

    The decision is likely a response to the declining book retail industry, which is experiencing a rise in poor reading habits and diminishing book-buying rates coupled with high rental costs.

    According to a 2021 survey by the National Library Board, only 33 per cent of respondents reported reading six or more books a year.

    Currently, the store occupies 38,000sqft of retail space on one floor, a size that has fluctuated over the years.

    From 1999 to 2013, it occupied a 42,000 sqft space on the third level of the mall before reducing its size by approximately 25 percent and relocating to the fourth floor in 2013 to make room for new retail offerings.

    After the closure of the Chinese restaurant Imperial Treasure Teochew Cuisine in 2016, Books Kinokuniya regained 5000sqft of space and subsequently reopened with a layout and frontage that is familiar to shoppers today.

    Books Kinokuniya said that challenges are “ever present” for book retailers.

    “Our Singapore main store continues to evolve while remaining true to our core values, offering an extensive collection of quality titles housed in a pleasant ambience,” it added.

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  • Aldi US plans to open 225 more stores nationwide this year

    Aldi US plans to open 225 more stores nationwide this year

    Aldi US plans to open more than 225 stores across the country this year as part of the next phase of its five-year growth strategy.

    The openings will include organic growth and conversion of select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the Aldi format.

    The company plans to convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to Aldi through 2027. About 100 converted locations will re-open by the end of this year.

    About 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores not affected by the conversion will be sold to a consortium including C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers senior leadership and private investors.

    Aldi said this divestment allows it to create a focused portfolio in the Southeast as it progresses its expansion plans across the country. The company plans to expand its footprint in the Northeast and Midwest regions, grow presence in the West with more stores in Southern California and Arizona, and enter new communities like Las Vegas.

    “When we announced our acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, we shared that we intended for a meaningful number of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate, and we’re delivering on that promise while also supporting Aldi growth,” said Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi.

    “Over the last year, we’ve seen firsthand how C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers and their teams have continued to deliver great quality, service and value to their customers, and we are confident they will lead the company successfully into its next chapter,” he added.

    Last year, the chain opened nearly 120 stores, bringing its total store count to more than 2400.

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  • Oatly Barista Edition rolls out in Circle K stores in Northern Europe

    Oatly Barista Edition rolls out in Circle K stores in Northern Europe

    Swedish plant-based alt-milk producer Oatly has partnered with the convenience store chain Circle K to introduce its Barista Edition beverage across stores in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.

    The Oatly Barista Edition is a plant-based, dairy-free alternative that the company claims provides the same creamy taste, frothy texture, and functionality as traditional coffee creamers.

    Skirmantas Maciukas, VP of Circle K Baltics, stated that the collaboration with Oatly is part of its mission to provide plant-based options for customers throughout the Baltics.

    “Our mission is to make our customers’ lives a little easier every day,” he added.

    Circle K is owned by Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard, which operates the brand in more than 20 markets worldwide.

    Recently, Oatly also partnered with Nespresso for a limited-release Barista Edition coffee capsules.