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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.

  • Google Chat is getting a new moderation tool

    Google Chat is getting a new moderation tool

    Google starts this week with yet another update for its Chat app. After bringing star messages to iOS and Android, Google Chat is now getting a new moderation tool in the admin console.

    The new moderation tool has been specifically designed for reviewing and taking action on reported Google Chat content via the Admin console under Apps / Google Workspace / Moderation.

    The search giant announced that super admins will have access to the moderation tool when it becomes available in Google Chat. Also, they will be able to assign users the new “Moderate Chat content report” privilege.

    Google recommends that this privilege only be assigned to users who are best suited to review Chat content; otherwise, it will be ineffective at reducing the super admins’ workload.

    Once users submit a new report, the moderation tool can be used to see all reports associated with the message, review the edit history of a message and conversation transcript (including up to 5 message posted before the reported message), as well as details that provide info about the type of conversation with number of participants, space managers, guidelines, and more.

    It’s also important to add that moderators will be able to add comments to the report should the content require further auditing in the future.

    In the same piece of news, Google announced that the moderation tool will also include a tab for managing quarantine Gmail message. The Gmail tab is available to all Google Workspace customers.

    The new moderation tool accessible by going to Apps / Google Workspace / Moderation will be rolled out in the next two weeks. It will be available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers.

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  • Nepal Airlines extends partnership with Unilode

    Nepal Airlines extends partnership with Unilode

    Unilode Aviation Solutions and Nepal Airlines have extended their full-service ULD management partnership for another three-year term.

    Nepal Airlines awarded the management of its containers and pallets to Unilode in 2018 and has since benefitted from the operational efficiencies provided by Unilode’s digital ULD pool of more than 160,000 units.

    Nepal Airlines currently operates two widebody aircraft to 12 international destinations and will further expand its network in the Asia Pacific region.

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  • Airlines add more flights amid high holiday demand

    Airlines add more flights amid high holiday demand

    Vietnam Airlines has increased the number of flights with up to 66,200 more seats to meet high demand during the upcoming holiday.

    The group announced Tuesday morning that 310 flights will be added between Jan. 25 and Feb. 24. Air travel demand is expected to rise during the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday in early February.

    This means Vietnam Airlines Group, which includes Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company, will offer a total of 12,374 flights during the holiday season, up 10% from the same period last year.

    The new flights will mostly be on domestic routes between Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi and Da Nang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Hue and Quang Nam.

    The hike came after the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam asked airlines to increase their number of night flights to meet high demand as most seats have been occupied.

    As of Jan. 12 Vietnamese airlines had sold 80-100% of seats departing HCMC and Hanoi between Jan. 24 and Feb. 25, the authority said.

    Customers have been complaining that they have trouble booking tickets due to low supply and prices being higher than in previous years.

  • ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ author boasts about $1B debt

    ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ author boasts about $1B debt

    Robert Kiyosaki, author of best-selling personal finance book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” revealed he was over US$1 billion in debt and advocated borrowing to invest in assets.

    Unlike most people who would be devastated to find out they are drown in debt, Kiyosaki was nonchalant when he boasted about his debt on an Instagram reel.

    He used the borrowed money to buy hard assets that are more resilient to market downturns and inflation, such as gold, he said in the reel.

    Kiyosaki explained that utilizing debt allowed him to not save cash, which would get devalued due to inflation, and if he went bankrupt, it would be the bank’s problem to solve, not his.

    In another reel, the author noted that living debtless is the worst personal finance advice one can give and that a banking crisis, high inflation and a stock market crash were approaching, making those who invest in hard assets richer.

    As of January 5, Kiyosaki’s net worth was estimated to be $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

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  • Enable this feature now so that Google Maps for Android will work when you’re in a tunnel

    Enable this feature now so that Google Maps for Android will work when you’re in a tunnel

    Driving inside a tunnel is often an issue for those using a GPS app to help them navigate because of the inability of the signals to penetrate the tunnel. You might think that this doesn’t really matter with a tunnel since there isn’t much to do inside one except follow the road. But there are other reasons as Google points out in a support page. For example, staying connected in a tunnel allows location services to work, increases driver safety, and gives the driver better visibility into what’s happening inside the tunnel in real time.

    Google-owned Waze connects with Bluetooth beacons inside tunnels in certain cities such as “New York City, Chicago, Paris, Rio, Brussels, Oslo, Sydney, Boston, Mexico City, and more.” Google says, “The Waze Beacons program provides seamless navigation to drivers underground where GPS signals don’t reach.” And now Google Maps will also support Bluetooth beacons according to SmartDroid.

    The feature is disabled by default, but we’re going to tell you how to enable it right now. First, to be clear, this feature is available on Android phones only and cannot be used with Google Maps for iOS. So from your Android phone open Google Maps. Tap the round profile icon on the right of the search bar on the top of the phone. That opens a menu and you should then tap on Settings > Navigation settings and scroll down to the Driving options heading and look for Bluetooth tunnel beacons and toggle it on.

    The listing says, “Scan for Bluetooth tunnel beacons to improve location accuracy in tunnels.” Once you enable the feature, you will have to allow Google Maps to “find, connect to, and determine the relative position of nearby devices.” This feature appears to have been available for some Android users since last October but has recently been found on more Android devices.

    Follow the directions in the previous paragraph to enable the feature and if you see the listing titled “Bluetooth tunnel beacons,” it means that you do have the feature available for Google Maps. It appears on my Pixel 6 Pro running Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.

    If you do drive through tunnels often and use an Android phone, you might want to take a second to enable this feature.

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  • WhatsApp starts rolling out polling feature to early adopters

    WhatsApp starts rolling out polling feature to early adopters

    WhatsApp’s poll sharing feature is one step closer to being released to the public. Still in beta, the ability to share polls in channels have been sighted less than a week ago in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android.

    Over the weekend, WaBetaInfo reports that WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.1.10.76 update, which is now available on the TestFlight app, offers early adopters the option to share polls in channels.

    Obviously, you must be the owner of the channel in order to be able to share polls. The new feature has multiple options, which can be disable in case the creator of the poll believes it only needs one answer.

    The votes remain anonymous, so while members of the channel will be able to see the number of votes, they won’t know who voted for a certain option. A limited number of channel owners can now see the poll option in the chat attachment menu within their channel.

    Although it’s expected for the feature to expand to more early adopters, it might take some time before WhatsApp decides to make it available to everyone. Still, it’s nice to know that Channels will be getting a very useful feature for those who want to grow their audience based on the feedback received.

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  • WhatsApp rolls out custom sticker maker on iOS

    WhatsApp rolls out custom sticker maker on iOS

    WhatsApp is bringing custom stickers to a whole new level with the latest update. The new changes will make it easier to customize your stickers before you post them in your conversations.

    Up until now, you could only create stickers by adding pictures from a gallery into the app, but the latest update adds an extra layer of customization. WhatsApp is now rolling out a new update on iOS, which lets users add text, another sticker, or even draw on top of a sticker.

    The procedure remains the same, but you can now add various media content on top of the image you chose from your gallery. In addition to being able to customize your stickers with text and drawings, you can also edit them by long-pressing on the image.

    The new feature is only available on devices that run at least iOS 17. If you’re an Android user, this is not yet available for you, but it’s unlikely that it will take WhatsApp too long to bring it to another platform.

     

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  • YouTube may have removed the iMessage mini-app for iOS devices

    YouTube may have removed the iMessage mini-app for iOS devices

    It appears that YouTube might have removed the iMessage mini-app that allows iPhone and iPad users to send videos directly from chat without leaving the Messages app.

    The latest YouTube app update released earlier this week mentions changes like improved performance and bug fixes, but it may have also removed the iMessage mini-app.

    The folks at 9to5mac confirm that the iMessage mini-app for iPhone and iPad is no longer available after the latest YouTube update, but at this time it’s impossible to tell whether or not this is something temporary.

    It’s been nearly seven years since the iMessage mini-app has been added to YouTube. Unfortunately, it never became popular among iOS users, even though the app allowed them not just to send YouTube videos directly from the chat without leaving the Message app, but they could also watch videos using the native YouTube app.

    Let us know in the comments if the feature disappears for you after updating the YouTube app to version 19.01.1. Although it might be hard to guess YouTube’s plans about the iMessage mini-app without an official statement.

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  • You may soon be able to send Selfie GIFs in Google Messages

    You may soon be able to send Selfie GIFs in Google Messages

    Google appears to be working on an exciting addition to its messaging app, Google Messages. A hidden feature that allows users to send short 4-second videos in the form of GIFs, which would add a fun and dynamic element to their conversations, has been discovered.

    TheSpAndroid recently stumbled upon an interesting feature called Selfie GIFs that can be activated within the Google Messages app by simply long-pressing the camera icon. The feature is reportedly currently in development, and Google has not officially announced it yet.

    Once enabled and after long-pressing the camera icon, a new UI pops up with a rounded camera frame in the center. At the bottom, there is a camera switch button that allows users to switch between the front and rear cameras easily. Once the 3-second timer is up, the recording will kick off automatically.

    After it’s finished, users will be able to view the recorded video in a GIF format through a preview UI. At that point, users are faced with two choices: Reset or Send. Resetting the recording process can be done by pressing the designated button, while sharing the video as a rounded GIF is as simple as hitting the Send option. This is similar to the functionality currently found in Chromebooks’ camera app.

    Google has been actively developing and introducing new features to enhance its widely-used messaging app, Google Messages. In December, the company introduced a range of exciting new features to enhance the texting experience. These additions include screen effects, custom backgrounds, and more.

    In addition, the company unveiled a fresh contacts page featuring the Material You carousel plus a range of exciting new features and enhancements for compatible Pixel devices included in the latest Pixel Feature Drop — such as Video Boost, which enhances video playback, and an improved Photo Unblur feature, among others.

    Now, it looks like Google is focused on enhancing the messaging experience with the introduction of Selfie GIFs. Although it’s not enabled by default yet, this feature is a fun little addition that will be sure to add a touch of fun to your conversations.

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  • Meta implements new restrictions for teen accounts on Instagram and Facebook

    Meta implements new restrictions for teen accounts on Instagram and Facebook

    Meta announced it will start hiding harmful content for Instagram and Facebook teen accounts. The company confirmed that it will automatically place all teens accounts into “the most restrictive control settings” on both its social networks, Instagram and Facebook.

    Besides that, Meta will restrict additional terms in Search on Instagram. Harmful and other types of age-inappropriate content aren’t usually recommended to teens in places like Reels and Explore, but once these changes are implemented, Meta will no longer show it too teens in Feed and Stories, even if it’s shared by someone they follow.
    New teens who join Instagram and Facebook will now have their accounts placed into the most restrictive content control setting by default. In the future, this will expand to teens who are already using both Meta’s social apps.

    Another important change involves content about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. While these topics are very serious and must be treated accordingly, Meta will start hiding related results when teens search for these specific terms.

    Instead, teens will be directed to expert resources for help. According to Meta, this specific update will roll out for everyone over the coming weeks.
    Last but not least, Meta will start sending new notifications encouraging teens to update their settings to a more private experience. If they choose to “Turn on recommended settings,” Meta will automatically change their settings to restrict who can repost their content, tag or mention them, as well as include their content in Reels Remixes. Also, only their followers will be able to message them.

  • Lego reveals new Apac leadership

    Lego reveals new Apac leadership

    The Lego Group has appointed Claus Kristensen as its new senior VP for Asia Pacific (Apac) to oversee the region and newly reshuffled business units.

    Kristensen will succeed Eric Maugein, who stepped down after nearly 20 years at the company to begin a new chapter in his career.

    An 11-year veteran of Lego, Kristensen previously worked in the region as VP of Marketing and B2B e-commerce.  His earlier roles include VP and GM of Australia & New Zealand and head of executive strategy at the Lego Group’s headquarters.

    He brings commercial and marketing experience to the role, together with his strategic mindset and inclusive leadership style.

    “I am so proud to be part of this company and will be focused on working with the team to deliver a step-up in business performance as we empower more kids and adults around Asia Pacific to unlock the power of creative play,” Kristensen said of his appointment.

    In his new position, he will report to chief commercial officer Colette Burke and be part of the markets & channels leadership team.

    The Lego Group has also implemented a new organisational structure in line with its ambitions in Apac and to serve high-growth markets. The company introduced two new business units: India & Emerging Asia (IEA), and Singapore, Malaysia and Travel Retail (SMTR).

    “This change deepens our commitment to these markets and sets us up to accelerate growth by unlocking new possibilities with dedicated resources, synergies in tackling similar challenges, and continuous innovation to enhance our ongoing relationships with our partners,” Kristensen elaborated.

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  • Metcash appoints Kylie Wallbridge as liquor division CEO

    Metcash appoints Kylie Wallbridge as liquor division CEO

    Wholesaler Metcash has appointed Kylie Wallbridge as the new CEO of its liquor division, effective in March.

    Metcash’s liquor segment includes the Cellarbrations, IGA Liquor, and The Bottle-O brands.

    Wallbridge will replace John Barakat, who has been the acting liquor CEO since the early retirement of Chris Baddock due to health reasons.

    Currently, Wallbridge serves as the MD of Diageo in the UK. She previously served as the MD of Diageo in Japan.

    “Kylie is a proven business leader with a track record for delivering results. Her alignment to our purpose of Championing Successful Independents and her passion for people is evident through her strong relationships with both retailers and suppliers,” said Metcash CEO Doug Jones.

    “I have no doubt Kylie will be a great asset to the Liquor pillar and Metcash more broadly. We warmly welcome her to Metcash. I would also like to sincerely thank John for acting in the role following the retirement of Chris last October.”

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  • Air India reveals new livery on its first A350

    Air India reveals new livery on its first A350

    Air India welcomed the first of 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on 23 December sporting the airline’s latest livery.

    The widebody aircraft, registered VT-JRA, arrived in New Delhi at 13:46 (local time) after the delivery flight from the Airbus facility in Toulouse.

    With the latest delivery, Air India is now the first carrier in the country to operate the A350. The aircraft will enter commercial service in January 2024 and will initially be operated domestically for crew familiarisation.

    Air India has 20 Airbus A350-900 on order, with five more scheduled for deliveries through March 2024. The airline’s firm orders with Airbus this year amounting to 250 aircraft also include 20 A350-1000.

    “This moment marks a red-letter day for all of us at Air India,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO and managing director at Air India.

    “The A350 is not just metal and engines; it’s the flying embodiment of the relentless efforts of all Air India employees towards our airline’s continuing transformation and of our commitment to setting new benchmarks. It is also, in many ways, a declaration of Indian aviation’s resurgence on the world stage.”

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  • Kazakhstan Expands Tourism Horizons with Malaysia’s AirAsia

    Kazakhstan Expands Tourism Horizons with Malaysia’s AirAsia

    Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerzhan Yerkinbayev held a meeting with representatives from Air Asia X, led by General Director Benjamin bin Ismail on Dec. 21, the ministry’s press service reported. The discussions centered around the collaborative efforts to develop Kazakhstan’s tourism sector, plans to amplify passenger traffic, and joint initiatives to foster tourism.

    Yerkinbayev emphasized the pivotal role of direct flights, stating that they not only break down barriers for travelers but also contribute to making the country more accessible.

    “Direct flights not only reduce barriers for travelers, making the country more accessible, but also help increase the number of tourists, expand the geography of inbound tourism, and create new opportunities for the tourism business,” said Yerkinbayev.

    With the launch of direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, Yerkinbayev anticipates a surge in business tourism, fostering the exchange of experience and knowledge and creating new investment avenues.

    For its part, Air Asia expressed its commitment to the partnership by revealing plans to initiate direct scheduled passenger flights between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty. These flights are expected to operate four times a week on Airbus A330 aircraft, starting from March 2024.

    This move is anticipated to unlock new opportunities for tourism, trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Malaysia.

    The initiation of direct flights between Kazakhstan and key destinations is just the first phase of the partnership. Negotiations with various AirAsia entities began in 2018, with AirAsia X management visiting the Kazakh capital as part of the Routes Silk Road initiative.

    Kairat Sadvakasov, Chairman of Kazakh Tourism national company, detailed plans for a joint marketing campaign to increase the flow of tourists, mainly from Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, all of which enjoy visa-free access.

    AirAsia X, the largest low-cost airline in Southeast Asia specializing in medium- and long-haul passenger transportation, is poised to provide affordable prices for air tickets, further encouraging travel between Kazakhstan and Southeast Asian destinations. The move is expected to invigorate tourism, trade, and economic ties between the nations involved in this collaboration.

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  • WhatsApp working to bring audio sharing over video calls feature to Android users too

    WhatsApp working to bring audio sharing over video calls feature to Android users too

    WhatsApp is always working to add new features to its app, so it’s no surprise that beta users are already seeing some options that are not yet available to anyone else. The new feature that’s available for WhatsApp beta users on Android allows them to share audio content during a video call.

    This feature was originally released in a previous beta version of WhatsApp for iOS, so it’s safe to assume that the ability to share audio over video calls will eventually come to both iOS and Android platforms.

    With WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.26.18, users can listen to video and music audio together. When the screen is shared, audio played on a device will also be shared with people in the call (via WaBetaInfo).

    Just like on iOS, this feature will not work during voice calls or video calls that have video disabled. Obviously, since this is still under development, it’s hard to say when it will be available for everyone, but if we were to guess, WhatsApp will not release it until next year.

    For those who want to try it out, enrolling in the beta program is easy and doesn’t require too much of your time. Be prepared to experience some bugs though.

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