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  • AirAsia boss pushes Bangkok as global aviation hub

    AirAsia boss pushes Bangkok as global aviation hub

    Based in Malaysia, AirAsia is operating low-cost airlines in four Asean countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. The company is planning to launch the newest addition, AirAsia Cambodia, in March.

    “We want to make Bangkok the next Dubai in terms of being a global aviation hub, as the Asean region has high potential with a population numbering more than 700 million,” Fernandes said on Wednesday. “However, Thailand’s airports cannot grow overnight. Therefore, we want to see infrastructure for low-cost airlines included in the country’s future airport expansion projects.”

    He went on to thank the Thai government for waiving the visa requirement for travellers from selected countries in a bid to boost tourism, which also benefits the airline industry in the region.

    Fernandes revealed that after meeting with Srettha, who also doubles as Finance Minister, the AirAsia group would file an official proposal to the Thai government, requesting a 40% reduction on excise tax for jet fuel, which is currently collected at 4.726 baht per litre, and is the highest among the four countries where AirAsia operates.

    The Philippines collect excise tax for jet fuels of 2.48 baht per litre, while Malaysia and Indonesia do not collect this tax.

    “Reducing fuel tax will also help expand the domestic tourism market by distributing Thai and foreign visitors to other provinces besides Bangkok and Phuket,” he said.

    AirAsia will also ask the Thai government to maintain the current rate of the air navigation service fee collected by the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, which will help airline operators manage operational costs.

    The airline would also urge the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to consider increasing traffic rights on Thailand-India routes.

    Tassapon Bijleveld, executive chairman of Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X, said on Wednesday that AirAsia group is planning to procure 412 new airplanes, about 25% of which or 100-150 airplanes have been earmarked for the Thai operation.

    He said Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X airlines aim to serve 20-21 million passengers in 2024, up from 18 million people recorded in 2023. However, this estimation is still lower than the tally in 2019, before the pandemic, at 22 million people.

    Tassapon added that Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X would not merge into a single airline immediately after the AirAsia Group announced a business structure adjustment on Monday (January 15), which will see the merger of airline businesses under Capital A with its sister company AirAsia X Bhd (AAX).

    “The merger of two airlines in Thailand may have to wait 2-3 years, until after Thai AirAsia X leaves the business rehabilitation plan, which should happen around late 2025,” he said.

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  • Domino’s Pizza hits 1000 store milestone in Japan

    Domino’s Pizza hits 1000 store milestone in Japan

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises (DPE) has reached a mega 1000 stores in Japan. This milestone makes the Japanese market the largest by store footprint for DPE. It is also the third largest Domino’s market outside of the US, after India and the UK.

    Domino’s entered the Japanese market in 1985 and DE bought a majority stake in 2013.

    Four years later the Aussie-based business acquired the remaining 25 percent.

    DE group CEO and managing director Don Mei reflected on the majority investment a decade ago.

    “We knew Japan was an opportunity like no other, but pizza purchasing behaviour was quite different to our other market.”

    Pizza was viewed as a premium, occasion product rather than an everyday purchase.

    “At the time, Domino’s only operated in 17 of Japan’s 47 prefectures and only 43 of its 259 stores were franchised. We could see we had extremely experienced operators, but without the means to grow,” Meij said.

    Today local franchisees own and operate more than half (626) of the stores. APAC CEO Josh Kilimnik said “We’re seeing more store managers wanting to franchise and more franchisees wanting to become multi-unit franchisees.”

    An official ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the milestone event. The opening of the 100th store at Koto Furuishiba in Tokyo was attended by Mei and Kilimnik, along with the CEO of Domino’s Pizza Japan Martin Steenks and Domino’s Pizza Japan founder Ernest M Higa.

    “Reaching 1,000 stores is a very significant milestone, not only for Japan, but for Domino’s globally,” Meij said.

    “The team in Japan are continually inspiring us all with what’s possible – whether it’s raising the bar in operational excellence or creating some of the most exciting menu innovations on the planet. They have become true world leaders.”

    Kilimnik, who served as Domino’s Japan CEO and president between 2018 and 2022, commented on the key drivers of the business.

    He pointed to a revitalised menu with premium pizzas alongside a value offer, the implementation of a dynamic online ordering system, and investment in people.

    Domino’s Japan CEO Martin Steenks said the goal is to be the number one pizza company across all of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Currently it has the biggest store count in 30 prefectures.

    Steenks said.”We are very confident we will be celebrating 2,000 stores in Japan within the next decade.”

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  • Instagram tests Stories with multiple audience lists

    Instagram tests Stories with multiple audience lists

    Instagram’s Stories is one of the standout features on the social media platform. Data shows that more than 500 million people engage with Stories daily, and a whopping 85% of all Instagram users post a Story every single day. Considering the platform boasts over 2.3 billion active users, that’s quite a substantial number, don’t you think? It’s understandable if you’re not keen on having your Story visible to everyone, especially after seeing these staggering figures. The good news is there might be a solution on the horizon.

    Instagram is currently testing the capability to share Stories with multiple audience lists. The goal is to allow you to share Stories with smaller, more specific groups, providing better control over who gets to see your Stories. Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, shared details about testing this new feature on his Instagram broadcast channel.

    Previously, Instagram introduced the Close Friends feature, allowing you to share Stories exclusively with a select group of your closest friends, keeping them hidden from the wider audience. To use the Close Friends feature, you first need to specify who you want in your Close Friends list. You have complete control over this list since no one can request to be added.

    The new feature being tested goes beyond the Close Friends concept, enabling users to create multiple lists, not just one for close friends. For instance, you can have a list exclusively for your classmates, another for your co-workers, or one for family members. This way, you have the power to decide who sees what, emphasizing the importance of privacy (after all, not everyone wants to share their moments with over 2.3 billion people, right?).

    A recent report revealed that Meta used public Facebook and Instagram posts to train parts of its new Meta AI virtual assistant. If this raises concerns, using features like Close Friends or the upcoming one being tested might be a wise choice. The new AI assistant is already rolling out to WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.

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  • Google reveals seven new features for Google Chat

    Google reveals seven new features for Google Chat

    Google Chat was originally designed for businesses to keep their teams communicating internally. However, it can now be used by consumers for direct messages and group conversations. It also includes Spaces, which is a feature where tasks can be assigned and files shared. Chat can be installed on both Android and iOS. Found in the Google Play Store, the app can be downloaded by Android users by tapping on this link. Those using an iPhone can find the app in the App Store by clicking on this link.
    On Friday Google revealed seven new features coming to Google Chat including Smart Compose. This feature offers those typing a message contextually aware suggestions that are grayed out in the text bar. If you see a suggestion that you want to use, hit the tab button to add the suggested words to your message. Check out the video below to show you how Smart Compose works in Chat. Smart Compose is rolling out to Chat web users in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
    If you’ve ever sent a message and immediately realized that you left out a word, or typed something by mistake, Google Chat can use message editing to delete or edit a message by long-pressing on it. A toolbar will appear and you press on the Edit icon (which looks like a pencil), make your edit (or delete the entire message) and tap on Update. This feature is available to all Chat users.
    Another new feature in Chat will allow you to quote a previous message when sending a response. This allows the group to see exactly which message you are responding to without getting confused. Just tap on the message you want to quote and when the toolbox appears, tap on the icon that shows the “Enter” icon, and the message you want to reply to will be on the bottom of the screen. Type your response and send it.
    Sometimes, whether it is due to a poor internet connection or for some other reason, you might not know whether some or all of the group received your message. Already available for direct messages on mobile and web, you will get a read receipt on messages you send when the avatar of those who received your message appears underneath your post on the right side. Tapping on the avatars (or rolling over them with a mouse) will show the names of those who received your message. This will be coming to Chat later this month to group messages on mobile and web.
    Want to save yourself from adding a long URL to a message? Sure you do. If you want to link something to a group, you can select the text that you want to hyperlink, click on the insert link icon on the toolbar, and paste in or type the URL you want linked to the text. This will be available in the weeks ahead for Android users and those on the web.
    No one likes a messy and cluttered interface. So if you have more than 10 conversations or spaces, any that have been inactive for the last seven days will be hidden until a new message is posted. At that time, it will go straight to the top of the list. And if you need to view one of the hidden conversations or spaces before a new message is sent, tap the “More” button under the list of Chats. This feature is available to Chat users now.
    Lastly, in the coming weeks, Chat users will be able to install apps for their personal Chats and spaces. Google mentions Giphy to add GIFs, Asana to assign tasks and add to-do lists to group chats, and Zapier for custom notifications.
    Again, if you don’t have Google Chat on your iOS or Android device, we left some links at the top of this article to help you download the apps quickly.
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  • Fast Retailing’s Uniqlo to add stores in North America

    Fast Retailing’s Uniqlo to add stores in North America

    According to one of its executives, fast Retailing’s Uniqlo plans to expand its existing stores in North America by 10 percent.

    Uniqlo is opening six stores — four in the US and two in Canada — this summer as part of its expansion plan to reach more than 200 locations in North America by 2027. The company hopes to open 20 to 30 stores each year as a part of the goal.

    The US stores, which will be located in malls in two California locations, Maryland and New Jersey, are in areas where the chain already has a presence.

    The two Canadian stores opening in Ottawa and Calgary — the first Uniqlo locations in those cities — each total 15,000 square feet (1,393.55 square meters).

    Each of the new stores will be equipped with self-checkout kiosks, in-store pickup and free clothing alterations.

    Fast Retailing reported a 16.4 percent rise to US$1.65 billion in first-half operating profit earlier this month. The company also raised its full-year profit forecast to $2.7 billion from$2.63 billion.

    Daisuke Tsukagoshi, Uniqlo North America chief executive, said in an email to Reuters that the chain chose to launch the Ottawa and Calgary stores after seeing a “strong online presence” there.

    The Tokyo-based retailer currently has 47 stores in the US and 16 locations in Canada.

    “We’re looking to locations where we have already seen high customer demand, as well as new markets that we see opportunity in,” Tsukagoshi added.

    Tsukagoshi said that localizing product offerings in the US’s various regions has been “challenging” as shoppers deal with different climates and experiences.

    He said Uniqlo is in a “unique position” to open stores in the current economic environment as shoppers trade down and turn to accessible pricing for essential styles.

    Uniqlo has gained popularity in the US for its relatively low pricing including women’s t-shirts for $14.90 and men’s zip-up jackets for $39.90.

    According to its website, Uniqlo currently has 1,028 stores in Greater China and 79 in Europe.

    For comparison, Gap Inc boasts more than 2,100 stores, including Old Navy and the Gap brand, in the US alone. However, the company plans to close approximately 350 Gap and Banana Republic locations by the end of 2023.

    According to the retailer’s website, Sweden’s fast fashion giant H&M has more than 738 stores in North and South America as of February 2023.

  • Dior to open its largest store in South Korea

    Dior to open its largest store in South Korea

    Following the launch of its concept store in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong district last year, LVMH-owned luxury house Dior will open its largest brick-and-mortar store in South Korea in the second half of this year.

    Located inside one of the country’s largest department stores Hyundai Department Store Pangyo, Dior’s new flagship store will mark the largest among women’s boutiques, except for the men’s/women’s boutiques ‘House of Dior,’ ‘Dior Sung Soo,’ and The Hyundai Seoul Dior Boutique.

    Christian Dior Couture Korea’s net income swelled 54.8 percent on-year to $184 million last year, while its operating profit and sales in South Korea both rose over 50 percent on-year, according to its regulatory filing.

    Hyundai Department Store said last year it planned to invest approximately 200 billion won in upgrading its six branches: Apgujeong, The Hyundai Seoul, the Trade Centre branch, the Mok-dong branch, the Pangyo branch, and the Daegu branch.

    Dior has also just named Haerin, a member of the Kpop group NewJeans, as its new brand ambassador for Jewellery and House Ambassador for Fashion and Beauty at Dior.

    International luxury brands are paying close attention to the South Korean market as they employ various strategies to gain more customers, particularly those in Gen Z. According to Morgan Stanley, South Koreans were the world’s biggest spenders on personal luxury goods with the nation’s per capita spending amounting to US$325.

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  • Kirin to buy Blackmores in $1.88 billion cash deal

    Kirin to buy Blackmores in $1.88 billion cash deal

    Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings has agreed a $1.2 billion buyout of Australian vitamin maker Blackmores, furthering a diversification push while offering the struggling target’s shareholders a neat exit.

    The deal makes good on a plan by Kirin to broaden its business beyond alcoholic drinks as a growing interest in health raises expectations of tougher regulation.

    It also throws a lifeline to Blackmores shareholders after years of soft returns. The company grew from Australia’s first health food store nearly a century ago into a national success story as it capitalized on Chinese appetite for imported health supplements.

    But COVID-19 containment ended the “daigou” boom, where Chinese consumers bought goods abroad to carry home, and the firm has been struggling to recover sales since. Before the Kirin deal, Blackmores shares traded at one-third their value in 2016, the height of the daigou craze.

    “When you’ve spent 57 years at a business, you don’t want to see the business suffer, and you want to see the business successful,” said former chairman Marcus Blackmore, son of the firm’s founder and its top shareholder with 19%.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that Kirin will deliver on that promise to me,” added Blackmore, 78, in a phone interview.

    Kirin, which makes about half its sales from alcoholic drinks, including top Australian beer brands like Tooheys, said it would benefit by joining a pharmaceuticals unit based in Japan with an already large Australian footprint.

    “In the health sciences area, Kirin is strong in Japan while Blackmores has a strong presence in Australia, China, and Southeast Asia,” Kirin Senior Executive Officer Takeshi Minakata told a Tokyo news conference.

    “The combination of the two companies will enable us to supplement each other’s coverage in areas that have not been covered so far.

    The news pushed Blackmores shares up 23% to A$94.26, their biggest single-day gain, and just short of Kirin’s A$95 purchase price as investors considered the deal final while allowing for dividends that might be paid, which would be subtracted from it.

    “Higher interloping bids are possible, but we think the odds are low given our A$80 stand-alone assessment of Blackmores’ intrinsic value,” said Morningstar analyst Shane Ponraj in a client note.

    Kirin shares fell as much as 3% as analysts wondered if it overpaid.

    “The deal just looked a bit expensive and Japan generally takes M&A negatively. A little surprised it isn’t down more.” said Mio Kato, founder of LightStream Research, who publishes on the SmartKarma platform.

  • Microsoft finally brings Phone Link to iOS users

    Microsoft finally brings Phone Link to iOS users

    It’s been years since Microsoft supported Android users with Phone Link, the app that allows them to connect smartphones to their PCs. Starting today, the same app is available for iPhone users, Microsoft revealed in a blog post. However, the experience is quite limited and pales in comparison with the features Phone Link for Android provides users.

    Announced back in February, the expansion of the Phone Link app to iOS is finally happening, as Microsoft announced the app is now rolling out globally in 39 languages across 85 markets.

    As per the company’s statement, once Phone Link is enabled on a Windows 11 PC, the app should provide some basic iOS support for calls, messages and access to contacts. iOS users can also access their iPhone photos on their PC thanks to Microsoft’s iCloud integration with Photos. Basically, you’ll be able to see your iPhone photos in the Photos app in Windows 11.

    While the rollout of the app has already begun, it may take a few weeks to be visible on all PCs. To start using Phone Link for iOS, use the Search box on the Windows taskbar to find Phone Link, and then follow the step-by-step guide to set it up.

    Regarding requirements, Microsoft confirmed that Phone Link for iOS is compatible with iPhones running iOS 14 or higher. The app will only work on Windows 11 devices and requires Bluetooth connection. Keep in mind that iPads and macOS are not compatible with this version of Phone Link.

    It’s also worth mentioning that iOS limit the messaging feature, and image/video sharing, as well as group messaging will not be supported. Microsoft notes that all messages are sessions based and will only be received when the phone is connected to PC.

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  • McGuigan expands into mid-strength wine

    McGuigan expands into mid-strength wine

    The new McGuigan Black Label Mid is the first mid-strength wine launched under the Australian winemaker. Consumers call for quality and variety in the rapidly expanding mid and low-alcohol category.

    Promising the same full-bodied, fruity flavor of the iconic McGuigan Black Label Red, the new Mid is crafted to be 20 percent lighter in both calories and alcohol, using Australian Vintage’s unique spinning cone technology.

    In a recent blind taste testing1 of the new McGuigan Black Label Mid against the original, 80 percent of consumers were surprised at their preference for the new Mid over the classic full strength. Additionally, nine out of 10 said they’d consider buying the new McGuigan Black Label Mid for healthier consumption of alcohol1.

    With the new McGuigan Black Label Mid, the winemakers have reimagined the classic McGuigan Black Label Red, crafting a drop with 5.8 standard drinks and 9.8 percent alcohol for Australians to enjoy on any occasion.

    Tom Dusseldorp, chief marketing officer of Australian Vintage, the ASX-listed parent company behind McGuigan Wines, says consumers can feel confident choosing McGuigan Black Label Mid, trusting the brand to deliver on great quality and value.

    “McGuigan Black Label has been a staple in Australian households for nearly 30 years and McGuigan has a rich heritage of winemaking credentials. As cultural and societal attitudes shift towards a more conscious consumption of alcohol, we want our customers to still be able to enjoy the full-bodied flavors that Black Label offers, just tailored for mindful moderation,” said Dusseldorp.

    With consumer moderation driving category growth – mid-strength beer now accounts for 25 percent of the beer category – Australian Vintage anticipates wine to follow suit, with ‘lighter’ wine growing at 14 percent compared to total ‘wine’, which is growing at just 2 percent.

    Research commissioned by partner DrinkWise Australia also found a third of Australians (37 percent) who have reduced their alcohol consumption are using low and non-alcoholic options to cut back.

    “McGuigan has already seen great success adapting to the new societal norms, with McGuigan Zero fast becoming Australia and the UK’s number one selling no-alcohol wine range,” added Dusseldorp.

    McGuigan Black Label Mid is the natural choice for consumers looking for a modern drinking experience and for Boomers who are becoming more health conscious.”

    Promising the same great-tasting flavors of McGuigan Black Label Red, consumers of McGuigan Black Label Mid will enjoy:

    • A classic red with delicious fruit flavors of spicy plum, cherry and blackberry. This off-dry, deep wine boasts a hint of sweetness.

    • Well-balanced with a smooth finish, this versatile wine pairs brilliantly with tomato-based dishes.

    • 9.8 percent alcohol and 5.8 standard drinks, 20 percent less than Black Label Red

    • Only 103.5 calories per 150ml serve, 21.5% lighter in calories than Black Label Red McGuigan Black Label Mid will be ava

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  • Asahi Beverages to close Green Beacon brewery

    Asahi Beverages to close Green Beacon brewery

    Asahi Beverages will close its Green Beacon brewery’s operations in North Brisbane in around 10 weeks.

    The closure follows several years of “excellent growth” for Green Beacon, according to the company, and is part of a plan to ensure the company’s growth by boosting brewing capacity across various sites.

    Asahi Beverages will invest in Green Beacon’s original location at the Teneriffe brewpub to increase brewing capacity. The majority of Green Beacon brewing will be moved to Asahi Beverages’ other Fire & Earth Ventures locations in Australia, including Pirate Life in Port Adelaide and 4 Pines in Brookvale, NSW. These additional sites are equipped to handle Green Beacon’s continued expansion.

    The closing of Geebung will lead to the departure of three full-time and two casual employees. The remaining Geebung employees will be transferred to the Teneriffe microbrewery.

    “Geebung has been our home for more than six years and has driven much of our recent success,” said Green Beacon’s GM Richard Shrosbery.

    “However, we are experiencing significant growth and have now outgrown the site. Today’s announcement means Green Beacon can continue its growth trajectory by unlocking capacity constraints, which will help ensure we continue to get it to lovers of Green Beacon everywhere.”

    The company said it will assist employees affected by redundancy and is looking at replacement roles within the Asahi Beverages group.

    Last year, Asahi Beverages acquired Byron Ba premium mixer brand StrangeLove as consumer demand for better-for-you beverages grows.

  • iPhone 14 prices in Vietnam cheapest in the world only after US

    iPhone 14 prices in Vietnam cheapest in the world only after US

    Low demand has driven iPhone 14 prices in Vietnam to the second lowest levels in the world after only the U.S. According to German data portal Statista, the price starts at US$799 in the U.S. while authorized Apple resellers in Vietnam sell it at VND19.7 million ($834.7).

    “The iPhone 14 is not popular, and so stores are selling them at close to import prices to recover capital,” said Thanh Son, the owner of a mobile phone showroom in HCMC’s District 1.

    But in other Asian markets, the prices are higher. They start at VND22.3 million in Singapore, VND20.7 million in Hong Kong, and VND23 million in Thailand.

    In Vietnam, the prices of two high-end models, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max, are only VND1 million lower than in the U.S.

    The iPhone 14 Pro Max costs VND28 million, down VND3.5 million within just one month. “This is an unexpected development because in previous years, it was not until June or July that iPhone prices fell steeply,” Nguyen Lac Huy, a manager at retail chain CellPhoneS, said.

    Unlike at the end of last year, the supply of iPhone 14s is now abundant, so people can choose colors and capacities.

    Nguyen Minh Khue, a manager at another retail chain, Viettel Store, said the prices of the entire iPhone 14 range were recently cut by up to VND2 million due to the falling demand and increasing supply.

    Some other Apple products are also among the cheapest in the world in Vietnam. An iPad 9 starts at VND7.5 million and a MacBook Air M1 at VND19.9 million, while in the second cheapest market, Hong Kong, the latter still sells at VND23.4 million.

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  • WhatsApp adds new features to your status updates

    WhatsApp adds new features to your status updates

    Although an app with a very large and broad user base, WhatsApp can still leave a lot to be desired when it comes to its features. Competing apps such as Signal and Telegram have, for years, outshined the Meta-owned application in that respect; However, WhatsApp is now stepping things up and adding

    WhatsApp announced via a blog post that the company will be adding more options to the status section of the app, which is often used to convey fleeting information with friends and close contacts. These statuses are available for 24 hours and can contain a variety of media, including photos, videos, animated GIFs, etc. Here’s a summary of the new features you can expect:

    • Private Audience Selector: Every status update you post might not be appropriate for all of your contacts all of the time, so WhatsApp will now have the ability to update your privacy settings on a per-status basis so that you can choose who sees each new version of the status that you post. The audience that you most recently selected will be remembered and used as the default for your subsequent status update.
    • Voice Status: You will soon be able to record and share voice messages on WhatsApp status that are up to 30 seconds long. Voice status allows for sending more personal updates, which is especially useful if you find that expressing yourself verbally rather than through typing is more comfortable for you.
    • Status Reactions: You can now respond to any status in a flash by swiping up and selecting one of eight different emojis from the menu that appears. It goes without saying that you can still respond to a status update with a text message, voice message, stickers, or any number of other options. Status reactions have been one of the most requested features since the debut of Reactions a year ago.
    • Status Profile Rings for New Updates: When a contact of yours shares an update to their status, a ring will appear around their profile picture. This will be viewable in the chat lists, the participant lists for groups, as well as the contact information, thus making it easier to never miss a status update from a friend or family member again.
    • Link Previews on Status: When you send a message or post a link on your status, you will now see an automatic visual preview of the message or link’s content, just as you do when you send a message. Visual previews not only improve the appearance of your status updates but also provide your contacts with a clearer picture of the link’s content before they click on it.

    These updates have begun to be made available to users all over the world, and they will be accessible to absolutely everyone in the coming weeks. As usual, just like your personal chats and calls, your WhatsApp status is protected by end-to-end encryption so that you can share in a private manner without compromising your safety.

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  • Telegram introduces profile photo maker

    Telegram introduces profile photo maker

    Telegram typically pushes out major updates once a month, and February is no exception. After adding the ability to hide spoilers in media content and other features in late 2022, Telegram recently released yet another update that brings even more new features to Android and iOS users.

    The highlights of February’s update include a profile photo maker, real-time message translation, and emoji categories. Depending on how you’re using Telegram, some of these new features might be more important than others.

    As the first Telegram update of the year, the new piece of content introduces no less than 10 major features. With the new profile pictures maker, Telegram users can turn stickers or animated emoji into a profile pictures that can be used for accounts, groups, and even channels. The new feature is not locked behind the Premium subscription, so everyone can use it once they updated to the latest version of Telegram.

    Another premiere for Telegram is the ability to translate entire chats, groups and channels in real time. The Translate bar at the top of the app will make this complex task a breeze. You can even hide the bar and control which languages are translated. The bad news is you have to pay for Premium to be able to use real-time chat translation.

    For those who are obsessed by data, the update makes it possible to see how much data has been used by the app with detailed pie charts for both mobile data and Wi-Fi. You can even adjust the auto-download settings the way you want.

    There’s also a new menu from where Telegram users can control when media is saved automatically to the gallery based on size, type and which chat it was received from. Additionally, the menu makes it possible to filter your media by using exceptions.

    Telegram has so many emoji that more often than not it’s hard to find what you want. The latest update introduces emoji categories in the panel. You can also hold any emoji to zoom in to get a better look at it before sending.

  • Airports serve more than 9.8 million passengers in January

    Airports serve more than 9.8 million passengers in January

    Airports across Vietnam handled more than 9.8 million passengers in January, an increase of 13.8% compared to the previous month, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

    Of the total, the number of international passengers reached 2.3 million, a 10% rise month on month, while the number of domestic passengers was 7.5 million, an increase of 15% month on month.

    Domestic airlines carried 4.85 million passengers, up 13.4% including 1.1 million international passengers and 3.75 million domestic ones.

    About 112,000 tonnes of cargo were handled at the airports in the first month of 2023, up 11.6% compared to December 2022.

    During the 7-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, airports across the country served more than 1.9 million passengers, an increase of 58%, and more than 7,600 tonnes of cargo, down 11.6% compared to the same period of the Lunar New Year in 2022.

    Particularly, Vietnamese airlines transported more than 967,000 passengers and 1,550 tonnes of cargo, an increase of 60.7% and 28.4% respectively compared to the same period last year.

    Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City saw 20,975 flights, an increase of about 26.5% over the same period in 2022, and 3,147,014 passengers, up 61%.

    Noi Bai International Airport from January 19 to 29 (or the 28th day of the 12th lunar month to the 8th day of the first lunar month) saw 5,618 flights, an increase of 49% compared to the same period of last year. Nearly 900,000 passengers traversed the airport during the festive time, up 71%.

    According to the CAAV, although the number of passengers increased during the Tet holiday, there were no congestions at airports, especially Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports.

    “Airports proactively prepared for the festive time and worked closely with airlines and ground service units to provide maximum support for passengers, especially large groups and last-minute guests,” said the agency.

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  • 5 Reasons to Invest in Copper Light Fixtures for Your Business

    5 Reasons to Invest in Copper Light Fixtures for Your Business

    A big part of running a successful business is always being on the lookout for things you can improve. Regularly making changes that make your business space more efficient, easier to navigate, or more attractive to customers is a must if you want to stay on top. One change that may prove useful for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve is to invest in copper light fixtures.

    Here are some of the reasons why it is a good idea to invest in this type of fixture for your business space.

    1 – Copper is easy to maintain

    Keeping your light fixtures clean is often tricky, especially when they are placed in areas that are hard to reach. If you rather not have to scrub and polish your light fixtures to keep them clean, copper is a good alternative.

    Copper has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Thanks to that, they won’t get gross or develop mold over time, which greatly reduces how much you need to clean these fixtures. For the most part, copper only needs to be dusted once in a while to maintain its appearance.

    2 – Copper comes in many styles

    Copper metal is easy to work with. Thanks to that, there are copper light fixtures of all shapes and sizes out there, as this page showcases. Whether you’re looking for something bold or minimalist, modern or classic, you will be able to find the right fixtures to match the look and décor of your business space. And you will have enough options to decide if you want the fixtures to draw the eye of customers or if you’d rather have them just add to the atmosphere.

    3 – Copper ages gracefully

    Copper is a durable material that can be used for decades without losing its luster. For the most part. Old copper will develop a superficial layer of patina over time that will change its color and reduce its shine. The result is a deep and rich look that many find appealing, but if you’d like your copper fixtures to look brand, they’ll need to be polished about once a year.

    4 – Copper can brush off scratches

    That patina also makes copper relatively scratch-proof. In most cases, any scratches made to the material will either not go past the patina layer or be hidden by it once oxidation covers it up. This is great if you’d like your copper fixtures to look brand-new for years to come.

    Of course, deep enough scratches will leave a permanent mark. But copper is a relatively soft metal, which makes scratches easy to remove through buffing and polishing. 

    5 – Copper doesn’t rust

    If you’re planning on placing your light fixtures outdoors or in areas with lots of humidity, copper is a good choice of material. It can handle humidity and temperature changes quite well. On top of that, copper metal doesn’t rust, which is one less thing to worry about in terms of maintenance.

     

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