Tag: asia

  • Google Search’s new features can help you save money when traveling

    Google Search’s new features can help you save money when traveling

    Travelling provides new experiences and new experiences are the key to keeping stress levels low and happiness levels high. But what do all good trips have in common? That’s right: we take some of the best smartphones on them with us, because they are helpful travel companions.

    How would we make them more helpful though? Well, easy: new Google Search features. Most people are already using the search engine when planning out their trips, so incorporating new tools into it is a simple no brainer.

    And would you look at that? Google was thinking the same thing! The latest update to the platfor has introduced a brand new workflow, consisting of three separate features:

    • Browsing hotels
    • Saving money on flights
    • Discover what the destination holds in store

    Once a user is done with the process, they would effectively have chosen their next travel destination with ease, all from the comfort of their smartphone.

    In order to kick things off, you are expected to search for a location, combined with “hotel”. At that point, Google will present a series of “stories”, as seen on major social media platforms. Each entry will showcase features related to the hotel in question. Once the choice has been made, a helpful button can be tapped to take you straight to that hotel’s booking page.

    Still, you have to get there, and for that we can get help from Google Flights. It monitors flight prices and recognizes if a given ticket price is low, standard or high. The platform will then label the listings it shows accordingly, so that you can pick out the best deal.

    The last thing on the list is choosing what to do once you land and Google can help you optimize that too. If you search for, lets say, a monument, Search will also offer worthwhile sights nearby, so that you can get the most out of your day. Each recommendation also comes with directions and a link to buy tickets if need be.

    Summertime seems far away, but it’ll be here before you know it. If you were hesitant to start planning your trips, because of all the related hassle, this may have been the nudge you needed. Why not take a chill pill and let Google do the heavy lifting?

  • Vietnam to inspect TikTok content to stop harmful videos

    Vietnam to inspect TikTok content to stop harmful videos

    Vietnam will begin to conduct an inspection of TikTok next month to deal with harmful content and false information.

    Le Quang Tu Do, head of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said that recently a lot of toxic, offensive, false and superstitious content has been appearing on the social media app TikTok in Vietnam.

    The inspection, to be conducted by the communications ministry, seeks to ensure that the social media complies with Vietnam’s regulations, both in content and operations.

    “TikTok, Facebook and YouTube are all cross-border social media with international standards,” Do said. “But when entering Vietnam, they need to comply with Vietnam’s laws, which includes regulations on content management and tax, payments and commercial policy.”

    TikTok was launched in Vietnam in 2019 after a year of beta testing. It now has nearly 50 million Vietnamese users aged 18 and above. Vietnam ranks sixth out of 10 countries with the biggest number of TikTok users, according to research company DataReportal.

    In the first quarter of last year TikTok said it removed some 2.43 million videos uploaded by Vietnamese users for violating its community guidelines related to nudity and sexual acts involving minors, inciting violence and also frightening content, harassment, bullying, suicides, and more.

  • AirAsia Xpanding Services To China And Australia

    AirAsia Xpanding Services To China And Australia

    Australians have another way to get to Asia now AirAsia X restarted its Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast service yesterday. The nostalgic service retraced AirAsia X’s first-ever route, launched over 25 years ago.

    AirAsia X started the Kuala Lumpur to Queensland’s Gold Coast in November 2007, but it has been suspended for more than two years due to the pandemic restrictions. The Gold Coast is one of Australia’s premier tourist destinations for domestic and international travelers and has been one of AirAsia X’s most popular destinations.

    Radar24.com, flight D7200 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) on Friday at 23:43 for the 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) flight to the Gold Coast. The flight was operated by a nine-year-old Airbus A330-300, registration 9M-XXK and manufacturer serial number 1433.

    After 7:51 hours of flying, it landed at Gold Coast Airport (OOL) at 09:34 yesterday morning. The A330-300 was on the ground for just over two hours before departing at 11:36 and arriving back in Kuala Lumpur at 17:44. It then returned to Australia as flight D7288, arriving at Sydney Airport (SYD) at 09:45 this morning.

    Fleet data from ch-aviation.com shows that AirAsia X (AAX) has a fleet of thirteen A330-300s, with three inactive. The data shows it also has 20 Airbus A321XLRs, 15 A330-900neos, and one A330-300 on order.

    AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail was on the flight. He said it was a crucial day for the airline that will “strengthen the ties between Malaysia and Australia.

    “The Gold Coast will always hold a special place in our hearts, and what makes this announcement even more of a major milestone is that AAX is now the only airline connecting Kuala Lumpur directly to the Gold Coast and to Queensland on the whole.

    “Our newest route now provides the most affordable and convenient air travel option for guests who want to explore one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and for Australians seeking to visit Malaysia or continue on throughout Asia with our vast global network, including to leisure favorites like Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India and more.”

    In March, AAX resumed flights from Kuala Lumpur to Shanghai and Hangzhou in China and restarted services to Beijing. Flight D7342 departed KUL on March 30th at 19:15 and landed at Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) at 00:55 on Friday. The Airbus A330-300, registration (M-XBF), left Beijing at 03:32 and, after a 5:49 hour flight, landed in Kuala Lumpur at 09:21.

    The route will operate twice weekly and will stimulate business travel and tourism in both directions. Now that China has resumed issuing tourist visas, AAX believes it will see a surge in demand for flights between KL and PKX. AirAsia X last operated the route on April 12th, 2020, although it operated in and out of Beijing Capital Airport (PEK).

    The airline plans to ramp up Beijing frequency to four flights weekly starting from June 1st to meet growing forecast demand. Beyond that, AAX is planning more expansion to more unique, less traveled destinations in China soon.

  • Soy milk contaminated during shipment to Japan

    Soy milk contaminated during shipment to Japan

    A consignment of soy milk found contaminated and destroyed in Japan must have been tainted en route, Vietnamese exporter Vinasoy has said.

    Tests by the National Institute For Food Control on Monday did not find coliform bacteria in the Fami Calcium Soy Milk samples it had retained from the export consignment, it said.

    But 640 packs imported to Japan by Next Trading company were found to have coliform and ordered to be recalled and destroyed in Chiba city.

    A Vinasoy spokesperson said the contamination must have happened during the shipment or distribution process in Japan.

    The spokesperson said that Coliform cannot survive the enzyme inactivation processes in which soy milk is heated to 120 degrees Celsius (248 Fahrenheit) and ultra-high-temperature sterilization at 140 degrees Celsius.

    A carton of soy milk with coliform would be bloated and go sour in two to four days, and so the factory would have noticed any contamination right away, the spokesperson added.

    Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare confirmed the contamination.

    But a spokesperson for Next Trading told broadcaster NHK that while the company was “surprised and sorry” to learn about the contamination, it had tested the products based on health ministry standards before distribution and had not detected any coliform.

    Since the news broke, Vinasoy has consistently said its product was not contaminated.

    It has 25 years’ experience in making soy products and is the industry leader in Vietnam.

    It exports to several other markets with high standards such as the U.S. and South Korea.

    Coliform, which can be found in water and the feces of warm-blooded animals, does not often cause serious illness, but a person exposed to it could have an upset stomach, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.

  • Cebu Pacific to launch Laoag flights in May

    Cebu Pacific to launch Laoag flights in May

    Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is set to mount flights to the Ilocos Norte capital of Laoag starting May 22, making it the 35th domestic destination in the airline’s network.

    Cebu Pacific said flights from Manila to Laoag will be daily, as the airline seeks to tap travelers seeking to explore the Ilocos region.

    “Laoag plays a crucial role in preserving the country’s rich history and culture, and we are excited to finally be able to bring more Juans to this beautiful city,” President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao said in a statement.

    “We hope the launch of the Laoag route will encourage more people to travel and experience the Ilocos region,” he added.

    The carrier reported a P14-billion net loss in 2022, marking an improvement from the P24.9-billion net loss incurred in the previous year as it cut its operating loss by about half to P11.4 billion.

    The company is set to add 11 more aircraft to its fleet this 2023, seeking to return to profitability within the first quarter of the year.

    Shares in Cebu Air Inc., which operates the carrier, were trading up by P0.05 or 0.12% at P41.70 apiece as of 11:59 a.m. on Wednesday.

  • Bacardi launches its first premium spiced liquor

    Bacardi launches its first premium spiced liquor

    Bacardi has announced the launch of its new Bacardí Caribbean Spiced rum, which is said to be the brand’s first premium spiced aged product.

    The aged rum-based spirit is created with pineapple, coconut, vanilla, and cinnamon.

    To create the Caribbean Spiced rum, Bacardi’s process uses both a heavy-aged rum base which provides the bold smoky flavors of molasses, and a light-aged rum base, along with blending coconut blossom sugar, pineapple and coconut water. After being rested and filtered, cinnamon and vanilla are blended into the spirit, followed by a further rest and a second polishing filter for clarity and color.

    Dickie Cullimore, global brand ambassador for Bacardí Rum, said: “Category research showed us that flavored and spiced are the fastest growing segments in rum and specifically premium rum, and the Piña Colada has risen through the ranks as a top five cocktail. Even more exciting was our discovery that people were looking specifically for unique flavors and aged rums.”

    He continued: “Understanding this desire was key in creating Bacardí Caribbean Spiced and ensuring the flavors and aged rum quality were intensified to deliver the best craftsmanship and taste”.

    Bacardí Caribbean Spiced, which has an ABV of 40%, is currently available at Ocado and will roll out in retailers nationwide, including Tesco and Waitrose, from next month.

  • Gold prices rise

    Gold prices rise

    SJC gold price rose 0.07% to VND67.1 million ($2,858.97) per tael Tuesday morning. Gold ring price went up 0.36% to VND56.1 million per tael.

    Globally gold prices edged lower on Tuesday as traders assessed the likely path of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy after data showed a slump in U.S. manufacturing activity and as OPEC+’s production cut sparked inflationary risks.

    Spot gold was down 0.2% at $1,980.39 per ounce. U.S. gold futures dipped 0.1% to $1,997.70.

    The dollar index was slightly higher, making bullion expensive for overseas buyers.

    Gold in the near term could see “consolidative price action in absence of a fresh catalyst and as markets monitor the extent of price gains in oil as that may throw a curve ball on inflation outlook and complicate monetary policy decision,” said OCBC FX strategist Christopher Wong.

    Oil prices steadied with investors’ attention shifting to demand trends and the impact of higher prices on the global economy.

  • Gasoline prices increase

    Gasoline prices increase

    Gasoline prices rose slightly on Monday after falling to their lowest in 2 months on March 21.

    RON95 went up 0.39% to VND23,120 ($0.98) per liter.

    E5 RON92 increased by 0.28% to VND22,080.

    Diesel stopped its downward trend with a 0.67% rise to VND19,430.

    Globally, the average price of fuel products increased by 0.6-2.4%.

    Per-barrel price of RON 92 was up by 1.7% to $93.82, while that of RON 95 went up 1.8% to $98.29.

    Diesel cost rose 0.6% to $96.89 per barrel.

  • The Coffee House operator continues to rake up losses

    The Coffee House operator continues to rake up losses

    Seedcom, which owns The Coffee House and fashion store chain June, has reported a 14.5% increase in losses to VND270 billion ($11.5 million) last year.

    However, revenues rose by 60% thanks to increasing contributions by its fashion and supermarket chains, according to its consolidated financial results.

    Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, it has made losses for three straight years.

    Seedcom chairman Nguyen Hoanh Tien said that last year’s losses were inevitable because the company expanded its retail networks.

    “High-interest rates, rising rents, and increased costs of raw materials and logistics strongly affected the profit margin of the retail industry.”

    Last year Seedcom’s liabilities decreased by 16% to VND1.2 trillion. This year it redeemed bonds worth nearly VND250 billion.

    It owns delivery companies AhaMove and Giao Hang Nhanh, fashion brands WeStyle, Juno and Hnoss, online retail platform Haravan, and restaurant management solutions provider iPOS.

  • Levi’s launches its largest Asian store yet, in India

    Levi’s launches its largest Asian store yet, in India

    Iconic denim and lifestyle brand Levi’s today announced the launch of its largest store in Asia. Situated in Bengaluru’s bustling shopping hub of Brigade Road, the store advances Levi’s direct-to-consumer strategy and expansion focus in Asia. With this store, Levi’s continues to elevate brand experience to consumers through digital innovation, unique shopper experiences and an unmatched product assortment that is catered to the local consumer.

    Spread over a total retail space of 7521 square feet, the Levi’s Brigade Road store features the brand’s cutting-edge NextGen store format and retails some of its most beloved products – from its iconic 501 ,which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, to its classic Trucker jackets. The store will also showcase the newest range of fits for both men and women, more relaxed silhouettes in line with the latest trends, and premium collections and collaborations.

    At the store’s heart is the Levi’s Tailor Shop helmed by skilled tailoring professionals, which seeks to allow consumers to personalize their purchases, especially with self-expression being key for today’s consumers. In addition to tapping on expert alteration and restoration services, customers can further customize their Levi’s apparel through embroidery, patches, pins, and more. From reinventing existing jeans to elevating a newly-purchased pair, the Tailor Shop unlocks a spectrum of personalization for Levi’s customers looking for unique pieces tailored to their taste and expression.

    “With consumer behavior shifting in the ever-changing retail landscape, we at Levi’s continue to prioritize how we deliver our iconic products and an impactful brand experience, especially to our growing base of young, savvy consumers in India and across Asia. With this year marking the 170th anniversary of Levi Strauss & Co., the Brigade Road store – our largest in Asia – aims to be a premium one-stop shop in one of the region’s most vibrant cities. It will allow us to engage with Levi’s fans who are looking to create a style statement and connect with one of the most well-loved apparel brands in the world,”  said Amisha Jain, Managing Director & SVP, South AsiaMiddle East & Africa at Levi Strauss & Co. “India, in particular, is a priority growth market for Levi Strauss & Co. “As we look to scale up our investments in Asia, the opening of the Brigade Road store signifies our commitment towards offering quality and innovation in the latest fashion to consumers in both India and the wider Asia region. ”

    The Brigade Road store in Bengaluru is yet another step in Levi’s inroads within Asia, and marks another milestone in the brand’s strategy of diversifying its business across geographies, apparel categories and distribution channels. It brings the brand closer to its goal of making its stores premium destinations worldwide by delivering premium shopping experiences to its customers across the globe.

    For the store’s launch weekend, Levi’s worked with artists Sachin BhattOsheen Siva, The Doodle Mafia and public art collective, The Aravani Project to create artworks that showcase the city from past, present, and future perspectives. Delving into the city’s evolution, the artworks blend vintage and futuristic elements to capture the local culture and subtleties of the city. These designs can be customized onto the store’s Levi’s trucker jackets & t-shirts.

  • Toys ‘R’ Us Asia names Leo Tsoi as new CEO

    Toys ‘R’ Us Asia names Leo Tsoi as new CEO

    The Board of Directors of Toys”R”Us Asia (Holding) Limited, (“Toys”R”Us Asia”), the leading retailer of toy and baby products in ten markets across Asia, today announced the appointment of Leo Tsoi to the role of Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board, effective April 1, 2023.

    Mr. Tsoi brings to the role more than 27 years of consumer retail experience and business leadership in large multi-national brands across Asia. Most recently, Leo served as Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks China where he also served as a member of the Starbucks Global Executive Leadership Team.  Prior to that, Leo held a series of senior roles at Starbucks China including President of Retail, COO, CMO and VP of Store Development & Design, where he played a crucial role in the company’s growth and transformation. Prior to joining Starbucks, Mr. Tsoi held senior positions in iconic international companies, Pepsico and Procter & Gamble, in Greater China.

    “Following an extensive global search, we’re thrilled to welcome Leo Tsoi to Toys”R”Us Asia as our new CEO,” said Drew M. Nuland, Chairman, Toys”R”Us Asia. “Over the course of his career, Leo has distinguished himself as a bold innovator and inspiring leader who has led rapid growth over a diverse range of product portfolios. He has a proven track record not only in operational efficiency, digital transformation and brand management, but also in engaging customers throughout the region.”

    “I’m honoured to take on this leadership role with Toys”R”Us Asia, a dynamic and respected retail brand with a strong vision to fuel the imagination of children and inspire their development through play,” said Leo Tsoi, incoming Chief Executive Officer of Toys”R”Us Asia. “I look forward to working with the dedicated teams in our markets to serve our communities across Asia through an elevated customer experience and with meaningful innovations to capture the tremendous growth opportunities ahead.”

    Mr. Tsoi assumes the helm of Toys”R”Us Asia from Interim CEO Pieter Schats, who will remain a member of the Board.

    “As Toys”R”Us Asia continues to elevate the customer experience in-store and online and build more personalized relationships with kids and families, we’re confident that Leo’s proven leadership skills, extensive consumer knowledge and unwavering focus on people will enable our teams to accelerate growth throughout the region,” added Mr. Nuland.

  • Apple expected to deliver big update for Apple Watch with watchOS 10

    Apple expected to deliver big update for Apple Watch with watchOS 10

    On June 5th Apple will kick off its annual WWDC Developers Conference at Apple Park. And besides unveiling the “Reality Pro” mixed reality headset, the company will also preview iOS 17 and other operating systems, including watchOS 10. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, writing in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter, the update will deliver some big UI changes to Apple’s timepiece.
    The hardware itself isn’t supposed to see any big changes in light of last year’s introduction of the Apple Watch Ultra. The next big hardware update, according to Gurman, will take place next year and he expects the Apple Watch Series 10 models to feature larger displays. In February, we passed along some rumors about the 2024 Apple Watch models.
    The 2024 Apple Watch timepieces should follow the same 10th-year celebratory naming strategy as the iPhone did in 2017 when Apple called the device the iPhone X. Expected to be officially known as the Apple Watch X, the 2024 models are rumored to be equipped with a 1.89-inch and a 2.04-inch screen. The current Series 8 units carry a 1.7-inch display (41mm) and a 1.9-inch screen (45mm). Next year, we should also see the second-gen Apple Watch Ultra sporting a larger 2.1-inch micro-LED screen. The first-gen Apple Watch Ultra carries a 1.92-inch OLED display.
    Gurman writes that watchOS 10 “should be a fairly extensive upgrade – with notable changes to the user interface – unlike iOS 17.” While we should get an idea of what changes Apple has in store for the watchOS interface this year during WWDC, the actual release of watchOS 10 won’t take place until September and, as usual, will be coordinated with the release of the latest Apple Watch models.
    The Apple Watch has turned out to be an incredible success story for Apple which initially didn’t know how to market the device. At first, Apple looked to distribute the watch via fine jewelry stores and even had a fashion model pose with the device on the cover of Vogue China. But soon the Apple Watch became known as a device that people could wear to monitor certain health metrics and has even been known to save several lives. Today, the Apple Watch is the most popular wrist-worn timepiece in the world.

     

  • Honda raises motorbike prices across the board

    Honda raises motorbike prices across the board

    Honda Vietnam has hiked the prices of most motorbikes following an increase in costs, the biggest hike being of VND2 million ($85).

    The price of the Vision 110cc, its best-selling automatic model, has risen by 1.37% to VND37.09 million.

    The Air Blade 125cc, a powerful city motorbike favored by men drivers, is up 1.62% to VND43.99 million.

    The LEAD, a vehicle known for its large storage space, has seen its price go up by 1.16% to VND43.59 million.

    The SH350i, Honda’s most expensive city motorbike, is up 1.32% to VND152.49 million.

    With global economic trends affecting the parts market, costs have increased, Honda said.

    Last year Vietnam’s biggest motorbike seller saw sales grow by 20.9% to 2.4 million units, accounting for 80.7% of the market.

  • Investment in Vietnamese startups down 56%

    Investment in Vietnamese startups down 56%

    Investment in Vietnamese startups reached $634 million in 2022, down 56% over the previous year due to the impact of global economic fluctuations.

    This investment was directed to startups through 134 deals, according to the Vietnam Innovation and Technology Investment 2023 Report, published Thursday by Do Ventures, a venture fund, and the National Innovation Center (NIC).

    Vietnam ranked third in the number of deals and fourth in investment in Southeast Asia last year, the report said.

    “The investment decreased due to the absence of big deals,” said Le Hoang Uyen Vy, managing director of Do Ventures.

    By sector, financial services attracted the most investment, increasing 248%. Retail was the second, despite its capital decreasing by 57%, followed by health and education.

    Vietnamese funds led the way in capital inflows for the first time, with a total of $287 million, followed by investors from Singapore, North America and South Korea. “Amid difficult circumstances, domestic investors are the ones fueling startups,” Vy said.

    Regarding the 2023 outlook, nearly 100% of surveyed investors said they would at least keep the current level of investment, according to the report. In the medium term, Vietnam’s startup ecosystem is still very attractive.

    At the “Vietnam Innovation Forum” on Thursday, Nguyen Anh Quang, senior investment director of SK – a South Korean fund that has invested $2 billion into Vietnam – is interested in consumer and healthcare projects.

    South Korea’s STIC Investment, which has invested $300 million in Vietnam, is interested in startups in the fields of logistics, e-commerce, and healthcare.

    Tran Duy Dong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, said Vietnam’s startup ecosystem still has some areas it needs to improve, such as having few unicorns, startups valued at $1 billion upwards, venture capital funds, and big deals.

     

  • BetConstruct Wins One-Stop Platform Solution and Online Sports Betting Solution at Asia Gaming Awards

    BetConstruct Wins One-Stop Platform Solution and Online Sports Betting Solution at Asia Gaming Awards

    Since its inception in 2003, BetConstruct has taken the iGaming industry by storm, maintaining a top position as one of the world’s foremost gaming service providers. The London-based firm has grown from a purely Asian-focused company to an industry powerhouse with international outlook.

    Over the past 20 years, BetConstruct has expanded its innovative technology to US and European markets. This scaling up has been largely due to the development of an integrated full-service casino solution and a similarly styled sports betting solution.

    BetConstruct, through its sports betting solution, provides major operators across the world with an all-in-one sportsbook software featuring more than 70,000 live matches monthly. Players at sportsbooks can participate in online sports betting on up to 120 sports. There are also jackpots, access to racing events and omni-channel functionality.

    One of the core strengths of these products from BetConstruct is their terrific customization and highly dedicated customer support. So, it was no surprise when BetConstruct took home awards for One-Stop Platform Solution of the Year and Online Sports Betting Solution of the Year at the 2023 Asia Gaming Awards.

    The event took place on March 21 at the heart of Manila to honor some of the greatest contributions to the development of iGaming and betting worldwide. Attended by industry critics, regulators and casino suppliers and sportsbook operators like DraftKings, the Asia Gaming Awards put BetConstruct’s groundbreaking solutions in global focus.

    In a press release acknowledging the Asian Gaming Awards, BetConstruct had this to say about their products:

    “BetConstruct’s One-Stop Platform Solution is an all-in-one and worry-free platform that offers a complete suite of products for partners to easily manage all aspects of their iGaming business from a single platform.”

    In similar fashion, the statement described the BetConstruct Online Sports Betting Solution as “a fully customizable product that provides a wide range of features and functionalities tailored to every partner’s specific needs. It includes a variety of sports, a bunch of live and pre-match events and multiple betting options for partners to easily launch their own sportsbook business.”

    The Asia Gaming Awards is one of the largest conventions of gaming suppliers, service providers and operators in the Asia-Pacific region. It typically holds as part of the ASEAN Gaming Summit each year. In addition to the Asia Gaming Awards, the Summit features a conference and an exhibition of the leading online gambling products of the year.

    However, the Asia Gaming Awards was not the only event where BetConstruct’s products stole the show. In March, BetConstruct was awarded Esports Product of the Year at the 2023 SiGMA  Eurasia Awards in Dubai. Vigen Badalyan, Co-Founder and CEO at BetConstruct also received an Outstanding Contribution to Gaming Award at the same event.

    At the International Gaming Awards 2023, BetConstruct was announced the iGaming Software Supplier of the Year for its platform solution. The product also won Technology Provider of the Year and Platform Provider award at SPiCE India 2023 and the Global Gaming Awards 2023, respectively.

    Sports betting is growing at an unprecedented rate in Asia and players now have access to multiple markets thanks to suppliers like BetConstruct. With this in view, it is only right that the company is getting accolades for its innovative work.