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Tag: asia

  • Netflix games could soon be playable on TVs using your phone

    Netflix games could soon be playable on TVs using your phone

    It has been more or less two years since Netflix started offering its subscribers a whole gaming segment. The company started in 2021 with roughly 50 titles in its arsenal and has increased that with another 40 or so more since then.

    The new service, however, was available only on iOS, iPadOS, and Android. This left the most obvious and exciting medium, TVs — where the Netflix name initially became a household one — unutilized.

    The good news is that an app developer by the name of Steve Moser has discovered hidden code inside the app hinting the company is planning to finally make the big step forward and offer its games on TV as well. Maybe equally exciting is the next information dug out by Moser, which insinuates users would have the option to use their phones, be it Android or iPhone, to play the games on their TV screens.

    Here’s the text hinting at the phone-controller functionality:

    A game on your TV needs a controller to play. Do you want to use this phone as a game controller?

    This could potentially be a game changer for Netflix and bring it one step closer to retaining its subscribers, which is one of the main reasons the platform started introducing Games to its service in the first place. After serious backlash following price hikes and talks of harsher regulation on account sharing, this would be a great opportunity for Netflix to score some extra “cool” points.

    If the streaming giant decides to go along with this endeavor, it would also serve as a solid foundation for the company’s ambition to launch a cloud-gaming service, for which it is perfectly positioned now. That would allow anyone with a Netflix subscription (although it might be a new tier with a new price slapped onto it) to play more demanding titles that would not require powerful equipment and installation, just a very strong and stable internet connection.

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  • VPBank eyes $1B profit

    VPBank eyes $1B profit

    VPBank expects a pre-tax profit of VND24 trillion ($1.02 billion) this year, exceeding the $1 billion milestone for the first time since its establishment.

    The news comes after the bank announced the sale of a 15% stake to a Japanese financial giant.

    The target, announced in a document sent to shareholders before the upcoming general meeting, will nudge the private lender into the ranks of the billion-dollar profit club in the banking sector, in which only Vietcombank and Techcombank are members.

    VPBank earlier this week completed a 15% stake sale to Japanese lender SMBC for $1.5 billion in the biggest acquisition ever recorded in Vietnam’s banking industry.

    The lender expects an asset growth of 39% to VND880 trillion this year, while capital mobilization and lending growth are expected to hit 41% and 33%, respectively.

    VPBank also wants its shareholders to approve a plan to increase its charter capital to VND79 trillion, the biggest in the industry, by issuing more shares.

    The banks plans to sell 30 million shares to its employees at the price of VND10,000 per share. These shares will come from the bank’s treasury shares and will be for a limited trading period of three years.

    Last year, VPBank recorded a pre-tax profit of VND21.22 trillion, up nearly 48% from 2021.

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  • Ride-Hailing App Cabify Raises $110 Million For Expansion In Latam, Spain

    Ride-Hailing App Cabify Raises $110 Million For Expansion In Latam, Spain

    The company said on Tuesday that the Spanish ride-hailing app Cabify has raised $110 million in financing to accelerate its growth in Latin America and Spain.

    Cabify closed the funding round with participation from investors like Orilla Asset Management and AXIS, through Fond-ICO Next Tech.

    “This commitment by strategic investors is a recognition of Cabify’s positive impact and potential to continue creating long-term value for our investors and the cities in which we operate,” Cabify CEO Juan de Antonio said a statement.

    Cabify, whose business volume jumped 32% in 2022 from the previous year, said the capital injection will help increase its market share in more than 25 cities in Latin America and Spain with populations over 200,000.

    The company, which operates in more than 40 cities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Spain, said in November it would invest more than $300 million through 2024 to strengthen its presence in Latin America.

    In December Cabify secured a 40 million euro loan from the European Investment Bank aimed at purchasing electric vehicles. The company aims for all rides through its app to be in zero-emission vehicles by 2025 in Spain and by 2030 in Latin America.

    With over 42 million registered users and 1.2 million drivers, Cabify employees over 1,000 people in Spain and Latin America.

  • Spotify launches new Niche Mixes feature for even more personalized recommendations

    Spotify launches new Niche Mixes feature for even more personalized recommendations

    Spotify already has a Mixes feature that provides users with personalized recommendations, but if you’re not content with what playlists you’re offered, the music streaming service has a brand-new product for you: <a href=”https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-03-28/introducing-niche-mixes-personalized-playlists-for-almost-anything-you-can-think-of/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Niche Mixes</a>.

    The new addition to the Mixes family provides users with multiple personalized playlists that bring together everything that Spotify’s Mixes offer in a more user-friendly manner. With Niche Mixes, Spotify gives users access to tens of thousands of Mixes unique to them based on just about anything you can think of.

    The new Niche Mixes feature can be accessed from the Made For You hub within the Search tab. Spotify users looking for something very specific can now search for an activity, vibe, or even an aesthetic that describes the moment they’re in, and then add the word “mix” at the end.

    Typically, you’ll be getting 5-10 Mixes that the service thinks you’ll like, but if none are suitable for you, then you can specifically search for another set of personalized playlists. Each Mix is updated daily, so even if you get similar results, you might actually get different vibes every day.

    Now, the good news is Niche Mixes is available globally to Free users and those who chose to pay for a Spotify subscription. Remember that this is an English-only feature regardless of where you live.

    This feels more like an improvement to Spotify’s search engine rather than an update to the service’s algorithm. Regardless of what stands behind the new Niche Mixes, Spotify’s new feature will certainly add even more functionality useful to those who want to go even more in-depth into what music they’re listening at any given time.

    Anyway, give the new feature a try and let us know in the comments if it’s working for you.

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  • Vietnam’s rice exports rise 30%

    Vietnam’s rice exports rise 30%

    Vietnam’s rice export value rose 30.2% in the first quarter despite export volume falling 19.2%.

    According to a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development report, the country shipped 1.79 million tons of rice worth $952 million abroad in the period.

    The average export price reached $531 a ton, up 9.2% over the same period in 2022. The hike is mainly because shipments to China are recovering, and Indonesia is also buying more to build up national reserves.

    At a conference on rice exports at the end of February, Nguyen Ngoc Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), predicted that rice prices will remain high in the second quarter.

    According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), many countries are at risk of drought in the second half of the year, so food production may decline. As a result, they are increasing the purchase of rice to ensure food security.

    This is an opportunity for Vietnamese rice exports to benefit, said experts.

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  • Vietnam-grown Musang King durian more expensive than imports

    Vietnam-grown Musang King durian more expensive than imports

    A kilogram of Vietnam-grown Musang King now costs VND1.5-1.8 million ($64-$76), 20% higher than imports of the same varietal.

    A kilogram of husked local Vietnamese Musang King ranges from VND500,000-850,000 per kilogram, equivalent to VND1.5-1.8 million per kilogram (husk removed). The price has increased 10% over a year ago.

    Malaysia’s Musang King is considered the “best durian in the world” and is currently grown by Vietnamese farmers in the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta.

    The fruit regularly sells out at local markets, and buyers must wait two weeks and a month to receive their stocks.

    Oanh, a durian connoisseur in Ho Chi Minh City, said Musang King durian flesh is fragrant, supple and fat. “I have to pay deposits a month in advance to receive the goods.”

    A fruit shop in Hanoi also reported that it had just sold 10 unhusked Musang Kings for VND700,000 per kg (2-4 kg per fruit).

    “Since it is a fallen fruit, and is shipped by air, the quality is high. No matter how many we have, customers buy them all,” the store manager said.

    Explaining the high price of Vietnam-grown Musang King durian, Can Tho wholesaler Dang Manh Khuong said that durian is currently out of season, so low supplies have led to increased demand.

    “I can only find a few dozen Musang Kings to buy a day, sometimes 2-3 quintals at most,” he said.

    Hoa, who owns about 50 Musang King trees in Can Tho, said that her garden only has a few trees that bear fruit early, so most of her crop will not be harvested until August.

    Vietnamese farmers here can grow the fruit in the offseason, while other regional producers cannot.

    In addition to scarce supply, according to traders, the fresh Vietnam-grown varietal has higher transportation costs, and is more difficult to preserve than frozen imported goods, so the price is higher.

    “In July-August, when this fruit is in full season, and output is high, the price will cool down,” Khuong predicted.

    Musang King durian is oval, not too large, and weighs 2-4 kg. The husk is dark green and has huge spikes. A groove in the middle of the peduncle and stem characterizes the species.

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  • Port operators want container fee raised

    Port operators want container fee raised

    Seaport operators want the government to increase its terminal handling charge as they claim they lose billions of dollars annually at the current level, which is lowest in Southeast Asia.

    In a proposal to the government by the Private Sector Development Committee, port operators say that the current terminal handling charge (THC) in Vietnam is only 40-50% that of other countries in the region.

    Le Quang Trung, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Association, said that international shipping firms collect a THC of $140 per 20-foot container from their customers, but only pay Vietnamese seaport operators $45-52, or 37% of the total.

    Cambodian port operators, however, get as much as $90 per container, and operators in Singapore receive $115.

    According to international norms, 80% of the THC must go to the port operator, and therefore Vietnamese operators should get $80-100 per container instead of $45-52 as current, Trung said.

    Port operators have therefore proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade raise the THC in Vietnam gradually to reach the same level as other regional countries.

    A 15-20% increase annually for four or five years will bring THC in Vietnam to the regional average of $101 per container.

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  • Boeing recruits interns in Vietnam

    Boeing recruits interns in Vietnam

    U.S. aerospace company Boeing interviewed 40 applicants at a number of universities in Vietnam and hired two.

    Luu Van Thuan, head of the faculty of aviation engineering, Vietnam Aviation Academy, said the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer worked with the academy to interview two of its alumni on March 27.

    Three students in Hanoi University of Science and Technology’s aviation engineering and mechanics training program, including one in just the second year, were interviewed.

    The universities said this is the first time Boeing executives have come from the U.S. to universities in Vietnam to hire interns.

    The successful candidates will work for two months in Hanoi and one month in the U.S. this summer, participate in hardware and software designing and preparing technical documents for aircraft systems and read maintenance manuals for flight operations and aircraft maintenance.

    They may also be involved in solving problems related to aircraft structure.

    Nguyen Binh Thang, who graduated from the Vietnam Aviation Academy last January and then joined it, was one of its two alumni to be interviewed.

    “Being interviewed by Boeing is the dream of aviation students,” he said.

    Nguyen Thi Huong, 23, the other, said Boeing recruits interns for aviation engineering and electrical-electronics. “This is a very good opportunity because the company only used to recruit students in the U.S.”

    Boeing looked for candidates with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, relevant work experience and an IELTS score of 5.0 or higher.

    Thang and Huong said the interview was in English, and lasted 15-20 minutes.

    The Vietnam Aviation Academy said in the next 30 years Southeast Asia would need some 4,000 aircraft, with Vietnam being the biggest operator.

    Boeing has been in Vietnam since 1995.

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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.

  • Kinder Bueno rolls out new chocolate eggs for Easter

    Kinder Bueno rolls out new chocolate eggs for Easter

    Confectionary giant Ferrero has rolled out a new Kinder Bueno chocolate range for Easter.

    The company described its new range as “addictive as they sound” and “filled with zero regrets”.

    “What’s more important than winning your family’s easter egg hunt?” said the chocolatier. “We make sure you arrive with the ultimate chocolate advantage to entice more action in the hunt”.

    The Easter chocolate range features:

    • Kinder Bueno Eggs: A milk hazelnut filling surrounded with crispy wafer and coated in chocolate.
    • Kinder Easter Hollow Figures 35g: Available in six spring figures.
    • Kinder Joy 20g.
    • Kinder Mini Eggs 100g.

    The new Kinder Bueno Easter Range is available at Coles, Metcash, and Target.

  • Vietnam struggles to auction outdated gasoline

    Vietnam struggles to auction outdated gasoline

    Vietnam is finding it difficult to sell 102 million liters of RON92, an out-of-date gasoline the country wants to replace with more RON95 in the national reserve.

    To obtain more space and money for today’s most common and popular gasoline RON95, Vietnam needs to sell its reserves of the cheaper RON92 fuel, which was supposed to have been auctioned off last year.

    But Vietnamese ministries could not agree on a set starting price for the fuel so the auction never happened.

    RON 92 is a low-power fuel that is now mainly used to make biofuel.

    But the Ministry of Industry and Trade has reported that selling such a large volume of the gasoline is difficult because few local wholesalers currently need biofuel.

    Vietnam has not had to release fuels from the national reserve for emergencies in five years, but the Ministry of Industry has announced that bulking up the nation’s scant resources is a must.

    According to the National Reserve Law, petroleum is a strategic reserve commodity.

    But the reality on the ground is that Vietnam’s average total reserves over the last five years has been just over 370,000 cubic meters a year, equivalent to only 6.5 days of consumption and 9 days of net imports.

    Vietnam’s national petroleum reserves generally total from around one-third to one-eighth of other countries’.

  • Starbucks expands Laos network with second Vientiane store

    Starbucks expands Laos network with second Vientiane store

    As part of its continued expansion in the market, Coffee Concepts (Laos) Limited, Starbucks operating licensee in Laos, today announced the opening of its second store in View Mall in the capital city, Vientiane. Following the opening of its first location in Parkson Laos just five months ago, customers can now also enjoy the Starbucks experience in the new store in View Mall.

    The new Starbucks store in View Mall, Laos, is designed to provide customers and partners an immersive and visually striking coffee experience. The colorful and vibrant underwater world inspires the design, featuring soft light blue and orange accent colors contrasting with black textured paint.

    This creates a joyful and magical oasis-like atmosphere inviting our customers and partners to connect over a cup of coffee. The sophisticated tube ceiling feature stretches over the ceiling from the entrance to the bar, and throughout the store, highlighting the bar as the store’s focal point that showcases coffee and connections.

    To celebrate the opening of the second store in Laos, the first 100 Starbucks customers to visit the store will receive a drinkware gift upon purchase of a Grande or Venti size handcrafted beverage, as a token of gratitude.

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  • Bundaberg Rum brings a fan-favourite flavour to life

    Bundaberg Rum brings a fan-favourite flavour to life

    A world-famous Queensland distillery has joined forces with a popular local brewery to create something unique and exciting – and some big fans couldn’t be more chuffed.

    Beer and rum lovers will be happy to hear of the newest collaboration between the brewers at the Sunshine Coast’s Eumundi Brewery and the famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery team.

    They have concocted a new combination – Bundy Rum and Eumundi beer.

    Avid Bundy rum devotee, Queensland Senator James McGrath, said he has loved Bundy’s smooth and rich taste since he could legally drink.

    “It is the taste of Queensland in a glass,” the Senator said.

    “The new EU-BUNDY collaboration is a perfect marriage of two Queenslanders. Bring it on.

    “I’m as excited as a frog in a sock to try the new EU-BUNDY spiced rum lager.

    A world-famous Queensland distillery has joined forces with a popular local brewery to create something unique and exciting – and some big fans couldn’t be more chuffed.

    Beer and rum lovers will be happy to hear of the newest collaboration between the brewers at the Sunshine Coast’s Eumundi Brewery and the famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery team.

    They have concocted a new combination – Bundy Rum and Eumundi beer.

    Avid Bundy rum devotee, Queensland Senator James McGrath, said he has loved the smooth and rich taste of Bundy since he could legally drink.

    “It is the taste of Queensland in a glass,” the Senator said.

    “The new EU-BUNDY collaboration is a perfect marriage of two Queenslanders. Bring it on.

    “I’m as excited as a frog in a sock to try the new EU-BUNDY spiced rum lager.”

    The drink has been described by its creators as “a classic Aussie Lager mixed with a classic Aussie Rum” and “A lagery lager with Bundaberg Spiced Rum – lightly infused with hints of vanilla and aromatic spices.”

    Nambour resident, former 2011 MasterChef contestant and keen Bundy Rum fan, Jay Huxley has collected and drank the Queensland favorite for more than 20 years.

    When Mr Huxley’s father lived in Bundaberg, he was able to up his collectors game, by getting his dad to make special trips to the distillery to buy him exclusive and limited edition bottles.

    The local catering business owner and chef even incorporates spiced rum flavours and deserts created with Bundy Rum as a base.

    “Over the years I’ve gathered quite a collection and developed a keen appreciation for it,” Mr Huxley said.

    “Bundy itself is uniquely Australian and I love the taste.”

    He said the new EU-BUNDY collaboration was extremely exciting, as both businesses produced consistently quality products.

    “I can’t see it not being amazing; being from these two places, pretty much everything both of them do is great,” he said.

    “I am very interested to try the new spiced lager and will certainly keeping an eye out for it and trying it out.”

    Eumundi Brewery Head brewer Chris Sheehan said the partnership continues to combine two of the finest Queensland producers – Eumundi Brewery and the Bundaberg Rum Distillery – with strong local roots.

    “When we released the EU-BUNDY Black Rum and Plum Pudding Ale last year, we were astonished by its popularity, with people lining up to get their hands on the festive release,” Mr Sheehan said

    “We’re confident this classic blend will be the cheers of the town and is bound to be a hit with those looking to crack open a cold one … or a great pairing to enjoy themselves this summer.”

    The Bundaberg Rum Distillery’s Duncan Littler was also eager to welcome the new lager, which he describes as “the best of the two best worlds, in one can”.

    “We are using a crisp Lager base and combining it with our Bundaberg Spiced Rum, giving drinkers a cracking rum infused beer that has a super refreshing taste,” he said.

    A limited release of the Eu-Bundy Spiced Rum Lager will be available at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, The Imperial Hotel Eumundi, online at eumundibrewery.com.au, and other select stores in Queensland. The limited-edition EU-BUNDY Spiced Rum Lager hit stores earlier this week.

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  • AirAsia resumes service from Don Mueang to Macao

    AirAsia resumes service from Don Mueang to Macao

    AirAsia has resumed its service between Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Macao. The route is operated four times weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a 100% load factor on both the inbound and outbound legs of the inaugural service.

    The inaugural flight was welcomed at Don Mueang Airport with a special ceremony and souvenirs for passengers.

    “The figures reinforce that Macao remains a top destination for Thai travellers and that Thailand is still a popular place to visit for Chinese tourists,” said Ms. Tansita Akrarittipirom, Head of Commercial, AirAsia Thailand. “Macao is a major tourism destination for Thai people due to its fame as a place of spirituality, European architecture in Asia and leisure.

    We received strong support from the Macao Government Tourism Office in opening this route, which will provide opportunities to stimulate the economies of both sides by spurring travel.”

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  • Nike launches Jordan World of Flight in Shibuya, Tokyo

    Nike launches Jordan World of Flight in Shibuya, Tokyo

    Located in the capital’s Shibuya district, close to the Harajuku trade zone and along Meiji Dori Street, the 9,200-square-foot space is a designed “as a tribute to basketball culture and Jordan Brand’s identity and heritage,” according to a press release.

    Inside, visitors will find Jordan brand footwear and apparel products across men’s, women’s and kids, as well as customizable products in the store’s ‘The Workshop’, including the AJ1 and the Renegade jacket.

    The Shibuya store will have a dedicated ‘Snkrs’ area for shoppers to pick up products from the app; ‘The Flight Lounge’, which offers an in-store space for members to immerse themselves in Jordan Brand history and basketball culture, as well as a ‘ Nike Member’ innovation center, providing an opportunity for visitors to test new offerings and experiences.

    The ‘Content Studio’ allows shoppers to film unboxings and reviews and create content to share through their social handles.

    Connecting to the region’s local culture, Jordan also commissioned local artists to present their work throughout the store. The Japan opening comes on the back of the Jordan World of Flight opening in Milan in December 2022.

    “Following the launch of Milan, Jordan World of Flight Shibuya provides another unique expression of basketball culture. Tokyo serves as the perfect backdrop, a city that is constantly pushing the edges of innovation, fashion, music and art,” said Craig Williams, president, Jordan brand.

    “Alongside a best-in-class retail assortment, World of Flight is a manifestation of the full potential of the brand. By connecting with people around the world through the values the Jumpman represents, we hope to create even deeper ties to our consumer and underline the culture that unites us all.”

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