Tag: asia

  • SES and Digicel Partner to Provide Tonga Disaster Network Resiliency via O3b

    SES and Digicel Partner to Provide Tonga Disaster Network Resiliency via O3b

    SES and international mobile network operator Digicel will extend their partnership to provide the Kingdom of Tonga with long-term disaster resiliency to minimize bandwidth disruptions. Under the agreement, Digicel will benefit from SES’s expertise in offering disaster resiliency via SES’s O3b satellite constellation to deliver low-latency and high-throughput connectivity and protect the Tonga population from future communication interruptions in the event of a natural disaster. Launched in 2013, SES’s O3b satellites are orbiting 8,000km above the Earth’s surface in medium earth orbit (MEO) and deliver low-latency connectivity services to any area within 50° north or south of the equator. For the past decade, governments and businesses around the Pacific have been benefiting from the fiber-equivalent performance of the O3b satellite constellation.

    The Kingdom of Tonga has suffered two major connectivity disruptions in the last four years, the latest being the result of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption and subsequent tsunami in January 2022, which severely damaged undersea communication links. In the immediate wake of the disaster, Digicel leveraged SES’s geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite capacity to restore temporary connectivity on the islands, allowing Tongan residents to connect with their families and loved ones. As the damaged cable connecting the islands of Vava’u and Tongatapu in Tonga undergoes repair, SES’s MEO satellite service provides Vava’u residents with connectivity. Once the cable is fully repaired, it will become a resiliency service to the main cable that connects the island to Tongatapu.

    The new agreement will see Digicel use SES’s O3b satellite system, which will deliver multiple Gbps of capacity for quick-deploy connectivity to shield the islands in Tonga from potential communication disruptions in the future. The high throughput provided by SES’s O3b satellites will ensure reliable connectivity for first responders and the entire population of Tonga.

    “The islands in the Pacific are highly vulnerable to natural disasters, and it is vital during such crises to have resilient network connectivity. This is crucial in ensuring relief efforts can go smoothly and the affected populations can connect with their families and loved ones living in other parts of the world,” said John Turnbull, director of Pacific Region at SES. “With our continued partnership with Digicel, SES is glad to deliver high-performance, reliable connectivity to the residents in Tonga using our O3b satellites. SES’s second-generation MEO satellite communication system, O3b mPOWER, promises unprecedented flexibility, unparalleled throughput and scalability, all of which are key to providing resiliency for vulnerable communities across Asia Pacific.”

    “SES’s multi-orbit satellite fleet has enabled us to quickly deploy domestic connectivity to the island of Vava’u at a time when it is crucial to keep people connected. We are glad to extend our partnership with SES and continue leveraging their O3b satellite services to protect the residents of Tonga from future disasters,” said Mudassar Latif, chief technology officer at Digicel Group. “We look forward to future collaborations with SES to bring multi-orbit satellite communications to other markets in the Pacific, especially those that are vulnerable to natural disasters.”

  • CUB gets fruity testing new beer sub-category

    CUB gets fruity testing new beer sub-category

    Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), part of Asahi Beverages, has released a new beer range with fruity flavours called Sungazer and Empire.

    The new brews feature malted barley, hops, yeast and water and offers a lager-like finish on the palate. Flavours in the Sungazer range include Watermelon, Raspberry and Mango while Empire offers Strawberry & Lime and Orange & Mango.

    The company says the beers are low in bitterness with “a subtle maltiness” and strong fruit flavours. The brands built on the beverage giant’s existing innovation, particularly with products like Carlton Zero.

    CUB GM of marketing Nicole McMillan said Fruity Beer is a ground-breaking innovation that will help CUB and bottleshops keep pace with evolving consumer tastes.

    “Drinkers have told us they love the tradition of enjoying a beer with mates but increasingly want sweeter flavours and low bitterness in their beverages.”

    She added the brand is committed to growing the beer market in Australia and attracting a new demographic of beer lovers.

    Though the brew is not traditional, McMillan said the brands’ other popular offerings such as Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught “aren’t going anywhere”.

    The new range is now on sale in major bottleshops in 300ml cans with a 4.2 per cent ABV.

  • UBS Beset by Leadership Rumors

    UBS Beset by Leadership Rumors

    Resentment stirs at the group executive board over CEO Ralph Hamers’ appointments while chairman Colm Kelleher keeps the pressure up.

    UBS CEO Ralph Hamers is not having an easy time at the office. Both the scrapped takeover of US digital wealth manager Wealthfront and the group’s persistently weak share price are putting enormous strain on him.

    But that is by no means all. It also seems that resentment is building against him on the group executive board related to his recent appointments, particularly the Italian Barbara Levi, who has been general counsel since November 2021, and Sarah Youngwood, who took up the position of chief financial officer just this past May.

    It is Youngwood, a dual US-French citizen, who is ruffling the most feathers right now, as several sources inside UBS told finews.com. Many believe she botched her first appearance as the new UBS CFO in July when disclosing second quarter and first half results. According to them, the figures were decent, but they were not at all presented in a very convincing manner to analysts, media, and investors.

    UBS shares fell as much as 6 percent afterward, which is particularly hard to understand given that Switzerland’s largest bank has been a beacon of stability for years now. The very tepid outlook provided by Hamers and his team didn’t help matters

    Apparently, Youngwood was portrayed as being inconsistent or obstinate in the run-up to the presentation. She may have simply been trying to free herself from her predecessor’s regime. Kirt Gardner, a US citizen, held the role of CFO with clear aplomb for more than six years between 2016 and 2022. Accusations she does not have the requisite experience, however, quickly fall flat given she spent more than 20 years at JP Morgan in a variety of senior finance leadership functions, rising to CFO of its retail business. Ironically, as part of all that, she served as the head of investor relations between 2012 and 2016.

    Internal Candidates

    The CFO role, needless to say, is critical, and particularly so at large, international banks. They tend to be the most important person besides the CEO at the top executive management levels. They know all figures inside out and are also usually responsible for managing a company’s capital.

    The internal criticism of Youngwood is likely because the slump in the share price caused some of the top managers to lose money, at least temporarily, given that a substantial proportion of management compensation is paid in shares. But it could also be because two highly suitable internal candidates, known to finews.com’s editorial team, had applied to succeed Gardner.

    They were passed over and people started talking maliciously, claiming that Hamers overrode a perfectly suitable internal solution to promote gender diversity, something he has taken very seriously for some time. His well-staged appearance at this year’s Zurich Pride in June was another testament to this, and he indicated that having such a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion would have been unimaginable thirty years ago when he started his career.

    This has clearly unsettled some people internally and is maybe a more likely explanation for the taunts Hamers increasingly faces. This also includes vague criticism of UBS chief lawyer Barbara Levi, another of his appointments. Her flaw – apparently − is that she has no actual banking experience given she actually spent much of her professional career at Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis as well as a recent stint lasting a couple of years for Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto.

    The doomsayers are now going as far as to say that the CEO post is up for grabs, although that is probably a bit of a stretch for the time being. But according to several US media, the scrapped takeover of the US fintech Wealthfront was clearly done at the behest of UBS President Colm Kelleher. If so, that certainly does not strengthen Hamers’ position.

    Waiting in Line

    One thing is certain. After a 30-year career at Morgan Stanley, the 65-year-old Irishman now wants to leave his mark on Switzerland’s largest bank. It remains to be seen how much understanding the Wall Street warhorse has for inclusion and diversity issues. But one of his goals is clear. He wants to raise the share price, which has been languishing for years. To that end, he has been touring the US extensively.

    It is also clear that Kelleher has a particular man on the Group Executive Board, or rather in the queue for the CEO job, in wealth management – Iqbal Khan.

  • Costco sets Westgate opening date

    Costco sets Westgate opening date

    American wholesale retailer Costco will open its $100 million Westgate store on September 28, ending months of speculation about the date of its debut in New Zealand.

    The retailer initially planned to open last month, however it was delayed due to bad weather and Covid-related restrictions.

    The new store spans 1.4ha and will feature a petrol station, tyre centre, optometrist and food court as well as a wide range of food and grocery products.

    The retailer will hire about 350 workers and has brought in 30 to 40 staff from Australia to train locals.

    In April, the retailer opened its first petrol station in Auckland selling fuel at around 20 cents a litre, cheaper than nearby service locations.

  • Walmart now lets you try clothes on a virtual model of you by using only your iPhone

    Walmart now lets you try clothes on a virtual model of you by using only your iPhone

    It’s very convenient to buy clothes online. However, there’s always the risk of not liking how the apparel looks on you when you try it at home. And when this happens, then the whole online shopping thing becomes a hassle. But what if you could see how the new t-shirt you are so eager to buy will look on you before ordering it?

    Well, it appears that Walmart now offers a way for you to try your potential purchases online and then decide whether you will add them to your cart. As the company announced in a new press release, the Walmart app on iOS now offers a “Be Your Own Model” feature, allowing you to try clothes on a virtual model of you created from a photo of yours.

    To do this, tap the “Try It On” button and then choose the “Be Your Own Model” option. The first time, you will be prompted to take a picture of yourself within the Walmart app and input your height. After that, you will see an image of you wearing the item.

    You could argue that the system just slaps images of clothes on your picture and that there is nothing special about it, but according to Walmart, its technology uses algorithms and AI, which was originally created for designing highly accurate topographic maps. The company stated that, with Be Your Own Model, you see an “ultra-realistic simulation” with shadows and fabric draping, including where your desired clothing falls on your virtual body.

    Walmart also shared that more than 270,000 items across the retailer’s portfolio now support the virtual try-on feature. The company also stated that Be Your Own Model will soon be available on Android and Desktop as well.

    In 2021, Walmart acquired Zeekit, a company developing a virtual fitting room platform. And earlier this year, it introduced the try-on feature, but up until now, you could use it only with a virtual model that resembled you the most.

  • Vietnam among 10 most popular destinations for Australian tourists

    Vietnam among 10 most popular destinations for Australian tourists

    Vietnam was one of the 10 favorite destinations for Australian tourists in July, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

    Over 18,500 visited Vietnam during the month, a 44% increase from the previous month.

    New Zealand topped the list of favorite destinations with 96,500 visiting the island nation, followed by Indonesia, the U.K., the U.S., Fiji, India, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy.

    ABS statistics showed that Australians spend 19 days in a foreign trip on average.

    The Vietnamese government has allowed quarantine-free entry for foreign visitors since March.

    It also offers 30-day e-visas for citizens from 80 countries and territories, including Australia.

    So far this year the country has received 1.44 million foreign tourists and has a full-year target of five million.

  • Hanoi police seize 100 rice wine jars containing wild animals

    Hanoi police seize 100 rice wine jars containing wild animals

    More than 100 jars of rice wine distilled with pythons, large lizards, cobras and deer have been found at two condo apartments in Hanoi.

    The wine had been put up for sale at the two apartments in La Khe Ward of Hanoi’s Ha Dong District.

    The owners of the wine could not provide legal papers proving the origins of the product.

    One of them, Vu Quang Hien, said “these are just craft products and this whole thing shouldn’t be treated too seriously.”

    Hien sells the wine for VND350,000 ($15) to more than VND3 million per jar.

    The other owner, Dao Quang Manh, said the distributors told him the animals had been bred by them and that the products aim at treating several health issues, including joint and muscle pains.

    “Distributors also told me that the products are legal, and I just buy them for retail. I do not know for sure if I have permission to sell them.”

    Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Trung from Hanoi’s environment police division said it would have to work with the city’s Market Management Department and ranger authorities on this case as there are many wild animals that have been killed for rice wine production.

  • Samsung is deeply discounting Galaxy screen repairs in addition to actual phones now

    Samsung is deeply discounting Galaxy screen repairs in addition to actual phones now

    Kicked off just a couple of days ago, Samsung’s big fall Discover event has made plenty of headlines since then thanks to awesome new deals on devices as diverse as the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Tab S8 family, Z Fold 3, and the Galaxy Watch 4 duo.

    But from an existing Galaxy user perspective, the best special offer available through September 26 may not consist of a discount on a new product purchase at all. Instead, if you own a Galaxy S, Note, Flip, or Fold-series phone with a cracked screen and don’t want to trade that in for the chance to save $200 or $300 on a new member of the same family, now’s probably the time to get an authorized repair.

    That’s because damaged front display replacements are down to a flat $99 for “series 9 and up” Galaxy S and Note models, as well as “most” A-series mid-rangers, while the same kind of repair will set you back $249 for “all” Galaxy Flip and Fold devices, including the hot new Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4.

    Although 250 bucks may still sound like a high price to pay to fix what’s certainly a very common issue, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, and Z Fold 4 “inner” screen repairs would normally cost an even higher $350 or so a pop. Meanwhile, cracking the beautiful display of the S21 Ultra or S22 Ultra can result in charge of around two Benjamins outside of this promotion, which verifies Samsung’s claim that you can save 50 percent on many screen replacements right now.

    The campaign’s terms and conditions, mind you, make it clear that uBreakiFix and Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions will replace your phone’s cracked display in their stores across the US as long as you book an appointment online while also specifying that water damage and other problems are not covered and your battery will not be replaced as part of this hot new deal.

    Still, the list of eligible devices alone makes the promo well worth taking into consideration for many people, including a whole bunch of oldies you may have gotten very close to giving up on entirely, like the Galaxy S9, S9+, Note 9, S10, S10+, S10 Lite, Note 10, Note 10+, Note 10 Lite, OG Fold, A01, A11, A20, A50, A51, A71, and A21.
  • Wendy’s burgers are coming to Australia

    Wendy’s burgers are coming to Australia

    The US Wendy’s burgers brand is heading to Australia and is on the hunt for a master franchisee.

    The iconic brand is reportedly the world’s third largest quick service restaurant burger chain, with about 7000 outlets worldwide.

    Founder Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s restaurant in 1969. His mission was to serve well-priced, good quality food in a comfortable environment. The unique square burger has since become a mainstay of the Wendy’s menu.

    Now the chain is readying to hit the market Down Under, with consultancy firm DC Strategy tasked with recruiting master franchisees. You’ll also receive messages on behalf of our partners. You can opt-out at any time.

    The appointed master franchisee will need to have franchise and operations experience and a proven track record for growing brands in Australia.

    There is no set agenda for the first store location, nor a pre-determined number of outlets. These will be determined by the master franchisee, DC Strategy confirmed.

    Wendy’s burgers will be vying for customers within a highly competitive market. There are the familiar giants of burger business in Australia — McDonald’s and Hungry Jacks.

    US chains testing the waters in Australia include Five Guys, operated by franchisee Seagrass Hospitality. And Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg’s famed burger chain Wahlburgers unveiled its first Australian store in Circular Quay, Sydney late last year.

    American brand Carl’s Jr. has already made its mark along the east coast. Globally this brand has over 4000 restaurants; 35 outlets operate in Australia with a goal of 160 by 2032.

    And then there are local brands such as Pattysmiths Burgers offering a premium alternative to the traditional fast food options. There are now 29 outlets in the chain, under the umbrella of multi-brand franchisor, Concept Eight. Restaurants operate throughout Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT.

  • Flash Coffee, Ageless Galaxy Streetwear to launch capsule collection

    Flash Coffee, Ageless Galaxy Streetwear to launch capsule collection

    Tech-powered coffee chain Flash Coffee has collaborated with lifestyle brand Ageless Galaxy Streetwear to unveil the ‘Push’n Boundaries’ collection.  The collection features five items including three streetwear-style tees, a metal pin and a sticker pack. These will be sold in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea.  According to Flash Coffee, the partnership was the idea of Ageless Galaxy CEO Tamish Aswani and Flash Coffee’s CEO and co-founder David Brun

    The collection features five items including three streetwear-style tees, a metal pin and a sticker pack. These will be sold in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea.

    According to Flash Coffee, the partnership was the idea of Ageless Galaxy CEO Tamish Aswani and Flash Coffee’s CEO and co-founder David Brunier. Both seek to empower people to push their boundaries in everything they do by developing a collection that embodies the philosophies of both brands.

    The two companies say the tees in the collection are made with 100 per cent cotton. The white, and black and white, tees go well with a variety of outfits, while the striking yellow long-sleeve tee has ink that changes colour when exposed to sunlight, turning from white to pink.

    Launched in 2020, when Asia’s coffee industry was hit by the first Covid-19 pandemic, Flash Coffee has operations in six markets across Asia – Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. The Singapore-headquartered chain has received investment from Rocket Internet, Delivery Hero, White Star Capital, Global Founders Capital and Conny & Co.

    Ageless Galaxy, which was established in 2013, is an Indonesian lifestyle brand offering streetwear clothes inspired by outer space exploration. The brand opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Jakarta in 2020.

  • Cos launches its first store in Taiwan

    Cos launches its first store in Taiwan

    Swedish fashion brand Cos has expanded its store network into Taiwan, opening its first brick-and-mortar store at the Taipei 101 Shopping Center.The 700sqm flagship also marks Cos’ first concept store in the world. While Cos Taipei 101’s exterior features forest green, the interior is dominated by a warm neutral tone, delivering a cool and tranquil atmosphere.  Minimal design with organic textures and recycled elements was put in place, including bamboo furnishings, slate-shaped cashier cou

    Minimal design with organic textures and recycled elements was implemented, including bamboo furnishings, slate-shaped cashier counters, stone magnetic floors and aluminum display shelves. Meanwhile, the table surface is made from Richlite material, which is manufactured from recycled paper and phenolic resin.

    “Opening a store in Taipei is an exciting step,” said Petra Lerch, MD of Cos Asia Pacific. “We have been planning to enter this market for some time, and launching this new brick-and-mortar store is like the first place to connect with local customers.”

    Founded in 2007, H&M Group-owned fashion label entered Asia in 2012 in Hong Kong. Since then, Cos has gradually expanded its presence in the continent, launching in markets including China, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. The brand opened its first store in the Philippines last year. Cos currently operates more than 280 physical stores around the world.

  • Cafe Amazon plans 150 stores in Saudi Arabia

    Cafe Amazon plans 150 stores in Saudi Arabia

    Thailand’s Café Amazon has launched in Saudi Arabia, opening its first store in the region at Riyadh’s InterHealth Hospital.

    PTT Oil and Retail Business (PPTOR), which operates the Café Amazon coffee shop chain, said it is targeting expansion to 150 stores in Saudi Arabia by 2032.

    Marking the opening of the Riyadh store, Jiraphon Kawswat, CEO of PPTOR, highlighted the potential of the retail market in Saudi Arabia, especially the growth of premium coffee outlets which she noted as being driven by increasing consumer demands.

    Project Café Middle East 2019 forecast Saudi Arabia to be the fastest growing market in the Middle East (9.6%), exceeding 2,600 outlets by 2023.

    In October 2021, PPTOR said it plans grow its Café Amazon coffee chain to 1,000 international stores by 2025, a downgraded target from an earlier goal to reach 5,800 stores globally by 2025.

    Founded in 2002, Café Amazon is Thailand’s largest branded coffee chain. The company currently operates more than 4,000 stores across Thailand, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

    PTTOR said that the Café Amazon launch in Saudi Arabia represented the ‘first step to concretely restore diplomatic and trade relations’ between Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Political, economic and trade cooperation was agreed between the two nations in January 2022.

  • Patagonia founder gives away company to help fight climate crisis

    Patagonia founder gives away company to help fight climate crisis

    Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, who has previously expressed his reluctance at amassing wealth, is giving away his company.

    The outdoor apparel company will now be in the hands of a trust and a nonprofit organization. All future profits will be donated to help fight climate change, the company announced Wednesday.

    “It’s been a half-century since we began our experiment in responsible business,” Chouinard, 84, said. “If we have any hope of a thriving planet 50 years from now, it demands all of us doing all we can with the resources we have. As the business leader I never wanted to be, I am doing my part.”

    He added, “Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth, we are using the wealth Patagonia creates to protect the source. We’re making Earth our only shareholder. I am dead serious about saving this planet.”

    The Patagonia Purpose Trust will control all voting stock of the company (2%), while the Holdfast Collective, a climate change nonprofit, will own all nonvoting stock (98%).

    Chouinard, a board member, said in a statement that while trying to fight climate change, he realized his company was contributing to it. So he had been thinking about what to do with the business.

    One option was to sell it and donate the money, but Chouinard said he was concerned new owners might not hold the same values or keep the same employees. The other option was to become a publicly traded entity.

    “What a disaster that would have been,” he said. “Even public companies with good intentions are under too much pressure to create short-term gain at the expense of long-term vitality and responsibility.”

    The company will continue to give 1% of its earnings to grassroots environmental groups, and the leadership will not change.

  • Taiwan’s Miracle Coffee to launch in Singapore

    Taiwan’s Miracle Coffee to launch in Singapore

    Miracle Coffee will launch a 90-day pop-up café kiosk at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands by the end of September 2022, ahead of a brick-and-mortar store launch in the museum’s lobby next year.

    Miracle Coffee said the kiosk will only serve beverages, including an exclusive for the location called Kaya Cloud. Further menu items and prices for the Singapore outlet are yet to be announced.

    Miracle coffee currently operates three stores in Taipei, Taiwan, and one in Shanghai, China.

    “I am thrilled to team up with Marina Bay Sands to bring Miracle Coffee to my home, Singapore. Since this is our first time setting up a pop-up for Miracle Coffee, we wanted a scenic location that can stage the intimate scene of coffee lovers revelling in a smooth cup of coffee while soaking in views of my beautiful city. There is no other location that is more suitable than the iconic ArtScience Museum,” said JJ Lin.

  • Ikea South Korea’s sales see first decline in eight years

    Ikea South Korea’s sales see first decline in eight years

    IKEA Korea said Wednesday its sales fell 10 percent in this fiscal year in the first decline after entering Korea in 2014 as more customers held back spending on home furnishing goods amid eased virus restrictions.

    The Korean arm of the Swedish furniture maker said it logged 618 billion won ($444.3 million) in sales in the fiscal year ending August 2022, compared with 687.2 billion won during the same period of last year.

    “Considering the COVID-19 situation, the revenge spending situation, and the availability situation during this fiscal year, this is a result we are very happy with,” said Fredrick Johansson, the country retail manager of IKEA Korea, citing various challenges, such as rising material costs and supply chain disruptions.

    The company blamed the first decline in sales on reduced spending on home furnishing goods, with more customers spending time outdoors after Korea lifted most COVID-19 restrictions in mid-April as part of efforts to return to pre-pandemic life.

    While IKEA Korea’s brick-and-mortar stores saw sales falter, its online and remote channels showed robust performance.

    Sales from its online and mobile shopping platforms increased 12 percent from the previous fiscal year, while its remote channels ― consisting of telesales channels, chat rooms and consulting services via video call ― increased by 18.5 percent from the previous 12-month period.

    IKEA Korea did not disclose operating profit or net income for the cited period. IKEA said it will focus on strengthening its “omni-channels” so customers can order, buy and access consulting services from various touch points beyond its offline retail stores.

    The furniture maker also plans to strengthen its “IKEA for business” service, a furnishing consulting service aimed at small and medium-sized business owners, to double its share in the upcoming fiscal year.

    Executives of the company also mentioned possibilities it could mark down the prices of popular products once supply chain bottle necks and inflation of raw material prices resolve in the near future.

    In August, IKEA Korea increased its retail prices by an average of 3.5 percent, citing a rise in production costs.

    “IKEA Korea has set the fiscal year of 2023 as the leap year of omni-channel. We, as a home furnishing leader with deep expertise, will continue to make best efforts to enable more people to create a happier and more sustainable life at home,” Johansson said.