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Tag: asia

  • Apple Maps could get a feature that Google Maps doesn’t have

    Apple Maps could get a feature that Google Maps doesn’t have

    Apple Maps has come a long way since it was first released in 2012 as a replacement for Google Maps. The latter was still made available for iPhone users in the App Store (along with YouTube which also was dropped as a native app with iOS 6). At first, Apple Maps was an unmitigated disaster. Some city streets and even countries were labeled with the wrong name and some weren’t named at all. Faulty directions sent users into dangerous areas like the Australian Outback filled with poisonous snakes, very little water, triple-digit temperatures, and scarce mobile phone reception.

    As a result of the Apple Maps fiasco, iOS chief Scott Forstall departed Apple after failing to sign an official apology related to the feature. As a result, the company’s chief designer, Jony Ive, ended up with the task of redesigning iOS 7 the next year. Forstall’s days at Apple might have been numbered anyway once Steve Jobs passed in 2011. Forstall and Ive reportedly would not work together and had differing opinions about the continued use of skeuomorphic designs for iOS.

    Skeuomorphic designs are those familiar designs that were used on the first generation of Apple’s native apps so that users knew instantly what a particular app was all about. For example, the use of an old black and white television console for the YouTube app would be an example as would a legal pad for the Notes app. Forstall (and Steve Jobs) both were into Skeuomorphic design while Ive preferred more of a modern approach.

    Apple decided to scrap the third-party mapping platforms it was using for Apple Maps and decided to build its own literally from the ground up. In 2018 it started sending out specially equipped vans with special sensors and cameras that sent data to an iPad located inside the van. The result has been a much improved Apple Maps that has reduced the gap with Google Maps.
    A tweet disseminated by iOS developer Steve Moser reveals that he has found some code in the Apple Maps app that suggests that Apple might offer Apple Maps navigation for E-Bikes along with optimized routes and estimated times of arrival (ETA) for those who drive them.
    It isn’t clear what the difference will be in the directions for non-electric and electric bikes although one possibility is that the latter will include steeper paths that are more likely not to be an obstacle for a motorized vehicle. If it turns out that Apple Maps will include navigation for E-Bikes, that would give it an advantage over Google Maps which doesn’t optimize routes for E-Bikes compared to ordinary bikes that need to be pedaled. But Google Maps does show users where they can rent an E-Bike, the expected time of their E-Bike journey, and the ETA.
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  • Telenor Group aims to build new tech firm for stronger growth

    Telenor Group aims to build new tech firm for stronger growth

    Telenor Group’s CEO, Sigve Brekke, stressed that they are aiming to deliver a new technology firm in Thailand’s telecom sector by collaborating with other international companies.

    This comes after Telenor and Axiata were granted regulatory approval in Malaysia to proceed to the Celcom-Digi merger.

    In his statement, Brekke said, “What Telenor is trying to build in Thailand is not a telco company. We are trying to build a new technology company that will enable Thailand to take advantage of the perfect storm of technologies and deliver new products and services for Thailand. We can only do so if we have scale to partner these global companies. A small local telco will not be of interest to these global companies who are going after scale.”

    Jørgen Rostrup, EVP and Head of Telenor Asia meanwhile said, “We believe the amalgamation of dtac and True will create a strong company who can invest and contribute to future digital and technology development in Thailand. This is an opportunity for Thailand to be propelled into growth 2.0 and put the country in the forefront. Thailand needs two strong market players, not one strong and two weak.”

    The company also stressed that Thailand now enjoys 86% mobile access, or about 98.5 million mobile connections from 20 years ago.

    Brekke added that for the next two decades, Telenor’s development in the local market is seen to be different, wherein the industry will be facing what he calls a “perfect storm of new technologies”. These include the integration of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and 5G.

    He also predicts a data explosion and AI will be necessary to justify of the huge amounts of data generated, as well as the need for 5G speed for a much wider connection.

  • Celcom-Digi Merger Granted Clearance By Malaysian Authorities

    Celcom-Digi Merger Granted Clearance By Malaysian Authorities

    Malaysia’s communications regulator has given Celcom and Digi the greenlight to advance on their proposed joint venture.

    According to a statement released by Digi, Telenor Group’s Malaysian subsidiary, the two major telecom operators have “received a Notice of No Objection from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)” to go ahead with the proposal.

    The notice came a year after Celcom and Digi submitted the merger application to the government. With it, both companies are now moving forward to deliver improved network quality and coverage. The merged companies are expecting to invest in network expansion to back the increasing demand for data and digitalization.

    Furthermore, Digi and Celcom are now planning to boost 5G capabilities.

    Chairman of Axiata, Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, was quoted in the statement as saying, “We thank the MCMC for their approval and guidance to reach this significant milestone. We reiterate our commitment to ensure that the proposed merger delivers benefits to the nation as a whole. It is aimed at combining the best of Celcom and Digi so that our customers and community have good options in accessing solutions to participate more equitably in this digital era.”

    Meanwhile, Digi’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Haakon Bruaset Kjoel, added,  “Today brings us a step closer to creating a strong Malaysian company with the combined scale, experience, network, and innovation leadership to drive Malaysia’s digital growth in the coming years. Together, Celcom and Digi will bring better innovations to meet our customers’ growing digital needs and for all participating in the digital economy to capture new growth opportunities in a fast-changing world. We will now focus on completing the remaining necessary steps to conclude this transaction and work on delivering a seamless integration programme to bring the vision and value of the merged entity to reality for the benefit of many.”

    The completion of the merger will now be determined by the decision of the Securities Commission, Bursa Malaysia, by both Axiata and Digi shareholders, and other customary terms and conditions. The new merged company will then be named Celcom Digi Berhad and will continue to be listed on Bursa Malaysia.

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  • TikTok comes clean and admits China

    TikTok comes clean and admits China

    There might be something fishy about China’s ByteDance’s short-form video app TikTok’s data security practices after all, suggests a new Bloomberg report.
    Former US President Donald Trump deemed TikTok a security risk and tried to ban it. He wanted the parent company ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US business. President Joe Biden revoked the ban in June 2021.
    Responding to those nine senators, TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew admitted in a letter that some China-based employees can access information from US users, including public videos and comments. He added that none of that data is shared with the Chinese government and is subject to tough security controls.

    Chew also said that TikTok has limited links to ByteDance and the information that non-US-based employees are able to access is non-sensitive in nature and this sharing helps ensure global interoperability.

    This led to more criticism from US lawmakers about TikTok’s data-sharing protocols.
    TikTok’s response confirms our fears about the CCP’s influence in the company were well founded. The Chinese-run company should have come clean from the start, but it attempted to shroud its work in secrecy. Americans need to know if they are on TikTok, Communist China has their information. ” – Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee
    TikTok says it’s working with the US government to strengthen security around consumer data, especially the information that the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) defines as protected.
    Under an effort called “Project Texas,’ the social media company is making moves to address lawmakers’ concerns. This includes physically storing information about US customers on US servers owned by Oracle. TikTok is also shifting its platform to the American software company’s cloud infrastructure.

    Currently, 100 percent of US traffic is routed to Oracle Corp, but that data is backed up to the company’s own data centers in the US and Singapore. TikTok intends to fully migrate to Oracle’s US servers in the future and delete the information from its own systems.

    According to app intelligence company SensorTower, TikTok has been downloaded 321.6 million times in the US.
  • VinShop aims for success as store connection platform

    VinShop aims for success as store connection platform

    VinShop is expected to soon become a successful store connection platform in Vietnam, with a business strategy similar to Tokopedia in Indonesia.

    Tokopedia’s success lesson

    Founded in 2009, Tokopedia is one of Indonesia’s tech unicorns. According to CB Insights (U.S.), Tokopedia’s value reached $7 billion as of June 2020, becoming the third largest unicorn in Southeast Asia, behind Grab (Singapore) and Gojek (Indonesia).

    Tokopedia was developed as a shopping platform where any business could easily arrange and sell its products.

    William Tanuwijaya, co-founder of Tokopedia, said that the company’s business model is similar to Alibaba’s as it combines Toko (shop) and encyclopedia.

    In 2018, Tokopedia launched the Mitra Tokopedia app for warungs – small family-owned businesses that usually cater to a neighborhood.

    Mitra Tokopedia has recorded one million downloads in the island nation that has two million warungs.

    Mitra Tokopedia has gained popularity and is now present in more than 20 major cities, including Bandung, Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh, Medan, Palembang, and Pekanbaru. This is due to its capacity to connect grocery store owners directly with suppliers and ease retail operations.

    Research from PT Visa Worldwide shows that more than 90 percent of Indonesia’s transactions are conducted in cash. Therefore, tech unicorns like Tokopedia are pioneers in promoting online shopping.

    According to experts, grocery stores still have several advantages over supermarket systems and e-commerce, particularly in Asia. They are friendly, close to homes and convenient.

    Tokopedia, Warung Pintar in Indonesia, StoreKing in India, and Alibaba with LST have all shaken hands with traditional retailers.

    VinShop’s potential

    Tokopedia’s success in Indonesia inspired One Mount Group to develop its VinShop platform.

    One year after its launch, VinShop has connected more than 100,000 traditional grocery stores. However, this figure is still modest compared to the market potential.

    According to Nielsen, Vietnam has 1.4 million grocery stores in operation. Kantar Worldpanel, the world’s leading consulting and market research company, said that traditional retail channels, including markets and grocery stores, still meet 85 percent of consumer demand. The advantage of the grocery store business model is convenience, right in the small alley, good service, easy to travel, and low cost.

    VinShop has helped 10,000 Vietnamese grocers become real business people by using technology and financial solutions from this digital platform. Data from VinShop shows that the platform has covered up to 80 percent of the core market in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

    Several small businesses said that they can earn a lot thanks to VinShop’s benefits, such as the abundance of products from suppliers themselves, transparent pricing, more than 100 promotions each month, and VinShop’s loyalty programs.

  • Finance ministry proposes tax cuts on gasoline

    Finance ministry proposes tax cuts on gasoline

    The Ministry of Finance has apprised the government of its plan to reduce special consumption tax and value-added tax on gasoline to bring its prices down.

    The plan was announced Thursday by a ministry official without disclosing further details.

    Currently special consumption tax is at 8-10 percent and value-added tax is at 10 percent.

    Gasoline prices rose to an all-time high of VND32,870 ($1.41) per liter last Tuesday.

    VND/literVietnam’s gasoline pricesRON 95E5 RON 92Dec 25 2022Jan 11 2022Jan 21 2022Feb 11 2022Feb 21 2022Jan 3 2022Nov 3 2022Mar 21 2022Jan 4 2022Dec 4 2022Apr 21 2022Apr 5 2022Nov 5 2022May 23 2022Jun 1 2022Jun 13 2022Jun 21 202220k22.5k25k27.5k30k32.5k35kApr 21 2022● E5 RON 92: 27 130

    Prices have surged by 65-70 percent since the end of 2021, burdening both consumers and businesses.

    Earlier this month, the ministry had considered halving the environment tax on fuel, but critics said a cut of VND500-1,000 is too little to have an effect and called for reduction in other taxes.

    Taxes and fees account for 35 percent of gasoline prices.

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  • Pi miners anxiously await monetization

    Pi miners anxiously await monetization

    Vietnamese people are expecting good money from cryptocurrency Pi following developer’s promise of a mainnet launch on June 28.

    The system is making steady progress towards transiting to launch by around Pi2 Day – June 28, the development team announced on the Pi Network app last Tuesday.

    Since Monday night, Pi miners in Vietnam have started to wait for the transition. Many claimed to be business owners and said they will accept the token as a payment method as soon as the coin can be exchanged.

    Pi and other cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in Vietnam, Dao Minh Tu, the deputy governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, has said.

    Huynh Tan of HCMC said he has signed in the app to earn rewards every day for the last three years.

    “I have joined the project since its beta stage. Now it is about to enter the mainnet stage, so I hope to be able to exchange Pi for money or something.”

    He said prices of thousands dollars is “very unlikely” as there are 100 billion tokens, but the ‘consensus price’ may be of any number.

    A poll on a Pi group found 75 percent of nearly 3,400 users believing in a ‘consensus price’ of US$6,700.

    “What will you buy first once each Pi token is worth thousands of dollars?”, a member asked on a Pi group with 100,000 members and attracted over 300 comments.

    Many said they intended to buy a house, a car or give away the money after selling the token.

    But investors will have to wait until developers allow them to transfer the token.

    Last year, Pi announced it had entered mainnet, but that will be split into two phases: closed and open network — the former allows user-to-user transactions, and the latter allows exchanging with other cryptocurrencies.

    Doubts

    Meanwhile, many are skeptical about the developer’s pledges.

    “There is no certainty in the statement, just a general announcement of mainnet launch around the Pi2 Day. They did the same thing last year, but there has yet been any development,” Anh Minh, a Pi miner said.

    Pi Network also made no announcement on its social media accounts on June 28 — an unusual move as most crypto projects constantly provide users new information during key phases.

    Over the last six months, the project has reduced mining rate, required users to lock up part of their token, and started the KYC (know-your-customer) process.

    Some users were allowed to exchange the token internally, but only as a demo.

    Up to date, the token cannot be exchanged with other cryptocurrencies, and mostly remain worthless.

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  • Google to boost sound quality in Google Meet, merge Duo

    Google to boost sound quality in Google Meet, merge Duo

    There are changes coming to Google Meet that will boost the sound quality of calls by introducing stereo separation. The guys at 9To5Google have found some strings of code related to binaural audio, and the aforementioned stereo separation in the latest version of the Google Meet and Gmail applications.

    Simply put, this means grabbing two separate audio channels and treating them individually. Google Meet will be able to get different audio channels for different people speaking during a meeting, and then blast them separately into the left and right speaker of the person listening.

    This will help people understand who’s speaking much more effectively, and intuitively – normally these conference call apps just use a mono audio channel, which makes everyone come through the same speakers.

    A couple of days ago, Google announced that it will be merging Google Duo with Google Meet, or more specifically – integrating some Google Duo features into Meet. There are again strings of code that show this is happening.

    With these changes in place, Google Meet will be able to carry out 1-to-1 calls the way Google Duo does, with the call tied to a phone number or Google account.

  • Samsung starts building 3nm smartphone chips in Korea

    Samsung starts building 3nm smartphone chips in Korea

    We’re slowly moving toward the size limitations of our Universe but before we reach that Planck volume, there’s still some wiggle room. This means smaller, faster, and more efficient chips in our smartphones of tomorrow.

    Let’s leave quantum physics behind, and go straight to the news (feel free to discuss Planck constants in the comment section below). After TSMC published its roadmap, shedding light on when we can expect 3nm and 2nm chips, now Samsung has announced the production start of its 3nm semiconductor chips in Hwaseong factory in South Korea.

    Samsung is moving to a new architecture, swapping FinFET (fin field-effect transistor) for GAA (Gate All Around). And if you’re worried that more physics is coming your way, just breathe. GAA offers several advantages over FinFET – the main one being higher power efficiency.

    Another new technology involved in Samsung’s 3nm manufacturing node is the nanosheet transistor manufacturing. It replaces the nanowire technology, again boosting efficiency and also performance in this case. Using nanosheets gives the ability to very easily adjust this efficiency and performance parameters by simply altering the size of the nanosheet.

    Samsung is quoting some impressive numbers, comparing the new 3nm node with the old 5nm manufacturing process. The new chips should come with 23% improved performance, a 45% reduction in power usage, and an area reduction of 16%, and this is just the first generation of 3nm silicon.

    The second generation will bring a hefty 50% increase in power efficiency, 30% better performance, and 35% less area. Here’s a little inspirational quote from Dr. Siyoung Choi, President and Head of Foundry Business at Samsung Electronics:

    “Samsung has grown rapidly as we continue to demonstrate leadership in applying next-generation technologies to manufacturing, such as foundry industry’s first High-K Metal Gate, FinFET, as well as EUV. We seek to continue this leadership with the world’s first 3nm process with the MBCFETTM. We will continue active innovation in competitive technology development and build processes that help expedite achieving maturity of technology.”

    The Korean company is also working to allow clients to design their chips faster and easier. Samsung’s SAFE ((Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem) will be taking care of partners who want to design their 3nm chips using the new technology.
    The first 3nm smartphone processor leaving the factory will most likely be the next generation Exynos 2300 (S5E9935 codename Quadra). The jump to GAA and 3nm could rehabilitate the Exynos processors, which are not very popular among smartphone enthusiasts, and are lagging behind their Qualcomm counterparts. Samsung teamed up with AMD to try and turn things around (the Exynos 2200 is armed with the new Xclipse GPU based on AMD RDNA 2 architecture) but this partnership has yielded mixed results so far.
    With TSMC hiking the prices of its manufacturing processes, it’s also very interesting to see how would Samsung play its cards on that front. If the new 3nm node turns out to be cheaper at Samsung’s factories, it can swing the pendulum once again. On the other hand, don’t expect the next Galaxy S23 with Exynos onboard to be cheaper than the Qualcomm variant, as it won’t make any marketing sense.
  • Nectar of the dogs expands into Southeast Asia

    Nectar of the dogs expands into Southeast Asia

    Australian pet supplement brand Nectar Of The Dogs – which launched in the Australian market in 2021– is now expanding to meet the needs of overseas dog owners. Through a partnership with Asia Pet World, Nectar Of The Dogs is now available for online purchase and distribution globally, with pet owners in Singapore able to purchase the products in store.

    The partnership marks a dramatic milestone for the Sydney based start-up, which until now has been available to purchase only within Australia. Partnering with Asia Petworld means Nectar Of The Dogs can now reach the distributor’s network of over 500,000 households, and will be stocked on the shelves of Singpet Superstore – Singapore’s largest pet store.

    Partnering with natural health experts, veterinarians, food technologists and dog lovers, Nectar’s range of medicinal water supplements are made in Australia with high-quality, human-grade, plant-based ingredients. Nectar’s formulations are aimed to assist pet parents with the top health concerns for today’s dogs, including joints, immune system, calming the nervous system, and supporting skin health, gut and digestive system. The five products from Nectar’s range will be available to dog owners throughout Singapore.

    The growth of the brand represents rising demand for high quality, natural supplements for dogs, not just in the Australian market. Formulated in Australia by a team of food technologists and complementary health experts, Nectar Of The Dogs offers human grade, plant-based supplements that dogs find delicious.

    “We’re experts in supplements for dogs and people,” shares Nectar of the Dogs Founder, Gabriel Perera. “With Nectar, we’ve created a range of products that we wanted for our own dogs, with each ingredient painstakingly formulated to deliver maximum benefit, based on clinical evidence in dogs that tastes amazing.”

    More than just a healthy dog supplement brand, plant-based and Australian-made Nectar is better for the planet. All of Nectar’s formulas are carefully packaged in recyclable and compostable packaging, avoiding any single-use plastics.

  • 7-Eleven brings Peanuts x FDMTL collectibles to Singapore

    7-Eleven brings Peanuts x FDMTL collectibles to Singapore

    TS x FDMTL collectible bags and merchandise. From 6 July, fans can get their hands on the limited edition fashion collectibles crossover with PEANUTS x FDMTL. FDMTL is a world-class, Japan made, indigo based brand.

    Peanuts fans can look forward to a full range of premium quality bags in the latest Shop and Earn stamps programme at 7-Eleven. There are eight limited-edition premium Fashion Bags featuring characters from the Peanuts comics. Customers can earn a stamp with every $5 spent at 7-Eleven; collect eight stamps and top up $8.90 in cash to redeem a blind box of PEANUTS X FDMTL collectible bag.

    Stamp issuance begins on 6 July and ends 30 August at all 7-Eleven stores. Redemption ends 6 September, or while stocks last.

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  • Pandora Thailand distributor plans to expand food, and beverage sections

    Pandora Thailand distributor plans to expand food, and beverage sections

    Tanachira Retail Corporation Co, the importer and distributor of lifestyle fashion brands including Harnn, Marimekko and Pandora, is eyeing the acquisition of health lifestyle food & beverage operators to help reduce business risks and sustain the company’s long-term sales growth.

    Tanapong Chirapanidchakul, Tanachira’s chief executive, said the company is exploring opportunities to acquire food and beverage firms and is seeking know-how to support its expansion into the sector.

    “Our overall business suffered a lot from the Covid-19 crisis, with sales in 2021 plunging by 50% from a year before,” said Mr Tanapong. “Whenever the economy is in a bad condition, people generally opt to spend their money on food rather than luxury products, which will be the first items to be cut.”

    According to Mr Tanapong, the company moved into the food and beverage business several weeks ago when it invested 5 million baht to open the world’s first Marimekko pop-up café in Bangkok’s Central Embassy mall.

    The company plans to open two more permanent cafes in the city next year. It expects Marimekko to account for 25% of total sales, up from 16% now, once two more pop-up cafés open next year. There are currently 10 Marimekko lifestyle stores in Thailand.

    According to Mr Tanapong, the company is now looking to expand the Marimekko shop at the Lotte Department Store in Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi this year.

    Tanachira is also scheduled to open a Cath Kidston cafe in CentralWorld in December this year.

    The company aims to have a total of five cafes under the Marimekko and Cath Kidston brands in Thailand next year.

    In addition, Mr Tanapong said the company intends to ramp up its online business this year. Before the pandemic, Cath Kidston was the only brand that sold its products online, but all brands are now available on the internet, contributing 12% of the company’s sales in the first half of this year. The company’s target is for online business to account for 15% of its sales in 2022, and double to 30% over the next three years.

    Moreover, Mr Tanapong said the company plans to open three new Pandora branches this year. The company expects its sales to reach 1.15 billion baht this year and 1.4 billion baht in 2023. Of the total, 50% of sales will come from Pandora, 20% from Marimekko, and the remaining 30% from other brands.

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  • Nestle buys New Zealand honey brand

    Nestle buys New Zealand honey brand

    Nestlé has added to its portfolio of health-focused assets with the acquisition of New Zealand business The Better Health Company.

    Financial terms were not disclosed. The Better Health Company (TBHC) is the company behind the supplement brand Go Healthy, as well as Egmont Manuka honey.

    Nestlé acquired the business from China asset-management firm CDH Investments and TBHC’s founding shareholders. CDH Investments first backed TBHC in 2016 when it became its majority investor.

    Demand for gold as an investment has grown at an average annual rate of 15% since 2001, but what impact is an ever-sharper focus on sustainable investing having on this most robust of asset classes? Invesco’s Christopher Mellor discusses the efforts being made to ensure ethical and environmental provenance for those looking to incorporate responsible gold into their investment mix.

    Gold has always been a popular investment – and why not? Long viewed as a good hedge against inflation and economic turmoil, the metal’s price has often tracked counter to market swings.

    Yet amid the continued enthusiasm for the precious metal, investors are also increasingly conscious about its provenance, with investment strategies intrinsically linked to environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. Traditionally, investors could only gain exposure to gold by physically buying bars and coins, entailing delivery, storage and insurance costs. A recent development is the rise of gold exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), which remove the costs of physical ownership, but also present potential issues around ensuring environmental and ethical merits.

    The deal is the latest acquisition made by the world’s largest food company as it looks to take on more businesses centred on health and wellness.

    Paul Bruhn, the head of the Oceania business for Nestlé’s Health arm, said the Go Healthy and Egmont brands “complement our global portfolio of active lifestyle and health-and-wellness nutrition brands very well”.

    The transaction also includes a manufacturing facility in Auckland for minerals and supplements.

    Jennifer Chappell, the CEO of Nestlé’s business in New Zealand, said: “This will strengthen our presence not just in New Zealand, but more broadly across the region, with the Go Healthy brand which is already present in Australia, China, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam, and the globally-known Egmont brand.”

    Last month, the Swiss food giant snapped up Brazil-based health foods and supplements business Puravida.

    In February, Nestlé made an acquisition in the area of “nutrition products” with a majority stake in US-based Orgain, a supplier of protein powders, snack bars and shakes.

    Last year, the group snapped up the vitamins and supplement brands of US-based The Bountiful Company in a deal valued at US$5.75bn. That transaction included the Nature’s Bounty, Solgar, Osteo Bi-Flex and Puritan’s Pride lines, as well as Bountiful’s private-label business.

    In May last year, we reported on a document issued among Nestlé executives the publication said stated more than 60% of the company’s mainstream food and drinks could not be considered healthy under a “recognised definition of health”.

    According to the FT, the presentation excluded from its analysis products in sectors such as infant formula, pet food, coffee and medical nutrition. In response, Nestlé issued a statement to say it is “working on a company-wide project to update its pioneering nutrition and health strategy”.

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  • India’s Lenskart buys Owndays

    India’s Lenskart buys Owndays

    India’s largest eyewear retailer Lenskart is buying an approximately 75% stake in Japanese eyewear chain Owndays.

    Lenskart will acquire all the shares held by a joint venture between an investment company affiliated with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton and a fund affiliated with Mitsui & co.

    The value of the deal is yet unknown.

    Owndays has around 460 stores in 13 countries and regions. Lenskart  has about 1,100 stores in India, Singapore, and other countries.

    “Under the deal terms, Owndays management will retain their stakes in the company. The management structure and store names will remain unchanged,” the report noted.

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  • Waze and Netflix team up for new, adventurous driving experience

    Waze and Netflix team up for new, adventurous driving experience

    Waze users rejoice! Despite the fact that you’re bound to get one new driving experience each month, June is a bit more generous. So, for the second time this month, if you’re using Waze, you’re getting a brand-new driving experience inspired by Netflix’s movie The Sea Beast.

    Thanks to a new partnership with Netflix, Waze users will be getting a taste of the service’s newest movie before it arrives on July 8. The new driving experience features the movie’s protagonists: Maisie, a precocious stowaway, and Blue, a little beast with a massive mischief streak.

    The unlikely duo will help Waze users navigate every turn and even entertain them with their friendship. But that’s not all! New Beasts will be available for the driving experience as users choose between three new Moods: Blue, Red and Yellow. Also, your vehicle’s icon can be swapped for a Lifeboat to follow the movie’s theme.

    Make sure to download the latest Waze driving experience and tap the “Turn on Sea Beast Mode” banner to activate it. Keep in mind that this one is available globally, but only in English and for a limited time.