Retail News CRM

Tag: asia

  • Ooredoo welcomes Maldives to a new digital age with the roll out of 5G Services & 5G AirFibre

    Ooredoo welcomes Maldives to a new digital age with the roll out of 5G Services & 5G AirFibre

    Telecom giant Ooredoo announced the commercial launch of its 5G services in the Maldives, with the initial rollout covering a large percentage of the capital city of Male’, including key business hubs, hospitals, public spaces and more.

    At a special event held today to celebrate the kickstart of the 5G era for the company, Ooredoo Maldives also launched 5G AirFibre – the first 5G powered Home Broadband services in the Maldives providing speeds that are tenfold.

    The event was attended by the Minister of Communication, Science & Technology, Hon. Mohamed Maleeh Jamal who officially launched Ooredoo 5G services in the Maldives, the Minister of Economic Development, Uz. Fayyaz Ismail, Chief Executive of CAM, Ilyas Ahmed, Chief Technology Officer of Presidents Office, Mr. Hamid Shafeeu, as well as the Chairman of Ooredoo Maldives, Mr. Andrew Kvalseth, the Board of Directors and employees of Ooredoo Maldives who joined the event virtually to be part of this historic moment for the company.

    Speaking at the event, the Minister of Communication, Science & Technology, Hon. Mohamed Maleeh Jamal said: “5G technologies have the potential for extraordinary breakthroughs across industries, which is now being witnessed worldwide. As the role of internet connectivity continues to become more and more crucial for the country’s social and economic growth, the roll-out of 5G technologies in the Maldives creates a strong digital infrastructure on which creative new solutions can be built on for the betterment of our communities. I would like to thank the management and staff of Ooredoo Maldives for their strong commitment towards a Digital Maldives, by continuing to invest in creating a stronger and more capable network which can power new technologies and innovations, at a time when it is needed more than ever.”

    Najib Khan, Managing Director and CEO, Ooredoo Maldives said: “Over the past year, we have seen a huge shift towards digital across industries, from healthcare, education, communication, governance, e-commerce and more. Despite the challenges faced by the pandemic, our team has prioritized the roll-out of 5G services, understanding its unparalleled capabilities to unlock the full power of a connected society – something that is of pivotal importance in the new normal. We are equally proud to launch the first 5G broadband services in the Maldives, which overcomes the challenges faced in installation of fibre optic cables in congested areas such as Male’. A flexible alternative which offers comparable internet speeds to fiber broadband, 5G AirFibre services will accelerate fiberisation through airwaves of Ooredoo 5G. Today, we welcome a new digital age in the Maldives, enabling endless possibilities and innovative new digital services for people and businesses. We reaffirm our commitment to the people of Maldives, ensuring our support in transforming their digital lifestyles to achieve the full benefits of the digital world.”

    5G technology not only promises a fundamental boost in speed, but offers significantly lower latencies, increased capacities and is much more reliable. Paired with IoT Technologies, this unlocks a wave of advances such as intelligent homes, smart cars, drone deliveries and much more than can transform life as we know it and power healthcare services, education and even entertainment such as sporting events & gaming.

    Available for both prepaid and postpaid customers, Ooredoo 5G covers a large percentage of the capital city, on certified handsets. With the official launch of 5G, we are working with global operators to certify the network on additional handsets as soon as possible. The coverage map for Ooredoo 5G is available on Ooredoo Maldives website.

    In addition to 5G mobile services, customers in the capital city can also experience the superfast speeds of 5G via 5G AirFibre Home Broadband. The enhanced connectivity with 5G AirFibre will provide incredibly high speeds which is extremely positive news for local communities and businesses; especially for small and medium business working remotely or working from homes. Customers in Male’ can now check the eligibility of their area and pre-book their 5G AirFibre devices via Ooredoo Maldives website.

    Ooredoo Maldives also announced 5G Experience zones, for customers who are curious to test out 5G and 5G AirFibre services. This includes the first 5G powered VR Café’ in the Maldives and Ooredoo Club Premier Lounge.

    Ooredoo was the first operator in the world to have launched a live commercial 5G network in Qatar in early 2018 which marked a major technological breakthrough for Ooredoo and the global telecommunications industry. Following its vision to create communities powered by digital services, the company continuously made investments in North Africa, the Arabian Gulf to Southeast Asia to enhance customers’ digital experiences. Ooredoo Maldives will continue to enhance its network across the nation in order to connect customers to the best technologies and services that the digital world has to offer.

    Lees ook:

  • Cebu Pacific considers sending more aircraft to Alice Springs

    Cebu Pacific considers sending more aircraft to Alice Springs

    Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air is considering putting more aircraft in long-term storage, as it weighs a volatile demand environment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    The carrier has 14 aircraft in long-term storage at Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage in Alice Springs, Australia, says Alex Reyes, vice president for cargo at Cebu Pacific.

    Cebu Pacific also operates Airbus A321neos. These comprise seven Airbus A321s, two A330s, four ATR72-600s, and one A320.

    “We are looking to put more aircraft for long-term storage, but this is still under study given the volatility in market demand and travel restrictions,” says Reyes.

    Cerium fleets data indicates that overall the airline has 30 aircraft in service and 23 in storage. It also has 56 aircraft on order from Airbus. These comprise 24 A321neos, 16 A320neos, and 16 A330-900s.

    The airline’s in-service fleet comprises 12 A320s, seven A321neos, six A330-300s, and five A320neos.

    “We have had positive discussions with Airbus and our engine suppliers regarding our pending orders,” says Reyes.

    “The current plan is in line with our conservative forecast in the coming years, given our current situation. We will proceed as planned per our long-term vision, which includes the continuation of an orderly exit strategy of older aircraft that began before COVID-19.”

    He adds that the airline continues to target sale & leaseback transactions, per its pre-pandemic plans.

    Cebu Pacific has been working to restore flights after operating less than 10% of its domestic network from June to November. It is now operating 400-450 flights weekly to 28 domestic and eight international destinations.

    In its third-quarter ended 30 September, Cebu Pacific and its units reported an operating loss of Ps6.7 billion ($139 million), reversing the Ps873 million quarterly operating profit it made last year.

    Revenue for the period plummeted 89% to Ps2 billion, outpacing a 52% year-on-year decline in expenses. The revenue decline was led by a dramatic 97% drop in passenger revenue year on year.

    Lees ook:

  • Starbucks partners with Pokemon Go in Asia

    Starbucks partners with Pokemon Go in Asia

    Pokemon Go is excited to announce that they are partnering with Starbucks and that its stores in select Asia markets are transforming into PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon GO.

    Adventurous Pokémon GO trainers in Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand can visit nearby Starbucks locations to discover Pokémon, join battles with their Pokémon teams, and pick up their favorite Starbucks treats to enjoy on-the-go. With the health and well-being of customers top of mind, the app’s increased range and additional features for socially-distanced connection will help Pokémon GO and Starbucks fans enjoy the world of Pokémon in more exciting ways.

    “Starbucks and Pokémon GO both represent important gathering spaces for community, both online and offline,” said Erin Silvoy, vp product and marketing, Starbucks Asia Pacific. “Starbucks is excited to offer our customers in Asia more ways to connect with the world of Pokémon GO, and for Pokémon GO trainers to enjoy the premium Starbucks Experience on their adventures.”

    “Niantic’s mission is ‘Adventures on foot with others,’” said Gary Chang, APAC business development lead at Niantic. “In partnership with Starbucks, we can bring our shared values of health and well-being together in this exciting experience for customers and trainers.” Since introducing the world to a new genre of mobile gaming – location-based AR games – Niantic has been working with brick-and-mortar brands like Starbucks across the world to offer customers new experiences focused on movement and exploration.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • China’s domestic luxury market almost doubled in 2020

    China’s domestic luxury market almost doubled in 2020

    Growth for the mainland Chinese luxury market is expected to climb by 48 percent to reach almost 346 billion yuan (around $52 billion) by the end of the year, according to Bain’s annual China luxury report released today in partnership with Tmall Luxury Division.

    This meteoric growth, driven in part by the repatriation of luxury spending and acceleration of e-commerce adoption as a result of Covid-19 and international travel restrictions, is forecasted to continue through 2025. It stands in stark contrast with the global luxury market, which the report estimates shrank by 23 percent this year due to store closures and low demand.

    To be sure, growth hasn’t occurred evenly. China’s north and northeast regions underperformed in contrast to the south, east and southwest; categories like leather goods and jewellery led the way, followed by ready-to-wear clothing and shoes, beauty and timepieces. It’s also worth noting that repatriation has only managed to offset around half of the heavy losses luxury brands are feeling in Europe and elsewhere; tourist consumption, which has fallen by an estimated 70 percent is far from fully recovered.

    Bain predicts that where global conditions are unlikely to fully recover in the next year or even two, Chinese shoppers will remain cautious about travel for at least a year, making domestic destinations like Hainan key touchpoints for brands. It also noted that shoppers from or younger than the Post-’80s generation continue to drive growth and that online shopping habits adopted mid and post-pandemic are here to stay.

    Lees ook:

  • HSBC Opens IAM Desk in Singapore

    HSBC Opens IAM Desk in Singapore

    The desk will cater to the needs of family offices and independent advisors managing wealth on the behalf of their clients.

    HSBC’s private banking arm has set up dedicated independent asset management (IAM) in Singapore to expand its reach into a fast-growing segment, the bank announced on Wednesday.

    In the announcement, HSBC noted rapid growth of the IAM industry in wealth management and said growing client awareness and demand for independent advisory services will continue to spur the development of specialized IAM advisors.

    Clients increasingly have more options and by establishing this desk, we are supporting them in their wealth ambition with capabilities underpinned by our international footprint and full private banking suite of capabilities at scale,» Philip Kunz, HSBC’s head of global private banking, Southeast Asia, said.

    HSBC previously said it would place a much greater focus on the family office segment in Asia, following the creation of its newly merged wealth unit in February.

    The bank’s combined wealth business has $1.4 trillion in assets under management, with half of those assets in Asia. Revenue from Asia in the wealth business rose by 12 percent to $5.7 billion last year.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Hong Kong’s First Licensed Crypto Platform Goes Live

    Hong Kong’s First Licensed Crypto Platform Goes Live

    Just one week after Singapore saw its first mainstream crypto foray by DBS, Hong Kong mirrors the city-state’s move by issuing a license to BC Technology Group’s OSL Digital Securities.

    The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a Type 1 (dealing in securities) and Type 7 (automated trading services) license to OSL, according to a statement, making it the first licensed digital asset platform in the city.

    The platform will provide prime brokerage, custody, exchange and other services for Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies alongside select security token offerings.

    In addition, OSL also has insured digital asset wallets and an audited digital asset trading platform aimed at institutions and professional investors.

    Following the local government’s call to ban retail investor access, Hong Kong’s crypto market will be focused on institutional and professional investors, those deemed as high net worth individuals (HNWI) with some market knowledge and experience.

    Institutional investment in Bitcoin and other digital assets has rapidly accelerated over the past several years, and has entered a new era of growth in Hong Kong with licensing,” said OSL chief executive Wayne Trench.

    Following in the footsteps of DBS, OSL has also already applied for a digital asset licensed with the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Payment Services Act.

    Licensed entities are the future of digital assets and capital markets in the digital age and professional investors, hedge funds and family offices are now rapidly increasing portfolio allocations to digital assets such as Bitcoin,» added OSL head of distribution and prime Matt Long.

    According to the statement, the OSL digital asset platform business saw a 47 percent year-on-year revenue increase in the first six months of 2020, driven in part by record-high trading volumes of $28 billion.

    Lees ook:

  • Lender MSB expects to earn hundreds of millions from insurance deal

    Lender MSB expects to earn hundreds of millions from insurance deal

    Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank is set to sign an exclusive bancassurance deal with a leading but unidentified insurer worth hundreds of millions of dollars to it.

    It will be signed next year for 15 years with one of the three biggest insurers in terms of market share in Vietnam, Nguyen Hoang Linh, CEO of the lender (MSB), said at a meeting on Wednesday.

    The country’s three biggest are Canada’s Manulife, the U.K.’s company Prudential and Japan’s Dai-ichi Life.

    Linh cited the example of Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) to indicate roughly how much MSB would receive in upfront payment for the deal.

    ACB received $370 million from Canada’s Sun Life.

    Linh said ACB has a monthly premium income of VND80 billion ($3.45 million), while that figure of MSB is VND50 billion.

    The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange this month gave approval for MSB to list its shares on December 23 at a price of VND15,000, which will put its market cap at VND17.6 trillion.

    The bank has forecast a pre-tax profit of VND2.3-2.4 trillion this year, up 4.5 percent from last year.

    Lees ook:

  • Private banks drive VN-Index pull-back

    Private banks drive VN-Index pull-back

    The VN-Index gained 1.11 percent to 1,066.99 points Tuesday, after seeing one corrective session, with private banking blue chips the best performers.

    The Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), on which the VN-Index is based, was a sea of green with 296 stocks gaining and 134 losings. Total trading volume abated over 10 percent compared to Monday, reaching VND11.86 trillion ($514.79 million).

    Unlike the previous few sessions, where investors were focused on mid-caps with more growth potential, blue chips were the main driving force behind gains on the market this session.

    The VN30-Index for the HoSE’s 30 largest caps soared 1.65 percent, with 13 stocks gaining and three losings, soaking up over 50 percent of the trading volume.

    TCB of private lender Techcombank topped gains with 6.9 percent, followed by VPB of VPBank, up 4.3 percent, and STB of Sacombank, with 4.1 percent.

    Also in the private banking sector, HDB of HDBank added 0.7 percent, while EIB of Eximbank kept its opening price.

    State-owned banks were also some of the best performers. Of Vietnam’s three biggest lenders by assets, BID of BIDV was up 2.8 percent, VCB of Vietcombank 2.1 percent, and CTG of VietinBank, 1.1 percent. MBB of mid-sized Military Bank surged 3.5 percent.

    Another sector that outperformed this session was real estate. NVL of Novaland was up 2.4 percent, KDH of Khang Dien House 1.8 percent, ROS of FLC Faros 1.4 percent, VHM of giant Vinhomes 0.2 percent, while TCH of Hoang Huy Group was flat.

    Other major gainers, this session included VJC of budget carrier Vietjet Air with 2.5 percent, VRE of mall operator Vincom Retail with 1.3 percent, and SBT of agricultural exporter TTC-Sugar, with 1 percent.

    The only three losing stocks this session were SSI of top brokerage Saigon Securities Inc., down 1.8 percent, REE of appliances maker Refrigerated Electrical Engineering, and PLX of gasoline distributor Petrolimex, both by 0.4 percent.

    Indices for secondary main bourse Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), home to mid-and small-caps, and mezzanine bourse Unlisted Public Companies Market (UPCoM) rose 2.23 percent and 0.90 percent, respectively.

    Foreign investors continued to be net sellers to the tune of over 225 billion on all three bourses, with the most net offloaded stocks being HPG of steelmaker Hoa Phat Group, which gained 0.5 percent, and SSI of Saigon Securities Inc.

    Lees ook:

  • November auto sales achieve year record

    November auto sales achieve year record

    Auto sales in November hit 36,359 units, the highest monthly number this year as Vietnam continues to contain Covid-19.

    The figure exceeded that of last year by 22 percent, making November the third month to record year-on-year growth in 2020 after February and October as Covid-19 caused sales to slump in other months, according to data from Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA).

    Passenger cars accounted for 79 percent of sales, commercial vehicles nearly 20 percent, and special-purpose vehicles for the rest, data shows.

    However, auto sales in the first 11 months still fell nearly 14 percent year-on-year due to deep plunges recorded in April and August after two major Covid-19 outbreaks.

    Local brand Truong Hai Auto (Thaco) retained the top spot in the first 11 months with a 35.5 percent share of the market as sales rose two percent to 84,858 units.

    It was followed by Toyota with 59,394 units, down 16 percent and Mitsubishi with 24,387 units, down nine percent. Ford and Honda rounded off the top five.

    Last year, auto sales had risen 11.7 percent from 2018 to 322,322 units, according to VAMA.

  • Google announces major news for Android users

    Google announces major news for Android users

    Google has announced that Android phones starting with the ones powered by the upcoming Snapdragon 888 Mobile Platform will support four years of Android system updates instead of the typical two to three that Android phones offer. While the actual number of updates that an Android phone supports is up to the manufacturer of that handset, today’s news indicates that newer Android models will have the ability to be updated as many as four times before losing support. That would include an extra year of OS and security updates.

    Unlike Apple, which allows an iPhone model to continue to receive iOS updates until the hardware no longer can do justice to the software, Google typically ends Android support for handsets after three years. Apple has an advantage in that it not only develops iOS itself, it also is behind the design of the phone running the operating system. Google, on the other hand, does develop Android but there are quite a number of individual companies that manufacture Android phones.

    To reiterate, most Android phones can be updated for as long as three years compared to approximately five years for an iPhone model. Google’s announcement today cuts that advantage from two years to just one. But before Android users start getting giddy about that extra year of support, it will be up to Android phone manufacturers to determine whether or not to allow their phones to receive four years of Android updates.

    Extending the number of years that an Android phone can receive an OS update to four will reduce the number of times that an Android user is forced to buy a new phone just to receive the latest version of the Android OS.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Elon Musk’s Boring Company Proposes Citywide Expansion In Las Vegas

    Elon Musk’s Boring Company Proposes Citywide Expansion In Las Vegas

    Elon Musk’s hobby project – the Boring Company – is planning a citywide expansion of its underground tunnel system which it has been building in Las Vegas. The startup wants to build a 16-kilometer loop that serves the famous Las Vegas strip that connects the casino hotels with the downtown area of the city including its McCarran International Airport. All these loops will obviously be powered by Tesla vehicles. In addition to this, it even wants to build another loop that connects the properties owned by Caesars entertainment that includes Caesar’s palace properties. This proposal will make the tunnels that will enable transportation from the Las Vegas Convention center which is the home of CES to hotel’s like the Mandalay Bay just three minutes long as opposed to 30 minutes during peak traffic hours.

    As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a proposal was floated to the Car County officials after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) finished buying the Las Vegas Monorail which filed for bankruptcy in September.

    Following the acquisition, LVCVA killed a non-compete agreement that prevented the Boring Company from digging any tunnels that served the same areas as the monorail. This monorail is not expected to reopen till 2021.

    While all of this is quite impressive, the Boring Company has been laggard in completing its original project. It is still working on its first underground people-mover which will open to the public below the Convention Center. It was originally slated for a January 2021 opening in time for CES 2021, but those plans are now not in play as CES thanks to the pandemic is a virtual event and generally, work has been slower in the wake of the COVID19 crisis.

    The Boring Company has plans of shuttling up to 4,000 people per hour through its tunnels using Tesla Model 3s and Tesla Model Xs which will operate alongside a tram built on the Model 3 platform that will be able to fit up 16 people. This tram and the cars will move autonomously, though they will also have drivers.

    Originally the LVCVA paid the Boring Company $48.6 million to build tunnels, but that cost has already swollen up to $52.5 million. If this expansion goes through, the Boring Company, will not get such a sweet deal. It will have to pay for the cost of the construction of the main tunnel of the new citywide loop, while properties that want a station will have to pay to have them built. This proposal will be put in front of the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday and in front of the county officials in February.

    Lees ook:

  • Honda Recalling 1.79 Million Vehicles Worldwide For Safety Issues

    Honda Recalling 1.79 Million Vehicles Worldwide For Safety Issues

    Honda Motor said on Tuesday it was recalling 1.79 million vehicles worldwide in four separate campaigns, including some linked to reported fires. The recalls cover 1.4 million vehicles in the United States. The Japanese automaker said one recall covers 268,000 2002-2006 model year CR-V vehicles in the United States to replace power window master switches. Honda said there had been no reported injuries, but 16 fires reported related to the issue.

    Honda conducted a prior recall of the power window master switches in 2012. The new recall is in response to moisture-related failures of switches repaired under the previous campaign.

    One recall covers 268,000 2002-2006 model year CR-V vehicles in the United States to replace power window master switches.

    Honda is also recalling about 735,000 U.S. 2018-2020 Accord, Accord Hybrid and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles to update the Body Control Module software. A programming flaw could disrupt communication causing illumination of several warning lights and malfunction of electronic components, it said, including “the rearview camera display, turn signals and windshield wipers.”

    Honda is also issuing two recalls covering 430,000 U.S. vehicles in 22 U.S. states and the District of Columbia with significant road salt use to inspect and potentially replace front driveshafts. Both are in response to possible breakage of the drive shafts due to corrosion. No injuries have been reported in relation any of the recalls, the company said.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Facebook pissed at Apple’s new plan requiring users opt-in to receive targeted ads

    Facebook pissed at Apple’s new plan requiring users opt-in to receive targeted ads

    Apple and Facebook should not be invited to the same dinner party. Facebook fired another salvo at the iPhone maker on Wednesday accusing the company of anticompetitive behavior. Dan Levy, Facebook Vice President for Ads and Business Products, dropped the bomb in front of reporters when he said “Apple is behaving anti-competitively by using their control of the App Store to benefit their bottom line at the expense of creators and small businesses. Full stop.”

    Apple, which has been preaching privacy for its devices (especially the iPhone), is looking to prevent developers from using their apps to start tracking users and running targeted advertisements. Apple says that its new rules won’t force Facebook to change its “approach to tracking users and creating targeted advertising.” But it will force Facebook to give iOS users the option whether or not to opt in to these services. In a statement, Apple said, “We believe that this is a simple matter of standing up for our users. Users should know when their data is being collected and shared across other apps and websites — and they should have the choice to allow that or not.”

    Today, Facebook ran a full-page ad in major newspapers throughout the country. The ads criticized Apple for limiting apps from gathering information from others’ phones. This data is used to send targeted advertisements to consumers. But Facebook says that Apple is unfairly exempting its own ads platform from the new requirements it is imposing on other firms.

    During the summer, Apple said that a pop-up notification will ask iOS users for “permission to track them across apps and websites owned by other companies.” Most digital advertisers expect consumers to decline this request. Facebook’s Levy said that while his company doesn’t agree with Apple, it will comply with the new rules. “We don’t have a choice if we want our app to be available in the App Store, Levy stated. Apple and Facebook have also argued about the 30% cut of in-app purchases that Apple charges developers. Facebook has aligned itself with the small developers most affected by what is known as the “Apple Tax.” This is the same issue that has led Apple and developer Epic Games (creator of Fortnite), music streamer Spotify, and video streamer Netflix to complain about the 30% of in-app revenue that goes into Apple’s pockets.

    Facebook said today in its blog post that it was “committed to providing relevant information” in a “federal antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games.” Facebook wouldn’t specify how it planned to take part in the litigation.” The social media giant also paid for full-page ads in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. The headline on the ads read, “We’re standing up to Apple for small businesses everywhere.” The ad says, “At Facebook, small business is at the core of our business. More than 10 million businesses use our advertising tools each month to find new customers, hire employees, and engage with their communities. Many in the small business community have shared concerns about Apple’s forced software update, which will limit businesses’ ability to run personalized ads and reach their customers effectively.

    Forty-four percent of small to medium businesses started or increased their usage of personal ads on social media during the pandemic, according to a new Deloitte study. Without personalized ads, Facebook data shows that the average small business advertiser stands to see a cut of over 60% in their sales for every dollar they spend.

    While limiting how personalized ads can be used does impact larger companies like us, these changes will be devastating to small businesses, adding to the many challenges they face right now. Small businesses deserve to be heard. We hear your concerns and we stand with you.”

    The bottom line is that Apple’s plan to beef up iPhone users’ privacy by asking them to opt in if they want to see targeted advertisements is not good for large or small businesses. And Facebook call this anti-competitive behavior on the part of Apple.

    Lees ook:

  • Luxury Gift-Giving Ideas in a Crisis Year

    Luxury Gift-Giving Ideas in a Crisis Year

    Gift-giving looks different in a pandemic year, but consumers aren’t eschewing luxuries entirely.

    If you like things you can hold in your hand but still want to get in on the crypto craze, Bitcoin Suisse’s certificates are worth a look: beautifully-crafted paper wallets hold bitcoin, ether, a Swiss franc-backed stablecoin, and others.

    The certificate’s design leans heavily on Bitcoin Suisse’s home: Switzerland’s spiritual mother, Helvetia, adorned by Alprose, features on the front while the reverse depicts crypto valley encircled by 23 stars representing the country’s cantons. The certificates bear a hologram designed to hold security features including nano and micro text, security guilloches, and spectral line patterns.

    Calling Enzo Enea a landscaper is like calling Dom Perignon a drink: the Swiss-based designer has designed greenscapes for the Queen of Bahrain and Prince Charles and worked with Zaha Hadid. He’s just as sought-after in his native Switzerland.

    Enea’s business is booming during the pandemic, as homebound bankers look to upgrade their surroundings. A fixture in design bibles like Monocle and Wallpaper, Enea recently-opened concept store overlooking Zurich’s Sihl river – a stone’s throw from Paradeplatz.

    Outside In embodies the philosophy of meshing the outdoors with interior quarters: the two-story shop includes statement pieces like Oscar Niemeyer’s Rio chaise longue or BassamFellows’ iconic Swiss tractor stool to Serax stoneware-cement tableware.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Baidu is considering designing and building electric vehicles

    Baidu is considering designing and building electric vehicles

    China’s Baidu is considering making its own electric vehicles and has held talks with automakers about the possibility, three people with knowledge of the matter said, the latest move in a race among tech firms to develop smart cars.

    The search-engine leader, which also develops autonomous driving technology and internet connectivity infrastructure, is considering contract manufacturing, one of the people said, or creating a majority-owned venture with automakers.

    The initiative would be a step up from internet peers such as Tencent Holdings, Amazon, and Alphabet Inc., which have also developed auto-related technology or invested in smart-car startups.

    Baidu has held preliminary talks without reaching any decisions, with automakers including Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. and China FAW Group Corp.’s Hongqi, on a possible venture, the people said.

    They declined to be identified as the talks are private.

    Baidu declined to comment. GAC said it has a strategic partnership with Baidu and that any further cooperation was subject to discussion. Geely said it was not familiar with the matter. FAW did not respond to a request for comment.

    Baidu established the autonomous driving unit Apollo in 2017. The unit mainly supplies technology powered by artificial intelligence and work with automakers such as Geely, Volkswagen Group, Toyota Motor, and Ford Motor Co.