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Tag: asia

  • Emirates Group announces senior appointments

    Emirates Group announces senior appointments

    His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive, announced senior appointments to support the organisation’s growth and strengthen its leadership bench.

    This latest list of promotions and senior appointments includes 7 UAE nationals, many of whom have grown their careers at the Emirates Group in different roles and continue to play key roles in the organisation’s success.

    HH Sheikh Ahmed said, “These appointments reflect the expanded scale, breadth, and ambition of our business. I’m heartened that we have been able to fill these roles with internal talent, including UAE nationals. The Emirates Group will continue to invest in being an employer of choice for the best talent in the industry, to deliver world-leading products and services, and reflect Dubai’s vision to be number one in everything we do.”

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  • Vietjet boosts air travel between Southeast and Northeast Asia with new China and South Korea services

    Vietjet boosts air travel between Southeast and Northeast Asia with new China and South Korea services

    Vietjet has kicked off the direct service between Ho Chi Minh City and Xi’an, China, and introduced the new Nha Trang – Daegu, South Korea, route. These expansions highlight Vietjet’s commitment to providing more affordable and seamless travel options while strengthening air connectivity across Southeast and Northeast Asia.

    On this occasion, Vietjet offers an exclusive promotion from now to July 7, 2024, featuring one million tickets starting from USD0 across its entire flight network. Bookings are available for travel between August 22, 2024, and May 22, 2025 through the Vietjet website and the Vietjet Air mobile app, presenting an exciting opportunity for travelers planning their next getaway.

    The introduction of the Nha Trang – Daegu route on July 1, 2024, coincides with Vietjet’s 10th anniversary of successful operations between Vietnam and South Korea. Starting October 27, 2024, the service linking Vietnam’s coastal city Nha Trang with South Korea’s fourth-largest city Daegu will operate seven round trips per week, further enhancing Vietjet’s extensive South Korean services.

    Vietjet currently holds the largest capacity between Vietnam and South Korea, seamlessly connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Da Lat with Seoul, Busan, and Daegu. Over the past decade, Vietjet has facilitated convenient travel between the two countries, transporting ten million passengers across 37 regular and charter services, significantly contributing to economic, investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

    Additionally, on July 1, 2024, Vietjet expands its footprint in China with inaugural flights on the route connecting Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam’s largest metropolis, to Xi’an, China’s prominent historical city. Vietjet is the sole airline offering this direct connection with four round trips per week, following the launch of Shanghai and Chengdu services earlier this year.

    The airline’s route expansion aligns with increasing demand in international air travel and cargo markets across Asia-Pacific, driven by global economic activities. In May, airlines in the region transported 27.9 million passengers, marking a significant 23.9% year-on-year increase, as reported by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

    The new routes strengthen Vietjet’s flight network, providing travelers with convenient access to destinations across Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and beyond. During the first half of 2024, the airline launched several international services, linking Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, with Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, and Hiroshima in Japan, as well as connecting the island of Phu Quoc to Kaohsiung and Taichung in Taiwan.

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  • Google is about to make posting Notes for search results easier

    Google is about to make posting Notes for search results easier

    We’re currently more and more reliant on AI for searching and solving all kinds of problems. However, human opinion still matters, and it’s the best way to get reliable input. Since last fall, Google has been experimenting to offer a more human touch to people with Notes – a commentary on the search results a person got that other users can view.

    Now, the folks at Android Authority have dug into some code and have discovered that Google is working on making posting Notes easier for its Android app.

    Right now, Notes in Search is an opt-in feature part of Search Labs, and it’s currently available only to users in the US and India. Code in version 15.26.34 of the Google app for Android reveals that Google may be letting you quickly share your take on Search Results without having to choose a theme (choosing a theme appeared very important so far when posting a Note as if how things look is more important than the contents).

    With this new tweak, Google is giving you options to still choose a theme, but you can also quickly set a background to your Note by attaching an image. This change hasn’t been rolled out publicly yet, but it probably should be available pretty soon. At least to the users that get to have access to Notes anyway.

    I personally believe this feature is super useful and just wish it was available to more people. However, maybe Google needs time to refine it before it becomes globally available. Anyway, it will actually be a good thing so we don’t always have to rely on AI for feedback on something. Having someone else’s review of sorts on search results is actually a beneficial thing.

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  • Gold ring price edges higher

    Gold ring price edges higher

    Saigon Jewelry Company gold ring price rose by 0.07% to VND75.65 million (US$2,972.21) per tael Wednesday morning.

    Gold bar price was stable at VND76.98 million per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Globally, gold prices were flat on Wednesday as investors awaited minutes of the Federal Reserve’s last policy meeting for fresh cues on when the U.S. central bank will start cutting interest rates, overshadowing a strong domestic jobs report.

    Spot gold was little changed at $2,331.97 per ounce. U.S. gold futures gained 0.3% to $2,340.20.

    The gold market has been steady and holding in a narrow range for a few weeks now, said Marex analyst Edward Meir, adding that bullion prices might move higher later this year with all the elections up in the air.

    Ahead of the release of the Fed minutes, Chair Jerome Powell said on Tuesday the United States was back on a “disinflationary path,” but policymakers needed more data before cutting rates to verify that recent weaker inflation readings provided an accurate picture of the economy.

    Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

    “There’s a clear path for gold to outperform from here, likely fueled by Western flows. Conversely, in the event that central bank demand drops drastically, rates remain high for longer and Asian investor sentiment flips, we could see a pullback in the second half,” the World Gold Council said in its mid-year outlook report.

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  • Uniqlo elevates its T-shirt’s popularity as Singapore’s ‘national uniform’

    Uniqlo elevates its T-shirt’s popularity as Singapore’s ‘national uniform’

    Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo has launched new Singapore-exclusive colors for its AIRism oversized T-shirt, promoting it as the “SG uniform” and acknowledging its popularity as the go-to attire for Singaporean men.

    The new T-shirt colors, orange, red and dark green, were released last month at Uniqlo stores across the city-state, advertised as “The SG uniform”.

    This move indicated that the Japanese retailer is embracing the product’s ubiquity in the nation, especially among Singaporean men.

    The brand’s Singaporean website also listed the product as an “essential” fashion item, with one unit being sold almost every minute in the city-state from October 2022 to September 2023.

    Due to its prevalence, the “SG uniform” has often been a topic of discussion on social media, where Singaporean men’s basic outfit – the Uniqlo T-shirt, a pair of shorts and slippers – is often ridiculed.

    Notably, one viral video by TikTok user Sherrgoh, showing a man buying the same t-shirt in several different shades and captioned ‘SG boys shopping for their uniform in new colors,’ has gained over 1.6 million views.

    According to those who favor the oversized T-shirt, Uniqlo’s biggest appeal is its convenience.

    “I think that there are many other brands on the market that are of a similar price bracket and quality, like Muji, but Uniqlo makes it convenient to get the same piece of clothing that you know fits you well repeatedly or in different colors,” Raffli Noor, 39.

    Meanwhile, others have said that the item is both comfortable and low-key, not standing out and attracting unwanted attention.

    Singapore boasts 30 Uniqlo outlets and the highest density of Uniqlo stores outside of Japan, with approximately one store for every 189,000 people.

    The new colors for the AIRism T-shirt are not the brand’s first Singapore-exclusive release, as it had previously introduced several products inspired by Singaporean literature in collaboration with the city-state’s National Library Board in March.

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  • Washington tries to curb Huawei with eight more license revocations

    Washington tries to curb Huawei with eight more license revocations

    Someone’s been a busy little bee and has revoked eight licenses in 2024 that allowed some companies to export high-tech products to Chinese giant Huawei. This busy little bee is, of course, the Biden administration.

    The latest Reuters report shines a light on the matter and tells the story how Washington managed to cancel a total of eight licenses (so far in 2024) with the goal to increase pressure on the company, which has resurrected with the release of the Mate 60 Pro. You know, this 5G-capable phone shouldn’t have materialized in the first place, but in spite of the US sanctions did so last year.

    Huawei’s smartphone sales surged by 64% year-on-year in the first six weeks of 2024, according to various reports. Huawei’s smart car component business also contributed to its fastest revenue growth in four years in 2023.

    As I’ve said on previous occasions: good luck trying to contain technology. Yes, it may take some time, but, eventually, other companies will figure things out. You simply cannot contain it.

    In 2019, Huawei faced a significant setback. The United States said Huawei phones pose a thread (because of privacy issues) and imposed sanctions on the company. These sanctions restricted American firms from doing business with Huawei, particularly in supplying key technologies and software essential for its smartphones.

    One of the most critical impacts was the loss of access to Google Mobile Services (GMS), which includes popular apps like Gmail, Google Maps, and the Play Store, on Huawei’s new smartphones. This meant that Huawei phones released after the sanctions could no longer come pre-installed with these familiar Google apps, affecting their appeal to international consumers who rely on these services.

    The US government argued that Huawei’s close ties to the Chinese government posed a potential risk of espionage and unauthorized data access, particularly through Huawei’s telecommunications equipment. As a result, the U.S. placed restrictions on American companies supplying Huawei with critical components and technology necessary for building and expanding 5G networks.

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  • Netflix uses dubious method to get some subscribers to switch plans

    Netflix uses dubious method to get some subscribers to switch plans

    A change is coming to Netflix subscription plans in some markets starting on July 13th. That’s when the video streamer’s $11.99 ad-free plan will be discontinued in two countries. This is the cheapest ad-free subscription option that Netflix offers and eliminating it will force subscribers to move to one of three plans. These subscribers can choose the $6.99 per month plan that subjects them to viewing ads, or they can sign up for one of two ad-free plans that are available. There is an ad-free plan that costs $15.49 per month and a plan that offers ad-free 4K streams for $22.99 per month (more on this later).

    A photo posted on a social media site shows that a Netflix subscriber, even though he still has a valid subscription for a couple of weeks, is not being allowed to use the platform until he subscribes to another plan. While this user was trying to view content on Netflix, he sees a sign on his television that said, “Your last day to watch Netflix is July 13. Choose a new plan to keep watching.” Underneath that heading Netflix writes, “Your Basic Plan has been discontinued, but you can easily switch to a new one. Plans start at $5.99 with upgraded features.”

    This is unfair to the subscriber who is being forced to decide which plan to subscribe to right away if he wants to enjoy the remainder of the subscription that he pays for monthly. On Reddit, several people called out Netflix for doing something that they felt bordered on illegal. “There’s no option to continue watching without selecting a new plan,” one Netflix subscriber said on Reddit. Still, this shouldn’t be too surprising to Netflix subscribers since the company said this past January that it would push customers to less-expensive or more-expensive plans.

    Those receiving the notice telling them that their current plan expires on July 13th can choose from one of three aforementioned options. Standard with ads is $6.99 per month and features Full HD (FHD) resolution streams with no more than two devices allowed to stream at once. This plan supports downloads and up to two devices can download content.

    Ad-free options include Standard for $15.49 per month which has all of the same features as the Standard with ads plan, but without ads. The Premium plan is $22.99 per month and streams in Ultra HD resolution. Four devices can stream at once and up to six devices can  download content for viewing when offline.The notices about the discontinuation of the Basic plan is being seen by Netflix subscribers in Canada and the U.K. with U.S. users expected to be targeted soon. American Netflix subscribers should remember the saying, “To be forewarned is forearmed.”

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  • Samsung promises ‘strong investment’ in Vietnam in next 3 years

    Samsung promises ‘strong investment’ in Vietnam in next 3 years

    South Korean electronics giant Samsung has planned “strong investment” in Vietnam in the next three years to make the country its biggest display module producer globally, its chairman Lee Jae Yong has said.

    “Vietnam’s success is Samsung’s success”, he told Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Seoul on Tuesday, adding that Samsung commits to journey with Vietnam in the long run.

    In May the chairman told PM Chinh that Samsung would invest around $1 billion in Vietnam each year.

    Chinh praised Samsung’s success in Vietnam and asked the company to diversify its supply chain in the country and make the country its strategic location for manufacturing and research.

    He added that Vietnam’s is making policy changes to attract investors in the high-tech, semiconductor and AI sectors.

    Vietnam is also making negotiations for new free trade agreements to expand its exports to the Middle East, South America and Africa, which will help distribute Samsung products to these markets.

    The PM urged Samsung to increase the localization of manufacturing and allow Vietnamese firms to participate deeper in its supply chain.

    He wants Samsung to provide high quality training of Vietnamese staff.

    Lee said that 310 Vietnamese companies are now Samsung suppliers, and the number has surged 12 times from 2014.

    Around 2,500 engineers and researchers are working at its research and development center in Hanoi, where Samsung is researching AI and 5G equipment.

    Chinh added that in the near future he hopes to see a Vietnamese executive in Samsung Vietnam’s board.

    Samsung is the biggest foreign direct investor in Vietnam with four factories in the country with a total investment of $2 billion to date.

    Over 50% of its smartphones sold globally are made in Vietnam.

    Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife are on an official visit to South Korea from June 30 to July 3 at the invitation of South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and his spouse.

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  • Dollar slips on black market

    Dollar slips on black market

    The U.S. dollar declined slightly against the Vietnamese dong on the black market Saturday morning.

    Unofficial exchange points sold the greenback at VND25,980, down 0.15% from Friday.

    Vietcombank maintained its rate at VND25,473.

    The State Bank of Vietnam’s reference rate was stable at VND24,245.

    The dollar has gained over the dong by 4.31% since the beginning of the year.

    Globally the U.S. dollar slipped on Friday after data showed inflation in the world’s largest economy subsided last month, cementing expectations the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates this year, Reuters reported.

    The dollar initially fell against the yen, the currency pair most sensitive to U.S. economic data because of a high, positive correlation to Treasury yields. The greenback, however, edged higher to trade flat on the day, with investors still focused on the wide interest rate differential between the United States and Japan.

    The dollar was last up slightly against the Japanese unit at 160.815 yen, after earlier hitting a 38-year high of 161.27 yen. Traders remained on high alert for intervention from Japanese authorities to boost its currency.

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  • Jollibee data breach may impact almost 11 million customers

    Jollibee data breach may impact almost 11 million customers

    Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) has reported a potential unauthorised access to its data, which might affect approximately 11 million customers.

    The breach compromised sensitive personal information, including dates of birth and senior citizen identification numbers, according to the company’s report to the Philippines’ National Privacy Commission (NPC).

    “Approximately 11 million data subjects are affected, the majority of whom are Jollibee customers,” the NPC said. “Other impacted brands include Mang Inasal, Red Ribbon, Chowking, Greenwich, Burger King, Yoshinoya, and Panda Express.”

    The company has requested an additional 20 days to complete its internal investigation.

    By law, companies processing personal data must notify the NPC and individual affected subjects within 72 hours of discovering a breach.

    JFC said that its e-commerce platforms, including its subsidiaries, were unaffected by the incident and remained operational.

    “JFC recognises the value and importance of the confidentiality of its stakeholders’ personal information,” said the company.

    “The company assures the public of its commitment to prioritise the protection and confidentiality of such personal information, including customer data, by continuously fortifying its defences against future threats,” it added.

  • Microsoft brings its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to Amazon Fire TV

    Microsoft brings its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to Amazon Fire TV

    he best deals in the gaming industry, Xbox Game Pass, will soon be available on Amazon Fire TV. Microsoft has just announced it has teamed up with Amazon to bring its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to over 25 countries where Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is available.

    This will allow Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to play games directly from the Xbox app on select Fire TV devices via cloud gaming. Obviously, you’ll need an exceptional internet connection, but you won’t have to pay for a console or download anything on your Fire TV device.

    Basically, you’ll only need a Fire TV Stick, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller, and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to gain access to hundreds of high-quality games, including Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.

    Microsoft announced that the Xbox app will be released on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) and Fire TV Stick 4K very soon. Here is what you’ll have to do to start playing games:

    • Install and launch the Xbox app from your Fire TV device.
    • Sign in with your Microsoft account to play.
    • If you haven’t already, you can join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for one low monthly price.
    • Connect a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller (i.e Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation DualSense, DualShock 4)
    • Start playing!

    It’s worth mentioning that even if you don’t have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, you’ll still be able to play some games that are free such as Fortnite.

    For those who just want to see how smooth the cloud gaming experience is and if it’s worth paying for it, can pay $1 for 14 days. Subscription continues automatically if not canceled during the 14-day trial. The cost of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is $16.99 per month, but it covers all platforms (PC, console, and cloud gaming).

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  • 17 million Vietnamese products sold on Amazon in 2023

    17 million Vietnamese products sold on Amazon in 2023

    he number of Vietnamese products sold on Amazon soared by 300% in the previous five years to 17 million in 2023.

    The value of the goods exported through the U.S. e-commerce platform increased by 50% during the period, Trinh Khac Toan, northern regional director of Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, which supports sellers, said at a forum Thursday.

    The number of Vietnamese sellers with annual sales of $1 million increased 10-fold between 2019 and 2023, while those who have legitimized their brands through the Amazon Brand Registry program increased by 35 times, he noted.

    The figures demonstrate the astonishing potential of cross-border e-commerce, he said.

    Amazon Global Selling forecasts cross-border e-commerce in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to grow at 20% annually until 2026.

    Bui Trung Kien, vice chairman of the Vietnam E-Commerce Association, said developing cross-border e-commerce is crucial to boosting Vietnam’s exports.

    But the country’s legal framework for businesses could pose a hurdle to this, he warned.

    Cao Cam Linh, a representative of the Vietnam Association for Logistics Manpower Development, said logistics need to be developed to support e-commerce.

    Toan said online businesses need to invest in market research to identify customer needs, improve their products and build their own brands with a long-term vision.

    In Vietnam, Amazon has collaborated with the E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency to train 10,000 people for the cross-border e-commerce industry.

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  • Vietnam to start work on high-speed rail within next 3 years

    Vietnam to start work on high-speed rail within next 3 years

    Work on a 1,500-kilometer high-speed rail link between the northern and southern regions will start in 2026 or 2027, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang has said.

    Vietnam hopes to partner with China in building the railroad and rolling stock and setting up its signaling system, he told Lou Qiliang, chairman of China Railway Signal & Communication Corporation (CRSC) at a meeting Tuesday in China’s Dalian City.

    The three determine the safety of a rail project, and China has advanced technologies for developing them and at reasonable prices, he said.

    CRSC is a state-owned company and the world’s biggest supplier of rail control systems.

    It accounts for 45% of China’s subway market.

    Railroad infrastructure, especially for the north-south high-speed route, is among the government’s priorities for enhancing the country’s competitiveness.

    Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at the meeting that China has strengths in developing high-speed and urban rail networks.

    He sought China’s support in design, construction and technology transfer, including for three cross-border rail projects spanning 700 kilometers between the two countries.

    Work on the first is set to begin next year, connecting China with the northern province of Lao Cai, Hanoi and the port city of Hai Phong.

    Lou told the PM that his company is seeking opportunities to partner with Vietnam, and can provide assistance in researching and developing rail signaling systems.

    Human resource training also plays an important role in rail projects, he added.

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  • 7-Eleven upcycles uniforms in textile waste initiative

    7-Eleven upcycles uniforms in textile waste initiative

    7-Eleven Australia’s latest initiative to reduce textile waste going to landfill focuses on recycling old uniforms.

    The convenience chain is working with Loop Upcycling (Loop) to turn textiles into stretch fabric beanies.

    Julie Laycock, general manager – customer at 7-Eleven, said “Having identified old uniforms and other textiles, and learning from Loop Upcycling what the fabrics could be turned into, we collaborated with our community partners The Salvation Army and AMES Australia to determine what would be most useful for their clients.”

    The beanies were donated to people experiencing homelessness, winter power bill challenges, as well as new migrants and refugees facing a cold Melbourne winter.

    This collaboration has saved more than 143kg of clothing from landfill.

    Franco Randazzo, Loop Upcycling CEO, said “Many of the participants who produced the beanies have themselves been supported by organisations like The Salvation Army or AMES Australia.

    “For them to have the chance to work on a project that not only benefits the environment and helps them learn new skills, but also provides them the chance to give back to organisations who have been there for them in times of struggle has been really extraordinary.”

    Laycock said 7-Eleven Australia continues to seek opportunities for waste reduction.

    “Being able to support those in need and redirect waste from landfill is something we are trying to do more of. Loop, in addition to recycling textiles, provides workplace and skills training for vulnerable people.

    “This project has created some extraordinary moments for connection and caring in our communities and we are looking forward to continuing to trial ways to reduce waste across our business,” she said.

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  • Digital hotel keys arrive on Google Wallet

    Digital hotel keys arrive on Google Wallet

    Google Wallet is making traveling a little less stressful for hotel guests by supporting digital hotel key cards. If your hotel offers it, you can save your hotel key right to Google Wallet and use your phone to unlock your room instead of carrying a physical key.

    Adding a hotel key to Google Wallet is similar to adding a credit card. You’d just need to tap the “Add to Google Wallet” button on the hotel’s website, app, or in an email. Then, sign in and add the hotel to Google Wallet. To unlock your room, simply hold your phone near the door handle. Some phone models don’t even require you to unlock your phone first.

    Google Wallet isn’t the first digital wallet to offer this feature. Apple Wallet on iPhones has had this capability since 2021 with the launch of iOS 15. However, adding it to Google Wallet opens it up to a whole new group of Android users. Some hotel chains, like Marriott and Hilton, have had digital key cards on their apps for a while, but the Google Wallet integration means you don’t have to download another app.

    There’s one catch, though. Not all hotels are compatible with Google Wallet for digital key cards. Each hotel will have to add support for the feature, and right now, not many hotels have. One of the hotels that does offer digital key cards with Google Wallet is the Clarion Hotel Post in Sweden.

    This new feature could be really convenient for travelers, but it’s unclear how quickly it will be widely available. Because it’s a new technology, fancier, more expensive hotels are probably the ones that will offer this first. We’ll have to wait and see if more affordable hotels start offering it too. In the meantime, if you happen to be staying at a hotel that offers digital key cards through Google Wallet, you can give it a try and see how you like it.

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