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Tag: asia

  • Bitcoin Disciples on the Road to Freedom

    Bitcoin Disciples on the Road to Freedom

    Julian Assange is a free man after 12 years of embassy asylum and prison. To some, he is a hero and martyr fighting for democracy and press freedom; to others, he is a dangerous traitor. His story, and that of the Wikileaks platform, is closely intertwined with Bitcoin.

    Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has pleaded guilty to one charge in a U.S. court on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. overseas territory. Now he is a free man and has since arrived in his homeland of Australia.

    The story of Assange and Wikileaks is closely linked to the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. In 2010, Assange released a flood of military documents through the platform, which had been provided to him by analyst Bradley Edward Manning (now Chelsea Manning). These documents revealed numerous human rights violations by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, sparking a storm of sanctions, including financial ones.

    By 2013, all of Assange’s accounts and credit cards were frozen. The rescue came in the form of Bitcoin. Only through the cryptocurrency was the whistleblower platform able to continue operating.

    Along with the media storm that ensued, Bitcoin was reported on for the first time outside of geek media. Just months later, the figure of Satoshi Nakamoto, who is considered the inventor of the cryptocurrency, disappeared without a trace.

    To this day, it is not definitively clear who or how many people are behind the name. «It would have been nice to get this attention in another context,» reads one of Nakamoto’s last posts. WikiLeaks has kicked the hornet’s nest, and the swarm is headed towards us.

    Assange was also an early fan of Bitcoin. He saw a connection between the artificial currency and his ideology that civil society must organize itself outside and apart from existing structures. Bitcoin is a revolution, he wrote in 2011. Cryptocurrency is the «true Occupy Wall Street» and one of the most interesting developments on the internet.

    From then on, Wikileaks preferred to collect donations in Bitcoin. These played a significant role in the years-long tug-of-war over Assange’s fate. According to a report , Wikileaks benefited from the strong increase in Bitcoin value in recent years.

    For his chartered flight journey, which will take him from London via a stopover in Bangkok and Saipan to his homeland of Australia, Assange will owe the Australian government 520,000 dollars, his wife Stella Assange said on social media. A crowdfunding platform has been set up for that goal.

  • WFS and Singapore Airlines extend cargo handling partnership for launch of new flights to London Gatwick Airport

    WFS and Singapore Airlines extend cargo handling partnership for launch of new flights to London Gatwick Airport

    Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, has been awarded three-year cargo handling contract extensions with Singapore Airlines in the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium.

    In the UK, in addition to renewing its cargo handling and UK domestic road feeder services with WFS at London Heathrow and Manchester airports, Singapore’s national carrier is also partnering with WFS for cargo handling at London Gatwick Airport for the launch this month of five Airbus A350-900 direct flights a week connecting to Singapore Changi Airport.

    In Paris, the new 3-year contract will extend WFS’ service to Singapore Airlines in France to over 40 years, having commenced in 1986 at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Singapore Airlines is also renewing its commitment to WFS in Brussels, where the two companies have worked together since 2021.

    “We are proud to be growing our relationship with Singapore Airlines and to be supporting the airline’s global reputation for service excellence. As part of SATS Group, WFS is now able to offer an end-to-end cargo handling solution on these routes, which leverages the uniqueness of our partnership and ownership,” commented John Batten, Chief Executive Officer, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia (EMEAA) at WFS.

  • HKIA reports continuous growth in passenger and cargo volume in May

    HKIA reports continuous growth in passenger and cargo volume in May

    Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) released the air traffic statistics for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for May 2024. During the month, HKIA handled 4.07 million passengers and 29,855 flight movements, marking year-on-year increases of 30.8% and 34.5%, respectively.

    Mainland China’s Labour Day “Golden Week” holidays starting at the end of April had contributed a significant traffic growth among all passenger segments in May. Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China, and Japan recorded the most notable boosts during the month.

    Cargo throughput saw a year-on-year increase of 19.0% to 416,000 tonnes in May. HKIA has continued to record double-digit year-on-year growth in cargo volume each month this year. Export traffic remains the main driver of the growth, recording a 30.1% increase compared with the same month last year. Among key trading regions, cargo traffic to and from North America, Europe and the Middle East increased most significantly during the month.

    For the first five months of this year, the airport handled 21.0 million passengers or 58.9% higher than the low base during the same period in 2023. Flight movements also increased 50.5% year-on-year to 145,140, while cargo volume rose by 18.0% year-on-year to more than 1.9 million tonnes.

    On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume was 47.3 million, marking an increase of 157.9% comparing with the previous comparable period. Flight movements increased by 76.3% year on year to 324,805, as cargo throughput also grew 13.1% year-on-year to 4.6 million tonnes.

    In terms of route development, HK Express Airways inaugurated a new direct flight service linking HKIA and Sanya Phoenix International Airport, Hainan on 10 May. With four pairs of flights each week, the new route provides more choices for travellers visiting Hainan.

    Meanwhile, HKIA’s “Marine Ecology and Fisheries Enhancement Strategy” project won the highest Platinum Award in the ACI Green Airports Recognition 2024, in the biggest airport capacity category of over 35 million passengers per annum. Organised by the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, the award recognises airports with outstanding achievements in biodiversity and nature-based solutions.

    Peter Lee, General Manager, Sustainability of AAHK said, “We are honoured to receive this award, which commends our voluntary and continuous efforts to explore and enhance local marine biodiversity and fisheries resources around HKIA and North Lantau waters.  The efforts, namely eco-enhancement of seawall designs, deployment of artificial reefs and shellfish reefs, and fish restocking, were first investigated by experts, with pilot tests following on intended to determine the viability and real-world value of promising enhancements.  With positive biodiversity impacts identified, we are in the process of scaling up these initiatives around HKIA, and importantly, these nature-based efforts will serve as a useful reference for future implementation by others across broader Hong Kong waters.”

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  • Pattern Forecasts Unprecedented Sales Surge for Amazon’s World-First 6-Day Prime Sales Event in Australia

    Pattern Forecasts Unprecedented Sales Surge for Amazon’s World-First 6-Day Prime Sales Event in Australia

    In a world first, Prime Day Australia will run for six days this year (Tuesday, July 16 at 12.01am AEST to Sunday, July 21), with significant growth predicted for 2024, according to new research from global marketplace leader, Pattern.

    Data from Pattern shows that the number of consumers participating in Prime Day increased by 33% in 2023, with strong sales growth predicted again for this year’s event, with the brands Pattern Australia represents expecting to more than double sales.

    Boasting approximately 4.5 million Amazon Prime subscribers in Australia, Prime Day sales grew 103% year-on-year for the brands Pattern Australia represents on the platform in 2023. These brands also saw a 62% increase in traffic compared to the previous Prime Day event.

    In 2023 Pattern reported 61% of the event’s sales came through on day one for the brands they represent on the platform. This demonstrates pent-up demand for the sales event, with consumers looking to secure their purchases as soon as possible.

    “Prime Day has cemented itself as a major sales event in the Australian retail calendar. A surge in Amazon memberships, along with last year’s impressive Prime Day results, indicates that Prime Day 2024 will be bigger than ever, presenting local brands with opportunities to grow sales and connect with new customers,” said Merline McGregor, Managing Director of Pattern Australia.

    Amazon Prime Membership Growth

    Uptake of Amazon Prime memberships in Australia has seen a significant surge, according to a recent marketplace shopper study. The percentage of consumers with access to Prime services has steadily increased from 31% in 2021 to 45% in 2024. Despite a price hike in 2023 from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, the growth of Amazon Prime membership has not slowed.

    “Strong levels of subscriber growth highlight the value Australian consumers find in Amazon Prime, especially in a time when Australian consumers are becoming increasingly strategic with their spending, and eagerly awaiting major sales events like Prime Day to make their purchases,” said McGregor.

    “Although consumer spend may be pressured, Pattern research indicates Amazon may be more resilient than other shopping channels. Only 18% of Amazon shoppers say they will reduce their spend this year, versus 24% for all online shoppers.”

    Prime Day 2024: Marketplace Opportunities for Brands

    In preparation for Prime Day 2024, consumer research also highlights key product categories capturing shopper interest. A majority of consumers (60%) indicated they are interested in purchasing Home & Kitchen products from Amazon, followed closely by Electronics & Computer (57%) and Books & eBooks (55%), Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (52%) and Sports, Fitness & Outdoor Products (51%).

    “These key product category findings provide valuable guidance for brands looking to maximise presence and sales during Prime Day 2024,” explained McGregor. “As Prime membership and sales events continue to grow in popularity in Australia, it is essential for brands to recognise and act on these trends to create meaningful connections with new customers and drive sustained ecommerce success.”

    Prime Day Product Discoverability Opportunities

    Prime Day presents brands with powerful opportunities to introduce their products to new consumers. Pattern’s research shows that 39% of people who discover a new product on Amazon also often visit the brand’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) website for further information about the brand. Additionally, consumers are 19% more likely to purchase a similar product from an unfamiliar brand on Amazon rather than searching for the desired brand or item on another platform.

    “The ability of brands to capture the attention of shoppers on Amazon underscores the platform’s influence in reaching a wider customer-base, and the importance of leveraging popular sales events like Prime Day. Moreover, the significant traffic driven to DTC websites from Amazon demonstrates the importance of a cohesive online presence. Brands need to leverage both marketplaces and their own websites to create a seamless shopping experience and build stronger customer relationships,” concluded McGregor.

    For more information and to download the full report please click here: ‘Australian Marketplace Consumer Trends Report – 2024’

  • Chinese traders eager to buy Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s durian from Laos

    Chinese traders are looking to buy durian from Vietnamese agriculture giant Hoang Anh Gia Lai three months before its first harvest of the fruit.

    The company’s 1,200 hectares of durian in Laos has many five-year old trees, each producing 20-30 fruits of between two and four kilograms.

    Around 200-300 hectares are set to yield ripe fruits in August, but traders have already been inquiring, starting last month, the company’s chairman, Doan Nguyen Duc, said.

    “We have yet to sell because we are waiting for better prices as harvest season nears,” he told VnExpress in an interview.

    He expected the company to earn revenues of VND200 billion (US$7.9 million) from 2,000 tons of durian this year and possibly VND1 trillion next year.

    Hoang Anh Gia Lai has hired 10 durian experts from Thailand as consultants, and they will visit every year to ensure quality.

    Duc said the Chinese durian market is set to become more competitive with Malaysia successfully negotiating a deal to export fresh durian to it.

    But there is potential for export to other markets such as the U.S., India and Japan, he said.

    In Vietnam, his company has 60 ha of durian that are set to fruit for a second year.

    It eyes revenues of VND7.7 trillion ($302 million) this year, up 20.3% from last year, mainly from durian, banana and pork.

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  • YouTube’s latest experiment adds Shorts to Smart Downloads

    YouTube’s latest experiment adds Shorts to Smart Downloads

    YouTube Premium users are now able to automatically download recommended Shorts for offline viewing through a limited-time experiment. The feature, called “Smart Downloads” has been around for some time for regular long-form videos. Now, it is also available for Shorts.

    The feature is currently being tested with YouTube Premium users and allows them to download recommended Shorts to their devices automatically. Users can enable the feature by going to the Your Premium benefits section in the YouTube app and selecting the Try experimental new features option. Once enabled, the feature will automatically download recommended Shorts based on the user’s recent viewing history.

    It’s important to note that currently you can only have one YouTube Experiment active at a time. For example, I currently have the YouTube Redesigned Watch Page experiment active until July 8th, which means that me signing up to try out the new Smart Downloads for Shorts would automatically remove me from the other experiment.

    This new feature appears to have been available to some users as early as April, but it has now been rolled out to a wider audience. YouTube Premium members can try out the feature until July 15.

    Smart Downloads has been available for regular YouTube videos for some time, and it allows users to automatically download recommended videos for offline viewing. The feature is designed to help users save data and watch videos when they don’t have an internet connection.

    YouTube is constantly experimenting with new features and ways to improve the user experience. Smart Downloads for Shorts is just one of the many new features that the company is testing, and whether it becomes a permanent feature or not likely depends on user feedback. This means that if you are interested in having a feature like this available for Shorts, make sure to sign up for it to make it known to the powers that it’s worth keeping.

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  • Google is making a noticeable change to Search on the desktop and on mobile devices

    Google is making a noticeable change to Search on the desktop and on mobile devices

    According to Search Engine Land Google is about to do one of the most Googley things possible to the continuous scrolling feature found on Google Search results both on the desktop and mobile devices. Starting today, Google has removed users’ ability to continuously scroll through desktop Search results. Later this month, it will do the same thing and end infinite scrolling on mobile Search results.

    Instead of continuous scrolling for Search results on the desktop, users will press a button that says “Next” at the bottom of the page to see more results. On mobile, the infinite scrolling will be replaced by a “More results” button. Google actually has a reason for making this change instead of dropping a feature for no reason at all, something that the company has often been accused of doing.

    Google claims that by making this change, it will be able to deliver more search results faster instead of automatically loading search results that users haven’t requested and have no interest in seeing. Google also discovered that allowing infinite scrolling of search results didn’t result in higher satisfaction scores for Google Search. Continuous scrolling debuted on the desktop in December 2022 after starting on mobile search in October 2021.

    Suppose you own a website and your site doesn’t appear on the first page of a search result. In that case, you now might see fewer visitors from Google Search since a user would have to make the decision to press the “Next” button on the desktop or the “More results” button on a phone to continue to see additional results beyond the first page. Or, desktop users can jump to a specific page using Google’s iconic pagination controls which allows a user to jump to pages one through 10 by tapping on the page number desired.

    I have yet to notice any change to the desktop version of Google Search which continues to scroll continuously. As we said, the mobile version of Search is supposed to be updated before June comes to an end.

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  • Vietnam Stock Exchange posts first profit decline

    Vietnam Stock Exchange posts first profit decline

    Vietnam Stock Exchange, which operates the country’s two main bourses, saw profit dropping 8% to VND1.92 trillion ($75 million) last year, its first decline since establishment.

    The operator of Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange and Hanoi Stock Exchange saw revenue falling 10.5% to VND3.06 trillion.

    92% of its revenue came from stock transaction services.

    Around 60% of its revenue and profit were recorded in the second half of the year when VN-Index recovered rose 20% between May and August.

    The Vietnam benchmark closed the year 12% higher.

    Vietnam Stock Exchange was stablished in 2020-end and began operation in mid-2021. It is entirely owned by the Ministry of Finance.

  • Luckin Coffee to launch in Malaysia

    Luckin Coffee to launch in Malaysia

    Chinese chain Luckin Coffee will launch its first location in Malaysia, its second overseas market after Singapore.

    According to local sources, the launch is in collaboration with a Bursa Malaysia-listed company. Luckin Coffee intends to grow its market footprint over the next five years, with stores opening nationwide.

    Luckin Coffee, founded in 2017, is one of the fastest-growing coffee chains, surpassing Starbucks as China’s largest.

    The brand operates more than 18,000 stores in China and 32 locations in Singapore.

    Last year, Luckin Coffee sold more than 5.42 million cups of the alcohol-infused latte it launched with Kweichow Moutai on its first day of business, setting a new sales record for the Chinese coffee company.

    In May, the coffee company stated that its first-quarter revenues increased 41.5 percent yearly to US$869.5 million, owing to increased product sales and additional shop openings. The coffee business opened 2342 net new outlets over the year, including two in Singapore, bringing the total number of stores to 18,590 by the end of March.

  • Sasa International’s annual profit surges 276 percent

    Sasa International’s annual profit surges 276 percent

    Sasa International‘s annual attributable profit surged 275.8 percent to HK$218.9 million (US$28 million), as mainland Chinese tourists returned as the borders between Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China reopened.

    During the year, turnover rose 24.8 percent to HK$4.37 billion as sales in Hong Kong and Macau, its largest market, soared 31.4 percent to $3.41 billion.

    Mainland China sales grew 9.7 percent to $581.6 million, but Southeast Asia sales fell 1.7 percent to $365.8 million.

    Sales in other markets swelled 126.1 percent to $10.4 million.

    Moving forward, the beauty retailer is looking to introduce exclusive brands via livestream platforms in Mainland China to improve the company’s gross margin profile. It is also planning to expand in Hong Kong and is looking at high-traffic malls in Malaysia and Singapore.

    The company maintains a cautious outlook for China amid continued geopolitical tensions and said it has to consolidate its position in the region before making further moves.

    However, in the early weeks of the new financial year—from April 1 to June 16—the company’s turnover declined 9.5 percent year over year to $812.5 million.

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  • Indonesian coffee brand Tomoro Coffee plans expansion in the Philippines

    Indonesian coffee brand Tomoro Coffee plans expansion in the Philippines

    Indonesian coffee chain Tomoro Coffee has announced a US$10 million investment to expand its presence in the Philippines.

    According to World Coffee Portal, Tomoro Coffee aims to establish 100 stores in the country by the end of this year.

    The first Tomoro Coffee store in the Philippines opened in April at the Wynn Plaza apartment complex in Manila. Since then, the chain has opened five sites in the country, including a three-story flagship location at Far Eastern University this month.

    Tomoro Coffee, which boasts more than 500 outlets in Indonesia since its launch last August, is aggressively pursuing international growth.

    Its recent milestones include debuting in China last year, in Singapore in February, and opening a roastery in Jakarta in May.

    The brand plans to produce 2400 tonnes of coffee annually to support its expansion.

    “We are pleased to announce our expansion into the Philippines and are committed to providing fresh coffee to our customers regularly,” said Tomoro Coffee.

    “This marks a significant step in our journey to reach 1000 stores across Southeast Asia within the next 12 months.”

    Tomoro Coffee is actively seeking franchise partners to facilitate its expansion.

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  • L’Oreal expands its beauty innovation program across North Asia

    L’Oreal expands its beauty innovation program across North Asia

    L’Oreal’s Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program (Big Bang) has expanded across its North Asia markets, including a recent launch in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

    Launched in Mainland China in 2020, the program aims to drive growth in the beauty industry through key partnerships with startups, fostering a culture of co-creation and co-development of innovative beauty products and experiences.

    For instance, L’Oreal Japan partnered with the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry last year to research skin and haircare technologies.

    Similarly, L’Oreal Korea has launched a dedicated digital tracking system following its collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups through an MOU at Viva Tech last year.

    This year, L’Oreal Taiwan has kicked off its Big Bang recruitment, focusing on a “Green Beauty Consumer Journey.” It has partnered with the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) to champion local sustainability innovations for a circular economy, eco-friendly design, and improved consumer engagement.

    Meanwhile, L’Oreal Hong Kong has introduced the city’s first open innovation accelerator, focusing on crafting immersive, multi-sensory experiences within brand spaces to enhance customer interactions.

    “As Big Bang takes root across North Asia, we promise to usher in a new era of beauty innovation,” said the company. “L’Oreal is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting evolution, solidifying its position as a beauty tech leader in the region and beyond.

    Since its launch, the Big Bang program has engaged over 2000 companies and brought more than 50 business projects to fruition.

  • French jeweller Fred opens first store in Malaysia

    French jeweller Fred opens first store in Malaysia

    French luxury jeweller Fred has opened its first outlet in Malaysia, selling its latest Pretty Woman necklaces.

    The store, located on the ground floor of Seibu The Exchange TRX, features a futuristic design with wide glass windows. The store is gold and white throughout, with blue display shelves in the centre.

    The venue offers a wide range of products including the new Pretty Woman Sunlight Message necklace, which features a hidden message that can only be seen by light.

    Founded by Fred Samuel in Paris in 1936, the company now has more than 50 stores worldwide and retail outlets in 30 countries. It was also the first jewellery brand acquired by LVMH in 1996.

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  • Time to update your contact pics as Google Messages now shows them bigger

    Time to update your contact pics as Google Messages now shows them bigger

    Recently, we mentioned Google was experimenting with a long-press feature for peeking into RCS conversations. Now, apparently, this feature has been approved and is starting to roll out more widely.

    According to a recent report, users can expand a contact’s profile photo by tapping on it in the main list. This action allows you to view a larger image of the selected contact, along with three shortcuts displayed at the bottom:

    Message: You can start a conversation by messaging the contact. This shortcut might seem a bit odd since you can simply tap on the conversation without first selecting the contact’s profile picture.

    • Call: Dial the contact right away.
    • Info: Preview information quickly without fully opening the conversation.

    The latest update also applies to group chats, but you won’t find the Call option there. To access features like Pinning, Archiving, Deleting, Blocking, and marking messages as read or unread, just long-press anywhere outside the profile picture of the contact you’re chatting with.

    While it may not seem like a major overhaul, this update significantly enhances user experience. Previously, long-pressing a conversation only allowed bulk actions such as muting or deleting. With the ongoing rollout of this latest update, which might not be visible to all users yet, performing actions like placing a quick call is now much simpler.

    In other recent updates, Google has begun rolling out a new user interface for content sharers on Google Messages. Moreover, the tech giant has expanded the Gemini feature in Google Messages to include all Android phones with 6GB of RAM or more.

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  • VinFast ranks second in EV sales in Southeast Asia

    VinFast ranks second in EV sales in Southeast Asia

    According to the research firm Counterpoint Research, EV sales in the region more than doubled in the January to March quarter from a year before. Sales of ICE cars,meanwhile, slid by 7%.

    “Vietnam saw an even more impressive growth, with BEV (battery electric vehicle) sales increasing by more than 400%, contributing to nearly 17% of regional sales,” the firm said.

    “As Japanese and Korean automakers, who dominate conventional vehicle sales, lag in EV adoption, Chinese OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are stepping in to fill the gap,” said Counterpoint analyst Abhik Mukherjee.

    “Over 70% of EV sales in the region are from Chinese brands, led by BYD,” he said. In the first quarter of last year, 75% of all EVs sold in Southeast Asia were made by Chinese car makers.

    Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, where Chinese car makers have committed more than US$1.44 billion to set up new EV production facilities, is leading the charge.

    The regional auto manufacturing hub where Japan’s Toyota Motor and Honda Motor have a major presence accounted for 55% of all Southeast Asia’s EV sales in the first quarter, with the segment growing 44% compared to last year.

    U.S. electric carmaker Tesla saw its market share in the region drop two percentage points to 4% in the first quarter, in spite of its sales growing 37% in the same period.

    A number of Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand and Indonesia, have rolled out incentives to stimulate EV demand and attract new investments – a call answered by Chinese car makers locked in a bruising price competition at home.

    “Southeast Asia is becoming a major expansion region for Chinese OEMs,” Mukherjee said.