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Tag: asia

  • Singapore and The Philippines further liberalise international air services to improve air connectivity between and beyond both countries

    Singapore and The Philippines further liberalise international air services to improve air connectivity between and beyond both countries

    Singapore and the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to upgrade and further liberalise international air services between both countries. The MOU was signed by Mr Yee Ping Yi, Singapore’s Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Mr Enrique Antonio J. Esquivel III, the Philippines’ Assistant Secretary for Aviation and Airports on 9 May 2024.

    The MOU upgrades the bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA), which was signed in 2010 and last amended in 2015. It allows Singapore and Philippine airlines to offer up to 150 weekly codeshare services to carry passengers between Singapore and Manila, with airlines from third countries as codeshare partners. This is a significant increase from the current limit of 35 weekly codeshare services. The new limit of 150 weekly codeshare services will double by end-March 2026, and will be fully lifted by end-March 2027.

    In addition, there will be no limit on codeshare services between Singapore and other points in the Philippines, as well as between Singapore and any points in the Philippines involving airlines from ASEAN or the European Union.

    The upgraded ASA also allows Philippine airlines that are fully owned or controlled by nationals of other countries to access the traffic rights exchanged in the ASA, as long as their principal place of business is in the Philippines. Previously, only airlines that were substantially owned and effectively controlled by Philippine nationals could do so.

    Mr Yee Ping Yi, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Transport said: “It is important to provide a favourable regulatory environment so that our carriers can capitalise on new business opportunities. This MOU will facilitate improved air connectivity between and beyond both countries and is a win-win outcome for both countries.”

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  • The TikTok ban could hurt small businesses that prosper thanks to mobile users

    The TikTok ban could hurt small businesses that prosper thanks to mobile users

    The Bill that would Kill TikTok is signed by the POTUS (President of the United States), so ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has only several months before it decides whether to sell or face a ban in the US.

    So far, the smoke signals coming from ByteDance’s yard rule out a possible divestiture. They don’t want anybody else to get a hold of their magical algorithm that gets hundreds of millions of users hooked.

    Reuters reports that a lawsuit filed by a group of TikTok creators has ignited a contentious legal battle against the bill. The law, aimed at addressing national security concerns, has left millions of users and small business owners in distress, fearing the loss of a platform that has become integral to their livelihoods.

    The creators, hailing from diverse backgrounds and professions, argue that TikTok provides them with a unique avenue for self-expression and community building. Represented by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, they contend that the law infringes upon their First Amendment rights and poses a threat to free speech by attempting to shutter a vital medium of communication.

    In response, the White House has defended the law, asserting that it aligns with constitutional limitations and addresses critical national security concerns. The Justice Department has vowed to defend the legislation in court, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding sensitive data and protecting American interests.

    This legal showdown is not the first time TikTok has faced regulatory challenges. Under the Trump administration, similar attempts to ban the app were met with resistance and legal action. Now, with a new administration in power, the battle rages on, with TikTok and its creators fighting to preserve their presence in the American digital landscape.

    For small business owners like Paul Tran and his wife Lynda, TikTok has been a game-changer. Their skincare brand gained widespread recognition after going viral on the platform, propelling their business to new heights.

    Tran’s sentiments are echoed by many small business owners who have found success on TikTok. The platform’s algorithm-driven approach has leveled the playing field, allowing creators to reach a broader audience and drive sales. With the introduction of TikTok Shop, which enables direct sales within the app, businesses have seen unprecedented growth and opportunity.

    The impact of TikTok extends beyond just business success; it has become a cultural phenomenon, shaping trends and influencing consumer behavior. For creators like Summer Lucille and Felicia Jackson, TikTok has provided a platform to showcase their products and connect with customers in ways that traditional social media platforms could not replicate.

    As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance. While concerns about national security are paramount, the implications of a TikTok ban extend far beyond just data protection. For millions of users and small business owners, TikTok represents not just a social media platform, but a lifeline to opportunity and community.

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  • Huawei opens a flashy store across the street from the Apple Store in this city

    Huawei opens a flashy store across the street from the Apple Store in this city

    You surely have seen a McDonald’s located next to a Burger King, or a Nike store near Adidas. Believe me, it’s not a coincidence.

    Now, if you hop on the plane to Shanghai for the weekend, you’ll see Huawei’s new flagship store – it’s just across the street from Apple’s flagship shop. A Reuters report tells the story – Huawei, updating its retail strategy, is aggressively opening flagship stores in China.

    Many are “just a stone’s throw away from Apple shops”. How convenient.

    Huawei’s recently renovated Shanghai flagship store takes an enormous place – three floors of a famous heritage architecture building in the financial hub’s busy shopping district. It includes a coffee shop and a gym!

    Huawei opened four such flagship stores in major Chinese cities between December and February, shifting from licensed distributors after rebounding from 2019 U.S. sanctions. “The Huawei flagship store is very nice. It looks much brighter inside compared to the Apple Store across the street,” said Amy Chen, a 27-year-old physiotherapist.

    Huawei now has 11 flagship stores and plans to surpass 20, aiming to catch up to Apple’s 47 in China. Huawei’s new stores and premium products challenge Apple, which saw a 6.6% drop in iPhone sales in China in Q1 2023, while Huawei’s shipments increased by 110%.

    The Far East behemoth has developed its own chips and popular 5G products, aggressively recruiting dealers.

    “As Huawei now manages to ship in large quantities, given the good profit margin they could provide, (distributors) have become willing to purchase Huawei devices again,” said Ethan Qi, associate director at Counterpoint.

    Over 5,200 licensed stores opened in early 2023, mostly in smaller cities. This marketing push has significantly impacted Apple and other Chinese smartphone makers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo.

    Huawei’s flagship stores showcase premium products, competing directly with Apple. “Huawei now has a long product line,” Qi noted. Between 70-80% of Huawei’s sales come from physical stores, while Apple sees about 40% online.

    This comeback is felt beyond mainland China, with Hong Kong shops like Trinity Electronics stocking more Huawei devices. “People are willing to pay a lot of money for high-end Huawei,” said owner Simon Lam.

  • WhatsApp could add a new sticker-related feature very soon

    WhatsApp could add a new sticker-related feature very soon

    WhatsApp is testing new features all the time, but the best news is many users have access to new functionalities if they’re willing to enroll in the beta program. One such new feature will make it easier to find stickers and sticker packs in WhatsApp.

    Spotted recently by WABetaInfo, the feature adds a text field to the sticker keyboard, allowing users to search for stickers from the dedicated store by simply writing what they’re looking for.

    This works both for individual stickers and packs, but the new feature has only been spotted in the Android version of WhatsApp beta for the time being. Specifically, the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.11.5 includes this feature, but since it’s still in development, it might not show up for beta testers yet.

    The ability to search for stickers is a continuation of the work that WhatsApp has been putting into making stickers one of the app’s highlights. A few updates ago, WhatsApp released a feature that introduces new sticker creation shortcuts, allowing users to generate personalized and AI-powered stickers.

    The newly discovered sticker-related feature is likely to be rolled out to everyone in the coming weeks since it doesn’t seem to be too complicated to implement. Hopefully, it will be available on both iOS and Android platforms.

  • Lotus Biscoff ice cream bars return to Woolworths

    Lotus Biscoff ice cream bars return to Woolworths

    Lotus Bakeries has brought back its Biscoff ice cream bars in the country following demand from fans to restock the frozen treat.

    The Biscoff ice cream bars are available in milk chocolate and white chocolate.

    Each stick features a crisp outer layer of Belgian milk chocolate and Biscoff biscuits, a layer of Biscoff spread on top of the dairy vanilla ice cream, and more Biscoff pieces inside.

    Biscoff biscuits – also known as Lotus biscuits – are made with a blend of cinnamon and other spices, giving them a slightly sweet and spicy flavour. The texture is crispy and crunchy, with a slight caramelised crunch that melts in your mouth. Some people describe the taste as similar to gingersnaps or speculoos cookies but with a more complex flavour profile.

    Biscoff ice cream bars are available for an RRP of $9.50 for three bars in Woolworths stores nationwide.

    Lotus Bakeries is a Belgian company best known for its Biscoff brand, which includes cookies, spread, and now ice cream bars.

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  • Facebook and Instagram experiencing outages along the East and West Coasts of the U.S.

    Facebook and Instagram experiencing outages along the East and West Coasts of the U.S.

    Instagram and its stablemate Facebook are both experiencing outages on Tuesday evening. The number of Instagram users reporting a problem to DownDetector soared to 11,965 at 9:47 pm ET compared to 62 who had an issue at 7:01 pm ET. Facebook, at 9:48 pm, had 650 complaints submitted with DownDetector compared to the 49 complaints lodged with the site at 7:02 pm ET.

    71% of the complaints from Facebook users mentioned issues with the website, 20% had an issue with the app and 10% couldn’t log in to the social media site. Several complaints said that Facebook was not loading. As for Instagram, 55% of the complaints revolved around the app, 33% complained about a server connection, and 12% could nor log in. The comments posted on DownDetector noted how the app was not up and running this evening. As one user wrote, “Ughhh wtf?”

    Instagram’s Threads social media platform also saw a huge surge in complaints filed with DownDetector although the latter says that the platform is only showing a “possible problem.” From no complaints at all at 7:19 pm ET,  125 complaints were tallied at 9:49 pm ET. 72% of Threads users had issues with the app, 25% complained about the website, and 3% had a problem with a server connection. As one Threads user said on DownDetector, “Threads is down big time for me. Anyone else?”

    Other Meta-connected platforms showing a possible problem on DownDetector are Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

    Outages of these Meta services seem to be heavily concentrated in New York and California. So far we have not seen any comment from the company. On Meta’s Status and outages of Meta business products page, Ads Manager is showing major disruptions. The Messenger API for Instagram also shows major disruptions. Back on March 5th, millions of users on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Messenger reported problems accessing the site before the issue was finally resolved.

    As we approached midnight on the East Coast, Facebook and Instagram saw a huge decline in new complaints on DownDetector although Google’s YouTube has now been flagged as a problem website. We will be monitoring the situation and will update this story if necessary.

  • Qantas to launch new route from Manila to Brisbane

    Qantas to launch new route from Manila to Brisbane

    Qantas has today announced it will launch a new route from Manila with direct flights to Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.

    From 28 October 2024*, the flights will operate four days per week with the Airbus A330 aircraft, marking the first flights set to be operated by the Australian national carrier between the two cities in more than ten years.

    The flights add to Qantas’ existing daily service to Sydney and will add more than 100,000 seats between the Philippines and Australia each year.

    Tickets for the new Manila-Brisbane route will be available for sale at qantas.com and through travel agents in the coming days.

    The flights will be operated by Qantas’ fleet of A330 aircraft with 27 Business Class suites in 1-2-1 configuration, with each suite featuring direct aisle access and converting into a lie-flat bed. All Qantas international fares include checked baggage allowance, food and beverages and inflight entertainment as standard with every booking.

    Qantas recently announced it would accelerate a program to introduce ‘fast and free’ Wi-Fi across its existing fleet of international aircraft, including Airbus A330 aircraft with enough bandwidth for every passenger to enjoy a fast and consistent connection. The service will be progressively introduced on Qantas flights between Manila and Australia from next year.

    Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace shares, “The Philippines is a very important part of our Asia network, so we’re pleased to be growing with a new route to Australia. This new connection will strengthen business links between our two countries. The flights will also make it easier for Filipinos to visit family and friends living in Queensland, as well as offering a new gateway for travellers to explore the region.”

    He adds, “We know large numbers of our customers have been travelling between Manila and Brisbane via our existing Sydney service, which gives us great confidence about how this route will perform when flights start.”

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  • Korean Air wins best airline onboard menu in Global Traveler’s awards

    Korean Air wins best airline onboard menu in Global Traveler’s awards

    Korean Air has received top honors for its food and beverage service from Global Traveler in the magazine’s 2024 Leisure and Lifestyle Travel Awards.

    The carrier won the best airline onboard menu for its first-class cabin, chalking up another win for its catering program. The airline previously won best airline cuisine, among other awards, in Global Traveler’s 2023 Tested Reader Survey awards.

    Depending upon the route and season, the airline offers such menu choices as roasted Chilean sea bass with vermouth sauce, spicy beef short rib stew, spicy buckwheat noodles and traditional Korean bibimbap.

    Global Traveler is a U.S.-based monthly luxury travel magazine and conducts annual surveys in which its online and offline subscribers vote for the best companies in travel-related categories. This is the 12th year the magazine has conducted its leisure travel survey.

    Korean Air’s continued recognition can be attributed to its ongoing investment and focus on service enhancements. Last year, the airline introduced vegan menu options based on traditional Korean temple cuisine. It also has a diverse selection of pre-order meals, including vegetarian, glucose-free, and children’s selections.

    The airline also refined its wine program with the guidance of internationally renowned sommelier Marc Almert and introduced more than 50 new wines to its award-winning collection.

    Korean Air continues to be recognized worldwide for its efforts to enhance customer service. Last year, the airline was awarded a Skytrax 5-star airline rating for the second consecutive time, an APEX 5-star global airline rating for the seventh consecutive year, and named Best Business and First Class Airline in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

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  • Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly preparing new Max price hike

    Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly preparing new Max price hike

    It has become so common for streaming services to raise prices a couple of times per year that it’s not even a surprise when they announce it. To survive the price hike onslaught, customers can either stop paying for these services or simply stop caring.

    In this regard, it looks like Warner Bros. Discovery plans to increase the price of Max by the end of the year. Bloomberg reports that the streaming giant is preparing not just a Max price hike, but also new cost cuts in an attempt to hit certain financial targets.

    The report mentions the possibility of more layoffs at the company, but it doesn’t offer any other details about the price hike(s). Apparently, Warner Bros. Discovery aims for $1 billion in earnings from Max and Discovery+ next year, so in order to achieve that the streaming service must operate some drastic changes.

    Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to report its earnings for the first quarter of the year on May 16, so we’ll probably learn more about the company’s plans regarding Max and Discovery+ in just a few days.

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  • Meta expands paid verification service for businesses

    Meta expands paid verification service for businesses

    Meta’s Verified for Business program is still in the testing phase, but many customers already benefit from its perks. The service was rolled out for the first time last year, but it was only available for businesses in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

    During the initial test, Meta noticed that small businesses are looking for more tools that can help build their credibility with new audiences, which usually drives more engagement and brand growth.

    Based on these findings, Meta announced that it’s expanding the test of Meta Verified for businesses on Facebook and Instagram. Starting last week, the program is available in Australia and New Zealand, and will soon be rolled out to Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, Mexico, and Peru.

    Additionally, Meta promised to bring Verified to businesses on WhatsApp, but didn’t provide an ETA. This will be the third social network to get access to Meta’s Verified for Business program after Facebook and Instagram.

    Last but not least, Meta announced the launch of additional subscription plans for the program. Verified for Business had just one subscription plan initially, but now it supports four in order to cover a wider range of business needs.

    Starting last week, businesses in countries where the program is available can choose from the following monthly plans: $14.99, $44.99, $119.99, and $349.99.

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  • Samsung plans to add $1B to Vietnam investment annually

    Samsung plans to add $1B to Vietnam investment annually

    Samsung plans to add about US$1 billion to its investment in Vietnam annually, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Samsung Electronics Park Hark-kyu said as he met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi Thursday.

    PM Chinh applauded Samsung’s efforts and determination while doing business in Vietnam, calling on the firm to view Vietnam as a strategic manufacturing and export base.

    He affirmed that the Vietnamese government always attaches importance to improving the investment climate and pledges to create favourable conditions for long-term operations of foreign enterprises.

    It will continue providing optimal conditions for the projects of Samsung to operate fruitfully and develop sustainably in Vietnam in the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing risks, he said.

    Park noted Samsung has invested $22.4 billion in Vietnam so far and plans to add about $1 billion to its investment in the Southeast Asian country annually.

    Aside from research, development, manufacturing, and export of electronic and high-technology products, the group has also been investing in supporting industries and manpower training for Vietnamese companies, and helping local firms to engage in its production and supply chain, he said.

    Samsung hopes to continue developing to contribute to Vietnam’s foreign trade and economic growth, the CFO added.

    He spoke highly of Vietnam’s investment and business climate as well as the PM’s readiness to listen to and assist enterprises, adding Samsung will continue standing side by side with the country on the development path.

    Appreciating Samsung’s building of an R&D center and participation in manpower training in Vietnam, Chinh asked the group to coordinate closely to effectively run the training centers based at the National Innovation Centre (NIC), step up cooperation to turn digital technology enterprises of Vietnam into partners in its ecosystem, increase investment in and expand the R&D center, and boost assistance for startup, innovation, and manpower training in the country.

    He also welcomed Samsung’s production and business plan, calling on it to continue helping Vietnam further improve domestic companies’ capacity so that they can join in Samsung’s supply chain more effectively.

    Samsung should continue seeing Vietnam as a strategic base for manufacturing and exporting its key products to international markets, particularly when the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) already took effect, Chinh suggested.

  • Digital content exporters open foreign offices to avoid tax

    Digital content exporters open foreign offices to avoid tax

    Vietnamese businesses exporting digital content are setting up offices abroad to avoid the 10% value-added tax, according to the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry.

    Although their exports are eligible for VAT waiver, many still have to pay the tax since “tax officials cannot differentiate between exports and domestic sales,” the VCCI said in a recent comment on a bill for amending VAT laws.

    Exports of online services, such as creating smartphone apps and games, are galloping at an annual rate of 11%. Last year they were worth US$20 billion.

    The VCCI said though many of these exporters provide documents to prove they sell their services abroad, tax officials refuse to acknowledge their exports.

    They therefore have to set up offices overseas to avoid the VAT, it added.

    The Ministry of Finance admitted there are issues as online services are “invisible” and therefore it is difficult to determine whether the companies were selling them overseas or in Vietnam.

    It has proposed a discount VAT starting from 5% for these companies instead of a full waiver.

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  • Nutella, Lavazza partner to launch biscuits and coffee ‘Perfect Match’

    Nutella, Lavazza partner to launch biscuits and coffee ‘Perfect Match’

    Nutella has partnered with Lavazza to launch Nutella & Lavazza’s biscuits and coffee ‘Perfect Match’.

    Lavazza brings the Espresso Barista coffee range, which uses beans from Central-South America, Africa and Asia with aromatic notes of flowers, cocoa, and wood.

    The Espresso Barista coffee complements Nutella’s golden baked crunchy biscuits filled with the brand’s signature creamy hazelnut spread.

    “Australians are snacking more often, with biscuits being consumed throughout the day,” said Azzurra Puricelli, head of marketing and new business at Nutella Australia.

    “We also know how much Aussies love coffee. With consumption going beyond the morning ritual, expanding into the afternoon coffee break and post-dinner treat, we wanted to give consumers that feeling of completeness with a perfect match.”

    As a promotion, shoppers who spend at least $15 on Nutella Biscuits and Lavazza Espresso Barista products at participating Woolworths stores between April 24 and May 14 will have a chance to win one of the 250 $100 Woolworths gift cards.

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  • Rippl launches Star Wars range in 7-Eleven

    Rippl launches Star Wars range in 7-Eleven

    Australian canned water brand Rippl has rolled out its Star Wars water range in 7-Eleven stores nationwide.

    The brand offers aluminium canned and bottled water in various customisable options for consumers and businesses. It sources spring water from Black Hill in Millbrook, Victoria, which boasts a natural alkalinity of PH7.8-8.0.

    In addition, Rippl features limited-edition can designs from popular brands and pop culture icons such as Disney, Star Wars, Jurassic World, Mattel, Hello Kitty, and more.

    Rob Hilton, MD of Mammoth Brands, the parent company of Rippl, said the brand aims to provide consumers and businesses with an “inspiring form of hydration” while prioritising sustainability.

    “Rippl Water is not just about drinking; it’s about making a statement with every sip,” said Hilton. “We aim is to offer a product that is both good for the planet and our customers.”

    Rippl Water x Star Wars is available for an RRP of $72 for a pack of 24 cans, and $96 for a pack of 24 bottles online and in 7-Eleven stores nationwide

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  • Hot weather drives up demand for coconut water

    Hot weather drives up demand for coconut water

    Coconut prices have quadrupled in recent months to VND13,000 ($0.51) amid rising demand due to the hot weather.

    Prices are rising quickly, sometimes within a day, Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of fruit exporter Vina T&T, said at a press briefing Friday.

    Businesses have to assure farmers they would buy even when prices are low and offer other incentives to ensure regular supply, he said.

    Sellers say they sell thousands of pieces a day, much higher than usual, and struggle to buy more due to low supply.

    With temperatures rising to 40 degrees Celsius in many places, there is increased demand for fresh coconut juice, he added.

    Since the end of March the southern region has endured a severe heatwave. Temperatures have consistently exceeded 35 degrees Celsius – a threshold for heatwaves, according to meteorological classifications.

    In Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, one of the largest coconut growing areas in the country, prices have been rising virtually daily, giving farmers a profit of VND3,000-5,000 per piece.

    Retailer Saigon Co.op has seen demand for coconut juice rising by 50%

    The fact that Vietnamese coconuts will soon be exported to China has also pushed up prices.

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