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Tag: asia

  • Singapore Airlines ups Johannesburg frequency

    Singapore Airlines ups Johannesburg frequency

    Effective March 31, Singapore Airlines (SQ) is permanently increasing capacity on the Johannesburg-Singapore route, with three additional flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

    They will be on a permanent basis after the increase was trialed in July and August last year. SQ481 will depart from Johannesburg at 22h30, arriving in Singapore at 14h55 the next day.

    Flight SQ482 departs from Singapore at 16h35, arriving in Johannesburg at 21h10.

    SQ479 and SQ478, the airline’s existing Johannesburg flights, will continue to fly onward to Cape Town daily.

  • Volvo will limit top speed of its cars to reach safety target

    Volvo will limit top speed of its cars to reach safety target

    Volvo said on Monday it will limit the top speed on all its new cars to 180 kph (112 mph) starting in 2020, which is the same year the Swedish automaker wants there to be zero people killed or seriously injured in any of its new models. The change will be implemented globally starting in the second quarter of next year on vehicles planned for the 2021 model year.

    Volvo is taking the bold step because its researchers have identified speed as a prominent gap it needs to close to reach its safety target.

    “We need to talk about this problem,” Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson told, referring to the areas that remain to be solved to end serious injuries and fatalities in its vehicles. Although speed limits exist in most countries he said that people are still exceeding those limits by a wide margin. Volvo believes that controlling the speed in its models is worth it even if it can save just one life.

    Excluding specially tuned cars such as the Polestar Engineered variant of the S60 sedan, no Volvo vehicles currently offer a top speed that exceeds 250 kph.

    Samuelsson said that he expects pushback from the move, but Volvo received similar criticism that it was taking away a driver’s freedom when it added seat belts to its cars 60 years ago.

    “If someone is going to show leadership in safety it needs to be Volvo,” he said.

    Samuelsson added that he believes that the move will not turn away Volvo’s core customers because he says the brand already “attracts more responsible drivers” who are typically favor safety over extreme performance and horsepower.

    Traffic accident data from NHTSA shows that 25 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 2017 were caused by speeding. Volvo safety experts say that many people do not recognize the danger of speeding or realize that once the car reaches certain speeds its in-car safety technology will not prevent severe injuries and fatalities in the event of a crash.

    “As humans, we all understand the dangers with snakes, spiders and heights. With speeds, not so much,” Volvo senior safety specialist Jan Ivarsson said in a release. “People often drive too fast in a given traffic situation and have poor speed adaption in relation to that traffic situation and their own capabilities as a driver. We need to support better behavior and help people realize and understand that speeding is dangerous.”

    It will not be possible to turn off the limited speed, a company spokeswomen said.

    Taking things a step further, Volvo is also investigating how a combination of speed control and geofencing technology could automatically limit speeds around schools and hospitals in future. The aim is to reduce speeding while also addressing the two other safety gaps after speeding – intoxication and driver distraction.

    Said Samuelsson: “We need to talk about how far we as carmarkers can go to help save lives.” He wants those discussions to determine whether automakers have an obligation to install technology in cars that changes their driver’s behavior. He said Volvo does not have a firm answer to this question.

    With that in mind, Volvo will present ideas to tackle the problem areas of intoxication and driver distraction at a special safety event in Gothenburg, Sweden, on March 20.

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  • First Under Armour India store’s a Fact

    First Under Armour India store’s a Fact

    Under Armour India is about to open its first store after testing the market online. According to Jason Archer, MD at Under Armour’s Asia-Pacific region, the company has set up a wholly owned Indian subsidiary. It will be led by former Adidas veteran Tushar Goculdas as MD.

    “We are investing in Asia Pacific as there are long-term growth opportunities. We have been concentrating in China over the last few years. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be establishing our retail presence in India,” Archer told.

    Under Armour India will start operations by opening stores in metro locations after assessing the market potential online through partnerships with Amazon and Flipkart-owned Myntra.

    “We will start operations by selling our global portfolio of training and running products,” said Archer.

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  • Laox lets Chinese tourists Flying to Japan pre-order duty-free

    Laox lets Chinese tourists Flying to Japan pre-order duty-free

    Tokyo-based duty-free operator Laox is allowing Chinese tourists to Japan to do their tax-free shopping online in advance of their visit.

    The duty-free goods will be listed on an Alibaba-hosted website, allowing consumers to purchase their goods online and pick them up at Laox locations of their choice within Japan up to a month following the transaction. Travellers will need to show purchase records on their phone and present their passports to be eligible for tax exemption.

    The number of goods available for purchase on the website is expected to grow to about 5000 items from the roughly 100 currently available already.

    The service is launching during a period of stagnation in the Chinese tourist market, as Japanese retailers face intensifying competition.

    Laox’s strategy is intended to spare shoppers the inconvenience of hunting for the products they want within physical stores. It is the first such scheme hosted on an Alibaba site.

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  • Luxury French brand Faure Le Page heading to Singapore

    Luxury French brand Faure Le Page heading to Singapore

    Luxury French brand Faure Le Page will open its first Singapore flagship store this June, at Takashimaya. The store will be the fashion brand’s first in Southeast Asia and its ninth worldwide.

    Designed to resemble a garden, the boutique will pre-launch a collection of bags and accessories, specially designed for the local market.

    Known for its handbags and accessories, the brand will be distributed exclusively under a franchise agreement with FJ Benjamin Holdings.

    “Fauré Le Page is a prestigious brand in France with more than 300 years of history and a grand tradition of craftsmanship,” said Nash Benjamin, FJ Benjamin CEO. “Although its gunsmith origin is legendary in France, in recent years, it has developed a cult following for its handbags, small leather goods and accessories.

    “We are confident that our discerning customers in Singapore and the rest of the region will fall in love with the brand’s exquisite design and superior quality,” he added.

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  • Tmall targets 1000 online cosmetics stores this year

    Tmall targets 1000 online cosmetics stores this year

    Alibaba’s Tmall has announced that it expects international and domestic cosmetics brands to open 1000 online cosmetics stores this year to meet burgeoning demand from Chinese consumers. At its annual beauty summit, Tmall announced that seven international cosmetics companies have signed agreements to open flagship stores on Tmall this year. Another five beauty companies signed New Retail partnerships with Tmall during the summit, giving them a complete view of their customer base by integrating insights from digitised offline promotion activities and storefront information with online information.

    “We are honoured to be trusted by 180,000 brands on our platform, empowering them to accelerate their digital transformation and grow their business in China,” said Tmall president Jet Jing. “As China continues its consumption upgrade, more and more people from different age groups and geographic locations are willing to spend on high-quality beauty products. We are looking forward to working with more brands to address the opportunity.”

    Tmall’s sales of beauty products via its online cosmetics stores jumped by more than 60 per cent last year, surpassing the industry’s average growth rate. Online sales of cosmetics, skincare and personal care products grew by 46 per cent, 40 per cent and 37 per cent in China respectively last year, which was also ahead of the whole fast-moving consumer goods sector average of 34 per cent, according to a report jointly released by Tmall and retail market research firm Kantar during the summit.

    The report also highlighted the untapped potential in Generation Z. Aged between 15 to 19 years old, Generation Z female consumers are newcomers to the beauty market and are willing to spend more on high-end lipsticks than women in other age groups, representing an opportunity for cosmetics companies.

    Last year, some 80 per cent of Tmall brands chose the marketplace to launch new products, proof of the platform’s ability to identify new markets and demand. Two new emerging domestic beauty brands were among more than 30 beauty and personal care brands whose sales topped RMB 100 million (US$14.9 million) at last year’s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival.

    Also at the summit, Tmall showcased a one-stop solution, the Alibaba Business Operating System, as part of a new effort to help beauty brands succeed in China. The system helps brands digitally transform themselves in sales, logistics and supply-chain management, payment, marketing, cloud computing and other supporting services.

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  • AirAsia X fits Fukuoka as destination into its network

    AirAsia X fits Fukuoka as destination into its network

    AirAsia X launched its fourth Japanese route from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on 28 February, beginning a four times weekly service to Fukuoka (FUK). The carrier already flies from the Malaysian hub to Osaka Kansai, Sapparo Chitose and Tokyo Haneda in Japan. The airline will operate the 4,545-kilometre route using its fleet of A330-300s, with it being the only carrier to fly the airport pair.

    “More than 156,000 seats per year will be available on this new route, providing guests with the opportunity to book low-cost travel to yet another amazing destination in Japan,” commented Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X.

    “This new service signifies our commitment to accelerating our growth story in Japan, and we’re confident the route will deliver a significant boost to the local economy. We wish to thank our airport, tourism and local government partners and authorities for making this new route a reality.”

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  • Starbucks India caught profiteering from tax cut

    Starbucks India caught profiteering from tax cut

    Starbucks India could be fined after failing to pass on a hefty GST cut to its customers. India’s director general of anti-profiteering (DGAP) has found that Tata Starbucks profiteered by not reducing its prices when the government reduced the GST from 18 per cent to 5 per cent in November 2017. Starbucks India is a joint venture between Tata Group and Seattle-based Starbucks.

    The DGAP submitted its report to National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) recently.

    “The company is found to have profiteered Rs 4-5 crore (US$564,000 to $705,000) as it did not pass on the benefit of GST rate cuts to its customers,” a source told the online publication. “The case is now being heard by the NAA for a final decision.”

    Last year, a regular latte at Starbucks India cost Rs 205, equivalent to US$2.89 plus 5 per cent GST. An overcharge of 13 per cent is equivalent to 38 cents on every cup sold. Starbucks may argue it increased its prices at the time coinciding with the cut to offset increased overheads.

    The probe was sparked by a customer complaint who was unhappy that the company did not reduce its prices when the tax rate fell by such a large margin.

    says that under India’s GST system, businesses have an obligation to compute and pass on the benefit of tax-rate cuts to consumers.

    “Any reduction in rate of tax on any supply of goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit (ITC) shall be passed on to the recipient by way of a commensurate reduction in prices,” rule 171 of the Central GST (CGST) Act, 2017, reads.

    A spokesman for Tata Starbucks emailed the publication saying the company “conducts its business ethically and complies with all the local laws and regulations”.

    A decision on the case will take up to three months. If the NAA rules against Starbucks India, the company can be forced to reimburse affected patrons. In the case of a coffee chain, it would be impossible to identify all the affected customers, in which case the NAA may order the overcharged sum to be deposited into a government-operated Consumer Welfare Fund. The authority may also impose a fine.

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  • Sportswear brands Merrell and Saucony heading to China

    Sportswear brands Merrell and Saucony heading to China

    Chinese sportswear retailer Xtep has signed a deal with Wolverine World Wide to distribute Merrell and Saucony products in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

    The joint venture plans to start operating in the second half of this year.

    “We are delighted to have Wolverine, a global company with a portfolio of premium brands, as our partner,” said Ding Shui Po, Xtep chairman and CEO. “We look forward to working shoulder-to-shoulder with them to seize the numerous business opportunities we see in these key Asian markets.”

    New stores will trade under the Merrell and Saucony banners, with the majority slated for shopping malls in China’s larger cities. Xtep plans an expanded presence for both brands in Hong Kong and Macau.

    “Wolverine is extremely pleased to partner with Xtep to accelerate the growth of two of our best-known global brands – Saucony and Merrell – in the critical markets of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau,” added Blake W. Krueger, chairman, CEO and president of Wolverine.

    “We have seen incredible sportswear growth in these markets, and our brands are now poised to excel as we engage Xtep’s significant retail presence and regional expertise to tap into the booming running and outdoor sectors.”

  • China Unicom hosts 5G in smart education conference

    China Unicom hosts 5G in smart education conference

    China Unicom is collaborating with Chinese gaming and mobile application developer NetDragon WebSoft to develop 5G-enabled future classroom applications.

    The operator jointly held a 5G + Smart Education Industry Education conference in Wuhan to demonstrate the potential of 5G to transform the education process.

    The conference, which was also organized by the National Engineering Research Center for E-Learning of Central China Normal University and National Engineering Laboratory for Educational Big Data, ad co-organized by NetDragon, Huawei and the China Information Communication Technologies Group Corporation.

    At the conference, China Unicom demonstrated the use of 5G and holographic technology to provide a new-experience open physics lecture to students across different regions simultaneously.

    NetDragon WebSoft also  demonstrated a wide range of education products, including Holographic Interactive Learning, VR Immersion Classroom, One-Stop Learning, and other educational products.

    “5G will become a crucial foundation for our country’s information and communication construction, as well as the key to the development of industrial internet and artificial intelligence,” China Unicom deputy general manager Liang Baojun said.

    “In this context, China Unicom, as one of the leaders in the telecommunication industry, will jointly conduct 5G business research with multiple industrial enterprise partners to lay the foundation for promoting full commercial use of 5G. At the same time, we will leverage on resources from our existing network, incubation of 5G application and support from our industrial chain to fully support the development of education in China.”

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  • Apple CE promises new products will ‘blow you away’ soon

    Apple CE promises new products will ‘blow you away’ soon

    Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised investors the firm remains on track to double its 2016 revenues of almost US$25 billion next year, prompting a rise of more than 1 per cent in Apple stock on Friday.

    Speaking at the firm’s annual meeting in Cupertino, Cook claimed Apple is “planting seeds” and “rolling the dice” on new products set to “blow you away”.

    Cook indicated a range of new products under development for the Apple Watch and AirPods, and has previously stoked ongoing expectations for an AR glasses product. He also signalled an eventual drop in price for the MacBook Air laptop, currently retailing at US$1200, despite upgrading to a higher-resolution screen.

    The shareholder meeting saw the entire Apple board re-elected, including former US VP Al Gore, and included a political discussion that emphasised a variance in political ideology with that of the current US administration, despite an acknowledgement that the firm has worked successfully with the US government.

    It also implied criticism of other big tech firms who maintain data profiles of its users, such as Facebook.

    Cook said the company was also continuing to evaluate new businesses to buy to build its technology capabilities.

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  • Technology helps to boost Carrefour China profit

    Technology helps to boost Carrefour China profit

    Carrefour China has boosted its profit 11-fold according to documents filed in France, where its parent company is based. In China, Carrefour achieved €45 million operating income from its 245 outlets and online business, which it put down to investments in previous years in boosting its operations and profile there.

    The company said it has transformed the commercial model of its Le Marche hypermarket chain, and boosted sales online. An investment in technology allowing facial recognition and Scan & Go had particularly paid off.

    “China is a retailing laboratory for the world,” said Thierry Garnier, president and CEO of Carrefour China. “For Carrefour, China is a specific market that has helped us to learn and to understand the future.”

    At the end of last year, Carrefour opened a flagship on Tmall which is expected to further improve sales.

    Globally, Carrefour increased its sales by 1.4 per cent to reach €85 billion.

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  • H&M names first Philippine ambassador

    H&M names first Philippine ambassador

    H&M has named Nadine Lustre as its first Philippine ambassador.

    The endorsement deal comes with a special swimwear collection to be launched in the Philippines next week.

    Nadine Lustre has more than 5.9 million followers on Instagram, and is considered to have a highly visible presence among today’s youth.

    “It was a whole new experience working on the campaign. It didn’t feel like we were working at all. I felt creative the whole time, and that, for me, is one of the best feelings ever,” Lustre told.

    H&M has previously worked with some of the biggest names in pop culture including Beyonce, David Beckham, Diane Kruger and Namie Amuro.

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  • Broadband Forum releases home Wi-Fi test standard

    Broadband Forum releases home Wi-Fi test standard

    With the rapid development of 4K TV, online gaming and smart homes, statistics from Broadband Forum show that more than 1 billion users now have access to fixed broadband, and Wi-Fi has become an essential part of broadband services provided by operators.

    Operators are increasingly providing service packages featuring Wi-Fi to enhance the home broadband experience of end users. This has created a compelling need to optimize Wi-Fi performance to support end-to-end performance of broadband services, including development of 4K video and VR services, and to minimize operators’ operating and maintenance costs.

    This need is highlighted by Ovum reports, which show that Wi-Fi problems account for 30% to 60% of operators’ broadband complaints.

    Clearly, home Wi-Fi quality is vital to both delivering a high-quality broadband experience and to operators’ operational efficiencies, yet there were no existing unified performance testing standards – until now.

    To address this issue, Broadband Forum announced the release of the first Wi-Fi performance test standard – Technical Report 398 Indoor Wi-Fi Performance Test Standard (TR-398) – during Mobile World Congress 2019.

    TR-398 is the first standard that systematically and quantitatively evaluates home Wi-Fi device performance across six dimensions: receiver sensitivity, throughput, coverage, multi-user support, anti-interference, and stability.

    By defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as the Wi-Fi equivalent bandwidth (throughput), rate at different distances, and throughput for multiple online users, the standard helps telecom operators and end users select optimal Wi-Fi solutions.

    The TR-398 standard describes the purpose, test scope, conditions, test cases, and standard thresholds for indoor home gateway Wi-Fi performance testing, helping telecom operators efficiently test indoor Wi-Fi performance, develop home networks and video services, and improve home broadband experience.

    From its inception as a project within Broadband Forum, TR-398 has received extensive industry attention. More than 16 operators and equipment vendors have actively participated in and supported the drafting of the standard.

    Many operators around the world are known to be planning to use TR-398 as the Wi-Fi performance admission specification for home broadband customer-premises equipment (CPE).

    According to Broadband Forum CEO Robin Mersh, Wi-Fi is the key infrastructure for broadband Internet access in the connected home and for a high-quality ultra HD video experience.

    “Wi-Fi performance of single gateways must meet service requirements and comply with standards to accelerate industry development,” said Mersh. “The goal of TR-398 is to define carrier-class home Wi-Fi performance. We are delighted that a critical mass of key industry players has participated in crafting this standard and are excited for the role that this standard will play in enabling a superior broadband experience in the connected home of the future.”

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  • Axiata Digital joins Singtel’s cross-border m-payment alliance

    Axiata Digital joins Singtel’s cross-border m-payment alliance

    Singtel Group and Malaysia’s Axiata Digital have signed an agreement to collaborate in the areas of mobile financial and digital services to promote the growth of the ASEAN digital economy. Under the agreement, Axiata Digital will join Singtel’s cross-border mobile payment alliance VIA, expanding the alliance’s footprint beyond Singapore and Thailand to Malaysia.

    Axiata Digital operates the Boost Malaysia mobile wallet, which as 3.7 million customers and 66,000 merchant points across the nation.

    In addition, the Singtel Group’s Open Platform payment gateway will partner with Axiata Digital’s API platform to enable cross-sharing of product portfolios.

    Both parties have also agreed to jointly promote and drive cross-border payments and to explore collaboration around rewards and loyalty programs.

    VIA was launched in October with Thai partners AIS and Kasikornbank. AIS is one of Singtel’s regional mobile associates. Singtel group plans to expand the VIA initiative to cover other associates Bharti Airtel in India, Globe in the Philippines, and Telkomsel in Indonesia.

    “We are delighted to welcome Boost Malaysia on board the VIA alliance, which gives us presence in an important new market. This shows the tremendous potential for us to grow cross-border mobile payments even beyond the countries where Singtel’s regional associates operate,” Singtel CEO Arthur Lang commented.

    “VIA’s continued expansion will provide consumers with the ease and convenience of using one mobile wallet to pay across multiple regional markets as they travel. We look forward to more partners joining VIA.”

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