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Tag: asia

  • Apple hints update is coming to fix flickering Watch display issues and more

    Apple hints update is coming to fix flickering Watch display issues and more

    Complaints from the Apple Community webpage and Reddit indicate that some Apple Watch users are having issues with the displays on their timepieces. Judging from the posts, it would appear that the screens on the affected units are flickering when the user raises his/her wrist to fully light up the display when in Always On mode. Another issue being investigated by Apple is one where complications on certain Apple Watch models turn pink when the user’s wrist is raised.
    One Reddit subscriber noted that the flickering issue occurs when a timer is running or the Modular Ultra face is being used. Other complaints sound like this one from an Apple Community subscriber who wrote, “It’s not just you. Series 9 on 10.0.2 here, I’m experiencing the same issue. Split second of screen flickering when raising to wake from AOD. It only happens sometimes, but enough to the point that it bugs me.”

    Based on the posts, it would seem that the flickering issue and the pink complications have been spotted on the new Series 9 watches as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The bug continues to appear even after the latest version of watchOS, 10.0.2, is installed. Apple is expected to release the public version of watchOS 10.1 next week, which might contain a fix that exterminates the bugs.

    In fact, Apple even hinted that an update to fix the problem is on the way. In a memo, Apple told service providers not to repair impacted watches and instead, tell customers that they should keep the software on their Apple Watch up to date. That certainly sounds like Apple is expecting to release a software update soon that will fix the flickering on the Apple Watch screens as well as the color change to the complications on certain watch faces.

    Apple says that users can disable the Always On display as a temporary workaround to fix the flickering. Press the Digital Crown until you see the home screen. From there, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and toggle off the Always On mode. With the Always On display enabled, the screen dims when the user’s wrist is down and gets brighter when the wrist is raised. This is the point when the flickering shows up.

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  • Vietnam rice export price climbs amid thin supply

    Vietnam rice export price climbs amid thin supply

    Vietnam’s rice price continues to rise as the harvest season ends, creating a shortage of supply.

    Vietnam’s 5% broken rice is now at $623 per ton, 7% higher than that of Thailand and 10.7% higher than that of Pakistan.

    The domestic paddy price has also been rising to unprecedented levels. Japanese paddy J02 is now priced at up to VND14,000 ($0.57) and Khang Dan VND9,000, which have never been recorded before.

    Traders have been buying in large orders amid a decline in supply as the season ends, and this is why paddy prices are high, farmers said.

    Huynh Thi Bich Huyen, CEO of rice trading company Ngoc Quang Phat, said that she can only buy several hundred tons of paddy each day, which is one-third of last month.

    This shows a shortage in supply and that is why prices are hiked, she added.

    Rice exports surged 40.4% year-on-year to $3.66 billion in the first nine months of this year. It is forecast to reach a new peak of $4 billion by the end of the year.

    The average export price was $553 per ton in the first nine months, up 14% year-on-year.
    Farmers have seen their profits double from last year.

    The Vietnam Food Association forecast that rice prices will stay at a high level in the remaining months as supply will still be low globally.

    Countries such as Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Turkey and Chile have all upped their imports.

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  • Vietnamese lobsters half price as Chinese orders dwindle

    Vietnamese lobsters half price as Chinese orders dwindle

    Diminishing exports to China’s massive market has Vietnamese ornate rock lobsters selling for VND1-1.3 million (US$42-54) a kilogram, half the price of two months ago.

    According to lobster harvesters in the central province of Khanh Hoa, prices are at the lowest point in two years.

    China is the biggest importer of Vietnamese lobsters.

    Lobster vendors in the province said they have decided to stop selling their lobsters or now in hopes prices will spike for the Lunar New Year early next year.

    Seafood shops in Ho Chi Minh City are selling ornate rock lobsters for VND1.4-1.7 million per kilogram.

    Tuan, a lobster trader, said domestic and overseas demand for seafood is down.

    “China currently favors painted spiny lobsters because their prices are lower.”

    Nguyen An, people’s committee chairman of Cam Binh Commune in the south-central-coastal province of Cam Ranh, said that Vietnam has mainly exported painted spiny lobsters to the Chinese market since mid-year, not ornate rock lobsters.

    He said this was because Australian ornate rock lobsters are cheaper than Vietnam’s, “so it is difficult to compete in China.”

    According to the Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, Vietnam exported lobsters worth a total $76 million to China in the first eight months, a year-on-year decline of 42%.

    While reducing imports from Vietnam, China is now buying more lobsters from Canada, Australia, the U.S., New Zealand, Cuba, India, Brazil, and Mexico.

    According to Vietnamese firms, the two countries should agree on official lobster quotas to boost lobster exports to China.

    A project launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development aims to develop Vietnamese lobster production and exports by 2025, with total output of 3,000 tons per year and annual export turnovers of $200 million.

    The largest lobster farming provinces are Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, in the north-central regions, and Kien Giang in the southern region’s Mekong Delta.

     

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  • Google Chat’s smart replies feature expands to groups and spaces

    Google Chat’s smart replies feature expands to groups and spaces

    Smart replies have been added to Google Chat a long time ago, but they were only available for direct messages. However, that’s about to change, as Google has just announced Chat’s smart replies will expand to group messages and spaces on the web.

    Powered by Google’s machine learning, smart replies are the perfect tool to respond quickly to a message when you’re on the move, or you just want to avoid typing long messages.

    According to Google, the new feature is available now for all users, including Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. There’s no need to change your Google Chat app, as the feature will appear automatically.

    Once it’s been added to your Chat app, you will be able to select one of three response options that pop up in a chat or customize your reply before sending it.

    It’s important to add that Google Chat’s smart replies are only available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Those who want to turn off smart replies for whatever reason can do so by clicking Settings and unchecking the Smart Reply box.

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  • Samsung TV Plus adds new channels

    Samsung TV Plus adds new channels

    Samsung TV Plus might become very popular among customers as streaming services continue to increase their prices once or twice per year. Samsung’s free TV service currently offers more than 2,000 channels in two dozen countries, but its biggest advantage is that it’s available on all Samsung TVs.

    Samsung has already added a bunch of new channels to its TV service this month, but the company is not done yet. Starting this week, three new channels from Blue Ant Media will be available on Samsung TV Plus.

    Homeful, HauntTV and Love Pets have been added to Samsung TV Plus in several markets. For example, Homeful is now available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Brazil.

    After being initially introduced in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK earlier this year, HauntTV is now available for Samsung TV Plus users in the United States.

    As far as Love Pets goes, the channel focusing on pets is now available to all Samsung TV Plus users in the UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

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  • WhatsApp announces passkeys support for Android users

    WhatsApp announces passkeys support for Android users

    Last week, Google announced that passkeys would become the default authentication method for its users on personal accounts. Within that announcement, Google also stated that passkeys support is growing, listing a few of the companies that had already enabled them on their apps and websites, with a mention of WhatsApp as one of the ones that would be adding compatibility soon.

    This confirmed earlier reports that WhatsApp had already tested this functionality with its beta users and would be tied to Google’s Password Manager. Today, WhatsApp finally announced that passkeys support is now official for its Android users who can now use their device’s screen lock method to unlock their accounts, such as their face, fingerprint, or device pin.

    Previously, WhatsApp had implemented an optional two-step verification pin and a fingerprint lock feature that users could set to trigger automatically after a set length of time. This type of authentication is not being removed from the app, but rather joined now by passkeys, offering an additional layer of security.

    Although passkeys support has now been made public by the company, it appears that the feature is not yet live on the latest stable version of the app (v2.23.20.76). However, it is definitely working in the latest beta (v2.23.21.12) for those enrolled in the WhatsApp beta program.

    The signup process is quick and straightforward as it is using the screen lock method that you already use on your phone. Additionally, through this signup process, you learn that your newly created passkey is indeed being stored in Google’s Password Manager, which makes it possible to use on other devices where you are signed in to your Google account. It is unclear at this time if an app update is forthcoming for the stable version of the app, or if the feature will be rolled out in stages via a server push.

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  • Google Wallet now rolling out option to digitize physical cards

    Google Wallet now rolling out option to digitize physical cards

    Google Wallet is finally rolling out a previously announced feature that lets you digitize your physical passes, like transit passes, gym memberships cards, parking passes, and library cards. The feature is currently only available on Pixel phones, but will hopefully be rolled out to other Android devices in the future.

    This feature was originally teased by Google back in June, among a list of “coming soon” features for Google Wallet, as a way to save passes from an image. This opened up the possibility of digitizing a number of items you couldn’t before, however, it isn’t to be confused with the ability to digitize ID cards, or the option to use a QR code to pay on phones without NFC that rolled out in some countries.

    It is important to note that this method of adding passes requires a photo of the physical pass (or screenshot), and for it to contain a barcode or QR code. For example, I was able to add my gym membership card, but only because I was able to capture a screenshot of it from the gym’s app and this screenshot contains the QR code I usually scan to gain entrance. You will receive an error explaining the issue if you attempt to add an image that does not contain the aforementioned requirements.

    According to Android Central, this feature is just now rolling out to Pixel devices after getting pushed back to become part of the September 2023 Pixel feature drop. This means it might take a while to reach all Pixel users as so far it has only been spotted on the Pixel 8 series and the Pixel Fold.

    Additionally, there is one more design element that is making its way to Pixels as part of this update. This minor design tweak adds a toggle to enable or disable “Success animations,” which appear after completing a transaction. These fun little animations were themed and, according to some, a time-waster when trying to purchase something quickly. Thankfully, Google now allows us to completely disable them within Google Wallet’s settings.

    The new feature is a convenient way to keep all of your passes in one place and a more secure way to carry your passes. You no longer have to worry about losing physical passes or have to fumble to through different apps in order to use them.

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  • UBS Axes More Investment Bankers in Hong Kong

    UBS Axes More Investment Bankers in Hong Kong

    Switzerland’s UBS has reportedly offloaded more investment bankers in Hong Kong amid a slowdown in China.

    UBS has cut about 7 percent of its global banking unit in Asia, according to a report citing unnamed sources, mainly related to China-focused roles based in Hong Kong. This has affected about two dozen investment bankers, including several managing directors.

    The cuts were initially planned for September but were postponed due to the Credit Suisse takeover. The final number of job losses in this current round of cuts has yet to be decided. In 2022, UBS axed half a dozen China-focused staff in Hong Kong.

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  • Construction steel sales reach year-high in September

    Construction steel sales reach year-high in September

    Construction steel sales hit 958,500 tons in September, the highest in nine months, and posting positive growth for the first time this year.

    Sales went up 9% from August and 4% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam Steel Association.

    Industry leader Hoa Phat Group posted its biggest sales last month since the beginning of the year.

    The company saw construction steel sales rising 15% from August to 352,000 tons.

    Vnsteel saw sales rising 8% from August to 265,000 tons.The increase in construction steel demand came thanks to major infrastructure projects being developed such as North-South highways and airport upgrades.

    Steel prices have been steady throughout September and at the lowest level since 2020, which stimulated demand.
    But overall, the steel industry is still seeing low demand, the VSA said. In the first nine months 7.7 million tons of construction steel were sold, down 20% year-on-year. Exports fell 13% in the same period.

    Prices are set to remain at current levels until the end of the year, according to a KB Vietnam Securities forecast.
    A hike in domestic demand is expected early next year as property projects see difficulties in acquiring permits will be resolved, it added.

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  • Catfish exports to China plummet

    Catfish exports to China plummet

    Pangasius exports to China in the first eight months of this year fell 28%to US$406 million, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

    Since September Chinese demand for the fish has not increased much even as it has stepped up imports from Norway, South Korea, Australia, and Chile.

    The director of a pangasius export company in southern An Giang Province said that demand from Chinese hotels and restaurants for catfish is low now.

    Chinese consumers prefer fresh seafood over frozen products.

    Besides difficulties in exporting, Vietnamese pangasius firms are also facing high input and farming costs.

    According to data from catfish exporters, farmers’ production costs are now VND26,500-27,000 (over US$1.1) per kilogram while their selling price is VND300-500 lower.

    The average export price is $2.5-2.6 per kilogram, down from $3.2 a year ago.

    “We are trying to sustain production, but this year profits have dropped sharply,” the export company director said.

    According to VASEP, demand for Vietnamese pangasius will increase again in the fourth quarter, the peak season in China.

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  • Novotel Saigon Centre Hotel owner reports biggest ever loss

    Novotel Saigon Centre Hotel owner reports biggest ever loss

    Thien Phuc International Hotel Company, which owns the four-star Novotel Saigon Centre Hotel in HCMC, has reported its biggest ever half-yearly loss of VND369.6 billion (US$15.4 million).

    The loss for the year’s first half was 50% higher year-on-year, according to its earnings report.

    It had racked up full-year losses of VND786 billion in 2021 and VND783 billion in 2022.

    At the end of H1 2023 Thien Phuc had total liabilities of VND8.695 trillion, including VND6.4 trillion in corporate bonds it had issued.Thien Phuc used to belong to Que Huong Liberty Corporation, one of the largest hotel operators in the city.

    In 2016, Que Huong Liberty sold its entire holding in Thien Phuc to Saigon Green View Investment Corporation.

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  • Power shortage in Vietnam looms until 2050

    Power shortage in Vietnam looms until 2050

    With the construction of many large power plants stalling or slowing and the dependence on imports for energy increasing, electricity shortages are possible until 2050, lawmakers fear.

    According to a report on energy development in 2016-21 done recently by a supervisory team form the National Assembly Standing Committee, Vietnam’s primary energy resources are increasingly depleting with hydropower being fully tapped and oil and gas output in some major fields decreasing rapidly.

    Generation varies between regions with some power projects like Na Duong II, Quynh Lap I, Cam Pha III, Ca Voi Xanh, LNG Thi Vai, and LNG Son My slow to be completed, and some others grinding to a halt. The delays led to shortages in the north in May and June.

    A World Bank report published in August estimated Vietnam’s losses due to the electricity shortages at US$1.4 billion, or 0.3% of GDP.
    Experts warn about continuing shortages in the north since no new plants are going on stream in the next two years.
    The risk of power shortages, especially in 2024-25, was also flagged by Vietnam Electricity (EVN) in a recent report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
    It expected there would be “basically enough electricity” in 2024, but said in 2025 the north could face a shortage of 6.8 billion kWh during the peak dry season in May-July. But a slew of new plants is scheduled to go on stream at the end of 2025.
    Besides facilitating the construction of power plants and undertaking grid works to transmit electricity to the north, EVN also plans to step up power purchases from Laos.

    Also according to the report, investment in power plants and power grids in 2016-21 was inadequate. The grid connection and power transmission capacities did not meet the needs of renewable energy plants in the central region.

    Power generation is insufficient in the north and a stable and efficient linkage with Southeast Asia has yet to be set up.
    According to the report, annual electricity output and imports increased 50.8% between 2015 and 2020 to 247 billion kilowatt-hours. Consumption also rose 50% to nearly 217 billion kilowatt-hours.

  • Skechers granted an injunction against Dockers for alleged patent infringement

    Skechers granted an injunction against Dockers for alleged patent infringement

    In August, Skechers sued nonslip shoemaker Laforst Shoes over the alleged infringement of the slip-in-heel design. These shoe styles were the subject of high-profile Super Bowl ads earlier this year featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, and Skechers says it’s sold millions of pairs of the hands-free shoe.

    On October 5, the Düsseldorf Regional Court in Germany found that Dockers had infringed on one of Skechers’ heel pillow designs, per the Skechers release.

    In a news release on the ruling, Skechers President Michael Greenberg said the company would “continue to aggressively police and enforce” its proprietary rights for the sneaker design.

    “While the ruling can be appealed, we are very pleased that the German court in the first instance acknowledged Skechers’ rights and immediately stopped the sale of the offending shoe style throughout the European Union,” Greenberg said. “Skechers invests tremendous resources into product development to introduce fresh, unique, and exciting footwear to its customers year in and year out.

    While Skechers always prefers to compete in the marketplace rather than the courtroom, the Company has no choice but to seek legal recourse when competitors infringe on our intellectual property rights.”

    Skechers’ legal complaint against Laforst is ongoing, though court documents show the parties have engaged in settlement discussions. As of Sept. 26, a judge in the United States District Court Central District of California gave Skechers 30 days to finalize its settlement with Laforst.

    In April, Skechers settled a patent dispute with French luxury brand Hermès over its Massage Fit sole.

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  • Flash Coffee ceases operations in Singapore

    Flash Coffee ceases operations in Singapore

    Flash Coffee has shut its Singapore operations to focus on other markets, the company told CNA on Friday (Oct 13) in response to queries about its business here.

    The Singapore-based coffee chain had 11 outlets in Singapore, including one at Jurong Point where a sign on Thursday said employees were “on strike” over late salary payouts.

    “Contrary to reports, our staff in Singapore are not on ‘strike’,” the company said.

    “We ceased operations at our 11 stores, and consequently, our baristas are not required to report to work.”

    Flash Coffee said that to build a profitable and sustainable business, it decided to “further consolidate our future efforts and to double down on our most promising markets”.

    “To facilitate this renewed focus, we ceased operations in Singapore yesterday, comprising 11 stores out of our (around) 200 global stores,” it added.

    A search on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) portal showed that the company’s status was “in liquidation – creditors’ voluntary winding up”.

    Launched in 2020, Flash Coffee, with its iconic yellow storefront, also operates in Asian markets such as Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong.

    In 2021, it had almost 30 outlets in Singapore.

    Flash Coffee, a non-unionized company, said it is “proactively assisting” affected team members.

    “Most of our Singapore head office staff have been offered roles in other markets or with our regional team. Additionally, we are actively trying to connect our baristas with opportunities in other coffee chains,” it added.

    A union said on Friday night that Flash Coffee’s employees affected by the sudden closure of the outlets are owed outstanding salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions. They also had prevailing leave entitlements.

    Salaries owed to workers comprise the balance of 75 per cent of their September salaries, as well as wages for work done until Oct 12. It also includes the encashment of remaining leave days, said the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers’ Union (FDAWU).

    “The workers engaged by the union shared that there were no explicit plans to put up any coordinated action following companies’ sharing of the situation at hand,” the FDAWU added.

    The union also said it is assisting affected members with salary-related claims and will provide job assistance support.

    CNA has contacted Flash Coffee to ask about the outstanding salaries owed to workers.

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  • Duck Donuts opens its first Thailand store in Bangkok

    Duck Donuts opens its first Thailand store in Bangkok

    Pennsylvania-based Duck Donuts has opened its first store in Thailand in partnership with local franchisee The Great Restaurant Group Co.

    Located at the Siam Discovery shopping centre in Bangkok, the outlet is the first of 10 Duck Donuts stores The Great Restaurant Group Co. plans to open across Thailand by the end of 2028. “Bringing Duck Donuts to Bangkok is a momentous occasion for us.

    We’re excited to introduce our made-to-order donuts to the vibrant city of Bangkok and offer the local community a delightful, customizable experience. We believe in the power of sweet moments, and we can’t wait to create memorable experiences for our guests in Thailand,” said Betsy Hamm, CEO, Duck Donuts.

    Thailand is Duck Donuts’ third market entry in 2023, following its debut in Egypt and Qatar in February and August, respectively.

    Founded in North Carolina in 2007, the bakery café chain currently operates 131 stores across the US, alongside two stores in each of Canada and Puerto Rico and a single site in Saudi Arabia.

    Further international expansion is also on the cards, with Duck Donuts planning to open first stores in Pakistan and Curacao in 2024, alongside franchise agreements to enter the UK, Australia, the Bahamas and Iraq.