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Tag: asia

  • Nestle begins work on ‘companion products’ for weight loss drugs

    Nestle begins work on ‘companion products’ for weight loss drugs

    Nestle on Thursday said it has started work on products to “companion” weight loss drugs like Novo Nordisk’s game-changing Wegovy, hoping to cash in on their growing popularity.

    The Swiss food giant’s CEO Mark Schneider said Nestle had not seen any impact from such drugs on sales so far, referring to the threat they pose to the packaged food industry that has spooked investors in recent weeks.

    Nestle shares fell this month after Walmart, the world’s biggest retailer, said it saw a slight pullback in food consumption with people taking appetite-suppressing drugs.

    “We’re working already on a wide range of products that could serve as companion products,” Schneider said during an earnings briefing, noting that some supplements can help with the “loss of lean muscle mass” and “rapid regain of weight”.

    “The largest parts of our portfolio will not be affected” by this new breed of weight loss drugs, he said.

    Globally, Nestle’s biggest businesses are coffee and pet care, while frozen food, confectionary and ice cream make up 15 per cent of sales.

    “We’re watching this carefully and will keep you updated,” Schneider said.

    Wegovy has been shown to help patients reduce body weight by around 15 per cent when used along with exercise and lifestyle changes. It is so far available in the United States, Norway, Denmark and, as of late July, Germany.

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  • Groke Pet launches liquid multivitamin range for dogs

    Groke Pet launches liquid multivitamin range for dogs

    Groke Pet has launched a new line of liquid multivitamin supplements that specifically targets the health needs of dogs.

    Boasting 98 per cent locally sourced ingredients, the Vitalixir Plus boosters range – formulated and manufactured in Australia – promises to redefine pet nutrition.

    Groke Pet chief scientist Dr Andrew Duggan credits the breakthrough to “relentless work and collaboration with an exceptional team”.

    “Vitalixir Plus Boosters additionally target specific health areas in dogs, from skeletal health, skin, and coat rejuvenation, to weight management and anxiety relief,” Duggan explains.

    “Each booster blends nutrients and superfoods aimed at promoting optimal health.”

    The company champions prioritising local ingredients, adopting and encouraging sustainable practices, and fostering communities by partnering with social enterprises.

    “Every drop infuses the rich goodness of Australia, fostering not only thriving but flourishing pets,” said Anne Duggan, CEO of Groke Pet.

    The range, including the standout Vitalixir Complete Daily Nutrition, offers over 48 vital nutrients in a convenient, easily absorbed liquid format.

    Groke Pet’s supplement range starter is available for $99 online via grokepet.com.au. The company said it is actively engaging to confirm distribution channels.

  • Samsung Internet Browser app updated with autocomplete support

    Samsung Internet Browser app updated with autocomplete support

    Samsung continues to improve its Internet Browser app with new features. After thoroughly testing them in the beta version of the app, Samsung has now released some of these features to the stable channel.

    This means that if you update to the latest version of Samsung Internet Browser, regardless of whether or not you’re enrolled in the beta program, you’ll benefit from additional functionality

    Among the most important new features included in the latest update is support of URL autocomplete in address bar, which will save you a lot of time when you want to type in an address to visit a certain website.

    Apart from that, the new version of Samsung Internet Browser also gained new support for syncing tab groups, as confirmed by the official changelog. Finally, the app now features an increased number of days of History saved, so you’ll be able to check which sites you’ve visited in the last 90 days.

    If you’re looking to upgrade to Samsung Internet Browser v23.0.0.47, your only option is the Galaxy Store for the time being. However, the latest update should pop up in the Google Play Store very soon too in case you don’t want to go the Galaxy Store route.

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  • Google Wallet adds Driver’s License and Digital ID support for more U.S. States

    Google Wallet adds Driver’s License and Digital ID support for more U.S. States

    Back in June, Google announced some forthcoming features for Google Wallet that we are just now seeing roll out. One of these was the ability to add a state ID or Driver’s License to facilitate TSA checkpoint procedures at select airports.
    However, when this feature launched, not all U.S. states were on board with the program. At the time, Maryland became the first state to support it, with the state ID literally becoming the poster child for the rollout, as can be seen in the marketing materials.
    Meanwhile, support for additional states was promised for a later date, with Arizona, Colorado and Georgia listed as the next ones slated to join the Digital ID program. Surprisingly, and without much fanfare, that day has arrived sooner than we thought.
    Google has quietly rolled out support for these three states already, joining Maryland in the Google Wallet app. You can already see these states pop up when attempting to add an ID Card on the app. Considering there hasn’t been a versioned update to the Google Wallet app since October 3rd, we are inclined to think that this is a server-side push.
    The setup process requires a photo scan of the front and back of your physical ID or Driver’s License, followed by a short video verification process. Once setup has been completed, the digital ID will be themed with artwork that represents the issuing state — such as a peach to represent Georgia.
    This update brings Google Wallet’s digital ID compatibility up to par with Apple Wallet, where the ability to have a mobile Driver’s License has been available in some states since last year. Samsung has also announced that this would be coming to Samsung Wallet later this year, and Google previously stated that more functionality will be added to digital IDs in the future, such as the ability to verify online accounts.
  • Threads by Instagram reveals secret new features on mobile and the web

    Threads by Instagram reveals secret new features on mobile and the web

    Threads by Instagram is on a mission to earn that spot on your phone’s home screen and it plans on doing that by regularly releasing new features that are of interest to its users. In its latest release, the company has revealed a few “secret” features that you may or may not know exist on the platform.

    Head of Instagram and Threads boss, Adam Mosseri, revealed via a post a couple of tricks that the app can currently do. While these are definitely not mind-blowing additions, they are neat little details that can enrich the app’s user experience.
    On the mobile apps, you can now long press on a post to follow everyone who is mentioned on it. A panel will popular at the bottom of the app showing you who was mentioned in the post. Here, you can either follow each one individually or choose the “Follow all” option. As a bonus, there is also a “Copy text” option if you want to use that same text in a new post or share it to another app.

    You can now copy and paste media attachments on the web to make posting easier. Previously, when composing a post you had to click on the media icon in order to attach an image or video from your device’s file manager. Now, it’s as easy as copy/paste, which can save you a ton of time when wanting to add something that’s already saved in your clipboard.

    Not only can you tag other accounts within Threads, but you can also now tag Instagram accounts. When tagging, you can now see Instagram accounts populate in the autocomplete options. This is great if the account you want to tag has not signed up for Threads yet, but does have a presence on Instagram. Who knows? This might entice more Instagram users to sign up for threads and gain more exposure that way.
    Hopefully, Threads continues to add on helpful features such as they have been lately. The platform’s daily user base continues to request new features regularly and these are seemingly not falling on deaf ears. We will continue to report new features here as they are revealed.
  • 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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