FEATURED NEWS
- April 22, 2024Gadgets
“INSTAX mini Evo™ Brown” wins the “Best of the Best Award” of Red Dot Design awards
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation is pleased to announce that 16 of its products including imaging and medical devices have been awarded the “Red Dot Design Award: Product Design 2024,” a product design award program organized by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen based in Essen, Germany. Of the products, “INSTAX*1 mini Evo™ Brown” has received the program’s highest-ranked “Best of the Best Award.” This remarkable achievement marks the first time that all 16 products submitted by FUJIFILM have won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award. The Red Dot Design Award is an international design award program launched in 1955. The award is given to products with excellence in design innovation, functionality, ergonomics, ecological compatibility, and durability. It is one of the world's three most prestigious design awards, alongside Germany's “iF design award” and the United States' “the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA)”. In the development of all its products and services, Fujifilm not only pursues product functionality and performance, but also engages in design development that leverages superior functionality and performance. The 16 products have recognized their beautiful appearance and design achieving outstanding functionality and performance by a panel of internationally renowned design experts. The company will continue to work on creating designs that not only have beautiful appearance but also reflect commitment to offering portability and operability for ease of use and comfort, thereby creating new product values. “Best of the Best Award” logo “Red Dot Design Award 2024” logo *1 INSTAX is a trademark or registered trademark of FUJIFILM Corporation. 16 Red Dot Design Award 2024 winning products ①Hybrid instant camera “INSTAX mini Evo™ Brown”【Best of the Best Award】 The “mini Evo™” is a hybrid instant camera incorporating digital technology and supporting the card-size “mini format film.” Released in 2021, it has been a global sensation since its launch due to its hybrid nature of analog and digital function. It comes with ten lens effects including “Soft Focus” and “Light Leak,” and ten film effects, including “Monochrome” and “Retro.” These two types of effects can be freely combined to create 100 different shooting effects, allowing users to express their emotions through INSTAX prints. The camera body sports a premium and classical look and features analog-like operation with the lens dial, film dial and print lever, designed with attention to details such as operation noise. ②Instant camera “INSTAX mini 12™” ③Instant camera “INSTAX SQUARE SQ40™” ④Digital Camera “INSTAX Pal™” ⑤Mirrorless digital camera “FUJIFILM GFX100 II” Vertical battery grip “VG-GFX100 II” ⑥Mirrorless digital camera “FUJIFILM X-S20” ⑦Interchangeable lens for the GFX Series of mirrorless digital cameras “FUJINON Lens GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro” ⑧Interchangeable lens for the GFX Series of mirrorless digital cameras “FUJINON Lens GF55mmF1.7 R WR” ⑨Interchangeable lens for the GFX Series of mirrorless digital cameras “FUJINON Lens GF30mmF5.6 T/S” ⑩Interchangeable lens for the X Series of mirrorless digital cameras “FUJINON Lens XF8mmF3.5 R WR” ⑪FOCUS DEMAND “EPD-51A-G02” ⑫Broadcast zoom lens “FUJINON HZK24-300mm” ⑬Long-range camera with integrated lens “FUJIFILM SX1600” ⑭Portable Identification System of Medicine “PROOFIT iQ” ⑮Wide Format Inkjet Printer “Acuity Prime Hybrid” ⑯Assist function for CT scan “AutoPositioning” Contact Media Contact FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation Corporate Communications Division, Public Relations Group +81-3-6271-2000 * Please note that the contents including the product availability, specification, prices and contacts in this website are current as of the date of the press announcement and may be subject to change without prior notice. * This news release is issued by FUJIFILM Corporation in Japan. Fujifilm makes no representation that products on this news release are commercially available in all countries and regions including the US and EU. Approved uses of healthcare products vary by country and region.
- April 22, 2024Travel & Leisure
AirAsia Malaysia welcomes first flight from Jaipur, connecting Kuala Lumpur to the Pink City in India’s north
AirAsia Malaysia today celebrated another major milestone, welcoming its maiden flight from Jaipur to Kuala Lumpur with full grandeur. The inaugural flight, with a load factor of 100%, departed from Jaipur International Airport at 11.40PM and landed in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Terminal 2) at 7.05AM local time. Excited guests onboard flight AK18 were warmly greeted upon arrival by several Allstars who handed out exclusive goodie bags to the delighted travellers. This route is extra special for AirAsia Malaysia ‒ marking its first venture into the stunning Pink City, world-renowned for its vintage forts dating back to the 16th century as well as the majestic Jal Mahal. Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group, Bo Lingam said: “We’re thrilled that our first ever services for AirAsia Malaysia between Jaipur and Kuala Lumpur route took flight today and are honoured to be the only airline in Malaysia to offer this direct connectivity. Jaipur ‒ often known as the ‘Jewel of Rajasthan’ ‒ is an exquisitely-beautiful city with plenty to offer, as is Kuala Lumpur thanks to our world-famous sky-scrappers and cultural melting pot of local delights. “AirAsia first commenced flights from between India and Malaysia in 2008 with the sole aim of enabling travellers to experience the beauty and wonder of both countries with ease and affordability. We have since gone on to fly millions of guests between India and Malaysia in the last decade and a half. The inauguration of this route commemorates AirAsia’s steadfast commitment to further expand our network in India, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to our homeland Malaysia, particularly following the government’s announcement of visa free entry into the country last year.” Continuing the celebratory momentum, AirAsia is offering limited-time-only promotional fares to India with a whopping 20% discount. Fly from Kuala Lumpur to a myriad of exciting destinations in the country such as Bhubaneswar*, Visakhapatnam*, Ahmedabad*, Trivandrum, Amritsar and so much more from only RM179 all-in-one-way.** Book your flights now till 28 April 2024 and travel from 6 May to 30 November 2024. AirAsia currently flies directly from Kuala Lumpur to an incredible 13 cities in all of India with 78 flights weekly to Trivandrum, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, (flights to commence on 28 May 2024), Visakhapatnam (flights to commence on 26 April 2024) and Ahmedabad (flights to commence on 1 May 2024). Medium haul affiliate airline AirAsia X Malaysia (flight code D7) also provides two direct routes from Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi and Amritsar with 8 flights weekly. Stay tuned to @flyairasia for all-things AirAsia. *The travel period for Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Ahmenabad is 28 May 2024, 26 April 2024 & 1 May 2024 to 30 November 2024 respectively **Includes airport taxes, MAVCOM fee, fuel surcharges and other applicable fees. Terms and conditions apply
- April 22, 2024Business
JD.com Debuts AI Digital Representative of Founder Richard Liu During Livestream, Drawing 20 Million Views in Under One Hour
During a livestream on April 16th, JD.com introduced an AI digital representative of its founder, Richard Liu (Qiangdong Liu), nicknamed “procurement and sales manager Brother Dong (采销东哥).” Liu appeared in both JD Home Appliances and JD Supermarket’s livestreaming rooms, attracting over 20 million views within the first hour and generating RMB 50 million in sales throughout the entire livestream. The digital representative almost perfectly replicates Liu’s facial expressions, body language, gestures, and voice, capturing even the subtlest movements of his fingers. Behind this technology is JD Cloud’s ChatRhino, an advanced large language model (LLM) that brings the avatar to life. Behind the Technology The LLM precisely mirrors Liu’s distinctive expressions and movements, naturally weaving in his occasional finger twiddles while he speaks, accentuating points with hand gestures, and adding nods at just the right moments for emphasis, creating a natural and authentic representation. Perfecting the voice proved to be a greater challenge. Those who have heard Liu speak are well-acquainted with the distinct inflections of his Suqian accent—a characteristic touch from his small-town roots in Jiangsu province. Observers will note the brisk pace of his speech, lighter enunciation, and his tendency to meld words in a seamless flow. His “sh” sounds carry a nasal quality, and he often addresses people as “brothers” to boost morale. While programming the standard Mandarin dialect is relatively straightforward, teaching the AI to adopt the nuances of the Suqian dialect and Liu’s unique vocal patterns required a precise level of customization from the ChatRhino LLM. For example, the LLM had to provide accurate judgments on when to introduce the nasal tonality or the specific moments to merge words, ensuring the AI’s linguistic output mirrored Liu’s signature speaking style authentically. Beyond replicating vocal characteristics, the AI’s voice must also be suitable for the casual, dynamic atmosphere of e-commerce livestreaming, such as adopting colloquialisms like “xiong di men” — a phrase comparable to “folks” or “guys” in English — to create a friendly rapport with the audience. JD Cloud’s ChatRhino team fine-tuned the model to focus on sociable nuances. The initial dataset for the LLM consisted predominantly of Liu’s formal speeches—spirited and compelling, yet too ceremonious for the interactive world of livestreaming. To cultivate a more congenial and approachable persona, the team utilized Liu’s recent casual conversations as the primary source material, rich with personal anecdotes and travel tales. This approach shaped the AI’s voice into one that is that is not only natural and approachable but also genuinely engaging for the end user. As a fully self-developed technology product of JD Cloud, the ChatRhino Digital Representative solution has already served over 4,000 brand merchants, contributing to a 30% increase in order conversion rate during idle hours and helping merchants reduce livestreaming costs, enhance operational efficiency, and optimize user experience. Equipped with 50,000 hours of voice data, this technology enables digital representatives to intelligently adapt to various livestreaming styles dynamically. The AI is also adept at managing 70% of routine live chat inquiries autonomously without any manual intervention, while also optimizing its responses with a self-improving algorithm. For instance, digital representatives can autonomously fields questions using product details and scripts, and post-livestream, and assimilate new information. Mirroring the acumen of seasoned sales professionals, it boasts a 90% accuracy rate in offering tailored product recommendations when solicited by customers. The recent introduction of a cutting-edge livestream control console serves as the “brain” for the digital representative solution. It diligently monitors real-time inventory, adjusting the showcased products in the livestream and tailoring the script to ensure relevance—sidestepping items that are out of stock and spotlighting those in high demand. It also gauges and fine-tunes the frequency and style of interactions based on live audience engagement. With this advanced platform, businesses managing multiple livestreams can effortlessly operate thousands of sessions concurrently via cloud services, bypassing the need for intricate local setups. This innovation yields a substantial cost reduction of 30%. Human-Machine Synergy The intention behind digital avatars is not to outshine or compete with human talent but to harness the potential of technology to work in concert with livestreamers, maximizing overall growth. Essentially, the digital representative solution serves as a tool for brands and merchants to leverage long-tail traffic once real livestreamers conclude their broadcasts. JD’s analytics indicate this strategy can boost order conversion rates by 30% during off-peak hours, such as late into the night. Digital representatives also excel in specific product categories that require detailed explanations, such as health products like nursing beds, electric wheelchairs, and oxygen concentrators. The solution can provide constant, round-the-clock guidance, adding substantial value to livestreams when traffic is typically lower. Last week, JD.com announced an investment of one billion yuan into video content creation. This investment underscores JD’s commitment to leveraging the power of short videos and livestreams to transform the online shopping experience for its users and create new growth avenues for brand merchants. ( yuchuan.wang@jd.com )
- April 21, 2024Business
CapitaLand Investment and SG Eco Fund Unveil Partnership to Enhance Community Engagement on Sustainability Initiatives in Singapore
CapitaLand Investment (CLI) and SG Eco Fund will be entering a two-year partnership to drive greater environmental awareness and community engagement on sustainability initiatives in Singapore, in celebration of Earth Day on 22 April. CLI is a leading global real asset manager with a strong Asia foothold, while the SG Eco Fund supports ground-up sustainability initiatives that engage the community. Together, they will leverage their combined expertise to engage and inspire individuals, communities, and businesses in advancing environmental sustainability initiatives across CLI’s retail and workspace network in Singapore. As part of the partnership, CLI and SG Eco Fund are aiming to jointly curate ten events and engagement activities. These initiatives aim to enhance awareness of environmental issues, involve communities in sustainability initiatives, and spotlight both the SG Eco Fund and its grant recipients. They are set to extend until 2026 and include: A Go Green Hub design project with Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design. Under this project, students will develop a concept design for a physical exhibition that promotes environmental awareness and engages the public on sustainable practices, in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and CLI’s 2030 Sustainability Master Plan. A public showcase of the ground-up sustainability solutions and initiatives supported by the SG Eco Fund at a CapitaLand mall. The showcase aims to educate and engage shoppers on the topic of sustainability through informative booths and workshops which will be facilitated by SG Eco Fund grant recipients. The showcase also aims to leverage CLI’s extensive outreach to encourage individuals to adopt sustainable practices. Engagement with CLI’s retail and workspace tenants to share about the SG Eco Fund and facilitate connections between CLI’s tenants and grant recipients to support the co-creation of sustainability initiatives. Networking sessions to connect SG Eco Fund grant recipients, CLI’s tenants, non-profit organisations and individuals interested in sustainability. These sessions will foster learning about different sustainability topics, explore collaboration opportunities and share CLI’s sustainability initiatives. Ms June Tan, Head, Digital Platforms, Strategic Marketing & Business Partnerships, Retail & Workspace, CLI said: “We are pleased to embark on this partnership with SG Eco Fund to contribute to the environmental and social well-being of the communities that we operate in. This is in line with CapitaLand Investment’s refreshed 2030 Sustainability Master Plan. We hope to collaborate with like-minded partners, tenants and the public to jointly drive sustainable impact for Singapore’s built environment sector through our extensive network of retail and workspace properties as well as omnichannel platforms.” Ms Phua Mei Pin, Trust Secretary, SG Eco Fund, said : “The SG Eco Fund is dedicated to supporting ground-up community projects that contribute to Singapore’s sustainability goals. We are heartened by CapitaLand Investment’s commitment to environmental sustainability. This partnership is a great opportunity for us to reach out together to more communities and organisations, to play an active role to achieve meaningful environmental impact.” Go Green Hub Design Project with Temasek Polytechnic To kickstart the partnership, the Go Green Hub design project will begin in May 2024 with the development of the design guidelines by CLI and SG Eco Fund, together with Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design. This will be followed by the development of the concept design and visitor experience by students from the Diploma in Interior Architecture & Design, and the Diploma in Communication Design programmes. The final concept design is expected to be ready by February 2025. The concept design is envisioned as an interactive and functional exhibition that allows the public to: (i) learn about sustainability topics including waste reduction and recycling, climate change, energy and water conservation, food production, or biodiversity conservation; (ii) engage with the digital and/or physical displays through interactive components and/or hands-on activities; and (iii) be inspired to take action after visiting the exhibition. There may be opportunities to showcase or implement the students’ concept design at suitable spaces or events within Temasek Polytechnic or at public venues such as a CapitaLand mall, with funding support from the SG Eco Fund. Mr Elvis Tay, Head of BeyonDesign Centre at Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design, said, “Temasek Polytechnic is deeply committed to fostering environmental sustainability in Singapore. We have woven this into the fabric of the whole polytechnic’s curriculum and implemented concrete measures to achieve net zero carbon emissions on campus. Our students, educators, and industry partners work together on myriad eco-friendly initiatives across diverse fields and disciplines. Through this collaboration, both staff and students will have the opportunity to cultivate practical skills and engage in a meaningful project aimed at heightening public awareness and fostering a culture of sustainability in everyday life.”
- April 20, 2024Business
JD.com Unveils Ambitious Plans for 618 Grand Promotion: Aiming to More Than Double High-Performing Merchants
JD.com is gearing up for this year’s 618 Grand Promotion with an ambitious goal: to more than double the number of merchants achieving sales over one million yuan on its platform. At the recent Conference of Merchants and Ecosystem Partners on April 18, JD.com introduced a range of supportive initiatives aimed at achieving this ambitious target. Sandy Xu, CEO of JD.com, noted at the conference that the company will dedicate significant resources to bolster traffic support, incorporate advanced AI technology, and enhance service capabilities. These efforts are particularly focused on empowering third-party merchants, including small and medium-sized enterprises in its marketplace. Key initiatives include optimizing the platform’s traffic distribution ecosystem to prioritize highly-rated stores and products and competitively priced products through enhanced search and recommendation mechanisms. Additionally, JD.com will continue to offer merchants free access to high-traffic channels, which include significant incentives such as the popular 10-billion-yuan discount and free shipping programs. To engage more content creators, JD.com recently announced that it will allocate over one billion yuan in cash incentives and traffic resources. This investment aims to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem that supports merchants’ traffic, business growth, and innovation. At the core of JD.com’s strategy is technological innovation, which involves integrating AI-driven solutions into merchant operations. This includes the deployment of JD’s proprietary large language model, ChatRhino, and an AI-empowered merchant operation platform that offers are variety of free AI applications, and more. These technologies streamline various operations scenarios, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs for merchants. For instance, On April 16th, JD.com unveiled an AI digital avatar of its founder, Richard Liu, as a sales host on its livestreaming platform. This event attracted 20 million viewers in just one hour and generated sales exceeding RMB 50 million ($6.9 million). This AI-driven virtual host technology, developed by JD Technology, is now supporting over 4,000 brands on the platform. Additionally, merchants such as a sashimi knife seller can utilize JD.com’s AIGC content generation tool to quickly produce high-quality demonstration images, bypassing traditional costs associated with product photography. JD.com also continues to enhance its service capabilities, particularly for small and medium-sized merchants. This includes personalized business guidance, comprehensive training programs, and upgraded after-sales services, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers. As of March 2024, JD.com has seen a significant increase in active third-party merchants on its platform, surpassing one million. This growth is a testament to the platform’s effectiveness and its appeal to both new and established merchants. ( vivian.yang@jd.com )
- April 18, 2024Business
JD Super’s Ninth Annual “Baby Party” Campaign: Supporting Families with Newborns
JD Super, JD.com’s omni-channel supermarket division, successfully concluded its ninth annual “Baby Party” campaign, which ran from April 1st to 14th. Collaborating with leading brands from home and abroad, the campaign introduced new products and services designed to improve the shopping experience and reduce expenses for families with newborns. Pioneering services included the “Fresh Milk Powder Express,” guaranteeing delivery of farm-to-consumer baby formula within 28 days, and the “Free Diaper Offers for Newborns” initiative, set to distribute one million diaper packs annually. Moreover, the “Life’s First Bottle” project significantly reduces the costs of high-quality milk bottles by offering them exclusively online at a 50% discount. JD Super’s specialized after-sales services extend to over 90% of the company’s self-operated products, offering services such as free returns or exchanges. Another highlight was the introduction of the Chun Rui milk formula, developed in partnership with Feihe, a leader in infant milk production. This collaboration ensures top-quality products at better value for families. Additionally, JD Super launched an online portal dedicated to public welfare activities, which promotes cost-saving measures, shares knowledge on baby care, and supports charity initiatives. As part of its commitment to philanthropy, JD Super donated essential baby supplies valued at over one million yuan to 1,000 families in the economically disadvantaged Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, supporting local parents in this region. The 2024 Report on Cost of Childbearing and Childrearing in China shed light on the challenges faced by parents, including limited free time and growing anxiety over rising costs and product safety. JD Super aims to mitigate some of these concerns by providing support to families nationwide. ( vivian.yang@jd.com )
- April 18, 2024Business
Yamaha Motor Receives Globally Renowned Red Dot Design Award for 2 products
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo:7272) announced today that the company's motorcycles MT-09 and XMAX300 have won the "Red Dot Award: Product Design 2024," a prestigious international design award. These honors mark the 13th year in a row - every year since 2012- that a Yamaha Motor product has received a Red Dot Design Award. The award-winning MT-09 is the fourth generation of road sport model, launched in 2013. The 2024 model is designed to allow riders to enjoy riding more freely than ever before, with a concentrated form that is integrated from the front mask to the fuel tank and tail. Every detail has been designed with technology and design that is close to the rider's senses, from the handlebar switches that support intuitive operation to the acoustic amplifier grille that conveys the sound of the intake air. Since launching in 2006, the XMAX has established itself as Europe's leading city commuter for 18 years and now being developed as a global model. The award-winning 2023 model focuses on the relationship between man and machine, while enhancing the dynamism, convenience and comfort that are the hallmarks of the XMAX. The functional elements of the front fork and engine unit's power delivery, which are equivalent to those of a sports bike, are visualized in the tight silhouette, expressing an attractive sense of exuberance. In terms of convenience, the space efficiency under the seat has been thoroughly reviewed, with a seat shape that improves leg room and fit, still providing storage capacity for two full-face. MT-09 XMAX300 [Design Award Website] https://global.yamaha-motor.com/design_technology/design/awards/ ■Contact us from the Press Corporate Communication Division, PR group Headquarters : +81-538-32-1145 Tokyo Office : +81-3-5220-7211 ■News Center: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/news/
- April 18, 2024Business
Vicinity welcomes Monopoly to 47 shopping centres with $4 million in prizes on offer
Vicinity’s popular Monopoly Shop Scan Win campaign, in partnership with HASBRO, is back for a third year, returning to 47 centres across Australia with the biggest ever prize pool of over $4 million on offer. Kicking off 18 April 9am AEST, Monopoly Shop Scan Win provides a fun gamified shopping experience, rewarding customers for their in-centre visitation and spend, encouraging them to explore new retailers and support local businesses. By spending $10 or more at participating retailers, customers have a chance to win instant prizes and enter weekly prize draws. The 2024 campaign boasts over $4m in prizes Credit: Vicinity Centres Vicinity General Manager Brand & Marketing, Amy Wotton said: “Vicinity’s Monopoly Shop Scan Win has proved popular with customers and retailers and we’re confident with a bigger prize pool, including instant wins and weekly prize draws, the 2024 campaign will continue to excite.” “We’ve taken feedback from customers and retailers following the first two years of the campaign and made improvements to help create a more rewarding experience, encouraging further connections between customers and new retailers.” Customers today are more discerning and value-conscious while looking for additional value from their shopping experience which, with its $4 million prize pool of carefully selected items, Monopoly Shop Scan Win delivers in spades. Amy Wotton Vicinity General Manager Brand & Marketing First introduced in 2022 to assist the recovery of retailers from the challenge of COVID-19, Vicinity’s Monopoly Shop Scan Win campaign, has proved effective, doubling the frequency of customer visits and delivering an increased average spend during the campaign period of almost 50% when compared to the average annual spend. Extending beyond the central campaign, selected centres will also provide customers with more chances to win with activations including Monopoly Live Play, Cash Grab and visits from, the man himself, Mr. Monopoly. Mr Monopoly will make appearances at centres throughout the campaign Credit: Vicinity Centres Monopoly Shop Scan Win runs 18 April 9am AEST – 29 May 11:59pm AEST at the following centres: AU16+ only. Ends 29/5/24 11:59pm AEST. Keep receipt/s. Limit 1 registration permitted per person & mobile no. Limit 1 game play permitted per qualifying transaction. Limit 5 game plays permitted per entrant per retailer (per day). T&Cs apply, see monopolyshopscanwin.com.au . ©1935, 2024 Hasbro.
- April 18, 2024Travel & Leisure
AirAsia announces flight cancellations to/from East Malaysia due to safety concerns from Mount Ruang eruption
Following the eruption of Mount Ruang in the Indonesian Sulawesi Islands, which has resulted in extensive volcanic ash clouds affecting airspace and visibility in the region, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) recognised this as a serious threat to aircraft safety and airline passengers. As this volcanic eruption has caused a massive disruption to the airline operations and to protect the safety of its guests and aircraft, AirAsia is cancelling flights to and from several destinations consistent with CAAM Safety Information 09/2024 published at 11:50am. Flights to and from nine airports including Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Labuan, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu, Kuching and Brunei will be affected by the cancellation starting today, 18 April 2024 at 10:00 am until 19 April 2024 at 8:00 am. AirAsia is committed to prioritising safety during this time and has notified all guests affected by the cancellations. Guests who are travelling to/from the affected destinations are encouraged to check their registered email and mobile phones for cancellation notifications. AirAsia guests travelling to/from the affected destinations can check their latest flight status at airasia.com/flightstatus . Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group said: “We understand that this may cause inconvenience to our guests and we apologise for the disruption to their travel plans. However, the safety of our guests and crew is paramount and we appreciate our guests’ understanding and cooperation during this time. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with relevant authorities including CAAM to assess the conditions for resuming operations to affected destinations. We are dedicating all senior executives and resources on the ground to ensure the safety of our guests and aircraft amidst these circumstances, and we thank all of our guests for their continued support and patience during this time.” In light of this weather event, AirAsia is making the following options available to guests whose flights have been cancelled: Move Flight: One-time change to any new travel date within 30 days from the original departure date on the same route without additional cost and subject to seat availability; OR Credit Account : Retain the value of the flight booking in the guest’s airasia Rewards member account for future travel with AirAsia to be redeemed within 730 calendar days (2 years) from the issuance date. The travel date of the new booking can fall on any date within the published flight schedule on airasia.com Guests who wish to make booking changes online may do so at airasia.com or AirAsia MOVE (previously known as airasia Superapp). From the categories available, click on “Booking Changes” then “Flight Change” and finally “My flight was changed by AirAsia.” From there, simply follow the instructions to make changes to your booking. Follow AirAsia on social media @airasia on X and @flyairasia on Instagram or contact our customer support team at support.airasia.com or refer to our Travel Advisory for the latest updates.
- April 18, 2024Business
Munich Re to strengthen local P&C Underwriting with revised set-up in Asia Pacific & Africa
Munich Re has grown strongly and profitably in Asia Pacific & Africa in recent years. One building block of this success has been the transfer of know-how and decision-making authorities to the region. We are now taking the next step in this process - Munich Re's revised set-up in the region will be leaner at the top and closer to the markets. Achim Kassow Member of the Board of Management responsible for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa Stronger local Underwriting teams and new divisional set-up Munich Re strengthens its in-market Underwriting leadership capability in Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APAC MEA). The mandate of local market Underwriting positions will be strengthened. The high level of expertise that has been built in Munich Re’s Underwriting units allows for greater localisation of the Underwriting teams and closer client proximity in-country. At the same time, Munich Re is sharpening the focus of its business divisions in the region. Hitesh Kotak will lead Munich Re's P&C business in Japan, India, Korea and South-East Asia. Roland Eckl will be responsible for Australasia, Greater China, MENA, Africa and for the Cyber business in APAC MEA. Leadership Set-up Japan, India, Korea and South-East Asia Hitesh Kotak will be Chief Executive - Japan, India, Korea and South-East Asia, based in Singapore. Hitesh has been responsible for Munich Re’s P&C operations in India, Middle East & Africa since 1 January 2023. In addition, he is CEO India since 2017. He joined the Group in 2014 and paved the way for the establishment of Munich Re’s India Branch. Japan Florian Gruson will be appointed CEO Japan, subject to regulatory approval. Florian has been leading Global Sales and Distribution for the Group in Munich since 2021, and prior to this he led the Japan Client Management team for three years. Florian succeeds Brian Jinzenji, who will retire later this year. Haruka Narahashi will expand her current responsibility as Head of Treaty Underwriting Japan to Korea. She has been with the Group since 2017 in senior roles leading Property Treaty and Underwriting. Korea Ajeet Phatak will be appointed CEO Korea and will relocate to Seoul. This appointment takes effect from 1 August 2024 and is subject to regulatory approval. He has been heading Client Management in Japan since 2021 and prior to this, he led India’s successful Agro business unit and was part of the startup team for the India Branch. South-East Asia Michael Hauer will take up the role of Head of P&C South-East Asia based in Singapore. He has been CEO, Korea since 2019. This appointment is effective 1 September 2024, following a handover with Ajeet Phatak. Joachim Zagrosek will be Head of Treaty P&C Underwriting South-East Asia & India. This follows a successful three years leading the Regional Underwriting Centre for Japan, Korea, India and South-East Asia. India Surbhi Goel will relocate to Mumbai to be CEO India with effect from October 2024, subject to regulatory approval. Surbhi has been based in Singapore heading P&C South-East Asia since 2022 and prior to this was in senior underwriting, business and reinsurance roles at a leading insurer in India. Leadership Set-up Australasia, Greater China, MENA, Africa, Cyber Roland Eckl will be Chief Executive - Australasia, Greater China, MENA, Africa, Cyber, based in Munich. Roland has been Chief Executive responsible for Australasia, Japan, Korea and South-East Asia since 1 January 2023. He was responsible for establishing the Group’s Regional Centre for P&C business in Singapore in 2016. Greater China Serene Chan will be appointed Head of P&C Greater China, based in Beijing. She has led the growth of the Cyber business in Asia Pacific since 2018. MENA Belhassen Tonat will be appointed Client Management Executive MENA, based in Dubai and will be responsible for the MENA region and the establishment of the new Dubai P&C Desk. He succeeds Andreas Pollmann who will focus as Client Management Lead Israel based in Munich. These changes affect Munich Re’s Property & Casualty operations in APAC MEA only. Unless stated differently, the changes will come into effect from 1 July 2024. Munich Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. The group consists of the reinsurance and ERGO business segments, as well as the asset management company MEAG. Munich Re is globally active and operates in all lines of the insurance business. Since it was founded in 1880, Munich Re has been known for its unrivalled risk-related expertise and its sound financial position. It offers customers financial protection when faced with exceptional levels of damage – from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through Hurricane Ian in 2022. Munich Re possesses outstanding innovative strength, which enables it to also provide coverage for extraordinary risks such as rocket launches, renewable energies or cyberattacks. The company is playing a key role in driving forward the digital transformation of the insurance industry, and in doing so has further expanded its ability to assess risks and the range of services that it offers. Its tailor-made solutions and close proximity to its customers make Munich Re one of the world’s most sought-after risk partners for businesses, institutions, and private individuals. Disclaimer This media release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the management of Munich Re. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements given here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation and performance of our Company. The Company assumes no liability to update these forward-looking statements or to make them conform to future events or developments.
- April 18, 2024Business
Dialog, Axiata Group and Bharti Airtel sign Definitive Agreement to Merge Operations in Sri Lanka
Dialog Axiata PLC (“Dialog”), Axiata Group Berhad (“Axiata”) and Bharti Airtel Limited (“Bharti Airtel”) (collectively “the Parties”), signed a Definitive Agreement to combine their operations in Sri Lanka. Under this agreement, Dialog will acquire 100% of the issued shares in Airtel Lanka, in consideration of which Dialog will issue to Bharti Airtel, ordinary voting shares which will amount to 10.355% of the total issued shares of Dialog by way of a share swap. The transaction is subject to the approval of Dialog's shareholders and is pending the completion of specific conditions outlined in the Share Sale Agreement, including clearance from the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and completion of other applicable legal, corporate and regulatory compliance procedures. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has granted its approval for the proposed merger, underscoring its vision to advance the adoption of telecommunications services across Sri Lanka. This consolidation will enable the merged entity to garner economies of scale and reduce duplication of infrastructure, achieve synergies in technology and capital expenditure leading to enhanced high speed broadband connectivity, voice and value added services, cost savings and operational efficiencies. Vivek Sood, Group CEO and Managing Director of Axiata Group Berhad said, "The merger between Dialog and Airtel Lanka is aligned to Axiata's strategy of market consolidation and resilience. The merger will create value for the shareholders of Dialog Axiata PLC and Axiata Group through achievable synergies. We have the utmost respect for Airtel Lanka and its employees and look forward to working together as we integrate the two companies.” Commenting, Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, CEO Telecommunications Business and Group Executive Director of Axiata, added “This merger brings together the strengths of two leading telco groups and bodes well for the Growth and Sustainability of Sri Lanka's flagship Telecom Sector. We look forward to the new frontiers in Customer Experience and innovation the company will deliver to Sri Lankan Consumers and Enterprises.” Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO Bharti Airtel Limited Said, “We are happy to merge our Sri Lanka operations with Dialog. Given the scale and unique propositions they offer, we are certain that our customers will continue to enjoy cutting edge services on a seamless network.” “It is a privilege to welcome the team at Airtel Lanka to the Dialog family and together we take a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering superior telecommunications services in Sri Lanka”, remarked Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC . “The integration of Dialog and Airtel Lanka operations will unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth, and this will lead to benefit consumers.” Ashish Chandra, Chief Executive Officer, Bharti Airtel Lanka (Private) Limited . -END- About Axiata In pursuit of its vision to be The Next Generation Digital Champion, Axiata is a diversified telecommunications and digital conglomerate operating Digital Telcos, Digital Businesses and Infrastructure businesses across a footprint spanning ASEAN and South Asia. The Group has controlling stakes in market-leading mobile and fixed operators in the region including 'XL' and 'Link Net' in Indonesia, 'Dialog' in Sri Lanka, 'Robi' in Bangladesh, and 'Smart' in Cambodia while 'CelcomDigi' in Malaysia is a Key Associate Company. Axiata's regional digital business verticals comprise 'Boost' a fintech company, 'ADL' a telco-focused software and digital solutions provider and 'ADA', a digital analytics and AI company. 'EDOTCO' is among the top 10 independent TowerCos globally, operating in nine countries to deliver telecommunications infrastructure services. As a committed and long-term investor, the Group actively supports and drives young talent development; community outreach; as well as climate change initiatives. Axiata's broader goal of Advancing Asia aims to piece together the best in the region in terms of innovation, connectivity and talent to drive digital inclusion and sustainable progress across our markets. Find out more at www.axiata.com For media enquiries, please contact: Sujartha Kumar Head of Corporate Communications Tel: +6011.10.000.177 Email: sujartha@axiata.com About Dialog Axiata PLC Dialog Axiata Group, a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad (Axiata), operates Sri Lanka's Leading Quad-Play Connectivity Provider. Dialog Axiata PLC, listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, is the market leader in Mobile, Digital Pay Television, Fixed Telecommunications and International Services sectors, along with a robust footprint and market presence in Digital Services, Financial Services, and IT Services. Dialog Axiata Group is Sri Lanka's largest Foreign Direct Investor (FDI) with investments totalling USD 3.25 Billion. Dialog has been ranked as the Most Valuable Brand in Sri Lanka from 2019-2023 by Brand Finance, UK. The Company delivers advanced mobile telephony and high-speed mobile broadband services to a subscriber base of over 17 Million Sri Lankans. As the market leader in Pay Television and Home Broadband sectors, Dialog provides world-class entertainment services and superior fixed connectivity to millions of households across Sri Lanka. The Company also has a strong international footprint, including roaming partnerships with over 650 operators across over 200 destinations and investments in multiple subsea cables across Asia. The winner of six Global Mobile Awards, Dialog has had the distinction of being voted by Sri Lankan consumers as the 'Telecommunication Brand of the Year' for a record thirteenth year at the SLIM-KANTAR People's Awards 2024. Dialog is certified for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System, and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System. The Company became the first telecommunications service provider in the country to be awarded the ISO 27701 certification for Privacy Information Management Systems. Dialog has received numerous local and international awards, including the National Quality Award, Sri Lanka Business Excellence Award and the ACCA Sustainability Award. For more information, visit www.dialog.lk About Airtel Sri Lanka Airtel Sri Lanka commenced commercial operations of services in Sri Lanka in 2009 and was the fastest operator to reach 1 million customers. The Airtel Sri Lanka offering of technology innovation and service excellence has driven rapid adoption rates among the Sri Lankan youth. Today Airtel has established its state-of-the-art 5G-ready 4G network across all parts of Sri Lanka, and is continuously boosting its network capacity to deliver maximum value. For more information, connect with Airtel on social media, check the MyAirtel App, or visit www.airtel.lk About Bharti Airtel Limited Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 500 million customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India's largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel's retail portfolio includes high-speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data center services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloud-based communication. For more details, visit www.airtel.com For media enquiries, please contact: Harsha Samaranayake Vice President - Brand and Media Group Marketing, Dialog Axiata PLC Email: harsha.samaranayake@dialog.lk Kinshuk Gupta Senior Vice President - Corporate Communications Bharti Airtel Limited Email: Kinshuk.gupta@airtel.com
- April 18, 2024Technology
PV MAGAZINE: Genex backs new takeover bid from Japan’s J-Power
Genex Power announced in an investor update that it has entered into a binding transaction implementation deed (TID) that will pave the way for J-Power to fully acquire the Australian renewables developer Genex Power. The J-Power offer is by way of a non-binding scheme arrangement pitched at 27.5 cents per share. The offer also contains an alternative takeover offer at 27 cents per share which J-Power proposes to make if Genex shareholders reject the scheme offer. The scheme offer values Genex’s equity at $380.9 million (USD 246.18 million) and implies an enterprise value of $1,035 million. J-Power, a 50% joint development partner of Genex for its Bulli Creek solar and battery projects and Kidston stage 3 wind project in Queensland, already holds a 7.72% stake in Genex and also contributes as a lender , extending a $45 million corporate loan facility to Genex last year. The Japanese company earlier this year made an offer to buy the company for 24 cents per share that was rejected after an independent committee of Genex’s board of directors determined it undervalued the company. Genex board Chairman Ralph Craven said the committee has now unanimously agreed the new offer is in the best interests of its shareholders. “The Genex independent board committee is unanimous in its conclusion that the transaction is in the best interests of Genex shareholders as a whole,” he said, noting that the transaction provides an opportunity for shareholders to realise their investment in the developer for cash at a “significant premium.” The takeover bid requires a minimum 75% supporting vote from Genex shareholders and approval from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board. Genex, which listed in July 2015, said it has a committed portfolio of 400 MW and about 2.3 GW of renewable energy and storage projects in the development pipeline, including the flagship Kidston Clean Energy Hub in north Queensland. The hub includes an operational 50 MW solar farm and 258 MW of wind power and the 250 MW / 2 GWh Kidston pumped hydro project that is currently under construction. There is also potential for further multi-stage wind and solar projects to be deployed at the site. Genex also owns the 50 MW Jemalong Solar Project in New South Wales and the 50 MW / 100 MWh Bouldercombe battery energy storage system in central Queensland.
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