Trains collide in Kuala Lumpur: 200 injured
KUALA LUMPUR – More than 200 people were injured in Malaysia on Monday when two trains collided in the capital Kuala Lumpur, the state-run Bernama news agency reported. The accident occurred at 8:45 p.m. local time when one of the trains, … Continue reading Trains collide in Kuala Lumpur: 200 injured
Forkast Ltd. raises $1.7 million seed money
HONG KONG – Forkast Ltd., a blockchain-focused multimedia platform, has successfully completed its seed funding round of US$1.7 million, which was oversubscribed. A group of global institutional investors and leading blockchain players participated, including Asia-based AMTD Group, Fenbushi Capital, Alibaba … Continue reading Forkast Ltd. raises $1.7 million seed money
AGODA: Asia must prepare for quarantine options
BANGKOK – Confidence in the vaccine rollouts, discussions around COVID-19 passports and alternative state quarantine announcements have triggered an increase in international travel searches, according to digital travel platform Agoda.com. Agoda’s search data highlights green shoots of recovery and a … Continue reading AGODA: Asia must prepare for quarantine options
Virtual PATA Annual Summit 2021 on April 27-29
BANGKOK –The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) today announced that the PATA Annual Summit (PAS) 2021 will take place online from April 27-29. The three-day virtual event, organised with the support of Platinum Sponsor, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development … Continue reading Virtual PATA Annual Summit 2021 on April 27-29
Baidu Plans to Raise Capital in Hong Kong
BEIJING/HONG KONG – Baidu, Chinese search engine and AI giant, is planning to raise at least HK$28 billion ($3.6 billion) by selling 95 million shares in a secondary listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, the latest US-traded Chinese tech … Continue reading Baidu Plans to Raise Capital in Hong Kong
Quad leaders define the Indo-Pacific century
TOKYO – “Namaste. Good morning. Konnichiwa. And from Australia, g’day.” So spoke Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison from Sydney, a short while after midnight Saturday, as he joined via videoconference the first-ever leaders’ meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. “It’s … Continue reading Quad leaders define the Indo-Pacific century
China sets growth target of more than 6 percent
SHANGHAI – China set an economic growth target of more than 6% this year, but warned of uncertainties over the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as it set out a plan to achieve its long-term goal of becoming a … Continue reading China sets growth target of more than 6 percent
Japan: Government strategy to fight loneliness
TOKYO — With the first uptick in suicides nationwide in 11 years amid pandemic-linked restrictions, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has created a cabinet post to alleviate social isolation. Older Japanese unaccustomed to communicating online have become more isolated from the … Continue reading Japan: Government strategy to fight loneliness
ASEAN and EU’s new online Customs Transit System
JAKARTA – The private sector in ASEAN now has access to a powerful new online system, the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS), which will reduce intra-ASEAN trading challenges and enable companies to benefit fully from the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) … Continue reading ASEAN and EU’s new online Customs Transit System
Resurgance of Japan’s domestic cruise market
Tokyo – Two Japanese ships have completed short cruises to nearby ports in recent weeks. Both were operated under limited capacity and strict new policies for passengers and crew to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Mitsui OSK Passenger Lines’ Nippon … Continue reading Resurgance of Japan’s domestic cruise market