Posts by Mark Darwin
Google launches Gemini 3, embeds AI model into search immediately
[SAN FRANCISCO] Alphabet’s Google on Tuesday (Nov 18) launched the latest version of its artificial intelligence model Gemini, emphasising that the new capabilities will be immediately available in several profit-generating products like its search engine. Gemini 3, arriving 11 months after the second generation of the model, appears on paper to keep Google at the…
Read MoreNissan to cut more output at Kyushu plant on chip supply troubles
[TOKYO] Japan’s Nissan will cut production by another 1,400 vehicles at its Kyushu plant next week, as the fallout from chip supply disruptions linked to Chinese-owned Nexperia continues to affect its domestic operations, a person familiar with the matter said. The move follows a 900-vehicle reduction in output last week. Cuts this time will include…
Read MoreKKR targets December close for second Asia private credit fund
Asian borrowers remain highly price-sensitive, often opting for bank loans that are typically 200 basis points to 400 basis points cheaper than private debt [HONG KONG] KKR is aiming to close its second Asia-focused credit fund in December and is targeting around US$2 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. Asia Credit Opportunities Fund…
Read MoreYangzijiang Maritime inks fresh vessel deals ahead of mainboard debut
It also signed letters of intent for joint ventures to build new tankers, bulk carriers [SINGAPORE] Yangzijiang Maritime Development signed contracts with a Marshall Islands-based shipowner for the sale of four new medium-range tankers with an aggregate gross value of US$180 million. These four tankers, weighing 49,800 deadweight tonnage (dwt), are being built at a…
Read MoreUS: Wall St falls at open with eyes on Nvidia earnings, data
[NEW YORK] Wall Street’s main indexes fell at the open on Monday (Nov 17), heading into a packed week that includes AI bellwether Nvidia’s results and the resumption of government data releases. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 79.4 points, or 0.17 per cent, at the open to 47,068.06. The S&P 500 fell 20.5 points,…
Read MoreAir India to resume flights to China after nearly six years
[NEW DELHI] Air India said on Monday (Nov 17) it will resume New Delhi-China flights starting February 2026, nearly six years after suspension, as recent diplomatic steps are seen as cautiously reopening bilateral links. The carrier was also planning to launch a Mumbai–Shanghai route later next year, subject to regulatory approvals, it said. “The reinstatement…
Read MoreMinimum fare for Grab drivers to rise by S$0.50 to S$5.80 from Nov 24
It follows Grab’s recognition of the NTUC-affiliated National Taxi Association to represent taxi drivers on its platform [SINGAPORE] The minimum fare for Grab drivers will increase by S$0.50 for most types of Grab rides from Nov 24 onwards. The announcement from the private-hire car company on Monday (Nov 17), followed shortly after Grab officially recognised…
Read MoreLuxury houses eye India, but barriers remain
The country, with 1.4 billion people, offers “a promising market, but still a complicated one” [MUMBAI] The globe’s biggest luxury brands have dreamt of India’s vast consumer base for decades, but navigating the market has proven to be a complex task. French retailer Galeries Lafayette is the latest to try its luck, opening its first…
Read MoreBitcoin is on the verge of erasing year’s gain as the rout deepens
The fear and greed index, a gauge of market sentiment on crypto data platform CoinMarketCap, is nearing ‘extreme fear’, indicating the rising expectations for future sell-offs [NEW YORK] Bitcoin fell below US$95,000 for the first time in about six months as a bout of risk aversion sweeping across markets saw investors pull nearly US$900 million…
Read MoreVietnam’s EV boom: VinFast buys first, mass adoption follows
Domestic brands lead Vietnam’s EV market despite intense competition and limited government incentives [HO CHI MINH CITY] Vietnam is enjoying its position at the top as one of Asia’s biggest success stories amid the revolution in green transportation. The country’s rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has been driven in large part by the strong…
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