The service, a first for a UK auction house, complements the growing interest in whisky collection in Asia as an alternative asset
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 June 2024 – Specialist spirits auctioneer, Whisky Hammer, announced today the launch of its bonded warehouse service – a first for a UK auction house – in Singapore.
Asia Pacific continues to be the world’s most valuable export region for whisky, with exports totalling more than USD2.2 billion in 2023. Five countries from the region ranked amongst the world’s top 10 export destinations and Asia Pacific was responsible for almost a third of all global whisky exports last year.
With Asia Pacific home to the world’s most valuable whisky collection and seeing surging interest in whisky auctions, including Whisky Hammer’s 100th auction that saw over 5,000 lots going under the hammer, this is an opportune moment to launch a value-added service to cater to the demands of a discerning customer base in Asia.
Customers first make their purchase from Whisky Hammer and ship their bottles from Scotland to Singapore. Upon arrival in Singapore, the goods are safely delivered to the Singapore Bonded Warehouse. A small entry fee covers all additional costs associated with transit “under bond”, and customers can then pay for their bottles to be stored and insured at the warehouse. Customers who then wish to remove their bottles from the warehouse, can then pay to either be able to collect their purchases in person from the warehouse, engage a ‘white glove’ concierge service that hand delivers their bottles to them at Changi Airport on their way out of Singapore, or have them shipped out of the warehouse to a local or foreign address.
Daniel Milne, co-founder and managing director of Whisky Hammer, said: “Our customer base in Asia continues to grow, and they are demanding more value-added services from us to complement our auctions. Our new bonded warehouse in Singapore is a sign of our commitment to investing in the needs of our customers in Asia and how we’re providing a seamless purchasing experience for them.
“The bonded warehouse service provides our customers with the convenience to store their whisky in a safe, controlled environment, and the flexibility to access it whenever they transit at Singapore Changi Airport. Our ‘white glove service’ ensures prompt point-to-point delivery of the customer’s whisky from the warehouse to them. We’re confident that this offering is a cost effective means to empowering those looking to start a whisky collection or add to an existing one.”
The Singapore Bonded Warehouse is pursuant to the Singapore Customs’ Zero-GST Warehouse Scheme. Approved companies such as Whisky Hammer can store imported non-dutiable goods, including spirits such as whisky, for an indefinite period of time in a designated area licensed by the Singapore Customs, with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) suspended. Customers are not required to pay GST or duties when their bottles are delivered to or picked up by them at the airport to be brought onwards to their next destination as part of their duty-free liquor concession. GST is only payable if they were to take local delivery within Singapore.
The launch of Whisky Hammer’s bonded warehouse service in Singapore coincides with its current auction. The June auction is now live and ends on Sunday, 23rd June at 10pm (SST) / 3pm (UK). It features around 2,000 unique, rare and collectible whiskies with headline lots being the oldest ever Japanese single malt whisky, the Yamazaki 55 Year Old which was last sold by Whisky Hammer in November 2022 for £380,000 / ~SG$655,000, and “The Reach”, an 81 Year Old (1940) Macallan.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Whisky Hammer
Whisky Hammer is a family run whisky auction service founded by brothers and keen whisky enthusiasts Daniel and Craig Milne, who are supported by a team of passionate experts acting as trusted advisors to both buyers and sellers. Whisky Hammer hosts monthly auctions dedicated to whisky and other fine spirits, which attract more than 200,000 buyers and sellers from every corner of the globe. It has auctioned a wide range of whiskies, both bottles and casks, historically achieving the world record for the highest value cask ever sold at auction.
The superior service offered by Whisky Hammer means it is trusted by some of the world’s most prominent whisky collectors and sellers, with a 5-star TrustPilot rating. Its sister retail business, Still Spirit, comprises a whisky shop and dram bar offering over 200 rare whiskies based in Ellon, including an e-commerce site. In summer 2023, Whisky Hammer founders also launched independent bottling company, Halcyon Spirits.
If you have any questions for Whisky Hammer, or are planning to use the Singapore Bonded Warehouse for the first time, you can contact Whisky Hammer at sales@whiskyhammer.com or +44 (0) 1358 747470.
Participants hold posters celebrating equality in marriage during the Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, on 1 June 2024. (Photo: AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday, 18 June, to approve a marriage equality bill, clearing the last legislative hurdle for the country to become the first in Southeast Asia to enact such a law.
Laos and Vietnam will launch a cross-border QR payment service to enhance tourism and economic exchanges between the two nations. The service is expected to commence in early August this year.
PE2100N series and PE1101N edge AI solutions, based on the NVIDIA Jetson platform, engineered for diverse industrial applications
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 June 2024 – ASUS IoT, the global AIoT solution provider, today announced at Computex 2024 the launch of its PE2100N-series edge AI systems, powered by NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin, and PE1101N series, powered by the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX or NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano modules. The new series, powered by the comprehensive NVIDIA Jetson Orin lineup that offers up to 275 TOPS of AI performance, provide AI developers with streamlined and effortlessly configurable systems to fulfill diverse industrial applications, including machine vision, automated guided vehicles (AGV), autonomous mobile robots (AMR), and intelligent video-analytics applications, and empowers them to process data at the edge with faster speed, stronger security, and significant cost savings — outperforming traditional cloud methods.
ASUS IoT PE2100N series: High-performance edge AI systems with the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin The all-new ASUS IoT PE2100N series features a SWaP-optimized design, enduring temperatures ranging from -25°C to 70°C, and is engineered for powerful AI inferencing using the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin. The efficient and quiet fan-cooled PE2101N caters to intense processing needs in industrial applications like sorting machinery, automated optical inspection (AOI), defect inspection, and object recognition. The fanless PE2100N is designed for demanding environments such as mining and factories.
Leveraging an NVIDIA Arm-based CPU and an embedded GPU, the PE2100N series is excellent for powering energy-efficient autonomous machines. Equipped with a suite of comprehensive I/O option, including CANBus, LAN, and PoE ports, the series is ideal for traffic management, intelligent security and roadside unit applications.
For enhanced functionality, PE2100N series also offers multiple expansion capabilities, including M.2 slots for NVMe storage and 5G modules.
The PE2100N series supports the latest NVIDIA JetPack 6 software development kit (SDK), which is now production-ready with easy-to-upgrade AI compute, a greater selections of Linux distros and enhanced platform security. NVIDIA JetPack 6 also includes new Jetson Platform Services, which will soon be available with a suite of pre-built and customizable services designed to accelerate AI application development on NVIDIA Jetson Orin system-on-modules.
ASUS IoT PE1101N series: Mini, fanless edge AI systems with Jetson Orin NX and Orin Nano With ultra-compact dimensions of 130 x 90.2 x 72 mm, the latest ASUS IoT PE1101N series provides maximum versatility, allowing for easy deployment in space-constrained environments in smart cities, transportation, and manufacturing for applications such as EV chargers, pedestrian and occupant safety, and more.
PE1101N series is equipped with extensive connectivity ports for diverse industrial purposes, including CANBus, GPIO and RJ45 gigabit Ethernet for remote I/O sensing devices and extended device communications. The series also benefits from an M.2 E-key for the addition of a WiFi and Bluetooth® module, and an M.2 M-key for added storage. The wireless module ensures seamless cloud connectivity, while the external M.2 2242 NVMe with fast data transmission empowers sufficient data storage for edge computing – and is the ideal choice for an ultra-compact edge AI computing device.
Trust ASUS IoT: Comprehensive product and technical support long into the future ASUS IoT has extensive R&D experience and a robust supply chain, offering long-term product and technical support to customers. Both PE2100N series and PE1101N series early samples will be ready from August 2024. For more information, please contact a local sales team or visit https://iot.asus.com. Hashtag: #ASUS
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About ASUS
ASUS is a global technology leader that provides the world’s most innovative and intuitive devices, components and solutions to deliver incredible experiences that enhance the lives of people everywhere. With its team of 5,000 in-house R&D experts, ASUS is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies for tomorrow, garners more than 11 awards every day for quality, innovation and design, and is ranked among Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies.
About ASUS IoT
ASUS IoT is a sub-brand of ASUS dedicated to the creation of incredible solutions in the fields of AI and IoT. Our mission is to become a trusted provider of embedded systems and a partner in the AIoT solutions ecosystem. ASUS IoT strives to deliver best-in-class products and services across diverse vertical markets – providing convenient and efficient environments for people everywhere.
This image is used only for representational purpose (photo: Lao Airlines)
The Lao government is negotiating with Bokeo International Airport to establish affordable Lao Airlines flights between Bokeo Province and Vientiane Capital. This effort aims to enhance connectivity and provide more accessible travel options for passengers.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 June 2024 – Today, Lenovo™ launched the Lenovo ThinkPad™ P14s Gen 5 designed for professionals who need top-notch performance in a portable 14-inch chassis. Featuring a stunning 16:10 display, this mobile workstation is powered by AMD Ryzen™ PRO 8040 HS-Series processors. These processors are ultra-advanced and energy-efficient, making them perfect for use in thin and light mobile workstations. The AMD Ryzen PRO HS- Series processors also come with built-in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, including an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for optimized performance in AI workflows.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 is provided with independent software vendor (ISV) certifications1 and integrated AMD Radeon™ graphics, making it ideal for running applications like AutoCAD®, Revit®, and SOLIDWORKS® with seamless performance. This mobile workstation is ideal for mobile power users, offering advanced ThinkShield™ security features and passes comprehensive MIL-SPEC testing for ultimate durability.
AMD continues to excel in AI PC technology with the integration of AMD Ryzen™ AI in the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5. The new Ryzen™ AI-powered processors leverage the CPU, GPU, and on-chip NPU to deliver 39 AI TOPS of processing power, almost 3.5X compared to previous generation to deliver incredible generative AI experiences on PC. This advancement in technology will enhance user experience by providing greater performance for AI-enabled collaboration, content creation, data analysis, and more. Additionally, the inclusion of AMD PRO technologies offers enterprise-grade manageability features for IT managers to streamline operations, built-in security features work in synergy with ThinkShield to protect against sophisticated attacks, and unprecedented stability for enterprise software.
ThinkPad P14s Gen 5
ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 specification highlights include:
AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS processor with AMD RyzenTM AI and AMD Radeon integrated graphics
Available with Windows 11 Pro, and qualified for several versions of Linux-based operating systems2
Up to 96GB DDR5 and up to 2TB PCIe 4×4 Performance SSD
FHD touch or non-touch displays with 3M Optical Film solution increases brightness to 400 nits while using up to 16% less power3
2.8k OLED display option with low blue light and X-Rite factory color calibration
Wi-Fi 6E and optional 5G WWAN4
39.3Whr battery option offers lightweight mobility while a customer replaceable (CRU) 52.5Whr battery extends working hours
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 enhances Lenovo’s AMD-powered professional workstation portfolio that includes the existing ThinkPad P16s Gen 2, the ThinkStation™ P620, and the latest ThinkStation P8 desktop workstation featuring AMD Ryzen Threadripper™ PRO 7000 WX-Series processors with up to 96 cores and 192 threads.
Whether users are professional artists, engineers, educators, or students, the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s empowers them to innovate freely no matter where they are. With its premium features and performance, this mobile workstation provides exceptional value for users who demand reliability and power in a compact form factor.
Download the ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 AMD datasheet, and for more information on how AI-Ready Lenovo workstations are working toward a smarter, faster future, visit https://techtoday.lenovo.com/workstations
HK Availability and Pricing5
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 AMD is now available, with a suggested retail price starting from HK$10,058.
1 For a complete list of ISV certifications, visit http://www.thinkworkstations.com/isv-certifications/ 2 ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 AMD is qualified for Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise, Fedora, Debian, and Rocky. It includes Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise certification, and is available preloaded with Ubuntu or Fedora. 3 Power saving claims are approximate and based on internal testing under optimal laboratory and network conditions. Actual power saving performance will vary and depend on numerous factors including product configuration and usage, software, operating conditions, wireless functionality, power management settings, screen brightness and other factors. 4 5G WWAN option not available in PRC. 5 Pricing and availability may vary by geography and products may only be available in selected markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a US$57 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a pocket-to cloud portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.
FILE - Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2023. Thai prosecutors said Thaksin was formally indicted Tuesday, June 18, 2024, on a charge of defaming Thailand’s monarchy in one of several court cases that have unsteadied Thai politics. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
BANGKOK (AP) — Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was formally indicted Tuesday on a charge of defaming Thailand’s monarchy in one of several court cases that have unsteadied Thai politics.
OZO also Partners with Other Thai Brands to Redefine Joy in the Hotel Experience
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 June 2024 – OZO, the fun and vibrant concept hotel brand managed by ONYX Hospitality Group, is ready to provide unlimited happiness and smiles with its refreshed and brighter look. OZO is thrilled to unveil chic new staff uniforms through a special collaboration project, OZO HOTELS x GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, breaking all the stereotypes of traditional uniforms. Additionally, OZO plans to enhance its vibrancy by partnering with other Thai lifestyle brands, creating unique experiences and moments that bring smiles to every guest.
OZO HOTELS x GREYHOUND ORIGINAL: OZO Unveils Chic New Uniforms with Uniquely Playful Twist in Collaboration with GREYHOUND ORIGINAL
For over a decade, OZO has been committed to providing happiness and vibrant fun to its guests, since opening its first branch on Koh Samui. OZO caters to everyone’s unique needs for fun with its simple yet bright design and convenient locations, connected to major tourist attractions. These features allow guests to engage in a variety of activities, meeting every lifestyle need and creating lasting impressions, ensuring OZO is a top option for accommodation, to suit a range of travellers.
Today, the OZO brand is unveiling a vibrant new look under the concept of ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.‘ This refreshed design and decor cater to practical needs while infusing fun into every detail, creating an atmosphere that feels like a playground where guests can fully express themselves. The OZO brand is prepared to spark happiness under three main ideas: ensuring guests enjoy a restful night’s sleep, quickly connecting them to the world of technology, and inspiring them to find their unique happiness. Through these brand promises, every day at OZO promises a good time.
Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group, which manages the OZO hotel brand, said that “OZO’s highlight lies in its strategic locations and unwavering focus on the guest experience. We continuously strive to elevate and enhance this aspect. The launch not only unveils a brighter and more lively atmosphere but also emphasises services unique to the OZO brand. Through OZO, we are committed to ensuring every guest has the best and most enjoyably memorable experience on every trip.”
In addition to the new vibrant decorations, the re-launch of OZO introduces new employee uniforms that vividly reflect the brand’s character. These uniforms convey the bright, fun essence of the OZO brand through a special collaboration with Thailand’s leading fashion brand, OZO HOTELS x GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, designed by Bordin Aphimarn himself. The new uniform design, combining the cheerfulness of the OZO brand with GREYHOUND ORIGINAL’s design features, has resulted in a very chic uniform that breaks all the rules of traditional hotel uniforms. The new employee uniform will be a key element in emphasising the brand’s character. By having hotel employees wear fun uniforms and serve guests with the spirit of the OZO brand, the aim is to enhance the blissful experience for every guest.
“OZO can indeed be described as a Lifestyle Hotel, as it consistently thinks outside the box. Its collaboration with GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, a renowned Thai fashion brand with similar personalities and viewpoints, not only creates a clear brand image for OZO but also strengthens both brands. This collaboration allows them to reach a wider target audience. The new staff uniform designed by GREYHOUND ORIGINAL for OZO perfectly embodies the fun essence of OZO’s ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.‘ concept. As guests arrive and see employees wearing these colourful uniforms, it immediately creates a fun and energetic atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. This emphasis on creativity and brightness underscores OZO’s identity as a brand that thinks outside the box, setting it apart from others in the industry,” said Yuthachai.
The newly designed uniform seamlessly blends the fashion style of GREYHOUND ORIGINAL with the personality and unique colours of OZO, effectively reflecting the brand DNA. The new uniform design also prioritises practicality, ensuring suitability for various functions within the hotel, including management, reception, housekeeping, and technical staff.
Bordin Aphimarn, the uniform designer representing GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, discusses the design process for OZO’s employee uniforms, stating, “This uniform design merges the shared brand characteristics of OZO and GREYHOUND, such as being lifestyle brands with a cool edge. It combines these similarities with differences in specific dimensions, like the bright colours of the OZO brand, to create new chemistry. The result is something different yet still distinctly OZO—a fun brand full of positive energy, brightness, and surprises, in line with the ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.‘ concept.”
“OZO’s strong identity and clear needs from the outset made the design process very smooth. There may have been initial hesitation about using bright colours as they are not typical of GREYHOUND’s style. However, incorporating fresh colours that truly reflect OZO’s character finally resulted in a uniform that now exudes a sense of joyfulness and modernity. In terms of style, we focused on an oversized design to create a relaxed look that conveys the message that OZO is a hotel brand that thinks outside the box. Additionally, the uniforms are designed to be unisex, ensuring that employees of all genders, ages, and body types can wear them and look good, cool, and be flexible in their work. The uniforms are made from a blend of cotton and polyester, making them durable, wrinkle-resistant, and breathable. This makes them suitable for regular use and comfortable to wear in hot weather zones or locations near the sea.”
In addition to the OZO HOTEL x GREYHOUND ORIGINAL project, ONYX Hospitality Group plans to collaborate with many leading Thai brands to further enhance the OZO brand. One of these collaborations is with Guss Damn Good, a premium ice cream brand loved by ice cream enthusiasts. The brands have collaborated to create two unique ice cream flavours for the OZO brand: Good Vibes and Cheat Day. These flavours promise freshness in the OZO style right from the first bite, using the concept of ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.‘ in their creation. For example, the Good Vibes flavour takes the refreshing taste of popular tropical fruits like watermelon and creates a sorbet that is light, delicious, and conveys Good Vibes in every bite. Cheat Day, on the other hand, is Banoffee ice cream that hides a fun surprise in each mouthful.
These two ice cream flavours will be available soon in all Guss Damn Good stores, as well as in all three OZO hotels in Thailand: OZO North Pattaya, OZO Chaweng Samui, and OZO Phuket. Additionally, ice cream lovers can enjoy seven other popular flavours of Guss Damn Good’s original ice cream at these locations.
“We aim to create a distinct brand personality and culture, which OZO has further emphasised through collaborations with other Thai lifestyle brands in the form of collaborative marketing. There is an abundance of excellent design work stemming from the skills of many Thai individuals who deserve to be recognised and supported. In the future, we may explore collaborations with specific brands to develop products related to beach lifestyle and marine activities. This direction aligns with the fact that many locations of OZO hotels are renowned for their beaches, including Pattaya, Samui, and Phuket.”
“Promoting Thai products is also of high importance. Thai artists have high skills and potential, as mentioned above. But it must be done gradually to ensure partnerships are authentic and create natural synergy with the OZO identity,” said Yuthachai, expressing his intentions. He envisions that each future collaboration will enable Thai brands, including the OZO brand, to grow collectively and achieve new heights beyond previous accomplishments.
OZO aims for every guest to experience a vibrant energy that is full of fun and liveliness. This is achieved through various functions, both in the rooms and in the hotel’s facilities, that prioritise comfort, practicality in real-life usage, and responsiveness to every need. With these offerings, OZO has established itself as a brand with a distinct character, setting it apart from its competitors and bringing smiles wider than ever before. The ultimate goal is to become the top-quality hotel brand in Asia.
Hashtag: #ONYX #OZO #Greyhound
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About ONYX Hospitality Group
ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry, operates a collection of comprehensive yet complementary brands – Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence – catering to the distinctive needs of discerning business and leisure travellers in Southeast Asia where their expertise lies. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX also operates additional hospitality services across spa and food and beverage. With over five decades of management experience, the company extends its innovative solutions throughout the region, upholding internationally recognised standards and ensuring optimal operational manoeuvrability. By fostering enduring relationships with like-minded business partners, ONYX Hospitality Group delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travellers.