Laos has confirmed 60 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 1,026.
London Property Buying Agent UK Holmes: Advice on How to Minimize Risks for Prime Working-Class Migrants Moving to UK with BNO Visa
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 May 2021 – UK government projections for its British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa scheme to attract 150,000 applicants in the first 12 months and 300,000 within five years are firmly on track. In mid-April, just ten weeks post launch, 35,000 Hongkongers had applied for the visa. The scheme is open to 5.4 million Hong Kong residents in total.
The scheme’s popularity is consistent with the 2020 research findings of UK Holmes, a London property search agent, on the subject of UK property investment. Of the 1,000 survey respondents, 80% indicated that they intended to apply for the BNO visa. Critically, these are people in the prime of their working lives:
- 70% are aged between 30-49
- 35% earn HKD1m plus and 9% have an annual income in excess of HKD2m
- 40% are employed in the finance and technology sectors.
London’s strong financial and tech job markets
One of the major motivations to move to London was more diversified and professional job opportunities, with 58% of respondents affirmative on this point. Whilst both Brexit and the global pandemic have cast a pall on much of the UK economy, the outlook is considerably brighter for both finance and technology markets.
The City of London is second only to New York City in global financial rankings and is home to 402,000 finance sector employees. In defiance of gloomy predictions of job losses post Brexit, a 2020 Financial Times survey of 24 large international banks and asset managers found that the majority had increased their London headcount over the past five years.
According to the UK’s Tech Nation Report 2021, London achieved stellar growth of 87% in tech investment from USD5.6bn in 2018 to USD10.6bn in 2020. But finding local talent is problematic. In March the BBC reported that a leading think tank, The Learning and Work Institute, identified that over the past six years there has been a 40% drop in students taking IT subjects at GCSE level. Accenture says that demand for AI, cloud and robotic skills is soaring.
Emigrants focus on schools and security
Looking at other motivational factors for the move to the UK, the report from UK Holmes found that 36% of respondents were focused on financial benefits. Significant areas of concern were access to good quality schools (36%) and neighborhood security (22%), indicative of the fact that a high proportion of these Hongkongers looking to start a new life in the UK are young families.
UK government steps up support for BNO visa holders
On April 8, the UK government announced a £43m support package for BNO visa holders arriving into the UK, of which £30.7m will go to councils across England to assist with English language training and housing support. A further £5m will be used to establish 12 “virtual” welcome hubs across the country that will provide local helplines advising on school admissions, registering with a doctor and even starting a business.
Hongkongers’ mature outlook on London housing
On the subject of housing, Hongkongers have been prominent investors in London’s new-build property developments in Prime Central London (PCL) over recent years. Yet the UK Holmes report identified that 75% of respondents are interested in looking at established properties. This apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that only 17% of respondents were ‘pure’ investors. A total of 42% were intending to initially buy a UK home for investment purposes before occupying within the first two years whilst 34% were intending to occupy their new home immediately.
In a sign of growing market maturity 65% of respondents stated a preference for employing a UK-based property search agent to assist with their home purchase, double the 32% who were inclined to use a Hong Kong based equivalent. Contrary to all expectations the London residential market experienced strong growth in 2020, posting average gains approaching 9%.
London market offers shrewd investors excellent opportunities
Reflecting on this, Terry Stephens, founder of UK Holmes, commented: “The London property market in 2020 produced some unexpected winners and losers. But the first point to acknowledge is that the government’s economic rescue packages, both the furlough scheme and stamp duty holiday, underpinned the frenzy of sales activity and surging prices.”
“Equally compelling was the reaction of London residents to lockdown as housing transformed into remote offices, gyms and education centers. This created a desire for increased space, both indoors and outdoors, and an exodus from inner London to its leafier outer suburbs. The winners were vendors selling semi-detached and detached houses. The luxury home market was also a significant beneficiary of the £15,000 stamp duty saving on properties valued at £500,000 or above.”
“The losers were those selling flats, particularly those in Inner London, which experienced blowouts in time on the market and price drops. Aside from the change in buyer preferences, the market was also negatively impacted by a mass emigration of European immigrants due to Brexit and the trading embargo on high street hospitality and retail markets.”
“But the story is more complex than that and, to the untrained eye, the uneven price performance of neighboring London boroughs looks bewildering. The bottom line is that the London market is actually a complex ecosystem of individual markets that are being distorted by a variety of forces, not all of which will prevail in the longer term. There are excellent buying opportunities in London in 2021 but this isn’t a market for the faint-hearted. Before buyers take the plunge, they need to do their homework very well.”
About UK Holmes
UK Holmes is a London-based residential property buying agent providing turnkey solutions for offshore buyers. UK Holmes employs London’s House Detective, a property professional with 12 years’ experience. His in-depth knowledge of how to successfully navigate the complexities and pitfalls of the London market to find customers their ideal home provides true peace of mind. To learn more, please visit www.ukholmes.com.
#UKHolmes
Cellini Unveils Antibacterial Mattress As Singapore Celebrates World Sleep Day
Cellini launches antibacterial mattresses as part of its Nightingale product line-up exclusively for customers in Singapore. In conjunction with World Sleep Day hosted by the World Sleep Society, this latest edition mattress acts as a catalyst for conversations revolving around quality sleep. Tapping on both the global study that ranked Singapore as the fourth most sleep-starved population and the raised awareness of hygiene, Cellini aims to redefine sleep care.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 May 2021 – Released to coincide with World Sleep Day 2021, the global sleep survey conducted by Philips, a prominent health technology firm, reported that only 21% of Singaporeans feel well-rested in the morning. Having introduced a brand new, expanded mattress portfolio prior, Cellini Singapore‘s ever-growing collection now includes the luxury mattress, Seville Lux. The brainchild of the furniture brand’s partnership with Belgian company LAVA Textiles, the latest mattress of integrated ViroClean antimicrobial technologies aligns with consumer demands for a safer and more comfortable sleep environment.
Leveraging Innovation to Make Sanitary Sleep Environments Accessible
As a result of the pioneering ventures of Cellini with LAVA Belgium, the all-new Seville Lux mattress builds on the local brand’s legacy of delivering expertly engineered furnishings. By leveraging top-notch antibacterial technology, the latest addition to its luxury mattress collection features plush and super-soft TENCEL® fabric that has been treated with an unprecedented finishing supplement. Promising to reduce various forms of viral activity on its surface by approximately 98% within 4 hours, the permanent non-migrating Viroclean finish also eliminates a range of microorganisms and allergens known to cause bacterial infections. A product of rigorous testing, this revolutionary development is a progressive step for the whole industry linked to health and wellness.
Beyond the propriety Oekotex compliant antibacterial and virus-reducing fabric, the high-quality premium mattress showcases a hand-tufted topper designed with an amalgam of responsive micro-springs and Black Diamond treated natural latex
Embodying Cellini’s unwavering commitment to invariably exceed the industry’s highest standards, every mattress in the Nightingale collection presents itself as a dynamic bedding solution. Engineered with sustainable materials and treatments that elevate the idiosyncratic attributes the furniture brand is renowned for, this new launch poses as an influential product that offers unrivalled support and comfort for all.
About Cellini Singapore
Cellini is a home-grown designer furniture brand in Singapore. Investing in state-of-the-art technology, Cellini’s furniture showrooms boast specially curated pieces that are second-to-none in terms of quality craftsmanship. It has also expanded its services to offer timeless furniture pieces across Asia, in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan, in addition to making its mark as a successful e-commerce business. For more information, please visit: https://www.cellini.com.sg/.
#CelliniSingapore
Cliff Walkers Set IMAX China Labor Day Holiday Local Title Opening Record With 25 Million RMB(4 Days), Strong WOM Drives Box Office Surge
SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 4 May 2021 – Following the stellar New Year and Chinese New Year holidays, IMAX China(HKSE:1970) announced today another strong box office over the Labor Day Holiday. As of May 3rd , the domestic spy thriller Cliff Walkers, from renowned director Zhang Yimou, has grossed 25 million RMB across more than 710 IMAX theaters throughout the country, setting a record as the company’s best opening for a Chinese film during the Labor Day holiday. Driven by the film’s outstanding performance, IMAX China reported second-highest opening ever for the Labor Day holiday with a total of 34 million RMB grossing to date, following 2019’s record with superhero blockbuster Avengers 4:Endgame.
Cliff Walkers, as the fourth film directed by Zhang Yimou presented in IMAX, won strong acclaim from both film critics and audiences upon its release, scoring Maoyan and Taopiaopao ratings as high as 9.1. Meanwhile, the IMAX box office of Cliff Walkers on May 2 and May 3 both surpassed the previous day. And the film topped the total box office for a single day on May 3rd, driven by strong WOM. IMAX accounted for 7% of Cliff Walkers’ box office, an impressive feat as the film was only one of several shown on IMAX screens during this period, and IMAX screens account for only 1% of the total screens in China.
“We want to congratulate director Zhang Yimou and our partners China Film, Emperor Motion Pictures, Shanghai Film and Huaxia Film for achieving such strong box office results and high word-of-mouth from audiences,” said Edwin Tan, CEO of IMAX China. “After Coming Home, The Great Wall and Shadow, the artistic appeal of Zhang Yimou’s work once again struck a powerful chord with IMAX audiences. The record-setting IMAX box office performance of Cliff Walkers proves that the IMAX experience has become the top preference for Chinese moviegoers to enjoy a range of genres of both Chinese and Hollywood blockbusters. We look forward to seeing Cliff Walkers keep its strong momentum and attract even more moviegoers into IMAX theaters in its continued run during and after the Labor Day holiday. ”
Driven by the strong recovery of domestic consumption and the five-day holiday, more than 250 million people will travel during the holiday this year, according to estimates from Tong Cheng Travel. Industry observers predict that high-quality films such as Cliff Walkers will enjoy sustained strong box office performance, attracting audiences after their travels.
In addition to Cliff Walkers, IMAX theatres across China are currently screening Home Sweet Home, directed by Chen Zhengdao, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. In addition, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King and Fast & Furious 9 will arrive in IMAX theaters on May 14th and May 21st, respectively. The Fast & Furious franchise is a particular favorite of Chinese IMAX fans, with the last two installments achieving box office of 2.4 and 2.7 billion RMB across China, with strong index of approximately 10%.
About IMAX China
IMAX China is a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, and was incorporated as a limited liability company under the laws of Cayman Islands. IMAX China was established by IMAX Corporation specifically to oversee the expansion of IMAX’s business throughout Greater China. Shares of IMAX China trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “1970”.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theaters to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of December 31, 2020, there were 1,650 IMAX theater systems (1,562 commercial multiplexes, 12 commercial destinations, 76 institutional) operating in 84 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “1970.”
IMAX®, IMAX® Dome, IMAX® 3D, IMAX® 3D Dome, Experience It In IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®, An IMAX Experience®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, IMAX DMR®, DMR®, IMAX nXos® and Films to the Fullest®, are trademarks and trade names of the Company or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected under laws of various jurisdictions. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (
www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
#IMAX #IMAXChina
Police Issue Warning to Obstinate Covid Patients
Police were called to Vientiane’s Settathirath hospital last week to speak with patients who refused to follow measures and guidelines issued by doctors.
iZeno Receives Atlassian Partner of the Year 2020: Emerging Markets
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 May 2021 – Atlassian announced today that iZeno Pte Ltd has received Atlassian Partner of the Year 2020: Emerging Markets for their outstanding contribution and achievements during the calendar year 2020. This includes exceptional efforts in developing new business, thought leadership, and products and services that complement Atlassian.
iZeno was one of 16 solution partner recipients honored as Partner of the Year for our continuous effort throughout the year.
“Atlassian would like to congratulate and thank this year’s Partner of the Year award recipients”, said Martin Musierowicz, Atlassian’s Head of Global Channels. “Solution Partners play an instrumental role in our customers’ success and we are excited to be able to highlight some of our top partners who go above and beyond to provide innovative solutions and Atlassian services to our customers.”
“This recognition from Atlassian speaks volume of iZeno investment in Asia and the trust from our customers to deliver the right tools and processes. iZeno will continue to grow and extend iZeno Atlassian Practice (ITSM and DevOps) beyond our current coverage in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. ” said iZeno’s Managing Director, Mr. Jason Lin.
About iZeno
iZeno was founded in 2003 to provide enterprises with best-in-class technology solutions they need to keep their business running seamlessly. With a team of 85+ in-house innovators, we have delivered over 500 Enterprise Solutions, implemented and optimized to enable smarter insights. Our team draws on industry experiences in accomplishing a portfolio of mission-critical applications, integrating AI & Machine Learning, DevOps, ITSM, Cloud, CRM & CX, Data Analytics, and other leading technologies with our clients’ existing IT frameworks.
To learn more visit izeno.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
Learn more about iZeno Atlassian Practice: https://www.izeno.com/atlassian-practice/
Learn more about DevOps solution here: https://www.izeno.com/solutions/devops/
Learn more about ITSM solution here: https://www.izeno.com/solutions/itsm/
#iZeno
Collab Asia inks agreement regarding content licensing with Nintendo, as a first-ever with an MCN outside of Japan
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 May 2021 – Collab Asia, a leading digital content studio and talent network in APAC, today announced a new licensing agreement with Nintendo for its content creators, Collab Asia Game Streamers under the Collab Asia network, to monetize gameplay footage derived from Nintendo Game Content, accelerating support for the production, distribution, and monetization of live game videos.
Eugene Choi, CEO and Co-founder of Collab Asia, Inc
Collab Asia’s creators are approved to monetize Nintendo Game Content through the following methods: Facebook Game Streamer, Facebook Level Up Program, Niconico Creators Program, Niconico Channel, OPENREC Creators Program, Twitch Affiliate Program and Twitch Partner Program, Amplify Publisher Program, YouTube Partner Program, “Item Revenue” and “Video Ad Revenue” in TwitCasting Monetization Program, and Mirrativ “gifts”.
This milestone for Collab Asia follows the recent opening of its first office in Mainland China. The company’s new facility in Shenzhen will support Collab Asia’s strategic growth in Greater China, where it has maintained a strong presence for the past 3 years. The Shenzhen office is Collab Asia’s 8th office, supplementing the company’s existing footprint in Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.
“As the premier digital media partner for creators, brands, and media platforms in Asia, we understand that people are consuming more content and creating more content than ever before across Asia. As part of this, we look forward to enabling our creators to responsibly create content using Nintendo’s unparalleled intellectual property, storied titles, and legendary characters,” said Eugene Choi, the CEO and co-founder of Collab Asia, Inc.
As of 2020, Collab Asia manages 4,000 video channels and social media accounts with 270 million loyal subscribers across leading platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Facebook. In order to further support the global business expansion plan, Collab Asia is currently commencing series C financing, to help ensure even more talented creators can share their work with audiences across the world.
About Collab Asia:
Collab Asia is a leading digital content studio and talent network in APAC with over 200 experts and a talent network of 2,000+ creators operating across 8 offices in Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, Shenzhen and Singapore. The company works with global brands, agencies, and platforms to grow their popularity and reach new audiences through cutting-edge marketing solutions that are distributed across multiple territories and platforms in Asia. Collab Asia has partnered with 200 global brands to tell their story to the world; the company also managed 4,000 social media accounts and channels with 270 million loyal subscribers across leading platform such as Weibo, Duoyin, Bilibili, iQiyi, Netease Music, Toutiao, Tencent Video, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook etc. In 2020, the company uploaded more than 200,000 videos generating around 45 billion views and 630 million interactions.
Find Collab Asia Via:
#CollabAsia
Okta completes acquisition of Auth0
Identity leaders combine developer and enterprise expertise, offering customers more flexibility
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 May 2021 – Okta, Inc. (NASDAQ:OKTA), the leading independent identity provider, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Auth0, a leading identity platform for application teams. Together, Okta and Auth0 address a broad set of digital identity use cases, providing secure access and enabling everyone to safely use any technology. The stock transaction, valued at approximately $6.5 billion, will accelerate Okta’s growth in the $80 billion identity market.
Auth0 will operate as an independent business unit within Okta, led by Auth0 Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Eugenio Pace, reporting directly to Todd McKinnon, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Okta. Both Okta’s and Auth0’s platforms will be supported, invested in, and integrated over time — accelerating innovation and making the Okta Identity Cloud even more compelling for the full spectrum of customers and users.
“Identity is one of the most strategic investments an organization will make today. A single, unified identity platform has the power to transform an organization by providing seamless and secure access for both customers and employees,” said McKinnon. “Okta and Auth0 have always shared a vision for the identity market. We’re also both cloud-first, customer-first companies. By joining forces, we’ll give our customers more choice and flexibility, driving tremendous value and enabling them to accelerate innovation. Together, we will shape the future of identity on the internet, empowering developers to build with identity at the foundation.”
“As Okta and Auth0 join forces today, bringing together two exceptional companies, I’m more confident than ever that we will deliver on our shared vision to secure access for everyone,” said Pace. “Auth0’s focus has always been on enabling product builders to innovate, and now as one company with a shared vision and combined resources, that innovation will only increase.”
Okta’s and Auth0’s comprehensive, complementary, and flexible identity platforms solve every identity use case, regardless of the audience or user. Okta pioneered cloud-based identity, offering enterprise-grade reliability and world-class security while prioritizing customer success for organizations of all sizes. Auth0 was built by developers for developers. Application builders around the world are loyal to Auth0 for its extensibility, ease of use, scope of documentation, and developer-friendly experience. With combined expertise across developer communities and the enterprise, Okta and Auth0 will provide enhanced depth and breadth of identity solutions and will be even better suited to integrate quickly into the modern tech stack of today’s developers.
“At Kiva, we’re on a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities around the world thrive. Identity plays an essential role in making that happen,” said Ken Leung, EVP of Engineering, Kiva. “Today, we leverage Auth0 to provide secure authentication to Kiva’s partners and lenders, and Okta for workforce identity, giving our team access to the critical technologies they need to best serve the millions of global entrepreneurs in our network. We trust both Okta and Auth0 to connect our people and technology, and are excited to see how they evolve and innovate together.”
“Credence goes to those who can help us identify one another in a digital world,” said Jay Bretzmann, Program Director for Cybersecurity Products, IDC. “Okta and Auth0 provide the cloud-ready, developer-friendly tools to help in the fight. They’re building the platforms and technology we’ll need to take the next steps. Simple, elegant, and customer-centric.”
Financial Outlook
With the completion of the acquisition of Auth0, Okta intends to provide a combined financial outlook for fiscal year 2022 in conjunction with the release of its first quarter 2022 financial results on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Okta will host a video webcast that day at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time (5:00 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss its results and combined company financial outlook. A webcast replay will be accessible from Okta’s investor relations website at https://investor.okta.com. The press release will be accessible from Okta’s investor relations website prior to the commencement of the event.
Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Okta. Qatalyst Partners served as financial advisor and Perkins Coie LLP served as legal counsel to Auth0.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to expectations, plans, and prospects including statements relating to the anticipated benefits that will be derived from this transaction, the expected acceleration of Okta’s growth as a result of this transaction, the impact to the Okta Identity Cloud, expected synergies resulting from the transaction and expansion of Okta’s customer base. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Okta’s management as of the date of this release, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the risk of adverse and unpredictable macro-economic conditions, the failure to achieve expected synergies and efficiencies of operations between Okta and Auth0, the ability of Okta and Auth0 to successfully integrate their respective businesses, the failure to timely develop and achieve market acceptance of the combined business, the loss of any Auth0 customers, the ability to coordinate strategy and resources between Okta and Auth0, and the ability of Okta and Auth0 to retain and motivate key employees of Auth0. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are detailed from time to time in the reports Okta files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in Okta’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Okta as of the date hereof, and Okta disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
About Okta
Okta is the leading independent provider of identity for the enterprise. The Okta Identity Cloud enables organizations to securely connect the right people to the right technologies at the right time. With over 7,000 pre-built integrations to applications and infrastructure providers, Okta customers can easily and securely use the best technologies for their business. More than 10,000 organizations, including JetBlue, Nordstrom, Slack, T-Mobile, Takeda, Teach for America and Twilio, trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers.
About Auth0
Auth0 provides a platform to authenticate, authorize, and secure access for applications, devices, and users. Security and application teams rely on Auth0’s simplicity, extensibility, and expertise to make identity work for everyone. Safeguarding billions of login transactions each month, Auth0 secures identities so innovators can innovate, and empowers global enterprises to deliver trusted, superior digital experiences to their customers around the world.
#Okta #Auth0