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Circles.Life Reveals its New No-Contract Family Plan in Singapore & Redefines What it Means to Be a Family

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Laotian Times
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One plan, one bill and up to six SIM cards. The new plan gives power back to customers by letting them decide who they share their data with in their family!

 

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 8 April 2021 – Circles.Life, the fastest growing telco in the region, announces the launch of the Family Plan, the latest in its line of innovative products, which in the last nine months has included a holistic eSIM onboarding process, Data-only plans, gamified loyalty programs, IDD call packs and more.

In the spirit of bringing a new kind of Family Plan, Circles.Life believes families today can be any group of people brought together by blood, circumstance, love or even shared interests – this can be your teammates, game board night gang, or even movie buddies! To differentiate itself from the complex traditional family bundles offered by telcos today, the Circles.Life Family Plan allows customers to share telco benefits with the family they choose, regardless of relationship and household residency, under one bill.

Discover limitless possibilities with unlimited rules

Unlike existing telco family plans, Circles.Life’s Family Plan is completely flexible, free from contracts and other requirements like having to buy broadband or other services. The plan comes with 200GB of 4G data, 500 mins and 200 SMS, all for as low as $15 per line for six SIM cards. Customers have the choice of buying between two SIMs to six SIMs. Similar to other Circles.Life plans, customers can add more data, mins, or SMS whenever they need.

Circles.Life

Other Telcos

No strings attached

Yes!

No. Requires additional services like broadband or buying a new phone on a 2-year contract.

Sharing telco benefits

Yes!

No.

Rameez Ansar, the co-founder of Circles.Life, expressed: “Giving power back to customers is at the heart of what we do at Circles Life. Customers are not satisfied with the status quo in the telco services they are getting, they expect an experience that’s on par, if not better than the apps and other digital services they use every day.”

Interested customers can find out more about the family plan here.

Leading telcos in the region with excellence in technology, innovation and customer experience

As the telco that’s reached profitability the fastest in Singapore, Circles.Life continues to lead the way in tech infrastructure, customer satisfaction, telco innovation like the new Family Plan. This has allowed the company to consistently deliver industry-leading customer experience, achieving over 96% Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) and the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) scores in Singapore that’s +50 points ahead of anyone else. In addition, this success has changed the industry in Singapore, creating a time before Circles.Life launched and after, where customers are now using more data than ever, have more choices than ever, having the power finally back in their hands. As a result, Circles.Life is now the blueprint for what a digital telco should be, not just in Singapore as seen by how competitors have launched their own respective digital telco brands, but globally as well.

This global impact is a result of Circles.Life repeating the aforementioned success in Australia and Taiwan. Circles.Life launched both markets in a matter of months, in stark contrast to the normal telco launch timeline measured in years. In addition, both markets are at pace to hit profitability milestones faster than in Singapore. Most importantly, the product experiences for both markets are at par with the success in Singapore, boasting CSAT scores of 98% and 99% for Australia and Taiwan respectively.

These results, better customer experience, better business outcomes and better product innovation have all been made possible with Circles-X, the proprietary technology built by a combination of local and global talents. Circles-X enables the company to launch new products and services at record speed compared to traditional telco platforms. Circles.Life believes this is what will power the future of telcos globally.

About Circles.Life

Founded in Singapore in 2016, Circles.Life is Singapore’s fourth telco and the nation’s first digital telco. Since its launch, the company has remained focused on its mission to give power back to the customer with its personalised digital services. Circles.Life re-imagines how mobile telecom services can be offered with a truly differentiated business model, technology stack, approach to product development and speed of product innovation. At the core of which is a proprietary technology stack that delivers a highly flexible and completely digital customer experience across the entire customer service journey.

Circles.Life has since garnered more than 5% of Singapore’s mobile subscriber market share, making it the country’s fastest-growing telco. With more than 400 employees in Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Australia, it launched into its first overseas market in Taiwan in June 2019, followed by Australia in September 2019.

New Counterbalance Support Hinge from Southco Reduces Overall Solution Cost

By
Laotian Times
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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 8 April 2021 – Southco Asia Ltd., a subsidiary of Southco Inc., a leading global provider of engineered access solutions such as locks, latches, captive fasteners, electronic access solutions and hinges/ positioning technology, Southco has expanded its series of Counterbalance Hinges with a new product that reduces the total solution cost of lifting and positioning heavy panels and lids. Southco’s CB Counterbalance Support Hinge is designed to be used in tandem with the CB Counterbalance Hinge, in applications where the Counterbalance Hinge can support the full torque requirements of the panel or lid on its own.

CB Counterbalance Support Hinge

Southco’s CB Counterbalance Support Hinge enables ergonomic lifting and position control when combined with a CB Counterbalance Hinge by using stored energy to balance the weight distribution of a lid or panel. The hinges are fully adjustable, allowing the experience of opening and closing the panel to be tailored to the unique requirements of the application.

With robust, all-aluminum construction, CB Hinges offer improved corrosion resistance and consistent performance in hot and cold temperatures. Additionally, the CB Counterbalance Support Hinge provides an increased life cycle, reducing the need for maintenance over time.

Global Product Manager Stewart Beck adds, “The Counterbalance Support Hinge improves functionality and aesthetics when compared to traditional gas struts. When installed with our standard CB Counterbalance Hinge, the CB Counterbalance Support Hinge offers the benefits of a Counterbalance product, but allows users to significantly lower their total solution cost.”

For more information about the latest Southco’s CB Counterbalance Support Hinge, please visit www.southco.com/CB-Support.

About Southco

Southco, Inc. is the leading global designer and manufacturer of engineered access solutions. From quality and performance to aesthetics and ergonomics, we understand that first impressions are lasting impressions in product design. For over 70 years, Southco has helped the world’s most recognized brands create value for their customers with innovative access solutions designed to enhance the touch points of their products in transportation and industrial applications, medical equipment, data centers and more. With unrivalled engineering resources, innovative products and a dedicated global team, Southco delivers the broadest portfolio of premium access solutions available to equipment designers throughout the world.

Southco Asia Limited

2401-2406, Tower 2, Ever Gain Plaza

88 Container Port Road, Kwai Chung

Hong Kong

ESR to develop US$2bn+ multi-phase data centre campus near Osaka CBD, Japan

By
Laotian Times
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TOKYO, JAPAN / HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 8 April 2021 – ESR Cayman Limited (“ESR” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries as the “Group”; SEHK Stock Code: 1821), the largest APAC focused logistics real estate platform, has acquired a key data centre asset in Osaka, Japan. The asset comprises an existing data centre and excess land, totalling a development potential of up to 78MW IT load. It is expected to have a potential GAV of US$2.15 billion, depending on the ratio of operating model between powered shell and fully fitted configurations for each building.

ESR will utilise the land to build two additional buildings, with a combined IT load of 39MW as power will be available within 12 months. Construction of the first data centre is expected to commence later in 2021, with target completion scheduled in 2023. The existing data centre is expected to be redeveloped into an additional 39MW IT load upon expiry of the current lease. The three buildings together will form a significant data centre campus in the rapidly growing Osaka market, offering customers the opportunity to lease data halls, individual buildings or multiple buildings – providing scalability and flexibility, ideal for both hyperscalers and colocation operators.

Jeffrey Shen and Stuart Gibson, ESR Co-founders and Co-CEOs, remarked, “As a leading provider of new economy infrastructure, it’s a natural move for ESR to expand into the evolving ecosystem of data centres. We are tremendously excited to launch our first data centre new development, creating a campus-style asset with expansion capability in a prime location of a high growth market. This acquisition adds to ESR’s data centre strategic push which now includes exclusivity on land and power approvals to potentially develop over 200MW across major markets in APAC.”

The data centre campus is strategically located in Osaka City, within 10 km of the Osaka CBD where Japan’s major Internet Exchange and other network exchanges attract a large number of cloud on-ramps, telecom companies, leading IT-dependent enterprises and an increasing number of hyperscalers.

As a key gateway to Japan and to Asia, Osaka has established itself to be a major commercial hub, second only to Tokyo. At the heart of the Kansai region which has a population of 24.6 million and GDP of US$1 trillion, Osaka has a world-class infrastructure and strong demographic fundamentals. The city has a high concentration of pillar industries, including energy, financial services, healthcare and medical services, advanced manufacturing – all of which rely heavily on technologies such as big data, AI, 5G, robotics and IoT, making Osaka a prime location for digital connectivity infrastructure. Today, Osaka is the fifth largest data centre market in the APAC region (outside of China), yet the supply of data centres remains highly limited due to a lack of land and power supply.

The global pandemic has flipped the norms under which businesses operate and the ways people live and spend. Driven by the acceleration of e-commerce and fintech, as well as by the rise of cloud solutions and smart technologies, the demand for data centres has grown exponentially across APAC and the world.

Against this backdrop, ESR is very well positioned to play its part in developing digital infrastructure in APAC: with hyperlocal presence that provides unparalleled access to unique land origination, zoning and power approvals, and development expertise; agility to acquire large land parcels and allocate land bank to warehousing and data centres based on market demand; a large and diverse logistics portfolio for potential redevelopment or repurpose into data centres; and a dedicated team with deep expertise in development and fund management. Data centres offer lucrative opportunities for both operators and investors, and ESR plans to expand its data centre platform with select capital partners.

Commenting on the outlook, Mr. Shen and Mr. Gibson added, “ESR has a proven track record of consistently developing best-in-class assets and delivering top-notch project management for our logistics tenants, many of whom are e-commerce giants who also provide cloud services. Our operational expertise enables us to provide one-stop solutions to cloud service providers and operators across all major economies in APAC, meeting their needs and requirements beyond optimising business performance and growth. The environmental footprint of the online world is coming under constant scrutiny. ESR will work with cloud providers to ensure that carbon reduction and responsible innovation are at the heart of all of ESR’s data centre developments.

With the prevalence of digital transformation in which data is the foundation, ESR will capitalise on this secular trend by leveraging its in-house capability and strategically partnering with operators and capital partners to build a network of data centre infrastructure – in powered shell and fully fitted configurations – in key metros across APAC. This network of agile and scalable data centres will interconnect businesses and individuals in the digital economy, support our customers’ growth in scale and reach, and create value for ESR’s ecosystem of new economy infrastructure.”

Asian Fund for Cancer Research Announces Inaugural BRACE Award Venture Competition Winner

By
Laotian Times
-

Gastrointestinal Cancer Drug Developer Arbele Receives AFCR Investment Funding

 

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 8 April 2021 – Arbele has been selected as the winner of the Asian Fund for Cancer Research’s (AFCR) inaugural BRACE Award Venture Competition, a first of its kind program for early stage oncology technology companies located in Asia or focused on cancers prevalent among Asian communities. As a result of its win, the Hong Kong-based company has received US$300,000 in AFCR investment.

Arbele’s BRACE Award Venture Competition win is the result of a rigorous review and evaluation process led by two blue ribbon committees convened by AFCR. One committee, in fall 2020, judged the start-up and its tumor-fighting technology as among the strongest of eight semi-finalists in a 6 November event; and the other committee, in winter 2020/2021, determined the company as most likely to make a difference for cancer patients and produce a positive return on investment from among the prior-chosen finalists.

BRACE Award Venture Competition winners can apply AFCR’s investment toward obtaining critical research data and pre-clinical results, as well as attract larger, follow-on investors. Such benefits give participating start-ups a much better chance of delivering technologies likely and able to benefit cancer patients. While future positive returns to AFCR on its US$300,000 investment will be applied by the non-profit organization toward its cancer research funding and education programming.

“The BRACE Award Venture Competition is making a real difference in funding not only early stage, risk-taking companies in Asia that are battling cancer, but also start-ups that are tackling Asia-prevalent forms of the disease,” stated Arbele Chief Executive Officer John Luk, DMedSc. “Arbele’s journey, including starting from invention at the University of Hong Kong and entering into clinical trials at Queen Mary Hospital, fits both criteria, and we look forward to continued partnership with AFCR.”

“It was a pleasure to represent Arbele throughout the BRACE Award Venture Competition process,” noted Chief Development Officer Dennis Wong, MD. “The program and its committees, investment and other benefits have already helped further develop our company and the application of our technology in the fight against cancer.”

“With the BRACE Award Venture Competition and infusion of investment into its winner, AFCR aims to raise awareness of the importance of accelerating commercialization of cancer research innovations that could save patients’ lives,” said Asian Fund for Cancer Research Chief Executive Officer Sujuan Ba, Ph.D. “We also hope to build up critically needed ecosystems helping life sciences entrepreneurs throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”

“The BRACE Award Venture Competition is an important addition to our region’s cancer technology and biomedical industry environment, fostering ideas and approaches on the cutting edge of research,” expressed AFCR Chairman of the Board Gary Wong, a partner of Hugill & Ip Solicitors. “Few sources are willing to invest in high risk, pre-clinical start-ups and, through the BRACE program, our organization is proud to be in the lead.”

The National Foundation for Cancer Research and AIM-HI Accelerator Fund are founding partners of the BRACE Award Venture Competition. Inaugural partners are Hugill & Ip Solicitors, Goodwin and the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization. Applications are now open for the 2021 iteration of the event, the winner of which will also receive US$300,000 in AFCR investment.

Learn more about the 2021 BRACE Award Venture Competition and apply before 15 June at https://afcr.org/en/brace-award/.

About the BRACE Award Venture Competition

The Bridging Research from Academia to Cancer Entrepreneurship (BRACE) program is designed to advance and catalyze the commercialization of innovative cancer research discoveries by early stage oncology technology companies located in Asia or focused on cancers prevalent among Asian communities. BRACE Award Venture Competitions provide start-up companies with a combination of investment capital, prize money, exposure-generating opportunities and enhanced access to a network of cancer industry professionals and researchers in the region and around the world. Two committees (judging and investment), whose members are world-class key opinion leaders, life sciences industry experts, investors and entrepreneurs, provide assessments and recommendations for the investment from AFCR. Its members include the following persons:

  • Webster Cavenee, Ph.D., Director of Strategic Alliances, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
  • Pamela Garzone, Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Calibr at Scripps Research
  • Raju Kucherlapati, Ph.D., Paul C. Cabot Professor of Genetics and Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
  • Brian Leyland-Jones, M.B., B.S., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, AIM-HI Accelerator Fund
  • Will Liu, Ph.D., Partner, Eight Roads Ventures
  • Eifion Phillips, Ph.D., J.D., Patent Attorney
  • Kanaga Sabapathy, Ph.D., Head, National Cancer Centre Singapore’s Division of Cellular and Molecular Research
  • Alfred Slanetz, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Geneius Biotechnology
  • Michael Wang, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Chief Strategy Officer, National Foundation for Cancer Research
  • Yajun Xu, Ph.D., Managing Partner, Hongsen Capital
  • Wai-Kwan Alfred Yung, M.D., Professor, MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Department of Neuro-Oncology

About the Asian Fund for Cancer Research

The Asian Fund for Cancer Research (AFCR) is a non-profit organization committed to curing cancers that have significant impacts on Asian populations. Headquartered in Hong Kong, AFCR is uniquely positioned to implement in Asia the newest cancer research discoveries and technologies from around the world, investigate the distinct causes of cancer in Asian populations through innovative genetic and molecular research, and develop more effective therapies tailored to the region’s cancer patients. For more information, visit https://afcr.org.

About Hugill & Ip Solicitors

Hugill & Ip Solicitors is an independent law firm providing bespoke legal advice and exceptional client service to individuals, families, entrepreneurs and businesses, in Hong Kong and internationally. Hugill & Ip provides high quality legal services with integrity, professionalism and respect for clients and the community. For more information, visit https://www.hugillandip.com.

About Arbele

Arbele, based in Hong Kong and with operations also in Guangzhou, Seattle and Sydney, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on inventing proprietary immunotherapeutic platforms to accelerate the development of treatments for gastrointestinal cancers and other solid tumors. It is developing “first-in-class” antibody-based biologics to treat such cancers as those of the stomach, pancreas, colon, bile duct and liver, which remain of high mortality and with limited treatment options. For more information, visit https://www.arbelebio.com.

Avonisys AG wins patent litigation case against Synova SA

By
Laotian Times
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Swiss Federal Patent Court rules in favour of Avonisys AG in all relevant aspects and convicts Synova SA under the unfair competition act:

  • Swiss Federal Patent Court confirms: no infringement of Synova’s CH/EP 1833636 H1 (partial renunciation of EP1833636B1 in Switzerland)
  • Synova is convicted under the unfair competition act (UWG)
  • Synova has to cover 80% of the costs of the court case

ZUG, SWITZERLAND – Newsaktuell – 7 April 2021 – With its verdict released on March 31, 2021, the Swiss Federal Patent Court concluded that Avonisys’ patented Air-Jet technology does not infringe Synova’s CH/EP 1833636 H1. During the proceedings, Synova felt compelled to partially waive the original Swiss part of the patent in suit (EP 1833636 B1) and to substantially limit the scope of the patent claims to avoid patent invalidation following significant prior art brought up by Avonisys AG.

“We clearly appreciate the court’s decision which confirms our view that the Air-Jet feature stands in its own right and does not infringe. Our patented Air-Jet is one of the key innovations Avonisys has contributed to the waterjet laser technology, establishing a new and unmatched performance benchmark”, comments Jens Gaebelein, one of the founders and CTO of Avonisys.

Furthermore, the verdict holds that Synova violated the Unfair Competition Act (UWG) by approaching market participants with misleading information and unfounded threats relating to the infringement proceedings. The verdict demands Synova to release corrective information to every party contacted previously. Continuing such misleading activities in the future would result in fines against Synova.

“From the start in 2013, it has been Avonisys’ policy to build a solid IP base for its innovative hardware and process technology, which is underlined by more than 30 validated patents. We defend our technology vigorously against unfounded allegations. Customers around the globe value the reliability and ease-of-use of our products and appreciate to have a choice”, adds Jeroen Hribar, co-founder and CSO of Avonisys.

The verdict is subject to a 30 day recourse period for the parties and only then will be firm and final.

About Avonisys AG:

Avonisys develops, builds and sells laser systems based on its proprietary waterjet laser technology. Avonisys’ systems are designed to deliver robust performance for demanding applications while keeping operations simple and maintenance cost-effective.

– Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

Taika Waititi Stars as Bunny in “Save Ralph,” a Film to End Animal Testing

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Advertorial Desk
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Taika Waititi, Ricky Gervais, Zac Efron, Olivia Munn, and more star in Humane Society International’s animated short film Save Ralph in aid of a global campaign to ban cosmetic testing on animals.

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Crowne Plaza Vientiane Launches Eco-friendly Packaging Initiative

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Advertorial Desk
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Crowne Plaza Eco-friendly Packaging

Crowne Plaza Vientiane, an international five-star chain hotel of the Intercontinental Hotel Groups (IHG®), has officially launched one of its sustainability ambitions for a better future by replacing all existing packaging with eco-friendly materials.

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Beyond Meat® Opens World-Class Plant-Based Meat Manufacturing Facility in China to Accelerate Localized Production And Innovation

By
Laotian Times
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Beyond Meat becomes the first multinational company focused solely on plant-based meat production to open its own production facility in China

 

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 7 April 2021 – Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND), a global plant-based protein company, today announced the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Jiaxing Economic & Technological Development Zone (JXEDZ) near Shanghai. As Beyond Meat’s first end-to-end manufacturing facility outside the U.S., the cutting-edge plant in Jiaxing is expected to significantly increase the speed and scale in which the company can produce and distribute its products within the region while also improving Beyond Meat’s cost structure and sustainability of operations.

Designed to serve China’s growing plant-based meat market, the facility will produce Beyond Meat’s innovative range of plant-based pork, beef and poultry products, including Beyond Pork™, the company’s first innovation created specifically for the Chinese market. By producing closer to the consumer and leveraging local supply chains, Beyond Meat is investing in the growth of the plant-based meat category in China and the facility underscores the company’s commitment to China as a region for long-term growth. In addition to scaled production to support the company’s expanding retail and foodservice business within China, the facility will also feature R&D capabilities to create unique product offerings and support Beyond Meat’s local strategic partners.

“The opening of our dedicated plant-based meat facility in China marks a significant milestone in Beyond Meat’s ability to effectively compete in one of the world’s largest meat markets. We are committed to investing in China as a region for long-term growth, and we believe this new manufacturing facility will be instrumental in advancing our pricing and sustainability metrics as we seek to provide Chinese consumers with delicious plant-based proteins that are good for both people and planet,” said Ethan Brown, CEO and Founder of Beyond Meat.

The announcement comes just one year after the company first entered mainland China through a nationwide partnership with Starbucks China. Within its first year in the market, Beyond Meat has expanded menu offerings at Starbucks China and has partnered with well-known foodservice and retail brands including KFC, Pizza Hut, Jindingxuan, GangLi Beijing, Slow Boat Brewery, Hema, METRO China and more. The facility is intended to pave the way for Beyond Meat to efficiently scale-up to meet future needs and demand.

“The plant-based meat market in China continues to expand and Beyond Meat has been enthusiastically met by local consumers who are looking to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The opening of the new Jiaxing plant is expected to enable us to quicken the pace of innovation and roll out our products at the speed and scale needed to remain highly competitive within the region,” Candy Chan, General Manager for Beyond Meat in China.

Beyond Meat’s strict ingredient guardrails and commitment to making products utilizing simple, plant-based ingredients without GMOs has enabled the brand to expand product distribution throughout China and around the globe with ease and speed. In addition to the opening of the new manufacturing facility in the JXEDZ region, Beyond Meat will also be opening its first owned manufacturing facility in Europe this year in an effort to make plant-based meat more accessible to all.

About Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND) is one of the fastest growing food companies in the United States, offering a portfolio of revolutionary plant-based meats made from simple ingredients without GMOs, bioengineered ingredients, hormones, antibiotics, or cholesterol. Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat products are designed to have the same taste and texture as animal-based meat while being better for people and the planet. Beyond Meat’s brand commitment, Eat What You Love™, represents a strong belief that there is a better way to feed our future and that the positive choices we all make, no matter how small, can have a great impact on our personal health and the health of our planet. By shifting from animal-based meat to plant-based meat, we can positively impact four growing global issues: human health, climate change, constraints on natural resources and animal welfare. As of December 31, 2020, Beyond Meat had products available at approximately 122,000 retail and foodservice outlets in over 80 countries worldwide. Visit www.BeyondMeat.com and follow @BeyondMeat, #BeyondBurger and #GoBeyond on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and @BeyondMeatOfficial on TikTok.

Beyond Meat Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements are based on management’s current opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, not historical fact, and involve certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions. Actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events could differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. While Beyond Meat believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements made herein including, most prominently, the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2021 as well as other factors described from time to time in Beyond Meat’s filings with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. Beyond Meat undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

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