New G-SHOCK commemorates International Women’s Day

Source: Casio. Introducing the Casio GMA-P2100W in time for International Women's Day.

The new compact Casio GMA-P2100W features the iconic octagonal bezel design of the 2100 line, presented in yellow in homage to the International Women’s Day tradition of appreciating women with gifts of mimosa flowers.

International Women’s Day, which takes place every year on March 8, was recognised by the United Nations in 1975. It is a day for celebrating the expanding opportunities for women to play impactful roles in peace, security, and development and to hold leadership positions in organisations and communities, as well as an opportunity to consider how to achieve further progress, Casio said.

The watch features a shorter band length to fit more slender wrists with enhanced comfort. The bezel and band are made with bio-based resin produced from corn and other renewable organic resources, which is expected to help reduce environmental impact.

As part of the brand’s efforts to reach out to more people, G-SHOCK has also launched WOMEN OF OUR TIME, a website dedicated to highlighting exceptional women across diverse fields who unabashedly challenge the status quo, and to exploring their relationships with time. Video features on the site examine the motivation that drives the creativity of 3D/CG artist YUKARI, G-SHOCK athlete and professional skateboarder Aori Nishimura, professional surfer Sakura Johnson, and professional skateboarder Cocona Hiraki. Behind the impressive accomplishments of these women is the hard work they have put in to overcome setbacks and their neverending spirit of challenge.

The G-SHOCK brand stands for a world where women can aspire to be anything and anyone they want to be. In recent years, Casio has been downsizing popular G-SHOCK watches to expand its lineup of more compact models that anyone can wear, sending a strong message that G-SHOCK toughness is for people of any gender.

Details

The Casio watch Compact GMA-P2100W-7A is priced at S$159 and will be available to purchase from 1 March 2024 at https://gshock.casio.com/sg/contents/unstoppable_me/women-of-our-time/

LinkedIn: Talent development crucial when work is reshaped by AI

With skills needed for a job changing by 68% by 2030 due to the impact of AI, 91% of companies in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) say they plan to enhance their people’s skills and abilities this year. 

Last year, technology took centrestage – LinkedIn saw a 21x surge in global English-language job postings mentioning GPT or ChatGPT; this year, LinkedIn said companies are directing their attention towards talent development. Today, the top five skills that hiring managers in APAC consider the most important in the era of AI are a combination of both hard and soft skills – problem-solving abilities (35%), communications skills (27%), critical thinking (25%), AI skills (19%) and IT & web skills (17%).

Feon Ang, VP, LinkedIn Talent Solutions and MD, APAC said: “In the past year, the narrative was dominated by technological advancements, particularly the integration of AI into business workflows. The resulting surge in demand for AI expertise reflected the challenges many businesses faced in navigating this transformative shift and incorporating cutting-edge technologies into their operations. 

"However, we are now witnessing a pronounced shift towards skills – both technical and soft skills – to thrive in the era of AI. Investing in people’s growth is no longer a perk but a strategic imperative, considering that our workforce is the driving force behind companies’ success in an era shaped by both AI innovation and collaboration with AI.” 

Eighty-eight percent of employers have observed substantial changes in the skills and qualifications they prioritise in job candidates due to the pervasive impact of AI and automation in their industries. Companies are placing emphasis on candidates who possess not only AI expertise, but also soft skills and a capacity for learning.

According to LinkedIn’s latest Workplace Learning Report, 94% of learning and development (L&D) professionals in APAC believe that human skills are increasingly becoming the most competitive in our economy. In particular, ‘communication’ has topped LinkedIn’s most in-demand skills list for 2024 across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Singapore. LinkedIn said this is not surprising when AI tools free up time for professionals to excel in jobs only people can do, like build relationships and collaborate with others.

In addition, 40% of APAC hiring managers consider an individual's potential for growth and ability to learn as the most important factor when evaluating internal and external candidates.

Most of the companies in APAC (91%) are also focusing on preparing their employees for the future world of work by enhancing their skills and capabilities, believing that this will lead to increased confidence and job security. In fact, APAC HR professionals are offering online training programmes (44%) and internal learning and development sessions focused on generative AI (43%) to do so.

As companies increasingly invest in learning opportunities, the focus on creating a culture of learning has soared, becoming a top priority for L&D professionals in 2024 across all APAC markets. In fact, 92% of them in APAC say they can show business value by helping employees gain skills to move into different internal roles.

A recent survey of APAC leaders has revealed that internal mobility is becoming an increasingly important factor in attracting and retaining top talent within organisations. The survey found that 48% of APAC leaders identified providing career progression opportunities as their key priority this year.

Nearly four in 10 (37%) hiring managers see career growth opportunities as key to retaining top talent, along with competitive salary and benefits (39%). In addition, 49% of APAC employers believe that highlighting opportunities for career advancement and increasing internal mobility are the top two ways to attract talent. These findings suggest that organisations in the APAC region would do well to focus on internal mobility as a key strategy for attracting and retaining top talent in the years to come.

To assist companies in their pivot towards a skills-centric approach, LinkedIn has introduced tools such as Recruiter 2024, LinkedIn’s AI-assisted recruiting experience. Recruiter enables hirers to quickly access high-quality candidate recommendations by using natural language search prompts and data from millions of professionals and companies, ensuring they are able to shortlist talent based on skills they need. These features will ramp to all APAC customers in English-speaking markets from end February.

To empower companies to build the skills they need for the next decade of work, the company has launched AI-powered coaching in LinkedIn Learning – a chatbot experience that offers real-time advice and tailored content recommendations personalised for learners based on their job title, career goal, and skills they follow. 

This is currently available to APAC customers in English-speaking markets. The company has also been expanding its in-demand skill library, including AI courses. AI courses in particular have seen a 5X uptick in learners.

In early March, we will be launching new career development and internal mobility features within LinkedIn Learning to help guide employees to critical skills, develop skills that matter to grow, and connect to the best-fit opportunity at their organisation. This will be available in English, Hindi, Japanese, Indonesian and Malay, amongst others.

Ang said: "Business leaders recognise that they cannot rely on old talent playbooks in this new era of work that’s being reshaped by AI, and where skills needed for the same job will change by 68% by 2030. Every minute, LinkedIn helps seven people get hired and 140 hours of learning content is consumed. 

Concept art representing a journey generated by Blue Willow.

"Building on this, we’ve supercharged our hiring and learning solutions to help companies recruit and retain the best talent. Take the National Healthcare Group in Singapore, for example, which is on a journey to foster self-directed learning amongst their employees by nurturing a robust culture of continuous learning. They're looking to incorporate LinkedIn's AI-powered coaching into their learning and development programmes, empowering employees to take charge of their professional growth.”

Explore

View insights from LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report for Australia/New Zealand, India and Southeast Asia.

*LinkedIn’s research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 4,323 hiring managers (middle management+) aged 18-77 in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the US, India, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, China, Netherlands, Sweden, MENA, and Brazil. The data was collected between 15 December 2023 and 4 January 2024.

SGX RegCo proposes changes to support company restructuring

Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) is proposing rule changes aimed at facilitating the restructuring process for SGX-listed companies under Singapore’s Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (IRDA). The changes, if implemented, will enable issuers to restructure more efficiently and lessen the regulatory burden when they are trying to manage their financial affairs and meet time-sensitive milestones.

For instance, SGX RegCo is proposing that shareholders need not vote on a major disposal undertaken as part of judicial management or liquidation of the issuer under IRDA. This will align SGX Regco rules with IRDA, as well as allow for the quicker realisation of assets.

“IRDA aims to smoothen and speed up the restructuring of financially-distressed companies. This may increase the chances of white knight rescues and trading resumptions. These outcomes, if they materialise, will be of more value to shareholders than years of proceedings that will further deplete distressed companies’ scarce finances,” said Tan Boon Gin, CEO of SGX RegCo.

SGX RegCo also proposes to, among others:

- Provide guidance to issuers on circumstances where a financially-distressed issuer can apply to SGX RegCo to allow its listed securities to continue or resume trading.

- Require an immediate announcement when a financially-distressed issuer or any of its subsidiaries undergo a court-supervised moratorium.

- Exclude a financially-distressed company under moratorium pursuant to IRDA from announcing its quarterly financial statements.

The public consultation is open till 22 March 2024 and can be found at https://regco.sgx.com/public-consultations.

Dario Cecchini delves into culinary collaborations this March

Bottega di Carna at the Mondrian Singapore Duxton has made its name in Singapore with an experience pioneered by ‘World’s Greatest Butcher’ Dario Cecchini, where reverence for the animal and time-honoured traditions in using all of its parts meet the very finest of produce and ingredients.

Cecchini is back in March with collaborations in mind:

Bottega di Carna X Bold & Braised hawker popup

6-7 March

For two lunch sessions from 11.30 am to 2 pm, Cecchini and Bottega di Carna’s Head Chef Kenny Huang will team up with Chinatown neighbours Bold & Braised at Maxwell Food Centre for a popup partnership featuring an exclusive selection of paninis, each showcasing the art of using all parts of the animal.

"This partnership is significant for us, as it showcases the depth of Singapore's hawker culture alongside a shared Italian and Singaporean commitment to sustainable cooking. We're excited to introduce Dario's celebrated paninis to Singapore, fusing our mutual wish to serve the community with dishes that honour every part of the animal,” shared Alvan Chew, founder of Bold & Braised.

“I want the future to be about appreciating and utilising the entire animal, not just the prized or conventional cuts of meat. Every cut, from nose to tail, has its unique flavour and texture, each with its own story to tell,” said Cecchini.

“I’ve been lucky during my trips to Singapore to explore the hawker stalls and the ethos is exactly the same, everybody eats nose to tail, it’s part of the culture. When two cultures come together there’s a sort of communion and we learn from one another, we have to honour this and I’ve been so inspired by my trips to the hawkers in Singapore.

“I’m excited about this collaboration, Bold & Braised is one of the best. They are people after my heart, and they cook with love and respect. The message that I would like to pass on is that good food is for the community and that all cuts of meat are delicious.”

Dates: 6 and 7 March 2024

Time: 11.30 am – 2 pm

Location: Maxwell Food Centre, Unit #01-43 (Outside MRT)

The menu will feature S$6.50 creations that have Cecchini's Profumo del Chianti Salt and olive oil directly imported from Tuscany, with homemade bread from the Tuscany pane rosetta recipe, including beef brisket marinated for 7 days with special spices and cooked at a low temperature for 6 hours.

Source: Mondrian Singapore Duxton. From left: Chefs Bakker, Cecchini and Huang.

Six Hands Dinner Extravaganza with Syrco Bakker

8 & 9 March

Cecchini and Huang will also collaborate with Chef Syrco Bakker, formerly of Pure C and now leading his own concept, Syrco BASÈ in Ubud, Bali, for a six-hands dinner. Chef Bakker's culinary style has garnered numerous accolades, including two Michelin stars and high ratings in GaultMillau. At Syrco BASÈ, Bakker continues to push the boundaries of culinary excellence, combining his culinary vision and values: traceability, transparency, and nature.

“I have the utmost respect for Chef Syrco, and I could not be more excited than to join forces with him for a special evening of respect, love, creativity, and collaboration,” Cecchini said.

Chef Bakker said: “I love to partner up with specialists and craftsmen, which is why I am so looking forward to this extravaganza with Dario and Chef Kenny – six hands to get inspired, learn and create together!”

The six-course menu honours Cecchini, Bakker and Huang’s joint passion and reverence for sourcing and produce, blending Bottega di Carna’s Italian spirit with Syrco BASÈ’s roots in the essence of Balinese, Indonesian and wider Asian culinary traditions.

Dates: 8 - 9 March 2024

Time: from 6 pm

What: Six-course menu at S$250++, S$368 including wine pairing

Location: Bottega di Carna

Reservations: http://bit.ly/booknow-bdc

Menu: https://bottega-di-carna.popmenu.com/embeds/wisobvjq#menu=a-la-carte-menu

Cecchini and Chef Huang will also unveil new permanent menu additions for Bottega di Carna, including risotto con lingua di manzo (risotto with beef tongue), crocchette di carne (beef croquettes made with Wagyu brisket), Angus beef tomahawk, parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmigiana)and homemade gnocchi with scamorza cheese gratin.

Reservations: https://book.ennismore.com/hotels/mondrian/singapore-duxton/dining

Malaysia-Singapore drone delivery services to launch this year

Aerodyne Group, a drone-based enterprise solutions provider headquartered in Malaysia, and DroneDash Technologies, a Singapore-based air mobility company, have announced their cross-border drone delivery services between Malaysia and Singapore.

Designed for critical deliveries such as urgent documents, high-value electronics, medical supplies, and perishable foods, the service features a navigation system crafted from satellite communications with dual-city 5G roaming, real-time tracking and advanced security protocols.

The drones used for the service can carry up to 30 kg and achieve speeds of 150 km/h within a four-hour flight span. The initiative will initially focus on establishing delivery routes from Singapore to Johor Bahru and Iskandar Malaysia, with commercial operations starting in Q324.

“Organisations in the logistics, cargo delivery and freight services sector stand to gain a double-digit percentage improvement in overall productivity and cost. Drone deliveries are also beneficial for the environment with emissions and carbon footprint being reduced by up to 100% and 80% respectively,” said Paul Yam, CEO of DroneDash.

Source: Aerodyne Group and DroneDash Technologies. A DroneDash drone in action.

“Drone deliveries are transforming the speed and reach of logistics operations, and they can help reach remote areas where traditional air and sea freight are unable to access. They also add to the creation of a revitalised and vibrant logistic sector through job creation in operating and maintaining the drones.”

“With the formation of the recent Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), we are proud to play a part in strengthening economic connectivity between the two regions,” said Mudzakkir Hatta, CEO of Aerodyne.

“We look forward to venturing beyond the state of Johor with increased shipments to other parts of Malaysia, forging a longstanding trade cooperation with the two partnering nations.”

Best Western Plus Hotel Nagoya Sakae comes online in March 2024

Source: BWH Hotels. The Best Western Plus Hotel Nagoya Sakae features contemporary rooms fully equipped with amenities.

BWH Hotels (BWH), the global hospitality network comprising WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels, will welcome a newly-renovated and rebranded hotel from 13 March 2024.

The Best Western Plus Hotel Nagoya Sakae, in the central commercial district of Nagoya, was formerly the Best Western Nagoya and one of the city's most popular internationally-branded midscale hotels. The building has been refurbished to bring it into line with the elevated brand standards of Best Western Plus. 

The hotel features 143 contemporary rooms, all fully equipped with modern amenities, including power showers. An onsite restaurant serves breakfast daily. 

Sakae is filled with high-rise corporate offices, world-class attractions, shopping malls and eclectic bars and restaurants. Local landmarks include the Sky Boat Ferris Wheel, Nagoya City Science Museum, and Nagoya City Art Museum. 

Those who need to go further can travel 40 km to Chubu Centrair International Airport, while Nagoya Station offers Shinkansen services to Tokyo and Osaka. Sakae Station is linked to two urban metro lines as well.

“We are delighted to unveil Best Western Plus Hotel Nagoya Sakae, which provides elevated midscale hospitality to guests in the epicentre of the city. As a major Asian metropolis and the home of multinational companies such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, and bullet train manufacturer Nippon Sharyo, this is a central hub for corporate travel, as well as an increasingly popular destination for leisure seekers. 

"The rebranding of the former Best Western Nagoya reflects the strength of BWH's portfolio of 18 brands to cater to the evolving needs of hotels owners and developers in every market. We look forward to welcoming all travellers to this revitalised midscale hotel,” said Olivier Berrivin, VP – APAC, BWH Hotels.  

BWH's portfolio in Japan currently comprises 21 hotels in cities such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Kyoto. It includes two beach resorts in Okinawa.

Watch the fireworks on February 11 at the Regent Hong Kong

The Regent Hong Kong's Chinese New Year offerings include:

Hong Kong Cuisine 1983

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Hong Kong Cuisine 1983's ala carte dishes (HK$468 to HK$980). Every dish carries a symbolic meaning. Lohei (HK$580), a salad of fresh salmon and mixed vegetables, invites prosperity and abundance; prawns in salted egg yolk (HK$580) signifies wealth and happiness, while braised Wagyu beef cheek with shacha sauce, served claypot style (HK$980), represents strength and heritage.

Hong Kong Cuisine 1983's HK$438 Good Fortune Turnip Cake Gift Box features two turnip (radish) cakes, each weighing 800 g. Both feature dried conpoy (scallop) and preserved meats. A smoked version infuses the turnip cakes with a hint of barbecue smoke. Ingredients like tea leaves, sugarcane, imperatae, and brown sugar are used in the smoking process.

Pâtisserie Millefeuille

Source: The Regent Hong Kong. The contents of the CNY Golden Ingot Gift Box.

The CNY Golden Ingot Gift Box (HK$148/box) is inspired by the dragon, which is often pictured holding a golden ingot. Chef Lionel has crafted a special edition golden ingot gift box symbolising prosperity and good luck. The ingot contains buttery pistachio and chocolate chip sablés made with pistachios from France and 60% dark chocolate chips from Valrhona.

Teppanyaki Mihara GOTEN

Teppanyaki Mihara GOTEN is offering a nine-course CNY Valentine's Day Menu priced at $2,080 up to February 19. On the menu are dishes such as Lobster cocktail with caviar, pan-roasted A5 Kumamoto Wagyu beef tenderloin with truffle sauce, all prepared on the teppan grill. The menu also features sautéed chu toro with grated yam and broiled Ezo abalone.

Other festive dining arrangements include:  

Harbourside

Lunch buffet, February 10–13

- 12 noon-3 pm 

- HK$728 per adult

Dinner buffet, February 10, 12 and 13

- There are two seatings, 5:30 pm-8 pm and 8:30 pm - 11 pm

- HK$998 per adult

Fireworks Dinner Buffet on February 11

- 6 pm–10 pm

 - HK$1,888 per adult

Lai Ching Heen

The Fat Choy 6-Course Set Menu is on offer up to February 25, 2024, other than on February 11, for HK$2,088 per person. A reservation made at least 48 hours in advance is required.

February 11 will see a Fireworks 6-Course Dinner Menu served from 6 pm–10 pm, at HK$3,488 per adult.

The Lobby Lounge

A festive afternoon tea is available from February 10–13 at HK$1,288 for two people.

- 12 noon – 3 pm (1st seating)

- 3 pm – 6 pm (2nd seating)

A Fireworks 6-Course Dinner Menu is available on February 11 for HK$1,388 per person.

- 6 pm to 11 pm 

Nobu Hong Kong

February 10, 12 and 13 will see an eight-course omakase dinner menu.

- 6 pm – 10 pm 

- HK$1,688 per person

The Fireworks 8-Course Omakase Dinner Menu will be available on February 11.

- 6 pm–10 pm 

- HK$2,288 per person 

Qura Bar

The Lunar New Year Fireworks Table Package on February 11 runs from 5:30 pm to 1 am. Standard tables for up to four guests cost HK$3,000, while premium tables cost HK$5,000 for up to four guests. Additional guests may join each table at HK$600 per person, for a maximum of six persons per table.

The Steak House

A Fireworks 5-Course Dinner Menu is available on February 11. 

- 6 pm–11 pm

- HK$2,588 per adult 

Private dining rooms can be reserved for a HK$36,000 minimum menu consumption charge.

*Dine-in prices are subject to a 10% service charge.

Job search and retail websites in APAC compromised: Group-IB

Source: Group-IB. Distribution of ResumeLooters' compromised websites by country and sector.

Group-IB, a creator of cybersecurity technologies to investigate, prevent, and fight digital crime, has identified a large-scale malicious campaign primarily targetting job search and retail websites of companies in the Asia-Pacific region.

The cybercriminal group, dubbed ResumeLooters by Group-IB’s Threat Intelligence unit, successfully infected at least 65 websites between November and December 2023 through SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. Most of the gang’s victims are in India, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, mainland China, and Australia.

Group-IB said ResumeLooters has stolen 2,079,027 unique emails and other records, such as names, phone numbers, dates of birth, as well as information about job seekers’ experience and employment history. The stolen data has been offered for sale by ResumeLooters in Telegram. Group-IB has notified identified victims.

Operating since the beginning of 2023, ResumeLooters has been using penetration testing frameworks and open-source tools to inject malicious SQL queries into 65 job search, retail and other websites and retrieve a total of 2,188,444 database rows of information. Of these rows, 510,259 were user data from employment websites.

Over 70% of the known compromised websites are in the Asia-Pacific region. The gang is primarily focused on India (12 victims), Taiwan (10), Thailand (9), Vietnam (7), mainland China (3), Australia (2), the Philippines (1), South Korea (1), and Japan (1). However, compromised websites have also been identified outside of the region.

Group-IB’s researchers have also identified two Telegram accounts associated with the threat actor. Both accounts have been used to offer the stolen data for sale in Chinese-speaking Telegram groups dedicated to hacking and penetration testing.

“In less than two months, we have identified yet another threat actor conducting SQL injection attacks against companies in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Nikita Rostovcev, Senior Analyst at the Advanced Persistent Threat Research Team, Group-IB.

“It is striking to see how some of the oldest yet remarkably effective SQL attacks remain prevalent in the region. However, the tenacity of the ResumeLooters group stands out as they experiment with diverse methods of exploiting vulnerabilities, including XSS attacks. Additionally, the gang’s attacks cover a vast geographical area.”

According to Group-IB, cybercriminals have been increasingly interested in the Asia-Pacific region. In December 2023, Group-IB reported on GambleForce, a cybercriminal group which conducted over 20 SQL injection attacks against gambling and government websites in the region. Unlike GambleForce, which focuses solely on SQL injections, ResumeLooters has a more diverse modus operandi.

In addition to SQL injection attacks, ResumeLooters successfully executed XSS scripts on at least four legitimate job search websites. On one of these websites, the attackers implanted a malicious script by creating a fake employer profile. As a result, the attackers were able to steal the HTML code of the pages visited by the victims, including those with administrative access. Malicious XSS scripts were also intended to display phishing forms on legitimate resources. It is believed that the attackers’ main goal was to steal admin credentials. However, no evidence of successful theft of administrative credentials was found.

To protect against injection attacks, Group-IB suggested that companies implement comprehensive input validation and sanitisation on both the client and server sides. Performing regular security assessments and code reviews will help to identify and mitigate injection vulnerabilities.

The comprehensive examination of ResumeLooters’ malicious infrastructure, tools, and tactics, along with the full list of indicators of compromise, is available in Group-IB’s latest blog post.