Asia In Brief
In Indonesia, the rise of food delivery apps, known as “superapps,” has led to an interesting health trend: users are gaining weight. This might sound concerning at first, but a recent study suggests it isn’t all negative.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Bonn, looks into how these apps are impacting nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Indonesia between 2015 and 2018. This period aligns with the launch of popular apps like Grab and Gojek.
The researchers discovered that the introduction of food delivery services led to an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI), especially among those who were already overweight or obese. It was noted that changes were notably higher in urban areas and among people with higher incomes and education levels. The wealthier individuals seemed to have more disposable income for food delivery, resulting in greater food consumption.
Interestingly, the study also noted a decline in underweight individuals and an uptick in the consumption of fruits and meats. This suggests that while there are concerns about obesity, these apps might also play a role in improving certain dietary habits.
So, the presence of superapps poses both challenges and opportunities for health policymakers in Indonesia.
Alibaba Cloud’s Global Expansion
Alibaba Cloud announced that it has expanded its Cloud Container Compute Service (ACS) to international markets. This service aims to simplify the use of Kubernetes, a popular system for managing applications in containers.
The company claims that migrating to their service can reduce computing costs by up to 55%. It’s worth noting that half of Alibaba Cloud’s 28 regions are located outside of mainland China, which could be appealing depending on one’s views about working with Chinese-based cloud services.
US Sanctions Against Cyber Criminals
Recently, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on alleged cyber criminals from China and North Korea. The sanctions targeted North Korea’s Department 53, which is believed to run front companies that provide IT services while secretly working for the state. This includes two companies accused of facilitating cyberattacks through employees who work remotely from overseas.
In addition, the Treasury also sanctioned Liaoning China Trade Industry Co., Ltd for supplying computer equipment to these cybercriminal operations. The sanctions block any assets these individuals and entities may have in the US and prohibit American companies from doing business with them.
India and US Collaborate on Cybercrime
India and the US recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing cooperation on cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics. This agreement seeks to bolster efforts against serious crimes, including terrorism and drug trafficking.
Vietnam Implements Tax Changes
In Vietnam, local banks have been directed to start deducting taxes from transactions involving foreign tech giants like PayPal and Airbnb. This approach arises from efforts to improve the efficiency of tax collection as part of the broader digital transformation of the country’s tax system.
Amazon Acquires Axio in India
Amazon has acquired Axio, a financial service that offers buy now, pay later options and personal loans in India. With over ten million customers, Axio strengthens Amazon’s financial offerings in the region. Axio has confirmed that the deal, which took place in December and is yet to be approved by regulators, will allow it to continue its independent operations while working to expand credit accessibility in India.
Check out this related article: Essential Guide to Laramie County Health and Food Inspections: What You Need to Know (Jan 13-19, 2025)
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