Initially launched in April last year in the United States, M has been delighting people with suggestions, enriching the way people interact.

M offers suggestions by popping into an open Messenger conversation to suggest relevant content and capabilities to enrich the way users communicate and get things done.

Suggestions from M appear when it recognises intent in a conversation, and will include the following actions:

Sending stickers

M shares fun sticker suggestions for your daily life interactions, like “Thank you” or “Bye-bye.”

Sharing your location

If someone asks “where are you” or if you say something like “on my way!”, M can suggest that you share your location during a conversation.

Wishing a happy birthday

If the person you are talking with in a one-on-one thread on Messenger has a birthday, M will surface a suggestion to send them a Birthday Sticker.

Initiating voice and video calls

If people are chatting 1:1 or in a group and express intent to make a call, M will suggest a voice or video call in Messenger. So, for example, if someone says, “want to call me?”, M will surface this suggestion.

Creating a poll

Having a hard time making decisions in a group? M lets you set a poll topic and vote in group conversations.

To experience M, Thai users can simply chat with a friend or a group as they normally would on Facebook Messenger.

M may make a suggestion in a conversation relevant to one of the core actions listed above, and then the M logo and suggestion will appear – it’s that simple.

M also learns what you do and don’t like, so the more you use it, the more it can help.

Importantly, you always have the option to ignore or dismiss a suggestion if it’s not helpful, and if you don’t want M’s assistance you can easily mute it in M settings.

Customers who register for the first time will get a chance to win an Iphone X, while those who make a purchase of more than Bt500 via the app will receive three gifts: a Bt100 discount, one pack of CP No 3 eggs, and free home delivery.

The promotion is valid until May 31.

In its quarterly update Monday, Netflix reported profits grew 63 percent from a year ago to $290 million, while revenues jumped 43 percent to $3.7 billion.

Netflix’s new member additions boosted its subscriber base to 125 million worldwide, including 118.9 million paid subscribers.

The California-based video giant, which has been on a tear with original programs including “The Crown” and “Stranger Things,” saw its shares surge 6.5 percent in after-hours trade on the stronger-than-expected results.

Netflix has raised its subscription fees as it expands globally to nearly 200 markets and invests heavily in original programming.

The company plans to invest up to $8 billion this year in new TV series, films, documentaries and other programs in several languages “to serve the diverse tastes of our growing global membership base,” the company said in its letter to shareholders.

Recently released programs include the sci-fi thriller “Altered Carbon” and “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

Earlier this month, Netflix pulled out of the Cannes film festival in a dispute over rules for French media releases.

The move came in response to a new Cannes rule banning from the competition movies that are not first released in French cinemas.

In its letter Monday, Netflix said the decision was made because of a stipulation that if a film is in competition at Cannes, it can not be watched on Netflix in France for the following three years.

“We would never want to do that to our French members,” the letter said.

“We will continue to celebrate our films and filmmakers at other festivals around the world but unfortunately we will have to sit out Cannes for now so that our growing French membership can continue to enjoy our original films.”

Netflix added 1.96 million new US members in the quarter and 5.46 million internationally.

The international segment now accounts for 55 percent of memberships and 50 percent of revenues.

Netflix this year won its first Academy Award this year for the documentary “Icarus” on doping in sports.

“We’re thrilled when the creators with whom we partner are recognized for their exceptional work,” the statement said. “The Oscar win helps to reinforce that Netflix is a great home for both documentary lovers and creators.”

The investment will pave the way for Panpuri’s rapid growth, funding its further expansion, marketing, research and development as well as product innovation initiatives, the company said.

Founded by Vorravit Siripark in 2003, the Bangkok-based brand has enjoyed significant growth in Thailand and Asia by building on its belief that beauty and wellness are intertwined. At the forefront of the wellness industry since its inception, it has strived to deliver experiences for customers to fulfil their wellness ambitions with its range of refined products for natural and organic skincare, personal care as well as home ambiance products, spa and wellness services.

Panpuri products are available in 20 stores overseas. It operates 40 stores in Thailand, covering six major cities in the country and has opened stores in Bangkok and Tokyo.

Panpuri also manages luxury organic spas in Park Hyatt Hotel Bangkok and Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang.

The newly unveiled Panpuri Wellness – the brand’s new Bt100 million investment located on the 12th floor of Gaysorn Urban Retreat, in the heart of Bangkok’s commercial district, Ratchaprasong – best exemplifies the brand’s philosophy for wellness with a unique 360-degree approach that consists of organic spa treatments, organic F&B, wellness studio and the city’s biggest thermal springs set against Bangkok’s skyline, within its 2,000 sqm facilities.

It plans further retail expansion in Thailand for domestic sales to reach 70 per cent of total revenue, with overseas contributions making up the balance.

“We are thrilled to partner with Lakeshore Capital in our next chapter of growth to become Asia’s top wellness brand,” said Vorravit Siripark, chief executive officer of Panpuri.

“Lakeshore Capital comes with years of expertise, strategic approach, management talents and deep knowledge of the consumer market that will enable us to thrive and grow. Lakeshore Capital also shares Panpuri’s commitment to provide customers with the natural, organic, non-toxic approach to wellness built on our three core values of purity, pleasure and results. With Lakeshore Capital’s investment, we will broaden our consumer base and continually innovate new products, services and wellness initiatives.”

Vorravit added that, “The highly-fragmented beauty and personal care market in Thailand is expanding and expected to grow at eight per cent a year between 2016 and 2020 with more Asian and local brands taking market shares from western products. Furthermore, the global natural and organic beauty industry is estimated to be worth Bt300 billion in 2016 and expected to grow at 8 per cent a year, which will help push the growth of Panpru in the region and globally.

Our core strategy is to focus on consumers in the beauty and health industry, aiming to push Panpuri’s revenue to Bt1.5 billion within the next 5 years, given the segment is now worth more than Bt200 billion a year. In addition, Thailand has seen continuous growth in foreign tourists’ arrivals of approximately 12 per cent a year from 35.4 million in 2017.

The country is now ranked No 1 as a spa-holiday destination, generating revenue of Bt32 billion from foreign customers in 2015, the copany said, citing data from Euromonitor 2017, the Bank of Thailand Tourism Indicator, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Ministry of Commerce.

“Panpuri has shown immense growth over the last 15 years. Its dynamic management has grown the brand to become an international wellness name,” said Panaikorn Chartikavanij, co-founder of Lakeshore Capital. “As the beauty and wellness industries merge, Panpuri has positioned itself as a brand that appeals to a global consumer base, driven by its skincare, personal care and home ambiance products as well as spa and wellness services. ”

Pravit Sribanditmongkol, managing director of Kingsmen CMTI Plc, said the company is well positioned for expansion in what it calls its CLM sub-region market: Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Pursuing such opportunities could be profitable, he said, particularly in support of industries linked to infrastructure investment in the CLM countries.

“We already expanded to open a branch in Myanmar as Kingsmen Myanmar Co Ltd in 2015, in Yangon,” Pravit said. “Myanmar’s construction industry registered positive growth during the review period, from 2012–16. Despite a slowdown in growth during 2015 and 2016 due to political instability, the industry was supported by public sector investments in infrastructure and residential construction projects.”

Pravit said that construction industry activity is expected to see further support from government efforts to stimulate economic growth through large-scale investments in infrastructure.

“This year we are expanding our market to Cambodia. Our office in Phnom Penh will offer the same services as those provided by the Kingsmen group elsewhere,” he said.

“Cambodia is one of the developing markets in Southeast Asia with the most potential. We see a great opportunity there, particularly in the construction sector due to the increase in foreign investment in construction projects such as office buildings, malls, mixed-used developments, hospitality venues and so on. Besides construction, we also see opportunities for exhibitions and events as we market our services.”

Kingsmen CMTI Plc was established in Thailand in 1989 as CMTI Co Ltd to serve the design and construction needs of the exhibition and related events industry. The company joined with Kingsmen Creatives Ltd of Singapore in 2002 and has a network of 19 offices across the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. It was listed on Thailand’s stock market in 2015.

With 29 years’ experience, the firm has been serving international and local clients on their design and construction requirements for interiors, exhibitions and events, museums and learning centres, including marketing activities and marketing communications services, Pravit said.

“For the MICE industry, these also important for us because we started the business from the exhibitions and events industry,” said Pravit, referring to meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions. “We now have so many more clients that trust in our services. For example, Kingsmen C.M.T.I. Plc. is the official contractor for the Thailand International Motor Expo, the largest automotive show in Thailand. And we have been the official contractor for Money Expo Series for more than 10 years. We have operated since the beginning based in the design, construction and events management spheres.

“The key competencies shared among the Kingsmen group stem from holistic approach to design. This is driven by our corporate culture, which involves creative thinking in everything that we do. Great design fosters collaborations, communicates strategies and, most importantly, inspires our people to reach greater heights. And because we are a one-stop services company for our clients, we can serve in every stage of clients’ masterpieces from the creative concept, research and design, production, construction as well as events management.

“So, these capabilities have brought us to the level where we are an active global player and are recognised as one of the elite design and build companies internationally.”

Pravit said that Kingsmen CMTI plans to achieve between 20 per cent and 25 per cent of its revenue growth from the focus on the MICE industry and mixed-use properties. This ambition was founded in “the great potential for future development and growth of these two businesses” in Thailand.

“Other important parts of the company are our employees and stakeholders. Equal opportunity is of the utmost importance on the business plan,” Pravit said.

“We are dedicated to fostering a diverse workforce. We embrace the perspectives and backgrounds of our diverse employees and take affirmative action to offer equal employment and advancement in opportunities to all. We have also established an open dialogue with all stakeholders by operating our business in a transparent manner, marked by consistent engagement and clear disclosure.

“As a vice president of the executive committee at Thailand Exhibition Association (TEA) from 2017-18, I foresee positive signs for growth in the MICE industry in Thailand. One reason is because the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has strengthened its partnership with public and private sector organisations to help facilitate the needs of MICE travellers.

“As for the store decoration industry in Thailand, it will see expansion this year due to the gradual increase in muti-functional retail and property projects – or the so-called mixed-use trend – that is happening not only in Thailand but across Southeast Asia.”

He said the major business challenge of the day is the ever-changing world and how companies can adapt their services to the suit the emerging trends for both the interiors and trade show sides of the business.

Since last year, the company expanded its services beyond retail and corporate interiors to add services for public areas, hospitality, architecture and engineering.

“Another challenge is that we are facing the digital disruptive situation and yet must also stay tuned into it,” Pravit said. “Kingsmen CMTI is committed to expanding our business responsibly and reducing our impact on the environment. We are a green organisation and our approach to sustainability is integrated across our business activities. We work in collaboration with various government bodies and entities to ensure sustainable work environments.

“We regard sustainability as no longer a mere trend, but a way of life for many home and corporate environments.”

The service has been launched giving priority to 12 destinations: the USA, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Singapore, the Maldives, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan. Additional destinations will be launched later this year.

The charge will rely on the weight of the parcel, starting from Bt120. The maximum weight is at 2kg.

Also of interest to business visitors to the city is Hong Kong Cyberport, which offers startup ventures from any country services for business incubation, funding and networking.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) on Friday kicked off Asia’s largest Spring Electronics and ICT Fairs, which will run until Monday, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The HKTDC says more than 3,500 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions have been taking part in the two trade fairs.

Exhibitors have been showing off their hi-tech products, including those featuring advanced robotics and virtual reality, as well as wearable electronics and Internet of Thing (IOT) offerings.

Regulators, non-profit organisations and startups also are presenting their views and new services to visitors.

“Hong Kong Cyberport offers fintech startups or any entrepreneurs from any country training, financial assistance and business networking globally,” Charles Lam, the financial technology lead at HK Cyberport Management Limited, said at a seminar entitled “Cultivating Fintech Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Hong Kong”.

HK Cyberport is a creative digital community to committed to nurturing technology startups and entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration and business opportunities, and accelerating digital adoption through strategic initiatives and partnerships, Lam said.

He said some 1,200 companies have joined HK Cyberport, including a number of Thai startup companies. One Thai firm has developed a robotics-based financial adviser application, he said.

Cyberport provides initial financial support starting from a small amount of seed funding of HK$100,000 to co-investment up to HK$200 million.

Each year, it chooses 100 entrepreneurs from thousand of applicants for business incubation, Lam said. They come from all over the world, with those from Russia and Israel prominent recently.

Now, Cyberport has begun focussing on supporting fintech startups, Lam said.

Among them is Velotrade, which provides a marketplace for small businesses needing cash and investors looking for investment opportunities in financing small exporters.

Christine Chow, associate of international trade at Velotrade, said that the Velotrade platform allows small exporters and institutional investors to meet and help each other through the trade receivables market.

An exporter who is waiting for payment after selling products to an overseas counterpart can use the platform to submit his invoice and then request advance payment from any investor, Chow said.

An investor can bid for the invoice and, if he wins, will first pay 80 per cent of the invoice amount to the exporter and the rest will be paid after overseas buyer pays the full amount of that invoice.

Currently, Chow’s business operates only in Hong Kong and she plans to expand into mainland China.

The global market for discounted receivables is very large and growing fast, she said, referring to an estimated global market worth of US$3 trillion in 2016. The Chinese market was estimated to be worth US$400 billion for that year. Chow points out the opportunities in this market as many Asian economies are driven by exports.

Wilson Kwok, founder of the Institute of Financial Technologies of Asia (IFTA), said his institution has just opened an online course in fintech education in order to establish ethical standard among market participants.

He said fintech is evolving rapidly and education is trying to catch up with it. He plans to promote fintech education in Thailand and other Asean countries.

The course also aims to assist people to access fintech professionals and local fintech requirements, Kwok added.

The EVSBike is now available for pre-sale at special early bird prices until May 30, allowing both professional and hobby investors to support the production and implementation of this new powered cycling solution, said the company in a Saturday media release.

Boosted by hydraulic technology, the release said the EVSBike would sport a state-of-the-art bike frame design and a comfortable saddle for long rides.

For commuters who are always on-the-go and face issues with a dwindling phone battery life, the EVSBike is power-assisted by a battery that can sustain up to 15km of cycling and charge a phone.

Thonglert Sonchan, 51, was seeking to generate more interest in the products offered at Nongyaplong Community Enterprise when she began looking into how Thai silk and Eri silk can be combined into a new way of presenting the enterprise’s range of clothing and accessories such as bags and scarves,

The resulting breakthrough lifted the enterprise’s revenue to more than Bt1 million a year for the members.

“I start to produce Thai silk in 1996 when I wanted to generate more income as a cushion against the uncertainties from the variable income with my rice crop, which covers 20 rai in Nongyaplong district, Khon Kaen province,” Thonglert said. “In some years, I suffered losses with rice farming, so I sought to find a way to ensure a more sustainable income for my family.”

Thonglert said she started out in a silk venture with her savings of Bt20,000 and succeeded in making average sales of about Bt100,000 a month.

This success served as an inspiration for community to set up a community enterprise. By collaborating with people in the district, Thonglert led the way in establishing the Nongyaplong Community Enterprise. It began producing Thai silk for sale to the community and in neighbouring provinces in 2001.

The community enterprise was initially set up with 26 members – all of them women seeking extra sources of income for their families.

The enterprise was soon generating sales of between Bt1 million and Bt1.7 million a year. This translated into income in the range of Bt3,000 and Bt10,000 a month for each member.

The enterprise has since expanded to take in 50 members. That expansion coincided with efforts by the members to find new ways to produce Thai silk against the backdrop of stiff competition in the market.

In 2012, the enterprise began turning out blends and combinations of Thai silk and Eri silk. Paving the way for this advance was collaboration with Khon Kaen University on research and development,

Thonglert said the resulting products came with a different texture to the fabric, and customers liked what they saw, sending sales higher.

The products made with this distinctive silk combination are distributed at the Nongyaplong Community Enterprise and the Eco Eco Eri shop in Khon Kaen province, she said, and also are sold in the nearby provinces.

The product innovation initiated by the community was recognised with a runner-up award in the Thailand Green Design Awards 2018 announced last month. Its resource efficiency was highlighted.

“When our community received the award, that proved to us that we were conducting our business in the right way,” Thonglert said. “We had sought to differentiate our products from the competition and, in doing so, improve our sales growth.

“Our success has helped to improve the quality of life for our members, who are now benefiting from a sustainable income over the long term.”