Archive for December, 2011
Looking ahead: Brazil set to rival China in designer shopping by 2013
Looking ahead: Brazil set to rival China in designer shopping by 2013 (Relaxnews) – Although studies in 2011 have tended to focus on the rise of the luxury market in China, where labels such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci thrive, a new report predicts 2013 will be a “record year” for luxury sales in [...]
Daily face masks: an Asian trend launching for US consumers
(Relaxnews) РDespite a current spate of beauty launches catering to the skincare needs of specific continents from brands such as bareMinerals (Asia) and Est̩e Lauder (Europe), Masqueology plans to spread Asian skincare practices in the US. WWD reports December 29 that the brand will launch single-use paper masks across selected Sephora stores in March, [...]
Save the dates: Top restaurant and chef awards in 2012
(Relaxnews) – When it comes to awards season in the culinary world, the first half of the year is one of the busiest. In addition to regional Bocuse d’Or competitions in Europe and the US, Restaurant magazine celebrates the 10th anniversary of its World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, a competition which has swiftly climbed the [...]
Honda scraps 1,000 flood-ravaged cars in Thailand
(BANGKOK-AFP) – Japanese automaker Honda on Tuesday began destroying more than 1,000 cars in Thailand to reassure customers that no vehicles damaged in the country’s recent flood crisis will ever be sold. The scrapping process at Honda’s plant in the central province of Ayutthaya is expected to take one month, the company said in a [...]
Once Upon A Rose Parade
By LARRY G. PELAYO & DAVID CASUCO LOS ANGELES – Time was when the Philippines and Japan were the most interesting places in the Pacific Rim, at least to colonial America. The Tournament of Roses, which started in 1890, validated this historical vignette when, in 1917, it recorded a most significant feature of the Rose [...]
Culinary buzzwords for 2012 include ‘bacalao’ and ‘huacatay’
(Relaxnews) – A foodspotting trend-watching group has released a list of buzzwords they believe will be popping up more and more on restaurant menus in 2012, some of which require a culinary — and phonetic — dictionary. According to international restaurant consultancy group Baum + Whiteman in New York, some of the hottest buzzwords and [...]
Japan scraps plan for free flights scheme
(TOKYO-Relaxnews) – The Japan Tourism Agency has had to scrap plans to give away 10,000 free flights to anyone who wanted to visit the country after the government refused to pay for the scheme. The unprecedented giveaway was the centerpiece of a campaign to bring tourists back to Japan after the natural disasters of March [...]
Zhang’s war epic takes charge of Chinese box office
(HONG KONG-Relaxnews) – Zhang Yimou’s The Flowers of War has come out on top after the first round of the festive season battle at the Chinese box office. The much-hyped drama — which stars Oscar winner Christian Bale — took in just over 152 million yuan (18.3 million euros) from its opening weekend to hold [...]
Philippines adds Chinese New Year to holidays
(MANILA-AFP) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino Thursday declared Chinese New Year an official holiday, ignoring the objections of some in the business community who say there are already too many public holidays. It means the Chinese New Year, also known as the spring festival or lunar new year, will be celebrated annually from January 23, [...]
China says it opposes EU airline emissions charges
(BEIJING-AFP) – China Thursday joined Washington in opposing a plan by the European Union to impose carbon emissions charges on all airlines in its airspace from January 1, warning it risked sparking a trade war. The comments from China’s foreign ministry and official media came after the European Union’s highest court threw out a bid [...]
