Asia Digest: AXA IM Alts buys Japan assets; Anchorage Capital sells Rail First

European investment firm AXA IM Alts has acquired residential assets in Japan for $420 million while Australian PE firm Anchorage Capital is selling Rail First in Australia. AXA IM Alts buys residential assets in Japan for $420m Global alternative investment manager AXA IM Alts announced that it has acquired a portfolio of multi-family and purpose-built… Continue reading Asia Digest: AXA IM Alts buys Japan assets; Anchorage Capital sells Rail First

Indonesian CVC Mandiri Capital disbursed $94m in funding in last seven years

Indonesian state lender Bank Mandiri’s corporate venture capital (CVC) arm PT Mandiri Capital Indonesia (MCI) — a backer of prominent startups such as GoTo and Bukalapak — has disbursed 1.4 trillion rupiah ($93.94 million) across  22 portfolio startups since its inception in 2015, a top executive said. “The growth is amazing, we recorded an MOIC… Continue reading Indonesian CVC Mandiri Capital disbursed $94m in funding in last seven years

Chinese firms keen to ‘diversify’ cap tables in global forays, says Taihecap’s Chen Renchuan

A growing list of Chinese companies is looking to rope in global investors as they seek to “diversify” their cap tables amid an accelerated trend of tapping overseas markets for growth. Investment bank Taihecap, which officially set up a Singapore office in June as its first outside of China, has observed a rising number of… Continue reading Chinese firms keen to ‘diversify’ cap tables in global forays, says Taihecap’s Chen Renchuan

Despite economic headwinds, fundraising by Indian startups recovers to touch $1.2b in Aug

After hitting a 21-month low in July, fundraising by Indian startups bounced back in August as venture capital and private equity investors put a total of $1.2 billion to work across 113 transactions, according to proprietary data compiled by DealStreetAsia. This was 38% higher than in July, when startups had raised $885 million across 119… Continue reading Despite economic headwinds, fundraising by Indian startups recovers to touch $1.2b in Aug

Brands Say Everybody’s Wrong, Actually the Metaverse Looks Great

“Is it going to be better than the best games out there? No, it’s not. But it’s not meant to be.” Get With It Brand engagement is key to Facebook-turned-Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s longtime business model — a vision which, as the founder has made abundantly clear, he’s intent on applying to his forthcoming metaverse.… Continue reading Brands Say Everybody’s Wrong, Actually the Metaverse Looks Great

Devious Hackers Are Hiding Malware in a James Webb Image

Is nothing sacred anymore? Webb Hack Hackers are using James Webb Space Telescope image files to spread malware on Windows computers, according to cybersecurity firm Securonix. The firm’s research team identified a particularly famous deep field image, part of NASA’s first slew of Webb images revealed last month, but modified by hackers to infect target… Continue reading Devious Hackers Are Hiding Malware in a James Webb Image

Our Favorite Gear for Everyday Sun Protection

We’re finally at the end of summer, after enduring another season of unprecedented droughts and heat waves—and it’s not quite over. We may face weather like this well into the fall, which means you can expect to see a bit more sun than you’re used to during back-to-school season. You should pay closer attention to… Continue reading Our Favorite Gear for Everyday Sun Protection

Apple will reportedly announce new AirPods Pro on Wednesday

Updated iPhone and Watch models won’t be the only new devices at Apple’s forthcoming “Far Out” event. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is also readying a set of second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds. “The new AirPods Pro will update a model that first went on sale in October 2019,” Gurman writes in his latest… Continue reading Apple will reportedly announce new AirPods Pro on Wednesday

Hitting the Books: Newfangled oceanographers helped win WWII using marine science

Lethal Tides tells the story of pioneering oceanic researcher Mary Sears and her leading role in creating one of the most important intelligence gathering operations of World War II. Languishing in academic obscurity and roundly ignored by her male colleagues, Sears is selected for command by the godfather of climate change, Roger Revelle, and put… Continue reading Hitting the Books: Newfangled oceanographers helped win WWII using marine science