Technology giant Google has launched the Google Nest Hub, a smart display that puts the voice-activated Google Assistant software at your fingertips.

Under a tie-up with Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), Nest Hub users can get news and video feeds from The Straits Times and The Business Times, which are published by the media company.

They can issue the device voice commands to tune in to six news programmes from SPH. ST subscribers can also buy the smart display, which has a seven-inch screen and built-in speakers, at a 37 per cent discount.

The Nest Hub acts as the command-and-control centre for all compatible smart home devices, including light bulbs, smart plugs and surveillance cameras.

For instance, the Nest Hub listens to voice commands from users to display the latest news from The Straits Times, browse recipes from Food Network, stream videos from YouTube and listen to music from Spotify. Users can also tap and swipe on the Nest Hub' s display to do so

Besides using voice commands to ask for help from the Google Assistant, Nest Hub users can control the device by tapping and swiping its touchscreen. They will also be able to see responses on the display from the Google Assistant, such as their daily commute on Google Maps.

MINDCHAMPS Preschool fourth-quarter net profit rose 67 per cent to S$3.7 million, underpinned by increases in international student numbers and franchise development, the company announced on Wednesday night.

Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter came in at 1.52 Singapore cents, up from 1.18 Singapore cents a year earlier.

For the three months ended Dec 31, revenue rose 70 per cent to S$14.1 million from a year ago, mainly due to an increase  in school fees as newly acquired centres in Australia and Singapore raised the number of enrolled students. There was also an increase of about S$1.2 million in non-recurring franchise income for the quarter, MindChamps said

 

For the full year, net profit rose 40 per cent to S$6.4 million, as revenue grew 62 per cent to S$37.0 million. This translated to EPS of 2.64 Singapore cents for the 12-month period, up from 2.45 Singapore cents previously.

Looking ahead, MindChamps noted that its increasing global presence will continue to be a strong growth contributor, with newly opened preschool and nursery centres in Singapore, Australia and Myanmar among others. The organisation now has 74 centres globally, up from 59 in 2017

Singapore Press Holdings, which publishes The Business Times, owns about a 20 per cent stake in MindChamps.

Its Southampton property, which had 526 beds, had all rooms sold out in May 2019.

Beds are selling out in Singapore Press Holdings  (SPH) purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) assets in the UK. According to UOB Kay Hian, SPH  ' s portfolio acquisitions made in April 2019 have already had a substantial amount of beds sold out for the school term.
 

Its largest PSBA, the 526-bed Hampton Square at Southampton, had all room types sold out when they were launched in May 2019.

SPH could be benefitting from the Education Ministry of China' s official warning to Chinese citizens asking them to undertake risk assessment before attempting to get US visas, as some Chinese students have faced issues in visa application and extension, according to UOBKH analyst Lucas Teng China is the largest source of international students in the US, accounting for around 31% of the total, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Moreover, UK universities have seen a marked increase in Chinese undergraduate students, with enrolment increasing by up to 9% in 2017/2018, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), in contrast to a decline seen by US universities, a reversal of the growth trend prior to the Trump administration