6th Digital China Summit Kicks Off In Fuzhou, Fujian

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The 6th Digital China Summit themed "Accelerating Digital China Construction and Promoting Chinese Modernization", is held in the city of Fuzhou in East China's Fujian province on April 27-28.

The event is co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and Fujian Provincial People's Government.

This year, the summit will focus on the latest achievements and best practices of digital China, and share development experiences, according to the Organizing Committee of the 6th Digital China Summit in a statement.

Programme of the summit includes the opening ceremony, the main forum and 20 sub-forums, highlighting various topics such as digital silk road, data resources, digital government and smart energy.

The summit will also host the Digital China Achievement Exhibition, Digital Product Expo, Digital China Innovation Contest, and a series of special events such as the Cloud Ecosystem Conference and the Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem Conference, aiming at further promoting the collaborative innovation and common development of the eco-chain in key industries.

The Digital China Summit has been successfully held in Fuzhou for five consecutive years. Over the past five sessions, it has released nearly 100 major national policies and key reports, invited almost 1,500 exhibitors, held nearly 150 forums and seminars, and witnessed more than 1,300 experts and scholars delivering keynote speeches.

At the same time, the summit has organised almost 100 negotiations, facilitating the contract signing and the implementation of 1,976 digital economy projects with a total investment of nearly 1.4 trillion yuan. (100 yuan=RM64.50)

-- BERNAMA

WEMADE STARTS GLOBAL PRE-REGISTRATION OF WORLD FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP, THE FIRST FISHING GAME ON WEMIX PLAY

 

World Fishing Championship, the first fishing game on WEMIX PLAY, started its global pre-registration on May 25th (Graphic: Wemade) 

- Game to be launched in 170 countries on May 25th, pre-registration available on Google Play
- Content includes collecting 500 fish species, PvP, and championship matches
- Realistic underwater content created using advanced VR and AR technologies 

SEOUL, South Korea, April 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Wemade started global pre-registration of World Fishing Championship, a new fishing game developed by Wemade Plus.
 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230427005438/en/ 

World Fishing Championship is the first fishing game on WEMIX PLAY, a blockchain game platform by Wemade. The game will officially launch in 170 countries (excluding Korea and China) on May 25th. Pre-registration is available on Google Play. For one month after the launch, all users including those that have pre-registered will receive special items, such as Fishing Gear Box and 10 Platinum Lucky Box Tickets.

Users can collect around 500 species of fish ranging from tropical to prehistoric by traveling around the world. Through character growth and improvement of skills, users can engage in strategic and exciting battles with various kinds of fish. A diverse range of contents, such as PvP and championship matches will also be available.

Fish collected in the aquarium can be viewed in various ways, by using a 360-degree camera, or through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies. Users can also observe the food chain that was created using AI technology.
 

More information on World Fishing Championship can be found on WEMIX PLAY website.

WEMIX PLAY, the world’s No. 1 blockchain game platform, offers games of various genres ranging from RPG to puzzle, strategy, shooting, and SNG. With the addition of World Fishing Championship, WEMIX PLAY’s game lineup has diversified even more.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230427005438/en/ 

Contact

Wemade Co., Ltd. (112040: KOSDAQ)
Yeonghyun Lee, PR Manager
yeonghyun@wemade.com 

Source : Wemade Co., Ltd. 

FPT Software’s Maiden Global Internship Programme Welcomes IT Students To Vietnam

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) --  FPT Software recently announced its first-ever Global Internship initiative, designed to provide great opportunities for students to accelerate their technology careers with professional working experiences in an award-winning global information technology (IT) services company.

“FPT Software has been celebrated among the region’s best places to work, with a working culture defined by unlimited opportunities to learn, grow; challenging & purposeful missions, and ultimately global success with world-class clients across different industries.

"With this first-ever Global Internship programme, we are happy to bring young talents to immerse in this dynamic environment and FPT Software’s leading high-tech projects; and look forward to conducting businesses from their fresh perspectives as well,” said its Chief Human Resources Officer, Nguyen Tuan Minh.

In a statement, FPT Software said its first-ever Global Internship programme will welcome students to its state-of-the-art campuses across Vietnam, which is highly recognised among top-tier emerging technology destinations in Asia-Pacific.

The eight-week programme is installed in two different batches from July 2023 and will open for enrolment until June 15. Eligible participants include students in their third year or above, of Bachelor's degrees in IT-related fields.

Offering access to futuristic, high-tech projects and best-in-industry mentorship on the job from its executives, FPT Software aims to inspire its global interns and continuously nurture a new generation of young talents in technology.

This inaugural Global Internship programme will see FPT Software partnering with top-ranked universities in Asia for a start, with future expansion to all countries and territories where it is present in the world.

Besides cultivating knowledge and hands-on experiences in cutting edge technology in artificial intelligence (AI), Cloud, Data and Cyber Security, FPT Software’s Global Interns can also develop interpersonal skills and industry networks, while experiencing the unique FPT and Vietnamese cultures.

More information can be found on https://www.fpt-software.com/global-internship/.

--  BERNAMA

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET FILM TO LAUNCH NFT OFFERING, POWERED BY AVENTUS

To celebrate the film’s 10-year anniversary, Aventus has partnered with The Wolf of Wall Street’s rights holders to produce historical collection of NFTs

LONDON, April 25 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aventus, a Web3 solutions provider for enterprises, has partnered with the film rights holders for The Wolf of Wall Street and world-leading film producers and editors to create The Wolf of Wall Street Experience: a series of NFT drops which will also act as a key to unlocking wider parts of the experience.

With a worldwide box office of almost $400M, five Oscar nominations including Best Picture, and a Guinness World Records entry for most swearing in a film, The Wolf of Wall Street’s impact on popular culture remains steadfast almost a decade after its release, with memes of the film continuing to generate millions of uses.

The Wolf of Wall Street Experience will give fans of the film and Web3 enthusiasts access to exclusive content, rewards, and experiences via a series of limited NFT drops. The NFTs will contain exclusive assets from the film, including new angles of iconic scenes, as well as authentic outfits worn by the cast, props and other memorabilia. In addition, real-life and virtual experiences will take place, including a Hollywood-style celebration of the anniversary this December.

The launch is scheduled for the second quarter of 2023, with additional benefits for early participants of the community. More information can be found on the official website: www.wolfofwallstreet.io.

The NFTs will be created by the carbon neutral Aventus Network, which is a layer 1 (parachain) on Polkadot – meaning the project will leverage the full benefits of the Polkadot ecosystem, including enhanced scalability, speed, interoperability and security. It also means NFT holders will be able to leverage the full benefits of interoperability across more than 50 blockchains, including Ethereum.

Alan Vey, Founder & CEO at Aventus, commented: “The Wolf of Wall Street is one of the most iconic films across not only popular culture more broadly, but specifically within the blockchain community. We’re thrilled to be able to bring this film to Web3 and to be a part of a historic moment for the industry as blockbuster becomes the latest sector to realise the benefits of NFTs in community building and engagement.”

Gavin Wood, Founder of Polkadot & Ethereum, added: “Polkadot’s parachain ecosystem aims to help blockchains achieve their objectives by providing enhanced scalability, security and interoperability, and it’s wonderful to watch Aventus leverage this support to enable this truly groundbreaking project.”

About Aventus
Aventus onboards enterprises to Web3, enabling them to generate new revenue streams, improve operational efficiencies, and future-proof their business. With a combined experience of over seven decades in Web3 and enterprise leadership, Aventus works with each enterprise to scope out potential use cases, and customize a SaaS-style product, as well as maintain and manage the solution – so enterprises can focus on what they do best.

www.aventus.io/

Media inquiries:
Ellie Hyman
ellie.hyman@aventus.io 

SOURCE: Aventus Network Services Limited

--BERNAMA

“shenzhen Design” Gives New Impetus To Urban Development, Lights Up Fashion Industry

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- As a city born with design genes, Shenzhen has witnessed a flourishing creative and design industry since it became the laureate of UNESCO City of Design in 2008.

In the past 15 years, the megacity has evolved from the world's factory to an upgrading manufacturing powerhouse and further to an international hub of innovation and creativity, according to Shenzhen Municipal People's Government in a statement.

"Shenzhen Design" has not only served as an important platform for the city's industrial transformation and upgrading, but has also become a new growth engine for its high-quality economic development.

After years of accumulation and development, "Shenzhen Design" has become an important pioneering and leading game changer as an industrial leader in China with global visibility.

The city took the lead in implementing the strategy of building a city through cultural development, and proposed to build a "City of Design" in 2003. It was awarded the title of "City of Design" by UNESCO in 2008, becoming the first city in China to win this honour.

In recent years, the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Shenzhen Municipal People's Government have taken multiple measures such as policy support, industry guidance, and resource matchmaking and spared no effort in supporting the innovative development of "Shenzhen Design", delivering remarkable results.

Currently, with the shining reputation of the "City of Design", Shenzhen has emerged as an important city for young designers and a design pioneer worldwide, and has always provided a broad platform and development space for innovative design talents around the world, further integrating its creative design with emerging industries.

After over four decades of rapid development, Shenzhen has become a globally renowned high-tech city. In key urban areas, Shenzhen has adhered to using urban design methods to create distinctive features, carry forward its cultural heritage, and create a unique city image.

Fifteen years of development is a fruitful achievement and a fresh starting point for Shenzhen as a "City of Design". "Shenzhen Design" is always on the road, moving forward ceaselessly into the future.

--  BERNAMA

HAINAN WORLD EMBROIDERY CULTURE WEEK EXHIBITS SPECIAL COSTUMES FROM 10 ASEAN COUNTRIES

Craftswomen from Hainan Li ethnic group showing the traditional techniques of spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The five-day 2023 Hainan World Embroidery Culture Week was unveiled on April 27, at Hainan Free Trade Port, where special costumes from 10 ASEAN countries were exhibited.

This year, the culture week held a series of events such as the opening ceremony, themed forums and a boutique intangible cultural heritage exhibition of traditional techniques of weaving, embroidery, printing and dyeing, inviting more visitors to appreciate the embroidery culture of different countries.

According to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province in a statement, an embroidery fashion show was presented during the opening ceremony, showcasing 80 sets of featured costumes from China and 10 ASEAN countries.

Among them, 30 sets of fashion costumes were made with Hainan Li brocade, designed and produced this year, which are the best examples to show the audience the unique charm of Li brocade, combining antiquity and fashion, and integrating heritage with innovation.

The traditional techniques of Li people have been developed for more than 3,000 years and were included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in urgent need of protection in 2009.

The exhibition also showcased embroidered costumes from 10 countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Local officials in Hainan said the Province is building itself into an international tourism consumption centre and will further commit to the innovative practice of protecting the intangible cultural heritage, thus creating a greater momentum to establish the business card of "Hainan Embroidery".

-- BERNAMA

STARR DIRECTLY UNDERWRITES TECHNICAL RISKS PROPERTY INSURANCE VIA OWN INSURANCE COMPANIES

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Starr Insurance Companies (Starr) has announced that, as of April 23, the company now directly underwrites its property - technical risks through its own insurance companies, concluding a successful 17-year relationship with Chubb.

“We’ve been underwriting the complex risks and energy property business for more than 55 years. We thank Chubb for its support throughout this relationship,” said President, International Insurance and Starr Tech, Richard Shaak.

According to a statement, this transition of Starr’s complex risks and energy property business to its own insurance companies should be seamless for the company’s clients.

Clients will continue to work directly with Starr’s team of industry experts, who use the same approach to technical risk management and offer the same capacity levels and client servicing.

A leading insurance and investment organisation with presence in six continents, Starr provides property, casualty and accident and health insurance products as well as a range of specialty coverages including aviation, marine, energy and excess casualty insurance.

-- BERNAMA

MODIFI OPENS NEW SINGAPORE OFFICE TO BETTER SERVE ASIA CUSTOMERS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- MODIFI, a leading European fintech company specialising in cross-border payment solutions and provision of liquidity for exporters worldwide, has announced the opening of its new office in Singapore.

According to a statement, the expansion is part of MODIFI's strategy to strengthen its global presence and better serve customers in Asia.

The company's Chief Commercial Officer, Matthias Hendrichs, will relocate from Germany to Singapore to lead the new office and oversee the company's growth in the region, bringing over 16 years of experience in Asia and has played an instrumental role in driving MODIFI's global expansion to date.

“We are excited to be part of Singapore's vibrant fintech ecosystem and collaborate with local partners to provide our customers with the best service.

“Our goal is to help businesses in Asia thrive by providing them with the support they need to succeed in today's global marketplace,” said Hendrichs.

Meanwhile, MODIFI Chief Executive Officer, Nelson Holzner said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new office in Singapore, which marks an important milestone in our journey to expand our global footprint.

“With this new office, we aim to deepen our relationships with customers in Asia and provide them with the best cross-border payment solutions available.”

Singapore's strategic location at the intersection of major shipping routes has made it a crucial port of call for ships travelling between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Moreover, with a well-developed air transport network and Changi Airport serving as a major hub for international flights, Singapore is an efficient location for businesses to transport goods and connect with global markets.

MODIFI's expansion to Singapore comes at a time when the company is experiencing rapid growth and increasing demand for its services in Asia.

Its new office is in Singapore’s financial district and will serve as the company's regional headquarters for Asia.

-- BERNAMA

HIGH-NET-WORTH-INDIVIDUALS, MASS AFFLUENT SEEK FREEDOM - CS GLOBAL PARTNERS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The second edition of the annual World Citizenship Report, published by CS Global Partners has revealed how high-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) and the mass affluent are in search of greater freedoms.

According to CS Global Partners in a statement, this means being able to enjoy better social safety and security for oneself and family, increased access to better employment prospects and business opportunities or being able to live in territories with higher social and institutional stability.

“Findings from the survey showed that while the research participants came from varied backgrounds and cultures, all with different needs and pain points, they all had one common goal: freedom,” said CS Global Partners Chief Executive Officer, Micha Emmet.

Biggest motivators to invest in alternative citizenship include Quality of Life, Safety and Security as well as Financial Freedom with Quality of Life ranked in first position of the five pillars, overtaking both Physical Safety and Financial Freedom, this year.

Quality of Life looks at territories’ ability to provide its citizens with essential services required for a good standard of living, including higher standards of education and healthcare facilities.

Monaco, Denmark and Hong Kong took the top three spots in the Quality of Life pillar, while the United States came in 29th position. African countries took the bottom 10 positions, with Somalia taking 185th place.

Meanwhile, the Safety and Security motivator assesses how people in a certain country have the ability to enjoy greater social safety and security for themselves and their families and whether they have a safety net against being trapped in a territory with civil disorder.

Iceland tops the Safety and Security motivator, closely followed by New Zealand in second place, and Switzerland in third. In this pillar, Afghanistan scored the lowest.

The Financial Freedom motivator measures the ability of a country to provide a favourable and stable regulatory climate for the establishment and functioning of businesses, as well as the holding of personal and business assets, with Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore taking the first three spots in this pillar.

The World Citizenship Report is the world’s first-ever endeavour in investigating the value of citizenship through the lens of the global citizen, measuring 188 countries across five motivators that are most relevant among the newest generation of global citizens – Safety and Security, Economic Opportunity, Quality of Life, Global Mobility and Financial Freedom.

-- BERNAMA

TEAM BUSINESS MISSION TO TAIWAN

 

A delegation of 27 individuals from TEAM, together with the National Union of Timber Trade Association of R.O.C, participated in a business mission to Taiwan

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Timber Exporters’ Association of Malaysia (TEAM) organized a business mission to Taiwan from 19 April to 25 April 2023. The visit has had its destination set on three cities in Taiwan, namely Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.

Comprising some of the major exporters of timber products in Malaysia, TEAM is constantly looking to drive the timber industry forward with the acquisition of automation as well as retrofitting of woodworking machinery. Members of TEAM had been long interested in Taiwanese woodworking machinery due to its good quality and performance.

Hence, the mission included a visit to Wood Taiwan 2023 (20 April to 23 April 2023) at Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei. As Taiwan’s only international professional exhibition for woodworking machinery, TEAM aims to visit the exhibition to look at the entire industrial chain from the processing of timber to its products, in which machinery is heavily involved. Apart from visiting the exhibition, factory visits to forerunners of the Taiwan woodworking machinery industry are also arranged to allow TEAM members to have a closer look at the industry.

TEAM BUSINESS MISSION TO TAIWAN

SHENZHEN HOLDS MAIDEN GUANGMING SCIENCE CITY FORUM 2023, APRIL 27-28 IN GUANGMING DISTRICT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Guangming Science City Forum 2023, hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and organised by the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Shenzhen Municipal Science, Technology and Innovation Commission, and Guangming District People's Government, is held on April 27-28 in Guangming District.

According to Shenzhen Municipal People's Government in a statement, the forum has the permanent theme of "Guangming: Building Dreams for the Future", and the keywords for this year's session are "Creating Ideas", "Setting Sail" and "Pursuing Dreams" and is the first time for Shenzhen to host it.

The forum will adopt a "1+9+3" format, which is, one main forum, nine parallel fora and three supporting events with the main forum featuring a series of keynote speeches delivered by academicians and experts at the forefront of technological innovation.

Additionally, there will be several significant events, including the inauguration ceremony for major scientific and technological infrastructure, the unveiling of important foundations, and the sharing invitation ceremony for significant scientific and technological infrastructure.

The nine parallel fora will include, The Scientific Apparatus Planning, Construction and Operation Innovation Forum, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Collaborative Innovation Forum, the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Application Seminar, the Fourth Engineering Biology Innovation Conference, and the Materials Science Forum.

Meanwhile, three supporting activities, including a natural music concert, rowing challenge, and leisure cycling tour, will be organised to provide a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for the attendees to socialise.

With a global vision, it has extensively invited high-level experts, including renowned domestic and foreign scientists, representatives from world-renowned international science cities and institutions, scholars from universities in Hong Kong, Macao and high-level professionals from various fields of technology, education and industry.

Bringing together top intellectual resources from home and abroad, the forum will discuss the forefront of scientific and technological development trends, and jointly assume the responsibility of leading innovation.

As an important part of the pioneering area for the National Comprehensive Science Center in the Greater Bay Area, Guangming Science City has become the region with the most concentrated layout of major scientific and technological innovation carriers, the most rapid aggregation of innovative momentum, and the largest scale of investment in comprehensive innovation.

Looking ahead, Shenzhen will continue to promote the development of a world-class science city by elevating its scientific activities, creating a favourable environment for innovation, and injecting new momentum into the city's high-quality development.

-- BERNAMA

BUDDHIST PEACEBUILDER EXHORTS G7 LEADERS TO GUARANTEE SECURITY OF HUMANITY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Buddhist philosopher and peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), issued a statement calling on the leaders of the G7 countries meeting in Hiroshima from May 19-21 to take bold steps toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine and guarantee the security of all humanity by taking the lead in discussions on pledges of No First Use of nuclear weapons.

Ikeda, an ardent proponent of nuclear weapons abolition since the 1960s, sees the G7 Summit in Hiroshima as a chance to build on the unwavering activism of the hibakusha, survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings, and their determination that the tragic impacts of nuclear weapons never be experienced again.

"As the G7 leaders revisit the actual consequences of a nuclear weapon detonation and the bitter lessons of the nuclear era, I urge that they initiate earnest deliberations on making pledges of No First Use so that their shared recognition of the inadmissible nature of nuclear weapons can find expression in changed policies," said Ikeda.

In the statement, he warns that with the taboo against the use of nuclear weapons being eroded among the nuclear-weapon states, and frameworks for managing and reducing nuclear arsenals verging on collapse, there has never been a greater need to establish policies of No First Use.

Ikeda stresses that representatives of civil society, such as physicians and educators who protect people's lives and futures, should join such negotiations as observers.

He references the work of the physicians from both sides of the Cold War who founded International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in the early 1980s and met in Hiroshima under the slogan: "Let us Live Together, Not Die Together." In the same spirit, he concludes with the vital need to shift to a "common security" paradigm for all humankind.

This is the third time in the past year that Ikeda, a veteran advocate for nuclear weapons abolition, has called for No First Use policies. He first pushed for declarations of No First Use in 1975, following visits to prominent leaders and thinkers in all five declared nuclear-weapon states.

-- BERNAMA

CBL INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES AUDITED RESULTS FOR YEAR ENDING DEC 31, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- CBL International Limited has filed with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the Form 20-F Account Report for the audited consolidated annual results of the Company and its subsidiaries (the Group) for the year ended Dec 31, 2022 together with comparative figures for the year ended Dec 31, 2021.

The Group’s consolidated revenue from sales of marine fuel increased by approximately US$136.3 million or 41.8 per cent to approximately US$462.9 million in 2022 from approximately US$326.5 million in 2021, mainly attributable to the increase in the marine fuel price but partially offset by the slight decrease in the sales volume of marine fuel. (US$1=RM4.45)

Consolidated gross profit of the Group for the year ended Dec 31, 2022 was approximately US$9.1 million, an increase of US$1.5 million or 20.2 per cent, compared to the year ended Dec 31, 2021, driven by increased gross profit per tonne of marine fuel sold with an effect of US$1.8 million, partially offset by a decrease of volume in the amount of US$298,000.

According to a statement, net income increased by approximately US$116,000 or 3.3 per cent from approximately US$3.5 million for the year ended Dec 31, 2021, to approximately US$3.6 million for the year ended Dec 31, 2022.

Meanwhile, basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share is approximately US$0.17, while total shareholders’ equity of the Company increased by approximately 43.7 per cent to approximately US$12.1 million.

CBL International is an established marine fuel logistics company currently focusing on the Asia Pacific region, providing one-stop solutions for vessel refuelling.

-- BERNAMA

Milliken 2022 Sustainability Report Highlights 5-year Progress

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- Diversified global manufacturer Milliken & Company has released its fifth annual sustainability report, “For HumanKind”, which tracks Milliken’s progress on its 2025 Sustainability Goals, originally set in 2019.

The report also provides initial baseline data for its net-zero targets, formally verified in 2022, and showcases how sustainability impacts its business today and is integral to the company’s future.

According to a statement, Milliken’s announcement of its short and long-term targets to reach net-zero by 2050 added a new dimension to its sustainability effort.

Milliken is one of the first 50 companies in the world, and the first in South Carolina, the United States (US) to have science-based targets approved by the United Nations (UN)-backed Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

These targets joined 12 other sustainability goals Milliken set forth to guide its work with its people, its products and the planet through the lens of human benefit and science.

“It’s been inspiring to see what we have accomplished in just a few years. We know we can continue this progress as we rally our associates, our shareholders, our partners and our customers to be a part of the solution to the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change,” says Milliken President and Chief Executive Officer. Halsey Cook.

Last year, Milliken announced it would phase out the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in its fibres and finishes within its textile portfolio, completing this exit in December 2022.

In line with its commitment to end-of-life solutions for plastics, Milliken’s corporate foundation, the Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation, invested in The Recycling Partnership’s Center for Sustainable Behavior and Impact, which offers tangible solutions for increasing recycling rates in US households.

Notably, Milliken also met its goal for a 25 per cent reduction in indexed greenhouse gas emissions in its operations this year and will now focus on greater greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in line with its net-zero targets.

For more information on Milliken’s 2022 Sustainability Report, visit milliken.com/sustainability.

--  BERNAMA

Mary Kay declares Top 3 World Series Of Innovation Challenge Winners

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- Mary Kay Inc has announced the top three winners of its third annual World Series of Innovation (WSI) challenge in partnership with Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a global educational non-profit focused on bringing the power of entrepreneurship to low-income communities.

Angel Gear, which developed a business that purchases broken fishing nets and other gear and repurposes them into reusable nets, won first place. It was developed by Ryan Zhang and Jia-Teng Lu from Kang Chiao International School in Taiwan.

In contrast, the team that came in second, Saving the Superstars of the Global Ecosystem, utilises unmanned surface water drones in combination with satellite-based remote sensing systems to locate and identify algae blooms in the Chesapeake Bay. It was developed by Emily Carver from Douglas S. Freeman High School in Virginia.

The third place winner, Reversify, designed a sustainable washing machine that repurposes rainwater and filters harmful pollutants in wastewater, which was developed by Iyshly Chen, Davina Liang and Kelly Luo from Abraham Lincoln High School in California.

According to a statement, this global competition encourages youth ages 13-24 to utilise critical thinking skills to help solve the world’s greatest challenges on a local, domestic, or international scale, as part of the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Mary Kay Chief Operating Officer, Deborah Gibbins said: “Posing the challenges of the world’s marine ecosystems to the next generation brings a fresh perspective on problem-solving, and no solution is too small.

“Students looked at all angles of the issue, proposing innovative, sustainable and impactful ways to address water conservation everywhere from their own homes, all the way to tackling the vast ocean.”

Mary Kay’s WSI challenge kicked off Sept 15 in conjunction with World Clean Up Day and encouraged young entrepreneurs to submit innovative solutions to address UN SDG 14: Life Below Water.

Specifically, students were asked to design a solution to further the conservation and/or protection of the world’s marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

--BERNAMA

HYCU HIRES "POWER OF POSITIVITY" COLEY BURKE AS CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- HYCU Inc announced Coley Burke has joined as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) to lead the global sales organisation and drive go-to-market programmes to accommodate scale and growth for continued worldwide expansion.

In a statement, the world’s fastest-growing multi-cloud data protection as a service company said Burke will report to the company’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Taylor.

“We are thrilled that Coley is joining HYCU and excited that he will be instrumental in driving HYCU’s go-to-market and sales efforts around the world to handle the growing interest in our multi-cloud and SaaS data protection solutions.

“Coley is an impressive sales leader with deep roots in data protection, and a power of positivity wherever he has worked. His outlook and attitude is infectious and our growing customer base and teams will enjoy every minute he has to spend with them,” said Taylor.

Meanwhile, Burke said he is excited to join HYCU to drive and lead sales through the company’s next phase of hypergrowth.

Bringing over 30 years’ experience as a results-driven executive to lead sales and business development efforts, Burke will be responsible for driving HYCU’s global go-to-market strategy and accelerating growth and scale to accommodate customer and partner interest.

Prior to HYCU, he was CRO at Semperis where he increased demand for identity driven cyber resilience to offset the growing rise of cybersecurity risks to enterprises globally.

Burke joins HYCU on the heels of the recent introduction of R-Cloud, the world’s first developer-led data protection platform to address the underserved needs of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application users for enterprise-class data protection, and after the company closed 2022 with more than 3,600 customers and a Series B funding round.

-- BERNAMA

Zoom To Bolster Employee Experience Offering Via Workvivo Acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Zoom Video Communications Inc has announced the acquisition of Workvivo to extend Zoom’s platform and offer its customers new ways to keep employees informed, engaged and connected.

“The power of Workvivo employee experience platform, with its robust communications and engagement offering combined with Zoom’s all-in-one collaboration platform, allows organisations to fully unlock the potential of their employees and evolve their company culture in a hybrid world.

“Workvivo prioritises ease-of-use and simplicity of design, offering the best user experience which is a perfect match to Zoom’s DNA,” said Zoom chief financial officer, Kelly Steckelberg, in a statement.

Meanwhile, Workvivo chief executive officer and co-founder, John Goulding said: “Zoom’s rapid pace of innovation and the persistent dedication to building products with a human-first mindset is why we are most excited about joining the team.

“With Zoom, we can build great things together, make teamwork more meaningful, and extend collaboration beyond knowledge workers, allowing us to reach employees who have historically felt disconnected from the company.”

Founded in 2017, Workvivo provides a modern, feature-rich employee experience platform, combining advanced internal communication and engagement tools, a social intranet, and an employee app, all blended into one central hub, forming the heart of a company's digital ecosystem.

With this acquisition, Zoom continues its evolution to provide the best end-to-end collaboration platform focused on enabling modern work and powering the digital-first workplace.

Following the close of the transaction, Zoom plans to incorporate Workvivo’s capabilities into its platform to deliver a best-in-class, employee experience. Workvivo's founders Goulding and Joe Lennon, and the entire Workvivo team, will be instrumental in driving employee experience innovation strategy.

The transaction is expected to close in first quarter FY2024, with terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

-- BERNAMA

JUNIPER RESEARCH: OPERATORS TO LOSE $1.3 BILLION TO FLASH CALLING GLOBALLY OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS, JUNIPER RESEARCH STUDY FINDS

BASINGSTOKE, England, April 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new report from Juniper Research, foremost experts in emerging communications technologies, has found that operators will lose $1.3 billion to undetected flash calls cumulatively between 2023 and 2027.

Flash calling leverages voice networks to authenticate a user or transaction via an originating phone number of a missed call. The last few digits of this phone number are then automatically used for authentication, rather than a user inputting a code manually that was delivered via SMS.

An inability to detect flash calling traffic will lead to diminishing SMS business revenue for operators, as enterprises use flash calling over highly lucrative SMS channels monetised by operators. In turn, the research urges operators to adopt voice firewall solutions that are able to distinguish flash calling traffic from existing P2P voice calls in order to reduce SMS business messaging revenue losses. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=45902

MARY KAY: WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCELERATOR DIGITAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE WINNERS UNVEILED

 

The ten winning companies of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives. (Graphic: Mary Kay Inc.)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Taking place on the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with support from Mary Kay Global, announced the 10 winning companies of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) Digital Innovation Challenge.

According to Mary Kay in a statement, three startups namely Tiny Totos, Gwiji for Women and Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), were awarded Special Recognition status for their best-practice innovations.

In first place, Tiny Totos, a Kenyan social enterprise working to ensure quality childcare, provides training, access to capital, a network and a technology platform. It helps set childcare centres up for success and in turn increases the availability and improves the quality of childcare services in the country.

Meanwhile, HIEx identifies challenges faced by health systems and connects innovators with key health eco-system actors primarily in Africa and Asia to deliver solutions to improve access to quality healthcare.

Gwiji for Women is a tech start-up addressing barriers to labour market participation by low-income women in Kenya. It identifies, vets, trains and empowers women from lower socio-economic backgrounds as casual cleaners by connecting them with prospective clients through a mobile application.

Mary Kay Chief Operating Officer, Deborah Gibbins called for action now “to reverse the current trend of gender-blind innovations and redress the digital gender gap that exists in access to technologies and in digital education and skills.”

Given the scale of the challenge, she invited “more cross-sectoral partners to join efforts to build the conditions for women entrepreneurs to innovate, compete and thrive.”

Launched in December 2022 at ITU’s global headquarters in Geneva, the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge received 250 submissions from companies in 54 countries either owned by women or with a minimum of one female founder.

Each company showcased how their unique digital solution can potentially strengthen digital entrepreneurship in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The winning companies were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives who each provided their unique insights based on the above criteria.

The winners will gain access to the “Digital Innovation Challenge Acceleration Program” over the coming months where they will receive capacity-building training and a virtual bootcamp to help further refine their business plans as well as specialised mentorship and access to a network of change-makers.

Following this, selected winners will participate in ITU’s prestigious Global Innovation Forum later this year and join a community of practice to explore ways to leapfrog the digital innovation divide and address global challenges.

-- BERNAMA

Notified's GlobeNewswire Sees 16 Pct Increase In Press Release Distribution

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Notified, a globally-trusted technology partner for public relations, investor relations, and marketing professionals announced GlobeNewswire has seen a 16 per cent increase in press releases distributed by clients over the last two years.

This growth is underscored by a recent study conducted in partnership with PRWeek, which found 79 per cent of public relations professionals believe that press releases are a valuable part of the media mix, with 65 per cent reporting they work on release content ‘extensively’.

“GlobeNewswire’s continued growth is proof that the press release is not going anywhere, in fact, it is an absolutely critical communications tool in today’s dynamic business environment for companies to tell their stories,” said Notified Vice President of Marketing, Jessica Brown in a statement.

As one of the world’s largest newswire distribution networks responsible for securely and reliably delivering mission-critical communications on behalf of more than one-third of the world’s 2,000 largest companies, GlobeNewswire distributes press releases in over 150 countries and 35 languages to drive visibility for key company news and announcements.

It consistently receives praise from customers for offering high-quality support, and earned five badges in the G2 Spring Report 2023, for being highly rated by current users.

Last year, in response to the evolving needs of global businesses, GlobeNewswire added three new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) circuits, covering North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

Each circuit includes a comprehensive regional distribution network, plus a carefully curated list of journalists who have a special interest in ESG and corporate social responsibility, as well as trades covering environmental and philanthropic topics.

This year, GlobeNewswire is focused on advancing public relations technology by working hand-in-hand with those that will be using it. Just last month, it introduced the first generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool for press release creation offered by a newswire service. 

-- BERNAMA

JUNIPER RESEARCH RELEASES MOST COMPLETE ROAMING MARKET INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH SUBSCRIPTION

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Juniper Research, foremost experts in the global roaming market, has released the most complete roaming market intelligence research subscription, providing competitive advantage for subscribers.

According to Juniper Research in a statement, leading operators such as Vodafone, Orange and Verizon already benefit from access, with many more innovative players signing up.

“Over the last 20 years, Juniper Research has developed a reputation for high-quality research into telecommunications markets. This new roaming offering provides industry stakeholders with unparalleled insights into the sectors that matter to them,” said Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Tony Crabtree.

The new Roaming Market Intelligence Centre delivers the most comprehensive set of research tools available for the telecommunications industry today, including competitor analysis; market sizing & forecasts; trend analysis; strategic assessment; and thorough sector coverage.

Alongside its expansive library of roaming research, Juniper Research offers unparalleled client support; including the ability for subscribers to pose questions to its expert roaming analysts, request bespoke forecasts and discuss new market opportunities.

Subscribers to the Roaming Market Intelligence Centre also get complimentary access to harvest, an intuitive data platform allowing subscribers to explore granular datasets for key roaming sectors.

Juniper Research’s Roaming Market Intelligence Centre is the most efficient use of any organisation’s budget; delivering industry-leading market research, enterprise-wide licensing, expert support and quarterly forecast updates, at an unbeatable price.

-- BERNAMA

CHITOSE GROUP SECURES FUNDING FOR GREEN INNOVATION FUND PROJECT WORTH US$400 MLN

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Chitose Laboratory Corp, the core company of the CHITOSE Group (CHITOSE), has won funding from a Japanese government-affiliated entity for the "Green Innovation Fund Project (GI Fund): Promotion of Carbon Recycling Using CO2 from Biomanufacturing Technology as a Direct Raw Material".

In a statement, CHITOSE said the total project cost is approximately US$400 million, and the implementation period is scheduled from fiscal year (FY) 2023 to FY2030. (US$1=RM4.41)

A project on the self-proposed theme of "Building a global industry originating in Japan based on the direct use of CO2 through photosynthesis", CHITOSE has been selected as a prospective implementing agency for this theme by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.

Under the GI Fund project theme, CHITOSE will develop the algae production technology on a 100-hectare production scale with focus on both economic rationality and environmental sustainability, and on the development of a wide range of applications.

The applications such as chemical products, toiletry, fuels, feeds and foods use microalgal biomass produced directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) as a raw material.

CHITOSE will promote the establishment of a global algae-based industry originating from Japan, and contribute to the realisation of zero carbon emission by 2050 as advocated by the Japanese government, via these business activities.

This project will be implemented with 34 partner companies of the MATSURI (meaning festival in Japanese) project operated by CHITOSE, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Hiroshima University, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagoya University and Institute of Microalgal Technology, Japan.

In addition, CHITOSE will start raising private funds in order to accelerate this project through the GI Fund.

CHITOSE is collaborating with other companies/organisations in various positions and industries through the MATSURI project to build a new algae-based industry to replace the petroleum-based industry.

-- BERNAMA

BE CHARMED BY DOWNTOWN SAPPORO WITH TRAVELODGE SAPPORO SUSUKINO GRAND OPENING

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- Hotel chain operator Travelodge Hotels (Asia) Pte Ltd has opened Travelodge Sapporo Susukino in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, with the hotel’s prime location, adjacent to the Sapporo Snow Festival Susukino venue.

The location has proven to be advantageous, especially as the event resumed at full capacity after a three-year pause due to COVID-19, according to a statement.

Travelodge Sapporo Susukino upholds the Travelodge brand's reputation for comfortable accommodations, renowned across various Asian markets such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Committed to its brand promise of "Have Got You Essentially Covered”, Travelodge Sapporo Susukino’s guestrooms feature comfortable beds, pillows and a bathroom with a rain shower, as well as a movable working desk to ensure a comfortable and productive stay.

The hotel provides high-speed internet and a self-laundry facility, offering guests a convenient and homely experience during their stay, with a perfect base whether the guest is a solo traveller looking to explore Sapporo City or seeking a peaceful oasis to relax.

Travelodge Sapporo Susukino is also offering guests a distinctive experience with each of the 212 guestrooms and the hotel lobby featuring well-known Sapporo scenery, including the Susukino crossing, Sapporo TV Tower and Sapporo Clock Tower, displayed on the wall.

In addition, a co-working space is also available free of charge to all residents and available for a fee to non-residents, providing a comfortable and serene working environment, with each seat equipped with a power outlet for battery charging.

-- BERNAMA

HONG KONG-BASED CONGLOMERATE REDUCES INTEGRATION CYCLES BY 70 PCT VIA BOOMI PLATFORM

DCH Shortens Integration Cycles by 70 Percent With Boomi (Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Boomi, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, announced international distributor Dah Chong Hong Group (DCH) has implemented the Boomi platform to modernise legacy integrations and accelerate its digital transformation journey.

Boomi Director of Asia, HonChew Seetoh said the Boomi platform enabled DCH to maximise the flexibility, agility, and scalability of the cloud, break down silos across the distributed environment, and more importantly, unlock the power of data.

According to a statement, Boomi's low-code platform helps DCH shorten integration cycles by as much as 70 per cent, while running multiple applications in parallel.

Hong Kong-based DCH is a leading Asian distribution company operating in the motor, healthcare, food, electrical and consumer goods industries, having over 16,000 employees and operations extending across 13 Asian economies.

DCH is continually evolving and innovating its overall information technology (IT) architecture to strengthen service delivery and drive further growth.

A key metric of DCH's integration objective was to establish a clear enterprise integration architecture and standard ensuring consistent streamlining of data and enabling quick access across business units to support continued, long-term innovation.

Acting on the advice of system integrator Laputa Technologies, DCH implemented the Boomi platform to enhance its systems.

The digital platform enabled DCH employees to break down data silos and benefit from further automation. As a result, different business units within DCH can swiftly and efficiently extract data for reporting.

In addition to an intuitive, low-code interface, Boomi's usage-based pricing model was a key reason DCH opted for the Boomi platform, whereby DCH was able to gain the requisite scale to maximise the value of its integration objectives and accelerate digital transformation.

-- BERNAMA

HENLEY & PARTNERS: NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2023 GLOBAL CITIZEN AWARD

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- Leading international residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, in partnership with the Swiss non-profit humanitarian Andan Foundation, announced the call for nominations for the 2023 Global Citizen Award.

The 2023 laureate will be selected by a distinguished, independent committee and honoured at the Global Citizen Award ceremony, the concluding event of the annual Henley & Partners Global Citizenship Conference, taking place in Dubai from Nov 9-10.

Created in 2014, the Global Citizen Award is a tribute that honours remarkable individuals working to advance any one of the global challenges affecting humanity today, challenges that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone.

Henley & Partners Chairman and Founder of the Andan Foundation, Dr Christian H. Kaelin, in a statement, says the awardee’s work needs to demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable social groups, particularly with a connection to migration-related issues.

“The Global Citizen Award is open worldwide to those working in a field with a direct link to the issues they are looking to affect and excludes political figures, opinion leaders and celebrities.

“The committee is looking for remarkable and inspirational individuals who demonstrate vision, courage, and innovation in driving global change, and whose actions and outlook contribute to a more just, peaceful, connected, and tolerant world,” he added.

The selection process is confidential and is based on a majority decision of the Award Committee, with nominations closing on June 30.

The award itself consists of a bespoke sculptural medal designed by leading Italian artist Antonio Nocera, an award certificate signed by the Chairman of the Global Citizen Award Committee, and a monetary prize of US$20,000, which goes towards supporting the awardee’s humanitarian efforts. (US$1=RM4.41)

In addition, Henley & Partners commits to working closely with the awardee for a period of one year, raising awareness of their work and supporting the selected project through the firm’s network of more than 40 offices worldwide.

-- BERNAMA

TRACING ANCESTORS WITH LAUNCH OF ACTIVITIES TO UNEARTH LEGENDARY ROOTS

Travelling to the remotest corners of the world, but Hongtong is home

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- The series of activities of 2023 Linfen Hongtong Big Locust Tree Tourist Season to Trace the Roots of Ancestors have been launched recently in Hongtong County, Shanxi Province.

Themed "Travelling to the remotest corners of the world, but Hongtong is home", the activities will last until May 1, according to the Publicity Department of Hongtong County in a statement.

In recent years, Hongtong has actively established a gathering area for cultural tourism and health care in Shanxi.

It also expanded and upgraded the quality of the first batch of national integrated tourism demonstration zones, and made great efforts to build an internationally renowned cultural tourism destination.

With the successful series of activities of the 2023 Tourism Season, Hongtong is embracing the world, inviting the descendants of Dahuaishu, or the Big Locust Tree, to "go back home" for sightseeing and tracing their roots.

-- BERNAMA

2023 QINGMING FESTIVAL MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR YELLOW EMPEROR IN SHAANXI PROVINCE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- The 2023 Qingming Festival Memorial Ceremony for the Yellow Emperor was held at the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor in Shaanxi Province on April 5.

The mausoleum, situated in Huangling County, Shaanxi Province, is the location of the tomb of Yellow Emperor, the common ancestor of the Chinese nation.

According to a statement, the ceremony was jointly organised by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Shaanxi Provincial People's Government.

As the ceremony officially started, attendees were standing solemnly for the drumbeats and bell rings, in which the 34 drumbeats symbolised the common aspiration of the whole Chinese nation, as well as all overseas Chinese to worship the ancestor of the Chinese nation.

Meanwhile, the nine bell rings represented the highest etiquette of traditional rituals of the Chinese nation, expressing the infinite admiration and gratitude of sons and daughters of the Chinese nation to their ancestor, the Yellow Emperor.

During the superb and elegant memorial music and dance performance, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Xiao Jie, presented the flower basket to the statue of the Yellow Emperor.

At the same time, the governor of Shaanxi Province, Zhao Gang delivered the memorial address. The attendees made three deep bows to the statue of the Yellow Emperor upon the end of the memorial address.

After the memorial music and dance performance, a 56-metre-long Chinese dragon hovered and leaped from the centre of the altar, soaring to the sky, travelling through five thousand years of history, gazing at the ever-changing present and flying towards a bright and magnificent future.

Following the completion of the Memorial Ceremony, the attendees visited the Xuanyuan Hall and the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, before planting the Qiaoshan cypress.

-- BERNAMA

POINT HOPE DISTRESSED CREDIT FUND TO BUY ASIAN CONSUMER NON-PERFORMING LOANS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- Singapore-based fund manager, Point Hope Pte Ltd, has partnered with Longan Group Pte Ltd to launch a funding platform that will acquire, service and restructure consumer non-performing loan (NPL) portfolios in emerging markets across Asia.

Point Hope Chief Executive Officer, Subra Iyer said: “This is more than a collections business; while recovery of debts is a key part of it, to do so sustainably and ethically at scale is what we stand for.

“We are proud of the high standards to which we hold our collection teams, and the trust gained by our financial partners, to ultimately help promote financial health and solve consumer indebtedness for the two billion population in Southeast and South Asia.”

The Singapore-domiciled fund, called Annexe Fund VCC - Longan NPL Fund (Fund), was launched in 2022 and mainly invests in delinquent unsecured consumer credit in Vietnam and Indonesia, with plans to enter India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand in the coming years.

According to a statement, the Fund partners with regional financial institutions and fintech companies to purchase NPL portfolios from their books.

Managing the Fund is a team with 10 years of track record in consumer credit globally, comprising 150 staff members in Vietnam and Indonesia with extensive experience in credit scoring, data analysis and best practices.

The Fund’s infrastructure in Asia uses an advanced proprietary credit scoring system that applies artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to price NPLs.

Within six months of launch, the debt servicing business in Vietnam became a top three market leader, growing its local NPL book to over US$300 million. (US$1=RM4.40)

The Fund aims to gain a first mover advantage in the Asian consumer NPL space, aided by multiple tailwinds such as rising household debt, greater financial inclusion and a significant growth in consumer credit.

-- BERNAMA

AKWEL Announces 2022 Annual Results

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- AKWEL, the automotive and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) equipment and systems manufacturer specialising in fluid management, mechanisms and structural parts for electric vehicles, has announced its 2022 annual results.

In an automotive production market that is still subject to strong tensions, the AKWEL Group ends 2022 with a 7.4 per cent annual increase and up 11.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

According to AKWEL in a statement, the delay in the impacts of increases in purchase prices on sale prices weighed heavily on the Group’s results in 2022.

Its current operating income amounted to €38.6 million, representing a margin of 3.9 per cent, down 4.3 points compared to 2021, while net income Group share stands at €11.1 million. (€1 = RM4.79)

The business generated cash-flow of €48.9 million for an investment flow of €33.2 million leading to a positive net cash position of €113.7 million compared with €98.2 million at the end of 2021.

The distribution of a dividend of €0.30 per share for 2022 will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting on May 25.

For this year, AKWEL remains cautious with regard to the sector’s recovery forecasts and anticipates a slight increase in turnover and continued tension over production costs.

Operating in 20 countries across every continent, AKWEL employs 9,500 people worldwide.

-- BERNAMA

Hytera Expands TETRA Radio Portfolio With New PT590 Release

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- Hytera Communications, a global provider of professional communications technologies and solutions, has expanded its TETRA radio portfolio by releasing PT590, a mission-critical portable TETRA radio.

According to Hytera in a statement, the new release is designed to provide excellent coverage, superior audio quality, and boosted productivity and safety features to ensure the capability of frontline workers to respond and act at all times.

“Professionals in mission-critical sectors require proven and trusted radios to ensure connectivity with the team when getting their jobs done.

“Equipped with an abundance of innovative features, PT590 raises the bar of TETRA portables; it is not only ready for the missions but also ready to lead the evolution of TETRA devices,” said Hytera Deputy Director of Global Marketing and Solutions, Steven Hao.

Delivering unparalleled clarity in every conversation, PT590 offers outstanding audio quality with its high-sensitivity speaker and optimised cavity design that produces loudness up to 106 phons, while its unique microphone cavity design eliminates wind noise, guaranteeing clear voice communication even in windy conditions.

The artificial intelligence (AI) noise cancellation algorithm adjusts to different types of noise, while advanced echo reduction algorithms suppress howling echoes effectively even when radios are as close as only 30cm to each other.

The PT590 boasts a compact and lightweight design, featuring large emergency button that is easy to locate and press; four separated navigation keys enable high accuracy of operation even without looking at them; and large textured push-to-talk (PTT) key is finger-friendly for users on the move.

The grid-style menu displays nine applications at a time, while simplified menu structures reduce steps and ensure immediate access to the desired functions.

Comes in two different versions namely the standard version and the advanced version, the PT590 standard version has been launched, which offers exceptional features for mission-critical communication needs, while the advanced version will be launched later this year.

-- BERNAMA

ENTER THE BLACK DRAGON: WEMADE MIR4 UNLOCKS MYSTERIOUS ‘TOWER OF BLACK DRAGON’ 4TH FLOOR

MIR4 reveals the 4th floor of the ‘Tower of Black Dragon’ on April 4th (Graphic: Wemade)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- Wemade Co Ltd announced its blockbuster massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) MIR4 has updated the fourth floor of the Tower of Black Dragon on April 4.

According to the South Korean online game developer in a statement, the fourth floor of the Tower of Black Dragon is available to characters of level 135 or higher.

These characters can enter the fourth floor once a day through the Domination Server, which opens three times a day whereby users can gain lots of EXP by fighting even more powerful field bosses and monsters up to level 180.

In addition, the Dragon Forge system has been added allowing users to increase the stats of Tier 4 Legendary equipment.

Equipment can be forged up to stage 7 using resources and “Legendary Dragon Material”, “Legendary Dragon Sphere”, “Legendary White Dragon Essence”, and “Legendary Black Dragon Essence”.

A new Epic Forest Spirit named "Dark Assassin Zakhan", has been introduced. Characters with Dark Assassin Zakhan can increase their spell attack damage, whereby the spirit provides various skills helpful in battles and adventures.

-- BERNAMA

 

MALAYSIA GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM IDENTIFIED KEY AREAS OF GROWTH FOR THE MALAYSIAN DIGITAL ECONOMY

Panellists speaking during the moderated discussion on 'Addressing Cyber Threats to Develop an Investor-Friendly Country' at the recent Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) held in Kuala Lumpur themed 'Designing the Future of the Digital Economy'. From left: Vicks Kanagasingam, Chief Executive Officer of Censof Digital Sdn Bhd; Shin Mei Lee, Head of Enterprise Business for Google Cloud; Murugason R. Thangaratnam, Chief Executive Officer of Novem CS Sdn Bhd; and Ruzanna Muhammad, Editor-at-Large for News Hub Asia. | Photo by Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) recently held a high-level roundtable themed ‘Designing the Future of the Digital Economy’, attended by industry leaders and business associations. The guest of honour was Yang Berhormat Syerleena Abdul Rashid, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Bendera in Penang.


The MP’s Special Session with YB Syerleena focused on understanding the intersection of the digital economy and the creative industry, and the way forward. Many consumers experience the digital economy through the efforts of creative content producers; as such, the interdependence of the digital economy and creative industries is a potential engine for economic growth and job creation in Malaysia.

Held at the Common Ground Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur, MGBF identified several key areas for growth in the Malaysian digital economy:

1. The need for a “Resilient Digital Infrastructure” which, in the near future, should include an integrated rollout of 5G communications that empower communication within industry supply chains. While enhanced by 5G, this new ecosystem must be able to withstand the vast majority of cyber-attacks.
2. The clear integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into daily work and models of productivity. This needs to include a rationalisation of which AI is used by the corporate sector and governments alike. Training and upskilling will ensure that humans will always remain relevant.
3. The need for greater amount of digital content production domestically to take advantage of an empowered ecosystem. This content needs to include entertainment, news and enhanced learning, which should include augmented reality.

Nordin Abdullah, the Founding Chairman of the Malaysia Global Business Forum, said, “As the digital economy evolves, the concept of sovereign risk, which was once limited to geographical and political concerns faced in a given jurisdiction, has become something that needs managing on the individual, corporate and government levels. Business leaders need to actively manage the cyberspace in which their supply chains operate. An inability to manage these threats and communicate to customers that they are managed, will lead to a loss of market share.”

MGBF Co-Chairman, Rizal Kamaruzzaman, said, “Malaysia has the opportunity to make a paradigm shift into the global digital economy, bringing with it high-paying jobs and business opportunities that will reinvigorate the Malaysian economy. Data-driven decisions that address the challenges of the community will be the innovations that attract the most capital and the requisite critical mass of consumers. The government should look for these kinds of companies to push on the regional and global markets.”

Nordin added, “Based on various reports, there is a shortage of two to four million cybersecurity workforce globally. In the Malaysian context, this equates to approximately 10,000 to 20,000 individuals required to make the business ecosystem sufficiently cyber resilient. On the strategic level, this does not mean that enough resources have been allocated to deal with targeted attacks on specific infrastructure or critical organisations.”

Speakers at the event include Haresh Deol, Deputy President of the National Press Club of Malaysia; Datin Faridah Iriani, Director of BDEC Malaysia; Chris Seto, Managing Director of Dataxet Malaysia Sdn Bhd; Murugason R. Thangaratnam, CEO of Novem CS Sdn Bhd; Shin Mei Lee, Head of Enterprise Business, Google Cloud; Vicks Kanagasingam, CEO of Censof Digital Sdn Bhd; Matthew Barsing, Chief Commercial Officer of EPS Consultants; Sheriza Zakaria, CEO of Big Dataworks Sdn Bhd; and Bobby Varanasi, Founder of Matryzel Consulting.

Gerard Ratnam, Producer and TV Host for Bernama TV, moderated the Member of Parliament’s Special Session with YB Syerleena. Moderators for the remaining panel sessions were MGBF’s Nordin Abdullah, TV Host for Bernama TV Jessy Chahal, and Ruzanna Muhammad, Editor-at-Large for News Hub Asia.

MGBF was established to empower stakeholders at the intersection of international and Malaysian business. Through government relations, business intelligence, advocacy, media engagement, market research, networking, advisory and business matching, MGBF will continue to explore threats and opportunities with industry leaders and policy makers to ensure that Malaysia becomes a leader in the context of Asia.

For more information, visit www.MalaysiaGlobalBusinessForum.com.

About Malaysia Global Business Forum
The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) was established to empower stakeholders at the intersection of international and Malaysian business. Through government relations, business intelligence, advocacy, media engagement, market research, networking, advisory and business matching, MGBF delivers results for individuals, corporations, trade and business associations, as well as national and state governments.

For more information visit www.MalaysiaGlobalBusinessForum.com.

SOURCE : Glenreagh Sdn Bhd

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Noorsyafikah Efa
PR and Communications
Glenreagh Sdn Bhd
Tel: +6011 2151 4756
Email: syafikahefa1@gmail.com /
admin@malaysiaglobalbusinessforum.com

--BERNAMA

CertiK Unveils Skynet for Community Web3 Ecosystem Platform

KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Bernama) -- CertiK, the blockchain security solutions provider has launched Skynet for Community, an all-in-one security, due diligence and insights platform for the Web3 ecosystem.

According to a statement, Skynet for Community empowers users, investors and community members to make informed decisions about Web3 projects by providing a comprehensive set of tools for research, analysis and monitoring.

“Skynet for Community is a revolutionary product that leverages CertiK's expertise in blockchain security to provide an independent, transparent and comprehensive evaluation of Web3 projects.

“We are excited to launch this product and offer the Web3 community a powerful tool that makes it easy to do your own research,” said CertiK co-founder and chief executive officer, Professor Ronghui Gu.

Skynet for Community’s rich data-driven insights help users to discover new projects, conduct due diligence on projects of interest, and keep up to date on the latest news and developments in the Web3 space.

The platform puts security front and centre, with the Security Leaderboard ranking projects according to their Security Score and market performance.

Skynet for Community evaluates the security of Web3 projects via both manual and automated measures, in which the platform covers the majority of all Web3 projects using transparent metrics, regardless of their relationship with CertiK.

The launch of Skynet for Community marks a new era of transparency and accountability for the Web3 world as it provides a comprehensive evaluation of projects' security in real-time.

With its uniquely comprehensive approach of combining manual and automated measures, CertiK's Security Score provides an independent lens through which all Web3 projects can be evaluated.

-- BERNAMA