itel Ready To Rattle Entry-level Markets With itel A70 Smartphone

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- A reliable smart life brand, itel announced the arrival of its highly-anticipated smartphone the itel A70, setting a new standard for entry-level smartphones, which combined remarkable technological advancements with a high efficiency, catering specifically to users in emerging markets.

With a key focus on affordability, high performance, and exceptional user experiences, itel is once again delivering on its commitment to providing reliable products to all.

Comes with a range of impressive features, the itel A70 has the massive storage of up to 256 gigabyte (GB) read only memory (ROM), and capable of storing up to 40,000 photos, according to a statement.

Additionally, the up to 4+8GB extended random access memory (RAM) enhances the phone's performance, reducing app startup times by an impressive 60 per cent and making multitasking smoother and more efficient.

Another highlight of this new model is its super clear 6.6 inches HD+ big screen with Dynamic Bar technology, offering a 90 per cent screen-to-body ratio for large immersive visuals.

It also enables users to have quick access to essential information like battery status, incoming calls, and unlocking status, without opening apps, thus enhancing the experience for entry-level smartphone users.

Powered by an advanced octa-core processor, it can ensure fluid navigation through various apps for daily use and offers a smooth operating experience as the device runs on the new OS 13 system.

The brand’s approach to independent production has significantly reduced the cost of production, supply, as well as research and development (R&D) of smart technology.

By passing on these cost benefits to consumers, itel A70 offers an exceptional smartphone experience at a basic price and this is a testament to the company’s dedication to making advanced technology accessible to everyone.

-- BERNAMA

KFSH&RC Unveils Innovations, Solutions At Global Health Exhibition 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has participated as a strategic health partner in the Global Health Exhibition 2023, running for three days from Oct 29, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The hospital will showcase its most prominent innovations and health solutions within the framework of its strategic directions aimed at strengthening its position as a pioneer of knowledge via education, research, innovation, and providing health care with the highest levels of quality and safety.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to consolidate its position as a global leader in the field of innovation, fostering a dynamic ecosystem that embraces the latest technologies, supporting the future of healthcare, and establishing it as a worldwide destination,” said KFSH&RC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Majid Ibrahim Al Fayyadh.

In a statement, he stressed that the hospital’s participation in the exhibition comes in the context of its commitment to advancing innovation in the health sector from the national to the global level and supporting everything that contributes to providing the highest levels of healthcare and the best patient experience.

KFSH&RC introduces visitors of the exhibition to its various health innovations and solutions and their impact on enhancing health care outcomes and patient experience and improving operating efficiency in multiple medical fields.

Poised to exhibit its innovations and demonstrate its leadership in biomedical space research, KFSH&RC is underscored by its leadership in overseeing four research experiments in cell sciences conducted in space, solidifying the hospital's pioneering role in fostering international innovation. 

Additionally, the hospital will present its T-cell re-engineering treatment programme for cancer patients, signifying a significant enhancement in specialised medical care within the Kingdom.

This advancement also translates to reduced financial and health burdens, as patients are no longer required to seek treatment abroad.

-- BERNAMA

KFSH&RC STRIVES TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has highlighted its Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceuticals Department’s pioneering role in nuclear medicine, during the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This includes enhancing the capabilities of healthcare providers in both research and education, as well as ensuring the quality in the production and distribution of radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals across the Kingdom and beyond.

For the past four decades, the Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceuticals Department has been addressing the needs of local and regional medical centres for radiopharmaceuticals used in diagnosing and treating various specialised diseases.

Since its establishment, the department has produced over 25 types of radiopharmaceuticals with a production capacity exceeding 600,000 radiopharmaceutical preparations.

According to a statement, the department continues to provide its products to over 50 specialised Saudi medical centres, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of radiopharmaceuticals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Conducting research to develop high-quality radiopharmaceuticals for KFSH&RC and other hospitals throughout the Kingdom, to meet all healthcare needs of patients, the department aspires to become a diagnostic and molecular imaging centre and the first facility for Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) generators in the Kingdom.

The department adheres to high-quality standards for automated quality control and assurance while striving to advance cyclotron technology, precise radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, and the development of radiopharmaceuticals used in positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

-- BERNAMA

IBF Net Indonesia Broadens Global Footprint With Netversity Project

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Indonesian learning provider PT IBF Net Indonesia, has expanded its global footprint with launch of its groundbreaking Netversity project, marking a significant step towards globalising its comprehensive portfolio of courses, catering to a diverse and international audience.

According to a statement, PT IBF Net Indonesia is poised to expand its offerings exponentially, with plans to introduce over 50 courses designed to benefit its network of over 80 thousand members worldwide, from its modest beginnings with a handful of courses focused on Islamic social finance.

Announcing its latest portfolio of courses with the onset of the Indonesian Sharia Economy Festival (ISEF), IBF Net Indonesia President Director, Dr Mohammed Obaidullah said ISEF is an important occasion for the company to plan ahead and share its aspirations, welcoming well-wishers and guests from different parts of the globe to Indonesia.

“A halal ecosystem is not just about Islamic finance. Most of the present-day training providers focus on a handful of areas, such as banking, insurance and investments, and more recently on microfinance and fintech in the context of a Shariah-based economy.

“This is my dream project working with a team of young and energetic Islamic economists from Indonesia and an international panel of experts,” he added.

Prior to his leadership role with IBF Net Indonesia, he served the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank Institute as a lead research economist.

PT IBF Net Indonesia established the International Institute of Islamic Business and Finance (IIIBF) with a mission to advance human capacity building within the halal ecosystem through research and technology.

-- BERNAMA

GLOBAL HEALTH EXHIBITION: KFSH&RC SPEARHEADS SPACE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) is presenting its pioneering journey and prospects in space biomedical research as well as its role in enhancing human health at the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

At the exhibition, KFSH&RC in a statement said it delves into its groundbreaking experience leading four research experiments in cell sciences in space.

These experiments encompass testing the immune cell response to inflammation in space, monitoring the activity of thousands of genes in immune cells exposed to inflammation over time, and tracking the changes in the lifespan of ribonucleic acid (mRNA) between space and Earth.

Additionally, the pavilion simulates the inflammatory response to drug treatment using an immune cell model to explore its potential applications for prevention and early treatment.

These research experiments were conducted in collaboration with the Saudi Space Authority, as part of the scientific mission of Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni to the International Space Station (ISS).

The aim of these research is to contribute to exploratory research and its applications in space medicine to enhance the safety of space explorers and utilise the knowledge gained for the benefit of the patient community globally.

The hospital is actively pursuing further research in space biomedical science to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of gravity deficiency and cosmic radiation on the human body.

It aims to leverage the unique space environment, which provides opportunities for medical experiments that are not feasible on Earth, including studying how cells and tissues grow in microgravity conditions, potentially leading to groundbreaking discoveries in disease treatments and opening new avenues in space medicine.

-- BERNAMA

NEW SHIFTS IN APPLICANTS' FUNDAMENTAL EXPECTATIONS - GMAC SURVEY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Total applications to graduate business school programmes globally in 2023 dipped by approximately five per cent, according to an annual survey released by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

In a statement, GMAC said however, more programmes than last year reported growth in their applications, indicating that the drop in applications was not felt evenly.

Specifically, the decline in applications have centered around those to more selective programmes, driving a dip in total global applications while their somewhat selective counterparts reported growth in their applications.

Many candidates are still interested in more traditional, competitive full-time programmes, but online, hybrid, or evening options were much more likely to report application growth.

Interestingly, applicants seeking out top-ranked programmes may not necessarily be looking for the same flexibility as the others, but many candidates are more willing to sacrifice prestige for flexibility.

While flexibility in delivery methods played an important role in driving the global application trends, in the United States (US), the international and domestic compositions of programme volume turned out to be the key drivers behind the growth seen among their graduate management education (GME) programmes.

However, while more than half of the programmes in the US experienced growth despite a small dip in overall applications, their counterparts in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands were not as fortunate.

Most European programmes have faced declining applications over the past three years, with a significant drop (13 per cent) in total international applications in 2023. Similarly, programmes in Asia and the Pacific Islands have experienced two years of relative application declines, but with a pronounced drop (eight per cent) in total domestic applications in 2023.

Meanwhile, applications among women continue to stagnate across degree types and regions. Over the past five years, the share of female applicants in the US, Europe, Asia, the Pacific Islands, Canada and Latin America has hovered around two-fifths.

This year’s survey result, shows that 47 per cent of US programmes reported growth in applications from underrepresented US populations, rebounding by a whopping 18 percentage point from a 10-year low in 2022 and even higher than the pre-pandemic years.

GMAC’s Applications Trends Survey is the largest and most widely cited survey of its kind, serving the GME community for the past quarter of a century, collecting data on applications received by GME programmes for the 2023-2024 academic year.

-- BERNAMA

Asian Representation In Advertising Remains Stereotypical - Getty Images

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace, has launched “Inclusive Visual Storytelling for Asian Communities” report to help brands expand and deepen Asian narratives.

This guidance is a result of Getty Images’ ongoing global research initiatives, which found that visual representation of Asian communities in Asia Pacific (APAC) advertising remains stereotypical, according to a statement.

Powered by insights from its VisualGPS research, the guidelines stated that less than 10 per cent of most popular visuals for Australasia, Japan, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan accurately represent Asian people and their lived experiences.

Instead, most used imagery tends to lean heavily towards perpetuating common stereotypes, namely, depicting Asians as youthful, slender, possessing lighter skin tones, and predominantly portrayed in work-related contexts.

According to these guidelines, four out of five consumers across APAC agree that simply increasing the representation of individuals from diverse ethnicities, backgrounds, and appearances within advertising and media is insufficient, stating that companies also need to do a better job at capturing people’s true lifestyles and cultures.

Strikingly, three out of five also said to feel they have been discriminated against based on body size, lifestyle choices, race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability and sexuality.

These findings underscore the imperative for the media and advertising industry to not only recognise the intricate diversity and multidimensionality inherent in Asian cultures, but also to align with consumer expectations in delivering authentic and meaningful portrayals of Asian identities.

Despite APAC’s extensive span of cultures and demographics, there is limited diversity in imagery. Representation gaps range from disparities in depicting cultural specificities, to limited portrayals of Asian working life, among others.

To provide a comprehensive guide to visual storytelling centred on Asian communities, this new guidance encompasses various aspects of their identities, passions and lived experiences.

By presenting a robust spectrum of perspectives, the guidelines supply media and advertising professionals with practical and applicable insights, serving as visual checkpoints and equipping them to enrich Asian visual narratives within their brand communications.

-- BERNAMA

Generative AI Platform 1337 Secures US$4 Mln Pre-Seed Round

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform 1337, has emerged from stealth with the announcement of a US$4 million pre-seed round, aimed at inventing ways to engage with AI for good. (US$1=RM4.77)

Investors include Credo Ventures, GFR Fund, Treble Capital, Roosh Ventures, while individuals include Hugging Face Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Clément Delangue and impact investor Natalia Vodianova.

Pronounced “Leet” (a nod to early gaming and hacker culture), the company also unveiled an ecosystem of AI-driven micro influencers, known as ‘Entities’, in which each Entity has a unique set of skills and interests and aims to connect, educate and inspire niche communities online.

According to a statement, 1337 plans to use the new funding to develop a scalable platform that will facilitate the expansion of its Entity ecosystem to thousands of niche communities in the near future, while also broadening the company’s global creator community.

“Niche communities collectively represent a massive audience of people online and 1337 is building a new way for these deeply engaged community members to collaborate and interact with each other thanks to the addition of multimodal large language models.

“We view the Entities we are creating as guides, to help facilitate greater connection between people and communities, and later, directly between communities and brands,” said 1337 co-founder and CEO, Jenny Dearing.

The 1337 leadership team includes Dearing, Robin Raszka, Jan Maly and key strategic advisors including former Head of Community at Instagram, Bailey Richardson who currently leads both Marketing and Community at Substack.

With this new funding, 1337 is fueling the creation of a more vibrant online community to help build a future where everyone is celebrated and supported.

Through its AI-driven Entities, 1337 is providing a new way to co-create with AI, championing an open-source-inspired approach that encourages people to engage with creators, brands and each other in a collaborative fashion.

-- BERNAMA

Pantheon Expands Footprint With Two New Offices In Singapore, Geneva

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Pantheon, a global private markets investor, has extended its footprint into two important private wealth hubs with the launch of offices in Singapore and Geneva, Switzerland.

These new locations support the firm’s ongoing expansion in the private wealth channel and reflect its commitment to making its specialised expertise accessible to a wider range of investors, according to Pantheon in a statement.

Its Partner and Global Head of Business Development, Susan Long McAndrews said the firm’s strategic focus is on building presence in key growth markets and client channels, offering its investment acumen and commitment to service excellence to more investors, while growing investment capacity and reach.

“We are pleased to bring our global expertise to local markets in Singapore and Geneva, where we have generated significant momentum and where we see substantial opportunities for further growth,” she said.

The Singapore office will act as a hub for its activities in Southeast Asia and across the wider Asia Pacific region, where it serves an expanding client base that includes a number of blue-chip institutional investors and national pension funds under the leadership of Pantheon Partner and head of the firm’s investment activities across Asia and emerging markets, Brian Lim.

Meanwhile, the Geneva office extends Pantheon’s presence in Continental Europe, alongside existing offices in London, Dublin and Berlin, will be led by Principal in the firm’s European Investor Relations team, Carlos Arias who provides broader coverage for the firm’s institutional and private wealth clients in French speaking markets, as well as Spain and Italy.

Pantheon’s private wealth platform offers a range of evergreen fund solutions, with a combined US$5.8 billion in assets under management. (US$1=RM4.78)

In the United States (US), the firm manages the AMG Pantheon Fund, and recently filed for registration the AMG Pantheon Credit Solutions Fund, while outside the US, the firm manages two London Stock Exchange-listed investment trusts, Pantheon International Plc and Pantheon Infrastructure Plc.

The firm continues to innovate and extend the range of fund solutions available globally for private wealth investors to access its traditional private market funds.

-- BERNAMA

ST LAURENCE’S COLLEGE DEPLOYS BOOMI TO SIMPLIFY OPERATIONS FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS

St Laurence’s College Enhances Student and Teacher Experience with Boomi (Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Boomi, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, has announced that Brisbane-based St Laurence’s College (Lauries) is using the Boomi platform to enhance the end-to-end experience of its 1,990 students, and 250 teachers and staff, from enrolment and onboarding through to exiting the school.

With no integration capability previously in place, Lauries selected the Boomi platform to connect its on-premises and cloud-based applications to establish a centralised database and ensure data is consistent across all systems.

In a statement, Boomi said this enabled the college to overcome challenges in accurately collecting and managing the vast information sets it requires throughout its students’ learning journeys.

“Lauries has tapped Boomi to create a reliable foundation to connect its technology and data so it can give all its attention to adding value to the student journey and empowering teachers to make that possible,” said Boomi Director of Australia and New Zealand, Nathan Gower.

Meanwhile, Lauries Dean of Business Operations and Information Technology, Nick Lieschke said the school needed an integration platform to remove the complexity and chose Boomi for its robust, low-code integration capabilities.

“It is a crucial part in our mission to future-proof Lauries, and makes it much easier to introduce new software as a service (SaaS) as part of our cloud-first strategy. Even more importantly, we can focus on the teaching and learning of students,” he added.

Lauries is using Boomi’s integration platform as a service (iPaaS) to connect its human resources (HR), finance, and school management systems, as well as a growing number of cloud-based applications.

Before using the Boomi platform, Lauries handled all data collection and management processes manually, which caused difficulties in ensuring data consistency across its information technology (IT) environment, requiring time-consuming manual handling which also introduced the risk of human error.

With the knowledge of where its data lives and how it is being leveraged, Lauries has also created a digital safety net. Once students, teachers, and staff leave Lauries, the college can ensure their information will be disposed of, reducing the risk of data leaks.

In future Boomi projects, Lauries is looking to deploy Flow, Boomi’s workflow automation solution, to handle onboarding and exit forms, in which the automation will also support requested changes to user accounts, such as instances of students changing their elective subjects.

-- BERNAMA

CHINT Group Focuses On Low-carbon Energy Transformation At CEPSI 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- CHINT Group, a world-renowned provider of smart energy solutions made its debut at the 24th Conference on The Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) held on Oct 20 in Xiamen, China.

The conference was attended by more than 2,500 representatives from Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and Western Pacific (AESIEAP) member countries and regional member units, as well as related service organisations.

Themed "low-carbon energy, moving forward with intelligence" the group aims to discuss with industry customers the green, low-carbon and sustainable future of energy and electricity, according to a statement.

CHINT Group Chairman, Nan Cunhui gave a keynote speech, focusing on the transformation of low-carbon energy wisdom and shared the vivid practice of the group's continuous innovation and development around the power new energy industry and joining hands with ecosystem partners.

The group and China Electricity Council also signed a strategic cooperation agreement, giving full play to the advantages of China Electricity Council's industry platform and CHNT Group's research and development and comprehensive application technology capabilities in the field of energy and electricity.

Moreover, the two sides will also establish a comprehensive strategic cooperation relationship, and further promote the high-quality development of the new energy industry.

The group concentrated on displaying the green and low-carbon end-to-end solutions of the whole value chain of enterprises, empowering partners with "low carbon" and "intelligence" to continue to deepen the new energy field and help global customers realise green and intelligent upgrading in the traditional power field.

-- BERNAMA

OPEN HEALTH: DOM MARCHANT JOINS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- OPEN Health announced its Chief Creative Officer Dom Marchant, has joined the executive leadership team with a new vision to drive the creative communications practice.

In a statement, OPEN Health said Marchant will be responsible for leading the company's overall creative strategy, with a specific focus on the creative communications practice, which specialises in data-driven creativity.

By joining the organisation’s executive leadership team, he will share this world-class, innovative approach throughout all of its global practices, including scientific communications, patient engagement, as well as HEOR and market access.

“Data-driven creativity is central to all our services, and Dom demonstrates an innate vision for driving it within OPEN Health. He embodies a unique perspective and a freshness, seamlessly blending digital-first thinking with creative vision, but always with a commercial focus,” said its Group Chief Executive Officer, Rob Barker.

Meanwhile, Marchant said: “We have built a solid reputation as a creative force over the past two years, and we need to continue on that path, with more awards and more recognition for the highly creative and measurable work that typifies the data-driven approach.”

Joined OPEN Health in 2021 through the acquisition of London-based creative agency ARK, Marchant has a strong reputation in the industry, with a history of building successful healthcare agencies.

With over 100 awards as Executive Creative Director, including two Cannes Lions, two Creative Floors, and most awarded agency at the PM Society Digital Awards in 2022 and 2023, he currently sits on the Interactive Media Council Inc and the PM Society committee.

-- BERNAMA

BEST'S MARKET SEGMENT REPORT: AM BEST MAINTAINS NEGATIVE OUTLOOK ON TAIWAN'S NON-LIFE INSURANCE SEGMENT

HONG KONG, Oct 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best is maintaining a negative outlook on Taiwan’s non-life insurance segment, citing increased reinsurance costs and a decline in the investment asset base, as some assets were liquidated to pay pandemic-related claims.

The Best’s Market Segment Report, “Market Segment Outlook: Taiwan Non-Life Insurance”, states that the non-life segment suffered a huge net loss of TWD 173 billion (USD 5.4 billion) in 2022 due to the pandemic, which outstripped the cumulative earnings of the last decade. In addition, insurers needed to sell off investments to pay pandemic-related claims, and saw total investments shrink nearly 20% in 2022. Some non-life insurers continued to see unfavourable claims development and reported net losses in the first quarter of 2023, but the majority had returned to operating profitability as of second-quarter 2023. Insurers also have adopted more conservative investment strategies and de-risked their portfolios. The local stock market has recovered through the first nine months of 2023; however, non-life insurers continue to grapple with the low interest rate environment and volatility in operating results through capital gains and losses.

“Weaker capitalisation will become the new normal following the Taiwanese non-life segment’s huge pandemic insurance losses,” said Madison Fan, financial analyst, AM Best. “The industry’s average capitalisation has rebounded strongly thus far in 2023 but remains materially below pre-pandemic levels.”

AM Best expects full-year 2023 operating performance to be bolstered by the recovery in the capital markets and reserve releases, given that pandemic policies have all matured, and ultimate claims should be close to fully developed. One counterbalancing factor to the favourable operating performance is heightened reinsurance costs due to the current hardening cycle in the global reinsurance market.

“The January 2023 renewal season was described as one of the toughest in the past decade, and the market expects that reinsurance rates will again increase in the 2024 renewals,” said Stephanie Mi, financial analyst, AM Best.
 

To access the full copy of this report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=336786.

 

AM Best in conjunction with the Taiwan Insurance Institute and the Taiwan Insurance Guaranty Fund will present a seminar on Friday, 20 October 2023, titled “Rating Perspectives on IFRS 17.” The event, with members of AM Best’s analytical team, will take place on the second floor of the Grace Garden at the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, at 1:30 p.m. CST. For more information, please visit http://www.ambest.com/conference/IMBTAI2023.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019596181/en/


Contact

Madison Fan
Financial Analyst
+852 2827 3416
madison.fan@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Stephanie Mi
Financial Analyst
+852 2827 3402
stephanie.mi@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

James Chan
Director, Analytics
+852 2827 3418
james.chan@ambest.com

Source : AM Best

--BERNAMA

Dr Mohamed Ali is New MHTC CEO

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) has announced the appointment of Dr Mohamed Ali Abu Bakar as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Oct 16.

According to a statement, Dr Mohamed Ali will be spearheading all aspects of MHTC’s operations, ensuring its commitment to facilitating and promoting the nation’s healthcare travel industry.

With his vast experience and leadership, he brings a fresh take to Malaysia Healthcare’s growth, furthering Malaysia’s vision to be the trusted and leading global healthcare destination.

In his position as the new CEO, Dr Mohamed Ali will continue to build strategic and valuable partnerships with stakeholders in both private and public sectors at home and abroad.

Under his leadership, Malaysia Healthcare will remain committed to building the Malaysia Healthcare brand and simultaneously raising the country’s profile as a safe and trusted provider of quality healthcare globally.

With 28 years of experience in C suite positions, Dr Mohamed Ali specialised in Strategic, Financial, Digital, and operational turnaround of companies, while the businesses that he had managed range from high tech equipment including medical, Hospital Management, and Clinical Research.

He has extensive experience in health tourism from the early days of working with Malaysia Tourism Board, subsequently during his tenure in Pantai Holdings and more recently whilst he was the Group Chief Operating Officer in Vinmec, Vietnam.

Founded in 2009, MHTC is a government agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia that has been entrusted with the responsibility of curating the country’s healthcare travel scene, making it a key export service industry.

-- BERNAMA

JOOR Raises US$25 Mln In New Funding

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- JOOR, the digital wholesale ecosystem, has raised US$25 million in new funding led by Brightwood Capital and Tamarix Capital Partners, with participation from existing investors Macquarie Capital, Battery Ventures, and Canaan Partners. (US$1=RM4.74)

This additional raise will allow JOOR to deliver an increasingly enriched platform experience in service of its extensive global network of fashion brands and retailers.

Alongside new data-led initiatives, the company also plans to enhance its JOOR Pay solution, as well as expand its footprint in categories such as footwear, sports and outdoors.

In a statement, JOOR Chief Executive Officer, Kristin Savilia said the company has a proven track record of enabling growth for world class brands and retailers.

“Amidst a tough macroeconomic environment, we are thrilled that our investors recognise the value that JOOR’s solution provides and share our vision of accelerating the platform’s growth through additional innovation and enhanced platform capabilities,” she said.

Over the past decade, JOOR’s platform has evolved into the fashion industry’s most comprehensive wholesale management solution, enabling brands and buyers to connect, present collections, build assortments, place and manage orders, and process payments.

By digitalising the entire wholesale buying and selling process, the company allows brands and retailers to operate more efficiently and leverage data to optimise their business and inform decision making.

With more than 14,000 brands and 600,000 curated fashion buyers across 150 countries, JOOR’s platform hosts the world’s leading wholesale marketplace in the Luxury, Contemporary, Accessories, Footwear and Lifestyle verticals, processing nearly US$20 billion in wholesale transactions annually.

JOOR’s exclusive partners range from established luxury fashion houses including LVMH, Richemont and Tapestry, to leading brands such as Stella McCartney, Valentino, Kate Spade and Dr Martens, while premier department stores and global digital retailers conduct their buying exclusively through JOOR.

-- BERNAMA

APAC CXOS VIEW GROWTH, AGILITY AND EXPERIENCE AS CRUCIAL SUCCESS FACTORS

HR Evolution Perspectives 2023, a Darwinbox and People Matters’ initiative explores changing HR trends in Asia (Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Chief Experience Officers (CXOs) across Asia Pacific (APAC) projected high growth and profitability in the coming few years, according to HR Evolution Perspectives 2023, a Darwinbox and People Matters’ initiative which explores changing human resources (HR) trends.

While 83 per cent of CXOs across the region said they expect revenue growth in the upcoming years, 70 per cent foresaw a rise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) while another 80 per cent projected that organic expansion will remain an important driver of growth and profitability.

“With the world of work evolving rapidly, the study helps anchor HR strategies in quantifiable insights and helps explain, in great detail, how talent leaders can build future-ready practices that help companies scale and address their growth projections,” said People Matters Chief Executive Officer & Editor-in-Chief, Ester Martinez in a statement.

Among the key findings from the report are 83 per cent of companies across APAC stated a positive growth sentiment, while 81 per cent claimed that becoming more profitable is on the cards and 69 per cent of CXOs are aiming to expand their headcount.

Furthermore, 63 per cent of CXOs across APAC highlighted developing capabilities as their most significant talent risk. Yet only 27 per cent felt they are adequately prepared to address this concern.

The findings also revealed that employees demand better, more capable leaders with 52 per cent of employees surveyed saying good leadership is a must.

In addition, CXOs (68 per cent) said better talent management integration is a key priority while another 55 per cent indicated that unifying their HR tech is the need of the hour.

A rapidly evolving market presents varying challenges to leaders across APAC. To better address these challenges and achieve growth, the report found that HR leaders want to focus on Agility and Employee Experience as two key pillars of this change.

The Darwinbox and People Matters’ landmark report gathered responses from over 1,200 HR practitioners, 350 CXOs and around 1,500 employees, bringing together both employer and employee voices to showcase evolving priorities and enable strategic change.

-- BERNAMA

Toshiba Latest Photorelay Is Industry's Smallest

 

Toshiba: TLP3475W, a photorelay in a small, thin WSON4 package. (Graphic: Business Wire) 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has launched "TLP3475W", a photorelay in a small, thin WSON4 package.

According to Toshiba in a statement, it reduces insertion loss and suppresses power attenuation in high-frequency signals and is suitable for the pin electronics of semiconductor testers, which use a large number of relays and require high-speed signalling.

Toshiba’s optimised package designs reduces parasitic capacitance and inductance in the new photorelay, minimising insertion loss and improving the transmission characteristic of high-frequency signals to 20 gigahertz (GHz), about 1.5 times lower than its current product, TLP3475S.

TLP3475W uses a small, thin WSON4 package that is only 0.8 millimetre (mm) thick, making it the smallest photorelay in the industry to realise improved high-frequency signal transmission characteristics.

In addition, it is 40 per cent lower in height than Toshiba’s ultra-small S-VSON4T package, allowing more products to be mounted on the same circuit board, and will contribute to improved measuring efficiency.

Toshiba will continue to expand its product line-up to support semiconductor testers that deliver higher speeds and greater functionality.

-- BERNAMA

ATOS CLOUD COMPUTING, THE FIRST AUTHORIZED FOREIGN-FUNDED COMPANY TO OPERATE DATA CENTRE AND CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES NATIONWIDE IN CHINA, RENEWS ITS VALUE-ADDED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES LICENSES

Wuhan, China , Oct 16 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atos has renewed its Value-Added Telecommunication Services licenses (VATS licenses) in China, enabling it to run world class digital services and data centers across the country. Atos Cloud Computing has retained the licenses since 2019, being the first authorized foreign-funded company to operate cloud computing VATS regulated activities in several Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhan.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China has renewed the Atos Cloud Computing Co. Ltd VATS licenses for a further 5 years to 2028. The VATS licenses stipulate that Atos Cloud Computing is qualified to provide Internet Data Center Services (covering multiple regions, referred to as “IDC”) and Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Services for customers in China.
  
“This VATS licenses’ extension is a key milestone for Atos China, it means that we can continue to deliver world-class secure and compliant digital services supporting customers’ growth ambitions.” said Ruifeng Yun, Managing Director at Atos China Cloud Computing.

“The ability to serve our local and worldwide customers in China with regulated Data Center Services, Online Data Processing and Cloud Services is a distinctive capability that Atos is proud to bring to our partners in the region and globally. This five-year renewal underlines our strong working relationship with the Chinese Regulatory Authorities and our commitment to the Chinese market.” said Daniele Principato, CEO at Atos Asia Pacific.

In more detail, the Value-Added Telecommunication Services accreditation enables Atos in China to deliver:

Internet Data Center Services (covering multiple regions)

· IDC services, which include the placement, maintenance, system configuration and/or management services provided for users’ servers and other network equipment utilizing the corresponding data centers, as well as the rental of database systems, servers and other equipment, rental of the storage spaces of such equipment, proxy rental of communication lines and/or bandwidth, and/or other application services.
· Internet resource collaboration services, which include the data storage, internet application development environment, internet application deployment and operation management services provided for users through the internet by virtue of the equipment and resources established on the data centers in a manner of accessing and expanding on demand at any time and collaborative sharing.

Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Services

· Online data processing and transaction/affair processing services through the internet by utilizing various kinds of online data and transaction/affair processing application platforms (including transaction processing services, electronic data exchange services and network/electronic equipment data processing services).
 

Read more about Atos cloud solutions here. 

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ZEGOCLOUD KICKS OFF INNOVATIVE DIGITAL HUMAN PLATFORM AT CLOUD EXPO ASIA SINGAPORE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- ZEGOCLOUD, a global cloud communication service provider, rounds off its successful engagement at Cloud Expo Asia 2023 Singapore from Oct 11 to 12, unveiling its ground-breaking Digital Human Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to the market for the first time.

As the sole Real-Time Communication (RTC) and Real-Time Interaction (RTI) vendor at the Asia's fastest growing and most potent technology event, the company showcased its latest products and services in partnership with Sharker Technology, a Southeast Asia-based information and communications technology solutions provider.

“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to engage with users from the media and online education industries to talk about the usage of digital humans.

“This event has further motivated us to continue our mission to revolutionise communication through innovative technology,” said ZEGOCLOUD co-founder, Kuk Jiang in a statement.

Attendees were offered a hands-on experience, demonstrating the platform's ability to create appropriate content using digital humans in various scenarios efficiently, including celebrity endorsements, content marketing, e-commerce, education and customer service.

The innovative platform showcased the transformative power of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in improving video production efficiency and reducing costs. The solution allows businesses to enhance communication strategies while ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

ZEGOCLOUD's participation in the event marks its commitment to leading the industry in harnessing the power of AI for communication, with a mission to provide businesses with cutting-edge, efficient, and cost-effective RTC and interaction solutions.

Looking forward, the company is actively seeking development, technology, and reseller partners to join them in their mission to revolutionise communication, in which it believes that through cooperation and shared progress, it can continue to lead the industry in providing innovative RTC solutions.

-- BERNAMA

Be Enchanted With ‘Spooktacular’ Halloween Vibes In Hong Kong

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched the "Hallo" Hong Kong Halloween promotion on Oct 15 as visitors immerse themselves in the electrifying spirit of Halloween in the city this October and get ready for a haunting array of hair-raising happenings at various venues around town.

Whimsical and creative Halloween-themed decor adorned HKTB visitor centres, MTR stations, sight-seeing transport facilities and various hot spots across the city, inviting visitors and locals to take photos, enjoy the intense vibes and demonstrate to the world’s Hong Kong’s unparalleled fun-loving festive charm.

In a statement, HKTB Executive Director, Dane Cheng said: “Among cities in Asia, Hong Kong is one of those with the most buoyant Halloween ambience, with a wide range of celebrations and unique experiences.

“Riding on the Government's launch of the ‘Night Vibes Hong Kong’ campaign and spending offers, the HKTB is leveraging the festival to further strengthen the celebratory ambience by putting up jovial decor city-wide, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the fun experience as soon as they set foot in town, while the local public also enjoy the celebrations.”

One of the HKTB's top four trendy, eye-catching Halloween hot spots and must-try experiences is trick-or-treating at HKTB Visitor Centres located at Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, and the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier.

Visitors can drop by for a trick or treat with the staff and pick up a delectable treat, or may even get a chance to receive a limited-edition festive charm on the days leading up to Halloween in addition to the HKTB helping them plan a customised Halloween itinerary.

Meanwhile, starting Oct 18, 10 of Hong Kong’s MTR stations, including Central, Ocean Park, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui and Sham Shui Po, are decked out in their colourful seasonal best, each specially designed with elements inspired by authentic local features or landmarks in their respective areas.

Furthermore, visitors will be able to experience the vibrant side of Hong Kong and the night vibes of the charming Victoria Harbour by hopping on board the Sightseeing Bus, the Star Ferry and the Dukling junk boat, dressed up in colourful Halloween attire, and embark on a pleasant journey across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Colourful and gleeful pumpkins, spirits, bats, spiders and candies in the form of neon lights, marquees and LED art installations will also take over six tourist hot spots including the Park Lane Shopper's Boulevard, Avenue of Stars, and Mid-Levels Escalator in Central, creating an extra level of Halloween aura and party ambience in the city.

-- BERNAMA

AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY MEETS EXTREME SPORTS: DALLARA SUPER FORMULA UNVEILED AT GITEX GLOBAL

 

_{Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League - 28th April 2024 - (Photo - AETOSWire)}

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- ASPIRE, the driving force behind grand challenges and global competitions for Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has announced details of its highly anticipated Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, A2RL, on the first day of GITEX Global, the world’s premier technology event.

In a statement, ASPIRE said A2RL unveiled a model of the first ever autonomised Dallara Super Formula, SF23, released earlier this year.

This cutting-edge marvel, capable of sensing its environment and operating without human involvement, is set to transform racing with a monumental inaugural race scheduled for April 28, at the iconic Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit.

A first-of-its-kind for the region, A2RL integrates artificial intelligence (AI), autonomy, and extreme sports to push the boundaries of future mobility, and it is being spotlighted as the world’s largest autonomous racing league, showcasing autonomous car races, drone races, and dune buggy races.

“The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, A2RL, stands as a testament to Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as an international research and development (R&D) hub and a premier test bed for trialling proof-of-concept autonomous solutions.

“By bringing together scientists, developers, and coding gurus from around the world within an extreme sports arena, we are actively stress-testing capabilities on the racetracks, for safety on our roads,” said ATRC Secretary General, Faisal Al Bannai.

The inaugural race day (car race) will offer a glimpse into the future of AI, a thrilling mix of virtual and real-life experiences, and an introduction to a new era of extreme sports entertainment.

Ten elite teams from universities and research institutions internationally including University of California, Berkeley (United States); Beijing Institute of Technology (China); and Khalifa University (United Arab Emirates) have confirmed their participation in the autonomous car race and will vie for a prize purse of US$2.25 million. (US$1=RM4.72)

Participating teams will each have exclusive access to a brand new Dallara Super Formula SF23 car, while visitors to GITEX Global can catch a sneak peek of the autonomous model at the ATRC stand at the Dubai World Trade Center during the five-day event.

A2RL is an annual global racing circuit fixture, offering valuable opportunities for partnership and collaboration across industry and academia.

-- BERNAMA

AIRASIA SUPERAPP WINS ASIA'S BEST TRAVEL BOOKING APP AT WORLD TRAVEL TECH AWARDS 2023

Award solidifies its position as a travel app, in line with its vision of being the region’s leading one-stop platform for travel with the best value

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- airasia Superapp, which will be renamed to airasia MOVE soon, clinched the ‘Asia’s Best Travel Booking App’ title at the World Travel Tech Awards 2023, further solidifying its position as the region’s leading one-stop travel platform.

This recognition comes hot on the heels of its recent win as ‘Asia’s Leading Online Travel Agency (OTA)’ at World Travel Awards 2023. Both awards resulted from airasia Superapp’s maiden nominations in the respective categories.

To top it all, airasia Superapp was also crowned with another two awards: World's Best Low-Cost Airline App and World's Best Low-Cost Airline Website for the second consecutive year.

The World Travel Tech Awards, the sister event of the World Travel Award, is held annually and serves to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence in travel technology. Both events are voted by industry experts and consumers from across the globe, making each award truly a world-class recognition.

Tan Mai Yin, Chief Commercial Officer of airasia Superapp said, “The recognition as ‘Asia’s Best Travel Booking App’ by World Travel Tech Awards is a testament to the efforts we have put in to give our app users a seamless travel experience. We are so happy to receive this award, only a few short years since we fully transformed into an OTA & travel platform. As an OTA, we have notable international carriers such as Citilink Indonesia, Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airways, ANA, Japan Airlines and more working directly with us, while our direct hotel inventory has also grown by 98% in the past year.

“We have recently announced our upcoming brand refresh into airasia MOVE, which will take place by December. Our focus is on bringing an elevated and enhanced experience for our users with seamless access to travel and financial services from BigPay on one single platform. We would like to thank everyone who voted for us, and we are very excited about the future as we MOVE forward.”

Mike Sawicki, Director, World Travel Tech Awards, says: “Congratulations to airasia Superapp for winning ‘World’s Best Low-Cost Airline App 2023’ and ‘Asia’s Best Travel Booking App 2023’. This is a remarkable achievement, reflecting how the brand is setting the benchmark in online travel. The commitment of the entire team at airasia serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Stay up to date with everything from the airasia Superapp by following @airasiasuperapp on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates on airasia Superapp’s offerings! For a seamless and enhanced experience, download your airasia Superapp from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei AppGallery.

SOURCE: AirAsia Super App

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Yujin Kan
Communications
AirAsia
Tel: (6018) 2276005

--BERNAMA

POWERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: MGTC, BIOTEK DINAMIK AND STATE POWER INVESTMENT CORPORATION JOIN FORCES FOR GREEN ENERGY PROJECTS

 

Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, YB Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad (centre) witnessed the document exchange between GCEO of MGTC Ts Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor (right) and Datuk Eddy Yap, Executive Chairman of Biotek Dinamik Sdn Bhd (left) at the 14th International Greentech Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM).

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- On 6 Oct, a significant partnership was revealed, with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation teaming up with Biotek Dinamik Sdn Bhd, a company dedicated to renewable energy and prioritising climate change mitigation to drive global decarbonisation efforts. This collaboration extends to working closely with the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) of China. The focus of their partnership centres on advancing green energy initiatives within Malaysia, specifically in creating “Green Electrons” and “Green Molecules” assets. “Green Electrons” denote Green Power, emphasising the electron aspects, while “Green Molecules” emphasise Green Hydrogen and bioenergy, concentrating on the molecular aspect.

Datuk Eddy Yap, Executive Chairman of Biotek Dinamik Sdn Bhd, said, “In the final quarter of this year, the company plans to launch the Malaysia chapter of the Asian Green Energy Belt (AGEB) project, which consists of 5 Gigawatts (5GW) green energy projects, to be developed commencing 2024 through 2030. The AGEB project entails development of green energy generation projects from green or renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, biogas, geothermal and hydro-electric across Asia”. Meanwhile, Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, GCEO of MGTC, added that “the AGEB objectives are consistent with Malaysia’s national energy policies, especially with the recently launched National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and those of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), in global pursuit of energy transition and net-zero carbon”.

“The Asian Green Energy Belt is poised to become the green energy flagship project, focusing primarily on Green Power and Green Hydrogen assets development. AGEB plans to connect all green energy hubs, which the project proposes to develop across Asia to form a green energy belt to promote and ensure regional energy security and facilitate efficient cross-border trading of green energy. AGEB aims to decarbonise our national and regional economies by advocating sustainable development via sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) in green energy generation and establishing Malaysia as the leading player in the region's transition towards a sustainable and greener future.”, Yap added.

To ensure success in project rollout, Biotek Dinamik Sdn Bhd is teaming up with SPIC - one of the five major power generation groups in China and the largest solar power generation enterprise in the world (SPIC’s current installed solar photovoltaic capacity stands at 60GW), with its businesses spanning across 46 countries. Currently, SPIC energy portfolio consists of 213GW total installed capacity, of which clean energy accounts for 66.19%. Total asset value stands at US$229 billion, and it is ranked 260th in Fortune Global 500 in 2022, making SPIC one of the world’s largest clean energy producers with sound financials and proven technical capabilities. In global green energy generation rankings, measured in terms of installed capacity, SPIC ranks first in the world in solar photovoltaic, second in wind power, and first in new energy & total renewable energy. Also present at the event was Mr Zhai ChuanXu, Director, SPIC Energy Malaysia Bhd.

To ensure smooth and effective implementation of the AGEB project in Malaysia, MGTC is the project's strategic partner and the enabler for the project to align with government policies, industrial guidelines and practices. In contrast, SPIC is the project’s EPCC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning) partner and investor. Phase 1 of the Malaysia chapter of the AGEB project entails the development of 1GW of Solar to Hydrogen project and is estimated to cost approximately US$1.2 billion. In contrast, Phase 2 of the project consists of developing 4GW of green energy assets (both Green Electrons and Green Molecules), estimated to cost US$4.3 billion. Therefore, the total investment over the next eight years for the planned 5GW project is estimated to cost US$5.5 billion.

Meanwhile, both parties expressed gratitude to the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, YB Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, for his presence at the event to witness the momentous occasion. “The AGEB project aligns perfectly with the NETR and has the potential to make a transformative impact on our nation's and Asia's energy landscape, and together with the Minister’s continued commitment and support steering national energy policies and directives towards realising the NETR, Malaysia will soon achieve a carbon-neutral society” Yap further said.

SOURCE: BIOTEK DINAMIK SDN BHD

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: DATUK EDDY YAP
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)
Email: eywh28@gmail.com


--BERNAMA

Xsolla's Latest Acquisition Empower Creators, Enhance Content Creation And Distribution

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, has announced its strategic acquisition of Lightstream, Rainmaker and API.stream from Videndum, the parent company.

According to Xsolla in a statement, these innovative sets of tools are designed to revolutionise the landscape of content creation and distribution.

This acquisition underscores Xsolla's recognition of the tremendous value creators bring to the gaming ecosystem and is dedicated to building and strengthening relationships with talent agencies, creators, and their audiences.

Xsolla Chief Executive Officer, Chris Hewish said the company is committed to supporting creators and providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

“The acquisition of Lightstream, Rainmaker and API.stream reinforces our dedication to delivering extra value to the gaming community and making the Xsolla Partner Network an all-encompassing solution for developers, publishers, creators and their audiences,” he said.

With this acquisition, Xsolla will allow creators to go live within seconds via cloud streaming services, request free keys from game developers, participate in referral programmes, create their branded web shops and sell digital goods for games in Xsolla's portfolio.

Lightstream is a cloud-based streaming studio that allows creators to produce and share live content effortlessly, while the Rainmaker platform empowers creators to manage and grow their audience while maximising revenue opportunities.

Meanwhile, API.stream stands as a remarkable team of talented engineers who have dedicated themselves to advancing the future of live-streaming production.

Xsolla assures current Lightstream users that the platform will continue to operate smoothly with ongoing partnerships with Microsoft, Xbox, Twitch, and Steelseries, aimed at enhancing the user experience and providing additional resources and features.

-- BERNAMA

HILTON RESEARCH IDENTIFIES A NEW GENERATION OF ASIAN TRAVELERS - THE 'GENERASIAN' TRAVELER

 ·  87% of Singaporean travelers have reported they feel proud about the rising popularity of their country of origin as a travel destination.

·  Nearly four in five (79%) Singaporean travelers are seeking to better understand their own heritage through travel.
·  Singaporeans rank exploring local and traditional food and beverage as the most important consideration when it comes to planning travel for 2024, highlighting the intrinsic connection between culture and cuisine.
·  This research comes as Hilton releases its global 2024 Trends Report, which uncovers four themes expected to be the catalysts of change and innovation for travel in 2024 and beyond.

 

SINGAPORE, Oct 10 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- As Hilton releases its 2024 Trends Report, the leading global hospitality company has discovered an emerging generation of Asian travelers who are pursuing travel that will enable them to better understand their identity. Dubbed as the ‘GenerAsian traveler’ are Asians who are inspired by self-discovery and have a desire for a deeper understanding of their own cultural and ancestral heritage through travel.
 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009314740/en/

In a global survey conducted in collaboration with Ipsos, a resounding chorus of travelers across Asia have expressed a growing confidence for self-exploration. In Singapore, a staggering 87% of respondents reported they feel proud about the rising popularity of their country of origin as a coveted travel destination, with 92% feeling honored about the international popularity and appreciation for Asian food, design, and culture.

This shift in global taste can be attributed to globalization^¹, where international audiences have better accessibility and insight into Asia through pop culture and social media. From the island city serving as the backdrop of top-grossing Hollywood films, to its restaurants receiving internationally renowned recognition, Singapore has maintained itself as one of the top travel destinations for global travelers, welcoming an estimated 2.9 million international visitors in just the first quarter of 2023². 

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ALTY ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH PETRONAS DAGANGAN'S CAFÉ MESRA TO ENHANCE PATIENT EXPERIENCE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital, one of Malaysia’s first single-specialty comprehensive orthopaedic hospital today announced a collaboration with PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad’s café venture, Café Mesra, to further enhance patient experience and stay in the hospital.

Rapidly expanding to 61 outlets, Café Mesra is reaching more Malaysians through its presence in PETRONAS stations, standalone cafes, and kiosks. Designed with a twist that blends delectable food and artisanal coffee, Mesra Retail & Cafe perfectly aligns with ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital’s core values.

ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital’s CEO, Dr Savitha Dharan and Café Mesra Sdn Bhd’s CEO, Ian Malcolm Cruddas official launch the first Café Mesra outlet in a hospital setting to further enhance patient experience.

With the opening of the first hospital location for Café Mesra, patients can enjoy the delights of crafted coffee and indulge in delightful pastries, snacks, and meals in ALTY’s warm and welcoming environment.

ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Savitha Dharan said, “As ALTY continuously looks at enhancing our services with patient experience as a priority, we realise that this includes engagement beyond just the care they seek.”

“Café Mesra embodies similar core values emphasising quality which are aligned with our values and commitment at ALTY. We are pleased to be the first single-specialty hospital location for Café Mesra and look forward to welcoming our patients to enjoy this new service offering with this partnership” Dr Savitha added.

Mesra Retail & Café Sdn Bhd, Chief Executive Officer, Ian Malcolm Cruddas said, “We are thrilled to partner with ALTY Hospital to open our 55th outlet that supports our aspiration to deliver quality yet affordable food and beverage experience to customers. Not only does Café Mesra serve as a welcoming space for individuals to unwind at ALTY, but they can also enjoy handcrafted coffee brewed with Embun which is our signature blend of 100% arabica beans, an array of hot pastries, snacks and meals. This collaboration is a testament to our pursuit of making our customers’ everyday lives simpler and better as we believe quality food and beverages should be accessible to everyone.”

ALTY ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH PETRONAS DAGANGAN'S CAFÉ MESRA TO ENHANCE PATIENT EXPERIENCE

LIVERAMP'S ENHANCED DATA ACTIVATION, IDENTITY RESOLUTION ACROSS CLOUD PLATFORMS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- LiveRamp, a data collaboration platform has announced the new clean room activation and cloud-first identity capabilities that empower clients to more effectively activate and connect their data while unlocking deeper analytics and audience insights.

As a result, brands, publishers, and technology platforms can maximise the value of their first-party data, seamlessly unify and activate their data from any environment, and deepen consumer insights through more granular measurement, all within their existing enterprise technology stack or partner ecosystem.

“Bringing cloud-native, clean room-optimised activation and identity capabilities to the market ensures enterprises have the ability to scale data practices, maximise insights, and build flexibility for the future.

“With LiveRamp, businesses are empowered to evolve their digital transformation initiatives alongside the demands of a vastly fragmented ecosystem and complex journeys of their customers and partners, including clouds and clean rooms,” LiveRamp Senior Vice President of Product, Kimberly Bloomston said in a statement.

Through LiveRamp’s next-generation, cloud-native clean room capabilities, clients can now activate their data with hundreds of partners directly from their collaboration platform of choice, including Snowflake and the LiveRamp Clean Room, with enhanced accuracy and connectivity.

Furthermore, clients can now choose to expand their pseudonymised first-party data to include known data elements, directly in their preferred cloud platform using cloud-native and embedded identity resolution capabilities.

Using LiveRamp’s cloud-first identity capabilities companies are able to unlock person-based identity by resolving multiple personal identifiers back to an individual and a household, thus enhancing measurement and enabling more personalised advertising while minimising the need for data movement.

The company continues to advance its solutions and power next-generation data collaboration across four critical components which are Live/Identity; Live/Access; Live/Connectivity; and Live/Insights.

-- BERNAMA

MALAYSIA'S NATIONAL ENERGY AWARDS 2024 OPENS FOR ENTRIES

18 Awards for Innovative Sustainability Practices

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- In support of the nation’s just energy transition and sustainable development aspirations, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change recently announced the call for submissions for the National Energy Award (NEA) 2024, the country’s highest accolade for organisations and projects that have employed game-changing sustainable energy initiatives and practices.

Offering a total of 18 awards across 3 categories of energy management, energy-efficient buildings and renewable energy, NEA 2024, is open to eligible Malaysian companies, organisations, and individuals, that are paving the way in adopting sustainable energy practices, achieving new benchmarks in energy efficiency, energy management, and innovative renewable energy solutions.

A dedicated category has also been created to recognise the efforts of energy performance contracting projects, institutions of higher learning as well as domestic, international, and financial institutions for the provision of sustainable energy financing solutions.

NEA 2024 provides an important avenue for organisations to support the Government’s strategic efforts to further increase public awareness and industry participation in sustainable energy initiatives. It also serves to identify Malaysian champions to compete against regional peers at the prestigious annual ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA), to be held in the last quarter of 2024.

The past six years have seen NEA continue to attract increasing participation with over 849 organisations submitting entries. Winners of NEA qualify to represent Malaysia at the ASEAN Energy Awards, the region’s highest recognition for the adoption of sustainable practices, with 12 Malaysian organisations winning this year at the recently concluded ceremony in Bali.

The call for submissions for NEA 2024 will be opened until 23 February 2024 and submissions must be received before the deadline.

For further information, please visit www.nationalenergyawards.com.my.

About Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC)

MGTC is an agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change (NRECC) mandated to accelerate green growth, advance climate actions, and foster green lifestyles within the community. Guided by the National Green Technology Policy (NGTP), National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), Green Technology Master Plan 2017-2030 (GTMP), and the 12th Malaysia Plan, MGTC carries out various programs and initiatives to support stakeholders at all levels. Heading towards 2030, and through a range of implemented programs and initiatives, MGTC aims to invest up to RM100 billion in green initiatives, create around 230,000 green job opportunities, and assist Malaysia in achieving net-zero GHG emissions by as early as 2050

SOURCE: Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC)

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Sustainability Report: Olon Focus On Protecting The Planet

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Olon, an international active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) supplier, has released its annual Corporate Sustainability Report, detailing the global company commitment to people, planet and communities in which it operates.

Olon Group Chief Executive Officer, Paolo Tubertini said 2022 was marked by great strides toward environmental sustainability and energy transition, significant investment in systems that harness alternative energy sources, and social and economic involvement and support for the communities in which the company operates.

“We confirm our commitment to creating an increasingly sustainable and certified supply and production chain by transferring our values and standards to our global suppliers, and we continued our efforts to develop innovative production processes with an ever-decreasing environmental impact through research and development projects,” he said.

Olon has remained focused on a long term strategy of reducing and addressing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, protecting the environment, and delivering high quality and safe products to protect consumer and environmental health, via continuous research and innovation.

The 2023 Company environmental, social and governance (ESG), that moreover has been certified by third parties through a data assurance procedure, highlights in particular the results to reduce its environmental footprint.

According to a statement, Olon continually strives to reduce its impact on natural ecosystems and on the environment, with a specific focus on energy, greenhouse gases, water, and waste.

The company’s commitment to environmental protection has led to significant results, with a substantial reduction of CO2 emissions, water and energy consumption as well as waste production.

Looking at energy transition, in last year, Olon made investments in three sites up, and currently the group has made investments at five out of the 11 sites to instal advanced solar panel systems to generate renewable energy.

It is also making steps ahead in terms of promoting a more sustainable supply chain, whereby in 2022, 100 per cent of new suppliers signed the Code of Conduct and over 78 per cent of global purchases come from suppliers that have formally accepted and signed the Code of Conduct.

The report outlines the substantial progresses achieved in the focus areas, such as to reduce the footprint on the environment, create a sustainable global supply chain, include people diversity, as well as promote the most advanced and sustainable manufacturing processes.

-- BERNAMA

CERTIK ACKNOWLEDGED AGAIN IN APPLES'S IOS 17 SECURITY UPDATES

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- CertiK, the global leader in blockchain cybersecurity and code auditing, has once more garnered recognition in the release notes in Apple's iPhone operating system (iOS) 17 updates.

According to a statement, the recognition stems from CertiK's identification of three critical security vulnerabilities in Apple's iOS kernel, confirmed to impact several Apple devices running previous versions of iOS 17.

These vulnerabilities target the kernel, graphics processing unit (GPU) driver, and ProRes driver; and if left unaddressed, it would enable an app to execute arbitrary code with elevated kernel privileges. In its most recent update, Apple has mitigated these risks with enhanced memory handling protocols.

Platforms like iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are expected to become popular access points for Web3 applications, which are gradually targeting mobile users, placing an increased emphasis on the security of the mobile devices used to access them.

CertiK's SkyFall team has investigated the security measures of mobile wallets and has conducted comprehensive assessments of various security layers on mobile devices.

This is the second time CertiK has won recognition for its efforts to secure Apple software, whereby in August, Apple officially acknowledged CertiK’s SkyFall team in its previous iOS and macOS release notes.

CertiK is proud to continuously help Apple secure its services and devices, and these latest findings reinforce the value of the firm’s in-depth security research and efforts to preemptively identify threats.

Web3 needs robust, multi-tiered security solutions, ranging from the application layer down to the kernel and this acknowledgment by Apple stands as proof of CertiK's commitment to securing the entirety of the Web3 world.

Founded in 2018 by professors from Yale University and Columbia University, CertiK’s mission is to secure the web3 world and it applies cutting-edge innovations from academia to enterprise, enabling mission-critical applications to scale with safety and correctness.

-- BERNAMA

MGTC SIGNS MOU WITH ABB, ATLAS COPCO, DAIKIN AND BUSINESS SWEDEN TO STEP-UP ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRESS

· Like-minded stakeholders initiate National Energy Efficiency Collaboration (NEEC)
· Significant milestone to realize key energy efficiency initiatives in the National Energy Transition Roadmap
· Private-Public Partnership to scale up and speed up deployment of innovative technologies and solutions

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Atlas Copco (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Daikin Malaysia Sales & Service Sdn Bhd and Business Sweden have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 4 October 2023 with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) to formalize their collaboration and cooperation to push energy efficiency into a higher gear.

The agreement is timely given the Government’s renewed commitment and target of achieving an average of 21% energy savings by 2040 under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). With its cost efficiency and optimisation of resources, energy efficiency has been recognized as the most important lever in the NETR. Underpinning the value of urgent action in this area, as much as RM6 billion worth of investments from now to 2040 is expected, with smart device installation and government building retrofits being prioritized.

The MoU was signed by R Narayanan, Director, ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Group Senior Vice President, ABB Motion, Asia; Khalid Shaikh, General Manager, Atlas Copco (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd; Chan Hon Leong, General Manager, Daikin Malaysia Sales and Service Sdn Bhd; Emma Broms, Trade Commissioner, Business Sweden and Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, Group Chief Executive Officer, MGTC, at the 1st National Conference on Energy Efficiency held in conjunction with the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM). On hand to witness the signing was YB Tuan Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change.

“Being far more energy efficient than we are today is a must for Malaysia. We have come a long way, but more needs to be done to enhance our energy affordability and security, without compromising on our climate goals,” said YB Tuan Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad at the event. “Energy plays an important role in Malaysia’s sustainable growth. We rely on energy to fuel everything from transportation to communication, to cities and industries. The evolving landscape requires us to re-evaluate how we consume energy and the imperative to act quickly on energy efficiency has never been stronger, “he added.

Immediate mitigation measures are required to address climate change. The International Energy Agency, states that energy efficiency as ‘the first fuel’ represents the cleanest and, in most cases, cheapest way to meet energy needs. There is no plausible pathway to Net Zero without using our energy resources much more efficiently.

“MGTC has been involved in and driving the energy efficiency agenda since our establishment as Pusat Tenaga Malaysia 25 years ago. As we evolve over the years, we will continue to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to achieve various national energy efficiency goals, such as an 8% reduction in electricity consumption by 2025 under the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), and 11% reduction in industrial and commercial energy consumption by 2040 under the National Energy Policy 2022-2040 to name a few,” said Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, Group Chief Executive Officer, MGTC.

“We strive to achieve these goals through programmes such as the Energy Management Gold Standard (EMGS) certification under the ASEAN Energy Management Scheme (AEMAS), MyHijau Mark, Low Carbon Operating System, and Green Incentives. In our pursuit of becoming a net-zero emissions country, we must acknowledge that achieving it would be impossible without urgent action on energy efficiency,” he added.

The MoU covers the following areas:

· Advocacy for improvement of minimum energy efficiency standards for industry equipment and systems;
· Sharing of best practices and innovative technologies to accelerate retrofitting of public and government buildings;
· Engaging key stakeholders including energy providers, regulators, users and influencers in knowledge sharing dialogues on energy efficiency; and
· Establishing knowledge partners to expand the collaboration and to help industries identify technology and solutions that deliver the greatest value

“The NEEC is aligned with the global Energy Efficiency Movement founded by ABB to galvanize actions for an energy efficient, regenerative and adaptive world, which is now over 400 members strong. Globally, enhanced efficiency-related measures can provide one third of the emissions reductions needed for Net Zero. In Malaysia, there is enormous untapped potential for efficiency improvements in every sector of the economy. Through our cooperation with friends and peers from the industry, we hope to forge ahead to shape a sustainable and resource-efficient future for Malaysia,” said R. Narayanan.

“According to some energy experts, between 35% to 50% of the global energy consumption comes from industrial activities. In some of the more industrialised developing countries, the contribution of industry could be upwards of 50%. Energy conservation and gaining efficiency therefore become more of a compulsion than a choice. At Atlas Copco, we believe one of the best ways of conserving energy is through recovering and recycling energy. Atlas Copco, together with its industrial partners present in Malaysia can support local industries in not only meeting but exceeding the goals set in the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR),” said Khalid Shaikh.

“Everything we use goes through a life cycle, and each stage of the life cycle has an environmental impact. At Daikin, our leading innovation has consistently pushed the boundaries of HVAC technology, and our focus has always been beyond selling. We prioritize decarbonization to ensure the efficiency of our products during their entire life cycle. By becoming part of the NEEC today, we look forward to bringing this aspect into focus to move the needle on Malaysia’s energy transition,” said Chan Hon Leong.

“Business Sweden is thrilled to continue the collaboration between Malaysia and Sweden, enhancing the green transition. Our shared commitment to a more sustainable future has opened doors for innovation, knowledge exchange, and partnerships, which this MoU is a testament to. Sweden is a well-known sustainability leader and has energy efficiency as one of its main priorities and a central instrument to achieve our targets. The Swedish businesses in Malaysia are no exception and are accelerating the development together with their Malaysian partners and customers”, Emma Broms concluded.

Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation MGTC is an agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) mandated to accelerate green growth, advance climate action and inculcate green lifestyle. Guided by the National Green Technology Policy (NGTP), the National Policy on Climate Change (NCCP), Green Technology Master Plan 2017- 2030 (GTMP) and the Twelfth Malaysia Plan, MGTC carries out programmes and initiatives to support stakeholders at all levels. By 2030, through its various programs and initiatives MGTC aims to facilitate RM100 billion in green investments, create 230,000 green jobs and help Malaysia achieve its net-zero GHG emissions as early as 2050 target.

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com

Atlas Copco Group Great ideas accelerate innovation. At Atlas Copco we have been turning industrial ideas into business-critical benefits since 1873. By listening to our customers and knowing their needs, we deliver value and innovate with the future in mind. In 2022, Atlas Copco Group had revenues of BSEK 141 and at year end about 49 000 employees. For more information, visit: www.atlascopcogroup.com

Daikin, the Air Specialist, is a global leader in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions and is a trusted partner in creating comfortable, sustainable living and working environments. With a rich legacy of innovation and a commitment to environmental responsibility, Daikin is at the forefront of revolutionizing how we experience indoor comfort while minimizing our impact on the planet. We are pioneers of comfort and sustainability, and our unwavering commitment to innovation ensures that every step we take leads us toward a greener, more energy-efficient future. For more information, visit: www.daikin.com.my

Business Sweden is jointly owned by the Swedish state and the Swedish business sector with a mandate and a mission to help Swedish companies grow global sales and international companies to invest and expand in Sweden. Business Sweden creates awareness around sustainability and its impact on business. Since 2005, Business Sweden is present in Malaysia and offers local support and advises Swedish companies how to strategically expand their business in the area.

SOURCE: Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MGTC
Name: Farisha Zainol
Tel : +6019 327 5456
Email : farisha@mgtc.gov.my

--BERNAMA