ROYAL MOROCCAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION ACKNOWLEDGES CAF APPEALS RULING, CLARIFIES APPEAL POSITION

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has formally acknowledged the decision rendered by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee.

In a statement, the federation stressed that its initial appeal was strictly intended to ensure the proper enforcement of competition regulations, emphasising it was never aimed at contesting the sporting merit or performance of the teams involved in the tournament.

The FRMF reaffirms its commitment to respecting the regulations, ensuring the clarity of the competitive framework and maintaining the stability of African football competitions.

The federation also commended all participating nations in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which served as a significant moment for African football.

The FRMF announced plans to issue a more comprehensive official statement in the coming days following a scheduled meeting of its governing bodies.

-- BERNAMA

Accountancy Talent Pipeline Strengthens as Profession Evolves to Meet Digital and Sustainability Demands, says Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)

MIA Logo

 KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- As businesses accelerate their digital transformation and momentum towards sustainable practices, the role of accountants is rapidly expanding beyond traditional boundaries—driving a renewed demand for future-ready talent in Malaysia.

“The accountancy profession has always been agile in adapting to remain resilient and future-ready,” said MIA President Puan Saniza Said. “At the same time, we continue to uphold ethics, financial acumen and professional judgement—the enduring foundations of the profession.”

As the regulator and developer of the profession in Malaysia, the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) works strategically to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of accountancy talent.

“A key priority is to clearly communicate the profession’s value proposition to attract and retain talent, while ensuring professionals remain relevant to market needs. “Building a strong talent pipeline is also critical to addressing concerns over the supply of accountancy professionals required to meet market demand,” said MIA Chief Executive Officer G. Shanmugam.

This focus is consistent with broader global trends. The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is highlighting the evolving role of professional accountants in areas such as digitalisation, sustainability reporting and assurance. At the regional level, the ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA) has similarly underscored the need to strengthen the accountancy talent pipeline to support sustainable economic growth.

Strengthening the profession’s appeal requires a coordinated, end-to-end approach across the talent development pipeline—from early education to professional qualification and career progression

A key focus is engaging students early at both school and university levels through initiatives such as career talks, student conferences and accounting competitions. This includes preparing them for a workplace shaped by digital transformation, where skills in analytics and artificial intelligence support informed decision-making across organisations. It also involves building capabilities in sustainability, particularly in areas such as reporting and assurance, which are critical to maintaining trust in an increasingly climate-conscious environment.

In this regard, MIA advocates for curriculum enhancements aligned with industry needs and supports academicians through initiatives such as Train the Trainer programmes in digital transformation and sustainability.

The Chartered Accountant (C.A.(M)) designation remains a hallmark of professionalism, reflecting MIA’s commitment to developing competent, ethical and globally recognised accountancy professionals. From 2023 to 2025, MIA has recorded an average annual membership growth of approximately 2.6%. Total membership currently stands at close to 42,000, reflecting sustained growth momentum.

Addressing retention, Puan Saniza highlighted that the versatility of an accountancy qualification equips professionals for diverse roles across the economy, both locally and internationally.

“Today, accountants have opportunities beyond traditional roles in audit, public practice and finance. Many are moving into C-suite positions, fintech and emerging areas such as sustainability, including climate measurement, reporting and assurance, carbon taxation and green finance—areas that align well with their core competencies”, she said.

To address capacity constraints in audit and finance functions, MIA also advocates for organisations to adopt digital solutions and automate routine processes across finance, accounting and treasury.

“This enables accountants to focus on higher-value work requiring professional judgement, data interpretation and risk management, strengthening decision-making, value creation and trust,” concluded G. Shanmugam."

For more information, please visit www.mia.org.my

About the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
Established under the Accountants Act 1967, MIA is the national accountancy body that regulate, develops, supports and enhances the integrity, status and interests of the profession in Malaysia. MIA accords the Chartered Accountant Malaysia or “C.A. (M)” designation. Working closely alongside businesses, MIA connects its membership to a wide range of information resources, events, professional development and networking opportunities. Presently, there are close to 42,000 members making their strides in businesses across all industries in Malaysia and around the world.

MIA’s international outlook and connections are reflected in its membership of regional and international professional organisations such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA). For more information on MIA, visit www.mia.org.my

SOURCE: Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MIA STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & BRANDING
E-mail: communications@mia.org.my

Name: THANE MEYYAPPAN
Tel: +6012 248 9534

Name: MOHD FAIZ OTHMAN
Tel: +6012 622 5027

--BERNAMA

MENLO LAUNCHES FIRST BROWSER SECURITY PLATFORM FOR AI AGENT-DRIVEN ENTERPRISES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Menlo Security, the leader in human and agentic Browser Security, has unveiled the first Browser Security Platform purpose-built to secure the agentic enterprise, where autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agents will outnumber human employees and the browser has become the operating system for both.

Menlo in a statement said the platform provides the first unified control plane that applies machine-speed governance and threat prevention to both human and AI actors, deployed globally on Menlo’s elastic cloud infrastructure.

“By moving protection directly into the browser session, we are enabling organisations to deploy AI agents that work at a scale and speed impossible for humans without opening the door to catastrophic prompt injection or data exfiltration.

“Without this protection, a single compromised AI agent can move laterally across enterprise systems, exfiltrate data, or execute fraudulent transactions at machine speed, with no human in the loop,” said Menlo Security Chief Executive Officer, Bill Robbins.

This launch follows a record fiscal year for Menlo, which surpassed US$140 million in annual recurring revenue with net retention exceeding 120 per cent, alongside a strategic partnership with Google to provide least-privileged remote access to desktop applications and data via the browser for both humans and AI agents. (US$1=RM3.93)

The Menlo Browser Security Platform provides Menlo AI Agent Security that enforces instruction-data separation to ensure agents never mistake malicious data for legitimate commands and are unable to exfiltrate sensitive data.

It also facilitates secure access to applications and data, sanitising inputs so agents can safely replicate human workflows. With least-privileged agent governance, the platform enforces granular controls to prevent autonomous agents from moving laterally or accessing unauthorised data.

By embedding security directly into the browser session, it creates “Architectural Immunity”, neutralising evasive threats before they reach AI agents or human endpoints and providing a unified trust layer for the enterprise.

-- BERNAMA

REFEYN UNVEILS MASS PHOTOMETER TO SIMPLIFY SAMPLE QUALITY ASSESSMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Refeyn, a pioneering mass photometry technology developer, has launched the MyMass mass photometer (MyMassMP), a compact instrument designed to simplify sample quality assessment for structural biology.

The device enables researchers to quickly evaluate sample purity, homogeneity and oligomerisation state before proceeding to complex and resource-intensive experiments such as cryo-electron microscopy, native mass spectrometry, bio-layer interferometry and surface plasmon resonance.

“Structural biology and AI-driven drug discovery are moving fast, but they are only as good as the samples that drive them.

“MyMass directly addresses that challenge and marks a significant step forward for Refeyn, putting the power of mass photometry within reach of more researchers than ever before,” said Refeyn Chief Executive Officer, Gerry Mackay in a statement.

Meanwhile, its Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Fiona Coats said the new system builds on strong demand for rapid sample quality assessment tools.

She added that MyMassMP makes this capability more accessible, enabling researchers to determine whether samples are ready for further analysis.

Built on the same core technology as Refeyn’s TwoMP mass photometer, MyMassMP is designed as a self-contained benchtop instrument with an integrated display and onboard data analysis. The system also features dedicated consumables and an intuitive workflow from sample to result.

Refeyn said the launch aims to address a key bottleneck in structural and biophysical research, where poor sample quality remains a leading cause of experimental failure.

-- BERNAMA

Kao Bioré Expands Into South Korea With Global Campaign Featuring Stray Kids

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Kao Corporation, a Japan-based manufacturer of cosmetics, personal care and household products, announced its skincare brand Bioré will accelerate its international expansion as it enters the South Korean market and rolls out a globally unified campaign.

Currently available in 66 countries and regions across Asia, the Americas, and Europe, Bioré has steadily strengthened its global presence.

According to Kao in a statement, the South Korean entry aims to reinforce trust in the brand’s proprietary sunscreen technology while serving as a strategic springboard for broader expansion across Asia and other international markets.

Beginning March 2026, Bioré will also launch a global campaign centred on Bioré UV, featuring Stray Kids, the South Korean boy band, as its face.

The campaign will roll out simultaneously across more than 15 countries and regions, combining globally unified creative assets with locally optimised initiatives tailored to each market. Influencers from key regions will also participate to deliver culturally relevant content.

Amid rising global temperatures and heightened awareness of ultraviolet (UV) exposure, Bioré’s campaign conveys the message “SUNLIGHT IS YOUR SPOTLIGHT.”, encouraging people worldwide to step confidently into the sun.

The campaign will kick off with the “YOUR ONE AND ONLY. Bioré Global Brand Event” on March 19 in Seongsu, Seoul, one of South Korea’s vibrant cultural hubs.

Through anthem films, out-of-home advertising, social media content, global graphics, and pop-up store activations, Bioré aims to showcase the unique value of Bioré UV—superior protection with a lightweight, refreshing feel—strengthening its global brand identity and engagement across markets.

-- BERNAMA

Toshiba Photovoltaic-Output Photocoupler Boosts Automotive SSR Reliability

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has commenced volume shipments of the "TLX9920", a new photovoltaic-output photocoupler targeting solid state relays (SSR) in automotive equipment.

According to Toshiba in a statement, the introduction of the TLX9920 aligns with the growing demand for automotive relay units that offer a longer operational life, a market trend accelerating the industry's shift from conventional mechanical relays to SSR.

The component functions as a gate driver for the high-voltage power MOSFET utilised within SSR. This combination enables high-voltage and high-current switching, a performance level difficult to achieve with standard photorelays.

A key advantage of integrating the TLX9920 into SSR is the elimination of contact wear and the need for regular maintenance, issues common to mechanical relays that rely on physical contacts.

To meet rigorous safety requirements, the device is housed in a thin, long-creepage-distance SO6L package, which delivers a high isolation voltage. The package's creepage distance, exceeding eight millimetres (mm), surpasses the 5.6 mm minimum required by the IEC 60664-12 international standard for applications involving 400-volt (V) or higher operating voltages in environments with pollution degree two.

Furthermore, the TLX9920 complies with AEC-Q101, the automotive electronic component reliability standard.

Beyond automotive systems, the TLX9920 is suited for a broad array of switching applications in high-voltage and harsh environmental conditions, including energy storage systems (ESS) and industrial power equipment.

Toshiba indicated that this product reflects its continuing effort to develop reliable products for automotive and industrial markets, thereby supporting technological innovation and contributing to a sustainable society.

-- BERNAMA

EDGECONNEX BREAKS GROUND ON AI-READY HYPERSCALE CAMPUS IN GREATER OSAKA

Sam Lee, Managing Director, Market & Commercial Development for EdgeConneX APAC performing the ground‑breaking ritual during the Shinto ceremony.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- EdgeConneX, a pioneer in global Build-to-Suit and Build-to-Density data centre solutions, has commenced development of its first 200-megawatt (MW), artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data centre campus in Greater Osaka.

The milestone project, in partnership with Kagoya Asset Management, reinforces the company's commitment to the Japanese market and aims to meet the region’s growing demand for secure, resilient, and advanced digital infrastructure.

“Breaking ground on our first data centre campus in Japan is a landmark moment for EdgeConneX and a significant step in our strategy to bring advanced, AI-ready infrastructure to this critical market.

“With a combined 350MW of capacity planned for the Greater Osaka region, we are well-positioned to support the next wave of cloud and AI adoption, helping to establish Osaka as a top destination for cutting-edge IT infrastructure,” said EdgeConneX Managing Director, Market & Commercial Development APAC, Sam Lee.

Meanwhile, Kyotanabe City Mayor, Takashi Kamimura welcomed the project, expressing confidence that the facility will contribute to the regional economy and support sustainable community development.

According to EdgeConneX in a statement, the new hyperscale campus will span 130,000 square metres, with a 200MW power capacity, and is located approximately 30 kilometres from Osaka’s central business district.

The first phase is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2028, following the company’s January 2025 market entry and local team expansion.

Designed for high-density AI workloads, the Osaka campus will feature a liquid-cooling-capable architecture offering flexibility, modularity, and mission-critical resilience. The facility will fully comply with Japan’s stringent building and seismic codes to ensure operational reliability.

-- BERNAMA