LRN's Third-Party Supplier Training Solution To Streamline Supply Chain Compliance Management

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- LRN Corporation has announced the introduction of LRN Catalyst Supplier, a specialised solution for clients to deliver their Code of Conduct and ethics and compliance (E&C) training to suppliers, and measure and track engagement.

LRN Corporation in a statement said the Catalyst Supplier solution will be generally available in late October this year.

The solution will provide legal, risk and compliance leaders with solutions to mitigate supply chain risks in the face of changing regulatory standards such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which is coming into force in the European Union in 2028.

By providing a complete code of conduct and training solution, Catalyst Supplier enables organisations to foster a culture of compliance across business operations and stay ahead of rapidly evolving regulations, strengthening organisational commitment to ethical conduct and effective third-party compliance management.

In addition, the solution will have relevance to a range of sectors, including manufacturing, pharma and biotech, agriculture, automotive and retail.

Catalyst Supplier builds on the award-winning LRN Catalyst E&C compliance management platform, incorporating Catalyst Reach for supplier self-registration, onboarding capabilities, training delivery and out-of-the-box reporting.

It also incorporates Catalyst Design for course customisation and access to four titles from the LRN Inspire Library of compliance training courses.

Moreover, the solution allows clients to host, monitor and report on policies and training content made available to their supplier population.

A leader in E&C solutions that enable organisations to inspire principled performance, LRN has worked to propel organisations forward with the partnership, knowledge, and solutions to build ethical culture since 1994.

-- BERNAMA

MAKING ALL DREAMERS PROUD AIRASIA'S 'DARE TO DREAM' AMBASSADOR BEN PROUD RETURNS TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, INSPIRING NEXT-GEN ASEAN TALENTS WITH SWIM CLINIC

From left to right - Rudy Khaw, CEO of AirAsia brand co. (Abc.) and Olympian Ben Proud during the press conference of Ben Proud's Talent Pool swim clinic 2.0 at Team Q Swimming Academy, Petaling Jaya

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- In a region rich with untapped potential, AirAsia continues to lead the way in empowering Asean's rising stars through its Dare to Dream initiative. Leading this campaign is Olympic swimmer Ben Proud, fresh off his silver medal triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. As a Dream ambassador, Proud truly represents what can be achieved through unwavering dedication, determination and hard work, inspiring the next generation to never give up.

After almost stepping away from competitive swimming following the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Proud’s comeback is a true testament to his resilience. Following his recent achievement, Proud has returned to Malaysia, where it all began, marking a meaningful homecoming and reunion with his former coach, Francis Kiu, who first guided him into the world of competitive swimming. The reunion will take place at Coach Kiu's swimming academy, the Team Q Swim Academy at the heart of Petaling Jaya, where the second edition of Ben Proud's Talent Pool swim clinic is hosted.

First introduced in 2017, the ‘Ben Proud Talent Pool’ swim clinic offers aspiring athletes aged seven to 19 the unique opportunity to learn from an Olympic medalist. As part of AirAsia’s ongoing commitment to youth empowerment through the Dare to Dream initiative, the clinic not only focuses on teaching swimming techniques but also imparting long-time life values such as perseverance, goal-setting, and mental resilience. The clinic serves as a full-circle moment for Proud, who hopes to inspire the next generation of swimmers in the same environment where his own journey began.

Rudy Khaw, CEO of AirAsia brand co. (Abc.), said: “We are more than proud of Ben’s accomplishments at the recent Olympics. I can’t think of anyone more deserving. We started our journey with Ben in 2017 with an aim to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics and he showed year after year his strengths through breaking records, winning world championships, Commonwealth Gold and more. Despite missing out on podium finishes in previous Olympics, Ben continued to break records and never gave up. True to the spirit of Dare to Dream, he kept pushing, never losing sight of his goal. We’re happy to have Ben back in Malaysia where his swimming career first began. As he returns to his ‘roots’ to give back to the next generation through his Talent Pool swim clinic, we are reminded once again that no dream is too big if you are willing to chase it. Ben’s story is proof of that, and we could not be prouder to have him as our Dare to Dream ambassador.”

Ben Proud said: "Three years ago, I was at one of the lowest points in my life, unable to even talk about the setbacks I faced. But in those tough moments, I found the strength to keep going, and now, standing here with an Olympic medal, I am grateful for every high and low I have experienced along the way. AirAsia’s Dare to Dream initiative embodies this spirit of resilience, and I am honoured to partner with them to show young athletes that even in the darkest times, there is always a path forward. As my journey has shown, “work hard in silence, let success be your noise”. Returning to Malaysia, with AirAsia by my side and reuniting with Coach Kiu, to inspire the next generation of swimmers is a moment that truly brings my journey full circle."

AirAsia remains dedicated to supporting and uplifting Asean talents, empowering them to achieve their dreams and fueling their passions across all fields and endeavours.

About AirAsia, the masterbrand
AirAsia is a leading Asean brand that has evolved from a pioneering low-cost airline into a dynamic travel and lifestyle platform for the underserved, the believers and the dreamers. With a legacy of more than 20 years built on affordability, accessibility, and inclusivity, AirAsia has connected over 800 million people across the region and beyond, inspiring dreams and empowering communities. Rooted in Asean, AirAsia continues to champion the region's diversity propelled by its "Dare to Dream" spirit committed to delivering exceptional value, unforgettable experiences, and innovative solutions.

For the latest brand updates, collaborations, and exclusive content, follow @airasia on Instagram and be part of the journey as we continue to connect and inspire Asean!

For more information on AirAsia's 'Dare to Dream' initiative, please refer here.

SOURCE: Capital A Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Alya Zulaikha
Communications
Tel : +601162954695
Email : nuralyazulaikha@airasia.com

--BERNAMA

BUSINESSNEXT WINS COMPARABLY 2024 BEST PERKS & BENEFITS AWARD

The only Indian-origin company among the top 150 global firms to receive the award

NEW DELHI, India, Sept 25 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  BUSINESSNEXT (parent company of CRMNEXT), a universe of composable enterprise solutions for banks and financial services, is thrilled to announce that it has won the “2024 Best Perks & Benefits Award” from Comparably.

With this, BUSINESSNEXT becomes the only Indian-origin company that has secured a spot among the top 150 global firms celebrated for employee satisfaction.

This award is based on anonymous feedback from employees on Comparably.com, which evaluates the company’s efforts on various employee workplace, benefit, and wellness parameters. The recognition and award highlight BUSINESSNEXT’s commitment to fostering a supportive and enriching work environment and celebrates its comprehensive offerings that contribute to employee satisfaction, well-being, and an unparalleled workplace culture. From competitive benefits to unique perks, the company’s focus on employee-centric policies has helped it stand out in the industry.

Lipika Mohanty, Director of People and Development at BUSINESSNEXT, stated, “BUSINESSNEXT is truly honored to receive the prestigious Best Perks & Benefits award”.

“This recognition, based on employee surveys, reflects our continued dedication to ensuring our employees thrive both personally and professionally, and it reinforces the culture of care we strive to maintain every day. The 2024 Best Perks & Benefits Award from Comparably further emphasizes BUSINESSNEXT’s position as a leading employer, and showcases our value of “We Care” as well as our continued commitment to employee well-being”, added Mohanty. 

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REVO ZERO, GRUPO ÉDORA PARTNERS TO FAST-TRACK GREEN HYDROGEN REVOLUTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- REVO ZERO Corporation, a zero-emissions technology company, and Grupo Édora, an European renewable energy developer, announced Grupo Édora's strategic investment in REVO ZERO to accelerate the deployment of a green hydrogen generation and refuelling network in the United States (US) and Europe.

Under the terms of this strategic investment, Grupo Édora has acquired a stake in REVO ZERO, and the two companies will collaborate on developing, financing, and deploying green hydrogen projects globally.

“This partnership will enable us to create the first private global hydrogen refuelling network quickly and economically,” said REVO ZERO Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ruben G. Creus in a statement.

Meanwhile, Grupo Édora CEO, Rafael Martín said: “We are already evaluating multiple solar projects in the southern corridor of the US, from Florida to New Mexico, that will produce green energy for hydrogen generation and energy storage.”

REVO ZERO's innovative modular approach to hydrogen generation and dispensing, and Grupo Édora's renewable energy infrastructure expertise will accelerate the roll-out of a first-of-its-kind hydrogen refuelling network in the US and Europe.

The deployment of scalable green hydrogen technology will significantly reduce the cost of generating, transporting, and supplying hydrogen for the transportation industry.

The partnership will accelerate the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure for commercial closed-loop environments like airports, municipalities, and universities and will eventually serve the consumer market by providing public access to green hydrogen refuelling.

In addition, this collaboration is a significant milestone in making green hydrogen a reality for the transportation industry, as both companies are well-positioned to lead the way in this emerging industry, and their partnership will help accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Meantime, Martín, a vehicle enthusiast and owner of one of the most impressive exotic vehicle collections in Europe, is joining the REVO ZERO vehicle engineering team as a special advisor, in which his input will be invaluable in helping the company shape the future of the zero-emissions automobile industry.

-- BERNAMA

GRADIANT LAUNCHES COMPREHENSIVE ELECTROLYSER-READY WATER SOLUTION FOR GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Gradiant, a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment, has launched ProtiumSource, the world's most advanced end-to-end solution for electrolyser-ready water.

ProtiumSource lets producers focus on green hydrogen, not source water as it offers solution they need to fulfill the promise of green hydrogen by delivering high-purity, electrolyser-ready water with the lowest energy demand, fully powered by renewable energy.

“With the introduction of ProtiumSource, we are removing a major hurdle to making green-hydrogen a fully renewable energy source,” said Gradiant Chief Operating Officer, Prakash Govindan in a statement.

ProtiumSource results from collaboration, combining the recently acquired H+E Group's decades of ultrapure water expertise with innovation from The Gradiant Labs, to satisfy the urgent needs of green hydrogen producers and excel in all operating environments including feedwater-agnostic, zero liquid discharge (ZLD) and lowest total life cycle costs.

The solution uses the world's most efficient water treatment technologies in a fully integrated, balanced three-phase system that Gradiant tailors to the throughput needs of any green hydrogen production plant.

The first step, water purification leverages Gradiant's award-winning Pretreatment, Selective Contaminant Extraction, and RO Infinity technologies to remove a complete range of inorganic and organic contaminants from any feedwater.

It is followed by electrolyser-ready source water production which leverages H+E’s ultrapure water knowledge and experience in ion exchange (IX), electrodeionisation (EDI), and ultraviolet (UV) technologies to yield electrolyser-ready water that exceeds industry specifications.

The final step is integrated brine management system for ZLD by using Gradiant’s award-winning RO Infinity with Counterflow Reverse Osmosis (CFRO) technology to reclaim water from brine at the pretreatment and high-purity stages for ZLD.

ProtiumSource is thoroughly tested and commercially ready, and Gradiant is currently onboarding new customer partners.

-- BERNAMA

PENSONIC EMBRACES DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WITH NEW MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia-listed Pensonic Holdings Berhad (“Pensonic” or “the Company”), a leading Malaysian manufacturer and distributor of household electrical appliances, is poised for a brighter future with the recent implementation of new digital initiatives and a transformation strategy under the leadership of Dato’ Dixon Chew Chuon Jin.

Since Dato’ Dixon Chew took the helm in November 2023, Pensonic has been focused on restructuring its operations to drive long-term value for its shareholders. His leadership has steered the company towards modern strategies and operational excellence, positioning Pensonic to thrive in the digital age.

Pensonic, which has a rich history dating back to 1965, is now leveraging its decades-long experience and pivoting toward modern strategies to thrive in the digital age. The company’s NTA stands at RM1.06 per share, significantly above its current share price of RM0.50.

To position itself for future growth, Pensonic conducted an inventory write-down of RM6 million during the last quarter of its financial year ended May 31, 2024. This strategic decision was made after considering historical sales trends, inventory ageing, and product life cycles. The “kitchen-sinking” approach, aimed at making the balance sheet healthier, is expected to prepare the company for a stronger financial future.

With a renewed focus on innovation, Pensonic is preparing to launch a range of new home appliances designed to meet the needs of modern households. Dato’ Dixon Chew has played a crucial role in streamlining the company’s operations, reducing costs, and improving overall productivity, all while driving the company’s product development strategy forward.

Dato’ Dixon Chew Chuon Jin, Group Chief Executive Officer of Pensonic said, “We are confident that Pensonic’s transformation will resonate with today’s consumers, particularly as Malaysia’s household consumption remains a key driver of economic growth. With consumer spending in Malaysia projected to grow by 4.2% in 2024, driven by rising disposable incomes and increasing demand for smart, energy-efficient home appliances.”

As part of its digital transformation, Pensonic has partnered with popular social media influencers, particularly on TikTok. These influencers, collectively known as “Pensonic Friends,” will help Pensonic engage with younger, tech-savvy consumers. This initiative marks an essential step in leveraging digital marketing to reignite Pensonic’s brand presence across Malaysia.

Pensonic is well-positioned to meet these evolving needs. Our strategic focus on product innovation and digital engagement ensures that we remain relevant to modern households while continuing to deliver the quality and trust that Pensonic is known for,” Dato’ Dixon Chew added.

Research has shown that digital marketing, especially through platforms like TikTok, can significantly boost brand awareness and drive consumer engagement, making it a key pillar of Pensonic’s strategy to expand its market share in the household appliance industry.

Despite economic uncertainties and cautious consumer sentiment in Malaysia, Pensonic is confident about the future. With consumer spending slowly recovering and demand for energy-efficient, smart home appliances on the rise, Pensonic’s innovative product offerings are well-positioned to capitalise on these trends.

SOURCE : Aegis Communication on behalf of Pensonic Holdings Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Jason Fong
Tel: +6012-8631134
Email: jason@aegiscomm.com.my

--BERNAMA

QUANTEXA NAMED LEADER FOR WORLDWIDE DECISION INTELLIGENCE PLATFORMS BY IDC MARKETSCAPE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Quantexa, the global leader in Decision Intelligence (DI) solutions has been recognised as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Decision Intelligence Platforms 2024 Vendor Assessment.

IDC defines DI Platforms as technology that helps organisations design, engineer, and orchestrate decisions by fully or partially automating steps in the decision-making process.

The report noted that Quantexa is an artificial intelligence (AI), data, and analytics software company, offering a DI platform that delivers an enterprise-scale, real-time, composable automated decisioning system with a focus on explainability and transparency.

“We believe being recognised in the IDC MarketScape reflects our dedication to innovation and the trust our customers place in us to help them use data, analytics and AI for faster and better outcomes in constantly changing, complex decision-making environments.

“Our mission is to empower our customers to make the right decisions with the right data to protect, optimise, and grow their organisations,” said Quantexa Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Vishal Marria in a statement.

Meanwhile, IDC MarketScape Research Principal, Megha Kumar said Quantexa's ability to integrate diverse data sources and extract meaningful insights from complex datasets using advancements in entity resolution and knowledge graphs served as a key differentiator.

“Their commitment to AI innovation across their platform, coupled with a strong focus on customer needs, positions them as a leader in shaping the emerging DI landscape,” added Kumar.

The report also noted that Quantexa’s platform leverages entity resolution and knowledge graph capabilities to create a unified view of entities and contextual features for machine learning. It also offers prepackaged solutions to improve the decision-making process in ways that are specific to each vertical.

-- BERNAMA

Nippon Kinzoku Introduces Welded Drawn Pipe Series

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- Tokyo-based Nippon Kinzoku Co Ltd, a stainless steel rolling and processing provider for the automotive, battery, semiconductor and other markets, has commercialised “FINE PIPE”, a welded drawn pipe that surpasses “seamless pipe”.

According to the company in a statement, this pipe uses carefully selected materials and unique processing technologies (welding, drawing, annealing) only available from a raw material manufacturer.

These products meet the needs for higher precision in small-diameter pipe manufacturing, and it has received many inquiries and orders for the “FINE PIPE” series are expanding.

Nippon Kinzoku’s “FINE PIPE” is eco-friendly, high quality, and low cost, and is used in various fields such as automotive parts, measuring instruments, and industrial equipment to meet the high precision and high quality requirements of its customers.

In response to the recent needs for higher performance and higher speed in analytical and medical equipment, the company has developed “high-precision internal surface” small-diameter pipes and “FINE PEEK-ST”, a small-diameter composite tube made of stainless steel and PEEK resin, based on its proprietary technology in “FINE PIPE”.

Founded in 1930, Nippon Kinzoku will continue to provide new value to society with highly value-added products.

-- BERNAMA

MEDIDATA RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN EVEREST GROUP'S INAUGURAL ELECTRONIC DATA CAPTURE PEAK MATRIX® ASSESSMENT

NEW YORK, Sept 18 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes brand and the leading provider of clinical trial solutions to the life sciences industry, has been recognized as a Leader in Everest Group‘s first-ever PEAK Matrix^® Assessment for Electronic Data Capture (EDC) in life sciences.

The report, which evaluated 20 providers, highlighted Medidata Rave EDC for its seamless integration with wearables, sensors, and EHRs, along with its advanced capabilities in source data verification, AI-driven query management, and adverse event handling. Rave EDC earned recognition for its intuitive, low-code design, enabling rapid implementation of protocol amendments, and simplifying the creation of electronic case report forms (eCRFs), while maintaining data quality and integrity for clinical trial sponsors.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Leader in EDC by Everest Group,” said Anthony Costello, CEO, Medidata. “Rave EDC, the industry gold standard, has led electronic data capture for decades. Given the constantly evolving healthcare landscape, we continue to innovate to meet the growing demands for decentralized trials, empowering sponsors to use real-time data and AI to drive innovation and efficiency in the development of life-saving treatments.”

The Everest Group report emphasized Medidata’s strong brand presence among large and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies and its extensive partnerships with CROs and clinical trial technology providers. This recognition reinforces Medidata’s leadership in driving the future of digital clinical trials.

For more information, visit our website. 

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HR Gradual Changes, Strategic Shifts Expected In Next 12 To 18 Months - Study

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- People Matters, a people and work community platform, in its  study on largest human resources (HR) industry in Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East (ME), highlighted the evolving state of HR and the strategic shifts expected in the next 12 to 18 months.

“Inspired by Sherpas, the gatekeepers and experts of the world’s most mountainous terrains, this research aims to be your navigator to the HR landscape.

“With high growth projections, it offers a source of truth for HR, businesses and tech partners. The insights will be pivotal in helping the HR industry unleash a new wave of business impact,” said People Matters Chief Executive Officer, Pushkaraj Bidwai in a statement.

According to the report, talent is among the top forces shaping business growth outlook, while a skilled, agile, and digitally ready workforce is critical to business success.

Top findings from the report include 89 per cent of leaders say maintaining high productivity, and 84 per cent say adopting new technologies are key talent and technology challenges impacting business performance significantly.

In addition, the finding stated that 77 per cent of leaders say they are ready to adapt and evolve, however, change execution remains a pain area.

Furthermore, 38 per cent of HR tech leaders, chief experience officers (CXOs) and founders expect the HR tech market to grow by 25 per cent to 50 per cent in the near future. Even with big investment plans, HR leaders continue to struggle investing in sustainable technology infrastructure.

To assess the impact of an evolving economic and technological environment on the HR industry, SHRPA Research 2024 surveyed more than 1,300 and interviewed over 25 CXOs, HR leaders, HR tech partners and investors across APAC and ME.

People Matters launched the report to help HR leaders and CXOs raise HR effectiveness and make impactful tech and people decisions, as well as equip tech partners with comprehensive insights into buyers’ needs and mindsets.

-- BERNAMA

TELEDYNE LAUNCHES 16K TDI LINE SCAN CAMERA WITH 1 MEGAHERTZ LINE RATE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Teledyne DALSA, a Teledyne Technologies company, has introduced the Linea HS2 TDI line scan camera family, representing a significant breakthrough in next generation time delay and integration (TDI) technology.

Designed for ultra-high-speed imaging in light starved conditions, it delivers exceptional image quality with 16k/5 micrometres (µm) resolution and boasts an industry leading maximum line rate of one megahertz, or 16 gigapixels per second data throughput.

The Linea HS2 features a highly sensitive Backside Illuminated (BSI) multi-array charge-domain TDI CMOS sensor with 16k/5 µm resolution and optimised Quantum Efficiency, meeting the rigorous demands of current and future machine vision applications.

In a statement,Teledyne DALSA said the multi-array TDI sensor architecture allowed the camera to be configured for superior image quality with maximised line rate, dynamic range, or full well, according to specific application requirements.

This makes it particularly ideal for inspecting semiconductor wafers, high density interconnects and flat panel displays, as well as for life science applications, in addition to on-chip binning that enables higher web speeds to boost system throughput.

Linea HS2 offers a seamless upgrade from Teledyne’s existing Linea HS line scan cameras, featuring the same pixel size, optics, cables, and mounting hardware, but with a 2.5-time increase in speed, while maintaining reasonable power consumption.

For a complete solution, the Linea HS2 camera works with Teledyne’s Xtium2 CLHS series of high-performance frame grabbers, utilising next-generation CLHS technology.

-- BERNAMA

AI-Media Partners Speechmatics To Evolve Captioning, Language Services Technologies

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- AI-Media, a pioneering technology company specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) language and captioning workflow solutions, announced a strategic expansion of their multi-year partnership to deliver new and better AI-driven products to market.

This partnership brings together Speechmatics’ leading speech-to-text technology and AI-Media’s unique iCap-based encoding appliances and secure network that seamlessly embeds the technology within customers’ existing workflows and automation systems.

By integrating these capabilities, AI-Media's LEXI 3.0 has been the first AI product to overtake the quality of human-in-the-loop alternatives in the live video market, at a fraction of the cost, according to a statement.

“Our data derived from the performance of LEXI 3.0 has shown Speechmatics to be one of our most trusted engines over the last two years, consistently delivering accurate results that continue to improve.

“This collaboration deepens the partnership that has seen AI-Media’s iCap encoding ecosystem emerge as the leading choice of broadcasters and government customers around the world looking to get the best possible performance from these game changing AI technologies from Speechmatics," said AI-Media chief executive officer (CEO), Tony Abrahams.

Meanwhile, Speechmatics CEO, Katy Wigdahl said: “AI-Media has successfully integrated our technology into their market leading broadcast infrastructure to achieve impressive growth in their chosen markets, and this strategic partnership brings closer collaboration to allow for more rapid innovation and agility.

“As a result, global broadcasters will continue to get the best captioning service on the market and our combined strength in AI driven captioning can be utilised in a broader array of verticals.”

By leveraging Speechmatics’ advanced speech recognition engine and AI-Media’s cutting-edge workflow and encoding technologies, this partnership addresses the diverse and complex needs of various industries, from broadcasting to government and enterprise sectors.

The partnership broadens Speechmatics' reach by integrating its core technology into AI-Media’s LEXI 3.0 product. Extending the success of LEXI 3.0 into the European broadcast market is a near term objective, Speechmatics' emerging multilingual capabilities align perfectly with AI-Media’s growth plans.

This new partnership elevates AI-Media to become Speechmatics’ largest live captioning market partner, marking a significant milestone in their collaboration.

Together, AI-Media and Speechmatics are committed to integrating best-in-class technologies to set new industry standards, with the aim of continuously evolving and adapting to the dynamic demands of the global language services market.

-- BERNAMA

PUTRA BUSINESS SCHOOL JOINS FORCES WITH ROYAL SELANGOR YACHT CLUB TO TACKLE KLANG RIVER POLLUTION

With unwavering dedication to community welfare, His Highness the Crown Prince of Selangor leads by example, empowering lives and fostering unity through the Klang River Cleanup programme jointly organised by Putra Business School (PBS), Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC), Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, Putra Student Association and Cuci Malaysia

 

KLANG, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The Klang River Cleanup Project, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative with the tagline of “Unite to Clean, Flow to Green,” jointly organised by Putra Business School (PBS), Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC), Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, Putra Student Association and Cuci Malaysia to clean the Klang River was a success. The project joined by His Highness the Crown Prince of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, who is also PBS’ Chancellor. His Highness expressed his support for the project and hopes to see a cleaner river that can once again be a source of pride for Selangor.

Volunteers for the project included PBS students, alumni and staff along with its President & Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dr. Azmawani Abd Rahman and RSYC Commodore, Mr. Ramasamy Menon. Upon arrival, they were divided into two teams to either clean the trash floating in the waterway via boats, or at the riversides. This project was supported by Harta Maintenance Sdn Bhd, BinaTuah Capital Berhad, Angkasa Khas Berhad, 3Days Nasi Lemak, Linaco Group of Companies and VG Offshore Containers International (M) Sdn Bhd.

In line with PBS’ strategic plan to nurture environmental stewardship and social responsibility, this initiative seeks to not only reduce the amount of trash polluting the river but most importantly raise public awareness of the pollution.

Volunteers for the Klang River Cleanup Project included Putra Business Schools' students, alumni, staff, and partners.

The Klang River Cleanup Project marked the beginning of a collective journey of conservation efforts by PBS, with the hope that coming generations will benefit from a cleaner, healthier Malaysia.

According to Prof. Dr. Azmawani, “This project will be the first of many, and we hope it inspires more organisations and individuals to take part in future cleanups. With increased awareness, we believe more people will adopt responsible waste disposal practices, helping reduce pollution in our nation as a whole.”

Putra Business School is an AACSB accredited higher learning institution, offering a postgraduate education in business and specialising in executive development program in leadership. In the recent QS World University Rankings Global MBA 2024, Putra Business School was ranked as number one MBA Program in Malaysia and 24th in Asia.

SOURCE: PUTRA BUSINESS SCHOOL

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Ms. Siti Badarny Hassan
Tel: 019-2194287
Email: badarny@putras.edu.my

Name: Ms. Norizan
Tel: 016-2458700
Email: norizan@putrabs.edu.my.

--BERNAMA

11X SECURES US$24 MLN TO ADVANCE AI-POWERED DIGITAL WORKERS, EXPAND GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- A pioneering AI startup transforming the modern workforce with autonomous digital workers, 11x announced closing a US$24 million Series A funding round. (US$1=RM4.29)

The round was led by Benchmark, with participation from Quiet Capital, SV Angel, Abstract Ventures, Lux Capital, Operator Partners, Visionaries, Activant, HubSpot Ventures, Project A, 20VC, 20Growth, and 20Sales.

The Series A funding will accelerate 11x’s product development pipeline, expand its team, and enhance its global market presence, particularly in the United States market, where the company has recently relocated its headquarters.

The team continues to grow there, attracting key hires from leading tech companies such as Chief Technology Officer Prabhav Jain, who is a former Head of Financial Services Engineering at Brex.

Founded in 2022 by its Chief Executive Officer Hasan Sukkar, 11x simplifies Go-to-Market (GTM) operations with AI-powered digital workers, allowing teams to focus on strategic work.

Over the past two decades, the landscape of GTM tools has become increasingly fragmented. The proliferation of specialised software, from customer relationship managements (CRMs) and marketing automation platforms to sales engagement tools and data enrichment services, has burdened revenue teams.

“Each new tool often requires its own integrations, maintenance, and training, ultimately eliminating any efficiency gains these tools were supposed to provide,” said 11x Head of Growth, Keith Fearon in a statement.

11x is redefining the workforce by developing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital workers that autonomously execute workflows in revenue teams. By automating roles traditionally performed by employees, these digital workers can be “hired” to handle tasks efficiently and at scale.

Earlier this year, the company launched “Alice”, an AI-powered Sales Development Representative which has gained significant traction by helping companies grow on autopilot by automating prospecting, multi-channel engagement, and personalisation at scale.

Meanwhile, the recent launch of “Jordan”, an AI phone representative focused on inbound lead qualification, has already received interest from businesses aiming to streamline their “speed to lead” processes.

-- BERNAMA

The WatchFund SG, Konvi Reach 2 Mln Euros Milestone

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- The WatchFund Singapore (SG), the world’s largest luxury watch investment vehicle of its kind, and Konvi, Europe’s leading fractional luxury assets investment platform, have jointly reached a milestone of two million euros in Konvi’s watch assets under management (AUM). (1 euro = RM4.76)

The WatchFund SG Founder, Dominic Khoo said the collaboration with Konvi has blown open the doors to a market that has historically only been available to the wealthiest of individuals.

“This partnership has enabled Konvi to offer what we define as investment-grade watches to a new group of investors in Europe, a segment that we do not yet have the capability of catering for in Singapore,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Konvi Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Eran Peer said: “Our partnership aligns perfectly with Konvi’s mission to make lucrative luxury asset investments more accessible for everyone. 

“We expect to see interest in watch investing through our platforms increase as our collaboration makes the space more accessible and interest in the market continues to soar,” added Peer.

The WatchFund SG enables high-net-worth individuals to purchase money-cannot-buy watches or ultra-high-end timepieces at prices that most people cannot obtain.

Through this partnership, The WatchFund SG is supporting Konvi in its mission to democratise the luxury watch space and empower a broader range of investors with access to these lucrative investment opportunities.

Through this collaboration, retail investors can purchase joint ownership of luxury watches via Konvi for as little as 250 euros.

These investors purchase investment-grade watches from The WatchFund SG, which are then securely managed and stored by Konvi. The timepieces are then sold by Konvi after a set appreciation period and profits are returned to investors.

Investors on the Konvi platform, through a voting mechanism, will decide as a collective group on all aspects of their investment, such as the watch model itself, accepting a sale offer, and electing the storage solution.

-- BERNAMA

KURA SUSHI TO OPEN WORLD’S LARGEST SEATING CAPACITY REVOLVING RESTAURANT AT OSAKA EXPO

 

Perspective view (*This perspective view is for illustrative purposes only and is subject to change.) (Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Kura Sushi Inc, one of the world’s most popular revolving sushi chains, announced it will open a revolving sushi restaurant with 338 seats, the largest number of seats in the world for a company outlet, at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Yumeshima, Osaka, on April 13, 2025.

In addition to having the world’s largest number of seats, the restaurant will also have the world’s longest conveyor belt, at about 135 metres long, and deliver sushi as well as other food right to the customer’s seat.

“At the Expo, our stores will be operated under the concept of ‘Revolving conveyor belt unites the world’. Under this concept, the customers will be able to enjoy representative dishes from each of the countries participating in the Expo, along with popular sushi and side dishes from our restaurants,” said its Director and General Manager of the Public Relations, Advertising and Investor Relations Division, Hiroyuki Okamoto.

The exterior walls of the restaurant will be constructed with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in mind, using plaster made from about 336,000 discarded ark clam shells.

Moreover, the walls are designed to be instantly recognisable as Kura Sushi, with a picture of tuna sushi in an “antibacterial sushi cover”, one of the company’s unique features.

The interior is designed in a modern Japanese style with a white wood base, and the design of the Kura Sushi plates on the ceiling and the model of the antibacterial sushi cover in the waiting area are eye-catching to customers.

The restaurant will also be equipped with a state-of-the-art, proprietary Kura Sushi system, which is standard at all of its restaurants in Japan, including “Smart Kura” that eliminates the need for customers to be in contact with an employee from the time they enter to the time they leave the restaurant.

Also, a new artificial intelligence camera system that constantly monitors the lanes to prevent unwanted behaviour; and a “water collection system” automatically carries finished plates back to the kitchen on a stream of water will be furnished in the restaurant.

-- BERNAMA

MAYBANK GROUP GLOBAL CR DAY 2024 EMPOWERS OVER 18,000 LIVES WORLDWIDE

Maybank Singapore in collaboration with Fei Yue Community Services (FYCS) implemented their ‘Let’s go Papazao with Maybank’ initiative for the elderlies, with the aim to promote an active lifestyle through a walkathon event, reduce social isolation, enhance community engagement and raise digital awareness.

- Over 22,000 employees worldwide commemorated the 12th Maybank Group Global CR Day

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Over 22,000 Maybank employees worldwide commemorated the 12th Maybank Group Global CR Day where they made a difference to over 18,000 community members in their respective local and international locations, by continuing to play a role in empowering lives and for the environment through sustainable initiatives.

With the theme “Leading the Charge in Sustainability”, Maybank Group Global CR Day is part of the Group’s flagship employee volunteerism programme, Cahaya Kasih (CK) which is a platform that enables and empowers Maybankers throughout the Group to come together as agents of change in making positive and sustainable impact for communities, the environment and education towards a more sustainable future.

The Maybank Group Global CR Day is a day that Maybankers get the opportunity to showcase their year-long commitment towards their CK initiatives. It is believed to be one of the largest single community programme undertaken simultaneously in one day, by a Malaysian-based corporation on a global scale.

The global initiative is in line with Maybank’s Sustainability Commitments namely to improving the lives of two million households across ASEAN by 2025, and achieving one million hours per annum on sustainability and delivering one thousand significant UN SDG-related outcomes by 2025.

Maybank Group Chief Human Capital Officer of Maybank, Datuk (Dr) Nora Manaf, said that Maybank’s 12th year Global CR Day continues to display the Bank’s unprecedented commitment in not only transforming the lives of the people but also the community and the environment, aligning with the Group’s mission in Humanising Financial Services, underlined by its M25+ strategy.

“As a leading financial institution in the region, we continue to champion this large-scale corporate responsibility initiative through the power of community and collaboration. This year, via the theme “Leading the Charge in Sustainability,” our social impact programmes are designed to further alleviate the challenges and needs of the communities, led by our employees, by implementing high-impact sustainability initiatives that would improve the livelihood of the people, communities and the environment. Our primary objective to ensure that the Cahaya Kasih employee volunteerism programme consistently addresses real-world issues while equipping the underserved and unserved segments for the future. This ongoing commitment allows us to create lasting change and meaningful impact throughout the year, supported by a two-year cycle that enables us to make a difference more effectively. The programme exemplifies our dedication to making a difference, and by addressing critical issues and supporting those in need, we are contributing to a more equitable and compassionate world.”

This year, over 97 initiatives were implemented by employees across the Group, not only in Malaysia but also its offices abroad – from New York and London to Greater China and across ASEAN – coming together to demonstrate their year-long efforts with their beneficiaries.

In Kuala Lumpur, 112 volunteers from the office of Maybank’s Group Audit (MGA) collaborated with University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) on the initiative ‘Wellbeing Empowerment to Community (WEC)’ with the aim to drive greater awareness on positive well-being by promoting a culture of care, support, good health and quality education to 100 patients residing at the Women and Children Health Complex (WCHC), UMMC. GA provided support by refurbishing and upgrading a recreational room renamed as ‘Tiger Cubs Recreational Centre’ and a meeting room located on the 8th floor of WCHC. The initiative offer patients, parents, visitors and hospital staff a space to unwind and interact, and also serves as a venue for interactive and educational activities. Additionally, GA contributed to UMMC’s ‘Sekolah Dalam Hospital Programme,’ located on the 7th floor, by supplying stationeries, reference books, and furniture to ensure sufficient learning resources for teachers and patients. The initiatives will continue with monthly activities led by volunteers, including storytelling, movie days, interactive games, financial awareness workshops, sustainability-related programs, counselling sessions, tuition and computer classes.

With the continued aim to reduce waste, conserve natural resources and promote sustainability within communities, 80 employees from Business Compliance Control Office and Strategy departments of Maybank Group Global Banking (GGB) held its second year “Think Outside the Trash” initiative in collaboration with Impactlution, a CSR event solutions company, which supports community upcycling and recycling programmes. Following last year’s Global CR Day, where teams participated in beach clean-up as well as bi-monthly trash collection and segregation initiatives at the PJ Eco Recycling Plaza, this year, volunteers learned to build modular pieces using ‘Ecobricks’ made from repurposed trash. The modular pieces will be distributed and used by communities within the Petaling Jaya area, particularly schools and housing areas. Simultaneously, six other initiatives by 10 departments within GGB executed CR initiatives in various locations in Klang Valley and Penang.

With the aim to create greater awareness on the importance of coastal conservation and reliance on its ecosystems, 392 volunteers from Maybank’s Insurance & Takaful arm, Etiqa were deployed to 9 locations in Malaysia to conduct mangrove cleaning, seeding & planting activities. A total of 1200 mangrove plants, 200 mangrove seeds & 200 forest trees were planted, benefitting local communities & broader environment stakeholders. The initiative serves to protect coastal villages from floods, storms and erosion, helping them stay safe and maintain their homes within the area. Healthy mangroves further supports seafood populations, providing fishermen with more reliable catches and income.

In other ASEAN countries, Maybank Singapore in collaboration with Fei Yue Community Services (FYCS) implemented their ‘Let’s go Papazao with Maybank’ initiative for the elderlies, with the aim to promote an active lifestyle through a walkathon event, reduce social isolation, enhance community engagement and raise digital awareness. Maybank Cambodia, initiated their ‘Uniting Through Sports: Building Stronger Communities’ programme to foster unity, promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage active participation among students.

SOURCE: Maybank Group

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Maybank Group Corporate Affairs
Name: Wan Nazdy
Tel: +6012 3517561
Email: Irwan +6019 2787719
Email: corporateaffairs@maybank.com

--BERNAMA

INTRODUCING BIGPAY LITE WALLET ON AIRASIA MOVE

· Open a BigPay Lite account in just seconds to unlock exclusive discounts & priority access to AirAsia Big Sale and more!

AirAsia MOVE launches BigPay Lite to simplify In-app payments

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- The AirAsia MOVE app is now further enhanced with the introduction of BigPay Lite, a simplified embedded wallet where users can create an account within seconds, and enjoy the same convenience, safety, and seamless in-app payment experience of the full BigPay wallet.

The BigPay Lite feature enables users to sign up for a BigPay account without having to exit the AirAsia MOVE app, or download a separate app.

How to sign up & pay with BigPay Lite?

What are the benefits of using BigPay Lite?

· Quick and simple sign up: Sign up for BigPay Lite account at your fingertips without having to download another app.
· Easier AirAsia MOVE Payments: Reload and make payments within the app without needing to link your card.
· Exclusive Perks & Promos: Enjoy exclusive discounts including RM5 OFF* for AirAsia flights, international airlines (non-AirAsia flights), and duty free items.
· Early Access to Big Sales: Be among the first to enjoy the best deals and promotions during AirAsia MOVE’s big sale events.
· Safe & Secure Payments: Experience peace of mind with BigPay’s secure payment solutions.

Nadia Omer, CEO of AirAsia MOVE, said, “The launch of BigPay Lite is a strategic move to become the preferred payment option within the AirAsia MOVE ecosystem. We are making it easier than ever for our users to enjoy seamless, secure payments, alongside exclusive perks like special discount and priority access to AirAsia MOVE’s tailored promotions. This is a true collaborative effort between both the teams from AirAsia MOVE and BigPay with the main objective of giving more value and enhancing the travel experience of our users & travellers. This is not just a wallet, it’s a gateway to a more rewarding journey for millions of travellers.”

Zubin Rada Krishnan, CEO of BigPay, said, “At BigPay, we're committed to levelling up the lives of our customers, and BigPay Lite represents a significant step forward in this mission. With a simplified sign-up process that takes just seconds, our customers can now enjoy a safe and seamless payment experience within the AirAsia MOVE App. This is just the beginning — BigPay Lite is one of many innovations we're launching, including the creation of Travel Stash and Roundup to simplify saving for your travel, and soon, the ability to travel now and pay later. We're excited to continue innovating and enhancing the travel experience for all.”

BigPay Lite wallet is currently available only in Malaysia. For more information regarding the BigPay Lite, visit the FAQs page here.

Stay updated with everything from AirAsia MOVE by following @airasiamove on Instagram and Threads, @airasiamove on TikTok or @airasia on X for the latest updates. For a seamless and enhanced experience, download your AirAsia MOVE from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei AppGallery.

*Terms and conditions apply

SOURCE: AirAsia MOVE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
AirAsia MOVE
Name: Ryan Chan
Communications
Tel: 010-8145019
Email: loionchanl@airasia.com

--BERNAMA

APAC Reinsurers See Significant Gains In Favourable Investment Environment - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- Major Asia-Pacific (APAC) reinsurance companies saw their composite’s return on equity surge to 9.2 per cent from 0.1 per cent under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 17, supported by a more stable investment environment and benign catastrophe activity.

This is according to Best's Market Segment Report, “Asia-Pacific Reinsurers Achieve Strong Results in Improved Investment Environment”, a part of AM Best’s look at the global reinsurance industry ahead of the Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monte Carlo.

Other reinsurance-related reports, including AM Best’s ranking of top global reinsurance groups and in-depth looks at the insurance-linked securities, Lloyd’s, life/annuity, health and regional reinsurance markets, are available at Best’s Research.

AM Best senior director, head of analytics, Christie Lee said Asian reinsurers’ underwriting strategies for 2024 are diverse and depend on their ability to secure retrocession capacity, as well as their ability to manage the underwriting cycle.

“The large Asian reinsurers have adjusted their catastrophe capacity offerings in their home markets to shrink their catastrophe exposure accumulation, while others have deployed a mature market growth strategy to capture the benefits of material rate increases,” she said in a statement.

According to this report, Asian reinsurers, with business profiles characterised by a more traditional property line focus, as well as a relatively large book of proportional treaties, have benefitted less directly from global reinsurance rate hardening.

Nevertheless, the stability of operating performance of Asia’s reinsurers over the years has been notable, and they are working to improve profitability by expanding business overseas, with China still facing distinct challenges, though, as the country’s post-COVID recovery remains weak.

The report unveiled that the capital position of the major reinsurers in the APAC composite remains robust. Diversification will remain the business philosophy and strategy for Asia’s large reinsurers.

In addition to geographic expansion, diversifying their lines of business from traditional property treaties to building liability, life/health and specialty books of business will allow reinsurers to better manage the reinsurance cycle.

-- BERNAMA

JMGO SET TO ACE LASER PROJECTION WITH MALC™ 2.0 TRIPLE LASER OPTICS AT IFA 2024

Setting new standards for the projector industry with epic brightness, contrast, and color reproduction—achieved all at once

BERLIN, Sept 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  JMGO, a pioneer in optical technology, will showcase its in-house developed MALC™ (Microstructure Adaptive Laser Control) 2.0 Triple Laser Optics at IFA 2024 in Berlin. This innovation is set to redefine laser projection by overcoming the industry’s persistent challenge of achieving high brightness, contrast, and color simultaneously.

Laser technology is renowned for delivering unmatched brightness and color over LED and lamp-based systems. However, the trade-off between brightness, contrast, and color has been a significant hurdle for both laser and hybrid laser/LED projectors. Typically, increasing brightness reduces contrast and oversaturates colors, while prioritizing color often results in lower brightness, compromising the overall viewing experience.

JMGO’s MALC™ 2.0 Triple Laser Optics breaks this barrier, enabling the N1S Series projectors to deliver up to 3,500 ANSI lumens of brightness while simultaneously maintaining an impressive 1,600:1 FOFO contrast ratio and covering 110% of BT.2020 with Δ<1 color accuracy. This means viewers can enjoy lifelike imagery with brilliant brightness, deep contrast, and precise color reproduction—without any compromise in picture quality.

Incorporating nine patented technologies, the MALC™ 2.0 laser engine also enhances brightness uniformity, reduces laser speckles, and improves optical efficiency—all while significantly lowering production costs. These innovations will be detailed during the press event on September 7 at 2:00 PM. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=49255

Integrated Power Services Completes Assets Acquisition Of ABB Industrial Services

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Integrated Power Services (IPS), a North American leader in the servicing, engineering, and remanufacturing of electrical, mechanical, and power management systems, has finalised the acquisition of ABB’s Industrial Services business, effective Aug 31.

With locations in Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina, Alberta, and Ontario, ABB Industrial Services provides the highest-quality repair and field service capabilities for electric motors up to 50,000 horsepower (HP) and low- and medium-voltage switchgear equipment from 480 volt (V) to 15 kilovolt (kV).

According to IPS in a statement, these service centres also perform rotating equipment repair of pumps, compressors, blowers, bearings, gearboxes, and OHV mining drivetrains.

IPS President and Chief Executive Officer, John Zuleger said this acquisition will permit IPS to add locations where customers have urged the company to offer services.

“These five locations will enhance our capabilities in renewables, copper mining, and power management aftermarket industrial services.

“Additionally, IPS will now be the home of 115 additional talented employees, and the legacy technology and expertise from the General Electric and ABB heritage of these newly acquired sites,” he said.

The acquisition of ABB Industrial Services follows IPS’s acquisition of ABB’s hydrogenerator and transformer repair business in June 2022. The five ABB electric motor, generator, mechanical, switchgear, and circuit breaker industrial service centres were a part of a General Electric Industrial Solutions acquisition by ABB in June 2018.

In discussing the company's growth, Zuleger shared that IPS has grown to 88 locations, serving the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Caribbean, and aspires to become the single source, trusted advisor for its customers’ critical infrastructure challenges.

“We are committed to revolutionising reliability, as we advance our vision and ability to respond, rethink, and resolve our customer’s biggest reliability challenges,” he added.

-- BERNAMA

OLON ACQUIRES HUVEPHARMA ITALIA TO INCREASE API PRODUCTION CAPACITY

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Olon, the chemical-pharmaceutical group in the production and development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and part of the holding company P&R, announced a new venture to acquire Huvepharma Italia Srl and its site in Garessio (Cuneo, Italy), continuing its growth path.

The acquisition plan involves a complete operational integration of Huvepharma Italia and to revive the production potential of the Garessio plant and, through the development of new business opportunities, bring it to full production capacity.

“We recognised in Huvepharma Italia all the right characteristics. The acquisition supports the implementation of the group's medium to long term strategy and the achievement of our business objectives,” said Olon Group Chief Executive Officer, Paolo Tubertini.

With this latest acquisition, the group now totals nine manufacturing plants in Italy alone and a total reaction capacity of 3,250 cubic metres, according to a statement.

In terms of presence, extent of manufacturing network and installed volume, it emerges as one of the most important industrial players on the national and European scene by size and production potential.

Since its inception, the Olon Group has pursued a strategy of growth, consolidation and expansion on the global market, both internally and externally through acquisitions.

In full continuity with this strategy, along with the specific objective of expanding its production potential and presence in the global market for active ingredients, Olon has acquired Huvepharma Italia.

The aim of the transaction is to strengthen and broaden the product offering with a focus on the most strategic areas, in addition to constituting a significant further step forward in terms of capacity growth.

-- BERNAMA

CALLING STORYTELLERS! SHOWCASE YOUR CREATIVITY AT "ASEAN NEW GENERATION" SHORT FILM AWARD

The competition is open to all ASEAN nationals (Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) has launched the "ASEAN NEW GENERATION" Short Film Award, a competition seeking creative short films that showcase the vibrant life and aspirations of ASEAN people.

AJC in a statement said this exciting opportunity invites filmmakers and storytellers from across the 10 ASEAN Member States to share their unique perspectives with a Japanese audience, whereby 10 winners will have a portion of their film featured at the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo.

The winner with the most popular film (decided by public voting) will also win a four days three nights trip for one (ticket and lodging) to Osaka to attend the Expo 2025 Osaka.

Themed "The World I Want to See", the competition encourages young creators to express their vision for the future, their values and the kind of world they want to live in through a short film (two to three minutes).

The AJC is hoping to bring to the Japanese population a more emotive narrative, showcasing an aspect of life in the ASEAN region that will inspire them to want to know more about its member countries and people.

The winning short films will be prominently displayed at the iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo, where hundreds of thousands of people, including worldwide tourists, cross every day.

The competition is open to both professional and amateur filmmakers of ASEAN nationality, with the submission deadline due on Nov 30.

ASEAN and Japan have had a long history of friendship and cooperation, with last year marking the 50th anniversary of friendship and cooperation.

Moving forward, the AJC aims to continue to build on this relationship by deepening the mutual understanding between the people in the ASEAN Member States and Japan.

-- BERNAMA

TOSHIBA BEGINS SAMPLING OF AUTOMOTIVE CXPI RESPONDER INTERFACE IC

Toshiba: TB9033FTG, an automotive Clock Extension Peripheral Interface (CXPI) responder interface IC. (Graphic: Business Wire)

 
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has started to provide samples of “TB9033FTG”, an automotive Clock Extension Peripheral Interface (CXPI) responder interface IC that conforms to the CXPI standard for automotive communications protocols.

The TB9033FTG is the industry’s first IC of its type with built-in hardware logics, which control transmission and reception by the CXPI protocol and general purpose input/output (GPIO).

This eliminates the need for development of dedicated software and contributes to shorter product development times, according to Toshiba in a statement.

The new IC has 16 GPIO pins in which six can be switched to AD converter input, and four to pulse width modulation (PWM) output.

It also integrates functions that allow use in a broad spectrum of automotive applications such as input monitoring during Sleep Mode; switch matrix (max 4×4) input; and output in the event of communications disruption.

With fault detection circuits for overheat, overvoltage and low voltage built into the IC, it also can detect conditions that precede an abnormality and send the data to the commander node, hence improving fault detection performance in automotive applications.

In addition, the new product’s support for multiplexing automotive communications and reducing the number of wire harnesses used in body control systems will contribute to lower vehicle weight.

Toshiba is also developing an automotive CXPI communications driver receiver IC “TB9032FNG” that can be switched between commander node and responder node via an external pin.

-- BERNAMA

Black & Veatch To Delve Into Carbon Capture Opportunities At Vietnam's Power Plants

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Black & Veatch, a global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, is evaluating the feasibility and readiness of deploying carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technology in Vietnam’s coal-fired power plants to further reduce emissions.

The Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) has commissioned Black & Veatch to study carbon-cutting technologies at three coal-fired power plants owned by Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam or PVN).

Those plants are the Vung Ang 1 Thermal Power Plant in Ha Tinh Province, the Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant in Hau Giang Province, and the Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant in Thai Binh Province. Each plant has a capacity of 2 x 600 megawatts (MW).

Black & Veatch president, Asia Pacific and India, Narsingh Chaudhary said deploying advanced technologies such as CCUS can help power producers and heavy industries reduce emissions in the region.

“Black & Veatch is committed to providing diverse and advanced solutions to help the Asia Pacific energy industry and existing asset owners meet growing energy demands with lower and no-carbon energy sources,” he said in a statement.

The study’s objective is to investigate the current carbon capture technology landscape and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of applying that technology to the flue gas from the coal-fired power plants.

As part of the front-end loading (FEL) study, Black & Veatch will prepare a carbon capture technology assessment, evaluate and propose technology suitable for each power plant, and develop preliminary conceptual design for the carbon capture unit, as well as will outline strategies to connect the carbon capture unit to the existing power plant.

Vietnam’s National Energy Masterplan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, encourages the adoption of CCUS solutions in industrial production facilities and power plants to achieve a capture capacity of about one million metric tonne (mt)/year by 2040 and three million to six million mt/year by 2050.

Black & Veatch has been a market leader in studying and implementing carbon capture technology for more than 30 years, having extensive experience in the analysis and detailed design of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, as well as CO2 compression and handling systems.

-- BERNAMA

QIANHAI ATTAINS SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Over the past three years, Qianhai, a hub for high-level opening-up, has been forging ahead with reform and innovation and delivering tangible results, noted by the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone recently.

Through reform and opening-up, Qianhai aims to become a new engine for the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Zone. Institutional innovation is one of Qianhai's distinctive features.

To date, Qianhai has gradually established the "Qianhai Model" for institutional innovation in key areas such as investment facilitation, trade facilitation, financial openness and innovation, and legal innovation, according to a statement.

A string of innovative measures have been launched, such as the administrative confirmation system for business registration, one integrated licence, a suspension registration system for businesses, and the Qianhai e-Services Hong Kong-Macao Station.

Latest statistics show that Qianhai has launched 241 new institutional innovation achievements since 2021, bringing the total to 835, with 36 of these being promoted nationwide, making a cumulative total of 94, and according to Sun Yat-sen University’s institutional innovation index of China's free trade pilot zones, Qianhai has ranked first for three consecutive years.

Innovations in the financial field are viewed as one of the institutional innovations with the most typical Qianhai characteristics.

In recent years, a series of financial innovation policies have been implemented here, covering aspects such as finance for people's livelihood, the interconnectivity of the financial market, the development of modern finance industries, the facilitation of cross-border trade and investment, and enhanced cooperation in financial regulation.

Qianhai's institutional innovation achievements in key areas such as law, finance, and government affairs have demonstrated its advantages in institutional innovation.

This innovation not only helps Qianhai accelerate its comprehensive deepening of reforms but also provides new momentum for Qianhai to advance the comprehensive deepening of reforms in the Greater Bay Area and even China.

-- BERNAMA

WHAT'S YOUR GANGNAM STYLE? DIVE INTO K-CULTURE AT SEOUL'S GANGNAM FESTIVAL

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Seoul's signature event in Gangnam, the 2024 Gangnam Festival, is set to kick off from Sept 26 to 29 at the COEX Square in Gangnam, hosted by Seoul’s Gangnam-gu.

A special stage at the COEX East Gate will host a different themed music festival daily, and various performances scheduled at Gangnam's tourism hub, free of charge, according to a statement.

The festival starts on Sept 27 with a grand opening featuring spectacular performances and a musical showcase, while on the evening of Sept 28, families can enjoy a lively retro music party and an open-air concert. This performance will be live-streamed on the Gangnam-gu Office YouTube channel.

On the same day, Apgujeong Rodeo will host an array of exciting events, including a unique pet fashion show, collections from renowned Korean and international designers, and a Hanbok fashion show showcasing the beauty of traditional Korean attire on a specially designed runway, adding to the festival's vibrant atmosphere.

The highlight of the Gangnam Festival is the Yeongdong-daero K-Pop Concert, a massive mega-concert expected to accommodate 11,000 people, which will take place on the outdoor stage at COEX Square.

The concert will feature eight top K-POP artists representing various genres, including rock, ballad, and K-Pop, such as Guckkasten, Rocky, Solar, Apink, Oh My Girl, Oneus, Lee Mu-Jin and ITZY.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through Ticketlink Global available from Sept 10 and global online travel agency (OTA) platforms (Klook, Interpark Triple) offering Yeongdong-daero K-Pop-related travel packages. The concert will also be live-streamed on the Gangnam-gu Office YouTube channel and 1theK YouTube channel.

In addition, the K-Pop Square around COEX will offer a variety of attractions, such as global food trucks, and a K-culture experience zone, providing plenty of entertainment for festival-goers, during the festival.

-- BERNAMA

HENDRIK SCHOLL JOINS BELITE BIO AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Belite Bio Inc (Belite Bio), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical drug development company, announced its board of directors has appointed Hendrik Scholl, as the company’s Chief Medical Officer, effective immediately.

Dr Scholl is the foremost globally recognised authority on Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), bringing decades of expertise in treating retinal diseases, including the two key indications targeted by Belite Bio's lead drug candidate, Tinlarebant.

“Dr Scholl has served as Chair of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board for both our Phase 2 and Phase 3 Stargardt disease trials, and his decision to join Belite further validates our belief in Tinlarebant’s immense potential to improve the lives of patients living with debilitating macular diseases.

“His leadership, expertise, and commitment to addressing this area of high unmet need has and will continue to be invaluable as we advance our clinical programmes,” said Belite Bio Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tom Lin in a statement.

Meanwhile, Dr Scholl said: “I have dedicated my career to improving the lives of people suffering from serious retinal and macular diseases, and I am deeply impressed by Belite Bio’s pioneering approach to developing transformative therapies for Stargardt disease and dry AMD, which have historically lacked effective treatment options.”

Dr Scholl served as the founding and scientific co-director of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Basel, where he also led the Department of Ophthalmology as its Chairman. He is also the Founder and President of the Swiss Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO-SWISS).

Graduated from the University of Tübingen, Germany with a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Arts, Dr Scholl currently serves as President of the European Vision Institute as well as Chairman of the largest clinical research network in ophthalmology in Europe, EVICR.net, and its Expert Committee on Retinal Dystrophies.

-- BERNAMA

Toshiba’s Automotive Photorelay Suitable For High Voltage Applications

_{Toshiba: TLX9152M, an automotive photorelay for 400V automotive battery systems. (Graphic: Business Wire)}

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has launched “TLX9152M”, an automotive photorelay with an output withstand voltage of 900 volt (V) (min) that is highly suitable for application in high voltage automotive batteries.

The new photorelay is housed in an SO16L-T package, widely used for high-voltage photorelays including Toshiba’s TLX9160T, which has an output withstand voltage of 1500V.

According to Toshiba in a statement, improved charge times and a longer cruising range are essential for wider adoption of electric vehicles, and both require more efficient operation of battery systems.

Battery management systems (BMS) realise efficient system operation by monitoring the battery charge status, plus the insulation between the battery and the vehicle body that is essential for the safe use of high-voltage batteries.

In BMS that must handle high voltages, electrically insulated photorelays are used.

As photorelays commonly used in battery systems must have a withstand voltage of approximately twice the system voltage, hence Toshiba’s new product is suitable for 400V systems as it has an output withstand voltage/ supply voltage of 900V.

Toshiba is a supplier of advanced semiconductor and storage solutions, draws on over half a century of experience and innovation to offer customers and business partners outstanding discrete semiconductors, system large-scale integrations (LSIs) and hard disk drive (HDD) products.

-- BERNAMA