AscendEX announces PolkaFoundry token listing

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 -- AscendEX, a global cryptocurrency financial platform with a comprehensive product suite, has announced the listing of PolkaFoundry token (PKF) under the pair USDT/PKF on Aug 10.

PolkaFoundry is a platform for building borderless and frictionless DeFi and NFT dapps on Polkadot, aiming to be the most convenient platform for developers to build DeFi and NFT dapps, providing a platform for making dapps easily accessible to mainstream end-users.

According to a statement, PolkaFoundry will achieve this by utilising Polkadot's interoperability and scalability and integrating various DeFi-friendly services onto the platform.

In addition, PolkaFoundry focuses heavily on ensuring the UX and features of their dApps are simple to use, promoting mainstream adoption.

The native token PKF has several utilities, including payment for services and transaction fees in the PolkaFoundry ecosystem and payments for PolkaFoundry's partners' services.

PKF is also used for staking and governance so users can earn shares of block rewards and participate in the on-chain governance process to earn additional rewards for voting on proposals.

PolkaFoundry's foundational goal is to bring the benefits of blockchain to the masses by making its products and services accessible to people outside the crypto community.

Launched in 2018, AscendEX services over one million retail and institutional clients globally with a highly liquid trading platform and secure custody solutions.

More details at https://ascendex.com.

-- BERNAMA

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair goes digital connecting global audiences Aug 6

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 -- Come Aug 6, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) will open via its cutting-edge digital platform, connecting audiences worldwide with Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives.

Presented by Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF), now in its 15th year, the DAAF programme will run from Aug 6-11, featuring a highly anticipated digital art fair and online Public Program that includes artist masterclasses and artists’ talks.

DAAFF will also showcase two First Nations fashion events including the annual National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) and the winner announcement will be live streamed across NITV’s social media channels on Aug 3, direct from the Darwin Convention Centre, Australia. The vibrant Country to Couture runway will also be presented on Aug 4.

DAAF is internationally celebrated as a world-class programme, paying homage to the world’s oldest living culture and the only event of its kind connecting artists, performers and Art Centres from Australia’s most remote regions with domestic and international audiences, eager to snap up stunning and authentic works.

In a statement, DAAFF Executive Director, Claire Summers said the programme generated significant flow-on benefits for Australia’s Indigenous communities, where 100 per cent of the sales from each artwork was returned to Art Centres, the artists and their communities.

“We are honoured to be able to profile over 70 Indigenous owned Art Centres and open up the rich storytelling, culture, and history behind these works of art,” she said.

DAAF connects Indigenous and non-Indigenous art and culture audiences through its unique event to celebrate the vibrant heritage of Australian First Nations Peoples, providing an important meeting place for artists and designers to share stories and traditions through their chosen medium.

-- BERNAMA

GTJAI REAFFIRMED CONSTITUENT OF FTSE'S ESG INDEX

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited (Guotai Junan International, GTJAI, or the Company) announced that the global index provider FTSE Russell, owned by London Stock Exchange, reviewed the eligibility of constituents of FTSE4Good Index Series this June and then released the result in July.

It reiterated GTJAI’s eligibility and reaffirmed the Company’s constituent status in recognition of its good sustainability practices, according to a statement.

FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong ESG practices. The Index Series is used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products.

In response to the recent floods in Henan Province, the Company has made donation to Henan Youth Development Foundation as a helping hand to the frontline rescue.

Besides supporting various community services, GTJAI also prioritises green investment and financing.

This June, as a major underwriter, GTJAI assisted AiHuiShou, a pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform, to list on The New York Stock Exchange, making it the ‘first ESG-related China concept stock’. 

GTJAI will continue sparing no effort in deploying its resources to mobilise global movement to a more sustainable future.

Guotai Junan International is the market leader and first mover for internationalisation of Chinese Securities Company as well as the first Chinese securities broker listed on the Main Board of The Hong Kong Stock Exchange through initial public offering.

-- BERNAMA

CHINA’S MAIDEN MANGO INDUSTRY CONFERENCE COMES TO FRUITION IN BAISE, GUANGXI

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- The first China mango industry conference was recently held in Baise, Guangxi, with Tianyang district and Guangzhou Pilot Food Investment Co Ltd having signed the framework agreement at the meeting.

The framework agreement is on the comprehensive development and utilisation project of fruits in Tianyang District, Baise City (phase II), with a total investment of 500 million yuan, according to the Publicity Department of Tianyang District in a statement. (100 yuan = RM65.33)

Located in the west of Guangxi, Tianyang District of Baise is the first hometown of the mango in China. Given a sub-tropical monsoon climate with warm winter and long summer, and abundant sunshine, Tianyang is dubbed ‘natural greenhouse’ and is abundant in fruits and vegetables. 

Relying on its exceptional climate, Tianyang District has made great efforts to develop the two dominant industries of mango and tomato. Mango is harvested from June to August annually, and tomato from November to next April.

‘One Red and One Green’ helped farmers continuously increase their incomes, whereby in 2020, the total planting area of mango was 408,000 mu with an output of 280,000 tonnes; the main bulk vegetable is tomato, which is marketed from November to April.

Meanwhile, in 2020, the vegetable planting area of the whole region is 398,000 mu with an output of 875,800 tonnes. Mango and tomato have become the two pillar industries of the district.

Mango is in hot sell in Tianyang Wholesale Market of Agricultural and Sideline Products, a large-scale comprehensive wholesale market, which mainly deals with wholesale, purchasing and selling through agency, joint purchasing and selling, agency storage and transportation of fruits and vegetables.

The products are sold to more than 230 large and medium-sized cities in China, and Vietnam, Russia, Hong Kong and other countries and regions.

With the ongoing development of e-commerce, Tianyang closely relied on e-commerce network and established Tianyang Ganjie E-commerce Co Ltd, built the ‘Commercial County’ e-commerce service platform, and established the ‘Tianyang Characteristic Market’.

It supported the construction of Alibaba Baise Industrial Belt, Taobao Baise Market and WeChat business, and has been constantly improving the e-commerce logistics system.

Since the mango came into the market in 2021, the daily delivery volume of e-commerce network sales of the fruit is more than 10,000 orders, with daily sales of nearly RMB 1 million.

-- BERNAMA

INGREDION INCORPORATED SECOND QUARTER 2021 RESULTS REPORTED

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Ingredion Incorporated, a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food and beverage manufacturing industry, has reported results for the second quarter of 2021.

According to a statement, the results, reported in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for 2021 and 2020, include items excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures that the Company presents.

“We delivered exceptional second quarter performance, resulting in our strongest quarter since 2017, with reported operating income of US$222 million, up 96 per cent versus prior year, and adjusted operating income of US$208 million, up 64 per cent versus prior year,” said Ingredion president and chief executive officer, Jim Zallie. (US$1 = RM4.226)

“In every region, we saw double-digit volume growth from demand recovery across all customer segments, as well as strong specialties growth. Our strong sales execution and price mix management, in a challenging supply chain landscape, mitigated rising corn costs and contributed to our 31 per cent increase in net sales.”

The Financial Highlights include at June 30, total debt and cash including short-term investments were US$2.2 billion and US$549 million, respectively, versus US$2.2 billion and US$665 million, respectively, at Dec 31, 2020.

Reported and adjusted effective tax rates for the second quarter were 11.7 per cent and 25.7 per cent, respectively, compared to 28.7 per cent and 28.7 per cent, respectively, in the year-ago period. The decrease in reported tax rate resulted primarily from the reversal of an accrual for unremitted earnings.

Second quarter and year-to-date net sales were up from the year-ago period. The increase was driven by higher volumes, including PureCircle and KaTech, as well as strong price mix, including the pass through of higher corn costs.

In addition, second quarter reported and adjusted operating income were US$222 million and US$208 million, respectively, an increase of 96 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively, from the same period last year.

In April 2021, a quarterly cash dividend of US$0.64 per share was paid to shareholders of record on April 1, totaling US$43 million, bringing dividend payments for the first half of the year to US$86 million.

The Company expects full-year 2021 adjusted EPS to be in the range of US$6.45-US$6.85 compared to adjusted EPS of US$6.23 in 2020. This expectation excludes acquisition-related integration and restructuring costs, as well as any potential impairment costs.

-- BERNAMA

UNITY IN DIFFICULTY: A USEFUL TOOL TO FACE A PANDEMIC CRISIS

KOTA BHARU, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is blessed with multi-ethnic groups with diverse religious beliefs. Although this country has faced many challenges related to this diversity since its establishment, Malaysia has managed to tackle every issue properly and has been able to survive.

However, the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic has triggered undesired and unimagined impacts, causing the closure of several sectors that had previously been known as lavish and contributing to the country’s GDP. On a micro level, people are struggling, with some of them experiencing a loss of income due to business closures and unemployment.

Many are struggling with daily routines, having to cope with work and house chores at the same time. Recent evidence shows that the number of mental illnesses has spiked since the MCO, while total cases of suicide have also increased. This is not something pleasant to hear, but it does show how terrible the situation has become.

UNITY IN DIFFICULTY: A USEFUL TOOL TO FACE A PANDEMIC CRISIS

SYNCHRONOSS PERSONAL CLOUD SOLUTION INTEGRATES INTO JAPAN’S KITAMURA ONLINE, RETAIL CHANNEL

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Synchronoss Technologies Inc announced that Japanese multimedia retailer, Kitamura has selected the Synchronoss Personal Cloud solution for integration into its online and retail channel.

The addition of personal cloud will give Kitamura’s online and retail customers the ability to back up and manage their valuable digital content, including photos and videos, from any device.

President of Synchronoss International, Anthony Socci, said he was delighted to be working with Kitamura on its new cloud offering.

“This cloud solution will be instrumental to Kitamura as it increases its digital touchpoints and seeks to create new revenue streams beyond its traditional printing and camera retail business.”

Meanwhile, Kitamura Managing Executive Officer, Hajime Yanagisawa said: “We have always been committed to bringing customers’ memories to life through the medium of photography, and this cloud offering is the next step in not only enabling our customers to enjoy their memories but to also store, organise and manage them safely and securely.”

Kitamura, one of Japan’s leading retailers offers image-related services and products, including cameras, photo printing, video dubbing, photo studio, photo books and so on.

It has over 1,000 retail locations countrywide, with over 20 million paying visitors each year and approximately 10 million consumers registered in its online services.

Through this integration, Kitamura will be able to provide seamless online and retail experience with the new white-label personal cloud offering, according to a statement.

Synchronoss’ white-label personal cloud has been adopted by mobile operators and other companies globally. The solution gives their customers a safe, secure cloud experience and the ability to store and sync digital content.

Synchronoss Technologies Inc is a global leader and innovator of cloud, messaging and digital solution. More details at www.synchronoss.com.

-- BERNAMA