Bodor Laser products record sales increase

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 -- Bodor Laser's 10kW+ products have become a representative of new productivity in the field of laser cutting by virtue of wider and deeper processing range, stronger cutting ability and higher processing efficiency.

Since the Bodor Laser 10kW+ laser cutting machine was put into the market, it has repeatedly created industry sales miracles.

With its excellent performance, 10kW+ laser cutting machine has gradually become the darling of the market and has been adopted by the majority of metal processing enterprises.

Until the beginning of November this year, the sales volume of Bodor Laser 10kW+ products achieved 260 units, while the sales of 20kW exceeded 20 units.

Meanwhile, the 30kW equipment has reached the world's first batch of contracts, and the world's first 40kW laser cutting machine has achieved its world premiere at the same time.

On the premise of improving the processing quality, the processing efficiency of 10kW+ fiber laser cutting has also been doubled, allowing end users to complete more business volume in the same time.

The Bodor Laser's 40kW ultra-high power fiber laser cutting machine recently made its global debut at the Bodor Laser Innovation and Research Center, to define the future pioneering posture and achieve a new high point in the laser cutting industry.

As one of the fastest-growing companies in the laser industry, Bodor Laser will take the 40kW global debut as the starting point, start a new round of technological revolution, provide better services for customers and create more and greater value for global metal processing enterprises.

-- BERNAMA

Educate Girls makes cut in HundrED 2021 Global Collection on K12 education

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 -- Educate Girls, a non-profit organisation working for girls’ education in the remotest villages of India, has announced its selection in HundrED 2021 Global Collection.

Internationally renowned education non-profit HundrED’s annual Global Collection highlights 100 of the most impactful innovations in K12 education worldwide.

HundrED is a Finland-based global not for profit which discovers, researches, and shares inspiring innovations in K12 education, according to a statement.

Educate Girls’ innovation was reviewed by 150 Academy Members consisting of academics, educators, innovators, funders and leaders from over 50 countries.

“Using advanced analytics and community mobilisation to identify, enrol and retain girls in schools from the most marginalised communities in rural India, we aim to empower over a million girls to access quality education,” said #EducateGirls Founder, Safeena Husain. 

Since 2007, Educate Girls has enrolled over 750,000 girls in schools, improving learning outcomes for over 1.3 million children. It is well-known for the world’s first Development Impact Bond and becoming the first Audacious Project in Asia.

More details at www.EducateGirls.ngo.

-- BERNAMA

EMist® Disinfection Solutions unveils lightweight electrostatic sprayer

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 -- EMist® Disinfection Solutions has launched the EX-7000 TruElectrostatic™ Disinfectant Sprayer, lightweight and ergonomic, weighing in at just 14.9 pounds, making it one-half lighter than other sprayers.

Equipped with intelligent Charge Detect™ Technology, the EX-7000 electrostatic sprayer continuously detects the polarity of the user and the equipment and adjusts automatically so that grounding is never an issue.

This ensures the most comprehensive disinfectant coating in the industry, and reduces labour and chemical costs by 50 per cent, according to  a statement. 

EMist’s TruElectrostatic Disinfectant Sprayers are built on six core platforms, resulting in an electrostatic sprayer that provides 100 per cent continuous electrostatic charge output, eliminates grounding, yielding superior and comprehensive coverage.

The core platforms are namely, TruTechnology (EPIX Charge Detect Technology); TruConfidence (Patented. Proven. Trusted); TruCharge (Best Performance); TruDesign (Safer Operation); TruAssurance (User Safety); and, TruCost (Lower Total Cost of Ownership).

When spraying big areas, big buildings or tight spaces, a cordless sprayer allows the user to manoeuvre and move about freely as the EMist sprayers are ergonomic, lightweight and cordless.

EMist has also announced a reservation programme for purchasers who want to secure their units in December. It takes refundable US$50 reservations on its official website, beginning Nov 2. (US$1 = RM4.152)

The EX-7000 is available through EMist distributors at a list price of US$3,995.

-- BERNAMA

GUESS & CO. CORPORATION SHAREHOLDERS ELECT DIRECTORS

Directors Elected at 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

MIAMI, Nov 2 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guess & Co. Corporation is pleased to announce its Board of Directors following their election at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board of Directors is responsible for overall governance of Guess & Co. Corporation. The following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors at the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders that was held on Friday, October 30, 2020.

Mr. Jerry D. Guess, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Ms. D. Michelle Stewart, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mr. James R. Jackson, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mr. Mitchell M. Cohen, Lead Director of the Board of Directors

Ms. Paris N. Smith, Director

Ms. Kyra A. Anderson, Director

Mr. Stephen T. Baldacci, Director

Jerry D. Guess,
Director & Chairman

Mr. Guess has been a serial entrepreneur since the age of 13 years old. A strategist and visionary, Mr. Guess is committed to leveraging his experience of over 20 years to improve the lives of others. He partnered with others to launch Guess & Co. Corporation as a company focused on providing solutions to problems in communities throughout the U.S. and abroad. As someone who has had personal and business setbacks, Mr. Guess is a resilient leader who brings intestinal fortitude to the table for his team and the company's clients. Mr. Guess has completed Business coursework at Adams State University. He is currently enrolled at Purdue University Global where he is pursuing a degree in Finance. His business experience spans many areas including start-ups, finance, mergers, acquisitions, turnaround, restructuring, bankruptcy, reorganization, business development, strategic planning, marketing, public relations and community development. He successfully launched a for-profit social enterprise as senior deputy chairman and president. He also served as chairman and president of a midwestern general contractor. Mr. Guess has made contributions to the community over the years. He served two terms as voting member of the Forsyth County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he reviewed and approved grant proposals for at risk-youth. He was also a candidate for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board following the resignation of a member. Mr. Guess was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Guess & Co. Corporation in January of 2019. Prior to that appointment, Mr. Guess was principal and responsible for strategy and development. As chairman of Guess & Co. Corporation, Mr. Guess has provided leadership to the Board that has encouraged contributions from all members in guiding the company's future.

D. Michelle Stewart,
Director & Deputy Chairman

Ms. Stewart joined the company as interim executive vice-president and managing director in 2017. She was then appointed interim executive vice-president and chief corporate officer. Ms. Stewart was the initial architect of the company's strategy during its start-up phase. She was in charge of analyzing market and expansion opportunities. In late 2017 she became president of the company. Following a brief retirement, Ms. Stewart returned to Guess & Co. Corporation in February of 2019 to assume her role as deputy chairman. Ms. Stewart has two decades of business experience. She began her career as a real estate investor. She has handled $500 million in transactions over the years. Ms. Stewart has completed coursework in Organizational Leadership at Colorado State University Global. Prior to joining Guess & Co. Corporation, she was a partner in a commercial finance company for small businesses. As deputy chairman of the board of directors, Ms. Stewart works closely with the chairman to oversee the board.  Ms. Stewart is a member of the executive committee of the board of directors. 

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2 ASICLine miners grab global investor attention, create surefire investment

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 -- ASICLine has quickly grabbed the attention of global crypto investors since the recent launch of its miners, FirstLine and PowerBox.

The two 5nm ASIC miners have been designed to create a surefire investment opportunity for all crypto mining enthusiasts, regardless of their knowledge and expertise.

In order to ensure fastest return on investment, these products offer lightning fast hash rate as well as maximum energy efficiency.

According to a statement, FirstLine offers hash rates of 410 TH/s, 60 GH/s, 15 GH/s, and 3 MH/s for Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Monero, respectively.

These figures are even more impressive for PowerBox; 1250 TH/s, 180 GH/s, 45 GH/s, and 9 MH/s, in the same order. 

The power consumptions for these two units are 650 W and 1800 W, respectively. More details at https://asicline.com/ 

-- BERNAMA

EASYCOV, THE VIROLOGICAL SALIVA TEST FOR COVID19 CONFIRMS ITS EXCELLENT RESULTS: A SENSITIVITY OF 88% AND A SPECIFICITY OF 99% IN 40 MIN

PARIS, Oct 2 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- EasyCOV, a virological saliva detection test for COVID19, has shown a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity 99% during a clinical trial performed at the testing center operated by the teaching hospital of Montpellier. The test relies on an optimized thermal protocol that provides the results in 40 minutes.

EasyCOV, developed by SkillCell in collaboration with the CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), is a saliva test that can be run in the field and that provides results in the form of a change of color in no more than 40 minutes. Performed by a healthcare professional, the test requires the collection of 200 microliters of saliva, approximately 4 drops, from under the patient’s tongue. The sample is heated successively in two tubes using the nomadic heating device EasyVID (developed and produced by TRONICO, sister company of SkillCell). A test turning bright yellow indicates that the virus has been detected while an orange test is negative.

A double-blind clinical trial has been conducted at the teaching hospital of Montpellier, France, in real life conditions at the testing center operated by the hospital. During this clinical trial, nasopharyngeal and saliva samples were collected simultaneously and analyzed via RT PCR. These two analyses were used as a basis to establish the infection status of the participants. This status was then compared to the results of EasyCOV test. This analysis showed a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 99.4% for 220 participants, including 40 positive patients with and without symptoms. EasyCOV test was performed using a thermal protocol giving results in 40 min.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=38310

NUVIA RAISES $240M SERIES B FUNDING AS IT ACCELERATES PLANS TO DELIVER INDUSTRY LEADING CPU PERFORMANCE TO THE DATA CENTER

Series B Investment Round to Provide Runway to First Silicon for Orion SoC

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept 25 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NUVIA, a leading-edge silicon design company, today announced the close of its Series B funding round, raising $240M. The funding round was led by Mithril Capital in partnership with Sehat Sutardja and Weili Dai (founders of Marvell Technology Group), funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC., and Temasek, with additional participation from Atlantic Bridge, Redline Capital, Capricorn Investment Group, Dell Technologies Capital, Mayfield, Nepenthe LLC and WRVI Capital. The closure of NUVIA’s Series B round builds on a $53M Series A round, raised in November 2019. NUVIA was founded in February 2019 by John Bruno, Manu Gulati and Gerard Williams, with the vision to create the world’s leading server processor.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=38248

NETSFERE BRINGS THE POWER OF SECURE COMMUNICATION TO THE WORKPLACE BY ENABLING ENCRYPTED GROUP VIDEO CALLING AND REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION TOOLS ON ITS MESSAGING PLATFORM

Company unveils its most advanced product update with secure, regulatory compliant communications tools that enable instantaneous, contextual team collaboration while reducing the need for formal, time-consuming meetings

CHICAGO, Sept 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NetSfere, an award-winning secure mobile messaging service today announced its most advanced product update with the launch of encrypted group video and voice calling and real-time collaboration for mobile and desktop. The new features are designed to enhance team collaboration and drive workplace productivity through a more contextual, seamless communications experience with voice, video and text messaging, while allowing the enterprise to maintain control and regulatory compliance.

“NetSfere was built from the ground up for the enterprise with a focus on three things – security, encryption and enterprise control,” said Anurag Lal, President and CEO. “Popular consumer-built messaging apps like Slack, Skype and WhatsApp have set the standard for mobile communications features, but they were never built with enterprise-security and control in mind. By adding new collaboration options to NetSfere’s platform offerings, we are now able to provide enterprises with the tools they need to optimize their workforce to be more productive without compromising on security.”

NetSfere is available globally and also offered in partnership with Duetsche Telekom GmbH., one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies, and with NTT Ltd, a global information communications & technology service provider.

“We have been partnered with NetSfere for several years to offer robust and secure messaging to our customers as part of the Deutsche Telekom portfolio of ICT products and services,” said Alexis Raftopoulos Head of Sales Mobile Enterprise Solutions at Deutsche Telekom Business Solutions. “The addition of encrypted group video calling and screen sharing capabilities further advances NetSfere’s commitment to provide its users with a complete, secure mobile messaging experience that improves workforce collaboration and productivity. We’re excited about bringing these capabilities to our customers and other global organizations.”

“NTT Ltd. is committed to helping enterprises realize their digital workplace transformation. Through this strategic partnership with NetSfere, we are taking the secure mobile messaging experience to the next level for enterprise users by providing a single encrypted platform for text, voice and video to communicate and collaborate,” said Danny Wong, Head of Sales of NTT Ltd. in Singapore. “This is even more essential in industries such as financial services, healthcare and public sector to ensure business continuity in a secure and compliant remote working environment, with uninterrupted service delivery to their clients in the new normal.”

Raúl Castañón-Martínez, Senior Analyst for Workforce Collaboration at 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence division, said, “Nearly six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, several trends highlighting the long-term impact for the workplace communications are beginning to emerge. Our Voice of the Enterprise: Coronavirus Flash Survey June 2020 highlights the need for secure communications and collaboration technologies with high priority for information security as a result of the outbreak. Mobile messaging provides distinct capabilities that are particularly relevant for mobile and frontline workers. Furthermore, privacy and security capabilities are an important differentiation, particularly for verticals with strict compliance requirements.”

According to Gartner in the Eight Steps for Modernizing Employee Communications in the Digital Workplace, “confusing technology options are causing incompatible or conflicting options, which can derail efforts to modernize the employee experience around internal communications” and  “internal communication is often treated as a one-way publishing exercise (due to mounting frustration with email and aging intranets), rather than an opportunity to have a continuous dialogue among and with employees.” Gartner recommends to “prioritize internal communications by treating it as a strategic pillar in your digital workplace program. Dedicate time, resources and funding to ensure that it shifts from a stand-alone effort to one that complements other digital workplace priorities, such as digital dexterity.”

NetSfere’s new secure collaboration features include:

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=38210

Post-COVID-19: Korean pneumatic parts supplier, KCC strategises dominating future market

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 -- KCC Co Ltd, a pneumatic parts supplier in Korea has embarked on implementing an aggressive business strategy to dominate the future market amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This follows the implementation of ‘Materials, Parts, and Equipment 2.0’ policy by the Korean government, in order to diversify the supply network of the manufacturing industry in the post-pandemic era.

According to a statement, the policy is aimed at fostering domestic businesses in the fields of materials, parts, and equipment, which serve as a basis for finished products.

KCC's B10 Series from the secondary battery production line is an essence of state-of-the-art technologies developed to meet the latest trend.

The pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders, grippers, pneumatic valves, pneumatic purification devices, and vacuum pumps and pads included in B10 Series are products developed in response to the secondary battery and bipolar materials fields.

KCC’s key products include pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders applied to the transportation system, grippers that function like human fingers and pneumatic solenoid valves to regulate the actuator operation by controlling the supplied air.

These products are applied to mechanical, electronic, semiconductor or steel facility transportation lines in factories, power generation facilities, and system facilities for steel making, engineering, construction, and tyre manufacturing.

KCC began supplying overhaul materials to Yeongheung Power Division Units 3 in 2011. It then exhibited products at the power generation industry hall of Seoul International Electric Fair in 2013.

-- BERNAMA

Jasmeet Gandhi serves as CleverTap Head of Business Development and Alliances

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 -- CleverTap, the leading AI-powered customer lifecycle and user retention platform, has appointed Jasmeet Gandhi as Head of Business Development and Alliances. 

According to a statement, he will be based out of CleverTap’s Mumbai offices.

He brings over two decades of product marketing, sales and strategic alliances experience which he will leverage as he builds on CleverTap’s momentum in the competitive mobile marketing technology market.

“As the market continues to evolve during this time of change, CleverTap’s unique ability to foster individualised experiences and convert those experiences to lifetime value is key to long-term success for all organisations, both large and small,” noted Gandhi.

Gandhi was a part of the founding team at Rediff.com where he spent 14 years building and managing product marketing, sales, brand marketing, and strategic alliances.

“As the market continues to evolve during this time of change, CleverTap’s unique ability to foster individualised experiences and convert those experiences to lifetime value is key to long-term success for all organisations, both large and small,” noted Gandhi.

Gandhi was a part of the founding team at Rediff.com where he spent 14 years building and managing product marketing, sales, brand marketing, and strategic alliances.

As Head of Services at Nokia, he managed the Nokia app store and built the app developer ecosystem, along with other services like Nokia Music and Maps.

CleverTap helps digital-first brands maximise the value of their mobile apps by personalising customer experiences using real-time behavioural data and predictive modelling. 

-- BERNAMAc

Tech Data inks agreement to buy Innovix Distribution

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 -- Tech Data has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Innovix Distribution, a leading technology distributor.

The agreement will enable the growth of Tech Data’s presence across the Asia Pacific region and strengthen its end-to-end solutions capabilities.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to close during the third quarter of Tech Data’s fiscal year 2021.

The addition of Innovix will accelerate Tech Data’s growth in next-generation technologies, including within cloud and security, as well as endpoint offerings across the region, according to a statement.

Additionally, the acquisition will expand Tech Data’s business in key geographies, including Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

“Innovix is a leading regional IT distributor with an expansive range of IT products, solutions and services that will enhance our vendor portfolio, increase our customer base and strengthen our end-to-end solutions capabilities,” said Tech Data (Asia Pacific) president, Jaideep Malhotra.

Tech Data is ranked 90 on the Fortune 500® and has been named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 11 straight years.

For details, visit www.techdata.com

-- BERNAMA

DCG ENTERS INTO BITCOIN MINING WITH NEWEST SUBSIDIARY: FOUNDRY

The new company will provide capital and advisory services to empower the digital asset mining ecosystem 

DCG commits to $100 million investment in Foundry through 2021

NEW YORK, Aug 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Digital Currency Group (DCG), a global enterprise that builds, buys, and invests in blockchain companies, today announced a new wholly-owned subsidiary: Foundry. Quietly formed in 2019, Foundry offers institutional expertise, capital, and market intelligence to digital asset miners and manufacturers, providing them with the resources to build, maintain, and secure decentralized networks. Mike Colyer, a former Core Scientific executive, was tapped to be Foundry’s Chief Executive Officer.

Foundry was created to meet the institutional demand for improved capital access, market efficiency, and transparency in the bitcoin mining industry. The company currently offers three services for the mining ecosystem: equipment financing and procurement; mining and staking; and consulting and advisory services.

Since its inception, Foundry has already emerged as one of the largest bitcoin miners in North America. It has also extended tens of millions of dollars in equipment financing to other mining organizations and helped to procure approximately half of the bitcoin mining equipment delivered in North America this year.

“We want to empower decentralized infrastructure in the new digital economy, and our work will support the development and growth of mining operations — particularly in North America,” said Mike Colyer, CEO of Foundry. “We are a business built by miners for miners, and we are partnering with entrepreneurs who share our mission of advancing the industry and creating a decentralized mining ecosystem.”

DCG has committed to invest more than $100 million into Foundry through 2021. For the first time, miners and manufacturers can access trusted partners and capital resources through the powerful DCG network.

“Our mission at DCG is to accelerate the development of a better financial system,” said Barry Silbert, Founder and CEO of DCG. “Digital asset mining and staking provide the backbone of the blockchain technology that will drive that advancement. Foundry is bringing critical resources and guidance to an essential corner of the industry, and Mike Colyer and his team have the expertise, credibility, and integrity to support the evolving needs of miners and manufacturers.”

Foundry is focused on partnering with key players in the mining and staking industry with the goal of creating greater access to digital asset mining,
decentralizing geographic opportunity, and bringing more legitimacy and transparency to the bitcoin mining ecosystem. In addition, Foundry expects to work closely with energy companies and governments to help formulate and execute their mining strategies.

“Foundry’s understanding of the mining industry and DCG’s full support have made it a key partner in our expansion across North America in the past year. We plan to continue collaborating with Foundry as we focus on increasing our global market share,” said Jordan Chen, COO of Shenzhen-based bitcoin miner manufacturer MicroBT.

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PREQIN PARTNERS WITH SAÏD BUSINESS SCHOOL TO LAUNCH NEW ALTERNATIVES PROGRAMME

LONDON, Aug 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Saïd Business School and Preqin have partnered to provide a new executive education program focused on private markets. The Oxford Private Markets Investments Programme is an intensive six-week course designed to give financial operators and service providers an introduction to one of the fastest-growing sectors of the financial landscape.

Based on the Alice in Wonderland theme of Professor Ludovic Phalippou’s book Private Equity 2.0, the programme uses novel storytelling to unpick complex processes and make them accessible. Professor Phalippou noted “The sharpest business minds are drawn to fields like private equity and private credit, and it is one of the most challenging and exciting areas in the financial world.”

Preqin CEO Mark O’Hare added “This course is the most effective way to get to grips with the industry, and is a must for anyone looking to work in the space. We’re thrilled to work with experts like Professor Phalippou and the Saïd Business School to help shed light on alternative investments. Preqin is committed to bringing more transparency to the industry, and we support education initiatives like this that help achieve that goal.”

The course has been developed in response to clients’ needs for a broader programme that covers private equity investment, asset management, co-investing, private credit, venture capital and real estate investment. The six-week online course will be running from 2^nd September 2020, facilitated by Oxford Saïd’s official EdTech partner, GetSmarter, and brand of 2U, Inc.. Prospective participants can find out more information and download a full prospectus here:

https://go.preqin.com/oxfordpartnership?utm_campaign=PTNRS%20-%20Oxford%20University%20Program-2020&utm_medium=other&utm_source=&utm_content=PTNRS%20-%20Oxford%20University%20Program-2020-PM----Press-Release-Global-All-EN

About Preqin:

Preqin is the Home of Alternatives^TM, the foremost provider of alternative assets data, analytics and insights. We have committed ourselves to furthering the understanding of alternatives for over 16 years. Through close partnership with our clients, we enable them to make the best decisions every day.

About Saïd Business School, University of Oxford:

Deeply embedded in an 800-year-old world-class university, Oxford Saïd strives to educate people for successful business careers. As a community, Oxford Saïd seeks to use business acumen and global networks to address long-horizon phenomena like demographic change, new technologies, and natural resource scarcity. Oxford Saïd is committed to delivering cutting-edge education and ground-breaking research that transforms individuals, organisations, business practice and society.


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200805005726/en/

Contact

For more information, please contact:
William Clarke
press@preqin.com
+44 20 3207 0265

Source : Preqin

--BERNAMA

Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi opens doors, presents mechanical watches

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 -- Seiko Watch Corporation opened a new chapter in the 60-year history of the Grand Seiko brand with the inauguration of an entirely new studio, dedicated for Grand Seiko's mechanical watch production. 

The studio was declared open on July 20, in a ceremony that took place simultaneously at the Wako building, a retail establishment of Seiko Holdings Corporation in Tokyo and at the studio in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture.

In Tokyo, Seiko Watch Corporation Chairman and CEO, Shinji Hattori was joined by the studio's architect, Kengo Kuma, while in Shizukuishi, the Governor of Iwate Prefecture, Takuya Tasso, participated alongside the studio's directors.

Hattori said: “The studio provides the ideal environment for our craftsmen and women to bring Grand Seiko's mechanical watches to life and for the next generation of watchmakers to be trained and their skills developed.”

Explaining his design, Kuma said: “Grand Seiko's view of the importance of nature is reflected in every corner of its design and construction. I greatly enjoyed the challenge of making the clean room, where watches of the highest precision are assembled, from wood.” 

The studio also incorporates an exhibition space where visitors can immerse themselves in Grand Seiko's history and explore the manufacturing characteristics of Grand Seiko's mechanical watches. 

Events will be held at which visitors can try their hand at assembling a mechanical watch in a dedicated space known as the Studio Seminar Room.

In addition, a Grand Seiko watch made exclusively for, and at the studio, will be presented and available for purchase. It is a limited-edition Hi-beat 36000.

More details at https://www.grand-seiko.com/global-en/special/studio-shizukuishi/ 

-- BERNAMA

Apifiny appoints Thomas Trepanier as Director of Business Development, Roxe

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 -- Apifiny, a global liquidity and financial value transfer network has appointed Thomas Trepanier as Director of Business Development, Roxe to lead the growth of Roxe™ global settlement and liquidity solutions for banks, central banks and digital asset exchanges.

Trepanier brings over 20 years of experience in financial services and fintech, serving banks, central banks, stock exchanges, central securities depositories and asset managers, according to a statement.

Apifiny Chief Business Officer, Josh Li said Trepanier’s success in both traditional and digital finance was a powerful combination that would bring tremendous value to the bank and central bank partners and help execute the company’s vision to accelerate the financial value transfer, anytime, anywhere.

His experience includes key business development and sales roles with Global Accelerated Ventures (GAV), Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) and Omgeo (a DTCC company), among others.

At GAV, Trepanier led customers’ onboarding of innovative methodologies and technologies. He was also the head of payments and securities market infrastructure strategy at SWIFT.

Prior to SWIFT, Trepanier was director of Americas relationship management and Latin America sales at Omgeo. He led sales executives and relationship managers in the US and Canada, and successfully launched Omgeo’s presence in Latin America.

More details at https://www.apifiny.com/

-- BERNAMA

Toshiba offers constant-current 2-phase stepping motor driver for automotive applications

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has launched ‘TB9120AFTG’, a constant-current 2-phase stepping motor driver for automotive applications.

According to a statement, the new IC outputs a sine-wave current using only a simple clock input interface, with no need for an advanced functional MCU or dedicated software.

TB9120AFTG was developed as a successor to TB9120FTG, introduced last year as Toshiba’s first automotive stepping motor driver, and provides improved noise resistance.

The device incorporates DMOS FETs with low on-resistance (upper + lower = 0.8Ω (typ.)), which achieve a maximum current of 1.5A.

Both the DMOS FETs and the controller that generates micro-stepping sine waves (supporting up to 1/32 steps) are housed in a small QFN type package (6.0 mmｘ6.0 mm).

The new IC delivers an operating temperature range of -40 to 125℃, and meets AEC-Q100, a certified standard for electronic components for automotive applications.

It is suited to a wide range of automotive general applications using stepping motors, such as adjustment of the projection position of heads-up displays, and in the expansion valves of refrigerant circuits.

-- BERNAMA

NIPPON PAINT REVEALS THE WINNERS OF THE ASIA YOUNG DESIGNER AWARDS 2019/20

Functional and sustainable winning entries of the year celebrated virtually with Nippon Paint

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- Following the 13th instalment of the Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA), Nippon Paint has crowned Lin Honghan, from China and Greta Elsa Nurtjahja, from Indonesia the grand title of being the Asia Young Designers of the Year 2019/2020, beating other participants across 15 geographical locations, in a rigorous selection process to represent their countries for the prestigious title in the Architectural Category and Interior Design Category respectively.
 
This year’s competition marks the Asia Young Designer Awards’ first virtual event in light of COVID-19 restrictions, establishing Nippon Paint’s steadfast passion in fostering the next generation of designers. Following the virtual competition, both winners walked away with more than US$10,000 worth of prizes, including the opportunity to attend a fully-funded 6-week Design Discovery programme at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 

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Analog Devices strengthens analog semiconductor leadership via Maxim acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 -- Analog Devices Inc (ADI) and Maxim Integrated Products Inc have entered into a definitive agreement, under which ADI will acquire Maxim in an all stock transaction that values the combined enterprise at over US$68 billion. (US$1 = RM4.268)

The transaction, which was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, will strengthen ADI as an analog semiconductor leader with increased breadth and scale across multiple attractive end markets.

Under terms of the agreement, Maxim stockholders will receive 0.63 of a share of ADI common stock for each share of Maxim common stock they hold at the closing of the transaction.

According to a statement, upon closing, current ADI stockholders will own approximately 69 per cent of the combined company, while Maxim stockholders will own about 31 per cent.

The transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganisation for the United States (US) federal income tax purposes.

Upon closing, two Maxim directors will join ADI’s Board of Directors, including Maxim President and Chief Executive Officer, Tunç Doluca.

The transaction is expected to close in the summer of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of US and certain non-US regulatory approvals, and approval by stockholders of both companies.

Morgan Stanley served as lead financial advisor to ADI. BofA Securities also served as financial advisor. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal counsel.

J.P. Morgan served as exclusive financial advisor to Maxim, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel.

-- BERNAMA

Guotai Junan International supports Financial Street Property to enter Hong Kong capital market

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 -- Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited (GTJAI or the Company) has successfully assisted Financial Street Property Co Limited (Financial Street Property) in its listing on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

The initial public offering (IPO) has gained high recognition from investors, with more than 145 times over-subscription in the Hong Kong public offering and about 20 times over-subscription in the international offering.

As the sole sponsor, sole global coordinator, joint bookrunner and joint lead manager of the IPO, GTJAI team facilitated the issuer with dedication, high efficiency and professional attitude.

This is to actively assist in close communications between the issuer and domestic and overseas regulators, introduce several high quality institutional investors to the issuer and lock up cornerstone investors for the IPO, representing the business team’s excellent client coverage and execution capability.

According to a statement, Financial Street Property is a state-owned comprehensive property management company in China, focusing on providing property management and related services to commercial and business properties.

As at 2019-end, the Company provided property management services to 144 property projects in China with the total GFA under management of approximately 19.9 million square metres, 41 per cent of which are located in Beijing.

Last year, in terms of property type, over 50 per cent of its revenue was generated from providing property management services to office buildings.

-- BERNAMA

Updated CyberLink FaceMe® to assist post-COVID-19 economic reopening

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 -- CyberLink Corp recently announced new updates to its landmark facial recognition software development kit, designed to assist global economy reopening as the world curtails the COVID-19 pandemic.

Available immediately, FaceMe® can detect whether individuals are wearing a face mask, and if they are wearing it properly fully covering the mouth and nose, while also being able to perform facial recognition.

According to a statement, the features work for assorted types of mask, including but not limited to medical, cloth, fibre or N95 masks, and can do so for all faces and through various angles.

FaceMe® is one of the world’s most accurate facial recognition engines as deemed by the world standard NIST Facial Recognition Vendor Test.

The FaceMe® platform can now be integrated into retail point-of-sales systems, security cameras, digital signage and other connected devices to determine that individuals in required areas are wearing a face mask and notifying pre-designated personnel if they are not.

Further, the new updates allow it to precisely perform facial recognition on people wearing masks and verify their credentials, enabling a wide range of ‘contactless solutions’.

Over the next months, CyberLink will also introduce thermal body imaging and crowd counting to FaceMe®, to assist in distanced temperature detection of individuals as well as the density of people in public venues.

More details at www.cyberlink.com/faceme

-- BERNAMA

Fortanix expansion in Asia Pacific fulfills data security solutions global demand

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 -- Fortanix® Inc, a Runtime Encryption® company has expanded operations in the Asia Pacific region, fulfilling the growing global demand for its data security solutions.

Having invested heavily in Asia Pacific, the company recently unveiled a new in-region staff and growing ecosystem of channel and distribution partners, enabling organisations to improve on-premises and cloud data security, all while lowering costs and reducing complexity of legacy systems.

According to a statement, Fortanix has opened a new office in Singapore to support its growing Asia Pacific customer base and attract local channel partners and distributors to its growing partner programmes.

Meanwhile, the company has named Gerry Sillars as Vice-President Asia Pacific, who most recently ran Asia Pacific for Skybox Security.

Fortanix Self-Defending Key Management Service™ provides a cloud-native data security platform with cryptographic services, sharing secrets and tokenisation across cloud and on-premises environments from a single centralised point of management and audit.

“Fortanix recognises the significant opportunity that the Asia Pacific region represents and we have made a significant early investment to support that opportunity and our global customers, creating a major initial footprint in the region,” said CRO of Fortanix, David Greene.

“We have recruited an experienced team led by Gerry Sillars with a strong track record of successfully taking new cybersecurity technologies to the region to help us meet our aggressive revenue and growth goals.”

-- BERNAMA

The Trade Desk allows ZALORA's brand to measure conversion, optimise advertising

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 -- ZALORA, Asia’s leading online fashion destination and The Trade Desk, a global advertising technology platform have agreed to collaborate on attribution integration across Asia.

According to a statement, the attribution integration will allow participating brands selling on ZALORA the opportunity to measure conversions and sales value generated from advertising campaigns delivered via The Trade Desk.

Under the partnership, ZALORA has the ability to log attribution for any consumer who views or clicks on an ad before purchasing the brand on ZALORA.

This means that eligible brands may be able to optimise their campaigns running on The Trade Desk while they are in progress.

The integration also gives eligible brands the opportunity to understand users’ paths to purchase on ZALORA and attribute their online sales with ads that run through The Trade Desk.

Participating brands will be able to access this measurement solution through their The Trade Desk account.

“ZALORA has been at the forefront of eCommerce since they launched in 2012,” said The Trade Desk senior vice-president (South East Asia Australia and New Zealand), Mitch Waters.

“Given our shared focus on measurement, ZALORA is the perfect platform to demonstrate the integration of eCommerce and data-driven advertising through conversions and sales value.”

-- BERNAMA

COVID-19 expected to affect Singapore insurers' growth - AM BestTV

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 -- The COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine are expected to impact Singapore insurers' growth in the near term, according to an AM BestTV episode.

These were said by Doniella Pliss, the director of analytics and Trung Tran, financial analyst, both of AM Best Rating Services.

For the first time in a decade, the Singapore non-life insurance segment recorded an underwriting loss in 2019. Tran highlighted the factors that led to this result.

“Even before 2019, AM Best saw a trend that showed a decline in underwriting results for the entire market. The key reason was the increase in loss ratio for motor insurance, as well as a very high loss ratio for health insurance,” said Tran.

“It is very hard in Singapore to raise the price of motor insurance because the number of car sales in Singapore is fairly limited, given the restriction on vehicle licences in Singapore. Furthermore, even after the pandemic, AM Best does not expect that trend to go down.”

Pliss said: “On the medical side, the government covers the bulk of COVID-19 treatment expenses. However, in AM Best’s opinion, the more significant impact will come from the investment side.

“Lower interest rates and dividends, as well as a decline in value of equity holdings, will result in reuse of investment income, and potentially overall balance sheet contraction for the industry.

“Growth may be extremely challenging to achieve for the insurance industry, not only in 2020, but also in subsequent years. It is very likely that the industry will face reductions in premiums in multiple lines of business.”

AM BestTV covers exclusive AM Best and insurance industry information and reports, targeted topics and key developments in the insurance, reinsurance and related sectors daily.

-- BERNAMA

POLYPLASTICS LAUNCHES NEW DURACON(R) POM GRADE WITH IMPROVED DIESEL FUEL RESISTANCE FOR AUTO FUEL COMPONENTS

TOKYO, May 13 (Bernama) -- The Polyplastics Group has announced the introduction of a new DURACON(R) polyoxymethylene (POM) grade which delivers improved diesel fuel resistance for the production of injection-molded automotive fuel system components. The new material complements Polyplastics' flagship DURACON(R) POM portfolio which is already widely used for automotive fuel system components due to its superior mechanical properties, heat and fuel resistance, and excellent moldability.

(Photo:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100475/202004249387/
_prw_PI1fl_7yw1IM3y.jpg)

The newly launched new grade, DURACON(R) H140DR, offers superior performance over competitive materials and is targeted for global markets. While drive systems will likely shift toward electrification, diesel engines are expected to remain in use for certain commercial vehicles, according to Polyplastics.
Low-quality diesel fuel contains a high concentration of acid and sulfur which has a negative effect on POM.

Fuels that contain a high concentration of sulfur act on main polymer chains and facilitate decomposition in POM. Tests show the percentage of weight change
(decomposition rate) when POM is immersed at high temperature in test diesel fuel with a high concentration of sulfur. DURACON(R) H140DR has superior
resistance compared to a competitor's improved diesel fuel resistant POM and a standard material.

DURACON(R) H140DR has a higher melt flow rate (MFR) than standard grade M90-44, resulting in good formability. It is also denser, with smaller crystal size,
and thus has a high degree of crystallization compared to standard grade M90-44. The new grade has the same level of creep-fracture properties versus
competitive materials, and appears to have enough long-term mechanical resistance properties as well. Environmental stress fracture testing reveals
that DURACON(R) H140DR has high resistance to external factors such as acid  rain and various acidic solvents used in cars.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=37341

ECOKNIGHTS LAUNCHES DIGITAL STREAMING SERVICE KLEFFLIX IN CONJUNCTION WITH EARTH DAY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Media Kit: bit.ly/PRklefflix

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- In conjunction with Earth Day 2020, EcoKnights announces the launch of KLEFFlix – Malaysia’s first and only streaming service for environmental and community films, a digital maneuver to its flagship event, the International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest (KLEFF).

KLEFFlix enables the film festival to transcend beyond its physical element and reach a wider audience by screening past and future KLEFF films digitally. This means that this year’s theme and message of “Climate (in)Justice” can now be spread virtually as well. This is further aligned with the climate action theme of Earth Day 2020 50^th Anniversary - raising awareness on the threat of climate change to our future.

The launch of KLEFFlix also marks another notable milestone of KLEFF partnering with the Ministry of Environment and Water, which further helps the spread of the climate action message nationwide.

Leading up to today’s Earth Day celebration, the Ministry has run a digital contest seeking the best climate action-themed poster or video. In partnership with KLEFF, the 50 best submissions will win a Special Premium Membership to KLEFFlix – giving them access to a host of award-winning and compelling eco-themed films past and present.

EcoKnights Program Director and KLEFF Festival Director, Fadly Bakhtiar, said that the partnership with the Ministry represents positive progress in strengthening the national sustainability agenda by supporting a homegrown initiative utilizing technology as a tool to spread the message of climate action.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=37215

COVID-19: Ground Labs offers free Enterprise Recon NOW for 90 days

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 -- Ground Labs, the global expert in data discovery has announced the availability of Enterprise Recon NOW, a free, limited standalone version of its industry-leading data discovery solution, Enterprise Recon.

As companies transition to remote business models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisations spanning all sizes and sectors can now access Enterprise Recon NOW at no cost for 90 days.

Enterprise Recon NOW enables enhanced data discovery and risk management across a remote workforce, according to a statement.

“COVID-19 has forced organisations worldwide to transition towards a remote business model. In many cases, this is not only uncharted territory for an organisation, but its employees, as well, creating personal data being managed outside of normal policies and procedures,” said Ground Labs Chief Executive Officer, Nellie Manktelow.

“As the leaders in data discovery, it was important for us to offer support and a solution that can help with such a transition, as well as help mitigate the risks during these unprecedented times.”

Enterprise Recon NOW enables the ability to discover, remediate and monitor over 300 data types from a single platform specifically for remote workers, including full complimentary support.

More details at www.groundlabs.com.

-- BERNAMA

ECOKNIGHTS ENHANCES DIGITAL EXPERIENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY WITH WEBSITE REVAMP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- Non-governmental environmental organization EcoKnights revamped its website to enhance its online presence and reach a wider audience in today’s digital age.

Amid the growing importance of environmental sustainability, EcoKnights recognized the need to communicate more efficiently via a virtual and centralized platform, especially as more services become digitalized.

The newly improved website boasts a fresh and user-friendly interface to facilitate seamless digital interactions with the organization’s numerous sustainability programs. New structures and streamlined content were also introduced to enhance users’ digital experience.

“Communication is key in the work we do, and using the right tools, such as the website, helps us disseminate information, mobilize communities and gather the necessary support to create impact-driven sustainability initiatives,” EcoKnights Founder and President Dr Yasmin Rasyid said.

“We wanted to ensure that we are constantly being current in our tools and channels of communication, and I hope the revamped new website will serve as a great platform for all.”

Among the new digital features available is an online fundraising platform to finance key environmental projects. This allows users to take direct action irrespective of geographical limitations and time constraints.

Current projects in need of funding include Trees ForUs – a tree-planting initiative to rehabilitate and rejuvenate degraded land – and Fund to Filter which aims to provide Orang Asal communities with affordable solutions to access clean water.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=37160

Crown Bioscience announces C-suite leadership changes

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 -- Crown Bioscience has appointed Jean-Pierre Wery, PhD as executive chairman of the board, effective immediately. 

According to a statement by the drug discovery and development service company, Dr Wery will also serve as chief technology officer for JSR Life Sciences LLC.

In this new role, Dr Wery will lead the JSR Life Sciences companies’ collaborative efforts to identify strategic synergies and develop innovative technologies, platforms and tools for the drug and biomarker research communities.

This leadership change ensures enhanced collaboration between CrownBio and the JSR Life Sciences family of companies to expand their already significant life sciences footprint.

In the same statement, CrownBio also announced the appointment of Armin Spura, PhD to succeed Dr Wery as chief executive officer (CEO), effective April 1.

As CEO, Dr Spura will drive the global corporate strategy for CrownBio, further strengthening the company’s position at the forefront of preclinical research services across oncology, metabolic disease and inflammation.

-- BERNAMA

Unveiled: Unisys Always-On Access(TM) powered by Stealth(TM) provides fast, encrypted remote access

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 -- Unisys Corporation has announced the general availability of Unisys Always-On Access(TM)(AOA), powered by Stealth (TM), its award-winning Unisys Stealth(R) security software that provides unmatched protection to users working remotely from home or from alternative facilities.

Unisys AOA(TM) is very quick to deploy, enables remote work and continuous communications, and can be scaled to support secure access for users at organisations of any size.

It quickly simplifies and improves network security even in hybrid/complex IT environments by dramatically reducing the traditional Virtual Private Network attack surface and limiting access to only the applications needed, instead of access to the network.

Stealth delivers identity-based microsegmentation by creating cryptographic communities of interest that separate trusted systems, users and data from the untrusted, according to a statement.

Unisys AOA can be delivered via Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) from a private or public cloud or as an on-premise solution. The SaaS capability offers a simplified, cost effective and customisable way for a business to pay for what it needs, while the subscription-based pricing model allows customers to scale up or down, as needed.

Stealth also includes Dynamic Isolation(TM) capabilities which quickly isolate devices or users at the first sign of compromise and effectively reduces attack surfaces by encrypting all communication between Stealth-protected assets and cloaking the assets from unauthorised users.

More details at www.unisys.com/stealth.

-- BERNAMA

Telos Corporation-ST Engineering partnership to deliver cybersecurity, GRC solutions in Asia, Middle East

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 -- Telos® Corporation, a cyber, cloud and enterprise security solutions provider and ST Engineering, a global technology, defence and engineering group have signed an agreement to extend availability of critical cybersecurity and governance, risk and compliance (GRC) management solutions into Asia and the Middle East.

“Our strategic partnership with ST Engineering will allow new customers throughout Asia and the Middle East to enjoy the same security and efficiency benefits our solutions provide to the rest of our customers,” said Telos chief executive officer and chairman, John B. Wood.

Meanwhile, ST Engineering Electronics president, Ravinder Singh said the strategic partnership with Telos would incorporate Telos Ghost and Xacta capabilities into their enhanced suite of cloud cybersecurity offerings.

Deployed at some of the world’s most security-conscious organisations, Xacta is the enterprise, cloud and hybrid cloud solution for cyber risk management and compliance automation, helping to meet the complex challenges of managing IT risk.

Telos Ghost is a patented system sold as a service for private, secure and anonymous operations on the Internet. It keeps mission critical data and communications hidden from adversaries and safe from intrusion while doing business, sharing intelligence and assessing cyber threats online.

More details at www.telos.com.

-- BERNAMA

COVID-19: Vista Global expands complimentary empty leg flights for governments, medical organisations

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 -- The private aviation group, Vista Global will expand on VistaJet’s offer of complimentary empty leg flights to those with critical travel requirements during this time of uncertainty.

Through VistaJet and now XO, the global digital marketplace for private aviation, Vista Global will provide governments and medical organisations access to over 115 aircraft during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Combining efforts across VistaJet and XO in utilising their global network, infrastructure and technology, the group will help governments repatriate citizens who are stranded abroad.

It will also assist in transporting healthcare professionals and medical supplies to countries that need them the most by providing access to complimentary empty leg flights, according to a statement.

“We understand that people need help, especially in times of instability, and now in expanding the availability also to XO’s fleet, we are able to use our entire global network, infrastructure, expertise and technologies to help even more communities in need,” said Vista Global’s founder and chairman, Thomas Flohr.

In addition to helping officials keep their response plans as prompt as possible, Vista Global will also assist with the complex logistics of the necessary permits and paperwork.

-- BERNAMA

Entegris' manufacturing facility in Kulim receives NCOSH safety excellence award

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- Entegris has received a safety excellence award from the Malaysian National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH), the highest safety award a company can receive in Malaysia.

According to a statement, the award was presented after a six-month evaluation process and it was received by Entegris Malaysia managing director, Derek Ong.

“Together, we keep our focus on continuous improvement through weekly management meetings, safety Gemba walks to celebrate successes and identify areas for improvement, employee safety training, two-minute safety briefings during every shift and safety promotional campaigns,” said Ong.

Over 950 employees work in the Kulim, Kedah facility, developing systems and products to ensure the clean and safe delivery of the microelectronic components used in semiconductor manufacturing processes and other high technology industries.

It is Entegris’ largest manufacturing site and a part of the company’s Advanced Materials Handling (AMH) Division.

According to AMH vice-president of operations, Mike Lloyd, among the aspects that received recognition from NCOSH were senior management’s involvement in all safety matters, substantial commitment of resources to fund health and safety programmes, system to track incidents and proactive reporting metrics.

In addition, the company has a recognition programme that rewards employees who make suggestions for safety improvements, demonstrate good safety behaviour, address safety issues and coach other employees on safety issues.

Employees also engage in a community outreach programme that promotes health and safety for children that includes First Aid training.

-- BERNAMA

UNBELIEVABLE MYDEBIT CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Yet Another Successful Collaboration between Isetan and PayNet

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- Isetan of Japan Sdn. Bhd. concluded another successful collaboration with Payments Network Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (PayNet) to encourage the public to shop using debit cards. As an incentive for its customers to shop using their MyDebit ATM card, Isetan held the unBELIevable MyDebit Je with your ATM card & Win contest. Similar to last year’s MyDebit – Isetan Fabulous Living Contest, prizes totalling RM250,000 were up for grabs.

Customers of Isetan KL that made purchases of RM100 and above using their MyDebit ATM card were entitled to one entry. The contest, which ran from 1 November 2019 till 31 January 2020, attracted more than 3,400 entries.

The contest created greater awareness on the safety and convenience of making payments using MyDebit ATM cards. Payments are made by just waving or tapping the card, or entering the six-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the reader.

The top 15 winners of the contest were announced at a prize-giving ceremony that took place at Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The Grand Prize winner, Datin Marlia Musa won a Honda City worth over RM73,836. Present at the event were Mr. Michael Kumar, Director, Card Services Division, PayNet and Mr. Yeow Kah Chong, Isetan General Manager.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Koji Oyama, Managing Director of Isetan Kuala Lumpur said “The response to the contest this year was very encouraging and a testament to the positive partnership between Isetan of Japan Sdn. Bhd. and Payments Network Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Whilst our stores offer a wide range of attractive and quality products to appeal to all types of customers, PayNet gives our customers a safe and reliable way to make payments thus easing the shopping experience. Our complementing offerings truly make shopping a delight for customers”.

Speaking on her win of the Grand Prize, Datin Marlia Musa said, “This win is an extremely pleasant surprise and a great way to start my 2020! This is proof that shopping certainly has its privileges – thank you to Isetan and MyDebit for this opportunity. I’ve been shopping at Isetan in Malaysia for years and I feel this is the best celebration of our relationship,”.

Download the press kit here!

Source: Mad Hat PR PLT

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=36876

Nasdaq powers Indonesia's KSEI with new central securities depository solution

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 -- PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia (KSEI) has successfully gone live with a new central securities depository (CSD) solution by market technology provider, Nasdaq Inc.

The new and state-of-the-art CSD platform provides KSEI with increased capacity and speed, with the new system operating at 40 times faster than KSEI’s previous system, while managing up to 80,000 settlement instructions per minute. 

According to a statement, the technology offering is a multi-asset, multi-currency post-trade solution for settlement, depository, corporate actions and asset servicing to support the full service scope for CSDs globally.

For KSEI, the launch of Nasdaq CSD also supports the company’s move to a Delivery-versus-Payment settlement model with Central Bank Money, a transition that contributes to upgraded standards and performance for KSEI and the Indonesian market.

Nasdaq’s market technology powers over 250 of the world’s market infrastructure organisations and market participants in over 50 countries with end-to-end, mission-critical technology solutions.

-- BERNAMA

Lookout records growth in enterprise customers for fiscal year ending Jan 31

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 -- Mobile security leader Lookout Inc has announced a record fiscal year ended Jan 31, 2020, with growth in enterprise customers driven by strong demand for its Phishing, App Defence and Mobile Endpoint Security solutions.

According to a statement, all these are powered by the Lookout Security cloud, the world’s largest mobile dataset.

“Our growth across all customer segments resulted in a remarkable year for our business. In addition to strong customer growth, our low churn rate demonstrates that enterprises see us as their trusted, long-term partner in security,” said the chief executive officer of Lookout, Jim Dolce.

To meet the growing demand for mobile threat defence internationally, Lookout also significantly expanded its global footprint last year, moving its London office and Dutch European headquarters to larger locations and opening new offices in Italy and Sweden.

Meanwhile, in APAC, Lookout has added to its leadership ranks to further grow its presence in Australia and New Zealand, Japan and Singapore. Lookout App Defence also saw strong momentum in the financial services industry globally.

Expanded strategic partnerships and new product integrations with industry leaders including Google, Microsoft and VMware further demonstrated strong adoption of solutions for Post-Perimeter Security and the need to secure enterprises from the growing threats inherent in a mobile-first workforce.

Additional business highlights and industry recognition include the Lookout Security Cloud dataset which has reached over 100 million apps and 180 million devices analysed, launching a solution with Microsoft, and Lookout having been added to Google App Defence Alliance.

More details at www.lookout.com.

-- BERNAMA

Solid Sphere Inc distributes Takeshobo Quest - POP TEAM EPIC ASSAULTS overseas

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3  -- Solid Sphere Inc, a game content developer for various platforms has begun distribution of an overseas version of the ‘Takeshobo Quest - POP TEAM EPIC ASSAULTS’ smartphone app.

According to a statement, Takeshobo Quest - POP TEAM EPIC ASSAULTS is an original kuso app based on the world view of Bkub Okawa's popular POP TEAM EPIC manga.

Supported by both iOS and Android devices, player attempts to clear stages by collecting Takeshobo employees and defeating Popuko and Pipimi.

Providing basic play for free, the app is available in countries namely, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

More details at https://www.pptp.jp.

-- BERNAMA

WRP ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Less than a week after announcing a new line up of five Executive Directors, Thomas Philip Advocates and Solicitors (Thomas Philip), the lawyers acting on behalf of the current Board of Directors (BoD) of WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd (WRP), today revealed the appointment of Leong Wai Leng as the President of WRP.

With extensive experience and expertise, Leong was selected based on his track record of managing WRP efficiently and honourably during his previous tenure with the company. The industry veteran is a much-respected figure in the rubber glove manufacturing field having risen through the ranks at WRP.

Founder and Managing Partner of Thomas Philip, Mathew Thomas Philip said, “The board of WRP means business. With the recent executive shake-up and new people in key management positions, the board is setting WRP on the right track and sending out all the right signals. This is what is needed to win back the confidence of investors, customers, workers and other stakeholders in WRP.”

“Leong’s appointment as the President is a highly anticipated announcement to activate the broad range of changes that are planned across WRP. His extensive experience in the industry and people management skills will assuredly be key to revive and future-proof WRP," he added.

Alongside this announcement, Thomas Philip also informed the appointment of Loong Mei Yin as the Executive Chairman and Michael Sng as the Co-Chairman of WRP. Thomas Philip has indicated that the BoD will progressively make changes through various aspects of the company, including its people, processes and procedures, to ensure expeditious and effective turnaround of WRP.

Source : Chimera Brand Relations Sdn Bhd

Japan approves Ferring's Propess®, a pharmacological treatment for cervical ripening

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 -- Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced that Propess® (dinoprostone) has been approved by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan.

Propess is a vaginal delivery system containing the active substance dinoprostone 10mg used for the initiation of cervical ripening in women at term (from 37 completed weeks of gestation).

The dinoprostone softens and opens the part of the birth canal known as the cervix, to start the process of labour.

According to a statement, this is the first time in over 20 years that a pharmacological therapy for cervical ripening has been approved in the country.

This approval offers women requiring an induction in Japan greater choice of alternatives to mechanical methods of cervical ripening.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals president and chief science officer, Per Falk said: “There is a lack of research and development of treatment options for women who are pregnant or giving birth, which is why it is important for Ferring to continue to invest and advance the field of Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health and continue with our purpose of building families worldwide.”

The announcement follows close collaboration between Ferring Pharmaceuticals and a local patient advocacy group to ensure the needs and safety of women in labour are addressed in Japan.

Propess is currently marketed in over 60 countries and was developed in the 1980s in Scotland where it continues to be manufactured. More details at https://www.ferring.com/

-- BERNAMA

Gain Theory named Strong Performer in Marketing Measurement and Optimization Solutions

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 -- Gain Theory, a WPP global marketing effectiveness consultancy has been named a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave™: Marketing Measurement and Optimization Solutions, Q1 2020.

The report recognises Gain Theory’s work measuring marketing’s impact on both short and long-term business objectives and helping clients develop plans to optimise multiple objectives simultaneously.

Gain Theory received the highest score possible for 10 criteria including: Unified Measurement Methodology; Training and Change Management Services; Marketing Strategy Consulting; Engagement Structures; Marketing Dashboards and Reports; and, Global Strategy.

“We are delighted to be recognised as a Strong Performer in Forrester’s Wave report,” said Gain Theory Global chief executive officer, Manjiry Tamhane.

“It confirms for us the unique value that we deliver to our clients globally, who trust us to make a meaningful difference to their business performance through our focus on improving marketing efficiency, growing market share and seeing baseline profits and share price grow.”

Forrester gives Gain Theory high marks for Unified Measurement approach which ‘leverages a system of models that iterate and inform each other’. Gain Theory’s approach is unified at three levels, namely data; analytics and outcomes; and, crafted to individual client needs.

Also cited is Gain Theory Sensor™ which combines individual and aggregate data to measure the value of individual campaign tactics, and conduct in-campaign tests. Sensor is a component of Gain Theory’s Unified Measurement approach but can also be used as a stand-alone solution.

More information at https://www.gaintheory.com.

-- BERNAMA

MRO Middle East summit, exhibition set in Dubai, beginning Feb 24

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 -- The three-day MRO Middle East (#MROME) summit and exhibition will be held, beginning Feb 24 in Dubai, UAE.

The combined summit and trade show, co-located with Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME), is the Gulf region's leading conference and exhibition for commercial aviation maintenance, according to a statement.

Gathering over 5,000 attendees from the entire airline supply chain, over 83 countries are represented at the event, offering networking among industry leaders representing airlines, regulators, suppliers and service providers.

According to Aviation Week 2020 Commercial Fleet & MRO Forecast, fleets in the Middle East are expected to nearly double, growing from 1,760 aircraft in 2020 to 3,670 aircraft by 2029, a CAGR of 8.5 per cent.

In addition, MRO demand in the Middle East is projected to double in the next 10 years and could reach US$16.5 billion by 2029. (US$1 = RM4.07)

The two-day MRO Middle East Exhibition, beginning Feb 25, takes place at the Dubai World Trade Center. For industry professionals, attendance is free for the event which showcases the latest technologies and suppliers that are changing the way the MRO industry operates.

Meanwhile, the MRO Middle East Summit takes place on Feb 24 at the Conrad Dubai. The one-day conference attracts over 150 senior attendees from the aviation aftermarket to network, explore the landscape and discuss emerging opportunities in the Middle East.

The summit speakers include Amir Ali (Chief Technical Officer, PIA Engineering and Maintenance); Yasin Birinci (Production Planning and Control Director, Turkish Airlines Technic) : and, Teddy Canadas (CCO, Testia), among others.

-- BERNAMA

"HAFH" - JAPANESE SERVICE OFFICIALLY CO-OPERATES WITH TWO MALAYSIAN BRANDS

NAGASAKI, Japan, Jan 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- KabuK Style Co., Ltd. (Japan) announces cooperation with two Malaysia-based brands, the travel company Apple Vacation group and Le Apple Boutique Hotel, to create co-working and co-living space since Jan 1st, 2020. These companies hope to boost these local activities and bring benefits inside and outside these countries.

Co-operation’s purpose

Recently, HafH which operates the co-living, co-working space in Japan has been expanded to Europe and America. By collaborating facilities in Le Apple Boutique Hotel and HafH system, these companies hope to establish new branch in Malaysia. Moreover, HafH has been developing the linked facilities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where HafH directly manages the facilities, with other cities including Melaka, Ipoh, Penang and Kota Kinabalu. Through this collaboration, KabuK hopes to boost the expansion towards Asia and the world.

Apple Vacation Group

In 1996, Apple Vacation Group was founded by Lee Ee Hoe and Koh Yock. In 2013, it was glorious to be the first Malaysian travel company got the prize from Japanese National Administration of Tourism. Moreover, The Emperor of Japan was rewarded the Asahi Nishi medal in June, 2014 due to his effort in disseminating Japanese culture towards Malaysian people.

Future Branch Establishment

It takes three minutes to walk from shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur to this branch. The company is about to looking for premises, include in roof, co-working space in March 2020.

In the future, it will extend branches comprehensively in Malaysia by using Le Apple Boutique Hotel’s available facilities and HafH partners’ facilities in other 15 countries.

Open time expected: March, 2020

- Apple Vacations Sdn Bhd

Business name: Apple Vacations Sdn Bhd
Representatives: Datuk Seri Lee Ee Hoe
Head office: Wisma Apple 2nd, 3rd & 4th Floor, No.42-2 Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
TEL：03-2145 7878
URL：https://www.applevacations.my/web/

- HaFH

Business name: KabuK Style Inc.
Representatives: Kenji Sunada, Ose Yoshiaki
Head office：(HQ) 5-21,Furukawa-machi,Nagasaki-City,Nagasaki,Japan
TEL：+81-95-818-8181
Established date: March 9th, 2017
Nature of business: Co-working, co-living space for rent, cafe one-stop service.

Contact

Yuki Yokoyama
pr_asean@kabuk.com
https://hafh.com/

Source : KabuK Style Co., Ltd.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=36582

´Beyond Human´ tops global consumer trends - Euromonitor International

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 -- Beyond Human, which embraces artificial intelligence for automation and convenience, has topped the global consumer trends in 2020, according to Euromonitor International.

The global market research company recently released a report on the ‘Top 10 Global Consumer Trends 2020’, identifying the most influential trends shaping consumer behaviour, shopping habits and purchasing decisions.

Coming second in consumer preference is Catch Me in Seconds, seeking quick, concise and multisensory content for instant gratification, followed by Frictionless Mobility, choosing transportation methods based on individual preferences for a seamless travel journey.

Other trends are Inclusive for All; Minding Myself; Multifunctional Homes; Private Personalisation; Proudly Local, Going Global; Reuse Revolutionaries; and, We Want Clean Air Everywhere.

“Convenience and personal control are the core themes connecting these trends in 2020. Consumers are putting themselves first as they look for ways to simplify their lives,” said Euromonitor International consumer trends director, Gina Westbrook.

-- BERNAMA

GRAYSONLINE IS HOSTING A MEGA ONLINE BUSHFIRE AUCTION COMMENCING FEBRUARY 1, 2020

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. 13, 2020 /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --

Gives Australians the opportunity to turn their valuable items into much needed funds for bushfire relief.

The on-going bushfire catastrophe engulfing much of south-east Australia has stretched firefighting and animal rescue groups to breaking point. GraysOnline is launching a major online auction event to raise much-needed funds for volunteer firefighters and animal welfare.

GraysOnline is calling for Australians to donate their valuable, or unused items for this major auction. 100% of auction proceeds will go to bushfire relief. GraysOnline will provide all listings, shipping, marketing and logistics on their leading online auction platform at no cost.

Australians are urged to donate valuable items including memorabilia, cars, boats, machinery and experiences. Businesses can contribute by donating unused business assets for the auction. GraysOnline is raising funds for organisations that are fighting the fires, as well as caring for a large number of animals that continue to be threatened and suffer.

Chris Corbin, Managing Director of GraysOnline, said "Like all Australians, the team at GraysOnline has watched in horror at the devastation caused during the current bushfire crisis. The team decided to use our auction platform and expertise to launch this major online auction event to raise funds for the people at the front line who are working tirelessly to protect people, homes and animals."

This one-off mega auction gives individuals and businesses all over Australia the opportunity to join the fund-raising effort supporting important organisations in their efforts to protect people, property and wildlife. And they can be confident that 100% of funds raised will go directly to nominated organisations, not marketing and administration.

Donations of items for the auction can be made at www.graysonline.com/charityauction. The auction commences on February 1, 2020 and runs for one week only. 100% of proceeds will be shared equally between NSW RFS, VIC CFA and WIRES.

"As Australia's largest auction platform and with one in five Australians on our database, GraysOnline is committed to helping rebuild after the devastating fires that have affected so many of our customers and vendors. We are calling on all Australians to donate their valuable items to support our amazing volunteers in their important work", said Chris Corbin.

GraysOnline encourages individuals and businesses all over Australia to join the fundraising effort in a meaningful way by donating their valuable items and assets. GraysOnline will use its auction platform and expertise to turn these items into much-needed funds for organisations on the front line of this ongoing crisis.

For more information about this one-off auction event, please contact:
Chris Corbin, CEO,
GraysOnline
M: +61 413 627 724
E: chriscorbin@grays.com.au

Source: GraysOnline

Image Attachments Links:
http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=355506

--BERNAMA

Kurita Water Industries wins Agency of Natural Resources and Energy Director-General´s Award

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 -- Kurita Water Industries Ltd has been awarded the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy Director-General's Award in the Product and Business Model category of the 2019 Energy Conservation Grand Prize.

The event was organised by The Energy Conservation Center, Japan (backed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), according to a statement.

The prize was awarded for the improved heat transfer efficiency through Kurita’s Dropwise Condensation Technology, marking the second time it has been recognised in the Energy Conservation Grand Prize, after winning the Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Award for its DReeM Polymer™ technology in 2017.

The Energy Conservation Grand Prize recognises exemplary energy conservation initiatives on the part of business operators and sites, as well as products and business models that demonstrate excellent energy conservation.

The endeavour is organised to expand awareness of energy conservation in Japan, encourage widespread adoption of energy-saving products and help build an energy conservation-oriented society.

Under the award-winning theme, Kurita was recognised for its efforts to achieve energy conservation through its new Dropwise Condensation Technology and for the underlying technology.

With close attention being paid to how energy usage can be optimised in industry, the Kurita Group aims to deliver plant-wide thermal efficiency improvements and will continue to work with customers in pursuit of sustainable energy usage.

-- BERNAMA

NIU Technologies launches future of urban electric motorcycles

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 -- NIU Technologies, a global leader in smart urban mobility solutions, recently introduced two new electric vehicles, the RQi-GT and TQi-GT, adding to its extensive line-up at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

According to a statement, the new RQi-GT is an urban performance electric motorcycle, allowing riders to reach the outer limits of their city at top speeds of estimated 160km per hour.

Designed and built around NIU’s advanced technology, the motor provides a peak output power of 30 kW and the two removable batteries (combined 7 kWh) can take riders up to 130km on a single charge, making it the perfect mode of transportation for navigating both urban highways and congested city streets.

Meanwhile, the TQi-GT is NIU’s first self-balancing electric three-wheeler, which comes standard with autonomous driving functionalities, including self-parking.

It can reach top speeds of 80km per hour and has a range of up to 200km to provide more than a week of urban commuting range. In order to provide additional safety features for urban drivers, the TQi-GT is also equipped with an anti-lock braking system.

The mass production of the new models, RQi-GT and TQi-GT, is expected in the second half of this year and will be made available to consumers a few months later. More details at https://www.niu.com/

-- BERNAMA

Soul Machines raises US$40 million to advance human-machine collaboration

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 -- Soul Machines recently announced its US$40 million series B financing, led by Temasek from Singapore. (US$1 = RM4.09)

Soul Machines is an AGI Research company, developing the world’s leading Autonomous Animation platform to help humanise brands and the ways people engage with them.

According to a statement, the funds will be used to continue expanding globally with specific focus on R&D and increasing its global operating footprint to meet growing demand.

The investment also involved participation from Lakestar, a leading European Venture Fund, and Salesforce Ventures, along with further investment from existing investors Horizons Ventures, University of Auckland Inventors Fund and others from their earlier rounds.

Soul Machines was founded by Academy Award winner, Mark Sagar and serial entrepreneur, Greg Cross in 2016 when it was spun out of the University of Auckland.

Together, technology pioneers Sagar and Cross are fusing AI, computational brain models and experiential learning to usher in a new era of customer experience.

With Soul Machines’ technology, their clients’ Digital Heroes are able to democratise personal experience in a way that has not been previously possible.

Soul Machines has deployed its HumanOS™ platform and created Digital Heroes for some of the biggest global brands in retail, automotive, banking and finance with customers including Procter & Gamble, Bank ABC and The Royal Bank of Scotland.

-- BERNAMA

LeddarTech, Nagase to demonstrate automotive technology in Japan

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 -- LeddarTech® will join its Japanese distribution partner, Nagase & Co Ltd at CAR ELE as part of Automotive World 2020 in Tokyo, Japan from Jan 15 to 17.

The Automotive World show gathers a variety of automotive electronic technologies, including components, materials, software, manufacturing equipment and testing technologies.

LeddarTech in a statement said, the event attracted global automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and has become a must-attend event for automotive industry professionals.

According to Nagase Division Manager of the Advanced Mobility division, Koichi Kawahito, Nagase is committed to the expansion of its automotive business by distributing components and systems as well as offering software and design services for advanced driving assistance systems, electric vehicle and human-machine interfaces.

“This year, we look forward to presenting the award-winning Leddar™ Pixell at the event,” said LeddarTech Global Sales and Business Development vice-president, Adrian Pierce.

“This 3D solid-state LiDAR cocoon solution is specially designed for autonomous vehicles such as autonomous shuttles, robotaxis, (and) commercial and delivery vehicles ? enabling best-in-class safety through enhanced detection and robustness.”

Since its release in September 2019, the Leddar Pixell has been showcased at several trade events throughout Europe, North America and Asia.

-- BERNAMA

InnovaHealth Partners Invests in Radiaction, the Technology Leader in Robotic Radiation Protection

NEW YORK, Jan 10 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Radiaction (“Radiaction” or the “Company”) and InnovaHealth Partners, LP (“InnovaHealth”) jointly announce today that InnovaHealth has made a growth equity investment in Radiaction and acquired a majority interest in the Company.

Jonathan Yifat, Chief Executive Officer of Radiaction, said, “Today’s announcement represents the next stage for our Company. We are excited about our partnership with InnovaHealth, which will allow us to bring our game-changing technology to the interventional suites. We look forward to realizing our vision of protecting healthcare providers who suffer from the consequences of radiation exposure on a daily basis.”

Radiaction has developed a robotic system that substantially reduces radiation exposure to physicians and technicians. The system operates by automatically deploying a shield from the C-arm unit that captures the radiation at the source, thereby preventing exposure to under-protected medical staff. The Radiaction system is designed to be compatible with any type of fixed C-arm imaging system and will seamlessly integrate into clinical workflow. There are approximately 20,000 fixed C-arm imaging units worldwide which are utilized in millions of medical procedures each year.  The Company is based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Amir Belson MD, Founder of Radiaction, added, “We welcome the InnovaHealth team and look forward to leveraging InnovaHealth’s capital, strategic relationships and clinical network to continue to build our market leading business.”

Ariella Golomb MD, InnovaHealth Managing Director, said, “We are impressed with the Radiaction team and the Company’s innovative technology. We expect our investment to significantly accelerate Radiaction’s commercial development and expand its clinical leadership, with an initial focus on interventional cardiology and electrophysiology.”

About InnovaHealth Partners
New York-based InnovaHealth Partners, LP is the leading medical technology growth private equity firm. The InnovaHealth team manages approximately $200 million and has over 100 years of experience investing in the global medical technology market.

Contacts:

Radiaction: Jonathan Yifat, CEO
E-mail: jonathan@radiactionmedical.com

InnovaHealth Partners: Tiffany Cheynier, Manager - Investor Relations
E-mail: tc@innovahp.com


Source: InnovaHealth Partners