TRAVELLERS DESTINATION "MOVING INN TOKACHI KITANOMORI" OPENS IN HOKKAIDO

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Moving Inn Inc has opened "Moving Inn Tokachi Kitanomori (Forest-of-the-North in English)" on April 28, in Hokkaido, Japan, which is fast becoming a destination spot for international travellers.

According to a statement, Moving Inn Tokachi Kitanomori delivers luxurious accommodations in breathtaking natural surroundings at four secluded spots within more than 16 acres of virgin forest.

Moving Inn provides a unique travel and camping experience that allows guests to enjoy the natural beauty of the forest and waterways while staying in a cozy trailer home.

The individual lodging sites are isolated within the premises, and guests can choose between two styles, namely the "Grand Suite" sites, "NAGAME" and "AWASE", and the "Nature Suite" sites, "KODACHI" and "HOTORI”.

Each "Grand Suite" consists of a guest room trailer and a dining trailer, both fully equipped with hotel-like accommodations, which commands beautiful views that bring guests closer to the nature of Hokkaido.

Meanwhile, the "Nature Suite" is designed to be used with a campervan that connects to the on-site deck which is equipped with a shower, toilet, wood-burning sauna, open-air bath, outdoor kitchen and fireplace, whereby guests can choose to stay in a tent at this site.

Guests can rent a high-class camper such as a Hiace or Land Cruiser that has been customised by Moving Inn for camping. It can be used as lodging or guests can drive their vans to their site.

All sites have an enclosed wood-fired sauna and open-air baths. Creative cuisine which is made from local wild ingredients and supervised by Kan Morieda, a well-known Tokyo-based chef from Hokkaido, is available.

Guests can enjoy delicious meals using wild local ingredients from Hokkaido, especially Tokachi, while relaxing under the shade trees. There are a total of five to six courses when people choose the dining trailer hearth.

-- BERNAMA

Juniper Research Unveils Future Digital Awards For Digital Health Innovation 2023 Winners

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) --  Juniper Research has announced the winners of the Future Digital Awards for Digital Health Innovation 2023, recognising the most innovative and disruptive vendors and solutions in the rapidly changing healthcare industry.

According to Juniper Research in a statement, the winners in each category went through an extensive application and judging process.

The winner of Excellence in Digital Health Innovation under the Judges’ Choice category is Vivalink, which is hand-picked by Juniper Research’s expert judging panel and represents a company that will play an important role within the future digital healthcare market.

In the Therapeutics & Remote Health category, winners for Best Digital Therapeutic Solution goes to Sleepio by Big Health (Platinum) and Mantra Health (Gold); Best Hearable Device to Lexie Hearing (Platinum) and GN ReSound Hearing Aids (Gold); Best Independent Living Solution to Florence Intelligent Health Messaging (Platinum) and Lizz Health (Gold).

The platinum and gold winners for Best Remote Monitoring Solution in the same category are Vivalink and Medisanté Hub (M+ Hub), respectively. Platinum winner for Mental Health App of the Year goes to Tiatros while the winners for Most Innovative Telemedicine Solution are Medisanté Hub (M+ Hub) (Platinum) and Safe Health SAFE Platform (Gold).

Meanwhile, for Healthcare Innovation category, among the winners for Best Digital Diagnostics Solution (Healthy.io Minuteful Kidney Test – Platinum; Cardio Diagnostics PrecisionCHD – Gold); Best Neurotechnology Innovation (Netcetera VR Rehab Apps – Platinum); Best Medical Application of AI (John Snow Labs – Platinum; Biofourmis & Eseye – Gold); and Best Medical Robotics Solution (Asensus Surgical ISU (Intelligent Surgical Unit) – Platinum).

In addition, under the same category, winners for Edge Computing Innovation in Healthcare (John Snow Labs – Platinum; Safe Health SAFE Platform – Gold); while platinum winners for Excellence in AI Drug Discovery (Atomwise); Gene Therapy Innovation (UniQure); and Most Innovative Personalised Medicine Solution (Biofourmis & Eseye).

--  BERNAMA

PIE SYSTEMS OFFERS "PIE VAT" APP USERS VISITING JAPAN FREE INTERNET SERVICE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) – Pie Systems Japan Co Ltd, a leading travel tech company which provides the VAT refund solution "PIE VAT" and a subsidiary of Pie Systems Inc, has started providing 5G eSIM for free to PIE VAT app users visiting Japan.

According to Pie Systems in a statement, users can access the service by downloading tax-free shopping app PIE VAT.

Pie Systems Japan Chief Executive Officer, Hiroaki Mizuno said with the eSIM free internet service provided by Pie Systems, users can set up eSIM easily and quickly and access the internet via PIE VAT.

“We provide users with a high-speed and stress-free communications environment through the eSIM that supports 5G. Users can easily claim their VAT refunds with the PIE VAT app at PIE VAT partner stores and shopping malls.

“PIE VAT is a travel platform to connect travellers with retailers/merchants. The app serves as a bridge between them to eliminate various inconveniences during trips. We will continue launching new services to support travellers' wonderful trips,” he said.

PIE VAT is a digital platform delivering delightful tourism, starting with digitising tax-free shopping for merchants and tourists as well as reducing the operational burden for merchants and improving shopping experience for tourists.

Merchants can set up PIE VAT on their personal computers (PCs) or tablets without hardware integration while tourists can easily claim their VAT refunds when travelling abroad with the PIE VAT app.

Users can easily and quickly set up the eSIM via PIE VAT. The eSIM allows them to access the internet and complete VAT refund procedures using the free internet service.

In addition, users can enjoy a high-speed, stress-free communications environment with the eSIM that supports 5G, and can use 1 gigabyte (GB) of data free for a maximum of 30 days.

--  BERNAMA 

JAPANESE BUDDHIST PEACEBUILDER URGES G7 LEADERS TO MOVE TOWARD "NO FIRST USE" OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT HIROSHIMA SUMMIT

TOKYO, Apr. 27, 2023/Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/--


On April 27, 2023, Buddhist philosopher and peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), issued a statement calling on the leaders of the G7 countries meeting in Hiroshima from May 19-21 to take bold steps toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine and guarantee the security of all humanity by taking the lead in discussions on pledges of No First Use of nuclear weapons.

Ikeda, an ardent proponent of nuclear weapons abolition since the 1960s, sees the G7 Summit in Hiroshima as a chance to build on the unwavering activism of the hibakusha -- survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings -- and their determination that the tragic impacts of nuclear weapons never be experienced again.

He states: "As the G7 leaders revisit the actual consequences of a nuclear weapon detonation and the bitter lessons of the nuclear era, I urge that they initiate earnest deliberations on making pledges of No First Use so that their shared recognition of the inadmissible nature of nuclear weapons can find expression in changed policies."

He warns that with the taboo against the use of nuclear weapons being eroded among the nuclear-weapon states, and frameworks for managing and reducing nuclear arsenals verging on collapse, there has never been a greater need to establish policies of No First Use.

Regarding Ukraine, Ikeda urges that the Hiroshima Summit should provide a "prescription for hope" by working for an immediate cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure and developing concrete plans for negotiations that will lead to a cessation of hostilities.

He stresses that representatives of civil society, such as physicians and educators who protect people's lives and futures, should join such negotiations as observers.

Ikeda references the work of the physicians from both sides of the Cold War who founded IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War) in the early 1980s and met in Hiroshima under the slogan: "Let us Live Together, Not Die Together." In the same spirit, he concludes with the vital need to shift to a "common security" paradigm for all humankind.

This is the third time in the past year that Ikeda, a veteran advocate for nuclear weapons abolition, has called for No First Use policies. He first pushed for declarations of No First Use in 1975, following visits to prominent leaders and thinkers in all five declared nuclear-weapon states.

Full statement:
https://www.daisakuikeda.org/sub/resources/works/lect/2023apr27-g7-hiroshima-stmt.html


The Soka Gakkai is a global community-based Buddhist organization that promotes peace, culture and education. Daisaku Ikeda (1928- ) is president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), an international association of the Soka Gakkai and an NGO in consultative status with UN ECOSOC. For over 40 years, Ikeda has authored proposals and statements offering concrete approaches to resolving the complex issues facing humanity.

Ikeda's proposals: https://www.daisakuikeda.org/sub/resources/works/props/


Source: Soka Gakkai

Contact:
Yuki Kawanaka
International Office of Public Information
Soka Gakkai
+81-80-5957-4919
kawanaka[at]soka.jp

--BERNAMA

ROBOT++ TO SAIL INTO SOUTHEAST ASIA SHIPPING INDUSTRY WITH SINGAPORE OFFICE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Robot++, a leading supplier of work-at-height robots, strategically established its Singapore office to tap into Southeast Asia's thriving shipping industry and expand its business throughout the region.

Marking its entrance into the market, the company recently showcased its advanced solutions at SEA Asia and joined the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers Singapore (SNAMES), according to a statement.

At the SEA Asia Exhibition, Robot++ showcased its safety, efficiency and versatility in various ship-related scenarios, with focus on eco-friendly solutions for surface preparation in ship repair and storage tank surface preparation in the chemical industry.

The company's standout offerings include the HighMate V40 hydroblasting robot and the vacuum recycling pump. Using the UHP pump, the HighMate V40 ultra-pressurises water to effectively remove rust and paint from ship hulls, while the vacuum pump collects wastewater, achieving an impressive 99 per cent recovery rate.

With a 20 per cent increase in efficiency compared to the HighMate V30, autonomous navigation, and an easy-to-maintain modular design, Robot++ looks set to deliver its competitive solutions to the maritime market in Southeast Asia.

In a recent interview after joining SNAMES, Robot++ Singapore General Manager, Si-di Liu said: “Singapore is a developed, politically stable country with a thriving economy.”

“As a world shipping centre, Singapore is an ideal starting point for supporting distributors and expanding our business throughout Southeast Asia. We are truly excited to bring our robot-based solutions to the region and make a significant impact here.”

Speaking on Robot++’s future goals for the region, Liu added: “We are looking to keep growing and developing innovative solutions in Southeast Asia and beyond, making the most of our expanding magnetic and non-magnetic mobile platforms for a wide range of applications in the maritime field and other industries.”

Founded in 2015, Robot++ focuses on the independent research and development of intelligent specialisd robots, and is the first company in China to realise the industrialisation of aerial work robots.

Through in-depth exploration of ship, chemical, energy and other industries, its products have been successfully applied in inspection, flaw detection, cleaning, de-rusting, spraying and polishing, among others.

-- BERNAMA

Uniphore Accessible In Amazon Web Services Marketplace

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- Uniphore, the conversational artificial intelligence (AI) and automation platform, has announced its availability in Amazon Web Services (AWS) Marketplace, a digital catalogue that customers can use to find, buy, deploy and manage third-party software, data, and services to build solutions and run their businesses.

According to a statement, Uniphore is an AWS Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Partner, and participates in a co-sell programme for AWS Partners that provide software solutions that run on or with AWS.

Uniphore’s comprehensive AI and automation platform helps businesses efficiently resolve customer queries using a combination of self-serve and agent-assist solutions that are fully customisable to the needs of businesses.

“Today, we are delighted to expand and extend our collaboration with AWS. We look forward to making it easy for global AWS customers and partners to access our leading conversational AI and automation platform to improve the way they engage with their customers,” said Uniphore Vice President, Partnerships, Alliances and Ecosystem, Kennedy Pereira.

Meanwhile, AWS Head of Automations Business, Madhu Raman said: “Uniphore’s solutions on AWS Marketplace are now a key part of our Automations on AWS business portfolio and makes it easy for customers to buy and deploy conversational agents which drive reduction in manual hours of effort.

“Cross-industry customers on AWS benefit from this combination of our broad and deep services including a joint pathway to support conversations with rapidly advancing Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and generative AI capabilities.”

Uniphore believes that conversations are an organisation’s most important asset. With X platform as its foundation of AI, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), natural language processing (NLP), knowledge management (KM), and automation, Uniphore offers comprehensive portfolios to address various enterprise needs.

Its U portfolio helps companies in industries like financial services, healthcare, travel & tourism, and telecom to analyse every customer interaction across all channels to reduce friction and improve customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) while saving costs.

Listing in AWS Marketplace allows AWS & Uniphore customers and prospects to easily purchase and manage the right product within the U portfolio from the AWS Marketplace that fits their needs right.

--  BERNAMA

NIPPON EXPRESS (UK) BAGS IATA CERTIFICATION FOR FACILITY IN HEATHROW AIRPORT SUBURBS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express (UK) Ltd (NXUK), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings, Inc, has been awarded IATA CEIV Pharma certification, a quality certificate for pharmaceutical transport established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), for its facility in the suburbs of Heathrow Airport, effective Feb 28.

According to a statement, NXUK was awarded Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification and Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) from the United Kingdom (UK) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in April 2020.

This evidenced its compliance with internationally recognised standards for the proper distribution of pharmaceuticals, and with the acquisition of CEIV Pharma certification, will now be able to provide safer and higher-quality pharmaceutical transportation services using the UK, an important hub for the pharmaceutical industry, as a nodal point

The Nippon Express Group has positioned the pharmaceutical industry as a key industry in its "Nippon Express Group Business Plan 2023 -- Dynamic Growth," and is pursuing the global development of a safe and secure pharmaceutical logistics platform to meet the ever more sophisticated and diverse needs of pharmaceutical logistics.

The group is committed to contributing to the health of people around the world by supporting its customers in the global pharmaceutical industry from a logistics perspective through the establishment of a reliable and safe global pharmaceutical logistics platform.

In addition to major global pharmaceutical companies, the UK is home to numerous small and medium-sized biopharmaceutical companies as well as world-class universities and research institutes, making it a hub for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing.

Demand for vaccines and therapeutics has increased in recent years along with the COVID-19 pandemic, and imports and exports of pharmaceutical products via Heathrow Airport are expected to continue rising in future.

--  BERNAMA

TDCX FILES ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 20-F FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- TDCX Inc (TDCX or the Company) has announced the filing of its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended Dec 31, 2022 with the United States (US) Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).

According to TDCX in a statement, shareholders, owners and holders of the Company’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) may request a hard copy of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge.

Singapore-headquartered TDCX is an award-winning digital customer experience (CX) solutions provider for technology and blue-chip companies.

The company provides transformative digital CX solutions, enabling world-leading and disruptive brands to acquire new customers, to build customer loyalty and to protect their online communities.

The annual report on Form 20-F can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at investors.tdcx.com or on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

-- BERNAMA

Sanrio Inks Sponsorship Agreements With Famed Skateboarders Momiji Nishiya, Yumeka Oda

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) – Tokyo-headquartered Sanrio Company, Ltd (Sanrio) announced it has signed sponsorship agreements with Japanese female skateboarders Momiji Nishiya and Yumeka Oda, effective April 21.

According to Sanrio in a statement, through these agreements, the company hopes to support young athletes in their challenges and strengthen its corporate brand in North America and other global markets.

As part of the agreements, both athletes will use decks with Hello Kitty and Sanrio logo stickers to compete in various tournaments and competitions, starting with one of the world's most prestigious, premiere action sporting events, "X Games Chiba 2023" which will be held from May 12-14 in Chiba, Japan.

Nishiya was born on Aug 30, 2007, in Osaka, Japan and is the first gold medallist in the TOKYO 2020 Skateboard Women's Street event. At the same time, she became the youngest Japanese skater ever to win a gold medal at the age of 13 years, 10 months.

She started skateboarding at the age of six, influenced by her older brother, and within seven years of starting to compete, she joined the ranks of the world's top-class skaters.

With the motto of "smile and have fun until the end," she has won the world's most prestigious contests such as X Games and Dew Tour, and is also eager to create video parts on street skating.

Meanwhile, born on Oct 30, 2006, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Oda started skateboarding at the age of seven. In 2022, she represented Japan at the Pro Tour organised by World Skate.

She also won in Street League Skateboarding, the most prestigious competition in the world, and scored 9.4, which is the highest score for a single trick in women's history and the first time in women's skating history to score in the nine-point range.

The disappointment of missing out on TOKYO 2020 has propelled her to be one of the leading candidates of the next generation who are expected to achieve great things at the next Games.

--  BERNAMA

DENMARK TOPS 2ND ANNUAL WORLD CITIZENSHIP REPORT, GLOBAL ‘POWERHOUSES’ LOSE LUSTRE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- Denmark, Switzerland and Finland took the top three spots in the 2023 World Citizenship Report, published by CS Global Partners, the world's leading government and investment migration advisory firm.

According to a statement, this year, Denmark scored the highest points, knocking Switzerland out of the top spot. Switzerland came in second and Finland retained the third spot for a second year in a row.  

Notably, global superpowers such as the United States and China did not rank in the top 10, symbolising a significant shift in what these economic giants can tangibly offer the global elite.

High-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) and mass affluent citizens are searching for a better quality of life, security and financial freedoms, all aspects which have been on shaky ground since the pandemic.

The surveyed cohort chose ‘Quality of Life’ as the most important feature of citizenship, which ranked first across the World Citizenship Index’s five pillars, eclipsing both Physical Safety and Financial Freedom.

The report found that a competitive economy, public services, and environmental sustainability are the three areas mass affluent individuals feel most let down by their governments.​

“This year, we looked beyond HNWIs and extended our survey to the new mass affluent, a globally mobile generation who is providing fresh impetus for a renewed drive towards global citizenship.

“As the world continues to change at an exponential rate, bringing with it new crises and opportunities, individuals across the globe are increasingly calling their own citizenships into question in terms of the safety, freedoms and the prosperity they provide,” said CS Global Partners Chief Executive Officer, Micha Emmett.

The World Citizenship Report ranks 188 countries across five key motivators defining citizenship for the global citizen showcasing the World Citizenship Index (WCI), an innovative tool that takes a holistic approach to rank the world’s citizenships across multiple dimensions including the motivators of Safety and Security, Quality of Life, Economic Opportunity, Global Mobility and Financial Freedom.

Unlike other rating tools, the WCI ranking is designed to reflect a citizenship’s value through the lens of HNWIs and the newest generation of global citizens: the mass affluent population.

The WCI’s unique methodology relies on the experience gained through CS Global Partners unparalleled work in the citizenship solutions industry, as well as comprehensive research to evaluate 188 jurisdictions across the five motivators of citizenship out of a maximum attainable score of 100 points.

--  BERNAMA

SINGAPORE-HEADQUARTERED ACTYV.AI DECLARES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH KGISL

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- Singapore-headquartered actyv.ai, a category creator in the enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) with embedded business-to-business (B2B) Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and insurance space, has announced a global partnership with KGiSL, a BFSI-centric multiproduct Enterprise Software company.

In a statement, actyv.ai Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Raghunath Subramanian said: “KGiSL is recognised for its range of BFSI-centric products, its quality consulting, implementation competence and customer success.

“As actyv.ai expands its operations in MENA, APAC and India, KGiSL will enable actyv.ai to scale its operations by orchestrating interactions with Enterprise and BFSI ecosystems. Together, we can positively impact enterprises to drive unprecedented growth and efficiency.”

On the partnership, KGiSL CEO, Prassadh Shanmugam said: “Our expertise in enterprise software products for the BFSI industry will aid in creating pathbreaking use cases for actyv.ai.

“Together, we will drive synergies with our combined bouquet of products and focus on digitally transforming the global supply chain ecosystem, in India and around the globe.

“Our consultative approach will result in sustained outcomes for our customers and their partners through the agile actyv.ai platform.”

-- BERNAMA

HONG KONG POP CULTURE FESTIVAL

Experience the Charisma of Hong Kong's Unique Pop Culture With Legendary Icons

HONG KONG, April 25 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Hong Kong has one of the most influential pop cultures among Asian cities, especially its pervasive Cantopop and movies from the 1980s to the 1990s, which gave birth to a lot of superstars who were well-known internationally. The timeless influence of those masterpieces can still be found in the pop culture of Hong Kong and even the rest of Asia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230424005383/en/

 

The first-ever “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival” kicks off in April, with over 20 exciting events scheduled throughout the year. An array of experiences await visitors to relive the golden age of Hong Kong superstars, including Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, who reigned in the music and movie industries.

Some pop culture classics will be reinterpreted with unconventional modern elements, including makeovers of some one-of-a-kind melodies with new components, like jazz and a cappella. With fresh presentations of Hong Kong classics, these events pay tribute to the legendary trendsetters who have assiduously contributed to the local pop culture.

Here are four recommended experiences for visitors to savour and reminisce about the old days, paying tribute to the legends.

Passing on the Legend with a Brand New Interpretation

Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Leslie Cheung (“Gor-gor”) this year, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has organised an exhibition, with Cheung’s close friends Florence Chan, William Chang and Wing Shya as guest curators. Featuring his stage costumes, vinyl records, music and film work, awards and personal collections, the exhibition presents Cheung’s legendary achievements in music and film, as well as his influence on popular culture.

Movie Tram – Tales Told by Cinematic Storytellers

Movie Tram

** Tickets available online for registration

A quintessential Hong Kong symbol on the move, the tram is a vessel of the city’s unique scenery and memories, making it an ideal backdrop for a lot of Hong Kong movies. The Festival will present “Movie Tram” tours, in which the participants will take a walking tour around film locations in Central & Western District before hopping onto a tram, where famous filmmakers, including Stanley Kwan and Kearen Pang, will share behind-the-scenes stories and inspirations for cinematic creativity, uncovering the gems of the city’s moving pictures.

In the Mood for Qipao – A Showcase of the Flourishing Era of Hong Kong Cinema

Cinderella and Her Qipao Exhibition

The qipao (cheongsam) is a fashion symbol of Chinese culture, as well as a key styling element for female leads in a lot of Hong Kong movies. This exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive, with over 30 qipaos from a selection of films spanning different eras will be on display, recreating the cultural landscapes of the past with pieces worn by iconic actresses such as Maggie Cheung and Brigitte Lin.

Out of Thin Air: Hong Kong Film Arts & Costumes Exhibition

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum and Hong Kong Film Arts Association will jointly present the exhibition. Through the display of iconic costumes, props, sets, paraphernalia and workshop scenes, the exhibition will take visitors behind the scenes to explore the nature of Hong Kong’s film culture, as well as the highly adaptable professionalism and creative inclusiveness of film industry workers.

More riveting activities will debut soon. Make these experiences part of your itinerary and embark on a distinctive pop culture journey in the footsteps of legendary Hong Kong superstars.

For more information about the “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival”, please visit https://www.pcf.gov.hk/en/.

Images can be accessed via: https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=1080&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1
 
http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=45947

NIPPON EXPRESS GROUP'S MD LOGISTICS LAUNCHES PHARMACEUTICAL WAREHOUSE IN NORTH CAROLINA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- MD Logistics, LLC (MD), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings, Inc recently held an opening ceremony for the Garner 2000 Pharmaceutical Logistics Center, a dedicated pharmaceutical warehouse established in Garner, North Carolina in January.

North Carolina is a key hub for the pharmaceutical industry in the United States (US), with numerous major pharmaceutical manufacturers and life science companies having expanded into the state, as well as home to many research institutes and universities that have amassed significant medical knowledge and technologies.

The Nippon Express Group has positioned the pharmaceutical industry as a key industry in its "Nippon Express Group Business Plan 2023 -- Dynamic Growth," and is pursuing the global development of a safe and secure pharmaceutical logistics platform to meet increasingly sophisticated and diverse pharmaceutical logistics needs.

According to a statement, MD has four warehouses in Indiana and one in Nevada, and has located its sixth US warehouse in North Carolina, where pharmaceutical logistics needs are high and expected to grow further.

The group will continue supporting customers in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide by building a reliable and secure global pharmaceutical logistics platform, aiming to contribute to the health of people around the world.

--  BERNAMA

WHAT'S BREWING: JAPAN STARBUCKS THIRD GLOBAL MARKET TO INTRODUCE OLEATO BEVERAGES

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- Starbucks has launched an innovative line of coffee beverages called “Oleato”, an alchemy of Starbucks finest arabica coffee infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil at more than 60 select stores across Japan including Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, on April 20.

Following the February debut of Oleato beverages in Italy and March launch at the Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Chicago, Seattle and New York, and select stores in the United States (US), Starbucks third global launch market for the beverage line will be in Japan, where Starbucks began its journey as a global brand outside North America more than 26 years ago.

“As we introduce this new coffee innovation to Japan, my time here this week in Tokyo reminds me of the enduring and global relevancy of community, connection, and passion for both coffee and craft.

“We are thrilled to introduce to the Japanese market the next revolution in coffee that brings together an alchemy of nature’s finest ingredients – Starbucks arabica coffee beans and Partanna cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Oleato has opened our eyes to fresh new possibilities for Starbucks,” said Starbucks Coffee Company chairman emeritus and board member, Howard Schultz.

Meanwhile, Starbucks Japan chief executive officer, Takafumi Minaguchi said: “Our customers are eager to explore new ways to enjoy their Starbucks Experience. We believe that this transformational innovation of two unexpected ingredients will exceed their expectations and uplift their cup with an extraordinary new flavour.”

In a statement, Starbucks said the Oleato beverages available at Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo and select Starbucks Reserve stores are Starbucks Reserve Oleato Golden Cream Iced Espresso; Starbucks Reserve Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew; and Starbucks Reserve Oleato Oat Milk Latte.

At the same time, Oleato beverages available at select stores across Japan are Starbucks Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew and Starbucks Oleato Oat Milk Latte.

Since opening its first store in Ginza in 1996, Starbucks has opened more than 1,800 stores in Japan, operated by more than 51,000 partners who proudly wear the green apron.

Starbucks continues to provide a premium Starbucks Experience to customers across Japan, with locally-relevant beverages like matcha and tea beverages, as well as innovations like seasonal Frappuccino blended beverages.

In 2019, Starbucks opened the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, a fully-immersive tribute to premium coffee quality, innovation and human connection, where extraordinary new coffee experience comes to life for customers every day.

-- BERNAMA

BEAR ROBOTICS INVESTMENT IN M2MTECH TO EXTEND FAMED ELEVATOR DELIVERY ROBOT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- Bear Robotics, a Silicon Valley-based innovator of indoor service robots, announced a strategic investment to fund its Korea-based partner, M2MTech, which specialises in Internet of Things (IoT) convergence for smart remote and predictive systems with elevators.

This investment comes as Bear Robotics now extends their world-renowned Servi robot line with a fully integrated elevator delivery robot, Servi Lift, which is capable of completing last-mile deliveries inside of multi-story buildings such as hotels, hospitals, corporate campuses, as well as other high-rise commercial and residential real estate properties.

In a statement, Bear Robotics co-founder and chief executive officer, John Ha said, the firm believes this investment will truly maximise facility efficiencies and minimise user inconvenience.

“The ELSA convergence platform developed by M2MTech provides strong security, interoperability and connectivity advantages that will set the stage for us to scale our last-mile mobility solutions,” Ha added.

Meanwhile, its co-founder and chief operating officer, Juan Higueros said: “With the global IoT elevator market forecasted to grow to US$64 billion by 2030, it was imperative for us to invest into our close partnership with M2MTech, and to realise the synergies we believe will advance our last-mile aspirations.

“We are confident that this collaborative approach will generate more efficient operations for many of our existing customers and open a broad array of new opportunities that will place Bear Robotics in a position to be the world’s leading multi-story robot delivery solutions provider.”

In engineering Servi Lift, Bear Robotics sought interoperability as its absolute competitive advantage to be applied with major players in the smart elevator market such as OTIS, TKE, Mitsubishi, KONE, Hyundai and Schindler.

With the expansion of urbanisation, the tech pioneer is bullish on the “smart city” shift to robot-friendly buildings, enhanced access security, and the penetration of smart elevators in smart buildings with strong linkages between systems.

Servi Lift will undergo 100 trials in 2023 and broader rollouts lined up across the world in 2024.

--  BERNAMA

GENETICISTS UNVEIL MAIDEN WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING TEST IN EMBRYOS AT PARIS CONFERENCE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- Dr Santiago Munné, a pioneer in preimplantation genetic diagnosis, presented the first whole genome sequencing test in embryos before delegates at the 20th Conference of the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society (PGDIS), held in Paris.

In his plenary address attended by over 300 experts, Dr Munné, an internationally recognised trailblazer in reproductive genetics, presented validation data for GenomeScreen, the test developed by the research team he leads at the biotechnology firm GenEmbryomics.

GenomeScreen is a revolutionary new whole genome sequencing test for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) embryos that has been described as "the most complete genetic test in IVF" by authorities at the PGDIS forum.

The test provides highly precise information on the genome sequence of the embryo and the genetic parents, offering families key preimplantation insights on embryo health and reproductive prognosis that can inform their decisions.

Furthermore, this information will be invaluable to individuals born from IVF, as it will provide input on nutrigenomics or guidance on which medicines are most genetically suited to the patient.

“When we first started our research on embryo sequencing, our goal was to create a powerful, comprehensive tool that could equip fertility physicians with exhaustive data for precision screening.

“Now that we have this tool and use it with 99 per cent reliability, we are aware that this diagnosis not only provides information, but also substantially enhances the success of reproductive medicine,” said GenEmbryomics founder, Dr Nick Murphy in a statement.

Dr Munné, whose career as a leader in reproductive genetics spans over 20 years, has made enormous contributions to embryo selection and IVF treatment. With this test, he and his team of researchers solidify the role of genetic testing within reproductive medicine, increasing treatment success.

Founded by Dr Murphy in 2019, GenEmbryomics is a cutting-edge biotech company specialising in the genomic analysis of embryos to determine the most viable candidates for IVF implantation.

--  BERNAMA

PAID COMPETITIVE GAMING GROWING 6X FASTER THAN OVERALL GAMING MARKET

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- The Paid Competitive Gaming (PCG) market is expected to reach US$16 billion by 2024, according to a new report titled "Global Paid Competitive Gaming Report 2023". (US$1=RM4.42)

With a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.9 per cent from 2021 to 2024, this new gaming segment is growing six times faster than the overall global mobile games market, which is forecast to reach US$223 billion by 2024 at a 4.9 per cent CAGR.

The gaming industry has undergone a paradigm shift since the introduction of the pay-to-play model in the 1970s and the subsequent free-to-play model in the 2000s. Currently, there are four distinct ways to monetise games: Subscription Services, Rewarded Ads, Play & Earn and PCG.

“This shift highlights that publishers are embracing new and innovative models, while players are expecting new and inventive forms of interaction with their favourite games,” says Newzoo Head of Consulting, Tony Habschmidt.

According to a statement, PCG represents a novel competitive experience for everyday gamers, offering them myriad of opportunities to compete in low to high stakes skill-based games against other players worldwide, beyond traditional games.

Real money prize pools allow players to monetise their gaming abilities, and effective skill-matching ensures a fair and competitive playing field for all participants.

Mobile is gaming’s biggest, fastest-growing segment, by player numbers and revenues. In 2021, the industry saw 2.8 billion mobile gamers contributing over 50 per cent of the global gaming revenue and is forecasted to grow to US$113.0 billion by 2024 with 3.1 billion players.

PC gaming had 1.4 billion players in 2021, expected to rise to 1.5 billion by 2024, and console gaming had 871 million players in 2021, projected to increase to 943 million in 2024.

The report also revealed that the United States (US), India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Germany are forecast to be the top markets for PCG with the US, currently the largest gaming market in the world, is also leading the way in PCG, with an estimated value of US$3 billion in 2021.

A collaborative effort between Mobile Premier League (MPL), mobile eSports and digital gaming platform and Newzoo, leader in video game and gamer data, the report is based on a consulting analysis by Newzoo and a customised research conducted by the company in 2022 on 24,562 respondents across 12 of the largest gaming markets.

-- BERNAMA

FPT Business Directions Highlighting Strategy To Create A Happier Future

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- FPT Corporation (FPT) a globally leading technology and information technology (IT) services provider has announced its business directions for this year onwards at the 2023 Annual General Meeting, highlighting a strategy to build a happier future via technological innovations.

The strategy, titled Digital Conglomerate 5.0, aims at creating a happier future for people, success for organisations and prosperity for the nation, according to FPT in a statement.

To achieve this ambition, FPT plans to have a workforce of one million by 2035, dedicated to accelerating its domestic and global digital transformation efforts and utilising in-depth knowledge and insights across different industries and geographical markets.

The best, most true-to-life products, services and experiences will be delivered via a digital conglomerate backed by artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions and integrated, interconnected data across the FPT ecosystem and network of partners.

Its Chairman Truong Gia Binh said at the 35th year of development, FPT will seize the unprecedented opportunity to be the pioneer in the global scene of digital transformation.

“Digital transformation used to focus on automating enterprise operations. Now, we are taking it to the next level by optimising the entire ecosystem and automating touchpoints between citizens, authorities and businesses. FPT will lead the way in building a happier future for millions of end customers,” he added.

Despite the anticipated slowing growth of the global economy, FPT also announced its prospect increase of 18.8 per cent in revenue and 18.2 per cent in profit before tax in 2023 as it supports a larger and more diverse client base worldwide, in which its subsidiary, FPT Software, contributes greatly to this sustainable growth.

With strengths in speed and scalability, FPT Software is accelerating its growth as one of the world’s contenders in digital transformation, as well as creating more values for customers and partners worldwide.

Following this direction, the company has been investing in developing new products, platforms and solutions based on core technologies such as AI, Blockchain, Cloud, Big Data, Hyperautomation and Internet of Things (IoT), among others, while expanding its global presence.

-- BERNAMA

AUTEL ENERGY ROLLS OUT EV CHARGING STATIONS IN SINGAPORE, AIMS SOUTHEAST ASIA EXPANSION

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Autel Energy, an electric vehicle (EV) charging products and services provider, announced it is rolling out EV charging stations in Singapore.

Currently, the stations in Hup Hin, the National University of Singapore and Gain City at Sungei Kadut Drive have completed installation, while the station in Gain City at Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 will be unveiled soon.

“Our charging stations offer faster and more efficient charging for EV drivers while supporting APP, RFID Card, Credit Card, Mobile Payment. We look forward to further expanding our EV charging solutions in Singapore and beyond,” said director of Autel APAC and Australia of Autel Energy, Henry He.

In a statement, Autel Energy said the stations which featured its MaxiCharger DC Fast technology, will offer a faster and more efficient charging experience to Singaporean EV drivers.

Autel’s 60-240 kilowatt (kW) MaxiCharger DC Fast series can provide up to 265 kilometre (km) of range in just 10 minutes with a maximum 400A output current and charging speed can be improved by up to 30 per cent  with the boost mode.

The MaxiCharger DC Fast series also features a smart advertising and communication screen that can provide additional revenue streams for businesses, while also offering charging-related information such as State of Charge (SOC), cost and kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Meanwhile, Autel’s charging solutions are highly reliable and compatible with all vehicles of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, and the company has been testing and evaluating new vehicles for interoperability to ensure a higher success rate for charging.

With the installation of its charging stations in Singapore, Autel Energy is helping to accelerate the adoption of EVs and reduce the carbon footprint of transportation.

Aiming to roll out more EV charging stations including in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as expanding its charging infrastructure across Southeast Asia, Autel Energy is committed to making EV charging more accessible and convenient for drivers while contributing to a more sustainable future.

-- BERNAMA

HONG KONG’S TUGU INSURANCE CREDIT RATINGS AFFIRMED - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” (Good) of Hong Kong’s Tugu Insurance Company Limited (TIC).

In a statement, AM Best said the outlook of these Credit Ratings (rating) is stable, reflecting TIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assessed as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM).

TIC’s strong balance sheet assessment is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

The company’s capital and surplus has been volatile over the past five years, due to the combined effect of unsteady operating results and revaluation gains or losses arising from its concentrated investment properties.

AM Best viewed TIC’s operating performance as marginal in which the company has reported solid premium growth since 2021; nonetheless, it continued to record an elevated level of expense ratio due to its small premium base.

The company’s investment return has been relatively stable, supported by a stream of rental income from its investment properties, coupled with dividends from listed bonds and common shares, as well as interest income from cash and deposits.

Annual revaluation of investment properties, on the other hand, adds uncertainty to TIC’s net profits or losses, with AM Best expecting TIC’s overall profitability to remain thin over the short to medium term.

United States-headquartered AM Best assessed TIC’s business profile as limited. The company remains a small player in Hong Kong’s highly competitive and fragmented general insurance market.

The rating agency also viewed TIC’s ERM as marginal with underwriting, strategic planning and reserving activities have historically been areas in which the company’s risk management capabilities do not match its profile.

-- BERNAMA

GFO-X, LCH SA OFFER TRADING, CLEARING OF BITCOIN INDEX FUTURES AND OPTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Global Futures and Options Ltd (GFO-X), the institutional-grade trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives, announced a strategic partnership with London Stock Exchange Group’s LCH SA, to launch the first centrally cleared trading venue for digital asset derivatives in the United Kingdom (UK).

According to the UK FCA authorised and regulated GFO-X in a statement, the company will offer trading in cash-settled bitcoin (BTC) index futures and options.

GFO-X Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Arnab Sen said: “Recent market events in the trading of digital assets have highlighted the need for a safe, regulated venue where large financial institutions can trade at scale, while keeping their clients’ assets protected.

“As the UK’s first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue focused entirely on digital asset futures and options, our joint vision is to ensure digital asset derivatives’ trading and clearing requirements and growing demand can be met within a secure, highly regulated environment.”

Meanwhile, Head of LCH DigitalAssetClear, Frank Soussan said offering centralised clearing for these cash-settled dollar-denominated crypto derivatives contracts on GFO-X is an important development for the market.

“The service is a powerful combination of GFO-X’s high-performance technology and optimised contract specifications with LCH’s proven risk management capabilities,” he said.

GFO-X in partnership with LCH SA will offer clearing on cash settled digital asset index derivatives, adding much needed trust to the digital asset derivative ecosystem.

It is taking the first steps to extracting efficiencies from new technologies within a traditional market structure, with the goal over time of delivering 24/7 trading to global regulated digital asset markets.

Both companies have been working with an advisory working group comprising the world’s leading investment banks, trading firms and liquidity providers to optimise product design and risk methodologies.

-- BERNAMA

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR FUTURE DIGITAL AWARDS FOR SMART CITIES & IOT INNOVATION 2023 - JUNIPER RESEARCH

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- Juniper Research announced that entries are now open for the Future Digital Awards for Smart Cities & IoT Innovation 2023.

According to a statement, entries close on May 19, before being assessed by Juniper Research’s expert panel of analysts, and the awards will be announced on June 21.

Since 2008, the Future Digital Awards have been awarded to tech companies at the forefront of their respective fields: companies that deliver imaginative and innovative products or services that have the potential to disrupt their ecosystems and provide significant benefits to their target audience.

These awards aim to reward the most innovative vendors and solutions in the rapidly evolving smart cities & Internet of Things (IoT) markets, as a renewed focus on sustainability drives further developments in this dynamic industry.

The categories included for IoT Innovation are Best IoT Security Platform (Platinum & Gold); Most Innovative Edge Computing Solution (Platinum & Gold); Best IoT Device Management Platform (Platinum & Gold); and Smart Agriculture Solution Innovation (Platinum & Gold).

Meanwhile, for Sustainability & Smart City Innovation, categories include Best Smart Traffic Management Solution (Platinum & Gold); Best Smart Parking Solution (Platinum & Gold); Innovation in Smart Urban Lighting (Platinum & Gold); and Urban Smart Grid Innovation (Platinum & Gold).

While the rest of the awards focus on products and solutions, the Judges’ Choice awards focus on the organisations driving true innovation in global smart city deployment.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector; providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

-- BERNAMA

CHITOSE GROUP OBTAINS FUNDING FROM JAPANESE GOVERNMENT-AFFILIATED NEDO FOR GREEN INNOVATION FUND OF USD400M RANGE

KAWASAKI, Japan and SINGAPORE, Apr. 12, 2023 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/ --

Chitose Laboratory Corp., the core company of the CHITOSE Group (hereinafter "CHITOSE"), has won funding from a Japanese government-affiliated entity for a project on the self-proposed theme of "Building a global industry originating in Japan based on the direct use of CO2 through photosynthesis" for the "Green Innovation Fund Project (hereinafter "GI Fund"): Promotion of Carbon Recycling Using CO2 from Biomanufacturing Technology as a Direct Raw Material." CHITOSE has been selected as a prospective implementing agency for this theme by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (hereinafter "NEDO"). The total project cost is approximately USD400 million, and the implementation period is scheduled from FY2023 to FY2030.   Project partners' logos: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107621/202304054622/_prw_PI1fl_MS4l1pKj.jpg     CHITOSE is collaborating with other companies/organizations in various positions and industries through the "MATSURI" (meaning "festival" in Japanese) project to build a new algae-based industry to replace the petroleum-based industry. CHITOSE is working on the development of bio-products, the construction of the world's largest 5-hectare microalgae production facility and the demonstration of long-term large-scale production in Malaysia (*).   Under the GI Fund project theme, for which CHITOSE has been selected as a prospective implementing agency, it will develop the algae production technology on a 100 ha production scale with a focus on both economic rationality and environmental sustainability, and on the development of a wide range of applications such as chemical products, toiletry, fuels, feeds and foods using microalgal biomass produced directly from CO2 as a raw material. Through these business activities, CHITOSE will promote the establishment of a global algae-based industry originating from Japan, and contribute to the realization of zero carbon emission by 2050 as advocated by the Japanese government.   This project will be implemented with 34 partner companies of the MATSURI project operated by CHITOSE, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Hiroshima University, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagoya University, and Institute of Microalgal Technology, Japan (IMAT). In addition, CHITOSE will start raising private funds in order to accelerate this project through the GI Fund.   MATSURI partners' enthusiasm and expectations for this project https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202304054622-O1-SkgkNm4n.pdf   About the commissioned and subsidized project which has been adopted - Business/project name: Green Innovation Fund Project (GI Fund): Promotion of Carbon Recycling Using CO2 from Biomanufacturing Technology as a Direct Raw Material   - Adopted theme: Building a global industry originating in Japan based on the direct use of CO2 through photosynthesis   - Theme overview: Using microalgae, with sunlight as an energy source and CO2 as a direct feedstock, the commercial production of chemicals such as bioplastics and functional materials, fuels, foods and feeds, with the aim of realizing zero carbon emission by 2050.   - NEDO disclosure of information on this matter Details of the public call: https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/EF2_100190.html (Japanese) Adoption announcement: https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/EF3_100190.html (Japanese) Press release on the adoption: https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101619.html (Japanese)   * Commissioned by NEDO to Chitose Laboratory Corp. since 2020 - Press release on adoption: https://chitose-bio.com/jp/news/3514/ (Japanese) - Press release on the start of operation: https://chitose-bio.com/jp/news/5124/ (Japanese)   About MATSURI The MATSURI project aims towards the establishment of an advanced microalgae-based industry. CHITOSE has considerable expertise in large-scale microalgae production technologies, and is leading the MATSURI project collaborating with Japanese progressive enterprises. As what MATSURI means in Japanese, CHITOSE keeps leading a festival to develop a sustainable society.   Image: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107621/202304054622/_prw_PI2fl_oI14u9jJ.jpg     Video: A story with a heart for the future, the MATSURI project for building the "algae industry": The world's largest microalgae production facility will accelerate from here. https://matsuri.chitose-bio.com/pages/gallery   Website: https://matsuri-partners.chitose-bio.com/en   About CHITOSE Group CHITOSE Group is a family of biotechnology companies leading the global bioeconomy. To live in abundance beyond the next millennium using the ability of living things, CHITOSE pursues the possibilities of biotechnology through technological and business development collaborating with its business partners all over the world.   Website: https://chitose-bio.com/   About CHITOSE BIO EVOLUTION PTE. LTD. (head office that oversees entire Group) Established in October, 2011 Head Office located in Singapore CEO: Tomohiro FUJITA, Ph. D.   About Chitose Laboratory Corp. (responsible for the project) Established in November, 2002 Head Office located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan CEO: Tomohiro FUJITA, Ph. D. COO: Rie KUGIMIYA    http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=45870

RECURRING PAYMENTS EXCEED US$15.4 TRILLION IN 2027 - JUNIPER RESEARCH

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- The transaction value of recurring payments will exceed US$15.4 trillion globally in 2027, from US$13.2 trillion in 2023, according to a new study from Juniper Research. (US$1=RM4.41)

This relatively slow growth of 17 per cent reflects that recurring payments are a well-established market, but also disguises a rapid change of payment methods in the space, with Open Banking and digital wallet payments outstripping overall growth.

As merchants struggle to keep their prices as low as possible, offering payment methods with lower processing costs is of critical importance and is driving change, as it is growing consumer enthusiasm for digital payment methods.

As part of the study, Juniper Research released its latest Competitor Leaderboard for 2023 which is underpinned by a robust scoring methodology, ranking the top 20 recurring payment platforms, using criteria such as the completeness of their solutions and their future business prospects.

Juniper Research in a statement said the top three vendors for 2023 are Mollie, Zuora and Recurly.

The research found that the leading players scored well based on their breadth of integrations with different payment options and their tracking and customisable payment plan capabilities.

To stay ahead of the competition, recurring payment platform vendors must develop solutions that support future-looking payment types as they are developed, such as Open Banking and Central Bank Digital Currencies, in order to stay relevant in the fast-moving consumer payments space.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and commentary.

-- BERNAMA

RECURRING PAYMENTS EXCEED US$15.4 TRILLION IN 2027 - JUNIPER RESEARCH

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- The transaction value of recurring payments will exceed US$15.4 trillion globally in 2027, from US$13.2 trillion in 2023, according to a new study from Juniper Research. (US$1=RM4.41)

This relatively slow growth of 17 per cent reflects that recurring payments are a well-established market, but also disguises a rapid change of payment methods in the space, with Open Banking and digital wallet payments outstripping overall growth.

As merchants struggle to keep their prices as low as possible, offering payment methods with lower processing costs is of critical importance and is driving change, as it is growing consumer enthusiasm for digital payment methods.

As part of the study, Juniper Research released its latest Competitor Leaderboard for 2023 which is underpinned by a robust scoring methodology, ranking the top 20 recurring payment platforms, using criteria such as the completeness of their solutions and their future business prospects.

Juniper Research in a statement said the top three vendors for 2023 are Mollie, Zuora and Recurly.

The research found that the leading players scored well based on their breadth of integrations with different payment options and their tracking and customisable payment plan capabilities.

To stay ahead of the competition, recurring payment platform vendors must develop solutions that support future-looking payment types as they are developed, such as Open Banking and Central Bank Digital Currencies, in order to stay relevant in the fast-moving consumer payments space.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and commentary.

-- BERNAMA

[INVNT GROUP], MSM TO FUEL MARKETING POWER OF TALENT, BRANDS ACROSS MOTORSPORTS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- [INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT and MSM, the global talent and motorsport agency announced a strategic business partnership offering best-in-class marketing and commercial solutions for talent, brands, and events across motorsports, entertainment and beyond.

“Our global [INVNT GROUP] team strategically leads brands and organisations towards the next frontiers of engagement and community building, activating impactful campaigns at scale.

“We are excited to explore the boundless possibilities of this partnership, providing access to and opportunities with world-class experiences and brands,” said [INVNT GROUP] President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and INVNT.ATOM CEO, Scott Cullather in a statement.

Led by Cullather, the GROUP represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward thinking brands everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere, including Lamborghini, Samsung, General Motors, Meta, PepsiCo and Rolls Royce, among others.

Meanwhile, MSM Founder and CEO, Enrico Zanarini said: "We are thrilled to partner with [INVNT GROUP] and fuse our expertise in motorsport with their innovative portfolio of disciplines, fuelling our brand storytelling capabilities across strategy, culture, experiential, digital and Web3.

“Combined with the group’s geographic spread across the world, which syncs seamlessly with our key regional markets, this collaboration will undoubtedly strengthen our position as the go-to agency for all things motorsport, and we look forward to delivering even greater value and success for our clients.”

MSM specialises in identifying, nurturing, and supporting partnerships for brands and racing talent, providing lifelong value across every facet of the motorsport industry.

With over 40 years of experience and a proven track record of building standout relationships between brands, drivers, teams and championships at the pinnacle of motorsport, MSM has developed an approach that is tailor-made for clients to unlock their full potential across sponsorship, hospitality and bespoke events.

-- BERNAMA

ACTYV.AI, PWC INDIA PARTNER TO ENHANCE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, EMBEDDED FINANCE ACROSS SUPPLY CHAIN

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- Singapore-headquartered actyv.ai, a category creator in the enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) with embedded finance space announced a strategic partnership with PwC India.

The alliance will focus on leveraging PwC India’s expertise in supply chain transformation and using the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive growth opportunities while providing access to embedded financial and insurance products.

In a statement, actyv.ai Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer, Raghunath Subramanian said PwC is recognised for its high-quality consulting, digital transformation strategy and customer success.

“As part of this strategic partnership, PwC will enable actyv.ai to reach out to enterprises globally to deliver technology solutions, implementation and support,” he said.

Meanwhile, PwC India Partner & Leader – Alliances & Ecosystems, Vivek Belgavi said: “actyv.ai is a great addition to PwC’s expanding alliance ecosystem aimed at transforming global supply chains.

“Our combined value proposition with actyv.ai will help us deliver sustained outcomes for our clients by offering them the most relevant and agile supply chain solutions for their business,” added Belgavi.

actyv.ai is an AI-powered enterprise SaaS platform with embedded business-to-business (B2B) Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and insurance, transforming the global B2B supply chain by making business transactions faster and easier.

-- BERNAMA

ROBOTPLUSPLUS TO UNVEIL INNOVATIVE HYDROBLASTING ROBOT AT SEA ASIA 2023 IN SINGAPORE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- RobotPlusPlus, a prominent provider of robots designed for work-at-height, will showcase its Hydroblasting Robot - the HighMate V40 at Sea Asia, a distinguished maritime and offshore event in Singapore from April 25-27.

The first Chinese company to specialise in the design and manufacture of such robots, RobotPlusPlus’ HighMate V40 is equipped with a wastewater recovery system that can recycle up to 99.99 per cent of the wastewater used during its operations.

The HighMate V40 offers several features including autonomous hydroblasting and automatic lane change, making it a preferred option for surface preparation.

“Our HighMate robots comply with European standards and have successfully passed both the Machinery Directive and Radio Equipment Directive tests. Moreover, TÜV Rheinland has granted us CE certification,” said RobotPlusPlus Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Huanyang Xu in a statement.

RobotPlusPlus’ office in Singapore offers round-the-clock technical consulting and customer service to its clients, showcasing commitment to providing safe, environmentally-friendly and quality robotic solutions for work-at-height.

RobotPlusPlus not only provides robots but also a comprehensive package solution for hydroblasting including UHP pumps, vacuum recovery pumps, filtration units, and other necessary equipment, helping clients decrease costs, increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

With its mission to enhance human capabilities with the help of robots, RobotPlusPlus will continue offering the latest technological advancements in robotic solutions for work-at-height, to clients worldwide.

Founded in 2015, RobotPlusPlus focuses on the independent research and development of intelligent specialised robots, and is the first company in China to realise the industrialisation of aerial work robots.

-- BERNAMA

CELLEBRITE TO RELEASE FIRST-QUARTER 2023 FINANCIAL RESULTS ON MAY 10, 2023

PETAH TIKVA, Israel and TYSONS CORNER, Va., April 12 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellebrite (NASDAQ: CLBT), a global leader in Digital Intelligence (“DI”) solutions for the public and private sectors, today announced it will report its first-quarter 2023 financial results before market open on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Later that same morning, Cellebrite will host a live conference call and webcast to review the Company's financial results for the first quarter of 2023 and discuss its full-year 2023 outlook. Pertinent details include:


Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Time: 8:30 a.m. ET

Call-In Number: 203-518-9814

Conference ID: CLBTQ123

Event URL:
https://investors.cellebrite.com/events/event-details/cellebrite-q1-23-earnings

Live Webcast URL:
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/u58372yq


In conjunction with the conference call and webcast, historical financial tables and supplemental data will be available on the quarterly results section of Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.cellebrite.com/financial-information/quarterly-results. A transcript of the call will be added to this page along with access to the replay of the call.

About Cellebrite
Cellebrite’s (NASDAQ: CLBT) mission is to enable its customers to protect and save lives, accelerate justice, and preserve privacy in communities around the world. We are a global leader in Digital Intelligence solutions for the public and private sectors, empowering organizations in mastering the complexities of legally sanctioned digital investigations by streamlining intelligence processes. Trusted by thousands of leading agencies and companies worldwide, Cellebrite’s Digital Intelligence platform and solutions transform how customers collect, review, analyze and manage data in legally sanctioned investigations. To learn more, visit us at www.cellebrite.com and https://investors.cellebrite.com.

Media
Victor Cooper
Sr. Director of Corporate Communications + Content Operations
Victor.cooper@cellebrite.com
+1 404.804.5910

Investor Relations
Andrew Kramer
investors@cellebrite.com


SOURCE: Cellebrite Inc.

CertiK Analyzes ZenGo’s Secure Wallet To Uncover a Privileged User Vulnerability

 

ZenGo Rapidly Patches Wallet Security Issue After In-Depth Evaluation From CertiK

New York, NY, April 11 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CertiK, the leading blockchain security solutions provider, announces a successful collaboration with the ZenGo Wallet, the popular self-custodial MPC wallet provider, to fortify the security of its wallet application against privileged user attacks. The joint effort demonstrates CertiK's commitment to conducting proactive in-house research and collaborating with external parties to raise the standard of security and transparency across the Web3 world.

CertiK's SkyFall team conducted a comprehensive evaluation of ZenGo's security design and implementation, focusing on the wallet's ability to protect against advanced threats, such as advanced malware and rooted devices. Despite ZenGo's robust security features, including its two-party signature scheme, TEE-based device protection, and biometric-enforced user sign-up and recovery, CertiK identified an inappropriate protected cryptographic management API issue that could be exploited in certain scenarios.

ZenGo responded quickly to CertiK's findings, deploying a patch to fix the identified issue. CertiK's thorough review of the patch confirmed its effectiveness, significantly bolstering the wallet's security against privileged user attacks and rendering it more secure than traditional wallets which are still vulnerable to this type of attack. This collaboration demonstrates the importance of proactive security evaluations and the value of working with experienced security firms like CertiK to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

“I’m proud of the work our engineers did to identify and address this security issue in one of the most secure mobile wallets,” said Kang Li, CertiK’s Chief Security Officer. “Even the MPC technology provides a strong defense, the specific implementation details can expose security risks if not designed well. This collaboration with ZenGo highlights the need for comprehensive security evaluations and reinforces CertiK’s commitment to raising the industry standard of security and transparency.”

“It was a pleasure to work closely with the CertiK team in a clear, professional, and proactive manner to quickly fix this issue and jointly publish a report to increase community awareness. CertiK's discovery and ZenGo's fix helped ensure that ZenGo is hardened against privileged attacks that traditional wallets cannot protect against,” said Tal Be'ery, ZenGo's CTO and co-founder.

This partnership between CertiK and ZenGo showcases the shared commitment of both companies to create a more secure and transparent ecosystem for the rapidly expanding Web3 world. Builders, founders, and users can take confidence in the knowledge that CertiK's comprehensive security suite and proactive research are raising the bar for security standards across the entire industry.

To learn more about CertiK’s suite of security solutions for Web3, visit certik.com and follow along on Twitter at @CertiK and @CertiKCommunity. To learn more about the ZenGo wallet, follow @ZenGo on Twitter and visit ZenGo.com.

About CertiK

CertiK is a pioneer in blockchain security, leveraging best-in-class AI technology and expert manual review to protect and monitor blockchain protocols and smart contracts. Founded in 2018 by professors from Yale University and Columbia University, CertiK secures the Web3 world, by applying cutting-edge innovations from academia to enterprise, enabling mission-critical applications to scale with safety and correctness. CertiK has audited more than 3,900 Web3 projects and secured hundreds of billions of dollars of market capitalization.

Alnura Belyalova

Director of PR, Luna PR

alnura@lunapr.io

SOURCE : Luna PR