DACTA, HEIMDAL TEAM UP TO EXPAND APAC'S ADVANCED CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS

 
KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- A cybersecurity solutions provider, DACTA and Heimdal have forged a strategic partnership, aimed at bringing Heimdal's advanced cybersecurity solutions to the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

According to a statement, this collaboration represents a key initiative in DACTA's plans to expand its presence and offerings in APAC, while exploring potential business expansion opportunities for both companies.

“Our collaboration with Heimdal marks a strategic step towards enhancing cybersecurity resilience in the APAC region.

“We are excited to bring Heimdal's world-class solutions to our markets and look forward to exploring further avenues for innovation and growth together,” said DACTA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Benjamin Xie.

Meanwhile, Heimdal CEO, Morten Kjaersgaard said this partnership represents an important opportunity for the company to expand its global footprint and is confident that DACTA's expertise in the APAC market will be instrumental in bringing its advanced cybersecurity solutions to a wider audience.

This alliance will leverage DACTA's established network and market insights in the APAC region to introduce Heimdal's state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions, with the primary goal to address the growing demand for robust digital protection in one of the fastest-growing markets for cybersecurity services.

By bringing Heimdal's solutions to APAC, DACTA aims to offer a new level of security effectiveness and operational efficiency to businesses and government agencies in the region, which aligns with the rising need for advanced cybersecurity measures in the face of evolving digital threats.

The partnership extends beyond the immediate distribution of solutions with both companies committed to exploring further business expansion opportunities, potentially leading to the development of new market strategies and collaborations in cybersecurity innovation.

Furthermore, this strategic alliance is set to make a significant impact in the APAC cybersecurity landscape, demonstrating both DACTA's and Heimdal's commitment to providing top-tier digital protection and exploring new frontiers in cybersecurity.

-- BERNAMA

NEW ZEALAND’S TOWER CREDIT RATINGS AFFIRMED EXCELLENT - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed New Zealand’s Tower Limited (Tower) financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent).

In a statement, AM Best said these credit ratings (ratings) which have a stable outlook, reflected Tower’s balance sheet strength, was assessed as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Tower’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was at the very strong level at fiscal year ending September 2023, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

AM Best expects Tower’s risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at least at the very strong level over the medium term. Despite a reduction in fiscal year (FY) 2023, the company’s regulatory solvency margin is expected to grow over the medium term under the Interim Solvency Standard, supported by internal retention of earnings.

Tower’s operating performance is assessed as adequate, demonstrated by a five-year weighted average return-on-equity (ROE) ratio of 4.2 per cent (FY 2019-2023), in which operating earnings were driven largely by technical performance coupled with modest investment income.

However, the company reported a 0.4 per cent decrease in ROE ratio and a net combined ratio of 103.2 per cent in FY2023, mainly due to two large weather events, the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.

The company’s expense ratio, which stood at approximately 29 per cent in FY2023, is expected to decrease over the medium term as the company grows its premium base and improves efficiency through information technology (IT) transformation.

AM Best expects Tower to report positive underwriting and operating results over the medium term, supported by appropriate risk selection, pricing and positive investment returns.

A medium-size non-life insurer that operates predominantly in New Zealand, with some operations in the Pacific Islands, Tower’s core product offerings are domestic home and motor insurance, typically distributed through direct channels and partnerships.

-- BERNAMA

ACCACIA RAISES US$6.5 MLN PRE-A FUNDING TO EXPAND DECARBONISATION OPERATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Accacia has closed a US$6.5 million pre-Series A round led by Illuminate Financial, a specialist venture capital (VC) firm focused on enterprise fintech companies building solutions for the financial services industry. (US$1=RM4.77)

In a statement, Accacia said Southeast Asia based AC Ventures also participated in this round, alongside continued support from early backers Accel and B Capital.

“This funding comes at a crucial juncture as the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) have announced regulations on carbon emissions’ reporting, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and real-time climate risk data.

“We have already deployed our solution to over 25 metre square feet of real estate and are poised to leverage this opportunity and scale globally,” said Accacia Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Annu Talreja.

Meanwhile, Illuminate Financial Partner, Rezso Szabo said: “Measuring and managing climate risks has become imperative for large financial institutions especially on real estate which is one of the most significant and most affected asset classes in their portfolio.

“With Annu’s background and industry experience in real estate, we felt Acacia is the right fit to take on a leading position in the global real estate decarbonisation market and are pleased to partner with the Accacia team.”

Real estate and construction activity contribute to about 40 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The sector lacks robust tools to measure climate risks and define decarbonisation pathways.

Accacia’s tech platform integrates with existing Property Management, Energy Management and Procurement systems to automate real-time data capturing and tracking, making it the quickest and most affordable solution for real estate companies on their path to net zero.

Founded in 2022 by INSEAD alumni Talreja along co-founders Piyush Chitkara and Jagmohan Garg, Accacia offers an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that helps real estate asset managers, owners and developers track their emissions, and design their decarbonisation journey.

-- BERNAMA

EIG'S MIDOCEAN ENERGY COMPLETES STAKE PURCHASE IN PERU LNG

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- MidOcean Energy (MidOcean), a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company formed and managed by EIG, announced the completion of its previously announced agreement to acquire SK earthon’s (SK) 20 per cent interest in Peru LNG (PLNG), owner and operator of the first LNG export facility in South America.

MidOcean Energy Chief Executive Officer, De la Rey Venter in a statement said: “The completion of this investment is an important milestone in our efforts to create a global, diversified and resilient portfolio of LNG assets. As the only LNG export facility in South America, PLNG is uniquely positioned in the global marketplace.

“PLNG also plays an important role in providing gas and LNG to customers in Peru. We look forward to a strong partnership with the PLNG co-venturers and our work towards sustaining PLNG’s positive impact for many years to come.”

PLNG, operated by Hunt Oil Company, is one of only two LNG production facilities in Latin America, located in Pampa Melchorita, 170 kilometre south of Lima.

The completion of this transaction follows MidOcean’s recent announcement of a strategic investment by Mitsubishi Corporation and the completion of its acquisition of Tokyo Gas Co Ltd’s interests in a portfolio of Australian integrated LNG projects.

Morgan Stanley acted as exclusive financial advisor to MidOcean on the transaction while Latham & Watkins acted as legal advisor.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., EIG is a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, specialises in private investments in energy and energy-related infrastructure on a global basis.

-- BERNAMA

Fusion Of Arts & Cultures: Discover China's Changjiang Via Fashion Show

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- A fashion show, "Rendezvous with Changjiang" produced by Changjiang Li Autonomous County of Hainan Province and esteemed designers, showcased the beauty of Changjiang, Hainan and China to the world, recently.

Held at the closing ceremony of the Fashion Week of the 2024 China International Consumer Products Expo, the show featured a runway decorated with elements such as Changjiang red silk-cotton tree and bamboo rafts; Li brocade and pottery, immersing the audience in the unique natural beauty and cultural richness of Changjiang.

Fashion designers also creatively incorporated Changjiang's cultural elements into their designs, blending traditional aesthetics with modern design art to produce a series of national specialty fashions, offering a vivid illustration of its cultural excellence.

As the largest high-quality consumer products exhibition in the Asia Pacific region, the expo provided a platform for more than 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions this year, which has deepened exchanges and cooperation in economics, trade, and culture.

According to officials from the Convergence Media Center of Changjiang in a statement, the county has been collaborating with Expo's Fashion Week for the third consecutive year, demonstrating its commitment to showcasing Changjiang's culture globally.

Moreover, in March this year, "cowhide stool", Changjiang's provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, was exhibited at the "Bonjour Chine, Soleil Hainan" International Image Exhibition and Hainan Tourism and Cultural Promotion Event in Paris, France, and has attracted significant attention from French audiences and international media.

--  BERNAMA

REVOLUTIONARY SCIENTISTS HONORED FOR ADVANCEMENTS IN GENE THERAPY FOR NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES AND RNA DISCOVERIES: KING FAISAL PRIZE LAUREATES IN MEDICINE, PROFESSOR JERRY MENDELL, AND IN SCIENCE, PROFESSOR HOWARD CHANG, AWARDED

During its 46th session, King Faisal Prize Recognized Other Outstanding Figures in the Fields of Islamic Studies, and Service to Islam


Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During the 46th session of King Faisal Prize on April 22, exceptional accomplishments in the fields of gene therapy for neuromuscular diseases and groundbreaking RNA discoveries were acknowledged. Professor Jerry Mendell was awarded the Medicine Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to the screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, notably spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Professor Howard Chang received the Science Prize for unveiling the intrinsic role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation and function, a previously overlooked area of study.

Through innovative gene therapy approaches, Professor Mendell, the Director of Gene Therapy Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Curran Peters Chair in Pediatric Research, has revolutionized treatment strategies, offering hope to countless patients worldwide.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), once considered a leading genetic cause of infant mortality, has seen a paradigm shift in treatment due to Professor Mendell's pioneering efforts. By utilizing gene therapy to deliver crucial genes to affected cells, he has significantly improved outcomes for patients, leading in 2019 to the first-ever FDA-approved gene therapy treatment for pediatric SMA patients (Zolgensma®).

In addition to his work in SMA, Professor Mendell's research has extended to Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, showcasing the versatility and efficacy of gene therapy in addressing a spectrum of neuromuscular conditions. Genetic mutations in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients hinder the production of dystrophin, a crucial protein for muscle health. While initial symptoms primarily affect skeletal muscles, DMD progresses to impact cardiac and respiratory functions. Gene therapy offers a solution by addressing this genetic anomaly, allowing the body to produce dystrophin and halt muscle degeneration. In June 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment for pediatric DMD patients aged 4-5, utilizing a pioneering gene therapy co-developed by Professor Mendell and Professor Louise Rodino-Klapac, a former post-doctoral researcher in Mendell's lab. This therapy involves a single injection, delivering a micro-dystrophin gene within an adeno-associated virus serotype (AAVrh74), facilitating the transfer of missing or corrected genes to cells.

He has played a significant role in clinical trials targeting different forms of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), characterized by muscle weakness affecting the shoulders, upper arms, hips, and upper legs. One study particularly concentrated on LGMD2B, demonstrating that a single injection of a gene therapy vector effectively restored damaged muscle fibers, mitigating degeneration, and improving muscle function.

Professor Mendell boasts a portfolio of more than 400 published papers, a testament to his prolific contributions to the field. In acknowledgment of his achievements, he was honored with election to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021. The American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy bestowed upon him the prestigious Translational Science Award named in his honor. Furthermore, in 2017, Science Magazine recognized his groundbreaking work in SMA Gene Therapy with the esteemed Breakthrough Achievement Award. His accolades also include numerous other awards and invitations to deliver honorary lectures at esteemed institutions.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Mendell said, “The principles of the award that reflect King Faisal’s intent to relieve human suffering are consistent with my own views and lifetime achievements. I have done everything I could do to improve the quality and prolong life for patients afflicted with neuromuscular diseases.”

On the frontier of molecular biology, Professor Howard Chang, a physician-scientist and Professor of Dermatology and Genetics, and Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research at Stanford University, has been awarded King Faisal Prize for Science in Biology. Professor Chang's elucidation of the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gene regulation has revolutionized our understanding of cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

Through innovative genome-wide methodologies, Professor Chang has uncovered the intricate interplay between lncRNAs and gene expression, shedding light on fundamental biological processes underlying development, cancer, and aging. Despite not encoding proteins, lncRNAs are crucial for controlling the timing and amount of protein production, impacting the overall function and behavior of cells.

Within each human cell, a remarkable feat of organization unfolds: 2 meters of DNA are tightly packed into a nucleus merely 10 microns in size. This dense packaging renders most of the DNA inaccessible, except for the active DNA elements crucial to the cell’s functioning and reading. Identifying these accessible elements unveils invaluable insights into the cellular "software." His groundbreaking techniques lie in mapping chromatin—the substance constituting chromosomes, comprised of DNA and associated proteins governing genome structure and gene expression. This has provided unprecedented insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing gene expression, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions and precision medicine approaches. One technique is the Assay of Transposase Accessible Chromatin, employing the Tn5 transposase enzyme to efficiently copy and paste DNA. This revolutionary technique has yielded a million-fold enhancement in sensitivity and a hundred-fold improvement in mapping speed for regulatory DNA—the epigenome—in human cells.

As the founder of the RNA Medicine Program at Stanford University, Professor Chang continues to spearhead efforts to translate RNA science into tangible clinical applications, furthering the promise of RNA-based therapeutics in treating a wide range of diseases. Prof. Chang’s honors include the NAS Award for Molecular Biology, Outstanding Investigator Award of the National Cancer Institute, Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, Judson Daland Prize of the American Philosophical Society, and the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise. His work was honored by the journal Cell as a Landmark paper over the last 40 years and by Science as “Insight of the decade”.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Chang said, “Our research asked a basic question: how do cells decide when and where to switch different genes on? How do these decisions get passed over time? Our studies led us to a new class of RNAs, called long noncoding RNAs, that help cells remember their cell fates. Our understanding of the gene switches led to an understanding of how inherited genetic differences cause disease, especially immune diseases. This understanding also helped to tackle mutations that arise in cancer.”
In addition to honoring advancements in medicine and science, King Faisal Prize also recognized exemplary contributions in Islamic Studies and Service to Islam.  Professor Wael Hallaq, among the top 500 scholars in Islamic Studies globally, was awarded the Islamic Studies prize for his groundbreaking contributions in guiding the development of Islamic legislation and challenging the narrative of closing of the gate of ijtihad - interpreting Islamic texts - gained prominence, reshaping accepted paradigms in the field.

The Japan Muslim Association and Mr. Mohammad El Sammak were honored for their exemplary leadership in serving Islam and humanity. The Japan Muslim Association is a pioneering Islamic organization for Japanese Muslims, renowned for its historic translation of the Holy Quran into Japanese, and its defense of Muslims’ affairs in Japan. And, Mr. Mohammad El Sammak, a pioneer in dialogue and bridge-building between different faiths, has made a lasting impact in interfaith dialogue over five decades. He was awarded for his effective contributions to conferences exploring Islam's relationship with other beliefs and his leadership in institutions dedicated to tolerance and peace.

King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature for 2024 on the topic of “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to Promote Arabic” was withheld due to nominated works not elevating to the criteria of the prize.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 295 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Attachments

• Professor Howard Chang, King Faisal Prize Laureate in Science 2024
• Professor Jerry Mendell, King Faisal Prize Laureate in Medicine 2024

Maysa Shawwa
King Faisal Foundation
Maysa.Shawwa@kff.com 


SOURCE : King Faisal Foundation

Anaqua’s Advanced Foreign Filing Empowers IP Professionals Worldwide

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- Anaqua, the provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology, has announced advancements in its Foreign Filing offering, enhancing the capabilities of its IP management platform, AQX.

Anaqua has shifted the paradigm of foreign filing for IP professionals from a burdensome set of manual administrative tasks to a strategic and automated differentiator, powering rapid decision-making for global IP protection.

Its chief executive officer, Bob Romeo in a statement said global businesses faced increasing challenges in safeguarding their intellectual assets amidst rising innovation costs and intensifying competition.

“At Anaqua, we have taken foreign filing far beyond any traditional provider. Our fully integrated solution drives clients’ efficiency and effectiveness, empowering IP professionals to navigate the complexities of global IP protection with confidence,” he said.

In today’s competitive landscape, global IP practitioners understand the critical importance of protecting their innovation and inventions across borders.

Anaqua’s advanced Foreign Filing within AQX offers a centralised ecosystem that addresses every aspect of the foreign filing lifecycle.

On the AQX platform, customers can now utilise a decision workspace supported by competitive dashboards, foreign filing-specific reports, and online quoting to develop, execute, track, and manage their foreign filings.

IP professionals can access a network of expert jurisdictional associates and translation providers to further improve the filing processes with transparent pricing and visibility into the process.

Through Anaqua’s enhanced Foreign Filing, IP professionals now have access to an end-to-end solution that not only streamlines the filing process, but also ensures transparency, cost-effectiveness, and peace of mind.

-- BERNAMA

NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS ACQUIRES STAKE IN SWAT MOBILITY TO ACCELERATE LOGISTICS DX

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express Holdings Inc has recently acquired an equity stake in SWAT Mobility (SWAT), an artificial intelligence (AI) technology startup company as an investment by NX Global Innovation Investment Limited Partnership (NX Global Innovation Fund).

According to a statement, by investing in SWAT, which is strong in cutting-edge mobility solutions in Singapore and other countries, the Nippon Express (NX) Group seeks to accelerate its digital transformation (DX) and resolve global-scale social issues in the logistics industry.

The NX Group has been pursuing DX as a tool for resolving these issues and has been actively exploring the use of external resources, including co-creation with startup companies in Japan and overseas, to attain greater logistics efficiency.

The logistics industry is facing global social challenges such as driver shortages, rising fuel costs, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission cuts required to combat climate change. Companies are expected to take concrete steps to address these challenges and help achieve sustainable societies.

Japan in particular is likely to see a labour shortage due to stricter work regulations for truck drivers that go into effect in 2024, making improved logistics efficiency an urgent issue.

SWAT's dynamic routing algorithm technology and advanced development capabilities will be utilised at NX Group locations and projects in Japan and overseas to verify the digitalisation and global standardisation of vehicle dispatch operations.

Utilising the transport performance data accumulated through verification processes, NX Group will analyse the parameters required for vehicle dispatch operations and calculate pickup and delivery costs as well as CO2 emissions.

The group will work to develop new services by making strategic use of the data and will continue leveraging its domestic and international networks to co-create with promising startups.

-- BERNAMA

FORMLABS LAUNCHES FORM 4, THE FASTEST, MOST RELIABLE 3D PRINTER FOR PROTOTYPING THROUGH PRODUCTION

 

The new resin 3D printer by Formlabs- Form 4 Ecosystem. Produce parts at blazing speed, incredible precision and unmatched accuracy (Photo: Business Wire)

Delivering most parts in under two hours, Form 4 is a powerful, affordable tool for professionals to bring their ideas to life.

MUMBAI, India, April 18 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Formlabs, the leader in 3D printing, today announces the Form 4 and Form 4B, setting a new benchmark in professional resin 3D printing with Formlabs’ proprietary new Low Force Display™ (LFD) print engine. Form 4’s up to 5 times faster print speeds boost productivity for professionals, enabling them to take design risks and accelerate time to market.
 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416911798/en/ 

"Form 4 marks a significant advancement for the entire 3D printing landscape," said Max Lobovsky, CEO and co-founder of Formlabs. "We’ve built on the strength and insights gathered from more than 130,000 printers on the market and over 300M parts printed to deliver the Form 4, our best SLA printer ever. It's reliability and new level of speed will transform how our customers develop new products."

Form 4 Highlights

· Blazing fast print speeds: Achieve most prints in under 2 hours with masked stereolithography (mSLA) technology, up to five times faster than Form 3+.
· LFD™ print engine: Featuring an ultra high-power backlight, proprietary release texture, Light Processing Unit 4 (LPU 4), and dual-layer resin tank.
· Unmatched reliability: Industry-leading print success rate ensured by validated settings, precision heating, force sensing, and debris detection.
· Stunning print quality: 50-micron pixels, highly collimated light, advanced pixel smoothing, and light touch supports.
· Intuitive operation: Easy learning curve with automatic resin handling, instant material changes, and quick-release build platform.
· 40% lower cost per part: Enhanced affordability with long-lasting resin tanks, lower resin pricing, larger print volume, and higher throughput. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=48409

Stay Connected Constantly With Fixed Wireless Access By Expereo

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Expereo, the intelligent internet company that connects people, places and things anywhere, has announced the enhancement of its connectivity portfolio with Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).

This latest innovation from Expereo equips businesses with direct access to wireless networks across 190 countries, enabling business continuity through network resilience, and growth through fast and agile deployment and access in remote locations.

In a statement, its Chief Product Officer, Sander Barens said internet connectivity is essential for business growth and efficiency, whereby enterprise businesses need to deploy a connectivity strategy to meet today’s challenges.

“Connectivity solutions no longer need to be either/or, when you work with a partner who understands your connectivity needs and has the portfolio, experience and global coverage to help you set the strategy for your business you can rest easy that your business will be connected 24/7 around the globe,” he said.

The integration of FWA into Expereo’s customer experience platform, expereoOne, offers businesses a complete, intuitive view of their Global Internet and SD-WAN estate.

FWA is a cost-efficient reliable alternative for business continuity in the event of fixed line network outages, which can happen from time to time, often through cables being cut, or hardware or software failures.

For those business critical sites that cannot afford any downtime, FWA provides a technology diverse, cost effective, reliable continuity option, avoiding the need to deploy a second fixed line.

It is also perfect for fast, agile deployments often being installed within weeks rather than months, enabling businesses to rapidly connect their operations to capitalise on new growth opportunities while waiting for fixed line deployments.

Additionally, FWA can be used as a primary connectivity option in areas that are temporary, hard to reach or remote, enabling growing businesses to establish branch offices or field locations in hard-to-reach areas where wired connections are unavailable or even possible.

-- BERNAMA

TELEDYNE FLIR IIS UNVEILS STEREO CAMERA FOR HIGH ACCURACY ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Teledyne FLIR IIS (Integrated Imaging Solutions) has announced the Bumblebee X series, an advanced stereo vision solution built on its best-in-class stereo vision portfolio.

Its General Manager, Sadiq Panjwani said Bumblebee X is a new comprehensive solution for tackling complex depth sensing challenges with ease.

“Our team's extensive stereo vision expertise and careful attention to customer insights have informed the design of the hardware, software, and processing at the core of Bumblebee X.

“With high accuracy across a large range of distances, this solution is perfect for factories and warehouses,” he said in a statement.

A new industrial stereo camera, Bumblebee X and a software Spinnaker 3D offers a comprehensive solution with onboard processing to build successful systems for warehouse automation, robotics guidance, and logistics.

The latest Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) powered stereo imaging solution that delivers high-accuracy and low-latency for robotic guidance and pick-and-place applications, Bumblebee X delivers on the essential need for a comprehensive and real-time stereo vision solution.

Customers can test and deploy depth sensing systems that work up to ranges of 20 metres with the wide baseline solution. The low latency makes it ideal for real-time applications such as autonomous mobile robots, automated guided vehicles, pick and place, bin picking, and palletisation.

Key features include factory calibrated 24 centimetres baseline stereo vision with three megapixels sensors for high accuracy and low latency real-time applications; as well as IP67 industrial rated vision system.

-- BERNAMA

STEVIE® AWARDS ANNOUNCE WINNERS IN 18TH ANNUAL STEVIE® AWARDS FOR SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE

FAIRFAX, Va., April 16 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winners in the 18th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, recognized as the world's top customer service awards and sales awards, were unveiled on Friday night at a gala ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada USA, attended by more than 400 executives from around the world.  

The complete list of Stevie Winners by category is available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

The 10 most-honored organizations in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service received Grand (“best in show”) Stevie Award trophies. Nominees were not able to apply for Grand Stevie Awards directly. Winners were determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won, as well as having the highest average score in selected categories.

DP DHL Worldwide, with 13 Gold, 18 Silver, and 14 Bronze Stevie Award wins, was the most honored organization this year, earning the top Grand Stevie Award trophy. In descending order, the organizations below were presented with Grand Stevie Award trophies in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service on behalf of themselves and/or clients. There was a ninth-place tie between Toco Warranty and Purpol Marketing Limited.

1. DP DHL (Worldwide), 96 points
2. IBM (Armonk, NY USA), 64 points
3. Support Services Group, Inc. (Waco, TX USA), 49 points
4. Allianz Services Pvt Ltd (Trivandrum, Kerala, India), 39 points
5. Sales Partnerships, Inc. (Broomfield, CO USA), 38.5 points
6. UPMC Health Plan (Pittsburgh, PA USA), 31 points
7. Blackhawk Network (Pleasanton, CA USA), 26 points
8. VIZIO Inc. (Irvine, CA USA), 22 points
9. Toco Warranty ( Los Angeles, CA USA), 19 points
Purpol Marketing Limited (Chippenham, United Kingdom), 19 points 

Other notable winners with three Gold Stevie Awards include Alight Solutions (Lincolnshire, IL USA), Optum (Eden Prairie, MN USA), and WNS (Holdings) Limited (Mumbai, India). 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=48382

NX SINGAPORE DEMONSTRATES OPERATIONAL SAFETY DURING SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE VISIT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd (NX Singapore), announced it received a visit from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, Senior Minister of State, Zaqy Mohamad, at its head office’s Toh Guan Global Logistics Centre, last month.

According to a statement, NX Singapore has been promoting workplace safety, employees’ health and operational efficiency.

Nippon Express (South Asia & Oceania) Pte Ltd (NXSAO) President, Katsuhito Kobayashi and an NX Singapore team showed the visitors their initiatives to minimise possible injury during operations such as driving an advanced forklift equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) cameras and telematics technology.

The minister observed how NX Singapore has leveraged AI and robotics to enhance vehicular safety and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in their operations.

A group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, NX Singapore celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and has served as a hub in the South Asia and Oceania region for many years, supporting customers' supply chains.

The NX Group will continue to meet the logistics needs of worldwide customers by further expanding its global network in line with its corporate values of safety, compliance and quality.

-- BERNAMA

SINGLESTORE ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH AGILE PLATFORM

Collaboration aims to enhance development and adoption of real-time, AI-driven solutions in dynamic Korean market


SAN FRANCISCO, April 16 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- SingleStore, the data platform that allows you to transact, analyze and contextualize data in real time, today announced an exclusive partnership with Agile Platform to bring real-time, AI-driven solutions to the Korean market. SingleStore's real-time data platform is designed for growing businesses dealing with modern applications, analytics, and AI — and its next-generation technology has been gaining significant traction in the APAC region.

Agile Platform is a data-specialized firm that offers various consulting services including those related to SingleStore to enable real-time processing, analysis, and visualization based on data, both on-premises and in cloud environments. Over the past five years, Agile Platform has been actively dedicated to exploring and expanding its presence in the Korean market, leveraging SingleStore. Through collaborations with various clients, Agile Platform has been recognized for its expertise and technical proficiency.

Having already established a strong presence in Korea, SingleStore is proud to have leading companies including Kakao, POSCO, LG Innotek, K Bank, Kiwoon Securities, SK Telecom, and many more as customers. These industry-leading organizations have adopted SingleStore's comprehensive data platform for a variety of use cases.

“With our deep understanding of the Korean market and extensive adjacent network, we believe we are the perfect partner to support SingleStore's expansion in APAC and bring its technology to even more Korean businesses, “ said JeongHee Han, CEO, Agile Platform. “This collaboration will enhance the data platform’s market presence but also offer Korean businesses access to a powerful, scalable solution that can effectively handle their growing data requirements.”

“South Korea ranks third globally in the number of AI patents. In addition, its recent commitment to invest 9.4 trillion won (US$6.9 billion) in supporting the local AI industry underscores the ripe market for genAI technologies. SingleStore, standing at the forefront of the AI revolution with its cutting-edge data platform, is poised to become the world's only platform capable of reading, writing, and reasoning on petabyte-scale data in milliseconds. With our strategic alliance with Agile Platform, it's an unparalleled opportunity to empower digital-native and cloud-forward Korean companies to accelerate genAI adoption, build AI-fronted applications, and enhance analytical capabilities,” said Sanjay Aurora, General Manager of APJ at SingleStore.

SingleStore has been on a fast-track leading innovation around generative AI much of this past year. In fact, the company was recently ranked number one in vector databases in 2024. To learn more about SingleStore or get started visit here.

Additional resources:

• Try SingleStore free
• Read the SingleStore blog to learn more about this partnership
• Follow SingleStore on X, LinkedIn and Instagram

About SingleStore

SingleStore empowers the world’s leading organizations to build and scale modern applications using the only database that allows you to transact, analyze and contextualize data in real time. With streaming data ingestion, support for both transactions and analytics, horizontal scalability and hybrid vector search capabilities, SingleStore helps deliver 10-100x better performance at 1/3 the costs compared to legacy architectures. Hundreds of customers worldwide — including Fortune 500 companies and global data leaders — use SingleStore to power real-time applications and analytics. Learn more at singlestore.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240415592081/en/

Contact

Jessica Rampen
Director of Communications & PR at SingleStore
jrampen@singlestore.com 

Source : SingleStore

OSAKA GAS IN INVESTMENT DEAL TO EXPAND CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS IN INDIA

Project_Area (Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Osaka Gas Co Ltd (Osaka Gas) announced its subsidiary Osaka Gas Singapore Pte Ltd (OGS) will invest in AG&P LNG Marketing Pte Ltd (AG&P LNG Marketing), aiming to boost AG&P LNG Marketing’s city gas distribution (CGD) business in India.

An agreement has been reached with Sumitomo Corporation (Sumitomo) and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN) for the investment, according to Osaka Gas in a statement.

This investment will be made via a Japanese consortium jointly owned by OGS, Sumitomo, and JOIN which marks OGS’ second major investment in the CGD business in India, and it intends to establish a medium- to long-term revenue stream in India while contributing to a stable supply of low-carbon energy.

This investment allows AG&P LNG Marketing to expand its gas distribution coverage in India as it has been developing CGD business in 12 geographical areas (GAs) under the brand name AGP Pratham, primarily in the suburbs of southern India, since 2021.

With this new investment, AG&P LNG Marketing will also develop seven additional GAs under the brand name THINK Gas in the urban areas of north and central India. The total area of these 19 GAs represents approximately 320,000 square kilometre of the country.

It plans to construct compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and extend its gas distribution networks further, aiming to increase gas sales mainly in the transportation segment as well as household, commercial, and industrial segments.

AG&P LNG Marketing is led by an experienced management team that has demonstrated quality execution and operations and maintenance (O&M) of the company’s assets.

The management will be guided by a competent board of directors which will have representation from I Squared Capital, AG&P Group, Osaka Gas, Sumitomo and JOIN, in addition to Osaka Gas that will provide technical and sales support.

-- BERNAMA

PubMatic Brings Programmatic Video Ads To Roblox’s Platform

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- PubMatic announced a partnership with Roblox, a global immersive platform for communication and connection, to enable programmatic media buying of Roblox’s video advertising inventory when it becomes available later this year.

The partnership will allow more brands to reach Roblox’s global community of over 71 million daily active users, nearly half representing the Gen Z demographic, while Roblox will gain scaled access to premium brand advertising demand.

PubMatic Americas Chief Revenue Officer, Kyle Dozeman said the company is looking forward to empowering Roblox to maintain full control over its advertising ecosystem while enabling advertisers to reach their target audiences effectively.

“We are thrilled to partner with Roblox to deliver a pioneering advertising solution that marries monetisation with user experience. Advertising creates significant opportunities for many companies, and it funds and fuels the endless potential of the internet” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Roblox Vice President of global partnerships, Stephanie Latham said: “Partnering with PubMatic unlocks the opportunity for more advertisers to seamlessly engage this community through preferred content formats, like video, while providing advertiser controls around brand suitability.

“The ad experience we offer on the platform is built to be immersive instead of disruptive, and true to the Roblox experience that our community of creators, users, and brands know and love."

Since 2006, Roblox has built a global community with millions of creators and immersive experiences, from social hangouts and gaming, to concerts, sports, fashion shows, education, and entertainment.

With one of the most robust virtual economies in the world, the expansion of Roblox’s advertising business will enable seamless access to this community and allow brands to activate on the platform without creating custom-built content.

Like all advertising on Roblox, programmatic ads must comply with the platform’s community and advertising standards grounded in principles of making advertising safe, transparent, and respectful of people’s privacy while still creating opportunities for the community to innovate, engage and earn.

An independent technology company delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future, PubMatic’s sell-side platform empowers the world’s leading digital content creators across the open internet to control access to their inventory and increase monetisation by enabling marketers to drive return on investment and reach addressable audiences across ad formats and devices.

-- BERNAMA

Plocamium Holdings Offers New Service Targeting Middle Market Companies

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Plocamium Holdings (PH), a newly launched private equity services firm, announced it has begun working with middle market companies and sponsors to improve growth and drive greater returns and performance for those companies and investors.

In a statement, PH President, James Tannahill said: "We believe that our hands-on approach, data literacy, and focus on operational issues set us apart in the global private equity landscape.

“These are companies that the large multi-national consultancies think are too small to work with, but we see as potentially significant success stories of greater value creation.”

Tannahill added that PH identify opportunities unique to the company and creates a plan, then executes against it, creating cash generation initiatives to help it, its partners, and investors compete and prosper in their respective global markets.

PH offers a unique suite of expertise that can evaluate a company’s strengths and weaknesses from the C-Suite to the factory floor.

It has begun working with companies in the global healthcare technology and services, defence, industrial technology, as well as containers and packaging sectors and is a trusted partner of companies with enterprise values between US$10 million and US$500 million. (US$1=RM4.76)

The firm is also partnering with sovereign wealth funds, middle-market private equity sponsors, and high-quality businesses that possess significant growth potential.

PH's investment philosophy is to examine a company’s operational approach and through rigour and innovation help lead it to greater productivity and efficiency, thus realising greater returns for owners and investors.

Headquartered in New York and with a team of experienced investment professionals committed to operational excellence, the firm began as a single family office over 70 years ago rooted in container manufacturing and fabricated metal products, and in 2024 launched its consulting services.

-- BERNAMA

AI-MEDIA'S LATEST INNOVATIONS SET TO REVOLUTIONISE CAPTIONING MARKET

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- AI-Media, the global leader in AI-powered captioning, is set to unveil two new products LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded, at the prestigious NAB Show 2024, scheduled from April 14 to 17 in Las Vegas, United States.

In a statement, AI-Media, renowned for its cutting-edge innovations serving the broadcast industry, said its latest offerings are poised to revolutionise the captioning market.

The highlight of AI-Media’s presentation at the event will be the new LEXI DR product, a groundbreaking solution that ensures uninterrupted captioning delivery even in the face of cloud and connectivity disruptions.

With seamless caption workflow integration, on-premises redundant servers and flexible setup options, this solution offers 99.99 per cent caption uptime, scalability with up to 10 instances available per LEXI DR unit plus the confidence that data is secure with robust encryption and security measures.

The product exemplifies AI-Media's commitment to providing reliable, resilient, and secure captioning solutions for the broadcast industry.

AI-Media will also introduce LEXI Recorded, designed to streamline the captioning process for recorded content. The solution offers unprecedented turnaround speed and cost efficiencies, boasting features such as bulk processing, accuracy above 98 per cent, flexible file output types, and multilingual options.

It can be integrated into the caption workflow, ensuring fast, cost-effective captioning of broadcasters’  recorded content with unmatched precision and ease.

In addition to the product launches, AI-Media will feature an "Innovation Station" at its NAB booth, where attendees can explore exciting new technologies that are part of the company's product roadmaps.

Previews will showcase advancements in generative AI and its application in crafting topic models, also referred to as custom dictionaries. Additionally, previews will feature innovations such as speaking subtitles or dubbing, as well as automated audio description.

AI-Media is able to leverage decades of broadcast experience to ensure its captioning solutions are interoperable across different workflows, video standards and regions, and the company remains committed to driving progress and shaping the future of accessible media worldwide.

-- BERNAMA

ANAQUA SETS BENCHMARK FOR PATENT SEARCH CAPABILITIES VIA PLATFORM ENHANCEMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- Anaqua, an innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology provider, has enhanced its powerful patent search platform, AcclaimIP, setting a new standard in patent search capabilities.

According to Anaqua in a statement, with a focus on empowering patent searchers with unparalleled control and assistance, AcclaimIP Patent Search offers access to a vast global patent database comprising over 100 million patents worldwide.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Bob Romeo said AcclaimIP is a powerful patent search platform that represents its commitment to innovation and excellence in the IP industry.

“By internally developing AI-powered tools that leverage market-leading solutions, we strengthen our position as the leader in IP management solutions, providing fully integrated solutions that empower IP professionals to succeed,” he said.

Designed to cater to the diverse needs of IP professionals, AcclaimIP Patent Search boasts a user-friendly interface that enhances the search experience, facilitating efficient exploration of results and swift discovery of relevant information.

AcclaimIP ensures a seamless and comprehensive search process, regardless of the user's preference to create their own queries or leverage powerful interfaces for assistance.

One of the most significant features of AcclaimIP Patent Search is its cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) Patent Summaries tool. Harnessing the power of generative AI, this innovative tool delivers consistent and optimised summaries of patents, enabling patent searchers to better understand search results and interpret patent implications.

By leveraging large language models guided by tailored prompts, AcclaimIP's AI Patent Summaries tool promises substantial time savings and mitigates the risk of overlooking critical intelligence.

-- BERNAMA

Curium To Grow Lutetium-177 Capacity Via Eczacibaşi-Monrol Acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- Curium, a world leader in nuclear medicine, has entered into an agreement with Eczacıbaşı Holding and Bozlu Group for the acquisition of Eczacıbaşı-Monrol Nuclear Product Co (Monrol), a dedicated specialist in nuclear medicine.

The acquisition is expected to bring together highly complementary geographical footprints, lutetium-177 (Lu-177) capabilities, and positron emission tomography (PET) & single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) nuclear medicine infrastructure, as well as facilitate the development of cutting-edge radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals pipelines for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Curium International Markets Chief Executive Officer, Chaitanya Tatineni in a statement said: “We are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement for the acquisition of Eczacıbaşı-Monrol – building on our existing strong partnership and the commitment of both companies to transform the lives of patients around the world.

“Eczacıbaşı-Monrol’s complementary PET network, Lu-177 capacity, extensive manufacturing and logistics infrastructure, and location as a global distribution hub offers significant benefits for patients requiring life-changing diagnostic and therapeutic solutions once the transaction is completed.”

Meanwhile, Eczacıbaşı-Monrol General Manager, Aydin Kucuk said the company is excited about the benefits of integrating with Curium’s global footprint, product portfolio, and innovations in theranostics for the millions of patients that it serves.

Importantly, the acquisition will add significant Lu-177 manufacturing capacity to Curium to meet the growing demand for Lu-177 worldwide for the benefit of more than 100,000 critically ill patients over the next five years.

It will expand Curium’s PET footprint of 34 sites in Western Europe and Asia with the addition of 12 owned and partnered sites in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.

In addition, Eczacıbaşı-Monrol’s manufacturing and logistics infrastructure in Istanbul, Turkey, will add significant scale to Curium’s vertically integrated production and distribution capabilities.

The completion of this transaction is contingent upon meeting customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Both companies are fully committed to navigating through this process efficiently and expect to finalise the transaction in due course.

The parties expect to be able to close this transaction once the customary regulatory approvals will have been obtained.

-- BERNAMA

NX Vietnam's New Office In Da Lat Pathway To Sustainable Economic Development

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express (Vietnam) Co Ltd (NX Vietnam), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, opened a new office in Da Lat, a highland city in central Vietnam’s Lam Dong Province, on Feb 22.

With the opening of the Da Lat Office, NX Vietnam will be better able to contribute to the region’s sustainable economic development by facilitating exports of not only fresh flowers but also a variety of other agricultural products from central Vietnam, according to a statement.

Located at an altitude of 1,500 metres above sea level, Da Lat sits at the heart of Vietnam’s Central Highlands and enjoys a cool climate throughout the year.

The city has become increasingly important in recent years as an agricultural production centre, known in particular for its flower industry.

The government of Lam Dong Province intends to make Da Lat one of Southeast Asia’s leading fresh flower production centres in line with its strategy for developing the flower industry through 2030.

Hence, exports of fresh flowers as well as other agricultural products are expected to expand.

The NX Group will continue striving to meet the diversifying needs of its customers in all parts of the world and leveraging its global network to provide logistics services best suited to their needs.

-- BERNAMA

EXP REALTY PROMOTES LEO PAREJA AS CEO

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- eXp Realty, the core subsidiary of eXp World Holdings Inc, has appointed Leo Pareja as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately, succeeding Glenn Sanford, who will now fully dedicate his efforts to his position as Founder, Chairman and CEO of eXp World Holdings.

"Leo's innovative and recognised industry leadership has elevated our agent-value proposition by reshaping referrals and lead-generation.

"His deep industry experience and influence on our community have been profound, and I trust that under his direction, eXp Realty will further fortify its competitive advantage and deliver unparalleled value to our agents, further cementing our position as a ground-breaking leader in the real estate industry," said Sanford in a statement.

Meanwhile, Pareja said: "As we step into this new chapter at eXp Realty, I am honoured to lead a company that has always placed innovation and agent success at the forefront of its mission.

“Together, we will not only continue to redefine the real estate landscape through technology and unparalleled agent support but also empower every member of our community to achieve their full potential."

Pareja, who previously served as the Chief Strategy Officer was instrumental in solidifying eXp Realty's standing in the competitive real estate marketplace. His visionary leadership and remarkable track record has greatly enriched the company's value proposition to its agents, such as the successfully launched strategic initiatives such as eXp Exclusives, Revenos and significant enhancements to eXp Solutions.

Having joined eXp Realty in 2022, Pareja brings over two decades of real estate experience, highlighted by numerous accolades including recognition in RealTrends’ The Thousand report, topping the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals’ Top 250 list, and being named a 30 under 30 agent by Realtor Magazine.

The announcement comes as eXp Realty is recognised in the top spot in five categories on the coveted RealTrends 500 report including Transaction Sides, Five Year Top Movers (Sides), Five Year Top Movers (Volume), Best Brokerages and Public Independent.

The company also moved up to the top three in two categories namely Volume and Billionaires’ Club as it continues to prove its model as it gains market share, welcoming the best agents in the industry.

-- BERNAMA 

Matmerize, CJ Biomaterials Team Up To Harness AI Technology Driving Sustainable Polymer Solutions

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- Matmerize Inc, a pioneering artificial intelligence (AI)-based polymer informatics company, and CJ Biomaterials, a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang, have joined forces to drive innovation in sustainable polymer solutions aimed at combatting plastic pollution.

Matmerize Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Chiho Kim said the collaboration with CJ Biomaterials goes beyond research and development efforts, significantly impacting work efficiency and cost reduction by prioritising experiments through expertise and machine learning capabilities.

“This commitment to innovation not only promotes sustainable practices but also secures a competitive advantage for CJ Biomaterials in the polymer and plastic industry,” he said in a statement.

In a recent collaboration with Matmerize, CJ Biomaterials, a primary producer of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers successfully tested Matmerize's cloud-based AI platform, PolymRize, to optimise bio-based polymers, ensuring they meet specific performance criteria across a wide range of applications.

By leveraging Matmerize's custom model training and predictive analytics platform PolymRize, CJ Biomaterials was able to rapidly estimate the performance of newly designed materials, enabling quicker decision-making and reducing time and costs compared to traditional methods.

Human life and plastic have become inseparable, but the environmental toll of plastic waste is undeniable. With more than nine million tonnes of man-made plastic waste entering the ocean each year, the urgency to find sustainable alternatives has never been greater.

In response to this challenge, CJ Biomaterials created PHACT, a groundbreaking 100 per cent bio-based PHA using an innovative fermentation process that degrades naturally in soil and ocean environments, mitigating the harmful impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

As both companies continue to push the boundaries of innovation in polymer development, they remain dedicated to driving positive environmental change and shaping a greener, sustainable future for generations to come.

Matmerize, a spin-out from the Georgia Institute of Technology, integrates polymer domain knowledge with advanced data science methods to transform and accelerate industrial materials development at scale.

-- BERNAMA

WPO Psychological Safety Study Enables Leader To Understand Challenges Employees Face

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- Psychologically safe workplaces have become a necessity for building organisational resilience and sustainable success amid mounting pressures and unprecedented challenges across the globe, according to Workplace Options (WPO).

As the largest independent provider of customised and localised wellbeing services, WPO has deep insight on global psychological safety, derived from data via the human-to-human counselling its clinical team conducted with in nine countries, namely Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The findings comprise the “WPO Psychological Safety Study: Global Context for Organizational Success”, a website and multimedia content hub that presents information on how psychological safety affects employees in different countries.

“A culture built on psychological safety has immense value. Deep-rooted employee engagement leads to greater creativity, innovation, and an environment where people can be their authentic self in every aspect of their life.

“The results from this study will help leaders and organisations make a transformative difference in people’s lives by building resilient cultures focused on wellbeing,” said WPO President and Chief Executive Officer, Alan King in a statement.

Meanwhile, WPO Consulting Group Founding Partner, Mary Ellen Gornick said the study gives leaders the information they need to create inclusive cultures in the locations where they have operations, but they should also keep in mind that variances might exist in how strategies are implemented at the country level.

Individual country information has been derived from clinician engagement with customers, providing insight into workplace symptoms manifest in the employee’s emotions, cognitions, and attitudes toward work, which include workplace stress, anxiety/panic, low mood, job performance, conflict/tension with manager, and lack of recognition.

Leaders can utilise the data to understand the challenges their employees face. For example, in Australia, “lack of recognition” is the top issue on employees’ minds, and in contrast, employees in India identify “conflict/tension at work with manager” as their foremost issue.

A company with operations in these two nations/regions can utilise the study results to gain deeper insight into strategies and tactics that will build psychological safety and organisational resilience.

Given the constantly shifting global business environment, leaders must create workplaces centred on psychological safety, which is a cornerstone of inclusive leadership. Teams that feel psychologically safe are more innovative, productive, and resilient in the face of adversity.

Benefits of psychological safety include deeper employee engagement; improved team performance; enhanced problem-solving and decision-making; greater employee well-being; and improved customer satisfaction.

-- BERNAMA

QRAFT TECHNOLOGIES, FSITC COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP AI-DRIVEN INVESTMENT TOOLS

(Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 (Bernama) -- Qraft Technologies announced a strategic technical collaboration with First Securities Investment Trust Co Ltd (FSITC), a distinguished asset management firm.

In a statement, the invest-tech company developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions said the partnership’s goals will be to develop new tools for investment management via the joint development of sophisticated AI and deep learning algorithms.

These initiatives will look to refine multi-factor screening models and enhance forecasting of market risk and set new benchmarks for investment strategies.

"Our collaboration with FSITC represents a pivotal step forward in our mission to redefine the financial investment landscape with AI-driven solutions.

“We look forward to combining our technological prowess with FSITC’s industry insights to unlock new opportunities for investors worldwide," said Qraft Technologies Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Kim.

Meanwhile, FSITC General Manager, Liao Wen-wei said joining forces with Qraft not only amplified the company’s capabilities but also aligned with its commitment to spearheading the integration of AI in the financial sector.

At the present time, where AI and deep learning are changing the world of investing, Qraft brings its cutting-edge expertise to this collaboration, driving the development of innovative financial technologies.

This venture will utilise Qraft’s advanced AI algorithms to identify and analyse extensive global financial data, while optimising the stock selection process and market risk sentiment predictions.

Qraft and FSITC’s goal is to broaden and elevate the toolkit available to mutual fund, digital asset management (DAM) account, and Active exchange-traded fund (ETF) portfolio managers, ensuring top-tier investment management services are accessible to the public.

This synergy further develops the enhancement of FSITC's investment strategies by incorporating Qraft’s AI algorithms into stock selection and market risk sentiment analysis, aiming to refine mutual fund investment processes and set new standards in risk management.

-- BERNAMA

HOTEL VILLA FONTAINE PREMIER/GRAND HANEDA AIRPORT OFFERS ROOMS FEATURING POPULAR CHARACTERS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- Sumitomo Fudosan Villa Fontaine Co Ltd, a Sumitomo Realty Group, has begun offering guestrooms featuring a major Japanese carrier and popular characters known worldwide such as Hatsune Miku and LINE FRIENDS at Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier/Grand Haneda Airport.

According to a statement, it is Japan's largest airport hotel with 1,717 guestrooms and directly connected to Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport) Terminal 3.

The establishment has set aside specially designed about 100 guestrooms featuring popular characters along with other well-known entities from Japan and worldwide to enhance the value of staying at the hotel.

The company aims to provide guests with a unique and memorable experience near Haneda Airport, which is striving to become a tourism-oriented country.

Sumitomo Fudosan Villa Fontaine has partnered with Japan Airlines (JAL); Hatsune Miku; Kanosei Art Project by TOPPAN Group; KOKUYO; LINE FRIENDS; Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club; and Sirotan, to offer unique themed guestrooms.

As part of the collaboration, Hatsune Miku, a virtual singer that is popular worldwide, along with five other Piapro characters, namely  Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, MEIKO and KAITO, will be in the project which marks the first collaboration of all the six characters with a hotel.

Meanwhile, JAL will showcase a record of 24 guestrooms dedicated to their collaboration, in line with the number of the carrier's international flights from Haneda.

Additionally, partnership with Japanese stationery company KOKUYO who operated KOKUYODOORS, will oversee the design and layout of the rooms, while alliance with LINE FRIENDS will feature soft colours and Japanese flavours in the guestrooms' unique design that can be seen only at this hotel.

Connected with Haneda Airport Terminal 3, the hotel is convenient for guests who stay there pre & post arrival/departure, and covers a wide range of needs which is not only for business but also for leisure.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF NAN SHAN GENERAL INSURANCE CO., LTD.

HONG KONG, March 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Nan Shan General Insurance Co., Ltd. (Nan Shan General) (Taiwan). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Nan Shan General’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Nan Shan General’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), has significantly improved and is assessed as being at the very strong level as of year-end 2023. The result is underpinned by the capital contribution of TWD 1.5 billion in cash in 2023, from Nan Shan General’s immediate parent, Nan Shan Life Insurance Co., Ltd (Nan Shan Life), to restore Nan Shan General’s capital strength, following the large claims arising from pandemic insurance since 2022. AM Best expects Nan Shan General to maintain its level of risk-adjusted capitalisation over the short to intermediate term. Offsetting factors in the balance sheet strength assessment include the company’s heightened exposure to catastrophe risks in tandem with increased retention levels in its reinsurance arrangements amid rising reinsurance costs, as well as the moderately high historical dividend payout ratio, despite the company not declaring dividends in 2023.

Nan Shan General reported positive operating results in 2023, partially supported by the release of reserves provisions for pandemic insurance claims and positive investment performance. The company’s return on equity has been restored to a high single-digit level. Nan Shan General achieved double-digit growth on gross premiums written in 2023, mainly driven by expansions in voluntary motor, travel insurance and commercial lines. The company has increased premium retention in the major voluntary motor line since 2023, which continues to be a major driver of the overall underwriting results. This product line has exhibited an increasing trend in the loss ratio, while its net commission expense is projected to increase due to reduced reinsurance commission income.

The company’s bond portfolio has continued to contribute stable streams of interest income, which helped to partially offset volatility in equity investments during 2023. AM Best expects Nan Shan General to continue to focus on domestic fixed-income securities and maintain moderate exposure to equity securities with an aim to boost overall investment returns.

Nan Shan General is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nan Shan Life, which is the third-largest life insurance company in Taiwan in terms of total assets. While Nan Shan General’s business scale is small within Nan Shan Life, the company benefits from parental support in terms of the shared brand recognition, strong distribution support and operating and capital commitments.

Negative rating actions could occur if there is a material decline in Nan Shan General’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, for example, due to a much faster-than-expected expansion in underwriting and/or investment risks that outpaces the growth in capital and surplus, or the company experiences large underwriting losses that significantly erode its capital strength. Negative rating actions could also occur if there is a sustained deterioration in the company’s operating performance. Additionally, negative rating actions could occur if Nan Shan Life experiences a significant deterioration in its credit fundamentals, which AM Best views as having a material negative impact on Nan Shan General. Although it is deemed to be unlikely over the short to intermediate term, positive rating actions could occur if the company demonstrates sustainable improvement in operating performance while maintaining the appropriate ERM assessment.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Contact

Madison Fan
Financial Analyst
+852 2827 3416
madison.fan@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

James Chan
Director, Analytics
+852 2827 3418
james.chan@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
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Source : AM Best