News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you and write them in no more than five paragraphs. Below are snippets of all the media releases that we received from August 3 till 8. Please check back throughout the week for more updates.

ClinTex (CTi) Launches CTi-OEM Blockchain Clinical Trial App

London, August 3: The ClinTex (CTi) tokenized platform (clintex.io) will be the first of its kind to utilize blockchain-based clinical data analytics to address the main causes of clinical trial inefficiency, helping to drive down the cost of new medicines and expediting their delivery to patients.
The initial spark of an idea that would eventually become ClinTex started in 2014, at the DIA Forum in Vienna. 
By 2018, Clintex was formally working on the Clinical Trials Intelligence (CTi) platform. CTi’s purpose is to deliver data analysis at scale, to drive collaboration and insights across clinical trials.
With large pharma companies like Merck and Novartis already testing blockchain as a technology of the future to support their clinical trial strategy for patient information and to manage clinical trial medication, this paves the way for ClinTex CTi to partner with the industry to deliver more innovative and impactful uses of blockchain to increase clinical trial efficiency.
Any clinical trial professionals interested in becoming early adopters can email ClinTex at industry@clintex.io or visit http://clinicaltrialsintelligence.org.

Six Malaysian Students To Battle It Out At The 2021 APAC Finals

Kuala Lumpur, August 2:  FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, together with Junior Achievement (JA), announced the six Malaysian students who won the 2021 FedEx Express / JA International Trade Challenge (ITC) Malaysia. 
The students now advance to compete at the FedEx Express / JA ITC Asia Pacific Regional Finals later this month. FedEx Express Malaysia and Junior Achievement (JA), have been hosting the competition since 2008.
“We are delighted to see that more than 500 students from all over Malaysia have taken part in the FedEx Express / JA ITC workshops despite the lockdown,” said SC Chong, managing director operations, FedEx Express Malaysia. 
The FedEx Express / JA ITC provides a platform for students to gain firsthand experience of international trade and entrepreneurship while cultivating a business mindset. To date, the FedEx Express / JA ITC has reached over seven thousand students in Malaysia.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s competition was held virtually for the second consecutive year. 

Penang’s Tropical Spice Garden Seeks Funds

Penang, August 3: Southeast Asia’s only Tropical Spice Garden (TSG) in Penang, is reaching out to Malaysians to ask for their support to help it stay open for generations to come.
The eco-attraction launched its crowdfunding campaign “Join the Family, Save the Garden” to raise the vital funds it needs to remain operational and to re-open when restrictions are lifted.
The campaign which was launched on August 1 aims to raise the funds needed through subscription to its community-powered garden membership program, Spice Fam.
Malaysians who want to support the gardens can either purchase a Spice Fam membership or make a donation on the campaign site.
For as low as RM25/month, the Spice Fam subscription will allow members unlimited entry to the Garden, join monthly activities, events, virtual classes and workshops (currently ongoing) from anywhere in the world.

Sydney CEOs Offer Free Business Advice

Sydney, August 4: Wollongong natives and award winning CEO’s Melissa Core-Caballo and Rick Caballo are helping Australian businesses unlock ways to boost business revenue during lockdown through personal consulting. With the impact of lockdown threatening the futures of many businesses, this iconic duo is stepping up to offer free consulting to help businesses and individuals regain their footing and reassess their strategy.
Together, Melissa and Rick lead Dead Horse Branding, a breakthrough full service branding agency that is dominating the brand building world.
Dead Horse Branding creates, designs, and refines the many elements of brand and marketing strategy.  
“The free consulting will review the DH 7 formula of strategic planning, logo / image design, photography / visual assets, website, marketing / social media, publicity and licensing, PLUS assess what ideas you can use to rewire you and your business,” Melissa Core-Caballo said in a statement.
Brands that are interested in free consulting to help strategize and stabilize during this difficult time can reach out to info@deadhb.com and are encouraged to submit their issue and all relevant branding handles along with their questions.

Spritzer Malaysia Offers Discounts To Shopee Customers

Kuala Lumpur, August 4: – Spritzer Malaysia is having exclusive promotions on the Company’s official Shopee store in conjunction with Shopee’s 8.8 Brands Festival that ends on August 8.
Stay safe, remain hydrated and healthy in this hot weather by shopping for various Spritzer Natural Mineral Water subscription plans from as low as RM127.50 per month catering to different household needs that can be delivered safely to your doorsteps.
In addition, every subscription plan comes with a trendy rechargeable water pump dispenser that is not only functional but also lightweight in design, compact and portable.
Besides these attractive offers, consumers who shop on the Spritzer official Shopee store can get free shipping with a lowered minimum spend of RM8, daily 88 per cent off and RM8 branded deals.
There are also up to 38 million Shopee Coins up for grabs with Shopee prizes when shoppers play Shopee Farm, Spin & Win, Shopee Bubble, Shopee Candy and more. 

Hitachi Rail Enters Agreement to Acquire Thales’ 

Tokyo, August 4– Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Rail today agreed to acquire Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems business for an enterprise value of EUR1,660 million. 
The final purchase price will be determined after customary adjustments typical for a transaction of this nature.
The acquisition is expected to close in late FY2022, subject to the usual conditions including regulatory and antitrust clearances. 
Employee representatives of both Thales and Hitachi Rail will be informed and consulted according to the laws of the countries concerned throughout the process.
Hitachi intends to promote the conditions for a smooth and successful integration of the business and is willing to make a number of social commitments in this respect.

AFC Marketing Committee Outlines Progress Of AFC’s brand

Kuala Lumpur, August 5: The ever-growing appeal and expanding reach of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC’s) competitions and brand was further underlined by the AFC Marketing Committee at its third meeting held virtually today.
Led by Chairperson Dasho Ugen Tsechup, the Committee hailed the AFC’s Member Associations and valued stakeholders for their commitment in ensuring the safe and successful resumption of Asian football in 2021 amidst the challenges imposed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic continues to significantly impact the AFC’s competitions but thanks to our Member Associations, clubs and partners, we can all take great pride in the successful completion of the rebranded AFC Champions League Group Stage and AFC Asian Qualifiers Round 2,” Tsechup said in a statement.
“For the AFC’s brand and image, it was important to show the world the  growing stature and appeal of our Competitions and this has been further underlined by the ongoing partnerships that the AFC continues to enter with some of the world’s most reputable brands and media and broadcast entities.”
Members were also presented with a comprehensive overview of the AFC’s brand development programme as well as the implementation of the marketing plans and engaging activations of the key AFC competitions.

Housing Forum Held In Thailand For The Third Time

Bangkok, Aug 5:  Habitat for Humanity eighth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum with the theme, “Building forward better for inclusive housing”, will be held in Bangkok from December 7 to 9. 
This will be the third time that the affordable housing forum will be held in Thailand. 
“The focus for this year’s Asia-Pacific Housing Forum centers on how affordable and sustainable housing solutions can bring an inclusive future for vulnerable and low-income families through greener, safer, and more resilient approaches,” said Luis Noda, area vice president of Habitat for Humanity in the Asia-Pacific region in a media statement.
The forum will adopt a hybrid format, with limited in-person participation in accordance with government-mandated health and safety guidelines. 
Register at aphousingforum.org and find out more about the forum program and side events.

Scivita Medical Completes Series B Financing

Hong Kong, Aug 5: Following the completion of series A round financing, with the acceleration of the research and development and commercialization of endoscopy products, Scivita Medical has received nearly RMB400 million in Series B financing, with new investors such as Hudson Bay Capital Management and Prime Capital, as well as continuous support from existing shareholders such as GL Ventures, Lilly Asia Ventures and Matrix Partners China. 
This round of financing will continue to be used for research and development, capacity expansion, and domestic and international commercialization of innovative products in endoscopy and related fields.
The successful completion of this round of financing fully reflects the recognition of the new investors and the existing shareholders for the future development potential and the expectation of the sustainable development of Scivita Medical.
Currently, Scivita Medical’s commercialized products include 3D Visualization System, 4K UHD Camera System, 4K-3D Camera System, 4K Sinoscope, 4K Arthroscope, Single-use Hystero Videoscope, Single-use Urology Videoscope, Single-use Broncho Videoscope, etc.
In the future, Scivita Medical will continue to launch new products while promoting the simultaneous certification of related products in China, the United States, Japan, Europe and other countries and regions, and continue to promote the products to the global market.

Latest update on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Qualifiers
Kuala Lumpur, August 6: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has taken note of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan’s (FFT) withdrawal from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Qualifiers.
The AFC acknowledged the international travel restrictions put in place by the Government of Turkmenistan in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC Committees.
Additionally, the draw results of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Qualifiers conducted on June 24 remains unchanged with Group A now comprising three teams – Chinese Taipei, Bahrain and Laos, following Turkmenistan’s withdrawal.
The winners from the eight groups in the Qualifiers will seal their spots in the Continent’s flagship women’s tournament, scheduled to take place from January 20 to February 6.
Please click here for all the latest news on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Qualifiers.

Siemens invests in Singapore Aquaculture Technologies

Singapore, August 6: Singapore Aquaculture Technologies (SAT) Pte Ltd, a pioneer in utilising closed containment systems for fish farming, announced today the finalisation of a Series A financing round totalling SGD$9.2 million.
The main part of this equity investment comes from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) via Siemens Project Ventures GmbH – the financing arm of global technology company, Siemens AG.
As SAT’s first institutional shareholder, the investment from SFS accounts for a significant minority stake in the company.
Founders Dirk Eichelberger and Michael Voigtmann view Siemens’ entry as a validation of their strategy to become the leading supplier of data- and artificial intelligence- (AI) driven aquaculture solutions, in addition to producing premium fish products under their BluCurrent label.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Siemens, which started off as our technology partner, is now also invested in us as our first institutional investor,” SAT chief executive Dirk Eichelberger said in a statement.

Shaikh Salman Praises Asian Teams, Officials At Tokyo Olympics

Kuala Lumpur, August 7: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has praised Asia’s teams and officials after both Australia and Japan finished fourth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic women’s and men’s football tournaments respectively.
The Continent’s match officials also performed remarkably after AFC referees – Chris Beath and assistants Anton Shchetinin and George Lakrindis from Australia  – were selected to officiate the gold medal Final between Brazil and Spain later today.
“On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to congratulate both the Australia women’s and Japan men’s teams for their outstanding and consistent performances throughout the Tokyo Olympics.
“I must also congratulate everyone from the organisers to the athletes for their determination during the Olympic Games and, again, I praise them for the way they have represented Asia in the most challenging of circumstances.”
The AFC’s refereeing trio will be joined by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Abdulla Al-Marri from Qatar and assistant VAR Muhammad bin Jahari from Singapore in today’s eagerly-anticipated gold medal battle between Brazil and Spain.