News In Brief

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Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs. Below are snippets of all the media releases that we received from Jan 24 till Jan 30. Please check back throughout the week for more updates.

Sydney Chinatown Laneways Come To Life

Sydney, Jan 24: Get ready to leap into the Lunar New Year and celebrate the Year of the Tiger as the streets and laneways of Chinatown are transformed into a hub of family fun. 
The City of Sydney is hosting Lunar Lanes – a one-off Sydney Lunar Festival event in Haymarket featuring roving performers, market stalls, DJs, lion dancers and a night-time concert held from 5pm to 10pm on Jan 29 (Saturday). 
Lunar Lanes is also the first chance to see this year’s new crouching tiger lanterns, standing guard in Dixon Street Mall as part of the City of Sydney’s lunar lanterns display of the 12 zodiac animals. 
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the event is a terrific opportunity for Sydneysiders and visitors alike to come back and enjoy the city and Chinatown, the traditional heart of Sydney’s Lunar Festival celebrations. 
For more information on Sydney Lunar Festival events, entertainment, restaurant offerings and art installations, visit the City of Sydney’s What’s On website. 

Australia Post Delivers 52M Parcels

Sydney, Jan 24: Australia Post has again delivered a huge Christmas, with 52 million parcels delivered through the December peak and more packages moving by air than ever before.   
More than 5.6 million Australian households shopped online to spoil friends and family in the lead-up to Christmas Day, and with volumes in October and November also higher than in previous years, it demonstrated a desire to plan ahead and shop early. 
Australia Post had up to 25 dedicated freighters taking to the skies each night, and more than 8.7 million kilos of parcels were flown across the country throughout December, up 13 per cent on the previous year, with a massive 556 tonnes moved on the busiest December day.  
Australians also managed their deliveries through Australia Post’s app and website in record numbers, with more than 83 million visits, while almost 5 million new ETA (estimated time of arrival) alerts in December helped customers plan during the busy festive season by notifying them of the two-hour window parcels were to arrive ahead of Christmas. 
More than 20 million customers visited Post Offices to send cards and gifts and collect packages, including more than 3.9 million from PO Boxes, while more than 475,000 items were also collected from Australia Post’s free parcel lockers around the country during December, the most ever in a month.   

ASTEEL Celebrates Silver Jubilee

Kuching, Jan 24: Homegrown Sarawak company, ASTEEL Group, celebrated its Silver Jubilee with its 400 employees at ASTEEL’s 25^th Anniversary Celebration and Appreciation Dinner, held at Shangri-La Seafood City One, Rooftop Cityone Megamall in Kuching on Saturday.
The event was graced by Guest of Honour, Yang Berhormat Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Seri Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian.
ASTEEL Group started from humble beginnings in 1996 as Magic Network Sdn Bhd, a trading company under YKGI Holdings Bhd, previously known as Yung Kong Galvanising Industries Bhd. In 2013, with the restructuring of its East Malaysia operations, it changed its name to ASTEEL Sdn. Bhd.
It shifted its operations to a downstream business which includes manufacturing and trading of metal roofing products and continued to strengthen its efforts into becoming a one-stop building solutions provider for roofing and walling, structural decking, steel framing systems and much more.

Qatar Airways Statement On Airbus A350 Aircraft

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 24: Qatar Airways, through the legal proceedings against Airbus in the Technology and Construction division of the High Court in England, sought an expedited hearing of a preliminary issue to address the serious and legitimate safety concerns regarding the surface degradation condition adversely impacting our Airbus A350 fleet which has resulted in 21 Airbus A350 aircraft being grounded so far.
As the video above clearly shows, these defects are not superficial and one of the defects causes the aircraft’s lightning protection system to be exposed and damaged, another defect leaves the underlying composite structure exposed to moisture and ultraviolet light, and other defects include cracking in the composite and damage around a high percentage of rivets on the aircraft fuselage.
“We welcome the decision of the court to expedite this issue and order a hearing in April in an effort to bring about a more rapid resolution to the dispute,” the company said in a statement.
“We continue to strongly believe that Airbus must undertake a thorough investigation of this condition to conclusively establish its full root cause in order to establish whether any proposed repair solution will rectify the underlying condition and ensure no risk to the continued airworthiness of the aircraft.
“Qatar Airways’ number one priority remains the safety of its passengers and crew.
“For this reason, all affected aircraft will remain grounded, and we are unable to accept delivery of further aircraft tendered for delivery by Airbus.
“Airbus has responded by seeking to cancel an entirely separate contract for the delivery of 50 A321 Neo aircraft.
“We confirm that we are adhering to all of our obligations under all applicable contracts.
“It is therefore a matter of considerable regret and frustration that Airbus has taken the apparent decision to expand and escalate this dispute.
“We continue to urge Airbus to undertake a satisfactory root cause analysis into the cause of the defects, as it is required to do.
“Qatar Airways remains prepared to help with the root cause analysis however it can.
“In the meantime, we will continue to robustly defend our position in the legal proceedings.”

Latest On AFC Women’s Asian Cup India  

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 24: Following the cancellation of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Group A match between Chinese Taipei and India, which was scheduled to take place at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 23, India is considered to have withdrawn from the competition in accordance with Article 4.1 of the ‘Special Rules Applicable to AFC Competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic’.
All matches of India are now cancelled and considered null and void pursuant to Article 6.5.5 of the Competition Regulations.
For the avoidance of doubt, all points and goals in those matches shall not be taken into consideration when determining the final rankings in the group in conformity with Article 7.3 of the Competition Regulations.
Additionally, based on Article 7.4 of the Competition Regulations, the calculation of the best third-placed Participating Teams among all groups shall be determined by the method set out in Appendix 2 of the AFC Competition Operations Manual.
In this regard, only three teams – China PR, Chinese Taipei and Islamic Republic of Iran – will now be participating in Group A of the Competition.

Coalition Formed For Volunteerism

Sydney, Jan 24: A newly formed volunteer coalition comprising some of the nation’s most passionate sports administrators has joined forces to shape the future of sport volunteering in Australia.
Sport Australia’s inaugural Sport Volunteer Coalition includes experts from the sports industry, government and volunteering who will work together to transform the sport volunteer experience and promote the value of volunteering in sport.
“Sport has the biggest volunteer base of any industry in Australia and is estimated to be worth $4 billion a year but we risk losing our volunteers if we don’t provide opportunities that suit them, ”Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton said.
“We’ve identified five elements that should underpin all volunteer experiences – including making it easy to be involved, being supported and tailoring roles to meet individual needs.
The coalition, which is a key part of Sport Australia’s Sport Volunteering National Plan, will play a critical role in supporting the sector to develop strategies that help keep our clubs open and our communities active.

AFC Rallies To Support OFC’s ‘Li’oa Ma’a Tonga’ 

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 25: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has called on the Asian football family and world football to support the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)’s worthy campaign aimed at mobilising support for Tonga, following this month’s devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami which caused widespread damage throughout the Kingdom.
The campaign is called Li’oa Ma’a Tonga, which in English translates to ‘Give your all, for Tonga,’ with members of the public to donate through the official Givealittle page which will be managed by the OFC.
Funds raised will go towards repairing homes, securing essential equipment such as generators and assisting children with psychosocial recovery, health and safety and emergency kits through the OFC Emergency Programme.
“The AFC stands hand-in-hand with our sister Confederation, the OFC, and people of Tonga during this challenging time of crisis,”  AFC General Secretary Datuk Windsor John said.
“Football has immense power to uplift communities and it is essential that we, as the Asian football community, extend our support to those who need us the most and the AFC encourages everyone to stand in solidarity with Tonga.”

MARGMA Foundation Support B40 Children

Petaling Jaya, Jan 25: The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association  (MARGMA) which represents 90 per cent of glove manufacturers as well as suppliers and service  providers to the industry, has launched its support on education and food programmes in 2021 via its fully set-up and fully funded foundation. 
The MARGMA Foundation has committed over half a million ringgit to support three  programmes that will benefit B40 school children in the areas of science education, back to  school aids and healthy food for better learning.
The three programmes supported by MARGMA  Foundation will collectively benefit 900 students. 
The MARGMA Foundation was set up in 2016 with the initial objectives of providing  scholarships and financial aid to children of single mothers and rubber tappers.
Since 2016,  the foundation has provided financial aid totalling RM 1.6 Million to 810 students ranging from secondary to university levels. 

Gogoro Enters Indonesian Market

Taipei, Jan 25: Gogoro Inc, a global technology leader in battery swapping ecosystems that enable sustainable mobility solutions for cities has announced two new strategic initiatives that drive momentum in Indonesia, the world’s third largest two-wheel vehicle market.
With its new and expanded corporate and government partnerships, Gogoro is playing a key role in accelerating the growth of electric vehicles in Indonesia and is helping the country reach its climate goals and lead the transformation to electric mobility in Southeast Asia.
“Gogoro is committed to accelerating the growth and adoption of electric vehicles in Indonesia, and we are taking a proactive approach to supporting the development of an open mobility ecosystem that establishes a foundation for the EV industry,” Horace Luke, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Gogoro said.
“Our new partnerships and memorandum of understandings (MOUs) further demonstrate Gogoro’s commitment to Indonesia and our vision for working with a variety of domestic and global industry leaders to introduce a new era of transportation in the world’s third largest two-wheel market.”

ASC Congratulates Dylan Alcott

Sydney, Jan 25: The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) congratulates Dylan Alcott on being named the 2022 Australian of the Year. 
The tennis star was tonight recognised for his outstanding contribution to the nation which saw the 31-year-old win the Golden Slam as well as advocating strongly for people with a disability. 
ASC Chair Josephine Sukkar AM said she was delighted to see Alcott being recognised.  
“Dylan embodies everything that’s great about sport and he’s a role model for millions of Australians,” Sukkar said. 
“This honour isn’t just recognition for his incredible year on the court, but what he’s achieved away from tennis.”

Kissflow’s Giveaway 

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 25: Kissflow Inc, a SaaS software company, has launched a first-of-its-kind “fully managed” community platform for community managers to build and manage communities.
As part of the launch, the company is giving away $1 million worth of free credits to run SaaS customer communities on the Kissflow Community Platform.
Kissflow Community Platform ​​helps SaaS businesses gather valuable product feedback, understand the pressing issues of customers and communicate product roadmap.
“Globally, 30 per cent of SaaS companies have reported that their churn rates increased in the past year. Engaging customers and reducing churn is a constant challenge for SaaS businesses and it calls for a human-centric approach to customer success,” SaaS entrepreneur and CEO of Kissflow Suresh Sambandam said.
It is the only platform in its category that comes with dedicated Community Specialists who help SaaS community managers to develop a content strategy, understand key analytics and insights, identify trends to capitalise on, and suggest engagement tactics.
SaaS Founders and community managers can apply to avail the launch offer of $1 million free credits to Kissflow Community Platform here.

Redhill Acquires Creative Consulting Group 

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 26:  Redhill, the full-service global communications agency, has  acquired Hong Kong-based Creative Consulting Group Inc. Limited (CCG) to strengthen its  presence and service offering in Asia.
With the acquisition, CCG will become part of the growing  Redhill family, serving clients in Hong Kong and the Greater China region.
This is the first  acquisition for Redhill and is part of the firm’s continued efforts to strengthen its global reach and  expertise.
Founded in 2001 by Belinda Chan, CCG is a marketing and public relations (PR) firm with an  outstanding track record of delivering PR and communication solutions for clients across various  business sectors, including banking & finance, real estate & professional services, lifestyle, and  technology, among others.
The firm boasts a client portfolio that includes Henderson Land Group,  Cushman & Wakefield, Bank of Singapore, UBS, JP Morgan, Cyberport, Bang & Olufsen, MMD and  Aruba. 

Sophos Extends Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem 

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 26: Sophos, a global leader in next-generation cybersecurity has unveiled Sophos ZTNA, the only zero trust network access (ZTNA) offering that fully integrates with an industry-leading, next-generation endpoint solution – Sophos Intercept X – providing advanced endpoint protection and zero trust network access with a single agent.
Sophos ZTNA introduces a transparent and scalable security model for connecting users and devices to applications and data, improving and simplifying protection against ransomware and other advanced cybersecurity threats.
Sophos also just published new research, “Windows Services Lay the Groundwork for a Midas Ransomware Attack,” shining light on the importance of ZTNA.
The research details how attackers were able to spend nearly two months undetected in a target’s environment, taking advantage of limited access controls and network and application segregation, which would have been better protected with ZTNA.
The attackers further leveraged no-longer-used “ghost” remote access tools to move laterally, target and compromise other machines, create new accounts, install back doors, and exfiltrate data, before releasing the Midas ransomware.  

Qatar Airways Welcomes The Year Of The Tiger 

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 26: Qatar Airways sets the stage for an unforgettable Lunar New Year experience with a special curated selection of festive treats and decorations onboard and in lounges, and traditional ‘hóngbāo’ red envelopes for all passengers travelling between Jan 31 and Feb 1 on selected routes.
The Year of the Tiger celebrations will extend to passengers at Al Safwa First and Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Hamad International Airport (HIA) where they can enjoy a reunion dinner and sample traditional festive dishes from the bespoke Lunar New Year menu.
Marking the long-awaited end of winter and the start of spring, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in East Asia.
All passengers travelling on Qatar Airways to and from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore can enjoy a range of celebratory dishes and treats an passengers on the selected routes will be welcomed with a ‘hóngbāo’ red envelope containing a complimentary Super Wi-Fi code.
Those traveling to Doha will additionally receive an exclusive 22 per cent Qatar Duty Free (QDF) discount for some of the world’s most luxurious brands at HIA. 

Carsome Group Appoints Ravi Shankar As CMO

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 26: Southeast Asia’s largest car e-commerce platform Carsome has appointed Ravi Shankar Mallavarapu as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to head multidisciplinary functions and continue driving Carsome’s leadership in all marketing-related aspects.
In his new role, Mallavarapu will oversee brand, marketing, digital, social media, public relations, growth, market research and customer experience.
He will also work closely with Carsome’s Chief Brand Officer Derek Tan on brand, creative, production and sponsorships.
Carsome Co-founder and Group CEO Eric Cheng said that this appointment is an important move to continue strengthening Carsome’s leadership team to achieve greater heights.
“Ravi is a data-driven marketer who balances creativity with excellent execution. We are very excited to have him onboard to accelerate our business growth and help establish Carsome’s mission in the market, which is to create a new standard of buying and selling cars,” Cheng added.

NKF’s Annual Dialysis Conference Is Back!

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 26: Malaysia has amongst the highest rates of kidney disease in the world, with over 7000 people diagnosed with kidney failure every year.
While a kidney transplant is often seen as an ideal solution for someone with kidney failure, the limited amount of donor kidneys available means that for most patients, regular dialysis treatment is the only real available option.
In conjunction with World Kidney Day 2022, the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) will be organising its 16th Annual Dialysis Conference 2022 at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel on March 5 and 6 − with the theme “Holistic Care in Dialysis.”
For the first time, the one and a half-day conference will focus on palliative care in dialysis among other informative sessions led by notable experts that aim to discuss and share knowledge on the latest developments in kidney research – which will lead to improved outcomes and quality of life for patients and their caregivers.
Other notable topics include expanded haemodialysis or HDX, pregnancy in dialysis and psychosexual issues in dialysis patients.

MR D.I.Y. Opens 800th Store

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 26: Residents living in and around Bukit Jalil can rejoice – everyday essentials at “Always Low Prices” are now available nearby, with the opening of MR D.I.Y’s 800th store at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, the latest community hotspot in Bukit Jalil.  
The home improvement retailer’s latest store spans over 18,000 square feet and features approximately 18,000 products across five key categories (hardware, household & furnishings,  electrical, stationery, and sports equipment), providing customers with a wide variety of choices in a comfortable shopping environment.
In addition, the store also includes a MR. TOY store-within-the-store, offering customers ‘Always Low Prices, Always Fun’ value-for-money toys.
“We are thrilled to open MR. D.I.Y. ‘s 800th store at this new lifestyle hotspot at Pavilion Bukit Jalil,” MR D.I.Y.’s Head of Marketing Alex Goh said. 
In addition to the special 800th store opening programme, MR D.I.Y. customers nationwide  can continue to enjoy its “Price Lock: Harga Kami Tetap Sama” initiative, which is the retailer’s commitment to keep prices of its MR D.I.Y., MR. DOLLAR and MR. TOY products locked until March 31.

MR D.I.Y. Recognised At Putra Brand Awards

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 26: It’s a gold for MR D.I.Y Group at the 2021 edition of the Putra Brand Awards.
Malaysia’s largest home improvement retailer was recently accorded the accolade in the Award’s Retail Category, marking yet another major milestone for the brand. 
Launched in 2010 by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) in association with Malaysia’s Most Valuable Brands (MMVB), the Putra Brand Awards is the only brand award voted by Malaysian consumers, utilising a robust consumer research methodology developed by a research partner. 
The 2021 awards, presented on Jan 21 at Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, were the result of votes by approximately 11,000 consumers across multiple categories.  
Nominees in the various categories included ASTRO, Digi, Ikea, AEON, KFC, Watsons, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and 7-eleven, amongst others. 

Genetec Delivers Its Best Quarter to Date

BANGI, Jan 26: Technology leader in providing fully customised, intelligent manufacturing automation solutions, Genetec Technology Berhad announced their best financial quarter to date for their third quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 (Q3FY2022).
The Company recorded a 2,350 per cent growth on their quarter on quarter (QoQ) profit after tax (PAT) performance, with an increase of RM18.8 million for the said quarter to RM19.6 million, compared to RM0.80 million registered for the corresponding quarter (Q3FY2021) due to higher revenues and managed costs.
For the same quarter, Genetec’s profit before tax (PBT) stood at RM21.0 million which is higher by 19.3 percent than the RM17.6 million posted in their second quarter (Q2FY2022), due to higher sales whilst costs remained stable.
Revenue for the quarter stood at RM65.3 million, an increase of 98.5 percent QoQ, and a 10.1 per cent increase over the preceding quarter Q2FY2022, bringing the annual total to RM164.9 million for the 9 months ending 31 December 2022 (9MFY2022).
Earnings per share stood at 34.53 sen (fully diluted) in Q3FY2022 compared to EPS of 2.06 sen in Q3FY2021.

Alter Domus Selects EZOPS For Digital Transformation

San Francisco, Jan 26: EZOPS, an AI-enabled data control, workflow automation, and regulatory reporting platform, announced today that they have been selected by Alter Domus for its digital transformation exercise.
Alter Domus is a leading provider of integrated solutions for the alternative investment industry.
EZOPS was brought on to help Alter Domus digitally transform and innovate its reconciliation operations, business workflow and process automation across their firm.
Alter Domus specialises in servicing complex alternative investment products, funds and clients.
It has over 3,300 employees across 36 offices in 21 jurisdictions around the globe.

Labnovation’s Test Kit Approved By Philippines FDA 

Singapore, Jan 26: Asia’s integrated healthcare company, Clearbridge Health Limited (Clearbridge; SGX:1H3), has announced that Labnovation Technologies, Inc’s COVID-19 Antigen Rapid (ART) Test Kit, which is imported by Clearbridge and registered for use in the Philippines, was approved on January 24 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines for self-testing.
The FDA of the Philippines approved two self-administered COVID-19 ART Test Kits, one from Labnovation and one from Abott Panbio, in compliance with the application requirements listed in the FDA Advisory No. 2021-0684 entitled “Guidance on the Process for the Issuance of Special Certification for COVID-19 Test Kits Based on FDA Memorandum No. 2020-006 and FDA Memorandum No. 2021-009.”
These kits can be used by individuals to detect SARS-CoV-2 antigen from nasal swabs of probable COVID-19 patients.
To ensure safety, efficacy and quality of these COVID-19 test kits, the FDA of the Philippines also advised the public and stakeholders to source for the COVID-19 test kits from FDA authorised importers including the Group who are holders of the Certification for the COVID-19 test kits or their duly authorised FDA licensed distributors.
The Group is currently the only importer and distributor of Labnovation’s COVID-19 ART Test Kit in the Philippines as the Group has submitted and obtained the relevant regulatory approval for the ART Test Kit to be used in the country.

New Resources To Focus On Health, Performance

Sydney, Jan 27: Body image, breast health and nutrition are among the new educational resources being launched by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) today to support female athletes in both sport and in life.  
The education modules are part of the AIS Female Performance and Health Initiative (FPHI), an Australian leading program launched in 2019 to raise awareness about matters specifically relating to female athletes.
Following the success of the first modules launched in 2021, six new topics specific to female athletes – body image, nutrition, bone health, pelvic health, breast health and low energy availability – have been added to the AIS FPHI online learning page.
“The AIS is intent on providing a leadership role in supporting female athlete health and performance,” AIS Acting CEO Matti Clements said.
“Sustainable success is a key aim of the AIS and the foundation of Australia’s collective National High Performance Sport Strategy.”

Know Diabetes Campaign Concludes Successfully

Petaling Jaya, Jan 27: Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG) has concluded their latest medical awareness campaign – KNOW DIABETES.
Dedicated to shedding light on the prevention and management of diabetes, in conjunction with World Diabetes Day 2021, the awareness campaign was underlined by the release of a free comprehensive e-guidebook on managing diabetes, as well as a four-part webinar series on understanding diabetes and its effects on different parts of the body.
The KNOW DIABETES campaign aimed to enable greater understanding of diabetes by getting the public to ‘KNOW’ it’s prevention, as well as how to care for and control the health condition.
This is in a bid to maximise the number of Malaysians who can say ‘NO’, be it to diabetes or its more serious complications.
The e-guidebook is still available for free public access to better encourage awareness and education of diabetes in Malaysia in three languages – English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Mandarin.

Myanmar Government Approves Billions In FDIs

Nay Pyi Taw, Jan 27: The Myanmar Government said today it has approved US$3.82 billion equivalent in foreign direct investments (FDIs) and US$651 million equivalent in domestic investments in the first year since the State Administration Council (SAC) took office.
The investment commitments underscore confidence in the country’s economic potential amid a return to national stability and efforts to increase vaccination rates to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Information (MOI) and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER) released the latest investment figures for the country for the period between Feb 1 last year to this Jan 20.

Marco Polo’s New Wind Farms Acquisition

Singapore, Jan 27: Marco Polo Marine Ltd and its subsidiaries Oceanic Crown Offshore Marine Services Ltd, has entered into a share purchase agreement with Kerry TJ Logistics Co Ltd and Posh Investment Holdings (Taiwan) Pte. Ltd has acquired the entire share capital of PKR Offshore Co. Ltd. (“PKRO”) for an undisclosed amount.
PKRO is part of the POSH Kerry Renewables joint venture, a one-stop solutions provider for the offshore renewables sector that offers a comprehensive suite of services across the entire life cycle of offshore wind projects.
The acquisition will add another two vessels to the Group’s fleet, reinforcing its capacity to service the offshore wind farm market. 
According to GWEC Market Intelligence, Taiwan is positioned to become one the largest offshore wind markets in Asia, excluding Mainland China and Japan. 
Taiwan’s offshore wind power generation capacity is expected to reach 15GW over 10 years between 2026 and 2035 and also aims to derive 20 percent of overall energy from green sources by 2050.

Bitget Announces Sponsorship Deal 

Singapore, Jan 27: Global cryptocurrency exchange, Bitget, announces its sponsorship with Team Spirit, Russia’s leading esports organisation and winners of The Dota 2 International 2021.
As part of the agreement, Bitget will be featured for multiple brand presences including logo placement on jerseys, in-game visibility and exposure on social media platforms. Moreover, various esports and GameFi related trading competitions, giveaways and promotions will be held in conjunction with this partnership. 
Team Spirit is a Russian esports organisation founded in 2015.
Since its establishment, the professional multi-gaming organisation has been actively involved in the global esports landscape and has rosters in three disciplines, Dota2 ,CS:GO, and Hearthstone.
In October 2021, Team Spirit won The Dota 2 International 2021 and became the only second-ever Eastern European team to become The International champions since Natus Vincere in 2011, while securing the biggest prize pool in esports history of US$18 million. 

Sports Docuseries Premieres On Astro

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 27: Astro’s highly anticipated sports docuseries, ‘Sampai Mati Kuala  Lumpur’, that chronicles Kuala Lumpur City Football Club’s audacious journey to win the 2021  Malaysia Cup against all odds, will premier exclusively on Astro from Feb 1.
The eight-episode docuseries will be available to all Astro customers with the first two episodes showing  on February 1 and 2 at 9PM on Astro Arena (Ch 801), with following episodes showing over the next three weeks on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the same time. 
Astro first announced the first-of-its-kind content partnership with the Malaysian Super League side  before the 2021 season commenced.
The behind-the-scenes docuseries takes sports fans through a  never-before-seen perspective of KL City FC, with cameras inside their training facilities, on the pitch and in the dressing room during matchday.
All Astro customers can watch the first episode of ‘Sampai Mati Kuala Lumpur’ at 9PM on Astro Arena (Ch 801) and Astro Prima (Ch 105). Watch all eight episodes every Tuesday and  Wednesday at 9PM on Astro Arena (Ch 801). 

Thailand’s Civil Engineering PCL Finally Listed

Bangkok, Jan 27: Civil Engineering PCL, Thailand’s integrated construction and civil engineering firm, made a debut on the Stock Exchange of Thailand today with the ‘CIVIL’ symbol.
Its launch is marked by operations which are capable of achieving net profit margins above the industry average.
Civil CEO Piyadit Atsavasirisuk expressed confidence that CIVIL’s shares would receive enthusiastic response on the first trading, backed by the company’s track record dating back to over 50 years with over 1,000 large-scale construction projects and major infrastructure schemes being successfully executed.
CIVIL’s experience and expertise are in railway works, double-track railways and high-speed trains, airports, dams and reservoirs, industrial estates, and other infrastructure construction which aims to use modern technology and innovations to increase business efficiency.

Spritzer Introduces Ong-Ong Wishes, Sui-Sui Dishes!

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 28: Spritzer is showcasing “ONG-ONG Wishes, SUI-SUI Dishes!,” a short film introducing festive dishes for this Chinese New Year put together by the Head Chef of De Beauty Restaurant.
Presented alongside Spritzer Natural Mineral Water, “ONG-ONG Wishes, SUI-SUI Dishes!” is a procession of popular dishes served against the backdrop of the reunion dinner held on the eve of the lunar new year when families get together to celebrate a time of togetherness and wish each other a healthy and prosperous year ahead.
Viewers can watch from this link to enjoy the light-hearted atmosphere and a whole lot of natural mineral water goodness.

Plenitude Joins Hands With TAR UC

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 28: As part of its ongoing efforts to nurture local talents in the tourism and hospitality industry, Plenitude Bhd, has established a partnership with Tunku Abdul Rahman University College through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Jan 26. 
The collaboration will see Plenitude creating opportunities to exchange industry knowledge among employees and students at strategic and working levels. 
Plenitude director Hashimah Ismail said she welcomed the collaboration which is part of Plenitude’s vision of building sustainable real estate business activities and communities of the future.
This is in line with Plenitude’s mission to care for people, communities and the environment under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to deliver optimal Economic Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Sustainability practices. 
Under the MOU, students from TAR UC can gain insights into industry-relevant skills and knowledge through the collective scope of Industry Knowledge and Job Placement. 

How Tiger Brokers Celebrate The Year Of The Tiger

Singapore, Jan 28: The Year of the Tiger is a special year for Tiger Brokers and in the spirit of celebrating the Lunar New Year, the retail trading platform is launching a Chinese New Year campaign, Gold Xi Fa Cai, with a series of exciting activities and attractive rewards such as gold giveaways for new and existing users.
From now till Feb 6, Tiger Brokers will be giving away Chinese New Year gifts ranging from collectible Tiger Brokers figurines, limited edition Red Packets, Tiger merchandise such as notebooks, laptop sleeves and more at its Chinatown pop-up store located on Smith Street.
To participate in the giveaway, customers can make their way down to the pop-up store to register an account and download the Tiger Trade APP, after which they can spin the Lucky Wheel and stand a chance to win the exclusive merchandise.
Existing Tiger Trade users can also participate in this giveaway and just need to show their APP to spin the wheel, it is as easy as that! There will also be a photo taking session with Tiger Brokers’ mascot as well as free balloons for kids at the pop-up store!

AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Set For Action

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 28: The road to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Final on Feb 6 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 qualification is now clearer as the final eight teams have been decided after the thrilling Group Stage matches.
Eight-time champions China PR, title holders Japan, Australia, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 winners, Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand have all advanced to the Quarter-finals that promises more anticipated contests on Jan 30.
Adding excitement to the showpiece, the leading five teams at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 will qualify to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 while two teams will secure their places in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.
As Australia have already qualified as co-host in the global showpiece, the fixtures and sequence of the Playoff matches will depend on the progress of the Matildas.
Click here for the latest news and match schedule for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022.

MOH To Launch Dengue Monitoring System

Petaling Jaya, Jan 28: The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MoH) will implement a data-driven prediction system, Dengue Model forecasting Satellite-based System (D-MOSS), developed over the last two years by a consortium headed up by HR Wallingford in partnership with the International Medical University and the Institute for Medical Research under the Malaysian Ministry of Health.
Funded by the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme the system predicts any outbreak 6-months in advance for timely intervention and management of the disease. 
The system has successfully been implemented in Vietnam as well as parts of Malaysia  in Kedah and Melaka. 
Already a success in Vietnam, D-MOSS was extended to Malaysia whereby Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim, International Medical University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Director of IMU’s Institute for Research, Development and Innovation was invited by HR Wallingford to participate and lead the project in the nation due to his expertise in the disease. 
D-MOSS in Malaysia was first piloted in Melaka and Kedah in 2020. 
Spurred by this positive response in the two pilot projects, MoH has decided to implement D-MOSS across all states from September 2021 onwards.  

IgY Antibody Technology Against SARS-CoV-2 Unveiled

Hong Kong, Jan 28: An IgY neutralising antibody, which is claimed to inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, by over 99 percent, was launched in Shenzhen on Monday, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.
The IgY antibody technology, with an invention patent issued by China National Intellectual Property Association, was jointly unveiled by Sino-Swed Tongkang Biotech Ltd. (Shenzhen) and a local precision medicine research institute.
After the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the two developers leveraged their strength in antibody engineering technology and began to develop antibodies that can specifically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 under the guidance of Swedish scientist Sven Skog, according to the Daily report.
The IgY antibody that shows inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 was extracted and obtained from the yolks of eggs delivered by immunised hens.
The results from the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s BSL-3 laboratory in October 2020 showed that the inhibitory effect of the disinfectant containing the antibody on a wild-type novel coronavirus reached 99.85 percent.

Silverlake Expands To Pakistan

Singapore, Jan 28: Singapore mainboard listed Silverlake Axis Ltd, the ASEAN market leader in core banking software has announced an expansion to the partnership with Silkbank Limited, a leading commercial and Islamic bank in Pakistan.
Through the latest agreement, Silkbank will upgrade its card management suite to use Silverlake Axis’s latest platform, Silverlake Symmetri OmniCard V6.
OmniCard is an internationally certified card management system that allows banks to run flexible and secure operations including issuing and acquiring of all types of credit, debit and prepaid cards, ATM management, 3D secure e-commerce transaction processing, management of fraud, disputes, and cardholder’s loyalty.
This latest move further strengthens Silverlake Axis’s leadership position within Pakistan’s credit card market, where it currently commands over 80 percent market share.
It also allows Pakistan’s and the region’s banks to tap into Silverlake’s award winning technologies to grow their card footprint, and in the process, better cater to their customers.

Team Lewis Launches Latest Trends Guide

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 28: Team Lewis has launched its latest trends guide in partnership with market research firm GWI.
The report dives into how today’s multi-moment audience is evolving and the changes the pandemic has brought about in today’s marketing multiverse.
Markets covered in the report include Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, UK and US.
“Digital fatigue has hit an all-time high and with the expansion of marketing channels and technology, consumers’ expectations of brands are changing,” Team Lewis Malaysia Managing Director Ann Chong.
“In order to combat the state of marketing immunity that consumers are in today, brands must look towards creativity and innovative delivery. As marketers, we need to ensure we’re presenting the right message at the right moment through the right channels – therefore insight into what truly resonates with your audience is paramount to success.”
Download the Marketing in 2022: Multi-Moment Audience report here.