News In Brief

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 we received from March 11 till the end of the week. This article updates throughout the week.

Samantha Glass Joins ABEA

Sydney, March 11: Samantha Glass has been appointed to the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) Board of Directors, taking over from Janet Hamilton.
Glass, who is the Director of Corporate Affairs, Communication, and Sustainability at ICC Sydney, brings a wealth of experience in sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
Her appointment is part of ABEA’s ongoing efforts to meet industry demands and maintain a balanced board.
Peter King, ABEA’s Board Chair, highlighted Glass’s contributions to sustainability and her role in ICC Sydney’s Legacy Program.
The association continues to seek representation in areas like emerging leaders and small businesses as it aims for growth and innovation.

Tetra Pak Earns ‘A’

Kuala Lumpur, March 11: Tetra Pak has been awarded an ‘A’ score by the global environmental non-profit CDP for its transparency and performance in forest conservation, marking the eighth consecutive year of recognition.
The company stood out among over 21,000 assessed, joining the top two per cent for its efforts. Additionally, Tetra Pak scored an ‘A-‘ in Climate Change and Water Security, being the sole entity in the carton packaging sector to achieve leadership status across all CDP disclosure categories.
Gilles Tisserand, VP of Climate & Biodiversity at Tetra Pak, emphasized the urgent need for actions that reduce value chain impacts, restore landscapes, and transform food systems.
CDP CEO Sherry Madera commended the A List companies for their environmental transparency and the role it plays in safeguarding the future.

Hisense & Xbox Collaborate

Kuala Lumpur, March 11: Hisense has partnered with Xbox to revolutionize the gaming industry with its innovative Laser display technology.
This collaboration aims to enhance the home gaming experience by offering a more than 100-inch screen display, providing gamers with an immersive, true-to-color, and eye-friendly environment.
Jerry Liu, Vice President of Hisense International, emphasized that this partnership under the Designed for Xbox Program will offer an unprecedented gaming experience, promoting a larger-than-life visual adventure.
The integration allows for a seamless connection between Xbox and Hisense Laser display products, ensuring smooth gameplay with high refresh rates and low latency.
Hisense continues to innovate in providing superior viewing experiences for gaming and home entertainment enthusiasts.

Liveris Hub Boosts Innovation

Sydney, March 11: The St Vincent’s Curran Foundation has announced a significant contribution from the Liveris Family, launching the $1 million Paula Liveris Innovation Hub within the St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research in Sydney.
This hub aims to foster collaboration and discovery in medical research, acting as a central component of the newly introduced St Vincent’s Discovery and Innovation Program.
The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between clinical research and practical healthcare solutions, enhancing the St Vincent’s Sydney Health Innovation Precinct’s capacity for breakthroughs in health. The program is supported by a wider campaign to raise $4.5 million over three years, aiming to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare. The hub will serve as a collaborative space for clinicians, researchers, and industry partners, promoting the development of early-stage discovery and translational research projects.

Flexidynamic Wins RM12.4M Deal

Kuala Lumpur, March 11: Flexidynamic Holdings Berhad, a prominent engineering solutions provider, has secured a RM12.4 million contract through its subsidiary Flexidynamic Engineering Sdn Bhd, for mechanical and electrical works at a water treatment plant in Kelantan, Malaysia.
This milestone project with Usaha Pammek Sdn Bhd showcases Flexidynamic’s ability to deliver complex solutions beyond its core rubber glove industry, signaling strategic diversification and growth. Additionally, the company welcomes The SEA Capital Sdn. Bhd. as a significant new shareholder, holding a 5.01 per cent stake, further bolstering its market position and expansion prospects.
This partnership and project reflect Flexidynamic’s commitment to excellence and sustainable infrastructure development in Malaysia.

Rebuilding Ukraine’s Science

Paris, March 11: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has released a detailed report estimating that restoring Ukraine’s public scientific infrastructure, severely impacted by ongoing conflict, will require over $1.26 billion.
This assessment covers damages to 1,443 buildings and laboratories across 177 scientific institutions, and the destruction or loss of 750 pieces of scientific and technical equipment since February 2022.
The war has not only physically damaged infrastructure but has also led to a significant disruption within the Ukrainian scientific community, with a 12 per cent reduction in the workforce due to displacement and a marked decrease in scientific funding.
UNESCO’s findings highlight the critical state of Ukraine’s scientific contributions, notably in Computer Science, Nuclear Physics, and Astronomy, sectors that saw considerable growth in publications and international recognition before the conflict.
The Kharkiv region, a significant hub for scientific research, has faced the brunt of this devastation, with substantial financial losses recorded for key institutions.
The report also addresses the broader implications of this destruction, including the loss of critical research on local biodiversity and ecology, and raises alarms over the security risks posed by the damage to nuclear monitoring facilities.
As funding dwindles and scientists are forced into exile or remote work, the future of Ukrainian science—once a beacon of innovation and discovery—hangs in balance. UNESCO’s upcoming meeting in Paris aims to galvanize support and outline further steps to assist Ukraine’s scientific community in these challenging times.

B-cycle Review Announced

Gold Coast, March 11: The Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) is initiating an immediate review of Australia’s B-cycle, a government-authorized battery recycling scheme, due to unforeseen economic pressures affecting industry participants and partners.
Initially set for 2025, this review aims to enhance the scheme’s effectiveness amid national economic downturns and increasing operational costs. B-cycle, launched in 2022, has established over 5,000 community drop-off points and recycled 4.5 million kilograms of batteries.
The BSC plans to consult with the industry and government bodies to address current challenges, including the need for regulatory interventions to standardize battery imports and tackle the rise in battery fires.
Adjustments to the scheme will focus on rebates, incidental collection categories, and boundary modifications to accommodate population growth.
The BSC is also advocating for national strategies on safe battery handling and recycling, especially for lithium-based and button batteries, to align with broader e-stewardship initiatives for electronic products.

Innovating Workforce Solutions

Sydney, March 12: KPMG Australia and Stone & Chalk have introduced the third cohort of their Future Technology Program, focusing on innovative workforce technologies.
This initiative pairs Stone & Chalk’s vast innovation network with KPMG’s expertise to propel startups tackling modern work challenges.
The selected startups offer solutions ranging from enhancing employee engagement and wellbeing to streamlining workforce management and compliance.
The program promises to accelerate these startups’ market readiness through guidance, support, and access to KPMG’s global industry networks.
The participating companies include Crewmojo, GoFIGR, Matae, MyPass Global, and RespectX, each bringing forward-thinking solutions to the evolving workplace environment.

Vacation Ownership Booms

Sydney, March 12: In the face of rising inflation and escalating travel costs, vacation ownership is experiencing a resurgence as a cost-effective alternative for holidaymakers.
The USA’s vacation ownership sector saw a 30 per cent increase in sales to $10.5 billion from 2022 to 2023, with Travel + Leisure Co. reporting a 93 per cent surge in Club Wyndham Asia memberships.
Originating in the 1960s at ski resorts, the model has evolved, offering a wide array of global destinations through clubs like Club Wyndham South Pacific and Accor Vacation Club.
These clubs offer long-term savings by allowing members to secure future vacations at today’s prices, shielding them from inflation.
Barry Robinson of Travel + Leisure Co. highlights the significant savings on accommodation costs over time.
Member testimonials, like Mark Paul Curtis’s, underline the financial logic and value provided by vacation ownership.
Adding to the appeal, Club Wyndham South Pacific now offers over 200 complimentary activities, enhancing the vacation experience for members.

monday.com Boosts APJ Team

Sydney, March 13: monday.com Ltd. announced significant expansions to its Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) team with the appointment of Diana Terry as Head of Solution Engineering and the promotion of Elian Priel to Customer Success Lead. This move aims to enhance the company’s regional presence and customer engagement. Terry, with a robust background in solution engineering, joins from Salesforce, where she led a large team and drove product adoption across Australia. Priel, with three years at monday.com, previously led the Scale Customer Success team across various regions and will now focus on regional customer experience and team development in APJ. The company, which has a substantial customer base in ANZ, is also looking to fill roles across multiple teams as it continues to grow in the APJ region.

Penang Woman’s Secrets Unveiled

Petaling Jaya, March 13: Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (MGRC), in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), announces two groundbreaking agreements to explore the genetic history and age of the Penang Woman.
The first project will delve into the genetics of Penang Woman, with USM providing genetic materials for MGRC Therapeutics to perform DNA extraction and sequencing.
The second focuses on dating an ancient skeleton and Guar Kepah pottery using advanced techniques, with both institutions co-authoring their findings.
These partnerships aim to illuminate the prehistoric life in the Sunda and Sahul regions, enhancing scientific and historical understanding.

Decade Celebrating Bird Diversity

Sydney, March 14: BirdLife Australia has unveiled results from the 10th annual Aussie Bird Count, marking a decade of the nation’s largest citizen science event.
Last October, over 60,000 Australians participated, recording 3.6 million birds with the Rainbow Lorikeet topping the chart once again.
This initiative highlights Australians’ enduring passion for connecting with nature and contributing to long-term environmental insights, with changes in bird populations reflecting broader ecological shifts. The Aussie Bird Count’s growing participation and accumulated data underscore its significance in understanding and preserving Australia’s avian biodiversity.

Foundit Revolutionizes Recruitment

Singapore, March 14: In a significant advancement for the recruitment industry, foundit, previously known as Monster APAC & ME, has launched its innovative hiring solution across Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
This next-gen recruitment technology aims to redefine talent acquisition by offering ‘Super Profiles’, Smart Insights, AI-powered ‘Magic Search’, and mass personalized outreach capabilities.
Demonstrating remarkable efficiency improvements, the solution has led to an 80 per cent increase in recruiter productivity and a 4.5X reduction in recruitment costs.
Foundit’s new platform is designed to tackle the challenges recruiters face, by providing comprehensive solutions that include access to both active and passive candidates, thus enhancing the hiring process and connecting talent with the right opportunities more effectively

MR D.I.Y. Unveils Raya Film

Kuala Lumpur, March 14: Home improvement giant MR D.I.Y. launched a heartwarming Hari Raya Aidilfitri webfilm, ‘Sama-Sama Melangkah’, celebrating family bonds.
The story follows Rahmat, facing challenges in balancing work and family commitments after relocating to the city.
Amidst these trials, the film underscores the importance of family unity and reconciliation. Available on MR D.I.Y.’s digital platforms, the film is part of the ‘Raya Sama-Sama’ campaign, offering festive promotions and featuring Alif Satar as the festive ambassador.

Adyen Tops in Forrester Report

Sydney, March 15: Adyen, a leading global fintech platform, has been highly acclaimed in The Forrester Wave™ Merchant Payment Providers, Q1 2024 report, achieving the highest scores across six critical areas: vision, innovation, payment performance optimization, omnichannel payments, POS terminals/devices, and payment data enrichment.
Distinguished for its visionary approach, Adyen stands out as the sole recipient of the top score in vision among all evaluated companies.
The Forrester report highlights Adyen’s exceptional payment performance, innovative edge, and its unique, integrated platform that supports various payment methods across multiple geographies and channels.
Adyen’s approach is lauded as ideal for merchants aiming for a seamless omnichannel experience, with its simplicity and efficiency likened to a technological leap akin to moving from a Nokia to an iPhone. Roelant Prins, Adyen’s Chief Commercial Officer, views this recognition as both an acknowledgment of Adyen’s fintech leadership and a tribute to its customer-centric innovation strategy.
Adyen’s platform, leveraging cutting-edge technology like machine learning, is designed to support the growth and global expansion of large enterprises, including notable clients like Microsoft and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

EMTOP Sale: DIY Delights

Kuala Lumpur, March 15: EMTOP is offering Malaysians an opportunity to gear up for Hari Raya Aidilfitri with significant savings on DIY projects through its ‘Super Saver Sale’.
From March 1 to 31, 2024, shoppers can enjoy up to 50 per cent off on a selection of over 100 hardware tools. Highlights include major discounts on popular items like angle grinders and rotary hammers.
This sale spans an extensive range of products from power tools to garden and air tools, aiming to cater to both DIY aficionados and professional tradesmen alike.
Launched by MR D.I.Y. Group in April 2023, EMTOP has quickly established itself with six outlets across the Klang Valley, offering a comprehensive catalog of over 1,000 hardware products.
A key feature for users is the interoperability of a standard battery across more than 100 tools, emphasizing convenience and efficiency.