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 May 27 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week.

Hisense Named UEFA VAR Provider

China, May 29: Hisense has been announced as the Official Screen Provider for the Video-Assisted Referee (VAR) system at UEFA EURO 2024™, marking the first time UEFA has granted exclusive rights to a sponsor.
The announcement was made at the 2024 Sports Marketing Workshop in Qingdao, China.
Hisense will supply state-of-the-art screens for the central VAR Room in Leipzig, Germany.
Throughout the tournament, VAR reviews will prominently display the Hisense brand at game sites and on stadium screens.
“UEFA is delighted that Hisense is committed to European National Team football by, amongst others, providing the VAR screens for the tournament. The Hisense cutting-edge screen technology will support the VAR refereeing teams to review and assist on-field decisions ensuring greater fairness at the upcoming UEFA EURO 2024™,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director of UEFA.
Hisense’s selection highlights its display technology expertise and strong market presence, with TV shipments securing the second position worldwide for two consecutive years and a notable 35.9 per cent year-on-year increase in Europe during Q1 this year.
Hisense has been a partner for UEFA EURO tournaments since 2016, reinforcing its commitment to technological development and enhancing the viewing experience.

Samsung Tops OLED Market

Korea, May 30: Samsung Electronics has secured the top position in global OLED monitor sales just one year after launching its first OLED model, the 34″ Odyssey OLED G8.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Samsung captured 34.7 per cent of the market share by revenue and 28.3 per cent by sales volume in 2023.
“The OLED monitor market is highly competitive, so reaching the top spot requires unparalleled innovation and product quality,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics.
Samsung has also maintained its leadership in the overall global gaming monitor market for the fifth consecutive year, with a 20.8 per cent market share in total revenue.
The company announced an expansion of its OLED monitor lineup at CES 2024, including new models like the Odyssey OLED G8, G6, and an updated G9. The Odyssey OLED G9 was named a CES® 2024 Innovation Awards Honoree.

Epson Ranks Fifth Globally

Sydney, May 30: Epson has been ranked fifth in the Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2024, marking its 11th appearance on the list since its inception in 2012.
Toshihiko Kobayashi, General Administrative Manager of the Intellectual Property Division, stated, “It’s an honour to be selected as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators. In 2022, on the occasion of Epson’s 80th anniversary, we established our corporate purpose statement, which reads ‘Our philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world,’ and have demonstrated this aspiration both inside and outside Epson.”
Kobayashi continued, “Based on our corporate purpose, we are evolving our approach to sustainability management and aim to solve societal issues while achieving corporate growth. Intellectual property is one of the pillars of this sustainable management.”
Clarivate’s evaluation process involves analyzing invention data, patent quality, and global influence to identify the top innovators annually.

Portable Pathology Proven Reliable

Adelaide, May 30: On-site pathology tests for infectious diseases in rural and remote areas can be as accurate as hospital lab tests, according to a Flinders University report. Researchers evaluated Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) for SARS-CoV-2 in over 100 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Our study demonstrates that when point-of-care testing models are effectively established and managed, the quality of pathology results can be equivalent to laboratory tests, and the benefits for patients are overwhelmingly evident,” said Dr. Susan Matthews from the International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing at Flinders University.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander COVID-19 POCT Program, launched in April 2020, reached 105 communities, helping to prevent numerous COVID-19 infections and saving healthcare costs.
The program’s success was supported by robust training and an External Quality Assessment (EQA) program developed with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP).
“The EQA program allowed us to assess the accuracy and reliability of the COVID-19 test results and confirmed the technical competency of the trained remote health service POCT operators,” said Dr. Matthews. The program has expanded to include tests for Influenza A and B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the need for cost-effective and accredited EQA programs.

Terpel, Gogoro Launch Battery Swap

Bogota, May 31: Terpel and Gogoro Inc. have launched Gogoro’s battery swapping in Bogota, Colombia, under the Terpel Voltex brand, with four GoStations and plans to expand to 14 by the end of 2024. The Gogoro 2 Plus and Gogoro VIVA Mix Smartscooters were also introduced.
“Gogoro and Terpel share a common vision for accelerating the shift to two-wheel sustainable transportation in Colombia and across Latin America. Gogoro Swap & Go battery swapping addresses many of the challenges that traditional plug-in charging presents,” said Horace Luke, founder and CEO of Gogoro.
“In line with our commitment to supporting Colombia, we continue to expand our portfolio with alternatives that contribute to Colombia’s decarbonization goals and encourage the deployment of electromobility solutions,” said Oscar Bravo, president of Terpel.
Gogoro battery swapping stations will initially be at four Terpel service stations in Bogota, expanding to other cities such as Medellín. The Gogoro Smartscooters will be marketed by Motored, a leading two-wheel distributor in Colombia.
Gogoro’s ecosystem is an open and interoperable battery swapping platform, supporting over 600,000 riders in Taiwan with more than 570 million battery swaps to date, saving over 870,750 tons of CO2 since its launch in 2015.

Bitdeer Secures $150M Investment

Singapore, May 31: Bitdeer Technologies Group (Nasdaq: BTDR) has announced a private placement financing agreement with Tether International Limited, generating $100 million from the issuance of 18,587,360 Class A ordinary shares. An additional $50 million could be raised if Tether exercises its warrant to purchase up to 5,000,000 shares at $10.00 per share.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tether as a significant investor in Bitdeer,” said Linghui Kong, Chief Business Officer of Bitdeer. “This substantial investment demonstrates confidence in our vision and the strength of our extensive global operations.”
“Tether is delighted to be working with Bitdeer. We regard Bitdeer as one of the strongest vertically integrated operators in the Bitcoin mining industry,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.
The funds will be used for data center expansion, ASIC-based mining rig development, and general corporate purposes. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. acted as the placement agent for this transaction.

Partners Defend Shopee Allegations

Jakarta, May 31: Shopee’s logistics service partners have dismissed monopoly allegations, highlighting the positive impact on their businesses and communities.
PT Tiki Lintas Nugraha Ekakurir (JNE) emphasized its successful eight-year collaboration with Shopee. “Our strong relationship with Shopee is grounded in our joint commitment to developing the digital economy,” said JNE SVP Eri Palgunadi.
State-owned PT Pos Indonesia (PosID) awarded Shopee as Best Private Partner for consistently supporting PosID’s logistics programs.
“We are proud to serve millions of Shopee users by connecting sellers to buyers in 514 cities and regions in Indonesia,” said PosID’s Director Haris.
The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) had suggested Shopee discriminated by favoring certain delivery services, but Sonny Harsono, Chairman of the E-commerce Logistics Entrepreneurs Association (APLE), countered that this is a marketing strategy benefiting consumers. “Shopee still provided courier service options in addition to those affiliated with the company.
Therefore, it does not meet the classification of monopoly or oligopoly,” Harsono explained.