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 Aug 12 till the end of the week. This article updates throughout the week.

BlackBerry Earns Top Innovation

Cyberjaya, Aug 13: BlackBerry Limited has been honoured with the Cyber Security Service Innovation Award at the Malaysia Cyber Security Awards 2024.
The award, presented by Cybersecurity Malaysia during the CyberDSA event, recognises BlackBerry’s efforts in boosting Malaysia’s cyber-resilience through its new Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) in Cyberjaya.
Since its opening in March, the CCoE has trained over 700 individuals, offering upskilling programs and hosting key cybersecurity events.
BlackBerry’s portfolio, featuring AI-powered solutions like CylanceMDR™ Pro, is vital to safeguarding Malaysia’s digital infrastructure.

Rewards Boost for Malaysians

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 13: GHL Systems Berhad has partnered with ShopBack to enhance the shopping experience for over six million Malaysians.
This collaboration allows shoppers to earn cashback rewards and access exclusive promotions at any GHL-powered retail outlet.
By using the ShopBack app, users can easily make payments and earn rewards, further incentivising spending.
The partnership is designed to benefit both consumers and merchants, with GHL’s payment options and ShopBack’s cashback offerings driving increased in-store spending and customer loyalty.

Borneo Tourism Collaboration

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 13: Sarawak and Sabah Tourism Boards are joining forces to promote “Discover Borneo: Malaysia’s Favourite Destination” at the MATTA Fair Kuala Lumpur, from 6th to 8th September 2024 at MITEC.
The event will showcase Borneo’s rich cultural heritage, landscapes, and biodiversity, featuring cultural performances, culinary demonstrations, and traditional crafts.
Sarawak’s Niah Caves Complex, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be a highlight.
This collaboration aims to boost tourism by presenting Borneo as a premier destination, with a target of two million domestic arrivals in Sarawak for 2024.

Anti-Piracy Campaign Launched

Melbourne, Aug 14: Creative Content Australia (CCA) has launched a three-month anti-piracy campaign starting on 12 August, aiming to educate consumers about the risks associated with illegal streaming.
Supported by Australia’s media industry, the campaign follows findings from CCA’s 15th Australian Piracy Behaviours and Attitudes survey, which revealed that over two million Australians who visit illegal streaming sites have experienced online crime.
Chris Chard, Chair of CCA, highlighted the stark link between piracy and cybercrime, stressing the importance of the campaign in protecting consumers and the content industry.
The campaign features television commercials and static assets created by the HOYTS Group, supported by major media partners across Australia.

Sarawak Promotes at NATAS

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 16: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is participating in NATAS Holidays 2024, Singapore’s top travel fair, from 16 to 18 August.
STB will showcase exclusive travel packages at booth 4H35, highlighting Sarawak’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Niah and Mulu National Parks.
With Singapore ranking among the top five countries for visitor arrivals, STB aims to promote Sarawak’s culture, adventure, nature, food, and festivals (CANFF) offerings to Singaporean travellers.
The event will feature daily cultural performances, traditional crafts, and exclusive tour packages tailored for Singaporean visitors.

Solarvest, Agmo Join Forces

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 20: Solarvest Holdings Berhad, Malaysia’s largest clean energy provider, has formed a strategic joint venture with Agmo Holdings Berhad, a digital solutions specialist, to revolutionize the clean energy sector. Announced during the 6th International Sustainable Energy Summit 2024, this partnership aims to digitalise clean energy solutions, enhancing efficiency and scalability across the industry.
The joint venture will focus on transforming Solarvest’s offerings, including Vestech EcoHomes, Powerbee EV charging, and Renewable Energy Certification management, into digital applications.
This collaboration is expected to streamline and automate clean energy projects, supporting Malaysia’s renewable energy targets.

Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Platform

Qualcomm Technologies has introduced the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, marking the latest addition to its “s” segment. This new platform builds on the momentum of the 7-series, bringing advanced technologies to a broader audience. It incorporates features such as generative AI, enhanced mobile gaming, and professional-grade camera and video capabilities.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 achieves significant performance improvements, with nearly 20 per cent better CPU performance, up to 40 per cent faster GPU speeds, over 30 per cent enhanced AI capabilities, and 12 per cent overall power savings. Leading OEMs, including Realme, Samsung, Sharp, and Xiaomi, are expected to adopt the platform in the coming months.
Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm Technologies, stated, “Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 will bring the best of the 7-series to more mid-tier devices by selecting top 7-series features including on-device AI support.”
Xiaomi is set to be the first to adopt the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, with its initial device expected to be announced next month.

Stripe Celebrates AU$200 Billion Processed in Australia

Sydney, Aug 23: Stripe, the financial infrastructure platform, is marking its 10th anniversary supporting Australian businesses, celebrating significant milestones, including the processing of over A$200 billion in payments.
At the Stripe Tour Sydney event, the company unveiled new solutions designed to further accelerate business growth in Australia, such as PayTo and Instant Payouts. In New Zealand, Stripe launched BECS direct debit payments for businesses.
Since 2014, Stripe’s presence in Australia has expanded from a few dozen businesses to over 500,000. Technology companies like Canva and large enterprises like Westfield are among those benefiting from Stripe’s offerings.
The platform economy has also seen rapid expansion, with a 20 per cent increase in Australian businesses using Stripe in 2023.
Building on this momentum, Stripe’s support for PayTo offers businesses a low-cost, real-time payment method with features like 24/7 processing and real-time payment status verification.
Instant Payouts is now available for all businesses in Australia, allowing them to access funds within minutes, even on holidays and weekends.
In New Zealand, the introduction of BECS direct debit will streamline the payment process for subscription-based businesses, lowering transaction costs and reducing churn.
This launch marks the first time BECS will be available on Stripe in New Zealand.
Australia’s internet economy is poised for further growth, driven by digital natives.
New research commissioned by Stripe indicates that Gen Z, who will soon comprise a significant portion of the workforce, are increasingly moving away from cash and toward digital payment solutions.
Stripe is committed to helping Australian businesses navigate these changes and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

Qantas Red Cross Partnership

Sydney, Aug 23: Qantas has announced a new three-year, multi-million-dollar partnership with Australian Red Cross, aimed at enhancing emergency response capabilities across Australia.
This collaboration will fund the training of 750 new volunteers and facilitate quicker deployment of aid through Qantas’ network.
Qantas will also support the Trauma Teddy® initiative, providing comfort to vulnerable individuals during crises.
This partnership continues a longstanding relationship between Qantas and Australian Red Cross, dating back to the 1940s.

Globetronics Shows Resilience Amid Challenges

Penang, Aug 23: Globetronics Technology Bhd (“GTB” or the “Group”), a prominent player in the Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) and semiconductor sectors, has announced its financial results for the second quarter ended 30 June 2024 (“Q2 FY2024”).
The Group reported a revenue of RM27.8 million, reflecting a 7.0 per cent decline from RM29.9 million in the previous quarter (“Q1 FY2024”).
This drop in revenue is attributed to lower volume loadings from key customers, a trend influenced by ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges impacting the global semiconductor industry.
In Q2 FY2024, profit before tax (PBT) decreased by 17.0 per cent to RM6.5 million, primarily due to the higher foreign exchange gain of RM1.8 million recorded in Q1 FY2024, compared to a RM0.1 million foreign exchange loss in the current quarter.
The management of GTB remains focused on long-term growth through strategic investments and operational excellence, aiming to enhance the Group’s financial performance in the coming year.
Looking ahead, GTB maintains cautious optimism about its outlook for the remainder of 2024.
The Group’s strong cash position and prudent financial management are expected to provide a solid foundation to navigate ongoing industry challenges while exploring new growth opportunities.