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 Sept 2 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week.

Bluey Coins Released Today

Sydney, Sept 2: Get ready, Bluey fans! Australia Post has teamed up with the Royal Australian Mint and BBC Studios to release a brand-new Bluey Dollarbuck coin collection. The collection features ten $1 collectable coins adorned with playful illustrations of Bluey, her sister Bingo, and their family and friends, designed by the creative team at Ludo Studio.
These 2024 Bluey Dollarbuck coins can be purchased individually, and one in every ten-coin set includes a special-colored coin. Fans can also opt for a 10-coin tube and folder set. Additionally, Bluey and Bingo-themed coins will be available in till change at participating Australia Post Offices until September 29, 2024, or while supplies last.
Australia Post’s Executive General Manager Retail, Josh Bannister, highlighted the collection’s ability to capture the charm of Bluey and its cultural impact in Australia. Meanwhile, Kate O’Connor from BBC Studios ANZ and Leigh Gordon from the Royal Australian Mint expressed their enthusiasm for this exciting collaboration, which they hope will inspire a new generation of coin collectors.
Starting today, fans can purchase individual coins for $10 each or the complete coin and folder set for $29 at participating Post Offices or online. Additionally, a Bluey Stamp Pack featuring twelve $1.50 self-adhesive MyStamps and a large Bluey-themed stamp is also available.

Weekend Box Office Update

Sydney, Sept 2: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman continue their dominance at the Australian box office, with Deadpool & Wolverine claiming the top spot for the sixth consecutive week, earning $2.27 million and bringing its total to $61.71 million. In second place, Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us added $1.3 million, reaching a total of $19.85 million.
The sci-fi thriller Alien: Romulus secured third place with $1.23 million, bringing its cumulative earnings to $8.03 million.
New releases saw André Rieu’s 2024 Maastricht Concert: Power of Love debut at number four, earning $653,000, while Channing Tatum’s psychological thriller Blink Twice rounded out the top five with $504,000, bringing its total to $1.61 million.
This weekend, the Australian box office grossed $9.10 million, with the top ten films accounting for 77.37 per cent of the total earnings.
Upcoming releases include the highly anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Thelma, as well as the inspiring sports documentary A Horse Named Winx. Additionally, HOYTS Horror Night returns next week with the new thriller Speak No Evil, starring James McAvoy.

Alibaba Powers Asian Tourism

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 2: Pictureworks and Alibaba Cloud have partnered to enhance digital imaging in the tourism industry across Asia.
This collaboration, backed by Alibaba’s AI and cloud technologies, has been implemented in seven top tourist attractions, generating over 150,000 photos at a Hong Kong theme park.
Pictureworks uses Alibaba’s AI Platform for Artificial Intelligence (PAI), Function Compute, and Object Storage Services (OSS) to improve photo capture flexibility and quality, setting a new standard in the industry.

Dodge Partners with Amber

Sydney, Sept 2: Australian alcohol recovery beverage Dodge has announced a new distribution partnership with Amber Beverage Group, set to begin on October 1st, 2024.
This collaboration aims to address the growing market demand for recovery drinks that help prevent the negative effects of alcohol.
Developed with Monash University’s Food Innovation Centre, Dodge is a functional beverage made from natural extracts and vitamins designed to be consumed as the last drink of the night.
The partnership marks a significant step for both companies as they prepare to expand the reach of Dodge, particularly ahead of the festive season.

Reviving Victorian TCF Manufacturing

Sydney, Sept 3: A new report by RMIT University, ‘Victorian TCF Manufacturing: Future Jobs, Technology and Economic Growth’, highlights the potential for Victoria’s textile, clothing, and footwear (TCF) industry to reclaim lost value and jobs.
Despite a 18 per cent decline in the sector’s value over the past five years, strategic policy interventions could inject an additional $225 million into the economy and create 1,500 jobs, with a focus on empowering women in the workforce.
Without investment, the sector risks losing $98 million and 700 jobs by 2030.
The report outlines key recommendations to transform the industry into a female-led manufacturing powerhouse, including prioritizing TCF in government procurement and investing in advanced technologies.

Gen Z Eyes Homeownership

Sydney, Sept 3: New research from digital bank ubank reveals that over half (56 per cent) of Gen Z and Millennials plan to enter the property market within the next five years, despite facing challenges like high property prices and saving for a deposit.
In response, ubank has decreased interest rates on some home lending products to assist first-time buyers and investors.
The bank is also offering educational resources and a national roadshow to help demystify the home-buying process, making it simpler for prospective buyers to achieve their homeownership goals.

BlackBerry Partners with Dicker Data

Sydney, Sept 3: BlackBerry Limited has entered into a new distribution agreement with Dicker Data, expanding access to BlackBerry’s AI-powered cybersecurity and secure communications solutions across Australia and New Zealand.
The partnership will enable Dicker Data to offer BlackBerry’s full suite of security solutions, including Cylance® AI, BlackBerry® SecuSUITE®, BlackBerry® UEM, and BlackBerry® AtHoc®, to a broader range of organisations and reseller partners.
The collaboration aims to enhance security defences and support growth opportunities for resellers in the region, addressing the increasing demand for robust cybersecurity measures.

Cyber Threats Escalate

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 3: Palo Alto Networks’ latest 2024 Unit 42 Attack Surface Threat Report reveals the growing complexity of cybersecurity threats across critical industries like insurance, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
The report highlights that AI-driven attacks are increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities, with organisations struggling to secure their expanding digital footprints.
On average, attack surfaces are adding over 300 new services monthly, leading to heightened risks of breaches due to misconfigurations and exposures.
The report emphasizes the need for AI-driven tools like Cortex Xpanse to maintain visibility and reduce security risks as industries face relentless cyber threats.

Betamek Partners with UTP

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 3: Betamek Berhad, through its subsidiary Betamek Research Sdn. Bhd., has entered a research collaboration with Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS to develop “SafeSync360,” a next-generation infotainment system with integrated child safety features.
This innovative project aims to enhance automotive safety and entertainment, marking a significant step in Betamek’s commitment to technological advancement.
The intellectual property generated from the collaboration will be owned by Betamek Research.

Subscription Economy Expands

Sydney, Sept 4: Stripe’s new Billing Report reveals that nearly half of Australian subscription businesses plan to expand internationally within the next year, but 73 per cent doubt their current billing systems can support this growth.
Many are exploring flexible billing options, such as usage-based plans, yet existing systems often lack the needed flexibility.
Involuntary churn due to failed payments remains a challenge, with 42 per cent of businesses unable to quantify the revenue loss.
Stripe Billing aims to help businesses reduce churn and grow globally through scalable billing solutions.

Dementia Care Tools Lacking

Sydney, Sept 4: New research from Flinders University’s Caring Futures Institute reveals that existing tools to monitor care quality in aged care settings may not meet the needs of dementia patients.
A review of care instruments found that few are tailored for people with dementia, and many lack the necessary communication methods for effective feedback.
Researchers urge the development of dementia-specific tools to better capture patient experiences and improve care quality across the sector.

Snapdragon X Plus Launches

Berlin, Sept 4: Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon announced the expansion of the Snapdragon X Series portfolio ahead of IFA 2024, introducing the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core.
This new platform offers multiday battery life, improved performance, and AI-powered Copilot+ experiences. Powered by the Qualcomm Oryon CPU, the Snapdragon X Plus delivers 61 per cent faster CPU performance and superior power efficiency.
Equipped with a 45 TOPS NPU, the platform is designed to enhance productivity and offer immersive experiences.
Select devices from leading manufacturers like Acer, ASUS, and Dell are now available.

Markets Recover After Volatile August

Sydney, Sept 4: Despite sharp market fluctuations in August, the US and Australian share markets have almost recovered their losses, with UniSuper’s investment team noting both the speed of the market dip and its rebound.
UniSuper Economist and Investment Manager David Colosimo attributed these swings to technical factors rather than fundamentals, highlighting Japan’s interest rate hike and concerns about weak US employment data.
While inflation continues to fall and economic growth slows, investors remain optimistic about the potential for rate cuts, particularly from the US Federal Reserve.
UniSuper’s Head of Australian Equities, Penny Heard, added that Australia’s reporting season showed resilience, with company earnings exceeding expectations.
However, concerns remain over the slowing growth in consumer demand and the underperformance of sectors such as lithium. The recovery in China and its impact on global markets remains a key focus for the investment team.

Globetronics, MyDIGITAL Partner on Innovation

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 6: Globetronics Technology Bhd’s subsidiary, Globetronics Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MyDIGITAL Corporation.
The collaboration aims to drive digital transformation in Malaysia through 4IR technologies, focusing on smart manufacturing, cybersecurity, and Industry 4.0.
Both parties are set to address ESG challenges, supporting the nation’s technological and economic growth.
A joint task force will be established to ensure the successful implementation of the initiatives outlined in the partnership.

Varia Secures RM334.7m Contract

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 6: Varia Berhad’s subsidiary, Pembinaan Teguh Maju Sdn. Bhd. (PTM), has won a RM334.7 million contract for flood mitigation works in Kota Tinggi, Johor.
The project involves constructing a reservoir as part of the “Rancangan Tebatan Banjir Sungai Johor Fasa 1 Pakej 1.”
Scheduled for completion by July 2029, this win boosts Varia’s growing infrastructure portfolio.
The group now has an order book worth RM2.57 billion, continuing its focus on high-impact projects.

Borneo Tourism Campaign Launched

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 7: Sarawak and Sabah Tourism Boards have jointly launched the ‘Discover Borneo: Malaysia’s Favourite Destination’ campaign at MATTA Fair KL 2024.
Running from Sept 6-8 at MITEC, the initiative aims to position Borneo as a leading tourism destination, offering visitors travel packages that showcase Sarawak’s UNESCO World Heritage sites and Sabah’s vibrant culture. Sarawak aims to attract 4 million visitors in 2024, with over 2.8 million already recorded by July. Visitors can explore special tour packages and win exclusive souvenirs at the fair.