AMINVEST WINS MALAYSIA'S BEST ETF PROVIDER AWARD FOR THE FIFTH TIME

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- AmInvest was honoured as Malaysia’s Best ETF (“Exchange Traded Funds”) Provider for the fifth consecutive year at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Investing Awards for Institutional Investor, ETF, and Asset Servicing Providers 2020.¹ 

AmInvest pioneered and manages Malaysia’s first bond and equity ETFs, namely ABF Bond Index Fund (“ABF Malaysia”) and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI etf (“FBM KLCI etf”), which were launched in 2005 and 2007 respectively.² AmInvest dominates the market as the largest ETF provider in the country with assets under management of around RM1.6 billion.³
 
 “We are honoured to receive this award for providing the most appropriate ETF products for our clients. Through our ETFs, our investors are able to have easy access to Malaysian bonds and equities in a cost-efficient manner via our stock exchange, Bursa Malaysia,” commented Dato' Sulaiman Mohd Tahir, Group Chief Executive Officer of AmBank Group.
 
ABF Malaysia is the only bond ETF in the market² and consists of mainly Malaysian government bonds in its portfolio. It tracks the performance of Markit iBoxx®ABF Malaysia Bond Index. FBM KLCI etf is designed to follow the performance of its benchmark index, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI, which comprises Malaysia’s top 30 largest companies in terms of market capitalisation.
 
Income distribution, if any, for both of these ETFs is made semi-annually. Recently, ABF Malaysia and FBM KLCI etf declared an interim income distribution payout of 3.62 sen and 0.50 sen per unit respectively, for the funds’ current financial year ending 31 December 2020.
 
“ETFs are an easy and cost-effective tool for investors to build a diversified portfolio, which can help to reduce overall portfolio risk especially during these uncertain times. ETFs provide immediate access and exposure to a basket of securities through a single transaction,” added Goh Wee Peng, Chief Executive Officer of AmInvest.
 
Asset Publishing & Research Limited, the award provider, is a financial publishing group in Asia-Pacific based in Hong Kong, whose publications are targeted at Asian issuers and global institutional investors.
 
For more information on ABF Malaysia and FBM KLCI etf, please visit www.abfmy1.com.my and www.fbmklcietf.com.my  respectively.
 
About AmInvest
AmInvest is the brand name for the funds management business of AmFunds Management Berhad and AmIslamic Funds Management Sdn Bhd, both of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of AmInvestment Bank Berhad. We are a multiple award-winning fund manager based in Malaysia with 39 years of investing experience managing unit trust funds, wholesale funds, institutional mandates, Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) and Private Retirement Scheme (PRS); encompassing both conventional and Shariah-compliant funds.

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New HP innovations to rapidly evolving workstyles, workforces for Malaysian businesses

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 -- HP has announced a range of new innovations designed to meet the needs of businesses with hybrid workplaces and distributed workforces to make remote employees as productive, connected and secure as possible, while seeking cost-effective ways to buy and manage IT.

The company has introduced a range of enhanced PC solutions designed to address a variety of rapidly evolving work environments, providing flexibility for partners and customers of all sizes.

The HP ProBook 635 Aero G7 is designed to keep users productive in the home or office or on-the-go with a starting weight of under one kg² and long battery life, according to a statement.

HP also launched new print products, services and solutions optimised to enable new ways of working, managing and buying with the HP LaserJet Enterprise 400 Series providing seamless remote management and the world’s most secure printing experience.

The company understands the complexity and challenges businesses face in today’s unpredictable climate. It is therefore, bringing to market a new solution-oriented programme providing peace of mind and ultimate productivity.

HP Business Boost provides the right technology, security, and support services enabling SMBs to manage the workforce evolution at an affordable monthly cost.

Through HP Business Boost, HP is providing the practical support SMBs need to thrive post-pandemic including IT support at their fingertips  and powerful devices that keep business going.

These new innovations and solutions were announced at HP Reinvent, HP Inc’s annual global partner event. More details at www.hp.com.

-- BERNAMA

Menarco achieves WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25  -- The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has announced the Philippines’ iconic Menarco Tower is Southeast Asia’s first building to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management.

Menarco Tower achieved the rating by implementing features across five categories, including cleaning and sanitisation procedures; emergency preparedness programmes; air and water quality management; and, stakeholder engagement and communications resources to promote health and wellness.

IWBI recently launched this programme to guide and empower the actions of large and small businesses alike, in taking the necessary steps to prioritise the health and safety of their staff, visitors and stakeholders.

Menarco joined the more than 100 global early adopters in July to enroll in the documentation-based WELL Health-Safety Rating and implement its science-backed guidance, according to a statement.

“As we celebrate Menarco Tower’s achievement for becoming the first regional WELL Health-Safety Rated property, we are proud to see Menarco take another step in its WELL journey, demonstrating a continuous commitment to supporting people’s health, safety and well-being,” said IWBI President, Rachel Gutter.

“Together with IWBI, Menarco continues to be a leader in the healthy building initiative in Southeast Asia,” said Menarco Development Corporation founder and Chief Executive Officer, Carmen Jimenez-Ong.

The IWBI is leading the global movement to transform buildings, communities and organisations that help people thrive.

-- BERNAMA

Phoenix Software International releases update on Entrypoint with optional SDK

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 -- Systems software development company, Phoenix Software International Inc, today released an update to its web and desktop-based data entry software suite, Entrypoint.

The new release, Entrypoint 16.1 includes an optional software development kit (SDK), allowing developers to extend the core functionality of Entrypoint using the Java platform to integrate new and existing applications with an Entrypoint Server through direct network client connections and plug-in extension components.

“While the built-in functionality of Entrypoint is extremely flexible and robust, putting development tools in the hands of our customers enables the software to be truly adaptable to, and tightly integrated with, existing processes and IT infrastructure,” said Phoenix Software International Entrypoint Product Manager, Brien Wienke.

Also new in this release is the ability to use re-key verify, a proven technique for improving data accuracy, through the web-based interface, for which the feature was previously only available in the desktop data entry client.

The Entrypoint SDK is an optional add-on to Entrypoint that enables the development of five basic project types such as, Entrypoint Clients, Batch Exporters, Report Generators, WS-API Call Handlers and EntrypointScript API Extension Objects.

The SDK documentation contains step-by-step instructions for creating, deploying and executing each type of project, according to a statement.

More details at https://www.phoenixsoftware.com.

-- BERNAMA

Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator releases statement on 1st anniversary

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 -- A year ago, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) was committed to educating and empowering 10 million women entrepreneurs over the next decade.

It began to lay the groundwork for a systemic transformation to break down the barriers keeping women from achieving financial independence and contributing to a better future for themselves and their communities.

WEA is a multi-partner initiative designed to inspire, educate, and empower women entrepreneurs worldwide. Incepted by Mary Kay Inc, it is a strategic collaboration developed in consultation with six United Nations (UN) agencies.

According to a statement, WEA is responsible for creating an enabling environment where women-led businesses act as agents of transformation with policy frameworks, access to finance, procurement, digital education, social protections and cross-sector advocacy.

WEA calls upon UN member States to develop national policy frameworks with concrete goals and data-driven national targets to increase the number and strengthen the capacities of women-owned businesses.

The private and public sectors must band together to increase investments in women’s businesses through the pandemic and beyond by developing innovative financial solutions via equity and debt financing and introducing tax incentives to support sectors hit hardest by COVID-19.

As women entrepreneurs need access to information, digital skills, and training so they can be leaders and creators in the online world, it is time to close the digital gender divide and keep women connected to accessible and flexible educational resources.

In addition, the public and private sectors, civil society organisations, business associations, schools and universities can collaborate to build an ecosystem that allows women entrepreneurs to thrive.

More details at https://www.we-accelerate.com.

-- BERNAMA

Flywire names foundation scholarship winners for Fall 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 -- Flywire, a high-growth vertical payments company, has announced the four winners of its inaugural Flywire Charitable Foundation scholarship programme.

Scholarships in Global Health & Medicine were awarded to Ishita Aggarwal, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) candidate from Canada studying at Queen's University in Canada; Shekinah Doze, a Dietetics Major from the US studying at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the US.

Scholarships in Social Justice were awarded to: Chloe Fung, an MSc candidate in International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Emergencies from Hong Kong studying at the London School of Economics in the UK; and, Mahi Lal, an Economics Major from India studying at the College of Wooster in the US.

The students were selected from over 800 applicants representing 85 countries, with the scholarships being part of the Foundation’s pledge to invest in programmes that remove the access and affordability gap for marginalised individuals and communities.

According to a statement, applications for Fall 2020 were open to any college student, graduate or undergraduate, in any country, studying global health & medicine or social justice, with the disciplines based on urgency.

“We started the Flywire Foundation with the firm belief that we can have a very real impact by creating new opportunities in the global communities that we serve,” said Flywire Chief Executive Officer, Mike Massaro.

Details at www.flywire.com

-- BERNAMA

Zynga's Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells mobile game globally launched

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 --  Interactive entertainment leader, Zynga Inc announced its magical Match-3 mobile game Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells has officially been launched and begun rolling out to territories worldwide.

Officially licensed from Warner Bros. Games and published under the Portkey Games label, the game is available for free download on Android and iOS devices, as well as on Amazon Kindle and Facebook.

“With Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, fans will immerse themselves in the magic, puzzles and wonder of the series and create Clubs to collaborate and connect with other fans of Wizarding World,” said Zynga President (Publishing), Bernard Kim. In Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, players enter a Match-3 adventure brimming with the spells, humour, colour and characters of the Harry Potter series, according to a statement. Featuring the soundtrack and voiceover recordings from the original Harry Potter films, fans follow an authentic, mobile retelling of Harry’s journey through the Wizarding World.

Earning spells and special boosts as they advance, players solve Match-3 puzzles populated with hopping Chocolate Frogs, fluttering Winged Keys, battling wizard chess pieces, and other unexpected obstacles and objects.

Between colourful puzzles, players will be treated to iconic moments from the narrative, such as Harry’s journey on the Hogwarts Express, Hagrid’s magical creatures and Hermione casting the Wingardium Leviosa spell.

More details at www.harrypotterpuzzlesandspells.com.

-- BERNAMA

Beyond Limits secures US$133 million investment to globally expand AI technology

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 -- Beyond Limits, an industrial and enterprise-grade AI technology company built for the most demanding sectors, including energy, utilities and healthcare, has announced a milestone Series C funding round with US$113 million closed and another approximately US$20 million committed. (US$1 = RM4.135)

This round is led by Group 42, a prominent AI and cloud computing company, and bp ventures, an existing two-time investor and customer of the company.

“Today, we are seeing unprecedented, worldwide demand for systems that go beyond the limitations of conventional AI,” said Beyond Limits Chief Executive Officer and Founder, AJ Abdallat.

“Our cognitive software has the ability to understand situations and place problems in real-world contexts as well as to learn over time.”

Beyond Limits’ Cognitive AI applies human-like reasoning to solve problems, much like how humans form conclusions using inference and logic, according to a statement.

This unique approach combines encoded human knowledge with available data sources, allowing systems to adapt and continue to operate in situations where data may be in short supply or missing altogether.

The US$133 million funding will be used to expand Beyond Limits’ business both in the United States and abroad, including the launch of Beyond Limits Asia, with regional headquarters in Singapore and operations in Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo and further expansion across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

More details at www.beyond.ai.

-- BERNAMA

Nanotech opens Ultra-Precision Machining Process Development Center in North Carolina

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 -- Moore Nanotechnology Systems (Nanotech), an ultra-precision machining systems supplier has announced the opening of its Ultra-Precision Machining Process Development Center in Concord, North Carolina.

According to a statement, the 3,500 ft² facility will employ Nanotech’s newest technology advancements, including next generation diamond-turning equipment, state of the art metrology and analysis tools, and hardware process-development activities.

The purpose of having the facility near the UNC Charlotte campus is to form a more collaborative relationship with Matt Davies in diamond-turning research and Chris Evans with precision metrology.

UNC Charlotte is recognised globally for its Center for Precision Metrology, and via the work led by Davies, their diamond-turning expertise is ranked amongst the best in the nation.

Nanotech President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Boomgarden said: “Working closely with a US-based university like UNC Charlotte, that has expertise in both ultra-precision machining and metrology, provides a great opportunity for Nanotech to collaborate and advance our product and technology offerings.”

“Based on our research and experience manufacturing freeform optics, Nanotech is a global leader in the design, development and deployment of diamond-turning equipment,” said Davies, who currently serves as UNC Charlotte Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science Professor.

He said having the Process Development Center closer to campus will make future collaboration that much easier.

-- BERNAMA

RE-OPENING OF CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AT KLCC PARK

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd is pleased to announce that the children’s playground at KLCC Park is now open to the public. The children’s playground is open daily including public holidays from 10.00 am until 7.00 pm in compliance with the guideline provided by Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) under Children’s Playground Regulation dated 4 August 2020.

All the necessary preventive measures have been put in place in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection. All visitors will undergo temperature screening at the registration counter at the entrance of the children’s playground and are required to wear face mask, maintain social distancing and use hand-sanitisers provided at the premise.

To ensure compliance to social distancing, only 50 visitors (including parents) are allowed within the children’s playground at any one time. Cleaning and sanitising are conducted periodically at the premise to ensure the health and safety of our visitors are protected.    

Issued by:
KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd 

SOURCE: KLCC Property Holdings Berhad 
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Ms Yasmin Abdullah
Corporate Communications
Investor Relations and Business Development Department                            
Tel: +603 27837584                                       
Email: yasmina@klcc.com.my 

--BERNAMA

VistaJet Announces New Market-leading Sustainable Biofuel Partnership, Updates On Success Of Its Current Sustainability Pledge And Calls For Further Action From Private Aviation Industry

 LONDON, Sept. 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, today announces the progress it has made on its Sustainability in Aviation pledge, launched in January 2020, to rapidly and meaningfully reduce its carbon footprint, and to explore all routes to higher levels of sustainability. The company is also announcing a market-leading partnership with SkyNRG, pioneer and global leader for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The SAF industry has made advancements since its inception, yet the availability of sustainable fuels for jet airplanes is still limited due to financial, technical, and regulatory reasons. With air travel centered around hubs and the 20 busiest airports in the world handling nearly one-fifth of all air passenger traffic, this should make it easier for the new energy source to be fully adopted by operators*. However, a decade after their introduction, there are only a few hubs globally where sustainable biojet fuel is available and it still only accounts for less than 0.1% of total aviation fuel consumption.

As a fundamental step to further increase sustainability, VistaJet has signed a new partnership with SkyNRG, offering all VistaJet customers around the world access to sustainable aviation fuel. This will promote substantial reductions in aviation carbon emissions, and increase stable demand and availability around the world. Partnering with SkyNRG will offer VistaJet customers the most sustainable, cost-effective and scalable solution to decarbonize their flights, while helping to grow adoption across the entire industry.

As a core component of the Sustainability in Aviation program, VistaJet undertook a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions audit with South Pole, an award-winning project developer and global provider of climate action solutions. To coincide with Climate Week NYC, VistaJet provides its first progress update on its eight pillars of sustainability, and key findings are as follows:

1. VistaJet’s Carbon Offset Program — Since introducing the Sustainability in Aviation pledge, 80% of VistaJet Members have opted in to compensate for their fuel use-related emissions by investing in certified carbon credits around the world. This meaningful step has allowed VistaJet, with the help of South Pole, to already offset almost 100,000 tons of CO2 (tCO2)** on behalf of its customers — equivalent to over 21,600 passenger vehicles driven for one year or over 12.7 billion smartphones charged***. Additionally, through the EU ETS, emissions of all flights between European countries will be offset by April 2021, which between January to August 2020 totals 21,500 tCO2.

2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel — The VistaJet brand’s main emission source is aviation fuel, representing 89% of the total GHG emissions and comprising emissions from the production, processing, delivery and combustion of aviation fuel. While offsetting indirectly reduces carbon footprint, using a fuel with a lower carbon intensity would significantly and directly reduce the industry’s emissions — in its neat form the use of SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. VistaJet’s innovative new plan will secure SAF availability for its customers globally — sourced and delivered by SkyNRG from World Energy’s refinery — supporting fast adoption of this crucially important energy solution.
3. Most Technologically Advanced Aircraft — VistaJet’s shared fleet model means less aircraft being produced and enables higher utilization of each existing jet. VistaJet’s global infrastructure also allows for a reduction in repositioning flights. Additionally, the company’s young fleet benefits from the latest technology for the most efficient flying and secures better fuel burn than older aircraft. Its new Global 7500 fleet is the most technologically advanced aircraft available today. The aircraft was manufactured with design for the environment in mind, including its new GE Passport engines that produce less noise and fuel consumption of approximately 2.5 litres per functional unit — and even lower for some longer-range missions. Its high-speed transonic wing cuts down on drag, further reducing fuel burn and emissions.

4. Fuel Consumption Reduction Technology — VistaJet Ltd launched a comprehensive program to automate flight optimization and global fleet management. Through investment in AI and machine-learning technology, the company is working on predictive route algorithms to minimize ferry flights and reduce fuel consumption. To date, using the FLIGHTKEYS 5D flight management system, the company has been able optimize route, level and speed to reduce fuel consumption by 8% per flight. The heightened system automation allows VistaJet dispatchers to increase efficiency in flight re-planning, while 3D optimization in congested airspace minimized the possibility of slot issues and delays.

5. Fuel Efficient Booking System — Booking with at least one week’s notice helps to further improve fleet management, reducing unnecessary fuel burn. For VistaJet Members, the early booking program can mean a discount on their rates and is available as an option for new contracts. Customers who are more flexible on departure city airport selection have already helped to reduce movement around London airports by 20% in 2019, cutting several tons of CO2.

6. Partnering with Leaders in Sustainability — VistaJet partners with carbon neutral companies wherever possible and has implemented new requirements for all purchasing partners, including sustainability accreditation for third parties across all departments in the business. Additionally, over 100 onboard stock vendors have been contacted to introduce more sustainable products.

7. Sustainable In-Flight Products — VistaJet has removed over 90% of single-use items across its fleet and replaced items on board with sustainable alternatives. Examples of these include packaging products using starch that fully biodegrades in one year, replacing plastic toothbrushes with those made of bamboo, sourcing low-impact detergents and cleaning products, and switching to beauty products packaged in glass. This is in addition to serving meals on porcelain and crystalware, available onboard for many years.

8. Moving to Renewable Electricity On-the-Ground — The extensive company audit enabled VistaJet to identify the carbon footprint of its operations and offices worldwide in order to define further GHG reduction opportunities and priorities. Electricity consumption represents 24% of the total emissions for VistaJet offices specifically. To decrease these levels, VistaJet has adopted electricity supplied from renewable sources for two of its largest offices and is assessing solutions for the others. Further schemes such as cycle to work and flexible location working are being rolled out to decrease employee emissions.

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Flat Medical launches epidural safeguard ​EpiFaith® for Asia Pacific market

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 -- Flat Medical Co Ltd, a MedTech company providing clinical safety solutions, has launched its flagship product, EpiFaith®, in the Asia Pacific market.

Following its United States and European launch announcement last year, the company has been devoted to supplying EpiFaith®, the visualised safety solution for epidural locating, to Western hospitals.

“Epidural is one of the most common procedures we do in our daily practice; most Asian anesthesiologists are good at performing it; colleagues here believe that they can do it easily with the current technique,” said National Taiwan University Hospital professor (Department of Anesthesiology), and medical consultant of Flat Medical’s advisory board, Dr Wei-Zen Sun.

“But the truth is it's not, PDPH and CNS injury in epidural is still a big problem, and, unfortunately, some colleagues chose to neglect the risk. We are happy that the product has finally been approved and launched here to eliminate the accidental dural puncture.”

According to a statement, during the recently held annual meeting of Taiwanese Society of Anesthesiologists, the company has announced its formal launch of EpiFaith® in the Asia Pacific market.

The company earns its first regulatory approval in Asia in the second quarter of 2020, from the Taiwanese FDA. It is also working with selected local partners in Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, and Vietnam to have EpiFaith® approved and launched in local markets.

-- BERNAMA

Welcome to 'Chinese Bridge' competitions as spellbinding Hainan Island beckons

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 -- The 19th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students and the 13th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students are being held in Beijing from this month to December.

This year, Hainan Province that has been innovative in promoting culture and tourism development, leverages the ‘Chinese Bridge’ competition to promote cultural, art and technological exchanges between Hainan and its foreign counterparts, attracting outstanding young foreign students proficient in Chinese to pursue a career in Hainan.

Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports has - based on the ‘Chinese Bridge’ competition - taken measures to promote the province overseas, according to a statement.

It put multi-linguistic pamphlets, videos and special pages about Hainan on the official website of the competition and the related mobile platform, showcasing the picturesque view and the advantageous business environment of the province as the only duty-free island in China to attract the world's attention.

In addition, the province sponsored the competition's finalists from the seven countries of Malaysia, Germany, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Kazakhstan and Thailand, offering them a free trip to Hainan to experience the appeal of the Chinese language and culture, as well as Hainan’s charm.

Held for 18 consecutive years since 2002, the competitions organised by the Chinese embassies and consulates as well centres for language education and cooperation in foreign countries are attended and addressed by political dignitaries.

-- BERNAMA

Singapore's Claritas to enter North American market via CAD$5 million licensing agreement

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 -- Singapore-based Claritas HealthTech Pte Ltd (Claritas) and Labrador Technologies Inc (Labrador) have entered into an exclusive arm’s length software licence purchase agreement.

According to a statement, Claritas will enter the North American market via CAD$5 million agreement, dated June 28. (CAD$1 = RM3.105)

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Labrador will issue sufficient shares such that the Proposed Transaction will constitute a Reverse Takeover (RTO) of Labrador under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV).

Upon the closing of the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that Labrador will continue to be a Technology Issuer on the TSXV and will be renamed as Claritas HealthTech Inc.

“With our iRAD platform successfully tested and continuing to be deployed across Asia, the next natural step is for Claritas to establish a presence in North America on account of the size and requirements of its medical imaging market,” said Claritas Co-founder and COO, Devika Dutt.

“The completion of the RTO will allow for the rapid deployment of our technology across North America, thereby furthering our mission to enable physicians globally to make more informed diagnostic decisions for the betterment of patients”.

Claritas is actively looking for potential takeover candidates in the telemedicine and virtual healthcare sectors, both in the regional and North American markets.

Besides the medical image processing and enhancement product iRAD, the company will soon be releasing several AI tools that will help clinicians in rapid and accurate detection of abnormalities.

-- BERNAMA

KLEENEX TEAMS UP WITH MALAYSIAN ICON, DATUK LAT, TO LAUNCH SPECIAL EDITION TISSUE BOXES

Kleenex launches #SoftIsStrong to remind Malaysians near and far to embrace their softer side and show kindness to one another

 
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- After decades of being a fixture in the homes of families across the globe, Kleenex has teamed up with iconic Malaysian cartoonist, Datuk Lat, to introduce limited-edition Kleenex tissue boxes with unique illustrations depicting harmony and kindness in Malaysia. This exciting collaboration pays homage to the Malaysian spirit through the lens of Datuk Lat, with the hopes of inspiring Malaysians to unite in solidarity, with a nostalgic twist.
 
The launch of Datuk Lat’s limited-edition tissue boxes is in conjunction with Kleenex’s #SoftIsStrong campaign which encourages all Malaysians to embrace their softer side by being kind to their friends, families and neighbours - inspired by the softness of Kleenex facial tissues and the strength of the Malaysian spirit as depicted by Datuk Lat’s illustrations. As the nation undergoes a period of uncertainty during these challenging times, many of the issues faced by Malaysians today can often be overcome by simply being kind to one another.
 
“Thank you all for inviting me to be part of this encouraging campaign. Being able to illustrate a harmonious Malaysia is like a walk in the park as I recollect my fondest memories of Malaysia. Throughout the years, I’ve always translated Malaysian culture and spirit through my drawings as a way to remind beloved Malaysians of our diversity, strength and togetherness. I’m pleased to have collaborated with Kleenex to capture the essence of harmony through simple acts of kindness and also hope that this collaboration serves as a reminder to us Malaysians that kindness and unity starts at home. Terima kasih,” said Datuk Lat.
 
With the launch of the special edition Kleneex tissue boxes and the #SoftIsStrong campaign, Kleenex invites Malaysians to be kinder to one another in hopes of building a stronger, more unified community. Stay up to date with #SoftIsStrong and be on the lookout for the special edition Kleenex tissue boxes in collaboration with Datuk Lat - now available in all major hypermarkets, supermarkets, and e-commerce platforms nationwide from September onwards.
 
For more information on #SoftIsStrong, in collaboration with Datuk Lat, stay up-to-date on https://www.facebook.com/Kleenex.Malaysia
 
Source: Mad Hat PR PLT 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=38193

AM Best affirms COSCO SHIPPING Captive Credit Ratings

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘a’ of COSCO SHIPPING Captive Insurance Co Ltd (COSCO SHIPPING Captive) China.

The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable, according to a statement.

The ratings reflect COSCO SHIPPING Captive’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings also reflect the wide range of support the company receives from its parent, China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited, which AM Best perceives to benefit from strong government support.

COSCO SHIPPING Captive’s risk-adjusted capitalisation remained at the strongest level in 2019, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

With initial start-up capital of RMB 2 billion (US$286 million), a level much higher than its captive peers in Asia Pacific, AM Best expects the company to maintain an abundant buffer in its risk-adjusted capitalisation to support its risk profile. (US$1 = RM4.122)

For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

-- BERNAMA

SALIHIN Shariah Advisory bags Best Islamic Finance Publishing House 2020 award

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 -- SALIHIN Shariah Advisory (SSA) recently won the Best Islamic Finance Publishing House 2020 award at the 10th Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) Ceremony.

According to a statement, the event was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SSA won the award through its publishing house, SALIHIN Publication Sdn Bhd (SALIHIN Publication).

The annual GIFA Awards ceremony has been organised in different countries, including Malaysia.

SSA, a registered firm with the Securities Commission Malaysia, provides advisory and consultancy on all Shariah-based products and services, fintech solutions, training and education, research, development and publication.

The GIFA Awards recognition provides SALIHIN Publication the optimism for more topics to be published, especially in the areas of Shariah, Islamic Economics, Islamic Finance, Islamic Accounting and Auditing, among others.

-- BERNAMA

MFPC'S SHARIAH RFP IS RECOGNIZED AS BEST ISLAMIC WEALTH MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATION

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC) is honoured to once again receive the prestigious award from the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA), as Best Islamic Wealth Management Qualification 2020 for the Shariah Registered Financial Planner (RFP) Programme. The 10th GIFA Awards Ceremony was held in Islamabad, Pakistan earlier today in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan as the Chief Guest of the ceremony.

The award honours MFPC in achieving outstanding progress for the year in Shariah Financial Planning education. MFPC’s Learning Management System (LMS) allow potential global participants to easily access MFPC’s modules, providing learning experiences that are adapted to individual learners. As the interest for Islamic financial services keeps on developing locally and universally, MFPC has been improvising its content to serve both the local and international markets. MFPC's digital improvement of the Registered Shariah Financial Planner has positively been a move in the right direction as part of our effort for Malaysia to be an Islamic Finance center of the world.

Vincent Kwo, President of Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC) highlighted that, ‘It is a great honour to receive the Best Islamic Wealth Management Qualification 2020 for 3 years in a row, which is indicative that the quality of our programme is relevant in the market. After rolling out the LMS this year, we are sure we could promulgate the Shariah RFP not to regional countries but also globally. The programmes are actively evolving, and we hope that these changes of timely updates and changing percentage of the content such as Islamic Wealth Management and Takaful could contribute greatly to the development of Islamic finance world. MFPC is blessed to receive this recognition, especially at time like this.”

One of the MFPC's missions is to elevate financial literacy proficiency of all Malaysians and being aware that Takaful is one important element in order to attain financial well-being. Islamic finance and Takaful contributes positively and substantially to the Malaysian economy. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=38123

BearingPoint expands portfolio via Paris-based engagement platform acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 -- Management and technology consultancy, BearingPoint has acquired Paris-based Steerio, an engagement platform that leverages smart analytics to push teamwork, feedback and decision-making into the digital age.

According to a statement, Steerio joins BearingPoint’s portfolio of team and project management assets such as Active Manager and enhances its People & Strategy offering.

BearingPoint said Steerio will be rolled out to all projects of a certain size and complexity and will form a substantial pillar of the way the firm delivers consulting projects.

Steerio captures weak signals and uses ‘soft-data’ analytics and best-practices and team feedback to identify roadblocks and adopt best-practices proactively to secure team effectiveness.

It reduces project failure and delays and promotes transparency and trust. Every stakeholder has access to anonymised and objective team results.

BearingPoint Managing Partner, Kiumars Hamidian said: “Putting people in the centre is a major ambition driving our Strategy 2025, and the acquisition of Steerio fits well with our portfolio of offerings because Steerio is both people-centric and data-driven at the same time.”

“We can now combine our expertise and assets and leverage them with BearingPoint's extensive industry network. We are going to be able to push teamwork and decision-making into the digital age,” said Steerio Co-Founder, Damien Guery.

-- BERNAMA

Jumio KYX Platform strengthens fraud/risk teams, centralising onboarding, KYC processes

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 -- Jumio, an AI-powered end-to-end identity verification and eKYC solutions provider, has launched Jumio KYX Platform, a unified platform adapting to the unique needs and risks of organisations.

According to a statement, the platform allows modern enterprises to easily verify user identities for onboarding, safeguard existing accounts and mitigate financial crime risk.

The Jumio KYX Platform enables global organisations to manage compliance requirements, such as KYC, AML and GDPR, by providing a layered approach to identity proofing and corroboration.

The platform includes identity proofing services -- address services, identity verification, biometrics, fraud, databases and signals (coming soon).

“Digital transformation is more than a buzzword. It’s today’s business imperative. To succeed, organisations must transform quickly and do it in ways that build trust, security and satisfaction,“ said Jumio chief executive officer, Robert Prigge.

“Businesses can tailor the Jumio KYX Platform to fit their unique needs and risks and tap into services that accelerate digital transformation without sacrificing security and convenience.”

With the Jumio KYX Platform, growing companies can tap into Jumio’s rich expertise and create a highly customised onboarding and eKYC experience based on their unique use cases, risk appetite and budget.

More details on the Jumio KYX Platform at jumio.com/kyx.

-- BERNAMA

MOENGAGE AND MIXPANEL PARTNER TO ENABLE HIGHLY PERSONALIZED CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT

BANGALORE, India & SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- MoEngage, the world’s fastest-growing customer engagement platform, and Mixpanel, the leader in product analytics, today announced a strategic partnership to help companies maximize customer engagement by delivering personalized experiences based on behavioral insights.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200915006331/en/

MoEngage enables its customers to build an integrated mobile marketing and analytics stack by creating seamless integrations with leading players in the space. MoEngage’s pre-built integrations help marketers and product owners access all actionable customer data across multiple systems when they execute omnichannel customer marketing campaigns.

“MoEngage is committed to building the richest and widest integrations with leading players in Analytics, CDP, Attribution, AI, and Conversational Assistants,” says Raviteja Dodda, CEO of MoEngage. “Mixpanel is a leader in Product Analytics; our integration with Mixpanel will enable our joint customers to improve data-driven personalization capabilities and maximize marketing ROI.”


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INTERNATIONAL WELL BUILDING INSTITUTE FORMALLY LAUNCHES WELL V2

Graduated version of WELL v2 represents the growth and evolution of the most dynamic, resilient and rigorously tested and vetted version of the WELL Building Standard (WELL)

NEW YORK, Sept 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Following two years of extensive development, in-use application and review, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) today formally launched the latest version of the WELL Building Standard – WELL v2. The newly graduated standard is the most resilient and responsive version of IWBI’s rating system to date and serves as the foundation upon which the entire WELL ecosystem is built.

“Better buildings, vibrant communities and stronger organizations have been at the core of our mission since we launched WELL in 2014,” said IWBI Chairman and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “It was a long road to get here, but we’ve confirmed that WELL v2 is implacably strong, robust and resilient in the face of every challenge. From a global pandemic to social justice, WELL v2 has proved to be a relevant, scalable and global rating system that’s responsive, inclusive, technically robust, customer-focused and applicable for any organization or space type.”

WELL v2 is a vehicle for buildings and organizations to deliver more thoughtful and intentional spaces that contribute to improved human health and well-being. It includes a set of strategies that aim to enhance human health through design interventions, operational protocols and policies and a commitment to fostering a culture of health and well-being. Built upon the pioneering foundation of the first version of the WELL Building Standard (WELL v1), WELL v2 draws expertise from a diverse community of WELL users, medical and design practitioners, public health professionals and building scientists around the world.

WELL v2 consolidates previous iterations and pilots into a single rating system that is designed to accommodate all project types and sectors. The system is intended to grow in specificity and specialty over time, adapting to accommodate diverse project types and geographies and in response to new evidence and ever-evolving public health imperatives. The standard is centered on 10 concepts – Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community – that impact human health and well-being.

Every feature within these concepts is underscored by available evidence that links design, policy and building-centric strategies to health and well-being outcomes; is third-party verified by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) through documentation and/or performance testing; has been tested through WELL v1 and/or the WELL v2 pilot, demonstrating adoption and uptake by more than 3,300 projects from a wide range of typologies representing more than 413 million square feet across 54 countries; and includes outside input from a diverse community of health and design practitioners, subject matter experts, users and other third parties.

“As the leading tool for advancing health and well-being globally, the WELL Building Standard helps people to work, live, perform and feel their best. With WELL as our vehicle, IWBI helps to translate what we know into what we practice,” said IWBI President Rachel Gutter. “We’ve channeled all that we have learned into a more accessible, adaptable and equitable rating system, which continues to be anchored by the latest scientific research and industry best practices. WELL v2 has demonstrated it is dynamic, resilient, validated and ready to change the world.”


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ANANTARA VACATION CLUB LAUNCHES NEW POINTSPAY PLATFORM FOR MEMBERS SEEKING MORE THAN JUST ACCOMMODATION

 Anantara Vacation Club, Southeast Asia’s premier vacation ownership programme, has unveiled new web features to better meet the demands of travellers in the digital age.

Thailand, Sept 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anantara Vacation Club, Southeast Asia’s premier vacation ownership programme, has unveiled new web features to better meet the demands of travellers in the digital age. Through extensive development of in-house technology, Club Points Owners around the world may now enjoy greater flexibility, new package add-ons for stays, and an overall better user experience when planning their next holiday.

In July 2020, Anantara Vacation Club rolled out a new web-based PointsPay functionality that allows for the inclusion of holiday package add-ons when making online bookings. Previously only available by contacting Club Services directly, Club Points Owners can now choose to add daily breakfast inclusions, schedule private airport pick-up and drop-off, purchase resort credit, enjoy F&B special offers and more when making their booking via the Club website. With many international travel restrictions still in place, Club Points Owners with limited travel options now have more opportunities to make use of their points while further enhancing their stay.

With domestic travel beginning to resume in the wake of COVID19, Anantara Vacation Club has also recognized the necessity of providing booking flexibility, and has implemented new web features to ensure peace of mind for its valued Club Points Owners around the globe. From September onwards, all Club Points Owners have the ability to cancel or modify any existing booking that falls within the selected property’s cancellation policies. With just a few clicks, all registered web users can log-in, preview their existing bookings and modify their travel dates based on real-time availability.

These new features come on the heels of the launch of Anantara Vacation Club’s new home-grown cloud-based system, dubbed ECHO, which allows for the seamless management of all bookings and monitoring of points’ usage across multiple platforms.

“ECHO provides a stunning 360-degree overview of our guests and their travel patterns.” said Maurizio Bisicky, Chief Operating Officer at Anantara Vacation Club. “In addition to the ability to provide real-time communications and room availability to our Club Points Owners, we are now able to closely monitor their travel behaviours, pick up on new trends, and quickly create personalized campaigns that meet their evolving needs. With international travel currently on hold, this has been essential to our continued success. So far, we have been able to launch a wide variety of domestic travel campaigns, and have been receiving an overwhelmingly positive response.”

As 2020 draws to close, Anantara Vacation Club will continue to advance innovations in technology that better service Club Points Owners worldwide and facilitate the authentic travel experiences that keep them coming back for more. Development is also underway for the creation of an Anantara Vacation Club app for IOS and Android, with further details to be released later this year.

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COVID-19: Hainan free trade port provides benchmark for China's opening up

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 -- Construction of the Hainan free trade port has improved since Chinese authorities drew up a plan three months ago, demonstrating China's commitment to opening up amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With supporting policy packages, Hainan is becoming a popular destination for foreign investment and enterprises.

To date, the port has landed 94 major projects including 20 foreign-funded ones, covering sectors such as tourism, modern service and high-tech industries.

“The launch of these projects will bring new growth, not only to the free trade port but also to global investors,” said Hainan International Economic Development Bureau director, Han Shengjian in a statement.

From July 1, Hainan has increased its annual tax-free shopping quota from 30,000 yuan (about US$4,389) to 100,000 yuan per person. (US$1 = RM4.14)

According to official data, sales from four offshore duty-free shops in Hainan topped 5 billion yuan from July 1 to Aug 18, an increase of 250 per cent year on year, with an average daily turnover of over 100 million yuan.

In addition, the Boao Lecheng pilot zone of international medical tourism, a platform to explore the country's development of international medical tourism-related businesses and services, recently launched a special type of drug insurance.

Yan Lukai, an official with the pilot zone administration, said as an innovation of the free trade port construction, the insurance enables Hainan residents to share the policy dividends.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF BIDV INSURANCE CORPORATION

SINGAPORE, Sept 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” of BIDV Insurance Corporation (BIC) (Vietnam). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect BIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also factor in a neutral impact from the company’s ultimate parent, the state of Vietnam.

BIC’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which AM Best expects to remain at the strongest level over the medium term. Despite the company’s moderate dividend payout ratio over the past three years, retained earnings have remained sufficient to bolster shareholders’ equity and support business growth. The company maintains a conservative investment strategy with approximately 95% of investments held in cash, term deposits and fixed income securities. Other balance sheet considerations include the company’s reliance on reinsurance to support its underwriting capacity for large property and engineering risks, as well as to manage accumulation risks and catastrophe exposure.

AM Best assesses the company’s operating performance as adequate, as evidenced by a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 8.0% (2015-2019). BIC’s combined ratio has trended lower over recent years, with a five-year average of 99% (2015-2019). BIC’s technical performance remains partially constrained by its high operating expense ratio. Despite this, the company’s overall earnings remain supported by robust investment earnings, emanating mainly from interest income on term deposits. AM Best expects prospective operating performance to remain at an adequate level; however, if the company’s underwriting performance deteriorates below a break-even position, or if robust investment returns are no longer achieved, pressure on this assessment could arise.

AM Best views BIC’s business profile as neutral. In 2019, the company reported gross written premium (GWP) of VND 2.4 trillion (USD 105 million), with approximately 90% of business sourced from Vietnam and the remaining from Laos. BIC’s common branding and business distribution arising from its intermediate parent, Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV Bank), is viewed as a benefit to its business profile. The company’s main lines of business are motor, commercial property and engineering, personal accident and medical, which collectively accounted for approximately 80% of GWP in 2019. On a net premium basis, the company’s portfolio is focused more on motor, personal accident and medical. Prospectively, AM Best expects growth in BIC’s portfolio to be driven by personal accident and medical business arising from its bancassurance distribution channel.

AM Best considers BIC’s ERM framework as appropriate given the size and complexity of its operations. The company’s risk management framework and capabilities benefit from a level of technical support, expertise and oversight provided by BIDV Bank, as well as from a strategic relationship with a minority interest shareholder; Fairfax Asia Limited.


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New Teledyne DALSA CLHS cameras engineered for industrial imaging applications

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 -- Teledyne DALSA, a Teledyne Technologies company and global leader in machine vision, has unveiled its new Falcon4-CLHS M4480 and M4400, based on the Teledyne e2v Lince 11.2M monochrome sensors.

The new Falcon4-CLHS models deliver easy-to-use, CLHS interface cameras that have been specifically engineered for industrial imaging applications requiring high-speed data transfer.

According to a statement, these models can reach multiple thousands of frames per second in partial scan mode, and when using the sensor’s binning mode, can reach a very large pixel full well capacity of over 160Ke.

“The new Teledyne e2v Lince 11.2M CMOS image sensors provide excellent performance and image quality for any machine vision applications that require true high-performance imaging,” said Teledyne DALSA Senior Product Manager, Manny Romero.

“With the addition of these latest Falcon4-CLHS models, we are now pleased to offer a variety of cameras ranging from the high-speed 11.2 M camera with a frame rate up to 609 fps in full resolution, to the high-resolution 86 MP camera with a frame rate up to 16 fps.”

Falcon4-CLHS cameras are engineered to deliver high-speed, dependable results for applications including machine vision industrial automation, flat panel display inspection, semiconductor inspection and aerial imaging.

More details at www.teledynedalsa.com/mv.

-- BERNAMA

GenRay EXPLORER™ intelligence analytics tool for gas, power assets in South, South East Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 -- Genesis Ray Energy (Genesis Ray) has launched an intuitive online analytics tool enabling developers, investors and OEMs to screen, compare and evaluate gas and power assets in South and South East Asia.

According to the Singapore-based clean energy research company in a statement, the tool, GenRay EXPLORER™ is a first for the gas and power sector, combining intelligence and analytics in a single, GIS-powered visual platform.

The tool gives users real-time access to accurate and in-depth information on the current landscape, competitors and market dynamics, enabling commercial decisions about renewables and other clean energy projects to be reached quickly.

With GenRay EXPLORER, users can now bring their analytics in-house, saving time and money, while obtaining more sophisticated insights and improved risk-analysis, ensuring the right business decisions are made.

The tool has a dashboard that helps users draw intuitive insights from the data using interactive dynamic visualisations, including simple numeric metrics, tables and charts.

“This ground-breaking tool allows customers seeking to tap into the fastest growing renewables markets in Asia to have reliable and comprehensive insights at their fingertips, empowering them to make informed decisions about the future of their business”, said Genesis Ray chief executive officer, Irfan Choudhry.

GenRay EXPLORER currently covers assets of 650GW+ generation capacity, 33,000+ wind turbines, 425,000+ kms of transmission lines, and 35,000+ kms of natural gas pipelines. 

GenRay EXPLORER is available under a Single/Multi-Year License that permits usage by multiple teams including planning, business development, strategy, finance and operations. More details at www.genesisray.com

-- BERNAMA

DUTCH LADY MILK INDUSTRIES BERHAD INTRODUCES NEW LOOK AND IMPROVED RECIPE FOR AN ENHANCED MILK EXPERIENCE

 Dutch Lady Liquid Milk and Family Milk Powder to provide better nourishment for Malaysians

PETALING JAYA, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Dutch Lady, the No.1 dairy brand in Malaysia has refreshed its entire range of Dutch Lady Liquid Milk and Family Milk Powder with a brand new look and improved recipe.
 
With the refreshed range, the products will now include an improved recipe packed with protein to support body growth and development plus muscle, calcium to build stronger bones and essential nutrients and vitamins such as A, B2 and D3 which are vital in keeping our bodies strong and resilient.
 
The new improved recipe meets the Malaysia Healthier Choice criteria for the dairy category. Part of Dutch Lady’s continuous commitment to constantly innovate products in line with the Government’s efforts to address the rising issue of non-communicable diseases in Malaysia. The Malaysia Healthier Choice Logo will be incorporated onto all Dutch Lady Liquid Milk and Family Milk Powder products in helping consumers make informed product choices.
 
“Our Dutch Lady liquid milk has always been a firm favourite among our Malaysian consumers and we’re so excited to share our latest new look and improved recipe here first. As part of our 140-year Dutch dairy heritage it is our mission to continue serving our consumers with high quality milk with nutritious dairy goodness to keep Malaysians healthy and resilient especially during these difficult times,” said Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad Managing Director, Tarang Gupta.
 
Aside from introducing our new milk formulation, Dutch Lady will be reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, with its new packaging made from recyclable materials that are entirely sourced from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests and other controlled sources – this allows each Dutch Lady pack to be recycled.
 
The new pack will also feature a QR code printed on each pack to provide consumers with useful information on recycling centers and steps on how to recycle at the respective centers when scanned.
 
From August, the new and improved Dutch Lady milk products will be available in all major hypermarkets and supermarkets, and also e-commerce platforms.
 
For more information on the refreshed products, log on to Dutch Lady’s Instagram and Facebook pages at https://www.instagram.com/dutchladymy and https://www.facebook.com/dutchladymalaysia respectively.
 
Download the press kit here!
 
SOURCE: Mad Hat PR PLT 


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JA MALAYSIA AND METLIFE FOUNDATION GIVE STUDENTS PLATFORM FOR CREATIVITY IN EXPRESSING THANKS TO OUR FRONT LINE MEDICAL WORKERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Junior Achievement (JA) Malaysia, an education-based not-for-profit organization, launched the “JA Show Your Gratitude” Competition, with the support of MetLife Foundation and AmMetLife Insurance Berhad (AmMetLife), to cultivate creativity among students and encourage them to show gratitude to care givers, and other essential workers in these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The competition consisted of two categories, the first of which invited students aged 7-9 to create artworks depicting gratitude to their parents or care giver, while the second category invited students aged 10-12 to write a thank you letter and take a photo dressed as the person they are grateful for. All artwork, photos and letters were submitted to JA Malaysia. The top 20 participants in each category were then asked to submit a video based on their artwork or letter.  Finalists received prizes ranging from mobile devices, computer accessories and dining vouchers.

A judging panel was set up comprising of JA Malaysia volunteers and employees of AmMetLife. Employees from MetLife Asia Services Sdn Bhd (MetLife’s Asia-based Centre of Excellence in financial reporting, planning and analysis, and finance technology systems) were also invited to volunteer as judges to select winners from over 377 submissions, received from students across ten Malaysian states.

According to Ramzi Toubassy, Chief Executive Officer, AmMetLife Insurance Berhad, “Through our collaboration with MetLife Foundation, students were able to express their gratitude towards the front-line care workers who are the unsung heroes in this fight against COVID-19. This is one of the many initiatives that AmMetLife, with the support of MetLife Foundation, has in place to help the community during this pandemic.”

According to Stuart Dean, Chairman of JA Malaysia, “We are pleased with the high number of submissions received for this contest. Through this initiative we were able to instil a sense of social responsibility among the students while giving them the opportunity to be creative and appreciative of their parents and care givers.”

Isaac Yuen Ren Xian from SK St Michael, Ipoh, the grand prize winner for Category 2 said “My creativity has certainly improved, especially when making the video as it was a new skill I had to develop. My brothers were very helpful in teaching me how to make the video. A big thank you to them and to my mum for being so encouraging.”  The winner for Category 1, Beh Yun Yi of SJKC Hua Lian 3, Taiping, expressed her gratitude to Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Malaysia’s Director General of Health and all medical front liners, who have been working around the clock to treat COVID-19 patients.

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Rhythm dazzled China's Shenyang, with the 6th Hun River Symphony Music Festival

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 -- The 6th Hun River Symphony Music Festival was recently held in Shenyang, China, themed ‘Winning the overall well-off, sharing a better life’.

Displaying brand-new style and features, the festival enriched the amateur cultural life, spread the sweetest voice, highlighted the city culture and enlarged reputation and popularity, expanding to create fashionable, modern and international metropolis image.

According to the Publicity Department of Shenyang Municipality in a statement, four performances will be on for six days, beginning Sept 4.

The ‘Night of Hun River’ opening ceremony was performed by the Shenyang symphony.

The musicians performed orchestral music including ‘The Northeast Wind’ and ‘Spanish Cappella’, and will continue to bring an elegant art feast in ShenShuiWan Park on Sept 9.

In addition, the Inner Mongolia National Art Theater Symphony Orchestra held a concert in Shengjing Grand Theater and ShenShuiWan Park on Sept 6 and 8, respectively.

There will also be three sessions of ‘online concert’ and ‘online course’ for the public and symphony fans to listen to music on Einstein FM platform.

-- BERNAMA

Optics Balzers unveils Linear Variable Filter solution for diagnostics, analysis fields

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 -- Optics Balzers, a globally recognised supplier of innovative coating solutions, has developed Linear Variable Filters (LVF), an innovative and flexible solution for the technological demands of diagnostics and analysis fields.

This is following the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has made it abundantly clear how important it is to determine analytical laboratory values quickly and accurately.

According to a statement, due to special coating technology, these filters have a precisely defined spectral response. LVFs have various features that can be customised and optimised according to the application.

Optics Balzers offers various LVFs in the spectrum, from 300nm to the near-infrared range. The adjustable edge position of the transmission band can be adapted to the respective measurement task.

The combination of only two filters to form a bandpass filter that can be adjusted and tuned as desired represents an inexpensive alternative to buying a large number of individual filters.

LVF therefore, appears to be the method of choice for diagnostic systems that require a particular degree of flexibility.

-- BERNAMA