DATAXET:NAMA IN MALAYSIA SCOOPS BRAND LAUREATE AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

 

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- A media intelligence company, dataxet:nama, a part of Dataxet Pte Ltd, has been awarded the prestigious Brand Laureate Award for Sustainable Business in Malaysia.

According to a statement, the award recognises the company's outstanding resilience and performance in growing the business through the pandemic and industry disruption.

This award underscores Dataxet’s dedication to making media intelligence a key strategic resource for brands and organisations seeking greater communication impact in today’s dynamic marketplace.

The Brand Laureate Awards is an international showcase established to recognise top-tier achievement for brands who exhibit the ability to See Beyond, Move Beyond and Go Beyond.

It is given to companies that have demonstrated superior business and brand practices to achieve significant growth and industry excellence.

“We are honoured to receive this prestigious award and to be recognised for our commitment to customer growth and success. Our model of delivering world-class capabilities with local market expertise across the region is creating the next generation of value in our industry,” said Dataxet Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, David Liu.

In 2020, dataxet:nama became part of Dataxet, the fastest growing media intelligence provider in Asia with operations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.

Dataxet offers a comprehensive suite of market-leading products to help customers leverage social, mainstream, influencer and online data for better brand and communications performance.

-- BERNAMA

NTT COM, TOEI AND NTT QONOQ BEGIN DEMONSTRATING CUSTOMER SERVICES IMPLEMENTED WITH DIGITAL HUMAN

TOKYO, March 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- NTT Communications Corporation, Toei Company, Ltd. and NTT QONOQ, INC. jointly announced today the immediate launch of a customer-service demonstration using a digital human to communicate with people. In the demonstration, a realistic digital human, named "CONN," created by combining human-like visuals generated by Toei Zukun Laboratory’s digital human technology^₁ and human-like personalities (behavior and voice) developed with NTT Human Informatics Laboratories' body motion-generation and voice-synthesis AI technology, will interact with people visiting NTT Com's OPEN HUB Park^₂ virtual space. The results will be used to determine the possibility of using digital humans as new points of contact for commercial services.

CONN was developed from the faces of nine real people, or "catalysts," who were scanned with the latest version of LightStage^₃ from Toei Zukun Laboratory, based on which a realistic human (digital human) was created using computer graphics.

For CONN's personality, including behavior and voice, the motion-capture data and voice data of the catalysts were used to train an AI engine developed with NTT Human Informatics Laboratories, which reproduced the behavior and voice characteristics of real people in CONN. 

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Prestige Biopharma gets FDA Fast Track designation in pancreatic cancer treatment

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) – Prestige Biopharma has received Fast Track designation from the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for PBP1510 (Ulenistamab), in the treatment of unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma that has relapsed following and/or is refractory to at least one line of prior therapy.

With Fast Track designation from the FDA, PBP1510 represents a promising advancement in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, in which Prestige Biopharma intends to take full advantage of the benefits offered by the designation to provide faster access for patients in need.

According to a statement, PBP1510 targets Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Upregulated Factor (PAUF), a tumour-specific protein, found to be overexpressed in majority of pancreatic cancer cases.

PAUF overexpression promotes key cellular functions, including proliferation, migration, invasion, and growth of pancreatic cancer cells, and contributes to the development of acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.

PBP1510 is designed to target these key biological mechanisms that result in limited effectiveness of current treatment options and rapid progression of pancreatic cancer.

By effectively inhibiting the tumorigenic effects of PAUF overexpression in preclinical models, PBP1510 represents a promising therapeutic strategy for addressing the unmet medical needs of pancreatic cancer patients.

A global Phase 1/2a clinical trial is currently underway in the US, Europe and Asia, with the aim of bringing this innovative therapy to the clinic.

Overall, the Phase 1/2a study aims to collect important safety data on the use of PBP1510 as a monotherapy or in combination with gemcitabine and explore the efficacy of a combined PBP1510 and gemcitabine regimen.

The study will substantiate the preclinical findings of PBP1510’s synergistic antitumour activity in combination therapy with gemcitabine without increased toxicity, as anticipated from their distinct mechanisms of action.

-- BERNAMA

MARY KAY INC. RECEIVES FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL CERTIFICATION AND CELEBRATES 1.3 MILLION TREES PLANTED WITH THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION

On International Day of Forests, Mary Kay Highlights Continued Commitment to Conservation and Nature-Based Solutions

DALLAS, March 22 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Mary Kay Inc., a global advocate for corporate social responsibility and sustainability, is celebrating International Day of Forests by highlighting its recent certification from the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321005724/en/

 

The certification applies to Mary Kay’s Print and Digital Imaging Centers located at its global corporate headquarters and regional distribution center located in North Texas, and it confirms Mary Kay's commitment to supporting responsible forestry by using 100% FSC recycled materials or FSC mix paper sources for commercial printing, primarily for paper inserts for products exported globally.

FSC® is a global, not-for-profit organization that promotes responsible forest management worldwide by defining standards based on agreed principles for responsible forest stewardship that are supported by environmental, social, and economic stakeholders. The FSC certification stands for sustainable sourcing that puts forests and people first and ensures products come from responsibly managed forests.

“We are proud of the progress in our sustainability journey,” said Deborah Gibbins, Mary Kay’s Chief Operating Officer. “The FSC certificate is the result of many months of hard work, preparation, implementation of new protocols, and training. This accomplishment highlights Mary Kay’s commitment to the environment and business excellence.”

The iconic beauty and global entrepreneurship company is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2023 by continuing its decades-long commitment to enriching lives around the world and reducing its impact on the environment.

This year, Mary Kay also celebrates a 15-year partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. Mary Kay and the Arbor Day Foundation’s partnership began in 2008. Key highlights include:

• In 2008, Mary Kay independent beauty consultants engaged in a recycling program where a tree was planted in a forest of need for every old compact recycled. Thanks to a national recycling effort by Independent Beauty Consultants and their customers, as well as the Company's employees, Mary Kay exceeded the collection goal of 200,000 old compacts.

• From 2009 to 2012, Mary Kay’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation supported Nature Explore Classrooms in domestic violence shelters to provide residents a safe place to connect with nature.

• Beginning in 2013, Mary Kay began supporting in large scale reforestation projects around the world including the United States, Brazil, China, Germany, Ireland, Peru, and Madagascar.

• In 2018, as Mary Kay cut the ribbon on the new Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing / R&D facility in Lewisville, TX, it celebrated the achievement of planting their one-millionth tree by planting a ceremonial tree at the site.

• To date, Mary Kay and the Arbor Day Foundation have planted 1.3 million trees through its partnership and continue to work toward future impact.

“The enduring commitment Mary Kay has shown to supporting a diverse blend of projects that plant the right trees in the right places has made this a truly special partnership,” said Katie Loos, President of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Over the years, our work together has grown to create global impact in forests of greatest need. Mary Kay understands what it means and what it takes to be a good steward to our most vulnerable ecosystems and communities, and we are excited to see what the future of this partnership has in store for the world.”

Learn more about Mary Kay’s vision for enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow at https://marykayglobal.com/sustainability/.

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors of domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Over the past 50 years, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities, and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners, and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org. 

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GRADIANT BROADENS SERVICE OFFERINGS IN MIDDLE EAST VIA MPES ACQUISITION

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- Gradiant, a global advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions provider, has acquired Muscat Projects & Engineering Services (MPES), a leading full-service water and wastewater management company in Oman.

According to a statement, this announcement follows Gradiant’s acquisition of Advanced Watertek in February, a major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for membrane-based water and wastewater treatment systems.

In response to the region’s most severe drought in 900 years, nations and businesses in the Middle East are rapidly implementing water sustainability targets, building out new water and wastewater treatment capacity, and looking to alternative water supplies to meet growing demand, creating unprecedented opportunities in the region’s water and wastewater market.

With the acquisition of MPES, Gradiant expands its full-service capabilities in the region, including deployment of the SmartOps plant performance optimistion and asset management technology through Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services.

“The acquisitions of MPES and Advanced Watertek create an integrated platform for Gradiant to deliver best-in-class offerings into the Middle East.

“We will extend MPES's core expertise and resources in O&M services to Gradiant's existing and new facilities in the region, diversifying our revenue mix to a long-term recurring profile,” said Gradiant Chief Operating Officer, Prakash Govindan.

Meanwhile, MPES Managing Director, E.M. Badhrudeen said: “We look forward to integrating our expertise with Gradiant to expand the impact of our water and wastewater solutions. By joining Gradiant, we will extend our operations know-how into projects across the Middle East region.”

Founded in 2008, MPES delivers turnkey solutions for wastewater and solid waste management and specialises in the O&M of water and wastewater treatment plants. Its key clients include Haya Water, the Ministry of Defense and Petroleum Development Oman.

Through its continually expanding portfolio, Gradiant is bringing together industry-leading water treatment solutions with the power of artificial intelligence to sustainably solve the world’s most important water challenges.

-- BERNAMA

2 UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS BAG KING FAISAL PRIZE DEVELOPING COVID-19 VACCINES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) – Harvard University and Oxford University professors Dan Barouch and Sarah Gilbert, received the King Faisal Prize for Medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for their innovative technologies developing Covid-19 vaccines, which saved millions of lives.

Additionally, Northwestern University Professor, Chad Mirkin, and the A*STAR Senior Fellow and NanoBio Lab Director, Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying, were awarded the Science Prize for helping define the modern age of nanotechnology, and for their various advancements and applications of nanomaterials.

Barouch; the William Bosworth Castle Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Gilbert; the Saïd Chair of Vaccinology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University, employed a novel technology in developing Covid-19 viral vectors vaccines which are the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, respectively.

Instead of the traditional vaccines’ methods which use a weakened or killed form of the original infection and require a long time to develop in the human body, the two professors genetically modified a harmless version of a different virus to carry genetic material to body cells and deliver protection.

“This vaccine has been rolled out across the world by the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, and over 200 million people have received this vaccine, particularly in the developing world,” said Barouch in a statement.

Meanwhile, Gilbert said: “This award is in recognition of my work to co-create a vaccine for COVID-19. A low-cost, accessible, efficacious vaccine that has now been used in more than 180 countries and is estimated to have saved more than six million lives by the start of 2022.”

Along with Medicine and Science, the King Faisal Prize recognised outstanding thinkers and scholars in Arabic Language & Literature and Islamic Studies this year and honoured exemplary leaders who have contributed to serve Islam, Muslims and humanity.

Professor Abdelfattah Kilito, from Morocco, received the “Arabic Language & Literature” prize focusing on “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”, while Professor Robert Hillenbrand (United Kingdom), Honorary Professorial Fellow in the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh, was awarded the “Islamic Studies” prize in “Islamic Architecture”. 

As for the “Service to Islam” Prize, Professor Choi Young Kil-Hamed (South Korea) and Shaikh Nasser Abdullah Al Zaabi (the United Arab of Emirates) were this year’s laureates.

Each prize laureate is endowed with US$200,000; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grammes, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize. (US$1=RM4.46)

-- BERNAMA

World's largest prayer wheel in Vietnam certified by The Guinness World Records

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- The Guinness World Records has certified The Great Prayer Wheel “Drigung Kagyu Rinchen Khorchen Khorwe Go Gek” located at Samten Hills cultural and spiritual tourist complex in Dalat, Vietnam as the world's largest prayer wheel.

Officially inaugurated on March 11, The Great Prayer Wheel is made of pure copper, inlaid with 24K gold, weighing 200 tonnes, 37.22 metres in height and 16.53 metres in diameter, according to a statement.

Its unique design and enormous size make it an architectural wonder that has attracted global visitors, while its intricate details, beautiful colours, and breathtaking view of the surrounding hills and forests create a serene and peaceful atmosphere that inspires reflection and contemplation.

The Guinness World Records recognition strongly promotes the image of the Great Buddhist prayer wheel in the Vajrayana Buddhist spiritual complex at Samten Hills Dalat and the beauty of Lam Dong province to the world.

This way, Samten Hills Dalat symbolises friendship, peace, and diplomatic culture between Vietnam, India and many other countries.

The space of Vajrayana Buddhism in Samten Hills Dalat is a rare, unique construction rich in cultural value and it is made with Nepal painters' ancient art.

The Largest Prayer Wheel and Samten Hills Dalat are now open to the public. Visitors are welcome to experience the beauty and serenity first-hand as it would be the perfect destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture.

-- BERNAMA