CLOUDFLARE-HUGGING FACE PARTNERSHIP ENABLES DEVELOPERS DEPLOY AI MODELS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Cloudflare Inc, the connectivity cloud company has partnered with Hugging Face, the open platform for artificial intelligence (AI) builders, to make deploying the best open AI models more accessible and affordable to developers.

Cloudflare will be the first serverless graphics processing unit (GPU) preferred partner for deploying Hugging Face models, enabling developers to quickly and easily deploy AI globally, without managing infrastructure or paying for unused compute capacity.

“Hugging Face has made it possible for developers to find the models they need to build AI-driven experiences. Connecting developers to Workers AI is going to make it possible for them to deploy them, in just a few clicks,” said Cloudflare chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder, Matthew Prince in a statement.

Meanwhile, Hugging Face CEO, Clem Delangue said Hugging Face and Cloudflare both share a deep focus on making the latest AI innovations as accessible and affordable as possible for AI builders.

“We are excited to offer serverless GPU services in partnership with Cloudflare to help developers scale their AI apps from zero to global, with no need to wrangle infrastructure or predict the future needs of their application, just pick your model and deploy,” he said.

Hugging Face’s leading model hub, combined with Cloudflare’s hyper-distributed edge network, will make it easier than ever for developers to build with AI affordably and at scale.

This partnership will enable developers to use the best Hugging Face models, optimised for Cloudflare; deploy Workers AI in one click from Hugging Face; and build AI without upfront costs.

-- BERNAMA

AVIA SOLUTIONS GROUP CHAIRMAN SHARES INSIGHTS ON AI IN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Chairman of Avia Solutions Group, Gediminas Ziemelis has shared predictions regarding the areas where artificial intelligence (AI) in aviation will make a massive difference.

According to a statement, the use of AI in aviation goes beyond customer support chatbots and price comparison tools for travellers.

While these applications will definitely stay and become ubiquitous, the real disruption will come from optimising the “hard” areas of aviation, from revenue management to evaluating the likelihood of a strike.

An accomplished Lithuanian entrepreneur, Ziemelis said AI tools are able to unlock true dynamic pricing; maintaining engine health; planning the most efficient route; predicting strikes; improving workflows in-flight; helping pilots and crew maintain their mental health; and predicting the probability of Airworthiness Directives (AD), among others.

In the airline business, revenue management has never been an easy game, but the stakes are even higher in the post-COVID. AI can help improve the tough task of analysing historical data and calculating the right price, taking into account the client’s location and a myriad of other factors.

Predictive maintenance has been an integral part of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) for quite some time now, with sensors helping airlines determine when and what needs to be fixed or replaced. AI can use both real-time sensor data and predictive historical fault patterns to reduce downtime and overall costs of maintenance.

With AI tools able to plan the most efficient route, AI-enabled platforms can accelerate decision-making for operators, helping them harness not just the power of historical data but also of predictive mechanisms that, together, generate an actionable and clear picture.

While strikes in aviation usually make headlines because of the disruption they have on travellers’ plans, the fact that airlines can lose tens if not hundreds of millions per strike is often overlooked.

AI can analyse not just technical but also sociological data, a model could be designed to help airlines predict a potential strike and be better prepared for potential negotiations.

Furthermore, AI can serve as a helper not just to the staff on the ground but also to the cabin crew. It is not just about making routine tasks easier, a properly trained tool can offer expert advice on managing the aircraft and making quick, informed decisions, especially when the pressure is on and quick decisions are vital.

-- BERNAMA

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings, Assigns National Scale Rating To Philippines’ Nat Re

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good) of National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (Nat Re).

AM Best has also assigned the Philippines National Scale Rating (NSR) of aa+.PH (Superior) to Nat Re, and the outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is stable.

In a statement, AM Best said the ratings reflected Nat Re’s balance sheet strength, which was assessed as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Nat Re’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, which remained at the strongest level in 2022.

The rating agency viewed the company’s investment portfolio as having moderate risk. Despite some exposure to corporate bonds and equity investments, the majority of Nat Re’s portfolio is composed of fixed income securities issued by the Philippines’ government.

Nat Re’s operating performance was assessed as adequate, with a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 2.3 per cent (2018-2022), while net profit declined in 2022 compared to the prior year.

While the company reported lower underwriting losses in 2022, compared to 2021, the improvement was outweighed by lower investment income, which was partially impacted by investment impairment and fair value losses on equity investments.

AM Best viewed Nat Re’s business profile as neutral. As the only domestic reinsurer in the Philippines, the company is well-positioned for business opportunities emanating from local government initiatives, including its engagement in the design and launch of underwriting facilities in the Philippines market.

The company’s risk management framework and corporate governance capabilities are viewed to have strengthened over recent years, considering its ERM approach to be appropriate given the current size and complexity of its operations.

-- BERNAMA

ASLP ESTABLISHES BIOTECHNOLOGY STARTUP COMPANY WITH US$16MLN IN SERIES A FUNDING

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Accelerator Life Science Partners (ALSP), has launched the Series A financing of Automera, a new biotechnology company that focuses on the development of autophagy-targeting chimaera small molecules (AUTACs).

Augmented with quantum chemistry and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled drug discovery tools, Automera’s AUTACs have the broad potential to rapidly generate novel therapeutic leads for a range of diseases. Automera will initially focus its product development efforts to treat cancer.

According to a statement, Automera has secured US$16 million in Series A funding, a co-led endeavour by ALSP and ClavystBio, with participation from Singapore-based global investor EDBI, Xora Innovation, and other undisclosed investors. (US$1=RM4.70)

ALSP Executive Vice President and Automera board member, Alice Chen said Automera exemplifies the innovative scientific and translational research ongoing in the region, as it is ALSP first investment in Singapore.

“We plan to leverage ALSP’s unique company-building capabilities in Singapore, and we look forward to working with the broader Singapore community to enhance the platform technologies and early-stage therapeutic programmes that Automera will develop,” she said.

Meanwhile, Automera co-founder, Loong Wang said: “We greatly value the business and financial support that ALSP provides and are proud that leading healthcare investors are participating in Automera’s Series A financing. With these resources, Automera is well positioned to deploy our AUTAC platform toward the development of potentially transformative therapies.”

Automera’s AUTAC platform is a next-generation approach to realising the potential of targeted protein degradation (TPD) as a therapeutic modality, in which TPD, an emerging field of novel therapeutics, catalyses the degradation of disease-related proteins while retaining the benefits of small molecules.

An early-stage life science accelerator and investment firm that creates and builds next-generation biotechnology companies centred on innovative science, Automera focused on the development of a novel therapeutic approach via autophagy-based targeted protein degradation.

-- BERNAMA

CLOUDFLARE STUDY: MAJORITY RESPONDENTS FIND VALUE IN CONNECTIVITY CLOUD APPROACH

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Cloudflare Inc has released a commissioned study that underscores companies’ growing need to connect everything in their business, while maintaining control over their security, productivity and competitive growth.

To help the industry address this emerging challenge, Cloudflare is introducing the concept of the connectivity cloud, a unified platform of cloud-native services designed to help enterprises regain control over their increasingly complex and sprawling technology and data.

According to a statement, in the last several years, global organisations have seen a dramatic increase in the adoption of more applications, often Software as a Service (SaaS)-based, to help teams efficiently and collaboratively operate in a hybrid work environment.

However, this has introduced new risks and challenges and led nearly 40 per cent of organisations to agree or strongly agree that they are losing control over their information technology (IT) and security environments.

IT and Security teams are now tasked with responsibilities to remain productive and compliant while managing an increasingly complex landscape, and a third of organisations say these new responsibilities were not in their purview five years ago.

For instance, 52 per cent of IT and security teams were not responsible for ensuring security for all in-office, remote or hybrid workers five years ago, but are today.

In addition, greater than 40 per cent are also now responsible for managing and securing applications in public cloud environments or managing and securing data in SaaS environments, despite not owning these areas five years ago.

Furthermore, IT and security leaders see their major challenges revolving around managing a growing business landscape while ensuring their team remains productive and secure.

The study reveals that 98 per cent of organisations agree that today’s businesses would gain value from a connectivity cloud that provides secure, performant, “any-to-any” connectivity, more now than ever before.

In September 2023, Cloudflare commissioned Forrester Consulting to evaluate the IT and security ecosystem whereby Forrester conducted an online survey with 449 IT decision makers across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

-- BERNAMA

CONCENTRIX, WEBHELP MERGER CREATES GLOBAL CX LEADER

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Concentrix Corporation, a global provider of customer experience (CX) services and technologies, has closed its combination with Webhelp in a transaction valued at approximately US$4 billion, including net debt, and the integration of the two companies is currently in progress. (US$1=RM4.68)

According to Concentrix in a statement, while the finalisation of the permanent name is still underway, the combined entity will operate under the trade name Concentrix + Webhelp.

Concentrix + Webhelp Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chris Caldwell said: “I am excited to embark on this new journey together and believe that, with our combined strengths, we are uniquely positioned to redefine the industry and design, build and run the future of CX for our amazing and valued clients.”

This combination further positions both companies as a global CX leader, with an expanded breadth of generative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, digital capabilities and high-value services.

It also strengthens its end-to-end CX value proposition, with one of the most robust, well-balanced global footprints in the industry to help the world’s best brands transform customer experiences and achieve their business goals.

The company also welcomes two new members to the Board of Directors, Olivier Duha and Nicolas Gheysens. Duha is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, co-founder, and former CEO of Webhelp and will serve as Vice Chair of the Board.

Meanwhile, Gheysens is a Partner at Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), the company’s largest shareholder following the Concentrix + Webhelp combination, and brings with him a wealth of investment and board experience, backing the growth of large and successful businesses across Europe.

“We are fortunate to add such strong skill sets with deep background in the customer experience industry to our Board. With the addition of Olivier and Nicolas, we expand our international expertise in leading large, complex multinational companies on a successful path for growth,” said Concentrix Chair of the Board, Kathryn Marinello.

This combination marks a key milestone for the two companies, as they come together with a complementary culture, footprint, capabilities, and vision for growth across more than 70 countries.

-- BERNAMA

BILLUPS ACCELERATES GLOBAL EXPANSION, ACQUIRING TAC MEDIA AND APPOINTING DAVID KRUPP GLOBAL CEO

NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Billups, a global Out-of-Home (OOH) technology and managed services company, today announced the acquisition of TAC Media Sdn. Bhd., (“TAC Media”) a prominent OOH advertising specialist based in Malaysia. The acquisition will integrate TAC Media's regional network and insights with Billups' global footprint and technical acumen. As a result, the company’s brand and agency partners will have direct access to Billups’ award-winning services and proprietary and patented OOH analytics and measurement capabilities throughout Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

“Our entry into Southeast Asia required the right market and the right personnel, and we believe we have found the ideal long-term integration partners in TAC Media,” said Billups co-founder Benjamin Billups. “Angie and her team have created a wonderful legacy and compelling story in the Malaysian market. We couldn’t be more excited about their vision for the region.”

Founded in 2013 by industry veteran Angie Cutter, TAC Media excels in creating impactful campaigns that help brands connect with their target demographic through a wide range of OOH channels, such as billboards, transit advertising, digital screens and more. With access to over 6,000 digital and static billboards across Malaysia, TAC Media offers the largest network of outdoor advertising space in the region.

"Over the past decade, we have carved out a niche for TAC Media as a formidable player in the region's OOH space,” said Cutter. “This acquisition marks a new phase of progress in our journey and we are thrilled by the prospects ahead, especially at a time when OOH is gaining further momentum and credibility as a vital component of any comprehensive marketing strategy."

Along with this acquisition, Billups is also pleased to announce the promotion of David Krupp to global chief executive officer. During his tenure as Billups’ Americas CEO, Krupp doubled the company’s staff and revenue and expanded into several new territories, including Billups EMEA in 2021. In his new role, Krupp will lead Billup’ global operations, ensuring Billups remains at the forefront of the OOH market and advertising industry worldwide.

“As we near our 20th anniversary milestone, Billups' expansion into Southeast Asia underscores our unwavering commitment to global growth and innovation,” said Krupp. “Acquiring TAC Media will equip our clients with access to expanded global resources and empower us to deliver consistent and exceptional service across North America, EMEA and now Southeast Asia. This acquisition is a testament to our mission of redefining the global OOH landscape and connecting brands with their consumers all over the world.” 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=47068

HOIANA RESORT & GOLF STANDS OUT AT ITE 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Hoiana Resort & Golf, a premier beachfront integrated resort in Vietnam, made a notable impression at the 17th International Travel Expo (ITE) 2023, held in Ho Chi Minh City, recently.

In a statement, Hoiana Resort & Golf said the event featured over 200 exhibitors, attracted an impressive 15,000 visitors, and garnered attention from more than 20 international media outlets.

Recognised as one of Asia's prominent travel and tourism exhibitions, ITE 2023 brought together exhibitors from 30 provinces, providing a dynamic platform for promoting tourism and establishing essential partnerships.

Hoiana Resort & Golf participated in this prestigious event as an exhibitor to present its top-tier facilities and latest offerings to travel and hospitality partners, as well as the enthusiastic general public, reflecting its unwavering commitment to promoting tourism, with a particular focus on the captivating Quang Nam Province.

Throughout the three-day event, its dedicated sales team conducted over 100 appointments, warmly welcoming delegates and introducing them to the distinctive experiences available at Hoiana Resort & Golf.

As a token of appreciation to its valued visitors, the resort held daily lucky draws, enhancing the experience for attendees with a chance to win luxurious accommodation vouchers, complimentary golf rounds, dining gift certificates and enticing giveaways.

In a significant achievement, the resort’s meticulously designed exhibition booth received the 'Best Booth' award from ITE HCMC 2023, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to excellence in all aspects of its operation.

Moving forward, Hoiana Resort & Golf remains resolute in its promise to deliver memorable experiences and to continually set new standards for luxury leisure and golf.

-- BERNAMA

VONAGE POSITIONED AS A LEADER IN THE 2023 GARTNER® MAGIC QUADRANT™ FOR COMMUNICATIONS PLATFORM AS A SERVICE

HOLMDEL, N.J., Sept 22 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation and a part of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), has been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS). This recognition positions Vonage in the Leaders Quadrant for Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision.

“This is a transformative time for cloud communications and how businesses use this technology,” said Rory Read, Vonage CEO and SVP, Head of Business Area Global Communications Platform for Ericsson. “Consumers now expect flexible, intelligent communication between them and the brands they engage with. The ability to communicate from anywhere, on any channel, is a key differentiator and represents the next level of communication between businesses and their customers, and that is what CPaaS - or Communications APIs - provides.”

Read continued, “Vonage’s CPaaS capabilities and strong developer resources enable businesses to embed communications into applications, systems and workflows so customers can engage with businesses on their terms, for deeper engagement and a better overall customer experience. And as we look to the future of business communications, we are focused on building a global network platform and exposing network capabilities as APIs, unlocking the power of the 5G network, and putting it at the fingertips of developers to create new, innovative use cases for enterprises and the customers they serve. We are thrilled to be recognized as a Leader in the Gartner CPaaS Magic Quadrant for our platform today, and our vision for tomorrow.”

In this CPaaS Magic Quadrant, Gartner recognizes vendors based on Completeness of Vision Evaluation Criteria which includes innovation, market understanding and a vertical/industry strategy.

Programmable components for the Vonage Communications Platform such as Vonage AI Acceleration Suite, help improve business productivity, customer experiences and enhance customer engagement with a simplified approach to build new applications. With Vonage AI Studio, VCP empowers developers and non-developers to communicate with customers across channels with AI powered conversational workflows.

Vonage is one of only two vendors recognized in all three Magic Quadrant reports – CPaaS, Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) in the cloud communications space. Vonage CPaaS is part of the Vonage Communications Platform (VCP), which also includes UCaaS, CCaaS and Conversational Commerce applications.

Download the complimentary Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPaaS.

Disclaimer

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Communications Platform as a Service, By Lisa Unden-Farboud, etc., 18 September 2023

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, Worldwide, By Rafael Benitez etc., 28 November 2022

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, By Drew Kraus, etc., 7 August 2023

About Vonage

Vonage, a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely - providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements.

Vonage is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), and a business area within the Ericsson Group called Business Area Global Communications Platform. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230921394755/en/

Contact

Jill Baldassano, +1 848.301.7024, jill.baldassano@vonage.com

Source : Vonage

Veracio Acquires Minalyze Accelerating Orebody Knowledge Via Data Analysis, AI

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Veracio has entered into a binding agreement to acquire pioneers in scanning and data innovators, Minalyze for a total consideration equal to US$29.3 million. (US$1=RM4.69)

According to Veracio in a statement, this strategic acquisition will transform the way the industry captures, analyses, and interprets geological information, ushering in an era of informed decision-making in an increasingly complex and data-driven world.

Veracio Chief Executive Officer, JT Clark said: “We see this as a 'better together' opportunity, leveraging our collective expertise to push boundaries and create a product portfolio that goes beyond anything previously available for the mining and exploration industry.”

The esteemed co-founders of Minalyze, Annelie Lundström and Mikael Arthursson, will assume integral leadership positions within Veracio, while the entire Minalyze team will seamlessly transition under the Veracio banner.

“We believe this acquisition will enable us to enhance what we have accomplished to date, deliver distinct value to our clients and redefine industry benchmarks collaboratively,” said Lundström.

This landmark deal will capitalise on the synergy between Minalyze and Veracio’s scientific and technological progress and prowess.

As Veracio remains steadfast in its mission to evolve data acquisition and artificial intelligence (AI) in geosciences and to unveil vital resources globally with enhanced speed, the transaction is scheduled to be completed on Sept 20.

Veracio offers mining clients a range of solutions that improve, automate, and digitally transform orebody sciences in exploration, resource definition and production.

On the other hand, Minalyze has a long history of developing scanning instruments for core samples and software for the visualisation of geological data.

-- BERNAMA

LRN Report Identifies Ethics, Compliance Programmes Key Attributes

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Best practices are rapidly converging around the globe when it comes to ethics and compliance (E&C) programmes, according to the new Global Standards Edition of the Ethics & Compliance Program Effectiveness Report from LRN Corporation.

In particular, five key characteristics appear most significant when it comes to ensuring an organisation’s E&C programme achieves true impact, according to a statement.

Amalgamating the past four years of data from its annual flagship research (2020 – 2023), the newly released report from LRN identifies the five major attributes of the world’s most highly effective E&C programmes.

More specifically, high-impact programmes tend to be those that rely on values; are embedded in decision-making; are accessible and relevant; innovate in training design and delivery; and prioritise personal responsibility.

“In looking back over the last four years of our research on what makes E&C programmes effective, we can say with confidence that companies’ ethics, culture, and values do matter.

“Our data not only documents the necessity of this convergence but the need for all organisations to implement best practices in the face of increased regulatory scrutiny. At LRN we strive to fix that gap in hopes that we can help set a worldwide standard for the benefit of the entire E&C community,” said LRN Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Michielsen.

Meanwhile, LRN senior advisor and lead author for the Program Effectiveness Reports, including the Global Standards Edition, Susan Divers said it is imperative for companies to diligently allocate ample resources and authority to their organisation's E&C programmes in light of global regulators' heightened focus on holding accountability and the dynamic emergence of intricate risk.

“This necessity is particularly underscored by the findings in our report, which illuminates the increasing convergence of best practices across borders and the far-reaching influence of US regulations on E&C programmes worldwide,” she said.

The 2023 edition of LRN’s yearly Program Effectiveness Report, originally released in February, was based on responses from more than 1,850 E&C professionals globally at organisations with over 1,000 employees. Spanning 26 industries and 10 different countries, it is the largest and most comprehensive research of its kind.

-- BERNAMA

TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS VITAL TO COMMERCE MEDIA SUCCESS - PUBMATIC STUDY

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- PubMatic, an independent technology company, has released a new study that retailers see tremendous upside for commerce media revenue but increasingly consider partnerships and technology support as critical factors in meeting objectives.

Commissioned by Forrester Consulting finding, the study surveyed 309 commerce media strategy decision-makers at the United States- and the United Kingdom- based retail and travel organisations, according to Pubmatic in a statement.

In the study, respondents said nearly two per cent of their overall revenue comes from commerce media with hopes this will more than double to reach 4.37 per cent in the future.

Additionally, more than 50 per cent of retailers said they are planning to change their technology vendor to further enhance their capabilities with data privacy on top-of-mind for decision-makers as they consider technology partners, alongside deploying tech solutions that are unified, flexible, customisable and scalable.

“Retailers starting to participate in commerce media have seen success, but they are still experimenting and evaluating whether their current technology partnerships enable them to make the most of their valuable media properties and consumer relationships,” said PubMatic Vice President of Addressability and Commerce Media, Peter Barry.

The study suggests that commerce media offers transformational benefits to retail businesses, with over 96 per cent of retailers saying their programmes currently meet or exceed return on investment (ROI) expectations.

However, more needs to be done, as the decision-makers surveyed said current solutions lacked scale, positive buying experiences, and measurement abilities. The study found that many retailers lack the internal expertise to deploy their commerce media programmes strategically, which leaders cited as the greatest key to success.

The study also found that high-success retailers are considerably more effective in three core components of a commerce media strategy such as securing the necessary resources and partners to scale; the ability to prove ROI; and the ability to balance monetisation with customer experience.

The research further suggests a range of best practices for retailers that want to leverage successful commerce media programmes, including investing in technology, aligning monetisation teams with ecommerce, and forming a supply-side cooperative.

-- BERNAMA

HYCU RELEASES CEO’S BOOK ON NAVIGATING SAAS DATA LANDSCAPE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- HYCU Inc, the fastest-growing multi-cloud data protection as a service company, announced the release of its chief executive officer and founder, Simon Taylor's new book titled "Averting the SaaS Data Apocalypse".

A comprehensive exploration of the rising threat to digital data and the race to protect it, the book is released to shine a light on imminent digital threat and share real world examples of what can be done to avoid digital mayhem.

From the meteoric rise of the Software as a Service (SaaS) data apocalypse to deep dives into how leading organisations, including the Boston Red Sox, Zebra Technologies and Bain Capital, have navigated these challenging waters, Taylor offers an unparalleled insight into the modern SaaS landscape.

Taylor in a statement said there are over 23,000 SaaS applications in use globally, and more than 50 per cent of successful ransomware attacks happening through SaaS use, and predictions that a successful ransomware attack will occur every two seconds by 2031, signs of the Apocalypse are clear.

“The purpose of the book is to shed light on this emerging crisis, offer practical recommendations on how to deal with it, and learn from some of the most forward-thinking IT leaders that share their experiences in how to truly avert what is becoming the biggest IT challenge of our lifetime,” he said.

In this compelling narrative, readers are plunged into a journey through the treacherous landscape of SaaS data sprawl.

However, amidst the chaos, HYCU emerges as the beacon of hope with its first of its kind, R-Cloud, low code data protection development platform, leading the charge against this digital threat.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com in print and Kindle versions worldwide with the pending release in audiobook format on Audible.

-- BERNAMA

ST KITTS AND NEVIS IS BEST DESTINATION TO INVEST

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- St Kitts and Nevis has been recognised as the best CBI destination in the 2023 edition of the CBI Index, trumping 11 other countries with active citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes.

Head of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit, Michael Martin said: “This recognition by the CBI Index is another confirmation of why St Kitts and Nevis should be the first choice for any global investor.

“For four decades we have crafted solid, innovative and sustainable investment solutions, giving investors the confidence to attain their goals in the global arena.”

The country, which has made several sweeping changes to its CBI programme in the last year, took top honours, scoring 77 points in a race between nations such as Dominica, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, Malta, Vanuatu, Turkey, Egypt, Austria, Cambodia and Jordan.

The 2023 CBI Index noted that St Kitts and Nevis has been the most proactive CBI nation in the Caribbean when it comes to responding to security concerns raised by Western nations, according to a statement.

Now in its seventh year, the CBI Index utilises its established nine-pillar index architecture to provide investors with a data-driven framework with which to measure the performance and appeal of global CBI programmes.

The nine pillars are Standard of Living, Freedom of Movement, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product.

Scored full marks in Mandatory Travel or Residence, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence and Certainty of Product pillars, St Kitts and Nevis has shown the most commitment to upholding the integrity and reputation of its CBI programme.

The CBI Index stands as one of the most recognised and reputable rating tools in the investment migration industry and has a reputation for providing valuable industry insights and knowledge.

-- BERNAMA

AXI LAUNCHES AXI SELECT, A PIONEERING ALL-INCLUSIVE CAPITAL ALLOCATION PROGRAMME OFFERING SKILLED TRADERS FUNDING OF UP TO $1,000,000 USD

[We see the Trader in You !]


SYDNEY, Australia, Sept 18 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axi a leading global Forex and CFD broker has announced the launch of Axi Select, a groundbreaking capital allocation programme. The programme is specifically crafted to empower traders by offering them a pathway to access capital funding up to $1,000,000 USD and facilitating their progression into professional trading. Setting a new precedent within the industry, Axi Select offers traders the exceptional advantage to join the program with zero registration fees, as well as the opportunity to earn up to 90% of their profits.

Greg Rubin, Head of Axi Select, says: “Through the introduction of Axi Select, our innovative capital allocation programme, we aim to provide an opportunity for traders to forge long and successful careers, empowering them to realize their lifelong aspirations of becoming professional traders. Our comprehensive programme provides the capital, support, and resources necessary for traders to thrive in the dynamic world of trading. We are committed to fuelling their passion, driving their success, and providing unwavering support as they navigate towards achieving their goals.” The programme offers a range of notable features, including unrestricted trading conditions, the Edge score which allows traders to fine-tune their strategies and enhance their trading performance, and an exclusive trading room which serves as a dedicated hub, offering real-time market updates and curated educational content. 

[LEARN MORE AND JOIN AXI SELECT]

The Axi Select programme is only available to clients of AxiTrader Limited. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. This content is not available for AU, NZ, and UK clients. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service. Other Fees may apply.

Click here to watch the Axi Select fireside chat

Talking about Axi Select, Louis Cooper, Chief Commercial Officer at Axi, says “At Axi, we take pride in being a brand that consistently brings the edge to life for our customers. Our revolutionary new offering, Axi Select, is the first-of-its-kind among brokers and another true reflection of our brand promise. We have previously allocated $39M to traders in previous programmes and enabled several traders break out into pro trading status. With Axi Select, we will deliver unparalleled opportunities to our traders whilst both redefining the boundaries of what’s possible in trading and reshaping the evolution of the financial industry.”

Axi offers a streamlined process to participate in Axi Select – with no signup or membership fees, traders can effortlessly submit their application and start trading. Upon achieving a designated Edge Score, traders can start to secure capital funding of up to $1,000,000 USD. 

[LEARN MORE AND JOIN AXI SELECT]

The Axi Select programme is only available to clients of AxiTrader Limited. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. This content is not available for AU, NZ, and UK clients. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service. Other Fees may apply.

Click here to watch the Axi Select fireside chat

About Axi

Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, trusted by thousands of ambitious customers in 100+ countries around the world. We help all types of traders, trading businesses, banks and financial organizations find the edge they need to achieve their financial goals through informed transactions made on the world's financial markets. Axi offers a wide range of assets including CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Silver, Oil, Coffee, Indices, and other commodities.

At Axi, we are proud of our reputation as an honest, fair, and trusted broker. Our many awards and 'Great' Trustpilot reviews prove we have earned the confidence of customers who value our outstanding service, fast execution, secure payments, segregated funds, and easy withdrawals.

For further enquiries contact service@axi.com

Check out other Axi communication at https://www.axi.com/int/blog/company-news

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d50c2d41-8931-47bd-9b0f-6a5572fb88e4
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/987d1f0e-63e9-4234-aaaf-6c041d74d3ba
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a391ff3-5046-485a-916e-cca5bbb247b2

PDF accompanying this announcement is available at: 
http://ml-eu.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/1cfa04fb-a4cb-4b4d-b0dc-5b14a9f0aa0f


SOURCE : Axi Financial Services (UK) Limited

HYTERA LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION AD-HOC DMR REPEATERS

^{Hytera Latest Dual-channel DMR Ad-hoc Repeater E-pack200 & E-pole200 (Graphic: Business Wire)}


SHENZHEN, China, Sept 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Hytera Communications (SZSE: 002583), a leading global provider of professional communications technologies and solutions, has recently released E-pack200 and E-pole200, the latest ad-hoc network (WANET) repeaters, to further strengthen its offering of rapidly deployable two-way radio systems. Both models support dual-channel and two-way networking to enable powerful on-demand connectivity, while E-pack200 is designed to be man-packable and E-pole200 can be installed at a fixed location.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230914438625/en/

 

E-pack200 and E-pole200 create narrowband ad-hoc multi-hop links through cascading and provide large coverage for voice, data, and other services with two channels. They are highly flexible in deployment and eliminate the need for wiring. The ad-hoc repeaters are essential for public safety departments, as well as public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) agencies, to create, extend or enhance their private network coverage in remote areas, disaster sites, and major events.

Both models support up to 31 nodes without central networking. If one of the nodes fails or is damaged, the communication among other nodes remains unaffected. With IP connection, multiple ad-hoc networks can be interconnected regardless of the fact that the ad-hoc networks might operate with different frequencies.

The E-pack200 is equipped with a 148Wh removable battery, which is capable of supporting over 8 hours of operation. The E-pole200 works with different power sources, such as solar, trunking base stations (-48V), etc., and it comes with various installation options, such as pole, rack, or wall-mounted.

Thanks to the compact size, networking flexibility, and ease of installation, both repeaters bring a viable solution for removing blind spots of two-way radio networks on a temporary base or permanently in venues such as tunnels, underground garages, and high-rise buildings.

For more information, please visit the links below.

E-pack200 Dual-channel DMR Ad-hoc Portable Repeater: https://www.hytera.com/en/product-new/emergency-response/emergency-response/e-pack200.html

E-pole200 Dual-channel DMR Ad-hoc Repeater: https://www.hytera.com/en/product-new/emergency-response/emergency-response/e-pole200.html

About Hytera

Hytera Communications Corporation Limited (SZSE: 002583) is a leading global provider of professional communications technologies and solutions. With voice, video, and data capabilities, we provide faster, safer, and more versatile connectivity for business and mission-critical users. We make the world more efficient and safer by enabling our customers to achieve more in both daily operations and emergency response.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230914438625/en/

Contact

lele.yao@hytera.com

Source : Hytera Communications

"AVERTING THE SAAS DATA APOCALYPSE" BY SIMON TAYLOR: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE SAAS DATA LANDSCAPE

New Book is a Comprehensive Exploration of the Rising Threat to Digital Data and the Race to Protect It

Boston, Massachusetts, Sept 14 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  HYCU, Inc., the fastest growing data protection as a service company is taking a major first step as the digital world is on the brink of a catastrophe. As more companies increasingly rely on Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions, the looming SaaS data apocalypse is quickly emerging as the most significant threat to data in years. Today, Simon Taylor's new book, "Averting the SaaS Data Apocalypse," is released to shine a light on this imminent digital threat and share real world examples of what can be done to avoid digital mayhem.

From the meteoric rise of the SaaS data apocalypse to deep dives into how leading organizations, including the Boston Red Sox, Zebra Technologies, Bain Capital, and LS Direct, have navigated these challenging waters, Taylor offers an unparalleled insight into the modern SaaS landscape.

In the book's foreword, Enrique Salem, Partner at Bain Capital, an investor in HYCU, underscores the importance of Simon Taylor's work, stating, "From the dawn of the digital era to the explosive growth of data and the intricacies of SaaS, our digital world is brimming with both opportunities and threats. Simon Taylor, through this pivotal book, offers not just insights but a roadmap to navigating these challenges. 'Averting the SaaS Data Apocalypse' stands as a beacon for businesses, guiding them through the dynamic times of the data revolution. Simon's profound perspectives offer a blueprint for a more secure and streamlined digital age, ensuring the safeguarding of our digital tomorrow."

In this compelling narrative, readers are plunged into a journey through the treacherous landscape of SaaS data sprawl. However, amidst the chaos, HYCU emerges as the beacon of hope with its first of its kind, R-Cloud, low code data protection development platform, leading the charge against this digital threat.

“There are 23,000+ SaaS applications in use globally, and more than 50% of successful ransomware attacks happening through SaaS use, and predictions that a successful ransomware attack will occur every two seconds by 2031, signs of the Apocalypse are clear,” said Taylor. “The purpose of the book is to shed light on this emerging crisis, offer practical recommendations on how to deal with it, and learn from some of the most forward-thinking IT leaders that share their experiences in how to truly avert what is becoming the biggest IT challenge of our lifetime.”

Availability:
"Averting the SaaS Data Apocalypse" is available for purchase on Amazon.com in print and Kindle versions worldwide with the pending release in audiobook format on Audible. For special orders, corporate packages, or a free signed copy, please visit: Signed Copy.

###

About Simon Taylor:

Simon Taylor is the CEO and founder of HYCU, the world’s fastest growing multicloud data protection company. He has more than 20 years’ experience in go-to-market strategy development, product marketing and channel sales management for the tech industry. He has worked for leading companies such as Comtrade Group, Forrester Research, Putnam Investments and Omgeo.

He received an MBA in international business from IE (Instituto de Empresa) Business School and an undergraduate degree in operations technology from Northeastern University. He is the author of “John’s Book,” an acclaimed full-length novel, and is a board member at Uncornered, an active member of YPO and a Research Fellow at Boston College.

About HYCU

HYCU is the fastest-growing leader in the multi-cloud and SaaS data protection as a service industry. By bringing true SaaS-based data backup and recovery to on-premises, cloud-native and SaaS environments, the company provides unparalleled data protection, migration, disaster recovery, and ransomware protection to thousands of companies worldwide. As an award-winning and recognized visionary in the industry, HYCU solutions eliminate complexity, risk, and the high cost of legacy-based solutions, providing data protection simplicity to make the world safer. With an industry leading NPS score of 91, customers experience frictionless, cost-effective data protection, anywhere, everywhere. HYCU has raised $140M in VC funding to date and is based in Boston, Mass. Learn more at www.hycu.com. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=46998

Solid Underwriting Performance By Asia Pacific Reinsurers In 2022 - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- AM Best’s new report unveiled that major Asia Pacific reinsurance companies still managed to deliver strong year-over-year net premium growth of 8.1 per cent in 2022, despite a sharp increase in catastrophe losses outside their home markets and a challenging investment environment.

“With a higher cost of capital and a challenging investment environment in 2022, Asia Pacific reinsurers maintained their underwriting discipline in 2023 renewal to ensure a reasonable profit margin and adjust pricing in proportional treaties to improve performance.

“Primary insurers also followed this rule, aligning with reinsurance pricing, terms and conditions, which is expected to lead to better revenue and underwriting results for reinsurers,” said AM Best senior director, head of analytics, Christie Lee in a statement.

The Best’s Market Segment Report, “Operating Performance, Retro Cost Drive Asian Reinsurer Strategies”, is part of the global credit rating agency’s look at the global reinsurance industry in concert with the Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monte Carlo.

Additional reports, including its annual ranking of the Top 50 global reinsurance groups and in-depth looks at the insurance-linked securities, Lloyd’s, life/annuity, health and regional reinsurance markets, are available at Best’s Research.

According to this report, which is based on the operating performance of a group of selected Asia Pacific-domiciled reinsurers that rank among the top 50 largest reinsurance groups globally, reinsurers sustained the ability to deliver stable operating and combined ratios in 2022.

The composite’s net income fell to US$166 million in 2022 from US$688 million in 2021, while return on equity also declined significantly, to 1.8 per cent in 2022 from 7.0 per cent. (US$1=RM4.67)

However, the combined ratio of reinsurers in the Asia Pacific composite improved slightly to 100.8 in 2022 from 101.1 in the previous year, lower than the five-year average of 101.0.

Although the absolute level of shareholders’ equity for the Asia Pacific reinsurers in the composite fell by 9.5 per cent year over year, the result was much better than the 38 per cent  capital decline seen for the European “Big Four” composite as monetary easing remains in some Asian countries.

Overall, the capital position of the major reinsurers in the Asia Pacific composite remains robust, and global expansion has contributed to diversification benefits to mitigate their inherent risk of domestic natural catastrophe risk accumulation.

-- BERNAMA

CERTIK AND OKLINK COLLABORATE TO INTRODUCE FREEZE ASSET REQUEST (FAR) STANDARDIZATION FOR ENHANCED FUND SECURITY

Singapore, Sept 12 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  OKLink, a leading Web 3.0 on-chain data provider under OKG Technology Holdings Limited (1499.HK), and CertiK, the frontrunner in blockchain security, today announced a collaboration pioneering the Freeze Asset Request (FAR) technical standard. This initiative seeks to simplify incident reporting pathways and expedite the freezing of stolen assets.

The two parties will deepen their ongoing collaboration in risk control, and data compliance areas, including but not limited to exploring data labeling standards and standardizing information interaction processes. CertiK and OKLink are committed to enhancing data accuracy and coverage, advancing the secure development of the Web 3.0 industry.

During the summit, CertiK hosted a panel discussion titled "How the Community Improves Security for Web 3.0 Users." This panel featured experts including Professor Kang Li of CertiK, Jeffrey Ren, Chairman and CEO of OKG Tech, and Professor Yang Liu of Nanyang Technological University. They explored collaborative measures by which the industry can bolster user asset protection.

Jeffrey Ren noted that security incidents in Web 3.0 are all too frequent, with bad actors often attempting to transfer compromised assets to exchanges. In response, affected parties request the exchange to freeze these stolen funds. Historically, each exchange has independently developed its own procedures for processing such fund-locking requests, resulting in a diverse set of technical requirements and documentation expectations. In this case, the communication between victims and exchanges is often lengthy, while the window of time to retrieve funds is very short. There is a pressing need for the Web 3.0 community, including exchanges and security enterprises, to formulate a consistent fund-freezing blueprint, to the benefit of both victims and exchanges. Given OKLink's expertise in blockchain analysis, partnering with security leaders like CertiK is a catalyst for positive shifts in the Web 3.0 sphere.

Professor Kang Li, Chief Security Officer of CertiK, introduced CertiK's ongoing collaboration with OKLink and other exchanges to champion the FAR initiative. This initiative is directed at standardizing fund-freezing procedures, and CertiK invites more firms to join this movement. By doing so, victims can be better directed on liaising with exchanges during crises. In addition to standardizing fund-freezing procedures, CertiK and OKLink are also working collaboratively to establish a universal transaction label taxonomy, which will unify investigation labels from various data providers. Since 2022, CertiK has detected over 1,100 security incidents involving a total loss of $4.8 billion. Leveraging CertiK's extensive database resources, the company’s suite of SaaS security products have been actively monitoring and tracking over two billion wallets and smart contract addresses, providing real-time comprehensive assessments of security trends for nearly 12,000 projects. To date, CertiK has audited over 4,100 Web 3.0 projects, identified nearly 70,000 vulnerabilities in blockchain code, and safeguarded digital assets valued at nearly $370 billion. CertiK is poised to lead the industry towards enhanced security standardization and collaboration.

This is the latest step in OKLink and CertiK’s strong professional association. Both firms share the vision of raising the standards of security and transparency in Web 3.0. This strategic partnership is a significant milestone in their combined mission, and comes with major benefits for the broader Web 3.0 industry.

About CertiK
CertiK is a pioneer in blockchain security, combining expert manual review with best-in-class AI technology to protect and monitor blockchain protocols and smart contracts. Founded in 2018 by professors from Yale University and Columbia University, CertiK’s mission is to secure the web3 world. CertiK applies cutting-edge innovations from academia to enterprise, enabling mission-critical applications to scale with safety and correctness.

One of the fastest-growing and most trusted companies in blockchain security, CertiK is a true market leader. Our clients include leading projects such as Aptos, Ripple, Sandbox, Polygon, BNB Chain, and TON.

CertiK is backed by InsightPartners, Sequoia, Tiger Global, Coatue Management, Lightspeed, Advent International, SoftBank, Hillhouse Capital, Goldman Sachs, Coinbase Ventures, Binance, Shunwei Capital, IDG Capital, Wing, Legend Star, Danhua Capital and other investors. 

About OKLink
OKLink is a subsidiary of OKG Technology Holdings Limited ("OKG Tech," 1499.HK), a leading global provider of Web3 on-chain data and compliance solutions. By focusing on the development of applications based on blockchain, big data, and AI, the Group's Web 3 comprehensive data analysis platform, oklink.com, currently offers a range of products, which includes blockchain explorer ("Explorer"), on-chain anti-money laundering solution ("Onchain AML"), all-in-one investigative and traceability platform ("Chaintelligence") for regulators, and robust OpenAPI service to support the positive development of the industry.

Furthermore, OKLink covers more than 170 different blockchain networks, aggregates over 1,000TB of on-chain data, processes up to 30 billion on-chain data transactions, and boasts over 3.4 billion address tags, nearly 70 million of which have been flagged as potentially high-risk addresses. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=46967

VINSSEN'S MARINE FUEL CELL MODULE EARNS AIP CERTIFICATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- VINSSEN, a maritime technology specialist in eco-friendly vessels and propulsion systems, has been awarded AIP Certification from Korean Register for its in-house developed 100 kilowatts (kW) Marine Fuel Cell Module.

According to a statement, this certification is the first in a four-stage evaluation process for new technologies and is significant as it attests to viability of the design plan by the reputable Korean Register.

This follows VINSSEN’s receipt of Type Approval for its Marine Lithium-Ion Battery System from Korean Register and Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) in 2023.

The 100kW Marine Fuel Cell Module consists of a Fuel Cell Stack and Balance of Plant (BOP) that includes a Hydrogen Supply Device, Air Supply Device, and Cooling Device, among other components.

The company’s Fuel Cell Module uses Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology, which offers advantages in deployment onboard smaller vessels.

It is planning to embark on a “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Based Leisure Vessel Construction, Verification, and Mobile Charging Facility Development Project” by incorporating 2 x 100kW Fuel Cell Modules on a Leisure Vessel, with construction and verification testing scheduled, next year.

With the support of Jeollanam-do Province and Yeongam, VINSSEN will construct Hydrogen Fuel Cell Leisure Vessels in a safe demonstration environment.

VINSSEN will utilise a shipyard near the Daebool National Industrial Complex while establishing and operating a mobile hydrogen charging station equipped with differentiated monitoring technology.

-- BERNAMA

CLOUDFLARE ONE DATA PROTECTION SUITE HELPS CUSTOMERS NAVIGATE MODERN DATA RISKS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) – Cloudflare Inc has launched Cloudflare One Data Protection Suite, a unified set of advanced security solutions designed to protect data across every environment such as web, Software as a Service (SaaS) and private applications.

Powered by Cloudflare’s Security Service Edge (SSE), customers can streamline compliance in the cloud, mitigate data exposure and loss of source code, and secure developer and artificial intelligence (AI) environments from a single platform, according to a statement.

“Data is an organisation’s most valuable asset, and protecting that data is critical. Breaches have lasting effects, and can even destroy a business when it comes to operational downtime, regulatory repercussions, associated costs.

“Organisations already have enough complexity, safeguarding your data does not need to fall in that bucket. Cloudflare provides a unique network architecture so enterprises can tackle anything from AI exposure to code leaks all in one unified platform,” said Cloudflare Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Prince.

This suite focuses on simplicity, extending comprehensive data controls to all aspects of an organisation's internal and external applications.

Built natively on Cloudflare's global network, it enables organisations of all sizes to allow programmable network architecture; streamline data visibility and controls onto a single platform; enforce data protection controls with single-pass inspection; as well as customise detections.

A security, performance and reliability company helping to build a better Internet, Cloudflare’s suite of products protect and accelerate any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code.

-- BERNAMA

KYRIBA APPOINTS VISIONARY LEADER MELISSA DI DONATO AS NEW CHAIR AND CEO

Transformative Tech Executive to Usher in New Era of Innovation and Growth for Enterprise Liquidity Management SaaS Pioneer


SAN DIEGO, Sept 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kyriba, the global leader of cloud-based finance and liquidity solutions, announced today the appointment of Melissa Di Donato as Chair and Chief Executive Officer. A respected technology visionary and accomplished leader, Di Donato will succeed Jean-Luc Robert, who is stepping down from this position and will join the company’s Board of Directors.

Di Donato joins Kyriba from open source innovator SUSE where, as the first female CEO, she spearheaded unprecedented growth, including two strategic acquisitions and a multi-billion-euro IPO debut on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Her track record of success also includes senior executive roles at SAP, Salesforce, IBM, and Oracle. Known for her commitment to customers, people, and inclusive leadership, she will bring her expansive industry experience and bold vision to lead Kyriba into a new era of growth.

“I am honored to join Kyriba and build upon its unmatched heritage in treasury management,” said Di Donato. “Kyriba is poised to enter a new era of success. Together with this exceptional team, we will capitalize on the enormous opportunities before us to deliver greater value and meet our customers’ end-to-end needs in enterprise liquidity management. Jean-Luc has set a strong foundation and trajectory, and I am eager to lead Kyriba into its next chapter of customer-focused growth.”

Outgoing Kyriba CEO Jean-Luc Robert added, “I am proud of our success over the past 20 years, evolving from a SaaS startup to a global brand and technology innovator. We have redefined the treasury software industry and are now at the cusp of an exciting inflection point. Melissa is a proven leader with the strategic acumen needed to expand our market leadership and I have every confidence in her ability to lead Kyriba in this new chapter.”

In addition to her role at Kyriba, Melissa brings valuable experience from serving on the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, and as a Non-Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Europe Limited. For more than 10 years, Di Donato has been an Advisor and Board member for Notion Capital portfolio companies helping leaders, companies, and boards scale for commercial excellence with a current focus on Mews Systems. She also serves as the Chief Executive of the Handelsblatt and Bain & Company Female Allstar Board and was recently appointed as a Non-Executive Director at the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Committed to empowering young women, Melissa is the co-founder of Inner Wings, a charitable foundation focused on mentoring and role modeling programs for girls. Among her accolades are KPMG and Wirtschaftswoche’s Women in Tech Forum and Decision Maker awards, as well as the 2023 European CEO Award recognizing her as Business Woman of the Year.

About Kyriba Corp.

Kyriba empowers CFOs, Treasurers and IT leaders to transform liquidity performance and drive value creation through data-driven financial decisions. Kyriba is a secure, scalable SaaS platform that delivers intelligence and financial automation enabling thousands of multinational corporations and banks to maximize growth, improve financial resilience and increase operational efficiency. For more than 2,500 clients worldwide, including 25% of Fortune 500 and Euro Stoxx 50 companies, Kyriba manages more than 1.3 billion bank transactions and $15 Trillion in payments annually. Kyriba is headquartered in San Diego, with offices globally.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230905953345/en/

Contact

Jenny Robles
KCSA Strategic Communications
kyriba@kcsa.com

Source : Kyriba

YOURGENE HEALTH LAUNCHES MAGBENCH AUTOMATED DNA EXTRACTION INSTRUMENT AND KIT FOR NIPT WORKFLOWS

Offers clinical labs in APAC and Middle East cost-efficient, bench-top robotic cell-free DNA extraction workstation and reagents for Yourgene’s Sage 32 NIPT Workflow

MANCHESTER, England & SINGAPORE, Sept 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Yourgene Health plc (“Yourgene”, AIM: YGEN), a leading international molecular diagnostics group, today launched the Yourgene^® MagBench™ Automated DNA Extraction Instrument and Kit. MagBench solution is available to Sage™ customers across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. MagBench offers a simple, fast, and cost-efficient, bench-top robotic cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extraction workstation optimised for Yourgene’s Sage 32 NIPT Workflow. This provides clinical laboratories with a streamlined end-to-end solution, from sample to report, enabling them to provide a more accurate and competitive non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) service.

The MagBench Automated DNA Extraction Instrument is easy to use, quick to install and provides users with an intuitive touchscreen user interface with built-in protocols, offering fast run times and flexible sample throughput to meet the laboratory’s testing needs. The MagBench Extraction Kit comprises sample and elution tubes, pre-sealed cartridges with all the reagents needed for efficient cfDNA purification, and individually packaged tip sets with a unique cross-notch design for precise volume pipetting.

Increased automation during DNA extraction, limits hands-on procedures, minimising the chance of human error and with single-use tip disposal and a built-in UV lamp for decontamination between runs, it minimises the risk of cross contamination. It also helps improve the accuracy and consistency of pipetting, resulting in a lower failure rate.

Sage Prenatal Screen offers a Safe, Accurate, Genetic Evaluation of placental DNA in maternal blood using next-generation sequencing in three days. The NIPT workflow includes extracting DNA from the maternal plasma using MagBench, followed by library preparation and enrichment, sequencing, and Sage Link analysis to estimate the risk of a fetus having trisomy 21, 18 or 13, rare autosomal aneuploidies, sex chromosome aneuploidies and the most clinically relevant microdeletions.

Dr Rob Henke, Vice President of Sales, Asia-Pacific at Yourgene Health, said: “Yourgene is committed to delivering best-in-class NIPT solutions, where precision and quality assurance are key. MagBench enables an economical and automated NIPT workflow. Reducing manual procedures improves user experience, facilitating true walkaway time while minimising the risk of contamination and improving testing accuracy. This decreases the number of screening failures, greatly improves efficiency, and helps lower expectant parents’ anxiety.” 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=46907

8X8 SMS FRAUD PREVENTION COMMUNICATION API ENABLES ENTERPRISES TO SAFEGUARD CUSTOMERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- An integrated cloud contact centre, unified communications and Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) platform provider, 8x8 Inc, has launched 8x8 Omni Shield solution that allows enterprises to proactively safeguard their customers from fraudulent short message service (SMS) activity.

The new SMS fraud prevention communication application programming interface (API) is part of the 8x8 CPaaS portfolio, which helps enterprises drive business growth by integrating various communication channels, including SMS, voice, chat apps and video interaction, to enhance customer experience.

“To meet the needs of our customers, we are constantly evolving our 8x8 CPaaS portfolio as we evaluate customer pain points and develop solutions that will deliver substantial business value.

“Delivering a solution that is truly game changing for our customers is our goal, and we are thrilled by early adopter results for our new Omni Shield solution, including an 80 per cent reduction in fraud traffic,” said the company’s General Manager, CPaaS, Stephen Hamill in a statement.

SMS fraud is the automation of delivery of high-volume, high-cost SMS messages that cybercriminals can monetise by having the messaging charges billed to unsuspecting organisations.

As the telecommunications industry grapples with significant losses, many SMS providers struggle to have an operational response to fraud.

The need for advanced solutions has become increasingly evident, and 8x8 is taking a proactive stance to provide enterprises with the highest level of safeguarding for their customers.

Enriched with pre-built communication APIs, the solution is seamlessly integrated with real-time messaging, across web and mobile applications, and proactively detects and prevents fraudulent activities via automated fraud alerts, real-time notifications, live traffic monitoring as well as instant phone number assessments.

-- BERNAMA

GLOBE MSCI ESG RATING SOARS TO AA, HIGHEST IN PH TO DATE

 

Globe achieved a ratings upgrade to AA from MSCI, marking the highest rating among companies and within the telco industry in the Philippines to date (Photo: Business Wire) 

MANILA, Philippines, Sept 1 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Top digital solutions platform Globe has achieved a historic milestone in its commitment to sustainability, as it achieved a ratings upgrade to AA from MSCI, marking the highest rating among companies and within the telco industry in the Philippines to date. 
 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230830711999/en/  

MSCI ESG Research provides MSCI ESG Ratings on global public and a few private companies on a scale of AAA (leader) to CCC (laggard), according to exposure to industry-specific ESG risks and the ability to manage those risks relative to peers. These evaluations are based on governance structures, policies, targets, quantitative performance metrics, and any relevant controversies.

The firm’s ESG Research aims to provide investors with insights into the ESG risks and opportunities of companies worldwide. With Globe's upgrade from BBB to A in 2020, and now to AA, it is recognized as an ESG leader, effectively managing its exposures to ESG risks.

“This MSCI AA rating is a testament to Globe's steadfast commitment to sustainability practices, and a historic feat for the Philippines in itself. As we put our sustainability ambitions into action and embed its principles in the way we do business, we are proud to set the benchmark for ESG practices in the industry and the country,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

Globe’s rating reflects wins in several aspects.
On the environmental front, Globe has shown exemplary leadership in climate action. As the first publicly-listed company in the Philippines to commit to set science-based targets through the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi), Globe aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. In 2022, Globe surpassed its target by reducing 4.42% of its carbon emissions, as a result of shifting towards renewable energy, investing in energy-efficient technologies, and deploying green solutions across its network.

In terms of social aspects, Globe has been unwavering in its commitment to privacy and data security. The company conducts regular vulnerability assessments, patch management, and security threat detection to ensure the protection of its assets. Globe also emphasizes the importance of data privacy and information security training for all its employees. In the area of labor, Globe's "Alagang Globe" Program showcases the company's dedication to employee well-being. Beyond compliance with the minimum wage law, Globe ensures competitive pay and was recognized multiple times in 2022 for its outstanding workplace practices.

Governance at Globe has also made headway. In the Annual Stockholders Meeting held in April 2023, Globe welcomed four new directors in its Board including two female directors with a vision to continue studying and revisiting its diversity and female composition in the Board. Pursuant to its campaign for good corporate governance, the Board is now composed of four independent directors and two female member directors. The company also continues to adopt ESG-linked policies, ensuring that high sustainability and exemplary corporate governance standards are upheld. Globe's Code of Conduct embeds universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption into the company's daily operations. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=46880