Alliance to End Plastic Waste Releases Groundbreaking Solution Model Playbooks
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste launches innovative ‘Solution Model’ playbooks, providing actionable strategies for stakeholders to combat plastic pollution and promote circularity in the plastic economy. 17 April 2024 – The Alliance to End Plastic Waste has launched the first pair of ‘Solution Model’ playbooks, designed to provide insights and strategies for stakeholders across the plastic value chain....
Visa Unveils Advanced Payment Solutions to Empower Merchants in Evolving Retail Landscape
Visa unveils advanced payment solutions to support merchants in the evolving Click-and-Mortar™ shopping landscape, emphasizing simplified payment experiences and enhanced connectivity. Key enhancements include Developer Assist for partner integration, a revamped SMB platform by Authorize.net, and the expansion of Tap to Phone technology for mobile acceptance. 17 April 2024 – Visa, a global leader in digital payments, announces...
Bank Negara Malaysia to Hold 17th Auction of Special Serial Number Ringgit Banknotes
Bank Negara Malaysia is organizing its 17th Auction of ringgit banknotes featuring special serial numbers, with online bidding open from April 20th to April 27th, 2024, and onsite and live auctions occurring on April 27th, 2024, at Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia. Unique serial number banknotes, including sets of the first 10 and super solid numbers, will be up for auction through BNM’s appointed auctioneer, MNP Auctioneers...
Cybersecurity Report Reveals Alarming Trends in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Attacks
Sophos’s latest cybersecurity report reveals a concerning surge in remote desktop protocol (RDP) abuse, with RDP implicated in 90% of cyberattacks in 2023. Despite compromised credentials becoming the leading cause of attacks, many organizations still lack multi-factor authentication, highlighting critical vulnerabilities in their security infrastructure. 17 April 2024 – Sophos, a leading provider of cutting-edge...
FinbotsAI and KBZ Bank Join Forces to Transform Credit Risk Management in Myanmar with AI-Powered Solution
FinbotsAI partners with KBZ Bank, Myanmar’s leading bank, to implement CreditX, an AI-powered credit scoring solution, revolutionizing credit risk management in the region. The collaboration aims to enhance operational efficiency, drive financial inclusion, and facilitate faster and more accurate credit assessments across retail and SME products. FinbotsAI, a Singapore-based B2B SaaS FinTech backed by Accel, has announced a...
Health Ministry Cracks Down on Tadalafil-Laced Ginseng Candy Sold on Lazada
The Health Ministry instructs Lazada to remove Kingu Ginseng Candy from its platform due to the presence of tadalafil, a prescription medication. The product’s labeling deficiencies and health risks associated with tadalafil prompt immediate action, with traders warned against selling items containing harmful ingredients. 16 April 2024 – E-commerce giant Lazada has been directed by the Health Ministry (MOH) to remove all...
Fintech Funding Declines in Asia Pacific, but Global Landscape Holds Promise: S&P Global Market Intelligence
Asia Pacific experiences the largest year-on-year decline in fintech funding, while global landscape shows promising signs with certain regions and segments experiencing growth, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Late-stage investing is on the rise, and there’s anticipation of fintech companies going public in the coming years. 16 April 2024 – In the first quarter of 2024, Asia Pacific witnessed the...
Juniper Research Predicts 41% Surge in Digital Money Transfers by 2028
Juniper Research forecasts a 41% increase in digital money transfers by 2028, driven by the adoption of mobile money in developing regions and instant payments in developed markets. The top 5 platform vendors for 2024, including Huawei and PayPal, are revealed, with an emphasis on the importance of innovation and a Payment-as-a-Service approach to stay ahead in the competitive landscape. 16 April 2024 – According to a new study...
ACE Programme Produces New Generation of Contractor Entrepreneurs in Sarawak
The ACE Programme in Sarawak celebrates the graduation of 11 successful participants, marking a milestone in nurturing knowledgeable and competitive contractor entrepreneurs for Malaysia’s construction industry. Officiated by Deputy Minister Ahmad Maslan, the ceremony underscores the programme’s effectiveness in driving innovation and fostering entrepreneurship, with plans for its continuation in June 2024. 16 April 2024...
Tencent Enhances Payment Experience for Visitors to Mainland China, Expands Weixin Pay Services for Cross-Border Tourism
Tencent introduces measures to enhance payment experience for visitors to mainland China, including streamlined registration and card linking processes on Weixin Pay, increased transaction limits, and partnerships for QR payment interoperability. The initiatives aim to facilitate cross-border tourism and support the growing trend of mobile payments among international visitors. 16 April 2024 – In a bid to promote cross-border...
AMD Unveils Cutting-Edge AI Chips for Business PCs, Set to Debut in HP and Lenovo Platforms
AMD introduces new series of AI-enabled chips tailored for business PCs, including the Ryzen PRO 8040 Series for laptops and mobile workstations, and the Ryzen PRO 8000 Series for desktops, set to launch in platforms from HP and Lenovo in the second quarter of 2024. 16 April 2024 – Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O) announced on Tuesday the launch of its latest series of chips tailored for artificial intelligence-enabled personal...
Baidu’s Ernie Bot Dominates China’s AI Chatbot Market with 200 Million Users Amidst Rising Competition
Baidu’s Ernie Bot achieves a milestone with over 200 million users, facing stiff competition from emerging rivals like Moonshot AI’s Kimi in China’s AI chatbot market. Despite challenges, Ernie Bot continues to grow and serve a large base of enterprise clients. 16 April 2024 – Baidu, China’s leading technology company, announced on Tuesday that its artificial intelligence chatbot, “Ernie Bot,”...
What Drives Educators’ Online Safety Practices in Asia
A collaborative study by Kaspersky and Associate Professor Jiow Hee Jhee reveals the motivational drivers behind cybersecurity behaviors among educators in Asia, emphasizing the role of coping appraisal and positive messaging in promoting online safety. 16 April 2024 – A recent collaboration between cybersecurity firm Kaspersky and Associate Professor Jiow Hee Jhee from the Singapore Institute of Technology has shed light on the...
Apple Smartphone Shipments Drop 10% in Q1 2024 as Samsung Secures Top Spot Amidst Android Onslaught
Apple’s smartphone shipments experienced a 10% decline in Q1 2024, yielding the top spot to Samsung amidst heightened competition from Android manufacturers. With challenges in key markets like China, Apple faces pressure to innovate and address investor concerns regarding its AI development strategy. 15 April 2024 – According to data released by research firm IDC on Sunday, Apple’s smartphone shipments experienced a...
BrandShield Dismantles Over 250 Websites Trafficking Counterfeit GLP-1 Drugs, Raises Alarm on Patient Safety
Cybersecurity firm BrandShield shuts down over 250 websites selling counterfeit GLP-1 drugs, amid rising concerns about patient safety and public health risks associated with fake medications. 15 April 2024 – BrandShield, a leading cybersecurity firm, has successfully shut down more than 250 websites trafficking counterfeit versions of popular weight-loss and diabetes medications in the GLP-1 class, CEO Yoav Keren disclosed...
Adobe Unveils Integration of Third-Party AI Tools in Premiere Pro for Advanced Video Editing Capabilities
Adobe reveals plans to integrate third-party AI tools, like OpenAI, into its Premiere Pro software, aiming to introduce advanced features for automated video editing. 15 April 2024 – In a strategic move to enhance its widely used Premiere Pro application, Adobe (ADBE.O) has announced plans to integrate third-party generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including those from OpenAI and other startups. This initiative,...
Shopee Leads Safety Ratings as Facebook Faces Surge in E-commerce Scams
Shopee achieves top safety rating in e-commerce, alongside Amazon and Lazada, while Facebook sees a surge in reported scams, underscoring the need for enhanced safety measures and collaborative efforts to combat online fraud effectively. 13 April 2024 – Shopee has emerged as a top performer in the E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR), achieving a full four ticks alongside industry giants like Amazon, Lazada,...
Malaysia Unveils Single Window Initiative to Enhance Startup Ecosystem Ahead of KL20 Summit
Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation unveils the Single Window Initiative to simplify processes and provide comprehensive support for startups, aligning with the objectives of the upcoming KL20 Summit to propel the country’s startup ecosystem to new heights. 13 April 2024 – Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) has announced the launch of the Single Window...
South Korea to Host Global AI Safety Summit, Building on Bletchley Declaration
South Korea is set to host the second global AI safety summit, continuing the collaborative efforts initiated by the “Bletchley Declaration” to address AI safety concerns and establish global norms for governance. 13 April 2024 – South Korea is set to host the second global AI safety summit on May 21-22, following in the footsteps of Britain’s inaugural event held at Bletchley Park six months prior. Government...
Huawei Teases Mystery Smartphone Launch Amid Speculation Over P70 Successor
Huawei teases the launch of a mystery smartphone, fueling speculation about the successor to its P series, as the company aims to maintain momentum following the success of its Mate 60 series. 13 April 2024 – Chinese technology giant Huaweihas ignited excitement among consumers by opening registrations for an upcoming smartphone model, sparking speculation about the highly anticipated successor to its renowned P series. With...
