20 1 月, 2021

14th Asian Financial Forum attracts 63,000-plus viewers

HONG KONG, Jan 20, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 14th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded yesterday. Running on the theme "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape", the two-day virtual event also featured an online poll to gauge participants' views on the global economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors. This year's AFF attracted more than 63,000 viewers from more than 70 nations and regions. To help facilitate more concrete collaboration between global investors, project owners and start-ups, the online forum included the AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, with more than 700 one-on-one matchmaking meetings arranged.The keynote speaker on the second day of the Asian Financial Forum was Stephen A Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone (R). The session was chaired by Antony Leung, Group Chairman & CEO of the Nan Fung Group (L).Nobel Laureate economist and policy entrepreneur Paul Romer (R) shared at the keynote session moderated by Raymund Chao, PwC's Asia Pacific and China Chairman, on the first day of the AFF.The AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session was moved online this year, providing one-on-one matchmaking meetings between project owners and investors, with more than 700 meetings successfully arranged. Fintech and start-up exhibitions also moved online, bringing together more than 140 local and overseas international financial institutions.Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, expressed his views on the outlook for Hong Kong on the second morning of the forum. "My optimism for Hong Kong is clear and compelling. It's built on our distinctive advantages under the 'one country, two systems' arrangement. I'm talking about Hong Kong's world-class financial system and the professional services prowess that supports it. To that, add the free flow of information, talent, capital and goods, in and out of Hong Kong. No less vital is our long-standing rule of law and level playing field tied to our transparent and internationally aligned regulatory system, low and simple tax regime and deep market liquidity. Put it all together, and you know why Hong Kong means business. Whatever business you're in, whatever investment interests you may have."68% of respondents believe Mainland China will offer best investment return in 2021Real-time polling conducted at various sessions during the AFF enhanced interactivity between speakers and participants and gauged their views on subjects such as global economic prospects, the region that offers the best investment return, and the challenges of sustainable development. When asked about the outlook for the global economy in 2021, 32% of respondents were optimistic, 47% were neutral, while 21% of respondents expressed pessimism, reflecting a generally not-so-pessimistic view on the overall economic outlook.Meanwhile, 68% of respondents believed that Mainland China would be the region with the best investment return, while ASEAN ranked second (18%) and the USA third (7%). This result echoed the sharing of Nobel Laureate economist and policy entrepreneur Paul Romer in the keynote session on the first day of the AFF. Mr Romer pointed out that Asia will likely lead the way in terms of economic contribution to global GDP. He explained that while there may be changes ahead and business travel may decrease, some economic trends are firmly in place that can continue, including urbanisation. And people will want more living space as wealth increases in Asia, helping to make the region a leader in urban development.55% expect global economic activities to take one year to return normalWhile the pandemic is still hindering world economic activities, the forum responded to the theme "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape" and conducted on-site polling to gauge participants' view on the impact of the pandemic on the global economy. The survey showed that 55% of respondents believed global economic activities would return to normal after one year, 28% believed it would happen within this year, while 17% of respondents said it would take more than two years to return to normal. When asked about their views on governments' measures to stimulate economic recovery, 24% agreed that unemployment assistance was the most effective, followed by stimulus payments in the form of vouchers to boost local consumption (21%) and tax relief measures such as deferral of corporate income tax payments (21%). When asked about the biggest challenge faced by the banking industry in 2021, 32% of respondents said credit risk and quality, followed by cyber threats due to increasing digital banking interactions (26%).Shift from technology to traditional businesses in second half of 2021The impact of the pandemic and evolving international geopolitical issues have created uncertainties in the global economy. More than 60 dialogues and discussion sessions were organised at this year's AFF, inviting more than 160 distinguished finance policymakers and business leaders to examine the market situation and share insights on the strategies to address the current financial stalemate. Stephen A Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, who last year predicted that the economy of the United States would see a V-shaped recovery, expressed the view that as demand returns in the second half of 2021 there will be higher interest rates due to inflation. He also said that technology is revolutionising the world and has "had a massive run", after which it may fare less well this year in terms of investment return. "Conventional investing for value-oriented securities has really lagged because those companies are being disrupted, but I think there will be a rotation to some of the more traditional businesses as they recover."Two tech trailblazers share insights on innovation technology and business ideasInnovation and technology are fundamentally impacting financial development and were a key focus at this year's AFF. Two technology trailblazers - Alexis Ohanian, Co-founder of Reddit and Seven Seven Six, and Luc Julia, Co-creator of Siri, Apple's virtual assistant - shared their insights during keynote sessions on the second day of forum. Mr Ohanian said: "There's an interesting timing opportunity for start-ups in the right place at the right time. Travel is a good example. There is an opportunity right now if you're building the right kind of travel business to seize a large part of the market quickly, because as the vaccine rollout continues, and as we start to beat COVID, there will be a huge appetite for things that fell to basically zero over the past year."700+ meetings arranged through online matchmaking sessionsThe AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session ran on a virtual platform this year, helping to arrange 718 one-on-one meetings between project owners and investors and bringing together investors, project owners and start-ups, breaking the record for the number of companies involved. Investment projects covered areas including the Internet of Things, digital technology, healthtech, fintech, education, environment and energy, food and agriculture, infrastructure and real estate services.This year's AFF continued to present the Fintech Showcase, FintechHK Startup Salon, InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone. More than 140 local and overseas international financial institutions, technology enterprises, start-ups and investment agencies, including Mox Bank, a start-up group from Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, PAO Bank and Airwallex, came together to give online presentations on the latest trends in fintech innovation and next-generation business ideas, helping industries from different parts of the world to explore investment opportunities. The HKTDC, 500 Startups and FWD Group also jointly presented the inaugural "AFF Accelerate", an open-innovation challenge with eight start-up finalists devising insurance technology solutions to help the insurance industry recruit agents, engage prospects and solve payment problems. "Open innovation" refers to an innovation management model that promotes collaboration with external parties.Overview of 2021 Asian Financial Forum participants' polling results1. With the government measures and COVID-19 vaccine in place, when do you expect global economic activity to return to normal? - Polling result- 2Q 2021 3%- 3Q 2021 25%- Beyond one year 55%- Beyond two years 15%- Beyond five years 2%2. Governments worldwide have rolled out relief packages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In your view, which of the following measures is the most effective in stimulating economic recovery? - Polling result- Monetary policy measures such as interest rate reductions 19%- Tax relief measures such as deferral of corporate income tax payment 21%- Moratorium on delayed debt repayments for enterprises 15%- Unemployment assistance 24%- Stimulus payment in form of vouchers to boost local consumption 21%3. Which of the following would you consider as the most prominent feature of the post-pandemic economy? - Polling result- Lower flow of global travellers 12%- Accelerated adoption of technology in businesses 47%- Persistently low interest rate 10%- Deglobalisation 9%- Rising inequality 22%4. Global economic outlook in 2021 - Polling result- Optimistic 32%- Neutral 47%- Pessimistic 21%5. Which of the following economies/regions do you think will offer the best investment return in 2021? - Polling result- Mainland China 68%- ASEAN 18%- USA 7%- India 4%- Others 3%6. The biggest challenge faced by the banking industry in 2021 - Polling result- Credit risk and quality 32%- Cyber threats due to increasing digital banking interactions 26%- Workforce management for a more agile and remote way of working 13%- Customer relationship and loyalty 4%- Political risks 25%Websites- Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/- AFF programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/s/programme- AFF speakers: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/speaker/main- Photo download: https://bit.ly/3iqxHZuAbout HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.Media enquiries:HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs DepartmentAngel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.orgSam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.orgClayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

15 1 月, 2021

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 15

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, Jan 15. Para-veterinarian at Police K-9 Unit is sole Covid-19 community case in Singapore The Singaporean man developed a fever on Monday and visited a GP clinic. READ MORE HERE Budget 2021 expected to be more targeted as Government dials down financial support Overall spending will be reined in after extensive support measures were rolled out last year. READ MORE HERE 9 new Nominated MPs and the issues they plan to raise in Parliament The new NMPs speak to ST on the issues they plan to raise in Parliament. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Inside Trump's final days: Aides struggle to contain an angry, isolated president "Everybody feels like they're doing the best job they can to hold it all together until Biden takes over," said a Trump adviser. READ MORE HERE Washington goes on lockdown as security threats mount ahead of Biden inauguration More than 20,000 armed National Guard troops are being mobilised. READ MORE HERE Philippines' Duterte says presidency no job for a woman He dismissed speculation that his daughter will succeed him in 2022. READ MORE HERE Safety lapses found at Underwater World after diver killed by stingray in 2016 Chan Kum Weng and his colleagues were trying to catch a leopard ray when it suddenly attacked him. READ MORE HERE Singapore's fourth telco TPG targets heavy data users with $18 for 80GB SIM-only plan It is currently the most value-for-money of its kind in the market. READ MORE HERE How a team at A*Star played a big role in global fight against Covid-19 pandemic Expertise Singapore provided enabled the rapid sharing of genomes of the virus. READ MORE HERE WhatsApp faces first legal challenge in India over privacy India is WhatsApp's biggest market with 400 million users. READ MORE HERE

26 12 月, 2020

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Dec 26

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Dec 26. S'pore PR tests positive for Covid-19 after completing SHN served partly at Mandarin Orchard The 47-year-old man was one of the 14 new Covid-19 cases announced by MOH on Friday. READ MORE HERE 2 S'poreans sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking; MFA has provided consular assistance Singapore's MFA said that the consulate-general provided regular assistance to Siti Aslina Junaidi and Mohd Yusri Mohd Yussof. READ MORE HERE Yoozoo Games CEO Lin Qi dies at 39 amid poisoning probe A 39-year-old male colleague surnamed Xu has been detained. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 24 suspected secret society members nabbed in lead-up to Christmas They were arrested at various "congregation hot spots" and shopping malls. READ MORE HERE South Africa rejects claim its Covid-19 variant more dangerous than UK strain Britain said that the variant there was highly concerning, because it is "more transmissible". READ MORE HERE Hong Kong extends Covid-19 quarantine for visitors to 21 days The latest moves mark stepped-up efforts to prevent a new variant of the coronavirus from spreading. READ MORE HERE US doctor reports serious allergic reaction after getting Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine The case was the first of its kind reported to be linked to Moderna's vaccine. READ MORE HERE More than 50 people nabbed at karaoke centre for flouting Malaysia's Covid-19 movement curbs The customers were partying in more than 15 rooms at the centre when police raided the premises. READ MORE HERE Britain and EU reach free trade deal, but details remain elusive Both sides have rushed to claim that their respective negotiating stances triumphed. READ MORE HERE Interactive: A-Z inventions of Covid-19 The coronavirus brought the world to its knees but there are upsides to this pandemic. READ MORE HERE

19 12 月, 2020

Police investigating 336 alleged scammers and money mules after 14-day islandwide operation

SINGAPORE - More than 330 people are being investigated for their alleged involvement in scams where victims purportedly lost more than $4 million, the police said in a statement on Saturday (Dec 19). This follows a two-week islandwide enforcement operation conducted between Dec 5 and Dec 19 by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions. The 221 men and 115 women, aged between 15 and 76, are accused of being involved in 641 scams. These comprised mainly Internet love, e-commerce and investment scams, as well as fake gambling platform and loan scams. The police are investigating the individuals for the offence of cheating or money laundering. Those found guilty of cheating under section 420 of the Penal Code can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. Individuals convicted of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act can be imprisoned for not more than 10 years and a fine of up to $500,000. The police said that it takes a serious view against anyone involved in scams. "To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to illegal transactions," it added. More people were tricked by scammers in the first eight months of this year, with the 10,402 scam cases reported involving $157 million. These figures were around double of those last year, when 5,229 victims lost a total of $92 million in the same time period. The updated figures were shared by Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan in Parliament on Oct 6 in response to a question about the scam situation here. He said that the police have ramped up efforts to fight the growing number of scams, such as through increased collaboration with foreign law enforcement agencies and setting up specialised units in the police force to combat scams. More on this topic Related Story 252 people arrested in 16-day operation for various offences, from cheating to loan-sharking Related Story $82 million lost through top 10 scams in first half of 2020, double the amount from a year ago For more information on scams, members of the public can visit this website or call the Anti-Scam Hotline on 1800-722-6688. Those with information on scams may call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit information online here. More on this topic Related Story Interactive: How a love scammer’s 3-month ruse to swindle $165k got exposed

12 12 月, 2020

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Dec 12

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Dec 12. Covid-19 vaccine: Will you take it? 8 in 10 say yes in ST poll But one in 10 will not consider getting the vaccination, citing safety as their top concern. READ MORE HERE Wuhan one year on: A city of resilience, a city of scars in wake of Covid-19 outbreak China correspondent Elizabeth Law reports after a third trip to the central Chinese city. READ MORE HERE Travellers from HK to serve 14-day SHN in S'pore from Dec 14 All travellers from Hong Kong, except Singapore residents, must also take a Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours before departure. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news US Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to overturn election results in 4 key states The four states told the court that the lawsuit had no factual or legal grounds. READ MORE HERE $2.2 b over next 5 years to go towards grooming S'pore's future researchers and scientists Increased funding in the area underscores Singapore's efforts to remain competitive in the wake of Covid-19. READ MORE HERE Faulty KTPH test: What is the HER2 test and the breast cancer type linked to it? The test is used to determine how aggressive a patient's breast cancer is likely to be, so doctors can offer the right treatment. READ MORE HERE Sanofi, GSK delay Covid-19 vaccine as effectiveness falls short The current dosage failed to get a good immune response in those aged 50 and above. READ MORE HERE Singapore plans to sign free trade agreement with Pacific Alliance in 2021 The Latin American trade bloc makes up the eighth largest economy in the world. READ MORE HERE 10 people investigated for illegally redeeming reusable masks from vending machines Among them is a 47-year-old woman who is accused of illegally redeeming more than 460 masks. READ MORE HERE World's most famous train, the Orient Express, pulls into S'pore with pop-up show Journey far away with The Orient Express It took years of planning before the exhibition, which debuted in Paris in 2014, made it here. READ MORE HERE

9 12 月, 2020

Deputy director at FAS and wife allegedly cheated sporting body of over $600k

SINGAPORE - A deputy director at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and his wife allegedly worked together to cheat the sporting body of more than $600,000 in total between 2016 and 2018. Rikram Jit Singh Randhir Singh, 40, was handling commercial and business development at FAS, while his wife Asya Kirin Kames, 33, was a director of a firm called All Resource Network (ARN) which dealt with sporting goods. They were each charged with 45 counts of cheating on Wednesday (Dec 9). Responding to queries from The Straits Times, FAS said it had sacked Singh on Jan 7 last year. “We have extended our full cooperation with the authorities and are unable to comment as court proceedings are ongoing,” added a spokesman. Singh and Asya are accused of committing the offences with two other men - Shankar Suppiah, 43, and Pallaniappan Ravindran, 47 - who were also charged on Wednesday. Shankar, who was also a director at ARN, faces 37 cheating charges while Pallaniappan, a director at event organiser Myriad Sports & Events (MSE), was slapped with 15. In a statement, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said that invoices from ARN were submitted to FAS as part of the alleged conspiracy. These invoices purportedly concealed Singh's alleged involvement with ARN. As a result, FAS is said to have been dishonestly induced to award jobs to ARN, paying it a total of more than $180,000 between 2017 and 2018. The couple had also allegedly conspired with Shankar and Pallaniappan to submit quotations from MSE to FAS. More on this topic Related Story Match-fixers used Covid-19 lockdowns to recruit players who are feeling financially vulnerable Related Story Man and woman arrested for forging certificates to cheat PUB over reservoir permits CPIB added: "(These) dishonestly concealed the alleged facts that the works on the said MSE quotations would be carried out by ARN instead of MSE, and of (Singh's) involvement in ARN." As a result, FAS is said to have been dishonestly induced to award jobs to MSE, paying it more than $450,000 in total between 2016 and 2018. The cases involving all four Singaporeans have been adjourned to Jan 13 next year. For each count of cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. More on this topic Related Story Man sentenced to 3 months' jail for forging documents to cheat MSF into disbursing Covid-19 Support Grant Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories

9 12 月, 2020

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Dec 9

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Dec 9. Suspected Covid-19 case on Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere, ship returns to Singapore mid-sail Guests have been told to remain in their rooms for the journey back. READ MORE HERE 3 bars and pubs to reopen for 2 months under nightlife sector pilot Strict measures will be in place, such as no live music and dancing. READ MORE HERE Singapore and China lay groundwork towards post-Covid-19 world with new agreements DPM Heng Swee Keat identified connectivity, digitalisation and sustainable development as increasingly critical areas for collaboration. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Body of missing 41-year-old snorkeller found near Sisters' Island The man's wife said he had planned to snorkel for 30 minutes. READ MORE HERE Hosting WEF 'a feather in the cap' for Singapore: Experts The tourism and events sectors are expected to get a boost from the meeting. READ MORE HERE Children of divorced parents earn less than peers from intact families, more likely to be divorced: MSF study The study of more than 100,000 S'poreans found that their parents' divorce has a long-lasting toll on their lives. READ MORE HERE Changi Airport seeks to be hub for distribution of Covid-19 vaccine to the region Singapore's air connectivity and ability to store shipments at low temperatures puts it in a good position for the task. READ MORE HERE 3 children hospitalised after outbreak of salmonella and stomach flu at Newton pre-school There were four cases of salmonella and 18 cases of stomach flu. READ MORE HERE 17-year-old Singaporean returning from the United Kingdom among 12 new Covid-19 cases All 12 cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice on arrival in Singapore. READ MORE HERE Dreaming of a green Christmas: Plant-based meats may be greener but are they healthier? Dietitians say people should be wary of the nutrition content in plant-based meat. READ MORE HERE

6 12 月, 2020

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Dec 6

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Dec 6. SIA, other firms look to build on existing vaccine handling capabilities Significant volumes of Covid-19 vaccines are set to pass through Changi Airport. READ MORE HERE Bangladeshi worker who beat Covid-19 after 5-month battle in S'pore longs to go home Mr Raju Sarker, who was case 42, has yet to hold his son Safun, who was born in March. READ MORE HERE Condo builds around Geylang terraced houses as owners refuse to sell The condo developer worked closely with the architects to design three distinct blocks around the unusual site. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Walking through history: Top 5 heritage trails in Singapore Four Life reporters road-tested 19 heritage trails, and these are their picks of the best routes – and must-sees – to check out. READ MORE HERE All I want for Christmas this year... is a tree Demand for real trees is outstripping supply amid Covid-19 travel curbs and shipment delays. READ MORE HERE Ensure estates like Toa Payoh or Marine Parade are not beyond the reach of the low-income Inequity crops up when owners of subsidised flats sell at a huge profit, shutting out the less well-off and creating enclaves for the rich, says Enterprise editor Li Xueying. READ MORE HERE Hong Kong's tai-tai dance clubs blamed for large cluster of Covid-19 cases More than 600 cases have been linked to the clubs, nearly 10% of all infections there. READ MORE HERE S'porean who went to Indonesia under Business Travel Pass among 12 imported Covid-19 cases Prior to hospitalisation, he went to work at ASL Shipyard but did not interact with his colleagues. READ MORE HERE Five stocks you wish you had bought in 2020 Among this year's best performers on the S'pore market are non-STI constituents, highlighting need to look beyond the stock benchmark. READ MORE HERE Meet the people getting 'ugly' food onto plates and away from the bin Join volunteers as they swoop in to give produce a second lease of life. READ MORE HERE

1 12 月, 2020

Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE attracts 27,000 buyers

HONG KONG, Dec 1, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - The HKTDC Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE (ASWO) exhibition, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), drew to a successful close on 27 November. The online exhibition featured more than 2,600 exhibitors and attracted more than 27,000 buyers from 132 countries and regions to participate. In addition to Hong Kong buyers, others came mainly from India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said the number of exhibitors and buyers at HKTDC Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE (ASWO) doubled and grew more international compared to Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE held in July.9,000+ video meetings during ASWO, allowing business partners to continue generating opportunities in the face of the pandemic.Highlights of "Eco Asia Conference", powered by the Environment Bureau of HKSAR, included progress on environmental protection work in the Greater Bay Area and insights into implementation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.More than 9,000 online business matching meetings concludedBenjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said the number of exhibitors and buyers at ASWO was double the number attending Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE in July. Participation was also more international, demonstrating that the online exhibition was well received by different industries globally. "The HKTDC mobilised its network of 50 offices worldwide to invite quality international buyers to the event, arrange more than 9,000 online business matching meetings according to buyers' sourcing needs. This arrangement increased the chance of business collaboration."The HKTDC's online business matching platform Click2Match uses artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct automatic matching between potential business partners. The platform also helps participants to schedule meetings, conduct video meetings, chat in real time and exchange e-business cards. The HKTDC conducted an online survey with exhibitors and buyers during ASWO in which respondents said that meeting scheduling was the most useful of the platform's functions, followed by video meeting and live chat capabilities.3D virtual booths grab attention of global buyersA number of exhibitors used 3D virtual booths to showcase their products in a more visually striking way, attracting more than 65,000 views. According to the survey, buyers agreed that the 3D virtual booths were useful for understanding exhibitors' products and services, showing that the booths could help to attract more buyers, increase their interest in exhibitors' products and services, and help them win more business.In addition, more than 20 webinars were held during ASWO. The most popular webinars included the "Symposium on Innovation & Technology" (over 4,400 views), "Eco Asia Conference" (over 3,400 views), "Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium" (over 1,100 views), "Hong Kong International Watch Forum" (over 790 views) and the "Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference" (over 750 views). More than 100 industry leaders shared their insights in the webinars, allowing global exhibitors and buyers to stay close to the pulse of the market and get the most up-to-date information in the midst of the pandemic.Online exhibition generates new businessASWO provided an opportunity for buyers and exhibitors to continue to do business and close deals online, overcoming geographical constraints and helping to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Determinant (Hong Kong) Limited, a Hong Kong company that exhibited at ASWO, promoted their reusable masks and travel kits. Irene Chan, the company's Assistant Sales Manager, said: "Through the Click2Match platform, we were able to arrange video meetings with more than 20 new buyers from India, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia and the Middle East. Some of these potential buyers have already asked for our samples and a number of them will place orders after the online exhibition."Sidney Yu, Director of Prime Success Enterprises Limited, a Hong Kong exhibitor specialising in baby products, said his company had established contacts with new buyers from Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Japan, Poland and Thailand. "Four of them will become our potential customers and we expect the initial order from each new customer will be around US$10,000."A lighting buyer from Germany, Michael Wurzer, Managing Director of Why5 GmbH, had video meetings with four lighting suppliers through the Click2Match platform. He said: "With a sourcing budget of around US$5 million, we plan to place our first order with one of the new suppliers soon."Korean buyer Han Moi Kim, CEO of MOI Inc, identified 10 potential suppliers and plans to buy gold watch cases and crystal watch cases worth US$30,000 from two potential suppliers. "ASWO provides a timely and effective platform for us to find quality suppliers that can meet our sourcing needs under the global pandemic," Mr Kim said.Hybrid physical and virtual model for future exhibitionsAccording to the survey, a total of 96% of exhibitors said they had achieved one of the following objectives through the event, which included exploring market potential, generating new sales leads, meeting new customers, maintaining their presence in the market, launching and promoting new products, promoting their company's brand, and gathering market intelligence and product trends. A total of 64% of exhibitors surveyed said they would consider both online and offline platforms as their major promotional channels in the future, while 95% said they would participate in the HKTDC's virtual and physical exhibitions again. Of the buyers surveyed, 85% said they would use online and offline platforms as their major sourcing channels in the future, while almost all (99%) said they would participate in both virtual and physical exhibitions organised by the HKTDC.In the face of the pandemic, it is anticipated that global sourcing behaviour will become increasingly digital, and that future trade fairs will be a combination of physical and virtual formats. The upgraded hktdc.com Sourcing platform and ASWO complement each other, with ASWO exhibitors able to keep in touch with global buyers through a three-month promotion run on hktdc.com Sourcing. The platform brings together 130,000 suppliers and 2 million buyers, creating more than 24 million business connections annually, while leveraging AI, machine learning and image recognition technologies to provide a personalised smart sourcing experience.Websites- Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE: http://asw.hktdc.com- hktdc.com Sourcing: http://sourcing.hktdc.com- HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com- Photo download: https://bit.ly/3mpp42DAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.Contact:Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

1 12 月, 2020

TRENDE selected to join 11 leading edge companies focused on solving the world’s greatest challenges at Unreasonable Impact Asia Pacific 2020

TOKYO, Dec 1, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - TRENDE Inc., a renewable energy retailer in Japan, has been selected to join 11 other ground breaking growth stage ventures at the 2020 Unreasonable Impact Asia Pacific program.With the global pandemic continuing to have an enormous impact on all aspects of life, including the global workforce, migration, and the environment, supporting entrepreneurial solutions addressing these challenges is critical. Unreasonable Impact, a unique partnership between Barclays and Unreasonable Group is focused on supporting and scaling up high-growth ventures within the green economy, ensuring that their impactful solutions reach new markets, transform even more lives and create thousands more jobs in the process.After a rigorous selection process involving hundreds of world-class companies, Jeffrey Char, TRENDE's co-founder and Chairman, has been invited to join 11 other leading entrepreneurs from across Asia Pacific for the first ever virtual iteration of the Unreasonable Impact Asia Pacific program, which aims to accelerate the growth of their companies.Impacting the future of food, energy, sustainable living and supply chains, each entrepreneur is selected to participate based on their potential to address key social and environmental issues and to create at least 500 jobs within the next five years.The program connects the entrepreneurs to a global community of power-house mentors and industry specialists, including experts from across Barclays through tried and tested methodologies and approaches."We founded TRENDE as a response to the climate crisis and the Japan's heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Our mission is to accelerate the widespread adoption of renewable energy and redefine the energy ecosystem in Japan," said Char. "We are excited to join the Unreasonable Impact Asia Pacific program and leverage their community to amplify our positive impact."Lars Aagaard, Head of M&A and Head of Financial Sponsors, Asia Pacific at Barclays, said, "We are delighted to welcome the latest cohort of ventures onto our first virtual Unreasonable Impact program here in Asia Pacific. Tackling some of today's greatest challenges, the entrepreneurs are developing groundbreaking solutions and, in partnership with Unreasonable Group, we look forward to supporting them on their journey to scale."Daniel Epstein, Founder and CEO of Unreasonable Group, added, "We are committed to the idea that doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive and Unreasonable Impact's success to date demonstrates the growing appetite for purpose and profit driven businesses. Our now highly curated virtual programs provide a space to share wisdom, build a lasting community of support and deep dive into critical conversations, empowering our entrepreneurs towards transformative impact and growth. We are so excited to welcome TRENDE into our global community and look forward to supporting Jeffrey Char along with our partners Barclays, to scale and in the process accelerate the creation of thousands of new jobs."Cumulatively, the twelve ventures have generated more than USD $76.28 million in revenue, raised USD $114.48 million in funding and are operating in 26 countries.To date, the ventures that comprise the Unreasonable Impact community have positively impacted more than 220 million people, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 55 million tons, and generated more than 37,000 net new jobs. The companies have also raised more than USD $3 billion in funding. TRENDE joins this notable global network in its shared effort to create thousands of jobs on the frontier of the green economy. For more information, visit www.unreasonableimpact.comThe participating companies include:- Canopy Power: Deploying reliable, renewable electricity supply for remote businesses and communities across Asia Pacific. https://www.canopypower.com/- DeHaat: Building AI-enabled technologies to revolutionize supply chain and production efficiency in the farm sector. https://agrevolution.in/- Frontier Markets: Alleviating poverty by investing in rural households, and especially women. https://frontiermkts.com/- gFlow+: Providing electric, solid-state water meters and smart metering solutions for a more water-efficient future. http://www.gflowplus.com/- Jumbotail: Organizing the food and grocery ecosystem in India using technology, data science, and design. https://jumbotail.com/- Maeko: Turning organic waste into fertilizer in just 24 hours with cutting-edge compost machines. https://www.maeko.com.my/- Mobi-Air: Delivering breakthrough low-energy, low-cost, competitive air filtration technology. https://mobiair.technology/- MOVUS: Delivering an all-in-one equipment monitoring solution for smarter and more efficient machinery. https://www.movus.com.au/- Shiok Meats: Transforming the food industry in Asia with cell-based, clean meat and seafood. https://shiokmeats.com/- TRENDE: Providing Japan affordable, renewable, and local energy through rooftop solar. https://trende.jp/- Tridi Oasis Group: Recycling locally-sourced plastic waste into high quality raw materials. https://www.tridi-oasis.com/- TurtleTree Labs: Recreating the full composition, functionality and taste of milk using the latest cutting-edge innovation in biotech. https://turtletreelabs.com/About TRENDETRENDE Inc. is an online renewable energy retailer selling electricity to residential customers in Japan via its Hot Denki (https://hotdenki.jp) and Ashita Denki (https://ashita-denki.jp/) service websites. TRENDE's mission is to accelerate the widespread adoption of renewable energy and redefine the energy ecosystem in Japan with a customer-centric business model and innovative P2P platform. The company's investors include Tokyo Electric Power, Itochu, Idemitsu and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. For more information, please visit http://trende.jp/.About Unreasonable Impact, created with BarclaysUnreasonable Impact is an innovative multi-year multi-geographic partnership between Barclays and Unreasonable Group to launch the world's first global network focused on scaling up entrepreneurial solutions that will help employ thousands worldwide in the emerging green economy. To date, the more than 150 ventures that comprise the global cohort operate in more than 180 countries, have raised over $3bn USD in funding, have generated over $2.8bn USD in revenue, and have created more than 37,000 net new jobs since joining Unreasonable Impact. For more information, please visit www.unreasonableimpact.comAbout BarclaysBarclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customer and client, and by geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank. Our purpose is creating opportunities to rise. For over 325 years we have funded progress, and today we remain committed to helping make our world more sustainable, more inclusive and more connected. For further information about Barclays, please visit www.home.barclays.Barclays in Asia PacificBarclays has been in Asia Pacific for over 50 years and primarily supports corporations and financial institutions across the Asia region, catering to their cross-border Corporate and Investment banking needs and connecting them to the capital markets of Europe and the Americas. In Asia Pacific, Barclays International has a presence in Hong Kong/ mainland China, Japan, Singapore, India and Australia.About Unreasonable GroupBringing together a global network of entrepreneurs, investors, creatives and business leaders, Unreasonable acts as a catalytic platform for entrepreneurs tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges facing us today. From designing highly curated immersive programs, facilitating access to a global network of mentors to operating a private equity fund and providing advanced storytelling and media activities, Unreasonable operates at the highest intersection of business and impact. It is uniquely positioned to support growth stage entrepreneurs solving key global environment and social challenges to scale up through the deployment of knowledge, networks and capital. For more information about Unreasonable, please visit www.unreasonablegroup.com. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

26 11 月, 2020

Public service report card: Incomes of Singaporeans rise and inequality falls, but growth hit by Covid-19

SINGAPORE - Even as Singapore wrestles with the fallout from Covid-19, the Government has managed to boost incomes and reduce wealth inequality, while making sure necessities such as housing and healthcare remain affordable. Singapore also continues to be business-friendly and internationally competitive. These are among the key achievements of the public service up till 2019 in most cases, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Thursday (Nov 26). The Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review (Spor), a stock-take of the sector's work that is unveiled every two years, rounds up key figures in such areas as the economy and social support. But unlike past editions, this year's review has a special section in recognition of the whole-of-nation effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Titled "Emerging Stronger as One", it highlights how Singaporeans, businesses and the community have stepped forward to partner the Government to help those in need. Here are four key takeaways from the report: 1. Lower income inequality, more work opportunities For the first time in five years, 2019 shows Singapore's Gini coefficient - a measure of income inequality - dipping below 0.4. A Gini coefficient above 0.4 usually signals a large income gap. After taking into account taxes and transfers, it fell from 0.452 in 2018 to 0.398 last year. Similarly positive is the rise in employment incomes across the board, with those at the bottom 20th percentile rising faster than at the median, which is the mid-point in a range. Another indicator of progress is the increased number of residents employed, including women and seniors, in the last five years . More than half of them are professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs), with the PMET share among employed residents growing from 54.3 per cent in 2015 to 58.3 per cent in 2019. Singaporeans also have more opportunities to pick up new skills. By the end of last year, 500,000 individuals and 14,000 enterprises had benefited from SkillsFuture initiatives. The stork, however, continues to elude even more Singaporeans, causing the country's resident total fertility rate to decline from 1.24 in 2015 to 1.14 last year. But efforts have been made to encourage families to have children. For example, the number of preschool places has swelled by more than 30 per cent since 2016. They have become more affordable as well, with higher subsidies. More on this topic Related Story Community spirit among Singaporeans shines through during Covid-19 pandemic, says public service report card Related Story Income inequality in Singapore falls to lowest level in almost two decades as household incomes rise 2. Competitive economy and workforce Singapore took the top spot among the world's most competitive economies, according to the World Economic Forum in 2019 and International Institute for Management Development in 2020. Even amid the pandemic, the Economic Development Board secured $13 billion of fixed asset investment commitments in the first four months of 2020. This shows the confidence of businesses in Singapore, the report noted. The growing fintech sector continues to shine in the first half of this year. It attracted equity funding as well as mergers and acquisitions amounting to $650 million. Businesses in Singapore also geared up for longer-term opportunities by venturing into the region, going digital and promoting innovation. For example, direct investment by Singapore-based companies in Southeast Asia increased by 37 per cent in the last five years. More are also going digital: 216,000 businesses have registered for PayNow Corporate, enabling them to send and receive e-payments instantly. Shoring up Singapore's competitive edge is the country's highly-regarded workforce - the only one in Asia to enter a list of the top 10 most competitive places for talent in the world. Workers here, reminded continually to pivot and boost their skills, can tap on schemes like the Adapt and Grow initiative that provides career guidance, training and job placements for those affected by economic restructuring. More on this topic Related Story Singapore continues to draw investments from global players including TikTok owner ByteDance, PayPal Related Story More than 12,000 jobs available in S'pore's ICT sector; 95 per cent of them for PMETs 3. Pro-business environment and access to digital services The World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index has consistently ranked Singapore among the top three economies to do business in. This year, Singapore ranked second and did well in two other indicators - fourth in the world for starting a business and first in the world for enforcing contracts. It takes just one and a half days to start a business in Singapore. Businesses have also been able to innovate by using regulatory sandboxes and with faster approvals from the authorities. One example is the Accelerated Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI), which speeds up regulatory approvals for AI-related inventions. Innovators can get an AI patent as swiftly as six months, compared to an average of two to four years. Last year, 77 per cent of businesses were "very or extremely satisfied" with the quality of Government e-services - a jump of 8 percentage points from 2018, and nearly a 10 percentage point rise from five years ago. Singaporeans' access to digital government services has improved, with the LifeSG app allowing them to access more than 40 services. Improved and more secure digital connectivity is underway, including cybersecurity enhancements, 5G trials and the Networked Trade Platform- a one-stop trade and logistics platform. More on this topic Related Story Singapore keeps spot as world's second most digitally competitive country; US is No. 1 Related Story Iswaran outlines Singapore's 3-pronged strategy to grow digital economy 4. Slowing growth and employment due to Covid-19 Despite Singapore's strong fundamentals, Covid-19 has put a dent in its economy. Real GDP growth rate is expected to contract by between 6.5 and 6 per cent this year. But there remain pockets of resilience such as biomedical manufacturing, and information and communications and media, said the report. The labour market continues to face downward pressure, with the resident unemployment rate reaching 4.7 per cent in September. Job seekers at an employment fair held at Bukit Panjang Community Centre in August. PHOTO: ST FILE The SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package was introduced this year to expand job, traineeship and skills training opportunities. More than 117,500 were available as at August. The report noted that in the face of Covid-19 and rising global tensions, it is important that citizens and businesses team up to co-create future policies. Head of Civil Service Leo Yip highlighted the partnership between the Government and people during the pandemic, saying: "It highlights Singaporeans' strong spirit of care and concern for one another...working together has enabled us to serve those in need and overcome this crisis as one. "(The public service) will continue to partner with Singaporeans to build a better future Singapore society and economy, and to emerge stronger from this crisis." The full report can be found at this website. More on this topic Related Story 470,000 Singaporean workers to get $810 million in Workfare Special Payment this month: Finance Ministry Related Story Workers aged 35 to 44 and lower-income earners hit hardest by pay cuts due to Covid-19: DBS report

18 11 月, 2020

At a time when a safe and healthy home has never been more important, Habitat for Humanity serves 5.9 million more people through new or improved housing

MANILA, Nov 18, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - A safe, decent, and healthy home has been the first line of defense for families around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the work of Habitat for Humanity, more than 5.9 million people accessed better housing in the last year, according to the global nonprofit's fiscal year 2020 annual report released today. In Asia and the Pacific region, Habitat has helped more than 1.9 million people have access to better housing.The report highlights how the organization addressed the need for safe, decent and affordable shelter worldwide, under mounting headwinds from the pandemic that restricted some of the ways Habitat traditionally executes its mission. With many of the organization's usual activities affected by the spread of COVID-19 over the course of the fiscal year (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020), its affiliated organizations in more than 70 countries and 1,100 communities across the United States found ways to adapt and continue serving."While this year has brought many challenges and heartaches to communities we serve across the world, I'm grateful that Habitat has had an opportunity to serve so many families when they needed it most," said Jonathan T.M. Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "At Habitat, we are religious about our principles, but not about our tactics. I've been inspired by the ingenuity and flexibility of Habitat organizations around the world who quickly adapted to the crisis and built new strategies to carry out our mission. We are clear-eyed that the future will bring more headwinds, but I know that the people who enable our mission -- our donors, staff, volunteers, advocates and the people we serve -- are as dedicated as ever to our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live."While the COVID-19 pandemic greatly curtailed traditional volunteer experiences, with build sites largely closed to general volunteers since February, Habitat still benefited from the hands and hearts of nearly 1 million volunteers before the shutdowns began.In the fiscal year 2020, Habitat for Humanity International reported US$287 million in revenue, along with an estimated US$2.3 billion in total revenue through the organization's federated network in the U.S. and around the world. Program spending at Habitat for Humanity International accounted for 74% of total expenses, including the distribution of US$193 million in cash and donated product to Habitat organizations.The 5.9 million people who accessed new or improved housing through new home construction, rehabilitation, incremental improvements and repairs helped the organization reach the milestone of 35 million people served since its founding in 1976.Description automatically generatedHabitat views access to safe, decent, and affordable housing as the cornerstone of strong, thriving communities. Senghouch, Cheat, and their two young children are among the many families served by Habitat's global network. Senghouch's family built a new home with the help of Habitat for Humanity Cambodia. Living in a small village in Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia, Senghouch is now able to work comfortably on her weaving loom inside her home to earn more income for the family's daily expenses. The training in water, sanitation, and hygiene practices conducted by Habitat has also helped to improve the children's overall health. In fiscal year 2020, Habitat continued to enable access to better housing for millions through its Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter. To address the impacts of COVID-19, the Center developed nearly 40 activities, from issuing small grants to shelter-related innovators to prototyping temporary shelter concepts.Habitat's impact is felt well beyond the individuals that it serves. Habitat's work promotes and drives social and economic outcomes by stimulating other sectors of the economy through spending and job creation associated with home construction, renovation, and repair.Findings from a recent Habitat report determined that emerging economies that have been struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic may be significantly underestimating their housing sector's contribution to the gross domestic product of a country. The report, titled Cornerstone of Recovery: How Housing Can Help Emerging Market Economies Rebound from COVID-19, found that inclusive financial interventions in the housing sector can stimulate economies while also improving the wellbeing of families through healthier housing conditions.Habitat is continuing its work in the face of growing need. Even before the pandemic, more than 1.6 billion people globally lack adequate shelter. The economic impact of COVID-19 has substantially increased the number of people struggling with the impossible choice of covering the cost of housing and other basic needs, like food, water, heat, and health care."These are our friends, our family and our neighbors, who now more than ever, could use the hand up that we can offer," Reckford said. "The pandemic may have spread us apart physically, but we have never been more united it our work to build strength through shelter."To learn more and to read the full 2020 annual report, visit habitat.org/multimedia/annual-report-2020.Note to Editor:To set up an interview, receive photos or for further information, contact Michele Soh MSoh@habitat.org, +65 9233 1544 or Rona Azucena, RAzucena@habitat.org.About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort and has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific. Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

7 11 月, 2020

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Nov 7

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Nov 7. Biden close to US election victory as Trump presses on with legal bids; Georgia recount likely Biden's lead in Pennsylvania, with its 20 electoral votes, is expected to grow as mail-in ballots come in. READ MORE HERE Some S'pore night spots under pilot to reopen by December This comes about nine months into the closure of nightlife venues. READ MORE HERE The Disunited States: The widening gap that faces the winner of the US election It would take an extremely optimistic voter to believe that any sort of reconciliation is possible. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news State of play: A look at the key battleground US states The states are Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. READ MORE HERE Ah Ma, are you on WhatsApp? Rapid digitalisation may be leaving some vulnerable groups behind The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of techn in some areas but may have also widened the digital divide. READ MORE HERE Passengers board first cruise to nowhere out of Singapore These round-trip cruises, without ports of call, are taking place under a pilot STB programme. READ MORE HERE More than 5,000 Changi Airport T3 staff test negative for Covid-19 They were swabbed after two staff there tested positive for the virus in October. READ MORE HERE Some workers who have recovered from Covid-19 exempted from routine testing To date, no cases of Covid-19 re-infection have been recorded in Singapore. READ MORE HERE People's Action Party to elect top party leadership on Sunday ST understands that the party will highlight the same seven names as two years ago. READ MORE HERE Johnny Depp out of Fantastic Beasts movie franchise after losing 'wife beater' case Depp said in an Instagram post that studio bosses had asked him to leave. READ MORE HERE

30 10 月, 2020

Agilex Biolabs Client Shasqi Announces Click Chemistry Breakthrough with First-Ever Human Application in Launch of Clinical Program

ADELAIDE, AU, Oct 30, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Agilex Biolabs, Australia's most advanced FDA-inspected specialist bioanalytical laboratory for clinical trials, congratulates client company Shasqi on the announcement of the first-ever application of click chemistry in humans, with the launch of the Company's lead clinical candidate, SQ3370. Shasqi is the first Y Combinator-backed biotech company to reach clinical development.San Francisco-based Shasqi said in the announcement: First Patients Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Study of SQ3370 for Advanced Solid Tumor Malignancies Shasqi is First Y-Combinator Biotech Company to Reach First-in-Human Clinical StudiesShasqi, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision activated oncology therapeutics with its proprietary Click Activated Protodrugs Against Cancer (CAPACtm) Platform, announced today the first-ever application of click chemistry in humans, with the launch of the Company's lead clinical candidate, SQ3370. Shasqi is the first Y Combinator-backed biotech company to reach clinical development. The first two patients have been dosed in Shasqi's Phase 1 clinical study of SQ3370 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. SQ3370 is a novel investigational product that activates a non-toxic protodrug into a powerful chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin, precisely at a pre-injected tumor. SQ3370 is designed to allow substantially higher drug doses to be given to the patient, increasing tumor destruction while minimizing toxicity in the rest of the body. "Shasqi is founded on the belief that one day we will be able to beat cancer without poisoning our bodies. We are excited to reach this milestone with our CAPAC Platform and the launch of Shasqi's first clinical program," said Jose M. Mejia Oneto, M.D., Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Shasqi. The CAPAC Platform is a new therapeutic modality based on click chemistry, which leverages biocompatible chemical reactions, to activate protodrugs at a selected tumor that has been pre-injected with a biopolymer. The CAPAC platform is agnostic to tumor characteristics that can vary from patient to patient, such as biomarker expression and enzymatic activity, rendering it applicable to a broad array of tumor types. Additionally, the CAPAC Platform is highly modular and can be applied to a wide variety of cancer therapeutics in addition to doxorubicin."Doxorubicin has been proven effective for dozens of cancers, but severe side effects limit its use. Guiding it directly to the tumor while avoiding damage to the rest of the body may allow us to use doxorubicin and potentially many other drugs in a completely new and effective way for patients," commented Wayne Saville, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Shasqi. "Shasqi has taken a novel concept through a rigorous preclinical regulatory path all the way to treating patients in near-record time." "Shasqi was Y Combinator's first therapeutic biotechnology investment and now the first of our life sciences companies to reach clinical development," said Jared Friedman, Partner, Y Combinator. "We are extremely impressed by the team's rapid advancement and capital-efficient execution. SQ3370 and CAPAC are not just a standard new small molecule, but rather a broad and powerful new platform leveraging state of the art science and materials to transform the treatment of cancer." SQ3370-001 (NCT04106492) is a multicenter, first-in-human, dose-escalation, Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immune effects, and preliminary anti-tumor efficacy of SQ3370 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumor malignancies ineligible for standard-of-care therapy. The study is being conducted in the United States and Australia at multiple cancer centers, including MD Anderson Cancer Center and Stanford University. The study is expected to be completed in 2021. More information about the trial is available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04106492. See the announcement here. https://tinyurl.com/y2splohjAgilex Biolabs is known internationally for its continued investment in the latest technology, and for attracting some of the leading scientists from Australia and around the world.Agilex Biolabs, the only FDA-inspected lab of its type in the region, also features a rebate of up to 43.5% on clinical trial bioanalytical services spend as part of the Australian Government clinical trial attraction program.Agilex Biolabs' world-class bioanalytical facilities have OECD GLP Recognition with NATA (Australian Government OECD GLP Compliance monitoring authority) and ISO 17025 Accreditation for global recognition.The company has recently expanded its labs by more than 30% to accommodate biotech demand from APAC and the USA. Watch the New Labs Walkthrough Video Here https://www.agilexbiolabs.com/new-labs-videoAgilex Biolabs specialises in bioanalysis of small molecules and biologics for PK, immunogenicity, biomarkers and immunological pharmacodynamics assessments utilising LC-MS/MS, immunoassay (Mesoscale, Gurolab, Luminex) and flow cytometry (BD FACSymphony A3, 20 colour cell analyser).Agilex also offers pharmacodynamics services that include immunobiology services using the latest state-of-the-art technology to support immunology, cell biology and mode of action assays, including: - Immunophenotyping- Receptor occupancy- Cytokine release assays (whole blood or PBMC stimulation assays) and cytokine/biomarker profiling- PBMC assays and cellular mechanism of action assays (eg: ADCC)Agilex Biolabs has more than 90 staff including 65 dedicated laboratory staff, and annually support more than 80 clinical trials. This year they will analyse more than 60,000 samples for pharma/biotechs companies from US, Europe and APAC.Please Book a Briefing with us before you start your next clinical trial.About Agilex Biolabs https://www.agilexbiolabs.com/Agilex Biolabs, Australia's leading bioanalytical laboratory, has more than 20 years' experience in performing regulated bioanalysis, including quality method development, method validation and sample analysis services. We have successfully supported hundreds of preclinical and clinical trials around the world where customers choose Australia for the streamlined regulatory process and access to the world's most attractive R&D rebate of more than 40% on clinical trial work conducted in Australia.We offer services for both small molecules and biologics for PK, immunogenicity (PD) and biomarker bioanalysis utilising the two platforms of LC-MS/MS and Immunoassay.Agilex Biolabs Media Contact:Media@AgilexBiolabs.com Kate NewtonShasqi media contact:David Rosen, Argot Partners media@shasqi.com +1 (212) 600-1902 Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

28 10 月, 2020

Trials of Jointly Developed Compact LNG Filling System to Commence in Hokkaido

TOKYO, Oct 28, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Air Water Inc. (Air Water) have jointly developed a compact LNG filling facility (Facility)(1) that can be used in space-limited logistics facilities. The equipment will be used to fuel heavy LNG-powered trucks.A compact LNG Filling Station and Heavy LNG TruckThis is the first portable filling system in Japan and the world's first off-grid power-generation system capable of fueling trucks with LNG even during power outages. Furthermore, by circulating hot water through its waste-heat recovery mechanism, the system can help to prevent freezing problems associated LNG operations in cold or highly humid regions.In November, MC and Air Water will begin testing the system in Hokkaido, where it will be used to fuel three heavy LNG trucks, one manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd. and the other two by Italian firm. With the cooperation of Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc., the partners plan to assess the system's overall effectiveness and how much it can reduce CO2 emissions and fuels costs typically generated by heavy trucks. The results of the tests will help the partners to determine whether or not to make the system commercially available.At present, heavy trucks fueled by LNG are not in commercial use in Japan. Most (approximately 500,000) of the heavy trucks on Japan's roads are diesel fueled, and there are growing concerns about the need to reduce their CO2 emissions. Unlike trucks powered by electric batteries or fuel cells, LNG fueled trucks have ranges in excess of 1,000 kilometers, and tests have already shown them to be capable of cutting CO2 emissions by more than 10% when compared to diesel-fueled trucks.(2) The partners are also considering ways to further reduce CO2 emissions in the future, such as by using CO2-free LNG.To successfully commercialize this system, the partners will be relying on an effective marriage of their respective assets and expertise. MC has been developing a wide range of LNG operations since 1969 and can claim both an extensive business profile and industry-wide know-how, while, in addition to its logistics field of network, Air Water boasts an impressive lineup of development-and manufacturing technologies in the field of LNG, including tanker trucks and satellite supply facilities. This joint project represents a meaningful step towards our transition to cleaner energies, and both partners are confident that it can help to realize low-carbon or carbon-free societies in the future. MC and Air Water are aiming to install this system in locations throughout Japan by mid 2020s, at which point they hope to be offering a competitive supply of automobile-use LNG to customers across the country.(1) With a footprint of just 3.3 x 12 meters (the same size as a parking space for a heavy truck), the new system is less than half of the cost of a conventional LNG filling station. At less than 10 minutes per fill-up, it also refuels quicker than conventional stations. The plant is to make each station capable of fueling more than 60 trucks per day. The patent application for the system has already been filed.(2) A heavy LNG powered-truck built by Isuzu Motors Ltd. was used in tests undertaken as part of the Ministry of the Environment's "Low Carbon Research and Development Program", which ran from 2016 to fiscal year 2018. The tests confirmed that the truck had a range of more than 1,000 (primarily highway) kilometers per fill-up in city-to-city transport, and that it also produced less than 90% of the CO2 emissions produced by diesel-powered trucks that meet Japan?s heavy vehicle fuel efficiency standards set in fiscal year 2015.About Mitsubishi CorporationMitsubishi Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates business across virtually every industry including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, foods, and environmental business. Mitsubishi Corporation's current activities are expanding far beyond its traditional trading operations as its diverse business ranges from natural resources development to investment in retail business, infrastructure, financial products and manufacturing of industrial goods. For more information on Mitsubishi Corporation, please visit the company's website at https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

23 10 月, 2020

Mexican restaurant Los Amigos ordered to close for 20 days, the longest closure issued by URA

SINGAPORE - A Mexican restaurant in Circular Road has been issued an order to close its premises for 20 days after breaching Covid-19 safe management measures multiple times. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) told The Straits Times on Friday (Oct 23) that this is the longest closure it has issued to a food and beverage outlet so far. The Los Amigos restaurant was ordered to close from Wednesday to Nov 10. The URA said its officers on Oct 10 saw different groups of customers at the restaurant standing less than 1m apart from one another, and a gathering of eight people. Since phase two of Covid-19 measures began on June 19, people are required to keep a distance of at least 1m from one another in public and gatherings of more than five are not allowed. This is the second time Los Amigos has been taken to task. It was previously fined $1,000 and ordered to close for 10 days in July for having gatherings of more than five people on its premises. Another F&B outlet, Kanpai 789, was fined $2,000 for not ensuring that customers from different groups stand at least 1m apart from one another. The eatery in Robertson Walk was previously fined $1,000 during the circuit breaker period in April when staff were found not to be wearing masks properly. Two other F&B outlets - Forum Seafood Village Restaurant in Boat Quay and Xiang Signature in Liang Seah Street - were each fined $1,000 for admitting groups of more than five onto their premises. More on this topic Related Story 3 F&B outlets ordered to close for 10 days, 4 others fined $1,000 each for flouting safe management measures Related Story 21 diners fined $300 each for flouting Covid-19 rules; 2 F&B outlets ordered to close Thirteen individuals were also fined $300 each for gathering in groups of more than five in the Boat Quay area. The URA reiterated that it will not hesitate to take enforcement actions against both patrons and operators who do not comply with safe management measures.

20 10 月, 2020

Lawyer who left Singapore after $33m went missing faces 14 more charges involving $17m

SINGAPORE - A lawyer who left Singapore after more than $33 million parked at his firm went missing has been issued with 19 new charges. Jeffrey Ong Su Aun was charged on Tuesday (Oct 20) with 14 counts of criminal breach of trust as an attorney involving more than $17.4 million, as well as five counts of cheating. In a statement, police said that the 43-year-old Singaporean now faces 76 charges in all. In total, Ong is implicated in a case involving more than $75 million. This is a greater sum than the $50 million in church funds that six City Harvest church leaders were found guilty of misusing in 2015. Ong was the managing partner of law firm JLC Advisors when more than $33 million held in escrow in the firm for a client, Allied Technologies, went missing. Escrow is an essential service in capital markets that supports transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. His latest charges regarding criminal breach of trust as an attorney involve more than $17.4 million that was held in escrow by JLC Advisors for the firm CW Group Holdings, which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He is accused of misappropriating the monies in 2015 and 2016, and is said to have largely engaged in a conspiracy with one Wong Koon Lup, whose details were not revealed in court documents. Ong and Wong are also said to have engaged in a conspiracy to cheat, between 2016 and 2018. Police said in their statement: "The five counts of conspiracy to cheat were aimed at concealing the misappropriation of funds from CW Group's board of directors as well as the auditor of CW Group's subsidiaries in Singapore, Ernst and Young Solutions." Ong, who appeared in court via video-link on Tuesday, was not offered bail. His case has been adjourned to Nov 25. He first made the headlines last year after the monies went missing and he subsequently disappeared. More on this topic Related Story Lawyer Jeffrey Ong hit with 4 more charges involving $11.7m of Allied Tech's missing funds Related Story Lawyer who left Singapore after $33m went missing faces another 15 charges It later emerged that Ong had left Singapore for Malaysia in a private-hire car on May 13 last year. He moved to a hotel in Kuala Lumpur and became uncontactable three days later, after he got rid of his mobile phone. He was at the hotel when officers from the Royal Malaysia Police arrested him later that month. He was brought back to Singapore on May 30 last year. If convicted of criminal breach of trust as an attorney, he can either be jailed for life or jailed for up to 20 years and fined. For each count of cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to three years and fined.