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Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Collaborates to Restore Mangrove Forests in Seruyan

Kuala Pembuang, Indonesia, Mar 1, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - As 2021 starts, the media continues to carry horrific stories of ongoing environmental abuse. We can no longer deny that the climate crisis is real, but somehow we manage to do just that. 'Extinction: The Facts' is a BBC Earth documentary, in which Sir David Attenborough explores how the loss of biodiversity has consequences for us all. He mentions the impact of global warming and the resulting climate crisis that has led to a loss or change of three-quarters of the world's terrestrial surface. Sadly, the cause is human greed, our purchasing habits are killing off our natural resources.There is so much we can do to help prevent further destruction. Mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation is something we feel can have an enormous impact on the environment and the people who depend on the health of the sea. Not only does this kind of forest store more carbon than normal forests, but it also protects a marine habitat that is vital to the oceans and the communities who live off the sea. The carbon in a mangrove forest is also called 'blue carbon'.The main challenge faced by mangrove ecosystems is that they are dwindling, this is a res...

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中国的普渡机器人在日本HCJ展,展现最新型配送机器人以及消毒机器人

Tokyo, Japan, Mar 1, 2021 - (亚太商讯 via SEAPRWire.com) - 2021年2月16日-19日,普渡机器人在日本东京千叶幕张国际展览中心,HCJ展览会(国际饭店/饭店展览会HOTERES JAPAN、餐饮博览会CATEREX JAPAN、日本食品服务设备展览会)展出,展现了配送机器人这种先进的配送服务方式以及公司最新款消毒机器人“欢乐消2”。HCJ 展览会是日本酒店业及餐饮业,较大型也是久负盛名的品牌展览会,在业内享有极高声誉,已成为不可错过的行业年度盛事。据主办方官方数据表示,展会有8个展馆,有来自意大利、德国、波兰、美国、中国、香港、台湾等32个国家和地区的1000多家企业参展,吸引了来自世界各地的业内人士约70,000人。为期4天的HCJ展览会旨在展示行业最新型设备及其相关技术,寻找可以解决人手短缺问题、消除病毒风险的最新型服务机器人。展览会上,普渡机器人的配送机器人以及消毒机器人吸引了参展观众的目光,最受欢迎的则是普渡新奇萌机器人“贝拉”。据工作人员介绍,“贝拉(BellaBot)”拉搭载了全维感知传感器,采用了以猫为原型的拟物化萌系设计,具有创新的语音、灯光、触摸、人脸识别、显示等多模态交互,在送餐机器人欢乐送的基础上让送餐更有温度,与人类的互动更加多样化。现场人员表示:“普渡的机器人操作起来比想象的方便,看起来很有科技感,刚才试着用了一下,送到的位置非常准确,有机会想带回去几台试试,应该能给我们餐厅带来更好的服务效果。”据了解,普渡机器人总部位于创新之都深圳,其核心技术为低速自动驾驶、机器人电机驱动与运动控制,生产的配送机器人“欢乐送”、“贝拉”、回盘机器人“好啦”已经广泛应用于全球50多个国家和地区的500多个城市,包括Haidilao Hotpot, JD, Woowa Brothers, HomePlus, Bytedance, LG and Sheraton hotel 等知名企业。普渡机器人为了实现精准的配送服务,自主研发了多传感器融合的PUDU SLAM算法方案,在保证精度与可靠性的同时极大扩展了适用场景,使机器人具备了高精度定位、3D避障、高度探测、自主规划路径的能力。每台机器人都可以不依赖网络与同一网络里的任意机器人直接通信,更接近于人与人之间的交互机制。同时机器人配备车规级的独立联动悬挂系统,运行更加平稳。未来,随着机器人产业技术日趋成熟,服务机器人的功能日益完善,将有越来越多的服务业投入使用商用服务机器人来辅助工作人员提高服务效率。普渡机器人电话:86-400-0826-660邮箱: global_sales@pudutech.com Copyright 2021 亚太商讯. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

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Asia stocks bounce as bond market calms

SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Asian shares firmed on Monday (March 1) as some semblance of calm returned to bond markets after last week's wild ride, while progress in the huge US stimulus package underpinned optimism about the global economy. China's official manufacturing PMI out over the weekend missed forecasts, but investors are counting on better news from a raft of US data due this week including the February payrolls report. Also helping sentiment was news deliveries of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine should start on Tuesday. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.1 per cent, after shedding 3.7 per cent last Friday. Japan's Nikkei rallied 2.0 per cent, while Nasdaq futures bounced 0.8 per cent and S&P 500 futures 0.7 per cent. Yields on US 10-year notes came off to 1.40 per cent, from last week's peak of 1.61 per cent, though they still ended last week 11 basis points higher and were up 50 basis points on the year so far. "The bond moves on Friday still feel like a pause for air, rather than the catalyst for a move towards calmer waters," said Rodrigo Catril, a senior strategist at NAB. "Market participants remain nervous over the p...

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Australia home prices surge at fastest pace since 2003 in February

SYDNEY (BLOOMBERG, REUTERS) - Australian home prices climbed by the most since August 2003 in February as record low borrowing rates and government incentives lure more buyers into the market, raising fears of overheating. Nationwide house values surged 2.1 per cent last month, CoreLogi data released on Monday (March 1) showed. Capital city prices gained 2 per cent, led by Sydney and Melbourne. “Australia’s housing market is in the midst of a broad-based boom,” said Tim Lawless, head of research at CoreLogic. The rapid gains have been “spurred on by a combination of record-low mortgage rates, improving economic conditions, government incentives and low advertised supply levels.” While housing prices are surging from Singapore to Canada and the US, a return to boom times in Australia threatens to swell an already worrisome pile of household debt and make it harder for young people to get a foot on the property ladder. Sydney is the world’s third-least affordable housing market, and Melbourne the sixth, according to a report last week. The nation’s property values have taken off again after the central bank slashed interest rates to a record low and said they’ll stay there for at lea...

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China fintech curbs that hit Ant were no surprise, Ping An says

BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - China's curbs on fintech that thwarted a massive stock sale by Ant Group have been under consideration for years and weren't a surprise to those in the industry, according to an executive at China's biggest insurer by market value. Like Ant, Ping An Insurance (Group) was in the midst of planning a public listing for a fintech unit when regulators began issuing a flurry of rules to contain the country's burgeoning online lending industry. Its Lufax Holding Ltd. debuted on the New York Stock Exchange days before the most-sweeping checks were unveiled in November, followed closely by the abrupt suspension of Ant's initial public offering. While the string of tightening moves has prompted investors to dump Chinese tech stocks and led to deep cuts in valuations, industry players saw them coming, Jessica Tan, co-chief executive officer of Ping An said in an interview. Ms Tan, 43, oversees Ping An's technology units including Lufax and OneConnect Financial Technology Co. "Chinese regulators don't suddenly throw a regulation at you and say 'we will do this,'" Ms Tan said while on a visit to her native Singapore. "Every regulation that has been announced, it's not a su...

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Upside for stocks intact despite inflations fears

SINGAPORE - US equities last week were rattled by a sharp upwards movement in US bond yields, which many market watchers fear is a sign of inflationary pressures which could prompt the Federal Reserve to reverse its market-supportive low interest rate policy. The bluechip Dow Jones index ended a volatile week at 30,932.37 points last Friday, down 561.95 points for the week, while the broader S&P index gave up 95.56 points to end the week at 3,811.15. The tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 682 points for the week to end at 13,192.34 as "big tech" came under selling pressure on valuation concerns. While Wall Street's volatility sent jitters through many global markets, Singapore seems to have focused on local factors, led by potential earnings recovery ahead. The Straits Times index gained 68.4 points for the week to end last Friday's session at 2,949.04 points - its second highest close in a month as market players focused on the improving outlook ahead. But the sharp hike in US 10-year bond yields to above 1.6 per cent last week has sent shivers through the market. As of Friday's close it was at 1.407, the highest since February 2020. If bond yields go any higher, they would would surpass the ...

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Local banks step up to help Singapore SMEs go global

SINGAPORE - When a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) decides to take its first step outside the country, it will look for a bank where it can open a business account that offers management of its cash flows, both within the new jurisdiction and across the border. For a Singaporean SME, that bank would typically be one of the three big ones - DBS, OCBC or UOB. Hence, for the Government's internationalisation push to succeed, the readiness of these banks to serve cross-border business expansion is crucial. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Feb 28

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Feb 28. She was severely burnt in 2000 Taipei crash: Ex-SIA girl traces her recovery She watched in horror as the video clip of a fiery car crash in Tanjong Pagar unfolded. READ MORE HERE Interactive: The Great Singapore Cycle Cycle through Singapore from Changi to Jurong in a day, exploring a range of sights that the island has to offer. READ MORE HERE 'He was the pillar of his family': Tuas fire victim never got to hold his 10-month-old daughter When his wife gave birth to their second girl in India last April, Singapore was going through its circuit breaker period. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 'It's demoralising': More cases of S'pore healthcare workers being abused Those at greater risk of being abused work in emergency departments, outpatient clinics. READ MORE HERE Rise in vaping trend in Singapore sparks worry E-vaporisers are illegal in Singapore since 2018, but it has not stopped the number of cases involving them from growing over the years. READ MORE HERE 64-year-old S'porean man who was flown here from Indonesia for Covid-19 treatment dies H...

Hospitals report spike in cases of harassment, abuse of staff

When a patient who used a wheelchair tried to go to a convenience store minutes before her medical procedure, nurse manager Ann (not her real name) stopped her, afraid she might miss her appointment. But the agitated woman repeatedly slapped Ann's legs and hurled vulgarities at her. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Ex-SIA girl traces her recovery after plane crash

She watched in horror as the video clip of a fiery car crash in Tanjong Pagar unfolded. But Madam Farzana Abdul Razak also felt admiration for the young woman seen running towards the car, which had slammed into a shophouse and burst into flames on Feb 13. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Off to climb ‘Mount Fuji’ here to raise funds for special needs youth

Over the next three months, eight people with special needs in Singapore will each attempt to scale the equivalent of Mount Fuji, which stands at 3,776m. They will climb hills and stairs around Singapore, and track the distance on the Strava mobile app. The eight are participants of YMCA's Special Needs Inclusive Challenge 2021, which was flagged off by President Halimah Yacob at the Istana yesterday. It aims to raise $250,000 to support YMCA's programmes for youth with special needs, and will end on May 29. Addressing participants in a recorded message, Madam Halimah said: "I am encouraged by the confidence and courage shown by YMCA and their special needs ambassadors. It proves that those with special needs also have special talents." Among the eight are returning participants, Ms Oh Siew May, 50, and Mr Harun Rahamad, 32, who both took part in a 2019 edition of the challenge in Japan. They climbed Mount Fuji together with eight others but had to abandon the effort less than 500m from the top because of harsh weather. Ms Oh said: "Disabled does not mean being unable. For those with special needs and those going through hard times due to Covid-19, I want to stir up our spirits and...

Severe burn victims face operations and long, intensive rehab

When a severely burnt patient is wheeled into the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Burn Centre, one of the first things emergency staff do is to pump air into the patient's lungs. That is because if the airway is swollen shut, it can deprive the patient of oxygen, affecting chances of survival. Associate Professor Ong Yee Siang, who heads the department of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at SGH, explained this following several accidents in which people suffered burn injuries. The department manages the burn centre. On Feb 13, Ms Raybe Oh Siew Huey, 26, suffered severe burns on about 80 per cent of her body when she tried to save her boyfriend and their four friends from the fiery Tanjong Pagar car crash. Then, last Wednesday, 10 migrant workers were hospitalised following an explosion in Tuas on the premises of Stars Engrg. Three workers died and five remain in critical condition, while two have been discharged. Prof Ong said some burn victims can talk, albeit hoarsely, and move a little, but it gets riskier when the head and neck areas have burns. When hair and eyebrows are singed, and soot coats the mouth and airways, the patient must be immediately intubated to pu...

5 factors that affect hospital claims

The relentless increase in healthcare insurance premiums is a major concern for all policyholders, but sadly there is no "vaccine" that can stop the price rises. This is because insurers are being hit by a double whammy - the big jump in prices of new treatments for serious illnesses such as cancer, and the increase in the number of people falling ill across all age groups, noted the Life Insurance Association (LIA). Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Collect antiques from US presidents

(NYTIMES) - Mr Robert Russell Crans Jr is storing a bounty of items once owned and touched by President Abraham Lincoln and his family that represent a time in US history and politics most can read about only in history books. Through hundreds of years, the Lincoln personal items have been passed down through generations of family members. Mr Crans is adopted, but his mother's stepfather Robert Lincoln Beckwith is the last known blood relative of the Lincoln family. So he has taken some of these items to market, including a fan owned by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln when she was in the White House; a sterling silver ladle from the wife of Robert Todd Lincoln, a son of the President and Mary Todd Lincoln; and a portrait of the First Lady's half-sister. They are among hundreds of presidential artefacts being sold in an online bidding that started this month in celebration of Presidents Day at RR Auction, an auction house in Boston. Auctions like this one open up a market to people who want to sell the historical items they have owned for decades and for presidential collectors who are eager to own a piece of US history. Examples include a lottery ticket from 1768 signed by the first p...

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Me & My Money: Investing regularly and for the long-term helps veteran investor tide over market uncertainty

SINGAPORE - Investing small amounts at regular intervals over the long term is the winning strategy of veteran investor Raymond Wong. Mr Wong, 49, associate director at financial advisory firm IPPFA, said this strategy, also known as dollar-cost averaging, helps to overcome the uncertainties of a volatile market. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Slow and steady wins the race for investor

Investing small amounts at regular intervals over the long term is the winning strategy of veteran investor Raymond Wong. Mr Wong, 49, associate director at IPP Financial Advisers, said this strategy, also known as dollar-cost averaging, helps overcome the uncertainties of a volatile market. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Me & My Career: This ‘plumber’ of the financial world ensures that money flows smoothly

SINGAPORE - Using financial technology, or fintech, to disrupt traditional models may seem "cool", but Mastercard executive Joseph Tom believes it is as much about solving seemingly mundane problems. Fintech, he notes, has begun to improve access to remittance services for migrant workers, who otherwise could spend up to 10 per cent of their savings on transfer fees and poor exchange rates. "It might not look all glamorous compared to global investing, cryptocurrencies and roboadvisory, but a lot of the value of fintech lies in solving these unsexy problems in traditional banking such as financial inclusion and access to credit," says Mr Tom, a director for business development at Mastercard. "A senior executive told me fintech professionals often consider themselves the plumbers of the financial world, fixing the pipes and infrastructure that lead to more efficient flow of payments, investments, remittances and so on." Mr Tom, who has spent 11 years in banking, fintech start-ups and venture capital investing, hit a roadblock en route to his current "dream job" after being retrenched last April amid the pandemic. The MBA-holder faced multiple disappointments in his job search, ofte...

国美零售全面深化全零售平台业务 赋能加速数字化本地零售的未来发展

HONG KONG, Feb 27, 2021 - (亚太商讯 via SEAPRWire.com) - 国美零售控股有限公司(493.HK)于昨日发布的公告中透露,虽然去年受到新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情爆发之压力,预期截至2020年12月31日止12个月(「报告期内」)的综合经营业绩将会受到影响,但集团对持续转型之在线线下一体化新零售业务的未来发展充满信心。2020年,全球经济受到新冠疫情的巨大冲击,对实体经济造成影响。但凭借良好的企业管理及规划,报告期内,国美零售社群数量已达100万,在线线下会员超2亿人、九九付费会员超200万人。2020年12月新客首单转化率达15%,同比提升64%;会员复购率为31%,同比提升21%;会员活跃度同比提升105%。随着中国境内疫情持续受控,宏观经济增长稳健发展。自2021年以来,国美零售的业务亦持续不断改善,无论从电器销售还是整个在线线下双平台、多品类的GMV和UV的增长,都是比较可喜的。公司在1月份正式上线了「真快乐」APP。截至2月20日,GMV同比增长超4倍,非家电品类有了高速增长,重点品类如母婴类和美容个护类增长十分迅猛。非家电品类的增长,也印证了国美零售采用真选策略拓展全品类的正确性,凸显了自身的供应链优势和管理效率。在资金方面,国美零售于报告期内已悉数偿还了本金总额超55亿元人民币的境内债及美元债后,继续保持充裕资金。于2020年12月31日,国美零售的现金及现金等价物预期约人民币100亿元。2021年,国美零售将贯彻以「提效率降成本」、「拓规模增盈利」作为年度经营的两大关键指标,全面提升自我、全力赋能商户、全心服务消费者。持续深化革新全零售平台业务 紧抓宏观经济复苏机遇2020年上半年,国美零售在完成「家‧生活」战略第一阶段基础建设期后,抵住疫情冲击的压力下,迅即展开战略第二阶段的精细深化发展期。凭借34年来在家电零售行业的深厚底蕴和强大的供应链资源,国美零售遵循「新发展阶段」、「新发展思维」、「新发展格局」,推动「家‧生活」战略第二阶段发展进程,全面开放汇集供应链、物流、专业服务、在线线下双平台等一体化生态系统的稀缺性核心价值,全力抓紧疫情后经济复苏带来的巨大机遇。国美零售「家‧生活」战略第二阶段将主要通过线下平台以精品体验展示、实体网络为依托,在线平台以「真快乐」等娱乐化方式承接,形成在线线下双平台。通过线下平台体验、在线交易,为在线平台精准导流;另一方面,通过在线展示、线下消费,向线下平台精准赋能,形成具差异化的新格局。同时,国美零售通过自营和第三方外部供应链的真选供应链体系形成开放性平台。公司在C端客户端以多维的家生活品类体现,为更多商户和合作伙伴提供更好的合作空间,吸引他们与国美零售供应链合作,在在线线下双平台以及第三方流量平台上形成共融发展。此外,国美零售亦将继续大力拓展加盟店,快速抢占3至6级城市...

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ROK-Biotech, Korea’s leading cosmetic brand. Launching the new product ‘Dr. M-KIN Anti V Hand Cream’

Seoul, Korea - The demand for natural cosmetics has been increasing during Covid-19 throughout the world. The pandemic has also resulted in a change in people's habits and has led to a greater demand for a natural product with functional properties including many types of household items and food. A South Korean cosmetic brand ROK-Biotech is gaining attention for its natural functional products giving excellent antibacterial and antiviral effects; they have recently developed the products using a molecular biology tool. Their new product Dr. M-KIN Anti-V Hand Cream launched in January 2021 is a multifunctional all-in-one product that provides hand sterilization and skin protection with a moisturizing effect. The product went through a series of tests from the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) and the antibacterial test results showed it kills 99.9% of germs (5 different bacteria was used); the antiviral test results showed it was 99% effective against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). On top of that, the results of the Skin Irritation Test (SIT) showed that the product is classified in non-irritation category (0.00). This data further proves that the product is pe...

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ROK-Biotech, Korea’s leading cosmetic brand, Launches the new product ‘Dr. M-KIN Anti V Hand Cream’

The demand for natural cosmetics has been increasing during Covid-19 throughout the world. The pandemic has also resulted in a change in people's habits and has led to a greater demand for a natural product with functional properties including many types of household items and food. A South Korean cosmetic brand ROK-Biotech is gaining attention for its natural functional products giving excellent antibacterial and antiviral effects; they have recently developed the products using a molecular biology tool. Their new product Dr. M-KIN Anti-V Hand Cream launched in January 2021 is a multifunctional all-in-one product that provides hand sterilization and skin protection with a moisturizing effect. The product went through a series of tests from the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) and the antibacterial test results showed it kills 99.9% of germs (5 different bacteria was used); the antiviral test results showed it was 99% effective against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). On top of that, the results of the Skin Irritation Test (SIT) showed that the product is classified in non-irritation category (0.00). This data further proves that the product is perfectly safe fo...