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JCB and Keychain Create Blockchain-based Micropayment Solution for IoT

indie
4 minutes

TOKYO, Feb 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - JCB Co., Ltd. and Keychain GK have developed a novel infrastructure for processing credit-based micropayments between IoT devices. The innovation promises to enable direct human-to-machine and machine-to-machine payments at scale without the confines of credit cards.As new networks, such as 5G, deploy and the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices grow, so will the need for automated and machine-to-machine micropayments. Mobile payment apps enabled the common mobile user to pay with their phone, however the current payment infrastructure does not support tens of billions of IoT devices. Use cases in point: electric vehicles automatically paying for charging, or a farmer receiving payment for produce to a mobile device while offline. Such an infrastructure needs to handle vast cybersecurity and operational risks related to identity fraud, hacking, privacy and denial of service.JCB and Keychain have begun solving these challenges by implementing a new blockchain and distributed ledger-based payment infrastructure that mitigates the risks of IoT micropayments.Micropayment InfrastructureJCB and Keychain developed the solution based on digital ide...

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Apollomics, Inc. Licenses a Targeted, Active Checkpoint Control Immunotherapy for Greater China and South Africa

indie
3 minutes

FOSTER CITY, Calif. and HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG, CHINA, Feb 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Apollomics, Inc., an innovative biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of mono- and combination- oncology therapies, today announced an exclusive license agreement for the development and commercialization of TYG100 in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, also known as Greater China, and South Africa.TYG100 is an antigen-specific, active checkpoint control immunotherapy (ACCI) recombinant vaccine comprising the amino-terminal sequence of G17, a gastrointestinal peptide hormone, and utilizes the S-TIR(TM) technology platform. This technology induces a novel mechanism of action that is able to unmask tumors. TYG100 was developed by TYG oncology Ltd. based in the United Kingdom and received support from Cancer Research UK. TYG oncology originally co-developed TYG100 with Nuance Biotech and this license is now assigned to Apollomics for further co-development."TYG100 represents the new era of active checkpoint control immunotherapy by enabling a rapid and appropriate natural immune response," said Guo-Liang Yu, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Apollomics. "In additi...

ACN Newswire

Star-studded lineup for Youth With You Season3, Dance Mentor LISA returns

indie
3 minutes

Youth With You Season3 is about to on show, the mentor lineup has officially released. LISA, the member of international girl group BLACKPINK, joined again as the dance mentor in this season. Youth With You Season 2 was broadcasted in 2020, which gained high attention overseas, a total of 144 hashtag appeared on Twitter trends more than 429 times, covering Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. Cuts of the show have been listed on YouTube's global and national popular video charts more than 22 times. After participated in Youth With You Season2, the number of LISA's Weibo fans increased by 7.47 million. Many brands notice the commercial value of LISA due to her popularity in China, and have established commercial cooperation with LISA. Youth With You is the first Chinese reality show that LISA joined, she brought a perfect stage performance in the show, also win the audience's attention with her responsible attitude and cute personality. The re-cooperation between LISA and iQIYI is attributed to the results of the previous season that brought both artists and iQIYI to a win-win situation. Youth PD of Youth With You S3 is the well-known musician CHRIS LEE. She has participa...

SeaPRwire
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Singapore’s economy able to bounce back this year, but some sectors will take longer to recover: PM Lee

aseanpr
5 minutes

SINGAPORE - The bulk of Singapore's economy should be able to bounce back this year following the heavy hits it took last year with the Covid-19 pandemic, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Such a rebound will however be uneven, and Mr Lee cautioned on Friday (Feb 12) that sectors like tourism, transport, aviation and construction will take longer to recover. "We are expecting some rebound this year. Last year was minus five to six percent. That was particularly also because we had a circuit breaker period, which had a big impact on activity," he told reporters at Changi General Hospital after visiting workers in essential services on the first day of Chinese New Year. "This year, we expect to bounce back," he added. "The Year of the Ox should be better than the Year of the Rat in terms of the economy." But the prime minister added that while Singapore is likely to perform better, it is not guaranteed that it can get to an economic level beyond where it was in 2019, before the pandemic hit. The most recent official forecasts project the economy to expand by between 4 and 6 per cent this year, after shrinking by an unprecedented 5.8 per cent in 2020. The country's recovery will de...

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Seniors across Singapore to start getting vaccinated against Covid-19 from Feb 22: PM Lee

aseanpr
5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination programme will enter its next phase on Feb 22, when seniors across the island start getting their jabs, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Feb 12). This comes after a month-long pilot, where those aged 70 and above in Ang Mo Kio and Tanjong Pagar - towns with a higher proportion of elderly residents - began receiving their vaccinations from Jan 27. The multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 will give more details and announce the schedule of these vaccinations, said Mr Lee, who reiterated Singapore's goal to get the country vaccinated by the third quarter or latest by the end of the year - provided no issues crop up. Mr Lee was speaking to reporters at Changi General Hospital after visiting essential workers on the first day of the Chinese New Year. Singapore has placed orders for the vaccines from multiple suppliers to ensure there is enough for everyone here, although there may be some disruptions and delays, noted Mr Lee, who said close to 260,000 people have been vaccinated to date. "I am reasonably confident that we will get the vaccines that we need this year," he said. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said last month that S...

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

aseanpr
2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, Feb 12. Mother and daughter reunited after 42 years, in time for Chinese New Year A trip to the doctor's office when she was 12 ended up as a defining moment for Mrs Germaine Littlewood. READ MORE HERE Chinatown Complex shop owner and son are among 3 new Covid-19 community cases The man and his son did not seek medical treatment despite showing symptoms. READ MORE HERE If Senate does not convict Trump, 'he can do this again,' Democrats say as they rest case in impeachment trial "If he gets back into office and it happens again, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves," Representative Jamie Raskin told the Senate, wrapping up the prosecution arguments. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Family reunites for Chinese New Year after a year apart The reunion dinner was extra special for a Singaporean who flew here from Germany with her sons. READ MORE HERE CNY: A time to celebrate family in a more inclusive manner During this festive season centred around the family, it is a good time to reflect on what family means and realise that it extends beyond your blood re...

SeaPRwire
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MOH welcomes insurers’ move to adjust terms for full-rider IPs

aseanpr
4 minutes

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has welcomed the latest measures by private insurers to adjust the terms for those on existing Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) with riders that cover hospital bills in full. NTUC Income has begun informing policyholders on such plans that they will soon have to co-pay part of their bills when their policies are renewed. Four other insurers having IPs with such riders say they are moving policyholders to co-payment riders, or considering doing so. MOH said yesterday that these changes, together with other efforts by the Government such as the publication of fee benchmarks, "will further encourage prudent use of healthcare services, and keep healthcare costs sustainable for all Singaporeans". "IP policyholders can continue to tap their MediSave to pay for their co-payment amounts under all riders, subject to the MediSave withdrawal limits," the MOH told The Straits Times, which reported on the issue on Wednesday. MOH also said it had been kept informed by the individual private insurers on their independent reviews of existing IP riders which were bought before March 8, 2018. "We welcome and are supportive of the changes that have been announced, as they su...

SeaPRwire
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An extra special reunion after months of uncertainty

aseanpr
4 minutes

Having been separated from her family here for almost a year, yes-terday's reunion dinner was extra special for housewife Cynthia Tan Kloth, who has been living in Germany with her husband and two children. After months of uncertainty over travel curbs and lockdowns, the 39-year-old Singaporean flew here on Dec 31 with her sons - Friedrich, six, and Maximilian, one. She had booked a direct Singapore Airlines flight from Frankfurt, a three-hour drive from their residence in Lenzkirch, Germany. The trio spent New Year's Eve in quarantine at the Regent Singapore hotel near Orchard Road. Mrs Kloth's husband, chief digital officer Eckhard Kloth, usually travels with them to Sin-gapore once a year but had to remain in Germany due to work commitments. The couple met while he was working here in 2013, and they relocated to Germany in 2015. She said: "Over the five years I lived away from Singapore, I had always returned for Chinese New Year. "It is the most important season of the year for us, a time when we get to meet our relatives. "I did not want to miss it this year as well." Mrs Kloth finally returned to her parents' flat in Punggol on Jan 14. She will be spending the next few days c...

SeaPRwire
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What didn’t kill Serial System has made it stronger

elean
1 minute

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. It is a saying that resonates with businessman Derek Goh Bak Heng. The executive chairman of mainboard-listed semiconductor trading company Serial System said he had a "near-death experience" two years ago when the company's biggest customer decided to pull the plug on it. 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.

SeaPRwire
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Canada values Singapore’s support for a potential FTA with Asean

elean
1 minute

SINGAPORE - Canada will continue to pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean to expand trade and investment with one of the world's fastest-growing markets, Ms Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, told The Straits Times. Ms Ng appreciated Singapore's support of Canada's efforts to deepen ties with the 10-nation trading bloc which is also at the heart of Asia's security architecture. 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.

SeaPRwire
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ThaiBev’s net profit for Q1 rises 0.5% to $375m

elean
4 minutes

Beer and liquor giant Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) yesterday posted a net profit of 8.47 billion baht (S$375 million) for its first quarter ended Dec 31, up 0.5 per cent from the 8.42 billion baht it chalked up for the year-ago period. The company, which controls Fraser and Neave (F&N) and Frasers Property, has been enjoying a positive share price momentum after confirming its intention earlier this month to spin off and list its brewery unit BeerCo on the Singapore Exchange mainboard. BeerCo brands include Chang Beer and Bia Saigon. The growth in net profit was largely due to increased net profit from ThaiBev's spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages businesses, which more than offset lower contributions from its food businesses and stakes in F&N and Frasers Property. Group sales revenue for the quarter declined 5.1 per cent on-year to 71.79 billion baht due to lower sales revenue in the beer, non-alcoholic beverages and food businesses. This was partially mitigated by increased sales in the spirits business, which booked a 1 per cent year-on-year growth in sales revenue despite the resurgence of Covid-19 in Thailand. ThaiBev also said that the spirits segment remained resilient duri...

SeaPRwire

GIC partnering Chinese asset manager to bid for Philips’ home appliances unit: Sources

elean
2 minutes

LONDON • Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC has teamed up with Chinese asset manager CDH Investments to submit a joint offer for the US$3.6 billion (S$4.8 billion) home appliance business of Philips, two sources told Reuters. The two are facing competition from Asia-focused private equity firm Hillhouse Capital and a consortium of Citic Capital, Sequoia and TCL Capital, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Philips has put pressure on the bidders to finalise their binding offers by the end of March, and raised the prospect of ditching the sale and pursuing an alternative listing of the business which produces coffee machines, vacuum cleaners and air fryers. Philips declined to comment while the other bidders were not available outside business hours. The intended sale is a central part of Philips' transformation into a health technology business focused entirely on hospital equipment and personal health products. Once a sprawling conglomerate, the Amsterdam-based company has narrowed its focus in recent years, spinning off the lighting and consumer electronics divisions for which it was previously best known. Philips' home appliance unit is valued at about...

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Canada values Singapore’s support for a potential FTA with Asean

elean
1 minute

Canada will continue to pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean to expand trade and investment with one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, Ms Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, told The Straits Times. Ms Ng said she appreciated Singapore’s support for Canada’s efforts to deepen ties with the 10-nation trading bloc, which is also at the heart of Asia’s security architecture. 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.

ACN Newswire
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Elastomers develop stronger bonds of attachment

indie
3 minutes

Tsukuba, Japan, Feb 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Elastomers are the soft, elastic materials, like gels and rubbers, that are found in automobile and airplane parts, in sports equipment, and are used to protect precision machinery and buildings against vibrations. Scientists now want to make them thinner and tougher, without losing elasticity. Nagoya University materials engineer Yukikazu Takeoka and colleagues reviewed the most recent efforts towards improving elastomers for the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.Different kinds of bonds can link elastomer chains together, changing how the material behaves. (Credit: Yukikazu Takeoka)"Our review gives hints about the kind of molecular thinking that needs to go into making elastomers tougher," says Takeoka.Elastomers are made of many, long molecular chains of repeating subunits. They can undergo large deformations when stretched, returning to their original shape when the tension is released. They can do this because their molecular chains have enough mobility to stretch and crunch up.Elasticity and overall toughness depends on the interactions between the molecular chains inside the material. Scientists have been wo...

ACN Newswire
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Novamind Announces Strategic Investment in Bionomics to Support PTSD Clinical Trial

indie
4 minutes

TORONTO, Feb 11, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Novamind Inc. (CSE:NM) ("Novamind"), a leading mental health company specialized in psychedelic medicine, is pleased to announce that it has made a strategic investment of AU$827,486 (approximately CAN$810,000, the "Strategic Investment"), in Bionomics Limited ("Bionomics") (ASX:BNO)(OTCQB:BNOEF) (Germany:AU000000BNO5), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing better treatments for central nervous system disorders.In addition, Cedar Clinical Research ("CCR"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Novamind based in Springville, Utah, will be evaluated by Bionomics as a clinical research site to conduct Bionomics' Phase IIb trial examining BNC210. BNC210 has received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).With its investment in Bionomics, Novamind joins a group of well-known investors that specialize in psychedelics and biotech: Apeiron Investments, Biotech Value Fund, Merck & Co., Mike Novogratz, and Peter Thiel, an early investor in ATAI Life Sciences.Novamind's Strategic Investment is included in Bionomics' latest round of financing, which was underw...

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Sri Trang Gloves PCL (SET: STGT) takes serious action to protect employees against new Covid-19 outbreak

pandora
3 minutes

Confident in plan to boost capacity with no labor shortage this year BANGKOK, Feb 9, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL (SET: STGT) enacts protective measures against the new Covid-19 outbreak - infection screening, weekly disinfectant spraying, mask wearing, and social distancing. Foreign workers are required to have work permits and passports. Additionally, Reduced congestion and increased hygienic housing are to be provided for employees to reduce risks. No labor shortages are expected while four new manufacturing plants are scheduled to open this year.Ms. Jarinya Jirojkul, Chief Executive Officer of STGT, a global producer of latex and nitrile gloves, reports that since the outbreak of Covid-19 infections early last year, STGT has put considerable effort into providing safety measures to screen and protect all plant and office employees to assure customers that its premises have strict hygienic measures and are able to continue production uninterrupted.Currently, STGT employs more than 9,000 persons, about 3,000 or 40% of whom are foreign. As a matter of policy and pride, the company provides both foreign and Thai workers a safe working environment and welf...

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Moonstake Wallet To Start Staking Support as the World’s First Validator for Centrality

indie
4 minutes

SINGAPORE, Feb 11, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - In anticipation of Centrality's staking support, Moonstake has successfully launched the world's first CENNZ validator. Moonstake will be the first wallet in the world to support CENNZ staking.Moonstake successfully completed the API connection to CENNZnet and has been preparing for development for staking support. Moonstake's wallet supports holding, sending and receiving CENNZ, Centrality's native token and it will soon provide staking functions. Once staking support is available, Moonstake users will be able to stake through the Moonstake wallet and receive CPAY as staking rewards.Moonstake started in the staking business last year with the aim to create the largest staking network in Asia. Since then, Moonstake has developed the most user-friendly wallets for both Web Wallet and Mobile Wallet (iOS/Android) that are compatible with over 2000 cryptocurrencies. After a full-scale operation launched in August 2020, Moonstake's total staking assets have grown rapidly to reach USD 500 Million in staked assets in 6 months. So far, Moonstake has supported Cosmos, IRISnet, Ontology, Harmony, Tezos, Cardano, Qtum, Polkadot for staking and soon f...

ACN Newswire
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ZALL celebrates the opening of its first overseas Chinese bookstore in Singapore

indie
4 minutes

SINGAPORE, Feb 11, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - ZALL Group, Asia's leading B2B e-commerce group, has officially opened its first overseas all-in-one Chinese bookstore on 8 February 2021 that is situated right in the heart of Orchard Road at Wheelock Place. The bookstore comprises of a cafe, art gallery and craft store, as well as event and outdoor spaces. Aspiring to create an all-in-one lifestyle experience, ZALL Bookstore seeks to create the perfect quintessential conducive environment for like-minded individuals who are passionate about Chinese culture, literature and arts to congregate and interact."Perfect for enthusiasts who are keen to learn more about Chinese culture, ZALL Bookstore creates a completely immersive experience into the world of books," said Yan Ge, spokesperson of ZALL Bookstore. "ZALL Bookstore aims to represent the richness of the Chinese heritage by offering readers an array of books with varied genres, as well as a collaborative setting for our readers to rediscover themselves whilst reading."Serving as a gateway into the world of rich Chinese history and culture, ZALL Bookstore caters to diverse cultural interests and offers a comprehensive curated collection ...

SeaPRwire
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Infected SIA stewardess did not serve passengers on UAE flight; only outside contact was with cleaners during Dubai stopover

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Airlines (SIA) stewardess who tested positive for Covid-19 after a turnaround flight to the United Arab Emirates last month did not serve any passengers on both legs of the trip. But the 41-year-old Singaporean had come into contact with some cleaners during the stopover at Dubai International Airport, said Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, who gave more details of her case on Thursday (Feb 11). The stewardess on the Jan 30 flight was serving business class, which had no passengers, he told reporters at an event to mark the first SIA flight manned by fully vaccinated crew. She did not disembark from the plane, as there was no layover, and was a passenger for the return leg. She had sat with other crew members at the back of the plane in their own area, which had a dedicated toilet. "The rest of the crew who sat with her, they are okay. Only she was infected," Mr Ong said, adding that the authorities are still investigating. The Health Ministry reiterated on Tuesday that it takes a few weeks for individuals to build up immunity against Covid-19 after completing vaccination, and it is possible to get infected just before or after inoculation. The stewardess, w...

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A*Star scientist elected to prestigious US engineering academy based on her work in Singapore

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) senior fellow and head of NanoBio Lab Jackie Y. Ying has become the first scientist to be elected as a member to the prestigious United States National Academy of Engineering (NAE) based on her research in Singapore. Recognised for her contributions in nanotechnology, Professor Ying, an American, is one of only two - among the 106 new American members elected - who are based outside the US, A*Star said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 11). Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. It was no easy feat for Prof Ying to be elected, given that she has been residing outside the US for the past 18 years. Academy membership honours those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering, such as areas of engineering research and education, as well as the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology and making major advancements in traditional engineering fields. The election of new NAE members, which involves many steps, is a year-long process. The final vote for membership, which is done by existing members, takes place in January. NAE was founded in 1964. With ...