Paynet Digital Campus 3.0 breaks records with 24 million cashless transactions

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  • Initiative included 25 people and 5 private institutions
  • Disbursed US$ 231, 000 in 2024 to support school online transaction activities

Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd ( PayNet ), a national payments network and central financial institution provider, has had success with its PayNet Digital Campus 3.0 ( PDC3.0) campaign, which has generated 24 million digital payments across Malaysia’s participating higher education institutions.

The action, involving 30 institutions—25 public colleges and five personal higher education institutions marks a major growth from its forerunner. PayNet stated that it disbursed a total of US$ 231, 000 ( RM1.02 million ) in sponsorship funds to participating universities between August and September 2024 to support digital payment initiatives.

UiTM Cawangan Perak came in first with 66 transactions per capita in the category of public universities ( UA), followed by UiTM Cawangan Sabah and UiTM Cawangan Johor. In the Private Institution ( IPTS ) category, Universiti Teknologi Petronas emerged as the champion, with Asia Pacific University taking second place.

Additionally, student authorities received praise for their creative electronic payment campaigns. In the UA Student Council group, UiTM Cawangan Johor clinched the best position, while Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and UiTM Cawangan Perak placed second and third, both. Universiti Teknologi Petronas led the IPTS Student Council type, followed by Asia Pacific University and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

For surpassing one million purchases during the campaign, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia were given special recognition awards, which show they are extremely committed to promoting the implementation of electronic payments in their school communities.

Farhan Ahmad, party CEO of PayNet,” The extraordinary growth in transactions and participating institutions underscores the strong speed toward Malaysia’s digital change in the learning market.” By supporting digital schools, we are also fostering greater financial inclusion while also preparing students for a modern potential. Empowering learners with modern monetary skills ensures that all learners, regardless of background, you join in and profit from Malaysia’s growing digital economy. At the same time, we are creating safer, more effective learning conditions by reducing rely on money deals”.

PDC3.0 continued the popular” Shark Tank”-inspired file from the past, where student councils presented their adoption campaigns for online payments to get funding. The successful efforts were finally carried out between October and December 2024. PDC3.0 delivered excellent outcomes, with the highest-performing organization recording 1.5 million purchases. The programme achieved a peak transaction rate of 66 transactions per student, while the most cost-efficient campaign reduced costs to just US$ 0.0113 ( RM0.05 ) per transaction.

The program is in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint 2022-2026, which aims to promote a digital payments culture and encourage e-payment implementation. With over one million individuals at higher education institutions, the program serves as a critical catalyst for fostering a” cashless-first” thinking through student council independence.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr Azlinda Azman, producer standard of Higher Education at the Ministry of Higher Education, highlighted the project’s part in Malaysia’s digital transformation. By encouraging a cashless-first tradition, we are even modernizing college ecosystems and training students in key financial literacy and digital skills that will help them prepare for the upcoming economy.

This program supports Malaysia’s devotion to integrating technologies into education, and it is in line with the country’s” Digital Economy Blueprint,” which promotes a society that is empowered by smooth online transactions. I encourage more universities to take advantage of this opportunity and advance our country’s transition toward a digital and online diverse Malaysia, he said during his presentation address.

At the occasion, PayNet even unveiled the third edition of the project, PayNet Digital Campus 4.0 ( PDC4.0), which retains the successful construction of its predecessor. Higher education institutions with scholar populations greater than 3 000 are now eligible for enrollment.

” The Malaysian training sector’s next step in accelerating digital conversion is PayNet Digital Campus 4.0,” says the company’s CEO. By giving universities the support and tools they need to implement digital policies, we are even modernizing campus transactions and creating a generation of online empowered leaders. As we expand this action, we look forward to seeing yet greater advancement from students in driving Malaysia’s development into a completely digital nation”, said Firdaus Ghani, PayNet’s top director, Government Digitalisation Division.

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Malaysia’s digital investments hit record US.7bil in 2024

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  • Working with MIDA and MDEC unwaveringly to reach the 5 % growth target for 2025
  • Data center, cloud equipment account for 77 % of total approved purchases

Strong infrastructure and strategic public-private partnerships have strengthened investor confidence in Malaysia as a leading digital hub.

In a media release the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation ( MDEC ) announced that digital investments hit a record US$ 36.7 billion ( RM163.6 billion ) in 2024, compared to US$ 10.5 billion ( RM46.8 billion ) in 2023. The organization, which is run by the Digital Ministry, attributed the report investments to a stable government and business-friendly policies that strengthened the nation’s status as a provincial tech hub.

Investor assurance in Malaysia as a leading online hub has increased thanks to strong infrastructure and proper public-private collaborations. A friendly regulatory framework and Malaysia’s drive into AI more accelerated growth, attracting high-value world opportunities, said MDEC.

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority ( MIDA ) announced that Malaysia secured RM378.5 billion in approved investments last year, the highest level in the country’s history, which is an 14.9 % increase from the previous record of RM329.5 billion in 2023.

According to Anuar Fariz Fadzil ( pic ), MDEC CEO,” MDEC continues to work closely with MIDA and other government agencies to attract more strategic investments.”

” Malaysia’s active investment environment cultivates strong cooperation among government departments and agencies, ensuring a coordinated effort to drive innovation, online growth and long-term financial prosperity for the nation”, added Anuar.

Foreign investor confidence in Malaysia’s digital sector remains strong, with substantial foreign direct investments ( FDI) inflows with the top five FDI coming from Singapore ( RM57 billion ), the United States ( RM23 billion ), China ( RM12 billion ), Australia ( RM2.6 billion ) and India ( RM2 billion ).

However, local direct investments ( DDI) continue to rise, with MDEC playing a key role through tactical initiatives and programs. The top five states by MD companies ‘ inflows were recorded in the Klang Valley ( RM136 billion ), Johor ( RM22 billion ), Penang ( RM3 billion ), Sabah ( RM423 million ) and Sarawak ( RM280 million ), reflecting a nationwide push for digitalisation and economic expansion beyond central regions.

[Ed: Note  that the majority of the DDI purchases made by Malaysian Digital businesses are from foreign company subsidiaries with MD position.

In 2024, 76.8 % of all digital investments were approved, a sharp increase from 55.5 % in 2023, making up 76.8 % of those investments. &nbsp,

]Ed: Notice that when it comes to FDI, approved investments announced do not always understand the real expense made&nbsp, as these investment figures&nbsp, are made based on projections of potential growth&nbsp, and business conditions may change, thus affecting the eventual investments made. In some circumstances, the actual purchases made may be more than the stated images.

The formation of a dedicated Data Center Task Force, led by MITI Minister Zafrul Aziz and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, will help the company advance deeper while maintaining a healthy balance between growth and economic role.

” MDEC will work closely with MIDA to achieve the 5 % investment growth target in 2025,” said Anuar,” stretched in maintaining this strong investment momentum.”

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DeepSeek is now the brain of Chinese state-owned firms – Asia Times

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Major state-owned enterprises ( SOEs ) in China have connected to DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence model after the central government launched an” AI ” program to call for boosting efficiency.

According to Xinhua, at least 20 of the main government’s businesses have integrated DeepSeek into their businesses. These firms are engaged in the energy, telecom, automobile, economic and construction companies. &nbsp,

In the energy and chemical sectors, Sinopec, PetroChina, CNOOC, Sinochem, China National Nuclear Power Co, China General Nuclear Power Group, China Southern Power Grid and China Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Corp ( PipeChina ) said they have already linked their AI models to DeepSeek-R1, which was launched on January 20.

” With DeepSeek and other large language models ( LLMs), PipeChina’s oil and gas control centers can set up their production plans within minutes instead of four hours”, Xu Kun, deputy general manager of Beijing Zhiwang Digital Technology Company, a unit of PipeChiona, told the China Central TV in an interview. They can increase AI models ‘ accuracy by 10 %, they say.

LLMs refer to artificial intelligence ( AI ) that can process natural language processing ( NLP ) or understand human language. &nbsp, &nbsp,

In addition, PipeChina you use DeepSeek to shorten the time it takes to build sugar caverns for gas storage by tens of days, according to Xu. &nbsp,

PipeChina, controlled by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission ( SASAC ) of the State Council, is the construction contractor for the China–Russia East-Route Natural Gas Pipeline, or the Power of Siberia. 38 billion square feet of natural gas are transported each year from Russia’s northeast Siberia to northern China through the network.

Beijing Zhiwang Digital Technology was established by PipeChina in 2022 to digitalize its activities.

Last December, PipeChina launched its” Pipeline Network” AI type using Huawei Cloud. It claimed to have used the concept in 80 more applications and had deployed it in more than 20 of those scenarios.

Beijing’s prepare

On February 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping met business officials at a&nbsp, conference in Beijing. These firm heads included Huawei Technologies ‘ Ren Zhengfei, Alibaba’s Jack Ma, Tencent’s Pony Ma, DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng and Unitree’s Wang Xingxing.

To discuss the outcomes of their AI growth and establish a course of action, the SASAC convened with a group of core SOEs on February 19. SOEs refer to all state-owned companies controlled by the central and local governments, while key SOEs are those owned by the central state.

Central SOEs may make the most of the time’s corporate window to grow the AI industry. They should strengthen LLMs, focus on applying core technologies, develop an empty ecosystem, develop unique innovations’ from 0 to 1′ and commercialize medical achievements”, the meeting said.

The central government should put forth more efforts to encourage the use of AI technology by Central SOEs, highlight the development of AI technology in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan ( 2026-2030 ), and encourage the establishment of more renowned AI start-ups and startups, according to it.

” Artificial competition is all about information level and value”, Zhou Lisa, a scientist at the China Enterprise Reform and Development Society, a study unit of SASAC, told Xinhua. ” Central SOEs have substantial data resources, so they can use DeepSeek to share and marketize their data” .&nbsp,

” Some SOEs in the energy field have already used AI to promote intelligent change. Connecting with DeepSeek may allow them to provide even more remedies”, she said.

She cited examples of how Sinochem used DeepSeek’s capabilities to analyze complex knowledge, logical reasoning, and open-domain expertise to address the requirements of various company scenarios, and how China Southern Power Grid upgraded its AI type called Big Watt to gather information about facility damages. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Challenges

In the last few decades, China has been creating AI designs for business use.

In May last month, China Mobile launched its Jiutian AI unit, which has expert knowledge in 15 industries, including telecommunications, energy technology, logistics, energy, metal, construction, transportation and aviation. It said it would tailor-make AI designs for 40 more business. &nbsp,

In July, China Telecom launched a relational AI type called TeleChat2, which is great at picture editing and graphic design. The organization said TeleChat2, which understands unique Chinese dialects, can be commonly used in people companies across different towns. &nbsp,

However, problems remained when Taiwanese firms tried integrating their Internet-of-Things and AI technology.

China Southern Power Grid’s AI professional Dong Zhaojie claimed in June 2024 that the company used drones to inspect its electricity distribution wires and that it had taken over ten thousand pictures of broken pins on them.

He claimed that the AI model would be able to tell the split pins that had split infected from the pictures, but it was not. According to him, engineers were finally required to visit the sites to gather data and instruct the AI model that there might be 500 different types of split pin damage.

He said that once the AI model started working, the company saved about 10 million yuan ( US$ 1.37 million ) in annual expenses for finding damaged split pins.

A Jiangsu-based commentator named Qianqian warns that AI could replace tens of millions of Chinese jobs, from factory workers and deliverers to medical professionals and civil servants, while state media praise China’s advancement in AI technologies. She advises people to continue to acquire new skills in order to keep their jobs.

The Asia Times has Yong Jian as a contributor. He is a Chinese journalist who specializes in Chinese technology, economy and politics. &nbsp,

Read: China integrates everything into its nationwide plan for DeepSeek.

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inDrive partners with Fingular, launches its first APAC fintech service in Indonesia

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  • Driver have access to up to US$ 607, 500 funded by Ammana
  • Direct drivers to cover immediate expenses like automobile repairs &amp, everyday necessities

inDrive, a global mobility and industrial services system, in strategic cooperation with Fingular, a Singapore-based global economic group, and Indonesian licensed halal peer-to-peer lending platform Ammana, has launched inDrive. Cash in Indonesia, a monetary service designed to support vehicles. Through the inDrive app, drivers can access cash funding of up to US$ 607, 500 ( RM2.7 million ), funded by Ammana, and repay it seamlessly through their rides.

InDrive’s first APAC market to offer this economic solution, which helps drivers pay for urgent expenses like car repairs and routine necessities, is after effective launches in Mexico and Colombia.

Indonesian drivers make no exceptions when it comes to Gig workers ‘ access to financial services. Traditional financial institutions frequently require income verification, which makes it challenging for gig workers to safe funding and requiring them to rely on other lenders with large commissions.

To solve this gap, inDrive and Fingular, focused on financial inclusion and improving the quality of life for the fiscally underprivileged, present a general, robust technology that delivers good and open financial services. Drivers are immediately able to access funds for immediate expenses thanks to the solution, which is integrated directly into the inDrive software.

Payments are deducted per walk at a 10–15 % commission, with a three- to five-month payment period and personalised monthly payment. Leveraging a generation of practice with its driver habitat, inDrive uses ride frequency, monthly income, and other important data points to examine drivers ‘ creditworthiness, allowing its partners to offer fairer funding terms.

” We’ve already disrupted the ride-hailing industry by introducing a people-centric pricing model, allowing passengers and drivers to negotiate fares instead of relying on opaque algorithms”, said Mark Loughran, group president at inDrive. We are now addressing a similar injustice in the financial services sector, where gig workers frequently are exempt due to outdated credit scoring systems that do not meet their needs.

Strong demand was identified from an early marketing survey of inDrive drivers, with 80 % of drivers expressing interest in the sector-tailored financial product after receiving promotional offers.

The pilot phase of inDrive. Late in 2024, partners began receiving funding to fine tune Fingular’s embedded financing technology and refine product parameters based on local drivers ‘ needs. After a gradual rollout in major cities, the service is now available in Pematangsiantar, Purwakarta, Sukabumi, Makassar, Ternate, Garut, Bali Island, Palembang, Bukittinggi, Surabaya, Bandung, and Jakarta.

Drivers who received funding reported higher engagement and retention, sharing overwhelmingly positive feedback, and using the service as a lifeline when there were unexpected expenses to keep driving without interruptions.

” We are excited to support inDrive in our common mission to challenge financial injustice by offering the most accessible, transparent, and people-centric financial technologies and services”, said Maxim Chernuschenko, CEO of Fingular.

” This strategic partnership is not just about achieving immediate financial goals but reflects a long-term vision for the financial future—where justice, innovation, and customer satisfaction drive every decision”, added Vadim Gurinov, a Cypriot investor and strategic backer of Fingular.

Beyond this initiative, Indonesia remains a key strategic market for inDrive. The business sees strong growth potential in urban and ride-hailing services, and it intends to expand its offerings in the nation.

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China’s AI boom bigger than just DeepSeek – Asia Times

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A family of extremely efficient and fiercely competitive AI models was released last month by a small Chinese artificial intelligence ( AI ) company called DeepSeek, which shocked the world’s tech community. The launch revealed China’s growing modern skills. Additionally, it demonstrated a distinct Foreign perspective on the development of AI.

This strategy is characterised by proper investment, useful innovation and cautious regulatory oversight. And it’s obvious throughout China’s broader AI scenery, of which DeepSeek is just one person.

In fact, the state has a great habitat of AI businesses.

They may not be as well-known as another Artificial companies like DeepSeek, OpenAI, and Anthropic, as they are not. Each has carved out a distinct niche and is assisting in the development of this quickly evolving systems, though.

Tech companies and companies

The companies of China’s tech industry include Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent. All of these businesses are making significant investments in AI creation.

Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu earlier this month said the multibillion-dollar business plans to “aggressively commit” in its pursuit of developing AI that is equal to, or more sophisticated than, human knowledge.

The business is now collaborating with Apple to include its existing AI systems into Chinese smartphones. ( Outside China, iPhones offer similar integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. )

But a new era of smaller, specialized Artificial companies has also emerged.

For instance, Shanghai-listed Cambricon Technologies focuses on AI device creation. Healthcare and intelligent town applications are the areas of focus for Yuitu Technology.

While iFLYTEK develops voice recognition technology, Megvii Technology and CloudWalk Technology have carved out niches in photo identification and computer perspective.

Orange company sign on the facade of a glass building.
Alibaba, a multibillion dollar Chinese technology firm, intends to make significant investments in AI tests. Image: Stock via The Chat

Modern pathways to victory

Despite United States ‘ device sanctions and China’s restricted data setting, these Chinese AI firms have found roads to success.

Big language models have been trained by US businesses using the open online, such as OpenAI. However, Chinese businesses have used sizable data from regional platforms like Weibo, Weibo, and Zhihu. They even use government-authorized information sources.

Some Chinese AI firms also embrace open-source creation. This entails publishing detailed technical documents and releasing their models for others to use as inspiration. Instead of utilizing natural computing power, this approach places an emphasis on effectiveness and practical application.

The end result is a decidedly Chinese technique to AI.

Interestingly, China’s state assistance for AI development has also been significant. Besides the central state, local and provincial governments have provided huge money through opportunity funds, incentives and tax incentives.

In recent years, China has established at least 48 information markets across various cities. These are certified marketplaces where AI companies may purchase sizable datasets in a controlled environment.

By 2028, China even plans to establish more than 100″ trusted data spots”.

These are safe, compliant environments that aim to regulate files exchanges across sectors and regions. A complete national data marketplace with access to and use of various data within a controlled platform will be built on top of them.

Solid learning push

The expansion of the AI sector in China is also attributed to a significant force for AI education. In 2018, China’s Ministry of Education launched an action strategy for accelerating AI technology in institutions.

According to publicly available information, 535 institutes have established AI academic majors, and 43 specialized AI schools and studies institutes have been established since 2017. ( In contrast, there are at least 14 colleges and universities in the US offering formal AI undergraduate degrees. )

Collectively, these institutions are building an AI skills network in China. Beijing’s goal of leading the world Artificial innovation market by 2030 is crucial to accomplishing this.

China’s AI technique combines considerable state support with focused regulation. Authorities have developed a focused approach to managing AI risks rather than imposing cover settings.

The 2023 rules on conceptual AI are particularly concealing of Beijing’s strategy.

They impose content-related standards on conceptual AI services that are accessible to the public, such as ensuring that all created and delivered material adheres to fundamental socialist principles and respects intellectual property rights.

These responsibilities, but, exclude conceptual AI used for business, research and development. This allows for some unlimited technology.

A hedge-lined entrance to a university campus.
There are 43 specialised AI research institutes and universities in China, including Renmin University in Beijing. Image: humphery/Shutterstock via The Talk

China and the US dominate the global AI environment. However, there are several important people emerging somewhere.

For instance, France’s Mistral AI has raised over 1 billion dollars to time to build huge language versions. In contrast, OpenAI raised US$ 6.6 billion in a new funding round and is in talks to raise a deeper US$ 40 billion.

Other Western companies are focused on specific applications, particular industries or regional markets. For instance, Germany’s Aleph Alpha offers an Artificial tool that allows businesses to personalize third-party designs for their own purposes

Wayve is creating automatic driving AI systems in the United Kingdom, while Graphcore is producing AI cards.

Challenging regular intelligence

DeepSeek’s discovery last month demonstrated that a billion dollar budget and massive computing infrastructure aren’t usually necessary for the successful development of AI.

For those invested in the humankind’s potential, companies that achieve DeepSeek-level efficiency could considerably influence the path of AI advancement.

While remaining within communities dominated by American and Chinese benefits in expertise, data, and investment, we may see a global environment where modern AI companies from other countries can make strides.

Who will rule the race may not be the only factor in shaping AI’s coming. Alternatively, it may be determined by how various strategies shape the technology’s growth.

China’s type provides valuable training for other nations looking to expand their AI abilities while managing certain dangers.

Mimi Zou is doctor, School of Personal &amp, Commercial Law, UNSW Sydney

This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

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Enter the Upin & Ipin Universe for global gamers

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The open-world Upi & Ipin Universe will launch this year.

Leading South Asian animation studio Les ‘ Copaque Production Sdn Bhd, the creators of the globally acclaimed Upin &;, made a pioneering move for the South Eastern entertainment and gambling sectors. Ipin company, has commissioned Streamline Studios, a wholly owned system of US business, Streamline Media Group, to create the Upin & Ipin system activity. Les ‘ Copaque and Streamline Media Group have therefore agreed to form a partnership to simultaneously submit Upin & Ipin Universe.

Upin & The second open-world unit and PC game to feature the precious twins is Ipin Universe. Built in False Engine 5, it offers a magnificent next-generation experience. Launching in 2025, Upin & An optimistic open-world game called Ipin Universe may appeal to gamers around the world with its beauty and ferocity.

With Upin & The company has captivated audiences across the globe and is featured on major streaming services like Netflix, Disney , and Amazon Prime, and has gained enormous popularity in Southeast Asia, specially in Malaysia and Indonesia. This agreement marks a ground-breaking development, extending the franchise’s scope beyond traditional media and licensing to the cutting-edge interactive entertainment market.

“For times, Upin & Ipin has been about celebrating family, friendship, and community, ” said Burhanuddin Md Radzi, Managing Director of Les ’ Copaque. Viewers will have a chance to interact with Upin and Ipin’s globe like never before thanks to our relationship with Streamline Media Group. ”

We are thrilled to work with Les Copaque Production to deliver Upin &;; &;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Ipin into the international gaming light,” said Alexander Fernandez, CEO of Streamline Studios and Streamline Media Group. We saw this as an opportunity to develop the company into a fully realized open-world experience that offered the depth and soaking players had come to expect from a superior system and PC game. By merging Les ’ Copaque’s rich storytelling with our expertise in world-class game development, Upin & For both the company and South Asian content as a whole, Ipin Universe will be a transformative project. ”

Discover the miracle of kampung lifestyle: A villager’s adventure

In Malaysia ,’kampung ‘ refers to a village—a way of life steeped in tradition, community, and warmth. Developed in Malaysia, Upin & Ipin Universe is a gift to Southeast Asian town life, inviting people to discover its scenery, stories, and customs, crafted by creators who grew up immersed in this society.

Add the growing anticipation for Upin &; Ipin Universe. the web for the game, and

conflict are now exist, featuring unique idea art, behind-the-scenes updates, and a blueprint of what’s to occur. Follow# UpinIpin Universe and take part in the adventure! Stay tuned for big reveal announcements and community events! “

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Chinese dating simulator Love and Deepspace now has period tracker – Asia Times

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24/7 compassion. Spend time with him whenever you like.

This is the claim made by Love and Deepspace, a smart relationship activity by the Chinese firm Papergames.

Some think movie matches are all weapons and cars, but romantic activities or “dating simulators” are hugely popular, especially among young women.

In January, Love and Deepspace had 50 million people spread out over 170 nations and regions. Despite their acceptance, dating apps, as they are known for quick, often fly under the sensor in discussions about games.

However, a new major release for Love and Deepspace has furrowed some brows by introducing an unusual fresh element: a period tracker.

Have help keeping track of things?

Dating sim offer a dream of intimate, romantic companionship. Uncontested game ( from the term “maiden” in Chinese ) are a sub-genre of dating simulators that are catered to people. They offer a collection of companions to choose from – each attentive, caring and, of course, very attractive.

Perfect in every manner except for their being mythical.

Love and Deepspace is a science-fiction otome game that stands out for its unusual combination of combat, magic, dating, and gacha ( meaning random rewards ) microtransactions, which are content because of their parallels to gambling.

Players may ask their online boyfriends to remind them of their regular obligations and special occasions, as well as their upcoming period, with the latest update including a Remind Me feature. People provide their reproductive cycle information, and the match creates its own forecast calendar and notifications.

The player’s in-game boyfriend may offer to pick up some hygiene items or perhaps reach toward the screen and give an imagined abdomen massage.

Millions of people are drawn to a story about attentive men, which speaks volumes about the issues ladies have with contemporary dating and dating apps.

Women are aware of the traditional gender roles in uncontested video games, but they also enjoy their attention to the adult gaze and the ability to express their sexual desires in private.

In China, where uncontested games are particularly popular, repression of explicit information for people has intensified. These video games can communicate sexually suggestive ideas without the use of repression.

Promotional material from Papergames showcasing the Quality Time feature.
‘ Feel his deepening mouth, rising rhythm, and the flow of breath. He’s working out together with you!’ Love and Deepspace/X

Uncontested activities are not recent.

Uncontested sports have been around for three years.

Angelique, a match made by an all-women staff in 1994, is considered to be the first. As evidenced by the rising popularity of “boyfriend ASMR” on today’s audio and video systems, it helped set the stage for another partner story press for ladies. These are intended to speak directly to the speaker in both regular and sensual situations.

Since then, video games have changed a bit, especially as wireless devices have become more intimate and frequently accompany us wherever we go.

Love and Deepspace is adding” Quality Time,” which rewards people who work or study while the game is open, to its roster. A voice-over animated person whispers into the person’s headphones while he receives the rewards.

Intervals and private

Although they do not include the typical reproduction time forecasting or the ability to record symptoms and physical activity, Love and Deepspace’s period reminders are comparable to existing period tracker apps. That’s definitely a good thing.

Period tracker programs have been accused of stealing people ‘ files. Popular period monitor application Flo has been sued by the British Columbia Supreme Court in Canada for giving personalized information to third-party tech companies, including Facebook and Google, who use the information for targeted marketing.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in the US has posed a risk to some people’s physical autonomy and raised questions about the legal risks of sharing personal natural information.

Any menstrual data is only used for the projection and recall features, according to Like and Deepspace’s protection plan, and it will not be shared with any third parties without the person’s acceptance.

Fears of foreign influence and data privacy led to the US ban on the Chinese-owned TikTok platform. However, a US company might not be more secure for our privacy than a Chinese one.

Similar to the sale of sensitive information to third parties, such as location data for gay clubs and abortion clinics, US-owned businesses have been.

Australia’s Privacy Act does not just apply to Australian companies. If it infringes on its privacy policy, videogames may be punished.

However, it’s unlikely that many users will be aware of the policy or read any subsequent updates made to it. When entering any kind of personal information into platforms, apps, or video games, it is best to always use caution.

A potential shift

Period monitoring is not a fundamental element of the game. However, this new feature points to a potential trend toward more mobile games incorporating well-known app features, like health data.

Mobile games like Love and Deepspace are vying for players ‘ attention over other apps rather than a casual time-filler, which is concerning given the controversial gacha random rewards.

Additionally, it’s possible that the game’s designers are starting to care more about their partners ‘ menstrual histories.

Stephanie Harkin is a lecturer on games at the School of Design, RMIT University.

This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Ficus Capital leads the charge into Web3 with investment in Morpheus Labs

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  • Expanding into Malaysia and Indonesia will be fueled by cash.
  • Additionally, Startup Five Investment participated in the pre-agreement as an beginning trader.

Ficus Capital, an ESG-compliant Islamic venture capital firm, has announced a strategic investment of US$ 430,000 ( RM1. 9 million ) in Morpheus Labs, a Singapore-based AI-powered Web3 implementation program, as part of its Pre-A money square.

This expense, made through Ficus’s premier Ficus SEA Fund, aims to support Morpheus Labs in simplifying bitcoin execution, enabling businesses and developers to create, deploy, and control decentralised applications more quickly. By reducing time-to-market and streamlining processes, Morpheus Labs is driving development in the Web3 place.

According to Custom Market Insights, the world Web3 market is projected to grow from US$ 4. 8 billion ( RM21 billion ) in 2021 to US$ 69 billion ( RM30 billion ) by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate ( CAGR ) of 68 %, underscoring the rapid expansion and opportunities in this sector.

Rina Neoh, managing partner of Ficus Capital, said: “Our funding in Morpheus Labs reflects our opinion in the transformative potential of Web3 and our trust in the business ’s ability to lead this trend. Their extensive software and ecosystem-first approach align with our vision of fostering green, flexible, and effective industrial solutions. ”

Morpheus Labs is an award-winning head in the Web3 room, offering an AI-powered software that simplifies Web3 deployment for firms and designers. Its essential features include:

  • Smart Contract Studio, which makes it simple to use AI to create intelligent deals.
  • Workflow Studio, a drag-and-drop resource for integrating Web3 capabilities into existing systems.
  • In order to speed up the creation of decentralized applications (dApps ), Web Studio ( UI/UX) offers customisable templates.

Pei-Han Chuang ( pic ), founder and CEO of Morpheus Labs, said: “Ficus’s investment is pivotal in fuelling our growth and expanding our capabilities in the Web3 space. With their help, we are also expanding into important markets like Malaysia and Indonesia, where a fresh, tech-savvy community is driving online implementation.

“Ficus Capital’s responsibility as an ESG-i VC aligns completely with our objective to encourage decentralisation and diversity. As we strive to provide visible and sustainable bitcoin answers, their emphasis on Shariah-compliant ESG investing is in sync with our principles. Additionally, Ficus’s involvement in this round enhances our access to the Malaysian market and its growing technology ecosystem, ” he added.

In addition to Ficus Capital’s purchase, Startup Five Investment, a store account and part of AVA Angels specialising in electronic change, ESG, and Web3 investments, has even joined the Pre-A round as an early investor, following Ficus’s lead. Chuang is investing alongside both firms, reinforcing confidence—both internal and external—in Morpheus Labs ’ potential to transform Web3 development.

Jeffery Yang, managing partner at Startup Five Investment, said: “We are excited to support Morpheus Labs as they shape the future of Web3 technology. Their platform’s cutting-edge features and seamless integration align perfectly with our investment strategy, and we believe this partnership will drive significant innovation in the Web3 ecosystem.

In addition, we are pleased to make an investment in Ficus Capital, a reputable venture capital firm in the ESG and Shariah-compliant space, furthering our shared commitment to supporting sustainable and impactful technologies. ”

With this strategic investment, Morpheus Labs is poised to accelerate its growth and innovation. It has already secured a key collaboration with Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, to pioneer new Web3 experiences for users and content creators. By leveraging blockchain technology, this partnership aims to enhance content monetisation, digital rights management, and user engagement across media platforms.

We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, Chuang continued. Together, we can unlock new potentials in the Web3 space, expanding our platform’s scope and accelerating blockchain adoption in the entertainment industry.

“With our AI-powered platform, we are empowering businesses to build and scale blockchain solutions more efficiently. This collaboration marks a significant step in the direction of redefining digital experiences for users and creators all over the world. ”

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Cloudflare appoints Goran Risticevic as vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific

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  • Over 20 times of strong and stream sales experience
  • Visited Cloudflare in Nov 2022, growing APAC’s consumer success group

Cloudflare, Inc., a leading connectivity cloud company, has appointed Goran Risticevic ( pic ) as vice president and managing director for Asia Pacific ( APAC ). He brings 20 years of experience in strong and network sales, as well as service, having worked at AWS, IBM, and NetApp. Since joining Cloudflare in November 2022, Risticevic has been expanding the User Success and Services group in the area. He is based in Sydney, Australia.

In 2010, shortly after launching, Cloudflare expanded its channel into Tokyo after almost 15 years of investment in APAC. Now, its global network spans more than 335 locations across 125 states, including 111 places in Asia Pacific.

” Asia Pacific is home to over 4.5 billion people—more than half the world population—and 66 % of them are online. It hosts some of the fastest-growing economies and is a gateway of technology, driving advancements in industries such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, and e-commerce, all of which require strong, smooth, and highly stable internet connectivity. With Risticevic’s authority, I am assured we will continue to help our customers remain protected and connected with people worldwide”, said Mark Anderson, president of earnings at Cloudflare.

Every day, millions of online challenges are blocked by Cloudflare. In Q4 2024 only, it blocked an average of 227 billion digital risks per day worldwide. According to Cloudflare’s Asia Pacific Cybersecurity Readiness Survey 2024, 47 % of respondents experienced more than 10 data breaches in 12 months, with 87 % indicating that AI has contributed to more frequent or sophisticated attacks.

” Asia Pacific’s growth prospects are incredible, fueled by quick business growth and an expanding website business. Nevertheless, this growth comes with significant cybersecurity challenges, as businesses may defend vast amounts of data, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats—all while striving for innovation and expansion. I’m excited to work with our partners to help our customers navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving threat landscape and lead a diverse team,” Risticevic said.

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ICAEW partners SC to strengthen expertise in sustainability disclosures

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  • Concentrate on capacity-building &amp, conservation credentials programmes.
  • Emphasis on officials ‘ roles in conservation policy and practice, and customer involvement

(From left) Neetasha Rauf, chief sustainability officer, Securities Commission Malaysia; Alex Ooi Thiam Poh, executive director and head, Audit Oversight, Securities Commission Malaysia; Azalina Adham, managing director, Securities Commission Malaysia; Dr. Ernest Kan, ICAEW council member for Southeast Asia; Mohammad Faiz Azmi, executive chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia; Alan Vallance, chief executive, ICAEW; Shenola Gonzales, head of Malaysia, ICAEW; Zain Azhari Mazlan, executive director, Corporate Finance & Investments, Securities Commission Malaysia; Khairul Ridzwan Abdul Kuddus, general manager, International Affairs, Securities Commission Malaysia; at the signing ceremony on collaboration between Securities Commission Malaysia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

A collaboration between the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales ( ICAEW ) and the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC ) aims to increase knowledge of sustainability disclosures. This collaboration focuses on capacity-building through professional training on climate-related economic disclosures and conservation certifications.

This partnership coincides with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, which emphasizes equality and conservation.

As part of this initiative, ICAEW conducted a factory at the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) Chairs Meeting in Penang. The workshop covered important topics like the impact of global climate regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive ( CSRD ) and the IFRS S1 and S2 standards for climate and sustainability disclosures.

Continue reading at https ://oursustainabilitymatters.com/icaew-partners-sc-to-strengthen-expertise-in-sustainability-disclosures / for the full article as DNA is transitioning our sustainability coverage to a standalone news site.

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