The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) announced on Tuesday ( Jun 25 ) that President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong have written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to congratulate him on winning the re-election. Mr. Tharman extended his sincere thanks to the Singaporean people in a letterContinue Reading
Indonesia’s largest economy is hampered by the difficult administrative procedures involved in organizing activities, especially those for concerts, according to President Joko Widodo.  ,
He cited the case of music singer Taylor Swift, for example, who performed her songs in Singapore rather than Indonesia.  ,
Why does Singapore manage to number these occasions consistently? At the launch of a digital licensing service event in Jakarta on Monday ( Jun 24 ), Mr. Widodo was quoted as saying by CNN Indonesia as saying that their effective service had helped them attract these artistes.
Taylor Swift’s” The Eras Tour” ended in Singapore earlier this year, with six sold-out shows taking place between March 2 through March 4 and March 7 through March 9. The news broke in the internet that Singapore and Swift had agreed to make the Republic her only South Asian stop on her global journey.  ,
According to Mr Widodo, a large percentage of Swift’s crowd in Singapore comprised Citizens, referencing Spotify data that shows 2.2 million Citizens are viewers of the artiste.  ,
He added that a significant factor is the government’s complete support from Singapore in facilitating access and ensuring protection for international activities.
” I asked the ( local ) organisers, and they said our licensing process is too complicated”, said Mr Widodo.  ,
He further cited the yearly Mandalika Moto GP celebration held in West Nusa Tenggara as an example of Indonesia’s bulky licensing system, which is a major barrier to attracting more global activities.  ,
According to Mr. Widodo, the event’s organizers needed 13 various grants and recommendation letters to hold the event.  ,
Mr. Widodo described the economic impact of losing out on organizing internationally renowned events as saying that money is flowing from Indonesia to Singapore, which has left his nation with a financial loss.
” So there was money discharge, as Indonesia’s wealth went to Singapore. Not only were we losing money on music tickets, but also. But we were even losing money as people spent their money on accommodations, transportation, food, and drink”, he said, according to a record by The Jakarta Globe.
Economists estimated that Swift’s concert could contribute up to S$ 500 million ( US$ 369 million ) in tourism revenue for Singapore’s economy.  ,
Mr. Widodo claimed that a situation that was almost identical occurred when Singapore hosted the British stone group Coldplay for six times in January. The group just performed one night in Jakarta next November at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium as part of its Music Of the Spheres earth trip next month.  ,
Mr. Widodo stressed the need for Indonesia to reduce its licensing program in order to make it more affordable for organisers to hold events involving unusual artists, in the hope that the process will be simplified in the future.  ,
” With the impending automation of permits, I hope it will not only get a web company but really provide ease of control, advance certainty, lower bureaucracy, and lead to lower costs while being more receptive and transparent”, he said.
As a software partner, Gentari Sdn Bhd, a company of Malaysia’s Petronas Group, is working with Virta, a leading Volt charging company solution provider, to increase the EV charging network throughout Southeast Asia.  ,
In a statement, the clean electricity solutions company said that through its conglomerate Gentari Green Mobility Sdn Bhd, it will utilize Virta’s digital app services, technology, and industry knowledge to help the rollout and function of EV charging system.
The lovers will also collaborate with third-party organizations to make it possible for EV charging to be interoperable in the area.
Gentari announced it is deploying technologically advanced EV charging companies throughout the area through its clean energy system – Gentari Go in line with its long-term goal to get Asia Pacific’s leading lover for efficient accessibility options. Gentari Go, which was introduced in Malaysia in February 2024, also provides access to batteries in Thailand and Singapore, strengthening Gentari’s status as a market leader in high-powered strong current paying.  ,
More than 2,400 charging items are now operational in the three states, according to the company, and Gentari Go will add another 2, 000 charging details by the end of 2024.
Elias Pöyry, co-founder and key business development officer of Virta, stated that” this collaboration has a great ability to get the speed of the energy transition in Southeast Asia. In just a year and a half, Genetari Green Mobility has grown from its inception to a leading marketplace person in e-mobility, and we are pleased to support this progress with our market-tested end-to-end global EV charging solutions and expertise, including regionally in Singapore, Thailand, and Australia.
He added that the company’s customers and partners will gain from its ecosystemic approach, which” Powered by Virta” ( Powered by Virta ), which will speed up EV penetration throughout the entire region.
” I’m convinced that Gentari is well-positioned to lead the East Asian business.” We now have a sizable presence in the area and a thorough understanding of the needs of the local business and consumer objectives. We see this engagement as essential in carrying out our plans with the best speed and scale, according to Shah Yang Razalli, assistant CEO of Gentari and CEO of Gentari Green Mobility, recognising the value of partnering with a company that has international standards and business experience.
Virta, the leading European EV charging platform, brings its ten- year track record in EV charging services to the partnership, having enabled over 1, 000 charging networks to manage their charging business on Virta’s platform in 36 countries, including the most mature EV markets in Europe. Since 2022, Virtu has also established itself in Southeast Asia.
As Southeast Asia and Oceania increase in EV penetration, there is an increasing need for robust charging infrastructure right now. Additionally, several countries in the region are already showing double-digit EV share in new car sales.
The firms anticipate that the region’s market will grow much more quickly than the US and EU have so far because there are already a lot of EVs on the market thanks to local and Chinese EV manufacturers making affordable models to meet demand.
A strategic partnership between Sunway Group and the European Union delegation in Malaysia ( EUD) aims to advance joint sustainability initiatives. According to Sunway’s speech, this engagement between Southeast Asia’s largest trading bloc and the world’s largest conglomerate demonstrates their shared commitment to achieving a web zero potential.
Ambitious behavior on conservation are required in order to meet the urgent challenges that climate change poses. Through this agreement, Sunway and the EUD commitment to encourage a sustainable and greener coming by pooling their strengths, knowledge, money, and engaging in creative initiatives.
The European Union’s a. document. Timo Goosmann, a. d. e., drew attention to Malaysia by partnering with Sunway Group to increase awareness of green practices. The EU has exerted great effort to make economic conservation a common goal. It has adopted the Western Climate Law, which states that by 2050, all of Europe’s economies and societies must be climate natural.
Ong Pang Yen, senior director of Sunway Group’s president’s office, said,” This agreement reflects the nature and significance of UN-SDG 17, Partnership for the Objectives. Working together with the EU and its member states to achieve as many of the UN’s SDGs as possible here in Malaysia and throughout the area, is a priority for us.
At a signing ceremony held in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur on April 18, 2018, Ambassador of Belgium in Malaysia assistant mind of Mission Pierrick Massaux and Sunway Group CEO Evan Cheah witnessed the signing of the letter of intent.
In Malaysia, the EU works with various local organizations to promote sustainable practices like conservation of wildlife and intelligent cities. In addition, Sunway has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has implemented cutting-edge carbon reduction initiatives across its various business groups as well as a first-of-its-kind natural lease agreement program among residents and lessors through its Real Estate Investment Trust shoulder.
Sunway is kicking off the Desa Mentari Community Observatory project this year, which uses a data-driven, systematic approach to improve the quality of life for Subang Jaya’s people housing project’s almost 30 000 residents.
In what is believed to be the largest funding round closed by an earned- wage access ( EWA ) startup in Southeast Asia, Malaysian headquartered startup, Paywatch, has raised US$ 30 million ( RM141 million ) in funding from a mix of equity and credit facilities to supercharge growth.
With the help of new investors Octagon Venture Partners and Wooshin Venture Investment Corp., Paywatch received over US$ 14 million ( RM65 million ) in Series A equity funding led by Third Prime and a consortium of US investors, including Vanderbilt University and the University of Illinois Foundation. Additionally, it secured payment services worth US$ 16 million from big banks, including Citi and other big banks, at global locations.
]RM1 = US$ 0.212]
” We take great pride in the assurance these reputable investors and banks have in our vision in the midst of this money and tech winter. We were firmly convinced from the beginning that ensuring accessibility to major financial institutions and offering Received Wage Access at the lowest, minimum payment was the best course of action. Our rapid expansion and collection of high-caliber business customers validate our approach, even though it was a more difficult way to market, according to Alex Kim, president and co-founder of Paywatch, who co-founded the business in South Korea in 2020 with his nephew Richard Kim.
An ESG individual gain
Employees can access a portion of their accumulated earnings in real-time as it is earned, as well as before the conclusion of their pay cycle, thanks to Paywatch’s debt-free EWA solution, also known as on-demand pay, an impressive employee benefit.
Paywatch’s remedy has clearly decreased employees ‘ dependency on loans, alleviated home debt and enhanced fiscal management. Together, Paywatch’s smooth, fully automated program has greatly boosted businesses ‘ employee retention and efficiency, resulting in significant cost savings associated with hiring and training.
Paywatch has partnered and collaborated with a few Malaysian brands and institutions such as Lotus, Jaya Grocer, QSR Brands ( including KFC and Pizza Hut ), FFM Bhd, PayNet, Shopper360, Guardian ( part of DFI Group ), Corus Hotel ( under MUI Group ), Llao Llao ( by Woodpeckers ), Coway, Media Prima, University of Nottingham Malaysia, UNITAR and Durioo.
It claims that these partnerships show how committed it is to offering a revolutionary financial service that meets the demands of Malaysia’s labor.
Most foreign EWA in Asia, biggest level with US$ 58mil processed
The firm, which serves the largest foundation of employees in Asia, has processed more than US$ 58 million in salaries through its method to time, and its monthly disbursements have increased by as much as US$ 8 million, or 15 %, month over month.
According to Paywatch, this results in the largest EWA service in Asia by volume of transactions. By the end of the year, the company anticipates receiving more than US$ 120 million in salary, more than double its lifetime value.
Since its establishment in 2020 in South Korea, Paywatch has expanded quickly to three other markets- Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia. With the most recent funding, the company is “ready to expand into new markets and develop even more financially inclusive tools for our users,” Kim said.
Along with the company’s other innovation efforts, a significant portion of the Series A funding will be used to enhance the company’s embedded finance offerings.
Third Prime, a U.S.-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests in global leaders in financial and industrial technology, is Paywatch’s leading investor for this funding round.
In the US and Latin America, EWA has become a common employee benefit. And with such great momentum, Paywatch is emerging as the market’s leading change agent in Asia. As markets with different regulations and cultures are increasingly popular, the rapid adoption of earned wage access is a gratifying time, said Michael Kim, General Partner of Third Prime ( pic ).
Aligning with Malaysia’s financial inclusion vision
With a strong base of clients in Malaysia, Paywatch’s innovative EWA solution is set to enhance the financial well- being of Malaysian workers, one of the outcomes stated in the country’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy.
Paywatch argued that its instant access to earned wages supports the Malaysian government’s efforts to combat income disparity and foster financial stability among its citizens.
First time for US university endowments
The direct investment by the Vanderbilt University and the University of Illinois Foundation in Paywatch is regarded as a milestone in the market because it marks the first time these endowment funds from US universities have made an investment in an Asian tech startup.
We have long supported financial inclusion, and we think Paywatch’s earned wage access technology can help the movement advance significantly. Beyond the technology, we also believe in the company’s dedication and commitment to delivering true impact in Southeast Asia”, shares Travis Shore, Chief Investment Officer of the University of Illinois Foundation.
Axrail, an Amazon Web Services ( AWS ) Advanced Tier Services Partner in Malaysia, has opened the first Generative AI ( Gen AI ) Lab in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. To meet the growing demand for AI solutions and the world’s aspirations for a digital economy, this test presents cloud and advantage solutions.
The Gen AI Lab combines the expertise of AWS, Phison, and Axrail in a creative hub. It features cutting- top cloud solutions powered by AWS, including those built on Amazon Bedrock, and on- concept development with Phison’s aiDAPTIV systems, the organization said, in a statement.  ,
Additionally, the lab is geared toward businesses looking for a flexible route to AI implementation, positioning Axrail at the forefront of developing complete generative AI solutions for both on-premises and cloud environments.
Located within Axrail’s 3, 000 flat feet Centre of Excellence for AI solutions, the Gen AI Lab fosters responsible research and co- development of relational AI applications. By assisting businesses in developing capabilities to remove value from data and improve operating efficiency across different functions, the Lab aims to accelerate AI readiness for businesses.
Our Gen AI Lab will be run by Axrail founder and CEO Kelvin Kok in partnership with Phison and our desired sky partner, AWS. This cutting-edge platform will enable companies to rethink their operations using artificial intelligence, produce quantifiable results, and future-proof their strategy. Our goal is to promote AI adoption, particularly among Indonesian SMEs, leveraging the approaching AWS Region in Malaysia for data residency, low overhead, and strong cloud services across Southeast Asia”.
Pete Murray, region director, AWS Malaysia, said,” Axrail’s fresh Generative AI Lab on AWS provides business solutions that improve productivity and efficiency for companies like Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Entertainment for SME consumers of all styles. Using opportunities that advanced technologies like generative AI can provide business owners, partners like Axrail can help customers make the most of them.
He continued, citing AWS’s pride in supporting Malaysia’s efforts to grow its digital economy and its desire to become a regional tech hub for ASEAN.
K. S. Pua, CEO of Phison Electronics, said,” Through Phison’s exclusive aiDAPTIV solution, we not only achieve the democratization of AI and expand AI applications but also make generative AI accessible and beneficial to everyone” . ,
He added,” Together with Axrail, we will accelerate Malaysia’s AI digital transformation while providing the added assurance of data confidentiality. Phison and Axrail will continue to collaborate on developing storage and AI applications in the future.
An expert in data, AI, cloud migration, and digital solutions, Axrail claims to have a proven track record of successfully helping over 50 businesses across Malaysia and Singapore. Their solutions have significantly increased business productivity and customer engagement across a variety of industries.
Axrail, a subsidiary of QL Resources Berhad, believes Malaysia holds potential in pushing the frontiers of technology. With the support of its partners, AWS and Phison, the firm is confident that this endeavor will shape the future of the country’s digital landscape.
The company claimed that its Gen AI Lab is in line with Malaysia’s Blueprint, which promotes digitalization and establishes a regional leadership in the digital economy. The Gen AI Lab contributes to the strategic thrusts of driving digital transformation, boosting economic competitiveness through digitalization, developing digital infrastructure, building a digitally- skilled workforce, and creating an inclusive digital society.
Axrail is hosting a complimentary half-day sharing session on July 18, 2024, with demonstrations of transformative solutions and insights from AWS.  ,
Through live demos, attendees will gain first-hand knowledge of the impact of AI and data on the ground and how businesses can achieve operational excellence and navigate digital transformation seamlessly. Businesses can sign up for the” 10x Your Organization Productivity Using Generative AI” course at www. axrail.com/10x.
Advocates applaud the Biden administration’s decision to unwind its prohibition on cannabis for addressing what they claim is an asymmetrical drug enforcement strategy that has disproportionately affected some communities and caused mass incarceration. This commendation, however, seems contradictory because it overlooks the potential negative effects a walk might have on socio-economically underprivileged and underprivileged neighborhoods already ravaged by the drug epidemic.
Experimental evidence from states that have adopted harm reduction methods, such as Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and Australia, reveals combined benefits.
For example, the Netherlands, known for its governed sale of cannabis through therefore- called” coffeeshops”, continues to face problems of drug hospitality and related social ills where children as young as 14 years old are recruited as” cocaine lovers”. The Dutch government warned the Dutch of the danger of becoming a “narco-state” in an article published in the Guardian in January 2024.
In Sweden, the number of deadly shootings has more than doubled since 2013, reaching 391 in 2022, mainly due to group- related medicine and arms conflicts. In December, a lawyer representing the victims of the teen shootings claimed that” kids are carrying the Swedish drug businesses on their arms rather than their own bags.”
Also, Canada and Australia, despite their complete harm reduction strategies, repeatedly face drug- related crime and health issues. In 2023, British Columbia decriminalised medication to reduce opioid levels, but only to discover it wave by 5 per share, the BBC reported. Officials in BC are currently considering revising the prohibition against the possession of painful medicines in public spaces.
Thailand, which is much closer to home, plans to decriminalize marijuana for usage only two years after it first became the first country in Southeast Asia to do so.
These instances demonstrate the complexity and potential negative effects of calm drug laws, especially for those who are at risk.
Singapore stays unwaveringly committed to preventing the intergenerational cycle of violence, arrest, confinement, and re-incarceration for this reason.
Singapore’s method, guided by knowledge and practical considerations, prioritises injury prevention over harm reduction and serves as a solid framework for tackling this widespread issue.
Tan Chong Huat, the president of the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA ), and Narayanan Ganapathy, a member of NCADA, are both NCADA members.
PUBLISHED: 23 Jun 2024 at 04: 49
The second fossilized tooth of a Basal Tyrannosauroid discovered in Phu Noi, in the northern county of Kalasin, by a researcher from Kasetsart University, is a result of its research.
The obtaining was made by Wongwech Chowchuvech, a grad student from Kasetsart University’s Department of Earth Sciences under the Faculty of Science.
Assist Prof. Chatchalerm Ketwetsuriya, Mahasarakham University scientist Sita Manitkoon, and Sirindhorn Museum Director Phornphen Chanthasit were in charge of the project.
The group claimed that a Basal Tyrannosauroid, a member of the carnivorous Tyrannosaurus Rex, belonged to them after an examination of the tooth.
The group claimed that the teeth were different from those found in the area’s earlier Metriacanthosauridae smile.
The [Basal Tyrannosauroid ] teeth had two distinctive dental features, including lateral teeth with mesiolingual twisted mesial carinae that extended above the cervix line and a braided enamel surface texture.
According to the crew, the Guanlong wucaii and Proceratosaurus bradleyi, which date back to the Jurassic period, were closely related to the Basal Tyrannosauroid in Phu Noi.
The lower Phu Kradung’s rich paleoecological atmosphere was revealed during the discovery, which reportedly represented Southeast Asia’s first Basal Tyrannosauroid occurrence.
Underwater gambling may get solved by legalising, according to Srettha
PUBLISHED: 22 Jun 2024 at 12: 30
Srettha Thavisin, the leader of the nation, used his first regular television address on Saturday to encourage plans to legalize casinos to stop illegal betting and the construction of a nuclear power plant to lower electricity costs.
A nuclear power plant may lessen public opposition over high electricity costs because of its lower era costs, Mr. Srettha said in the noted TV program.  ,
” We have to acknowledge that legalizing underwater gambling is a serious issue that needs to be solved,” said Mr. Srettha. ” Nuclear power will have time to educate people because the majority of people do not want the flower in their neighborhood.”
A panel of legislators ‘ study, which was supported by the majority of the 500-member House of Representatives members in March, recommended that large entertainment venues install legal games to draw in high-end visitors. It is estimated that the integrated entertainment complexes will help generate total tax revenue of 12 billion baht ( US$ 327 million ) in the first year of operations, according to the government.
According to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, the Finance Ministry intends to send a document costs to the government in three to four weeks in order to legalize gambling venues. The government has collected opinions from 16 relevant companies, all of which agreed the game structures will increase the nation’s economic growth, he told the media on Wednesday.
Any beginning of casinos will be in line with Thailand’s new accept of a more liberal environment to save its tourism sector from the coronavirus pandemic blow even though most forms of gambling are prohibited in the country’s lot Buddhist culture. Thailand decriminalized marijuana in 2022, making it the first Asian nation to do so. It is now attempting to outlaw the drug for outdoor use. Following the senate’s approval next year, the policy legalized same-sex unions, making it the first in Southeast Asia.
According to Mr. Srettha, nuclear energy may also aid Thailand in meeting its commitment to have a net zero carbon footprint by the end of the month.
” For the past few months, we saw significant investment from large companies like Microsoft and ByteDance into Malaysia,” said Penang-based serial entrepreneur Curry Khoo ( pic, below ), who is building his third startup right now, Noobs, an open-source playbook for the startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia, which was launched in 2022.” We saw heavy investment from Nvidia and other large companies like Microsoft and ByteDance into
A properly regarded society builder as well, Curry was not talking about Wordpress but instead, NEXT: AI Connect 2024, an occasion aimed at bringing together business leaders, companies, and AI fans on Jun 26 at The Ship Campus in Batu Kawan, Penang.
Curry believes that Malaysia you know and take advantage of the disturbance being created by AI due to the recent surge in demand for Nvidia’s specialised chips, which are essential for powering different forms of AI, including chatbots like Open AI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
The best way to know is to hold an event so that everyone can identify the participants and comprehend the surroundings of the AI scene, Curry said.
In the subsequent Q&, A, Curry goes into more detail about the occasion and explains why attending is worthwhile.
Q. Why did you decide to concentrate on AI for NEXT?
because everyone in the universe is discussing AI. Nvidia’s growth was but rapid as a result of AI, and it caught my attention. People will be a part of AI, in some way or another, after doing some checking and researching. However, over the past few decades, we have seen powerful opportunities by big companies like as Nvidia, Microsoft and ByteDance into Malaysia. So, the best way to learn from AI is to host an event but that we can learn from each other..  ,
Q. Why is it located on Batu Kawan rather than the beach?
There are already a few ordinary occasions on the island, but none in Batu Kawan. As industry experts will tell you, Batu Kawan is booming with semiconductor firms that even use a lot of AI, specifically for their production, but most people are unaware of it. Therefore I felt it was the best place for this occasion, and managed to get the help of the PKT Logistics Group via its business system, Entrepreneur , Growth Hub, to host , it at its The Ship Campus.  ,
Q. You appear to be making an effort to draw students in addition. Why?
The most important factor for the industry to grow is skills. I anticipate a lot of desire for AI, and it should begin with young people, particularly those in universities and colleges. We want to motivate and motivate them to pursue careers in AI, particularly in the specialized field. You can read about the curiosity in AI from both the state and the traders who have invested. There is a , need to expand our AI skills share.  ,
Q. What kind of effect is this event going to own?
I want to see more personal business AI people, especially those with professional backgrounds, working with our colleges and universities to develop more expertise in the field.  ,
I believe there is a huge opportunity for Malaysia because the semiconductor industry is increasingly reliant on AI to improve its production efficiency, especially if we can move the talent pool forward.