Compass

  The consolidation of 26 businesses, acquired over six years, into one identity — now expressed through a new brand: PLG | Advanced Intelligence for Life Sciences PARIS, Sept 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProductLife Group (PLG) today completes a multi-year transformation, uniting the 26 businesses it has acquired over six years into a single Group with an end-to-end set of digital and human capabilities across life sciences. Full integration across the Group is targeted for completion by the end of 2027. This transformation also reflects an evolution in how PLG works: combining deep human expertise with intelligent automation. Every recommendation stays owned by a senior life sciences expert — never replaced by technology, only accelerated by it. This is underpinned by a clear vision and mission: to be the leading global life sciences Advanced Intelligence business, combining the best human expertise with intelligent automation to help clients bring new medicines to patients, cu...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- More than half of planned business travellers manage their own internet access when travelling for work, according to Holafly's 2026 Summer Travel & eSIM Report. The report found that 53.4 per cent of planned business travellers arrange their own connectivity, including through hotel or airport Wi-Fi, mobile roaming or other options after arriving at their destination. Security was identified as the top connectivity priority by 41.7 per cent of business travellers overall, rising to 52 per cent among those whose organisations provide their mobile data, the report found. “When a company provides the connection, employees do not have to make that decision themselves after landing. It gives them a clear, company-approved way to get online from the start while giving businesses greater control over the travel experience,” said Holafly Vice-President of B2B & Partnerships, Alex Bryszkowski. In a statement, Holafly said the findings suggest that...

The 2026 Chengdu International Digital Light and Shadow Art Festival officially opens on Sept. 29. KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- The 2026 Chengdu International Digital Light and Shadow Art Festival officially opened on Sept 29 at Eastern Suburb Memory and will run throughout China's National Day holiday, featuring 36 digital artworks from multiple countries. Hosted by Chengdu Dongfang Zhenghuo Culture Media Co Ltd, the festival adopts a dual-track model combining indoor immersive exhibitions and outdoor public light displays, covering architectural projection, interactive installations, and digital performances. In recent years, Chengdu has developed into a core city for China's digital cultural and creative industries, with a cluster of original local intellectual properties (IPs) accelerating their expansion into overseas markets, according to a statement. Animated feature films produced by Chengdu enterprises, "Ne Zha 2" and "All Wishes Come True", h...

Winners of the Green Innovation Science Project 2026 KUANTAN, Malaysia, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Sdn. Bhd. (BPC) and Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF) successfully hosted the 3rd Eco-Schools Green Science & Technology Carnival, bringing together more than 1,300 students from 25 schools nationwide in a celebration of sustainability, innovation and STEM learning. Held at SM Teknik Kuantan with the support of the Ministry of Education Malaysia, the carnival marked the finale of the Green Innovation Science Project (GISPRO) 2026, one of Malaysia's leading student platforms for environmental innovation. A total of 92 schools submitted 180 project videos nationwide in developing practical solutions to environmental challenges. A Growing Movement for Sustainability GISPRO 2026 achieved its highest participation to date, reflecting the growing enthusiasm among young Malaysians to apply science and technology in addressing sustainability challenges. Finalists pres...

LB Groundbreaking Ceremony New Gurun, Kedah Facility to Support 300,000-Tonne Annual Capacity and Strengthen Malaysia’s Regional Manufacturing and Supply Chain Position KEDAH, Malaysia, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- LB Group Co., Ltd. (SZ: 002601), a global leader in titanium dioxide (𝑇𝑖𝑂2) and advanced inorganic chemical materials, today marked a significant milestone in its international expansion with the groundbreaking ceremony for its Malaysian subsidiary, LB Advanced Material Asia Sdn. Bhd., at the Gurun Heavy Industrial Park (GHIP), Kedah. Spanning 60.1 acres, the new facility represents a total investment of RM1 billion (approximately USD245 million), with RM600 million investment for Phase 1. The facility will be developed in phases, with a planned annual production capacity of 300,000 tonnes upon completion, strengthening LB Group’s manufacturing footprint and supply chain capabilities in Southeast Asia. Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of the ...

  Equativ becomes a technology partner of ChatGPT ads, bringing full-funnel contextual and native expertise to brands worldwide NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equativ , the leading independent end-to-end media platform, today announced it is now a technology partner of ChatGPT Ads, becoming one of a select group of partners to help brands and agencies advertise within ChatGPT. As a technology partner, Equativ offers ChatGPT Ads to engage users at every step of their customer journey, from discovery to purchase intent, with bespoke ad formats, layouts, and messaging tailored to each stage. ChatGPT has become one of the fastest-growing platforms in internet history, now reaching more than 1B weekly active users and processing 2.5 billion prompts per day , with 20% of conversations showing shopping intent. As consumers increasingly use ChatGPT over traditional search engines to discover, research, compare, and purchase products, the platform represents a significant an...

Ziquejie Terraces in Loudi, Hunan KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- More than 300 policymakers, researchers and industry leaders gathered at the opening of the fourth "From Ziquejie Terraces To The World" Global Farming Culture Exchange and Mutual Learning Conference in Loudi, Hunan, recently. Held alongside the 10th East Asian Agricultural Cultural Heritage Symposium, the conference featured keynote addresses exploring how cutting-edge innovation can breathe new life into centuries-old farming traditions. Attendees included representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, delegates from Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) sites worldwide, and leading scholars from universities, as well as representatives from civil society groups and private enterprises. Featured speakers included Senior Coordinator of the GIAHS Secretariat at FAO, ‌Jérémy Mbiaramadji‌; ‌Project Professor at the University of Tokyo's Institute f...

Wealth at Work Series 2026 KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC) will brings its 2026 to Kuching on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at The Waterfront Hotel. Tailored for corporate leaders and multidisciplinary practitioners, this half-day seminar equips participants with practical knowledge to master their personal financial planning. As part of a nationwide roadshow, the series follows successful runs in Petaling Jaya and Pulau Pinang, and will head to Johor Bahru this weekend before making its grand finale in Kuching. Event at a glance: Day/Date: Saturday 3 October 2026 Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Followed by Lunch & Networking) Venue: The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak The programme features four specialised speaking sessions delivered by industry experts, alongside interactive exhibition booths that offer participants direct access to solution providers and networking opportunities. The seminar welcomes practitioners across al...

30 graduates of CGC100 Cohort 3 celebrate their achievement with CGC Chairman, Dato’ Mohammed Hussein, CGC President & CEO, Mohamad Nazri Omar and Pintar Foundation, General Manager, Norzalina Masom, marking the successful completion of a programme that has empowered 100 young entrepreneurs PETALING JAYA, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- One hundred young Malaysians have now graduated from the CGC100 Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, after Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (CGC) celebrated the 30 graduates of the programme’s third and final cohort, at Bangunan CGC. To date, 58 graduates across three cohorts have registered their businesses, collectively creating 86 new jobs. CGC100 was run by CGC in collaboration with PINTAR Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Education. Launched in 2022, it was designed for young Malaysians aged 18 to 23 from unserved and underserved communities, particularly those from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) backgrounds...

CHATTOGRAM, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) deepened its engagement in Bangladesh through Malaysia Healthcare Week in Bangladesh, held from 16 to 21 September, bringing Malaysian hospitals and healthcare stakeholders together across Dhaka and Chattogram as demand for healthcare travel from Bangladesh continues to grow. The programme marked MHTC’s expansion beyond Dhaka to Chattogram, where it conducted its first Malaysia Healthcare activation in the city. Malaysia Healthcare’s engagement with the Bangladesh market has gained strong momentum in recent years. In 2025, close to 70,000 Bangladeshi healthcare travellers visited Malaysia, generating approximately RM50 million in healthcare travel revenue, a 24% increase from the previous year. The continued growth reinforces the importance of strengthening the professional networks, referral pathways and corporate relationships that connect Bangladeshi patients with healthcare providers in Malaysia. The program...

Second from left: Jason Wong, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Projects, SME Banking Malaysia, CIMB Bank; Maznee Kamaruddin, Head, Equity Capital Markets & Syndicate, CIMB Investment Bank; Nor Masliza Sulaiman, Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Investment Bank; Haniz Nazlan, Chief Executive Officer, Group Consumer Banking, CIMB Group; and Daniel Cheong, Head of Consumer Banking Malaysia, CIMB Bank, celebrating CIMB’s three wins at the 2026 Euromoney Awards for Excellence. KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- CIMB Bank Berhad and CIMB Investment Bank (collectively “CIMB”) have been recognised for strong performance, innovation and customer impact, winning three key awards at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026. CIMB was named Malaysia’s Best Retail Bank, Malaysia’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs and Malaysia’s Best Investment Bank. These recognitions reflect CIMB’s continued focus on delivering customer-centric solutions through innovation, digital capabilities and deep market expertis...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Chinese brands are rapidly deepening their footprint in Latin America’s consumer market, with exports from China to the region reaching nearly US$300 billion in 2025, a seven per cent year-on-year increase, according to market intelligence company Euromonitor International. (US$1 = RM4.06) The Rise of Chinese Brands in Latin America report noted that Chinese companies are moving beyond exports, investing in local manufacturing, supply chains and commercial operations across a consumer market of more than 650 million people. “From consumer electronics to fashion and foodservice, Chinese brands visible on shelves, online platforms and city streets are the most visible sign of a deeper economic transformation reshaping the region,” said Euromonitor International head of research for Asia Pacific, Tim Chuah in a statement. Latin America offers Chinese companies access to one of the world's largest underpenetrated consumer markets. Investment across th...

Members enjoy greater value with dedicated flight redemption seats available at least 30 days before departure KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- AirAsia rewards, the loyalty arm of Capital A, has launched the Points Booking feature, an enhanced experience with dedicated seat allocations on eligible AirAsia flights at least 30 days before departure. The enhancement gives members greater value and more certainty when planning their travels using AirAsia points. To celebrate the launch, AirAsia rewards is offering 50% pointsback on all eligible flight redemptions made from now until 30 September. Members can redeem flights across AirAsia’s extensive network, including both domestic and international destinations. Redemption fares include the flight base fare, taxes and fees, with great value options such as Kuala Lumpur - Johor Bahru from just 4,980 points (0 points for the base fare + 4,980 points for taxes and fees, valued at RM49.80, and Kuala Lumpur to Pekanbaru from 17,300 points (1...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Command Alkon, a software and solutions provider for the heavy building materials industry, will showcase its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions at two industry conferences in Australia and New Zealand in October. In a statement, the company said it will participate in the 2026 IQA National Conference on the Gold Coast, Australia, from Oct 6 to 8, followed by the Concrete NZ Conference 2026 in Wellington, New Zealand, from Oct 21 to 23. Command Alkon Vice President of Marketing, Lori Allen said the events provide an opportunity to demonstrate how production, dispatch and fleet operations can run on a connected platform, while showcasing the potential of Command Intelligence to support decision-making. At the IQA National Conference, Command Alkon will highlight its Command Cloud platform, including Dispatch & Scale Ticketing for scheduling and ticketing, TrackIt for vehicle management, and Command Intelligence, its agentic AI offerin...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- IPC Systems Inc (IPC), a global financial communications and trading connectivity provider, announced that its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets have been validated by SBTi Services, confirming that they conform with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) criteria, including its target to achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2050. In a statement, IPC said the validation comes as financial institutions face greater scrutiny over emissions across their value chains, with regulators, investors and clients raising expectations for climate accountability and the sustainability performance of suppliers and partners. “Our targets go beyond our operations to cover what we buy and what we deliver. Many of our clients are working to emissions targets of their own, and they need suppliers moving at the same pace. Validation by the Science Based Targets initiative is what lets them rely on our numbers,” said IPC ESG Officer, Man...

CYBERJAYA, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- DXN Holdings Bhd. today announced its partnership with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) as the Strategic Partner for Agrovator@Sekolah, reinforcing the DXN’s commitment to nation-building and empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders. A flagship national initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) implemented by MDEC, the program will equip at least 1,000 students across 50 schools nationwide with modern technology, digital solutions, and practical innovation skills to transform Malaysia's agriculture sector. Under the partnership, DXN will support the programme through funding and in-kind contributions, with DXN Cyberville in Cyberjaya, one of Malaysia’s established technology and innovation hubs, serving as the central venue for the semi-final and final stage of Agrovator@Sekolah. Approximately 85 students have been selected for semi-final & final stage to continue their journey, lasting 19 days...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Holafly’s Travel eSIM Value Index 2026 found that travellers can overpay for international eSIM coverage when fixed-duration plans do not match the length of their trips. In a statement, Holafly said the study analysed official pricing and product information from leading travel eSIM providers across trip durations ranging from one to 30 days, comparing pricing efficiency, bundled benefits and the actual cost of covering an entire trip. Across the destinations and trip lengths analysed, Holafly’s exact-day pricing model delivered median savings of between 10 per cent and 33 per cent compared with equivalent fixed-duration plans, according to the study. The difference is largely attributed to how providers package their plans. While some offer only predefined durations such as seven, 15 or 30 days, travellers may end up paying for coverage they do not use. For example, an 11-day trip would require a 15-day plan from Airalo at US$47.63 and a 15-day plan ...

ResourceWise Compass platform vision: connecting ResourceWise Intelligence™ across markets through a modern, unified delivery experience. CHARLOTTE, N.C., USA, Sep.07, 2026/Agility PR - AsiaNet/ New platform brings together pricing, market fundamentals, trade and plant data, analyst expertise, and AI-assisted discovery in a modern, connected experience. ResourceWise today announced the launch of ResourceWise Compass™, its new market intelligence platform, together with ResourceWise IQ™, that enables users to explore ResourceWise intelligence through natural language questions. Compass launches first with ResourceWise’s chemicals market intelligence, bringing together the deep expertise and market intelligence of Tecnon OrbiChem and Chemical Intelligence, previously delivered through OrbiChem360® and ChemEdge360®. The platform builds on that foundation, enhancing the way customers explore pricing, market fundamentals, trade, plant data, expert analysis, and market developments. The plat...

PU Prime responds to the magnitude 7.4 earthquake with emergency relief support in Chocó. 34 families receive essential supplies, including support for 14 families with babies. The initiative is delivered through the PU Prime Dream Fund and ABACO. BOGOTÁ, Colombia, Sept 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia, PU Prime has mobilised emergency relief supplies for affected communities in Chocó, where access to assistance remains challenging. Through the PU Prime Dream Fund , the company's Colombia team sourced and prepared essential supplies, including baby care products, hygiene items, and sleeping materials. The contribution was handed over through ABACO – Asociación de Bancos de Alimentos de Colombia for onward delivery to the Wounaan community of Pichimá, in the municipality of Litoral del San Juan. The relief effort began on 19 August, with the PU Prime team sourcing essential items across Bogotá to address immediate n...

Datuk Ng Wei Wei, Chief Executive Officer, UOB Malaysia presenting a mock cheque of funds raised by UOB Malaysia to the four beneficiaries. Funds raised will support more than 6,000 children, youths and families across Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- UOB Malaysia recently raised RM2.288 million through its annual UOB Heartbeat Run 2026. The funds will support four key beneficiaries – SOLS Foundation, PINTAR Foundation, Food Aid Foundation and HOPE Worldwide Malaysia – and will also be channelled towards advancing the Bank’s corporate social responsibility initiatives across Malaysia with a focus on arts, children and education. Datuk Ng Wei Wei, Chief Executive Officer, UOB Malaysia, said “Now in its 18th year in Malaysia, the UOB Heartbeat Run continues to show what is possible when people come together to make a difference. The generosity and commitment of our people, customers, and partners enable us to support programmes led by our beneficiary partners that ...