Each year on 26 June, the world observes the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day.
Malaysia Launches Full-Scale Startup ASEAN Platform To Drive Regional Growth

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 June 2025 – Malaysia today launched the Startup ASEAN platform, marking the full-scale rollout of a bold, unified digital gateway to connect and empower startups across ASEAN. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and executed by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), the platform’s regional launch underscores Malaysia’s commitment under its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship to fostering inclusive innovation and economic dynamism across the region.

Unlike the earlier pre-launch phase, this official launch represents a fully operational rollout, equipped with critical capabilities to serve the ASEAN innovation ecosystem. The Startup ASEAN platform is designed as a comprehensive one-stop hub, offering startups direct access to regional market opportunities, funding, investor networks, talent development and ecosystem insights.
YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of MOSTI, said “Malaysia is honored to chair ASEAN in 2025 and take the lead in building a truly integrated and empowered regional startup ecosystem. The Startup ASEAN platform is more than a digital gateway, it is a strategic enabler designed through collaboration with all ASEAN Member States to address fragmented access to market, funding, talent and data.
This launch marks the first major deliverable under the ASEAN Startup Technology Ignite 2025, and I would like to commend Cradle for its focal role in driving this initiative with all other ASEAN Member States. Through this platform, we are not only unlocking new opportunities for collaboration across region but also creating greater access for Malaysian startups to expand, scale and thrive in ASEAN and beyond,” continued YB Chang.
“Today we witness the official launch of Startup ASEAN-a transformative initiative designed to serve as the centralised hub for all startups across our region. By seamlessly connecting entrepreneurs, investors, government institutions, and ecosystem builders across our Member States, this platform embodies ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to deepening regional integration while unlocking unprecedented opportunities through technology and innovation,” said H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle, emphasised “Cradle is proud to lead this effort and contribute to ASEAN’s growth through innovation. The platform is beyond technology itself. It is about creating opportunities within the startup ecosystem, strengthening partnerships and unlocking the potential of our ASEAN startups.
In addition to the regional database, the platform will host regional programmes aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration among all ASEAN Member States and dialogue partners such as South Korea and China,” continued Norman.
The ASEAN Startup Initiative, approved in 2023, appointed Cradle under MOSTI’s mandate to lead its implementation. The initiative focuses on developing startup friendly policies, enhancing ecosystem readiness and driving impactful regional programmes and partnerships.
As ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia’s leadership under the ASEAN Technology Startup Ignite programme signals a strategic move to position the country as a regional innovation hub. The multi-phased implementation includes:
- Phase 1, 2024: Development and pre-launch of the Startup ASEAN platform,
- Phase 2, 2025: Launch of Startup ASEAN platform, ASEAN startup programmes, capacity-building efforts and Startup ASEAN Summit
- Phase 3, 2026 onwards: Establishment of the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for early-stage startups.
The hybrid launch event featured an immersive Startup ASEAN video tour, highlighting unique startup success stories and cultural diversity from all member states. Coinciding with the launch, Cradle hosted the regional market access session, ASEAN CrossConnect, matching 10 successful global mentors from ASEAN countries with startups from all over the region.
Cradle will continue working closely with all ASEAN Member States to enhance the platform’s value, ensuring it delivers meaningful impact through improved access to markets, investment opportunities and knowledge exchange.
Please visit www.startup-asean.org
Hashtag: #MyASEAN2025 #StartupASEAN #MOSTI #CradleFund #Tech #Innovation #StartupEcosystem #Business
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Visa sponsors HoYo FEST 2025 across Southeast Asia

- Visa enhances the gaming festival experience with exclusive benefits for cardholders and establishes presence in the gaming space to provide a seamless, secure payments experience for gamers
HCMC, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 June 2025 – Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, announced its inaugural sponsorship of HoYo FEST 2025, marking a significant milestone in Southeast Asia. HoYo FEST, organised by HoYoverse, celebrates popular gaming titles such as Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3, Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, captivating a global audience since its inception in 2021.

This year’s festival will take place from 24 to 27 July 2025 at premier venues including SkyExpo in Vietnam, Surabaya Convention Center in Indonesia, SMX Convention Center Manila in the Philippines, Pavilion Exhibition Centre Bukit Jalil in Malaysia, Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre in Singapore (25 to 27 July), and The Mall Bangkapi, MCC Hall in Thailand. These events aim to bring together fans for an immersive experience featuring live in-game excitement, community engagement, and gathering of a passionate fandom.
Visa will enhance the festival experience for cardholders, who will enjoy an expedited payment lane and exclusive freebie at the merchandise store, and reserved seating at the stage area.
Vietnam’s gaming industry is on an impressive growth trajectory, supported by a tech-savvy population and enhanced digital connectivity. According to Visa’s data[1], Vietnamese consumers are actively using credit and debit cards to engage with international gaming platforms, purchasing virtual currencies and game expansions. This behavior underscores Vietnam’s integration into the global gaming ecosystem and highlights its potential as a significant contributor to the industry’s ongoing expansion.
“We are proud to partner with HoYo FEST for the first time, supporting an event that aligns with Visa’s commitment to innovation and enhancing the consumer experience. Visa’s comprehensive payment solutions are designed to meet the needs of today’s gamers, ensuring fast, reliable, seamless, and secure transactions. Our partnership with HoYo FEST demonstrates our commitment to supporting the dynamic gaming ecosystem, where players are increasingly looking for efficient payment options to enhance their gaming experience,” said Ms. Dung Dang, Visa Country Manager for Vietnam & Laos.
For more information on Visa’s participation in HoYo FEST 2025, please visit https://hoyo.link/RAjm2YGm8.
Hashtag: #Visa #HoYoFEST2025 #HoYoverse
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.
About HoYoverse
HoYoverse is committed to providing immersive virtual world experiences to players around the world. We have brought fans popular games including Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai: Star Rail, Tears of Themis, and Zenless Zone Zero, as well as a wide range of entertainment content. Community is at the heart of everything we do. We are devoted to engaging fans and fostering an enthusiastic and inclusive global community that provides access and encouragement for people to share their passion for ACG (Animation, Comics, and Games) through their own creativity and skills. Pushing the boundaries of imagination, we consistently explore cutting-edge game development technologies, and have accumulated leading technical capabilities in cel shading, cloud gaming, and other fields. In the future, we will continue to expand our content production, technology research, and publishing duties through operations in offices in Singapore, Montreal, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, and other areas.
ANDPAD Launches Vietnamese Language Support for its Cloud-Based Construction Project Management Service
Expanding Multilingual Support for Global Users
TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 June 2025 – ANDPAD Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takeo Inada; hereinafter ANDPAD), which operates the cloud-based construction project management service bearing its name, has developed a Vietnamese-language version of the ANDPAD service that it will launch today. Behind this provision is the increase in the number of Vietnamese-speaking users in Japan as well as growth in use of the service globally.

ANDPAD is launching its Vietnamese-language version following the English release in February 2025.Supported functions will be the construction management and chat functions, which are used the most on the ANDPAD service, as well as the drawing function.
Additionally, with use of the ANDPAD service spreading at construction sites in Vietnam as well, the company plans on further expanding the scope of functions with Vietnamese language support in order to promote smooth communication and DX (digital transformation) at those sites.
Going forward, ANDPAD will continue to actively pursue development efforts to offer support for various languages. The company will proceed to promote DX in the construction industry with a view to expanding the use of its service in overseas markets in addition to the Japanese market.
About Usage
Existing ANDPAD users can use the Vietnamese-language version at no additional cost.
Scope of Support
ANDPAD app:
- iOS: 5.85 or higher
- Android: 5.85 or higher
ANDPAD chat app:
- iOS: 2.60 or higher
- Android: 2.60 or higher
ANDPAD drawing app:
- iOS: 1.75 or higher
Hashtag: #ANDPAD
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About the ANDPAD Service
The cloud-based construction project management service with the top share of the market in Japan*, ANDPAD makes the central management of everything from enhancing onsite efficiency to improving management possible. Since provision of the service started in 2016, through associated development efforts that emphasize intuitiveness and ease of use and thorough support for implementation and utilization, the service has reached over 216,000 corporate users and 550,000 individual users.
ANDPAD was selected as a “2024 Recommended Technology” under the NETIS (New Technology Information System) by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Details (Japanese language only): https://andpad.jp/
Company Overview
Name : ANDPAD Inc.
Location : Sumitomo Fudosan Akihabara Ekimae Bldg. 8th Floor, 300 Kanda-Neribei-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative : Takeo Inada, CEO
Business Activities : Development, sales and operation of “ANDPAD” cloud-based construction project management service
Company Website (Japanese language only):https://andpad.co.jp/
US Supreme Court to Rule on Citizenship, Voting Rights, LGBT Education

AFP – As the US Supreme Court winds down its term ahead of the summer break, there are a number of cases still to be decided.
ROSHI Releases Report On Credit Card Debt across Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 June 2025 – Singapore based fintech ROSHI has released a new report analysing credit card debt levels across Southeast Asia, providing insights into how consumers in the region are managing high-interest unsecured debt amidst ongoing economic pressures.
Credit Card Debt in ASEAN and Beyond 2025
The report reveals that Singapore has one of the highest average credit card balances in the region with cardholders carrying an average of S$5,335 equivalent to 86% of the average monthly income. While this may appear significant, ROSHI’s analysis suggests that strong repayment habits and access to advanced financial infrastructure mean that credit card usage in Singapore is largely strategic rather than unsustainable.
However, the situation varies dramatically across the region. In the Philippines, the average credit card balance stands at S$2,092, while the average monthly income is just S$492 resulting in a debt-to-income ratio of over 425%. This finding highlights growing consumer vulnerability in emerging markets with limited access to affordable credit solutions.
“Our research shows that while Singaporeans are carrying high card balances, they tend to use credit more strategically for cashback and point rewards compared to some of their regional neighbours,” said Mr. Amir Nada, ROSHI CEO. “But with interest rates on credit cards still hovering around 25–29%, it’s critical for consumers to remain proactive in how they manage unsecured debt.”
The report also explores regional macroeconomic trends including inflation, interest rate environments and digital financial adoption offering a broader context to credit card debt dynamics across ASEAN and beyond.
ROSHI remains committed to providing transparent, data-led insights to support smarter financial decisions for individuals in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region.
The full report is available at:
https://www.roshi.sg/credit-card-debt-report-asean-and-beyond/
Hashtag: #ROSHI
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About ROSHI
ROSHI is a Singapore-based fintech transforming digital lending across Southeast Asia. Since launching its proprietary automated platform in March 2022, instantly provides personalised loan options to borrowers by leveraging AI algorithms and machine learning. Currently facilitating home and personal loans through partnerships with various lenders, ROSHI has assisted hundreds of consumers in obtaining loan approvals while providing valuable market insights.
CUHK Faculty of Social Science: Fostering Global Excellence in Social Impact and Innovation

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 June 2025 – In a landmark achievement for Hong Kong’s higher education sector, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has surpassed its previous performance in the newly released QS World University Rankings 2026, climbing to 32nd position globally. This institutional milestone is partially contributed by the outstanding performance of CUHK’s Faculty of Social Science, which continues to excel in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with Communication & Media Studies ranking 12th globally, Sociology at 18th, and Geography at 19th position. Other notable achievements include Psychology at 32nd, Architecture/Built Environment at 35th, and Economics & Econometrics at 37th, while Social Sciences & Management ranks 47th worldwide.
Comprising three schools and five departments, CUHK’s Faculty of Social Science offers cutting-edge taught and research postgraduate programmes across various disciplines, including Architecture, Economics, Geography and Resource Management, Governance and Policy Science, Journalism and Communication, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology. This interdisciplinary approach, combined with a rich intellectual and cultural environment, empowers students to address complex social challenges and become engaged global thought leaders.
Breaking New Ground in Research Excellence
The Faculty’s research impact is exemplified by distinguished scholars like Professor Mei-Po KWAN, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management. Professor Kwan’s groundbreaking work in geographic information science and environmental health has revolutionised the understanding of human mobility and urban health issues. Her work has inspired much new mobility-based research in public health, sociology, health geography, and urban studies on a wide range of topics, including the health impacts of individual exposure to green space, air pollution, noise, traffic congestion, social environments, and ethnic/racial segregation. As a recipient of numerous prestigious global honours, including two Lifetime Achievement Awards (one from the International Geographical Union and the other from the International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Sciences) and the James R. Anderson Medal of Honor in Applied Geography, Professor Kwan’s contributions continue to shape the field.

Adding to the Faculty’s achievements, Professor Edward NG, Yao Ling Sun Professor of Architecture, recently became the first architect-designer and Hong Kong scholar to receive the prestigious Luke Howard Award from the International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC). A leading public advocate for climate-responsive architecture design, Professor Ng’s work bridges urban climate science, urban design and planning practice, and has contributed to the climate-responsive policies across Hong Kong and China. His “One University One Village” project also won the Gold Award in the Humanitarian category and the distinguished title of Emerging Practice of the Year Grand Prix Winner at the World Architecture News (WAN) Awards 2024 for its innovative rural reconstruction model, which integrates sustainable design, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
Nurturing Global Talent
The Faculty’s commitment to excellence is also reflected in the experiences of students like Yvan Ysmael Tobias YONAHA, a Filipino PhD candidate in Sociology and a Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) awardee. “CUHK’s comprehensive training in both quantitative and qualitative research has shaped me into a holistic practitioner and researcher,” shares Yvan. His experience highlights the Faculty’s success in creating an enabling learning environment that combines rigorous academic training with global perspective.

CUHK’s Faculty of Social Science continues to pursue excellence in scholarship, discovery and innovation to create far-reaching social impact. For more information about the postgraduate opportunities at CUHK’s Faculty of Social Science, visit https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/programme/social-science.
Hashtag: #CUHK
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About CUHK
Founded in 1963, CUHK combines tradition with innovation in teaching and research, maintaining strong global partnerships to address real-world challenges.
CLDY Rolls Out Always-On 2FA for WordPress, Responding to Alarming Rise in CMS Attacks

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 June 2025 – Singapore-based cloud provider CLDY has announced the launch of Always-On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) across all WordPress sites it hosts, setting a new benchmark for default security in managed hosting environments. The feature comes pre-installed and fully configured—offering site owners strong, frictionless protection from the moment they go live.
The move comes amid a surge In CMS-targeted cyberattacks. WordPress now powers over 43% of websites worldwide (W3Techs), making it a top target for attackers. In 2024 alone, over 90,000 attacks per minute were recorded against WordPress sites (Wordfence), with brute-force login attempts among the most common methods of compromise.
“Many web hosting owners still skip basic security because setting it up can be confusing or technical,” said Dan Chen, Managing Director at CLDY. “We’ve taken that barrier away—our Always-On 2FA is pre-installed and enforced out of the box, so site admins don’t need to lift a finger.”
Unlike self-installed plugins that rely on the user to configure settings correctly, CLDY’s solution is centrally managed and standardized across its hosting platform. This ensures consistent protection and removes the risk of misconfiguration—especially important for small businesses or first-time site owners.
Security by Default, Not Upsell
CLDY’s 2FA implementation adds to its already robust security stack, which includes:
- Free SSL certificates
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Email hosting with automated anti-spam filtering
- Malware scanning and automatic cleanup
- Free daily backups
- Optimized inbox delivery to Gmail, Microsoft 365, and others
These features are bundled with all hosting plans at no additional cost, reinforcing CLDY’s one-price, all-inclusive approach.
Performance Remains a Priority
Security upgrades have not compromised CLDY’s core performance guarantees:
- 1-second Time-To-First-Byte for 99.9% of hosted sites
- 99.9% uptime, backed by a 200% service-level credit guarantee
- Built-in WordPress acceleration tools
- Single Sign-On (SSO) across all CLDY services
- Collaborator access for developers, agencies, or external teams
With automated attacks becoming faster and more sophisticated, CLDY’s hands-off security model could shift customer expectations in the managed WordPress space.
“Security should never be optional or left to chance,” said Dan Chen. “We’re raising the baseline of protection so that even non-technical users get enterprise-grade defence by default.”
Hashtag: #business #technology #itsecurity #webhosting #emailhosting
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About CLDY
CLDY is a Singapore-based cloud hosting company focused on delivering high-speed, security-focused web and email hosting. Known for its performance-first infrastructure and customer-centric innovation, CLDY supports businesses across Southeast Asia and around the world.