Strengthening Presence in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Launching Corporate and Trust Services in Labuan

SINGAPORE, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentium,  a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore, today announced the successful acquisition of ZICO Holdings‘ (“ZICO”), a corporate services business operating across key ASEAN markets, specifically Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The acquisition also includes corporate services and trust & trustee services in Labuan. This strategic investment strengthens Ascentium’s presence across Southeast Asia and marks its entry into the Labuan market. With over three decades of success, ZICO contributes its legacy of operational excellence, deep regional experience, and a distinguished portfolio of premium clients. ZICO’s corporate services will be seamlessly integrated into Ascentium’s operations in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, reinforcing the firm’s proficiency in corporate secretarial services, trust administration, and regulatory compliance.

With ZICO’s corporate services division now part of the Ascentium platform, clients will benefit from an expanded suite of services across multiple markets, while continuing to receive high-quality corporate and fiduciary solutions. This expansion builds on Ascentium’s 2024 acquisition of InCorp Global, a leading provider of corporate services and business advisory solutions, which is expected to complete its brand transition to Ascentium by 2026.

Ascentium is committed to delivering comprehensive, technology-enabled business services across Asia-Pacific and beyond.  This investment underscores Ascentium’s strategic expansion across Asia Pacific to offer diversified corporate services, as highlighted by recent key milestone acquisitions such as Links International, the region’s leading HR outsourcing technology partner, and Harneys Fiduciary, a specialist in cross-border corporate, fund, and trust services with established global offices in Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, and Shanghai.

Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, commented: “The acquisition marks an important advance in our Southeast Asia growth strategy and represents a crucial milestone toward building a leadership team with unmatched regional expertise. I appreciate Kelvin’s trust and ZICO’s network in Southeast Asia, and warmly welcome ZICO’s corporate services team to Ascentium. We value their entrepreneurial culture and market knowledge. ZICO’s strong governance framework, premium client base, and local know-how align with our mission to deliver transformative business services.”

Datuk Kelvin Ng, Group Chief Executive Officer of ZICO Holdings, said: “This demonstrates a pivotal moment for ZICO Holdings as we transition our well-established corporate services teams in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines to Ascentium. Over the years, our teams have built a strong reputation for professionalism, trust, and regional knowledge. We are confident that Ascentium’s leadership, platform, and global reach will enable our colleagues and valued clients to access new opportunities and enhanced solutions. We thank our outstanding team members for their dedication and commitment and look forward to seeing them thrive as part of Ascentium’s growing family under Lennard’s leadership.”

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About Ascentium

Ascentium is a leading global business services platform dedicated to helping businesses scale greater heights. Headquartered in Singapore, we empower extraordinary growth through specialised expertise and comprehensive one-stop solutions in corporate services, finance and accounting, HR services, and fiduciary and trust services. Our team of 2,300+ professionals spans 44 cities across 22 markets in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe, serving 50,000+ client entities across diverse industries. Through innovative, technology-enabled solutions and a collaborative approach, Ascentium drives transformative growth, helping clients navigate complex global environments.

For more information, please visit ascentium.com.

About ZICO Holdings

ZICO Holdings Inc. (“ZICO” and together with its subsidiaries and associated companies, the “Group”) is an integrated provider of multidisciplinary professional services. ZICO was listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited on 11 November 2014. ZICO is widely regarded as the Trusted Advisors and Go-To Professional Services Provider of business solutions in the ASEAN region. Through its multidisciplinary services, regional capabilities and local insights, ZICO creates a unique brand offering that enables its clients to capitalise on opportunities across Southeast Asia.

For more information, please visit www.zicoholdings.com.

Industry Leaders Converge for Integrated Solutions in Metal Construction, Insulation Materials, Green Factories, Clean Technology, and Smart Cold Chain.

SHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Asia Metal Building Design & Industry Expo (MBE 2025) will be held at Shanghai New International Expo Center from December 11-13, uniting the continent’s most comprehensive platform for industrialized construction solutions. Co-organized by China Construction Industry Association Steel & Wood Construction Branch, China Insulation & Energy Efficiency Materials Association, Shanghai Federation of Industrial Economics, and Shanghai Zhanye Exhibition Co., with support from 14 provincial industry associations, this flagship event aligns with China’s dual-carbon goals and global sustainable development trends.

Three Synergistic Exhibitions + Dual Summit Conferences
MBE 2025 integrates five critical industry verticals through specialized showcases:
Shanghai International Steel and Timber Structure and Enclosure Systems Exhibition (MBE)
Next-gen building systems: Modular construction | AI-aided design | Robotic welding | Green coatings | Non-destructive testing | Building structures | Smart design | Metal cladding | Welding technology
The 22^nd Asia Insulation Materials and Energy-Saving Technology Exhibition (Shanghai) (TIM)
Cutting-edge solutions: Aerogel tech | Fire-resistant Class A materials | VIP vacuum panels | Stone (mineral) wood | Glass wool | Insulation-decor integrated systems | Industrial/Building insulation materials, equipment, and technologies
Asia Green Factory Design, Construction, and Facilities Management Conference (GFC)
Turnkey solutions: Carbon-neutral industrial parks | Waste-to-energy systems | Digital twin factories | Cleanroom engineering | Factory construction | Industrial parks | Waste treatment | Energy-saving technologies | Digital transformation
Shanghai Clean Technology and Equipment Exhibition (SCTE)
Precision environment control: Semiconductor-grade HVAC | Lab containment systems | Pharma cleanroom certification | Cleanroom equipment | Laboratory equipment | Environmental treatment, design, and certification
Asia Cold Chain Construction Exhibition 2025 (CCC)
Smart logistics infrastructure: Automated cold storage | IoT monitoring | Energy-efficient refrigeration | Cold chain solutions (EPC contractors, assembly plants) | Building & decorative materials | Equipment | Supporting products | System software

Why Attend? Key Highlights

• 50,000+ visitors including the core decision-making power of the global construction and industry sector- top engineering contractors, famous real estate development groups, authoritative design institutes, consulates, commercial counsellors, international organizations, etc.,.
• 600+ world-class exhibitors across 23,000+ sqm exhibition space.
• 20+ concurrent forums featuring 100+ industry thought leaders.

MBE to host world’s owners leaders
Many industries will hold high quality BBS and technical seminars, attracting more than the global countries and regions in the municipal units, design and research institute, the architectural design/consulting firms, investors/developer/owner, project/construction unit, construction association/society, sales agents and composite construction equipment and materials industry professionals to join meetings, discuss the industry’s latest policy orientation, scientific research achievements and practical experience, promote the development of the steel and timber building industries!

This year, Expo will include 20+ professional seminar:

• 2025 China Construction Industry International Project Cooperation Forum 
• Global Green Factory Sustainable Development High-Level Conference 
• Future Building Innovation Product Technology Launch Event 
• Green Industrial Building Design Renovation Innovation Exchange Forum 
• 2025 Asia Smart Cold Chain Construction Conference 
• Steel Structure Construction Quality and Technical Control Key Points Lecture Hall
• 2025 Second Welding Industry Integration and Innovation Development Conference 
• Biopharmaceutical Cleanroom Outlook Forum 
• Semiconductor Plant Low-Carbon Innovation Forum 
• Construction/Industrial Integration Supply and Demand Matching Conference 
• Asia Insulation Materials and Systems Technology Application Forum 
• Shanghai International Low-Carbon and Thermal Insulation Energy Conservation Forum 
• Shanghai International Aerogel Thermal Insulation Materials and Applications Summit Forum 
• 2025 Thermal Insulation Technology Engineering Application and Development Forum

About MBE
Organizer lineup authority:
By the China Construction Industry Association Steel and Wood Building Branch, China Insulation & Energy Efficiency Materials Association, Shanghai Federation of Industrial Economics, and Shanghai Zhanye Co., Ltd. with the national 14 provinces and three cities related industry associations co-organized to ensure that the exhibition professional height and industry influence.  

Record-breaking degree of internationalization:       
Since its inception, it has attracted over 200,000 professional visitors from home and abroad, with overseas buyers accounting for 7%. The exhibition not only receives official attention from domestic steel structure industry agglomerations such as Anping, Handan and Shijiazhuang in Hebei; Dianzi Industrial Park, Jinan, Boxing in Binzhou, Jining and Liaocheng in Shandong, but also receives support from the governments of Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Russia, Belarus and Indonesia, etc. The scale of international pavilions will be upgraded.        

For more information and to register, visit: www.mbe-asia.com 

Stay updated by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube.
MBE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071559542049
MBE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbe-asia/
MBE Twitter: https://x.com/metal_expo
MBE YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCIW-YC3nfkGenz9Xs2oIKFQ 

For media enquiries:
Nicole Shen
nicoleshen@zhanye-expo.com

TAIPEI, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As global demand for reliable remote connectivity continues to surge, NEXCOM, a leading supplier of network appliances, is empowering off-grid operations with resilient, high-performance network infrastructure. By combining Multi-WAN failover, edge computing performance, and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) readiness, ISV and solution providers are able to transform RV stations and other remote locations into fully functional remote edge hubs.

From digital nomads and field news crews to emergency responders, users in remote and infrastructure-light environments now require enterprise-grade uptime and compute power—without traditional fixed-line networks. NEXCOM’s DFA 1163 Series delivers the compute power and networking flexibility needed to stay online—anywhere.

Powered by the Intel Atom® C3758R processor with 8 cores and Intel® QAT acceleration, the DFA 1163 provides efficient, secure edge computing in locations where infrastructure is limited or nonexistent. With one 10GbE SFP+, twelve RJ45 ports and optional PoE+ support for powering essential edge devices without extra cabling, streamlining off-grid deployments and saving critical setup time.

Wireless flexibility includes full-spectrum 5G (FR1 & FR2) and Wi-Fi 6, while optional NTN support ensure connectivity even in total cellular dead zones. This seamless Multi-WAN integration intelligently blends 5G, Wi-Fi, and satellite links to maintain reliable service across shifting network conditions.

For remote operators and digital nomads, this means that their work will not stop when the signal drops. For system integrators and solution providers building remote edge deployments, NEXCOM offers a future-ready solution that keeps data flowing and operations online—no matter how remote the location.

About NEXCOM

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, NEXCOM is shaping the future of AI-powered networking with its software-defined solutions. Through its Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit, NEXCOM delivers cutting-edge platforms for Cybersecurity, OT Security, SD-WAN, SASE, Load Balancing, 5G uCPE, edge AI, and more. NCS specializes in professional design and manufacturing services, enabling reliable and scalable network infrastructures for businesses of all sizes. With a focus on innovation, NEXCOM’s solutions empower customers worldwide to build resilient, high-performance networks tailored to the demands of tomorrow’s connectivity challenges.

BANGKOK, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Chulalongkorn University, as the sole partner of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Thailand, has released the findings of the Global Gender Gap Report 2025, highlighting that gender equality is not merely a social issue but a key strategy for national economic development. 

In 2025, Thailand has shown progress in several areas, especially in women’s education and health: 

• Education: Perfect score of 1.000 – Ranked 1st in the world 
• Health and Survival: Score 0.977 – Ranked 29th in the world / 1st in the region 
• Economic Participation and Opportunity: Score 0.786 – Ranked 17th in the world / 3rd in the region 
• Political Empowerment: Score 0.786 – Ranked 105th in the world / 5th in the region 

Thailand’s overall score is 0.728, an increase from the previous year, placing the country 66th globally and 3rd in the region. 

Despite leading the world in education and possessing strong potential, Thai women still face limited opportunities in policy-level leadership positions, reflecting that ability alone is not sufficient if opportunities and power remain restricted. 

Thailand’s Strengths: 

• Equal access to education at all levels 
• World-leading levels of women’s health 
• Continuously increasing economic participation by women 

Development Strategies: 

• Increase the proportion of women in leadership roles. 
• Improve support systems and environments that empower women’s potential. 
• Close the gender gap to foster innovation, growth, and sustainable social cohesion in Thailand. 

Read the full report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2025/

Continue reading on website: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/253258/

About Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University has made the world’s top 50 university list for employment outcomes, which reflects both the high employment rate and work ability of Chula graduates. The university is also listed as the best in Thailand for the 15th Consecutive Year (since 2009), according to the newly released QS World University Rankings 2024, putting Chula at 211th in the world, up from 244th last year.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChulalongkornUniversity

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/chulauniversity

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/school/15101896/

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As stablecoin issuance surpasses $200 billion globally, WSPN is positioning itself at the forefront of transforming stablecoins from trading instruments into standardized, production-ready business solutions. The company is driving the productization of stablecoin scenarios across six critical enterprise use cases, moving the industry beyond speculative applications toward practical business integration.

The Productization Imperative: From Use Cases to Standardized Products

The stablecoin industry has evolved significantly from its early focus on trading and speculation. Today, enterprises across multiple sectors are recognizing the practical applications of stablecoins in core business operations. However, a critical gap exists between identifying use cases and implementing standardized, scalable solutions.

WSPN addresses this challenge through systematic productization of stablecoin scenarios – transforming theoretical applications into deployable, enterprise-grade products that meet the demands of modern business operations.

Six Core Scenarios Under WSPN’s Productization Strategy

Supply Chain Financing Productization WSPN is standardizing supply chain financing scenarios by developing solutions that reduce settlement timelines from days to minutes while significantly cutting transaction costs for global trade operations. This productization addresses the $2.5 trillion global trade finance gap through streamlined stablecoin integration.

Treasury & Liquidity Management Productization The productization of corporate treasury scenarios includes enterprise-grade digital cash management solutions with programmable features designed specifically for institutional operations, enabling instant global liquidity access and automated treasury functions.

Cross-Border Payment Scenario Standardization WSPN’s approach to cross-border payment productization involves comprehensive fiat integration systems that provide seamless on/off ramps, transforming complex international payment processes into standardized, repeatable solutions for enterprise deployment.

Payment Service Provider Integration Products Through systematic productization of merchant acceptance scenarios, WSPN enables widespread stablecoin payment adoption across e-commerce and retail environments, creating standardized integration pathways for payment service providers.

Compliant Yield Product Development The company’s productization of yield-bearing scenarios delivers structured, regulation-compliant savings tools that provide institutional-grade opportunities while meeting stringent compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

Global Payroll & Remittance Standardization WSPN’s productization of payroll scenarios enables instant, low-cost salary distribution globally, addressing the growing freelancer and contractor economy with standardized solutions that eliminate traditional banking friction.

Market Context: The Growing Need for Stablecoin Productization

Recent market developments underscore the urgency of stablecoin scenario productization. Corporate treasury holdings in stablecoins have reached $11.2 billion, while Southeast Asian B2B cross-border payments utilizing stablecoins have grown to over 43% of total volume. However, many of these implementations remain custom, one-off solutions rather than standardized products.

The gap between potential and implementation is evident across industries. While enterprises recognize stablecoin benefits, the lack of standardized, production-ready solutions creates barriers to widespread adoption.

WSPN: Pioneering Stablecoin Scenario Productization

WSPN is dedicated to the productization of stablecoin scenarios for enterprise adoption. The company’s mission centers on transforming the stablecoin ecosystem from experimental applications to standardized, production-ready financial products that serve global business needs through systematic scenario productization.

By focusing exclusively on productization rather than token issuance or trading infrastructure, WSPN addresses the critical market need for enterprise-ready stablecoin solutions that bridge the gap between blockchain innovation and traditional business requirements.

About WSPN

WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, dedicated to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent global payment ecosystem. Our flagship stablecoin, WUSD, is fully backed and pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar, serving as the foundation for a suite of integrated financial solutions. These solutions support a range of financial applications from institutional treasury management to programmable payments and decentralized finance. With a strong focus on transparency, regulatory compliance, and user accessibility, WSPN bridges the gap between Web3 innovation and traditional financial systems, driving the global adoption of stablecoins at scale.

Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn 

New Laundry Lineup Delivers Industry-Leading Efficiency, Sustainability and Smart Performance Tailored for European Lifestyles

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) is set to showcase a comprehensive suite of advanced AI-powered laundry solutions with maximized energy efficiency at IFA 2025. The new lineup meets a growing demand for sustainable appliances in the European market, with energy-efficient laundry products that accommodate a variety of lifestyles and living spaces.

At the center of the lineup is the LG HeatPump WasherDryer – also known as LG WashCombo – which integrates the essential benefits of LG’s washer and dryer in an all-in-one unit. First introduced in Europe as part of LG’s premium SIGNATURE lineup, the original model earned the highest efficiency rating of Energy Class A for its full washing-to-drying cycle. The new HeatPump WasherDryer upholds this benchmark, once again delivering Energy Class A performance across the entire cycle. Equipped with cutting-edge DUAL Inverter HeatPump™ technology and low-GWP refrigerants such as R290, the WasherDryer delivers exceptional energy efficiency while meeting Europe’s strict standards. Its built-under design with large load capacity optimizes space utilization for European households, while advanced AI algorithms provide tailored fabric care. With this highly efficient lineup, LG aims to reinforce its leadership in Europe’s energy-conscious washer-dryer all-in-one market.

Grounded in its sustainability efforts, LG’s new washers feature the Microplastic Care Cycle, which reduces up to 60 percent^* of microplastics released from synthetic fibers during washing. In addition, advanced AI motion control enhances energy efficiency to the industry’s highest level. Leveraging AI Core-Tech driven by LG’s innovative AI DD™ technology, the washers’ AI Wash™ function detects weight to select the optimal wash pattern – minimizing damage to delicate fabrics while consuming less energy.

LG’s new dryer models also achieve industry-leading Energy Class A efficiency. Powered by the AI Dual Inverter™ technology, the AI Dry™ feature intelligently detects the weight, fabric type and humidity of the load, to adjust the drying speed, particularly for soft fabrics, and reduce energy consumption.

Recognizing that many European customers prefer installing appliances themselves, LG provides self-installation checkup features through the LG ThinQ service. Moreover, the newly introduced Comfort Kit for the new 24-inch European laundry lineup enhances usability and accessibility for all households.

With this expanded portfolio of heat pump laundry solutions, LG continues to grow its presence in Europe by addressing local needs and preferences. Intuitive displays, streamlined controls and automatic cycle optimization simplify everyday laundry tasks, while stylish designs – including the 24-inch WashTower European model available in multiple colors – seamlessly integrate into modern interiors.

“Drawing on extensive customer insights and advanced AI, LG has gained a deep understanding of Europeans’ unique lifestyles and laundry habits,” said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of the LG Home Appliance Solution Company. “This enables us to deliver solutions tailored to local needs, further strengthening our leadership in Europe across the global home appliance market.”

About LG Electronics Home Appliance Solution Company

The LG Home Appliance Solution Company (HS) is a global leader in home appliances and AI home solutions. By leveraging industry-leading core technologies, the HS Company is committed to enhancing consumers’ quality of life and promoting sustainability. The company develops thoughtfully designed kitchen and living appliance solutions and has recently integrated LG’s Robot Business Division to incorporate advanced robot technologies into its home solutions. Together, these products offer enhanced convenience, exceptional performance, efficient operation and sustainable lifestyle solutions. For more news on LG, visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

TAIPEI, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — WCC Biomedical, a leader in novel drug delivery systems, will attend the upcoming NACDS Total Store Expo (TSE), where it will spotlight its proprietary WINMAP™ microarray patch (MAP) technology and launch two new products.

To explore WINMAP™ technology for vaccines and pharmaceuticals, join WCC at the Total Store Expo on August 23–25 in San Diego, CA: Booth # 900

Following a successful debut at BIO Asia in Taiwan (July 23–27), WCC will offer demonstrations of its new products at TSE, allowing attendees to witness the benefits of microneedle-based patch solutions for themselves. Its two new MAP products are a homeopathic pain-relief patch and a herbal MACA patch, both available via the standard dissolvable WINMAP platform. WCC will exhibit at TSE alongside its key partner and investor, Synmosa Group, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company in Taiwan.

“Our WINMAP™ platform sets a new standard for producing microneedles — with an unprecedented combination of high-precision molds, accurate drug loading, and efficient, scalable mass production,” remarked Ta-Jo Liu, Chairman and CEO of WCC Biomedical. “With this first-in-class platform, we aim to demonstrate how MAPs can expand possibilities for nutrition and pharmaceuticals with needle-free, painless delivery.”

Precision, scale, and consistency with WINMAP™

A next-generation drug delivery system, WINMAP™ uses micrometer-scale needles made of medical-grade polymers to deliver active ingredients painlessly through the skin —without the need for any kind of injection. The technology leverages a combination of penetration, dissolution, diffusion, and formulation to deliver active ingredients more effectively than traditional transdermal patches or topical creams.

Key features include:

• Needle-free, pain-free delivery: Eliminates the need for syringes, reducing the risk of infection and minimizing patient discomfort.
• Scalable production: WCC’s automated manufacturing lines can produce over 10 million MAPs annually with high yield and consistency.
• Precision Loading and Coating (PLC) process: Provides customizable molding, accurate dosing, smart drying, and proprietary coating technologies.

Advanced formulation databases: The Microneedles Material Database (MMDB) and Microneedles Formulation Database (MFDB) support rapid development of MAPs with tailored release profiles, from rapid onset to controlled delivery.

Video link: https://youtu.be/uZpOmihUX90

Advancing health equity

In addition to improving patient comfort, MAPs are viable alternatives for low-resource areas where traditional injection-based therapies are impractical. At a time when medical aid for the developing world is receding, solutions like WINMAP™ have significant potential as high-impact solutions for advancing global health equity.

For more information, please visit: https://wccbiomedical.com/en/

About WCC Biomedical

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Taiwan’s renowned Hsinchu Science Park, WCC Biomedical is a Taiwan-based biotech innovator specializing in novel drug delivery systems, focusing on microarray patches (MAPs). WCC combines precision polymer engineering, scalable manufacturing, and advanced formulation science to develop MAPs for healthcare, pharmaceutical, and beauty applications. With 14 patents from the US, Europe, and Japan and a growing global footprint, WCC is committed to transforming how medicines and vaccines are delivered—painlessly, efficiently, and equitably.