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Vision International Changed Name to Ficus Technology


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 August 2024 – Ficus Technology Holdings Limited (“Ficus Technology“, the “Company” and its subsidiaries, together, the “Group“, stock code: 8107) announced the change of name of the Company from ”Vision International Holdings Limited” to ”Ficus Technology Holdings Limited” on 8 August 2024 to reflect the future strategic positioning and business development of the Gorup.

The imagery of the Ficus tree resonates with the development strategies of the Group: (i) the Ficus tree’s robust roots and branches stand tall, standing alone like a forest and remaining evergreen throughout the year, allowing it to thrive in diverse conditions. This symbolises the Group’s resilience and ability to grow in various market environments; and (ii) the Ficus tree can rapidly grow and spread widely within a short time. This represents the Group’s potential for rapid growth and expansion. Further, the term “Technology” indicates the Group’s commitment to continuously develop its innovative supply chain management solutions, which is believed to be a new engine of the Group.

Mr. Chan Ting, Chairman and Executive Director of Ficus Technology, said, “As the company completes its name change, we are standing at a new starting point and facing future challenges and opportunities with a brand-new image. This step is not just a simple name change; it indicates that we will move towards a broader market with clear direction and strong determination. This will not only be beneficial to the current and future business expansion and brand building of the Company, but also create more value for investors, employees and partners. We look forward to unveiling this new chapter of the Company.”

Hashtag: #FicusTechnology

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Ficus Technology Holdings Limited

Ficus Technology Holdings Limited is a well-established supply chain management (“SCM”) services provider based in Hong Kong, which business expanded to China and Overseas. The Group has developed a vertically integrated business model with services ranging across market trend analysis, product design and development, sourcing of suppliers, production management, logistics services and quality control. In order to enhance the Group’s competitiveness in the market, the Group had advanced its supply chain management service to include anti-counterfeit, traceability and marketing functions. The Group’s services may have a wide range of application scenarios, such as apparel, food, cinema, sports and other industries.

First Recipients of ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships Announced: Boosting Gender Equality in STEM


JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 August 2024 – The UK today announced the first recipients of its ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, awarded under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme. Launched earlier this year, this new scholarship scheme aims to address gender disparities in access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers across ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste.

After a highly competitive selection process which saw hundreds of students from across all ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste apply, the UK is delighted to recognise 10 outstanding women as our first successful scholars. These talented individuals share a passion and vision to make a difference through STEM, a field where women are traditionally underrepresented. Women account for only 29.2% of the STEM workforce globally, despite representing almost half of the non-STEM employment sector (World Economic Forum).

Each recipient will receive a fully funded opportunity to complete a master’s degree at one of two prestigious Universities in the UK: the University of Warwick and Imperial College London. They will be travelling to the UK to take up their studies from September 2024. We hope that these scholars will go on to have successful careers in STEM, and to become inspirational role models to other women, as advocates and leaders in their field.

Scholarship Recipients (2024)

The first recipients of ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarship recipients are:

  • Chou I, Heng (Cambodia) – MSc Analytical Sciences and Instrumentation, University of Warwick
  • Alvi, Nava (Indonesia) – MSc Environmental Technology, Imperial College London
  • Ng, Charlene (Malaysia) – MSc Computer Science, University of Warwick
  • Thet, Win Nandar (Myanmar) – MSc Humanitarian Engineering with Sustainability, University of Warwick
  • Onglao, Maria Andrea Kristina (the Philippines) – MSc Environmental Data Science and Machine Learning, Imperial College London
  • Mohd Rafiq, Nafisah (Singapore) – MSc Environmental Technology, Imperial College London
  • Yoswaris, Punnapa (Thailand) – MSc Climate Change, Management and Finance, Imperial College London
  • Lam, Ngoc Ngan (Vietnam) – MSc Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, University of Warwick
  • Nguyen, Ha Phuong Thao (Vietnam) – MSc Engineering Business Management, University of Warwick
  • Guterres de Sa Benevides, Dirce Maria Jose (Timor-Leste) – MSc Engineering Business Management, University of Warwick

These outstanding scholars were selected from a pool of high calibre applicants, based on their academic achievements, leadership potential, and dedication to make significant contributions to the STEM field.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme is the UK’s flagship education programme in ASEAN, aiming to improve foundational learning outcomes in basic literacy and numeracy, support girls and marginalised groups to access education, and to break down gender barriers to digital skills and employment, thus empowering young women to flourish to their full potential.

The scholarships have been developed by the British Council and are funded by the UK Government through the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme.

Secretary-General of ASEAN, H. E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn said:

“This scholarship programme underscores the UK and ASEAN’s shared commitment to gender equality and female empowerment in STEM. By supporting girls and marginalised communities in accessing education and improving foundational learning, we aim to bridge the gender gap and foster a more inclusive and innovative future. ASEAN is pleased with the positive outcomes from the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme, which aims to enhance collaboration and mutual benefits between the regions.”

Ambassador of the UK to ASEAN, H. E. Sarah Tiffin said:

“As an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the UK is committed to advancing girls’ education across ASEAN region through the SAGE programme, ensuring equitable access to quality education for all girls. We are excited to offer this great opportunity to our new scholars. Their talent and dedication is inspirational, and we look forward to seeing how they will shape the future of STEM in ASEAN after studying at the UK’s world-class universities.”

Summer Xia, Director Southeast Asia, British Council said:

“We are immensely proud of these women and their accomplishments. As the lead implementation partner of the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme, the British Council is honoured to support the educational journey of these outstanding scholars. We believe their success stories and future contribution will be invaluable to the advancement of STEM disciplines and inspire many more women and girls to follow in their footsteps.”

ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships were open to women from all ASEAN Member States (AMS); Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam, as well as Timor-Leste.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships contribute to furthering the goals set out in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (4, 10 and 17), and ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022–2026 particularly in strengthening engagement between UK and ASEAN education institutions, staff, and students through scholarship initiatives.

For more information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.id/en/programmes/education/sage

For further information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please contact:

UniPrayuti.Prayuti@britishcouncil.org

Panisara.Paireepinath@britishcouncil.org

Note for editors: background info on ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme

The ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education Programme or ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme is a five-year UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) funded programme for ASEAN and Timor-Leste running between 2023 and 2028 with funding up to GBP 30 million.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme was officially announced in May 2023 at the Education World Forum (EWF) in London.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme supports better education outcomes for women and girls and marginalised groups. It supports delivery of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2021 – 2025, the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV 2021 – 2025, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint. The Programme also supports action lines under the 2016 ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Education for Out-of-School Children and Youth.

Specifically, ASEAN-UK SAGE aims to provide evidence-based technical input that enables key players in the region including the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), and ASEAN Member States (AMS) to develop effective policies and programmes that improve foundational learning for all and tackle exclusion and constraints limiting the achievement of girls and marginalised groups.

The programme is delivered through the following workstreams/pillars:

* Foundational learning crisis, post pandemic

* Out-of-school girls and marginalised groups

* Gender barriers to digital skills and employment

The integration of education technology cuts across all three pillars.

Activities under the Programme include technical assistance; project-type interventions; research, evidence, and data; and advocacy.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme is co-led and delivered by British Council (www.britishcouncil.org) and SEAMEO Secretariat (www.seameo.org) in partnership with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) (www.acer.org) and EdTech Hub (www.edtechhub.org).

Hashtag: #BritishCouncil

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Indian Nationals Freed From Cyber-Scam Centers in Laos

Indian Nationals Freed from Cyber-Scam Centers in Laos
Youths rescued by the Indian Embassy from cyber-crime centres in Golden Triangle SEZ, Laos. (Photo Credit: Indian Embassy in Laos)

The Indian Embassy in Laos announced the successful rescue of 14 more Indian youth from cyber-scam centers in the Bokeo’s Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on 8 August.

Vientiane Intensifies Illicit Billboard Removal Ahead of ASEAN Summits

Vientiane Intensifies Illicit Billboard Removal Ahead of ASEAN Summits
Authorities are removing the illicit sign (Photo credit: Kataiy Maknosa)

Amid a surge in unauthorized billboards, Vientiane authorities are intensifying efforts to remove these signs across the city as part of preparations for the upcoming ASEAN Summits.

Seminar Aims to Tackle Misinformation, Strengthens Journalistic Integrity

The speaker, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Phosy Keomanivong (Photo: Vientiane Times)

On 8 August, the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism hosted a seminar as part of Lao Media Day to address the escalating issue of misinformation on social media. The event highlighted the key role of journalists in combating fake news and emphasized the need for accurate reporting in the digital age.

Verve Achieves Organic Revenue Growth of 26% and EBITDA Growth of 37% in Q2 2024 – Increasing Guidance 2024 to 400-420 million revenues and 125-135 million adj. EBITDA

Net Revenues increased by 27% to 96.6 (76.2) €m

  • 26% fx adjusted Organic Revenue Growth (Q2’23: 1%)
  • 33% increase in number of Software Clients to 851 (Q2’23: 642)
  • 24% increase in Ad Impressions to 224 billion (Q2’23: 181 billion)

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 37% to 29.1 (21.3) €m

  • Structurally improved EBITDA margin of 30% (Q2’23: 28%) due to growing operating leverage
  • Adjusted Net Debt Leverage Ratio reduced to 2.8x (June 2023: 3.2x)
  • Adj. Net result amounted to 8.8 (Q2’23: 4.0) €m, an increase of 122%
  • Earnings per Share of 0.04 (Q2’23: 0.01) €, an increase of 308%

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – EQS Newswire – 12 August 2024 (08:00 CEST) – Verve Group SE (“Verve” or the “Company”, ISIN: SE0018538068; ticker: VER, Inside Information) a fast-growing, profitable digital media company that provides AI-driven advertising-software solutions, publishes a financial update in advance to the publication of its Interim Report Q2 2024 on 29 August.

KEY FIGURES Q2 2024

In €m 2024 Q2 2023 Q2
Net Revenues 96.6 76.2
Y-o-Y Growth in Revenues 27% -2%
EBITDA 28.1 20.0
EBITDA Margin 29% 26%
Adj. EBITDA 29.1 21.3
Adj. EBITDA Margin 30% 28%
EBIT 19.6 12.8
EBIT Margin 20% 17%
Adj. EBIT 23.2 16.6
Adj. EBIT Margin 24% 22%
Net Result 6.3 1.5
Net Result Margin 6% 2%
Adj. Net Result 8.8 4.0
Adj. Net Result Margin 9% 5%


FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

In €m

FY2023 Initial Guidance 2024 Second Guidance 2024

(post Jun)

Third Guidance 2024
Revenue 322 350-370 380-400 400-420
Adj. EBITDA 95 100-110 115-125 125-135


QUOTE FROM THE CEO

“With 96.6 €m revenues achieved in the second quarter, we have delivered an organic revenue growth rate of 26%. Our ability to drive higher revenues on a structurally reduced fixed costs basis enabled us to achieve improved profitability, resulting in an adj. EBITDA of 29.1 €m and an adj. EBITDA margin of 30%. Our commitment to privacy first advertising solutions which results in better outcomes for our clients is the main driver of this success. This is evidenced by a strong increase in the number of large software clients, which increased by 33% to 851 while the number of ad impressions increased by 24% to 224 billion. Based on our expanded customer reach, as well as further customer onboardings driven by our ongoing investments into privacy first targeting solutions, we expect continued robust organic growth in the years to come. As a result, we raise our Guidance 2024 to 400-420 million revenues and 125-135 million adj. EBITDA. Our growth journey has just begun…” commented Remco Westermann, CEO of Verve.

The full Interim Report Q2 2024 will be published on the 29 August on Verve’s corporate website at https://investors.verve.com/investor-relations/financial-reports-and-presentations/ in the Investor Relations section.

Responsible parties

This information constitutes inside information that Verve Group SE is obliged to make public in accordance with the (EU) Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014. The information in this press release has been made public through the agency of the responsible person set out below for publication at the time stated by Verve’s news distributor EQS Newswire at the publication of this press release. The responsible person below may be contacted for further information.

Hashtag: #Verve

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Verve

Verve (“Verve” or the “Company”, ISIN: SE0018538068; ticker: VER / M8G) is a fast-growing, profitable digital media company that provides AI-driven ad-software solutions. Verve matches global advertiser demand with publisher ad-supply, enhancing results through first-party data from its own content. Aligned with our mission, “Let’s make media better,” the company focuses on enabling better outcomes for brands, agencies, and publishers with responsible advertising solutions, with an emphasis on emerging media channels. Verve’s main operational presence is in North America and Europe, and it is registered as a Societas Europaea in Sweden (registration number 517100-0143). Its shares are listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market in Stockholm and the Scale segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The company has two secured bonds listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Open Market. Verve’s certified advisor on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market is FNCA Sweden AB; contact info: .

www.investors.verve.com

Forward-looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s intentions, beliefs, or current expectations about and targets for the Company’s and the group’s future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, anticipated growth, strategies and opportunities and the markets in which the Company and the group operates. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “estimate”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “aim” or “might”, or, in each case, their negative, or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release, including the pro-forma financial figures addressed therein, are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements and pro-forma financial numbers are reasonable it can give no assurances that they will materialize or prove to be correct. Because these statements are based on assumptions or estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties, the actual results or outcome could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this release (including the pro-forma financial figures) are free from errors and readers of this release should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements that are expressly or implicitly contained herein speak only as of its date and are subject to change without notice. Neither the Company nor anyone else undertake to review, update, confirm or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this release, unless it is so required by law or applicable stock exchange rules.

Trend Micro Strengthens AI Deployments for Enterprises and Governments with NVIDIA AI Enterprise

Safeguarding AI and business resilience with NVIDIA NIM


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 August 2024 – Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704) has launched multiple efforts to shape the future of AI implementation by enterprises and governments. The new solution, included in Trend Micro’s Vision One™ Sovereign Private Cloud — powered by NVIDIA NIM microservices, part of the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform — will allow organizations to maximize the potential of the AI era while maintaining business resilience.

Eva Chen, Co-Founder and CEO at Trend: “We are not just adapting to an AI-driven world: we are creating it, helping to ensure that any team can securely innovate without elevating risk. New technology implemented appropriately should improve business resilience rather than impair it. Just as we did with the advent of cloud security, we are pioneering AI for security and security for AI.”

“Enterprises and governments are seeking ways to securely integrate AI into mission-critical systems while maintaining full control of proprietary data,” said Justin Boitano, Vice President of Enterprise Products at NVIDIA. “The NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform provides the performance, reliability and security needed for advanced data protection and operational efficiency.”

Adopting new technology can pose challenges, and leaders in business and governments worldwide are especially concerned with reducing risk at all levels during the process. Trend recognizes the importance of deploying generative AI and is collaborating with NVIDIA to develop strategies to secure generative AI to enable long-term business transformations. Shortsighted integration strategies that over prioritize early outcomes can lead to elevated risks of misconfigurations, vulnerabilities or data breaches.

A leading technology provider supporting systems across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, spoke under anonymity: “Organizations around the world that are required to maintain the most stringent data sovereignty and privacy requirements often cannot use public cloud-based AI. Now get the best of both worlds. These offerings are setting a new standard for securing AI implementations, and we are excited to be a part of this journey.”

Trend is focused on understanding infrastructure changes, user behaviors and operational needs to safeguard data against both known and unknown risks at every stage of adoption in a new technological era.

Trend technology is certified to meet local compliance requirements in 175+ countries, making it a global leader in adapting to security regulations and protecting data sovereignty. Regardless of the customer environment—cloud, SaaS, on-premises, sovereign, private or AI data centers—Trend spans across Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud clouds and containers that can move around within different platforms.

GMI Cloud supports on-demand access to NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs and is an AI technology partner with Trend Micro. Alex Yeh, CEO at GMI Cloud, said: “We have yet to see anyone introduce security capabilities at this level for AI technology. We value the ability to use the same AI security rules and platform to manage customers’ AI data tools across any environment.”

Trend’s integration with the NVIDIA AI platform — including NVIDIA AI Enterprise, which includes NVIDIA NIM microservices, the NVIDIA Morpheus cybersecurity framework and more — meets use cases in demand today by enterprises, governments and critical infrastructure organizations worldwide that are seeking reliable and effective technology partners to guide AI implementation and operations.

AI for Security

  • Trend Vision One Companion, an AI assistant leveraging NVIDIA NIM microservices and accelerated computing, provides proactive threat detection and response, and sensitive data protection even in air-gapped environments, while accelerating productivity and response to adversaries.
  • Customers of Trend Vision One platform, leveraging NVIDIA Morpheus, benefit from extended detection and response (XDR) models that can process and classify larger volumes of user data better than ever—for faster threat and anomaly detections. This can help to de-noise and build up fingerprints from typical user behaviors, allowing human analysts to concentrate on the most important events.

Security for AI

  • Even the most tightly controlled organizations, like governments and critical infrastructure groups, can use AI without compromising data sovereignty with Trend Vision One Sovereign and Private Cloud integration with NVIDIA NIM microservices.

Hashtag: #trendmicro #trendvisionone #visionone #cybersecurity #AIsecurity #SovereignPrivateCloud




The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s AI-powered cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, Trend’s platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 70 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world.

Blacore Digital Services Media Enters Malaysian Market, Leading New Media Innovation

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 August 2024 – Blacore Digital Services Media, a global leader in new media services, announced its entry into the Malaysian market today, marking a milestone in its global strategy. This move expands Blacore’s presence in Southeast Asia and brings a fresh experience in short videos and live streaming to Malaysian users.

Since its founding in 2018, Blacore Digital Services Media has been committed to transforming the new media industry through innovative technology and high-quality content. The company has achieved success globally, particularly in short video production, live streaming services, and brand promotion. Entering the Malaysian market is expected to strengthen Blacore’s position in Southeast Asia.

“Malaysia is a vibrant market with a diverse cultural background and a highly active digital user base,” said a Blacore spokesperson. “We are excited to bring our innovative media solutions to Malaysia, offering users an unprecedented visual and auditory experience. Our goal is to collaborate with Malaysian creators and brands through localized content and services to drive growth in the new media industry.”

Blacore Digital Services Media will focus on several key areas for success in Malaysia:

Localized Content Production: The company plans to establish a content creation team in Malaysia, producing short videos and live streams aligned with local culture and user preferences. This ensures the company provides high-quality content with a local flavor, meeting the diverse needs of Malaysian users.

Collaboration with Local Platforms and Brands: Blacore will partner with Malaysian digital platforms and brands to co-create and promote brand content. These collaborations will help the company integrate more effectively into the market and increase brand recognition.

Technological Innovation and Data Analysis: The company will leverage big data analytics and artificial intelligence to optimize content recommendations and user experiences. Blacore will offer personalized content to Malaysian users, enhancing engagement and interaction.

Blacore Digital Services Media also plans to launch support programs for local creators and brands in Malaysia, including content creation training, marketing support, and financial assistance. These initiatives aim to help local creators improve content quality, expand their influence, and support Malaysian brands internationally.

Blacore’s expansion into the Malaysian market marks a crucial step in its global strategy. Blacore is committed to innovation and business expansion, offering new media services worldwide. Through its presence in Malaysia, Blacore aims to create a brighter future for new media and explore possibilities with local partners.

Hashtag: #BlacoreDigitalServicesMedia

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.