KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Just ahead of Merdeka, Malaysia has made history with the launch of Ryt Bank, The World’s First AI-Powered Bank created by Malaysians, for Malaysians. Led by YTL Group in partnership with Sea Limited, Ryt Bank marks a bold leap into the nation’s digital future – combining world-class AI innovation with the values, languages, and lifestyles that define Malaysia.

“Ryt Bank demonstrates that groundbreaking innovation can be imagined, built, and led right here in Malaysia. By combining homegrown AI with the values and diversity of our people, we’ve created a bank that Malaysians can proudly call their own – one that speaks our languages, understands our culture, and sets a new standard for how banking should feel.” – Dato’ Seri Yeoh Seok Hong, Managing Director, YTL Power International.

Banking Designed Around Malaysians

With in-app access in Bahasa Malaysia and English, with Mandarin available by September 2025, Ryt Bank makes banking truly inclusive, ensuring every Malaysian can bank with ease in the language they know best. This multilingual approach bridges cultures and communities, making money management accessible, personal, and intuitive, so every feature feels familiar, human, and secure.

Meet Ryt AI – Your Intelligent, Secure Banking Assistant

At the heart of Ryt Bank is Ryt AI, an always-on banking assistant powered by ILMU, Malaysia’s first homegrown large language model. Ryt AI understands natural conversation – whether Bahasa Malaysia, English, or even Manglish – and can act instantly on everyday banking needs. From reading and paying bills to tracking spending and explaining financial basics in simple terms, Ryt AI brings together convenience, cultural fluency, and enterprise-grade security.

Built to solve real needs in one seamless app

Ryt Bank brings every part of your financial life together, from saving and earning daily interest, to getting instant credit – It speaks your language, understands your needs, and gives you the tools to manage, grow, and access your money:

1.Smarter, Personal Banking with Ryt AI
Ryt AI puts personalisation at its core, adapting to your habits, preferences, and language to make every interaction intuitive, familiar, and effortless.

• Pay your way – Chat naturally via text to send money or transfer funds via DuitNow and pay bills instantly.
• Snap, upload & pay – Works with utility bills, receipts, and over 20,000 billers via JomPAY.
• Learn as you bank – From savings guides to finance basics, explained simply in the way Malaysians speak, making financial literacy accessible to everyone.
• Secure & seamless – Every action is verified and encrypted before it’s done.
• Special launch reward – Try Ryt AI and get up to RM5.

2. Grow Your Money, Effortlessly
Savings that support both your everyday needs and future plans.

• Earn interest up to 4% p.a., paid daily into your account.
• No lock-in. Just daily growth.

3. *Ryt PayLater – credit for your everyday 

• Instant credit up to RM1,499 to start.
• No documents. No late fees.
• 0% interest when paid within the first month.
• Earn 1.2% cashback on DuitNow QR payments.
• 2X cashback with participating ecosystem partners such as Yes stores.
  *Eligibility check applies

4. Spend Anywhere with the All-in-One Ryt Card      
Switch between debit and credit instantly in the app & and enjoy global acceptance powered by Visa.
For a limited time, customers can enjoy a special edition Ryt Card design and get their card for free. 

• Unlimited 1.2% cashback overseas.
• Zero foreign transaction fees.
• Zero ATM withdrawal fees nationwide.
• Exclusive partner rewards — enjoy an RM8 Shopee voucher when you pay with your Ryt Card and savor 20% off dining at YTL Hotels restaurants. More to come.

Safe, Licensed, and Trusted

Ryt Bank is licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia, with your money protected by PIDM (up to RM250,000 per depositor). Our advanced security features include biometric login, multi-layered encryption, and real-time fraud alerts.

A Proud Malaysian Innovation

Ryt Bank is more than a financial product. It’s a symbol of Malaysia’s capability to innovate for its own people. Download Ryt Bank today from the App Store or Google Play and experience smarter banking, your way.

Instagram: @rytbankmy
HYPERLINK https://instagram.com/rytbankmy Facebook: Ryt Bank
Website: www.rytbank.my

About Ryt Bank

Ryt Bank is The World’s First AI-powered bank, led by YTL Group in partnership with Sea Limited. Committed to inclusive innovation, Ryt Bank blends technology with cultural intelligence – making banking simpler, smarter, and more secure for every Malaysian.

Develop Smart Technologies from Scratch

HONG KONG, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) concluded its Summer Internship Programme on 15 August.  A total of 38 interns from top-tier universities worldwide, selected from 2,500 applicants, have successfully completed an enriching eight-week work experience.

“At ASTRI, we are committed to nurturing young talent and driving innovation forward,” said Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI. “I’m delighted to see how the internship programme has inspired these bright minds to embark on their innovation and technology (I&T) journey in this vibrant city after graduation.” 

Industry Engagement

During the programme, ASTRI’s talent acquisition team organised a series of events, including a CTO Dialogue, two “Tech Talk” seminars, a presentation skill training workshop, company visits and networking sessions. These activities offered interns valuable exposures to industry experts and insights into Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem.

Visits to organisations such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), Cyberport, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, IBM and HKSTP Experience Centre provided a comprehensive understanding of the industry landscape.

Funded by the STEM Internship Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Innovation and Technology Commission, the programme paired interns with senior researchers to work on hands-on research and development (R&D) projects. These projects spanned diverse areas, including AI-powered solutions, digital health, FinTech, green technologies, robotics and more.

Smart Technologies for Greater Good

Darshbir Singh Kohli developed a real-time monitoring system to track environmental conditions and optimises inverter efficiency. His projects contribute to the development of a solar-powered bi-directional DC-AC inverter and EV charging station, advancing smarter energy management and sustainability.

A first-year engineering student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Darshbir shared, “I felt deeply motivated knowing that my work could make a tangible impact on improving the environment and achieving carbon neutrality.”

Russell Lam, a second-year life science student at the University of Toronto, contributed to the development of an electronic nose system to classify food waste based on gas profiles. He conducted rough trials, determined the concentration range for spoilage gases, and experimented with flow and diffusion sensor systems.

This low-cost energy solution efficiently sorts food waste for reuse in energy production or animal feed, promoting sustainable waste management. Reflecting on the internship, Russell said: “The opportunity to develop the electronic nose system from concept to prototype taught me the importance of considering both technical feasibility and practical implementation in innovation.”

AI-powered Financial Solutions

Heison Cheung addressed financial fraud by creating a font recognition model to detect fake bank statements. Using real data and a convolutional neural network, he developed a system capable of identifying unusual font styles, even detecting subtle variations that might escape human notice.

A second-year data science and analytics student at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Heison described his experience as transformative: “Working at ASTRI has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. I had the opportunity to apply my knowledge to real-world problems, contribute to meaningful solutions, and learn from seasoned professionals.”

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3JEUouo

About ASTRI

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competence in various areas is grouped under five Technology Divisions: Advanced Electronic Components and Systems; Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies; Communications Technologies; Intelligent Perception and Control Technologies, and IoT Sensing and AI Technologies. It is applied across six core areas which are Smart City, Financial Technologies, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Health, Application Specific Integrated Circuits and Metaverse.

Over the years, ASTRI has nurtured a pool of research, I&T talents and received numerous international awards for its pioneering innovations as well as outstanding business and community contributions. ASTRI has transferred close to 1,600 technologies to the industry and has been granted about 1,200 patents in the Mainland, the United States, and other countries. For further information, please visit www.astri.org

SINGAPORE, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentium, a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore, is proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INSEAD, one of the world’s foremost and largest graduate business schools, to launch the inaugural Ascentium-INSEAD Leadership Development Programme. This bespoke initiative is designed invest in our leadership within Ascentium, underscoring the company’s commitment to building a resilient leadership pipeline.

The full-time residential programme, tailored specifically for Ascentium’s C-suite executives, will take place from 25–29 August 2025 at the INSEAD Asia Campus in Singapore. It will bring together top talents identified for their potential to assume senior business roles.

The curriculum, developed in collaboration with INSEAD’s Global Private Equity Initiative (GPEI), focuses on the theme “The Strategic Leader – Shaping Private Equity Success”. Participants will engage in immersive workshops, simulations, and case studies covering topics such as strategic growth in a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) world, stakeholder expectations, and innovation in tech and AI.

“As we navigate the complexities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, marked by rapid technological change and macroeconomic uncertainty, our partnership with INSEAD is a strategic step to future-proof our leadership,” said Lennard Yong, Founding Management & Group CEO of Ascentium. “Many corporations aspire to put people first, but at Ascentium, we turn that aspiration into action. By investing in our top leadership and sponsoring a residential programme at INSEAD, we empower our global talent to achieve competitive excellence.”

“Ascentium is a fascinating company. Only recently born, it already has achieved outstanding growth, despite operating in a highly competitive and mature industry with formidable competitors. Ascentium’s leaders have a clear vision and strategy to achieve it, as well as a proven track record in doing so,” said Professor Philipp Meyer-Doyle, Programme Director for Ascentium, INSEAD. “I am truly impressed by Ascentium’s dedication to investing and developing its human capital resources which is outstanding in an industry that is often dominated by margins and short-term oriented mindsets. We look forward to our partnership with Ascentium, to these customised programmes, and to helping Ascentium scale greater heights.”

The Ascentium-INSEAD Leadership Development Programme is the first step in a multi-year partnership that reflects Ascentium’s long-term commitment to professional development. It marks a milestone in the company’s journey to build a culture of excellence, ambition, and stewardship, and is testament to the belief that investing in people is investing in the future.

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 45 cities across 23 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 INSEAD

As one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society. Our research, teaching and partnerships reflect this global perspective and cultural diversity. Our global perspective and unparalleled cultural diversity are reflected in our research, teaching, partnerships; as well as in our alumni network of over 71,000 members spanning 172 nationalities.

With locations in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi), and North America (San Francisco), INSEAD’s business education and research spans four regions. Our 160 renowned Faculty members from 38 countries inspire more than 1,500 degree participants annually in our Master in Management, MBA, Global Executive MBA, Specialised Master’s degrees (Executive Master in Finance and Executive Master in Change) and PhD programmes. In addition, more than 18,000 executives participate in INSEAD Executive Education programmes each year.

INSEAD continues to conduct cutting-edge research and innovate across all our programmes. We provide business leaders with the knowledge and awareness to operate anywhere. Our core values drive academic excellence and serve the global community as The Business School for the World.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has hand-picked Asia’s most feline-friendly destinations to cater to cat enthusiasts across the continent. From charming villages to bustling cities, these locations offer unique experiences for travelers looking to celebrate their love for cats.

For many, encountering a cat while traveling adds a sprinkle of magic to the experience. Wandering through unfamiliar streets with a furry friend nearby or finding a Zen moment with a temple cat transforms ordinary trips into extraordinary tales. Whether it’s the playful antics of street cats or the serene presence of temple felines, these destinations provide a purr-fect backdrop for unforgettable adventures.

1. Houtong Cat Village, Taiwan
   Once a mining village, Houtong has transformed into a cat haven. The village is filled with cat-themed decorations, cafes, and, of course, plenty of cats. Visitors can enjoy leisurely strolls while interacting with the friendly feline residents, making it a must-visit for cat lovers.
2. Jiufen, Taiwan
   This charming mountain town is not only famous for its scenic views and tea houses but also for its resident cats that roam the streets and welcome visitors. The combination of breathtaking landscapes and feline companionship makes Jiufen a delightful destination for those seeking a unique travel experience.
3. Kuching, Malaysia
   Often referred to as the “City of Cats,” Kuching features cat statues, a cat museum, and a generally feline-friendly atmosphere. The city’s dedication to celebrating cats is evident in its cultural landmarks, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in a truly cat-centric environment.
4. Gotokuji Temple, Tokyo, Japan
   Known as the birthplace of the “Maneki-neko” or “beckoning cat,” this temple is filled with thousands of cat statues, believed to bring good luck and fortune. The serene setting and rich history make Gotokuji Temple a fascinating stop for cat enthusiasts exploring Tokyo.
5. Si Yaek Huatakhe Cafe & Guesthouse, Bangkok, Thailand
   In the Lat Krabang area, cat boat tours offer a unique experience of cruising through the canals with feline companions. Visitors can enjoy canal sightseeing alongside resident cats, who sometimes even jump between boats. Additionally, some tours focus on environmental efforts, providing an enriching experience for cat lovers who also care about sustainability.

Jun Dong, Associate Vice President at Agoda shared, “Every cat lover deserves a pawsome adventure. With the best deals on accommodations, flights, and activities, Agoda helps travelers discover the most charming feline-friendly spots across Asia, ensuring that their favorite furry friends are never too far away.”

Agoda offers over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app and start planning the next cat-themed adventure. Visit Agoda.com for more information.

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the world’s leading 3D printer manufacturer Creality is launching K2 and K2 Pro, an expansion to its flagship K series. Based on an ultra-sturdy metal build and an advanced step-servo system, the flagship K2 lineup introduces multicolour & multi-material printing, AI functions, and next-gen performance at two different build volumes, making the most powerful K series Creality has to offer.

CFS-Powered Capabilities and Features

Following last year’s K2 Plus, K2 and K2 Pro are also built for multicolour and multi-material printing. Both models can be paired with CFS for multicolour printing (up to 4 CFS units for a maximum of 16 colours) or to create snap-away or water-soluble support for minimal post-processing. Creality’s CFS also functions as a smart filament system that automatically identifies the colour and filament type you are using (requires Creality RFID filaments) or, upon filament runs out, it automatically relays printing if the same filament is detected in another slot. When not printing, the CFS keeps filaments dry and ready to print with built-in desiccants. The built-in display on CFS shows the humidity and temperature inside and how many CFS are connected.

Ultra-Sturdy Metal Build

The K2 and K2 Pro, featuring die-cast aluminium alloy frame parts, offer a rock-solid platform for the toolhead’s movement. The X-axis is a rigid steel linear rail that is highly resistant to wear, delivering consistent precision over time. Paired with a step-servo motor system, the printer achieves ultra-fine extrusion for exquisite print details — all while maintaining smooth operation at speeds up to 600 mm/s and acceleration of 20,000 mm/s² (K2 Plus accelerates at a maximum 30,000 mm/s²).

Next-Gen Performance Advancements

Active chamber heating is the vital feature that sets K2 Plus and K2 Pro apart from common 3D printers. The active chamber heating (up to 60 °C/140 °F), coupled with an enclosure, a powerful part cooling fan (K2 Plus has two), and a hardened steel nozzle (up to 40 mm³/s) that is abrasive-resistant, empowers the K2 Pro to tackle demanding and even ultra-high-performance filaments like PA-CF and PPA-CF. While K2 does not feature active chamber heating, K2 performs reliably well with popular engineering filaments such as ABS and PLA-CF.

Cameras for AI Functions

The K2 Series is now even smarter with integrated cameras for AI functions. All three K2 models now feature a chamber-mounted AI camera that enables intelligent error detection, such as spaghetti warning and build plate check — reminding users if the heatbed is empty without a build plate, not an uncommon scenario for makers or print farmers during continuous printing. K2 Pro goes even further with the extra nozzle AI camera, unlocking advanced capabilities like auto-adjusting flow rate and detecting waste chute blockage to secure a higher printing success rate, especially for multicolour printing.

More Features from K2 and K2 Pro

Both K2 and K2 Pro feature Creality’s next-generation levelling method — Smart Auto Levelling, which speeds up bed levelling by probing only where your model will be printed. Connectivity options include USB and 2.4G Wi-Fi on both models, while K2 Pro adds an Ethernet port for enhanced professional workflows. A responsive 4-inch touchscreen makes navigating the interface effortless. Activate Quiet Mode to get an ultra-quiet printing experience. K2 has built-in 8GB of ROM, and K2 Pro has 32GB of ROM — ideal for handling more model files.

Pricing and Availability

K2 and K2 Pro will be available in both standard and combo versions. K2 starts at $549 for the standard model, and $699 for the combo. K2 Pro starts at $849 for the standard model, and $1049 for the combo. Available to order on August 25 — through Creality Official Store, Amazon, and authorised partners.

About Creality

Started in 2014, Creality has been dedicated to making 3D printing accessible to more. The Ender-3, originally launched in 2017, has become one of the best-selling 3D printers. The current flagship K series keeps pushing the limits of what the next-gen maker machines should be like. Other notable series include the Ender, Hi, and CR lineup.

In-house developed software like Creality Print and Creality Cloud App builds a seamless workflow. With a variety of filaments, 3D scanners, laser engravers, and related accessories and parts, Creality offers a one-stop 3D printing solution, bringing infinite possibilities for global makers.