Year: 2021

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KL’s river water levels closedly monitored to avoid second wave of floods – Shahidan

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will continue monitoring the water levels in the federal capital’s rivers to ensure a high level of preparedness if the second wave of floods occurs.

Federal Territories Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim said the ministry’s focus was on Klang but for Kuala Lumpur, early information on impending floods could be given with the involvement of various agencies and departments, and use of the camera system that it has.

Earlier, he was handing out the Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) of RM1,000 each and another RM300 each from Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan to 129 families from Jalan Tiong Nam, 55 families from Taman Hock Ann and 117 from Kampung Petaling Bahagia.

The handing-out of the cash aid to residents affected by the floods, a landslide and a fire incident here started on Dec 28.

One of the recipients, Lim Yat Siew, 57, said the cash aid could enable him to repair his damaged house and its electrical wiring system and to buy basic necessities.

He also praised DBKL’s quick action of carrying out cleansing work in his neighbourhood and Bernama observed that the area was now clean, with no rubbish by the roadsides.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Floods : MAFI allocates RM100 million to assist agro-food sector

JELEBU, Dec 30 — The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (MAFI) will allocate RM100 million under the Agro Family Revival Fund to ease the burden of agro-food entrepreneurs who have been affected by the recent floods.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the fund which is part of the RM4.2 billion allocated to the ministry under Budget 2021, would soon be distributed to those involved through various departments such as the Fisheries, Veterinary and Agriculture departments.

It is hoped that the aid which would be given in the form of agricultural and livestock inputs, equipment such as machinery, storage tanks and Agrobank funds would be able to ease the burden of those affected and help to revive the country’s agro-food sector.

“The floods have caused massive damage and issues over food supply and food security are among MAFI’s priority and this a proactive step taken by MAFI.

“So the allocation will be used to rebuild the sector, help young agropreneurs who have been affected as well as promote community programmes, organic agriculture and agro-tourism being managed by MAFI,” he told reporters today after inspecting a farm which had been hit by the recent floods.

He said the country’s agro-food sector has so far recorded losses of RM63 million involving 4,700 operators, following the floods and the number is expected to increase based on a comprehensive data supplied by departments and agencies under MAFI.

However, Ronald assured that the country still has sufficient food supply and is prepared to increase import quotas, especially for rice supply to meet the needs of the people in the event of a food shortage.

“So far, the country is not faced with a food shortage crisis and MAFI is monitoring the effects of the floods on the supply of rice, vegetables and meat and we will ensure that those affected by the floods would be able to proceed with their businesses,” he said.

In addition, he said the agro-food sector would also benefit from the Malaysian Family Flood Assistance worth RM1.4 billion and MAFI would see to the aid coordination to ensure flood victims under the sector received the appropriate assistance.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Lembaga Zakat Selangor receives HR Asia Award

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) received the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2021 (Malaysian edition) award during a prestigious ceremony held recently.

It was among 43 companies out of 270 participating local and international companies operating in Malaysia that received the award.

LZS chief executive officer Saipolyazan M. Yusop who accepted the award said it was a recognition for LZS, as well as other zakat institutions in Malaysia in general.

He said it indirectly proved the ability of zakat management companies to be managed professionally and in accordance to international standards, thus increasing the confidence of individuals and companies to continue paying their zakat in Selangor.

“This recognition is also specially addressed to LZS staff, for their hard work and determination to do the best for asnaf (zakat recipients) as well as zakat payers, especially during this pandemic situation,” he said in a statement today.

The ‘HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia’ is an annual programme organised by HR Asia to recognise organisations across Asia for their excellence in human resource management, employer branding and employee engagement.

Participating organisations are assessed based on a Total Engagement Assessment Model (TEAM) survey on randomly selected employees.

LZS also presented the initiatives it undertook as an organisation that cared for the community and its employees during the COVID-19 period to the judging panel, before being selected as a winner.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Indonesia to let stranded Rohingya refugees ashore

Published by
Al-Araby

Indonesia on Wednesday said it will let dozens of Rohingya refugees come ashore after protests from locals and the international community over its plan to push them into Malaysian waters. At least 100 mostly women and children aboard a stricken wooden vessel off Aceh province were denied refuge in Indonesia, where authorities on Tuesday said they planned to push them into the neighbouring Southeast Asian country after fixing their boat. After a day-long meeting on Wednesday between officials in the coastal town of Bireuen, Jakarta backtracked and said the refugees’ boat would be towed to shor… Continue reading “Indonesia to let stranded Rohingya refugees ashore”

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[INVNT GROUP]™ Bets Big on Live; Enhances Live Brand Storytelling Capabilities with Newly Formed ITP LIVE, in the Strategic Acquisitions of InSync Production Services, Thunder Audio and Morpheus Lights.

Introducing ITP LIVE: An Integrated Production Services Division of INVNT®

New York, Dec. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — [INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT™ announces the strategic acquisitions of four historied live event production companies: ITP LIVE, InSync Production Services, Thunder Audio, and Morpheus Lights.

Led by President and CEO, Scott Cullather, [INVNT GROUP] represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward thinking brands everywhere, impact the audiences that matter anywhere.

“This deal is a key pillar of our integrated vertical growth strategy as [INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT. The dedicated search for these four companies has been in development for over 18 months. We sought leaders in the technical and production aspects of the live events industry, who were delivering premier production services to legacy brands and many of the world’s biggest peforming artists. These acquisitions will expand our innovation capabilities, allowing INVNT, our live events business, to offer our customers the ultimate in live events and experiential activations.”

Scott Cullather, President and CEO,  [INVNT GROUP]

[INVNT GROUP] consists of modern brand strategy firm, Folk Hero; creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; branded content studio and content marketing agency HEVĒ; collegiate events and experiences, INVNT Higher Education, the original global live brand storytelling agency, INVNT and now ITP LIVE consisting of: InSync Production Services, Thunder Audio and Morpheus Lights.

For more than twenty-five years, these production companies have supported the design and execution of experiential and live entertainment programs for many of the largest corporations, trade associations, sports franchises, governmental agencies (including the White House), and some of the most successful artists in the world: Bruce Springsteen, Snoop Dog, Lady Gaga, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Metallica, Post Malone, Tyler Perry and more.

The companies will continue to operate under their current names and will service their existing roster of clients, seek new clients, and providing services to synergistic INVNT opportunities and projects.

“Historically, producing live events has often required a great deal of outsourcing on virtually every project. Through these strategic acquisitions we will have end-to-end control over every aspect of our live events – especially quality and cost, continuing to deliver world-class service and at the very best value. The merging of resources and networks also gives us geographical spread across North America. Our anticipation is to continue growing these resources in other territories around the world. This is only the beginning.”

Kristina McCoobery, COO [INVNT GROUP] and CEO INVNT

Rooted in experiential marketing, [INVNT GROUP]’s expansion comes as part of a strategic, yet natural evolution. This business partnership creates a unique offering in the market, and enhances the group’s abilities to fulfill creative, technological, and strategic designs in dynamic new ways.

“When [INVNT GROUP] approached us about the idea of coming together and amplifying our resources, I was instantly drawn to the group’s commitment to impactful storytelling. Their award-winning work aligns with our vision of the newly formed ITP LIVE, that includes Insync Production Services, Thunder Audio and Morpheus Lights,. We’re excited by the incredible synergies created through our partnership and welcome a new chapter in designing the best events on the planet.”

Pat Hand, CEO, ITP LIVE

This transaction was structured by Wolf Karbe, CFO of [INVNT GROUP] and represented by Evergreen Advisors Capital and Center Rock Advisors. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About [INVNT GROUP]

[INVNT GROUP] was established in 2020, as an evolution of the founding global live brand storytelling agency INVNT in 2008, with a vision to provide consistent, meaningful, well-articulated BrandStory across all platforms. With offices in New York, Sydney, London, Singapore, San Francisco, Sydney, Stockholm, Detroit, and Washington D.C.; headed by President and CEO, Scott Cullather, [INVNT GROUP], THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT™ represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward-thinking organizations everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere. The GROUP consists of modern brand strategy firm, Folk Hero; creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; branded content studio and content marketing agency HEVĒ, INVNT Higher Ed; events for colleges and universities, and the original live brand storytelling agency, INVNT. For more information about [INVNT GROUP], visit: www.invntgroup.com.

About INVNT

Founded in 2008 by Scott Cullather and Kristina McCoobery, INVNT uses the craft of live brand storytelling to create and produce live experiences that excite and unite physical and virtual audiences, globally. The company’s ‘challenge everything’ positioning statement helps clients including General Motors, PepsiCo, Merck, Microsoft, Pfizer, and Samsung share their stories with every audience that matters. INVNT’s offices are strategically located in New York, London, Sydney, Detroit, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Stockholm and Singapore. For more information about INVNT, visit: www.invnt.com.

About ITP LIVE

ITP Live – Ideas. Technology. People. was Founded by Pat Hand (CEO) and Paul Mullen (COO) who collectively have over 60 years of experience in event design and production management.  Pat Hand, former CEO, PRG Mid-Atlantic and Paul Mullen former President and CEO, Greyhound Exposition Services have created, managed, and integrated world class companies and were forerunners of providing end to end, turnkey production solutions. Their strategy spans from concept through execution with a true 360 production approach. Pat and Paul will oversee management for InSync, Thunder Audio and Morpheus Lights, to ensure smooth integration and growth while fully maximizing production synergies with INVNT creating significant cost savings while ensuring best in class production support services.   For more information about ITP LIVE, visit: www.itplive.com

About INSYNC PRODUCTION SERVICES

An iconic show production company, founded over 25 years ago in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, powering the Indy 500, Super Bowl and supporting clients that include L’Oreal, Dell Computers, Nissan, Verizon and Wells Fargo. Built around the broadcast video landscape, a creative leader leveraging LED technology. For more information about Insync Production Services, visit: www.insyncproductionservices.com.

About THUNDER AUDIO

Thunder Audio, a family owned business for over 42 years, has amplified some of the largest musical artists in the world including: Billy Joel, Post Malone, Elton John, Lionel Ritchie, Metallica, Diana Ross, and Earth Wind and Fire. Thunder Audio design and produce dynamic audio services for live experiences of all varieties and scales. Thunder Audio has always been a part of supporting touring, music festivals, corporate events, broadcast, sporting and governmental events. Providing the finest technology with premier manufacturers in the industry. For more information about Thunder Audio, visit: www.thunderaudioinc.com.

About MORPHEUS LIGHTS

Morpheus Lights has staked a global claim in the art and science of performance illumination in live events. For over 25 years, the company has counted on top-tier technology partners like AYRTON, Martin/Harmon, and Clay Paky to support lighting design and execution on  tours and performances for Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, and Lady Gaga. The company uses an eco-conscious approach to all projects, constantly researching for the most environmentally friendly products. For more information about Morpheus Lights, visit: www.morpheuslights.com.

 

Attachment

Jhonathan Mendez de Leon
[INVNT GROUP]
3478192089
jmendezdeleon@invnt.com
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Indonesia’s new epicenter of forest fires shifts away from Sumatra and Borneo

Published by
Mongabay

JAKARTA — Indonesia’s land and forest fires burned a greater area this year than in 2020, with most of the fires occurring in West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, two provinces that were until recently not major sites of burning. As of the end of November, fires had burned 353,222 hectares (872,831 acres) of land, an area twice the size of London. This is up nearly 16% from the 296,942 hectares (733,759 acres) burned during the whole of 2020, according to official data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The largest increase in fires occurred in the provinces of West Nusa Teng… Continue reading “Indonesia’s new epicenter of forest fires shifts away from Sumatra and Borneo”

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Baylor Genetics and SRL, Inc. Initiate Clinical Grade of Whole Exome and Genome Sequencing Technology Transfer

Baylor Genetics, a joint venture of H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. and the No. 1 NIH-funded genetics program at Baylor College of Medicine in the U.S., and SRL, Inc., a consolidated subsidiary of H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. located in Tokyo, Japan, establish agreement for exome and genome sequencing services.

HOUSTON, Dec. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Baylor Miraca Genetics Laboratories, LLC (BG), a clinical diagnostics laboratory in the U.S. known for genetic testing and precision medicine, and SRL, Inc., the largest lab for lab testing and its related services (LTS) in Japan, signed a sub-licensing agreement for clinical-grade whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) services in order to establish clinical genetic testing at SRL in the future.

“I am confident that this collaboration enables SRL to provide optimal clinical sequencing for Japanese patients by applying the world’s best technology with Baylor Genetics,” said Kazuya Omi, R&D Executive Officer at SRL.

As part of the agreement, BG will transfer its knowledge of WES and WGS as clinical services to SRL with technical support to enhance the Japanese lab’s capabilities. The technology transfer is expected to start in 2022 with efforts to contribute towards precision medicine application in Japan.

“Through SRL, we will bring our experiences and knowledges to the Japanese market. We are excited to support precision medicine in Japan,” said Kengo Takishima, President and CEO at BG.

With this partnership, both companies are looking forward to collaborating and creating the global standard of excellence for WES and WGS in Asia.

“Through many years of development and clinical experience, including BG as the WES and WGS sequencing core for the National Institutes of Health’s Undiagnosed Diseases Network, BG is very well positioned to support SRL’s goal of establishing this important resource in the Japanese genetic testing market,” said Dr. Christine Eng, CMO and CQO at BG.

About Baylor Genetics

Baylor Genetics is a joint venture of H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. and the No. 1 NIH-funded genetics program at Baylor College of Medicine. BG has been a pioneer of precision medicine, offering a full spectrum of cost-effective genetic testing, and providing clinically-relevant solutions. This jointly owned clinical diagnostic venture is headquartered in Houston’s Texas Medical Center, serving clients in 50 states and 16 countries.

 About SRL

SRL, Inc. is a consolidated subsidiary of H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. located in Tokyo, Japan. SRL is no. 1 in market share for the Japanese LTS segment, offering a variety of clinical testing ranging from waived tests to high complexity tests in a CLIA/CAP-certified lab. SRL participates in the national whole genome project at the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.

To learn more about Baylor Genetics’ Whole Exome Sequencing services, visit: https://www.baylorgenetics.com/whole-exome-sequencing/
To learn more about Baylor Genetics’ Whole Genome Sequencing services, visit: https://www.baylorgenetics.com/whole-genome-sequencing/

Contact

Baylor Genetics PR: pr@baylorgenetics.com

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.