Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs Describes Key Steps to Overcoming the Impact of COVID-19

JAKARTA, Jun 12, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – In the presence of the ASEAN Minister, the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara conveyed the government's important steps in handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for the poor and vulnerable groups. Indonesia recommends the establishment of a comprehensive and sustainable social protection system.

Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara

"To the ASEAN ministers, I convey comprehensive and quick steps of the Indonesian government in handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the context of the Ministry of Social Affairs' duties and functions, the government has increased the index and expanded the social assistance, especially for the poor and vulnerable groups," said the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari after the meeting (10/06).

The meeting was held online and opened by ASEAN Secretary General Dato 'Lim Jock Hoi and attended by 10 ASEAN member Ministers dealing with social welfare issues.

In a meeting with the theme "Special Online Meeting of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) on Mitigating Impact of COVID-19 on Vulnerable Groups in ASEAN," Social Minister Juliari acted as Chair of the Indonesian Delegation.

On that occasion, the Minister of Social Affairs delivered four important steps in mitigating the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, especially for the poor and vulnerable groups. The first step is increasing the number and coverage of social assistance and social safety nets, and the amount of assistance for several social protection programs.

Second, strengthening government investment in the development of Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) and formulating an adaptive social protection platform in accordance with the 2019-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and Ministry of Social Affairs Strategic Plan 2020-2024. Then, the fourth is the crucial role of social solidarity.

"The government continues to increase commitment and serious steps in dealing with the impact of the pandemic. In the new (fourth) fiscal stimulus, the government allocates a budget of Rp677.2 trillion, of which Rp203.9 trillion is for social protection," said the Minister.

This amount increased, compared to the third fiscal stimulus which amounted to Rp405.1 trillion, which for social protection amounted to Rp110 trillion. Social Minister explained, in order to deal with the impact of COVID-19, the government increased the index and expanded the participation of regular social assistance.

The Social Assistance of Hope Family Program (PKH) reaches 10 million of Beneficiary Families (KPM). From the beginning KPM received benefits every three months, now it becomes every month, starting in April-December 2020, so that KPM PKH got a double benefit.

Then, in the Sembako Program (Non-Cash Food Aid / BPNT), the target expansion and the increasing index is carried out, from 15.2 million KPM to 20 million KPM, with an index from Rp 150 thousand to Rp 200 thousand.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also launched a non-regular social assistance program namely the Presidential Assistance of Staple Food Package (Banpres) and Cash Social Assistance (BST). Banpres began to be distributed to communities affected by COVID-19 in DKI Jakarta, Bogor Regency, Tangerang City and South Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi (Jabodetabek), on 20 April.

The Banpres reaches 1.9 million families (KK) with a value of Rp. 600,000 distributed twice a month, so the total value is around Rp. 3.4 trillion.

While BST, it reaches 9 million families outside Jabodetabek who have not received the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the Sembako Program (Non-Cash Food Assistance) with a value of Rp. 600,000/KK/month. Both Banpres and BST, it was distributed for three months — April, May, and June 2020.

"With the latest stimulus of Rp. 677, 2 trillion, the government has extended the assistance until December 2020," said the father of two children.

The Minister also stressed the importance of managing poverty data or Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS), which is the basis for various social assistances. "DTKS contains 40% of the lowest income people in Indonesia. And with DTKS, it is very helpful in ensuring that social assistance is distributed on target," said the Minister.

Bureau of Public Relations
Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Start-up Express Pitching Contest showcases innovative solutions

HONG KONG, Jun 10, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Start-up Express, an entrepreneurship development programme organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), has returned for its third edition. The pitching contest under the programme successfully concluded today as a judging panel selected exceptional start-ups to participate in local and international activities to build connections, explore markets, seek partners and enhance brand awareness. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Pitching Final was livestreamed online with a live polling of the "My Favourite Start-up Award", which was awarded to MICology.

Start-up Express Pitching Final winners photographed with jurors and guests.

Renowned stand-up comedian Vivek Mahbubani, the event host, talks to participating start-ups.

A distinguished judging panel witnessed the rise of new start-up success stories.

Stephen Liang, Assistant Executive Director of HKTDC said: "Start-ups have been affected by the economic downturn like much of the world but the true essence of entrepreneurship is persistence in the face of adversity. There can always be opportunities found amid what otherwise appears to be a crisis. Traditional business and consumption models are seeing a new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which can in turn increase receptiveness to new ideas. With outstanding achievements in innovation and technology, local start-ups launched products and services to fight against the pandemic. The HKTDC will continue to support local start-ups in exploring business opportunities amid the pandemic-struck economy, and to promote the city's capabilities in innovation and technology to overseas buyers."

Start-up Express offers global promotion, market exploration

The contestants propose innovative and disruptive solutions to transform business and social ecosystems through biotech, fintech, robotics, artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things (IoT) and responded to questions raised by a distinguished judging panel and online audience. This year's juror line-up (listed below) witnessed the rise of new start-up success stories alongside online spectators:

– Calvin Choi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, AMTD Group
– Jason Chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong Startup Council
– Cindy Chow, Executive Director, Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund
– Duncan Chiu, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Radiant Venture Capital
– Herbert Chia, Venture Partner, Sequoia Capital China

This year's winners of the Pitching Final include: Arical, Arovia Hong Kong, BUG BROS BIOTECH, Gense Technologies, imBee, Inovo Robotics, Open Ocean Engineering, Return Helper, Shopkyo, SPES Tech and Wineworld Xplorer. (Click here https://bit.ly/2UsM30s for the list of wining start-ups and their profile)

The start-ups will be invited to exploratory sessions, power meet-up sessions with successful business leaders, business-matching sessions and local events organised by the HKTDC, including Start-up Zones at the Asian Financial Forum, spring and autumn editions of the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair and HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair. The HKTDC will also bring the start-ups to the international stage by organising overseas missions and setting up Hong Kong Pavilions at international technology exhibitions – including CES in Las Vegas and MWC Barcelona.

Double opportunities to build professional networks

AMTD Group is the strategic partner of Start-up Express for a second year. Calvin Choi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer said: "I am impressed by the innovative ideas and practical solutions presented by our city's young entrepreneurs in this year's Start-up Express Pitching Final presentation. This recurring programme serves as a valuable platform for participants to showcase their unique business ideas and demonstrate the innovative power of the young generation in Hong Kong.

"The current business landscape is full of challenges, but for start-ups that are agile and versatile in responding to changing conditions and market needs, they can definitely identify and seize the best out of available emerging opportunities."

With the support of AMTD Group, the SpiderNet Award has been established to recognise the top performer selected by AMTD in the Pitching Final. The award aims to provide the winner with a unique and rare opportunity to access the resources and network of the AMTD SpiderNet eco-system. The winner will benefit greatly for its future development, and will also offer synergetic value to other entrepreneurs within the eco-system. imBee won the inaugural prize.

Jason Chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong Startup Council, said: "In every entrepreneurial journey, there are bound to be challenging times and the strength of a true entrepreneur is the ability to fight through the hard times and learn from each setback. This year has been especially trying due to the health situation that has impacted businesses globally but these start-ups have shown the resilience to fight through the adversity and succeed."

Mr Chiu added: "It has been great to see how this batch of start-ups have navigated the past few months to present themselves in a shining light, ready to embrace new opportunities on the international market through Start-up Express' unique support system. The programme helps entrepreneurs build connections and seek opportunities with potential investors and partners. I look forward to the winning start-ups joining HKStartupSociety and realise their dreams of not only excelling in Hong Kong but on the international stage."

Helping Hong Kong start-ups expand markets and networks

A key driver for Start-up Express participants has been the opportunity to enhance brand and media awareness, while also connecting with mentors, partners and investors through HKTDC-organised local and overseas events. This has provided start-ups with the chance to learn from experts and strengthen their core business.

Start-Up Express past winners benefitting from new opportunities include Miscato Limited, which developed and patented smart aromatherapy solutions, and Quikec International Limited, which developed a one-stop cloud-based supply chain management solution.

Michelle Fno, Founder & CEO of Miscato Limited, said: "HKTDC's strong network has helped us land interview opportunities with local and overseas media outlets, which in turn allowed me to share how my company developed our new series of antiviral smart aromatherapy products. Thanks to this increased exposure and HKTDC's support, we've since been able to capture new business opportunities and expand our clientele."

Peter Li, President and Co-founder of Quikec International Limited said: "Start-up Express has provided us an opportunity to participate in different exhibition and international exchange events. This has helped us expand our client base and find excellent partners despite operating on a tight budget. For example, meeting with Duncan Chiu, a well-known investor, offered many valuable lessons for us as he offered suggestions on business-development strategy."

HKTDC throws full support behind local start-ups

The HKTDC will continue to fully support the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem to maintain Hong Kong's status as a competitive business city and hub for innovation. To support enterprises, the HKTDC has launched the "HKTDC Transformation Sandbox (T-box)", offering free support on branding, e-commerce, manufacturing relocation and new market development. A "Voice of Start-ups" series has been launched on the HKTDC online platform to promote the success stories of local start-ups and to show how their creativity and versatility help them thrive and capture local and overseas business opportunities.

In addition to organising Start-up Express, HKTDC will support start-ups by hosting the annual Entrepreneur Day in July. The Council will also set up dedicated start-up zones at its world-class trade fairs in Hong Kong to help local start-ups reach out to overseas buyers and suppliers for potential partnership opportunities.

More information
Start-up Express: http://info.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/index.html
Photo download: https://bit.ly/30ugiZ4

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

About AMTD

AMTD Group is Asia's leading comprehensive financial services conglomerate, with businesses in investment banking, institutional asset management, strategic investment, virtual banking, corporate insurance brokerage, etc. and non-financial services areas to include property investment and hotel operation, K12 education, innovative technology, and digital investment. AMTD Group is a global Strategic Partner Associate of the World Economic Forum, and has been supporting the Singapore Fintech Festival since 2017.

AMTD International (NYSE: HKIB; SGX:HKB), a subsidiary of AMTD Group and dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Singapore Exchange, is the No. 1 independent investment bank in Asia and one of Asia's largest independent asset management companies, and is also a leading investment house in the financial and new economy sectors.

AMTD Digital, a diversified digital technology platform under AMTD Group, operates in businesses covering digital financial services, digital marketing, media, and data intelligence, digital connectors and digital investment. Airstar Bank, one of the eight licensed virtual banks in Hong Kong, is the joint venture between AMTD and Xiaomi and a portfolio under this platform, and is also one of the earlier virtual banks launching its service.

Media enquiries
Please contact Creative Consulting Group or HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Creative Consulting Group
Wendy Chan
Tel: +852 3159 2962 / +852 6758 4869
Email: wendy.chan@creativegp.com

June Wong
Tel: +852 3159 2909 / +852 6986 5822
Email: june.wong@creativegp.com

HKTDC
Leslie Ng
Tel: +852 2584 4239
Email: leslie.ss.ng@hktdc.org

Beatrice Lam
Tel: +852 2584 4049
Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HKTDC overseas business promotion showcases Hong Kong’s technology in action

HONG KONG, Jun 10, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Strengths in technological research and application have helped Hong Kong contain the COVID-19 outbreak and cope with the disruptions it caused. To create business opportunities for local technology enterprises that develop products and services to tackle the pandemic and related areas, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is collaborating with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) and Innovation and Technology Bureau (ITB) of the HKSAR Government to launch a promotion campaign, sharing their experiences with overseas markets and showcasing the technologies to economies abroad.

To help Hong Kong technology enterprises tap into overseas markets and explore opportunities for future cooperation, the HKTDC will launch a business promotion targeted at initially Thailand in June, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia and other markets in the future.

HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam said the Council is launching a business promotion comprising G2G and B2B promotional events and business-matching activities to create business opportunities for Hong Kong technology enterprises.

HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam said: "The world is working hard to contain the outbreak and looking for innovative technologies and solutions to deal with current and future challenges. With Hong Kong's proven capabilities in developing technology solutions, we are pleased to work with CEDB and ITB to bring these companies overseas. While sharing their experience with their overseas counterparts, they can also find new business opportunities."

Dr Lam noted that Hong Kong, as a global business hub, has a well-established system to protect intellectual property, which facilitates technology transfer. The city's internationally acclaimed universities have excellent research capabilities in fields including biotechnology, medical technology, fintech, smart city, smart living, education technology, and information and communications technology. Hong Kong's ecosystem can readily turn research into marketable commercial solutions.

Knowledge sharing to fight pandemic

To help local technology enterprises tap into overseas markets and explore opportunities for future cooperation, the HKTDC will launch a three-month business promotion targeting at ASEAN starting first with Thailand in June, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia.

The promotion will be launched with an HKSAR Government-led webinar hosted by CEDB and ITB, followed by virtual business-matching meetings with targeted overseas business buyers and government agencies, virtual expos and other platforms hosted by the HKTDC, followed by physical events and outbound missions if conditions allow.

Apart from healthtech, medtech and COVID-19 related areas, the promotion will also cover other areas that offer practical solutions in times of social distancing and remote working such as online education, e-commerce, e-business and smart-city technologies.

Mobilising HKTDC's multiple platforms

The HKTDC will also mobilise its platforms to maximise business opportunities, such as inviting these companies to join our online Summer Sourcing Week in July. The HKTDC will also promote our city's innovative technology at its international trade fairs and service conferences. The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) showcases health technology (healthtech) while Eco Expo Asia features green technology and the HKTDC SmartBiz Expo displays online education and commercial digitalisation solutions.

Using innovative technologies to grow business

Technology is a key driver for economic development and the HKTDC will continue to encourage local companies to use innovative technology to grow their business. The Council will also facilitate cooperation between Hong Kong technology firms and overseas companies through international trade events focusing on the city's technological strengths.

These initiatives include IPHatch Hong Kong, a start-up competition whose prizes are technology patent portfolios from such leading companies and institutes as Panasonic, Nokia and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), which will help the winners jumpstart or scale up their business. Start-up Express, a development programme for local start-ups, has returned for its third edition. With a focus on AI and robotics, big data, biotech, the Internet of Things (IoT), fintech and smart city, the event continues to help start-ups build connections, explore markets, seek partners and enhance awareness of their brands.

The HKTDC has been promoting the city's excellence in technology through a range of activities. Collaborating with different organisations such as Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Cyberport, ASTRI and local universities and entrepreneurs in the start-up ecosystem, the HKTDC organises overseas missions and sets up Hong Kong Pavilions at international technology exhibitions such as CES in Las Vegas, MWC Barcelona and BIO International Convention in Philadelphia of the United States.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3f3ya0G

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

Tiger Trade Launches SGX Trading to Meet Increased Demand from Singapore and Southeast Asian Investors

SINGAPORE, Jun 10, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Tiger Trade, a one-stop mobile and online trading application by Tiger Brokers, launches access to the Singapore Exchange (SGX) today. This adds to Tiger Brokers' current list of stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ), the world's two largest stock exchanges by market capitalisation of listed companies, as well as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX).

It strengthens Tiger Trade's online and mobile offerings for its customers, who now have the ability to invest in financial instruments such as A-Shares, Equities, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), Futures and Stock Options.

Tiger Trade's app launched in February 2020 and has seen increasing traction among retail investors since. From March to April 2020, Tiger Brokers saw almost a doubling (195%) of the number of accounts opened in one month, with a transaction volume increase of 345% in the same period – a testament to the strong interest and financial-savviness of Singapore retail investors. It enhanced available investment opportunities through integrating SGX opportunities to investors on the back of surging investment interest even in the midst of a global economy affected by COVID-19. SGX has seen the total securities market turnover higher by 35% year-on-year in April this year, per its data.

Mr Wu Tianhua, CEO of Tiger Brokers, said, "Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty, Singapore's financial markets remain competitive and well positioned for sustained growth. We saw that the recent market announcements from banks, US-based tech companies, as well as the recent AGM from Warren Buffet, showed increased interest and appetite for investing. Tiger Brokers believes that this is a good time to expand our services to align with the interest of our users. Our goal is to offer our users the options to manage or diversify their portfolio while providing them with latest news updates around trading behaviour globally on our platform."

About 25% of Tiger Trade's users are based around the region and outside of Singapore, who are taking advantage of the platform's online account opening feature and ability to trade in the US and HK equities through a mobile platform. Most of these users come from Malaysia, Indonesia and India. The launch of SGX on the platform will also allow them access to one of the most vibrant exchanges in the world, alongside current access to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Mr Eng Thiam Choon, CEO of Tiger Brokers (Singapore), said, "Many retail investors are hearing about share prices and global markets on the news, which have helped increase their interest in trading. However, we generally advise our users and retail investors to do a lot more research on what they are about to purchase and on how companies fare a few months before the pandemic. Our app provides our users with up-to-date stock quotes, market data and news – information which keeps them abreast of the economic landscape in trading, aiding them in making informed decisions."

The Tiger Trade app offers its retail investors one of the lowest commission rates for as low as US$1.99 (S$2.80) per trade. From now till 31 December 2020, they are offering commission rates for Singapore stocks at 0.08% per trade with no minimum charges.

Their easy-to-use app also provides complimentary real-time stock quotes, 24/7 news updates, artificial intelligence-driven data screeners, and easy-to-analyse trading charts. Users can easily add in an account, linking to their preferred local banks for deposit and withdrawals and reducing the brokerage fees when trading on the US and Hong Kong markets.

Tiger Brokers also plan to provide access to Contract for Differences (CFDs) by Q1 2021 to its users, providing them with the capability to diversify their portfolio through an entire range of investment options across certain markets.

The Tiger Trade mobile application is available for download in the Apple App store and Google Play store.
Apple App store: https://apps.apple.com/sg/app/id1023600494
Google Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tigerbrokers.stock

About Tiger Brokers (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Tiger Brokers Singapore Pte Ltd (Tiger Brokers Singapore) is a brokerage firm operating with a Capital Markets Services (CMS) Licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Its trading platform, Tiger Trade, offers commission rates for as low as S$2.80 (US$1.99) per trade, complimentary real-time stock quotes, dedicated multilingual customer service during trading hours, and 24/7 finance news updates. The company launched the mobile version of Tiger Trade in February 2020 – accessible in Google Play Store and the Apple App Store – offering a mobile-savvy generation of retail investors similar trading opportunities as their online users, such as Equities, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), Futures and Stock Options on their mobile phones. Both online and mobile app users have access to the Singapore, U.S. and Hong Kong stock markets such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) and the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX). (www.tigerbrokers.com.sg/help/detail/SGXstocksfeestructure).

Tiger Brokers Singapore is the Singapore entity of UP Fintech Holding Limited, known as "Tiger Brokers" in Asia, a leading online brokerage firm focusing on global investors. Founded in 2014, Tiger Brokers became #1 in U.S. equity trading by volume among trading platforms catered to Global Chinese investors in less than two years. Tiger Brokers was awarded "2017 Fintech 250" by CB Insights and shortlisted for "China Leading Fintech 50" for two years in a row by KPMG China. The company was listed on NASDAQ under "TIGR" in 2019 and has offices in China, United States, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Tiger Brokers has over 743,300 customers worldwide currently, with a total trading volume of more than US$44.1 billion in Q1 2020. The company is backed by well-known investors such as Xiaomi, as well as investment guru Jim Rogers. For more information, please visit https://www.tigerbrokers.com.sg

For media enquiries, please contact:
PRecious Communications for Tiger Brokers (Singapore)
Email: Tiger@preciouscomms.com
Phone: +65 9667 3157 or +65 9152 0086

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Komatsu Failure to Audit Washington Companies Training Program Leads to Bridge Strike

LAS VEGAS, NV, Jun 9, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – In the deposition of a Washington Companies employee in the on-going Federal lawsuit regarding a destructive bridge strike, it was revealed that the Washington Companies employee was never trained to curl the excavator bucket for transportation purposes as instructed in an official Komatsu operators handbook. Washington Companies employee, Mr. Tyler Piles, was asked under oath if he was aware that the Komatsu operator's handbook gave approved instructions on how the bucket was to be curled under for transportation to reduce the height of the machine. Mr. Piles answered he was not aware of Komatsu requirements and stated that, "I was not given directions."

Environmental Transportation of Nevada, LLC (ETON), in the Federal Lawsuit maintains that Washington Companies subsidiary Modern Machinery should had complied with the OSHA requirement that "ensure that all operators have been trained on the equipment that they will use." Had that happened, Mr. Piles would have been properly trained at their Modern Machinery facility and would have known that the bucket on the excavators involved in the accident would be required to have the buckets curled to reduce the height to the published Komatsu transportation height. Komatsu failure to audit Washington Companies employee training program at Modern Machinery could have prevented a semi-truck hauling a pair of Komatsu excavators from hitting the overpass spanning Interstate 5 near Chehalis, WA, causing significant structural damage.

The Federal suit alleges that Komatsu agent Modern Machinery's employee failed to load the excavators properly and in accordance with Komatsu's published shipping dimensions for the equipment under transport.

Modern Machinery is a part of a large consortium of privately held companies collectively known as the Washington Companies, owned by billionaire Dennis R. Washington. Modern Machinery sells and rents high quality heavy equipment and provides product support to the construction, mining, and forestry industries. The Modern Machinery terminal in Rochester, WA is a home to a large staging area for a variety of Komatsu product brought from overseas awaiting shipment to other Komatsu dealers.

ETON is a Las Vegas-based premier transportation company serving the Western United States with equipment, professional drivers and superior on-time service.

Komatsu America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., the world's second largest manufacturer and supplier of earth-moving equipment, consisting of construction, mining and compact construction equipment.

CONTACT:
ETON.me
Mitchell Truman
+1 (702) 348 6370
http://www.ETON.me
Environmental Transportation of Nevada, LLC

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

New Study Underscores How Heated Tobacco Products Are Disrupting the Cigarette Industry

MANILA, May 31, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – A new study shows that the entry of heated tobacco products (HTPs) triggered a remarkable reduction in combustible cigarettes sales in Japan. "The decline in smoking rates among adults in Japan is astoundingly impressive when you realize that this has only come about rapidly with the introduction of HTPs," said Nancy Loucas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Asia-Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).

Prof. David Sweanor, one of the study's authors

Canadian and American researchers looked at how trends in the sale of cigarettes in Japan between 2011 and 2019 correspond to the sales of HTPs that were introduced into the Japanese market in late 2015. Using data from the Tobacco Institute of Japan and Philip Morris International (PMI), the researchers concluded that the accelerated five-fold decline in cigarette only sales in Japan since 2016 corresponds to the introduction and growth in the sales of HTPs. Cigarette sales in Japan were declining slowly and steadily before HTPs were introduced in 2015.

Entitled "What Is Accounting for the Rapid Decline in Cigarette Sales in Japan?", the study was published on May 20, 2020 in the peer-reviewed open access scientific journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

HTPs are smoke-free devices that heat, instead of burn, specially-designed tobacco units to release a flavorful nicotine-containing tobacco vapor. As tobacco is not burned, the levels of harmful chemicals produced by HNB products are significantly lower compared to combustible cigarette smoke. The most popular HTP brand is IQOS, a product of PMI.

Consumers' interest and the regulatory environment shape markets, according to Professor David T. Sweanor of the Faculty of Law of University of Ottawa, one of the study's authors. He explained that Japanese regulations precluded alternatives to combustible cigarettes, such as nicotine-containing vaping products. However, HTPs generated huge interest among smokers in Japan. "As more [smokers] adopted the alternative, they helped speed switching by others. I think this gives us an indication of just how much more rapidly countries could reduce cigarette use if there were many different low-risk alternatives available and policies and public education campaigns facilitated a widespread move away from [combustible] cigarettes."

Prof. Sweanor believes Japan is a success story in tobacco harm reduction.

"We have seen the most rapid decline in cigarette sales ever witnessed in a major market. A third of the cigarette market was gone in a remarkably short period of time, and this was accomplished with a non-coercive measure. People who smoke cigarettes were simply provided with a viable alternative."

Governments in the Asia Pacific region that seek to ban or limit the access of smokers to HTPs and other safer nicotine alternatives should look to Sweden which for decades has promoted the shift to low-risk non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes, said Prof. Sweanor. "Now we have evidence that a range of low-risk products can help us rapidly achieve the smoking rate targets of the World Health Organization's Sustainable Development Goals. To seek to ban or limit access to such products protects the cigarette industry rather than public health."

Commenting on the future of smokers in Asia Pacific where HTPs will soon be available, Prof. Sweanor stressed that policies should empower people to take control of their health. "Ensuring that a range of low-risk alternatives are not only on the market but have regulatory and tax advantages over cigarettes has the potential to transform public health. We have long known that people smoke for nicotine but die from the smoke. Cigarette smoking is a public health catastrophe that can be massively reduced through science and technology if policies can be oriented toward replacing rather than protecting the cigarette business."

The publication of the new study is timely as it comes on the heels of the celebration of World Vape Day on May 30, 2020. Observed a day before World No Tobacco Day, World Vaping Day aims to raise awareness on e-cigarettes or vapes and encourage smokers who are unable to quit on their own or with currently available smoking cessation tools to switch to safer nicotine products.

"Safer nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, are the most disruptive influence on smoking in decades. These are the innovations that have the potential to save millions of lives in the Asia Pacific region as well as globally," added Nancy Loucas.

According to Loucas, the most popular form of safer nicotine products in northern Asia are HTPs. Like Japan, Korea has shown similar sales and uptake of HTPs, with corresponding declines in combustible tobacco use. These data show that the substitution of combustible tobacco with reduced-risk products has the potential to be a highly effective tobacco harm reduction strategy, she explained. "So, it is very disheartening that countries in Asia Pacific, like Korea and the Philippines, are looking to either ban and/or reduce access and choice of all forms of tobacco harm reduced products for their smoking citizens."

"Japan's success in reducing smoking prevalence through HTPs should be a wakeup call to local policymakers. Quit or die aren't the only choices for smokers," said Peter Paul Dator, president of The Vapers Philippines.

"This new study lends further credence to adopting tobacco control policies based on a harm reduction model," said Stephanie Thuesen, Director of Stakeholder Engagement at The Progressive Public Health Alliance in Australia.

"Policymakers in Thailand, which has been ranked the worst country in the world to be in if you are a vaper, should listen to Prof. Sweanor. Banning or limiting access to safer nicotine products only serve to protect the cigarette industry rather than public health," said Asa Ace Saligupta who runs the ECST.

About CAPHRA

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is an alliance of consumer organizations from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand that aims to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jena Fetalino (63)9178150324 jena@jfprc.com

Prof. David Sweanor, one of the study's authors
"We have seen the most rapid decline in cigarette sales ever witnessed in a major market."

Related Links
International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health https://www.newsfilecorp.com/redirect/naABf5xr

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Mainetti to launch M-care PPE Range

HONG KONG, May 27, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Mainetti Group is pleased to announce a new range of personal protective equipment (PPE), "M-care", available to customers in support of mitigating the risks of COVID-19. The M-care product range features a "Made in Hong Kong" disposal mask, manufactured to EN14683 Type IIR and ASTM F2100 Level 2 standards, ensuring that Made in Hong Kong continues to be associated with product quality.

The M-care suite of PPE products also includes anti-bacteria mask folders, protective gloves, safety goggles, gowns and hand sanitizers. Reusable masks and hi-tech smart devices such as portable air purifiers will be added to the range later this year. Hong Kong will serve as a regional distribution hub for all clients, ensuring rapid and reliable delivery as the world combats the pandemic.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, Mainetti has been providing PPE to medical staff on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, as well as those in need, distributing masks, gloves and other essential gears to NGOs, food banks and hospitals in Italy, Spain, UK and Hong Kong, while leveraging its global supply chain and global client network.

Roberto Peruzzo, CEO of Mainetti Group, said, "As the world adapts to a rapidly changing landscape following COVID-19, Mainetti is working closely with business partners in our global supply chain to minimize disruption and navigate challenges. Our people are our most valuable asset and caring for our community is of critical importance to our group. In response to COVID-19, we have worked with local communities in Italy and Spain, as well as with charity partners and other relief organisations to supply PPE to healthcare professionals and those in need."

Paul Tai, Global Head of M-care and Regional Director of Mainetti said, "As global businesses re-commence operations, having readily-available and high-quality PPE will be essential for staving off the return of COVID-19. M-care is well placed to meet this growing demand. Together, we will beat the virus."

About Mainetti
Founded in 1961, Mainetti is one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of packaging for the fashion industry and a leading provider of smart retail solutions, with a presence in 49 countries. Working in partnership with its clients, which include many of the world's premier retail brands, Mainetti's sustainable products and solutions accelerates and enhances the sales process while controlling business costs. For more information, please visit www.mainetti.com.

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Think Alliance Group
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ZALL Group Donates 1 Million Surgical Masks to Singapore Red Cross (SRC) in Support of Singapore’s Fight against COVID-19

SINGAPORE, May 23, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – China-based ZALL Group (ZALL) has donated one million surgical masks to the Singapore Red Cross (SRC). The shipment arrived in Singapore yesterday from China on Singapore Airlines flight SQ8259, and was delivered by ezbuy.sg land transportation fleet. The goodwill gesture underscores the strong collaboration between the international community and Singapore corporations including Singapore Airlines (SIA), in supporting SRC's response efforts towards the vulnerable groups in Singapore – in particular the migrant workers, the elderly, and frontline workers – as they tackle the COVID-19 global pandemic. The donation is one of several humanitarian aid initiatives by ZALL to shore up preparedness and resilience of countries during the coronavirus outbreak.

Group photo of ZALL, Singapore Red Cross, Singapore Airlines. From left: Ms Charis Chan, Associate Director of Singapore Red Cross; Mr Lee Wei Hsien, Director of ZALL Group; Mr Peter Yu, CEO of ZALL Group International; Mr. Benjamin J William, Secretary-General from Singapore Red Cross; Mr Mohamed Rafi Mar, Vice President of Singapore Airlines Cargo; Ms Iris Chong, Director of Singapore Red Cross (Photo credit: ZALL Group)

ZALL Group donates one million masks to Singapore (handover). From left: Mr Peter Yu, CEO of ZALL Group International, and Mr. Benjamin J William, Secretary-General from Singapore Red Cross (Photo credit: ZALL Group)

Surgical masks being loaded onto the Singapore Airlines flight at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport (Photo credit: Singapore Airlines)

"The Singapore Red Cross is grateful to the ZALL Group for its donation of one million surgical masks in support of the vulnerable groups in Singapore. The masks are a precious resource, and we will be distributing them to thousands in these vulnerable groups. The masks will also help protect our frontline staff and volunteers as they serve the most vulnerable in our community, like the elderly living alone, the severely disabled in our Red Cross Home for the Disabled and the migrant workers living in the dormitories. I am glad that corporates like the ZALL Group have stepped forward to help boost our COVID-19 local response efforts," said Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General/CEO, Singapore Red Cross.

"Singapore Airlines plays an important role in transporting essential medical supplies and other equipment that support Singapore's battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. We are pleased to work with ZALL on this initiative, which helps to increase the supply of face masks and safeguards the general public health," said Mr Chin Yau Seng, Senior Vice President Cargo, Singapore Airlines.

ZALL Group, Asia's leading business-to-business ("B2B") e-commerce group, was the first company to respond and deliver emergency medical supplies to Wuhan on 26 January within 48 hours of the city's lockdown, riding on their global end-to-end supply chain capabilities, networks and resources in Asia. As the coronavirus outbreak widened rapidly in Asia and around the world, ZALL further expanded its manufacturing capabilities to produce face masks, with a production capacity of more than three million masks a day, and has worked with governments, embassies and civil aviation authorities across Asia to provide medical aid and equipment to curb the spread of the virus. The Group recently also partnered Alibaba to launch two ebooks to share their knowledge and experience on Fangcang shelter hospitals and emergency hospitals that has been published in more than 20 different languages to empower governments around the world in their fight against COVID-19.

Singapore is the first country outside China that ZALL is providing medical supplies, and the Group will be supplying Singapore, including this donation, with a total of more than 2 million surgical masks this month. ezbuy.sg, a subsidiary of the Group, has also donated and distributed over 300,000 masks to all people living in Singapore via http://www.ezbuy.sg/getmask/. To date, 100,000 families have received masks from ezbuy.sg. Beyond Singapore, ZALL will also be sending medical supplies to other affected regions across more than 10 countries around the world, such as Japan, France, Czech Republic, Indonesia, India, Peru and Ecuador, as well as Central and West African countries, including Cameroon, Congo, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

Mr Peter Yu, Chief Executive Officer of ZALL Group International commented, "Singapore is an important market in our long-term growth strategy as we continue to grow our investments in the region. The severity of the coronavirus outbreak requires everyone to play a part to alleviate the crises, and we are committed to supporting Singapore's efforts to fight the outbreak. We will also leverage on Singapore's strengths as a regional hub and its excellent connectivity with the rest of the world to provide assistance through Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC), ezbuy.sg and our technology-enabled ecosystem to areas where there are shortages in medical aid and equipment."

Since 2018, ZALL has invested in five projects in Singapore, including the Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC), Singapore's first physical commodity eTrading platform (B2B) powered by blockchain technology; ezbuy.sg, Singapore's leading global online shopping platform; ZMA Smart Capital, an online trade finance company; ZALL Chain Technology, a blockchain solutions company; and the recent application for the Singapore digital banking licence. Through these and future initiatives, ZALL hopes to contribute to the development of digital finance, blockchain solutions and the trading ecosystem in Singapore.

About ZALL Group

ZALL Group is a leading Chinese B2B e-commerce group (ranked 166th of Fortune China 500 companies) with a global footprint across the world and is listed on three exchanges on HKSE, NYSE and SSE. ZALL Group develops and operates Asia's largest B2B offline-to-online trade ecosystem in China and Southeast Asia, including Singapore, with more than 30 B2B platforms in China, US and Singapore, and a GFA of more than 10 million sqm of wholesale trade centres in China. In 2018, ZALL Group achieved a GMV of more than RMB 600 billion (US$85.2 bn), serving over 1 mil SME customers worldwide. ZALL also has a virtual banking licence and currently operates Z-Bank in China since 2017, one of China's leading digital banks that has supported more than 5.5 million SME and individual customers. For more information, please visit http://en.zallcn.com/

About ezbuy.sg

ezbuy.sg is Singapore's first home-grown and largest cross-border B2C shopping platform managed and owned by LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd, a global e-commerce company listed in New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LITB). ezbuy.sg offers an extensive selection across various product categories, including fashion, home & living, mother & kids, consumer electronics, beauty & health, office supplies, sports & outdoors and automotive, that provides the most convenient and cost-saving way to bring products from China, USA, Taiwan, and Korea to every Singaporean. For more information, please visit https://ezbuy.sg/

About the Singapore Red Cross

Singapore Red Cross is a homegrown humanitarian organisation, dedicated to relieving human suffering, protecting lives and dignity, and responding to emergencies since 1949. We serve the vulnerable through our blood donor recruitment programme, home and day activity centre for the disabled, transport aid, family life aid, and community first aid. We build capacity and resilience through our training academy, and volunteer and youth development. Beyond our shores, we mobilise and translate contributions from the donor community to relief and recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, with the aim of helping communities affected by disasters. For more information, please visit https://redcross.sg/.

About Singapore Airlines

The SIA Group's history dates back to 1947 with the maiden flight of Malayan Airways Limited. The airline was later renamed Malaysian Airways Limited and then Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). In 1972, MSA split into Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysian Airline System. Initially operating a modest fleet of 10 aircraft to 22 cities in 18 countries, SIA has since grown to be a world-class international airline group.

SIA is the world's most awarded airline, and is committed to the constant enhancement of the three main pillars of its brand promise: Service Excellence, Product Leadership and Network Connectivity. The SIA Group fleet and network have expanded in support of the development of its portfolio strategy, in which it has investments in both full-service and low-cost airline operations. This portfolio of airlines serving short-, medium- and long-haul markets gives the SIA Group more flexibility and nimbleness, with the right vehicles to serve the right markets.

In 2018, Singapore Airlines launched the world's longest commercial flight, with non-stop services between Singapore and New York, as well as non-stop services between Singapore to Los Angeles, and increased non-stop services to San Francisco, using the new Airbus A350-900ULR (ultra-long-range). In September 2019, Seattle became the fifth US city in Singapore Airlines' route network – and the fourth to be served non-stop from Singapore.

SIA has invested in new-generation passenger aircraft, which means that it has one of the youngest airline fleets in the world. Operating these fuel-efficient aircraft such as Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s allows SIA to substantially reduce its carbon emissions, and support its goal of operating a more sustainable business.

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T: +65 915 20086
E: ZALL@preciouscomms.com

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Komatsu America Corp. Motion Appealed to United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

LAS VEGAS, NV, May 22, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The United States Federal Court Judge overseeing the lawsuit between plaintiff Environmental Transportation of Nevada, LLC (ETON) and defendants Komatsu America Corp., Komatsu Equipment Company (KEC) and Modern Machinery Co., Inc. of Rochester, WA, regarding contributory negligence in the destruction of a bridge over Interstate 5 in Washington state, denied Modern Machinery's motion for reconsideration filed soon after the courts ruling for trial. The Court said that while it was a close call, there are issues of fact regarding whether the height issue was apparent or a hidden defect, and will allow a jury to decide the fate at trial.

However, the judge granted summary judgment to the Komatsu defendants. After entry of the summary judgment order, ETON filed a notice this week to the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to appeal the dismissal of the Komatsu defendants.

On July 20, 2016, a semi-truck hauling a pair of Komatsu excavators hit the overpass spanning Interstate 5 near Chehalis, WA, causing significant structural damage leading to a lawsuit between ETON versus Komatsu America Corp., Komatsu Equipment Company (KEC) and Modern Machinery Co., Inc. of Rochester, WA.

The suit alleges that Komatsu America's agent Modern Machinery failed to load the excavators properly and in accordance with Komatsu's published shipping dimensions for the equipment under transport. ETON alleges that the knowing failure to load pursuant to the manufacturer recommendations was the cause of the accident and damage to the bridge.

Modern Machinery is a part of a large consortium of privately held companies collectively known as the Washington Companies, owned by billionaire Dennis R. Washington. Modern Machinery sells and rents high quality heavy equipment and provides product support to the construction, mining, and forestry industries. The Modern Machinery terminal in Rochester, WA is a home to a large staging area for a variety of Komatsu product brought from overseas awaiting shipment to other Komatsu dealers.

ETON is a Las Vegas-based premier transportation company serving the Western United States with equipment, professional drivers and superior on-time service.

Komatsu America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., the world's second largest manufacturer and supplier of earth-moving equipment, consisting of construction, mining and compact construction equipment.

CONTACT:
ETON.me
Mitchell Truman
+1 (702) 348 6370
http://www.ETON.me
Environmental Transportation of Nevada, LLC

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

OmniSci Records Best Quarter in Company History

SINGAPORE, May 20, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – OmniSci, the pioneer in accelerated analytics, announced today that the company posted its highest-ever revenue for a quarter, closing deals with major new customers, strengthening key partnerships, and expanding the company's global reach. OmniSci's strong Q1 performance provides significant momentum for Q2 and beyond.

Following the company's expansion into Europe last year, in April, OmniSci expanded into Asia to meet growing global demand for its analytics capabilities. The company brought Joseph (Joe) Lee on board as VP of Global Sales and welcomed Herfini Haryono, former CTIO at PT Telkomsel and CIO at Indosat Ooredoo in Indonesia, to the team as VP of Industry Verticals. These experienced executives and their teams have already signed the first customers in the region and are providing local support to new and existing customers.

The company's revenue growth was fueled by major wins with new and expansion customers, including Procter & Gamble, HERE Technologies and the utility company Avangrid. OmniSci also announced a deeper partnership with Z by HP to accelerate data-driven workflows and make the Z8 – the world's most powerful workstation – even more appealing by offering it preloaded with the OmniSci platform, giving data scientists instant access to unprecedented analytics power.

"It's been incredible to see how leading organizations in both the commercial and public sectors are adopting our platform to gain an analytical edge," added OmniSci CEO and Co-Founder Todd Mostak. "Whether in telco, retail and CPG, utilities, or government, our customers need speed-of-thought answers from ever-growing volumes of data. The OmniSci accelerated analytics platform empowers them to leverage all of that data with unprecedented agility, and to make better, more timely business decisions than ever possible with legacy tools. We see a tremendous opportunity ahead to expand the market's idea of what is possible when it comes to analytics, and in the process, help build a more data-driven world."

"OmniSci's mission – to make analytics instant, powerful, and effortless for everyone – has never been more relevant. These results show that their technology is meeting that goal," said Kristina Serafim, Managing Director, Verizon Ventures. "As one of our portfolio companies, we support OmniSci's mission to find insights in data at the heart of the most pressing challenges."

In OmniSci's first quarter, the company also engaged in the public fight against COVID-19, providing their platform to research teams across the country through the OmniSci for Good program. Every federal, state and local government is working to cope with COVID-19 and the massive amounts of data involved, and OmniSci helps these organizations make smarter, data driven decisions. Working closely with data partners including X-Mode, SafeGraph, and Veraset, OmniSci showcased through blogs and videos how data can be used to address the core challenges of the next phase of the COVID-19 fight, including hotspot detection, social distancing, and logistics.

Demand within OmniSci's community of developers, researchers and users also grew in the first quarter. When the virus outbreak made in-person events and conferences unsafe, the OmniSci team pulled together two virtual summits on short notice, to keep their active community well connected. These virtual events included dozens of hours of fresh content, and were attended by more than 1,000 people. The next virtual summit is scheduled for May 19-20, 2020, featuring more new demos, webinars and on-demand sessions.

"OmniSci is growing quickly and globally by delivering strong business outcomes for our clients," said Joe Lee. "We are committed to continuing to bring the best solution and support to our clients while we continue our global expansion. We have a unique solution for interactive geospatial analytics that is very valuable in the telecommunications industry, and plugs a significant gap in current big data environments."

About OmniSci

OmniSci is the pioneer in accelerated analytics. The OmniSci platform is used in business and government to find insights in data beyond the limits of mainstream analytics tools. Harnessing the massive parallelism of modern CPU and GPU hardware, the platform is available in the cloud and on-premise. OmniSci originated from research at Harvard and MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). OmniSci is funded by GV, In-Q-Tel, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), NVIDIA, Tiger Global Management, Vanedge Capital and Verizon Ventures. The company is headquartered in San Francisco. Learn more about OmniSci at www.omnisci.com.

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