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KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) — Singapore-based Mindverse AI kicked off its Closed Beta Launch of MindOS, its debut tool for creating customised virtual artificial intelligence (AI) beings for marketing, customer service, e-commerce, hospitality and events.

The webinar hosted journalists, developers, creators and distributors from across the world, all of whom were given cost-free beta licences for MindOS. A recording of the closed beta launch can be accessed here.

The firm’s Closed Beta launch followed its signed partnership and planned rollout of customisable embodied chatbots for one of the world’s three largest e-commerce platforms, a global beauty and cosmetics brand, and several e-commerce small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Current legacy AI chatbots and LLMs face their fair share of challenges such as legacy chatbots lack flexibility and fluency, while LLMs are difficult to customise and control. MindOS provides a comprehensive solution to all challenges, which is Mind as a Service (MAAS).

In a statement, Mindverse Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Fangbo Tao said, “We envision MindOS as a middle layer between LLMs and businesses, in an attempt to democratise AI for everyone, levelling the playing field between joint corporations like Google and Microsoft and smaller businesses.”

MindOS generates AI beings with customisable appearances, personalities, knowledge domains and app integrations. The tool can be deployed as a chatbot or Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) for service or sales, or as a process automation tool for workplace productivity and internal processes.

MindOS supports 30 languages, offers a big library of pre-designed AI beings, and infers intent accurately 97 per cent of the time. MindOS AI beings can be trained with an unsorted training data set such as an onboarding manual, product documents or full websites, without the need to structure the data.

With real-time searching and zero-shot training, those AI beings can be onboarded rapidly to consistently provide high-quality responses that are faithful to each brand’s voice.

— BERNAMA

Funding is amplified by recognition as first Amgen Golden Ticket winner in Singapore

SINGAPORE, April 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Albatroz Therapeutics, a biotechnology company targeting tissue remodeling to stop cancer growth and treat arthritis, today announced it has secured $3 million USD in funding led by Outram Bio and SEEDS Capital to accelerate the development of therapeutic antibodies against a novel target that degrades the extracellular matrix, a key contributor to cancer and arthritis. The company also received the first Golden Ticket prize from Amgen in Singapore, recognizing the viability of its science and business plan.

Cancer that has metastasized, spreading to other parts of the body, is notoriously difficult to treat and accounts for most cancer deaths. Albatroz has secured exclusive rights on a highly specific and novel target that blocks tumor growth and recurrence, including a range of therapeutic antibodies that inhibit this target.

“Degradation of the extracellular matrix is a critical component of both tumor growth and arthritis, however candidate drugs against this process have been limited in their use due to toxicity profiles,” said Dr. Fred Bard, CEO and Scientific Co-Founder of Albatroz. “We are thrilled with the industry support that is allowing us to accelerate development of Albatroz’s novel therapeutic antibodies in order to move toward the clinic. We look forward to collaborating with pharmaceutical and biotech innovators in order to maximize the impact of this science.”

While at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, Dr. Bard published prominently on a pathway that controls protein glycosylation and drives extracellular matrix degradation. The study of the GalNAc-T Activation (GALA) glycosylation pathway led to the discovery of a new target, which becomes exposed at the cell surface after glycosylation. Activation of the target occurs specifically in tumors and arthritic synovial membranes, connective tissue that lines the joint capsule. Albatroz’s targeted antibodies have high specificity for this target selectively reducing extracellular matrix degradation while minimizing toxicity.

“Albatroz is building on careful, fundamental research comparing normal and cancer tissues, which led to the exciting discovery of a novel and broadly distributed target present on the surface of diverse solid tumors,” said David Virshup, Director of the Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (CSCB) and Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School. “The therapeutic antibodies that Albatroz has developed may prevent the growth and metastasis of these cancers. These first-in-class agents have enormous potential to improve our ability to treat patients with cancer.”

A Recognized Leader in the Singapore Biotech Community

Albatroz also announced it is the first Amgen “Golden Ticket” recipient in Singapore. A scientific committee at Amgen evaluated the strength and novelty of the scientific rationale, subject matter expertise of the leadership and business plan viability of the company and awarded Albatroz access to a fully-equipped, turnkey, and certified BSL-2 laboratory from NSG Biolabs.

“Amgen’s sponsorship of the Golden Ticket award with NSG Biolabs captures what it means to support early-stage startups in their acceleration of bioscience innovation while contributing towards Singapore’s growing biotech ecosystem. Having evaluated many strong entries from a diversity of startups, we are enthusiastic about the cancer therapy and anti-arthritic platform being developed by Albatroz Therapeutics and their continued progress in advancing novel therapies to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases. Congratulations to Albatroz Therapeutics,” said Alan Russell, Ph.D., Vice President of Biologic Therapeutic Discovery at Amgen.

“Albatroz Therapeutics is an exciting example of the burgeoning biotech industry in Singapore– Southeast Asia’s largest biotech hub, and one that boasts cutting-edge research and attracts leading scientists from around the world,” said Christopher Tan, Partner at Outram Bio, who has been appointed to Albatroz’s Board of Directors. “The company has a comprehensive IP portfolio around the use of the target signaling pathway to discover and develop therapeutic antibodies, based on research that has been developed over the last decade, and fills a critical gap for patients suffering from arthritis and specific types of cancer that have been historically difficult to treat.”

About Albatroz Therapeutics

Albatroz Therapeutics is a Singapore-based biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody therapeutics to treat solid tumors and arthritic disorders. The novel technology was developed by the founders’ team at A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Founded in 2020, the company holds an exclusive license for rights to the technology patent portfolio and is conducting further target validation, drug development, and preclinical studies. For more information, please visit www.albatroztherapeutics.com

About Outram Bio

Outram Bio backs adventurous scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs working to make an impact in patients’ lives. Headquartered in Singapore, we invest in drugs, diagnostics and digital solutions developed by companies with a presence or interest in Asia. In addition to capital, we support startups with commercial talent, connect them with our international network of advisors, and help propel them into the global biotechnology ecosystem. The Outram Bio Fund is managed by Gordian Capital, a holder of a capital markets services license issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Asia’s leading institutional fund management platform. For more information, please visit www.outrambio.com and www.gordian-capital.com.

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) — Denmark, Switzerland and Finland took the top three spots in the 2023 World Citizenship Report, published by CS Global Partners, the world’s leading government and investment migration advisory firm.

According to a statement, this year, Denmark scored the highest points, knocking Switzerland out of the top spot. Switzerland came in second and Finland retained the third spot for a second year in a row.

Notably, global superpowers such as the United States and China did not rank in the top 10, symbolising a significant shift in what these economic giants can tangibly offer the global elite.

High-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) and mass affluent citizens are searching for a better quality of life, security and financial freedoms, all aspects which have been on shaky ground since the pandemic.

The surveyed cohort chose ‘Quality of Life’ as the most important feature of citizenship, which ranked first across the World Citizenship Index’s five pillars, eclipsing both Physical Safety and Financial Freedom.

The report found that a competitive economy, public services, and environmental sustainability are the three areas mass affluent individuals feel most let down by their governments.​

“This year, we looked beyond HNWIs and extended our survey to the new mass affluent, a globally mobile generation who is providing fresh impetus for a renewed drive towards global citizenship.

“As the world continues to change at an exponential rate, bringing with it new crises and opportunities, individuals across the globe are increasingly calling their own citizenships into question in terms of the safety, freedoms and the prosperity they provide,” said CS Global Partners Chief Executive Officer, Micha Emmett.

The World Citizenship Report ranks 188 countries across five key motivators defining citizenship for the global citizen showcasing the World Citizenship Index (WCI), an innovative tool that takes a holistic approach to rank the world’s citizenships across multiple dimensions including the motivators of Safety and Security, Quality of Life, Economic Opportunity, Global Mobility and Financial Freedom.

Unlike other rating tools, the WCI ranking is designed to reflect a citizenship’s value through the lens of HNWIs and the newest generation of global citizens: the mass affluent population.

The WCI’s unique methodology relies on the experience gained through CS Global Partners unparalleled work in the citizenship solutions industry, as well as comprehensive research to evaluate 188 jurisdictions across the five motivators of citizenship out of a maximum attainable score of 100 points.

— BERNAMA

Experience the Charisma of Hong Kong’s Unique Pop Culture With Legendary Icons

HONG KONG, April 25 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Hong Kong has one of the most influential pop cultures among Asian cities, especially its pervasive Cantopop and movies from the 1980s to the 1990s, which gave birth to a lot of superstars who were well-known internationally. The timeless influence of those masterpieces can still be found in the pop culture of Hong Kong and even the rest of Asia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230424005383/en/

The first-ever “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival” kicks off in April, with over 20 exciting events scheduled throughout the year. An array of experiences await visitors to relive the golden age of Hong Kong superstars, including Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, who reigned in the music and movie industries.

Some pop culture classics will be reinterpreted with unconventional modern elements, including makeovers of some one-of-a-kind melodies with new components, like jazz and a cappella. With fresh presentations of Hong Kong classics, these events pay tribute to the legendary trendsetters who have assiduously contributed to the local pop culture.

Here are four recommended experiences for visitors to savour and reminisce about the old days, paying tribute to the legends.

Passing on the Legend with a Brand New Interpretation

Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Leslie Cheung (“Gor-gor”) this year, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has organised an exhibition, with Cheung’s close friends Florence Chan, William Chang and Wing Shya as guest curators. Featuring his stage costumes, vinyl records, music and film work, awards and personal collections, the exhibition presents Cheung’s legendary achievements in music and film, as well as his influence on popular culture.

Movie Tram – Tales Told by Cinematic Storytellers

Movie Tram

** Tickets available online for registration

A quintessential Hong Kong symbol on the move, the tram is a vessel of the city’s unique scenery and memories, making it an ideal backdrop for a lot of Hong Kong movies. The Festival will present “Movie Tram” tours, in which the participants will take a walking tour around film locations in Central & Western District before hopping onto a tram, where famous filmmakers, including Stanley Kwan and Kearen Pang, will share behind-the-scenes stories and inspirations for cinematic creativity, uncovering the gems of the city’s moving pictures.

In the Mood for Qipao – A Showcase of the Flourishing Era of Hong Kong Cinema

Cinderella and Her Qipao Exhibition

The qipao (cheongsam) is a fashion symbol of Chinese culture, as well as a key styling element for female leads in a lot of Hong Kong movies. This exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive, with over 30 qipaos from a selection of films spanning different eras will be on display, recreating the cultural landscapes of the past with pieces worn by iconic actresses such as Maggie Cheung and Brigitte Lin.

Out of Thin Air: Hong Kong Film Arts & Costumes Exhibition

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum and Hong Kong Film Arts Association will jointly present the exhibition. Through the display of iconic costumes, props, sets, paraphernalia and workshop scenes, the exhibition will take visitors behind the scenes to explore the nature of Hong Kong’s film culture, as well as the highly adaptable professionalism and creative inclusiveness of film industry workers.

More riveting activities will debut soon. Make these experiences part of your itinerary and embark on a distinctive pop culture journey in the footsteps of legendary Hong Kong superstars.

For more information about the “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival”, please visit https://www.pcf.gov.hk/en/.

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FUZHOU, China, April 14, 2023 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

Recently, the promo video of Fuzhou city, Fujian province, titled “What You Did Not Know about Fuzhou — Ancient Buildings”, was released through overseas social media accounts including “Oriental.Paris”, “Discover Fujian” and “Discover Fuzhou”, providing a guided tour around Fuzhou — a city with a time-honored history and culture of over 7,000 years as well as a history as a well-built city of more than 2,200 years, telling the living stories behind silent ancient buildings to global netizens.

“Gucuo”, is the special name for ancient residence and ancient architecture in Fujian local dialect, which generally means “ancient buildings”. The video focuses on the precious heritage of ancestral wisdom and art. The ancient buildings such as Qi Jiguang Temple, Mawei Martyr Temple, and Lin Zexu Memorial Hall carry the historical memories of trials and tribulations that stir people’s hearts. The Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Shangxiahang Historical and Cultural District and Yantai Mountain integrate the classics and fashion, showing new vitality and brilliance, according to the Publicity Department of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee.

To protect ancient buildings and cultural relics means to preserve history, the cultural lineage and the intangible fine traditions of a famous historical and cultural city. Since the 1990s, Fuzhou has always attached great importance to the protection of historical and cultural heritage, introduced specific policies, established long-term mechanisms, trained talented people, and focused on the protection and restoration of famous towns, blocks, areas with distinctive features and cultural relics. It has renovated more than 200 key cultural relics projects, and more than 1,300 ancient and historical buildings, created 17 featured historical and cultural blocks, writing a splendid chapter of Fuzhou in cultural heritage protection in the New Era.

Source: The Publicity Department of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee

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   Caption: Fuzhou, a city with over 7,000 years of history and culture

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