Singapore’s Sunbird Brewing has made available Mr Freeze to welcome the New Year. Mr Freeze offers a modern twist on the classic American Pale Ale with double dry hopped. With an exquisite layering of Cascade, Citra, Chinook, this 2022 seasonal brew is a treat of grapefruit and citrus on the nose following a resiny and piney ending notes. Mr Freeze has an ABV of 6.5%. Click here to purchase.
KUALA LUMPUR, December 30, 2021 – As we come to the end of 2021, the challenges over the past two years in the fight against COVID-19 will remain with us. Through it all, our courageous frontliners gave their best to protect and keep Malaysians safe during this unprecedented time. This ongoing battle reminds us all, now more than ever, to stand united and to support our national heroes as we fight this together.
As we move into the endemic phase and recover, a few lucky frontliners were given the opportunity to take a break from their hectic schedules to enjoy a special reward courtesy of Domino’s Pizza and Sime Darby Motors. As part of the collaboration for the Love Our Frontliners movement, the reward presented frontliners with exclusive rides in Sime Darby Motors’ luxury vehicles together with a special pizza treat by Domino’s Pizza with the aim to spread positive vibes and happiness to these frontliners and their families. The special treat included an all-expense paid grocery trip by Domino’s Pizza.
Nur Fitri binti Ahmad Shah, a healthcare assistant at the Emergency and Trauma department of a public health facility shared her experience, “Personally, I had to face the reality of losing my father during the movement control order. I had to travel to Sarawak to pay my last respects. It was a lot to take in but I am thankful to everyone who supported me during that time. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Sime Darby Motors and Domino’s. It was indeed a fun pizza party for my children and I. We also had a good time driving around in the Volvo. I was taken by surprise by the reward as I never thought there would be such a unique opportunity like this.”
Yusrizal bin Syamsir Alam who works at the Emergency and Trauma department of another public health facility said “I live with my wife and children. After I get back home from work, I would quickly rush to shower as I’m worried I’d transmit the disease to my family. Beyond the stress at work, the fact that I’m unable to spend quality time with my children is devastating. I feel content today as it was a day for me to take a break from the norm and spend a day with my children and wife especially with the pizza treat at the store and the car ride around town. I have not driven a Hyundai Santa Fe before so I was afraid at the beginning but I am surprised that I got used to it real quick. We will all remember this special moment together.”
“Ever since the pandemic, we worked around the clock to take care of patients. The hospital environment is usually tense and frantic,” commented Amirah Binti Guruarady from the Haematology Department of another health facility. “As a single mother, I had to stay strong for my children. In fact, my children and I were tested positive for COVID-19 and during that time, I was the caregiver in the family. All in all, this experience had made us stronger and we treasure the moments that we have together now. I have not seen my parents for almost two years now as I’m afraid I’ll transmit the disease during my visit. It was difficult for us to connect via video call as well because my parents are old and not tech savvy. Thanks to the effort by Domino’s Pizza and Sime Darby Motors, my parents were excited to learn WhatsApp features and finally I managed to see their faces after a long time. I bought some essential food items during my grocery shopping and I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude once again for this unique reward.”
Sime Darby Motors’ representative dropped off its specially commissioned vehicles at the frontliners’ doorstep, providing them the opportunity to make use of the vehicle for their personal errands for half a day. On the same day, frontliners and their families were treated to a fulfilling pizza meal by Domino’s Pizza. With the aim to reunite and create a memorable experience for the frontliners, Domino’s Pizza delivered fresh and hot pizzas to their loved ones whom they have not seen for a long period of time while they connected with each other via video calls. The frontliners also shared their respective experiences working during the pandemic.
The initiative is part of a recent partnership between Domino’s Pizza and Sime Darby Motors’ which entailed the contribution of 4,200 pizzas, prepared by Domino’s Pizza and delivered by Sime Darby Motors’ stable of brands to Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) quarantine and treatment centre and several COVID-19-designated hospitals within the Klang Valley.
The Love Our Frontliners movement by Domino’s Pizza and Sime Darby Motors aimed to express appreciation and support to our medical frontline heroes for their sacrifice and contribution to ensure the well-being of Malaysians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
30 December 2021
Kaspersky EDR has achieved the highest AAA award in SE Labs’ Enterprise Advanced Security test (previously known as Breach Response Test). The solution was noted for its ability to detect complex targeted attacks, track malicious behavior from the beginning to the end of an attack and generate no false positive results. During the evaluation, the product was exposed to the tools, techniques, and procedures used by advanced threat groups.
With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated and endpoints still the main target for cybercriminals, the importance of reliable endpoint protection cannot be overestimated. However, judging the effectiveness of these solutions is not an easy task, and many factors, such as the ability to detect, relevancy, and accuracy are at play when assessing how well the product will help during a real attack.
To evaluate Kaspersky EDR capabilities, SE Labs’ engineers tested the product under a range of complex attacks similar or identical to those used by Dragonfly and Dragonfly 2.0, FIN7 and Carbanak, Oilrig, and APT29 threat groups. The solution’s performance was tracked at all major attack stages, from delivery to escalation and lateral action. Testers behaved as real adversaries, probing targets using a variety of tools, techniques, and vectors before attempting to gain access to the infrastructure. After that, they tried to complete the attack goal, including stealing information, damaging systems and connecting to other systems on the network. The test also considered the EDR’s ability to correctly identify legitimate applications and behavior, and measured any false positive detections or other sub-optimum interactions.
According to the independent laboratory, Kaspersky EDR detected every targeted attack and tracked each of the hostile activities that occurred during the test. Even better, it also detected in-depth insights, capturing details as each threat proceeded down the attack chain from the initial introduction to the system through its execution and subsequent behavior by the attacker. With 100% of attacks detected, the solution also showed outstanding results in classifying legitimate applications and URLs with a 100% legitimate accuracy rating.
Based on the total sum of the evaluated criteria, Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response finished with 98% in the total accuracy rating and was awarded the highest level of estimation – the AAA Award.
“Detecting breaches is an extremely challenging task. Detecting each stage of an attack, without making mistakes is far tougher. Kaspersky has done a great job in providing clear and deep insight into a range of advanced attacks,” said Simon Edwards, Chief Executive Officer at SE Lab.
“We are proud that our EDR solution managed to repeat the success of the Kaspersky Anti-Targeted Attack platform rewarded with an AAA rating by SE Labs in 2019 and that it showed amazing results during one of the most challenging cybersecurity tests. Our team endorses SE Labs’ holistic testing approach that involves the usage of real-world scenarios, validation of the performance at each stage of the attack, and transparent evaluation benchmarks. We are looking forward to participating in further SE Labs’ tests to reaffirm that our products provide high-grade protection even against the most advanced threats,” comments Alexander Liskin, Head of Threat Research at Kaspersky.
Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) provides visibility across all endpoints on a company’s corporate network and delivers superior defenses, enabling automation of routine tasks to discover, prioritize, investigate and neutralize complex threats and APT-grade attacks.
The full report, detailing the performance of Kaspersky EDR during the SE Labs’ test, is available via this link.
For more information about Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response, visit our website.
SE Labs Ltd is a private, independently-owned and run testing company that assesses security products and services. The main laboratory is located in Wimbledon, South London. SE Labs has developed next-generation testing to prove the abilities of ‘next-generation’ security products using a comprehensive, full-stack approach to security assessment powered by true and detailed threat intelligence. SE Labs is a member of the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA); the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO); and the Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG).
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 240,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.
Five Conflict Management Styles To Resolve Common Squabbles At Home
Shah Alam, 30 December 2021 – Being cooped up under one roof during the pandemic has brought many families closer together, but there has been some challenges too. With a larger extended family, it may have been difficult to go a whole day without someone losing their patience, feeling frustrated or even crying. According to the Gardenia ‘Wellness Begins at Home’ Survey, the top three causes of arguments in Malaysian households during the MCO included:
The good news is we can learn to manage this. The even better news is that we have probably already learnt about conflict management at the workplace, and it’s just a matter of modifying it to work efficiently in our home environment.
The five primary styles of conflict management
Conflict management is the practice of resolving disputes in a fair, reasonable, and efficient way. It is typically used in a workplace, but if you read on you will see that you can use the same skills in your own home.
This management style allows a family member to ‘win’ by getting their way. Essentially, one person must give in for the sake of others.
✅ Pros: Small disagreements can be settled easily and quickly.
❎ Cons: The extraverted family member may win their way due to their outspoken and dominant nature. Or if you’re in a typical Asian household that follows the implied family hierarchy, the younger members may feel voiceless to begin with.
An avoiding style promotes a ‘time out’ tactic to allow the high tension to cool down. In other cases, you can also remove the indignant family member from the equation.
✅ Pros: Emotions may start to take control of a situation, therefore taking the time to recollect yourself will help everyone refocus on the issue at hand.
❎ Cons: If you continuously avoid the conflict without ever meaning to resolve it, it could come back around or snowball into a bigger issue.
To compromise is to find the middle ground. This ‘win-win’ approach makes sacrifices more manageable.
✅ Pros: The family members involved will feel heard and understood, which is important in validating everyone’s feelings.
❎ Cons: Giving something up may have a different meaning to each family member. Some sacrifices may appear bigger than others.
The collaboration style may be the longest and most strenuous way to manage conflict; mostly because the entire family will have to sit down, consider every need and want of each member, and work out a solution together. Although every management style requires communication, this one needs the most amount of it.
✅ Pros: Everyone leaves happy.
❎ Cons: You probably have to spend the whole weekend trying to come to a consensus.
Parents, at some point, you must put your foot down. Even if your children may not like it, you are the parent and you must be the one to make the tough call.
✅ Pros: As the parent, you will be comfortable and confident with the decision you are making because, at the end of the day, you know what’s best for your family.
❎ Cons: Unfortunately, your children may not understand that at first and will likely resent you for a while.
An important reminder
Everyone in our family is different, and so is every conflict. There is no one-size-fits-all method to solving every issue within a family. If anything, it’s important that we practice empathy, especially during times like this when people are stressed, particularly due to uncertainly. Our stress levels and emotions are running high. Even though the country has moved into the endemic phase, we still need to exercise care and caution in our socialising and daily activities. Let’s remember to be kind to one another because we don’t know what others may be going through as a result of the pandemic. Lives and lively hoods have been lost and for some, life may never be the same again.
Gardenia KL continues to stand in support of the nation as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with World Mental Health week 2021, findings from the Gardenia ‘Wellness Begins at Home’ Survey were discussed over a live forum hosted on @GardeniaKL’s Facebook with celebrity mental health activist and Patron of MIASA, Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim; mental health activist and MIASA President, Anita Abu Bakar; and Gardenia KL, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations General Manager, Hazlinah Harun. The discussion covered the impact of the pandemic on Malaysians, tips for a healthier lifestyle and many more.
If you missed it, don’t worry! You can still watch the discussion on Gardenia KL’s Facebook page: https://fb.watch/8Lrd_rysnb/
Mamee has recently teamed up with First Baking on its first baking journey to bring the joy of Christmas to its consumers. First Baking is known for its Instagrammable Korean inspired box cakes.The First Baking X Mamee Mystery Box contained the following products:
“We hope this box of joy brings you happy memories of your carefree days as a child. Though each and everyone of us have our own unique experiences during our childhood, the prominent memory that we all share would be none other than the scrumptious snacks we used to enjoy as a child. Let’s not forget the moments we share during Christmas – with all our loved ones gathered around while spreading the positive vibes and being surrounded by Christmas lights. Cherish those cheerful memories together with this gift box”.
The collaboration showcases how snack brands can tap into the D.I.Y. trend especially home baking and create a new revenue stream as foodservice/baking ingredients. We have seen how brands from Beryl’s to Hershey’s have created products for home bakers. Perhaps the familiar Mamee texture can be popularised further and is associated with festive baking.
Ayam Brand has launched Organic Coconut Milk in Malaysia. The new organic coconut milk comes from coconut grown using the organic method and is free from hormone, GMO and pesticides. Ayam Brand Organic Coconut Milk is available at AEON, Jaya Grocer and Ben’s Independent Grocer.
Bangkok, Thailand, 22 December 2021 – Salus Bioceutical (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (SBT), in partnership with Salus International Management Ltd. (SIM), a partially-owned subsidiary of MPX International Corporation (MPXI), a multinational diversified cannabis company, is opening a 600-million-baht cannabis/hemp production plant (‘the Facility’) in Doi Saket district of Chiang Mai province in Thailand. The Facility will initially produce CBD products to cater to growing international and local demand, whereby THC products and medicine will be developed subject to government approval under applicable laws.
The world-class Facility is expected to have an annual capacity for the extraction of over 200,000 kilograms of biomass, and production of over 50,000 liters of CBD oil and 90,000 kilograms of isolate powder and water-soluble CBD isolate, making SBT one of the largest cannabis/hemp manufacturing plants in Thailand and the most sophisticated production site outside of North America. The 800 m2 plant covers indoor cultivation and an additional building, high capacity extraction and distillation capability employing some of the most technologically advanced equipment available in the cannabis industry as well as a medical grade laboratory for hemp and cannabis analysis, which will allow for a unique distillation process, ultimately producing high-yield and quality CBD products that stand out from competitors.
With expertise from MPXI, an emergent global participant in the cannabis industry operating across five continents, SBT will implement best-in-class manufacturing practices into their Thai GMP and EU-GMP compliant medical production facilities. SBT has recently been granted a Hemp Extraction License, which allows SBT to operate and extract hemp flower legally under the laws of Thailand, making it one of the first companies in Thailand with complete licensing for CBD manufacturing.
Amid the global cannabis wave, Thailand, with a population of over 70 million, is a promising national jurisdiction for the industry following its legalization for the medical use of cannabis in 2019. There are an estimated 600,000 Thai patients that can undergo cannabis treatment, and with Thailand currently being the third-most visited country by medical tourists in the world, the integration of cannabis into the medical tourism industry alone is forecast to bring in $60 million in 2024. Medical professionals are also encouraging medical cannabis to be considered a cultural heritage aspect of Thailand.
SBT will be working closely with the Cannabis & Herbs Institute, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, where institutional research will be conducted to understand the agriculture and agronomy of cannabis and hemp plants in the tropics as well as the extraction for medical purposes as a precursor for various industrial sectors. Additionally, SBT also aims to participate in developing communities and local farmers in operations for outdoor and greenhouse cultivation of high-CBD/low-THC hemp biomass. SBT has built demonstration sites for the outdoor growing of hemp in five different campuses of the Rajamangala University of Technology Isan to develop cultivation techniques and pass on know-how to local farmers.
As Thailand continues to venture into the market for medical cannabis, various opportunities will open up for future business. As the first North American medical cannabis company to enter the Thai market, SBT will initially be producing EU-GMP compliant medical-grade cannabis products such as CBD distillate, isolate powder, and water-soluble CBD isolate for domestic sales. The company will focus on producing high quality products for the domestic market and aims to dominate the ASEAN community by expanding sales throughout the entire Southeast Asia region. With Thailand declaring itself as an export country, the export potential can be estimated at $618 million for 2024.
By moving forward with a strong client database and client support, SBT will be branching out into various sectors in the market. Having received interest from various Thailand-based food & beverage, cosmetics, healthcare, supplement, massage and spa, and animal feed manufacturers, SBT will potentially produce CBD distillate/isolate for commercial use by the fourth quarter of 2021. In the pharmaceutical realm, SBT is under the process to qualify the Facility for GMP-grade medical cannabis, and subject to government approval, will produce sublingual tablets and capsules, suppositories, transdermal patches and medical quality edibles containing other medically-beneficial cannabinoids.
Tuesday 28 December 2021
In tune with today’s current health awareness across the globe, an increasing number of people are paying more attention to food and healthy eating. To carry this direction further, Thailand’s Department of Cultural Promotion is promoting Thai foods as medicinal and beneficial for one’s health through the website ThaiTasteTherapy.com – an online Thai cooking space showcasing 50 recipes. Additionally, information on raw ingredients and Thai herbs are available.
Already renowned worldwide for its appealing diversity in flavors, Thai gastronomy takes centuries-old local wisdom to a new level in health, well-being, and medicinal care. Thailand is honored to share its knowledge of local dishes from throughout the Kingdom that not only appeal to the taste buds but have healing properties for a number of ailments.
Mr. Chai Nakhonchai, Director-General of the Department of Cultural Promotion, revealed that while Thai food is an intangible cultural heritage praised worldwide for its diverse flavors, the wonder of Thai cuisine doesn’t end with great taste. Nearly every dish is bursting with vegetables, herbs and spices containing nutraceutical properties (food containing health-giving additives and having medicinal benefits) which in turn can aid the body to fight off diseases and help maintain a level of health and vitality. It’s not an overstatement to refer to Thai cuisine as “The World’s Tastiest Medicine”.
Sample dishes
– Immune-Boosting Chicken Soup with Turmeric, which contains curcumin (helps the immune system work efficiently*). The sharp, tart smoky flavor comes mainly from the garcinia fruit with an overall balanced deliciousness coming from galangal (helps prevent inflammation caused by bacteria and viruses and helps prevent allergic reactions) and lemongrass (contains quercetin which enhances immunity).
– Spicy and Sour Chicken Soup – the bold and delectable Tom Yum dish with juicy chicken meat, herbal aroma, galangal and lemongrass.
– Five-Spice Jungle Curry – a popular spicy dish that does not contain coconut milk, instead containing a host of spices and herbs to balance the strong scent of fish or meat and to enhance appetite. Key ingredients include fingerroot, a kind of ginger, which also contains quercetin (helps relieve cough and cold symptoms*), galangal, turmeric, lemongrass, and peppercorn (helps to relieve nausea, headaches, poor digestion).
For healthy eating, visit www.thaitastetherapy.com for easy-to-follow Thai food recipes and an online directory of where to purchase ingredients.
DKSK Malaysia has supported underprivileged families and orphanages in Klang Valley by fulfilling their Christmas wish lists.
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, December 29, 2021 – In the spirit of the holiday season, DKSH Malaysia organized a Christmas gift initiative to bring cheer to less privileged children from two orphanages, Rumah K.I.D.S. and Agathians Shelter, as well as the families who are registered under DKSH’s Bantuan Kasih food-aid program.
Located in both Subang Jaya and Klang, Rumah K.I.D.S. is home to 41 orphaned, abused, abandoned, and neglected children aged between 1 and 20 years old. Agathians Shelter in Petaling Jaya, on the other hand, houses 30 disadvantaged boys between the ages of 5 and 20 years old. These children, along with the children from the Bantuan Kasih families, were invited to provide their Christmas wish lists, which included coloring books, clothes, and computer accessories, among other items.
In line with DKSH’s purpose of enriching people’s lives, volunteers participating in this corporate social responsibility program delivered a total of 130 presents, incorporating toys and books donated by DKSH employees, to the children. In addition to the presents, DKSH Malaysia also contributed household appliances and groceries to the cause supporting the orphanages and underprivileged families.
Nicholas McLaren, Head Country Management, DKSH Malaysia, commented: “At DKSH, we take responsibility for our social impact, and a strong commitment to the local communities we operate in has always been an integral part of our business. While the festivities might not feel the same this year with the ongoing pandemic and the disastrous flood that has happened recently, we hope our contributions will help bring the warmth of the festive season to children and families in need.”
About DKSH
DKSH’s purpose is to enrich people’s lives. For more than 150 years, we have been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across our Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials, and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, we offer sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 10.7 billion in 2020. www.dksh.com
29 December 2021
New Kaspersky Safe Kids research has revealed the online content children were most interested in during autumn 2021. As for games, kids were frequently searching for Genshin Impact and Poppy Playtime. The most popular toys among kids appeared to be Barbie and Lego. Moreover, Coldplay surprisingly became popular among children following a collaboration with the K-Pop band BTS.
The holiday season is coming, and it’s time to choose gifts. To find the best present for kids, parents can research their interests and hobbies more thoroughly than ever before. To help with this, Kaspersky studied the interests of children in different areas (games, music and movies/cartoons) to help adults navigate gift choices.
Kaspersky analyzed anonymized data[1], such as search queries and the most popular Android applications[2] as well as website categories, all voluntarily provided by Kaspersky Safe Kids users, to explore children’s key interests and needs between September and November 2021.
Games
Gaming appeared to be the most popular topic on YouTube this autumn, accounting for 28.4% of all queries.
Two newcomers hit the top game searches this year – Genshin Impact and Poppy Playtime. Minecraft came in second with 22.4%. Additionally, Minecraft’s Let’s Play series turned out to be more popular than Roblox, whose share of requests was 5.9%. Meanwhile, the leading gaming YouTube channels were MrBeast, EdisonPts and Paluten.
Music
Music-related queries ranked second in terms of the number of YouTube searches with a share of 19.1%. The most popular musicians were BTS, BlackPink, Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande and Twice. The most well-known songs were CKay – Love Nwantiti, and two new tracks from one of the BlackPink members, LISA – ‘LALISA’ and ‘MONEY’.
Interestingly, K-Pop still appeared to be popular among children. Thanks to the joint hit My Universe with Korean group BTS, Coldplay, which had not previously featured, suddenly rose into the sphere of kids’ interests.
Movies and TV shows
12.1% of all requests were for films, cartoons and TV shows. Children were most frequently looking for cartoons – the share of queries was 56.4%. Most kids searched for Peppa Pig and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. The share of requests for TV shows was 35.3%. Leaders were German show Hilf mir is the! Jung, pleite, verzweifelt and Berlin tag und nacht, Korean drama A Beauty of Revenge, and Mr. Bean. When it comes to movies, children were mostly interested in Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Toys and gifts
As for search queries related to toys and possible gifts, LEGO and Barbie were the leaders. From the educational sphere, children were most interested in the animal world and experiments in chemistry and physics. These requests should make it easier for parents to choose possible gift options based on the interests of their kids.
“It is important to understand the global trends of children’s interests as well as what exactly your kid is passionate about. A gift based on something super popular at the moment can be useful and will not become outdated, like new Vans’ sneakers, for example. Alternatively, a child’s preferences for games, movies, or music provide good clues. If they are a music lover, gifts such as good headphones will be an excellent option,” comments Anna Larkina, web content analysis expert at Kaspersky.
The full report is available via this link.
To ensure children have a positive online experience, Kaspersky recommends that parents:
About Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 240,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.
[1] The data confirms that YouTube is the most popular app among kids. To get to their specific interests, it’s worth paying attention to what videos children most often search for on the platform. To do this, Kaspersky analyzed the top 1,000 search queries of little ones during the autumn 2021.
[2] According to the statistics, children spent the most time on YouTube this autumn – 31.4% of the total time spent in top 10 popular apps. In second place was WhatsApp with a share of 19.2%, less than 1 percentage point was TikTok (18.8%).
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