Connect with us

Technology

Empowering Malaysia’s future: FWD Insurance and BSN’s Camp Millionaire champions financial literacy

Published

on

Nationwide initiative culminates in a transformative financial education camp, equipping primary school students with essential financial management skills and fostering a financially inclusive Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — FWD Insurance Berhad (“FWD Insurance”) and Bank Simpanan Nasional (“BSN”) have reached a significant milestone in their transformative mission to enhance financial literacy among Malaysia’s youth. Launched on 6 December, the Camp Millionaire programme culminated in a grand finale on 7 December, marking the successful conclusion of the first phase of this nationwide initiative aimed at empowering primary school students with essential financial knowledge and skills.

Camp Millionaire, an advanced financial education camp developed by Little Tauke, brought together 100 participants, selected as top achievers from their respective schools. The programme offered an immersive experience to deepen their understanding of financial management, empowering them to apply their knowledge practically and become ambassadors of financial literacy within their communities.

FWD Insurance and BSN collaborated with Little Tauke, the financial education experts to deliver the “Know Your Money” programme which has already empowered over 1,000 students across 20 schools nationwide, reaching both urban and rural communities.

This initiative underscores FWD Insurance’s unwavering commitment to financial inclusion, aligning with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) mandate to enhance financial literacy across the nation. By leveraging BSN’s strong school networks and Little Tauke’s educational expertise, the programme imparts crucial financial knowledge to primary school students aged 10 to 12, laying a robust foundation for their future financial well-being.

“FWD is dedicated to empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive and celebrate living,” said Mak See Sen, Chief Executive Officer of FWD Insurance. “This partnership with BSN and Little Tauke exemplifies our forward-thinking approach, where financial literacy is not just a skill but a gateway to a brighter future. Our collaboration with BSN has significantly accelerated our efforts to promote financial literacy among Malaysian youth, building strong momentum towards a financially inclusive future.”

“Financial literacy goes beyond merely learning how to accumulate wealth. It encompasses the ability to make informed decisions about spending, saving, investing, and managing debt. These are essential life skills that have a profound and long-lasting impact on an individual’s financial well-being. By instilling these skills at a young age, we empower the youth to navigate the complexities of the financial world with confidence and responsibility,” he added.

Jay Khairil, Chief Executive of BSN, highlighted the broader impact of this collaboration: “At BSN, our mission is deeply rooted in empowering the rakyat and fostering financial inclusion. We believe that financial literacy is a cornerstone of sustainable development, and that no Malaysian should be left behind in this journey. Through initiatives like Camp Millionaire and the broader Know Your Money programme, we are cultivating a generation equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate their financial future with confidence. This collaboration reflects our commitment to building a more resilient and inclusive Malaysia, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

The collaboration between FWD Insurance and BSN goes beyond conventional business partnerships, focusing on delivering tangible benefits to Malaysian society. By empowering the next generation with the skills and knowledge to navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape, this partnership underscores a steadfast commitment to building a financially literate and inclusive Malaysia. Through initiatives like Camp Millionaire, FWD Insurance and BSN reaffirm their dedication to shaping a brighter, more resilient future for all Malaysians.

About FWD Insurance Berhad

FWD Insurance Berhad is part of FWD Group, a pan-Asian health and life insurance business with over 12 million customers across 10 markets, including some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world. The company was established in 2013 and focused on changing the way people feel about insurance. FWD’s customer-led and digitally enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products, and a simpler insurance experience.

About Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN)

Since its establishment in 1974, Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) has been continuously driving positive change in the lives of Malaysians. Guided by its vision of “No Malaysian Left Behind,” BSN offers inclusive and innovative financial solutions to ensure broad access to financial opportunities for all segments of society.

As a key financial institution in the country, BSN is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to enhance financial literacy among Malaysians and build a brighter financial future. With an extensive network, BSN provides a wide range of comprehensive products and services, including savings, financial management, micro and personal financing, as well as Islamic and conventional credit cards.

BSN currently operates more than 387 branches, 40 Micro Finance Centers, 578 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), 259 Cash Recycling Machines (CRMs), 10 Mobile Bank Branches (CBB), and over 2,282 BSN Bank Agents (EB BSN) nationwide, including in rural and remote areas. With over 9 million customers, BSN continues to lead in financial inclusivity, supporting the country’s economic development agenda.

As of October 2024, BSN manages retail deposits totalling RM21.5 billion, reflecting the trust and confidence of the public in its services. Through a combination of digital technology and a personal touch, BSN continues to bring banking services to every corner of the country, making finance more accessible to everyone.

For more information, visit www.bsn.com.my.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/empowering-malaysias-future-fwd-insurance-and-bsns-camp-millionaire-champions-financial-literacy-302340601.html

SOURCE FWD Insurance Berhad

Continue Reading

Technology

3M announces collaboration with GSEO to advance Expanded Beam Optical manufacturing and development

Published

on

By

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced a collaboration with Genius Electronic Optical Co., Ltd. (GSEO, Taiwan: 3406), an optical technology company, to advance technology development and manufacturing for 3M’s Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) solutions. In support of these efforts, 3M expects to make a strategic investment to acquire approximately 4.7% of GSEO’s common shares as part of the company’s private placement of newly issued shares, subject to customary closing conditions.

The collaboration brings together 3M’s EBO technology leadership, optical interconnect expertise, materials science, manufacturing scale and customer relationships with GSEO’s precision optics manufacturing capabilities and production scale. Together, the companies aim to support EBO commercialization and long-term capacity expansion to meet growing demand from hyperscale data centers and other advanced connectivity applications.

“3M is investing in capabilities and partnerships that can accelerate innovation for our customers,” said William Brown, 3M Chairman and CEO. “By selecting GSEO as a manufacturing partner and investing in the company, we are strengthening the path to scale next-generation optical connectivity solutions for high-performance data center infrastructure.”

GSEO’s existing precision optics manufacturing capabilities and technical development experience are expected to support manufacturing readiness for 3M’s EBO ferrules, co-packaged optics solutions and related optical interconnect applications. The collaboration is part of 3M’s broader EBO ecosystem strategy, which includes continued work with customers and partners across the optical interconnect market.

“GSEO is pleased to expand its relationship with 3M as we work together to advance optical interconnect solutions for next-generation data center infrastructure,” said Micro Kuo, GSEO CEO and President. “This collaboration brings together complementary technology and manufacturing strengths to support continued innovation and help meet the performance demands of high-growth connectivity markets.”

3M expects the strategic investment to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release are considered “forward-looking statements” under the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and are intended to enjoy the protection of those laws. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this release and are typically identified by the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “evaluate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “impact,” “initial,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other words that are similar to, or have the opposite meanings of, those words. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, 3M assumes no duty to update those statements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of those statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events and trends that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of 3M’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) is focused on transforming industries around the world by applying science and creating innovative, customer-focused solutions. Our multi-disciplinary team is working to solve tough customer problems by leveraging diverse technology platforms, differentiated capabilities, global footprint, and operational excellence. Discover how 3M is shaping the future at 3M.com/news.

Contacts
3M
Investor Contact:
Diane Farrow, 612-202-2449
Media Contact:
3MNews@mmm.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/3m-announces-collaboration-with-gseo-to-advance-expanded-beam-optical-manufacturing-and-development-302913170.html

SOURCE 3M Company

Continue Reading

Technology

Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers Announces Second Annual Operation Fur-Ever Home Pet Adoption Event at Lafreniere Park

Published

on

By

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers is excited to announce the return of its second annual Operation Fur-Ever Home, a free community pet adoption event taking place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, Louisiana.

The free, family-friendly event will give attendees the opportunity to meet adoptable pets from local animal shelters, learn about responsible pet ownership, and potentially welcome a new furry companion into their homes. Those who preregister for the event will also be entered for a chance to win a Soundcore speaker and a free pet adoption.

“Last year’s event was everything we hoped it would be, and we are incredibly excited to bring Operation Fur-Ever Home back for a second year,” said David Vicknair, founding partner of Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers. “There is something special about watching a family meet a pet that could become part of their lives for years to come. We wanted to create another opportunity to make those connections while supporting the organizations that work tirelessly to care for animals in our community.”

Building on the success of the first event, this year’s event continues the firm’s commitment to supporting local animal shelters and creating meaningful opportunities for families throughout Southeast Louisiana.

“Giving back to our community has always been an important part of who we are as a firm,” said Vicknair. “Whether we are helping students prepare for school, recognizing deserving teachers, or supporting local animal shelters, our goal is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.”

Operation Fur-Ever Home is free and open to the public. Families, animal lovers, and anyone interested in adopting a pet are encouraged to attend and preregister.

About Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers

Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers is a New Orleans-based personal injury firm committed to providing exceptional legal representation while also investing in the communities it serves. Their experienced team of dedicated attorneys specializes in car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death cases in New Orleans. With diverse personal and professional backgrounds, they craft legal strategies tailored to each client’s specific case and needs.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scott-vicknair-personal-injury-lawyers-announces-second-annual-operation-fur-ever-home-pet-adoption-event-at-lafreniere-park-302913183.html

SOURCE Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers

Continue Reading

Technology

Can we produce low-cost omega-3s without relying on fish?

Published

on

By

GOLD COAST, Australia, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Southern Cross University researchers are aiming to halve the cost of producing omega-3 supplements to make these essential nutrients more accessible to pregnant women and infants in low-income countries, backed by the University’s first-ever grant from The Gates Foundation.

The research takes a novel approach: rather than relying on fish oil, the team is going closer to the original source of omega-3. Fish don’t produce omega-3 themselves – they accumulate it from marine microorganisms lower in the food chain.

Led by Professor Dirk Erler from Southern Cross University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, the team is investigating how these naturally omega-3-producing microorganisms can be grown more cheaply through precision fermentation, including the use of agricultural and food-processing by-products as a source of fermentation sugar.

Omega-3 is an important nutrient during pregnancy and early life, supporting brain and nervous system development in babies. But the cost of supplements remains a significant barrier to access in many low-income countries.

“The main barrier for the uptake of omega-3s as supplements in pregnant women is the cost,” Professor Erler said.

“The whole objective of our project is to reduce that cost and make omega-3 supplements more available.”

The research team at Southern Cross University, which includes biomedical scientist Dr Nedeljka Rosic, Dr Shane McIntosh, postdoctoral researcher Dr Jasmine Haskell and PhD researcher Michael Ingram, is focused on growing omega-3-producing marine microorganisms known as thraustochytrids – or ‘throstys’ for short.

“By growing those microorganisms on land through precision fermentation, we have an alternative way of producing omega-3s that is both reliable and highly targeted,” Professor Erler said.

Precision fermentation allows the researchers to grow thraustochytrids under controlled conditions to produce omega-3 oils. The team is investigating whether expensive feedstocks used in the process can be replaced with lower-cost agricultural and food-processing by-products, helping drive down the overall cost of production.

The approach could also reduce reliance on wild-caught fish as a source of omega-3 oil and create a more reliable, scalable, and local supply.

For biomedical scientist Dr Nedeljka Rosic, the production challenge is ultimately about what greater access to omega-3 could mean for women and babies.

“As a biomedical scientist, my purpose is to find ways to use science to improve people’s health,” Dr Rosic said.

“This project is important because it aims to improve the health of pregnant women and children and reduce preterm births through simple dietary improvements.”

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/can-we-produce-low-cost-omega-3s-without-relying-on-fish-302893631.html

SOURCE Southern Cross University

Continue Reading

Trending