Month: September 2025

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Russian military jets ‘violate’ Estonian airspace, officials say

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Russian military jets have violated Estonian airspace, officials have said. In a statement, the Estonian government said the incident involved three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets that flew over the Gulf of Finland for a total of 12 minutes without permission. Foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said Russia had already violated Estonian airspace four times this year, “which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen”.

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Satu Creative and Yayasan Hasanah empower Malaysian social enterprises to scale their impact

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HSEF equips entrepreneurs to grow impact locally and beyond Yayasan Hasanah commits US$213,000 to boost social enterprises in central & northern Malaysia in 2025 From the highlands of Sarawak to cutting-edge biotech labs and artisan workshops, three Malaysian social enterprises are showing how purpose-driven businesses can create meaningful change with the support of the Ministry of Finance and Yayasan Hasanah, through the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund (HSEF). Implemented in partnership with Satu Creative, the fund nurtures and strengthens Malaysias social enterprise ecosystem by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and confidence to grow their impact. Earthlings Coffee (Sarawak): Brewing local pride Co-founded by Kenny Lee, Rave Sun Kwok and Ronnie Kueh, Earthlings began as a coffee roastery and cafe in Kuching but quickly evolved into a movement to put Sarawak coffee on the global stage. With HSEF support, the enterprise has trained farmers, introduced sustainable practices, and strengthened the value chain, helping Sarawak coffee gain international recognition. Sarawak coffee has a unique story to tell, and it deserves to be celebrated globally. With the support of Satu Creative and Yayasan Hasanah, weve been able to empower farmers, enhance sustainability, and share the richness of Sarawak coffee with the world, said Kenny Lee, managing director of Earthlings Coffee. Synbiozymes: Science for sustainability Co-founded by Hidayah Shahidan, Synbiozymes was founded to turn years of biotechnology research into real-world solutions. Focused on enzyme-based innovations to tackle industrial waste, the startup faced challenges in bridging laboratory breakthroughs with market readiness. With HSEF support, it accelerated R&D and piloted enzyme applications with industry partners, moving closer to commercialisation and environmental impact. At Synbiozymes, our mission has always been to transform science into practical solutions for sustainability. The support from both Satu Creative and Yayasan Hasanah enabled us to accelerate our research and bring innovations closer to industry adoption, said Hidayah Shahidan, co-founder of Synbiozymes. Complemen+ Candle: Lighting the way for mindful living For Amrit Muralidharan, founder of Complemen+ Candle, the journey began with a vision to create candles that are beautiful, eco-conscious, and socially impactful. The brand employs B40 TVET graduates, vocational youth and artisans, while using sustainable materials and promoting mindful living. With HSEF support, it expanded its artisan network, adopted eco-friendly production methods, and gained visibility in sustainability-focused markets. Our candles are not just products. They represent livelihoods, sustainability, and a sense of community. With the support of Satu Creative and Yayasan Hasanah, weve been able to expand our artisan network and reach more people who value mindful living, said Amrit, founder of Complemen+ Candle. Driving impact through partnerships What inspires us most is how social enterprises like Earthlings Coffee, Synbiozymes, and Complemen+ Candle co-create solutions that nurture both livelihoods and planetary well-being. Their journeys remind us that purpose and innovation can go hand in hand. With the support of Yayasan Hasanah, we are hopeful that more social enterprises can continue to innovate, scale their impact, and shape a future that is sustainable and inclusive, said Azuar Zainuddin, CEO of Satu Creative. At Hasanah, we believe that even the smallest spark of an idea can shift entire systems when given the right support. From transforming industrial waste into new possibilities, to turning handcrafted candles into livelihoods for B40 youth, to helping farmers cultivate sustainably these enterprises remind us that social change is not a one-off act of giving, but a reimagining of how we live and work together. Social enterprises stand at the intersection of profit and purpose, and we are proud to be a partner in their journey to shape a more sustainable and inclusive Malaysia,” said Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, managing director of Yayasan Hasanah. Together, Satu Creative and Yayasan Hasanah are cultivating a stronger social enterprise ecosystem for Malaysia one that empowers changemakers to scale their ideas, strengthen communities, and build sustainable futures. As part of this commitment, Yayasan Hasanah has announced an allocation of US$213,000 (RM1 million) under the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund to support social enterprises in Malaysias central and northern regions in 2025. Implemented in partnership with Satu Creative, the fund will give purpose-driven entrepreneurs access to resources, capacity-building, and opportunities to expand their impact locally and beyond. For more information on the Creative Sprint Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund 2025 and to be part of this journey, please visit www. satucreative. com.

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UST opens UAAP Season 88 with Olympic-inspired spectacle

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MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas opened UAAP Season 88 with a large-scale celebration across its España campus on Friday, welcoming 36,629 attendees in an Olympic-style ceremony. The Thomasian community staged the kickoff at the Main Building and Open Field, marking its first hosting since Season 79 in 2016. This year’s theme is “Strength

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Penang deeptech startup, Nvsion, raises seed funding from Cambrian Fund to advance Malaysia’s AI-powered industrial vision technology

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Built a proprietary Synthia Vision AI Platform, which uses a hybrid of AI and rule-based algorithms Beyond semicon, sees opportunities to extend its platform into other advanced manufacturing sectors Nvsion Sdn Bhd, a Malaysia-based deeptech startup specialising in AI-powered Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) solutions, today announced that it has successfully completed a multi-million ringgit seed round, without disclosing the amount. The sole investor in the round is Cambrian Fund, a venture capital fund focused on Industrial 4. 0 themes, marking the funds inaugural investment. With its focus on the semiconductor sector, Cambrian Fund is managed by Southern Capital Group with anchor investors Khazanah Nasional, through its Dana Impak fund and the co-founders of ViTrox Corp Bhd (bottom pic). The funding will be deployed to accelerate Nvsion’s growth across several key areas, including advancing its product development and rollout, recruiting top-tier talent, and expanding its customer base. Nvsion was founded in Feb 2025 by Jeffrey Chung Wai Loong, as Managing Director, and three co-founders, who together bring 46 years of deep technical experience to the fore. The startup develops advanced AOI solutions that are critical for ensuring high precision, improving quality, and increasing efficiency in the outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) segments. Beyond semiconductors, Nvsion also sees significant opportunities to extend its platform into other advanced manufacturing sectors where precision and throughput are critical, such as advanced electronics, automotive, and medical devices. The company’s core technology is its proprietary Synthia Vision AI Platform, which uses a hybrid of AI and rule-based algorithms for high-speed industrial applications. “Securing this first round of funding is a defining moment for Nvsion,” said Jeffrey. “We are honoured to welcome Cambrian Fund as our first investor. Their backing not only validates our vision and technology but also gives us access to world-class expertise and networks. With their support, we are confident in our ability to deliver greater innovation, expand our world-class customer base, and contribute to Malaysias emergence as a leader in advanced manufacturing.” The investment aligns with Cambrian Fund’s strategy to back technology companies in Southeast Asia with exceptional founders and a clear path to market leadership. “We launched Cambrian Fund to back visionary founders building the next generation of global technology leaders,” said Kenneth Tan, CEO of Southern Capital Group, the manager of Cambrian Fund. “We are proud and excited to partner with Jeffrey and his team. Nvsion’s advanced, software- first approach to machine vision is set to make a significant impact in a critical and rapidly growing part of the Industrial 4. 0 landscape. We are confident in their potential to scale and become a market leader, and we look forward to supporting them on their transformative journey.”.