Slovenia Launches Digital Nomad Visa: A Gateway to Europe’s Green Oasis of Culture, Nature and Innovation

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, Nov 24 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On 21 November 2025, Slovenia is launching its new Digital Nomad Visa, inviting remote workers to stay and work in the country for up to one year. With its pristine nature, culture and modern digital infrastructure, Slovenia provides an ideal environment for productive and balanced living. The Slovenian Tourist Board has launched a dedicated landing page with all essential information for future applicants.

Often described as Europe’s green heart, Slovenia is a land where natural beauty is always just a few steps away. Two-thirds of the country is covered by forests, and one-third of its territory is protected. Alpine peaks, crystal-clear lakes, ancient vineyards, sun-kissed Mediterranean coastlines and rolling green hills coexist within short distances, making Slovenia perfect for digital nomads and remote workers.

Slovenia’s cities—Ljubljana, Maribor, Koper, Celje and others—combine historical charm with contemporary creativity. Ljubljana, a proud European Green Capital, enchants visitors with pedestrian-friendly streets, tranquil riverbanks, vibrant cultural life and abundant green spaces. Culinary tradition thrives throughout the country, with influences from Alpine, Mediterranean and Pannonian regions blending into a rich gastronomic identity. From local markets to Michelin-starred restaurants, Slovenia celebrates authentic flavours and sustainable practices.

While rich in natural beauty, Slovenia remains a modern, connected and innovation-driven nation. High-speed internet covers almost the entire country, while coworking spaces, tech parks and start-up hubs support collaboration and professional growth. According to the Global Peace Index (GPI), Slovenia has consistently maintained its position as one of the safest countries in the world. In 2025, it secured the impressive 9th position.

One of Slovenia’s greatest strengths lies in its remarkable compactness. In just one hour, travellers can move from the vibrant streets of Ljubljana to Alpine trails or Adriatic shores — and in two, to the rolling wine regions of the east. This geographic convenience allows remote workers to enjoy a lifestyle where leisure and exploration naturally complement professional routines.

Home to globally recognised innovators such as Outfit7, Celtra, Dewesoft, GenePlanet, Mediately and Juicy Marbles, Slovenia embodies a forward-looking spirit grounded in tradition, nature and community.

With the new Digital Nomad Visa, Slovenia warmly welcomes remote workers to discover a destination where natural beauty, culture and innovation flourish side by side.

More information: https://www.slovenia.info/en/plan-your-trip/digital-nomad

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58c620ae-00ec-4ef4-8f60-82e533dbf3ca

Contacts: press@slovenia.info 

SOURCE: Slovenian Tourist Board

--BERNAMA

LUBRIZOL UNVEILS BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES AT ASIA-PACIFIC INNOVATION SUMMIT

As industries undergo structural transformation and sustainability becomes a defining priority, market demand is becoming more diversified than ever.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Lubrizol, a global leader in speciality chemicals, gathered over 150 industry leaders, technical experts, and strategic partners at its inaugural Asia-Pacific Innovation Summit in Shanghai.

Participants explored emerging trends in material science, discussed innovation-driven collaboration, and identified new pathways for sustainable industry growth, building a strong foundation for turning visionary ideas into tangible solutions.

“Diversified and rapidly evolving market demands are reshaping traditional industry models, propelling us toward an era of collaborative growth and value co-creation.

“Lubrizol remains deeply committed to a strategy that combines global perspective with strong local engagement. With an open and agile mindset, we position ourselves as a co-creator within the innovation ecosystem, placing market needs at the core,” said Lubrizol Vice President, Asia Pacific, Henry Liu in a statement.

The summit marked the regional debut of several pioneering technologies, highlighting Lubrizol’s commitment to improving lives and driving sustainable progress through material innovation.

Lubrizol introduced a comprehensive package of additive technologies designed to meet China VII regulations for commercial vehicles and the ongoing electrification requirements for passenger vehicles, alongside a new waterborne acrylic emulsion for sustainable food packaging, free from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polyethylene film.

In biotech skincare, the company unveiled Lectroglaze, the industry’s first cosmetic active ingredient powered by electrogenic bacteria. Its prebiotic effect stimulates the skin microbiome to produce bioelectricity, neutralising free radicals and preventing oxidative damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light and ageing.

Recently, Lubrizol launched its Southeast Asia Innovation Center in Singapore and opened a new office in Jakarta, while expanding production capacity for medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane in Shanghai, strengthening regional collaboration, innovation, and manufacturing capabilities.

Through these initiatives, Lubrizol aims to accelerate the transformation of ideas into tangible solutions, supporting sustainable growth and value creation across industries in the Asia-Pacific region.

-- BERNAMA

Bitget Teams Up with Ampersan to Accelerate Institutional Liquidity in the UEX Era

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Nov 24 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), today announced a strategic collaboration with Ampersan, an institutional liquidity provider serving both centralized and decentralized markets. The collaboration strengthens Bitget’s institutional offering with deeper liquidity coverage across spot, futures, and options markets, creating new channels for professional capital to operate with precision in digital assets.

Ampersan provides reliable liquidity across major digital asset markets, backed by years of experience in traditional finance and electronic trading. Its approach helps create smoother pricing and stronger market depth. Integrating Ampersan’s liquidity capabilities with Bitget’s UEX framework gives institutional clients more efficient trade execution, especially for larger orders and large scale strategies.

“Ampersan has proven itself to be a sharp, reliable liquidity partner on every venue it touches,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Bringing them into the UEX ecosystem raises the bar for everyone, giving our institutional users smoother access to the markets they care about and all in one place.”

The partnership reflects a shift in institutional participation as professional investors seek stronger liquidity foundations, greater market depth, and efficient access across both onchain and off-chain environments. Bitget’s UEX framework, spanning spot, derivatives, stock futures, and tokenized assets, aligns naturally with Ampersan’s approach to building a unified liquidity layer for modern digital markets.

“Ampersan was created to provide institutional-grade liquidity to market participants, strengthening the liquidity infrastructure required for the growth in digital asset strategies,” said Daniel Ku, CEO of Ampersan. “Partnering with Bitget expands users’ access to an ecosystem engineered for scale, speed, and the continued development of digital asset markets.”

The partnership follows the continued rollout of the UEX framework, including upgrades to Bitget Onchain that bring millions of tokens under one account. The addition of Ampersan’s institutional liquidity extends Bitget’s position as a hub where traditional finance intersects with digital asset innovation, enabling more sophisticated capital allocation and cross-asset portfolio construction.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 120 million users with access to millions of crypto tokens, tokenized stocks, ETFs, and other real-world assets, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, XRP price and other cryptocurrency prices, all on a single platform. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI-powered trading tools, interoperability across tokens on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, and wider access to real-world assets. On the decentralized side, Bitget Wallet is an everyday finance app built to make crypto simple, secure, and part of everyday finance. Serving over 80 million users, it bridges blockchain rails with real-world finance, offering an all-in-one platform to on/off ramp, trade, earn, and pay seamlessly.

Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c70f83b0-b2bd-4702-b2b2-25a506663450

SOURCE: Bitget Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

DigitalBridge Closes US$11.7 Bln Digital Infrastructure Fund

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- DigitalBridge Group Inc (DigitalBridge) announced the successful close of DigitalBridge Partners III (DBP III), its third value-added digital infrastructure fund, securing US$11.7 billion in total capital commitments. (US$1=RM4.14)

The close includes over US$7.2 billion in fund commitments and US$4.5 billion in limited partner (LP) co-investment commitments, highlighting strong investor confidence in the firm’s digital infrastructure strategy and differentiated operating model.

More than 65 per cent of the fund commitments came from existing investors in the DigitalBridge Partners fund series, alongside new LPs from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and North America. The robust co-investment participation underscores DigitalBridge’s ability to partner closely with investors to scale capital into high-quality opportunities, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperscale data centres.

DigitalBridge Chief Executive Officer, Marc Ganzi in a statement said the fund represents the next stage in the company’s evolution as a leading digital infrastructure investment platform.

“With strong fund commitments and meaningful co-investment from our LPs, this capital formation milestone positions us to scale into the opportunities we have been building toward—in hyperscale data centres, AI-enabling infrastructure, and the power and connectivity assets that underpin them,” he said.

Meanwhile, DigitalBridge Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, Kevin Smithen added: “The fund is already deploying capital into next-generation platforms where we identified growth potential ahead of the market, including hyperscale data centres, fibre, and tower infrastructure.

“DigitalBridge is continuing to focus on what we do best: delivering value for our investors through proprietary sourcing, operator-driven value creation, and disciplined execution at scale.”

DBP III has already built a well-diversified portfolio that includes Vantage Data Centers North America, Yondr Group, Orange Barrel Media, FiberNow, and JTOWER.

These initial investments reflect the firm’s disciplined execution and alignment with the fund’s high-conviction strategy—investing at scale in proprietary opportunities where DigitalBridge has deep domain expertise and the ability to unlock value through active ownership and strategic growth.

-- BERNAMA

Nearfield Instruments Signs Multi-Year Development Project to Advance Semiconductor Metrology

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, Nov 19 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nearfield Instruments, the leader in 3D, non-destructive, in-line process control solutions based on scanning probe technology, today announced a strategic development project to accelerate innovation in semiconductor metrology.

As part of a multi-year collaboration, Nearfield Instruments will deploy its flagship system, QUADRA, at Imec’s advanced R&D facility in Leuven. The two organizations will jointly develop next-generation metrology solutions to address critical challenges across the semiconductor manufacturing value chain, including: 

· High-NA EUV Lithography Metrology
Development and characterization of high-NA EUV resist 3D metrology using Nearfield’s proprietary High-Aspect-Ratio (HAR) imaging mode (FFTP) to improve scanner productivity.

· 3D Profiling of Advanced Logic Devices
Enabling precise characterization of high-aspect-ratio structures such as Complementary Field-Effect Transistors (CFETs) through QUADRA’s proprietary side-wall imaging mode.

· 3D Heterogeneous Integration Metrology
Enhancing metrology and inspection capabilities for 3D integration and hybrid bonding (wafer-to-wafer, die-to-wafer). Applications include copper pad and dielectric roughness, erosion, dishing, full-die imaging, and edge roll-off, leveraged by Nearfield Instruments’ Ultra-Large Scanning Area (ULSA) technology, which combines high throughput with nanometer-level resolution.
 
“Partnering with Imec allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible in semiconductor manufacturing process control,” said Dr. Hamed Sadeghian, CEO of Nearfield Instruments.

“Together, we’re tackling grand metrology challenges, from 3D profiling of CFETs to hybrid bonding characterization, and enabling the next leap in High-NA EUV lithography through full 3D resist imaging. These innovations are critical for the AI-chip era, where precision, speed, and scalability in metrology directly determine performance, energy efficiency, and yield. QUADRA is built to meet those demands.”

Luc van den Hove, CEO of IMEC, adds: “Advanced metrology solutions are essential to overcoming the complex challenges facing the semiconductor industry today. By combining state-of-the-art research and innovative technologies, we are paving the way for transformative advancements that will support the future of chip manufacturing and enable the continued progress of the digital era. We are happy to see European initiatives to develop advanced equipment solutions addressing some of the pressing needs and want to leverage our pilot line to demonstrate some of these capabilities.”

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in bridging cutting-edge metrology innovation with advanced semiconductor process development. By combining Nearfield Instruments’ proven technology with Imec’s visionary research programs, the partnership aims to deliver impactful solutions that will shape the future of chip manufacturing.

ABOUT NEARFIELD INSTRUMENTS

Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Nearfield Instruments specializes in advanced metrology and inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company develops and commercializes next-generation scanning probe microscopy systems that deliver true 3D nanometer-scale metrology.

At the heart of Nearfield’s innovation is its proprietary platform QUADRA, which enables non-destructive, high-throughput, atomic force microscopy (AFM) with full 3D imaging capabilities, including full side-wall measurement. This allows semiconductor manufacturers to precisely measure complex structures such as high-aspect-ratio trenches, vias, and multi-layered stacks, which are increasingly critical in advanced nodes and 3D IC packaging. The company’s solutions are designed for seamless integration into high-volume manufacturing environments, offering robust automation, fast measurement cycles, and compatibility with fab standards, enabling the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing innovation in line with industry needs.

For more information, visit nearfieldinstruments.com 

Media Contact: Roland van Vliet Chief Partnership Officer Nearfield Instruments B.V. roland.vanvliet@nearfieldinstruments.com | +31 6 20 36 97 41 

SOURCE: Nearfield Instruments B.V.

--BERNAMA

Nearfield Instruments Partners Imec To Advance 3D Semiconductor Metrology For AI-Chip Era

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Nearfield Instruments, the leader in 3D, non-destructive, in-line process control solutions, has announced a strategic collaboration with Imec to accelerate innovation in semiconductor metrology.

Nearfield Instruments Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Hamed Sadeghian said: “Partnering with Imec allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible in semiconductor manufacturing process control.

“Together, we are tackling grand metrology challenges, from 3D profiling of CFETs to hybrid bonding characterisation, and enabling the next leap in High-NA EUV lithography through full 3D resist imaging.”

According to Nearfield Instruments in a statement, this collaboration marks a significant step forward in bridging cutting-edge metrology innovation with advanced semiconductor process development.

By combining Nearfield Instruments’ proven technology with Imec’s visionary research programmes, the partnership aims to deliver impactful solutions that will shape the future of chip manufacturing.

The partnership will deploy Nearfield’s QUADRA system at Imec’s advanced research and development (R&D) facility in Leuven to develop next-generation metrology solutions for High-NA EUV lithography, 3D logic device profiling, and heterogeneous integration, addressing critical challenges in precision, speed, and scalability for artificial intelligence (AI)-chip manufacturing.

Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Nearfield Instruments specialises in advanced metrology and inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry, developing and commercialising next-generation scanning probe microscopy systems that deliver true 3D nanometre-scale metrology.

-- BERNAMA

REGASK BECOMES FIRST REGULATORY INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM CERTIFIED TO ISO 42001

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- RegASK, the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform enabling end-to-end regulatory intelligence and workflow orchestration, has become the first vertical-specific provider to earn ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its Artificial Intelligence Management System.

The milestone comes amid a more than tenfold surge in AI usage on the platform over the past six months, underscoring rapid market adoption as companies seek trusted, compliant AI solutions.

“ISO 42001 is more than a certification. It represents the future we are building,” said RegASK Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Shleifer in a statement.

She added that organisations accelerating their use of AI need partners who deliver innovation with accountability.

Meanwhile, its Chief Product and Technology Officer, Amenallah Reghimi said: “This certification affirms the engineering rigour that underpins our systems. The market has validated our approach with incredible adoption rates, and we believe that trust must remain the foundation of every intelligent product.”

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the world’s first global standard defining requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Artificial Intelligence Management System, providing a structured framework to govern AI across its lifecycle with a focus on ethics, accountability, data protection, transparency, and human oversight.

The requirements set out in the standard reflect practices that have long guided RegASK’s approach to AI, as it applies strict governance principles across the design, training, deployment, and monitoring of its AI systems across its platform.

The certification adds to RegASK’s portfolio of security and privacy credentials, including ISO 27001 (Information Security Management), ISO 27018 (Protection of PII in Public Clouds), SOC 2 Type II (Security, Availability & Confidentiality) and General Data Protection Regulation compliance.

RegASK will continue strengthening its governance standards to give regulatory teams confidence in using AI for high-stakes decisions and global compliance readiness.

-- BERNAMA

Schneider Electric and Bloomberg New Economy Launch Energy Technology Coalition to Unlock the Future of ‘Smart Demand’

SINGAPORE & LAS VEGAS, Nov 19 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, and Bloomberg New Economy announced today the launch of the Energy Technology Coalition (‘Coalition’). This new private sector initiative brings together global decision makers and experts across industries to accelerate the adoption of technologies that make energy consumption more efficient, resilient, and responsive amid soaring global electricity demand. The Coalition, co-chaired by Schneider Electric and Bloomberg New Economy, was unveiled during Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit North America in Las Vegas, attended by 2,500+ industry leaders, and at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251118071731/en/

At a time when many energy investments are focused on increasing electricity supply to meet the rising demands of AI data centers and growing populations, the Coalition focuses on how energy can be used more efficiently. It will explore how AI, among other emerging technologies, can provide solutions that both optimize energy use and improve responsiveness of the power grid, enabling the integration of more energy sources, including clean power.

The Energy Technology Coalition will convene leaders from across energy, technology, and infrastructure sectors to identify where and why the deployment of demand-side technologies — such as AI-enabled grid management, digital twins, and industrial automation systems — has been slow, and what levers can unlock faster adoption. The Coalition aims to publish data-backed solutions and frameworks to alleviate friction points in the transition to smarter, cleaner energy use.

"Building a resilient and affordable energy future requires strong collaboration across the technology and energy sectors,” said Frédéric Godemel, Executive Vice President, Energy Management, Schneider Electric. “By working together and leveraging innovations like AI and digital twins, we can strengthen the grid, improve reliability, and make energy more accessible and cost-effective for everyone. Schneider Electric is committed to partnering with industry leaders to deliver solutions that support economic growth and ensure our energy infrastructure can meet the demands of tomorrow, which is why we’re excited to play a part in this new coalition."

The Energy Technology Coalition’s founding members currently include Christina Shim, Chief Sustainability Officer, IBM; Professor John D. Sterman, Director, MIT System Dynamics Group; Claire O’Neill, Non-Executive Director, Oxy and former UK Energy Minister; Arch Rao, Founder & CEO, SPAN; Manon van Beek, CEO, TenneT; with more to follow in the coming months.

"Demand side innovation and investment are too often ignored in our forward thinking. Regardless of the carbon intensity coming into the system, there are huge cost, efficiency and flexibility benefits from managing demand better,” added Claire O’Neill, former UK Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth. “It’s now so much easier to make this case – especially to energy intensive industries struggling with structurally high energy costs in many regions.”

“We are witnessing a critical moment where digital infrastructure and energy systems are converging at an accelerating pace,” said Karen Saltser, CEO of Bloomberg Media. “It’s clear the world would benefit from coordinated action to ensure that surging AI and compute demands are met with clean, resilient, and efficient energy delivery for generations to come. By bringing together the best minds in this industry, the Energy Technology Coalition will help catalyze new innovations, partnerships, and policies needed to power the future responsibly.”

The Coalition’s inaugural in-person meeting will take place in January 2026 at Bloomberg House in Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. Members will collaborate on actionable strategies, pilot programs, and frameworks to shape how industries use and manage energy in the age of AI.

About Bloomberg New Economy Coalitions

Bloomberg New Economy Coalitions are data-driven, community-led initiatives that bring together leading experts across the public and private sectors for dialogue, collective recommendations and commitments, and coordinated action around urgent global challenges. Bloomberg New Economy is currently working on several coalitions including the International Cancer Coalition, the Climate Technology Coalition, the Dynamic Cities Coalition and the Energy Technology Coalition. For more information, visit https://www.bloombergneweconomy.com/.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries, businesses, and homes. Its technologies enable buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience, and sustainability. The portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory. With 160,000 employees and 1 million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric is consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable companies.

www.se.com

Discover the newest perspectives on energy technology on Schneider Electric Insights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251118071731/en/ 

Contact

Robert Koh
rkoh22@bloomberg.net 

Source : Bloomberg New Economy 

--BERNAMA 

AWS and HUMAIN Expand Partnership with NVIDIA AI Infrastructure and AWS AI Chip Deal to Drive Global AI Innovation

 

^{Tanuja Randery, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa, AWS and Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN} 

 

• Expanded partnership includes deployment of up to 150,000 AI accelerators including the latest NVIDIA GB300s AI infrastructure and AWS’s Trainium chips.
• Amazon Bedrock will provide customers access to best-in-class foundation models optimized across diverse, high performance AI chip infrastructures.
• AWS becomes HUMAIN’s preferred AI partner with AWS and HUMAIN collaborating to bring AI compute and services to customers worldwide.

WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), and HUMAIN, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company delivering global full-stack AI solutions, announced today at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum their plans to provide, deploy and manage up to 150,000 AI accelerators in a data center facility known as an “AI Zone” in Riyadh. As part of the expanded partnership, AWS will become HUMAIN’s preferred AI partner globally, and the two companies will collaborate to bring AI compute and services from Saudi Arabia to customers worldwide.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251119637708/en/ 

The first-of-a-kind AI Zone in Saudi Arabia will support cutting-edge AI training and inference workloads with access to the latest NVIDIA GB300 AI infrastructure and AWS’s Trainium AI chips. The infrastructure will support a broad range of compute-intensive AI workloads, including model training and running inference for AI applications. This will enable customers to rapidly move from concept to production while responsibly leveraging NVIDIA infrastructure and AI software seamlessly integrated with AWS infrastructure and services.

This industry-leading, accelerated computing infrastructure—delivered with the security, scale, and reliability required to run AI workloads with confidence—will establish Saudi Arabia’s first AI Zone as among the most modern and innovative in the world.

The AI Zone will support global enterprises and technology innovators and will serve both Saudi Arabia's national AI needs and the rapidly growing global demand for compute. The availability of specialized AWS generative AI services, including Amazon Bedrock, Amazon AgentCore and Amazon SageMaker, will give customers immediate access to leading foundation models through a single platform. Amazon Bedrock abstracts away infrastructure management, enabling customers to access foundation models without needing to select or manage the underlying compute infrastructure.

To enhance the planned AI Zone’s capabilities, HUMAIN will join the AWS Solution Provider Program, enabling customers to access AWS services through a unified platform to accelerate AI adoption across the region and internationally. This milestone advances the strategic partnership between the two companies and the joint plan announced in May 2025 to invest more than $5 billion in AI infrastructure, AWS services, and AI training and talent development in Saudi Arabia.

“This marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to our partnership with HUMAIN,” said Tanuja Randery, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa, AWS. “By combining HUMAIN's local expertise and investment with AWS AI solutions—including our advanced infrastructure, hardware partnerships with NVIDIA, the transformative AI platform Amazon Bedrock, and AI solutions for business users including Amazon Quick Suite—we're establishing a world-class innovation hub that will serve customers across Saudi Arabia and around the globe. As an AWS Solution Provider, HUMAIN will empower organizations to unlock the full potential of generative AI and drive agentic transformation for businesses and government entities. Together, we're accelerating digital transformation and fueling economic growth—backed by a deep understanding of local needs and global-scale capabilities. This partnership demonstrates our unwavering commitment to investing in both cutting-edge infrastructure and the talent that will define the future of AI in the Kingdom and beyond.”

“The AI Zone represents the beginning of a multi-gigawatt journey for HUMAIN and AWS. From inception, this infrastructure has been engineered to serve both national priorities and the world’s accelerating demand for AI compute,” said Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN. “What truly sets this partnership apart is the scale of our ambition and the innovation in how we work together. Through a groundbreaking commercial model and a shared commitment to global market expansion, we are creating an ecosystem that will shape the future of how AI ideas can be built, deployed, and scaled for the whole world.”

Empowering innovation, accelerating local talent

This AWS and HUMAIN collaboration is designed to accelerate AI adoption and advance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s goal to become a global AI leader.

Beyond infrastructure, AWS and HUMAIN will collaborate to accelerate AI adoption across the public and private sectors, develop advanced Arabic Large Language Models, including “ALLAM,” HUMAIN’s Arabic-first large language model, and create a unified AI agent marketplace for government services.

To build a sustainable, future-ready workforce, AWS will train 100,000 Saudi citizens in cloud computing and generative AI through the Amazon Academy in collaboration with PIF and support a dedicated upskilling initiative to train 10,000 women. These efforts support the preparation of the workforce for an AI-powered economy projected to contribute $130 billion to the nation's GDP by 2030.

About Amazon Web Services

Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 120 Availability Zones within 38 geographic regions, with announced plans for 10 more Availability Zones and three more AWS Regions in Chile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.

About HUMAIN

HUMAIN, a PIF company, is a global artificial intelligence company delivering full-stack AI capabilities across four core areas: next-generation data centers, hyper-performance infrastructure & cloud platforms, advanced AI Models, including the world’s most advanced Arabic LLMs built in the Arab world, and transformative AI Solutions that combine deep sector insight with real-world execution.

HUMAIN’s end-to-end model serves both public and private sector organizations, unlocking exponential value across all industries, driving transformation and strengthening capabilities through human-AI synergies. With a growing portfolio of sector-specific AI products and a core mission to drive IP leadership and talent supremacy world-wide, HUMAIN is engineered for global competitiveness and national distinction.

www.humain.com

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially due to uncertainties. HUMAIN undertakes no obligation to update these statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251119637708/en/

Contact

Press contact
Hana Nemec, HUMAIN
pr@humain.com
+966 53 847 7638

Source : Amazon.com, Inc.

OVER 1,000 BRANDS VIE FOR TOP HONOURS AT 20TH WORLD BRANDING AWARDS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The 20th World Branding Awards celebrated the achievements of leading brands across National, Regional, and Global categories.

In the 2025–2026 edition, more than 1,092 brands from 66 countries were nominated for “Brand of the Year”, with fewer than 100 brands ultimately receiving recognition for excellence.

This year's ceremony marked a milestone as the event was held outside London for the first time, taking place at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts. The celebration welcomed over 80 international guests and featured a keynote session on immersive brand experiences.

“The World Branding Awards goes beyond celebrating success; it spotlights the vision, effort, and emotional resonance behind every brand. Winners are recognised not just for what they sell, but for what they stand for,” said World Branding Forum Chairman, Richard Rowles.

According to the organiser in a statement, among the Global Tier honourees were IKEA of Sweden, Denmark’s Lurpak, Germany’s Sennheiser and Japan’s Yakult, reflecting broad international representation across industries.

Winners from Singapore include Irvins Salted Eggs, KOI Thé, Tiger Balm, TWG Tea, and Ya Kun Kaya Toast. Other National tier winners include Airland (Hong Kong), Aurora (Thailand), Bangkok Bank (Thailand), Farm Fresh (Malaysia), Indomaret (Indonesia), Kopi Kenangan (Indonesia), Partners (Philippines), PTT Station (Thailand), and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Malaysia), among others.

Only 20 brands earned the Regional Tier award, recognised for their influence in four or more countries across three or more regional markets, namely M-150 (Thailand), MR DIY (Malaysia), Nippon Rent-A-Car (Japan), Tsui Wah (Hong Kong), Vitaday (Thailand), and Watsons (Malaysia).

More than 91,000 consumers worldwide participated in this year’s nominations, with an average of only five winning brands per country, underscoring the exclusivity and competitive nature of the awards.

-- BERNAMA

NIKKO STYLE NISEKO HANAZONO NAMED “WORLD’S BEST NEW SKI HOTEL"

Exterior of Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO, part of Okura Nikko Hotels’ Nikko Style lifestyle-hotel brand, has been named the “World’s Best New Ski Hotel” at the World Ski Awards 2025, a prestigious global initiative recognising excellence in the ski tourism industry.

Its General Manager, Tomoyuki Yamanobe in a statement said it was a great honour for Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO to receive the World’s Best New Ski Hotel award.

“This recognition comes at a very special time as we approach our first anniversary, making it an exceptionally proud moment for our hotel. We believe that this result, determined by votes from both professionals in the ski industry and our valued guests, reflects the appreciation of our hotel as a place that people will wish to visit again,” he said.

The World Ski Awards are among the most prestigious international awards in the global ski tourism industry, with winners in each category determined by votes from ski professionals, skiers worldwide, and the general public, ensuring highly credible results.

Selected from a field of five newly opened hotels across Austria, France, Slovakia, Italy, and Japan, Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO emerged as the winner after six months of voting.

Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO continues to offer guests unforgettable stays amid Niseko’s world-renowned powder snow, combining luxury, comfort, and the natural beauty of the region throughout the seasons.

Opened in December 2024, it is the second hotel in Japan under the Nikko Style brand. Embodying the motto “Your Stay, Your Style”, the hotel delivers a range of experiences that delight all five senses, allowing guests to enjoy their visit with complete freedom and personal choice.

-- BERNAMA

REGASK 2026 REPORT REVEALS SURGING REGULATORY PRESSURE DRIVES AI ADOPTION IN COMPLIANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Regulatory pressure is rising at a pace many organisations are struggling to manage, with 83 per cent of regulatory professionals reporting an increase in regulatory volume, according to the 2026 State of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Report by RegASK.

The report noted a 34 per cent jump from last year, overwhelming legacy systems and leading to costly compliance gaps. Some 37 per cent of regulatory teams said their organisation missed a regulatory requirement in the past year, with half of senior leaders estimating financial losses of between US$500,000 and US$1 million, while 14 per cent reported losses exceeding US$1 million. (US$1=RM4.15)

Based on insights from 162 regulatory professionals and senior leaders across life sciences and consumer product sectors, the study emphasises that regulatory agility has become essential for business growth and resilience, with artificial intelligence (AI) expected to play a defining role, according to a statement.

RegASK Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Shleifer said AI has become a strategic imperative, adding that AI has evolved from being an emerging opportunity to a strategic capability, but the real challenge is ensuring leadership’s plans and timelines match operational realities.

Despite AI usage doubling over the past year, the report highlights a persistent perception gap between management expectations and operational realities. While senior leadership believes teams can respond to new regulations within a week, frontline staff report a demanding one- to four-week turnaround reliant on manual tracking and limited resources.

This misalignment often pushes teams toward short-term fixes rather than strategic readiness, restricting investment in advanced tools and contributing to burnout. It also explains why 56 per cent of operational teams are turning to general-purpose large language models to address immediate compliance needs.

Adoption of advanced applications such as agentic AI remains limited, with only seven per cent of senior leaders and 16 per cent of operational teams using it, while 39 per cent have never heard of the technology, signalling uneven AI maturity across the sector.

The report shows that just seven per cent of organisations can identify and respond to new regulations within 48 hours, giving them a competitive compliance advantage. In contrast, 16 per cent take more than a month to develop a response plan.

Missing regulatory requirements carries broader consequences, including delayed or cancelled product launches (46 per cent), clinical trial disruptions (39 per cent), product recalls (36 per cent) and reputational damage (25 per cent).

Despite rising demand for automation, most compliance functions remain manual, with 65 per cent relying on newsletter alerts for regulatory updates and 48 per cent depending on dedicated teams to track and interpret changes.

-- BERNAMA

DUBAI AIR CHIEFS CONFERENCE OPENS UNDER UAE LEADER'S PATRONAGE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The 12th Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference has opened under the patronage of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei officiated the event, which gathered more than 100 official delegations at Atlantis – The Palm, Dubai, according to a statement. 

Senior officers from the Ministry of Defence, air force commanders, chiefs of staff from allied nations, as well as decision-makers and executives from leading defence, aviation, advanced technology, space and artificial intelligence (AI) companies were also present.

Organised by the UAE Ministry of Defence in partnership with ADNEC Group, the conference was held under the theme “Hypersonic Edge: Re-Envisioning Airpower Across Asymmetric Spaces”.

The three-day conference featured in-depth sessions addressing the future of air and space capabilities, AI, and next-generation warfighter standards. The first session, “Hypersonics, UAVs, and Artificial Intelligence: Adapting Airpower to Asymmetric Battlespaces”, brought together commanders from the UAE, United States, France, and Canada to discuss coalition agility and emerging operational challenges.

The second session, “Beyond the Atmosphere: Integrating Air and Space Capabilities for Strategic Superiority”, explored the integration of air and space operations, with insights from senior leaders from France, the UAE, Australia, and India.

The final session, “The Warfighter of Tomorrow: Standards, Artificial Intelligence, and Accountability in Next-Generation Airpower”, focused on future force development, recruitment, and maintaining operational excellence in automated and AI-driven environments. Speakers included chiefs of the Swedish, Italian, and Republic of Korea air forces, alongside academics and defence technology experts.

The conference concluded with an official recognition ceremony and a group photo, reaffirming the UAE’s commitment to fostering international collaboration, advanced airpower capabilities, and technological innovation in defence and aerospace sectors.

-- BERNAMA 

TOURISE Announces USD 113BN in Portfolio Investments to Accelerate the Future of Tourism

 

His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE announces USD 113 BN of investment portfolios catalyzed at the inaugural TOURISE Summit.​

High‑impact dealmaking at the inaugural TOURISE Summit catalyzes cross‑sector capital for growth across the global tourism ecosystem.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) --TOURISE, the bold global platform shaping a new horizon for tourism, announced today that it has catalyzed investment portfolios totaling USD 113BN at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh. The milestone reflects TOURISE’s mission to unlock high‑value deal flow by convening public and private sector leaders across tourism, technology, investment, and sustainability to set a shared roadmap for the next 50 years of global tourism.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251111666032/en/ 

The announced portfolio investments span the full breadth of the visitor economy: luxury retail, next‑generation hotel accommodation, large‑scale integrated, experience‑led developments, wellness, destination and lifestyle offerings, talent development, and AI‑powered platforms. Collectively, these commitments set a new standard for what’s possible, and what’s required, to meet future tourism needs and redesign the traveler journey.

Just some of the international and local companies who announced their portfolios as part of the USD 113BN include: Melia Hotels, BWH Hotels, GOCO Hospitality, Cenomi, Radisson, Earth Hotels, Delonix & Ocean Link, AlFozan Holding, Al Kathiri Holding, Alothaim, and Knowledge Economic City.

By combining hard infrastructure with human capital, and fusing data, design, and hospitality, these investments will unlock new value across the tourism ecosystem, create new job opportunities, and deliver unforgettable, purpose‑driven experiences at scale. Above all, many were Saudi focused, cementing the Kingdom’s international competitiveness and desirability as a leading global travel destination, where culture, innovation, and world‑class service come together, and signal to partners and investors that this is where the next era of tourism growth is to be built.

Investment ushers in the next chapter of the global tourism economy

His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of TOURISE, commented “TOURISE has been the catalyst that brings investors, policymakers, and innovators to the same table, turning vision into bankable partnerships and high‑impact deals. Together, we’re redefining the entire traveler economy—powered by AI, built on destination and experience excellence, and designed so growth and opportunity extend across the ecosystem.”

Today’s announcement advances TOURISE’s founding purpose: to unite decision‑makers and disruptors across the public and private spheres to accelerate transformative partnerships and convert ambition into action through high‑impact dealmaking. With the announcement of such unprecedented levels in the tourism ecosystem, it highlights how TOURISE brings the right people together at the right time to drive outcomes that will reshape how the world travels, connects, and grows.

About TOURISE

TOURISE is the world’s premier platform shaping a new horizon for global tourism.

Powered by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the inaugural TOURISE Summit will take place 11–13, November 2025 in Riyadh. TOURISE will convene visionaries from government, business, investment, and academia to unlock the innovations that will drive holistic impact initiatives and transformative deals that will reset the industry and build a tourism sector that is sustainable, equitable, and future-focused.

Physically exclusive and digitally inclusive, TOURISE will ensure broad global participation while providing targeted access to visionaries shaping the future of global tourism. Following the Summit, TOURISE will extend as a year-round platform where bold ideas become real-world solutions.

This is where the next 50 years of tourism are shaped. Together, we are unstoppable.

For more information about TOURISE, visit www.TOURISE.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251111666032/en/ 

Contact

media@tourise.com 

Source : TOURISE 

--BERNAMA 

WORLD’S FIRST AGENTIC TOURISM PROTOCOL LAUNCHED AT TOURISE SUMMIT

His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE, launches the Agentic Tourism Initiative on the second day of TOURISE.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The Agentic Tourism Initiative was launched at the inaugural TOURISE Summit, unveiling the world’s first Agentic Protocol for Tourism, a universal digital framework designed to transform every stage of the traveller’s journey.

Developed in partnership with TOURISE and Globant, the initiative builds on the whitepaper Tourism’s AI Takeover: Reinventing Travel through Agentic Tourism, which called for an open protocol defining how artificial intelligence (AI) agents interact throughout the travel experience.

The Agentic Protocol aims to create intelligent, seamless and sustainable travel experiences by integrating AI across the global tourism ecosystem, according to a statement.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb said the initiative reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to shaping the future of global travel through innovation and collaboration.

He said the protocol harmonises technology with the human spirit of exploration by anchoring AI in empathy and cultural intelligence, enabling destinations to grow sustainably and inclusively.

Meanwhile, Globant Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Martín Migoya said the initiative marks the beginning of a new era for tourism, combining technology and human ingenuity to create smarter, more personal and memorable travel experiences.

A coalition of founding members from technology, infrastructure, aviation and destination leadership backs the initiative, including Globant, Red Sea Global, HUMAIN, Riyadh Air, King Salman International Airport, World Travel & Tourism Council, Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, Hollibob and Trip.com.

Guided by the principle “Digitise the expected. Humanise the unexpected”, the initiative seeks to enhance human creativity and connection, using AI as an enabler to support meaningful travel and long-term destination development.

-- BERNAMA

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Fubon Insurance Vietnam Co., Ltd.

 

SINGAPORE, Nov 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” (Good) and the Vietnam National Scale Rating (NSR) of aaa.VN (Exceptional) of Fubon Insurance Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Fubon Vietnam) (Vietnam). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Fubon Vietnam’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also factor in rating enhancement from its parent company, Fubon Insurance Co., Ltd. (Fubon Insurance), a market leading non-life insurer incorporated in Taiwan.

Fubon Vietnam’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Favourable balance sheet strength considerations include Fubon Vietnam’s low net underwriting leverage and conservative investment portfolio, which consists solely of cash and term deposits. In addition, Fubon Vietnam is viewed to have good financial flexibility, supported by Fubon Insurance, notwithstanding its small absolute capital base. High third-party reinsurance usage and dependence is viewed as an offsetting balance sheet factor, albeit reinsurance counterparty risks are mitigated by reinsurance assets of typically good credit quality.

AM Best assesses Fubon Vietnam’s operating performance as adequate, with a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 6.9% (fiscal-year 2020-fiscal-year 2024). Underwriting performance deteriorated in fiscal-year 2024, driven by losses arising from Typhoon Yagi and higher expenses. Notwithstanding, operating earnings remained positive, supported largely by favourable investment income. In addition, the operating earnings showed a recovery in the first nine months of 2025, following ongoing portfolio remediation actions and robust investment income.

AM Best assesses Fubon Vietnam’s business profile as limited. Fubon Vietnam is a small-size, non-life insurer in Vietnam. The company derives a significant proportion of business from Taiwanese corporations within its domestic market, with its business profile benefiting from the brand recognition of Fubon Insurance.

Fubon Vietnam’s ratings incorporate rating enhancement from its ownership and integration with Fubon Insurance. The company benefits from its common branding and affiliation with Fubon Insurance and receives implicit and explicit support from its parent. The company is also of strategic importance in supporting the group’s regional business growth in Southeast Asia.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251113190617/en/

Contact

Ong Xin Ya
Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5024
xinya.ong@ambest.com

Chris Lim, FCII, CFA
Associate Director, Analytics
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

Source : AM Best