GMO GLOBALSIGN EXPANDS TLS CONNECT TO APAC, MIDDLE EAST

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- GMO GlobalSign Inc, a global Certificate Authority, has expanded the availability of TLS Connect by GMO to businesses in the Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East, following its initial launch in Western markets in April.

TLS Connect is a Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) tool designed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), automating the deployment and renewal of public trust Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates to help strengthen security, maintain regulatory compliance and reduce business risk.

GMO GlobalSign said TLS Connect is designed to address the needs of SMEs that rely on TLS certificates but may lack in-house Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) expertise or a straightforward way to implement a CLM solution.

The company said the expansion comes as businesses face a series of reductions in TLS certificate validity periods. The first reduction took effect on March 15, 2026, shortening certificate lifespans from 398 to 200 days, while further reductions to 100 days and 47 days are scheduled for March 15, 2027, and March 15, 2029, respectively.

In a statement, GMO GlobalSign Head of Business Unit for TLS & CLM CA Division, Aditya Anand said shrinking certificate lifespans mean SMEs face greater risks of missed renewals and unexpected outages, often without the tools to manage certificates efficiently.

He said TLS Connect provides automated certificate lifecycle management specifically for smaller enterprises and offers a simple and affordable way for businesses in APAC and the Middle East to manage changing certificate requirements.

The solution is particularly relevant in APAC and the Middle East, where SMEs account for a significant share of businesses, including approximately 94 per cent in the United Arab Emirates, 97 per cent in Australia, and 99 per cent in Singapore and the Philippines.

According to GMO GlobalSign, cybersecurity regulations in these markets are also increasing the management and oversight requirements for SMEs, while a shortage of cybersecurity professionals is adding to the challenge.

The company said TLS Connect includes certificate discovery, a centralised interface and automated certificate management, and can be deployed on premises for centralised management across endpoints.

-- BERNAMA

ABNORMAL AI SECURES IMDA ACCREDITATION FOR GOVERNMENT, ENTERPRISE ADOPTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Abnormal AI, a behavioural artificial intelligence (AI) security platform, has been accredited by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) and recognised as a trusted solution for government and enterprise adoption.

The accreditation status, effective July 1, positions Abnormal to pursue expanded engagement with Singapore government agencies and enterprises through IMDA's streamlined procurement process and market access channels.

Abnormal Regional Director, ASEAN, Sebastian Murphy said the accreditation reflected that the company’s platform has undergone IMDA’s robust evaluation process, giving Singaporean agencies and enterprises a validated path to adopt behavioural AI security.

“It reflects the investment we have made in this region over the past several years. We are looking forward to deepening our work with IMDA and the customers and partners we serve here,” added Murphy in a statement.

The IMDA Accreditation programme helps enterprise technology companies scale in the region. IMDA-accredited companies undergo independent evaluation across business and operations, technical capability and financial standing, giving government agencies and large enterprises confidence to adopt their solutions.

Being enrolled in the programme also gives companies access to IMDA's "Greenlane" procurement track, which is designed to substantially shorten typical government procurement timelines, as well as introductions to government decision-makers through IMDA's ecosystem.

Abnormal's accreditation status comes as organisations across Singapore and the broader ASEAN region contend with a rise in AI-generated social engineering, business email compromise, and identity-based attacks that typically bypass traditional, rules-based defences.

By establishing per-entity baselines across identities and environments, the company’s platform is designed to detect and stop sophisticated attacks, including many that have not been seen before, without relying on static rules or threat signatures.

Abnormal intends to continue evaluating opportunities to grow its presence in Singapore and across ASEAN, with additional investment in local go-to-market resources and government engagement expected in the near term.

-- BERNAMA

CROSSBOW NAMED AS GEAR MEMBER, CONTRIBUTING PAYMENT SECURITY EXPERTISE

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Crossbow Enterprise Cybersecurity, an enterprise cybersecurity partner, has been selected to serve on the PCI Security Standards Council’s (PCI SSC) 2026–2028 Global Executive Assessor Roundtable (GEAR) for its third consecutive term.

The roundtable is a direct channel between payment security assessors and PCI SSC leadership, and Crossbow is one of 33 organisations selected for the 2026–2028 term, according to a statement.

“Continuing as a GEAR member for a third consecutive term is a meaningful milestone for Crossbow and reflects our ongoing engagement with the global payment security community,” said Crossbow Enterprise Cybersecurity Head of GRC Operations, Sabeena Job.

Meanwhile, PCI Security Standards Council Executive Director, Gina Gobeyn said GEAR brings together experienced industry leaders whose expertise and perspectives help guide the continued evolution of PCI security standards and programmes.

“We look forward to working with Crossbow Enterprise Cybersecurity as we continue advancing our shared mission of helping organisations protect payment data around the world,” added Gobeyn.

Crossbow’s continued role on GEAR enables it to contribute practical perspectives on evolving payment technologies and global compliance standards, helping support security frameworks that remain effective and relevant.

The company brings nearly 12 years of experience across cybersecurity consulting, payment security, assessment, compliance and advisory services, spanning India, Asia Pacific, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.

-- BERNAMA

Bitget Expands CFD Business with Institutional-Grade Liquidity Solutions

 

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug 12 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has expanded its CFD business with the launch of Institutional-Grade Liquidity Solutions, a dedicated offering for quantitative trading teams, proprietary trading firms (Prop Firms), funds, retail brokers, and high-net-worth professional traders. The solution brings together 100% Straight-Through Processing (STP), deep multi-tier liquidity, sub-millisecond order matching, and FIX API connectivity for clients managing large-volume and automated trading strategies.

The launch comes as automation plays a growing role in global trading. Quantitative strategies, high-frequency trading, futures-spot arbitrage, and Expert Advisor (EA) models place different demands on execution compared with typical retail activity. At higher volumes and frequencies, market depth, order routing, latency, and connectivity to proprietary systems can have a direct impact on execution quality.

Bitget has built the new offering around a 100% STP execution model. Orders are routed directly to external liquidity pools without manual dealing intervention, giving clients a clear path from order submission to the underlying liquidity provider. The model is designed for firms running sustained order flow and strategies that require consistent market access across different conditions.

Bitget aggregates liquidity across institutional sources, including Tier-1 banks and non-bank market makers, with multiple levels of market depth available to clients. For firms placing larger orders or executing continuously, deeper order books can help reduce slippage and market impact when the liquidity available at the top of the book cannot absorb the full trade at a single price. Bitget's trading servers are deployed in major financial data centres, including London (LD4) and Tokyo (TY3), with dedicated networks and direct fibre connectivity supporting sub-millisecond order matching. The solution also supports FIX API, allowing quantitative teams, brokers, and other institutional clients to connect existing proprietary systems, bridges, and liquidity aggregators directly to Bitget's CFD environment.

“As trading becomes more automated and sophisticated, the quality of the infrastructure behind every trade becomes increasingly important,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Professional traders need consistent execution, deep liquidity and reliable connectivity to run their strategies effectively at scale. With our institutional liquidity offering, we are strengthening the foundation of our CFD business to serve these clients better and support the next stage of Bitget's growth across global markets.”

Client assets are segregated from Bitget's operational funds and held through independent custody accounts, alongside compliance reviews and third-party auditing standards. This framework provides institutional clients with greater visibility into how assets are managed as they scale their activity on the platform.

The launch broadens Bitget's CFD offering as the company continues to develop its multi-asset trading ecosystem. Retail users will be able to access Bitget's standard CFD environment through the App, Web, and MT5, while institutional clients can use a dedicated setup built for higher-volume strategies, deeper liquidity requirements, and direct system connectivity. The expansion allows Bitget to serve a wider range of trading activity as its CFD business grows globally.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships such as MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

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/cd6d4848-2e7e-47ea-aca1-514dbea846db 

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.

SIA EXPANDS AUSTRALIA PRESENCE WITH SEVEN CONSULTING ACQUISITION

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Sia, a global management consulting group, has expanded its international presence with the acquisition of Seven Consulting, an Australian management consulting firm.

Known for its expertise in business transformation, Seven Consulting brings together a team of over 100 consultants, half of whom are based in Sydney and the other half split between Melbourne and Manila.

“Seven Consulting’s deep expertise in programme delivery and change management, and its strong relationships with Australia’s largest banking, government and retail organisations, make it a highly strategic addition to Sia,” said Sia founder and chief executive officer, Matthieu Courtecuisse in a statement.

Meanwhile, Seven Consulting founder, Declan Boylan said: “We found in Sia a partner with the same entrepreneurial mindset, the same focus on high-impact client delivery, and the same conviction that our clients need practical, outcome-focused delivery expertise to navigate their most complex transformation programmes.”

The acquisition marks a key step in Sia’s expansion in Australia, giving the Group a combined team of around 130 consultants, alongside its existing base in Perth.

It also establishes a significant presence on Australia’s East Coast, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, while expanding Sia’s client portfolio across the banking, government, transportation and retail sectors.

As part of the integration, Seven Consulting will progressively leverage Sia's international reach, global solutions portfolio and deep expertise in data and artificial intelligence (AI).

By combining Seven Consulting's recognised capabilities in business transformation and large-scale programme delivery with Sia's global AI expertise, the combined business is positioned to become a leading AI transformation partner in Australia, helping organisations move from AI experimentation to enterprise-scale transformation.

This acquisition demonstrates Sia’s continued ambition to accelerate its international expansion while strengthening its sector and functional expertise in its most strategic markets.

-- BERNAMA

Mexico's Dominant Luxury Brokerage, Ronival Real Estate, Partners with eXp Realty

Baja California Sur's leading luxury brand just made a defining move 


BELLINGHAM, Wash., Aug 5 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  eXp Realty®, the most agent-centric™ real estate brokerage on the planet and the core subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGNT), today announced that Ronival Real Estate, the number one transaction company in Baja California Sur, Mexico, has chosen eXp Realty as its global platform. Founders Nick Fong and Rocio Montaño, two of the most recognized names in luxury real estate in the region, are bringing their full operation into eXp's global network.

Baja California Sur is no longer the market it once was. What began as a vacation destination has matured into one of the world's most competitive luxury real estate markets, closing over $1.1 billion in sales in 2025 with an ultra-luxury average of $3.2 million in the San José Corridor and a regional average of $970,000. The buyers driving that market are overwhelmingly international, high-net-worth individuals from the United States, Canada, and beyond who are no longer just visiting, but relocating, investing, and putting down permanent roots.

"Nick and Rocio built Ronival into the dominant luxury brokerage in Baja California Sur by seeing borders as opportunities where others saw obstacles. That's the eXp mindset," said Leo Pareja, CEO of eXp Realty. "Our agents now have a direct line into one of the most sought-after luxury markets in the world through a team that spent 20 years earning its place at the top. When the best brokerage in the market chooses eXp, that's a statement. We're proud to welcome them to the network."

Fong, who co-founded Ronival in 2010 alongside Montaño and built it into the dominant force in Baja Sur real estate, described what drew them to eXp.

"We were looking for scale without sacrifice, a structure that could grow our agents’ income, expand our referral reach internationally, and give us the infrastructure to compete at the highest level without dismantling everything that made Ronival work. When we looked at what this partnership makes possible, it stopped being an addition problem. It is not additive, it is geometric, each side amplifies what the other has built. That multiplier effect is what we were looking for, and we could not find it anywhere else," said Fong.

For eXp, this move establishes an immediate anchor in one of Mexico's most competitive luxury markets and advances its expansion across the broader CALA region. For Ronival, it opens the door to the global infrastructure, referral network, and technology platform needed to scale across new markets and serve an increasingly international client base.

"What Nick and Rocio have built in Baja California Sur is exceptional by any measure. The fact that they are now choosing eXp is a reflection of their vision and ambition. They saw that their clients were already operating globally, that their market had outgrown the infrastructure around it, and that the next chapter required a platform built to match that scale. This is exactly the kind of signal that advances what eXp is building across CALA and beyond," said Felix Bravo, Managing Director of eXp Realty International.

As the real estate industry continues to globalize, eXp Realty and Ronival joining forces represents a new model for how world-class local operators and global platforms can grow together.

About eXp World Holdings, Inc. (AGNT)

Built by Agents. Built for Agents. eXp World Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGNT) is the global parent company of eXp Realty®, the most agent-centric™ real estate brokerage on the planet, NextHome, Inc., an award-winning national real estate franchise, FrameVR.io, a virtual collaboration platform, and SUCCESS® Enterprises, a leading personal development and media brand for entrepreneurs. Together, the AGNT platform provides a world-class multi-model operating system empowering independent agents, franchise owners, and team leaders across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and South Africa. As a publicly traded company, eXp World Holdings prioritizes transparency, innovation, and long-term value for agents, franchise owners, staff, and shareholders.

Safe Harbor and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect the Company's and its management's current expectations but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could impact actual results materially. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated success of agents or teams joining eXp Realty, future production goals or volume projections, and participation in or benefits derived from the Company's platform, tools, compensation model, or equity programs. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in forward-looking statements include real estate market fluctuations, changes in agent retention or recruitment, competitive pressures, regulatory changes, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the most recently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not undertake any obligation to update these statements except as required by law.

Media Contact
eXp World Holdings, Inc.
mediarelations@expworldholdings.com      

Investor Relations
Denise Garcia
investors@expworldholdings.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e01a8d2b-c05d-4bcc-a526-77b303099f33 

SOURCE: eXp Realty

Vocalbeats.AI Named Strategic Partner Of AGI Playground 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Vocalbeats.AI, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence (AI)-powered audio company, has announced its role as Strategic Partner of AGI Playground 2026, taking place on Aug 3 to 4 at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.

The company in a statement said the partnership deepens its engagement with the global AI community and builds on its commitment to advancing voice AI, human-centric product design, and the development of Singapore’s AI ecosystem.

Organised by Founder Park, GeekPark’s incubated founders’ community, AGI Playground makes its global debut in Singapore this year, having drawn more than 1,500 AI founders, engineers and operators at past editions. 

The Singapore edition is positioned as a builder-focused gathering rather than a traditional summit, with speakers and guests from leading technology organisations including OpenAI, AMI Labs, Genspark, and Insta360.

The two-day programme is anchored around two themes, namely “Go Action”, focused on AI agents solving real-world problems beyond chat interfaces, and “Go Physical”, exploring how AI moves off the screen into robotics, hardware, and embodied systems.

The partnership builds on Vocalbeats.AI’s broader engagement with Singapore’s AI ecosystem. Its participation in AGI Playground reflects its commitment to supporting AI innovation and nurturing the next generation of talent.

In 2026, the company served as Gold Sponsor of SuperAI 2026, joined SGTech's Singapore Enterprise Chapter, and established university scholarship programmes with NTU Singapore and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The company’s broader product philosophy focuses on improving everyday life through more lifelike, intuitive and accessible voice AI. Its flagship applications, Owll and Owll Translator, are voice-first productivity tools available across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and web, and have achieved top App Store rankings across more than 100 markets worldwide.

Vocalbeats.AI said it looks forward to building new partnerships and exploring the technologies that will shape the future of voice AI as it continues to evolve from a convenience feature into a foundational layer of how people work and communicate.

-- BERNAMA