Fushi Tech Powers Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks’ Digital Transformation with Integrated Mobile-First Ecosystem

SINGAPORE, Jan 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a global provider of integrated AI and digital solutions for merchants, Fushi Tech today announced a strategic partnership with Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks, a globally recognized Taiwanese street food chain brand. Fushi Tech will design and deliver a fully integrated digital ecosystem for Shihlin, covering 43 outlets across Singapore and Malaysia. This collaboration marks another milestone in Fushi Tech’s mission to empower F&B brands to deliver seamless customers experience and streamline outlet operations with a next-generation digital solution, enabling brands to boost revenue and customer engagement.

Building a Unified Digital Foundation
Moving beyond fragmented point solutions, Shihlin has partnered with Fushi Tech to implement a fully integrated platform designed to unify operations and deepen customer engagement. Leveraging its AI techniques and customer service experience, Fushi Tech creates a solution integrating digital ordering, mobile app and its Fynix-branded CRM system, bridging offline food culture with modern mobile-first consumer behaviour. Key initiatives includes:

·  Brand Native Mobile Application
A brand-aligned native app for iOS and Android that serves as the primary digital touchpoint, designed for scalability and seamless user experience that aligns with Shihlin's youthful identity.

·  Integrated Digital Ordering System
A seamless in-app ordering solution enabling takeaway and dine-in/pickup options, featuring real-time menu synchronization across all outlets to reduce wait times and boost operational efficiency.

·  Centralized Membership & Loyalty Program
A unified AI-driven digital membership platform spanning 24 outlets in Singapore and 19 outlets in Malaysia that drives customer retention and spending through points accumulation, tiered rewards, and personalized promotions.

·  Data-Driven CRM & Insights Engine
An integrated customer intelligence system that transforms transaction data into actionable insights, enabling targeted marketing campaigns and laying the foundation for AI-powered personalization and future growth. 

This cohesive ecosystem empowers merchants far beyond the advantage of operating convenience and user experience. When all systems are designed to work in harmony from the outset, operators gain deeper insights into customer behavior and maintain a real-time view of operations, which drives smarter business decisions.

Empowering F&B Brand with Better Experience and Data Insights
“Many brands add digital features piece by piece, but true transformation happens when everything connects,” said Johnson Tan, Vice President of Fushi Tech. “With Shihlin, we’re building more than an app—we’re creating a unified digital engine that turns every transaction into a deeper customer relationship. ”

Shihlin, famous for its authentic flavours and vibrancy of Taiwan’s night markets especially among younger, urban consumers, will leverage Fushi Tech’s platform to elevate customer engagement, drive repeat visits, and future-proof Shihlin’s omni-channel growth strategy across Southeast Asia.

Why Integration Matters for F&B Brands: Building Digital Competitiveness
The partnership underscores a shift in the F&B industry’s digital strategy: moving from isolated point solutions to interconnected ecosystems. Early digital adoption focused on adding features like online ordering or loyalty programs separately. Today, leading brands like Shihlin are seeking platforms where data flows freely, systems communicate natively, and the customer journey remains cohesive across all touchpoints.

With rising consumer expectations for experiences beyond the product, F&B brands possessing core digital competitiveness are poised to lead the market in the long run.

Fushi Tech’s one-stop integrated model is more consistent with the consumer behavioral patterns of the new generation, meeting the evolving needs of merchants, further validating that brands with digital operational capabilities will have the opportunity to capture greater market share.

About Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks
Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks is a globally recognized Taiwanese street food brand best known for bringing the authentic flavours and vibrancy of Taiwan’s night markets to international audiences. With a strong presence across Singapore and Southeast Asia, the brand continues to resonate with younger, urban consumers seeking familiar comfort food with a modern twist.

About Fushi Tech
Fushi Tech is a global provider of integrated AI and digital solutions for merchants, currently serving clients across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. The company specializes in providing unified platforms that bring together ordering, payments, customer management, and AI-powered solution to help businesses operate more efficiently.

Isabel Liu
Email: isabelliu@yeahka.com
Phone: +86 18340816726 

SOURCE: Shenzhen Fushi Technology Co., Ltd.

--BERNAMA 

Vave Singapore Launches in Penang with World’s First Pickleball “Playcation” Sports Event

Vave Singapore team at launch event of Vave in Penang, Malaysia

 

PENANG, Malaysia, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Vave Singapore has launched in Penang with the first Pickleball “Playcation” sports event, introducing a new tournament format that combines competitive play with travel, family participation and community engagement.

The Playcation event, organised by Singapore-based Sports League, will take place on 30 and 31 January 2026 at D’Plazza Mall, Jalan Mahsuri, Bayan Baru. The tournament features 13 regional teams, and marks the debut of Vave in Penang.

The Best Family Sports Vacation

The Pickleball Playcation is more than a tournament—it is a fully curated family sports vacation, combining competition, leisure and cultural experiences for amateur athletes. Event experiences include local sightseeing tours around Penang, hotel accommodation and local transport, entry to all playing events, exclusive T-shirt and goodie bags for participants.

By blending competitive play with family-friendly travel and social engagement, the Pickleball Playcation reflects a growing trend in sports tourism across Asia. Organisers believe such events can strengthen Penang’s position as a host city for lifestyle-oriented sports events, while showcasing Malaysia’s readiness to support international pickleball competitions.

The event also coincides with Visit Malaysia 2026, a national tourism campaign to attract international visitors with diverse cultural experiences, focusing on family-friendly travel, sustainability, and showcasing Malaysia's unique heritage.

“This Playcation approach is designed to appeal to families, amateur athletes, and sports enthusiasts seeking an engaging and memorable travel experience in Penang while enjoying the excitement of competitive pickleball,” said Benny Gan from Vave.

Launch of Vave.Life Sports Platform

Additionally, the event will also mark the introduction of Vave, a mobile app and tournament management platform developed to support regional competitions, family-oriented sports travel and community events across Asia. The system allows participants to register for events, track match results, view rankings and maintain match history through a single integrated platform—professionalising amateur sports experiences while keeping them accessible and community-friendly.

Alongside the Pickleball Playcation, Vave will also support a table tennis tournament at the Penang Table Tennis Center from 31 January to 1 February 2026, demonstrating the platform’s versatility across different sports events.

Varad Kumaravelu, Founder of Vave added, “The Vave app is designed to serve regional tournaments, multiple sports and family-friendly competitions by managing regional matches across different sports, tracking results and providing a seamless experience for players and families alike. It’s built to make amateur sports more accessible, connected, and fun, no matter the sport.”

About Vave (Vave.Life)

Vave is a mobile app and tournament management platform that connects sports communities and supports regional competitions across multiple sports. The platform powers Playcations—sports events that combine competitive play with travel and family-friendly experiences in destinations such as Penang, Bali, Goa and Europe. Vave is developed by Sports League, a company founded in 2020 with the belief that competitive sports should be accessible, exciting, and inclusive for everyone. Sports League aims to grow the amateur sports ecosystem—one match, one story, and one player at a time. For more information, please visit https://www.vave.life/#events

SOURCE: Flame Communications Pte Ltd

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Florence Fang
Flame Communications (PR/Marketing Agency)
Tel: (65) 92769231
Email: Florence.fang@flamecomms.com

--BERNAMA

DELIBERATE DESIGN TO DRIVE ORGANISATIONAL SUCCESS IN 2026, REPORT FINDS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Organisations can no longer rely on speed and scale alone to sustain performance in 2026, according to a new report by Top Employers Institute, a global certification, benchmarking, and advisory firm.

The study, World of Work Trends 2026: The Intentional Organisation, highlights that high-performing organisations will prioritise deliberate design in work, leadership, and management systems to drive sustainable success.

“2026 is where speed gives way to intentional design. Our data shows that performance under pressure now depends on how deliberately organisations structure work, decision-making and leadership focus,” said Top Employers Institute chief executive officer, Adrian Seligman.

Drawing on a dataset of 2,358 global organisations, the report identifies five critical trends human resources (HR) leaders must address to sustain performance under pressure, according to the firm in a statement.

Moving beyond statements, HR leaders must embed purpose into decision-making and implement measurement scorecards to provide tangible evidence of its impact on behaviours and outcomes.

As nearly half of AI projects are scrapped and productivity gains are reported by only 37 per cent of teams, intentional deployment is paramount. HR leaders must establish clear governance frameworks regarding use, accountability, and fairness.

While most organisations have remote work policies, future performance will be distinguished by how deliberately flexibility is structured. Designing flexibility with boundaries is necessary to protect fairness, performance, and employee wellbeing.

Organisations must accept that productivity cannot come from simply working people harder, especially amid shrinking HR budgets and rising burnout. The path forward involves directing energy to high-impact work, protecting focus, and building renewable workforce capability through redeployment and reskilling.

Competitive advantage depends on redesigning stability as a platform for continuous learning and internal mobility, not merely retention. Organisations that prioritise job security currently report nine per cent lower voluntary turnover than average.

The report’s findings are based on anonymised survey responses and regression analyses linking HR best practices with key success metrics, including employee engagement, profitability, and market share.

-- BERNAMA

QNA MARCOM & EVENTS EXPANDS APAC FOOTPRINT WITH MUMBAI HEADQUARTERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- QNA Marcom & Events has announced the launch of its Asia-Pacific (APAC) headquarters in Mumbai, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion across the region.

The launch coincides with QNA’s 10th anniversary, marking a decade of building industry platforms, shaping business dialogue and enabling engagement across global markets.

“Over the last decade, we have grown across more than 20 countries through strong partnerships and purpose-led initiatives. The Mumbai office is not just a geographic expansion; it reinforces our long-term commitment to India as a core growth market and innovation hub,” said its Managing Director, Ankit Shukla.

In a statement, QNA said the establishment of its APAC headquarters will support plans to scale its footprint across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on curating high-impact platforms aligned with evolving market needs across multiple industry verticals.

The Mumbai office will function as a regional innovation hub, enabling the company to explore new markets, adopt emerging technologies and deliver immersive, outcome-driven events for governments, enterprises and industry ecosystems.

The office was inaugurated by businessman, philanthropist and strategic advisor Bharat Mehra, whose presence as a chief guest underscored the strategic importance of QNA’s expansion in India and its focus on purpose-driven leadership and community impact.

Over the past decade, QNA has delivered more than 150 business-to-business (B2B) conferences and summits, along with thousands of curated roadshows across over 20 countries, spanning India, APAC, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

The company has partnered with governments, regulators, global enterprises and industry associations, establishing itself as a platform builder for national and regional initiatives.

Known for its content-driven events, QNA brings together business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and technology experts to foster collaboration and drive meaningful outcomes.

-- BERNAMA

A2RL Drone Championship Pits Human Skill Against AI

 

A2RL Drone Championship Sets the Pace for AI in Autonomous Flight (Photo: AETOSWire)  

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) Drone Championship delivered a high-profile test of human skill against artificial intelligence (AI), with autonomous systems setting new speed benchmarks while a human pilot narrowly prevailed in the headline Human vs AI finale.

In the AI Speed Challenge, Technology Innovation Institute’s TII Racing recorded the fastest autonomous lap of the championship at 12.032 seconds, the quickest performance across all competing teams. MAVLAB finished second with a lap time of 12.832 seconds, highlighting the narrowing performance gap among leading autonomous racing systems.

Meanwhile, World first-person-view (FPV) Champion MinChan Kim edged out TII Racing in the Human vs AI Challenge, claiming victory after a closely contested best-of-nine showdown, according to A2RL in a statement.

The final race was decided when the autonomous drone failed to recover after striking a gate, allowing the human pilot to secure the win.

Organised by ASPIRE, the innovation acceleration arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the two-day championship was held during UMEX and brought together leading AI research teams and elite FPV pilots. The competition tested perception, decision-making and control in real-world racing conditions, with a total prize pool of US$600,000. (US$1=RM3.96)

Beyond single-drone speed, the AI Multi-Drone Race shifted focus to coordination and interaction in shared airspace. MAVLAB won the Multi-Drone Gold Race, while FLYBY claimed first place in the Multi-Drone Silver Race, demonstrating advances in multi-agent planning and collision avoidance.

Throughout the event, autonomous drones competed using minimal onboard sensors, relying on a single forward-facing monocular camera and inertial measurement unit, with no GPS, LiDAR or external positioning systems permitted. The setup ensured performance gains were driven by software advances rather than sensor complexity.

The championship followed A2RL Summit 3.0, where policymakers, researchers and industry leaders discussed how insights from autonomous racing could support the safe and responsible deployment of AI-driven systems across sectors, including logistics, emergency response and future air mobility.

A2RL operates as a public testbed for applied AI research, compressing years of autonomous systems development into measurable, real-world competition outcomes, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s ambitions as a global hub for autonomous and advanced technology innovation.

-- BERNAMA

Coventry Expands LILY Life Insurance-Backed Funding Program with $750 Million in New Asset-Backed Notes

 

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Jan 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coventry, the leader and creator of the secondary market for life insurance and a pioneer of the life insurance-backed asset class, today announced the successful completion of its third asset-backed securitization since April 2025 under its LILY program. Collectively, these transactions total $750 million in life insurance-backed financing and further establish Coventry as the leading platform for institutional investors seeking differentiated exposure to longevity-linked assets.

The LILY program structures longevity-linked assets into investment-grade asset-backed securities that emphasize durable collateral, predictable cash flows, and characteristics that are largely uncorrelated with traditional markets. By combining disciplined underwriting, actuarial analytics, and robust structural protections, LILY provides investors with access to a specialized asset class through a familiar ABS format.

“What’s most important about the success of the LILY program is not any single transaction, but the establishment of a repeatable, institutional-quality issuance platform for life insurance-linked assets,” said Reid Buerger, CEO of Coventry. “That evolution reflects years of building the origination scale, analytics, servicing capabilities, and structural rigor required to support sustained securitization activity.”

The continued growth of the LILY program underscores Coventry’s position at the intersection of life insurance, asset-backed finance, and private credit, and highlights the firm’s role in shaping the institutional market for longevity-linked investments. As demand for high-quality, uncorrelated assets continues to grow, Coventry expects LILY to play a central role in funding the responsible expansion of the life insurance-backed asset class.

About Coventry

Coventry is the leader and creator of the secondary market for life insurance and a pioneer of the life insurance-backed asset class, operating an integrated platform across four complementary verticals: the secondary market for life insurance, longevity lending, life insurance and annuity distribution, and insurance technology. Through these businesses, Coventry expands financial options for policyowners, provides capital solutions backed by life insurance policies and other longevity-linked assets, broadens access to protection and retirement products, and applies technology to enhance pricing, risk management, and operational efficiency across the life insurance ecosystem. Guided by a longstanding commitment to consumer rights and market integrity, Coventry leverages its leadership position to raise industry standards, expand consumer choice, and responsibly develop institutional-quality life insurance-backed investment solutions. Over its history, Coventry has acquired more than 21,000 life insurance policies, completed more than $50 billion in longevity-linked transactions, delivered more than $6 billion to policyowners, and originated more than $1 billion in life insurance-linked loans. To learn more about Coventry, visit Coventry.com.

Media Contact:
Jonny Shiver
Vice President, Marketing
jshiver@coventry.com
(215) 836-8300


SOURCE: Coventry

Clearwater Analytics Embeds AI In Enterprise Risk Platform

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Clearwater Analytics has introduced embedded agentic artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities within Beacon by CWAN, its enterprise risk and quantitative analytics platform, enabling institutional risk teams to accelerate model validation, exposure analysis, and decision-making.

Built specifically for quantitative developers and risk professionals managing complex institutional portfolios, CWAN’s embedded AI operates within Beacon’s calculation engine itself, training the agents its clients deploy on data grounded in a firm’s actual positions, validated models, and real-time calculations.

“Risk management requires precise and deterministic models. Our risk architecture and APIs are designed with AI in mind to enable agentic workflows and explainability to allow you to trace the analysis back to underlying positions and validation models.

“The extensible nature of our platform allows you to create your own agents, tools and workflows leveraging our powerful cross-asset risk analytics,” said Clearwater Analytics President, Risk & Alternative Assets, Kirat Singh.

Clearwater Analytics in a statement said this breakthrough architecture processes live positions and validated models in real-time, eliminating the manual export, analysis, and re-input cycles that plague traditional solutions.

The result offers continuous AI-powered risk analysis that scales from individual trades to enterprise-wide exposures, enabling teams to validate assumptions, stress test portfolios, and explain exposures to stakeholders without leaving their core risk modelling environment.

Clients can validate VaR models, credit risk frameworks, and custom analytics across multiple instruments and market scenarios, run stress tests or “what-if” scenarios using natural language queries, and also deploy specialised AI agents for recurring tasks, including limits monitoring, regulatory reporting preparation, tail risk analysis, and cross-portfolio exposure aggregation.

The embedded AI capabilities operate entirely within clients’ cloud environments, ensuring enterprise-grade security, data isolation, and governance.

Clearwater Analytics provides a cloud-native technology platform for investment management, serving institutional investors across global public and private markets.

-- BERNAMA

CHINA'S ANTA SPORTS TO BUY 29 PCT STAKE IN PUMA, DRIVING GLOBAL EXPANSION

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- ANTA Sports Products Limited (ANTA Sports) has reached a share purchase agreement with Groupe Artémis, the Pinault family’s investment company, to acquire a 29.06 per cent stake in PUMA SE for 1.5 billion euros in cash. (1 Euro = RM4.70)

According to a statement, the transaction marks a major step in ANTA Sports’ globalisation strategy and is expected to close by the end of 2026 pending regulatory approvals and will be fully funded from ANTA Sports’ internal cash resources.

ANTA Sports Board Chairman, Ding Shizhong said the partnership will allow both companies to unlock PUMA’s potential and accelerate ANTA Sports’ international expansion.

“This will further accelerate ANTA Sports’ globalisation and help drive the next chapter of growth for the global sports markets, including China – creating lasting value for both companies’ consumers and shareholders worldwide,” said Ding.

ANTA Sports, with over 35 years in the sporting goods industry, has established a leading position in China and expanded across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Europe. The company has extensive experience managing multiple international brands and revitalising brand value, including through its “Brand + Retail” business model.

PUMA is known globally for its heritage and sports portfolio, spanning football, running, training, basketball, and motorsport.

ANTA Sports plans to seek representation on PUMA’s Supervisory Board while preserving the brand’s identity and independence, with no current plans for a full takeover.

-- BERNAMA

SAUDI MINISTERS PITCH 'CONNECTOR ECONOMY' AT WEF DAVOS

Amid shifting global trade dynamics, Saudi Arabia underscores its role as a stable connector economy linking markets across regions (Photo: AETOSWire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia’s ministers at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos outlined the Kingdom's strategy to become a pivotal "connector economy" amid shifts in global trade, aggressively expanding its tourism sector, and reinforcing its role as a stable partner in finance and emerging technologies.

Minister of Commerce, Majid A. Alkassabi stated that global trade is moving toward a "managed and rule-driven trade model". He positioned Saudi Arabia's strategic location and resources as key advantages, allowing it to become a "bridge economy" and a major "logistic hub" linking Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The Kingdom’s tourism ambitions were highlighted by Minister of Tourism, Ahmed A. Alkhateeb. Citing UN Tourism projections for two billion tourists by 2030, he described the growth potential as "very encouraging" for Saudi hotel operators, investors, and technology providers.

On the financial front, Minister of Finance, Mohammed A. Aljadaan affirmed the government's role in providing a predictable business environment. This is being achieved by strengthening the national economy’s resilience and ensuring the private sector maintains the necessary confidence.

The Kingdom's technological focus was detailed by Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah A. Alswaha. Addressing challenges like the "energy wall and the memory wall" in artificial intelligence (AI), he extended a call for global partners, emphasising that Saudi Arabia is the partner of choice to accelerate and adopt AI in the "Intelligence Age".

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar I. Alkhorayef stressed Saudi Arabia's commitment to a multilateral approach in international cooperation. He pointed to the Future Minerals Forum as a global convening platform uniting governments, industry, finance, and academia to address the future of minerals.

Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal F. Alibrahim, speaking on economic partnerships, expressed belief in a world where every country can realise its economic potential while maintaining open dialogue, calling the current era a vast opportunity to "design the future".

Further cementing its global role, the Global Innovation Platform—a strategic partnership between Saudi HoldCo and GoldenPoint Global—launched the Saudi–United States Innovation Partnership during the meeting, according to a statement.

This platform is designed to accelerate bilateral collaboration in life sciences, AI, and advanced manufacturing, anchored in Riyadh and Austin.

Additionally, Amplifai Health was recognised as a winner in the second cohort of WEF’s MINDS - AI Global Alliance initiative.

-- BERNAMA

State of Louisiana and Persona AI Launch Humanoid Pilot at SSE Steel Fabrication

Public-private agreement positions Louisiana as a national testbed for embodied AI in advanced manufacturing and industrial workforce innovation

NEW ORLEANS, Jan 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The State of Louisiana and Persona AI headquartered in Houston, Texas, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch a pilot program advancing humanoid robotics in active heavy-industry environments. The pilot, to be conducted at SSE Steel Fabrication’s (SSE Steel) large-scale fabrication facility in St. Bernard Parish, marks a significant moment where a State has formally partnered with industry to support humanoid robotics development in a live industrial setting.

Facilitated by Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), a division of Louisiana Economic Development (LED), and supported by Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.), the initiative will position Louisiana as a national leader in embodied AI in advanced manufacturing and next-generation workforce technologies. The pilot will focus on collecting real-world human movement and task data in an operating steel manufacturing facility, informing how humanoid systems will perceive, move, and work alongside skilled tradespeople in complex, dynamic environments.

“This is exactly the kind of applied innovation Louisiana should be leaning into,” said Josh Fleig, Chief Innovation Officer at Louisiana Economic Development. “Partnerships like these will allow our small businesses to adopt new tools, modernize the way they operate and compete at a higher level. As companies innovate, they’re not just growing their bottom line; they’re creating pathways to higher-skill, higher-paying careers that strengthen their workforce and expand opportunity across Louisiana.”

The pilot will leverage SSE Steel’s advanced fabrication operations as the industrial proving ground for Persona AI’s upcoming release of rugged humanoid platforms, which are being designed to operate in environments originally built for humans rather than redesigned for traditional automation. Unlike fixed industrial robots, humanoid robots are envisioned to use existing tools, navigate uneven terrain, and adapt to changing conditions, capabilities that make them particularly well-suited for heavy industry sectors facing persistent labor shortages and operational complexity.

“This collaboration allows us to explore emerging technologies where they matter most, on the shop floor, not in a lab,” said Justin Airhart, Chief Operations Officer of SSE Steel Fabrication. “SSE Steel has long embraced innovation in service of safety, productivity, and workforce sustainability. Supporting this pilot aligns directly with that mission.”

Persona AI, founded by leaders in the humanoid robotics community, is developing humanoid robots purpose-built for what the company calls “4D jobs”: work that is dull, dirty, dangerous, and declining. The company’s approach centers on augmenting human workers, with robots taking on high-risk or hard-to-staff tasks while experienced tradespeople move into higher-value roles such as supervision, quality assurance, and robotic operations.

“Partnering with the State of Louisiana allows us to accelerate humanoid development in one of the most industrially relevant regions in the country,” said Nicolaus Radford, CEO of Persona AI. “Louisiana is actively investing in the innovation required to rebuild domestic shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing capacity. Working alongside LA.IO, GNO, Inc., and industrial leaders like SSE Steel gives our humanoid the conditions it needs to mature and deploy at scale.”

The pilot also reflects broader national momentum around humanoid robotics across manufacturing, maritime, energy, defense, and infrastructure: industries central to Louisiana’s economy and U.S. supply chains. As these technologies advance, leaders emphasize that adoption historically creates new, higher-value roles even as it transforms existing ones, expanding demand for robot technicians, systems operators, safety supervisors, data specialists, and skilled trades trained to work alongside advanced machines.

“Real innovation happens when you take what already works and responsibly push it into what’s next, exactly what SSE Steel and Persona AI are doing in St. Bernard Parish,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of GNO, Inc. “Louisiana has the industrial depth to deploy AI in the real world, at real scale, in ways that strengthen operations while preserving and upskilling jobs. This pilot is about modernizing proven processes safely, attracting sustained investment, and building a durable competitive advantage for our industrial workforce and communities.”

This pilot will focus on training and preparing humanoid welders for future deployment in fabrication and shipbuilding. State and regional leaders view it as a foundational step toward scaling humanoid robotics across Louisiana’s core industries and establishing the state as a national proving ground for next-generation industrial work.

Additional details on the pilot program will be announced as the project progresses.

About Persona AI

Persona Al, a pioneering robotics company headquartered in Houston, Texas, is at the forefront of developing intelligent humanoid robots specifically designed for a wide array of industrial applications. Established in 2024, Persona Al leverages a rich heritage of expertise, drawing from decades of experience in crafting sophisticated robotics for demanding environments, including space and deep-ocean exploration. This background enables the company to address real-world labor challenges with innovative and robust solutions.

Learn more at www.persona.ai.

About SSE Steel

SSE Steel Fabrication is an AISC-certified, woman-owned steel fabrication contractor located in St. Bernard, Louisiana. SSE specializes in structural fabrication utilizing state-of-the-art technology and the latest in robotic machinery, delivering precision-engineered steel solutions for high-profile commercial, industrial, and municipal projects across the United States. SSE is certified by the American Institute of Steel Construction as a Certified Fabricator, with an endorsement in Building, Simple Bridge and Bridge Component Manufacturing. SSE has been repeatedly recognized for its rapid growth, appearing four times on both the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies and the LSU 100 list. Learn more at www.sse-la.com

About Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO)

Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO) is a division of Louisiana Economic Development dedicated to strengthening and modernizing the state’s core industries through innovation. LA.IO supports high-potential, tech-enabled startups by connecting founders to capital, fostering partnerships across accelerators, universities, investors, and industry, and advancing transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced automation. Learn more at www.la.io.

About Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.)

GNO, Inc. is the regional economic development organization for Southeast Louisiana. GNO, Inc.’s mission is to create a Greater New Orleans with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life, for everyone. More information can be found at www.gnoinc.org.

Media Contacts:

Katherine Garcia Dir. of Executive Affairs
Persona AI
pr@personainc.ai | (713) 305-6158

Jonathan Reichel
Principal Marketing Architect
Persona AI
reichel@persona.ai | (409) 549-3892

Skipper Bond
PR Representative
State of Louisiana
skipper@skipperbond.com | 504-415-7264
 
SOURCE: Persona AI

--BERNAMA 

Xsolla Integrates Paidy, Boosts Japan Gaming Payment Options

 

Graphic: Xsolla 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, announced a significant expansion of its payment solutions in Japan through a new integration with Paidy, the country’s leading Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service.

This strategic addition to the Xsolla Pay Station platform empowers game developers and publishers to offer millions of Japanese players a secure, flexible, and locally trusted checkout experience without requiring traditional credit card information.

“In Japan’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, offering familiar and flexible payment options is essential.

“By integrating Paidy, we are giving developers a powerful way to connect with local players, meeting them where they are with a seamless, trusted, and mobile-first payment experience,” said Xsolla President, Chris Hewish in a statement.

Japan stands as one of the world's largest and most digitally advanced gaming markets, where consumers are increasingly seeking fast, mobile-first payment options.

The country’s BNPL market is experiencing robust growth, with a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 55.9 per cent between 2021 and 2024, and is projected to maintain strong momentum through 2030.

Paidy is a key market player, trusted by over six million active users and downloaded more than 15 million times. The service allows users to make instant purchases and settle the amount later, either in a single monthly bill or via flexible instalment plans.

The integration delivers multiple advantages for developers, including improved conversion rates, reduced payment abandonment, and higher average ticket sizes, ultimately expanding their reach to millions of potential customers who prefer local BNPL options.

-- BERNAMA

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Malaysian Reinsurance Berhad

SINGAPORE, Jan 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Malaysian Reinsurance Berhad (Malaysian Re) (Malaysia). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Malaysian Re’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Malaysian Re’s balance sheet strength 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). The company has good financial flexibility, as demonstrated by its historical subordinated debt issuances. In addition, AM Best views the company’s investment portfolio as generally conservative, whereby the majority of investments are allocated to term deposits, government bonds and good quality corporate bonds. However, Malaysian Re is subject to catastrophe risk exposures from both its domestic and overseas portfolios, although this risk is mitigated partially by the use of retrocession coverage through well-rated counterparties.

AM Best assesses Malaysian Re’s operating performance as adequate, supported by positive operating results over the past five years. The company reported a return-on-equity ratio of 13.5% in fiscal year 2025 (ended 31 March 2025), and earnings remained robust in the first half of fiscal year 2026. The company’s underwriting performance has improved in recent years, mainly attributed to its ongoing business remodelling programme, portfolio remediation measures and benign catastrophe losses. In addition, the company’s investment income, which comprised mainly interest and dividend income, continues to support overall profitability. Prospectively, AM Best expects Malaysian Re to maintain prudent underwriting discipline amid softening reinsurance market conditions.

Malaysian Re is the largest non-life reinsurer in Malaysia, with a dominant share of its domestic reinsurance market. The company benefits from a mandatory domestic reinsurance cession arrangement, which provides it with access to a steady stream of domestic reinsurance business. AM Best views Malaysian Re’s underwriting portfolio to be well-diversified by geography and line of business. Future business growth is expected to be largely supported by strategic expansion into overseas markets and non-traditional segments.

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.

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Contact

Sin Yee Chuah, CFA
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5022
sinyee.chuah@ambest.com

Chris Lim, FCII, CFA
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

UTS-LED RESEARCH DEVELOPS NANOPARTICLES TARGETING DISEASE PROTEINS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Chair Professor in Nanomedicine Bingyang Shi and international collaborators have developed a novel nanoparticle-based approach aimed at targeting disease-causing proteins in the body.

Published in Nature Nanotechnology, the perspective article describes engineered nanoparticles, known as nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimaeras (NPTACs), which can be customised to bind and degrade specific proteins linked to diseases such as cancer and dementia, according to UTS in a statement.

Professor Shi said these nanoparticles are designed to guide harmful proteins into the body’s natural recycling system, where they can be broken down and removed, adding that while promising, this research remains at the preclinical stage, and further studies are required before any clinical application.

The technology builds on the concept of targeted protein degradation, a growing field in biotechnology, and could eventually expand the range of proteins considered "undruggable". Early preclinical experiments have shown potential against key disease targets, including EGFR and PD-L1, which are implicated in tumour growth and immune evasion.

Key advantages of the approach include tissue- and disease-specific targeting, the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, modular design for multiple protein targets, and compatibility with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nanomaterials.

Professor Shi highlighted that NPTACs are still in the experimental phase, and the team is seeking strategic partners to support further development, regulatory review, and potential therapeutic applications in oncology, neurology, and immunology.

Professor Shi noted that this research illustrates the potential of nanoparticle-based platforms not just as delivery vehicles but as active therapeutic agents.

The work involved collaboration with Professor Kam Leong of Columbia University and Professor Meng Zheng of Henan University.

-- BERNAMA

WEF26: Saudi Arabia Leads New Global Push to Protect Coral Reefs, Unlock AI Potential

^{Her Royal Highness Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America, announced at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting that Saudi Arabia will host the first Global Coral Reef Summit in 2026 (Photo: AETOSWire)} 


DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Saudi delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 today observed a series of announcements aimed at addressing urgent global challenges.

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Her Royal Highness Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America, announced that Saudi Arabia will host the first Global Coral Reef Summit in 2026, bringing together global leaders, scientists, and investors to drive solutions for the protection and recovery of coral reef ecosystems.

The summit will address key challenges and policy and regulatory gaps, develop science-based solutions, and advance sustainable financing and investment mechanisms to scale coral reef protection and recovery.

Building on the call for constructive dialogue in an era of fragmentation, His Excellency Ahmed A. Alkhateeb, Minister of Tourism, said: “Tourism brings peace at a time when it’s needed – connecting people and encouraging dialogue. Tourism growth is good for peace, it’s good for people, good for youth, and good for women.”

On the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a global hub for AI, His Excellency Abdullah A. Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, commented: “Saudi Vision 2030 was about economic diversification and empowering youth. Fast forward to today and we've achieved 56% non-oil contribution to GDP, and in terms of talent and youth, our tech force has increased dramatically.”

Earlier in the day, HUMAIN and the National Infrastructure Fund (“Infra”) announced a Strategic Financing Framework Agreement of up to $1.2 billion to support the expansion of AI and digital infrastructure projects in the Kingdom. The agreement outlines non-binding financing terms for HUMAIN’s development of up to 250 MW of hyperscale AI data center capacity.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 Presidency also launched the Business4Land (B4L) Champions’ Council. This high-level coalition brings together CEOs, sustainability leaders, investors, and policymakers to accelerate land restoration, combat land degradation, and strengthen drought resilience.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM), in collaboration with WEF, announced the Lighthouse Operating System, a country-level framework designed to accelerate manufacturing transformation. Developed in partnership with WEF’s Advanced Manufacturing and Production Centre (AMPC), this initiative aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy, build robust non-oil industries, and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for advanced manufacturing and logistics.

MIM and WEF announced a cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum, which took place the week before the WEF Annual Meeting. The agreement runs until September 2027 and aims to unify efforts to strengthen partnerships around critical minerals required for energy and other technologies, contributing to the assurance of resilient, sustainable, and responsible mineral supplies aligned with industrial objectives and the energy transition. According to the agreement, the initiative will be overseen by a joint executive committee comprising representatives from the ministry and WEF.

*Source: AETOSWire

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Contact

Danah Alhumaid
dalhumaid@mep.gov.sa

Source : Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning

ANGELINI PHARMA APPOINTS SERGIO MARULLO DI CONDOJANNI AS CEO

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Angelini Pharma, part of the multinational privately owned industrial group Angelini Industries, has appointed Sergio Marullo di Condojanni as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Marullo di Condojanni, who has served as CEO of Angelini Industries since 2020, will retain that role while assuming leadership of the pharmaceutical division to ensure cohesive strategy execution across the group.

Angelini Holding Chair and majority shareholder, Thea Paola Angelini said the appointment is aimed at simplifying decision-making and strengthening the group’s pharmaceutical business.

“This strategic choice will enable us to be closer to market needs and, above all, to patients, by delivering greater efficiency, agility, faster decision-making, and flexibility,” she said in a statement.

The appointment forms part of Angelini Industries’ multi-year effort to strengthen its corporate governance and operating model, reinforcing pharmaceutical healthcare as a core pillar of its long-term growth strategy alongside industrial technology.

In his dual role, Marullo di Condojanni will directly spearhead strategy implementation within the healthcare division, focusing on expanding its leadership in brain health, particularly in rare neurological diseases, while continuing to build on its consumer healthcare portfolio.

He will also prioritise the expansion of Angelini Pharma’s global footprint, including potential acquisitions to strengthen its pipeline, while maintaining sustained investment in research, development and manufacturing operations in Italy.

Angelini Pharma has significantly strengthened its pipeline in recent years, diversifying into innovative therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics and antisense oligonucleotides, supported by a series of strategic agreements and partnerships.

-- BERNAMA

Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO Launches Limited-Time Anniversary Stay Plan

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO has marked its first anniversary with the launch of a limited-edition “Thank You Anniversary Stay”, an all-inclusive premium accommodation plan designed for small groups seeking an elevated winter experience in Niseko.

Available for one exclusive party staying three nights between Jan 7 and March 8, 2026, the plan is priced at 3.9 million Japanese yen—a play on the Japanese pronunciation of “3.9”, which sounds like “thank you”. (100 Japanese yen = RM2.55)

The stay combines premium accommodation, private transportation, dining, guided tours, and curated experiences into a seamless winter getaway. The plan is limited to a single group per stay.

Guests will enjoy exclusive use of the hotel’s largest Nikko Style Suite and adjoining Premium Studio Suite View, connected by a private 66-square-metre rooftop lounge with panoramic views of the Niseko HANAZONO Resort slopes.

The plan accommodates up to seven adults and offers a secluded retreat amid Hokkaido’s winter landscape, according to a statement.

The package includes round-trip airport transfers, a private luxury vehicle with a dedicated driver allowing guests to travel freely throughout Kutchan, Hirafu, and the greater Niseko area, three-day lift passes for the Hanazono and Hirafu ski areas, and a half-day private tour to destinations such as Otaru, Sapporo, Lake Toya, or Lake Shikotsu.

Guests will be welcomed with a curated gift set featuring local Hokkaido and Niseko specialities.

Crafted in line with the brand promise “Your Stay, Your Style”, the anniversary plan offers an immersive and indulgent way to experience Niseko’s world-renowned winter season.

-- BERNAMA

NEXUS MERIDIAN CAPITAL TO EXPAND IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, CREATING OVER 200 JOBS

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd has announced plans to establish five new regional offices across Southeast Asia by 2026, creating more than 200 high-value jobs.

The strategic expansion reflects Malaysia’s shift from a traditional business outsourcing model to a more complex, system-driven digital economy, supported by policy maturity, infrastructure, and converging capital flows.

As part of this trend, technology-orientated holding companies are increasingly establishing physical entities in Malaysia to participate in long-term digital development, with Nexus Meridian Capital standing out as a leading example, according to a statement.

The company has adopted a systematic approach for market entry, focusing on platform viability, artificial intelligence integration, and governance and integration. This aligns with the global shift from "rapid expansion" toward "structural quality and sustainability".

While individual project lifecycles are often limited, long-term value resides in underlying systems and platform architecture. Nexus Meridian Capital functions as a holding entity that builds replicable, scalable technical frameworks rather than chasing short-term scale, providing strong resilience against market cycles.

Malaysia offers a mature, transparent regulatory framework alongside a market still in a deep phase of digital transformation. The country increasingly serves as a pivotal node for regional synergy, enabling long-term strategic positioning and platform integration.

The core challenge for Nexus Meridian lies in evolving its platform capabilities while maintaining stability. In a tech landscape returning to rationality, enterprises focused on systems may attract less initial attention but often demonstrate superior value over extended cycles.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST: INDIA’S NON-LIFE INSURANCE SEGMENT OUTLOOK REMAINS STABLE

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has maintained its outlook on India’s non-life insurance segment at stable, citing supportive macroeconomic conditions and sustained insurance demand driven by regulatory initiatives and reforms.

According to the Best’s Market Segment Report, India’s non-life segment recorded mid-single-digit premium growth for the financial year ended March 31, 2025 (FY2025).

Growth moderated compared with the previous year due to pricing pressure in the fire insurance segment and slower business expansion in motor insurance. Changes in accounting treatment for long-term policies during the year also weighed on reported growth.

Despite these challenges, momentum is expected to improve over the near term as insurance demand strengthens and regulatory financial inclusion initiatives gain traction, according to AM Best in a statement.

AM Best associate director, analytics, Chris Lim said India’s long-term economic outlook remains favourable for non-life insurance growth despite the near-term moderation.

“Recent reform to the goods and services tax directly supports insurance demand by reducing the rate on individual life and health insurance policies to zero per cent from 18 per cent. Improved affordability, particularly for health insurance policies, is expected to bolster individual health insurance demand meaningfully,” said Lim.

A key provision in the recently passed Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill (Amendment of Insurance Laws), 2025, increases the foreign direct investment limit in insurance companies. The move is expected to attract additional capital, enhance financial flexibility and bolster the segment’s solvency.

AM Best noted that investment yields for Indian non-life insurers are expected to remain broadly stable, supported by steady interest rates and resilient domestic equity markets. However, elevated equity exposure could increase sensitivity to market volatility over the medium term.

-- BERNAMA

N&E Innovations Wins the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Food Category

2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony (Photo: AETOSWire)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Jan 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- N&E Innovations, a Singapore-based SME, has been announced as the winner of the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Food category. This recognition honours the company’s pioneering efforts to combat food waste and enhance food safety through sustainable, circular innovation.

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Founded by Didi Gan, N&E Innovations upcycles food waste into biodegradable antimicrobial coatings and packaging that extend food shelf life and reduce post-harvest losses. The company’s patented ViKANG® technology is the world’s first food-safe, biodegradable antimicrobial made entirely from upcycled food waste. It provides a cradle-to-shelf system for coatings and packaging that is both compostable and effective in maintaining freshness.

Field trials have shown that N&E Innovations’ solution delivers 99.9% antimicrobial effectiveness, achieving 4.5 times lower bacterial counts and 90% freshness retention. To date, more than 400,000 sustainable packs have reached consumers, benefiting over 80,000 people. Since its founding, the company has upcycled two tonnes of food waste and helped retailers and producers reduce spoilage and extend product shelf life.

Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, commended the company’s achievement: “The Zayed Sustainability Prize honours creative solutions that uplift communities and protect the environment. N&E Innovations is turning food waste into packaging solutions that reduce pollution and improve health, demonstrating how innovation can advance a circular economy.”

Didi Gan, Founder and Managing Director of N&E Innovations, said: “As a woman founder in deep tech, this award is not just a win for N&E Innovations-it’s a win for every woman who dares to dream big, build boldly, and drive change through science. We upcycle agricultural waste into the world’s first antibacterial compostable food packaging and coatings that extends the shelf life of food, closing the circular loop toward a more sustainable future. From our humble beginnings in Singapore, this recognition reaffirms that with purpose and perseverance, impact knows no boundaries.”

The US $1 million Prize fund will enable N&E Innovations to scale production and expand its ViKANG® technology across Asia and the Middle East. The company plans to establish localised micro-manufacturing hubs using regional food waste, expand B2B partnerships in markets such as Malaysia, The Philippines, and the UAE, and subsidise initial deployments in rural and underserved communities. These efforts aim to reduce unit costs by up to 30%, reach more than 1.2 million beneficiaries and prevent an estimated 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions through the adoption of sustainable, biodegradable packaging.

Each year, the Prize rewards organisations and high schools for their groundbreaking solutions to global challenges. Over the past 18 years, through its 128 winners, the Prize has positively impacted over 400 million lives worldwide. By recognising these innovators, the Zayed Sustainability Prize inspires countless others to amplify their efforts and create a ripple effect of positive change.

*Source: AETOSWire

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Contact

Thomas Hagan
thomas.hagan@panterra.global

Source : Zayed Sustainability Prize

--BERNAMA

Is Data Analytics the Key to Success? YES: Dmitry Shubov Explains Why Businesses Need Data-Driven Insights for Optimal Results

FREMONT, Calif., Jan 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Many Southeast Asian (SEA) businesses have made it a goal to expand into the U.S. market in 2026. One key factor supporting this is data-driven insights. According to the Gartner 2025 Data and Analytics Report, covered by the National CIO Review, businesses that can strategically use data analytics have a substantially better chance of making informed decisions and positioning the company effectively.

Important elements from the report highlight certain trends that remark on the significance of leveraging data:

• Stronger Data Literacy: Ensuring that teams can use data analytics to their full potential in decision-making is a critical focus, and a data-driven culture is a major goal.
• Augmented Analytics Adoption: The report lists the automated preparation of data for analytics and the generation of insights using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning as a major feature that helps startups grow in the U.S. market.
• Real-Time Analytics: With real-time analytics, businesses can quickly spot changes in market trends and consumer behavior, allowing SEA startups to respond faster to shifts in the U.S. market.
• Integration of Data Across Silos: Breaking down data silos is essential to obtaining a complete view of all available data to create a consistent market entry strategy.
• Importance of Data Governance: In the U.S., data governance is important to protect sensitive information and strengthen data integrity and the protection of customer information.

“Analytics can be the loudest voice in the room. It’s one thing to have a good product, but knowing what to do with it is quite another. Successful companies in both Southeast Asia and the United States rely heavily on data analytics, as they show you what is happening, and you learn what to do next to continue and improve,” says Dmitry Shubov, Founder of Dmitry Shubov Consulting.

To safely navigate these complexities, it is recommended to work with a firm that specializes in SEA-to-U.S. business expansion and setup, to guide a startup through the process and ongoing nature. Dmitry Shubov Consulting, a premier consulting firm that specializes in helping early-stage SEA legal tech companies get established in the U.S., is here to help. Simply reach out to Dmitry Shubov Consulting directly for more information on how to leverage your business’s analytics and thrive in the U.S.

About Dmitry Shubov Consulting

At Dmitry Shubov Consulting, our mission is to connect accredited investors with groundbreaking legal technology startups, fostering innovation and growth across Southeast Asia and helping Asian businesses enter the U.S. market. For more information, please visit our website or contact us directly.

Media Contact:

Support@dmitryshubovconsulting.com

SOURCE: Dmitry Shubov Consulting

--BERNAMA

OPENGEAR ADDS NEW DEVICES TO NETWORK RESILIENCE PLATFORM FOR OUTAGES CONTROL

Opengear Introduces CM8000 and OM1300: Two New Paths to Network Resilience as Outages Surge

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Opengear, a Digi International company, has announced two new additions to its Network Resilience Platform, the CM8000 Series and the OM1300 Series, designed to help enterprises maintain access and control during network outages.

According to Opengear research, 84 per cent of Chief Information Officers and Chief Information Security Officers have experienced an increase in outages over the past two years. The next-generation devices deliver compact, flexible, and automation-ready out-of-band infrastructure as distributed sites continue to scale.

“The CM8000 Series and OM1300 Series give organisations two purpose-built ways to stay in control, whether they need core recovery or simplified edge management,” said Opengear President, Patrick Quirk in a statement.

The CM8000 Series is a serial-first recovery platform with integrated power control for core branches, small aggregation sites, and network closets.

It supports four or eight serial ports, integrates with power distribution units for remote power cycling, offers flexible Ethernet uplinks via RJ-45 and SFP connectors for copper or fibre connectivity, and provides centralised visibility through Lighthouse for secure out-of-band management.

Meanwhile, the OM1300 Series is an integrated edge platform that combines serial access, switching, and local automation into a single device. It is designed for retail environments, micro data rooms, and compact edge sites that require fewer devices and simpler deployments.

The OM1300 Series also supports zero-touch provisioning and delivers significantly faster automation performance than previous OM models, enabling reliable out-of-band control at remote locations.

CM8004, CM8008, and OM1304 models are scheduled to begin shipping at the end of January 2026, while the OM1308 is available for preorder.

-- BERNAMA