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The competition drew over 40 global submissions to decarbonise beef and dairy supply chains, with winning solution set to scale across one of Asia’s leading retail networks

HONG KONG SAR- Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – DFI Retail Group (DFI or the Group), a leading Asian retailer, and The Mills Fabrica, a global collaborative hub propelling sustainability-focused innovations in the techstyle and agrifood sectors, named Number 8 Bio as the winner of the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2026. This announcement follows the Final Pitching event, which was held on 5 June, World Environment Day. The Australia-based innovator was recognised for BetterFeed™, a range of proprietary feed additives that cut enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep while improving the productivity of every animal that uses it. The team takes home a HK$120,000 grant and the opportunity to partner with DFI to scale its solution across the Group’s regional beef and dairy supply chains.

Scott Price, Group Chief Executive, DFI Retail Group said: “Tackling Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration across the value chain, and we are pleased that the Challenge has created opportunities for innovators to test and scale practical solutions within real operating environments. We look forward to seeing how they support our progress towards more sustainable and resilient food systems.”

Number 8 Bio has built a feed additive that does two jobs at once. BetterFeed™, a family of proprietary organic small molecules, free of bromoform, reduces enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep, which is responsible for both the majority of livestock emissions and a 12% loss of nutritional energy from every pasture. By stopping that methane from forming, BetterFeed™ redirects the recovered energy straight back into animal growth and production, a genuine win for farmers’ bottom lines as much as for the climate. Winning the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge opens a pilot pathway across DFI’s beef and dairy supply chains, including with Mengniu Dairy and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF).

Hashtag: #DFIretailGroup #TheMillsFabrica #Sustainability

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DFI Retail Group

DFI Retail Group is a leading Asian retailer driven by its purpose to “Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments”. At 31 December 2025, the Group and Maxim’s operated 7,580 outlets and employed more than 79,000 people across 12 markets. The Group is committed to delivering quality, value and service to consumers across the region through trusted brands, strong local market positions, and a broad retail ecosystem supported by extensive store networks, digital capabilities and efficient supply chains. The Group operates a portfolio of well-known brands across five key divisions: health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings and restaurants under Maxim’s.

From the spectacular underwater suites at Atlantis Sanya, to the colorful street-art alleys of Tianya Town, and the rooftop infinity pool at Sanya Conifer Resort, each stop gave the visitors a fresh impression of Hainan. Many visitors paused to capture the scenery, remarking with delight: “Sanya is full of surprises!”

Exploring Luxury Resorts and Applauding World-Class Service

At 10 a.m. on June 4, the tour operators arrived at Atlantis Sanya. Upon entering the lobby, they were immediately captivated by the resort’s massive aquarium, where sharks, rays, and other marine creatures glided gracefully through the water. The group was visibly amazed.

The group toured both the ocean-view suites and the resort’s signature underwater suites. In the latter, floor-to-ceiling windows offer direct views into the aquarium, allowing guests to lie in bed and watch marine life drift by as if they were beneath the sea.

“The underwater suite concept is truly unique. Very few hotels in the world can offer an experience like this,” said tour operator Vivian He from Hong Kong. “The dreamlike setting would make an outstanding feature for honeymoon packages and would appeal strongly to younger travelers. I’ve already taken plenty of photos and videos on my phone and plan to use them for promotion when I return.”

The group then traveled to Hyatt Regency Sanya Tianli Bay in Tianya District. Strolling through palm-lined gardens, they were greeted by breathtaking views where the infinity pool seemed to merge with the sea and sky beyond. Many guests stopped to take photos, fascinated by the striking visual effect, which made it look as though water flowed directly into the ocean.

“The design is incredibly clever. It gives you the urge to dive right in and swim toward the sea,” said Julia, a tour operator from Germany, while taking photos of the stunning view. Having worked in the European outbound travel market for many years, she was visiting Sanya for the first time. “In Europe, hotels with sea views like this often come with a very high price tag. Hainan offers excellent value for money. Combined with China’s visa-free policy for travelers from 86 countries, it has tremendous appeal for European visitors.”

The hotel’s representative introduced the group to the property’s all-ocean-view suites, children’s amusement facilities, and its distinctive pink-sand beach. Natthapat, a tour operator from Thailand, showed particular interest in these features. “The children’s facilities and the pink-sand beach are perfect for family travel products. When I return home, I’ll discuss with my team how we can incorporate this destination into our product offerings.”

The delegation then proceeded to Rosewood Sanya. The hotel’s sky lobby, located on the 14th floor, offers sweeping 270-degree ocean views. Equally impressive was the elevated infinity pool on the 13th floor. Suspended between sea and sky, the pool’s edge appears to merge with the horizon, creating a spectacular setting from every angle.

“This is one of the most visually stunning hotel pools I’ve ever seen,” said Amy, a tour operator from Australia, while admiring the view from the poolside. She noted that Australian travelers also have a strong preference for luxury resort experiences, and the design aesthetic and sense of privacy here align perfectly with the expectations of the high-end market.

Throughout the visit, many tour operators actively exchanged business cards with hotel sales representatives, inquiring about partnership opportunities, group rates, and capacity for group reception. A tour operator from Southeast Asia said that he hopes to bring a group of high-end family travelers to experience Sanya’s luxury resort offerings.

Tianya Town’s Artistic Transformation Resonates with Tour Operators

The delegation also visited Tianya Town, where they experienced the unique charm of this “seaside arts village.” From the colorful mural-covered walls at the entrance of Huanglong Street, to the pure-white architecture of Sanya Guanxia Seaview B&B, and the cave-inspired interiors of Malt Cave Seaview Café, every corner became a favorite photo stop.

“This is completely different from the fishing village I imagined,” said Eter, a tour operator from Georgia, pausing at the iconic “18° North Latitude” landmark to examine the coordinates displayed on the wall. She noted that the destination could be easily integrated with the coastal tourism resources of Sanya, Lingshui, and Wanning. “Visitors are drawn to places with distinct geographic markers, which give the destination a sense of occasion.”

A local guide accompanying the group explained that in recent years, Tianya Town has undergone a series of small-scale renovations and refined upgrades. While retaining the original layout and character of a traditional fishing village, it has incorporated contemporary artistic elements, evolving into a popular photo-friendly destination. Today, Tianya Town is home to dozens of seaview guesthouses, cafés, and cultural and creative shops, making it especially popular among younger travelers.

“These small but beautifully designed destinations are exactly what many European travelers are looking for,” said Zhang Jing, a tour operator from Ireland. “Many European visitors are keen to experience local culture and everyday life when they travel. Tianya Town combines fishing village stories, artistic ambiance, and seaside accommodations. It has tremendous appeal.”

Inside one of the town’s cultural and creative stores, the visitors showed great interest in souvenir products featuring traditional Li ethnic totems. France, a tour operator from the United States, even inquired on the spot about purchasing the products in bulk as gifts for clients.

Meanwhile, Korean tour operator Lee Jae-hyun was particularly impressed by the town’s photogenic appeal. “Every corner is picture-perfect. Young people in Korea love destinations that look great in photos. If Tianya Town were included in independent travel packages, I’m sure it would be very popular.”

Duty-Free Shopping Drives Strong Interest and New Cooperation Opportunities

On the afternoon of June 4, the tour operators continued their familiarization tour with visits to Sanya Conifer Resort and Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa.

At Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa, the group was introduced to the hotel’s comprehensive conference facilities and family-oriented amenities. Guests were particularly intrigued by the hotel’s exclusive underground passageway, which provides direct access to Sanya Bay Beach.

Sanya Conifer Resort, meanwhile, impressed visitors with its iconic 70-meter-high rooftop infinity pool. Offering panoramic views of the Sanya Bay coastline, the elevated waterscape has become one of the hotel’s signature attractions. Its distinctive architectural design also earned high praise from the international tour operators.

Later that day, the delegation arrived at the final highlight of their Sanya tour—a self-guided visit to the CDF Sanya International Duty Free City. As the world’s largest single-building duty-free shopping destination, the complex brings together more than 800 international brands.

Aziz, a tour operator from Malaysia, found himself spoiled for choice in the cosmetics and fragrance section. “Malaysian travelers love duty-free shopping. The selection of brands here is impressive, and the pricing is highly competitive. If duty-free shopping can be combined with resort stays as part of a travel package, I believe it would be extremely well received by the market.”

Julia, a tour operator from Germany, was equally impressed by the scale and variety of the shopping complex. “European travelers enjoy purchasing luxury goods and cosmetics, and Sanya’s duty-free advantages are very clear. I believe Sanya has the potential to become a new favorite destination among European visitors.”

After several days of exploration across Hainan, tour operators from around the world expressed strong interest in developing partnerships in sectors ranging from sports tourism and wellness travel to cultural and leisure tourism. Shirley, a tour operator from Australia, paid particular attention to Hainan’s sports tourism resources. “Hainan has outstanding assets for sports tourism, especially golf and coastal outdoor activities. These resources are ideal for developing sports-focused holiday products. Australian consumers are passionate about sports travel, and I plan to introduce Hainan’s sports tourism offerings to the Australian market.”

According to officials from the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, the city has launched several new international air routes since the beginning of this year, contributing to steady growth in inbound visitor arrivals. Looking ahead, Sanya will continue to improve its inbound tourism services and strengthen international market outreach, encouraging more global tour operators to include the city in their product portfolios.

Sunny Hainan, heart’s desire. Although the two-and-a-half-day familiarization tour was brief, it provided tour operators from around the world with a firsthand look at Sanya’s diverse tourism offerings and strong hospitality capacity. More importantly, it allowed visiting industry professionals to identify tangible opportunities for future cooperation. With the continued expansion of international flight connections and the ongoing optimization of inbound travel policies, Sanya is embracing the world with an increasingly open and welcoming outlook, ready to receive more visitors from across the globe.

Hashtag: #SanyaTourismBoard

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The Bengaluru-headquartered company’s plan marks an attempt to nearly double a pipeline that has stood at about ₹16,600 crore, with management betting that public transport expansion and defence procurement will support multi-year growth. Rail and metro projects are expected to account for the largest share of the order flow, while defence and aerospace are being positioned as higher-value engines for future revenue.

The target comes as BEML’s three core businesses — rail and metro, defence and aerospace, and mining and construction — are being reshaped by government capital spending, local manufacturing mandates and the need to expand urban transport networks. The company, a Schedule A enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, has supplied metro coaches, passenger railway coaches, high-mobility vehicles, trailers, military wagons and mining equipment across its operating history.

Urban rail is the clearest growth driver. BEML has supplied more than 1,650 metro cars and is among the key domestic rolling-stock makers for metro corporations. Bengaluru Metro has emerged as a major customer, with BEML delivering the first driverless-ready train set for the Blue Line in June and continuing deliveries for the Pink Line. The Blue Line, linking Central Silk Board and KR Pura along the Outer Ring Road, is intended to serve one of Bengaluru’s busiest technology and business corridors once commercial operations begin after testing.

The company also holds a top-up order worth ₹414 crore from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation for six additional driverless metro trainsets, raising the project scope to 66 trainsets comprising 396 cars. The order is tied to Phase 2 of the city’s metro expansion and strengthens BEML’s position in communications-based train control rolling stock, where metro operators are gradually moving towards higher levels of automation.

High-speed and semi-high-speed rail have added another layer to the company’s growth story. BEML has secured work linked to Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets and an Integral Coach Factory contract worth about ₹866 crore for high-speed trainsets. These projects are strategically important because they move BEML into technologically demanding segments where design, testing, safety certification and execution discipline will matter as much as manufacturing scale.

Defence orders are also providing support. The company secured a ₹590 crore contract for trawl assemblies from the Ministry of Defence in April, adding to a portfolio that includes ground-support vehicles, high-mobility vehicles, trailers, pontoon bridge systems and armoured recovery vehicles. BEML says it has supplied more than 8,500 high-mobility vehicles, over 3,200 trailers and military wagons, and more than 330 pontoon bridge systems to defence services.

Management is seeking to convert that installed base into repeat orders while moving into more sophisticated defence and marine systems. Partnerships with Bharat Forge, Data Patterns, STX Engine and Dragflow point to a strategy of widening technology access in areas such as advanced defence systems, marine engines and dredging solutions. The challenge will be to translate memoranda and strategic tie-ups into executable contracts with predictable margins.

BEML’s ambitions are being helped by a policy environment that favours domestic procurement, import substitution and local value addition. Its own disclosures highlight high levels of indigenisation in several product lines, including defence products, high-mobility vehicles and railway products. Metro cars remain a more demanding segment, where local content is rising but complex components and systems integration continue to require careful supply-chain management.

Execution remains the central risk. A larger order book does not automatically translate into stronger earnings if deliveries are delayed, input costs rise or contract terms compress margins. Rolling-stock projects can involve long testing cycles, penalty clauses and dependence on civil works progress by metro operators. Defence contracts also involve strict acceptance protocols and staggered delivery schedules, making cash-flow management critical.

Competition is another factor. BEML faces domestic and global rivals across rail and defence manufacturing, including companies with deeper private-sector execution flexibility or established international technology partners. Metro corporations and rail agencies have become more demanding on cost, localisation, energy efficiency and delivery timelines, forcing suppliers to invest steadily in design, tooling and quality systems.

Financially, the company is entering the expansion phase with investor interest tied closely to order visibility. BEML shares have benefited from defence and rail announcements, though valuation expectations remain sensitive to quarterly execution and margin delivery. The December quarter showed revenue growth, but the larger test will be whether the expanding pipeline can be converted into sustained earnings rather than headline order wins.

Under the MOU, the collaboration will focus on embodied AI research, robot manipulation, sim-to-real transfer, edge AI deployment, and validation of humanoid systems in real-world environments. Both companies will also explore opportunities to integrate The Skild Brain, Skild AI’s omnibodied AI software, into VinDynamics’ humanoid robots. The Skild Brain runs directly on robotic hardware and enhances the adaptability, efficiency, and reliability of humanoid systems in practical applications.

Additional areas under discussion may include knowledge exchange related to robot intelligence and real-world deployment, as well as potential cooperation in software, model, and hardware development, alongside the potential manufacturing of humanoid robots at scale.

The partnership brings together VinDynamics’ robotics engineering, manufacturing capabilities, and real-world deployment ecosystem with Skild AI’s foundation model technology. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the development and deployment of humanoid robots capable of operating in complex and dynamic environments, while supporting growing demand for intelligent robotic systems across industries including manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, and commercial services.

Prof. La Manh Hung, President, VinDynamics, said: “This partnership represents an important step for VinDynamics as we continue building scalable humanoid robotics platforms for real-world deployment. Skild AI brings the most exciting advances in embodied AI today. Combined with our robotics platform and manufacturing capabilities, we believe this partnership can accelerate the deployment of humanoid robots in complex environments.”

Mr. Deepak Pathak, Co-Founder and CEO of Skild AI, said: “The future of robotics depends on combining scalable physical systems with adaptable, general-purpose intelligence. VinDynamics brings strong engineering capabilities, manufacturing scale, and access to real-world deployment environments through the Vingroup ecosystem. We are excited to work together to advance embodied AI for practical applications.”

Established in September 2025, VinDynamics is a pioneering company in the field of humanoid robotics within Vingroup. The company is dedicated to developing versatile, human-centric robots capable of seamless integration into everyday life, with the scalability to support global deployment.

Hashtag: #VinDynamics

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About VinDynamics

VinDynamics is a technology company under Vingroup, dedicated to the research, development, and manufacturing of advanced robotics and automation solutions, particularly in the field of humanoid robots. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, mechatronics, and motion control, VinDynamics aims to deliver intelligent, safe, and cost-effective robotic products that enhance productivity and improve quality of life.

Learn more at: https://vindynamics.net/en

About Skild AI

Founded in 2023, Skild AI builds a general-purpose foundation model for robotics. Backed by SoftBank Group, NVIDIA Ventures, Jeff Bezos, Lightspeed, Coatue, Sequoia Capital, Felicis, and others, the company is valued at over $14 billion. Offices in Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Bengaluru.

Learn more at: https://www.skild.ai/

The announcement forms part of SKYWORTH Solar’s newly unveiled global growth strategy, revealed at the 2026 SNEC Exhibition and Global Customer Summit in Shanghai, where the company introduced its new positioning as a “Global Smart Energy Ecosystem Leader” and outlined plans to accelerate expansion across key international markets.

Thailand has emerged as one of SKYWORTH Solar’s strategic markets in Southeast Asia, driven by rising energy demand, increasing electricity costs for businesses, and growing momentum behind renewable energy adoption.

The opening of the company’s Thailand office at Empire Tower in Bangkok strengthens SKYWORTH Solar’s local presence. It enables the company to provide customers and partners with enhanced support across consultation, project execution, after-sales service, supply chain coordination and project delivery.

“Thailand represents a significant growth opportunity for SKYWORTH Solar as businesses increasingly seek reliable and cost-effective clean energy solutions,” said Wanfei Qu, Chief Investment Officer of SKYWORTH Group, CEO and Director of SKYWORTH Solar. “Our strategy is built on the principle of ‘Global Vision, Local Execution’, combining global expertise with strong local partnerships to support Thailand’s energy transition and long-term sustainability goals.”

As part of its expansion plans, SKYWORTH Solar signed a 100MW C&I solar project MOU with CapSolar, supporting the growing demand for rooftop solar solutions among commercial and industrial businesses.

The company is also strengthening its local ecosystem through investments in project development, financing partnerships and service capabilities. This includes a strategic banking collaboration with ICBC Thai and access to a US$500 million investment fund to support solar project development and deployment in Thailand and other international markets.

One example of SKYWORTH Solar’s growing footprint in Thailand is its 3MW rooftop solar project at UMC Steel Plant in Chonburi Province. The project is expected to generate approximately 4.4 million kWh of clean electricity in its first year, helping reduce energy costs while supporting the facility’s sustainability objectives.

The developments in Thailand were highlighted as part of SKYWORTH Solar’s broader global strategy unveiled at SNEC 2026. The company announced plans to expand its solar, energy storage, and integrated smart energy solutions across Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, in response to increasing global demand for renewable energy technologies.

As governments and businesses accelerate their decarbonisation efforts, SKYWORTH Solar aims to support customers through a combination of advanced technology, flexible business models and localised service capabilities.

For more information about SKYWORTH Solar and its clean energy solutions, please visit https://www.skyworth-pv.com.
Hashtag: #SKYWORTH

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SKYWORTH

SKYWORTH Solar, the cutting-edge PV brand under SKYWORTH Group, is a global leader in providing comprehensive one-stop solar solutions. Comprehensive end-to-end services are provided, encompassing consulting, design, and product O&M, all supported by a portfolio of self-developed solutions.

As a leading global renewable energy developer, service provider and energy solutions provider, SKYWORTH is actively shaping the future of energy. With a strong presence in EPC services and one-stop product solutions, SKYWORTH delivers high-quality, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. SKYWORTH ‘s commitment to originality and excellence has earned widespread recognition in international markets such as Germany, Italy, the UK, Brazil, and Senegal.

The plan, worth about $4.3 billion, reflects a sharp turn by Gulf from its traditional base as a power producer into a broader infrastructure group linking electricity generation, telecommunications, cloud services and industrial logistics. The investment push comes as Thailand seeks to position itself as a regional data hub, helped by rising demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence workloads and data-localisation capacity across Southeast Asia.

Gulf’s strategy is built around a simple commercial premise: AI facilities need vast, reliable and increasingly low-carbon electricity. Data centres are among the most power-intensive assets in the digital economy, and operators are under pressure to secure stable energy supply while meeting sustainability commitments from global technology clients. Gulf’s existing position in gas-fired power, renewable energy and utilities gives it an advantage that pure technology infrastructure firms may struggle to match.

Sarath, Gulf’s chief executive and controlling figure, has spent years reshaping the group from a conventional energy developer into a conglomerate with exposure to telecoms, satellites, digital platforms and cloud infrastructure. The merger of Gulf Energy Development and Intouch Holdings created a larger listed platform linked to Advanced Info Service, Thailand’s biggest mobile operator, and Thaicom, the satellite company. That structure gives Gulf access to telecom traffic, enterprise clients and digital distribution channels that can support its data-centre ambitions.

The investment programme is expected to support new data-centre capacity, related infrastructure and power projects needed to serve hyperscale and enterprise customers. Gulf has already moved into the sector through partnerships involving global technology names and regional operators, while its digital arm has explored cloud and AI services designed for corporate and government clients. The company’s first major data-centre project has become a reference point for its expansion into facilities that can host high-density computing workloads.

Thailand’s broader investment environment has also shifted in Gulf’s favour. Authorities have approved large-scale data infrastructure projects from global technology players, including server and data-processing investments across Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao. Google, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and ByteDance-linked operations have all announced or pursued major commitments in the country, intensifying competition but also validating Thailand’s role in the regional digital economy.

For Gulf, the opportunity lies not only in renting data-centre capacity but also in selling bundled infrastructure: power, connectivity, cloud access and long-term operational reliability. That model could create recurring income and reduce dependence on regulated returns from power generation. It may also help Gulf deepen its relationship with large technology clients seeking local partners that understand land, energy approvals, grid constraints and domestic regulatory requirements.

The group’s financial position gives it room to move, though the scale of the programme will be closely watched by investors. Gulf reported strong first-quarter earnings for 2026, helped by its energy operations and profit contribution from Advanced Info Service. Revenue growth and core profit gains have strengthened confidence in its ability to finance new projects, but data centres require heavy upfront spending and returns can depend on utilisation rates, long-term contracts and energy costs.

The timing is also sensitive. Across Asia, governments are competing for data-centre investment while confronting pressure on power grids, water use and land availability. Singapore’s cautious approach to new data-centre capacity has encouraged developers to look at Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, but each market faces its own constraints. Thailand has industrial land, policy incentives and improving connectivity, yet grid readiness and clean-energy availability remain decisive issues for hyperscale clients.

Gulf’s renewable energy targets are likely to form part of its sales pitch. The company has set out plans to raise the share of renewables in its generation portfolio and reduce carbon intensity, while continuing to rely on gas as a stable baseload fuel. Its long-term LNG supply arrangements also point to a strategy that balances energy security with transition commitments, even as customers demand cleaner electricity for digital operations.

Sarath’s expansion plan underscores how AI is redrawing corporate strategy beyond Silicon Valley. Energy groups, telecom operators and infrastructure funds are increasingly competing for the physical assets behind the digital boom. Gulf’s bet is that Thailand’s AI economy will be shaped as much by power plants, fibre networks and industrial sites as by software models and cloud applications.

Collaboration will support efforts to identify and remediate software vulnerabilities using advanced AI capabilities

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 June 2026 – TrendAI™, the enterprise AI security leader from Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), today announced its participation in Project Glasswing, an initiative focused on helping organizations identify and address vulnerabilities in critical software systems.

As part of the program, TrendAI™ will use Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview to support the review and analysis of software code, helping threat intelligence researchers turn accelerated vulnerability discovery into coordinated disclosure, prioritized remediation, and measurable risk reduction through vulnerability shielding and virtual patching.

AI is dramatically accelerating vulnerability discovery. TrendAI™ views this as a positive signal for the industry – it is part of the broader, collaborative ecosystem TrendAI™ has been actively contributing to for decades alongside organizations like Anthropic.

Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI™: “We’re aligned with Anthropic’s goals of using AI to make all software more secure. Organizations increasingly depend on software that operates at tremendous scale and supports critical business functions. Project Glasswing represents an important opportunity to explore how advanced AI can help software providers identify vulnerabilities earlier and improve the security and resilience of the systems customers depend on every day.”

TrendAI™ joins a growing community of organizations participating in Project Glasswing to better understand how frontier and advanced AI models can support defensive security efforts and improve the security of critical software infrastructure.

Insights gained through the program will contribute to informing the broader industry efforts to strengthen the security of the digital ecosystem.

Hashtag: #trendai #trendmicro #trendvisionone #visionone #trendaivisionone

https://www.trendaisecurity.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
https://x.com/trendaisecurity
https://www.facebook.com/trendaisecurity/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Anthropic

Anthropic is an AI safety and research company dedicated to building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Its Claude family of models enables advanced capabilities across a wide range of applications, including code understanding and security analysis.

About TrendAI™

TrendAI™, the global AI security leader and enterprise business unit of Trend Micro, empowers organizations with full AI visibility and consolidated security that inspires confidence, drives innovation, and eliminates risk. Trusted by the largest enterprises and governments across 185 countries, TrendAI™ secures the entire organization, from identities to infrastructure to data. Global Fortune 500 companies rely on TrendAI™ to cut risk and stop threats up to three months earlier, powered by world-leading threat and attack intelligence. Through deep ecosystem partnerships with market leaders like NVIDIA, Anthropic, AWS, Google, and Microsoft, TrendAI™ empowers your organization to securely drive forward at the speed of AI. AI Fearlessly. Learn more at trendaisecurity.com.

Advancing Cross-Border Payments Across Latin America and Europe

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 June 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform, and BBVA, a global financial group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during Money20/20 Europe 2026 in Amsterdam to deepen cross-border payment infrastructure across Latin America and Europe.

Under the MOU, XTransfer and BBVA will combine their respective strengths to explore the delivery of integrated cross-border financial solutions, spanning FX conversion, local payments and cross-border payments across Latin America, Europe and Hong Kong SAR.

The parties will also explore leveraging technology and innovation, including APIs, digital platforms, collection solutions and virtual accounts, to support more automated, real-time and seamless FX conversion and transaction processing. By streamlining payment flows and improving operational connectivity, the collaboration is expected to enhance the scalability, efficiency and reliability of cross-border financial services for SMEs engaged in international trade.

In recent years, trade between China and Latin America has grown closer. XTransfer data shows that in 2025, payment collections from Latin America on its platform rose 94% y-o-y. Yet many SMEs still face major cross-border settlement hurdles, including slow onboarding, FX constraints, and complex compliance. The partnership between XTransfer and BBVA is structured to tackle these barriers directly.

For XTransfer, the partnership strengthens the coverage and depth of X-Net, its global unified B2B cross-border settlement and risk management network, in two of the most important regions for its SME clients. With Latin America emerging as a high-growth corridor for Chinese exporter settlements, BBVA’s strong presence across Latin America and Europe further strengthens XTransfer’s reach and competitive position.

With XTransfer’s network of more than 897,000 SME clients worldwide, the partnership also strengthens BBVA’s position in global payments and expands its ability to serve a broader, more diverse client base across multiple regions.

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said, “Latin America remains an active but underserved B2B trade corridor, where SMEs still encounter significant challenges. We are pleased to sign this MOU with BBVA, enabling us to leverage their expertise to bring X-Net’s infrastructure directly into the region. Together, we aim to simplify cross-border finance and improve the efficiency and inclusivity for global traders.”

Ksenia Nekrasova, Global Sector Co-Head of TMT at BBVA, said: “Beyond the growth in flows, we are seeing a shift in how our clients operate: digital platforms with global, real-time and highly integrated needs. This agreement allows us to anticipate that evolution, strengthening our capabilities in the TMT space and supporting these clients in their international expansion with solutions designed for their scale and complexity.”
Hashtag: #XTransfer #BBVA #CrossborderPayments #SMEs

https://www.xtransfer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About XTransfer

XTransfer, the world’s largest B2B cross-border trade payment platform with over US$60 billion TPV in 2025, according to CIC. Founded in 2017 as one of the first payment platforms worldwide dedicated to B2B cross-border trade, we serve the largest customer base of over 800,000 registered SMEs globally as of March 31, 2026.

We connect top-tier financial institutions directly to SMEs, the backbone of global trade, giving businesses of every size access to the same secure, compliant and seamless payment infrastructure once reserved for multinationals. As of March 31, 2026, we provide payment services across more than 200 countries and regions through partnerships with financial institutions, including some of the most established international banks around the world.

XTransfer has obtained required licenses in major hubs, including the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, the Netherlands, Australia and Canada.

For more information, please visit: https://www.xtransfer.com

Born From Personal Experience

Handshake Finance launched in September 2025, founded by Christopher Chan and Lee Jun Xian. Both had seen the trust gap up close.

Jun’s close friend lost S$80,000 in pre-payments to a renovation company that collapsed mid-project. At the same time, Christopher’s friend paid a deposit on a rental home she had never viewed, only to discover the listing was fraudulent. Both incidents pointed to the same structural failure: in service industries, someone always carries the risk, and when trust breaks down, there is little recourse on either side.

The two founders met as university classmates in London and returned to the problem with complementary backgrounds. Christopher Chan had spent his career in fintech, designing compliant payment flows on regulated infrastructure. Lee Jun Xian came from venture capital, with experience scaling early-stage companies from zero to one.

Trust as the foundation, not the feature

Handshake operates on bank-grade payment infrastructure provided by MAS-regulated partners. All payment flows are fully MAS regulated, and funds are held with DBS in segregated escrow accounts. For the founders, this is not a checkbox — it is the entire foundation of the business.

“We are trying to solve a structural trust gap in service industries. But before any of that, our users have to trust us,” said Christopher Chan, Co-Founder of Handshake Finance. “Making sure every fund flow is fully compliant, and that our users feel completely assured handing us money in what are often life-changing transactions, is our number one priority. Everything else is built on top of that.”

Closing the Trust Gap Across Service Industries

Every high-trust service transaction carries the same structural flaw: either the customer pays before work is done, or the provider works before getting paid. Someone always carries the risk. Across industries — from renovation and interior design to event planning, creative agencies, and professional services — that risk falls entirely on one side, and when trust breaks down, there is little recourse for either party.

Handshake Finance was built to close that gap. The platform holds customer funds in escrow and releases them to service providers against agreed milestones, giving buyers protection from pre-payment risk while giving service providers the confidence to deliver. The model is designed to work across any service industry where the payment trust problem exists.

Why Renovation and Interior Design Is Handshake’s Beachhead Market

Renovation was where the structural failure ran deepest. The industry operates with no mandatory licensing or regulatory framework. Anyone can set up as an interior designer with no accreditation required, leaving homeowners with no reliable way to assess accountability before signing a contract.

There is no standard payment framework either. Homeowners routinely pay up to 50% of the total project value upfront, with funds going directly to the interior designer before any work begins. If a project stalls or a firm shuts down, there is limited protection and recourse. At the other end of the project, interior designers face the opposite problem: the final handover payment, where homeowners hold most of the leverage, can be withheld over disputes that wipe out up to half a project’s margin.

Eight Months of Listening Before a Single Line of Code

Before writing any software, the Handshake team spent eight months speaking with more than 80 interior designers and homeowners across Singapore to understand the real frictions on both sides of the transaction. What they found reinforced the decision to start here: high transaction values, a broken payment norm, an unregulated supply side, and no existing platform that protected both parties.

That research shaped how the product was built. After a renovation contract is signed, Handshake’s AI automatically generates the transaction structure with line items, payment schedules, and sub-milestones set out clearly to remove ambiguity. Homeowners place funds into escrow rather than paying upfront directly to the interior designer.

Payment releases to the designer as work progresses against agreed milestones, with sub-milestone releases providing faster cashflow access without compromising homeowner protection. The platform also replaces the manual spreadsheet-based back-office admin most interior design firms still run, and offers complimentary mediation and independent assessments in the event of a dispute.

More than 40 Interior Design Companies Onboarded and 2 Major Partnerships Signed

Handshake now has more than 40 interior design companies onboarded. The company has signed partnerships with Renonation.sg and Network SG, two of Singapore’s most established renovation marketplaces, to drive awareness and adoption across the broader ecosystem.

“It is an incredible feeling to see this much support behind us, and we are excited about what is ahead,” said Lee Jun Xian, Co-Founder of Handshake Finance. “We are industry-agnostic by design, but we are laser-focused on fixing renovation first. The scams that are still everyday occurrences in this space need to go, and the transactional experience for everyone involved needs to be better before we turn our attention to the next industry or market.”

Homeowners and interior designers can learn more or request access at handshake.finance.

Hashtag: #HandshakeFinance

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About Handshake Finance

Handshake Finance is a Singapore-based fintech building escrow-as-a-service infrastructure for high-trust service industries. The platform holds customer funds in segregated escrow accounts and releases them against agreed milestones, protecting buyers from pre-payment risk while giving service providers the confidence to deliver. All payment flows are fully MAS regulated. Funds are held with DBS. Handshake is currently focused on Singapore’s renovation and interior design market as its beachhead, with plans to expand across other service industries and Southeast Asia.

Jean-Jacques Muyembe and Peter Piot are being honored with the international award of €500,000 for exceptional life-long leadership spanning five decades since the first outbreak of Ebola

BERLIN, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 2 June 2026 – The Virchow Prize 2026 has been jointly awarded to Jean‑Jacques Muyembe and Peter Piot for their pioneering and enduring leadership in the discovery, control, and understanding of epidemic threats, and for advancing equitable, multilateral cooperation and governance that have fundamentally strengthened global preparedness and solidarity in the face of infectious disease outbreaks.

The announcement was made today by the Virchow Foundation which is granting the annual award. The selection of the laureates by the independent Virchow Prize Committee was preceded by a nomination period that ended on February 28, followed by a three-month deliberation period.

This moment resonates with particular historical gravity: 2026 marks both fifty years since the emergence of Ebola and a renewed confrontation with the virus through the current outbreak and unpreparedness.

According to the committee, the careers of Jean‑Jacques Muyembe and Peter Piot are anchored in a defining moment of modern infectious disease history: the first identified Ebola outbreak in 1976. Their collaboration demonstrated the necessity of crossing contextual, disciplinary and geographic boundaries, highlighting both the potential and the inequities inherent in global health partnerships. Over the decades, both Muyembe and Piot have worked – partly closely together, partly independent from each other in complementary ways – to transform epidemic research in an exemplary manner, firmly rooted in equity, reciprocity, and shared leadership.

Taken together, the laureates’ contributions illustrate a continuum that is central to advancing health for all: from discovery to delivery, from local response to global coordination, from emergency action to long-term system strengthening. Their work has directly improved the ability to detect, understand, and control deadly outbreaks, while also influencing broader frameworks for addressing global health challenges in a manner that is equitable and inclusive.

By awarding the Virchow Prize 2026 equally to Muyembe and Piot, their scientific achievements and their commitment to strengthening health systems and fostering global solidarity are honored. The laureates’ work embodies Rudolf Virchow’s legacy that health is inseparable from social organisation, governance, and collective responsibility.

Full Article and detailed Virchow Prize Committee jury rationale at www.virchowprize.org/vp2026

Contact: Virchow Foundation | Dorotheenstr. 83 | DE-10117 Berlin, Germany | press@virchow.foundation

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Advancing Research Commercialization and Building a Vibrant I&T Ecosystem

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 June 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today successfully hosted its annual “Unicorn Day,” one of Hong Kong’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship events. The event brought together over 1,800 participants, including students, faculty, and alumni, as well as international and local government representatives, industry partners, investors, innovation and technology entrepreneurs, and researchers. Participants exchanged insights on strategies to strengthen collaboration across the innovation ecosystem, foster cross-disciplinary partnerships, and accelerate the translation of research outcomes into real-world impact.

The event was officiated by Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, alongside consuls-generals and senior officials from countries including Australia, Chile, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates. They were joined by Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST President; Prof. Lionel NI, HKUST (Guangzhou) President; and Prof. Tim CHENG, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development; in touring over 100 HKUST-nurtured startups, showcasing innovations and applications spanning areas such as healthcare, electronics, and artificial intelligence systems, as well as new materials, green energy, and sustainability.

Prof. Sun Dong remarked, “Innovation and technology (I&T) has always been at the top of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s agenda. We fully recognise the crucial role of local universities — not only as key partners, but as the bedrock of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem. In just three and a half decades, HKUST has risen to become a global powerhouse in deep tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation as demonstrated by its ability to nurture unicorns and deep-tech ventures. Hong Kong is entering a golden era of I&T development. We are building new engines to drive Hong Kong’s high-quality development, focusing on research and development in key fields and leading industry applications. I am confident that Hong Kong will rise as a leading international I&T center and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s high-quality development, and that HKUST will continue to be a driving force in this amazing journey.”

President Ip said, “As we mark the 35th anniversary of HKUST this year, we also celebrate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has long been embedded in our DNA. Both the Technology Transfer Center and the Entrepreneurship Center were established in the University’s early years to support faculty and students in realizing their entrepreneurial aspirations and to promote the translation of research outcomes into practical solutions. Over the past 35 years, the University has forged ahead with determination, sowing the seeds of innovation and yielding remarkable achievements across multiple frontier fields. Today, HKUST continues to broaden its horizons, strategically positioning itself in key domains. One example is medical education. The establishment of the HKUST Medical School will integrate the life sciences with cutting-edge technologies to nurture a new generation of interdisciplinary medical professionals.

Concurrently, HKUST has been actively involved in national initiatives such as the Chang’E 8 lunar exploration mission and research projects for the Tiangong Space Station, and the launch of the first commercially viable aerospace project under the RAISe+ Scheme. These achievements exemplify HKUST’s enduring ‘can do’ spirit over the past decades and echo the theme of today’s event—’From Ideas to Miracles—35 Years of Impact and Beyond’. Looking ahead, HKUST will continue to nurture bold ideas and action, working hand in hand with partners across different sectors to cultivate a vibrant innovation ecosystem, ensuring that research achievements benefit society and create lasting global impact.”

To support startups in expanding into global markets and to promote cross-border collaboration, HKUST introduced an “International Pavilion,” featuring startups and innovation organizations from various countries and regions. Participants from Thailand, Singapore and Korea were among those represented, strengthening connections between Hong Kong, and countries and regions along the Belt and Road in technology application and industry development.

The event also saw the signing of multiple partnership agreements, including six strategic collaborations with:

• GPTX Investment Management Limited
• China Everbright Water Limited
• Jiangsu Daotop Environmental Technology
• Samsung R&D Institute China – Guangzhou
• CalmCar Physical AI Innovation Center
• InnoAngel

to advance talent development and industry–academia integration, and foster innovation-driven research and real-world technology translation.

HKUST’s I&T Strength Driving Economic Growth

In addition, HKUST also released the report Driving Socioeconomic Impact Through Research and Innovation: Insights from HKUST, commissioned by the University and prepared by the international research information analytics organization Elsevier. The report highlights HKUST’s outstanding performance in innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, research output has recorded an average growth of 10%, approximately 9% higher than that of other local institutions. More than 65% of the research is concentrated in engineering and computer science, while 6.2% involves academia-industry collaboration, significantly higher than the global average of 2.7%. These collaborations have translated into impactful intellectual property, with approximately 1,670 patent applications and 700 grants over the same period, and a high IP utilization rate of above 30%.

Prof. Tim Cheng noted that the findings demonstrate HKUST’s steadily strengthening capabilities in research translation and academia-industry collaboration. HKUST’s publications achieved a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 4.40, indicating that their citation impact is 4.4 times the global average. This underscores HKUST’s significant contributions to advancing Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development and enhancing its competitiveness in innovation and technology.

In addition, a “Marketplace” was also featured, showcasing products already launched by startups, including AI analytics tools, healthcare technologies, and smart city solutions, demonstrating the progress of translating research into practical applications.

Hashtag: #unicorn #unicornday #HKUST #partnership #innovation #startup #tech #AI #space #robotics #materialscience

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