Mercato Shopping Mall has opened a giant indoor slide for children and adults, offering visitors a free attraction throughout the Dubai Summer Surprises campaign until August 30. The slide is operating daily at the Jumeirah shopping centre in three sessions: 10am to 12.45pm, 2pm to 4.45pm and 6pm to 7.45pm. Entry does not require a purchase, widening access for families seeking indoor activities during Dubai’s hottest months. […]
Iran fired missiles and drones at US military-linked facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait after a new wave of American strikes on Iranian targets, pushing Gulf security concerns sharply higher and raising fresh risks for shipping, energy markets and regional airspace. The attacks targeted areas associated with US forces in Bahrain and Kuwait, two Gulf states that host important American military infrastructure. Air defence systems were activated, sirens […]
President Donald Trump has sharpened his public embrace of Bitcoin, calling cryptocurrency “very powerful” and saying the scale of Bitcoin use is still not fully understood, remarks that have placed digital assets back at the centre of Washington’s financial policy debate. The comments, made during a CNBC interview at the White House, marked another shift for a president who once dismissed Bitcoin as a threat to the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Azentio Software has launched a UAE e-invoicing solution inside its enterprise resource planning platform, positioning the product around the Federal Tax Authority mandate that will begin applying to large businesses from January 2027. The Dubai announcement follows Azentio’s designation as a pre-approved Accredited Service Provider by the Ministry of Finance, a status that places the company among technology vendors preparing to connect businesses […]
San Diego is home to one of California’s most dynamic legal communities. From thriving startups and family-owned businesses to military families, nonprofits, and individuals facing unexpected legal challenges, the city’s diverse population creates demand for experienced attorneys across many practice areas. Whether someone needs help recovering after an accident, protecting business interests, planning an estate, or navigating immigration law, finding the right legal team can make all […]
A newly examined Everest ransomware encryptor has exposed a sharper technical playbook built to weaken recovery, obstruct analysis and expand damage across dormant network systems before encryption begins. The Windows payload, identified as hlntqyun. exe, is a 114 KB C# assembly compiled for. NET Framework 4.0 and protected with ConfuserEx, a widely abused obfuscation tool used to frustrate static malware analysis. The sample carries the SHA-256 hash […]
SNP builds on Palantir platforms to deliver new AI-powered solutions for solving mission-critical customer challenges
The partnership will build on SNP’s strong base with more than 3,000 customers globally and 15,000 successful SAP transformation projects
SNP and Palantir will leverage their strengths to help customers modernize their SAP landscapes and business processes in a predictable and secure way
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – SNP SE, a leading provider of software for AI-enabled digital transformation, automated data migration and data management in the SAP environment, and Palantir, a global leader in artificial intelligence and data platforms, today announced a strategic partnership at SNP’s flagship event, Transformation World, in Heidelberg, Germany. The collaboration positions SNP to develop new AI-powered solutions with an aligned approach to accelerate SAP transformations for joint customers.
The two partners will offer solutions for mission-critical challenges across all types of SAP projects, helping customers improve speed, efficiency and quality. The first joint solution, Test Data Proposal, solves a so far highly manual area of SAP migrations, the identification of relevant test data for given customer test cases. By leveraging AI, this process runs automatically and saves customers’ time and resources. Test Data Proposal will expand SNP’s proven Kyano® platform.
As part of the partnership, SNP and Palantir are also collaborating in large-scale moves to SAP Cloud ERP applications where customers seek to accelerate these modernization programs. Both companies combine complementary, category-leading strengths. SNP contributes deep real-world SAP data migration expertise while Palantir provides state-of-the-art AI-driven software platforms, which enable and accelerate secure modernizations for customers.
“Organizations are looking for new ways to increase speed, efficiency, and quality in large-scale SAP transformations,” said Jens Amail, CEO of SNP. “We are hugely excited to collaborate with Palantir, a company that has leveraged AI to revolutionize and accelerate the way enterprises modernize mission-critical systems and automate operations. Together, we will deliver secure outcomes and new solutions to customers and partners.”
“We have seen exceptional momentum accelerating SAP migrations for customers, and helping them do so via the Ontology and AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform) in a way that significantly compresses the timeline and delivers operational value along the way,” said Sameer Kirtane, Head of US Commercial at Palantir. “SNP over the last 30 years has built an impressive track record of delivering predictable, compliant and auditable outcomes in thousands of successful engagements. We are proud to partner with SNP to fundamentally rethink how customers transform their SAP landscapes.”
Hashtag: #SNP #Palantir #SAP #AI
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About SNP
SNP (ticker: SHF.DE) is the global technology platform leader and trusted partner for companies seeking unparalleled data-enabled transformation capabilities and business agility. SNP’s Kyano® platform integrates all necessary capabilities and partner offerings to provide a comprehensive software-based experience in data migration and management. Combined with the Bluefield® approach, Kyano sets a comprehensive industry standard for restructuring and modernizing enterprise data faster and more securely while harnessing AI-driven innovations based on over 30 years of experience.
The company works with more than 3,000 customers of all sizes and in all industries in over 80 countries, including numerous DAX 40 and Fortune 500 companies. The SNP Group has more than 1,600 employees worldwide at over 34 locations in 22 countries. The company is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, and generated revenues of around EUR 297 million in the 2025 fiscal year.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, Palantir’s expectations regarding the amount and the terms of the contract and the expected benefits of Palantir’s software platforms. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and were based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond Palantir’s control. These risks and uncertainties include the ability to meet the unique needs of customers; the failure of Palantir’s platforms to satisfy customers or perform as desired; the frequency or severity of any software and implementation errors; Palantir’s platforms’ reliability; and customers’ ability to modify or terminate the contract. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the filings Palantir makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Palantir’s forward-looking statements speak only as to Palantir, and Palantir assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statements made by any other party. Except as required by law, Palantir does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
President Trump’s declaration on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran is over immediately pushed oil prices higher, lifted Treasury yields and revived concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz. Markets responded in familiar fashion, with traders reassessing energy supplies, inflation expectations and monetary policy. Another consequence deserves equal attention. Higher oil prices strengthen the fiscal position of the Gulf’s major energy exporters. Over time, stronger […]
Eli Lilly’s once-daily weight-loss pill orforglipron has strengthened its case as a potential mass-market challenger to oral semaglutide after a large head-to-head trial showed stronger reductions in body weight and blood sugar among adults with type 2 diabetes. The late-stage ACHIEVE-3 study compared two doses of orforglipron with Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide, sold for diabetes as Rybelsus, over 52 weeks. At the highest tested dose, orforglipron cut […]
Samsung Group and SK hynix have laid out investment plans worth about $174 billion for South Korea’s Chungcheong region, expanding the country’s drive to secure a stronger position in artificial intelligence chips, advanced packaging, displays and next-generation battery materials.
The commitments, unveiled at a government-backed industrial development event in Asan, place Chungcheong at the centre of a broader strategy to spread high-technology manufacturing beyond the Seoul metropolitan area and existing semiconductor clusters. President Lee Jae Myung praised the companies’ “bold decision” and called for faster execution of major industrial projects, warning that global competition in semiconductors and artificial intelligence will reward countries that move with speed on permits, power, water and land.
Samsung plans to invest 140 trillion won, or about $90 billion, across the central region. The programme covers display panels, high-bandwidth memory-related capacity, semiconductor packaging substrates, batteries and other core materials. The group’s plan is expected to reinforce manufacturing links between Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, whose operations span chips, OLED screens, batteries and electronic components.
SK hynix said it would invest 100 trillion won, or about $64 billion to $72 billion depending on exchange-rate calculations, in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The plan includes the M17 NAND flash memory fabrication plant and P&T7, an advanced packaging and test facility. M17 is scheduled to break ground in 2026 and begin operations in the first half of 2029, while P&T7 is targeted for completion by the end of 2027.
The Cheongju expansion is intended to strengthen SK hynix’s NAND business and add back-end capacity at a time when artificial intelligence systems are raising demand for both high-performance memory and storage. While high-bandwidth memory has received the strongest investor attention because of its role in AI accelerators, large-scale data centres also require more NAND-based storage as models, user data and enterprise workloads expand.
The Chungcheong plan follows a wider national push in which Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new chipmaking hubs over the next decade. The government has framed the initiative as a “triple axis” strategy built around semiconductors, physical AI and data centres, with the aim of building industrial strength outside the traditional capital-area manufacturing corridor.
For Samsung, the Chungcheong investment gives the group a regional base for several linked supply chains. OLED production in Asan and surrounding areas can support premium smartphones, tablets, monitors and automotive displays. Battery investment strengthens Samsung SDI’s role in electric mobility and energy storage, while semiconductor materials and packaging substrates address one of the key bottlenecks in AI hardware production.
For SK hynix, Cheongju already has semiconductor infrastructure, making it a faster route for expansion than a greenfield project. The company has been one of the largest beneficiaries of the AI memory boom, helped by demand for high-bandwidth memory used with Nvidia graphics processors. Its latest investment signals that the company is also preparing for broader memory demand, including NAND and advanced packaging.
The scale of the commitments underlines the strategic importance of memory chips to South Korea’s economy. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are the world’s two largest memory chipmakers, with dominant positions in DRAM and a major presence in NAND. Their investment decisions affect global supply, pricing expectations and the pace at which cloud companies can build AI infrastructure.
The programme also carries risks. Semiconductor investment cycles have often produced periods of oversupply after large capacity expansions. Investors have shown caution over whether the current AI-driven boom can absorb the output planned by the industry, especially if data-centre spending slows or if memory pricing weakens before new factories reach full capacity.
Infrastructure remains another challenge. Advanced chip plants require stable electricity, ultra-pure water, skilled engineers and rapid permitting. Lee’s comments on execution reflect concern that delays could undermine the industrial strategy. Local governments are expected to face pressure to accelerate utility connections, transport links and land-use approvals while managing environmental and community concerns.
Regional development is a central political theme of the initiative. By placing more advanced manufacturing in Chungcheong and other areas outside Seoul’s orbit, the administration is seeking to reduce economic concentration and create high-value jobs in provincial cities. That ambition will depend on whether new factories attract suppliers, research teams and service industries rather than functioning as isolated production sites.
Attackers are hiding machine-readable instructions inside websites to manipulate AI agents, turning ordinary web pages into a new security battleground as automated systems begin browsing, summarising and acting on behalf of users. Zscaler’s ThreatLabz has documented two live campaigns using indirect prompt injection, a technique in which malicious instructions are planted in third-party content that an AI system reads during a task. Unlike a direct prompt attack, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Almarai’s second-quarter revenue rose 11 per cent year on year to SAR5.87 billion, as stronger demand for dairy, poultry and bakery products helped the Riyadh-listed food group absorb higher shipping, energy and raw material costs. The company’s first-half revenue reached SAR12.03 billion, up 9 per cent from the same period last year, reinforcing its position as one of the Gulf’s most closely watched […]
Emergency crews began stabilising a structurally compromised Midtown Manhattan high-rise after buckled columns, cracked floors and visible deflection forced evacuations around a major office-to-residential conversion site near Grand Central Terminal. The 37-storey building at 235 East 42nd Street, formerly part of Pfizer’s global headquarters, was declared unstable after workers reported structural distress on Tuesday morning. By evening, engineers had entered the affected area, installed jacks and started […]
Twenty Saudi university students are undergoing artificial intelligence training at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen under a Mawhiba-Huawei programme designed to build specialist digital skills among high-performing young talent.
The training, announced on July 6, brings together the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, and Huawei as Saudi Arabia expands its pipeline of students capable of working across artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data and telecommunications. The initiative forms part of a wider partnership that aims to train 500 beneficiaries in advanced technology fields.
Participants are being exposed to a mix of theoretical instruction and practical exercises, with the programme structured around real-world AI applications, global technology practices and workplace-based learning. The Shenzhen placement gives students direct access to one of Huawei’s main innovation centres, where they are expected to study how artificial intelligence tools are developed, deployed and integrated into digital infrastructure.
The programme covers core areas including AI fundamentals, machine learning, deep learning, foundation models and AI development tools. Its practical component is intended to help students move beyond classroom-level understanding into applied problem-solving, particularly in fields where AI systems are increasingly tied to business operations, public services and industrial automation.
Mawhiba’s role reflects its long-standing mandate to identify and support gifted students, while Huawei’s participation gives the programme an international industry dimension. The partnership is aimed at matching academic talent with technologies that are shaping labour-market demand, especially as Saudi Arabia increases investment in data centres, digital government, smart cities and automation.
The Shenzhen cohort follows the launch of the first joint Mawhiba-Huawei training track for Saudi university students in China. The programme is being presented as both a skills initiative and an international exposure opportunity, giving participants familiarity with advanced technology ecosystems outside the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has placed AI capacity-building at the centre of its digital transformation agenda. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has been expanding training schemes for students, professionals and government leaders as part of efforts to create a national workforce capable of supporting data-driven economic diversification.
A separate programme at the authority’s headquarters in Riyadh began with 215 male and female students from 28 universities, giving participants training in data, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. That initiative was designed to connect academic knowledge with practical experience in computer science, data science and AI, while aligning university outcomes with labour-market needs.
The scale of national AI training has grown sharply. More than 779,000 citizens have been trained through data and AI initiatives, including 9,775 specialists and 260 scientists and experts. More than 80 government leaders have also received training focused on the design and implementation of data and AI strategies.
The Mawhiba-Huawei programme adds a private-sector and cross-border layer to that domestic training push. For students, the China placement offers exposure to applied AI in a corporate setting. For policymakers, it supports an effort to create a wider base of young specialists who can work with global platforms while contributing to local technology goals.
Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy has increasingly focused on building human capital alongside infrastructure. The country has moved to strengthen data governance, support Arabic AI models, expand cloud capacity and encourage the adoption of emerging technologies across education, healthcare, finance, energy and government services.
The emphasis on training also reflects a growing recognition that AI adoption depends on more than hardware and software. Surveys and academic studies on generative AI use in Saudi Arabia show strong public engagement with AI tools, but also uneven technical understanding and concerns over privacy, misinformation, trust and responsible use. Structured training is therefore being treated as a way to improve both competence and confidence.
For universities, the programme underlines the pressure to update curricula as AI changes entry-level skill expectations. Employers in technology, finance, logistics and energy are increasingly looking for graduates who understand data handling, model behaviour, automation workflows and ethical safeguards. Programmes that combine classroom instruction with industry exposure are seen as a route to narrowing that gap.
DXC Technology has opened a 200,000-square-foot Customer Experience Centre in Bengaluru, placing the city deeper into the global race to move enterprise artificial intelligence from pilot projects into live, measurable business systems.
The facility, announced on 7 July, is one of DXC’s largest global delivery hubs and brings together customer collaboration areas, an AI Hub, cybersecurity facilities, forensics labs, a Security Operations Centre and a Network Operations Centre. The centre is designed to help clients identify high-value AI use cases, test prototypes, integrate them with legacy platforms and operate them at scale.
The move comes as large companies are under pressure to modernise complex technology estates without disrupting core systems that run banking, insurance, manufacturing, public sector services, travel and healthcare operations. For global IT services firms, the most valuable opportunity now lies not only in building new AI tools, but in attaching them safely to ageing systems of record, cloud platforms, data pipelines and cybersecurity controls.
DXC said the Bengaluru site includes immersive Customer Experience Zones, Fluid Collaboration Hubs, Ideation Studios, Co-Creation Labs and Partner Experience Zones. The structure signals a shift in IT outsourcing from back-office delivery to co-engineering, where clients, consultants and technology partners work together on proof-of-value projects before wider deployment.
Ramnath Venkataraman, president of consulting and engineering services at DXC Technology, said the centre would bring engineering talent closer to customers and partners. He said the objective was to “co-create, engineer, and scale AI-powered solutions” that address complex business challenges and move clients faster from ideas to outcomes.
Rob Le Busque, DXC’s president for Asia Pacific and Japan, described the centre as a base for AI innovation, engineering and customer collaboration. He said DXC was aiming to help customers build connected enterprises where people work alongside AI agents to engineer and run systems of record.
The investment reflects Bengaluru’s continuing pull as a global technology hub. The city hosts a dense base of engineering talent, multinational technology development centres, enterprise software teams and start-up ecosystems. DXC already employs about 38,000 people in the country, making the new facility a strategic addition rather than a symbolic office expansion.
For DXC, the centre also arrives at a critical phase in its own turnaround. The company reported revenue of $12.64bn for fiscal 2026, down 1.8 per cent year on year, while adjusted EBIT stood at $970m. Fourth-quarter revenue was $3.13bn, down 1.2 per cent year on year, though bookings reached $3.3bn and the book-to-bill ratio stood at 1.07 times. Those figures underline both the pressure on legacy IT services revenue and the importance of higher-value modernisation work.
The enterprise AI market has moved beyond experimental chatbots and isolated productivity pilots. Large organisations are now seeking systems that can automate service operations, assist software engineering, improve fraud detection, support call-centre workflows, optimise supply chains and strengthen cyber response. The challenge is that many of these functions depend on decades-old enterprise platforms, heavily customised databases and compliance-heavy workflows.
That is where Bengaluru’s new DXC centre is positioned. Its AI Hub is intended to support hands-on development and testing, while the cyber and operations facilities allow clients to evaluate whether AI tools can be monitored, secured and maintained after deployment. This full-lifecycle approach is becoming central to enterprise modernisation, especially in sectors where downtime, data leakage or flawed automation can carry heavy financial and regulatory consequences.
The facility also strengthens DXC’s partner-led model. Its Partner Experience Zones are expected to support work with software, cloud, cybersecurity and platform companies. For IT services providers, alliances with hyperscalers and enterprise software vendors have become essential as clients seek hybrid solutions rather than single-vendor transformation programmes.
Dutch prosecutors have summoned Tata Steel IJmuiden B. V. to face criminal proceedings over alleged unlawful pollution from its vast steelworks on the North Sea coast, escalating a long-running dispute over emissions, public health and industrial regulation in the IJmond region.
The Public Prosecution Service suspects the company of multiple criminal offences, including deliberately and unlawfully releasing harmful substances into the air with possible adverse consequences for public health. The case also covers alleged breaches of the company’s duty of care, insufficient maintenance, operating without the required permits and failure to report several incidents involving raw coke, a by-product linked to the steelmaking process.
A first procedural hearing has been scheduled for 20 November 2026 at the Amsterdam District Court, where prosecutors are expected to set out the precise charges. The investigation began after a criminal complaint filed on behalf of more than 800 residents and campaigners, who have for years linked emissions from the IJmuiden complex to health risks, nuisance and damage to quality of life.
The steelworks, located west of Amsterdam in Velsen, is among the Netherlands’ biggest industrial sites and one of its largest greenhouse gas emitters. Its blast furnaces, coke ovens and associated facilities have made it a strategic employer and export asset, but also a central target for environmental enforcement. Local concern intensified after pollution incidents, odour complaints and measurements showing deposits of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in nearby communities.
Prosecutors say the criminal investigation examined the steel production process and the operation of Tata Steel’s coke gas factories. The inquiry was carried out with input from environmental inspection and police units, including the investigative arm of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate and regional environmental enforcement agencies.
The company has rejected the accusations, saying it disagrees with the decision to prosecute and has already made major improvements to reduce emissions. Tata Steel Nederland has described the case as unnecessary, arguing that it relates to a limited number of incidents where corrective action had already been taken. The company maintains that its emissions comply with legal limits and that planned investments will cut pollution further.
The prosecution has not ruled out possible action against individuals. A separate part of the investigation is examining whether people in management roles could be held personally criminally liable. Prosecutors said that part of the inquiry may take more time, while the company summons has been issued now to keep the criminal case moving.
The summons comes against a broader legal and regulatory backdrop. Residents living near the plant and environmental groups have pursued civil and criminal routes to force faster reductions in pollution. A collective claim filed in the Netherlands seeks about €1.4 billion in compensation from Tata Steel’s Dutch subsidiaries, alleging health damage, stress, loss of enjoyment of life and property-related losses across the region. Tata Steel has dismissed those claims as speculative and unsupported.
Regulatory pressure has also mounted over the coke ovens, one of the most contentious parts of the IJmuiden operation. Authorities have previously warned that permits could be at risk if breaches continue, and financial penalties have been imposed over emissions violations. The coke-making process is crucial to conventional blast-furnace steel production, but it is also associated with pollutants that have drawn sustained scrutiny from residents and health experts.
Public health studies commissioned by Dutch authorities have strengthened demands for action. Research has identified the Tata Steel site as a significant source of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the IJmond area, while health assessments have pointed to higher exposure risks for communities around the plant. Campaigners argue that enforcement has been too slow, given the scale of the plant and the duration of residents’ complaints.
Tata Steel is attempting to balance the legal fight with negotiations over a cleaner production model. The company, the Dutch government and the province of North Holland signed a non-binding framework in 2025 aimed at cutting carbon emissions and improving the living environment around IJmuiden. The plan includes a shift towards lower-carbon steelmaking, with public support of up to €2 billion under discussion and additional funding sought from European programmes.
Securitize’s shares have fallen about 40 per cent since the BlackRock-backed tokenisation firm completed its public listing through a Cantor Fitzgerald-linked blank-cheque vehicle, exposing a sharp gap between investor enthusiasm for blockchain-based financial infrastructure and the early trading performance of companies entering public markets through SPAC deals. The company, now trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SECZ, slipped to about $8 after opening […]
Dubai’s plan to launch commercial air taxis has moved closer to operation after the UAE aviation regulator certified a purpose-built vertiport for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft near Dubai International Airport. The facility, registered as VDX under the General Civil Aviation Authority’s certification process, is being positioned as the primary hub for the emirate’s first air taxi network. Skyports Infrastructure, which developed the site with Dubai’s […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they fired missiles and drones at US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait on Wednesday, widening a confrontation that has put a fragile ceasefire under severe strain after US strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the operation hit sites linked to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and Ali Al […]
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2026 – Philippine Air Force Reserve Brigadier General Michael “Mikee” L. Romero, who heads Mikro-Tech Capital Inc., has been recognized as one of Asia’s most outstanding leaders by ACES Awards.
He was recognized for his multiple successes that has influenced a broader mindset shift for sustainable growth beyond corporate boundaries.
“Brigadier General Romero exemplifies a leader whose multifaceted impact redefines leadership standards, setting a benchmark for future generations,” the ACES Awards 2026 said in its official statement on his winning as one of Outstanding Leaders in Asia.
Mikro-Tech Capital Inc. is an anchor organization in investments management which translates his multiplicity in skills and utmost regard for national transformation through excellence and mindset for the future.
ACES Awards cited Brigadier General Romero as the visionary chairman of Mikro-Tech Capital Inc., whose transformative leadership across multiple sectors manifests his unwavering commitment to nation-building.
Romero’s stewardship of Mikro-Tech Capital has pushed its subsidiaries in power and energy into advancing sustainability goals for the Philippines.
His pioneering approach in port infrastructure has significantly enhanced island connectivity in the Philippines, facilitating economic growth and regional integration, the award statement added.
The council praised Romero’s ability to turn his vision into results and noted that his leadership has fostered a culture of resilience and innovation within his organizations.
The ACES Council said: “Brigadier General Romero exemplifies a leader whose multifaceted impact redefines leadership standards, setting a benchmark for future generations.”
The ACES Awards is among top Asian platforms that meticulous screen and recognize individuals and organizations demonstrating excellence in leadership, sustainability, innovation, and responsible growth.
This year’s program carries the theme “Setting the Benchmark for Enduring Impact.” The ACES awards gala will be in October in Kuala Lumpur.
Brigadier General Romero said: “This honor serves as an affirmation and a challenge—to continue to create opportunities for others. It highlights the potential of Filipino leadership to move the needle for mindsets that change outcomes that yield benefits beyond one’s lifetime.”
A celebrated sportsman, sports patron and businessman, Romero was a legislator with recent focus on poverty alleviation. He devoted the past year on humanitarian service, leading the Philippine Reservist Movement as chairman of the Association of Reservist and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines.
Hashtag: #ACESAwards #Mikro-TechCapitalInc.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
By Satyaki Chakraborty Amidst Trump-Modi bonhomie and the continuation of India-US trade talks, former Indian intelligence chief Vikram Sood said on Sunday in an interview to a British network that the present U.S. deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau told Indian officials during his visit to India in March 2026 that Washington would use tariffs, […]
Agency leader Bryan Phang is the sole COE (Diamond Agency) winner to achieve four consecutive award wins; Prudential’s solid showing underpinned by its strong knowledge sharing and mentorship culture
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 July 2026 – Prudential Singapore (“Prudential”) achieved the strongest showing globally in the 2026 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Culture of Excellence (COE) Awards, with 29 agency leaders recognised out of 68 winners worldwide. This was up from 13 winners in 2025, reflecting the strong progress made by Prudential’s agency force. Accounting for more than two in five award recipients this year, Prudential had the highest number of MDRT COE Award winners globally.
The MDRT COE Award recognises agency leaders who deliver strong outcomes across six dimensions of agency management1: production, retention, recruitment, persistency, whole person, and MDRT or MDRT Academy membership.
Mr Rom Lee, Chief Agency Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: “Having 29 agency leaders recognised on the global MDRT Culture of Excellence Awards, up from 13 last year, is a strong affirmation of the standards our leaders set for themselves and their teams. Beyond individual achievement, it reflects a culture grounded on discipline, a strong MDRT sharing culture and a deep commitment to helping customers make confident financial decisions.
“We have worked to create an environment where financial representatives can grow their careers, perform at a high level and be recognised for their achievements. As customer needs continue to evolve, this culture of excellence will remain central to how we develop a trusted, future-ready agency.”
MDRT COE Award winner Mr Bryan Phang, Financial Services Director, Prudential Singapore, is the only Diamond Agency recipient globally to achieve this distinction for a fourth consecutive year. This year, the agency went a step further by achieving all six criteria of the Award. Said Mr Phang: “Earning this recognition for a fourth consecutive year is meaningful. The best teams make each other better. For us, it’s about developing people, building leaders and creating a culture that can sustain success over time. We hope this recognition raises the bar for what strong agency culture and high standards can achieve.”
New MDRT COE Award winner, Ms Chiam Shu Yi, Wealth Director, Prudential Financial Advisers Singapore, Platinum Agency, is recognised for developing the careers of young and mid-career financial representatives. Said Ms Chiam: “Success is never built alone. The greatest fulfilment in leadership is investing in people, helping them discover hidden confidence, and reach milestones which they thought were out of reach. By supporting others, you empower them to grow, succeed, and build lives and careers they are proud of.”
Agency leaders awarded the MDRT Culture of Excellence Award include:
Diamond Agency (five out of six criteria met)
Ang Wei Boon, Financial Services Manager
Augustine Seah, Senior Executive Wealth Director
Bryan Phang, Financial Services Director
Dexter Goh, Financial Services Director
Han Chi Teng, Financial Services Director
Joyce Chan, Financial Services Director
Nicole Ng, Senior Financial Services Manager
Shalyn Lee, Senior Executive Wealth Director
Tan Chin Sian, Financial Services Director
Wesley Ee, Associate Wealth Director
Yugi Toh, Senior Executive Wealth Director
Platinum Agency (four out of six criteria met)
Chiam Shu Yi, Wealth Director
Diana Ng, Financial Services Director
Joe Goh, Financial Services Director
Jaslyn Ng, Financial Services Director
Kenny Siew, Financial Services Director
Thomas Lee, Senior Executive Wealth Director
Tricia Tan, Senior Financial Services Director
Zinc Goh, Executive Wealth Director
Gold Agency (three out of six criteria met)
Alvis Thor, Group Financial Services Director
Andrew Ang, Financial Services Director
Gerald Wu, Executive Wealth Director
Jaden Wang, Executive Wealth Director
Jeffrey Yen, Senior Financial Services Manager
Jocelyn Kau, Senior Wealth Director
Josephine Ho, Financial Services Director
Ng Ling Hoong, Financial Services Manager
Shannon Loke, Group Financial Services Director
Tracy Chia, Financial Services Director
Three-time consecutive Award winners
Augustine Seah, Senior Executive Wealth Director
Joyce Chan, Financial Services Director
Han Chi Teng, Financial Services Director
Jaslyn Ng, Financial Services Director
Jaden Wang, Executive Wealth Director
Prudential’s agency force has continued to deliver strong results and a consistently growing number of qualifiers. In 2026, it had 1,425 MDRT qualifiers, including 186 Court of The Table (TOT) and 73 Top of the Table (TOT) qualifiers, as well as 29 MDRT COE Award winners.
Prudential continues to invest in capability building across its agency force through training and professional development pathways. These include the Financial Consultant Induction Programme (FCIP) for new joiners, which leads to an Institute of Banking and Finance Qualified (Level 1) certification, as well as leadership development tracks such as the Chartered Insurance Agency Manager designation.
The company also equips financial representatives to serve affluent and high-net-worth customers through its in-house High Net Worth Skill Up Series and external programmes including the Certified Affluent Wealth Adviser and Advanced Affluent Wealth Adviser courses by the Wealth Management Institute. In 2024, Prudential also enhanced its Management Associate Programme (MAP) to support fresh graduates and young professionals pursuing a career as financial representatives2.
Prudential has 5,400 financial representatives with its tied agency and financial advisory arm, Prudential Financial Advisers Singapore, as of 31 December 2025.
1 For more information on criteria for MDRT Culture of Excellence Awards, please visit: https://www.mdrtcenter.org/culture-of-excellence-awards 2 For more information about the enhanced Management Associate Programme, visit: https://www.prudential.com.sg/about/newsroom/press-release/2024/prudential-ramps-up-hiring
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential Singapore)
Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country’s citizens for 95 years. As at 31 December 2025, it has S$66.3 billion funds under management. The company has an AA Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s and delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of 5,400 financial representatives.
About MDRT Center for Field Leadership
The MDRT Center for Field Leadership was created exclusively for financial services field and home office leaders. As a separate, individual membership association with innovative leadership development strategies, the MDRT Center provides its members with exceptional value and leadership growth opportunities. MDRT Center membership allows increased engagement within the MDRT community while allowing leaders to develop a culture of excellence within their respective organizations. To learn more visit mdrtcenter.org.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 July 2026 – AEON Bank (M) Berhad, Malaysia’s first digital Islamic bank, has expanded its business banking financing facilities with the introduction of Term Financing-i and Working Capital Financing-i, anchored by its Business Banking vertical, AEON Bank Biz.
Introducing the Term Financing-i and Working Capital Financing-i by AEON Bank Biz
Designed to provide timely and flexible capital, these two business financing facilities were developed to enable Shariah-compliant businesses in navigating shifting market demands. Both products are aligned with the Shariah finance principle of Murabahah via Tawarruq concept, delivering transparent, ethical banking solutions to the Malaysian market.
Term Financing-i: Business Growth and Strategic Expansion
Engineered to fund medium to long term growth projects, asset purchases and infrastructure expansion while maintaining a healthy cash flow. AEON Bank Biz’s Term Financing-i offers this flexibility:
Zero collateral required
No hidden charges on financing application or utilisation
Flexible repayment tenure of up to 60 months
Approved fund disbursed directly into customer’s AEON Bank Biz Business Current Account-i
*Terms and conditions apply
Working Capital Financing-i: Empowering Business with Liquidity Agility
This financing facility provides a flexible credit line for short term cash flow needs, designed to bridge operational budget gaps and manage financial cycles. With AEON Bank Biz’s Working Capital Financing-i, customers can gain access to the following:
High value liquidity and multiple disbursement options, within approved financing facility limit up to 3-year tenure
Flexibility to pay your principal and refresh approved limit, without the hassle of repeated financing applications
Up to 12-months disbursement period
Disbursement managed fully online, deposited straight into customer’s AEON Bank Biz Business Current Account-i
*Terms and conditions apply
A Dynamic Business Banking Experience
Beyond credit line disbursement, AEON Bank Biz serves as a holistic 360-degree, Shariah compliant banking partner for business owners across Malaysia. It enables businesses to manage assets, liabilities, operational financial needs and merchant operations, through a simplified banking process.
At the core of it all is the Business Current Account-i with a dynamic business banking functionality to support businesses to thrive :
Integrated cash management capabilities for payments and collections: Seamless processing for DuitNow and RENTAS, as well as instant settlement and notification for DuitNow QR
Smart cash management: Maximize idle capital yield via Biz Term Deposit-i, offering competitive profit optimization rates up to 3.20% p.a. on customizable tenures as short as 1 day, with an entry baseline of just RM500
Governance controls: Multi-user level access authorizations and structured approval workflows engineered to mirror corporate governance standards safely
*Terms and conditions apply
Empowering Businesses to Scale Sustainably
This latest rollout by a digital bank in Malaysia aligns directly with the national goal to supercharge SME contributions to the domestic Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up to 50% by 2030. In order to achieve that, access to financing, including digital banking solutions remains a key enabler for business growth. In fact, this is where banking institutions and fintech catalysts such as AEON Bank play an important role in achieving that target.
Click on the links to find out more about AEON Bank Biz and discover a #BetterBusinessBanking experience to scale your growth. Hashtag: #AEONBank #digitalbank #islamicbank #digitalislamicbank #AEONBankBiz #BusinessBanking #TermFinancing #WorkingCapitalFinancing
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ABOUT AEON BANK (M) BERHAD
AEON Bank (M) Berhad is Malaysia’s first digital Islamic bank, licensed and regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Ministry of Finance. Officially launched on 26 May 2024, we currently offer a suite of Shariah-compliant products and services for the Personal Banking and Business Banking (AEON Bank Biz) customers.
Our Personal Banking offerings are 100% accessible online via the AEON Bank app, where customers can activate and access the deposit Savings Account-i, AEON Bank x Visa Debit Card-i, Personal Financing-i, Term Deposit-i, Savings Pot, DuitNow QR, Zakat, Takaful, JomPay, utility bill payments, as well as a range of digital payment services with strategic partners and merchants. Moreover, AEON Bank has developed the Neko Missions, Malaysia’s first gamified digital banking interactive rewards programme and ‘Neko Sensei’, the AI-powered personal financial coach.
On 8 August 2025, AEON Bank (M) Berhad officially introduced AEON Bank Biz with the integrated cash management capabilities anchored by the Business Current Account-i, alongside Biz Term Deposit-i, Biz QR, Term Financing-i and Working Capital Financing-i. AEON Bank Biz focuses on streamlined processes for account onboarding, credit assessments and financial services, utilising AI-driven fintech solutions to enable simplified procedures, faster approvals, and an enhanced digital banking experience for businesses in Malaysia.
For eligible deposit-based products under AEON Bank and AEON Bank Biz, such as the Savings Account-i, Savings Pot, Term Deposit-i, Business Current Account-i and Biz Term Deposit-i, the deposits are protected up to RM250,000 per depositor. AEON Bank is a member of Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) and the deposit protection is automatic and free.
Being part of the AEON Group conglomerate, AEON Bank (M) Berhad is equally held by AEON Financial Service Co. Ltd. (AFS Japan) and AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad (ACSM). AFS Japan is responsible for the AEON Group’s financial services businesses, with strong roots in the retail sector which operates in Japan and 10 countries across Asia. AEON Group is Japan’s largest retail group and it is a pure holding company that comprises eight core businesses.
AEON Group Malaysia consists of several entities, namely, AEON Co. (M) Bhd, AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad, AEON Bank (M) Berhad, AEON BiG (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Fantasy (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Delight (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Global Supply Chain Sdn Bhd and Malaysian AEON Foundation (MAF). AEON Group has been a recognisable household brand with more than 200 years of history and evolution in Japan since the Edo era, along with 4 decades of growth in Malaysia, providing consumers with daily financial solutions and diversified retail convenience.
Our cloud native agility and AI optimisation, combined with the strength of our Shariah finance DNA, Malaysian tenacity and Japanese roots are our distinguishing factors, while the integration across the AEON ecosystem gives us a competitive advantage of being the only bank in Malaysia with its own nationwide retail network. On top of that, AEON Points loyalty programme offers customers value-added benefits and meaningful rewards for their online shopping and in-store purchases.
AEON Bank (M) Berhad is committed to empowering the community in pursuing their financial aspirations and achieve economic independence, while cultivating a more inclusive financial future for all. We will continue to contribute towards positioning Malaysia as the Islamic banking hub in the region and fostering the growth of the nation’s digital economy.
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