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OpenAI unveils compact models for scalable AI

OpenAI has introduced two smaller artificial intelligence models, GPT-5.4 mini and GPT-5.4 nano, signalling a push towards lower-cost, faster systems designed for large-scale deployment and increasingly complex agent-based applications. The announcement marks a shift in emphasis from raw model size to efficiency and adaptability, as enterprises seek to integrate AI into everyday workflows without incurring prohibitive computational costs. The new models are positioned as lighter alternatives within […]

March 18

Nigerian court affirms right to film police

A Federal High Court ruling in Nigeria has affirmed that citizens are entitled to record police officers performing their duties in public, while also awarding damages in a case that challenged unlawful stop-and-search practices. The decision marks a significant judicial intervention in ongoing debates over police accountability and civil liberties in Africa’s most populous nation. Justice in the case brought through a public interest action by rights […]

March 18

TrendAI™ to Secure Enterprise Adoption of Agentic AI with NVIDIA

TrendAI™ to support NVIDIA OpenShell open source runtime to add security for autonomous AI agents

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – TrendAI™, the enterprise AI security leader, today announced expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to support NVIDIA OpenShell, a new open source runtime for agentic AI introduced at NVIDIA GTC. The solution enables organizations to deploy autonomous AI agents with built-in governance, continuous risk visibility, and runtime enforcement, addressing key barriers to production adoption of agentic AI.

TrendAI™ is teaming with NVIDIA to add security for the open source NVIDIA OpenShell runtime as the ecosystem evolves. Learn more: https://resources.trendmicro.com/2026-nvidia-gtc.html

Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI™: “Agentic AI changes the security equation. When AI systems can plan, take action, and interact with other tools on their own, the risk profile looks very different from traditional AI. Our collaboration with NVIDIA allows us to bring security directly into the architecture so organizations can adopt agentic AI with the visibility and control they expect.”

Traditional AI security models were built for short-lived interactions between users and models. Agentic AI changes that dynamic by operating continuously and taking action across environments.

NVIDIA OpenShell is an open source runtime for long-lived, self-evolving agents capable of planning, memory, and tool execution. While these capabilities unlock significant productivity gains, they also introduce risks related to unauthorized skills, hidden behaviors, prompt injection, and unintended system access.

Pat Lee, vice president, Strategic Enterprise Partnerships at NVIDIA: “Agentic AI opens the door for a new class of applications that can plan, reason, and take action. By working with TrendAI™, we’re helping developers add visibility and controls to make it safer to run autonomous AI.”

TrendAI™ can transform agentic AI from a high-risk experiment into an enterprise-ready architecture. Organizations gain the ability to define trust boundaries, enforce policy at runtime, and maintain continuous visibility into autonomous AI behavior, all while preserving the flexibility and power that make agentic systems valuable.

TrendAI™ adds an enterprise-grade security layer that governs how agents behave, what tools they can access, and how risk is detected and enforced, before, during, and after execution.

The collaboration extends across the NVIDIA AI –Q blueprint and the NVIDIA NeMo Agent Toolkit, enabling consistent security, governance, and observability as agentic systems scale across enterprise environments.

TrendAI Vision One™‘s layered security architecture for OpenShell provides:

Centralized AI governance and compliance enforced directly in the agent runtime
Skill and tool risk visibility, including continuous scanning of agent skills and MCP integrations
Dynamic behavioral analysis to detect hidden or malicious actions
Inline policy enforcement that blocks untrusted skills and actions at runtime
AI specific threat protection, including prompt injection and sensitive data exposure detection
Continuous monitoring and auditability through agentic telemetry and SIEM integration. These capabilities allow organizations to define trust boundaries, enforce policy, and maintain visibility across autonomous AI agents without limiting innovation.

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

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

About TrendAI™

TrendAI™, a global leader in AI security, empowers enterprises to innovate fearlessly by securing AI, cloud, networks, endpoints, and data across the modern attack surface. At the core is TrendAI Vision One™, a unified cybersecurity platform that centralizes cyber risk exposure management and security operations to protect the entire AI lifecycle from infrastructure to models to users. The platform is fueled by world-class threat intelligence and insights that protect organizations from hundreds of millions of threats every day. With 6,000 TrendAI™ experts across 75 countries, TrendAI™ empowers security leaders to stay ahead of threats, driving proactive security outcomes across the entire attack surface. This includes critical environments like AWS, Google, and Microsoft. AI Fearlessly.

March 18

Vultr rolls out Rubin AI inference globally

Cloud infrastructure provider Vultr has introduced a production-ready artificial intelligence inference stack built on NVIDIA’s Rubin platform, marking a significant expansion of their collaboration as enterprises accelerate adoption of generative AI workloads. The deployment is designed to provide scalable, cost-efficient inference capabilities across Vultr’s global cloud network, targeting businesses seeking to operationalise AI models without the high capital expenditure typically associated with dedicated infrastructure. The Rubin platform, […]

March 18

Zelnick backs Microsoft gaming chief independence

Take-Two Interactive chief executive Strauss Zelnick has declined to offer advice to Microsoft’s newly appointed gaming leader Asha Sharma, expressing confidence that she will succeed without external guidance and highlighting her record as a seasoned executive. Zelnick’s remarks come as Sharma steps into a prominent leadership role within Microsoft’s gaming division, overseeing strategic direction for Xbox amid intensifying competition in the global video game industry. Addressing questions […]

March 18

Kent quits over Iran war policy

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned, citing opposition to the Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran and warning of strategic and moral consequences for United States security policy. Kent announced his decision in a statement, saying he could not “in good conscience” support the direction of the conflict. His departure marks one of the most senior resignations tied directly to the administration’s handling […]

March 18

Surveillance expansion fuels privacy fears across Africa

Rapid deployment of AI-driven surveillance systems across multiple African cities is drawing scrutiny from rights groups and policy analysts, who warn that expanding digital monitoring networks risk eroding civil liberties while outpacing regulatory safeguards. Urban centres from Nairobi to Lagos and Johannesburg are integrating smart city technologies designed to improve traffic management, crime detection and public service delivery. These systems increasingly rely on facial recognition, biometric databases […]

March 18

Android exploit targets payments without app tampering

A newly identified Android attack technique that alters the operating environment rather than modifying applications has raised fresh concerns over the resilience of mobile payment systems, with researchers warning that conventional app-level protections may no longer be sufficient. Security analysts at CloudSEK have detailed a method that leverages a framework known as LSPosed to manipulate how Android apps behave at runtime. Instead of injecting malicious code directly […]

March 18

Apple may extend ProMotion to budget iPhones

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Apple is weighing the introduction of its high-refresh-rate ProMotion display technology to a future entry-level iPhone, with industry leaks pointing to a potential debut around 2028 in what is tentatively described as the iPhone 19e. The move, if confirmed, would mark a notable shift in the company’s long-standing strategy of reserving advanced display features for its premium Pro models. Details emerging from supply […]

March 18

CursorJack flaw raises AI code risks

Security researchers have identified a technique that could allow attackers to execute malicious code within AI-assisted development environments by manipulating installation links, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of modern coding workflows. The method, termed “CursorJack”, exploits how some AI development tools handle external package installation and repository linking. By redirecting or tampering with these links, attackers can introduce harmful code into a developer’s environment without immediate […]

March 18

ByteDance stalls AI video rollout after studio backlash

ByteDance has halted plans for a global release of its advanced AI video generator, Seedance 2.0, following mounting legal pressure from major film studios concerned about copyright violations and the unauthorised use of creative content. The decision reflects growing tension between technology firms racing to commercialise generative artificial intelligence and entertainment companies seeking to protect intellectual property. Industry executives familiar with the matter indicate that negotiations and […]

March 18

Air travel chaos spreads across Middle East

Global aviation networks faced sustained disruption as conflict involving Iran triggered widespread airspace closures across major Gulf transit hubs, grounding flights and stranding tens of thousands of passengers in one of the most severe interruptions to international travel in years. Airlines halted or diverted services across a corridor that typically handles a significant share of long-haul traffic between Europe, Asia and Africa. Airports in Dubai, Doha and […]

March 18

China Tower (788.HK) Announces 2025 Annual Results

Deepens “One Core and Two Wings” Strategy Continues to Strengthen Core Competitiveness to Enhance Shareholder Returns

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – The world’s largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”, or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 0788.HK) is pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Performance Highlights

RMB Million	2025	2024	Change
Operating revenue	100,411	97,772	2.7%
EBITDA[1]	65,814	665.59	-1.1%
Profit attributable to owners of the Company	11,630	107.29	8.4%
Basic earnings per share (RMB yuan) (Re-presented)	0.6653	0.6138	8.4%
Dividend per share (RMB yuan)	0.45789	0.41696	9.8%
Key operating data
Number of tower sites (thousand)	2,149	2,094	2.6%
Number of tower tenants (thousand)	3,856	3,791	1.7%
Tenancy ratio (tenants / tower site)	1.79	1.81	-1.1%

In 2025, the Company’s operating revenue maintained stable growth and profitability remained strong. Operating revenue for the year reached RMB100,411 million, an increase of 2.7% year-on-year. EBITDA reached RMB65,814 million, a decrease of 1.1% year-on-year, with an EBITDA margin^{^[2]} of 65.5%. Profit attributable to the owners of the Company reached RMB11,630 million, an increase of 8.4% year-on-year, with a net profit margin of 11.6%.

The Company maintained a strong and stable cash flow. Net cash generated from operating activities for the year amounted to RMB56,116 million, an increase of RMB6,648 million year-on-year. Capital expenditures stood at RMB29,486 million while free cash flow^{^[3]} reached RMB26,630 million, up by RMB9,103 million year-on-year.

As at 31 December 2025, our total assets amounted to RMB336,579 million, with interest-bearing liabilities of RMB90,460 million and a gearing ratio^{^[4]} of 27.7%, representing a decrease of 3.3 percentage points from the end of 2024. Our financial position remains healthy and stable.

The Company has always attached great importance to shareholder returns. After considering our profitability, cash flow and future development needs, the board of directors of the Company has recommended a final dividend of RMB0.32539 per share (pre-tax) for the year ended 31 December 2025. Together with the interim dividend distributed, the total full-year dividend amounted to RMB0.45789 per share (pre-tax), equivalent to a payout ratio of 77% of our annual distributable net profit.

Refined operations enabled steady progress in TSP business

The Company continued to play a leading role in new 5G infrastructure construction, further deployed the Dual-Gigabit network joint-entry implementation, and made solid progress in supporting special projects such as upgrading signal strength, extending broadband coverage to all border areas, forests and grasslands. Capturing the strategic opportunities arising from the wide-area 5G network coverage expansion and enhancement of in-depth coverage, we focused on enhancing intensive sharing of network resources and fully satisfying customers’ demands for network construction. As a result, our TSP business maintained stable growth in 2025, recording revenue of RMB84,725 million, an increase of 0.7% year-on-year.

Tower business. The Company seized opportunities arising from customers’ ongoing network expansion requirements and leveraged our competitiveness as a service provider by offering efficient delivery, superior maintenance and optimal cost structure, while minimizing management risks. We deepened the embedded service mechanism, precisely captured customers’ network planning needs, and comprehensively secured construction demands in key scenarios and key regions. Leveraging our site resources and base station data, we proactively conducted coverage analysis to enhance network optimization capabilities. We also enhanced our collaborations with TSPs to provide customers with better services. By adhering to a customer-oriented philosophy, we continued to optimize end-to-end business processes and management standards to enhance service capabilities across the board. In 2025, revenue from our Tower business amounted to RMB75,498 million, a decrease of 0.3% year-on-year. As at the end of 2025, the Company managed a total of 2.149 million tower sites, an increase of 55,000 from the end of 2024. We have gained 23,000 new TSP tenants since the end of 2024, bringing the total number of TSP tenants to 3.567 million at the end of 2025. Our TSP tenancy ratio was 1.70.

DAS business. We continued to focus on high-value and livelihood-critical scenarios, systematically enhancing resource coordination and sharing, and collaborative construction capabilities, as well as accelerating 5G network upgrades on high-speed railways. At the same time, we deployed shared repeaters at scale in everyday scenarios such as elevators, underground parking lots, tunnels, and residential communities, helping TSPs achieve efficient and low-cost network coverage extension. We continued to optimize the integrated active and passive DAS sharing solutions and promoted the implementation of innovative solutions such as shared frequency shifting in existing DAS 5G upgrades. By doing so, we enhanced product and service competitiveness to efficiently meet customer needs. In 2025, our DAS business achieved relatively high growth, with revenue reaching RMB9,227 million, an increase of 9.5% year-on-year. By the end of 2025, we had covered buildings with a cumulative area of 15.15 billion square meters, up by 19.5% year-on-year, while the coverage in railway tunnels and subways reached a cumulative length of 33,661 kilometers, an increase of 14.8% year-on-year.

Vertical advancement supported strong growth in Two Wings business

In the Two Wings business, we seized market opportunities while continuing to strengthen product competitiveness and drive rapid growth of the business. In 2025, revenue of the Two Wings business reached RMB14,985 million and accounted for 14.9% of our overall operating revenue, an increase of 1.2 percentage points over the same period last year.

Smart Tower business. Focusing on spatial digital intelligence governance and leveraging ourrich resources and capabilities, we continued to enhance our Smart Tower business, achievingrevenue in excess of RMB10 billion. We continued to deepen our presence in key industries andscenarios, steadily increasing market share in key areas such as straw burning prohibition, farmlandprotection, and disaster alert. We advanced our nationwide distributed platform, optimizingalgorithm service capabilities for mid-to-high point scenarios, with further improvements inplatform response speed, algorithm accuracy, and application availability. We maintained our focuson implementing the “AI+” special project, promoting the application of large models for spatialdigital intelligence governance, which were included in the first batch of strategic high-value AIscenarios for central state-owned enterprises. Customers are always at the center of everything wedo. Therefore, we strengthened the development of product iterations, construction delivery,and operation and maintenance support, as well as expanding our integrated technical support teams,with an aim to respond actively and promptly to customers’ needs. In 2025, our Smart Tower business generated revenue of RMB10,172 million, up by 14.2% year-on-year, among which, revenue from our Tower Monitoring business reached RMB6,327 million, accounting for 62.2% of the Smart Tower business revenue.

Energy business. We focused on key business segments such as battery exchange and powerbackup. By improving refined operations and strengthening core capabilities and competitiveadvantages in products, services, and platforms, we continued to develop our specialty in theEnergy business. For the battery exchange business, we continued to expand our share in the fooddelivery mass market while accelerating the expansion of our corporate customer base, resulting instable user growth. As at 31 December 2025, we had approximately 1.477 million battery exchangeusers, an increase of 173,000 since the end of 2024, further solidifying our leading position inthe low-speed electric vehicle battery exchange market. We accelerated the construction of acommunity-based low-speed electric vehicle charging facility network while optimizing operationalefficiency, resulting in expanded service coverage and user scale. For the power backup business,we continued to focus on pivotal industries and our premium customer base, creating the ChinaTower “energy butler” integrated industry solutions and enhancing the value of our “energy butler”brand. In 2025, our Energy business achieved revenue of RMB4,813 million, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%, of which the battery exchange business accounted for RMB3,029 million, an increase of21.2% year-on-year, and with its contribution to the Energy business reaching 62.9%.

Innovation strategy resulted in remarkable technology empowerment

We made concrete progress in developing the “four lists” working mechanism of competencies and capabilities, task and project planning, resource allocation, and the commercialization of research outcomes. Focusing on the “One Core and Two Wings” businesses, we continued to intensify our efforts to address the challenges in key and core technologies, and accelerated the transformation of technological achievements to inject new momentum into high-quality business development. In 2025, our R&D investment and the number of R&D personnel increased by 82% and 22% respectively, compared to 2024. The number of patent applications and the cumulative number of patent authorizations increased by 77% and 54%, respectively, compared to the year before. We participated in the formulation of multiple international standards. A range of innovative products were commercialized and deployed at scale such as shared micro repeaters, monitoring platforms, and “one code for all”. Our technological innovation system continued to strengthen, as shown in the high-quality construction and development of six regional technological innovation centers, the expansion and quality improvement of joint innovation platforms, and the steady enhancement of innovation efficiency and performance.

Mr. Zhang Zhiyong, Chairman of China Tower said, “In 2025, we remained focused on high-quality development, promoting stability through progress while improving quality and efficiency. As a result, throughout the year our business maintained healthy, steady growth and demonstrated a positive outlook. Looking ahead, we will continue to uphold the philosophy of resource sharing and adhere to the “One Core and Two Wings” strategy to further enhance our core competitiveness, promote high-quality development, and create value for shareholders, customers, and society.”

[1] EBITDA is calculated by operating profit plus depreciation and amortization.

[2] EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by operating revenue, and multiplying the resulting value by 100%.

[3] Free cash flow is the net cash generated from operating activities minus the capital expenditures.

[4] Gearing ratio is calculated as net debts divided by the sum of total equity and net debt, then multiplying the result by 100%. Net debt is calculated as the amount of interest-bearing liabilities minus the amount of cash and cash equivalents.

Hashtag: #ChinaTower

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

About China Tower (Stock Code: 0788.HK)

China Tower is the world’s largest telecommunications tower infrastructure service provider, and the Company always adheres to the philosophy of shared development and implements the “One Core and Two Wings” strategy. The Company is principally engaged in the construction, maintenance and operation of base station ancillary facilities such as telecommunications towers, public network coverage in railway tunnels and subways, and large-scale indoor Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). Meanwhile, relying on unique resources to provide energy application services such as information application and intelligent battery exchange and power backup to the society, the Company strives to build itself into a world-class integrated digital infrastructure service provider, and a highly competitive information and new energy applications provider. As of the end of 2025, the Company’s total assets amounted to RMB336,579 million. China Tower operated and managed 2.119 million tower sites across 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the PRC, and served over 3.856 million tenants with the tenancy ratio of 1.79.

March 18

Developers show resilience amid regional conflict risks

S&P Global has indicated that four major Gulf real estate developers under its coverage are unlikely to face liquidity strain despite heightened geopolitical tensions linked to the US-Israel confrontation and instability involving Iraq, underscoring continued financial resilience across the sector. The rating agency assessed Dubai-listed Emaar Properties alongside PNC Investments, Omniyat Holdings and Damac Real Estate Development, concluding that their funding profiles, access to capital markets and […]

March 18

Qatar bank rolls out crisis lending support

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatar Development Bank has launched a package of emergency financing measures aimed at stabilising supply chains and supporting businesses in food and healthcare sectors as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East strain trade flows and drive up costs. The state-backed lender is introducing targeted programmes to ease access to credit for wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers grappling with inventory shortages and rising input prices. […]

March 18

UAE central bank fortifies banking resilience measures

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE’s central bank has approved a sweeping package aimed at strengthening financial institutions against mounting global and regional pressures, signalling a calibrated shift from precaution to structured resilience in one of the Gulf’s largest banking systems. The move, endorsed by the Board under the direction of the Chairman, introduces a Financial Institution Resilience Package designed to safeguard liquidity, enhance capital buffers and reinforce […]

March 18

AEON Bank Champions Community Impact Financial Inclusion and Rewarding Raya Campaign Anchored on “Niat di Hati, Budi Terpateri”

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – Inspired by the values of compassion and the importance of sharing rezeki (blessings) during this blessed month, AEON Bank, Malaysia’s first digital Islamic bank, has brought to life its Ramadan and Syawal campaign themed “Niat di Hati, Budi Terpateri.”

The campaign is anchored on the principle that good intentions (niat yang baik), when demonstrated through kind and thoughtful actions (amal budi yang indah) will lead to meaningful outcomes. This theme is brought to life through a self-produced Ramadan Aidilfitri 2026 brand video, available on the Bank’s official YouTube channel.

NIAT TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY : SALAM PRIHATIN 4.0

The beneficiaries of Salam Prihatin 4.0, alongside the committee of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Masyarakat Penyayang Lembah Pantai (PERKEMP), senior leadership of AEON Bank and AEON BiG, and AEON Bank’s volunteers

As part of its Shared Value Creation (SVC) commitment, AEON Bank continues to drive its flagship community impact initiative, Salam Prihatin.

Targeted Support and Value Added Impact

This year, Salam Prihatin 4.0 engaged 100 households, amounting to more than 400 beneficiaries from the community Perumahan Pantai Permai, Kuala Lumpur. The engagement was held on 3 March 2026, in collaboration with AEON BiG Wangsa Maju and a local NGO, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Masyarakat Penyayang Lembah Pantai (PERKEMP) Lembah Pantai.

Fostering Financial Inclusion and Enabling Budget Savvy Autonomy Among the Beneficiaries

Fostering financial inclusion among the community, the beneficiary families were guided by AEON Bank team to plan for purposeful purchase of grocery and essential items, giving them the autonomy to optimise their budget, based on the needs of their respective families – be it multigenerational households, or families with small children or those caring for persons with disabilities (PWD).

Each beneficiary family received a RM300 grocery budget, which rounded up AEON Bank’s contribution this year to RM30,000 in total. In order to assist the families with their grocery shopping on the event day, more than 50 of AEON Bank employees, including the Bank’s senior leadership, were paired up with the families during the engagement. To date, AEON Bank has engaged almost 2,000 beneficiaries throughout 4 years, under its Salam Prihatin community impact initiative.

Now in its fourth year, AEON Bank has engaged almost 2,000 beneficiaries throughout 4 years, under its Salam Prihatin community impact initiative.

NIAT TO BE MORE RINGGIT SAVVY : SMART SAVINGS AND VALUE ADDED REWARDS

In the effort to help Malaysians manage the rising cost of living, AEON Bank has introduced several financial tools in its digital banking app and meaningful rewards for its customers, including :

(i) Neko Sensei : AEON Bank’s very own in-app financial coach designed to empower customers to track and manage their finances wisely.

(ii) RM30 Raya Cashback : Customers can earn RM30 cashback when paying with their AEON Bank Debit Card-i at stores participating in the MyDebit campaign, valid from 1 February to 15 April 2026.

(iii) Competitive Rate for Savings Pot : Enjoy a high 3.00% p.a. profit rate for the Savings Pot to help keep your financial goals on track, valid until 31 May 2026.

(iv) Personal Financing-i (PF-i) : Financing options from RM1,000 to RM100,000 with a profit rate starting at 3.88% p.a. and flexible tenures from 3 to 84 months. PF-i application process fully takes place online via the app, available to Malaysians with a minimum monthly gross income of RM2,500 including salaried employees, self-employed individuals, freelancers and gig economy workers.

(v) Neko Missions : A gamified digital banking experience that offers RM5 cashback for DuitNow QR transactions via AEON Bank app, valid until 15 May 2026.

(vi) JomPay : Customers can also make their JomPay transactions, including telco and utility bills via the AEON Bank app. providing a centralised platform for all essential online payments.

(vii) Inclusivity and Flexibility : Effective 17 March 2026, AEON Bank has removed the minimum balance requirement, ensuring Shariah-compliant digital banking is more inclusive and accessible for Malaysians.

NIAT TO FULFILL RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS : SAH AND SEAMLESS ZAKAT PAYMENT VIA AEON BANK APP

Starting from the month of Ramadan this year, Zakat payment feature has been made available on the AEON Bank app. With just a few easy steps, customers can fulfill the contribution for 11 types of Zakat with a sah Aqad, including Zakat Fitrah, Zakat Pendapatan (Income), Zakat Perniagaan (Business), Zakat Emas (Gold) and more.

Made possible through the strategic partnership with Tulus Digital, the Zakat payment feature currently facilitates payments to Lembaga Zakat Selangor and PPZ-MAIWP, with more states and Zakat authority to be added in the near future.

NIAT TO BRING DIGITAL BANKING TO THE MASSES : O2O WONDERS

Beyond the digital screens, throughout four weeks of Ramadan, AEON Bank brought the O2O (online to offline) wonders to the crowd at the Bazaar Ramadan Seksyen 2 and 23, Shah Alam, in partnership with Persatuan Penjaja & Peniaga Kecil Melayu Negeri Selangor (PPPKMNS). On 16 March 2026, from 4.00 pm onwards, come on over to the Bazaar Ramadan Seksyen 23 and stand a chance to win AEON Bank merchandise and surprise goodies.

Better Banking – The Digital Way, Better Banking – The Shariah Way

As a cloud-native AI-powered digital bank, AEON Bank remains dedicated in its commitment to provide accessible financial solutions for Malaysians, while empowering communities to pursue their financial aspirations and achieve economic independence. Striving to foster a more inclusive financial future for all, AEON Bank will continue to offer a better banking experience for the larger demographic and contribute towards the development of Islamic banking in the region and the nation’s digital economy.

Click HERE to visit AEON Bank’s website and download the AEON Bank app. Don’t forget to view AEON Bank’s Ramadan Aidilfitri 2026 video, available on the Bank’s official YouTube channel.

Hashtag: #AEONBank

https://aeonbank.com.my/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aeonbankmy
https://www.instagram.com/aeonbankmy

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

ABOUT AEON BANK (M) BERHAD

AEON Bank (M) Berhad is the first digital Islamic bank in Malaysia, 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 under the Personal Banking and Business Banking (AEON Bank Biz).

Our Personal Banking offerings are 100% accessible via the AEON Bank app, namely the deposit Savings Account-i, AEON Bank x Visa Debit Card-i, Personal Financing-i, Term Deposit-i, Savings Pots, DuitNow QR, utility bill payments, personal financial management and budgeting tools with Neko Sensei, and a range of digital payment services with strategic partners and merchants, as well as Neko Missions, Malaysia’s first gamified digital banking interactive rewards programme.

On 8 August 2025, AEON Bank (M) Berhad officially launched AEON Bank Biz, anchored by the Current Business Account-i and integrated cash management capabilities, alongside Biz Term Deposit-i. AEON Bank Biz offers 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 SMEs and micro entrepreneurs.

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 recognizable 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 DNA, Malaysian roots and Japanese heritage are our distinguishing factors, while the integration with 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, as the AEON Points can be redeemed into cash value, deposited directly into customers’ AEON Bank Savings Account-i.

AEON Bank (M) Berhad is committed to provide accessible financial solutions for Malaysians and we aim to empower the community in pursuing their financial aspirations and achieve economic independence, hence fostering a more inclusive financial future for all. We will continue to contribute towards the Islamic banking development in the region and the nation’s digital economy.

March 18

Etiqa Insurance Singapore Returns to NATAS Travel Fair 2026

New Takaful travel product launched in same month to celebrate life’s journeys

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singapore, a leading general and life insurer, returns to the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) Travel Fair 2026 as the Official Travel Insurer for the fifth consecutive year. Themed “Be A NATAS World Traveller”, Singapore’s largest premier travel fair will be held at the Singapore Expo Hall from 27 to 29 March 2026, offering exciting promotions for travellers.

Customers can enjoy special promotions exclusively available at the NATAS Fair. With up to 45 per cent off Etiqa Travel Infinite and a special $100 shopping voucher given to every 200^th customer, Etiqa continues to make travel insurance more rewarding to all valued customers.

In addition, every customer will receive a complimentary gift with every purchase. From must-have travel essentials such as a versatile sports duffel bag, to a portable cooling fan to keep you cool on holiday, every traveller can enhance their journey with added convenience.

Celebrating Life’s Journeys with the Launch of Travel Takaful

In the same celebratory month, Etiqa is simultaneously extending its “With You” brand promise to the wider community. Beyond the excitement at NATAS Travel Fair, Etiqa is proud to announce the launch of Travel Takaful, a Shariah-compliant travel protection plan designed to support world travellers across different life stages — whether travelling for leisure, family commitments, or Umrah journeys.

“At Etiqa Insurance Singapore, we are committed to being With You, at every stage of life and on every journey. Our continued partnership with NATAS reflects our commitment to helping travellers explore the world with confidence, while the launch of Travel Takaful extends inclusive, Shariah-compliant protection to customers seeking values-based coverage. Whether travelling for leisure, business, or faith-based journeys, we want Singaporeans to travel with complete peace of mind,” said Claudia Soh, Acting CEO and CFO of Etiqa Insurance Singapore.

Guided by Takaful principles of shared responsibility and mutual care, Travel Takaful provides comprehensive coverage for overseas medical needs and unexpected travel disruptions:

Comprehensive Medical Support: Coverage for overseas medical expenses ranging from S$200,000 to S$2.5 million, supported by Etiqa’s 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance.
Trip Cancellation Coverage: Trip cancellation coverage of up to S$20,000 to mitigate unexpected changes in travel plans.
Tailored for All Stages: Optional add-ons for pre-existing medical conditions and senior protection, offering flexibility for multi-generational travel.

By expanding its portfolio with this new offering, Etiqa reinforces its commitment to serving Singapore’s diverse community with inclusive and meaningful protection solutions, that aligns with values-driven financial planning.

Enjoy journeys with Etiqa Insurance Singapore this March:

Visit the NATAS Fair (Booth 4H49 at Singapore Expo Hall 4 and 5): For exclusive Travel Infinite discounts, complimentary travel gifts, and the chance to win special shopping vouchers.
Explore the full suite of travel insurance products online: To learn more about the newly launched Travel Takaful and secure Shariah-compliant protection for your next journey, visit us at etiqa.com.sg.

*Terms and Conditions
This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Company Reg. No. 201331905K), a member of Maybank Group. This content is for reference only and is not a contract of insurance. Full details of the policy terms and conditions can be found in the policy contract. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.

Hashtag: #EtiqaSingapore #EtiqaSG

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

About Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd (Etiqa Insurance Singapore)

Protecting customers since 1961, Etiqa Insurance Singapore is a licensed life and general insurance company regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and governed by the Insurance Act 1966. The local insurer is the Singapore operating entity of Etiqa Insurance Group – a leading insurance and Takaful business in ASEAN offering life and general insurance and family and general Takaful products through its agents, branches, offices and bancassurance network in the region. Etiqa Insurance Singapore is rated ‘A’ by credit rating agency Fitch for the group’s ‘Favorable’ business profile and ‘Very Strong’ capitalisation.

Etiqa Insurance Singapore is owned by Maybank Ageas Holdings Berhad, a joint venture company that combines local market knowledge with international insurance expertise. The company is 69% owned by Maybank, the fourth largest banking group in Southeast Asia, and 31% by Ageas, an international insurance group with footprints across 13 countries and a heritage that spans over 190 years.

March 18

Tumblr backs down after reblog feature revolt

Tumblr has rolled back controversial changes to its reblog system following a wave of user protests, marking another instance of the platform reversing course after community pushback. The microblogging service, owned by Automattic, confirmed it would restore key elements of its traditional reblogging functionality after users criticised recent updates that altered how posts are shared and interacted with across the platform. The decision comes amid sustained complaints […]

March 18

US debt climbs to record 39 trillion

United States public debt has crossed the $39 trillion mark, setting a new milestone that underscores mounting fiscal pressures in the world’s largest economy and intensifying debate over long-term sustainability. Data from the US Treasury shows total federal debt outstanding rising past the $39 trillion threshold, reflecting continued borrowing driven by persistent budget deficits, higher interest costs and structural spending commitments. The figure combines debt held by […]

March 18

Researchers expose Cortex XDR detection evasion flaw

Cybersecurity analysts have uncovered a method that enables attackers to bypass behavioural protections in Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR platform, raising fresh concerns over the resilience of endpoint detection systems widely used by enterprises. The findings centre on the platform’s Behavioural Indicators of Compromise, or BIOC rules, which are designed to identify suspicious activity beyond traditional signature-based detection. Researchers demonstrated that these rules, distributed in encrypted form […]

March 17

Macau’s No.1 Water Attraction Reopens This April for a Fun-Packed Experiential Start to Summer at Galaxy Macau Grand Resort Deck

The award-winning luxury resort is set to bring the ultimate expression of summer to Macau, delighting guests with world-class attractions and thrilling experiences.

MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 March 2026 – Galaxy Macau, the world-class luxury resort, is proud announces the reopening of the iconic Grand Resort Deck on April 3, unveiling a new Skytop Adventure Rapids experience, to usher in an invigorating Easter season. Exclusively open to hotel guests of Galaxy Macau’s nine award‑winning hotels, the Grand Resort Deck will set the stage for endless summer fun from April onwards, positioning the one-stop paradise as Macau’s ultimate must-visit destination for summer.

Macau’s No.1 Water Attraction Reopens This April for a Fun-Packed Experiential Start to Summer at Galaxy Macau Grand Resort Deck

Accelerated Skytop Adventure Rapids | The First Wave of Summer Thrills

This year, guests can look forward to enhanced thrills with accelerated Skytop Adventure Rapids for the summer, reinforcing Galaxy Macau’s undisputed title as the one‑stop sun-drenched paradise for guests of all ages.

The Grand Resort Deck stands unrivalled as Macau’s No. 1 water attraction – accredited by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia as “Macau’s Best Hotel Pool 2025” spanning 75,000 square metres. Guests can immerse themselves in the world’s largest Skytop Wave Pool, covering 8,000 square metres, generating surfable waves up to 1.5 metres high, alongside 150 metres of pristine white‑sand beaches. Families can enjoy a range of child‑friendly aquatic experiences, from gentle zones to imaginative water play areas designed for safe and edutainment-led exploration.

*Galaxy Macau’s iconic Grand Resort Deck will reopen on April 3, presenting an experiential summer full of sun-drenched fun and the latest aquatic attractions.*

A fun location catering to all age groups, the Grand Resort Deck excites adrenaline seekers with its three enclosed water slides – swirling into a hilly landscape with skylights – adding to the excitement thanks to the newly accelerated Skytop Adventure Rapids experience this summer, transforming the waterways into a thrilling aquatic ride. New for this year’s endless summer, Galaxy Fitness Hour invites guests to warm up together with interactive fitness games and energising weight training. Guests can feel the beat with high‑intensity workouts to build core strength, or dive into the fun of Aqua Zumba at the Skytop Wave Pool – a high‑energy, music‑driven aqua workout where every movement sparkles with fun-filled summer spirit. Admission is free for all in‑house hotel guests, with no reservation required.

To further uplift the electric vibes, world-class DJs will spin the decks every weekend as dusk approaches. Adjacent to Galaxy Macau’s Surf Bar, where guests can order their drinks and snacks to beat the summer heat.

Complimentary Access for Hotel Guests | Book a Galaxy Macau energetic summer stay

Guests seeking an elevated Easter escape can indulge in the Stay & Bloom Spring Offers, presenting exceptional value across two distinct styles of luxury at Andaz Macau and Broadway Hotel. Starting from MOP489++, guests will enjoy an array of curated privileges – including dining credits, complimentary minibar and more. At Andaz Macau, bold contemporary design meets vibrant Macau, creating an immersive stay that is both stylish and soulful. Meanwhile, Broadway Hotel offers cosy, comfortable accommodations ideal for families and travellers seeking a relaxed, carefree holiday stays.

Guests are invited to prepare early for their seasonal getaway to Galaxy Macau to experience the Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia-voted “Macau’s Best Hotel Pool 2025” – at the Grand Resort Deck.

All packages include complimentary access to the iconic Grand Resort Deck, ensuring every stay is enhanced by world‑class water leisure. For guests interested in exploring other award‑winning accommodation options within Galaxy Macau – six of the nine hotels have celebrated coveted Forbes 5-star ratings – further details await on galaxymacau.com.

Ideal for Local & Short Stay Guests | Exclusive Poolside Cabana Packages

For the ultimate bespoke private summer retreat, the airy and fully air‑conditioned Cabanas at Galaxy Macau offer an unparalleled escape. From just MOP2,400+, guests can enjoy the ultimate day of indulgence in their own exclusive cabana complete with MOP1,000 dining credits to indulge in a feast of dining options, delivered with Galaxy Macau’s signature world-class Asian heart service. Each Cabana features full dining‑room comforts, separate private shower and powder room facilities for all-day comfort. Also available as an al fresco alternative, is the poolside cabana package by JW Marriott Hotel Macau. From MOP1,688++ for two adults and two children, guests will be pampered with the comfort of their own covered outdoor cabana at the luxury hotel, in addition to dining credits for refreshments at Pool Bar at JW Marriott and the use of the hotel’s steam and sauna facilities to extend the pampering.

For the ultimate private sunshine retreat, the airy and fully air‑conditioned Cabanas at Galaxy Macau offer an unmissable day-escape for friends and families to book and enjoy for the limited time summer season.

Even more enticing, complimentary access to the Grand Resort Deck is also extended to guests to enjoy with either package, presenting the most stylish and secluded way to savour your ultimate summer experience at Galaxy Macau.

Family Fun to the Max | The excitement extends indoors at Galaxy Kidz

Beyond the exhilarating Grand Resort Deck, all hotel guests of Galaxy Macau can enjoy complimentary access to Galaxy Kidz Edutainment Center, the resort’s dedicated fun and learning zone designed especially for young adventurers.

*The Grand Resort Deck experience will be enhanced with Weekend Live DJ sessions. At the Surf Bar the stage is set for sundowners and music-fuelled fun.*

From March 13 to April 5, our little guests can take part in the joyful “Hatching Wavey” welcome activity. Children can collect themed stickers across four Galaxy Macau hotels and also the Edutainment Center, before redeeming a special gift upon completing a designated mission at either the Edutainment Center or JW Kids’ Club. In addition, every Friday to Sunday, Galaxy Macau’s lovable cuddly mascot, Wavey the Peacock, will also make delightful appearances at designated hotel lobbies, as well as parades throughout the resort, offering guests of all ages the chance to capture magical forever moments.

As Galaxy Kidz celebrates its second anniversary in April, families are invited to join the fun with birthday party and limited‑time capsule toys celebrations at the Edutainment Center. On April 19, Wavey the Peacock will host two birthday celebrations for young guests, while from April 3 to 19, guests will earn a token to allow them to draw free gifts from the capsule toy vending machine upon spending a minimum of MOP150 on Galaxy Kidz merchandise.

The Grand Resort Deck reopens on April 3, ready to welcome guests into a thrilling world of sunshine, splashes and unforgettable holiday magic. At Galaxy Macau, summer is an experience to be savoured – where every detail has been curated and the best is always still to come. Make waves in style at Macau’s ultimate summer paradise—begin your story with us and book your stay now.

For more information, please visit www.galaxymacau.com.

Hashtag: #GalaxyMacau

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

About Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort

Galaxy Macau, The World-class Luxury Integrated Resort delivers the “Most Spectacular Entertainment and Leisure Destination in the World”. Developed at an investment of HK$43 billion, the property covers 1.1 million-square-meter of unique entertainment and leisure attractions that are unlike anything else in Macau. Nine award-winning world-class luxury hotels provide close to 5,000 rooms, suites and villas. They include Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel™, Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Broadway Hotel, Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Andaz Macau and Capella at Galaxy Macau. Unique to Galaxy Macau, the 75,000-square-meter Grand Resort Deck features the world’s longest Skytop Adventure Rapids at 575-meters, the largest Skytop Wave Pool with waves up to 1.5-meters high and 150-meters pristine white sand beach. Two five-star spas from Banyan Tree Spa Macau and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau help guests relax and rejuvenate.

As the dining destination in Asia, Galaxy Macau offers a wide variety of gastronomic delights, exquisite experiences and ingredients of the finest quality with over 120 dining options from Michelin dining to authentic delicacies; Galaxy Promenade is the hottest shopping destination featuring the latest in fashion and curated experiences in Macau. Spanning over 100,000-square-meter, luxury flagship stores, lifestyle boutiques and our selection of labels are among the more than 200 world-renowned brands for a world-class shopping journey; Galaxy Cinemas, immersive thrills and luxurious comfort go hand in hand at Galaxy Cinemas. All 10 theatres are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology; CHINA ROUGE, one-of-a-kind deluxe lounge that evokes the glitz and glamor of Shanghai’s golden era with entertainment in luxury and style; and Foot Hub presents the traditional art of reflexology to make you feel more relaxed and revitalized. For Authentic Macau Flavours & Vibrant Asian Experiences, Broadway Macau – just a 90-second walk via a bridge from Galaxy Macau, has over 35 Authentic Macau & Asian Flavours at its Broadway Food Street. The 2,500-seat Broadway Theatre plays host to world-class entertainers and a diverse array of cultural events. Meeting, incentive and banquet groups are also well looked after with a portfolio of unique venues in Galaxy Macau and a professional service staff.

Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) is the latest addition to the Group’s ever-expanding integrated resort precinct and will usher in a new era for the MICE industry in Macau. GICC is a world-class event venue featuring 40,000-square-meter of total flexible MICE, and a 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena – the largest indoor arena in Macau.

For more details, please visit www.galaxymacau.com, www.broadwaymacau.com.mo and www.galaxyicc.com.

March 17

Deadly blasts shake Maiduguri city centre

Multiple explosions tore through parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, leaving more than twenty people dead and dozens injured, according to local authorities and security officials, in one of the most severe attacks on the city in months. The blasts struck crowded locations, including a busy market area and entry points to residential neighbourhoods, amplifying the scale of casualties and damage. Emergency services and military […]

March 17

Sharjah Ramadan fair draws pre-Eid crowds

Strong visitor turnout has marked the 43rd edition of Ramadan Nights at Expo Centre Sharjah, with organisers reporting sustained footfall as families prepare for Eid Al-Fitr, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a seasonal retail and cultural hub. The exhibition, running through the final stretch of the holy month, has attracted thousands of shoppers daily, driven by extended evening hours, promotional offers, and a broad mix of retail, […]

March 17

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