News related to
power

Google appears to be edging towards a new chapter in wearables, with leaks pointing to a screen-free fitness band branded as Fitbit Air and a broader push to fold Fitbit more tightly into a wider Google health ecosystem. The device, if launched in the coming weeks as tipped, would mark one of the clearest signals yet that the company sees room for simpler, lower-distraction health hardware alongside […]

Philippine lawmakers widened their impeachment inquiry into Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday by pulling her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, bank-related records and other financial documents into a deeper examination of whether her declared wealth and reported transactions match what public officials are required to disclose. The move sharpens one of the most politically charged cases in the country, with the House justice committee […]

Greenlogue/AP ENOC Group used Earth Day 2026 to showcase a larger point than a one-day observance, saying energy efficiency has become a core operating discipline across its businesses after cumulative savings passed AED 478 million. The Dubai-based energy group said the gains were built over more than a decade through tighter control of energy use, lower emissions and upgrades across its refinery, terminals, retail network and head […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Raimondi Middle East has crossed the threshold of 100 cranes in operation across the UAE, underscoring how deeply the company has embedded itself in one of the Gulf’s busiest construction markets. The 100th machine, a Raimondi LR273 luffing jib crane, has been deployed in Dubai and is the first unit of that model to be installed in the country. The milestone is more […]

A newly disclosed cyberattack using destructive malware known as Lotus Wiper has put Venezuela’s energy and utilities sector under sharper scrutiny, highlighting how digital sabotage is moving beyond theft and extortion towards permanent operational damage. Security researchers say the malware was designed to erase data, cripple recovery options and leave affected systems unusable, signalling a far more aggressive intent than the ransomware campaigns that have dominated critical […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai   Al-Futtaim has launched a nationwide initiative called “One Family”, positioning the programme as a year-long effort to create more opportunities for families across the UAE to spend time together through shared experiences, practical support and community-focused activities aligned with the country’s Year of Family 2026. The group said the initiative will run across its retail, automotive, real estate, health, financial services and […]

The AI Compute Continuum: from intelligent endpoints to advanced AI workloads

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 April 2026 – Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) today outlined how enterprise AI adoption across Asia Pacific (APAC) is moving from experimentation to implementation, with 48% of organisations with more than 500 employees in the region already deploying AI PCs and 95% expecting workstations to play a critical or important role in AI initiatives over the next two years. Together, these trends point to a more distributed AI environment – one that brings intelligence closer to users while supporting increasingly complex and compute-intensive workloads.

Two IDC InfoBriefs, commissioned by Dell Technologies and Intel reinforce this shift – Future-Ready Workforce: The Strategic Case for AI PC Adoption and Powering Future-Ready Computing with Workstations: Built for AI. Built for You. The research highlights growing enterprise momentum behind both intelligent endpoints and higher-performance systems as organisations shape the next phase of AI adoption.

For Dell, this shift reflects a broader industry trend toward aligning the right compute resources with specific workload requirements, as organisations balance intelligent endpoints for everyday productivity with high-performance systems designed for advanced AI and professional use cases. Enterprise AI deployments are increasingly spanning client devices, edge environments and the data centre, reflecting a more distributed approach across the IT environment.

AI PCs: Bringing intelligence closer to everyday work

AI PCs are becoming a core component of the modern workplace, enabling AI workloads to run directly on the device to deliver faster, more responsive user experiences while reducing reliance on continuous cloud connectivity. This approach also supports enhanced data privacy and security, provides IT teams with greater control over deployment and management across device fleets, and enables more consistent scaling of AI capabilities across the workforce.

The IDC research commissioned by Dell Technologies and Intel underscores this momentum. As AI becomes embedded in day-to-day work, device strategy is shifting accordingly. 89% of APAC organisations now consider AI capabilities a very important factor in future PC purchasing decisions.

In Singapore, 54% of organisations have already deployed AI PCs – 12% higher than the regional average – highlighting strong early adoption momentum. Southeast Asia’s AI PC adoption is outpacing the regional average by 6%, driven by the ability to adopt new technologies without legacy constraints, strong infrastructure in markets like Singapore, favourable market conditions and supportive government initiatives.

APAC Organisations with over 50% AI PCs in their fleet report saving 2.17 hours per employee per day, a 30% productivity increase compared to using AI on traditional PCs. AI PCs are enabling a new class of enterprise use cases – from real-time collaboration and report generation to natural language search and content creation – delivering tangible productivity gains.

In practical terms, this can translate into faster proposal turnaround for sales teams, quicker analysis cycles for finance and operations, streamlined drafting for HR, faster document review for engineering teams, and more responsive support for customer-facing employees. As organisations prepare for more autonomous and agentic AI in hybrid work environments, AI PCs are increasingly becoming the governed way to scale intelligent experiences across the workforce – safely, consistently, and with clearer business impact.

Four out of five APAC organisations expect AI PCs to drive adoption of agentic AI, with the same proportion agreeing they enhance control and security for these applications. The broader momentum is clear: within APAC, 84% of organisations expect AI PCs to increase employee productivity, while 78% cite security benefits and 77% highlight cost advantages of running AI locally.

This shift is leading to a tangible investment. Across APAC, 65% of organisations are willing to pay a premium of 10% or more for AI PCs, reflecting their role as core infrastructure for enterprise AI.

Workstations: Powering advanced AI and specialised workloads

While AI PCs distribute intelligence across the workforce, workstations continue to serve as the performance backbone for more demanding workloads – particularly as organisations shift more AI development on-premise. Developers, engineers, designers, and data teams rely on workstation-class systems for AI model development, simulation, rendering, data preparation, and other compute-intensive activities that require reliability, low latency, and sustained performance.

The IDC research on workstations reflects this reality. 95% of organisations across APAC expect workstations to play a critical or important role in AI initiatives over the next two years, while 50% would choose a workstation as their preferred device for AI development, and 97% of organisations agree workstations are high-performance devices that fuel innovation for the organisation by empowering teams to explore cutting-edge technology like AI and Machine Learning models.

Across Southeast Asia, 92% of organisations surveyed reported higher productivity among workstation users, while 52% expect the share of workstations in their fleet to grow over the next five years. Organisations in this part of the region also reported workstation use for data preparation (66%), model fine-tuning (62%), and foundational model training (55%), underscoring the role of high-performance systems in advanced AI and professional workloads.

Use cases vary by sector – from engineering and architecture workflows in manufacturing, to content rendering in media, software development in technology, and risk modelling in financial services. AI has become the top technical computing use case for workstations, supporting the full lifecycle from data preparation (62%) and model training (60%) to fine-tuning (59%), deployment (44%) and inference (29%).

This also shifts the conversation from upfront device price to total cost of ownership – including lifecycle longevity, scalability, performance consistency, and risk reduction. As AI initiatives move closer to production, workstations are increasingly seen as long-term platforms that can scale with evolving workloads, rather than short-term tools for experimentation.

Toward an AI compute continuum that supports the next phase of enterprise AI

Together, AI PCs and workstations form an AI compute continuum, supporting everything from everyday productivity to advanced AI development and professional workloads across the enterprise.

For organisations across Asia Pacific, the next phase of AI will not be defined by a single environment or device category, but by the ability to place the right workload on the right compute. AI PCs are extending AI into everyday workflows, while workstations are helping organisations industrialise more advanced, compute-intensive, and specialised AI use cases. Combined, they give leaders a more practical foundation for scaling AI with greater speed, control, and long-term value.

Perspectives:

“AI is changing where work happens and where intelligence needs to live,” said Jacinta Quah, vice president, client solutions group, Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China (APJC), Dell Technologies. “AI PCs and workstations are not simply device categories in a refresh cycle – they are foundational platforms built for the next phase of enterprise AI era. AI PCs bring intelligence to everyday workflows, at the fingertips of employees where data is generated. Meanwhile, workstations provide the performance and control needed for more specialised, compute-intensive workloads. Together, they enable organisations to scale AI more effectively, strengthen security and privacy, and drive meaningful business outcomes.”

“AI is placing new demands on compute, requiring both local intelligence and high-performance processing to work seamlessly together,” said Jack Huang, regional sales director, PC client commercial and channel, Asia Pacific and Japan, Intel. “As AI workloads become more diverse, organisations need silicon innovations and platforms that can support both efficient on-device experiences and more demanding workstation use cases. Together with Dell, we are helping to enable the next phase of enterprise AI with technologies built for responsiveness, efficiency and scale.”

“The speed at which AI models are being compressed to run on-device has been remarkably fast,” said Bryan Ma, vice president, client devices, IDC. “In the next year or two, very robust models will run on PCs that far exceed today’s capabilities. At the same time, organisations continue to depend on high-performance workstations for advanced AI development and specialised workloads, reinforcing a more distributed AI environment across the enterprise.”

Research Methodology:
The findings are based on two IDC InfoBriefs:

  • IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by Dell Technologies and Intel, Future-ready Workforce: The Strategic Case for AI PC Adoption, Doc. #AP242547IB, January 2026
  • IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by Dell Technologies and Intel, Powering Future-Ready Computing with Workstations: Built for AI. Built for You, Doc. #AP242550IB, February 2026

Future-ready Workforce: The Strategic Case for AI PC Adoption is based on a survey of 720 IT and business decision-makers across Asia Pacific organisations with more than 500 employees. Powering Future-Ready Computing with Workstations: Built for AI. Built for You surveyed 960 IT and business decision-makers in the region to assess workstation adoption, usage, and their role in enterprise AI strategies.
Hashtag: #DellTechnologies

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

About Dell Technologies

(NYSE: DELL) helps organisations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the AI era.

Advertisements

  Unauthorized access to Anthropic’s tightly restricted Claude Mythos Preview has sharpened concerns over how even limited-release cybersecurity AI can slip beyond its intended perimeter, raising fresh questions about vendor oversight, access governance and the pace at which powerful offensive-capable tools are entering real-world environments. Anthropic announced Mythos on 7 April as part of a controlled programme for defensive cybersecurity use, and the company is now investigating […]

Blackstone-owned AirTrunk is preparing what could become a landmark financing for Asia-Pacific digital infrastructure, with the data-centre operator seeking to raise at least A$500 million through asset-backed bonds backed by its facilities, according to market reports and company disclosures on its broader funding platform. The move would mark a notable step in bringing securitised debt structures, long familiar in other asset classes, into the region’s fast-growing data-centre […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington’s suggestion that the United Arab Emirates might need outside financial support has drawn a swift rebuttal from Abu Dhabi, with the country’s envoy in the United States saying such claims misread the strength of the federation’s economy and balance sheet. The response followed remarks by President Donald Trump that a currency swap arrangement with the UAE was under consideration and that he […]

An easy, secure, and private way to accept contactless payments with only an iPhone and the Fiuu Virtual Terminal iOS app, no additional hardware needed.

SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 April 2026 – Today Fiuu, which is powering payments in Southeast Asia, now enables its merchants in Malaysia to seamlessly and securely accept in-person contactless payments with Tap to Pay on iPhone. Tap to Pay on iPhone allows merchants to accept all forms of contactless payments, including contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets, using iPhone and the Fiuu Virtual Terminal (VT) iOS app – no additional hardware or payment terminal needed. This launch follows their December 2025 launch of Tap to Pay on iPhone in Singapore.

Fiuu Now Offers Tap to Pay on iPhone for Merchants in Malaysia to Accept Contactless Payments
Fiuu Now Offers Tap to Pay on iPhone for Merchants in Malaysia to Accept Contactless Payments

Using Tap to Pay on iPhone is easy, secure, and private. With Tap to Pay on iPhone, at checkout, merchants will simply prompt the customer to hold their contactless payment near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.

Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology uses the built-in security and privacy features of iPhone to help protect your business and customer data. Apple doesn’t store card numbers or transaction information on the device or on Apple servers, so merchants and customers can rest assured that their data stays theirs.*

“The future of commerce is not about choosing between online and offline payments, it is about enabling both seamlessly,” said Eng Sheng Guan, CEO of Fiuu. “With Fiuu VT iOS app and Tap to Pay on iPhone, we are giving merchants a true omnichannel payment experience that enables their customers to pay through their preferred channels, including Apple Pay. Businesses such as Allbirds Malaysia, Hedgren, Herschel Supply Co., Hydro Flask, and Kipling are leveraging these capabilities to streamline operations and deliver better customer experiences across every touchpoint.”

Tap to Pay on iPhone enables Fiuu’s merchants to use a contactless payment acceptance solution that is easy to set up and use. Merchants can unlock contactless payment acceptance within minutes through the Fiuu VT iOS app on an iPhone 11 or later, running the latest version of iOS.

For more information on Fiuu Virtual Terminal, please visit https://fiuu.com/virtual-terminal.

*Encrypted card numbers are temporarily stored on iPhone only for transactions made in Store and Forward mode.

Hashtag: #Fiuu

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

Ministers are moving to turn England’s school mobile phone rules into law, shifting a long-standing policy push from guidance into statute as the government tries to tighten control over children’s screen use and strengthen schools’ hand in enforcing phone-free days. The change is being advanced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill after fresh parliamentary pressure over children’s online safety and time spent on devices. The proposal […]

Gandakan Kebaikan transforms nationwide kindness into real homes, delivering meaningful and lasting impact.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 April 2026 – Tropicana Twister’s ‘Gandakan Kebaikan’ campaign has reached a defining milestone with the completion and handover of homes to families in need, marking a tangible outcome of a nationwide movement built on everyday acts of kindness.

Final Shot 1

Developed in partnership with EPIC Homes, the initiative contributes towards the building of up to 100 homes for underserved communities, including Orang Asli families across Malaysia. What began during Ramadan as a simple call to do good has since translated into safe, liveable spaces that provide families with protection, stability and a chance to move forward.

“Gandakan Kebaikan reflects our belief that meaningful change happens when communities come together with a shared purpose,” said Aditya Sheoran, PepsiCo Franchise Senior Director. “Through this initiative, we’re building homes and helping to create stronger foundations for families to thrive, today and for the future.”

Jennifer Lee, Head of Marketing, PepsiCo Malaysia Beverages, shared, “This is where intention becomes impact. Tropicana Twister’s Gandakan Kebaikan campaign started as individual acts of kindness, and now, the result is visible, that Malaysians are and will continue to show up for one another.”

“Families living in unsafe homes live in constant worry, especially during heavy rain. An EPIC Home gives them a place where they can feel secure. It goes beyond being just a shelter – a safe home gives peace of mind, stability, and the hope for a better future.” said Nadhira Halim, (Asst. Manager, Fundraising & Partnership, EPIC Homes).

More than just physical structures, these homes create a sense of security and dignity, while giving families a stable environment to rebuild their lives. Built with the support of volunteers and local communities, each home reflects a collective effort that goes far beyond a single campaign.

While ‘Gandakan Kebaikan’ was rooted in the spirit of Ramadan, its impact continues to extend far beyond the festive season. By focusing on long-term community needs, Tropicana Twister reinforces its commitment to creating meaningful and lasting change.

“As a brand, we believe in the power of collective goodness. This project is about turning that belief into action and bringing people together to create lasting impact,” added Jennifer. “Just like every beam and plank forms a home, each of you is a vital piece in building this journey.”

With the completion of these homes, ‘Gandakan Kebaikan’ continues to build on its mission of supporting underserved communities across Malaysia, proving that collective goodwill can create an impact that lasts beyond a moment.

For more information, visit Tropicana Twister’s Facebook page @MYTropicana and watch here on YouTube to see the impact unfold.

Hashtag: #TropicanaTwister

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

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complimentary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Tropicana, Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change cafor the planet and people. For more information, visit , and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 April 2026 – OPPO officially announced the launch of the OPPO Photography Awards 2026 today, marking the return of the annual competition that provides a global stage for mobile photographers to showcase diverse perspectives through visual storytelling.

OPPO Photography Awards 2026 Key Visual, featuring original photography by Hasselblad Master Tina Signesdottir Hult, shot on OPPO Find X9 Ultra.
OPPO Photography Awards 2026 Key Visual, featuring original photography by Hasselblad Master Tina Signesdottir Hult, shot on OPPO Find X9 Ultra.

Building on last year’s theme “Super Every Moment”, this year’s edition introduces a brand-new Super Video category alongside expanded support programs offering creators more visibility and professional support. This year’s competition also includes a total prize pool of $76,500 distributed across the various prize categories.

“Over the past four years, the OPPO Photography Awards has evolved into a truly global platform that empowers mobile creators everywhere to express their inspiration effortlessly through OPPO’s powerful imaging capabilities,” said Ling Liu, Overseas CMO at OPPO. “Championing young creators has always been central to the Awards, and this year, we are taking this further by creating more opportunities for the next generation to be seen, supported, and recognized. Smartphone users have always embraced video as a powerful tool for mobile storytelling, and through our advanced imaging technologies and long-term partnership with Hasselblad, we hope to empower more creators worldwide to tell rich and authentic stories with their mobile devices.”

New Categories Celebrate New Possibilities in Mobile Imaging

The OPPO Photography Awards 2026 introduces two new categories—Super Video and Super Zoom—as part of an updated six-category lineup that also includes Journey, Me, Live, and Snap.

Six categories, including the new Super Video and Super Zoom.
Six categories, including the new Super Video and Super Zoom.

Marking the first dedicated video category in OPPO Photography Awards history, the Super Video category aims to highlight the growing influence of video alongside photography as a distinct medium for mobile storytelling. With life’s meaningful moments taking place not only in static frames but the dynamic motion and emotions that unfold between them, OPPO is empowering storytellers from all walks of life to capture this motion through the latest innovations in mobile videography. Building on its longstanding focus on video, OPPO continues to deliver industry-leading capabilities across its product portfolio, enabling both enthusiasts and professionals to fully embrace the fun of creation.

Beyond offering cutting-edge technology, OPPO is equally committed to enhancing how these creations are shared. OPPO and Meta are closely collaborating to optimize the video-sharing experience on Instagram. OPPO Find X9 Ultra users can now achieve near-lossless video quality from capture to share. Videos shared on Instagram will retain quality virtually indistinguishable from the original footage, achieving the industry’s highest standards and ensuring that every shared moment remains true to the original creation. This reflects OPPO’s continued focus on optimizing the entire creative lifecycle for a truly seamless user experience.

This year’s other new category, Super Zoom, seeks to explore the creative potential made possible through OPPO’s long-term investment in advanced telescope zoom technology. By pushing the boundaries of mobile imaging, OPPO has brought smartphone zoom capabilities closer than ever to those of traditional standalone cameras, allowing users to capture unseen details with precision and explore life’s hidden beauty from completely new perspectives.

Committed to Supporting Young Creators

OPPO is committed to supporting young creative talents and amplifying their voices globally. Through the 2026 Awards, this commitment is taken even further with several new programs designed to empower creators’ long-term growth through professional guidance and coaching.

In partnership with Discovery Channel, OPPO has launched the Filmmaker Accelerator Program, offering young creators exclusive mentorship from industry professionals. Creators who submit videos to the Super Video category will have the chance to be invited to produce a short film with end-to-end creative support and potential broadcast opportunities, alongside a grant provided by OPPO.

OPPO and Discovery Channel launch the Filmmaker Accelerator Program.
OPPO and Discovery Channel launch the Filmmaker Accelerator Program.

OPPO is also extending support to the wider creator community through a range of accessible learning resources. Among them, the new OPPO Imaging Academy features a series of tutorial videos designed to help users tap into the full power of OPPO’s cutting-edge technology to transform creative inspiration into artistry.

In addition to these initiatives, the OPPO Creators program further expands visibility and creates more professional development opportunities for young creators. Through the program, outstanding works will be showcased across various OPPO platforms, and creators will also gain priority invitations to flagship launches and collaboration opportunities, along with complimentary professional equipment to support their ongoing development.

Opening Diverse Pathways for Creators Worldwide

As part of efforts to recognize a wider range of creators and expand participation in the Awards, the OPPO Photography Awards 2026 introduces a diverse awards program that gives creators more opportunities to gain global exposure and showcase their work on a bigger stage.

In addition to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards up for grabs in the main competition, participants can also earn recognition and generous incentives through Honorable Mentions, Regional Awards, and the Audience Choice Awards. A total of 38 different awards or acknowledgements are on offer recognizing outstanding creators across all categories, with a total prize pool of $76,500.

Total prizes of $76,500 across 38 award categories.
Total prizes of $76,500 across 38 award categories.

The year’s judging panel also brings together renowned industry professionals in both photography and cinematography, including Tina Signesdottir Hult and Wang Jianjun, Hasselblad Masters; Vikram Channa, Vice President, Co-Lead, and Editorial Chief at Warner Bros. Discovery; Zhu Jiong, Professor at the School of Visual Media and Communication, Beijing Film Academy; Pete Lau, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer at OPPO; and Joy Cheng, Director of Imaging Cognition at OPPO.

Members of the awards’ judging panel.
Members of the awards’ judging panel.

To further encourage participation, the 2026 Awards also introduces a new monthly contest format. Through the new format, young creators can receive feedback and more visibility on an ongoing basis, while also having the opportunity to progress into the main competition.

Global Competition Submissions Open Until December 31

Submissions for the OPPO Photography Awards 2026 and the first round of monthly contests are now open. Creators worldwide are invited to submit their entries and showcase their creativity and storytelling visions captured on OPPO, OnePlus or realme devices.

Entries for the global competition will remain open until 24:00 (UTC+8), December 31, 2026. Submissions for all categories can be made via the official OPPO Photography Awards website. Submissions for the Super Video category can also be made through Instagram and TikTok using the hashtags #SuperVideo and #ShotOnOPPO.

Entries for the first global monthly contest can be submitted via the official website or on Instagram with the hashtags #SuperEveryMoment and #ShotOnOPPO. Upcoming monthly contests will feature different themes, with future submissions accepted through both social platforms and the official website.

For more information on the OPPO Photography Awards 2026 and the monthly contests, please visit the official website at https://lumo.oppo.com/en/.
Hashtag: #OPPO

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

By T N Ashok India’s electoral map is not a monolith; it is a collection of distinct, often defiant political idioms. As Tamil Nadu enters its final hours of campaigning and West Bengal readies for a high-stakes, multi-phase marathon, the subtext is singular and urgent: the traditional regional bastions that have long acted as the […]

The article India’s Regional Titans Facing Seize From The Rulers Of The North appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Joining Forces to Build a New Regional Value Chain and Drive Industrial Upgrading across ASEAN

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 April 2026 – Hong Kong has long maintained a robust bilateral relationship with Malaysia. As ASEAN’s third-largest economy, Malaysia possesses strong manufacturing and service sectors and stands as Hong Kong’s eighth-largest trading partner. Amidst the global restructuring of supply chains, Hong Kong leverages its unique position as an international innovation and technology centre anchored by its regional connectivity while remaining integrated with the world. It serves as a vital springboard and strategic hub for Malaysian enterprises expanding into regional markets and for emerging firms seeking to go global. The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the establishment of a deep strategic partnership. By integrating the resource advantages of both regions, the collaboration will provide technological innovation and market expansion support for enterprises in Hong Kong and Malaysia, optimising global supply chain layouts and helping Hong Kong better implement the “Bringing in and Going Global” strategy to seize regional development opportunities within ASEAN.

The Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking the establishment of a deep strategic partnership and integration of the resource advantages of both regions.
The Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking the establishment of a deep strategic partnership and integration of the resource advantages of both regions.

The signing ceremony of the MoU took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 20, 2026. Witnessed by Mr Jacob Lee Chor Kok, President of FMM; Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Soh Thian Lai, President Emeritus of FMM; Mr Owin Fung Ho Yin, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur; and Hon Sunny Tan, Chairman of HKPC, the MoU was signed by Datuk Dr Yeoh Oon Tean, CEO of FMM, and Mr Mohamed D. BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC. This collaboration will facilitate the development of a new value chain connecting Hong Kong, Malaysia and ASEAN, driving new industrialisation in both regions while accelerating industrial upgrading and technological application.

Hon Sunny Tan, Chairman of HKPC, said, “Under the national 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong has become a vital platform for enterprises to go global. Malaysia maintains robust ties with the Asian region, as well as the global industrial and trade markets. The signing of this MoU between HKPC and FMM marks a key milestone in the collaboration on industrial modernisation. We are committed to technological innovation, with a focus on enhancing expertise in automation, Industry 4.0, AI, and robotics, and actively building business matching platforms to facilitate business opportunities and expand our scope of cooperation. This not only deepens the partnership between the two organisations, but also establishes a strategic hub connecting Hong Kong with the ASEAN market. Hong Kong will fully leverage its ‘Bringing in and Going Global’, helping Malaysian enterprises precisely connect with the vast regional and global market while supporting Hong Kong companies in rooting themselves in ASEAN, co-creating a resilient and innovative cross-border value chain.”

Mr Jacob Lee Chor Kok, President of FMM, stated, “This MoU is just the beginning with our roadmap including joint technical training, workshops, technology visits and pilot projects to provide our members with first-hand exposure to the latest manufacturing innovations. We envision a future where Malaysian and Hong Kong companies collaborate on research and development (R&D), pilot new technologies and co-create solutions for emerging challenges”

Six Key Areas to Empower New Regional Industrial Upgrading
HKPC and FMM will launch comprehensive cooperation to help enterprises transform technological empowerment into competitive advantage in today’s dynamic market. The two parties will focus on Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0, AI & Robotics Innovation, Digital Transformation & Cybersecurity, Cross-border Business Ecosystems and Talent Development.

This collaboration integrates FMM’s extensive supply chain network of over 4,000 member enterprises with HKPC’s profound R&D capabilities in product innovation and technology transfer. Through organising delegations, professional training, business matching, and technical seminars, we will assist enterprises in precisely mastering cutting-edge technologies and market trends. Furthermore, by promoting reciprocal visits between enterprises in both regions, we aim to foster mutual economic and trade empowerment. This synergy not only strengthens corporate resilience against supply chain risks but also ensures that enterprises from both regions secure a proactive position in global supply chain competition, co-creating a distinct competitive advantage.

Hashtag: #HKPC

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

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2026 – ECOVACS Robotics, a global leader in home service robotics, is bringing its global “ECOVACS, Created for Ease” brand idea to the APAC region with a local twist: “Always in Your Corner”. With this, ECOVACS is underscoring its commitment to understanding and meeting the unique needs of users in the APAC region.

ECOVACS - Family

“ECOVACS, Created for Ease” reflects the brand’s ongoing commitment to leverage service robotics to create a world of ease for users by relieving them of household tasks. For users in the APAC region, ECOVACS knows that “ease” is not simply about doing less. It means easing the mind and letting go of mental burdens. To bring ease to APAC users, technology must not demand attention. It should be “Always in Your Corner” – quietly helping users to keep their daily life on track.
“Always in Your Corner” for APAC’s Unsung Heroes
“Always in Your Corner” represents how ECOVACS’ diversified full-scenario home service robotics ecosystem is designed to help ease the burdens faced by users in the APAC region and empower them to enjoy a more effortless modern lifestyle. For example, many in the APAC region are part of the so-called “sandwich generation”. They are the quiet backbones of their households, juggling career demands while also taking care of children and aging parents. Whether it’s helping a child with their homework or taking dad to his doctor’s appointment, these everyday heroes are always in someone else’s corner. ECOVACS believes they also deserve to have someone in their corner, to help ease their burdens.
For the past 20 years, ECOVACS has been driven by a fearless spirit of innovation to solve complex challenges and continuously advance the user experience. The pioneering intelligent technologies in the ECOVACS DEEBOT robotic vacuums and WINBOT robotic window cleaners, such as the OMNI Station, OZMO ROLLER technology, and PowerBoost technology have set new industry benchmarks and become the hidden heroes for every home, designed to help users clean every corner of their home with minimal effort.

Enabling Village Partnership in Singapore
Now ECOVACS is bringing this same innovation spirit to help ease the burdens faced by caregivers in the APAC region. As part of its brand campaign, ECOVACS is planning to cooperate with select like-minded local partners across the region, such as Enabling Village in Singapore. Enabling Village is an integrated community space that aims to empower caregivers for people with disabilities by providing them with resources to manage their responsibilities and enhance their quality of life. ECOVACS will provide Enabling Village caregivers with DEEBOT robotic vacuum cleaners to help ease their burdens and enable them to spend more time on themselves.
“Caring for a child with special needs requires lots of time and patience. And it can be challenging to find moments when I can focus on myself,” says Yvette Wang. “I’m grateful to ECOVACS and their efforts to assist caregivers. With their DEEBOT robotic vacuum I now have one less thing to manage, as I can leave DEEBOT to take care of our floors, and itself.”
To commemorate their partnership, ECOVACS and Enabling Village have invited Yvette’s son, artist @Eli_lailai, to specially design some exclusive merchandise. This collaboration was made possible through I’mable Collective, an initiative by SG Enable that supports and empowers persons with disabilities by providing training and employment opportunities within the creative sector.

ECOVACS x Elijah
An Ecosystem that Empowers Ease
ECOVACS’ efforts to continually strengthen its leadership in service robotics are rooted in its deep understanding of users’ needs. Its regionally tailored brand idea “Created for Ease – Always in Your Corner” reflects the brand’s desire to tailor its mission of ‘Robotics for All’ to shape a better future for users in the APAC region with robots that can seamlessly serve every home, everywhere.
The industry-leading cleaning technologies pioneered by ECOVACS demonstrate its dedication to reducing human effort while maximizing cleaning precision and efficiency, all with the aim of offering dependable cleaning experiences tailored to the needs of today’s households. ECOVACS’ service robots offer users more ease by bringing efficient, effortless cleaning to every corner of their household.
“Always in Your Corner” reflects how ECOVACS’ home service robotics ecosystem is designed for users in the APAC region – to support their full-home scenarios, from floors to windows. The ECOVACS DEEBOT robotic vacuums and WINBOT robotic window cleaners are built to handle what must be done — quietly, consistently, and intelligently. They don’t just clean, they leave users with less to manage.

Amplifying a Message of Care
ECOVACS will extend the impact of this brand campaign across multiple touchpoints in key APAC markets, including Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Through localized partnerships, integrated brand storytelling, and community engagement, ECOVACS aims to honor caregivers as well as those across the region who are seeking a less stressful and more balanced life.
Intelligent. Innovative. Intuitive.
From its DEEBOT family of robotic vacuum cleaners to its WINBOT family of robotic window cleaners, all of ECOVACS’ innovations are backed by its well-established vertically integrated supply chain and independently developed technologies spanning batteries, AI, motors, transmission components and more.
Today, ECOVACS serves over 38 million households across nearly 180 markets worldwide. Its mission — “Robotics for All” — reflects a long-term commitment to making intelligent service robotics accessible, reliable, and seamlessly integrated into everyday life.
“Created for Ease” is not only about cleaning better. It’s about living lighter and reducing what needs your attention – so that you can focus on what truly matters. And in doing so, ECOVACS is always in your corner.

Hashtag: #ECOVACS

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

About ECOVACS ROBOTICS

Founded in 2006, ECOVACS ROBOTICS is a global leader in home service robotics with a diverse portfolio of products encompassing robotic vacuum cleaners and robotic window cleaners. With its expansion into robotic lawn mowers, commercial cleaning robots and robotic pool cleaners, ECOVACS solidified its position as a multi-category leader in home service robotics.
Guided by the mission “Robotics for All”, ECOVACS continues to advance technology and enhance the user experience to make life smarter and more stylish for consumers worldwide. With sales subsidiaries in Germany, the United States, Japan, and Singapore, ECOVACS products reach nearly 180 major markets and serve over 38 million households globally.

Reabold Resources has moved to calm a political and environmental backlash after signalling that gas from its West Newton project in East Yorkshire could be used in an initial Bitcoin-mining trial, while insisting the wider field remains focused on domestic energy supply and future data-centre development. The London-listed company said the idea under review is a small-scale power generation facility using early gas flows from the site […]

Nvidia has delivered another blockbuster quarter, posting revenue of $68.1 billion and giving a next-quarter forecast of $78 billion, a result that underlined how aggressively the world’s largest technology groups are still spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Data centre sales reached $62.3 billion, up 75 per cent from a year earlier, showing that demand for high-end chips, networking gear and full AI systems remains strong despite growing […]

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 April 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer-processor, today announced a strategic partnership with Change Financial to accelerate payment method adoption and fintech growth across Australia.

The collaboration combines Paymentology’s cloud-first processing platform with Change Financial’s local BIN sponsorship, regulatory expertise and in-market presence – enabling fintechs, digital banks and programme managers to launch and scale debit, credit and prepaid programmes more efficiently in the Australian market.

Change Financial is a Mastercard Principal Issuer in Australia, providing local scheme connectivity and compliance support. Together with Paymentology’s real-time, multi-cloud processing infrastructure, the partnership creates a streamlined pathway for fintechs looking to enter or expand in the country.

Australia represents one of the world’s most advanced digital payments markets. The national payments market was valued at USD 849.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.35 trillion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.09% between 2026 and 2034. Cards and mobile wallets now sit at the centre of everyday transactions, as digital adoption continues to accelerate. Australians made approximately AUD 160 billion in mobile wallet payments in the past year alone, with billions of transactions recorded annually, highlighting strong demand for digital-first, contactless and mobile-enabled payment experiences.

Minh Ha Truong, Head of Growth Asia Pacific at Paymentology commented: “Australia is one of the most sophisticated payments ecosystems globally, with strong consumer adoption of digital, contactless and mobile-first experiences. By partnering with Change Financial, we’re combining next-generation issuing infrastructure with trusted local BIN sponsorship and expertise, unlocking faster payment method adoption for fintechs and helping them scale confidently in the Australian market.”

Change Financial brings deep experience supporting fintechs and financial institutions through local sponsorship, scheme relationships and programme enablement.

Jennifer Mateer, Chief Commercial Officer at Change Financial added: “We collaborate closely with fintechs and programme managers every day to launch innovative payment solutions with speed and confidence. Our partnership with Paymentology combines our local market expertise with global-scale issuing infrastructure, enabling innovators to accelerate time to market and deliver compelling card payment experiences to Australian consumers and businesses.”

Hashtag: #Paymentology #Fintech

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

About Paymentology

Paymentology is the leading next-generation issuer processor, empowering fintechs, digital banks and retail banks to effortlessly launch and manage innovative payment solutions on a global scale. The company drives greater customer choice and value through easy-to-use, integrated platforms and services that help clients to disrupt the status quo, accelerate time to market, and achieve growth.

With a superior multi-cloud platform offering a vast global footprint, and enhanced real-time data, Paymentology distinguishes itself as a leader in the payments industry. Its team of payments experts, with deep local market knowledge, operates across 50 countries and 14 time zones, providing 24/7 support. Paymentology is deeply committed to expanding financial inclusion globally, changing lives and positively impacting the communities in which it operates.

For more information, visit .

  Two separate phishing campaigns are hitting organisations with Formbook, a long-running information stealer that continues to adapt its delivery methods to slip past traditional Windows defences. The latest activity shows attackers pairing ordinary email lures with layered obfuscation, trusted system tools and DLL side-loading, giving a familiar malware family fresh room to operate inside corporate environments. Stealthy Formbook waves target Windows users Security researchers tracking the […]

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – China Unicom and Huawei capped off a series of successful 5G-A GigaUplink deployments by guaranteeing the premium connectivity at the Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon, where human and robot runners competed alongside through the E-Town in Daxing District. This marks the two companies’ latest landmark showcase for sports events, combining 5G-A and AI to provide fast uplink with huge capacity and low latency for event organization and media services, digital engagement, and humanoid participation.

China Unicom 5G-A empowering robots to sprint across the finish line
China Unicom 5G-A empowering robots to sprint across the finish line

China Unicom Delivered a Masterclass in Connected Marathon Events

Marathon events typically feature high-density crowds with an extensive demand for uploads. China Unicom and Huawei turned to 5G-A 3CC on 3.5 GHz and 2.1 GHz for the event, ensuring an uplink fulfillment at 20 Mbps surpassing 99.6%, along with a peak speed of field-tested 677 Mbps. This impressive uplink performance provided consistent and reliable support for 4K/8K broadcasting and real-time collection and editing while also enabling fans to share and stream smoothly.

Such unrivalled experience is underpinned not only by high-quality networks but also flexible operations. China Unicom and Huawei used intelligent base stations to build 5G-A intelligent, elastic channels for the event. This facilitated differentiated scheduling for livestreaming, voice and video calling, and short videos to ensure smooth experiences for fans even at heavy-traffic moments.

China Unicom 5G-A GigaUplink networks integral to the success of E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon
China Unicom 5G-A GigaUplink networks integral to the success of E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon

5G-A GigaUplink Takes Embodied AI to New Heights

In a global first, the E-Town half-marathon features a pioneering format that sees human and robot runners compete simultaneously. The humanoid robots were divided into an autonomous navigation group and a remote-control group, running on the same course and evaluated using mixed timing methods. Each humanoid robot requires approximately 10 Mbps uplink for video uploads, environment sensing, gait control, and autonomous navigation. Dedicated uplink slices were reserved to ensure a positioning accuracy of up to sub-decimeter level and an average end-to-end latency of less than 30 ms throughout the racing course, which provided strong support for the video uploads, obstacle avoidance, cornering, and sprinting of humanoid robots. While offering technical upgrades to sports events, this promoted the adoption of humanoid robots on a large scale.

Qin Yang, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom in Beijing spoke proudly of the excellent connections his company provided for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games as a global strategic partner and the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon event as the exclusive official communications sponsor. “5G-A and AI are essential digital infrastructure, enabling us to bring embodied AI to sports. Given the new dynamics of AI development, we will double down on our priorities over connectivity, computing power, services, and security to sharpen our competitive edges as a preferred telecom partner for intelligent sports and a core enabler for intelligent industry transformation. Moving forward, we will accelerate our innovation-driven push to strengthen our digital infrastructure and drive the high-quality growth of embodied AI in China and beyond.”

Samuel Chen, Vice President of Huawei’s Wireless Network Business Marketing, said this humanoid robot half-marathon offers a good example of deepening integration between mobile technology and embodied intelligence. “Beyond redefining connectivity for sports, it has shown us what intelligent production and life will look like in future. We are always dedicated to building excellent 5G-A networks together with operators based on user-centered innovation to ensure GigaUplink, low latency, and high reliability for differentiated mobile AI services. This will enable us to continuously drive the high-quality growth of the digital economy.”
Hashtag: #Huawei #ChinaUnicom

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

By Nantoo Banerjee Pakistan may be right that peace in Lebanon is essential for talks between the US and Iran. But, the key question is: will Iran’s theological regime ever ask its terror sponsor, Hezbollah, to go soft on Israel which lately launched massive waves of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, hitting over 200 Hezbollah targets, […]

The article Pakistan’s Back-Channel US-Iran Peace Negotiation May Not Work appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – The Institute of ESG & Benchmark (IESGB) proudly announces the launch of the ESG Achievement Awards 2025/2026, marking another milestone in recognising outstanding achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Building on its established legacy, this year’s Awards will spotlight organisations and individuals that are strengthening resilience and long-term competitiveness through people-centric ESG strategies, responsible leadership, and measurable impact. The Early Bird application period is open until 15 May 2026.

This year’s ESG Achievement Awards are centred around the theme “Shaping a Resilient Future Through People and ESG,” placing a strong emphasis on ESG education and human capital development. In today’s fast-evolving landscape, organisations are increasingly recognising that sustainable success depends not only on strategy, but on equipping people with the right skills, capabilities, and mindset. This year, entrants are invited to showcase how they embed ESG into their culture, invest in talent development, and foster accountability and employee engagement in ESG across all levels of the organisation.

In addition to continuing to recognise holistic ESG excellence across environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance, the Awards introduce new award that reflect evolving market priorities. And the newly launched Outstanding Women Empowerment Awards will celebrate organisations that drive measurable progress in gender equality, workplace inclusion, and leadership representation.

Mr Paul Pong, Co-Founder of IESGB, highlighted the significance of this year’s theme, stating, “As ESG continues to mature, we are seeing that resilience is built not only through strategy, but through people who understand how to turn ESG principles into action. This year’s Awards are designed to recognise organisations that are investing in human capital, reinforcing ESG ownership, and embedding sustainability into the way they work every day.”

Mr Vincent Pang, Chairman of the Jury Panel, shared his perspective, saying,”What truly distinguishes the strongest entries is not just ambition, but tangible evidence — measurable progress, genuine execution, and long-term impact. Under this year’s theme ‘Shaping a Resilient Future Through People and ESG,’ we are especially looking for organisations that embed ESG into their culture, invest in human capital development and ESG education, and drive meaningful inclusion and women’s empowerment.”

The Awards will continue to honour excellence across a comprehensive range of categories, covering corporate ESG performance, innovative projects, sustainable vision, talent development, and individual leadership. With a distinguished and diverse jury panel comprising experts from academia, finance, corporate governance, and sustainability, submissions will be evaluated based on impact, innovation, transparency, and alignment with ESG principles. Winners of the ESG Achievement Awards 2025/2026 will be celebrated at the prestigious Awards Ceremony Luncheon, scheduled for September 2026. The Awards continue to serve as a leading platform for knowledge exchange, peer learning, and recognition of best practices that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient economy.

Award Categories

Category Sub-Categories
1. ESG Benchmark Awards 1.1) Outstanding Performance in Environmental Responsibility

1.2) Outstanding Performance in Social Responsibility

1.3) Outstanding Performance in ESG Governance

2. Outstanding ESG Awards 2.1) Listed Company

2.2) Non-Listed Company

2.3) NGO /NPO

3. (New) Outstanding Women Empowerment Awards 3.1) Company /Organisation
4. Outstanding ESG Product and Service Awards 4.1) Company /Organisation
5. Outstanding Fund Manager’s Choice Awards 5.1) Only applicable to entrants from Category 1 &2.1 (Listed Company).
6. Outstanding Sustainable Vision Awards 6.1) Company /Organisation
7. Outstanding ESG Innovative Project Awards 7.1) Company /Organisation
8. Outstanding ESG Talent Development Awards 8.1) Company /Organisation
9. ESG Elite Awards 9.1) Individual
10. Honorary Awards (By invitation only) 10.1) Company /Organisation

10.2) Individual

10.3) Outstanding Sustainability Dividend Awards

Key Dates (Subject to change)

Date Key Milestone
20 April Awards Launch & Open for Application
Early Bird: 15 May

Standard: 15 June

Application Deadline
July Judging Period
July Presentations to the Jury Panel

*Upon confirmation for applicants requiring presentation

August Finalist Announcement
September Award Ceremony Luncheon
*Subject to venue availability

Jury Panel (in alphabetical order of last name)

Full Name Post
Chairman of Jury Panel
Mr Vincent Pang Managing Partner
AVISTA Group
Vice Chairman of Jury Panel
Ms Ashley Khoo Past President
CFA Society Hong Kong
Jury Panel Members
Ms Fanny Chan Chief Human Resources Officer
CTF Life
Ms Mabel Chan Veteran of mutual fund industry
Co-host of Metro Finance Radio HK
Accredited Mediator
AALCO Sports AMed
Ms Lovinia Chiu Founder, Chairman & CEO
Medialink Group Limited (2230.HK)
Prof Rebecca Choy Yung Founder & Chair
Golden Age Foundation
Mr Roy Fan Head of Sustainability, Climate Change and ESG Services
SWCS Corporate Services Group (Hong Kong) Limited
Ms Loretta Fong Sustainability Assurance Leader
PwC Hong Kong
Ms Grace Kwok Chairman and Executive Director
Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited
Ir Prof C.F. Lam Organizing Committee Member
Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance
HON Robert Lee, JP Legislative Council Member
Functional Constituency – Financial Services
Ir Edmund K H Leung Vice-President
Hong Kong Institute of Director
Ms Nana Li Head of Sustainability & Stewardship, Asia-Pacific, Director
Impax Asset Management
Dr Kenny Tang Chairman
The Hong Kong Institute of Financial Analysts and Professional Commentators
Dr Aries Wong Senior Lecturer, Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance
Associate Director of Centre for Sustainable Development Studies
Hong Kong Baptist University
Mr Mike Wong Chief Executive Officer
The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies
Ms Jessie Yu BBS, MH, JP Chief Executive
Hong Kong Single Parents Association

Hashtag: #IESGB

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

IESGB

The Institute of ESG & Benchmark (IESGB) is a non-profit organization founded in 2020, dedicated to advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in Hong Kong and beyond. Through professional training, certification, and industry collaboration, IESGB promotes ESG education and fosters the development of a robust and sustainable ecosystem that drives long-term value and positive impact.

VISHNU RAJA
RYO YAMADA
HITORI GOTOH
IKUYO KITA