KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has maintained its outlook on India’s non-life insurance segment at stable, citing supportive macroeconomic conditions and sustained insurance demand driven by regulatory initiatives and reforms.
According to the Best’s Market Segment Report, India’s non-life segment recorded mid-single-digit premium growth for the financial year ended March 31, 2025 (FY2025).
Growth moderated compared with the previous year due to pricing pressure in the fire insurance segment and slower business expansion in motor insurance. Changes in accounting treatment for long-term policies during the year also weighed on reported growth.
Despite these challenges, momentum is expected to improve over the near term as insurance demand strengthens and regulatory financial inclusion initiatives gain traction, according to AM Best in a statement.
AM Best associate director, analytics, Chris Lim said India’s long-term economic outlook remains favourable for non-life insurance growth despite the near-term moderation.
“Recent reform to the goods and services tax directly supports insurance demand by reducing the rate on individual life and health insurance policies to zero per cent from 18 per cent. Improved affordability, particularly for health insurance policies, is expected to bolster individual health insurance demand meaningfully,” said Lim.
A key provision in the recently passed Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill (Amendment of Insurance Laws), 2025, increases the foreign direct investment limit in insurance companies. The move is expected to attract additional capital, enhance financial flexibility and bolster the segment’s solvency.
AM Best noted that investment yields for Indian non-life insurers are expected to remain broadly stable, supported by steady interest rates and resilient domestic equity markets. However, elevated equity exposure could increase sensitivity to market volatility over the medium term.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, 16 January 2026
Thursday, 15 January 2026
DMITRY SHUBOV: DATA ANALYTICS KEY FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN FIRMS ENTERING US MARKET
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- As Southeast Asian (SEA) businesses increasingly target expansion into the United States (US) market in 2026, data-driven decision-making is emerging as a critical enabler of successful market entry.
According to the Gartner 2025 Data and Analytics Report, cited by the National CIO Review, organisations that effectively leverage data analytics are significantly better positioned to make informed strategic decisions and compete in complex markets such as the US.
“Analytics can be the loudest voice in the room. It is one thing to have a good product, but knowing what to do with it is quite another.
“Successful companies in both SEA and the US rely heavily on data analytics, as they show you what is happening, and you learn what to do next to continue and improve,” said Dmitry Shubov Consulting Founder, Dmitry Shubov in a statement.
Key trends highlighted in the report underscore the growing importance of analytics in expansion strategies. These include stronger data literacy to embed analytics in day-to-day decision-making, wider adoption of augmented analytics powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the use of real-time analytics to detect shifts in consumer behaviour and market dynamics.
The report also emphasises the need to integrate data across organisational silos to create a unified market view, alongside robust data governance to safeguard sensitive information and ensure regulatory compliance in the US.
As SEA companies navigate the regulatory, operational and data governance challenges of entering the US, Dmitry Shubov Consulting plays a key advisory role in guiding early-stage SEA legal tech firms through US market setup, compliance alignment and analytics-driven strategy execution.
-- BERNAMA
According to the Gartner 2025 Data and Analytics Report, cited by the National CIO Review, organisations that effectively leverage data analytics are significantly better positioned to make informed strategic decisions and compete in complex markets such as the US.
“Analytics can be the loudest voice in the room. It is one thing to have a good product, but knowing what to do with it is quite another.
“Successful companies in both SEA and the US rely heavily on data analytics, as they show you what is happening, and you learn what to do next to continue and improve,” said Dmitry Shubov Consulting Founder, Dmitry Shubov in a statement.
Key trends highlighted in the report underscore the growing importance of analytics in expansion strategies. These include stronger data literacy to embed analytics in day-to-day decision-making, wider adoption of augmented analytics powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the use of real-time analytics to detect shifts in consumer behaviour and market dynamics.
The report also emphasises the need to integrate data across organisational silos to create a unified market view, alongside robust data governance to safeguard sensitive information and ensure regulatory compliance in the US.
As SEA companies navigate the regulatory, operational and data governance challenges of entering the US, Dmitry Shubov Consulting plays a key advisory role in guiding early-stage SEA legal tech firms through US market setup, compliance alignment and analytics-driven strategy execution.
-- BERNAMA
SINGAPORE SME WINS 2026 ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE FOR FOOD INNOVATION
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| 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony (Photo: AETOSWire) |
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Singapore-based small and medium enterprise (SME) N&E Innovations has been named the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize winner in the Food category, recognising its work in reducing food waste and improving food safety through circular innovation.Founded by Didi Gan, the company upcycles food waste into biodegradable antimicrobial coatings and packaging designed to extend shelf life and cut post-harvest losses.
Its patented ViKANG technology is billed as the world’s first food-safe, biodegradable antimicrobial made entirely from upcycled food waste, according to a statement.
Field trials showed the solution achieved 99.9 per cent antimicrobial effectiveness, with significantly lower bacterial counts and up to 90 per cent freshness retention. To date, more than 400,000 sustainable packs have been distributed, benefiting over 80,000 people, while two tonnes of food waste have been diverted from disposal.
“The Zayed Sustainability Prize honours creative solutions that uplift communities and protect the environment,” said Zayed Sustainability Prize Executive Director, Dr Lamya Fawwaz, adding that N&E Innovations demonstrates how innovation can advance a circular economy.
Meanwhile, Gan, who is also N&E Innovations Managing Director, said the award validates the company’s mission to transform agricultural waste into practical, compostable food packaging solutions that support sustainability and food security.
The US$1 million prize will be used to scale production and expand ViKANG across Asia and the Middle East. Plans include setting up local micro-manufacturing hubs, growing business-to-business (B2B) partnerships in markets such as Malaysia, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, and supporting deployments in rural communities. (US$1=RM4.04)
Established 18 years ago, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has recognised 128 winners to date, collectively impacting more than 400 million lives worldwide.
-- BERNAMA
H2O.AI SECURES IMDA RENEWAL FOR ENTERPRISE GENAI IN SINGAPORE
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- H2O.ai, a pioneer in sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) and an agentic and predictive AI company, has announced the renewal of its accreditation under Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for its Enterprise GenAI product suite.
This recognition underscores H2O.ai’s commitment to delivering secure, responsible, and enterprise-grade AI solutions for Singapore’s public and private sectors, as organisations increasingly seek air-gapped, sovereign GenAI systems designed for the highest levels of data protection.
H2O.ai Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sri Ambati said the accreditation validates the company’s efforts to bring trustworthy, air-gapped AI into production.
“We are excited to double down with our partners and customers here. The AI age we imagined is now here, and this milestone gives us even more fuel to deliver breakthrough outcomes together,” added Ambati in a statement.
Building on its 2021 accreditation for predictive AI technologies, this new recognition reaffirms H2O.ai’s leadership in enabling institutions to implement secure, production-ready AI systems.
Through the IMDA Accreditation programme, the authority validates enterprise technology companies against rigorous technical, financial, and operational criteria, enabling government agencies and enterprises to confidently adopt accredited solutions that enhance decision-making, automate workflows, and deliver better services.
H2O.ai’s generative AI (GenAI) technologies are already demonstrating measurable impact across global organisations, including The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), which uses H2O.ai’s air-gapped h2oGPTe platform to power a secure internal Business Assistant that supports over 8,000 employees.
The platform has helped NIH reduce approximately 10,000 service requests per year, illustrating the efficiency of AI-driven operations.
In Australia, the Commonwealth Bank leverages H2O.ai GenAI to reduce scam losses by more than 70 per cent and overall fraud by 30 per cent, demonstrating tangible risk mitigation and operational benefits.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
OPENGEAR ADDS NEW DEVICES TO NETWORK RESILIENCE PLATFORM FOR OUTAGES CONTROL
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| Opengear Introduces CM8000 and OM1300: Two New Paths to Network Resilience as Outages Surge |
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Opengear, a Digi International company, has announced two new additions to its Network Resilience Platform, the CM8000 Series and the OM1300 Series, designed to help enterprises maintain access and control during network outages.
According to Opengear research, 84 per cent of Chief Information Officers and Chief Information Security Officers have experienced an increase in outages over the past two years. The next-generation devices deliver compact, flexible, and automation-ready out-of-band infrastructure as distributed sites continue to scale.
“The CM8000 Series and OM1300 Series give organisations two purpose-built ways to stay in control, whether they need core recovery or simplified edge management,” said Opengear President, Patrick Quirk in a statement.
The CM8000 Series is a serial-first recovery platform with integrated power control for core branches, small aggregation sites, and network closets.
It supports four or eight serial ports, integrates with power distribution units for remote power cycling, offers flexible Ethernet uplinks via RJ-45 and SFP connectors for copper or fibre connectivity, and provides centralised visibility through Lighthouse for secure out-of-band management.
Meanwhile, the OM1300 Series is an integrated edge platform that combines serial access, switching, and local automation into a single device. It is designed for retail environments, micro data rooms, and compact edge sites that require fewer devices and simpler deployments.
The OM1300 Series also supports zero-touch provisioning and delivers significantly faster automation performance than previous OM models, enabling reliable out-of-band control at remote locations.
CM8004, CM8008, and OM1304 models are scheduled to begin shipping at the end of January 2026, while the OM1308 is available for preorder.
-- BERNAMA
Tuesday, 13 January 2026
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY SPECIALTY INSURANCE PROMOTES DAVID LEE TO GLOBAL CHRO
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has promoted David Lee to Global Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), based in Boston, succeeding Kim Briones, who is retiring from her full-time role.
BHSI President and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Eastwood said Lee is an experienced human resources (HR) practitioner and lifelong student of the profession.
“His deep expertise, stellar work ethic, and commitment to BHSI values will continue to drive success across our global talent and HR initiatives,” he said in a statement.
Eastwood also expressed his gratitude to Briones for her partnership and leadership in building BHSI’s HR function from the ground up.
“She has played a pivotal role in growing our greatest asset – our global team – and in helping BHSI become a successful global insurance organisation,” he added.
Lee joined BHSI in 2022 as Global Head of Talent Acquisition. He brings more than 30 years of experience in human resources and talent acquisition, primarily with large global organisations.
BHSI operates across multiple locations in the United States—including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Columbia, Dallas, Houston, and New York—as well as internationally in Barcelona, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Perth, and Singapore.
The company provides commercial property, casualty, healthcare professional liability, executive and professional lines, transactional liability, surety, marine, travel, programmes, accident and health, employer stop loss, homeowners, and multinational insurance.
-- BERNAMA
BHSI President and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Eastwood said Lee is an experienced human resources (HR) practitioner and lifelong student of the profession.
“His deep expertise, stellar work ethic, and commitment to BHSI values will continue to drive success across our global talent and HR initiatives,” he said in a statement.
Eastwood also expressed his gratitude to Briones for her partnership and leadership in building BHSI’s HR function from the ground up.
“She has played a pivotal role in growing our greatest asset – our global team – and in helping BHSI become a successful global insurance organisation,” he added.
Lee joined BHSI in 2022 as Global Head of Talent Acquisition. He brings more than 30 years of experience in human resources and talent acquisition, primarily with large global organisations.
BHSI operates across multiple locations in the United States—including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Columbia, Dallas, Houston, and New York—as well as internationally in Barcelona, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Perth, and Singapore.
The company provides commercial property, casualty, healthcare professional liability, executive and professional lines, transactional liability, surety, marine, travel, programmes, accident and health, employer stop loss, homeowners, and multinational insurance.
-- BERNAMA
Monday, 12 January 2026
AACSB Opens Public Comment on 2026 Global Standards for Business Education
TAMPA, Fla., Jan 12 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AACSB International today released exposure drafts of its inaugural Global Standards for Business Education and 2026 Accounting Accreditation Standards inviting feedback from business schools, faculty, students, employers, higher education associations, and other stakeholders worldwide.
The new Global Standards for Business Education, a revision of AACSB’s highly respected Accreditation Standards, are designed to serve all business schools, not only those that hold AACSB accreditation. They provide a globally recognized framework that any school can use to guide strategic development, strengthen performance, and demonstrate impact to learners, employers, and higher education stakeholders.
The release comes as AACSB marks its 110th anniversary, reflecting the organization’s evolution in how it advances quality and impact in business education worldwide.
“Business education is being asked to do more than ever – prepare learners for a dynamic economy, generate knowledge that informs practice, and help address societal challenges,” said Lily Bi, President and CEO of AACSB International. “These exposure drafts are an invitation to the global community to help shape a modern, practical, and values-driven standards framework that supports excellence across diverse missions and contexts. We encourage stakeholders to review these drafts and share feedback so the final standards reflect what business and accounting education need now, and what they must become next.”
AACSB’s proposed Standards come at a moment when business education is facing heightened scrutiny and rising expectations, from clearer evidence of learning outcomes to stronger connections among curriculum, research, and societal impact. “The introduction of the Global Standards for Business Education reinforces AACSB’s role as a global standard setter and strengthens the broader ecosystem of business education,” said Stephanie Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer of AACSB International, noting that for schools, the drafts provide “a clear and adaptable framework to demonstrate quality” and to “accelerate continuous improvement.” The new Global Standards for Business Education and 2026 Accounting Standards are designed to help schools navigate evolving learner needs, workforce disruption, and rapid technological change, while keeping a consistent global benchmark for quality and continuous improvement.
What’s in the exposure drafts
The draft Standards emphasize mission-driven, outcome-focused quality across three core areas:
The new Global Standards for Business Education, a revision of AACSB’s highly respected Accreditation Standards, are designed to serve all business schools, not only those that hold AACSB accreditation. They provide a globally recognized framework that any school can use to guide strategic development, strengthen performance, and demonstrate impact to learners, employers, and higher education stakeholders.
The release comes as AACSB marks its 110th anniversary, reflecting the organization’s evolution in how it advances quality and impact in business education worldwide.
“Business education is being asked to do more than ever – prepare learners for a dynamic economy, generate knowledge that informs practice, and help address societal challenges,” said Lily Bi, President and CEO of AACSB International. “These exposure drafts are an invitation to the global community to help shape a modern, practical, and values-driven standards framework that supports excellence across diverse missions and contexts. We encourage stakeholders to review these drafts and share feedback so the final standards reflect what business and accounting education need now, and what they must become next.”
AACSB’s proposed Standards come at a moment when business education is facing heightened scrutiny and rising expectations, from clearer evidence of learning outcomes to stronger connections among curriculum, research, and societal impact. “The introduction of the Global Standards for Business Education reinforces AACSB’s role as a global standard setter and strengthens the broader ecosystem of business education,” said Stephanie Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer of AACSB International, noting that for schools, the drafts provide “a clear and adaptable framework to demonstrate quality” and to “accelerate continuous improvement.” The new Global Standards for Business Education and 2026 Accounting Standards are designed to help schools navigate evolving learner needs, workforce disruption, and rapid technological change, while keeping a consistent global benchmark for quality and continuous improvement.
What’s in the exposure drafts
The draft Standards emphasize mission-driven, outcome-focused quality across three core areas:
- Strategic Management that aligns strategy, governance, and resources to support long-term quality and continuous improvement.
- Learner Success that strengthens expectations for curriculum, assurance of learning, and digital agility.
- Pathways to Impact that advance scholarly influence, academic, and professional engagement.
The Standards aim to support a wide range of institutional models and regional contexts, while maintaining a shared global language for quality in business education.
Learn More
AACSB is hosting a webinar on 12 January 2026 overviewing the key proposed changes to the AACSB business and accounting accreditation standards outlined in the Exposure Drafts. Register here
How to participate
AACSB encourages stakeholders to review the exposure drafts of its inaugural Global Standards for Business Education and 2026 Accounting Accreditation Standards and submit comments via survey until 7 February 2026. Input will inform revisions and the finalization of the 2026 Standards.
About AACSB
Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) connects educators, learners, and businesses to create the next generation of great leaders. With more than 2,000 member organizations and over 1,000 accredited business schools worldwide, AACSB is the world’s largest business education network. Through its global standards, accreditation, and thought leadership, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education.
aacsb.edu
mediarelations@aacsb.edu
SOURCE: AACSB International
Learn More
AACSB is hosting a webinar on 12 January 2026 overviewing the key proposed changes to the AACSB business and accounting accreditation standards outlined in the Exposure Drafts. Register here
How to participate
AACSB encourages stakeholders to review the exposure drafts of its inaugural Global Standards for Business Education and 2026 Accounting Accreditation Standards and submit comments via survey until 7 February 2026. Input will inform revisions and the finalization of the 2026 Standards.
About AACSB
Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) connects educators, learners, and businesses to create the next generation of great leaders. With more than 2,000 member organizations and over 1,000 accredited business schools worldwide, AACSB is the world’s largest business education network. Through its global standards, accreditation, and thought leadership, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education.
aacsb.edu
mediarelations@aacsb.edu
SOURCE: AACSB International
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