KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Organisations can no longer rely on speed and scale alone to sustain performance in 2026, according to a new report by Top Employers Institute, a global certification, benchmarking, and advisory firm.
The study, World of Work Trends 2026: The Intentional Organisation, highlights that high-performing organisations will prioritise deliberate design in work, leadership, and management systems to drive sustainable success.
“2026 is where speed gives way to intentional design. Our data shows that performance under pressure now depends on how deliberately organisations structure work, decision-making and leadership focus,” said Top Employers Institute chief executive officer, Adrian Seligman.
Drawing on a dataset of 2,358 global organisations, the report identifies five critical trends human resources (HR) leaders must address to sustain performance under pressure, according to the firm in a statement.
Moving beyond statements, HR leaders must embed purpose into decision-making and implement measurement scorecards to provide tangible evidence of its impact on behaviours and outcomes.
As nearly half of AI projects are scrapped and productivity gains are reported by only 37 per cent of teams, intentional deployment is paramount. HR leaders must establish clear governance frameworks regarding use, accountability, and fairness.
While most organisations have remote work policies, future performance will be distinguished by how deliberately flexibility is structured. Designing flexibility with boundaries is necessary to protect fairness, performance, and employee wellbeing.
Organisations must accept that productivity cannot come from simply working people harder, especially amid shrinking HR budgets and rising burnout. The path forward involves directing energy to high-impact work, protecting focus, and building renewable workforce capability through redeployment and reskilling.
Competitive advantage depends on redesigning stability as a platform for continuous learning and internal mobility, not merely retention. Organisations that prioritise job security currently report nine per cent lower voluntary turnover than average.
The report’s findings are based on anonymised survey responses and regression analyses linking HR best practices with key success metrics, including employee engagement, profitability, and market share.
-- BERNAMA
Thursday, 29 January 2026
Friday, 23 January 2026
JAPAN’S MEIJI YASUDA CREDIT RATINGS AFFIRMED SUPERIOR - AM BEST
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “aa-” (Superior) of Japan’s Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company (Meiji Yasuda).
The outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is stable, reflecting Meiji Yasuda’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
Meiji Yasuda’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, and is supported further by its solid capital base and conservative financial leverage.
Following market-driven fluctuations in unrealised gains on securities, the company’s absolute capital retreated from its peak of 5.8 trillion Japanese yen between March 2024 and March 2025, though it had since recovered by September 2025. (100 Japanese yen = RM2.54)
According to AM Best in a statement, Meiji Yasuda’s substantial equity holdings continue to present a degree of equity risk; however, the company possesses ample capital buffers to absorb such risks.
Capital management is conducted through a disciplined framework incorporating economic-based metrics such as the economic solvency ratio and group surplus, complemented by a sound asset-liability management strategy.
In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 (fiscal year 2024), Meiji Yasuda delivered a strong and resilient operating performance, with consolidated insurance premiums of 3.4 trillion Japanese yen and a base profit of 626 billion Japanese yen, supported by higher investment-related gains and a stronger contribution from its overseas operations.
One of Japan’s largest private life insurance companies, Meiji Yasuda maintains a leading position in the domestic group insurance segment. Its ongoing efforts to improve the quality and productivity of the agency channel and strong sales of the bancassurance channel continue to support revenue growth and its position in the domestic market.
-- BERNAMA
The outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is stable, reflecting Meiji Yasuda’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
Meiji Yasuda’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, and is supported further by its solid capital base and conservative financial leverage.
Following market-driven fluctuations in unrealised gains on securities, the company’s absolute capital retreated from its peak of 5.8 trillion Japanese yen between March 2024 and March 2025, though it had since recovered by September 2025. (100 Japanese yen = RM2.54)
According to AM Best in a statement, Meiji Yasuda’s substantial equity holdings continue to present a degree of equity risk; however, the company possesses ample capital buffers to absorb such risks.
Capital management is conducted through a disciplined framework incorporating economic-based metrics such as the economic solvency ratio and group surplus, complemented by a sound asset-liability management strategy.
In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 (fiscal year 2024), Meiji Yasuda delivered a strong and resilient operating performance, with consolidated insurance premiums of 3.4 trillion Japanese yen and a base profit of 626 billion Japanese yen, supported by higher investment-related gains and a stronger contribution from its overseas operations.
One of Japan’s largest private life insurance companies, Meiji Yasuda maintains a leading position in the domestic group insurance segment. Its ongoing efforts to improve the quality and productivity of the agency channel and strong sales of the bancassurance channel continue to support revenue growth and its position in the domestic market.
-- BERNAMA
UTS-LED RESEARCH DEVELOPS NANOPARTICLES TARGETING DISEASE PROTEINS
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Chair Professor in Nanomedicine Bingyang Shi and international collaborators have developed a novel nanoparticle-based approach aimed at targeting disease-causing proteins in the body.
Published in Nature Nanotechnology, the perspective article describes engineered nanoparticles, known as nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimaeras (NPTACs), which can be customised to bind and degrade specific proteins linked to diseases such as cancer and dementia, according to UTS in a statement.
Professor Shi said these nanoparticles are designed to guide harmful proteins into the body’s natural recycling system, where they can be broken down and removed, adding that while promising, this research remains at the preclinical stage, and further studies are required before any clinical application.
The technology builds on the concept of targeted protein degradation, a growing field in biotechnology, and could eventually expand the range of proteins considered "undruggable". Early preclinical experiments have shown potential against key disease targets, including EGFR and PD-L1, which are implicated in tumour growth and immune evasion.
Key advantages of the approach include tissue- and disease-specific targeting, the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, modular design for multiple protein targets, and compatibility with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nanomaterials.
Professor Shi highlighted that NPTACs are still in the experimental phase, and the team is seeking strategic partners to support further development, regulatory review, and potential therapeutic applications in oncology, neurology, and immunology.
Professor Shi noted that this research illustrates the potential of nanoparticle-based platforms not just as delivery vehicles but as active therapeutic agents.
The work involved collaboration with Professor Kam Leong of Columbia University and Professor Meng Zheng of Henan University.
-- BERNAMA
Published in Nature Nanotechnology, the perspective article describes engineered nanoparticles, known as nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimaeras (NPTACs), which can be customised to bind and degrade specific proteins linked to diseases such as cancer and dementia, according to UTS in a statement.
Professor Shi said these nanoparticles are designed to guide harmful proteins into the body’s natural recycling system, where they can be broken down and removed, adding that while promising, this research remains at the preclinical stage, and further studies are required before any clinical application.
The technology builds on the concept of targeted protein degradation, a growing field in biotechnology, and could eventually expand the range of proteins considered "undruggable". Early preclinical experiments have shown potential against key disease targets, including EGFR and PD-L1, which are implicated in tumour growth and immune evasion.
Key advantages of the approach include tissue- and disease-specific targeting, the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, modular design for multiple protein targets, and compatibility with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nanomaterials.
Professor Shi highlighted that NPTACs are still in the experimental phase, and the team is seeking strategic partners to support further development, regulatory review, and potential therapeutic applications in oncology, neurology, and immunology.
Professor Shi noted that this research illustrates the potential of nanoparticle-based platforms not just as delivery vehicles but as active therapeutic agents.
The work involved collaboration with Professor Kam Leong of Columbia University and Professor Meng Zheng of Henan University.
-- BERNAMA
Digital Realty enters Malaysia, strengthening Southeast Asia’s digital backbone
Acquisition of a highly connected data center in Cyberjaya extends
Digital Realty's newly acquired TelcoHub 1 data center in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, one of the country's largest dark fiber interconnect hubs with over 6,000 fiber cores and 40+ network service providers
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan 20 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions, today announced its planned entry into Malaysia through the execution of the agreement to acquire CSF Advisers, owners of the TelcoHub 1 data center located in Cyberjaya, one of Greater Kuala Lumpur’s most established data center hubs. Digital Realty’s expansion into the Malaysian market extends its Southeast Asia platform and reinforces its commitment to support the region’s growing digital infrastructure requirements.
TelcoHub 1 is an operational 1.5 megawatt data center that is considered one of Malaysia's largest dark fiber interconnect hubs, with more than 6,000 cores of regional and long-haul fiber landing in this facility. It is also among the most network-dense data centers, hosting over 40 network service providers, including access to key platforms such as AWS, Google, MY IX and DECIX ASEAN, according to peeringdb.com. In conjunction with TelcoHub 1, Digital Realty has also agreed to acquire adjacent land that can support up to 14 megawatts of IT load, providing clear capacity for future expansion.
These acquisitions are expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
Building on this foundation, the Malaysia campus will be integrated into PlatformDIGITAL®, Digital Realty’s global data center platform, enabling customers to deploy infrastructure within a consistent, secure, and interconnected environment, as digital and AI-driven workloads scale. Digital Realty plans to introduce its interconnection and orchestration solution, ServiceFabric®, to the campus, providing customers with global connectivity and greater flexibility to manage their digital infrastructure across the region.
Together, these capabilities build on CSF's existing strengths and enhance Digital Realty’s ability to support both local customers and organizations with regional footprints anchored in Singapore, by offering complementary capacity and connectivity across Southeast Asia.
“Malaysia plays an increasingly important role in the region’s digital ecosystem as hyperscalers, enterprises and platforms scale up, and infrastructure requirements evolve toward greater resilience, interconnection, and readiness for more complex workloads,” said Serene Nah, Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific, Digital Realty. “Our entry into Malaysia will bring our global platform, operational expertise, and long-term investment approach into the local market, support the country’s digital ambitions, and help to shape how regional infrastructure is built for the future.”
Upon completion of the acquisition, Billy Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSF Advisers, together with the local leadership team and more than 40 skilled professionals, will join Digital Realty. Their combined expertise will be instrumental in supporting CSF's diverse customer base spanning enterprises, cloud, and digital service providers. Digital Realty plans to expand the local team over time to support future growth and operational scale.
“Malaysia is currently in a sustained scale-up phase for digital infrastructure, with total data center capacity projected to grow from 1.26 gigawatts in 2025 to 2.53 gigawatts by 20301. Continued expansion is fueled by rising demand for cloud services, AI acceleration, robust connectivity infrastructure, and supportive government policies,” said Lee. “We are excited to join Digital Realty and hope this acquisition will enhance our connectivity solutions for customers, support local talent development, and contribute to Malaysia's maturing digital infrastructure ecosystem.”
Digital Realty's entry into Malaysia will underscore its long-term investment commitment in the country and further establish Malaysia as a credible location for interconnected, secure, and sovereign-ready digital infrastructure serving Southeast Asia. Sustainability will be a key focus, with Digital Realty working alongside the Malaysian government and industry stakeholders to support national digital priorities and advance energy-efficient data center practices, aligned with local regulations and long-term environmental goals.
Digital Realty's expansion into Malaysia will build on its established Southeast Asia presence in Singapore and Jakarta. The company will continue to evaluate opportunities to expand capacity, capabilities, and partnerships in the region, in line with its broader regional strategy.
About Digital Realty
Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) solution methodology for powering innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 25+ countries on six continents. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.
For Additional Information
Media Contacts
Joyce Ng
Digital Realty
jong@digitalrealty.com
Investor Relations
Jordan Sadler / Jim Huseby
Digital Realty
+1 415 275 5344
InvestorRelations@digitalrealty.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s acquisition of CSF Advisers, the company’s strategy, customer demand and expectations for the Asia Pacific region and sustainability goals. For a list and description of risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise
1 Data from Asia Pacific Data Center Association report (July 2025)
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4f92da6-3511-4448-9c63-51d1b3f92f6f
Source: Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
--BERNAMA
Thursday, 22 January 2026
Horizon Quantum, Alice & Bob Team Up On Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing
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Horizon Quantum CEO Dr Joe Fitzsimons and Alice & Bob CEO Dr Théau Peronnin |
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Horizon Quantum Computing Pte Ltd (Horizon Quantum), a pioneer in software infrastructure for quantum applications, and Alice & Bob (A&B), a developer of fault-tolerant quantum computers, announced a strategic collaboration to advance fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) software development.
The partnership integrates A&B’s emulators with Horizon Quantum’s Triple Alpha development platform, creating a full-stack solution that combines best-in-class hardware and software technologies. This effort lays the groundwork for future deployment of complex algorithms on A&B’s forthcoming quantum processing units (QPUs).
“Realising the full potential of quantum computing requires fault-tolerant systems. By combining our expertise in quantum programming with A&B’s hardware capabilities, this partnership advances progress toward practical FTQC,” said Horizon Quantum chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Joe Fitzsimons in a statement.
Meanwhile, A&B CEO, Dr Théau Peronnin said building a complete quantum software stack requires careful integration of algorithms, error correction, and compilation.
“Our partnership with Horizon Quantum ensures a rigorous, research-driven approach to these challenges,” said Peronnin.
Through this collaboration, the companies aim to develop a comprehensive compilation pipeline that maximises hardware performance while simplifying quantum programming. Triple Alpha will be among the first platforms to compile and deploy software to A&B’s FTQC hardware when available.
A&B’s emulators will allow developers to test quantum error correction protocols. By integrating these emulators into Triple Alpha, Horizon Quantum expands support for multiple hardware architectures and provides developers access to a promising new quantum computing platform.
The partnership aims to bring Triple Alpha’s resource analysis capabilities to A&B’s backends, optimising quantum algorithm resources at different levels of abstractions and on different hardware platforms by tracking various metrics such as qubit count and gate count, for accelerating the practical use of quantum computers.
Together, Horizon Quantum and A&B aim to accelerate the path to scalable, FTQC, with a vision of creating a future where quantum algorithms are accessible, impactful and reliable across industries.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, 16 January 2026
AM BEST: INDIA’S NON-LIFE INSURANCE SEGMENT OUTLOOK REMAINS STABLE
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
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
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
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