KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- GuocoLand was named Best Developer at the 16th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore), while UOL Group Limited was the most awarded company of the night.
It was the fifth time GuocoLand has won the top honour in the awards’ history, with its Springleaf Residence, developed with Hong Leong Holdings, and River Modern projects also winning across design, development and sales categories. More than 40 awards were presented at a gala dinner at The St Regis Singapore.
“Singapore is unique. With limited land and fierce competition, this market demands precision, innovation, and foresight like nowhere else,” said PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events general manager, Jules Kay in a statement.
UOL Group was named Best Residential Developer, Best Sustainable Developer and Best Hospitality Developer, and also won design and development awards for NoMad Hilton Singapore. Its joint ventures behind Skye at Holland and Thomson Reserve also won multiple awards.
Frasers Property Singapore won Best Luxury Developer, and Jean Yip Developments was named Best Landed Developer, while SingHaiyi Group won both Best Lifestyle Developer and Best Condo Developer. Soon Hock Enterprise Holding was named Best Industrial Developer, and The Assembly Place won Best Co Living Operator.
Wee Hur Holdings executive chairman and managing director, Goh Yeow Lian was named Real Estate Personality of the Year, while SingHaiyi Group and Tang Organization Group chief executive officer (CEO), Gallant Tang received the Rising Star award.
The new Best Selling Awards, based on sales data, went to City Developments Limited for Newport Residences, GuocoLand for River Modern and Sim Lian JV (Tampines 7) for Rivelle of Tampines, as well as the developers of Tengah Garden Residences and the Skye at Holland joint venture. Pinery Residences by Hoi Hup Sunway Tampines Residential won Best Selling Mixed Use Development.
The competitively judged categories were decided by an independent panel chaired by FollowTrade CEO, Roy Ling, with HLB supervising the judging. Top Singapore winners in eligible categories may advance to the Grand Final in Bangkok on Dec 11 to compete for the Best in Asia titles.
-- BERNAMA
Tuesday, 3 November 2026
YYFORCE SAYS MARKET VALUE AT A TENTH OF NET ASSETS
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- YYForce Inc (YYForce) announced its shares are trading at a steep discount to book value, with its market capitalisation at about a tenth of its reported net assets.
The workforce solutions and facility management services provider put its estimated market value at about US$2.1 million as of Oct 30, 2026, against net assets of about US$21.9 million as of June 30, a discount of about 90.4 per cent. (US$1 = RM4.06)
The company’s total assets stood at about US$38 million, according to its Form 6-K filing on Sept 25.
The company cautioned that the comparison uses rounded figures from different dates. It added that book equity does not represent unrestricted cash, tangible net assets, liquidation proceeds or an estimate of intrinsic value.
“We believe the difference between our reported book equity and public market capitalisation warrants investors’ attention. Our responsibility is to provide clear financial information and execute our commercial strategy,“ said YYForce Chief Executive Officer, Mike Fu.
In a statement, Fu said the company would evaluate each investment against customer demand, available liquidity, capital requirements and expected returns.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing AI-enabled digital platforms to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing digital platforms powered by artificial intelligence to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
The company said future commercial progress remains subject to operational execution, customer adoption and broader market conditions.
-- BERNAMA
The workforce solutions and facility management services provider put its estimated market value at about US$2.1 million as of Oct 30, 2026, against net assets of about US$21.9 million as of June 30, a discount of about 90.4 per cent. (US$1 = RM4.06)
The company’s total assets stood at about US$38 million, according to its Form 6-K filing on Sept 25.
The company cautioned that the comparison uses rounded figures from different dates. It added that book equity does not represent unrestricted cash, tangible net assets, liquidation proceeds or an estimate of intrinsic value.
“We believe the difference between our reported book equity and public market capitalisation warrants investors’ attention. Our responsibility is to provide clear financial information and execute our commercial strategy,“ said YYForce Chief Executive Officer, Mike Fu.
In a statement, Fu said the company would evaluate each investment against customer demand, available liquidity, capital requirements and expected returns.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing AI-enabled digital platforms to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing digital platforms powered by artificial intelligence to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
The company said future commercial progress remains subject to operational execution, customer adoption and broader market conditions.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, 30 October 2026
SOUTH KOREA’S KB INSURANCE RATINGS AFFIRMED EXCELLENT - AM BEST
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed South Korea’s KB Insurance Co Ltd (KBI) financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent), with a stable outlook.
These credit ratings (ratings) reflect KBI’s strong balance sheet, adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management, as well as support from its parent, KB Financial Group Inc (KB Group), AM Best said in a statement.
KBI’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, while its local solvency ratio is largely in line with the industry average and demonstrates an adequate buffer above the minimum regulatory requirements.
AM Best calculated KBI’s adjusted financial leverage at 8.2 per cent as of June 2026 and said the company has good access to capital markets and a conservative investment strategy.
KBI’s return on equity and combined ratios are broadly in line with domestic peers, but profitability in its main long-term insurance business remains under pressure from rising medical claims and competition. Its auto insurance business recorded underwriting losses in 2025 because of base rate cuts and stronger competition.
KBI is South Korea’s fourth-largest non-life insurer, with a stable market share of approximately 13 per cent, while its overseas operations remain modest, and it plans to explore further international opportunities with a measured approach to diversify earnings and sustain long-term growth.
As a wholly owned subsidiary and the only non-life insurer in KB Group, one of South Korea’s largest financial holding companies, KBI is strategically important to its parent and has received explicit capital support since joining the group in 2015.
AM Best said the ratings could be lowered if KBI’s balance sheet weakens significantly or if support from KB Group is reduced and could be raised if its operating performance consistently outperforms industry peers.
-- BERNAMA
These credit ratings (ratings) reflect KBI’s strong balance sheet, adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management, as well as support from its parent, KB Financial Group Inc (KB Group), AM Best said in a statement.
KBI’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, while its local solvency ratio is largely in line with the industry average and demonstrates an adequate buffer above the minimum regulatory requirements.
AM Best calculated KBI’s adjusted financial leverage at 8.2 per cent as of June 2026 and said the company has good access to capital markets and a conservative investment strategy.
KBI’s return on equity and combined ratios are broadly in line with domestic peers, but profitability in its main long-term insurance business remains under pressure from rising medical claims and competition. Its auto insurance business recorded underwriting losses in 2025 because of base rate cuts and stronger competition.
KBI is South Korea’s fourth-largest non-life insurer, with a stable market share of approximately 13 per cent, while its overseas operations remain modest, and it plans to explore further international opportunities with a measured approach to diversify earnings and sustain long-term growth.
As a wholly owned subsidiary and the only non-life insurer in KB Group, one of South Korea’s largest financial holding companies, KBI is strategically important to its parent and has received explicit capital support since joining the group in 2015.
AM Best said the ratings could be lowered if KBI’s balance sheet weakens significantly or if support from KB Group is reduced and could be raised if its operating performance consistently outperforms industry peers.
-- BERNAMA
AM BEST SEES RESILIENT ASIA PACIFIC INSURANCE SECTOR
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has published its analysis of 17 insurance markets in Asia Pacific, assessing the economic, political and financial system risks in each, to coincide with the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference.
AM Best’s Singapore operations managing director and co-chief executive officer, Rob Curtis said geopolitical and trade realignment is reshaping how risk is priced and transferred, natural catastrophes continue to test underwriting and reinsurance capacity, and new risk-based capital rules are raising the bar for capital management.
“Overall, the Asia Pacific insurance industry continues to demonstrate strong resilience through ample capital buffers, disciplined underwriting and solid economic growth engines,” he said in a statement.
The report also covers regulatory developments and natural catastrophe and climate risks in each market and benchmarks AM Best-rated companies, including reinsurers, mutual insurers and captive insurers.
AM Best said country risk is factored into its ratings on a case-by-case basis, as it can affect an insurer’s ability to meet its financial obligations.
The report also includes an overview of AM Best’s assessments of delegated underwriting firms, such as managing general agents and coverholders.
The credit rating agency will hold its annual insurance market briefing for conference delegates at the event on Nov 3.
-- BERNAMA
Thursday, 29 October 2026
BitAuto: Malaysian Search Interest Jumps 5,000 Pct During Tour
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Automotive information platform, BitAuto announced that Google Trends search interest in its name in Malaysia rose by more than 5,000 per cent during its China-Malaysia Automotive Cultural Exchange Tour, which ended with a five-day showcase.
The showcase at MyTOWN Shopping Centre allowed visitors to view the tour vehicles up close, step inside their cabins and speak with the team, the company said in a statement.
The tour, themed “Heading South – Setting Off Again After 100,000 Kilometres”, featured a Xiaomi SU7 Max and a Yangwang U8, each with over 100,000 kilometres on the clock. Creators from China drove them from Chengdu through Yunnan, Laos and Thailand to Malaysia, filming a video series along the way.
In Malaysia, the programme included rainforest off-road drives, drives on Genting’s mountain roads, city convoys, car enthusiast gatherings and test drives, with creators from China joining Malaysian editors and enthusiasts to produce content for audiences in China and overseas.
A Mid-Autumn Festival gathering at Jam PJ drew more than 100 guests, and interest from local media and creators led the team to arrange extra vehicle sessions beyond the original filming schedule.
BitAuto said the tour was planned and run by its Malaysian team, in line with its “In Malaysia, for Malaysia” approach, and that it would continue to work with local media, creators and car enthusiast communities.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
EZVIZ Smart Lock, Video Doorbell Bag Design Awards
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Smart home brand, EZVIZ’s EP8 Ultra artificial intelligence (AI)-powered video doorbell has won the European Product Design Award 2026 (EPDA 2026), while its DL50FVX smart lock has been named a 2026 Golden Pin Design Award (GPDA) laureate.
The DL50FVX, which has dual cameras with facial and palm vein unlocking, was recognised for its intuitive access management and was also named a finalist for the Best Design Award.
The EP8 Ultra uses AI to offer what EZVIZ describes as emotional care features. Both products drew attention at the IFA consumer electronics trade show.
“The buzz at IFA and the award recognition have strengthened our commitment to user-centric design,” said EZVIZ lead industry designer of security-related products, Ada Wang in a statement.
Founded in 2016, the EPDA recognises products that improve everyday life, while the GPDA, established in the 1980s, focuses on design in the Asia-Pacific region.
EZVIZ’s smart lock line-up offers a range of unlocking methods and built-in camera technology. Alongside the DL50FVX, it includes the DL01, designed for do-it-yourself installation, the DL10, which has a fingerprint reader built into the handle, and the DL20FVS Plus.
For entrances, the company offers products for hallways, porches and outdoor gates, including the EP4 door viewer, which it describes as easy to install, and the HP7 Pro video doorphone.
-- BERNAMA
HACK THE BOX CYBER TRAINING YIELDS 330 PCT ROI - STUDY
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- A study commissioned by cybersecurity training platform Hack The Box (HTB) and conducted by Forrester Consulting has found that a modelled organisation using the platform achieved a 330 per cent return on investment over three years, recouping its costs in less than six months.
The study, Total Economic Impact, is based on interviews with seven decision-makers at HTB customers in the financial services, government, technology and professional services sectors. Their experiences were combined into a single composite organisation with a cybersecurity workforce of over 300 people, and the financial figures are risk-adjusted present values.
“The question we hear most often is how many cybersecurity jobs AI will replace. The more important question is whether teams are prepared to use AI effectively,” said HTB chief executive officer and founder, Haris Pylarinos.
In a statement, he said artificial intelligence (AI) amplifies the capabilities of the people using it, which is why workforce readiness matters.
Over three years, the composite organisation realised US$1.2 million in benefits against US$285,000 in costs, giving a net present value of US$939,000. (US$1 = RM4.08)
The study found a 50 per cent reduction in the probability of security incidents escalating, linked to earlier threat detection and attackers spending less time inside systems undetected. Incident response teams cut the time taken to acknowledge incidents by 50 per cent and the time to resolve them by 30 per cent.
Onboarding efficiency improved by 35 per cent and penetration testing efficiency by 50 per cent. Workforce attrition fell by four per cent, while annual cybersecurity certifications rose by 20 per cent.
Forrester Research separately named HTB a Leader in its Forrester Wave report on cybersecurity skills and training platforms for the first quarter of 2026, giving it the highest possible scores in 13 criteria, including readiness for agentic AI.
-- BERNAMA
The study, Total Economic Impact, is based on interviews with seven decision-makers at HTB customers in the financial services, government, technology and professional services sectors. Their experiences were combined into a single composite organisation with a cybersecurity workforce of over 300 people, and the financial figures are risk-adjusted present values.
“The question we hear most often is how many cybersecurity jobs AI will replace. The more important question is whether teams are prepared to use AI effectively,” said HTB chief executive officer and founder, Haris Pylarinos.
In a statement, he said artificial intelligence (AI) amplifies the capabilities of the people using it, which is why workforce readiness matters.
Over three years, the composite organisation realised US$1.2 million in benefits against US$285,000 in costs, giving a net present value of US$939,000. (US$1 = RM4.08)
The study found a 50 per cent reduction in the probability of security incidents escalating, linked to earlier threat detection and attackers spending less time inside systems undetected. Incident response teams cut the time taken to acknowledge incidents by 50 per cent and the time to resolve them by 30 per cent.
Onboarding efficiency improved by 35 per cent and penetration testing efficiency by 50 per cent. Workforce attrition fell by four per cent, while annual cybersecurity certifications rose by 20 per cent.
Forrester Research separately named HTB a Leader in its Forrester Wave report on cybersecurity skills and training platforms for the first quarter of 2026, giving it the highest possible scores in 13 criteria, including readiness for agentic AI.
-- BERNAMA
Bitget Upgrades Stock Dual Investment with VETA Finance for Tokenized U.S. Equities
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct 27 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has upgraded Stock Dual Investment, expanding its structured investment offerings to tokenized U.S. Equities through a partnership with VETA Finance. The launch introduces new stock-linked underlying assets and maturity options, allowing users to earn fixed-term yields while executing predefined strategies based on market conditions.
Stock Dual Investment lets users earn yield on USDT or eligible tokenized U.S. Equities over a fixed investment period, with settlement determined by a predefined target price and the assets's market performance at maturity. Current underlying assets include rNVDA, rGOOGL and rAMD, providing exposure to tokenized equities linked to NVIDIA, Alphabet, and AMD.
Buy Low allows users to subscribe with USDT and pick a target price for an eligible rToken. If the settlement price at maturity is at or below the target price, the investment is converted into the corresponding rToken at the predetermined price. Otherwise, users receive their principal and accrued yield in USDT. This strategy is designed for users looking to accumulate tokenized equities at a chosen price while earning yield during the investment period.
Sell High allows users to subscribe with an eligible rToken and pick a target price to sell. If the settlement price at maturity is at or above the target price, the investment is converted into USDT at a predetermined price. Otherwise, users retain their rToken principal and receive the applicable yield. This strategy is designed for holders waiting to sell at a selected price while earning yield on their existing positions.
"Investors often have a price in mind at which they would buy more or take profits. Stock Dual Investment, lets them earn yield while working toward those targets.That is our UEX vision of bringing crypto and traditional assets together with more ways to put them to work," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.
This product is offered in partnership with VETA Finance, a structured-product infrastructure provider focused on digital assets and tokenized markets. Since 2022, VETA Finance has provided end-to-end solutions for trading platforms, asset managers, and wealth-management providers, spanning product structuring, pricing, hedging, execution, and settlement.
Daniel Yu, Founder of VETA Finance, said: "Tokenization solved how equities get on-chain. Structured products solve how those assets are retained and how they generate yield. We are delighted to join Bitget's rToken ecosystem as a first-batch quoting vendor and bring the pricing, hedging and lifecycle management capabilities we have built in crypto structured products to tokenized US stocks in full. Dual Investment is only the first step. Together with Bitget, we intend to turn every tokenized US stock into a complete product line."
By extending Dual Investment to tokenized U.S equities, Bitget is bringing structured investment strategies traditionally associated with financial markets into its unified digital ecosystem. Users can deploy stablecoins or eligible rTokens through a single platform, creating additional opportunities to manage their exposure to tokenized equities without navigating separate trading environments. The launch further advances Bitget's Universal Exchange vision by expanding how users can access and utilize both crypto and tokenized traditional financial assets.
For more information, visit: https://www.bitget.com/support/articles/12560603898683
About VETA Finance
VETA Finance is an infrastructure provider for digital asset structured products. Since 2022 it has delivered end-to-end structured products services, from quoting and structuring to pricing, hedging and settlement, to leading trading platforms, asset managers and wealth channels. Its product range spans the full crypto structured products spectrum, including Dual Investment, Sharkfin, Snowball, Fixed Coupon Notes, Accumulators and Decumulators, Collars and zero-coupon lending, and the same product matrix is now being extended to tokenized US equities. VETA's proprietary structured products management system provides channels with one-stop RFQ, booking, settlement and lifecycle management, complemented by algorithmic execution services. The team combines investment banking, asset management and top-tier fund derivatives experience with years of live crypto trading.
About Bitget
Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships such as MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.
For more information, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com
Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d711fee-6a0a-4325-a1a2-a229bf9e545c
SOURCE: Bitget Limited
DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.
--BERNAMA
Stock Dual Investment lets users earn yield on USDT or eligible tokenized U.S. Equities over a fixed investment period, with settlement determined by a predefined target price and the assets's market performance at maturity. Current underlying assets include rNVDA, rGOOGL and rAMD, providing exposure to tokenized equities linked to NVIDIA, Alphabet, and AMD.
Buy Low allows users to subscribe with USDT and pick a target price for an eligible rToken. If the settlement price at maturity is at or below the target price, the investment is converted into the corresponding rToken at the predetermined price. Otherwise, users receive their principal and accrued yield in USDT. This strategy is designed for users looking to accumulate tokenized equities at a chosen price while earning yield during the investment period.
Sell High allows users to subscribe with an eligible rToken and pick a target price to sell. If the settlement price at maturity is at or above the target price, the investment is converted into USDT at a predetermined price. Otherwise, users retain their rToken principal and receive the applicable yield. This strategy is designed for holders waiting to sell at a selected price while earning yield on their existing positions.
"Investors often have a price in mind at which they would buy more or take profits. Stock Dual Investment, lets them earn yield while working toward those targets.That is our UEX vision of bringing crypto and traditional assets together with more ways to put them to work," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.
This product is offered in partnership with VETA Finance, a structured-product infrastructure provider focused on digital assets and tokenized markets. Since 2022, VETA Finance has provided end-to-end solutions for trading platforms, asset managers, and wealth-management providers, spanning product structuring, pricing, hedging, execution, and settlement.
Daniel Yu, Founder of VETA Finance, said: "Tokenization solved how equities get on-chain. Structured products solve how those assets are retained and how they generate yield. We are delighted to join Bitget's rToken ecosystem as a first-batch quoting vendor and bring the pricing, hedging and lifecycle management capabilities we have built in crypto structured products to tokenized US stocks in full. Dual Investment is only the first step. Together with Bitget, we intend to turn every tokenized US stock into a complete product line."
By extending Dual Investment to tokenized U.S equities, Bitget is bringing structured investment strategies traditionally associated with financial markets into its unified digital ecosystem. Users can deploy stablecoins or eligible rTokens through a single platform, creating additional opportunities to manage their exposure to tokenized equities without navigating separate trading environments. The launch further advances Bitget's Universal Exchange vision by expanding how users can access and utilize both crypto and tokenized traditional financial assets.
For more information, visit: https://www.bitget.com/support/articles/12560603898683
About VETA Finance
VETA Finance is an infrastructure provider for digital asset structured products. Since 2022 it has delivered end-to-end structured products services, from quoting and structuring to pricing, hedging and settlement, to leading trading platforms, asset managers and wealth channels. Its product range spans the full crypto structured products spectrum, including Dual Investment, Sharkfin, Snowball, Fixed Coupon Notes, Accumulators and Decumulators, Collars and zero-coupon lending, and the same product matrix is now being extended to tokenized US equities. VETA's proprietary structured products management system provides channels with one-stop RFQ, booking, settlement and lifecycle management, complemented by algorithmic execution services. The team combines investment banking, asset management and top-tier fund derivatives experience with years of live crypto trading.
About Bitget
Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships such as MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.
For more information, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com
Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d711fee-6a0a-4325-a1a2-a229bf9e545c
SOURCE: Bitget Limited
DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.
--BERNAMA
Monday, 26 October 2026
New TOURISE and LIONS Advisory Study Reveals How Creativity Creates a Commercial Advantage for Destination Growth
New TOURISE and LIONS Advisory Study Reveals How Creativity Creates a Commercial Advantage for Destination Growth
- 50% of travelers cannot remember the last advertisement they saw for a tourism company or destination, with a further 7% unsure
- Tourism faces an $11 billion marketing investment gap: restoring the category’s share of voice to 3% would require global travel and transport ad spend to reach $43.4 billion by 2027
- 63% of Large Language Model (LLM) visibility is driven by long-term brand equity, compared with 22% from current marketing activity and 11% from citation volume
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- TOURISE, the world’s premier platform for shaping the future of global tourism, today released IDEAS That Travel, a new report developed in collaboration with LIONS Advisory. The study finds that while travel demand is rising, tourism brands are competing for attention in a more fragmented, socially driven and AI-mediated environment, where visibility alone is no longer enough to secure preference and growth.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261021160141/en/
“Travelers are discovering destinations earlier and through more channels than ever, from social feeds and creators to communities and AI tools. That raises the bar for tourism brands. Creativity, distinctiveness and trust are becoming central to how destinations earn attention, build preference and remain relevant across the entire traveler journey,” said His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of TOURISE.
IDEAS That Travel draws on an online survey of 8,374 consumers across 13 markets who had traveled internationally in the previous 12 months, conducted in December 2025, alongside in-depth interviews with global industry leaders and analysis of LIONS’ marketing research and case studies.
Interviewees include Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Co-Founder of AirAsia; David Droga, Vice Chair of Accenture; Gonzalo Brujó, CEO and Global Chairman of Interbrand; and Joanne Chehab, Head of MENA Global Business Solutions at ByteDance / TikTok.
The opportunity is significant, but so is the competition. Thirty-nine percent of travelers expect to travel more in the next 12 months than they did in 2025, rising to 51% of Gen Z and 47% of Millennials. Yet tourism marketing is struggling to stay memorable and distinctive: 60% of travelers say travel ads look similar, 43% find it hard to distinguish between travel brands, and 50% cannot remember the last tourism advertisement they saw, with a further 7% unsure.
At the same time, 55% of travelers already use AI in holiday planning and 62% expect to use it more often over the next year. The report argues that future growth will depend on brands building relevance before travelers enter the booking funnel, and doing so consistently across human and AI-led discovery.
“Creativity is a commercial advantage,” said Paul Coxhill, Chief Operating Officer & President, LIONS. “Numerous empirical studies evidence creativity’s role in business growth. The tourism sector is fertile ground for creative effectiveness. Few categories deal so directly in emotion, experience, and memory. Yet in recent years, the sector has seen massive shifts in how people discover, book, and engage with destinations. While demand is rising, so is competition and complexity.”
The report also identifies a widening visibility challenge. Global travel and transport advertising spend rebounded to an estimated $32.4 billion in 2025, but the category’s share of voice remains below pre-pandemic levels. Restoring it to 3% would require investment to reach $43.4 billion by 2027, an $11 billion increase in two years. The report stresses that the answer is not simply more spend, but smarter investment in the social, creator, video and entertainment-led environments where travel intent increasingly forms.
Against this backdrop, IDEAS That Travel sets out a practical framework for tourism brands built around five drivers of effectiveness: Investment, Distinctiveness, Engagement, Authenticity and Seamlessness. Together, they are designed to help brands build visibility, create memorable associations, earn attention through storytelling, strengthen trust through credible experiences, and connect the customer journey across physical and digital touchpoints.
Case studies from Airbnb, Tourism Australia, Visit Sweden, Visit North Carolina and Southwest Airlines show how the principles can be applied in practice. The report concludes that the tourism brands best positioned for future growth will compete not only for bookings, but for attention and cultural relevance, connecting storytelling, creators, AI, media and the lived experience into one coherent system.
The full report is available now at TOURISE.com.
About TOURISE
TOURISE is the world’s premier platform for redefining and shaping the future of tourism.
Powered by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the inaugural TOURISE Summit took place 11-13, November 2025 in Riyadh. TOURISE convened visionaries from government, business, investment, tourism and technology communities to deliver high impact initiatives and transformative deals that will reset the industry and build a tourism sector that is sustainable, equitable, and future-focused.
A year-round platform, TOURISE brings together leaders who share a vision to shape the traveler economy. This is where the next 50 years of tourism are shaped.
For more information about TOURISE, visit www.TOURISE.com.
About LIONS Advisory
LIONS Advisory is the consultancy practice of LIONS, helping ambitious marketing leaders establish marketing as a business growth engine through research, benchmarking, strategy and creative effectiveness. LIONS is part of Informa plc.
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261021160141/en/
Contact
For further details contact: media@TOURISE.com
Source : TOURISE
--BERNAMA
IDEAS That Travel draws on an online survey of 8,374 consumers across 13 markets who had traveled internationally in the previous 12 months, conducted in December 2025, alongside in-depth interviews with global industry leaders and analysis of LIONS’ marketing research and case studies.
Interviewees include Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Co-Founder of AirAsia; David Droga, Vice Chair of Accenture; Gonzalo Brujó, CEO and Global Chairman of Interbrand; and Joanne Chehab, Head of MENA Global Business Solutions at ByteDance / TikTok.
The opportunity is significant, but so is the competition. Thirty-nine percent of travelers expect to travel more in the next 12 months than they did in 2025, rising to 51% of Gen Z and 47% of Millennials. Yet tourism marketing is struggling to stay memorable and distinctive: 60% of travelers say travel ads look similar, 43% find it hard to distinguish between travel brands, and 50% cannot remember the last tourism advertisement they saw, with a further 7% unsure.
At the same time, 55% of travelers already use AI in holiday planning and 62% expect to use it more often over the next year. The report argues that future growth will depend on brands building relevance before travelers enter the booking funnel, and doing so consistently across human and AI-led discovery.
“Creativity is a commercial advantage,” said Paul Coxhill, Chief Operating Officer & President, LIONS. “Numerous empirical studies evidence creativity’s role in business growth. The tourism sector is fertile ground for creative effectiveness. Few categories deal so directly in emotion, experience, and memory. Yet in recent years, the sector has seen massive shifts in how people discover, book, and engage with destinations. While demand is rising, so is competition and complexity.”
The report also identifies a widening visibility challenge. Global travel and transport advertising spend rebounded to an estimated $32.4 billion in 2025, but the category’s share of voice remains below pre-pandemic levels. Restoring it to 3% would require investment to reach $43.4 billion by 2027, an $11 billion increase in two years. The report stresses that the answer is not simply more spend, but smarter investment in the social, creator, video and entertainment-led environments where travel intent increasingly forms.
Against this backdrop, IDEAS That Travel sets out a practical framework for tourism brands built around five drivers of effectiveness: Investment, Distinctiveness, Engagement, Authenticity and Seamlessness. Together, they are designed to help brands build visibility, create memorable associations, earn attention through storytelling, strengthen trust through credible experiences, and connect the customer journey across physical and digital touchpoints.
Case studies from Airbnb, Tourism Australia, Visit Sweden, Visit North Carolina and Southwest Airlines show how the principles can be applied in practice. The report concludes that the tourism brands best positioned for future growth will compete not only for bookings, but for attention and cultural relevance, connecting storytelling, creators, AI, media and the lived experience into one coherent system.
The full report is available now at TOURISE.com.
About TOURISE
TOURISE is the world’s premier platform for redefining and shaping the future of tourism.
Powered by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the inaugural TOURISE Summit took place 11-13, November 2025 in Riyadh. TOURISE convened visionaries from government, business, investment, tourism and technology communities to deliver high impact initiatives and transformative deals that will reset the industry and build a tourism sector that is sustainable, equitable, and future-focused.
A year-round platform, TOURISE brings together leaders who share a vision to shape the traveler economy. This is where the next 50 years of tourism are shaped.
For more information about TOURISE, visit www.TOURISE.com.
About LIONS Advisory
LIONS Advisory is the consultancy practice of LIONS, helping ambitious marketing leaders establish marketing as a business growth engine through research, benchmarking, strategy and creative effectiveness. LIONS is part of Informa plc.
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261021160141/en/
Contact
For further details contact: media@TOURISE.com
Source : TOURISE
--BERNAMA
Sunday, 25 October 2026
New JAHA-Published EggNest® Study and Texas State Regulatory Variance Validate Shift Toward Apron-Free Workflows in the Interventional Lab
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct 22 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Egg Medical today announced the publication of a prospective study in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) evaluating its EggNest Enhanced Radiation Protection Devices (ERPDs). Conducted at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, the real-world clinical study demonstrates that radiation protection allows interventional lab personnel to perform procedures safely without heavy personal lead aprons.
Validating these clinical findings in practice, the Texas Department of State Health Services recently granted a state radiation variance to Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio.
"The EggNest system protects the entire team so they can choose to go apron-free or wear ultralight aprons that feel like a light vest," said Dr. Santiago Garcia, interventional cardiologist at The Christ Hospital and principal investigator of the study. "This comprehensive data provides interventional teams with an evidence-based pathway to significantly reduce orthopedic strain while enhancing radiation safety."
Key Findings Published in JAHA
"The EggNest system protects the entire team so they can choose to go apron-free or wear ultralight aprons that feel like a light vest," said Dr. Santiago Garcia, interventional cardiologist at The Christ Hospital and principal investigator of the study. "This comprehensive data provides interventional teams with an evidence-based pathway to significantly reduce orthopedic strain while enhancing radiation safety."
Key Findings Published in JAHA
- Apron-Free Reduction: The estimated annual collar dose for primary operators dropped from 86.7 mRem with standard shielding to 25.5 mRem with EggNest Complete (p < 0.001). For context, according to the CDC, a 5-6 hour flight yields radiation exposure of ~3.5 mRem.
- Minimal Exposure Across All Roles: With the EggNest Complete ERPD, total effective doses for all lab roles, including primary operators, scrub assistants, and circulating nurses, were 1% of the ICRP annual maximum (5,000 mRem).
- Ultralight Apron Performance: Pairing EggNest ERPDs with ultralight (0.125 mm) aprons yielded significantly lower annualized radiation doses than wearing traditional heavy (0.5 mm) aprons with standard shielding. The primary operator received an annualized EDE-1 dose of 51.4 mRem under 0.5mm lead aprons with standard shielding vs. 1.4 mRem under 0.125 lead aprons with EggNest Complete (p < 0.001).
"The radiation reduction we achieve with EggNest fundamentally changes how we approach lab safety—I feel completely comfortable working apron-free," said Dr. Tim Henry, Medical Director of The Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital and past president of SCAI. "It clears the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for operators and staff."
Lead-Free, Responsibly
Egg Medical emphasizes a flexible, safety-first philosophy: Lead-Free, Responsibly. Modern interventional labs are not one-size-fits-all, and EggNest technology is engineered to support apron-optional workflows where approved—never to force a single standard of practice.
Contact: Susan Storm, sstorm@eggmedical.com
A photo is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f11b7fd7-ba99-49e4-bf36-92a14d2f6c78
SOURCE: Egg Medical, Inc.
--BERNAMA
Lead-Free, Responsibly
Egg Medical emphasizes a flexible, safety-first philosophy: Lead-Free, Responsibly. Modern interventional labs are not one-size-fits-all, and EggNest technology is engineered to support apron-optional workflows where approved—never to force a single standard of practice.
Contact: Susan Storm, sstorm@eggmedical.com
A photo is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f11b7fd7-ba99-49e4-bf36-92a14d2f6c78
SOURCE: Egg Medical, Inc.
--BERNAMA
RegASK Expands AI Agents to Automate Regulatory Action Across 160+ Markets
New configurable workflows connect regulatory alerts to action with expert oversight, while Ingredient Registry introduces source-linked permissibility intelligence across five markets.
NEW YORK & SINGAPORE, Oct 22 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- RegASK today announced expanded agentic AI capabilities for life sciences and consumer products companies. Configurable workflows automate impact assessment, task assignment, Label Compliance project reviews and stakeholder communications, recording outcomes while keeping critical regulatory decisions under expert oversight.
Regulatory change demands coordination across products, markets and teams. Yet RegASK’s 2026 State of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Report found that only 7% of respondents said their organizations could identify a new requirement and execute a response plan within 48 hours.
“The real bottleneck in regulatory affairs is not simply knowing what has changed. It is translating that intelligence into decisions and coordinated action across products, markets and teams,” said Caroline Shleifer, founder and CEO of RegASK. “Our AI-native regulatory operating system enables AI agents to execute repetitive tasks and coordinate follow-up actions, allowing experts to focus on critical regulatory decisions.”
With Automation Builder, teams configure workflows triggered by regulatory alerts or set schedules. AI agents can assess impact, assign follow-up tasks and execute subsequent actions, retaining a record of each outcome.
When a sweetener limit changes, RegASK can identify affected products, assign actions and flag active Label Compliance projects. Newsletter Builder can prepare print-ready, multilingual briefings. Regulatory decisions remain subject to human review.
“Agentic AI needs to be auditable,” said Amenallah Reghimi, chief product and technology officer at RegASK. “We designed these workflows to maintain a record of how regulatory work moves from an alert to action. Each workflow run records its outcome, giving teams a clearer trail for review while keeping regulatory teams in control of compliance decisions.”
RegASK is also introducing Ingredient Registry, a structured database providing source-linked ingredient permissibility information and numeric limits by market and product category. Initially available to selected design partners, it covers the European Union, United States, Brazil, Canada and Mexico.
The expanded agentic workflows are available to RegASK customers. Ingredient Registry is offered separately through a dedicated early-access program.
About RegASK
RegASK is the AI-native regulatory operating system for life sciences and consumer products companies. The platform anticipates regulatory change, assesses portfolio impact and acts across compliance workflows in more than 160 markets, drawing on a global community of more than 1,800 subject-matter experts. RegASK serves more than 80 companies, is a Veeva AI partner and is available in Microsoft Marketplace. RegASK holds independent certifications spanning AI governance, security and privacy, including ISO/IEC 42001 for AI management systems, alongside GDPR compliance and an EcoVadis sustainability rating.
To learn more, visit regask.com.
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261021059602/en/
Contact
Media Contact
Reva Ananda
reva.ananda@regask.com
press@regask.com
Source : RegASK
--BERNAMA
Regulatory change demands coordination across products, markets and teams. Yet RegASK’s 2026 State of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Report found that only 7% of respondents said their organizations could identify a new requirement and execute a response plan within 48 hours.
“The real bottleneck in regulatory affairs is not simply knowing what has changed. It is translating that intelligence into decisions and coordinated action across products, markets and teams,” said Caroline Shleifer, founder and CEO of RegASK. “Our AI-native regulatory operating system enables AI agents to execute repetitive tasks and coordinate follow-up actions, allowing experts to focus on critical regulatory decisions.”
With Automation Builder, teams configure workflows triggered by regulatory alerts or set schedules. AI agents can assess impact, assign follow-up tasks and execute subsequent actions, retaining a record of each outcome.
When a sweetener limit changes, RegASK can identify affected products, assign actions and flag active Label Compliance projects. Newsletter Builder can prepare print-ready, multilingual briefings. Regulatory decisions remain subject to human review.
“Agentic AI needs to be auditable,” said Amenallah Reghimi, chief product and technology officer at RegASK. “We designed these workflows to maintain a record of how regulatory work moves from an alert to action. Each workflow run records its outcome, giving teams a clearer trail for review while keeping regulatory teams in control of compliance decisions.”
RegASK is also introducing Ingredient Registry, a structured database providing source-linked ingredient permissibility information and numeric limits by market and product category. Initially available to selected design partners, it covers the European Union, United States, Brazil, Canada and Mexico.
The expanded agentic workflows are available to RegASK customers. Ingredient Registry is offered separately through a dedicated early-access program.
About RegASK
RegASK is the AI-native regulatory operating system for life sciences and consumer products companies. The platform anticipates regulatory change, assesses portfolio impact and acts across compliance workflows in more than 160 markets, drawing on a global community of more than 1,800 subject-matter experts. RegASK serves more than 80 companies, is a Veeva AI partner and is available in Microsoft Marketplace. RegASK holds independent certifications spanning AI governance, security and privacy, including ISO/IEC 42001 for AI management systems, alongside GDPR compliance and an EcoVadis sustainability rating.
To learn more, visit regask.com.
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261021059602/en/
Contact
Media Contact
Reva Ananda
reva.ananda@regask.com
press@regask.com
Source : RegASK
--BERNAMA
Friday, 23 October 2026
Fortrea Completes Acquisition of the Early Phase Services Division from Worldwide Clinical Trials
Expands Fortrea’s early clinical development network with dedicated bioanalytical capabilities, increased clinical research unit capacity and a more integrated platform for clients
Highlights
- Fortrea completes acquisition of the Early Phase Services division from Worldwide Clinical Trials
- Adds a 60,000-square-foot GLP-compliant bioanalytical laboratory in Austin, Texas; a 200-bed GCP-compliant clinical pharmacology unit in San Antonio, Texas; and a biospecimen storage facility in Pflugerville, Texas
- Expands Fortrea’s early clinical development capacity to more than 570 beds globally and adds dedicated large and small molecule bioanalytical capabilities
- Enables more integrated execution of early-phase studies by reducing operational handoffs between clinical and bioanalytical functions
- Strengthens Fortrea’s end-to-end clinical development platform supporting clients from first-in-human studies through Phase IV and post-approval evidence generation
- Supports Fortrea’s growth strategy by scaling early clinical development capabilities, increasing clinical research unit capacity and enhancing the company’s ability to create long-term value for shareholders
- Provides continuity of operations, study delivery and client support throughout the transition through a strategic alliance agreement between the companies
DURHAM, N.C., Oct 20 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) (the “Company”), a leading global contract research organization (“CRO”), today announced it has completed its acquisition of the Early Phase Services division from Worldwide Clinical Trials. The division consists of a Clinical Research Unit (“CRU”) and Bioanalytical Laboratory operations, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $45 million.
The acquisition strengthens Fortrea’s end-to-end clinical development platform by adding a 200-bed Good Clinical Practice-compliant CRU in San Antonio, Texas; a 60,000-square-foot Good Laboratory Practice-compliant bioanalytical laboratory in Austin, Texas; and a biospecimen storage facility in Pflugerville, Texas. Together, these assets expand Fortrea’s early-phase capacity to more than 570 beds globally and add in-house large and small molecule bioanalytical capabilities to support clients from first-in-human studies through proof-of-concept and later-stage development.
“Completing this acquisition further strengthens our integrated, scalable and scientifically differentiated clinical development platform,” said Anshul Thakral, CEO of Fortrea. “This transaction demonstrates tangible progress in Fortrea’s return to growth as we invest in our ability to win new opportunities and create lasting value for clients. By bringing together complementary clinical pharmacology and bioanalytical capabilities, we expect to expand the speed, flexibility and talent we can offer clients as they advance increasingly complex development programs. We are pleased to welcome the Early Phase Services team to Fortrea and look forward to delivering a seamless experience for clients, volunteers and the patients we ultimately serve.”
“With this investment, Fortrea adds capability and capacity in its commitment to help clients design and execute early development programs with greater speed, scientific rigor and operational connectivity,” said Scott Dove, Ph.D., president, Clinical Pharmacology Services at Fortrea. “The addition of dedicated bioanalytical capabilities and expanded CRU capacity gives our teams more ways to support both simple and complex studies, streamline execution and generate high-quality data that inform development decisions.”
The addition of these capabilities complements Fortrea’s existing Clinical Pharmacology Services business and broadens its North American CRU footprint. The combined platform is designed to reduce operational handoffs between clinical and bioanalytical functions, improve turnaround times and provide clients with greater flexibility for complex and larger participant studies, broader access to distinct volunteer populations and expanded bedspace capacity across Fortrea’s early development network.
Fortrea and Worldwide Clinical Trials have also entered into agreements intended to support continuity for clients, employees and ongoing programs. Both organizations remain focused on maintaining project momentum and providing a seamless transition for employees, clients and volunteers.
The acquired Early Phase Services operations are now part of Fortrea’s Clinical Pharmacology Services business unit.
Advisors
Barclays served as financial advisor to Fortrea, and Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. served as its legal counsel.
About Fortrea
Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) is a leading global provider of clinical development solutions to the life sciences industry. We partner with emerging and large biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic companies to drive healthcare innovation that accelerates life changing therapies to patients. Fortrea provides phase I-IV clinical trial management, clinical pharmacology and consulting services. Fortrea’s solutions leverage three decades of experience spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas, a passion for scientific rigor, exceptional insights and a strong investigator site network. Our talented and diverse team working in about 100 countries is scaled to deliver focused and agile solutions to clients globally. Learn more about how Fortrea is streamlining drug development at Fortrea.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Bluesky.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the anticipated benefits of the transaction, including future financial and operating performance, and the anticipated timing for completing the transaction. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “assume,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results could differ materially from these forward looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the parties’ ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the anticipated benefits of the acquisition may not be realized, or may be realized more slowly or to a lesser extent than expected, difficulties, delays, costs or disruptions associated with integrating the acquired business, operations, employees, systems and processes into the Company, the ability to retain existing customers and business relationships of the acquired operations and win new business following the acquisition, the ability to retain and integrate key employees of the acquired business, the parties’ ability to perform their respective obligations under transition services and other agreements, unanticipated liabilities, expenses or adverse effects associated with the acquired business, the ability to maintain applicable regulatory, quality and accreditation requirements for the acquired sites, and other factors described from time to time in documents that the Company files with the SEC. For a further discussion of the risks relating to the Company’s business, see the “Risk Factors” Section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as such factors may be amended or updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent periodic and other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included or incorporated by reference in this report and in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this report and the Company does not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.
Fortrea Contacts
Galen Wilson (Media) – 703-298-0802, media@fortrea.com
Kate Dillon (Media) – 646-818-9115, kdillon@prosek.com
Tracy Krumme (Investors) – 984-385-6707, Tracy.Krumme@fortrea.com
SOURCE: Fortrea Holdings Inc
--BERNAMA
The acquisition strengthens Fortrea’s end-to-end clinical development platform by adding a 200-bed Good Clinical Practice-compliant CRU in San Antonio, Texas; a 60,000-square-foot Good Laboratory Practice-compliant bioanalytical laboratory in Austin, Texas; and a biospecimen storage facility in Pflugerville, Texas. Together, these assets expand Fortrea’s early-phase capacity to more than 570 beds globally and add in-house large and small molecule bioanalytical capabilities to support clients from first-in-human studies through proof-of-concept and later-stage development.
“Completing this acquisition further strengthens our integrated, scalable and scientifically differentiated clinical development platform,” said Anshul Thakral, CEO of Fortrea. “This transaction demonstrates tangible progress in Fortrea’s return to growth as we invest in our ability to win new opportunities and create lasting value for clients. By bringing together complementary clinical pharmacology and bioanalytical capabilities, we expect to expand the speed, flexibility and talent we can offer clients as they advance increasingly complex development programs. We are pleased to welcome the Early Phase Services team to Fortrea and look forward to delivering a seamless experience for clients, volunteers and the patients we ultimately serve.”
“With this investment, Fortrea adds capability and capacity in its commitment to help clients design and execute early development programs with greater speed, scientific rigor and operational connectivity,” said Scott Dove, Ph.D., president, Clinical Pharmacology Services at Fortrea. “The addition of dedicated bioanalytical capabilities and expanded CRU capacity gives our teams more ways to support both simple and complex studies, streamline execution and generate high-quality data that inform development decisions.”
The addition of these capabilities complements Fortrea’s existing Clinical Pharmacology Services business and broadens its North American CRU footprint. The combined platform is designed to reduce operational handoffs between clinical and bioanalytical functions, improve turnaround times and provide clients with greater flexibility for complex and larger participant studies, broader access to distinct volunteer populations and expanded bedspace capacity across Fortrea’s early development network.
Fortrea and Worldwide Clinical Trials have also entered into agreements intended to support continuity for clients, employees and ongoing programs. Both organizations remain focused on maintaining project momentum and providing a seamless transition for employees, clients and volunteers.
The acquired Early Phase Services operations are now part of Fortrea’s Clinical Pharmacology Services business unit.
Advisors
Barclays served as financial advisor to Fortrea, and Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. served as its legal counsel.
About Fortrea
Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) is a leading global provider of clinical development solutions to the life sciences industry. We partner with emerging and large biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic companies to drive healthcare innovation that accelerates life changing therapies to patients. Fortrea provides phase I-IV clinical trial management, clinical pharmacology and consulting services. Fortrea’s solutions leverage three decades of experience spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas, a passion for scientific rigor, exceptional insights and a strong investigator site network. Our talented and diverse team working in about 100 countries is scaled to deliver focused and agile solutions to clients globally. Learn more about how Fortrea is streamlining drug development at Fortrea.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Bluesky.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the anticipated benefits of the transaction, including future financial and operating performance, and the anticipated timing for completing the transaction. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “assume,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results could differ materially from these forward looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the parties’ ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the anticipated benefits of the acquisition may not be realized, or may be realized more slowly or to a lesser extent than expected, difficulties, delays, costs or disruptions associated with integrating the acquired business, operations, employees, systems and processes into the Company, the ability to retain existing customers and business relationships of the acquired operations and win new business following the acquisition, the ability to retain and integrate key employees of the acquired business, the parties’ ability to perform their respective obligations under transition services and other agreements, unanticipated liabilities, expenses or adverse effects associated with the acquired business, the ability to maintain applicable regulatory, quality and accreditation requirements for the acquired sites, and other factors described from time to time in documents that the Company files with the SEC. For a further discussion of the risks relating to the Company’s business, see the “Risk Factors” Section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as such factors may be amended or updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent periodic and other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included or incorporated by reference in this report and in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this report and the Company does not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.
Fortrea Contacts
Galen Wilson (Media) – 703-298-0802, media@fortrea.com
Kate Dillon (Media) – 646-818-9115, kdillon@prosek.com
Tracy Krumme (Investors) – 984-385-6707, Tracy.Krumme@fortrea.com
SOURCE: Fortrea Holdings Inc
--BERNAMA
Enwave CEO Carlyle Coutinho Named 2026 Ontario Energy Association Leader of the Year, a First for District Energy
TORONTO, Oct 21 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carlyle Coutinho, Chief Executive Officer and Board Director of Enwave Energy Corporation (Enwave), has been named the 2026 Ontario Energy Association (OEA) Leader of the Year, becoming the first CEO of a dedicated district energy company to receive the honour. The recognition reflects Coutinho’s leadership in advancing innovative, large-scale energy solutions and in elevating the role district energy can play in meeting Ontario’s and Canada’s energy needs.
The OEA Leader of the Year award, one of the highest honours in Canada’s energy sector, recognizes individuals who demonstrate vision, innovation, collaboration and a strong commitment to customers.
Under Coutinho's leadership, Enwave has recently delivered several major projects that highlight the value of district energy in Ontario's energy system:
- Expanded Enwave's Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) system through the construction of a fourth intake pipe, increasing the system's cooling capacity by approximately 60%. The DLWC system eliminates approximately 50 MW of electrical demand relative to a business-as-usual commercial office chiller plant.
- Commissioned the Enwave Green Heat™ Plant at Pearl Street Energy Centre, where large-scale heat pumps recover waste heat from district cooling customers and reuse it to provide low-carbon heat to other district-connected buildings. The facility can also reduce its grid electricity draw by up to approximately 6 MW during peak demand periods by dispatching non-electrical, on-site energy sources, without interrupting hot water service.
- Developed a large-scale thermal battery at The Well, a mixed-use development in downtown Toronto, which stores heating and cooling energy for use when it delivers the greatest benefit to customers and the electricity system.
“I’m honoured to receive this recognition from the OEA, and proud to share it with the Enwave team. Their expertise and commitment, together with the collaboration of our customers and partners, make these achievements possible,” said Carlyle Coutinho, CEO of Enwave and past Chair of the International District Energy Association. “District energy has an important role to play as the need for reliable, affordable and secure clean energy grows in Ontario and around the world. By recovering heat, storing energy and sharing it across buildings, we can deliver cost-effective heating and cooling while helping ease demand on the electricity grid.”
As electricity demand and building electrification grow, Ontario will need solutions that make more efficient use of existing and new energy infrastructure. By serving multiple buildings through shared equipment, recovering otherwise wasted heat from hospitals, data centres and other district cooling customers, and shifting electricity use away from peak periods, district energy offers a practical path to electrifying heating and cooling.
Looking ahead, Enwave is bringing its district energy model to more communities. In 2027, the company plans to commission two new systems in Ontario, at Lakeview Village in Mississauga and the Etobicoke Civic Centre in Toronto, extending district heating and cooling to new customers while supporting grid reliability. Enwave is also constructing an upgraded energy-from-waste facility in Prince Edward Island, intended to double the waste processing capacity of its existing district energy system there.
About Enwave
Enwave is one of the largest commercial owners and operators of community-based district energy systems in North America. The company develops reliable energy solutions at scale, tailored to the unique needs of municipalities, commercial developments, universities, hospitals, data centres and residential communities. Enwave provides thermal energy services to over 100 million square feet of mixed-use space across Canada using technologies including Deep Lake Water Cooling, waste heat recovery, thermal storage, geoexchange, biomass and energy-from-waste. Enwave is owned by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and IFM Investors, which acquired the company in 2021.
https://www.enwave.com
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Molly McCarthy
Associate, Communications & Campaigns
Sussex Strategy Group
mmccarthy@sussex-strategy.com
SOURCE: Enwave Energy Corporation
--BERNAMA
As electricity demand and building electrification grow, Ontario will need solutions that make more efficient use of existing and new energy infrastructure. By serving multiple buildings through shared equipment, recovering otherwise wasted heat from hospitals, data centres and other district cooling customers, and shifting electricity use away from peak periods, district energy offers a practical path to electrifying heating and cooling.
Looking ahead, Enwave is bringing its district energy model to more communities. In 2027, the company plans to commission two new systems in Ontario, at Lakeview Village in Mississauga and the Etobicoke Civic Centre in Toronto, extending district heating and cooling to new customers while supporting grid reliability. Enwave is also constructing an upgraded energy-from-waste facility in Prince Edward Island, intended to double the waste processing capacity of its existing district energy system there.
About Enwave
Enwave is one of the largest commercial owners and operators of community-based district energy systems in North America. The company develops reliable energy solutions at scale, tailored to the unique needs of municipalities, commercial developments, universities, hospitals, data centres and residential communities. Enwave provides thermal energy services to over 100 million square feet of mixed-use space across Canada using technologies including Deep Lake Water Cooling, waste heat recovery, thermal storage, geoexchange, biomass and energy-from-waste. Enwave is owned by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and IFM Investors, which acquired the company in 2021.
https://www.enwave.com
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Molly McCarthy
Associate, Communications & Campaigns
Sussex Strategy Group
mmccarthy@sussex-strategy.com
SOURCE: Enwave Energy Corporation
--BERNAMA
Axi Expands Perpetual Futures Offering into Traditional Markets
SYDNEY, Oct 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TradFi perpetual futures bring 24/7 continuous trading to global traditional markets through the Axi Trading Platform and MT5.
Axi is expanding its perpetual futures offering into traditional financial markets, extending access to eligible clients beyond its existing cryptocurrency lineup and bringing continuous trading opportunities to traditional asset classes.
Available through the Axi Trading Platform and MetaTrader5 (MT5), the expansion enables eligible clients to access traditional financial markets 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends. The launch builds on Axi’s existing crypto perpetual futures offering, broadening its product range to reflect evolving approaches to accessing global markets.
Traditional financial markets have historically operated around established trading sessions with market access shaped by exchange opening hours, closing times and holidays. Perpetual futures offer a different approach, allowing traders to speculate on price movements without taking ownership of the underlying assets and without the fixed expiry dates associated with conventional futures contracts.
Unlike traditional futures contracts, which expire on a predetermined date, perpetual futures have no contract expiry date or rollover requirement. Positions can be opened on either side of the market, allowing traders to take long or short positions based on their market outlook. Periodic funding rates provide a mechanism associated with the pricing of perpetual contracts.
By extending this product structure into traditional markets, Axi is broadening the range of instruments available to eligible clients through its trading platforms, while offering greater flexibility around when they can access supported markets.
Greg Lunz, Head of New Product and Innovation Growth at Axi said, “Expanding perpetual futures into traditional markets gives eligible clients greater flexibility in how they access and engage with familiar asset classes. By bringing 24/7 trading to TradFi markets through the Axi Trading Platform and MT5, we’re building on our existing offering to give clients more choice in how they approach changing market conditions.”
The expansion reflects the continuing development of trading products designed to provide access beyond conventional market schedules. For traders seeking to respond to developments outside standard trading hours, the availability of supported traditional-market instruments around the clock offers an additional way to engage with price movements.
TradFi perpetual futures are accessible to eligible Axi clients through the Axi Trading Platform and MT5, subject to applicable eligibility requirements and product availability. Clients can visit the official Axi website to explore available instruments, contract specifications and account options.
About Axi
Axi is a global online FX and CFD broker, providing thousands of clients across 100+ countries with access to financial markets through intuitive trading platforms, advanced tools, and educational resources. Its product suite includes forex, CFDs, and perpetual futures, with availability varying by region and entity.
Promoted by AxiTrader LLC. Trading carries a high risk of investment loss. This content may not be available in your region.
For more information contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com
SOURCE: Axi Trader LLC
DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.
Axi is expanding its perpetual futures offering into traditional financial markets, extending access to eligible clients beyond its existing cryptocurrency lineup and bringing continuous trading opportunities to traditional asset classes.
Available through the Axi Trading Platform and MetaTrader5 (MT5), the expansion enables eligible clients to access traditional financial markets 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends. The launch builds on Axi’s existing crypto perpetual futures offering, broadening its product range to reflect evolving approaches to accessing global markets.
Traditional financial markets have historically operated around established trading sessions with market access shaped by exchange opening hours, closing times and holidays. Perpetual futures offer a different approach, allowing traders to speculate on price movements without taking ownership of the underlying assets and without the fixed expiry dates associated with conventional futures contracts.
Unlike traditional futures contracts, which expire on a predetermined date, perpetual futures have no contract expiry date or rollover requirement. Positions can be opened on either side of the market, allowing traders to take long or short positions based on their market outlook. Periodic funding rates provide a mechanism associated with the pricing of perpetual contracts.
By extending this product structure into traditional markets, Axi is broadening the range of instruments available to eligible clients through its trading platforms, while offering greater flexibility around when they can access supported markets.
Greg Lunz, Head of New Product and Innovation Growth at Axi said, “Expanding perpetual futures into traditional markets gives eligible clients greater flexibility in how they access and engage with familiar asset classes. By bringing 24/7 trading to TradFi markets through the Axi Trading Platform and MT5, we’re building on our existing offering to give clients more choice in how they approach changing market conditions.”
The expansion reflects the continuing development of trading products designed to provide access beyond conventional market schedules. For traders seeking to respond to developments outside standard trading hours, the availability of supported traditional-market instruments around the clock offers an additional way to engage with price movements.
TradFi perpetual futures are accessible to eligible Axi clients through the Axi Trading Platform and MT5, subject to applicable eligibility requirements and product availability. Clients can visit the official Axi website to explore available instruments, contract specifications and account options.
About Axi
Axi is a global online FX and CFD broker, providing thousands of clients across 100+ countries with access to financial markets through intuitive trading platforms, advanced tools, and educational resources. Its product suite includes forex, CFDs, and perpetual futures, with availability varying by region and entity.
Promoted by AxiTrader LLC. Trading carries a high risk of investment loss. This content may not be available in your region.
For more information contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com
SOURCE: Axi Trader LLC
DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.
Thursday, 22 October 2026
Kuaishou Launches Kling 4.0 AI-Generated Video Model
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Kuaishou Technology (Kuaishou), a content community and social platform, launched Kling 4.0, the latest video generation model from its Kling AI unit, on Oct 15.
Its main upgrades are steadier large-scale motion, video generation of up to 30 seconds in a single pass for long takes and continuous storytelling, and Omni Reference, which lets creators combine up to 15 references, such as images, videos, subjects and voices, to guide the output.
In a statement, Kuaishou said Kling 4.0 tackles one of the most common problems in artificial intelligence (AI) video, delivering more stable motion and smoother complex camera movements, such as tracking and orbit shots.
The model supports 10-bit HDR output for richer colour and better detail in high-contrast scenes and will also support 4K and 1080p resolution and the 21:9 ultrawide format.
Omni Reference can combine up to 10 images, five videos and seven subjects in a single task. Creators can also adapt the pacing, composition and style of a reference video for their own content, such as product advertisements.
Kling 4.0 supports up to 10 keyframes, allowing creators to set key moments such as character states and scene changes, while a video extension feature will soon support videos of up to two minutes.
At this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the first to include AI in its judging, two works created with Kling AI won Gold Lions.
Kling 4.0 can also be used through AI agents, and its capabilities will soon be available to businesses and developers through an application programming interface (API).
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, 21 October 2026
XSOLLA BUNDLES SIX INDIE PC GAMES FOR US$9.99
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Xsolla, a global commerce company, is selling a bundle of six indie personal computer (PC) games from six studios for US$9.99 on its Xsolla Mall online store until Nov 2. (US$1 = RM4.07)
Bought separately, the games would cost US$123.94 at regular United States (US) Steam prices as of Oct 1, making the bundle 91 per cent cheaper, the company said in a statement.
“Six games for US$9.99 get someone to try the deckbuilder or the horror visual novel they would have scrolled right past.
“Players get a real range for the price, and every studio in the line-up gets in front of people who are actively looking for their next game,” said Xsolla president, Chris Hewish.
The bundle commemorates gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show, to be held from Oct 29 to Nov 1 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, where Xsolla is also exhibiting.
Xsolla said 10 per cent of the purchase price, after taxes, fees and refunds, will go to Stand Up To Cancer, which funds cancer research, with restrictions applying.
The bundle includes GigaBash, a giant monster fighting game for up to four players; HELLCARD, a cooperative deck-building game for up to three players; Gordian Quest, a deck-building role-playing game; Winion Virus, a psychological horror visual novel for mature players; Monstrum, a survival horror game set aboard a derelict cargo ship; and UNYIELDER, a series of one-on-one boss fights.
Buyers receive all six Steam keys by email immediately after purchase, with step-by-step instructions for redeeming them on Steam, while the studios get a chance to reach players who might not otherwise have found their games.
-- BERNAMA
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