Toshiba Announces Sample Availability of Gate Driver for Bridge Circuits Driving High-Current Automotive Brushed DC Motors

 

Toshiba: TB9104FTG, a gate driver for bridge circuits used in high-current automotive brushed DC motors. 

KAWASAKI, Japan, Jan 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation ("Toshiba") has started providing engineering samples of “TB9104FTG,” a gate driver[1] for bridge circuits used in high-current automotive brushed DC motors, suitable for body system applications such as power back doors, power sliding doors, and power seats. 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128677664/en/ 

 

The accelerating electrification of movable components in vehicles has increased the number of motors installed in vehicles, particularly motors for body system applications. This trend has also increased the number of drivers required for motor operation, and is creating demand for more compact systems. Wire harnesses must be reduced to meet requirements for lighter vehicles.

TB9104FTG adopts a small VQFN32 package with typical dimensions of 5.0mm×5.0mm. An exposed thermal pad on the underside of the package enhances thermal performance, and when combined with external MOSFETs, this enables a compact drive circuit for high-current brushed DC motors in body system applications.

The new product has a serial peripheral interface (SPI)[2] for interfacing with microcontrollers, providing numerous configuration options and status information. Notably, rotation commands for the motor can be issued not only through dedicated pins but also via SPI. By connecting multiple gate drivers to the SPI bus, wiring can be shared, contributing to wire harness reduction.

TB9104FTG also features a built-in PWM drive circuit. Designed for environments with multiple devices connected via SPI, it enables continuous motor operation based on a preset PWM drive cycle with just a single rotation command from the microcontroller. This helps reduce the load on the microcontroller and alleviates congestion on the SPI bus.

As a device handling high current, TB9104FTG ensures safety by integrating a high-precision current sense amplifier that monitors motor drive current. By feeding the amplifier’s output back to the microcontroller, precise drive-stop control can be executed when abnormal current occurs. The product also features other abnormality detection and drive-stop functions.

Toshiba will expand the lineup of driver ICs for automotive motors, contributing to the electrification and enhanced safety of automotive equipment.

Notes:
[1] Gate driver: Driver for driving MOSFETs
[2] Serial peripheral interface (SPI): A synchronous serial communications protocol for sending and receiving data.

Applications
​
Automotive body systems

· To drive high-current brushed DC motors used in applications such as power back doors, power sliding doors, power windows, and power seats.

Features

· Small, high heat-dissipation VQFN32 package
· SPI for interfacing with the microcontroller
· Built-in PWM drive circuit
· Various abnormality detection functions
 
Main Specifications 
 

Part number			TB9104FTG
Supported motors			Brushed DC motor
Number of output channels			One channel (when used as H-bridge)/two channels (when used as half-bridge)
Main functions			Standby function, dead time control, PWM drive
Main abnormal detections			Power supply low voltage detections, charge pump overvoltage detection, overheat detection, VDS detection of external MOSFETs, SPI error detection
Absolute maximum ratings (Ta=-40 to 125°C)	Power supply VB voltage 1 Vvb1a (V)		-0.3 to 18
	Power supply VB voltage 2 Vvb2a (V)		18 to 40 (within one second)
	Power supply VCC voltage Vvcc1a (V)		-0.3 to 6.0
	Power supply VDD voltage Vvdd1a (V)		-0.3 to 6.0
	Ambient temperature Ta (°C)		-40 to 125
Operating ranges (Ta=-40 to 125°C)	Operating power supply voltage1 VvbRNG (V)		5.7 to 18
	Operating power supply voltage2 VvccRNG (V)		4.5 to 5.5
	Operating power supply voltage3 VvddRNG (V)		4.5 to 5.5
	Operating junction temperature TjRNG (°C)		-40 to 150
Package	Name		P-VQFN32-0505-0.50-009
	Size (mm)	Typ.	5.0×5.0
Reliability			AEC-Q100 (Grade 1) qualified (scheduled)

Follow the link below for more on the new product.
TB9104FTG

Follow the link below for more on Toshiba’s automotive brushed DC motor driver ICs.
Automotive Brushed DC Motor Driver ICs

* Company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced semiconductor and storage solutions, draws on over half a century of experience and innovation to offer customers and business partners outstanding discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD products.

Its 17,000 employees around the world share a determination to maximize product value, and to promote close collaboration with customers in the co-creation of value and new markets. The company looks forward to building and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.

Find out more at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128677664/en/

Contact

Customer Inquiries
Analog Device Sales & Marketing Dept.
Tel: +81-44-548-2219
Contact Us

Media Inquiries:
C. Nagasawa
Communications & Market Intelligence Dept.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp

Source : Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation 

--BERNAMA

Bitget Wallet Shifts Toward an Everyday Finance App

Pay hub anchors the redesign as wallets evolve into daily-use financial accounts built on blockchain infrastructure 

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Jan 29 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget Wallet has made a strategic shift into an all-in-one everyday finance app, refreshing its interface to place payments at the center of the app experience. The move follows the wallet surpassing 90 million users globally, highlighting the need to support more frequent, real-world financial activity at scale. It reflects a broader transition as crypto wallets move beyond investment-led use cases into daily financial accounts for spending, sending, saving, and money management. The shift comes as blockchain-based platforms increasingly challenge traditional banking apps with faster settlement, lower costs, and borderless access.

The update is built around utility-first usage and a simplified approach to onchain finance, following a clear inflection point in crypto payments. Industry data shows stablecoin transactions surpassed $10 trillion in 2025, while spending across major crypto card programs rose 525% year on year, signaling a shift toward real-world use. This trend is reflected in a new Pay hub added to the app's main navigation, enabling users to spend and move funds with fewer steps through a unified, mobile-first design.

The Pay hub unifies crypto cards, QR payments, bank transfers, and in-app shopping into a single, front-facing flow, making Bitget Wallet one of the few self-custodial platforms to support all major crypto payment methods in one place. Users can spend crypto globally via cards accepted across Mastercard and Visa networks, pay locally by scanning QR codes, or transfer stablecoins directly to bank accounts where supported. By combining global and local payment options in one app, the wallet gives users the flexibility to pay anywhere while retaining full control of their funds through self-custody.

Central to the update is a streamlined interface designed for frequent use, reducing friction in everyday financial interactions. The redesign introduces Dynamic Panel, a live notification feature that keeps real-time transaction updates visible without disrupting what users are doing. It also adds Today's View, a new screen accessible with a simple swipe that offers a concise overview of recent activity and commonly used actions. Paired with a cleaner, modular layout, the interface shortens the steps needed to manage funds, helping users complete onchain actions more efficiently.

"People are choosing onchain finance because it's better aligned with how money needs to work in a digital economy today," said Jamie Elkaleh, CMO of Bitget Wallet. "Blockchain removes many of the frictions in traditional finance, including slow settlement, opaque fees, and geographic limits. As stablecoins and self-custodial wallets are increasingly used for everyday needs, our focus is making that experience intuitive, allowing people to save, send and spend money globally in real time. By centering payments and designing the app around simplicity, we're turning the wallet into a daily crypto account that works like modern banking, but onchain."

The launch follows a year in which wallet usage shifted steadily toward everyday financial activity. Bitget Wallet data shows stablecoin-based spending and yield grew faster than trading, with card spending rising more than 28-fold year on year and earn subscriptions expanding nearly tenfold. Together, these trends point to a new phase of crypto adoption driven by real-world financial utility.

Users can visit Bitget Wallet's blog for more information.

About Bitget Wallet

Bitget Wallet is an everyday finance app designed to make crypto simple, secure, and usable in daily life. Serving more than 90 million users worldwide, it offers an all-in-one platform to send, spend, earn, and trade crypto and stablecoins through blockchain-based infrastructure. With global on- and off-ramps, the app enables faster and borderless onchain finance, supported by advanced security and a $700 million user protection fund. Bitget Wallet operates as a fully self-custodial wallet and does not hold or control user funds, private keys, or user data. Transactions are signed by users and executed on public blockchains.

For more information, visit: X | LinkedIn | Telegram | YouTube | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d10151ed-b88c-4aad-ac4b-c786f4cc0ff0 

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

AI-MEDIA TO BRING REAL-TIME TRANSLATION TO ISE 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- AI-Media, a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered subtitling and language solutions, will showcase its real-time translation, captioning, and audio description technologies at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026, from Feb 3 to 6.

In a statement, AI-Media said it will highlight how multilingual and accessible communication is becoming a standard requirement across professional audio-visual (AV) environments.

“Professional AV is moving quickly toward the same expectations broadcasters have operated under for years—reliability, low latency and experiences that work across languages and accessibility needs,” said AI-Media Vice President of Strategic Accounts and Vice President of Sales for EMEA, Mark Lovatt.

He said the company will demonstrate at ISE how real-time voice translation, subtitling and audio description can be delivered as part of live production workflows to help organisations design more inclusive experiences from the outset.

At the event, the company will demonstrate how its broadcast-grade AI technology can be integrated into professional AV workflows to deliver scalable, low-latency language and accessibility support for live events, corporate communications, venues and public installations.

AI-Media will feature LEXI Voice, an AI-driven solution that provides real-time voice translation into multiple languages with natural-sounding output and minimal delay, designed for live and broadcast environments.

The company will also showcase LEXI Text, its real-time subtitling solution, and LEXI AD, which delivers automated audio description to support inclusive viewing experiences.

According to AI-Media, the LEXI suite enables organisations to deliver multilingual and accessible experiences across professional AV and broadcast settings, supporting an industry shift towards inclusive communication as a standard practice.

All LEXI solutions integrate seamlessly with SDI and IP infrastructures, supporting deployments across conferences, corporate communications, live events, sports venues, houses of worship, and public installations.

-- BERNAMA

HR Leaders Face Critical Inflection Point as 'Intentional Organisation' Becomes Essential for Business Resilience in 2026

New global research from Top Employers Institute reveals that deliberate design will define organisational success in the year ahead

LONDON, Jan 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The strategies that sustained organisations through recent years will no longer be sufficient in 2026, according to a new report launched today by Top Employers Institute, a leading certification, benchmarking and advisory firm. Speed and scale, as default responses to pressure, have reached their limits. What will fuel high-performing organisations in the year ahead will be designing work, leadership and management systems with deliberate intent.

World of Work Trends 2026: The Intentional Organisation sets out a next-phase model for organisational performance that prioritises coherence over acceleration, value over volume, and clarity over complexity. The research draws on Top Employers Institute's unique dataset of 2,358 organisations globally, providing early signals of patterns now becoming visible at scale. The research identifies the following five defining trends that will determine which organisations sustain performance under pressure in 2026 and beyond.

1. Purpose in Practice

Purpose statements will no longer be enough in the year ahead. Stakeholders will demand tangible evidence that purpose shapes behaviours and outcomes. HR leaders must now embed purpose into decision-making systems, leadership expectations and scorecards that trigger early intervention. Organisations with higher revenue growth and profitability are 8% more likely to have deployed a purpose measurement scorecard. This includes 96% aligning strategy to purpose and 55% actively monitoring alignment.

2. AI with Intent

2026 marks the end of AI adoption for adoption's sake. With nearly half of AI projects scrapped between pilot and deployment and only 37% of teams reporting productivity gains, organisations can no longer afford to implement without clear governance. The 40% of Top Employers continuously evaluating how AI balances organisational needs with employee impact show what intentional deployment looks like. HR leaders entering 2026 must establish transparent frameworks for where AI is used, who remains accountable, and how fairness is protected.

3. Structured Flexibility

While 87% of organisations already have remote work policies, what will distinguish performance in 2026 will be how deliberately flexibility is structured. Organisations with low turnover are 13% more likely to have equipped leaders to manage hybrid teams effectively. HR leaders can no longer expand flexibility by default – they must design it with boundaries that protect fairness, performance and wellbeing, or watch disengagement and inconsistency undermine results.

4. Designing for Productivity

This is the year organisations must accept that productivity cannot come from working people harder. With HR budgets shrinking – just 35% planning increases versus 66% in 2022 – and burnout mentions in Glassdoor reviews up 32%, the path forward needs to be a new one. HR leaders must direct time, energy and resources to the highest-impact work, protect focus through clear boundaries, and build renewable workforce capability through redeployment and reskilling. Organisations reporting higher revenue growth are 12% more likely, and those reporting stronger customer satisfaction are 27% more likely, to use iterative planning and feedback loops to stay responsive to change. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of organisations now use these practices, reinforcing the role of deliberate organisational design in sustainable productivity.

5. The Stability Paradox

While only 17% of organisations surveyed currently prioritise job security in their Employee Value Proposition (EVP), those that do have voluntary turnover 9% lower than average. In the year ahead, as workforce shortages intensify and labour markets tighten, HR leaders must redesign stability as a platform for continuous learning and internal mobility, not just retention. The 67% prioritising career advancement recognise that competitive advantage in 2026 depends on their ability to continuously redeploy and reskill existing talent.

"2026 is where speed gives way to intentional design,” says Adrian Seligman, CEO of Top Employers Institute. “Our data shows that performance under pressure now depends on how deliberately organisations structure work, decision-making and leadership focus. That’s what turns organisational design into a true operating discipline – and where HR leaders will create the greatest value.”

Notes to editors

Methodology

The data shown in this report has been extracted from the anonymised responses of 2,358 global participants of the Top Employers Institute's HR Best Practices Survey for 2026. We used regression analyses to understand the links between the adoption of HR best practices and success metrics (specifically, employee engagement, internal promotion rates, profitability and market share). All findings discussed in this document are significant (p<0.05). Case studies in the report have been collected from Top Employers demonstrating excellence across the five trends.

About Top Employers Institute

Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in People Practices. We help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Top Employers Programme, participating companies can be certified and recognised as an employer of choice. The certification is awarded to organisations based on the participation and results of the HR Best Practices Survey covering six HR domains consisting of 20 topics such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing.

In 2025, Top Employers Institute certified nearly 2,500 organisations in 131 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 14 million employees globally.

Top Employers Institute. For a better world of work.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128749327/en/

Contact

Media contact
Rosemary Lavender
TEI@brands2life.com
+44 (0) 20 7592 1200

Source : Top Employers Institute

--BERNAMA

COVENTRY COMPLETES US$750 MLN IN LIFE INSURANCE-BACKED DEAL UNDER LILY PROGRAMME

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Coventry, the leader and creator of the secondary market for life insurance, has completed its third asset-backed securitisation since April 2025 under its LILY programme.

The transactions collectively total US$750 million in life insurance-backed financing and further position Coventry as a platform for institutional investors seeking differentiated exposure to longevity-linked assets. (US$1=RM3.94)

Coventry Chief Executive Officer, Reid Buerger said the significance of the LILY programme lies in the establishment of a repeatable, institutional-quality issuance platform rather than any single transaction.

“That evolution reflects years of building the origination scale, analytics, servicing capabilities and structural rigour required to support sustained securitisation activity,” he said in a statement.

The LILY programme structures longevity-linked assets into investment-grade asset-backed securities (ABS), emphasising durable collateral, predictable cash flows and characteristics that are largely uncorrelated with traditional markets.

By combining disciplined underwriting, actuarial analytics and robust structural protections, the programme provides investors access to a specialised asset class through a familiar ABS format.

The continued growth of the LILY programme underscores its position at the intersection of life insurance, asset-backed finance and private credit.

Coventry expects the programme to play a central role in funding the expansion of the life insurance-backed asset class as demand for high-quality, uncorrelated assets continues to rise.

-- BERNAMA

Kioxia Introduces QLC UFS 4.1 Embedded Flash Memory Devices for High-Capacity Mobile Storage

^{QLC UFS 4.1 Embedded Flash Memory Devices}


8^th Generation BiCS FLASH™ Technology Delivers Performance, Efficiency Gains

TOKYO, Jan 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kioxia Corporation, a world leader in memory solutions, today announced that it has begun sampling new Universal Flash Storage¹ (UFS) Ver. 4.1 embedded memory devices with 4-bit-per-cell, quadruple-level cell (QLC) technology. Designed for read-intensive applications and high-capacity storage needs, the new devices are powered by Kioxia’s 8^th generation BiCS FLASH^TM 3D flash memory technology.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127840829/en/ 

QLC UFS offers a higher bit density than traditional TLC UFS, making it suitable for mobile applications that require higher storage capacities. Advancements in controller technology and error correction have enabled QLC technology to achieve this while maintaining competitive performance.

Building on these advancements, the new Kioxia devices achieve substantial performance increases². Kioxia’s QLC UFS boosts sequential write speeds by 25%, random read speeds by 90%, and random write speeds by 95% compared to the previous generation (UFS 4.0 / BiCS FLASH™6 QLC UFS)³. Write Amplification Factor (WAF) is also improved by max. 3.5× (with WriteBooster disabled).

Well-suited for smartphones and tablets, Kioxia QLC UFS also supports emerging product categories that demand higher capacity and performance, including PCs, networking, AR/VR, IoT, and AI-enabled devices.

Available in 512-gigabyte (GB) and 1-terabyte (TB) capacities, the new UFS 4.1 devices combine Kioxia’s advanced BiCS FLASH™ 3D flash memory and an integrated controller in a JEDEC-standard package. Kioxia’s 8th generation BiCS FLASH™ 3D flash memory introduces CMOS directly Bonded to Array (CBA) technology - an architectural innovation that marks a step-change in flash memory design.

Key features include:

• Compliant with the UFS 4.1 specification. UFS 4.1 is backward-compatible with UFS 4.0 and UFS 3.1.
• 8th generation Kioxia BiCS FLASH™ 3D flash memory
• WriteBooster support for significantly faster write speeds
• Reduced package size compared to the previous QLC UFS: 11×13 mm to 9×13 mm

Related Link:
Kioxia’s UFS 4.1 Product Page

Notes:
(1)	Universal Flash Storage (UFS) is a product category for a class of embedded memory products built to the JEDEC UFS standard specification. Due to its serial interface, UFS supports full duplexing, which enables both concurrent reading and writing between the host processor and UFS device
(2)	Based on Kioxia internal testing
(3)	512GB product, when WriteBooster is enabled

- In every mention of a Kioxia product: Product density is identified based on the density of memory chip(s) within the Product, not the amount of memory capacity available for data storage by the end user. Consumer-usable capacity will be less due to overhead data areas, formatting, bad blocks, and other constraints, and may also vary based on the host device and application. For details, please refer to applicable product specifications. The definition of 1KB = 2^10 bytes = 1,024 bytes. The definition of 1Gb = 2^30 bits = 1,073,741,824 bits. The definition of 1GB = 2^30 bytes = 1,073,741,824 bytes. 1Tb = 2^40 bits = 1,099,511,627,776 bits.

- 1 Gbps is calculated as 1,000,000,000 bits/s. Read and write speeds are the best values obtained in a specific test environment at Kioxia and Kioxia warrants neither read nor write speeds in individual devices. Read and write speed may vary depending on device used and file size read or written.

- Company names, product names and service names may be trademarks of third-party companies.

About Kioxia

Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. Kioxia is committed to uplifting the world with “memory” by offering products, services and systems that create choice for customers and memory-based value for society. Kioxia's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH™, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, automotive systems, data centers and generative AI systems.

*Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is correct on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127840829/en/

Contact

Media Inquiries:
Kioxia Corporation
Promotion Management Division
Satoshi Shindo
Tel: +81-3-6478-2404

Source : Kioxia Corporation

Coventry Expands LILY Life Insurance-Backed Funding Program with $750 Million in New Asset-Backed Notes

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Jan 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coventry, the leader and creator of the secondary market for life insurance and a pioneer of the life insurance-backed asset class, today announced the successful completion of its third asset-backed securitization since April 2025 under its LILY program. Collectively, these transactions total $750 million in life insurance-backed financing and further establish Coventry as the leading platform for institutional investors seeking differentiated exposure to longevity-linked assets.

The LILY program structures longevity-linked assets into investment-grade asset-backed securities that emphasize durable collateral, predictable cash flows, and characteristics that are largely uncorrelated with traditional markets. By combining disciplined underwriting, actuarial analytics, and robust structural protections, LILY provides investors with access to a specialized asset class through a familiar ABS format.

“What’s most important about the success of the LILY program is not any single transaction, but the establishment of a repeatable, institutional-quality issuance platform for life insurance-linked assets,” said Reid Buerger, CEO of Coventry. “That evolution reflects years of building the origination scale, analytics, servicing capabilities, and structural rigor required to support sustained securitization activity.”

The continued growth of the LILY program underscores Coventry’s position at the intersection of life insurance, asset-backed finance, and private credit, and highlights the firm’s role in shaping the institutional market for longevity-linked investments. As demand for high-quality, uncorrelated assets continues to grow, Coventry expects LILY to play a central role in funding the responsible expansion of the life insurance-backed asset class.

About Coventry

Coventry is the leader and creator of the secondary market for life insurance and a pioneer of the life insurance-backed asset class, operating an integrated platform across four complementary verticals: the secondary market for life insurance, longevity lending, life insurance and annuity distribution, and insurance technology. Through these businesses, Coventry expands financial options for policyowners, provides capital solutions backed by life insurance policies and other longevity-linked assets, broadens access to protection and retirement products, and applies technology to enhance pricing, risk management, and operational efficiency across the life insurance ecosystem. Guided by a longstanding commitment to consumer rights and market integrity, Coventry leverages its leadership position to raise industry standards, expand consumer choice, and responsibly develop institutional-quality life insurance-backed investment solutions. Over its history, Coventry has acquired more than 21,000 life insurance policies, completed more than $50 billion in longevity-linked transactions, delivered more than $6 billion to policyowners, and originated more than $1 billion in life insurance-linked loans. To learn more about Coventry, visit Coventry.com.

Media Contact:
Jonny Shiver
Vice President, Marketing
jshiver@coventry.com
(215) 836-8300


SOURCE: Coventry

HCLTech Bolsters Wealth Management Portfolio With Finergic Acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- HCLTech announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Singapore-headquartered Finergic Solutions Pte Ltd, a boutique wealth consulting firm.

In a statement, the global technology company said the transaction is slated for completion by April 30.

"With Finergic’s focused domain expertise, HCLTech is strategically positioned to strengthen its digital services capabilities in wealth management.

"This transformative transaction enables us to deliver advanced capabilities, foster innovation and unlock substantial synergies—empowering our clients to realise greater business outcomes across the financial services landscape," said HCLTech chief growth officer and global head - Financial Services, Srinivasan Seshadri.

Meanwhile, Finergic co-founders, Ganesh Swaminathan, Saravanan Kandaswamy and Senthil Kumar Sekar expressed their excitement about the future.

“We are delighted to become a part of HCLTech’s amazing growth journey. Our shared vision for the transformation of the financial services industry and complementary strengths position us to deliver even greater value to enterprises and create new opportunities for our people,” they said.

Founded in 2019, Finergic has built a strong global presence with a core focus on banking and wealth management transformation programmes. The integration of Finergic’s specialised capabilities with HCLTech’s global scale is anticipated to drive significant synergies and elevate service delivery across the financial services and wealth management sectors.

The acquisition is a strategic move to strengthen HCLTech's digital services in wealth management. By incorporating Finergic's expertise in transformation strategy, consulting, and wealth architecture, HCLTech will accelerate the deployment of next-generation, platform-enabled wealth management solutions, which will be anchored by advanced artificial intelligence-native workflows.

These capabilities will complement HCLTech’s extensive experience with Temenos products, supporting over 40 global banks.

-- BERNAMA

THREE SCIENTISTS AWARDED 2026 JAPAN PRIZE, CEREMONY SET FOR TOKYO

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The Japan Prize Foundation has announced that three scientists from the United States (US) and Japan have been awarded the 2026 Japan Prize.

Prof Cynthia Dwork of the US received the Japan Prize in the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication for her contributions to research on building an ethical digital society, including advances in differential privacy and fairness.

Meanwhile, Prof Shizuo Akira of Japan and Prof Zhijian "James" Chen of the US were awarded the Japan Prize in the field of Life Sciences for their discovery of the nucleic acid sensing mechanism by the innate immune system.

According to the foundation in a statement, the award presentation ceremony will be held in Tokyo this April.

For the 2026 Japan Prize, approximately 16,000 prominent scientists and engineers worldwide were invited to submit nominations. A total of 107 nominations were received for the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication, while 185 nominations were submitted for Life Sciences, with the winners selected from 292 nominees overall.

Established in 1981, the Japan Prize recognises scientists and engineers whose creative and dramatic transformative achievements advance their fields and contribute significantly to the peace and prosperity of humanity.

-- BERNAMA

TOURISE CEMENTS TOURISM'S ROLE AS STRATEGIC ECONOMIC SYSTEM AT DAVOS

His Excellency Ahmed Al‑Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of TOURISE, convenes executives from Trip.com, Visa, TikTok, PayPal, Salesforce, Forbes, Avolta, ByteDance, and more at Davos 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- TOURISE, the global platform shaping a new horizon for tourism, successfully advanced the sector’s strategic importance at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, advocating for its recognition as a vital economic system connecting industries, economies, and regions.

Often overlooked as a siloed industry, TOURISE pressed the importance of tourism being recognised as a strategic sector, contributing one in every US$10 to global gross domestic product and uplifting every industry it touches. (US$1=RM3.98)

Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of TOURISE, Ahmed Al Khateeb said these partnerships will shape the next decade of tourism, creating trust and shared purpose to move the world forward.

“Tourism is more than a lifestyle sector; it functions as a strategic economic system. TOURISE serves as a platform where leaders form alliances to build shared solutions where technology aligns with community development, finance with sustainability, and education with mobility,” he said in a statement.

The Davos programme was anchored by two strategic workshops: ‘Can Tourism Save the World?’ and ‘Agentic Tourism: From Insight to Action’. The latter advanced the development of an Agentic Tourism Protocol, a shared framework designed to enable safe, connected, and interoperable artificial intelligence systems across the sector.

The workshops drew high-level participation from global executives and technologists, including leaders from Trip.com, Visa, TikTok, PayPal, Salesforce, Forbes, Avolta, and ByteDance, underscoring tourism’s growing role as a platform for growth and innovation across diverse industries.

TOURISE also sponsored the annual Women Leaders Reception, where Advisory Board Member and Saudi Arabia Ministry of Tourism Deputy Minister of International Affairs, Hawazen Nassief, emphasised the necessity of advancing women into leadership roles within a sector where they represent nearly half of the global workforce.

Davos marked the start of TOURISE’s 2026 global calendar, which will feature cross-sector workshops and new partnerships, propelling the platform’s momentum toward its second summit scheduled for March 2027.

TOURISE is the world’s premier platform shaping a new horizon for global tourism, operating under the umbrella of the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. Its inaugural summit took place in November 2025 in Riyadh.

-- BERNAMA

SAUDI MINISTERS PITCH 'CONNECTOR ECONOMY' AT WEF DAVOS

Amid shifting global trade dynamics, Saudi Arabia underscores its role as a stable connector economy linking markets across regions (Photo: AETOSWire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia’s ministers at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos outlined the Kingdom's strategy to become a pivotal "connector economy" amid shifts in global trade, aggressively expanding its tourism sector, and reinforcing its role as a stable partner in finance and emerging technologies.

Minister of Commerce, Majid A. Alkassabi stated that global trade is moving toward a "managed and rule-driven trade model". He positioned Saudi Arabia's strategic location and resources as key advantages, allowing it to become a "bridge economy" and a major "logistic hub" linking Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The Kingdom’s tourism ambitions were highlighted by Minister of Tourism, Ahmed A. Alkhateeb. Citing UN Tourism projections for two billion tourists by 2030, he described the growth potential as "very encouraging" for Saudi hotel operators, investors, and technology providers.

On the financial front, Minister of Finance, Mohammed A. Aljadaan affirmed the government's role in providing a predictable business environment. This is being achieved by strengthening the national economy’s resilience and ensuring the private sector maintains the necessary confidence.

The Kingdom's technological focus was detailed by Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah A. Alswaha. Addressing challenges like the "energy wall and the memory wall" in artificial intelligence (AI), he extended a call for global partners, emphasising that Saudi Arabia is the partner of choice to accelerate and adopt AI in the "Intelligence Age".

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar I. Alkhorayef stressed Saudi Arabia's commitment to a multilateral approach in international cooperation. He pointed to the Future Minerals Forum as a global convening platform uniting governments, industry, finance, and academia to address the future of minerals.

Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal F. Alibrahim, speaking on economic partnerships, expressed belief in a world where every country can realise its economic potential while maintaining open dialogue, calling the current era a vast opportunity to "design the future".

Further cementing its global role, the Global Innovation Platform—a strategic partnership between Saudi HoldCo and GoldenPoint Global—launched the Saudi–United States Innovation Partnership during the meeting, according to a statement.

This platform is designed to accelerate bilateral collaboration in life sciences, AI, and advanced manufacturing, anchored in Riyadh and Austin.

Additionally, Amplifai Health was recognised as a winner in the second cohort of WEF’s MINDS - AI Global Alliance initiative.

-- BERNAMA

“Taste Hong Kong,” a Chef-Curated Gourmet Guide to the City’s True Culinary Soul

More than 50 master chefs handpick 250 restaurants to showcase the authentic flavours of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods 


HONG KONG, Jan 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hong Kong’s longstanding reputation as one of the world’s great food cities has been built on contrast — a destination where humble street stalls sit comfortably alongside polished Michelin-starred dining rooms, and where “Great Taste” can be found everywhere in Hong Kong. This season, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) celebrates the city’s rich culinary culture with the launch of Taste Hong Kong, a new gourmet guide developed in collaboration with the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) that invites visitors to experience the city through the eyes — and appetites — of its master chefs.

Taste Hong Kong is a chef-curated culinary guide to the city’s diverse neighbourhoods. More than 50 master chefs — all graduates of CCI’s prestigious Master Chef Course in Chinese Cuisine — have collectively handpicked 250 restaurants throughout Hong Kong, shining a spotlight on the places they return to time and again. The guide offers a comprehensive and refined overview of the city’s culinary landscape, highlighting a rich tapestry of Chinese cuisines alongside an array of international flavours, from traditional noodle shops and classic dessert parlours to family run local gems, artisanal cafés, upscale hotel restaurants, and Michelin-starred fine dining destinations. Going beyond conventional rankings and accolades, the guide provides an authoritative, insider perspective on the city’s most authentic and distinctive gastronomic experiences.

At the heart of Taste Hong Kong are the chefs themselves. As the creative minds behind some of Hong Kong’s most celebrated dining rooms, they bring a rare perspective on what defines a great meal — and what makes a restaurant endure. Among them are acclaimed figures such as Adam Wong and Lee Man-sing, who have each contributed personal recommendations that reflect both their culinary roots and their deep connection to Hong Kong’s dining culture.

“When I think about Hong Kong food, I think about the neighbourhood places I always go back to — dai pai dongs, cha chaan tengs and small restaurants that define the city’s everyday dining culture. These spots reflect how locals really eat and the city’s culinary soul. I am excited to be part of this guide because it gives visitors a genuine way to experience Hong Kong through the food and neighbourhoods that locals know and love,” says Adam Wong, a 3-star Michelin Executive Chef at the Forum Restaurant.

“I have always believed that some of Hong Kong’s best food is found in the simplest settings, whether it’s a comforting bowl of noodles or hot pot shared with friends. The restaurants highlighted in Taste Hong Kong are places with history, consistency and heart. They show why Hong Kong is one of the world’s most exciting cities to eat in,” says Lee Man-sing, Executive Chef of Mott 32 Group.

Designed for both visitors and locals, Taste Hong Kong organises its 250 restaurant picks by neighbourhood. With various neighbourhoods represented, travellers are encouraged to venture beyond well-trodden dining districts and experience the distinctive character of each area. From sizzling woks in bustling street kitchens to quiet neighbourhood favourites passed down through generations, the chefs’ selections offer visitors and locals a deeper insight into Hong Kong’s rich culinary heritage and vibrant diversity, guiding them to the true “Great Taste” of the city.

The guide is supported by a rich suite of digital content, including neighbourhood videos and curated maps, hosted on the campaign’s dedicated website. A downloadable digital edition of the Taste Hong Kong guide will also be available, serving as an easy-to-use companion for planning meals and neighbourhood discovery. QR codes will be displayed at various MTR stations, bus shelters and visitor signage across neighbourhoods. HKTB will also broadcast the “Taste Hong Kong” promotional video at major tourist hotspots, and prominent shopping malls and hotels across the city, reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a global gourmet capital where exceptional food can be found everywhere — often in the most unexpected places.

To discover the full Taste of Hong Kong guide and begin your culinary adventure, visit tastehk.discoverhongkong.com. Download the digital guide, watch the neighbourhood videos and join the conversation using #TasteHongKong to discover the authentic flavours that define Hong Kong, one neighbourhood at a time.

Media can download photos at the following link:
https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?cachedCriteria=1&categoryId=2323&categoryTypeId=2&allCats=0  

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms Holly Chan Tel: 2807 6206 Email: holly.chan@hktb.com

Ms Irene Tsang Tel: 2807 6541 Email: irene.tsang@hktb.com

Photo accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2dabc68d-9bfd-4f1b-a708-40865a2acdec
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7b089ab-153d-4098-b587-c33148715edf
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/50b198ca-9764-4305-991c-fff01c8fd669 


SOURCE: Hong Kong Tourism Board

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