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

DAYONE UNVEILS 560 MW FINLAND DATA CENTRE EXPANSION

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- DayOne, a Singapore-based global data centre developer and operator, announced early-stage plans for a significant data centre project in Klaukkala, Nurmijärvi, Finland.

In a statement, the company said the Municipality of Nurmijärvi has concurrently begun handling the preliminary sale of the data centre site to DayOne.

This new project further solidifies DayOne’s long-term commitment to Finland’s digital ecosystem, building on its previously announced approximately 1.2 billion euros investment in the Lahti project and a joint venture in Kouvola. (1 Euro = RM4.71)

The Nurmijärvi data centre is tentatively slated for a phased development with a potential of up to 560 megawatts (MW) of total grid power.

The project is expected to create substantial employment opportunities, estimated to employ up to 1,000 workers during its peak construction phase. Long-term operations will support the gradual ramp-up of up to 700 skilled positions.

DayOne has signed a site securing and development agreement with Fortum, Finland’s leading energy producer. Under the agreement, Fortum will assist the project’s development by facilitating zoning processes and grid connection planning.

The continued development and construction are subject to various municipal, regulatory, and government approvals, including a required permit from the Ministry of Defence.

In line with Finland’s national objectives for sustainable digital infrastructure, the project is planned as a high value-adding data centre.

Beyond the facility, DayOne is preparing a framework agreement to support the local community in Nurmijärvi. This includes plans for cooperation with educational institutions such as Aalto University, as well as support for regional environmental protection and culture initiatives.

The expansion follows DayOne’s recent success in securing major funding, including a mezzanine financing facility of up to one billion euro from global investment firm Brookfield and a global sovereign investor in December 2025, and over US$2.0 billion in Series C equity financing secured in January 2026.

-- BERNAMA

UTS-LED RESEARCH DEVELOPS NANOPARTICLES TARGETING DISEASE PROTEINS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Chair Professor in Nanomedicine Bingyang Shi and international collaborators have developed a novel nanoparticle-based approach aimed at targeting disease-causing proteins in the body.

Published in Nature Nanotechnology, the perspective article describes engineered nanoparticles, known as nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimaeras (NPTACs), which can be customised to bind and degrade specific proteins linked to diseases such as cancer and dementia, according to UTS in a statement.

Professor Shi said these nanoparticles are designed to guide harmful proteins into the body’s natural recycling system, where they can be broken down and removed, adding that while promising, this research remains at the preclinical stage, and further studies are required before any clinical application.

The technology builds on the concept of targeted protein degradation, a growing field in biotechnology, and could eventually expand the range of proteins considered "undruggable". Early preclinical experiments have shown potential against key disease targets, including EGFR and PD-L1, which are implicated in tumour growth and immune evasion.

Key advantages of the approach include tissue- and disease-specific targeting, the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, modular design for multiple protein targets, and compatibility with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nanomaterials.

Professor Shi highlighted that NPTACs are still in the experimental phase, and the team is seeking strategic partners to support further development, regulatory review, and potential therapeutic applications in oncology, neurology, and immunology.

Professor Shi noted that this research illustrates the potential of nanoparticle-based platforms not just as delivery vehicles but as active therapeutic agents.

The work involved collaboration with Professor Kam Leong of Columbia University and Professor Meng Zheng of Henan University.

-- BERNAMA

IPC Partners with Taiwan-Based Vsense to Deliver Next-Generation FPGA Trading Infrastructure to Global Markets

 

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan, Jan 22 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IPC Systems (“‘IPC”), a leading global provider of secure, compliant communications and multi-cloud connectivity solutions, announced its role as the exclusive global distributor for Vsense FinTech, Inc. (“Vsense”), a Taiwan-based innovator in FPGA-powered trading solutions.

IPC will serve as the exclusive global distributor and white-label reseller of Vsense’s high-performance FPGA-based low latency trading solutions, as part of the deal. IPC now has the exclusive rights to distribute this hardware solution to bypass software overhead, ultimately paving the way for extreme speed and performance critical for high-frequency trading.

“This agreement strengthens IPC’s role as a leading provider of trading infrastructure,” said Paul Zatek, Global Head of Data Sales at IPC. “Our partnership allows IPC to combine Vsense’s advanced FPGA solutions to our global solution portfolio. It demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovation and low-latency solutions to the capital markets.”

The partnership significantly strengthens IPC’s competitive position in Asia-Pacific, where demand for deterministic latency, exchange-certified infrastructure, and hardware-based risk controls continues to grow. By combining Vsense’s FPGA technology and deep Asian exchange integrations with IPC’s regional presence and global service capabilities, IPC is uniquely positioned to support buy-side, sell-side, and proprietary trading firms across the region with next-generation trading infrastructure. Additional highlights of the partnership include:

• Exclusive Distribution Rights: IPC gains an exclusive, worldwide license to market, resell, and distribute Vsense’s FPGA product portfolio to financial institutions, trading firms, exchanges, and capital markets participants.
• Product Portfolio: IPC will integrate Vsense’s flagship solutions into its offering threefold:
  • Vlite: Normalized Market Data Solution delivering FPGA-accelerated, low-latency market data from global exchanges
  • Vpass: FPGA-based Risk Check Solution with pre-trade validation for sell-side brokers
  • Vpal: Multi-Exchange Order Gateway Solution providing ultra-low latency order placement and monitoring for buy-side customers
• Service Levels: Solutions are backed by stringent SLAs

The strategic impact of this collaboration will expand IPC’s global trading ecosystem by combining its client network with Vsense’s cutting-edge FPGA solutions. Together, the companies will deliver next-generation risk management, data normalization, and trading connectivity—empowering customers with speed, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

“Partnering with IPC allows us to scale globally and bring our mission-critical technologies to financial institutions worldwide," said Wels Tsao, Co-Founder and COO of Vsense. “Together, we’re reshaping trading infrastructure with unmatched performance and resilience.”

About IPC Systems

A specialist technology and service leader powering global financial markets for over 50 years, IPC Systems is at the forefront of innovation in trading and market data connectivity and communications technologies, setting the standard for exceptional service, innovation, and expertise.

IPC’s customer-first approach is bolstered by an extensive and diverse financial ecosystem that spans all asset classes and connects market participants anywhere in the world for enhanced communication, collaboration, and compliance.

Global services include trading communications, electronic trading, data and analytics and infrastructure-as-a-service solutions. IPC is ideally positioned to anticipate change and remain aligned with rapidly transforming markets, and to empower customers to adapt to change, now and in the future.

To learn more, visit www.ipc.com, explore our Insights page and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Vsense

Vsense FinTech Inc. specializes in FPGA-accelerated trading infrastructure, offering cutting edge, ultra-low latency solutions for market data normalization, pre-trade risk management, and order execution.

Established in 2021, Vsense is a Taiwan-based fintech leader and a trusted partner for Exchanges, accredited by CME, CBOE, JPX, HKEX, TWSE, TAIFEX, and SGX. By delivering state-of-the art hardware and software applications, Vsense continues to provide customized solutions tailored to the needs of all financial participants.

To learn more, visit https://vsensefintech.com

Media Contact
Capital V
Mikayla Ellis
mikayla@capvstrategies.com 

SOURCE: IPC Systems 

TII, WEF UNVEIL ABU DHABI CENTRE FOR FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES AT DAVOS MEETING

Technology Innovation Institute and World Economic Forum Announce ‘Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies’ at Davos (Photo: AETOSWire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have announced the launch of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies, a new centre within WEF’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Global Network.

The collaboration was formalised during a signing ceremony held on the sidelines of the WEF Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, marking a significant step in strengthening international cooperation to shape the future of frontier technologies.

TII Chief Executive Officer, Dr Najwa Aaraj said the new centre brings together research excellence, policy leadership and global collaboration on a single platform to advance frontier research and development while enabling scientific breakthroughs to move from the laboratory into real-world application.

“By translating innovation into responsibly governed, scalable solutions, we are reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global hub for science, innovation and impact,” she said in a statement.

Supported by an agile regulatory environment and a strong link between research, policy and execution, the United Arab Emirates offers a unique platform for piloting, deploying and scaling emerging technologies at a national level, a capability that will be amplified via WEF’s globally connected C4IR network.

The new centre positions Abu Dhabi as a global epicentre for pioneering research of advanced technologies, with a focus on quantum computing, robotics, propulsion and space systems, and related artificial intelligence applications.

Through this strategic partnership, TII joins a globally connected innovation ecosystem designed to accelerate the responsible adoption of transformative technologies.

The centre aims to advance research and development in critical frontier technologies while showcasing Abu Dhabi’s thought leadership through proof-of-concept pilots, regulatory sandboxes and global convenings.

-- BERNAMA