The Next Global AI Trend Has a Face: Kindred Labs Partners With IPX (LINE FRIENDS, BT21) to Turn Characters Into Everyday AI

 

^{LINE FRIENDS characters, now living across your devices with Kindred.}


SINGAPORE, March 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kindred Labs today announced a strategic partnership with IPX (formerly known as LINE FRIENDS), the globally recognized character brand LINE FRIENDS, BT21, ZO&FRIENDS and more.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303835585/en/  

Through the partnership, Kindred Labs and IPX will create AI-powered companion experiences that bring expressive character personalities into everyday digital life through responsive, emotionally resonant interaction.

The companions are being designed in a new form factor: a persistent character presence that lives on top of your screen, showing up in the flow of everyday moments, from desktop and mobile to emerging surfaces like smart glasses over time. Beyond personality and expression, these companions are being built to function as powerful personal assistants, designed to become a primary way people use AI throughout their day, expressed through a friendly and familiar presence.

Planned to launch in April 2026 globally excluding China, the partnership aligns with the 15th anniversary of LINE FRIENDS’ iconic character BROWN, introducing a new way for fans to connect with BROWN in daily life.

The partnership was negotiated by Beanstalk, a division of CAA Brand Management, which represents IPX as its interactive licensing agent.

Quote

“The primary way people will experience their personal AI will be through something they genuinely love seeing every day. I can already imagine the delight fans will have when BROWN start showing up in their daily lives, like this familiar presence you're happy to see. We’re taking these characters into a whole new paradigm, one that brings us closer to why we love them in the first place.”

Max Giammario, CEO, Kindred Labs

About Kindred Labs

Kindred Labs is the character-powered AI network built on Sei, bringing officially licensed iconic IP to life as a constant, emotionally intelligent presence by your side. Kindred is among the world’s fastest-growing AI companion startups, with over 8 million users on its waitlist.

To learn more about Kindred labs, visit www.kindredlabs.ai and follow @kindred_AI on X.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

hey@kindredlabs.ai
Rachelle Irene

Source : Kindred Labs

Jelly Toast Launches in India to Simplify Everyday Celebrations

A new app from Synchronoss designed to simplify how people celebrate and share memories

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. and BANGALORE, India, March 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (“Synchronoss” or the “Company”), a global leader and innovator in personal cloud platforms, today announced the launch of Jelly Toast in India, a new app designed for shared celebrations and group memories.

From birthdays and weddings to Holi gatherings, college festivals, office outings, concerts, and weekend trips, Jelly Toast creates invites, collects photos, and helps groups relive shared moments in one dedicated space.

Celebrations Are Fragmented

Today’s celebrations live across too many apps.

Plans happen in messaging groups. Photos are shared in social media DMs. Albums sit in personal photo apps. Important moments are buried in chat threads or lost when phones change.

Photos get shared, but the memories stay scattered, and the story of the event often gets lost. Jelly Toast was built to solve this.

Hosts create a celebration in seconds and generate a shareable link for guests to join instantly from their browser, upload photos in real time, and contribute to a living memory stream that evolves throughout the celebration. No download or install is required for guests.

Why This Moment Matters in India

India has one of the most vibrant celebration cultures in the world. Birthdays, festivals, weddings, cricket nights, team outings, and family gatherings happen constantly across cities.

At the same time, consumers expect private and secure tools that are fast, beautiful, and effortless. Organizing event media can be chaotic, and there is no dominant platform designed specifically to bring social events and long-term memory organization together.

Jelly Toast brings simplicity to shared experiences in real time.

Pricing and Availability

Available today, Jelly Toast offers three simple options.

The Free plan supports one event with up to 5GB of storage for seven days and is designed for first-time users or intimate gatherings with close friends and family.

Event Pro is a pay-per-event option supporting 50 to 500 guests, ideal for larger celebrations and small businesses such as freelance event planners.

Memory Saver is a monthly subscription for frequent hosts who want ongoing storage and unlimited events, so their memories are always accessible.

Built on Proven Cloud Foundations

“Jelly Toast is built on the same secure and scalable cloud architecture that powers our global personal cloud platforms,” said Pat Doran, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President at Synchronoss. “We are bringing that reliability and intelligent content organization to everyday celebrations. Our goal is simple. Make it easy for people to gather, share, and keep the moments that matter.”

The platform is optimized for India’s mobile-first environment and engineered to perform reliably across varying network conditions.

A Name That Reflects the Purpose

The name Jelly Toast captures the spirit of the product. Jelly represents spontaneity, sweetness, color, and moments that stick. Toast represents togetherness, comfort, shared meals, and lasting memories. Together, they symbolize turning everyday gatherings into joyful shared experiences. Toast the moments that matter and capture them in Jelly Toast.

India Launch and Expansion

The launch begins in Bangalore, India’s technology and innovation hub. Expansion to Mumbai and Delhi is planned later in 2026. As part of its broader strategy to expand its consumer cloud footprint, Synchronoss plans to explore partnerships and integrations across the events ecosystem.

Jelly Toast is now live at www.jellytoast.app.

About Synchronoss

Synchronoss Technologies is a global leader in personal cloud solutions, empowering service providers to establish secure and meaningful connections with their subscribers. Our SaaS Cloud platform simplifies onboarding processes and fosters subscriber engagement using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other advanced features, resulting in enhanced revenue streams, reduced expenses, and faster time-to-market. Millions of subscribers trust Synchronoss to safeguard their most cherished memories and important digital content. Explore how our Cloud-focused solutions redefine the way you connect with your digital world at www.synchronoss.com.

Media Relations Contact:
Domenick Cilea
Springboard
dcilea@springboardpr.com

Source: Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.

--BERNAMA

Kao’s Laurier Launches New Brand Communication Initiative across Asia: Strengthening Global Integration as a Core Brand in Kao’s Asian Business

 

^{Laurier Campaign Key Visual}


TOKYO, March 4 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Starting on International Women’s Day, March 8, Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452) will launch new brand communication campaign in nine Asian countries and regions for its feminine sanitary product brand, Laurier, which is the core of its Asian business.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303996141/en/ 

Laurier aims to help create more supportive and understanding environments around menstruation, so that women can feel more at ease, both physically and emotionally, under the key message “Comfort, Made Together,” which will be implemented simultaneously across Asia. Kao aims to further develop Laurier as a global brand.

Laurier, one of the core brands supporting Kao’s consumer care business in Asia, has been promoting globally integrated operations since 2023. Across all nine Asian countries and regions including Japan, Laurier has been working to unify product specifications and consolidate production sites to improve asset turnover ratio. Moreover, Laurier has promoted discussions to unify interpretations of the brand purpose and worldview, which varied across regions, and has renewed the global guidelines.

Through these efforts, in order to simultaneously communicate its value throughout Asia, Laurier is currently initiating a new brand communication initiative. By returning to Kao’s founding principle of a consumer perspective, Laurier will further strengthen brand equity by offering products designed for long-term use and advancing empathy-driven marketing through consistent communication across regions.

Laurier conducted a survey on attitudes toward menstruation among 4,500 women across nine Asian countries and regions.* The findings revealed that across Asia, many women feel that menstrual symptoms, concerns, and the limitations associated with menstruation have an impact on their overall sense of comfort in daily life.
*An online survey on attitudes toward menstruation was conducted by Kao among women aged 15–44 in nine Asian countries and regions, including Japan, in November–December 2023 and October–November 2024 (valid responses: 4,500).

Through this initiative, Laurier will further its efforts toward creating an inclusive environment where women can live lives full of possibilities without feeling restricted by their periods.
As a global brand, Laurier not only provides products but also supports women throughout their lives by providing information and educational support, contributing to the creation of a society where each woman can continue to live in a way that feels true to herself.

About the Brand Communication Initiative

- Key Message
Comfort, Made Together ―Laurier is here to listen.
It’s natural to find it difficult to be your normal self while you’re on your period. A woman shouldn’t have to find menstrual comfort on her own. We may not be able to completely eliminate physical discomfort or pain. But by encouraging understanding from those around us and shaping more supportive environments, we believe periods can feel a little more comfortable.
- Overview
This campaign will unify the brand’s worldview across nine Asian countries and regions, and will implement the following initiatives:

• Development of a common key visual and message across Asia
• Release of anthem films (9 country/regional versions) conveying Laurier’s message of menstrual support
• Launch of a special campaign website

- Countries/Regions: Kao Corporation / Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Hong Kong) Ltd. / Kao (Taiwan) Corporation / Kao Vietnam Co., Ltd. / Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. / Kao Singapore Pte. Ltd. / PT Kao Indonesia
- Start Date: March 4, 2026

Ongoing Social Initiatives

As a brand that supports women, Laurier is continuously engaged in the following activities in each country and region.

• Japan: “Laurier in Workplace” and “Laurier in School,” making sanitary napkins available as standard supplies at workplaces and schools
• Indonesia: “Dr. Laurier,” providing expert knowledge on menstrual concerns that are hard to discuss with others

In addition to the above, Laurier provides menarche education to deliver accurate knowledge to individual in all nine countries and regions. Through these activities, Laurier will continue to be more than just a feminine sanitary product brand; it will continue to be a presence that supports women at all stages of their lives and in their social environments.

Comment from Kazuya Miyashita, President of the Sanitary Business, Kao Corporation

Laurier has been striving to strengthen its globally integrated operations. The launch of this new brand communication across nine Asian countries and regions marks the next stage in building a consistent global brand―one that transcends borders, listens to the voices of individual, and shares Laurier’s vision and values across Asia. While menstrual concerns and feelings vary from person to person, there are many aspects of menstruation that have been discussed as something to be endured or a personal issue. Through this communication campaign, Laurier aims to elevate menstrual concerns beyond a personal issue, encourage understanding from others, and foster an environment in which women can live with greater peace of mind. As a core brand in Kao’s Asian business, Laurier will continue to contribute to sustainable growth and the realization of a society where women can live their lives with comfort, confidence, and fewer limitations—no matter the day.

About Kao

Kao, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its brands such as Attack laundry detergent, Bioré and Jergens skin care products, Laurier sanitary products, Curél, SENSAI, and MOLTON BROWN cosmetics, and Oribe hair care products, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,630 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 32,600 people worldwide and has more than 130 years of history in innovation. As an enterprise that provides products people use on a daily basis, the Kao Group takes responsibility to actively reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the product lifecycle. This is laid out in Kao’s ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which launched in 2019.
Please visit the Kao Group website for additional information.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

Media inquiries should be directed to:
Public Relations
Kao Corporation
corporate_pr@kao.com

Source : Kao Corporation

CIRRUS EXPANDS TO SINGAPORE, ADVANCES NOVEL EYE THERAPIES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Cirrus Therapeutics, a global ocular immunology company, announced several business and pipeline updates to support its strategy of advancing first-in-class and best-in-class therapies for chronic blinding diseases.

The updates include expanding its global footprint to Singapore, forming a strategic partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and unveiling a next-generation retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy as its second pipeline programme.

“Our presence in Singapore well positions us to leverage critical research, clinical development and partnering opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We look forward to collaborating with A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and renowned clinician-scientist Dr Xinyi Su to accelerate advancement of cutting-edge ocular medicines, including our differentiated next-generation RPE cell therapy,” said Cirrus Therapeutics Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Ying Kai Chan in a statement.

The company established a new research and development (R&D) site in Singapore, expanding its infrastructure beyond its United Kingdom science origins and United States presence, gaining access to the Asia-Pacific biopharma market. Si Hui Tan, who previously led the first-in-class liver regeneration programme at Lerna Biopharma, has been appointed as Director, Pipeline and Site Head, Singapore.

Related to the expansion, Cirrus entered into a multi-million dollar strategic collaboration with Singapore’s A*STAR. This partnership is aimed at accelerating the advancement of innovative ophthalmic assets, including Cirrus’ newly unveiled second pipeline programme. The collaboration will be led by A*STAR IMCB Executive Director, Dr Su.

Cirrus unveiled its second pipeline programme, a novel RPE cell therapy designed for the treatment of centre-involving geographic atrophy (GA). This next-generation cell therapy is differentiated, offering the potential for class-leading vision restoration due to its capacity to function and survive in the hostile GA environment.

The company also continues to advance its lead programme—a novel ocular gene therapy aimed at restoring IRAK-M to prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression and preserve central vision.

-- BERNAMA

GBI LAUNCHES GLOBAL BUILDING CERTIFICATION TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY, PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced the global launch of Ascent Building Certification, a science-based whole building programme designed to evaluate sustainability, health, and resilience practices for commercial real estate across regions and portfolios.

Ascent will be available for new and existing projects in the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), and other international markets, excluding Canada and the United States, to improve the built environment’s impact on climate and society.

Ascent Building Certification represents a global expansion of GBI’s trusted third-party assessment and certification programmes. GBI has certified over 93 million square metres (one billion square feet) of commercial real estate with its flagship certification, Green Globes.

The strong adoption of Green Globes and market demand for consistent, proven, and transparent methodology across borders fuelled the decision to expand globally under the Ascent brand, according to a statement.

Designed for owners and project teams managing assets in all lifecycle phases, Ascent provides a consensus-based framework, consistent with Green Globes, that adapts to local standards and regulatory requirements, offering transparency, trustworthy independent assessment, and practical usability without unnecessary administrative burden.

“Building owners and investors are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable performance and return on investment across global portfolios. GBI’s Ascent Building Certification answers that demand with a practical, transparent, and ESG-aligned approach,” said GBI chief executive officer, Vicki Worden.

The certification is specifically designed for organisations seeking user-friendly, portfolio-ready certification. Key features include global consistency with local relevance through a unified framework, transparent scoring, and independent third-party assessments conducted via GBI’s established assessor network.

The programme also provides user-friendly software tools featuring centralised reporting dashboards and aggregated portfolio scoring, along with dedicated expert support from GBI’s green building specialists and project managers.

Certification levels align with the Green Globes One through Four rating system, and performance categories address critical building outcomes and Environmental Assessment Areas, including project management and responsible business practices, site, energy, water, materials, and indoor environment.

-- BERNAMA

AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited

SINGAPORE, March 2 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb+” (Good) of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Lombard) (India). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the India National Scale Rating (NSR) of aaa.IN (Exceptional) of ICICI Lombard with a stable outlook.

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect ICICI Lombard’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. In addition, the ratings factor in the neutral impact from ICICI Bank Limited (ICICI Bank), one of the largest private sector banks in India.

The revision of the FSR and Long-Term ICR outlooks to positive from stable reflects AM Best’s expectation that ICICI Lombard’s balance sheet strength fundamentals will continue to strengthen over the near to medium term, underpinned by continued robust capital generation and good capital management. The company’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). ICICI Lombard’s investment portfolio is of moderate risk, given its exposure to higher-risk investments, such as equities and fixed-income securities, which are not rated on an international rating scale. An offsetting balance sheet factor includes the company’s significant exposure to contingent liabilities relating to ongoing disputes with the tax authorities in India; although, these disputes have not resulted in material financial impact to date.

AM Best views ICICI Lombard’s operating performance as strong, with a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 17.3% (fiscal-years 2021-2025). The company reported higher net income in fiscal-year 2025 compared to the prior year, driven by better investment returns and an improvement in underwriting results. In addition, earnings remained resilient in the first nine months of fiscal-year 2026. Despite its lack of underwriting profitability, ICICI Lombard has consistently outperformed India’s general insurance market. The company’s investment income, including capital gains on equity investments, remains a key contributor of overall earnings to offset underwriting losses.

ICICI Lombard is the second-largest non-life insurer in India, with an overall market share of 8.7% based on gross domestic premium income in fiscal-year 2025. The company holds market-leading positions in major business lines, including property/casualty, marine cargo, liability and motor, as well as ranks second in the fire and engineering business lines. ICICI Lombard’s underwriting portfolio is well diversified by lines of business and distribution channels with premiums generated predominantly in India.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

Sin Yee Chuah, CFA
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5022
sinyee.chuah@ambest.com 

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com 

Chris Lim, FCII, CFA
Director, Analytics
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@ambest.com 

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com 

Source : AM Best 

--BERNAMA 

Bitget and Obside Partner to Launch Live AI Trading Arena for Copy Trading

VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 2 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), today announced a partnership with Obside, bringing the AI Trading Arena to Bitget through copy trading. Developed by Obside, the AI Trading Arena is a live environment where advanced AI models trade real markets autonomously using real-time data. The collaboration makes Obside’s AI traders available exclusively for copy trading on Bitget Futures.

The AI Trading Arena has been operating for over three months as a transparent, real-time benchmark for AI-driven trading performance. Through the partnership, Bitget users can copy AI traders that have already been tested through real market conditions, including volatility and drawdowns. Select AI traders in the Arena have delivered net performance exceeding 70 percent over multiple months, while maintaining controlled risk profiles. Access to copy trading was opened only after sufficient live trading history was established, reflecting a structured approach to user protection and transparency.

“AI trading is moving beyond simulation and into live market environments,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “The AI Trading Arena offers users a way to follow AI-driven strategies with observable track records, operating under real conditions. This partnership allows Bitget users to engage with AI trading in a way that is transparent and grounded in live performance.”

Copy trading of Obside’s AI traders is available exclusively on Bitget Futures, initially covering Bitcoin (BTCUSDT), Gold (XAUUSDT), and Nvidia (NVDAUSDT). The selected assets reflect a deliberate focus on liquidity, market depth, and varied market dynamics, allowing users to observe AI behavior across different asset classes.

“The Arena was built to evaluate how AI performs when exposed to real markets, not historical data,” said Benjamin Sultan, Co-founder of Obside and former trader at a hedge fund. “Partnering with Bitget allows these live AI traders to be accessed by a broader audience, while preserving the transparency and structure that define the Arena.”

The partnership reflects Bitget’s continued expansion of intelligent trading infrastructure within the broader UEX framework. The convergence of AI, multi-asset access, and transparent execution continues to shape how traders engage with global markets. By combining Bitget’s copy trading ecosystem with Obside’s live AI Trading Arena, the collaboration introduces a new category of market participation, where AI-driven strategies can be observed and followed in real time.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ 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 with LALIGA and 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 the tokenized TradFi market, offering the industry's lowest fees and the highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0b20abba-5c9f-4760-9a9a-edaf6972871c

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