Category: Asean

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ABB Davr Bank project launched with participation of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan

ABB Davr Bank project launched with participation of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 23, 2026 — The ABB Davr Bank project was officially launched in Tashkent with the online participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 23, 2026 — The ABB Davr Bank project was officially launched in Tashkent with the online participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The launch took place during a ceremony marking the inauguration and groundbreaking of projects being implemented by Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan.

Speaking during joint statements to the press with President Mirziyoyev, President Aliyev described the development as the entry of a leading Azerbaijani bank into the Uzbek market.

Under the project, ABB Bank will acquire a controlling stake in Davr Bank, one of Uzbekistan’s commercial banks. Following completion of the transaction, the Bank will operate in the country under the ABB Davr  brand.

On August 22, during the Fourth Uzbekistan–Azerbaijan Interregional Forum in Tashkent, Abbas Ibrahimov, Chairman of ABB’s Management Board, and Lutfulla Ubayev, Shareholder and Chairman of Davr Bank’s Supervisory Board, signed a share purchase agreement for ABB Bank to acquire a controlling stake in Davr Bank.

All required regulatory approvals have been obtained and the relevant agreements have been signed. Completion of the acquisition remains subject only to the final settlement of the transaction.

The agreement represents an important step in ABB’s expansion into Uzbekistan’s financial market, in line with the geographic expansion objectives set out in the Bank’s 2026–2028 Strategic Development Plan.

Operating under the ABB Davr  brand, the Bank will provide a broad range of financial services to corporate and retail customers throughout Uzbekistan. ABB Financial Group will introduce its corporate governance practices, digital transformation expertise, artificial intelligence-based solutions and comprehensive financial services for small and medium-sized enterprises to the Uzbek market.

With a population approaching 40 million and a rapidly growing economy, Uzbekistan presents significant opportunities for the development of modern banking services and solutions. ABB Davr Bank will seek to contribute to this development, with a particular focus on creating additional opportunities for the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises.

ABB Bank’s presence in Uzbekistan will also create significant new opportunities for the Group and further strengthen the regional and international standing of ABB Financial Group as a well-established Azerbaijani brand.

Abbas Ibrahimov, Chairman of ABB’s Management Board and Lutfulla Ubayev, Shareholder and Chairman of Davr Bank’s Supervisory Board, thanked the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, as well as the relevant government authorities, for their support in creating the conditions for ABB’s entry into the Uzbek market.

“It is a great honour for us that the first historic step towards ABB’s geographic expansion in its new strategic period has been taken in brotherly Uzbekistan,” Ibrahimov said. “We view this project as the beginning of our long-term presence in Uzbekistan and aspire to become a trusted financial partner for businesses, individuals and the country’s economy. Our ambition is to create new opportunities, support economic development and contribute to the further strengthening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.”

Lutfulla Ubayev, Shareholder and Chairman of Davr Bank’s Supervisory Board, said: “With this transaction, we are taking banking services to a qualitatively new level. The expertise, innovative technologies and strong capital base of our new partner will enable Davr Bank to offer advanced financial products to its customers within a short period. This partnership will provide our Bank with even greater stability and lay the foundation for a major technological leap forward.”

More information about ABB Bank is available at abb-bank.az.

Media contact:
Yedgar Jafarov
Press Secretary

[email protected]

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TRM Labs Appoints MAS veteran Ziqing Ang as Head of Policy, APAC

Former Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Sygnum, and BPI Financial executive joins TRM to lead policy engagement with regulators, law enforcement, and industry across Asia-Pacific

SINGAPORE, Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TRM Labs (TRM), the company building AI-first solutions to disrupt criminal networks, counter national security threats, and support compliant financial institutions, has appointed Ziqing Ang as Head of Policy, APAC.

Ziqing Ang, Head of Policy APAC – TRM Labs
Ziqing Ang, Head of Policy APAC - TRM Labs

Ziqing Ang, Head of Policy APAC – TRM Labs

In this role, Ang will work with regulators, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and private institutions across Asia-Pacific to advance efforts against illicit networks and to strengthen the region’s collective response to emerging threats.

Asia-Pacific has become one of the most consequential regions in the world for digital asset and AI policy, and criminal networks are leveraging this transformative technology to move at unprecedented speed and scale.

TRM tracked adjusted crypto crime volume rising from approximately USD 123 million in 2020 to more than USD 103 billion in 2025, with investment scams, including pig butchering, driving 62% of last year’s fraud inflows. Generative AI is compounding the problem. TRM has tracked a 40% increase in AI-enabled scam activity, from deepfake recruitment videos to fabricated account dashboards, as these tools move from experiment to operational infrastructure.

APAC regulators are building digital asset and AI governance frameworks at the same time, giving the region a real opportunity to write enforcement and compliance tools directly into them from the start. Policy has to keep pace with criminal actors who are using technology to operate at unprecedented speed and scale.

Ang brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of policy, financial markets, digital assets and institutional business development. She began her career at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), spending more than eight years across financial markets development and reserve management, where she worked alongside industry and public-sector stakeholders to shape strategic initiatives advancing Singapore’s capital markets ecosystem and its position as a global financial centre. She went on to manage fixed income portfolios and contribute to macroeconomic and investment research for Singapore’s official foreign reserves.

From MAS, Ang moved into the digital asset industry, joining Sygnum, the world’s first regulated digital asset bank, as Vice President of Business Development, where she supported digital asset adoption among institutional and accredited investors. Most recently, she served as Chief Business Officer at Bright Point International Digital Assets (BPI Financial Group), where she led the development of the firm’s OTC brokerage, spanning licensing and institutional infrastructure.

“This is a moment when the public and private sectors must come together to get ahead of the threats emerging in this region,” said Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy at TRM Labs. “Ziqing brings deep expertise and experience working across both the public and private sectors, and the credibility to bring regulators and industry together around this work.”

“Asia-Pacific is at an important stage in how it regulates technology in the age of AI, and the decisions made over the next few years will shape the safety of the ecosystem,” said Ziqing Ang, Head of Policy, APAC at TRM Labs. “I’ve spent my career moving between regulators and the institutions they oversee, and I’ve seen how much good regulation and strong partnerships between the public and private sector can do. TRM’s focus on building a safer world is the kind of work I want to be part of, and I’m looking forward to working with regulators, law enforcement, and industry across the region to support responsible innovation.”

Ang’s appointment reflects TRM’s continued investment in Asia-Pacific and the growing importance of local policy expertise as governments and institutions build the frameworks for a compliant digital asset economy. It follows last month’s appointment of former MAS regulator Claudia Hui as Head of Compliance Advisory, APAC, part of a broader expansion of TRM’s policy, compliance, and go-to-market presence across the region. TRM is headquartered in San Francisco and is a distributed-first company with hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., London, and Singapore. The company is hiring across all functions, including applied AI, machine learning, engineering, data science, go-to-market, and operations.

About TRM Labs

TRM Labs is the intelligence platform for public safety and national security, built to detect and disrupt the criminal networks that exploit emerging technologies, including cryptocurrency and AI. Combining proprietary intelligence, AI-native investigations software, and disruption network infrastructure, the platform is built for high-consequence environments where accuracy, auditability, and security are essential. TRM is trusted by 600+ government agencies and financial institutions across 75 countries to counter fraud, scams, cyber crime, child exploitation, money laundering, and sanctions evasion. To learn more, visit www.trmlabs.com.

For media enquiries, please contact [email protected].

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/297ffbd3-b7e3-4b58-b33b-259cb27a3a1f

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World’s-First Battery-Powered Self-Unloading Bulk Carrier Now Operating in South Australia

MV Yampu begins operations for Adbri in South Australia

MV Yampu discharges inaugural limestone cargo at Birkenhead, South Australia.

Minister Catherine King visits MV Yampu, the world’s first battery-powered self-unloading bulk carrier

Catherine King, Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, with MV Yampu Captain Seeboruth and Chief Engineer Jayasuriya during the vessel’s official welcome ceremony.

ADELAIDE, Australia, Aug. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Adbri and The CSL Group (CSL) today celebrated the commencement of operations of MV Yampu, the world’s first battery-powered self-unloading bulk carrier, representing a major milestone for Australian manufacturing, maritime innovation and lower-emissions supply chains.

Yampu-Welcome-Ceremony-4

Purpose-built by CSL, the 125-metres vessel will transport limestone from Adbri’s Klein Point quarry on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula to the company’s Birkenhead cement manufacturing in Adelaide, helping secure a critical raw material for the supply of locally manufactured cement used in homes, schools, hospitals, roads and major infrastructure projects across South Australia and Victoria.

For more than a century, limestone from Klein Point has underpinned cement manufacturing in South Australia. MV Yampu represents the next chapter in that story, combining world-first technology with a resilient local supply chain that supports jobs, manufacturing and economic growth.

The vessel’s batteries are recharged while docked at Adbri’s Birkenhead facility, allowing MV Yampu to operate on battery power around 40 per cent of the time. Compared with the vessel it replaces, MV Yampu is expected to reduce diesel consumption by more than half a million litres a year, representing a significant step forward in maritime decarbonisation.

With a capacity of 11,900 deadweight tonnes, the vessel is expected to transport 2.7 million tonnes of limestone each year.  MV Yampu is designed to operate on 100 percent battery power in the future.

Louis Martel, CSL’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“MV Yampu represents a significant step forward in our decarbonisation journey and demonstrates how practical innovation can deliver real environmental benefits while meeting the demands of commercial operations.

“Every improvement in cargo handling, every enhancement to onboard systems, and every operational innovation has been implemented with one goal in mind: helping our crews perform their work safely, efficiently and sustainably.

“Ultimately, this vessel showcases how smart design can improve performance.”

Paul Headd, Adbri’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“For the teams at Klein Point and Birkenhead, this is much more than a new vessel entering service. It’s an investment in their future and the future of manufacturing in South Australia.

“Every day, the limestone carried by MV Yampu will help produce the cement used to build homes, hospitals, schools, roads and major infrastructure projects across South Australia and Victoria. Being able to do that while further reducing emissions helps Adbri remains at the forefront of lower-carbon cement manufacturing in Australia.

“The Yampu strengthens our supply chain, supports local jobs and demonstrates that reducing emissions and maintaining a strong Australian manufacturing sector can go hand in hand.”

About CSL

The CSL Group is a world class provider of complex marine solutions and the largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships in the world. Headquartered in Montreal with operations throughout the Americas, Australia, Europe and Africa, CSL provides a broad range of shipping and handling services and delivers millions of tonnes of cargo annually for customers in the construction, steel, energy and agri-food sectors.

About Adbri

Adbri Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s leading construction materials and industrial mineral manufacturing companies, producing cement, lime, concrete, aggregates, concrete products, asphalt, and industrial minerals. Our products play an essential role in the construction of homes, infrastructure, and industry across the nation. Supported by a network of approximately 200 operational sites and 2,800 employees, Adbri is a trusted partner to the construction, infrastructure, mining, and industrial sectors.

In 2025, Adbri contributed $1.8 billion in direct spending to the Australian economy, with an estimated $4.1 billion in gross value added and 15,864 full time equivalent jobs supported.

Yampu Background

The vessel’s name, Yampu, was selected through an Adbri employee naming process and comes from the Narungga and Kaurna languages of South Australia, meaning “dolphin”, reflecting a strong connection to the marine environment and local communities.

Owned and operated by CSL and crewed by Australian seafarers, MV Yampu was purpose-built to service Adbri’s coastal limestone trade, connecting Klein Point and Birkenhead as part of an integrated supply chain that supports cement manufacturing and construction materials production.

Key facts:

  • World’s first battery-powered self-unloading bulk carrier.
  • 125 metres long
  • Capacity of 11,900 deadweight tonnes.
  • Onboard battery capacity: 6,758 kWh
  • Expected to transport approximately 2.7 million tonnes of limestone each year.
  • Increases annual limestone transport capacity by 35 per cent.
  • Expected to reduce diesel consumption by half a million litres of fuel compared with the previous vessel (MV Accolade II).
  • Expected to reduce Scope 1 emissions by 40 per cent compared with the previous vessel (MV Accolade II).
  • Designed with the capability to operate fully on electric power in the future.

Media contact:

The CSL Group
Brigitte Hébert
M: +1 514 653 8854
E: [email protected]		 Adbri
Georgia Allen
M: +61 419 577 446
E: [email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
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SACOMBANK Modernizes Core Banking with Temenos and IBM

Cloud-native core banking platform delivers faster performance, greater agility and a scalable foundation for digital banking and payments innovation

HANOI, Vietnam, Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Temenos (SIX: TEMN), a global leader in banking technology, today announced that SACOMBANK, one of Vietnam’s leading commercial banks, has successfully upgraded its Temenos Core Banking platform, moving from an on-premises deployment to a hybrid cloud environment to support greater scalability, performance and faster innovation.

The successful go-live sees SACOMBANK upgrade to the latest Temenos Core Banking platform, deployed on Red Hat OpenShift and IBM Power infrastructure. The upgraded platform supports the bank’s retail and SME banking operations, serving millions of customers and processing 13 million transactions daily, while helping improve scalability, resilience and operational agility.

With a modern, cloud-native core banking platform, SACOMBANK is well positioned to advance real-time banking services, data-driven innovation and next-generation digital capabilities. The upgrade enables significant gains in performance, speed and efficiency, including a 200% improvement in application performance, three-times faster deployment cycles and a 50% reduction in server footprint.

As part of the bank’s continued modernization with Temenos, Sacombank has also selected Temenos Payments Hub to support cross-border payments. This builds on the bank’s long-standing relationship with Temenos and reinforces its strategy to progressively enhance both core banking and payments capabilities on a flexible, cloud-native platform.

Mr. Luu Danh Duc, Deputy CEO, SACOMBANK, commented: “The upgrade of our Temenos Core Banking platform is an important milestone in SACOMBANK’s digital transformation journey. With a scalable, high-performing and flexible foundation, we can accelerate innovation, deliver new services faster and continue providing secure, seamless banking experiences for our customers.”

William Dale, Managing Director – APAC, Temenos, said: “Congratulations to SACOMBANK on this successful go-live. As the trusted modernization partner for banks across APAC, Temenos is proud to support SACOMBANK’s move to hybrid cloud and selection of Temenos Payments Hub, strengthening its foundation for innovation and growth.”

Hilery Hunter, General Manager for IBM Power and IBM Infrastructure CTO, added: “SACOMBANK’s successful upgrade brings together IBM Power and Red Hat OpenShift to support a scalable, resilient hybrid cloud environment, without asking the bank to trade stability for speed. Together, we’re helping SACOMBANK build a modern banking platform that supports greater operational efficiency and faster response to market opportunities, while giving them the reliability on which their business depends.”

Temenos has a strong presence in Vietnam, as the core banking provider to many leading banks in the market.

About Temenos
Temenos (SIX: TEMN) is a global leader in banking technology. Through our market-leading core banking suite and best-in-class composable solutions, we are modernizing the banking industry. Banks of all sizes utilize our adaptable technology – on-premise, in the cloud, or as SaaS – to deliver next-generation services and AI-enhanced experiences that elevate banking for their customers. Our mission is to create a world where people can live their best financial lives.

For more information, please visit www.temenos.com.

Media Contacts

Scott Rowe & Michael Anderson
Temenos Global Public Relations
Tel: +44 20 7423 3857
Email: [email protected]

Alice Stephens
Temenos Team at Brands2Life
Tel: +44 7753 175012
Email: [email protected]

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Mavenir Adds Sanas Real-Time Speech AI to Its MAVcore Voice AI Portfolio for Telecom Operators

The strategic partnership brings real-time speech enhancement, accent transformation, and language understanding into operator networks, opening a new frontier for secure carrier-grade Voice AI

RICHARDSON, Texas, and PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mavenir, the software company building Cloud-Native, AI-by-design mobile networks, and Sanas, a real-time Speech AI platform for enterprise and global communications, today announced a strategic partnership that brings Sanas real-time Speech AI to Mavenir’s MAVcore Voice AI portfolio. The integration enables communication service providers to deliver voice AI enhancements natively from the operator’s mobile core network directly to end-users.

Telecom networks were built to connect calls. Mavenir and Sanas are transforming that connection into secure, human-to-human communication, carried in a caller’s preferred language, delivered with HD Voice clarity, deployed as sovereign AI within the operator’s own network, and built to meet regulatory and data-residency requirements. This shifts voice from a utility operators carry to a service they can differentiate, govern, and monetize.

At the core of the partnership is Sanas’ Speech AI platform, which removes communication barriers in real time, enabling people to understand and be understood across languages, accents and environments. Its technology powers mission-critical communications where clarity, speed, and accuracy matter most. Through its Language Assist partnership with MicroAutomation, Sanas enables 911 dispatchers to hear callers in English as they speak, with no interpreter and no delay. By bringing these capabilities directly into carrier networks, Mavenir and Sanas are making real-time translation, speech enhancement, and AI-powered communication available at telecom scale.

Secure communications are another area of focus for this partnership. Voice-cloning technology has advanced quickly, and bad actors are already exploiting it to commit fraud. Integrating Sanas Speech AI into Mavenir MAVcore portfolio of solutions enhances the voice platform to include deepfake detection and fraud-signal capabilities, giving operators a carrier-grade path to detect and defend against synthetic-voice attacks as this threat grows.

The joint solution is orchestrated and customized through Mavenir’s AI Agent Studio, giving operators service control, real-time performance, optimized operational costs, and the ability to rapidly create and monetize new conversational AI experiences.

“Voice remains the most trusted and universal service operators provide, and the next era is about making it intelligent,” said Pardeep Kohli, President and CEO of Mavenir. “Together with Sanas, Mavenir is enabling operators to transform voice from a connectivity service into a monetizable, AI-powered experience. By embedding advanced Voice AI directly within the telecom network, operators can deliver real-time translation, AI-enhanced voice quality, and next-generation security while maintaining the performance, privacy, and sovereignty that modern communications require.”

“Telecom operators sit at the center of some of the world’s most important conversations,” said Sharath Keshava Narayana, Co-Founder and CEO of Sanas. “Together with Mavenir, we’re bringing a new layer of intelligence directly into carrier networks, creating new opportunities to improve communication quality, strengthen security, and deliver more value through every conversation. Communications networks have connected people for decades. We believe their next chapter is helping people understand one another more clearly.”

Mavenir and Sanas will begin joint technical validation, with commercial availability for operators to follow.

Meet Mavenir and Sanas:

See how this strategic partnership accelerates the market for Voice AI. Join Mavenir and Sanas at these upcoming events.

  • The AI-Native Telco Forum, 8 to 9 September, Düsseldorf. Book a meeting here.
  • FutureNet Asia, 22 to 23 September, Singapore. Book a meeting here.

About Mavenir
Mavenir is enabling intelligent, automated, programmable networks through the development of telco-first, cloud-native, AI-by-design software solutions for mobile operators. The company’s deep telco domain expertise has been proven through deployments with 300+ operators globally in over 120 countries, which together serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers. Mavenir combines its deep telco experience with the cloud and IT expertise and data science skillsets essential to solving real customer challenges. Its proven software solutions are AI by design, delivering the AI-native future and operators’ evolution to TechCos. For more information, visit mavenir.com

About Sanas
Sanas is a real-time Speech AI platform built to power global enterprise and communications platforms. Founded in 2021 in Palo Alto, California, Sanas enables speech to be understood clearly and naturally across languages, accents, and environments. The platform provides real-time speech enhancement, accent transformation, and language understanding that can be embedded directly into applications, platforms, and carrier networks. In 2026, Sanas was named the No. 1 AI & Data company in America on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies and also earned the No. 1 ranking in California and No. 8 overall. Learn more at Sanas.ai.

Media Contacts
Mavenir Emmanuela Spiteri
[email protected]

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Coventry’s LILY Funding Program Reaches $1 Billion in Life Insurance-Backed Financing

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Aug. 25, 2026 (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 fourth asset-backed securitization since April 2025 under its LILY program, bringing total life insurance-backed financing across the platform to $1 billion. This achievement further establishes Coventry as the leading platform for institutional investors seeking differentiated exposure to longevity-linked assets.

This milestone also reflects continued investor demand for longevity-linked assets and LILY’s growing role as one of the industry’s leading platforms for accessing life insurance-backed investments through the asset-backed securities market.

Since its launch in 2025, the LILY program has consistently demonstrated the ability to access institutional capital by structuring longevity-linked assets into investment-grade asset-backed securities that emphasize durable collateral, predictable cash flows, and low correlation with traditional markets. The program combines Coventry’s extensive origination capabilities, actuarial expertise, servicing infrastructure, and transaction structuring experience to provide investors with access to a specialized asset class through a familiar ABS format.

“Reaching the $1 billion mark is a significant milestone for the LILY program and for the institutional market for life insurance-backed assets,” said Reid Buerger, Chief Executive Officer of Coventry. “More importantly, it reflects growing investor recognition of the value of longevity-linked assets and the benefits of accessing them through a disciplined, repeatable securitization platform like LILY. We believe this achievement reflects both the quality of the underlying assets and the strength of the infrastructure Coventry has built to originate, analyze, service, and finance them at scale.”

The growth of the LILY program underscores Coventry’s position at the intersection of life insurance, asset-backed finance, and private credit. As institutional investors continue to seek differentiated sources of return and portfolio diversification, Coventry expects life insurance-backed financing to play an increasingly important role in supporting the responsible expansion of the longevity-linked asset market.

To learn more about the LILY program and other Coventry updates, please visit www.coventry.com/news

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 insurance 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 23,000 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
[email protected]
(215) 836-8300

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Grand Challenges Canada and AVPN Launch Nexa Lighthouse to Fund Climate and Health Innovation Across Asia and the Pacific

— Nexa, the global climate and health innovation initiative, joins forces with The Lighthouse Fund to back locally led solutions to climate-driven health threats across Asia and the Pacific —

NEW DELHI, India, Aug. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), AVPN, and global partners today launched Nexa Lighthouse at the AVPN Global Conference 2026, a new initiative to fund locally led innovations that address the growing health impacts of climate change across Asia and the Pacific. Nexa Lighthouse brings together Nexa, a global climate and health initiative co-led by GCC and the Science for Africa Foundation, with The Lighthouse Fund, an AVPN-led initiative that invests at the intersection of climate and health. Nexa Lighthouse is co-led by GCC, which receives funding from the Government of Canada, and AVPN, together with Bayer Foundation, India Health Fund, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Sanofi Foundation, and Temasek Foundation

The first funding call for Nexa Lighthouse opens in October 2026 and will accept applications from innovators across Asia and the Pacific.

Nexa is a global climate and health innovation initiative that launched in June 2026 at London Climate Action Week, with a first funding call that sought promising solutions in Africa and the Americas. Nexa’s funding priorities were shaped by the largest climate and health survey to date, which engaged 6,400 respondents — health workers, scientists, innovators, policymakers and humanitarian workers — across 107 low- and middle-income countries. Nexa Lighthouse extends that work into Asia and the Pacific.

Rising temperatures, changing disease patterns and severe weather events disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, children, and underserved communities with limited access to healthcare. Nexa Lighthouse will support bold innovations that address three key climate-related drivers of health risk that emerged from the survey: changing vector patterns (driving malaria and dengue), extreme heat, and poor air quality.

“Addressing the impacts of climate change demands bold ideas and strong partnerships,” said the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development. “Through our partnership with Grand Challenges Canada, Global Affairs Canada supports initiatives like Nexa Lighthouse that help innovators develop solutions to protect health and strengthen resilience across Asia and the Pacific.”

The climate crisis has been described in The Lancet as the greatest global health threat of the 21st century, but global financing to address this challenge remains low. Only 0.5% of climate funding focuses on improving health outcomes.i Asia and the Pacific is the world’s most disaster-prone region, where more than four in five people face multi-hazard risks associated with slow- or sudden-onset climate events.ii Nexa Lighthouse responds to the pressures communities face as intensifying heat, shifting disease patterns, and worsening air quality drive new health risks and strain already overburdened health systems.

“The health effects of climate change are here, and the people most affected are already building solutions. What they need is capital and support that moves at their speed,” said Rahul Chandran, Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer, Grand Challenges Canada. “Nexa Lighthouse changes that. We are proud to have Nexa join forces with The Lighthouse Fund and with partners across Asia and the Pacific who know these markets, know these innovators, and will join us to back them.”

“Asia and the Pacific will face some of the greatest health impacts of a changing climate, but the region is also home to innovators who are already developing solutions,” said Dhun Davar, Chief of Programmes and Deputy CEO, AVPN. “AVPN has been working to bring capital and collaboration to these locally led solutions through the Lighthouse Fund. Nexa Lighthouse builds on that work, bringing together new and existing partners to help promising climate and health innovations move from early ideas to solutions that can scale.”

Nexa Lighthouse will provide catalytic funding for growth-stage climate and health innovations that strengthen health systems adaptation and resilience and have strong potential for impact and scale. Proven solutions will each receive approximately US$250,000–US$2,000,000 in Transition to Scale funding, depending on the maturity of the innovation.

Innovations may take the form of a product, process, service, or delivery model that can deliver better outcomes than existing approaches and lead to transformational impact.

Philanthropic, public-sector and private-sector partners interested in joining Nexa Lighthouse, and potential applicants, can visit www.nexalighthouse.org to learn more.

About Nexa Lighthouse:

Nexa Lighthouse is a climate and health initiative co-led by Grand Challenges Canada, in partnership with the Government of Canada, and AVPN, bringing together Nexa and The Lighthouse Fund with a coalition of funding partners. It supports locally led innovations that help communities across Asia and the Pacific anticipate, adapt and respond to climate-related health threats, with a focus on extreme heat, mosquito-borne infections and poor air quality. Learn more at www.nexalighthouse.org

Nexa Lighthouse partners include Grand Challenges Canada, AVPN, Bayer Foundation, India Health Fund, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Sanofi Foundation, and Temasek Foundation.

About Grand Challenges Canada:

Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) backs Bold Ideas with Big Impact®. With anchor funding from the Government of Canada, GCC invests in bold, locally led innovations solving critical health and development challenges, and helps the most promising solutions reach millions of people around the world. GCC has supported more than 1,600 innovations in 110 countries and aims to reach 700 million people by 2035. Learn more at www.grandchallenges.ca

About AVPN:

AVPN is Asia’s largest platform for social impact, where over 700 resource providers, innovators and intermediaries from across 43 markets collaborate to mobilise capital. Grounded in deep regional expertise and partnerships, AVPN is building a thriving ecosystem that accelerates measurable progress toward inclusive growth, empowering Asia to lead the way in global impact. AVPN’s mission is to translate intent into impact by bringing together people, ideas, and resources for Asia. It does this by strengthening partnerships, fostering open collaboration, and enabling the coordinated flow of resources across markets and borders. Together with communities, AVPN is building a thriving impact ecosystem that drives a prosperous and inclusive Asia. Learn more at www.avpn.asia

Media contacts
Grand Challenges Canada: Gillian Mathurin, [email protected]
AVPN. Mehar Kakkar, [email protected]

i Rockefeller Foundation, Financing Climate-Health Solutions. https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/initiatives/financing-climate-health-solutions/

ii 1 UN ESCAP, Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2023. https://un-ggim-ap.org/sites/default/files/media/docs/Asia-Pacific%20Disaster%20Report%202023-Full%20report.pdf


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Digital Realty Selected to Develop 50 Megawatts of New Data Center Capacity in Singapore

Digital Realty’s new Jurong Island location will expand its Singapore platform with AI-ready, sustainable capacity designed to support the country’s next chapter of digital growth

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), the world’s largest cloud- and carrier-neutral data center platform, today announced it has been selected under Singapore’s second Data Center Call for Application (DC-CFA2), with a provisional allocation of 50 megawatts (MW) of capacity to develop a new data center at Jurong Town Corporation’s low-carbon data center park on Jurong Island – a milestone that reinforces Singapore’s position as a trusted, connected and sustainable digital infrastructure hub for Asia.

The selection marks the next phase of Digital Realty’s long-term growth in Singapore and will expand the company’s ability to support customers deploying the next wave of AI inference, high-performance computing and enterprise digital workloads across Asia Pacific. Purpose-built for Singapore’s digital economy priorities, the new facility will be designed to meet DC-CFA2’s requirements for best-in-class energy efficiency and power more than 50% of its capacity through green energy pathways.

Digital Realty was selected through an open competitive process led by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The awarded proposals were recognized for their ability to strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted hub for AI, digital infrastructure and network connectivity, as well as to contribute to innovation and economic development, and advance the country’s sustainability objectives.

“Singapore has long been a strategic market for Digital Realty, and we are honored to be selected under DC-CFA2 at such an important moment for the country’s digital future,” said Serene Nah, Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific, Digital Realty.

“Through DC-CFA2, we plan to expand on Jurong Island with next-generation AI-ready infrastructure. Sustainability is central to how we operate at Digital Realty, and we are committed to scaling responsibly as demand grows. We are grateful to the Singapore Government, lead agencies, our customers and partners for their continued trust and collaboration, and to our employees whose dedication makes this possible. We look forward to providing additional infrastructure to sustainably serve our customers in this leading global digital hub,” she continued.

Singapore has been a cornerstone of Digital Realty’s Asia Pacific strategy since establishing operations in the country in 2010. Today, it is home to Digital Realty’s regional Asia Pacific headquarters, Global Command Center, and three operational data centers with approximately 84 MW of combined capacity – giving the company a deep operating base from which to support Singapore’s continued growth as a regional digital hub.

Demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow as organizations expand cloud adoption, digital services, and enterprise data processing. AI is accelerating this growth across industries, including financial services, technology, logistics, and healthcare – sectors where Singapore plays an important regional role. As enterprises increasingly deploy AI in production, infrastructure requirements are also evolving. AI inference requires workloads to be located closer to users and enterprise data, supported by strong connectivity, resilience, and security.

Singapore’s combination of connectivity, trusted governance, and highly developed digital ecosystem positions it to play an increasingly important role in supporting these workloads across the region. Once operational, Digital Realty’s fourth Singapore data center is expected to strengthen this role by expanding the capacity available for high-value AI and enterprise deployments, connecting customers to its global PlatformDIGITAL® ecosystem. The new facility will expand Digital Realty’s interconnected Singapore campus and is connected globally via ServiceFabric®, a service orchestration platform that connects the campus with other Digital Realty and 3rd party data centers globally to enable seamless connectivity, data exchange, and workload deployment across sites.

The new Jurong Island facility will also build on Digital Realty’s longstanding sustainability initiatives in Singapore. The company’s existing Singapore operations already achieve 100% renewable energy coverage through direct retail energy agreements with Tuas Power. Digital Realty has also collaborated with IMDA on Singapore’s tropical data center standard, demonstrating that higher chilled-water operating temperatures can improve energy efficiency without compromising operational resilience.

Drawing on the tropical data center standard, Digital Realty increased operating temperatures by 2°C across two data halls, reducing overall energy consumption by approximately 2-3% during the pilot period. In addition, Digital Realty uses sophisticated Building Management Systems to monitor more than 30,000 infrastructure points across its Singapore facilities, including real-time Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).

Digital Realty plans to continue investing in resilient digital infrastructure, advancing energy and resource efficiency, and deepening local partnerships that support innovation, talent development and Singapore’s long-term digital competitiveness.

About Digital Realty
Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) solution methodology for powering innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 55+ metros across 30+ countries on six continents. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

For Additional Information

Media Contact
Joyce Ng
Digital Realty
[email protected]

Investor Relations
Jordan Sadler / Jim Huseby
Digital Realty
(737) 281 – 0101
[email protected]

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the company’s partnerships and expected benefits, expected completion dates, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainability goals, certifications and strategy and potential impact from sustainability initiatives customer demand and the company’s strategy. For a list and description of risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Registration Opens on 20 August for Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon

Cycling Enthusiasts Are Invited to Experience Spectacular New “Five Tunnels, Three Bridges” Route

UCI International Road Race Returns: 100 of the World’s Elite Cyclists
Set to Battle for Championship Glory on a 100 km Racecourse

HONG KONG, Aug. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will stage Hong Kong’s largest cycling event of the year – the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon – on 11 October (Sunday). This year’s event continues to promote the spirit of sports for charity and features a host of exciting new elements, including a 56 km non-competitive ride on a “Five Tunnels, Three Bridges” route that will take participants along the newly opened Central Kowloon Bypass for the first time. The popular 32 km ride will continue to use the popular “Two Tunnels, Two Bridges” route. More than 6,500 places are available for the two non-competitive rides. Public registration opens from 20 August. The Cyclothon will also feature the highly anticipated return of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Class 1.1 Road Race, with a new 100 km racecourse, drawing elite teams from around the world for a thrilling competition in Hong Kong.

HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said, “Starting in mid-September, HKTB will roll out a series of mega events, with the Hong Kong Cyclothon standing out as one of the most energetic and dynamic international sporting spectacles on our calendar. This year’s event promises a richer experience than ever. In addition to welcoming the return of the world-class UCI road race, which will feature 100 cyclists from 17 elite teams representing 11 countries and regions, we are introducing the new 56 km ‘Five Tunnels, Three Bridges’ route for the first time. We will also introduce the World University Trophy, bringing together student cyclists from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and overseas universities ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. In addition, a wonderful Cyclothon Carnival will be held to engage the public. Through the Hong Kong Cyclothon, we aim to offer both locals and visitors a truly ‘Only in Hong Kong’ cycling experience, taking them across the city’s iconic bridges and landmarks while showcasing the unique scenery, where a bustling metropolis meets a stunning harbour. We warmly invite everyone to be part of this annual sporting extravaganza.”

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) Executive Director Mr Adam Kwok said, “Sun Hung Kai Properties is delighted to be the title and charity sponsor of the Hong Kong Cyclothon for the eighth time. This year marks the highly anticipated return of the UCI 1.1 Road Race, which, along with other rides, will have its starting line moved to West Kowloon. This will allow world-class riders and cycling enthusiasts to experience the unique charm of West Kowloon. Set against the backdrop of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the event offers participants up-close views of landmarks such as IGC and ICC while showcasing the appeal of this international business and cultural hub.”

“Ahead of the Cyclothon, GO PARK Sai Sha will host interactive warm-up events with the world-class UCI riders. SHKP is also mobilizing its network to support this major sporting event, bringing joy to the community and encouraging sports for all. In support of Sports for Charity, all funds raised, together with top-up donations from SHKP, will be donated to charity organisations including The Community Chest to support those in need.”

56 km Ride Features New “Five Tunnels, Three Bridges” Challenge
First-Ever Dash Through the Central Kowloon Bypass

The popular non-competitive ride of the Hong Kong Cyclothon has been upgraded this year. The previous 50 km route will be extended to 56 km and will span six districts: Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Kowloon City. The enhanced route will test participants’ fitness and endurance while providing an ideal opportunity to explore Hong Kong’s diverse urban landscapes, showcasing the unique blend of old and new districts. The new “Five Tunnels, Three Bridges” route will take riders along roads rarely opened to cyclists, including the Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Nam Wan Tunnel, Eagle’s Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel, Tsing Ma Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge and Stonecutters Bridge. Riders will also be able to cycle along the Central Kowloon Bypass connecting Yau Ma Tei and Kai Tak, which will be opened to a cycling event for the first time.

The 32 km ride will maintain its “Two Tunnels, Two Bridges” route, incorporating Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Nam Wan Tunnel, Stonecutters Bridge and Ting Kau Bridge, offering cyclists spectacular urban and natural scenery on a truly unforgettable journey.

The starting and finishing lines will be relocated to Museum Drive in the West Kowloon Cultural District. A dedicated viewing zone will be introduced, allowing more locals and visitors to cheer cyclists on from close quarters, witness the thrilling showdowns as riders make their final dash to the finishing line and enjoy the electrifying atmosphere.

Hong Kong Cyclothon 56km Ride
Hong Kong Cyclothon 56km Ride Hong Kong Cyclothon 32km Ride
Spanning six districts – Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Kowloon City – the 56 km ride offers a thrilling test of fitness and endurance.

 Cyclists in the 32 km ride will enjoy spectacular views of Hong Kong’s urban cityscape and its natural scenery.

UCI Road Race Returns with Elite International Cyclist Teams Competing in a 100 km Challenge

17 elite teams from 11 countries and regions will compete in the return of the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon UCI Class 1.1 Road Race. The international field includes six UCI WorldTeams, such as the XDS Astana Team from Kazakhstan, Alpecin-Premier Tech and Soudal Quick-Step from Belgium, and Team Jayco AlUla from Australia. The race will also feature six UCI ProTeams and four UCI Continental Teams.

Together with the Hong Kong, China Cycling Team competing on home soil, around 100 world-class cyclists will battle for honours and the coveted champion’s jersey. The participation of such a strong international line-up will establish the UCI 1.1 race as one of the most competitive road cycling events in Asia. Locals and visitors can visit the viewing zone on Museum Drive in West Kowloon Cultural District to watch elite international cyclists compete at the highest level. A giant screen will broadcast the races live, allowing spectators to keep up with the spellbinding race action throughout the day.

To mark the return of this world-class race, the professional race route has been upgraded to deliver a more exciting spectator experience. Unlike previous editions that featured a circuit race in Tsim Sha Tsui East, this year’s route will see nearly 100 elite cyclists race across multiple districts, setting off from Museum Drive and traversing sections including the Nam Wan Tunnel, Stonecutters Bridge and the Central Kowloon Bypass. Covering Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing and Kowloon City, the varied and challenging course will set the stage for high-speed competition among the world’s top riders. The new undulating 100 km route links iconic landmarks, including the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the International Commerce Centre (ICC). Its diverse terrain will challenge riders’ speed, endurance and tactical prowess, enhancing the sporting spectacle while showcasing Hong Kong’s distinctive cityscape to the world.

UCI Class 1.1 Road Race
UCI Class 1.1 Road Race
The UCI Class 1.1 Road Race returns to Hong Kong.

New World University Trophy Brings Together Cyclists from the World’s Top 100 Universities

A new non-competitive World University Trophy will be introduced within the 56 km ride this year, bringing together university cyclists from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and overseas institutions ranked among the world’s top 100 universities to strive together. Renowned universities from around the world, including Peking University and Tsinghua University, as well as leading institutions from London, Paris, Toronto and Kuala Lumpur, will field cycling teams to compete alongside elite cyclists from local universities, promoting cultural exchange through this major sporting event.

Cyclothon Carnival to Deliver a Mega Sporting Event Experience for All

Beyond the thrill of the races, the vibrant atmosphere of the Hong Kong Cyclothon will extend from the racecourse to the Great Lawn of Art Park in the West Kowloon Cultural District. HKTB will stage a dedicated cycling-themed carnival featuring a diverse programme of sports, entertainment, family-friendly activities and culinary delights, allowing locals and visitors to fully immerse themselves in the excitement of this cycling extravaganza. Running from morning until evening, the carnival will feature stage performances that blend music and sports. A wide range of attractions will be available on site, including gourmet offerings, sports gear markets, emerging sports experiences, game and handicraft activity zones, and photo spots. The carnival promises a rich and enjoyable experience for locals and visitors of all ages and interests.

This year’s Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon continues to encourage participants to embrace the spirit of Sports for Charity by making charitable donations of HK$100 to HK$500 when registering for the event. All public donations, including part of the registration fees from the team categories of the 56 km Ride and 32 km Ride, as well as the full registration fees collected from the CEO Charity and Celebrity Ride and the Covation Family Fun Ride, will be donated in full to The Community Chest of Hong Kong. Sun Hung Kai Properties will also make an additional donation through other charitable organisations to support underprivileged communities and people in need.

As the venue partner of this year’s Hong Kong Cyclothon, the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) will join hands with the HKTB to offer locals and visitors a range of special promotions. HKTB will provide a complimentary standard admission ticket to the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) for visitors from Chinese Mainland and overseas who register during the designated enrolment period. To enrich the Hong Kong Cyclothon experience, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) will also launch special Hong Kong Cyclothon packages for both M+ and the HKPM. Each package includes one museum admission ticket and one complimentary one-way WestK Ferry ticket, encouraging visitors to enjoy the stunning views of Victoria Harbour and explore the museums’ exhibitions. In support of the event, a number of restaurants and cafés in WestK Art Park will progressively begin operating from 8:00 am onwards, while more than 25 dining outlets across the District will offer exclusive discounts and special promotions for Cyclothon participants. Tokyobike HK, a cycling brand based in WestK will also introduce a special bicycle rental promotion with discounts of up to 20% on the day.

Public Registration Opens on 20 August

Cycling enthusiasts from around the world can register from 10:00 am on 20 August (Hong Kong Time) through the event website (https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/events/cyclothon.html). To ensure participant safety, all riders are required to attend and pass an official cycling skills assessment arranged by the organiser, unless they completed a Hong Kong Cyclothon in 2022, 2023 or 2024, or hold qualifications recognised by the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China.

For more information about the 2026 Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon, please visit: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/events/cyclothon.html

Members of the media can download the route maps & relevant images from the following link:
https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=2612&categoryTypeId=2

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr Chokie Cheng Tel: 2807 6342                Email: [email protected]
Ms Elisa Luk Tel: 2807 6236                Email: [email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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