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Connecting the World, Empowering the Future

CAC2026 Opened in Shanghai, Building a Global Ecosystem for the Entire Crop Inputs Industry Chain

SHANGHAI, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 26th China International Agrochemical & Crop Protection Exhibition (CAC2026) grandly opened on March 17 at National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).

Guided by the mission of “Connecting the World, Serving the Industry, Empowering the Companies,” this year’s exhibition brings together 2,320 exhibitors from home and abroad across an exhibition space over 160,000 square meters. Through its four sub-exhibitions—CropProtection, FSHOW, CACE, and AgTech—CAC2026 creates a high-quality global trade platform that integrates both domestic and international markets, striving to build a “Global ecosystem for the entire crop inputs industry chain.” The opening day witnessed overwhelming attendance, with thousands of industry professionals from home and abroad gathering to chart a new sustainable future for the global agrochemical industry.


I. Global Industry Professionals Gather in Shanghai, Building a High-Quality Global Trade Platform

With 25 years of development, CAC2026 fully leverages its unique advantages in linking upstream and downstream industries and connecting domestic and international markets. The exhibition attracts 2,320 exhibitors from 37 countries worldwide. During the exhibition, over 50,000 industry professionals are expected to gather, with delegation visits from Argentina, Brazil, India, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and others, a spectacular showcase of CAC’s extraordinary global influence. Today’s CAC not only meets exhibitors’ needs to explore global markets, fosters collaboration across the industry chain, but also serves the procurement demands of domestic agricultural input distributors. It has established itself as a high-quality global trade platform that integrates both domestic and international markets.

II. Four Sub-exhibitions Create a Panoramic Ecosystem, Covering the Entire Value Chain of Agricultural Modernization

With the grand vision of “Where the Agrochemical World Meets”, this year’s exhibition features four sub-exhibitions—CropProtection, FSHOW, CACE, and AgTech—dedicated to building a “Global Ecosystem for the Entire Crop Inputs Industry Chain.”


CropProtection, serving as a barometer of the global pesticide industry, comprehensively showcases key segments across the entire value chain, from pesticide technical materials, formulations, and intermediates to biopesticides and biocontrol technologies, adjuvants and formulation technologies, testing services, industry consulting, and logistics services. The specially designated “Biopesticides & Biocontrol Technologies Pavilion” and “Sci-Tech Commercialization Pavilion” aim to promote the industrialization and internationalization of agricultural biological products, establish an innovative platform for deep industry-academia-research integration, and inject new momentum into high-quality and sustainable industry development.

FSHOW, as a bellwether of the global fertilizer industry, covers all product categories including mineral raw materials, compound fertilizers, specialty fertilizers, biostimulants, and fertilizer additives. FSHOW is dedicated to building a synergistic development system integrating “Resources-Technologies-Markets,” providing a professional exchange platform for fertilizer industry professionals worldwide and driving the transformation and upgrading of the fertilizer sector towards greater efficiency, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

CACE focuses on the intelligent, green, and sustainable future of agrochemical production, showcasing intelligent production equipments and operating systems, innovative packaging solutions, novel label design and applications, green technologies, and precision crop protection equipments. It presents cutting-edge technologies, innovations, and solutions across the entire agrochemical equipment industry chain, offering one-stop technology and equipment support for agrochemical enterprises pursuing green intelligent manufacturing and high-quality sustainable development, while also providing new solutions for precision pesticide application.

AgTech, under the theme “Innovation-driven, Technology-empowered.” panoramically presents cutting-edge technologies and equipments spanning the entire industry chain, including smart agriculture, modern seed industry, intelligent greenhouses, precision irrigation, agricultural IoT, and digital agriculture platforms. It creates an efficient global platform for trade matching and industry exchange, injecting new momentum into agricultural modernization.

III. Merge Global Expert Wisdom, Empowering Companies to Seize New Opportunities

CAC2026 is not merely a stage for product display and trade exchange—it is fertile ground for thought leadership, trend insights, and business opportunity cultivation. Through diverse conference activities, the exhibition truly “empowers the companies,” enabling global exhibitors and professional visitors to maximize their gains within a limited timeframe.

1. Merge Global Expert Wisdom, Creating Industry Information Feast

CAC Conference Week 2026, held during the exhibition, brings together global expert intelligence through three major conferences (CropProtection, FSHOW, and AgTech), 14 conference sessions, and over 100 expert reports. Covering topics such as industry policies, technological innovation, product applications, and market development, the conference week provides industry professionals with an information feast for knowledge updating and sustainable development.

Crop Protection Conference offers in-depth insights into global pesticide industry policies, market trends, biopesticide and biocontrol technologies, regulatory changes in registration management, market development experiences, nano-pesticide development, and the latest scientific and technological achievements, supporting the international and sustainable development of pesticides and upstream/downstream industries.

FSHOW Conference fully leverages its role as an industry bridge, focusing on global fertilizer markets, biologicals, fertilizer efficiency improvement, and agricultural sustainable development. Through keynote forums, specialized sub-forums, and international brand matchmaking sessions, it provides channels for policy interpretation, technological exchange, and market connections, promoting industrial collaboration and mutual success.

AgTech Conference aims to establish a high-level, international dialogue platform, conducting in-depth discussions around four core areas: smart equipment, seed industry innovation, modern greenhouses, and intelligent irrigation. It brings together cutting-edge industry trends and innovative practices to explore how advanced technologies can empower the entire agricultural production chain, collectively envisioning the future of agriculture and driving the global agricultural sector toward precision, intelligence, and sustainability.

2. Pesticide Industry Forum Supports Overseas Market Development of High-Quality Pesticides

This year’s forum invited leaders from China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) and Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (ICAMA), Shanghai Customs, Yangshan Customs, along with representatives from 20 companies. In-depth exchanges and discussions focused on new situations, challenges, and difficulties encountered in China’s pesticide import and export, as well as new trends, directions, and approaches in trade and industrial development—providing valuable insights and recommendations for high-quality overseas market development.

IV. Strengthen CAC Brand Building, Enrich CAC Cultural Connotations

While promoting the development of the global crop inputs industry, CAC places great emphasis on its own brand building, having received international recognition as an UFI Approved International Event and honors such as “Shanghai Excellent Exhibition.”

During CAC2026, we proudly introduced the CAC mascot—Maimeng. Through Maimeng’s lively and lovely image, we aim to further enhance CAC brand visibility, enrich its cultural connotations, and advance the development of CAC’s global brand as we stride toward becoming a world-class brand exhibition.

V. Exhibition Services Further Upgraded, Co-creating a New Chapter for Industry Development

This year, we have innovated our exhibition and optimized our service system, placing greater emphasis on meeting the needs of both exhibitors and visitors. By simplifying the registration and badge collection process, enhancing the CAC Guide and Booth Navigation System, we have improved participant experience, supporting precise businesses connect with target partners and efficiently schedule business meetings. Our goal is to create an indispensable platform for exchange and collaboration within the industry and create a new chapter in industry development and make even greater contributions to safeguarding global food security and abundant harvests!

CONTACT: Vicky Li, lixiaoxuan@ccpitchem.org.cn 

Edo Shogun Roads Launches Global Promotion Campaign : Kickoff Ceremony to Be Held in the Greater Tokyo Region

TOKYO, March 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Kanto District Transport Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Greater Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau will officially launch an international promotion campaign this spring for the tourism project “Edo Shogun Roads.” To mark the launch, a kickoff event will be held on March 20 at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu as part of a regional promotional fair titled “Edo Shogun Roads Fest Experience & Gourmet.” This release introduces the overview of the kickoff event. We spoke with the event organizers to learn more, reported by Tourism Media Service.

The event will feature a wide range of traditional experiences, including historical activities, cultural performances, local cuisine, and stage presentations showcasing the heritage of the Edo-period highways.

The project aims to promote tourism by highlighting the historical, cultural, and culinary resources found along Japan’s historic highways.

The Edo Shogun Roads Project is based on the historic road network that connected Edo (present-day Tokyo) with regions across Japan during the Edo period. It centers on the five major highways known as the “Gokaido”—the Tokaido, Nikkō Kaido, Oshu Kaido, Nakasendo, and Koshu Kaido—as well as their related branch routes.

By connecting tourism resources located along these historic routes, the project encourages visitors to explore multiple destinations across the wider Kanto region while supporting regional economies and sustainable tourism development.

The international promotion campaign will introduce tourism experiences inspired by Edo-period culture and historic travel routes through promotional videos and a dedicated online portal showcasing attractions throughout the Greater Tokyo region.

In addition, the campaign will collaborate with GREEN×EXPO 2027 (International Horticultural Expo 2027) scheduled to take place in Yokohama, presenting model travel routes themed around gardens, seasonal flowers, and nature.

Key components of the promotion include:

  • Release of promotional videos introducing the historic Edo highways
  • Launch of the Edo Shogun Roads tourism portal website
  • Presentation of 17 model travel routes highlighting seasonal flowers and nature
  • Announcement of 15 Edo cultural experience programs designed for international visitors

Through these initiatives, the project aims to establish a wide-area tourism route centered on historic highway culture and strengthen global awareness of the region.

During the kickoff ceremony, the promotional video and portal website will be officially unveiled, and the selected Edo cultural experience programs will be announced.

Special guest Kojiro Shiraishi, a world-renowned ocean adventurer, will also deliver remarks at the ceremony.

The project is supported by 11 prefectures and metropolitan areas across the Greater Tokyo region:
Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Yamanashi, Niigata, Fukushima, and Nagano.

Kickoff Ceremony Overview

Date & Time: March 20, 2026 (Friday / National Holiday)
10:30 – 11:15

Venue:
Tokyo Midtown Yaesu – 1F Galleria
(3-minute walk from Tokyo Station)

Program

  • Opening remarks (Director-General, Kanto District Transport Bureau)
  • Guest remarks (Japan Tourism Agency)
  • Introduction of the Edo Shogun Roads promotion project
  • Announcement of Edo cultural experience programs
  • Special guest speech (Ocean adventurer Kojiro Shiraishi)
  • Flag-raising ceremony

Related Event

Edo Shogun Roads Cultural Travel Fair – “Strolling the Edo Highways”

A regional cultural promotion event showcasing the heritage of the Edo-period highways will be held at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu. Visitors can enjoy historical experiences, traditional culture, regional cuisine, and stage performances representing the Edo Shogun Roads regions.

Official Social Media

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/edokaido0320/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/edoshogunfest/

▼About Tourism Media Service:

An online news platform specializing in the tourism industry. It provides the latest news on regional development and travel information, as well as feature articles on topics such as trends and observations, contributed by over 100 experts, every day.

Matrixdock Launches XAGm, Bringing LBMA Good Delivery Silver On-Chain Under the FRS Framework

SINGAPORE, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Matrixdock, a Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization platform, today announced the launch of XAGm, an institutional-grade tokenized silver asset backed by fully allocated physical silver. The introduction of XAGm expands Matrixdock’s on-chain precious metals stack, bringing LBMA-aligned silver into programmable financial environments and introducing a silver-backed instrument suitable for collateralization, trading, treasury diversification, and DeFi composability.

As real-world assets continue migrating into blockchain-based financial systems, market focus is shifting from whether assets can be tokenized to which assets can operate sustainably on-chain over time. Silver, driven by both investment demand and industrial consumption, has long played a structurally important role in traditional markets. With XAGm, this widely utilized precious metal becomes accessible within on-chain financial infrastructure, expanding the range of institutionally structured assets available for on-chain financial applications.

Unlike gold, which primarily functions as a store-of-value asset, silver exhibits stronger cyclical sensitivity due to its dual role across monetary and industrial demand. In on-chain markets, this characteristic supports a broader range of trading, collateralization, and asset allocation scenarios. If gold anchors the reserve layer of wealth preservation, silver introduces additional market velocity and cyclical responsiveness, thereby expanding the functional spectrum of on-chain reserve assets.

As one of the few institutionally structured tokenized silver offerings currently available, XAGm is backed by fully allocated silver in the form of LBMA Good Delivery bars, held in professional, institutional-grade vaulting facilities. Through clearly defined allocation arrangements and disclosure mechanisms, the linkage between tokens and underlying silver holdings can be independently verified within an established framework, providing an auditable foundation for institutional on-chain silver exposure.

XAGm adopts Matrixdock’s Fungible Reserve Standard (FRS), a programmable token framework designed to transparently and programmatically align on-chain supply dynamics and each token’s representation with the real-world economics of holding the underlying asset. FRS preserves the economic integrity of the underlying asset while accounting for custody and audit costs over time, establishing a structurally sustainable model for long-duration RWA assets operating on-chain.

The asset will initially be deployed on the Ethereum network, with support for additional blockchain ecosystems planned in subsequent phases to enhance cross-market accessibility.

The launch of XAGm marks a continued expansion of Matrixdock’s Reserve Layer framework rather than the introduction of a standalone product. With both gold and silver now integrated, Matrixdock is advancing the foundation of on-chain precious metals infrastructure, incorporating assets influenced by different economic cycles to build a diversified reserve structure designed for long-term stability and functionality in on-chain finance.

“The market still lacks truly institutional-grade tokenized silver products,” said Eva Meng, Head of Matrixdock. “With XAGm, we are bringing fully allocated, professionally vaulted silver on-chain within a clear and verifiable framework. While gold primarily anchors wealth preservation, silver serves a complementary dual role shaped by both industrial demand and monetary dynamics. Together, they form a more complete and functionally resilient foundation for on-chain precious metals infrastructure.”

Matrixdock will continue expanding its suite of high-quality real-world assets, advancing the development of resilient, transparent reserve assets for the on-chain financial ecosystem.

About Matrixdock

Matrixdock is a leading real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform in Asia, focusing on institutional-grade tokenized products designed to bring high-quality traditional assets into on-chain markets through transparent and verifiable structures.

The platform’s products include tokenized precious metals – Matrixdock Gold XAUm and Silver XAGm, which are fully backed by physical LBMA-accredited gold and silver bullions, respectively, and tokenized short-term U.S. Treasuries – STBT. Each asset is supported by leading blockchain rails, reputable custody, and rigorous transparency standards.

Matrixdock is the core tokenization partner for sovereign asset tokenization initiatives, and architected the TER gold token for GMC in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

By transforming assets such as precious metals and sovereign-grade instruments into transparent, verifiable, and credible tokenized form, Matrixdock is building the robust reserve layer for next-generation on-chain finance.

Fractal Introduces LLM Studio to Bring Enterprise-Grade GenAI Customization with NVIDIA NeMo and NVIDIA NIM Microservices

New enterprise workbench helps organizations design, build, evaluate, and operate domain-specific language models using open-source models and NVIDIA AI infrastructure.

NEW YORK, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fractal (www.fractal.ai), a publicly listed global enterprise AI company serving Fortune 500® organizations, today announced the launch of LLM Studio, an enterprise platform that helps organizations build and run language models tailored to their business. It is designed for teams that want more control over how models are governed, deployed, and managed in production. LLM Studio will be demonstrated at NVIDIA GTC 2026, the premier AI and accelerated computing conference by NVIDIA, taking place from March 16–19, 2026, at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California.

Enterprises are moving beyond one-size-fits-all, API-only large language models for high-value use cases. Today, business and technology leaders need clearer guardrails for governance, predictable costs, and reliable performance. At the same time, industry research points to growing adoption of smaller, purpose-built models that can be tuned to specific functions and domains.

LLM Studio enables businesses to design, build, evaluate, and operate domain-adapted language models using open-source models, powered by NVIDIA AI infrastructure and software stack. It brings together two modules:

  • AutoLLM: Helps businesses create smaller, specialized models for specific tasks or industries. It supports open-source model selection, synthetic data generation, model customization, evaluation, and performance benchmarking.
  • LLMOps: Helps teams manage the full life cycle after a model is created. It supports deployment, monitoring, and governance.

LLM Studio helps keep model responses tied to an organization’s approved data and context. This reduces hallucinations and improves the quality of reasoning. The resulting models remain proprietary to the organization. Teams can then use these models in agents or other generative AI applications to deliver more reliable performance, often at a fraction of the cost of running larger foundation models.

LLM Studio, developed by the AI Client Services team at Fractal, is built on NVIDIA reference architectures, using NVIDIA NeMo for key model development workflow capabilities and NVIDIA NIM microservices for model hosting. This design helps businesses standardize how models are deployed and governed across major cloud environments, reducing the need for custom builds in each setup. Fractal is planning to use NVIDIA Nemotron open models for development.

“Enterprises are past the experimentation phase with generative AI. They need solutions that are governed, cost predictable, and reliable in production. With LLM Studio, we are giving organizations a practical way to build and operate domain-specific language models using open-source options, while taking advantage of NVIDIA AI infrastructure,” said Pranay Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer, Fractal.

LLM Studio supports a wide range of applications. It is built for enterprise users, including teams with limited or no coding experience. Businesses can tailor models to their content and train them to follow specific instructions or build models designed for tasks that need stronger reasoning.

For more information, visit: https://fractal.ai/solutions/llm-studio

About Fractal

Fractal (NSE: FRACTAL) is a publicly listed global enterprise AI company with a vision to power every human decision in the enterprise.

Fractal’s suite of businesses includes Asper.ai (enabling interconnected decisions for revenue growth) and Analytics Vidhya (among the world’s largest data science communities). Fractal spun out Qure.ai, a global healthcare AI leader enhancing the rapid identification and management of tuberculosis, lung cancer, and stroke. Fractal’s dedicated AI Research team is focused on foundational AI advancements, including knowledge-based foundational models, reasoning-based systems, and agentic systems. The team has launched successful products, including MarshallGoldsmith.ai, Vaidya.ai, Kalaido.ai, and the open-source reasoning model Fathom-R1-14B and tool-based reasoning model Fathom-DeepResearch.

Fractal employs over 5,000 professionals across global locations, including the United States, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Ukraine, India, Singapore, South Africa, the UAE, and Australia. It has consistently earned recognition as one of India’s Best Companies to Work For (Top 100, 2025), a ‘Great Workplace’ for eight consecutive years, and as one of ‘India’s Best Workplaces for Women’ for five years running by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Fractal was also named a Leader in the 2025 Forrester Wave™ for Customer Analytics Service Providers and earned leadership positions in the Everest Group Peak Matrix Assessment 2025 for AI and Analytics Services, and Information Services Group’s 2024 assessments for Data Engineering and Data Science Services.

Acer Refreshes Predator Helios Neo Gaming Laptops with Latest-Gen CPUs and GPUs for Desktop-Class Performance

Equipped with up to Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus series processors and up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Laptop GPUs, the upgraded lineup delivers cutting-edge displays and advanced AI features

Editor’s Summary

  • The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI, the Predator Helios Neo 16 AI, and the Predator Helios Neo 18 AI gaming laptops are powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus series processors and up to an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Laptop GPU, delivering top-notch performance capabilities to gaming enthusiasts.
  • The slim Predator Helios Neo 16S AI comes under 18.9 mm thin[1] and features a blazing-fast 240 Hz OLED HDR display with 1 ms response time, built for gamers who compete on the go.
  • The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI offers a 1 ms response time on an OLED HDR display, paired with Intel Killer Ethernet E3100 and Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed connectivity.
  • Along with desktop-class performance, the Predator Helios Neo 18 AI offers state-of-the-art visuals on an 18-inch 240 Hz display with Ambient Contrast Ratio (ACR) film to reduce glare and enhance contrast.

TAIPEI, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Acer today announced refreshed Predator Helios Neo series gaming laptops equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus series processors and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, bringing the latest performance capabilities to gaming enthusiasts across a range of form factors and display options.

The new Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus series processors power a new class of gaming laptops with significant performance gains over the previous generation. These devices are built for split-second responsiveness, rock-solid FPS, smart tuning, and battery life that keeps players locked in across an extensive selection of games and apps.

Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 and generate images at unprecedented speed.

Predator Helios Neo 16S AI

The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (PHN16S-I71) is the slim option in the lineup, designed to offer portability for gamers who need to compete on the go. Housed in a chassis starting at under 18.9 mm thin, the device offers up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. An OLED HDR display offers a blazing-fast 240 Hz refresh rate, WQXGA resolution, and a 1 ms response time for ultra-smooth visuals and instant reactions, backed by Calman Verified 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy. To supply maximum cooling, the device is equipped with a Predator AeroBlade 3D Fan and liquid metal thermal grease.

Predator Helios Neo 16 AI

The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI (PHN16-I71) brings desktop-class performance and feature-rich AI gaming to a 16-inch form factor. It is powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. Its standout feature is an OLED HDR display with a 1 ms response time, WQXGA resolution, and Calman Verified color accuracy with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, delivering blistering speeds and bringing gaming worlds to life in lucid detail. For optimized heat dissipation, the device features the Predator AeroBlade 3D Fan, liquid metal thermal grease, and vector heat pipes. For connectivity, Intel Killer Ethernet E3100 enables fast, stable, and intelligently prioritized network performance — ideal for gaming and streaming — while Thunderbolt 4 delivers ultra-fast data transfer.

Predator Helios Neo 18 AI

The Predator Helios Neo 18 AI (PHN18-I71) is the 18-inch counterpart, offering up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. Along with a 240 Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, the device’s WQXGA display offers the new Ambient Contrast Ratio (ACR) film, which reduces glare and enhances contrast for vivid imagery and clear details — even in bright environments. To sustain top performance, the device is equipped with a Predator AeroBlade 3D Fan, liquid metal thermal grease, and vector heat pipes for efficient cooling power.

The three new Predator Helios Neo gaming laptops also offer several advanced AI features. In addition to real-time control over performance modes and fan speeds, PredatorSense enables gamers to personalize their device with a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard and illuminated cover logo. For seamless co-op gaming and livestreaming, Acer PurifiedVoice and PurifiedView utilize AI to reduce background noise and improve video quality, while the smart hub of AI tools in Acer Intelligence Space[2] includes Game Assistant for aiming support in first-person shooter games and ProCam to auto-capture key gameplay moments.

Availability

The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (PHN16S-I71) will be available in North America from July 2026; in EMEA from June 2026; and in Australia from July 2026.

The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI (PHN16-I71) will be available in North America from July 2026; in EMEA from June 2026; and in Australia from June 2026.

The Predator Helios Neo 18 AI (PHN18-I71) will be available in North America from July 2026; in EMEA from June 2026; and in Australia from July 2026.

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.

Specifications

Name

Predator Helios Neo 16S AI

Model

PHN16S-I71

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus
Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 270HX Plus

Graphics

Up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Laptop GPU with 16GB GDDR7 VRAM

Display

16-inch 16:10 OLED HDR WQXGA 2560 x 1600, 240Hz, 1 ms response time, Calman Verified, DCI-P3 100%, NVIDIA® Advanced Optimus, NVIDIA® G-SYNC

Memory

Up to 64GB DDR5 6400 MT/s

Storage

Up to 2 TB total: two PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD slots, each supporting up to 1 TB of connected M.2 NVMe storage

Cooling

5th Gen Predator AeroBlade 3D Fan, plastic fan, liquid metal thermal grease

Dimensions and Weight

356.78 (L) x 275.5 (D) x 12.0~18.9 (H) mm, 2.3 kg

Battery

92 Wh

Wi-Fi and Connectivity

Intel Killer Ethernet E3100, supports Bluetooth 5.4 or above

Ports

Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, microSD™ card reader, 3.5 mm combo audio jack, RJ-45, DC-In, Kensington Lock

Audio

2 speakers with DTS® X:Ultra

Camera

FHD 1920 x 1080 IR webcam with AI-powered PurifiedView

Features

PredatorSense, Acer Intelligence Space, 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Acer PurifiedVoice AI noise reduction

 

Name

Predator Helios Neo 16 AI

Model

PHN16-I71

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus
Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 270HX Plus

Graphics

Up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Laptop GPU with 16GB GDDR7 VRAM

Display

16-inch 16:10 OLED HDR, WQXGA 2560 x 1600, 165 Hz, 1 ms response time, Calman Verified, DCI-P3 100%, NVIDIA® Advanced Optimus, NVIDIA® G-SYNC

Memory

Up to 64 GB DDR5 6400 MT/s

Storage

Up to 2 TB total: two PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD slots, each supporting up to 1 TB of connected M.2 NVMe storage

Cooling

5th Gen Predator AeroBlade 3D Fan, plastic fan, liquid metal thermal grease, vector heat pipe

Dimensions and Weight

356.78 (L) x 275.5 (D) x 13.47 / 26.75 (H) mm, 2.7kg

Battery

92 Wh

Wi-Fi and Connectivity

Intel Killer Ethernet E3100, supports Bluetooth 5.4 or above

Ports

Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, microSD™ card reader, 3.5 mm combo audio jack, RJ-45, DC-In, Kensington Lock

Audio

2 speakers with DTS® X:Ultra

Camera

FHD 1920 x 1080 IR webcam with AI-powered PurifiedView

Features

PredatorSense, Acer Intelligence Space, 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Acer PurifiedVoice AI noise reduction

 

Name

Predator Helios Neo 18 AI

Model

PHN18-I71

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus
Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 270HX Plus

Graphics

Up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Laptop GPU with 16GB GDDR7 VRAM

Display

18-inch up to WQXGA 2560 x 1600, 16:10, 240 Hz, DCI-P3 100%, NVIDIA® Advanced Optimus, NVIDIA® G-SYNC

Memory

Up to 64 GB DDR5 6400 MT/s

Storage

Up to 2 TB total: two PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD slots, each supporting up to 1 TB of connected M.2 NVMe storage

Cooling

5th Gen Predator AeroBlade 3D Fan, plastic fan, liquid metal thermal grease, vector heat pipe

Dimensions and Weight

400.96 (L) x 307.9 (D) x 14.9 / 28.0 (H) mm, 3.4 kg

Battery

92 Wh

Wi-Fi and Connectivity

Intel Killer Ethernet E3100, supports Bluetooth 5.4 or above

Ports

Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, microSD™ card reader, 3.5 mm combo audio jack, RJ-45, DC-In, Kensington Lock

Audio

2 speakers with DTS® X:Ultra

Camera

FHD 1920 x 1080 IR webcam with AI-powered PurifiedView

Features

Ambient Contrast Ratio film, PredatorSense, Acer Intelligence Space, 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Acer PurifiedVoice AI noise reduction

 

[1] Specifications may vary depending on model and region. All models subject to availability.

[2] Features and availability of Acer Intelligence Space (AIS) vary by model and region. Some functions require an active internet connection, supported hardware (such as an NPU or specific GPU), and future software updates. Performance may vary depending on system configuration.

About Acer

Founded in 1976, Acer is one of the world’s top technology companies with a presence in more than 160 countries. The company continues to evolve by embracing innovation across its offerings, which include computers and displays, while branching out to new businesses. Acer is also committed to sustainable growth, exploring new opportunities that align with its environmental and social responsibilities. The Acer Group employs nearly 12,000 employees that contribute to the research, design, marketing, sales and support of products, solutions, and services that break barriers between people and technology. Visit www.acer.com for more information.

© 2026 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners. All offers subject to change without notice or obligation and may not be available through all sales channels. Prices listed are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may vary by location. Applicable sales tax extra.

© Intel, the Intel logo and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.

Hyundai Motor Group’s HTWO Hydrogen Brand Debuts in Japan at H2&FC EXPO

  • HTWO, Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen brand and business platform, makes its Japan debut at H2&FC EXPO
  • The Group showcases comprehensive hydrogen technologies across the entire value chain, from production to utilization
  • Japan-spec model of the all-new NEXO on display, with test drives available for registered participants
  • The Group to join a conference session, presenting its fuel cell development history and comprehensive fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) line-up

SEOUL, South Korea and TOKYO, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Motor Group today introduced the Group’s dedicated hydrogen brand and business platform, HTWO, at the H2&FC EXPO. At the exhibition, the Group showcases its vision for a hydrogen-powered future through a comprehensive display of technologies spanning the entire hydrogen value chain.

Hyundai Motor Group’s HTWO Hydrogen Brand Debuts in Japan at H2&FC EXPO
Hyundai Motor Group’s HTWO Hydrogen Brand Debuts in Japan at H2&FC EXPO

The Japan-spec all-new NEXO, Hyundai Motor Company’s flagship fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), is also on display at the event.

What is HTWO?

HTWO is Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen brand and business platform to deliver end-to-end solutions across the entire hydrogen value chain. The brand integrates the Group’s extensive capabilities, serving as an open platform for collaboration, partnership and investment. HTWO’s introduction in Japan at the H2&FC EXPO underscores the Group’s commitment to advancing the global transition toward a sustainable hydrogen society.

What is the Group Presenting at the H2&FC EXPO?

From March 17–19, visitors can experience the Group’s hydrogen leadership at its booth at Tokyo Big Sight (West Exhibition Hall, W17-31).

The exhibition features:

  • The all-new NEXO: The fully redesigned, Japan-spec model of the Group’s next-generation FCEV.
  • Test Drive Program: Registered participants can test-drive the all‑new NEXO and experience its upgraded design, spacious interior and enhanced driving performance.
  • HTWO Technologies: A broad lineup from Hyundai Motor Group affiliates demonstrating the depth of the HTWO platform, including hydrogen refueling solutions including packaged hydrogen refueling station concept, hydrogen tram, hydrogen burner, hydrogen fuel cell electric bus and truck, hydrogen fuel cell system and the Automatic Charging Robot–Hydrogen (ACR‑H).
  • Conference Participation: On March 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Duckwhan Kim, Vice President of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Engineering Design Group 1 at Hyundai Motor Group, will deliver a lecture titled “Electrification Solution Powered by Fuel Cell Technology” as part of the International Special Lecture Session.

More information about Hyundai Motor Group can be found at: http://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai, Kia Global Media Center (kianewscenter.com), Genesis Newsroom

 

Laos Signs Deal to Build Clean Energy Industrial Zone in Oudomxay

Laos signs a deal to build a green industrial zone in Oudomxay Province. Vientiane Capital. 16 March 2026.

The Lao government signed an agreement to build a large clean energy and aluminum industrial zone in Oudomxay Province, adding to the growing list of development projects in the northern province.

The deal, signed on 16 March with Kritthaphong Group and CGN Energy Technology (Laos), covers approximately 6,279 hectares. China’s Guangxi Investment Group Co., Ltd. will be the main investor.

The project will build a green aluminium production base that can produce up to half a million tons per year. It will use up to 2,000-megawatt of clean energy and eventually develop a full aluminium value chain, including production, processing, and manufacturing of aluminium products.

Once complete, the Lao government project is expected to reposition Laos from a “resource-exporting” country into a regional hub for “green industrial manufacturing.”

On the energy side, CGN Laos will provide a clean energy system.

Phase 1 of a 1,000 MW solar project, the country’s largest solar power farm in Oudomxay, also under CGN, has already begun supplying electricity since December 2025 and is expected to reach full capacity by April of this year.

Additional renewable energy projects are also underway, including a 391-megawatt wind-solar project in Oudomxay, a 618-megawatt solar project, and a 425.4-megawatt wind project in neighboring Luang Namtha Province.

All of these are currently in the planning or pre-construction stages.

Meanwhile, Kritthaphong Group will manage local coordination and project implementation, while Électricité du Laos Transmission Company (EDL-T) will connect the project to the Laos-China 500kV power grid, which was fully connected in early February and is set to begin operations in April.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Lao Clean Energy Standards Institute was also officially launched to support the development of clean energy standards and regional power integration.

Attack on Titan” × Nijigen no Mori Collaboration Event Opens on Awaji Island, Hyogo


HYOGO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 March 2026 – Nijigen no Mori Inc. (Head Office: Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture; President: Hiroshige Sadamatsu) is currently hosting a limited-time collaboration event that allows guests to experience the world of the hit TV anime Attack on Titan at Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park Anime Park “Nijigen no Mori.” Running from March 14 (Sat), 2026 to December 13 (Sun), 2026, the event offers fans an immersive opportunity to step directly into the dramatic universe of the series.

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On the opening day, a large number of visitors gathered at the park, eager to explore the attraction. Guests shared enthusiastic reactions such as, “The multi-screen video at the end was incredibly powerful and captivating—I couldn’t take my eyes off it,” and “The smoke, lighting, and sound effects created a truly immersive experience, making us feel like we were inside the world of the story.” To celebrate the grand opening, a Titan from the series made a dramatic appearance right before the guests’ eyes, creating an unforgettable and thrilling moment.

Throughout the event period, visitors can enjoy two immersive programs held during both daytime and nighttime. The nighttime attraction, “Attack on Titan THE NIGHT WALK – Beyond the Walls –,” invites participants to walk approximately 1.2 kilometers through a forest after dark. Using projection mapping and dynamic sound effects, the experience recreates the intense atmosphere of the anime. Guests take on the role of new recruits and join Eren Yeager and companions as they confront the Titans. At the goal point, participants receive an original Nijigen no Mori–exclusive card as a reward for completing their mission.

During the daytime, guests can participate in the “Attack on Titan Stamp Rally in Nijigen no Mori,” where they collect character stamps illustrated exclusively for the event while exploring the park. In addition, a second phase of the daytime program, “Attack on Titan Mystery Quest – Nijigen no Mori / At Home,” will be introduced at a later date. In this puzzle-solving experience, participants become subordinates of Hange Zoë and work together to solve a series of mysteries.

The event also features exclusive merchandise and original food items inspired by popular characters such as Eren Yeager and Levi, making it a must-visit destination for fans. ©HK/AOT
Hashtag: #NijigennoMori

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