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HGC Announces Appointment of Cliff Tam as Chief Commercial Officer of International Business

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Advertorial Desk
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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – HGC Global Communications (“HGC” or “the Group”) a fully-fledged network operator with extensive global coverage and ICT solution provider, has appointed Cliff Tam as Chief Commercial Officer – International Business, effective immediately. This strategic appointment reinforces HGC’s commitment to accelerating the growth of its international business (“IB”), deepening global network solutions, and advancing the Group’s position as a trusted enabler of international connectivity and digital infrastructure worldwide.

Cliff Tam is appointed as Chief Commercial Officer - International business of HGC
Cliff Tam is appointed as Chief Commercial Officer – International business of HGC

In his new role, Cliff will spearhead the Group’s international commercial strategy, leading the IB organisation to sharpen its global focus, deepen niche market penetration. He will champion the shared network philosophy in Southeast Asia (“SEA”) region to drive next-generation ready digital infrastructure development and capture new opportunities arising from AI adoption and global digital transformation. Leveraging HGC’s regional network cluster, Cliff will support companies in achieving seamless cross-border integration from Hong Kong as a key telecommunications hub across Chinese Mainland, and other international markets. Meanwhile, Ravindran Mahalingam, Senior Vice President – International Business & Digital Infrastructure, will support Cliff in identifying in-country projects across SEA and driving scalable and sustainable businesses for the Group.

With over 30 years of industry experience, Cliff brings a strategic global perspective that align with evolving needs of today’s interconnected digital economy and rapidly changing global environment. He has been repeatedly recognised by Capacity Power 100 as one of the most influential leaders in the telecommunications industry, underscoring his impact on shaping international carrier and digital ecosystem trends.

Andrew Kwok, Chief Executive Officer of HGC, said “Cliff’s appointment marks a significant step forward in HGC’s global development. As we establish a next-generation regional telecommunications network, encompassing international connectivity, local networks, and strategic network hubs, also incorporating AI development to future-proof our infrastructure. By leveraging HGC’s global network cluster, we will strengthen an interconnected telecom ecosystem that further reinforce Hong Kong’s status as one of the leading international telecommunications hub and support the continued evolution of the global digital economy.”

Cliff Tam, Chief Commercial Officer – International Business of HGC, said, “I am honoured to assume this role and remain focused on driving long‑term value for HGC’s international business. By deepening collaboration with our regional and global partners, we will advance the shared network philosophy to support companies respond to fast changing market dynamics driven by AI and emerging technologies. With HGC’s extensive international connectivity and embracement to AI adoption, we will empower OTTs, hyerscalers and enterprises to expand across borders, evolve in global markets, and accelerate their digital transformation. I look forward to leading our team in shaping new possibilities and strengthening HGC’s position as a trusted international partner in the rapidly evolving global digital landscape.”

Hashtag: #HGC

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international telecom operator and ICT solution provider. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 20 global offices and staff presence in 33 cities worldwide. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data center services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate, SME and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fiber-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. In 2019, HGC Group completed the acquisition of Macroview Telecom Limited (Macroview), a leading digital technology solution and managed services provider. The addition of Macroview further accelerates HGC Group’s digital transformation path and positioning as a pioneering ICT and digital services leader. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities, transport, social infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and environmental infrastructure in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Akeso’s IL-4Rα/ST2 Bispecific Antibody Cleared for Seven Phase II Studies in China Spanning Respiratory and Autoimmune Indications

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Advertorial Desk
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HONG KONG, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) is pleased to announce that the National Medical Products Administration has approved the initiation of Phase II clinical trials for AK139,  a first-in-class IL-4Rα/ST2-targeting bispecific antibody, across seven indications. These indications include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe bronchial asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, and prurigo nodularis. With these new Phase II studies, AK139 has the potential to bring its novel mechanism of action to create breakthrough therapies for multiple respiratory and autoimmune indications

AK139 is a clinical stage bispecific antibody for autoimmune indications that was discovered using Akeso’s proprietary AI-enabled drug discovery platform. It marks a pivotal expansion of the company’s leading expertise in bispecific/multispecific antibody for oncology into other major therapeutic areas.  Chronic inflammatory diseases driven by the IL-4Rα/ST2 pathway, including key respiratory and autoimmune disorders, are characterized by complex pathogenesis and a substantial patient burden worldwide. Significant unmet clinical needs persist in many of these indications due to insufficient responses or limited symptom control from current single-target therapies.

As the world’s first IL-4Rα/ST2 bispecific antibody to enter the clinic, AK139 simultaneously targets and blocks both the IL-4/IL-13 pathway (by binding to the IL-4Rα subunit shared by both IL-4 and IL-13 receptor complexes) and the IL-33/ST2-mediated inflammation pathway. Early studies show that AK139 possesses strong bispecific binding affinity, as well as favorable in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activity. In key metrics, including inhibition of inflammatory cytokine release and reduction of tissue inflammatory cell infiltration, AK139 demonstrates significantly greater synergistic efficacy compared to single-target antibodies against either IL-4 or ST2. AK139 also has a good safety profile from earlier studies.

To date, no antibody drug targeting both the IL-4Rαand the IL-33/ST2 pathways has been approved or is in clinical studies. By simultaneously inhibiting these core inflammatory pathways, AK139 has the potential to advance the treatment of related respiratory, autoimmune, and dermatological diseases into a “dual-target era,” offering patients a superior and broad spectrum therapeutic solution. The expansion and advancement of AK139’s global clinical development program will further strengthen Akeso’s momentum in autoimmune diseases. This progress builds upon the foundation established by approved or late-stage novel autoimmune therapies in Akeso’s portfolio, such as ebdarokimab (IL-12/IL-23), gumokimab (IL-17A), and manfidokimab (IL-4R).

Forward-Looking Statement of Akeso, Inc.
This announcement by Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK, “Akeso”) contains “forward-looking statements”. These statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of Akeso’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any decision to purchase securities of Akeso. There can be no assurance that the drug candidate(s) indicated in this announcement or Akeso’s other pipeline candidates will obtain the required regulatory approvals or achieve commercial success. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in P.R.China, the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Akeso’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Akeso’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

Akeso does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.

About Akeso
Akeso (HKEX: 9926.HK) is a leading biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of the world’s first or best-in-class innovative biological medicines. Founded in 2012, the company has established a robust R&D innovation ecosystem centered on its proprietary Tetrabody bispecific antibody platform, ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugate) technologies, siRNA/mRNA modalities, and cell therapies. Supported by a global-standard GMP manufacturing infrastructure and a highly efficient, integrated commercialization model, the company has evolved into a globally competitive biopharmaceutical focused on innovative solutions. With fully integrated multi-functional platform, Akeso is internally working on a robust pipeline of over 50 innovative assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammation, metabolic disease and other major diseases. Among them, 26 candidates have entered clinical trials (including 15 bispecific/multispecific antibodies and bispecific ADCs. Additionally, 7 new drugs are commercially available. Through efficient and breakthrough R&D innovation, Akeso always integrates superior global resources, develops the first-in-class and best-in-class new drugs, provides affordable therapeutic antibodies for patients worldwide, and continuously creates more commercial and social values to become a global leading biopharmaceutical enterprise.

For more information, please visit https://www.akesobio.com/en/about-us/corporate-profile/ and follow us on Linkedin.

 

Temu Partners with DEKRA to Enhance Platform Compliance and Quality Assurance

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Advertorial Desk
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DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Temu, the global e-commerce platform, and DEKRA, a global testing, inspection and certification organization, today announced a cooperation to strengthen product safety, compliance and quality assurance on the Temu marketplace.

Under the initiative, DEKRA will provide independent testing services for selected electrical and electronic product categories on Temu, including automotive electronic devices, household electronics, and related products. DEKRA’s services will be integrated into Temu’s Seller Center, allowing merchants to access testing and certification support directly through the platform.

Temu requires sellers in selected categories, such as toys, high-voltage electrical products, and heating devices, to provide compliance testing documentation issued by leading international testing, inspection and certification (TIC) institutions before products in these categories can be listed.

The cooperation with DEKRA builds on Temu’s broader efforts to invest in product safety compliance. In 2025, Temu invested approximately US$100 million globally to strengthen its compliance, product safety, and quality control systems, and will double that investment in 2026. To date, Temu has established partnerships with more than 20 internationally recognized TIC organizations, including DEKRA.

About Temu

Temu is a global e-commerce platform connecting consumers with millions of manufacturers, brands, and business partners. Operating in more than 90 markets worldwide, Temu is committed to providing affordable, high-quality products that enable customers to live better lives.

About DEKRA

For 100 years, DEKRA has been a trusted name in safety. Founded in 1925 with the original goal of improving road safety through vehicle inspections, DEKRA has grown to become the world’s largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the field of testing, inspection, and certification. Today, as a global partner, the company supports its customers with comprehensive services and solutions to drive safety and sustainability forward – fully aligned with DEKRA’s anniversary motto, “Securing the Future.” In 2024, DEKRA generated revenue of 4.3 billion euros. Around 48,000 employees are providing qualified and independent expert services in approximately 60 countries across five continents. DEKRA holds a Platinum rating from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 1% of the world’s most sustainable companies.

Europe’s offshore gas industry hits new milestone with North Sea’s first ‘Grade A’ methane-certified gas project

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Advertorial Desk
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LONDON, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Europe’s transition to offshore gas production with lower methane emissions has reached a new milestone. The Dutch-German N05-A gas development, operated by Netherlands-based exploration and production company ONE-Dyas, has become the first natural gas production project in the North Sea to be independently certified as meeting the highest grade under MiQ’s methane emissions standard.

The N05-A gas installation, fully powered by renewable electricity from the Riffgat offshore wind farm seen in the background.
The N05-A gas installation, fully powered by renewable electricity from the Riffgat offshore wind farm seen in the background.

The project has achieved a MiQ Grade A rating, following an independent audit of its operational practices and measured methane emissions data by Intertek, a global leader in Total Quality Assurance. This certification sets a new benchmark for lower-emissions gas production in Europe. MiQ provides a transparent, rigorous, data-driven grading system to assess natural gas based on methane performance, which helps drive regulatory compliance, incentivize continuous improvement, and demonstrate transparency around upstream methane emissions. For N05-A, Intertek’s independent audit verified both the project’s emissions data and the systems in place to manage methane as an accredited MiQ auditor.

Already adopted by producers including bp, ExxonMobil, Repsol, and EQT in the United States, MiQ’s Methane Emissions Performance Standard is based on a comprehensive and transparent assessment of operational practices and emissions performance. As the offtaker for this project, bp will market ONE-Dyas’ certified gas, targeting large gas buyers such as utilities and industrials.

N05-A is the first gas installation in the Dutch and German North Sea to be fully powered by renewable electricity. This is supplied via a nine-kilometre subsea power cable from the EWE-operated Riffgat offshore wind farm. By eliminating combustion-based power generation, the installation significantly reduces operational greenhouse gas emissions to near-zero. In addition, avoiding the use of gas-driven equipment eliminates methane slip and reduces venting and leaks, further lowering methane emissions.

Georges Tijbosch, Chief Executive Officer of MiQ, said: “The certification of N05-A highlights how innovative design and best-in-class operational practices can deliver meaningful methane emissions reductions. MiQ’s independent assessments provide governments, regulators, and end-users with trusted data that supports accountability and continuous improvement across the energy sector.”

N05-A forms part of the GEMS area in the North Sea, which holds up to 50 billion cubic metres of Dutch and German natural gas potential. By meeting the rigorous standards of MiQ certification, ONE-Dyas ensures that customers in The Netherlands and Germany can source natural gas with full confidence in its low methane environmental credentials.

Chris de Ruyter van Steveninck, CEO of ONE-Dyas, said: “With N05-A, we are not only delivering high-grade certification, we give customers verifiable assurance that this gas is produced with exceptionally low emissions. The mobile jack-up rig is also powered by that same energy source, to ensure electrified drilling. By combining innovative design with renewable power from the Riffgat wind farm, we demonstrate that domestic energy security and climate responsibility can go hand in hand. This certified gas shows what the future of cleaner, transparent and accountable gas production looks like in the energy transition.”

Image

A high resolution copy is available via this link: https://we.tl/t-mcWMd9uPo8
Credit: ONE-Dyas

About ONE-Dyas

ONE-Dyas is the largest privately owned Dutch exploration and production company and a frontrunner in efficient, low impact natural gas production in the North Sea. With a long history of pioneering energy solutions, ONE-Dyas plays an essential role in securing reliable local energy with the lowest carbon footprint. The flagship N05-A development, fully powered by offshore wind, sets a new benchmark for near zero emission offshore gas production.

About MiQ

MiQ is a global leader in methane emissions certification and data. Our mission is to accelerate the transition to lower emissions gas by providing a credible and transparent certification system that drives regulatory compliance, incentivizes continuous improvement, and ensures methane accountability in the oil and gas sector throughout the entire supply chain.

About bp

Visit bp.com.

About Intertek

Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek is a purpose-led company to Bring Quality, Safety and Sustainability to Life. We provide 24/7 mission-critical quality assurance solutions to our clients to ensure that they can operate with well-functioning supply chains in each of their operations. Our Customer Promise is: Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently, with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely. intertek.com

 

MiniMax to Report 2025 Full Year Financial Results on March 2, 2026

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Advertorial Desk
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HONG KONG, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MiniMax Global (“MiniMax” or the “Company”; HKEX: 00100), a global AI foundation model company, today announced that it will report its financial results for full year ended December 31, 2025, after the Hong Kong market closes on Monday, March 2, 2026.

The Company’s management will host a conference call on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM Beijing Time (7:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time) to discuss the results.

Participants are required to pre-register for the conference call at:

Chinese Line (Mandarin):
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10053116-eg81mx.html

English Simultaneous Interpretation Line (listen-only mode):
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10053115-hu76t5.html

Participants can choose between the Chinese and English simultaneous interpretation options for pre-registration above. Please note that the English simultaneous interpretation option will be in listen-only mode. Please register Chinese Line for Q&A session. Upon registration, participants will receive an email containing conference call dial-in details, event passcode, and a unique registrant ID. This information will allow you to gain immediate access to the call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

Additionally, live, and archived webcasts of the conference call, for both Chinese and English simultaneous interpretation, will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir-tool.minimaxi.com/calendar/index.html?lang=en.

Replays of the conference call will be available until March 9, 2026 via the following dial-in details:

Dial-in Numbers

Mainland China:

4000 483 168

Hong Kong:

800 906 986

US/Canada:

1 855 336 4664

Chinese conference ID:

6883691

English simultaneous interpretation conference ID:

3663475

About MiniMax

MiniMax is a global AI foundation model company. We are committed to advancing the frontiers of AI towards AGI via our mission Intelligence with Everyone. Our proprietary multimodal models have advanced coding capability and high agentic performance, as well as ultra-long context processing capability, and can understand, generate, and integrate a wide range of modalities, including text, audio, images, video, and music. These models power our major AI-native products, and our enterprise and developer-facing Open API Platform — which collectively deliver intelligent, dynamic experiences to enhance productivity and quality of life for users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.minimaxi.com/en.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

MiniMax
Investor Relations
Email: ir@minimax.io

Media Relations
Email: pr@minimax.io

Piacente Financial Communications
E-mail: Minimax@thepiacentegroup.com

APAS Made Debut at Industry Flagship Event Asia Photonics Expo 2026 in Singapore Showcases Automotive Photonics Innovations

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Advertorial Desk
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Helps Businesses Capture Emerging Industrial Opportunities in Southeast Asia


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – Centre of Advanced Power and Autonomous Systems (APAS), under the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), made its first-ever appearance at the Asia Photonics Expo (APE 2026)—Asia’s leading platform for photonics technology innovation—held in Singapore from 4 to 6 February. During the exhibition, APAS showcased its advanced automotive photonics R&D achievements to photonics experts and enterprises in the field from across Asia and around the world. Featured innovations included an Automotive-grade MEMS Drive OIS Actuator and an Augmented Reality Head-up Display for Commercial Vehicles.

Meanwhile, APAS organised the “Go Global to Southeast Asia: Singapore Photonics and Emerging Industries Delegation“, leading representatives from Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland enterprises to participate in APE 2026 as well as a series of site visits and exchange activities. This initiative aimed to present Hong Kong’s comprehensive R&D and industrial strengths in photonics and emerging sectors to the international community. It also sought to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in understanding market dynamics and technological trends in Singapore’s photonics and emerging industries, facilitate cross-regional business networking, and support enterprises in expanding into Southeast Asian and global markets.

Mr Yonghai DU, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC and General Manager of APAS, said, “The ’15th Five-Year Plan’ Recommendations emphasise fostering emerging industries and accelerating the development of industrial clusters in strategic emerging fields such as new energy and new materials. Over the years, HKPC has been committed to helping enterprises turn R&D outcomes into competitive market application solutions. APAS focuses on R&D in various technological fields, including green transportation, smart mobility, intelligent systems and emerging applications. By collaborating with industry, academia and research institutions, APAS transforms R&D outcomes into commercially viable products and solutions, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in the fields of new energy vehicles and intelligent driving”.

“Photonics plays an irreplaceable role in data acquisition, transmission and processing, and is therefore critical to the field of intelligent driving. This is APAS’s first participation in the APE, together with the organisation of a delegation to Southeast Asia, aims to lay a more solid foundation for the long-term development of automotive photonics technologies, while supporting businesses in expanding into photonics and emerging industries markets in Southeast Asia”.

First Debut in APE 2026 to Deepen International Photonics Industry Connections
Photonics technologies are widely applied across various sectors, including communications, information technology, healthcare, industrial manufacturing and energy. Held in Singapore, APE 2026 is one of the most influential events in the photonics industry in Asia. It brought together research institutions, technology companies and industry leaders from around the world to showcase cutting-edge technologies and innovative application scenarios across the entire photonics value chain. As a leading R&D institution in new energy and intelligent driving, APAS made its debut at APE 2026, leveraging its R&D strengths to contribute to technological collaboration and application innovation within the photonics industry. It not only helps Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland enterprises build bridges to the global photonics industry and expand market opportunities, but also supports Hong Kong’s active integration into the international photonics ecosystem, further promoting cross-regional technology exchange and industrial collaboration.

As a member of the HKSAR Government’s “Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global”, HKPC also shared its comprehensive “GoGlobal” services with exhibition participants during the event. These services include smart manufacturing, technology research and assessment, international standards and testing, professional services, training and study missions, as well as funding schemes—highlighting Hong Kong’s unique advantages in supporting enterprises’ global expansion. Ms Teresa POON, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, visited the APAS booth to learn about the latest automotive photonics technologies and R&D achievements in Hong Kong, and to exchange views on the city’s strengths in the photonics industry.

In addition, Dr Rick MO, Head of Business Development and Commercialisation and Head of Emerging Applications of APAS, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on the impact of 2D material semiconductor innovations on the future development of smart mobility and high-end manufacturing. The APAS team has been deeply involved in the field of third-generation semiconductors for many years. Its development of silicon carbide-based systems and controllers have significantly improved the energy efficiency and driving range of new energy vehicles. Looking ahead, the team will explore the replacement of traditional chip electronic signals with optical signals, further advancing the application and development of related technologies.

Advancing Automotive Photonics R&D to Support Smart Mobility and Smart City Development
During APE 2026, APAS set up a dedicated exhibition zone to showcase its latest automotive photonics solutions in support of smart mobility and smart city development. The exhibits included:

  • Automotive-grade MEMS Drive OIS Actuator: The technology is designed to stabilise imager sensor shifts in Full HD dash cameras. It effectively reduces image shake caused by road vibrations or cornering, significantly enhancing image stability and clarity. When combined with object detection and recognition capabilities, the dash camera prototype can continuously deliver clear images and reliable driving records, even in busy urban areas, on winding roads or in tunnels, and in adverse weather conditions. This helps to improve overall road safety.
  • Augmented Reality Head-up Display for Commercial Vehicles: By combining virtual images with the real-world view, key driving information such as navigation routes, vehicle speed and safety alerts, is projected directly onto the windshield. This allows drivers to access critical information without having to divert their gaze, thereby enhancing driving focus and safety. The solution can also be optimised for the practical operating scenarios of commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks.

Promoting International R&D Exchange and Exploring Southeast Asian Market Opportunities
In addition to participating in APE 2026, the “Go Global to Southeast Asia: Singapore Photonics and Emerging Industries Delegation” arranged visits for enterprise representatives to several world-class universities and research institutions in Singapore, including Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. These visits provided in-depth insights into the latest R&D and technology commercialisation cases in areas such as quantum photonics, smart sensing, semiconductors and emerging applications, enabling participants to better grasp market trends and collaboration opportunities in photonics and emerging industries.

Through this series of visits and exchanges, HKPC and APAS played a bridging role in showcasing Hong Kong’s R&D capabilities and industrial strengths in photonics and smart mobility to the global community, supporting SMEs in capturing opportunities in the Southeast Asian market, and promoting the long-term development of the photonics and smart mobility industries.

Hashtag: #HKPC #APAS

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.

HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.

To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.

HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical , assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: .

ArisGlobal Announces XDI NavaX Data Intelligence, Three New Agents, and NavaX Translation

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Advertorial Desk
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MADRID, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ArisGlobal, an AI-first technology company at the forefront of Life Sciences and creator of LifeSphere®, has announced five significant new product offerings to drive cross-functional operationalization of AI. On day one of Breakthrough 2026, its annual industry event, the company unveiled XDI, its next‑generation data intelligence cortex, three new AI agents, and NavaX Translation for PV case data intake workflows.

XDI – Explainable AI and evidential alignment beyond functional boundaries

XDI is ArisGlobal’s next‑generation data intelligence cortex that can access data from multiple functions and systems to enable consistent, explainable decisions within and across the pharma R&D enterprise. Unlike tools that simply accelerate steps within a single workflow, XDI creates a system-agnostic foundation that unifies meaning, context, and intent – ensuring that decisions across Safety, Regulatory, Clinical, Quality, Manufacturing, and all other functions are grounded in shared meaning, aligned evidence, and uniform governance. This will promote confident AI adoption and operationalization, while reducing risk and interpretive drift between teams and use cases.

New agents for Regulatory Intelligence, Change Distribution, and Signals

ArisGlobal has also expanded its NavaX Agents Suite portfolio with three powerful new agents;

  • Intelligence Agents transforms submission quality by automatically interpreting regulatory guidelines, converting them into precise rule checklists, and assessing dossiers from LifeSphere Submissions with clear compliance evaluations, justifications, and confidence scores.
  • Distribution Agents deliver continuous compliance validation by automatically consuming evolving regulatory guidelines, validating them against internal distribution logic, and triggering governed change workflows as discrepancies arise.
  • Signals Agents is an intelligent assistant which interprets user intent, determines the best analytical approach, and dynamically plans and executes workflows. An active intelligence partner, it harnesses a reasoning-based orchestration layer spanning safety, data, analytics, and expert judgment.

NavaX Translation – Transforming global case data intake workflows

ArisGlobal now supports certified translation capabilities integrated directly into case data intake workflows, via a strategic partnership with TransPerfect Life Sciences. Intelligent language detection routes non-English safety forms instantly for translation using pharma-specific language models and expert linguists. The seamless API integration returns translated forms directly into LifeSphere, eliminating manual effort and dramatically accelerating global pharmacovigilance. By combining NavaX with TransPerfect, translation management time drops from roughly five hours per case to under a minute—delivering unmatched automation, speed, and accuracy in the market.

“The challenge for life sciences isn’t just adopting AI – it’s operationalizing it at scale with consistency, governance, and real business impact. With these latest product enhancements, we’re continuing to enable organizations to move from experimentation to production, turning AI into a reliable foundation for enterprise decision-making,” commented Aman Wasan, CEO of ArisGlobal.

“We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how technology empowers life sciences teams. These innovations represent the evolution from automating individual tasks to orchestrating intelligence across entire operational ecosystems, enabling smarter decisions, faster insights, and truly scalable AI adoption,” said Ann-Marie Orange, CIO and Global Head of R&D at ArisGlobal.

Breakthrough 2026, held in Madrid, Spain, brings together top executives, industry leaders, and experts to explore the theme of “Operationalizing AI”, showcasing how proven AI use cases are transforming into everyday practice across life sciences.

For more information, visit https://www.arisglobal.com/breakthrough or follow ArisGlobal on LinkedIn.

About ArisGlobal

ArisGlobal is a leading life sciences technology company and provider of cloud-based software solutions for pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, quality management, and medical affairs. LifeSphere®, the company’s unified product platform, delivers a powerful combination of domain expertise, advanced technology, and analytics to help life sciences organizations transform compliance into a strategic advantage. ArisGlobal serves more than 300 customers globally, including many of the world’s top pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. For more information, visit www.arisglobal.com.

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Laos Climbs Corruption Rankings, Surpasses Thailand for First Time

By
Thongsavanh Souvannasane
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Laos improved its standing in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, surpassing Thailand for the first time, but governance challenges remain.

Laos improved its standing in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), rising one position and surpassing Thailand for the first time.

The country scored 34 points, up from 33 in 2024 and marking a six-point improvement from 28 in 2023, signalling steady progress.

The 2025 CPI ranks 182 countries on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) based on perceived public sector corruption. In 2025, Laos placed 114th globally, while the global average fell to a new low of 42. 

Laos now also ranks ahead of the Philippines, which maintains a score of 32.

Despite this progress, the country remains well below the international threshold of 50, indicating ongoing governance challenges that require continued attention and reform.

Countries scoring below 50 are considered to have serious corruption problems, and more than two-thirds of nations assessed fall into this category.

Laos Advances in Regional Rankings

Laos’ rise comes as Thailand experienced a slight decline amid political tensions following the 8 February election, which was won by the conservative Bhumjaithai Party. The vote triggered allegations of irregularities and protests. 

Across Southeast Asia, corruption levels vary widely. Singapore remains the regional leader, ranking third globally with a score of 84. 

Brunei follows at 63. Timor-Leste scored 44, while Vietnam improved slightly to 41.

At the lower end, Cambodia slipped to 20, and Myanmar remains among the lowest globally at 16. 

Myanmar’s low score reflects continued political instability following the general election held in early January 2026. The vote was dominated by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, with many opposition parties barred from participating and voting restricted in conflict-affected areas. 

The election faced widespread criticism as neither free nor fair, reinforcing military control amid ongoing civil unrest.

Global Context

Globally, Denmark leads the world with a score of 90, followed by Finland at 88 and Singapore at 84. 

At the opposite end of the scale, Somalia and South Sudan share the lowest score of 9.

The 2025 CPI shows that corruption remains a serious threat in every part of the world, with limited signs of progress. Transparency International warns that even established democracies are experiencing erosion in their anti-corruption frameworks due to weakened standards and restrictions on civic space.

Challenges Ahead for Laos

For Laos, improvement in the CPI comes as the country seeks removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, where it was placed in February 2025 over financial crime concerns. 

The report emphasizes that lasting success requires systemic reforms, greater transparency, stronger institutions, and media freedom protection, shifting from case-by-case enforcement to structural change. 

This comes as Laos prepares for its 22 February election.

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