LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Roborock, the global leader in home robotics engineered to simplify daily life, became the most awarded Robotic Vacuum Brand at CES 2026, after announcing its new product line-up for the first half of the year. Under the theme “The Greatest Meeting the Greatest”, the brand’s keynote presentation led by Roborock’s President, Quan Gang, unveiled the Saros Rover, the world’s first robotic vacuum with AI-powered wheel-leg architecture that can both navigate stairs and slopes with human-like agility while cleaning them.

Announcements also included the Roborock Saros 20, Roborock Saros 20 Sonic, Roborock F25 ACE Pro, and Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow. These launches happened in partnership with Real Madrid Football Club for the Vacuum Cleaner category, announced ahead of the show’s starting date.

Roborock also announced separate to the Real Madrid partnership its entry into the US market for lawnmower products, including the new RockMow X1 LiDAR. Consumers, clients, and interested parties can visit Roborock’s Booth #52632 at Venetian Expo CES 2026 from January 6 to January 9th during show hours.

Roborock Saros Rover – The World’s First Wheel-Leg Robovac

In a world-first, Roborock introduced at CES 2026 the Roborock Saros Rover, featuring the world’s first two-wheel-leg architecture in a robovac. Each wheel-leg provides reach, lift, height, and imitates human mobility, enabling the robot to raise and lower each one of the wheel-legs independently, execute small jumps, agile turns, sudden stops, and directional changes, all while maintaining a level body as the ground changes.

At a software level, Saros Rover harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence algorithms, in conjunction with complex motion sensors and 3D spatial information to understand its environment and make its wheel-legs react with precision.

The Saros Rover excels in multi-storey homes, where it is able to clean each one of the steps of a staircase as it goes to the second floor, dramatically reducing “no-go” zones and transitioning into cleaning areas previously inaccessible for homes with a single robovac.

The Saros Rover is able to tackle several types of non-flat surfaces, with staircases being the most obvious one. This includes not only traditional staircases but also curved staircases, or even carpeted staircases with bullnose fronts, all while cleaning each one of their steps as it navigates through them. Other types of surfaces that Saros Rover is able to tackle include slopes as well as complex multi-level room thresholds requiring height and power.  Saros Rover is a real product in development with an unconfirmed launch date.

The Greatest Meeting The Greatest – Roborock and Real Madrid Football Club join hands

Announced days before the show’s beginning, Roborock presents at CES its first activation within the strategic global partnership with Real Madrid Football Club’s First Men and First Women teams, widely ranked as one of the greatest football clubs in history. The partnership is solely related to Roborock’s extensive portfolio of Vacuum Cleaner products and excludes other product lines from the brand. Under the umbrella theme of “The Greatest Meeting The Greatest”, the partnership responds to a deep affinity between the brand ethos of both organizations, which have achieved remarkable historical performance with innovation as common denominator. The partnership will bring Roborock’s smart-cleaning innovations to life through stadium exposure, campaigns and player-led storytelling that translate the meaning of “Real Smart Cleaning” from the pitch to the home.

Roborock’s early 2026 Robovac line-up: Roborock Saros 20, Roborock Saros 20 Sonic, and Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow

At its keynote, Clarbi Lu, product marketing lead at Roborock, unveiled new smart cleaning products launching in the first half of the year. Leading the lineup are the Roborock Saros 20 and Roborock Saros 20 Sonic, the latest flagship models in the Saros Series. Saros 20 upgrades the StarSight™ Autonomous System 2.0 with enhanced AI object recognition and a new AdaptiLift Chassis 3.0 for improved threshold climbing. Saros 20 Sonic adds RetractSense™ Navigation, an ultra-slim body, and the VibraRise® 5.0 Mopping System. Both use a 35,000 Pa HyperForce® motor and a new RockDock®. The Qrevo Series also expands with the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow.

Rockmow X1 LiDAR, X1, RockNeo Q1 lead the Roborock North American Roll-Out of Lawnmowers

Roborock has announced its North American expansion into the lawnmower category with three key models. The flagship RockMow X1 LiDAR features Sentisphere™ LiDAR Environmental Perception, 4WD traction, and Active Steering for flawless coverage. Alternatively, the RockMow X1 utilizes RTK and VSLAM navigation alongside a Dynamic Suspension System for industry-leading edge cutting. For smaller gardens, the entry-level RockNeo Q1 makes smart care accessible by combining RTK + VSLAM navigation with Stereo Vision Obstacle Avoidance.

For pricing and availiability, please contact your local Roborock sales or communications representative.

About Roborock

Roborock is a leading smart cleaning brand renowned for its intelligent cleaning solutions. Having become the #1 best-selling robotic vacuum cleaner brand according to IDC*, Roborock enriches lives with its innovative line of robotic, cordless, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, robotic lawn mowers and washer-dryers. Rooted in a user-centric approach, our R&D-driven solutions cater to diverse cleaning needs in millions of homes across more than 170 countries and regions. Headquartered in Beijing and with strategic subsidiaries in key markets, including the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and South Korea, Roborock is dedicated to elevating its market presence worldwide. As of 2026, Roborock serves more than 22 million households. For more information, visit https://global.roborock.com/.

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A world-famous annual ice fishing festival kicked off Saturday in a remote mountain town in the northeastern province of Gangwon, offering weeks of ice fishing and seasonal activities.

The 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival will run through Feb. 1 in Hwacheon, just 25 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border and about 90 km northeast of Seoul.

“Sancheoneo” is a species of trout known to live only in very clean fresh water.

Visitors from all over the nation arrived at the 300,000-square-meter festival ground — roughly the size of around 40 football pitches — from early morning.

“(We) will do our best to ensure safety and so that the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival can become a winter festival enjoyed by everyone around the world beyond the Republic of Korea,” Hwacheon Gov. Choi Moon-soon said at the opening ceremony.

This year’s festival is expected to attract more than 100,000 foreign visitors, turning Hwacheon, with a population of 22,370, into a global wintertime festival city.

Launched in 2003, the event was chosen as the nation’s best festival by the culture ministry in 2010 and had drawn more than 1 million visitors for 13 straight years, from 2006 to 2019.

Last year’s event attracted over 1.86 million visitors, surpassing the previous record of 1.84 million set in 2019. Among the attendees, 122,000 were foreign visitors — significantly higher than the 85,000 recorded the previous year.

The annual winter festival has previously made headlines worldwide, with thousands of tourists trying to fish for sancheoneo through holes cut into the surface of a vast frozen river and taking part in bare-hand fishing, sledding, ice soccer and other events.

Other hands-on activities that allow visitors to fully enjoy the snow and ice this year will include sledding on a 40-meter slope and on a 60-meter section of a frozen river, riding a family-friendly “ice bobsleigh” made by the Hwacheon County Office down a spiral-shaped tube, curling and figure skating.

The Seohwasan Multipurpose Indoor Plaza, another key venue of the festival, will feature a miniature version of the Harbin Ice and Snow World, a world-renowned ice and snow festival, while about 30 ice lantern makers from Harbin will showcase the pinnacle of ice art at the Indoor Ice Sculpture Plaza.

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PERTH, Australia, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artemis SailGP is pleased to announce Sandmark as an Official Partner, ahead of the team’s debut in the Rolex SailGP Championship in Perth, Australia this weekend (17–18 January).

Artemis SailGP announce Sandmark as an Official Partner

Sandmark has joined Artemis SailGP as an Official Partner, supporting the Swedish team as it competes in SailGP’s high-tech 50-foot foiling catamarans at iconic venues worldwide. As an Official Partner, Sandmark supports Artemis SailGP in its pursuit of innovation, speed, and performance at the forefront of racing.

Built for an audience that values clarity, credibility, and depth, the Sandmark platform takes a new and serious approach to global crypto market news and analysis. Sandmark delivers high-quality journalism and informed perspectives in a fast-evolving digital and financial landscape.

Both brands share a dedication to precision and innovation. While Artemis SailGP leverages data, engineering, and analytics to maximize performance on the water, Sandmark applies the same technology-led rigour to providing clear, credible insights in the fast-moving world of global crypto markets.

Commenting on the partnership, Iain Percy, CEO of Artemis SailGP, said:

“We are pleased to welcome Sandmark as an Official Partner. Their commitment to credible, high-quality analysis complements our pursuit of performance and precision on the water. Partnerships like this help us connect with audiences who share our passion for innovation and excellence, and we look forward to showcasing this collaboration as we prepare to compete in the championship.”

Giles Broom, Editor-in-Chief at Sandmark, added:

“We’re thrilled to support Artemis SailGP for the 2026 season and we take great inspiration from a world-class team competing in one of the fastest-growing sports globally. That mirrors Sandmark’s own trajectory as we enter the crypto media space, drawing on deep experience and knowledge to bring rigour and clarity to this evolving asset class. We’re honoured to join Artemis SailGP on this journey, where speed, technology, and teamwork converge in pursuit of excellence.”

Artemis SailGP will make their highly anticipated SailGP debut this weekend (17–18 January) in the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG. Helmed by Driver Nathan Outteridge and joined by Andy Maloney, Chris Draper, Julia Gross, Brad Farrand, and Julius Hallström, the team is marking Sweden’s entry into the league.

Follow Artemis SailGP:

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• Facebook
• LinkedIn

ABOUT ARTEMIS SAILGP | Artemis SailGP marks the first time Sweden is participating in the SailGP championship. Building on the world-class legacy of Artemis Racing, from RC44 victories to America’s Cup campaigns, Artemis SailGP continues that tradition of excellence, innovation, and ambition. Now, Sweden enters the SailGP championship with a new era of speed, skill, and global competition.

ABOUT SANDMARK | Sandmark is an independent, family-owned media platform with a new and serious approach to global crypto market news and analysis. Sandmark enables crypto investors and enthusiasts to understand the evolving world of crypto markets through regular and actionable insights: we seek to define this increasingly mainstream asset class with clear reporting and analysis. Meanwhile, Sandmark’s Research and Technology teams work hard to address the reliability gap in digital asset markets through an innovative approach to data and tools.

ABOUT SAILGP | The most exciting racing on water, the Rolex SailGP Championship sees national teams battling it out in identical high-tech, high-speed 50-foot foiling catamarans at iconic venues around the world. Racing faster than the wind at speeds in excess of 100 km/h (60 mph), SailGP is driven by the sport’s top athletes, with national pride, personal glory, and total prize money of US$12 million at stake. Powered by nature – wind, sea, and sun – driven by purpose, SailGP races for a better future. Visit SailGP.com to find out more.

SINGAPORE, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has introduced the Booking Form Bot, an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer travelers’ booking-related questions at the final stage of the booking journey. The new tool aims to help travelers answer last-minute questions and complete their reservations with ease and confidence.

Internal research by Agoda found that 28% of users navigate back to the property page from the booking page to re-check trip details. Customer research revealed that the main reasons to pause or exit the booking journey are questions about promo codes, cancellation policies, and price discrepancies. The Booking Form Bot addresses this by providing instant, context-aware answers to questions such as “Can I cancel for free?” “Does this booking qualify for cashback?”, etc.

Building on the success of Agoda’s Property AMA Bot, which answers over 30,000 hotel-related questions daily, the Booking Form Bot extends this capability to the checkout experience. The bot automatically understands the user’s booking session, including the selected property, room type, rate plan, and associated terms, allowing it to deliver accurate, personalized responses without requiring users to repeat details or leave the page.

Users can access the Booking Form Bot by tapping the chat icon on the booking form page, available through the Agoda app and mobile browser.

Idan Zalzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Agoda, shared, “Helping travelers stay informed at every step of their journey is central to building trust in our platform. At the booking stage, last-minute questions often arise around cancellation options or payment terms. The Booking Form Bot provides instant answers right when travelers need them, helping them book with confidence.

With the launch of the Booking Form Bot, Agoda continues to invest in AI-powered tools that make travel planning simpler, faster, and more intuitive for millions of travelers worldwide.

Explore Agoda’s offerings, including over 6 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, all in one booking. Visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals.

Latest product releases showcase new tiered cloud storage model paired with smarter video intelligence, security, and expanded edge hardware.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — March Networks^®, a global leader in intelligent video surveillance, today announced the launch of Cloud Storage as part of its latest product and software release, showcased at Intersec Dubai. First introduced in December in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the solution is now available to customers worldwide.

March Networks presents new Cloud Storage at Intersec Dubai, other product releases.

Building on its existing cloud capabilities, the new flexible cloud storage model solves one of customers’ most persistent challenges: securely retaining growing volumes of video without adding infrastructure and storage costs.

A Flexible and Scalable Cloud Storage Model Built for Cost and Control

As video retention requirements grow, traditional storage models often require frequent hardware expansion and rising operational overhead.

The latest release enhances March Networks cloud offerings with a cold storage model for long-term video archiving powered by AWS. Recent and frequently accessed video remains readily available for fast investigations, while older footage is securely archived using Amazon S3 Glacier to support low-cost, long-term video retention.

This tiered approach enables organizations to reduce long-term video storage costs by up to 80% over five years, while maintaining secure access to archived footage. Archived video is typically available within 12 to 48 hours. Once retrieved, footage can be reviewed and trimmed directly within the March Networks application, supporting higher-quality evidence handling and removing limits on the number of cameras that can be backed up.

“We have solved the number one problem businesses face today in video surveillance. Customers have been clear that long-term video retention is one of their biggest operational and cost challenges,” said Jeff Corrall, Chief Product Officer at March Networks. “This release really improves the cost of video storage by aligning cost, performance, and access with how video is actually used.”

Real-World Impact for Customers*

Traditional on-premise storage can drive video retention costs higher due to ongoing IT overhead, maintenance, and hardware life cycle replacement. One customer using on-premise storage for immediate access to recent video evaluated March Networks Cloud Storage to extend video retention without adding new hardware.

For 580 cameras generating approximately 5,600 TB of archived video, the cloud storage costs were an estimated $347,000 per year, compared to approximately $1.7 million to store the same volume of video on-premise. This hybrid solution made recent footage instantly available while significantly reducing long-term video retention costs.

Cloud & Software Enhancements

In addition to long-term cloud storage, the release introduces a broad set of software enhancements to support real-world operations, security, compliance, and safety use cases across industries. 

• Improved AI Smart Search performance delivers a faster and more intuitive way for operations teams to find what matters most with natural language queries, time-based prompts, visual matching, and smarter alerts.
• Attribute Search enhancements add zone-based precision to the feature, enabling sharper and faster investigations across more cameras, all securely on-prem.
• A new Smart Rules Wizard simplifies the creation of real-time alert logic through guided, step-by-step configuration, reducing setup time and improving consistency.
• Command Enterprise (CES) and Command Client enhancements improve usability and operational responsiveness with faster event filtering, expanded device compatibility, keyboard shortcuts, and real-time alarm monitoring.

New Cameras and Recording Hardware

The release also expands the March Networks edge portfolio with new and updated camera and recorder options, including:

• EL5 Turret camera provides a cost-effective, high-quality camera designed for general surveillance. Offering 5MP video in fixed and motorized variations, it can be applied across commercial and retail environments.
• AI12 360 camera enables immersive 360-degree coverage with fewer devices, improving situational awareness, reducing camera counts, and supporting efficient investigations.
• EL5 Nano Dome camera is a compact, discreet indoor dome delivering 5MP video with built-in audio and intelligent analytics. It is ideal for high-traffic environments like quick service restaurants, retail stores, and financial institutions.
• New EL 24- and 32-channel recorders deliver reliable, high-capacity all-IP recording for small-to-mid-sized deployments, while integrating seamlessly with March Networks cloud services for centralized management, analytics, and long-term storage.
• Expanded support for additional camera models and third-party cameras through ONVIF helps customers apply advanced analytics across existing deployments.

Together, these hardware and software updates deliver a fully integrated, end-to-end video platform from the edge to the cloud, helping organizations modernize infrastructure, reduce storage costs, and unlock greater long-term value from their video data.

Attendees at Intersec Dubai can visit March Networks at Stand SA C-25 to learn more about these solutions and enhancements. To speak with a March Networks expert or to book a demo, please contact us.

^{*Performance results may vary based on individual customer configurations and usage patterns. Cost savings are estimates and will depend on specific customer implementations and usage volumes.}

About March Networks

March Networks^® is a global leader in intelligent video solutions, helping enterprise and small to medium-sized businesses turn video into actionable intelligence. With over 25 years of experience, we serve 1,500+ financial institutions, 600+ retailers, and 900+ commercial and industrial brands. Our cloud-based technologies combine video surveillance with AI analytics, POS, IoT, and ATM integration to enhance security, efficiency, and the customer experience. Backed by a global network of certified partners, we support customers in 75+ countries with flexible, scalable, open-platform solutions. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and owned by Delta, a global leader in power and thermal management, March Networks is a trusted partner and innovator in cloud-based, AI-powered video surveillance. Learn more at marchnetworks.com.  

March Networks and the March Networks logo are trademarks of March Networks Corporation. To keep up with March Networks news and updates, subscribe to our Intelligent IP Video Blog and stay connected by following March Networks on LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jac Haarsma, Marketing Communications Manager, March Networks, jhaarsma@marchnetworks.com

Logo – March Networks – Intelligent Video Surveillance.

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Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/march_networks_corporation_march_networks_presents_new_cloud_sto-1.jpg

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Budget Direct has been awarded the prestigious and inaugural title of ‘Insurer of the Year’ in the 2026 Finder Provider of the Year Awards, firmly cementing its position as a leading insurance choice for Australians seeking exceptional value and reliable coverage.

This landmark achievement is complemented by a sweep of category awards with a total of five wins for Budget Direct, the most awards for any provider. These include the overall ‘Insurer of the Year’ title, Pet Insurance – Insurer of the Year, and Car Insurance – Insurer of the Year across New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

The Finder Provider of the Year Awards showcase the providers and brands who offer top-rated products and have the most satisfied customers. Budget Direct’s wins solidify its reputation as a standout insurance industry performer and Australia’s most award-winning insurer.

These latest accolades join a formidable collection of 95 Finder Awards won since 2017, including 20 Car Insurance wins, and 49 Customer Satisfaction Awards since 2022, underscoring Budget Direct’s enduring commitment to both product quality and exceptional customer experience

Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer at Budget Direct said the awards were even more proof that Budget Direct is upholding its promise to customers to provide exceptional cover at a competitive price, having paid out more than $1.5 billion on claims in the past twelve months.

“Winning the inaugural ‘Insurer of the Year’ is a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to providing Australians with exceptional value without compromising on quality,” said Kerr.

“In a landscape where household budgets are under increasing pressure, consumers are actively seeking the best value for their essential services. This award from Finder, a trusted voice in consumer comparison, validates our core mission: to deliver consistently low premiums backed by robust coverage and reliable service,” added Kerr.

Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said Budget Direct is a standout performer in Finder’s Provider of the Year Awards 2026.

“Taking home five wins – the most of any brand this year – proves Budget Direct is a powerhouse in the Australian market.

“We are particularly thrilled to crown them our inaugural ‘Insurer of the Year’ award. This new flagship award is designed to identify the best of the best by combining our extensive set of product data with our customer satisfaction survey of 60,000 Aussies.

“With insurance prices increasing in most categories, Australians should look for the best deal for them. Budget Direct’s 2026 sweep makes them a great brand to consider,” Cooke said.

Winning the overall ‘Insurer of the Year’ award signifies a new level of industry recognition for Budget Direct and is the result of ongoing innovation in policy design, operational efficiencies and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction.

Budget Direct will continue to meet increasing consumer demands for great insurance products at a competitive price with an unwavering commitment to Insurance Solved® for Australians.

Read more about the 2026 Finder Awards.

Get a quote for one of Budget Direct’s award-winning insurance policies.

DISCLAIMER

Insurance (excluding Pet, Life & Travel Insurance) is issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited (ABN 42 111 586 353, AFSL 285571) (AGIC) and arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd (ABN 61 003 617 909, AFSL 241411) (AGS) PO Box 342, Toowong QLD 4066.

Budget Direct Pet Insurance is issued by AGIC, administered by Pet Health Insurance Services Pty Ltd (ABN 59 638 910 675) as Authorised Representative (AR no. 1282153) of AGIC and promoted by AGS.