Home Blog Page 1707

KISTERS launches KIPTEC: The invisible engine that gives environmental sensors an edge – ending multi-device dependence

AACHEN, Germany, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KISTERS has developed new embedded technology that transforms conventional environmental sensors into fully integrated, connected devices. The upgrade removes the need for separate loggers and modems, speeds up field installation, and can cut power use by up to 75%.

KISTERS Intelligence Platform for Embedded Connectivity
KISTERS Intelligence Platform for Embedded Connectivity

KISTERS today unveiled KIPTEC (KISTERS Intelligence Platform Technology for Embedded Connectivity), a new embedded platform that turns traditional environmental sensors into fully integrated, autonomous devices. The technology removes the need for external loggers, modems, complex wiring, and multi-device pairing, cutting installation time and reducing power consumption by up to 75%.

Instead of relying on multiple components, KIPTEC builds all processing, dynamic logging, telemetry, and power management directly into the sensor, creating a single unit that only needs power.

KIPTEC at a glance

  • Instant cloud connectivity under 30 seconds
  • Dynamic logging built into the sensor
  • Direct data transmission
  • 3 components replaced with one device
  • Minimal installation – just add power
  • Up to 75 percent power draw reduction

“The market demanded simplicity,” said Anton Felder, Director of KISTERS HydroMet. “With 93 percent of monitoring professionals reporting issues tied to multi-device installations, complexity itself had become the barrier. KIPTEC removes that barrier by building connectivity, logging and processing directly into the sensor.”

Manufactured in Germany, KIPTEC-enabled sensors deliver over 12 months of onboard data storage, event-based transmission, and store-and-forward protection to avoid data loss. They automatically adapt power use based on site conditions.

The platform supports LTE-Cat-M1/NB-IoT, over-the-air updates via KISTERS telemetry, and integrates easily with existing systems via MQTT, HTTPS and SFTP. Security features include end-to-end encryption and TLS-certified IoT protection compliant with European standards.

KIPTEC-enabled sensors complement KISTERS’ Classic portfolio. “They’re called ‘Edge’ sensors because KIPTEC gives them a literal edge. They’re ideal for rapid deployment, remote sites and dense networks that need autonomous operation,” said, Klaas Schulze Dieckhoff, KISTERS Global Head of R&D. “Classic models will continue to support infrastructure-based systems with central logging, giving users flexibility and choice.”

Get notified when the HyQuant Edge launches in Q1 2026—the first water radar to feature KIPTEC technology.

About KISTERS
KISTERS is a privately owned international organisation specialising in environmental data, instrumentation and IT. They develop data-driven solutions to address global challenges across water, weather and renewable energy.

For further media enquiries contact:
elizabeth.mcgoldrick@kisters.net

DICK’S Sporting Goods Names Matthew Barnes President, Foot Locker International

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DICK’S Sporting Goods today announced the appointment of Matthew Barnes as President of Foot Locker International, effective December 3, 2025. Barnes will lead the Foot Locker business’ international operations with a focus on driving strategic growth, accelerating business momentum and executing targeted turnaround strategies.

In his position at Foot Locker, now part of DICK’S Sporting Goods following its acquisition in September 2025, Barnes will oversee the Foot Locker stores, eCommerce and digital businesses across Europe, Asia and Australia and its licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Barnes will report to Ed Stack, DICK’S Executive Chairman, who leads the Foot Locker business. He joins a Foot Locker management team of experienced senior leaders, including longtime former Nike executive Ann Freeman, who leads Foot Locker North America.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Barnes to our outstanding Foot Locker management team as we bring the business back to where it belongs at the top of our industry and position it for its next phase of global growth,” said Stack. “Matthew’s proven tenure working with prominent global brands to transform and grow their businesses makes him the ideal leader to elevate Foot Locker’s international platform.”

Barnes, a highly accomplished global retail executive, brings nearly three decades of leadership experience from across the United Kingdom, Europe, the U.S., China and Australia to his new role at Foot Locker. He has a track record of guiding consumer-facing companies through periods of growth and transformation, including at Aldi, where he began his career as an Area Manager and held numerous leadership roles including Group CEO & Member of the International (Executive) Board of Aldi Süd. Barnes also held the UK Chief Executive Officer role at Tesco.

“Matthew is a highly accomplished global retail executive and has longstanding familiarity with the international markets where Foot Locker operates,” said Lauren Hobart, President and CEO of DICK’S. “His expertise will be invaluable in strengthening our ability to deliver growth and generate value for our customers, brand partners, team members and shareholders, and we are delighted to have him on board.”

“I am honored to join Foot Locker, a brand with deep recognition across the globe, at such a pivotal and exciting time for the sports retail industry,” said Barnes. “I have a personal passion for sports, and I look forward to working alongside this exceptional leadership team, as well as the talented Foot Locker Stripers and team members to bring innovative experiences and exciting new products to consumers worldwide.”

Barnes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in law and politics from the University of Liverpool.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc.
DICK’S Sporting Goods creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DICK’S is a leading omni-channel retailer and an iconic brand in sport and culture. Its banners include DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone! in addition to the experiential retail concepts DICK’S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center. As owner and operator of the Foot Locker business, including the Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos banners, DICK’S serves the global sneaker community in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, plus a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. DICK’S also owns and operates GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping. 

Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, DICK’S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK’S business, corporate giving and employment opportunities can be found on dicks.com, investors.dicks.com, sportsmatter.org, dickssportinggoods.jobs and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

Contact:

Media Relations:
(724) 273-5552 or press@dcsg.com

Category: Company News

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/dicks_sporting_goods_logo.jpg

FRUITS ZIPPER, Meiji’s Sweets Ambassadors, Spotlight Brand in Shanghai, Their Second Asia Tour Stop

– Macadamia Chocolates for Every Guest Turned It — into “Choco-little Better Day” for Fans –

TOKYO, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Meiji Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, collaborates with the seven-member idol group FRUITS ZIPPER, which is Meiji Sweets Ambassador, on the group’s first Asia Tour called “FRUITS ZIPPER 1st ASIA TOUR 2025 ‘We are FRUITS ZIPPER’.”
Their aim for the world from Harajuku, Tokyo, is based on the same passion as the company’s hope to help people around the world feel their daily lives “a little bit happier.” Meiji activated at the tour’s second stop in Shanghai, following Taipei. Across two shows on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9, the company ran on-site TV spots and treated every attendee to Meiji Macadamia Chocolates.

Images: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/202511149155?p=images 

Fans flocked to a special panel signed by FRUITS ZIPPER, snapping photos with their Macadamia Chocolates and adding to the festive buzz.

Noel Hayase of FRUITS ZIPPER said, “It was so fresh and fun to see Meiji sweets with Chinese-language packaging! I even found them in little shops, which made me realize how popular they are overseas — I was so happy. As we head into this season, I think everyone will crave Macadamia Chocolates more and more, so please enjoy them and let them warm your heart!”

The sampling will likewise be conducted at the Seoul venue on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

About Meiji Macadamia Chocolate

A beloved long-seller in Japan and now a hit in Shanghai, too. The company uses select macadamia nuts to highlight their natural umami and sweetness, then wraps them in silky chocolate. Customers can savor the soft bite of the nut and the chocolate’s creamy, melt-in-the-mouth finish.

Official websites:
https://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/chocolate/almond/macadamia/
https://www.meiji.com/global/ 

Amazon Web Services Announces PayMe by HSBC’s Migration to AWS, Accelerating Digital Payment Innovation in Hong Kong


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 November 2025 – Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ: AMZN), today announced that PayMe by HSBC, Hong Kong’s homegrown mobile wallet, has successfully migrated its entire platform to AWS. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in HSBC’s digital transformation journey and reinforces its position as a pioneer in digital banking innovation.

PayMe, launched by HSBC in 2017, has revolutionized Hong Kong’s digital payment landscape, serving over 3.2 million users and processing billions of transactions annually. The platform enables users to send and receive money instantly, split bills, and make purchases at over 34 million merchants in 46 markets through a dedicated virtual debit card. With its user-friendly interface and robust security features, PayMe has become an integral part of Hong Kong’s digital economy, particularly among younger generations seeking seamless payment solutions.

The migration to AWS has delivered substantial technical and operational benefits for PayMe, including an improvement in application response times enabling near-instantaneous transactions, a reduction in infrastructure costs through optimized resource utilization and enhanced security via AWS’s advanced services and compliance frameworks. It has also accelerated delivery, with faster deployment of new features and updates and reduced time-to-market for new services from months to weeks, while operational efficiency has improved through a reduction in incident resolution time. Additionally, PayMe can now scale rapidly during peak transaction periods (e.g., holidays and promotional events), accelerate new feature deployment through improved CI/CD pipelines, and enhance data analytics capabilities for better customer insights and fraud detection.

“By moving to AWS, PayMe is leveraging the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud services to enhance its reliability, scalability, and innovation capabilities,” said Scott Mullins, Managing Director of Worldwide Financial Services at AWS. “This migration demonstrates our deep collaboration with HSBC and our shared commitment to delivering superior digital banking experiences. This successful transition to AWS sets a new standard for financial institutions looking to modernize their payment platforms.”

Benedict Woo, Interim Chief Information Officer, Hong Kong and Head of Technology, Retail Banking and Wealth, Hong Kong, HSBC added: “Our migration is a strategic step in our ambition to deliver exceptional, future-ready digital experiences. The improved performance, security and scalability of the AWS platform are foundational, empowering us to innovate with greater agility and consistently provide our customers with a seamless and secure payment journey.”

This collaboration between AWS and HSBC demonstrates the financial service industry’s growing confidence in AWS’s ability to support mission-critical payment applications while meeting strict regulatory requirements. The successful migration serves as a blueprint for other financial institutions looking to modernize their digital payment platforms.
Hashtag: #AWS #PayMe

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

About Amazon Web Services

Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine
learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 120 Availability Zones within 38 geographic regions, with announced plans for 10 more Availability Zones and three more AWS Regions in Chile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers, including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit .

HDRE Group Launches First Overseas 50MW Helios BESS in Japan, Projected to Generate JPY 2 Billion in First-Year Trading Revenue

TAIPEI, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Star Trade, an international power services operator under HDRE Group, announced today that its first overseas energy storage project, the Helios 50MW BESS in Hokkaido developed by Manoa Energy, has entered commercial operation. The project has begun trading in JEPX wholesale market and will subsequently join the EPRX balancing market and Japan’s capacity market. By the end of its first full trading year in 2026, it is expected to generate up to JPY 2 billion revenue in power trading, marking a major milestone for HDRE Group’s capacity development and wholesale market strategy. Over the next three years, HDRE Group plans to advance 3.26 GW of storage capacity in Japan, all operated and traded by Star Trade, establishing a storage-centered market participation model.

Star Trade's first overseas energy storage project, the Helios 50MW BESS in Hokkaido, has entered commercial operation and begun trading in JEPX wholesale market.
Star Trade’s first overseas energy storage project, the Helios 50MW BESS in Hokkaido, has entered commercial operation and begun trading in JEPX wholesale market.

Following commissioning, Helios started day-ahead and intraday trading on JEPX (Japan Electric Power Exchange), completing 48 transactions per day. Leveraging the Star Trade power trading platform, the team carries out price forecasting, formulates bidding strategies, and plans charge–discharge schedules to optimize revenue.

Helios will enter the balancing market via EPRX (Electric Power Reserve Exchange) in the second quarter of 2026, providing grid-balancing and reserve services while enhancing overall project returns. Given EPRX’s strict requirements for response time, duration, and availability, Star Trade will continue refining its decision models through its proprietary platform.

Looking further ahead, the project aims to enter Japan’s capacity market by 2028, securing stable, revenue streams and establishing a comprehensive commercial model for energy storage that strengthens both profitability and cash flow resilience.

HDRE Group holds a 90% controlling stake in Helios. HDRE Japan oversees asset management, while Star Trade serves as the project owner and trading decision-maker, showcasing the Group’s integrated cross-border capabilities. HDRE Group expects to reach 191 MW of construction volume in Japan by 2026, with cumulative operational storage capacity exceeding 1 GW by 2028. All projects will be operated and traded by Star Trade, strengthening HDRE’s presence in Japan’s storage market and supporting renewable integration and grid stability.

Catch The Holiday Magic at Suntec City’s Pokémon Adventure

SINGAPORE, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This festive season, Suntec City is set to transform into Singapore’s most exciting holiday adventure destination, as the world of Pokémon springs from consoles into a digital-led festive adventure at the mall. From 6 November to 28 December, Suntec City’s Atrium (Tower 1 & 2) will transform into a hub of joyous festive cheer where shoppers can immerse themselves in interactive quests, enjoy high energy dance parades and browse holiday edition merchandise.

STRIKE A POSE WITH PIKACHU AND FRIENDS

Every weekend, a rotating lineup of Pokémon from Pikachu, Eevee, Snorlax to the starter trio Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly excitedly await to greet families and fans for picture-perfect moments at the Atrium (Tower 1 & 2)’s Dance Patio.

For an extra dash of festive cheer, the space will come alive even more on select days with a spirited holiday performance, as Pikachu and friends light up the stage with joyful tunes and cheerful choreography. Outside of the Dance Parade, visitors can still delight in inflatable installations of Tepig, Chikorita, Totodile and Poké Balls – providing an immersive Pokémon experience that visitors and fans alike can enjoy, explore, and photograph throughout the day.

EXPLORE LIKE A TRAINER IN A DIGITAL SNOWSTORM QUEST   

Step into the Holiday Cabin, where an interactive snowy landscape comes to life, complete with rustic wooden finishes and a festive red rooftop. Here, playful elements invite families, Pokémon fans, and the young at heart to engage with the magic of the season. Swept into a wintry tale where an avalanche has blanketed the landscape, groups of up to 15 players must put their Trainer’s observation skills to the test and race against the clock to uncover beloved Pokémon such as Pikachu, Snorlax and Eevee – perfect for a holiday adventure full of fun, teamwork, and festive cheer.

POWER UP YOUR PLAY WITH POKÉMON

Pokémon fans of all ages are also invited to gather at the Pokémon Trading Card Game Zone; a hub designed for both new and seasoned Trainers. This season, The Pokémon Company unveils the New Trainer Journey, an initiative designed to welcome beginners into the world of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Here, new players are to collect their physical tickets, which assigns them a same-day timeslot for their training session, with limited slots available daily.

Upon completing the 30-minute session, each participant will receive a starter kit to kick off their adventures – comprising a Deck Case, a Deck Shield, a Demo Deck (30 cards), a Playmat Flyer, and a Voucher.

Beyond training, this zone also doubles as a space for community play, where seasoned Trainers are welcome to gather for casual matches with a lead up to the two-day Master Ball League at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, blending competitive play with the in-mall festive experience.

Pokémon fans can also look forward to exploring the Pokémon Retail Pop-Up featuring merchandise ranging from trading cards to collectibles, perfect for seasonal gifting. To level up the fun, visitors can step into an all-new battle experience within the world of Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the Nintendo Switch 2 and discover the thrill of next-gen Pokémon adventure like never before.

That’s not all – there are prizes up for grabs as Suntec City rolls out “Who’s That Pokémon?” 50 Days of Winners from 6 November to 25 December. Daily fun puzzles will be unveiled on the 3-metre Advent Christmas Tree at the Atrium (Tower 1 & 2), with the lucky winners announced on the following day. Fans can enter by submitting their answers via Suntec City’s Instagram page (@sunteccity) for a chance to win.

Finally, for Trainers craving to meet more Pokémon, the play experience extends to Pokémon GO with Event PokéStops & Gym and Timed Research tasks to explore all around the mall. 

Explore Like A Trainer event will be open from 11am to 9pm daily at Suntec City’s Atrium (Tower 1 & 2). Each session in the Holiday Cabin runs for 10 minutes, with complimentary entry for Suntec+ App members. No minimum age required. Further information is available in the Appendix.

UNWRAP POKÉMON SURPRISES AND MOMENTS AT SUNTEC CITY

No Pokémon Trainer’s holiday adventure is complete without gifts, and Suntec City ensures shoppers are rewarded at every turn. Shoppers can look forward to redeeming a charming series of Holiday Edition Pokémon Rugs in four unique collectible designs, available from 1 December as blind boxes. More seasonal treats, including Pokémon-themed Gift Bag Sets (2-piece), will also be up for grabs throughout the campaign period, further adding to the holiday excitement.

Full details on redemption tiers and tenant offers are available in the Appendix.

Beyond redemptions, the holiday cheer extends into the mall with Instagram-worthy spots – from a 6-metre Pikachu inflatable at Esplanade MRT entrance, welcoming visitors on their way into the mall, to a towering 12-metre Christmas Tree and a Snowfall Show that brings wintry magic to Suntec Plaza. Fans can also explore more festive-themed photo zones at Level 1 (outside BYD) and Level 2 (outside Bed Bath N’ Table), each paired with scannable QR codes unlocking playful AR filters for a fun, sharable holiday adventure. 

From exciting interactive experiences and lively dance performances to holiday edition merchandise, Suntec City is bringing the Pokémon World to life this Christmas, creating fun and fuzzy memories that go far beyond the screen.

For hi-res images, please download from this link.

For the latest updates, visit:
https://sunteccity.com.sg/catch_the_holiday_magic

About Suntec City

Suntec City is one of Singapore’s largest integrated developments, comprising a shopping mall, five Grade A office towers, and a world-class convention and exhibition centre. Nestled in the heart of the bustling Marina Central precinct, the entire development is well connected by street-level plazas and underground walkways.

With close to one million of retail space and over 100 different Food & Beverage offerings, Suntec City Mall offers a one-stop shopping, dining, lifestyle and entertainment experience that caters to the needs of our shoppers, the office community and visitors. 

Suntec City is also home to The Fountain of Wealth, an icon of Singapore that embodies vibrancy in bringing people together for the celebration of wealth and good health. The City is easily accessible as it is connected to 2 Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations, the Esplanade and Promenade MRT stations, and has over 3,000 parking lots across 2 basement carparks.

Appendix

Programming at Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2)

Explore Like A
Trainer Holiday Cabin

 

Location: Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2)

 

6 November – 28 December

11am – 9pm daily

 

Free admission for Suntec+ App members.

Meet & Greet

 

Location: Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2), Dance Patio

 

Nov 8 & 9 | 15 & 16 | 22 & 23 | 29 & 30

Dec 6 & 7 | 13 & 14 | 20 & 21

 

5pm

 

Dance Parade

 

Location: Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2), Dance Patio

 

Nov 15 & 22

Dec 13 & 20

 

3pm

 

Who’s That
Pokémon: 50 Days of
Winners

 

Location: Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2)

 

  • 6 November – 25 December 

 

Prizes include a Pokémon Trading Card Game Fun Pack and $30 Suntec City e-Vouchers.

Pokémon Trading
Card Game Zone:
New Trainer Journey

 

Location: Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2)

 

8, 9, 15, 16 Nov and 22 Nov onwards, 30-minutes per session

 

Limited slots available daily. Kindly note that the New Trainer Journey is strictly limited to first-timers of Pokémon TCG, and additional checks may be conducted upon registration.

 

Pokémon Legends: Z
to A Zone

 

Location: Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2)

 

8, 9, 15, 16 Nov and 22 Nov onwards

 

Free for all to trial.

 

Programming across Suntec City 

Pokémon-themed
Photo Zones

(with Christmas AR
Filters)

Locations:

●     Level 1 (outside BYD, #01-463)

●     Level 2 (outside Bed Bath N’ Table, #02-325)

Snowfall Show

 

Location: Suntec Plaza

 

7 November – 25 December

●     Fridays & Saturdays: 7.30pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm

●     Sundays: 7.30pm & 8.30pm

●     Additional Dates: 24 & 25 Dec (Wed & Thu): 7:30pm, 8:30pm

 

10 minutes per session

 

Spending Rewards (Tenant-Exclusive)

Tenant-Exclusive
Deals

6 November – 28 December

 

Redemption Mechanics:

  • Spend a min. of $60 (in a same day single receipt) and a Retailer’s e-Voucher will be credited for shoppers to spend at selected stores.
  • Credited Retailer’s e-Voucher(s) will be subject to a minimum spend requirement.

 

Spending Reward Tiers (6 November – 28 December)

Kindly note that spending at the Pokémon Retail Pop-Up is excluded from spend and redeem tiers. 

Rewards
Description

Min. $60 Spend

Min. $120 Spend

Min. $180 Spend

Accumulated
$1,000 Spend
from 6 to 30 November

**Holiday Edition
Pokémon Gift
Bag Set (2-pc)

**$3 Carpark
Dollars

*Retailer’s e-
Voucher

*$5 Suntec City e-Voucher

**HSBC Cards
Exclusive: $10
Suntec City e-Voucher

**Holiday Edition
Pokémon Rug
(available from 1
Dec onwards)

*$80 Suntec City
e-Voucher

*The following e-Vouchers will be credited directly into Suntec+ App wallets for members:

  • Retailer’s e-Voucher
  • $5 Suntec City e-Voucher
  • $80 Suntec City e-Voucher

**The following redemptions are to be completed at Customer Service Counters:

  • Carpark Dollars
  • Holiday Edition Pokémon Gift Bag Set (2-pc)
  • Holiday Edition Pokémon Rug (Available from 1 Dec onwards)
  • HSBC Cards Exclusive: $10 Suntec City e-Voucher

 

Annual Autumn Event “Midosuji Runway 2025” in Osaka, Japan, Attracts 200,000 People

-Guests Wear Uniforms of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Mascot Character “Myaku-Myaku” Makes Spectacular Appearance-

OSAKA, Japan, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The “Midosuji Runway 2025” event was held on Osaka’s main street, Midosuji, on Monday, November 3, a national holiday, attracting 200,000 people along the roadside and creating great excitement. This is an annual autumn event that began in 2015 and continues to showcase the charms of Osaka.

Image 1:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106925/202511149110/_prw_PI1fl_VWV736uj.jpg 

Image 2:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106925/202511149110/_prw_PI2fl_6PygRb17.jpg 

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama took the stage to deliver opening remarks on behalf of the organizers. “There is no doubt that this year is the year of the Expo,” Yoshimura said, emphasizing that the event carries on the excitement of the recently concluded Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

The event kicked off with a special parade by Universal Studios Japan. Floats carrying popular characters such as Snoopy and Mario, along with Minions and about 100 crew members, captivated the audience with performances only for the day.

Following the parade, Kunihiro Shimizu, Yuji Nishida, and other members of Osaka BLUTEON, a professional men’s volleyball team, excited the audience as they walked on the runway while playing volleyball.

At the “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Midosuji Runway Special Fashion Show,” the expo’s official character, Myaku-Myaku, appeared with a strong presence. Its unique form and vivid colors, which are symbols of the Expo, stood out on Midosuji, drawing cheers each time it waved. Furthermore, former Takarazuka (all-female troupe) top star Yuzuru Kurenai, fashion model Yuchami, and others appeared one after another, wearing the uniforms of Expo pavilions and vividly reminding the audience of the “memories of the Expo.”

After a powerful performance by BMX x Cheer Re-Man’s, a cheerleading performance group, the pop group SUPER EIGHT performed a special live on a float. When SUPER EIGHT collaborated with more than 200 high school dance club members from Osaka Prefecture, the excitement in the audience peaked. In the finale, all performers and guests lined up on the runway, creating a spectacular sight. Governor Yoshimura called out powerfully, “Let’s do our best, Osaka!” and the event closed with loud applause.

Tencent Cloud and Cartesia Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Real-Time Voice AI Experiences

HONG KONG, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global leading technology company Tencent, today announced a strategic partnership with Cartesia, a San Francisco startup company that raised over US$100 million building a state-of-the-art Voice AI platform. This collaboration integrates Cartesia’s cutting-edge Sonic-3 model with Tencent RTC (TRTC)’s enterprise-grade global real-time communication infrastructure to deliver faster, more natural, and reliable voice interactions worldwide, empowering enterprises and developers to build next-generation conversational AI applications at scale.

This collaboration integrates Cartesia’s cutting-edge Sonic-3 model with Tencent RTC (TRTC)’s enterprise-grade global real-time communication infrastructure to deliver faster, more natural, and reliable voice interactions worldwide, empowering enterprises and developers to build next-generation conversational AI applications at scale.
This collaboration integrates Cartesia’s cutting-edge Sonic-3 model with Tencent RTC (TRTC)’s enterprise-grade global real-time communication infrastructure to deliver faster, more natural, and reliable voice interactions worldwide, empowering enterprises and developers to build next-generation conversational AI applications at scale.

Strategic Collaboration for Global Impact

Cartesia is advancing speech synthesis by pioneering the State Space Model architecture and applying it to real time voice. Its new Sonic 3 model, delivers low-latency, human-like expressiveness, and scalable concurrency. The 40+ languages supported plus emotion tags, accent localization, and custom pronunciations provide full control over personalized Voice AI experiences across the globe in real-time.

By integrating Tencent RTC technology, this partnership gains access to an enterprise-grade real-time communication backbone featuring more than 3,200 global nodes, sub-300ms worldwide latency, and advanced capabilities such as AI noise suppression and weak-network resilience, ensuring conversational AI applications run seamlessly even in diverse and challenging regions like Southeast Asia and Africa.

As part of their strategic partnership, Tencent Cloud and Cartesia have jointly launched a Conversational AI Demo, showcasing the seamless integration of Cartesia’s Sonic 3 with Tencent RTC’s real-time communication infrastructure. The demo highlights lifelike, low-latency voice interactions suitable for customer support, fintech, education, and entertainment scenarios. Interested developers and enterprises can experience the demo here: TRTC Conversational AI Demo. This collaboration is designed to make it easier for developers worldwide to build Voice AI applications across a wide range of use cases.

Wison Xie, Head of Product, Tencent RTC, said, “Leveraging our real-time communication expertise, we are excited to support Cartesia in redefining real-time voice AI experiences for enterprises and developers worldwide. Together, we are transforming conversational AI from a remarkable research achievement into a practical, real-world technology. This collaboration underscores our commitment to driving innovation, delivering operational excellence, and creating meaningful impact for customers across industries and markets.”

Aaron Melgar, GTM Lead at Cartesia, said, “Our partnership with Tencent RTC represents a major milestone in advancing real-time Voice AI for production applications. By integrating Cartesia’s Sonic 3 with Tencent RTC’s enterprise-grade global communication infrastructure, this collaboration delivers lifelike voice interactions with lightning-fast response times—powering mission-critical conversations and setting a new benchmark for the future of communication. We are thrilled to showcase these capabilities through the new Conversational AI Demo and look forward to deepening our partnership to shape the next generation of real-time voice AI experiences.”

About Tencent Cloud: 
Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation.

About Tencent RTC: 
Tencent RTC provides real-time communication solutions, including audio/video calling, live streaming, and in-game voice. With enterprise-grade security, AI-powered enhancements, and a global network of over 3,200 nodes, Tencent RTC powers mission-critical communication for customers worldwide.

About Cartesia: 
Cartesia is a Frontier AI Foundation Model Research Lab specializing in Voice AI. The founding team developed the State Space Model architecture during their time together at Stanford University before founding the company in 2024. Cartesia’s latest Sonic 3 model delivers ultra-low latency, human-like expressiveness, and enterprise-grade reliability for next-generation voice applications. Headquartered in the U.S., Cartesia has raised over $100M from leading investors and serves thousands of global customers.