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Yiren Digital Launches Next-Gen Magicube Agent Platform Targeting $30 Billion Generative AI Market

BEIJING, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Yiren Digital Ltd. (NYSE: YRD) (“Yiren Digital” or the “Company”), an AI-powered platform providing a comprehensive suite of financial services in Asia, announced a significant update to its Magicube Agent Platform, a proprietary multi-agent artificial intelligence system designed to revolutionize customer engagement, risk control, compliance, and capital management across the financial services industry. The next-generation launch readies the platform for large-scale commercialization, marking a major milestone in the Company’s multi-year AI journey.

The Magicube Agent Platform integrates six specialized AI agents — Customer Service, Risk Management, Capital Management, Compliance, System Monitoring, and Sales — each built to replicate and multiply human productivity in mission-critical financial services domains.

According to IDC estimates, the generative AI market in China’s fintech sector is expected to exceed USD30 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of over 44%. Yiren Digital aims to capture significant market share with the external deployment of its Magicube Agent Platform, offering AI-driven solutions for consumer lending, risk management, compliance and capital optimization.

The platform’s value lies primarily in cost reduction and efficiency enhancement. Internally, Magicube Agent Platform has elevated profitability and performance across marketing, customer service and risk management, among other areas. In marketing and accounts receivable management, the Company expects combined annual cost savings to reach approximately RMB35 million. Efficiency improvements are primarily reflected in risk management, optimized capital deployment, operations, and regulatory compliance. In particular, AI fraud detection has resulted in the interception of an average of 50,000 high-risk customers daily, preventing significant losses annually. Other positive outcomes include:

Profitability:

  • Scalable Productivity: Each agent delivers output equivalent to at least 10 human employees, enabling exponential growth without proportional cost increases.
  • Margin Expansion: The accounts receivable management agent executed 1.09 million repayment reminders daily, saving losses and boosting profit margin.

Operational Efficiency Gains:

  • Enhanced Risk Control: Magicube Agent Platform covers key areas such as KYC and fraud detection, intercepting an average of 30,000 potentially fraudulent documents and flagging 20,000 suspected black and grey clients daily.
  • Deeper Customer Engagement: With 50% of service employees now equipped with co-pilot agents, the Company is seeing faster client response times, improved satisfaction, and stronger retention.
  • Capital Optimization: The Capital Management Agent achieves 100% capital deployment, minimizing mismatch risks and maximizing return on capital.
  • Operational Resilience: The System Monitoring Agent reduces shift durations by three hours daily, while autonomously detecting cyber threats and optimizing peer agents.
  • Regulatory Confidence: The Compliance Agent employs deep semantic analysis to ensure real-time verification of compliance for every document, significantly enhancing the comprehensiveness and reliability of compliance management.

“Our Magicube Agent Platform has transitioned from proof-of-concept to a commercial reality, with measurable financial impact and clear scalability,” said Mr. Ning Tang, Chairman and CEO of Yiren Digital. “Given the magnitude of AI-driven fintech opportunities, we believe this platform has transformative potential – not only has it significantly enhanced our internal operational efficiency, but also positions us to offer technology solutions to a massive market externally.”

Yiren Digital Chairman and CEO Mr. Ning Tang at WAIC 2025
Yiren Digital Chairman and CEO Mr. Ning Tang at WAIC 2025

Future Growth Outlook

Beyond internal deployment, Yiren Digital is actively exploring external commercialization opportunities for the Magicube Agent Platform, including partnerships with financial institutions and enterprise clients in China and Southeast Asia. These initiatives are expected to create new revenue streams, strengthen the Company’s competitive moat, and accelerate adoption in high-growth markets.

AI Track Record and Leadership

With deep insights into fintech trends, Yiren Digital has built its AI technology architecture years ago, and developed a unique financial AI solution through years of technical refinement and scenario validation. In April 2025, the Company’s large language model, Zhiyu, received official regulatory approval for commercialization. This milestone showcases the Company’s comprehensive capabilities — from research and development to compliant implementation — and marks a critical leap from proof-of-concept to compliant commercialization. This achievement not only solidifies the Company’s first-mover advantage in financial AI applications but also establishes it as a trusted leader in compliant AI deployment within the financial sector.

About Yiren Digital

Yiren Digital Ltd. is a leading, AI-powered platform providing a comprehensive suite of financial services in Asia. Our mission is to elevate customers’ financial well-being and enhance their quality of life by delivering digital financial services and tailor-made insurance solutions. We support clients at various growth stages, addressing financing needs arising from consumption and production activities, while aiming to augment the overall well-being and financial security of individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, please visit https://ir.yiren.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “target,” “confident” and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Yiren Digital’s control. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Yiren Digital’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Yiren Digital does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

IBM Unveils Advancements Across Software and Infrastructure to Help Enterprises Operationalize AI

From Agentic Orchestration to Infrastructure Automation, New and Upcoming Capabilities Support Productivity for Developers, Lines of Business and Infrastructure

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, at TechXchange 2025, IBM’s (NYSE: IBM) annual event for developers and technologists, the company unveiled new and upcoming product capabilities designed to help enterprises move beyond AI experimentation and unlock productivity gains across development, operations and business workflows. Drawing thousands of attendees from around the world, TechXchange serves as a launchpad for IBM’s latest advancements in agentic AI, hybrid cloud, quantum computing and intelligent infrastructure.

IBM_2025_TechXchange
IBM_2025_TechXchange

Generative AI has the potential to add trillions in economic value in the coming years. Yet, many organizations face barriers to adoption – ranging from fragmented hybrid environments to gaps in data quality and AI readiness. IBM’s latest announcements address these challenges with products built for production readiness, real-time governance and seamless integration across hybrid cloud ecosystems.

“AI productivity is the new speed of business. These features will help clients remove bottlenecks across their entire technology lifecycle,” said Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President of Products, IBM Software. “With these enhancements across our portfolio, we’re giving customers capabilities that take developer productivity, agentic orchestration and infrastructure intelligence to the next level.”

Enhancing Performance for Agentic Orchestration
Core to IBM’s agentic AI framework is watsonx Orchestrate, a product offering more than 500 tools and customizable, domain-specific agents from IBM and its partners. Orchestrate is designed to be tool-agnostic and adaptable to any environment, enabling scalable deployment and governance of AI agents.

Capabilities include AgentOps, a built-in agentic observability and governance layer that provides full lifecycle transparency. With real-time monitoring and policy-based controls, AgentOps help assess agents’ reliability.

Consider an HR agent onboarding new employees:

  • Without AgentOps: The agent sets up benefits and payroll, but teams lack visibility into whether it’s applying policies correctly or how it’s handling sensitive data until problems surface.
  • With AgentOps: Every action is monitored and governed, allowing anomalies to be flagged and corrected in real-time and helping drive a seamless onboarding experience from start to finish.

Businesses also require products that simplify agent setup and orchestration for both developers and non-technical teams. The following enhancements in watsonx Orchestrate aim to meet these needs:

  • Agentic workflows: Developers often rely on brittle scripts that break when scaled. With Agentic workflows, now generally available, they can use standardized, reusable flows that sequence multiple agents and tools consistently.
  • Langflow integration: Teams without deep coding expertise can use Langflow’s drag-and-drop visual builder to help build an agent in minutes. This integration is currently in tech preview and is expected to be generally available end of October.

Additionally, IBM plans to extend these capabilities to the mainframe with the upcoming watsonx Assistant for Z. Purpose-built IBM Z agents will enable the shift from reactive troubleshooting to proactive system management by understanding conversational context and automating operational processes while maintaining security and compliance. Building on the IBM z17 launch, this redesigned experience aims to streamline workflows and deliver greater productivity to mainframe users.

Advancing The Foundation That Gives Agents Trusted Context
Following its acquisition of HashiCorp, IBM announced Project infragraph which replaces fragmented tools and manual processes with a unified, intelligent control plane for observability. As enterprises scale across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, tool sprawl creates information silos.

For example, when a critical Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is discovered, the standard process is an individual will email dozens of teams across the organization and build a spreadsheet to manually track and ensure all known instances of the vulnerable component have been patched. Through Project infragraph, an organization can have one view of its entire infrastructure estate and security posture, without silos. It provides a live view — rather than manual CSV-based reporting — of what’s being managed within HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) and outside of it. The platform also allows users to drill down into any resource clusters in its infrastructure estate (such as any container running in a VPC) to see all components with near real-time data.

Project infragraph is planned to be delivered as a capability within HCP. In the future, Project infragraph plans to extend HCP to connect to IBM’s broader software portfolio, including Red Hat Ansible and OpenShift, watsonx Orchestrate, Concert, Turbonomic, and Cloudability. This approach aims to help customers unify infrastructure, security, and applications under a consistent data and policy model.

HashiCorp is now accepting applications for the private beta program for Project infragraph, which is expected to open in December 2025.

Powering Developer Productivity 
Project Bob – now in private tech preview – is a new, AI-first integrated development environment (IDE) designed with advanced task generation capabilities for enterprise software development lifecycles (SDLC), including software modernization.

Moving beyond today’s AI coding assistants, Project Bob seeks to fundamentally transform SDLC by working alongside developers to write, test, upgrade and help secure software. Project Bob uses and orchestrates between industry-leading LLMs including Anthropic Claude, Mistral AI, Llama, and IBM Granite.

Key capabilities include:

  • Application modernization at scale: Automated system upgrades and framework migrations and multi-step refactoring with context-awareness across large-scale codebases.
  • Intelligent code generation and review: AI assistance that understands enterprise architecture patterns, security requirements, and compliance obligations.
  • End-to-end orchestration: From initial development through testing, deployment, and maintenance, orchestrates modernization, testing and remediation tasks seamlessly while maintaining context across sessions.
  • Security-first development: Embedding security directly into workflows, enabling “shift-left” vulnerability scans, expedited FedRAMP hardening and facilitating quantum-safe cryptographic migration.

To request access to Project Bob, click here.

Accelerating Enterprise AI Adoption With Choice
A critical barrier preventing businesses from harnessing AI’s full potential is the inability to access and deploy these technologies in ways that align with their unique enterprise requirements. Organizations need the flexibility to choose where, how, and with which AI technologies they operate without being locked into a single vendor’s platform.

IBM’s expanding AI partner ecosystem aims to alleviate this challenge by delivering advanced AI tools, products, and services across IBM and other partner portfolios that can integrate seamlessly into a business’s existing environment and workflows.

To that end, IBM is announcing a new partnership with Anthropic that continues this commitment to choice and flexibility. IBM will integrate Anthropic’s large language models (LLMs) directly into select IBM software products, starting with Project Bob, its new AI-first IDE. IBM has also created a first-of-its-kind guide verified by Anthropic – Architecting Secure Enterprise AI Agents with MCP – focused on the Agent Development Lifecycle (ADLC), a structured approach to designing, deploying and managing enterprise AI agents.

Learn More

IBM TechXchange 2025 takes place October 6-9 in Orlando, FL. Stay up to speed on this news and more by visiting the IBM Newsroom.

To read IBM recent client & partner testimonials, click here.

Click here to access a suite of assets to share across your business and personal channels with our social sharing toolkit.

Statements regarding IBM’s future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:

IBM
Sarah Benchaita
sarah.benchaita@ibm.com 

 

Warm Up Indoors & Hoop It Up Outdoors: MAXKARE & MARNUR Unveil Hot •October Deals Exclusively at Walmart

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As fall brings crisp air and cozy evenings, leading wellness brands MAXKARE and MARNUR are turning up the heat. From October 6–12, shoppers can access exclusive savings of up to 60% during the Walmart October Deals Event, featuring top-rated heating pads, electric blankets, spa-style foot massagers, and an adjustable basketball hoop for indoor and outdoor fun.

Walmart October Deals 2025  MAXKARE Heating Pad, Heated Blanket, Foot Spa & Treadmill for Winter Wellness and Home Fitness
Walmart October Deals 2025 MAXKARE Heating Pad, Heated Blanket, Foot Spa & Treadmill for Winter Wellness and Home Fitness

As cooler days roll in and the air turns crisp, it’s time to create cozy, comforting moments indoors and stay energized outdoors. Imagine wrapping yourself in the softness of a heated throw blanket while your loved ones enjoy a relaxing foot spa — or stepping outside to shoot hoops on a height-adjustable basketball system that keeps the whole family active year-round.

This October, MAXKARE and MARNUR invite you to experience that perfect balance of warmth, wellness, and fun with exclusive deals available only during the Walmart October Deals Event from October 6th to 12th.

Whether you’re relaxing indoors or staying active outside, this limited-time collection delivers wellness, comfort, and value for the entire family.

Event Details

Early Access: October 6, 7 PM ET

Full Access: October 7, 12 AM ET (Now Live!)

Ends: October 12, 11:59 PM ET

Where to Shop: Exclusively on Walmart.com — search Maxkare or Marnur

MAXKARE & MARNUR: Trusted Wellness Innovation

With millions of satisfied customers and thousands of verified five-star reviews, MAXKARE and MARNUR have become leading names in home wellness. Known for combining smart technology with everyday comfort, these brands are bringing their most popular products to Walmart’s October event at significantly reduced prices.

October Deal Highlights

Product

Deal Price

Original Price

Rating & Reviews

Link

MAXKARE Electric Throw Blanket (50″x60″) – Gray & White

$29.99

$51.99

8,100+ reviews

Shop Here

MAXKARE Ultra Soft Heating Pad (24″x33″) Navy Blue

$21.99

$53.99

10,600+ reviews

Shop Here

MAXKARE Ultra Soft Heating Pad (24″x33″) Green Neck Wrap

$21.99

$53.99

10,600+ reviews

Shop Here

MAXKARE Foot Spa Bath Massager – Heat, Bubbles, Vibration

$32.99

$58.99

1,800+ reviews

Shop Here

MARNUR Faux Fur Heated Blanket – Tie-Dye Off White

$34.99

$69.99

828 reviews

Shop Here

MARNUR Full-Size Heated Blanket (72″x84″) – Linen

$37.99

$69.99

2,600+ reviews

Shop Here

Product Spotlights

MAXKARE Electric Throw Blanket Gray & White
Wrap yourself in cozy luxury with this ultra-soft, machine-washable flannel & sherpa blanket. Featuring 6 customizable heat levels and a convenient 1-5 hour auto-off timer, it’s the ultimate comfort companion for chilly nights. Available in chic Gray & White — perfect for snuggling up anytime. Shop Gray & White

MAXKARE Heating Pads
Designed for deep relief and all-body comfort, these extra-large heating pads feature multiple heat levels, automatic shut-off, and soft-touch fabric — ideal for back pain, joint stiffness, or simply staying warm.Available in a variety of stylish colors to match your mood, personal style or home décor. Shop Here

MAXKARE Foot Spa Massager
Combining digital temperature control, 16 massage rollers, bubbles, and vibration, this unit offers a full foot care experience at home — perfect for daily relaxation and recovery.

MARNUR Heated Blankets
Choose from stylish faux fur throws or full-size electric blankets, all offering customizable heat settings, LED controls, and built-in safety timers. Machine washable and crafted for durability, these are seasonal essentials.

MARNUR Full-Size Heated Blanket Linen

Designed for maximum comfort, this full-size (72″x84″) electric blanket heats up fast and features 6 heat levels plus a 10-hour auto-off safety function. Soft, machine-washable, and perfect for wrapping up the whole family in warmth. Available in elegant Linen. Shop Full-Size Linen

Bring the fun outdoors (or indoors) with this versatile, height-adjustable hoop. Adjustable from 6.5 ft to 10 ft, it suits players of all skill levels. Portable and easy to set up, it’s a perfect way to keep active, sharpen skills, and create lasting memories with family and friends — all year round. Shop MAXKARE Basketball Hoop

Why These Deals Matter

“This event isn’t just about discounts — it’s about making wellness accessible,” said a MAXKARE spokesperson. “We’re proud to offer high-quality products that help families relax, recover, and stay active — with trusted savings at a retailer like Walmart.”

With colder months and the holiday season approaching, these offers are perfect for early gift shopping, home upgrades, and wellness routines. If you need more deals, kindly check the sheet.

Media & Affiliate Opportunity

MAXKARE and MARNUR invite journalists, bloggers, affiliate publishers, and content creators to feature these limited-time deals. With high-performing, highly rated products and Walmart’s distribution reach, this campaign is expected to generate strong engagement across lifestyle, parenting, and home-focused audiences.
Press kits, product images, and affiliate resources are available upon request.

How to Access the Deals

Visit Walmart.com and search for “MAXKARE” or “MARNUR” to explore all featured items. Direct product links are also available for affiliates and partners. Warm up indoors. Hoop it up outdoors. The perfect fall starts now and discover even more deals here.

Contact Information

Media Contact:
Lendy L.
Email: lendy.l@naipocare.com
Website: https://www.maxkare.net/

This fall, take wellness and comfort to the next level. Whether you’re cozying up indoors or enjoying active moments outside, MAXKARE and MARNUR offer trusted tools to help you feel your best.

Zeta Network Group Enters Strategic Partnership with SOLV Foundation to Advance Bitcoin-Centric Finance

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Zeta Network Group (Nasdaq: ZNB) (the “Company“) today announced it has entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement (the “Agreement“) with SOLV Foundation (“SOLV“), a multi-chain Bitcoin liquid staking and institutional-grade structured finance platform with $2.5 billion in TVL, powering SolvBTC across Binance, Base and Solana. The partnership underscores the Company’s ambition to establish itself as a Nasdaq-listed leader in Bitcoin-centric digital asset finance.

Key Highlights of the Agreement

  • Bitcoin Treasury Strategy. The Company will leverage SOLV’s platform to maximize the efficiency of its Bitcoin holdings. Bitcoin assets held by the Company or its subsidiaries will be deposited on SOLV’s platform under the custody of a regulated third-party custodian approved by the Company, ensuring transparency security and institutional-grade auditability.
  • Joint Steering Committee. Senior representatives from the Company and SOLV will form a steering committee which will spearhead transformative initiatives to redefine Bitcoin-centric decentralized finance. The committee will drive SolvBTC’s adoption across Solana, Base and Ton, fostering market expansion and pioneering innovative finance models like tokenized real-world assets and structured yield products.
  • Research & Innovation. The partnership includes plans for joint white papers, market insights and research initiatives on corporate Bitcoin utilization, staking strategies, structured finance products and real-world asset tokenization.

The Agreement reflects a shared vision of positioning the Company as a Bitcoin-centric finance company that combines its Bitcoin treasury with innovative digital asset strategies. By leveraging SOLV’s expertise in Bitcoin liquidity aggregation and staking, the Company seeks to provide shareholders with institutional-grade exposure to Bitcoin while delivering enhanced capital efficiency within a regulated framework. Both parties affirmed that the collaboration will be guided by transparency, governance and compliance with SEC and Nasdaq requirements.

Samantha Huang, CEO of the Company, commented, “This partnership marks a transformative step for the Company, strengthening our Bitcoin treasury strategy and aligning us with one of the most advanced platforms in the Bitcoin liquidity and staking ecosystem.”

Ryan Chow, CEO of SOLV, stated, “Our partnership with the Company catapults SOLV onto the international stage as an institutional gateway to on-chain finance. With our $2.5 billion TVL platform powering SolvBTC across multiple chains, we are revolutionizing Bitcoin management with optimized yields and Shariah-compliant transparency in cross-chain liquidity. This collaboration addresses traditional exchange concerns on compliance and market depth, paving the way for global institutions to seamlessly embrace digital asset finance.”

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; the ability of Zeta Network Group to meet NASDAQ listing standards in connection with the consummation of the transaction contemplated therein; and other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in other reports and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Zeta Network Group. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof unless required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.

Rio Ferdinand & Sara Davies to Judge Start-Up Pitch Competition at Alibaba.com’s CoCreate Europe Event

$400,000 Up for Grabs as most innovative new product ideas will be picked live in London on the 14thof November

LONDON, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, today announced that Manchester United legend-turned-entrepreneur and global content creator Rio Ferdinand OBE1, and entrepreneur and broadcaster Sara Davies MBE2, will lead the judging panel at Alibaba.com’s CoCreate Pitch, a new global competition spotlighting the next generation of product-based innovation in the UK and Europe. The overall judging panel will consist of representatives from the UK, Germany, France and the US – including crowdfunding platform Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor – joining Rio and Sara. Kickstarter is the official Crowdfunding Partner of CoCreate Pitch 20253.

CoCreate Europe
CoCreate Europe

Set to take place during Alibaba.com’s inaugural sourcing and e-commerce event CoCreate Europe in London on 14th November, the competition will see 30 finalists pitch their product ideas live to the judging panel with ten winners receiving up to $20,000 worth of prizes. The grand winner will receive $200,000 to help develop their product4, out of a total prize pool of $400,000 worth of prizes. CoCreate has been hosted in Las Vegas since 2023, bringing together thousands of SMEs under one roof to collaborate, forge sourcing relationships and unlock growth. Alibaba.com is now expanding the global footprint of this event with the launch of CoCreate Europe.

Rio Ferdinand says: “On the pitch I learnt the value of ambition, fresh ideas and determination, and those same qualities have guided me in building a successful business career. As a judge at CoCreate Pitch, I’m looking forward to sharing those experiences and supporting the next generation of innovative product-based start-ups in Europe.”

Sara Davies says: “I’ve spent several years spotting new business ideas and helping to turn them into a reality, so being asked to judge Alibaba.com’s CoCreate Pitch competition felt like a perfect fit. There is a lot of untapped potential amongst Europe’s entrepreneurs, and I’m keen to hearing fresh product ideas and helping to kickstart new businesses.”

Kuo Zhang, President, Alibaba.com, says: “We’re delighted to welcome Rio and Sara as judges to CoCreate Pitch at the inaugural CoCreate Europe conference in London in November. We look forward to welcoming SMEs from across the continent to join us in person at the event, and are excited to bring this unique sourcing ecosystem conference to Europe for the first time.”

The pitch competition is the marquee programme of CoCreate 2025, Alibaba.com’s SME-focused b2b event that brings together entrepreneurs, manufacturers and investors for a full day programme of product innovation and business building.

After the successful edition in the US in Las Vegas in September this year, the European edition will be held on 14th November 2025 in London for the first time, offering a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs to connect and grow.

It will provide insights on – and access to – Alibaba.com’s cutting-edge tools, supplier network, and AI-powered sourcing tools AI Mode and Accio that automate the entire sourcing process, connecting buyers with 200,000+ verified suppliers across 76 industry categories and 200 million product listings. In addition, it will highlight its Trade Assurance which helps SMEs gain greater confidence and reliability in their supply chain. Combined, these offerings save SMEs time and allow them to focus on growing their businesses.

The event will also feature keynotes and panels on topics ranging from how to cut business costs and build resilient supply chains, to harness AI for growth, scale beyond borders and tap into the trends set to shape 2026 and beyond. In addition, there will be a plethora of networking opportunities for sellers, connecting them with sourcing professionals, suppliers, investors and SME influencers.

More info at: https://www.alibabacocreate.com/

Notes to editors

1Rio Ferdinand OBE is a former Manchester United footballer widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation. He has won six Premier League titles, the 2008 UEFA Champions League and represented England at three World Cup tournaments.

Beyond his legendary football career and impactful presence in the media, Rio has established himself as a savvy and strategic businessman. As President of New Era Ingenious, a talent and creative agency specialising in athlete-led content and brand partnerships, and a global content creator through his digital channel Rio Ferdinand Presents, Rio continues to shape the future of sport and media.

With investments across a range of successful ventures, he has proven that his talents extend far beyond the pitch. From property and lifestyle brands to tech and media, he’s built a diverse portfolio that reflects both his business acumen and vision.

2Sara Davies is a British entrepreneur, broadcaster and investor. She is best known as the founder of Crafter’s Companion, a multimillion-pound crafts company she launched while at university. She also starred on BBC’s Dragons’ Den for six years, becoming the youngest-ever female investor to appear on the show.

3As part of their strategic partnership with Alibaba.com, Kickstarter will offer a cohort-based coaching programme for pitch winners who plan to launch their crowdfunding campaigns within 12 months of the event. Finalists who launch campaigns on Kickstarter within this timeframe will receive exclusive benefits on both platforms, including homepage feature listing on Kickstarter.com, newsletter placements, coaching from Kickstarter experts, and promotional spotlights on both platforms’ marketing channels.

4CoCreate Pitch total cash pool comprises 50% non-dilutive prize and 50% in credits and support.

How to join CoCreate Europe, London, 14th November (InterContinental Hotel – The O2)

Tickets are available now at https://www.alibabacocreate.com/. Attendees can choose from General, Premium or VIP admission, each offering full access to sessions, networking opportunities exclusive event experiences.

About Alibaba.com

Launched in 1999, Alibaba.com is a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce that serves buyers and suppliers from over 200 countries and regions around the world. It is engaged in services covering various aspects of commerce, including providing businesses with tools that help them reach a global audience for their products and helping buyers discover products, find suppliers and place orders online fast and efficiently. Alibaba.com is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group.

Malaysia Airlines Showcases Elevated Journeys with “Time for Comfort in the Skies” Campaign

The campaign highlights Malaysia Airlines’ premium Business Class experience while also rewarding Economy Class travellers with exceptional comfort and value across international routes

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Continuing its globally recognised “Time For” campaign, Malaysia Airlines is proud to introduce Time for Comfort in the Skies, inviting travellers to rediscover the joy of premium flying at 30,000 feet. Designed to highlight the airline’s hallmark Malaysian Hospitality, the campaign brings together comfort, exclusivity, and value across both Business and Economy Class.

Malaysia Airlines Showcases Elevated Journeys with  “Time for Comfort in the Skies” Campaign
Malaysia Airlines Showcases Elevated Journeys with “Time for Comfort in the Skies” Campaign

The campaign runs from 7 – 22 October. travellers can enjoy up to 20% off Business Class fares on international routes for immediate travel until 31 August 2026. Members of the airline’s Enrich loyalty programme will enjoy priority access on the 7th and 8th October with an additional 5% discount as well as special redemption discount. Non-members are encouraged to sign up for free to unlock more exclusive perks. Available for a wide selection of destinations across Malaysia Airlines’ global network, these special fares give travellers more reasons to take to the skies — whether it’s a leisure escape to London or Brisbane, a cultural journey to Dhaka or Hong Kong, or a quick retreat within Malaysia to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri, Tawau, or Penang.

Business Class: Elevated Comfort

As part of this journey, Business Class passengers can enjoy comfort and premium amenities across Malaysia Airlines’ fleet, including aboard its latest A330neo aircraft. Beyond the skies, guests benefit from priority services, access to the Golden Lounge and partner lounges worldwide. Onboard, thoughtful touches from the MH Signature Drink on arrival to gourmet dining with Chef-on-Call elevate the premium experience. Passengers can also stay connected with complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi via MHconnect, available on selected aircraft for all guests, regardless of cabin class or loyalty tier.

Economy Class: Comfort with Value

Economy Class travellers can look forward to the warmth of Malaysian Hospitality in every detail of their journey. Guests have the option to pre-book meals for a more seamless and personalised experience, while those who choose to order onboard can indulge in the airline’s celebrated Best of Asia menu, which brings authentic regional flavours to the skies. From hearty favourites to lighter choices for little explorers, every dish is thoughtfully prepared to make dining part of the journey itself. Onboard, travellers can stay entertained with a wide selection of movies, shows, and games, while enjoying the convenience of complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi via MHconnect.

A Stress-Free Journey for Families

Travelling with little ones can often be daunting, but Malaysia Airlines is set on making it a seamless experience through its MH Junior Explorer programme, created to keep little travellers happy and parents at ease. Young flyers receive curated Kids’ Activity Packs, filled with engaging items that turn the flight into an adventure from the moment they board. Mealtimes become a highlight too, with fun and nutritious Junior Explorer meals crafted to delight young taste buds. Parents are encouraged to pre-order these meals to ensure their children don’t miss out. Onboard entertainment also caters to kids, with a wide selection of age-appropriate shows, movies, and games to keep them engaged from take-off to landing.

With these thoughtful touches, Malaysia Airlines transforms every journey into an elevated experience for families, leisure seekers, and premium explorers. More than just travelling from point A to B, each flight becomes a shared journey of discovery, comfort, and joy in the skies.

Bonus Side Trip Expands to Eight Destinations – Discover Kuching!

Malaysia Airlines invites global travellers to discover Kuching, Sarawak, the latest destination in its Bonus Side Trip (BST) programme. In partnership with the Sarawak Tourism Board, the addition of Kuching opens the gateway to Borneo’s lush rainforests, diverse wildlife and vibrant living culture – offering long-haul passengers the chance to enrich their journey with an authentic side trip. As the world looks ahead to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), Malaysia Airlines encourages guests to make every trip more rewarding by adding a Bonus Side Trip and uncovering Malaysia’s hidden gems along the way.

Travellers can book their flights via the official Malaysia Airlines website at www.malaysiaairlines.com or the mobile app or through authorised travel agents worldwide.

About Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines is the national carrier of Malaysia, offering premium and full-service travel options to, from, and within the country. As the gateway to Asia and beyond, the airline carries up to 40,000 guests daily on memorable journeys inspired by Malaysia’s diverse heritage. Malaysia Airlines embodies the nation’s rich traditions, cultures, and cuisines, delivering an unparalleled experience through its signature Malaysian Hospitality across every customer touchpoint.

Since September 2015, the airline has been owned and operated by Malaysia Airlines Berhad. It is part of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) – a global aviation organisation comprising a range of aviation and lifestyle travel solution portfolios aimed at serving global air travel needs.

As a member of the oneworld® alliance, Malaysia Airlines offers enhanced connectivity to more than 900 destinations in 170 territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.malaysiaairlines.com or download the Malaysia Airlines app for the latest promotions at your fingertips.

Issued by Group Communications, Malaysia Aviation Group. 

Malaysia Airlines Showcases Elevated Journeys with “Time for Comfort in the Skies” Campaign

The campaign highlights Malaysia Airlines’ premium Business Class experience while also rewarding Economy Class travellers with exceptional comfort and value across domestic and international routes

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Continuing its globally recognised “Time For” campaign, Malaysia Airlines is proud to introduce Time for Comfort in the Skies , inviting travellers to rediscover the joy of premium flying at 30,000 feet. Designed to highlight the airline’s hallmark Malaysian Hospitality, the campaign brings together comfort, exclusivity, and value across both Business and Economy Class.

Malaysia Airlines Showcases Elevated Journeys with “Time for Comfort in the Skies ” Campaign
Malaysia Airlines Showcases Elevated Journeys with “Time for Comfort in the Skies ” Campaign

The campaign runs from 7 – 22 October 2025, offering up to 20% off fares for business Class and economy class for Malaysia’s domestic routes and international destinations for immediate travel till 31 August 2026. Members of the airline’s Enrich loyalty programme will enjoy priority access on the 7th and 8th October with an additional 5% discount as well as special redemption discount. Non-members are encouraged to sign up for free to unlock more exclusive perks. Available for a wide selection of destinations across Malaysia Airlines’ global network, these special fares give travellers more reasons to take to the skies — whether it’s a leisure escape to London or Brisbane, a cultural journey to Dhaka or Hong Kong, or a quick domestic retreat to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri, Tawau, or Penang

Business Class: Elevated Comfort
As part of this journey, Business Class passengers can enjoy comfort and premium amenities across Malaysia Airlines’ fleet, including aboard its latest A330neo aircraft. Beyond the skies, guests benefit from priority services, access to the Golden Lounge and partner lounges worldwide. Onboard, thoughtful touches from the MH Signature Drink on arrival to gourmet dining with Chef – on- Call elevate the premium experience. Passengers can also stay connected with complimentary unlimited Wi – Fi via MHconnect, available on selected aircraft for all guests, regardless of cabin class or loyalty tier.

Economy Class: Comfort with Value
Economy Class travellers can look forward to the warmth of Malaysian Hospitality in every detail of their journey. Guests have the option to pre – book meals for a more seamless and personalised experience, while those who choose to order onboard can indulge in the airline’s celebrated Best of Asia menu, which brings authentic regional flavours to the skies. From hearty favourites to lighter choices for little explorers, every dish is thoughtfully prepared to make dining part of the journey itself. Onboard, travellers can stay entertained with a wide selection of movies, shows, and games, while enjoying the convenience of complimentary unlimited Wi – Fi via MHconnect.

A Stress – Free Journey for Families
Travelling with little ones can often be daunting, but Malaysia Airlines is set on making it a seamless experience through its MH Junior Explorer programme , created to keep little travellers happy and parents at ease. Young flyers receive curated Kids’ Activity Packs, filled with engaging items that turn the flight into an adventure from the moment they board. Mealtimes become a highlight too, with fun and nutritious Junior Explorer meals crafted to delight young taste buds. Parents are encouraged to pre – order these meals to ensure their children don’t miss out. Onboard entertainment also caters to kids, with a wide selection of age – appropriate shows, movies, and games to keep them engaged from take – off to landing.

With these thoughtful touches, Malaysia Airlines transforms every journey into an elevated experience for families, leisure seekers, and premium explorers. More than just travelling from point A to B, each flight becomes a shared journey of discovery, comfort, and joy in the skies.

Bonus Side Trip Expands to Eight Destinations – Discover Kuching!
Malaysia Airlines invites global travellers to discover Kuching, Sarawak, the latest destination in its Bonus Side Trip (BST) programme . In partnership with the Sarawak Tourism Board, the addition of Kuching opens the gateway t o Borneo’s lush rainforests, diverse wildlife and vibrant living culture – offering long – haul passengers the chance to enrich their journey with an authentic side trip. As the world looks ahead to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), Malaysia Airlines encourages guests to make every trip more rewarding by adding a Bonus Side Trip and uncovering Malaysia’s hidden gems along the way.

Travellers can book their flights via the official Malaysia Airlines website at www.malaysiaairlines.com or the mobile app or through authorised travel agents worldwide.

About Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines is the national carrier of Malaysia, offering premium and full -service travel options to, from, and within the country. As the gateway to Asia and beyond, the airline carries up to 40,000 guests daily on memorable journeys inspired by Mal aysia’s diverse heritage. Malaysia Airlines embodies the nation’s rich traditions, cultures, and cuisines, delivering an unparalleled experience through its signature Malaysian Hospitality across every customer touchpoint.

Since September 2015, the airline has been owned and operated by Malaysia Airlines Berhad. It is part of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) – a global aviation organisation comprising a range of aviation and lifestyle travel solution portfolios aimed at ser ving global air travel needs.

As a member of the oneworld® alliance, Malaysia Airlines offers enhanced connectivity to more than 900 destinations in 170 territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.malaysiaairlines.com or download the Malaysia Airlines app for the latest prom otions at your fingertips.

Issued by Group Communications, Malaysia Aviation Group.

CtrlS Datacenters Receives Frost & Sullivan’s 2025 India Competitive Strategy Leadership Recognition in Data Center Services

Strategic growth, innovation in AI-ready infrastructure, and sustainability leadership reinforce CtrlS’ position as a frontrunner in India’s data center services industry

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that CtrlS Datacenters (CtrlS) has been conferred the 2025 India Competitive Strategy Leadership Recognition in the data center services industry for its outstanding achievements in technology innovation, strategic expansion, and sustainability initiatives. This recognition highlights CtrlS’ ability to deliver customer-focused solutions while strengthening its value position in India’s rapidly evolving digital infrastructure landscape.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. CtrlS demonstrated excellence in both, successfully aligning its strategy with the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cloud computing, and large language model (LLM) workloads. “CtrlS has demonstrated a strong competitive strategy based on aligning to the changing customer needs and addressing the need for AI workloads as well as building edge datacenters for AI inferencing.” said Nishchal Khorana, associate partner at Frost & Sullivan.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Hyderabad, CtrlS has adopted a long-term strategy of expansion, technology innovation, and client-centric service delivery. With 16 operational data centers across nine Indian markets and a growing international presence, CtrlS is on track to achieve 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity, supporting India’s growing digital economy. Its recent launches in Patna, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata highlight its diversified approach—combining hyperscale campuses, mid-sized facilities, and edge data centers—to address customer requirements across Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III cities.

Innovation is central to CtrlS’ competitive strategy. The company operates Rated-4 facilities, backed by an operational capacity exceeding 250 megawatts (MW), offering high uptime commitments and industry-leading power usage effectiveness (PUE). Its facilities integrate direct liquid cooling, modular architectures, and ultra-high-density rack configurations to manage the complex demands of AI-driven workloads. “This distinction isn’t just an award, it is a validation that customers, partners, and the wider market see CtrlS as a strategic enabler in a data-driven world. At CtrlS, we believe India deserves infrastructure that competes globally, not just locally. This honour reinforces our commitment to AI-ready campuses, sustainable power models, and an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction. This proves that we are not only expanding capacity but also setting new benchmarks for ourselves and the industry at large.” said Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Founder & CEO, CtrlS Datacenters.

Beyond infrastructure, CtrlS enhances customer experience through adaptable colocation solutions, from dedicated racks to customized campuses, supported by managed services that ensure cost efficiency and operational continuity. The company’s partner ecosystem, including collaborations with Oracle, Google Cloud, ConnectiviTree, and Genie Networks, further strengthens its competitive position and enables seamless access to cloud and connectivity solutions.

CtrlS’ focus on sustainability is equally noteworthy. Committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, the company has launched solar power initiatives such as its GreenVolt1 farm in Nagpur, which will provide 100 MW of renewable energy. It has achieved LEED Platinum certification for facilities in Mumbai and Chennai, and it continues to expand renewable energy integration across its campuses. These measures underscore its dual commitment to supporting client sustainability goals while minimizing environmental impact.

Frost & Sullivan commends CtrlS for setting new benchmarks in competitive strategy. By combining cutting-edge technology, resilient infrastructure, and a sustainability-first philosophy, the company is shaping the future of India’s data center services industry and delivering value to enterprises navigating the digital economy.

Frost & Sullivan presents the Competitive Strategy Leadership Recognition to companies that demonstrate outstanding strategic development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in competitive positioning. This recognition honors forward-thinking organizations that redefine their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.

Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Tarini Singh
E: Tarini.Singh@frost.com 

About CtrlS Datacenters: 
CtrlS Datacenters Ltd, which began its operations in 2007, operates 15 datacenters across eight key markets. The company is leading the charge on embracing renewable energy for a sustainable future. CtrlS Datacenters has announced its plans to explore new overseas markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with Thailand being the first international market foray. For more information, please visit www.ctrls.com.
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For media queries, please contact:
Y V Phani Raj
VP, CtrlS Datacenters
phaniraj.yv@ctrls.in