The Reds return to Asia, with Hong Kong leading a region-wide celebration of football and beer moments

HONG KONG, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As Liverpool FC returns to Asia for their 2025 Pre-Season Tour, Carlsberg Asia is activating a region-wide campaign to celebrate one of football’s most iconic partnerships. With Hong Kong as the lead market, the campaign brings together fans, customers, and partners in a shared moment of passion, purpose, and celebration – all rooted in the enduring legacy between Carlsberg and Liverpool FC.

Building on a global partnership that spans over three decades, the campaign spans seven Carlsberg Asia markets including Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam. Across the region, Carlsberg is delivering engaging experiences and exclusive promotions through on-trade and off-trade channels and launching the limited-edition Miracle Can inspired by the club’s legendary 2005 comeback in Istanbul.

Arindam Varanasi, Commercial Vice President, Carlsberg Asia, said: “Our long-standing global partnership with Liverpool FC gives us a powerful platform to connect with consumers across Asia. This campaign is about more than just visibility, it is about creating differentiated value for our customers, distributors, and retail partners while giving fans the chance to be part of something special. By bringing this moment to life in a way that resonates across markets, we are accelerating growth in Asia by strengthening our commercial impact and deepening the emotional connection consumers have with our brands.”

In Hong Kong, the celebration will reach its peak as Liverpool FC takes on AC Milan on 26 July, a rematch of the unforgettable UEFA Champions League Final in 2005. From 22 to 26 July, the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui will be transformed into a “Walk of Fame” honouring Liverpool FC’s history and culture. The experience will feature visual tributes to the club’s 20 league titles, creative nods to the Shankly Gates, and Carlsberg x Liverpool FC installations that bring together the brand’s hop leaf and the Liver Bird.

A Carlsberg-branded sailboat will also cruise through Victoria Harbour, offering fans a floating tribute and a striking backdrop to this summer’s football fever. On 25 July, the celebration continues in Lan Kwai Fong, where Carlsberg will host a Reds-themed street party filled with music, atmosphere, and ice-cold Carlsberg beer.

Jeff Chong, Director, International Premium Brands, Carlsberg Asia, added: “This is a proud moment for all of us at Carlsberg Asia. While each market engages at different levels, we are united in our passion for football and our commitment to bringing fans closer to the game, especially as lucky winners have the chance to travel to Hong Kong for the match or enjoy an unforgettable experience in Liverpool. It is exciting to see how this global partnership continues to inspire local experiences and connect people through something they truly love.”

As The Reds return to Asia, Carlsberg invites fans across the region to raise a glass, relive the legacy, and enjoy this football season the Carlsberg way together.

About Carlsberg Asia  

Established in 1847 by brewer J.C. Jacobsen, the Carlsberg Group is one of the leading brewery groups in the world, with an attractive portfolio of beer and other beverage brands. With over 37.000 employees, and with a presence in more than 125 markets, the Group has a purpose of brewing for a better today and tomorrow Doing business responsibly and sustainably supports that purpose – and drives the efforts to deliver value for shareholders and society. 

Carlsberg Asia is a dynamic and diverse region comprising of 8 operating markets: Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam. Altogether we have 34 breweries and some 12,000 employees spreading across the Asian markets. The Asia Regional Office is based in Hong Kong. 

SINGAPORE, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ecolab has launched an innovative cleaning solution, Ecolab ReadyDose™, designed for food service establishments of all sizes and complexity, representing a significant advancement in cleaning technology and efficiency. Ecolab launched ReadyDose at SIGEP and Restaurant Asia exhibition at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The event features the foodservice boutique B2B business platform, featuring the most relevant service providers and suppliers.

Foodservice success hinges on maintaining impeccable cleanliness, directly impacting guest satisfaction and brand protection. Ecolab’s ReadyDose program revolutionizes the cleaning process by offering a tablet-based system that simplifies routines and delivers professional-grade cleanliness. Traditional cleaning methods can be time-consuming and complicated, diverting staff from other essential tasks.

Sharing insight during the event, Greg Lukasik, Ecolab SVP & CEO for Southeast Asia, said, “It’s exciting to launch our innovative solutions in one of the largest events for the food and retail beverage industry in Asia. ReadyDose is not just about simplifying the cleaning routine for food service operations; in today’s industry, ReadyDose has the fastest dilution, non-phosphate, making it environmentally friendly. It also supports sustainability goals by reducing packaging waste and conserving resources. Ecolab is proud to lead the way in sustainable cleaning solutions and looks forward to seeing the positive impact ReadyDose will have on our customers and the industry.”

Melvin Tan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sia Huat, an Ecolab strategic partner for ReadyDose™ distribution in Singapore, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Ecolab in bringing the ReadyDose™ cleaning program to food service establishments across Singapore. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and sustainability within the industry.” Sia Huat is Southeast Asia’s leading distributor for foodservice products, tableware, kitchenware and equipment.

One of the product lines of ReadyDose™ is the Specialty Beverage Cleaner, which removes buildup and stains on tea and coffee equipment and effectively works with the CaféMatic coffee machine from Boncafé International. Boncafé International is a leading gourmet coffee manufacturer and supplier in Asia.

The tablets come in a variety of applications that cover customers’ everyday cleaning needs, from the back of the house to the front of the house, and every spot in between.

Here are the full product lines:

• ReadyDose Multi-Purpose Cleaner works on multiple surfaces, including glass and tile.
• ReadyDose Presoak breaks down tough grime on flatware for a consistent clean with every wash cycle.
• ReadyDose Delimer eliminates lime scale and hard water deposits on dish machines, steam tables, stainless steel, tile and porcelain.
• ReadyDose Specialty Beverage Cleaner removes buildup and stains on tea and coffee equipment.
• ReadyDose Pot & Pan Detergent cuts through food residue while being gentle on hands.
• ReadyDose Neutral Floor Cleaner is an all-purpose daily cleaner for floors, including vinyl and tile.

To learn more, visit ReadyDose webpage

About Ecolab

A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Building on more than a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of $16 billion, employs approximately 48,000 associates and operates in more than 170 countries around the world. The company delivers comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights and world-class service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water and energy use. Ecolab’s innovative solutions improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, high tech, life sciences, hospitality and industrial markets. www.ecolab.com

Follow us on LinkedIn @Ecolab, Instagram @Ecolab_Inc and Facebook @Ecolab.

13 Indian banks added to the UPI-PayNow linkage, taking the overall count of participating banks to 19

MUMBAI, India, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) the international arm of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has further enhanced the UPI-PayNow real-time payment linkage by adding 13 more banks on the platform, extending its reach and simplifying cross-border remittances between India and Singapore. With this development, which will go live on July 17, 2025, users in both countries can remit funds to a wider base, making the service more accessible and convenient.

The expanded network for remittances to India now includes 19 banks—Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC FIRST Bank, IndusInd Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, South Indian Bank, and UCO Bank alongside Axis Bank, DBS Bank India, ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and State Bank of India.

Recipients in India can receive remittances from Singapore in their accounts held with any of these 19 banks through their preferred UPI enabled apps such as BHIM, Google Pay and PhonePe, as well as bank apps. Outward remittances from India to Singapore are available through Canara Bank, HDFC Bank and Karur Vysya Bank along with ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and State Bank of India. In Singapore, customers of DBS SG and Liquid Group can avail this service.

The UPI-PayNow service was launched as a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). It facilitates real-time cross-border fund transfers between individuals, where Indian users can receive funds via UPI ID and send funds to users in Singapore via their mobile number or Virtual Payment Address (VPAs). As the world’s first cloud-based, real-time cross-border payment system, the initiative is a pioneering step in global payment connectivity.

This development is particularly beneficial for the Indian diaspora in Singapore, including migrant workers and students, bringing the ease of digital payments to everyday remittances. UPI is already accepted via QR codes at select merchant outlets in Singapore, further extending its utility.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International said, “The expansion of the UPI-PayNow linkage marks a step forward in strengthening cross-border payment infrastructure. By enabling access to more banks in India, we are deepening the reach of real-time remittances and supporting greater financial connectivity between the two countries. This brings added convenience to users through a seamless and trusted platform.“

UPI-PayNow integration enables real-time cross-border remittance transactions, with funds reaching the recipient’s bank account within seconds. The service leverages strong security protocols to ensure safe and reliable transfers. It is ideal for small and frequent remittances, providing users with a convenient and cost-effective way to send and receive money anytime.

For more details about NPCI International, click here

For Queries: corporate.communications@npci.org.in  

YONGIN, South Korea, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — GC Biopharma (006280.KS), a South Korean pharmaceutical company, announced that its varicella vaccine BARYCELA has received marketing authorization from the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV).

Following domestic approval in 2020 and WHO Pre-Qualification (PQ) in 2023, GC Biopharma has been accelerating individual country registrations as part of its dual-track strategy—pursuing both global procurement channels and direct market entry initiatives.

To obtain approval in Vietnam, GC Biopharma conducted local clinical trials to establish the product’s safety and immunogenicity. This achievement highlights the company’s ability to meet the increasingly stringent regulatory standards set by DAV. As a vaccine administered primarily to children, quality certification holds particular importance in the varicella segment.

GC Biopharma plans to establish stable annual revenue in Vietnam by leveraging its local affiliate to engage directly in sales activities, in consideration of the country’s private market-oriented vaccine distribution system.

From 2018 to 2021, Vietnam’s private vaccine market recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32%, reaching approximately USD 300 million in 2021. Varicella vaccines accounted for nearly 10% of the private market^[1], with demand for private vaccinations continuing to grow steadily.

“This marketing authorization represents more than a product export—it is the result of a localization strategy and a significant step toward expansion in Southeast Asia,” said Jae Woo Lee, Head of Development Department at GC Biopharma. “We will continue to strengthen our position as a trusted vaccine brand by delivering clinical and quality standards that meet global expectations.”

BARYCELA is a live attenuated varicella vaccine developed by GC Biopharma using its proprietary MAV/06 virus strain. The vaccine is characterized by high viral titer and manufacturing yield. Notably, BARYCELA is the world’s first varicella vaccine produced without antibiotics, utilizing a fully aseptic manufacturing process.

About GC Biopharma

GC Biopharma (formerly known as Green Cross Corporation) is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Yong-in, South Korea. The company has over half a century of experience in the development and manufacturing of plasma derivatives and vaccines, and is expanding its global presence with successful US market entry of Alyglo^® (intravenous immunoglobulin G) in 2024. In line with its mission to meet the demands of future healthcare, GC Biopharma continues to drive innovation by leveraging its core R&D capabilities in engineering of proteins, mRNAs, and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) drug delivery platform to develop therapeutics for the field of rare disease as well as I&I (Immunology & Inflammation). To learn more about the company, visit https://www.gcbiopharma.com/eng/

This press release may contain biopharmaceuticals in forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of GC Biopharma’s management. Such statements do not represent any guarantee by GC Biopharma or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. GC Biopharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule.

GC Biopharma Contacts (Media)

Sohee Kim
shkim20@gccorp.com

Yelin Jun
yelin@gccorp.com

Yoonjae Na
yjy6520@gccorp.com

In the news release, NetGain Systems Launches Astra AI, the World’s First Large Language Model Purpose-Built for IT Asset Observability and Management, issued 16-Jul-2025 by NetGain Systems over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the official website for Trident Digital Tech Holdings is www.tridentity.me rather than “https://www.tridentdigital.sg” as originally issued inadvertently. The complete, corrected release follows:

NetGain Systems Launches Astra AI, the World’s First Large Language Model Purpose-Built for IT Asset Observability and Management

Astra evolves how enterprises anticipate and resolve IT issues before  they disrupt businesses and their complex digital infrastructures.

Key Highlights

• NetGain Systems has launched Astra AI, the first Large Language Model (LLM) purpose-built for IT observability, delivering automation, anomaly detection, and predictive insights across complex digital infrastructure. Astra AI is starting with 500TB of domain-specific data from more than 20 years of enterprise IT environments
• New LLM addresses a fast-growing USD $4.1B observability market by helping enterprises detect and resolve infrastructure issues proactively
• Astra AI supports CIOs with intelligent, real-time insights while aligning with Singapore’s Smart Nation and AI goals launched in November 2024. Inspired by the Southeast Asia-focused LLM initiative, NetGain shares its vision and is actively looking to contribute to advancing sovereign AI through enterprise-grade innovation.

SINGAPORE, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NetGain Systems, a leading Singapore-based innovator in IT observability, has announced the release of Astra AI, the first-ever Large Language Model (LLM) specifically trained to enhance IT asset visibility and proactive infrastructure management. Built on more than 20 years of operational expertise, Astra AI delivers a new level of automation, context awareness, and performance insight for enterprise IT teams.

Unlike general-purpose LLMs, Astra AI is engineered specifically for IT environments. It applies deep contextual learning to help operations teams detect anomalies, trace dependencies, and optimise system performance. Based on the LLama 4 architecture and fine-tuned in-house by NetGain Systems, Astra AI supports predictive analytics, real-time issue triage, and intelligent forecasting.

According to MarketsandMarkets, the global observability tools market is expected to grow from USD $2.4 billion in 2023 to USD $4.1 billion by 2028, reflecting the increasing importance of intelligent monitoring. In Southeast Asia, digital transformation is accelerating. Business outages in the region cost an average of USD $2.5 million per hour – well above the global norm –  highlighting the urgent need for proactive, AI-enabled observability tools.

“Astra AI goes beyond conventional AI tools. It is a purpose-built system engineered to understand IT infrastructure with the depth and precision of a seasoned systems architect,” said Toh Soon Seah, CTO and Founder of NetGain Systems. “It can trace dependencies, recognise system behaviours, anticipate failures, and provide actionable recommendations while ensuring that all client data remains private and secure.”

Astra AI processes structured and unstructured data including logs, metrics, configurations, and traces. It generates natural language responses tailored to enterprise-scale queries. Rather than relying on fixed alert thresholds, Astra AI continuously analyses environmental context to detect early signs of infrastructure stress or failure.

Organisations can deploy Astra AI on premise for high-security requirements or in the cloud for scalability. The system is designed for speed and efficiency, delivering most analytical responses within 1–3 seconds. Even complex summaries across large datasets complete within minutes, maintaining usability across a wide range of enterprise applications.

“Astra AI has significantly enhanced our operational capabilities,” said Leo Tan, CTO of Trident Digital Tech Holdings. “This is what domain-specialised AI looks like in practice. It understands IT telemetry and infrastructure with the depth and intuition of a seasoned engineer. Astra AI’s real-time analytics and insights enable more effective monitoring and management of our digital services.”

Astra AI is launched at a time when enterprises face the challenge of managing distributed, hybrid, and fragmented IT systems. This fragmentation complicates visibility, introduces new vulnerabilities, and makes root cause analysis increasingly difficult. As IT ecosystems continue to scale across on-premise, private cloud, and multi-cloud environments, IT operations teams are often overwhelmed by siloed alerts, inconsistent data formats, and a growing skills gap. They are in a reactive position that limits their ability to drive their businesses forward.

Astra AI’s deep contextual understanding helps bridge these silos by providing unified intelligence that correlates signals across the full IT stack. It empowers teams to move beyond reactive monitoring, shifting toward proactive management and continuous optimisation. By embedding this intelligence into everyday IT operations, Astra AI prevents downtime while strengthening overall system resilience and agility.

Traditional monitoring tools lack the flexibility and intelligence to adapt to these dynamic environments. Astra AI’s contextual learning engine fills this gap by delivering operational clarity and proactive risk mitigation, preventing disruption to businesses.

NetGain Systems’s product and technology development strategy aligns with Singapore’s Smart Nation and AI goals. Astra AI was inspired by the government’s Southeast Asia-focused LLM initiative and shares its vision to build sovereign, locally relevant AI that advances enterprise resilience.

“This launch reinforces Singapore’s potential to lead in applied AI for enterprise infrastructure,” said Toh. “We built Astra AI to be the foundation for the next generation of AI-driven operations. It was designed here, for this region and globally, to meet the performance, security, and compliance needs of enterprises.”

NetGain Systems is actively engaging CIOs, technology executives, and managed service providers to participate in early-access pilots of Astra AI. Demonstrations will be tailored to each organisation’s infrastructure and strategic goals.

Please visit http://netgain-systems.com for more information. For interview and demo requests, please contact us.

About NetGain Systems

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Singapore, NetGain Systems is an innovative leader in AI Ops for IT, specializing in monitoring, observability, and infrastructure management. It fills a market need that has existed for years. It is the first company in the world to develop a LLM specifically designed for unified IT observability and security across entire enterprise infrastructures. The company’s AIOps platform automates threat detection, predicts system failures via machine learning, and prevents downtime across hybrid cloud, IoT, and legacy IT environments. NetGain Systems’ solutions comply with regional standards, including IMDA cybersecurity requirements, and are customised for diverse markets in Asia and globally.

For more information, visit www.netgain-systems.com.

About Trident Digital Tech Holdings

 Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization and Web 3.0 activation. Its flagship product, Tridentity, is a blockchain-based identity platform that is designed to deliver secure single-sign-on authentication across diverse industries. Trident’s mission is to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, connecting organizations to reliable and secure digital infrastructure with optimized user experiences, with a strong focus on Southern Africa and other high-growth markets.

For more information, visit http://tridentity.me. 

Media Contact

Kim San
PR Consultant
Axiom Forge PR
Phone: +65 8266 7086
Email: kimsan@axiomforgepr.com

Isabelle Pan
Marketing Manager
NetGain Systems
Email: isabelle@netgain-systems.com
Contact: 6815 8288

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Malaysia’s IT landscape is undergoing rapid growth, with the digital transformation market projected to reach USD 10.68 billion by 2025 and expand to USD 25.4 billion by 2030. This surge reflects Malaysia’s strong commitment to becoming a digital-first economy, powered by innovation, modernization, and global competitiveness.

To support this vision, the Malaysian government has launched major initiatives such as the MyDIGITAL Economy Blueprint, which channels investments into infrastructure, talent, and digital policy. The country also aims to position itself as a regional AI hub. Yet, despite this progress, many Malaysian businesses remain hesitant to embrace digital transformation. Concerns around cost, complexity, and change management lead many to cling to manual workflows and disconnected systems, slowing the pace of true adoption.

Digital success requires more than just advanced technology. It depends on social readiness, public trust, digital literacy, and organizational support. Understanding this, HashMicro, a Singapore-based enterprise software provider, has built its reputation across Southeast Asia by offering solutions that align not only with operational needs but also with local business mindsets.

“In Southeast Asia, we often assume that what worked in the past will always work,” says Lusiana Lu of HashMicro. “But the world has changed. At HashMicro, we focus not just on building features, but on creating the conditions that make those features truly work.”

HashMicro helps businesses transition smoothly through an intuitive, integrated ERP system that simplifies complex operations. With ready-to-use templates, automation flows, and a user-friendly interface, it enables companies to modernize without having to rebuild from scratch. The platform unifies fragmented processes into one source of truth, bringing clarity, speed, and consistency to daily operations.

Beyond tools, HashMicro invests in people. Internal teams receive continuous training to master every feature and update, and this expertise is passed on to clients to help them fully leverage the system in their unique environments. “We don’t just build tools, we build the people behind them,” Lusiana explains.

Compliance is another key strength. HashMicro localizes its systems to match regional regulations and provides ongoing updates to ensure businesses stay aligned with local policies. As digital transformation accelerates in Malaysia, HashMicro offers not just software, but confidence. “Once Malaysian businesses see how manageable the transition is,” says Lusiana, “they don’t just adapt, they grow.”