JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP – Most employees at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were placed on leave or fired by midnight on 23 February, the aid agency said, as President Donald Trump’s administration moved ahead in slashing government spending.
USAID Employees Placed on Leave as Trump Cuts Spending

Delta Launches its New Collaborative Robots for the Indian Smart Manufacturing Market at ELECRAMA 2025
The showcase also includes a new 240kW DC fast EV charger designed to foster e-mobility for India’s sustainable cities
TAIPEI, Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Delta, a global leader in power management and a provider of IoT-based smart green solutions, announced today its participation in ELECRAMA 2025 under the theme of Smart Manufacturing by launching its new D-Bot series Collaborative Robots (Cobots) in the Indian market. These 6-axis cobots boast payload capacities up to 30 kg, and speeds as fast as 200 degrees per second, thus, designed to empower industries with smarter, more efficient production processes, such as electronics assembly, packaging, materials handling, and even welding. At the event, Delta will also unveil its new 240kW DC Fast EV Charger and the Industrial Power-protect Transformer-based UPS – further strengthening its commitment to energy conservation and the development of sustainable cities across India.
Jimmy Yiin, Delta’s Executive Vice President of Global Business Operations, said, “India is a key market for Delta, and we are committed to driving its industrial and energy transformation with our advanced solutions. Delta’s strategic investment in the Krishnagiri facility underscores our dedication to local innovation, manufacturing excellence, and sustainability. Through this investment, we aim to strengthen India’s self-reliance in smart manufacturing and energy infrastructure while contributing to global industry standards.”
Benjamin Lin, President of Delta Electronics India, stated, “Delta is proud to showcase our innovative smart manufacturing solutions at ELECRAMA 2025. Our focus has always been on delivering solutions that advance industries to become more efficient, sustainable, and resilient. The new solutions we are introducing – from the D-Bot Cobots to the Ultron IPT Series UPS – are designed with these values in mind, and we are committed to driving the transition to smart and sustainable manufacturing across India and beyond.”
Across the Delta booth, visitors will engage on a journey with a live demonstration of intelligent infrastructure across Industrial Automation, EV Charging, Smart Building Automation Solutions, Data Centers, Smart Energy Infrastructure, ICT Infrastructure, and many more innovative solutions.
Newly-Launched Smart Green Solutions by Delta at ELECRAMA 2025 are:
- D-Bot Series Collaborative Robots (Cobots) – are an integral part of Delta’s broad portfolio of Smart Manufacturing Solutions. Designed for smart factory automation and equipped with advanced safety mechanisms, these cobots detect contact and instantly reverse movement to prevent accidents, ensuring safe human-robot collaboration. With payload capacities ranging from 6 kg to 30 kg, 6-axis flexibility, speeds up to 200 degrees per second, D-bot provides precision, efficiency, and rapid deployment across industries in a broad range of applications that require smart manufacturing capabilities, including packaging, pick and place, electronics assembly, materials handling, welding, machine tending, and more. Moreover, these D-Bot series cobots integrate seamlessly with Delta’s VTScada SCADA system, DIATwin digital twin platform, machine vision systems, and more, to help customers upgrade the productivity, reliability, and efficiency of their factories.
- 240kW DC Fast EV Charger – A high-speed dual-vehicle charging solution developed locally by Delta India’s own R&D and engineering talent. These advanced EV charger boasts 95% efficiency, OCPP compatibility, and wired/4G GSM connectivity, ensuring fast, seamless EV charging for commercial applications, fleet operators, and public charging networks.
- Industrial Power-protect Transformer-based UPS (IPT series) – It redefines power reliability with Zig-zag transformer, advanced PFC converter, and exceptional short-circuit protection. With IP43 optional enclosure protection, it ensures robust performance and optimizes frontend investment for harsh industrial environments.
Commitment to Sustainability
Delta remains dedicated to sustainability through high-efficiency energy solutions. Between 2010 and 2023, Delta’s products and solutions deployed worldwide saved customers an estimated 45.5 billion kWh of electricity, equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by nearly 23.84 million tons. Additionally, from 2006 to 2024, Delta has built 35 green buildings and 2 certified green data centers worldwide, reinforcing its commitment to energy conservation and sustainability.
Visit Delta at ELECRAMA 2025 India’s Most Influential Industrial Technology Exhibition
Experience live demonstrations and interact with Delta’s latest innovations at Booth #A3B4, Hall 16 until February 26. Discover how Delta is driving smart manufacturing with its advanced robotics, automation, and energy-saving solutions.
About Delta
Delta, founded in 1971, and listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (code:2308), is a global leader in switching power supplies and thermal management products with a thriving portfolio of IoT-based smart energy-saving systems and solutions in the fields of industrial automation, building automation, telecom power, data center infrastructure, EV charging, renewable energy, energy storage and display, to nurture the development of smart manufacturing and sustainable cities. As a world-class corporate citizen guided by its mission statement, “To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow,” Delta leverages its core competence in high-efficiency power electronics and its ESG-embedded business model to address key environmental issues, such as climate change. Delta serves customers through its sales offices, R&D centers and manufacturing facilities spread over close to 200 locations across 5 continents.
Throughout its history, Delta has received various global awards and recognition for its business achievements, innovative technologies and dedication to ESG. Since 2011, Delta has been listed on the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index (formerly the DJSI World Index of Dow Jones Sustainability™ Indices) for 14 consecutive years. Delta has also won CDP with double A List for 4 times for its substantial contribution to climate change and water security issues and has been named Supplier Engagement Leader for its continuous development of a sustainable value chain for 7 consecutive years.
For detailed information about Delta, please visit: www.deltaww.com
From Asia to Aloha: Agoda Spotlights Hawaii’s Rising Popularity
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SINGAPORE, Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Travelers in Asia are increasingly interested in visiting the American state Hawaii. Digital travel platform Agoda reports a 5% Year-on-Year increase in accommodation searches from Asia to ‘The Aloha State’ during the high season.
The top five Asian markets searching for Hawaiian getaways in order of interest are Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore. Vietnam and China have shown triple-digit growth in searches, with increases of 124% and 113% respectively. The Philippines also saw a 16% rise, reflecting a broader interest in exploring Hawaii’s unique offerings.
Hiroto Ooka, Associate Vice President North Asia at Agoda, shared, “Hawaii’s allure is undeniable. It’s been a long-time favorite among Japanese travelers and it’s exciting to see more travelers from Asia eager to experience its beauty. At Agoda, we’re thrilled to help make these dream vacations a reality with our great value deals on an extensive range of accommodations.”
The top destinations for Asian travelers in Hawaii are Honolulu, Kapolei, Kailua, Puako, and Hilo, respectively. These locations offer a mix of relaxation and adventure, catering to diverse traveler preferences.
Agoda continues to provide travelers with great value deals in Honolulu, as well other destinations in Hawaii and over 5 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities globally. For the best deals, download Agoda’s mobile app or visit agoda.com/deals.
BAFS Reports Strong 2024 Performance with First Profit in Five Years at THB 102.9M, Approves THB 0.30 Yearly Dividend, Eyes Asian Market Expansion in 2025

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 February 2025 – BAFS has announced its 2024 financial results, reporting total revenue of THB 3.507 billion and a net profit of THB 102.9 million, marking a 175% increase from the previous year and the company’s first profitable year since the COVID-19 pandemic. This turnaround to profitability was driven by a high volume of aviation fuel refueling and pipeline oil transportation. BAFS plans to distribute a yearly dividend of THB 0.30 per share for 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, the company has allocated an investment budget exceeding THB 1 billion to strengthen its business and expand into Asian markets, targeting an 8% revenue growth.

M.L. Nathasit Diskul, President of Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Public Company Limited (BAFS), stated that BAFS and its subsidiaries (BAFS Group) demonstrated robust and consistent business growth in 2024, leading to the company’s first profitable year since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, with a net profit of THB 102.9 million—a 175% increase from the previous year. This growth was primarily attributed to a surge in aviation fuel refueling volume, which reached 5.047 billion liters, exceeding expectations, along with a significant increase in northern pipeline oil transportation to 1.226 billion liters. These factors drove total revenue to THB 3.507 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase, in line with the recovery of the tourism sector. EBITDA also grew by 21% year over year, reaching THB 1.594 billion.
In Q4 2024, BAFS Group recorded total revenue of THB 955.4 million, a 19% year-over-year increase, with EBITDA of THB 343.9 million, supported by higher gross profits resulting from increased aviation fuel sales. Operating expenses rose by 1% while net finance costs decreased by 9% due to scheduled debt repayments to financial institutions and lower interest rates on commercial bank loans. The company recognized a Q4 loss due to a fair value adjustment of its investment in a Japanese power plant and an impairment of goodwill from a domestic power plant. Additionally, it wrote off deferred tax assets (DTA) that were deemed unlikely to be utilized in the future. These accounting adjustments had no cash flow impact and resulted in a Q4 net loss attributable to shareholders of THB 49.8 million.
Following its strong performance in 2024, the Board of Directors approved a dividend payout of THB 0.30 per share for 2024. This includes an interim dividend of THB 0.10 per share, paid on September 3, 2024, and a final dividend of THB 0.20 per share, scheduled for payment on May 22, 2025. The final dividend is subject to approval at the company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting.
BAFS Group will continue its commitment to sustainable growth in 2025, targeting an 8% revenue increase. With over THB 1 billion allocated for strategic investments, the company will collaborate with partners to explore new business opportunities while enhancing Thailand’s energy transportation infrastructure. A key project is the extension of the northern oil pipeline connecting Ang Thong and Saraburi led by BAFS Pipeline Transportation Co., Ltd. Construction is set to begin in Q1 2025, with commercial operations expected to commence in 2026. Once completed, the total length of the pipeline system will exceed 726 kilometers, making it the longest and most advanced oil transportation pipeline in Thailand and the longest in Southeast Asia.
Amid the ongoing energy transition and its challenges, BAFS Group remains committed to sustainable value creation and energy security. The company’s five-year strategic plan (2025-2029) focuses on three key pillars. The first pillar, Solid Financials for Uplifting Asia, involves expanding investments across Asia, leveraging BAFS Group’s capabilities to seek investment and growth opportunities in the Asian market. Two key contributors are BAFS INTECH Co., Ltd., which is driving the expansion of the aviation refueling truck market in Southeast Asia, and BAFS Clean Energy Corporation Co., Ltd., which is currently advancing investments in Mongolia.
The second pillar, Sustainability and Governance for a Thriving Future, focuses on supporting the transition of society and the aviation industry to a sustainable energy era, primarily by preparing for the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Last year, BAFS began SAF refueling services at Samui and Suvarnabhumi International Airports and recently obtained ISCC-CORSIA certification in the logistic center scope for its aviation fuel storage and refueling stations at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airports.
The third pillar, Re-imagining the Future of Work for Human Empowerment, emphasizes building a future-ready workforce by enhancing employees’ skills in generative AI and digital literacy to ensure adaptability to changes. BAFS is also assessing and preparing its IT infrastructure to provide employees with secure and convenient access to generative AI tools to boost efficiency.
Hashtag: #BAFS #BAFSGroup
https://www.bafsthai.com
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
British Council Singapore Honours Outstanding UK Alumni at the Study UK Alumni Awards 2025

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 February 2025 – British Council Singapore celebrated the achievements of exceptional UK alumni at the Study UK Alumni Awards 2025, held at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, on 20 February. This flagship event honours individuals who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their professions, communities and societies.

The Study UK Alumni Awards are a testament to the power of education and collaboration in tackling common challenges and finding lasting solutions to these.
The 2025 Awards celebrated winners across four categories, each recognising the transformative impact of UK-educated Singaporean professionals:
- Business and Innovation Award – Wen Si Chow, for promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for women in the STEM industry.
- Culture and Creativity Award – Chong Soon Khong, for significant contributions to Singapore’s creative music landscape.
- Science and Sustainability Award – Stephanie Choon Xia Liaw, for impactful work in energy transition and sustainability.
- Social Action Award – Shalom Lim Ern Rong, for exceptional efforts in driving inclusion and positive change in society.
UK universities consistently excel in world rankings, with four featured in the 2025 QS World University Rankings top ten. The strength, depth and diversity of the UK higher education sector – from small conservatoires to large metropolitan universities – has always attracted students from all parts of the world, including close to 7000 students from Singapore who choose to pursue higher education in the UK every year.
The Study UK Alumni Award winners exemplify the value of their world-class UK education, using their expertise to drive innovation, address pressing challenges, and contribute to Singapore’s progress.
Speaking at the event, H.E. Nik Mehta OBE, British High Commissioner to Singapore, commended the awardees: “All four Singapore winners inspire me because they are making a difference to our world in fields ranging from science and sustainability to culture, social engagement, and business innovation. Their stories illustrate how higher education can be a life-changing experience – shaping minds, values, ambitions, and futures”.
On 9 August 1965, the UK was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the newly independent Singapore. As Singapore celebrates its 60th birthday this year, the 2025 Awards hold special significance, underscoring the profound and enduring
educational and cultural ties between the UK and Singapore, cemented over these 60 years.
As Lissy Vadakel, Country Director for British Council Singapore, commented: “Through these Awards, we celebrate the achievements of outstanding UK alumni in Singapore. This is also an occasion for us to come together as a community, with at least one commonality: in one way or another, be that through our educational experiences, our professional lives, or our personal and social connections, we are part of the Singapore-UK fabric”.
The High Commissioner also reflected on the lasting impact of UK-educated Singaporeans in growing and strengthening bilateral relations: “At the heart of our countries’ partnership are our people, who have forged lifelong professional and personal connections in our communities. These ties contribute to the mutual trust and understanding between our countries today and will do so for years to come”.
The British Council remains committed to supporting and celebrating the aspirations of UK alumni worldwide, ensuring their achievements continue to inspire future generations.
For the editor
Recipients of Study UK Alumni Awards Singapore 2025
BUSINESS AND INNOVATION AWARDS
CULTURE AND CREATIVITY AWARD
SOCIAL ACTION AWARD
Hashtag: #BritishCouncilSingapore
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022–23 we reached 600 million people.
Sgcarmart introduces Buysafe, a New Standard for Quality Pre-Owned Cars
SINGAPORE, Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Buysafe, a new pre-owned vehicle certification programme has been launched by Singapore’s leading car platform, Sgcarmart. Designed to provide greater confidence to car buyers on their purchases, it is now available on the platform’s used car section and serves as a seal of approval on pre-owned vehicles listed by a panel of curated dealerships.
Ensuring a safer, confident buying experience
Vehicles under this programme must undergo a detailed inspection by certified assessors, followed by a refurbishment process to ensure compliance with strict quality standards. Each vehicle is also backed by a 12-month warranty covering major vehicle components such as the engine, transmission and more.
For enhanced quality and trust, Buysafe is exclusively offered through select local Authorized Distributors and trusted Dealerships. With its stringent certification process and comprehensive warranty, Buysafe vehicles stand out as a more reliable and assured choice compared to regular used cars.
“At Sgcarmart, we’re here to make sure you’re making an informed decision, no stress. Our Buysafe programme means every car goes through a detailed inspection, so you get no surprises. Plus, Buysafe cars come with warranties for that extra peace of mind. Basically, we’ve got you covered, so you can drive away knowing you’ve made the right choice.” said Mr Yau Fun Heng – Chief Operating Officer of Sgcarmart.
Buysafe comes with exclusive perks for buyers
Along with Sgcarmart’s seal of approval on every Buysafe pre-owned car, the programme goes a step further by providing exclusive car ownership perks for buyers – such as 24/7 roadside assistance, free servicing and bespoke financing options tailored to their individual needs.
Buysafe is now available on more than 450 used car listings on Sgcarmart, and is set to extend to more pre-owned cars on the platform. For more information about Buysafe, please visit sgcarmart.com/buysafe
About Sgcarmart
Sgcarmart is Singapore’s #1 car platform. With over 30,000 listings, it offers the largest database of new and used cars, with an average of 10 cars sold every hour, helping to drive approximately 70% of all second-hand car transactions in Singapore. The platform receives more than 1.6 million users every month, offering the highest level of support for drivers with its suite of value-added car ownership & transactional services.
Digital Edge Announces Leadership Updates
John Freeman, Group President Selected as Next CEO; Two Industry Veterans to Join Board
SINGAPORE, Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital Edge (Singapore) Holdings Pte Ltd. (“Digital Edge”), a leading developer and operator of interconnection and hyperscale edge data centers across Asia and portfolio company of Stonepeak, today announced that Group President John Freeman will succeed Samuel Lee as Chief Executive Officer, effective as of the second quarter of 2025. In conjunction, Samuel will transition to the role of Senior Advisor to the Board. Digital Edge also announced that industry veterans Maile Kaiser and Eanna Murphy will join the Board as non-executive directors.
John is an experienced leader with more than two and half decades in the data center and TMT industry, leading global teams across Asia, the Americas, Europe and MEA. He is a founding executive of Digital Edge, serving on the company’s Board since its inception, and was previously Chief Legal & Compliance Officer before becoming Group President in 2024.
The Board’s two new non-executive directors, Maile Kaiser and Eanna Murphy, also have long-standing data center expertise. Maile is currently Chief Revenue Officer at CoreSite, having joined in 2012, and previously held roles at IO Data Centers, AboveNet, and Oracle. Eanna is a Senior Operating Partner at Stonepeak and was previously Chief Operating Officer of Yondr, where he founded Yondr’s platform in the Americas region, and previously spent more than ten years in senior roles on Google’s data center team. Their addition, paired with John’s appointment to CEO, further reinforces Digital Edge’s commitment to excellence in leadership and innovation, positioning the company for continued growth in the rapidly evolving digital infrastructure landscape.
Commenting on his appointment, John said, “I am honored to step into the role of CEO, and excited about the opportunity to continue working alongside our partners and the incredibly talented team at Digital Edge to provide timely and diverse AI- and cloud-ready data centers and connectivity solutions to our customers.”
Samuel Lee stated, “As I transition to the role of Senior Advisor, I do so with immense pride in what we have built and with great confidence in the future of Digital Edge. I am sincerely grateful for the support of our employees, customers, and partners throughout my tenure at Digital Edge. John is a visionary leader with a passion for the team, our customers, and the communities we serve, and I look forward to the company’s continued success under his leadership”.
Andrew Thomas, Senior Managing Director at Stonepeak and Chairman of the Board of Digital Edge, commented, “We are very thankful for Samuel’s stewardship over the past five years as the business has scaled, and are excited for John to lead the business into its next phase of growth. We are also thrilled to welcome Maile and Eanna to the Board, each of whom brings world-class industry expertise to the business as we continue to expand.”
Digital Edge recently secured more than $1.6 billion in new capital through a combination of equity and debt financing to fuel its next phase of growth. The growth capital will enable the company to accelerate its expansion and address the increasing and nuanced cloud and AI demands from customers across the region. Founded in early 2020, Digital Edge currently owns and operates 21 data centers, delivering over 500MW of critical IT load in service and under construction across Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The company also holds an additional 300MW reserved for future development in strategic locations.
About Digital Edge
Headquartered in Singapore, Digital Edge is a trusted and forward-looking data center platform company, established to transform digital infrastructure in Asia. Through building and operating state-of-the-art, energy-efficient data centers rich with connectivity options, Digital Edge aims to bring new colocation and interconnect options to the Asian market, making infrastructure deployment in the region easy, efficient and economical.
Backed by leading alternative investment firm Stonepeak, Digital Edge has established itself as a market-leading pan-Asia data center platform. The company provides data center and fiber services across Asia, with a presence in Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. You can visit the company’s website at www.digitaledgedc.com.
About Stonepeak
Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $72 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak, as sponsor of private equity and credit investment vehicles, provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include digital infrastructure, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.
Wondershare Filmora Launches AI-Powered Music Challenge, Featured Prominently on Google Play’s Homepage
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VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Wondershare Filmora, the leading video creativity software, has launched the “Can You Feel the Beat?” music challenge on its mobile app. With a diverse library of music and AI-powered editing tools, Filmora empowers global users to craft unique music-themed videos and share their creativity. Recognizing its innovative approach and strong user engagement, Google Play has selected the challenge for its global editorial recommendations. Starting February 14, Filmora earned a top banner placement on the Google Play homepage, making it one of the must-join creative challenges for users worldwide.
Google Play has selected Wondershare Filmora’s “Can You Feel the Beat?” music challenge for its global editorial recommendations.
Music is a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. In response to the growing demand for accessible music and AI-powered video editing tools, Wondershare Filmora provides creators with a comprehensive library of licensed music and innovative editing features, including AI Beats and AI Music Generator. Participants can join the challenge by creating a 15s+ music-themed video using Filmora and sharing it on social media. By seamlessly combining cutting-edge AI technology with high-quality music resources, Filmora enhances the music video creation experience for users worldwide.
Google Play is a digital distribution service developed by Google, offering apps, videos, music, e-books, and other digital products. As of August 2024, it hosts over 2.3 million applications, maintaining its position as the largest app store globally. Filmora’s selection as a featured app on the Google Play homepage highlights its growing influence in the creative software landscape. Moving forward, Filmora remains committed to advancing AI-powered video creation tools and launching more engaging creative initiatives to inspire and empower users worldwide.
“We are honored to have Filmora featured on Google Play’s homepage. This recognition reinforces our belief that creative expression should be accessible to everyone, and it motivates us to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with video editing,” said Envy, head of Brand Communication Center at Wondershare. “Through new feature and collaborations, we aim to provide tools that not only enhance creative workflows but also inspire users to discover new ways of storytelling through video.”
About Wondershare Filmora
Launched in 2015, Wondershare Filmora is designed with its user in mind, featuring smoother performance and an intuitive user interface, and has attracted a cumulative global user base of nearly 300 million across 150+ countries and regions.With advanced AI features boosting content generation and editing, over 2.3 million creative assets, commercially available music, 3D LUTs, effects, and pre-set templates, Filmora stands out as a leader in video editing software. Consistently introducing innovative tools, it enhances video creation and makes the process more efficient and accessible for all skill levels.
About Wondershare Technology
Wondershare is a globally recognized software company founded in 2003, known for its innovative solutions in creativity and productivity. Driven by the mission “Creativity Simplified”, Wondershare offers a range of tools, including Filmora, Virbo, and DemoCreator for video editing; PDFelement for document management; EdrawMax, EdrawMind for diagramming; and SelfyzAI, Pixpic, FaceHub for image recovery and editing. With over 1.5 billion users across 200+ countries and regions, Wondershare empowers the next generation of creators with intuitive software and trendy creative resources, continually expanding the possibilities of creativity worldwide.