HONG KONG, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Harbour City, Hong Kong’s largest shopping mall, has partnered with Bandai Namco Asia to unveil “Bandai Namco Asia Journey in Hong Kong @ Harbour City” from 27 March to 5 May 2026, marking Hong Kong as the first stop of the regional journey.

The large‑scale flagship event unites five globally beloved Japanese IPs, including Mobile Suit Gundam (Gundam), ONE PIECE, Tamagotchi, ULTRAMAN and DRAGON BALL, offering a cross‑generational experience through immersive displays, rich displays and exclusive merchandise for toy and anime enthusiasts.

The Gundam-themed zone anchors the experience along Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour waterfront. A towering 5-metre-tall RX-78-2 Gundam makes its first-ever appearance in a dynamic launch pose, emerging powerfully from a 16-metre-long spaceship-themed installation that houses hundreds of Gundam model kits at the Ocean Terminal Forecourt. Meanwhile, the ONE PIECE themed zone unfolds at Ocean Terminal Deck, featuring a majestic 6‑metre‑tall pirate ship inspired by the iconic Going Merry, a Gear 5 Luffy photo spot and “Egghead Arc”‑inspired scenes, all set against sweeping views of Victoria Harbour.

ULTRAMAN and Tamagotchi themed zones extend the experience indoors. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of ULTRAMAN and the 30th anniversary of ULTRAMAN TIGA, a dedicated themed zone showcases a curated series of character figures from the Showa to Reiwa eras, highlighting the evolution of the legendary hero over time. The Tamagotchi Research Hub installation introduces a playful setting inspired by the highly popular Tamagotchi Paradise, featuring life‑size character figures and interactive displays.

The journey continues at the Bandai Namco Asia Pop‑Up Store, which brings together a range of event‑exclusive and first‑release merchandise from across the featured IPs. Fans can also find DRAGON BALL elements, including a Super Saiyan Son Goku statue inspired by the iconic “Kamehameha” moment, adding an additional photo highlight within the shopping experience.

Combining spectacular photo spots, interactive experiences and limited collectibles, “Bandai Namco Asia Journey in Hong Kong @ Harbour City” invites fans from around the world to step into the worlds of their favourite franchises — all in one unforgettable journey.

@harbourcity #HarbourCity #BandaiNamcoAsiaJourneyHK

GUIYANG, China, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China Daily:

The 20th Guizhou Tourism Industry Development Conference was held in Guiyang on March 30. The opening ceremony at Drum Tower Square in Colorful Guizhou city highlighted the province’s progress in smart tourism and artificial intelligence. It also unveiled new characters from the “Huangxiaoxi” mascot family and promoted the “stub economy”, a ticket-stub reward initiative, along with the “Cool Guiyang Top 10 New Scenic Spots”.

Among attendees were 15 international media professionals and content creators participating in the 2026 China Storyteller Partnerships. From March 27 to 31, they gained firsthand experience of Fanjing Mountain, the famous cave basketball courts, and the historic Zhongnanmen Historical and Cultural Tourist Area, amongst others. Through the lens of these international guests, the narrative of Guizhou tourism is entering a more authentic, open and collaborative era.

To develop Guizhou into a leading national destination for tourism and long-term stays, 10 provincial departments, including the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, jointly issued a series of measures to support tourism-related residential development. The steps establish a policy framework covering land supply, revitalization of existing assets, financial and fiscal support, and standardized operations.

Technical guidelines are also being prepared to homogenized construction requirements across six areas, including environmental livability and green, low-carbon development. Guizhou’s tourism-related residential sector is shifting toward an integrated model combining development, services and operations. Efforts focus on improving product quality, expanding the customer base and cultivating professional operators.

Authorities are also strengthening four support systems to advance high-quality industry development: policy standards, resource guarantees, promotion, and supporting services.

Accelerated by conservation and infrastructure

Guizhou is known for its cool summer climate, with an average temperature of about 23 degrees Celsius and excellent air quality on more than 99 percent of days. With an average altitude of around 1,100 meters, the province offers favorable conditions for health and wellness tourism, alongside a rich cultural heritage shaped by diverse ethnic groups and revolutionary history.

The hospitality sector has expanded rapidly, with 304 star-rated hotels and about 13,000 guesthouses. Transportation infrastructure has also improved, with 1,900 kilometers of high-speed rail and more than 9,390 kilometers of expressways, ensuring expressway access to every county and airports in all prefecture-level cities.

Since emerging in the 1990s, Guizhou’s tourism-related residential sector has grown steadily. By 2025, out-of-province buyers are expected to purchase about 30,000 homes, accounting for 17.9 percent of total sales.

Cities such as Guiyang and Liupanshui have repeatedly been included on national summer resort lists, boosting their visibility and supporting the province’s development as a tourism, residential and wellness destination.

Steered by data and strategy

The 2026 Guizhou Tourism and Residence Research Report notes that China’s tourism-residence sector is entering a period of rapid growth. With its natural resources and industrial foundation, Guizhou is well-positioned to benefit from this trend.

Government initiatives, growing tourism demand and improvements in supply have created a positive cycle of development, strengthening the province’s position in the national tourism-residence market.

Meanwhile, innovation in tourism-residence models and deeper integration of culture and tourism are helping drive the development of intellectual property-based tourism products and new market opportunities.

• IBM and ETH Zurich launch a 10-year initiative to advance foundational algorithmic research.
• The collaboration will focus on developing foundational algorithms for the AI and quantum era.
• IBM will also support the creation of ETH Zurich professorships to lead joint research projects and education in algorithmic innovation.

ZURICH, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) and ETH Zurich announced today a 10-year collaboration to advance the next generation of algorithms at the intersection of AI and quantum computing. This initiative represents the latest milestone in the long-standing collaboration between the two institutions, further strengthening a scientific exchange that has helped create the future of information technology.

IBM Corporation logo.

Algorithms are the hidden architecture of modern technology. They power scientific discovery, economic growth, and technological progress, from classical computing to today’s AI revolution. With quantum computing bringing increasing value to science and industry, entirely new algorithmic foundations — as well as new ways of understanding and representing data — are required. Over the next decade, IBM and ETH Zurich aim to create new classes of algorithms capable of bridging classical computing, machine learning, and quantum systems to address some of the today’s critical challenges in business.

IBM will also support the creation of professorship positions and research projects at ETH Zurich, with the goal of advancing the algorithmic expertise of the next generation workforce. The education and research efforts will focus on new algorithmic paradigms for AI and quantum systems, including hybrid approaches that combine classical, AI-driven, and quantum computation to address challenges in four key areas: optimization and combinatorial problems; differential equations and dynamical systems; linear algebra and Hamiltonian simulations; and complex system modeling. These mathematical foundations are particularly important at the intersection of AI and quantum computing, where new algorithmic approaches could soon help unlock practical value from today’s quantum hardware and redefine how complex problems in science, industry, and society are solved.

Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow, VP Algorithms and Applications, IBM Research said: “Algorithms have always been the true drivers of computing revolutions and are at the core of our history at IBM Research. I strongly believe that the future of computing will be written not only in hardware or software, but in the algorithms that connect the two. As AI and quantum computing converge, we are witnessing the dawn of a new algorithmic era — and shaping this future requires both industry and academic scientific depth. IBM and ETH Zurich have a long and distinguished history of working together at the frontiers of science and technology. With this agreement, we are committing to inventing the algorithmic foundations of the future.”

Prof. Dr. Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, said: “ETH Zurich and IBM share a longstanding commitment to excellence in research, and our focus in developing pioneering technologies is anchored in long-term societal benefits. The partnership with IBM reflects our ambition to co-create groundbreaking technology and to empower the next generation of AI and quantum computing experts.” 

IBM has helped define every major era of computing, from foundational algorithmic breakthroughs — including the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) — to pioneering artificial intelligence — with systems like Deep Blue and Watson. Showcasing decades of leadership in algorithm design and implementation, IBM continues to push the boundaries of what computation can achieve.

ETH Zurich stands among the world’s leading scientific institutions, with a legacy that includes 22 Nobel laureates and some of the most influential minds in mathematics, physics, and computer science — from Albert Einstein to Eduard Stiefel. ETH was the birthplace of numerous ideas that form the mathematical and algorithmic backbone of modern science, and ETH-created programming languages, numerical methods, and theoretical frameworks are still in use to this day.

About IBM

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping 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 effect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

For more information, visit https://research.ibm.com.

Media Contacts:

Stephen Funk
IBM Communications
stephen.funk@ch.ibm.com
0041 79 612 84 95

Chris Nay
IBM Research Communications
cnay@us.ibm.com

New Claim Reaffirms the Positive Role of Soy Protein for Heart Health

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Soy Nutrition Institute Global (SNI Global) applaud a new general level soy heart health claim in Australia and New Zealand.¹ Similar claims already exist in the United States,² Canada,³ and Japan,⁴ further reinforcing soy protein’s role in supporting heart health worldwide.

The approved claim states: “Consuming 20–25 g of isolated soybean protein from foods or beverages daily, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, contributes to heart health by supporting healthy cholesterol levels.”

Isolated soy protein, derived from soybeans, contains 90% protein and is a high-quality protein, providing all nine essential amino acids in the amounts needed by children and adults.⁵ It can enhance the nutritional value of foods and beverages such as bars, cereals, baked goods, meat alternatives, and fortified plant-based milks. Just one to two servings of soy foods per day—like a soy protein bar (~17g protein) or beverage (15–20g protein)—can provide 20–25g of soy protein.

Heart disease remains a global health concern, and abnormal cholesterol levels are a key risk factor.⁶ Research supports soy protein’s cholesterol-lowering effects.⁷ Soy foods promote heart health by providing high-quality protein that helps reduce total and LDL cholesterol while being naturally low in saturated fat.

“Around 60% of Australian adults and a significant portion of New Zealanders have abnormal blood lipid levels; therefore, a soy-inclusive diet presents a practical nutrition strategy to help maintain optimal cholesterol levels and heart health,” said Alan Barclay, PhD, lead author of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) submission.

Under FSANZ regulations, general level health claims must be scientifically supported, meet stringent nutrient profiling criteria and can appear on food labels and associated marketing materials in Australia and New Zealand.

“The recognition of soy protein’s heart health benefits reinforces the value U.S. Soy delivers, from farmers growing sustainable soybeans to companies producing nutritious soy foods and oil worldwide,” said Will McNair, USSEC’s Director of Soy Foods and Oil.

IFF’s Food Ingredients business unit supported the advancement of this general level health claim, underscoring its commitment to expanding the accessibility and impact of soy-based nutrition across Australia and New Zealand. IFF will lead its implementation across the region.

Partially funded by USDA FAS and the United Soybean Board

Media Contacts:
Kerrey Kerr-Enskat, USSEC
kenskat@ussec.org

Sarah Alsager, SNI Global
Sarah.alsager@sniglobal.org

¹ Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Notified Food Health Relationships to Make a Health Claim, January 2026
² Code of Federal Regulations, title-21/section-101.82, October 1999
³ Summary of Health Canada’s Assessment of a Health Claim about Soy Protein and Cholesterol Lowering, Government of Canada, March 2015
⁴ Food for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Approved FOSHU Products Chart, Retrieved February 2026
⁵ Hughes, G.J., Ryan, D.J., Mukherjea, R. and Schasteen, C.S., “Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores (PDCAAS) for soy protein isolates and concentrate: Criteria for evaluation,” J. Agric. Food Chem., 59, 12707-12712. Dec 2011.
⁶ Soy + Heart Health, United Soybean Board, July 2022
⁷ The Journal of Nutrition, Blanco Mejia S, Messina M, Li SS, Viguiliouk E, Chiavaroli L, Khan TA, Srichaikul K, Mirrahimi A, Sievenpiper JL, Kris-Etherton P, Jenkins DJA. A meta-analysis of 46 studies identified by the FDA demonstrates that soy protein decreases circulating LDL and total cholesterol concentrations in adults. J Nutr. 2019;149(6):968-981. doi:10.1093/jn/nxz020.

Featuring an embodied AI brain, long-term memory, and natural language interaction, EBO Max brings a new level of awareness and companionship to modern homes.

SHENZHEN, China, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Enabot, a pioneer in family companion robotics, today announced the launch of EBO Max, its most advanced home robot to date. Powered by a new AI brain, EBO Max is designed to think, learn, and adapt within the home—bringing intelligent assistance, family companionship, and home monitoring into a single mobile device. 

At the core of EBO Max is an upgraded AI brain capable of multimodal perception, contextual understanding, and long-term memory. By combining vision, voice, and environmental awareness, the robot can interpret situations and make dynamic decisions while carrying out tasks in the home.

Unlike traditional smart cameras or voice assistants, EBO Max is built to move. With intelligent navigation, it can locate family members or pets, check different areas of the home, and identify potential changes or unusual activity.

It is also capable of executing multi-step tasks with minimal input. Users can assign tasks remotely, interact through voice, and receive personalized reminders. The robot can also perform scheduled or condition-based tasks, adapting to different daily scenarios.

Designed for everyday family life, EBO Max supports a wide range of real-world use cases. Users can connect via two-way video, check in on loved ones, monitor pets, or receive alerts when something changes at home, such as possible falls. With 4K imaging, it can also capture important moments and provide timely reminders based on routines.

Over time, EBO Max builds familiarity with its environment through long-term memory, allowing it to respond more naturally and efficiently as it learns household patterns.

With its combination of mobility, AI intelligence, and human-centered design, EBO Max reflects Enabot’s vision of creating robots that not only assist—but naturally integrate into the home.

The EBO Max is available for pre-order at $549.99 ($50 OFF) on the Enabot website.

About Enabot
Enabot believes our lives can be improved by intelligent family bots. Our vision of a technology-driven world is positive, with robots being part of the solutions to daily problems, allowing people to focus their time on what matters the most: to be there for the ones we love. By connecting people, we are dedicated to promoting love, companionship and sharing.

Discover more about Enabot here.