PERTH, Australia, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), The University of Western Australia’s Quantum Information, Simulation and Algorithms (QUISA) research group, and ST Engineering today announced a strategic partnership to jointly advance Q-FINEX, a quantum-enabled financial infrastructure initiative designed to accelerate the financial sector’s readiness for the quantum era. 

Unveiled at the Black Swan Summit Australia 2026 in Perth, Q-FINEX represents a significant milestone in translating quantum computing from scientific promise into real-world financial applications. The initiative is designed as a dedicated Quantum Finance Industry Experimentation testbed, bringing together three critical enablers: specialised research capability, a global network facilitating the gathering of use cases and an ecosystem, and a proven implementation partner.

“These elements work together to bridge the gap between research, real-world use cases, and implementation pathways,” said Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN, adding, “This collaboration is strengthened by ST Engineering, our global implementation partner that will help translate the test of experiments to real world implementations in the financial industry and contributing crucial domain expertise.”

Through this collaboration, GFTN and ST Engineering will bridge the gap between quantum research and practical deployment, enabling financial institutions to experiment, validate and implement quantum-enabled solutions in a structured, real-world environment. The partnership combines GFTN’s global network of central banks, financial institutions, regulators and fintech innovators with ST Engineering’s deep expertise in secure digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and advanced technologies. GFTN will facilitate engagement with ecosystem partners to identify and develop real-world financial use cases, where ST Engineering’s capabilities can be applied, accelerating pathways to adoption and deployment of quantum-safe solutions.

Said Tan Bin Ru, President of Enterprise Digital at ST Engineering, “Quantum is not only about chasing the future; it is also about preparing for it. Our innovations and expertise in delivering secured, mission-critical systems empower us to partner with financial institutions as they transition to achieve quantum resilience.”

About Q-FINEX

Q-FINEX is designed to address three topical challenges facing the financial sector today:

• Rising market complexity, through advanced quantum-enabled modelling for faster and more precise decision-making;
• Evolving cybersecurity threats, via quantum-safe encryption to safeguard financial systems against future risks;
• The rapid growth of digital assets, enabling enhanced pricing, risk management, and security of digital asset exposures.

At its core, Q-FINEX enables financial institutions to test real-world use cases, experiment with hybrid classical and quantum algorithms using actual financial data, and evaluate the infrastructure required for a quantum-enabled future.

“This initiative aims to bridge the gap between quantum computing research and real-world deployment by transforming cutting-edge quantum algorithms into practical use cases. The testbed will support financial institutions worldwide in evaluating quantum-enabled solutions using real-world data,” said Professor Jingbo Wang, Founder and Director of the Quantum Information, Simulation and Algorithms (QUISA) research group at The University of Western Australia.

The partnership, formalised at the launch ceremony held at the second edition of the Black Swan Summit Australia at Winthrop Hall, The University of Western Australia, was attended by representatives from the key partners, including:

• Mr. Ravi Menon, Chairman, GFTN
• Professor Amit Chakma, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Western Australia
• Mr. Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO, GFTN
• Professor Jingbo Wang, Director, UWA QUISA
• Ms. Tan Bin Ru, President of Enterprise Digital at ST Engineering

Advancing Quantum Readiness in Finance

The partnership underscores the growing global urgency for quantum readiness as financial institutions prepare for the transformative impact of next-generation computing on encryption, risk modelling, optimisation and digital trust frameworks.

Through Q-FINEX, GFTN continues to catalyse collaboration across financial services, academia, and technology providers, shaping trusted, quantum-safe digital infrastructure for the next era of finance.

About the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) is a Singapore-headquartered not-for-profit organisation established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 2024. With offices Tokyo and Berlin, GFTN’s mission is to bridge policy, capital, and technology to build financial systems that are resilient, efficient, and inclusive. GFTN operates through its commercial subsidiaries, GFTN Services and GFTN Capital. GFTN Services, through GFTN Connect, hosts global forums across five continents that bring together market makers and policymakers from over 130 countries, and GFTN Solutions offers comprehensive advisory, technology solutions, and capacity building to governments and the private sector. GFTN Capital will be a venture capital firm investing in growth-stage FinTechs globally. For more information, please visit www.gftn.co

About QUISA

The Research Centre for Quantum Information, Simulation and Algorithms (QUISA), hosted at The University of Western Australia, fosters collaboration and entrepreneurship, bringing together academic staff, research students, government and industrial partners to develop innovative quantum solutions to tackle otherwise intractable problems and complex phenomena.

About ST Engineering

ST Engineering is a global technology, defence and engineering group with a diverse portfolio of businesses across the aerospace, smart city, defence and public security segments. The Group harnesses technology and innovation to solve real-world problems, enabling a more secure and sustainable world. Headquartered in Singapore, it has operations spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S., serving customers in more than 100 countries. ST Engineering reported revenue of over $12b in 2025 and ranks among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. It is a component stock of MSCI Singapore, FTSE Straits Times Index and Dow Jones Best-in-Class Asia Pacific Index. Follow ST Engineering on LinkedIn.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This April Louisville based Michter’s Distillery will release its 2026 Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey and its 2026 Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The two whiskeys will be available in limited quantities. 

Michter’s Distillery to Release 2026 Edition of Two Legacy Series Whiskeys: Shenk’s Homestead & Bomberger’s Declaration

In 1753, Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk founded Shenk’s Distillery in Pennsylvania. This distillery was later renamed Bomberger’s Distillery in the 1800s before its name changed again to Michter’s Distillery in the mid-20th Century. It is this heritage that the Michter’s Legacy Series honors.

“Each year our production team looks forward to working on these special releases of Shenk’s and Bomberger’s,” commented Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco. “They really highlight the creativity of our distillers. While there is a commonality in each of these whiskeys from year to year, every release is a bit different because of experimentation done at the distillery.”

While describing the 2026 Shenk’s release, Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee said, “In addition to this whiskey being a bit rye forward, we used caramel malted barley which offers a nice caramel bread pudding note that balances the beautiful spice. The cooperage we use includes some 24-month air dried French oak from the Vosges forest as well as some 60-month air dried American oak, and this helps impart a special character to this Shenk’s release.”

Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson commented, “It is a wonderful opportunity to work on Shenk’s and Bomberger’s with Dan and the team at Michter’s. The prospect is not just to try something new, but to explore how aroma, depth, flavor, complexity and finish can be influenced through changing variables to enhance the drinking experience. This year’s Bomberger’s again brings delight with the whiskey’s hallmark Chinquapin Oak coupled with the addition of some Hungarian Oak thereby creating an intriguing, rich chocolate decadence around the cherry and spice attributes synonymous with Chinquapin. Both types of oak were naturally seasoned and air dried for three years with a custom toast and char. It is super exciting to see how the integration of oak flavors can enhance the sophistication and depth of the tasting journey.”

Shenk’s Homestead is 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV) and has a U.S. suggested retail price of $110. Bomberger’s Declaration is 108 proof (54% ABV) and has a U.S. suggested retail price of $120.

In October 2025, Michter’s became the first whiskey to be named in three consecutive years The World’s Most Admired Whiskey by an international academy of voters convened by UK-based Drinks International. Michter’s has a rich and long legacy of offering traditional American whiskeys of uncompromising quality. With each of its limited production offerings aged to its peak maturity, Michter’s highly acclaimed portfolio includes bourbon, rye, sour mash whiskey, and American whiskey. For more information about Michter’s, please visit michters.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Contact:
Joseph J. Magliocco
+1 (502) 774-2300 x580
jmagliocco@michters.com

• International BIO-LivIQ Study Will Generate Evidence for Global LivIQ Leadless Pacemaker Approvals
• Far-Field Sensing and AV-Synchronous Pacing Performance Will be Validated by Real World Clinical Data

BERLIN, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BIOTRONIK today announced the initiation of its global pivotal study evaluating the LivIQ leadless pacemaker system. This next-generation single‑device solution is designed to deliver atrioventricular (AV)-synchrony using advanced electrical far‑field sensing.

BIOTRONIK LivIQ Catheter Handle

First implantations within this study have been completed at the Kokura Memorial Hospital in Kitakyushu, Japan and the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center (NCVC) in Osaka, Japan. “The BIOTRONIK leadless pacemaker system was remarkably straightforward to implant. Catheter navigation and deployment were intuitive, helping us to achieve excellent device positioning and initial results,” said Dr. Kenji Ando, Department of Cardiology at Kokura Memorial Hospital.

“I am pleased to see a highly compelling option emerging for a single device leadless pacemaker, promised to deliver strong AV-synchrony and long-term device performance,” added Dr. Kengo Kusano, Study Principal Investigator at NCVC.

As a prospective multicenter clinical investigation, the BIO-LivIQ study will enroll 325 patients across 60 sites worldwide. The trial will evaluate device safety, pacing performance, AV-synchrony behavior, and quality-of-life outcomes to generate the evidence required for global regulatory submissions.

LivIQ continues BIOTRONIK’s long‑standing commitment to physiologic pacing. It uses proven far‑field sensing technology to electrically detect atrial activity and enable a single‑device VDD mode. This advanced sensing approach supports reliable AV synchrony across a broad range of clinical scenarios. Equally important, LivIQ’s highly maneuverable catheter is designed for precise control and predictable placement, creating a smooth, streamlined implantation experience.  

“We are one step closer to providing clinicians with a more intuitive and capable single‑device solution in leadless pacing,” said Dr. Andreas Hecker, Chief Technology Officer at BIOTRONIK. “LivIQ brings together two key advances that address distinct clinical needs. It combines an easy‑to‑handle catheter design that simplifies implantation, and a novel sensing concept that enhances therapy performance across more scenarios.” 

Clinicians seek solutions to avoid complications related to the pacemaker’s pocket, infection risks, and an invasive experience. Leadless pacing continues to emerge as an important therapy option and is designed to address these growing needs.

CAUTION – Investigational device. Limited to federal (United States) law to investigational use.

About BIOTRONIK

For over 60 years, BIOTRONIK has stood at the forefront of medical technology, pioneering breakthrough innovations that are transforming the lives of millions affected by heart disease and chronic pain. Rooted in a deep purpose to seamlessly harmonise technology with the human body, we engineer trusted, life-changing therapies through our advanced active implants in Cardiac Rhythm Management, Monitoring, and Neuromodulation, while providing cutting-edge solutions in Electrophysiology. From creating Germany’s first pacemaker in 1963 to breaking new ground in digital technologies and Conduction System Pacing today, BIOTRONIK is continuously raising the bar for quality, performance, and innovation. Headquartered in Berlin, our global reach spans over 100 countries across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia—bringing bold, future-ready solutions that are shaping the next generation of medical technology.    

Aditya Jain appointed to lead expansion, backed by senior Indian defence and law enforcement figures

GENEVA, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Athena Intelligence, the Geneva-based corporate investigations and risk advisory firm, is expanding into India as demand accelerates for cross-border intelligence and financial crime expertise.

Aditya Jain, newly appointed Associate Partner at Athena Intelligence India

The firm has appointed Aditya Jain as Associate Partner to lead its India operations, marking a strategic move into one of the world’s fastest-evolving corporate risk environments.

India’s corporate risk landscape is intensifying rapidly. More than 265 million cyberattacks were recorded in 2025 alone¹, while Indian organisations face over 2,000 cyberattacks per week – significantly higher than global averages². The country now accounts for 12.4% of global malware attacks³, highlighting the scale and international nature of threats facing businesses.

Athena Intelligence, which specialises in complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations, is positioning itself to support Indian corporates, financial institutions, law firms, and High Net Worth Individuals navigating these risks.

Aditya Jain – Associate Partner, Athena Intelligence India
Aditya Jain is a Strategic Intelligence, Cyber & Technology Advisor with experience across corporate investigations and AI-driven risk engagements in South Asia and international markets. As Founder & CEO of a Geneva-based narrative intelligence platform, he combines global expertise with local institutional insight.

“India is at a tipping point when it comes to corporate risk. The threats are increasingly international – cross-border fraud, reputational attacks, cyber intrusions – and they require an international response. Athena Intelligence brings exactly that capability, and I am committed to making it accessible to Indian businesses, institutions, and individuals who deserve world-class protection.” – Aditya Jain, Associate Partner, Athena Intelligence

The expansion is supported by senior advisors from India’s defence and law enforcement community.

Senior Advisory Support
Colonel Shashank Kaushal, Indian Army (Ret.), serves as Senior Advisor to Athena Intelligence. A decorated senior army officer with a distinguished record in strategic operations and national security. He has been a military Adviser at the highest level. Colonel Kaushal advises Athena Intelligence and Aditya Jain on security-related investigations and provides senior-level access across India’s defence and intelligence community.

Dr. Rajendar Pal Singh, Former Director General, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) & Special Investigation Team (SIT), Uttar Pradesh (2018–2021), and Former Deputy Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), New Delhi (2013–2018), serves as Strategic Advisor to Aditya Jain. Dr. Singh brings unparalleled expertise in economic crime, anti-corruption, and narcotics investigations, and provides Aditya Jain with deep institutional insight across India’s law enforcement, regulatory, and policy eco system.

“Aditya Jain is the right person to represent Athena Intelligence in India. His investigative expertise, cyber and technology background, and deep institutional relationships make him uniquely equipped to build what we believe will become India’s most credible cross-border investigations practice. Athena Intelligence is proud to plant its flag in India with Aditya leading the charge.” – Jonas Rey, CEO, Athena Intelligence

Athena Intelligence will offer services including due diligence, anti-money laundering investigations, corporate intelligence, cyber risk advisory, and cross-border asset tracing.

Notes to Editors:

References:

1. Economic Times / Seqrite Cyber Threat Report (2025–2026) – India recorded over 265 million cyberattacks
2. Check Point Software Technologies, State of Cyber Security in India 2025 – Indian organisations face ~2,011 cyberattacks per week, higher than global averages
3. Acronis Cyber Threat Report – India accounts for 12.4% of global malware attacks, ranking among the most targeted countries worldwide

About Athena Intelligence:
Founded in 2019, Athena Intelligence operates across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, supporting clients on complex investigations involving fraud, corruption, and reputational risk.

Web: www.athenaintelligence.ch

HeyBondi Claw brings local-only data storage, personalized voice interaction, and a growing skills ecosystem to the 80 million Americans over 60 — the first OpenClaw-based AI companion designed specifically for this population.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On March 24, HeyBondi announced HeyBondi Claw, the first AI companion built on the OpenClaw platform specifically for older adults. While the OpenClaw ecosystem has rapidly expanded across productivity, developer tools, and enterprise automation, no product built on it has served the generation that needs it most. HeyBondi Claw changes that.

Understanding, Not Monitoring

“For decades, most technology wasn’t built with older adults in mind,” said Just Huang, CEO of HeyBondi. “What they truly want is to be seen, heard, and understood — by technology that works for them. That’s what HeyBondi is built for.”

Designed for Seniors

HeyBondi is built to feel simple and natural from day one. No complex interfaces, no confusing buttons, no manuals — conversation is all it takes. It learns and incorporates each person’s preferences and routines quietly over time without ever asking them to adapt to it. Built from the ground up around how older adults actually live, it takes the shape of something already at home — a photo frame that sits naturally in the bedroom — where most everyday decisions take place.

Powered by the OpenClaw Ecosystem

HeyBondi Claw taps into OpenClaw’s open skills platform — meaning anyone can build for it, and the ecosystem grows continuously. The range of possibilities includes prompting conversations from family photos, curating podcasts, planning daily routines, scheduling doctor appointments, capturing key information from doctor visits, and arranging transportation, to name a few. Over time, HeyBondi builds a personalized knowledge base that learns preferences, routines, and individual priorities, so every interaction feels more personal than the last. The more the ecosystem grows, the more capable HeyBondi becomes — without adding any complexity for the older adult using it.

Privacy-First Architecture: Your Data Stays Home

All data remains stored locally on the device. Conversations, photos, schedules, and preferences never leave the home. This isn’t just a technical decision — it’s a statement of respect. Seniors deserve the same privacy expectations they’ve held their entire lives.

Bringing Families into Everyday Moments

HeyBondi Claw brings families into their parents’ daily lives in a way that feels natural on both sides. Adult children share photos and participate in their parents’ everyday lives — not to supervise, but to belong. The device creates a two-way bridge where seniors feel genuinely connected to their families rather than managed by them. With the older adult’s consent, HeyBondi can also send a simple daily update — a quiet “I’m okay” that gives families peace of mind without requiring anyone to check in. Presence, not oversight. Sharing, not surveillance.

About HeyBondi

HeyBondi is an AI company building products designed from the ground up for older adults. HeyBondi is shaping a future where older adults feel seen, heard, and genuinely understood. Learn more at heybondi.ai.

Media Contact

For press inquiries, interviews, or product demonstrations, please contact:

HeyBondi Team

info@heybondi.ai

https://heybondi.ai

New Culture Amp research tracking 1,800 companies reveals a discrete measurable state of Peak Performance associated with a 36% share price increase over two years.

Launched today and redefining the connection between engagement and performance, Culture Amp’s new Performance Culture Quadrant equips leaders with science-backed steps to build high-performing cultures that deliver consistent business results.

MELBOURNE, Australia and NEW YORK and LONDON, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Culture Amp, the world’s leading employee experience platform, today reveals the next evolution in engagement and performance measurement. Built on more than 15 years of People Science research and expertise, the Performance Culture Quadrant (PCQ) connects engagement with performance confidence, offering a fundamental change to the way organizations can design and deliver high performance cultures.

The ROI on culture, quantified

For decades, business leaders have treated engagement and performance as competing priorities, investing in employee engagement during growth periods, then pivoting to hard performance metrics during downturns. New research from Culture Amp suggests this perceived tradeoff is leaving significant shareholder value on the table.

A broad study tracked 1,800 organizations globally over two years and found that about two in five companies were in a cultural state identified as ‘Peak Performance’: high engagement and high performance confidence (2023-2024).

Share price movement was then tracked across a subset of listed companies and found that those in Peak Performance saw a 25% increase in share price in just one year, and a 36% increase total at the two-year mark. Compared to companies in other culture states, organizations achieving Peak Performance through a dual focus on both workplace culture and organizational performance delivered a 47% share price change advantage.

“As leaders globally face mounting pressure to demonstrate ROI on people investments, many have responded by treating culture and performance as an either-or decision,” said Caroline Rawlinson, CEO at Culture Amp. “This research provides hard evidence that this is a false dichotomy. Culture and high performance are intimately linked as culture underpins all elements of business performance where humans are involved.”

Based on levels of Workplace Engagement (the relationship employees have with their work and organization) and Performance Confidence (employees’ confidence in organizational success), the four distinct culture states identified in the research include:

• Peak Performance (high engagement, high performance confidence),
• Engaged Skepticism (high engagement, low performance confidence),
• Strained (low engagement, high performance confidence), and
• Disconnected (low engagement, low performance confidence).

“Peak Performance isn’t a cultural unicorn, nor the result of a few heroic high performing employees. Rather, it’s a distinct, measurable state you can systematically work toward,” says Amy Lavoie, VP, People Science at Culture Amp. “Forty-four percent of the Culture Amp customers included in the study have achieved Peak Performance, which means it is an achievable cultural state.”

Culture is the Operating System fuelling sustainable high performance

The research arrives as organizations face competing pressures: adopt AI, upskill workforces, strengthen performance, all under tightening budgets. 96% of C-suite leaders expect AI to boost output, yet 77% of employees report that AI tools have increased their workload as key indicators of employee experience continue to trend downward (Upwork 2024; Culture Amp 2025). So when teams are pushed to do more with less, many leaders assume investing in employee engagement is a luxury.

“Culture is the fundamental operating system that governs how decisions are made, which behaviors are reinforced, and ultimately how people perform,” explains Rawlinson. “This research demonstrates that preserving and investing in culture is the strategic unlock that enables sustainable high performance. It’s how organizations build the conditions under which teams can consistently deliver their best work, and capture measurable financial returns. Culture Amp provides the CultureOS™ for organizations wanting a tangible way to prioritise culture, performance and engagement consistently together.”

“People leaders have been advocating for culture investment for years, often without the financial data to justify it in board conversations,” adds Lavoie. “This research changes that dynamic. We can now point to a quantifiable premium that engagement-performance integration delivers.”

Integrating engagement and performance: Introducing Culture Amp’s Performance Culture Quadrant

Available within the Culture Amp platform from today, the Performance Culture Quadrant (PCQ) materially advances organizations’ ability to design and deliver high performance cultures.

Building on the foundations of 15+ years of People Science research and utilizing AI, the science-backed diagnostic provides a data-driven visualization of a company’s unique culture type, allowing leaders to definitively answer the question, “Do we have a high-performing culture?”

“The PCQ shifted the conversation from ‘how do we fix engagement’ to ‘how do we get to a Peak Performance Culture.’ That shift has been powerful, creating stronger focus and engagement among leaders” said Sam Valentine, Head of Employee Performance and Experience at Miro.

To progress from diagnosis to impact, Culture Amp’s powerful AI Coach helps organizations interpret their results and pinpoint specific growth areas, such as strengthening strategic clarity or building stronger team accountability. It then delivers personalized action plans to help organizations fine-tune their CultureOS to unlock sustainable high performance and drive results – without risking employee engagement or attrition.

“The Performance Culture Quadrant has dramatically accelerated how quickly we’re able to work through these topics and have the right conversations,” confirms Valentine.

The Performance Culture Quadrant helps organizations:

• Connect culture to business success: Transform employee sentiment into predictors of hard business drivers like retention, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Diagnose their performance culture: Finally answer the question, “Do we have a high performing culture?” and understand their unique culture type: Peak Performance, Engaged Skepticism, Strained, or Disconnected.
• Build a roadmap to Peak Performance with targeted recommendations for action: Culture Amp’s AI Coach turns culture diagnosis into action by guiding organizations on a unique path to peak performance, focusing on high-impact growth areas specific to their culture type.
• Tailor roadmaps for specific departments and teams: Culture Amp’s demographic capability guides every leader to move their specific part of the organization to Peak Performance.

Availability

The Performance Culture Quadrant and Diagnostic survey tool are now available to all Engage customers, with guided insights and recommendations provided within the platform by Culture Amp’s AI Coach.

For more information, visit http://www.cultureamp.com/platform/engage/performance-culture-quadrant

– ends –

About Culture Amp

Culture Amp helps organizations assess the readiness of their culture to achieve high performance and act with confidence in an AI-driven world. Powered by 15 years of People Science research and drawing on more than 1.5 billion data points, Culture Amp acts as an always-on intelligence layer, called the CultureOS™, that connects engagement, performance, employee experience and culture data into a single unified platform. Today, 25 million employees across 6,800+ organizations, including Canva, On, Asana, Dolby, McDonald’s, and Nasdaq, depend on Culture Amp to drive culture-led performance as work and technology rapidly evolve.

About the Research

The study analyzed data from Culture Amp’s workplace dataset of over 1.5 billion employee responses, examining 1,800 companies who met required proxy items for the study. Researchers compared Culture Amp engagement and performance metrics against a subset of companies with publicly available share price data over 2023-2025.

The Performance Culture diagnostic survey draws on a comprehensive review of ~50 years of academic research including meta-analyses, academic papers, and professional best practices examining the relationship between workplace culture, individual performance, and organizational outcomes.

Developing the full diagnostic survey also involved drawing upon established psychological and organizational behavior theories – such as Goal-Setting Theory, Self-Determination Theory, and Psychological Safety Theory – which deeply informed the development of the product and survey dimensions.