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TIER IV, Nihon Kotsu launch data collection project to enhance autonomous driving AI

TOKYO, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TIER IV, the pioneering force behind the world’s first open-source software for autonomous driving, and Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest taxi company, launched a pioneering project in February to collect driving data using taxis equipped with a data recording system (DRS) developed by TIER IV. The aim of the project is to develop generative AI that will enhance the safety and ride quality of autonomous driving.

Large-scale data captured during taxi operations will be shared with key industry partners in an effort to compile optimized datasets for autonomous driving AI, contributing to Japanese government initiatives to advance the deployment of Level 4 autonomous driving technologies.

Since November 2018, Nihon Kotsu and TIER IV have conducted experimental data collection for autonomous driving, formalizing their partnership in July 2024. TIER IV has also led a robotaxi proof of concept, integrating autonomous driving systems into vehicles and validating services such as ride-hailing apps, mapping technologies and operational support centers. These efforts recently gained support from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry under a subsidy program to promote digital transformation in the mobility sector.

A key element of the latest project with Nihon Kotsu is TIER IV’s Co-MLOps platform, which is designed to build high-quality datasets from large-scale driving data collected globally. By enabling efficient sharing of datasets among autonomous driving system developers, the platform aims to accelerate AI innovation and overcome the challenges often faced by individual companies working in isolation.

In this project, DRS-equipped taxis featuring advanced sensor systems critical for autonomous driving AI development will collect data across Greater Tokyo and that data will be shared with partner companies in the automotive sector and beyond. While previous data collection efforts relied on TIER IV test vehicles, Nihon Kotsu taxis are being used for this initiative, starting with five vehicles in February 2025, and eventually increasing to about 20.

Looking ahead, Nihon Kotsu and TIER IV will deepen their partnership, conducting pilot tests to accelerate the rollout of robotaxi services in Japan. Using data from tests initiated in November 2024, the companies plan to develop Level 4-equipped autonomous vehicles and gradually introduce services in multiple regions, with a primary focus on Tokyo.

In the initial phase, robotaxi services will be tested under a mobility hub model, with drivers stationed in the vehicles for safety assurance. This model aims to improve regional accessibility and evaluate operational frameworks for robotaxi deployments. The outcomes from vehicle development and operational evaluations will be shared as a TIER IV reference design – a blueprint for autonomous driving systems that not only lowers entry barriers for new businesses but also directly supports the Japanese government’s digital transformation goals in the mobility sector.

About TIER IV

TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep tech innovation, pioneering Autoware, the world’s first open-source software for autonomous driving. Harnessing Autoware, we build scalable platforms and deliver comprehensive solutions across software development, vehicle manufacturing, and service operations. As a founding member of the Autoware Foundation, we are committed to reshaping the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, enabling individuals and organizations to thrive in the evolving field of autonomous driving.
Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.

About Nihon Kotsu

Company name: Nihon Kotsu Co., Ltd.
Establishment: April, 1928
President: Yasuharu Wakabayashi
Headquarters: 3-12 Kioicho, Kioicho Building, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Business description: Taxi and limousine service
Website: https://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/

Media Contact
pr@tier4.jp

Business Inquires
co-mlops@tier4.jp

CleanMax and Amazon sign PPA for 100MW of Wind Energy

MUMBAI, India, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CleanMax, one of Asia’s leading renewable energy and net-zero solution provider for the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) sector and a Brookfield-backed company today announced a new Power Purchase Agreement with Amazon, which includes the development of 100 MW of renewable energy project.

This project will be connected to the national grid of India and will help meet the electricity consumption needs by Amazon’s operations. CleanMax will develop and operate the wind farm, which is expected to be operational by Q2 2026, generating roughly 355 million kWh of clean electricity annually and offsetting an estimated 252,000 tons of CO₂ annually — equivalent to planting nearly 14.8 million trees.

The agreement supports Amazon’s ‘Climate Pledge commitment’ in efforts to meet electricity needs of its operations and achieve net-zero carbon emissions across of its operations by 2040. This collaboration also underscores a larger trend of global tech companies deepening their presence, with an increasing commitment to sustainable practices and responsible corporate goals.

“CleanMax is proud to be enabling new renewable energy opportunities with Amazon. As a company that has always championed sustainability, CleanMax is elated to collaborate with Amazon to help decarbonize its operations while also advancing the green energy landscape,” said Kuldeep Jain, Managing Director of CleanMax.

About Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (CleanMax)

CleanMax with 2 GW of renewable assets (operating constructed capacity) is spread across Asia. CleanMax is a Brookfield backed company; a leading global alternative asset manager with over $1 trillion of assets under management. We focus on being the net-zero partner for corporates globally. Portfolio consists of rooftop solar projects, wind-solar hybrid farms & renewable energy certificates. Caters to industries such as Data Centres, Automotive, FMCG, Pharma etc. It has won the Transformational Business Awards 2018 by Financial Times (FT) and recognized for ‘Sustainable Performance in Net Zero’ at the Sustainability Conclave & Awards (2024)- India.

About  Amazon 

Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit aboutamazon.in and follow @AmazonNews

Contacts:
Ms. Sonali Charkha
+91-88888 37990
sonali.charkha@cleanmax.com


Cloud Market Jumped to $330 billion in 2024 – GenAI is Now Driving Half of the Growth

RENO, Nev., Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — New data from Synergy Research Group shows that Q4 enterprise spending on cloud infrastructure services was $91 billion worldwide, up $17 billion or 22% from the fourth quarter of 2023. The full-year 2024 market reach $330 billion, up $60 billion from 2023 and an increase of $102 billion from 2022. It is notable that ChatGPT was launched at the end of 2022, and generative AI services and technology have helped to propel the market since then. Synergy data and analysis shows that generative AI has driven half of the market growth over the last two years, through a combination of new GenAI platform services, GPU as a service, and enhancements to a wide range of other cloud services. In terms of competitive positioning, Amazon maintains a strong lead in the market though Microsoft and Google once again had a higher percentage of growth. Their Q4 worldwide market shares were 30%, 21% and 12% respectively. Among the tier two cloud providers, those with the highest year-on-year growth rates include CoreWeave, Oracle, Snowflake, Cloudflare and Databricks. Notably, CoreWeave has now broken into the top twenty ranking of cloud providers thanks to its AI and GPU services.

Cloud Services Growth
Cloud Services Growth

With most of the major cloud providers having now released their earnings data for Q4, Synergy estimates that quarterly cloud infrastructure service revenues (including IaaS, PaaS and hosted private cloud services) were $90.6 billion, with full-year 2024 revenues reaching $330.4 billion. Public IaaS and PaaS services account for the bulk of the market and those grew by 24% in Q4. The dominance of the major cloud providers is even more pronounced in public cloud, where the top three account for 68% of the market. Geographically, the cloud market continues to grow strongly in all regions of the world. When measured in local currencies the major countries with the strongest growth included Brazil, Spain, Italy, India and Japan, all growing at rates above the worldwide average. The US remains by far the largest cloud market, with its scale far surpassing the whole APAC region. The US market grew by 23% in Q4. In Europe the largest cloud markets are the UK and Germany, but the big markets with the highest growth rates were Ireland, Spain and Italy.

“Q4 was another strong quarter for cloud services, helping to drive a full-year growth rate that was a full four percentage points higher than 2023. For such a big market that is an impressive acceleration of growth,” said John Dinsdale, a Chief Analyst at Synergy Research Group. “How much of that was down to AI? ChatGPT was launched at the end of 2022 and helped to bolster service development through 2023 and then boost more aggressive market growth through 2024. Our assessment is that since ChatGPT was launched, GenAI has been responsible for at least half of the increase in cloud service revenues. That has come from either newly launched GenAI/GPU services or from AI-driven improvements to existing cloud services.”

About Synergy Research Group

Synergy Research Group provides quarterly market share analysis and forecasts for Communications and Cloud related industries. Our data and analysis is provided to clients through Synergy’s unique research SaaS platform, SIA™, which enables intuitive access to complex and fast-moving data sets.

Synergy’s data analytics and analysis have been widely recognized worldwide for over 25 years and are frequently used by global industry leaders, governments, and financial institutions.

To speak to an analyst or to find out more about how to access Synergy’s in-depth market data, please contact Heather Gallohgallo@srgresearch.com or at 775-785-3113.

 

NZ Safety Blackwoods Cuts Annual Cycle Count Time by 50% with Manhattan SCALE™

SYDNEY, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NZ Safety Blackwoods, a leading industrial safety, engineering and workplace supplies provider, has successfully implemented Manhattan Associates’ (NASDAQ: MANH) warehouse management solution, Manhattan SCALE, in two of its New Zealand based distribution centres (DCs). Since implementing Manhattan SCALE, NZ Safety Blackwoods has enhanced its warehouse processes including annual cycle count, which has seen a significant improvement in completion and anticipates completing its annual stock-take well ahead of schedule.

Photo Credit: iStock
Photo Credit: iStock

With a 70 years heritage providing safety equipment, engineering, workwear, hygiene and packaging in New Zealand, NZ Safety Blackwoods, part of the Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety group, is known for its superior service, accuracy, and fulfillment speed across its national network of 34 trade centres. Operating four DCs across New Zealand and a dedicated warehouse for steel strapping supplies, the company faced pressure to meet growing user and trade centre demand, requiring enhancements to its supply chain and warehouse operations.

The company chose to implement Manhattan SCALE, a robust warehouse management system (WMS) designed to streamline and optimise warehouse operations. Manhattan SCALE provides comprehensive tools to manage inventory, track shipments, and improve order accuracy, all while ensuring real-time visibility into operations to boost efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.

“Manhattan SCALE has delivered significant improvements in real-time visibility, optimising picking routes, stock placement, bin capacities, and warehouse space utilisation,” commented Chris Mason, New Zealand Safety Blackwoods, head of operations. “Pickers are no longer required to rely on personal knowledge of stock location to find goods. Since its deployment, we have reported a reduction in picking errors from an average of 3.5% to below 1% – a significant improvement for the high-volume operation.”

As New Zealand Safety Blackwoods prepares to consolidate its three Auckland-based DCs into a single, state-of-the-art distribution centre by 2026, Manhattan SCALE will be instrumental in preparing both its new automated infrastructure and the workforce for the transition, ensuring a smoother changeover and readiness for the enhanced workflows expected in the new facility.

“The shift to a consolidated, automated DC will allow us to fulfill customer orders faster and more accurately, with orders potentially arriving in a single shipment instead of multiple deliveries from separate locations. With SCALE, we are building a foundation that will support our strategic growth and ensure that our operations remain agile and efficient,” Mason added.

“NZ Safety Blackwoods is a fantastic example of how leveraging advanced warehouse management technology can unlock new levels of operational efficiency and accuracy,” said Raghav Sibal, AustraliaNew Zealand managing director of Manhattan Associates. “We’re proud to support its journey as the team modernises operations and prepares for future growth through automation.”

ABOUT MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES

Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader in supply chain and omnichannel commerce. We unite information across the enterprise, converging front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. Our software, platform technology and unmatched experience help drive both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability for our customers.

Manhattan Associates designs, builds, and delivers leading edge cloud and on-premises solutions so that across the store, through your network or from your fulfillment centre, you are ready to reap the rewards of the omnichannel marketplace. For more information, please visit www.manh.com 

ABOUT NZ SAFETY BLACKWOODS 

With over 70 years’ experience in New Zealand, nobody has more in-depth knowledge of providing safety equipment, engineering, workwear, hygiene and packaging than NZ Safety Blackwoods. With 30 Trade Centres across New Zealand, a comprehensive digital platform, knowledgeable sales and service reps, an award-winning customer experience team, and a range of over 120,000 products – partnering with NZ Safety Blackwoods allows you to leverage our scale, knowledge and relationships with preferred suppliers to access the best products at the right price.

With our vast product range, long history of servicing all sectors of New Zealand, and extensive portfolio of specialist and technical services, we will work with you to design and implement end-to-end specialist solutions in order to meet your purchasing requirements, providing you with everything you need from a trusted single source supplier. Employing over 500 team members across New Zealand, NZ Safety Blackwoods encourages diversity and a working environment in which employees are treated with equality, fairness and respect.

https://nzsafetyblackwoods.co.nz/en/ 

CNOOC Limited Brings On-stream Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield Development Project (Phase I)

HONG KONG, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CNOOC Limited (the “Company”, SEHK: 00883 (HKD Counter) and 80883 (RMB Counter), SSE: 600938) today announces that Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield Development Project (Phase I) has commenced production.

The project is located in central Bohai Bay, with an average water depth of approximately 20 meters. The main production facilities include a new central processing platform and an unmanned wellhead platform. A total of 33 development wells are planned to be commissioned, including 22 production wells, 10 gas injection wells and 1 water source well. The project is expected to achieve a peak production of approximately 22,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. The oil property is light crude.

Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield is the world’s largest metamorphic buried hill oilfield with cumulative proven oil and gas in-place of over 200 million cubic meters. Benefiting from the application of standardized engineering, it took only three years from the discovery of the oilfield to production, realizing the rapid conversion of reserves to production. As one of the demonstration CCUS projects of the Company in Bohai, it adopts advanced technology to capture and separate the associated carbon dioxide from crude oil extraction and reinject back into the formation to drive the oil, thereby increasing production while reducing emissions. The project is expected to bury approximately 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide throughout its life cycle.

Mr. Yan Hongtao, the President of CNOOC Limited, said, “The successful commencement of production of Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield Development Project (Phase I) marks a new stage for the Company in the development of offshore deep play complicated buried hill oil and gas reservoirs as well as the construction of the Bohai CCUS base. It bolsters the Company’s energy supply capacity and low-carbon development in the BeijingTianjinHebei and Bohai Rim regions.”

CNOOC Limited holds 100% interest in this project and is the operator.

— End —

Notes to Editors:

More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com.

*** *** *** ***

This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words “expect”, “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “objective”, “ongoing”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “plans”, “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company’s expectations, including but not limited to those associated with macro-political and economic factors, fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, climate change and environmental policies, the Company’s price forecast, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws and regulations.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations.

*** *** *** ***

For further enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Cui Liu
Media & Public Relations
CNOOC Limited
Tel: +86-10-8452-6641
Fax: +86-10-8452-1441
E-mail: mr@cnooc.com.cn 

Mr. Bunny Lee
Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group
Tel: +852 3150 6707
Fax: +852 3150 6728
E-mail: cnooc.hk@pordahavas.com 

One Week to Go! Continue Chinese New Year Celebrations with the Inaugural Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show at AsiaWorld-Expo

World-class showjumping and dressage competitions featuring some of the World’s best 5-star international show jumpers, competing over three action-packed days

14 – 16 February 2025 at AsiaWorld-Expo
Limited tickets are available on HK Ticketing and more information about the 
riders can be viewed here

HONG KONG, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Taking place next week from 14 – 16 February 2025 at AsiaWorld-Expo, the inaugural edition of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show (LHKIHS) is set to bring an action-packed lineup to many thousands of visitors over the three-days. With participation from international 5-star show jumpers, 50 international and regional brands, Chefs from Michelin restaurants, and more, the Show promises excitement for all. The Show will commence on 14 February with an opening ceremony featuring a special lion dance, sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).


A day filled with equestrian excellence

Equestrian enthusiasts can look forward to spending time watching one of the five performances from their grandstand seats in the main arena. Every seat provides spectacular views of the arena competitions and displays; each performance will include a 5-star international show jumping class, two equestrian displays including the crowd favourite Shetland Pony Grand National and the horse trainer, Santi Serra, and two additional show jumping classes or dressage displays. The culmination of the Show will be the prestigious Longines Grand Prix set to headline the event on the evening of 16 February.

The Show will see participation from some well-known names in the showjumping world who have represented their countries in the world’s elite competitions. Some of the confirmed riders include Austrian show jumper Max Kuhner; France’s Roger Yves Bost; Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Jack and John Whitaker; Richard Vogel from Germany; and Pius Schwizer from Switzerland. Representing Hong Kong, China are Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team members Patrick Lam, Jacqueline Lai and Clarissa Lyra. All three have represented Hong Kong, China at the Asian Games, where Lam and Lai won medals, with Lyra also being a medallist at the National Games.

Meanwhile, the HKJC Live Zone offers an exciting programme of talks and interviews with top riders, including Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team members Jacqueline Siu, Annie Ho and Samantha Chan, who won a dressage team bronze medal for Hong Kong, China at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Shetland Pony jockeys will be on hand to discuss their experiences, while grooms and farriers will share behind-the-scenes insights. There will also be an opportunity to learn about the fascinating life and career of horses after they retire from competitive racing.

An elevated celebration for couples
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Champagne Bar, a serene oasis offering world-renowned Taittinger Champagne. With views onto the Warm-Up Ring, the bar offers elegant ambiance allowing guests to relax, enjoy their drinks and watch riders and horses prepare for the competition. Guests can enjoy an exclusive Sparkling Valentine’s Treat offer to redeem a complimentary toast at the Champagne Bar and add a little extra sparkle to the Valentine’s celebration. Guests can simply sign-up to redeem two glasses of bubbly through this link: https://www.hongkonghorseshow.com/valentine

On 15 and 16 February, the Chef’s Theatre, a culinary highlight of the show, in partnership with Heep Hong Society, will showcase live demonstrations by Marriott Hotel Group chefs, including Angelo Aglianò from the 1-Michelin Star Tosca Di Angelo and Gordon Tzang, Executive Sous Chef at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong.

In a celebration of style, the Fashion Runway will feature exclusive shows from local designers and brands. Hong Kong designer Barney Cheng will take over the opening show on 14 February to showcase his latest design with a unique approach to the traditional cheongsam in his signature extravagant simplicity style; while Harrison Wong and Henry Lau will showcase their new collections at the closing show on 16 February.

Families’ day out 
A must for families with young ones is the Kid’s Zone in the Lifestyle Village. Budding equestrian enthusiasts can test their skills at hobby horse riding, a competition that simulates real-life horse riding through a specially designed course, which will be presented by well-known equestrian clothing brand, LeMieux.

Adding to the family fun, Autocamper Hong Kong will create a glamorous outdoor camping experience for parents and children to enjoy in the Lifestyle Village. Budding car enthusiasts will also be able to experience Classic Car Club of Hong Kong’s impressive collection of 15 representative classic cars.

Additionally, the event has collaborated with Hong Kong Kids Fashion Week (HKKFW), which will host a children’s fashion show on 15 February and the 3rd edition of their Model World Cup – New Talent Competition on 16 February, providing an international platform for nearly 100 children models from all over the world to showcase their fashion talent and pursue their dream.

Last minute tickets are available 
Limited tickets for the show are still available on HK Ticketing, for access to Lifestyle Shopping Village, the Warm Up Arena viewing area, all the activities in the Jockey Club Live Zone, as well as a seat in the main arena with excellent views of all the sporting action.

LHKIHS also takes pride in being recognised as an “M” Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee, a distinction that marks the event as a key feature on the territory’s sports calendar, celebrating the intense, spectacular, and signature experiences on display.

High resolution images can be downloaded here: 
Link: https://gallery.sinclaircomms.com/gallery/The-Longines-Hong-Kong-International-Horse-Show  
Password: talkofthetown

 Show Dates and Time

14 February (Friday)

6:00pm – 10:25pm

15 February (Saturday)

1:00pm – 10:30pm

16 February (Sunday)

1:00pm – 10:30pm

 

About The Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show
The Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show (LHKIHS) is owned by Clarion Events Asia Pte Ltd, with HPower Group providing the Sports and Equestrian Management.  LHKIHS will take place at the Asia World Expo, Hong Kong, from 14 – 16 February 2025. This is the same team that runs the highly successfully London International Horse Show. 

The event will provide a platform for the growing interest in equestrianism in Hong Kong and the region, alongside an entertaining cultural experience for non-equestrian fans. Attendees from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) are expected at the event, which will feature some of the world’s best show jumpers to thrill the audience over the three days of competition.

As well as first-class sporting action, the LHKIHS will feature lifestyle, education, and entertainment elements and an unforgettable shopping and culinary experience in the Lifestyle Village.

For more information, please visit www.hongkonghorseshow.com.

Social Media Channels

Facebook:

Facebook.com/Hong-Kong-International-Horse-Show/ 

Instagram:

instagram.com/hkihs_hongkonghorseshow/

YouTube:

Youtube.com/@hkihs2025         

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-international-horse-show/

 

Aquaron Acquisition Corp. Announces Additional Contribution to Trust Account to Extend Period to Consummate Business Combination

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aquaron Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: AQU, the “Company“), a special purpose acquisition company, announced today that HUTURE Ltd. (“Huture“) has deposited into the Company’s trust account (the “Trust Account“) an aggregate of $20,000, in order to extend the period of time the Company has to complete a business combination for one additional month, from February 6, 2025 to March 6, 2025. The Company issued a promissory note to Huture with a principal amount equal to the amount deposited. The promissory note bears no interest and is convertible into the Company’s shares of common stock at a price of $10.00 per unit (each unit is consisted of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-fifth (1/5) of a share of common stock) at the closing of a business combination by the Company. The purpose of the extension is to provide more time for the Company to complete a business combination.

About Aquaron Acquisition Corp.

Aquaron Acquisition Corp. is a Delaware corporation incorporated as a blank check company for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The Company’s efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, although it intends to focus on operating businesses in the new energy sector. The Company affirmatively excludes as an initial business combination target any company of which financial statements are audited by an accounting firm that the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is unable to inspect for two consecutive years beginning in 2021 and any target company with China operations consolidated through a VIE structure.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including the successful consummation of the Company’s initial public offering, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Nuspire’s Q4 and Full Year 2024 Cyber Threat Report Highlights 46% Surge in Ransomware Activity and Rising Exploit Attempts

COMMERCE, Mich., Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nuspire, a leading managed security services provider (MSSP) and a PDI Technologies company, today released its Q4 and Full Year 2024 Cyber Threat Report, providing a comprehensive analysis of the evolving cyber threat landscape. The latest report reveals a significant increase in ransomware extortion publications, a shift in ransomware group dominance, and a continued rise in exploit attempts.

Clop Ransomware Surges as Top Threat Actor

According to the report, ransomware extortion publications rose by 46% compared to Q3, with Clop ransomware emerging as the most active group, surpassing RansomHub. Clop, known for its double-extortion tactics, leveraged multiple zero-day vulnerabilities throughout Q4, significantly impacting the Professional & Technical Services industry, which remained the most targeted sector.

“The sharp increase in ransomware extortions in Q4 2024, particularly from Clop, signals an alarming escalation in cybercriminal operations,” said Justin Heard, Director of Security Operations at Nuspire. “Threat actors continue to evolve their tactics, making it critical for organizations to enhance their proactive threat detection capabilities and incident response strategies, and we will continue to watch this in 2025.

Key Findings from Nuspire’s Q4 2024 Cyber Threat Report

Ransomware Trends

  • 2,247 ransomware extortion publications were reported, a 46% increase from Q3 2024.
  • Clop overtook RansomHub as the most active ransomware group, while Akira, Funksec, and Bashe entered the top five.
  • Finance & Insurance emerged as the third-most targeted industry, rising from fifth place in Q3 2024.

Exploit Activity

  • Exploit attempts increased by 72% compared to Q3 2024, with 29,180,763 exploit events detected.
  • Hikvision camera vulnerabilities (CVE-2021-36260) and Bash vulnerabilities (CVE-2014-6271) saw significant increases in exploitation attempts (56% and 77%, respectively).
  • Firewall and VPN technologies remain top targets, as cybercriminals seek to bypass perimeter defenses.

Dark Web Trends

  • Dark web marketplace listings decreased by 32% from Q3 2024, with 1,316,660 raw log listings and 590,762 credit card listings available for sale.
  • Lumma Stealer, a persistent malware-as-a-service (MaaS) infostealer, continued to thrive, harvesting sensitive data for resale on illicit marketplaces.

“Cybercriminals are refining their attack strategies, targeting critical infrastructure and high-value data sources,” said Josh Smith, Principal Threat Intelligence Analyst at Nuspire. “Organizations must remain vigilant, employing a combination of AI-driven threat intelligence, robust patch management, and employee security training to mitigate these evolving risks.”

Mitigation and Security Recommendations

To help businesses combat the latest cyber threats, Nuspire recommends:

  • Enhancing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to swiftly detect and contain ransomware attacks.
  • Implementing dark web monitoring to identify compromised credentials and data before they are weaponized.
  • Applying timely system patches to protect against newly discovered exploits, particularly in remote access technologies.
  • Strengthening cybersecurity awareness training to reduce the risk of phishing-based ransomware infections.

Access the complete report online at Nuspire’s Q4 and Full Year 2024 Cyber Threat Report.

About PDI Security and Network Solutions
With over 25 years of expertise, PDI Security and Network Solutions (formerly known as Nuspire) is redefining cybersecurity and network management through intelligent unification and unparalleled protection. The company delivers fully managed security and network services, including managed detection and response (MDR), endpoint detection and response (EDR), Firewall as a Service, 5G as a Service, and Wi-Fi as a Service. The technology-agnostic platform seamlessly integrates human expertise, advanced AI, and innovative technologies, providing holistic visibility across security and network infrastructure. Staffed by highly trained security experts, PDI 24/7 SOCs help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats while optimizing their technology investments. Learn more about PDI Security and Network Solutions.

For more information, contact: claire.spahr@pditechnologies.com