EMGA SECURES US$90M FROM EIB FOR BRAZIL'S BTG PACTUAL

LONDON, Dec 19 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) announces today they have secured US$90M debt finance for their long-standing Brazil-based client, BTG Pactual.

The US$90 million senior unsecured loan was provided by EIB and the transaction follows on from a very recent transaction also advised by EMGA for USD$210m.

Sajeev Chakkalakal, Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking at EMGA, said: "This was a fantastic add-on transaction to the US$ 210m green financing facility that we raised for BTG from EIB. In this instance, this financing is aimed at funding BTG’s SME Lending portfolios and has an especially high development impact given that the finance will support small business development in disadvantaged regions of Brazil, and the additional focus on female entrepreneurs. EIB remains a key investor relationship for EMGA, and we are proud to have helped them increase their presence in Brazil as part of their broader EIB Global strategy.”

Jeremy Dobson, Managing Director, and Head of Operations at EMGA, added: “It was a pleasure to work with BTG again on this additional financing from EIB. We look forward to continuing our strong track record of arranging financing in Brazil and the rest of Latin America.”

BTG Pactual: BTG is the largest investment bank in Latin America, the 6th largest bank in Brazil by shareholders equity and a key player in providing loans and guarantees to a broad set of clients, from SMEs to large corporations. BTG is a pioneer in promoting climate finance in Brazil and plays a pivotal role in channeling resources towards projects with a positive impact in the community. 

EIB: EIB is the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union's investment bank and is the largest multilateral financial institution in the world. The EIB finances and invests both through equity and debt solutions and focuses on the areas of climate, environment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), development, cohesion and infrastructure. 

Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA), with offices in London and New York, helps financial institutions and corporates seeking new debt or equity capital. EMGA’s multi-national team collectively have decades of experience in closing over USD 9bn of debt and private equity transactions for their clients within the world’s emerging markets and frontier economies, including Brazil which remains a key market. With a proven track record in capital formation and strategic advisory throughout diverse economic cycles, EMGA continues to deliver geographic reach and a diverse service offering, solidifying its place in the market as a pre-eminent emerging markets specialized boutique investment bank.

Contact info@emergingmarketsglobaladvisory.com 

Source: Emerging Markets Global Advisory 

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Capcom Unveils First New Title in Onimusha Series, Okami Sequel in Development

Onimusha Way of the Sword (Graphic: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Capcom Co Ltd, a game software developer, has announced that Onimusha Way of the Sword, the first new title in the Onimusha series in over two decades, is scheduled to be released globally in 2026.

According to Capcom in a statement, Onimusha Way of the Sword is a Japanese-inspired dark fantasy game set at the beginning of the Edo period in Kyoto, which has been eerily transformed by clouds of Malice.

In the game, players will take on the role of a samurai protagonist armed with the Oni Gauntlet, battling grotesque and otherworldly creatures known as Genma in intense sword-based combat. Capcom is eager for players to experience the thrilling action as they fight through waves of enemies.

The Onimusha series consists of swordplay action games where players assume the role of warriors with the superhuman powers of the Oni and fight against monsters bent on world domination.

Furthermore, the company has begun work on an Okami sequel project that was originally released in 2006 and set in a Japanese-style world. Players take on the role of Amaterasu and embark on an adventure to restore life in this action-adventure game.

The sequel, co-developed with the director and members of the development team from the original Okami, represents the start of a new tale for the game, which has thus far garnered critical acclaim for its unique world, thrilling adventure, and heartwarming story.

In addition to regularly releasing major new titles each year, Capcom is focusing on revitalising dormant intellectual properties (IPs) aiming to enhance its corporate value by tapping into its vast library of content.

By resurrecting beloved games like Onimusha and Okami, the company aims to deliver high-quality gaming experiences that will excite fans around the world.

Founded in 1983, Capcom is a worldwide developer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, personal computers, and handheld and wireless devices that has created hundreds of games.

-- BERNAMA

MAVENIR AND BOOST MOBILE ACHIEVE INDUSTRY-FIRST VALIDATION AND COMMERCIAL IN-SERVICE FOR INTER-VENDOR OPEN RAN HANDOVER ON THE BOOST MOBILE NETWORK IN THE US

Open RAN solutions connected via a 3GPP Xn interface within Boost Mobile’s 5G infrastructure for seamless mobility

Boost Mobile’s customers experience uninterrupted and consistent service in areas using mixed Open RAN vendors

RICHARDSON, Texas, Dec 12 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mavenir and Boost Mobile (formerly DISH Wireless) announce the industry first inter-vendor Open RAN handover using the 3GPP Xn interface, across the Boost Mobile Network. This milestone demonstrates the seamless interoperability between different Open RAN (O-RAN) radio vendors, a critical proof point that O-RAN is not only viable but thriving in real-world deployments.

The Xn interface, as defined by 3GPP for 5G NR, facilitates communication between RAN nodes from different vendors, ensuring uninterrupted call continuity and a smooth user experience. RAN with proprietary interfaces constrain operators to rely on single-source networks confined to regional deployments. The Xn interface allows for the interconnection of both open and closed RAN nodes, promoting greater interoperability and vendor flexibility across the same region.

The validation achieved by Mavenir, a third-party radio vendor and Boost Mobile highlights the maturity in 3GPP and O-RAN and the possibilities in achieving a truly multi-vendor environment. By leveraging open interfaces and smooth interoperability, the O-RAN technology ensures that mobile devices can switch smoothly between different network components without affecting user experience. Boost Mobile’s customers can enjoy uninterrupted service and consistent connectivity, as the network is proven to handle mobility transitions between different O-RAN vendor solutions seamlessly, without any disruption.

The successful implementation of inter-vendor handover exemplifies the value of open interfaces and the potential of Open RAN architecture. This demonstrates how open interfaces facilitate the flexibility in choosing and integrating components from multiple vendors, reducing single-source dependency, lowering costs and accelerating network advancements through rapid interoperability and vendor collaboration. Mavenir and Boost Mobile’s role in this milestone, not only highlights industry leadership in Open RAN solutions, but reinforces their commitment to delivering superior connectivity solutions that enhance user experiences.

“At Boost Mobile, we believe in the power of Open RAN to drive innovation and enhance customer experience,” said Eben Albertyn, Chief Technology Officer, Boost Mobile. “By embracing open standards and interoperability, we, along with the help of Mavenir and the other third-party radio vendor, are not just building a more flexible network; we’re paving the way for a connected future where every customer can enjoy seamless connectivity across the Boost Mobile Network.”

“This achievement marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Open RAN, made possible through the collaboration with Boost Mobile,” said Pardeep Kohli, President, Chief Executive Officer, Mavenir. “By enabling seamless inter-vendor handovers, Mavenir is showcasing how Open RAN delivers flexible, cost-effective, and interoperable networks. This milestone underscores our commitment to empowering operators to build vendor-agnostic networks, ensuring scalable, high-quality connectivity for their customers.”  

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QIANHAI FORUM ON HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF SHENZHEN-HONG KONG MODERN SERVICE INDUSTRIES

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 10, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

On December 6, the Qianhai Forum, themed "New Situation, New Reform, and New Action: Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation to Build a Hub for High-Quality Development of Modern Service Industries", kicked off in Qianhai, Shenzhen. The Forum consisted of a main forum, four parallel forums on financial opening-up and innovation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong technological innovation, rule of law related to foreign affairs, and new cultural industries, as well as a series of strategic events on upgrading the pilot free trade zone. Over 100 representatives from Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, industry leaders, and renowned experts gathered in Qianhai to explore the latest developments in the cooperation zone.
 
Maintaining a vibrant momentum for development
 
With institutional innovation at its core, Qianhai is steadily expanding institutional opening-up in terms of rules, regulations, management, and standards. To this end, Qianhai has launched a total of 882 institutional innovation achievements. With the modern service industry as its primary sector, Qianhai is vigorously facilitating the construction of 18 industrial clusters. Statistics released by the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone at the forum show that, in the first three quarters of 2024, its GDP grew by 8.2% and its import and export volume increased by 50.1%. This has indicated a vibrant momentum for development. 
 
Qianhai is systematically upgrading the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub. In cooperation with universities such as the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and City University of Hong Kong, a wide variety of innovation and entrepreneurship projects have been incubated at the Hub. Overall, Qianhai has aimed to become a leading area for deep integration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
 
Further creating an innovative Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation pattern
 
After the expansion of Qianhai, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation has been further enhanced, providing a convenient channel for Hong Kong's modern service enterprises to enter the market of the Chinese mainland and significantly broadening the space for industrial chain cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
 
Mr. Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government, said that Qianhai is a major cooperation platform within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Hong Kong is deeply involved in Qianhai's development, with over 9,000 Hong Kong-invested enterprises operating and more than 10,000 Hong Kong residents working and residing in Qianhai. The Hong Kong SAR Government will further fulfill its role as the central city of the GBA and the core engine for regional development. Hong Kong is well poised to advance mutually beneficial integration with Shenzhen and other GBA cities and more actively integrate itself into the overall national development. Leaders in both the government and business sectors are expected to seize the abundant opportunities presented by the GBA's development and embrace win-win cooperation in the GBA, especially Qianhai.
 
Building a hub for the high-quality development of modern service industries facing the future
 
Mr. Zheng Yongnian, Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and President of the Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai, emphasized that Qianhai must chart a path of high-quality and sustainable development and make its contributions as a "special zone within a special zone" amid the virtuous cycle of expanding opening-up.
 
On December 7, the thematic event of the Qianhai Forum, the 2024 Annual Meeting of the China Pilot Free Trade Zone Research Institute Alliance and Seminar on Deepening the Pilot Free Trade Zone Upgrading Strategy, was held. The event featured the unveiling ceremony of the Institute of International Trade Rules at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and the launch of the 2024 International Trade Rules Observation Report by UIBE. The report summarized global trade and economic developments in 2023, offering valuable insights into the global economic governance system.
 
Source: The Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone 

--BERNAMA

CLOUDERA ACCELERATES ENTERPRISE AI WITH RAG STUDIO PREVIEW

 RAG chatbots offer enhanced accuracy and improved reliability that generic chatbots lack

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec 10 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloudera, the only true hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI, today announced the launch of its Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Studio. RAG Studio empowers enterprises to deploy RAG chatbots using their real-time enterprise data in just minutes. This no-code solution makes AI applications more accessible to non-technical users, fosters collaboration between business and IT teams in AI development, and democratizes AI tools for broader user adoption. By leveraging secure, trusted, real-time data—whether on-premises or in the cloud—RAG Studio enables enterprises to unlock the value of AI through cutting-edge technology.

As chatbots become a popular AI use case, businesses face the ongoing risk of inaccurate responses. One study found ChatGPT had a success rate ranging from .66% to 89% depending on the task. RAG is a powerful AI paradigm that combines the strengths of retrieval-based systems and generative AI. It enables enhanced accuracy and contextual relevance, with improved explainability and trust. RAG-enabled chatbots significantly reduce hallucinations by answering questions based on real-time, enterprise-specific data rather than relying on general information. Success rates can be improved by providing business context to already trained LLMs with trusted enterprise data.

Benefits that RAG Studio offers Cloudera customers include:

• Maximizing the value of enterprise data: Cloudera customers operate in complex, data-rich environments with both structured and unstructured data spread across hybrid and multi-cloud ecosystems. RAG empowers them to effectively leverage this data by integrating it into AI workflows, enabling dynamic retrieval and contextual responses.
• Enabling scalable and cost-effective AI solutions: Scaling AI solutions in enterprise often involves challenges such as high compute costs, model retraining complexities, and ensuring robust data governance. RAG addresses these issues by reducing reliance on compute-intensive generative models, integrating with Cloudera’s platform to deliver cost-efficient and secure AI workflows, and eliminating constant model fine-tuning.
• Driving explainable and trustworthy AI for enterprise use cases: Enterprises, particularly in regulated industries like healthcare, finance, and government, require trusted AI solutions. RAG enhances Cloudera's AI stack with built-in explainability and traceability by linking generated outputs directly to enterprise-approved data sources. This helps to ensure AI decisions are based on verifiable, auditable data and provides transparent reasoning behind AI-driven recommendations.

“From faster customer support to more informed product development, the benefits of RAG span an entire business,” said Abhas Ricky, Cloudera’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Our no-code RAG Studio delivers rapid prototyping, prebuilt integrations, and operational efficiency. Enterprises have a lot of pressure to get their AI strategy right, and this program is part of Cloudera’s commitment to accelerating enterprise AI.”

As part of the launch of this preview, Cloudera invites design partners to partake in demos and offer feedback on the development of the solution. Participation in RAG Studio gives Cloudera customers the opportunity to work directly with Cloudera in the development of RAG solutions to identify capabilities that deliver the most business and technical value.

Enterprises interested in participating in RAG Studio should reach out to our Cloudera team.

About Cloudera
Cloudera is the only true hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI. With 100x more data under management than other cloud-only vendors, Cloudera empowers global enterprises to transform data of all types, on any public or private cloud, into valuable, trusted insights. Our open data lakehouse delivers scalable and secure data management with portable cloud-native analytics, enabling customers to bring GenAI models to their data while maintaining privacy and ensuring responsible, reliable AI deployments. The world's largest brands in financial services, insurance, media, manufacturing, and government rely on Cloudera to use their data to solve what seemed impossible—today and in the future.

To learn more, visit Cloudera.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X. Cloudera and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cloudera, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact
Jess Hohn-Cabana
cloudera@v2comms.com

SOURCE: Cloudera, Inc.

--BERNAMA

DENODO NAMED A LEADER IN THE 2024 GARTNER® MAGIC QUADRANT™ FOR DATA INTEGRATION TOOLS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Denodo believes this recognition is due to the strength of its capabilities, the breadth of its partner network, and the loyalty of its diverse customer base

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec 10 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denodo, a leader in data management, today announced that Gartner^® has positioned the Company as a Leader for the fifth consecutive year in its 2024 Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools. “The data integration tools market remains buoyant as organizations increasingly seek improved capabilities to support their operational, analytical and AI infrastructure use cases,” states Gartner. “In this research, we evaluate 20 vendors that compete to meet your organization’s data integration needs.”

The complete and complementary Magic Quadrant report, published on December 3, 2024 and authored by Thornton Craig et al., is available here.

“By 2027, AI assistants and AI-enhanced workflows incorporated into data integration tools will reduce manual intervention by 60% and enable self-service data management,” according to the 2024 Magic Quadrant report.

Leveraging the award winning Denodo Platform, organizations acquire timely, trusted, integrated datasets for faster analytics and informed business decisions, while building a strong foundation of AI-ready data to accelerate generative AI (GenAI) initiatives. The Denodo Platform is trusted by leading Fortune 500 and Global 1000 brands to improve customer experiences, gain operational efficiencies and agility, achieve self-service data democratization, and realize IT infrastructure modernization.

“The data integration market is evolving to include advanced AI and GenAI capabilities, and Denodo is leading the charge. We are very proud that Gartner Magic Quadrant has recognized us again for the past five years as a Leader in Data Integration Tools. This gives us the confirmation of our unique strength in simplifying and accelerating data integration in this complex, dynamic age,” said Ravi Shankar, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Denodo. “We are so appreciative of our dedicated customers for entrusting us with their data. It is such an honor to also be recognized as a Customers’ Choice in the Gartner Peer Insights™ report for four years consecutively. We feel This demonstrates the strong reliance that our customers have placed in our logical approach to data management.”

In the 2024 Gartner Peer Insights “Voice of the Customer”: Data Integration Tools report, Denodo customers said:

“My overall experience with Denodo has been exceptionally positive, particularly in its ability to seamlessly connect data from various data sources and take us quickly from data to insight. Also, the federated architecture provides collaboration opportunities between our different teams.” - data enablement manager, Miscellaneous Industry

“Denodo is a fantastic tool for data integration as it centralizes data from various sources into one place. I find Denodo a user friendly tool because of its intuitive UI and thorough documentation. It simplifies data management and enhances efficiency across the system.” - product owner, Manufacturing

“The combination of personal contact with our key account, great support including advisory sessions and on-demand trainings as well as official and community events makes Denodo stand out from other vendors.” - domain lead, Telecommunication

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools, Thornton Craig, Sharat Menon, Robert Thanaraj, Michele Launi, Nina Showell, 3 December 2024

Gartner, Gartner Peer Insights ‘Voice of the Customer’: Data Integration Tools, 24 May 2024

Gartner Disclaimers
Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences with the vendors listed on the platform, should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, MAGIC QUADRANT and PEER INSIGHTS are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Media Contacts
pr@denodo.com

Denodo
Denodo is a leader in data management. The award-winning Denodo Platform is the leading logical data management platform for delivering data in the language of business, at the speed of business, for all data-related initiatives across the organization. Realizing more than 400% ROI and millions of dollars in benefits, Denodo’s customers across enterprises in 30+ industries all over the world have received payback in less than six months. For more information, visit denodo.com

SOURCE: Denodo Technologies Inc. (“Denodo”)

--BERNAMA

Belden’s Refreshed Corporate Brand Identity Opens Up Endless Possibilities

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Belden Inc has revealed a new corporate brand identity that underscores the company’s transformation to a comprehensive network and data infrastructure solutions provider.

These solutions play a pivotal role in addressing automation and smart infrastructure challenges across industries and help customers avoid missed connections in their networks and data.

According to Belden in a statement, repositioning the brand highlights the company’s evolution through new messaging, an updated logo and visual identity, and a redesigned website.

Belden president and chief executive officer, Ashish Chand said this rebrand reflects its commitment to providing complete connection solutions and is an exciting milestone in continued evolution.

“Organisations today demand a reliable and secure flow of information, whether it is for keeping production equipment running, treating patients, or driving business transformation.

“At Belden, we make the connections that keep information moving to enable a safer, smarter and more prosperous future,” said Chand.

Belden's solutions are critical in today's data-driven world, enabling disparate systems and networks to communicate with each other and ensuring that people and technologies work together effectively.

These connections bridge the present and future, unlocking new possibilities and enabling innovations both big and small.

The process of updating Belden’s corporate brand involved input from nearly 500 global participants, including its employees, partners, and customers, which helped shape the company's modern purpose and vision.

-- BERNAMA

MAVENIR TO SHARE FUTURE CORPORATE STRATEGY AT ANNUAL GLOBAL ANALYST EVENT IN DALLAS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider, will hold its annual analyst event from Dec 11 to 12 in Dallas, United States, to highlight its ongoing efforts to drive the Mobile Network digital transformation.

The company aims to reinforce its presence within the telco industry as the cloud-native, software-driven infrastructure provider focused on building open, disaggregated, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled networks of the future.

In a statement, Mavenir said the two-day event will preview the company’s strategic initiatives and forward-looking roadmap to an invited international audience of analysts, customers, and partners.

Its President and Chief Executive Officer, Pardeep Kohli, who will open the event by presenting the company’s go-forward strategy, emphasised that Mavenir is not just an equipment vendor but a key player in redefining the network of the future through network transformation.

“We look forward to meeting with the global telco analyst community and allowing them to hear first-hand from Mavenir’s experienced team about our technology advancements, strategic partnerships, and ongoing commitment to sustainability,” he said.

A key feature of the event will be analyst-moderated fireside chats with Mavenir’s senior leadership team that will touch upon the company’s entire solution portfolio, including Open Radio Access Network (RAN) (radio and vRAN) and Mobile Core technologies (IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Packet Core, Digital Enablement, Messaging, Security).

The discussions will also cover the company’s promising momentum, including its recent recognition at the 2024 Global Telecoms Awards, where its Network Intelligence as a Service won the Advancing Artificial Intelligence Award.

Additionally, Mavenir’s customers and partners will showcase recent technological innovations and successful deployments enabled by the company's technology worldwide.

Highlights of the event include comprehensive portfolio updates; learnings and future strategy; continued investments in the IMS core portfolio; capitalising on high-growth packet core portfolio; growth and customer acquisition; sustainability; operator challenges; and innovation through partnerships.

-- BERNAMA

 

Recursion-Exscientia Merger Creates Advanced AI-driven Drug Discovery

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Recursion has completed its merger with Exscientia, making Exscientia a wholly owned subsidiary of Recursion, forming a vertically-integrated and technology-enabled drug discovery platform.

As part of the merger, Exscientia American Depositary Shares (ADSs) will cease trading and be delisted from Nasdaq, according to a statement.

Recursion Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chris Gibson expressed confidence that the combination of the two companies' teams and platforms will position them as the leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled drug discovery and development space.

Meanwhile, Exscientia Interim CEO and former Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), who will now serve as CSO at Recursion, David Hallett said their combined strength of real-world proprietary data and the models created are redefining the space by shrinking timelines and costs, identifying and optimising lead candidates faster than traditional methods.

The combined entity's pipeline includes more than 10 clinical and preclinical programmes, approximately 10 advanced discovery programmes in development, and over 10 partnered programmes in areas such as oncology and immunology.

To date, the combined company has received approximately US$450 million in upfront and milestone payments from partnerships, with the potential for over US$20 billion in additional milestone payments before royalties. (US$1=RM4.70)

With the integration of Exscientia’s chemical design and synthesis methods and over 60 petabytes of proprietary data generated in house or licensed from partners like Helix and Tempus, the combined entity will strengthen the Recursion Operating System (OS) to be a first-in-class and best-in-class drug discovery and development platform.

The merged company will have approximately 800 employees with the headquarters remaining in Salt Lake City, and primary offices in Toronto, Montreal, Milpitas, New York, the Oxford area, and London.

-- BERNAMA

CLOUDERA UNVEILS NEW AI ASSISTANT TO HELP SUPERCHARGE EFFICIENCY FOR DATA PRACTITIONERS

Cloudera Copilot for Cloudera AI accelerates productivity, enhances collaboration, and supports continuous learning to improve project outcomes for data scientists, engineers, and developers


SANTA CLARA, Calif. and PARIS, Nov 14 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloudera, the only true hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI, today announced at EVOLVE24 Paris, Cloudera Copilot for Cloudera AI, introducing secure and intelligent assistant capabilities that help to supercharge productivity and streamline data workflows. Built to meet the needs of data scientists, engineers, and developers, Cloudera Copilot improves reproducibility across projects, ultimately helping to enable enterprises to get trusted data, analytics, and AI applications into production faster than ever.

At the forefront of digital transformation and AI journeys, data practitioners face an increasingly complex web of productivity, collaboration, and duplication challenges. AI assistants overcome these challenges by enhancing the user experience for data practitioners, while providing IT leaders seeking secure AI-enhanced tools for peace of mind. By embedding an AI-powered assistant directly into Cloudera, Cloudera Copilot helps users write high-quality, consistent code and focus on innovation more effectively and securely.

Cloudera is one of the first data and analytics platform vendors to deliver an AI assistant specifically tailored for data practitioners, offering deep integration within data workflows in a secure, enterprise-grade platform that prioritizes compliance and governance. Cloudera Copilot operates within an AI ecosystem, delivering robust, AI-driven coding assistance while also providing on-demand support, reinforcing Cloudera’s position as a trusted data partner and the leader in secure, hybrid AI solutions.

Specifically, Cloudera Copilot:

· Automates code generation, data transformation, and troubleshooting, enabling data practitioners to focus on high-impact tasks and innovation.
· Provides consistent coding assistance, empowering teams to work more effectively across diverse languages, libraries, and workflows.
· Includes on-demand guidance, optimal solutions, and insights for users to maintain high coding standards, ultimately reducing errors and improving project outcomes.

“Data practitioners are the lifeblood of an enterprise and giving them AI-powered tools specifically designed to enhance their job performance offers benefits to a business as a whole,” said industry analyst, Sanjeev Mohan. “AI assistants like Cloudera Copilot expand the scope of employees who can access AI tools so an entire organization can capitalize fully on the benefits of AI. This unlocks greater visibility, efficiency, and productivity.”

“Cloudera is continuously modernizing our AI solutions to give our customers deeper access to data-driven insights at scale,” said Dipto Chakravarty, Chief Product Officer at Cloudera. “Today, Cloudera provides one of the fastest routes to achieving trusted AI initiatives, and Cloudera Copilot further accelerates enterprise’s ability to derive business value from their data via actionable insight.”

Visit our Cloudera blog to learn more about Cloudera Copilot for Cloudera AI.

About Cloudera
Cloudera is the only true hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI. With 100x more data under management than other cloud-only vendors, Cloudera empowers global enterprises to transform data of all types, on any public or private cloud, into valuable, trusted insights. Our open data lakehouse delivers scalable and secure data management with portable cloud-native analytics, enabling customers to bring GenAI models to their data while maintaining privacy and ensuring responsible, reliable AI deployments. The world’s largest brands in financial services, insurance, media, manufacturing, and government rely on Cloudera to use their data to solve what was impossible—today and in the future.

To learn more, visit Cloudera.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X. Cloudera and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cloudera, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact
Jess Hohn-Cabana
cloudera@v2comms.com

SOURCE: Cloudera, Inc.

--BERNAMA

VRAD UNVEILS TWO VIRTUAL REALITY-BASED MEDICAL SIMULATORS FOR GLOBAL MARKETS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- VRAD Co Ltd has announced its entry into international markets by launching two widely recognised Korean-developed virtual reality (VR)-based simulators, NS_Core, a nursing skills education simulator, and IP_Trauma, a trauma patient care simulator.

According to VRAD in a statement, these products support a broad range of languages, including Korean, English, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Kazakh, and German, with Spanish and French language support anticipated by the end of the year.

NS_Core is an immersive clinical simulation solution designed for nursing skill training using Meta's virtual reality headset, allowing users to perform a variety of clinical exercises in a VR environment with simulated patients.

This solution offers an innovative approach to addressing the challenges of hands-on medical training within nursing school curricula by providing a metaverse-based virtual training space.

Developed through a collaboration between general hospitals and university nursing departments, NS_Core enables intensive, repetitive practice on 20 essential nursing skills, significantly enhancing clinical performance among nursing students.

Meanwhile, IP_Trauma offers a comprehensive VR training environment for medical personnel to acquire and refine essential trauma care skills, areas traditionally challenging to practice effectively.

Developed in partnership with several prominent Korean universities and hospitals, it is an immersive clinical simulation platform featuring reactive scenario simulations, where outcomes vary based on the user’s choices and actions. It also adheres to the globally recognised Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocol standards.

Within the IP_Trauma simulator, multiple users can communicate in real time, practicing critical decision-making and trauma care techniques in a virtual environment. The simulation covers over 40 procedural steps, from pre-hospital preparation to patient transfer to the operating room.

Currently recognised as a leading VR medical technology provider in Korea, VRAD’s products are actively used in over 90 medical and educational institutions, both domestically and internationally.

-- BERNAMA

ATRC'S VENTUREONE LAUNCHES QUANTUMGATE TO SECURE DATA FOR THE QUANTUM ERA AT CYBERQ

ATRC’s VentureOne Launches QuantumGate to Secure Data for the Quantum Era at CyberQ (Photo: AETOSWire)

· New venture unveils an advanced suite of data security products to protect data assets against increasing cyber threats
· Its proprietary technology was developed by experts at Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Nov 13 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Advanced Technology Research Council’s commercialization arm, VentureOne, has launched QuantumGate, a new venture that offers a suite of advanced data security products to protect organizations’ data assets in the quantum era, at CyberQ in Abu Dhabi today.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241112430830/en/

H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, the Secretary General of ATRC, said, “The quantum era isn’t a distant threat—it is here. The launch of QuantumGate is a pivotal step in safeguarding invaluable data assets against ever-increasing cybersecurity threats. QuantumGate’s sovereign solutions will ensure our country’s and our organizations’ sensitive information stays safe.”

“Cryptographic algorithms are used by virtually all organizations to encrypt and protect data,” said Dr. Najwa Aaraj, the CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute. “But advancements in quantum computing will render many of them obsolete in as little as five to 10 years. Even with current security measures, bad actors can collect and store organizational data to decrypt it later, when quantum computers are more widely available. This means the risk is imminent—organizational data is already at risk.”

QuantumGate’s data security products are based on proprietary technology from the Technology Innovation Institute that will allow organizations to protect their data assets against current and emerging threats while also ensuring compliance with upcoming cryptographic regulations. The product suite includes the following:

· QSphere, which consists of a post-quantum VPN and a post-quantum email, file folder, and text encryption and decryption application.
· Salina, an identity and access management tool designed to simplify the authentication processes by eliminating the need to use passwords.

"With recent advancements in quantum computing, it is obvious to all security professionals that today's crypto solutions will be soon seriously challenged,” said Reda Nidhakou, the Acting CEO of VentureOne, QuantumGate’s parent company. “To prevent catastrophic losses, it’s critical for sensitive businesses to transition now to post-quantum security systems. Our mission is to make this process as seamless as possible through resilient, agile, state-of-the-art solutions.”

In addition to offering data security products, QuantumGate will offer advisory services to support organizations in their transition from classic to post-quantum cryptography, while ensuring minimal disruption to operations.

QuantumGate is the third venture launched by VentureOne. SteerAI, which develops autonomous mobility technology, launched in October 2024. AI71, which creates business solutions using the Falcon generative AI models, launched in 2023.

LinkedIn

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com:
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Contact

Menna Massoud
Menna.massoud@edelman.com

Source : QuantumGate

--BERNAMA
 

HCLTECH INTEGRATES AI FORCE WITH GITHUB COPILOT TO ENHANCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- HCLTech, a global technology company, has launched its AI Force extension for GitHub Copilot on the Visual Studio Marketplace, the world’s most widely adopted artificial intelligence (AI) developer tool.

“With the AI Force extension, our clients will achieve benefits beyond enhanced coding experiences such as improved efficiencies, greater productivity and time-to-market acceleration.

“This integration helps them reduce technical debt and develop better quality software that is easier to maintain,” said HCLTech Senior Vice President and Global Lead, GenAI Practice, Apoorv Iyer in a statement.

This integration aims to streamline software development workflows, enhance developer flexibility and optimise code performance, positioning HCLTech among the first India-headquartered technology service providers to collaborate with Microsoft for creating a GitHub Copilot Extension.

Through its AI Force, the company aims to help clients automate tasks and incorporate intelligence throughout every phase of the engineering lifecycle.

Integrated with GitHub Copilot Chat, the HCLTech AI Force extension enhances extensibility and covers a broad range of use cases, including legacy modernisation, migration, development, development operations (DevOps), automation, support, operations, continuous feedback, and end-to-end benefits measurement.

-- BERNAMA

ATNI LAUNCHES 5TH GLOBAL ACCESS TO NUTRITION INDEX AS INDUSTRY AND POLICY MAKERS GRAPPLE WITH FOOD POLYCRISIS

UTRECHT, The Netherlands, Nov 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, ATNi launches the 5^th edition of the Global Access to Nutrition Index, the largest yet, assessing the world’s 30 largest food and beverage manufacturers and over 52,000 products, representing 23% global market share.

One in five deaths globally is associated with a poor diet. One out of eight adults are affected by obesity, 150 million children are too short for their age because of poor nutrition, and close to a third of women of reproductive age, and half of children, consume inadequate micronutrients.

The Index reveals some important progress. More companies are setting targets to improve their portfolio healthiness, now using internationally recognized Nutrient Profiling Models (NPMs) to classify products as ‘healthier’.

However, overall, there have been only marginal improvements in key metrics such as healthiness of product portfolios. Concurrently, the estimated sales values of company’s healthier products have increased, showing consumers are increasingly purchasing healthier products. Worryingly, product portfolio healthiness was found to be lowest in low-income countries, highlighting disparities in product offerings across different markets and income groups.

Global Index 2024 – key findings

Product Healthiness

Among the 52,414 products analyzed from 30 companies using the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, 31%—a total of 16,467 products—met the healthier threshold (3.5 stars and above out of 5), representing an estimated 34% of the companies' combined sales in 2022. ATNi challenges companies to derive at least half their sales from healthy products by 2030. Today only 30% of companies are meeting this target.

Differences by market and income

Overall food product healthiness in low- and lower middle-income countries scored much lower (mean HSR 1.8) than in high-income countries (mean HSR 2.3). At the aggregate level, the share of ‘less healthy’ products which the 30 assessed companies are marketing is higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. 

Reporting and disclosures

30% of companies assessed, now use an internationally recognized Nutrient Profiling Model to report on portfolio healthiness, with 20% doing so to report on overall percentages of global sales. While the quality, coverage, and transparency of this reporting varies significantly, this shift reflects the growing appetite for reporting against (inter-)national standards.

Marketing

No company has a policy to fully prohibit marketing unhealthy foods to children under 18 across all marketing channels and techniques, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Four companies have taken positive steps, raising their age thresholds to 16 years while only two are marketing ‘healthier’ products defined by a government-endorsed model.   

ATNi calls on

Companies: voluntarily stop marketing to under 18s, improve product portfolio healthiness and fully disclose sales from healthy and unhealthy products using an internationally recognised Nutrient Profiling Model.

Governments: regulate and build an enabling environment that helps companies protect public health. Well-designed fiscal policies to make healthier foods more affordable and less healthy foods more expensive are also needed. 

Responsible investors: help hold the companies to account by investing in those acting responsibly, considering the financial costs of long-term ill health caused by current food environment and products.

“'Health is wealth.' We know this is true, but most food companies have not yet placed nutrition as core to their business. There is progress, but our findings show overall subpar performance and weaknesses in the market.”

Greg S. Garrett, Executive Director, ATNi

“Only 31% of the 52,000+ food products assessed by ATNi meet the health criteria. This is not good enough. Companies need to start doing better demonstrating that they care about the public health of their consumer base.”

Jessica Fanzo, Professor of Climate and Director of the Food for Humanity Initiative, Columbia University 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=49719

HCLTECH AI/CLOUD NATIVE LAB IN SINGAPORE SET TO OPEN NEXT YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Global technology company, HCLTech announced the creation of a new Singapore-based artificial intelligence (AI)/Cloud Native Lab, its fifth lab in its global network, which is expected to open in 2025.

HCLTech Chairperson, Roshni Nadar Malhotra made the announcement at an event with attendance of Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and the country’s Economic Development Board (EDB), along with senior academic members from Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic.

“Our Labs are a conducive starting point for enterprises that want to embark on a collaborative journey to develop blueprints for AI and Gen AI-led efficiencies, new business capabilities, skilling roadmaps and overall organisational competitive advantage with a pragmatic approach.

“We are very excited to add Singapore to our network, which will go a long way in further strengthening Singapore’s position as a regional hub for AI innovation,” said HCLTech Chief Technology Officer and Head of Ecosystems, Vijay Guntur in a statement.

The Lab, joining others in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and India, will be supported by the EDB and assist enterprises in the region in accelerating their AI initiatives via HCLTech’s comprehensive suite of integrated AI and Gen AI offerings, including AI Force and AI Foundry.

The Lab in Singapore will also partner with Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic to collaborate on transferring knowledge and nurturing young talent and mid-career individuals in AI.

Singapore has made significant strides in helping companies adopt and innovate with AI across sectors including financial services, manufacturing and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

In 2023, the Singapore government launched the Singapore National AI Strategy 2.0, highlighting its commitment to leading global AI innovation, which aims to build a trusted and responsible AI ecosystem.

HCLTech has been operating in Singapore for over four decades, building a strong technology presence and working with many notable clients. The republic is the hub for HCLTech's Southeast Asia operations and has led technological advancements, including Asia's first Wi-Fi-based patient tracking system and various projects for the Singapore government.

-- BERNAMA

Toshiba Latest Gate Driver IC Provides Minimised Functions For Diverse Automotive Applications

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has started to provide engineering samples of a gate driver IC, "TB9084FTG”, for three-phase brushless DC motors that drive essential on-board functions, including automotive body system applications, electric pumps, and motor generators.

Many formerly mechanically controlled parts of road vehicles are now electrified, and vehicles incorporate a large number of electric motors, including those used in automotive body system applications.

In a statement, Toshiba said this transition has also advanced the replacement of brushed DC motors with quieter and longer-lasting brushless DC motors.

Designed to reinforce this shift, TB9084FTG offers the minimum required gate driver IC functions for automotive applications and supports a wide range of automotive motor applications in combination with external devices, such as MOSFETs, power supply ICs, microcontrollers, and communication physical.

Any change in customer system requirements can be supported by replacing corresponding external devices, significantly contributing to flexibility in system design.

Minimising functions allows utilisation of one of the industry’s smallest packages and contributes to equipment miniaturisation. The package also has a wettable flank structure, facilitating easy visual inspection to confirm the reliability of soldered joints.

Toshiba will continue to expand its lineup of gate driver ICs by assessing market needs and optimising product functions, in addition to introducing new products that extend the electrification and improve the safety of automotive equipment.

-- BERNAMA

MAVENIR WELCOMES O-RAN ALLIANCE REPORT FOR SPECTRUM AGGREGATION IN MULTI-VENDOR DEPLOYMENTS

New technical report – initiated and led by Mavenir – evaluates an open interface specification support between DUs for carrier aggregation in multi-vendor deployments

RICHARDSON, Texas, Oct 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider building the future of networks, today welcomes the publication of a new Technical Report by the O-RAN ALLIANCE, ‘Spectrum Aggregation for Multi-Vendor Deployments’, that evaluates multiple spectrum aggregation techniques and proposes an open interface specification support between DUs for carrier aggregation in multi-vendor deployments.

The O-RAN ALLIANCE report – which was initiated and led by Mavenir – sets out the practical scenarios for spectrum aggregation across equipment from multiple network equipment vendors comparing different approaches and includes a recommendation for specification development for carrier aggregation in multi-vendor RAN deployment. The carrier aggregation solution using an open interface between DUs has gathered significant support from operators and vendors to pursue specification development within the O-RAN ALLIANCE.

Commenting on the report, Dr. Sridhar Rajagopal, Senior Vice President, Access Technologies for Mavenir and rapporteur for the technical report, said: “This report from the O-RAN ALLIANCE, with its welcome set of recommendations on multi-vendor carrier aggregation, could not come at a more pivotal time for Open RAN as spectrum discussions continue for expanding 5G deployments and with 6G on the horizon. Standardizing the interface between DUs for multi-vendor carrier aggregation will remove single vendor stickiness and will be a game changer for Open RAN.” 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=49637

THREDD RELEASES EXPERT GUIDE FOR U.S. ISSUANCE VIA BIN SPONSORSHIP

Developed for new market entrants, the 22-page report provides important facts and expert insights to inform a journey to the American payments sector.

LONDON, Oct 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Thredd, a leading next-generation global payments processor, today released “Launching in America. A guide to issuing via BIN sponsorship.” a complimentary report for programme managers and fintechs considering expansion into the American payments market.

Filled with important facts and expert insights into the challenges and requirements faced by foreign entities, the guide is a must-have for global payments executives and any organisation considering bringing their payments-related value proposition to the U.S.

“Entering the U.S. payments market can be challenging. Having successfully helped our clients make the journey, we've created this guide to share some of the key facts and learnings,” said Jim McCarthy, CEO of Thredd. "Passporting programmes into the U.S. is complex, but with a well-considered plan, forward-thinking organisations can rapidly expand their business.”

Contents of the guide include:

· Why the American market?
· Current regulatory and business climate
· Key parties and their roles
· Requirements and due diligence
· Evaluating and being evaluated by BIN sponsors
· Definitions, checklists and regulatory primers
· Go to market
· Takeaways
 

To download a free copy of the guide, visit https://bit.ly/Launching-in-America.

About Thredd:

Thredd is the trusted next-gen payments processing partner for innovators looking to modernise their payments offerings worldwide. We process billions of debit, prepaid and credit transactions annually, serving over 100 fintechs, digital banks, and embedded finance providers, from consumer to corporate, across 44 countries.

Thredd’s unique offering is its client-centric approach, combining hands-on support with modern, reliable, and scalable technology. Thredd’s assured solution accelerates the development and delivery of consumer and corporate payments components embedded within digital banks, as well as for expense management, B2B payments, crypto, lending, credit, Buy Now Pay Later (“BNPL”), FX, remittance, and open banking innovators. By partnering with our clients from concept to creation with our easily configurable solutions, we allow these leaders the agility to achieve their core business aspirations.

Thredd has enabled market leaders since 2007 and has a highly reliable platform with 99.99% availability. Thredd’s highly customisable solutions on our API-first platform, surrounded by our in-depth industry expertise, value-added services, global presence, and technical resilience, are designed to scale with ease. Thredd is certified by Visa and Mastercard to process transactions globally and has branded offices in London, Newcastle, Singapore, and Sydney, with remote colleagues based all over the world.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241023635444/en/ 

Contact

press@thredd.com

Source : Thredd 

--BERNAMA

Xsolla Certified Parental Controls Solution Addresses Compliance, Safety Challenges

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, has introduced its Parental Controls solution which is now certified with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) and GDPR-K badges.

Xsolla’s enhanced Parental Controls offer game developers an integrated solution to safeguard young gamers while enabling parents to manage and control their children's access to digital payments, ensuring secure transactions.

Sharing his thoughts on the release, Xsolla Chief Product Officer, Fintech, Anton Zelenin said the company believed that creating a safe and secure environment for young gamers is essential.

“Our COPPA-certified Parental Controls empower parents and developers by ensuring transparency and safety in gaming transactions. We are committed to helping developers meet regulatory requirements while providing peace of mind to families,” he said in a statement.

As developers begin to embrace direct-to-consumer strategies, such as web shops, to complement platform sales, they face new challenges around compliance. While platforms manage many regulatory issues, games sold directly to consumers must navigate complexities that platforms previously shielded them from.

Adhering to legal standards like COPPA and GDPR to fulfil jurisdictional requirements in every market highlights the rising demand for effective parental control solutions.

In response to the growing demand, especially on platforms where younger players are more vulnerable to excessive spending, Xsolla, following its partnership with PRIVO just last year, has developed a robust suite of Parental Control tools.

Xsolla Parental Controls key features include age gating to protect minors from unauthorised transactions; guardian consent and real-time notifications and approval, allowing guardians to receive instant email or SMS notifications to approve or reject transactions initiated by minors; comprehensive transaction history; and spending limits.

The solution empowers game developers to comply with global regulations while giving parents enhanced visibility and control over in-game transactions. By integrating this feature, Xsolla addresses critical concerns about protecting children from unauthorised or excessive purchases, fostering a safer gaming environment for families worldwide.

-- BERNAMA