Category: News

  • India’s Power Transition Creates Clear Utility Divide

    India’s Power Transition Creates Clear Utility Divide

    ARE report finds JSW Energy and Tata Power best positioned for firm-power era; NTPC’s execution critical as coal economics tighten

    India’s power sector is entering a decisive new phase as electricity demand surges, peak loads hit record highs, and the country moves toward its 500GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030 post a record 52GW capacity added in FY26But the next chapter of the transition will not be defined by installed capacity alone.

    A new report by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE), Powering Net Zero: Pathways to Clean Energy for India’s Utility Companies, finds that the market is shifting toward firm, dispatchable and availability-linked power — creating clear divergence among India’s largest listed utilities.

    The analysis identifies:

    • JSW Energy and Tata Power as best placed to monetise the transition, combining contracted renewable growth, storage depth and improving cashflow quality.
    • Adani Green Energy remains the fastest capacity scaler with strong long-term visibility, though storage integration remains at an early stage.
    • NTPC, India’s largest generator, retains unmatched scale and sovereign-backed financing, but its transition outcomes hinge on execution speed and managing coal’s declining role.
    • Adani Power remains predominantly thermal, with limited exposure to the structural upside from renewables and storage.

    The report also highlights tightening coal economics. While new ultra-supercritical coal plants clear bids at INR5. 5–6 per kWh, effective delivered costs rise materially once utilisation, fuel volatility and compliance costs are factored in. By comparison, round-the-clock and storage-backed renewable projects are clearing between INR2.7–5.1 per kWh with availability guarantees embedded in contracts.

    “The debate is no longer coal versus renewables,” said Arun Kumar, Strategic Advisor for Power Markets & Technology Innovation at ARE and lead author of the report. “As procurement shifts toward round-the-clock supply, reliability and execution — not just megawatts — will determine competitive advantage.”

    “While this ARE study highlights significant momentum across the sector, it also identifies areas where sharper strategic clarity, improved contracting frameworks, and stronger delivery capabilities will be essential to meeting India’s long-term decarbonisation goals.”

    For deeper analysis and complete assessment, download the complete report HERE.

    About Asia Research & Engagement (ARE)

    ARE brings leading investors into dialogue with Asian-listed companies to address sustainable development challenges and help companies align with investor priorities. With decades of Asia experience, our cross-cultural team understands the region’s unique needs. Our high-quality independent research, robust investor network, and engagement expertise, provide corporate leaders and financial decision makers with insights leading to concrete action.

    For media interviews and further enquiries, please contact:
    Wani Diwakar
    Asia Research & Engagement (ARE)
    wani.diwakar@asiareengage.com

  • Casa Minerals Inc Announces Closing of Oversubscribed Private Placement, and Retains European Marketing Firm for Investor Awareness Services

    Casa Minerals Inc Announces Closing of Oversubscribed Private Placement, and Retains European Marketing Firm for Investor Awareness Services

    Casa Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CASA) (OTCQB: CASXF) (FSE: 0CM) (the “Company” or “Casa”), is pleased to announce closing of the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the “Offering”). The Company has closed a total of 2,635,000 units (each, a “Unit”) at a price of $0.125 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $329,375.00 in this tranche, which would be a grand total of 7,552,000 units (each, a “Unit”) for a gross proceed of $944,000 for the announced financing.

    Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a “Share”) and one common share purchase warrant (each full warrant, a “Warrant”). Each of the 2,635,000 Warrants entitles the holder to acquire one additional share for a period of two years. The warrant exercise strike price is $0.15/share in the first three months and automatically converts to $0.20 per share then after for the remainder of the two years period.

    All issued Securities will be subject to a 4-month and one day hold-period, during which any resale or other transfer will be restricted in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    A Finder’s Fees of $18,450 has been paid to registered financial institutions for this tranche.

    Net proceeds from the offering will be used for general administration, exploration and development activities on the Company’s projects in Arizona, and British Columbia, Canada. The Company will continue to raise the remaining placement in the coming week.

    The completion of the private placement remains subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    None of the securities issued in the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

    Company is also pleased to announce that CASA has entered into a digital marketing agreement (the “BorsenBlick Agreement”) with BorsenBlick, a European-based marketing agency, to support investor awareness and strengthen its brand visibility.

    Under the agreement, BorsenBlick will provide digital marketing and awareness services designed to support investor outreach, brand visibility, and public profile enhancement for two months at 80,500 Canadian Dollars per month. The Company retains the discretion to extend the campaign or renew the agreement upon completion of the initial program. Jan Kellett is the founder of BorsenBlick and can be reached at jan@snowbridge.link. Both BorsenBlick and its principals are arm’s length to the Company and do not have any interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or its securities nor do they have any right to acquire such an interest.

    About Casa Minerals Inc.

    The Company is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in Canada and the USA. Casa owns ninety percent (90%) interest in the Congress gold mine (Arizona, USA). Additionally, the Company owns a one hundred percent (100%) interest in the polymetallic Pitman (BC, Canada) and has an option to acquire a seventy-five percent (75%) interest in the Arsenault VMS Property (BC, Canada).

    On Behalf of Board of Directors
    Farshad Shirvani, M.Sc. Geology
    President and CEO

    For more information, please contact:
    Casa Minerals Inc.
    Farshad Shirvani, President & CEO
    Phone: (604) 678-9587
    Email: contact@casaminerals.com
    https://www.casaminerals.com

    NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/283634

  • Casa Minerals Inc. Announces Closing of First Tranche of Private Placement

    Casa Minerals Inc. Announces Closing of First Tranche of Private Placement

    Casa Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CASA) (OTCQB: CASXF) (FSE: 0CM) (the “Company” or “Casa”), is pleased to announce the closing of the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the “Offering”). The Company has closed on a total of 4,917,000 units (each, a “Unit”) at a price of $0.125 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $614,625.00.

    Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a “Share”) and one common share purchase warrant (each full warrant, a “Warrant”). Each of the 4,917,000 Warrants entitles the holder to acquire one additional share for a period of two years until February 04, 2028. The warrant exercise strike price is $0.15/share in the first three months and automatically converts to $0.20 per share then after for the remainder of the two years period.

    All issued Securities will be subject to a 4-month and one day hold-period, during which any resale or other transfer will be restricted in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    A Finder’s Fees of $24,000 has been paid to registered financial institutions.

    Net proceeds from the offering will be used for general administration, exploration and development activities on the Company’s projects in Arizona, and British Columbia, Canada. The Company will continue to raise the remaining placement in the coming week.

    The completion of the private placement remains subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    None of the securities issued in the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

    About Casa Minerals Inc.
    The Company is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in Canada and the USA. Casa owns ninety percent (90%) interest in the Congress gold mine (Arizona, USA). Additionally, the Company owns a one hundred percent (100%) interest in the polymetallic Pitman (BC, Canada) and has an option to acquire a seventy-five percent (75%) interest in the Arsenault VMS Property (BC, Canada).

    On Behalf of Board of Directors,
    Farshad Shirvani, M.Sc. Geology
    President and CEO

    For more information, please contact:
    Casa Minerals Inc.
    Farshad Shirvani, President & CEO
    Phone: (604) 678-9587
    Email: contact@casaminerals.com
    https://www.casaminerals.com

    NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282620

  • Web-based tool makes it easier to design advanced materials

    Web-based tool makes it easier to design advanced materials

    A new tool offers researchers a better way of exploring and understanding catalyst data.

    Modern industry relies heavily on catalysts, which are substances that speed up chemical reactions. They’re vital in everything from manufacturing household chemicals to generating clean energy or recycling waste. However, designing new catalysts is challenging because their performance is affected by many interacting factors.

    A new tool uses a catalyst gene profiling, where catalysts are represented as symbolic sequences, making it easier for scientists to interpret data and design catalysts without a need for programming skills.
    A new tool uses a catalyst gene profiling, where catalysts are represented as symbolic sequences, making it easier for scientists to interpret data and design catalysts without a need for programming skills.

    A new tool developed by researchers at Hokkaido University, published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods, will simplify the process by providing researchers with a way to easily view and explore data about catalysts, enabling them to identify patterns and relationships in catalyst datasets without needing advanced programming or computational skills.

    The tool takes advantage of an approach known as catalyst gene profiling, where catalysts are represented as symbolic sequences. This makes it easier for scientists to interpret the data and apply sequence-based analysis methods to design and improve catalysts. The tool itself is a web-based graphical interface that offers an intuitive and interactive way to investigate these catalyst profiles.

    “The system enables researchers to explore complex catalyst datasets, identify global trends, and recognize local features—all without requiring advanced programming skills,” explains Professor Keisuke Takahashi, who led the study. “By visualizing both the relationships among catalysts and the underlying gene-based features, the platform makes catalyst design more interpretable, accessible, and efficient, bridging the gap between data-driven analysis and practical experimental insight.”

    Users can view catalysts clustered together based on how similar their features are or how similar their sequences are. The tool also includes a heat map that offers insights into how the catalyst gene sequences are calculated. The different visualizations can be viewed side by side and are synchronized so they all update simultaneously when a user zooms in or selects a group of catalysts.

    The team plans to extend the tool to work with other material science datasets so it can be used more broadly in the field. They’re also working to include a predictive component. Integrating modeling and editing strategies would mean researchers could use the tool not only to explore existing catalysts but also to investigate new ideas for high-performance materials. In addition, they want to improve the tool’s collaborative features so that several researchers can work together to explore and annotate datasets, enabling a community-oriented, data-driven approach to material design and discovery.

    “Our goal is to make advanced materials research more intuitive, approachable, and impactful,” says Takahashi.

    Further information
    Keisuke Takahashi
    Hokkaido University
    keisuke.takahashi@sci.hokudai.ac.jp

    Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/27660400.2025.2600689

    About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods (STAM-M)

    STAM Methods is an open access sister journal of Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM), and focuses on emergent methods and tools for improving and/or accelerating materials developments, such as methodology, apparatus, instrumentation, modeling, high-through put data collection, materials/process informatics, databases, and programming. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAM-M

    Dr Kazuya Saito
    STAM Methods Publishing Director
    SAITO.Kazuya@nims.go.jp

    Press release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

  • Iluvatar CoreX Soars by 31.54% in Trading Debut: ‘Genuine Leader’ of Domestic AI Computing Power Chips Emerges

    HONG KONG, January 8, 2026 – (ACN Newswire) – On January 8, Shanghai Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (“Iluvatar CoreX”, stock code: 9903.HK), the highly anticipated Chinese GPGPU chip design company, officially commenced trading on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The stock surged over 31.54% at the opening bell, propelling its market capitalization past the HK$ 48.37 billion threshold.

    The impressive first-day performance not only validated the market’s strong expectations for the substitution of domestic computing power but also highlighted the robust investment value of Iluvatar CoreX, serving as the “computing power chip backbone” for domestic large models. As a scarce GPGPU stock in Hong Kong’s equity market, Iluvatar CoreX has emerged as the most definitive core investee amid the AI investment boom by virtue of its lucid business logic and solid commercialization achievements, offering an optimal timing window for investors to position themselves within the domestic high-end computing power sector.

    Full-stack technological upgrades solidify the computing power foundation for domestic large models

    At the pivotal juncture where AI large models transition from technical validation to scaled deployment, the technical maturity and consistency of supply of GPGPU directly determine the pace and penetration of industrial implementation. Through its fully-stack self-developed technology path and continuously evolving GPGPU architecture, Iluvatar CoreX has emerged as the most dependable “computing power chip backbone” for domestic large models, breaking the monopoly held by international giants in the high-end computing power sector.

    As the China’s first company to achieve mass production of GPGPU chips for both training and inference, Iluvatar CoreX has established a product ecosystem spanning the entire lifecycle of large models: the “TG” series training chips prioritizes massive data processing and model training, addressing the high-intensity computing demands of large-scale parameter models; while the “ZK” series inference chips are optimized for deployment scenarios and address inference-specific requirements such as low latency, high throughput, and optimal power efficiency, delivering excellent performance-to-cost ratio for large language model inference tasks. Crucially, adhering to the “hardware-software integration” philosophy, Iluvatar CoreX has independently developed a software stack that ensures full compatibility with mainstream GPGPU programming ecosystem and platform, thereby significantly reducing customer migration costs.

    Through three generations of GPGPU architectural iterations and progressive software stack enhancement, Iluvatar CoreX has achieved steady advancement in computing performance, ecosystem compatibility, and adaptability across diverse application scenarios, positioning itself as a genuine technology-driven enterprise rather than a “concept company” reliant on policy incentives. As domestic large models transition from technical validation to in-depth industry integration and scaled deployment, the demand for a high-performance, cost-effective, and consistently supplied domestic computing backbone is poised for explosive growth. Leveraging its first-mover advantage in mass production, proven product reliability through bulk deployment, and extensive hardware/software ecosystem compatibility, Iluvatar CoreX has become a serious option for numerous technology giants and industry leaders pursuing computing autonomy.

    With a lucid business logic, Iluvatar CoreX stands as the most robust AI computing chip enterprise

    Amidst the AI chip industry’s prevailing challenges of “splashing the cash with narrow profitability”, Iluvatar CoreX has charted a healthy trajectory of “technology implementation – scaled monetization – sustained growth” by virtue of its lucid business logic, establishing itself as the computing chip enterprise with the most solid capabilities for sustainable development in China.

    Unlike business models that rely heavily on government subsidies, research projects, or single demonstration orders, Iluvatar CoreX rapidly penetrated the market by leveraging its products’ advantages of enhanced efficiency, strong adaptability and high portability, with its customer base directly anchored to the most authentic and sustainable demand sources within the AI industry: cloud service providers, large data centers, and leading government and enterprise clients. The core procurement logic for these clients is acquiring continuous, stable, and scalable computing to support their massive AI training and inference operations. This generates predictable bulk orders and sustained repurchase potential for Iluvatar CoreX, aligning its revenue characteristics with rigid infrastructure investments, which forms a sustainable business model closely aligned with “directly delivering computing value”. From an investment perspective, Iluvatar CoreX’s business trajectory offers greater clarity and stronger cash flow visibility.

    Meanwhile, Iluvatar CoreX maintains an efficient and controlled pace in its R&D investments. Based on publicly available financial data, the “R&D expense/revenue” ratio of Iluvatar CoreX ranges between approximately 80% and 120%, representing the lowest level among comparable peers. This healthy return on investment ensures continuous technological iteration while avoiding operational pressures from reckless spending, which effectively reduces the risk of the Company being forced into strategic compromises or marginalized due to the pressure on the capital chain. Market analysis widely recognizes Iluvatar CoreX as the most likely enterprise to maintain its independent leadership position in long-term competition through its self-sustaining capabilities and technological accumulation.

    Performance continues to improve with promising growth prospects

    Solid business logic brings impressive performance. As of June 2025, Iluvatar CoreX had cumulatively shipped over 52,000 units of GPGPU products, served over 290 cross-sector customers, and completed over 900 deployments and applications in essential sectors including financial services, healthcare and transportation. Revenue scale has experienced explosive growth, surging from RMB189 million in 2022 to RMB540 million in 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate of 68.8%. Revenue further increased by 64.2% to RMB324 million in the first half of 2025.

    What is even more noteworthy is its high-quality profit structure. In 2024, the gross margin for the Company’s GPGPU products reached 56.6%, and the overall gross margin remained at a high level of 50.1% in the first half of 2025. This data fully demonstrates that the Company’s products have gained genuine market recognition through technological premium pricing rather than relying on low-price competition, laying a solid foundation for long-term sustainable growth.

    The impressive performance of Iluvatar CoreX on its first day of listing represents the market’s “vote” for its solid accumulation over the past years and its core position in the golden track of AI computing. It has demonstrated its profit-making capability through clear business logic and its spending efficiency through healthy financial indicators. As AI investment transitions from conceptual phase to performance validation, companies like Iluvatar CoreX possessing technical hard power, genuine commercial momentum, and financial stability are poised to consistently deliver growth value amid the dual waves of AI technological revolution and domestic substitution.

  • Fullerton Health Deepens Specialty Care Capabilities Through Acquisition of Singapore-Based Otolaryngology Practice, The ENT Clinic

    Fullerton Health Deepens Specialty Care Capabilities Through Acquisition of Singapore-Based Otolaryngology Practice, The ENT Clinic

    Leading regional private healthcare provider group Fullerton Health (“Fullerton Health” or the “Group”) said today it has successfully acquired one of Singapore’s largest otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, & Throat – “ENT”) specialist practices, The ENT Clinic Pte Ltd (“The ENT Clinic”), to deepen its specialty care capabilities in its home market as part of its growth strategy.

    The ENT Clinic’s team of specialists: (L-R): Dr Jeeve Kanagalingam, Dr Chris Hobbs, Dr Ho Eu Chin, Dr Rebecca Heywood, Dr Sandeep Uppal

    Founded by experienced ENT specialist Dr Jeeve Kanagalingam in 2015, the ENT Clinic has grown from a single doctor practice to a network of five specialists operating across three clinics which are well-placed in Singapore’s medical hubs, Camden, Novena and Gleneagles Tanglin. These specialists cover various crucial sub-specialties of ENT and have a strong reputation for clinical excellence.

    This acquisition will enable Fullerton Health to strengthen its presence in the ENT space, which has been identified as one of the top specialties focus for the Group given the high referral volumes and synergy within the Group’s services, which include diagnostic imaging, executive health screening, primary care, and network management referral.

    The acquisition will expand Fullerton Health’s network of high-quality specialist care and allow the Group to better deliver integrated, patient-centric healthcare services across Southeast Asia. Fullerton Health’s other specialist care capabilities in Singapore include cardiology, orthopaedics, and endocrinology, amongst others.

    “We are delighted to welcome The ENT Clinic into the Fullerton Health family,” said Ms Margareta Laminto, Managing Director, Specialist & RadLink, and Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Fullerton Health. “Acquiring a market leader with strong brand perception in Singapore’s ENT clinical services not only expands our clinical service capabilities but also enables us to tap into new opportunities and serve more patients with quality coordinated care. This enhances our ability to deliver seamless, accessible, and trusted care to our members, patients and customers.”

    Following the acquisition, The ENT Clinic will be able to access the Group’s ecosystem of coordinated medical care, enabling seamless multidisciplinary collaboration and enhanced care for Fullerton Health’s patient base of over 4.5 million covered lives across the region.

    Fullerton Health’s Specialist Division will collaborate closely with the ENT specialists to unlock new growth opportunities and deliver integrated ENT care to patients across Fullerton Health’s extensive regional network.

    The ENT Clinic’s team will continue to operate under its current brand name, ensuring continuity of care and preserving the trusted relationships it has built with patients and referring physicians. Supported by Fullerton Health’s operational expertise and network, the clinic will also explore opportunities to expand service offerings, invest in technology, and strengthen clinical service initiatives in ENT care.

    “Joining Fullerton Health marks an exciting new chapter for The ENT Clinic,” said Dr Jeeve Kanagalingam, Founder, The ENT Clinic. “We see strong synergies in partnering with a well-established healthcare organisation with deep operational and clinical expertise. Fullerton Health’s long-term commitment to building sustainable healthcare platforms aligns closely with our values. Together, we can enhance access to quality ENT care while preserving the high standards and patient-centric ethos our clinic is known for.”

    About Fullerton Health

    Fullerton Health is a leading integrated healthcare solutions provider. Established in 2010, the Group operates across the Asia-Pacific region, with close to 550 clinics and a network of over 18,000 providers. It supports the entire care journey – from managed care and network management to primary care, diagnostics, specialty, and ancillary services.

    Fullerton Health combines clinical excellence with tailored corporate healthcare programs, medical advisory expertise, and digital innovation to meet the diverse needs of its clients. Guided by its purpose – seamless, accessible and trusted healthcare for all – the Group is committed to delivering high-quality care across the region. https://www.fullertonhealth.com

    Fullerton Health Media Contact:

    Veronica Chiu
    Senior Vice President,
    Group Corporate Communications & Singapore Marketing
    Fullerton Health
    Email Address: comms@fullertonhealth.com

    About The ENT Clinic

    Founded in 2015, The ENT Clinic is located at Mt Elizabeth Novena Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital and Camden Medical Centre in Singapore. Its specialists in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery, with combined training and work experience of over 100+ years in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India and Singapore, are supported by experienced nurses, speech therapists and audiologists. https://www.entclinic.sg

  • AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy Secures New Singapore Court Order Blocking 53 Illegal Streaming Domains

    AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy Secures New Singapore Court Order Blocking 53 Illegal Streaming Domains

    The Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) today announced that a new site-blocking order has been granted by the Singapore High Court, targeting 22 major piracy website brands (covering 53 domains in total) facilitating illegal streaming and downloads of video content in Singapore.

    This latest order – obtained by BBC Studios, the Premier League and DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga – represents another significant step in Singapore’s ongoing efforts to disrupt large-scale digital piracy. The blocked sites were among the most widely accessed by Singapore-based users.

    CAP noted that while Singapore remains a regional leader in the fight against digital piracy, the sophistication of piracy services is growing both in terms of their resilience to traditional domain blocking techniques, such as what is envisaged in Singapore’s current legislation, and in their scope for creating wider harms that extend well beyond copyright infringement. Illicit streaming sites and devices increasingly expose consumers to malware, data theft, financial scams, and identity-fraud risks, while also contributing to broader threats such as botnet activity and risks to networks and infrastructure. In light of these escalating risks, CAP encourages the Government to review its legislation and ensure enforcement frameworks remain cutting-edge, robust, adaptive, and capable of addressing evolving and dynamic pirate services that pose cybersecurity and consumer-protection challenges.

    “Site-blocking continues to be one of the most proven and impactful anti-piracy mechanisms globally,” said Matt Cheetham, General Manager of CAP. “This latest order underscores the Singapore courts’ recognition of the harm caused by these illegal services. As piracy networks become more agile, ensuring that legislative procedures and implementation processes remain current and efficient is essential for maintaining the effectiveness of Singapore’s site blocking framework.”

    CAP will continue to work closely with rights holders, platforms, enforcement agencies, and policymakers across the Asia-Pacific region to safeguard the creative sector and support legitimate services that invest in high-quality content for consumers.

    About the Asia Video Industry Association

    The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

    For media enquiries and additional background, please contact:
    Charmaine Kwan
    Head of Marketing and Communications | charmaine@avia.org
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia |X: @AsiaVideoIA

  • Bermuda-Regulated Chainproof Chooses Blockpass to Power KYB for Smart Contract, Slashing, and Yield Insurance

    Identity verification and compliance service Blockpass is delighted to reveal that it will be providing its expertise and solutions to Chainproof, the world’s first regulated smart contract insurer. In this partnership, Blockpass will provide essential compliance services for Chainproof’s customers and counterparties.

    Chainproof is a primary insurance carrier licensed and regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) focused on non-custodial crypto risks. The company offers smart contract insurance (protecting on-chain deposits against covered loss events in audited protocols), slashing insurance for proof-of-stake validators and node operators, and a staking yield guarantee designed for institutional staking programs. Chainproof combines regulatory oversight with bespoke underwriting for institutions, asset managers, ETFs, and digital-asset treasury companies and is backed by a top global reinsurer, supported by strategic investors including Sompo, and founded by Quantstamp, a global leader in blockchain security.

    Blockpass, the Safe Network for Crypto™, has pioneered reusable identities and crypto-native KYC/AML solutions. Its turnkey suite of compliance tools is designed to lower onboarding costs, automate remediation, prove humanity, and protect against malicious actors, fraudulent activities, bots, and AI. Businesses can set up services quickly, test them for free, and start verifying users. With around one million verified identity profiles, Blockpass facilitates instant onboarding, and to date, over a thousand businesses have taken advantage of this opportunity to benefit from Blockpass’ compliant network. With the recent addition of On-Chain KYC® 2.0, businesses are now empowered to create verified, reusable digital identities for users, both on the blockchain through on-chain attestations, or off the blockchain through zero-knowledge proofs, providing a single, interoperable, and simple solution for dApps and other platforms.

    “Smart contracts hold perhaps the biggest potential out of all the opportunities that blockchain technology provides, so ensuring the protection of those that seek to use them and utilize them is essential for the continued development of the type of groundbreaking solutions that we’re already seeing,” said Adam Vaziri, Blockpass CEO. “To be able to work with Chainproof on this is an honor and a privilege, and with Chainproof holding regulations and compliance as paramount as they help secure the digital asset space, we know that our goals are aligned.”

    “Institutional clients need speed, auditability, and uncompromising controls,” said Tyler Kraus, Chief Compliance Officer at Chainproof. “Integrating Blockpass helps us accelerate KYB and sanctions screening while maintaining the regulatory rigor expected of a Bermuda-regulated insurer. That means less friction for qualified applicants and stronger defenses against financial crime as we scale smart contract insurance, slashing insurance, and our staking yield guarantee for global institutions.”

    By integrating Blockpass and its KYB abilities in particular, Chainproof adds another layer of security to the services it provides, making the blockchain space that much more safe for those that leverage the potential of smart contracts. Backed by the evaluation and development in the BMA Innovation Sandbox before being awarded its license, this move is the latest in Chainproof’s efforts to provide the ultimate insurance service. In keeping bad actors and risks out of the ecosystem, Chainproof and Blockpass ensure that the development of innovative and amazing solutions can continue unabated.

    About Blockpass
    Blockpass offers a cost-effective, comprehensive suite of Web3 compliance solutions: KYC, KYB, and AML. Our tools, including the groundbreaking On-Chain KYC 2.0® for verified, reusable digital identities (via on-chain attestations and ZKPs), lower onboarding costs, automate processes, and prevent fraud. We also provide an Advanced KYC Bot™to support your users, Unhosted Wallet KYC™ for wallet certification, and a Travel Rule Hub. Blockpass has specialized solutions for launchpads, private token offerings, and node sales, plus expert compliance outsourcing. Leveraging over a million pre-verified crypto investors enables instant onboarding. Blockpass is a trusted partner for industry leaders like Animoca Brands, Cardano, and RWA Inc., helping build the Safe Network for Crypto™.

    Learn more and engage the Blockpass team:
    Website: https://www.blockpass.org
    Book a Demo: https://www.blockpass.org/book-your-call/

    About Chainproof
    Chainproof is a regulated primary insurance carrier covering non-custodial smart-contract risks, slashing risks, and staking yield for institutions. Incubated by Quantstamp, supported by strategic investors including Sompo, and backed by a top global reinsurer, Chainproof delivers high-limit, bespoke coverage for asset managers, ETFs, institutional treasuries, and validators—underpinned by rigorous security assessments and transparent claims handling.

    Learn more at Chainproof.co or on Twitter/X @ChainproofDAI.

  • Behind the FMR dispute: Questions over a barangay resolution and later statements

    Questions have surfaced in Davao Occidental over differing accounts related to a 2021 barangay resolution that supported the realignment of a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Barangay Little Baguio.

    Barangay Resolution No. 5, Series of 2021, signed by the barangay council and attested by the barangay secretary, states that the realignment was endorsed “due to legal and technical constraints, and in consideration of the greater public benefit and accessibility” of an alternative route. The document notes that the original alignment would have passed through privately owned properties without right-of-way clearance or entry permits, creating potential legal impediments and delays.

    According to the resolution, the barangay council, working with DPWH technical personnel, identified an alternative route described as legally accessible and geotechnically suitable. The measure, signed by Barangay Captain Ferdinand D. San as presiding officer, says the new alignment was “environmentally sound, socially acceptable,” and conducive to smoother implementation.

    In 2025, separate reports and accounts from community sources claim that Captain San later executed an affidavit describing the FMR as unfinished. Those sources allege that pressure may have influenced that statement. These claims have not been independently verified. As of this writing, there is no official finding that coercion occurred, and the parties concerned have not publicly provided full documentation to reconcile the differing accounts.

    Some residents and community sources contend that references to an “unfinished” road could pertain to the earlier, discarded alignment rather than the realigned route cited in the 2021 resolution. This interpretation has not been formally confirmed by DPWH or the provincial government.

    The situation has prompted calls from civil society groups and local observers for clearer, public updates from DPWH and the Davao Occidental Provincial Government on the project’s status, scope, and fund utilization. They also urge that any inquiries respect due process and the independence of barangay officials.

    The 2021 resolution remains an on-record document reflecting the barangay council’s position at that time. Whether later statements by local officials conflict with that position—and for what reasons—has yet to be clarified through official channels.

    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publication or its editors. 

  • 5,000 rally in Cebu calling for Marcos to resign over corruption

    5,000 rally in Cebu calling for Marcos to resign over corruption

    Around 5,000 protesters gathered in Cebu City on Sunday to demand the resignation of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in one of the largest anti-corruption demonstrations to hit the central Philippines this year.

    The rally, held at Plaza Independencia, brought together students, church groups, civil society organizations and other sectoral representatives under a common call for clean governance. Protesters carried placards denouncing corruption and urging greater accountability from officials.

    “This is not the end, nor a pack-up — it’s just a warm-up,” lead convenor Juniño Bonito Padilla told the crowd. “Together, we move forward, stronger and more united, for the change we all believe in. See you for more.”

    The demonstration concluded with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Ciano Ubod, a prominent priest who has often criticized corrupt practices in government. In his homily, Ubod accused public officials of betraying the people’s trust and urged Filipinos to demand accountability.

    Organizers described the event as a show of unity across sectors, aimed at signaling that communities will no longer tolerate misconduct in public office. They said further demonstrations were being planned in Cebu and beyond.

    While protests against Marcos have periodically erupted since he took office in 2022, Sunday’s turnout underscored mounting public frustration amid allegations of corruption in government agencies. Police said the rally dispersed peacefully.

    “The people of Cebu are sending a clear message: corruption will not be tolerated, and the call for accountability will only grow louder,” Padilla said.