From pudding to spritz: Coles brings more M&S to Christmas as Liquorland serves up this Summer’s sips
Australians and UK ex-pats alike can get their hands on even more Marks & Spencer food and drinks this Christmas, with Coles launching a new range of festive treats and Liquorland exclusively welcoming M&S drinks down under for the first time. From a Christmas twist on Percy Pig and traditional British puddings to $7 canned spritzes and a celebration-ready Champagne magnum, the festive line up has summer entertaining and festive gifting sorted. M&S POURS INTO LIQUORLAND Liquorland is declaring it spritz season, with Marks & Spencer’s iconic tinnies arriving in store and online, with customers for the first time able to get their hands on five flavours including the Hugo Spritz, Aperitivo Spritz, Limoncello Spritz, Tequila & Grapefruit Spritz and Sake & Lychee Spritz – all $7 each. The drinks are made with all-natural flavours, and are ready to chill, crack and serve for a range of events, from a backyard get-together to Christmas drinks. Liquorland is also welcoming some of M&S’s most-loved wines to Australia, available in stores and online from this month. The offer includes wines from the M&S Collection range – a premium label representing the very best of M&S, with wines sourced from some of the world’s leading wineries, selected for their exceptional quality and character, including the vibrant Italian Gavi De Gavi 750ml ($20) and full-bodied Amarone 750ml ($50). Also launching is the signature M&S Delacourt Champagne – available in both a classic 750ml bottle ($62) or a show-stopping 1.5L magnum ($120), made for popping on the Christmas table. Liquorland General Manager Commercial and Marketing, Sophie Hogg said the new M&S drinks range would give customers even more choice this summer, combining quality, convenience and great value. “We’re excited to bring some of M&S’ most popular spritzes, wines and champagne to Liquorland for the very first time, giving customers a taste of the iconic British brand just in time for Christmas,” Sophie said. “Australians’ love affair with the spritz shows no sign of slowing down, with sales at Liquorland up more than 50% over the past year. At just $7 a can, the new M&S spritzes make it easy to serve something a little different this festive season, whether you’re hosting Christmas lunch, heading to a barbecue or enjoying a summer picnic.” A VERY MERRY M&S CHRISTMAS AT COLES Coles Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer, Anna Croft said customers had embraced M&S Food since the range arrived last year, with the first lolly range becoming one of the most successful confectionery launches in Coles' history. “Our customers have loved discovering M&S Food at Coles, and we’re excited to give them even more to enjoy this Christmas,” she said. “We’re bringing more of those much-loved M&S Food favourites to Australia, alongside new seasonal treats that customers can only find at Coles, whether they’re looking for something special for the table, a great gift or a treat to share.” M&S Percy Pig™ Merry Percymas 170g ($6) gives the much-loved fruit gums a seasonal spin, while dog lovers can get their paws on the M&S Christmas Puppy Parade 53g ($12), a playful collection of solid milk chocolate puppies in a mix of adorable breeds. The M&S Happy Christmas Mini Selection 71g ($12) brings together a variety of festive miniature chocolates in an accessible seasonal gift that’s also perfect for sharing. Christmas gifting gets the M&S treatment with the M&S Shortbread Light Up House 230g ($20), an intricately decorated keepsake that lights up and comes filled with Christmas tree-shaped shortbread. There are also M&S Milk Chocolate Coins 120g ($12) tucked inside a collectable postbox tin and M&S Peppermint Bark 250g ($20). For a taste of a traditional British Christmas, shoppers can also pick up the M&S Collection 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding ($25) and M&S Collection Mince Pies 6pk ($15). M&S Managing Director of International Mark Lemming said the growing range would give Australian customers even more ways to discover M&S this Christmas. “We’ve been really encouraged by the response to M&S Food in Australia. It’s a great example of how, by working with strong partners, we can bring the best of M&S to more customers around the world,” he said. “This Christmas, we’re building on the momentum, with more of our much-loved Food favourites at Coles and, for the first time, M&S cocktails, wines and Champagne at Liquorland. It means Australians can discover even more of M&S this festive season, while for Brits spending Christmas away from home, there’s a familiar taste of an M&S Christmas, Down Under.” The Marks & Spencer spritz range is available at Liquorland stores nationally and online now, with M&S wines coming to select stores throughout November. Customers can find the M&S Food range arriving in stores and online this month, officially available from 18th November, with additional M&S products available at selected stores. To explore the full range and to find a participating store, visit: coles.com.au/offers/marks-and-spencer-stores For media enquiries, please contact Coles Media Line (03) 9829 5250 or [email protected]
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FEATURED NEWS
- November 12, 2026Technology
Mercans Launches Agentic Payroll, the World’s First End-to-End Agentic Payroll Model, and Takes On How Global Payroll Is Built
Mercans today launched Agentic Payroll, which the global payroll technology company calls the world’s first end-to-end agentic payroll delivery model and a new category it says will change how global payroll is delivered. AI agents run the payroll cycle from start to finish, and the client’s people keep every decision. Mercans delivers the model through their agentic service called NovAI, with early access open today for enterprise clients and full release planned for Q1 2027. For decades, the payroll industry has offered three delivery models. With SaaS, the client’s team runs payroll on a provider’s platform. With managed payroll service, the provider runs it and the client approves. With business process outsourcing (BPO), the provider owns the function. Each redesign changed which team did the work, and people still ran all six payroll processing steps of the cycle under every one of them. Agentic Payroll is the first model in which agents run five of those steps, Mercans says, with the client keeping the approval. Photo Courtesy of Unsplash.com Mercans argues that this changes what the industry has to be built on. AI agents are moving from pilots into everyday enterprise work, and research firm Gartner predicts that by 2028 a third of enterprise software will include them. Payroll, regulated and different in every country, needs a delivery model built for agents, the company says, and adding agents to the old models will not get there. That puts the pressure on how most global providers are set up. A multinational client usually signs one contract with one provider, but underneath it, payroll is often delivered on a different setup in every country. Mercans gives the example of a typical provider where Brazil and Mexico run on local software, Colombia on a partner’s platform, Saudi Arabia through a subcontractor, Egypt on spreadsheets, and Europe and Asia Pacific on different platforms again. Across four regions, that comes to ten countries, seven platforms and five different agent setups under a single contract. On a patchwork like that, Mercans says, AI can only be as global as the platform it runs on. Agents stay local, people re-key data at every hand-off, and providers cannot automate what they subcontract. The problem, in Mercans’ view, is the infrastructure rather than AI. Mercans runs payroll on its own engine, on one codebase in more than 100 countries, with the same agents in each. An orchestrator agent directs specialist agents across the whole cycle, from collecting inputs to preparing filings and answering employees. That single engine is why Mercans says NovAI is the only end-to-end agentic payroll service available today. For payroll teams, the change is a move from processing to oversight. The client approves every payroll and filing, decides every exception, and releases every payment, and no Mercans system can release a payment. Clients can also switch Agentic Payroll on entity by entity on the same platform, without re-implementation. A Fortune 500 energy-technology company is already building with Mercans in early access. “Payroll has been redesigned many times, and every redesign moved the same work to a different team,” said Tatjana Domovits, Group CEO of Mercans. “With Agentic Payroll, the agents do the work and people make the decisions.” About Mercans Mercans is a global payroll technology company. Its platform, HR Blizz™, gives SMBs and enterprises one secure system to run payroll anywhere in the world, with built-in compliance, real-time data and native HCM integration. Built on 24 years of global payroll expertise, Mercans owns its technology, entities and in-country teams, with no subcontracting, giving clients one accountable payroll partner. More information is available at mercans.com .
- November 12, 2026Business
Fiona Bao's Genpulse Makes the US Its Main Market for Physical AI in Personal Health
Fiona Bao's company began with something she could see in her own reflection. As a university student studying bioengineering, she went through hair loss herself, and the experience set her on the path to building hair and scalp tools from artificial intelligence and medical imaging. That personal starting point now carries a larger claim. Bao believes consumer health AI has spent too long listening and too little time looking, and she is taking that argument to the United States. Her company, Genpulse, began in Singapore and is now based in San Francisco, with the United States as its main market. Bao spends much of her time there and in New York and Los Angeles, and the people backing the company include the founders of two well-known American consumer businesses, one in digital health and one in payments. Photo Courtesy of Genpulse An Incubator, a Clinic and 200 Salons Genpulse started in 2023, when Bao's founding team was accepted into the National University of Singapore's Graduate Research Innovation Programme, known as GRIP. The hard early problem was data. A scalp analysis model is only as reliable as the images it learns from, and a young company has to gather those images before it can train anything worth selling. The team built its own. Working with the National Skin Centre in Singapore and more than 200 salons around the world, it collected and annotated more than 30,000 medical scalp images. In April 2024, Genpulse launched its first product line, Lushair , in Singapore. "I started the company in Asia and built Genpulse from Singapore, where we developed the first iterations of the technology and ecosystem," Bao said. The Gap Bao Wants to Close Bao's thesis is easy to state and hard to execute. Most health AI people use today waits to be told what is wrong. Genpulse gives the AI hardware of its own, so it can observe biological signals directly, track them over time and learn from what happens after it makes a recommendation. She sums up the system in five words, sense, understand, act, track and learn. A scanner captures the signal. The AI agent interprets it and suggests what to do. The next scan shows whether the suggestion worked, and that result goes back into the agent, which becomes more specific to the person each time the cycle repeats. "What personally interests me is the gap between how much AI knows about the world and how little context it actually has about an individual human body," she said. Lushair is where that idea meets customers. Its at-home scanners photograph the scalp under magnification, and the app compares each new scan with the user's first, building a history that a single conversation with a chatbot cannot produce. The company positions Lushair as a tool for tracking change, and it directs medical questions to doctors and dermatologists. Two Founders Who Know the Customer Genpulse has raised its seed financing at a $40 million valuation. Two names among its backers stand out for anyone who follows American consumer technology. Demetri Karagas co-founded Thirty Madison in 2017. The company's first brand, Keeps , launched in January 2018 and sold hair loss treatment directly to consumers through telemedicine. That gives Genpulse a backer who has already built a business around the customer Lushair serves first. Iqram Magdon-Ismail co-founded Venmo in 2009 with his college roommate. Braintree bought the app in 2012, and PayPal bought Braintree in 2013, according to Entrepreneur . Venmo became one of the most popular ways Americans pay each other, and that kind of repeat behavior is what Genpulse needs. A tracking product is only as useful as the number of times people return to it. Bao sees the significance of the pairing in broader terms. "Entrepreneurs who previously helped build major consumer platforms in digital health and fintech are now backing a company exploring what happens when consumer AI moves beyond software and gains a physical sensing layer," she said. What the Numbers Show Genpulse has generated about $2.5 million in cumulative revenue. Roughly $1 million has come from consumers and about $1.5 million from businesses, which can license Lushair's analysis through an API, run salon and clinic software on it, or sell the hardware under their own brand. The consumer side has reached more than 20,000 people. Bao treats the figure as evidence that the loop runs in the real world, with people scanning, acting on what they see and scanning again. "Hair and scalp give us a highly visual and accessible place to begin building that loop," she said. Starting with hair is a practical choice. Customers can see the problem, they care about it, and progress shows up in pictures they can compare. It is a sensible place for a company with larger plans to learn how people actually use a health device at home, before it extends the same system into other areas of personal health. The American Test The product is ready for that market. Lushair's devices already ship to the United States, and its app runs on iPhone, so its main market already has something customers can buy and use today. In San Francisco, Bao is building relationships across AI, healthcare, research and consumer technology. The move puts Genpulse in the market where OpenAI first launched Health in ChatGPT, and where its scanner-first alternative will face the most direct comparison. That comparison is the right one for her to invite. Genpulse arrives with paying customers internationally, an image library built with Singapore's National Skin Centre, and backers who have already built American consumer brands in hair loss and payments. Bao started out trying to understand what was happening on her own scalp. The US market will now show whether the approach she built from that problem can change how millions of people track their health.
- November 12, 2026Technology
Data.co Launches Private AI Platform and Data Marketplace Featuring 91 Datasets From 25 Providers
Data.co today announced the launch of its enterprise data and artificial intelligence platform , combining private AI infrastructure, enterprise governance and a unified marketplace of public and licensed datasets. The platform launches with three core offerings: Data.co Control, which enables organizations to deploy and govern AI within their own infrastructure; the Data.co Marketplace, featuring 91 datasets from 25 providers; and app.data.co, a centralized interface for accessing datasets through a query console, REST API or Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for AI agents. The platform is designed to address two significant challenges facing enterprise AI adoption: maintaining control over sensitive organizational data and simplifying access to reliable external information. "Companies are moving quickly to implement AI, but they're running into two fundamental problems: they don't want sensitive data leaving their infrastructure, and they need better access to trusted external data to make their AI systems useful," said Nate Nead, CEO of Data.co. "We're addressing both problems with one platform. Data.co Control gives enterprises ownership over where and how their AI operates, while our marketplace provides a single access point to the data that powers intelligent applications and autonomous agents. We believe these capabilities increasingly need to work together." Data.co Control: Private AI Infrastructure With Enterprise Governance Data.co Control enables regulated organizations and enterprises to connect internal data sources, operate private language models and govern AI activity without requiring sensitive information to leave their environments. The platform supports on-premises, private cloud, hybrid and fully air-gapped deployments. Core capabilities include: Customer-local runtime: Access decisions, sensitive processing and model inference operate within the customer's infrastructure. A separate hosted account plane handles licensing, accounts and billing without requiring continuous connectivity for local enforcement. Private LLM infrastructure: Support for vLLM on dedicated GPU infrastructure and Ollama for smaller deployments, accessed through a unified OpenAI-compatible gateway. Deterministic policy enforcement: Identity-based controls govern which users, service accounts, models and AI agents can access specific data and execute designated operations. Policy decisions are handled by a deterministic engine rather than delegated to a language model. Permission-aware connectors and private RAG: Internal connectors inherit existing source permissions to prevent AI applications from retrieving information beyond an authorized user's access. AI agent governance: Tool calls executed by AI agents are identified, scoped, monitored and logged. Enterprise auditability: Requests, policy decisions, approvals and administrative actions generate exportable audit records to support security reviews and compliance requirements. Data.co Control is designed for organizations in financial services, healthcare, legal services, manufacturing and other industries where data privacy, infrastructure ownership and regulatory oversight are primary considerations. Data.co Marketplace: One API Key Across 91 Datasets Through the Data.co Marketplace customers can access datasets using a browser-based query console, a REST API or MCP integrations designed specifically for AI-powered applications and autonomous agents. "Accessing external data at scale has traditionally meant negotiating with multiple providers, building separate integrations, managing different authentication methods and maintaining pipelines as APIs change," said Timothy Carter, Chief Revenue Officer of Data.co. "We're simplifying that process by creating a unified access layer. Our goal is to make enterprise-grade data consumption substantially easier for software developers, analytics teams and businesses deploying AI agents. Instead of building twenty different connections, customers can work through one platform and focus on what they actually want to accomplish with the data." The marketplace includes a unified query console for exploring datasets and viewing structured results, a versioned REST API at api.data.co/v1 with organization-scoped authentication and usage metering, and an MCP server that enables AI agents to discover and query datasets through standardized tools. Each record returned by the platform includes source attribution, applicable licensing information and retrieval timestamps, providing transparency into the origins of the data. The platform also supports legal research through LAW.co, including access to U.S. court opinions, AI-generated case summaries and citation relationships. Data.co manages upstream provider connections through standardized connector contracts that enforce query validation, rate limits, caching policies and applicable licensing restrictions. Launch Catalog Spans Financial, Economic, Government, Healthcare and Legal Data At launch, the Data.co Marketplace includes 91 datasets from 25 providers across six primary categories. Companies and Financial Data: Integrations with SEC EDGAR, FDIC BankFind, GLEIF, UK Companies House, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provide access to corporate filings, XBRL financial statements, banking institutions and branches, global legal entity identifiers, UK company records, futures positioning and consumer complaint information. Economic Indicators: Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Energy Information Administration (EIA), Federal Reserve Board, U.S. Treasury, World Bank and U.S. Census Bureau covers inflation, employment, wages, GDP, energy markets, interest rates, government debt, international development indicators and demographic trends. Government and Political Data: Sources including USAspending, the Federal Register, Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Senate lobbying disclosures provide access to federal contracts, grants, regulatory notices, campaign finance records and lobbying activity. Safety, Healthcare and Environmental Data: Integrations with openFDA, CMS NPPES, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EPA ECHO provide information on drug and product recalls, healthcare providers, vehicle safety, environmental compliance and enforcement activity. Nonprofit and Research Data: IRS and OpenAlex datasets support research into tax-exempt organizations, scholarly publications, research institutions and funding relationships. Legal Data: Through its integration with LAW.co, the platform provides access to U.S. court opinions, AI-generated case summaries and case citation relationships, supporting legal research applications and AI-powered legal workflows. The marketplace incorporates source-specific licensing controls and usage restrictions. Where datasets contain third-party or restricted information, Data.co limits access based on applicable source terms and permitted uses. Certain information, including personal data appearing in corporate, political or regulatory records, is subject to additional restrictions. Built for an AI Economy That Depends on Trusted Data As organizations move beyond AI chat interfaces toward systems that autonomously research, analyze and execute tasks, the quality and traceability of the underlying data become increasingly important. Data.co is designed to provide AI agents with structured access to external information while preserving clear attribution to the original source. "AI is only as useful as the information it can reliably access," said Samuel Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer of Data.co. "There's a significant difference between asking an AI model to generate an answer and giving it direct access to authoritative financial filings, economic data, regulatory information or legal records. We're building Data.co around that distinction. Every dataset has a documented origin, and every response is designed to be traceable. That's critical as businesses begin relying on AI agents for increasingly consequential decisions." The platform's MCP server extends dataset access to compatible AI development environments and agent frameworks, enabling applications to discover available data sources and execute permitted queries without requiring custom integrations for every provider. About Data.co Data.co, a division of Nead, LLC and DEV.co , develops private AI infrastructure, enterprise AI governance software and a unified marketplace of public and licensed datasets for businesses, developers and AI agents. Its Data.co Control platform enables organizations to deploy and govern private AI systems within customer-controlled infrastructure, including air-gapped environments. The Data.co Marketplace provides centralized access to structured external data through REST APIs, MCP integrations and a browser-based query interface.
- November 11, 2026Technology
Sentry Interactive Advances NFC Mobile Access Security with Post-Quantum Credentials
Sentry Interactive today announced the introduction of post-quantum security capabilities within its Sentry Open Credential over IP solution, enabling organizations to deploy next-generation post-quantum mobile credentials while continuing to use their existing physical access control systems (PACS). This advancement reinforces Sentry's commitment to making mobile access more secure, flexible, and accessible, giving organizations a practical path to post-quantum security without costly infrastructure replacement. "The future of access control is mobile, open, and built for a new era of security," said Denis Hébert, Chairman and CEO of Sentry Interactive. "We're bringing post-quantum credential technology to market in a way that allows organizations to move forward without abandoning the systems they've already invested in. This is about delivering stronger security today while giving customers the flexibility and freedom to modernize on their own terms." Sentry Interactive's solution incorporates ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm), the post-quantum digital signature standard established by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under FIPS 204. Designed to resist attacks from future quantum computers, the technology provides advanced protection for mobile credential identity and authentication. Through a new software-based translation layer, Sentry's post-quantum mobile credentials integrate with existing PACS platforms, allowing organizations to strengthen credential security while retaining their current access control infrastructure, decision-making and event logging processes. Credentials are delivered directly to users' smartphones, where private cryptographic keys remain securely stored. When presented at a Sentry Smart Access Tile , credential requests are securely processed through Sentry's network and integrated with the organization's existing PACS. By combining post-quantum credential security with seamless integration into existing systems, Sentry is making the next generation of mobile access available today, without requiring organizations to rethink or replace the infrastructure they depend on.
- November 11, 2026Business
Matrix Robotics MATRIX-3 Makes Its CIIE Debut as a Humanoid Tour Guide in a Real-World Setting for the First Time
The 9th China International Import Expo recently opened in Shanghai. Matrix Robotics' third-generation general-purpose humanoid robot, MATRIX-3, made its debut at the expo, serving as an intelligent tour guide for the first time in a real-world scenario . It autonomously promoted and interacted with visitors in a crowded and noisy public environment, showcasing the commercial potential of domestically produced physical AI humanoid robots in public knowledge service scenarios . The CIIE debut showcased an interactive guided tour system that broke free from pre-set scripts, enabling autonomous visitor services. The exhibition venue is characterized by high visitor flow and complex background noise. MATRIX-3 completely breaks free from the constraints of pre-set scripts, requiring no manual line-by-line control. It autonomously completes the entire business chain, including visitor perception, multimodal interaction switching, company information explanation, and visitor response and interaction. The robot can autonomously retrieve explanation content based on the on-site visitor status, achieving a truly intuitive guided tour experience that "understands the environment and comprehends the visitors." WAVE Physical World Base Model Empowering the "brain - cerebellum" synergistically to drive natural human-computer interaction The core of the robot's cognitive dialogue and physical coordination comes from Matrix Robotics' self-developed WAVE physical world base model . The model adopts an original "brain-cerebellum" collaborative system: the WAVE base model acts as the "brain," responsible for environmental perception, understanding visitor intentions, knowledge base retrieval, and dialogue logic planning; the general motion control model acts as the "cerebellum," outputting human-like natural walking and gesture expression, enabling the robot to "understand questions, speak clearly, and move naturally." Relying on self-developed training infrastructure and a complete data toolchain, real devices continuously feed back scenario data in real exhibition environments, forming a compounding flywheel of technology and continuously optimizing key capabilities such as voice recognition in noisy environments and dynamic crowd avoidance. On the hardware front, the MATRIX-3 is 1.70 meters tall and weighs 65 kilograms, making it suitable for human passage. Equipped with a 27-DOF rope-driven dexterous hand, its fingertip sensing accuracy reaches 0.1 Newtons, balancing interactive safety and movement dexterity. This integrated hardware and software solution demonstrates that humanoid robots, in addition to grasping and delivering physical operations, can also handle knowledge service tasks such as explanation and promotion. Unlocking New Scenarios for Guided Tour Services: Physical AI Drives Humanoid Robots from Exhibits to Practical Services The China International Import Expo (CIIE) brings together global businesses and industry resources. MATRIX-3 serves as a human-machine bridge for technological exchange, showcasing the practical achievements of domestically developed embodied intelligence in the form of Physical AI. This guided, live-action demonstration provides a practical example of how humanoid robots can move beyond their role as mere "stage exhibits" and be applied to routine public services.
- November 11, 2026Health
Red Star Foundation Launches First-Ever National Veteran Suicide Resource Directory With 492 Organizations Already Listed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | NOV. 11, 2026 Red Star Foundation Launches First-Ever National Veteran Suicide Resource Directory With 492 Organizations Already Listed Free nationwide directory connects veterans, current military, first responders and families with critical support while giving smaller nonprofits greater opportunities for national visibility. CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 11, 2026 — Red Star Foundation has launched the nation's first national resource directory dedicated specifically to veteran suicide prevention and postvention, featuring 492 organizations at launch and opportunities for hundreds more to participate free of charge. The National Suicide Prevention & Postvention Resource Directory addresses two major challenges: helping individuals and families find the assistance they need and helping organizations, particularly smaller nonprofits and community-based programs, reach those who need their services. Unlike directories focused on general veteran services, this new national platform brings together suicide prevention, intervention and postvention resources serving veterans, current military, first responders and families affected by suicide loss. Giving Smaller Nonprofits National Visibility One of the directory's primary objectives is to help smaller organizations overcome a significant barrier to their success: being discovered. Across the country, local nonprofits and grassroots organizations provide essential services but often operate with limited budgets, small staffs and little funding for marketing or advertising. As a result, individuals searching for help may never discover organizations offering precisely the services they need. "A small nonprofit in rural America might be doing extraordinary work helping veterans or surviving families, but if people don't know it exists, its ability to help is limited," said Jerry Shaffer, founder and CEO of Red Star Foundation. "Some of the most effective organizations are also the least visible. We want to change that by giving them a national platform where people can discover their services without requiring them to spend money on advertising." The directory provides eligible organizations free listings, helping expand their visibility, strengthen referral networks and connect with veterans and families beyond their immediate communities. 492 Organizations at Launch, With Nationwide Expansion Underway With 492 organizations already represented, the directory provides a centralized platform for discovering assistance across multiple areas of need. Resources include suicide prevention, mental health counseling, peer support, crisis intervention, substance use treatment, housing assistance, financial support, employment services, family assistance and suicide loss postvention. Rather than navigating numerous unrelated websites, visitors can explore organizations and services relevant to their circumstances through one national resource. "No single organization can address every challenge or meet every need," Shaffer said. "But with 492 organizations already represented, we are beginning to connect the dots. As more organizations participate, we can build a stronger national network that makes it easier for people to find help and for organizations to connect with one another." Red Star Foundation is encouraging additional organizations nationwide to register and help expand the directory's coverage. Connecting People With Support Before a Crisis Suicide prevention extends beyond emergency intervention. Financial instability, unemployment, housing insecurity, relationship difficulties, social isolation and challenges transitioning from military to civilian life can contribute to emotional distress. Connecting individuals with appropriate assistance early may help address these challenges before they escalate. "When someone is struggling, the last thing they should have to do is spend hours searching the internet trying to figure out where to turn," Shaffer said. "And when a family is desperately looking for help for someone they love, having access to the right resource at the right time can make all the difference." By consolidating resources into one searchable platform, the foundation aims to reduce barriers to finding support and help individuals, families and providers identify relevant services more efficiently. Supporting Families Left Behind After Suicide A defining feature of the directory is its emphasis on postvention, which provides support to individuals, families and communities following a suicide death. While suicide prevention receives significant national attention, surviving families often struggle to find specialized assistance addressing their grief, isolation, unanswered questions and the stigma associated with suicide loss. Surviving spouses, parents, children and siblings may need long-term grief counseling, peer connections, assistance for children and practical support. Red Star Foundation recognizes these families as Red Star Families, reflecting its mission of Honoring the Forgotten Families. "For too long, the families left behind after a suicide have been overlooked," Shaffer said. "Preventing the next suicide is critically important, but so is caring for the people who are left behind. We cannot ignore the long-term impact suicide has on spouses, children, parents and entire families." The directory includes postvention resources designed to connect surviving families with organizations that understand their unique challenges. Building a Stronger National Network Beyond connecting individuals with assistance, the directory seeks to strengthen collaboration among organizations working in suicide prevention and postvention. Many nonprofits operate independently, unaware of complementary programs or specialized services available elsewhere. A centralized directory can help organizations discover potential partners, establish referral relationships and connect individuals with services beyond their own capabilities. "We don't need every organization trying to do everything," Shaffer said. "We need organizations working together, understanding what resources exist and connecting people with the services that best meet their needs. The directory can help make that possible." Organizations Invited to Register for Free Red Star Foundation invites nonprofits, community organizations, government agencies and other qualified providers offering suicide prevention, postvention or related services to register at no cost. Organizations can submit information about their programs, geographic coverage, eligibility requirements and contact details for review. The foundation also offers the Red Star Verified Resource Program, helping users identify organizations that have completed its verification process. "This is bigger than Red Star Foundation," Shaffer said. "If we help a small nonprofit reach someone it otherwise never would have reached, or help a family discover support they didn't know existed, we are making a difference." Access the Directory or Register an Organization Search the National Resource Directory: https://redstarfoundation.org/veteran-suicide-prevention/resources Register Your Organization for Free: https://redstarfoundation.org/veteran-suicide-prevention/resources/register Red Star Verified Resource Program: https://redstarfoundation.org/veteran-suicide-prevention/resources/verified-toolkit About Red Star Foundation Red Star Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, dedicated to preventing suicide among current military, veterans and first responders while recognizing and supporting families left behind after suicide loss. Guided by its pillars of Hope, Recognition and Connection, the foundation advances suicide prevention and postvention through the Red Star Service Banner, Red Star Voices, peer-to-peer support, community engagement and the National Suicide Prevention & Postvention Resource Directory. Learn more at https://redstarfoundation.org. Media Contact Red Star Foundation Clearwater, FL Website: https://redstarfoundation.org Media resources: https://redstarfoundation.org/media/national-resource-directory/ ###
- November 11, 2026Business
Millennia-Old "Iron City" Keeps Its Heritage as Green Shaowu Shows a New Face
The city of Shaowu in Fujian Province recently brought its signature calling cards—the national-level intangible cultural heritage Shaowu Nuo dance, the national geographical indication product Suitong tea (literally "copper-crushing tea"), and "Wuyi Bamboo Cube," China's first regional public brand for the bamboo industry—to the cultural exchange showcase of the 7th World Media Summit. Through intangible heritage performances, product displays and a city presentation, it introduced the history and culture, ecological strengths and industrial achievements of a thousand-year-old city to Chinese and foreign media guests. Shaowu lies in northwest Fujian and is also known as the "Iron City." It has been a county for more than 1,700 years and sits close to two World Heritage sites, Mount Wuyi and Taining, earning it the name "South Wuyi." The city currently has 512 immovable cultural relics of various levels on record, 57 intangible cultural heritage items, forest coverage of nearly 80 percent, and a year-round rate of 100 percent of days with good or excellent air quality. During the event, Vice Mayor Deng Weihua cited a local saying—"each rapid rises a fathom higher, and Shaowu sits up in the sky"—and summed up Shaowu as "a living ancient city," "a green new city with real substance," and "a livable and inclusive small city." Summit guests sample Suitong tea at the event. Shaowu Nuo dance. Shaowu's distinctive culture drew the attention of Chinese and foreign guests at the showcase. The national-level intangible heritage Shaowu Nuo dance originated in the Song Dynasty; dancers wear masks and express traditional folk culture through an archaic style of movement, and it is known as a "living fossil" of ancient Nuo. Suitong tea, cultivated for a thousand years, is said to take its name from the claim that it can break copper coins when chewed together with them, and it drew guests to taste it on site. Jean Musy, president of the Foreign Press Association of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, said after tasting it: "It is really fragrant on the palate, and together with the legend of chewing up copper coins, it left a deep impression on me." Beyond traditional culture, Shaowu's green industrial development was another highlight. The city has 673,000 mu (about 44,900 hectares) of bamboo forest, and in 2024 its bamboo industry generated total output value of RMB 8.59 billion. Its production of bamboo chopsticks and bamboo knives, forks and spoons accounts for 60 percent and 90 percent of the national total, respectively. The "Wuyi Bamboo Cube" brand is valued at more than RMB 22.3 billion. In recent years, Shaowu has continued to explore "bamboo as a substitute for plastic," with a single bamboo pole able to be made into more than 5,000 kinds of creative products, including keyboards and bicycles. This October, Shaowu was selected for the Food and Agriculture Organization's Green Cities Network. The event also promoted tourism resources such as the "World Heritage No. 1 Scenic Route," which links the World Heritage sites of Mount Wuyi and Taining, further showcasing Shaowu's achievements in ecological protection and green development. Shaowu brought the national-level intangible cultural heritage Shaowu Nuo dance, the national geographical indication product Suitong tea and "Wuyi Bamboo Cube," China's first regional public brand for the bamboo industry, to the cultural exchange showcase of the 7th World Media Summit. Through intangible heritage performances, product displays and a city presentation, it showed Chinese and foreign media guests the history and culture, ecological advantages and industrial development of a thousand-year-old city.
- November 11, 2026Travel & Leisure
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Unveils 'The Spirit Of Christmas' - A Season Of Wonder, Generosity And Giving In Partnership With Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity
This festive season, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London is launching The Spirit of Christmas , a celebration of wonder, generosity and hospitality that invites guests into a shared story of care, imagination and giving, in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity). As the hotel prepares to mark its 125th anniversary and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) looks ahead to 175 years of caring for children and families, the festive season becomes the opening chapter of a journey shaped by compassion, service, imagination, and shared moments of meaning. From family adventures inspired by Neverland to wishes shared beneath a Christmas tree and simple acts of kindness supporting GOSH Charity, guests are invited not simply to observe the season, but to become part of its story. Funds raised for GOSH Charity over the festive period help bring comfort, joy and moments of magic to the wards at GOSH, and give more families the hope of looking forward to many more Christmases to come. The season is inspired by two writers whose legacies are closely woven into the story of GOSH: J.M. Barrie, who gifted the rights to Peter Pan to the hospital, and Charles Dickens, who helped champion the hospital in its earliest years. This Christmas, their legacies inspire a season of imagination, generosity and hope. At the heart of the hotel, a Christmas tree in gold, white and soft celadon will transform the lobby, alongside a Wishing Tree inviting guests to share messages of hope throughout the festive period. The season unfolds through two complementary worlds: The Spirit of Wonder and The Spirit of Generosity. THE SPIRIT OF WONDER The Spirit of Wonder is led by Families by M.O. – Wonders of Neverland , inspired by J.M. Barrie's connection to GOSH and the hotel's unique setting beside Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. From the hotel's doorstep, families are invited into a world of imagination and discovery, with Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland and its Magical Ice Kingdom just moments away. Inside the hotel, young guests will be welcomed with thoughtful seasonal touches and be gifted a Peter Pan storybook. Beyond the family stay, the spirit of Neverland will continue at The Rosebery, where a children's festive afternoon tea will bring childhood wonder to life with elegance and imagination. THE SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY Alongside Barrie's world of wonder, The Spirit of Generosity draws inspiration from Charles Dickens and his historic support for GOSH, celebrating the warmth, hospitality and human connection at the heart of Christmas. The Rosebery will present A Christmas Wish Afternoon Tea, inspired by togetherness, tradition and hope for the future, with the Wishing Tree inviting guests to pause, reflect and add their own message of hope. At Mandarin Bar , seasonal cocktails inspired by Past, Present and Future will offer a contemporary expression of Dickens' themes, creating moments of connection filled with warmth, reflection and generosity. As Dinner by Heston Blumenthal's sixteen-year chapter draws to a close, the festive season offers one final opportunity to experience its most iconic dishes, celebrating the stories and flavours that have defined the two Michelin-starred restaurant. The Aubrey reimagines festive tradition with Japanese Fried Chicken, a contemporary Japanese take designed for sharing around the table. THE INVISIBLE MINCE PIE The Invisible Mince Pie will unite the hotel's festive experiences as the season's signature charitable initiative, giving guests a simple and memorable way to take part in the spirit of generosity. Available across participating restaurants, bars and festive experiences, guests may order an Invisible Mince Pie from the menu. In place of the pie, an illustrated wishing card designed by artist Charlie Child will arrive at the table, inviting guests to write a wish before hanging it on the hotel's Wishing Tree. The full £5 contribution will be donated directly to GOSH Charity, turning a moment of festive imagination into a direct act of giving. Funds raised for GOSH Charity help make Christmas feel like Christmas for seriously ill children at GOSH, from decorating trees with the Play team to carol singing with the Chaplaincy team. 12 DAYS OF GIVING Returning for the festive season, 12 Days of Giving will bring together guests, partners and colleagues through a series of experiences, from wreath making with Moyses Stevens to family cupcake decorating with Executive Pastry Chef Emmanuel Bonneau, creating further opportunities to come together through shared experience and generosity. Tickets will be available for £12, with all ticket revenue donated directly to GOSH Charity. BEYOND THE SEASON, INTO A NEW YEAR The partnership will create opportunities to share joy and togetherness with children, families and carers connected to GOSH Charity, including plans for a festive afternoon tea at the hotel. Beyond Christmas, the partnership will continue into 2027, when Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London marks 125 years and GOSH celebrates 175 years of caring for seriously ill children and families. Philippe Kronberg, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, said: “Christmas is a time when hospitality can mean something especially powerful. It is about warmth, care and the small moments that make people feel remembered. Through our partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, we hope to bring that spirit to life through moments of generosity, imagination and wonder, while beginning a shared journey as we look towards our respective anniversaries in 2027.” The Spirit of Christmas launches on 18 November 2026 and runs throughout the festive season across dining, accommodation, family experiences, charitable initiatives and community programming at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. About Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity) stops at nothing to help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer. For the hundreds of children from all over the UK who are treated by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) every day, for children with rare or complex illnesses everywhere, for this generation and all those to come. GOSH has been transforming the lives of seriously ill children since opening its doors in 1852 and has always depended on charitable support. GOSH Charity funds groundbreaking research into children's health, cutting-edge medical equipment, child-centred medical facilities and the support services children and families going through the toughest journey of their lives urgently need. But there is so much more we need to do. Together with our supporters, we can give seriously ill children the best chance, and the best childhoods, possible. Because we believe no childhood should be lost to serious illness. Join us, visit gosh.org today. About Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Sitting between glorious Royal Parkland and the buzz of central Knightsbridge, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London offers the essence of timeless heritage coupled with contemporary flair and impeccable service. Each of the hotel's rooms and suites have been designed by internationally-renowned designer Joyce Wang, to reflect the natural beauty of neighbouring Hyde Park. An award-winning spa and diverse dining choices from two-Michelin starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Japanese Izakaya at The Aubrey, Traditional Afternoon Tea in The Rosebery and cocktails in the Mandarin Bar makes Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London one of London's premier addresses.
- November 11, 2026Food & Beverage
Malaysian SMEs Secure RM420.35 Million in Sales at SIAL Paris 2026, Strengthening Their Place in Europe’s Food Supply Chain
Malaysian companies recorded RM420.35 million in total sales at SIAL Paris 2026, one of the world’s leading food innovation exhibitions, held from 17 to 21 October 2026 at Paris Nord Villepinte, France. A total of 43 Malaysian companies, comprising of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and established exporters, participated under the Malaysia Pavilion organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE). The 43 exhibitors, majority of which were SMEs, came from eight (8) states across Malaysia, namely Selangor (23 companies), Johor Bahru (5 companies), Kuala Lumpur (4 companies), Kedah (3 companies), Perak (3 companies), Sarawak (3 companies), Pulau Pinang (1 company) and Terengganu (1 company). The results reflect growing interest among European importers, distributors, retailers and food service operators in Malaysian suppliers that can deliver not only finished consumer products, but also private-label, original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and ingredient solutions. Products showcased at the Malaysia Pavilion spanned processed foods, convenient meal solutions, beverages, snacks and plant-based innovations. “SIAL Paris 2026 showed that Malaysian SMEs are ready to compete not just as brands, but as dependable partners in Europe’s food supply chain. European buyers are looking for suppliers who can guarantee consistent quality, traceability and reliable capacity, and our companies demonstrated that they can meet these expectations. MATRADE’s priority now is to help them convert these leads into long-term supply contracts,” said S. Jai Shankar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Export Acceleration), MATRADE. Malaysian SMEs as Reliable Supply Chain Partners for Europe As European buyers diversify their sourcing to build more resilient supply chains, Malaysian SMEs offer a compelling value proposition: flexible production runs, the ability to develop customised formulations and packaging to buyer specifications, and manufacturing standards that meet stringent international requirements. These capabilities position Malaysian SMEs to move beyond one-off orders and become long-term suppliers to European retail and food service chains. Malaysia’s internationally recognised Halal certification framework, administered by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), adds further assurance of product integrity and traceability across the supply chain. This enables Malaysian companies to serve consumers seeking Halal-certified food, while appealing to mainstream buyers on the strength of quality, convenience and innovation. Demand trends in France further support this momentum. French consumers are increasingly seeking authentic Asian flavours, ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-heat (RTH) meals, plant-based alternatives and diverse culinary ingredients, all of which are areas of strength for Malaysian manufacturers. The increase in Malaysia’s processed food exports to France in 2025 provides a strong foundation for SMEs to deepen relationships with French importers and distributors, and to reach consumers through both mainstream and ethnic retail channels. France as a Gateway to the European Union As one of the EU’s largest consumer markets, France offers Malaysian exporters established retail networks, food service channels and distribution infrastructure that can serve as a springboard into other EU member states. Malaysia and the European Union are currently negotiating the Malaysia–EU Free Trade Agreement. MATRADE will continue to keep exporters informed of relevant developments as the negotiations progress. To capture opportunities in the European market, Malaysian exporters will need to continue meeting the EU’s requirements on food safety, labelling, traceability and sustainability, supported by competitive pricing and reliable supply capacity. From Exhibition Leads to Export Contracts MATRADE will continue to support participating companies through post-event follow-up, business matching, market intelligence and engagement with European buyers, including through its office in Paris. These efforts aim to help SMEs translate exhibition exposure into sustained commercial relationships and to equip them with the knowledge and networks needed to navigate the French and wider European markets. Malaysian companies interested in expanding into France and the European Union, or in participating in future editions of SIAL Paris and other MATRADE-led trade promotion programmes, are encouraged to contact MATRADE or visit www.matrade.gov.my.
- November 11, 2026Travel & Leisure
Ascott Reaches Halfway Mark Towards Full GSTC Certification
All eligible properties certified in seven markets and regions, with Indonesia set to follow by end-2026 The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a Singapore-headquartered global hospitality company wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment, has achieved Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification[1] for half[2] its eligible[3] portfolio. The milestone keeps Ascott, a long-standing GSTC-Committed member, on track to certify its entire eligible portfolio by 2028. Ascott is the first hospitality company in the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan to have all its eligible properties GSTC-certified. It has also certified its full eligible portfolio in India, Laos, Europe and Australia. In Indonesia, Ascott expects all eligible properties to be certified by end-2026. This would add more than 50 properties to its certified portfolio and bring its share of certified portfolio to over 65%. GSTC certification requires properties to pass independent audits by GSTC-accredited certification bodies against global criteria covering sustainable management, community impact, cultural heritage and the environmental stewardship. Ascott was among the first hospitality companies globally to attain GSTC-Committed Status in 2024, recognising its commitment to advancing the GSTC Standards and leading sustainability transformation across the tourism sector. Ms Beh Siew Kim, Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Investment and Managing Director, Japan and Korea, Ascott, said: “Sustainability certification is fast becoming a business differentiator. Travellers increasingly look for trusted credentials when they book, and corporate travel buyers expect them. GSTC certification gives guests confidence in our properties and improves our visibility across booking and distribution channels. It also drives operational efficiency and strengthens the long-term value and resilience of our portfolio.” “This milestone reflects the commitment of our teams around the world and the strong support from our property owners and partners. It shows that doing well and doing good go hand in hand, creating value for our guests, owners and the communities where we operate,” she added. “Congratulations to Ascott on reaching this important milestone in its journey toward full certification by GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies. This achievement reflects Ascott’s sustained commitment to integrating the GSTC Standards across its global operations and demonstrates how a long-term sustainability strategy can translate into measurable progress. We value our continued collaboration with Ascott and look forward to seeing further progress toward its 2028 goal,” said Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC. Ascott’s sustainability efforts are guided by Ascott CARES , its global sustainability framework aligned with the GSTC Standards. Under this framework, Ascott launched the Ascott CarbonClear Initiative in 2024 to improve energy, water, waste and carbon performance across its properties, supporting its target of Net Zero (Scope 1 and 2) by 2050. To help guests make more informed choices, Ascott highlights sustainability certification on relevant property pages on its global booking platform, DiscoverASR.com . Nearly 70% of its properties also display their carbon and water footprints, with further roll-out underway. GSTC Hotel Standard in Action Across Ascott’s Portfolio Australia: Advancing Accessibility and Community Impact Quest became the first multi-site hotel brand in Australia to achieve Accessible Accommodation’s highest accreditation, with more than 90 properties certified accessible. Across the country, Ascott associates have contributed 498 volunteer hours and collected 2,400kg of food through Foodbank Australia initiatives to help address food insecurity. The team also supports vulnerable communities through partnerships with Housing All Australians, Sony Foundation and Project Net Zero. India: Protecting Biodiversity and Reducing Waste Somerset Greenways Chennai was the first property in Ascott’s global portfolio to achieve GSTC certification in 2023. The serviced residence has pioneered a fully automated water bottling system that eliminates the use of more than 168,000 single-use plastic bottles annually. Ascott’s teams in India have also supported the protection of endangered olive ridley turtles and coastal clean-ups. Philippines: Restoring Communities and Green Spaces All 25 of Ascott’s eligible properties in the Philippines have been GSTC-certified since 2024. Partnering with Rural Rising, the local team has planted more than 500 indigenous trees across multiple cities and helped turn a former dumpsite in Payatas, Metro Manila, into a community park. Ascott’s associates have also organised riverbank clean-ups across Luzon and the Visayas, collecting more than 600kg of waste to date. For more information regarding Ascott’s sustainability commitments, please visit www.discoverasr.com/ascottcares. [1] Note: The term “GSTC Certification” is a shorthand for “Certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-accredited.” [2] As of October 2026, 169 out of 335 eligible properties are now certified by GSTC-accredited certification bodies. [3] Note: Eligible properties refer to properties managed and branded by The Ascott Limited with more than 2 years of operation.
- November 11, 2026Games & Entertainment
CyberAgent Announces Partnership with MAPPA Co., Ltd. and Invests in Its Parent Company MHD
CyberAgent, Inc. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Takahiro Yamauchi; TSE Prime Market: 4751) today announced that it has entered into a business alliance agreement with MAPPA Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Manabu Otsuka), a company engaged in animation production and licensing, and has acquired a stake in MAPPA's parent company, MHD Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Manabu Otsuka). Through this partnership, the two companies will honor the passion poured into every work and the appeal each one holds, while expanding both the possibilities of anime creation and the opportunities for audiences to connect with these works. Together, they aim to create experiences that allow people around the world to discover new stories and enjoy the works they love more deeply and for years to come. Background of the Partnership The CyberAgent Group believes that outstanding works are born from creators’ freedom to imagine and their willingness to rise to new challenges, embracing a "creator-first" culture rooted in respect for their creativity. MAPPA likewise deeply values the passion that creators bring to their craft. Taking an active role in its projects from the planning stage onward, the studio has continued to take on new challenges in both the creation of works that leave a lasting impression on audiences and the business that surrounds them. The two companies have previously worked together on a range of projects, including anime planning, broadcasting and streaming on ABEMA, and game adaptations. Through these collaborations, they have found that they share a sincere commitment to their craft and a desire to deliver ever-better works to fans. To deepen this relationship and take on new challenges together over the long term, they have now entered into this partnership. Overview of the Partnership By combining MAPPA’s animation production capabilities with the expertise the CyberAgent Group has built through its various media, game, and advertising businesses, the two companies will work together to strengthen their ability both to create anime and to deliver it to audiences. They will explore collaboration across a wide range of areas, from planning and production to broadcasting and streaming, games, merchandise, and events. In doing so, they will pursue works and new ways of enjoying them that only this partnership can make possible, while connecting those works with fans across borders. While honoring the culture and creative achievements built up over the years by the many people involved in anime, the two companies aim to contribute to the further development of the anime industry by continuing to create and deliver works that fans around the world will cherish for a long time. Executive Comments Takahiro Yamauchi, Representative Director and President, CyberAgent, Inc.: "We have entered into a partnership with MAPPA Co., Ltd. and invested in its parent company, MHD Co., Ltd. We have deep respect for anime culture that has been cultivated over many years, and for the passion that creators pour into each and every work. As fellow leaders of our generation in the industry, Mr. Otsuka and I adopt 'Creative First' as our shared value. By bringing CyberAgent's expertise across anime, game, and media business operations, we want to realize multifaceted initiatives together for great stories to cross borders and reach audiences. We devote our full efforts from a long-term perspective to enhance the true value of Japan's anime worldwide." Manabu Otsuka, President & CEO, MAPPA Co., Ltd.: "We have always asked ourselves how best to create and deliver our works so that audiences can enjoy them more deeply. Along the way, we have come to realize how important it is to work closely with partners who bring different strengths and to think together, beyond the interests of any single company, about what would make the experience better for the people who enjoy our works. We are grateful that the team at CyberAgent shares these beliefs and sees the possibilities that can open up when our two companies work together, and this has led us to deepen our collaboration. We will continue to create with great care for quality and at the right pace, sharing the appeal of our works so that audiences around the world can enjoy them." About MAPPA Co., Ltd. MAPPA is an independent Japanese animation studio established in 2011. With television anime at its core, MAPPA develops and produces a wide range of animated works, including films, commercials, and online videos, without limiting itself to any particular genre. Its notable works include JUJUTSU KAISEN, Attack on Titan The Final Season, and Chainsaw Man. In addition to animation production, MAPPA runs its own licensing business in Japan and overseas, handling merchandising, streaming, events, and other initiatives in-house to share the appeal of its works with audiences. MAPPA is currently holding MAPPA EXPO 15th Anniversary, an exhibition commemorating its 15th anniversary. The studio also launched its music label, mappa records, in 2025, collaborating with composers and artists to create music that complements the worlds of its productions. Through these and other initiatives, MAPPA is committed to creating opportunities for audiences to engage more deeply with its works. MAPPA is also engaged in community and educational initiatives in partnership with local governments and educational institutions, including locally rooted activities in Nakano, Tokyo, where it is headquartered, and classes on animation production held throughout Japan. About CyberAgent Anime & IP Division The Anime & IP Division at CyberAgent aims to expand the IP business by planning and producing anime projects, from developing original anime to adapting popular manga, as well as merchandising of popular IPs. CyberAgent has operated dedicated anime channels on ABEMA since its launch in 2016 and, in 2017, co-established the CA-Cygames Anime Fund with Cygames, which specializes in investing in anime IP. The company entered the anime industry by acquiring rights such as streaming and game adaptation through investment in third-party production committees. In February 2024, we established the Anime & IP Division to further strengthen our structure. Focused on IP development and anime planning and production, we have consolidated collaborative projects with ABEMA, along with advertising, promotion, merchandising, and retail functions. With an eye on the global market, we conduct comprehensive business operations ranging from planning to monetization. Through communication strategies and promotions tailored to the cultures and characteristics of fans in each country and region, we are working to expand awareness of the titles both domestically and internationally and to build fan communities.
- November 11, 2026Business
SPL and JINGDONG Industrials Sign Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Industrial Supply Chains in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Postal and Logistics (SPL) and JINGDONG Industrials (JDi) , an industrial supply chain technology and service provider and a subsidiary of JD.com (also known as JINGDONG), have signed a Strategic Collaboration Framework to jointly develop a business-to-business (B2B) digital procurement platform. The partnership marks an important milestone in advancing Saudi Arabia’s industrial development ambitions under Vision 2030, supporting more efficient industrial procurement and stronger, more resilient supply chains across the Kingdom. The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Eng. Anef Abanomi , President of SPL, and Mr. Feng Guo , CEO of JD.com Middle East, alongside senior representatives from both companies. The agreement was signed by Eng. Rayan Alsharef , Chief Commercial Officer at SPL, and Mr. Steven Mei, CEO of JINGDONG Industrials Middle East. The platform is designed to move beyond traditional transactional procurement. By combining SPL’s extensive local market reach and logistical capabilities with JDi’s comprehensive supplier network and extensive MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) and BOM (Bill of Materials) product portfolios, the collaboration aims to address critical gaps across upstream and downstream industrial supply chains. For factories and enterprises across the Kingdom, the platform will offer streamlined digital integration, transparent sourcing, and localised inventory readiness, helping to establish the infrastructure needed to support long-term industrial self-reliance and advanced manufacturing capabilities. The collaboration builds on JD.com’s long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia, where the company’s logistics, property and industrial supply chain businesses support local and international companies in serving customers across the Kingdom. While building an integrated, end-to-end industrial supply chain requires sustained efforts and long-term strategic commitment, this strategic partnership represents an important step towards strengthening Saudi Arabia’s industrial competitiveness and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of its supply chains. About Saudi Post | SPL Established in 1926, Saudi Post | SPL is the Kingdom’s National Postal Champion and a key player in Saudi Arabia’s postal and logistics sector. Through its integrated capabilities, SPL provides a comprehensive range of postal and logistics services, including courier, express, and parcel (CEP) services, e-commerce logistics, specialized third-party logistics (3PL) solutions, and innovative digital logistics solutions. By combining its nationwide network, operational expertise, and technological capabilities, SPL aims to enhance service quality, improve supply chain efficiency, and strengthen logistics integration, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and in support of the Kingdom’s ambition to establish itself as a global logistics hub. About JINGDONG Industrials JINGDONG Industrials (HKEX: 7618), a subsidiary of JD.com (also known as JINGDONG), is a leading industrial supply chain technology and service provider. JINGDONG Industrials brings together more than 230,000 manufacturers, distributors and agents, providing customers with access to over 97 million SKUs across 80 industrial product categories. Serving approximately 13,000 key enterprise customers and millions of small and medium-sized businesses, it combines AI-driven innovation, digital procurement, industry expertise and fulfillment capabilities to deliver solutions across maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), production materials and spare parts. The company helps businesses reduce costs, improve efficiency and strengthen supply chain resilience, while expanding its international presence through collaboration with customers and partners. About JD.com (JINGDONG) JD.com is a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider. The company’s cutting-edge retail infrastructure seeks to enable consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it. The company has opened its technology and infrastructure to partners, brands and other sectors, as part of its Retail as a Service offering to help drive productivity and innovation across a range of industries. JD.com’s business has expanded across retail, logistics, finance, technology, services, health, industrials and property. Ranking 41 on the Fortune Global 500, JD.com is China’s largest retailer by revenue. The company reported revenue of USD 187.2 billion in the financial year ended 31 December, 2025. JD.com has been listed on NASDAQ since 2014 and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2020. JD.com currently operates logistics, property and industrials businesses in Saudi Arabia. Its logistics network, operated through JoyLogistics and JoyExpress, comprises warehouses, sorting centres and delivery stations supported by local teams. JINGDONG Property invests in and develops advanced logistics and industrial facilities and serves customers across e-commerce, third-party logistics, manufacturing, retail and other emerging industries. ([email protected])
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