Friday, May 30, 2025

Lenovo and Motorola announce partnership with FIFA Club World Cup 2025™

 MORRISVILLE, N.C. - Friday, 30. May 2025 AETOSWire  



Lenovo and Motorola partner with landmark global club football tournament

Partnership will spotlight Motorola’s iconic brand through activations at pitch-side and engagement with fans across the globe

 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lenovo and Motorola Mobility, a Lenovo company, have partnered with the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™


Motorola, a Lenovo brand, has been named Official FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ Smartphone Partner and will use the milestone in club football to promote the brand on a global scale, engaging with fans worldwide.


The FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ takes place in the United States, starting June 14, marking the start of a bold new era of global club football.


32 of the planet’s most iconic teams, from across all six confederations, will play 63 matches across four weeks looking to be crowned club world champions.


As an Official FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ Partner, Lenovo and Motorola will provide essential hardware, services, and smart solutions to FIFA and all 32 qualified teams participating in the reimagined tournament. This includes advanced AI PCs, tablets and workstations, plus Motorola smartphones. These tools will help support tournament operations, content capture and collaboration, and on-the-ground support throughout the competition.


On-site marketing initiatives include Lenovo and Motorola-branded content running on field-level LED screens and stadium video board(s) before, during, and after each match. Exclusive content will also be captured pitch-side during some matches using Motorola’s most innovative smartphones to date, the Motorola razr family 2025.


“Motorola is proud to support this new global club football landmark with smarter technology,” said Sergio Buniac, President of Motorola. “The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 represents an incredible opportunity to showcase not only the world’s best football clubs, but also the transformative potential of innovation. Through our infrastructure, devices – from smartphones to Lenovo PCS & servers, and services, we’ll help FIFA deliver a globally inclusive tournament for fans around the world.”


FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said: “The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup will mark a new era in global club football – one that is inclusive, innovative and more connected than ever before. We’re delighted to have Motorola and Lenovo joining us for this groundbreaking tournament. Their world-class technology and global perspective will help elevate the experience for fans, teams and other stakeholders.”


This partnership builds on Lenovo’s heritage in powering the technology that has and continues to underpin many flagship global sporting properties and aligns with a mission to provide smarter technology for all, on and off the pitch.


Fans from around the world are set to come together to mark the inception of a new global tradition, and tickets remain available to join them. Visit FIFA.com/tickets to secure your seat and be part of football history.


About Lenovo


Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #248 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.


 


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Contacts

+44 (0)7917 437 532

sgill@lenovo.com

Pimicotinib Demonstrates Best-in-Class Potential with Significant Efficacy and Clinically Meaningful Improvements in Patients with Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor

DARMSTADT, Germany - Wednesday, 28. May 2025


Global Phase 3 MANEUVER study of pimicotinib in tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) met the primary endpoint, demonstrating objective response rate at week 25 of 54.0% versus 3.2% for placebo (p<0.0001)

MANEUVER met all five key secondary endpoints, with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain, stiffness, range of motion, physical function, and decrease in tumor volume

Treatment was well-tolerated, with low incidence of treatment discontinuation and dose reductions

 


Not intended for Canada-, UK- or US-based media


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the presentation of detailed positive results from Part 1 of the global Phase 3 MANEUVER trial evaluating pimicotinib, a potentially best-in-class investigational colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) inhibitor in development by Abbisko Therapeutics Co., Ltd., in the treatment of patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). Once-daily pimicotinib demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) assessed by blinded independent review committee (BIRC) compared with placebo at week 25 (54.0% vs. 3.2% for placebo (p<0.0001). The study also demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in all secondary endpoints related to key patient-reported outcomes in TGCT. These findings will be presented Sunday, June 1 in an oral presentation at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (Abstract #11500).


“The impact that TGCT has on patients goes far beyond the physical presence of the tumor. It affects their ability to work, to move freely, and to engage in everyday activities," said Prof. Niu Xiaohui, Director of the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Diagnosis and Research Centre at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. “In MANEUVER, we observed the highest ORR seen to date with a systemic therapy, together with statistically significant improvements in measures of pain, stiffness, and range of motion. These improvements in outcomes that matter to patients with TGCT and the physicians who care for them show the potential of pimicotinib to allow patients to go about their daily lives with fewer negative effects of their disease.”


In MANEUVER, which enrolled patients from China, Europe and North America, the effect of pimicotinib had an early onset, with 41.3 % (26 of 63) of patients experiencing objective response to therapy after 13 weeks. By the data cutoff for primary analysis, nearly all patients in the pimicotinib group (58 of 63 patients; 92.1%) had a decrease in tumor size per BIRC based on RECIST v1.1; one patient achieved a complete response and 33 patients achieved a partial response. The median duration of response was not reached by the data cutoff. The analysis of tumor volume score (TVS, an endpoint designed specifically for TGCT) showed that nearly two-thirds of patients treated with pimicotinib experienced a reduction in tumor volume of at least 50% (61.9% vs. 3.2% for placebo, p<0.0001).


Pimicotinib also demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement across all additional secondary endpoints relevant to patients’ daily lives, and these improvements were seen regardless of achieving objective tumor response to pimicotinib. Pimicotinib improved active range of motion (p=0.0003) and physical function measured by PROMIS-PF scale (p=0.0074). Pimicotinib also reduced worst stiffness (p<0.0001) and worst pain (p<0.0001).


“TGCT, although rare, has a significant impact on the daily lives of the primarily working-age adults who live with the disease, due to swelling, pain, stiffness, and limited mobility caused by the growth of these tumors in and around the joints,” said Danny Bar-Zohar, appointed CEO Healthcare and current Global Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer. “The landmark global Phase 3 MANEUVER study data will help redefine how TGCT is treated, and we plan regulatory submissions to start this year.”


Pimicotinib was well-tolerated, and the safety profile was consistent with previously reported data, with no evidence of cholestatic hepatotoxicity or hair/skin hypopigmentation. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in one patient (1.6%) treated with pimicotinib; TEAEs leading to dose reduction occurred in 7.9% (n=5) of pimicotinib-treated patients.


About MANEUVER


The pivotal Phase 3 MANEUVER study is a three-part, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of pimicotinib in patients with TGCT who require systemic therapy and have not received prior anti-CSF-1/CSF-1R therapy. The study is being conducted by Abbisko Therapeutics in China (n=45), Europe (n=28), and the US and Canada (n=21).


In the double-blind Part 1, 94 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either 50 mg QD of pimicotinib (n=63) or placebo (n=31) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR) at week 25, as measured by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 by blinded independent central review in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Secondary endpoints include tumor volume score, active range of motion, stiffness by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), pain by Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and physical function measured by Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS).


After the double-blind Part 1, eligible patients could continue to the open-label Part 2 for up to 24 weeks of dosing, results of which are expected in mid-2025. Patients who complete Part 2 may then enter the open-label extension phase (Part 3) for extended treatment and safety follow-up.


About Pimicotinib (ABSK021)


Pimicotinib (ABSK021), which is being developed by Abbisko Therapeutics, is a novel, orally administered, highly selective and potent small-molecule inhibitor of CSF-1R. Pimicotinib was recently granted Priority Review by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) who require systemic therapy. Pimicotinib has been granted breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) for the treatment of unresectable TGCT by China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and priority medicine (PRIME) designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Merck holds worldwide commercialization rights for pimicotinib.


Advancing the Future of Cancer Care


At Merck, we strive every day to improve the futures of people living with cancer. Building on our 350-year global heritage as pharma pioneers, we are focusing our most promising science to target cancer’s deepest vulnerabilities, pursuing differentiated molecules to strike cancer at its core. By developing new therapies that can help advance cancer care, we are determined to create a world where more cancer patients will become cancer survivors. Learn more at www.merckgroup.com.


About Merck


Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 62,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2024, Merck, generated sales of € 21.2 billion in 65 countries.


The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark “Merck” internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare and EMD Electronics in electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company’s technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company.


All Merck, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada, please go to www.Merckgroup.com/subscribe to register for your online, change your selection or discontinue this service.


 


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Contacts

Media Relations

gangolf.schrimpf@emdgroup.com

Phone: +49 151 1454 9591


Investor Relations

investor.relations@merckgroup.com

Phone: +49 6151 72-3321

Fitch upgrades Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC’s long-term issuer default rating to ‘BBB’, outlook stable

 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Hikma, Company) is pleased to announce that Fitch has upgraded its long-term issuer default rating and the senior unsecured rating on Hikma Finance USA LLC’s $500 million notes to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-‘ with a stable outlook.


 


Khalid Nabilsi, CFO of Hikma said: “I am pleased that now both Fitch and S&P have upgraded Hikma to BBB, reinforcing our investment grade rating. These upgrades are a strong endorsement of our strategic direction, financial discipline, and operational resilience. They underscore Hikma’s solid market position across key geographies and reflect confidence in our ability to consistently deliver strong financial results, supported by our diversified business model, robust balance sheet, and prudent capital allocation.”


 


About Hikma


Hikma helps put better health within reach every day for millions of people around the world. For more than 45 years, we've been creating high-quality medicines and making them accessible to the people who need them. Headquartered in the UK, we are a global company with a local presence across North America, MENA and Europe. For more information, please visit: www.hikma.com



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Contacts

Bedour Mossa


Email: bmossa@apcoworldwide.com


Mobile: +971 52 905 2468

Lisa Sequino Appointed President, Makeup Brand Cluster, The Estée Lauder Companies

 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today announced the appointment of Lisa Sequino as the new President, Makeup Brand Cluster, responsible for leading the strategic direction and global growth of makeup, and overseeing the company’s portfolio of makeup brands, including M·A·C, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Smashbox and GLAMGLOW. Ms. Sequino will report to Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Executive Vice President, Chief Brand Officer and will be effective in the role as of June 9, 2025.


A respected leader with more than two decades of experience in the beauty industry, Ms. Sequino returns to The Estée Lauder Companies with a distinctive blend of deep institutional knowledge and proven success as a CEO. In her new role, she will be responsible for accelerating innovation and makeup trends, step-changing consumer recruitment and enhancing local relevance. Her appointment reflects the company’s continued investment in strengthening its makeup category and unlocking long-term opportunity.


“We are thrilled to welcome Lisa as the new leader of our makeup cluster,” said Jane Hertzmark Hudis. “She is a powerful leader with a strong record of driving brand and business results. Her unique combination of strategic and conceptual thinking, entrepreneurial mindset and operational excellence makes her exceptionally well-suited to fast track our makeup cluster into its next phase of growth. Under Lisa’s leadership, we are focused on winning with today’s makeup consumer across generations, geographies and channels.”


With nine years of experience at The Estée Lauder Companies in senior roles across both global and North America businesses, Ms. Sequino’s extensive familiarity with the company and its brands will enable her to quickly accelerate momentum across the makeup brand cluster. She served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Estée Lauder – North America, where she led the go-to-market strategy and execution for the company’s flagship brand in its home region. She later advanced to Senior Vice President, Brands – North America, where she oversaw a multi-brand portfolio across skincare, makeup, and fragrance, and was responsible for optimizing brand synergies and accelerating execution across categories and channels in the region.


Following her impactful tenure at the company, Ms. Sequino served as CEO of JLo Beauty, Jennifer Lopez’s beauty brand, and most recently, was CEO of Supergoop!, where she fostered an indie and digital-first mindset to expand its global footprint. Under her leadership, Supergoop! captured emerging trends to launch innovative products for the brand – including tinted moisturizers, lip balms, and setting powders – that redefined the category for Supergoop! and broadened consumer usage occasions.


“I’m excited to return to The Estée Lauder Companies to help drive the next chapter of growth in the makeup category,” said Lisa Sequino. “There’s tremendous opportunity to reach new makeup consumers globally by accelerating innovation and trends, fast-tracking consumer acquisition across channels, driving digital and social media, and assuring local relevance to win with today’s makeup consumer. I look forward to partnering with the incredible teams behind M·A·C, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Smashbox, and GLAMGLOW to unlock new opportunities, scale impact, and drive meaningful business results.”


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include those in the various quotations. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include the ability to successfully implement the Company’s strategy, including Beauty Reimagined and the profit recovery and growth plan; successfully transition its leadership; and those other factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise.


About The Estée Lauder Companies

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The Company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.


 


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Contacts

Media Relations:

Meridith Webster

mwebster@estee.com


Investor Relations:

Rainey Mancini

rmancini@estee.com


 

ExaGrid Wins 3 Industry Awards at Network Computing Awards 2025

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - Thursday, 29. May 2025

(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExaGrid®, the industry’s only Tiered Backup Storage solution with Retention Time-Lock and the only non-network-facing tiered air gap with delayed deletes and immutability for ransomware recovery, today announced that the company was honored with three industry awards, including Air-gapped Ransomware Recovery Product of the Year, Company of the Year, and the Storage Product of the Year during the Network Computing Awards ceremony, held in London on May 22, 2025.

The Network Computing Awards are determined by public vote. The 2025 awards mark the seventh consecutive year of wins for ExaGrid at the Network Computing Awards, and the sixth consecutive year that ExaGrid has won the Company of Year award.

ExaGrid continues to gain recognition for its Tiered Backup Storage, winning four industry awards so far in 2025, including:

    Data Breakthrough Awards – Data Backup Solution of the Year
    Network Computing Awards – Air-gapped Ransomware Recovery Product of the Year
    Network Computing Awards – Company of the Year
    Network Computing Awards – Storage Product of the Year

“Congratulations to all of the winners of the Network Computing Awards 2025, and many thanks to everyone who voted for us, we are grateful to our partners and customers for their support,” said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid. “We are thankful that our Tiered Backup Storage has been recognized with the Air-gapped Ransomware Recovery Product of the Year award, as our tiered air gap is key to ExaGrid’s ransomware recovery story as it works hand-in-hand with the delayed delete policy and immutability that work together to ensure ExaGrid customers are able to recover if faced with a malicious attack. We are honored to win Company of the Year for the sixth time and Storage Product of the Year as it is a testament to the ExaGrid team and the ExaGrid product to receive continued recognition by voters over the years. We are proud to offer a product that ‘just works’ and that is designed to help organizations solve all of the problems of backup storage.”

About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, scale-out architecture, and comprehensive security features. ExaGrid’s Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid’s scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and planned product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier (tiered air gap), delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.

ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.

Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

 

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Contacts

Media Contact:
Mary Domenichelli
ExaGrid
mdomenichelli@exagrid.com

CODE81 and Commercial Bank of Dubai Sign Strategic MoU to Accelerate Digital Transformation through Advanced Data Analytics

 CODE81, a leading regional technology innovator, announces the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD). This partnership aims to enhance CBD’s data and analytics capabilities, empowering smarter decision-making and accelerating the bank’s digital transformation journey.


 


The collaboration addresses one of the most pressing challenges faced by large financial institutions: managing and leveraging complex data assets effectively. Under the MoU, CODE81 will support CBD in overcoming data silos, improving data governance frameworks, and deploying scalable, AI-powered analytics infrastructure aligned with CBD’s business objectives. These efforts will enable more agile, insight-driven operations that drive measurable business outcomes.


 


Dr Bernd Van Linder, Chief Executive Officer at CBD, commented, "At CBD, we believe technology must ultimately serve and benefit the customer and our latest partnership agreements reflect our ongoing commitment to enable meaningful innovation in banking. For over 50 years, we have been proud to grow alongside the UAE, and today, we continue to invest in partnerships that allow us to lead in digital transformation, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a future-proof and globally competitive economy."


 


Nader Paslar, General Manager of CODE81, said, "CODE81’s collaboration with Commercial Bank of Dubai is a testament to our commitment to empowering smarter, faster decision-making through enhanced data and analytics. By combining our deep technology expertise with CBD’s forward-looking vision, we’re laying the foundation for agile, data-driven banking that delivers real impact for customers and supports the UAE’s ambitions for a digitally advanced economy."


 


This strategic collaboration aligns closely with both organizations’ goals to leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to create competitive advantages and drive efficiency in the financial sector. The partnership marks a significant step forward in accelerating the adoption of data-driven decision-making capabilities at CBD, reinforcing its position as a forward-looking, customer-centric bank in the region.


 


About CODE81


Established in 2024, CODE81 (A Ghobash Group Enterprise) is a highly agile service-driven organization committed to enabling progressive thinkers and coding a better future. CODE81 advances into uncharted territories, fostering a culture marked by unparalleled agility, innovative methodologies, strategic partnerships, and diverse perspectives. With a team of 35 specialists, CODE81 specializes in data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML), low-code application development, automation, and cloud services, crafting superior transformational products and solutions to equip individuals and businesses for sustainable success and enriched lives.


 


For more information, visit code81.com or write to info@code81.com. You can also follow CODE81 on LinkedIn.


 



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Contacts

Tony Hamad


Group Marketing Director


+971 4 5961800

Manhattan Associates Launches Supply Chain Commerce Solutions on Google Cloud Marketplace

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH), the global leader in supply chain commerce, today announced an expanded go-to-market (GTM) partnership with Google Cloud. All Manhattan Active® solutions are available on Google Cloud Marketplace, enabling customers to accelerate their digital transformation success. This expanded alliance will enable customers to easily procure, deploy and manage Manhattan’s award-winning, cloud-native supply chain execution, planning, and omnichannel commerce solutions.

“We’re excited to deepen our partnership with Google Cloud to bring our solutions to a larger user base through Google Cloud Marketplace, enabling greater agility, visibility, and resilience to supply chain commerce. In today’s dynamic market, cloud-driven flexibility isn’t just an advantage—it’s essential for business success,” said Eric Clark, President & CEO, Manhattan Associates. “Manhattan’s deep expertise in supply chain technology coupled with Google Cloud’s powerful, scalable infrastructure is perfectly placed to deliver AI-driven solutions.”

Key benefits of this expanded partnership include:

  1. Speed to Value – Customers will be able to simplify billing, streamline procurement, and leverage Manhattan spend towards existing Google Cloud purchase commitments.
  2. Accelerated Digital Transformation – Manhattan Active solutions are natively integrated into Google Cloud, driving agility in supply chain and omnichannel commerce operations. They are optimised to run on Google Cloud with fast deployment and high performance, reliability and security.
  3. AI Innovation at Scale – Customers will have access to advanced AI-driven insights, automation, productivity, and experience improvements, leveraging the latest AI technologies across their supply chain commerce operations.

“Bringing Manhattan Active to Google Cloud Marketplace will help customers quickly deploy, manage, and grow their supply chain commerce solutions on Google Cloud's trusted, global infrastructure,” said Michael Clark, President, North America, Google Cloud. “Manhattan Associates can now securely scale and support customers on their digital transformation journeys.”

Manhattan has partnered with Google Cloud for many years to transform supply chain capabilities for businesses worldwide. Manhattan Active Platform utilises an extensive array of Google cloud services, including Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Google Cloud SQL, Google PubSub, Google Interconnect and Google Big Query. Our joint customers can enjoy the benefits of low latency connectivity with Google services and a secure data interchange.

Additionally, the newly announced Manhattan Agent Foundry™ is engineered using Google Agentspace technology and the Vertex AI platform. Our customers will have the benefits of Manhattan AI Agents being available in their own Google Agentspace allowing a seamless agentic execution across their enterprise applications.

About Manhattan Associates

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

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

Receive up-to-date product, customer and partner news directly from Manhattan Associates on LinkedIn.

 



Contacts

Press Contact:
James Canham-Ash
jash@manh.com


From Ancient Grounds to an Intelligent Future: The 1st International Humanoid Olympiad Launches in Olympia, Greece

 ATHENS, Greece - Thursday, 29. May 2025



(BUSINESS WIRE)--This year, Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, welcomes the inaugural International Humanoid Olympiad. From August 29th to September 2nd, at the International Olympic Academy in Olympia, humanoid robots will participate in demonstrations and Olympic-inspired games, showcasing their dexterity and intelligence, while global leaders in robotics and AI will share insights through expert talks and workshops. Blending millennia-old values, ethos, and ideals with a bold vision for the future, the event will spotlight how human creativity and robotics are shaping the future.


This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250528788233/en/


This global gathering brings together state-of-the-art humanoid robots in spectacular showcases designed to captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds while their creators, researchers, engineers, students, and visionaries are pushing the boundaries of what intelligent machines can do. Initiated by Acumino, a pioneering scale-up in Robotic Intelligence, and co-organized with Endeavor Greece, the organisation that helps high impact entrepreneurs scale and multiply their impact, the event invites the world to witness how humans and machines can learn, evolve, and inspire one another.


What to Expect:


Interactive Demos

Get up close with cutting-edge humanoids. Watch live demos, interact with them, and learn how their AI helps them move, adapt, and solve real-world problems, delivering value to the economy and society.


Expert Talks

Hear from global leaders in robotics and AI as they discuss the future of physical intelligence, human-robot collaboration, and ethical tech.


Physical AI in Robotics

Discover how physical AI is revolutionizing industries through targeted workshops.


Building Robots

Hands-on workshops where participants, especially students and children, can build their own robots with the guidance of experts. No previous experience needed.


Olympic-Inspired Games

Humanoids will participate in games like sprinting, jumping, and javelin throwing, testing their dexterity, agility, and sensorimotor coordination.


Why It Matters

As AI and robotics shape the future, the International Humanoid Olympiad invites us to ask a deeper question - not just what machines can do, but what kind of future we want to design together. This is a place to come together, connect with researchers, builders, dreamers, and pioneers from around the world and redefine what is possible.


Event Details


Dates: August 29 – September 2, 2025

Location: International Olympic Academy, Olympia, Greece

Website: www.humanoidolympiad.org

Pre-registration now open: https://form.typeform.com/to/G8DNp8HC

Official registration opens: June 12, 2025

Press Inquiries: press@humanoidolympiad.org


 


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Kuwait’s Real-Time Payment Scheme WAMD Surpasses 1 Million Accounts in First Year

 WAMD onboards 30% of Kuwait’s banked population in first 3 months; real-time transactions powered by KNET and ACI Worldwide up more than 12x since 2024

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), an original innovator in global payments technology, and KNET, Kuwait’s national electronic banking company, today announced that WAMD, Kuwait’s real-time payment system, recorded significant growth in the number of transactions processed since its launch in June of 2024, making WAMD one of the world’s most rapidly adopted real-time payment initiatives.

KNET utilized ACI's Digital Central Infrastructure solution to build the central payment infrastructure of WAMD, an interoperable, countrywide scheme that enables account-to-account (A2A) payment transfers via a bank’s mobile app or internet banking service by using a phone number. WAMD was implemented in less than 15 months, redefining the pace for rapid digital transformation and innovation. Banks in Kuwait have lauded the scheme for delivering a seamless and user-friendly differentiated customer banking experience. With 100% of the country’s banks now on board with WAMD, this extraordinary growth in real-time payments is expected to continue.

“As real-time payments become ubiquitous in Kuwait, consumers have gravitated toward secure, real-time payment methods, reshaping habits around convenience and efficiency while reducing reliance on cash. KNET’s primary strategic focus is to provide a safe and reliable payment environment by enhancing existing infrastructure, developing innovative payment systems, and improving service efficiency domestically and regionally,” said Esam Alkheshnam, KNET’s Chief Executive Officer.

Alkheshnam added that “IPS in Kuwait was given the name ‘WAMD,’ which translates to lightning flash – an indication of the speed of the service. WAMD, which is available on the banking application of all local banks, has gained traction from the start with one million registered users during the first quarter of the launch of WAMD.

“As soon as we introduced the service to Kuwait, we began outlining the next phase of IPS in Kuwait, which will build on the success of phase one. Together with ACI Worldwide, being one of our strategic partners, KNET is committed to adopting state-of-the-art technologies in digital payments, adhering to the highest global standards.”

Aligned with KNET’s mission of supporting Kuwait’s national vision for digital transformation, longer-term strategic initiatives include the integration of Kuwait’s fintech players to WAMD and enabling A2A real-time payments in their Electronic Fund Transfer Point-of-Sale terminals using dynamic QR codes. KNET is also looking at implementing the “Request to Pay” service to streamline payment operations for web merchants and provide a safer, enhanced e-commerce shopping experience for Kuwaitis.

Kuwait’s evolution into a real-time payment powerhouse is set to further propel the Middle East’s position as a leader in payments modernization. According to ACI’s Prime Time for Real-Time 2024 report, which tracks global real-time payment volumes and growth forecasts, the Middle East has been recognized as the fastest-growing real-time payments market in the world for two consecutive years. Additionally, real-time payments are a powerful enabler for economic advancement and inclusion. ACI’s Real-Time Payments: Economic Impact and Financial Inclusion report indicates that by 2028, real-time payments are forecast to create more than 167 million new bank account holders and generate $285.8 billion of additional global GDP growth.

“Kuwait’s rapid adoption of real-time payments has been impressive and stands out as one of the fastest adoption rates around the globe. The rising demand for real-time payments drives innovation in payments, forges new use cases that stimulate economic growth, promotes financial inclusion, and meets customers’ evolving expectations,” commented Craig Ramsey, global head of account-to-account payments at ACI Worldwide. “Together, ACI and KNET have created one of the most secure and future-proof real-time payment systems in the world – one that puts Kuwait at the forefront of the global real-time payments revolution.”

ACI Worldwide has a strong track record of powering real-time schemes around the world as well as helping banks, fintechs and other payment service providers in the ecosystem to connect to the schemes and offer new, innovative financial services for consumers and businesses. ACI currently powers 26 domestic and pan-regional real-time schemes across six continents – including 11 central infrastructures. Globally, ACI serves all 10 of the world’s largest financial institutions by asset value and provides solutions that move trillions of dollars through more than one billion transactions daily.

About KNET

The Shared Electronic Banking Services Company (KNET), a pioneer in electronic payments in Kuwait, was established in 1992 through a partnership of local banks to connect their systems and enable a wide range of banking services through an advanced network. KNET is committed to adopting state-of-the-art technologies in various fields of electronic banking and payments, adhering to the highest global standards. The company's targeted sectors include commercial, banking, and governmental sectors in Kuwait.

About ACI Worldwide

ACI Worldwide, an original innovator in global payments technology, delivers transformative software solutions that power intelligent payments orchestration in real time so banksbillers, and merchants can drive growth, while continuously modernizing their payment infrastructures, simply and securely. With 50 years of trusted payments expertise, we combine our global footprint with a local presence to offer enhanced payment experiences to stay ahead of constantly changing payment challenges and opportunities.

© Copyright ACI Worldwide, Inc. 2025

ACI, ACI Worldwide, ACI Payments, Inc., ACI Pay, Speedpay and all ACI product/solution names are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACI Worldwide, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, in the United States, other countries or both. Other parties’ trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

 



Contacts

KNET Media Contact
Mai Al-Sharida | Director – Business Development | MayS@knet.com.kw

ACI Media Contacts
Nick Karoglou | Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs | nick.karoglou@aciworldwide.com
Lyn Kwek | Communications and Corporate Affairs Director, APAC/Middle East/Africa | lyn.kwek@aciworldwide.com


Thursday, May 29, 2025

CSC Launches Domain Control Validation as a Service, Streamlining Certificate Life Cycle Management


 WILMINGTON, Del. -

Simplifying domain validation to reduce overhead, accelerate certificate issuance, and ensure readiness for industry-wide changes.


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--CSC, an enterprise-class domain security provider and world leader in domain management, brand protection, and anti-fraud solutions, today announces the launch of Domain Control Validation as a Service (DCVaaS), a unique offering designed to simplify and expedite secure sockets layer (SSL)/transport layer security (TLS) certificate validation processes for all its CSC Trusted Secure digital certificate clients.


DCVaaS empowers users with a streamlined, centralized solution for domain control validation, eliminating the need for repetitive validations during certificate renewals. It significantly reduces the time and effort required to manage certificate life cycles—making it an essential tool as the industry moves toward shorter certificate validity periods.


This launch comes at a critical time as the digital certificate industry evolves. Notably, the CA/Browser Forum has announced that starting March 2026, certificate lifetimes and domain control validation (DCV) re-use periods will be reduced to 200 days. These will reduce annually, ultimately reaching a lifetime of just 47 days and a DCV re-use period of 10 days by 2029. Additionally, WHOIS email validation will be discontinued on July 15, 2025. While the changes are aimed at enhancing security, and increasing agility, they mandate the need for alternative and future-ready validation solutions that are real-time, scalable, and standards compliant.


Key benefits of DCVaaS include:


Simplified validation workflows: One-time validation removes redundancy and improves efficiency.

Faster certificate issuance: Real-time validation reduces delays in provisioning digital certificates.

Reduced administrative burden: Centralized management of validation records means fewer manual tasks.

Future-proofing against industry changes: Designed to support shorter certificate lifetimes and the deprecation of WHOIS email validation.

“Issuing digital certificates involves specific processes and a considerable amount of work. When it comes to renewals, the same steps need to be repeated. DCVaaS addresses a major pain point in certificate management—repetitive and time-consuming validations,” says Mark Flegg, senior director of Technology, CSC Security Products and Services. “DCVaaS can reduce processing time by more than half, allowing companies to deploy certificates more quickly than ever before. As WHOIS email validation sunsets and certificate lifespans continue to shrink, DCVaaS helps organizations stay compliant, agile, and ahead of the curve.”


To learn how Domain Control Validation as a Service can support your digital certificate management strategy, contact CSC at cscdbs.com.


About CSC


CSC is the trusted security and threat intelligence provider of choice for the Forbes Global 2000 and the 100 Best Global Brands (Interbrand®) with focus areas in domain security and management, along with digital brand and fraud protection. As global companies make significant investments in their security posture, our DomainSecSM platform can help them understand cybersecurity oversights that exist and help them secure their online digital assets and brands. By leveraging CSC’s proprietary technology, companies can solidify their security posture to protect against cyber threat vectors targeting their online assets and brand reputation, helping them avoid devastating revenue loss. CSC also provides online brand protection—the combination of online brand monitoring and enforcement activities—with a multidimensional view of various threats outside the firewall targeting specific domains. Fraud protection services that combat phishing in the early stages of attack round out our solutions. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, since 1899, CSC has offices throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Asia- Pacific region. CSC is a global company capable of doing business wherever our clients are—and we accomplish that by employing experts in every business we serve. Visit cscdbs.com.


 


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Contacts

Joyson Cherian

W2 Communications

CSC@w2comm.com

CSC® News Room

Sharjah Ruler gifts University of Sacred Heart historical manuscript

 May 26, 2025 03:54 ET| Source: Bitget Limited




Bitget Delivers A Knockout Experience: VIP Access to Karate Combat’s KC54 Dubai UFC Fight


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, brought the heat to Token2049 with an exclusive ringside experience at Karate Combat KC54 in Dubai on May 2nd. Think high-octane strikes, VIP treatment, and a night so wild, even the blockchain felt the impact.


bitget x krtkmbt-38 large


This year, Bitget raised the stakes by offering a premium experience that put crypto enthusiasts right at the heart of the action. Bitget's esteemed VIPs witnessed world-class fighters trade blows while enjoying gourmet food and premium beverages in an exclusive VIP section reserved just for Bitget's key opinion leaders and special guests.


With a crowd of 4,000-5,000 roaring fight fans, the energy in Dubai's premier venue was electric. Bitget COO Vugar Usi Zade perfectly captured the spirit of the event: "Crypto trading and combat sports demand the same qualities—quick reflexes, strategic thinking, and nerves of steel. We're thrilled to give our community this exclusive opportunity to experience world-class competition up close. Whether you're analyzing charts or analyzing fight techniques, this is where champions are made."


Bitget Delivers A Knockout Experience: VIP Access to Karate Combat’s KC54 Dubai UFC Fight


Robert Bryan, CEO of Karate Combat, remarked, "KC54 marked a significant milestone in our journey, and having Bitget as a sponsor amplified our commitment to innovation in combat sports. Their support helped us deliver an unforgettable experience that blended tradition with cutting-edge technology.


Asim Zaidi, President of Karate Combat, also added, "Partnering with Bitget for KC54 was a game-changer. Their involvement not only elevated the event's profile but also underscored the synergy between martial arts and the evolving digital landscape."


Bitget Delivers A Knockout Experience: VIP Access to Karate Combat’s KC54 Dubai UFC Fight


The event marked another strategic partnership for Bitget in the combat sports world, following their successful collaborations with professional combat athletes such as Wrestling World Champion, Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu, and Boxing Gold Medalist Samet Gümüş (Boxing). By creating these exclusive live experiences, Bitget continues to build meaningful connections between the crypto community and high-profile sporting events.


Jyotsna Hirdyani, Bitget's South Asia head, who orchestrated the event, shared insights. "This is the future. From blockchain to sports, crypto is changing the game forever. This is what happens when sports & entertainment meet blockchain technology. It’s a cultural shift where you will see more & more cross-plays of sports x crypto, the ultimate cross-over."


This partnership underscores Bitget's commitment to delivering unique, high-value experiences to its community. Just as in trading, timing is everything, and May 2nd in Dubai was when crypto met combat in what turned out to be an unforgettable showdown. Bitget's focus remains on creating tangible value for the crypto community beyond digital interfaces.


About Bitget


Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.


Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.


For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet


For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com


Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.


About Karate


Karate Combat is the world's premier full-contact karate league, renowned for its innovative approach to combat sports entertainment. Known for its distinctive, fast-paced fighting style - essentially MMA without ground fighting, Karate Combat delivers high-energy bouts, with nearly half ending in knockouts. With over 7 million followers, hundreds of millions of views monthly, and over 100,000 active app users, Karate Combat is at the forefront of blending sports, technology community-driven experiences.


Photos accompanying this announcement are available at


https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c42afdf6-d6ba-4c86-9956-11a55ab53e57


https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7491be04-23bb-4a08-adea-298413bc3465


https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11cf807e-3ef9-44f5-8645-11265a51e617


https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b65cc5e-9dd9-4842-9b2c-cb12d08b16d6

AVEDA Launches in the U.S. Amazon Premium Beauty Store

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--AVEDA, a purpose-driven pioneer of plant-powered, high-performance beauty announces its debut in the U.S. Amazon Premium Beauty store, bringing its assortment of vegan hair, skin, body and lifestyle products to new consumers across the country.


This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250528898881/en/


“With the launch of AVEDA in the U.S. Amazon Premium Beauty store, we’re not only introducing more people to the world of AVEDA but also highlighting our incredible network of salons,” said Shane Wolf, President AVEDA & Hair Care. “This new online experience gives a glimpse into our world of high performance, vegan hair care for all – from new innovations to iconic classics.”


Amazon customers can shop a wide selection of AVEDA products, including its best-selling franchises Botanical Repair™ for bond building and repair, Invati Ultra Advanced™ for thinning hair concerns, and Be Curly Advanced™ for targeted care for curls, coils and waves. Shoppers can also explore signature aroma collections like Shampure™, Rosemary Mint and Cherry Almond, must-have body care essentials like Hand Relief™ and styling offerings like the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush.


AVEDA’s U.S. Amazon Premium Beauty store features an immersive Hair Care Guide – an educational experience page created in partnership with salon professionals from the AVEDA network. This guide includes videos, product highlights, and storytelling to help consumers recreate their salon style at home.


Since its founding, AVEDA has been guided by its mission to care for the world. AVEDA is a proudly vegan, Leaping Bunny Approved, certified B Corporation, that raises awareness and funds for clean water initiatives worldwide. AVEDA prioritizes care for the “whole you,” combining modern science and the ancient art of Ayurveda to provide holistic, ritual based products and services that meet the needs of consumers and professionals alike.


Follow @AVEDA and @amazon on social and shop AVEDA on the U.S. Amazon Premium Beauty store at amazon.com/AVEDA.


ABOUT AVEDA


Our mission at AVEDA is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At AVEDA, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world.


A force of nature since 1978, AVEDA was founded by hair stylist Horst Rechelbacher with a mission to care for the world we live in. Crafted with care for people and planet, AVEDA creates vegan, plant-powered, high-performance products for hair, skin and body. AVEDA uses botanical technologies and green chemistry and combines the principles of modern science and the ancient art of Ayurvedic healing. AVEDA is Leaping Bunny approved by Cruelty Free International and a certified B Corporation, meeting high verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. AVEDA products are available in more than 45 markets worldwide across freestanding stores, partner salons, specialty retailers and on AVEDA.com. For every hair, everyone.


About The Estée Lauder Companies

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The Company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.


ELC-B


 


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Contacts

PRESS CONTACTS

Investors:

Rainey Mancini

rmancini@estee.com


The Estée Lauder Companies:

Meg Teggart

Mteggart@estee.com


AVEDA:

Moheli Rinaldi

mrinaldi@aveda.com

Rimini Street Appoints Vijay Kumar as EVP and Chief Operating Officer

 LAS VEGAS - Thursday, 29. May 2025 AETOSWire 



Seasoned business and IT executive leader to drive operational efficiency, scaling, increased profitability and accelerated growth of the business


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, management and innovation solutions, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced the appointment of Vijay Kumar as executive vice president (EVP) and chief operating officer (COO).


In this role, Mr. Kumar leads product management, service strategy and offerings for Rimini Street’s “Support, Optimize and Innovate” solutions and oversees Rimini Street’s Global Capability Centers (GCC). Mr. Kumar also drives operational efficiency and innovation of the portfolio to increase profitability and accelerate top line revenue growth.


New COO Brings Broad Operational Experience and Capabilities


Kumar is a seasoned technology executive with more than 25 years of experience in building and scaling go-to-market, post-sales, services, and product organizations. His expertise spans enterprise software, SaaS, product management, professional services, and global support across B2B, B2C and AI platforms.


In his most recent role prior to joining Rimini Street, Kumar served as senior vice president at Genesys Cloud, leading global functions in operations, customer success, services, and delivery for the past seven years. He played a key role in accelerating customer expansion, driving revenue retention and operating margin. Previously, Kumar held executive leadership roles at HP Software leading services, sales & delivery, Kony Inc. as vice president and general manager of professional services, and at Vignette (acquired by OpenText) as vice president.


“I am thrilled to join the Rimini Street C-Level executive team at such a pivotal moment in the company’s growth journey. Together we are building a path to a multi-billion-dollar revenue operation, driving top and bottom-line results, while delivering extraordinary value and innovation for our clients,” said Kumar. “Our Rimini Smart Path™ methodology is a game changer; we empower customers to unlock the latest innovation without the burden of ERP upgrades or migrations. I am excited to lead the team that will show our clients how to self-fund innovation without disruption, within their existing IT budgets.”


“Vijay’s leadership is already making a positive impact as we continue scaling our business for increased profitability and accelerated revenue growth,” said Seth Ravin, CEO and chairman of the board at Rimini Street. “His broad operational expertise and experience and service roadmap vision make him an ideal fit for Rimini Street.”


Kumar holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an MBA from Xavier School of Management, India. He is based in Rimini Street’s North American region and reports directly to the CEO.


About Rimini Street, Inc.


Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of unified solutions to run, manage, support, customize, configure, connect, protect, monitor, and optimize enterprise application, database, and technology software. The Company has signed thousands of contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who selected Rimini Street as their trusted, proven mission-critical enterprise software solutions provider and achieved better operational outcomes, realized billions of US dollars in savings and funded AI and other innovation investments.


To learn more, please visit https://www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.


Forward-Looking Statements


Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, adverse developments in and costs associated with defending pending litigation or any new litigation, including the disposition of pending motions to appeal and any new claims; any additional expenses to be incurred to comply with any injunction ordered by the courts relating to the Rimini II litigation matter and the impact on future period revenue and costs incurred related to these efforts; changes in the business environment in which Rimini Street operates, including the impact of any macro-economic trends and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; the evolution of the enterprise software management and support landscape and our ability to attract and retain clients and further penetrate our client base; significant competition in the software support services industry; customer adoption of our expanded portfolio of products and services and products and services we expect to introduce; our expectations regarding new product offerings, partnerships and alliance programs, including but not limited to our partnership with ServiceNow; our ability to grow our revenue and accurately forecast revenue, along with the results of any efforts to manage costs in light of current revenue expectations and expansion of our offerings; the expected impact of reductions in our workforce during the last and current fiscal year and associated reorganization costs; estimates of our total addressable market and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; variability of timing in our sales cycle; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately predict retention rates; the loss of one or more members of our management team; our ability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, including sales personnel, and retain key personnel; our business plan, our ability to grow in the future and our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; our plans to wind-down the offering of services for Oracle PeopleSoft products, which may be impacted by pending decisions in the Rimini II litigation; the volatility of our stock price and related compliance with stock exchange requirements; our need and ability to raise equity or debt financing on favorable terms and our ability to generate cash flows from operations to help fund increased investment in our growth initiatives; risks associated with global operations; our ability to prevent unauthorized access to our information technology systems and other cybersecurity threats; any deficiencies associated with generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies potentially used by us or used by our third-party vendors and service providers; our ability to protect the confidential information of our employees and clients and to comply with privacy regulations; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand and intellectual property; changes in laws and regulations, including changes in tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take, tariff costs (including tariff relief or the ability to mitigate tariffs, particularly in light of proposed policies of the new Presidential administration), a failure by us to establish adequate tax reserves, or our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; any negative impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters on our reputation or business and the exposure of our business to additional costs or risks from our reporting on such matters; our ability to maintain our good standing with the United States government and international governments and capture new contracts with governmental entities/agencies; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk, including uncertainty from the transition to SOFR or other interest rate benchmarks; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; uncertainty as to the long-term value of Rimini Street’s equity securities; catastrophic events that disrupt our business or that of our clients; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 1, 2025, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.


© 2025 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.


 


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Contacts

Janet Ravin

VP, Global Communications

Rimini Street, Inc.

+1 702 285-3532

pr@riministreet.com


 

The African Engineering and Technology Network signs ninth university partner


 KIGALI, Rwanda - 

Pan-African network, led by Carnegie Mellon University Africa, drives digital transformation on the continent through research, education, and entrepreneurship


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Carnegie Mellon University Africa announced today that the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) has signed its ninth university partner, Universidade Agostinho Neto. The network, launched in 2022, provides a vehicle for technology-focused universities in Africa to engage in deep collaboration to drive digital growth, create technology development and job growth, and shape policy change.


Afretec Network members span the entire continent and include Carnegie Mellon University Africa (Rwanda), Al Akhawayn University (Morocco), the American University in Cairo (Egypt), Université Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal), University of Lagos (Nigeria), University of Nairobi (Kenya), University of Rwanda, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and now Universidade Agostinho Neto (Angola).


“We are proud to welcome Agostinho Neto University into the Afretec Network,” said Conrad Tucker, director of CMU-Africa and associate dean for international affairs-Africa. “As a network, we are focused on pan-African digital growth, which means that it is crucial that we collaborate across different languages and cultures on the continent.”


The Afretec Network is focused on goals in three areas:


Producing critical, locally relevant innovations and globally competitive technology talent


Developing a digital knowledge creation ecosystem


Fostering a startup technology culture and ecosystem across Africa


Located in the capital city of Luanda, Agostinho Neto University is Angola’s oldest and largest public higher education institution. The university has a commitment to modernization, academic excellence, and the sustainable development of Angola and Africa. The Portuguese-speaking country of Angola has a young population and a strong demand for engineering, IT, and technology-driven programs. The university has already begun to collaborate with the network and will join partner universities in engaging with stakeholders across the continent to work toward the shared mission of the digital transformation of Africa.


About the African Engineering and Technology Network: The African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) is a pan-African network made up of technology-focused universities across the continent, who are working together to drive the digital transformation of Africa. The network is led by Carnegie Mellon University Africa. Learn more by visiting www.afretec.org.


About the College of Engineering and CMU-Africa:


The College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is a top-ranked engineering college that is known for our Advanced Collaboration culture in research and education. The College is well-known for working on problems of both scientific and practical importance. Our “maker” culture is ingrained in all that we do, leading to novel approaches and transformative results. Our acclaimed faculty have a focus on innovation management and engineering to yield transformative results that will drive the intellectual and economic vitality of our community, nation, and world.


Carnegie Mellon University Africa was established in 2011 through a partnership between Carnegie Mellon and the Government of Rwanda. CMU-Africa is the only U.S. research university offering its master’s degrees with a full-time faculty, staff, and operations in Africa. The institution is addressing the critical shortage of high-quality engineering talent required to accelerate the economic transformation of the African continent. For more information on the College of Engineering location in Africa, visit www.africa.engineering.cmu.edu.


 


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Contacts

Hannah Diorio-Toth

+1 412-268-1208

hdiorio@andrew.cmu.edu

NIQ Report Reveals 2025 Global Health & Wellness Trends

 CHICAGO - Wednesday, 28. May 2025 AETOSWire 



Wearable tech and conscious buying are influencing health and wellness spending habits

Consumers worldwide are more skeptical of health claims by food companies (62%) and want more transparency in product labels (82%)

Globally, 43% of consumers would consider taking anti-obesity medication if recommended by their healthcare provider

Globally, 39% of consumers view ultra-processed foods negatively, North Americans (48%) among the highest of any region

 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--NielsenIQ (NIQ) today launched its Global State of Health & Wellness 2025: Navigating the shift from health trends to lifestyle choices, the first report of its kind for NIQ to examine emerging consumer behaviors around health and wellness. The findings include regional deep dives in 19 countries, focusing on the critical topics of trust and influence, nutrition, weight loss, mental wellness, health technology, and conscious buying within health and wellness.


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According to NIQ, consumers are increasingly making choices for their future health—70% of global consumers believe they are proactive in managing their health and 57% now prioritize “aging well” more than they did five years ago. As a result, 55% of consumers are willing to spend over $100 a month on better nutrition, self-care, physical and mental health, and more. However, consumers are growing increasingly skeptical about health claims. Globally, 82% say labels on health and wellness products need to be more transparent and easier to understand, and 25% say that their lack of trust that wellness products or services will be effective is stopping them making healthier life choices.


“To thrive in the evolving wellness market, brands must go beyond product innovation to deliver clarity, transparency, affordability, and trust,” said Marta Cyhan-Bowles, Chief Communications Officer & Head of Global Marketing COE. “Consumers are ready to invest in their well-being but need guidance. Companies must ensure their products are accessible, transparently labeled, and competitively priced to win consumer loyalty.”


Top Consumer Trends in Health and Wellness in 2025

To capture shifting consumer preferences and what it means to live well, manufacturers and retailers must connect with today’s holistically minded and better-informed consumers in ways that focus on their priorities.


Nutrition and gut health are driving healthy food and beverage choices:

Half (53%) of the consumers across 19 surveyed countries say they plan to buy more high-fiber foods in 2025, while around 40% plan to buy more superfoods, high-protein plant-based foods, or probiotic foods.


Anti-obesity medications (AOMs) are transforming weight loss management:

More than half (54%) of consumers place more importance on healthy body weight, shape, and muscle tone now than they did five years ago. Four in 10 (43%) would consider taking AOMs if recommended by their healthcare provider, but 63% globally are not familiar with the medications.


Health-related technology is a growth area in the global Consumer Tech & Durables market:

Three-quarters (74%) of consumers would prefer a tech product with extra health and wellness features over one without. Nearly two-thirds (63%) believe that health-focused technology products are effective in helping to improve their health and wellness, and 57% say they would use an app or screening device that ensures the products they purchase align with their personal health priorities.


Consumers are focusing on self-care and wellness:

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of consumers prioritize getting quality sleep and looking after their mental health more than they did five years ago. They also plan to do more activities like spending time in nature (60%), massage and muscle relaxation (40%), yoga and meditation (35%), or aromatherapy (24%).


Conscious buying—the global demand for socially responsible products is on the rise:

Personal well-being and societal responsibility are becoming increasingly interlinked in consumers’ outlooks. In fact, 70% of surveyed consumers say they believe it’s “important” or “very important” that the health and wellness products they buy are also eco-friendly and/or ethically produced (e.g., fair trade, cruelty-free, higher animal welfare), and 71% are willing to pay more for wellness products with these attributes.


Key Takeaways for Brands


Manufacturers and retailers must address consumers’ ongoing core concerns around the cost and availability of healthier options—and their desire for authentic, clear, and detailed product information. Brands can additionally win loyalty with core segments, along with premiumization potential, by ensuring that their full product portfolio has a wellness focus, as well as being ethically sourced, environmentally responsible, and socially aware.


About the Global State of Health & Wellness 2025 Report


This flagship report focuses on global forces that are shaping consumers’ developing needs and findings around consumers’ health and wellness awareness, aspirations, motivations, barriers, and future buying intentions. To understand how these trends are impacting your local market, download a free copy of the global report and one or more of the five Regional Insights Companions that dig deeper into specific markets across Asia Pacific; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Latin America; North America; and Western Europe.


Research Methodology


NIQ’s 2025 Global Health & Wellness survey was conducted in January and February 2025. Nearly 19,000 adult consumers were interviewed online in the following 19 countries: Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States. Data reflects the adult grocery shopping population in each respective country.


About NIQ


NielsenIQ (NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. NIQ combined with GfK in 2023, bringing together two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. Our global reach spans over 90 countries covering approximately 85% of the world’s population and more than $ 7.2 trillion in global consumer spend. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™.


For more information, please visit www.niq.com


© 2025 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.


 


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Contacts

Patricia Ratulangi

patricia.ratulangi@nielseniq.com