20, Aug 2026
Wizzmoni Partners with Oman Air to Launch AI-Powered Co-Branded ‘Wizz Voyager’ Multi-Currency Travel Card
KOCHI, India, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wizzmoni Financial Services Ltd and Oman Air have partnered to launch the co-branded Wizz Voyager Multi-Currency Card, an AI-powered travel card supporting multiple global currencies. Bringing together Wizzmoni’s fintech capabilities with Oman Air’s international network, the partnership delivers a more seamless travel experience by integrating payments, rewards, and travel benefits into a single platform.
Designed for frequent travelers, students, and professionals, the card supports multiple global currencies while delivering a seamless digital forex experience with real-time tracking and smart financial controls. The partnership supports Oman Air’s broader strategy of extending the customer experience beyond the flight through integrated travel services and value-added retail solutions.
Surya Kuchibotla, Vice President – Retailing, Ancillary & Commerce, Oman Air, explains, “As customer expectations continue to evolve, partnerships such as this allow us to extend the Oman Air experience beyond the airport, creating greater value throughout the entire travel journey. Our partnership with Wizzmoni reflects that vision by combining travel and payments into one seamless experience, giving guests greater flexibility while unlocking meaningful rewards every time they travel. The Wizz Voyager Card complements our wider retail and ancillary strategy, making international travel simpler, more connected, and more rewarding.”
The card transforms everyday spending into travel opportunities, offering customers access to Oman Air flight vouchers, upgrades, and exclusive travel benefits through milestone-based rewards. Customers can also explore Oman Air holidays and ancillary services directly through Wizz Voyager’s digital platforms, creating a unified journey from planning to payments.
“Wizz Voyager Card is built for the new-age global traveller where every swipe unlocks value, and every journey becomes more rewarding. This is a bold step towards creating a truly connected travel and payment ecosystem,” said Amir Nagammy, Founder & Group CEO, Wizz Financial.
“At Wizzmoni, we are committed to elevating every aspect of the customer travel journey. This partnership brings together innovation and experience to deliver greater value, convenience, and memorable moments for international travelers worldwide,” said CA Krishnan R, Director & CEO, Wizzmoni India.
The card will be available across Oman Air counters, Wizzmoni branches, and authorized partners, ensuring easy access and a seamless onboarding experience in a digital onboarding process delivering frictionless experience to customers.
About Oman Air
Oman Air (WY), a member of the oneworld Alliance, began operations in 1993. Initially founded to serve important domestic routes, it has since undergone rapid growth and is today recognised as a major international carrier connecting cities around the world to Oman’s stunning nature, rich heritage and welcoming culture.
The award-winning airline has been instrumental in transforming Muscat into one of the Middle East’s most desirable travel destinations, while supporting adjacent commercial, industrial and tourism activities. With a young and modern fleet including, among others, fuel-efficient Boeing 737 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which feature luxuriously appointed interiors, Oman Air is renowned for its exceptional products and services, both in the air and on the ground, and for the signature Omani hospitality it offers to every guest throughout their journey.
About Wizzmoni:
Wizzmoni (formerly Unimoni) is an NBFC and AD-II licensed financial services provider with more than 350 branches across India, offering digital wallet solutions, multi-currency travel cards, foreign exchange, send money abroad services, Gold loan, digital payments, and insurance. Wizzmoni is a flagship brand of Wizz Financial.
About Wizz Voyager Card:
Wizz Voyager is an AI-powered multi-currency prepaid travel card designed for global travelers, including students, professionals, and tourists. Supporting more than 35 currencies, it delivers a seamless digital forex experience through a feature-rich mobile app with real-time tracking and smart financial controls.
Built on Wizz Financial’s proprietary end-to-end issuing and processing platform, Wizz Voyager is among the few fintech offerings globally with complete control over card issuance and management. Issued in partnership with VISA, it combines global acceptance with next-generation agility, while supporting a wide range of currencies, including several that are rarely available in the Indian market.
About Wizz Financial:
Wizz Financial, a regional fintech platform transforming cross-border money movement and digital lending across strategic economic corridors spanning India, the GCC, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Headquartered in the UAE and India, Wizz Financial operates a hybrid neo-banking model that combines a unified digital wallet ecosystem with physical infrastructure to serve customers in both their home and resident jurisdictions through a single platform.
Committed to delivering convenient and reliable financial solutions, Wizzmoni continues to empower customers with seamless financial services. www.wizzvoyager.com | www.wizzfinancial.com | www.wizzmoni.com | 1800 102 0555 | customercare@wizzmoni.com
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- By Sai Krishna
20, Aug 2026
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) Reports Total Holdings of Approximately $389 Million, Includes OpenAI, Beast Industries, More Than 16,000 ETH and Nearly 302 Million WLD Tokens
Eightco repurchased 14 million shares of common stock in the past two weeks under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program
Eightco treasury composition as of August 19, 2026: $90M OpenAI equity (indirect), $18M Beast Industries equity, 16,278 ETH, nearly 302 million WLD holdings, and $132M cash and equivalents, totaling approximately $389 million
Eightco recently participated in World Foundation’s $52.5M funding round, led by Pantera with participation from Bain Capital Crypto, Selini Capital, Susquehanna Crypto, and additional investors
Eightco provides indirect exposure to some of the most innovative private companies including OpenAI and Beast Industries
EASTON, Pa., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) (“Eightco” or the “Company”) today provided an update on its total holdings, highlighting its position across digital assets and strategic investments in leading private technology companies. Eightco also announced that it has repurchased approximately 14 million shares of its common stock under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program.
As of August 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET, ORBS’ holdings include a $90 million investment (indirectly, through SPVs) in OpenAI, an $18 million funded investment in Beast Industries, a $1 million investment in Mythical Games, 301,971,219 Worldcoin (WLD) at $0.37 per WLD (per Coinbase), 16,278 Ethereum (ETH), and approximately $132 million in total cash and stablecoins, for total holdings of approximately $389 million.
Top Headlines Driving the News:
Eightco’s management believes the Company’s treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system. This week’s top headlines include:
- OpenAI completed a secondary share sale totaling roughly $7 billion ahead of its anticipated IPO, allowing current and former employees to sell stock at the company’s $852 billion valuation (CNBC).
- On August 4, Cloudflare announced Cloudflare Wallets, the programmable wallet for the agentic internet, giving AI agents a wallet and the ability to transact (Cloudflare).
- On August 10, OpenAI announced that it is expanding its Daybreak Cyber Partner Program to make its most capable cybersecurity models available through trusted cybersecurity companies and service providers. Through Daybreak, partners such as Accenture, IBM, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, Cloudflare, and others can incorporate OpenAI’s models into their existing security products and services (OpenAI).
- On August 18, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT for Teens, designed to help teens learn, think critically, deepen understanding, and use AI with confidence. It is intended to provide stronger built-in safety protections for teens, including features to promote healthy use and additional controls for parents (OpenAI).
“We continue to believe ORBS’ common shares are undervalued to not only intrinsic value, but also the synergistic value of assets held,” said Kevin O’Donnell, Chairman and CEO of Eightco (ORBS). “Our decision to repurchase 14 million shares in the past two weeks reflects the confidence we have in Eightco’s strategy, assets and future. We believe these share repurchases are an efficient and effective use of capital and increase shareholder value.”
Eightco: Exposure to key mega-trends
Eightco is built around three mega-trends the Company expects to shape the next decade of innovation: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy, with positions in each trend through indirect investment in OpenAI (23% of ORBS’ treasury holdings), Worldcoin (29%), and Beast Industries (5%).
Artificial Intelligence — OpenAI
Eightco has invested approximately $90 million in special purpose vehicles with exposure to equity interests in the parent company of OpenAI, representing approximately 23% of treasury assets, one of the highest disclosed concentrations of any listed vehicle.
ChatGPT, OpenAI’s consumer app, is the #1 consumer AI app worldwide (Sensor Tower). On July 31, 2026, OpenAI announced that its models now reach more than one billion active users and more than two million businesses. Six months after signing up, people send roughly 50 percent more messages each day and use ChatGPT for about twice as many kinds of work.
Digital Identity — WLD Token
Eightco holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.4% of circulating supply, the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally and approximately 29% of the Eightco treasury’s assets.
Worldcoin is the native token of World, a global Proof of Human network built by Tools for Humanity (co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania) and stewarded by the World Foundation. Its Orb devices issue a privacy-preserving World ID that verifies a user is a unique human, not an AI agent.
Under World’s announced business model, applications pay per-verification fees while end-user verification remains free, with both credential issuers and the World protocol monetizing verified-human authentication. World identifies a $6.35 trillion combined addressable revenue opportunity across 13 industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI (per Tools for Humanity).
Creator Economy — Beast Industries
Eightco has invested $18 million in Beast Industries equity, approximately 5% of treasury assets.
Beast Industries operates one of the largest direct-to-consumer reach footprints in the world, with a combined 500 million-plus follower base across platforms, anchored by MrBeast as the most-watched person on YouTube globally. As AI commoditizes content production, distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets.
About Eightco Holdings Inc.
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company executing a first-of-its-kind Worldcoin (WLD) treasury strategy, providing investors single-ticker indirect exposure to three of the defining trends of this cycle: artificial intelligence through its indirect investment in OpenAI, digital identity through its position as the largest public holder of WLD and the Proof of Human protocol, and the creator economy through its equity stake in MrBeast’s Beast Industries. Backed by leading institutional investors including Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera, and GSR, Eightco is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era.
For more information:
X: @iamhuman_orbs
Website: 8co.holdings
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ORBS stock?
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq. ORBS provides indirect exposure to OpenAI and Beast Industries, and holds one of the largest publicly disclosed positions in Worldcoin (WLD).
Who owns the most Worldcoin (WLD)?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.4% of circulating supply and the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally.
What is Proof of Human?
Proof of Human is cryptographic verification that a user is a unique, living person, not a bot or AI agent. It is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring “one person, one account” in the agentic AI era.
How does Eightco (ORBS) relate to Proof of Human?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) is the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of Worldcoin (WLD), the token powering World’s Proof of Human network.
Who is the CEO of Eightco Holdings?
Kevin O’Donnell is the CEO of Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). The Company’s Board includes Tom Lee (Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) and, as an advisor to the Board, Brett Winton (Chief Futurist at ARK Invest).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company’s expectations that artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy will shape the next decade of innovation; management’s belief that the Company’s treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system; management’s belief that ORBS’ common shares are undervalued relative to intrinsic and synergistic value; management’s belief that the Company’s share repurchases are an efficient and effective use of capital that increase shareholder value; statements regarding World’s addressable revenue opportunity of $6.35 trillion across industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI; statements that distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets as AI commoditizes content production; statements that the Company is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era; statements that Proof of Human is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and systems requiring verified human identity; and statements regarding the Company providing indirect exposure to defining trends through its investments in OpenAI, WLD, and Beast Industries. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “expand,” “advance,” “develop,” “believes,” “guidance,” “target,” “may,” “remain,” “project,” “outlook,” “intend,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “positioned,” “view,” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s inability to direct the management or operations of private businesses where it is not a controlling stockholder, including OpenAI and Beast Industries; risk of loss or markdown on the Company’s strategic investments, including its indirect position in OpenAI equity (held through special purpose vehicles), its position in WLD, and its position in Beast Industries equity; the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; unexpected costs, charges, or expenses that reduce the Company’s capital resources or otherwise delay capital deployment; inability to raise adequate capital to fund or scale its business operations or strategic investments; volatility in digital asset prices, including WLD and ETH, which could materially affect the value of the Company’s treasury holdings; regulatory changes, future legislation, and rulemaking negatively impacting digital assets, artificial intelligence adoption, or biometric data collection; risks related to the development, adoption, and market acceptance of Proof of Human technology and the World network; uncertainty regarding the pace and trajectory of agentic AI deployment in enterprise and consumer applications; uncertainty regarding OpenAI’s product roadmap, business model developments, and any future liquidity events; risks related to Beast Industries’ ability to achieve its growth projections; competition in the digital identity and AI infrastructure markets; reliance on third-party sources for the valuation of certain investments; uncertainty regarding MrBeast’s continued success and the performance of Beast Industries’ creator-driven business model; risks related to the Company’s concentrated positions in certain digital assets and private company investments; risks related to the Company’s share repurchase program, including the timing, pricing, and amount of any repurchases; shifting public and governmental positions on digital assets or artificial intelligence-related industries; risks related to the timing, features, and commercial reception of OpenAI’s model releases; and risks that WLD supply dynamics may not result in anticipated market effects. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Eightco’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements herein, see Eightco’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors and other disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2026 and other publicly available SEC filings. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Eightco undertakes no duty to update this information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in its expectations.
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20, Aug 2026
DCAI and Corti Launch Sovereign AI Control Layer for European Enterprises – Trifork First to Adopt as Implementation Partner
New platform combines Europe’s sovereign AI infrastructure with healthcare-grade AI governance to give enterprises control, compliance, and lower AI costs
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Danish Center for AI Innovation (DCAI) and Corti, frontier lab for clinical-grade AI, today announced the launch of Corti Models, a governed AI infrastructure layer that gives European enterprises full sovereignty, governance, and cost control over their AI strategies.
As AI becomes increasingly business-critical, recent disruptions in access to frontier models have highlighted the risks of depending on a single external AI provider. Corti Models addresses this challenge by providing a unified, model-agnostic platform that allows enterprises to access, manage, and deploy leading AI models while maintaining control over compliance, security, and infrastructure choices.
Corti Models is built on the same infrastructure that powers Corti’s AI solutions, which are designed for highly regulated environments such as healthcare. It provides a single OpenAI-compatible API with support for sovereign cloud and on-premises deployments. The solution is underpinned by DCAI’s ISO-certified Gefion AI supercomputer, providing enterprises with access to sovereign, high-performance AI infrastructure operated under European governance and security standards. This combination of trusted infrastructure and centralized AI governance helps organizations reduce AI spend by up to 5–10x, improve performance, and simplify procurement and compliance through a single contractual relationship.
The initial focus is enterprise software development, enabling organizations to standardize AI-assisted coding while maintaining centralized governance over model access, data handling, and budget controls.
Andreas Cleve, CEO and Co-Founder of Corti, said: “European enterprises need access to the world’s best AI models without becoming dependent on a single provider. Corti Models gives organizations the flexibility to innovate while staying in control of their data, compliance obligations, and long-term AI strategy.”
To support enterprise-scale deployment, Corti Models is powered by Europe’s leading AI infrastructure ecosystem, including DCAI and the NVIDIA-powered Gefion AI supercomputer. As part of its commitment to strengthening European AI sovereignty, DCAI is investing in a scalable NVIDIA Blackwell B300-based cluster, designed to serve as a national inference platform for large-scale enterprise and public-sector AI workloads across Denmark and the broader Nordic region.
Martin Svensson, CEO of DCAI, said: “Gefion was built to strengthen Europe’s AI capabilities. Corti Models demonstrates how sovereign AI infrastructure can be transformed into practical enterprise solutions that create real value for businesses and society. Our investment in next-generation inference infrastructure ensures that European organizations can access world-class AI capabilities while maintaining control over where and how their AI workloads are executed.”
Early Adoption by Trifork
Trifork, the international software innovation company, is among the first organizations to adopt and implement Corti Models. As an early adopter and implementation partner, Trifork will help enterprises accelerate AI adoption while maintaining the governance, security, and compliance standards required in regulated industries.
Jørn Larsen, CEO and founder of Trifork, said: “Our customers want digital independence without compromising on security, compliance or control over their own data. Corti Models and DCAI’s sovereign infrastructure give them greater choice and less dependency on individual providers. For us, the value is clear: we can help our customers use AI in areas where data sovereignty is critical and turn that capability into solutions that create real value.”
Availability
Corti Models is available immediately for enterprise deployment through Corti and its partner ecosystem.
About Corti
Corti is healthcare’s frontier lab for clinical-grade AI. Symphony, its flagship clinical-grade AI model, powers clinical and administrative applications for EHR vendors, virtual care platforms, practice management systems, and life sciences organizations worldwide. Corti serves over 100 million patients annually across health systems including the NHS. The company is headquartered in Copenhagen with offices in New York and London. For more information, visit corti.ai.
About DCAI
The Danish Center for AI Innovation (DCAI) operates Denmark’s national AI infrastructure, including the NVIDIA-powered Gefion supercomputer. DCAI is expanding this foundation through investments in next-generation AI compute and inference capabilities, strengthening Europe’s ability to build and deploy sovereign AI at scale.
About Trifork
Trifork (Nasdaq Copenhagen: TRIFOR) is a global technology company specializing in designing, building, and operating advanced software for enterprise and public sector customers. With 1,102 FTEs across 16 countries, Trifork serves as an end-to-end technology partner to organizations in complex and regulated industries, including public administration, healthcare, financial services, energy, and aviation. Learn more at trifork.com
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20, Aug 2026
KuCoin Achieves ISO/IEC 42001 Certification, Strengthening Trusted AI Across Its Global Digital Asset Platform
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange built on trust, today announced that it has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS). As the world’s first certifiable international standard for AI management systems, ISO/IEC 42001 marks an important milestone in KuCoin’s commitment to building Trusted AI through responsible governance, further strengthening the company’s Trust Framework and reinforcing its long-term vision of delivering secure, transparent and trusted digital asset infrastructure.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in digital financial infrastructure, its role extends far beyond improving operational efficiency. Today, AI supports a growing range of critical platform functions, from risk management, anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud detection to market surveillance, customer service, product intelligence and operational automation. As AI capabilities continue to evolve, so do expectations for how these systems are governed. Trusted AI is no longer defined solely by technological capability—it requires clear accountability, transparency, continuous oversight and responsible governance throughout the entire AI lifecycle. This is precisely the foundation established by ISO/IEC 42001 and an increasingly important requirement for the future of the digital asset industry.
KuCoin’s certified Artificial Intelligence Management System supports its global digital asset exchange and financial services platform reinforcing the responsible deployment, governance and continuous improvement of AI across its operations. The certification covers the AI management system and the organizational functions that support it, ensuring AI is governed under a structured and internationally recognized management framework.
“AI is becoming a foundational capability of digital financial infrastructure, but greater capability must be matched by greater responsibility,” said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. “We believe the future of the industry will not be defined simply by more advanced AI, but by more trusted AI. Achieving ISO/IEC 42001 demonstrates our commitment to embedding responsible AI governance into the way we build, deploy and operate AI across our platform. As we continue to innovate, we remain equally committed to ensuring that every AI capability is transparent, accountable and designed to strengthen user trust.”
ISO/IEC 42001 represents the latest addition to KuCoin’s comprehensive Trust Framework. Building upon its existing ISO/IEC 27001 certification for information security, SOC 2 Type II attestation for operational reliability, and ISO 22301 certification for business continuity and operational resilience, ISO/IEC 42001 establishes a dedicated governance framework for artificial intelligence. Together, these internationally recognized standards create a multi-layered foundation that strengthens security, resilience, transparency and responsible innovation across the platform. As AI continues to reshape the digital asset industry, KuCoin will continue advancing Trusted AI through globally recognized governance standards, ensuring that artificial intelligence not only becomes more capable, but also more trustworthy.
About KuCoin
Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform built on trust and security, serving over 45 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Known for its reliability and user-first approach, the platform combines advanced technology, deep liquidity, and strong security safeguards to deliver a seamless trading experience. KuCoin provides access to 1,500+ digital assets through a broad product suite and remains committed to building transparent, compliant, and user-centric digital asset infrastructure for the future of finance, backed by SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27701:2019, ISO 22301:2019 and ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Certifications. In recent years, we have built a strong global compliance foundation, marked by key milestones including AUSTRAC registration in Australia, a MiCA license in Europe, and regulatory progress in other markets.
Learn more at www.kucoin.com.
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20, Aug 2026
Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh Expands International Academic Network with MoU from University of California, Irvine
Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Global Academic Partnerships to Advance Student Mobility, Joint Research and Innovation
CU UP Partners with University of California, Irvine, ranked 252nd in QS Rankings, to Strengthen Academic and Research Collaboration
LUCKNOW, India, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh, India’s first AI-Augmented Multidisciplinary University has taken important step toward strengthening its international academic and research network by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of California, Irvine, USA, which is ranked 252nd in the QS World University Rankings. The partnership is designed to explore opportunities to deepen long-term collaboration in education, research and innovation, creating stronger global opportunities for students, researchers and faculty members.
Under the MoU, both institutions will work together on a wide range of academic activities, including exploring faculty exchange, researcher exchange, student mobility, joint research projects, research publications, conferences, workshops and short-term academic programmes. The MoU also covers other areas of common academic interest, with each joint initiative to be taken forward based on available resources and mutual consent.
The MoU was signed by Professor Dr. Rajan Sharma on behalf of Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh and Professor Faryar Jabbarri, Interim Dean, Samueli School of Engineering, on behalf of the University of California, Irvine. The collaboration is being seen as a significant step toward creating a stronger global academic ecosystem that connects Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh students and researchers with international learning and research opportunities.
Jai Inder Singh Sandhu, MD, Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh said, “MoU with the University of California, Irvine, is a significant milestone for Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh. This collaboration will create new opportunities for our students, faculty and researchers through student mobility, faculty and researcher exchange, joint research projects, publications and international academic programmes. Our vision is to provide our students with global exposure and connect them with world-class learning, research and innovation opportunities. This partnership further strengthens our commitment to internationalization and academic excellence, while opening new avenues for meaningful global collaborations in the years ahead.”
Prof. Dr. Rajan Sharma, Executive Director, Office of International Affairs, said, “Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh has consistently worked to connect its students and researchers with the global education ecosystem. The MoU with the University of California, Irvine, marks an important milestone in that vision and will help promote the opportunity for faculty exchange, joint research projects, student mobility and international academic programmes. The collaboration is expected to strengthen knowledge exchange and open new avenues for students and researchers to develop their capabilities on a global platform.”
The partnership reflects CU UP’s growing focus on internationalization, academic excellence and research-driven education. By building institution with a globally recognized institution like the University of California, Irvine, the university is reinforcing its commitment to expanding access to world-class learning, research and innovation opportunities.
About Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow)
Envisioned to foster a culture of sustainability and empower future global leaders, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, immerses 21st-century learners in a personalised and experiential learning experience, integrating an AI-powered academic model and a multidimensional, futuristic perspective on education. Our Uttar Pradesh campus carries forward the venerable legacy of more than a decade of Chandigarh University, Punjab, which has established itself as India’s No. 1 Private University and a torchbearer of groundbreaking pedagogy and research-driven innovation. The AI-augmented new campus offers a broad spectrum of industry-driven futuristic academic programs encompassing data-driven insights, virtual reality experiences, real-world simulations, corporate mentorship, international perspective, interdisciplinary research, cultivation of entrepreneurial spirit, and professional competencies.
Website address: https://www.culko.in/
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20, Aug 2026
yomo Secures Initial Banking Licence, Ready to Lead Egypt’s Digital Banking Evolution
CIB-backed digital banking platform, yomo, set to make managing money simpler, more accessible and more empowering for millions of Egyptians at home and abroad
CAIRO, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) announces that the Bank received today preliminary approval from the Central Bank of Egypt to establish yomo digital bank, in line with Egypt’s digital banks’ framework introduced in 2023. This marks an important milestone in the evolution of Egypt’s banking sector – one in which a new generation of digitally native banks enables banking to become simpler, more intuitive and more accessible for millions of people, whether they are managing everyday finances, saving for the future or building businesses that drive economic growth across Egypt.
Backed by CIB’s strength, governance and fifty years of banking excellence, yomo aims to combine the trust of Egypt’s leading private-sector bank with the speed, accessibility and customer relevance of a digitally born bank. The approval enables yomo to enter the next phase of operational, technological and customer readiness ahead of the launch of its services, subject to regulatory approval.
Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, Group Chief Executive of CIB, said: “I believe strongly in the commercial opportunity the launch of yomo offers to CIB’s shareholders as part of our already announced five-year strategy and CIB’s ambition in supporting the launch of yomo is to make it easier for Egyptians everywhere to experience a fully digital banking experience. Egypt’s banking industry is poised to benefit from the increased growth opportunities we are seeing across the mass consumer and small and micro business segments, and the yomo digital banking platform places CIB at the centre of that opportunity”.
Digitally native AI banking is reshaping financial services around the world by removing complexity, increasing accessibility and giving customers greater control over their financial lives. Customers increasingly expect banking to be simple, intelligent and available wherever they are. They want financial services that work around their lives, not the other way around. Built as a digitally native bank – not a traditional bank delivered through a mobile application – yomo has been designed from the ground up, building on Egypt’s existing banking regulations, to satisfy the evolving expectations, lifestyles and ambitions of customers in Egypt.
Rashwan Hammady, newly appointed CEO of yomo, added: “Securing our initial licence is a defining milestone, but it is the beginning of the journey, not the destination. We are building a bank that respects people’s time, speaks their language and helps them move forward with greater confidence and control. Our ambition is to set a new benchmark for digital banking in Egypt by combining simple and intuitive experiences with intelligent support that helps customers make better financial decisions. We look forward to revealing much more about the yomo brand and the experience we are creating later this year.”
Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a new ambition: to help shape the future of banking in Egypt through innovation, trust and technology, while making banking more accessible, more relevant and more empowering for the next generation of customers. Following receipt of its initial licence, yomo will continue the final stages of operational readiness, including technology validation, cybersecurity testing, regulatory compliance, customer journey optimisation and operational resilience before launch.
About CIB:
Commercial International Bank – Egypt (CIB) is Egypt’s leading private-sector bank and one of the country’s most valuable financial institutions. For over 50 years, CIB has played a pivotal role in supporting Egypt’s economic growth by delivering innovative banking, financial and advisory solutions to individuals, businesses and institutions.
For media inquiries, please contact:
OMC
Yehia Issa
Email: yehia.issa@omc.com
Mobile: +971 55 267 0405
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20, Aug 2026
KaarTech establishes new Strategic Business Unit DACH with local Headquarter in Mannheim
New SBU delivers tailored SAP and AI transformation and adoption services for manufacturing clients.
CHENNAI, India, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KaarTech, a global AI-led Enterprise Transformation firm, has established a dedicated Strategic Business Unit (SBU) for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) with headquarter in Mannheim.
The location reflects KaarTech’s commitment to client proximity, placing the new hub in the Rhine-Neckar region — one of Europe’s most important enterprise-technology corridors and home to SAP’s global headquarters in Walldorf.
Aseem Gaur has been appointed Head of SBU DACH, a highly accomplished executive with more than two decades of international experience in consulting and management. His multifaceted leadership experience in Capgemini, Ernst & Young, PwC, Bristlecone and CAMELOT Consulting Group has not only equipped him with valuable regional insights but also fostered a dynamic skill set that blends technical expertise with strategic vision.
The DACH SBU’s vision is to deliver high-impact transformations through a boutique consulting approach: a high-touch, client-centric, personalized, expert-led delivery, backed by a 3,000-strong global organization. The service portfolio covers Discover, Transform and Optimize services for manufacturing clients with a focus on SAP core and Supply Chain Management solutions. These services are augmented by industry accelerators and innovative solutions like KEOS (Kaar Enterprise Operating System).
“In two quarters, we’ve moved from first conversations to long-term partnerships with our clients,” said Aseem Gaur, Head of SBU DACH. “That only happens when they trust you at a strategic level — our clients want a partner who understands their industry, speaks their language, and delivers SAP expertise without the overhead of a typical global consultancy. That’s the gap we’re closing.”
The DACH SBU also marks a milestone in KaarTech’s growth agenda. “As we prepare toward our IPO, establishing a presence in Europe’s most mature SAP market is a strategic step in strengthening our global footprint and building the foundation for our next phase of growth,” says Maran Nagarajan, Founder and CEO, KaarTech.
About KaarTech
KaarTech is a global AI-led Enterprise Transformation firm and SAP Gold Partner. Founded in 2005, KaarTech has grown to more than 3,000 professionals and has successfully delivered over 3,300 projects for 450+ customers across North America, Europe, APAC, and the Middle East. Through its AI-led innovations, KaarTech helps enterprises accelerate their digital and AI-driven Enterprise Operating System transformations, combining forward-looking innovation with proven delivery excellence recognized by 23 SAP Quality Awards across 15 global locations.
Contact: salesdach@kaartech.com
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20, Aug 2026
DB HiTek to Make Debut at electronica India 2026, Targeting Growth in Indian Market
Participating in South Asia’s leading electronics trade show in Bengaluru, India, September 16–18
Showcasing power semiconductor process technologies including BCD, SiC and GaN while seeking new customers among local fabless companies
SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DB HiTek, Korea’s leading 8-inch pure-play foundry, announced that it will participate in electronica India 2026, taking place September 16–18 (local time) in Bengaluru, India. The company aims to strengthen engagement with local customers and expand its presence in the Indian market.
electronica India, held in Bengaluru—India’s “Silicon Valley”—is South Asia’s premier trade fair covering electronic components, systems, applications, and related solutions. At the event, DB HiTek will showcase its key process technologies, including its flagship BCD (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) process, alongside next-generation SiC (silicon carbide) and GaN (gallium nitride) power semiconductors. The company will also look to develop new business with local fabless companies.
Driven by strong government policy support and active investment, India’s semiconductor ecosystem is expanding rapidly. Local companies that have built their businesses around chip design services are expanding into the development of their own semiconductor products, a trend expected to increase demand for foundry services. In response to these market dynamics, DB HiTek has been strengthening collaboration with Indian fabless firms and plans to use the exhibition to broaden its engagement with potential customers.
At the exhibition, DB HiTek will focus on its power semiconductor process technologies, an area in which it has established a competitive edge. Its flagship BCD process has reached cumulative wafer shipments of 9 million, and the company is drawing on its extensive volume-production experience and process expertise to expand into high-value applications in the automotive and industrial sectors.
In next-generation power semiconductors, DB HiTek will present its progress in developing SiC and GaN processes and its roadmap for volume production. The company recently completed process qualification for its 1,200V SiC MOSFET and plans to complete qualification for its 650V GaN process by December this year. Product performance evaluations using these processes are currently underway with strategic customers.
In addition, DB HiTek will showcase various specialized process technologies—including X-ray, global shutter, SPAD (single photon avalanche diode), and other specialty CIS technologies, as well as mixed-signal/RF processes—to further expand its customer base in the region.
A DB HiTek official said, “India is a market where the rapid growth of local fabless companies and the semiconductor ecosystem is creating new business opportunities,” adding, “Through our participation in electronica India, we aim to strengthen our engagement with local customers and continue identifying new business opportunities based on our strengths in power semiconductors and specialty processes.”
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20, Aug 2026
“Spicy Happiness” with aespa Nongshim Launches Second Global Shin Ramyun Campaign
– New omnibus-style video shows aespa enjoying Shin Ramyun in everyday moments –
SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nongshim will launch the second phase of its global Shin Ramyun campaign on August 20 featuring global K-pop force aespa, as Shin Ramyun’s global ambassador. The campaign is designed specifically for international markets and will roll out across 14 key countries. Through a variety of digital content, Nongshim aims to introduce consumers around the world to the ‘Spicy Happiness’ of Shin Ramyun, the simple joy of enjoying its signature spicy taste in everyday life.
Nongshim launched its first global Shin Ramyun campaign with aespa last November. Its music video-style advertisement, featuring aespa’s music and performance, generated 270 million views and helped raise global awareness of Shin Ramyun’s slogan, ‘Spicy Happiness In Noodles’. For the second campaign, the setting moves from the stage to everyday life, showing aespa enjoying Shin Ramyun while cooking, shopping, traveling and spending time together.
‘Spicy Happiness’ in Everyday Life, from Cooking to Travel
The main campaign video opens with aespa saying, “To us, spicy is happiness.” It then shows four everyday moments featuring the members and Shin Ramyun in an omnibus-style format.
Across the video, aespa enjoy Shin Ramyun in a variety of settings. In the “cooking” scene, the members prepare and share Shin Ramyun with a friend, while the “shopping” scene follows them picking up Shin Ramyun at a store. In the “travel” scene, the members enjoy Shin Ramyun with a companion while on a trip.
In the final quiz scene, aespa is asked, “What is another word for happiness?” They answer “SHIN”, playfully bringing the campaign’s “Spicy Happiness” message to life.
Through the video, as Korea’s No. 1 iconic ramyun that embodies the nation’s food culture, Nongshim aims to show consumers around the world how Shin Ramyun’s signature spicy taste can add enjoyment to ordinary moments and make time spent together feel more special.
Diverse Digital Content Tailored for Global Audiences
Nongshim will release a total of 15 videos, including one main campaign video and 14 digital shorts. The shorts expand on the everyday moments featured in the main video through short, upbeat content. They also include interview-style videos in which aespa members talk about topics such as “when they crave Shin Ramyun” and “their favorite toppings to enjoy with Shin Ramyun.” By naturally showing how the members enjoy Shin Ramyun in their daily lives and highlighting their individual preferences, Nongshim aims to communicate the appeal of Shin Ramyun more effectively to global consumers.
The campaign will first roll out in key markets across North America, Asia and Europe where Nongshim has overseas operations, before expanding to markets around the world.
aespa said, “We hope fans around the world can find their own moments of ‘Spicy Happiness’ with Shin Ramyun too.”
A Nongshim representative said, “The second campaign shows global consumers, through aespa, how Shin Ramyun fits naturally into everyday life. Together with aespa, we will continue to engage consumers worldwide and communicate the value of Shin Ramyun’s global slogan, ‘Spicy Happiness In Noodles.'”
About aespa
aespa is a global K-pop force renowned for their distinctive concept and powerful performances. Comprised of KARINA, WINTER, GISELLE, and NINGNING, the group has continued to break records since their 2020 debut with “Black Mamba.” Their releases have achieved major global chart success, including multiple No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and seven consecutive million-selling releases. Most recently, aespa collaborated with Anderson .Paak on “Keychain (FROM THE FILM K-POPS!)” and released their second full-length album in May 2026, which topped the iTunes Top Albums chart in 25 regions worldwide.
aespa’s growing international impact has earned recognition across the global music industry, including being named Group of the Year at Billboard Women in Music 2025 and receiving a nomination for Best Female K-Pop Artist at the 2026 American Music Awards. In August, aespa made their highly anticipated Lollapalooza debut in Chicago and kicked off their new world tour, 2026–27 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : COMPLæXITY, continuing their momentum on the global stage.
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20, Aug 2026
Supreme Infrastructure Targets Next-Phase Growth Led by EPC, Housing & GCC Projects
MUMBAI, India, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For Supreme Infrastructure India Limited, the next phase is beginning with something the company has built for decades: buildings. While infrastructure remains at the core of its business, the company is seeing renewed opportunity in building construction and RCC frame structures, areas where it has an established execution track record. With a strong foundation in EPC, the focus now is on putting these capabilities back to work, strengthening execution and taking on larger and more complex projects.
Supreme Infra has delivered commercial buildings, institutional structures and projects for government agencies over the years, giving it a strong base in construction. Its experience in engineering, project management and execution provides the foundation for the current revival, with buildings and housing forming an important part of the initial pipeline alongside its wider infrastructure opportunities.
Building on an Established Capability
Supreme Infra has executed a range of structures over the years, including Supreme Business Park in Powai, along with projects for various government and institutional clients. That experience is relevant as demand for large and technically complex buildings continues across Mumbai and other urban markets. RCC frame structures and building projects require expertise across excavation, piling, structural work and project management.
As Vikram Sharma, Managing Director, Supreme Infrastructure India Limited, explains, “Mumbai’s real estate market is moving towards integrated development, where residential, commercial, and social infrastructure complement each other. Our four decades of experience in construction and infrastructure, along with our land assets across established locations, give us a strong understanding of how these ecosystems are built.”
Brookfield Shows What the Building Platform Can Support
Supreme Infra announced its partnership with Brookfield in December 2025 for the development of a large Global Capability Centre in Powai. The project spans around six acres and is planned to include approximately 2 million sq ft of office space. It is expected to attract investment of more than $1 billion and create significant employment in the region.
A project of this size requires strong construction capabilities, local knowledge, and the ability to execute complex building works at scale. The development brings the group’s long-standing presence in Powai into focus.
Housing Adds to the Opportunity
Housing is another area where Supreme Infra can deploy its established construction capabilities. Mumbai’s housing market continues to generate demand, while redevelopment and urban regeneration are creating opportunities for experienced construction companies.
For Supreme Infra, this creates scope to participate in residential projects while bringing the same engineering and execution strengths it applies to commercial and institutional construction.
Its understanding of Mumbai’s built environment and presence across established locations add to that opportunity. The combination of land, construction experience and local market knowledge can be relevant in a city where development is shaped by redevelopment, mixed-use growth and constrained land availability.
“We see a clear opportunity to bring that experience into housing while continuing to participate in commercial development. The Brookfield partnership in Powai is a significant validation of our capabilities, but our focus is on building a larger, sustainable real estate platform over the long term,” Sharma adds.
Execution Remains the Growth Engine
Supreme Infra’s capabilities span roads, bridges, railways, water, power and buildings, giving it a diversified EPC base from which to rebuild scale.
Recent project wins and a strengthening order book are creating opportunities to put these capabilities back to work. Building projects provide a strong starting point because of the company’s existing experience and execution track record.
Supreme Infra’s next phase is ultimately about putting four decades of construction and infrastructure experience to work across a new pipeline of projects.
For more information, please visit: https://www.supremeinfra.com/
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