Author: Sai Krishna

Joint Commission Enterprise Appoints Dr. Subashnie Devkaran to Lead International Strategy, Operations

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Subashnie Devkaran, PhD, MSc, BSc, will join the Joint Commission enterprise as executive vice president and chief international officer on 2 November 2026. In this role, she will lead international strategy and strengthen the enterprise’s presence in key global markets to extend its mission.

James I. Merlino, MD, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Joint Commission: “Subashnie brings an understanding of the safety and quality challenges facing healthcare systems around the world, along with a commitment to meaningful change. Her leadership will help us increase Joint Commission’s reach and impact globally, making a difference in the lives of more patients.”

Dr. Devkaran has more than 25 years healthcare experience across four continents, most recently at Mayo Clinic and Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery. She was also a Joint Commission International consultant for nine years and she was on the Board of Directors of Joint Commission Resources, a role she will step down from.

Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO, Joint Commission: “As healthcare complexity grows around the world, healthcare organizations benefit from a partner to help support their commitment to the highest standards of quality and patient safety. Under Subashnie’s leadership, we will deepen our understanding of international healthcare systems, enabling global organizations to achieve meaningful improvement for patients.”

Dr. Devkaran: “I look forward to assessing opportunities for expansion, strengthening relationships, and ensuring Joint Commission’s international services reflect local healthcare priorities and market dynamics, ultimately helping health systems translate high standards into better outcomes for patients.”

Dr. Devkaran earned degrees from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University, Royal College of Surgeons, and University of the Witwatersrand Medical School. Dr. Devkaran is a Fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua), and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).

About Joint Commission International

Joint Commission International (JCI), established in 1994, is a nonprofit affiliate of Joint Commission, dedicated to improving healthcare quality and patient safety worldwide. Through international accreditation and certification, advisory services, publications, and education programs, JCI works with healthcare organizations, public health agencies, and health ministries in more than 80 countries to enable and affirm the highest standards of healthcare quality and patient safety for all.

Learn more at https://www.jointcommission.org/en.

Media Contact

McKenzie Naylor

(480) 205-8189

press@jointcommission.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/joint-commission-enterprise-appoints-dr-subashnie-devkaran-to-lead-international-strategy-operations-302921277.html

KPM Analytics Introduces UCAL™ 5, a Guided NIR Calibration Platform for SpectraStar™ XT Analyzer Users

New NIR calibration platform for SpectraStar™ XT analyzers reviews every calibration against ASTM and ISO recommendations as the user works, builds a comparison calibration automatically, and teaches with built-in lessons. A 30-day free trial of UCAL 5 Pro is available today.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KPM Analytics today announced UCAL 5, a near-infrared (NIR) calibration customization platform for SpectraStar XT Series analyzers. Its patent-pending guided workflow lets users start from KPM calibration libraries with spectra, add their own samples, and publish a calibration for their own products in four steps. As they work, UCAL Insight™ reviews the data, calibration, and validation results using recommendations from ASTM E1655 and ISO 12099 for developing and validating NIR calibrations. It highlights items the user may want to check before publishing the calibration.

UCAL 5 comes in three editions: Lite, currently included with new SpectraStar XT analyzers, which provides guided calibration development with the essential methods and tools; Pro for the analyst who builds and maintains calibrations; and Enterprise for teams that share projects on a company server.

A reviewer, a builder, and a coach inside the platform

In practice, a user imports spectra and laboratory values, builds the calibration in the Workbench, and sees UCAL Insight’s marks on the screen as each step is completed. With UCAL Autopilot switched on, the software builds its own calibration alongside the user’s from the same data, and the two appear side by side with the settings that differ. The lessons open from inside the software whenever they are needed.

UCAL Insight is the reviewer. At each step it checks whether there are enough samples, how well the laboratory values cover the required range, and whether new samples confirm the calibration. Each point is marked green, yellow, or red with an explanation of what it means and what to check. They are suggestions, not rules: the user always decides.

UCAL Autopilot™ is the builder. It tries several methods, presents the best, and lists every setting that differs from the user’s choices. After validation, the user compares the two calibrations property by property and decides which to publish.

Built-in lessons are the coach. Fifteen lessons inside the software explain what a calibration is, how it is judged, and why calibrations go wrong, then walk through the real UCAL 5 screens, from adding spectra to publishing a validated calibration. A separate introduction helps experienced UCAL 4 users move over. No previous calibration experience is needed.

“Most calibrations do not fail because the math is wrong. They fail because the samples did not cover the range, or because nobody checked the calibration against new samples before it went on the instrument,” said Yuegang Zhao, President of KPM Lab Solutions and Chief Commercial Officer at KPM Analytics. “UCAL 5 puts those checks in front of the user at every step, in the language of the standards the industry already trusts.”

Start from a proven KPM calibration

The KPM Analytics Web Store offers over 250 calibrations built and maintained by KPM’s application laboratories for food, feed, and agricultural products, from alfalfa hay and canola meal to cheddar cheese. They are sold by the property measured, such as moisture or protein, or in one of 15 ready-made bundles. A calibration is ready to use: it loads directly onto a SpectraStar XT analyzer, for one instrument or as a single file for a full fleet. Optionally, the same calibration can be bought as a calibration library with its spectra. The library opens in UCAL 5, where users add their own samples and keep the calibration current for their own products. The result is published as the user’s own calibration and loaded onto one analyzer or the whole fleet, like any KPM calibration.

“Our calibration library represents many years of application work with food, feed, and agricultural products,” said Zhao. “UCAL 5 is how a customer takes one of those calibrations and makes it their own.”

Four steps from data to a published calibration

UCAL 5 works in four steps: collect the data; clean the data and build the calibration in the Workbench; validate it against samples it has not seen; and combine and publish the final calibration. Every adjustment is saved apart from the original files, so any decision can be reversed. Users can try different settings on the same data, compare all results in one table, and publish the best result for each property as a single calibration file. Projects can be reopened and updated as crops, suppliers, and processes change. Through KPMLink® cloud-based management software, a finished calibration can be loaded onto every connected SpectraStar XT analyzer in the organization.

Editions for individual users and laboratory teams

UCAL 5 Lite provides guided calibration development: the lessons, UCAL Insight, UCAL Autopilot, and four calibration methods, with up to 500 samples per calibration from the user’s own files and no limit from KPM library files. It is currently included with new SpectraStar XT analyzers, available at an introductory price to other SpectraStar XT owners, and upgrades to Pro with a license key.

UCAL 5 Pro gives one analyst the full toolset: 18 calibration methods, including Modified PLS and three neural networks; advanced tools for sample selection and instrument standardization; and no limit on samples, so laboratories can build from years of historical data.

UCAL 5 Enterprise brings Pro to large teams. It installs on a company server, is used through a web browser, and is licensed per user, so data stays on the organization’s network. Each project can be private or shared.

UCAL 5 opens UCAL 4 files directly, and calibrations already on SpectraStar XT analyzers give the same results, so UCAL 4 users move their work without losing anything; they can upgrade to UCAL 5 Pro at a discount. Pro and Enterprise licenses include yearly maintenance for new versions. All editions are available in 11 languages.

Availability

A 30-day free trial of UCAL 5 Pro, Lite licenses, and calibrations are available today for current SpectraStar XT Series Analyzer users at https://store.kpmanalytics.com/join. Pro and Enterprise licenses are available now from KPM Analytics and its authorized distributors. See UCAL 5 in action at https://www.kpmanalytics.com/lp/ucal-5 or contact sales@kpmanalytics.com. 

About KPM Analytics

KPM Analytics is a global leader in scientific instrumentation, providing analytical and vision inspection solutions to laboratories and industrial operators in the food, feed, agriculture, industrial, and environmental sectors. KPM products have a long history of helping companies secure product quality, optimize production processes, and make confident, data-driven decisions through reliable solutions, supported by dedicated application expertise and local service. Visit https://www.kpmanalytics.com to learn more.

Media contacts:

Andy Dambeck

Product Marketing Manager

+1 774-399-0477

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kpm-analytics-introduces-ucal-5-a-guided-nir-calibration-platform-for-spectrastar-xt-analyzer-users-302920580.html

USTA and IBM Announce Five-Year Renewal of Longstanding Partnership

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The USTA and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a five-year renewal of their longstanding and trailblazing partnership that will see IBM serve as the Official AI and Cloud Partner of the US Open through 2031. The renewal comes following the 2026 US Open which saw record engagement for its IBM-powered digital platforms, reaching more than 270 million total engagements across USOpen.org and the US Open app combined. 

“For 35 years, IBM and the USTA have worked together to redefine how technology can bring fans closer to the game,” said Kameryn Stanhouse, Vice President, Sports and Entertainment Partnerships, IBM. “This renewal builds on that legacy, bringing IBM technology to the next generation of the US Open fan experience. It’s also a powerful example of what’s possible when organizations turn complex data into meaningful experiences that create more value for their audiences.”

From the launch of USOpen.org in 1995 to the introduction of the mobile app in 2009, and this year’s debut of Live Updates, Key Moments, and Serve Quality, IBM and the USTA have collaborated for more than three decades, today delivering a world-class platform that provides unparalleled, first-of-its-kind fan experiences through hybrid cloud and AI technologies.

“Our partnership with IBM has produced decades of groundbreaking innovation for the US Open and for our fans,” said Brian Ryerson, Senior Director, Digital Strategy, USTA. “Every year we utilize cutting-edge technology to not only push the boundaries of digital engagement but to provide our fans the most useful and interesting ways to connect with our sport. We’re grateful for everything our partnership with IBM has produced and I’m very excited to see where our work goes over the next five years.”

The digital results were part of a record-setting year for the US Open. More than 1.2 million fans attended across all three weeks, including more than 300,000 during Fan Week. The USTA reported that the US Open’s owned and operated social channels generated more than 3.9 billion interactions, including engagements and video views, up 26 percent over 2025. ESPN’s coverage across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC achieved its best viewership since 2022, with the women’s and men’s singles championships combining to average 3 million viewers. Worldwide, the US Open also amassed a record 374 million global broadcast viewer hours in 2026.

About the USTA

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, along with approximately 100 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X) and TikTok.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contacts:

Paul Pettas

IBM

paulpettas@ibm.com

Pat Mitsch

USTA

mitsch@usta.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/usta-and-ibm-announce-five-year-renewal-of-longstanding-partnership-302922243.html

Firehawk Defense Tops $1.4 Billion Valuation: NYSE Content Update

NYSE issues a pre-market daily advisory direct from the trading floor.

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on October 28th

• Firehawk Defense announces its latest $150 million funding round
  • The Dallas-based startup says that it expects to become the largest producer of artillery motors in the U.S. by the end of 2027.
  • Firehawk plans to produce over 100,000 artillery motors next year.
  • The company will use the funding to expand its Great Plains Arsenal in Oklahoma + integration facility in Mississippi.
• Hex boosts its valuation to $1.2 billion
  • The company also introduced Hex 4.0, which it says is a from-scratch rewrite for the era of agents.
  • Hex adds that it’s coming off the best revenue quarter in its history.
  • Founder + CEO Barry McCardel will join NYSE Live to discuss the company’s next moves.
• BigBear.ai to report its Q3 earnings following Tuesday’s market close
  • The defense tech company posted 31% year over year revenue growth.
  • BigBear.ai raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $150 million to $165 million.
  • CEO Kevin McAleenan will join NYSE Live to deliver his biggest takeaways.

Opening Bell

Blackstone Secured Lending (NYSE: BXSL) celebrates its 5^th anniversary

Closing Bell

Haymaker Acquisition V (NYSE: HYAC U) celebrates listing on the NYSE

For market insights, IPO activity, and today’s opening bell, download the NYSE TV App and check out the NYSE YouTube: TV.NYSE.com and YouTube.com/@NYSEofficial

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/firehawk-defense-tops-1-4-billion-valuation-nyse-content-update-302922159.html

IFPA: World Psoriasis Day 2026, Young people speak up against stigma and discrimination

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More than 100 million people worldwide live with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and one in three develop first symptoms before age of 20. This World Psoriasis Day, October 29, IFPA (the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations) is launching a global campaign, Look Beyond My Skin, to challenge stigma and discrimination against young people with psoriasis.

Uneducated society – part of the problem

“No one in my class wanted to hug me or sit next to me. If I touched something in the classroom, one of the kids would go and clean it,” recalls Daniela Chapman, 29, from Panama, who has lived with psoriasis since infancy. Daniela lives with clinical depression, and those school memories remain difficult to forget.

Christine, 23, from Sweden was diagnosed with psoriasis at six. She also knows what it feels like to be judged because of her condition.

“She came to me and asked: ‘Are you allowed to work here with those things on your arms?'” Christine recalls a customer confronting her at the candy shop where she works. “I tried to explain that psoriasis is not contagious, but she just put her candy bag back on the counter and walked out,” says Christine.

Both Daniela and Christine are active in psoriasis associations in their home countries, educating others about the disease.

“Uneducated society is part of the problem for young people,” says Christine. “That’s why awareness campaigns are so important. Because if you don’t know about something, you can’t understand it either.”

Their stories are among those featured in IFPA’s global World Psoriasis Day campaign, which puts experiences of young people with psoriasis into the spotlight.

“Young people with psoriatic disease have been largely overlooked in global health agenda,” says Frida Dunger, IFPA’s Executive Director. “During these formative years, many face bullying, rejection and discrimination. One in three avoids opportunities for work or study because they fear judgement and exclusion. This comes at a cost, not only to individuals but to society, when young people cannot reach their full potential. With our global campaign ‘Look Beyond My Skin’, we are calling for more inclusive schools, universities and workplaces, where young people with psoriatic disease are treated with respect and have the same opportunities as everyone else.”

The impact on mental health.

Psoriatic disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the skin and joints and is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression and more. The impact on young people’s mental health is concerning. Research shows that young people with psoriasis are more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts than their peers without the disease.

“Psoriasis is a tough disease to live with during a vulnerable stage of life, when belonging and self-esteem are so important. Shame, anxiety, bullying, hurtful comments and stares are a daily reality for many. Some start avoiding social situations, creating a vicious circle of isolation and loneliness,” says Tarlan Oskooei, Chair of Young with Psoriasis (Ung med Psoriasis), a Swedish organization representing more than 2,000 members.

Young voices from around the world

For the campaign, IFPA interviewed 20 people aged 18–37 worldwide. Their stories are featured in a series of mini-documentaries. In addition, IFPA launches a global report focusing on young adults living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The report is a unique document providing space to young people to tell their stories.

Through this year’s World Psoriasis Day campaign, ‘Look Beyond My Skin’, IFPA and its member organizations are calling on society and policymakers to end stigma and discrimination against people with psoriasis and make mental health support a routine part of dermatological care.

Read more about the campaign: https://www.ifpa-pso.com/global-actions-overview/world-psoriasis-day

Read the report about young people with psoriasis: https://www.ifpa-pso.com/global-actions-overview/world-psoriasis-day/young-adults-living-with-psoriasis-global-report

About IFPA – International Federation of Psoriasis Associations

IFPA is a global non-profit organization, founded in 1971 and based in Stockholm, Sweden, represents people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis worldwide, advocating for better care, greater awareness and improved quality of life.

www.ifpa-pso.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ifpa-world-psoriasis-day-2026-young-people-speak-up-against-stigma-and-discrimination-302921877.html

Waters Launches AI-Powered Peak Integration Expanding its Suite of Premium AI Subscription Capabilities for Empower Software

• Advances Waters’ strategy to bring trusted AI, ML, and automation capabilities to the 500,000 Empower™ Software users who run the world’s regulated chromatography labs and support the release of over 80% of medicines globally
• AI-Powered Peak Integration transforms chromatography data processing in regulated environments, using AI to reduce manual interventions by up to 95% while delivering 76% greater accuracy and a 72% reduction in user-to-user variability
• Joins a growing portfolio of premium AI capabilities Waters is building directly into Empower Software, uniquely enabling AI, ML, and automation inside the validated environment where highly protected customer data resides, with no compromise to integrity, traceability, or compliance

MILFORD, Mass., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced AI-Powered Peak Integration, the next step in its strategy to build intelligent AI, machine learning, and automation cloud-based capabilities directly into Empower Software, the chromatography data system of record for regulated laboratories worldwide.

“Waters is using AI to help customers bring drugs to market faster and to increase the quality testing of manufactured molecules,” said Tina Wu, Senior Vice President, Waters Analytical Sciences, Waters Corporation. “Our Empower Software has been the system of record for regulated chromatography for decades, holding terabytes of validated data for each customer, inside their own workflows, and under their own control. The potential behind compliant data at scale is one that no other platform can offer as we enable customers to realize the benefits of AI within their regulated workflows.”

Wu continued, “Our customers want the greater speed, accuracy, and productivity that AI brings, without giving up control of their data or the compliant audit trail behind it. That is why it is a central pillar of how we are advancing Empower Software as AI transforms the laboratory. Every one of these premium subscription-based capabilities reaches our large and growing installed base, so each release makes Empower Software more valuable to the laboratories already running it. We have a full pipeline of capabilities ahead as we deliver on our strategy to advance Empower Software into the connected, intelligent platform on which regulated science runs.”

Enabling Unique AI Capabilities Customers Can Use Beyond Research in a Deliberate Strategy Developed in Deep Partnership with Pharma

Waters is collaborating with several large pharmaceutical customers and academic institutions to create autonomous, AI-enabled research, development and QA/QC capabilities that follow the molecule, from discovery to release. This builds on two abilities unique to Waters: 1) supporting research workflows and then subsequently moving them directly into compliant settings on a single platform, and 2) enabling AI inside that compliant environment, so customers realize the benefits of AI without giving up control of their data or the compliant audit trail behind it.

The same approach is advancing in biologics, where Waters is applying AI, automation, and analytical instrumentation to bioanalytical characterization, bringing large molecule workflows more closely toward the compliant foundation customers already expect for small molecules.

Turning Decades of Compliant Data into an AI Advantage for Customers

Designed for high-throughput, compliant applications, where consistency and audit traceability are key, Waters Empower AI capabilities drive significant efficiency and productivity gains by reducing manual effort and variability in pharmaceutical late-stage development and manufacturing QC applications, while improving accuracy of results. Because the capabilities are being built directly into Empower Software, they operate inside the validated environment where highly protected customer data already resides, bringing AI and ML directly to the data, with no compromise to integrity, traceability, or compliance.

Using AI to Automate One of the Most Manual Steps in Chromatography

Manual peak integration is the largest source of variability in chromatographic results and one of the most time-consuming steps in data review. Waters’ AI/ML-powered peak integration automates this step in Empower Software using artificial intelligence and machine learning trained on each laboratory’s own data, removing noise peaks, combining high molecular weight peaks and editing baselines, with explainable outputs that allow analysts to review results quickly and with confidence. Version-controlled, no-drift models maintain consistent performance until the laboratory chooses to retrain and approve a new model.

In a pilot with a large pharmaceutical customer, side-by-side review of 400 chromatograms reduced manual interventions from 90 under current practice to 4 with AI/ML-powered peak integration, a 95% reduction.¹ User testing also showed 50% faster review and 72% lower user-to-user variability, reducing analyst bias and supporting data integrity.²

AI-Powered Peak Integration is a new premium tier capability available to customers on subscription. Waters is enrolling customers now for early access beginning in December 2026, with validated, compliant deployment to follow in mid-2027.

Building on AI-Powered Anomaly Detection, Launched in 2025

Peak integration is the latest step in Waters’ strategy to make Empower Software the connected, intelligent platform on which regulated science runs. The first was AI/ML Anomaly Detection, launched in Empower Software in February 2025, which uses machine learning to compare target results across chromatography data, surface deviations for review, and explain the attributes contributing to each anomaly.

About Waters Corporation:

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~15,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide. For more information, please visit www.waters.com/about.

Waters and Empower are trademarks of Waters Corporation or its affiliates.

References:

1. Waters internal pilot study with a global pharmaceutical partner, 2025. Data on file, Waters Corporation.
2. Waters Immerse Research Lab customer evaluation, 2026. Data on file, Waters Corporation.

Contact:

Molly Gluck

Director, Product and Thought Leadership Communications

Waters Corporation

+1.508.498.9732

pr@waters.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/waters-launches-ai-powered-peak-integration-expanding-its-suite-of-premium-ai-subscription-capabilities-for-empower-software-302922097.html

DERMALOG Strengthens Biometric Security with Independent Face and Fingerprint PAD Validations

Independent security evaluations by Fime demonstrate DERMALOG’s advanced anti-spoofing capabilities, with its facial recognition and fingerprint technologies successfully detecting all 1,500 tested presentation attacks.

– Picture is available at AP –

HAMBURG, Germany, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DERMALOG Identification Systems has achieved another milestone in biometric security. Its facial recognition technology and TF60 fingerprint scanner have successfully completed independent Presentation Attack Detection (PAD) evaluations conducted by Fime, an internationally recognized testing and certification provider. Across both evaluations, DERMALOG’s technologies successfully detected all 1,500 tested presentation attacks.

As biometric solutions become increasingly important for digital identity, financial services, and border security, protecting systems against fraudulent authentication attempts is essential. Presentation Attack Detection helps distinguish genuine users from spoofing attempts involving photos, videos, facial masks, or artificial fingerprints.

The independent evaluations, conducted in accordance with international ISO/IEC 30107 standards, confirmed that both DERMALOG technologies meet Fime’s Level 2 requirements for Presentation Attack Detection. Both achieved an Attack Presentation Classification Error Rate (APCER) of 0.00 %. Of particular note, DERMALOG’s facial liveness detection software also achieved a Bona Fide Presentation Classification Error Rate (BPCER) of 0.00 %. This means that every tested presentation attack was detected, while all genuine user presentations were correctly classified during the facial recognition evaluation. These results highlight an exceptional combination of robust security and seamless user authentication under the evaluated test conditions.

“Trust is the foundation of every secure digital identity,” said Günther Mull, CEO of DERMALOG. “These independent results demonstrate our commitment to staying ahead of evolving fraud threats and providing customers with biometric technologies they can rely on.”

With these successful validations, DERMALOG further strengthens its position as a leading provider of biometric identification solutions, helping organizations worldwide protect digital identities while enabling secure and convenient authentication.

Press contact:

DERMALOG Identification Systems GmbH

Sven Böckler

Media Relations

info@dermalog.com

Phone: +49 (0)40 413 227 – 0

www.dermalog.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dermalog-strengthens-biometric-security-with-independent-face-and-fingerprint-pad-validations-302922037.html

SBI Life Insurance registers New Business Premium of ₹20,259 crores for the period ended on 30th September 2026

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SBI Life Insurance, one of the leading life insurers in the country registered a New Business Premium of ₹20,259 crores for the period ended on 30^th September 2026 vis-a-vis ₹18,349 crores for the period ended 30^th September 2025. Regular premium has increased by 21% over the period ended on 30^th September 2025.

Establishing a clear focus on protection, SBI Life’s protection new business premium stood at ₹3,235 crores for the period ended 30^th September 2026, marking a growth of 46%. Protection Individual new business premium registered a growth of 20% and stood at ₹446 crores for the period ended 30^th September 2026. Individual New Business Premium stands at ₹13,732 crores with 13% growth over the period ended on 30^th September 2025.

SBI Life’s profit after tax stands at ₹1,274 crores for the period ended 30^th September 2026 with a growth of 17% over the period ended on 30^th September 2025.

The company’s solvency ratio continues to remain robust at 1.97 as on 30^th September 2026 as against the regulatory requirement of 1.50.

SBI Life’s AUM also continued to grow at 9% to ₹5,27,120 crores as on 30^th September 2026 from ₹4,81,465 crores as on 30^th September 2025, with the debt-equity mix of 60:40. 94% of the debt investments are in AAA and Sovereign instruments.

The company has a diversified distribution network of 3,94,574 trained insurance professionals and wide presence with 1,244 offices across the country, comprising of strong bancassurance channel, agency channel and others comprising of corporate agents, brokers, Point of sale persons (POS), insurance marketing firms, web aggregators and direct business.

Performance for the period ended September 30, 2026

• Private Market leadership in Individual New Business Premium and Individual Rated Premium with market share of 25.2% & 22.6% respectively.
• Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) stands at ₹11,746 crores with growth of 18%
• Total New Business Sum Assured stands at ₹11,92,792 crores with 68% growth
• Improvement in 13M, 25M & 49M persistency by 44 bps, 110 bps & 40 bps respectively
• Value of New Business (VoNB) stands at ₹3,274 crores with growth of 19%
• VoNB Margin stands at 27.9%
• Indian Embedded value (IEV) stands at ₹87,349 crores with 15% growth
• Profit After Tax (PAT) stands at ₹1,274 crores with 17% growth
• Robust Solvency ratio of 1.97
• Assets under Management stands at ₹5,27,120 crores with 9% growth
• Operating Return on Embedded Value stands at 18.8%

Disclaimer

Except for the historical information contained herein, statements in this release which contain words or phrases such as ‘will’, ‘expected to’, etc., and similar expressions or variations of such expressions may constitute ‘forward-looking statements’. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, opportunities and growth potential to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the actual growth in demand for insurance and other financial products and services in the countries that we operate or where a material number of our customers reside, our ability to successfully implement our strategy, including our use of the Internet and other technology our exploration of merger and acquisition opportunities, our ability to integrate mergers or acquisitions into our operations and manage the risks associated with such acquisitions to achieve our strategic and financial objectives, our growth and expansion in domestic and overseas markets, technological changes, our ability to market new products, the outcome of any legal, tax or regulatory proceedings in India and in other jurisdictions we are or become a party to, the future impact of new accounting standards, our ability to implement our dividend policy, the impact of changes in insurance regulations and other regulatory changes in India and other jurisdictions on us. SBI Life Insurance Company Limited undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date thereof.

This release does not constitute an offer of securities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/sbi-life-insurance-registers-new-business-premium-of-20-259-crores-for-the-period-ended-on-30th-september-2026–302921939.html

HomeFirst Q2 FY27 PAT Surges 29% to ₹170 Cr; AUM Up 27% to ₹18,010 Cr on Highest-Ever Disbursements

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Home First Finance Company India Limited (HomeFirst) reported Profit After Tax of ₹170 Cr for Q2 FY27, up 29.1% year-on-year and 6.5% quarter-on-quarter, outpacing AUM growth of 27.0%.

Q2 FY27 highlights

• AUM: ₹18,010 Cr, up 27.0% y-o-y and 6.3% q-o-q; housing loans form 84% of AUM
• Disbursements: ₹1,705 Cr, up 32.2% y-o-y and 4.7% q-o-q
• Total Income: ₹567 Cr (+18.4% y-o-y); Net Total Income: ₹343 Cr (+23.9% y-o-y)
• PPOP: ₹238 Cr, up 26.1% y-o-y
• ROA: 4.2%; ROE: 14.9% (+150 bps y-o-y); cost-to-income ratio: 30.8% vs 32.7% in Q1
• Gross Stage 3: 1.7% (-10 bps q-o-q); credit cost: 40 bps; 1+ DPD: 4.7%; 30+ DPD: 3.2%
• Spread (ex-co-lending): 5.2%; cost of borrowings: 7.8%, flat q-o-q
• CRAR: 39.8%; Networth: ₹4,665 Cr; liquidity buffer: ₹2,666 Cr

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Manoj Viswanathan, MD & CEO, HomeFirst, said: “HomeFirst delivered a strong operating performance in Q2 FY27, sustaining healthy business momentum alongside profitability and stable asset quality. The quarter was marked by highest ever disbursements, continued expansion of our distribution franchise and disciplined execution across our markets.

Asset quality remained stable, reflecting our continued emphasis on prudent underwriting and proactive collections.

Our Green Homes initiative also progressed during the quarter, with an additional 100 homes certified, taking the cumulative total to 650 as of September 2026. Through this initiative, we continue to promote environmentally responsible housing practices and progressively integrate sustainability considerations into our core business activities.

Our priorities for the remainder of FY27 are clear: sustain growth momentum, preserve portfolio quality, protect profitability and improve operating efficiency. As our franchise continues to scale, our emphasis remains on converting business growth into consistent earnings, healthy returns and long-term shareholder value.”

During the quarter, HomeFirst added six branches, taking its network to 181 branches across 13 States / UT and 379 touchpoints, with 2,014 employees. Its Green Homes initiative certified 100 more homes, taking the cumulative total to 650. HomeFirst also won the ‘ESG & Financial Inclusion’ award in the NBFC category at ASSOCHAM’s 21st Annual Summit & Awards.

About Home First Finance Company India Limited

HomeFirst is a technology driven affordable housing finance company that targets first time home buyers in low and middle-income groups, primarily offering housing loans for the purchase or construction of homes.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/homefirst-q2-fy27-pat-surges-29-to-170-cr-aum-up-27-to-18-010-cr-on-highest-ever-disbursements-302921887.html

Xinhua Silk Road: Going global-themed event for firms in Yellow River basin held in Jinan, E China

BEIJING, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A conference on enterprises going global in the Yellow River basin was held in Jinan City, capital of east China’s Shandong Province, on Tuesday.

The conference aimed to implement the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through high-quality cooperation and promote resource matching for enterprises in the Yellow River basin.

During the conference, the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province released three major outcomes, including a list of cooperation demand of enterprises in such fields as foreign labor service, outward investment, and construction machinery, a catalogue of services for enterprises going global, and investment cooperation reports on Indonesia, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Hungary.

The conference also saw the launch ceremony for the official operation of the Shandong Global Business Service Hub and the unveiling ceremony for the Yellow River Basin Enterprise Maritime Service Window.

It is reported that during its trial operation, the Shandong Global Business Service Hub has already served more than 700 enterprises from Shandong and other regions. The Yellow River Basin Enterprise Maritime Service Window has been set up in Jinan, Qingdao and Yantai, providing targeted shipping services for customers in the green petrochemical industry and others.

In the experience-sharing session, Pan Haiping, chairman of China Economic Information Service (CEIS), and Shu Hai, vice president of Haier Group, delivered keynote speeches. They shared their practices in supporting high-quality overseas business expansion and promoting global brand building.

During the signing ceremony, enterprises from the Yellow River basin inked 17 cooperation agreements with professional overseas service providers, covering foreign-related legal services, financial leasing, overseas engineering projects, industrial investment and global business collaboration.

Participants noted that Chinese enterprises’ outbound investment has kept expanding, driving robust market demand for high-quality, professional global business services. Shandong boasts strong opening-up momentum and has consistently pioneered integrated development of trade and investment. The Shandong Global Business Service Hub has laid a solid service foundation for enterprises to pursue high-quality global expansion.

The conference was hosted by the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province and co-organized by CEIS and the China Council for International Investment Promotion (CCIIP).

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/352704.html

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xinhua-silk-road-going-global-themed-event-for-firms-in-yellow-river-basin-held-in-jinan-e-china-302921911.html