Classico Pokemon Collection: "Stay with Your Favorite Pokemon Everywhere"

 

TOKYO, June 8, 2026 /Kyodo JBN/ --

Classico, Inc., a Japanese medical apparel brand headquartered in Tokyo, launched the highly anticipated #ClassicoPokemonCollection across the Asian region, including Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan region and Thailand, on June 4. Following its immense popularity after the initial release in Japan and high demand from international customers, the collection is finally expanding its reach to healthcare professionals across Asia.

Image1: Pokemon Collection
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109100/202605299968/_prw_PI1fl_j0lA63u6.jpg

Product Lineup
R53 / R54 Pokemon Scrubs, Tops & Pants (Unisex)

There are four designs released for the scrubs -- Pikachu, the First Partner Pokemon from the Kanto Region (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle), Eevee and Snorlax. All of the designs feature fabric colors and embroidery inspired by the thematic Pokemon. These details are designed to provide a sense of comfort and approachability to patients during examinations and treatments.

Colors: Pikachu, First Partner Pokemon of Kanto Region (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle), Eevee, Snorlax
Sizes: XXS / XS / S / M / L / XL (Unisex)
Price: 139 SGD / 469 MYR / 5,690 PHP / 839 HKD / 3,690 THB / 3,490 TWD

Image2: Tops
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109100/202605299968/_prw_PI2fl_j6Qjt772.jpg

Image3: Pants
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109100/202605299968/_prw_PI3fl_0h9Mc0FQ.jpg

About Classico
Classico is a brand of stylish lab coats designed to boost the confidence of the people who wear them. Using sophisticated tailoring technology, the company strives to create lab coats that are both elegant and highly functional.

About Scrubs Canvas Club
"Scrubs as your canvas. Make it fun." The company believes in turning scrubs into a canvas to bring more joy to the workplace. This collection transforms the daily uniform of healthcare professionals into a medium for art, featuring collaborations that transcend boundaries -- incorporating artists, films, and music to inspire their professional wardrobe.

Official Website: https://classico-global.com/

Source: Classico, Inc.

--BERNAMA

JAPAN LIFE INSURERS’ REINSURANCE USE MORE THAN DOUBLED SINCE 2020 - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- Japan’s life insurers have increasingly relied on reinsurance in recent years, with the overall cession rate as a percentage of total gross premium written for the segment rising to more than 24 per cent in 2023 and 2024 from just under 10 per cent in 2020, according to a new AM Best report.

According to Best’s Special Report, “Japan Life Insurers Increase Use of Reinsurance,” the implementation of the Japan Insurance Capital Standard, or J-ICS, at the end of March 2026 has prompted insurers to increase their use of reinsurance as solvency ratios become more sensitive to interest-rate movements, asset-liability mismatches, policy lapses, and longevity and mortality risks.

“Japanese life insurers have been increasingly using asset-intensive reinsurance to transfer investment, longevity, and insurance risks from capital-intensive annuity and long-term life insurance blocks to third-party reinsurers ahead of the implementation of J-ICS.

“The maturity and size of Japan’s life/annuity insurance market make it an attractive opportunity for reinsurers providing asset-intensive reinsurance solutions,” said AM Best senior industry research analyst, Cynthia Ang in a statement.

According to the report, the heightened activity has led to a sharp increase in reinsurance leverage, with the industry aggregate rising to 14.8 per cent at the end of 2024 from 4.8 per cent in 2020. The metric measures reinsurance ceded as a percentage of capital and surplus.

AM Best's analysis showed that Dai-ichi Frontier Life Insurance Co, Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance, and MetLife Insurance K.K. each recorded reinsurance leverage ratios exceeding 500 per cent in 2024.

While only an estimated one to two per cent of total in-force individual life insurance and annuity business was ceded to reinsurers in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, cessions are expected to increase as asset-intensive and offshore reinsurance become more widely used by Japanese life insurers.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency is tightening oversight of such transactions due to concerns over private equity involvement, asset liquidity, and complex cross-border collateral arrangements, the report said.

-- BERNAMA

RSSB: 3QFY26 NET PROFIT RISES 3.8-FOLD OVER PRECEDING QUARTER ON CONTINUED TURNAROUND INITIATIVES

- Expects growth momentum to pick up pace going into FY27 and beyond, backed by RM600 million indicative construction project pipeline 

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Main Market-listed property developer and construction service provider, Rivertree STF Synergies Berhad (formerly known as Sinmah Capital Berhad) (“RSSB” or the “Group”), has announced its third quarter (“3QFY26”) and nine-month financial results for the period ended 31 March 2026 (“9MFY26”). Following the change in financial year end from 31 December 2024 to 30 June 2025, there are no comparative figures available for both 3QFY26 and 9MFY26.  

RSSB’s 3QFY26 net profit jumped 3.8-fold to RM1.6 million from RM0.4 million in the preceding quarter (“2QFY26”). This was the fourth successive profitable quarter after having recorded annual losses since 2018. Revenue for the quarter came in at RM8.2 million, mainly attributed to progressive recognition from the Laman Lentera and Bukit Gambir projects, as well as sales of development land under the Property Development segment.  

On a cumulative basis, 9MFY26 net profit was at RM2.3 million on the back of RM27.8 million revenue. As at 31 March 2026, RSSB’s balance sheet is lean with cash holdings of RM17.7 million and zero borrowings.

Executive Director of RSSB, Dato’ Simon David Leong (拿督梁世民) who joined the Board of Directors in October 2025, said, “Under new leadership since late 2025, we are making good progress. From RM252,000 net profit in first quarter of FY26 to RM426,000 in second quarter, and now RM1.628 million in 3QFY26, we are confident to sustain the upward trajectory going forward. Our principal activities of property development and construction services will remain, while we are also diversifying into Centralised Labour Quarters (“CLQ”) management in the near term once we secure the necessary approvals.” 

"Looking ahead, we have a clear pipeline – the construction of four CLQs in the Klang Valley with an aggregate indicative development value of approximately RM600 million encompassing 28,800 beds subject to finalisation of definitive agreements, with Q Centre @ Teratai being first in line. Together with our planned venture into CLQ management, this positions RSSB as a one stop centre for CLQ solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of services spanning design, construction, development, facility management, and workforce-related services, thus delivering value across the full CLQ lifecycle," he added.

RSSB expects to sign definitive agreements with Catenary Capital Sdn Bhd¹ (“Catenary Capital”) and Q Centre Management Sdn Bhd (“QCM”) soon for the development of Q Centre @ Teratai, the first of the four proposed CLQs. Located in Meru, Klang, Q Centre @ Teratai is a 9,000-bed CLQ with an indicative development value of approximately RM171 million.  

To recap, RSSB had on 3 March 2026 entered into Heads of Agreement with Catenary Capital and QCM for the development of up to four CLQ facilities in the Klang Valley. RSSB is the turnkey developer responsible for the full scope of design and construction across the proposed facilities. Upon signing of definitive agreements, the construction of the four proposed CLQs would provide clear earnings visibility to the Group for the next three years. 

RSSB also announced on 19 March 2026 its plan to diversify into CLQ management, encompassing facility management, maintenance, security, compliance monitoring, tenant management and ancillary services such as transportation coordination, laundry services and other value-added offerings. Given the rising need for compliant, purpose-built CLQs in the country, this strategic move will allow the Group to build a stable and growing recurring income stream to complement its project-based revenue. 

“Our growth path is clear and the team is forging forward on all fronts – property development activities from our existing jobs as well as upcoming projects in the Klang Valley; construction of four CLQs with Q Centre @ Teratai being first in line, as well as our planned venture into the management of CLQs. With the pieces all coming together, the next twelve months will be transformative for RSSB,” Dato’ Simon concluded. 

Note: ¹ Catenary Capital is a fund manager duly registered with the Securities Commission Malaysia and one of the fund managers under Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (“KWAP”)’s Dana Pemacu initiative.

About Rivertree STF Synergies Berhad (RSSB) 
Listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, Rivertree STF Synergies Berhad (formerly known as Sinmah Capital Berhad) adopted its current name effective 3 February 2026. Following the disposal of its entire poultry business in 2022, the Group is now principally involved in residential and commercial property development, as well as provision of construction services. 

Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RSSB Builders Sdn Bhd, the Group holds a Grade 7 (G7) contractor licence issued by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), which qualifies it to tender for and undertake construction projects of unlimited contract value. The Group is currently involved in property development projects in Melaka, Johor and Selangor, and is expanding its construction portfolio to include turnkey developments of Centralised Labour Quarters in Klang Valley area. 

Bursa stock code: RSSB / 9776 

Released on behalf of Rivertree STF Synergies Berhad by Capital Front Investor Relations. 

SOURCE: Capital Front Investor Relations

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Dwayne Teng
Email: dwayne@capitalfront.biz

--BERNAMA

CGTN HIGHLIGHTS PEOPLE-CENTRED GOVERNANCE IN CHINA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- China Global Television Network (CGTN) in an article has highlighted how China’s people-centred governance approach has significantly improved living standards and is expected to bring further tangible improvements to people’s lives in the future.

The emphasis on putting people first comes as China enters the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), with more than one-third of the national economic and social development plan focused on livelihoods, including employment, income, education, healthcare, elderly care and childcare.

Marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that people represent the nation and the nation is made up of people.

He also stressed that the survival of a party depends on the support of its people, adding that with public confidence and support, the CPC is invincible in the face of any obstacles.

Ahead of this year’s Spring Festival, President Xi visited a community canteen at an apartment complex for seniors to learn about local efforts to improve public services and elderly care, while also speaking with delivery workers about their daily lives and working conditions.

According to CGTN in a statement, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, nearly 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty; China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society; and it has established the world’s largest systems for education, social security, healthcare and urban housing support.

It added that access to education at all levels has reached or surpassed the average for middle- and high-income countries, while basic medical insurance coverage has remained above 95 per cent, life expectancy has risen above 79 years, and the middle-income group now exceeds 400 million people.

CGTN also noted that food delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and e-commerce workers, known as the "new forms of employment", represent a fast-growing segment of China’s labour market driven by the internet and digital economy.

CGTN further explained that the 15th Five-Year Plan emphasises support for flexible employment, including participation in employee insurance schemes and improved portability of social security accounts.

A researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under China's National Development and Reform Commission, Zhang Linshan said the plan sends a strong signal that China remains committed to a people-centred approach focused on improving quality of life.

-- BERNAMA

​Gradiant Announces Series E Financing at $2 Billion Valuation to Accelerate Expansion in AI, Semiconductors, and Industrial Water Infrastructure

Gradiant Announces Series E Financing at $2 Billion Valuation to Accelerate Expansion in AI, Semiconductors, and Industrial Water Infrastructure

 

New investment supports strategic M&A, next-generation R&D, and IPO readiness as Gradiant experiences record growth driven by AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing 

BOSTON, May 19 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gradiant today announced the close of Series E financing, valuing the company at $2 billion. The financing was led by Safar Partners and Hostplus Superannuation Fund, with participation from ClearVision Ventures and other global investors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/

The financing will support Gradiant’s continued global expansion, including strategic acquisitions, accelerated research and development, and investments in operational scale and IPO readiness. The announcement comes amid unprecedented commercial momentum for Gradiant, fueled by rapid growth in AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and other mission-critical industries that require advanced water solutions. 

Gradiant is experiencing its largest backlog and strongest pipeline in company history, with significant growth across data centers, semiconductor fabs, and power, while the company’s business across food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, mining, and energy remains strong. As AI infrastructure scales at record speed, water has emerged as one of the critical constraints to its growth, reliability, and sustainability.

Gradiant’s proprietary technologies, powered by its digital AI platform, enable customers in the world’s essential industries to secure water sourcing, maximize water reuse, minimize wastewater discharge, and reduce energy consumption across some of world’s most water-intensive operations. Over the last few years, Gradiant has emerged as one of the fastest-growing companies in the history of the water industry, driven by its differentiated technology stack, vertically integrated execution model, and unconventional leadership.
“AI is re-making the global economy, but behind every chip and every data center lies massive and growing water demand,” said Anurag Bajpayee, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Gradiant. “Gradiant sits at the center of this transformation. We solve the world’s most important water challenges and enable essential industries to grow reliably and sustainably. This new financing gives us more firepower to expand faster, double down on our R&D, and continue building the defining water company of the AI era.”

“The convergence of AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing growth, industrial sustainability, and water scarcity is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said David Elia, CEO of Hostplus Superannuation Fund. “We are excited to support Gradiant through its next phase of growth, building upon its deep technological leadership, proven execution capability, and strong market momentum.”

“Gradiant is the only water company with truly differentiated technology, operating profitably and at scale, serving some of the world’s largest and most essential companies,” said Nader Motamedy, Managing Partner at Safar Partners. “We are proud to partner with Gradiant as it emerges as one of the world’s most important industrial technology companies.”

About Gradiant

Gradiant is a different kind of water company. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end water and wastewater solutions powered by top minds in water, the company serves the world’s essential industries, including semiconductors, datacenters, renewable energy, food & beverage, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining and critical minerals. Founded at MIT and headquartered in Boston, Gradiant has developed one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of differentiated technologies which reduce water usage and wastewater discharge, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. Learn more at www.gradiant.com.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/ 

Contact 

Corporate Contact
Felix Wang
Gradiant, Global Head of Marketing
fwang@gradiant.com 

Source : Gradiant 

--BERNAMA 

AUDIENCERATE APPOINTS RICCARDO FABBRI AS CTO

 

Riccardo Fabbri, Chief Technology Officer of Audiencerate Ltd. Co-founder and former managing partner of Nohup, recognized by the Financial Times among Europe's leading firms in the sector (2021 and 2022) and acquired by the Havas Group in August 2021. Leads the AI-driven phase of Audiencerate's independent Customer Match infrastructure.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Audiencerate Ltd, a data activation specialist, has appointed Riccardo Fabbri as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the company’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven expansion initiatives.

The appointment marks a dual expansion phase for the Audiencerate–Postel–Microsoft platform serving Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as the data platform integrated with Google DV360 for agencies and data providers.

Audiencerate President, Gianluca Leotta said Fabbri brings extensive experience in digital transformation, cloud-native development and media technology.

According to the company in a statement, Fabbri will oversee the development of AI infrastructure integrating first-party and third-party data for its platform developed with Postel and Microsoft for Italian SMEs, alongside Google DV360-integrated solutions for global media agencies.

Co-founder of digital consultancy Nohup in 2004, Fabbri has more than two decades of experience in software development and cloud architectures. He later led the company through its acquisition by Havas Group in 2021.

Under Fabbri’s leadership, Audiencerate plans to accelerate AI and machine learning capabilities for predictive modelling and automated budget and bid management.

The company said its agency-focused platform will also expand the use of advertisers’ first-party data combined with third-party signals to support privacy-compliant audience modelling.

-- BERNAMA

MARQUEE BRANDS TO ACQUIRE MAJORITY STAKE IN ROBERTO CAVALLI

Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Marquee Brands, the premier global brand management company, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Roberto Cavalli through a strategic partnership with Dubai-based DAMAC Group.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, after which DAMAC Group will remain a significant shareholder, according to Marquee Brands in a statement.

The acquisition further strengthens Marquee Brands’ position in the luxury and lifestyle sectors, bringing total portfolio-wide retail sales to approximately US$5 billion. (US$1=RM3.96)

“Roberto Cavalli stands as one of luxury’s defining Italian houses, with a bold creative identity and enduring brand ethos. In partnership with DAMAC, a leader in luxury real estate, we will continue to elevate the Roberto Cavalli experience worldwide,” said Marquee Brands Chief Executive Officer, Heath Golden.

Owned by funds managed by global investment firm Neuberger, Marquee Brands continues to expand its platform through the acquisition of heritage brands, with Roberto Cavalli becoming the 22nd brand in its portfolio.

The partnership is expected to expand Roberto Cavalli’s global reach across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America through new categories, services and experiential offerings.

DAMAC will continue to expand Roberto Cavalli-branded residences and hospitality projects across key global markets, reinforcing the luxury brand’s international presence.

As part of the transaction, Marquee Brands appointed Milan-based The Level Group as its core operating partner to oversee the development, manufacturing and distribution of the label’s women’s and men’s collections, as well as retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations.

-- BERNAMA