FEATURED NEWS
- August 19, 2026Books & Literature
Former CHRO Asks: Should We Eliminate HR? New Book “The HR Trap” Confronts an Uncomfortable Leadership Crisis We’ve Agreed to Ignore
Kristin Berkinsky, a former Chief Human Resources Officer and current Strategic Human Capital Consultant with more than 30 years of experience advising boards, private equity sponsors and executive teams across life sciences, financial services and high-growth environments, today announced the release of her new book, The HR Trap . Available on Amazon and in audiobook format, the book offers a provocative challenge to one of the most entrenched assumptions in modern business: that companies need an HR function at all. The book opens with a deliberately uncomfortable question. What if eliminating HR is not reckless, but rational? Berkinsky argues that the HR function has slowly absorbed the responsibilities that real leadership requires, including difficult conversations, performance accountability, coaching and culture enforcement. The result is a generation of executives who have outsourced the human work of management, and an HR profession buckling under the weight of leadership gaps that were never theirs to fill. “HR didn’t aggressively seize these responsibilities,” Berkinsky writes. “They accumulated them as leaders delegated discomfort, boards demanded control and regulators required documentation. Someone had to manage it, so HR did.” Three Crises Converging on the C-Suite The HR Trap arrives at a critical moment for business leadership. Berkinsky identifies three connected crises hitting organizations simultaneously: The CEO Succession Crisis. Boards across industries report a shortage of CEO-ready candidates, with research spanning ten years and seventeen thousand C-suite executives showing that companies have systematically misunderstood what predicts CEO success while HR leaders, who possess many of the very capabilities boards now say they want, remain largely excluded from succession pipelines. Leadership in an AI World. As artificial intelligence reshapes operational work, the human dimensions of leadership become harder to automate and more valuable, yet many organizations have invested in technology while underinvesting in the judgment and courage that technology cannot replicate. CHRO Burnout. A striking 95% of HR leaders report feeling burned out, with CHRO turnover consistently outpacing every other C-suite role. The profession is collapsing under the weight of leadership work that arguably should never have been assigned to it. “These three crises are not separate,” Berkinsky writes. “They are symptoms of the same underlying issue. Leadership has not kept pace with the complexity of modern organizations.” A Call to Reclaim the Work of Leadership The HR Trap is not an attack on HR professionals. It is a direct challenge to CEOs, founders, boards and executive teams to take back the human side of leading people. Berkinsky walks readers through a practical framework for redistributing responsibility across the organization, separating the work that should be automated, the work that should be reassigned and the work that genuinely belongs to leaders themselves. The book closes with four possible futures for HR, including its evolution into an on-demand strategic capability, a talent factory for future CEOs and a redefined business partnership grounded in clarity rather than catch-all responsibility. About the Author Kristin Berkinsky has served as Chief Human Resources Officer across multiple sectors, advising leadership teams during mergers and acquisitions, rapid scaling and complex organizational change. She has worked closely with executive teams, boards, private equity sponsors and investors, and has acted formally and informally as Chief of Staff in several organizations. Her work focuses on building human capital strategies that increase enterprise value and aligning talent infrastructure with business strategy. The HR Trap is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and audiobook formats. ### Media Inquiries For interview requests, review copies or speaking engagements, contact publishing@bookspert.com.
- August 19, 2026Technology
Yuxin Wu Examines Interpretable and Privacy-Preserving Methods for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence
As artificial intelligence moves into decisions that must be explained and audited, a recurring tension has come to the fore: some high-performing models remain difficult to interpret. In the 2026 research paper Research on Interpretable Confidence Rule Base Modeling Method Integrating Data-Driven and Constrained K-Means Optimization, published in Procedia Computer Science (Vol. 279, pp. 612–619), a modeling method is presented for building decision systems whose reasoning can be traced back to human-readable rules while seeking to improve predictive accuracy. The work addresses a trade-off at the center of applied machine learning. Many high-performing models operate as opaque systems, offering limited insight into why a particular decision was reached. This limitation becomes more consequential when artificial intelligence is used in applications where decisions must be explained or audited. The paper positions interpretable confidence rule-based modeling as a way to narrow that gap by pursuing predictive performance without removing the rule structures that make a system auditable. At the center of the method is confidence rule-based modeling, an approach in which decisions are represented by structured rules rather than solely by the internal parameters of an opaque model. The paper combines data-driven rule construction with constrained K-means optimization, seeking to improve predictive performance while retaining an interpretable decision structure. It extends an earlier line of work on rule-based modeling for decision support, represented by the 2025 study Multi-Level Belief Rule Base Modeling Architecture and Intelligent Optimization Technology for Decision Support Systems. A second strand turns from interpretability to privacy. In the 2026 paper Federated Learning-based Algorithm Design for Privacy Preservation in Cross-domain Data Sharing, published in Engineering Advances (Vol. 6, Issue 1), a federated learning approach is designed to train models across organizational data boundaries without centralizing raw data. It addresses a recurring constraint in data-intensive fields, where organizations may be unable or unwilling to pool sensitive information even as models depend on large, diverse datasets. Such an approach may be relevant to settings such as healthcare, financial services, and energy systems, where organizations often need to collaborate without transferring raw data. A third strand addresses the robustness of generative systems. The 2025 paper Optimization of Generative AI Intelligent Interaction System Based on Adversarial Attack Defense and Content Controllable Generation examines how generative AI interactions can be defended against adversarial attacks while keeping generated content controllable. Taken together, these studies address three recurring concerns in trustworthy AI: interpretability, privacy preservation, and robustness. The author of this research, Yuxin Wu, works across software engineering and applied machine learning, with a research focus on interpretable decision support, privacy-preserving learning, and generative AI safety. His earlier work includes EMU, a multimodal Python pipeline developed in a research context to synchronize consented participant data across text, audio, and mobility streams under an approved data-handling protocol. He has also developed HiChef, a self-directed retrieval-augmented cooking assistant built with structured memory. By addressing interpretability, privacy preservation, and robustness together, Wu's work offers one view of how artificial intelligence systems might be made more accountable as they are deployed more widely. Its significance extends beyond any single paper, pointing toward a broader effort to build models whose decisions can be examined, whose training respects data boundaries, and whose behavior can be evaluated under adversarial conditions.
- August 19, 2026Business
Steve Farber Celebrates More Than 30 Years of Leadership Work Built on Trust and Credibility
Steve Farber , leadership speaker, consultant, and bestselling author, celebrates more than three decades of leadership development work with a continued focus on credibility, trust, and the daily practice of keeping promises. Through keynote speaking, consulting, executive coaching, and books including The Radical Promise , Farber explores how leaders can build relationships and cultures where people can rely on one another. Farber’s journey into leadership development began in 1989, following his experience running a financial services company. He went on to serve as director of service programs at an international training consultancy, before spending six years as vice president of a business training, consulting, and professional development organization. It was during this period that he developed lasting relationships with mentors whose influence would become part of his continuing leadership journey. In 2000, Farber established Extreme Leadership, Inc., and later founded The Extreme Leadership Institute, extending his work with leaders and organizations across technology, financial services, manufacturing, health care, hospitality, entertainment, retail, government, nonprofits, and education. He remains involved in leadership development through speaking, coaching, and organizational work. Over the course of that journey, Farber’s philosophy has centered on the idea that leadership is experienced through what people do, how they treat others, and whether their actions create confidence and connection. His work brings together love, credibility, energy, audacity, and practical action, encouraging leaders at every level to consider the influence they can have through their everyday choices. “Leadership is ultimately about the promises we make to people, whether we call them promises or not,” Farber says. “Every commitment is an opportunity to build credibility, and every promise we keep gives people another reason to trust us.” That philosophy has unfolded across Farber’s books, beginning with The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership . Written as a business parable, the book introduced his Radical LEAP framework and explored leadership through Love, Energy, Audacity, and Proof. His subsequent books, including The Radical Edge , Greater Than Yourself , and Love Is Just Damn Good Business , continued his exploration of the human dimensions of leadership and the relationship between meaningful work, strong relationships, and organizational performance. His newest book, The Radical Promise , brings that long-running work into a focused examination of credibility. Co-authored with Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, Farber’s longtime friends and mentors, the book reflects a professional relationship that began in the early 1990s and has developed across decades of shared work in values-based leadership. Written as a novel and leadership parable, The Radical Promise invites readers to experience its ideas through characters, situations, and reflection. “Its central premise is straightforward,” says Farber. “Do what you say you will do.” The idea extends well beyond organizational leadership, reaching into relationships, family life, and the commitments people make to themselves. “Credibility isn’t a personality trait you either have or don’t have. It’s a daily practice. The promises you make, the commitments you honor, and the way you show up for people become the evidence of who you are as a leader,” Farber adds. That perspective also informs Farber’s approach to leadership development. His keynotes, workshops, and coaching encourage leaders to examine their own behavior and consider the commitments that matter most in their work and lives. The emphasis is on reflection followed by action. This means noticing the promises made to colleagues, customers, teams, families, and oneself, then considering how consistently those commitments are honored. For Farber, credibility develops through ordinary moments. A leader follows through on a commitment, a colleague keeps an agreement, a manager creates space for a team member to contribute, or a person chooses to honor a promise made to themselves. Each moment can contribute to the level of trust people experience in a relationship. More than 30 years into his leadership journey, Farber continues to return to that practical foundation. His work, from his earliest leadership programs to The Radical Promise , reflects an enduring interest in helping people understand leadership as a daily practice of connection, responsibility, and action. The broader invitation is simple. “Consider the promises you make, then consider what happens when people can count on you to keep them,” Farber remarks. “That’s where credibility becomes more than an idea. It becomes a way of leading, working, relating to others, and creating the conditions for people to do their best work.”
- August 19, 2026Fashion
Raquel Macias Redefines Luxury Image Strategy with New Global Practice
As luxury shifts from display to discernment, Luxury Image Strategist Raquel Macias helps executives, founders, and private clients build personal image through credibility, confidence, and long-term influence. Rather than treating a wardrobe as a collection of clothing, Macias positions it as an investment, one that supports the life and career a client has already built. Every engagement begins with a single guiding question: How does your wardrobe support the life you have built? From there, runway influences are interpreted through the lens of each client's lifestyle, ambitions, and global calendar. A Practice Built on Five Pillars Macias's advisory is structured around five core areas of expertise: the psychology of dressing, global executive style, investment dressing, luxury travel styling, and elegance. Her methodology examines how clothing shapes confidence and leadership presence, helping clients build sophisticated, enduring wardrobes suited to their careers, lifestyles, and international travel. Drawing on experience across the world's leading fashion and luxury destinations, Macias combines personal style with strategy to help clients present themselves with confidence, authenticity, and intention. A Global Circuit, Not a Single Market Affluent clients do not live in one city. They move along a predictable calendar of fashion weeks, art fairs, yacht shows, Grand Prix weekends, ski seasons, and cultural events, and their wardrobes must perform in every one of them. Macias's practice is built around that circuit and not a single region: Europe: the couture and capsule conversation in Paris; Italian craftsmanship in Milan and Rome; Riviera and yacht dressing in Monaco and St. Tropez; heritage tailoring and power dressing in London; understated wealth in Munich and Zurich; and considered minimalism in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Lisbon. Middle East: modern Saudi luxury and couture occasion wear in Riyadh; cultural elegance in Abu Dhabi; and international retail in Dubai. Asia Pacific: executive luxury in Singapore; precision and craft in Tokyo; fashion innovation in Seoul; investment shopping in Hong Kong; and coastal seasonality in Sydney. United States: financial industry wardrobes in New York; discreet wealth in Montecito; gala dressing in Dallas and the Hamptons; and country club polish in Orange County. A Point of View Built Around the Business of Luxury Rather than following a traditional seasonal calendar, Macias's platform will establish a distinctive point of view on how luxury, personal image, and business influence intersect, exploring the decisions behind a luxury lifestyle rather than simply what is worn, where people travel, or what is trending. Monthly commentary will examine topics such as the psychology of luxury purchasing, why personal image influences professional credibility, how women are redefining executive presence, the evolution of the modern luxury consumer, and why access and experience increasingly matter more than ownership. This platform positions Macias as a thoughtful industry voice through executive interviews, podcasts, business and luxury publications, keynote conversations, and curated industry events, establishing a recognizable authority at the intersection of luxury, image, business, and influence. About Raquel Macias Raquel Macias is a Luxury Image Strategist advising executives, founders, entrepreneurs, and private clients on the intersection of personal image, wardrobe, presence, and influence. Her work goes beyond traditional styling, helping clients understand how the way they present themselves can strengthen confidence, communicate authority, and support how they are perceived in high-stakes professional and social environments. Macias brings an international perspective shaped by luxury culture, refined personal style, investment dressing, and the evolving expectations of modern leadership. Her approach considers not only what a client wears, but why certain choices create impact, and how clothing can function as a strategic asset rather than simply a personal expense. Rooted in the philosophy that personal image is a form of communication, every detail, from wardrobe and silhouette to color, quality, and setting, contributes to the story a person tells before they ever speak. For executives and founders, this becomes increasingly important as visibility, leadership presence, and personal brand intersect. Through a highly personalized approach, Macias helps clients build wardrobes and visual identities that are intentional, sophisticated, versatile, and aligned with their professional ambitions and lifestyle. The work creates lasting confidence and clarity in what they purchase, how they dress, and how they show up.
- August 19, 2026Blockchain
VeraData Holdings Expands Full-Spectrum Fundraising Intelligence Platform as Nonprofit Sector Faces Rising Donor Acquisition Costs
VeraData Holdings today announced the expansion of its full-spectrum fundraising intelligence platform through The VeraData Group, bringing together the acquisitions of Faircom and New River Communications, in synergy with Acuity, a VeraData company. For most of its history, the nonprofit fundraising industry has operated with a fundamental structural problem: the organizations responsible for data, creative, production, and media rarely talk to each other. A nonprofit might have one vendor modeling its donor file, another designing its direct mail creative, a third managing print and logistics, and a fourth running its digital campaigns — each operating in isolation, each optimizing for its own piece of the puzzle, and none of them accountable for the outcome the organization actually cares about: more donors, more dollars, more mission delivered. Michael Peterman built VeraData to fix that. Under Peterman's leadership, VeraData has repositioned as The Donor Science Company and announced the formation of The VeraData Group — bringing together acquisitions of Faircom and New River Communications, in synergy with Acuity, a VeraData company, to deliver a full portfolio of capabilities across creative design, data analytics, production, and logistics under a consolidated structure. LinkedIn "Uniting as The VeraData Group is a natural progression," Peterman said. "It enables us to deliver more complete and integrated solutions, perfectly aligned with our mission to turn insights into impact." The Integration Imperative The decision to consolidate was driven by a pattern Peterman observed across hundreds of nonprofit client engagements: fragmented vendor relationships were undermining the very data strategies his team had built. Organizations were receiving excellent modeling outputs and then handing them to creative and production partners who had no visibility into what the data said — and no incentive to act on it. "Data without execution is just math," Peterman says. "And execution without data is just hope. The only way to consistently deliver results is to own the full chain — from the insight to the mailbox to the digital touchpoint to the outcome. That's what The VeraData Group makes possible." The company today serves nonprofits of every size, collectively raising more than $1 billion annually for clients across the country, supported by more than 240 employees including a team of 25 or more PhD mathematicians. That combination of analytical depth and operational breadth is what distinguishes VeraData from both traditional direct mail shops and newer data-only entrants to the nonprofit market. TechIntelPro Performance-Based in a Risk-Averse Sector One of the structural realities of nonprofit fundraising is that organizations are accountable to boards, donors, and in many cases the public for how they spend on fundraising. That accountability creates a natural resistance to experimentation — and a natural skepticism toward vendors making outsized promises. VeraData's answer to that skepticism has been the same since the company's founding: put the risk on themselves. The company charges only for results, a strategy in place since day one. "We're the only company in our space who puts forth what is a Herculean effort up front with no payment required unless we move the needle. And that alignment breeds trust," Peterman says. VeraData That model becomes more powerful as the platform expands. When VeraData is responsible for the data, the creative, the production, and the outcome measurement, the performance guarantee covers the entire chain — not just the modeling piece. For nonprofit executives who have spent years managing multiple vendor relationships with diffuse accountability, that consolidated ownership of outcomes represents a meaningful shift. What the Sector Data Shows Peterman points to three converging pressures making integrated fundraising intelligence not a competitive advantage but a baseline requirement for nonprofit growth over the next decade. Donor acquisition costs have risen steadily across all channels as digital advertising costs increase and physical mail costs track inflation. The nonprofits best positioned to absorb those cost increases are the ones with the highest-quality prospecting models — organizations that are spending acquisition dollars on prospects with a statistically high probability of giving, rather than broad audiences with average response rates. Lapsed donor reactivation has become an underutilized revenue source at most organizations. VeraData routinely doubles or triples an organization's active donor pool while reducing the cost of acquiring donors by 20 to 30 percent — outcomes driven in significant part by the application of behavioral modeling to reactivation campaigns that most organizations are running on intuition alone. VeraData And major donor pipeline development — the identification of mid-level donors with the behavioral and demographic characteristics of eventual major donors — remains largely unaddressed by analytics at most organizations. It is one of the highest-return opportunities in the sector and one of the least data-driven decisions nonprofits make. "The data exists to answer all three of these questions with precision," Peterman says. "The organizations that build the infrastructure to use it well right now are going to look very different in five years from the ones that don't." Peterman was recently named EY US Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Florida Award winner — the first founder in the nonprofit data and fundraising services sector to receive the honor — and will advance to the national competition at the EY Strategic Growth Forum in November 2026. TechIntelPro About VeraData Holdings VeraData is a data analytics company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, specializing in AI and machine learning-enabled donor acquisition and retention for the nonprofit sector. Founded in 2007 by Michael Peterman, VeraData serves more than 400 nonprofit organizations nationwide and supports clients that collectively raise more than $1 billion in annual philanthropic giving. VeraData operates as The Donor Science Company. For more information, visit veradata.com. About Michael Peterman Michael Peterman is the Founder and CEO of VeraData and the originator of the Donor Science framework. He is the EY US Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Florida Award winner and will compete at the national EY Entrepreneur of the Year program in November 2026. Peterman is based in Sarasota, Florida.
- August 19, 2026Business
High-Speed Camera Reveals How Droplet Impact on Micropillar and Micropit Surfaces Controls the Leidenfrost Effect
High-speed imaging at 13,600 fps reveals how three-dimensional surface morphology alters droplet boiling regimes and the Leidenfrost point, showing that negatively skewed micropit surfaces can delay stable vapor-film formation and improve high-temperature evaporative cooling. The Leidenfrost effect is a critical limitation in high-temperature thermal management, spray cooling and metal machining. When a liquid droplet contacts a sufficiently hot surface, rapid vaporization can generate a stable vapor layer between the liquid and the solid. This vapor film suppresses direct solid-liquid contact and sharply reduces heat-transfer efficiency. Researchers at Hefei University of Technology investigated how three-dimensional surface morphology influences this transition. Rather than focusing only on conventional roughness parameters, the study compared surfaces with similar roughness but fundamentally different peak-valley characteristics: positively skewed micropillar arrays and negatively skewed micropit arrays. A Revealer high-speed camera was used as the primary diagnostic tool to capture droplet contact, spreading, vapor-bubble formation, splashing, breakup and rebound. These high-speed image sequences were then correlated with wall-temperature measurements to identify boiling regimes and determine both static and dynamic Leidenfrost points. High-Speed Camera Captures Millisecond-Scale Droplet Boiling The experimental system used a Revealer high-speed camera operating at 13,600 frames per second at 1280 × 1024 pixels. The camera viewed the heated surface from the side and recorded the transient evolution of cutting-fluid droplets after impact. The imaging system was combined with a temperature-controlled heating platform capable of reaching 600 C, a K-type thermocouple, a microsyringe pump, an illumination system and thermal measurement instruments. The test specimens were YT15 cemented-carbide tools. Picosecond laser processing was used to fabricate two types of microstructured surfaces: micropillar arrays with positive skewness, Ssk>0, and micropit arrays with negative skewness, Ssk<0. The surface structures were designed to maintain comparable roughness and a solid fraction of approximately ϕ=0.5. By adjusting the droplet release height, the researchers controlled impact velocity and Weber number. High-speed imaging continuously tracked the droplet from approach and initial contact through spreading, vapor-bubble generation, liquid-film breakup, secondary droplet formation and eventual departure from the surface. Static Leidenfrost Point Identified From Boiling-Regime Transitions For nearly stationary droplets, the high-speed camera revealed four sequential regimes as wall temperature increased: single-phase evaporation, nucleate boiling, transition boiling and film boiling. During single-phase evaporation, the droplet remained in direct contact with the surface. In nucleate boiling, vapor bubbles developed at the solid-liquid interface. At higher temperatures, these vapor bubbles coalesced and produced an unstable vapor layer, marking transition boiling. Once a stable vapor film completely separated the droplet from the heated surface, the system entered film boiling. The researchers therefore defined the static Leidenfrost point, TL, as the critical wall temperature separating transition boiling from film boiling. This illustrates the measurement value of high-speed imaging. Temperature sensors provide the wall temperature, but they cannot independently identify whether a droplet is in direct contact with the surface or supported by an unstable or stable vapor layer. High-speed camera images provide the required physical-state evidence. Dynamic Droplet Impact Reveals More Complex Boiling Regimes Droplet impact introduces additional inertia and produces substantially more complex boiling dynamics. On a smooth heated surface, the high-speed images showed transitions among single-phase evaporation, nucleate boiling, transition boiling, bounce atomization and gentle film boiling. On microstructured surfaces, however, additional regimes appeared after transition boiling, including central splash, broken atomization and spraying film boiling. A key finding was that secondary droplets could occur in several different regimes, but their physical origins were not the same. During central splash and broken atomization, the liquid remained in direct contact with the wall. Secondary droplets were associated with rapid interfacial vaporization, vapor-bubble rupture and liquid-film breakup. During spraying film boiling, by contrast, a vapor layer separated the droplet from the solid surface. Atomization was then more closely associated with vapor-bubble evolution inside the droplet and rupture of the free liquid surface. The study therefore showed that the presence of secondary atomization alone is not sufficient to determine whether a microstructured surface has entered the dynamic Leidenfrost state. Figure-Revealer high-speed camera at 13,600 fps captures droplet impact, nucleate boiling, transition boiling, atomization and spraying film boiling on heated microstructured surfaces for dynamic Leidenfrost point analysis. High-Speed Imaging Establishes a Dynamic Leidenfrost Criterion Based on high-speed image sequences acquired over a range of wall temperatures, the researchers established separate Leidenfrost criteria for stationary droplets, impact droplets on smooth surfaces and impact droplets on microstructured surfaces. For stationary droplets: transition boiling → film boiling defines the static Leidenfrost point TL. For impact droplets on smooth surfaces: bounce atomization → gentle film boiling defines the dynamic Leidenfrost point TDL. For the microstructured surfaces investigated in this study: broken atomization → spraying film boiling provides the appropriate criterion for determining the dynamic Leidenfrost point. This distinction is important because microstructures fundamentally alter the droplet-wall interaction. High-speed imaging converts millisecond-scale interfacial behavior into a sequence of identifiable physical states, allowing each boiling regime to be correlated with a corresponding wall temperature. Micropit Surfaces Delay the Leidenfrost Transition The experiments further showed that surfaces with similar average roughness can exhibit substantially different Leidenfrost behavior when their three-dimensional peak-valley characteristics differ. Under comparable roughness and solid-fraction conditions, the negatively skewed micropit arrays exhibited higher Leidenfrost points than the positively skewed micropillar arrays. The underlying mechanism was attributed to differences in vapor-flow resistance created by the two surface geometries. These differences modify vapor transport beneath the droplet and therefore influence how interfacial vapor pressure develops. A force-balance model considering vapor pressure, gravitational pressure, capillary pressure, water-hammer pressure and dynamic pressure was used to interpret the experimental transition temperatures. Cooling experiments further confirmed that the micropit surface, which had the higher Leidenfrost point, maintained more effective high-temperature cooling. The study demonstrates that average surface roughness alone is insufficient to describe Leidenfrost behavior. Three-dimensional parameters such as surface skewness and peak-valley morphology must also be considered when designing surfaces for boiling heat transfer and evaporative cooling. More broadly, the study demonstrates how a high-speed camera combined with synchronized temperature measurement and three-dimensional surface characterization can connect droplet-impact dynamics with critical boiling transitions and macroscopic cooling performance. Such an approach is applicable to research in droplet impact, spray cooling, boiling heat transfer, high-temperature machining and functional microstructured surfaces.
- August 19, 2026Technology
Trainocate Malaysia Expands ISACA Certification Pathway to Support Digital Trust and Cyber Resilience
Trainocate Malaysia, a provider of IT and professional development training, has announced the expansion of its ISACA certification pathway. The enhanced curriculum addresses critical workforce requirements across cybersecurity, IT governance, enterprise risk, data privacy, and AI governance. This initiative provides structured learning tracks designed to help organizations build and sustain digital trust within an increasingly interconnected business environment. The expansion comes at a pivotal time for Malaysia's digital economy. According to the Randstad Workmonitor 2026, while 95% of Malaysian employers anticipate business growth, talent confidence remains constrained by significant skills gaps. Additionally, the PwC 29th Global CEO Survey reveals that 35% of local chief executives identify persistent skills shortages as a major operational risk. Furthermore, data from Hays indicates that only 44% of Malaysian organizations are expected to have trained their cybersecurity workforce on AI tools, despite the rapidly growing role of AI in threat detection and incident response. To address these corporate vulnerabilities, Trainocate Malaysia’s expanded curriculum incorporates top ISACA certifications spanning foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels. The pathways cover established credentials alongside newly introduced AI-focused and operational certifications. Key offerings include the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), and Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE). The expanded portfolio also features specialized programs such as Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA), Advanced in AI Risk (AAIR), Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM), and Certified Cybersecurity Operations Analyst (CCOA). By offering expert-led instruction paired with official certification preparation, Trainocate Malaysia enables working professionals and enterprise teams to acquire role-ready capabilities. These structured tracks align technical skills with international regulatory, governance, and security standards, helping business leaders mitigate talent shortages while strengthening overall cyber resilience. Enrollment for the expanded ISACA training pathways is currently open for both individual professionals and corporate teams seeking customized enterprise upskilling programs. About Trainocate Malaysia Operating as part of a global IT training organization with over 30 years of experience across 24 countries, Trainocate Malaysia is an HRD Corp Registered Training Provider based in KL Eco City. The organization specializes in technology, business, and human capital development, delivering vendor-certified training across cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. For more information, please refer to the contact details below.
- August 19, 2026Health
Acıbadem Healthcare Group: Leading with Excellence in International Healthcare
Over the past decade, cross-border medical travel has undergone a remarkable transformation. Patients around the globe increasingly seek high-quality, accessible, and highly specialized healthcare services beyond their home borders. Amid this evolving landscape, Acıbadem Healthcare Group has established itself as an international benchmark for clinical excellence, welcoming thousands of overseas patients each year with world-class treatments, modern medical technologies, and deeply compassionate patient care. A Growing Destination for Global Healthcare The rising global demand for advanced medical care, state-of-the-art technological infrastructure, and highly experienced specialists has motivated millions of individuals to seek medical solutions abroad. Turkey, strategically situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has rapidly grown into one of the world's premier locations for international patients. The continuous growth of Medical Tourism Turkey underscores the country's dedicated investments in modern hospital facilities, internationally accredited healthcare systems, and renowned clinical specialists. Within this dynamic healthcare environment, Acıbadem Healthcare Group operates at the very forefront. By maintaining an extensive network of modern hospital facilities and outpatient clinics, Acıbadem integrates cutting-edge diagnostic tools, innovative surgical methods, and comprehensive patient care protocols. This multi-layered approach delivers superior clinical outcomes across diverse medical domains, including oncology, cardiovascular surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, organ transplantation, and pediatric care. Setting the Standard for Medical Excellence At Acıbadem Healthcare Group, our commitment is to provide world-class healthcare services that set the standard for medical excellence. As a leader in the global healthcare industry, we are dedicated to delivering top-tier, compassionate care to our diverse patient community. To uphold this institutional promise, Acıbadem continuously invests in prestigious international accreditations, evidence-based treatment protocols, and ongoing clinical research initiatives. Every medical center within the network adheres to rigorous global safety and clinical governance benchmarks, ensuring that every individual receives safe, individualized, and outcome-oriented medical attention throughout their care journey. Comprehensive Support for International Patients Traveling overseas for specialized treatment presents unique emotional, linguistic, and practical challenges for patients and their families. To address these needs effectively, Acıbadem Healthcare Group established its specialized International Patient Services department, designed to deliver a smooth, stress-free experience from start to finish. Key patient care and administrative services include: · Pre-Travel Consultation and Planning: Detailed evaluation of medical records and customized treatment scheduling before departure. · Multilingual Patient Coordination: Dedicated interpreters and personal patient guides fluent in numerous languages to facilitate seamless communication. · Logistical and Travel Assistance: Complete support with visa paperwork, complimentary airport transfers, local transportation, and accommodation arrangements. · Post-Treatment Care and Follow-Up: Continuous post-discharge monitoring, virtual tele-consultations, and translated medical records to ensure long-term wellness upon returning home. By pairing advanced clinical expertise with genuine hospitality, Acıbadem enables patients to concentrate entirely on their health and recovery. Shaping the Future of International Healthcare As global health mobility continues to expand, Acıbadem Healthcare Group remains steadfast in its dedication to medical innovation, patient safety, and clinical leadership. By systematically incorporating robotic surgery, modern digital health technologies, and targeted precision therapies, Acıbadem reinforces its role as a premier healthcare provider worldwide. Through an unwavering commitment to quality standards and compassionate patient care, Acıbadem Healthcare Group continues to elevate international healthcare standards, bringing world-class treatment options to patients around the globe.
- August 19, 2026Top Stories
202 Coffees in an Hour: 7Fresh Coffee Opens Its First 24-Hour Robotic Shop in Beijing, Sets Guinness World Record
On August 16, 7Fresh Coffee , JD.com’s freshly made beverage brand, has opened its first 24-hour smart robotic shop at Galaxy SOHO in Beijing, and it’s already breaking records. Filter this: At the opening, the shop’s automated barista robot ground out 202 cups of coffee in one hour, setting a new Guinness World Record for the “ Most Cups of Coffee Served by a Robot Barista in One Hour. ” Holy Espresso!! The new shop brings together automated coffee preparation and digital ordering to offer customers a fast, consistent and highly customizable coffee experience around the clock. Coffee-o’clock is now 24/7! From grinding beans and extracting espresso to flavor mixing and cup dispensing, the preparation process is automated, with a single drink completed in under 30 seconds in normal operations. Customers can order through the JD.com App or in-store self-service screens, and watch their drinks being prepared on screens inside the store. They can also customize coffee strength and sweetness to their preference, offering greater choice while maintaining consistency in every cup. Hasta Barista, Baby! Behind the experience, the shop integrates JD.com’s AI model with embodied AI technology from its robotics technology partners . 7Fresh Coffee also applies AI to flavour development and personalized recommendations , combining data insights with product expertise to test flavor profiles, explore new recipes and better understand consumer preferences. The opening attracted both local customers and international visitors curious to experience the new format, while a 24-hour livestream from the store also sparked discussion online. For 7Fresh Coffee, the Guinness World Record goes beyond speed. It demonstrates how automation, AI-supported product development and consumer insights can come together to make everyday coffee service faster, more consistent and more personalized , while giving customers greater choice and convenience around the clock.
- August 19, 2026Apps & Software
Duopharma Biotech maintains healthy profit growth in H1FY2026
Duopharma Biotech Berhad (“Duopharma Biotech” or “the Company”) recorded cumulative revenue of RM482.24 million for the first half of FY2026 ended 30 June 2026, which saw the Group’s Profit Before Tax (“PBT”) growing 32.1% year-on-year to RM79.71 million, while Profit After Tax (“PAT”) rose 32.2% to RM60.59 million, compared to the corresponding period in the preceding year. The profit growth was primarily driven by a more favourable product mix, the strengthening of the Malaysian Ringgit which reduced input costs for most Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (“APIs”), and continued operational efficiencies across the Group, which offset higher operating expenses incurred in support of business growth. At the same time, Duopharma Biotech’s combined revenue across the first two quarters of FY2026 marginally declined 0.5% from the RM484.52 million recorded in H1 FY2025, mainly attributable to the normalisation of insulin sales to the public sector following a one-off surge last year. Excluding the impact of insulin sales, the Group saw underlying revenue growth, supported by continued expansion across the private market segments and export business, with stronger contributions from the Consumer Healthcare business. Meanwhile, Q2 FY2026 revenue of RM234.36 million, declining 5.5% from the preceding quarter, was consistent with the Group’s historical sales pattern, where public sector demand normalises in the second quarter in line with the Ministry of Health’s annual procurement cycle. Duopharma Biotech Group Chief Executive Officer Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid commented, “Duopharma Biotech’s resilient financial performance comes from a healthy order book, diversified revenue streams and strong participation in the public and private healthcare sector. To maintain this trajectory, with evolving geopolitical developments and global trade uncertainties in mind, we will continue to focus on operational excellence, prudent cost management and disciplined execution of strategic priorities, while strengthening supply chain resilience through diversified API sourcing, effective inventory management and close collaboration with key suppliers.” The Group’s contracts to supply Ministry of Health facilities also provide continued earnings visibility. These include a two-year contract to supply Insulin Injection until 5 February 2028, valued at RM52.5 million, as well as a three-year contract to supply Recombinant Human Insulin products until 2 June 2029, valued at approximately RM155.3 million. In addition, on 31 July 2026, the Group accepted Notices of Extension for the continued supply of 97 pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products under the Approved Products Purchase List (“APPL”) from 1 January 2027 to 30 June 2027. The products are part of existing contracts to supply 100 products until 31 December 2026. Dividend maintained For the current financial period ended 30 June 2026, the Board of Directors announced an interim dividend of 1.5 sen per share, amounting to approximately RM14.43 million, maintaining the amount paid last year (2025: 1.5 sen per share). The entitlement date and payment date have been determined for 4 September 2026 and 21 September 2026 respectively. An active industry stakeholder Recently, the Group partnered with the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (“MPS”) to establish the MPS-Duopharma Biotech Student Excellence Award, a three-year initiative aimed at developing future pharmacy leaders. At the MPS-Duopharma Biotech Student Excellence Award 2026, held in conjunction with the Malaysian Pharmacists Society National Pharmacists Convention (MPS NPC) 2026, 19 outstanding students representing 19 participating universities were recognised for their exemplary academic achievements, highlighting Duopharma Biotech’s continued investment in nurturing talent and supporting the advancement of the pharmacy profession in Malaysia. Duopharma Biotech was also recently recognised at the 11th Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2026, the fourth consecutive year of recognition at the prestigious national platform, and the second consecutive win in the Company of the Year (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing) ESG Leadership Award category. The Group’s consumer healthcare brands also celebrated a hat trick of wins at the Watsons Health, Wellness & Beauty (HWB) Awards 2026. FLAVETTES ® was recognised with the inaugural Best Brand Building Collaboration award and the Most Wanted Effervescent Vitamin C + Glutathione award, while CHAMPS ® was honoured with the Most Wanted Kids Chewable Vitamin C award, reflecting the continued trust and confidence consumers place in Duopharma Biotech’s brands. Meanwhile, to celebrate the upcoming Merdeka and Malaysia Day, the Company’s market leading Vitamin C brand FLAVETTES ® launched a campaign themed ‘FLAVETTES ® Setia Menemani Setiap Generasi’, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, Watsons Malaysia and Kapten Batik, celebrating more than 30 years of providing immunity support across generations as well as Malaysian cultural heritage.
- August 18, 2026Business
Register for e-billing and bank autopay to enjoy a HK$100 gas bill rebate
To promote green living and provide customers with a more convenient billing management experience, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) has launched the “Auto Bill, Easy Chill” campaign. From now until 30 June 2026, Towngas customers who newly register for the e-billing service and successfully set up a bank autopay instruction will be eligible for a gas bill rebate of up to HK$100. Simple application steps: Step 1: Register for the e-billing service Apply for a Towngas online account via the website www.towngas.com/eService . Towngas will send a confirmation via SMS or post within five working days. Step 2: Set up bank autopay Log in to your Towngas online account, or call the Towngas Customer Service Hotline at 2880 6988 to apply for the bank autopay service over the phone. Customers may also complete an Autopay Direct Debit Authorisation Form and submit it to their bank for processing. Once the bank approves the autopay setup, the gas bill rebate will be credited in 10 monthly instalments of HK$10 each. The relevant rebate amounts will be clearly stated on the e-bill, allowing customers to easily keep track of their account information. Towngas is committed to promoting environmental protection and enhancing customer experience. Switching to e-billing reduces paper consumption and supports green living. Bank autopay also eliminates the hassle of missed payments, enabling customers to enjoy a convenient, “Easy Chill” lifestyle. For details, please refer to the attachment here. - END - For media enquiries, please contact: The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited Ms Kathy Tse Senior Corporate Affairs Officer Tel: 2963 3497 / 6698 3357 Email: tse.kathy@towngas.com Mr Julius Chow Senior Corporate Affairs Officer Tel: 2963 3471 / 6969 1360 Email: julius.chow@towngas.com
- August 18, 2026Sports
Performance Medicine Institute Study Demonstrates Muscle Gains are Possible During GLP-1 Weight Loss
Performance Medicine Institute is pleased to announce the publication of a peer-reviewed study examining skeletal muscle mass and strength during substantial weight loss in men receiving a comprehensive tirzepatide-based treatment program. Published August 10 in Obesity Pillars, the study followed 93 men with obesity and symptoms of testosterone deficiency for up to 12 months. The paper, “ Increasing Skeletal Muscle Mass and Strength During Incretin-Based Weight Loss ,” enters a public discussion that has largely centered on a single concern: whether weight lost with GLP-1 medications also includes a meaningful amount of muscle. Researchers and authors of the paper, Christopher L. Mendias, PhD, ATC, and Tariq M. Awan, DO, examined a broader question—whether substantial fat loss can occur alongside improvements in estimated skeletal muscle mass, strength and physical function when several aspects of health are addressed together. The retrospective case series included 48 participants without type 2 diabetes and 45 with the condition. All received tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound, as well as testosterone therapy for symptomatic testosterone deficiency with qualifying laboratory findings. The program also incorporated resistance exercise, high-protein nutritional counseling and weekly lifestyle and behavioral coaching. Participants were counseled to pursue more than 150 minutes of exercise weekly, with approximately 60% to 70% devoted to resistance training, and to target 150 to 200 grams of protein per day. At 12 months, body weight had declined by approximately 18% to 20%, while fat mass fell by approximately 38% to 40%. Estimated skeletal muscle mass increased by approximately 4% to 12%, and grip strength rose by approximately 18% to 21%. Among participants with type 2 diabetes, average HbA1c decreased from 10.1% to 5.8%. The study also reported reductions in LDL cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, together with improvements in patient-reported physical and mental health scores. “There has been a lot of attention paid to how much weight people can lose with GLP-1 medications, but we think an equally important question is what kind of weight they are losing,” says Dr. Awan, Medical Director of Performance Medicine Institute. “The goal should not simply be a lower number on the scale. Ideally, we want patients to lose excess body fat while preserving or improving skeletal muscle, strength, metabolic health and physical function. Our findings suggest that substantial weight loss and improvement in muscle health can occur at the same time.” A key point in the paper is the distinction between lean body mass and skeletal muscle mass. Lean body mass is a broad measure that includes muscle, organs, body water, glycogen-associated water, connective tissue and other nonfat tissue. In the study, total lean body mass decreased, yet estimated skeletal muscle mass and grip strength increased. The authors noted that a decline in measured lean mass should therefore not automatically be interpreted as an equivalent decline in skeletal muscle. For patients arriving at a weight-management appointment, the scale is often the most visible marker of progress. The research suggests that the story beneath that number may be equally important. Body composition, strength, metabolic measures and day-to-day physical function can offer a more complete view of how treatment is affecting health. The findings do not establish that skeletal muscle gain will occur with tirzepatide alone. The participants received multiple interventions at the same time, and the analysis was limited to men with obesity and testosterone deficiency treated at a single outpatient clinic. As a retrospective case series without a comparison group, the study supports further investigation rather than a conclusion that any one component caused the reported changes. Testosterone therapy is appropriate only for patients who have been clinically evaluated and meet treatment criteria. The article is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obpill.2026.100317 . Please also visit https://www.performancemedinst.com for more information. About Performance Medicine Institute Performance Medicine Institute is a multidisciplinary medical practice in Phoenix, Arizona, that combines medicine, rehabilitation, exercise science, metabolic health and performance-focused care. Its clinical services span men’s health, hormonal and metabolic health, obesity and diabetes, musculoskeletal and sports medicine, rehabilitation, pelvic and sexual health, athletic performance, recovery and healthy aging. The practice uses an integrated clinical model influenced by professional and collegiate sports medicine, where medical treatment, rehabilitation, exercise, nutrition, recovery and physical performance are managed as connected aspects of care. Performance Medicine Institute is co-directed by Christopher Mendias, PhD, ATC, Director of Rehabilitation and Research. A rehabilitation clinician-scientist, his work examines muscle, tendon, bone and cartilage healing and regeneration, along with metabolism and endocrine disorders. Dr. Mendias earned bachelor’s degrees in athletic training and biology and a master’s degree in physiology from the University of Arizona. He received his PhD in molecular and integrative physiology from the University of Michigan Medical School and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in biomedical engineering. His earlier appointments include serving on the faculty of the University of Michigan, the scientific staff of Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and the faculty of Weill Cornell University. He has authored more than 100 scientific research papers and book chapters, with research support from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and several foundations. Co-director and Medical Director Tariq Awan, DO, is double board certified in sports medicine and family medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, completed his residency at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and served as chief resident before undertaking a sports medicine fellowship at Mayo Clinic. His professional and collegiate sports medicine experience includes serving as head team physician for the Orlando Magic and working with the medical staffs of the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and University of Michigan Wolverines. Dr. Awan’s clinical interests include sports and musculoskeletal medicine, chronic muscle and tendon disorders, osteoarthritis, concussions, osteoporosis and biologic treatments for musculoskeletal conditions. He is also an active researcher who has directed clinical trials and contributed to numerous scientific publications. Scientific research is a central part of the institute’s work. Its team has contributed to more than 100 scientific publications in addition to clinical trials and laboratory studies. Performance Medicine Institute is located at 3330 N. 2nd Street, Suite 401, Phoenix, Arizona 85012.
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