Asia Insider – Asia Insider https://asiainsiders.net All about Asia Sun, 16 Aug 2026 04:31:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://asiainsiders.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/AI_Logo.jpg Asia Insider – Asia Insider https://asiainsiders.net 32 32 WorkBuddy Brings AI-Native Productivity to Thailand, Helping Professionals Turn Ideas into Finished Work https://asiainsiders.net/workbuddy-brings-ai-native-productivity-to-thailand-helping-professionals-turn-ideas-into-finished-work/ https://asiainsiders.net/workbuddy-brings-ai-native-productivity-to-thailand-helping-professionals-turn-ideas-into-finished-work/#respond Sun, 16 Aug 2026 03:23:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/workbuddy-brings-ai-native-productivity-to-thailand-helping-professionals-turn-ideas-into-finished-work BANGKOK, Aug. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WorkBuddy is bringing its AI-native desktop workspace to users in Thailand, giving professionals, developers, entrepreneurs and cross-border teams a practical way to turn everyday instructions into completed work.

Rather than functioning only as a chatbot, WorkBuddy is designed to understand a goal, break it into steps and carry out the work. Users can ask it to prepare reports, presentations, spreadsheets and documents, while multiple AI agents can work in parallel on different parts of a task.

Throughout August 2026, users in Thailand and around the world can use Hy3 large language model on WorkBuddy at no cost, through 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on August 31, 2026.

WorkBuddy is bringing its AI-native desktop workspace to users in Thailand.png

The experience includes specialist AI capabilities covering operations, design, data and development. WorkBuddy also supports a skills marketplace and connections with commonly used productivity and collaboration tools, allowing users to build workflows around the way they already work.

For individual professionals, the value is straightforward: less time spent switching between tools or repeating manual steps, and more support in moving from an idea to a usable result. For developers and entrepreneurs, WorkBuddy can also support research, content production, analysis and project work.

In Thailand, WorkBuddy Pro is priced at THB 361 per month—the lowest-priced plan among the paid AI subscriptions compared. It costs about half as much as ChatGPT Plus (THB 699) and substantially less than Claude Cowork (THB 580), giving users a more affordable way to access a professional AI workspace.

In Thailand, WorkBuddy adds localized support for users who need to understand regional markets. Through its Global Development Zone and AI Navigator+ capabilities, the platform provides country-focused expertise covering Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, with support across areas including market strategy, business development, finance and tax, human resources, legal compliance and public affairs.

WorkBuddy brings model access together through TokenHub

WorkBuddy also brings model access together through TokenHub, allowing users to switch among supported AI models with a focus on stable use and cost control. Combined with specialist agents and integrated workflows, this gives users a practical way to access multiple AI capabilities without assembling separate tools for every task.

As AI becomes part of everyday work, WorkBuddy aims to help more people use AI not only to answer questions, but to complete real tasks — from planning and research to creation, analysis and delivery.

Contact:
Young Cao
ycao@westoeast.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at 
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b2cb3bcc-345e-4112-ab7e-bcffd1dad697
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3265b31e-1fc6-4e43-9c96-968ca7b33f68

]]> https://asiainsiders.net/workbuddy-brings-ai-native-productivity-to-thailand-helping-professionals-turn-ideas-into-finished-work/feed/ 0 Etiqa Insurance Singapore Appoints Claudia Soh as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Chapter of Growth https://asiainsiders.net/etiqa-insurance-singapore-appoints-claudia-soh-as-chief-executive-officer-to-lead-next-chapter-of-growth/ Sun, 16 Aug 2026 03:02:53 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/etiqa-insurance-singapore-appoints-claudia-soh-as-chief-executive-officer-to-lead-next-chapter-of-growth

Veteran insurance leader to accelerate growth, strengthen partnerships and drive customer-focused innovation

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singapore today announced the official appointment of Claudia Soh as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 14 Aug 2026. Over the past six months, while serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer and continuing in her role as Chief Financial Officer, Claudia has led Etiqa Insurance Singapore through a period of sustained growth and transformation, strengthening the company’s foundations while driving initiatives focused on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity. Her appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in her leadership and vision as the company embarks on its next phase of growth.

Etiqa Insurance Singapore Appoints Claudia Soh as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Chapter of Growth

With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and insurance industry, Claudia brings extensive expertise across finance, strategic planning, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and auditing. Her career spans both the public and private sectors, including experience at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and senior leadership roles within the insurance industry.

During her tenure at Etiqa, Claudia has helped build on the company’s strong momentum by supporting its growth agenda while advancing new initiatives. Her collaborative leadership approach and focus on long-term value creation have contributed to strengthening Etiqa’s capabilities for the future. She has also been an advocate for transforming the finance function from a traditional support role into a strategic business partner that helps create stronger outcomes for customers, employees and stakeholders.

“We are delighted to formally appoint Claudia Soh as CEO of Etiqa Insurance Singapore,” said Kamaludin, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etiqa Insurance and Takaful. “Claudia has demonstrated strong leadership, strategic clarity, operational excellence and resilience. Her ability to drive innovation, build strong teams and adapt to changing customer needs will continue to strengthen our market position in Singapore to deliver long-term value for our customers, employees and stakeholders”

On her appointment, Claudia said, “I am honoured to undertake the role of CEO at Etiqa Insurance Singapore at a time of significant change for our industry. As customer expectations continue to evolve, we must remain agile, innovative and focused on delivering purposeful value. By combining digital innovation, data-driven insights and strong partnerships, we will continue to enhance the customer experience and help more individuals and businesses build financial confidence and resilience.”

Deepening Partnerships and Empowering Financial Readiness

As a leading composite insurer, Etiqa Insurance Singapore will continue to deepen its distribution capabilities and ecosystem partnerships to make protection more accessible and relevant to customers. Beyond its longstanding bancassurance partnership, Etiqa will work closely with Maybank to deliver more integrated financial and protection solutions, leveraging the strength of the Maybank network and customer ecosystem. Etiqa will also continue collaborating with partners across Singapore to develop innovative solutions that support customers’ evolving protection, savings and financial wellness needs.
Hashtag: #EtiqaInsuranceSingapore

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Etiqa Insurance Singapore)

Protecting customers since 1961, Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (EIPL) is a life and general insurance company licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and governed by the Insurance Act 1966. Having protected customers in Singapore since 1961 under the name United General Insurance Co. Sdn. Bhd., the company transitioned into the Singapore branch of Etiqa Insurance Berhad in 2009. Today, EIPL in Singapore stands as the pivotal operating entity of Etiqa Insurance Group, a leading insurance and takaful provider in ASEAN.

EIPL offers a comprehensive range of life and general insurance products accessible through its diverse distribution channels, including bancassurance, agents, brokers, financial advisers, partnerships, direct and online sales via Tiq by Etiqa. Etiqa is rated ‘A’ by credit rating agency Fitch for the group’s ‘Favorable’ business profile. The company is a member of the Maybank Group.

]]> HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding Completes Successful Acceptance Sea Trials of John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) https://asiainsiders.net/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-completes-successful-acceptance-sea-trials-of-john-f-kennedy-cvn-79/ https://asiainsiders.net/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-completes-successful-acceptance-sea-trials-of-john-f-kennedy-cvn-79/#respond Sun, 16 Aug 2026 01:15:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-completes-successful-acceptance-sea-trials-of-john-f-kennedy-cvn-79 NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division has successfully completed acceptance sea trials of John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Kennedy returned to NNS after further testing and evaluation of important ship systems and components at sea. Earlier this year, Kennedy underwent successful builder’s sea trials.

“It is an honor to take Kennedy to sea to demonstrate the quality work and commitment by our shipbuilders,” said Derek Murphy, NNS vice president of new construction aircraft carrier programs. “This critical set of sea trials is a testament to the entire nuclear shipbuilding enterprise and the work of thousands across our country to prepare CVN 79 to join the fleet.”

The sea trials brought together NNS shipbuilders, John F. Kennedy sailors and Navy personnel to execute the testing and evaluation of ship operations.

CVN 79 continues the legacy of highly capable nuclear-powered aircraft carrier platforms. With the successful completion of acceptance trials, the next step for the ship is preliminary acceptance that will enable the Navy to begin underway test and evaluation of Kennedy’s unique systems.

Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-completes-successful-acceptance-sea-trials-of-john-f-kennedy-cvn-79/.

About HII

HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.

With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 45,000 strong. For more information, visit:

Contact:

Todd Corillo 
Todd.T.Corillo@HII-co.com
(757) 688-3220

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae46f4c2-3750-4ec1-94df-c0ec56760376

]]> https://asiainsiders.net/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-completes-successful-acceptance-sea-trials-of-john-f-kennedy-cvn-79/feed/ 0 Beijing is said to move to clarify tax rules stoking confusion among China’s ultra-wealthy https://asiainsiders.net/beijing-is-said-to-move-to-clarify-tax-rules-stoking-confusion-among-chinas-ultra-wealthy/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:11:11 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/beijing-is-said-to-move-to-clarify-tax-rules-stoking-confusion-among-chinas-ultra-wealthy

A growing appreciation of family-oriented leisure pastimes and rapidly increasing prosperity are driving demand for vessels from dinghies to yachts.
Nelson Ching | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Beijing is moving to clarify new tax rules on offshore trusts that have sowed confusion among wealthy Chinese citizens and their advisers. 

China’s State Taxation Administration is conducting large-scale training for local tax officers to align on how the levy on offshore trusts – some of them set up decades ago – should be applied, according to several onshore and offshore tax lawyers. 

The tax agency has also sent out draft guidelines to onshore law and accounting firms, and plans consultation sessions with lawyers in the coming weeks, according to multiple lawyers and advisors who didn’t want to be named discussing sensitive policy matters. Some of those people expect more draft guidance to follow, with the documents eventually made public. 

The STA has been conducting internal trainings at the provincial, municipal and county level to align interpretation across local tax offices, said Windson Li, co-head of tax for Asia at DLA Piper. 

The Chinese Embassy in Singapore, and tax bureaus in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, did not respond to CNBC’s request for comments.

Beijing last month imposed a 20% tax on offshore trusts – a structure long used by China’s wealthy families to hold hundreds of billions of dollars outside the country. The move set off a panic rush for tax and legal advice, and a scramble for cash to meet the bill. 

The levy applies at nearly every stage of a trust’s life, from establishment to profit distribution and wind-up. Individuals must also declare and settle outstanding taxes on assets already transferred into such structures within 90 days of the rules’ release – by Oct. 21 – or face surcharges for late filing or non-payment. 

Confusion

While the rules ended decades of regulatory ambiguity about the vehicles, they have also created fresh confusion over implementation. 

Trusts established after 2023 face the 20% charge at inception, but it remains unclear how many years back owners of older structures, which are subject to an annual recurring tax, must declare, said Yuan Cao, Beijing-based partner of law firm Yingke.

Advisors also warn that many trust assets could fall afoul of foreign-investment reporting rules issued in July, potentially inviting scrutiny from foreign-exchange authorities over how the money left China in the first place. 

Some questions include whether the standard statute of limitations of three to five years applies to offshore trusts that were set up before 2023; how extensive documentation must be for a filing to be accepted, or rejected; and whether the October deadline is the cut-off for declaration or full tax payment, DLA Piper’s Li said. 

Local authorities are expected to become broadly aligned with the STA’s interpretation of those details over the coming weeks, he added.

It is not uncommon for China’s central government to fine-tune major policy announcements through follow-up circulars. However, time spent waiting for clarification on the rules also eats into the 90-day window.

There had been widely different approaches from different local authorities before last month’s rules, said a Hong Kong-based lawyer, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. The lawyer added that the STA recognizes there is uncertainty.

Some wealthy individuals have negotiated previous lump-sum settlements with provincial tax offices to resolve their liabilities, and it’s unclear whether those remain valid under Beijing’s new rules, according to multiple lawyers.

BEIJING, CHINA – AUGUST 11: The gate of the State Taxation Administration of The People’s Republic of China is pictured on August 11, Beijing, China.
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images

A gathering storm 

The tax push comes as Beijing hunts for new sources of fiscal revenue. Land sales, long a mainstay of local government finances, have collapsed amid the property downturn.

Personal income tax will become an increasingly important source of fiscal revenue, as Beijing broadens the tax base to capture wealthier individuals and offshore wealth, while enforcement improves, said Dan Wang, China director at Eurasia Group.

Chinese tax residents are required to pay tax on their worldwide income, including taxable returns from overseas insurance products, officials said earlier this month.

In the first half of this year, personal income tax collected reached roughly 900 billion yuan ($133.5 billion) up 13% from a year earlier — the largest absolute increase among major Chinese tax categories, Wang noted.

Officials have also toughened their stance on capital leaving the country. Beijing banned three cross-border online brokerages from serving mainland users earlier this year, and some cities, including Beijing and Hangzhou, have begun taxing overseas insurance proceeds received by Chinese citizens, according to Chinese local media. 

“These measures can easily create a sense that a storm is gathering,” said Neo Wang, chief China strategist at Evercore ISI, who added that these concerns may be overdone. 

China’s State Council in late July also issued new exit and entry regulations – effective in September – that expand the circumstances under which citizens can be barred from leaving the country, including for violations of export-control rules that could endanger national technology and industrial security. 

The framework could give local authorities firmer legal ground to restrict departures by people they consider to owe tax, some advisors said.

“Barring people with outstanding taxes from leaving China isn’t new, and some had been stopped at the border before the latest rules were announced,” said Max Li, a director at U.K.-headquartered advisory firm EIK Business. “The latest regulations tighten an existing practice, and shouldn’t come as a surprise.”

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Source: CNBC

]]> Russia’s economy has defied the skeptics. Cracks are getting harder to hide https://asiainsiders.net/russias-economy-has-defied-the-skeptics-cracks-are-getting-harder-to-hide/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 05:00:01 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/russias-economy-has-defied-the-skeptics-cracks-are-getting-harder-to-hide

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin meets with Moscow-installed leader of the Russian-controlled parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 20, 2026.
Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Images

After four-and-a-half years of full-scale war with Ukraine, Russia has become a two-tier economy.

“If you are lucky and you’re employed by a tank production company, then everything’s good. Otherwise, you are probably facing problems,” Alex Kolyandr, director for Europe at consulting firm Eurasia Group, told CNBC.

Russia’s wartime economy has been brought into sharper focus in recent weeks by Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks on oil refineries and delivery warehouses.

Though it has defied expectations and is even growing slowly, according to recent data, analysts say this masks problems, such as the Kremlin’s reliance on military spending, higher taxes and subsidized bank lending.

But they question whether this will drive Russia to give up its war. Indeed, Kolyandr warned the worsening economy could incentivize President Vladimir Putin to escalate the conflict.

“If I were Putin, God forbid, I would probably decide that it is in my interest to escalate now and try to finish the war on my terms, than wait until the money ends sometime in the future,” Kolyandr said.

The Russian Embassy in London and Russia’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Kolyandr said the Kremlin could balance the books with some “bookkeeping acrobatics,” but its economic problems “will not go away and are still mounting.”

He added: “It has already started, through inflation, through the slowdown in the non-military economy, through higher interest rates.”

Two standout metrics for Russia’s economy

For the first time since 2023, Russia’s economy returned to growth in the April to June period. The country’s gross domestic product grew 1.3% year-on-year in the second quarter, according to official data published this week, while GDP expanded by 0.6% through the first half of the year. The second-quarter figures surpassed government and central bank forecasts.

The data suggest that government spending on its industrial-military complex and a recent boost in oil and gas prices have helped prop up Russia’s wartime economy.

But Charles Lichfield, director of economic foresight and analysis at the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center, said the best metrics for understanding what’s going on are the deficit and inflation.

The logo of Alfa Bank, Russia’s privately-held lender is seen atop of a building behind revolutionary militiamen – a fragment of a huge monument to Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the USSR, in Moscow on June 5, 2026.
Alexander Nemenov | Afp | Getty Images

“They are on course to double the deficit they had in 2025 and that was already double what they had in 2024,” Lichfield said, highlighting the country’s depressed energy revenues, despite higher fossil fuel prices in recent months.

In the first half of 2026, oil and gas revenues were 64% of their level in the same period two years ago. Sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have hit Russia’s refineries, and tougher Western sanctions have started to bite, like the lower European Union oil price cap and measures targeting Russia’s shadow-fleet enablers.

“On inflation, they managed to bring it down to basically the target of 4% late last year, which was a big achievement given all the internal and external inflationary pressures, but it looks like that will not last,” Lichfield said.

What Russians’ cookie buying says about the economy

Earlier in the year, the country’s largest retailer said citizens were increasingly switching to low-cost and store-brand food products.

“We recently noticed that cookie consumption has risen — almost two and a half times,” X5 Group President Yekaterina Lobacheva told RBC News in April, according to a translation by The Moscow Times. “It’s something sweet, a small indulgence, but cheaper than chocolate and other confectionery.”

Asked what levers the Kremlin can pull to mitigate the situation, Lichfield said the Russian government could tax oil and gas companies more than the current tax code suggests, try to borrow money internationally, or potentially mobilize the half of the central bank’s reserves that remain beyond Western sanctions.

Alongside roughly $300 billion frozen after the war began, Russia’s central bank is estimated to have around $300 billion in reserves, either in Russia or in jurisdictions not under sanctions. The money could technically be used to plug some fiscal gaps, Lichfield said, although this could undermine confidence in the central bank’s commitment to fighting inflation.

Lichfield said he doesn’t expect Russia to end the war for economic reasons, despite the pressure it faces.

Russia’s economy unlikely to determine Ukraine war

Elina Ribakova, senior fellow at Peterson Institute for International Economics, also said Russia’s economy was unlikely to force it to end the war when it was getting a boost from higher oil prices.

“It has to get much more dire,” Ribakova told CNBC in a phone interview. “If you tell me that we will have oil prices at $35 or $40 for the next year, then it might decide. But at the moment, especially given the war between Israel, the U.S. and Iran, it is unlikely.”

People queue to refuel their cars at a Lukoil petrol station in Moscow on June 30, 2026.
Igor Ivanko | Afp | Getty Images

Ribakova said the conversation was different when oil prices were much lower in January and February and the Russian government was talking about revising its 2026 budget, even though the year had only just begun, suggesting serious trouble.

She added that Putin had “staked so much” on the war “that he almost feels as like he has to keep on going.”

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Source: CNBC

]]> The Wealth Company Launches Gift City Fund to Give NRIs a Single, Dollar-Denominated Route into India’s Mutual Fund Market https://asiainsiders.net/the-wealth-company-launches-gift-city-fund-to-give-nris-a-single-dollar-denominated-route-into-indias-mutual-fund-market/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/the-wealth-company-launches-gift-city-fund-to-give-nris-a-single-dollar-denominated-route-into-indias-mutual-fund-market

New Category III AIF brings India’s 50+ AMCs and 1,600+ mutual fund schemes within one professionally managed investment structure

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Wealth Company, the asset management arm of Pantomath Group, has launched The Wealth Company IFSC Fund of Fund (FoF), an open-ended Category III Alternative Investment Fund based in GIFT City IFSC, offering eligible non-resident investors, including NRIs, a single, US dollar denominated route to professionally managed exposure across India’s mutual fund and ETF universe.

Through the USD-denominated FoF, investors can have a single-point diversified exposure to equity-oriented funds, sectoral strategies, fixed income funds, hybrid funds, gold and silver ETFs, index strategies and SIFs, subject to the fund’s mandate. 

For an NRI in Dubai, Singapore, London, or any other global financial centre, the fund offers the ability to participate in India’s growth through a structure designed specifically for non-resident investors – eligible investors do not separately need to undertake the SEBI FPI registration process.

The structure is intended for eligible global family offices, institutional allocators, accredited investors and HNI/UHNI non-residents.

"India’s growth has stopped being a story that Indians only watch from abroad. We want an Indian living overseas to think about India as part of their long-term wealth portfolio and not as a market that is difficult to access from where they live," said Ms. Madhu Lunawat, Founder, The Wealth Company.

"There are more than 1,600 schemes to choose from, different market cycles and very different investment styles. Our job is to do that selection and rebalancing within a structure that makes sense for an overseas investor," said Unmesh Kulkarni, Managing Director, Group Product Head, The Wealth Company.

The tax question: potentially significant, but not one-size-fits-all

Tax is another consideration for overseas investors. The Fund is structured as an IFSC-based Category III AIF and is expected to qualify as a "Specified Fund" under the applicable provisions of the Income-tax Act, 2025, subject to satisfaction of the prescribed conditions.

For eligible non-resident investors, distributions by the Fund and capital gains arising on transfer or redemption of Fund units may be exempt from Indian income tax, subject to the applicable statutory conditions.

Further, eligible non-resident investors who satisfy the prescribed conditions may also benefit from relaxations relating to PAN and filing of an Indian income-tax return, including where they have no other income chargeable to tax in India and the prescribed investor information and tax-deduction requirements are complied with.

The availability of these benefits is subject to the Fund satisfying the conditions applicable to a specified fund and to the individual circumstances of each investor.

The Fund may be of particular interest to investors based in jurisdictions such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Uganda and Mauritius; however, the tax treatment in each investor’s home jurisdiction is subject to the investor’s individual circumstances and should be evaluated with the investor’s own tax advisor.

]]> Crypto News Today: AlphaPepe Presale Nears Sellout With 11,000 Buyers While XRP Price Prediction Eyes $10 https://asiainsiders.net/crypto-news-today-alphapepe-presale-nears-sellout-with-11000-buyers-while-xrp-price-prediction-eyes-10/ https://asiainsiders.net/crypto-news-today-alphapepe-presale-nears-sellout-with-11000-buyers-while-xrp-price-prediction-eyes-10/#respond Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:15:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/crypto-news-today-alphapepe-presale-nears-sellout-with-11000-buyers-while-xrp-price-prediction-eyes-10 MONACO, Aug. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crypto news today is turning toward AlphaPepe as the presale nears sellout with its holder count nearing the 11,000-buyer mark. The project has now raised $2.32 million, crossed 10,900+ holders, and reached a presale price of $0.02654.

AlphaPepe Presale

The update comes as XRP price prediction headlines continue to watch whether XRP can target $10 in a full bull-market breakout. XRP remains one of crypto’s biggest payment-token stories, but its next major leg depends on liquidity, ETF attention, whale activity, and a resistance breakout.

AlphaPepe is moving faster at the presale level. Stage 19 sold out fast, Stage 20 is live, the August 19th launch update reveal is nearing, and whales are rushing in before the next announcement cycle.

AlphaPepe Nears Sellout as Buyers Rush Into Stage 20

AlphaPepe has now raised $2.32 million and passed 10,900+ holders, putting the presale close to the 11,000-buyer milestone.

That matters because holder growth is one of the clearest signals retail buyers watch before a token lists. The funding is rising, the holder count is climbing, and the current $ALPE price has moved to $0.02654.

Stage 19 sold out fast, and Stage 20 is now live. That momentum is creating urgency because the presale entry does not stay open forever. Once the window moves forward or public trading begins, the current price disappears.

August 19th Launch Update Reveal Is Nearing

AlphaPepe has confirmed that its August 19th launch update reveal is nearing, giving buyers a clear date to watch while the presale tightens.

Buyers are reacting to a closing presale, rising holder demand, Stage 20 momentum, and a dated launch update now only days away.

Whales are joining in because time is running out before the next reveal. Public-market buyers wait for the chart. Presale buyers try to position before the chart exists.

Tier-1 Listing Rumours Add More Pressure

AlphaPepe’s exchange story is becoming another major retail trigger. Rumours of Tier-1 listings are approaching after the project already secured three CEX partnerships.

Exchange access can change how quickly a presale reaches wider visibility after launch. Many meme coin presales raise funds but struggle to secure meaningful market access. AlphaPepe is building exchange momentum before public trading begins.

Rumours are not confirmed listings, and nothing is guaranteed. But the setup is exactly what buyers watch before a token moves from presale pricing to exchange discovery.

Bonus Drop Live With Up to +200% Extra ALPE

AlphaPepe has also launched its Bonus Drop, giving buyers another reason to act before the presale window closes.

Users click to reveal a bonus of +10%, +30%, +50%, +100%, or +200% extra ALPE. Every draw wins, and the bonus stays active for 48 hours.

The bonus applies to every qualifying buy during that active window. Buy once or multiple times while the bonus is active, and the revealed extra ALPE applies to each qualifying buy.

Previous purchase activity also improves the odds of landing the larger multipliers, giving loyal buyers a stronger shot at the biggest bonuses.

AlphaSwap Gives AlphaPepe Live Utility Before Launch

AlphaPepe is not relying only on meme coin hype. The project is building around AlphaSwap, its AI DEX product, with Early Access already live and some AI features available.

That separates AlphaPepe from roadmap-only presales that ask buyers to wait until after launch before seeing anything real.

AlphaSwap supports pre-swap intelligence, risk checks, trend signals, and smarter decision-making before users enter volatile tokens.

XRP Price Prediction Eyes $10

XRP price prediction headlines continue to watch whether XRP can target $10 in a strong bull-market scenario.

The case depends on stronger liquidity, renewed ETF attention, whale accumulation, broader risk appetite, and enough buying pressure to break through major resistance. XRP still has one of the strongest payment-token brands in crypto, but it already trades on a public chart with visible liquidity and resistance zones.

AlphaPepe is earlier. It remains before public-market price discovery, which is why buyers are comparing the upside setup against larger assets that are already priced by open markets.

AlphaPepe Moves Toward Public Price Discovery

AlphaPepe has now raised $2.32 million, crossed 10,900+ holders, entered Stage 20 at $0.02654, and confirmed that its August 19th launch update reveal is nearing.

With Bonus Drop live, Tier-1 listing rumours building after three CEX partnerships, and AlphaSwap Early Access already available, AlphaPepe is tightening its presale window before public trading.

XRP price prediction headlines may be watching $10, but AlphaPepe buyers are watching the window before the chart exists.

VISIT ALPHAPEPE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FAQs

What is the XRP price prediction?
XRP price prediction targets $10 in an aggressive bull-market scenario if liquidity improves, ETF attention returns, whale accumulation continues, and XRP breaks major resistance.

Why is AlphaPepe presale gaining traction?
AlphaPepe presale is gaining traction because it has $2.32 million raised, 10,900+ holders, Stage 20 live at $0.02654, Bonus Drop live, AlphaSwap Early Access, and an August 19th launch update reveal nearing.

Contact:
Jack Duffy
contact@alphapepe.io

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]]> https://asiainsiders.net/crypto-news-today-alphapepe-presale-nears-sellout-with-11000-buyers-while-xrp-price-prediction-eyes-10/feed/ 0 New Earth Resources Announces Adoption of Quarterly Reporting Exemption under Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933 https://asiainsiders.net/new-earth-resources-announces-adoption-of-quarterly-reporting-exemption-under-coordinated-blanket-order-51-933/ https://asiainsiders.net/new-earth-resources-announces-adoption-of-quarterly-reporting-exemption-under-coordinated-blanket-order-51-933/#respond Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/new-earth-resources-announces-adoption-of-quarterly-reporting-exemption-under-coordinated-blanket-order-51-933 August 14, 2026 | Source: New Earth Resources Corp.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Aug. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NEW EARTH RESOURCES CORP. (CSE: EATH) (“New Earth” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce that it has elected to rely on Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933 Exemptions to Permit Semi-Annual Reporting for Certain Venture Issuers and move to semi-annual financial reporting (“SAR”).

Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933 allows eligible venture issuers listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) to voluntarily move from a quarterly to a semi-annual financial reporting framework. The Company’s fiscal year ends on March 31. Under the SAR pilot program:

  • Interim Period: The Company will be exempt from filing an interim financial report and related Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the first quarter (Q1) ended June 30, 2026 and the third quarter (Q3) ending December 31, 2026; and
  • Ongoing Reporting: New Earth will continue to file six-month interim financial reports (due within 60 days of September 30, 2026) and audited annual financial statements (due within 120 days of March 31, 2027).

The Company confirms it meets the SAR pilot program’s eligibility criteria, which include being a venture issuer with annual revenues of less than $10 million as shown on its most recently filed audited annual financial statements, having been a reporting issuer in at least one jurisdiction of Canada for 12 months or more, and having filed all required periodic and timely disclosure documents under applicable Canadian securities legislation.

This news release is being filed pursuant to Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933 Exemptions to Permit Semi-Annual Reporting for Certain Venture Issuers.

About the Company

New Earth Resources Corp. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company acquiring and developing advanced and early-stage exploration projects. Its flagship project is its 100% owned, past-producing Lucky Boy Uranium Property located in Gila County, Arizona, USA. Consisting of 14 lode claims spanning approximately 273 acres and contiguous state lease mineral land of approximately 268 acres, the Lucky Boy Project totals approximately 541 acres and covers a small open pit and underground workings that produced uranium in the 1950’s, and again in the 1970’s.

The Company also has the option to acquire a 100% interest in 23 claims covering approximately 1,102 hectares in the Strange Lake area of Quebec, Canada, known as the “SL Project”, which is prospective for rare earth elements. In addition, the Company has the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Red Wine Rare Earth Project, comprising 2 non-contiguous mineral claims located in Labrador, Canada covering approximately 1,575 hectares.

For further information, please refer to the Company’s website at www.newearthresourcescorp.com or the Company’s disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), or contact the Company by email at info@newearthresourcescorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors “Lawrence Hay” President and CEO Tel: 778.317.8754 Email: info@newearthresourcescorp.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as “may”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “believe” and “continue” or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the  Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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]]> https://asiainsiders.net/new-earth-resources-announces-adoption-of-quarterly-reporting-exemption-under-coordinated-blanket-order-51-933/feed/ 0 TestMu AI Unveils the Fifth Edition of the TestMu Conference in 2026 https://asiainsiders.net/testmu-ai-unveils-the-fifth-edition-of-the-testmu-conference-in-2026/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:12:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/testmu-ai-unveils-the-fifth-edition-of-the-testmu-conference-in-2026

The world’s largest virtual agentic engineering and quality conference returns with a focus on autonomous quality, agentic workflows, and AI-native testing strategies

SAN FRANCISCO and NOIDA, India, Aug. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TestMu AI (formerly LambdaTest), the world’s first Agentic AI-powered Quality Engineering platform, is excited to unveil the 5th edition of its flagship TestMu Conference, taking place virtually from August 19–21, 2026. This year’s event is expected to host over 75,000 developers, builders, and quality engineers from more than 120 countries, making it the world’s largest virtual conference dedicated to agentic engineering and quality.

TestMu Conference 2026 is designed to explore how AI is reshaping the way software is built, tested, and shipped, from agentic workflows and autonomous quality to battle-tested AI playbooks and the engineering culture driving it all. With an esteemed lineup of global speakers, the conference will feature some of the most influential voices in tech, including Luis Héctor Chávez, Chief Technology Officer of Replit; Francesca Lazzeri, Principal Group Director of Microsoft; Thomas Dohmke, Co-Founder and CEO of Entire; Dona Sarkar, Chief Troublemaker – Enterprise AI Advocacy at Microsoft; Nilesh Dalvi, Engineering Leader at Glean; Rashi Agrawal, Head of AI at Hinge Health; Viktoria Semaan, Principal Technical Evangelist at Databricks; Amanda Martin Head of Developer Relations at Vapi along with other speakers.

"Agentic AI has led to evolution in the engineering and quality industry," said Rakesh Sukla, Director of Engineering – Platform and Quality Engineering at Bread Financial and a speaker at the TestMu Conference 2026. "As AI agents take on a bigger share of the engineering workload, the real differentiator is how rigorously we validate what they build. TestMu Conference brings together the practitioners and leaders shaping that discipline, and I look forward to learning from and contributing to this incredible community. Platforms like TestMu Conference are vital; they give us the space to connect, share knowledge, and build the frameworks that will safeguard the AI-powered applications of tomorrow."

Over three days, attendees will have access to 80+ sessions, including keynotes, interactive workshops, fireside chats, and panel discussions on topics including agentic AI workflows, autonomous quality engineering, building trustworthy AI agents, AI evals, LLM cost optimization, enterprise AI adoption, human-centered AI transformation, technology leadership strategies, and much more. These sessions are designed to foster insightful conversations, hands-on learning, and the exchange of strategic ideas as engineering teams navigate the shift to agentic software development.

"TestMu Conference 2026 is TestMu AI’s flagship, annual conference built for the community, by the community," said Asad Khan, CEO and Co-Founder of TestMu AI. "As AI agents move from experiments to production, the questions facing every engineering team have changed: how do you trust autonomous systems, how do you validate what agents build, and how do you keep quality at the center of it all? This conference brings together the visionaries, disruptors, and changemakers answering those questions in real time. It’s not just an event; it’s a platform for all of us to connect, learn, and inspire one another. Let’s break new ground and build a future where software quality is the cornerstone of the agentic era."

The conference also provides unparalleled opportunities for peer networking, hands-on learning, and live challenges with prizes worth up to $15,000. TestMu Conference 2026 also has a rich ecosystem of partners, including Accenture, Capgemini, LTIMindtree, Microsoft, Persistent, Wipro, and many others.

Alongside the conference, TestMu AI has launched the Kane CLI Online Hackathon, a hackathon for developers who build with AI coding agents and want to see what happens when they put a real verification layer next to them. Visit: Link

Registration for the conference is free and now open. For more details, including the full event schedule, speaker lineup, and topics covered, visit: Link

About TestMu AI

TestMu AI (Formerly LambdaTest) is a Full-Stack Agentic AI Quality Engineering platform that empowers teams to test intelligently and ship faster. Engineered for scale, it offers end-to-end AI agents to plan, author, execute, and analyze software quality. AI-native by design, the platform enables testing of web, mobile, and enterprise applications at any scale across real devices, real browsers, and custom real-world environments.

For more information, visit www.testmuai.com.

Media Contact

Nikhil Saxena
Corporate Communication Manager
TestMu AI
nikhils@testmuai.com
+919870981968

]]> ‘Absolutely unacceptable’: Japan PM Takaichi condemns Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril Islands https://asiainsiders.net/absolutely-unacceptable-japan-pm-takaichi-condemns-putins-visit-to-disputed-kuril-islands/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:28:54 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/absolutely-unacceptable-japan-pm-takaichi-condemns-putins-visit-to-disputed-kuril-islands

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions from reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on May 25, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on May 25 the government will compile a $19 billion supplementary budget to support households grappling with soaring everyday costs driven by the Iran war. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP via Getty Images) / Japan OUT
Str | Afp | Getty Images

Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, saying they were “inherently Japanese territory.”

In a post on X, Takaichi said Thursday that Tokyo had “repeatedly requested the Russian side to ensure that the president does not visit the Northern Territories.” The Northern Territories refers to the Kuril Islands.

She added that Putin’s visit was “absolutely unacceptable.”

The Kuril Islands sit between the southern tip of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and the northeastern corner of Japan’s Hokkaido. The sparsely populated and volcanic archipelago separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. The four southernmost islands of the chain were annexed by the Soviet Union when it launched an invasion of Japanese territory toward the end of World War II.

During his trip, Putin visited the island of Iturup, where Russia operates a strategically important military base. Russia’s president toured a fish processing complex, a hospital and a school, before holding a meeting with Valery Limarenko, the regional governor of Sakhalin.

The visit was also criticized by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who posted on Facebook that “Japan strongly protests this visit.”

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin tastes caviar as he visits the Yasny fish processing factory on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on August 13, 2026.
Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images

Japan renounced “all right, title and claim to the Kuril Islands” in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco but did not recognize Soviet sovereignty over the territory.

The dispute over the islands has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from signing a peace treaty since the end of the war, although a 1956 joint declaration ended the state of war between the two nations.

Japan’s defense white paper

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said that Putin’s visit was likely part of the Kremlin’s response to Japan’s latest defense white paper and aims to undermine Takaichi’s efforts to improve Japan’s defense capabilities.

Japan published its defense white paper earlier in the month, prompting outcry from Putin, as well as Russia’s ally, North Korea. Russia’s president criticized the white paper for identifying Moscow as one of Tokyo’s critical threats.

“Russia is continuing active military activities in the Northern Territories, which are inherent territories of Japan, under illegal occupation,” the white paper said.

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Source: CNBC

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