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Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft Surface set to bring AI-powered experiences to Singapore

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Pre-orders for new Surface Pro 11th Edition and Surface Laptop 7th Edition now open

SINGAPORE, July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Microsoft announced that pre-orders for the new Surface Pro 11th Edition and Surface Laptop 7th Edition – the first AI-powered Copilot+ PCs, which are the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs on the market – are commencing today in Singapore. From July 11, consumers can reserve these next-generation Surface devices via the Microsoft Official Store and authorized retailers, including Harvey Norman and Best Denki, Courts, Gain City as well as Microsoft authorized stores on Lazada and Shopee ahead of general availability on August 6, 2024.

The all-new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are thin, light, and beautiful devices that empower users to work, play, and create with AI-enhanced experiences, superb performance, and all-day battery life – starting from 1,599 SGD.

Surface Pro 11

After the first-generation Surface Pro pioneered the 2-in-1 PC category more than 10 years ago, the all-new Surface Pro is now unlocking a new way to think about a laptop: Combining accelerated performance, all-day battery life and industry-leading AI capabilities in an ultra-flexible design that can replace your tablet, your laptop and can even power your multi-monitor set-up.

The all-new Surface Pro, powered by Snapdragon® X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus processors, delivers incredibly fast speeds, 90% faster than Surface Pro 9. It’s built for the ultimate multitasker, supporting up to three external 4K displays, with two USB 4 ports, and a stunning 13″ display with new optional OLED with HDR technology, delivering new levels of peak brightness and immersive colors. Surface Pro also comes with Wi-Fi 7, offering the fastest wireless connection available and optional 5G keeps you connected to the fastest cellular network while you’re on the move.

The ultra-wide, quad-HD front-facing camera is our best Surface camera ever. AI-powered Windows Studio Effects like Automatic Framing keep you in focus, even as you move around your space. The 10MP Ultra HD rear-facing autofocus camera supports 4K video so you can capture and edit all on one device.

Surface Pro is made with more recycled materials than Surface Pro 9, including 72% recycled content in the enclosure. It is serviceable by design with more replaceable components than ever, including the motherboard, battery, cameras and more.

Surface Slim Pen gets even better with the new Surface Pro, with all new AI experiences. The ink now flows naturally with Zero Force inking, ultra-precise shading, 4,096 points of pressure sensitivity and a built-in haptic engine for a more natural writing experience. The all-new Surface Pro is the most flexible laptop, reimagined.

Surface Laptop 7

The all-new Surface Laptop continues to redefine the classic form factor of a laptop with hardware and software that are purpose-built to unlock a new AI era with Copilot experiences that transform the PC experience and set new standards for excellence and innovation.

Redesigned from the inside out, this new Laptop has modern lines and a stunning PixelSense touchscreen display with razor-thin bezels.  With 120Hz refresh rate, HDR technology, Dolby Vision IQ™ and Adaptive color technology, this display delivers crisper whites, darker blacks and an extended color spectrum. There are two screen sizes, as our new 13.8″ display provides larger viewing area than a traditional 14″ laptop, in a more compact design and a 15″ with an even larger working canvas.

Also powered by the Snapdragon® X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus processors, the Surface Laptop unleashes lightning-fast speed and AI accelerated power for the ultimate multitasking. It is 86% faster than Laptop 5, delivering incredible performance. It can power up to three external 4K monitors. The 45 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) Neural Processing Unit (NPU) unlocks new AI experiences and delivers industry-leading performance for seamless productivity with the longest battery life on any Surface – up to 22 hours on the Surface Laptop 15″ and up to 20 on the Surface Laptop 13.8″. With a large variety of ports and lightning-fast Wi-Fi 7, you will always be connected.

The new Surface Laptop has a Full HD Surface Studio Camera that supports AI-powered Windows Studio Effects like Automatic Framing, Portrait Blur, Creative Filters and Voice Focus – so you come across clearly and confidently. AI-enhanced sound with premium Omnisonic® Speakers and Dolby® Atmos®, and Studio Mics amplify your voice and presence.

Surface Laptop is known for its comfortable and quiet typing experience and now, every keystroke is perfected. With optimal key travel for accurate and swift typing and a large precision haptic touchpad that is smooth, responsive and customizable for your personal preference. This is the fastest, most intelligent Surface Laptop ever.

Pre-order information

The all-new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are available for pre-orders in Singapore starting July 11 via Microsoft Official Store and authorized retailers including Harvey Norman, Best Denki, Courts, Gain City as well as Microsoft authorized stores on Lazada and Shopee. They will be generally available from 6 August 2024 in the following configurations:

All prices indicated below are in SGD

Models

Surface Pro 11th Edition

Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
Available in Platinum

$1,599

Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
Available in Platinum, Black, Sapphire and Dune

$1,948

Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, OLED display
Available in Platinum, Black, Sapphire and Dune

$2,348

Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, OLED display
Available in Black

$2,648

Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, OLED display
Available in Platinum

Exclusive at Harvey Norman, Best Denki and Microsoft Store

$3,248

Surface Pro 11th Edition – 5G

Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
Available in Platinum

Exclusive at Microsoft Store

$1,999

Surface Laptop 7th Edition – 13.8″

Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
Available in Platinum

 

$1,599

Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
Available in Platinum, Black, Sapphire and Dune

Dune and Platinum exclusively at Harvey Norman and Microsoft Store

$1,948

Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
Available in Platinum, Black, Sapphire and Dune

Dune and Platinum exclusively at Harvey Norman and Microsoft Store

$2,188

Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

Available in Black

$2,488

Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Available in Black

Exclusive at Harvey Norman, Best Denki and Microsoft Store

$3,088

Surface Laptop 7th Edition – 15″

Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
Available in Platinum

$2,048

Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
Available in Black

$2,348

Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD

Available in Black

$2,648

Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD

Available in Black

Exclusive at Harvey Norman, Best Denki and Microsoft Store

$3,248

A seamless Harvey Norman experience for Surface device and Microsoft customers 

For a seamless experience with Surface, customers can now access convenient support services at the Microsoft Concierge counter that is located exclusively at Harvey Norman Millenia Walk. Concierge staff onsite will be able to assist with Windows-related software queries. This includes troubleshooting or upgrading your device to the new Windows 11, helping with device set-ups or providing guidance on how to use Microsoft software products. Harvey Norman will also be running a Surface Pre-order Event at Millenia Walk atrium this weekend from July 12-14. Customers can enjoy free ice cream and coffee as they try out new Copilot+ PC features.

Copilot+ PC commercial availability

For commercial customers, the new Copilot+ PC Surface Pro for business will be available for purchase on September 10, 2024, including an NFC reader to simplify authentication and safeguard your business with chip-to-cloud security on a Secured-core PC.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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SOURCE Microsoft Singapore

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Most Robots Still Aren’t Insured. YAS and Robolist Are Changing That.

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YAS and Robolist.ai partner to bring a free Risk Score and a path to insurance to robotics companies, giving firms, investors, and buyers a safer, more transparent foundation for an industry entering mass production

HONG KONG, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial intelligence’s next phase is getting a body. Humanoid robot shipments are up sharply in 2026, with global shipments reaching roughly 30,000 units in the first half of the year alone, nearly 300% higher than a year earlier. But humanoids are only the headline category. Robolist.ai (“Robolist”), an independent market intelligence layer for robotics used by investors worldwide, tracks more than 4,200 robots from over 1,300 manufacturers across categories including industrial arms, warehouse AMRs, cobots, commercial cleaning, delivery, hospitality, and home robots, and growth is accelerating across nearly all of them.

Across every one of those categories, most of what is shipping today carries no insurance. YAS, a data risk intelligence platform that helps insurers underwrite EV, robotaxi, and now robotics risk, today announced a strategic partnership with Robolist to close that gap — starting with a free Risk Score for the companies Robolist already ranks, and a path to coverage for those who want one.

Putting safety first, for an industry still finding its footing

Robotics is moving from pilots to mass production, and that shift changes who is exposed and what’s at stake. YAS and Robolist both see the same underlying problem: an industry growing faster than the risk infrastructure built to support it. Pairing YAS’s risk intelligence with Robolist’s independent market data gives the industry one more layer of transparency, a shared, safety-first foundation that the companies believe is necessary for robotics to grow into a trusted, durable category rather than a fast-moving one with uneven guardrails.

What it means for robotics firms

Every manufacturer listed on Robolist is already independently ranked. Starting with this partnership, any of them can also request a free Risk Score, built with YAS, covering their systems across whichever category they operate in, not just humanoid. A strong, transparent risk profile is becoming a competitive advantage in its own right, a signal to enterprise buyers and partners that a company takes safety seriously. There is no cost to check it and no obligation attached.

What it means for investors

Robolist’s independent data has always given investors a clear picture of what a company has actually raised and shipped. Adding YAS’s Risk Score introduces a second, forward-looking signal: a working estimate of operational risk exposure, sitting alongside funding and deployment evidence. Together, the two offer a more complete basis for diligence, and support the kind of informed, patient capital that helps the category grow in a healthy, sustainable way rather than on hype alone.

What it means for buyers

Enterprises deciding whether to deploy a robot fleet have historically had almost no independent way to compare risk across vendors. The Risk Score gives buyers a transparent reference point alongside Robolist’s existing rankings, and a direct route to insurance for the deployments they choose to move forward with, so adoption decisions can be made with more confidence and less guesswork.

Status

The partnership is in its exploratory phase under a signed Memorandum of Understanding, beginning with Hong Kong, with other markets under consideration as it develops. The Risk Score is an indicative analytical tool, not a safety certification or a guarantee of coverage; insurance, where available, is issued by licensed carriers.

Quotes

“Robotics is scaling faster than the risk infrastructure around it. You can’t insure what you can’t measure — so we start by measuring. A free Risk Score, built on live operating data, gives every robotics company a transparent read on their exposure and, when they want it, a path to coverage. That’s how a fast-moving category becomes a durable one.”— Andy Ann, Founder, YAS

“We built Robolist as an independent market intelligence layer for robotics. Partnering with YAS deepens that layer. There’s a lot of natural overlap between what we do. Robotics insurance is a long-term project that benefits everyone in the industry, and it matters more now that the category is moving into mass production. Part of that is simply caring about what happens to the people and businesses actually using these machines.” — Matthew Cheung, Co-founder, Robolist.ai

About YAS

YAS is a Hong Kong-based risk intelligence platform for the machine economy, turning live operating data from vehicles, fleets, and robots into real-time risk scores used by licensed insurers to underwrite fairer, faster coverage. YAS works with insurance carrier partners across robotics and humanoids, EV and commercial fleets, with autonomous vehicles next.

About Robolist.ai

Robolist.ai is an independent market intelligence layer for robotics, used by investors to track what manufacturers actually raise, ship, and deploy. Robolist tracks more than 4,200 robots from over 1,300 manufacturers across categories from humanoids and industrial arms to cleaning, delivery, and home robots.

Learn more

Manufacturers can claim their profile and request a free Risk Score, and investors and buyers can explore the data, at robolist.ai. To learn more about YAS’s risk intelligence platform, visit yas.io.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/most-robots-still-arent-insured-yas-and-robolist-are-changing-that-302928742.html

SOURCE YAS

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UN Global Compact Convenes Latin American Leaders in Montevideo and Launches CEO-led Coalition

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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The United Nations Global Compact today convened its second Latin America and the Caribbean Leaders Forum in Montevideo, Uruguay, bringing together more than 300 leaders from business, government, finance, the UN and academia to accelerate collective action on sustainable development and showcase how Latin America and the Caribbean is delivering innovative, scalable solutions to global challenges.

Held today under the theme “From Ambition to Action: Latin America and the Caribbean Leading Global Sustainable Solutions,” the Forum builds on the inaugural regional gathering held in Paraguay in 2024. The United Nations Global Compact — together with its eleven Country Networks in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Caribbean, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay and the team in Ecuador — convened the forum to provide a platform for regional dialogue, cross-border collaboration and practical solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing businesses and societies across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Discussions at the Forum addressed the region’s evolving role in a rapidly changing global landscape, shaped by geopolitical shifts, technological transformation, climate risks and changing global value chains. Through high-level dialogues, leaders explored how Latin America and the Caribbean can leverage its natural resources, innovation and business leadership to strengthen competitiveness and resilience while advancing sustainable development. Key topics included responsible artificial intelligence, sustainable finance and investment, supply chain resilience, climate action, business integrity and inclusive economic growth, with a focus on translating sustainability commitments into tangible business, social and environmental outcomes.

The gathering also marks an important moment for the UN Global Compact’s growing regional engagement. Latin America and the Caribbean is its second-largest region by participation, with more than 4,300 participating companies, nearly 60 per cent of them small and medium-sized enterprises.

UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, Sanda Ojiambo, joined regional business leaders and senior representatives at the Forum, underscoring the importance of private sector leadership and cross-border cooperation in addressing shared challenges and advancing sustainable development.

As a key milestone of the Forum, the UN Global Compact announced the launch of the Latin America Business Leaders Coalition (LBLC), a new CEO-led regional platform bringing together a select group of leading business executives to address shared challenges, advance regional competitiveness and prosperity, and amplify Latin America’s private sector voice on the global stage. At a pivotal moment for the region, the Coalition aims to strengthen Latin America’s influence in shaping global priorities, while positioning the region’s business community as a strategic partner in multilateral dialogue.

“Responsible business is resilient business. Latin America and the Caribbean has the resources, talent and entrepreneurial energy the world economy needs. Together we are harnessing these attributes to build a robust platform for business leaders to act together across borders,” said Sanda Ojiambo, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “This Coalition changes that. It brings CEOs together to tackle shared challenges and give Latin American business a stronger voice on the global stage.”

Designed to move beyond dialogue, LBLC will enable CEOs to define shared priorities, mobilize their organizations, and translate collective commitments into coordinated action and measurable results. The Coalition is convened by the UN Global Compact, with support from Boston Consulting Group, and builds on the experience of the Africa Business Leaders Coalition, which brings together 75 leading companies operating across 52 African countries and has advanced collective action on climate, gender and intra-African trade.

Founding companies include Grupo AJE (Peru), Motiva (Brazil), Natura (Brazil), Softtek (Mexico), LATAM Airlines (Chile), UNACEM (Peru), Grupo Sancor Seguros (Argentina) and Grupo Mariposa (Guatemala).

The Forum also marked the publication of From Commitment to Action: Business Cases from Latin America and the Caribbean, a collection of practical examples showcasing how companies across the region are translating sustainability commitments into measurable business, social and environmental outcomes, released in Spanish, Portuguese and English to ensure broad accessibility. The publication demonstrates how integrating sustainability into business strategies and operations can reduce costs, manage risks, improve working conditions and unlock new commercial opportunities. These examples highlight the business value of sustainability and offer practical insights to inspire further action across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Notes to Editors

About the Latin America Business Leaders Coalition
The Latin America Business Leaders Coalition (LBLC) is a CEO-led initiative convened by the United Nations Global Compact, with support from Boston Consulting Group. Launched in Montevideo on 3 November 2026, it brings together business leaders from across Latin America to advance shared priorities, strengthen regional cooperation and amplify the region’s business voice globally.

About the United Nations Global Compact
As a special initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Global Compact is a call to companies worldwide to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our vision is clear: to mobilize business to transform sustainability ambition into action at the scale the world demands. With more than 25,000 participants and a presence in over 100 countries through 5 Regional Hubs and more than 70 Country Networks and expansion territories, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit the UN Global Compact website.

SOURCE United Nations Global Compact

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Fractal delivers its first ever $100 million revenue quarter, reports EBITDA growth of 71% YoY

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Fractal Q2 Net Income Jumps 139% on revenue growth of 20%

NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fractal Analytics Ltd (BSE: 544700) (NSE: FRACTAL), an enterprise AI company that builds its own AI models, platforms and products for Fortune 500® organizations, announced its consolidated financial results for Q2 FY27, ending September 30, 2026.

In Q2 FY27, the Company reported consolidated operating revenue of INR 9,565 m, a growth of 20% year on year (YoY) and 10% in constant currency terms YoY. Revenue growth was led by the company’s Healthcare and Life Sciences (HLS) industry, which clocked 79% growth YoY. Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) also performed very well, growing 30% YoY in Q2 and the company has delivered strong sustained growth in HLS and BFSI over the last several quarters. Fractal’s largest industry vertical, Consumer Packaged Goods and Retail (CPGR), grew 11% YoY. TMT saw strong sequential recovery with 6% QoQ growth. Fractal’s products, including the Cogentiq agentic AI platform, reached an annual revenue run-rate of over INR 1,500 m, up 39% YoY.

Fractal’s focus on deepening customer relationships continues to yield good outcomes. Its clients collectively increased their spending with the company, as reflected in the Net Revenue Retention1 of 115% in Q2. Further, its Net Promoter Score (NPS) during the period stood at 76.

The company reported improved profit margins at all levels. Adjusted EBITDA Margin expanded by 123 bps2 YoY to 16%. Net Income grew 139% YoY to INR 792 m.

Commenting on the performance, Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder and Group CEO of Fractal said:
“AI models are getting more capable every week and cheaper every quarter. Within the next few quarters, we will cross a threshold where it becomes irresponsible and downright risky for companies to leave their most important decisions unchanged. We are building Fractal for that moment, and this quarter shows it: revenue crossed $100 million and net income more than doubled.”

About Fractal 

Fractal Analytics Ltd (BSE: 544700) (NSE: FRACTAL) is an enterprise AI company with a vision to power every human decision in the enterprise. Fractal builds AI models, platforms and products, and engineers them into the critical decisions of Fortune 500® organizations. Fractal’s strategy is focused on three pillars: AIT, which rebuilds business workflows and decisions with AI; AIF, which builds the trusted, governed data and knowledge layer that enterprise AI reasons with; and AIW, which helps organizations redesign work, develop AI-ready talent, and build the capabilities needed for the AI-native enterprise. All three pillars are powered by Cogentiq, Fractal’s flagship agentic AI platform.

With over 6,000 professionals across North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, Fractal partners with business leaders to drive competitive differentiation for their organizations by embedding AI into critical decisions across business functions and industry verticals.

Fractal invests more than 6% of its revenue in AI R&D, and its research team builds its own models, including the Fathom reasoning models. Fractal was selected under the IndiaAI Mission to build a large reasoning model for India. Its models and products include Vaidya.ai, whose Vaidya 2.0 model was the first to score above 50 on OpenAI’s HealthBench (hard), and PiEvolve. Fractal also incubated and spun out Qure.ai, a global healthcare AI leader focused on the rapid identification and management of tuberculosis, lung cancer, and stroke. Fractal’s businesses also include Asper.ai (a Revenue Growth Management product for CPG companies) and Analytics Vidhya (an Ed-tech platform).

For more information, go to www.fractal.ai.

1 Net Revenue Retention in our Fractal.ai segment measures how effectively we retain and expand revenue from our existing clients over a defined period and is calculated by comparing the current period’s revenue from the clients who existed at the start of the period, with their revenue in the previous period – including the effects of upsells, cross-sells and contractions

2 Basis points = 1/100th of 1%

 

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