ALBANY, N.Y., March 24 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Curia, a leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced progress on the expansion at its Glasgow, UK sterile drug product facility as well as enhancements to its proprietary platform for cell line development.
The Glasgow, UK, site is well known throughout the industry for its more than 25 years of experience with formulation, lyophilization development and sterile fill-finish capabilities, including ADCs and other highly potent products. The current expansion is expected to be completed by early 2027. The investment will add an Annex 1 compliant isolator-based vial filling line and lyophilizer. Once complete, Glasgow will be able to fill batches up to 20,000 vials and will be well‑positioned to support future small‑scale commercial fills.
“This expansion in Glasgow comes as Curia is nearing completion of our significant expansion in our commercial drug product facility in Albuquerque, NM,” said Ron Aungst, VP, Drug Product Business Unit Operations. “Curia has already secured crucial equipment with long lead times to help the Glasgow expansion project stay on track, and we do not anticipate any disruption to current operations during the expansion.”
Curia’s clinical drug substance development capabilities have also been enhanced with improvements to the company’s cell line development (CLD) platform. The CLD offering at Curia’s Hopkinton, MA facility has been enhanced to incorporate IP-free semi-targeted integration technology that results in 6-fold higher titers compared to random integration technology. Curia’s stable platform, CHO-GSN®, was derived from the same parental cell line as its transient platform, TunaCHO®, allowing partners to efficiently scale-up from discovery to GMP.
“Our biologics division has always had end-to-end capabilities, and we are excited to offer a cell line that makes it more cost-efficient and faster to advance partners through early-stage clinical manufacturing,” said Jamie Grabowski, President, Research & Development. “With biotech-friendly licensing terms, reengineered cell line will be a critical component of successfully guiding partners on their path to commercialization.”
About Curia Curia is a contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience, an integrated network of 20+ global sites and 3,100 employees partnering with biopharmaceutical customers to bring life-changing therapies to market. Our offerings in small molecule, generic APIs and biologics span discovery through commercialization, with integrated regulatory, analytical and sterile fill-finish capabilities. Our scientific and process experts, along with our regulatory compliant facilities, provide a best-in-class experience across drug substance and drug product manufacturing. From curiosity to cure, we deliver every step to accelerate your research and improve patients’ lives. Visit us at curiaglobal.com.
Validation Confirms Science-Grade Integrity of the EarthDaily Constellation
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and NEW YORK, March 13 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EarthDaily today announced that its data products have achieved CEOS Analysis Ready Data (CEOS-ARD) compliance, a globally recognized standard established by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).
CEOS-ARD compliance confirms that EarthDaily data meet rigorous international requirements for radiometric calibration and geometric correction approaches, metadata completeness, and interoperability across time and datasets, enabling immediate quantitative analysis with minimal additional user processing.
Importantly, EarthDaily achieved CEOS-ARD compliance prior to full commercial availability of its complete constellation, a rare milestone for a commercial Earth observation system.
“This achievement validates the scientific foundation of our data,” said Don Osborne, Chief Executive Officer of EarthDaily. “We built the EarthDaily Constellation as a measurement system first. Daily coverage only matters if the data are stable, comparable, and trustworthy over time. CEOS-ARD compliance confirms we are delivering science-grade data at commercial scale.”
CEOS Analysis Ready Data standards are important to science mission interoperability and include a range of public government missions, including Sentinel and Landsat products. The framework was developed to address a persistent challenge in Earth observation: as global data volumes grow, users often lack the infrastructure and expertise required to process raw imagery for scientific and operational applications. Systematic provision of CEOS-ARD reduces that burden and supports more effective decision-making.
EarthDaily’s architecture was intentionally designed to ensure continuity with established scientific archives. Its radiometric calibration approach, spectral configuration, and geometric correction standards enable comparability and compatibility with Landsat and Sentinel data records. This design allows users to integrate EarthDaily data seamlessly into existing time-series analyses while benefiting from enhanced spectral diversity and daily revisit.
Compliance signals that EarthDaily delivers:
Science-grade radiometric and geometric correction
Interoperable datasets structured for robust time-series analysis
Immediate usability for advanced analytics and AI workflows
Reduced preprocessing burden and improved analytical reliability
The EarthDaily constellation was engineered around measurement integrity from inception. As highlighted in recent SpaceNews coverage examining the system’s development and on-orbit performance, the EarthDaily Constellation incorporates:
Rigorous radiometric calibration
Thermal characterization for spectral stability
Simultaneous collection across 22 spectral bands
Consistent local acquisition timing
Architecture aligned for interoperability with Landsat and Sentinel archives
These design principles ensure that EarthDaily data is globally consistent and scientifically reliable for long-term change detection.
With six additional satellites launching in May and continued expansion later this year, the EarthDaily Constellation will enter commercial operations in Summer 2026, delivering daily, consistent global coverage supported by CEOS-ARD compliant science-grade data.
This milestone reinforces EarthDaily’s position as a commercial provider bridging scientific rigor with scalable, AI-ready Earth observation infrastructure.
About EarthDaily
EarthDaily is a global Earth observation company focused on delivering science-grade data and analytics designed for broad-area change detection and decision-centric intelligence. With the upcoming launch of the EarthDaily Constellation, the company is building a foundation for daily, globally consistent Earth intelligence to support governments and enterprises operating in complex, high-impact environments.
To learn more, visit earthdaily.com and follow EarthDaily on LinkedIn (@EarthDaily) and X (@EarthDailyA).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) — Xsolla has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women across the global gaming ecosystem through curated community initiatives, industry events, and thought leadership platforms in key growth markets, including Türkiye, Dubai, and Cyprus.
“By fostering mentorship, creating visible role models, and building meaningful connections between regional talent and global networks, Xsolla helps create real pathways for the next generation of women entering the industry.
“A more inclusive ecosystem drives stronger innovation, better decision-making, and long-term growth for the entire ecosystem,” said Xsolla Vice President of Business Development EMEA, Ilayda Bayari in a statement.
As the gaming industry continues to expand across emerging and high-growth markets, Xsolla is focused on empowering developers globally by fostering an inclusive ecosystem that provides women founders, studio leaders, publishers, and entrepreneurs with greater access to visibility, networks, and opportunities.
Through targeted industry gatherings and community-led discussions, Xsolla has also supported conversations around women in leadership in gaming. Recently, the company hosted an event in Dubai that brought together women founders and senior leaders from across the Middle East and neighbouring markets.
In 2025, Xsolla co-organised the Women in Games Cyprus conference, which gathered more than 70 senior leaders for panels, roundtables and workshops designed to help women and allies connect, collaborate and grow professionally and personally.
With a rapidly growing gaming ecosystem that generated US$1.01 billion in revenue in 2025, Türkiye represents another key focus market. Xsolla sees significant opportunities to support the market by connecting regional talent to the global gaming industry through its international network and sector expertise. (US$1=RM3.95)
Xsolla aims to increase visibility for women leaders and founders in gaming, encourage mentorship and peer-to-peer collaboration, facilitate cross-border connections between regional studios and global markets, and support sustainable growth across emerging gaming hubs.
A global video game commerce company, Xsolla is also championing female leaders within the organisation and across the wider industry through roles in legal, human resources, office leadership, business development, training and customer success.
TOKYO, March 4 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Starting on International Women’s Day, March 8, Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452) will launch new brand communication campaign in nine Asian countries and regions for its feminine sanitary product brand, Laurier, which is the core of its Asian business.
Laurier aims to help create more supportive and understanding environments around menstruation, so that women can feel more at ease, both physically and emotionally, under the key message “Comfort, Made Together,” which will be implemented simultaneously across Asia. Kao aims to further develop Laurier as a global brand.
Laurier, one of the core brands supporting Kao’s consumer care business in Asia, has been promoting globally integrated operations since 2023. Across all nine Asian countries and regions including Japan, Laurier has been working to unify product specifications and consolidate production sites to improve asset turnover ratio. Moreover, Laurier has promoted discussions to unify interpretations of the brand purpose and worldview, which varied across regions, and has renewed the global guidelines.
Through these efforts, in order to simultaneously communicate its value throughout Asia, Laurier is currently initiating a new brand communication initiative. By returning to Kao’s founding principle of a consumer perspective, Laurier will further strengthen brand equity by offering products designed for long-term use and advancing empathy-driven marketing through consistent communication across regions.
Laurier conducted a survey on attitudes toward menstruation among 4,500 women across nine Asian countries and regions.* The findings revealed that across Asia, many women feel that menstrual symptoms, concerns, and the limitations associated with menstruation have an impact on their overall sense of comfort in daily life. *An online survey on attitudes toward menstruation was conducted by Kao among women aged 15–44 in nine Asian countries and regions, including Japan, in November–December 2023 and October–November 2024 (valid responses: 4,500).
Through this initiative, Laurier will further its efforts toward creating an inclusive environment where women can live lives full of possibilities without feeling restricted by their periods. As a global brand, Laurier not only provides products but also supports women throughout their lives by providing information and educational support, contributing to the creation of a society where each woman can continue to live in a way that feels true to herself.
About the Brand Communication Initiative
– Key Message Comfort, Made Together ―Laurier is here to listen. It’s natural to find it difficult to be your normal self while you’re on your period. A woman shouldn’t have to find menstrual comfort on her own. We may not be able to completely eliminate physical discomfort or pain. But by encouraging understanding from those around us and shaping more supportive environments, we believe periods can feel a little more comfortable. – Overview This campaign will unify the brand’s worldview across nine Asian countries and regions, and will implement the following initiatives:
Development of a common key visual and message across Asia
Release of anthem films (9 country/regional versions) conveying Laurier’s message of menstrual support
– Countries/Regions: Kao Corporation / Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Hong Kong) Ltd. / Kao (Taiwan) Corporation / Kao Vietnam Co., Ltd. / Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. / Kao Singapore Pte. Ltd. / PT Kao Indonesia – Start Date: March 4, 2026
Ongoing Social Initiatives
As a brand that supports women, Laurier is continuously engaged in the following activities in each country and region.
Japan: “Laurier in Workplace” and “Laurier in School,” making sanitary napkins available as standard supplies at workplaces and schools
Indonesia: “Dr. Laurier,” providing expert knowledge on menstrual concerns that are hard to discuss with others
In addition to the above, Laurier provides menarche education to deliver accurate knowledge to individual in all nine countries and regions. Through these activities, Laurier will continue to be more than just a feminine sanitary product brand; it will continue to be a presence that supports women at all stages of their lives and in their social environments.
Comment from Kazuya Miyashita, President of the Sanitary Business, Kao Corporation
Laurier has been striving to strengthen its globally integrated operations. The launch of this new brand communication across nine Asian countries and regions marks the next stage in building a consistent global brand―one that transcends borders, listens to the voices of individual, and shares Laurier’s vision and values across Asia. While menstrual concerns and feelings vary from person to person, there are many aspects of menstruation that have been discussed as something to be endured or a personal issue. Through this communication campaign, Laurier aims to elevate menstrual concerns beyond a personal issue, encourage understanding from others, and foster an environment in which women can live with greater peace of mind. As a core brand in Kao’s Asian business, Laurier will continue to contribute to sustainable growth and the realization of a society where women can live their lives with comfort, confidence, and fewer limitations—no matter the day.
About Kao
Kao, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its brands such as Attack laundry detergent, Bioré and Jergens skin care products, Laurier sanitary products, Curél, SENSAI, and MOLTON BROWN cosmetics, and Oribe hair care products, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,630 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 32,600 people worldwide and has more than 130 years of history in innovation. As an enterprise that provides products people use on a daily basis, the Kao Group takes responsibility to actively reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the product lifecycle. This is laid out in Kao’s ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which launched in 2019. Please visit the Kao Group website for additional information.
New portfolio-ready building certification delivers proven tools to achieve credible sustainability and performance outcomes worldwide
PORTLAND, Ore., March 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announces the global launch of Ascent Building Certification™, a science-based whole building certification designed to evaluate sustainability, health, and resilience practices for all types of commercial real estate across regions and portfolios. Ascent will be used for new and existing projects in the EU, the UK, and elsewhere outside Canada and the United States to improve the built environment’s impact on climate and society.
Ascent Building Certification™ is a global expansion of GBI’s trusted third-party assessment and certification programs. GBI has certified over 93 million square meters (1 billion square feet) of commercial real estate, leading with its flagship certification, Green Globes®. Strong adoption of Green Globes combined with market demand for a robust, proven, and transparent certification that delivers consistent methodology across borders and portfolios led GBI to expand its flagship certification globally under the Ascent™ brand.
Designed for owners and project teams managing assets in all lifecycle phases, Ascent provides a consensus-based framework, consistent with Green Globes, that adapts to local standards and regulatory requirements. The certification responds to growing market demand for certification systems that combine transparency, a trustworthy independent assessment, and practical usability—without unnecessary administrative burden.
“Building owners and investors are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable performance and return on investment across global portfolios,” said Vicki Worden, CEO of GBI. “GBI’s Ascent Building Certification answers that demand with a practical, transparent, and ESG-aligned approach.”
Ascent is designed to serve organizations seeking user-friendly, portfolio-ready certification. Key features include:
Global consistency with local relevance through a unified framework adaptable to regional regulations and environmental conditions
Transparent scoring and results that support credible reporting and stakeholder confidence
Independent third-party assessment conducted through GBI’s established assessor network
User-friendly software tools with centralized reporting dashboards and aggregated portfolio scoring
Dedicated expert support from GBI’s team of green building specialists and project managers
Certification levels align with the Green Globes One through Four rating system, and performance categories address critical building outcomes and Environmental Assessment Areas, including project management and responsible business practices, site, energy, water, materials, and indoor environment.
By combining transparent scoring, independent certification, structured expert guidance, and user-friendly tools, Ascent reduces friction in the certification process while maintaining rigorous performance standards.
GBI is an international nonprofit organization and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Developer dedicated to improving the built environment’s impact on climate and society. Founded in 2004, the organization is the global provider of the Green Globes®, Journey to Net Zero™, Guiding Principles Compliance, and Ascent Building Certification™ and assessment programs. GBI also issues professional credentials, including the Green Globes Professional (GGP) and Guiding Principles Compliance Professional (GPCP). To learn more about opportunities to become involved with GBI, contact info@thegbi.org or visit the GBI website at www.thegbi.org.
MEDIA CONTACT Megan Baker, GBI Vice President of Engagement, megan@thegbi.org, (971) 256-7174
wonderland 