Apple (AAPL) is deepening its push into sports, adding its Apple Watch to the list of its products that can be found in and around major league teams.
The tech giant and the NHL announced on Friday that referees have been using the Apple Watch throughout the current season as a means of monitoring the game without having to take their eyes off of the action on the ice.
The new system includes an Apple Watch Series model or Apple Watch Ultra and a specialized app that provides the refs with data like the game clock, a countdown to the end of a period, and a notification letting them know when a player is coming out of the penalty box.
“Being able to provide the official the game clock on the wrist so [the referees aren’t] looking up, trying to find the scoreboard when [they’re] skating … was really important to make sure there’s focus on the ice and the players and the play,” said Andres de Corral, vice president of digital services at Presidio, the company behind the app.
To ensure the refs aren’t dependent on looking at their watches, Presidio’s app provides haptic feedback patterns that vibrate for end-of-period and penalty box alerts.
“So notifying the official, ‘10 … 3, 2, 1, there’s a 200-pound person that’s about to exit a penalty box flying at you … Careful,’” Corral said.
But can it break up a fight? A referee wears an Apple Watch during an NHL game. (Image: Getty Images) · Getty Images
Each referee has their own NHL-issued Apple Watch. They can’t use their own personal watches while refereeing games. What’s more, the watches aren’t loaded with unnecessary apps and only get notifications from Presidio’s software. (You can’t have a referee getting Uber Eats while on the ice, after all. Or can you?)
David Lehanski, executive vice president of business development and innovation at NHL, said the league has been working with Apple on the Apple Watch initiative for years. The pair teamed up in the past, putting iPads on teams’ benches so players and coaches could watch replays of the game in real time to figure out how to change up strategies on the fly.
Other sports leagues also rely on Apple’s products, including MLB, which allows teams to use iPads in their dugouts so that players can get information on their latest at-bats and other game statistics. The World Surf League (WSL) also uses the Apple Watch, giving surfers information on waves and scores.
Of course, working with sports leagues isn’t just about helping out players and referees; it’s also a marketing exercise for all parties. Apple gets its products in front of sports fans, proving that they’re not only useful but, in the case of the NHL and WSL, durable enough to survive, say, taking an accidental hit from an enforcer fighting another player or being sloshed around in massive waves. And the leagues get to show off their tech savvy.
Some of the Air France spaces at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), and some of its onboard suites smell a bit different now than they did last month.
That’s because, in mid-January, the carrier introduced its first-ever signature fragrance and began using it in its La Premiere (first-class) lobby, a handful of lounge areas at CDG and onboard aircraft in the swanky La Premiere suites.
The carrier said it will gradually add the new fragrance — which is named AF001 as a nod to the Concorde flights that traveled between New York and Paris in the late 1970s — to other lounges in Paris and around the world.
New Air France fragrance
France is the “fragrance capital of the world,” and Air France is the French flag carrier. So, the stakes were high when it came to declaring a signature scent.
For the scent, Air France turned to Francis Kurkdjian — a master perfumer, artistic director of Maison Francis Kurkdjian and creator of the “it” perfume Baccarat Rouge 540.
“It was the illusion of a ray of sunshine on the wings of an aircraft that inspired me to create this light, fresh and comforting home fragrance,” Kurkdjian explained.
What does AF001 smell like?
According to Air France, it has a “comforting. musky scent, combined with mimosa from the south of France” that adds “a sunny, natural vibrancy.” The scent includes hints of jasmine and rose and has a “delicate floral aura” to take travelers on a “real olfactory journey, capturing a specific moment in time,” Air France added.
“The idea of the Air France fragrance, and particularly in the lounges, is for people to feel good,” Kurkdjian said. “And with the fragrance, they feel even better.”
Other airline scents
Air France may have the newest custom fragrance in the skies, but there are other airlines and airports with personalized scents.
In September 2024, Dubai-based Emirates partnered with Irish brand Voya to offer bespoke Eau de Toilette fragrances on board flights in first and business class.
Singapore Airlines introduced a new signature scent called Batik Flora in 2022. It worked with Singapore-based artisanal perfume label Scent by Six on a fragrance that features floral notes from the six flowers in the carrier’s refreshed batik motif featured on the airline’s uniforms: aquatic ginger, common dianella, seashore purslane, simpoh lak, utania nervosa and white kopsia.
The scent is currently in use at the Singapore Air Service Centre at the Ion Orchard shopping center, the SilverKris Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Terminal 3 and on planes as part of the hot towel service. Travelers can also purchase the scent in the form of reed diffusers, pillow mists and an eau de toilette fragrance.
Singapore Changi Airport also has its own signature fragrance — appropriately called Changi Scent — which debuted in 2016. Inspiration for this scent comes from Changi’s own lush gardens, Singapore’s national flower (the orchid), as well as geranium, mint, citrus and Asian spices.
CHANGI AIRPORT
Changi dispenses the fragrance at departure hall doors and other key areas, hoping to “evoke pleasant sensory surprises” for passengers and visitors.
“By infusing the air with a soothing and refreshing aroma, the scent helps to ease moods amid the hustle and bustle of airport activities,” according to the airport. The Changi Scent reed diffusers and candles are also available for purchase.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific worked with Australian scent marketing agency Air Aroma on a signature scent that features lavender, jasmine, bamboo, juniper berry, tea leaves, white musk and cedarwood. You’ll catch whiffs of it in the carrier’s lounges around the world. Air Aroma has also created special scents for Etihad Airways, Virgin Airlines, Abu Dhabi Airport and several other airlines and airports.
“Airport scenting is not the time to go super bold with a very dark, rich floral fragrance that may be off-putting to some,” the company told TPG. So, when creating scents to use in lounges and other airport spaces, “universally pleasing” scents are the goal. There are “so many thousands of people who will encounter the scent daily, all who come from across the globe with different backgrounds.”
Japan’s All Nippon Airways has a unique fragrance that it said is “reminiscent of a lush, expansive forest.” It’s made with a dozen natural ingredients, including Japanese umbrella pine, Yoshino Japanese cedar, mint and rosemary.
The scent is used at check-in counters and lounges in Japan and onboard during the towel service on international flights. As a nice touch, the airline also hands out “aroma cards” that passengers can activate when they wish. Travelers can also purchase the scents online and on flights with inflight shopping.
Creating custom scents
Charlotte-based ScentAir provides special scents for the United Airlines lounges, the Heathrow Airport (LHR) arrivals terminal and a variety of other aviation clients that it will not mention due to nondisclosure agreements.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is a ScentAir client. It began its scenting program in 2021 when it was looking for a fragrance to reflect the Tampa Bay Region. The airport settled on ScentAir’s “Bamboo Tea” scent, which has notes of green bergamot (an Italian citrus fruit), jasmine, neroli (the blossom of the bitter orange tree), musk and tree moss. It now dispenses the scent in several areas of the airport.
“Many may not notice the scent, as it is subtle unless you’re seeking it out,” TPA spokesperson Emily Nipps said, “but it is light, pleasant and interesting when you notice it.”
When creating scents for airports, “we begin by exploring the airport’s unique attributes, including its branding, location, decor, amenities and even food and beverage offerings,” Neohni Gilligan, director of fragrance and product marketing at ScentAir, said. The company also considers the emotional experience an airport wants to create for passengers and visitors.
“Airports want to address the stressed, impatient passenger, the business traveler that is in a hurry and family travelers that need to feel relaxed with all their kids in an airport,” Gilligan said. “We help create a space that feels fresh, calming and aligned with the airport’s identity.”
Did you think paying tolls in New Jersey was just a routine task? Think again! The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, in a move reeking of leftist negligence, just handed an 11-year juicy contract for the E-ZPass system to a Singapore-based company with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Yes, you read that right: while you’re shelling out cash to cross a bridge, Beijing might be spying on your license plate. Thanks, incompetent progressives!
The company in question is ST Electronics, a subsidiary of the Singaporean giant ST Kinetics, and several conservative lawmakers have already sounded the alarm.
Why? Because behind this facade of modern technology lurk suspicious connections to the CCP, a dictatorship that not only oppresses its own people but has tentacles in every corner of the globe.
While the left embraces their fantasy of a borderless world, China is rubbing its hands with glee over our data.
Let’s be real: this isn’t some tinfoil-hat conspiracy theory from lunatics. Republican Senator Tom Cotton has already warned that Asian companies like this are often puppets of the Chinese regime, collecting data for its global surveillance machine.
And here in New Jersey, the Turnpike Authority handed them the keys to the highway—literally—without batting an eye. Where were the Democrats? Probably whining about climate change while ignoring this very real threat.
The contract, worth millions, gives ST Electronics control over a system that processes data from millions of daily drivers. What kind of data? Names, license plates, routes, schedules. Everything the CCP needs to build a detailed profile of American citizens.
Picture Xi Jinping having breakfast with a list of who crosses the George Washington Bridge at 8 a.m. Ridiculous? Not so much if you know how Chinese communism operates!
And what does the left have to say about it? Nothing useful, as usual. New Jersey Democrats, led by Governor Phil Murphy—that progressive champion who loves masks more than freedom—haven’t uttered a peep about this disaster.
They’d rather waste their time in absurd debates about “social justice” than face the fact that they’re handing our highways over to a totalitarian regime. Bravo, geniuses!
Conservatives, on the other hand, aren’t sitting idly by. Lawmakers like Representative Chris Smith have demanded an immediate investigation, pointing out that this contract poses “an unacceptable national security risk.”
Smith knows what the left ignores: the CCP doesn’t play fair. From the Huawei scandal to apps like TikTok, China has proven it uses technology to infiltrate and dominate. Will E-ZPass be its next toy?
But wait, it gets even more laughable. ST Electronics isn’t new to this game. Back in 2018, Singapore had to deal with accusations that this company was collaborating with the Chinese military. And what did New Jersey do? Gave them an 11-year contract without properly vetting their history.
It’s like handing your house keys to a thief because they promised you a good security system. Progressive logic in action!
Meanwhile, New Jersey drivers are paying the price—literally—for this madness. Every time you pass through a toll, you’re not just funding this fiasco; you might be feeding the CCP’s database.
Can you imagine a Chinese bureaucrat checking whether you prefer I-95 or Route 1? All while leftists cheer the “diversity” of working with a foreign company. How adorable!
The solution is simple: cancel this contract now. Let New Jersey find an American, trustworthy company without Beijing’s shadow lurking behind it.
But don’t expect the Democrats to do it; they’re too busy painting rainbows on the roads and praying to Greta Thunberg. This is what happens when you let the left govern: they hand the country over to communists while navel-gazing.
New Jersey is in the CCP’s crosshairs thanks to progressive ineptitude. While conservatives fight to protect the nation, the left keeps dreaming of their globalist utopia where China calls the shots and we foot the bill.
Wake up, fools! This isn’t a game: it’s our freedom on the line. Let E-ZPass be for Americans, not Xi’s spies. Enough with the leftist nonsense!
About The Author
Rafael Santos Martín
Rafael Santos is a Portuguese writer and political analyst dedicated to educating Hispanics on traditional values and the importance of protecting children and families. With years of experience in media and public discourse, he has been a strong advocate for cultural preservation and moral principles in an ever-changing world. Passionate about culture, sports, and current affairs, Rafael brings insightful analysis to political and social debates, striving to empower the Hispanic community with knowledge and a deeper understanding of the issues that shape their lives.
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Rafael Santos es un escritor y analista político Portugués dedicado a educar a los hispanos sobre los valores tradicionales y la importancia de proteger a los niños y las familias. Con años de experiencia en los medios de comunicación y el discurso público, ha sido un firme defensor de la preservación cultural y los principios morales en un mundo en constante cambio. Apasionado por la cultura, el deporte y la actualidad, Rafael aporta un análisis profundo a los debates políticos y sociales, con el objetivo de empoderar a la comunidad hispana mediante el conocimiento y una comprensión más profunda de los temas que moldean sus vidas.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In early 2025, Fundiin – Vietnam’s leading Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform has officially joined forces with CIMB Bank Vietnam, one of ASEAN’s top banking institutions, to revolutionize access to credit for Vietnamese consumers.
Fundiin officially collaborates with CIMB Bank Vietnam to launch new offering, called “Trả góp Tối ưu”
Currently, only 4% of Vietnam’s population holds a credit card, and a significant portion of the country remains underserved by traditional banking systems. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in addressing these gaps. Through Fundiin’s innovative BNPL solution, combined with CIMB’s robust financial infrastructure, this collaboration is set to offer more consumers, particularly those left out of the traditional financial ecosystem, with accessible, flexible, and sustainable credit options.
The new offering, called “Trả góp Tối ưu”, harnesses cutting-edge data science to improve credit accessibility. By analyzing credit records and transaction data, Fundiin ensures accurate lender matching, optimizing both approval rates and loan interest to suit individual customer profiles.
For both Fundiin and CIMB Bank, this partnership represents more than just a business move – it’s a step toward transforming Vietnam’s financial ecosystem. The collaboration is poised to democratize credit and provide a seamless, more affordable way for consumers to access financial services that were once out of reach.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, Fundiin CEO, mentioned: “Fundiin’s partnership with CIMB aligns with Fundiin’s growth strategy to offer high standard digital financial products to a broader consumer base. The combination of Fundiin’s technology platform & data science with CIMB’s strong financial foundation will further help drive financial inclusion in Vietnam.”
Ms. Le Hien Trang, from CIMB Vietnam, added: “As a leading ASEAN bank with deep experience in digital finance, CIMB Vietnam is committed to offering adaptable and transparent credit solutions. Our collaboration with Fundiin allows us to extend financial opportunities to underserved communities, empowering consumers through technology-driven solutions that make credit more accessible. Together, we’re paving the way for a future where financial inclusion isn’t a privilege but a standard.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Digital Financial Products
The partnership between Fundiin and CIMB is just the beginning. Both parties are committed to continuous innovation, developing tailored digital financial products that cater to specific customer segments – especially those with limited or no credit history. By helping these individuals gradually build their personal credit, Fundiin and CIMB aim to create a clear pathway for consumers to move toward more advanced financial services down the line.
As this collaboration unfolds, Fundiin and CIMB Bank Vietnam are setting the stage for a new era of financial empowerment, one where access to credit is redefined, and consumers are put at the heart of the financial ecosystem.
Established in 2019, Fundiin is also the first corporation to develop completely automatic as well as online BNPL solutions in Vietnam. Fundiin offers a convenient payment option to consumers, relieving them of financial stress and connects over 800 retail partners to the best brands.
The biggest difference of Fundiin is no debt retrieval since setup, this helps with excellent customer experience and also demonstrates Fundiin’s commitment of delivering efficient finance products.
CIMB Group is the fifth largest banking group in ASEAN with over 33,000 employees and 26 million customers across 10 global markets.
Established in 2016, CIMB Bank Vietnam is a part of CIMB Group, a leading global bank in ASEAN with extensive experience and expertise in the region. CIMB Bank Vietnam was the first within the Group’s franchise to adopt the digital bank model. It is today recognized as one of Vietnam’s most innovative and emerging digital banks. CIMB Bank Vietnam is headquartered in Hanoi, with its branch in HCMC, providing a wide range of banking products and services to individuals, businesses and corporations.
In 2024, CIMB was recognized with several prestigious awards, including Best Implementation of Partner Network Development Strategies (Banking) Vietnam 2024, Excellence in Innovation Digital Banking Vietnam 2024, and Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2024.
Microsoft is trying to show its commitment to AI safety by amending a lawsuit filed last year to unmask the four developers it alleges evaded guardrails on its AI tools in order to generate celebrity deepfakes. The company filed the lawsuit back in December, and a court order allowing Microsoft to seize a website associated with the operation help it identify the individuals.
The four developers are reportedly part of a global cybercrime network called Storm-2139: Arian Yadegarnia aka “Fiz” of Iran; Alan Krysiak aka “Drago” of the United Kingdom; Ricky Yuen aka “cg-dot” of Hong Kong and Phát Phùng Tấn aka “Asakuri” of Vietnam.
Microsoft says there are others it has identified as involved in the scheme, but does not want to name them yet so as not to interfere with an ongoing investigation. The group, according to Microsoft, compromised accounts with access to its generative AI tools and managed to “jailbreak” them in order to create whatever types of images they desired. The group then sold access to others, who used it to create deepfake nudes of celebrities, among other abuses.
After filing the lawsuit and seizing the group’s website, Microsoft said the defendants went into panic mode. “The seizure of this website and subsequent unsealing of the legal filings in January generated an immediate reaction from actors, in some cases causing group members to turn on and point fingers at one another,” it said on its blog.
Celebrities, including Taylor Swift, have been frequent targets of deepfake pornography, which takes a real person’s face and convincingly superimposes it on a nude body. Back in January 2024, Microsoft had to update its text-to-image models after fake images of Swift appeared across the web. Generative AI makes it incredibly easy to create the images with little technical ability—which has already led to an epidemic of high schools across the U.S. experiencing deepfake scandals. Recent stories from victims of deepfakes illustrate how creating the images is not a victimless act because it occurs digitally but translates into real-world harm by making targets feel anxious, afraid, and violated knowing someone out there is obsessed with them enough to do it.
There has been an ongoing debate in the AI community regarding the topic of safety and whether the concerns are real or rather intended to help major players like OpenAI gain influence and sell their products by over-hyping the true power of generative artificial intelligence. One camp has argued that keeping AI models closed-source can help prevent the worst abuses by limiting users’ ability to turn off safety controls; those in the open-source camp believe making models free to modify and improve upon is necessary to accelerate the sector, and it is possible to address abuse without hindering innovation. Either way, it all feels like somewhat of a distraction from the more immediate threat, which is that AI has been filling the web with inaccurate information and slop content.
While a lot of fears about AI feel overblown and hypothetical in nature, and it seems unlikely that generative AI is anywhere near good enough to take on agency of its own, AI’s misuse to create deepfakes is real. Legal means are one way in which those abuses can be addressed today. There have already been a slew of arrests across the U.S. of individuals who have used AI to generate deepfakes of minors, and the NO FAKES Act introduced in Congress last year would make it a crime to generate images based on someone’s likeness. The United Kingdom already penalizes the distribution of deepfake porn, and soon it will also be a crime to even produce it. Australia recently criminalized the creation and sharing of non-consensual deepfakes.
Want to earn elite status in JetBlue’s TrueBlue program twice as fast? If you’re planning a cruise, listen up.
Book a cruise through JetBlue Vacations between Feb. 28 and March 31 that departs by Dec. 31, 2025, and you can earn double Tiles. Tiles are the company’s metric for determining JetBlue Mosaic elite status within the TrueBlue program (similar to how American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program offers Loyalty Points to award status).
Normally, JetBlue travelers only earn double Tiles on cruises if they also add a flight to the mix.
Outside the promotional period, cruise bookings without accompanying flights yield 1 Tile per $100 spent, but with this offer, travelers will receive 2 Tiles for each $100 spent, meaning they can reach elite Mosaic status twice as fast.
Overview of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program
Under JetBlue’s TrueBlue program, travelers earn both Tiles (that count toward elite status) and redeemable points each time they fly, book travel through JetBlue Vacations or make purchases with cobranded JetBlue credit cards. Tiles are used to determine what’s known as Mosaic status. The more Tiles you earn, the higher you move up the airline’s four Mosaic loyalty tiers.
Points differ from Tiles and can be redeemed for flights, upgrades and other travel rewards. However, instead of earning them based on distance flown, you earn them based on dollars spent. Under this promotion, travelers will continue to earn 1 point per dollar spent.
Snag even more Tiles with the right credit card
JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY
If you have a JetBlue cobranded credit card, you can earn even more Tiles. TrueBlue members also receive 1 Tile for every $1,000 in credit card spending.
So, a cruise booking totaling $2,000 (before taxes) would yield 42 tiles if you booked it through JetBlue Vacations using a cobranded card. Here’s the breakdown:
40 tiles (2 tiles for each $100 spent)
2 tiles (1 tile for each $1,000 in card spending)
Given you only need 50 tiles to reach Mosaic 1 status, with benefits like free checked bags, onboard alcoholic drinks, extra legroom seats at check-in and priority check-in, security and boarding, this is an easy way to reach status.
You would also earn up to 7 redeemable points per dollar spent on the booking — 1 point per dollar spent with JetBlue Vacations and up to 6 points per dollar by paying for a JetBlue Vacation with the right cobranded credit card.
What’s the catch?
Like airline bookings, Tiles are awarded to those traveling, not necessarily the paying. So, using the above example, if you booked a $2,000 cruise for you and a travel companion, you would receive 21 tiles, and your companion would also receive 21, regardless of who paid for the cruise.
Note that anyone not enrolled in the TrueBlue program before booking the cruise will forfeit their Tiles, so ensure everyone in your travel party has signed up for the program before making a reservation.
TrueBlue membership numbers for all passengers must be entered when booking. Tiles will be awarded four to six weeks after travel is completed, and all Tiles will count toward 2025 Tile tracking to enjoy through Dec. 31, 2026.
Is my cruise line part of JetBlue Vacations?
MSC World Europa during a stop in Malta. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
What else does the JetBlue Vacations cruise program offer?
Travelers who book cruises through JetBlue Vacations can also earn points and status toward the loyalty program for their favorite cruise line. That means you can double dip by working toward perks with JetBlue without forfeiting your progress toward reaching a higher tier with your favorite cruise brand.
Bottom line
JetBlue is offering double Tiles toward elite Mosaic status when you book a cruise through JetBlue Vacations between Feb. 28 and March 31 that departs by Dec. 31, 2025. This generous offer allows you to earn status twice as fast and enjoy benefits like checked baggage, priority airport services and extra legroom seats.
Also, you double dip by earning points and status with your cruise line loyalty program of choice.
State Street (NYSE: STT) has announced an agreement to acquire Mizuho Financial Group’s global custody and related businesses outside of Japan. The acquisition includes Mizuho’s operations through Mizuho Trust & Banking (Luxembourg) and Mizuho Bank (USA), representing combined assets under custody of approximately $580 billion and $24 billion in assets under administration.
The transaction, expected to complete by Q4 2025, will allow Mizuho to focus on providing trust and custody services for domestic assets while collaborating with State Street for global services. State Street, with 35 years of experience in Japan and Luxembourg, will leverage its global platform to serve Mizuho’s clients, offering services including data management, risk and performance analytics, currency management, and securities finance.
State Street (NYSE: STT) ha annunciato un accordo per acquisire le attività globali di custodia e servizi correlati del Gruppo Mizuho al di fuori del Giappone. L’acquisizione include le operazioni di Mizuho tramite Mizuho Trust & Banking (Lussemburgo) e Mizuho Bank (USA), rappresentando un patrimonio totale in custodia di circa 580 miliardi di dollari e 24 miliardi di dollari in beni sotto amministrazione.
La transazione, prevista per essere completata entro il quarto trimestre del 2025, permetterà a Mizuho di concentrarsi sulla fornitura di servizi di fiducia e custodia per beni domestici, collaborando con State Street per i servizi globali. State Street, con 35 anni di esperienza in Giappone e Lussemburgo, sfrutterà la sua piattaforma globale per servire i clienti di Mizuho, offrendo servizi che includono gestione dei dati, analisi di rischio e performance, gestione delle valute e finanziamento dei titoli.
State Street (NYSE: STT) ha anunciado un acuerdo para adquirir los negocios globales de custodia y servicios relacionados del Grupo Mizuho fuera de Japón. La adquisición incluye las operaciones de Mizuho a través de Mizuho Trust & Banking (Luxemburgo) y Mizuho Bank (EE. UU.), representando activos combinados bajo custodia de aproximadamente 580 mil millones de dólares y 24 mil millones de dólares en activos bajo administración.
Se espera que la transacción se complete para el cuarto trimestre de 2025, lo que permitirá a Mizuho centrarse en proporcionar servicios de confianza y custodia para activos nacionales mientras colabora con State Street para servicios globales. State Street, con 35 años de experiencia en Japón y Luxemburgo, aprovechará su plataforma global para atender a los clientes de Mizuho, ofreciendo servicios que incluyen gestión de datos, análisis de riesgo y rendimiento, gestión de divisas y financiamiento de valores.
State Street (NYSE: STT)는 일본 외 Mizuho Financial Group의 글로벌 수탁 및 관련 사업을 인수하기 위한 계약을 발표했습니다. 인수에는 Mizuho Trust & Banking (룩셈부르크) 및 Mizuho Bank (미국)를 통한 Mizuho의 운영이 포함되며, 이는 약 5,800억 달러의 수탁 자산과 240억 달러의 관리 자산을 나타냅니다.
이번 거래는 2025년 4분기까지 완료될 것으로 예상되며, Mizuho는 국내 자산에 대한 신탁 및 수탁 서비스 제공에 집중하고 State Street와 협력하여 글로벌 서비스를 제공할 수 있게 됩니다. State Street는 일본과 룩셈부르크에서 35년의 경험을 바탕으로 Mizuho의 고객에게 데이터 관리, 위험 및 성과 분석, 통화 관리, 증권 금융 등의 서비스를 제공하기 위해 글로벌 플랫폼을 활용할 것입니다.
State Street (NYSE: STT) a annoncé un accord pour acquérir les activités de garde et services connexes de Mizuho Financial Group en dehors du Japon. L’acquisition comprend les opérations de Mizuho via Mizuho Trust & Banking (Luxembourg) et Mizuho Bank (États-Unis), représentant des actifs totaux sous garde d’environ 580 milliards de dollars et 24 milliards de dollars en actifs sous administration.
La transaction, qui devrait être finalisée d’ici le quatrième trimestre 2025, permettra à Mizuho de se concentrer sur la fourniture de services de fiducie et de garde pour des actifs domestiques tout en collaborant avec State Street pour des services mondiaux. State Street, avec 35 ans d’expérience au Japon et au Luxembourg, utilisera sa plateforme mondiale pour servir les clients de Mizuho, offrant des services comprenant la gestion des données, l’analyse des risques et des performances, la gestion des devises et le financement des titres.
State Street (NYSE: STT) hat eine Vereinbarung zur Übernahme der globalen Verwahrungs- und verwandten Geschäfte der Mizuho Financial Group außerhalb Japans bekannt gegeben. Die Übernahme umfasst die Aktivitäten von Mizuho über Mizuho Trust & Banking (Luxemburg) und Mizuho Bank (USA), die zusammen Vermögenswerte in Höhe von etwa 580 Milliarden US-Dollar und 24 Milliarden US-Dollar an verwalteten Vermögenswerten repräsentieren.
Die Transaktion, die bis zum vierten Quartal 2025 abgeschlossen sein soll, wird es Mizuho ermöglichen, sich auf die Bereitstellung von Treuhand- und Verwahrungsdiensten für inländische Vermögenswerte zu konzentrieren, während sie mit State Street für globale Dienstleistungen zusammenarbeitet. State Street wird mit 35 Jahren Erfahrung in Japan und Luxemburg seine globale Plattform nutzen, um die Kunden von Mizuho zu bedienen und Dienstleistungen anzubieten, die Datenmanagement, Risiko- und Leistungsanalysen, Währungsmanagement und Wertpapierfinanzierung umfassen.
Positive
Significant AUC acquisition: $580B assets under custody
Additional $24B in assets under administration
Expands State Street’s presence in key markets: Japan, Luxembourg, USA
Leverages existing infrastructure with 35-year presence in Japan and Luxembourg
Negative
Long completion timeline extending to Q4 2025
Integration risks with existing operations
Subject to multiple regulatory approvals
Insights
State Street’s acquisition of Mizuho’s global custody business represents a strategic scaling opportunity that instantly adds $580 billion in assets under custody and $24 billion in assets under administration to their platform. This transaction strengthens State Street’s competitive position in the custody business where scale is critical for operational efficiency and technology investment.
The deal provides three key advantages: immediate access to Japanese institutional clients without the high cost of organic client acquisition; enhanced operational scale that should improve margin efficiency across their existing platform; and stronger positioning in Luxembourg, an essential European fund domicile. For custody businesses, technology infrastructure costs are largely fixed, meaning this additional $580 billion in assets should drive incrementally higher margins as it’s integrated into State Street’s existing systems.
The timing is particularly strategic as global financial institutions increasingly outsource non-core functions to specialized providers with greater scale advantages. By maintaining the domestic Japanese custody while transferring the more complex global custody operations, Mizuho demonstrates the heightened importance of technological scale in cross-border asset servicing. For State Street investors, this represents a textbook example of leveraging core competencies through acquisition rather than more expensive organic growth.
This transaction exemplifies the ongoing consolidation in global custody services where scale and technological capabilities determine competitive advantage. State Street gains immediate entrée to Japanese institutional investors’ international portfolios without disrupting their domestic arrangements – a delicate balance that respects cultural preferences while optimizing operational efficiency.
The multi-jurisdictional nature of this deal – spanning Japan, Luxembourg and the US – demonstrates State Street’s regulatory savvy and operational flexibility. Luxembourg’s position as Europe’s leading fund domicile makes the acquired Luxembourg entity particularly valuable for servicing Japanese investors’ European exposures. With its 35-year presence in both Japan and Luxembourg, State Street possesses the cultural competence and regulatory relationships to navigate this complex integration.
The collaboration model where Mizuho retains domestic Japanese custody while partnering with State Street for global assets creates a complementary arrangement that maximizes each institution’s strengths. This partnership approach, rather than complete divestiture, suggests potential for ongoing client referrals and business development between the firms. For State Street, beyond the immediate $580 billion in assets, the real value lies in the potential to cross-sell additional services – data analytics, currency management, securities lending – to these institutional clients, substantially increasing revenue per client relationship.
TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) and Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (President & Group CEO: Masahiro Kihara) today announced they have entered into an agreement for State Street to acquire Mizuho’s global custody and related businesses outside of Japan. These businesses support the overseas investments of Mizuho’s Japanese clients.
Mizuho currently operates its global custody and related business outside of Japan through its local subsidiaries Mizuho Trust & Banking (Luxembourg) S.A., owned by Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd., and Mizuho Bank (USA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mizuho Bank, Ltd. Both of these entities represent combined assets under custody of approximately US$580 billion and US$24 billion in assets under administration1.
After this transaction, Mizuho will leverage its expertise and network as one of Japan’s largest financial institutions to continue providing Japanese clients with trust and custody services for their domestic assets and will collaborate with State Street for global custody and related services.
“Japan, Luxembourg and the United States are all important markets to State Street. This transaction demonstrates our strong commitment to further accelerating our growth in these markets,” said Stefan Gmür, head of Asia Pacific and head of Strategic Business Growth at State Street. “Mizuho’s decision to entrust State Street with their valued clients affirms their confidence in our high-quality client service, industry-leading capabilities and commitment to product innovation and technology investment. With 35 years of experience on the ground in both Japan and Luxembourg, and our long history in the United States, State Street is well positioned to support Mizuho clients’ global growth and business transformation.”
“In today’s increasingly complex investment landscape, clients require global custody providers with significant scale and expertise,” said Tsutomu Yamamoto, senior executive officer, head of Global Transaction Banking Unit at Mizuho. “After careful consideration, we have decided to transfer our global custody business to State Street, a recognized leader with a long-established presence in Japan. This strategic move will ensure our clients benefit from State Street’s global platform and deep expertise.”
“Having deep familiarity with the requirements and expectations of Japanese institutional investors, we look forward to meeting their needs not only in global custody but also data management, risk and performance analytics, currency management and securities finance,” said Hiroshi Kobayashi, head of Japan at State Street. “We expect to provide a seamless transition for Mizuho’s clients. As the acquired business integrates into our global operating model, we expect the added scale will allow us to further expand our technology and service capabilities, which will enhance the service experience for our existing and new clients in Japan.”
The transaction is expected to be completed by Q4 2025, subject to the regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
State Street established its business in Japan more than 35 years ago. With an experienced team of more than 500 employees in Japan, split between locations in Tokyo and Fukuoka, State Street provides Japanese institutional investors with a comprehensive suite of services including trust, global custody, middle/back office outsourcing, data management, trading and financing solutions. State Street has an operational centre of excellence in Fukuoka which has been supporting clients in Japan and across Asia Pacific for over a decade. State Street has been present in Luxembourg for 35 years providing services including fund administration, custody and transfer agency. From its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets.
1 Source: Mizuho, as of December 31, 2024
About State Street Corporation
State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With US$46.6 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and US$4.7 trillion* in assets under management as of December 31, 2024, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 53,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street’s website at www.statestreet.com.
*Assets under management as of December 31, 2024, includes approximately US$82 billion of assets with respect to SPDR® products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.
About Mizuho Financial Group
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. is one of the largest, full-service financial institutions in the world, with approximately 65,000 employees, 150 years of banking experience, and total assets of approximately US$2 trillion, according to S&P Global 2024. Mizuho offers comprehensive financial services to clients in 36 countries and 850 offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.
Mizuho combines extensive industry and local market expertise with a broad geographic presence and is a leading provider of retail banking, corporate and investment banking, capital markets, strategic advisory, fixed income, equities, research, and financing solutions. For more information, visit www.mizuhogroup.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This News Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of United States securities laws, including statements about our goals and expectations regarding State Street’s planned acquisition of Mizuho’s global custody and related businesses outside of Japan, as well as State Street’s strategy, growth and sales prospects, business, financial and capital condition, the financial and market outlook and the business environment, in each case both associated with the planned acquisition or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by such forward-looking terminology as “will,” “expect,” “further,” “forward,” “intend,” “aim,” “outcome,” “future,” “strategy,” “pipeline,” “trajectory,” “target,” “guidance,” “objective,” “plan,” “forecast,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “seek,” “may,” “trend,” and “goal,” or similar statements or variations of such terms. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, are inherently uncertain, are based on current assumptions that are difficult to predict and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in those statements. important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by any forward-looking statements are set forth in State Street’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K and its subsequent SEC filings. State Street encourages investors to read these filings, particularly the sections on risk factors, for additional information with respect to any forward-looking statements and prior to making any investment decision. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release should not by relied on as representing State Street’s expectations or beliefs as of any time subsequent to the time this News Release is first issued, and State Street does not undertake efforts to revise those forward-looking statements to reflect events after that time.
What is the total value of assets under custody being acquired by State Street (STT) from Mizuho?
State Street is acquiring approximately $580 billion in assets under custody and $24 billion in assets under administration from Mizuho’s global custody business.
When is the State Street (STT) acquisition of Mizuho’s global custody business expected to close?
The transaction is expected to be completed by Q4 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
Which Mizuho subsidiaries are included in State Street’s (STT) acquisition?
The acquisition includes Mizuho Trust & Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. and Mizuho Bank (USA)’s global custody operations.
How will the Mizuho acquisition impact State Street’s (STT) operations in Japan?
The acquisition will expand State Street’s presence in Japan, adding scale to their existing operations of 500 employees across Tokyo and Fukuoka.
With Alexa receiving a refresh on Wednesday (Feb. 26), it was interesting to revisit research published by PYMNTS in April 2023.
A PYMNTS Intelligence report, “How Consumers Want to Live in the Voice Economy,” published nearly two years ago, predicted the growing impact of voice technology on consumer behavior, highlighting its potential to transform daily tasks and emergencies. This foresight aligns closely with Amazon’s unveiling of Alexa+, a new version of its voice assistant enhanced with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). The update, designed to make Alexa smarter and more responsive, allows for more advanced capabilities such as ordering groceries, booking services and sending messages.
Alexa+ Brings AI to Voice Tech
Powered by Amazon’s Nova models and other AI technologies, Alexa+ promises to take the voice assistant experience to new heights, reflecting the research’s expectation that voice technology would evolve into a more integrated, efficient tool for consumers. As PYMNTS data indicated, consumers are seeking technology that can handle more complex tasks, and Alexa+ delivers on this vision, revolutionizing how consumers interact with voice assistants.
Prime members will have free access to Alexa+, while others will pay a $19.99 monthly fee.
One of the key features of Alexa+ is its ability to remember past interactions and use them to provide more personalized responses. It can also search video libraries, read documents, and complete various other tasks.
Though there have been some delays in its development, Alexa+ is expected to roll out soon, offering users more advanced AI features through their existing Alexa devices.
Aligning With PYMNTS Research
This upgrade from Amazon aligns closely with trends identified in our research from April 2023, based on a survey of 2,939 U.S. consumers. It revealed that while smart and mobile devices remain central to modern consumer technology, voice technology is emerging as the next step.
Despite the proliferation of touchscreen interfaces, voice-controlled devices offer unparalleled convenience, especially in hands-free situations, such as when driving or multitasking.
“The next frontier is approaching, however, and nearly two-thirds of Americans have already used this up-and-coming technology in the past year,” the report said. “This advancement, of course, is voice technology.
“Consumers want to make everyday routines smart, simple and more connected, and hands-free voice technologies can fit the bill. Consumers can already use voice technology to find information, identify themselves via voice assistant, or find and book airline tickets, among other possibilities.”
Growing Appeal of Voice Tech
According to the report, nearly two-thirds of Americans used voice technology in the past year. The main drivers of voice adoption are speed and convenience. Many consumers find it faster and easier to use voice commands than to type or tap on screens.
In fact, nearly half of users view voice technology especially useful in emergencies, where quick action is crucial. These findings suggest voice technology has broad potential to streamline and improve daily routines.
Additionally, the report showed60% of people believe voice assistants will eventually become as capable and reliable as humans within the next five years. While enthusiasm is growing, trust remains a major barrier. Only a small percentage of consumers believe voice assistants have the same capabilities as humans, and many are still hesitant to trust them with complex tasks.
Despite these challenges, the potential for voice technology is immense, the report says. Consumers are open to using voice assistants for a variety of tasks, but they remain wary of trusting them with sensitive information or more complicated activities. As voice technology improves and becomes more dependable, it’s expected more consumers will gradually increase their usage.
One of the key takeaways from the report was the willingness of certain demographics to pay for a more reliable, smart voice assistant. Younger individuals, particularly millennials, and higher-income consumers are more likely to invest in premium voice services, while older generations and lower-income groups tend to be more reluctant to make the leap.
As a cholera outbreak worsens in Sudan, UNICEF reports the heightened risk to thousands of children and works with other health agencies to protect those at risk in a country already devastated by ongoing violent conflict.
By Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
In response to a rapidly growing cholera outbreak threatening thousands of lives, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has teamed up with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sudanese Ministry of Health to curb the spread of the disease and protect vulnerable children.
A UNICEF report highlights that “over 292,000 children are at risk of cholera in White Nile State, Sudan,” and more than 500 children are among the 2,700 cholera cases reported between 1 January and 24 February 2025.
Due to this concern, the UN agencies have ramped up interventions to curb the outbreak, and on 21 February, they “launched a six-day cholera vaccination campaign in the localities of Kosti and Rabak in White Nile.”
Additionally, UNICEF has provided cholera treatment kits and is supporting the deployment of frontline workers to Cholera Treatment Centers to strengthen care. They are also supporting the training of public health workers in infection prevention monitoring and community members to monitor the situation on the ground.
According to the report, the campaign aims to reach over one million people with oral cholera vaccines.
Why rapid rise in cholera cases
With cholera cases surging in affected regions of Sudan, the UN agencies together with the Federal Ministry of Health and humanitarian partners note that “a major power outage, following attacks on power plants on 16 February, cut off water supplies in the localities of Kosti and Rabak in White Nile State, forcing many families to collect untreated water from the White Nile River.”
They also disclosed that limited or no access to safe drinking water, coupled with a sharp drop in vaccination rates, is worsening the crisis and heightening the risk of cholera, particularly in displacement camps and overcrowded urban centers.
Generally, White Nile State hosts an estimated 650,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) as well as 400,000 refugees. In this case, population movements at the border with South Sudan add further challenges to controlling the outbreak.
Cholera is a life-threatening disease for children
According to UNICEF Representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, cholera poses a serious threat to children’s lives and can lead to death within hours if not treated quickly.
“The ongoing destruction of critical humanitarian infrastructure has left no child safe in this war,” he said. “If children are denied access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, and information to prevent the spread of cholera, the epidemic will sadly continue.”
Since Kosti region seems most affected, with an estimated 292,000 children who are potentially at risk, UNICEF “has provided fuel and water treatment chemicals to support the operation of the primary water treatment plant, providing access to safe water to approximately 150,000 people.”
Subsequently, “UNICEF and partners are also distributing life-saving water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies in affected locations to ensure access to safe water and strengthen good practices.”
At the same time, they are “engaging communities, through discussions and social media, to spread key messages on the causes, symptoms, and prevention of cholera.”
Mr. Yett warned that disease outbreaks, such as this cholera crisis, can overwhelm fragile health systems and strain already weakened sanitation infrastructure.
While addressing the immediate emergency is crucial, he continued, “we must invest in strengthening the systems that underpin the services children need.”
Salem-Keizer Public Schools: Take a look inside the district
Here are some basic facts to know about Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
The Willamette Health Council has awarded nearly $3 million in grants to 34 local organizations in Marion and Polk counties, including three school districts.
Silver Falls School District, Gervais School District and the Willamette Education Service District all received $100,000 grants.
Projects the districts will complete with the funds range from removing barriers and expanding social services, addressing student and community substance use and prevention and helping students access transportation and technology equipment.
Willamette Health Council awarded funding ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to organizations to support behavioral health, children and families and housing security.
Founded in 2019, Willamette Health Council is a governance body for PacificSource Community Solutions, a Medicaid-providing health insurance agency and coordinated care organization for Marion and Polk counties.
The council’s funding comes from PacificSource profits which are reinvested into the community.
“PacificSource is the only CCO entity that gets money out to the community in this way,” said Josie Silverman-Mendez, deputy director of the Willamette Health Council. “It’s very unique in terms of the amount of local oversight that happens here in our community to help really drive where those investments are going.”
Grant recipients are required to submit updates on project implementation and outcomes, and share experiences and insights. They also must provide visits to the Willamette Health Council staff and committee members.
Here’s what the school districts say they will use the funding for to help improve their communities.
Silver Falls School District aims to remove barriers and expand social services for students
The Silver Falls School District hopes to remove barriers and expand social service access to its more than 3,500 students and their families with the grant funding.
Common barriers people might face when trying to find or receive social services in Silverton include waitlists and transportation.
Silver Falls’ services will be based out of Sequoia Falls Academy, an alternative school in the district. They will offer support for unhoused students without a parent or guardian, behavioral health assessments, substance treatment and food security.
These services come in addition to what the academy already offers: mental and behavioral health support, General Educational Development, college preparation and student mentoring.
The barriers that prevent people from accessing resources can be more difficult in a rural community like Silverton, and housing and food insecurity can be more profound. Oregon’s 2018 state health assessment found that people living in rural communities are more likely to be economically disadvantaged, homeless and food insecure.
Last school year, the district had 126 students registered as unhoused and 26 of them were students without parents or guardians.
Although resources are available, students’ knowledge about them and their ability to access them is what the district’s project hopes to course-correct for students and their families, said Jennifer Hannan, director of therapeutic services at Sequoia Falls Academy.
“We seek to centralize social service coordination and be an access point for youth and families in our school district,” she said.
Gervais School District looks to address student and community substance use and prevention
The Gervais School District plans to hire an administrator to create an initiative addressing student substance use and prevention with the grant funding.
This includes hosting events and providing access to and education about resources. The district also wants to host night classes available to students and the community and motivational speakers.
The school district, Gervais’ largest employer, also wants to implement substance use outreach to the community.
“A rising tide lifts all boats,” said Creighton Helms, the school district’s director of student services and federal programs. “A healthy community supports a healthy school district, and vice versa.”
Helms said Gervais is a health care desert. Coupled with being socioeconomically disadvantaged, there’s a “high likelihood” of the town’s substance abuse issues going unreported or underreported, he said.
This is the school district’s third time receiving funding from the Willamette Health Council. The first came after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the second was implemented in 2024. Both projects focused on initiatives to raise attendance rates, especially in the most vulnerable demographics, such as homeless students.
Oregon’s At-A-Glance profile data shows that from the 2022-2023 school year to the 2023-2024 school year, the Gervais School District improved districtwide regular attendance rates by 6%, on track to graduate rates by 10% and five-year completion by 5%. Regular attendance rates for homeless students improved from 41% to 50%.
“As a rural district, we are a resource-poor district,” Helms said. “To be able to receive grant money that we can apply towards something like this, we stretch those dollars incredibly far.”
Willamette Education Service District will use money to help students at recovery high school
Willamette Education Service District will use the grant funding to help students access transportation and technology equipment for its new Discovery Academy.
The recovery high school is set to open in Salem on April 15 and is meant to support the educational journey and recovery of teens with substance use disorders.
The district wants to ensure students don’t have to worry about transportation to and from school, community activities or activities associated with recovery. They also plan to set up a lounge so students can feel comfortable, and have access to technology.
The Discovery Academy will be the third recovery high school to open in Oregon out of nine expected to operate by 2029.
“We (are) really excited about the opportunity to provide this kind of service for our region,” said Joe Morelock, superintendent of the Willamette Education Service District. “This was the kind of service that was really needed, and we felt that we were best positioned to do that.”
The district has received past funding from the Willamette Health Council for sexual health education and an outreach and awareness campaign for people with disabilities.
