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Enjoy the wood-fired warmth of ‘Spring IMUA experience’ at Butcher’s Block, Raffles Hotel Singapore

The ‘Spring IMUA experience’ is a tribute to nature’s awakening. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

One of the fining-dining restaurants housed within Raffles Hotel Singapore, the wood-fire-driven Butcher’s Block presents an avant garde interpretation of traditional cooking methods close to nature. From March to May this year, Butcher’s Block brings the ‘Spring IMUA experience’ to Singapore foodies, as a tribute to nature’s awakening.

Butcher’s Block is helmed by Chef de Cuisine Jordan Keao, born and raised in Hawaii, where cooking, fishing, hunting, and farming are a part of everyday life. The restaurant exhibits the highest quality of produce, meats, and seafood sourced from around the world and translated through fire.

Complement the dining experience at Butcher’s Block with over 288 premium wines, including a meticulous selection of natural wines, from The Library.

The 44-seat dining room. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

Spring is a very special season for Hawai’i — the warmer and longer days invite communities to gather and celebrate the season’s plentiful harvest and fresh garden delights.

The Spring IMUA experience at Butcher’s Block captures the optimism and togetherness that define the essence of spring and Hawai’i’s eternal connection to nature.

Jordan Keao, Chef de Cuisine. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

Drawing inspiration from Hawai’i’s natural splendour and guided by the spirit of IMUA — ‘move forward with strength and spirit’ — this menu experience mirrors the season’s blooming transformations. Chef Jordan has a commitment to sustainable, whole-animal butchery and zero-waste principles.

A quartet of Chef’s snacks promises an expressive medley of island-inspired flavours.

Begin with the popular duo of Big Eye Ahi Tuna Poké, a refined take on the well-loved Hawai’ian poké classic, and Wagyu Beef Pipikaula, which spotlights a deeply umami Blackmore rump and chuck roll cured in aged garlic shoyu and dry-aged for 25 days.

Chef’s snacks: Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

Newly introduced, the Grilled Asparagus Rosti showcases the definitive Spring produce lacto-fermented for over 36 hours before being grilled and assembled with parsnip puree and Agria potato rosti.

Another new snack takes the form of Taramasalata, which is inspired by Chef Jordan’s childhood days spent with his uncle, who was a fisherman. The collar of the Ahi tuna is first smoked before being made into a pate with the same consistency as taramasalata, and piped into a pain souffle pillow made with laksa leaf powder.

The essence of Hawai’i’s spring flavours comes to life with Lomi Lomi, a term derived from the Hawai’ian term to massage. This celebrates a three-century-old side dish where fish was salted and preserved. Chef Jordan’s inventive rendition highlights smoked Japanese hamachi cured in paprika, paired with tomato sorbet and agua chile for a zesty tang. Finally, crispy Jerusalem artichoke tops the dish for a textural crunch.

Western Plains Kalua Pork Dumpling. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

For dinner, guests may also delight in Western Plains Kalua Pork Ravioli, an innovative interpretation of the traditional Hawai’ian dish of Kalua Pork presented as a ravioli containing Western Plains pork shoulder that had been wrapped in banana leaf and slow roasted overnight. Cooked over the wood-fire, the dumplings are enlivened with taro leaf, sweet potato puree and fermented red cabbage, seamlessly marrying the flavours to perfection.

Epicurean journey through the island’s heart

Continue the bountiful feast of springtime with an array of main courses, including the signature Huli-Huli Dry-Aged Duck, a dish that embodies the island’s vibrant and unique identity.

Malaysian farmed duck is first dry-aged whole for a week, then butchered into different parts: the breast undergoes further dry-ageing, then meticulously ‘huli’ (turned) over ambient heat above the fire and glazed with a luscious caramelised shoyu reduction. The duck leg is slow-cooked into a confit, and presented with a jus made from roasted duck bones. This reimagined classic pays homage to the smoky, flamekissed flavours of traditional Hawai’ian barbecue infused with the bounty of the season.

Grilled Murray Cod takes centre stage, featuring the fillet of this sustainable, fatty fish paired with a turmeric-accented mousseline made with the trimming and collar from the same fish. Accompanied with beautifully charred kale alongside a luxurious bottarga cream and rich Koshihikari rice risotto, the dish delivers a symphony of umami complexities.

Grilled Murray Cod/Butcher’s Block

Salad with caviar/Butcher’s Block

Blackmore Farms Trio is a true reflection of Chef Jordan’s culinary prowess in wood-fired techniques and whole-animal butchery.

Marvel at the artful presentation of prized Blackmore Farm wagyu showcased in three distinctly new ways — a grilled chef’s select cut, a luxurious beef bone marrow custard, and a beef fat financier — all created from the same half cow that the restaurant regularly brings in. English pea purée, shaved fennel and pea tendrils complete the dish with added freshness and texture.

Blackmore Farm Wagyu with Bone Marrow Custard. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

Finish off the evocative journey through Hawai’i’s stunning landscapes and lush greenery with Haupia, a classic Hawai’ian coconut pudding that includes Chef Jordan’s delightful twist of a scoop of gula melaka ice cream alongside fermented Ichigo strawberries and a sprinkling of toasted macadamia nut crumble atop, finished with a subtle lemon balm garnish.

Alternatively, opt for the Baked Alaska from the Spring a la carte menu for a delightful sweet treat comprising layers of meringue, ice cream and cake, flambéed tableside with a Butcher’s Block exclusive cask of Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon.

Baked Alaska. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

Price: The Spring IMUA dining experience is available for lunch (SGD 178++) and dinner (SGD 228++) from now to 31 May 2025. Complement the flavours of Hawai’i’s scenic landscapes with a tailored wine pairing at SGD 158++ or the Dom Pérignon premium wine pairing at SGD 408++ per guest.
Timings: Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 9.45pm (last seating at 9.30pm); Lunch: Wednesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 2.30pm (last seating at 2pm) Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Address: 328 North Bridge Rd #02-02, Raffles Arcade S188719 (Accessible via the North Bridge Road entrance)
Website: www.butchersblock.com.sg; www.rafflessingapore.com
Dress code: Casual Chic

An Easter feast like no other

On 20 April 2025, celebrate Easter in true IMUA style with a spectacular brunch at Butcher’s Block. Be enthralled by a sumptuous spread spotlighting the Blackmore Farm Easter Roast that is specially created for Easter and showcases a succulent dry-aged wagyu cooked to perfection over wood-fire and complemented with potato purée, English pea purée and chimichurri.

Butcher’s Block at home

Savour scintillating avant garde wood-fired creations and fresh produce from the comfort of your own home with Butcher’s Block’s newly-launched takeaway menu, made available for purchase in the restaurant.

Choose from a delightful assortment of items curated by Chef Jordan, including house-made milk bread, kombu butter, Western Plains Spam, dry-aged smoked duck breast, dry-aged Blackmore Farm burger patty, choice steaks and wines.

March 26, 2025
Gold prices surge amid global uncertainty, soon could touch $3,100 per ounce

IANS

Gold prices are on a strong upward trend, with analysts predicting that the precious metal could soon reach the $3,100 mark per ounce.

This surge comes despite stable prices on Monday, as investors responded to a weaker US dollar and uncertainties surrounding US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

Gold is widely considered a safe-haven asset, gaining traction during times of geopolitical and economic instability.

The metal has already hit 16 record highs in 2025, surpassing the $3,000 per ounce mark on four occasions.

Last week, gold prices soared to new all-time highs in both global and Indian markets. In India, 24K gold touched Rs 90,450 per 10 grams, while 22K gold climbed to Rs 82,910 per 10 grams.

IANS

Globally, spot gold reached $3,049.89 per ounce, after briefly hitting a record $3,055.96 per ounce earlier in the session. Meanwhile, US gold futures surged 0.6 per cent to $3,058.40 per ounce.

There are several factors fueling gold’s sharp rise. Renewed conflicts in the Middle East, particularly Israel’s military operations in Gaza, have driven investors toward gold.

The possibility of US tariffs under the Trump administration is also creating global economic uncertainty.

Persistently high inflation and fears of slower economic growth are prompting investors to hedge with gold.

Additionally, expectations of a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut have further boosted gold’s appeal.

The Fed kept interest rates unchanged at 4.25 per cent-4.50 per cent last week but signalled the possibility of two rate cuts by the end of 2025.

Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding gold, making it a more attractive investment.

Reports suggest that central banks and Gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) will continue to be key drivers of gold demand in 2025.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been steadily increasing its gold reserves, adding 72.6 tonnes in 2024. Gold now constitutes 10.6 per cent of the RBI’s total forex reserves.

Despite high prices impacting jewellery demand, investment in gold remains strong. Indian gold ETFs saw a net inflow of Rs 112 billion in 2024.

(With inputs from IANS)

March 26, 2025
UN experts claim many glaciers will not survive this century

UN experts feel many glaciers will not survive this century if melting continues. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Glaciers in many regions will not survive the 21st century if they keep melting at the current rate, potentially jeopardising hundreds of millions of people living downstream, UN climate experts said on the first World Day for Glaciers.

Together with ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, glaciers lock up about 70 per cent of the world’s freshwater reserves. They are striking indicators of climate change as they typically remain about the same size in a stable climate.

But, with rising temperatures and global warming triggered by human-induced climate change, they are melting at unprecedented speed, said Sulagna Mishra, a scientific officer at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Livelihoods at risk

Last year, glaciers in Scandinavia, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and North Asia experienced the largest annual loss of overall mass on record. Glaciologists determine the state of a glacier by measuring how much snow falls on it and how much melt occurs every year, according to UN partner the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) at the University of Zurich.

In the 500-mile-long Hindu Kush mountain range, located in the western Himalayas and stretching from Afghanistan to Pakistan, the livelihoods of more than 120 million farmers are under threat from glacial loss, Mishra explained.

The mountain range has been dubbed the “third pole” because of the extraordinary water resources it holds, she noted.

‘Irreversible’ retreat

Despite these vast freshwater reserves, it may already be too late to save them for future generations.

Large masses of perennial ice are disappearing quickly, with five out of the past six years seeing the most rapid glacier retreat on record, according to WMO.

The period from 2022 to 2024 also experienced the largest-ever three-year loss.

“We are seeing an unprecedented change in the glaciers,” which in many cases may be irreversible, said Mishra.

Ice Melt

WGMS estimates that glaciers, which do not include the Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets, have lost more than 9,000 billion tonnes of mass since 1975.

“This is equivalent to a huge ice block of the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 metres,” said WGMS director Michael Zemp. The world has lost 273 billion tonnes of ice on average every year since 2000, he added, highlighting the findings of a new international study into glacier mass change.

“To put that into context, 273 billion tonnes of ice lost every year corresponds about to the water intake of the entire [world] population for 30 years,” Zemp said. In central Europe, almost 40 per cent of the remaining ice has melted. If this continues at the current rate, “glaciers will not survive this century in the Alps.”

Echoing those concerns, WMO’s Mishra added that if emissions of warming greenhouse gases are not slowed “and the temperatures are rising at the rate they are at the moment, by the end of 2100, we are going to lose 80 per cent of the small glaciers” across Europe, East Africa, Indonesia and elsewhere.

Large Floods

Glacial melt has immediate, large-scale repercussions for the economy, ecosystems and communities.

The latest data indicates that 25 to 30 per cent of sea level rise comes from glacier melt, according to the World Glacier Monitoring Service.

Melting snowcaps are causing sea levels to rise about one millimetre higher every year, a figure that might seem insignificant, yet every millimetre will flood another 200,000 to 300,000 persons every year.

“Small number, huge impact,” glaciologist Zemp said.

Everyone Is Affected

Floods can affect people’s livelihoods and compel them to emigrate from one place to another, WMO’s Mishra continued.

“When you ask me how many people are actually impacted, it’s really everyone,” she stressed.

From a multilateral perspective, “it is really high time that we create awareness, and we change our policies and…we mobilise resources to make sure that we have good, policy frameworks in place, we have good research in place that can help us to mitigate and also adapt to these new changes,” Mishra insisted.

World’s Glaciers

Providing added momentum to this campaign, the World Day for Glaciers on 21 March aims to raise awareness about the critical role that these massive frozen rivers of snow and ice play in the climate system. It coincides with World Water Day.

To mark the occasion, which is one of the highlights of the 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, global leaders, policymakers, scientists and civil society representatives are due to gather at UN Headquarters in New York to highlight the importance of glaciers and to boost worldwide monitoring of the cryospheric processes of freezing and melting that affect them.

WGMS’s Zemp, who also teaches glaciology at the University of Zurich, is already preparing for a world without glaciers.

“If I think of my children, I am living in a world with maybe no glaciers. That’s actually quite alarming,” he told UN News.

“I really recommend going with your children there and having a look at it because you can see the dramatic changes that are going on, and you will also realise that we are putting a big burden on our next generation.”

Glacier Of Year

This year’s Glacier of the Year 2025 is South Cascade Glacier in the US state of Washington.

The body of ice, which has been continuously monitored since 1952, provides one of the longest uninterrupted records of glaciological mass balance in the western hemisphere.

“South Cascade Glacier exemplifies both the beauty of glaciers and the long-term commitment of dedicated scientists and volunteers who have collected direct field data to quantify glacier mass change for more than six decades,” said Caitlyn Florentine, from the U.S. Geological Survey.

March 21, 2025
SEBI to remove digital performance tracking from employee appraisals

SEBI to remove digital performance tracking from employee appraisalsIANS

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has decided to remove the linkage of its digital Management Information System from employee appraisals.

The regulator is now reassessing its performance review methods to bring in a more balanced approach, according to an NDTV Profit report.

An internal circular has been issued regarding these changes. While the SEBI is working on modifying its review process, it will not completely discard the older methods but rather re-evaluate them for improvement, the report said.

The concept of Key Responsibility Areas (KRAs) has been a part of the bSEBI’s system for over 20 years. However, like any evolving system, the regulator is now considering changes to make performance assessments more effective.

Previously, the SEBI employees’ performance appraisals were significantly influenced by the digital Management Information System (MIS).

The system tracked targets achieved and success rates, which played a crucial role in determining career progression.

However, this approach led to concerns as some departments felt that their work was not accurately represented through numerical targets, the report added.

Now, under the leadership of the new SEBI Chairperson, Tuhin Kanta Pandey, there has been a shift in approach.

SEBI to remove digital performance tracking from employee appraisalsIANS

According to the report, the focus has moved from quantity to quality, with less emphasis on rigid performance measurements.

Reports also indicated that Chairperson Pandey has been actively engaging with employees across departments to address their concerns.

Meanwhile, the market has reduced the timeline for completing rights issues from 126 days to just 23 days. The new rules will come into effect from April 7, allowing companies to raise capital faster.

In a circular on March 12, the SEBI also introduced more flexibility in allotting shares to specific investors in rights issues.

Under the revised framework, rights issues must now be completed within 23 working days from the date the company’s Board of Directors approves the issue.

According to the market regulator, companies must keep the rights issue open for at least seven days and a maximum of 30 days.

(With inputs from IANS)

March 20, 2025
Sensex, Nifty extend gains for 3rd straight session, midcap stocks outperform

IANS

Indian stock markets on Wednesday continued their upward trend for the third consecutive session, with both the Sensex and Nifty closing higher.

The 30-share Sensex touched an intra-day high of 75,568.38 before settling at 75,449.05, gaining 147.79 points or 0.20 per cent from its previous close.

Similarly, the Nifty ended the day at 22,907.60, up 73.30 points or 0.32 per cent. The index moved within a range of 22,940.70 to 22,807.95 during the intra-day session.

“Market sentiment remained upbeat, supported by mixed global cues and renewed optimism surrounding a potential Russia-Ukraine truce,” said Vikram Kasat of PL Capital.

He added that the key global events are in focus, including the US Federal Reserve’s policy announcement, Putin-Trump talks, and a surge in gold prices.

Among the Nifty stocks, 33 out of 50 ended in positive territory. The top gainers included Shriram Finance, HDFC Life, Apollo Hospitals, Tata Steel, and Power Grid Corporation, which saw gains of up to 3.91 per cent.

IANS

On the other hand, Tech Mahindra, Britannia, TCS, Infosys, and Sun Pharma were among the 17 stocks that declined, with losses of up to 2.32 per cent.

Broader market indices performed better than the benchmark indices. The Nifty Midcap100 and Nifty Smallcap100 surged over 2 per cent each, showing strong momentum in mid- and small-cap stocks.

Sectoral indices on the NSE mostly ended in the green, except for Nifty FMCG and IT, which closed lower.

This followed by a flat opening with a slight positive trend on Wednesday, even as global markets remained weak.

At the start of trading, the Sensex rose by 80.04 points or 0.11 per cent to reach 75,381.30, while the Nifty edged up by 15.25 points or 0.07 per cent to 22,849.55.

The Indian rupee strengthened by 12 paise on Wednesday, closing at 86.44 per dollar compared to 86.56 in the previous session.

(With inputs from IANS)

March 19, 2025
Strong Performance! Nila from Veranda RACE Tops Kerala in MTS SSC Exams

March 19, 2025; Veranda RACE, a Veranda Learning enterprise, announced that its student Ms. Nila B secured All-Kerala Rank 1 in the Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) SSC Exam 2024. Over 250 students from Veranda RACE have successfully cleared the SSC exams, reinforcing its strong track record in coaching aspirants for government jobs.

A native of Trivandrum, Ms. Nila B is an M.Sc. Forestry student who completed her B.Sc. in Forestry and aspired to crack the SSC exams alongside her studies. She comes from a family with a strong commitment to public service—her father, Mr. Biju V.K., is a police officer, instilling in her the values of discipline and perseverance.

The SSC MTS exam is a highly competitive national-level examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for recruitment to various Group C posts in government departments and offices. With lakhs of aspirants appearing every year, achieving an All-Kerala Rank 1 highlights Ms. Nila’s dedication and strategic preparation. Expressing her gratitude, Ms. Nila B said: “Veranda RACE’s structured training, expert mentorship, and rigorous test series helped me stay focused and improve my performance. I am incredibly grateful to my mentors and the entire Veranda RACE team for their constant support throughout my journey.”

Mr. Santhosh Kumar, CEO of Veranda RACE, lauded her achievement, stated, “Nila’s success reflects her hard work and the result-driven training methodology at Veranda RACE. With 9 centres across Kerala and a track record of training over 10,000 students last year in SSC exams, we are committed to providing accessible, high-quality coaching to aspirants. We are incredibly proud of Nila and look forward to seeing her excel in her career.”

Mr. Bharath Seeman, Founder of RACE and CEO of Veranda IAS, also congratulated Nila, stating, “Success stories like Nila’s inspire countless other aspirants to aim higher and stay focused on their goals. At Veranda RACE, we believe that the right training, coupled with perseverance, can open doors to promising careers in government services. We remain steadfast in our mission to guide and support students on this journey.”

Veranda RACE continues to be a trusted name in competitive exam training, equipping thousands of students with expert guidance, structured coursework, and personalized mentoring to help them achieve success in government job examinations.

March 19, 2025
Accenture and CrowdStrike team to transform security operations, mitigating cyber threats and reducing costs with AI-native solutions – CRN
Accenture and CrowdStrike are collaborating to drive cybersecurity transformation, helping clients confidently navigate the next wave of innovation and growth.

By combining Accenture’s security services with the CrowdStrike Falcon® cybersecurity platform – including cloud security, identity protection and next-gen security information and event management (SIEM) – the collaboration will bring transformative improvements and cost efficiencies to areas such as security operations (SecOps), continuous threat exposure management and AI workload protection. This will enable real-time threat visibility, prevention and remediation with optimised operational costs.

“Cybercriminals are infiltrating organisations with alarming sophistication and unprecedented speed,” said Paolo Dal Cin, global lead, Accenture Security. “To combat this, we work closely with organisations to understand their unique cybersecurity needs and tailor solutions to address their specific challenges. By combining our expertise with CrowdStrike’s technology, we can help clients adopt a more proactive and efficient approach to digital defence.”

As businesses move to cloud-based environments and AI-enabled operations, the massive volume of data generated can overload traditional solutions, making it difficult for security teams to efficiently and effectively detect and respond to threats. This challenge is exacerbated as security teams often struggle to manage a mix of outdated technology and the need to constantly switch between disparate security tools, slowing down solutions designed to protect the business and customers from cyberattacks.

WHSmith is a global travel retailer, operating over 1,700 stores in more than 30 countries selling key travel essentials including food & drink, health & beauty, tech accessories and books. The retailer has strengthened its security operations by leveraging Accenture’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR) services and the CrowdStrike Falcon platform. The powerful combination of CrowdStrike and Accenture has enabled WHSmith to gain visibility across their global operations, extending advanced protection, detection and response capabilities from the corporate network to the storefront cash register.

Jon Begley, Global CISO WHSmith Group, said, “The collaboration between Accenture and CrowdStrike is helping us improve threat visibility across our global business while maintaining a responsive and agile security operation to protect our digital assets. This means we can focus on growing our global travel retail business further and offering a leading experience in our stores for customers on their journeys across the world.”

“Customer demand for Falcon platform adoption, cybersecurity consolidation, and SOC services expertise is driving our market-moving Accenture partnership,” said George Kurtz, founder and CEO, CrowdStrike. “Accenture’s deep expertise with the Falcon platform and SIEM transformation have directly assisted organisations in upleveling their cybersecurity programs from device to cloud to datacentre. Accenture plays a key role in guiding organisations to embrace the AI-native SOC, leaving legacy SIEMs, point products, and manual SOC operations behind for automated, resilient, and machine speed cybersecurity platform controls.”

The integrated offering benefits organisations by consolidating point cybersecurity products, reducing costs and simplifying operational functions and enhancing detection and response capabilities through a unified platform. The collaboration between Accenture and CrowdStrike includes:
- SecOps modernisation – Streamlines security operations workflows into an ecosystem that integrates threat prevention, detection and response with a unified approach based on CrowdStrike’s Next-Gen SIEM technology. This approach can unlock up to 30%1 cost optimisation through streamlined security workflows enabled by AI and technology rationalisation initiatives.
- Managed detection and response – Delivered by a seamless combination of Accenture and the Falcon platform to detect, investigate and respond to threats faster leveraging Accenture’s global scale. This powerful combination, augmented by integrated AI solutions from Accenture and CrowdStrike, can drive up to 60%1 workflow optimisation for SecOps use cases.
- Continuous threat exposure management – Helps clients transform their approach to vulnerability management while optimising investments in teams, processes and tools. The combination of the Falcon platform and Accenture’s transformation services enables clients to consolidate exposure visibility across the extended attack surface and streamline prioritisation using attack path analysis. This approach can help organisations simplify processes and consolidate tooling, realising up to 15% cost optimisation.
March 19, 2025
Balancing AI Costs and Performance with Hybrid Infrastructure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of modern business, yet managing its escalating costs remains a persistent challenge. Arthi Rengasamy, an independent researcher, presents an in-depth analysis of how hybrid infrastructure optimizes AI’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Her study highlights the innovations that enable organizations to achieve cost efficiency without compromising performance.

The Growing Burden of AI Infrastructure Costs
The rapid adoption of AI technologies has significantly increased computational demands, with AI model training requirements growing by 312% from 2018 to 2024. This surge has stressed traditional infrastructure models, as organizations relying exclusively on cloud resources often face unpredictable costs. On the other hand, those using on-premises solutions experience scalability challenges. Hybrid infrastructure, which combines both cloud and on-premises environments, provides a cost-effective solution. It allows organizations to optimize resources, balance performance and cost, and scale more efficiently, offering the flexibility to meet growing AI demands without overburdening any single infrastructure model.

Strategic Workload Distribution for Cost Optimization
A key benefit of hybrid infrastructure is its ability to strategically allocate workloads based on their requirements. For AI training, which demands substantial computational power, deploying on-premises can reduce cloud costs by up to 80%. This helps manage expenses while meeting the heavy processing needs. On the other hand, experimental workloads, which require flexibility and scalability, can be managed using cloud resources, cutting development cycle times by 45%. By combining on-premises and cloud solutions, organizations can optimize resource use, ensuring both cost-efficiency and high performance while maintaining peak operational efficiency

Enhancing AI Model Inference with Hybrid Strategies
AI inference workloads, where trained models generate real-time predictions, greatly benefit from hybrid deployment. By processing time-sensitive data on-premises, organizations can ensure quicker decision-making and minimize latency. Less critical tasks can be offloaded to the cloud, lowering operational costs by up to 40%. This strategic division of labor not only reduces costs but also improves latency by 45%, allowing AI-driven applications to remain highly responsive and efficient, ensuring optimal performance while managing resource utilization effectively.

Optimizing Data Storage for Cost and Compliance
Data management remains a crucial component of AI infrastructure. Organizations using hybrid storage strategies achieve 47% better cost efficiency while maintaining compliance with data sovereignty regulations. Sensitive data can be stored on-premises, while non-sensitive datasets leverage cost-effective cloud storage, reducing overall storage expenses by 25-35%.

Hybrid Deployment for High-Risk AI Applications
Industries handling high-risk workloads, such as finance and healthcare, require stringent security and compliance measures. Hybrid infrastructure provides a tailored solution by keeping mission-critical workloads on-premises while using the cloud for secondary tasks. This approach improves security compliance scores by 51% and reduces regulatory costs by 43%.

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery in AI Operations
AI-driven organizations must ensure uninterrupted service availability. Hybrid infrastructure enhances disaster recovery by offering a balance between cloud-based failover systems and on-premises redundancy. Companies adopting this model report a 45% improvement in recovery time objectives (RTO) and achieve cost savings of up to 42% in disaster recovery expenses.

Technology Management for Smarter Cost Control
Sophisticated cost management frameworks are essential for sustainable AI adoption. Organizations implementing real-time monitoring and automated scaling solutions achieve a 50% reduction in unnecessary infrastructure expenses. AI-powered optimization tools further improve resource utilization, leading to an overall infrastructure cost reduction of 35%.

In conclusion, hybrid infrastructure has emerged as a transformative solution for optimizing AI’s TCO while maintaining operational efficiency. By strategically distributing workloads, optimizing storage, and ensuring business continuity, organizations can navigate AI’s cost challenges without sacrificing performance. Arthi Rengasamy‘s insights reinforce that as AI adoption accelerates, a hybrid model will be essential for sustaining innovation and financial efficiency. The flexibility of this approach ensures that organizations can meet the growing demands of AI technologies while managing costs effectively, driving both performance and financial sustainability.

March 19, 2025
ASUS launches ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower desktop PC in India – CRN
ASUS announces the launch of the revolutionary ASUS ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower (P500MV) in India. This is a new desktop PC generation delivering exceptional value and performance for businesses to streamline operations while ensuring high performance, minimal power consumption, security, durability and future-proof expansion. With the new ASUS Tower Air Cooler thermal design and powered by the latest up to Intel® Core™ i7 13620H processor, P5 Mini Tower unleashes up to 95W TDP — delivering better peak performance than competitors in its class. With exceptional energy efficiency, this powerful new desktop also saves up to 34% energy.

Security is paramount with ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower, so it’s backed by the reassurance of multiple ASUS ExpertGuardian protection. This powerhouse meets commercial-grade standards with a NIST SP 800-155-compliant BIOS.

Enhanced with ASUS AI ExpertMeet, ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower revolutionises virtual meetings through advanced AI tools like real-time translation and automated summaries, making collaboration seamless. With support for up to NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3050 graphics, this new desktop also supports superior desktop-grade graphics.

In short, ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower sets a new benchmark for small-business desktops, combining power, security, expansion and efficiency with incredible value – ready to empower professional excellence.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Dinesh Sharma, Vice President, Commercial PC and Smartphone, System Business Group, ASUS India, said, “At ASUS, we are committed to empowering businesses with innovative and reliable technology. The launch of the ASUS ExpertCenter P500MV Mini Tower desktop is a game-changing step, bringing together much greater performance, power efficiency, security and durability in a compact, enterprise-ready form factor. Designed to meet the evolving demands of modern businesses, it offers a powerful yet energy-efficient solution with up to Intel Core i7 processors, industry-leading ASUS motherboards with 100% solid capacitors, military-grade durability and AI-powered productivity tools like ASUS AI ExpertMeet that enhance productivity without compromising on security or reliability. It is equipped with enterprise-grade security features and energy-efficient components like the 80 PLUS Platinum PSU, where businesses can ensure long-term reliability while being energy efficient. The tool-free expandability and advanced cooling solutions further reinforce its future-proof design, making it the ideal choice for organisations looking to scale efficiently.”

Key Features of the ASUS ExpertCenter P500MV Desktop:
- Powerful Performance for Business
Powered by up to 13th-gen Intel® Core™ i7-13620H processors with 64GB DDR5-5200MT/s RAM (Dual SO-DIMM slots), the ASUS ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower is engineered to handle demanding business tasks effortlessly. With Intel UHD Graphics, support for dual NVMe M.2 2280 Gen 4 SSD slots (PCIe Gen 4), and dual SATA HDD slots, it supports high-performance computing for industries requiring advanced visual processing. Optional NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB or NVIDIA RTX A400 4GB dedicated graphics cards further enhance their capability for demanding workloads.
- Advanced Cooling and Thermals for Energy Efficiency
The ASUS ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower introduces industry-leading thermal solutions for optimal performance and longevity. The Triple-Pipe Tower Air Cooler system featured on the Intel® Core™ i7-13620H maximises heat dissipation, improving CPU power efficiency and delivering up to 34% better performance compared to similarly priced commercial desktops. The cooling system features:

– ASUS Tower Air Cooler: A cutting-edge cooling mechanism with three partially flattened 6.7mm heat pipes and a large yet super-silent 90mm fan.

– Expanded Heat-Dissipation Area: With up to 3,402 cm² of heat dissipation surface—4X larger than traditional desktop cooling systems—it ensures 34% better CPU performance with superior cooling efficiency.

– Smart Fan Technology: Enhances airflow management to maintain low operational noise levels (as quiet as 24dB in silent mode), ensuring a distraction-free workspace.

– Up to 80 PLUS Platinum-certified 330W PSU (Peak 660W)

– Sustained Performance: The advanced cooling solution ensures smooth, reliable operation under heavy workloads, making it ideal for business environments requiring stability and endurance.
- Engineered to Save up to 34% power consumption
The ASUS ExpertCenter P500MV is designed with a carefully engineered combination of processor, thermal management, and power supply unit (PSU), reducing power consumption by up to 34%. This enhanced energy efficiency translates into significant cost savings over time, lowering the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for businesses.

Built with ASUS motherboards—the world’s No.1 motherboard brand—brings comprehensive system protection, 24/7 stability, and consistent performance. Additionally, 100% solid capacitors contribute to superior durability, offering a lifespan up to 2x longer under full CPU load and 6x longer under everyday use compared to traditional capacitors.
- Industry-Leading Security for Peace of Mind
Security is at the core of the ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower, ensuring comprehensive protection for business-critical data. ASUS ExpertGuardian provides enterprise-grade security, including a NIST SP 800-155 compliant BIOS and discrete TPM 2.0 encryption for secure authentication.

To enhance data security, businesses also receive a complimentary 1-year McAfee+ Premium membership3. For physical protection, the integrated Kensington Security Slot™ safeguards the device in high-risk environments, preventing unauthorised access or theft.

With ExpertGuardian’s multilayered security, the ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower protects both hardware and software, giving businesses peace of mind to focus on growth without compromise.

By integrating MIL-STD-810H certification for military-grade durability, the P500 Mini Tower ensures resilience in demanding environments while extending product longevity. Further, the 80 PLUS Platinum PSU ensure long-term system stability, reducing maintenance needs and upgrade costs. These features together empower businesses to operate efficiently while lowering operational expenditure.
- AI-Driven Productivity for Modern Workspaces
ASUS integrates advanced AI-powered tools into the ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower, making it an ideal choice for hybrid work and collaboration. ASUS AI ExpertMeet enhances video conferencing with AI noise cancellation, AI camera enhancements, AI-generated meeting minutes for seamless productivity and AI Translated Subtitles that break down language barriers in real time. Additionally, Microsoft Copilot, with commercial data protection, empowers businesses to leverage AI for enhanced decision-making and workflow automation.
- Designed for Compact, Hassle-Free Business Operations
The ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower maximises office space without compromising on power. Its sleek and professional design ensures it seamlessly blends into any corporate environment. The 15L tool-free chassis allows hassle-free maintenance and easy upgrades, saving businesses time and effort in servicing and component replacements. The blazing-fast Wi-Fi 6 (Dual-band, 2×2) + Bluetooth v5.4 ensures seamless connectivity.
March 19, 2025
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