Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s XRG has agreed to acquire Shell’s 16.67 per cent interest in Australia’s North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project for $1.45 billion, marking its first investment in the country’s LNG industry. The agreement, announced on Tuesday, covers Shell Australia’s non-operated holding in the Woodside Energy-managed development in Western Australia. The base purchase price is subject to customary adjustments, with an additional […]
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 November 2026 – Vingroup –Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, and Legends Global, the premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues and brands, have announced a strategic partnership for the management and operation of VinFast – Trong Dong Stadium. The agreement marks a significant milestone ahead of the landmark venue’s scheduled opening on July 31, 2027.
Scheduled for opening on July 31, 2027, VinFast – Trong Dong Stadium is set to become the world’s largest stadium by seating capacity. Photo: Vingroup
Under the agreement, Vingroup and Legends Global will work together to establish VinFast – Trong Dong Stadium as a premier global destination for world-class sporting, cultural, and entertainment events. In addition to helping attract major international events to the stadium, Legends Global will collaborate with Vingroup to oversee venue and facility management, vendor coordination, and on-site service operations, ensuring that every aspect meets the highest international standards of professionalism and excellence.
Drawing on its extensive experience managing more than 450 venues worldwide, hosting over 20,000 major events, and welcoming more than 165 million guests annually, Legends Global will also play a key role in developing the expertise and capabilities of Vingroup’s venue management professionals in Vietnam.
Commenting on the strategic partnership, Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice Chairman and CEO of Vingroup, said: “VinFast – Trong Dong Stadium is far more than a sporting venue. With its world-leading scale, contemporary architecture inspired by Vietnamese cultural heritage, automated retractable roof, and playing surface designed to meet FIFA standards, we envision working alongside Legends Global to transform the stadium into a global gathering place for the finest sporting, cultural, and entertainment events.”
Mr. Dan Levy, CEO of Legends Global, commented: “VinFast – Trong Dong Stadium is an extraordinary project for Vietnam, one that will help position Hanoi at the forefront of the global live events industry. Legends Global is honored to partner with Vingroup on this landmark development. We look forward to sharing our expertise in venue and event management to help bring Vingroup’s ambition and vision for the world’s largest stadium to life.”
Mr. Peter Loxton, Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific and the Middle East at Legends Global, affirmed: “We are confident that, from the very first major event, the experience for fans, athletes, performers, event organizers, and partners will match the extraordinary scale of the stadium itself. Our long-term exclusive partnership with Vingroup allows Legends Global to combine global expertise with local talent to strengthen Vietnam’s venue management capabilities.”
VinFast – Trong Dong Stadium features a distinctive, one-of-a-kind design befitting the world’s most iconic destination landmarks. Inspired by the Dong Son bronze drum and the legendary Lac bird, enduring symbols of Vietnam’s thousand-year cultural heritage, its architecture blends traditional imagery with a bold, contemporary aesthetic that conveys strength and national pride. The stadium is also set to establish new benchmarks in scale and technological sophistication, with a planned capacity of 135,000 seats, the largest in the world, alongside integrated real-time security management and crowd-flow monitoring systems designed to support safe, efficient, and sustainable operations.
Surrounding the stadium is an extensive ecosystem of training grounds and large-scale sports facilities within the Hung Vuong International Sports Complex. The development will also feature a comprehensive range of amenities, including hotels, shopping centers, hospitals, parks, cultural and culinary villages, and theaters, offering a comfortable and convenient experience for athletes and fans from Vietnam and around the world.
Through the strategic partnership between Vingroup and Legends Global, VinFast –Trong Dong Stadium and the wider Hung Vuong International Sports Complex are expected to emerge as a new international destination on the global map of premier sporting and entertainment events. The development is anticipated to attract international visitors, stimulate the sports economy, and elevate Hanoi’s profile on the world stage.
The partnership also lays the foundation for a long-term collaboration between the two organizations, with Legends Global providing exclusive stadium, arena, and live event services to Vingroup in Vietnam. Mr. Paul Sergeant OBE, a seasoned venue industry veteran and stadium expert at Legends Global, has already arrived in Hanoi to personally oversee technical preparations and pre-opening activities. Meanwhile, recruitment for the stadium’s operations team is actively underway, establishing the groundwork for the venue to commence operations in accordance with international standards./.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ABOUT VINGROUP
Vingroup is Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate and was ranked 57th on TIME magazine’s list of the Best Companies in Asia-Pacific 2026. Throughout more than three decades of development, Vingroup has consistently pushed new boundaries, created new engines of growth, and progressively expanded the reach of Vietnam’s business ecosystem onto the global stage. Today, companies within the Vingroup ecosystem operate in 12 countries, providing employment for more than 400,000 people across six core pillars: Industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Social Enterprises, and Culture & Sports.
Legends Global is a premier international partner to the world’s most prestigious live events, venues, and brands. The company provides comprehensive, integrated solutions spanning feasibility studies, consulting, project development, sales, partnership development, venue management, premium hospitality, merchandise and content commercialization, and event production. Leveraging the strength of its global network of more than 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually, Legends Global works with its partners to enhance commercial performance and deliver exceptional guest experiences.
Legends Global attracts events to, partners with, operates, and manages a global network of venues, including:
FIFA World Cup Host Stadiums: Reliant Stadium, Houston; AT&T Stadium, Dallas; SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles; Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara; Rose Bowl, Los Angeles; Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid; Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona.
Iconic National Stadiums: Emirates Stadium, London; Stamford Bridge, London; Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane; Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong; Optus Stadium, Perth; Yankee Stadium, New York; Caesars Superdome, New Orleans.
The seed round scales mamun’s capital infrastructure for trade finance along the Greater Bay Area – Oman – UAE corridor — anchored in Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong SAR.
MUSCAT, ABU DHABI/HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 November 2026 – mamun, the Sharia-compliant platform building capital infrastructure for trade finance, has raised a US$3 million seed round led by Phaze Ventures through its Oman Fund, with participation from Jasoor Ventures.
mamun co-founders, left to right: Ahmed Al-Issaei (Co-Founder & CTO), Saleh Al Tamami (Co-Founder & CEO), Mohammed Al Tamami (Co-Founder & CCO)
An exporter in Muscat ships today and gets paid in 60 to 90 days. Banks rarely bridge that gap, as they usually rely on a long financial track record that many small exporters find hard to provide. The Asian Development Bank puts the global trade finance gap at US$2.5 trillion, and 41% of SME trade finance applications are turned down.
mamun’s AI-native underwriting assesses the company behind the trade, alongside the shipment itself: the contract, the buyer, the trade documents and the trading history between them. Its origination engine finds and screens that trade as it forms. Then investors on the platform finance the gap.
The hard part is the border. A cross-border transaction spans two regulators, two banking systems and two legal regimes, with settlement that has to land in another jurisdiction on time, and the collateral is in motion, travelling with the goods along the route.
That complexity is why most of the region’s financing platforms have stayed domestic, and it is mamun’s moat. The platform was built across the corridor: an FSA-regulated home and origination base in Muscat; Abu Dhabi for Gulf capital and UAE flows; and Hong Kong SAR, the financing gateway of the Belt and Road Initiative, for the Greater Bay Area and the Gulf–Asia trade routes.
Roughly 40% of the platform’s trade finance settlements already clear through Hong Kong-based financial institutions and businesses.
mamun’s licence sits within the FSA’s crowdfunding framework, which allows the platform to bring in investors from inside and outside the Sultanate, and to finance companies inside and outside the Sultanate, subject to the platform’s eligibility criteria and the laws applicable in each investor’s country.
The corridor is growing. Oman’s non-oil exports ran about 10% higher year-on-year through the first seven months of 2026 and re-exports 13.6% higher, with the UAE its largest non-oil trading partner. New corridors bring new counterparties: businesses trading together for the first time, with no shared history for a lender to underwrite against.
The round brings together capital from Oman and the UAE: Phaze Ventures invests through its Oman Fund, dedicated to homegrown, AI-enabled Omani businesses, and Jasoor Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm backing technology founders across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey.
The US$3 million will scale that AI-native origination and underwriting, growing the volume of trade the platform can originate, assess and finance along the Greater Bay Area – Oman – UAE corridor. It is where the industry is heading: 84% of banks in the Asian Development Bank’s January 2026 survey already apply AI to trade finance risk. mamun was built that way from origination onward.
“The businesses moving goods between the Gulf and Asia are growing faster than the financing behind them. We built mamun in Muscat, under Omani regulation, to serve trade along the corridor between the Gulf and Asia. This round scales that engine — and the corridor it serves.” — Saleh Al Tamami · Co-Founder & CEO, mamun
“Our thesis is backing the homegrown companies that turn Oman’s diversification agenda into regional infrastructure. mamun is exactly that — structured across the corridor, and built by a team that has executed quietly and precisely. It is a natural commitment from the Oman Fund.” — Abdullah Al Shaksy · Co-Founder & CEO, Phaze Ventures
mamun was founded by Saleh Al Tamami, Co-Founder & CEO, Mohammed Al Tamami, Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, and Ahmed Al-Issaei, Co-Founder & CTO, and was named a Rising Star on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Middle East 2025, ranking 26th.
This announcement is for information only and does not constitute an offer or invitation to invest. mamun is not licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC).
Hashtag: #mamun
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ABOUT mamun
mamun builds capital infrastructure for trade finance. The platform is Sharia-compliant, licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Authority of Oman (FSA Licence CMI051). This licence covers the Omani entity only. The group also has entities in Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong SAR. It connects businesses and investors to finance cross-border trade — exports, imports and the working capital that moves goods between markets.
ABOUT PHAZE VENTURES
Founded in 2018, Phaze Ventures is Oman’s oldest private venture capital firm. Headquartered in Oman, with a presence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, it backs early-stage AI and deeptech companies globally and homegrown technology businesses through the Oman Fund.
ABOUT JASOOR VENTURES
Jasoor Ventures, meaning “courageous” in Arabic, is an ADGM-based venture capital firm, investing across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 November 2026 – Ondine Capital today announced the successful first close of its third USD-denominated VC fund. Ondine Capital Fund III has secured commitments from top-tier institutional and strategic limited partners, including several leading semiconductor enterprises in Taiwan.
Ondine Capital’s newly appointed partner: Brian Yen
Building on the firm’s deep-rooted expertise in semiconductors and deep technology, Ondine Capital Fund III will invest across the full AI value chain—spanning AI foundation models, next-generation semiconductors, AI infrastructure, AI-native software, and physical AI applications.
Ondine Capital Fund III’s early portfolio highlights include:
Recursive Superintelligence: Founded by former Salesforce Chief Scientist Richard Socher and built by veteran researchers from OpenAI, Google, and Meta, the startup focuses on recursive self-improving AI systems. It recently raised $650 million at a $4 billion pre-money valuation led by Google Ventures, with participation from Nvidia and AMD.
Bot Auto: Founded by Xiaodi Hou (former co-founder and CTO of TuSimple), this Houston-based physical AI startup specializes in autonomous freight transportation. Bot Auto recently partnered with Ryan Transportation to launch driverless freight operations along the Houston-Dallas corridor.
Salience Labs: Founded by Vaysh Kewada and Johannes Feldmann, the company develops silicon-photonics optical switching technology for AI data centers. Partnering with Tower Semiconductor, Salience Labs recently closed a $125 million financing round led by Bullhound Capital, with strategic backing from AMD Ventures and Intel Capital.
Partner Appointment to Boost Global Ecosystem
Coinciding with the first close, Ondine Capital announced the appointment of Brian Yen as Partner, reinforcing the firm’s global sourcing and founder network.
Prior to joining Ondine Capital, Brian Yen served as Principal and Head of the Taipei Office at Headline Asia, where he cultivated an extensive network across Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. His investment track record spans consumer technologies, agentic services, and physical AI, with notable investments including respond.io, forest inc., Braid, and iMotorbike. At Ondine Capital, Brian Yen will focus on backing early-stage founders building intelligent software and physical AI platforms.
“The convergence of AI and semiconductors is unleashing unprecedented opportunities across global tech,” said Brian Yen. “As these technologies mature, we anticipate monumental value creation throughout the entire stack. Through Fund III, we look forward to empowering visionary founders who are shaping the future of computing and industry applications.”
Ondine Capital continues to actively deploy capital and evaluate global investment opportunities in breakthrough, category-defining companies across the AI and semiconductor landscape.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Ondine Capital
Ondine Capital is a premier venture capital firm focused on frontier technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, clean energy, and emerging technology platforms. The firm backs visionary founders from inception, providing strategic support and access to a robust global network of industrial partners, investors, and entrepreneurs.
By Dr Arun Mitra Global civil society organisations have appealed to the US Congress to take immediate steps to prevent the use of nuclear weapons against Iran. The appeal, initiated by the Back from the Brink Coalition, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize, and […]
Mr Drew Chen’s appointment as Co-CEO strengthens BDC’s leadership team as the Company surpasses one gigawatt of capacity in 2026 and accelerates its growth across Asia Pacific.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 November 2026 – Bridge Data Centres (BDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Drew Chen as Co-Chief Executive Officer (Co-CEO), effective 1 November 2026. He will work alongside Mr Eric Fan, BDC’s Co-CEO, as a key member of the leadership team to accelerate the Company’s growth across Asia Pacific and beyond.
Mr Drew Chen, Co CEO of Bridge Data Centres
Mr Chen brings over 20 years of private equity experience, with a focus on the telecommunications, media, technology, and business services sectors. He previously served as a Senior Partner at Bain Capital and was a founding member of the firm’s Asia Pacific private equity team. Prior to Bain Capital, Mr Chen worked at Bain & Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr Eric Fan, Co-CEO of Bridge Data Centres, said, “On behalf of Bridge Data Centres, we would like to welcome Drew. His appointment strengthens our leadership team at an important point in BDC’s growth, as we surpass one gigawatt of capacity in 2026. Drew’s experience and deep domain knowledge of the data centre sector will support our strategy as we scale BDC into a multi-gigawatt digital infrastructure platform in the coming years.”
Mr Drew Chen, Co-CEO of Bridge Data Centres, said, “The Asia Pacific data centre sector is at inflection point for growth, fuelled by surging cloud adoption and the rapid expansion of AI workloads. BDC is well positioned to capture this opportunity, backed by our world class engineering and design team, longstanding partnerships with global clients, and a decade of experience developing and operating next-generation digital infrastructure. I am excited to partner with Eric and the leadership team to scale BDC’s footprint across Asia Pacific and support our customers’ ambitious growth plans.”
Mr Jonathan Zhu, Partner and Chair of China at Bain Capital, said, “Drew possesses deep expertise in the digital infrastructure space and an intimate knowledge of BDC’s business, having played a pivotal role in the buildout of BDC and its sister company ChinData. We are delighted that, as the Co-CEO, Drew will continue to bring strategic foresight and robust business building capabilities to BDC. Together, he and Eric are well positioned to lead BDC through its next chapter of growth.”
Headquartered in Singapore, BDC is one of Asia Pacific’s top three next-generation digital infrastructure platforms by live capacity, with a presence across Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and India.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Bridge Data Centres
Bridge Data Centres (BDC) is a Singapore headquartered digital infrastructure platform delivering next-generation data centres across Asia Pacific and beyond.
Backed by Bain Capital, BDC operates in Malaysia, Thailand, India, and other high-growth markets, with an ambition to scale into a multi-gigawatt digital infrastructure platform in the near future.
Partners with MAGURO Group and The Coral Lounge to Enhance Travel, Dining and Lifestyle Experiences Beyond Hotel Stays
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 November 2026 – ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading hospitality management company specialising in hotels, resorts, serviced apartments and luxury residences across Asia Pacific, continues its year-long 60th anniversary celebrations by expanding its network of strategic partners through ONYX Rewards. Spanning the travel, dining and lifestyle sectors, these collaborations build on more than six decades of hospitality expertise to deliver greater value to members beyond their hotel stays, while creating opportunities for long-term growth and shared value with business partners.
As part of this ongoing expansion, ONYX Hospitality Group has partnered with two organisations: MAGURO Group, a premium Japanese restaurant operator, and The Coral Lounge, a premium airport lounge provider. These partnerships enhance the ONYX Rewards experience through exclusive benefits and experiences covering every stage of the customer journey, from travel and hotel stays to everyday life.
The collaborations reflect the continued evolution of ONYX Rewards from a hotel guest benefits programme into a platform connecting members with a broader range of travel, dining and lifestyle experiences under the concept “Every Stay Becomes More”. Through joint marketing initiatives across ONYX Hospitality Group’s and its partners’ channels, the partnerships also aim to reach new customer segments, connect customer bases across brands, strengthen long-term member engagement and support mutual business growth. ONYX Rewards currently has more than 1.8 million members and a network of over 14 key partners.
Pornthip Paothong, Vice President, Marketing, ONYX Hospitality Group, said: “As ONYX Hospitality Group celebrates its 60th anniversary throughout 2026, we are not only reflecting on the achievements and experience gained over the past six decades, but are also building on our strong foundations to create new opportunities for the future. ONYX Rewards plays a key role in extending our relationships with customers beyond their hotel stays. This strategy is not simply about offering more benefits or discounts, but about developing meaningful collaborations with like-minded partners that bring together the strengths of each business to enhance customer experiences and create shared business value.
“Our partnerships with MAGURO Group and The Coral Lounge represent another step in making ONYX Rewards an integral part of our members’ lifestyles and travel journeys, offering access to a wider range of experiences. At the same time, these collaborations create opportunities for ONYX Hospitality Group and our partners to reach new customer segments, strengthen brand engagement and build lasting relationships under the concept ‘Every Stay Becomes More’.”
Extending the ONYX Rewards Experience into Dining with MAGURO Group
The partnership with MAGURO Group, which operates premium Japanese dining brands including MAGURO, MAGURO KAPPOU and HITORI SHABU, reflects a shared commitment to quality, attention to detail and the delivery of meaningful customer experiences.
MAGURO Group places particular emphasis on sourcing high-quality ingredients from Japan and trusted suppliers, complemented by attentive service designed to exceed customer expectations. This philosophy aligns closely with ONYX Hospitality Group’s approach to hospitality, which focuses on creating memorable experiences through a deep understanding of guests’ needs and thoughtful attention to detail.
While operating in different sectors, both organisations share a commitment to delivering meaningful customer experiences. The partnership extends the ONYX Rewards experience beyond hotel stays into dining and everyday lifestyle activities. It also creates opportunities to connect the customer bases of ONYX Rewards and MAGURO Group’s Give More+ Club, encouraging greater member engagement and strengthening long-term relationships between the two brands.
Enhancing the Travel Experience with The Coral Lounge
In the travel sector, ONYX Hospitality Group has partnered with The Coral Lounge, a premium airport lounge provider, to extend ONYX Rewards benefits to the pre-departure travel experience.
ONYX Rewards members will enjoy exclusive privileges at seven departure lounges operated by The Coral Lounge located at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani and Hat Yai airports. These lounges offer services and facilities designed to provide greater comfort and convenience throughout the travel experience.
The partnership reflects ONYX Hospitality Group’s approach to creating a more seamless customer journey, from pre-departure experiences and hotel stays to the return journey. By extending its commitment to guest care beyond the hotel environment, ONYX aims to deliver meaningful experiences at more touchpoints throughout members’ journeys.
The collaboration also provides The Coral Lounge with opportunities to connect with ONYX Rewards’ extensive membership base, particularly customers with an interest in travel and tourism. Through joint marketing initiatives, both organisations aim to strengthen brand awareness, broaden customer engagement and contribute to the continued development of ONYX Rewards as a strategic partnership network that creates shared value.
Building a Stronger Lifestyle Ecosystem through ONYX Rewards
Benefits under the partnerships with MAGURO Group and The Coral Lounge have been available to ONYX Rewards members since 15 October 2026. These collaborations mark another step in connecting members with a wider range of travel and lifestyle experiences, responding to the evolving needs of customers seeking greater value from travel and everyday life.
As ONYX Hospitality Group marks its 60th anniversary, the company remains committed to building on its six decades of hospitality expertise to create meaningful experiences that meet increasingly diverse customer needs. Beyond delivering memorable hotel stays, ONYX continues to expand opportunities for customers to engage with its brands through experiences that extend beyond the hotel environment.
This commitment reflects the concept “Every Stay Becomes More” and the ambition to create “More Reasons to Return”, ensuring that every experience strengthens the lasting connection between customers and ONYX Hospitality Group’s brands.
Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About ONYX Hospitality Group
ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in the Asia-Pacific hospitality industry, operates a portfolio of distinct yet complementary brands – Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence – catering to the distinctive needs of discerning business and leisure travellers across the region where it has deep expertise. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX Hospitality Group also offers additional hospitality services in spa and food and beverage. With six decades of management experience, the company extends its innovative solutions throughout the region, upholding internationally recognised standards and maintaining operational flexibility. By fostering enduring relationships with like-minded business partners, ONYX Hospitality Group delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travellers.
Kerala will approach the Supreme Court to secure implementation of a detailed safety inspection of the Mullaperiyar dam, Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph announced on Monday. Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Joseph said the government would file a special petition before the apex court seeking…
The latest partnership introduces limited-edition designs and curated experiences this festive season, bringing a new spirit of celebration to the region
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 November 2026 – Carlsberg Asia today announced the next chapter of 1664’spartnership with CLOT, launching the festive campaign “Make Celebrations Extraordinary” across the Chinese Mainland, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam from November 2026 through February 2027.
Building on the partnership’s successful debut Hong Kong last year, 1664, the world’s No. 1* French beer brand, and CLOT, the pioneering fashion label founded by Edison Chen, are expanding the East-Meets-French story to a wider audience. The partnership introduces limited-edition 1664 x CLOT beer cans and exclusive merchandise, alongside a series of curated experiences that bring Asia a new way to celebrate across cultures and occasions.
Arindam Varanasi, Commercial Vice President, Carlsberg Asia, said: “The success of our first collaboration with CLOT proved that when 1664 shows up in culture, consumers respond. This year, we are expanding the partnership into the Chinese Mainland which is our largest market — a further step in strengthening our premium portfolio in Asia. By fusing CLOT’s dynamic energy with 1664’s French heritage, we are bringing our ‘unquestionably good taste’ spirit to life and redefining celebration across the region.”
Make Celebrations Extraordinary: From Design to Moments
At the heart of the campaign is CLOT’s signature Silk Royale pattern, a motif inspired by the elegance of Chinese silk, its intricate geometric lines referencing luxurious jacquard with a modern edge. For this collaboration, the pattern is reimagined in vibrant festive hues, flowing across 1664’s iconic blue-and-white design in a visual dialogue between Asian tradition and French audacity.
Anchored by 1664’s signature cocarde, a nod to the brand’s French heritage and brewing craftsmanship, the 1664 x CLOT design motifs commemorate this special time of year. Exclusively for this collaboration, the CLOT’s iconic Silk Royale pattern is reimagined in a vibrant, multi-coloured treatment. Illuminated by neon-inspired outlines, the design evokes the glow and vibrant energy of Asia in blues, reds and yellows accented by firework patterns, capturing the uplifting moment when celebrations come alive with 1664.
The interplay between CLOT’s richly coloured patterns and 1664’s clean red, white and blue palette creates a contemporary elegance that captures the spirit of celebration in style, where East meets French and tradition meets modernity.
Beyond the beer cans, the 1664 x CLOT design motifs extend to a range of exclusive merchandise. The key highlight is a bespoke apparel collection curated by CLOT for the campaign, including T-shirts, socks and caps, each piece infused with festive vibrancy and the collaboration’s East-meets-French spirit, bringing the partnership to life beyond the taste and into the moments people share.
The 1664 x CLOT limited-edition products are available from November 2026 through February 2027 in selected supermarkets, bars, restaurants and online across Chinese Mainland, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. A series of on-the-ground activations and market-exclusive premiums will also be rolled out throughout the season, inviting consumers to immerse themselves in festive experiences that make their celebrations extraordinary. For more information, please visit https://www.1664blanc.com/.
*GlobalData 2025 research for 2023, based on actual volume sales data in The Hectolitres.
Hashtag: #CarlsbergAsia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Carlsberg
Established in 1847 by brewer J.C. Jacobsen, the Carlsberg Group is one of the leading brewery groups in the world, with an attractive portfolio of beer and other beverage brands. With over 37.000 employees, and with a presence in more than 150 markets, the Group has a purpose of brewing for a better today and tomorrow. Doing business responsibly and sustainably supports that purpose – and drives the efforts to deliver value for shareholders and society.
Carlsberg Asia is a dynamic and diverse region comprising of 8 operating markets: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong S.A.R. (Macau and Taiwan), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam. Altogether we have 35 breweries in operation and some 13,000 employees spreading across the Asian markets. The Asia Regional Office is based in Hong Kong.
About 1664
1664, the world’s No.1 French beer brand with a rich heritage spanning over 350 years, epitomizes timeless yet playful elegance. Our brew is distinguished by its lively and refreshing taste profile, with signature citrus notes that deliver impeccable taste in every sip. Inspired by art, design and the French appreciation of life, 1664 elevates everyday moments, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
About CLOT® First established in 2003, CLOT is a pioneering streetwear label and the brainchild of Edison Chen. Conceived from the desire to bridge East and West through thoughtfully-designed apparel and goods, the brand takes its Chinese roots to a worldwide stage, modernizing, reinterpreting, and splices motifs from traditional Chinese culture with bold graphics, exaggerated silhouettes, and a dynamic energy reflective of the new youth of Asia. CLOT has since partnered with the likes of adidas, Bang & Olufsen, Coca-Cola, fragment design, Medicom Toy, Nike, Rimowa, Supreme, Stüssy, sacai and visvim to create sold-out collaborations, solidifying its international presence in the process.
CLOT’s vision for a borderless culture of streetwear is further manifested in JUICE, a fashion and lifestyle retailer that expresses an all-encompassing aesthetic through its curation of apparel, home goods, and more. Located in major cities around the world, JUICE can be found in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Taichung, and online.
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are among Asia’s fastest-growing economies in 2026, with International Monetary Fund projections placing their expansion well above the regional average despite persistent inflation and mounting external risks. The IMF’s October World Economic Outlook database projects growth of 9.0% for Kyrgyzstan and 7.8% for Uzbekistan this year. The figures are forecasts rather than confirmed annual results, and reflect economic conditions and policy assumptions incorporated into […]
Two-day exhibition on 14 and 15 November at St. Regis Singapore presents six Laguna Phuket developments, as more buyers make Phuket home
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 November 2026 – Banyan Group Residences returns with a two-day sales exhibition on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026, presenting six signature developments from its Phuket collection in the Diplomat Room, St. Regis Singapore, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Singapore buyers are already familiar with Phuket, and demand is shifting from holiday ownership towards long-term residency. This collection is designed for that shift: full-time homes within an established resort community, not just investment property.
The exhibition follows record first-half sales for Banyan Group Residences, up 38% year on year.
“Singapore has long been one of our most important buyer markets, and what we are seeing now is a shift in how buyers think about Phuket – not only as a holiday destination, but as a place to live,” said Stuart Reading, Managing Director of Banyan Group Residences. “More people are choosing to make Phuket home, and that is what makes it a sound long-term investment.”
Laguna Phuket is home to more than 70 nationalities, and across Phuket foreign buyers now account for over 60% of condominium purchases, many choosing to live in their properties rather than simply invest.
Banyan Group Residences expects to launch up to USD 1 billion in new luxury projects in Phuket over the next two to three years.
Ranked first in Asia and fifth globally for branded residences (Savills, 2025-26), Banyan Group Residences will showcase six developments at the exhibition, including some of the most exclusive it has ever released:
Banyan Tree Beach Residences Nerea
Just six three-bedroom duplex residences between Laguna Phuket’s lagoons and Bang Tao Beach, with yacht-inspired design, private pools and a home gym in each.
Banyan Tree Beach Residences Oceanus
Sixteen absolute beachfront residences on Bang Tao Beach, each with a private pool and up to 768 square metres of space – among the most luxurious condominiums ever released in Phuket.
Banyan Tree Beach Residences Varuna
Eight four-bedroom beachfront townhomes on Bang Tao Beach, each with a private lift, garden terrace and rooftop infinity pool facing the Andaman Sea sunset.
Angsana Golf Residences Topaz
Two- and three-bedroom residences and penthouses in three low-rise buildings overlooking Laguna Golf Phuket, with private rooftop pools.
Bellaguna Golf Residences
Low-rise buildings amid tropical gardens overlooking Laguna Golf Phuket, with one- to three-bedroom condominiums and two- to three-bedroom penthouses with private pools.
Bellaguna Lake Residences
One- to three-bedroom condominiums and two- to three-bedroom penthouses on the Laguna Phuket lagoon, with private rooftop pools on selected units.
Owners receive Sanctuary Club membership, with privileges at Banyan Group hotels, RAVA Beach Club and Laguna Golf access, plus a year of complimentary property management.
Banyan Living
Owners can also opt into Banyan Living, the Group’s hospitality-led rental and management platform.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Banyan Group
Banyan Group (“Banyan Tree Holdings Limited” or the “Group” – SGX: B58) is an independent, global hospitality company with purpose. The Group prides itself on its pioneering spirit, design-led experiences and commitment to responsible stewardship. Its extensive portfolio spans nearly 130 hotels, resorts and reserves, over 30 branded residences and more than 140 spas and galleries in 28 countries. Comprising 14 hospitality and residential brands, including the flagship brand Banyan Tree, each distinct yet united under the experiential membership programme with Banyan. The founding ethos of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People” is embodied through the Banyan Global Foundation and Banyan Management Academy. Banyan Group is committed to remaining the leading advocate of sustainable travel, with a focus on regenerative tourism and innovative programmes that elevate the guest experience.
About Laguna Phuket
Laguna Phuket is Asia’s premier integrated resort destination, set against the stunning backdrop of the Andaman Sea. Spanning over 1,000 acres, the resort features six luxury hotels, an award-winning 18-hole golf course, fine dining, luxury spas, and branded residences. Guests benefit from complimentary shuttle services, a cashless payment system, and access to world-class recreational and wellness facilities.
About Banyan Group Residences
Banyan Group Residences is the property development arm of leading hospitality pioneer Banyan Group, listed on the stock exchange of Singapore. With over 35 years of development experience and an impressive portfolio of residential brands to suit different lifestyles and budgets, it is Thailand’s leading lifestyle property developer with a strong and increasingly international pipeline of projects. The Group’s main residential brands include the flagship luxury Banyan Tree Residences, Angsana Residences, Dhawa Residences, Garrya Residences, Laguna Residences, Cassia Residences, Skypark, Laguna Lakelands, and Bellaguna.
The 2026 REACH Reggio Emilia Conference will position Singapore as a regional hub for early childhood excellence, bringing together global thinking, regional best practice and leaders from across the education ecosystem.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 November 2026 – EtonHouse and E-Bridge will deepen their ongoing collaboration with Reggio Children through a new partnership focused on professional learning in infant care and early childhood education. The partnership will deepen this work through regular professional dialogue, research projects and professional learning, connected with Reggio Children and the experience of the infant-toddler centres and pre-schools of Reggio Emilia.
REACH Reggio Emilia Conference 2026 under the theme Education in Complex Times.
The partnership marks an important milestone at the 2026 REACH Reggio Emilia Conference, which opened in Singapore on 30 October 2026. As artificial intelligence transforms how children learn, create and interact with the world, educators are confronting a fundamental question: What kind of future are we preparing children for?
Over two days, from 30 to 31 October, the conference brings together more than 400 educators, school leaders, policymakers, regulators and researchers from Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Australia, the wider ASEAN region, South America, the Middle East and Italy.
Senior Minister of State Goh Pei Ming, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development, attended as the Guest-of-Honour and addressed delegates at the conference.
Singapore participants include representatives from the country’s Anchor Operators, the Early Childhood Development Agency, the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Education, alongside educators, trainers and leaders from across the sector.
Organised by REACH (Reggio Emilia in Asia for Children), part of the EtonHouse Group, in partnership with Reggio Children, which works closely with the municipal infant-toddler centres and pre-schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and supported by the Embassy of Italy in Singapore, the conference explores how education can respond to rapid technological change while protecting the deeply human foundations of learning.
Held under the theme “Education in Complex Times: Children, Democratic Cultures and the Role of Childhood in Shaping the Future,” the conference examines how education can nurture the qualities children need to navigate uncertainty: curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, agency and the ability to participate meaningfully in their communities.
By connecting international perspectives with regional experience and Singapore’s early childhood leadership, the conference aims to strengthen Singapore’s position as a hub for early childhood excellence, professional exchange, best practice and global educational thinking.
The conference follows renewed international attention on the Reggio Emilia Approach after Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales visited Reggio Emilia in May 2026 as part of her longstanding work in early childhood development. Her reflections on the importance of nature, creativity and human connection brought to the forefront the significance of an educational philosophy that places children’s rights, relationships and potential at the centre of learning, principles that are especially relevant in today’s complex and rapidly changing world.
Key Conference Initiatives
The conference creates opportunities for participants to engage with:
Global pedagogical thinking, led by educators from Reggio Children and informed by the educational experience of Reggio Emilia.
Regional best-practice exchange, with educators from Singapore and across the region presenting enquiries grounded in their own cultural and educational contexts.
Immersive professional learning, including atelier experiences and school visits, connecting educational philosophy with everyday practice.
Keynote speakers Annalisa Rainieri and Valentina Violi invite delegates to consider how educational environments and pedagogy nurture a childhood that every child deserves. Project-sharing sessions further demonstrate how principles inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach can be interpreted thoughtfully across different cultures and education systems.
His Excellency Dante Brandi, Ambassador of Italy to Singapore, said:
“Reggio Emilia has given the world far more than a pedagogy—it has given us a way of trusting children as capable, curious protagonists of their own learning. As artificial intelligence reshapes how the youngest generations engage with knowledge, this Italian approach to early childhood education becomes an even more valuable compass. The Embassy of Italy is proud to support a conference that brings this heritage into dialogue with Singapore and the wider region.”
Speaking at the conference, Ms Bipasha Minocha, Chief Executive Officer of REACH, said: “Alongside our ongoing professional learning, we will be embarking on shared research projects with Reggio Children, involving educators from both EtonHouse and E-Bridge.”
She added: “For me, democratic culture lives in the daily choices of a school. Who is listened to? Can an idea change direction because a child has contributed something none of us expected?”
The conference builds on REACH’s longstanding partnership with Reggio Children and follows the Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material exhibition and conference held in Singapore in 2024, further strengthening the city’s role as a centre for educational dialogue and professional learning.
Attachments:
Full speech by Senior Minister of State Goh Pei Ming (below release).
Conference Details: Education in Complex Times: Children, Democratic Cultures and the Role of Childhood in Shaping the Future
Dates: 30–31 October 2026 Venue: METT Singapore, 11 Canning Walk, Singapore 178881 Guest of Honour: Senior Minister of State Goh Pei Ming, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development Languages: English, Italian and Mandarin Conference information: https://info.reach.edu.sg/2026-reach-conference Hashtag: #REACH #ReggioEmilia #EarlyChildhoodEducation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About REACH-Reggio Emilia in Asia for Children
Founded in 2013 by EtonHouse International Education Group, REACH is a proud member of the Reggio Children International Network and represents Reggio Children in Singapore and China. REACH is committed to innovation, collaboration, and dialogue among educators across Asia while protecting and advocating the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. Through international conferences, professional development programmes, publications, webinars, study groups etc, REACH advocates for children’s rights and potential, celebrating their ‘100 languages’ of expression.
As a beacon of the Reggio Emilia philosophy in Asia, REACH is committed to transformative education practices that value lifelong learning, reflective practice, and contextual change. It invites educators to join in its journey of growth, innovation, and advocacy for children’s rights in early childhood education.
Founded in 1995 in Singapore, EtonHouse has grown into a global education group with more than 100 schools across eight countries. The Group offers a highly recognised international education pathway from infant care to high school, including the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, and the Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, all designed to nurture inquiry, creativity, and intercultural understanding. In Singapore, EtonHouse also operates E-Bridge Pre-School, providing high-quality and affordable early childhood education to support local communities. Beyond schools, EtonHouse is deeply committed to community impact through teacher training, philanthropy, and purpose-driven educational initiatives.
The Embassy of Italy in Singapore represents Italy in Singapore and Brunei and supports relations across government, business, culture, education, science and innovation. It promotes Italian excellence while facilitating dialogue and collaboration between Italian and Singaporean institutions, companies and communities.
Italy and Singapore enjoy longstanding diplomatic relations, established shortly after Singapore’s independence in 1965. The Embassy continues to support exchanges that strengthen mutual understanding and deepen cooperation between the two countries.
About Reggio Children
Reggio Children – International Center for the Defence and Promotion of the Rights and Potential of All Children – starting from 1994, promotes and disseminates through professional development initiatives, research projects, consulting work in the educational field, ateliers, exhibitions and publishing the pedagogical and cultural heritage of Reggio Emilia’s Municipal Infant-Toddler Centres and Preschools, known in Italy and throughout the world as the Reggio Emilia Approach®.
The Reggio Children International Network was established in 2006 and is made up of references in the countries which have collaborated longest and in stable ways with Reggio Children on the realisation of initiatives and activities.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai BYD has designated the Gulf Cooperation Council its leading international expansion priority, announcing plans for additional investment, a regional spare-parts hub and broader technology operations beyond vehicle sales. Executive vice-president Stella Li said the Chinese automotive group intends to strengthen its dealership network and after-sales services while exploring opportunities in battery storage, autonomous driving and robotics across Gulf markets. “The GCC is my […]
Amari Pattaya, OZO North Pattaya and Amari Bangsaen recognised for integrating responsible operations, local engagement and measurable sustainability outcomes
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 November 2026 – ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading hospitality management company in the Asia-Pacific region specialising in hotels, resorts, serviced apartments and luxury residences, has received three awards at the Ultimate Thailand Green Tourism Showcase 2026, organised by Thailand’s Department of Tourism as part of the Chonburi Smart Green Tourism initiative.
Amari Pattaya and OZO North Pattaya were recognised in the Creativity & Innovation category, while Amari Bangsaen received the Unique WOW Experience award.
The three awards demonstrate how ONYX Hospitality Group is translating sustainability into practical, locally relevant action across its properties in Chonburi. Together, they reflect a holistic approach to sustainability management, covering energy and water efficiency, waste management, carbon reduction, community and stakeholder engagement, recognised environmental standards and measurable results.
These achievements bring ONYX for Planet to life at property level. ONYX for Planet is the Group’s sustainability framework, integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles across its business operations and hotel management.
Guided by its Sustainably Crafted Hospitality philosophy, ONYX treats sustainability not as a separate programme, but as part of how it operates, makes decisions, manages resources and creates experiences. This approach includes responsible resource management and procurement, support for local communities and producers, talent development, and guest experiences that connect travellers more meaningfully with the destinations they visit.
Sukamal Mondal, VP – Operations and Sustainability & Community Engagement at ONYX Hospitality Group, said:
“For ONYX Hospitality Group, sustainability creates real value when our principles are translated into meaningful, locally relevant action. Every hotel operates within its own community and environment, so our approach must respond to that context while remaining aligned with ONYX for Planet.
“These awards recognise the work our teams are doing to make responsible practices part of everyday operations and guest experiences. As our approach matures, we are moving beyond individual initiatives to demonstrate impact: what has changed, what value has been created and, wherever possible, how progress can be measured. This is how we strengthen transparency and accountability as we grow.”
Beyond these property-level initiatives, ONYX Hospitality (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has achieved GSTC Hotel Multi-site Certification, demonstrating its alignment with internationally recognised standards for sustainable tourism. The certification was issued by Control Union Singapore Pte. Ltd., a GSTC-accredited Certification Body.
ONYX Hospitality Group has also partnered with CarbonWize to develop its ESG data management system and greenhouse gas emissions monitoring framework, strengthening the Group’s focus on measurement, transparency and accountability.
Through its partnership with SP Group, ONYX is exploring energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions across suitable properties in Thailand. At Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok Hotel, SP Group’s Cooling-as-a-Service solution has been operational since April 2026 and is expected to reduce energy consumption by more than 40%, save approximately 900,000 kWh of electricity and reduce carbon emissions by around 449 tonnes annually.
Together, the awards and Group-level initiatives demonstrate how ONYX for Planet connects locally relevant action with recognised standards, stronger measurement and operational outcomes. As ONYX Hospitality Group expands across the Asia-Pacific region, this integrated approach will remain part of its long-term business strategy, supporting responsible growth and meaningful value for guests, people, communities and destinations.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About ONYX Hospitality Group:
ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in the Asia-Pacific hospitality industry, operates a collection of comprehensive yet complementary brands – Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence – catering to the distinctive needs of discerning business and leisure travellers across the region where it has deep expertise. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX Hospitality Group also operates additional hospitality services across spa and food & beverage. With six decades of management experience, the company extends its innovative solutions throughout the region, upholding internationally recognised standards and ensuring optimal operational manoeuvrability. By fostering enduring relationships with like-minded business partners, ONYX Hospitality Group delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travellers.
Multi-model risk scoring and multimodal detection of suspected minors help the adults-only platform find and act on harmful content in real time
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 October 2026 – Chamet, a global live streaming and video chat platform with more than 50 million downloads on Google Play worldwide, is expanding its use of multimodal, multi-model AI to moderate live content and protect users. Southeast Asia is one of Chamet’s strongest regions, and its safety systems are built for live video.
Singapore has moved quickly on online harms. The Online Safety Commission began operations on June 29, 2026, and can direct platforms to disable harmful content or restrict accounts in cases such as online harassment and intimate image abuse. Since March 31, 2025, IMDA’s online safety code for app stores has required designated app stores to roll out age assurance that keeps children away from apps rated 18+.
Multimodal Detection of Suspected Minors
Chamet is open only to adults aged 18 and over, with zero tolerance for underage users. Rather than relying on one signal, its system combines profile photos, live-stream frames, video, voice, text, self-reported age and account behaviour. Each case receives a risk level based on model confidence, and the system can restrict content, limit interactions, or restrict the account. Human reviewers check cases before final decisions. Accounts found to have falsified their age are permanently suspended.
Multi-Model Fusion for Content Review
Chamet runs several moderation models and third-party services, each with its own labels and confidence scales. The platform maps their outputs onto one shared risk scale, then weighs them by content type, where the content appears, and each model’s track record. Each item gets one risk level, and a consistent action, with the highest-risk cases reviewed first.
These systems work alongside real-person face verification, safeguards against unauthorised screen recording, in-app reporting and blocking, and an appeals process. Chamet also offers free real-time AI translation in more than 50 languages, turning speech into on-screen subtitles during video calls.
“In a live video call, harm can happen in seconds, so safety has to work just as fast,” said David Qi, Chief Marketing Officer of Chamet. “By combining many models and signals, our review teams can spot risk sooner and make more consistent decisions. Connecting people and keeping them safe are two parts of the same job.”
Hashtag: #Chamet
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Chamet
Chamet is a global live streaming and video chat platform open only to adults aged 18 and over. It offers live streaming, video chat, party rooms, and feeds for social discovery. AI-powered real-time translation helps people talk across languages, while community guidelines, AI-assisted and human moderation, and in-app report and block tools support user safety. Learn more at http://www.chamet.com/.
Chamet is owned and operated by FULIAO HONG KONG LIMITED (HK Fuliao), a Hong Kong-based technology company. HK Fuliao provides the development, localisation, content management, customer service and operations behind Chamet. Learn more at https://www.hkfuliao.com/.
US intelligence officials believe a former senior executive of Singapore-based Megaspeed International cultivated a relationship with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang while allegedly supplying information to Beijing, raising fresh concerns about Chinese intelligence operations targeting America’s artificial intelligence industry. Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, came under American surveillance after investigators began examining whether Megaspeed was helping Chinese companies circumvent restrictions on advanced Nvidia semiconductor exports. […]
India Blockchain Week 2026 will bring cryptocurrency executives, financial regulators and technology developers to Mumbai on November 1 and 2, with institutional adoption of blockchain and digital assets occupying a prominent place on the conference agenda. The fourth edition, organised by Web3 investment firm Hashed Emergent, will take place at Fairmont Mumbai. It marks the event’s first move to the financial centre after three editions in Bengaluru, […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 October 2026 – Crown Worldwide Group is proud to announce that Crown Workspace Hong Kong has been awarded the Gold Award for Best Workplace Consultancy at the prestigious HR Vendors of the Year Awards Hong Kong 2026, organised by Human Resources Online. In addition, Crown Workspace received the special “Trinity Champion of Achievement” recognition, honouring its consistent and outstanding achievements in elevating the HR solutions ecosystem across 2024-2026. Together, these accolades recognise Crown Workspace’s continued excellence in workplace transformation, relocation management, sustainability consulting, and innovative solutions that help organisations create future-ready workplaces.
The HR Vendors of the Year Awards is widely regarded as one of Asia’s most respected platforms for recognising excellence among HR and workplace solution providers. Entries are evaluated by an independent judging panel of HR leaders and experts, assessing nominees on criteria including people, products and services, innovation, leadership, and industry contribution. The awards recognise organisations that demonstrate exceptional expertise, business impact, and commitment to helping clients address evolving workplace challenges. The Trinity Champion of Achievement holds particular significance as it recognises Crown Workspace’s sustained achievements over three consecutive years, from 2024 to 2026. This special recognition further reinforces Crown Workspace’s consistent contribution to the HR and workplace solutions ecosystem in Hong Kong.
What distinguishes Crown Workspace is its ability to combine workplace consultancy, relocation expertise, sustainability leadership, and project execution into a single integrated offering. In a market where many Hong Kong organisations are rightsizing their offices, adopting hybrid working models, and seeking cost-effective ways to optimise their workplaces, Crown Workspace helps clients transform their offices while achieving ESG objectives through services such as furniture resale, storage solutions, and recycling programmes.
Complementing these sustainability-focused initiatives is Crown Workspace’s proven capability to deliver complex, business-critical projects, including high-security relocations, IT and infrastructure moves, and large-scale workplace transformations. Backed by strong customer satisfaction and industry-leading operational standards, Crown Workspace provides organisations with a trusted partner to navigate workplace change while creating more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready work environments.
“We are honoured to receive both the Gold Award and this special recognition at the HR Vendors of the Year Awards,” said Jeffrey Chong, General Manager, Hong Kong, at Crown Worldwide Group. “The Trinity Champion of Achievement is particularly meaningful as it reflects the consistency of our work and the dedication of our team over the past three years. Hong Kong organisations are rethinking the role of the workplace. Increasingly, our clients are asking how they can create more flexible, sustainable and employee-centric environments while maintaining business continuity. These recognitions reflect our commitment to helping businesses navigate that transformation successfully. We remain focused on delivering secure and sustainable solutions that support our clients’ business goals.”
Building on these latest recognitions, Crown Workspace will continue investing in people, technology, and innovative workplace solutions, helping businesses create workplaces that are resilient, efficient, sustainable, and ready for the future.
For more information, please visit Crown Workspace’s website at crownworkspace.com.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Crown Workspace
Crown Workspace helps organisations manage workplace change through commercial and specialist relocations, move management, storage, furniture solutions, IT relocation services, and workplace consultancy. Supported by the global capabilities of Crown Worldwide Group, Crown Workspace delivers tailored solutions that minimise disruption, maximise value, and create positive outcomes for businesses, employees, and the environment.
Ridger Delivers MUX Private AI Deployment to Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors in Hong Kong
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 October 2026 – Ridger, an AI infrastructure company, today announced the official delivery of its MUX private AI solution to Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors in Hong Kong. The solution features MIMO, the world’s first AI-native storage system, making Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors the first law firm in Hong Kong Northern Metropolis to deploy it.
Representatives from Ridger, Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors, xFusion, and Richee at the delivery ceremony for the first MUX private AI deployment in Hong Kong Northern Metropolis.
Representatives from Ridger, Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors, xFusion, and Fadada’s RicheeAI team attended the delivery ceremony. During the event, Ridger presented the firm with the “Global AI Pioneer Law Firm” certificate in recognition of its forward-looking investment in private AI infrastructure.
The solution brings together AI-native storage and compute infrastructure, a dedicated large language model (LLM) environment, and AI applications tailored to legal workflows. Operating entirely within the firm’s own security perimeter, it marks a significant step toward enabling Hong Kong’s legal profession to harness the productivity of generative AI while safeguarding client data and meeting compliance requirements.
About the Deployment
In space-constrained Hong Kong, Ms. Careen H.Y. Wong, Founding Partner of Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors and Vice President of The Law Society of Hong Kong, set aside room in the Firm’s latest office in the Northern Metropolis for a standard equipment rack, ready for on-premise AI. It is more than a space decision: it reflects her view of the future of legal services—that while harnessing AI to improve efficiency, a firm must retain control of its data and technology boundaries, so that sensitive materials are always properly protected.
Under the engagement, Ridger built a privately owned, independently operable AI foundation for Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors, comprising high-performance storage and data infrastructure optimized for AI workloads, together with a dedicated LLM platform over which the client retains full control of model weights and the inference environment. The platform supports use cases including contract review and risk flagging, legal research and case-law retrieval, large-scale document review in due diligence, drafting and multilingual translation of legal documents, and internal Knowledge Base question answering. It also provides role-based access control, tiered permissions, comprehensive audit trails and content provenance to meet enterprise-grade governance requirements.
Called MUX, the private solution lets the firm begin with no barrier and without capital-intensive build-out or a dedicated server room, scaling on demand; it natively supports Hong Kong’s common law system and integrates seamlessly with existing systems such as email, document management and calendar, embedding AI into lawyers’ daily work. MUX can be ordered directly through Ridger’s website (https://ridger.tech), out of the box.
The delivery reflects the collaboration of legal expertise, AI infrastructure, compute platforms and industry applications: Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors defined the requirements for data confidentiality and on-premise deployment from its actual practice; Ridger provided the end-to-end MUX solution and led its design and integration; xFusion supplied the FusionXpark local AI compute platform and technical support; and Fadada provided the Richee Legal AI Agent Platform, leveraging specialized AI agents and skills to support lawyers in their daily work and improve workflow efficiency. Ridger notes that while an AI model determines capability for a moment, AI infrastructure determines long-term competitiveness.
Why Private AI Matters for the Legal Sector
1. Safeguarding client confidentiality and legal professional privilege
Client materials, transaction documents and dispute information handled by law firms are protected by legal professional privilege (LPP) and strict professional duties of confidentiality. Disclosure to third parties—including public cloud services—may be treated as a waiver of privilege, causing it to be lost and the materials to become disclosable in subsequent proceedings. Private deployment keeps storage, processing and inference entirely within the firm’s own environment, with no disclosure to external providers, preserving privilege and confidentiality at source.
2. Embedding data sovereignty and regulatory compliance
The solution aligns with Hong Kong’s Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) and is designed with reference to the Privacy Commissioner’s “Checklist on Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI by Employees” and the “Model Framework on AI: Personal Data Protection,” as well as The Law Society of Hong Kong’s 2024 position paper on the impact of AI on the legal profession and the Manifesto on “Legal Ethical Code of Conduct Regarding the Deployment of AI.” It embeds the principles of lawfulness, transparency, traceability, interpretability, security and appropriate human oversight into a unified AI governance framework.
For a firm handling cross-border work, the same private environment also addresses the requirements of the major jurisdictions: for Mainland China, it aligns with the Personal Information Protection Law, the Data Security Law and data-export mechanisms such as security assessments and standard contracts; for Europe, it maps to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and standard contractual clauses; for the United States, it meets the confidentiality and competence duties under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Formal Opinion 512 on generative AI. Because data always remains within the firm’s own perimeter, the firm can confidently meet local data-confidentiality and regulatory expectations wherever its clients are based.
3. Eliminating the hidden risk of “shadow AI”
Where a firm offers no convenient, approved AI tool, individual lawyers may turn to consumer-grade public chatbots for work, creating “shadow AI” that sits outside IT and compliance visibility—unapproved, unlogged and unaudited, with unknown data flows and no clear accountability. MUX channels that demand into a single, visible, auditable controlled environment, giving lawyers the efficiency they want while bringing every use under the institution’s governance and oversight.
4. Keeping institutional knowledge within the firm
The case law, templates and practical know-how accumulated by a firm are core competitive assets. A private platform continuously refined on the firm’s own corpus keeps these assets within the institution and compounds their value over time, rather than depositing them with an external vendor.
5. Ensuring control and business continuity
Private deployment insulates the firm from external API changes, model versioning, service outages or shifts in vendor strategy, giving it full control over capabilities, upgrade timing, cost and availability — a foundation for durable, long-term AI adoption.
Executive Quotes
“For industries built on trust and confidentiality, such as the law, the value of AI should never come at the price of data sovereignty,” said Ray Hu, General Manager Asia-Pacific Region of Ridger. “Private deployment lets a firm turn generative AI into auditable, governable and sustainable productivity without crossing confidentiality lines. We are proud to set this benchmark with Shum Wong & Co., Solicitors”
Ray Hu, General Manager Asia-Pacific Region, Ridger
“In Hong Kong, office space is scarce and precious, but data sovereignty is worth setting aside a place for. Building our own AI infrastructure lets us embrace AI while always safeguarding our clients’ trust and the boundaries of our profession.”
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Ridger Company Limited
Ridger is a technology company focused on data and storage infrastructure for the AI era. The company provides private, high-performance AI infrastructure and solutions that enable enterprises to deploy and run large models and AI applications within their own security perimeter. Through its proprietary storage and data management technologies, Ridger helps clients safeguard data sovereignty, security and compliance while fully realizing the business value of artificial intelligence.
Led by Blockchain Capital, the funding will accelerate the expansion of PhotonPay’s stablecoin-centric Financial OS, connecting stablecoin liquidity with global fiat networks to unlock digital assets for everyday corporate operations and cross-border settlement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 October 2026 – PhotonPay today announced the closing of a $40 million Series C funding round led by Blockchain Capital, with participation from new investor SBI Group and follow-on investments from existing investors IDG Capital, GL Ventures, and Lightspeed Faction. Blacksheep Technology acted as exclusive financial advisor to PhotonPay on the transaction.
The new capital will support the expansion of PhotonPay’s stablecoin-centric Financial Operating System (Financial OS), with investment focused on enhancing multi-asset wallet capabilities, expanding global card issuing, strengthening local clearing infrastructure in key markets, and developing an agent-ready financial execution layer.
As of August 2026, PhotonPay’s annualized transaction volume reached US$65 billion. The company has secured 34 payment and financial licenses and regulatory authorizations across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and serves over 200,000 business customers across more than 200 countries and territories.
As stablecoins move beyond crypto-native use cases into corporate treasury, settlement and commercial spending, PhotonPay sees the next phase of global finance not as a choice between stablecoins and fiat currencies, but as the convergence of both. Its Financial OS connects on-chain liquidity with the banking, clearing and card networks businesses rely on for everyday operations.
“Moving money across borders in seconds means little if it still takes days to put that capital to work,” said Lewison Chen, Founder and CEO of PhotonPay. “Stablecoins are accelerating global money movement, while local clearing and global card issuing connect that liquidity to local settlement and everyday business spending. Our Financial OS brings these capabilities together, making the underlying infrastructure far less visible to businesses, even as it becomes more essential than ever.”
“At the same time, business software is becoming increasingly autonomous,” Chen added. “AI is shifting financial workflows from people manually operating fragmented tools toward systems that understand business intent and coordinate execution across assets, accounts and financial rails. That creates the foundation for agentic commerce. Stablecoins change how money moves. AI changes how it gets put to work. But commerce is still what money is for.”
Moving Money Across Assets and Markets
PhotonPay’s Financial OS brings together multi-asset wallets, global money movement, foreign exchange, local clearing, and global card issuing through an integrated API-first architecture. This unified system gives businesses access to the financial capabilities they need to manage and deploy funds across markets.
Stablecoins sit at the core of this architecture. PhotonPay’s multi-asset wallet connects stablecoin liquidity with fiat balances, integrating asset conversion, foreign exchange, and local clearing into a single connected workflow. This enables businesses to move funds across supported on-chain and traditional financial networks, turning digital asset liquidity into purchasing power for local payments and everyday corporate spending.
Supporting this dual-rail infrastructure is PhotonPay’s established global financial network. Businesses can open local collection accounts in 17 key markets and receive funds in more than 60 currencies. On the payout side, the network supports over 100 payment routes across local clearing systems, bank transfers, and digital wallets, including payouts to 74 major local e-wallets. Approximately 97% of payout transactions reach recipients within hours or on the same day, with 68% arriving in real time.
Global card issuing extends these capabilities into programmable business spending. Through PhotonPay’s APIs, businesses and platforms can issue virtual and physical cards, configure granular spending controls, and embed card payments directly into their software and automated workflows. Over the past 12 months, PhotonPay issued 4.4 million cards, up 275% YoY.
Beyond its first-party payment solutions, PhotonPay makes its infrastructure available through embedded finance, enabling technology platforms to natively integrate global accounts, payments, and card issuing into their own products. The company now serves more than 100 enterprise and platform partners, extending the reach of its Financial OS into industry-specific workflows.
From Financial Intent to Agentic Commerce
As AI agents assume active operational roles, financial infrastructure must evolve beyond API access to enable programmable, policy-governed execution. It requires systems capable of translating high-level instructions into coordinated financial actions, with deterministic controls governing how those actions are executed.
In May 2026, PhotonPay and Mastercard completed a live agentic payment demonstration using a tokenized PhotonPay card, validating AI-initiated transactions across existing global card networks.
Building on this milestone, PhotonPay is developing standardized financial interfaces designed for developers and AI agents. With planned support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), PhotonPay aims to make account information, balances, card functions, and payments accessible as composable financial primitives, allowing AI agents to securely retrieve context and initiate financial workflows within defined authorization boundaries.
To govern this agent-ready layer, PhotonPay is developing a policy-based execution framework designed to enforce programmable authorization rules, spending limits, and transaction-level controls. The framework is intended to enable AI agents to coordinate financial tasks across supported accounts and assets, while ensuring that execution remains subject to explicit, enforceable policies set by businesses.
PhotonPay is also advancing its AI-assisted risk review capabilities, designed to identify complex cases for human assessment. Together, these initiatives reflect a foundational principle of autonomous finance: AI may interpret intent and coordinate tasks, but financial execution must remain governed by verifiable authorization, deterministic controls, and auditable records.
“Connecting financial networks is only the beginning. The real breakthrough is abstracting that complexity behind a unified, programmable financial layer, so businesses and AI agents can move from intent to execution within clearly defined boundaries,” said Chen.
Simple on the Surface, Deep by Design
The promise of a Financial OS is simplicity: enabling businesses to manage assets, route money, and execute payments through a unified financial operating layer. Yet delivering that simplicity requires deep financial infrastructure beneath the surface.
While stablecoins accelerate borderless value transfer, turning that liquidity into local settlement, supplier payments, and corporate spending still depends on established banking relationships, domestic clearing rails, foreign exchange infrastructure, and global card networks. Each market brings its own regulatory and operational requirements.
For PhotonPay, building a Financial OS means abstracting these fragmented global networks into a programmable, interconnected financial system. The objective is not to eliminate financial complexity, but to manage it within the underlying infrastructure, so businesses can operate without having to navigate these systems themselves.
“AI can simplify how businesses interact with financial services, but it cannot replace the infrastructure required to deliver them,” said JP Pi, Chief Compliance Officer at PhotonPay. “Establishing local financial capabilities takes years of investment, institutional partnerships, and regulatory engagement. Software or AI models alone cannot replicate that depth. The simplicity businesses experience is the result of that heavy lifting, not a substitute for it.”
PhotonPay has engineered a financial foundation spanning both stablecoin and fiat rails, connecting multi-asset conversion with local clearing networks. Institutional partnerships with J.P. Morgan, Standard Chartered, and DBS, alongside connections to domestic payment systems such as Brazil’s Pix and Mexico’s SPEI, form the backbone of this network.
The new capital will enable PhotonPay to strengthen its local clearing and compliance infrastructure in existing markets while expanding into new jurisdictions, scaling the reach of its Financial OS across corporate spending, embedded finance, and agentic commerce.
“Businesses want one provider that can handle their payments across currencies and markets, whether they’re using bank transfers, stablecoins or cards. Lewison and his team have spent a decade building the banking relationships, licenses and local payment infrastructure to deliver that. We believe PhotonPay’s ability to bring these capabilities together gives it a strong advantage as businesses adopt stablecoins for everyday payments.” – BCAP，Yuanhan Li，Partner
“As stablecoins become increasingly integrated into global payment systems, bridging digital assets with traditional financial infrastructure will be essential to unlocking their real-world potential. PhotonPay’s established global payment network and its vision for a stablecoin-centric Financial OS align closely with SBI Group’s strategy to advance digital financial infrastructure and expand the practical adoption of digital assets. We look forward to supporting PhotonPay’s continued growth and exploring opportunities for strategic collaboration across the SBI Group ecosystem.” – Eiichiro So, CEO & Managing Director of SBI Ven Capital
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About PhotonPay
Founded in Hong Kong in 2015, PhotonPay is a global fintech company building a next-generation, stablecoin-centric Financial Operating System (Financial OS). Its API-first architecture brings together multi-asset wallets supporting stablecoins and fiat currencies, global money movement, foreign exchange, global card issuing, embedded finance, and local clearing infrastructure, connecting digital and traditional financial rails within an integrated financial system.
PhotonPay operates 16 offices worldwide, employs nearly 600 people, and holds 34 payment and financial licenses and regulatory authorizations across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The company serves businesses across more than 200 countries and territories.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai More than 250 senior maritime executives are expected in Dubai on 12 November for the inaugural Seatrade Maritime UAE Summit, where shipping disruption, supply chain resilience and changes in global trade will dominate discussions. Seatrade Maritime is organising the gathering with DP World as host partner at Madinat Jumeirah. The programme will include the unveiling of the 2026 Leading Maritime Cities report prepared […]
The London Metal Exchange is exploring plans to convert metal inventories held in Hong Kong warehouses into digital assets that businesses could use to secure financing, as the city develops its commodities trading infrastructure. The exchange confirmed that its proposal remains at an exploratory stage and focuses on off-warrant metal, a category of warehouse inventory not covered by the standard title documents used in its established trading […]
Founders are pressing ahead with US expansion despite immigration uncertainty, according to new research from Beyond Border. Its Founder Mobility Pulse survey found that 82% have not changed their plans to expand to the US, while an analysis of 1,140 immigration inquiries from Asia offers insights into the region’s role in US market entry.
SINGAPORE & HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 October 2026 – Despite continued uncertainty surrounding US immigration policies, founders remain committed to expanding into the American market, according to new research from US immigration platform Beyond Border.
Beyond Border’s Founder Mobility Pulse survey, conducted in August 2026 among 307 respondents worldwide, found that 82% had not changed their US expansion plans despite immigration uncertainty. A further 11% reported either accelerating their timelines or exploring alternative visa pathways.
The findings form part of Beyond Border’s October 2026 market commentary, which also draws on proprietary analysis of 1,140 US immigration enquiries from Asia-based individuals between August 2025 and September 2026, alongside US government immigration statistics and regional talent mobility data.
The research suggests that while immigration uncertainty is influencing how founders approach US market entry, access to the American market remains an important commercial priority.
“For founders, the question is no longer simply whether to expand into the US, but how to establish the right presence there. We’re seeing businesses pursue access to American customers while keeping key functions in their home markets. Immigration planning needs to be part of that strategy from the outset, rather than something founders address only when they’re ready to relocate,” said Fred Ng, Cofounder & CEO of Beyond Border.
Four Findings on US Expansion and Immigration Trends
Beyond Border’s research highlights four developments shaping US expansion and international talent mobility:
1. Access to US customers remains the biggest expansion driver: Some 85% of survey respondents identified access to US customers as their primary motivation for expansion, compared with 8% citing fundraising and investors. Meanwhile, 60% plan to expand into the US within the next 12 months.
2. Founders are taking a more distributed approach to US expansion: Nearly two-thirds (64%) expect to establish a US presence through the founder alone or alongside a small team. At the same time, 72% intend to retain engineering and product functions in Asia, suggesting that US market entry does not necessarily require relocating entire operations.
3. Immigration uncertainty is not deterring founders’ US expansion plans: Beyond Border’s analysis of 1,140 immigration enquiries from Asia-based individuals found that approximately 45% (510) concerned the O-1 visa. Meanwhile, US government data shows diverging approval trends across immigration pathways. Between FY2022 and FY2024, approved L-1 petitions declined by 31%, while O-1/O-2 approvals increased slightly by 1%. Over a separate period, FY2023 to FY2025, EB-1A approvals increased by 20%, while EB-2 NIW approvals declined by 39%. These figures reflect changes in approval volumes rather than approval rates.
4. Changing talent mobility patterns could create opportunities for Asian economies: Estimates from Xpheno indicate that the number of US-based technology professionals returning to India increased from approximately 7,200 in 2023 to 15,100 in 2025. While these movements cannot be attributed solely to immigration policies, they point to broader shifts in international technology talent mobility.
As founders navigate an evolving immigration environment, Beyond Border’s research highlights the importance of aligning immigration decisions with commercial priorities, market entry strategies and long-term business plans.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Beyond Border
Built by founders for founders and highly skilled professionals, Beyond Border is a trusted, Singapore-founded, tech-enabled U.S. immigration platform. Launched in 2024, the company helps clients pursue U.S. visas and employment-based green cards, with a focus on O-1 visas and EB-1A and EB-2 NIW green-card pathways. Beyond Border supports clients from eligibility assessment through petition preparation, connecting them with vetted specialist immigration attorneys. Beyond Border has supported thousands of founders including from companies backed by Y Combinator, Techstars, Antler and 500 Global, as well as cross-border technology companies including SuperOps and Biorce. Beyond Border has nine offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Nigeria. For more information, visit www.beyondborderglobal.com
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 October 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform, will participate in Hong Kong FinTech Week and Singapore FinTech Festival for the third consecutive year, joining as a Silver Sponsor and Gold Sponsor, respectively. At both events, the company will showcase its latest innovations in cross-border collections and payments, AI-powered compliance and risk control, and inclusive financial services for SMEs.
XTransfer Returns to Hong Kong FinTech Week and Singapore FinTech Festival for Third Consecutive Year
Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, will join the management team at showcases and closed-door sessions in both cities, sharing views on AI risk control and operations, local-currency settlement in emerging markets and practical inclusive finance for SMEs. During the events, XTransfer will hold signing ceremonies for strategic cooperation with several international financial institutions, further extending its global clearing network.
A central focus will be XTransfer’s financial institution partnership model, which enables banks and payment institutions to participate as both co-builders and users. Partners can contribute local collection, payout and FX capabilities, while accessing services such as Pay-to-China, Local-Currency Collection and Local-Currency Payout through the XTransfer API.
Another focus will be XTransfer’s end-to-end local-currency settlement. In emerging markets, restricted access to foreign exchange can delay the settlement of legitimate trade payments. To address this, XTransfer has built an end-to-end B2B trade settlement network comparable to Visa and Mastercard, directly connecting paying and receiving banks. Paired with its pioneering local collection account service, it enables end-to-end local-currency settlement, a 24/7, fast, low-cost, and compliant option that lets buyers and sellers worldwide pay and receive trade funds in their respective local currencies. The service now covers nearly 60 countries and regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and North America, etc.
Today, XTransfer serves more than one million SMEs globally, with over US$60 billion in total payment volume in 2025, and is trusted by more than 170 global financial partners. Through its participation in Hong Kong and Singapore, XTransfer aims to deepen collaboration across the financial ecosystem and make cross-border payments more secure, efficient and accessible for trade businesses worldwide. Hashtag: #XTransfer #SFF #HKFW #HongKong #Singapore #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs #ASEAN
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