News related to
growth

By T N Ashok WASHINGTON: In the corridors of power, where messaging is currency and optics are everything, President Donald Trump faces a political paradox that threatens to undermine his party’s prospects in November’s midterm elections: his administration’s economic achievements are being systematically overshadowed by images of masked federal agents confronting protesters in Minneapolis. The […]

The article Trumps Economic Policies Drowned Out By The Drumbeat Of Minneapolis Outrage appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Dr C. J. Roy, the founder and chairman of Bengaluru-based Confident Group, died by suicide at his company office on Friday as officials from the Income Tax Department were conducting searches and questioning him, police and local authorities said. The 57-year-old was found with a gunshot wound inside his Langford Road office near Richmond Circle and was declared dead after being rushed to a hospital in HSR Layout. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the circumstances of his death, with forensic teams completing initial examinations and a post-mortem underway.

Police said staff heard a shot during the afternoon and alerted authorities, who found Roy injured in an inner room. He had reportedly been retrieving documents at the request of investigators when the incident occurred. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh described the case as a suspected suicide, noting that formal determinations will follow once the investigation and autopsy are complete. No suicide note has been confirmed at this stage.

The Income Tax Department’s presence at the Confident Group’s premises was part of a broad examination of financial records and compliance, which has extended over several days, according to law enforcement sources. Officers from the department were reviewing documentation linked to tax filings and other regulatory matters when Roy took his life. While some observers have drawn a link between the tax probe and his actions, senior police officials emphasised that motive has not been officially established and will be determined through detailed inquiry.

Confident Group has been a prominent name in the real estate sector for nearly two decades. Founded by Roy in 2005, the company grew from regional developments in Karnataka and Kerala to a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning residential and commercial real estate, hospitality and international ventures. The group’s portfolio included a large number of projects across southern India, and it had expanded into markets such as the UAE and the United States as part of its global strategy.

Roy, born Chiriankandath Joseph Roy and originally from Kerala, was widely recognised within Indian and international business communities. He held a PhD and had previously worked in the corporate sector before building his own enterprise into a major developer known for its ambitious projects and rapid growth. Beyond real estate, Roy was active in film production, backing several Malayalam films, and was seen as a cultural figure in his home state’s entertainment circles.

Industry analysts said the shock of his death will be felt across the real estate sector, where business leaders are already navigating a complex regulatory environment. The dual pressures of compliance with income tax requirements and ongoing litigation in tax and financial courts had placed significant strain on the leadership of Confident Group in recent months. Commentators on social media and industry platforms highlighted the need for greater support systems for executives coping with legal and financial scrutiny, although specific links between the probe and Roy’s decision are yet to be confirmed by officials.

Confident Group’s operations included a mix of residential communities, commercial complexes and mixed-use developments, with the company touting a “zero-debt” business approach that set it apart from many competitors in a sector often challenged by leveraged growth models. The firm’s international footprint, including property development in Dubai, had positioned it as a notable player in cross-border real estate development.

Family representatives and close associates have been approached by investigators as part of the inquiry, and police have indicated that statements from relatives and colleagues are being recorded to build a clearer picture of Roy’s state of mind and the events leading up to his death. As the probe continues, authorities have pledged to share further details when available.

The Group was also ranked third in Thailand under the international “Best Place to Work in Thailand 2025” certification, reinforcing ONYX’s commitment to sustainable people management and a strong corporate culture.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OuReach Newswire – 30 January 2026 – ONYX Hospitality Group has been recognised as the seventh Best Place to Work in the Asia-Pacific region for 2025, awarded by Best Places to Work, an internationally recognised organisation specialising in workplace assessment and employee experience benchmarking. The recognition reflects the Group’s people-centric workplace practices and a culture that places equal emphasis on employee development and service excellence, and is further reinforced by ONYX’s third-place ranking in Thailand under the “Best Place to Work in Thailand 2025” certification, highlighting the Group’s long-standing focus on sustainable people management and a strong, values-driven corporate culture.

With a diverse portfolio spanning hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences under well-established brands including Amari, OZO, Shama, and Oriental Residence, ONYX Hospitality Group continues to strengthen its position across key strategic markets in the region. As the Group approaches its 60th anniversary in 2026, these accolades further highlight ONYX’s long-standing commitment to building a resilient organisation powered by engaged and capable people.

The “Best Places to Work” certification is an internationally recognised programme that benchmarks organisational excellence in human resource practices and employee engagement. Certification is awarded through a comprehensive evaluation covering employee engagement, employee experience, and the effectiveness of HR policies and practices. In this year’s assessment, ONYX Hospitality Group demonstrated strong performance across multiple dimensions, including a supportive work environment, an open and inclusive corporate culture, and a people development strategy closely aligned with the Group’s regional business direction.

One of the key pillars supporting ONYX’s evolution as a trusted workplace is ONYX Academy, the Group’s comprehensive learning and development institute. ONYX Academy delivers structured programmes spanning foundational skills training, advanced role-specific competency development, and clearly defined career pathways for employees at all levels. By prioritising both future-ready capabilities and practical, applicable skills, the Academy equips team members for sustainable personal and professional growth.

The effectiveness of ONYX Academy has also been recognised at an industry level through multiple honours at the EXA: Employee Experience Awards 2025, including awards for the General Manager Development Programme (GM Track), the NextYou Initiative, the HR Leadership Enhancement Programme, and the Group’s ESG initiatives. These accolades further underscore ONYX Hospitality Group’s long-term and focused commitment to meaningful employee development.

Alongside capability building, ONYX Hospitality Group continues to foster a corporate culture rooted in openness and dynamism, encouraging employees to think creatively, experiment, and contribute new ideas. The Group actively supports agility and adaptability by creating space for diverse voices across the organisation. Employee well-being is also prioritised through the ONYX Cares programme, which holistically supports physical and mental health, relationships, and team engagement—contributing to a work environment that nurtures both individual fulfilment and organisational growth.

Saranya Watanasirisuk, Senior Vice President, Corporate Human Resources, commented: “At ONYX Hospitality Group, we believes that our people are the foundation for delivering exceptional experiences and service. Our success in human resource management is driven by strong leadership support at every level, enabling employees to grow across all dimensions. This commitment spans from recruitment and holistic learning systems to cultivating an environment that encourages creativity, experimentation, and the full expression of individual potential. These efforts have positioned ONYX not only as an employer of choice, but also as an organisation trusted by partners and guests alike.”

Receiving the “Best Place to Work” Certification at both national and regional levels marks another significant milestone for ONYX Hospitality Group. The achievement reinforces its commitment not only to being a regional leader in hospitality management, but also to being an organisation that genuinely values its people.

Looking ahead, ONYX remains dedicated to continuously enhancing the workplace environment and delivering meaningful employee experiences that support long-term growth and sustained competitiveness.

For more information about ONYX Hospitality Group, please visit www.onyx-hospitality.com.

Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup

https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyx-hospitality-group/
https://www.facebook.com/ONYXHospitalityGroup
https://www.instagram.com/onyxhospitalitygroup/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About ONYX Hospitality Group:

ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in Southeast Asia’s 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 in Southeast Asia where their expertise lies. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX Hospitality Group also operates additional hospitality services across spa and food and beverage. With over five 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.

More information: www.onyx-hospitality.com

The event was officiated by Prof. Timothy TONG, Chairman of the Research Grants Council (RGC); Mr Osher GILINSKY, Vice President for Asia Pacific, Academia and Government, Clarivate; and Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, who delivered opening remarks.

Celebrating PolyU’s exceptional research achievements and their far-reaching impacts on society, the Nation and the world, Prof. Tong stated, “The PolyU Research Excellence Report vividly demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development, reflecting the dedication and innovation of its faculty, researchers and students.” Prof. Tong commended PolyU for its effective use of research resources, noting the significant advancements in AI-driven medical breakthroughs, climate solutions and sustainability. He further emphasised the RGC’s ongoing commitment to supporting research that addresses major societal challenges, exemplified by initiatives such as the Research Impact Fund. Additionally, he reaffirmed the RGC’s partnership with universities in strengthening Hong Kong’s status as a global knowledge hub.

Recognising PolyU’s outstanding global research performance, Mr Gilinsky elaborated, “In recent years, PolyU has demonstrated high research productivity in high quality, driving for high impact for the society. PolyU was granted 1,020 patents between 2020 and 2024, the second highest among UGC-funded universities. To enhance research translation, PolyU has formed partnerships with companies including NVIDIA, Huawei and Alibaba. These achievements illustrate PolyU’s international connectivity, diverse disciplinary strengths and strong culture of research translation. Leveraging its strength with the Chinese Mainland resources, PolyU is also accelerating knowledge transfer and identifying emerging areas for discovery, particularly in AI-powered healthcare, sustainable engineering, advanced manufacturing and smart city development—fields where it aims for global leadership.”

Prof. Chao emphasised, “The report is a testament to years of dedicated effort, groundbreaking innovation and the unwavering commitment of the PolyU academic community. In 2025, we are proud to have 21 PolyU scholars named Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate, while 428 rank among Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists—placing PolyU second among Hong Kong tertiary institutions. Our Strategic Plan 2025/26 – 2030/31, themed ‘Unite to Meet Challenges, Innovate to Benefit Society,’ will further empower PolyU to deliver even more transformative contributions to society.”

Clarivate has been forging continuous collaborations with numerous institutions, including co-authoring the report series The impact of research undertaken by universities in Hong Kong with UGC in 2022. Produced by Clarivate using authoritative data from the Web of Science, the PolyU Research Excellence Report delivers a comprehensive assessment of the University’s overall research performance and achievements, highlighting PolyU’s global leadership in engineering, advancements in powering medical research with emerging AI technologies, and unique contributions to the hospitality, fashion and textile, design and art disciplines that distinguish the University on the global stage.

PolyU’s strengths are exemplified by its leadership in Hong Kong’s research output growth, achieving the highest number of publications among UGC‑funded universities in 2024. Nearly 40% of its outputs are internationally co-authored, while 27% involve QS Top 50 university partners. The quality and impact of the University’s research output are further evidenced by its strong disciplinary performance. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, seven PolyU disciplines rank in the global Top 30, while, overall, 26 disciplines are listed among the world’s Top 100, underscoring the breadth and depth of the University’s academic excellence across multiple fields.

Following the report launch, the Impact Forum featured a high-level panel discussion on “Innovations and Challenges in Research Evaluation”. The discussion facilitated insightful exchanges between the panel and attendees on evolving approaches to research assessment, the importance of measuring societal impact and strategies for fostering cross-institutional collaboration.

Hashtag: #PolyU #Clarivate #ResearchOutput #AIMedical #Engineering #HongKong

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

By Nitya Chakraborty The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, January 29 in Beijing assumes special significance at a time when Britain is fighting its transatlantic ally U.S. over the sovereignty of Greenland and President Trump has mentioned security threat from China and Russia in Arctic […]

The article China’s Diplomatic, Trade Gains In Europe Continue As Trump Fumes appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Hong Kong’s first exchange-traded fund directly tracking physical gold prices posted a sharp rise on its trading debut on Thursday, underscoring renewed investor appetite for safe-haven assets as bullion climbed to a fresh all-time high in international markets.

The Hang Seng Gold ETF gained more than 9% within hours of listing, according to exchange data, drawing robust turnover from institutional and retail investors seeking exposure to gold without holding the metal outright. The launch coincided with spot gold touching a record level just below $2,500 an ounce, driven by a combination of monetary policy expectations, geopolitical uncertainty and sustained central bank demand.

Market participants said the strength of the debut reflected pent-up demand in Hong Kong for simple, exchange-based gold products that track global prices more closely. While futures-linked and commodity-basket funds have existed for years, the new ETF is structured to mirror spot prices using physical gold holdings, reducing tracking error and rollover costs.

Gold’s advance has been underpinned by expectations that major central banks are approaching an inflection point in interest-rate policy. Slowing inflation in the United States and Europe has reinforced the view that rate cuts could come later this year, weakening the dollar and lowering the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as gold. The metal has also benefited from persistent buying by central banks seeking to diversify reserves amid currency volatility and sanctions-related risks.

In Hong Kong, the ETF’s issuer said the product was designed to meet demand from investors who view gold as both a hedge against macroeconomic shocks and a portfolio diversifier. The fund allows trading in local currency during market hours, offering an alternative to offshore accounts or over-the-counter bullion purchases.

Analysts noted that the timing of the launch proved advantageous. Global gold prices have risen by more than 20% over the past year, supported by strong inflows into bullion-backed products in Asia and the Middle East. In contrast, flows into some gold ETFs listed in North America had been uneven earlier in the cycle, reflecting higher real yields and competition from cash-like instruments. That pattern has shifted as expectations around policy easing firmed.

Hong Kong’s exchange has been seeking to broaden its commodity and currency-linked offerings to attract regional capital, particularly from mainland investors using cross-border trading channels. Although access rules vary by product, fund managers said interest from family offices and private banks was a key driver of early demand for the gold ETF.

Spot gold’s climb to record territory has also been fuelled by geopolitical tensions spanning Eastern Europe and the Middle East, alongside concerns about sovereign debt sustainability in several advanced economies. Such factors have reinforced gold’s role as a store of value during periods of heightened uncertainty.

Bullion dealers in Asia reported steady physical demand from jewellery manufacturers and investors, even as higher prices tempered buying in some price-sensitive markets. Premiums in major trading hubs narrowed but remained positive, signalling underlying support rather than speculative excess.

The strong opening performance of the Hang Seng Gold ETF contrasts with more subdued debuts for some equity-linked funds in the city this year, highlighting the divergence between defensive assets and riskier sectors. Equity markets in the region have faced headwinds from uneven growth prospects and regulatory uncertainty, pushing some investors to rebalance portfolios towards commodities and hard assets.

Industry observers cautioned that gold prices can be volatile in the short term, particularly if inflation data or central bank guidance shifts market expectations. A stronger-than-expected rebound in growth or a delay in policy easing could trigger profit-taking after the metal’s sharp run-up. Even so, many strategists maintain that structural factors, including reserve diversification by monetary authorities and long-term fiscal pressures, provide a supportive backdrop.

Citigold Private Clients will gain access to alternative asset classes including private equity and private infrastructure

HONG KONG SAR and SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 January 2026 – Citi Hong Kong and Citi Singapore have announced strategic partnerships with leading global private market firms Blackstone, Blue Owl and KKR, to launch evergreen funds for high net-worth clients who are seeking enhanced wealth solutions and greater portfolio diversification.

Through the partnerships, Citigold Private Clients in Asia and the Middle East will gain access to private markets, including equity, credit, infrastructure, and real estate. These alternative asset classes have traditionally been reserved for institutional investors.

The funds will be structured in an evergreen format, offering simplified access to private markets with more flexible subscription and liquidity terms than traditional closed-ended private markets solutions, subject to a minimum initial holding period.

The launch of the funds has started and the funds will continue to be rolled out in the next few months.

Citigold Private Clients will be able to diversify their portfolios, capture opportunities for uncorrelated returns and long-term growth, as well as participate directly in the value creation inherent in private markets assets.

Ms Vicky Kong, Head of Wealth, Asia North and Australia, Citi, said: “In today’s complex and volatile market, our clients are rightly seeking resilient, diversified sources of returns beyond traditional public markets. This collaboration with Blackstone, Blue Owl and KKR directly addresses that demand, providing sophisticated access to private markets that were once the exclusive domain of institutional and private bank investors. This is more than a product expansion, it’s a significant step in our commitment to delivering comprehensive wealth management solutions to our affluent clients, and empowering our clients to build long-term portfolios fit for the future.”

Ms Yeo Wenxian, Head of Wealth for Asia South, Citi, said: “We are excited to work with Blackstone, Blue Owl and KKR to leverage their industry leadership, investment expertise and robust deal-sourcing capabilities. These investment vehicles will deepen and broaden Citi’s comprehensive wealth management offerings, further cementing our role as a trusted partner to our clients in their wealth journeys.”

Mr Ed Huang, Head of Asia Pacific for Blackstone Private Wealth, said: “We are delighted to build on our longstanding relationship with Citi, combining its robust network and Blackstone’s position as the world’s largest alternatives manager, with proven performance in scaled offerings and a 23-year track record serving individual investors. We remain committed to expanding access to institutional-quality private market opportunities for Citi’s high-net-worth clients, helping them diversify their portfolios. Education is the cornerstone of our platform, and we look forward to deepening our partnership by providing enhanced resources and insights into private markets.”

Mr Sean Connor, CEO and Global Head of Private Wealth at Blue Owl Capital, said: “Our global partnership with Citi for their platform expansion in Asia is a critical milestone in our collective effort to provide best-in-class access to the private markets for investors. We are pleased to bring Blue Owl’s differentiated investment capabilities, all-weather solutions, along with dedicated service and support for Citi financial advisors and their clients. Our priority is to continue to provide differentiated access to institutional-grade solutions that empower investors to unlock the full potential of the private markets in their portfolios with leading global partners like Citi.”

Ms Jacqueline Zhuang, Managing Director and Head of Global Wealth Solutions Asia Pacific ex-Japan at KKR, said: “This strategic partnership with Citi provides their advisors and clients across Asia and the Middle East with differentiated access to KKR’s suite of evergreen private equity, infrastructure and private credit strategies. Individual wealth investors expect access to the same private markets investment opportunities as institutions. Together with Citi, we are focused on delivering a comprehensive solution that combines investor service, education, and access to KKR’s differentiated investment capabilities.”

Hashtag: #Citibank

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Citi

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

Additional information may be found atwww.citigroup.com | X: @Citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi