BEIJING, Dec. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

China launched island-wide special customs operations on Dec 18 in the Hainan Free Trade Port, the world’s largest FTP by area, as global tourism leaders gathered on the island — a move that industry insiders believe could reshape tourism cooperation, investment and visitor flows in the coming years.

The change in a package of policies coincided with the opening of the China International Travel Mart 2025 in Haikou, the capital of Hainan province, on Dec 19.

The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 business operators and representatives from 101 countries and regions, a record level of participation that organizers say reflects growing international interest in the island province.

Industry participants say the expected surge in cooperation is underpinned by Hainan’s entry policies, which include visa-free access for travelers from 86 countries, as well as expanded visa-waiver arrangements for cruise passengers and tour groups. Combined with the new customs operations, these measures are positioning the island as a platform for joint tourism ventures.

Thailand, the guest of honor at this year’s travel mart, also highlighted the broader implications of the shift in a range of policies. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that “two-way tourism” would be central to future growth, suggesting that Hainan’s development could support more balanced tourist flows and shared destination marketing.

“Hainan’s customs operations make it easier for us to engage directly with the Chinese market,” said Jan Vislocky of Slovakia’s Vislocky Travel.

Inbound travel to Hainan has surged since Dec 18. Data from travel platform Qunar shows that international flight bookings to Haikou from this Christmas through the 2026 Spring Festival holiday have increased by more than 40 percent compared to the previous year.

Visitors are already experiencing the effects. Vika Karenina, a tourist from Russia, said the wide range of international payment options and the absence of a tax refund process made her shopping at Sanya’s duty free city seamless.

“I’ve really enjoyed the sun and beach on this visit to Sanya, and the timing was perfect to experience duty-free shopping — it was the most delightful surprise of my trip,” Karenina said on Dec 18 at Sanya International Duty Free Complex.

“The whole shopping experience was as smooth as clearing customs,” she said. “Next time, I’m bringing my family.”

For more information, please click https://bit.ly/4j04O5A

HONG KONG, Dec. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With the AI trend surging forward, Watsons Water proudly announces the launch of its first AI-designed “Hong Kong Landmark” Series. This limited artistic series offers consumers a brand-new experience that seamlessly blends technology, art aesthetics, and the unique charm of Hong Kong. It marks the first time Watsons Water has utilized Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to generate product packaging designs. Not only it aims to accurately capture new market trends and successfully create buzz, it also represents a breakthrough for the brand in the field of packaging design.

Pioneering AI-Generated Design Creates Market Buzz

Watsons Water is deeply aware of the market’s attention to innovation and AI technology, and has taken the lead in integrating artificial intelligence into its product design. The series combines the limitless creativity of AI with distinct Hong Kong cultural elements. Through a series of meticulously crafted visuals, the series aims to resonate with consumers and ignite their desire to collect. This is more than just a bottle of water; it is the perfect fusion of AI art and the spirit of Hong Kong.

Three Iconic Hong Kong Landmarks Showcase the City’s Diverse Charm

The “AI-Designed Hong Kong Landmark” series features three distinct designs, each portraying one of Hong Kong’s most representative landmarks. Using AI technology, these locations are reinterpreted with brilliant colours and rich details, showcasing the city’s multifaceted appeal:

Victoria Harbour

The design captures the city’s brilliant lights, where towering skyscrapers and iconic ferries collectively form a vibrant, flowing picture, symbolizing Hong Kong’s prosperity and dynamism.

The Peak & Lion Rock

This design perfectly combines the mountaintop views, featuring majestic Lion Rock and the Peak Tram to embody the unique harmony between Hong Kong’s urban and natural environments.

Big Buddha & Tsz Shan Monastery 

The packaging highlights the feature of Hong Kong’s multi-religious society, juxtaposing the solemn Big Buddha with the tranquil Tsz Shan Monastery, set against a backdrop of festive fireworks to add peace and blessing to the holiday season.

Limited Edition Series | Join Activation to Win Supermarket Vouchers

The “AI-Designed Hong Kong” Commemorative Packaging is available for Watsons Water products in 430mL and 800mL sizes. It will be gradually launched at major retail outlets during the Christmas and New Year period and is a limited-edition release. Whether for holiday gifting, entertaining guests, or personal collection, this series is the best medium to showcase the charm of Hong Kong to the world.

Watsons Water looks forward to bringing a fresh feeling to the market through this innovative attempt and sincerely invites all citizens and tourists to witness how AI technology can infuse daily life with artistic flair. Watsons Water will also launch an “WE LOVE HK” themed social campaign in December, where winners will have the chance to win a $500 supermarket voucher. Campaign details will be announced on our social media platforms, so stay tuned!

About Watsons Water

Watsons Water has been producing distilled water for the people of Hong Kong since 1903. Watsons Water has consistently upheld the social vision of “We Care,” constantly striving for innovation to ensure you can enjoy 100% pure quality distilled water. Watsons Water is widely popular in Hong Kong SAR, mainland China, and even Southeast Asia. Its production plants are located in places like Hong Kong and Guangzhou, making it one of the world’s largest distilled water manufacturers, providing the purest distilled water to countries and regions such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan region.

About A.S. Watson Group

A.S. Watson Group was founded in 1841 and is rooted in Asia. It is one of the world’s oldest and most highly recognized retailers. The Group currently operates over 16,900 stores across 12 brands in 30 markets. It employs approximately 130,000 people globally, making A.S. Watson Group the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer.

The Group’s turnover for the 2024 fiscal year exceeded US$24 billion. Annually, we serve over 6 billion customers through our O+O (Offline plus Online) platform, bringing them a seamless offline and online retail experience.

In Hong Kong, our four retail brands operate a combined total of over 500 stores. These include Watsons, PARKnSHOP, Fortress, and Watson’s Wine Cellar. The Group also manufactures and distributes quality drinking water, Watsons Water, as well as Mr. Juicy and Sunkist juice drinks.

A.S. Watson Group is a member of the multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited. CK Hutchison’s business spans over 50 countries, operating four core businesses: ports and related services, retail, infrastructure, and telecommunications.

For more details, please visit www.aswatson.com/our-company/o-and-o-strategy/.
More High-Res Photo: https://shorturl.at/cBh6H

– End –

Tokyo-based communications firm celebrates 15 years supporting global organizations with multilingual storytelling, video production, and cross-border communications

TOKYO, Dec. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting, Inc. (PBMC), a Tokyo-based multilingual media and communications firm, marks its 15th anniversary this year, celebrating a decade and a half of supporting global organizations with international storytelling, video production, and cross-border communications from Japan.

Founded in 2010 by international journalist Toshi Maeda, PBMC was established with the mission to connect the world with trusted content and help realize a richer and more equitable society. With a strong on-the-ground presence in Japan and an international perspective rooted in journalism, PBMC has become a trusted partner for over 15 years, producing high-quality content for a wide range of clients seeking local production expertise combined with global communication standards.

Its work includes a broad range of creative and communications services, including interviews, video messages, promotional and documentary videos, computer graphics, multilingual editorial content, and event-related media production. The company works closely with clients on a case-by-case basis, offering flexible support for both quick-turnaround projects and longer-term, strategic content initiatives that emphasize storytelling, clarity, and cross-cultural relevance.

These services are used by major Japanese corporations, leading international companies, Japanese government ministries and agencies, foreign government entities and embassies, as well as influential media outlets, news organizations, broadcast networks, and professional video production firms in Japan and overseas. Through these partnerships, PBMC has built a strong track record in delivering high-quality, multilingual content and strategic communications that meet the needs of both domestic and global audiences.

As PBMC enters its next chapter, the company continues to evolve alongside the changing media and communications landscape, strengthening its end-to-end support model and expanding both production and consulting capabilities. It has expanded its services to include global press release creation and distribution, international media relations support, and media training for executives and spokespeople. These services are designed to help organizations communicate more effectively with international media, investors, and stakeholders, while managing complex cross-border narratives with accuracy and confidence.

Comment from Toshi Maeda, CEO of Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting:

“Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting began 15 years ago as a small team producing news content for international media. Since then, we have expanded our client base to include a wide range of companies and government agencies, providing global content strategies and storytelling that communicate real value to audiences around the world.

In recent years, our work has grown beyond content production alone. We now deliver a full suite of media services – from bilingual press conferences and cross-border events to global PR support and media training – helping clients connect more effectively across languages and markets.

Even as our services broaden, our core values remain unchanged. Guided by our mission to connect the world with trusted content, our global team is committed to delivering reliable, first-hand information—stories we report ourselves—at a time when unverified content spreads easily online. We will continue bridging Japan and the world by sharing primary information across linguistic and cultural boundaries.”

PBMC 15th anniversary video: https://pacificbridge.jp/en/work/pbmc-15th-anniversary-documentary/

About Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting, Inc. (PBMC)

Founded in 2010 by international journalist Toshi Maeda, Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting, Inc. (PBMC) is a multilingual media and communications company guided by the mission to “connect the world with trusted content and help realize a richer and more equitable society.”

PBMC specializes in creating and delivering global-ready content that combines journalism, video production, language expertise, and technology. The company provides end-to-end support for organizations seeking to communicate internationally, including content planning and production, multilingual storytelling, and cross-border communication strategy.

With a strong track record working with global corporations, domestic and international media, startups, and government agencies, PBMC has established itself as a trusted partner for international communications and multimedia content production.

Company Overview

Company Name: Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting, Inc.
CEO: Toshi Maeda
Founded: June 30, 2010
Headquarters:
22nd Floor, Shiroyama Trust Tower
4-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Main Fields of Business:

• Multilingual content strategy development, production, and distribution
• Cross-border public relations, media relations, and investor communications
• Bilingual and multilingual event planning, production, and technical/editorial support
• Live streaming and hybrid event broadcasting
• News, press release, and media content production and global distribution
• Startup and corporate media platform management and content creation

Website: https://pacificbridge.jp

About JStories

JStories is a solutions-focused media platform dedicated to showcasing innovations originating in Japan that address global challenges such as environmental sustainability, food security, and social issues.

Launched in April 2022, JStories has published more than 500 original articles and continues to share stories from Japanese startups, NGOs, researchers, and universities through in-depth articles and video content. By highlighting practical solutions and forward-looking ideas, JStories connects global audiences with Japan’s innovation ecosystem.

JStories Website:
(English) https://jstories.media
(Japanese) https://jstories.media/jp
(Chinese) https://jstories.media/zh

CONTACT:

PACIFIC BRIDGE MEDIA AND CONSULTING
Editorial department: Toshi Maeda (Executive Editor)・Takanori Isshiki (Deputy Executive Editor)・Anita De Michele (Editorial Coordinator)
email: info@pacificbridge.jp 
phone: +81- 50-5527-0955

In the news release, SI Group Announces Closing of Comprehensive Recapitalization, Positioning the Company for Accelerated Growth, issued 24-Dec-2025 by SI Group, Inc. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

SI Group Announces Closing of Comprehensive Recapitalization, Positioning the Company for Accelerated Growth

Significant De-leveraging Transaction Resulting in Overall Debt Reduction of Approximately $1.7 Billion

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Dec. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SI Group, a leading global developer and manufacturer of performance additives, process solutions and chemical intermediates, today announced the successful completion of a comprehensive recapitalization transaction supported by its lenders and equity partners. Through this transaction, SI Group has reduced its outstanding net indebtedness by approximately $1.7 billion (over 80% reduction) and made amendments to its revolving credit facility, both of which materially enhance SI Group’s financial and operational flexibility going forward. In addition, a new institutional ownership group, has injected $150 million of junior capital, demonstrating their confidence in the company’s long-term outlook. This investment will enable SI Group to fund the company’s working capital needs, invest in key operational initiatives, and accelerate growth to serve the needs of its customers and business partners.

“This recapitalization represents an important step for SI Group,” said David Bradley, President and CEO of SI Group. “By reducing our debt and securing new investment, we have strengthened our financial foundation, allowing us to continue investing in growth, improving operational capabilities, and supporting our customers worldwide. We appreciate the partnership of our new institutional investors, whose commitment reflects confidence in our strategy and positions us for long-term success.”

Advisors
Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor, PJT Partners served as investment banker, AlixPartners LLP served as financial advisor to SI Group. 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP served as legal advisor and Lazard served as investment banker to an ad hoc group of the company’s second-out term loan lenders.

Baker Botts L.L.P. served as legal advisor to the company’s pre-transaction equity holders.

About SI Group
SI Group is a global leader in the innovative technology of performance additives, process solutions, and chemical intermediates. SI Group solutions are essential to enhancing the quality and performance of countless industrial and consumer goods within plastics, rubber & adhesives, fuels & lubricants, oilfield, and pharmaceutical industries. SI Group’s global manufacturing footprint includes 18 facilities on three continents, serving customers in 80 countries with approximately 1,600 employees worldwide. In 2025, SI Group received a bronze award for corporate social responsibility by EcoVadis and is ranked among the top 35 percent of the more than 150,000 companies worldwide. SI Group innovates and drives change to create value with a passion for safety, chemistry, sustainability, and extraordinary results. Learn more at www.siigroup.com.

Media Contact:
Joseph Grande
ph: + 1.413.684.2463
joe@jgrandecommunications.com

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this release was missing a period, and incorrectly described Baker Botts L.L.P. as the legal advisor to the company’s ‘current’ (rather than ‘pre-transaction’) equity holders.

SINGAPORE, Dec. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HashKey Capital, a leading global asset manager specializing in crypto and blockchain, announced the successful first closing of its fourth fund, HashKey Fintech Multi-Strategy Fund IV (“Fund IV”). The fund concluded with US$250 million in total commitments, exceeding initial expectations and drawing significant interest from a diverse group of global institutional investors. As previously announced, the final AUM is targeted at US$500 million.

Fund IV, whose general partner is HashKey Capital Investment (part of HashKey Capital, and together with its affiliates, the “HashKey Group”), include a sophisticated mix of institutional investors, prominent family offices, and high net-worth individuals. Fund I has achieved a DPI of over 10x, which signals a robust institutional appetite for high-conviction blockchain exposure despite shifting global market dynamics.

Fund IV will pursue a multi-strategy investment approach to advance outstanding digital asset initiatives with a focus on infrastructures, scalable, and mass-adoption use cases globally. The fund combines a public-market strategy with liquidity generating crossover opportunities to capture structural inefficiencies for the digital assets industry. It is also complemented by selective private-market investments in innovations to enhance alpha.

A Legacy of High-Conviction Investing

Since its inception in 2018, HashKey Capital has been a cornerstone of the global blockchain ecosystem. With over US$1 billion in assets under management (AUM), the firm has managed a portfolio of more than 400 projects worldwide.

As an early institutional backer of Ethereum, HashKey Capital has a proven track record of identifying industry-defining technologies. Based in Singapore with a presence in Hong Kong and Japan, HashKey Capital is a pioneer in regulated investment, being among the first in Hong Kong to receive licensed upgrades for Type1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Securities Advisory) and Type 9 (Asset Management) services. Through its role in launching Hong Kong’s first Spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs and organizing the Hong Kong Web3 Festival, HashKey Capital continues to be the definitive bridge between Eastern and Western crypto ecosystems and communities.

“With US $250 million in new capital, we are uniquely positioned to capture the massive growth occurring in emerging markets. These regions are the true testing grounds for blockchain’s real world applications, and Fund IV will provide the essential fuel to scale those innovations globally.” said Deng Chao, CEO of HashKey Capital.

“As we look toward 2026, the convergence of AI, blockchain, and institutional finance is creating unprecedented opportunities. Fund IV ensures that HashKey remains at the epicenter of this evolution, empowering projects that demonstrate both technical excellence and commercial viability.” said Dr. Xiao Feng, Founder of HashKey Group.

Fund IV will provide investors with institutional-grade exposure to all facets of blockchain and crypto technologies. This new fund aims to invest with a multi-facet strategy in infrastructures, toolings, and applications that have potential for mass adoption.

About HashKey Capital

HashKey Capital is a global digital asset and blockchain leader helping institutions, founders and talents advance the blockchain industry.

As one of the largest crypto fund managers and being the earliest corporate investor in Ethereum, HashKey Capital has managed over US$1 billion in client assets since its inception. Leveraging its unparalleled expertise, HashKey Capital’s venture investments team oversees a diversified portfolio of over 400 pioneering projects across institutional services, infrastructure, data, AI, consumer services/technology and more.

On the liquid funds front, HashKey Capital manages a suite of digital asset products, including an actively managed fund and the Bosera HashKey Bitcoin (3008.HK) and Ether (3009.HK) spot ETFs, which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). HashKey has also launched HashKey Fintech Multi-Strategy Fund IV in September 2025, targeting over USD 500 million to bridge traditional financial capital with on-chain assets.

With our deep knowledge across the blockchain ecosystem, HashKey Capital has built a robust network connecting founders, investors, developers, and regulators.

Website: https://hashkey.capital/
X: https://x.com/HashKey_Capital