BEIJING, Jan. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From March 31 to April 2, 2025, the 11th Beijing International Wisdom Agriculture and Irrigation Technology Expo and World Irrigation Technology Conference will be held in Beijing National Convention Center. At the same time, the third Beijing International Water Conservancy Science and Technology Expo will be held.
The conference is an innovation highland linking digital agriculture and irrigation technology at home and abroad, and is also the most professional and largest wisdom agriculture and irrigation exhibition in China. With an exhibition area of 30,000 square meters, 800 enterprises from 33 countries and regions around the world will display the world’s leading advanced equipment and technology, including 20 of the world’s top 500 enterprises and listed companies.
15,000 buyers from more than 10 countries and regions such as the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Israel, Australia, Spain, France, Turkey, Cyprus, Japan and South Korea will visit and purchase.
In the same period, the Southeast Asia Agricultural Irrigation System Promotion Conference, the Silk Road-countries and Russia Agricultural Irrigation System Promotion Conference, the Beijing International Wisdom Agriculture Conference, the world’s first new technology and new products promotion conference, the global intelligent agricultural equipment innovation Ceremony and other activities will be held, bringing together the world’s agricultural cutting-edge technology and promote international trade cooperation.
If you want to know about this exhibition,welcome to visit our website: www.chinaite.com.cn
The shift to annual issuance of the SOC 2 Type 2 report offers a more comprehensive view of control and operating effectiveness for data security.
The report has examined OSL’s custody, automated trading services (ATS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) operations.
HONG KONG, Jan. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OSL Digital Securities (OSL), a leading regulated digital asset platform and a member of OSL Group (863.HK), today announced the successful completion of its SOC 2 Type 2 report for the second consecutive year. The report includes the company’s custody, automated trading services (ATS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) operations.
In line with industry best practices, OSL has extended the observation window of the SOC 2 Type 2 Report to 12 months. This change enables a more thorough and strategic evaluation of the controls and efficacy of its data security management, underscoring OSL’s strong dedication to transparency, compliance, and data protection.
The SOC 2 Type 2 certification, conducted by a renowned Big Four accounting firm, highlights OSL’s high standards of security, availability, and confidentiality across its custody, ATS, and SaaS solutions. This certification provides important assurance to clients who require third-party validation to fulfill their due diligence and compliance requirements.
Kevin Cui, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of OSL, said: “Data security and protection are paramount in the digital asset industry. We have invested significantly into driving operational excellence and regulatory compliance, and maintaining our SOC 2 Type 2 certification is a key part of that commitment. Our ultimate goal is to continue leading and enhancing the security and compliance standards for our industry.”
SOC 2, which stands for “System and Organisation Controls 2”, is a framework that defines a set of rules and standards an organisation must follow to ensure the safety and security of the information it manages. It is an authoritative assurance report that is particularly vital for institutional clients, such as banks and audited firms.
About OSL
Backed by Asia’s leading public fintech and digital asset company, OSL Group (863.HK), formerly BC Technology Group, OSL is the world’s first SFC-licensed and insured digital asset platform. Founded in 2018, OSL has an established history in the sector and is recognised by many as the leader in providing comprehensive regulated and licensed digital asset solutions.
OSL offers Markets services (brokerage, exchange, and custody) and SaaS technology solutions, which deliver institutional clients in addition to professional and retail investors access to global liquidity through its best-in-class digital asset platform. OSL’s secured and insured hot and cold wallet infrastructure also ensures the safekeeping of digital assets with timely transaction settlements.
As the digital asset industry continues to evolve, so does OSL. OSL’s simple and tailored approach compliantly navigates international clients through the evolving digital assets environment.
HONG KONG, Jan. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Starting today, PhotonPay, a digital financial infrastructure, will support Google Pay, enabling cardholders to take advantage of simple and secure contactless payments and digital card storage on both Android devices and WearOS.
PhotonPay Launches Google Pay Support for Mastercard Users in Hong Kong
Using Google Pay also makes payments safer with multiple layers of security, adding to the protections already provided by your PhotonPay Mastercard Commercial Credit Card. This includes industry-standard tokenization, which means transactions made through Google Pay use a virtual card number (a token) instead of the actual card number. This token is device-specific and paired with a dynamic security code that changes with each transaction, adding an extra layer of protection against fraud.
Powered by Near Field Communication (NFC), tap-to-pay transactions enable secure, short-range wireless data exchange, ensuring fast and reliable payments for PhotonPay users. Additionally, Google Wallet’s privacy settings give users full control over their data, and the “Find My Device” feature ensures card and data security by allowing users to lock devices, reset passwords, or erase personal information remotely.
Chao Xu, Vice President of Products at PhotonPay, said, ” We’re thrilled to annouce PhotonPay’s integration with Google Pay. PhotonPay is still a powerful platform to manage all your cards in on and its integration with Google Pay enbles even more ways to pay in stores, online, and in-apps. With Google Pay and PhotonPay’s all-in-one card and customized tools, customers get to experience a simpler, rewarding way to manage their finances.”
Founded in 2015, PhotonPay offers global payment solutions to businesses with its innovative core products including Global Accounts, Card Issuing, Online Payments, Payouts, FX Management and Embedded Finance. It is committed to building a digital payment network to take the friction out of global payments and enhance operational efficiency for businesses operating on a global scale.
Add PhotonPay Mastercard Commercial Credit Card to Google Wallet
Open the Google Wallet app or download it on Google Play
Tap ‘Add to Wallet’ and follow the instructions
Verify your card if needed. Then you’re all set!
To start using your PhotonPay Mastercard Commercial Credit Card with Google Pay, download Google Wallet on Google Play today.
Founded in 2015, PhotonPay is a digital financial infrastructure provider offering global payment solutions to businesses. Our innovative core products include Global Accounts, Card Issuing, Online Payments, Payouts, FX Management and Embedded Finance. PhotonPay has become a Mastercard issuer in Hong Kong and the fintech card issuer in the Greater China region of Discover® Global Network.
With a strong compliance culture and technological innovation capabilities, PhotonPay is building a digital payment network to take the friction out of global payments and enhance operational efficiency for businesses operating on a global scale.
Headquarters in Hong Kong and providing localized services through nine international offices, PhotonPay partners with a network of top-tier banks and global financial institutions and serves more than 200,000 enterprises globally.
Experts explore new economic opportunities presented by New Productive Forces, with a focus on comprehensive support for businesses
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 –As 2025 unfolds, the global economic landscape is being reshaped, with innovative technologies redefining industrial development. This marks a crucial period for Hong Kong, poised to spearhead future economic growth through innovation-driven productivity. Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) hosted its thought-provoking annual signature event, “ForeSight 2025” (the Forum) today, themed “Navigating the Future of Hong Kong’s Economy with New Productive Forces.” Professor Justin Yi-fu LIN, Dean of Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, delivered the keynote speech to an audience of over 400 distinguished representatives from the technology, finance, and manufacturing sectors. The “ForeSight Leaders Panel” held later at the event had an in-depth discussion on how Hong Kong can harness New Productive Forces to foster sustainable economic development.
Guests of Honor, Guest Speakers, and HKPC Council Members officiate the opening of the “ForeSight 2025.”
Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC, emphasised the crucial role of New Productive Forces in shaping Hong Kong’s economic future. He stated that the HKSAR Government is actively aligning with national development strategies, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths in fundamental research and its international standing to accelerate the development of New Productive Forces. This focus aims to foster emerging industries and transform traditional sectors. HKPC has launched the “New Productive Forces Service Platform,” designed to empower businesses, particularly SMEs, to capitalise on emerging opportunities, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to high-quality development.
Hon Sunny TAN added that the Forum featured a keynote speech by Professor Justin Yi-fu LIN, former Chief Economist of the World Bank, who has analysed Hong Kong’s distinct industrial advantages and development prospects from the perspective of “New Structural Economics,” exploring strategic pathways for Hong Kong to enhance New Productive Forces within the current global context. Furthermore, the Forum convened influential industry leaders to examine how Hong Kong can strategically deploy innovation and technology (I&T) to maximise its unique advantages in new industrialisation, facilitating SMEs’s global expansion, and strengthening intellectual property protection. Through this Forum, HKPC aims to equip businesses with the insights and tools necessary to seize innovative opportunities and contribute to a more prosperous Hong Kong.
Professor Justin Yifu LIN, Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, offered insights into Hong Kong’s unique advantages in developing new productive forces from the perspective of “New Structural Economics”. As the first scholar from a developing country to serve as the World Bank’s Chief Economist, Professor LIN noted that new productive forces stem from technological revolutions and industrial transformations, characterised by “high-end technology, high quality, and high efficiency.” To cultivate these forces, it is essential to foster emerging industries such as new energy, advanced materials, artificial intelligence (AI), electronic information, and biomedicine. Additionally, developing future industries like quantum computing and controlled nuclear fusion is crucial. This process also requires the effective integration of digitalisation, intelligent automation, and green technologies to enhance and upgrade traditional industries.
Professor LIN further emphasised that Hong Kong should adopt a pragmatic “build before breaking and adapt to local conditions” development strategy for fostering new productive forces. Leveraging its world-class educational resources, rich talent pool, and strong connections to the extensive manufacturing ecosystem in Mainland China, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to commercialize research and development outcomes and upgrade traditional industries. Hong Kong boasts a well-established innovation ecosystem that serves as a vital bridge between Mainland and global markets. This strategic advantage will enable Hong Kong to achieve significant breakthroughs in areas such as smart manufacturing and green finance, effectively capitalising on the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
ForeSight Leaders Panel Focuses on Innovative Development
The “ForeSight Leaders Panel”, moderated by media veteran Professor Vincent WONG Wing, focused on the pivotal question: “How New Productive Forces Can Propel Hong Kong’s Economy to New Heights.” Professor Simon WONG, Vice President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA), highlighted the CMA’s initiatives to promote sustainable development among local businesses, encouraging SMEs to embrace digital transformation, and implement ESG principles to enhance competitiveness and foster sustainable economic growth. Mr Jude CHOW, Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI), shared the FHKI’s successful collaboration with HKPC on environmentally friendly technology innovation projects. He reaffirmed FHKI’s commitment to facilitating industry collaboration through networking events, enabling Hong Kong businesses to capitalise on opportunities from the Belt and Road Initiative and the green economy for high-quality development. Dr Kang QU, Managing Director of Sustainability Strategy, Deputy General Manager of the Economics & Strategic Planning Department and Deputy Head of the Hong Kong Financial Research Institute at Bank of China (Hong Kong), underscored the crucial role of green finance in driving new productive forces. He pointed out the strong global demand for green investments and Hong Kong’s potential to attract substantial green capital by leveraging opportunities in Belt and Road Initiatives, with its robust financial system and leading green bond market.
HKPC Walks Hand-in-Hand with Industries
Looking ahead, HKPC will continue to empower businesses with advanced technologies to seize opportunities in this area. As the first institution selected to establish a Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) under the joint endorsement of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), HKPC will help businesses unlock their innovation potential. This includes support for creating, protecting, managing, and commercialising intellectual property, strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a regional intellectual property trading hub. HKPC is also actively empowering SMEs to expand overseas by providing comprehensive support. This encompasses consultation on Government funding schemes, remote factory management, automation, ESG consulting, green solutions, and technical training to assist expansion into ASEAN and “Belt and Road” markets.
In this evolving landscape, HKPC will continue to work hand in hand with the industry, collaborate with various sectors including the Government, industry, academia, research, and investment to accelerate the transformation of research achievements and the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies. HKPC is committed to contributing to Hong Kong’s development as an international I&T hub, promoting New Productive Forces and new industrialisation.
Hashtag: #HongKongProductivityCouncil
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Hong Kong Productivity Council
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a multi-disciplinary organisation established by statute in 1967, to promote productivity excellence through relentless drive of world-class advanced technologies and innovative service offerings to support Hong Kong enterprises. As a nationwide leader in innovative, market-driven research and development (R&D) internationally, specialising in leading technologies and all-rounded manufacturing services, HKPC promotes new industrialisation in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area and facilitates the development of new productive forces, leveraging innovation and technology (I&T), as well as bolstering Hong Kong to be an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city. The Council offers comprehensive innovative solutions for Hong Kong industries and enterprises, enabling them to achieve resources and productivity utilisation, effectiveness, and cost reduction, and enhance competitiveness in both local and overseas marketplace. The Council partners and collaborates with local industries and enterprises and world-class R&D institutes to develop applied technology solutions for value creation. It also benefits a variety of sectors through product innovation, technology transfer, and commercialisation, bringing enormous business opportunities ahead. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades.
In addition, HKPC offers SMEs and startups immediate and timely assistance in coping with the ever-changing business environment and strengthens talent nurturing and Hong Kong’s competitiveness with FutureSkills training for enterprises and academia to enhance digital capabilities and STEM competencies. For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: www.hkpc.org/en.
As of January 14, 2025, the tax rate of the profit earned on Japanese FX brokers is 20% or so. But in the case Overseas FX brokers, the tax rate is classified as comprehensive taxation which changes depending on the size of profit. In detail, if the profit exceeds ¥3.3 million, the tax rate and tax will be higher than that of the profit earned on Japanese FX brokers. In addition to that, you cannot “carry forward losses”. If you use overseas FX brokers, you should definitely take some tax measures. Therefore, in this article, we introduce the details about that.
The GeoMap™ geothermal prospecting tool brings together more than 400 data layers leveraging research from over 80 scientists globally to showcase Asia’s geothermal potential, including an analysis of existing coal and industrial plants across Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore that could benefit from geothermal conversion.
BOSTON, Jan. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Project InnerSpace has launched GeoMap™ Asia, highlighting the region’s massive store of untapped geothermal energy that if developed could serve as an affordable domestic clean energy option to improve air quality while supporting economic growth and energy security.
GeoMap Asia highlights the massive store and potential of geothermal energy in Asia, analyzing existing coal and industrial plants across Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore that could benefit from geothermal conversion. GeoMap™ Asia also includes a subsurface favorability analysis to identify geothermal hot spots. By helping stakeholders identify the near term opportunities for next-generation geothermal, GeoMap™ Asia lowers the barrier to entry into geothermal for governments and industry.
GeoMap™ is a pioneering geothermal exploration tool focused on expanding the adoption of clean, always-on geothermal energy worldwide by bringing together millions of data points from the Earth’s surface and subsurface in a freely accessible and interactive map.
The International Energy Agency (IEA), using GeoMap™ data, concluded in its latest report entitled “The Future of Geothermal Energy” that Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have the technical potential to produce about 125 TW of geothermal electricity by 2050, which is roughly 700 times more total electricity than is currently produced in ASEAN countries. Geothermal energy also offers significant potential for industrial heat, as well as district cooling, in a number of large cities across the Philippines, Indonesia and China, the data shows.
GeoMap™ Asia builds on previous releases of GeoMap™ Africa, GeoMap™ North America, and GeoMap™ India. GeoMap™ Asia also includes a subsurface favorability analysis to identify geothermal hot spots as well as a ranking feature in Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore for coal plant and/or industrial facility conversions.
Geothermal, the heat inside the Earth’s crust, is a firm, clean, always-on and scalable source for power and heat with a small surface footprint. Recent innovations in drilling technology developed and deployed by the oil and gas industry are unlocking geothermal’s vast potential, making the development of geothermal as a clean energy source a crucial part of the climate conversation and leading to a recent finding from the IEA that there is more next-generation geothermal potential than any other renewable energy technology with the exception of solar.
“Asia is driving global energy demand, and GeoMap™ Asia shows that the region can also drive growth of abundant, secure, and always on geothermal energy,” said Jamie Beard, Executive Director of Project InnerSpace. “GeoMap™ Asia lowers the barrier to entry into geothermal for governments and industry alike by helping stakeholders identify the near term opportunities for next-generation geothermal development.”
About Project InnerSpace:Project InnerSpace is the leading independent non-profit organization dedicated to the global development of geothermal energy. Our mission is to remove the barriers to the exponential growth and development of geothermal energy worldwide by 2030. To learn more about Project InnerSpace please visit www.projectinnerspace.org.
About GeoMap™:GeoMap™, built in collaboration with more than 80 scientists around the globe, debuted at the 28th Conference of the Parties in November 2023 with the release of GeoMap™ Africa. GeoMap™ North America launched in June 2024 and GeoMap™ India followed in November 2024. GeoMap™ South America will launch in early 2025. GeoMap™ is freely available to the public, and can be accessed at www.projectinnerspace.org by clicking on GeoMap.
Security footage captures the moment a Lao woman is assaulted outside a restaurant in Pattaya (photo credit: Khaosod)
A 34-year-old Lao woman, identified as Da, reported being assaulted by three transgender individuals in Pattaya, Thailand in the early hours of 14 January, according to Thai media.
SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On January 15, 2025, the Brunei Ministry of Health (MOH), in partnership with Borneo Genomics Innovation (BGIB), a joint venture of BGI Genomics in Brunei, launched the National Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Program along with the 2025 National Guideline. The program aims to enhance early detection and eliminate cervical cancer across Brunei.
Group photo of the launch event
The launch event was attended by Dato Dr. Hj Mohd Isham, Minister of Health; Maswadi Hj Mohsin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Du Yutao, Chief Operating Officer of BGI Genomics; Jeremy Cao, Southeast Asia Regional General Manager of BGI Genomics; and other dignitaries.
At the event, Minister Dato Dr. Isham expressed his recognition and gratitude to the medical institutions and companies that participated in the program. He emphasized that the government is actively seeking partnerships with leading global health organizations to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for all citizens.
“BGI Genomics’ HPV DNA testing can help Brunei efficiently carry out large-scale HPV screening. Looking ahead, we aspire to deepen our collaboration with Brunei to explore innovations in broader public health fields and advance the health and well-being of the Bruneian people,” said Dr. Du.
The updated guideline highlights that HPV DNA-based testing as a primary tool for early detection offers a more accurate and reliable method compared to cytology. With royal family authorization and MOH leadership, this national project supports the WHO’s global strategy of cervical cancer elimination by 2030 and demonstrates Brunei’s dedication to local and global health goals.
This program incorporates a national HPV DNA screening initiative for all women aged 25 to 65. The HPV self-sampling kits are available at 32 clinics, four hospitals, and three gynecology wards in Brunei’s four districts.
After the launch, Dato Dr. Isham met with Dr. Du and held in-depth discussions on future colorectal cancer screening program, multi-omics research, expert training and potential projects.
As another public health collaboration between BGI Genomics and the Brunei government, this initiative marks the transformation of BGI Genomics’ first Huo-Yan Lab built in an ASEAN country. Through this collaboration, Brunei is taking a step towards a healthier national future.