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Startups from Australia, India and UAE crowned winners in L’Oréal Groupe’s biggest Beauty Tech competition across South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa

L’Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program scouts bold, scalable solutions and drives collaboration with the next generation of beauty innovators

SINGAPORE, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Four startups from Australia, India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been crowned winners of L’Oréal’s 2025 SAPMENA Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, the biggest open innovation competition of its kind in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region.

L'Oréal's 2025 SAPMENA Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program is the biggest open innovation competition of its kind in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region
L’Oréal’s 2025 SAPMENA Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program is the biggest open innovation competition of its kind in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region

The winning startups – Halo AI (UAE), Heatseeker (Australia), Sravathi AI (India) and Without (India) – now have the opportunity to collaborate with L’Oréal in a commercial pilot with one of the Group’s 37 international brands. They will also gain potential exposure to 35 markets across SAPMENA and embark on a year-long mentorship journey with senior executives from L’Oréal and the programme’s partners, namely Accenture, Google and Meta. Wubble AI (Singapore) also received a Special Mention.

Hailing from SAPMENA’s vast and promising talent pool, these teams highlight the extraordinary creativity and innovation of the region’s vibrant startup ecosystem. This ecosystem is driven by dynamic market growth, large populations, a rising middle class and digitally-savvy young consumers.

Vismay Sharma, President of L’Oréal SAPMENA Zone, said, “SAPMENA is one of the world’s most dynamic regions, with millions of young, digitally-savvy consumers fuelling the rapid rise of digital commerce and brand innovation. While Silicon Valley often comes to mind for startups, we believe the centre of gravity for innovation is increasingly diversifying and shifting to regions like SAPMENA where market demand is shaping ideas to impact. The pitches at the Grand Finale are a testament to this and reaffirm the opportunities for open innovation here. By partnering with these next-gen innovators, we can accelerate the pace of beauty tech transformation and amplify the impact of new ideas across the beauty ecosystem.”

The 2025 programme reached over 50,000 startups and drew applications from across the SAPMENA region, including teams from Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Over nine months, the startups competed in a rigorous process, presenting solutions in areas such as Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce, Tech for Good, and Science for Beauty. The competition culminated in the Grand Finale in Singapore on 7 November, where 10 shortlisted startups pitched their bold, scalable and tech-driven ideas to a distinguished judging panel of industry experts from L’Oréal, Google, Meta and Veros Ventures.

“Congratulations to the 2025 winners of the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program! Singapore is where beauty and technology converge – where global brands like L’Oréal can tap into regional startup ecosystems to access new technologies that are shaping the future of beauty, while startups can partner leading players to scale up and internationalise. We welcome more consumer companies to tap into Singapore’s vibrant startup ecosystem to drive the next generation of beauty innovation,” said Melissa Guan, Vice President & Head, Consumer, Singapore Economic Development Board.

“Meta is excited to support the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program. L’Oréal continues to set the pace for digital transformation in beauty, embracing new ways for people to discover, experience, and express themselves online. As beauty increasingly intersects with technology through virtual try-ons, social discovery, and personalised experiences—this initiative provides a powerful platform for startups to shape the future of beauty in the digital world. We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions that will emerge and redefine how people connect with beauty online,” said Benjamin Joe, Vice President Asia Pacific at Meta.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with L’Oréal, driving innovation through this programme. As a region of tech-optimists and early adopters, the Asia Pacific region can deliver new ideas and transformative solutions for the world. The quality of submissions highlights the strong talent in this region. Congratulations to all participants and to the winners who will now bring their solutions to life at scale,” said Sanjay Gupta, President, Google Asia-Pacific.

L’Oréal is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation. In 2025, L’Oréal Groupe was named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe. Fast Company named L’Oréal in its Top 50 2024 Best Workplaces for Innovators list and winner of the Beauty and Fashion category, in recognition of its commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels.

Results of the 2025 L’Oréal SAPMENA Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program

Grand Finale Winners

  • Halo AI (UAE): Halo AI helps brands scale their content creator collaborations with AI-powered analysis to manage, vet and select creators. Influencer marketing is booming, but the challenge has been a reliance on inefficient, manual processes, which makes it difficult for brands to find truly authentic partners and for creators to monetise effectively. Halo AI addresses this by using advanced AI to precisely match brands with nano and micro-influencers, creating authentic, high-engagement collaborations. Its AI-powered platform reduces manual workflows by 80% and allows campaigns to launch in as little as 15 minutes, ensuring personal, impactful brand messages reach consumers through trusted influencers with genuine audience connections.
  • Heatseeker (Australia): Heatseeker enables marketers to run live, in-market experiments with real customers using its AI-powered platform, providing rapid, quantitative evidence. A significant challenge for businesses before launching a new product is making decisions based on traditional market research, which can be unreliable or fail to capture genuine customer intent. Heatseeker transforms this process by enabling teams to run rapid, real-world experiments with actual customers on platforms like Meta and LinkedIn, directly measuring authentic customer behaviours like clicks to gauge interest in new products, messages and markets. The platform leverages advanced AI to automate experiment setup, analyse competitor and audience data, and deliver actionable insights within days. This ensures companies launch offerings that are relevant to and resonate with consumers, particularly those launching new products, messages, customer segments or entering new markets.
  • Sravathi AI (India): Sravathi AI is a silico chemistry AI platform that designs and develops advanced pharma using AI, molecular modelling, biochemistry and chemical engineering. Sravathi AI is an AI-powered company delivering end-to-end solutions for molecule discovery, development and scalable manufacturing. Its drug discovery platform rapidly identifies novel drug candidates, streamlines hit-to-lead and lead optimisation, and reduces clinical risks, building a robust pipeline of 9 therapeutic assets across multiple disease areas. Complementing this, Sravathi AI’s award-winning Chemistry AI platform revolutionises chemical development with automated route-of-synthesis design, yield optimisation, impurity prediction and process scalability.
  • Without (India): Without is a material science enterprise ethically transforming unrecyclable waste into high-quality, recyclable materials and products, creating a circular economy. A deep-tech social enterprise based in Pune, India, Without (by Ashaya) focuses on addressing two deeply interconnected global challenges: plastic waste and poverty. It has developed a patented chemo-mechanical process that transforms “impossible-to-recycle” plastic waste, such as multi-layered packaging from chips, chocolate, and shampoo sachets, into high-quality, toxin-free and recyclable materials. Without believes circularity must be ethical to be effective and its model aims to create environmental and social value simultaneously and to demonstrate that scalable, tech-enabled solutions can drive deep, lasting change.

Special Mention

  • Wubble AI (Singapore): Wubble AI is the world’s first enterprise grade AI solution for businesses to create royalty-free, personalised music in seconds. Wubble AI uses generative AI to instantly produce bespoke, royalty-free music for brands tailored for specific campaign aesthetics, audience profiles or seasonal moods – without legal overhead or long production cycles. This enables brands to elevate in-store, digital and experiential moments with customised sonic identities. Whether it’s background scores for virtual try-ons, ambient soundtracks for flagship stores or mood-aligned music for social media content, Wubble AI ensures brand coherence at scale. AI-powered music creation also enables rapid A/B testing of audio branding across regions or products, giving companies precise control and creative agility.

About the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program in SAPMENA 

The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program is the biggest Beauty Tech open innovation competition of this geographical scale. Designed to discover, support and nurture promising startups from across the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region, the competition is open to startups from countries including Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. 

Startups are given the opportunity to develop their pilots in Beauty Tech innovation in one of five challenge themes: Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce, Tech for Good and Science for Beauty. Top innovators crowned during four regional finals (Middle East, India, Australia & New Zealand, and Southeast Asia) advance to the SAPMENA Grand Finale.

The top Grand Finale winners will win a L’Oréal-funded commercial pilot opportunity and a year-long mentorship programme with senior executives from L’Oréal and the programme partners. Startups that run successful pilots in SAPMENA could gain access to L’Oréal’s global network, with the SAPMENA region acting as a launchpad to leverage valuable partnerships and market insights. 

For more information, visit http://bigbang.lorealsapmena.com/.

About L’Oréal South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone 

Home to 3 billion people and 40% of the world’s population, the South Asia Pacific, Middle East & North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone is a major growth engine for L’Oréal and a global talent hub. The SAPMENA Zone was formed in 2021 to drive focus on consumer needs and growth in many of the world’s most populous, young and fast-growing economies. Across 13 entities and 35 markets spanning New Zealand to Morocco, the L’Oréal SAPMENA Zone is reinventing beauty experiences for our consumers through a portfolio of over 30 international brands and game-changing Beauty Tech innovations. Our business model is built on responsible and sustainable growth, with commitments which focus on three key areas – the planet, the people and our products. 

About L’Oréal Groupe

For 116 years, L’Oréal Groupe, the world’s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L’Oréal for the Future programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality. 

With more than 90,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (ecommerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2024 the Group generated sales amounting to 43.48 billion euros. With 21 research centres across 13 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 Digital talents, L’Oréal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse. 

In 2025, L’Oréal Groupe has been named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe. 

More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom 

Simple to Join, Hard to Miss – HTX Launches “Earn as You Borrow” Week for Traders to Capture Market Opportunities at Lower Cost

PANAMA CITY, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HTX today announced the launch of “Earn as You Borrow” Week, a limited-time borrowing campaign offering triple rewards. The campaign, running from 16:00 on November 7 to 15:59 on November 14 (UTC), is designed to help users manage funds more efficiently and seize opportunities in volatile markets.

The campaign is simple to participate in, with exceptional discounts and no entry requirements. Users who complete KYC verification and take margin loans or collateral swaps will enjoy real, tangible savings.

Let us dive into the campaign for details.  

https://www.htx.com/support/35016819991657  

Event 1: Enjoy Up to 30% Interest Rebate on USDT Loans

To meet strong demand for stablecoin borrowing during market swings, HTX is launching tiered rebates for USDT loans. During the event, users who borrow USDT via HTX Margin or Collateral Swap (formerly Crypto Loans) will receive a rebate of up to 30% of the actual interest paid, based on cumulative borrowing volume.

The specific rules are as follows: Borrow ≥10,000 USDT to receive a 10% rebate; Borrow ≥100,000 USDT to receive a 20% rebate; Borrow ≥1,000,000 USDT to win a 30% rebate.

The more you borrow, the more you can save. With interest discounts of up to 30%, every loan becomes a low-cost opportunity to capture profits amid market volatility.

Event 2: Up to 50% Off Borrowing Costs on PoW Token Loans – Exclusive for Prime Users

HTX is also rolling out loan interest rate discounts for BTC and other major PoW assets. During the event, users borrowing BTC, LTC, DOGE, BCH, or ETC via HTX Margin or Collateral Swap will receive tiered interest reductions according to their Prime level: Average users: 10% off; Prime 1-3: 30% off; Prime 4 and above: 50% off.

The discount applies automatically with no extra steps required. Higher Prime levels unlock deeper savings, giving traders a notable cost advantage in hedging, arbitrage, or margin trading.

Event 3: Borrow & Earn – Interest Vouchers for Every Participant

All participants who borrow a cumulative total of 20,000 USDT (or equivalent) across any supported cryptocurrency via HTX Margin or Collateral Swap will receive a 10% Interest Voucher, capped at 300 USDT. The voucher is valid for 14 days and can be applied to future margin loans or swaps. It also works in combination with Prime discounts for even greater savings.

In fast-moving crypto markets, time defines opportunity, and cost defines advantage. The “Earn as You Borrow” campaign reflects HTX’s unwavering user-first commitment by simplifying participation while delivering real value. Through these three rewards, HTX significantly helps boost users’ capital efficiency at lower costs and empowers them to join and earn with greater flexibility and confidence.

Looking ahead, HTX will continue to innovate and refine its financial solutions, offering more flexible and cost-effective fund management tools that enable users to stay agile and resilient, no matter the market conditions.

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX (formerly Huobi) has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.

To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord.

CCTV+: International Symposium on Plant Biosafety (ISPB 2025) Convenes in Guangzhou

Science-led plant health governance to secure food systems and advance the SDGs

GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From 2-6 November 2025, the 2nd ISPB Symposium gathered more than 250 experts from 18 countries to confront one of the most persistent threats to global food systems: transboundary plant pests and diseases. Co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and CAB International (CABI), and co-organized by the Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS (IPPCAAS), Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GDAAS) and South China Agricultural University, the symposium focused on translating cutting-edge science into scalable solutions that strengthen global efforts on Zero Hunger, Climate Action, and Life on Land.

Participants emphasized that plant health is foundational to resilient, nature-positive food systems. Pests and diseases account for 20-40% of annual crop losses, driving over USD 220 billion in global economic damage. Against this backdrop, ISPB 2025 showcased 56 plenary and technical talks on early-warning surveillance networks, interoperable data standards, AI-enabled diagnostics, and green/biological control that reduce chemical dependence while safeguarding biodiversity. Sessions highlighted risk-informed governance, open data, and South–South collaboration as accelerators for field deployment and impact.

As one of the co-organizers, IPPCAAS positioned ISPB as a global hub where research excellence meets coordinated standards and capacity building-linking national programs with regional platforms along key trade and migratory pest corridors. The symposium also delivered concrete cooperation steps: the 30th anniversary of China–CABI scientific collaboration; the launch of the BRI International Alliance of Science and Technology Innovation in Plant Protection to harmonize surveillance and knowledge-sharing, and the side event on Transboundary Biosafety Cooperation between China and neighboring countries to enhance regional prevention and response to biosafety threats.

The ISPB Symposium underscored a shared commitment to science-based, risk-aware plant health governance-from interoperable monitoring to responsible control tools and skills transfer. CAAS, IPPCAAS, and global partners will continue to expand regional early-warning networks, advance green control technologies, and invest in training and institutional capacity, helping countries meet their SDG targets while protecting livelihoods, trade, and ecosystems.

About ISPB: The International Symposium on Plant Biosafety (ISPB) is the biennial flagship convening curated by IPPCAAS and partners to accelerate science, standards, and solutions for plant health and global food security.


 

Sino Jet and Aranya “ATITHYA – The Art of Hospitality” Form Partnership: Opening a New Chapter in Sky-Ground Integrated Luxury Travel

HONG KONG, Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — How will the future of luxury travel be shaped when exceptional aviation excellence converges with thoughtfully curated destination sanctuaries? The answer lies in the groundbreaking partnership recently unveiled between Sino Jet—Asia-Pacific’s leading business aviation company—and Aranya’s distinguished lifestyle hotel collective “ATITHYA – The Art of Hospitality”. This strategic alliance transcends traditional service boundaries, crafting an uninterrupted premium travel continuum from cloud to ground for sophisticated travelers. More than a commercial arrangement, this collaboration embodies the harmonious alignment of two complementary excellence philosophies.

With its leading fleet size in the Asia-Pacific region, exceptional safety standards, and highly customized services, Sino Jet delivers an efficient and private luxury experience in the skies. Meanwhile, “ATITHYA – The Art of Hospitality” embodies Aranya’s core DNA by meticulously curating destination properties that harmonize cultural authenticity with architectural sophistication. Their carefully selected portfolio encompasses distinguished establishments such as Dali’s Dream Island•Huoshan Hotel, Jangala Dunhuang, Hangzhou’s West Lake Anyu Hotel, Sunyata Hotel in Meili, Qing Shan 49, Guangxi’s Yangshuo Sugar House Resort, and LUX* CHONGZUO, GUANGXI RESORT & VILLAS—each contributing to a distinctive lifestyle ecosystem.

Under this partnership framework, Sino Jet assumes the role of exclusive charter aviation partner for “ATITHYA – The Art of Hospitality”, providing guests access to premium aircraft including Gulfstream G650 and G550. The collaboration extends far beyond superficial service coordination, achieving sophisticated resource integration: Sino Jet’s worldwide network facilitates guest access to “ATITHYA – The Art of Hospitality” member properties, while “ATITHYA – The Art of Hospitality” guests enjoy seamless connectivity to Sino Jet’s aerial services. This represents a sophisticated response to affluent travelers’ fundamental requirements—”holistic experience delivery” and “effortless convenience”—moving beyond conventional business synergies to deliver systematic fulfillment of the core demands of high-end clients.

Modern affluent travelers have transcended satisfaction with isolated service elements, now demanding exceptional consistency and fluid transitions throughout their entire experience journey. True service excellence manifests in the effortless navigation between all experience touchpoints.

This partnership’s fundamental rationale emerges directly from this insight. Upon completing a seamless business jet journey, travelers should enter accommodation environments that echo the elevated standards and aesthetic sensibilities established during flight, ensuring emotional and experiential continuity throughout their complete journey. This sky-to-ground quality continuum dramatically reduces transition-related anxieties, allowing clients to concentrate entirely on their journey’s essential purpose. This approach demonstrates profound respect and consideration for clients’ time and mental state.

The partnership between Sino Jet and “ATITHYA – The Art of Hospitality” clearly signals the evolving direction of the high-end service industry: competitive advantages are evolving from isolated excellence toward collaborative, interdependent experience ecosystems built around shared lifestyle values. Organizations capable of transcending sectoral limitations, consolidating resources, and delivering comprehensive solutions will increasingly capture market leadership.

This signifies a philosophical evolution in service delivery: transitioning from exceptional product provision toward cultivating complete, meaningful experiences. We anticipate this air-land integration will serve as meaningful industry exploration, encouraging additional brands to prioritize complete customer journey optimization and collectively advance quality lifestyle service benchmarks. Ultimately, a journey characterized by effortless flow and minimal complexity represents the most sophisticated embodiment of “exceptional hospitality”.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sino Jet Marketing Department
Telephone: (+852) 2588 7007 / (+86 10) 8416 2637
Email: marketing@sinojet.org / marketing@sinojet.org.cn
Website: http://www.sinojet.org/

Saigon Technology’s 2025 Milestones Underscore Vietnam’s Emergence as an Innovation Hub

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Saigon Technology announces a dual milestone: receiving the Great Place to Work® Certification 2025 and being recognized among the Top 10 ICT Companies in Vietnam by the Vietnam Software & IT Services Association (VINASA).

These achievements are proof of a long-term vision: to bring Vietnamese engineering talent to the world, while building a people-first culture and contributing to the growth of Vietnam’s ICT industry.

Vietnamese Talent on the Global Stage

Over the past 13 years, Saigon Technology has grown into a leading software development partner, with hundreds of engineers and three development centers across Vietnam. The company partners with clients in Australia, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises.

Each project is about bridging cultures, mastering technologies, and responding quickly to client needs. This adaptability has made Saigon Technology a trusted partner in Australia’s competitive digital landscape.

Building Skills, Sustaining Balance

Saigon Technology also focused on creating a strong talent development ecosystem, offering learning programs, mentorship, and internal contests to strengthen creativity and problem-solving.

At the same time, the company emphasizes work-life balance. Flexible policies, health check-ups, mental wellness initiatives, and supportive leadership help employees stay energized and motivated. 

This culture earned Saigon Technology the Great Place to Work® Certification 2025, with 97% positive employee feedback and 98% expressing pride in their workplace. 

“At Saigon Technology, we believe that true innovation emerges when our people flourish. Our mission goes beyond meeting international standards — we strive to cultivate a workplace where every individual feels valued, inspired, and deeply connected to our shared purpose of driving excellence and technological advancement.” said Thanh Pham, CEO of Saigon Technology.

Recognition as a Top 10 ICT Company in Vietnam

Saigon Technology was once again named among Vietnam’s Top 10 ICT Companies 2025, recognized in three key categories: Global Digital Services, AI Application Development Platforms, and Software Application Development.

The awards highlight the company’s strength in advanced technologies and its commitment to ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 standards. With clients across five continents, Saigon Technology demonstrates how Vietnamese tech talent can compete globally while offering agility and cost efficiency.

Saigon Technology at the Vietnam Top 10 Tech & Map 2025 Awarding Ceremony
Saigon Technology at the Vietnam Top 10 Tech & Map 2025 Awarding Ceremony

“Being recognized in VINASA’s Top 10 ICT is both an honor and a responsibility,” Mr. Thanh Pham added. “It reaffirms our role as a trusted global technology partner and our commitment to Vietnam’s growing position in the global ICT landscape.” 

A Vision Beyond Achievements

For Saigon Technology, awards mark only milestones in a continuing journey. The company’s broader vision is to position Vietnam as a global hub for software innovation through investing in engineering excellence, nurturing local talent, and creating opportunities for the next generation of IT talent.

As part of this journey, the company has invested in TechTIQ Solutions Pte as a gateway for Vietnamese engineers to expand their reach into international markets, particularly across Asia and Australia, bringing Vietnamese expertise to a broader stage.

“Our journey is not defined by awards alone,” Thanh Pham concluded. “It is defined by the impact we create for our clients, our people, and Vietnam’s technology future.”

About Saigon Technology

Founded in 2012, Saigon Technology is recognized among Vietnam’s Top 10 ICT Companies 2025 and certified as a Great Place to Work® 2025. The company specializes in custom software development, web and mobile app development, cloud solutions, and AI-powered services

With ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications, hundreds of top-tier engineers, and offices in Vietnam, the USA, Australia, and Singapore, Saigon Technology partners with clients worldwide to deliver secure, scalable, and innovative solutions.

Lenovo PCCW Solutions Brings Together 18 New Technology Partners to Launch “Next-Gen IT Ecosystem”

  • Combining Lenovo’s global resources with LPS’ local expertise, the Next-Gen ecosystem covers four key domains: application software, office automation, cybersecurity, and infrastructure
  • As Hong Kong’s premier systems integrator and application developer, LPS delivers full-stack capabilities spanning front-end, middleware, and back-end technologies

HONG KONG, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lenovo PCCW Solutions (LPS) announces the establishment of the “Next-Gen IT Ecosystem” at its recent Go-Global Ceremony. The initiative brings together 18 leading Next-Gen IT companies to drive digital transformation and sustainable innovation for enterprises in Hong Kong and Asia Pacific. This move aligns with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s latest Policy Address initiative to deepen technology cooperation between Chinese Mainland and international markets, further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology hub.

Built on the core principle of “indigenous innovation,” the ecosystem leverages Lenovo’s powerful global network and LPS’ localized expertise to integrate multiple independently developed technology brands. It delivers comprehensive full-stack solutions across four key domains – application software, office automation, cybersecurity, and infrastructure – supporting enterprises’ end-to-end transformation needs from strategic consulting to technology implementation.

As Hong Kong’s premier systems integrator and application developer, LPS is one of the technology service providers with the most Next-Gen IT certifications, holding over 240. With a 4,000-strong technical team and extensive hands-on experience in application modernization, LPS excels at delivering digital transformation services that seamlessly connect front-end applications, middleware integration, and back-end infrastructure. Through rigorous quality and risk management mechanisms, LPS ensures system stability, compliance, reliability, and business continuity.

  • Application Software: LPS partners with Yonyou, FanRuan, Sensors Data, ShareCRM, OceanBase, Kingbase, and GBase to deliver ERP, business intelligence, and database migration solutions that integrate AI and data analytics, enhancing enterprise decision-making and management efficiency.
  • Office Automation: Collaborating with FileZ, Seeyon, and Coremail to promote smart collaboration and process automation, improving collaborative efficiency.
  • Cybersecurity: Working with 360 Tech, Leagsoft, Qi An Xin (QAX), VenusTech, and Sangfor to build comprehensive security systems with AI threat detection and proactive defense capabilities, strengthening cyber resilience.
  • Infrastructure: Integrating technologies from Cloudwise, Aishu, and Kylin to provide stable and highly scalable AIOps intelligent operations, data backup, and operating system support.

Fan Ho, Executive Director and General Manager, AP Solutions and Services Group, Lenovo, stated: “Lenovo has committed to building an open technology ecosystem. Through Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group (LCIG), we have invested in and supported over 300 innovative start-ups covering key areas such as AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. The newly established Next-Gen IT Ecosystem represents a crucial step in combining local technology integration capabilities with global presence. Leveraging Lenovo’s sales, service, and partner network spanning 180 markets, we will provide ecosystem members with comprehensive support from technology validation and scenario implementation to international expansion.”

Vincent Leung, Head of Ecosystem, LPS, said: “We believe that under an open collaboration framework, technological innovation can create stronger synergies. The core spirit of the Next-Gen IT Ecosystem is ‘co-building, co-creating, and co-sharing’ – we don’t just integrate products, but also facilitate technology interoperability and collaborative solution development. Moving forward, we will continue to attract quality partners locally and regionally to deepen technology exchange and industry integration, bringing customers solutions that are better aligned with market needs and deliver greater economic value.”

Looking ahead, LPS will continue to enhance the ecosystem framework and encourage more partners to join in building an open, trusted, and efficient technology collaboration platform, helping enterprises achieve secure and efficient digital transformation.

For more information about the “Next-Gen IT Ecosystem,” please visit:
https://www.lpstech.com/site/en/service/next-gen-it-innovation/overview.html

LPS with 18 "Next-Gen IT Ecosystem" partners, including 360 Tech, Aishu, Cloudwise, Coremail, FanRuan, FileZ, GBase, Kingbase, Kylin, Leagsoft, OceanBase, QAX, Sangfor, Seeyon, Sensors Data, ShareCRM, VenusTech, and Yonyou. (listed in alphabetical order)
LPS with 18 “Next-Gen IT Ecosystem” partners, including 360 Tech, Aishu, Cloudwise, Coremail, FanRuan, FileZ, GBase, Kingbase, Kylin, Leagsoft, OceanBase, QAX, Sangfor, Seeyon, Sensors Data, ShareCRM, VenusTech, and Yonyou. (listed in alphabetical order)

About Lenovo PCCW Solutions (LPS)

LPS is a leading IT and technology solutions provider in the Asia Pacific region. We partner with governments and enterprises to achieve digital transformation excellence, driving business growth through our market-leading solutions and industry best practices. As a proud member of Lenovo Group, we have unlocked new synergies with Lenovo’s global reach and technological capabilities, focusing on AI, data practice, cloud and cybersecurity. With our 4,000+ team of domain experts and a strong network of ecosystem partners, LPS is committed to providing cutting-edge AI-powered solutions and data best practices to enable organizations to excel in their digital journey.

Migrant Shipwreck off Malaysia Kills at Least Seven

This handout picture taken and released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on November 9, 2025 shows a MMEA staff member checking on a survivor rescued by a fishing boat during a search and rescue operation off the coast of Langkawi, after a boat carrying migrants from Myanmar capsized near the Malaysia–Thailand border. Malaysia was searching for survivors after a boat carrying migrants capsized near the Thai border, killing at least one and leaving many others missing, a maritime agency official said on November 9, 2025. (Photo credit: Photo by HANDOUT / MALAYSIAN MARITIME ENFORCEMENT AGENCY / AFP)

AFP – Malaysian authorities have recovered at least seven bodies after a boat carrying migrants capsized near the Thai border, a maritime agency official said on Sunday, 9 November.

Officials believe the boat was carrying undocumented migrants who departed from Myanmar, part of a group of at least 300 people that had split between several vessels.

The boat that capsized near Thailand’s Tarutao Island and just north of Malaysia’s island resort of Langkawi was carrying some 90 people, Kedah state police chief Adzli Abu Shah told Malaysian media.

Romli Mustafa, director of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in the northern states of Kedah and Perlis, said in a statement that three survivors were found on Sunday in the waters around Langkawi as well as six bodies, taking the overall death toll to seven.

At least 13 people have been rescued alive.

Romli said the bodies recovered Sunday were of a girl and five women, without disclosing their nationality or ethnicity.

A body found on Saturday is believed to be of a woman from Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority, Adzli told the Bernama national news agency.

The search and rescue effort ended for the day and will resume on Monday, Romli added, saying it was possible more survivors or victims could be found at sea.

The boat likely went down three days ago, according to the state police chief.

Two other vessels, believed to be carrying some of the group of 300 migrants who had departed from Myanmar, have also been reported missing, Adzli was quoted as saying by the Free Malaysia Today news website.

He said preliminary investigations showed that the group boarded a large vessel that carried them into waters close to Malaysia.

“As they neared the border they were instructed to transfer onto three smaller boats, each carrying around 100 people,” he told Bernama.

“We have requested the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Marine Police to launch search and rescue operations and to look for the other missing boats,” Adzli said, quoted by the New Straits Times.

The Malaysian police force did not respond to AFP’s requests for comment.

Relatively affluent Malaysia is home to millions of migrants from poorer parts of Asia, many of them undocumented, working in industries including construction and agriculture.

But the crossings, facilitated by human trafficking syndicates, are often hazardous, leading to boats capsizing.

“Cross-border syndicates are now increasingly active in exploiting migrants by making them victims of human trafficking using high-risk sea routes,” Romli said.

Syndicates charge up to $3,500 per person for passage into the country, Malaysian media said.

In one of the worst months, in December 2021, more than 20 migrants drowned in several incidents off the Malaysian coast.


© Agence France-Presse

DL announces half-year positive profit alert up 20x to HK$220M


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 November 2025 – DL Holdings Group Limited (Stock Code: 1709.HK) today issued a positive profit alert, announcing that based on a preliminary review of the Group’s unaudited management accounts for the six months ended September 30, 2025. It is expected to record a profit of approximately HK$180 million to HK$220 million, compared with a net profit of about HK$7.7 million for the same period last year — representing an increase of over 20 times (approximately 2,107%–2,757%), far exceeding market expectations.

01: Three Key Drivers Behind the Surging Profit: Dual Success in Investment and Core Business
According to the Board of Directors, the substantial increase in profitability during the period was mainly driven by the following three factors:

1: Strong gains from fair value investments
The Group’s financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss delivered outstanding performance during the period, generating considerable investment returns — reflecting the Group’s precise investment strategy and exceptional asset allocation capability.

2: Fair Value Gains from Associate Investments
The Group’s strategic investments in associate companies recorded significant fair value gains, showcasing the success of its ecosystem synergies and long-term strategic positioning.

3: Strong growth in family office business
As one of the Group’s core business pillars, the family office and wealth management segment achieved substantial breakthroughs and scalable growth during the period. Both client asset scale and management fee income increased significantly, establishing this segment as one of the most stable profit drivers for the Group.

02: Strategic Outlook: Digital Finance to Power Future Growth
Looking ahead, DL Holdings’ forward-looking digital finance strategy is entering its harvest phase, expected to deliver sustained and powerful growth momentum. The Group is actively integrating digital financial technology into its wealth and asset management operations — expanding into innovative fields such as blockchain-based asset allocation, intelligent advisory, and digital asset custody — with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency, improving client experience, and unlocking new growth opportunities.

Since the launch of its “Three-Phase Digital Finance Development Strategy” in July 2025, DL’s digital finance business has been progressing steadily. Over the past three months, the Group has raised nearly HK$1.7 billion, primarily to accelerate its strategic expansion into Bitcoin mining and Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization, reflecting the market’s strong confidence in DL’s digital finance roadmap.

Currently, DL Holdings has achieved substantial progress across all strategic business segments of digital finance. In Bitcoin computing power deployment, the Group has invested over HK$320 million and completed the procurement and deployment of high-performance mining machines from Bitmain, the world’s largest cryptocurrency mining rig manufacturer. It has also outlined a clear hash power expansion roadmap, with a US$100 million mining investment plan, aiming to become the Hong Kong-listed company with the largest Bitcoin computing power within two years.

In the RWA tokenization segment, the Group’s US$100 million-scale gold tokenization initiative with strategic partners is proceeding as planned, aiming to build Asia’s leading compliant channel for on-chain real-world assets. The ONE Carmel project’s asset tokenization has also been officially launched — a pioneering step expected not only to enhance asset liquidity but also to establish a benchmark case for DL Holdings in the RWA field.

DL’s digital finance operations — spanning Bitcoin mining, RWA tokenization, and blockchain-based financial infrastructure — are synergistically integrated with its traditional family office business, forming a powerful dual growth engine for the Group’s next development phase. The market expects these technology-driven, scalable digital finance businesses to become strong growth drivers, propelling DL Holdings toward a new stage of transformative expansion.

The Group’s strong interim performance provides a solid foundation and deep confidence for its ongoing strategic transformation. The remarkable financial results validate the forward-looking and effective “dual-engine” strategy, combining traditional business strength with innovation-driven growth. As DL continues to advance its layouts in Bitcoin hash power and RWA tokenization, the Group is rapidly evolving into a new-generation digital finance platform — one that is more technology-oriented, scalable, and growth-focused.

Looking ahead, DL Holdings is committed not only to consolidating its advantages in traditional finance, but also to becoming a bridge connecting conventional capital with the digital frontier, fully realizing its inclusive finance vision of “Investing Made Simple.” The Group aims to open a new chapter of sustainable value creation, delivering long-term and resilient returns for its investors.

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