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Zenith Leisure partners with Pismo to launch Multi-Currency Visa Prepaid Forex Card with On the Move and DIY features

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BANGALORE, India, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Zenith Leisure Holidays Ltd., a leading provider of Travel and Foreign exchange services since 1997, announces its collaboration with Pismo, a next-generation cloud-native banking and payments platform, to launch its own Visa prepaid Forex card. This strategic initiative aligns with Zenith’s vision to enhance travelers’ financial convenience by leveraging its strong presence in India’s travel and forex industry.

Harendra Choudhary, Chief Operating Officer at Zenith Forex says, “Pismo’s cloud-native, API-driven platform enables Zenith Forex to deliver a scalable, secure, and feature-rich card program. With real-time transaction processing, flexible wallet management, and robust compliance and fraud prevention capabilities, Pismo empowers Zenith Forex to offer a Forex product.”

With a digital-first approach and a network of branches at key international airports, Zenith Forex is known for its highly compliance-driven and customer-centric operations.

“We are very excited to help Zenith Forex launch this new multi-currency card. And to engage with Visa offering a secure, convenient, and cost-effective way for travelers to manage foreign exchange”, says Varun Dudeja, Head Business Development, APAC at Pismo.

The new Visa prepaid Forex card will feature key benefits, including multi-currency support, global acceptance, and enhanced security with concierge services. We will gradually launch the Enterprise and Student Forex Card, offering on-the-move usage and convenience.

Rishi Chhabra, Country Manager, India Visa, said, “We are excited to partner with Zenith Leisure to enhance the payment experience for Indians traveling overseas. This card offers a secure and convenient way to pay, backed by the global acceptance of the Visa network.”

The card is designed for leisure travelers booking international holidays through Zenith, corporate and MICE groups seeking simplified expense management, students studying abroad with parental load and monitoring features, and frequent travelers looking for a safer alternative to cash.

 

AI Redefines Creative Testing -AdEff Officially Launches in Singapore

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On October 8th, AdEff (AdEff.com), the global AI-driven creative testing and optimization product from Mininglamp Technology, officially announced the launch of its Singapore market services, providing AI-powered creative testing services for local advertisers and creative agencies. As artificial intelligence transforms creative insights and global products integrate local wisdom, AdEff’s entry into the Singapore market signals that the AI revolution in advertising testing has officially arrived in the Lion City.

Technological Breakthrough: Hypergraph Multimodal Large Language Model Reshapes Creative Assessment

AdEff is not a simple testing tool based on general large Language Models, but a marketing vertical agent built on Mininglamp Technology’s proprietary Hypergraph Multimodal Large Language Model (HMLLM). Based on the collaborative architecture of the Hypergraph Multimodal Large Language Model and Mixture of Experts (MoE) models, AdEff can quickly and accurately predict consumer subjective responses to advertising creatives and advertising effectiveness, while providing precise optimization recommendations.

The Hypergraph Multimodal Large Language Model introduces a large-scale video subjective multimodal evaluation dataset Video-SME, collecting real changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye-tracking regions when different populations watch the same video content. This bridges the semantic gap between rich modalities, integrates logical reasoning between frames, and enables machines to simulate cognition across different populations. Related achievements received the Best Paper Nomination at ACM Multimedia (ACMMM) 2024, the world’s top multimedia conference (nomination rate only 2%).

This technological and product development breakthrough means that brands no longer need to rely on traditional focus groups or time-consuming and costly A/B testing, but can obtain instant predictive feedback the moment creativity is born and quickly launch or adjust accordingly. Testing time, cost, and precision are significantly optimized compared to traditional methods. AdEff integrates complex consumer psychology, cultural contexts, and market dynamics, providing scientific yet intuitive assessments for each creative piece.

Rigorous Entry: Three-Step Standardized Validation Process Ensures Local Precision

Unlike many “one-size-fits-all” global products, AdEff insists on customization based on the social and cultural characteristics of each country and region. For the Singapore market, AdEff implemented a rigorous three-step validation process. This scientific methodology ensures that AdEff understands Singapore consumers’ preferences and more accurately grasps local culture.

  • Step One: Establish Local Material Library. The product collected Singapore local advertising materials, building a creative database covering different industries, durations, and brands.
  • Step Two: Local Expert Review Validation. Invited Singapore local brand and creative experts to score system test results, ensuring expert review consistency reaches the 85% commercialization standard.
  • Step Three: Model Localization Calibration. Based on expert opinions and local market cultural characteristics, further fine-tuned the model.

In mid-August, AdEff Singapore market completed crucial expert review work. Local brand and creative experts conducted comprehensive evaluations of AdEff’s test results, with results showing an overall expectation fulfillment rate of 86%, exceeding the 85% commercialization entry standard. Individual metrics such as “Core Results – Summary” and “Core Results – Recommendations” even reached 93% and 91% respectively.

It is understood that most creative testing products in their internationalization process do not conduct in-depth expert reviews and validations for local markets. AdEff’s standardized local market validation process demonstrates both respect for target market customers and an ultimate pursuit of building global products.

Service Launch: Model Calibration Complete, AdEff Officially Arrives in Lion City

After expert validation concluded, the AdEff product team spent one month conducting localization calibration based on expert feedback, including model metrics and descriptions, cultural adaptability, and other aspects, further strengthening the capabilities of the MoE (Mixture of Experts) model.

In terms of cultural adaptability, expert feedback indicated that Singapore consumers are more pragmatic, focusing on authentic connections and showing resistance to overly ostentatious expressions. AdEff adjusted creative assessment weights and standards accordingly. Even for everyday terms like “subway,” AdEff precisely identifies it as “MRT” familiar to Singaporeans rather than “Subway,” ensuring every creative element resonates with local audiences.

After rigorous validation and calibration, AdEff now has the capability to provide commercial services for the Singapore market and has opened local market registration and trial access. Interested brands and agencies can visit AdEff.com to begin your AI creative testing journey.

About Mininglamp Technology

Mininglamp Technology is China’s leading BI and AI Solution Innovator, with 19 years of deep expertise in enterprise services. The company focuses on two core scenarios: marketing and operations, providing intelligent transformation solutions from online to offline by integrating large models, industry-specific knowledge, and multimodal data. The company serves over 2,000 global leading enterprises and more than 200 Chinese government institutions, with customers spanning consumer goods, finance, industry, food service, and other sectors. Its standardized SaaS products serve over 200,000 small and medium-sized enterprise customers.

CAYIN Technology Launches Universal e-Paper Integration for Sustainable Smart Displays

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TAIPEI, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CAYIN Technology introduces universal e-Paper integration, enabling any industry to display real-time data on any e-Paper device. Designed to achieve ESG sustainability goals, the solution offers ultra-low power consumption, sunlight readability, wide viewing angles, and automated content updates—reducing costs, enhancing efficiency, and elevating brand image.

Universal Integration with Any e-Paper Device

CAYIN’s e-Paper solution seamlessly connects with any e-Paper device, regardless of brand, model, or size. Businesses can integrate real-time data from ERP, POS, transportation systems, hospital platforms, or other databases, eliminating manual content replacement and ensuring always up-to-date information.

  • Flexible compatibility with all e-Paper hardware
  • Supports schedules, price lists, inventory, room statuses, and more
  • Customizable layouts with corporate branding and multilingual content
  • Automated updates for consistent, accurate displays

Driving ESG and Sustainability Goals

With ultra-low power consumption and a paperless approach, CAYIN’s e-Paper integration helps businesses significantly reduce their carbon footprint. The technology offers durable, long-lasting displays that maintain content visibility even without power—delivering:

  • Energy savings and reduced environmental impact
  • Elimination of printed materials
  • Long device lifespan with minimal maintenance

Superior Readability and Practicality

Designed for real-world usability, CAYIN’s e-Paper solution delivers crisp, high-contrast visuals visible under direct sunlight, with a 180° wide viewing angle. Ideal for outdoor signage, public transportation schedules, and wayfinding systems, it ensures:

  • Clear visibility in bright light conditions
  • Wide-angle readability for public spaces
  • Consistent display quality in varying environments

Applications Across Industries

From corporate offices and retail chains to hospitals, schools, factories, and transport hubs, CAYIN’s e-Paper integration enhances communication, operational efficiency, and brand image. Common applications include:

  • Meeting room and classroom schedules
  • Retail promotions and product pricing
  • Hospital patient and room status boards
  • Factory production and logistics displays

For more details, visit the e-Paper Solution Overview.
To inquire about integration and customization, please contact the CAYIN Sales Team.

PATEO and SenseTime Join Forces to Create an Automotive AI “Super Brain”, Reshaping Intelligent Cockpits with Qinggan Large Model

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This is a strategic cooperation that may change the future way of mobility.

SHANGHAI, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On October 8th , PATEO, a leader in automotive intelligence, and SenseTime, a giant in artificial intelligence, announced the conclusion of a comprehensive strategic partnership, in which they will focus on the deep integration of large AI models into intelligent cockpits, with concurrent investment commitments, and jointly make overall planning and arrangements in cutting-edge fields such as humanoid robots and cockpit-driving integration, becoming a landmark event as China’s intelligent connected vehicle industry enters a new “AI-driven” phase.


Currently, intelligent cockpits are evolving from “functional integration” to “emotional and personalized” experiences. As an AI platform enterprise that combines hardware engineering and automotive-grade integration capabilities, PATEO is committed to providing full-chain solutions from underlying software to cloud services. Based on domestic open-source model architectures and SenseTime’s “SenseNova” large model, PATEO is customizing and training the “Qinggan Large Model” service for the cockpit domain, constructing a complete technological closed loop, pioneering the creation of a platform-level AI Agent within the industry that integrates multiple Agent capabilities such as digital entertainment, local services, communication and collaboration, and mobility navigation, and achieving a fundamental leap from feature stacking to scenario-based intelligent services.

Supported by the computational power of AIDC infrastructure and self-developed AI inference and training chips, the two parties will jointly deploy high-performance servers to reconstruct the intelligent cockpit experience across multiple dimensions, including interaction interface, active care and safety, personalized interaction, and scenario-based intelligence. Meanwhile, an efficient collaborative mechanism for building the “device-side large model” will be established: ensuring millisecond-level real-time response, continuously iterating and evolving, forming an hybrid intelligent connected vehicle platform with leading ai chip and cloud, and truly achieving the in-depth integration and efficient implementation of AI capabilities with automotive scenarios.

In the highly anticipated field of humanoid robots, both sides will deeply integrate their core advantages to seek cross-border breakthroughs. SenseTime, with its leading visual perception algorithms, will build the “brain” and “visual system” for humanoid robots, endowing them with environmental adaptation and interaction capabilities, while PATEO will apply its experience in hardware design, underlying operating systems, automotive-grade chip module integration, and large-scale mass production from the intelligent cockpit domain to the robot’s “body” and “neural network”, ensuring reliability, safety, and engineering feasibility. On this basis, the two sides will develop a new-generation, highly flexible, and highly intelligent general-purpose humanoid robot platform, expected to achieve breakthroughs in scenarios such as intelligent cockpit services and vehicle maintenance, and lead the transformation of the intelligent robotics industry.

In terms of ecosystem co-construction, the two parties will build full-stack solutions centered around cockpit-driving integration, vehicle-road coordination, and overseas expansion. In the cockpit-driving integration domain, they will promote deep fusion of driving decisions and cockpit experiences, develop personalized scenario functions based on AIGC, and achieve unified interaction among “human-vehicle-environment”. For vehicle-road coordination, they will utilize large AI models to analyze V2X data in real time, optimize traffic signals and route planning, and build cloud-edge collaboration platforms to enhance vehicle-road interaction efficiency. In overseas deployment, relying on PATEO’s foundation in serving international brands and SenseTime’s localized support, they will promote China’s intelligent connectivity technology to go global.

This cooperation achieves an all-round deployment from intelligent cockpits to robotics, and from single-vehicle intelligence to vehicle-road coordination, showcasing a new paradigm for the integrated development of “AI + Automobile.”

Hong Kong Residential Market Activity Supports Confidence for Home Prices to Bottom Out and Rally Within Year-End

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Prime Central Office Rents Show Signs of Stabilization While High Street Retail Rents Record Narrower Decline

  • With the support of improving market sentiment and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate cut, Hong Kong residential transaction numbers trended upwards in Q3 amid the current consolidation phase. Total residential transactions for the Q3 period reached 16,700 units, up 63% y-o-y, while home prices remained stable throughout the quarter.
  • The Grade A office market recorded net absorption of 401,000 sq ft in Q3, the highest level since Q2 2019. Overall office rents declined by 0.8% q-o-q, although Prime Central subdistrict rents posted a modest rise of 0.6% q-o-q.
  • The average retail high street vacancy rate in core districts dropped to 8.3% in Q3, with leasing activities most active in Causeway Bay and Mongkok. Overall high street retail rents gradually stabilized within a narrow range of ±1% q-o-q, with the full-year rental change now forecast in a range of -1% to -2% y-o-y.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 October 2025 – Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield today held its Hong Kong Property Markets Q3 2025 Review and Outlook press conference. The residential market sustained momentum in the quarter, supported by lower mortgage rates, a buoyant stock market, and developers’ active launches of primary market home sales at competitive prices. Monthly residential transactions exceeded 5,000 units during the quarter, bringing total residential sales in Q3 to 16,700 units. In the Grade A office sector, boosted by a recovery in stock market confidence and initial public offering (IPO) activity, quarterly net absorption and new lease activities remained robust, with the Greater Central district outperforming. Overall office rents remained under pressure due to high availability, but Prime Central subdistrict rents showed early signs of recovery and edged up. As for the retail sector, overall retail sales experienced some stabilization in the first two months of Q3, with an uptick of 2.8% y-o-y through July and August, while the overall year-to-date decline in retail sales narrowed. Average high street vacancy levels in core retail districts fell during the quarter, accompanied by mild q-o-q declines in core area high street rents.

Grade A office leasing market: Leasing demand and momentum accelerated, Prime Central sub-district rents stabilized

Leasing demand in the Hong Kong Grade A office market saw accelerated momentum through Q3 2025, boosted by a recovery in stock market confidence and initial public offerings (IPOs). The total new leased area in Q3 reached 1.13 million sf, pushing the total for the first three quarters of 2025 past 3.37 million sf, surpassing the full-year total for 2024. The overall Hong Kong Grade A office rental level decline narrowed to -0.8% q-o-q in Q3. The Prime Central subdistrict outperformed the overall market to achieve positive rental growth of 0.6% q-o-q. Quarterly net absorption reached 401,000 sq ft, the highest level since Q2 2019 and bringing the overall office availability rate down to 19.2%, despite the addition of 463,000 sf of new supply at the One Causeway Bay property completed in the quarter.

John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, said, “The Grade A office market continued to experience active leasing demand in Q3, chiefly due to recovery in the financial sector and IPO activity, in turn driving leasing demand both from upstream and downstream of related industries. As one of the most preferred submarkets for banking and financial institutions, Greater Central accounted for around 30% of the total new leased area in the quarter, supported by new set-up and relocation demand from hedge funds and wealth management firms, and demonstrating the expansion strategies adopted by the high-end financial services industry.

“Notably, the Greater Central office rental level decline narrowed in Q3, with signs of stabilization between August and September. Prime Central subdistrict office rents edged up by 0.6% q-o-q, suggesting a steady recovery in demand for premium office space. We believe that occupancy levels and rental performances between the highest-quality offices and other lower-tier spaces will increasingly diverge. With leasing sentiment in the first three quarters of 2025 demonstrating greater resilience than previously anticipated, we have now revised our full-year 2025 forecast for overall Grade A office rents to decline in a milder range of approximately 4% to 6%.”

Retail leasing market: Retail sector showed signs of stabilization, with the overall average vacancy rate falling and rental level declines narrowing further

Hong Kong’s overall retail sales experienced some stabilization in the first two months of Q3, with an upturn of 2.8% y-o-y through July and August. In August alone, retail sales grew by 3.8% y-o-y, marking the fourth consecutive month of growth and suggesting the beginnings of a turnaround from the previously sluggish performance. The buoyant stock market and the government’s continuous proactive efforts in promoting tourism have provided support to more stable local consumption and growing tourist arrivals, bolstering overall retail market sentiment. The city’s overall retail sales for the January to August 2025 period saw a narrower y-o-y decline of 1.9% to record HK$245.1 billion. Within key retail sectors, the Medicines & Cosmetics; and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco sectors continued to record modest growth in the Q3 period, rising by 3.8% and 0.8% y-o-y, respectively.

The overall high street vacancy rate across the four core retail districts fell to 8.3% in Q3 from 9.7% in Q2. Vacancy rates in Causeway Bay and Mongkok dropped to 7.9% and 5.3%, respectively, aided by resilient tourist footfall and attractive rental levels that have attracted entry from diverse retailers. Central and Tsimshatsui rents rose slightly to 10.0% and 10.6%, respectively.

As for high street rental levels, Causeway Bay, Central and Tsimshatsui recorded q-o-q declines within 1%, while Mongkok remained stable, edging up 0.1% q-o-q. Given the sustained leasing momentum in core districts, coupled with landlords’ more pragmatic attitudes, overall high street rents are expected to gradually stabilize. Cushman & Wakefield’s full-year 2025 forecast is now for the overall rental level to decline in the range of 1% to 2%. Regarding F&B rents, fluctuations across districts were within ±1% in Q3, although overall leasing activity in the sector was relatively subdued, suggesting room for negotiation in the near term.

John Siu commented, “Since the full reopening of borders, Hong Kong’s retail market has continued to see first-store leasing activities by brands. During the first nine months of 2025 we have recorded at least 91 non-local brands setting up their first permanent store in Hong Kong, with F&B operators accounting for the largest share, followed by fashion and athleisure brands. Notably, around 60% of these brands chose to set up their first location in the four core districts. As for the origin, 41% are from the Asia-Pacific region, and 39% are from the Chinese mainland, reaffirming Hong Kong as a favored destination for both international and China brands. Zooming in on Causeway Bay, apart from the traditional prime streets of Kai Chiu Road and Russell Street, the adjacent Pak Sha Road, Yun Ping Road and Lan Fong Road have formed a vibrant cluster with new fashion brands and bakeries popular among young consumers and tourists, injecting stable foot traffic and energy into the district and in turn driving leasing demand. We are also pleased to see the government’s push in promoting the “pet economy,” which is expected to help attract a broader customer base and to enhance the overall consumer experience.”

Residential market: Home prices stabilized in Q3 while rents continued to rise

Hong Kong’s residential market extended the momentum seen last quarter through the Q3 period, supported by the buoyant stock market and sustained capital inflows. The total number of residential sales and purchase agreements in Q3 reached approximately 16,700 units, representing a y-o-y increase of 63%. The primary market remained active in the quarter, accounting for over 30% of the July and August total transaction number. Developers actively launched primary market projects at competitive prices and with incentives, prompting a resurgence of homebuyer interest particularly for small-to-medium-sized units. In September, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a 25-basis-point rate cut, marking its first reduction of the year. Several local banks followed suit by lowering mortgage rates, effectively reducing the entry threshold and financing costs for homebuyers. These factors are expected to further stimulate demand in the residential sector.

Rosanna Tang, Executive Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, added, “Buyer confidence has strengthened with the support of a gradually easing financial environment and rising residential rental yields. This has helped sustain monthly residential transaction numbers above 5,000 units since March this year. Additionally, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 25-basis-point rate cut in September sent a positive signal to the market, contributing to the housing sector’s gradual stabilization during its consolidation phase. According to the Rating and Valuation Department, the overall residential price index has steadily recovered from its low in March, recording a cumulative increase of 1.3% between March and August. This has narrowed the total price decline in the first eight months of the year to just 0.2%.

“Meanwhile, the residential rental index rose by approximately 3.2%, driven by demand from incoming expats and non-local students, reflecting the resilience of the leasing market. Looking ahead, if the U.S. implements further rate cuts within the year, the HIBOR (Hong Kong dollar interbank rate) is expected to fall further, reducing capital costs and making rental yields more attractive. This could encourage more investors and renters to enter the market, providing positive support to both transaction numbers and property prices. We now forecast the total number of residential transactions for the full-year 2025 to reach 58,000 to 60,000 units, with overall home prices expected to stabilize and potentially strengthen by up to 2% for the year.”

Edgar Lai, Senior Director, Valuation and Consultancy Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, highlighted, “Residential market sentiment continued to strengthen in Q3, particularly in the small-to-mid-sized segment. Our tracking of popular housing estates shows that prices across different market segments recorded growth through the quarter, reflecting a gradual recovery in buyer confidence. Prices at City One Shatin, representing the mass market, rose by 3.8% q-o-q. Taikoo Shing, representing the mid-market, saw a q-o-q increase of 1.9%. Residence Bel-Air, representing the luxury segment, recorded a 1.5% q-o-q rise. Although verbal enquiries from the bank have slightly eased from May, the level has remained relatively high, suggesting sustained market activity. Notably, we have seen some transactions involving tenanted properties. Lower purchase-price units, particularly those at less than the HK$5 million to HK$6 million range, have been sought-after by homebuyers. With ongoing cash rebate offers from banks and market expectations of further rate cuts, transaction activity in this segment is expected to remain strong, as a key driver of the recovery of the overall residential market.”

Please click here to download photos.
Photo 1: (From left to right) Edgar Lai, Senior Director, Valuation and Consultancy Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield; John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield; and, Rosanna Tang, Executive Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield.
Hashtag: #戴德梁行 #Cushman&Wakefield

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

About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In Greater China, a network of 23 offices serves local markets across the region. In 2024, the firm reported revenue of $9.4 billion across its core services of Valuation, Consulting, Project & Development Services, Capital Markets, Project & Occupier Services, Industrial & Logistics, Retail, and others. Built around the belief that Better never settles, the firm receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture. For additional information, visit or follow us on LinkedIn ().

Ping An of China CSI HK Dividend ETF Awarded Outstanding Achiever at BENCHMARK Fund of the Year Awards

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HONG KONG, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ping An of China Asset Management (Hong Kong) Company Limited (“PAAMC HK”), the offshore asset management arm of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (“Ping An“), is pleased to announce that its flagship exchange-traded fund, Ping An of China CSI HK Dividend ETF (3070/9070) (the “HK Dividend ETF”), has been named “Outstanding Achiever” in the Hong Kong Equity category at the BENCHMARK Fund of the Year Awards 2024 – Top ETF Funds.

This new accolade follows on the ETF’s consecutive “Best Performer” wins in the Equity – ETFs (NAV Total Return 1 Year) category at the Bloomberg Businessweek (Chinese Edition) Top Fund Awards in both 2023 and 2024, underscoring the fund’s sustained performance, disciplined strategy, and its appeal to investors seeking high-dividend exposure in the Hong Kong market.

Launched in February 2012, Ping An of China CSI HK Dividend ETF (3070/9070) is the longest running ETF among those listed in Hong Kong that focus on high dividend yield. The fund holds Morningstar’s highest 5‑star rating and has demonstrated resilient performance across market cycles. The HK Dividend ETF has been eligible under the new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) for more than 10 years, and has also been included in the Southbound-traded Stock Connect Scheme (the “Scheme”) since July 2024.

The HK Dividend ETF aims to track the performance of CSI HK Dividend Index (the “Underlying Index”), launched on 23 July 2009. The Underlying Index seeks to reflect the performance of high dividend yield securities in the Hong Kong market by selecting the 30 securities with high dividend yield, stable dividend payment and good liquidity from the entire universe of securities listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by BENCHMARK as an Outstanding Achiever,” said Mr. Albert Wang, Head of Capital Markets and CIO of PAAMC HK. “The HK Dividend ETF offers a resilient option for investors seeking income and stability especially amid market volatility and economic uncertainty. We are committed to broadening our offerings with innovative products that meet shifting market dynamics and the diverse needs of investors.”

The 2024 BENCHMARK Fund of the Year Award seeks to recognise outstanding mutual funds, MPF funds and ETF providers based on quantitative data in the BlueOnion fund database, with the assessment period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. This year’s awards celebrated innovation, resilience, and sustainability, recognizing fund strategies that excel in investment performance, risk management, and ESG practices.

Global sports fans demand always-on engagement from their favorite teams

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New Infobip study reveals supporters feel ‘disconnected’ and ‘priced out’

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new research commissioned by global cloud communications platform Infobip reveals a growing demand among sports fans for always-on, personalized engagement with their favorite teams. The global study shows that two-thirds (66%) of fans feel disconnected due to poor club communication, rising to 81% among those under 35. The research of 1,500 American football, baseball, soccer, and cricket fans across the US, Europe, and India, uncovers widespread frustration with generic, one-way communication and a strong appetite for deeper relationships with clubs beyond game days.

New Infobip study reveals supporters feel ‘disconnected’ and ‘priced out’
New Infobip study reveals supporters feel ‘disconnected’ and ‘priced out’

More than 70% of fans want ongoing communication during the off-season, including behind-the-scenes content and personal stories from players. Meanwhile, 82% currently use social media to follow their teams, though many expressed interest in richer, exclusive content through direct messaging and mobile apps.

Many described current engagement as transactional and impersonal, with nearly half feeling like “just a number.” Affordability also emerged as a major barrier — 61% of fans overall said rising costs of subscriptions, tickets, and merchandise are pricing them out of the game.

Driven by a desire to better understand evolving fan needs and explore how technology can reshape sports engagement, the study highlights a significant opportunity for clubs to boost loyalty and fan satisfaction through digital innovation and personalized communication.

Ervin Jagatić, Product Director at Infobip, said: “Fans want a deeper, two-way relationship with their teams that keeps them engaged throughout the year, not just on match days. With AI and other new technology, such as Conversational AI Gamification, sports organizations can create personalized, real-time fan experiences that build loyalty and drive participation. Infobip’s AI-driven chatbots on platforms like WhatsApp and Rich Communication Services (RCS) enable fans to instantly ask questions, access exclusive content, and receive updates 24/7.”

Infobip’s platform empowers teams to deliver this next-generation engagement — from real-time match alerts and early ticket sales to seamless personalized support. The result: stronger fan relationships, increased merchandise sales, higher viewership, and new revenue streams.

Infobip is already transforming fan engagement for major sports organizations worldwide. For the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, Infobip deploys AI-powered chatbots and messaging platforms like WhatsApp to offer real-time interaction, including the upcoming ‘RaceMate’ AI companion and an interactive AI version of F1 driver Oliver Bearman that bring fans closer to the team. In the US, Infobip partners with the Los Angeles Chargers to enhance fan communication through Apple Messages for Business, delivering exclusive content and instant updates.

Meanwhile, in Latin America, Infobip teamed up with Claro Sports to develop a sophisticated AI-powered chatbot using Google’s Rich Communication Services (RCS), offering Mexican sports fans real-time scores, athlete notifications, and interactive experiences across multiple messaging channels.

Read the survey here: https://www.infobip.com/downloads/sports-fan-engagement-report 

About Infobip

Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to build connected experiences across all stages of the customer journey. Accessed through a single platform, Infobip’s omnichannel engagement, identity, user authentication and contact centre solutions help businesses and partners overcome the complexity of consumer communications to grow business and increase loyalty. It offers natively built technology with the capacity to reach over seven billion mobile devices and ‘things’ in 6 continents connected to over 9,700+ connections of which 800+ are direct operator connections. Infobip was established in 2006 and is led by its co-founders, CEO Silvio Kutić and Izabel Jelenić.

Recent award wins include:

  • Infobip named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) for the third consecutive year. In 2025, positioned furthest in Completeness of Vision (July 2025)
  • Infobip named among Top 75 in Fortune’s Europe’s Most Innovative Companies 2025, placing it in the top 25% of all listed organizations (June 2025)
  • Infobip ranked as a Leader in the Omdia CPaaS Universe Report for the third time (April 2025)
  • Infobip ranked an Established Leader in the Juniper Research Conversational AI Leaderboard (Feb 2025)
  • Infobip named a CPaaS Leader for the third time in the IDC MarketScape (Feb 2025)
  • Infobip named one of the top CPaaS providers in Metrigy’s CPaaS MetriRank Report (Dec 2024)
  • Infobip named number one among Established Leaders in RCS Business Messaging in Juniper Research’s RCS Business Messaging Competitor Leaderboard 2024 (Nov 2024)
  • Infobip recognized as the number one provider in the AIT Fraud Prevention market by Juniper Research (Oct 2024)
  • Infobip named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies (March 2024)

AXA BetterMe Weekend Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

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Championing holistic well-being and sustainable living
Building for a healthier future

HONG KONG, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AXA Hong Kong and Macau (AXA) is excited to announce the return of its annual community event, the AXA BetterMe Weekend. Now in its fifth year, the carnival underscores AXA’s commitment to promoting holistic well-being and advancing sustainable development within the community. This milestone edition will be held on 25 to 26 October (Saturday and Sunday) at AXA WONDERLAND, WestK, and feature AXA brand ambassador and award-winning actress and singer Sammi Cheng as the opening act. Admission is free and no pre-registration required, welcoming the public to enjoy a vibrant weekend of positivity, connection, and family-friendly activities.

Since its launch in 2021, this initiative has been held annually in October to coincide with World Mental Health Day, raising awareness of mental well-being while actively promoting environmental protection and sustainable living. This beloved now a well-regarded community event in Hong Kong, it has become a key platform for AXA to champion holistic health. Last year’s edition attracted a record attendance of nearly 13,000 participants. This year’s theme, “AXA BetterMe Express,” continues to focus on three core pillars: “Mind Health”, “Physical Health”, and “Sustainable Living”. Through a wide range of engaging activities — including interactive booths, stage performances, complimentary workshops, and recreational facilities — participants will enjoy a vibrant and educational experience that highlights the intrinsic link between mental and physical well-being and environmental sustainability.

Sally Wan, Chief Executive Officer, AXA Greater China, said, “AXA remains deeply committed to promoting holistic health — encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Our annual ‘AXA BetterMe Weekend’ serves as a key platform to advocate for healthier living and foster positive energy across society through meaningful partnerships. It is also our way of giving back, turning our commitment into tangible action for the community. As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of this initiative, we reaffirm our longstanding dedication to community health and sustainability. True wellness extends beyond individual well-being to include the health of our planet. Through this weekend’s diverse programme of activities, we aim to inspire healthier lifestyles and mindsets, encouraging everyone to reflect on their environmental impact as we work together towards a more resilient and sustainable future.”

The event will feature a vibrant line-up of family-friendly activities, including a grand parade, bubble shows, busking, and giant bouncy castles. In partnership with Liverpool FC International Academy (Hong Kong), the Soccer Clinic will promote sports engagement through interactive games, offering children valuable hands-on training experiences. Participants can enjoy themed photo spots, large-scale amusement attractions, and a variety of game booths. To commemorate the fifth anniversary, exclusive memorabilia will be offered to participants who complete designated challenges.

AXA has also partnered with ELEMENTS, Green Power, Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong Swimming Academy, Klook and other partners to present a diverse range of booths promoting physical wellness, mental health, and sustainable living. Visitors will have the opportunity to win exciting rewards — including airline tickets, travel gift cards, dining vouchers, and more. This vibrant celebration of health and well-being offers something for everyone — don’t miss the chance to take part.

The event[1] will be open to the public from 12:30 PM to 7:30 PM, with complimentary shuttle bus services operating to and from MTR Kowloon Station. For further details on the AXA BetterMe Weekend and transportation arrangements, please visit: https://www.axa.com.hk/en/betterme-weekend-2025

About AXA Hong Kong and Macau 

AXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 50 markets and serving 95 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters. 

As one of the most diversified insurers in Hong Kong, we offer integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance. We are the largest General Insurance provider and a major Health and Employee Benefits provider. Our aim is to not only be the insurer to provide comprehensive protection to our customers, but also a holistic partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve. At the core of our service commitment is continuous product & service innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers’ needs and leveraging and investing in technology and digital transformation. 

We embrace our responsibility to be a driving force against climate change and a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first to address the importance of mental health through different products and services and thought leading iconic research. Our overall Sustainability Strategy, with emphasis on climate strategy and biodiversity commitment, is developed based on TCFD recommendations. We are committed to integrating environmental, social and governance factors across our business and strive to contribute to a sustainable future through 3 distinct roles – as an investor, an insurer and an exemplary company.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA’S WEBSITE: AXA.COM.HK

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 – “Risk factors and risk management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2020, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.

[1] Terms and conditions apply.

 

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